Different places to travel » Culture

Chandanwadi – a rocky and verdant mountain valley near Pahalgam in Kashmir.

Traveller — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:39:48 +0000

Chandanwadi is a rocky and verdant mountain valley near Pahalgam in Kashmir. Chandanwadi is situated about 16 kilometres from Pahalgam. This place is at an altitude of 9500 feet above sea level.
Start out from Pahalgam in the Northeast direction. The stretch between Pahalgam and Chandanwadi is half the route to Amarnath Yatra. Pahalgam is the base camp for the Yatra.
River Lidder flows all along this trail between Pahalgam and Chandanwadi. This is actually a lovely trek or drive between the two places. While drive one is surrounded by lush green conifers and meadows and rock patches with a sparkling gushing river.
The Valley of Chandanwadi is very beautiful. Camping on raw and rugged terrain by the River Lidder is very popular in Chandanwadi. From Pahalgam to Chandanwadi, one may travel by Mini-bus, jeep, pony or on foot.
The entire trail follows the Lidder River up to the North. It is a very scenic trail with moderate grade trekking.
Camping gear must be hired at Pahalgam before starting the trek. Always camp at designated campsites only. One should not camp in seclusion.

Some Important Things to Remember when you Trek

- Ponies may be hired at Pahalgam. One can hire an extra pony to carry your camping gear.
- One can carry a back-pack it yourself if interested.
- Tried and tested walking shoes are a must and brand new shoes are not recommended as there is a lot of walking involved.
- Always start the trek early in the morning.
- Reach the target destination before evening. This area is known to become cloudy by 5 pm.
- Always carry some cash.
- Alcohol Consumption is not allowed.
- First-aid kit is a must-carry. Medicines to carry on this trek are:
a. Painkillers
b. Anti-inflammatory
c. Wide-spectrum antibiotic
d. Anti-diarrhea
e. Anti-constipation pills
f. Mild sleeping pills

During their visit to Bijbehara, tourists can also visit Pahalgam and Srinagar.

Attractions of Pahalgam

• Mamaleshwar Temple
• Sheshnag Lake
• Tulian Lake
• Baisaran Meadow
• Betaab Valley
• Kolahoi Glacier
• Lidder River Rafting
• Lidderwat Valley Trekking Trail
• Pahalgam Golf Course

Attractions in Srinagar

• Shalimar Bagh
• Nishat Bagh
• Dal Lake
• Shankaracharya Temple
• Mughal Gardens
• Shikara Ride
• Houseboats
• Chashme Shahi Garden
• Hazratbal Mosque popular
• Pari Mahal (Quntilon)
• Nagin Lake popular
• Dastgir Sahib Shrine
• Khanqah of Shah Hamdan popular
• Sri Pratap Singh Museum
• Jamia Masjid
• Wular Lake
• Sangin Darwaza
• Masjid of Akhund Mullah
• Hari Parbat Fort
• Pathar Masjid
• Rozabal Shrine
• Kathi Darwaza
• Tomb of Madin Sahib
• Rainawari
• Naseem Bagh
• Harwan Garden
• Burzahom
• Garden of Char Minar
• Chatti Padshahi Gurudwara
• Khanqah of Khwaja Moinuddin Naqsbandi
• Jyeshtheshvara Temple
• Imambara Hassanabad
• Makhdoom Sahib Shrine

Things to do in Srinagar

• Shikaras in Dal Lake
• Parihaspora, Dewar
• House boating
• Bird viewing

Best time to visit / climate

The best time to visit Chandanwadi is between April and September. Summer temperatures range from 2 degrees to 14 degrees and weather is predominantly pleasant during the day, the nights get chilly so pack clothing and medicines accordingly. Even during summers, light woolens, mufflers, gloves and socks are essential.

Location on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?q=Kashmir+near+Chandanwadi&hl=en&sll=34.079429,75.416263&sspn=0.009313,0.021136&oq=chandanwadi,+kas&hnear=Chandanwadi&t=m&z=16

How to get to Chandanwadi?

The Pahalgam-Chandanwadi trail may be traversed by Mini-bus, jeep, pony or on foot.
1. Srinagar by Air
• Srinagar domestic airport is connected with many airports of the major cities in India.
• Regular flights are operated between Srinagar and Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Shimla.
• International travelers get the connecting flights from Delhi International airport.
• This is at a distance of 876 km from Srinagar.

2. Srinagar by Train
• Jammu is the nearest railway station to Srinagar.
• This is at a distance of 290 km.
• Jammu railway station is well connected to all major cities in India by rail.
• Direct train services are available from Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Trivandrum.
• Taxi services are available from Jammu to Srinagar.
• The fare is about Rs 6000.

3. Srinagar by Bus
• Many tourist bus service providers arrange deluxe luxurious bus package tours from many neighboring cities to Srinagar.
- Srinagar is well connected by tourist bus services to:
• Chandigarh (630 km)
• Jammu (290 km)
• Delhi (876 km)
• Leh (434 km)
• Phalgan (96 km)
- Packaged tours charge about Rs 4 – Rs 5 per km.

4. By plane
• Sheikh ul Alam Airport is commonly known as Srinagar Airport.
• It is an international airport.
• Flights are operated by Jet Airways, Air Deccan, Spice Jet, Kingfisher Airlines, Go Air, Jet Lite and Indian Airlines from Delhi and Mumbai to Srinagar.
• The frequency is once or twice a day by each airline.
• The cost is approximately Rs 2,500 from Jammu, Rs 2,500-5,000 from Delhi one way and higher from Mumbai.

5. By taxi from Jammu to Srinagar
• Hiring a TATA Sumo SUV from Jammu costs approximately Rs 1,900-2,700 depending on time of year or even time of day.
• The journey takes around 8 hrs.

6. By bus from Jammu to Srinagar
• J&K State Road Transport Corporation (J&KSRTC) operates fairly comfortable buses from Jammu costing around Rs 350 and does the journey in around 12 hrs.
• 2 day buses run between Srinagar and Leh staying overnight in Kargil.
• There are also direct buses from Delhi taking almost 24 hrs to reach Srinagar.

Some travel books from Amazon about Sonamarg

The Vale of Kashmir	Travels in Kashmir: A Popular History of Its People, Places and Crafts	Agony Of Dal Lake

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers)

• Hotels at cleartrip.com
• Hotels at tripadvisor.in
• Hotels at go2kashmir.com

Blogs / Sites about Chandanwadi

• Blogs and reviews at hoparoundindia.com
• Blogs and reviews at travel.sulekha.com
• Blogs and reviews at travelblog.org

