Shanktiniketan

Santiniketan is a cultural town in West Bengal, near Bolpur, which is 180 km from Kolkata. This small cultural town was a vision of the famous Bengali poet and Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore. The Vishwa Bharati University or ‘the University Town’, as it was known in early days was an attempt of Tagore’s efforts that even today attracts significant number of visitors to the place.

With a rich cultural past, Santiniketan is a famous tourist attraction, especially for art and literature lovers, as this is the place where Tagore created many of his literary classics. The destination has a distinct culture and heritage of its own which can be experienced in the various festivals it celebrates like Poush Mela, Basantotsava and Rabindra Jayanti. 

The Poush Mela, which is held in the month of December every year, is a major attraction of Santiniketan. Since the Poush Mela draws a large number of people, accommodations need to be booked well in advance. Almost all hotels hike their tariffs during this time. The fair is also a good place to buy local handicrafts like Santinekatani leather work, batik prints, dokra work and jewellery. 

An upcoming event in Santiniketan is the Basantotsava ‘Spring Festival’, which heralds the spring season and is held during Holi. To be held around 8th March, 2012, it is a good time to visit the university town. Students are dressed in yellow costumes and welcome spring through Tagore's songs and dances. A lot of open-air programmes are held during this time. Accommodation, again, is hard to find at the time as there is a huge rush and it is essential to make arrangements well in advance. Room rates are also higher at this time.

Accommodation options, in the form of guesthouses, hotels, resorts and lodges, are available in and around Santiniketan, especially Bolpur. Youth hostels are available at Bolpur and Bakreswar. There is a WBTDC tourist lodge as well as a guest house run by the Vishwa Bharati.

Santiniketan is included in the popular cultural-religious tourist trio, which is a circuit that includes Bakreswar and Tarapith too. The trip originates at Santiniketan, and from there moves towards Bakreswar and then finally Tarapith. 

Gokarna

Gokarna is also an important centre of Sanskrit learning and houses Bhandikeri Math and Toggu Math. It

is a place where Sanskrit knowledge is passed down from generations in Brahmin families. Many Hindus

also perform the last rites of a person here.

    Mahabaleshwar Temple (Maha: great, bal: strength) is a famous Shiva Temple and it houses the

'Atmalinga'. Named so after Ravana referred to the linga's great strength. [2]

It is situated at the western end of the main street. The main deity here is two-armed, standing and

at least 1500 years old. The idol of Lord Ganesha also is ancient. In the sanctuary is a stone linga,

encased in brass, placed on a coiled stone serpent. The floor of the hall in front has an intricate

engraving of a giant tortoise.

    Maha Ganapathi Temple built in honour of the boy Ganapathi, who deceived the demon Ravana.
    Uma Maheshwari Temple
    Bhadrakali Temple
    Varadaraj Temple
    Tamra-Gauri Temple
    Shanmuka Temple
    Venkataramana Temple
    Kotitheertha is a man-made tank that is used for immersion of idols and ritual bathing. It is

surrounded by temples.
    Shivaratri festival is celebrated here with great enthusiasm. Each year a team builds up two great

temple chariots which are used during the Shivaratri festival. The two great temple chariots lead a

procession through the town's narrow streets, while priests and pilgrims chant hymns in praise of

Shiva. More than a hundred people are needed to pull the chariots with thick ropes while priests

conduct religious ceremonies inside. During the four day Shivaratri festival, the small town of

Gokarna is visited by up to 20,000 pilgrims.

Dandeli

Dandeli is located at a distance of 125 km from Goa and 480 km from Bangalore and is easily accessible as it is well connected by road with all the major destinations within the state of Karnataka. Its proximity to Goa, Belgaum, Karwar, Dharwad and Hubli makes Dandeli a favourite destination of holiday makers.

The nearest airport to reach Dandeli is at Belgaum, almost 90 km away. Bangalore has the nearest international airport at a distance of over 450 km. From the Belgaum airport, taxis and buses are available to Dandeli. The nearest rail station to Dandeli is Alnavar Junction, 35 km away, which has connections to Belgaum, Bangalore and Hubli.

