tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19247750462530419342024-03-29T04:06:31.724-07:00TOURIST PLACE IN INDIAHill Stations in IndiaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-6068301923745909032020-06-02T23:21:00.000-07:002021-01-01T22:21:15.924-08:00Haridwar Gateway to the Gods<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Haridwar</b><br />
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The holy city of Haridwar is located in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand at a distance of 214 km from Delhi. Haridwar extends from latitude 29° 58' in the north to longitude 78°13' in the east. The place is well connected to other cities of north India by road and train.<br />
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<b>Climate </b><br />
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Haridwar is situated at a height of almost 300 meters above sea level and the temperature usually hovers around 40°C during summers. Winters see the mercury dipping to as low as 6°C. The best season to visit Haridwar is between October and March.<br />
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<b>History & Legends</b><br />
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Haridwar or ‘the Gateway to the Gods’ is one of the seven holiest places according to Hindu mythology, as the Gods are believed to have left their footprints in Haridwar. Due to its geographical location too, Haridwar stands as the gateway to the other three important pilgrimages of Uttrakhand namely, Rishikesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath. Referred to as Mayapuri, Gangadwar, and Mokshadwar in the ancient scriptures and epics, Haridwar has always remained a major pilgrimage for the Hindus.<br />
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<b>Sites to Visit</b><br />
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King Vikramaditya constructed Har-Ki-Pauri, the sacred ghat in the memory of his brother Bhartrihari. The golden reflection of floral diyas in the river Ganges is the most enchanting sight during the Ganga aarti ceremony in the twilight at the ghat.<br />
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Suchat Singh, the then King of Kashmir, constructed the temple of Chandi Devi, atop the Neel Parvat on the other bank of river Ganges in 1929 A.D. The temple is a 3-km trek from Chandi Ghat and it is believed that the Adi Shankaracharya established the main statue in 8th century AD. The Chandi Devi Temple is now also accessible by a ropeway, which starts near the Gauri Shankar Temple.<br />
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The temple atop the Bilwa Parvat is dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi. One can have a panoramic view of Haridwar, the Ganges, and the countryside from this place.<br />
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The Vaishno Devi temple here is newly constructed and a true replica of the original Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu & Kashmir.<br />
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The Gurukul Kangadi University is a center of learning where education is imparted in the traditional Indian way. Within the precincts of the University is the Veda Mandir, which houses many archaeological exhibits. It is situated on the Haridwar-Jwalapur bypass road.<br />
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Other important places to visit are the Bharat Mata Temple, Maya Devi Temple, Bhimgoda, and Shanti Kunj.<br />
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<b>Sites Nearby </b><br />
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Rishikesh, around 28 km off Haridwar, is at the base of the Himalayas and it is where the Ganges comes down to the plains from the hills. A breathtaking experience of natural beauty and undiscovered wildlife awaits here. Not to mention the peace and tranquility of a landscape associated with sages and meditation.<br />
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The Daksh Mahadev Temple is an ancient shrine situated to the south of Kankhal town. Queen Dhankaur constructed this temple in AD 1810. Kankhal has several other temples and ashrams too.<br />
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The Sapt Rishi Ashram is situated along the Haridwar-Rishikesh road. The Ganges flows in seven streams in front of this Ashram, hence this place is also called Sapt Sarovar.<br />
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The Kanva Rishi Ashram is situated around 42 km from Haridwar. The ashram is on the banks of the Malini River along the forest road to Kotdwar.<br />
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The Chila Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the Rajaji National Park, covers an area of around 240 sq. km. It has 23 species of mammals and 315 fauna species. Lucky tourists can catch glimpses of elephants, tigers, leopards, jungle cats, Himalayan yellow throated martens, sambers, chitals, barking dears, wild boars, langurs, ghurals, sloth bears, king cobras, woodpeckers, etc. Fishing in the river there is allowed with permits only.<br />
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The Triveni ghat is an interesting place to be at dawn, when people make offerings of milk to the river and feed the fish. After sunset, priests set floating lamps on the water during the Aarti ceremony.<br />
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The temple of Neelkanth Mahadev, a place associated with Lord Shiva, is situated at a height of 1700 meters. It is a 4-hour walk from Rishikesh and a not-to-be-missed destination away from the maddening crowd.<br />
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<b>Fairs and Festivals</b><br />
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Haridwar, one of the oldest and holiest pilgrim centers of India, is also the place that plays host to around eight to ten million devotees during the Kumbh melas. The history of the Kumbh Mela dates back to the creation of the Universe and as a show of their faith, Hindus from all over the country assemble to take a holy dip in the Ganges.<br />
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<b>Shopping</b><br />
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The main shopping centers of Haridwar are Moti Bazaar, Upper Road, and Jwalapur. One can shop for rudraksh, Gangajal (vessels containing Ganges water), kumkum (vermilion), Ayurvedic medicines and precious stones in and around Haridwar.<br />
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<b>How to Reach</b><br />
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The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant in Dehradun, but it is preferable to use the roads or rail to Delhi and then take flights to the destination of ones choice.<br />
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This major pilgrimage center is well connected by trains to almost all the major cities in India. In fact, trains are the major source of the tourist inflow to Haridwar.<br />
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The National Highway no.45 crosses the city, so it is connected to other cities of the state as well as those in the other states too. There are regular buses available from Delhi to Haridwar. The state transport corporation has ordinary as well as deluxe and semi-deluxe buses on this route for long distance travel. There are private buses that take one to nearby places and also some of these private deluxe buses run on the long distance routes.<br />
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Auto Rickshaws and Cycle Rickshaws are the most convenient mode of transportation in and around the city. For covering longer distances, one can use taxis and buses.<br />
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<b>Places to Stay</b><br />
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There are many places to stay in Haridwar, but it is hard to find any luxurious accommodation. Most of the hotels and resorts are in the middle range or budget categories. Many of the ashrams and dharmshalas also provide simple and cheap accommodation. The numerous resorts dotting the banks of the Ganges are also good options.<br />
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<b>Information</b><br />
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The main bus stand is located on the Railway Road in the southwestern corner of the town and the railway station is just opposite to the bus stand. Money changing, Internet and STD/ISD facilities are available in the city.<br />
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Distances of some major north Indian cities and centers of pilgrimage from Haridwar are Delhi 214 km, Rishikesh 24 km, Musoorie 90 km, Yamunotri 240 km, Kedarnath 250 km, Badrinath 290 km, and Dehradun 52 km. nf<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-88042460032033655122019-04-02T22:56:00.000-07:002019-04-02T22:56:03.716-07:00Pithoragarh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
Geographical Information of Pithoragarh</h1>
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Regarded as a gateway to the north, Pithoragarh is in the inner Himalayas at a height of 1,851 meters in a spectacular valley, called “Little Kashmir”, in the northern state of Uttarakhand. Some parts of the district are at a height of 3,000 feet while the others are at 4,724 meters. The area of the district is 8,856 square kilometers and one-third of it is covered by snow perpetually. It is the main town of a region that borders both Nepal and Tibet. Pithoragarh has a cool climate that makes it comfortable all year round. Pithoragarh, till recently, was part of Almora district, in Uttarakhand. It was given the status of a separate district on February 1,1960.<br />
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Strategic Importance<br />
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Pithoragarh is the entrance to Chota Kailash and Namik, which is the gateway to the marvelous Milan Glacier. The strategic importance of the Pithoragarh lies in the fact that six passes to Tibet are in this district. The local inhabitants carried lucrative trade with Tibet through these passes before 1962. With improvement in Sino-Indian relations, some of the passes have been re-opened for trade.<br />
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Flora And Fauna<br />
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It is rich in flora and fauna and is famous for its bugyals or pasture grounds of velvet-like green grass. The area was closed to tourists till 1981. But with the start of the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, tourist interest in the area is increasing by leaps and bounds.<br />
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Fairs And Festivals<br />
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Pithoragarh is famous for its cultural-religious fairs. These are celebrated throughout the year. They are deeply rooted in the history, tradition and culture of this area. People celebrate them with gay abandon. Some of these fairs also serve the purpose of trade fairs.<br />
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At Jaul Jibi, a fair is held every autumn when woolens, copper pots and small, shaggy-maned Himalayan horses are bought and sold.<br />
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Sites to Visit<br />
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There are a number of lakes around Pithoragarh. Two of them, Jolingkong and Anchherital are situated at a height of 4,634 meters and 3,658 meters, respectively. Some beautiful old temples are also scattered around the district. A visit to the shrine at Purnagiri, 20 kilometers from Tanakpur, is believed to lead to fulfillment of one’s desires. There is also a Sikh shrine near Lohaghat called Ritha Sahib, associated with the visit of Guru Nanak. It is believed that the bitter ritha turned sweet after the touch of the Guru.<br />
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The white Manu temple is also a site often visited by religious travelers. In it, is enshrined a powerful goddess known to bring rain to these mountains if properly invoked. There is also a large swing erected on the field at the base of a flight of steps leading to the temple. Here the goddess and her sister from a distant temple swing playfully when the other goddess comes visiting. No one can see them, but the swing moves!<br />
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Sites Nearby<br />
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Baleshwar is 76 kilometers from Pithoragarh on the Tanakpur road. Its temples are the best examples of hill architecture. They were constructed by the early Chand rajas in the 8th century. At Gangolihat, 77 kilometers from Pithoragarh, is a Shakti peeth established by Adi Shankaracharya. The temple stands amidst a dense deodar forest. Two kilometers away is another temple - that of Chamunda Devi. It is believed that the evil forces conquered by the Goddess still dwell in the adjoining caves. Patal Bhubaneshwar, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is 14 kilometers from Gangolihat. The way to the temple is through a tunnel. Chemical reactions in the cave have given rocks the appearance of various Gods and Goddesses.<br />
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About 30 km from Pithoragarh on the crest of a ridge, is a market proclaiming Panchuli View. On looking straight ahead and one can see, rising against the distant blue sky, the five snow-covered peaks of Panchuli. About 62 km from Pithoragarh, is Lohaghat, an important historical center. About 2 km from here one can visit Abbot Mount and Mayawati. Abbot Mount is noted for its exceptional view of the northern hill ranges. A number of bungalows of the British Raj can still be found here. Mayawati, houses the headquarters of the Adwait Ashram. It was sanctified by Swami Vivekananda and is known for its scenic locales.<br />
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Chandak, 7 km from Pithoragarh, is a beautiful location, commanding a panoramic view of the Pithoragarh valley. It is 1.830 meters in altitude. An important fair is held at the Mostmanu temple in August. Thal Kedar, 16 km, from Pithoragarh is an important religious center and also noted for its natural beauty. A large fair is held on Shivratri. Dhwaj, 28 km from Pithoragarh, commands a wide view of the majestic snow-peaks of the north. It is also important for temples devoted to Lord Shiva and Maa Jayanti.<br />
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Champawat, 76 km from Pithoragarh, was once the capital of Chand Rajas, whose fort now houses a government office; the town has many architecturally beautiful temples. Of these, Baleshwar and Nagnath temples are noteworthy. Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam maintains a tourist bungalow at Champawat. At 2,500 meters above sea level, Devidhura is known for its scenic beauty and the temple of Devi. It is the site of an important fair. 14 km from Gangolihat is Patal Bhuvaneshwar, an important archaeological and religious site.<br />
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Punyagiri is at a distance of 20 km from Tanakpur. Perhaps the most important religious center around Pithoragarh is the Punyagiri temple. Devoted to Maa Punyagiri, atop a rocky pinnacle, it is a noted pilgrimage center. Accommodation facilities are available in the numerous dharamshalas. The Shiva temple at Rameshwarghat, 36 km from Pithoragarh, at the confluence of Ramganga and Sarju rivers is held in great reverence.<br />
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There are immense possibilities for development of adventure sports like hang gliding, paragliding, river rafting, canoeing, skiing and trekking. Chandak (6,350 meters), Dhawj (2,134 meters), Munakot and Saleti present ideal spots for flying. Between Tanakpur and Pancheshwar (Kali Ganga), Jauljibi and Madkote (Gori Ganga) and Pawar to Ghat in Ram Ganga one could enjoy rafting and canoeing. Khaliya Top and Batulidhar are ideal for skiing and other winter sports. There are a number of rivers in the district that offer many good spots for fishing wild trout and mahaseer.<br />
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How to Reach & Where to Stay<br />
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Various centers of Pithoragarh are connected with good metallic roads and regular transport services. There are buses to Almora, Nainital, Haldwani, Delhi and Tankapur. However, to reach some far-flung areas, one has to still use horses, ponies, mules, yak and sheep. The nearest railhead is at Tankapur, at a distance of 151 km south. The nearest airport is at Patnanagar, 249 km from Pithoragarh. An all weather airstrip has been constructed at Pithoragarh. It is hoped that it will give a tremendous boost to tourism.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-86728883583244992342019-01-19T06:57:00.001-08:002019-01-19T06:57:45.571-08:00Chaubattakhal Gadri Road<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/npGtTzRYSVE" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-56187581404262280342019-01-14T22:49:00.001-08:002019-01-14T22:49:23.221-08:00Uttarayani Uttarakhandi Mahotsav at Sector 14 Dwarka, New Delhi<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A1mon0vlbQU" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-43914642795762052332018-09-02T23:14:00.000-07:002018-09-02T23:16:07.938-07:00Jain Temples In Aravali Rajasthan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ranakpur in the state of Rajasthan is one of the five most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism. It is home to an exceptionally beautiful temple complex in the Aravali ranges and a must visit for the tourists coming to this region.<br />
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Location</strong><br />
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Ranakpur is tucked away in a remote valley in the Aravali range. It is situated around 60 km north of Udaipur in Pali district and boasts of one of the largest and most important Jain Temples in the country. The place is well connected through a road network to other places in the region.<br />
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Climate</strong><br />
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The climate of Ranakpur is tropical with the mercury climbing up to a maximum of around 42°C and a minimum of around 22°C. Winters are only a little colder with a maximum of around 20°C and a minimum of around 11°C. The annual total rainfall is around 55 centimeters. Winter months (October-March) are the best for visiting this place.<br />
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<strong>The Past</strong><br />
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Ranakpur is named after Rana Kumbha whom Dharna Sah, a Jain businessman, approached when he had the vision of his great temple to ask for the land for its construction. Renowned for some marvelously carved Jain temples in amber stone, Ranakpur is one of the five holiest places of the Jain community and exceptional in beauty. Situated at a distance of around 60 km from Udaipur, these temples were constructed in 1439 AD.<br />
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Sites to Visit</strong><br />
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The Ranakpur Jain Temple was built during the reign of the liberal and gifted Rajput monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. The basement is of 48,000 sq. feet area that covers the whole complex. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty-four pillared halls and domes supported by over four hundred columns. The total number of columns is 1,444 all of which are intricately carved with no two being alike. The artistically carved nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures at a height of 45 feet are an interesting sight. In the assembly hall, there are two big bells weighing 108 kg whose sound echoes in the entire complex. The main temple is a Chaumukh or a four-faced temple dedicated to Adinath.<br />
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The three other Jain temples in the same complex, including a temple of the Sun God, are all well worth a visit. One kilometer away from the temple complex is the temple of Amba Mata.<br />
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Sites Nearby</strong><br />
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Kumbhalgarh is a historical site around 30 km northeast of Ranakpur. It is the most important fort in the Mewar region after Chittaurgarh. The other important place to visit in Kumbhalgarh is a wildlife sanctuary known for its wolves.<br />
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Sadri, 8 km away, is famous for some beautiful temples and an old dargah of Khudabaksh Baba. The Varahavtar temple and the Chintamani Parsvanath temple are the oldest of the temples situated here.<br />
