Different places to travel » Religion

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

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

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

Some Important Things to Remember when you Trek

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

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

Attractions of Pahalgam

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

Attractions in Srinagar

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

Things to do in Srinagar

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

Best time to visit / climate

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

Location on Google Maps

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Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

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

How to get to Chandanwadi?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some travel books from Amazon about Sonamarg

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

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

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

Blogs / Sites about Chandanwadi

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

Images and photos of Chandanwadi

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

Videos of Chandanwadi

Bijbehara – a town in Anantnag district in Jammu & Kashmir

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Attractions of Pahalgam

Attractions in Srinagar

Things to do in Srinagar

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

Best time to visit / climate

The best time to visit is between April and September.

Location on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

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

How to get there?

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

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

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

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

Blogs / Sites about Bijbehara

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

Images and photos of Bijbehara

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

Videos of Bijbehara

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

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

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

Attractions in and around Sonamarg

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

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

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

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

Attractions in Srinagar

Things to do in Srinagar

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

Best time to visit / climate

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

Location on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

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

How to get to Sonamarg?

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

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

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

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

Some travel books from Amazon about Sonamarg

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

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

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

Blogs / Sites about Sonamarg

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

Images and photos of Sonamarg

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

Videos of Sonamarg

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

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

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

Overview

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

Attractions in and around Mattan

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

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

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

Attractions of Pahalgam

Attractions in Srinagar

Things to do in Srinagar

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

Best time to visit / climate

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

Location on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

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

How to get there?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blogs/Sites about Mattan

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

Images and photos of Mattan

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

Videos

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

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

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

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

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

Travelling Expenditure

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

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

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

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

Nearest Attractions to Amarnath Yatra

• Pahalgam
• Chandanwadi
• Sheshnag
• Panchtarni

Attractions of Pahalgam

Attractions in Srinagar

Things to do in Srinagar

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

Best time to visit / climate

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

Location on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

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

How to get there?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blogs / Sites about Amarnath yatra

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

Images and photos of Amarnath yatra

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

Videos of Amarnath Yatra

Pahalgam – a beautiful hill station in Kashmir.

Traveller — Sun, 06 May 2012 09:35:14 +0000

Pahalgam is a town and a notified area committee in Anantnag district which is situated in India’s northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir. This world famous hill station is 45 km from the District Head Quarter at Anantnag.
Pahalgam is situated on the banks of river Lidder. Pahalagam is at an altitude of 7200 ft. from sea level. Pahalgam is one among the five tehsils of Anantnag district. Tehsil headquarters are situated in the main town of Pahalgam.
It is a health resort. A number of treks in this region also begin from Pahalgam. The 35 km trail traverses through pinewoods to the spectacular Kolahoi Glacier.
Pahalgam is also associated with the Amarnath Yatra which takes place every year. Chandanwari (2,895 m), 16 km from Pahalgam, is the starting point of the yatra. This yatra takes place every year in the month of Sawan (July to August). The road from Pahalgam to Chandanwari is on fairly flat terrain. This path can be undertaken by car. From Chandanwari onwards the track is accessible on foot or by pony.
About 11 km from Chandanwari is the mountain lake of Sheshnag (3,574 m). About 13 km away is the last stop, Panchtarni. The Amarnath cave is 6 km away from Panchtarni. During the month of Sawan, an ice stalagmite forms a natural Shivling inside the Amarnath cave.

Flora and Fauna in Pahalgam

- Plant Species
• Cedrus deodara
• Pinus griffithii
• Abies pindrow
• Aesculus indica

- Major Shrubs
• Indigofera heterantha
• Viburnum spp
• Sorbaria tomentosa
• Rumex patientia
• Primula spp
• Anemone spp

- Animal Species
• Hangul
• Musk deer
• Serow
• Brown bear
• Leopard
• Rhesus macaque
• Grey langur
• Himalayan mouse hare
• Wild bears

- Common Birds
• Griffon vulture
• Monal
• Snow cock
• Koklas
• Blue rock pigeon
• Kashmir roller
• European hoopoe
• Jungle crow

Must go Places near and around Pahalgam

1. Kolohoi Glacier
• Kolohoi glacier is located up the Lidder Valley, just below Mount Kolohoi.
• This is currently a hanging glacier.
• It is accessible from Pahalgam via Aru.
• This was originally one of the longest glaciers of the Kashmir valley.
• This glacier extended for at least 35 km in the past.
• It is basically hollowed out from global warming.
• The Asian brown cloud and local environmental factors are associated with mountain hydrology.
• The glacier has receded by half since 1985.
• This glacier is not safe to study as it is hollow.
• In some places this glacier has 200-foot-deep (61 m) crevasses.

