Migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia use wetlands in Kashmir as their transitory camps between September and October and again around spring. Most of them geese and ducks.
Best time to visit / climate: The city has warm summers from June through August which is the best time to visit Srinagar. Winters start from December-February. The city generally gets some snowfall from December to February. The climate of Srinagar may be described as a humid subtropical climatewith very warm summers

Location on Google Maps:

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How to get there:
• By air via the Indian Airlines which operates daily flights to Srinagar from Delhi, Mumbai and Jammu. They leave directly from Delhi, from Delhi via Jammu, and from Mumbai via New Delhi and Jammu.
• By road: It is easier by the National Highway 1-A which connects Srinagar with Jammu.

This all-weather road has several sharp inclines and hairpin bends.

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
1. http://www.tripadvisor.in/SmartDeals-g297623-Srinagar_Kashmir_Jammu_and_Kashmir-Hotel-Deals.html (the best 4 and 5 star hotels with rates, location, etc.,)
2. http://pauri.nic.in/Page32.htm ( has name of hotels, contact numbers and prices)(scroll down to find it)
3. http://www.tripadvisor.in/Restaurants-g297623-Srinagar_Kashmir_Jammu_and_Kashmir.html (best restaurants in Srinagar)

Blogs / Sites about Srinagar (with small excerpts from these blogs):
1. History and Culture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srinagar
2. The city remained on the itinerary of the Mughal ruling elite, and several Mughal emperors and their consorts had visited the city, and several Mughal gardens in and around the city indicate their close association with Srinagar.
3. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g297623-Activities-c1-Srinagar_Kashmir_Jammu_and_Kashmir.html
4. http://www.world66.com/asia/southasia/india/jammuandkashmir/srinagar/history
5. Srinagar in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srinagar
6. Places to see: http://www.world66.com/asia/southasia/india/jammuandkashmir/srinagar/history
Photo / Image Gallery:
• http://www.trekearth.com/search.php?phrase=Srinagar&type=&x=0&y=0
• http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/srinagar.html
• http://www.kashmirpicture.com/srinagar-pictures.asp
• http://www.kashmirpicture.com/snowfall_wallpapers.asp

Best time to visit / climate:
The best time to visit Bali is from April to September as during this season the climate is good enough for travel, being sunny with moderate humidity.

Location on Google Maps:

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How to get there:
Bali is listed as “Denpasar” in airlines, which is the capital of the island. It takes few minutes (say 15mins) from Ngurah Rai Airport. Domestic flights in Indonesia are readily available. If taken sea route Cruises at stop offs work out from Java and Lombok and by car and bus from Java. For around, Air Bali helps getting helicopters on rent for joyrides and charters.

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
1. You can find best deals and hotels in this website
2. www.Balivillas.com : Gives info on villas in Bali and conveyance around. For helicopter tours and private charters (3 to 6 passengers) please contact the Balivillas.com Service Center at 703-060 as soon as you arrive. Most full day tours by car (about 8 to 10 hours, min 2 persons) cost about US$45 to US$50 per person, half day tours US$30 to US$35. These prices include a multi-lingual guide and transport in an air-conditioned private car, all entrance fees, but no meals.
3. http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/asia/indonesia/bali/restaurants.htm : website for the best of the restaurants at Bali.

Blogs / Sites about Easter Island (with small excerpts from these blogs):

1. Bali on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bali )
Bali is an island in Indonesia lying between Java and Lombok. It has 33 provinces with Denpasa at its capital. It adheres to Balinese Hinduism, but remaining follows mostly Islam. It is famous for its arts and music and temples.

2. History of Bali: http://www.asianartmall.com/balihistory.htm
People in Bali emigrated from China in 2500BC. This culture had a different and effective form of irrigation and agriculture of rice. Though emigrated from china, there were many Hindu artifacts found and hence there was a tie in it of the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism.

3. Maps and A description along with photos www.bali.com

Photo / Image Gallery:
1. Google Images
2. Shows you albums of exotic locations in Bali and culture of Bali.
3. More photos of Bali

Location of Anantnag (Martand Sun Temple located close by) on Google Maps:

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Mattan is derived from the name Macch(Fish)-Bhawan. This place is also called Martand, because an antient Temple named Martand is situated just 2 Kms from it. In Mattan there is a famous temple of Sun God, which is worshipped as of Konark. There are two springs named Vimal & Kamal Kunds.
Martand Temple is located at about 5 miles from the town of Anantnag, Anantnag District. By road, Martand Temple can be approached easily from Anantnag, Mattan and Achabal. The nearest airport is at Srinagar. Anantnag is situated at 33.44 latitude and 75.12 longitude, at an elevation of 5400 feet above sea level, at a distance of 33 miles from the main state-headquarters Srinagar.

A good description of Martand midway through the page on this link.
Some photos of Martand (link)
Many many photos of Martand from the Indira Gandhi National Center of Arts (link)
Older photograph of the ruins of the Surya Temple in Martand (link)
More photos of the ruins of the Sun Temple at Martand (link)

Best time to go : Come here just past the monsoon, when the temperatures are cool in the region. The Dangs are also at their greenest, plus the lack of tourists means that the town has returned to itself and while some tourist attractions have closed
down, all of Saputara is yours.