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Three temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman and Navi Mata are among some noteworthy temples at Desuri around 16 km from Ranakpur. An old mosque situated here is also worth a visit. A temple dedicated to Parsuram Mahadeo, nestled in the hills, is also close by.<br />
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Another nearby place, Ghanerao, abounds in Hindu temples. Most notable is the temple of Gajanand with a life-size statue of the goddesses Riddhi and Siddhi. The statue in the main shrine is guarded by idols of Hanuman and Bhairon on either side.<br />
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The Muchhal Mahavir temple is situated about 5 km from Ghanerao in the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary. Its distinctive feature is the statue of Lord Mahavira with a mustache. The two statues of elephants guarding the gateways are splendid examples of temple decoration. In the vicinity are the Garasia tribal villages famous for their colorful costumes.<br />
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Where to Stay</strong><br />
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There are many places in Ranakpur that provide quality accommodation. The costs can range from an amount in four figures for the best double-bedded rooms to a donation of an amount one’s own discretion in a dharmshala. Heritage hotels are the best bet in this region, if one is interested in enjoying the royal hospitality and charm of the bygone era. Facilities in the major hotels are good and worth the money spent.<br />
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How to Reach</strong><br />
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The nearest airport is Udaipur 60 km south of Ranakpur. There are regular flights to Delhi, Jaipur, Aurangabad, Jodhpur, and Mumbai from Udaipur.<br />
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The nearest major railway station is Udaipur. There are trains for Delhi, Chittaurgarh, Ajmer, and Jaipur from this station. The nearest railway station from Ranakpur is Phalna but most of the tourists prefer going to Udaipur to catch a train as it offers more choice.<br />
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There are frequent express buses from Udaipur that take around three hours to reach Ranakpur. State transport corporation buses as well as private buses connect Udaipur to other cities in the region. Major destinations that are connected to Udaipur are Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota/Bundi, Jodhpur, Chittaurgarh, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mumbai, Delhi, Indur, and Mt Abu.<br />
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Informaton:-</strong><br />
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Money exchange and banking facilities are available in Ranakpur. Otherwise one can use Udaipur as a base to avail all the necessary tourist facilities. STD/ISD facilities are available.<br />
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As Ranakpur is a religious place, one must take care that the religious sentiments of the devotees are not hurt. One should inquire about the local customs and practices before indulging in activities like drinking, gambling, or eating non-vegetarian food.<br />
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A Tourist Information Bureau of the Government of Rajasthan is situated at Fateh Memorial Suraj Pole in Udaipur and tourists should get all the necessary information there.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-70806659381044597692018-07-10T23:36:00.002-07:002018-08-16T04:15:32.952-07:00Architecture of Taj Mahal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<strong>THE ARCHITECTURE OF TAJ MAHAL</strong><br />
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Historians, architects, poets and travelers from all over the world have praised the architecture of the Taj Mahal. Built of white marble brought from Makrana in Rajasthan, the Taj Mahal appears different at different times of day and during the changing seasons. The white marble reflects the color of the sky, and the rays of the sun give it an almost ethereal appearance. The sight of the Taj Mahal on a full moon night is an enchanting experience. When seen from Agra Fort across the Yamuna River on a foggy morning, the Taj Mahal appears like a fairytale castle floating on a soft carpet of air.<br />
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The Taj Mahal is part of a complex of structures. These structures include the Darwaza or main gateway, the Bageecha or garden, the Masjid or mosque, the Naqqar Khaana or guest house and the Rauza or mausoleum. The entrance to the complex is through the grand gateway. The gateway is inscribed with Islamic calligraphy and floral decorations. As you enter the gateway, its high arch frames the vista before you. A path with green lawns on either side leads to the raised platform on which the Taj Mahal is situated. The approach to the Taj Mahal, with intersecting paths and waterways is called the Charbagh.<br />
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The Taj Mahal is situated on a raised platform that is over 6 meters high. The actual tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are in the basement below this platform. The main building surmounted by a curving dome is over 60 meters long on each side. The dome rises to a height of over 60 meters at its pinnacle. The platform covers an area of almost 94 sq meters. A tall minaret of over 40 meters reaches up to the sky at each corner of the platform. On either side of the Taj Mahal there is a red sandstone building - a mosque to the west and a guesthouse to the east. The fountains, waterways, formal garden and the river Yamuna flowing in the background add to the overall effect. The overall symmetry of the Taj Mahal complex makes it an aesthetically perfect sight.<br />
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The architecture of the Taj Mahal is enhanced by delicate inlay work. The interiors of the Taj Mahal are decorated with inlay work known as pietra dura. Semi precious stones such as jasper, jade, turquoise, lapis lazuli and sapphire, were used in these decorative devices, many of which can still be seen. These decorative elements include inscriptions from the Quran, geometrical designs and graceful depictions of flowers and plants. The inlay work has been carried out with great skill, creating a seamless and smooth surface with no visible joints. The pristine white marble of the Taj Mahal contrasts with the colors of the inlaid stones creating a beautiful and majestic effect.<br />
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The beautiful proportions of each element of the complete complex, their exquisitely decorated interiors, the brilliance of the carving in the latticed screens that surround the tomb and the setting of the Taj Mahal add up to the sublime experience that is a glimpse of the Taj Mahal. The architecture of the Taj Mahal is considered the most spectacular example of Mughal architecture in India.<br />
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<strong>TRIVIA</strong><br />
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The Taj Mahal is a monument with a rich and colorful history. An immortal love story inspired the Taj Mahal and there’s lots more------Taj Mahal trivia and interesting details about this wondrous monument.<br />
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1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It is said that Shah Jahan wanted to build an equally grand tomb for himself on the other bank of the River Yamuna in Agra. His mausoleum would be made in black marble and the two monuments would complement each other in their design.<br />
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2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mumtaz Mahal means, “Exalted one of the Palace.” This was what Shah Jahan called her. Her actual name was Arjumand Banu Begum.<br />
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3/<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The term Taj Mahal is possible a contraction of the Empress’s name and means “Crown of the Palace”<br />
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4.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shah Jahan was known as Khurram before he ascended to the Mughal Throne.<br />
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5.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mumtaz Mahal was Shah Jahan’s second wife, but was his favorite.<br />
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6.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan had 14 children<br />
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7.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>20,000 laborers worked for 22 years to build the Taj Mahal.<br />
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8.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1000 elephants were used to transport the materials required for the construction of the Taj Mahal.<br />
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9.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Taj Mahal is said to have been built at a cost of 32 million rupees.<br />
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10.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The white marble used to construct the Taj Mahal, was brought from Makrana in Rajasthan India.<br />
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11.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>28 different kinds of semi-precious stones were used in the inlay work in the Taj Mahal.<br />
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12.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>These included Turquoise from Tibet, Sapphires from Sri Lanka and Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan.<br />
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13.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The inlay work on the inner walls of the Taj Mahal is called pietra dura, which refers to the embedding of hard or durable stones within soft stones for decorative effect.<br />
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14.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It is said that Shah Jahan wanted to ensure that his master craftsmen would not build anything as beautiful again and had their hands amputated or eyes put out, after the completion of the Taj Mahal.<br />
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15<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Taj mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was added to the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in 1983, and described as “The jewel of Muslim art in India”<br />
<br />
Today, the Taj Mahal in Agra India stands as a symbol of eternal love, which continues to mesmerize tourists from around the world.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-68840992038081711422017-05-23T22:10:00.001-07:002017-05-23T22:10:51.960-07:00Beach Vacations in India <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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India’s coastline has many beautiful beaches for the
tourists to relax and enjoy.</div>
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Goa </h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Known for its golden beaches, Goa is the destination of
choice for beach lovers coming to India. The combination of sun, sea, sand, the
warm weather and friendly people makes Goa the ideal destination for a beach
vacation in India. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Calangute Beach: </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This beach, one of the best
known in Goa stretches for 7 km in a gentle curve on the northern coast of Goa.
A popular beach for families on vacation Calangute Beach is also known for its
food stalls and trinket stalls alongside the beach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Agonda
Beach: </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Situated near Palolem in south
Goa, Agonda beach is known for its unsoiled sands and clean environment. The
souvenir shops and beachfront hotels seen on many other beaches have not
appeared here ensuring the 3 km long beach with the Cabo de Rama fort nearby
are left untouched for intrepid visitors to explore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Anjuna Beach: </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Anjuna Beach was famous in the
1970s with the flower children and hippies who made their way to Goa. The
weekly Wednesday flea market revives the feeling of the 1970’s when tourists
flock around the shacks selling T Shirts and trinkets. Trance parties are held
on moonlit nights at Anjuna Beach, which is one of the most poplar beaches for
a vacation in Goa. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Dona Paula:</b> Situated at a
distance of 7 km from Panaji, Dona Paula Beach is associated with the legend of
the daughter of a Portuguese official who killed herself when she was not
permitted to marry the man she loved. Also known as Lovers Paradise, Dona Paula
Beach in Goa is a water sports enthusiasts’ dream come true, with a range of
water sports activities on offer for tourists to enjoy when on a beach vacation
in Goa, India. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></h5>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Colva and Benaulim Beaches: </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Situated
at a distance of 20 km from Panaji, in South Goa, these beaches are a quiet
getaway from Panaji Town. The long sandy stretches of Colva Beach make it a
beautiful place to relax and enjoy a beach vacation in Goa, India. The nearby
church has an annual festival that attracts large crowds and bullfights are
held in the village nearby. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Kerala</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This state in Southwest India
has several beaches, which are popular with tourists. Apart from relaxing and
sunbathing on the beaches, you can also get ayurvedic herbal massages and enjoy
water sports. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Kovalam Beach: </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Located at a distance of<b> </b>18 kms from
Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, Kovalam is one of the most beautiful
destinations for a beach vacation in India. You can also get an Ayurvedic
massage or indulge in water sports on Kovalam Beach. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Varkala: </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Papanasam beach at Varkala
is a popular beach in Kerala with white sandy stretches and blue sea framed by
a backdrop of steep cliffs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u>Tamil Nadu<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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This coastal state in South India has a number of fine beaches in
Chennai, Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry, for tourists to enjoy beach vacations
in India. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Marina Beach:</b> This
12 kms long beach is a popular venue in Chennai for tourists to watch the
sunrise and sunset. In the evenings, a fairground atmosphere prevails with
families thronging the longest beach in India with its nearby Aquarium, and
memorials of political leaders of Tamil Nadu, India. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u>Orissa<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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Home to some beautiful beaches, not too well known, Orissa on India’s
Bay of Bengal Coast is an undiscovered beach vacation destination. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Puri Beach: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This beautiful beach in Orissa is the venue of the Puri Beach Festival
when classical dance and other cultural performances are held in the backdrop
of the Jagannath Temple at Puri. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Please note </u><u>that there are no nude beaches in India and nudity
may offend local customs.</u> </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-27581528248261596062016-05-25T00:24:00.000-07:002016-05-25T00:24:02.963-07:00Entertainment in Goa Tours <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Entertaining yourself and utilizing your leisure time is very easy in Goa. From Bird watching, crocodile watching, casinos, discotheques, water sports to river cruises; you get every moment to have fun in Goa. Every day is a gala day and every moment a golden moment. Staying at Goa while doing various leisure activities gives you an opportunity to explore the natural beauty, wildlife, cultural heritage and the lifestyle in Goa.<br />
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<b>Bird Watching</b><br />
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As a bird watcher’s paradise, Goa is home to many diverse bird species including the four different species of eagles, kites, buzzards, kestrels and ospreys. The other avian species indigenous to Goa are five types of pigeons, five varieties of cuckoos, six species of doves, six types of woodpeckers and six kinds of kingfishers. Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary are must visits for bird lovers and ornithologists. Morjim beach is the best for viewing seabirds.<br />
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<b>River Cruises</b><br />
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The tourists can go for river cruises run by The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) on the Mandovi river, thrice a day. There are also two types of day cruises -- from the Panaji jetty covering the Mandovi and Zuari rivers. The private operators also provide many types of river cruises.<br />
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<b>Crocodile Watching</b><br />
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This huge and ferocious carnivore is commonly seen in Goa in the dense mangrove jungle near the small village of Cumbarjua. The 15m long Cumbarjua canal near Panaji that links the Zuari and Mandovi rivers, is the only place in Goa, where you can see the crocodiles in open and the wild. The stray crocodiles are sometimes also seen in Chorao, Tivim and Quepem.<br />
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<b>Casinos</b><br />
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The tourists who like to challenge their luck can find a refuge in the glittering Casinos in Goa. The most famous is the first live-game floating casino in India on the ship MS Caravela in Panaji. Goa also has other casinos, basically gaming halls with installed slot machines and a bar. The other casinos that are a big tourist attraction are at Taj Exotica, Miramar Beach Resort, Bogmallo Beach Resort, Majorda Beach Resort, Varca Beach Resort, Mobor Beach Resort.<br />
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<b>Discotheques</b><br />
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Goa is a place for dine, dance and wine! This fact gets justified when you visit any of the discotheques in Goa. Break the dance floor and shake on the beats and rhythm of music all the night! The most important discs in Goa are Party Zone at the Holiday Inn Resort in Goa, the first disc in South Goa; Aqua at the Leela Palace Goa with a casino and private cigar lounges; Adega Camoens in Taj Exotica Goa with its lobby bar having exquisite cocktails made from Feni; Casino-cum-Disc - Treasures at Majorda Beach Resort Goa, the only disc in Goa with internet; Alvoc disc at Colva Beach; Club Cabana at Arpora near Calangute Beach; Club Tito’s at Baga Beach and Ryb nightclub at the Taj Holiday Village at Sinquerim beach in Goa.<br />
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<b>Water Sports</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Goa is also a sports’ paradise for the tourists. They can enjoy anything in water sports from Windsurfing, Dinghy Sailing, Scuba Diving, Water Skiing, Angling, Para Sailing to Swimming. Dona Paula is an ideal destination for the beginners of Windsurfing. Dinghies are available on hire at Cidade de Goa and the Taj Holiday Village for beginners. The Goan lagoons ranging between 5-10 metres are ideal for Scuba Diving giving you a scope to explore coral heads, lobsters, fish, and other marine life in the seawaters. Go for Water Skiing on the speedboats at a speed of 30-40 miles an hour. The popular angling spot in Goa is the Palolem Beach. Water scooters are available at Dona Paula jetty, Majorda, Cidade de Goa and Candolim beach. Of course the sea in Goa gives enough thrill to the swimmers too.<br />
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<b>Shopping</b><br />
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The Goa tour is also fascinating as it offers the tourists the opportunity to shop and roam around the traditional, modern and the beachside shopping outlets to gather some memorable souvenirs exclusive to the land of Goa. After sightseeing tour of Goa, the most important task of on tourist’s list is the shopping in Goa. Looking to the heavy tourist traffic in Goa every year, many new outlets have come up in the Goan heritage houses, hotels and beach resorts.<br />
