Friday 10 August 2012

Tourist Attractions in Gangtok


Gangtok is the capital of the state Sikkim and is its largest town. It is located in the eastern Himalayan range at an altitude of 1800 meters. The town has a population belonging to different ethnicities. It is a Buddhist pilgrimage site and is
Tucked away in the foothills of the Himalayas, Sikkim is a Himalayan wonderland with its lovely views and exotic orchids, and its forest-trails. A virtual Shangrila overlooked by Mt. Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak, Sikkim is attractive equally for the sightseer, the adventure sports enthusiast and those interested in Buddhism and Tibetology. Buddhism is the predominant religion here, with many fine old monasteries rich with frescoes, religious paintings on silk and statues of the Buddha’s various incarnations. In Gangtok, the delightfully quaint capital, are pagoda like roofs of many buildings and the presence of crimson robed monks in the bazaars. The Institute of Tibetology, the only one of its kind in the world, was set up by the erstwhile ruler to promote research on Mahayana Buddhism. Lower down the hill is the famed orchid sanctuary where 500 species of orchids indigenous to Sikkim are cultivated. Sikkim offers several treks that lead through pine forests, through picturesque valleys, monasteries and to mountain lakes. It is also the base for mountaineering expeditions and the rivers Teesta and Rangeet offer excellent river rafting. A number of good hotels and lodging houses exist in Gangtok.

Entry to Sikkim is most convenient by coach, taxi or helicopter. The state of Sikkim lies in the shadow of the mighty Kanchenjunga and its capital, Gangtok, is a picturesque mountain clinging town with monasteries, parks, pagoda style houses and colorful bazaars.

How to reach Gangtok:  
By Air: Nearest Airport is Bagdogra- 124 kms.
By Rail: The nearest railway stations are Siliguri- 114 kms, New Jalpaiguri -125 kms.
By Road: Siliguri- 114 kms, Calcutta- 725 kms, Darjeeling- 139 kms and Guwahati- 589 kms

Tourist Attractions in Nawalgarh


Nawalgarh is one of the biggest and busiest towns of Shekhawati. Founded in 1737 by Nawal Singh, a son of Shardul Singh, Nawalgarh saw a series of rulers who managed, by dint of their sharp political acumen, to keep the state together as many of their neighbors gradually came apart. Therefore, it was able to attract a number of rich Marwari merchants who built many richly painted havelis here.

Sightseeing Places in Nawalgarh
Poddar Haveli The Poddar Haveli has been turned into a museum. Although the haveli is not very old – it was built around the 1920s – the murals have been carefully restored to their original glory. The museum also exhibits wedding costumes of different communities of Rajasthan. As for the other murals, it seems the Nawalgarh artists had much greater freedom in choosing their themes. For instance, there are pirated editions of Ravi Varma’s works and imaginative illustrations of a whole range of early 20th century technology such as the air balloon, the Wright brothers’ attempt at flight, motorcars, modern railways and sewing machines.

Bala Qila The painted ceiling of a small room in the fort called Bala Qila stands out in terms of artistic brilliance. The room, studded profusely with mirrors, is circular, about 8 ft in diameter and almost as high. The murals, lustrous and colorful, depict an artist’s impression of the cities and armies of Jaipur and Nawalgarh in the 1850s.

Aath Haveli Here is where you can see a long train with one passenger per compartment, a woman feeding a child and at the same time doing her make-up and a couple making love.

Morarka Haveli
Morarka Haveli is right across the back street from Aath Haveli, and it has one of the most elegantly and finely sketched paintings. Two prominent frames show the celebration of traditional festivals like the Teej and Gangaur.

Tourism in Dharamshala Himachal Pradesh


Dharamshala is located at the foot of the Dhauladhar Mountains. It has a magnificent view of snowy peaks, deodar and pine forests, tea gardens and beautiful hills. The snow line is accessible from Dharamshala. This quaint town has gone international due to the presence of his holiness the Dalai Lama. Dharamshala is divided into two distinct parts. Upper Dharamshala comprising of places like McLeod Ganj and Forsyth Ganj and lower Dharamshala made up of civil and business area made up of courts and Kotwali Bazaar.
Famous places around Dharamshala are:

McLeod Ganj: It is a major Buddhist center. With his holiness the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan refugees settled here. This place has international fame.

Bhagsunag Falls:   This place is known for a fresh water stream, water falls, old temple and slate quarries.
St. John’s church: The church lies between McLeod Ganj and Forsyth Ganj. It has a monument dedicated to Lord Elgin one of the viceroys of India.

Dharamkot: t is situated on the crest of a hill, this favorite picnic spot affords a panoramic view of the Kangra valley and the Dhauladhar ranges. One can reach Dharamkot by a simple trek from Bhagsu
War Memorial: Situated in Dharamshala town. The memorial is situated near the entry point to Dharamshala commemorates the memory of those who fought valiantly for the honour and defence of the mother land. The place is ideally located in the pine forest and offers a very enjoyable walk through pine forest.