Images and photos of Chandanwadi

• Images at google.com
• Images at panoramio.com
• images at holidayiq.com

Videos of Chandanwadi

Travel – Los Santos, Panama – famous for its carnivals

Traveller — Sun, 20 May 2012 18:23:19 +0000

Los Santos (The Saints) is a province of Panama with Las Tablas is its capital city. This capital city is famous for its carnivals such as the Festival Nacional de la Pollera (National Festival of the Pollera), the Festival of the Patron Santa Librada; and the Festival Nacional de la Mejorana in Guararé. Los Santos along with Herrara is known to be the birth place of the traditional Panamian dress known as the Pollera. This province is spread on a land area of about 3,804.6 square kilometers with an approximate population of 83,500. Growing corn, rice, coffee, sugar cane and the raising of livestock and commerce are its primary economy.
This province is divided in 7 districts:
• Guararé District-Corregimientos that include the cities of Guararé (capital), El Espinal, El Macano, Guararé Arriba, La Enea, La Pasera, Las Trancas,Llano Abajo, El Hato and Perales.
• Las Tablas District-Corregimientos that include the cities of Las Tablas (capital), Bajo Corral, Bayano, El Carate, El Cocal, El Manantial, El Muñoz, El Pedregoso, La Laja, La Miel, La Palma, La Tiza, Las Palmitas, Las Tablas Abajo, Nuario, Palmira, Peña Blanca, Río Hondo, San José,San Miguel, Santo Domingo, El Sesteadero, Valle Rico and Vallerriquito.
• Los Santos District-Corregimientos that include the of cities La Villa de los Santos (capital), El Guásimo, La Colorada, La Espigadilla, Las Cruces, Las Guabas, Los Angeles, Los Olivos, Llano Largo, Sabanagrande, Santa Ana, Tres Quebrada, Villa Lourdes and Agua Buena.
• Macaracas District-Corregimientos that include the cities of Macaracas (capital), Bahía Honda, Bajos de Guera, Corozal, Chupa, El Cedro, Espino Amarillo, La Mesa, Llano de Piedra, Las Palmas and Mogollón.
• Pedasí District-Corregimientos that include the cities of Pedasí (capital), Los Asientos, Mariabé, Purio and Oria Arriba.
• Pocrí District-Corregimientos that include the cities of Pocrí (capital), El Cañafístulo, Lajamina, Paraíso and Paritilla.
• Tonosí District-Corregimientos that include the cities of Tonosí (capital), Altos de Guera, Cañas, El Bebedero, El Cacao, El Cortezo, Flores, Guánico, La Tronosa, Cambutal and Isla de Cañas.
In 1855, the provinces were divided into the regions of Los Santos and Herrera and in 1941; Los Santos and Herrera were established as one province, named Los Santos. In 1945, Herrera and Los Santos became two different provinces.

Attractions of Los Santos:

Carnivals:
• Festival Nacional de la Pollera (National Festival of the Pollera)
• The Festival of the Patron Santa Librada
• The Festival Nacional de la Mejorana in Guararé.

Beaches: Venado, Achotines, and Guararé cities have many beaches. Isla Iguana beach is well known for its blue water and white sand and this island is just about 25 minutes by boat from Pedasí.

Museums:
• Museum of Nationality (Museo de la Nacionalidad)
• The Museum Belisario Porras
• The Museum Manuel F. Zarate
• The Sitio Arqueologico Cerro Juan Diaz-an archaeological site.

Churches:
• The Church of San Antonio
• The Church of Santa Librada (1872): It is in Las Tablas and is a national monument.

Others:
• Guarare: This is surrounded by the little town of El jobo, Bella Vista, Las Lagunitas, La Guaca, La Pacheca and La Enea. There was an Indian chief named Guarari, who reigned over this part during Spanish colonial times and on whose name this town is named after. The pollera, the montuno and the music are special symbols of this town which are representative of the Panamian culture. This town hosts the festival, Festival Nacional de La Mejorana, which takes place from September 20th to 26th.
• Las Tablas: This city is the capital of the province. It is about 12 kilometers from the port Mensabe on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. This city hosts best carnival celebrations in the Republic of Panama. The national monumental church, the Santa Librada Church, is housed here.
• Playa Venao: This is a long beach of about three miles. It is about 6 hours from Panama City by drive. The waves are ideal for surfing and the waves are about 15 feet tall and never under 4 feet.
• Pedasí: This town is on the Azuero Peninsula which is a small coastal fishing village. The coastal roads are surrounded by scenic cliffs. One can see tide pools, beaches, and a traditional Spanish hacienda from here. There are many houses and lands that are purchased by Hollywood people.
• Red Frog Beach: This is a beautiful Caribbean beach in the province which is ideal for surfing and palms around.
• Isla Iguana Beach: This is a beach off the coast of Pedasi in the Panama Bay. This is protected by a wildlife reserve.
• El Morro: This is a rainforest in Toboga in the province. One can see Pacific Ocean from this area that is topped by this rainforest.
• Herrera: This is a neighboring province that is in Panama. This province got its name after the division of the Los Santos province. Chitre is the capital of Herrara and lies on the coastline of the province. Towards its north are the provinces by Veraguas and Cocle and to its south is Los Santos and to its east are Golfo de Parita and Los Santos and to its west is Veraguas. There are nine provinces in Panama and Herrara is the third in sugarcane production. The main economy is also due to this along with retail, equipment repair, banking, and domestic service. The other main industries include dairy, cattle, commercial fishing, alcohol, ceramics, clay products, mosaics, and cement. This province is popular for its festival Del manito ocueno which originated in the city of Ocu. Herrera is known for its best pottery in the country. There are many carnivals held in Chitré, Parita and Ocú. Chitre’s carnival is the most famous in Panama.

Best time to visit / climate:

Las Santos has a tropical wet and dry climate. The dry season is from January to April whereas the wet season is in remaining year. The best time to visit this place is in the dry season.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
This province can be reached in approximately 4 to 5 hours drive from Panama City.
To reach Panama City:
By plane: Tocumen International Airport is outside Panama City. This airport offers services for Copa Airline, American Airlines (Dallas/Ft.Worth, Miami), Delta Airlines (Atlanta, Georgia), Continental Airlines (Houston, Newark), Avianca (Bogotá, Colombia) and TACA (San José, Costa Rica and San Salvador, El Salvador) along with major Central American airlines, and several South American airlines and European Airlines. There are direct flights between Tocumen and New York, Newark, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Amsterdam, Madrid, and all major cities in the Caribbean area, Central America and South America, like Santiago de Chile.
By train:
Between Panama City and Colon, only one train service operates with a passenger car. This ride is a scenic ride with views of the Panama Canal and the tropical rainforest.

To get around locally, taking a taxi is the best way.

Lonely Planet Panama	Panama AdventureMap (National Geographic)	Fodor’s Panama, 2nd Edition

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
• Hotels at world66
• Restaurants at geckogo
• Hotels at geckogo
• Hotels at allstays
• Hotels at costaricalink
• Hotels at maplandia

Blogs / Sites about Las Santos, Panama:

• Blogs and reviews at travelblog
• Blogs and reviews at travbuddy
• Blogs and reviews at the travelpod

Images and photos of Las Santos, Panama:

• Images at google
• Images at travelpod
• Images at travel images
• Images at travelblog

Videos of Las Santos, Panama:

Video de Tamborito en Carnaval de Panama

“Into Panama” Courtrand’s photos around Los Santos, Panama

Los Santos Panama – driving a flooded road

Pedasi – Los Santos – Panama Traveling

Corpus Christy, La Villa de Los Santos Panamá

Travel – Hora Sfakion – located in the southwest of Crete

Traveller — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:04:17 +0000

Hora Sfakion is located in the southwest of Crete. It has a tiny harbor and has about 475 inhabitants, and from the population size, you can see that it is a very small place, but well known. It is the capital of Sfakia region, situated to the south coast of Crete. There are many beaches like Ilingas, Filaki and Sweet Water Beach.
Attractions of Hora Sfakion:
• Sweet water beach or Glyka nera: Sweet water in Greece means Glyka. Under the beach there is always drinkable water. One can reach there using a small boat “Delfini” which takes 15min and about 45 minutes by feet. A small tavern is also present for those who like some refreshment.
• Filaki beach: This is a beautiful beach that is near the naturist hotel.
• Hotel Vritomartis: This is the only naturist hotel (where people like to be in the same state as they were when they were born, without clothes) in all of Crete and also in all of Greece.
• Frangokastello Orthi Ammos beach: This beach is about 12km to the east of Chora Sfakion. There is a village named Frangokastello which is 500m to the east from the castle.
• Marmara beach: Marmara beach is about 20 minutes from Loutro and is towards the end of Aradena gorge. By walk it takes 50 min.
• Agios Pavlos beach: This beach takes about an hour by feet from Agia Roumeli and about 2 hours from Agios Ioannis. From Loutro it takes about 3-4 hours. It is a long and almost deserted beach.
• Diving: One can snorkel along the plunging coastline of Sfakion which has small shoals, octopus etc. There are scuba diving, cave diving and night diving available at this place. There are diving excursions to the Gavdos and Gaydopoula islands.
• Agios Nikolaos (or Aghios Nikolaos) is a city or a coastal town on the island of Greek of Crete. The city lies to the east of the capital, Heraklion and to the north of lerapetra and to the west of sitia. This town is the capital of Lasithi. The three faces to the sea of this town are The Lake & port, Kitroplatia beach and the Marina.
• Lake Voulismeni (Límni Voulisméni): This is a small lake which connects to the sea. It is situated at the centre of the town of Agios Nikolaos on the Greek island of Crete. The diameter of the lake is about 137 m and depth is about 64 m. This lake is connected to the harbour of the town with a channel. There is a small park around it. This lake is popular for its fireworks celebrations on Orthodox Christian Easter day.
• The Cretan diet: This is a traditional local diet of the Mediterranean island of Crete, also called “Mediterranean diet” which is very popular in the place.
• Chrissi Island: For enjoying the quiet presence of palm trees and soothing watered sandy beaches, one can take a boat trip from here to Chrissi Island.
• Visit to Elounda & Spinalonga Island: There are Kritsa’s tourist shops from where one can buy some local hand woven linens, rugs, tablecloths and handicrafts.
• The Katharo plateau above Kritsa and the Lassithi Plateau: This is known for its climate, topography and geology.
• Elounda: It is a town which is a fishing port and has several sandy beaches from the centre square. This port offers boat trips to the island of Spinalonga.

The following can be reached by walking or as below:
• Imbros Gorge:
Chora Sfakion to Imbros (bus) – 30 minutes
Imbros Gorge – 2 hours 15 minutes
Bottom of gorge to Chora Sfakion, via Komitades – 1 hour 10 minutes

• Loutro and Sweet Water Beach:
Chora Sfakion to Loutro (ferry) – 20 minutes
Time in Loutro
Loutro to Sweetwater – 1 hour 15 minutes
Time at Sweetwater
Sweetwater to Chora Sfakion – 1 hour (or boat)

• Askyfou Plateau
Chora Sfakion to Askyfou by KTEL bus – 40 minutes
Askyfou Plateau – Variable, depending on detours and refreshment breaks. (Allow at least 2:30 to 3 hours)
Askyfou to Chora Sfakion – 40 minutes by KTEL bus

• Askyfou, Asfendou gorge and Agios Nektarios
KTEL bus Chora Sfakion to Ammoudari/Askyfou or Kares – 40/45 minutes
Ammoudari/Askyfou or Kares to Asfendos – 2 hours 30 minutes
Asfendos to Agios Nektarios – 2 hours 15 minutes
Agios Nektarios to Chora Sfakion by KTEL bus – 20 minutes

• Loutro, Marmara, Agios Pavlos and Agia Roumeli or Samaria
Chora Sfakion to Loutro by ferry – 20 minutes
Loutro to Marmara by boat – 20 minutes (or walk – 50 minutes)
Marmara to Agios Pavlos – 2 hours 30 minutes/45 minutes
Agios Pavlos to Agia Roumeli – 1 hour 15 minutes
Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakion by ferry

• Niato and Trikoukia, in the village of Askyfou
KTEL Chora Sfakion/Chania bus to Ammoudari/Askyfou – 40 minutes
Ammoudari to Niato – 2 hours
Niato to Trikoukia – 30 minutes
Trikoukia to Imbros – 1 hour 45 minutes
Lunch in Imbros. KTEL bus Imbros to Chora Sfakion

• Old village Anopolis and return via
Chora Sfakion to Anopolis – 2 hours 30 minutes
Time in Anopolis
Anopolis to Loutro – 2 hours
Loutro to Chora Sfakion by ferry

• Kalikratis gorge, near of the village Frangokastello
KTEL Chora Sfakion / Chania bus to Kares – 45 minutes
Kares to Asfendos – 2 hours 30 minutes
Asfendos to Kallikratis – 1 hour 15 minutes
Time in Kallikratis
Kallikratis, via Gorge, to Patsianos – 2 hours 15 minutes
Patsianos to Chora Sfakion by KTEL bus – 25 minutes

Best time to visit / climate:

The best time to visit this place is in summer. One can expect showers between October and April. The temperatures are ideal from July to August.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
One can drive over the mountains from the north coast on a good road and some public buses are also available from Agios Nikolas.
Agios Nikolaos (Crete) is about 40 miles from Herakleion Airport (HER). The journey takes about 45 – 60 minutes by car or taxi.

By Bus: There are local bus services available in the place.

By Ferry:
Ferry services run to Agios Nikolaos from Athens (Piraeusport), Rhodes, Chalki, Karpathos and Kassos.
Major ferry lines operate to the port of Herakleion with buses connecting at the main bus station near to the port. Ferries run directly to the town via LANE lines from Pireaus and Rhodes.

By plane: The distance is 40 miles from Heraklion airport to Agios Nikolaos.

Get around:
By Bus: Elounda, Kritsa, Sitia, Heraklion (and from there, Knossos), Malia and Hersonnisos are accessible with a regular bus service.
Among other methods of commute are taxis, scooters, rent car facilities available in the place.

Top Sights Travel Guide: Crete (Kindle)	Rough Guide Map Crete [Folded Map]	Lonely Planet Crete (Regional Guide)

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Hotels at travel to crete
• Hotels at wikitravel
• Hotels at hotel-stavris-chora-sfakion
• Hotels at explorecrete

Blogs / Sites about Hora Sfakion:

• Blogs and reviews at greece.creteisland
• Blogs and reviews at crete travel
• Blogs and reviews at explorecrete
• Blogs and reviews at explorecrete

Images and photos of Hora Sfakion:

• Images at sfakiacrete.gr
• Images at sfakia-crete
• Images at explorecrete

Videos of Hora Sfakion on Youtube:

Ferry Trip – Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakion – Southern Crete (Greece)

Chora Sfakion – Lefka Ori Sfakia Crete HD 1080i

Chora Sfakion

Xenia Hotel and restaurant – Hora Sfakion

Crete Agia Roumeli – Chora Sfakion

KTEL Bus Ascending on a Mountainous Road Near Chora Sfakion, Crete

Hora Sfakion Folkloristic dance

Bijbehara – a town in Anantnag district in Jammu & Kashmir

Traveller — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:42:57 +0000

Bijbehara or Vejibyor is a town. It is a notified area committee in Anantnag district in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India.
The town of Bijbehara is situated in the north of district headquarters. These headquarters are located on the banks of Jhelum River which are popularly known as “Veth”. It is one of the notable towns of the district. It is four miles to the north of Anantnag town.
The town is surrounded and intersected by plateaus. These plateaus are called “The Totak Shah”. From this plateau, the whole town can be seen. There are many other plateaus which are getting urbanised.
The town of Bijbehara is filled with Chinar trees. This town is hence also known as “The Town of Chinars”.The Chinar trees were imported by Mughal emperors from Iran.

Rajouri District comprise of six Tehsils
• Rajouri
• Nowshera
• Sunderbani
• Kalakote
• Koteranka
• Thannamandi
The seven blocks are:
• Rajouri
• Manjakote
• Darhal Malkan
• Budhal
• Kalakote
• Sunderbani
• Nowshera

1. Dara Shukoh Garden at Bijbehara
• The garden is a favourite camping-ground of Bijbehara.
• It is at the bottom of the Lidar valley.

