Different places to travel » Nature

Mori, a hill station located in North India

Traveller — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:53:15 +0000

Mori, is a hill station located in the North Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is located along the banks of Tons river, in the Jaunsar Bawar region. The pleasures of Mori lie in it being a mixture of both being good for relaxing and as an adventure spot. The best part of the adventure is white-water rafting on the Tons river. One can swim in the river and enjoy to your fullest but with safety. There are a few camps like Aquaterra adventures where you can enjoy. These camps allow us a glimpse into the tantalizing world of this yet unexplored Himalayan belt.
For kids these water adventures and sandy beaches of the Tons rivers are heights of enjoyment, and they can spend a large amount of time over there. Guided nature-walks and bird watching, diverse flora and fauna are part of the enchanting experience for one and all. In addition to these, Rock climbing, River rafting, Kayaking, playing cricket and volley ball and other activities await kids who come here. Tons river is an offshoot of Yamuna river, originating at Bandarpunch peak of 20,720 feet.
Outing and camping are the biggest attraction of Mori because of its scenic appeal and tons river. There is Icchhari dam, which can be reached on the Tons river. The day here begins with a wake-up call from the birds and scenic first rays of sun. There are options of cycling, rafting, trekking or just having a picnic in the shade of pine trees. The Tons Valley also boasts of the only Indian temple dedicated to Duryodhana.

Places to see in and around Mori

1. Ancient Duryodhana Temple: This beautiful wood–crafted temple is built by the Pandavas. An interesting point to note here is that whereas the Svargarohini peak in the Jaunsar Bawar region is venerated for its Pandava connection, the region’s temples are dedicated to their antagonist cousins, the Kauravas, and Karna and King Shalya.
2. Lunagad Creek: It is a small waterfall which is a half-hour walk. It is surrounded by Pine forests, with a few Gujjar huts scattered in between.
3. Netwar: Netwar is 11 Kms from Mori, and is the point of confluence of the Rupin Gad (a tributary stream) with the Tons river. There is a charming temple dedicated to Karna, an ally of Duryodhana. The Jaunsar- Bawar is probably the only region where Duryodhana, villain of the Mahabharata epic, is venerated, and it’s interesting to see Jaunsari villages having beautiful wooden temples dedicated to Duryodhana.
4. Jakhol: The Duryodhana Temple at Jakhol – at a distance of 20 km from Mori, and on the Har-ki-Dun trek route – has an actual idol of the lord (unlike other temples in the region that are devoid of an idol ) and is treated as a seat of divinity.

Mori – Best time to visit/climate

Best time to visit is April – September and particularly May is a good month to visit. The Weather is pleasant. Temperature varies from 12 to 21°C. The outdoor activities peak up during this month. May is pleasant with warm days and cool nights.

Location on Google maps

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Route from Mussorie to Mori:

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How to get there

• By Air: Jollygrant which is 175 km away from Mori and is situated in Dehradun is the nearest airport. Jollygrant airport is connected to Delhi airport. Taxi services are available from airport to Mori and it costs about Rs 3300. Delhi is the nearest international airport which is 410 km away. Delhi is well connected to all major cities in India and many cities abroad
• By road: Mori is well connected to many cities in the region by buses. Private and public buses offer services from Mori to all nearby cities. Regular frequent bus services are available from Mori to Mussoorie (139 km).
• By train: Nearest railway station is also Dehradun, which is nearly 175 km away from Mori. This station is connected to all cities in India. Taxi services are available from Dehradun to Mori, costing about Rs 3300. Convenient rail heads are Haridwar Jn.(195km) & Dehradun (175km).

Places/hotels to stay

The Three most famous Camps here provide with every thing.
• Aquaterra Adventurers
They set up a rafting camp at the confluence of the Lunagad creek with the Tons, the camp operates from mid-April to June, offers 25 well-spaced-out tents and a warm central dining area. Each tent has two beds (a third bed can be accommodated for a small child), a bedside table, two chairs and a small patio. Activities at the camp include river-rafting, rock-climbing, rappelling, nature and village walks, midnight rambles, and team-building exercises.
For more contact 011-29212641/ 2760
• Great Indian Outdoors’
Their camp, Mystic River Campsite, operates from mid-May to mid-July, and offers 25 comfortable Swiss tents, a multi-cuisine kitchen and, of course, rafting on the Tons. They also organize treks to the Ruinsara Tal.
For more contact 0124-4081500
• Himalayan River Runners’
Theirs is a self-contained campsite that tries to make the most of the great outdoors. It offers 12 tents and a range of activities, including rock-climbing, rappelling, river-crossing, still-water kayaking, waterfall treks, nature walks and bird watching.
For more, contact 011-26852602
• http://www.holidayiq.com/India-Hotels-Resorts-Vacations.html
• http://www.indiatravelnext.com/mori/hotels-in-mori.html

Blogs/sites for Mori

• http://www.oktatabyebye.com/destination-features/296-mori-restaurants-and-foods.html
• http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/manojmakadia/1/1253750691/tpod.html
• http://traveller.outlookindia.com/destination.aspx?id=248

Images of Mori, Uttarakhand

• http://www.google.co.in/images?q=Mori,uttarakhand&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=FHtATKirLsr0cNeGgJIO&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=6&ved=0CDgQsAQwBQ
• http://www.oktatabyebye.com/picture-gallery/Mori-pictures.html
• http://www.pbase.com/robcruzen/uttaranchal
• http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/mori,uttranchal