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<b>Traditional Markets</b><br />
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To start with, the tourists can plan to shop from the traditional markets located in the small towns and villages of Goa. These markets symbolize the ethnic culture and the cultural heritage of Goa. The two renowned traditional markets in Goa are: Mapusa Market and Anjuna Market. At the Friday Market at Mapusa, you get everything from dried fish and spices to curios and old coins. Managed by and for foreigners, the Wednesday Market at Anjuna Beach offers a unique collection of handicrafts, beachwear, souvenirs and trinkets sold at bargained prices.<br />
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<b>
Fashion Shops/Boutiques</b><br />
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If money, for you, is not a problem or you are an extravagant shopper, then the in-house shops at the deluxe hotels and resorts are the ideal shopping places for you. Recently many lifestyle and fashion shops have sprung up in the city in the wake of the fashion awareness in Goa. These fashion shops/boutiques are in general located in the heritage houses in Goa with selected fabric and interior decoration collections available at reasonable prices in Goa.<br />
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<b>Local Handicrafts and Souvenirs</b><br />
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Goa is also known for its local handicraft items and its dexterous artisans. The most popular souvenirs of Goa include terracotta, shell work, bamboo work, papier-mache, brassware, crochet, carved furniture etc. available at the Government and State Emporiums and also the shopping stalls by the beachside or major tourist destinations in Goa. The another must-buy item in Goa is the indigenously produced ‘cashew nuts’ available at almost every shop in different tastes from plain, salted to masala flavours. The price of these cashew nuts depends on their taste and amount.<br />
Shopping in Goa is a lifetime experience in itself. While your shopping tour in the markets of<br />
Goa, you always end up having the exclusive and memorable souvenirs with you making your Goa tour unforgettable! <br />
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<b>TRAVEL TIPS</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Precaution is better than cure! To make your Goa tour convenient and comfortable, there are some travel tips and precautions to be taken by you, which are as follows:<br />
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·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If traveling by the train, attach your baggage to the berth with a chain to save it from theft. Do not accept any food item from strangers in the train/bus.<br />
·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keep your money, passport-visa and other travel documents (preferably wrapped in plastic to avoid dampness) in a money belt tied to your waist to avoid its visibility.<br />
·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Prefer traveler’s cheques/ATM cards to money in liquid form as money exchange and ATM centers are available at most of the locations in Goa.<br />
·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Carry a voltage adapter for your personal electric appliances. Also, check the voltage before using any electric appliance, as the voltage/power is quite low in Goa.<br />
·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Always keep an identity card handy; mentioning your name, age, blood group, other relevant details and contact phone numbers for use in case of emergency.<br />
·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Beware of touts and never keep your articles unattended on the beaches.<br />
·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Always go for mineral water, fresh seafood dishes and wash hands with soap before having your breakfast/lunch/dinner.<br />
·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Never go for money exchange through private dealers, instead; prefer banks or government/authentic institutions. Similarly hire a metered taxi/motorcycle taxi/auto rickshaw to avoid wastage of money.<br />
·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keep in mind that possession and trade of drugs (hard or soft) is totally illegal in Goa. If caught red-handed, 10 years rigorous imprisonment in jail and Rs 10,000 fine is imposed on you by the Goa Police without any scope for bail.<br />
·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Purchasing articles made from animal skin of rare and endangered species is banned in Goa so avoid buying such articles from roadside shops or sellers.<br />
·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Always consult a lifeguard while venturing into the sea. Remember that nudity on beaches and public places are prohibited in Goa and punishable under the law.<br />
·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keep your driving licence, passport, visa and other necessary documents with you while driving and follow the traffic rules to avoid mishaps and inconvenience.<br />
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<b>Medical Precautions</b><br />
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Due to the change of water and climate, the tourists may suffer from chronic/acute stomach upset so they are required to take the necessary precautions and ensure that the required vaccinations are done. It is advisable to plan your vaccinations well in advance, consulting a doctor, before starting your tour to Goa. In India you also require essentially, the yellow fever vaccination especially when you are entering India from an infected area. Keep your feet clean and dry and prevent walking barefoot to prevent fungal and parasitic infections.<br />
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<b>Passport and Visa</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The tourists can go for any of the six visas available with them - Business Visa (issued for a month or six months), Student Visa (valid for one year or the duration of opted course in India), Conference Visa (for attending international conferences in India), Transit Visa (issued for maximum 15 days with single/double entry facilities), Journalist Visa (issued to professional journalists/photojournalists) and Employment Visa (issued to the foreign professionals working in Indian organizations).<br />
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<b>Getting the Indian Visa
Requirements</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The visa application with pasted passport size photographs should be submitted along with a passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of intended departure from India.<br />
·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The foreign nationals should submit a proof of long-term stay (at least three years)/ permanent residence) in the country from where they are applying for Indian Visa. References are also to be produced in addition to the residence proof.<br />
·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The visa fee/charges and the processing duration depend totally on the nationality of the passport holder and the type/duration of visa applied for. The charges are refundable only if the visa already issued is cancelled thereafter.<br />
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<b>Registration Of Foreigners</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Foreigners visiting India with a visa valid for more than 180 days should register themselves at the nearest foreigners’ registration office in Goa within the fortnight following their arrival in India. They have to undergo registration only once during the validity of Indian Visa. They can leave and re-enter India as many times as they want, only if their visa is a multi-entry visa. They can also extend their tourist visas for a maximum of three months at the foreigners’ registration office at Panaji. They have to surrender their registration certificate, which is mandatory, at the time of their final departure from India.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-78391992939754407592014-08-05T23:24:00.004-07:002014-08-05T23:25:52.065-07:00Srirangapatnam Tourist Destination Karnataka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Location (Best time to visit <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>September to March)</b></div>
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Srirangapatnam is situated on the banks of River Cauvery in the South Indian state, Karnataka. This tourist destination is at a short distance of 16 km to the north of Mysooru. Srirangapatnam is 140 km away from Bengaluru. </div>
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<b>The Past</b></div>
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Founded in 1120 AD by Udayaditya, the brother of Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana, the town of Srirangapatnam has got its relevance in forming the history of South India especially the history of Mysooru.</div>
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The serene spot Srirangapatnam is an island encircled by the sacred River Cauvery and is the native place of “Mysore Tiger” Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali. They are the courageous rulers of Mysore who have relentlessly and fearlessly fought against the ruthless British rulers of India in the 18th Century. These two mighty rulers bear reputation for keeping away the British from South India for almost half a century. Srirangapatnam is also noted for its temple dedicated to Lord Sriranganatha.</div>
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Originally, Thirumalaiyah, a chieftain, built the town. He has taken initiatives to construct a temple dedicated to the reclining form of Vishnu locally called Srirangnath from which the town coined the very name. Historians opine that though confirmed Muslims, Tipu and his father Hyder Ali were the frequent visitors of the temple. </div>
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The sage Gauthama Budha is said to have visited and stayed on one of the islands nearby Srirangapatnam. Gauthama worshipped Lord Sriranganatha and the figure of Gauthama along with Godess Kauvery is also enshrined inside the temple that is mainly dedicated to Lord Ranganatha. </div>
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<b>Places to Vist</b></div>
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Major landmark of the town is Sriranganatha Temple. Its sanctum sanctorum enshrines the massive idol of the deity of Lord Sriranganatha reclining on Adidesha, the mythological serpent. The black idol is carrying a golden crown of mastered craftsmanship. It is a 10th Century temple. As an instance of religious harmony recommended by Tipu Sultan, the temple still possesses some silver vessels and pearl jewelers donated by him. As it is a Vaishnavite temple most of the priests are Srivaaishnava Archakas. Friday is the auspicious day with a series of prayers for which great masses are formed. </div>
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The temple is noted for its harmonious amalgamation of Hoysala and Vijayanagara style of architecture. In the inner entrance, on the two pillars (Chaturvimshati pillars) one can see the carved figures of various forms of Lord Vishnu. The temple has attained its completion of construction through three different stages. Hence the exquisite icons represent both these styles. </div>
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The Srirangapatnam fort is regarded as the second strongest and the very tactful fort, has a lot to say about its founder Tipu Sultan’s unparallel chivalry and bravery. The elephant gate is the main entrance among many of the entrances in the different parts of the fort. A Persian inscription can be found at its gateway that announces the date of its construction. Two of the haunting Dungeons, with low vaulted roofs were used to jail the British officers. The fort also contains some of the remains of cannons. </div>
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The Juma Masjid was constructed in 1787 AD by Tipu’s special initiative, as he was a confirmed follower of Islam. Two minarets that aim at the sky adorn the Juma Masjid. At the top of each of these minarets one can reach through the flight of 200 steps. The Persian inscriptions also carry the extracts of Holy Koran. </div>
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Constructed by Tipu Sulthan in 1784 as his luxurious summer Palace the Daria Daulath Bagh is situated on the southern bank of the river Cauvery. It is a monument constructed in the Saracenic style of architecture. For the time being, it is a museum. “Garden of the Wealth of Sea “ as its very name suggests is abound by beautifully carved wooden pillars, balconies and arches. The mural paintings on the ground floor illustrate battlefields, court scenes, military campaigns etc. Some of the 19th Century paintings can also be seen here. The museum is open every day except on Fridays. </div>
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<b>Places Nearby</b></div>
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Krishna Raja Sagara Dam is situated at a distance of about 12 Km to Srirangapatnam houses the globally celebrated Brindavan Gardens on its terraces. Decorated with the colorful lights and fountains, that springs up according to the rhythms of melodious music is not only a visual delight but also the wonderful creation of human skill and imagination. The Brindavan Gardens opens on all the weekdays at 7.00 a.m. and closes at 8.00 p.m. except on Sundays and Saturdays on which days at 08 a.m. till 09 p.m. </div>
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Sangama, a place where the two streams of the River Cauvery re-unite is a serene and calm picnic spot just 3 km from Srirangapatnam. A cruise on the slow pace waves gives an unforgettable experience. </div>
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Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary nestles abundance of rare species of water birds and it is an ideal spot for the curious bird watchers. The sanctuary is situated at about 4 km south west of Srirangapatnam. Occasionally visiting migratory birds capture the wondering psyches of tourists. Here well-educated ornithologists are available who are amazingly skilled to spell out each and every detail of birds. The crocodile bank has many of them. A small cruise around the sanctuary must be done at early hours of the day for those who are interested in bird watching. The best season to visit the sanctuary is in between October and November. The sanctuary opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. </div>
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<b>Shopping</b></div>
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Most of the tourists visiting here do their shopping at Mysooru, which offers excellent possibilities. </div>
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<b>Places to Stay </b></div>
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Excellent accommodation is available in and around Srirangapatnam. The Karnataka State Tourism authorities are offering relatively cheep and good accommodation of various ranges. The riverside cottages are equipped with all the basic amenities such as clean rooms, communication facilities etc. </div>
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<b>How to Reach</b> </div>
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The nearest airport to Srirangapatnam is Mysooru, which is 20 Km away that connects to various regional cities. </div>
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Mysooru is the nearest railhead to Srirangapatnam. Mysooru - Bengaluru passenger trains are available to reach at Srirangapatnam. </div>
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Srirangapatnam situates on the Mysooru - Bengaluru National highway. All of the buses pass through this main sector stops near Srirangapatnam. As the sight seeing places are lying nearby in the island hiring a bicycle is advisable. </div>
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Non-Hindus can enter the Sriranganath Temple except near the sanctum Sanctorum. Smoking is strictly prohibited on the temple premises. Srirangapatnam visits can be made as a part of Mysooru city tour.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-41457326526510694052014-04-14T23:17:00.001-07:002014-04-14T23:18:47.701-07:00Tourism of Gujarat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Gujarat
has four national parks and 11 sanctuaries. The game sanctuary at Gir (the
world's last habitat of the Asiatic lion), the sacred temples of Dwarka and
Somnath, Palitana, the picturesque mountain city of Jain temples on about 2000
feet high Shetrunjaya hills, Udwada, the oldest place of the Fire temple of
Parsees in India, the 5000-year old archaeological finds at Lothal, the 11th
century Sun temple at Modhera, bird sanctuary at Nal Sarovar, architectural
monuments of Indo-Saracenic style at Ahmedabad and the national shrine of
Gandhiji at Sabarmati, are a few of the varied attractions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-11673056130929521712013-02-06T09:39:00.002-08:002014-02-17T04:05:44.820-08:00Taj Mahal in Agra India|Taj Mahal Tours <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Taj Mahal in Agra India is a
monument that has inspired poets and architects to ecstasy. The Taj Mahal is a
memorial to everlasting love. Prince Khurram was the son of Jahangir the Mughal
Emperor. While still a teenager, he met the breathtakingly beautiful Arjumand
Banu Begum, whose good looks inspired court poets of the Mughal court to say,
“The moon, hid its face in shame before her.”
Khurram told his father the Emperor that he had found his bride. Five years later they were married and from
then on they were inseparable. Khurram ascended to the throne, as Shah Jahan –
“the ruler of the world” in 1628. Arjumand Banu Begum was called Mumtaz Mahal –
the chosen one of the place and was Shah Jahan’s constant companion. She died shortly
after giving birth to their 14<sup>th</sup> child in 1631. Her dying wish was
that Shah Jahan would build her a mausoleum unrivalled in beauty anywhere in
the world, which he fulfilled when he built the Taj Mahal in Agra India. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5TnFV7emS4COVsP3fJHbBxLeems6CplcAzplmiTaBSy7culjXcTyHJ_0rwq77j-A7AtLCGU8N1cB54-CIhgsEXxTavWo0Oo_GWetmU8QbTNQLmYwInKowSN3meikJ0Bd9D2j50UZmors/s1600/tajmahal0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5TnFV7emS4COVsP3fJHbBxLeems6CplcAzplmiTaBSy7culjXcTyHJ_0rwq77j-A7AtLCGU8N1cB54-CIhgsEXxTavWo0Oo_GWetmU8QbTNQLmYwInKowSN3meikJ0Bd9D2j50UZmors/s400/tajmahal0.JPG" height="189" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A grief stricken Shah Jahan lost all
interest in administering his empire and turned his energies towards the
construction of this grand mausoleum. The Indian poet and Nobel Laureate,
Rabindranath Tagore described the Taj Mahal as a teardrop that glistened
“spotlessly bright on the cheek of time...” For the next 22 years the work
continued, finished in 1648 and drained the Mughal treasury of 32 million
rupees. A huge labor force of 20,000 workers led by Muhammed Hanif, the head of
the masons and the Persian architect Ustad Isa or Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, were
employed in its construction. The Taj Mahal has been described by the poet Sir
Edwin Arnold, as "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but