2. Lake of Pir Panjal Rajaouri
• The Pir Panjal falling under the jurisdiction of Rajouri-Poonch districts.
• It is a repository of beautiful lakes.
• These lakes are situated at an altitude between 13,000–14,500 ft.
• A lake is called “Sar” and meadow is called “Marg”.
• This stretch of Pir Panjal is full of lakes and meadows.
• It is considered a place to be well enjoyed by the tourists.
• There are more than 27 lakes between Simar Sar to Nandan Sar.
• This stretch is of an area of 900 km.
• Of these seven lakes are big in size.
• The rest of the lakes are smaller.
• Next to Kaunsar Nag, Bhag Sar is the biggest lake.
• Most of the big lakes are situated at the boundary line between Jammu division and the Kashmir valley.
• All of these lakes drain into the Kashmir valley.

The important lakes are:
- Sukh Sar
- Akal Dakshni
- Nandan Sar
- Chandan Sar
- Katori Sar
- Raviwalli marg group of lakes
- Chamar Sar
- Bhsg Sar
- Diya Sar
- Padyaran Sar I and II
- Katori Sar in Bela Marg and Smat Sar

• All the above lakes are situated in the highlands of Pir Panjal Range.
• These lakes freeze during winter.
• These lakes are available for rafting or boating only during summer season.
• Summer season is from during the months from June to October.

During their visit to Bijbehara, tourists can also visit Pahalgam and Srinagar.

Attractions of Pahalgam

Attractions in Srinagar

Things to do in Srinagar

• Shikaras in Dal Lake
• Parihaspora, Dewar
• House boating
• Bird viewing

Best time to visit / climate

The best time to visit is between April and September.

Location on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?q=Bijbehara&hl=en&hnear=Bijbehara&t=m&z=13

How to get there?

1. Srinagar by Air
• Srinagar domestic airport is connected with many airports of the major cities in India.
• Regular flights are operated between Srinagar and Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Shimla.
• International travelers get the connecting flights from Delhi International airport.
• This is at a distance of 876 km from Srinagar.

5. By taxi from Jammu to Srinagar
• Hiring a TATA Sumo SUV from Jammu costs approximately Rs 1,900-2,700 depending on time of year or even time of day.
• The journey takes around 8 hrs.

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers)

• Hotels at hoparoundindia.com
• Hotels at packago.com
• Hotels at hotels.alc.co.in

Blogs / Sites about Bijbehara

• Blogs and reviews at hoparoundindia.com
• Blogs and reviews at mapsofindia.com
• Blogs and reviews at distancesbetween.com

Images and photos of Bijbehara

• Images at google.com
• Images at aikaindiaka.com
• Images at imagesofasia.com

Videos of Bijbehara

Sonamarg – path of gold or golden meadow in Jammu & Kashmir.

Traveller — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:41:17 +0000

Sonamarg which means path of gold or the golden meadow is a paradise on Earth. Sonmarg or Sonamarg is a town of Jammu and Kashmir state in India. Sonamarg itself signifies its beauty. This place is set in a backdrop of snowcapped mountains and bright flowers.
This place is located at 87 km from Srinagar and is a popular tourist destination. Sonamarg is at an altitude of 3,000 metres above sea level. Sonamarg is 87 km north-east of Srinagar. It is the Sindh nallah. The Sindh nallah is the largest tributary of the Indus River in the Kashmir valley. It is upwards of sixty miles long valley and deep rock-girt gorge. This gorge opens to grassy meadow land and village-dotted slopes.
Sindh abounds with trout and mahseer, snow trout can be caught in the main river. Ponies can be hired for the trip up to Thajiwas glacier. This glacier is a major attraction during the summer months. One can experience a breathtaking view of Himalayas from Sonamarg valley.
From Sonamarg, trekking routes lead to the Himalayan lakes of:
- Vishansar (4084 msl)
- Satsar
- Krishnasar (3810 msl)
- Gangabal Lake (3658 msl)
- Gadsar Lake

Attractions in and around Sonamarg

• Gadsar Lake is stocked with snowtrout and Satsar, glacier-fed and surrounded by banks of alpine flowers.
• A close by excursion is to Baltal which is 15 km north of Sonamarg.
• Baltal is a little valley that lies at the foot of the Zojila.
• It is only a day’s journey away from the sacred cave of Amarnath.
• Trekkers can also reach the starkly splendid roof-top of the world – Leh.
• Leh can be reached by crossing over the Zoji La pass.
• Breathtaking glaciers and serene lakes.
• Trekking and hiking trails in snow clad peaks of Himalaya.
• Nilagrad is a colony of the Baltics and is a picturesque location.
• Here a small stream splashes in to the River Sindh.
• Vishansar is located at an amazing altitude of 4,084 m above sea level.
• The gorgeous views of this lake can be experienced from Nichnai Pass.
• Trekking can be done to this lake from Sonamarg.
• Krishnasar Lake is at a height of 3,801m above sea level.
• It is popular for fishing especially for trout fishing.
• Baltal is at the foot of the Zoji-la pass.
• Baltal is situated about 15 km from Sonamarg.
• It is located at an altitude of 2,743 m.
• The place is the base camp of Amarnathiji yatra. This can be reached by a meandering trek of 14 km from Baltal.
• One can reach the Holy Cave.

1. Thajiwas Glacier
• Thajiwas glacier is located 3 km from Sonamarg.
• This is an ideal spot for enjoying a sledge ride on the snow even in mid-summer.
• The nearby area is perfect camping site too.

2. Zoji-La Pass
• About 20 km east of Sonamarg is Zoji-la pass.
• This is the gateway to the Ladakh plateau.
• This is located at a height of about 3,528 m above sea level.
• The pass connects Kashmir Valley to Ladakh, Kashmir Valley to its south and Ladakh to its North.
• It is an ideal spot to enjoy the scenic beauty.

3. Trekking
• Trekking season is from July to October.
• The fishing season extends from March to October.
- State: Jammu and Kashmir
- District: Srinagar
- Famous for/as: Trekking
- Languages: Hindi, Urdu, Kashmiri
- Best Season: Apr – Jun

Attractions in Srinagar

Things to do in Srinagar

• Shikaras in Dal Lake
• Parihaspora, Dewar
• House boating
• Bird viewing

Best time to visit / climate

• Sonamarg experiences cool climatic conditions to snow covered chilly periods.
• Summers are pleasant.
• Winters are very chilly and snow fall occurs.
• Trekking season is from July to October.
• The fishing season extends from March to October.

Location on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?q=sonamarg&hl=en&hnear=Sonamarg&t=m&z=13

How to get to Sonamarg?

• One can reach Sonamarg by road through the Srinagar-Leh Highway.
• Srinagar is the nearest airport and the nearest railhead is Jammu.
• Tourist lodges run by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation are ideal places to stay in Sonamarg.
• You may also stay at tourist bungalows and hotels in Sonamarg.

1. Sonamarg by Air
• The nearest airport to Sonamarg is located at Srinagar.
• The airport is at a distance of 70 kms away.
• Srinagar is air connected to Delhi with regular flights.
• Taxis are available from airport to Sonamarg for a fare of about Rs 1,000.

2. Sonamarg by Train
• The nearest major railhead is at Srinagar, which is 70 kms away.
• One can reach Sonamarg from railway station by taxis or buses.
• Taxi fare is about Rs 1,000.
• Railway stations near Sonamarg are Udhampur, Jammu Tawi.

3. Sonamarg by Bus
• Sonamarg is connected by Jammu and Kashmir state owned road transport corporation buses.
• Sonamarg is well connected to Jammu (60 km, Rs 30) and Srinagar (70 km, Rs 35) by buses.
• Special luxurious buses will also be available from Jammu and Srinagar to Sonamarg.