The best time to visit Dandeli is from October to May. Summers are warm with the temperature going just over 30⁰ Celsius while winters have an average temperature of 25⁰ Celsius. Since Dandeli is a popular spot for white water rafting, a lot of adventure lovers visit the region during December to May, when it is ideal for the sport. Bird watchers can visit the destination in October and November.

Kedarnath Mandir

Kedarnath Mandir is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located atop the

Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini river in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand in India. Due to extreme

weather conditions, the temple is open only between the end of April to Kartik Purnima (the autumn

full moon). During the winters, the murtis (idols) from Kedarnath temple are brought to Ukhimath and

worshipped there for six months. In this region Lord Shiva is worshipped as Kedarnath, the 'Lord of

Kedar Khand', the historical name of the region. This temple is a Paadal Petra Sthalam (the 275 Holy

Abodes of Shiva on the continent), praised by the Tamil Nayanars saints in the 6th-9th century CE.

The temple is not directly accessible by road and has to be reached by a 14 km uphill trek from

Gaurikund . The temple is believed to have been built by Adi Sankaracharya [1] and is one of the

twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest Hindu shrines of Shiva. The older temple existed from the times of

Mahabharata, when the Pandavas are supposed to have pleased Shiva by doing penance in Kedarnath. The

temple is also one of the four major sites in India's Chota Char Dham pilgrimage of Northern

Himalayas.

Bavikonda

Bavikonda is an important Buddhist heritage site located on a hill about 15 km, northeast from Visakhapatnam city. Here the Buddhist habitation

is noticed on a 16 ha flat terraced area. The Hinayana school of Buddhism was practiced at the monastery between the 3rd century B.C. and the

3rd century A.D. Bavikonda has remains of an entire Buddhist complex, comprising 26 structures belonging to three phases. A piece of bone

stored in an urn recovered here is believed to belong to the mortal remains of the Budda. The word Bavikonda in Telugu means "a hill of wells".

Fitting its name, Bavikonda is a hill with wells for the collection of rainwater. It is located 15 km (9.3 mi) from Visakhapatnam and is a

significant Buddhist site. Excavation carried out from 1982–1987 revealed a Buddhist establishment including a mahachaitya embedded with relic

caskets,[clarification needed] a large vihara complex, numerous votive stupas, a stone-pillared congregation and rectangular halls and a

refectory. Artifacts recovered from the site include Roman and Satavahana coins and pottery dating from the third century BC to the second

century AD. A significant finding was a piece of bone (with a large quantity of ash) in an urn, which is believed to be the remains of the

Buddha. The Bavikonda site is considered one of the oldest Buddhist sites in Asia. It is a reminder of the Buddhist civilisation which once

existed in southern India, and also reminiscent of Borobudur in Indonesia.

Manipur

Manipur

Until recently, entry to Manipur was controlled by the central government, for both foreigners and citizens of India. The state government as per directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India on 9 November, relaxed existing guidelines of the ministry's circular No. 249 under letter no. 15011/7/95-F.I dated 29/6/1998 and delegated powers to issue Protected Area Permits (PAP):

    To visiting foreign tourists in a group of two or more persons with a recognized travel agent who would act as an escort of the group up to a maximum period of 30 days.
    Foreigners married to Indian nationals belonging to Manipur can visit the state on tourist visa for a maximum period of 90 days.
    IO/OCI card holder hailing from Manipur, visiting foreign nationals engaged in development/welfare project would continue to require prior permission of MHA after examining proposal in consultation with security agencies, MHA may consider issue of PAP to such visits of foreign nationals initially for a period up to 180 days.

The official order of state Home department also mentioned the permitted areas of foreigners to be visit in the state including, Loktak Lake, Imphal, INA Memorial Moirang, Keibul Lamjao Deer Sanctuary, Waithou Lake, Imphal-Bishnupur-Phubala-Moirang-sendra-Keibul Lamjao-Imphal, Imphal _Moirang Lake-Keibul Lamjao-Churachandpur-Khuga River-Imphal, Imphal-Litan-Ukhrul-Shiroy-Sangshak-Imphal, Imphal-Thoubal- Waithou Lake- Khongjom-Kakching- Thongjao-Waikhong-Sugunu-Imphal, Imphal-Khonghampat-Kanglatombi-Kangpokpi-Senapati-Karong-Mao gate-Imphal and Imphal Noneh-Khongsang-Nungba-Jiribam-Imphal.