the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-40719296137306740692012-08-27T05:32:00.001-07:002012-09-06T10:39:09.594-07:00Umaid Bhawan Palace Rajasthan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Umaid Bhawan Palace is palace located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan and named after Maharaja Umaid Singh. It is a prime residence of Jodhpur royal family and few parts of this palace is regulated and managed by Taj group of hotels. It is located at Chittar hill so it is also known by name of Chittar hall. It has in total 347 rooms from which 64 rooms are in hands of Taj hotel group.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This amazing palace was drafted by Chatra Mohan Sharma; the draftsmen of Indian Railway. In Umaid Bhawan palace Jodhpur a museum also exist where you can witness the things, signs related to Jodhpur royal princes and kings of 20<sup>th</sup> century. Now Maharaja Gai Singh has ownership over this golden yellow palace. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGHaARD2p9VQUSj_2El9W-lnsMrsVuCGFzo0DVLKC_3byGIj10EaTkIiGPnhRv5QdpPvA6diW0SmlhmjCjENINSLArDAbE6mr7ezGfe2EVx2EBOE5gTywB-JoSM1U4Op26oO7ZI8smU7H/s1600/Umaid+Bhawan+Palace+Rajasthan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGHaARD2p9VQUSj_2El9W-lnsMrsVuCGFzo0DVLKC_3byGIj10EaTkIiGPnhRv5QdpPvA6diW0SmlhmjCjENINSLArDAbE6mr7ezGfe2EVx2EBOE5gTywB-JoSM1U4Op26oO7ZI8smU7H/s400/Umaid+Bhawan+Palace+Rajasthan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Here beautiful long corridors, Italian marble floors, courtyard, etc with amazing furniture, amazing weather are really deserved to be called as a heaven structure on earth. And it is really a news of happiness that we can enjoy living in rooms of this jodhpur palace by booking rooms here. By visiting here you can well take the appreciation of visiting one of the large royal residences of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-51558855564988705482012-08-27T05:31:00.003-07:002012-09-06T10:42:18.899-07:00Lake Palace in Rajasthan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Lake Palace Hotel</b> is one of the most luxurious hotels in India having 83 rooms and suits. It is widely spread in 4 acre area in Jag Niwas Island in middle of Lake Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan. This hotel is regarded as one of the best chosen hotels for couples for honeymoon as to reach here there is no any way other than boating in water. In a recent vote, <b>Hotel Lake Palace Udaipur</b> is chosen as the most romantic hotel in India.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It was started to build in 1743 by Maharana Jagat Singh II; belongs to Mewar Royal dynasty and took almost 3 years to complete. It was made for purpose of spending summer for Mewar Royal family and its architect work is same to some extent to Taj Mahal; one of the Seven Wonders of the World and other great buildings build by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan at Agra.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_sc7NhIb0YlL8QCnuUOoMbrDhtSmllojOH17_Agjufr1-zfIPJduKDxhLrvsb2DB4mICM7frYyEVnHy2xXCqf3MJHnxx3UVcHG3yOFJ61pv5tUlKLjk7Yjlif3BmR8TqzIJJNXAsnu6_/s1600/Lake+Palace+in+Rajasthan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_sc7NhIb0YlL8QCnuUOoMbrDhtSmllojOH17_Agjufr1-zfIPJduKDxhLrvsb2DB4mICM7frYyEVnHy2xXCqf3MJHnxx3UVcHG3yOFJ61pv5tUlKLjk7Yjlif3BmR8TqzIJJNXAsnu6_/s400/Lake+Palace+in+Rajasthan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">You can find several hotels in Udaipur but still Lake Palace is best as here even in worst summer time cool heaven condition can be enjoyed. Earlier it was also known by name of Jan Niwas or Jag Niwas. Its value you can easily calculate even in today’s time by fact that this palace is widely used for shooting various movies. Great architect work is also a reason behind popularity of this hotel. Here you will find decoration with pink, green stones and also with amazing looking painted mirrors. The Pichola Lake surrounds this palace and making the hotel as one of the most widely highly praised beautiful hotel. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">In total there are 83 rooms and more important fact to notice is that here each room is decorated with a different theme. Guests of this hotel are honored so nicely at royal bouquet rooms. Bars and restaurants are also there to make the guest feel more comfortable. If you also want to feel royal guest you can enjoy stay at this hotel. </span></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-28484205431513103572012-08-27T05:28:00.001-07:002012-09-06T10:44:14.256-07:00Jaislmer Fort Rajasthan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Jaislmer Fort</b>; situated in Jaislmer is really a pride sign of Rajasthan. It has really crowned Rajasthan as one of the most wanted travel destination of India in all over the world. This fort was built in 1156 AD by Rawal jaisal; the Rajput ruler. It is situated at Trikuta Hill and also known by name of Golden fort or Sonar Qila.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Its golden sandstone walls really look amazing at time of sun rise or sun sets. Long stretching walls really looks like heaven boundaries and is approached through Suraj Pol, Ganesh Pol, Bhoot Pol and Hawa Pol. Here true Rajput style interior decoration you can take glance of and can proud on their courage and history.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Jaislmer Fort Rajasthan h</b>as 99 bastions and is of five storey and here, almost one forth of population of Jaislmer lives. It is 250 feet tall; that is 30 meters above the city by such fact you can easily ascertain how high you will feel when you visit here.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRwbGeJbdi7nq9d7VBr3gkhVBBhYYORlz6laXTGKfiUHor-TUc6GvrVcvwJonsqUSO15XYwM8sb0igs8aozmNj4izJGYcBPbm3gUjvU_1f_ti3rU0hVZRXB7DP2O6xPqqNdTy89hxVGap/s1600/Jaislmer+Fort+Rajasthan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRwbGeJbdi7nq9d7VBr3gkhVBBhYYORlz6laXTGKfiUHor-TUc6GvrVcvwJonsqUSO15XYwM8sb0igs8aozmNj4izJGYcBPbm3gUjvU_1f_ti3rU0hVZRXB7DP2O6xPqqNdTy89hxVGap/s400/Jaislmer+Fort+Rajasthan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Here by travelling you can look at the great architect work of earlier periods of Rajput region but you can really feel their golden glory of that time. Here you can see a complete township of that period of Rajput like havellis, mansions, their noble courts, temples and no doubt the main attraction there is the group of Jain temples.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Sculptured figures, great carved images, beautiful pavilions, balconies, windows will really add additional flavor to collection of memories which you will gather here by visiting. </span></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-40664955373914883272012-08-27T05:21:00.002-07:002012-09-06T11:02:30.139-07:00Fair and Festivals of Rajasthan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">India is well recognized as a country of festivals and so Rajasthan is not an exception there in. However it can be well said that Rajasthan is a place where festivals are celebrated with more colors, more happiness, more dances and more music. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In Rajasthan almost in every festival you will see a fair like cattle fair, camel fair etc. Here from time to time Gov also introduces few fairs so that rich heritage of Rajasthan can be shown to all. Here the most popular activities are elephant race, horse polo, camel race, folk dances and music which are almost repeated in every festival however it would be really better if you keep yourself updated with days of celebration of particular festival. When we come to count numbers of festival of Rajasthan, it is really numerous which is not an easy task to portray here in short time so I am just mention below the list of few festivals which can make your Rajasthan visit more colorful and enjoyable. They are:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Camel Festival—<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It is celebrated in Bikaner in month of January. By visiting here you will see amazing breath stopping races of camels.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWqf0bccfdEz49fNBJBhkeUUAsdZUW2La3uJDL37eLNHnfadRhHflv3-KPePxXBxLMZT7iY_abzgjHLPmtAEYxSAn6ydhB1HLo6QEt6h2psbB8w-bAyf6-IFqxmq8hxCtIQhqqAQdioiO/s1600/Pushkar+Camal+Fair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWqf0bccfdEz49fNBJBhkeUUAsdZUW2La3uJDL37eLNHnfadRhHflv3-KPePxXBxLMZT7iY_abzgjHLPmtAEYxSAn6ydhB1HLo6QEt6h2psbB8w-bAyf6-IFqxmq8hxCtIQhqqAQdioiO/s320/Pushkar+Camal+Fair.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Desert festival- </b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It is celebrated in Jaislmer in month of January. In this festival you can take glance of camel dance. Other attractions of this festival are puppet show, camel race, turban tying competition, fire dances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAwqsLnFk479NewVHDgb5co0VFX04F8IF_L1Tb189XmqMYeus-6PGpJkCpH3v2KGyFJRmF7rWUtR0N3JICxpszvyzT4zFQXkFwNETvkwH1TjSqbR_PVgvitp4HqLb_OE0lk6czBq4MFqZ/s1600/romance+at+rajasthan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAwqsLnFk479NewVHDgb5co0VFX04F8IF_L1Tb189XmqMYeus-6PGpJkCpH3v2KGyFJRmF7rWUtR0N3JICxpszvyzT4zFQXkFwNETvkwH1TjSqbR_PVgvitp4HqLb_OE0lk6czBq4MFqZ/s400/romance+at+rajasthan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Nagauer Fair- </b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It is celebrated in Nagaur in month of February. Here cattle fair is the main attraction. Mirchi bazaar and cock fair are also not to be missed activities here.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Baneshwar Fair- It is a famous religious festival held at occasion of Shivratri in month of Feb on Mahi and Some River’s bank. It is also known as a great festival where people of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh meet with love and togetherness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Chaksu Fair- It is a fair where mainly purpose is to honor Mata Shitla Devi, and is held in month of March. Here one amazing fact you will notice that on this day no one eats the fresh food but food which is prepared one day before.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Brij festival- It is regarded as a very lovely festival where colors, dance and music use to be mainly displayed. It comes just few days before actual Holi celebration in India.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Elephant festival- As name shows it is a festival where decorated elephants are the main hero. It is celebrated at actual day of Holi in Jaipur so no doubt colors also being the main attraction of this festival. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oLH_N-ejqOkNqYIl7hyuWyot5GDXW_6blQwfpHjQdiOgFobl0H4IFBfMjNqSTgxEu9v3BXXf8ZvivPcXwi1sXI-MGMB9Yxcl9DHQfNjudMMiWnFhjtfJN4PwEFFIksIWBGEBzVXmH4U4/s1600/Folk+Dance++Festivals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oLH_N-ejqOkNqYIl7hyuWyot5GDXW_6blQwfpHjQdiOgFobl0H4IFBfMjNqSTgxEu9v3BXXf8ZvivPcXwi1sXI-MGMB9Yxcl9DHQfNjudMMiWnFhjtfJN4PwEFFIksIWBGEBzVXmH4U4/s400/Folk+Dance++Festivals.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Gaungaur festival- This is a women oriented festival where mainly women use to worship Maa Parvati; wife of lord Shiva. It is celebrated mainly in Jaipur, Mandawa and Udaipur after just finishing of Holi celebration.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mewar Festival- It is mainly festival of Udaipur region, and is celebrated in month of March or April. This festival is actually for welcoming spring season.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Urs Festival- Urs Festival is celebrated in the month of May at Ajmer at the death anniversary of Sufi Saint Mouniddin Chisti. In this festival you can see thousands of pilgrims from the entire world gathered here. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Summer Festival- It is celebrated in month of June at Mount Abut, the most romantic hill station at Rajasthan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Teej Festival- It is held in Jaipur in month of August. It is also dedicated to Goddess Parvati. In this married women worship goddess Parvati for their husband long life and unmarried women worship such goddess to get blessing for a perfect partner in life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Marwar Festival- In this festival you can enjoy all types of folk dances of Rajasthan; and is celebrated in the month of October in Jodhpur.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In short it can be well said that there are chains of festival in Rajasthan which continues for whole year. By visiting this festival you can easily take glance of Rajasthan culture. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-88916152740031885812012-07-27T11:19:00.000-07:002014-02-17T04:06:50.714-08:00Adventure Tourism in India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If you are looking for adventure, look no further – India offers you a range of adventure tourism unsurpassed by any other destination. You can go trekking and mountaineering in the Himalayas – the highest mountains on earth. You can ride a camel across the desert on a camel safari in Rajasthan, rush down tumbling rivers on river rafting tours, go scuba diving, surfing and wind surfing in the sea of India’s coasts, enjoy trekking over green hills, skiing and winter sports in winter or </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Paragliding over scenic landscapes.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Mountaineering is a popular adventure activity in India and the Himalayas and its foothills offer many opportunities for mountaineering and trekking in India. </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Jammu and Kashmir</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">, Himachal Pradesh and </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Garhwal and Kumaon <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2008358215">districts</a></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> in </span><a href="http://paurigarhwaluttrakhand.blogspot.in/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Uttarakhand</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> are popular destinations for adventure tourism in India. Two Institutes in India that offer courses and provide permits for mountaineering are the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) and the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited (GMVN). Always be certain to inform the authorities before setting out on mountaineering tours and ensure that you have all the necessary equipment and protective</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hang gliding and paragliding adventure sports activities are carried out near Bir-Billing and Solang Valley in Himachal Pradesh, Naukuchiatal near <b>Nainital</b> and Sanasar near Jammu which are popular paragliding destinations, due to the presence of hills from where it is easy to take off due to the presence of favorable wind currents. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Tourists can enjoy river rafting between Rishikesh and Shivpuri in Uttaranchal, which is not far from Delhi in North India.<b> River rafting camps</b> are organised regularly and experienced instructors accompany tourists on river rafting adventure tours to ensure that safety is maintained. Madikeri in Coorg, which is not far from Bangalore, in South India, is a popular place for white water rafting adventure tours.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Tourists can enjoy water sports off the coasts of Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the tropical islands of Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar. All these locations offer venues for scuba diving, snorkelling and many other water sports, on adventure travel in India.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Winter sports such as skiing, skating, tobogganing and snow boarding can be enjoyed at venues such as Patnitop and Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir and <b>Auli in Himachal Pradesh</b>. The ski slopes are as good as many international slopes but are lesser known and are therefore not crowded. You can enjoy a relaxed winter sports experience on adventure tours of India.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-26951078715273400102012-03-22T07:19:00.003-07:002012-06-15T04:26:44.315-07:00Shillong Tourism<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Scotland of The East</b><br />
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The romantic city of Shillong has been one of the important tourist destinations in the northeast. It is often referred to as the “Scotland of the East” due to its striking similarity with the Scottish highlands. The city derives its name from “Leishyllong”-the Superpower or God who is believed to reside on the Shillong peak, overlooking the city. Lying in the cradle of the tall pine conifers and pineapple shrubs, Shillong’s undulating terrain is a constant source of attraction for tourists from both home and abroad. The Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes add color to this hilly city.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4tPt-PSl2z1BbLoWk_7zwaqGvl_jgdV-peMKVQCPES9HZSihafBCjhHXeN0WZZotyLzbspNGTwLYYPLLvPKhgub40NEaXxRj5PsVdltT7CLjDxIEOPLj0DbEC36t0mALl1wbfroojDo4/s1600/Shillong.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4tPt-PSl2z1BbLoWk_7zwaqGvl_jgdV-peMKVQCPES9HZSihafBCjhHXeN0WZZotyLzbspNGTwLYYPLLvPKhgub40NEaXxRj5PsVdltT7CLjDxIEOPLj0DbEC36t0mALl1wbfroojDo4/s1600/Shillong.jpeg" /></a></div><b> Location of Shillong</b><br />
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The capital of Meghalaya, Shillong lies on the eastern part of the state. Perched at an altitude of 1,520 meters (4,990 feet) above sea level, the city stretches for about 6 km on an elevated tract. It is situated on a plateau bound on the north by the Umiam gorge, on the northwest by the great mass of the Diengiei Hills that rise up to a height of 1,823 meters (6077 ft.) above sea level, and on the northeast by the hills of the Asom valley. The Umshyrpi and the Umkhra rivers, which finally merge and form the Umiam River, water it. Shillong is at distance of 104 km from Guwahati, 295 km from Kaziranga, 578 km from Siliguri and 658 km from Darjeeling. The climate is hot and humid during summers. The monsoons arrive in June and it rains almost until the end of August. It is quite cold during winters.<br />
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<b>The Past</b><br />
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Shillong was a small village until 1864, when it became the new civil station of the Khasi and Jaintia hills. It remained the summer capital of Eastern Bengal and Asom for many years. In 1874, on the formation of Asom as a Chief Commissioner’s Province, it was chosen as the capital of the new administration. An earthquake destroyed the city in 1897, necessitating its complete rebuilding. In January 1972, Shillong became the capital of the newly formed state of Meghalaya. <br />
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<b>Sites to Visit</b><br />
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<b>The Waterfalls:</b><br />
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The Crinoline Falls is about 12-13 m in height and lies to the west of the Survey of India Office. There is a swimming pool at the base of the falls.<br />
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The Gunner’s Falls 1 is about 24-26 m in height and is near the military establishment on the Upper Shillong road. It is about 1.6 km from the GPO. <br />
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The Gunner’s Falls 2 lies a km away from the Happy Valley amidst picturesque locales.<br />
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The Spread Eagle Falls or Sati Falls is located about a mile away from the Polo Ground. It is a famous picnic spot. <br />
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The Sweet Falls (also called “Weitden,” in the native dialect) is the most beautiful of all the waterfalls in Shillong. It lies about 5 km from the Happy Valley and is about 96 m in height. <br />
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The Elephant Gait and the Elephant Falls are located near Upper Shillong. These are beautiful sights especially in the rainy season and are favorite picnic spots among the locals. Beyond the Elephant Falls, one can also view the Upper and Lower Elysium Falls.<br />
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The Beadon Falls lie about 2 km from Bara Bazaar. There is a hydroelectric powerhouse at the base of the falls. The Bishop Falls is also nearby and together they mingle and flow into the Umiam River. <br />
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<b>Shillong Peaks</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVU5Cww4LxcweVeoL1FoMHx6MNvUGojeG-w_uP4A32wgZRZ1fF5oX5mapnMDhPOpdSXTCmE0YkRzCNy9y_QmC7kv_dTklcRkT3NKx6SIHfziszVw09kapYwMN0eddD39BXVevMA4JS7jy/s1600/Shillong2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVU5Cww4LxcweVeoL1FoMHx6MNvUGojeG-w_uP4A32wgZRZ1fF5oX5mapnMDhPOpdSXTCmE0YkRzCNy9y_QmC7kv_dTklcRkT3NKx6SIHfziszVw09kapYwMN0eddD39BXVevMA4JS7jy/s1600/Shillong2.jpeg" /></a></div>Shillong Peak, the highest point of Shillong, is located 5 km to the south of the city and is 1961 meters (6,433 feet) in altitude. Being the highest peak in the district, it is often surrounded with fog. The peak itself is not steep, but rather semi-circular like that of a crown placed on the flat and extensive top of the Shillong Hill. The peak is accessible via the Upper Shillong or Jowai Road.<br />
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The Sohpetbneng Peak is 1343 m in altitude and is regarded as sacred by the Hynfiiewtrep tribe. It is a picturesque location.<br />
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The Dingei Hill is situated near the Umiam stream. Two paths lead to this hill from Shillong. One is the narrow tract that leads straight to the gorge through Umiyangka village. For a height of 1,000 ft on either side of the stream, the gradient is very steep and precipitous thus making it excellent for mountain climbing. The second route begins at Barapani on the GS Road, about 16 km from Shillong. During the upward journey, one is provided a captivating view of the Bhoi district, which lies 300 ft below the summit of the Dingei Hill.<br />
