Archive for the ‘Places in India’ Category
« Previous EntriesBest hotels in Paharganj – Delhi
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009Paharganj is a densely populated area in New Delhi and the reason is simple. It is quite proximal to the New Delhi railway station. Flanking one side of the station, where Ajmeri gate flanks another, Paharganj is home to many budget accommodations. The place maintains a cosmopolitan identity and blends likeable environment for people of all budgets.
Hotel Rak International packs a clean punch with various street-facing rooms. Rooms are not a constraint by any standards and staff is also industrious and very hospitable. Rooms get cozier as you rise up the floors. There is a beautiful restaurant on the rooftop and normal amenities like hot water and airport drops are available. Though the prices range up to 1600 INR, they start moderately and then there is always a good bargain offer if you have the right talent for negotiation.
At the centre of the Main market lies the Shelton hotel. This makes this railway-proximity hotel quite a busy one. A melange of tourist flock and pass through its corridors and reception area. Rooms are available at a moderate price which cuts up to 800 INR. Normal modern-day amenities are available. Kitchen-café, the roof-top restaurant is scenic and serves delectable fare.
Finding best hotels in Paharganj requires comparing and contrasting prices. If you look well, there are quite a few healthy bargains waiting for you;
| Delhi Hotel Name | Rooms Tariff | Special Facilities | Around the Hotel |
| Hotel Rak International
820, Main Bazar, Chowk Bowli, 6Tooti Phone hotelrakinternational@hotmail.com |
Single Room: Rs 350/- Per Day Onward.Double Room: Rs 450/- Per Day Onward. | Roof Top Restaurant, EPBAX Telephones, STD/ISD Service, T.V, Doctor on Call, Laundry, Air Ticket Booking, Pickup/Drop off Service, Wakeup Service, Tour Arrangements, Cosmetics and Fashionable jewelry shop | 2.5 Km away from Cannaught Place. Walkable Distance from Pahar Ganj market. 23 Km from Airport. 0.5 Km from New Delhi Railway. |
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Hotel Prince Polonia 2325-26, Tilak Gali, Behind Imperial Cinema, Phone info@hotelprincepolonia.com |
Deluxe Single – Rs. 1090.00 Deluxe Double – Rs. 1390.00 Super Deluxe Single - Rs. 1190.00 Super Deluxe Double – Rs. 1390.00 Executive Deluxe Single – Rs. 1390.00 Executive Deluxe Double – Rs. 1590.00 Super Executive Deluxe Single – Rs. 1590.00 Super Executive Deluxe Double – Rs. 1890.00 |
Colour TV, Direct dialing phones, Foreign exchange, Internet Cafe, Laundry Service, Medical Services, Doctor on Call, International and Domestic Air Ticketing, Package Tours, Car & Coach rental, Airport pickup and drop facility, 24 hrs Generator Backup, Room Service, Restaurant / Cafe | Less than 1 kilometer from the city center, Connaught Place. It is appx.700 meters from New Delhi Railway Station in the Main Bazaar Road of Paharganj. |
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Shelton hotel 5043 Main Bazaar, Paharganj Phone: (91-11) 2358-0575 sheltonH@rediffmail.com |
400-800 INR per day. | Roof top restaurant (Kitchen Cafe), TV, air conditioning, travel services. | The Shelton Hotel is right in the middle of the Main Bazaar. |
Except for the noise element and hot water which can be an issue in times of summer, the hotels have an affable charm and are strategically located.
Mahape Hotels – Mumbai
Monday, February 23rd, 2009Mahape (or Mohope) is a suburb of Navi Mumbai, India. This is located near Ghansoli Railway station on Thane – Vashi Railway on Harbour route of mumbai. Extreme points of Mahape are L&T Infotech, Turbhe, Ghansoli and Koparkhairane. Mahape Chowk is main road crossing of this suburb.
Mumbai Mahape Hotels
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Below is Map of the Mahape Area of Mumbai. You can find Hotels in Mahape Area and Other surrounding areas of Mahape.
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Good transport facilities are available to Thane, Kalyan, Vashi and Mumbai suburbs. The closest station to Mahape is Kopar Khairane. Mahape flyover helps reduce traffic congestion.
Mysore India
Saturday, January 24th, 2009Mysore is one of the most eminent travel destinations in south India. Earlier, it was the capital of Wodeyar rulers who ruled over this huge patch of land. The Wodeyar were more than equipped with art and culture and this clearly reflects in the many buildings and palaces of interest that Mysore has. Dasara held in Mysore in the month of November is a huge crowd puller. People are also besotted with the colossal amount of sandalwood production in the state. Let’s quickly seek the place through a traveler’s eye.
How to travel
By air- Bangalore airport is the nearest one at a distance of 140 kilometers (about 80 miles). The talks for an airport in Mysore are also on.
By train- Mysore junction is its indigenous railway station. As it’s a junction, numerous trains ply between Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, New Delhi, and Thanjavur. Mysore-Chennai Shatabdi express is among the nicest way to travel. Tipu express is another eminent train running in these parts. It’s named after the freedom fighter Tipu Sultan.
Bus link- Buses run at a very high frequency between bangalore mysore and Mysore and Chennai. They are also available from different small cities towards Mysore. The interval of operation is about 5 minutes. The idea is to make things as comfortable as possible for the tourists. But the buses are pretty filled during the weekends so it is recommended to get a booking in advance. Central bus stand and the City bus stand are the two major bus stands in the city.
By car- Car trips shall be avoided. Though there is a four-lane highway between Bangalore to Mysore, yet lack of government initiatives has kept the roads potholed. Further, there are too many barricades.
Mysore Sight Seeing
Mysore palace- rosewood doors and ivory ceilings add to the breathtaking compass of the
palace. There are marble figurines and encrusted precious jewels which make the palace reek in resplendence of the olden times. It is the best from the Wodeyar yards and truly magnificent in its splendor. You will find quite a few paintings of the royal family which will act as an archive to know more about the age of the Wodeyar. On Sundays and national holidays, more than 1,00,000 bask the palace in ethereal light.
Chamundi hills- it holds a temple of goddess Chamundeshwari. A Nandi bull statue holds center stage at the adjacent mountain. Polythene is absolutely prohibited. Spread at the altitude of 800 feet, the hills are dens for cheetahs. They only add to the beauty and have never attacked the tourists. Perhaps the shadow of the goddess looms large on them.
Brindavan gardens- these are again the very best a garden can be. Presently, they also hold musical fountains and show of kaleidoscopic lights.
Mysore Zoo- established in the year 1892, it is one of the oldest zoos in the world. The zoo is house to animals from 40 different countries. They host a separate breeding program which is a lesson to many technically blessed places. There is the African Rhino, the royal Bengal tiger, the Nilgiri Tahr, the Himalayan black beer and the list is practically endless. Mysore zoo also hosts the Karanji Lake which becomes a riot of colors during the migration season. Migratory birds frequent the place in large frequencies.
Mysore is also blessed with great museums which throw light on the great heritage of the place. What they offer is truly awe-inspiring.
Specialty
The festival season of Dussehra is a specialty of Mysore. It is held in the Month of November with all pomp and show. Regional participation is very high. On the last day, a cavalcade of state guards mounts the Chamundi hills to honor goddess Chamundi who is seated on the Golden howdah.
Best time to visit- best time to visit the place is between October and March. Mysore should be avoided during monsoon. The entire Malabar coasts can wreak havoc during this time.
Facilities- the hotels and accommodations are pleasantly infested with each possible facility. The guards provide a ring during night hours for more safety to the tourists. There are safety measures undertaken by the government at many points of visits; for instance the chamundi hills and the Mysore palace.
Accommodation
Mysore boasts of quality accommodation. There are quite a few government initiatives. These are the budget hotels for those who have some constraint with their budgets. Apart from these, there are the luxury hotels and deluxe mysore resorts which have each modern day facility to cater to a tourist’s holiday revelry. The hotels are a mix of old world charm and contemporary brilliance.
Vyshak residency and hotel Maurya Mysore are two of the budget hotels. Hotel Bombay Tiffany’s and the Green Hotel are two of the medium-ranged hotels. Hotel Regaalis and hotel Metropole are two of the more elitist spreads in Mysore (resorts in mysore).
Food
Mysore caters to the urban taste quite well. Food prepared is largely of the ethnic variety with a dash of Carnatic spices which gives it a distinct aura. Even the global cuisines are prepared with a lot of Deccan spices. Chicken Chettinad is a must have once you are in this state. Also go for Tayir Sadam, a dish that is made from a proportionate combination of curd and rice. Bisibele Bhaat and Raagi Mudde are another two indigenous fares which are highly appreciated by tourists.
Languages and styles
Mysore is in the Indian state of Karnataka. The provincial language is Kannada; though English is proficiently spoken in these parts and it’s not difficult to communicate for a foreign tourist. People of Mysore are blessed with style. It is perhaps because the place is itself wedded to style quotient. They come out as warm and hospitable. The voice of the city is very warm.
Overall, Mysore happens to be one of the hottest destinations for tourists. This is largely because those interested in history cannot find an equally brilliant heritage site within long miles. Yes, it has tied its compass of history to the current trends in the tourism industry extremely well and this is why it is doing remarkably as a tourist hub.
Mahabaleshwar – Maharashtra
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008Lying in the Western Ghats, Mahabaleshwar is a famous tourist point. In the last couple of
decades it has become relevant as a honeymoon destination. Mahabaleshwar hills are known as a Hindu place of pilgrimage since many centuries. It’s divided into Malcolm Peth, Shindola and Old Kshetra. Mahabaleshwar is known for being the point of commencement of river Krishna, a colossal peninsular river in the Deccan. Mahabaleshwar produces large quantities of honey and strawberry. Mahabaleshwar has many scenic springs, rivulets and falls. The summer residence of Maharashtra’s governor is also located in these hills.
Mahabaleshwar Map
Orientation and climate
Mahabaleshwar is located in Satara district of Maharashtra. Pune Mahabaleshwar Distance: It’s at a distance of 120 kilometers from Pune. Mumbai Mahabaleshwar Distance: 285 kilometers from Mumbai. At Wilson Point, its highest peak, the hill station reaches an altitude of 1438 meters above sea level. Mahabaleshwar has an average elevation of 1353 meters. Mahabaleshwar is blessed with a lovable climate. It is near to Arabian Sea and is at a high altitude, this is why the dry climate is generally pleasant to the senses. During the summer, the temperature does not cross over the threshold of 30 degrees. In winter it is passable at 16 degrees.
Best time of visit
Beginning from October, any time till June is good to visit Mahabaleshwar.
Transport links
Air and rail links- By air, Pune is the closest airport lying at a distance of 120 kilometers. Even via train, Pune is the closest link if you do not consider an idle rail link called Wathar at about 62 kilometers.
Road links – ST or the state transport buses ply frequently between Mumbai, Pune and Mahabaleshwar. NH-7 is the highway which connects Pune to Mahabaleshwar if you are looking for a car drive. It is more likely to be a 150 kilometers drive.
Places of interest
Venna lake- Venna Lake is a tourist spot of strength. Tourists love taking a boat ride in winter when the layers of fog over surrounding trees are a delight to the senses. Panchgani is also very close by. It’s a tourist spot that is well lapped up by the holiday-crowd.
Catholic Church- This is a Hindu pilgrimage site and perhaps this has resulted in the debilitation of this church. Its stained glass windows are still a visual delight. It is actually being looked after by a Hindu family.
Pratapgadh fort- it is at a distance of about 24 kilometer from Mahabaleshwar. In the Sahyadri hills, the fort is a majestic appearance, being built under the tutelage of Maratha warrior Shivaji.
Strawberry farms- at a high altitude, the strawberry fields present a scenic view. There are also many mulberry farms which dot the landscape of Mahabaleshwar.
Resort Mahabaleshwar Hotels Accommodation
Mtdc Mahabaleshwar Holiday Resort, Valley View Resort, Hotel Park Plaza, Grand Resort, and Brightland Resort are top few in the line of mahabaleshwar resorts / hotels in mahabaleshwar. They combine the old world charm of the place with a host of modern-day amenities. Among them are indoor heated swimming pool, central air-conditioning and heating, Jacuzzi, spa and sauna facilities, business center and much more.
Munnar – Kerala
Tuesday, December 16th, 2008Munnar – Absorbing the Tourist Hooves
Munnar has caught lot of attention of late. Largely, it is deserving of all the attention. This means that Munnar has done quite well to come out of its own shadow. The place was always etched in natural beauty but now it has also gained commercially so that it can add to the tourist fare. Mist and haze, forest sanctuaries and tea plantations; Munnar offers the virgin, clandestine beauty in no less a measure.
It is needless to say, that the tourist strength at Munnar is quite amazing. Just google search and you will find number of visitors who click for Munnar. Anyways, first things first, Munnar is in Idukki district of Kerala settled in the higher ranges of Western Ghats. Let’s check through a travelers’ guide for Munnar.
Munnar Map
How to travel
Munnar does not have its own railway station, which obviously implies that airport is missing just as well. The nearest airport railway station is at Kochi which is about 130 km from Munnar.
By road- Munnar can be accessed from almost each place in Kerala. There are plenty of road construction initiatives that have been undertaken by the government and they have made it possible for the tourists to join Munnar from all other venues. Even if you are at Tamil Nadu, an adjacent state, you can join Munnar through Coimbatore and Madurai in 6 hours.
Places of Interest
Munnar is blessed with tea plantations. It is because of tea that spices get overshadowed. You can find your way around the tea plantations and check the entire process right from the plucking of tea to the processing of leaves at the Kundale plantation site.
The Christ Church is a solemn place with a lot of historical fiber still attached to it. It was made a century ago by British. It has a unique appeal owing to its silent setting. Its glasses of stained window are quite a sight to look at. It has brass plaques embedded in the memory of the deceased tea planters.
Hiking and long walks are pretty conducive as it lets a tourist absorb the color spectrum of Munnar. It’s a riot of nature. There are such places which are absolutely virgin territories, untouched by human presence.
Anaimudi is a great watch. It’s the tallest peak in Southern India
Chinnar wild life sanctuary is 52 kilometers away from Munnar and is home to elephants, beers, and leopards.
Marayoor is a breathtaking sandalwood forest which provides exquisite natural beauty.
The Evarikulum national park is16 kilometers from Munnar and houses the macaque and Nilgiri Tahr among other animals.
Specialty
The natural adventure foundation conducts a paragliding course. If you hone your skills there, you are bound to come out strongly and enjoy the paraphernalia far more.
Spices are another specialty of Munnar. Cardamom is an aromatic spice found here in all sizes. They lure with the parrot-green shade. Add to tea, another specialty of Munnar and the flavor will be akin to something from heaven.
Pepper- Indian pepper has been casting its large shadow on European economy since middle ages. This king of spice is grown in colossal proportions at Munnar.
Cinnamon- this warm spice with a sweet flavor and a hanging aroma is an enigma in itself. You can even chew it raw for greater immunity and a titillating taste.
Best time to visit
Munnar is best to visit between October and March. Travelers are well advised to refrain from monsoon visits as the road stretches get muddy and lot of fun is cut short owing to flooding through the backwaters.
Facilities
Hotels are flushed with facilities. Few of them also have indoor heated swimming pools and central air-conditioning arrangements. Transportation around the area is cheap. Travel guides are readily available. They will themselves scout for you. Prices are negotiable. Look for those with the best excursion programs. You can also go for a bulk online package available for the city of Munnar.
Munar Hotels
Accommodation is well spaced out. Earlier, it could have been a problem but Kerala government saw to the tourist drive and has altered accordingly. This means that there are quite a few Kerala government initiatives for the region. Private hoteliers have also added a lot of hotels and resorts.
- Tea county is a four star deluxe hotel. The landscape and services are all brilliant.
- Cloud 9 is a three star hotel and offers charm of an untouched place
- The great escapes resort frees the mind from all the trivialities of mundane existence; great hospitality along with natural setting at its peak.
- Siena village on Anayirangal dam is quite an amazing place to stay as well
Food
Food offered at Munnar is generally the ethnic fare but it is very sumptuous. It is needless to say that the taste of food is grounded in its spices and Munnar is a fount of indigenous spices which are all encompassing. This is why it prepares the other fares in local spices as well. The tourists get to savor their staples in different taste orientations.
Language and style
Malayalam is the provincial language. It is one of the four languages spoken in the southern parts of India. English is fluently spoken by few locals. People are generally colorful and show a lot of hospitality. The art of treating tourists well is not lost on them so you find them pro-actively approaching you for any help that they feel you may require.
Few travel Tips
It’s a holiday after all so look to comfort yourself. Do not crowd your itinerary with too many locations and excursions. Enjoy the pristine beauty of Munnar, hike your way through them and intersperse it with few visits to the places of interest.
Don’t be rocked out of your cradle by hearing of deluxe and luxury hotels, government has also made quite a few budget hotel arrangements.
Yes! It is recommended that you should use your own packaged mineral water. All other things in Munnar are just as good and quality- ensured as any other place in the country.
Bandipur National Park
Saturday, November 22nd, 2008
A beautiful forest reserve located in the south state of India, Karnataka, Bandipur National Park was created in the 1930s, making use of the local Maharaja Wodeyar’s hunting lands. The park was then called Venugopal Wildlife Park.
It was in 1941 that Bandipur National Park was expanded to connect to the Nagarhole national park found at its northern edge. Even the Wynad and Madumalai Sanctuaries which were found in its southern edge, and belong to the states of Kerala and Tamilnadu respectively, were adjoined to the park.
Today this whole area makes up the huge Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, one of the many tracts of preserved forest of India. In fact, since 1973, this park has been declared one of the more acclaimed tiger reserves of India.
Climate – Bandipur National Park is mostly warm and comfortable throughout the year where temperatures range from 24 to 28 degrees Celsius. It is only during its short winter from October to January that the temperature falls to the 19 degrees mark. Though monsoon is erratic here, rainfall is usually between June and September.
Flora and fauna of Bandipur National Park
With the Bandipur National Park found in the Indian Deccan plateau area, it lies in the shade of the Western Ghats. The park is full of vegetation and flora that vary from deciduous and evergreen forests to open, grassy woodlands.
You can also find valuable wood such as rosewood and teak here. The Moyar River is called the life of the forest as it waters the park with its two minor distributaries and provides the borderline between the park and the Madumalai Sanctuary.
Bandipur National Park is famous for its Asiatic elephants and these love the park because of its vast, open spaces and visitors get to see elephants in their natural surroundings here. There are many other mammals you will see while in the park such as the Chital, Indian porcupine, ruddy mongoose, leopard cat, four-horned antelope and wild boar chital.
Bandipur Forest Route
Bandipur National Park is found on the Mysore-Ooty highway and the best way to travel to the park is by bus. There are regular and express state buses traveling between Ooty and Mysore, which pass through the borders of the park and stop at the Forest Department Center.
Bandipur National Park is a 2 ½ hour drive from Mysore and it takes 3 hours to reach it from Ooty. While the nearest train station is in Mysore (at a distance of 65km), the nearest international airport is in Bangalore (at a distance of 204km).
Accommodation and Travel tips
There are many lodges, cottages and rest houses here and these are maintained by the forest department. These places of accommodation are all reasonably priced and great for enjoying nature when in the park.
It is always better to wear light, cotton clothing during summer here but if you are visiting in winter, take along some light, woolen garments. However if you visit in the rainy season, carry raincoats as it can be rather windy, which makes umbrellas useless.
Goa India
Friday, November 14th, 2008Goa- Ethereal beauty within a small natural campus
Goa is a set of different things for different people. It aligns the antediluvian touch with the modern frame. The beauty of the ancient is so beautifully wedded to the current that tourists seeking both the dimensions feel completely fulfilled. Not without anything is it known as the “Riviera of the East“. The place holds the works of man and the work of God in harmony. Its beauty is evident in the many structures of old architectural brilliance, and also the many concrete structures that have risen up lately.
Apart from this, nature can be seen at its very best in the spread of azure seas, stretched sand-fields, vacillating palms and the welcome moderateness of climate.
Once in Goa, you can look forward to the carnival spirit of the beach which is comparable only to itself. It is amazing how the entire atmosphere blends into a wave of festivities that has to be seen to be believed. Just hold on to yourselves, the spirit of the place might take you in completely. Be it the pacifying water or the large pool, be it the luxury of all kinds of amenities in the hotel, be it the serene drift of the Arabian seafront or be it the quietly inebriating Feni. Goa does pack quite a punch.
Goa Map
Goa Resorts
Cidade de Goa Beach Resort- Tucked between the hills and the Arabian Sea, Cidade de Goa lies adjacent to the Vainguinim beach. It’s a five star deluxe resort. Apart from the amazing hospitality on display, something that is so much like Goa; there are various sets of ethnic cuisines that tease the taste buds. Sea fishes in a huge quantity help in enhancing the party flavor.
The resort is built on a 40 acre lush green field that evokes the magic of a Portuguese hamlet; this is something so unique in style that it fetched the prestigious RIBA award.
Ramada Caravela Beach Resorts- this is among Goa’s finest resort hotels aligned to the oceanfront. The restaurant caters well to a tourist’s desire of romance and self-discovery and also brings them close to the sylvan setting that evokes a feeling of leisure. It has superior deluxe and standard rooms to help people of all budgets. It also offers ayurveda and oriental spa apart from all the modern-day facilities.
Goa beach resorts- Paradise village beach resort is an idyllic resort sitting quietly along the Calungate beach. The resort which gives an impression of a Spanish villa is seeped in a laid-back, relaxed attitude of a top holiday destination.
Kenilworth Beach Resort, Goa- It lies on the Utorda Beach in Goa. Spread along its white seducing sands, the resort totals 14 sprawling acres in length. Now that’s no mean feat! It’s a distance of 20 minutes from the Dabolim airport and lesser from the railway station of Margao. Goa is married to the Portuguese architecture and this is evident in all the 107 sea-facing rooms of Kenilworth. It also offers wholesome Spa and adrenalin pumping sports.
Goa Hotels
Hotels in Goa are generally characterized as the North Goa hotels, the South Goa hotels and the Panjim hotels.
Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa- It is the best hotel that eyes can see; or almost. Spread over 45 acres of lush garden space on the beachfront, the hotel caters to world-class amenities. 15 minute’s drive from the Dabolim airport, the place is a pastoral recess which gives a tourist blessing of different kinds. It throws out-of-the-world village concept with spa facilities of all kinds. It very well combines the touch of a lavish boutique hotel with the class of a resort.
Hotel Fidalgo- The accommodation suites at Fidalgo hotel are plush with all the modern set of amenities that is needed for luxuriating. All the rooms provide access to sea-view. The rooms are divided into six major categories; the club room, executive club, executive premium, executive suite, premium room and top view. The food enclave is equally inviting and presents a repertoire of cuisines, aimed at all kinds of taste buds.
Top Goa Beaches
The beaches of Goa actually are the symbolic representation of the state’s tourism potential. We know to what extent the popularity and scenic beauty of the beach landscape can go but at the same time, the shopping hubs spread over the seafront are equally invigorating. The souvenir and the memento shops flourish all across and present a tourist with the chance to pick up a piece of Goa.
Agunda beach – It is spread over 3 kilometers of golden sands. The place is seeped in absolute solitude. This is why it is among the favorites for those who always look for quietude on the beach.
Calungute beach- It is Goa’s flagship beach. It is spread over 7 kilometers and is known by the sobriquet “Queen of Beaches” because of its overwhelming popularity among the tourists.
Baga beach- Baga beach in Goa is a virgin territory where human footsteps and general hum and bustle are not much heard of. The place has a tranquility which the tourists enjoy.
Palolem beach- One of the South beaches of great prominence, Palolem is scattered with silvery sand and pastoral landscape. The beach features in the movie “Bourne Supremacy”. That is quite an evidence of its class.
Vagator beach- 22 kilometers from Panaji, Vagator beach is located along the west coast of Goa. This is spread across a 30 kilometer seafront and is one of the more popular beaches in Goa. It is quite adjacent to Calungute and Anjuna beach.
Chapora beach- on the basis of tourist count, the beach ranks very highly. It draws tourists willing to have a look at the fishing industry and the boat-building processes.
All the beaches offer a host of water sports which include parasailing and windsurfing. Local handicraftsmen are spread all over the beaches throwing a mélange of handicrafts on offer.
Let’s check some vital information about Goa
Goa is spread over an area of 3702 square kilometers. Fundamentally, it is divided into two districts; the North Goa and the South Goa. It faces a tropical climate which becomes even more moderated due to the coastal effect. Goa deals mainly in four languages; the Marathi, English, Hindi, and Konkani. Chief religions followed in the place are Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Goa has a near-average literacy rate of around 82%.
October to February is the best time to visit Goa. Dabolim airport is proximal to most of the tourist destinations. Once in Goa, tourists can align to different aspects like forts, fauna, churches, and festivals. Few of the top-draw festivals are Ganesh Chaturthi, Shigmo, Feast of three Kings, and feast of St. Xavier.
Goan Railway Station – Madgaon or Margaon railway station is situated 2 kilometers east of a town by the same name. It connects the Konkan railway to the ever- expanding needs of the tourists. Few of the expresses which run through the territory are Goa Express, Mandavi Express, Netravathi Express, Kulem-Vasco Da Gama Passenger, Konkan Kanya Express Mandavi Express, and Hapa Express.
Gokarna Karnataka India
Sunday, November 9th, 2008Gokarna means cow’s ears in the local dialect. The place derives its name from the confluence of two rivers. Gokarna has got a higher reputation as a pilgrimage center than what it has got as a beach. This is unfair though, as the place is luring enough to be called a tourism hub. It has azure sea, neat stretch of sand and vacillating palm trees. All this makes it into the perfect sylvan hangout.
Oriented all along the Karwar coast of North Karnataka, Gokarna happens to be a one-street town mainly structured out of wooden houses. Gokarna lies close to four enamoring beaches. Kudle beach is the most famous of them all, stretching about a kilometer; its white sand and oscillating date palms evoking the pleasure of harmony. It’s a 20 minute distance from Gokarna
No month is special or more coveted for a Gokarna visitor. Yes, the general consensus is to avoid the monsoon months. The muddy terrain becomes all cluttered and messy. If you have an option to visit it anytime you like, then it is most worthy of being visited during Maha Shivratri.
Om beach resort or hotel Swaswar provides great venues for accommodation. Apart from this, there is Hotel Gokarna international which also sees to providing terrific antediluvian touch to a tourist. Mangalore happens to be the most proximal airport. Konkan railways pass through Gokarna frequently. Even by road, it is attached to nearby Karwar and Mangalore. Bangalore is relatively close too.
Gokarna can be visited for many reasons. Let’s take a look at few of the facets;
Religious importance
Gokarna is a significant seat of learning Sanskrit. It is the home to Bhandikeri and Toggu math. Brahmins become able descendants to their forefathers with the deep knowledge of scriptures provided here. Hindus also prefer this place for conducting the last rite of a person.
Mahabaleshwara temple, a religious place of pan-country repute, is situated in Gokarna. This Shiva temple holds an atmalinga. The main deity here is lord Ganesha. The idol is known to be almost 1500 years old. The main idol is a stone lingam, embossed in brass and put on a coiled stone serpent. Hall floor has a sophisticated giant tortoise engraving. Other temples which are worthy of being shown patronage are
Maha Ganapathi Temple built in honour of the boy Ganapathi, who deceived the demon Ravana
Some other well known temples are Uma Maheshwari Temple, Varadraj Temple and Venkataramana Temple
Kotiteertha, a tank encompassed by temples is utilized for immersion of idols and the bathing ritual.
Shivaratri festival is celebrated with great pomp. Each year a team constructs two top-class temple chariots which are used for the purpose of Shiv Ratri. The priests chant hymns. Cavalcades of people tug on chariot ropes while the priests conduct diverse sets of ceremonies. More than 20000 pilgrims visit Gokarna during the festival.
Tourist Hub
Gokarna is also well placed as a tourist hub. Might be the tourist dimension is not as significant as religion, but it stands out on its own. To cope up with the rising tourist demands, many resorts and hotels have flocked the place. Let’s first take a look at two of the better resorts in Gokarna.
Swaswara resort- Along the coastal beach of Karnataka that is renowned for its tranquility, the Swaswara Resort spreads out as a top CGH earth resort. It is spread over 30 acres and houses 27 villas. It is built in the indigenous Konkan format and has all kinds of amenities which a contemporary tourist may demand. It provides with most releasing practices of yoga, meditation, and pranayams and has professional trainers to cater to it. The Ayurvedic centre helps the tourists find welcome solace in a host of massages and ayurvedic therapies. Om beach and Gokarna beach are proximal to the place and can be accessed through boats.
Swaswara offers top-draw cuisines. Mostly these are indigenous farm produces augmented with best seafood from the Arabian Sea.
Though monsoon might be a relatively rough time to visit Gokarna, it also gives Ayurveda-seekers the best possible chances of recuperation. Main tourist season ranges from the month of September to December. For those willing to access the place through train, the closest station is Kumta.
Om beach resort- Om beach resort has resulted from the collaboration of Jungle Lodges Pvt. Ltd. and Kairali group. It offers top of the line leisure therapies and ayurvedic packages. Ayurvedic therapies include Panchkarma therapies and oil massages. While staying in the resort you can amalgamate with the various leisure packages but at the same time you can also move out and be a little adventurous on the beach.
Tourist set-ups can be sought for packaged deals of adventure. There are the waterfalls and fun-places. Pilgrimage centers around include Mookambika, Mudareshwar, and Gokarna.
Coming from resorts to hotels, Hotel Gokarna International has developed a name for itself over the years. It binds all the aspect of modern day services with laid-back pleasures.
The hotel is a budget hotel right in the middle of the town. It is at a stone throw distance from the beach and temple. The hotel’s fortune is guided by a couple of brothers who are willing to add on to the sylvan pleasures. The clean hotel has two restaurants attached to it and deals in both kinds of food; the Vegetarian and the Non vegetarian. The hotel encompasses a large hall for conducting all kinds of functions. A charge of rupees 200 per room is levied as room service. Apart from this, there are various taxes, for instance, luxury taxes and government service taxes.
Mangalore and Bangalore to Gokarna
Gokarna is 475 km away from Bangalore and 225 km distant from Mangalore. You have to travel 170 km from Goa to reach Gokarna. If you are in Goa, you can reach Gokarna through the Dabolim airport.
Gokarna exudes in the warmth of a medium- budgeted township. Overall, there is enough which can let a tourist or a visitor enjoy the pastoral escape of this town. Even for those who are a little burnt with money, the opportunity to enjoy is quite very much there.
Gokarna Karnataka Pics
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Hampi- Standing on the Crossroads of History
Saturday, November 8th, 2008
Deriving its name from Pampa River, Hampi is a village in the northern part of Karnataka. Karnataka is one of the four famous Indian states in the south. Hampi is situated all through the ruins of Vijayanagar, capital of the powerful Vijaynagar Empire. Hampi is believed to be older than Vijayanagar. Since olden times its value as a religious center has not diminished. It houses the Virupaksha temple.
Hampi Map
Hampi stretches well into the streets of Vijayanagar. Hampi in fact houses the Vijayanagar ruins as the Group of Monuments lately declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO.
Hampi relates to the pre-historic saga of monkey kingdom Kishkindha (once the most famous empire on the face of earth). A long time after the fall of the empire, the city had been put to ruins by Islamic intruders who were against idolatry. The Archaeological Survey of India has been carrying out excavations to find more of historical artifacts and fossil ruins.
Hampi is under stress from vested interests in mining. Lately there has been a boom in the market of iron-ore owing to international deficits. Hampi and the entire Tungabhadra region are thus bearing the brunt of excessive mining.
Bangalore to Hampi
In terms of distance from eminent places, Hampi is not very ideally located. Bangalore is a far cry almost 353 kilometers apart. Bijapur and Bellary are 254 and 74 kilometers apart.
Jog Falls Karnataka
Thursday, October 30th, 2008Shimoga Jog Falls – Best Tourist Attraction of Karnataka
Flowing from a height of 829 feet, Jog falls in Shimoga district of Karnataka is the highest plunge waterfall in India. It provides a resplendent view to an incessant flurry of tourists. During monsoon, its magic must be seen to be believed. There can be a debate over the technically highest fall in the country but the fact that Jog falls drops untiered, without being interrupted by rocks and boulders, make it arguably the highest and the very best fall in India.
The Falls beaks into four different streams as river Sharavathi deviates into four separate tracks. Each is named after their demeanor; the king, the queen, the roarer and the rocket. The naming bit can be attributed to the indigenous folks.
Undoubtedly the best falls in Asia in terms of scenic brilliance, it also provides great utilitarian value. It enables the Mahatma Gandhi hydro-electric project which bestows electricity to most of Karnataka. Fast moving water running through turbines can be an awesome view for the tourists.
Jog falls is mundane before the onset of monsoon so we suggest you to make a visit between August and December. Moreover, forget about the government’s statements and just go by what the locals perceive of the fall. It might give a better account of its grandeur and make your experience richer.
Jog Falls Distance
379 kilometers from Bangalore
102 kilometers from Shivamogga
30 kilometers from Sagara
Jog Water Falls Video
httpv://in.youtube.com/watch?v=wXJQwxyPGNQ