Srinagar – the Paradise on Earth – India

Traveller — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:05:33 +0000

Srinagar – has been called the “Venice of the East” or the “Kashmiri Venice.
Srinagar, in which Sri means abundance and wealth and Nagar means city. It is also the name of Goddess Laxmi. The city was founded by the King Pravarasena II over 2,000 years ago. The regional language of the people residing in this place is Kashmiri Urdu.
It is capital of Jammu and Kashmir and is in the area of Indian Kashmir. It is on the banks of Jhelum River, also called Vyath of Kashmir valley. Hindus are in majority of the population.
The city is known for its lakes, temples and houseboats. Dry fruits, Handicrafts are famous here. It is located at 34°5?23?N 74°47?24?E / 34.08972°N 74.79°E / 34.08972; 74.79 and the Highest temperature: 37 °C (99 °F); lowest ?14 °C (6.8 °F).
The city is famous for nine bridge which are old and connect the two parts of the city.
Srinagar is well known for its lakes. Amongst which are Dal lake which is known for its house boats, in which any one would want to get into as a part of adventure and thrill. Nagin Lake is another famous lake in the city. The Shalimar Gardens created by the Mughal Emperor Jehangir in 1619 are located just outside the city.
The Mughal Gardens are located in Srinagar and its close vicinity and include Chasma Shahi (the royal fountains); Pari Mahal (the palace of the fairies); Nishat Bagh (the garden of spring); Shalimar Bagh; and the Nashim Bagh. The Tulip Gardens have been recently opened to public The gardens has rows of Tulips of different colors and shades.
Getting around Srinagar (Taxi, bus, Auto Rickshaw) is hardly an issue for there are private cars, and public means of transportation available both for the purpose of local travel. It is not possible to obtain any self-driven vehicles. Special Kashmiri boats known as Shikaras are employed for touring on the River Jhelum and in the Dal Lake.
Other than these there are many places of worship and they are Hazratbal shrine, Jama Masjid, Khangah Moulla, Kheer bhawani, Dasgeer Sahib khanyar, Bulbul Sahib shrine, Hari parbat, Zestha, Sankaracharya temple on Sulaiman Hill, Rozabal Mosque and Pather Masjid built by Noor Jahan.
The hill station and skiing resort Gulmarg is 50 km from the city. Also in this area lies the Muzzafarabad Cantonment, the main cantonment of the Indian Army in Srinagar District. The city of Srinagar is a gateway to some of the most scenic and beautiful places of the Indian subcontinent.

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

Dhanaulti – a hill station in Tehri Garhwal District in Uttarakhand

Traveller — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:39:27 +0000

This beautiful location is also known as Dhanolti. It is a hill station located in Tehri Garhwal District in Uttarakhand and is 24km away from another hill station, Mussorie (It is 29kms from yet another hill station Chamba). Altitude of Dhanaulti is 2286metre. It is located in thick deodar, rhododendron, oak and alpine forests and is popular for being quiet and its tranquil atmosphere. The other specialty is its unobstructed view of snow topped Himalayas. Dhanaulti is a popular excursion for people who also come to Mussoorie, Chamba and Kanatal and is also an ideal weekend getaway, being only about eight to nine hours drive away from Delhi. The region receives snowfall during winters making it even more captivating destination. The popular trekking excursions of Dhanaulti will lead you to Surkanda Devi, Chandrabadni and Kunjapuri, the sacred three of the holy Devi Darshan triangle.

Places to see in Dhanaulti :

1. Chamba is a hill town in Himachal Pradesh which is located at a height of 1000meter and an altitude of 1,676mts above sea level. Tourists are attracted to it because of its exquisiteness and beauty. There are number of lakes around. They are Khajjiar Lake, Manimahesh Lake, Chamera Lake, Lama Dal (Lake), Gadasru Lake and Maha Kali Dal (lake).
2. New Tehri is situated 54kms from Dhanaulti and is the only planned city of Uttarakhand state. Tehri Dam is the centremost attraction of the town.
3. Barehipani falls from height of 399mts and Joranda falls from 150mts. Both these waterfalls are situated in the core of Simlipal National Park. Both these waterfalls are enchantingly beautiful and a perfect picnic spot.
4. Chanderi is famous for its sarees and royal architecture. The interesting sites of Chanderi are Koshak Mahal, Badal mahal, ancient Jain temples, Jama Masjid and Victory Arch.
5. Dashavatar Temple: It is a famous Gupta temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.It has s 3 large carved panels along the side walls – the Gajendramoksha panel, the Nar Narayan Tapasya and the Anantshayi Vishnu, depict scenes from Vaishnava mythology.
6. Deogarh is a magnificent fort of the 16th century near Pratapgarh.
7. Jain Temples are a collection of 31 Jain temples were built after the Vishnu temple. These temples are situated inside the fort of Kanali on the hills, overlooking the Betwa. This site was a Jain centre from 6th to 17th century AD.
8. Mussoorie It is another attractive hill station near Dhanaulti.
9. Kanatal is situated 15kms from Dhanaulti. Kanatal is located on Mussoorie – Chamba Road in the Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand state.
10. Eco park is the main attraction of Dhanulti. It has small forest of Deodar trees. There is Entry Fee of Rs 15 For Adults and Rs10 for Children.
11. Surkanda devi temple which is 8 km from Dhanaulti, on the road towards Chamba is famous for its Ganga Dasahra fair in autumn.
12. Himalayan Weavers are located on Mussoorie-Dhanaulti Road which produces hand-woven shawls, stoles, scarves and throws using only natural dyes and wool, silk and pashmina. They produce environment friendly and high quality Handlooms.
13. Aaloo Khet (Potato Farm)is a Government Potato Farm. It is also famous sunrise view point.

Best time to visit / climate:
The summer temperatures in the town, range from 31°C to 7.5°C, while winter temperatures remain between 7°C and 1°C. The best time would be to visit around March-May although you can go in other climates as well. Can be fun in winter, but be prepared for it being cold.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there :
By air : The nearest Airport is Jolly Grant Airport which is near Dehradun and 82 kms away. It has flights connecting to Delhi on a daily basis. From the airport, one can reach by any road transport.
By rail: The nearest railway stations to Dhanaulti are situated in Rishikesh and Dehradun. Railway station is situated 83kms from Dhanaulti and Dehradun is situated 60kms before Dhanaulti. Any major railway network connect to both Rishikesh and Dehradun railway stations.Trains to both these places are frequent.
By road: Dhanaulti is well connected by motorable roads with major destinations of Uttarakhand state. Buses and Taxis to Dhanaulti are easily available from major destinations of Uttarakhand. Dhanaulti is situated on Mussoorie – Chamba Road
Buses to Rishikesh, Tehri, Dehradun and Mussoorie are available from ISBT Kashmiri Gate.