The official order further mentioned whereas until now foreigners were required to travel by air from Calcutta to Imphal, henceforth, foreign tourists will also be allowed to enter by road along with NH-39 and NH-53. This circuit would be Dimapur-Kohima-Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar, the official order mentioned.

TAMBARAM

Tambaram is a suburb of Chennai situated 27 km south of the city in Tamil Nadu, India. It is an urban node. Tambaram is a hub to all major destinations in south Tamil Nadu as it lies on the busy Chennai–Trichy national highway. The highway and the railway line from Chennai Egmore to Kanyakumari divide the town into East Tambaram and West Tambaram. The Chennai suburban railway network operates a suburban railway service from Chennai Beach to Tambaram. Southern railways is also planning to make Tambaram railway station as the third major terminal after Chennai Central and Egmore.
Tambaram is considered to be a satellite town as it caters to the needs of various suburbs like Padappai, Selaiyur, Agaram, Madambakkam, Mudichur and Mannivakkam. Tambaram is geographically divided into West, East and Tambaram Sanatorium. East Tambaram is well known for its many educational institutions. The prominent among them is the Madras Christian College.

Kullu attractions

Handloom Kullu Shawl is the best treasure one can look for. Kullu Shawls are made of many natural fibers such as pashmina, sheep-wool, angora etc..

Raghunath Temple

In the 17th century, Raja Jagat Singh of Kullu committed a great wrong. To atone for the sin, he sent a senior courtier to Ayodhya for a statue of Lord Raghunath - Lord Rama. This temple was built by Raja Jagat Singh to house the image and even today, is greatly revered.

Shringi Rishi Temple- Banjar

About 60 km. from Kullu is Banjar valley wherein Shringi Rishi Temple is located. Shringi Rishi is the ruling deity of Banjar valley. In fact, before the Lord Rama's advent into Kullu valley from Ayodhya Puri,Lord Shringi was the ruling deity of Kullu. Shringi rishi is one among the "atthara kardoo" (eighteen chief deities) of the Kullu valley. [more inform.- shringi rishi Wikipedia, Yeshwant Singh tutorials].

Maha Devi Tirth Temple Shri Mahadevi Tirth, popularly known as Vaishno Devi Mandir (by localities), situated about two kilometers North from the Kullu valley on Kullu Manali road, though a newly founded temple, yet it is acknowledged like any old famous temple. The foundation of this temple was laid by [Swami Sewak Das Ji].

Bijli Mahadev

Bijli Mahadev Temple is one of the most excellent forms of art in India. It is located at 2,435 meters from sea level and is about 10 km away from Kullu. The staff of the temple is 60 feet high and can be seen from the Kullu valley too. It is the highest point around Kullu from where the beautiful view of the whole town, and more can be experienced.

Devta Narsingh

Temple of Devta Narsingh is a famous temple of deity 'Narsingh' and situated in Sultanpur block of Kullu.

Raison

By the banks of the Beas -and on the Kullu-Manali highway - Himachal Tourism runs a camping site here. Ideal for a taste of adventure.

Shoja

At 2692 m, this is a vantage point for a complete panorama of the Kullu area - snow peaks and valleys, meadows and forests, rivers and streams.

Basheshwar Mahadev Temple, Bajaura One of the most charming temples in the Kullu valley, this is renowned for its intricate stone carvings

Kasol

An open glade by the banks of the river Parvati. Clean white sand separates the lush green grass from the waters. A good spot for trout. Himachal Tourism has a Tourist Hut here.

Naggar

For 1400 years this was the capital of Kullu. Its 16th century stone and wood castle is now a hotel run by Himachal Tourism. Here, a gallery houses the paintings of the Russian artist, Nicholas Roerich. Naggar also has three other old shrines. Other Attractions

Kullu Dussehra

When Dussehra celebrations come to an end in the rest of the country, they begin at Kullu. The State government has accorded the status of International festival to the Kullu Dussehra, which attracts tourists in large numbers. About 200 local deities come to pay homage to Lord Raghunath.[5] This is a time when the valley is at its colourful best.

Kullu Holi

Holi is the festival of colors celebrated for two days in Kullu.Its unique feature is that people of the town collect in temple and then they proceed to houses of town people singing sacred holi songs and in return they are given sweets,pakoras and hard drinks etc. Women also take part in the festival with same enthusiasm and happiness as Men.

Fishing and Adventure

The Kullu valley has numerous places for trout fishing. These include Katrain, Raison, Kasol and Naggar, then along the river Tirthan near Larji, in the Sainj Valley and in the Hurla khud.

The valley is the nucleus of several trek routes. Some major ones are over the Chanderkhani Pass to Malana, over the Jalori Pass or Bashleo Pass to Shimla, and over the Pin Parvati Pass to Sarahan.

White water rafting is popular on the Beas river.

Ranchi

Ranchi is the state capital of the Indian state of Jharkhand and is known for its large mineral contents, which forms 18% of the total mineral

content of India. This is why it is called the ‘Manchester of the East’. It is also called the ‘city of waterfalls’ for comprising many small

and big waterfalls in its premises.

The city is spread over an area of 175.12 square kilometres and has an elevation of about 629 metres from the sea level. It is situated in the

southern part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau and also forms the eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau. It also possesses a hilly typography, which is

complimented by dense tropical forests.

Ranchi has derived its name from an Oraon village called ‘Archi’ present in the area. Archi means bamboo grove or stave in Oraon language.

Ranchi is the headquarters of Ranchi District and was earlier known as Lohardaga. It was also an important administrative and military base of

eastern India, during the British rule.

Later on, the city developed as a crucial trade and commerce centre for sericulture as well as the leading manufacturer of shellac. Ranchi is

also referred to as the ‘vegetable bowl’ due to thick vegetation of green vegetables in its villages.

Ranchi also offers many options for tourists ranging from temples and science centres, to waterfalls. Some prominent temples in the city

include the Rajrappa Mandir, Pahari Temple, Durga Bari, Kali Bari, Jagannathpur Temple, Surya temple, Dewri Temple, etc.

Waterfalls in Ranchi include the Hundru Falls, Dasham Falls, Jonha Falls, Hirni and Panchghagh Falls. Other tourist attractions in the place

include the Nakshatra Van, Aqua World, Birsa Zoological Park, Deer Park, Dr. Zakhir Hussain Park, Ranchi Science Centre, and others.

The city of Ranchi is also well-connected with other cities of Jharkhand and states of India through road, railways and airways. Ranchi has a

state bus terminus near its railway station and it has frequent railway services from states like Mumbai, Delhi, Jabalpur, Patna, Bangalore,

Guwahati, Kolkata and many more. Ranchi is also accessible by airways through its official airport, the Birsa Munda Airport.

Ranchi has a subtropical climate and generally experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year. It experiences an annual rainfall of around

1100 mm. The months of September, October and November are the best time to visit the place.

History of varansi

The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.

Thekkady - A showcase of the Wildlife of Kerala

Thekkady - A showcase of the Wildlife of KeralaThekkady is probably the best place in Kerala to observe wildlife and hence nature.From the mighty Indian elephant to the Great Indian tiger,

this place has it all.Elephants, deers, boars, bisons and lion tailed macaques are a common sight in the reservoir area. With some luck,other

animals like tiger and leopard can be observed.The tourism department offers trekking right into the heart of the forest either on foot or atop

elephants.The resort located in an island in the centre of the lake is the ideal place to observe animals.If you are more adventurous ,you can

take the road from Moozhiyar to Thekkadi via Gavi winding through the thickest forests of Kerala.Elephants are a common sight on this

path.Boating through the lake is a very pleasant experience and you can observe many waterbirds at close range.This place is ideal for wildlife

photography.The best time to visit is between September and March.

Baramula

Baramula is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It stretches over a vast area of 4,588 sq km. There are many temples, shrines, monasteries and gurudwaras, which attract visitors of all communities to this district.

The Baramula District is divided into 16 blocks and 8 tehsils, which are the administrative units of the district. The district shares its borders on the west with the section of Kashmir occupied by Pakistan. It is bordered by Srinagar and Ladakh on the east. Kupwara lies in the north of the district and Budgam and Pooch border the south end of the district of Baramula.

Baramula District has a strategic position in the valley of Kashmir that opened the routes to Rawalpindi and Muzaffarabad, both of which are presently located in Pakistan. The ancient city of Baramula was founded by Raja Bhimsina.

The region attracted the Mughal ruler Akbar who visited the district in the year 1508. Jahangir resided in the region during his visit to the Valley of Kashmir. The Chinese traveller Hieun T'Sang also visited Baramula.

The district is marked for its tolerance towards all religions and has several religious centres. The Teeratha is visited by Hindus. Buddhist devotees visit the Buddist Vihars. The shrine of the Muslim saint Syed Janbaz Wali is sacred to the Muslims.

Chatti Padshahi is the Sikh site of worship visited by pilgrims of the community. The town has some very good schools and there are several big projects underway in order to enhance the infrastructure of the area.

Baramula is famous for its terrain and cool weather. The lakes, mountain streams, valleys, mountain ranges, springs, streams and waterfalls make it a wonderful tourist destination. Some of the places to visit are Gulmarg, Manasbal Lake, Manimarg, Vijimarg, Mahalishamarg and the Wular Lake. Apart from the religious places, there are also two famous archaeological monuments, one at Parihaspora Pattan, and another at Pattan Bazzar, which can be visited.

Baramula lies close to Srinagar and can be easily reached from there. The nearest rail station is at Jammu which is connected to major cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Kanpur, Nagpur, etc. Buses are available from places like Srinagar, Jammu and Kargil. The best time to visit Baramula is the summer season, i.e. the months of April to July.

Rourkela Steel City

The picturesque and modern twin towns of Rourkela and Fertilizer Township as well as their developed periphery are located in areas that were once covered by

dense forests. Rourkela city came into prominence in the year 1955. According to the census report of 2011 the population of Rourkela City is 7 lakhs approx.

Then railway station of Rourkela was within the revenue village of Mahulpali.

When India obtained independence, a priority for the government was the industrialization of the country. A basic necessity was the production of iron and

steel, and after a search for a suitable location, a steel plant was finally ear-marked.

KALKA

Kalka  is a town in the Panchkula district of Haryana, India. The name of the town is derived from the goddess Kali. The town is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and is a gateway to the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh. It is on the National Highway 22 between Chandigarh and Shimla, and is the terminus of the Kalka-Shimla Railway. To the south of Kalka is Pinjore, and the industrial town of Parwanoo (Himachal Pradesh) is to the north on the NH 22. Industrial development has led to a continuous urban belt from Pinjore to Parwanoo, but Kalka remains largely unaffected by these developments. Nearby is Chandimandir Cantonment where the Western Command of the Indian army is based.

HAWA MAHAL

Maharaja Sawai Jai singh, the ruler of Rajasthan of the Kachwaha clan, was the original planner and builder who built the Jaipur city in 1727. However, it was his grandson Sawai Pratap Singh, son of Maharaja Sawai Madhosingh I, who built the Hawa Mahal in 1799 as a continuation of the Royal City Palace. Pratap Singh's deep devotion to the Hindu god Lord Krishna is inferred to have prompted him to build it as a dedication, in the form of a Mukuta or headgear, adorning the Lord. Though no historical record is available to its exact history, it is conjectured that Royal family ladies, who were under strict observance of purdah (the practice of preventing women from being seen by men), had to be given opportunity to witness proceedings in the market centre and watch the royal processions and festivities sitting behind the stone carved screens. Hawa Mahal did just that in style, amidst its luxurious comforts and behind strict screened exclusivity, unseen by outsiders

Brindavann garden

Even as tourists have begun milling the city ahead of Dasara, the must-see Brindavan Gardens at Krishnarajasagar Dam is not ready yet for the big event.

While the entrance to the Gardens is under construction, the road leading to the spot is being upgraded. The authorities took up construction of an arched entrance to the Brindavan Gardens in February this year. As the work is still on, the visitors must enter through small gates, a make-shift arrangement for over six months. The worse is that the under-construction entry point will not be ready this Dasara. KRS executive engineer Vijaykumar attached to Cauvery Niravari Nigama claims the work on the arch gate will be completed by October 10.