Activities
• Relax in nature’s lap
• Indulge in trekking/hiking
• Rafting
• Horse-riding
• Golfing
• Skiing
• Nature-photography
• Horseback riding for the kids
• Barefoot walks
• Green mountain meadows viewing
• Alpine streams perfect for swimming
• Water fights
• Golf
• Amusement Park
• River Rafting

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

3. Water Gateways in Pahalgam
• Sheshnag Lake
• Tulian Lake
• Baisaran Meadow
• Betaab Valley
• Kolahoi Glacier
• Lidder River Rafting
• Lidderwat Valley Trekking Trail
• Pahalgam Golf Course

Best time to visit / climate

- The best time to visit is between April and September.
- Pahalgam has a cool and pleasant climate in summers and very cold climate in winters.
- Summers are warm and pleasant.
- Winters are very chilly with heavy snow fall.

Location on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

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

How to get there?

• Pahalgam is accessible from road.
• There is no railraod either.
• If you are driving from Jammu, go to Pahalgam some 45 kms before Srinagar (at Khanabal).
• Fly into Srinagar.
• Drive first to Srinagar and then drive to Pahalgam – which is 96 kms away.
• This drive can take 2-3 hours.

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

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

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

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

Some travel books from Amazon about Pahalgam

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

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

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

Blogs / Sites about Pahalgam

• Blogs and reviews at pahalgam.org
• Blogs and reviews at pahalgam.com
• Blogs and reviews at mustseeindia.com

Images and photos of Pahalgam

• Images at google.com
• Images at tripadvisor.com
• Images at pahalgam.com

Videos of Pahalgam

Srinagar – summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir famous for gardens, lakes and houseboats.

Traveller — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:16:16 +0000

Srinagar is the summer capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The largest city is Srinagar in the Kashmir region. It is situated in the Kashmir Valley. It lies on the banks of the Jhelum River which is a tributary of the Indus.
Srinagar is composed of two Sanskrit words, Sri (venerable) and nagar, which means “city”. The city is located on both the sides of the Jhelum River which is known Vyath in Kashmir. The river passes through the city and meanders through the valley. It deepens in the Wular Lake.
This city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats. This city is also known for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dry fruits. The city is famous for its nine old bridges which connects the two parts of the city.

About Hokersar – a wetland situated near Srinagar

- Hokersar is a wetland that is situated near Srinagar—the capital of Indian Kashmir.
- Thousands of migratory birds come to Hokersar from Siberia and other regions during the winter season.
- They migrate between September and October and again around spring.
- Hokersar is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) north of Srinagar.
- This world class wetland is spread over 13.75 square kilometres (5.31 sq mi).
- This wetland includes lake and marshy area.
- It is the most accessible and well-known of Kashmir’s wetlands.
- This includes Hygam, Shalibug and Mirgund.

Tourist Attractions in and around Srinagar

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

Must go places in Srinagar

1. Dal Lake
• This lake is 8 km long and 4 km wide.
• The Dal Lake in Srinagar is one of the most important and beautiful tourist destinations.
• There are four other water bodies that surround the Dal Lake.
• They are Lokut Dal, Bod Dal, Gagribal and Nagin.
• The beauty of its landscape is that it has snow covered peaks. This makes the lake look more beautiful.
• The lake has a number of attractive houseboats which have converted into hotels.

2. Wular Lake
• Wular Lake is one of the largest of its kind in Asia.
• Boating on this lake is an added fun.
• Fishing in this lake is an important occupation.
• The fish species found here are:
- Common carp
- Rosy barb
- Mosquito fish
- Chirruh snowtrout
- Chush snowtrout

3. Hazratbal Shrine
• The relics of prophet Mohammad are kept at Hazratbal Shrine.
• This is a sacred pilgrimage center for the Muslims.
• It is located by the bank of Dal Lake.
• The name, Hazratbal has been derived from an Arabic word Hazrat, meaning holy.

4. Shankaracharya Temple
• This temple is located on Gopadari Hills.
• On the hill top called Takht-e-Suleiman, this temple is stationed which is over an altitude of 1100ft.
• It is in the southeastern part of Srinagar.
• This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• It is known to be one of the oldest shrines of Kashmir Valley.
• You will have to trek to reach the temple.
• This temple was built by King Sandhiman, who belonged to the Gonanda dynasty.