Location of Saputara on Google Maps:

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How to get there

By road: The town of Waghai is 51 km away. Ahmedabad: 409 km. Surat: 164 km. Mumbai: 250 km. Vadodara: 309 km.
There are State Transport buses and private luxury coaches from Waghai and Ahmedabad. If you are coming by a private car, than National Highway might be quicker, but the state highway will offers a stunningly scenic drive.
By rail: The nearest railway station is Waghai, on the Billimora-Waghai narrow gauge section of the Western Railway. For those coming from Gujarat via Surat or Ahmedabad or even from Mumbai, Billimora is the more convenient rail head, and a direct bus service is available from there.
By air: The nearest airport is Vadodara, 309 km away.

Lying in a densely forested plateau in the Sahyadri Range, Saputara holds the distinction of being the only hill station in Gujarat. This tranquil small town is situated at an altitude of around 1,000 m, and has a climate that is consistently pleasant, although leaning towards chilly, throughout the year. The name Saputara literally stands for ‘abode of serpents,’ a fact that is highlighted by the presence of an image of a snake on the shores of the Sarpagana river, which flows through the town. This image is worshipped by the region’s tribal folk, especially during major festivals such as Holi. Adding to Saputara’s mystique is the legend that Lord Rama spent 11 years of his exile in these very forests.

In winter, at the spill of dawn, trek up to the Gandhi Shikhar as the river of light bathes the streams over undulating mountains and the drifting birds, into a magical dance of awakening. In rains, breathe in the rolling hills of Saputara, echoing green hues, lush with flowers, and watch the meditating rain drops sitting still on sloping leaves. Some of the thickest forest cover in the state envelops you. In summer, walk carefree on the expanse of the Governor’s hill and see the sun dip into the Saputara lake as the sky begins to shimmer with stars.

Places to see in Saputara

- Saputara Lake : There is a Boat Club here from where you can hire sailboats, paddleboats and rowing boats and enjoy boating in the lake. The Sun Rise and Sun Set Points provide panoramic and varied views of the sun. It also provides a perfect view of Saputara. You can reach Malegaon after a 1.5 km walk in the direction of Waghai. There are several gardens at Saputara like the Lake Garden, the Step Garden and the Rose Garden.
- Nageshwar Mahadev Temple : It has the idol of the Lord Shiva. The temple is visited by a lot of people because of its religious sanctity. The museum of Saputara is well-kept museum, which provides the information about the tribes of Dangs.
- Vansda National Park : It attracts a lot of tourists. It was originally a private forest of the Maharaja of Vansda. It covers an area of 24 sq km and has tigers, leopards, python, four-horned antelope, pangolin, rusty-spotted cats and giant squirrels.
- Purna Sanctuary : It is a part of the dense moist deciduous forests in the Western Ghats of Gujarat. It covers an area of 160 sq. km. And is situated at Mahal, which is 60 km north of Dangs.
- Gira waterfalls : These waterfalls make excellent excursion option from Saputara. Just 52 km away from Saputara the Gira Waterfalls should not be missed especially during the months of June to November.
- Echo Point : As the name highlights it is the place where one can hear the echo of what he says, is located in Matheran near Saputara. It is one of the prime tourist attractions nearby to Saputara. The Echo point offers a exquisite picturesque surroundings with many waterfalls, enhancing the breath taking beauty of the location.
- Forest Log huts : These huts are very famous world over. The Main attraction of these wooden log huts are its uniqueness in construction. The architectural beauty of these log huts are imposing.
- Forest Nursery : It offers many varieties of plants and trees. The nursery is run by the forest department. Many flowered plants can be spotted here; different varieties of Hibiscus flowers are attracting many visitors.
- Lake Garden : A nicely maintained beautiful garden on the banks of the Saputara Lake, is an excellent picnic spot. The garden encloses nice plants and rare kinds of trees.
- Pandava Caves : It is also known as Aravalem caves, are renowned by the mythical stories of Pandavas, the great warriors of the epic Mahabharatha. The caves are located in an ambiance of wilderness at a place Valpoi in the district of North Goa, a border district of Goa with Gujarat.
- Step Garden : One another attractive place in Saputara, step garden has the unique feature of a garden set up in steps. Well laid out steps are adorned with beautiful plants, flower pots and in the midst of nice woods.
- Hatgadh Fort : It is an excellent and protruding architectural beauty at an altitude of about 3,500 feet. It is one of the most archaic forts situated in Mulher which is in Nasik district of Maharastra.
- Artist Village : It is an interesting place to be. One can view the traditional art pieces and craftsmen at work here. You can pick some fine pieces of pottery, jewelry, vases, paintings, pen stands, key chains, made from bamboo chips and other locally found material.
- Waghai : A beautiful languorous small town set up in an exquisite surrounding, is a nearby attraction to Saputara located in the Dangs District of Gujarat. It is the main gateway for entering Dangs district.
- Ahwa : A tourist spot in the map of Gujarat, is the District headquarters of Dangs and is in the vicinity of Saputara. The Ahwa city is famed for the tribal fair Dangs darbar held during the Holi festival period. A major attractioni s Dandkeshwar Mahadev Temple, an impressive temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Places to stay in Saputara

Saputara has plenty of decent places to stay in. Most of the hotels provide basic amenities and do not boast of modern-day conveniences like fax and e-mail. Though power-cuts are common in Saputara, hotels run their generators.