Some travel books from Amazon about Sonamarg

The Vale of Kashmir	Travels in Kashmir: A Popular History of Its People, Places and Crafts	Agony Of Dal Lake

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers)

• Hotels at adventuretoursofindia.com
• Hotels at mustseeindia.co
• Hotels at srinagar.nic.in

Blogs / Sites about Sonamarg

• Blogs and reviews at mustseeindia.com
• Blogs and reviews at travelkashmir.net
• Blogs at adventuretoursofindia.com

Images and photos of Sonamarg

• Images at google.co.in
• Images at trekearth.com
• Images at holidayiq.com

Videos of Sonamarg

Travel – Dodecanese Islands – an island group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands

Traveller — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:47:38 +0000

The Dodecanese Islands (which means “twelve islands”) are an island group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands in the South Aegean Islands of Greece. These islands are off the southwest coast of Turkey, to the southward of Samos Island and to the northeastward of the Crete Island. Byzantine churches and medieval castles are the tourist specialties of the island. There are a large number of islands, with the total number being 163, out of these only 26 are inhabited islands. The most well known of the twelve islands is Rhodes, Kos and Patmos with the remaining nine being Astipalea, Kalimnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Leros, Nisyros, Symi, Tilos and Kastelorizo which are located in the east Mediterranean.
Other islands in the chain are Agathonisi, Alimia, Arkoi, Chalki, Farmakonisi, Gyali,Kinaros, Levitha, Lipsi, Nimos, Pserimos, Saria, Syrna and Telendos. There are many municipalities that come under these islands and some of them are Afantou Archangelos, Astypalaia, Attavyros, Chalki, Dikaio, Ialysos, Irakleides and Kallithea.

The regions that come under this prefecture are:
• Astipalea: This island is located between Kos and Amorgos and is a small and not very well developed island. This island is on the borders between Dodecanese and Cyclades. The island has traditional villages and wonderful sandy beaches. This island is in the shape of a butterfly.
• Halkiis: This is also a small and not a very developed island that is close to Rhodes. This island is good for those interested in trekking. The island is popular for its traditional architecture, the lovely waterfront, the calm beaches and the abandoned village in the centre of the island.
• Kalymnos is an island that is located between Kos and Leros that is close to the coast of western Turkey. This is the most beautiful island in Greece, that is also well known as the island of sponge fishers. This is actually a mountainous island but it also has two valleys that are best known for its agricultural products. Beaches, castles and churches make this is a popular place.
• Karpathos is an island that is located between Rhodes and Crete. It is the second largest island of the Dodecanese Greece islands. It is known for its clear waters and beaches and hills. This island is full of mountain villages with whitewashed houses with red tiled roofs and the narrow paved streets.
• Kos is the second most popular and the third largest of the Dodecanese islands after Rhodes. It has a good nightlife along with a beautiful landscape and soft sandy crystalline waters. There are verdant forests and the island is rich for those interested in archaeology.
• Leros: This Island is one of the smallest islands of the Dodecanese Greece islands and is full of vegetation, verdant trees, bright colored along with the deep blue of the sea and the golden sand that is the main attraction, attracting people like a paradise.
• Nisyros This Island is to the south of Kos and is a small island with the only ‘active’ volcano of Greece. The capital of the island which is known as Mandraki is a traditional settlement in blue and white colors. The beaches of Nisyros and the roads on Nisyros are not very developed.
• Patmos: This island is to the north of Leros and is known to be the most religious of Greek Islands as Saint John the Theologian who was exiled in 95-95 AD revealed and wrote the Apocalypse. It is located between Ikaria and Leros. The island has whitewashed cubic houses and flowered gardens, surrounded by narrow streets and stone steps.
• Symi: This is a small island that is located between Rhodes and Kos and to the north of Rhodes. The island has scenic towns and villages. This island is close to the Aegean and the Turkish shores and has a coastline of about 85 kilometers. This island is a mountainous island.
• Rhodes: This is the most popular and the largest of the Dodecanese islands. This island is the one of the most favorite tourist destination. This island has nice sandy beaches, picturesque villages and has an Old Medieval Town (the capital) which is very scenic. This island is very popular among the tourists.
• Tilos: This is another small and remote island that is located between Kos and Rhodes.

The provinces of Dodecanese islands are as below:
• Province of Patmos – Patmos
• Province of Kalymnos – Kalymnos
• Province of Kos – Kos
• Province of Rhodes – Rhodes City
• Province of Karpathos & Kasos – Karpathos

Best time to visit / climate:
The climate of is a mild Mediterranean climate; sunny with dry summers and mild winters. The months of July and August has the temperatures as being more bearable and is the best time to visit the place.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
One can reach these islands from Piraeus, Athens.
Most travelers arriving in Piraeus from Athens make use of the very convenient Metro Line 1 that terminates at the Port from where one can take a walk to the Saronic Gulf ferries, hydrofoils and catamarans, or a free shuttle-bus ride to the ships sailing to Crete and the Dodecanese. Direct Airport Express buses run 24 hours between the port of Piraeus and Athens International Airport.

Frommer’s Greece (Frommer’s Complete Guides)	Lonely Planet Greek Islands	Lonely Planet Greece

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Hotels at top-hotels-greece
• Hotels at dodecanese-islands
• Hotels at greekhotels

Blogs / Sites about Dodecanese:

• Blogs and reviews at bootsnall
• Blogs and reviews at lonelyplanet
• Blogs and reviews at worldreviewer
• Blogs and reviews at travelpod

Images and photos of Dodecanese:

• images at Google
• Images at greeka
• Images at united-hellas

Videos of Dodecanese:

Dodecanese Islands – Greece
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Karpathos & Kastelorizo : Two of the Dodecanese Islands – Greece

Dodecanese Islands – Greece

Kassos – A remote island

A video tour of Rhodes, Kos and Kalymnos in Greece’s Dodecanese islands

Rodos Island Greece

Poonch – a border town in Jammu and Kashmir

Traveller — Sun, 13 May 2012 05:16:40 +0000

Poonch is a town and a municipal committee in Poonch District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Poonch is based on the Mah?bh?rata evidence. The evidence from 7th Chinese traveler Xuanzang. The districts of Poonch along with Rajauri and Abhisara had been under the sway of the Republican Kambojas in epic times.
Poonch has an average elevation of 981 metres (3218 feet). Pir Panjal range of mountains separates Poonch valley from Kashmir valley. The only road connection between the two valleys was from Jammu. With the completion of Mughal Road which connects Bufliaz in Poonch to Shopian in Kashmir, there is a direct connectivity between the two.
It consist of 4 tehsils viz Haveli, Mendhar Surankote and Mandi. Poonch is one of the remote and border district of Jammu and Kashmir state which is located at the Line of Control. Poonch is separated from Kashmir valley by the gigantic Pir Panjal range. The higheset peak is TATAKUTI which stands at 15560 ft. falls in Poonch.

Wild Life in Poonch

• Poonch District is rich in wild life.
• Forests in the district cover an area about 83.914 acres.
The rare mammals include:
• Markhor
• Musk deer
• Brown bear
• Leopard
• Ghoral
The birds include:
• Pheasant
• Black partridge
• Chakurs
• Snow cock kohlas

Poonch Specials

• Stunning scenic beauty
• Snow covered peaks
• Lush green meadows
• Dense forest
• Natural beautiful lakes
• Waterfalls

Attractions in and around Poonch

1. Noori Chhamb
• Noori Chammb is associated with the name of Mughal queen Noor Jahan.
• It is famous for its scenic beauty & water fall.
• It is located near Behram Galla in Surankote tehsil about 45 kms from Poonch town.
• The Emperor Jahangir had developed fancy & liking for this fall.
• Hence he named it Noori Chammb after the name of his beloved queen Noor Jahan.
• Mughal queen used to stay here for relaxation and bath on way to Kashmir.
• She had got fixed a mirror besides the fall on the mountain wall.
• Here she used to have her make- up after the bath.
• The remnants of the mirror are still there.