5. Khanqah-e-Molla
• It is believed that this shrine holds the secret of Allah.
• This shrine is also famous by the name of Shah-e-Hamdan.
• The shrine is situated by the bank of Jhelum.
• One can see creative wooden architecture here.
• This shrine was built in 1395.
• Till today it is one of the most important tourist attractions in Srinagar.

6. Jama Masjid
• This was built by Sultan Sikandar in 1400 AD.
• Jama Masjid is located at Nowhatta.
• This mosque has been ruined by fire three times. Reconstruction has been done as well.
• There are 370 wooden pillars and the courtyard makes it a beautiful place to visit.

7. Chashme-e-Shahi
• It is one of the famous mughal gardens, discovered by female saint Rupa Bhawani.
• The spring Chashme Shai is dedicated to Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
• The spring waters in this garden are believed to have therapeutic powers.

8. Shalimar Bagh
• It is one of the famous mughal gardens, created by Jahangir in 1619.
• It is also called as the Garden of Love.

9. Nishat Garden
• It is the second largest Mughal gardens, built in a terrace fashion.
• It is also called as ‘Garden of Happiness or Gladness or Bliss’.
• It has twelve terraces, one for each sign of the zodiac.

Best time to visit/climate of Srinagar

Srinagar has a humid subtropical climate. It is best to visit the place from April to October.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map
Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?q=srinagar&hl=en&hnear=Srinagar&t=m&z=11

How to get to Srinagar

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

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

Some travel books from Amazon about Srinagar

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

Places to Stay in Srinagar (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers)

• Hotels at mustseeindia.com
• Hotels at tripadvisor.in
• Hotels at srinagar.nic.in

Blogs/Sites about Srinagar

• blogs and reviews at mustseeindia.com
• blogs and reviews at srinagar.nic.in
• blogs and reviews at mustseeindia.com

Images and Photos of Srinagar

• images at trekearth.com
• images at srinagar.nic.in
• images at holidayiq.com

Videos of Srinagar

Journey from Kashmir to Ladakh ( Srinagar to Leh )