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The Dumpeep Peak is the highest in Swer and is 5100 feet above sea level. The Kyllang rock lies 78 km from Shillong. The rock is a steep bare cliff of granite, 200 m in height and rises abruptly from plain grassy downs.<br />
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<b>Lakes in Shillong</b><br />
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The Ward Lake is an important tourist site of Shillong. It is a horseshoe-shaped artificial lake lying beneath the Raj Bhavan (Governor's Residence) and the Accountant General's (AG) Office, with little isles and a bridge over it. The lake abounds in fish (grass carps) and feeding the fish from the bridge is a favorite pastime of the tourists. It is said that a Khasi prisoner, who requested for any kind of work to get him out of his cell, initiated its construction. The lake has a charming winding walk-a-way in the midst of rolling flowerbeds and fairyland lighting with gradually undulating grounds, hemmed in by lush greens. Boats are also available, while the cafeteria provides refreshments.<br />
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Seventeen kilometers before Shillong is situated Umiam or Barapani, a large lake formed after a hydroelectric dam was built across a stream. In recent years, this has become an increasingly popular place for outings and weekend visits. The Orchid Lake Resort, designed by the famous architect Charles Correa, and constructed amongst pinewood, overlooks the lake. There are facilities for water sports here: from kayaking and water skiing for the adventurous to water cycling and simple boating for the less brave. The Orchid Lake Resort, run by the Meghalaya Tourism Department, has pleasantly appointed rooms with balconies, a restaurant and bar.<br />
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<b>Other Attractions:</b><br />
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The State Museum is located at the State Central Library complex in Laichumiere and visitors can catch a glimpse of the heritage and lifestyle of the Khasi tribe here. The Butterfly Museum at Riatsamthiah holds a rare collection of butterflies and moths.<br />
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The Botanical Garden near Ward Lake has some species of flora of the region. A better place is the Orchidarium of the Botanical Survey of India. It has a rare collection of orchids and is a treat for the nature lover. <br />
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Near the Botanical Garden, one can find the celebrated Golf Course, called the Gleneagles of the East. The Golf club retains the colonial touch and is the first 18-hole golf course in Asia.<br />
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Behind the Shillong Civil Hospital, near the Pine Mount School, is the Lady Hydari Park. The park nestles a small zoo, a small museum, an aviary, and a deer park among tall cedars and pines.<br />
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In front of St. Edmund’s College, one can visit the fruit garden, maintained by the Department of Agriculture. During spring, one can see the trees in full bloom. There are many reservoirs filled with natural spring water that have the dual purpose of watering the gardens and functioning as a nursery-known as "Fishdale" for the raising and breeding of fish, notably hill-trout and carps. <br />
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Shillong is also famous for its churches. The most beautiful church is that of the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians. Directly below the hill is the Grotto Church. The All Saints Church opposite the State Central Library is an attractive structure made out of wood.<br />
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<b>Sites Nearby</b><br />
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About 56 km from Shillong is Cherrapunji village (East Khasi Hills district), now called Sohra. Located on the Shillong plateau about 55 km southwest of Shillong, Cherrapunji and Mausynram (another village nearby) are reputed to be the wettest places in the world. The heavy rains here often swell the waters of the Nohsngithiang waterfall. The town is famous for its limestone caves and orange honey. It has the oldest Presbyterian Church. Krem Mawmluh is a 4.5-km-long cave near Cherrapunji.<br />
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The summer capital of the Jaintia kings, Nartiang, is about 65 km east of Shillong. There is a park of megaliths, some of which are as high as 8. A 500-year-old temple of Durga is another attraction at Nartiang.<br />
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En route Nartiang, 64 km from Shillong, is the small lake of Thadlaskein. It is a beautiful picnic spot.<br />
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About 13 km from Shillong is the village of Nongkrem. It is the seat of the Syiem of Nongkrem, whose estate extends up to Shillong. The traditional Nongkrem Dance festival is held here around autumn and draws large crowds of visitors.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJKS8tPFviips28OLP-zjb_9Ukrna4DgFPMsnqfiDpO2XV71qpPA9oG68jTtlvjuzR0jezl2jxDMBZ9AVKwaQoHX_8Jud4Sw2yyNw0NrlcTpuI9L02EF5QlaAKRImvXXkvjMBpbQiiaEY/s1600/Shillong4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJKS8tPFviips28OLP-zjb_9Ukrna4DgFPMsnqfiDpO2XV71qpPA9oG68jTtlvjuzR0jezl2jxDMBZ9AVKwaQoHX_8Jud4Sw2yyNw0NrlcTpuI9L02EF5QlaAKRImvXXkvjMBpbQiiaEY/s1600/Shillong4.jpeg" /></a></div>Sixty-four kilometers from Shillong is Jakrem, a popular health resort having hot springs of sulfur water, believed to have curative medicinal properties. Dawki, a border town, 96 km from Shillong, provides a glimpse of Bangladesh. The colorful annual boat race during spring at the Umgot River is an added attraction. At a distance of 140 km from Shillong is Ranikor, an angler's paradise containing a huge population of carp and mahseers.<br />
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Jowai is a popular and prosperous town situated on a beautiful plateau 1,500 m above sea level. Three sides of this plateau slope sharply down to the Hai River and contiguous areas are rich in coal deposits. It is also an important station on the route to Silchar and Agartala. <br />
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<b>Festivals</b><br />
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The festivals vary according to the tribes. Christmas, Easter, Good Friday and the New Year Day celebrations are the most important. Ka Pomblang Nongkrem, or the Nongkrem dance, is one of the most important Khasi festivals. Shad Sukmynsiem is another important festival of the Khasis. Behdiengkhlam, the festival of the Jaintias, is celebrated in July. Wangala is the festival of the Garos and is dedicated to the Sun God.<br />
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<b>Where To Shop</b><br />
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The main shopping areas are Police Bazaar, Bara Bazaar and Laitumukhrah. On Iewduh, the first day of the eight-day long Khasi week, people from all over eastern Meghalaya come to sell their products here. In the center of Police Bazar, on the corner of Kacheri road, there are shops selling finely woven baskets of all sizes. For hand-woven shawls, handicrafts, orange flower honey and cane work, one can visit the various emporia like Meghalaya Handicrafts, Khadi Gramodyog and Purbashree.<br />
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<b>How to Reach Shillong</b><br />
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The nearest airport and railhead is Guwahati in Asom. The Guwahati-Shillong Road connects the two cities. Pineapple plantations and pine trees on both sides line the road. There are buses every half an hour to Guwahati. Taxi services (Ph. 223895) are also available at cheap rates. <br />
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<b>Food and Accommodation</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIhDhCPanzw6u2sL4C7kJctd4_8-1QfckjvbKQDlii0yf-k1b1RjqP2z_mrjb-UHiOzZazGkB9p3YtDz15zYPgX8P3vIrgv9iFU6hfvmpCkxPgkzOMKevPn8xUIv-RFveIHkg6zCQVoWG/s1600/Shillong6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIhDhCPanzw6u2sL4C7kJctd4_8-1QfckjvbKQDlii0yf-k1b1RjqP2z_mrjb-UHiOzZazGkB9p3YtDz15zYPgX8P3vIrgv9iFU6hfvmpCkxPgkzOMKevPn8xUIv-RFveIHkg6zCQVoWG/s1600/Shillong6.jpeg" /></a></div>There are numerous cheap hotels in the Police Bazaar area and on GS Road. Hotel Pinewood (Ph. 223116), built in the early 1900s, is a good place to stay. The traditional Khasi delicacies include pig’s brains with ginger and fried rice flavored with pig’s blood.<br />
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<b>Information</b><br />
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The Meghalaya Tourism Office (Ph. 226220) on Jail Road in Police Bazaar conducts trips to Cherrapunji. The Government of India Tourist Office (Ph. 225632) at GS Road may also be contacted for help. Travelers’ cheques can be exchanged easily in Shillong.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-64342624624212251172012-03-22T07:15:00.001-07:002012-06-28T23:10:42.871-07:00PEMAYANGTSE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>THE TOWN </b><br />
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The small town of Pemayangtse is an important Buddhist religious center in the state of Sikkim. Pemayangtse is not only a religious center, but it offers a panoramic view of the eastern Himalayas to the traveler including the mighty Kanchenjunga peak that overlooks the town. The area around Pemayangtse offers to the adventure seeker a number of trekking and hiking trails.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJkE_d1Xps89ZvB0rewu_TnXkVP87UIO2NqzZUOhi8trCm1aio8K7Bx6c5TcGgHSUtgpftExCUTIo1fxLZiQk_7GSctK9ddWXwOFIQCQMZ16NPYCUtJw6bgrsFINsmQKHEGBMRhW6h8NE/s1600/pemayangtse-monastery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJkE_d1Xps89ZvB0rewu_TnXkVP87UIO2NqzZUOhi8trCm1aio8K7Bx6c5TcGgHSUtgpftExCUTIo1fxLZiQk_7GSctK9ddWXwOFIQCQMZ16NPYCUtJw6bgrsFINsmQKHEGBMRhW6h8NE/s320/pemayangtse-monastery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>LOCATION</b><br />
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Pemayangtse is located in the southwestern part of the state of Sikkim, in the northeastern region of India. It is set amongst the Sikkim Himalayas at a height of 6,000 feet above sea level and is near Great Rangit River. The weather in Pemayangtse is alpine. Summers (April-June) are short and mild, while winters are cold (November-February). It experiences monsoon rains between July and September. <br />
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<b>VISITING TIME </b><br />
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The best time to visit Pemayangtse is between the months of March and May <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSCG97JrwiHXoMp_4I_U_NstlDS8tOxJ3oK_FNchdDZ5h7rGt1mov21gblnGz6X_tqsZ22FVMeRIz5atiFm6QBwOOdgfDD-r3aPZMwSqnl2ciU9rJH3tnBqjTA8w7-gWSuAnRFVj3Lcm7/s1600/sikkim1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSCG97JrwiHXoMp_4I_U_NstlDS8tOxJ3oK_FNchdDZ5h7rGt1mov21gblnGz6X_tqsZ22FVMeRIz5atiFm6QBwOOdgfDD-r3aPZMwSqnl2ciU9rJH3tnBqjTA8w7-gWSuAnRFVj3Lcm7/s400/sikkim1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b>HISTORY </b><br />
The state of Sikkim was originally the home of the Lepcha tribesmen. In the 15th century AD, this region saw the migration of Tibetan Buddhist sects. The Nyingamapa sect/order established its base in Sikkim and their religious teachers or Lamas helped establish the Kingdom of Sikkim. The ruler of this kingdom was called the Chogyal. The capital of this kingdom was at Yuksom and later shifted to Rabdentse, both of which are near Pemayangtse.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzZZ0o3QCm2hl1XeRhYCD_Z5PdZF_L2gC8Hum6isDKKEp23p_TkCJLkQTypaPtv5hkDwUm_sFXMyr0SMZWZBMhVJyELjxFAH3Zu_IxN6v6Wv0aiHhru_bffhPAb42jSiTERkuS_Qm0nn4/s1600/pilling+sikkim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzZZ0o3QCm2hl1XeRhYCD_Z5PdZF_L2gC8Hum6isDKKEp23p_TkCJLkQTypaPtv5hkDwUm_sFXMyr0SMZWZBMhVJyELjxFAH3Zu_IxN6v6Wv0aiHhru_bffhPAb42jSiTERkuS_Qm0nn4/s400/pilling+sikkim.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The kingdom of Sikkim included parts of eastern Nepal, the Chumbi valley (Tibet), Ha valley of Bhutan and foothills of India up to Darjeeling. The kingdom of Sikkim tried to resist the advancing British rule in the 19th century, but the British annexed it in 1849. The power of the Chogyal was thus reduced and Sikkim was made a British protectorate. This action of the British infuriated the Tibetans, who had an unsuccessful armed clash with the British. This area became a part of India when India annexed Sikkim in 1975.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-26241615071497210392012-03-22T07:13:00.002-07:002012-04-24T03:52:07.703-07:00PACHMARHI<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Wanting to get away from it all is common enough but more often than not ‘it all’ follows one to the very place one seeks refuge in. This is particularly true of hill stations where the attraction lies to a large extent in the beautiful natural surroundings. But more significantly it is for the silence, serenity and solitude that hill stations offer that they are places of retreat and get away from the crowds and confusion of a city. Today, few such remain. Commercialism and hard sell having eroded all but the natural beauty, at times sparing not even that.<br />
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<b>A HILL RESORT WITH SOME DIFFERENCE</b><br />
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Among the few exceptional hill resorts in India is Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh. It is not on the usual beat of hill station buffs and therefore, not over-developed. Though considered a hill station, it does not offer the predictable mountain fare of awesome heights and spectacular scenery, for the Satpuras are low-lying weathered hills. Pachmarhi’s appeal is low-key. Peace, seclusion and a quiet unobtrusive beauty are its prime attractions.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKDBGYOz_6ihJHqm0ToVfUPrZeBmatWAhmeTkyPqM0Km4rj51kLd8GqUCcdM5-JEUOoimSKes6_2rF5rUIyKwgfL8-DEjsUxl2qnx4qEXMRx2JubpLi9J8J_Qk0kUckRLhjLsOpa7dXkD/s1600/pachmarthi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKDBGYOz_6ihJHqm0ToVfUPrZeBmatWAhmeTkyPqM0Km4rj51kLd8GqUCcdM5-JEUOoimSKes6_2rF5rUIyKwgfL8-DEjsUxl2qnx4qEXMRx2JubpLi9J8J_Qk0kUckRLhjLsOpa7dXkD/s1600/pachmarthi.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b> THE PAST </b><br />
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A derelict church and houses with a perceptible colonial ambience are vestiges of the British Raj. It was in fact Colonel Forsyth, a Bengal Lancer, who discovered Pachmarhi in 1857, and the point where he first sighted and fell in love with the area was named after him and earlier called Forsyth Point. Today this has been renamed Priyadarshini Point. This enthralling feeling of Forsyth was echoed by other Englishmen who, finding the town pleasant throughout the year, settled here and developed Pachmarhi into a cantonment, which it still is today. Development has come by way of government-aided projects that are geared more towards cottage industries.<br />
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TRIBAL LIFE </b><br />
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One can easily encounter the tribals, the Gonds and the Korkus, busy gathering firewood. These are the native in-habitants of the area who live in small huts or in almost primeval rock shelters. They are a happy people content with a simple lifestyle, fond of song, dance and the local brew mahua. Their distinct lifestyle manifests itself in a number of quaint customs like the memorial blocks they carve for their dead which are rather like wooden slates, each with a figure carved in relief representing the dead person riding a horse. This is surprising because horses are hardly visible in the area. Perhaps the horses signify a journey to the other world. <br />
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WHAT TO DO </b><br />
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There’s something for everyone in Pachmarhi. The rocks which have eroded into fascinating shapes and sizes attract rock climbers, while a wildlife enthusiast may even spot a variety of deer and birds in the dense deep forests of sal, mahua, jamun and bamboo.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2FD3_IoI2p_yRkZKUjcitNa3sv5oIoZ-1dYEC0gFUR9ewoT9MbCTcslVt2uv5UPCuHJAGuyuVLmcZSRgHKSzT_tsHjToX30g8a6feJpjv7E07rD-6c6xIVG7ZHuWpvWk3bPdTyhwTPTV/s1600/panchma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2FD3_IoI2p_yRkZKUjcitNa3sv5oIoZ-1dYEC0gFUR9ewoT9MbCTcslVt2uv5UPCuHJAGuyuVLmcZSRgHKSzT_tsHjToX30g8a6feJpjv7E07rD-6c6xIVG7ZHuWpvWk3bPdTyhwTPTV/s320/panchma.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><br />
RECREATION </b><br />
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Pachmarhi is a place for walks, along the short or long chakkars, along the predictable way or along lesser known routes where one can come across rock shelters such as those in the Maradeo hill covered with paintings depicting warfare, food gathering and hunting, some dating as far back as 1000 BC. Walks take one through forests and meadows, to hill tops such as Dhoopgarh, the highest point in the Satpuras where the sunsets are quite spectacular, or down gorges and valleys where water and shade have led to a luxuriant growth of vegetation in every conceivable shade of green. Few sounds are heard other than the chirping of birds or that of water trickling, flowing or thunderously cascading into falls that end in large azure pools. <br />
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SITES TO VISIT </b><br />
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The Apsara Vihar or Fairy Pool is perhaps the most beautiful of pools in Pachmarhi. The descent is easy, the location ideal for a picnic and the pool shallow enough for a paddle. Some distance away the Rajat Parbat or the Big Falls, true to their name gush down from a height of over three hundred feet. Close to the Ramaya Kund, or Irene Pool, are the Duchess Falls, ideal for swimming. These are not quite so spectacular but the setting makes them one of Pachmarhi’s most beautiful and picturesque waterfalls. <br />
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Perhaps the beauty and seclusion led people to believe that <a href="http://paurigarhwaluttrakhand.blogspot.in/2012/03/pemayangtse.html">Pachmarhi</a> was a preferred place of the gods, for the area around abounds in pilgrim spots. The Chota Mahadev, a narrow point in the hills; Maradeo, the second highest point in the Satpuras, which comes alive during the annual Shivratri celebrations; Chauragarh, where a pilgrim path leads to a sacred summit with several images of Shiva, and the Jata Shankar cave where Shiva is believed to have hidden himself from the demon king Bhasmasur. This is a sacred cave under a mass of loose boulders that resemble the matted locks of Lord Shiva, hence the name. Handi Khoh, today a deep ravine, was believed to be a huge lake that was guarded by a snake that terrorized all who came to visit the sacred spots in the vicinity. Shiva came to the rescue and succeeded in imprisoning him in solid rock. The flames of wrath ensuing from this divine battle dried up the waters of the lake and the empty space assumed the saucer-like shape of a handi or pot. <br />
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Priyadarshini Point, the point from where Captain Forsyth, first caught a glimpse of Pachmarhi, is an oft visited spot. Lanjee Giri is of interest to rock-climbers as it offers some easy scaling near the summit. Jalwataran or Duchess Falls is another important site and one can trek to this picturesque waterfall that falls in three distinct cascades. The tourists frequent Pandav Caves. The Pandav brothers are believed to the spent a part of their exile in these famous caves from which Pachmarhi takes its name.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0upL9BSinqIobgyburff8Qc3pwllKcMoqqqHGqyb7XMH0OkVFlKT0dnnub1lSh1efcEdcWQlvjLb6-HgsnzllAE25O-TTGsqfl5xme35KIEEl9BsTDJolek4vt2rzrtv3Q5OkRPKFkJZ/s1600/panchmari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0upL9BSinqIobgyburff8Qc3pwllKcMoqqqHGqyb7XMH0OkVFlKT0dnnub1lSh1efcEdcWQlvjLb6-HgsnzllAE25O-TTGsqfl5xme35KIEEl9BsTDJolek4vt2rzrtv3Q5OkRPKFkJZ/s1600/panchmari.jpg" /></a></div><b> GETTING THERE </b><br />
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The nearest airport is Bhojpal (120 kilometers) connected by regular flights with Delhi, Gwalior, Indur, Mumbai, Raipur and Jablipuram. Pipariya (47 kilometers), on the Mumbai-Howrah mainline via Allahabad is the most convenient railhead. Pachmarhi is connected by regular bus services with Bhojpal, Hashangabad, Nagpur, Pipariya and Chhindwara. Taxis are available at Pipariya. </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-13093738037711293342012-03-22T07:10:00.004-07:002012-06-28T23:21:36.147-07:00OOTY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">There is something special about Ooty. The lush vegetation and the lavender-blue sheen of the mountains offer a promise of a summer of peace<br />