Triund: 17 km. from Dharamshala town, at an altitude of 2,827 meters. The snowline starts just 5 km. from Triund and affords a breathtaking view of the snows above and the valley below. It is a popular picnic and trekking spot.

Dal Lake: Lies amidst hills and deodar tress and is 11 km. from Lower Dhramshala. It is a starting point for excursion and trekking and is located next to Tibetan children's village. You can have a memorable walk around the lake. Held sacred, this has a small Shiva temple on its banks. 

Kodaikanal Tourism - Hillstation


Kodaikanal is the most beautiful and popular hill station in Tamil Nadu. It is located in the famous Palani Hills in Western Ghats and is known as the Princess of hill stations. Kodaikanal is situated about 7,200 feet above the sea level. The beauty of Kodaikanal is second to none and it is famous for all the scenic spots in an around Kodaikanal. It is it the favorite with young and old alike and is a popular tourist destination in South India.

Kodaikanal is the most sought after honeymoon destination in South India because of its scenic beauty and it has the attribute to leave any nature lover mesmerized by its charms.

The word Kodaikanal means gift of the forest in local language. The dense forest with many varieties of trees, the huge rocks in the wilderness and the enchanting waterfalls, makes it a real gift for the tourists visiting this place. Kodaikanal is famous for eucalyptus oil, homemade chocolates, plums and pears. Kodaikanal is famous for the kurinji - flowers, which blossoms only once in twelve years. Woolen clothing is available at cheaper rates in the Tibetan refugee bazaar. The word Kodaikanal means gift of the forest in local language. The dense forest with many varieties of trees, the huge rocks in the wilderness and the enchanting waterfalls, makes it a real gift for the tourists visiting this place.

There are many internationally renowned educational institutions like Kodaikanal International school, Kodaikanal Christian College etc, in and around Kodaikanal. Mother Theresa University, which is India’s one and only women’s university, is located in Kodaikanal.

A tourist can indulge in various activities - one can go for cycling, horse riding, boating, trekking and many more adventurous activities. Kodaikanal is influenced with Christian culture and the sculptures in the churches of Kodaikanal are worth a visit.

Friday 3 August 2012

Best Kollam Accommodation


Kollam Town is the head quarters of Kollam district and Kollam taluk, has a hoary past. It was an international emporium of trade and even now it is a prosperous commercial centre. It is situated about 71 kms north of Thiruvananthapuram and is linked by rail, road and backwater transport.

Thirumullavaram beach resort is the famous beach resort in Kollam. It is situated 5kms west from Kollam. The sea here is ideal for swimming and bathing. Mahatma Gandhi Beach & Park and Kochupilamoodu, Paravur beach are the other important beaches. Mahatma Gandhi beach lays just 2kms from the town. It is a fascinating place for an evening. Paravur is situated 13 kms south of Kollam and is connected with Kollam town by road and rail.

Ashramam picnic village is located in the 48acre Guest House complex. The children's traffic and entertainment park, designed by NATPAC is also located in this village. It is the largest traffic park in Kerala. The adventure park located in the village along the shores of the Ashtamudi back waters is a novel experiment in the country. Different types of boats, including luxury cruise boats, power boats and motor boats are available on hire from the boat jetty near to the adventure Park. A budget hotel for tourists, Yathrinivas, run by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, is also located in this village. The Govt. Guest House here is 200 years old. It stands alone Ashtamudi Lake and is a major attraction for its elegance and architectural beauty. Tourists can stay here at economical rates. The village is just 2kms away from the town.

Thangassery is a place of historical importance and is situated 5kms away from the Kollam town. The churches here are pretty old, having been established in the 18th century. The chief attraction of the place is a light house, built in 1902. The 144ft high light house stands as a sentinel, warning seamen of the treacherous reefs of Thangassery.

Hill resort with cottages - Shimla Tourism


Shimla is the capital town of Himachal Pradesh. The town of Shimla is built over several hills and connecting ridges. The important hills are Jakhu ( 2,455 meters ), Prospect Hill ( 2,328 meters ), Observatory Hill ( 2,350 meters ), Elysigim Hill ( 2,466 meters ) and Summer Hill ( 2,300 meters ). Shimla is situated in the North-West Himalayas and was the Summer Capital of India during the British ruling era. This town is spread over the ridge measuring about 12 km. It is perhaps the biggest hill station in the world, located at an altitude of 2,421 meters above sea level. A place of peace and pleasure, Shimla is a tourist resort in real sense of the world. The best season of the year here is autumn but the early spring runs a close second. Shimla is connected with air, rail, and road traffics. Shimla under snow is a wonderful sight and it offers the unique attraction of an open air ice skating rink. Also the legendary Ridge under snow and snow sports at Kufri make Shimla a wonderful winter holiday resort.

Famous Places around Shimla:
Jakhu Hill : ( 2,455 meters ) 2 km. from town. This is the highest peak of Shimla and offers panoramic view of the town and the mountains. 'Hanuman Temple of Jakhu' is very famous. According to legend, Hanumanji took some rest here when he was carrying a hill of 'Sanjiwani Booti'

Glen : ( 1,830 meters ) Distance 4km. This is one of the most beautiful picnic spots of Shimla with flowing streams through dense forest. Approach is near Cecil Hotel and Kennedy House.