Boating at Dal Lake, Srinagar

SRINAGAR tourist attractions

My Kashmir

Paradise on Earth : Jammu and Kashmir Calling

Fountain & Chinar Tree at Dal Lake, Srinagar, Kashmir

Srinagar to Sonamarg, tourist spots, travel, Jammu and Kashmir

Tulips garden Kashmir Srinagar_2008

Srinagar valley and Dal lake from Shankaracharya

Srinagar, Kashmir, A Quick Visit, by Stephen Knapp

On Shankracharya hill, Srinagar

Ephesus in Turkey: Glory in the ruins

Traveller — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 18:08:28 +0000

Ephesus is an ancient city located near the town of Selcuk, about 44 miles away from Izmir, in the Izmir province. The city was once famous for the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Lying in ruins, the city is now an archaeological site. Originally founded as a port on the river Cayster, Ephesus has had a long and interesting history. The city is said to have been founded by Androclos, the son of Kodros, the King of Athens. According to legend, in 10th century BC, Androclos, who had to leave Greece because of the Dor invasion, was looking for a site to establish a new settlement for himself and his accompanying people. It was predicted by a Greek oracle that a boar and fish would guide them to the site of their new settlement. One day Anroclos was frying fish in an open pan, when the fish flew from the pan, and landed in the nearby bushes, where a wild boar was hiding. Scared, the boar came out of bushes and started running. Androclos killed the boar, after pursuing it for some time. The place where he killed the boar was where the city of Ephesus was established. Androclos later on died in a war with the Carians. There was a mausoleum built in the memory of the first king of Ephesus.
Ephesus was ruled by the Lydian’s in the mid 6th century BC, under the Lydian king, Kreisos. This was the golden age of Ephesus. Kreisos even restored the Temple of Artemis, which had been razed by the Cimmerians. His signature is can still found on an excavated column of the temple. The Lydian’s were later defeated by the Persians. Alexander the Great defeated the Persians in the year 334 BC and took over Ephesus. During his reign, the Temple of Artemis was destroyed during a rebellion. Ephesus prospered greatly under Alexanders rule.
After the death of Alexander the Great, Ephesus was ruled was by his general, Lysimakhos, in 287 BC. He moved Ephesus further west, because of the destruction of the port on the river Cayster, due to silting. Lysimakhos changed the name of Ephesus to “Arsinoeina”, after his wife’s name, and built huge stone walls around the city. After his death, the people of Arsinoeina broke down the walls, and Arsinoeina became Ephesus again.
Then the Romans arrived in 190 BC. Ephesus was at the peak of its power and wealth during the reign of Augustus in 27 BC. It grew into a metropolis with a population of around 500,000 people, becoming the most important centre of commerce and culture in Asia. Ephesus was the most powerful and advanced city in Asia during this time, second only to Rome for the Romans. The city remained famous for the Temple of Artemis and the Library of Celsus and its open theatre.
In 263 AD, the whole city was destroyed by the Goths, including the Temple of Artemis, marking the decline of the city’s glory.
In 395 AD, Ephesus became a part of the Byzantine Empire. Constantine I rebuilt most of it, and it was their most important city in Asia. In 406 AD, the archbishop of Constantinople, John Chrysostom, ordered for the destruction of the Temple of Artemis.
An earthquake in 614 AD partially destroyed the city again.
As time went on, silting of the harbour, made it unusable and the city became unfit for trade. Slowly, people started abandoning the city. The remaining locals started using the ruins of the once magnificent temples, including the Temple of Artemis, for domestic and other purposes. The Arabs sacked the city in 645 AD and again in 700 AD and 716 AD. The Seljuk’s took over Ephesus in 1090 AD, with the Byzantines regaining control in 1100 AD.
But now Ephesus, remained nothing more than a small village (called Ayasalouk) with the Temple of Artemis completely forgotten. In 1304 AD, the town Ayasalouk saw some good times under the Seljuk’s, who built some monuments of their own. By the 15th century AD, completely abandoned, Ephesus just remained a name in history for people to talk and write about. Ephesus has also played an important role in the spread of Christianity. In 52 AD, St Paul arrived here, and with a lot of struggle and persistence, was able to make most of the Ephesians accept Christianity. The Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, is said to have made Ephesus her last home. The house of the Virgin Mary, about 4 miles from Selcuk, is an important place of pilgrimage for the Christians.
The ruined city of Ephesus is the most important tourist destination of Turkey. It attracts millions of people every year, who can still see the glory, splendour and magnificence of Ephesus, in its ruins.

Climate and best time to visit:

The climate of Ephesus is typical Mediterranean with long, hot and dry summers and cold, rainy winters. During the summer months (May to August) temperatures can reach as high as 40 degrees C. Winters can be chilly with temperatures dropping as low as 5 degrees C. The best time to visit Ephesus is during spring (Mid Feb to April) and autumn (September and October), when the weather is mild.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:

By plane: There are flights to Izmir International airport from all major cities of Turkey and Europe as well. From the airport you can take a bus from Izmir central bus station to Selcuk or if you decide to stay in Izmir, your hotel can provide you with shuttle buses to Selcuk. Or even still, if you are tight on time and don’t mind spending some extra bucks, you can take a taxi from the airport to Selcuk.
By sea: You can also get there via ferry from the port of Kusadasi. Take a bus from Kusadasi bus station or a taxi from Kusadasi to Selcuk.

Places to stay (Hotels / Restaurants along with website / Contact details):

There are almost no hotels in Ephesus itself, but accommodation is available is available in the nearby towns of Selcuk and Kusadasi. If you are on a tight budget, some families also give away rooms on rent to tourists. Some nice hotels near Ephesus are given below:

1. Hotel Bella
Ataturk Mah. | St. John Street No: 7, Selcuk, Turkey
2. Hotel Nazar
S.M.Tavaslioglu cd. 2019 SK. No: 14, Selcuk 35920, Turkey
3. Aqua Fantasy Hotel & Aqua Park
Ephesus 35920, Turkey
4. Richmond Ephesus Resort
Pamucak, Selcuk 35920, Turkey

Source: Trip Advisor

You would find many small restaurants and fast food joints in Ephesus near the gates. Besides this, there are plenty of restaurants on the way to Ephesus from Kusadasi or Selcuk and in the towns itself, selling all kinds cuisines.