- Toran Hill Resort (Hilltop): A very government type building
- Vaity Ropeway Resort (Hilltop) – Saputara Hill: This hotel is particularly famous with corporates as a conference venue and also for employee retreats.
- Hotel Anando (Opposite lake) – Nageshwar Mahadev Road: Good choice if you are looking for hotels similar to those in Lonavla, Khandala circuit.
- Hotel Patang (Lake facing) – Opposite Boating club: A hotel designed for the city traveler. Its only drawback is that it lies at the heart of Saputara and next to the main road – a little too central for people wanting a getaway.
- Hotel Chitrakoot (Near sunset point) – Nasik Saputara Road: Amenities are basic – bed, blankets, sofa, reasonably clean loos and TV. But all the same a decent enough place.
- Hotel Vaishali (Hill-facing) – Waghbari Road

Best time to go : June to August is a good time to visit, where you can pay your respects to God while witnessing the holy fury of the rains. November to Feburary is also a good time to visit.
Gentle winds, soft sands and inviting waters make Shriwardhan Bay irresistible to beach lovers. And if one relishes sea-food, there is no dearth of delicacies to sample here. Adventurers can even take a small boat to the north side of the bay and explore a land where the Peshwas or prime ministers of the Maratha kingdom, originally resided. The Peshwa Smarak is of interest to most people who visit Shriwardhan. The town of Harihareshwar is known for its tranquil and picturesque beach and is also famous for the temple of Harihareshwar.

Location of Harihareshwar on Google Maps:

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A small town located around 200 km from Mumbai and just 175 Kms. from Pune. Harihareshwar had long been popular as an important pilgrimage town. It was only a few years ago that it gained the reputation of a quiet weekend getaway from Mumbai. The 16th century temple at Harihareshwar is located right on the beach. And it is these beaches which has made it popular with city-wallahs looking for an escape. Long, shallow and wide, these pristine beaches are ideal for swimming. The backdrop of the Konkan coastline adds its own charm to this scene.

Places to visit in Harihareshwar

- Bagmandala
Bagmandala is a lovely small village a few miles away from the holy city of Harihareshwar. This is the place where the Peshwa (Prime Minister) of the Maratha Kingdom lived for many years. Bagmandala carries the legacy of Peshawa in a Peshwa Smarak as well as in an ancient fort named as Bankot fort.
The prime attraction of the Bagmandala is the jungle jetty (sea harbor in the forest). This small port ferries the local people across the Bagmandala creek. Those who like for a ferry travel can cross over Bankot fort and enter the nearby Ratnagiri fort

- Ganesh Gully
It is a culvert which is very narrow of about 3 feet wide in between two hard Rocky Mountains. It is believed that at the end of the culvert, there is a holy niche, a place where Lord Ganesh Idol is placed. The niche is about 30 feet under water and it is assumed that during the tidal periods one can observe the Ganesh idol placed perfectly at the niche.
Many tourists visit this place to have a glimpse of the Ganesh Idol. The place Ganesh gully itself is in the backdrop of natural beauty and calm smoothening winds.

- Harihareshwar Beach
It is the main attraction in Harihareshwar. The beach is extremely good for an elegant stay enjoying the natural beauty in a happy vacation holidays. Soft clean sands and soothe breeze make this beach in the lap of Arabian Sea a much sought place in Harihareshwar. The beach is unpolluted and mostly unspoiled. The Harihar hill on the sea shore add to the attraction of the beach. Solitude seeking tourists can make the visit to Harihareshwar beach a unique experience. The enthusiastic tourists can have a water journey by small boats available in the beach.

- Kalbhairav Temple
It is one of the ancient renowned temples in Maharashtra. The main deity enshrines the temple is Lord Shiva. Kalabhairava, a lord of all manthrasastras, is also placed as one of the idols. Legends associated with the temple say that Lord Shiva created Kalabhairava and blessed him with all manthras. The architectural style of the temple is attractive. Temple Yogeshwari known as Dakshin Kashi is located in the premises. In most of the special occasions like Mahashivarathri, one can view long queues for Darshan. Cool breeze from the Harihareshwar beach makes the temple premises a nice place to relax as well

List of other sight-seeing places in and around Harihareshwar:

• Harihareshwar Temple – 8 km (Gayatri Tirth, Sita Sansar, Vishnu pad, Pandav Tirth, 101 Kaurav Astitva)
• Gram devata Somajadevi (10 km)
• Jeevaneshwar Temple – Swayambhu Shivpind (12 km)
• Jeevnabander – Fish Port (12 km)
• Pure gold-cast Ganpati idol – Diveagar (21 km)
• Devkhot – Pandav era caves
• Shrivardhan sea shore (10 kms)
• Aaravi, Shekhadi and Walvti – most beautiful sea shores (13-21 km)
• Shrivardhan town
• Laxmi Narayan temple
• Dive Agar sea beach (21 km)
• Rupnarayan temple, Dive Agar (22 km)
• Dighi Bandar and Janjira Fort (36 km)
• Savitri river at Bankot creek (4 km)
• Bankot Fort (5kms)
• Rotha Supari of Shrivardhan
• Bhairvnath, Kusumadevi, Rameshwar and Bharadhkol Vitthal Temple
• Bhimachi Kawad (trekking point)
• Tambadi (trekking point) Table land
• Samsher Baba Peer Darga (Trekking, “S” Waterline Point)

Where to stay in Harihareshwar

- MTDC Holiday Resort near temple
Address
Harihareshwar, Raigarh
Maharashtra – 402110
India.
- Resort Harihareshwar Hilltop
At Nivale, Post Saigaon
Maharashtra.

NOTE : One important thing to keep in mind is that cell phones do not work at Harihareshwar. There are some STD booths near the temple, and you may have to ask if they work. So rest assured, your holidays are going to be mobile-free.

The still remaining tall structure of the St. Augustine Church in Goa, now in ruins

Base platform of the ruins of St. Augustine Church in Goa

Next up, we visited the 2 side-by-side churches called the Dom Basilica Church, and the Se Cathedral. Both of them look real difficult. To reach there, the parking is located on the road next to the Dom Basilica Church and there is a short walk through a path lined with trees on both sides.

People braving the rain to go the Dom Basilica

Downpour outside as visible from the Dom Basilica in Goa

The Basilica of Bom Jesus or Basilica of Good Jesus (Portuguese: Basílica do Bom Jesus) is a World Heritage site located in Goa, and also holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, with the church name referring to the infant Jesus. The church construction was started in 1594 and completed in 1605 when it was consecrated by Archbishop, Dom Fr. Aleixo de Menezes. The church is also famous since it holds the remains of the Saint Francis Xavier, who founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) along with St. Ignatius Loyola. The remains of the Saint attract a huge number of visitors, especially once every 10 years when the body is made available for public viewing (last done in 2004). The inside of the Church was very beautiful and solemn, although sections of the Church seemed like a Spanish villa with an inner courtyard having a garden.

The body of St. Francis Xavier in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa

View of inner greenery of the courtyard inside the Dom Basilica in Goa

Statue of saint inside the Dom Basilica in Goa

Next to the Dom Basilica (across the road) is the Se Cathedral, also known as the Sé Cathedral of Santa Catarina, is dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria, and is a huge and beautiful building, with some excellent indoor structure and very beautiful outdoors. The Cathedral was built starting in 1562, completed in 1619, and consecrated in 1640, and was built to celebrate the victory of Portuguese under Afonso de Albuquerque over a Muslim army in 1510 (which led to the conquest of Goa), and was named after Saint Catherine since the day when victory happened was on the day of the feast of Saint Catherine.

Beautiful view of the Se Cathedral from outside with greenery

Inside the Se Cathedral in Goa

Chandelier hanging from the roof of the Se Cathedral in Goa

Sculpture of Jesus Christ on a cross inside the Se Cathedral in Goa

After spending a couple of hours at these 2 beautiful churches, we moved on, visiting a Hindu temple, the famous Shri Mangueshi Temple, Goa. It was drizzling slightly, so there was some amount of mud and ditches, but the inner compound of the temple was relatively much cleaner. We went inside the temple, said our prayers, visited the tower, and then moved on. By this time, we were ready for lunch, and we were also enticed by the prospect of visiting a local spice plantation. These are large tracts of land on which spices are grown organically, and they also give you an organic lunch and a trip around the plantation where you can see their growing habits and learn about which spices grow on which plants along with seasons. It was pretty exciting to go there. The trip to a spice plantation can however cost you around Rs. 400 per head to go inside and do the trip.

Exterior architecture of the Mangueshi Temple in Goa

After the spice plantation, it was back to the water. We were not interested in visiting the Miramar beach since we were running short of time and light in the sky, and so we headed to a different type of beach, called Dona Paula. The place is a expensive and luxurious place to live, and is named after the daughter of a Portuguese viceroy who threw herself off the cliff when she was refused permission to marry a local fisherman. However, this is not a typical beach, more of a beachfront and where there is an observation tower located at a height from where you get a good view. You typically do not work along sand with water next to you.

After all this, we were attracted by the notion of a 1 hour cruise on the River Mandovi. There are these numerous water cruisers (not very attractive) which carry you aboard and for a one hour cruise for Rs. 150. You sit on plastic seats, with a local band providing the music or can go to the open upper deck (but since it is night, you do not see anything much). Having done this cruise, I can say that you will not miss much if you do not do this cruise.

On board entertainment on river cruise in Goa – boring

Many photos of Goa at this location.

Angkor Wat on Google Maps:

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Places to stay: In Siem Reap, you can find many places to stay, at all price ranges, starting from ‘guesthouses’ that offer basic facilities at $10 per day to the luxury of hotels at $200-$300 per day. Some places to stay are:

Luxury:
Grand Hotels d’Angkor
Le Meridien Angkor
Ankor Palace Spa Resort
FCC Angkor

Mid range:
Bopha Angor Hotel
Passaggio Hotel
Auberge Mont Royale
Molly’s Malone Guesthouse
Ankor Discover Inn

Guesthouses (the most economical):
Naga Guesthouse
Earthwalkers
Garden Village
Angkor Thom Hotel
Mommy Guesthouse
Royal Hotel
Red Lodge
Angkor Thom Hotel

How to get to Siem Reap:
Siem Reap is the access point for getting to Angkor Wat. You can fly there directly from regional hubs such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore.

External articles / sites / blogs:

1. Sacredsites.com (link)

During half-millennia of Khmer occupation, the city of Angkor became a pilgrimage destination of importance throughout Southeastern Asia. Sacked by the Thais in 1431 and abandoned in 1432, Angkor was forgotten for a few centuries. Wandering Buddhist monks, passing through the dense jungles, occasionally came upon the awesome ruins. Recognizing the sacred nature of the temples but ignorant of their origins, they invented fables about the mysterious sanctuaries, saying they had been built by the gods in a far ancient time. Centuries passed, these fables became legends, and pilgrims from the distant reaches of Asia sought out the mystic city of the gods. A few adventurous European travelers knew of the ruins and stories circulated in antiquarian circles of a strange city lost in the jungles. Most people believed the stories to be nothing more than legend however, until the French explorer Henri Mouhot brought Angkor to the world’s attention in 1860. The French people were enchanted with the ancient city and beginning in 1908 funded and superbly managed an extensive restoration project. The restoration has continued to the present day, excepting periods in the 70′s and 80′s when military fighting prevented archaeologists from living near the ruins.