Mashobra : ( 2,150 meters ) 13 km. This is a popular picnic spot in Shimla which offers ideal walks amidst forest of oak and pine. The area adjoining to Mashobra is famous for apples orchards.

Jim Corbett National Park Tourism


Jim Corbett National Park is situated in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. Jim Corbett National park is the oldest national park in India which got established in 1936 as Hailey National park. After India’s independence the park was named as Ramganga National Park but later in 1956, it was renamed after Jim Corbett - the famous hunter turned conservationist and author, who played a major role in the establishment of national park. Jim Corbett National park is one of the renowned Wildlife Sanctuary in India.
Flora and Fauna in Corbett
The park contains 488 different species of plants and wide variety of wild life including elephant, tiger, chital, Sambar Deer, nilgai, gharial, King Cobra, muntjac, wild boar, hedgehog, common musk shrew, flying fox, Indian Pangolin, and around 600 species of birds. Jim Corbett National Park covers an area of 521 square kilometers.
Corbett National Park acts as a protected area of critically endangered Bengal Tiger of India. Corbett National Park is one of the best managed and protected areas in the country and attracts thousands of Indian and Foreign visitors each year. Corbett National park is in the foothills of Himalayan belt and has various geographical and ecological characteristics with splendid landscapes. There are

our gates which lead us to Jim Corbett National Park and they are amdanda gate, dhangarhi gate, khara gate and durga devi gate. If you are an adventure freak, bird watcher, angler, or animal lover then Jim Corbett National Park is the ideal place for you Safari Zones in Corbett National Park

Jhirna: A densely wooded and grassland habitat, it makes for excellent bird viewing. The Great Hornbill is found in abundance here. Jhirna is home to a population of sloth bear and wild elephants and a growing tiger population. A large grove of ‘Flame
of the forest’ adds drama to Jhirna. A strong prey base of nilgai, cheetal, sambhar and the wild boar also makes it an attractive area for the big cats, while a resident wild elephant and sloth bear population offer great sighting opportunities.

Bijrani: These forests range from those of pure Sal on the upper reaches, to deciduous mixed forests in the valley, along with three major grasslands. It sustains a variety of herbivores, and has a wide network of jungle roads, making Bijrani excellent tiger sighting territory. carved out of a shooting block, with a wide network of criss-crossing jungle roads, offers excellent tiger sighting opportunity. On Corbett’s eastern boundary, Bijrani’s forests are dense with a wide variety of vegetation: of pure Sal forests on the upper reaches and tropical moist, deciduous mixed forests in the valley and plains. Excellent water availability throughout the year and wide grasslands make it an exceptional habitat for a strong prey base and its predator.

Dhikala: This is the largest and most varied zone in Corbett, offering the best opportunities for overnight stays. Dhikala contains a diverse range of habitats: its higher reaches suit Ghoral, a goat antelope, while the Gharial and Maggars, as well as the great Mahaseer, inhabit the rivers below. The hog deer is also exclusive to Dhikala. Dhikala offers the most varied terrain in all and, if booked well in advance, the widest range of Forest Rest House accommodations in the park. This block of forest has the Ramganga river stretch through its middle, emptying into a wide, multiple-necked reservoir.

Phato: This zone provides buffer forest to southern Corbett, comprising mostly of plantation forests.
Corbett Weather - Season and Best Time to Visit
The climate in the Corbett National Park is temperate. Corbett National Park closes during the monsoon rainy season from Mid June to Mid November.
  • Summers (March to May): touch 40°C and the average temperature is about 30 °C. Tourists can move around the Park during this season. The scorching heat of the sun becomes quite unbearable for the animals as well as the inhabitants.
  • Monsoons (June to September) offer heavy rainfall: there can be light rainfall intermittently whole through the year. The monsoon is good to enjoy the foothills. The weather becomes quite pleasant with the drop in temperature. However, the park is closed for the tourists during the rainy season because this is primarily the mating season of most of the animals.
  • Winters (December to February): have a temperature variation of 5 °C to 30 °C. Winter mornings can be foggy. Winter months from November to February are ideal to explore the bounds of the park. During this time, the park heartily welcomes all the tourists. The weather is balmy during this time of the year.
Best period to visit here is from November to June, mainly before and after heavy monsoon. November to June is good for spotting animals and also to enjoy the scenic surroundings. July to October is good for sight seeing in the downhill region.

Check out the official website of Corbett National Park for booking of Safari in Jhirna, Dhikala and Bijrani Zones: http://corbettonline.uk.gov.in

Jim Corbett National Park India travel guide with latest information of Corbett National Park Tourism. Jim Corbett National Park is a Wildlife Sanctuary (National Park) famous as weekend getaway break destination for Jungle Safari, Jeep Elephant Safari, Bird watching and adventure activities. Best deals in Jim Corbett National Park tours travel packages, Plan your Corbett trip with eUttaranchal in Uttarakhand India.