Some nice restaurants are given are given below:
1. Ejder Restaurant
9 Cengiz Topel Cad. Selcuk 35920, Turkey
2. Mehmet and Ali Baba Kebab House
4A, 1047 Sok. Selcuk 35920, Turkey
Phone: +902328923872
3. Amazon
Anton Kallinger cad 22, Selcuk, Turkey
4. Okumuslar Pide Salonu
Sahabettin Dede Caddesi 2, Selcuk, Turkey

Source: Trip Advisor

BLOGS / SITES ABOUT EPHESUS (WITH SMALL EXCERPTS FROM THESE BLOGS):

1. A brief history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus
Ephesus was founded as an Attic-Ionian colony in the 10th century BC on the Ayasuluk Hill, three kilometers from the center of antique Ephesus (as attested by excavations at the Seljuk castle during the 1990s). The mythical founder of the city was a prince of Athens named Androklos, who had to leave his country after the death of his father, King Kadros. According to the legend, he founded Ephesus on the place where the oracle of Delphi became reality (“A fish and a boar will show you the way”). Androklos drove away most of the native Carian and Lelegian inhabitants of the city and united his people with the remainder. He was a successful warrior, and as a king he was able to join the twelve cities of Ionia together into the Ionian League. During his reign the city began to prosper. He died in a battle against the Carians when he came to the aid of Priene, another city of the Ionian League. Androklos and his dog are depicted on the Hadrian temple frieze, dating from the second century. Later, Greek historians such as Pausanias, Strabo, the poet Kallinos, and the historian Herodotos reassigned the city’s mythological foundation to Ephos, queen of the Amazons.

2. Things to do, sightseeing and attractions:
• http://www.ephesus.us/ephesus/templeofartemis.htm
The temple of Artemis is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. It has been built in the areas of Ephesus on a flat area which has over the centuries turned into a swamp. Today one can only see the ruins of the foundations of this marvelous construction of the Hellenistic Age, entirely made of marble and full of sculptured columns’ capitals and shafts. The most beautiful remains of this temple are today exhibited in the London British Museum.
The oldest remaining found date back till the 6th century BC. It was surrounded by 36 huge columns, later enlarged upon the orders of the Lydia King, Kreisos, during the 6th century BC. Most of the exhibits in the London British Museum belong to this period.

• http://www.turizm.net/cities/ephesus/celsus.html
Library of Celsus: Although the building is of a mainly cultural character it is also a funerary monument. After the death of Celsus Polemaenus, a former consul who had been appointed governor of Ephesus, his son erected a magnificent reading room over his tomb. The building, which dates from the 2nd century, was attacked by fire in 260 but the facade suffered no damage. It is 21 m wide and 16 m high. Equestrian statues stood on pedestals on each side of the main staircases and there are also indications that statues were placed in the niches on the upper floor. The main room measures 16 x 10 m. The burial chamber under the ground floor contains a sarcophag s in an excellent state of preservation. Excavations carried out by Austrian archaJologists at the beginning of the 20th century revealed a 4th century fountain in the front courtyard and very valuable carvings in high relief depicting the wars waged by Marcus Aurelius and ucius Verus against the Parthians.

3. Map of Ephesus: http://www.ramtur.com/images/map/ephesus_big_map.jpg

4. Photos of Ephesus:
• Huge photo gallery of Ephesus: http://www.turkishclass.com/turkey_pictures_gallery_45
• Another picture gallery: http://www.ephesus.us/ephesus/ephesus_photos.htm

5. Videos on You Tube:
1. A tour of Ephesus:

2. Temple of Artemis (small video clip):

Konya in Turkey: City of the whirling dervishes

Traveller — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 18:00:53 +0000

Konya is situated in the Central Anatolian region of Turkey on an elevation of about 1027 metres above sea level. It is the capital of the Konya province with a population of around 1 million people. Konya was one of the first cities in the world to be inhabited by humans. Excavations show Konya had human activity as early as the 7th millennium BC. In fact, Catal Hoyuk, 50 metres to the south of the city, claims to be the oldest area in the world, known to have been inhabited by man. Konya has seen the reign of many powerful civilizations since time immemorial. Under the Romans, it was called Iconium, and given the status of an important provincial town. Both St Paul and St Barnabas delivered their sermons here, during that time. However, it was when Konya was the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum from 1097 to 1243, under the Seljuk’s, that it acquired most of its important monuments, wealth and fame. It was also during this period that Celaleddin Rumi, the reason for which Konya is best known for, visited and decided to make Konya his homeland. Celaleddin Rumi was a Sufi mystic, who founded the Whirling Dervish sect or the Mevleviye. The Mausoleum (tomb) of Rumi is the most important place to visit in Konya, along with the neighbouring Mevlana museum, which has relics of his life and time on display.
Today, Konya is one of the most religiously conservative cities of Turkey and still a centre for practicing of Sufi teachings. The Mosques and other historic buildings, built during the rule of the Seljuk’s, add to the beauty and mystique of this city, known as the city of the whirling dervishes.