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<b>LOCATION </b><br />
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Couched amidst those gorgeous blue mountains of southern India, there is something special about the erstwhile British township of Ooty. Year after year, it draws tourists, adventure enthusiasts, honeymooners and the film industry like bees to nectar. Sure, many wise travelers believe that Ooty is a dumpyard, a degraded, over-rated hill station, and so on. Nevertheless, the wiser one will see how Ooty can soothe strung-up nerves and become the backdrop for a wondrous holiday.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZnXcI25JDampOLD3DorBZFIHuPNyuMp745P5xMundyYvDDnB1kS5NBkuTzKEX3qJeAjgFSXgKAtH36kHdx_mZ9SPqMajghDHshIPwrT3VUmHI6A2U_XIcfkMfYXyE4netyQvRLvnPfqZ/s1600/ooty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZnXcI25JDampOLD3DorBZFIHuPNyuMp745P5xMundyYvDDnB1kS5NBkuTzKEX3qJeAjgFSXgKAtH36kHdx_mZ9SPqMajghDHshIPwrT3VUmHI6A2U_XIcfkMfYXyE4netyQvRLvnPfqZ/s320/ooty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ooty nestles in an amphitheatre created by four majestic hills --- Doddabetta, Snowdon, Elk Hill and Club Hill. These hills are part of the Nilgiri ranges that are really the meeting point for the Western and the Eastern Ghats. But why the ‘blue’ mountains, one would naturally wonder at the name. Do rest assured, when the lavender-blue flowers of the famous Strobilanthes cover the hills in floral profusion, it would be time to stop wondering, for it is these funnel-shaped blossoms that are the reason for the name.<br />
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Although signboards all around scream and beg to make people call this 36-sq-km hill resort Udhagamandalam, their pleas obviously fell on deaf ears. Ooty will always be Ooty to everyone. As the blaze of the afternoon sun gives way to a nippy evening, one can make his way towards the nearby lake. This part of Ooty was once a huge bog with a west-flowing stream. In 1824, the lower part of the stream was converted into a lake. Though the lake seems ordinary enough, what really gets the tourists all excited is the warmth and buzz of activity in the vicinity. There is a boathouse where rowboats and motorboats can be had on hire. A Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation venture, it remains open from 8 am to 6 pm. Sitting at the edge of the lake and watching the sun dipping down to herald darkness, is a soothing experience, to put it lightly.<br />
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The beautiful Botanical Gardens are, in a word, Ooty’s milestone. Reaching the sprawling maze of greens and blooms, up northeast of the township, one’s first thought is of the incredible influence of British rule in India. And these images, reminiscent of the Raj, were all over Ooty. Not surprising, considering that the hill resort as we know it now was founded by the British, in the early 1800s, to serve as the Madras Government’s summer headquarters. The Botanical Gardens of Ooty, established in 1847, are much like the typical, manicured and planned gardens one sees so often. But the real beauty of the place is its plants, an amazingly diverse array with trees, shrubs and herbs of a mind-boggling number of species. And the flowers were really something to write home about. Is it the altitude (Ooty nestles at 2240 m above sea level) and the rarefied air, or the lack of polluted air that gives these flowers an added shine and gloss? They smile from everywhere as one ambles about the lovely, spread-out profusion. The fossil tree trunk that one sees here is believed to be 20 million years old! <br />
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The great charm of Ooty is not so much the specific tourist destination; it is, in fact, the long lovely walks that it offers. Anywhere you go the serenity of the Nilgiris will be all around you. Specially the strategic points from where one could either see Ooty or the view all around, like Snowdon, Ketty Valley, the Wenlock Downs and, of course, Doddabetta. Further, one could hire a horse either near the boathouse or at the Savoy-for a slightly more exhilarating excursion in and around town. <br />
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Ooty is a haven for the seeker of sports, adventure or otherwise; from hiking and riding to fishing for trout and playing tennis and snooker. Then, of course, there is the gorgeously scenic golf course tucked away in the northwest almost straight across town from the Gardens. Many avid golfers believe that the links of the Ooty Gymkhana Club are among the best in the world. Then there is the Race Course, in the heart of town. Today, Ooty has shot up on the demand charts of the Mumbai (Bombay) film industry, and with the southern filmmakers already there, the resort faces quite a glut of starry stuff. With a large number of popular hill stations of the Himalayas snuffed out or made inaccessible by violence and political upheaval, Ooty is now a hot spot for the filmwallah. So you mustn’t be rattled to find your peaceful walks punctuated by sudden crowds and an outlandishly attired couple running around a grove of eucalyptus tree. <br />
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The eucalyptuses are quite a part of the Ooty landscape. They even fuel a small oil industry, so it is common to find eucalyptus oil in the shops at Ooty. These tall, lanky trees seemed much at home on the slopes around. Many a traveler may feel that Ooty and the Nilgiris lack the awe, mystique and drama of the Himalayas. One can only feel sorry for the cynical traveler who failed to catch the pulse of Ooty’s charm and more so the Nilgiris. For the lush green serenity of these southern hills of India would be difficult to find anywhere else. A summer of peace and uncluttered, cool days is what the Nilgiris offer, with their resonant echoes of a rich and tangible Dravidian culture. <br />
<b><br />
A CUP OF CAMELLIA </b><br />
<br />
All along the hill slopes in the Nilgiri Mountains, you will find that omnipresent, glossy, stout bush with fragrant white or pink flowers and a melodious name camellia (Camellia thea). Tea, brought to the Nilgiris in the 1860s, is amongst India’s most prominent plantation crops, what with the country being the world’s largest producer, consumer and exporter of black tea. This is perhaps why the slopes of the Nilgiris, all round Ooty, Coonoor and the like, seem to have tea bushes almost like a second skin. <br />
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Processed tender leaves and leaf buds compose the tea of commerce. This agro-industry flourishes on the hillsides of the Nilgiris and experts say that tea growing at a higher elevation would have a flavor superior to that growing at lower heights. This flavor and distinctive character of the popular beverage is from essential oils and alkaloids present in the plant. But then, all this is after a long manufacturing process that is carried out in industrial units on the plantation itself or nearby. From harvesting to curing, rolling and fermentation, to drying and grading, the process is delicate and tedious. There are minor variations depending on the kind of tea being produced. The delicacy of the job of picking ‘two leaves and a bud’ is perhaps testified by the fact that pickers are always women or children. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytWp-GuJkKwF0F425AdJVEjlRnrJRDcfhVapPLFy16799e4mzV9EbVYKoS2HFs_AIZHOw28koZDF0_qiWyB3TOf1cqTBx9Y9lpzarEHflGzdzrLBatgS4mqEFvKVgo-Tve4EN56M4DrmR/s1600/ooty2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytWp-GuJkKwF0F425AdJVEjlRnrJRDcfhVapPLFy16799e4mzV9EbVYKoS2HFs_AIZHOw28koZDF0_qiWyB3TOf1cqTBx9Y9lpzarEHflGzdzrLBatgS4mqEFvKVgo-Tve4EN56M4DrmR/s400/ooty2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>And so, it is the camellia bushes, with their sheen and gloss that green the Blue Mountains, providing raw material for a huge industry and employment for many in the land of the Strobilanthes.<br />
<b><br />
AROUND OOTY </b><br />
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Ooty has the singular distinction of having many places around that are worthy of a visit, or sometimes even a halt. Heading east from the southeast of Ooty will take one to Coonoor and Wellington, two very beautiful townships. Coonoor, though small, had much to boast of Sim’s Park, Lamb’s Rock, Dolphin’s Nose and generally pretty landscape. Wellington, of course, is a typical army township, clean and smart. Coonoor may easily charm one enough to stay longer, with its lush, tea bush slopes and attractive British houses. <br />
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About 28 km from<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1924775046253041934&postID=1309373803771129334"> Ooty,</a> towards the east, is the 26-sq-km Kotagiri, incredibly picturesque, amongst the first townships of the British and a great place to visit. From Kotagiri one can even proceed to the Kodanad View, Catherine Falls or Rangaswamy Peak, all famous for their natural beauty. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojU30jmmRXyS-LAQxczgpqYY5wKZpeNsvVdtXqB0l2BQOms7hJkEBhu8NbLiJKMWapSD07nNE3Gj96WruiRSbow0zjUwBrhzSVP-Qcb4-gHY1u9jab_Iyv0BmqUtoCFPZQ5oLOJlVnVcw/s1600/ooty+lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojU30jmmRXyS-LAQxczgpqYY5wKZpeNsvVdtXqB0l2BQOms7hJkEBhu8NbLiJKMWapSD07nNE3Gj96WruiRSbow0zjUwBrhzSVP-Qcb4-gHY1u9jab_Iyv0BmqUtoCFPZQ5oLOJlVnVcw/s400/ooty+lake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The famous Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, 67 km from Ooty, stretches over 321 sq km. Traveling to Ooty from Mysooru and Bengaluru, one passes the sanctuary with its dense vegetation crowding the banks of the lovely Mayar River. Herds of wild elephants, or lone tuskers, a great variety of birds, cats, snakes, and deer are known to live in these cool, dark jungles of the Nilgiris.<br />
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10 kilometers out of Ooty is the great Doddabetta Peak, the highest in the Nilgiri chain of mountains. Doddabetta stands at 2623 m and if your trip is made on a clear day visible all around you will be Coonoor, Wellington, Mettupalayam, and Coimbatore. If it’s an exceptionally crisp day, you might even see Mysooru. <br />
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Avalanche, Upper Bhavani, Mukurti and Pykara are all places that are near Ooty and must be seen for their scenery. The reservoirs at Avalanche and Upper Bhavani are excellent waters for angling with the rainbow trout in particular abundance. All these places have an attractive mixed landscape of forests, shola-grasslands and tea-filled slopes. <br />
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Finally, for the scientifically curious, en route to Avalanche from Ooty is India’s largest radio telescope. So also the Hindustan Photo Films in the Wenlock Downs, the only factory of its kind in India, manufacturing sensitized photographic materials. <br />
<b><br />
THE NARROW TRAIL </b><br />
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</b><br />
This is a journey nobody should miss. A journey where you jostle with unimaginable crowds and squeeze into tiny coaches, a journey where you feel you can actually reach out and touch the elusive Nilgiris. It starts at Mettupalayam, 46 km southeast of Ooty, where you board the Blue Mountain Express that gets pushed by an engine instead of being pulled! <br />
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When you hear frequent references to the Ooty mountain train, you would somehow conjure up Lilliputian images of people sitting in orderly, storybook fashion. That’s sure mistake, for this small train of the Nilgiris couldn’t be more full, with human forms oozing from every pore! And if you still harbor rosy images, try clambering on from Coonoor where it stops en route to Mettupalayam. This is a precious travel tip, mind you. <br />
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But once you’re on, it’s heaven. The overpowering Nilgiri landscape has the ability to make you oblivious of the human ocean around you and the greenery is bliss. It’s a memorable 4-5-hour journey; so don’t miss it for anything. <br />
<b><br />
IN THE WILD </b><br />
The region is a treasure of wildlife, with some animals even native to these southern mountain ranges. There is that deep-voiced Nilgiri langur (Presbytis johnii) with its shiny black body and yellow-brown crown. The Nilgiri langur happens to be one of the 5-langur species found in India and Sri Lanka. These langurs of the Nilgiris are often found in the sholas, which are amongst their favorite haunts. It’s in the sholas that you can also see the lion-tailed macaque. <br />
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The shy, timid and hard-to-spot Nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius) also has its home in these Blue Mountains. This animal has pride of place in being the only wild goat to inhabit any region south of the Himalayas. It has a short coat, dark yellow brown in color, and prefers to inhabit craggy regions above forest level. The Nilgiris are home to a great variety of carnivorous animals like tigers, panthers, jackals and hyenas. Elephants, wildcats, civet cats, giant squirrels and mongoose are also part of Nilgiri fauna. The Nilgiri marten, nightjar, hill mynah, and golden oriole are some of the region’s avifauna. In essence, this range of mountains harbors a massive diversity of animal life. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1dU0QlCgcnqEwBRKcow17W3uFQLkv0dj3uYsHE4fCBeivYGysGFhX47TaXqzfzCg1Jn9MX6G-GrIvccLgPnAF7Lc1gK-zhsG1kbpqxRAYzKnQ7SELUZiY0x-jtoJkPM-qkYP-wtWHJeG/s1600/ootywaterfall.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1dU0QlCgcnqEwBRKcow17W3uFQLkv0dj3uYsHE4fCBeivYGysGFhX47TaXqzfzCg1Jn9MX6G-GrIvccLgPnAF7Lc1gK-zhsG1kbpqxRAYzKnQ7SELUZiY0x-jtoJkPM-qkYP-wtWHJeG/s400/ootywaterfall.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><b>GETTING THERE </b><br />
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Coimbatore, 105 km from Ooty, is the nearest airport. Indian Airlines has flight to Coimbatore from Bengaluru, Kochi and Chennai. <br />
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The Blue Mountain Express to Ooty is from Mettupalayam (47 km). Mettupalayam can be reached from Coimbatore by the Tea Garden Express. <br />
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All the important towns of Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka are connected to Ooty. <br />
<b><br />
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION </b><br />
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For further information, tourists may contact: Tourist Office, Government of Tamilnadu, Supermarket Building, Charring Cross, Ooty.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-32705481399840513952012-03-22T07:08:00.001-07:002012-06-28T23:31:32.051-07:00MUNNAR<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A HILL STATION CALLED MUNNAR </b><br />
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Munnar is a small hill station set amongst the Kannan Devan hills. It is famous for its lush green surroundings, lakes, reservoirs, forests, and tea estates. The quiet environs of Munnar attract the traveler to relax in the lap of Mother Nature. Munnar also beacons the adventure-seeking traveler, who is interested in paragliding. It has some of the highest tea estates in the world.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxv1sLue-206nhwcIh9meSdb11_NdzExNTxZOZYnGCL4HzIuNDAURvUu4OiG-59DpWH2TZXTpChl3HnEqD7La2e2ebiWadxs4fJ7DIFdm2FWx3MYwA2yfvXUPcYslFKK_mOTEJ8ZJcyI0/s1600/munnurkerla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxv1sLue-206nhwcIh9meSdb11_NdzExNTxZOZYnGCL4HzIuNDAURvUu4OiG-59DpWH2TZXTpChl3HnEqD7La2e2ebiWadxs4fJ7DIFdm2FWx3MYwA2yfvXUPcYslFKK_mOTEJ8ZJcyI0/s400/munnurkerla.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b>LOCATION </b><br />
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Munnar is located in the eastern part of the state of Kerala, in the southern region of India, amongst the craggy hills of the Western Ghats at an altitude of 1524 m above sea level. It is 130 km east of Kochi and borders the state of Tamil Nadu. The weather in Munnar is pleasant. Summers (April-June) are mild, while winters (November-February) are cool. It experiences heavy southwestern monsoon rains in June-August.<br />
<b><br />
VISITING TIME </b><br />
The best time to visit Munnar is between the months of October to March. Travelers must avoid the monsoon season while visiting Munnar.<br />
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<b>TOURIST SPOTS </b><br />
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Travelers can have panoramic view of the verdant surroundings and forested hills from Munnar. Walks and hiking around this small town offer an exhilarating experience. Travelers can also enjoy walking amongst the numerous tea estates of Munnar and view the entire process of making tea, right from plucking of tealeaves to their processing at the Kundale tea plantation.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsa9SgKYQhfrrppl32SdGp9gILffs7GVAlkA3VniRhHV8o_hyphenhyphen3O_LYaajD7UVkIC8raOQYNyYN3odNS3bW51XB06iuiUNQq19UP8gMtgvbo5q4jLsFLN2CTOhD9GxhT_WsI0QwXBtZSKr8/s1600/munnurkerla1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsa9SgKYQhfrrppl32SdGp9gILffs7GVAlkA3VniRhHV8o_hyphenhyphen3O_LYaajD7UVkIC8raOQYNyYN3odNS3bW51XB06iuiUNQq19UP8gMtgvbo5q4jLsFLN2CTOhD9GxhT_WsI0QwXBtZSKr8/s400/munnurkerla1.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>Anaimudi (2,695 m), the highest peak in southern India, can be viewed from Munnar.<br />
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The Christ Church is an important place to visit in Munnar. Built of stone, it was constructed by the British in 1910. This church is known for its stain glass windows. It has a number of brass plaques in memory of the tea planters.<br />
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The National Adventure Foundation conducts a course on paragliding in Munnar. Travelers can also enjoy boating in the lakes in Munnar.<br />
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<b>SITES NEARBY </b><br />
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The Evarikulam National Park is 16 km from Munnar. This national park is the home of elephants, lion-tailed macaque, and the Nilgiri tahr (a rare mountain goat). Travelers can also explore the Rajamala Hills adjoining the national park. <br />
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Marayoor is 42 km from Munnar to east of the Evarikulam National Park. Here one can experience the peaceful ambience and beauty of a sandalwood forest. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsYWuhSqL8zPg68C6ag04iNpbimlm1dEFdXR3QRXKfB0Qb2j05EbIQ_TJiVBTvDQg3-fodVMJPexRkJZW1ujlm6qvYQ4-Oj0hA_bxcHYScEErZGdol6RrO8qai9d4EX1DL9ZNs3vHnd__/s1600/munnurkerla3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsYWuhSqL8zPg68C6ag04iNpbimlm1dEFdXR3QRXKfB0Qb2j05EbIQ_TJiVBTvDQg3-fodVMJPexRkJZW1ujlm6qvYQ4-Oj0hA_bxcHYScEErZGdol6RrO8qai9d4EX1DL9ZNs3vHnd__/s400/munnurkerla3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is 10 km from Marayoor and 52 km from Munnar. This sanctuary is the home of elephants, leopards, and bear. Top Station, bordering the state of Kerala, offers spectacular views of the Western Ghats. <br />
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10 kilometers from Munnar, en route to Top Station, one can visit the Mudapetty Dam. This is a popular picnic spot and travelers can indulge in activities like boating and horse riding here. <br />
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<b>SHOPPING </b><br />
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Munnar is famous for tea. Tourists may buy it straight from the numerous tea estates or from the various shops in Munnar. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGO1EOxmVGvY4LLSB4NkDO0sWjmFD8LR2urgp1QuSNUpAGDorEAt_rO96Gy0BYpmZcJHfNASt0BYxThoPGH2cDBtsfdrbVOQecaHhIlergjs-xB5ImPsEeWeACH4ivitxsqjrJN-iJXSt2/s1600/munnurkerla2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGO1EOxmVGvY4LLSB4NkDO0sWjmFD8LR2urgp1QuSNUpAGDorEAt_rO96Gy0BYpmZcJHfNASt0BYxThoPGH2cDBtsfdrbVOQecaHhIlergjs-xB5ImPsEeWeACH4ivitxsqjrJN-iJXSt2/s400/munnurkerla2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b>HOW TO REACH</b><br />
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Munnar does not have an airport or railway station. The nearest airport and railway station is at Kochi, which is 130 km west of Munnar. Munnar is accessible by road from most of the towns in Kerala. It can also be reached from Madurai (6 hours) and Coimbatore (6 hours), which are located in the state of Tamil Nadu. Auto-rickshaws and bicycles can be hired for exploring the town. <br />
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<b>INFORMATION </b><br />
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Tourists can obtain necessary information from the tourist office and the Wildlife Warden’s Office situated near the PWD guesthouse. </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-13276319373521183282012-03-22T07:03:00.001-07:002012-07-17T01:38:05.064-07:00MAHABLESHWAR AND PANCHAGANI<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>LOCATION </b><br />
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Nestling in the curvaceous mountain ranges of the western ghats of Maharashtra are the cool misty resorts of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani. Away from the crowds and noise of the city, these twin resorts are an ideal holiday destination.<br />
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Several little known but charming hill resorts nestle shyly in these mountains. They seem to belong to the colonial era when people traveled up to these resorts to escape the heat of the plains. Many of them still retain some of the old world charm and make an ideal holiday destination.<br />
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Among the hill resorts of the state, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are very popular. Tucked away in the Satara district, they are best approached from Pune. Spared the commercialization that has affected the hill resorts of north and south India, the two resorts offer a clean, calm and thoroughly refreshing alternative. And, perhaps the only place in the country which offers a myriad activities-boating, fishing, horse riding, trekking and playing golf on the gorgeous nine-hole golf course built on the edge of a cliff!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKbWCvMosE4-j8WPCun-R2Lx8q-DqPbevkeYc4_syWA3ZNtmLk3H-BsLq02YyE-pTrNEwLv9DxT7lUVlFrTr9N9E1slZ1H_1g1lDvfpx4liThPIPFe6Cb6lvhUZy0wxvOg5sFEiw1ItrU/s1600/mahabaleshwar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKbWCvMosE4-j8WPCun-R2Lx8q-DqPbevkeYc4_syWA3ZNtmLk3H-BsLq02YyE-pTrNEwLv9DxT7lUVlFrTr9N9E1slZ1H_1g1lDvfpx4liThPIPFe6Cb6lvhUZy0wxvOg5sFEiw1ItrU/s200/mahabaleshwar.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Overlooking the Krishna and Koyna valleys, Mahabaleshwar, at an altitude of 1372 meters opens up a whole world of picturesque delight. With an air of unspoilt beauty, it is a paradise for nature explorers and peace lovers, as also for filmmakers and producers. The summer capital of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, Mahabaleshwar retains its quintessential charm, despite the increasing crowds that visit the town. Numerous majestic mansions built during the days of the British, still stand as monuments of the Raj.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>MAHABALESHWAR </b><br />
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Mahabaleshwar derives its name from the presiding deity “Mahabali” whose shrine at the old Mahabaleshwar Temple is a major attraction for worshippers and tourists.<br />
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Lingmala waterfalls present an enthralling sight of cascading water as it scatters from atop a steep cliff into thin silver streaks, often encircled by rainbow colors. The other waterfalls --- chairman and Dhobi, are popular with picnickers. The former can be reached via the Carviali Road. Dhobi waterfall is on a bridle path connecting Petit Road with Old Mahabaleshwar Road. A boat ride on the tranquil, crystal-clear waters of Lake Vena entices one beyond appreciation. The cool whispers of the surroundings add to the serenity of the landscape.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdyMGUOxAp6JzWuSXoxac_5uXms26wjhyCjSUgzIlZUHA_Dc5ZN5FQ9pF-TzvNy6Y4gb8Zlyi1yFo3vHAYeCQzu9OqZgxw_nmKEhSwBACGJlKTe5fLoRbI1xKhHO1p9qZ1Rfj0tFbQzC4/s1600/elephant-head-mahabaleshwar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdyMGUOxAp6JzWuSXoxac_5uXms26wjhyCjSUgzIlZUHA_Dc5ZN5FQ9pF-TzvNy6Y4gb8Zlyi1yFo3vHAYeCQzu9OqZgxw_nmKEhSwBACGJlKTe5fLoRbI1xKhHO1p9qZ1Rfj0tFbQzC4/s200/elephant-head-mahabaleshwar.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Mahabaleshwar’s 30 exotic viewpoints provide one with a spectacular access to the ultimate in fascinating landscapes. Most of the points derive their names from some former British dignitary and are situated in the 10-kilometer radius of the bazaar in Mahabaleshwar. Some points can be reached by motorable roads, whereas other can be reached on foot<br />
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Wilson Point is the nearest and the highest point in Mahabaleshwar. It is a vast bare rock with three observation towers erected at different spots. It is a major attraction for tourists as it offers a beautiful view of the sunrise. <br />
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Babington point, 2 kilometers from the bazaar offers a beautiful view of the Koyna valley and Chinaman’s waterfall. Helen’s point is about a kilometer’s ride from here by the Blue Valley Road. It takes one into the midst of the valley and gives an enchanting view of tiny fields and neat little huts. <br />
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Bombay point is one of the earliest known points in Mahabaleshwar. Every evening visitors rush to the peak to get a spectacular view of the sunset. From the peak, one can also see Pratapgarh and Makrandgarh at their best. <br />
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Connaught peak and Hunter Point are situated off the Old Mahabaleshwar Road. Connaught Peak is the second highest peak of these hills. It offers a panoramic view of the Vena Lake and Krishna Valley. It was first known as Mount Olympia, and was a favorite spot for riders. The Duke of Connaught was so enchanted by its majestic view that he could not resist the temptation of associating his name with the spot. Hence in 1880, Mount Olympia became Connaught Peak. <br />
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From here one can see Old Mahabaleshwar and Elphinston Point to the north; Pandavgad and Krishna Valley to the east. Hunter’s point approached from Old Mahabaleshwar Road, gives a picturesque view of the Koyna Valley. <br />
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On the way to Arthur’s Seat one comes across Elphinston, Marjorie and Savitri Points and also Castle Rock. The cliffs at these points rise from the Konkan Valley, which are some 500 meters below the level of the Koyna Valley. The ravine between these points is the rise of Savitri River, which rushes down 700 meters straight from here. <br />
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Dr.Murray discovered the favorite picnic spot, Elphinston Point, named after the Governor of Bombay, Sir Elphinston, in 1830. Arthur’s Point, named after Arthur Malet, is Mahabaleshwar’s most famous point overlooking the densely forested valley. It is interesting from this point, to watch a straw hat or a handkerchief, tossed down, sailing attractively in the air like a spread-out parachute! <br />
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While going to Arthur’s Seat, one comes across a small stream called the Tiger Spring. Till this day people believe that tigers and panthers frequent this place to quench their thirst. <br />
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Lodwick Point is named after a General who reached this point in 1824. He was the first European to set foot on the Mahabaleshwar hills. A monument at the top of the promontory has been erected in his memory. Beyond Lodwick Point is the extreme end of the mountain range known as Elephant’s Head. It is only 12 feet to the Koyna Valley below. From Lodwick’s point, the overhanging cliff looks like an elephant’s head and trunk, and hence the name. <br />
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Kate’s point on the Mahabaleshwar-Pune road, gives a commanding view of the Krishna Valley. Near Kate’s point is the Echo Point, which, true to its name, echoes the words of the speaker. <br />
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<b>PANCHGANI </b><br />
<br />
On the way to Mahabaleshwar from Pune, Panchgani is a picturesque little town in the shade of groves of casuarinas and silver oak. Protected from harsh winds by a tableland on one side and high cliffs descending into a valley on the other, Panchgani has a pleasant, bracing climate throughout the year. Panchgani is also an ideal base for some good trekking from where one can explore several mule tracks that lead through the now thinning forests. <br />
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The hill resort derives its name from the five hills that surround it. At an altitude of 1334 meters it is just 38 meters below Mahabaleshwar. These 38 meters translate themselves into a breathtaking 19 kilometers approach that swoops around bends with carefree abandon, offering attractive views of the river Krishna on one side and the coastal plains on the other. <br />
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John Chesson, who was sent out by the East India Company to find a suitable place where the wives and children of the officers of the Company could reside instead of going back to England frequently, established Panchgani in 1853. Since then, Panchgani has been an educational center and hill resort. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYMN0T_qFrEVtAfAs78fe7lxTJkxbyWQ6ctR5BIGERfH30c-30bk3wWzCwJuDSVoCOH9-lb7P65DyKtZpNQJei-DCXYBFbHRWPe9iz4eoOnnBESkHX98tiDwUqXzkNfMb6wRO-0yQHb95/s1600/panchgani.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYMN0T_qFrEVtAfAs78fe7lxTJkxbyWQ6ctR5BIGERfH30c-30bk3wWzCwJuDSVoCOH9-lb7P65DyKtZpNQJei-DCXYBFbHRWPe9iz4eoOnnBESkHX98tiDwUqXzkNfMb6wRO-0yQHb95/s200/panchgani.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>It has the Raj stamped indelibly all over it. It can be seen in the architecture of the old British buildings, the Parsi houses and the boarding schools that have been around for a century or more.<br />
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Flocked by viewpoints, Panchgani is full of wonders, as it overlooks the scenic magnificence of the Krishna Valley, which extends many kilometers from east to west its numerous hamlets, cultivated fields and sparkling rivers. <br />
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The view from Tableland, a flat mountain peak measuring about one square kilometer, exposes the mysterious valleys and the miniature looking plains on all sides. The Caves, Kamlagad fort, Municipal Garden and the Children’s park add to Panchgani’s unending beauty. The walkways, thickly canopied by lush trees and vegetation, offer many delights and unravel many a secret. Visitors can select a horse from one of the numerous stables at the resort and canter along uncharted routes through hidden lover’s lanes, to the caves or while away their time at the bazaar. Like Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani is known for strawberries, blackberries, jams and fruit jellies. Also available are the famous Mahabaleshwar shoes, pith flowers, exclusive saris shawls, readymade garments, eye-catching decorative items, leather goods and tribal trinkets. <br />
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The Devil’s kitchen, situate to the south of Tableland is a place of mythological interest. According to one legend, Pandavas resided here for some time during their exile. Pandavgad caves near Wai are believed to have been built by them and bear their name. <br />
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Near the Octroi Naka, lies Sidney Point, a flattened area on the apex of a conical hill. From here one can see Wai and the Sanatorium in the distance and also the sparkling waters of Dhom Dam. Parsi Point and Graves Point are located on the Panchgani Mahableshwar road and offer a view of the Krishna Valley. 6 kilometers away are the Rajpuri, caves, located in a temple of Kartik Swami, son of Lord Shiva. <br />
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Panchgani has the Moral Rearmament Training Center founded by Mahatma Gandhi’s nephew Raj Mohan Gandhi. Its modern structures stand distinctly in the Victoria surroundings. A visit to the Center means a beginning of a new moral awareness. MRA consists of hostels, conference rooms and a multipurpose auditorium. <br />
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<b>PRATAPGARH FORT </b><br />
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A visit to Pratapgad Fort, 24 kilometers from Mahabaleshwar, adds a historical dimension to the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani holiday. Made famous by the Maratha leader Shivaji, the fort built in 1656, saw a decisive encounter between him and Afzal Khan, a general sent by the ruler of Ahmednagar to subdue the rebel. Afzal Khan was killed in the clash and Shivaji established himself as a significant force in the contemporary power politics. <br />
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Pratapgad has the honor of being an authentic Maratha fort. From a distance it looks like a round-topped hill, walls of the lower fort forming a kind of bend or crown around the brow. The road leading to the gateway lies through a small, but thick forest.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQRc8_DIhKK6z41gifoMPwsY2JibHzU4A_gEcI02PhGRdy5f5KAcIiDBO5qJnGKbAE7qndTo8h7re37mF92V_huYLYE0HCc3-9fVFML6O_vLzaJlXfyqfI2nzwYreuQ9T4QEAY58BYUO1/s1600/panchgani+mahabaleshwar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQRc8_DIhKK6z41gifoMPwsY2JibHzU4A_gEcI02PhGRdy5f5KAcIiDBO5qJnGKbAE7qndTo8h7re37mF92V_huYLYE0HCc3-9fVFML6O_vLzaJlXfyqfI2nzwYreuQ9T4QEAY58BYUO1/s200/panchgani+mahabaleshwar.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The famous temple of Goddess Bhavani is on the eastern side of the lower fort. It consists of a hall and a shrine. The shrine, made of black stone, is the image of the goddess and over it is a small spire or shikhar.<br />
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An equestrian bronze statue, of Chhatrapati Shivaji was erected in the fort in 1957. The 17-foot statue is placed on a square edifice, which is 10 feet high. And, a little away from the fort, is the dargah of Afzal Khan. <br />
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The fort stands as a silent testimony to the past that resounded with warlike cries, the clashing of swords, the clanging of shields and the final joyous cries of victory. <br />
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As varied as the different parts of the state of Maharashtra, a Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani-Pratapgad Fort experience offers a secluded sanctuary… with all the elements of adventure, scenic sights, and a restful holiday, away from the crowds one finds at other hill resorts. Truly, a holiday with a difference! <br />
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<b>GETTING THERE </b><br />
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Pune is the nearest airport both for Mahabaleshwar (120 km and Panchgani (98 km) <br />
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For Mahabaleshwar, the nearest railhead is Wathar (62 km) but Pune (120 km) is the convenient railhead. <br />
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For Panchgani, the nearest railhead is Wathar (45 km). Bombay-Wathar via Pune (312 km). Pune-Wathar (120 km) <br />
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From Mumbai via Pune, Mahabaleshwar is 290 km and via Mahad it is 247 km. The State Transport buses ply from Bombay and Pune to Mahabaleshwar. MTDC operates daily bus services except during the monsoon, between Mumbai-Mahabaleshwar-Mumbai. Also sightseeing tours for Mahabaleshwar and Mahabaleshwar-Pratapgad Fort. <br />
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From Mumbai via Pune, Panchgani is 270 km and via Mahad 266 km, from Pune 98 kilometers and from Mahabaleshwar 19 km. The State Road Transport buses ply from Satara, Pune, Wai, Mahabaleshwar and Mahad. MTDC runs a regular bus service between Mumbai and Panchgani. <br />
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<b>WHERE TO STAY </b><br />
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Both Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani have reasonable priced bungalows. MTDC run holiday resorts and hotels. <br />
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<b>WHERE TO EAT </b><br />
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The two resorts offer a choice of good food. Gujarati vegetarian meals, continental, Chinese and Mughlai specialties are served in hotels and restaurants. <br />
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<b>LOCAL TRANSPORT </b><br />
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Taxis and rickshaws are easily available though bicycles and horseback are recommended for traveling long distances. <br />
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<b>WHEN TO VISIT </b><br />
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Best time to visit Mahabaleshwar is October to June and best time to visit Panchgani is September to May.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-1513363572460824602012-03-22T05:54:00.001-07:002012-07-17T01:49:12.529-07:00LONAVALA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>JEWEL OF THE SAHYADRI</b><br />
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Lonavala is an important hill station in the state of Maharashtra. It is popularly known as the jewel of the Sahyadri Mountains. Lonavala is set amongst the sylvan hills of the Western Ghats and is a popular gateway from Mumbai and Pune. It also serves as a starting point for tourists interested in visiting the famous, ancient Buddhist rock cut caves of Bhaja and Karla, which are located near this hill station. It also has an important Yoga center near it, for the health conscious traveler. <br />
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<b>LOCATION </b><br />
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Lonavala is located in the western part of the state of Maharashtra, in the western region of India. It is set amongst the slopes of the Sahyadri mountain range and situated 106 km southeast of Mumbai at an altitude of 625 m above sea level. The weather in Lonavala is pleasant. Summers (April-June) are mild, while winters are cool (November-February). It experiences heavy southwestern monsoon rains between June and September. <br />
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<b>VISITING TIME </b><br />
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The best time to visit Lonavala is between the months of October and May. It is advised not to visit Lonavala in the monsoon season between the months of June and September, as it experiences heavy rainfall during this time. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsmSHlrPBZOj8wMKLOP4N-PvD75Fxm3XFso4XOpvfdPmxzJp6s6G4mhzS6dRN8Bur7j5ANi0k_XUsfza8x8z5nDX9kQcaLA7JN585gc4l2r3dOBZY4ZTLiumHix9z8tzQoKIGto2AzDkM/s1600/lonavala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsmSHlrPBZOj8wMKLOP4N-PvD75Fxm3XFso4XOpvfdPmxzJp6s6G4mhzS6dRN8Bur7j5ANi0k_XUsfza8x8z5nDX9kQcaLA7JN585gc4l2r3dOBZY4ZTLiumHix9z8tzQoKIGto2AzDkM/s400/lonavala.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b>THE PAST</b><br />
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The area around Lonavala was an important Buddhist center in 2nd century BC and a number of ancient Buddhist rock-cut cave temples can be found in this area. As Lonavala is located in the inhospitable terrain of the Sahyadri mountain range, it was not an important site in terms of history. Chattrapati Shivaji, the founder of the first Maratha Empire, ruled this area. Later it came under the Peshwa rulers, who founded the second Maratha Empire. It was finally taken over by the British when they defeated the Peshwas. <br />
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<b>TOURIST SPOTS </b><br />
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Lonavala provides a panoramic view of the lush green surroundings of the Sahyadri ranges. The peaceful environs of the town, which provides a great escape from the hustle and bustle of Mumbai city, attract tourists to this place. Travelers can take a walk along the waterfalls, the grassy abundance and hills in and around Lonavala. The mountainous terrain of Lonavala is ideal for trekking and hiking. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>SITES NEARBY</b><br />
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There are numerous lakes around Lonavala. Tugauli, Lonavala and Bhushi lakes are worth visiting; so is the Walvan Dam. The small hill station of Khandala is just 5 km away. Travelers coming from Mumbai pass through Khandala before reaching Lonavala. Kaivalyadhama Yoga Hospital is 2 km from Lonavala on the road to Karla and Bhaja caves. This center attracts both local and foreign tourists seeking yogic healing. This center was established in 1924 and conducts various courses in Yoga along with a research center and a training college. Karla and Bhaja Caves, located in the hills at a distance of 11 km from Lonavala, are important places to visit. These rock-cut cave temples dating back to 2nd century BC and are amongst the oldest and finest examples of Buddhist rock cut temple art in India, belonging to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism. Adventure seekers can try their hand at rock climbing at the Duke’s Nose peak and other locations in the Karla hills, near Lonavala. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRzBzQ9LW3lsEoNCRbbw2SuxMWF9ToRdMST59HdocR-gtL1kA3yCll6NaM7bCy_XQAaWfP5xJafdyFt4qs63uE8AU0hF_6DdLMoHn0_ryqVpsTWWBee8l9hPWYficvtp_l1w7foYoBYBE/s1600/Hill-Station-Lonavala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRzBzQ9LW3lsEoNCRbbw2SuxMWF9ToRdMST59HdocR-gtL1kA3yCll6NaM7bCy_XQAaWfP5xJafdyFt4qs63uE8AU0hF_6DdLMoHn0_ryqVpsTWWBee8l9hPWYficvtp_l1w7foYoBYBE/s320/Hill-Station-Lonavala.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>HOW TO REACH</b><br />
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Lonavala does not have an airport. The nearest airport is in Pune, which is 64 km from Lonavala. As Lonavala is on the main railway line between Mumbai (Bombay) and Pune (Poona), all express trains plying between the two cities stop here. The travel time from Lonavala to Mumbai in express train is 3 hours while it takes 1 hour from Lonavala to Pune. There is also an hourly shuttle service for Pune (2 hours). The railway station in Lonavala is located near the fruit market, while the main bus stand is near the main road. The bus service between Lonavala and Pune is good (2 hours). However, the ride is rough and it takes 4 hours to reach Mumbai from Lonavala. Buses shuttle between Lonavala and Khandala (5 km from Lonavala; 15 minutes trip). Travelers can hire bicycles on hourly basis to explore Lonavala or to go to Khandala. <br />
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<b>PLACES TO EAT </b><br />
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Tourists can savor traditional Indian, Marathi and western food in the hotels and restaurants across this small town. Lonavala is known for chikki, which is a local sweet. <br />
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<b>INFORMATION </b><br />
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The travelers interested in trekking and hiking trips around Lonavala can contact the Maharashtra Tourism Development Council. </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-61556094192994761282012-03-22T05:50:00.000-07:002012-03-22T05:50:45.912-07:00Kohima<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>THE HILLY HOME OF THE BRAVE </b><br />
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“When you go home, tell them of us: that for their tomorrow, we gave our today,” reads an epitaph in the War Cemetery of Kohima. This picturesque town is the home of the brave and daring, yet simple and innocent, Naga tribes. Lapped in the eastern frontiers of the Himalayan mountain range, Kohima is marked by an unhurried pace of life, calm and serene environs and fresh, unpolluted air, which make a welcome change for a jaded city dweller. A typical Naga town, it depicts the exotic tribal culture of the northeast and offers a panoramic view of the neighboring hills. <br />
<b><br />
LOCATION </b><br />
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Situated in the southwest part of the northeastern state of Nagaland, Kohima is a hill station perched at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level. This capital town is at a distance of 339 km from Guwahati, 145 km from Imphal and 74 km from Dimapur. The National Highway 39 connects it to both Dimapur and Imphal. It experiences around 250 cm of annual rainfall. While summers are tropical, winters are dry and bitterly cold. <br />
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<b>THE PAST</b><br />
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Kohima was founded alongside the large Angami village known as Kohima Village. It has earned its name in history as the place where the Japanese tide was cut short during World War II.<br />
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<b>SITES TO VISIT</b><br />
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The highway from Imphal to Dimapur, the route along which the Japanese hoped to reach the plains of India, crosses the saddle at the foot of the World War II Cemetery. These immaculate gardens stand as a memorial to the Allies who died on this very spot during the three-month Battle of Kohima that ended in April 1944. A bronze plaque with a suitable epitaph supports each grave.<br />
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The Catholic Cathedral at Aradura Hill is an important landmark; it is one of the largest cathedrals in the entire northeast and is home to the biggest wooden cross in the country.<br />
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The Nagaland State Museum, about 1½ km north, is a one-stop treasure trove where one can get a glimpse into Naga culture through history. Here one can find dioramas of each tribe being displayed. The main items exhibited are gateposts, statues, pillars, jewelry, and a ceremonial drum that looks like a dugout war canoe in a separate shed. This canoe suggests that the Nagas may have originated from Sumatra. The basement of the museum has birds and animals of northeastern hill states. <br />
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The Zoological Park abounds in rich flora and fauna of Nagaland. Of special interest is the world famous Blythe Tragopan. In the heart of the town, one can see the last relics of the Kachari kingdom.<br />
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<b>SITES NEARBY</b><br />
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Just 5 km away, on the Dimapur-Kohima Road is Ruzaphema, a place ideally suited for leisure and recreation with its colorful bazaars and a wide range of tribal handicrafts that are exquisite in their style, and unique in their own way.<br />
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Around 10 km from Kohima is the village of Khonoma that abounds in stories of valor and courage. The terraced fields, which produce 20 types of paddy at different elevations, present a beautiful view. The Khonoma gate relates the tragic story of British infiltration into Naga Hills in 1879.<br />
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Situated at an altitude of 3,048 meters above sea level, 15 km from Kohima is the Japfu Peak. It is the second highest peak of Kohima and ideally suited for trekking and scaling. The sight of Kohima from here is breathtakingly beautiful. <br />
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Dzukou valley is one of the best trekking spots in the northeast region at an altitude of 2,438 meters above sea level, behind Japfu Peak and 30 km to the south of Kohima. The entire valley is overshadowed with a type of tough bamboo brush that makes the place appear like a mowed lawn. White and yellow lilies and numerous other flowers adorn the valley in summers, while rhododendrons ornament the hills surrounding the valley.<br />
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Mokokchung and Zunheboto, situated 160 and 150 km respectively from Kohima are picturesque towns at great heights. Mokokchung is a cultural center of the Ao Nagas. Here the main festivals of the Aos-Moatsu and Tsungremmong-are celebrated during the first week of May and August respectively.<br />
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Situated at an altitude of 195 meters above sea level is Dimapur, an important commercial center of Nagaland. Dimapur hosts the only airport in Nagaland and is also well connected with the neighboring states of Manipur, Asom, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram by National Highway 39. It is also the main railhead in Nagaland.<br />
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Kohima has been profusely showered with Nature’s bounty. Besides the varied flora, the fauna of Kohima too boasts of its exotica. The Fakim Sanctuary, close to the Myanmar border, receives high rainfall and is inhabited by tigers and hoolock gibbons. The Pulie Badze Sanctuary is a ringed-in 9-sq-km area that lies in the proximity of Kohima. Located at a distance of 37 km from Dimapur, the Intanki Wildlife Sanctuary has some rare species of birds.<br />
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<b>WHERE TO SHOP</b><br />
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The Nagaland State Emporium is near the bus stand and one can buy colorful shawls, bags, decorative spears, wood-carvings, bamboo baskets and other handicrafts from here. Each Naga tribe has its own distinctive design on its shawls and the most famous one is the red, black and white Tsungkotepsu of the Ao Nagas. There are also super markets where one can buy handloom and handicrafts.<br />
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WHERE TO STAY</b><br />
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Kohima offers very few choices as far as lodges are concerned. A few good private hotels and the Tourist Lodge (Ph: 22417) are the only places to stay. Twenty-five percent of the rent for accommodation in the Tourist Lodge is required to be paid in advance either in cash or by money order at the time of booking.<br />
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<b>HOW TO REACH</b><br />
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The nearest airport is at Dimapur. Indian Airlines operates Boeing services from both Kolkata and Delhi every alternate day. Guwahati and Imphal are also connected to Dimapur by air. The nearest railhead too is Dimapur, and the Northeast Frontier Railway runs a number of trains from Dimapur to Guwahati. Guwahati is in turn well connected to the rest of the country. Nagaland State Transport runs buses from Dimapur to Kohima and the journey takes around 4 hours. From Guwahati, one can find a number of luxury private buses. Taxis and mini-coaches are also available, albeit at slightly exorbitant rates, from Dimapur. <br />
<b><br />
ENTRY FORMALITIES</b><br />
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Domestic tourists visiting Nagaland require to obtain Inner Line Permits issued by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur; Deputy Commissioner, Kohima and Mokokchung; Deputy Resident Commissioner at Nagaland House in Kolkata and Delhi; and Assistant Resident Commissioner, Shillong. A minimal permit fee is realized from each applicant. Detailed information can be had from the Directorate of Tourism, Nagaland, Kohima (Ph: 2544). All foreign tourists desiring to visit Nagaland require Restricted Area Permit from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, South Block, New Delhi. The Office of the State Resident Commissioner in New Delhi (Ph: 011-3012296) is also helpful.<br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1924775046253041934.post-87283357040512206232012-03-22T05:47:00.000-07:002012-03-22T05:47:25.588-07:00KODAIKANAL<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Tucked away among the Palani Hills in Tamilnadu, in South India, and jealously guarded like a prized jewel by the dark forests, is Kodaikanal. In fact, the name itself means ‘gift of the forest’ in Tamil. A more appropriate and evocative name could not have been imagined for this quaint, untouched little hill station, where the air is intoxicating, the scenery breathtakingly beautiful, and serenity seldom found in other hill stations. Cradled in the southern crest of the upper Palani Hills, in the Western Ghats, 120 km from Madurai, Kodaikanal is located 2133 m above sea level. Founded by American missionaries in 1845, Kodaikanal is steeped in history. Relics and artifacts of the Paliyans who once lived in these hills can still be seen in the Shenbaganur Museum. Even today, a few Paliyans can be seen near Kukal Cave. In the early days, there were no roads and people had to travel by bullock-cart and palanquin braving the dangers of the forests.<br />
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Slowly Kodaikanal developed, missionaries established church properties, many of the then ruling princes built summer holiday-homes, clubs were opened, school and hotels were built, and civic amenities were introduced.<br />
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<b>THE TOWN </b><br />
<br />
Driving into Kodaikanal from Palani is a dramatic experience, reminiscent in parts of the drive up the Ghat road from Kallar to Ooty. It is a relief to leave the hot, dusty plains behind and drive up into the cool hills. The vegetation changes gradually from palm-fringed paddy fields to wild brush with flaming blossoms to plantations interspersed with stately silver oaks. The view of the Amaravathi Dam, a shimmering sapphire sheet of water is an unforgettable sight. Driving higher, banana trees give way to tall eucalyptus trees, and the whole countryside is dotted with wildflowers in jeweled colors, magenta and purple predominating. There is a marked nip in the air, as one reaches for one’s cardigan, or shawl. At a bend in the road, the shimmer and roar of the Silver Cascade waterfall welcome the tourist. <br />
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Arriving in Kodai town, one is greeted by orchards of pear trees with their graceful branches silhouetted in artistic curves against the evening sky like stark Zen etchings. Buildings with gabled roof dot the skyline. Broken fragments of light from the setting sun are caught and kindled in the wind-rippled water appearing like a myriad lamp floating on the lake. Soon, as though on cue, lights start twinkling all over the hillside, and even the stars pick up the message, and heaven and earth are a riot of light, as though beaming messages of goodwill to each other.<br />
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<b>PLACES TO VISIT </b><br />
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The Kodai Club gives the impression of stepping back into colonial India. The lounge with its period fireplace, the piano, the Leigh Hunt prints, the library stocked with books by Evelyn Waugh, Anthony Trollope, and the bar with stuffed heads of bison, tigers, deer-horns, and a picture of the Laughing Cavalier by Franz Hals, the restaurant with old English plates, a glowing hearth-fire, and landscape prints, are all British legacies. Cinnereras and primulus add to the English atmosphere, and again one is struck by the predominance of the lilac-purple theme. The dinner consisting of steaming mulligatawny soup, roast chicken and potatoes, and apple pie, is a further British legacy. <br />
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As one relaxes in the comfortable chamber of the Kodaikanal Club, a cheerful log fire dances a tableau of flame and shadow on the hearth, keeping out the chill of the night. <br />
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One wakes up with an air of expectancy refreshed after a good night’s sleep. The tree-fringed lake greets one in the crisp early morning. One realizes that the lake is the cool heart of Kodaikanal. It is the legacy of the then Collector, Sir Vere Livinge, who formed it by damming the valley where three streams flowed. It spreads over an area of 60 acres and is skirted by a three-mile tarred road. There is a Boat Club and a public ferry. <br />
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Just across the Kodaikanal Club is the Kodaikanal School, an imposing campus of verdant manicured lawns, dignified trees and solid stone buildings. This coeducational, English medium boarding school offering a pre-university curriculum in 12 grades, prepares students for entrance to Indian and worldwide colleges and universities through the Kodaikanal School Diploma. Selected students are prepared to write the external exams of the International Baccalaureate, based in Geneva. More than 30 nationalities are represented in the school community of students and staff. On the wall of the principal’s outer office is a plaque emblazoned with an appropriate quotation from the French philosopher Teihard de Chardin: “Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of god.” <br />
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Almost cheek by jowl with the Kodaikanal School is the Lutheran Church, a Gothic stone building with stained glass windows and modern paintings and batiks portraying scenes from the life of Christ. Nearby is an even more famous church, Christ the King Church, a very Gothic and solemn granite structure with stained glass windows. <br />
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The names of the buildings in Kodaikanal are very evocative: ‘Loch End’ and ‘Mansarovar’, these two houses by the lakeside, bridge the time span from colonial times to the present; Hillbrook, Furzbank, Wood-cote, Whispering Pines, and Rock Cottage, all conjure up the beauty and spirit of their natural ambience. <br />
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Jacaranda trees burst out in purple profusion, as though singing hosannas to the skies. Magnolia trees guard their ‘escaping’ fragrance, while cherry trees sweep in graceful pink arcs. <br />
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On the east side of the lake is Bryant’s Park, named after the forest officer who planned its layout around the turn of the century. Beautiful pine and eucalyptus trees grow here. There is one ancient eucalyptus tree dating back to 1846 that is 250 feet high and 10 feet wide. The well-laid out gardens contain many annuals and perennials like azaleas, watsonias, dahlias, stock, primulas, fusschias, asters, etc. Many exotic varieties of orchids are housed in the Orchid House. Walking along the lotus pond, the memory of a verse learnt in childhood comes to mind: <br />
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Four ducks on a pond, <br />
A grass bank beyond, <br />
White clouds on the wing; <br />
What a little thing<br />
To remember for years, <br />
To remember with tears. <br />
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About a kilometer from the lake is the Coaker’s Walk, named after St. Coaker of the Royal Engineers, offering a fantastic view of the plains and the distant hills. There is a rugged pristine beauty about these vistas, and the mist rising in veils from the valley below, gives the place an unreal quality. <br />
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Driving along the cool green darkness with the trees making a canopy overhead, one reaches Green Valley View. Gnarled cypress roots make a natural crazy path to the sheer drop of 1,000 feet that overlooks the Vaigai Dam. Clouds are banked like snow, and violet haze envelopes the distant hills. Here too, the mist rises from the valley, imparting a solemn, out-of-this-world beauty to the scene. The exclusive Kodai Golf Club is very near Green Valley View. <br />
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Past the Golf Club is the 114-acre Golf Links --- an undulating green velvet carpet, which is another colonial legacy. Thick woods line the road leading to the Pillar Rocks. These are three vertical pillars standing shoulder-to-shoulder measuring 112 m. The ground drops sheer below them, creating a dramatic impact and affording a stupendous view of the valley below. Soon mists wrap up the pillars in mystery and one wonders whether they are real, or whether they were a figment of one’s imagination. Then the sun melts the mists away and the rocks rise, solemn and majestic, dappled in sun and shadow: the effect is ethereal and awe-inspiring. <br />
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The abundance of pear orchards is a striking feature of the Kodaikanal landscape. Here and there, a solitary snowy blossom seems to peep out tentatively to reconnoiter the weather conditions, and one has a hint of the profusion of pear blossoms to follow, when the branches would be heavy with their own blooms, leaving scant room for leaves. <br />
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A sheer lacy curtain of water, so aptly named ‘Fairy Falls,’ is nearby. About 5 1/2 km from the lake is the Shenbaganur Museum, maintained by the Sacred Heart College, a Theological Seminary founded in 1895. The stuffed-birds and the butterfly collection are remarkable. The archeological collection is meticulously documented. One can see the implements and the burial urns of the Paliyans here. One of the best orchidariums in the country, with more than 300 species of orchids, is also located on the premises of Sacred Heart College. <br />
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<b>PLACES NEARBY </b><br />
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There are several excursion spots in and around Kodaikanal. <br />
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Dolphin’s Nose, located about 8 km from the lake, is a flat projecting rock from where one can have a breathtaking view of the yawning chasm below. <br />
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The Perumal Peak, about 11 km from Kodaikanal, is a trekker’s delight. Climbers begin their ascent from the Neutral Saddle. <br />
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Berijam Lake supplies drinking water to Periyakulam town, and is 21 km from Kodaikanal (beyond the Pillar Rocks). It is a popular picnic spot with a beautiful view. <br />
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Kukal Cave, 40 km from Kodaikanal, is a favourite camping site for trekkers. Reportedly, descendants of the Paliyans still live here. </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0