2. Girgan Dhok and Lakes
• It is a valley of seven lakes.
• It is located about 70 kms from Poonch town.
See the lovely and beautiful seven lakes which are:
- Sukhsar
- Neelsar
- Bhagsar
- Katorasar
- Kaldachnisar
- Nandansar
• These lakes are situated at the high altitude of 12000 ft. in the Buffliaz belt.
• Nandansar is one of the biggest lakes near Girgen dhok.
• The length of this lake is about one mile and its breadth is half a mile.

3. Poonch Fort
• The foundation of historic fort building in the capital of erestwhile Poonch Riyasat.
• This is the headquarter of truncated Poonch district at present.
• The Fort was planned as a composite structure for the fortification of the town.

4. Mandi
• It is a small village in a narrow valley.
• This village is enclosed by steep and grassy hills of no great elevation.
• This is situated near the confluence of two streams namely Gagri and Pulsta.
• Mandir Swami Budha Amar Nath Ji is situated in this village.
• Mandi is about 20 kms from Poonch town.

5. Rajouri
• Rajouri is a town and a municipal committee in Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Rajouri is important for defense point of view.
• Rajouri is about 130 kilometres (81 mi) away from Jammu city
• This town is on the Poonch Highway.
• Rajauri is also called the Vale of Lakes
• This is so as there are many lakes around the city.
• The area has seen a decline in tourists due to the Kashmir conflict.
• The District drives its name from Rajouri town.
• This town is historically known as Rajapuri/Rajapura.
• Rajouri District had been part of Poonch district prior to 1967
• On 22 September 1967, the government bifurcated district Poonch into two districts namely ‘Rajouri’ and ‘Poonch’

6. Lake of Pir Panjal Rajaouri
• The Pir Panjal falling under the jurisdiction of Rajouri-Poonch districts.
• It is a repository of beautiful lakes.
• These lakes are situated at an altitude between 13,000–14,500 ft.
• A lake is called “Sar” and meadow is called “Marg”.
• This stretch of Pir Panjal is full of lakes and meadows.
• It is considered a place to be well enjoyed by the tourists.
• There are more than 27 lakes between Simar Sar to Nandan Sar.
• This stretch is of an area of 900 km2.
• Of these seven lakes are big in size.
• The rest of the lakes are smaller.
• Next to Kaunsar Nag, Bhag Sar is the biggest lake.
• Most of the big lakes are situated at the boundary line between Jammu division and the Kashmir valley.
• All of these lakes drain into the Kashmir valley.

Other places near Poonch

• Loran
• Nandishool
• Surankote
• Behramgala
• Dehra-Gali

Religious Tourism in Poonch

• Mandir Budha Amarnath Mandi
• Gurudwara Nangali Sahib
• Gurudwara Deri Sahib
• Battalkote
• Mandi
• Ramkund Mandir, Mendhar.
• Shri Dashnami Akhara Mandir.
• Ziarat Sain Miran Sahib
• Ziarat Chhote Shah Sahib
• Ziarat Sain Illahi Bakash Sahib
• Ziarat Pir Fazal Shah Sahib

Trekking in Poonch

• Poonch to Gulmarg (Kashmir) via Jammia gali
• Poonch — Gaggrian Sawjian — Barshi Nallah — Barnara marg — Jamia marg — Jamia gali (15000 ft.) — Gulmarg(Tangmarg).
• Poonch to Nandishool via Loran (Sultan Pathri)
• Poonch to Yusmarg(Kashmir) via Nurpur gali and Khaara gali :
• Poonch — Loran — Sultan Pathri — Nurpur gali — Toshamaidan — Kundlan — Dood Ganga Bridge — Yushmarg.
• Poonch to Yusmarg(Kashmir) via Choti gali :
• Poonch — Behramgala — Chandimarh — Kabar Pathran — Choti gali(14100 ft.) — Kundlan — Yusmarg.
• Poonch to Tatakuti via Hill Kaka and Dhara marg
• Poonch to Shopian(Kashmir) via Peer ki gali :
• Poonch — Behramgala — Poshiana — Chita Pani — Peer gali(11500 ft.) — Aliabad Sarai — Hierpur — Shupian.
• Poonch to Hierpur (Kashmir) via Nandansar lake :
• Poonch — Behramgala — Girgen gali — Girgen marg — Panjtari marg — Khuooah — Gumsar — Nandan gali — Glacier — Nandansar lake – -six other lakes — Jaddi marg — Aliabad — Hierpur.
• Poonch to Gulmarg via Chor Gali :
• Poonch — Sawjian — Gali Maidan — Mangiana — Sari — Chor Gali — Gulmarg.

Best time to visit / climate

• It is generally pleasant and it is possible to visit the place throughout the year.
• The best time to visit is October and November.
• The summer season is from April to June and the conditions are warm for a short period.
• The monsoon season is from July till September.
• The winter season is really cold and temperature falls around freezing point.

Location on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?q=Poonch&hl=en&hq=Poonch&t=m&z=16

How to get to Poonch?

• There is a small airport in Poonch.
• A railway is under construction.
• A bus across the LOC, the Poonch-Rawalakot bus has helped to re-establish ties across the border.

1. Srinagar by Air
• Srinagar domestic airport is connected with many airports of the major cities in India.
• Regular flights are operated between Srinagar and Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Shimla.
• International travelers get the connecting flights from Delhi International airport
• This is at a distance of 876 km from Srinagar.

2. Srinagar by Train
• Jammu is the nearest railway station to Srinagar
• This is at a distance of 290 km
• Jammu railway station is well connected to all major cities in India by rail.
• Direct train services are available from Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Trivandrum.
• Taxi services are available from Jammu to Srinagar
• The fare is about Rs 6000.

3. Srinagar by Bus
• Many tourist bus service providers arrange deluxe luxurious bus package tours from many neighboring cities to Srinagar.
Srinagar is well connected by tourist bus services to
• Chandigarh (630 km)
• Jammu (290 km)
• Delhi (876 km)
• Leh (434 km)
• Phalgan (96 km)
Packaged tours charge about Rs 4 – Rs 5 per km.

5. By taxi from Jammu to Srinagar
• Hiring a TATA Sumo SUV from Jammu costs approximately Rs 1,900-2,700 depending on time of year or even time of day.
• The journey takes around 8 hrs.

6. By bus from Jammu to Srinagar
• J&K State Road Transport Corporation (J&KSRTC) operates fairly comfortable buses from Jammu costing around Rs 350 and does the journey in around 12 hrs
• 2 day buses run between Srinagar and Leh staying overnight in Kargil.
• There are also direct buses from Delhi taking almost 24 hrs to reach Srinagar.

Some travel books from Amazon about Poonch

The Vale of Kashmir	Travels in Kashmir: A Popular History of Its People, Places and Crafts	Agony Of Dal Lake

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers)

• Hotels at wego.co.in
• Hotels at tripadvisor.in
• Hotels at holidayiq.com

Blogs/Sites about Poonch

• Blogs and reviews at poonch.gov.in
• Blogs and reviews at mustseeindia.com
• Blogs and reviews at holidayiq.com

Images and photos of Poonch

• Images at google.com
• Images at poonch.gov.in
• Images at oktatabyebye.com

Mattan or Martand – Surya Temple and a major Hindu pilgrimage in Jammu & Kashmir.