Best time to visit / climate:

The climate of Konya is typical Central Anatolian, hot and dry in summer and very cold in winter. Spring (April to Mid-June) is the best time to visit Konya when the weather is moderate. The second best time would be autumn (Mid-September through October) when the weather is mostly mild.

Location on Google maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:

By plane: Konya Airport is located about 18 km out of the city. Turkish Airlines and many other local airlines fly from Istanbul to Konya regularly. During summer’s you can also fly from various European countries, such as Netherlands, Norway, Denmark etc. Shuttle buses run by Havas, is the best way to get to the city centre from the airport.
By train: Trains are a slower alternative. Konya’s railway station is in a suburb called Meram, which is some distance away from the centre. One can always take a taxi from the station to the city centre. There are direct trains travelling to Konya from Istanbul, Adana and Karaman.
By bus: Konya is well connected to other major cities of Turkey through a very fine network of intercity buses. You can buy bus tickets from any travel agency on Mevlana Caddesi, Konya’s main street, according to your destination.
By car: Konya can also be reached by car. From Istanbul it’s a 10 hour drive to Konya and from Izmir it takes about 7 hours.

Places to stay (Hotels / Restaurants along with contact details):
There are plenty of hotels available in Konya, from luxury to mid-range and budget; there is a hotel to suit everybody’s pocket. Some of the top rated hotels are given below:

1. Ulusan Hotel
Sukran Mah. Kursuncular Sok. | No: 4 Meram Konya, Konya, Turkey
2. Dedeman Konya and Convention Center
Ozalan Mah Selcuklu, Konya 42080, Turkey
3. Hotel Rumi
Durakfaki Mah Durakfaki Sok No 5 | Mevlana Alani, Konya 42030, Turkey
4. Rixos Konya
Istanbul Yolu, Selcuklu, Konya 42250, Turkey (Formerly Hilton)
Source: Trip Advisor

In Konya there are many places to eat from local eateries to restaurants selling international cuisine. Local food is the favourite and most widely available. Soups are the staple food in Konya, and these include lentil, okra, milk, vermicelli etc. The city’s speciality is the firin Kebab (mutton, roasted and oily) and etli ekmek (a round pocket bread called “pide” with meat topping, something like a pizza). Alcohol is not sold in Konya. Some of the top rated restaurants are given below:

1. Kosk Konya Mutfagi
Kosk Lokantasi | Akccesme Mahallesi, Konya, Turkey
2. TAKA
ANKARA CD, Konya, Turkey
3. Mevlevi Sofrasi
Nazim Bey Cd 1-A, Konya, Turkey
4. AKKONAK
AFYON, Konya, Turkey

Source: Trip Advisor

Blogs / sites about Konya (WITH SMALL EXCERPTS FROM THESE BLOGS):

1. A brief history: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konya)
Excavations have shown that the region was inhabited during the Late Copper Age, around 3000 BC.[3] The city came under the influence of the Hittites around 1500 BC. These were overtaken by the Sea Peoples around 1200 BC. The Phrygians established their kingdom in central Anatolia in the 8th century BC. Xenophon describes Iconium, as the city was called, as the last city of Phrygia. The region was overwhelmed by Cimmerian invaders c. 690 BC. It was later part of the Persian Empire, until Darius III was defeated by Alexander the Great in 333 BC. Alexander’s empire broke up shortly after his death and the town came under the rule of Seleucus I Nicator. During the Hellenistic period the town was ruled by the kings of Pergamon. As Attalus III, the last king of Pergamon, was about to die without an heir, he bequeathed his kingdom to Rome. Under the rule of Emperor Claudius, the city’s name was changed to Claudioconium, and during the rule of emperor Hadrianus to Colonia Aelia Hadriana.