2. Map of Angkor Wat (link)
3. UNESCO World Heritage site (link)

Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Stretching over some 400 km2, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. They include the famous Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations. UNESCO has set up a wide-ranging programme to safeguard this symbolic site and its surroundings.

4. Translation of Maurice Glaize’s 1944 guide (link)
5. Holiday in Angkor Wat (link). With some great pictures.

Angkor Wat is an amazing place! The temple, the long galleries of detailed bas-relief carvings, the steep stairs, the history! Since it’s rediscovery in the 1800s, (with the exception of the civil war period) this historic temple has received a steady stream of visitors.

Photo Gallery:
1. molon.de (link)
2. National Geographic (link)
3. Sacred Destinations (link)
4. pbase.com (link)
5. Images of Asia (link)
6. VietVisionTravel (link)
7. Photo Indo China.com (link)
8. Photo Gallery of Angkor Wat (link)
9. On Flickr (link)

Videos on Angkor Wat from Youtube:

Angkor Wat BBC Documentary Description Video Siem Reip

Digging for the Truth: Angkor Wat – Part 1

Digging for the Truth: Angkor Wat – Part 2

Digging for the Truth: Angkor Wat – Part 3

Digging for the Truth: Angkor Wat – Part 4

Digging for the Truth: Angkor Wat – Part 5

ANGKOR WAT – FIRST EXPEDITION TO CAMBODIA 1880/81

India, the sub-continental country is known for its richness in culture and tradition. For visualizing the geographic neighbors of India, the Northern side is bordered by the wide range of the huge snow clad Himalayas, the west by the Arabian Sea, and the East is covered by the Bay of Bengal. It is the southern side that is very unique as both these seas mingle with the Indian Ocean. The Land that is located in the tip of the country, where the three seas get united is none other than Cape Comerin or Kanyakumari.

Map of Kanyakumari on Google Maps:

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The name of this place has been christened after the virgin goddess – Kanyakumari Amman. As per mythology, Goddess Parvati under the disguise of Devi Kanniya did a penance in one of the rocks in this area to get the hand of Lord Shiva. Hence this place is also a popular pilgrimage. Kanyakumari and its surroundings are believed to be part of the land which was created by Parasurama, incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Folktales and mythological stories speak volumes about Kanyamymari.
In historical times, Kanyakumari was once referred to as the “ALEXANDRIA OF THE EAST”. This place was a great centre for art, culture, civilization and pilgrimage for many years, in addition, it was also a famous centre for commerce and trade.
If you talk about modern Kanyakumari, some of the distinctive monuments are located on the sea; there are two rocks known as ‘twin rocks’. Each of them are distinctive and landmarks, both symbolizing the rich past of Indian heritage, having the monuments of swamy Vivekananda and Saint Thiruvalluvar.

Major tourist attractions:

Kumari Amman – The temple is located on the shore and is devoted to a manifestation of Parvati. The temple is located at a picturesque point, and commands a breathtaking views of the surrounding natural beauty. The diamond nose ring of the deity can even be witnessed from the sea. The timings of visits to the temple are from 4.30 AM to 12.15 PM & 4.PM to 8.15 PM. Annual Festivals are the Car festival (May / June) and Navaratri (Nine Days) Festival (September / October). The temple can be very crowded at certain points.

Mahatma Gandhi Memorial – The monument was built on the spot where there is an urn that contained the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi before they were immersed into the river. The architecture of the temple is designed in a way so that the first rays of the sun fall exactly on the place where the ashes of this great personality were kept. Visting Hours are from 7 AM To 7 PM. Entrance is free for tourists.

Udaigiri Fort – The fort was built by King Marthanda Verma and has a factory where guns are manufactured. The splendid Padmanabhapuram Palace is a huge mansion of the Travancore Kings, recognized for its captivating artistic appeal.

Thiruvalluvar Statue – The pedestal of the statue is of 38 feet height and the statue located on the pedestal is 95 feet tall with a grand total height of 133 feet for the entire sculpture. The 3 tier pedestal known as Atharapeedam is surrounded by an artistic Mandapa known as Alankara Mandapam with 38 feet height. Surrounding the Alankara Mandapa stand 10 elephant statues, signifying 8 directions; the remaining 2 directions are with earth and space down. Visting Hours – 8 AM To 4 PM.

Vivekananda Rock Memorial – Essentially a sacred monument, built by the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee to commemorate the visit of Swamy Vivekananda to “Shripada Parai” during 24th, 25th and 26th December 1892 for deep meditation and enlightenment. Visting Hours – 7 AM To 4 PM.

Suchindrum – Suchindrum is a small village about 12 km. from Kanyakumari and about seven kilometres from Nagercoil. This holy place is located on the bank of the river Pazhayar, adjoining to fertile fields and coconut groves; the temple is dedicated to Sri Sthanumalayan. This word denotes Siva, Vishnu and Brahmma – Sthanu represents Siva, Mal represents Vishnu while Ayan represents Brhamma i.e. Siva, Vishnu and Brhamma in “One Form”.

Mathur Hanging Bridge – This bridge constructed in 1966, is the tallest as well as the longest trough bridge in Asia, having a height of 115 feet and a length of one kilometre.

St. Xavier Church – The church records show that the church was built in the year 1600 A.D. In the year 1865, the Church was enlarged and the shrine of our lady was also renovated and vaulted over. In 1930, the church was raised to the status of a Cathedral.

Padmanabhapuram Palace – It is one of the four municipalities in the district; 55 Km. south of Trivandrum, about two km. east of Thuckalay and 35 km. from Kanyakumari on the Trivandrum-Cape Comerin road. This town is surrounded by a fort with an area of 187 acres. The ancient capital of Travancore might be constructed before AD 1601. The palace with an area of seven acres, is situated in the very centre on the Padmanabhapuram Fort, amidst hills, dales and rivers. The palace which is situated in Kanyakumari District is under the control of a Curator of the Archaeological Department of Kerala Government.

Tirparappu Water Falls – The Kodayar makes its descend at Tirparappu and the water fall at this place, about 13km. from Pechiparai dam. The river bed is rocky and about 300 feet in length. The water falls from a height of nearly 50 feet and the water flows for about seven months in a year.

Muttom Beach – The famous beach at Muttom is located about 16 kms from Nagercoil and 32 kms from Kanyakumari. Muttom is famous for its beautiful landscaping and high rocks dipping into the sea at the beach-side. The sun set view point at Muttom is one of the most Panoramic view points in the district. Another attraction of Muttom is the century old light-house built by the British.

Vattakottai (Circular Fort) – A granite fort six kilometres north-east of Kanyakumari cape, forms the terminal of a line of ramparts known as the South Tranvancore lines built by Marthanda Varma to serve as defence for Nanjil Nadu. It is rectangular in shape and covers an area of about three and a half acres.

Peer Mohamed Dargah, Thuckalay (35 kms) – This dargah is named after Peer Mohamed Oliyullah, the great philosopher Mohamed Appa, who wrote many books on philosophy.

Sunrise and Sunset – Sunrise can be seen in Kanniyakumari through out the year at Bay of Bengal. Sunset can be seen from View Tower through out the year except the months of June, July and August.

Places to stay:
Hotel Parvathi Residency, Kanyakumari (link)
Hotel Singaar International (link)
Indienhermitage (link)
Hotel SeaView (link)
Hotel Cape Residency
Saagar Hotel
Melody Park Hotel.
Ashok Hotel

Reaching there

By Air: The nearest airport from Kanyakumari is situated at Trivandrum about 80 kms away.

By Rail: Kanyakumari is well connected by rail to major parts of the country.

By Road: Extensive road network connects Kanyakumari to other parts of the country.

External articles / blogs:

1. travelonthedollar.com (link): Has a few photos also

The oldest and the most ancient landmark in this town is the temple of Goddess Kumari who prayed to Lord Shiva to be accepted as wife by him. The name of this place has taken after the name of the Goddess. During the British Raj, it was also known as ‘Cape Comorin’, is probably a British spoilt version of ‘Kumari’, which mean virgin. The town is so small that an enthusiastic tourist may actually walk the entire length and breadth of the town and not shed a drop of sweat. Anyway, buses are available and the fares are rock bottom. The auto rickshaws fares are also very reasonable. In short, travelling in and around Kanyakumari is not expensive.

2. Indian Weatherman (link): Lots of photos

In 1609 AD Viswanatha Nayak of Madurai captured Kanyakumari. Afterwards there was no real threat to Venad Kings. Kanyakumari thus became an integral part of the Venad Empire with the capital at Padmanabhapuram. King Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma(1729-1758) of Venad dynasty formed Travancore ( Modern Kerala) by extending his domain further north up to Aluva. Kanyakumari thus came to be known as Southern Travancore. In 1741, King Marthanda Varma another great king from the same dynasty overcame the Dutch East India Company forces at the fiercely fought “Battle of Colachel.”

3. Video of Kanyakumari (link)
4. Post on triter.com (link)

Nearest airport from Kanyakumari is Trivandrum in the neighbouring state of Kerala. It takes about two hours by train or bus to go Kanyakumari from Trivandrum. Kanyakumari is well connected by rail to all major cities in India like Chennai, Trivandrum, Bombay, New Delhi, Kolkata, and Bangalore. Buses are frequently available from Thiruvananthapuram, the closest major transport hub. Long distance buses are available from Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai etc.

5. Nice Events on Blogspot.com (link)

Kanyakumari (also spelt as Kanniyakumari) order is contoured by Tirunelveli district in the northwestern and point, by Kerala denote in the northwest and confluence of Mount Sea and Soldier Ocean in the west and south. The coastline is nigh uniform eliminate for few points of come projects into the sea at Cape Comorin.

6. Post with great photos on indiaouting.com (link)

The temple of Goddess Kumari is rather small by South Indian standards, but comes with the usual ingredients of Pujaris (Hindu Priests), Poojas, Kumkums, and Prasads (sweet offerings made to Gods). All men are supposed to enter the temple with bare torsos as it deemed to be a mark of respect to the Devi. You should be careful about the touts in the temple.

7. miyzone on blogspot with some photos (link)
8. Photo of waves striking the rocks at Kanyakumari (link)
9. Post with great photos at oktatabyebye.com (link)

After lunch, we set out to see the Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial, by boat. There are regular ferry services from the jetty which is very close to the TTDC resort. We were lucky to get the last ferry, at 4.30 p.m. and were taken first to the Thrivallavur Statue, a famous Tamil poet of yester years. The statue is magnificent and stands tall on a rock near the Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial – the author of the philosophical work Tirukkural – a treatise on the Indian way of life.

10. Description of the Kanyakumari Temple (link)

he main entrance to the temple is through the northern gate though the deity is facing east. The eastern entrance is kept closed except on special occasions when the deity is taken out for ceremonial bath. Three corridors surround the sanctum. The outer corridor has no special shrines, but after a walk round it the devotees cross the ‘Navarathiri mandapam’ and a pathway leads to the second corridor encircling the shrine. There stands the flag mast or ‘Kodisthambam’. From here you can have a clear view of the Goddess. A move further forward will take you in front of the sanctum.

11. Story on travelpod.com (link)

Swami Vivkeananda, also known as the wandering monk, travelled all over India. When he visited Kanyakumari in December 1892, he was drawn to the two rock islets which are the southernmost tip of India. He did not have money to hire a boat so he swam to the rocks. He meditated on the rock for three days and had a vision of one India. The main hall has a tall statue of Swami Vivekananda. The other hall is built around a foot shaped carving on the rock. According to folklore this is the foot print of goddess Kumari who stood on this rock on one foot in penance. There is also a meditation hall called Dhyana Mandapam.

12. Photos of sunrise at Kanyakumari (link)
13. Post on worldoftimepass.com (link)

Though there are several places of tourist-interest in the town and district, Kanyakumari is especially popular in India for its spectacular and unique sunrise and sunset. The confluence of three ocean bodies – the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea – makes the sunrise and sunset even more special. On balmy, full-moon evenings, (locally called Chitra Pournami) one can also see the moon-rise and sunset at the same time – on either side of the horizon.

14. Photos of the rocks at Kanyakumari (link)

How to plan ? Max time required for seeing whole Kanyakumari is 1 full day . Reach Kanyakumari by morning 5am and then complete sunrise (mostly at 6am; depends on seasons) and then get into prebooked hotel and complete breakfast and then visit Kanyakumari Temple , just beside the sunrise view point ; and then go for a trip to vivekananda memorial hall ( trip will be close to 2-3hrs) ;complete lunch and then you have option either to visit Padhmanabhapuram palace or go to some beaches near kanyakumari, watch sunset

15. Photos of Udaygiri Fort (link)

Photo Galleries:

1. Shunya.net Photos (link)
2. Kanyakumari Photos (link)
3. Photos of Kanyakumari at holidayiq.com (link)
4. MichaelJM’s Kanyakumari Photos (link)
5. Great photos of Kanyakumari on Sulekha.com (link)
6. Photos of Kanyakumari on oktatabyebye.com (link)

It is surrounded by scenic beauty of the hills and what makes this place so divine is that Holy Ganga River is flowing through it. Rishikesh is a believed to be a place for meditation which leads to salvation. There are many temples many of them are ancient along the sides of river Ganga.

Ashrams of Sadhus add up to the environment and feel of divinity and purity here.

Rishikesh is very famous for Yoga, and this is very much followed by foreigners, at Rishikesh people from different countries come to learn Yoga, meditation.

Big Celebrities come here to experience the divine life here. The famous Beatles visited this place in 60’s.

People from different countries come here to learn Hinduism, to spend more time with Lord. People who love rafting should come here and experience the adventure in the waters of Ganga.

Climate here is pleasant throughout the year as it is located in the foothills.

Highlights of Rishikesh –

Lakshman Jhula & Ram Jhula – These two are suspended iron bridge, which are a major attraction among the tourists.

Swarga Ashram – Here one can find numerous temples, it’s a place to shop and eat, Gita Bhawan is situated just across the Laksman Jhula and is famous for its paintings and statues from Hindu Mythology.

Neelkanth – According to Hindu Mythology Lord Shiva drank the venom at this place and henceforth this place is known as Neelkanth Mahadeo (Mahadev is the other name of Lord Shiva). It is situated 12 kms from Rishikesh and is one of the most revered temple.

Triveni Ghat – Daily in the morning and evening Maha Aarti is performed at this Ghat, people also take a dip here.

Other Activities –

River Rafting – People enjoy the adventure of rafting along the Ganga.

Rock-Climbing - Rishikesh is also one of the ideal base camps for rock-climbing.

How to get there?

Rishikesh is well connected with all major cities through trains and buses, it does not have an airstrip of its own but one can reach by air till Jollygrant near Dehradun and then take a bus or private cab to this place.

Where to stay?

Rishikesh does not have big five star hotels, but has Dharamshalas and guest houses which provide a good and inexpensive accommodation. GMVN i.e. Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam provides the facility of dormitory, single and double rooms for tourists.

Haridwar - Religiously believed that Hari-dwar means Door leading to God as Hari means God and Dwar means Gateway or entrance according to Hindi language.

Haridwar is believed to be the gateway to the four pilgrimages in the Uttarakhand region (Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath)

Haridwar is located on the foothills of Shivaliks. It is on the banks of Holy river Ganga.

Millions of Hindus travel here to pray to Ganga Mai and take a dip in the river to wash away their sins and attain ultimate freedom, Nirvana

Haridwar has earned fame as being the place, which has been blessed by the trinity of Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. It is also one of the major Shaktipeeths. Down the ages, Haridwar has purified the mind, the body and the soul.

Not only in spiritual or religious terms Haridwar has come up as a major learning center for arts, science and culture.

This place has maintained the Gurukul tradition of teaching. This ancient tradition of teaching has maintained its fervour in Haridwar. Haridwar has since ages been a source of Ayurvedic medicines and has been providing herbal remedies

Highlights of Haridwar:

Har-ki-Pauri – This ghat is one of the most sacred ghats in India.Its believed that Vikramaditya in memory of his brother Bhartrihari built this ghat. This ghat is also known as Brahmakund. In the evening a Maha Aarti is performed on this ghat which is a treat to watch and leaves everyone with a divine feeling .This is the central ghat in Haridwar where the waters of the Upper Ganga Canal are diverted from the main river.The ghat is also the venue for the famous Kumbha Mela.

Evening Aarti – the evening prayers at Har-ki-pauri to the chants of drums and cymbals, is a sight worth experiencing.

Chandi Devi Temple - This temple is on the top of a hill called the Neel Parvat, which is the other side of the river Ganga. The King of Kashmir, Suchat Singh, constructed the temple in 1929 AD. Chandi Devi is a three-km trek from the Chandi Ghat.

Mansa Devi Temple – This temple is located on top of a hill called the Bilwa Parvat. The ropeway can reach the temple or one can take the normal trekking route to the top. The top of the hill gives you an excellent view of Haridwar.

Kavand Mela -

The fair is held ten days before Shivteras, during the Hindu months of Shravan & Phalgun.

Daksha Mahadevo Temple-

4 kms from Haridwar is a town called Kankhal.According to Mythology the king of this place King Daksha Prajapati performed a yagya. His daughter, Sati was married to Lord Shiva. But Daksha was not happy with this marriage and did not invite Shiva-Sati in the Yagya. But Sati came and was insulted by her father. She could not take the insult and burnt herself in the yagya kund. On hearing this followers of Shiva killed Daksha. But later Mahadeo (Shiva) brought Daksha to life. The Daksha temple is an attribute to this legend. This place is one of the five sacred places in Haridwar.

Sapt Rishi:

This is the place where Ganga divides itself into seven small streams and provides a very pleasing sight.

Maya Devi:

It is one of the Shaktipeeths in India. This ancient temple of Maya Devi is also the Adhisthatri deity of Haridwar. It is said that when Lord Shiva was carrying his wife Sati, who had burnt her self to keep the honour of her husband, then the heart and navel of Sati had fallen at this place.

Gurukul Kangri University – :

This University is known for its unique system of education. It is located on the Haridwar-Jwalapur bypass road. This university follows the ancient tradition of Guru-Sishya pattern of education. The University also has the Ved Mandir Museum which has a very good collection of archaeological exhibits and displays artifacts which are of historical value.

Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar:

This is a must watch place as various species of birds can be spotted here particularly during the winters. Around Laljiwala on the banks of river Ganges one can expect the Siberian Cranes, which are one of the valued possession at the Pakshi-Vihar.

· Nearby cities-

Rishikesh – 24 kms.
Mussoorie – 90 kms.
Badrinath – 290 kms.
Yamunotri – 240 kms.
Dehradun – 52 kms.
Kedarnath – 250 kms.

· FAIRS & FESTIVALS

Ardh Kumbh:

The Ardh Kumbh is held every six years and the last Ardh Kumbha of this century ended this year. It is said that a holy dip in the river Ganges during the Kumbh gives you Moksha or Nirvana, Ardh Kumbh is celebrated with a lot of religious sentiments and this is one festival which attracts the mind of any tourist to this place.
People gather in huge number to take the holy dip during these holy days. There are Saints, Naga Sadhus, Politicians almost every one is here. The city gets overcrowded with people during this festive season and its better to avoid over crowded ghats during this time as there are reports of stampedes. The accommodation should be ensured well in advance if one is going to Haridwar during the Kumbh.

· SHOPPING – Haridwar offers some good handicraft items, which can be kept as decorative pieces or can be used as gift items. In the markets surrounding the temples, one can find jewellery imitations, which are very popular among the devotees. The bangles, chains, ear and nose rings are some items, which can be bough there. Then the shops also have items made of stone. The main shopping centers are Moti Bazaar, Upper Road, Jwalapur, and Kankhal. The UP handloom Emporium is near the Bharat Mata temple and the government Emporium, Gandhi Ashram is near the Haridwar post office.

· CLIMATE - Haridwar is located at a height of almost 300 meters. This place does not have a pleasant climate here. During the summers the temperature usually shoots upto 40 degrees but winters sees the mercury dipping as low as six degrees. The best seasons to visit Haridwar are some where between September and June though Pilgrims visit this place all the year round.

HOW TO GET THERE ?

Air Services are available only upto Jollygrant airport in Dehradun, but the Railways have a station at Haridwar. This major pilgrimage center has been well connected by trains to all the major towns of India. In fact trains are the main source of getting pilgrims and tourist to Haridwar. The national high way no.45 crosses through the city so it is connected to other cities of the State as well as other towns in India in an efficient manner. There are buses available from Delhi to this place. The state transport has ordinary as well as deluxe and semi-deluxe buses on this route for long distance travel.
There are private buses, which take you to nearby places, and also some of these private deluxe buses run on the long distance routes.

TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES

Regional Tourist Office – Haridwar, Uttaranchal, India.
Tourist Bureau – Laltarao Bridge, Haridwar, Uttaranchal, India
Tourist Information Center – Railway Station, Haridwar, Uttaranchal, India
Tourist Reception Center – 36, Chandralok Building, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 001