The Distance chart is as below:
1. Delhi to Dhanaulti -323kms
2. Rishikesh to Dhanaulti- 84kms
3. Devprayag to Dhanaulti – 108kms
4. Tehri to Dhanaulti – 44kms
5. Pauri to Dhanaulti – 131kms
6. Dehradun to Dhanaulti -59kms
7. Mussoorie to Dhanaulti – 28kms
8. Chamba to Dhanaulti – 27kms
9. Barkot to Dhanaulti – 127kms
10. Uttarkashi to Dhanaulti-112kms
11. Roorkee to Dhanaulti -139kms
12. Haridwar to Dhanaulti – 107kms
13. Chakrata to Dhanaulti -106kms

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
• http://www.euttaranchal.com/tourism/dhanaulti.php
• http://www.trails.com/list_15763_hotels-in-dhanolti.html (names, contact numbers and prices)
• http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotels-g1221549-Dhanaulti_Uttarakhand-Hotels.html

Blogs / Sites about Dhanaulti

1. Dhanaulti in Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhanaulti
It is a hill station in Tehri Garhwal District in Uttarakhand. It is 24km away from another hill station, Mussorie. It is 29kms from Chamba. It is at an altitude of 2286metre. It is located in thick deodar, rhododendron, oak and alpine forests.

2. http://www.euttaranchal.com/tourism/dhanaulti.phps

Photo / Image Gallery:

1. http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/India/North/Uttarakhand/Dhanaulti/
2. http://www.tripadvisor.in/LocationPhotos-g1221549-Dhanaulti_Uttarakhand.html
3. http://travel.sulekha.com/dhanaulti-pictures.htms

Pauri Garhwal – a beautiful location in the Garhwal region, North India

Traveller — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:04:49 +0000

Pauri Garhwal is part of Uttaranchal, Uttarpradesh and in the region of Garhwal. It is famous for a panoramic view and is located at an altitude of 1814 meters. It is on the slopes of Kanloliya hills from where you can get a view of snowy Himalayan peaks. It is a town that is 106 kms from Kotdwara. One can see Himalayan ranges from the upper rigde starting from Chaukhamba to Nandaghunti Peaks.
Its whole area in square meters is about 5438. Its dense forests, picturesque valleys, stunning rivers make it an ideal tourist spot or holiday spot. It has a rich topography Pauri, with its diverse landscape, consists of the extensive pastures of Dhudatoli, rising upto 3000 meters and Kotdwara’s foothills. It has deodar, pine trees and apple trees around the areas.
The Himalayas and its view make it a place of artistic interest and a lovable tourist spot filled with thrill, adventure and also a spiritual tour. District Pauri Garhwal which is surrounded by the districts of Chamoli, Nanital, Bijnor, Haridwar, Dehradun, Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal. Pauri has different places to see in and around.
Around Pauri are Khirsu which is situated 19 kms from Pauri, and attracts people with its panoramic sight of the Central Himalayas. The ancient shrine of Ghandiyal Devta is a holy place to visit. People interested in having a picnic should go to Adwani, because of its natural beauty and thick forests with cool breeze and a perfect picnic spot.
In Pauri, there are place like Tara Kund, Dhudatoli are natural scenic spots with ethnic beauty. Tara Kund, is another place with scenic grandeur which is positioned 2,200 m above the sea level. This place has an old temple and a small lake. People come to this temple in order to celebrate the Teej Festival with a lot of enthusiasm. There is a memorial in the memory of freedom fighter Veer Chandra Singh. Located on River Malini’s bank, 14 kms away from Kotdwar, Kanva Rishi Ashram is a place which has both archaeological and historical importance. It is a popular myth that Sage Vishwamitra meditated at this location. Binsar, 114 kms from Pauri, is famous mainly due to the temple of Lord Shiva.
Khirsu (19 kms): The serene site at a height of 1,700 metres affords a fine view of the snow-clad mountains. Located nearby are oak and deodar forests and apple orchards. There is Jwalpa Devi Temple which is worth visiting. The others are Kandoliya (2 kms) dedicated to Kandoliya Devta, a folk deity, Chaukhamba Viewpoint (4 kms) which has a splendid view of Idwal valley and Chaukhamba Peak, Kyunkaleshwar Mahadev which is the 8th century Shiva temple and which has stunning views of the snow-clad peaks.
In the Garhwal Himalayas one can have 180 degree views of the Himalayas which are rare and splendid. Pauri is also a lovely place for trekking. The town’s climate is pleasant.

Best time to visit / climate:
The climate is mostly pleasant through most of the year and remains cool except in May-June. It’s best to visit just before May to experience pleasantness of the area; since in Kotdwara and the adjoining Bhabar area it is quite hot reaching high 40s Celsius during the summer.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Travel between Kotdwar and Pauri Garhwal, map on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Route map between Rishikesh and Pauri Garhwal:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
By Air: The nearest airport for Pauri is Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun (155 kms) and 131 kms from Rishikesh, Srinagar
By Rail: Nearest rail head is Kotdwar (108 kms).
By Road: Well connected by road with important town of the region. Buses run from and to Srinagar from all the major towns in Garhwal.

The distance to Pauri by road
• From New Delhi is 295kms and approximately 5.9hours drive
• From Meerut is 252km and about 5 hours drive.
• Pauri is also well connected to Dehradun, Hardwar, Rishikesh, Kotdwar and other cities of the area.
• some distances are:
• New Tehri-Srinagar: 69 km (4 hours)
• Rudraprayag-Srinagar: 34 km (2 hours)
• Rishikesh-Srinagar via Deoprayg: 118 km (7 hours)

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website):
1. www.indiahotelreview.com › India › Uttaranchal
2. http://pauri.nic.in/Page32.htm Has hotel names, contact nos. and rates)
3. http://www.tripadvisor.com
4. www.holidayiq.com › India › Uttaranchal
5. www.garhwaltourism.net/pouri.htm

Blogs / Sites about Pauri Garhwal (with small excerpts from these blogs):
1. History and Culture: http://www.world66.com/asia/southasia/india/uttaranchal/history
In the Mahabharata, dated to about 1000 BC, the Pandavas, are said to have ended their life on earth by ascending the slopes of a peak in western Garhwal called Swargarohini -’Ascent to Heaven’. The epic also mentions this region as the home of the Kirata, Pulinda and Tangara tribes. Succeeding the Macedonian march across the Himalayan foothills, an imperialist tradition was instituted around 330. AD, by the Gupta’s.This was followed by the Vardhanas in the fifth century AD. The ultimate downfall of the Vardhana empire during the time of the Turkish onslaught on the plains, they were subject to change in size and power as additional waves of migration took place.
2. Pauri in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauri_Garhwal
Pauri Garhwal district was a part of the Gharwal kingdom ruled by the Pal (Shah) dynasty. He was the king of Srinagar. In 1803, Gurkhas finally succeeded in capturing Garhwal by defeating the army of King Pradyumna Shah. In 1816, the British defeated the Gurkhas and were re-established from Tehri. After independence it was known as Gharwal district and further divided into Pauri Garhwal and Chamoli districts in 1960. In 1997 an additional area was made out into a district named Rudraprayag.

• Places to see: http://www.mustseeindia.com/Pauri/attractions
o www.himalaya2000.com › Uttarakhand › Pauri
o http://pauri.nic.in/

Photo / Image Gallery:
1. http://www.world66.com/asia/southasia/india/uttaranchal/srinagar_pauri_ga/lib/gallery
2. http://www.uttarakhand.ws/v/destinations/pauri-garhwal/
3. http://www.picable.com/Places/Villages/Pauri-Garhwal-4-.48815
4. http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/pauri-garhwal.html

Chamba – a beautiful hill town in Himachal Pradesh, India

Traveller — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 19:03:23 +0000

Chamba is a hill town in Himachal Pradesh which is located at an altitude of 1,676 mts above sea level. It was founded by Raja Sahil Varman in 920AD after his daughter Champavati. This hill station has a temple built on her name. It is situated by the side of river Ravi. It is almost 1000 years old. The town is in between Dhauladhar and Zaskar ranges of the Himalayas, being located in the Shivalik Ranges and have many medieval temples. The Chamba District is situated between north latitude 32° 11? 30? and 33° 13? 6? and east longitude 75°49 and 77° 3? 30?, with an estimated area of 6528 square Kilometers and is surrounded on all sides by lofty hill ranges. The territory is wholly mountainous with altitude ranging from 2,000 to 21,000 feet.
Tourists are attracted to it because of its exquisiteness and beauty. It is a pilgrimage spot and 56kms from Dalhousie. Its scenic beauty is marvelous and makes it ideal for a holiday. It has everything from mountains, slopes, nature, refreshing cool air and a love for artists. There are a number of lakes around. They are Khajjiar Lake, Manimahesh Lake, Chamera Lake, Lama Dal (Lake), Gadasru Lake and Maha Kali Dal (lake).
It is populated with pine trees and deodar trees and an enchanting view of Himalayas. It has mango trees and litchi trees in the lower hills. In the high hills peach trees, pear trees and apple trees. There are different places to see there. Sri Bagheswar Mahadev Temple, a famous temple of Lord Shiva. Its Lingam is said to have emerged from the earth naturally. It is best in its grandeur during festivals of lord Shiva like shivaratri.
Another main attraction is Laxmi Narayan Temple. It has six other temples in Shikhara architectural style, prominent in Hindu temple. It has beautiful carvings and elegant architecture. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Out of six three of them are of Lord Vishnu in his different forms and other three are of Lord Shiva. It’s a very old temple built in the tenth Century. The temple has lord Vishnu, Goddess Laxmi(goddess of wealth), Lord Narsimha (Nar-man, simha-lion) and Lord Shiva in its finest sculptures.
The other spot to see is the Bada Chowgan which is a grassy lawn which is used for local festivals and fairs. It is located at the centre of the town. The fairs are usually held in July-August. Surara temples are towards northeast of Laxmi narayan temple and near which is Brajreshwari Devi temple. This temple is also build in shikara architectural style and dedicated to Goddess Durga.
After about climbing for 30 minutes we come across Chamunda Devi Temple which is located on a hill and dedicated to Goddess Chamunda, another form of Goddess Durga. This temple is also rich in architecture and carvings on ceilings and in temple. It encloses footprints of the Goddess. The Sui Mata Temple, dedicated to a local princess, who sacrificed her life for people of Chamba , is another place to see. It is located between Brajreshwari and Chamunda temple. It has Colorful painting of Chamba.
Harirai Temple , which has three-headed statue of Lord Vishnu, is another must-see temple. It’s special as the statue is said to have been made form eight different material. This temple is an 11th century built and is of Shikara style of architecture.
As a part of history are the two places, Rangamahal and Bhuri Singh Museum.
Rangamahal, is an old palace and also a place to buy handicrafts.
Bhuri Singh Museum has a collection of artifacts, paintings and crafts. The items are mostly a depiction from that region and about their traditions. Kangra, Basholi, are few of them.
St. Andrew church is another place as this is a church which is said to be hundred years old. It was founded by a mission of church of Scotland. It is filled with fine stone work and arch windows. The Church was founded by Rev. William Ferqueen in Chamba from 1863 to 1873.The other places are rock gardens, Chamba valley, art museusm, Dayanand Math and Chowari Jot.
The people and their lifestyles are unique. The five Wazarats of erstwhile Chamba State namely Chamba, Bhattiyat, Churah, Pangi and Bharmour now form sub-divisions of Chamba district. The people are called Chambyals, Bhattiyals, Churahis, Pangwals and Bharmauris according to the area they live in. Religion wise population can be divided into Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians.
The two tribal areas of Chamba are Pangi and Bharmour. Two nomadic tribes i.e. Gujjars and Gaddis inhabit some parts of the district. While Gaddis inhabit Bharmour and upper parts of Bhattiyat, the Gujjars are mainly found in Chamba, Churah and Salooni.
The Gaddis are identifiable from a distance due to their typical dress comprising topa, chola and dora. They sport a hukah (smoking pipe) in their hand and khalru containing cereals and other essential articles on their back. The Gujjars can be recognised by their typical beard and dress. They wear on their heads a special type of turban(safa) made of muslin cloth mostly in white colour. As upper garment they wear a loose shirt (kameez) of blue or black cotton fabric.

Best time to visit / climate:
The best time to visit Chamba is March – June as temperature is suitable for travelling.

Location on Google Maps:

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Route between Shimla and Chamba:

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Route between Chandigarh and Chamba:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
By Road: Well connected from the nearby Dalhousie. Daily bus service is available for Dalhousie and jeeps on hire are also available but it is relatively expensive.

By Air: Not a bad option, with the closest airport being at at Gaggal in Kangra valley, 180 km from Chamba. Indian Airlines operates its flights on the Delhi-Dharamsala sector.

By Rail: Pathankot is the nearest railhead, with Chamba being 122 km from Pathankot. Pathankot, is the nearest broad gauge rail head, which is linked by direct trains to Amritsar, Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta.

The Distances from other major areas are as below:
Distance of Pathankot to Chamba is 118 KM via Banikhet
Distance of Shimla to Chamba is 378 KM
Distance of Dharamsala to Chamba is 169 KM via Lahru
Distance of Dalhousie to Chamba is 41 KM

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
1. www.hotelium.com/Chamba
2. http://www.tourism-of-india.com/hotels-in-himachal-pradesh/chamba-hotels / : Gives best hotels and restaraunts in Chamba
3. www.tripadvisor.in/Hotels-g1156021-Chamba_Himachal_Pradesh-Hotels.html
4. http://www.travelmasti.com/chamba.htm

Blogs / Sites about Chamba in Himachal Pradesh (with small excerpts from these blogs):
• History and Culture: Chamba was part of Gorkha kingdom but later ruled by Gharwals.
The area is said to be a place fo Kolian tribes which were subjugated by Khasas.They were later under other peoplelike Gupta, Thakurs and Ranas but by the seventh Century , the Rajput Dynasty came to power and ruled them. Their principal diety was Lord Shiva.

http://hpchamba.nic.in/history.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamba,_Himachal_Pradesh

• Chamba is Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamba,_Himachal_Pradesh
• http://hpchamba.nic.in

Photo / Image Gallery:
• http://hpchamba.nic.in/photo.htm
• http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:mYqTubKOUrcJ:travel.sulekha.com/chamba-pictures.htm+Photo+/+Image+Gallery:+of+Chamba&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=in&client=firefox-a
• http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/India/North/Himachal_Pradesh/Chamba/
• http://www.indianholiday.com/hotels-in-india/hotels-in-himachal-pradesh/chamba-hotels/

The Niagara Falls (US) – An Amazing Spectacle of Mammoth Proportions

Traveller — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:27:53 +0000

Located right on the international border of North America and Canada lies a very delightful and amazing spectacle of nature known as the Niagara Falls. The Niagara Falls are gigantic waterfalls on the Niagara River, situated between the two cities of New York on the American side and Ontario on the Canadian side. The falls are divided into three parts by Goat Island: The huge Canadian falls, with their distinct curvy shape, also known as the Horseshoe Falls, lying on the Canadian side and the American Falls, lying on the American side. Majority of the falls lies on the Canadian side. The third part is the smaller Bridal Veil Falls, on the American side, separated by Luna Islands from the two main falls. The Falls were formed when at the end of the last ice age, glaciers receded, leading to the formation of the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment on their way to the Atlantic Ocean, giving birth to the Niagara Falls.
The Niagara Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America. For most people, it is an experience of a lifetime, to see three quarters of a million gallons of water explode every second over the edge of the American Falls. The height of the American Falls varies from 70 to 100 feet and width is 1060 feet .Revered for its beauty, as it is, the Falls have also been utilised for commercial and industrial purposes, the main being hydroelectric power.
The Niagara Falls became a popular tourist attraction in the 18th century, and is now the main attraction of Niagara Falls (the city in New York), which is named after the falls itself. It has been a hotspot for honeymooners for a long time now. Jerome Bonaparte (Napoleon Bonaparte’s younger brother) honeymooned here with his bride in the early 19th century. The waterfalls have also been a favourite with movie makers. The visits to the Niagara Falls rose considerably in 1953 after the release of the movie, “Niagara” starring Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotten.
The views of the Niagara Falls are such that leave everyone spell bound. You have volumes of water gushing down, and the ways that are available to get you closer to the action like boats, helicopters etc. makes everything much more exciting. At night, the falls are illuminated with floodlights, giving the falls a divine look. During winters, the whole scene changes as everything freezes to ice, forming mammoth razor sharp icicles.

Best time to visit / climate:
Best time to visit would be during summer, which is from mid May to September. That’s when the water flow is at its peak, the sky is blue and clear and all the attractions are open. People also come to visit Niagara Falls during winter and fall (October to February) when everything is covered in ice, but the falls look very romantic and picturesque. Most of the attractions are closed during this period.
The climate is mostly bright and sunny during summer with temperatures ranging from highs of 90 degrees F (32 degrees C) to lows of 50 degrees F (9 degrees C). July is the hottest month. The only drawback of summer is that it can get very hot and humid. Winters are cold with temperatures ranging from highs of 60 degrees F (16 degrees C) to lows of -10 degrees F (-23 degrees C). February is the coldest month.

LOCATION ON GOOGLE MAPS:

View Larger Map

How to get there :
If you like to drive, it’s a 6.5 hour drive from New York City. Air travel takes 45 minutes, but going from terminal to terminal, checking in and out, and finally driving to the falls takes 3 to 4 hours. You can also take a train or a bus. Check with your local travel and tours provider to explore your options.

View Larger Map

Places to stay (Restaurant’s, Hotels (with website / contact numbers):
There are many options for tourists in staying and eating at Niagara Falls. There are camp grounds available for backpacker’s and many two or three star hotels for people looking for budget accommodation. Some of the area’s top rated hotels are mentioned below:
1. The Giacomo, 222 First Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Phone : 716-299-0200

2. Seneca Niagara Hotel, 310 Fourth Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14303

3. Days Inn Niagara Falls Buffalo, 2821 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Niagara Falls, NY 14304

4. Comfort Inn The Pointe, 1 Prospect Pointe, Niagara Falls, NY 14303

Most popular Bed and Breakfast places:
1. Hillcrest Inn, Hillcrest St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Contact number: +1 716-278-9676

2. Butler House Bed and Breakfast, 751 Park Place, Niagara Falls, NY 14301
+1 866-706-8199

Top rated restaurants:

1. Caffe Lola, 507 Third Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14301
2. Wine on Third, 501 Third Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Price range: $15 to $20
3. La Galera, 6621 Niagara Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY 14304

Source: http://www.tripadvisor.com

Apart from the names mentioned above there are a number of other eating joints like McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bells etc. for the junk food lovers and a number of other restaurant’s offering ethnic cuisines like Indian, Chinese, Italian etc.

Blogs / Sites about Niagara Falls (and small excerpts):

1. Formation of the Niagara Falls: (http://www.niagara-usa.com/)
Although the Falls at Niagara are about 12,000 years old, the story of their formation can be traced back hundreds of millions of years into the past. Five hundred million years ago the Earth was very different from the way it is today. Its climate was mostly tropical, and the land masses that would one day become North America and Eurasia were still in the process of separating from one another.
Most of the western and central portions of what was to become North America (including the Niagara region) lay underneath shallow tropical seas and brackish ponds. The eastern part of this future continent was dominated by the Taconic Mountains, a range that was taller than the still unformed Rockies would ever be.
The Taconic’s no longer exist in our world. Five hundred million years of erosion have reduced them to the Appalachian, Allegheny, and Catskill Mountains that we know today. The silt and minerals that were worn away from the Taconic’s, however, provided the materials that formed the Niagara region and (much later) the Niagara Falls.
Read more: http://www.niagara-usa.com/about_formation_of_the_falls.html

2. Sight-Seeing, attractions, what-to-do:
• “Niagara Falls will impress the nature lovers in the family and convert the ones who aren’t. Choose an adventure. You’re bound to get wet. Why Go? An up close and personal look at Niagara Falls. Who cares about getting wet even with the poncho on? Why…”
Read more: http://attractions.uptake.com/new_york/niagara_falls/961790070.html#ixzz0tg5Oz9S1

• “Niagara Falls State Park draws millions of visitors each year who want an opportunity to view the spectacular falls from one of the many outlooks. But there are many more Niagara Falls attractions to experience while you’re here. Get up close and personal with the Niagara Falls by taking a short walk to the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls to feel the mist during the Cave of the Winds tour. Or take a Niagara Falls tour of a different sort with the Maid of the Mist® boat ride, which takes you right down to the base of the falls.”
Read more: http://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/Activities.aspx

• “Niagara Falls has many attractions from museums to the Maid of the Mist, to free concerts and events. Whether you want to absorb the beauty of the rushing waters of the falls or simply enjoy the historical sites, you will find and assortment of attractions and things to do in Niagara Falls. Visiting Niagara USA is an exciting adventure that can take you across many of Niagara’s regions. Niagara Falls attractions and museums like the Castellani Art Museum, the Native American Museum of Art, or the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum are sure to leave you with the culture of Niagara”.
Read more: http://www.niagara-usa.com/attractions.html

3. Map of Niagara Falls, NY.
(http://www.niagarafallslive.com/map_of_the_niagara_falls_region.htm)

4. A description along with many photo’s of the Niagara Fall’s.
• http://www.niagarafallslive.com/Facts_about_Niagara_Falls.htm
• http://mappery.com/Niagara-Falls-Map

5. Photo / Image Gallery:
• http://www.planetware.com/pictures-/niagara-falls-us-ny-nf.htm
• http://jboyd.net/Niagara.html

Video’s:

1. Video of Niagara Falls in action on youtube

2. Niagara Falls on the US side

Panna National Park – A wonderful wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, India

Traveller — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:04:19 +0000

Location: Chattarpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Area covered: 543 sq. km.
Main Wildlife Found: Tiger, Wolf, Chital, Sloth Bear, Chinkara, Sambar.
Best time to visit: January to May.
Location: Situated in the central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh at a distance of around 57 kms from Khajuraho

Panna National Park was created in 1981. This sanctuary was formed with areas from Gangau National Park created in 1975 and it is famous for the big wild cat or the famous Tiger. As a matter of fact, this reserve was declared a Project Tiger Reserve in 1994,the 22nd in the country and 5th in the State. With a close proximity to Khajuraho the forest has developed itself as an important place to visit for those who want to get a glimpse of the elusive tiger and enjoy nature.

Location of Panna National Park on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Panna National Park is situated in at a distance of around 57 km from Khajuraho in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Besides being famous for its diamonds, Panna is also well known for some of the best wildlife species in India. Panna Wildlife National Park is one of the best Tiger Reserves in the country. The park is known worldwide for its wild cats, including tigers as well as deer and antelope.
The main attractions of the place are the Pandav falls with its lake fed by a waterfall, and the Rajgarh Palace, which is a magnificent piece of architecture overlooking the valley. Being close to Khajuraho the place forms a world heritage site famous for the exquisite sculptures adorning the temples there. The erotic images on the walls of the temples are well known and attract tourists from all over the world. Major attractions are the Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Lakshman Temple, Devi Jagdamba Temple, temple of Vishwanath and Nandi, Chaunsath Yogini Temple, Parsvanatha Temple, Shanti Nath Temple, Ghantai Temple, and temples of Brahma and Hanuman.

How to Reach Panna National Park
Air : The nearest airport is at Khajuraho at a distance of around 57 km from the Panna National Park.
Rail : Satna, at a distance of around 90 km, is the nearest railway station.
Road : The park is well connected with the other parts of the region by a good network of roads. Distances of some important places in India from the Panna Tiger Reserve are Khajuraho 57 km, Bhopal 727 km, Delhi 889 km, Chennai 1,761 km, and Kolkatta 1,040 km.

Flora in Panna National Park

Dry and hot climate, in union with shallow Vindhyan soils has given rise to dry Teak and dry mixed forest. Thorny woodlands and riverines also remain scattered amidst the blossoming vegetation. Teak, tendu, mahua and dhaora are common trees.

Fauna in Panna National Park

Tiger, the king of the jungle, roams freely in this secure, though a bit small habitat along with leopard, wild dog, wolf , hyaena, caracal and other smaller cats. Sloth bear has its most favourite home in the rock escarpments and undisturbed vales.
The avifauna comprises more than 200 species including white necked stork, bareheaded goose, honey Buuzzard, King vulture, Blossom headed Parakeet, Paradise flycatcher etc. Variety of snakes, including the python and other reptiles are found here.

Safaris

Rent your own jeep for a safari into the park. An hour long boat ride offered by the park authorities is a good option to catch a glimpse of water predators and other animals around the lake. Elephant safari is one of your best bets to spot a striped beast up close.

Places to stay in Panna National Park

Tree houses and tourist lodges are available in the vicinity of the Panna National Park to accommodate the visitors.
- Pashan Garh Panna National Park, Amanganj Road, Panna, Madhya Pradesh – 488001, India
Email:pashangarh.panna@tajsafaris.com
- Ken River Lodge, Ken River Lodge is 2 km from the Panna National Park. Swiss cottage tents with attached toilets and showers give you all the modern amenities along with the thrill of staying in a tent.
- Jass Trident Hotel/Khajuraho, A five-star hotel, Jass Oberoi is located 2 kms from the airport.
- Hotel Jhankar
- Hotel Payal
- Hotel Rahil

Bandipur National Park – Located in the Southern India state of Karnataka

Traveller — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:27:46 +0000

Location : Karnataka
Nearest Access : Mysore & Ooty (80-kms)
Main Wildlife Found : Asian Elephants, Gaurs, Tigers, Dholes.
Coverage Area : 874.20-sq-kms
Altitude : Between 680-1454 metres.
Area : 87,420 hectares.
Established : Bandipur, 1931 as a sanctuary, 1941 as national park, 1973 as tiger reserve.
Best Time to Visit : April to October

How to Get there

- Air : The nearest airport is at Bangalore which is 220 km from Bandipur.
- Rail : The nearest railhead is Nanjangud, 55 kms away followed by the Mysore station at a distance of 80 kms. One can easily hire a taxi or catch a bus or train from Mysore or Ooty.
- Road : The Bandipur National Park is 220 kms from Bangalore; 80 kms from Mysore and 80 kms from Ooty. The Gundulpet town is 20 kms away from Bandipur and is the nearest road head in Bandipur. The national park is well connected through road with every big or small town.

Location of Bandipur National Park on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Route between Bangalore and Bandipur National Park on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Bandipur National Park is a beautiful forest reserve located in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Bandipur National Park is one of India’s best known sanctuaries located in the Chamarajanagar district of southern Karnataka at the confluence of the Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills. The reserve is part of the famous Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve along with Nagarhole National Park to the northwest, and the Mudumalai National Park of Tamil Nadu and the Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala.
It is situated south of the Kabini river at the foothills of the Western Ghats.The rivers of Kabini, Nagur and Moyar flow through the reserve. The region is well endowed in terms of vegetation and flora that ranges from deciduous and evergreen forest covers to open grassy woodlands. The river also acts as a boundary between the Park and the Madumulai Sanctuary. Bandipur is one of the finest and most accessible habitats of the Asiatic elephant.
Bandipur National Park of Karnataka enjoys a pleasant climate and has diverse geographical features. These features have helped it support a wide variety of flora and fauna. Bandipur has a sizeable population of wildlife – elephant, spotted deer and sambar, gaur and flying squirrel, four horned antelope, Nilgiri langur and sloth bear. Amongst the reserve’s most prominent animals are its 1,900-odd elephants.

Things to see in Bandipur National Park

- Elephant Safari : Tourists can also avail open vans with guides. Though jeep safaris are convenient and time effective, but the joy of riding in the jungle like a king can only be enjoyed on the back of an elephant. The elephant safari in Bandipur National park is much sought after.
- Flora : The scrubby jungles towards the eastern limits of the Bandipur National Park consist of stunted trees, intermixed with bushes and open grassy belts. There is a bit-by-bit shift in the vegetation, from open dry deciduous jungles to tropical mixed deciduous jungles. The Kabini, Nagu, Mule-hole and Moyar rivers criss-cross the entire park providing irrigation for the thick vegetation that include trees like Teak, Honne, Tadasalu, Mathi, Nandi, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Bamboo, Nelli, Kooli, Kadu Tega, Dindalu, Bende and Randia.
- Fauna : Some prominent denizens of the park include Leopards, Elephants, Gaurs, Sambar, Chital, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Black Napped Hare, Sloth Beer, Wild dog, Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Indian Giant Red Squirrel, 4 Horned Antelope, Porcupines, Slender Loris, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Rusty Spotted Cat, Small Indian Civet, Palm Civet, Common Otter, Wild Boar, Jackal, Mongoose, Flying Squirrels, Pangolin, Giant Fruit Bats and Striped Hyenas. Commonly sighted reptiles include Marsh Crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, Rock Pythons, Russel’s Vipers, Cobras, Rat Snakes, Wolf Snakes, Vine Snakes, Common Kraits, Green Keelbacks, Bamboo Pit Vipers, Turtles and Flying Lizards.
- Avian Population : Peafowl and the game birds like the grey jungle fowl, red spur fowl etc. are the most common avians found in the national park. Among the woodland birds are the hawk eagle, serpent eagle, the collared scops owl, the yellow-legged green pigeon, parakeets, woodpeckers and barbets, hornbills, drongos, scarlet minivets, and diverse warblers.

Places to stay in bandipur National Park

- Jungle Lodges Bandipur Safari Lodge , Melukamanahalli (Mysore – Ooty Road), Gundlupet Taluk, Chamarajanagar Dist., Karnataka – 571111, India.
- MC Resort, Melkamanahalli, Near Bandipur NP, Karnataka – 571126, India.
- Cicada, Survey-19/2,20/21, Kanniyanpura Village, Mangala Post, Gundlupet Taluk, Karnataka, India.
- Tusker Trails, Mangala Village, Gundlupet Taluk, Karnataka – 571111, India.
- Bush Betta Wildlife Resort, Mangala Village, Gundlupet Taluk, Karnataka, India.

Bali in Indonesia- “The Island of the gods” or “The Island of the thousand temples”

Traveller — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:23:29 +0000

If you are looking for a most enchanting travel, then “Bali” is the right place for you. With the physical beauty and variety of wonderful attractions, it is the Ultimate Island for a totally relaxing and enlightening stay. The island of Bali is stretched over an area of 5,632 square kilometers with its beautiful landscape.
Its tropical forests, rivers, lakes, beaches and fertile vegetable and fruit gardens makes it’s attractive and welcoming. It’s a botanical forest with huge banyan, tamarind, acacia, flame, bamboo, and coconut and mangrove trees and with wide variety of flowers like hibiscus, bougainvillea, jasmine, and water lilies, magnolia, frangipani, and a variety of orchids. Bali spreads the fragrance and aroma of this flora around leaving you in enchantment.
Bali, also famous for its temples which are filled with music and its highlight – Gunung Agung, a holy mountain, is special in being one of the 8 chakra points of the world. It looks splendid in mornings with its head amidst the clouds. It has 20,000 temples and palaces and hence also known as “Island of gods”.
The Main locations to see are White-Sandy beaches, rice terraces, Besakih Temple, Lake Batur, Ubud, Legian, Kuta, Nusa Dua, and the temples of Tanah Lot and Ulu Watu. Bali is magical in being a great combination of exotic, spiritual, environmental and enchanting travel.

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:

View Larger Map

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

Nagarhole National Park, a beautiful wildlife sanctuary near Coorg, in Karnataka, South India

Traveller — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:12:37 +0000

State: Karnataka
Location: Koodogu (Coorg) and Mysore districts of Karnataka
Area: 572.90 sq.km.
Altitude: 800-850 metres.
Best time to visit: September to May
Languages: Kannada, Hindi, English
Prime Attractions : Elephant, Bengal Tiger, leopard, Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Langur.
Important Distances : Bangalore – 220 kms, Mysore – 90 kms, Madikeri 93 kms.
Established : Nagarhole, 1955 as sanctuary, 1975 as national park.

How to reach there

You can take a flight from metro cities of India to Mysore or Bangalore, which are two nearest airports from Nagarhole. You can also reach Mysore and Bangalore by a train.
More details:
- From Bangalore : Bangalore-Ramnagara-Mandya-Srirangapatna-Take a right to Hunsur after Srirangapatna-Hunsur Town-Take the first left after Bus Stand. The sign board will guide you from there to your friendly resort. (19 Kms from Hunsur Town).
- From Mysore : Mysore – Mysore Hunsur Road – Hunsur Town – Take the first left after Bus Stand. Our sign board will guide you from there to your friendly resort. (19 Kms from Hunsur Town).
- From Ooty/Coonor : Coonor-Ooty-Bandipur-Gundelpet-Nanjangud-Mysore-Follow the route from Mysore.
- From Cochin : Cochin-Trichur-Calicut-Wayanad-Mananthavadi-Kutta-Nagarhole-Take the Nagarholoe-Murkkal-Hunsur Road and cross the forest to reach the resort. (The park is closed for traffic from 1800 Hrs to 0600 Hrs). Alternatively from Wayanad Go to Sultan Battery-Muthanga-Gundelpet-Nanjangud-Mysore-Follow the route from Mysore.
- From Coorg (Madikere) : Madekere-Madikere-Hunsur road- Hunsur town- Take the first right before Bus Stand. Our sign board will guide you from there to your friendly resort. (19 Kms from Hunsur Town).

Location of Nagarhole National Park on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

It is a tiny hamlet located in the middle of a large conjoining forest range in southwest India known as Nilgiri Biosphere. There are many designated wildlife parks within the Nilgiri Biosphere. Nagarhole National Park is one of them. The Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka shares its boundaries with the famous Bandipur National Park in Karanataka, which together form a part of the Mudumalai Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and the Wayanad Reserve in Kerala.
Nagarhole National park derives its name from the combination of two Kannada words-’Nagar,’ meaning snake, and ‘hole,’ meaning streams. The original forest was once an exclusive hunting ground for the erstwhile Maharajas of Mysore.The park has been recently renamed as Rajiv Gandhi National Park after the late Prime Minister of India.
The largest river draining the area in the south is the Kabini, which was dammed in 1974. Other important rivers include Lakshmana, Teentha and Nagarhole. There are several perennial and seasonal streams and tanks, all of which drain into the four major rivers.

Nagarhole National Park is counted among India’s best wildlife parks. It has a large elephant and bison population. It also hosts a variety of animal species along with approximately 250 species of birds. Nagarhole is best visited at the height of the dry season, when its muddy river banks and grassy swamps, or hadlus, offer better chances of sighting its flora & fauna.

Safaris in the Nagarhole National Park

Jeeps can be rented to take a drive through the park. To have a more intricate view of the park, you can opt to go for an elephant ride. Tou can go for trekking also but it is restricted to a small area.

Flora in the Nagarhole National Park

It is home to a large number of open grassy swamps. Plantations of teak, Rosewood, Bamboo, Sandal, Silver Oak Trees and Species of Eucalyptus are the main flora found in Nagarhole national park. The moist and deciduous forest of the park constitutes several tree species including teak, eucalyptus, rose wood, sandal and oak trees that provides food and shelter to a large number of birds and animals.

Fauna in the Nagarhole National Park

The forest is home to animals like the four-horned antelope, sloth bear, jungle cat, civet, spotted deer, elephant, wild dog, flying fox, tiger, panther, gaur (Indian bison), sambhar, wild boar, black-naped hare, bonnet macaque, and pangolin.
Nagarhole is one of the finest habitats for the Royal Bengal Tiger and some experts also believe that it is the best place in India to see the leopard. Leopard sightings are reported on a fairly regular basis.
The herbivores include spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, four-horned antelope, gaur, wild boar and elephant.

Birds in the Nagarhole National Park

There are more than 250 species of birds in the Nagarhole National Park. Bird population ranges from blue-bearded bee-eater, scarlet minivet and Malabar whistling thrush to the more common ospreys, herons and ducks.

Reptiles in the Nagarhole National Park

Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary of India houses a number of reptiles, including Rock Python, Marsh Crocodile, Monitor Lizard, etc. Aquatic and terrestrial tortoise, frogs, toads, tree frogs and countless insects are also found here.

Places to stay in Nagarhole National Park

State-owned forest resthouses, private lodges and cottages are among the accommodation options in Nagarhole.
- Kings Sanctuary: A Luxury Wildlife Resort on the periphery of the Nagarhole National Park near Mysore, Kings Sanctuary is spread over 33 acres of land with its own private lake in the middle. It offers luxury cottage accommodation with all modern amenities.
- Bheemeshwari Fishing and Nature Camps: The camp overlooks the Cauvery River and consists of just eight luxurious ethnic log-huts on stilts, which blend beautifully with the jungle behind.
- Kabini River Lodge: Built in colonial style architecture; Kabini River Lodge offers a host of facilities, which include a well-equipped bar, a large, charming room for seminars, meetings with multimedia projector and other conferencing facilities. The lodge also has a dining area called the Ghol Ghar, which overlooks River Kabini.
- Cicada Kabini: Cicada is located in a village called Karapura, 220 km away from Bangalore, near the Rajiv Gandhi National Park and is adjacent to the Kabini River Lodge property.
- Water Woods: A wildlife resort easily accessible from Bangalore, Water Woods is owned and run by a family who love wildlife.
- Orange County, Kabini: Orange County is situated in the heart land of the Kadukuruba tribe of Nagarhole forest and surrounded on three sides by the Kabini river, Orange County, Kabini is built in authentic Kuruba village style.
- The Jungle Inn: The Jungle Inn is situated at Veeranahosahalli which is right at the main entrance to Nagarhole National Park. Jungle Inn is 200 km from Bangalore, 68 km from Mysore and 20 km from Hunsur which is the nearest town.