2. Things to do, sightseeing and attractions:
• http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/Genel/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D31395FB1C5180B6EBD6FBC7CF4E89607860
Çatalhöyük: This ancient site, 50km south-east of Konya, is said to be the first settlement in the world with houses and sacred buildings dating back to 6800 BC. The remains were discovered by British archaeologists in 1958, and research shows 13 different strata with evidence of houses that had to be entered by holes in the roof as there were no streets. There is little left at the site, except the remains of mud brick houses, murals, plaster reliefs and pottery. Construction was from adobe, wood and reed and most of the findings are now in the Konya Museum of Archaeology.
It is possible to get most of the way by minibus, then a taxi for the remaining 10 miles.

• http://wikitravel.org/en/Konya
Mevlana Museum/Mausoleum of Rumi (Mevlana Müzesi) (this is a very prominent landmark in downtown, you can’t miss it), 9AM-5PM. This must see tourist destination of Konya, is the tomb of the famous mystic/Sufi/thinker Rumi (known shortly as Mevlana in Turkish, or with the full name Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi in English literature), as well as the neighbouring museum that displays relics of his life and his time. The items on display in the museum range from old manuscripts, hand written copies of the Koran, musical instruments used at Rumi’s time, as well as numerous art works dating from the Seljuk era.

3. Map of Konya: http://www.planetware.com/i/map/TR/konya-map.jpg

4. Photo Gallery:
1. Beautiful collection of pictures by a traveller: http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/konya_turkey
2. Pictures of Konya with descriptions:

http://www.galenfrysinger.com/konya_turkey.htm

5. You Tube Videos:
1. Normal Konya, the streets and market places etc. with the locals going about their daily routine:

2. Small video of whirling dervishes shot in the Mevlana museum courtyard:

3. Two videos of Mevlana museum, both very different:
•

•

Trabzon: A Turkish adventure, situated on the Black Sea

Traveller — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:28:49 +0000

Trabzon is a city in north eastern part of Turkey situated on the coast of the black sea. Once known in the ancient world as Trapezus and Trebizond, it is the capital of the Trabzon province. The city has a population of around 1.3 million people. Founded by Miletion traders in 7th century BC the city has been ruled by many empires including the Goths, the Romans and the Ottomans. Trabzon was a part of the historical Silk Route, and as such, an important trade centre, being visited by merchants from countries like India, Iran, and Russia etc. who left a mark of their own culture, religion and language on Trabzon. Trabzon still retains its status as an important trading port exporting tobacco, livestock and foodstuffs.
The city has its own rich culture. Trabzonites are very open to other religions. Christians and Muslims live together, proud of their common cultural heritage. Trabzon is popular for its folk dance, Horon, performed by men and women of all ages, during festivities and other joyous occasions. Trabzon is a feast for every tourist’s eyes with its gorgeous sightseeing area’s and remains from its ancient history, mostly from the Byzantine period. The moment you enter Trabzon you are greeted, by its most important tourist attraction: The Hagia Sophia, a 13th century, well preserved Byzantine church. It has now been restored as the Ayasofya Museum. The walls of the church are decorated with frescoes, a very fine example of Byzantine craftsmanship. Then there is the Boztepe Park, a small park, situated on the Boztepe hills, which offers a magnificent panoramic view of the entire city.
There are some beautiful Ottoman monuments too, such as the mosque and mausoleum of Gulbahar Hatun.

Best time to visit /climate:

Trabzon’s climate is typical Black Sea, with high rainfall all year round. Summers are warm and humid, with the average maximum temperature reaching 28 degrees C .Winters are cool and damp, the average minimum temperature touching 5°C in January. Rainfall is very heavy in autumn and spring. Between December and March, snowfall is common and often heavy, sometimes snowing for a week or two. The best time to visit is summer, when the weather is warm and rainfall not too heavy.

Location on Google maps:

View Larger Map

Driving directions from Ankara to Trabzon:

View Larger Map

How to get there:

By plane: There are flights to Trabzon from Ankara and Istanbul.

By Bus: There are buses operating between Istanbul and Trabzon regularly, many times a day. There are also buses available from bilisi and Georgia.

By Sea: There are ferries from Soch, a Russian city along the Black Sea coast, twice a week.