Traveller — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:36:00 +0000

Mattan is a town and a notified area committee in Anantnag district which is in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Overview

• This pilgrim village is just off the road that leads to Pahalgam.
• The word ‘Mattan’ is an abbreviation of ‘Martand’.
• It has traditionally been a major Hindu pilgrimage.
• Lord Vishnu has been worshipped here in his Martand (Surya) manifestation.
• There are temples, and a gurudwara around this tank.
• Mattan has a Hindu majority and spiritual history.
• Mattan temple complex is located very near to the famous Pahalgam of Kashmir.
• It is a popular religious site of the Hindus.
• The Mattan temple of the Hindus is popular for the beautiful Shiva Lingam.
• The pious Lingam is preserved in this temple complex.
• The temple is a beautiful brick structure with surrounded crystal clear water on all sides.
• It is one of the religious places in India where the priests and pundits worship the Sun god.
• It was thus a popular place for Surya Tirth in the subcontinent.
• The Mattan temple complex is one of the much-guarded areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
• It is controlled by the para- military forces.

Attractions in and around Mattan

• BUMZOO is a small sleepy village just two killometres from Mattan which is in Lidder valley.
• Two caves of Bumzoo are very popular and worth visiting.

1. First cave
• One cave is just 1.5 Kms from Mattan town.
• This cave is about 7 metres from road height.
• After about 15 metres it branches into two further caves.
• One straight and the other to the left are there.
• Some manmade stone structures are present in both these caves.
• The cave is pitch dark.
• The cave is visible on right side of the base of the hill from road at a point just 1.5 km from Mattan Bazar.

2. Second Cave
• The other cave is the Old shiva temple of Bumzoo kalhana.
• The temple is about 50 feet from road that overlooks river Lidder.
• The temple is inside a natural enlarged fissure of limestone cliff.
• The door of the temple has the usual Hindu Triad at the top flanked by two stone carved window type structures.
• The Verandah or the gallery is tiled with Devri stones.
• A flight of about 150 steps takes you up from the road to the Cave entrance.
• This cave temple is a protected monument looked after by archeological survey of India.
• This cave temple is older to 8th centuary Martand Sun temple which was built by king Lalitaditya.
• A smaller cave also exists at the bottom of this cave temple.
• This has been closed with wooden gate at present.

Attractions of Pahalgam

Attractions in Srinagar

Things to do in Srinagar

• Shikaras in Dal Lake
• Parihaspora, Dewar
• House boating
• Bird viewing

Best time to visit / climate

The best time to visit Mattan is from April to September.

Location on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?q=Martand+Mattan,+Anantnag&hl=en&geocode=FSnWAgIdJRx7BA&hnear=Martand+Mattan,+Anantnag&t=m&z=15

How to get there?

1. Srinagar by Air
• Srinagar domestic airport is connected with many airports of the major cities in India.
• Regular flights are operated between Srinagar and Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Shimla.
• International travelers get the connecting flights from Delhi International airport
• This is at a distance of 876 km from Srinagar.

5. By taxi
• Hiring a TATA Sumo SUV from Jammu costs approximately Rs 1,900-2,700 depending on time of year or even time of day.
• The journey takes around 8 hrs.

6. By bus
• J&K State Road Transport Corporation (J&KSRTC) operates fairly comfortable buses from Jammu costing around Rs 350 and does the journey in around 12 hrs
• 2 day buses run between Srinagar and Leh staying overnight in Kargil.
• There are also direct buses from Delhi taking almost 24 hrs to reach Srinagar.

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers)

• Hotels at alltravels.com
• Hotels at tripadvisor.in
• Hotels at mybookingcorner.com

Blogs/Sites about Mattan

• Blogs and reviews at mapsofindia.com
• Blogs and reviews at autarmota.blogspot.in
• Blogs and reviews at gaffarakashmir.com

Images and photos of Mattan

• Images at google.com
• Images at flickr.com
• Images at travel.sulekha.com

Videos

Amarnath Yatra – a journey to the holy cave temple of Lord Shiva.

Traveller — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:19:03 +0000

Amarnath yatra packages are a complete tour to the holy temple of Lord Shiva. This yatra offers hassle-free tour packages to Amarnath Yatra. The Holy Amarnath Cave is situated at an altitude of 14000 ft. above sea level. This yatra is organised by the State Government. The yatra is taken during the month of July and August.

The intending pilgrims are allowed to perform darshan from Ashard Purnimashi to Shravan Purnimashi.
The core meetings are held at Srinagar as well as Pahalgam which is the base-camp for Amarnath Yatra. Advance registration of yatries is on first come first serve basis and within a stipulated period. Yatra to Baba Amarnath Holy Cave is reached via a trek of a height of about 14,500 ft. The trek is full of thrill and joy mixed with devotion.
The yatra is on a path that is surrounded by beautiful valleys, mountains as if on the paradise of the earth. The registration is done by J &K Govt. Tourist Offices.

These offices are located at:
• Delhi
• Mumbai
• Calcutta
• Chennai
• Ahmedabad
• Hyderabad
• Jammu
• Srinagar

Travelling Expenditure

1. Jammu to PahalgamBus Fare (Per Person)
• DELUXE Rs. 200.00
• SEMI-DELUXE Rs. 155.00
• ORDINARY Rs. 130.00
• ARTP Rs. 220.00

2. Jammu to Baltal Bus Fare
• DELUXE Rs. 240.00
• SEMI-DELUXE Rs. 200.00
• ORDINARY Rs. 160.00
• ARTP Rs. 270.00

3. Jammu to Pahalgam Taxi Fare (Per Person)
• Tata sumo: Rs.360.00
• Ambassador: Rs. 520.00

4. Jammu to Baltal Taxi Fare
• Tata Sumo: Rs. 550.00
• Ambassador: Rs. 760.00

Nearest Attractions to Amarnath Yatra

• Pahalgam
• Chandanwadi
• Sheshnag
• Panchtarni

Attractions of Pahalgam

Attractions in Srinagar

Things to do in Srinagar

• Shikaras in Dal Lake
• Parihaspora, Dewar
• House boating
• Bird viewing

Best time to visit / climate

• The Amarnath Yatra is organised every year by the J &K Govt.
• This yatra is organised during the month of sharavan, July and August.

Location on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?q=amarnath+yatra&hl=en&hq=amarnath+yatra&radius=15000&t=m&z=11

How to get there?

• Air: The nearest Airport happens to be in Badgam Distt which connects to major cities of India.
• Rail: Jammu is the nearest Rail Head which is at 300 Kms away to get to all parts of the country and vice versa.
• Road: The Road transportation is fine with NH1A Highway and all sorts of buses to taxis are available for reaching places to places.

List of designated Branch of Jammu & Kashmir Bank Limited
• Andhra Pradesh Hyderabad – Pather Ghatti, J.N.Road
• Bihar Patna – Phulwari Sharief
• Chandigarh (Union Territory) Sector 17
• Delhi Azadpur; Chandni Chowk; Naraina; Navin Shadara; Okhla; Rohini; South Extenison; Sarita Vihar; Vasant Vihar
• Goa Panaji
• Gujarat Ahmedabad; Baroda (Lal Bagh); Surat
• Haryana Ambala Cantt; Gurgaon; Hissar; Karnal; Panipat;Rohtak
• Himachal Pradesh Dharmshala; Kullu; Shmla
• Karnataka Bangalore – SPJ Road; Infantry Road; Mysore
• Kerala Kochi; Ernakularm; Thriuvananthapuram
• Maharashtra Mumbai; Andheri (East); Kalbadevi, Mira Road, Vashi; Aurangabad; Nagpur; Pune
• Madhya Pradesh Bhopal; Indore
• Punjab Amritsar – Shastri Market; Majith Mandi; Batala; Bathinda; Ferozepur; Jalandhar; Ludhiana; Khanna; Moga; Mohali; Mandi Gobind Garh; Mansa; Pathankot; Phagwara
• Rajasthan Jaipur
• Tamil Nadu Chennai – Mount Road; Parrys
• Uttar Pradesh Agra; Aligarh; Allahabad; Bhadoni; Greater Noida; Kanpur; Lucknow; Meerut; Muradabad; Noida; Varanasi
• West Bengal Kolkata- R.N. Mukherji Road, Mullick Bazar
• Jammu & Kashmir Jammu – TRC Extension Counter; Rajori Jawahar Nagar ; Poonch – Main Branch; Kathua-Main Branch; Udhampur-Shakti Nagar ; Doda-Pul Doda
• Srinagar TRC Extension Counter

1. Srinagar by Air
• Srinagar domestic airport is connected with many airports of the major cities in India.
• Regular flights are operated between Srinagar and Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Shimla.
• International travelers get the connecting flights from Delhi International airport
• This is at a distance of 876 km from Srinagar.

5. By taxi
• Hiring a TATA Sumo SUV from Jammu costs approximately Rs 1,900-2,700 depending on time of year or even time of day.
• The journey takes around 8 hrs.

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers)

• Hotels at southerntravelsindia.com
• Hotels at tripadvisor.in
• Hotels at amarnathjiyatra.com

Blogs / Sites about Amarnath yatra

• Blogs and reviews at amarnathyatra.in
• Blogs and reviews at amarnathyatra.org
• Blogs and reviews at amarnathyatra.net.in

Images and photos of Amarnath yatra

• Images at google.com
• Images at flickr.com
• Images at pahalgam.com

Videos of Amarnath Yatra

Patnitop – a hill top tourist place in Jammu and Kashmir.

Traveller — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:47:07 +0000

Patnitop or Patni Top is a hill top tourist place that is located in Udhampur district which is in Jammu and Kashmir, India. This place is situated on the National Highway 1A, on the way from Udhampur to Srinagar. It is about 112 km from Jammu. It is situated on a plateau in the Shiwalik belt of the Himalayas.

Patnitop is at an altitude of 2024 metres. The river Chenab flows in close proximity to this location. Patnitop’ is a distortion of the original name of Patan Da Talab meaning “Pond of the Princess”. Patni top is in the Lower Himalayan Range close to the Pir Panjal range. It is 35 kilometers from Udhampur.

The towns of Kud and Batote are nearby Patnitop. Kud is a very small town where a sweet shop makes fresh Patissa (a sweet). Batote is known as a place for quality rajma or the kidney beans.

Attractions in Patni Top

1. Trekking
• There are many pleasant walks around this popular hill station.
• Patnitop is a good starting place for many short or longer treks which go into the nearby mountains.
• An attractive one-day walk is to Shiva Garh which is about 11-km from Patnitop is at an altitude of almost 3,500 metres.
• There are three, gushing, ice-cold freshwater springs in this area.
• These springs are known to have medicinal properties.

The complete tourist circuit covers
• Jammu-Katra-Vaishno Deviji
• Kud-Sanasar
• Patnitop-Gourikund
• Sudmahadev
• Mantali
• Latti-Dhuna

2. Adventure Sports
• Patnitop is an ideal place for walks and picnics.
• Sanasar is a 19-km away was chosen by J&K Tourism for major development.
• This town is located in a Gulmarg-like meadow which has picnic spots around.
• The 6-hole golf course is being expanded to 9-holes.
• Pony rides along little known trails.
• Camping
• Walks
• Para gliding
• Basic skiing
• Sudh Mahadev is another sacred spot that is close to Patnitop.

3. Eco-Adventure Activities
• Dawariyai take off area at Patnitop.
• Paragliding at Patnitop.
• Tandem Paragliding Joyrides at Sanasar by Extreme Himalayan Adventures.
• Billo ki powri at Dawariyai,400 steps cut into the rock face.
• High Flying from Natha Top.

4. Sanasar
• Paragliding
• Camping
• Skiing
• Trekking
• Abseiling
• Rock Climbing
• Scenic nature walks

5. Kud
• Located 103 kms from Jammu, on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
• This popular resort is situated at an altitude of 1738 mtrs.

6. Batote
• This is about 125 Kms from Jammu on the way to Patnitop.
• This is located at an altitude of 1560 metres.
• This is on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
• This resort straddles the forested slopes of the Patnitop mountain range.

7. Gauri Kund
• Some distance from Sudh Mahadev is the legendary spring.
• Here the Goddess Parvati used to have bath before commencing her daily prayers at Sudh Mahadev.
• This spring came to be named after her as ‘Gauri Kund’.

8. Mantalai
• This is located at a few kilometers further away from Sudh Mahadev.
• Mantalai is surrounded by lush deodar forests at an altitude of 2000 m.
• The place is associated with the legend of the marriage of Lord Shiva with the Goddess Parvati.

9. Mansar Lake
• This lake is located 90 kms from Patnitop.
• This is a beautiful lake fringed by forest-covered hills.
• Boating facilities are available on the spot.
• Every year around Baisakhi, a food and crafts festival is organised here by J&K Tourism.

Nearest Attractions to Patni top

• Pahalgam
• Chandanwadi
• Sheshnag
• Panchtarni

Best time to visit / climate

• Patnitop is an ‘anytime’ place.
• The best time for a visit is summer, during May-June, and autumn, September-October.
• For snowboard joys, December to March is the best time.

Location on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?q=Patni+Top,+NH+1A&hl=en&sll=33.073327,75.335118&sspn=0.081562,0.169086&oq=Patni&hq=Patni+Top,+NH+1A&t=m&z=15

How to get to Patnitop?

• Patnitop can be easily reached due to its proximity to the town of Jammu.
• This hill station is well connected to the town of Jammu and also to the capital city of Srinagar through a network of buses.
• These buses connect regularly ply to Patnitop.
• Local buses and taxis can be taken directly to Patnitop, and trains can be taken to the nearest city.

1. Patnitop by Bus
• Buses to the town of Patnitop can be taken from Pathankot, Jammu and Srinagar.
• These are the three major places in the state with a huge network of buses.
• Patnitop can be reached from here.
• The journey from Jammu to Patnitop will take around three hours in an average.
• Bus fares will range around Rs 100 to 150.
• This is the locally preferred mode of travel.

2. Srinagar by Air
• Srinagar domestic airport is connected with many airports of the major cities in India.
• Regular flights are operated between Srinagar and Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Shimla.
• International travelers get the connecting flights from Delhi International airport.
• Delhi is at a distance of 876 km from Srinagar.

3. Srinagar by Train
• Jammu is the nearest railway station to Srinagar
• This is at a distance of 290 km
• Jammu railway station is well connected to all major cities in India by rail.
• Direct train services are available from Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Trivandrum.
• Taxi services are available from Jammu to Srinagar
• The fare is about Rs 6000.

Some travel books from Amazon about Patnitop

The Vale of Kashmir	Travels in Kashmir: A Popular History of Its People, Places and Crafts	Agony Of Dal Lake

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers)

• Hotels at mustseeindia.com
• Hotels at patnitophotels.com
• Hotels at patnitop.net

Blogs / Sites about Patnitop

• Blogs and reviews at rangan-datta.info
• Blogs and reviews at patnitop.nic.in
• Blogs and reviews at mustseeindia.com

Images and photos of Patnitop

• Images at google.com
• Images at tripadvisor.in
• Images at holidayiq.com