Impressive forts and forests of Itanagar

Posted on May 16, 2012 by admin
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itanagar buddhaist

Well recognized as the land of the dawn-lit mountains,  Being the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar is well connected with adjoining areas by road and air communications. Mainly dominated by the Nyishi tribe in and around, Itanagar is also famous for its rich and cultural heritage. Visitors can start their tour with the historical Ita Fort built in the 14th century.  The fort is famous for its irregular shape and structure. It has three different entrances on three different sides that are on the eastern, western and to the southern side.

Moving ahead one can witness the popular Ganga lake located merely 6 km away from the Itanagar town. The orchid masses on tall trees and tree ferns contribute to its popularity. The blossoming surrounding of this lake will make you spend hours and hours looking at this beautiful lake. Moreover travelers can also enjoy boating facilities at the site

The Buddhist Monastery is another important and not to be missed attraction of this place. It is also a famous Buddhist pilgrimage centre. From this Monastery one can get a rare view of the town. The Jawaharlal Nehru Museum attributed to promote opulent textiles and handicraft made by the artisans of Itanagar is also among the famous spots in the City. Travelers love to visit this place and have a look on the beautiful rich traditions.

Chimpu houses the zoological park of Itanagar and people from all age group love to visit this place, observe rare species like, Great Indian Hornbill, Himalayan Black Beer and royal Bengal Tiger. Touring around this park is a real adventure. Ziro is another important destination in the city, with its charismatic green forests and landscapes of streamlets this place is also considered among the best sites of Itanagar.

Other important tourist destination of Itanagar includes North-Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Arunachal University and Donyi-Polo Vidya Bhawan. Tourist can visit Itanagar any time as it has a pleasant climate all around the year.

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Bird watcher’s paradise- Chilika Lake

Posted on May 14, 2012 by admin
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Located south to Puri, Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water lake in Asia. The shallow waters surrounded with marshes, lowlands, and islands have played an important role in the Indian history as it was the important harbor and commercial centre during the reign of the Kalinga kings.

chilka lake

Spread in an area of around 1100 square kilometers, this place is world’s second largest coastal and a popular tourist destination. Proliferated with around 158 different species of aquatic and wild life variety throughout the year, the island attracts more than 150 species of migratory birds every year during winter and hence is also called as bird-watchers paradise.

The major attraction within lake is the Island of Nalabana which occupies the periphery in the vast expanse of Chilika Lake. The birds’ island is the refuge for resident and migratory birds. The nature lovers can watch the birds in their natural habitat here. Another major attraction is the Kalijal Island which is the home Goddess Kalijai, and hosts a huge fair on Makar Sankranti annually. The Satapada is another major tourist attraction and is an ideal spot to enjoy Chilika Lake. One can see abundant of Dolphins and other rare species round the year in the lakes of Chilika. Moreover the presence of numerous migratory birds in Satapada makes this place a favorite destination   to spend quality time with the nature. The Parikud and Malud are the other colourful islands within the lake while the Brahmapura is famous for its scenic beauty.

mangla jodi

The travelers can also visit Nirmala Jhar located just 11 kms away.  It is also place of religious worship and a picnic spot.  While on the other side one can visit the Narayani temple and the Banpur which is famous for various religious activities round the year. The Place has moderately warm climate all around the year’s time but the best time to visit this place is winters when the migrant birds reach this place.

For nature lovers Chilika is the best place to visit and capture the nature’s beauty in lenses. The serene beauty of this place attracts millions of tourist from India and abroad and has become a major source of revenue

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Guwahati – Shopper paradise of the northeast India

Posted on April 29, 2012 by admin
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fancy bazarBeing the largest city of northeast, Guwahati enjoys a special Status. A centre for all business activities and shopping thus attracting the people of northeast and Eastern Bhutan towards it. The origins of this City traces back to the 6th Century making it stand among the oldest city of the Country. Initially known as Prajyotishpura, Guwahati was the Capital of Assam till the 10th century.

Located in the foothills of Shillong plateau, the city is closer to the Himalayas and quite hilly also. Guwahati is an important destination for the tourist as this place has some interesting places to visit. The streets of Guwahati are usually occupied with tourist as there are many cultural and commercial markets across these streets. The bazaars in the City can load the tourist with best of the stuffs at reasonable rates. Amongst the more traditional places is the famous Pan Bazaar, while the Fancy Bazaar is a never to miss place for shopaholics as it is shopping haven with many wholesale and retail outlets. Amidst the other bazaars in the city lies the Paltan Bazaar, a commercial center in the heart of the city famous for accommodations, transportation and restaurants.

Paltan bazzar

Paltan bazzar guwahait

After shopping the travelers can move ahead to some historic places like the Uma Nanda Temple dedicated to lord Shiva which has its existence from the 17th century. The Janardana Temple, Bhubaneswari Temple and the Ugro Tara Temple are also some interesting places to visit. While the Navagraha Temple built on the Chitrasal Hill in 18th Century is the second highest hill in Guwahati. The Kamakhya temple which attracts pilgrims during the Ambubachi festival from all over the Country is also a fascinating place to visit in India.

rahmaputra River, Guwahati

The Assam State Museum, southern end of Dighalipukhuri tank houses some important historic facts. A visit to this museum will guide the tourist about the journey of this city. The Basistha Ashramin the city is also a picnic spot near the Sandhychal hills. The Pandu a river port which lies on the south bank of Brahmaputra has a historic importance as this place was the entry point to Guwahati before construction of the Saraighat Bridge in the early 1960s. This cultural and historic city can be a wonderful experience for shopping and site seeing while holidaying in India.

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Udaygiri and Khandagiri Caves

Posted on April 24, 2012 by admin
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khandagiri caves orissa

If you want one place where you can easily get into a conversation with your inner self and feel sublime at the same time, then it has to be a temple especially when talking about the land of southern India. Situated 17kms apart from each other, these Hoysala temples are often referred as one, as if they belong to each other. But when you visit them, you realize that both these temples have their unique identity. Built by the Dravian School of architecture, both these temples are quite different in appearance. The Hoysala temples are that much important to the South Indian architecture just like Pyramids are to Egypt. The temple of Belur is still functional but the Halebid temple is no longer used for devotional purposes.

There is a huge difference between the temples of Northern and Southern India, the temple of Southern India barely have any light inside, the only light which illuminates the chambers is the light from the ignited diyas and the flame of the aarti.

Both these temples have carving of Puranas, the Upanishads and other mythological characters from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The delicate designs of these temples built by renowned architect Jakkanna Acharya can leave anybody spellbound. It is said that Belur’s prime temple, Chennakeshava was built by the famous King Vishnuvardhana and the purpose behind it was to celebrate the military victories of the Hoysala dynasty. This temple is exceptionally huge and took more than hundred years to complete and the structural design is distant to the customary Hoysala style of the 12th century.

Pre-drawn moments spent gazing at the absolute verse in rock in the gloomy radiance. The best time of the day to visit these temples is just before the sunrise, at this hour of the day tranquility reaches its peak and one can feel eternal bliss.

The temples of Belur and Halebid are the best one remaining of the Hoysala temples and certainly the best ones. For those who want to experience the ultimate harmony between the known and the unknown, make sure you don’t miss these temples while planning your vacation to India. The temples of Belur and Halebid are equally splendid like that of Khajuraho, and will leave you with a  desire to come back for a second visit.

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Khandala – the Perfect Place for Weekend Getaways in India

Posted on April 12, 2012 by admin
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getaways in khandalaFestooned with utmost beauty, Khandala surprises the travel enthusiasts with its extraordinary scenery. Surrounded by green hills, valleys and attractive lakes this place in Maharashtra is a perfect place for weekend getaways. The luxuriant landscape of this hill station attracts tourists in a big way. The beautiful waterfalls and the lakes calm the visitors. Khandala has a splendid climate throughout the year but travelers prefer to visit this place in the monsoon season as this place becomes a paradise.

This is an exquisite hill station to visit with implausible sceneries of nature; one can walk through this picturesque and explore the beauty of nature. The journey begins with the historic Rajmachi fort surrounded by deep valleys and thick forest then reaching the Shrivardhan fort located at the east of Rajmachi fort is a true adventure. Moving ahead towards the Manoranjan Fort one can visit the famous Bhairavnath temple on the way. Halting at the Manoranjan fort the travelers can witness the real beauty of square lake which is filled with clean water all year round. People fond of mounting will never forget the experience of rock climbing at the Duke’s Nose peak and Karla hills during vacations in India.

The Visapur Fort famous for its protective walls with intricate designs attracts the tourists with its insight beauty. While Lohagad Fort is the place where the famous warrior Shivaji kept the prisoners in the war of 1564, there is even a peculiar design on the walls of the fort is known as Vindhukata which can keep the visitor wondering. To the south lies the Tunga fort which was used to keep a watch on the other forts in that area. One can reach this fort by boat and visit the temple of Mahadev built on the Fort

Khandala, usually famous for its magnificent lakes has a series of them like the Tungarli Lake which supplies water to Lonavala City. The Pavna Lake is also one of the attractive lakes in Khandala. The Lonavala Lake constructed in 1876 is also beautiful spot to visit. The Valvan Dam has stunning garden at its foot where the visitors can relax themselves.  The Bhushi Dam has a fabulous waterfall where one cannot resist itself to take a dip into the water.

The magnificent valleys and the beautiful surroundings entice the visitors to visit Khandala again

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Kaziranga National Park of Assam

Posted on April 2, 2012 by admin
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rhino kaziranga national park

India is a country which has wide range of flora and fauna and offers a lot to its visitors in terms of jungle safaris, wildlife attractions etc. In the past few years, India is getting more and more concerned about the conservation of the endangered species and to fulfill this requirement many wildlife sanctuaries have been made in the recent years. Kaziranga is one of them. The national park spreads over an area of about 470 sq kms. It has been declared an UNESCO world heritage site in the year 1985.The soaring elephant grass make Kaziranga an ideal habitat for one of the most fascinating wildlife in Asia, the Indian One-Horned Rhino. Kaziranga lies in the midst of Burma Monsoon Forests and has tall and dense grasslands. The three major types of foliage are alluvial grasslands, evergreen dense forests and tropical wet semi-evergreen forests.

Apart from the Rhino, Kaziranga is home to various other animals like Elephants, Bison, Capped Langurs (a species of Monkey), Swamps, Deer, Leopards, Tigers, Pythons, Jungle Cats and many others. Besides giving shelter to the animals, Kaziranga is a bird paradise too. Different species like Black-Shouldered Kite, Fishing Eagle, White Tale Eagle, Himalayan Griffon etc. are regular in this national park. During the monsoon season, many birds and animals migrate from one area to another. The best time to visit the Kaziranga National Park is from mid-November to early April.

The best way to explore this wildlife sanctuary of India is through the Elephant Safari, also because walking is not permitted in the park area because of the potentially dangerous mammals. Start your safari when the dawn breaks, so as to make the most of your visit to Kaziranga. During this safari, you can experience one of the most amazing and delightful views; wild Elephant herds roaming around and Indian Rhinos pass by your convoy. Also, make sure you visit the Panbari reserve Forest to see some great woodland rarities. Here, you can find birds like Silver-beasted Broadbill, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Pale-capped Pigeon and Sultan Tit.

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On the footsteps of Buddha

Posted on March 27, 2012 by admin
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Trace your way to the enlightenment and serenity as you travel down the lane through which Lord Buddha gained Nirvana. As you travel through these places you get a sense of believe on the suffering, the cycle of life and death and the philosophy of the eternal bliss, the nirvana. As you follow the trails of Lord Buddha, who was born in a royal family as Prince Siddhartha Gautam, you learn that every place of Buddhist pilgrimage has its own significance. These famous Buddhist pilgrimages give you knowledge on the various stages of Lord Buddha’s life after he attained Nirvana. As Lord Buddha travelled through these places, he spread the enlightenment and the foundations of the Buddhists traditions.

Lumbni, in Nepal, is the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The place is one of the biggest Buddhist pilgrimages. Lumbni is the place where Lord Buddha posed several questions to his existence, the meaning of his life and the quest for the truth. Lumbni being the birthplace has several monasteries and Buddhist temple. The Mahadevi temple is one of the biggest temples in Lumbni. The place also has the Puskarini pond and remains of Kapilvastu Palace. Next stop is Rajgir where Lord Buddha, as Prince Siddhartha renounced the materialistic world. The places to visit here include Saptaparni caves and the Griddhkuta Hill. Bodhgaya is another place of importance while tracing the footsteps of Buddha. Gaya is the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. He meditated under the Bodhi tree in Gaya which why the tree also of great significance for the pilgrims. The place is also known for the Vishupad temple known for the footprints of Lord Vishnu. Besides this, the Brahmayoni Hill is also situated in Gaya. This hill is the place where Lord Buddha gave the Adittapariyaya Sutta or the Fire Sermon.

Kapilvastu is the place where Lord Buddha spent twenty-nine years of his life spreading the religion across the Ganges belt. Near Kapilvastu is situated Sarnath which houses the four-headed lion statue besides the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, Choukhandi Stupa, Ashok Pillar and Dhameka Stupa built during the Ashoka dynasty. Nalanda is a place where Lord Buddha spent almost 29 years of his life after attaining enlightenment. Nalanda was one of the revered universities of the ancient India and Lord Buddha traveled here during the last leg of his life. The place houses the remains of the Nalnada University besides many valuable manuscripts and scriptures of those times. Kushinagar is the city where Buddhist pilgrims reach to reminisce the last few days spent by Lord Buddha here. The place is considered as the last abode and the final destination of Lord Budhha. Across the Buddhists pilgrimage cities there are several monasteries and temples to visit and pray. Travel through the footsteps of Buddha and trace your path towards enlightenment.

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The Heritage City of Hampi

Posted on March 18, 2012 by admin
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Stretched on an area of more than 25 square kilometers in the state of Karnataka, the Hampi ruins is chock-a-block with giant temples, palaces, market streets, aquatic structures and ancient architectures. Explorers can sojourn into the past on a visit to the majestic Hampi.

mahanavami dibba

Initially, Hampi was the capital of the Hindu empire, Vijayanagara, who ruled the south India during 14th to 16th century AD and thus with its historic and mythological residues, this place has become a famous tourist spot. The main locations and important architectural wonders are basically located in two areas; the Royal Centre and Sacred Centre. Starting the tour from the Royal Centre one can see the palaces, baths, pavilions, royal stables and temples. The sacred centre is situated on the northern edge of the city along the banks of the Tungabhadra River.

A voyage to Hampi is fascinating enough to attract the travelers for several days. The Vittala Temple dedicated to Vittala, a form of the Hindu god Vishnu is an architectural highlight of Hampi. The Virupaksha Temple is said to be one of the oldest active temples till date. The temple complex consists of the god’s sanctum, pillared halls and a series of giant entrance towers. A visit to the Kings Palace is the must as this place is known for its interesting architecture elements. The Queen’s bath is also a fascinating example of the Indo-Islamic hybrid architecture. Whereas the Riverside trek Path which connects the ancient Hampi Bazaar to the Vittala temple has copious shrines and carved artifacts scattered all around along this path.

The Hemakuta Hill Temples is another important mythological site in the local folklore, which has numerous temples on hill top. The Majestic Hampi famous for its religious and mythological temples also accommodates temples like the Krishna temple, Lakshmi Narasimha, Hazara Rama Temple, Pattabhirama Temple and Achyuta Raya’s Temple. The additional attractions of Hampi includes an metaphorical structure which was probably used by the military chief as his office or the queens of the palace as a pleasure pavilion named as the Lotus mahal. While the Elephant Stables build in a series of chambers with domical roofs has enough space to accommodate two elephants.

Pushkarni, a stepped water tanks, exhumed in the mid-1980 is lyrical in its beauty, beautifully build in a tiered structure crafted from rectangular pieces of granite. A trip to the majestic Hampi is truly an unforgettable experience ultimately.

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Enjoy a vacation to the Paradise on Earth

Posted on March 11, 2012 by admin
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Kashmir is a shinning jewel in the crown of Indian tourism and travel. One of the most beautiful places in the world. Snow-clad mountain peaks, beautiful valleys, shimmering Dal Lake with colourful Shikaras and the houseboats make the scenic beauty of Kashmir an experience that signifies its epitomized splendour.

The Moghal Emperor-Jehangir said that Kashmir is a garden of eternal spring, a delightful flower bed, and heart expanding of heritage for dervishes. Its pleasant mead and enchanting cascades are beyond all description. So true indeed, the beauty of the place cannot be captured in words; one can only visit Kashmir and feel the aura and bliss in the air. This place is also ideal for those who are looking for an inspiration for art, music and poetry. The majestic Himalayas add a glimmer to the scenic beauty along with the crystal clear lakes and the lush vegetation. There are lots of places in Kashmir where one can just sit and let the magic of nature unfold in front of their eyes. Dawn to dusk, every second needs to be captured in the senses; the fresh air of the Himalayas rejuvenates you to the core and leave you feeling very fresh and delighted.  Srinagar is the capital of Kashmir and home to the famous Dal Lake, this lake gets completely frozen in the winters when the temperature dips below 0 degrees. A Shikara ride on a sunny day in the Dal lake is like a dream come true, every view from the Shikara is just breath-taking. Char Minar and the Floating gardens are a part of this ride. The world famous Mughal gardens covering the Nishat Bagh and the Shalimar Bagh are also situated in Srinagar. The Kashmir valley is the most beautiful hill station of the country where one can enjoy royal sports as well. Gulmarg, which is almost 60kms from Srinagar, has the world’s highest golf course and is also famous for winter sports like Skiing, Ice Skating etc. Pahalgam is another place which worth a visit while on a tour to Kashmir. A visit to the Saffron fields and Anantnag Sulphur Springs; and a drive through the green pine forest in Pahalgam gives you another reason to make the trip memorable. The last destination on this trip to the valley of Kashmir is Sonmarg. Also called as the Gateway to Laddakh, Sonmarg offers lots of adventure sports like treks, sledging, angling, alpine skiing and white water rafting. One can also enjoy ride on horse to visit to Thajewas Glacier where snow remains round the year. The whole trip to Kashmir will give you lots of colourful memories and you will surely take some part of it along with you.

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Enchant Your Spirits with Amazing Manali to Leh Jeep Safari

Posted on March 3, 2012 by admin
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leh jeep safari

Now-a-days, many travel enthusiasts are trying Jeep Safari, as it is one of the most adventurous ways to enjoy a vacation. Though, there are many locations in India where people can try jeep safari but the most mesmerizing and enchanting journey is from Manali to Leh jeep safari. It is the most comfortable and rejuvenating way to explore the unmatched beauty and bliss of the nature on the national highway of Manali to Leh. It provides best setting for the globe trotters with amazing regions adorned with wilderness of nature, beautiful hills, pristine lakes and rivers like Indus, serene monasteries and magnificent snow clad mountains which manage to fascinate every traveler.

The best time to go on this jeep safari is from July to mid October. The beholding charms of the surrounding on the route from Manali to Leh are captivating to say the least. The highway is tranquil and serene with no sign of life for miles and miles. Here, in the lap of nature you can achieve the peace of mind which it is impossible to attain in the bustling and chaotic city life!

To reach Leh from Manali, there are several passes which have to be crossed like Rohtang pass, Baralacha Pass, Nakee La and Tanh Lang La pass. All these passes move through up and low terrains giving the traveling buffs the time of their life. Leh roads are the alternative approach to Ladakh as well and these roads open for traffic from June till October. The highest pass which falls on the way is Tanglang- la; it is world’s second highest motor able tourism place that comes under Himachal tourism. It takes more than 19 hours to complete Manali to Leh jeep safari. Apart from jeep safari one can also go for the taxis, buses both normal and deluxe that ply between Leh and Manali by SRTC and J&K SRTC.

While travelling on the jeep safari there are certain things that should be kept in mind like keeping the travelling kit comprising of portable water, torch, juices, dehydrated food ,camping gears and last but not the least first aid kit. Proper arrangements for staying, meals and guides must be done.

Manali is also known as Switzerland of India, it is situated at the end of valley on the highway leading to Leh. It is the topmost and favorite spot for the travelers going to leh, lahaul, Spiti and kinnaur. During the jeep safari you can see majestic mountains and mystic river Beas flowing through the town. Hills on the route to Manali to Leh are covered with pine trees, deodar forests and tempting apple orchards.

Freezing winds and hot and dry climate are the highlights of cold desert of India- Ladakh. Also known as Little Tibet- it is bounded by world’s most impressive mountain ranges- Great Himalayas and the Karokaram. Situated amidst this rugged terrain is Leh, capital of Ladakh. It is positioned at the height of 11,000 feet watered by the Zanskar River surrounded by snow capped mountains.

It is a perfect trekking place with beautiful weather and blissful nature at its epitome!

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