PLACES TO STAY (HOTELS / RESTAURANTS ALONG WITH WEBSITE / CONTACT NUMBERS):

There are many hotels available in Trabzon. If you are on a strict budget, then the hotels near the port, down the Ataturk square, are the cheapest. But sometimes they are used for prostitution, so one has to be cautious. Some the top rated hotels are given below:

1. Novotel Trabzon
Cumhuriyet Mah kasustu Beldesi | Yomra, Trabzon 61250, Turkey
2. Aksular Hotel
Toklu Mah.Sahil Cad.No:465, Trabzon, 61040,Turkey
3. Zorlu Grand Hotel
Maras Caddesi No 9, Trabzon 61100, Turkey
4. Buyuk Sumela Hotel
Macka, Trabzon 61750, Turkey

Source: Trip Advisor

There are a number of places to eat in Trabzon. Local cuisine is by far the favourite in Trabzon. “Pide” (a kind of bread) and kofte (meat balls) are a hot favourite. “Akcaabat koftesi”, meat balls made in Turkish way with garlic, bread and meat, eaten with ayran, a kind of yogurt, is another local delicacy. “Lahmacun”, a kind of pizza, with mince meat topping and thin bread, is also something one should try. Sea food is also popular. Besides these, there are many restaurants selling cuisines of other countries.
Some of the top rated restaurants are as follows:

1. NIHAT USTA
AKCAABAT, Trabzon, Turkey
2. ARI BUFE
Bolluk Sk., Trabzon, Turkey
Phone: 0090-462-230 58 08
3. Kilcik Fish Restaurant
Meydan, Trabzon, Turkey
4. YalIncak
YalIncak, Trabzon, Turkey

Source: Trip Advisor

BLOGS / SITES ABOUT ISTANBUL (WITH SMALL EXCERPTS FROM THESE BLOGS):

1. A brief history (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabzon)
The city was one of a number (about ten) of Milesian emporia, or trading colonies along the shores of the Black Sea. Others include Sinope, Abydos and Cyzicus (in the Dardanelles). Like most Greek colonies, the city was a small enclave of Greek life, and not an empire unto its own, in the later European sense of the word. Early banking (money-changing) activity is suggested occurring in the city according to a silver drachm coin from Trapezus in the British Museum, London.
Trebizond’s trade partners included the Mossynoeci. When Xenophon and the Ten Thousand mercenaries were fighting their way out of Persia, the first Greek city they reached was Trebizond (Xenophon, Anabasis, 5.5.10). The city and the local Mossynoeci had become estranged from the Mossynoecian capital, to the point of civil war. Xenophon’s force resolved this in the rebels’ favor, and so in Trebizond’s interest.

2. Things to do, sightseeing and attractions:

http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/Genel/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D31395FB1C5180B6EBD698CDA43385F0101A

• Ataturk Palace
Situated in a small pine grove in the Soguksu area, this mansion was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century and belonged to Greek banker Karayannidhis, who was forced to abandon it 20 years later. Ataturk stayed at there in 1924, 1934 and 1937 during his visits to Trabzon, and it was formally presented to him a year before his death. It was then decorated with furniture and décor from that period, filled with photographs of the leader and opened by the city’s municipality as Ataturk Museum.

• Sumela monastery

http://wikitravel.org/en/Trabzon

Sumela Monastery (Turkish: Sümela Manast?r?; Panagia Soumela, “Virgin Mary of Soumela” in Greek) is a spectacular rock-hewn monastery perched dramatically on the narrow ledge of a steep cliff in the forests south of Trabzon. It was built in the fourth century, just before the Roman Empire split into east and west, by two Athenian priests, Barnabas and Sophronius, who, according to legend, found a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave. The monastery’s location in this geopolitically tumultuous corner of the globe naturally saw times of trouble and fell into ruin numerous times throughout its history, with its most thriving times falling under Byzantine and Ottoman rule.
The twentieth century, however, was not kind to the monastery. It was abandoned following the chaos and inter-ethnic violence at the end of World War I, and the population transfer of Trabzon’s (formerly Trebizond) Greek population back to Greece. Its remote location gave it some sanctuary, but its frescoes still attracted the occasional casually hurled rock by a bored shepherd. The beautiful frescoes today suffer from decades of heart-wrenchingly pointless vandalism by travelers—judging from the various alphabets and names scrawled across these impressive religious works of art, it appears that just about every culture in the world has taken part in the desecration. The buildings themselves have been fairly heavily restored in recent decades, as the Turkish government has stepped in to protect the monastery and to turn it into a museum.

3. Photo Gallery:
1. Photos of Trabzon by a traveler: http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/trabzon
2.Huge collection of photos: http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Middle_East/Turkey/Black_Sea/Trabzon/

4. You Tube Videos:
1. THE SUMELA MONASTERY ?N TRABZON TURKEY:

2. Trabzon – Agia Sophia, Frondistirio and Karadeniz: