Different places to travel » Temple

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

Poonch – a border town in Jammu and Kashmir

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

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

Wild Life in Poonch

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

Poonch Specials

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

Attractions in and around Poonch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other places near Poonch

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

Religious Tourism in Poonch

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

Trekking in Poonch

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

Best time to visit / climate

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

Location on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

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

How to get to Poonch?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some travel books from Amazon about Poonch

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

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

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

Blogs/Sites about Poonch

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

Images and photos of Poonch

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

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

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

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

Overview

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

Attractions in and around Mattan

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

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

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

Attractions of Pahalgam

Attractions in Srinagar

Things to do in Srinagar

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

Best time to visit / climate

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

Location on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

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

How to get there?

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

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

ANKARA: An Ancient Beauty, the capital of Turkey

Traveller — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 19:06:49 +0000

Ankara is the capital of Turkey, the second largest city of the country after Istanbul. The city of Ankara is situated at an elevation of about 850 on the eastern edge of the great Anatolian Plateau. The population of the city is about 4.5 million people, excluding people from nearby provinces. Centrally located in Anatolia, it is a strategic centre of trade and commerce. It is home to the Turkish Government and all foreign diplomatic missions and embassies in the country. Ankara is an ancient city. It has gone by several names in history; the Hittites named it Ankuwash before 1200BC. The Romans called it Ancyra. It has a long history of being conquered and ruled again and again by different rulers and empires, the Roman Empire, the Goths, the Arabs, and the Mongols etc. The city has a number of Hittite, Roman, Byzantine, Hellenistic and Ottoman archaeological sites which reminds one of the ancientness of the place. The city is overlooked by a hill that survives the ruins of the old castle adding to the picturesqueness of the view of the city. The temple of Augustus and Rome are the most remarkable remaining ancient architectural structures in Ankara.
But Ankara is not all about ancient architectural sites and historical places. It is a city with a touch of the mystical east and the modernism of the 21st century. It’s a big university town and you would find most of the streets of Kizilay and bars of Sakarya flooded with students of all countries. There are a number of expats living in Ankara, giving it a very western feel. For tourists there is everything one would expect. Ulus, the old town, is the main attraction, with narrow lanes, restored ancient building and restaurants with amazing food. The Museums, ancient sites, antique and souvenir shops, rich local cuisine and a chance to live history, Ankara is a place for the adventurous and inquisitive.

Best time to visit /climate:

The best time to visit Ankara would be during spring and autumn which is between June and September, to enjoy favourable weather conditions. The climate of Ankara is a combination of continental and Mediterranean climates. The winters are cold and rainy and the summers are very hot with temperatures ranging between 28 degree C and 30 degrees C, and sometimes reaching 45 degrees C.

Location on Google Maps:

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HOW TO GET THERE:

Not many international flights fly directly into Ankara, in comparison to Istanbul. Lufthansa is the only regular flyer. So, if coming by plane internationally, it would be better to fly to Istanbul first. From Istanbul you can get internal local flights to Ankara. And as everywhere else, buses and trains are also available. Contact your local travel and tours provider to explore your options.

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

Ankara has a lot of three, four and five star hotels. Some of the prominent ones are:

1. Ankara Hilton SA (5 star)
Tahran Caddesi No 12 |Kavaklidere, Ankara 06700, Turkey
Tel: (0312) 455 00 00
2. Divan Hotel Moment Ankara (4 star)
Tunali Hilmi Caddesi Guniz Sok No: 42 | Kavaklidere, Ankara 06700, Turkey
3. Sheraton Hotel & Convention Center Ankara (5 star)
Noktali Sokak Kavaklidere, Ankara 06700, Turkey
4. No.19 Boutique Hotel (4 star)
Birlik Mahallesi 457.Sokak No.19
Çankaya – ANKARA
Tel : +90 (312) 495 00 00

If you are looking for budget accommodation, there are plenty of three star hotels available. Check online for more information. Some quality three star hotels are given below:

5. Maltepe 2000 Hotel Ankara (3 star)
Gulseren Sokak 4, Ankara TR-06570

6. Anitpark Hotel Ankara (3 star)
Gmk Bulvari Kubilay Sok. No 45 Anittepe, Ankara

7. Deniz Atlanta Hotel Ankara (3 star)
Necatibey Street No 28 Kyzylay, Ankara

In places to eat you would find everything in Ankara like Burger King, KFC, TGI Friday’s etc. There are a number of restaurants serving delicious Turkish cuisine like Iskender; a local speciality (spit cooked sliced lamb with tomato, yoghurt and butter). The street food in Kizilay is mouth watering. Besides these, there are a number of fancy restaurants selling at slightly higher prices.
There is one thing to note, that you won’t find cuisines of other countries in Ankara. Though some may claim to be selling so, but it may not be the real deal. Sea food is something that is also quite popular and freely available. Besides restaurants there are a number of cafes, bars and bistros. Some popular restaurants are given below:

1. ULUDAG KEBAPCISI
Cuisines: Turkish
Denizciler cad, Ankara, Turkey
2. Tike Kavaklidere
Cuisines: International, Turkish
Billur Sokak No 17/2 Ankara, Turkey
(0312) 426 01 41 |
3. Trilye Restaurant
Cuisines: Seafood

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

1. A brief history: Turkish history (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankara)
“In 1071, the Turkish Seljuk Sultan Alparslan conquered much of eastern and central Anatolia after his victory at the Battle of Manzikert (Malazgirt). He then annexed Ankara, an important location for military transportation and natural resources, to his territory in 1073. After the Battle of Köseda? in 1243 in which the Mongols defeated the Seljuks, most of Anatolia became part of the dominion of the Mongols. Taking advantage of Seljuk decline, a semi religious cast of craftsmen and trade people named Ahiler chose Ankara as their independent city state in 1290. Orhan I, the second Bey of the Ottoman Empire, captured the city in 1356. Timur defeated the Ottomans at the Battle of Ankara in 1402 and took the city, but in 1403 Ankara was again under Ottoman control.”

2. Things to do in Ankara: (http://www.venere.com/blog/ankara-things-to-do/)
“As you rise above the banks of the Enguri Su climbing the rather steep incline, you finally arrive in the city of Ankara the capital and the second largest population in Turkey. Despite the modernization that has occurred over the past few decades, it is still dotted with reminders of its past history. Today, Ankara is filled with a bustling nightlife, consulates, government and state houses, military bases, and universities just like any major metropolitan area.Conversely, there are so many structures that remind you where Ankara had its place in ancient and past history. Byzantine, Hellenistic, Hittite, Ottoman, Phrygian, and Roman castles as well as other ruins and structures from these civilizations still adorn the surrounding landscape. So you can be sure that Ankara has held a very prominent place in past history. Here is a listing of some of the more popular visitor’s delights in Ankara.
Top 3 Ankara Museums
If museums are what you crave there are three that are a must-see in Ankara:
• The Enthography Museum – located near Ankara Castle
• The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations – a display of artifacts from the Ottoman Empire is the main attraction
• The State Art and Sculpture Museum – features Turkish artwork from the 1800’s to modern day”

3. Ankara on Wiki-travel: (http://wikitravel.org/en/Ankara)
“The locals are generally helpful to tourists, and many young people can communicate in English. Although most people will try to speak English with you, it’s a good idea to bring a Turkish phrasebook or dictionary. Ankara is the administrative center of Turkey and a huge university town such that most of its inhabitants consist of civil servants, students and academics.”

4. Map of Ankara: http://maps.turkeyodyssey.com/road_map/images/ankara_city_map.jpg

Photo Gallery:
Various pictures of Ankara by a traveler:

http://www.pbase.com/helenpb/return_to_ankara

Pictures of Ankara City: http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/categories.php?cat_id=12&sessionid=58a14d06790cb40867a148d4c148fdc4

You Tube Videos:
1.
2.

Jeolikot – a beautiful hill station located in North India

Traveller — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:27:38 +0000

Jeolikot is a hill station in the state of Uttarakhand on the Nainital-Haldwani Highway. It is located at a distance of 17 km from Nainital and is well known as a spot for nature lovers who are interested in butterfly watching and floriculture. The surrounding natural beauty on the backdrop of Kumaon hills is ideal for visitors. Hindi and Kumaoni are the languages spoken by locals there. Jeolikot is at an altitude of 1219 metres. The temperatures in summer go from 15-25°C and in winter from 8-15°C, making it ideal for all seasons.
This place is known for meditation with swamis like Shri Aurobindo and swami Vivekananda spending time with real Mother Nature. The resorts, vintage English cottage, offer a perfect stay in Jeolikot. In addition, Jeolikot houses some ancient temples, a cemetery and other structures pointing to its verdant past. It has bee-keeping centres which is another attraction of the place.
The Cottage in Jeolikot situated at the greenish backdrop of Kumaon hills presents the magnificent Kumaon craftsmanship. This is a charming holiday resort which offers all comforts of an English vintage cottage. Antique carved doors, furniture and windows are special to these cottages. There is a Health centre for the butterflies and for honey, mushrooms and fruits, including strawberries and litchis.
The places nearby (located not very far) to see are
1. Gateway to Kumaon’s Lake District
2. Binsar
3. Kausani
4. Ranikhet
5. Corbett National Park.
Golfing, and trekking in the hills is therapeutic and a lot of fun. Jeolikot is a nice destination for adventurous tourists. Many trekking trails in Jeolikot offer mild to hard challenges to trekkers.

Best time to visit / climate

The best time to visit Jeolikot is July. The weather of Jeolikot is moderately cold and temperature is from 8 to 20 degree Celsius. The nature looks enchanting and suitable at this time. Since winter is chilly, snow and fog forming with monsoon showers, it’s advisable to visit in the month of July for comfort.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Or paste the URL below on your browser:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Jeolikot,+uttarakhand&sll=30.221102,79.552002&sspn=4.347183,7.064209&ie=UTF8&hq=Jeolikot,+uttarakhand&hnear=&z=6

How to get there:
• Jeolikot by Train: The nearest railway station is Kathgodam, 48 kms from Jeolikot. It takes about close to an hour to reach Jeolikot. Taxis are available at the railway station. Dehradun-Kathgodam Express (from Dehradun), Ranikhet Express (from Delhi) and Bagh express (from Howrah) are some of the convenient trains to Kathgodam.

• Jeolikot by Air: The nearest airport to Jeolikot is in Pantnagar which is about 56 km away it takes about one and a half hours to reach Jeolikot from there. The airport, however is not in operation yet. So the major international airport near Jeolikot is Delhi, which is nearly 290 km away from the city. Pre-paid taxi charges nearly Rs 4000 from Delhi to Jeolikot. New Delhi is connected to all major cities in India and abroad by Air.

• Jeolikot by Bus: There are overnight tourists buses services run by private companies are available from New Delhi to Jeolikot, which charge around Rs 800.
Buses are available from the ISBT at Ananad Vihar in New Delhi. The 9 pm deluxe bus to Nainital stops at Jeolikot. If you are driving, after the Moradabad by-pass fly-over, take the largely forested road to Bazpur, which will take you to Haldwani via Kaladungi. From Haldwani (a large town which has joined up with Kathgodam), take the Nainital route to reach Jeolikot. Most Delhi motorists prefer this route.

The distance chart from major cities is as below:
From and Distance
1. Delhi – 277 km
2. Nainital – 4 km
3. Almora – 58 km
4. Kasauni -107 km
5. Haridwar- 220 km
6. Rishikesh -237 km
7. Rajaji National Park -263 km
8. Auli -267 km
9. Dehradun -272 km
10. Mussoorie -297 km

The following website gives all the train numbers, names and timings, flight timings, names and buses timings and the road map to reach to Jeolikot: http://www.mustseeindia.com/Jeolikot/how-to-reach

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

• http://www.holidayiq.com/Jeolikot-hotel-photos-Cottage,%20The-1835—m.html
• http://www.indiahotelreview.com/destination_jeolikot.htm
• http://goindia.about.com/od/wheretostay/ss/top-10-homestays-in-india_7.htm
• http://www.travelchacha.com/cities/jeolikot/
• http://www.oktatabyebye.com/hotels/hotels-in-Jeolikot.html

Blogs / Sites about Jeolikot

• http://www.travelchacha.com/cities/jeolikot/
• http://thecottagejeolikot.com/
Golfing, sailing at Naini Lake, trek down to the tiny river below the cottage, snow peak spotting from Kilbury, bird watching at Pangot, Binsar and Naukuchiatal, boat rides at Saattal and treks and hikes in the Kumaoni Himalayas are some of the things that one can do in Jeolikot.
Collecting pebbles and soaking your feet in its refreshing coolness is fun here. There is a tiny shrine under a canopy of trees, the colonial house, is an outlet for fresh honey and saplings. Going with binoculars and a bird and butterfly guide book will add to the enjoyment. In the government horticulture department one can buy fresh kiwi fruit, mushrooms, olives and strawberries and also some fresh wild flower honey.
• http://www.heritagehotelsofindia.com/india/uttaranchal/the-cottage-joelikot.html
• http://www.euttaranchal.com/tourism/jeolikot-excursions.php
Images and photos of Jeolikot
• http://www.google.co.in/images?q=Jeolikot+photos&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7GPCK_enIN389&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=i4RITN_QKMaDcKHawe4M&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCcQsAQwAA
• http://www.oktatabyebye.com/Picture-Gallery/20519-jeolikot-travel-photo.html
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/arnobb/345784246/
• http://photos.travelblog.org/Photos/411/1156/t/2603-Isn-t-it-beautiful-0.jpg
• http://www.delhiweekendbreaks.com/images/jeolikot-hills.jpg

Rudraprayag – a religious town in North India, in the Himalayas

Traveller — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:05:05 +0000

Rudraprayag is a District in the State of Uttarakhand. It is a town and a nagar panchayat. It is one of the Panch prayagas (five confluences) of the point of confluence of rivers Alakanda and Mandakini. Around Rudraprayag, there are other divine rivers such as the Bhagirathi River, and the Ganga. Located some distance away is another holy town called Kedarnath which is 86 kms away from Rudraprayag.
Rudra means Lord Shiva and hence the name Rudraprayag. It has lakes and glaciers and immense enchanting natural beauty. It is a pilgrimage trip as well as getaway for many. It is 34kms away from Srinagar (Gharwal). There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in the district itself. The town is special with its scenic beauty and its location on the river banks of Alankanda and Mandakini. Devotees take dip in these rivers considering them very holy and sacred. The other two shrines that need to visit are Kedarnath and Badrinath that are around Rudraprayag.
On the holy confluence of river Alaknanda and Mandakini which is venerated as one of the five sacred confluences or the ‘Panch Prayag’ is this small pilgrim town. It is named after Rudra, an aspect of Lord Shiva. It is said that Lord Shiva appeared here as ‘Rudra’ to bless Narad Muni. Rudraprayag is of immense significance for the pilgrims of Char Dham Yatra, as it is the junction for visiting Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham.
Out of the five kedars, three of them lie in Rudraprayag district. Kedar means a natural rock formation or glacial moraine. This town is a District headquarters and its area is spread to about 1896 square kms.

Places to see in Rudrapayag

Koteshwar Temple: This is 3 kms from Rudraprayag. This is a cave temple of Lord Shiva located on the banks of river Alaknanda which comprises of idols which have been formed naturally. It is believed that Lord Shiva meditated here before going to Kedarnath. Many devotees visit the shrine during the months of August and September.

Places to see around Rudraprayag
Agatsyamuni (19 kms) As Agatsyamuni meditated here, so the name.
Guptkashi (39 kms) is a pilgrim place that has the ancient temples of Vishwanath and Ardhnareshwar. The Manikarnik Kund is the confluence of two streams of Ganga and Yamuna.
Okhimath (40 kms): It lies on the route to Kedarnath and is the winter residence of Lord Kedarnath, as well as the seat of the Rawal (head priest) of the Kedarnath temple.
Gaurikund (72 kms) is the trekking base for to Kedarnath and has a temple of Gauri (Parvati) and hot water springs.
SonPrayag is the confluence of river Basuki and Mandakani and lies on the main Kedarnath route, about 5 kms from Gaurikund. The devotees believe that by mere touch of the holy water of Son Prayag, one attains the “Baikunth Dham”.
Trijuginarayan is 12 kms from Son prayag and is believed to be the site of Lord Shiva and Parvati’s marriage. The eternal flame, around which the marriage was solemnized, still burns here.
Panch Kedar: In the valley between the rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda lay the 5 kedars. It is believed that after the battle of Mahabharta, the Pandavas came here seeking forgiveness from Lord Shiva as they were repenting for the killings. Shiva disguised himself as a bull and started to plunge underground when he was spotted by the Pandavas. No wonder, the natural rock formation that is worshipped here resembles the rump of bull. The five most sacred Shiva temples of Garhwal are called as Panch Kedar.
Kedarnath: It is situated at an altitude of 3584 metres amidst towering snowclad Himalayan peaks on the head of river Mandakini. It is 86 kms from Rudraprayag. It is an 8th centrury temple which has 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and was built by in the medieval ages by Adi Shankaracharya. The mandapa walls are adorned with idols of the five Pandavas and Draupdi.
Shankaracharya Samadhi: Behind the Kedarnath temple, Adi Shankaracharya is said to have gone into his samadhi here at an early age of 32 years after establishing four sacred Dhams.

Best time to visit / climate:
The best time to visit is the summer months from March to June. The months of September and October are also pleasant to be visited. The months from June to August should be avoided due to the monsoon season.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Directions from Rishikesh to Rudraprayag:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun situated at a distance of 159kms. There are daily flights from Delhi to Jolly Grant Airport. Taxis are available from Jolly Grant Airport to Rishikesh, Devprayag and Rudraprayag.
By Rail: The nearest railway station to Rudraprayag is Rishikesh railway station which is situated 140kms before Rudraprayag on NH58. Rishikesh is well connected by railway networks with major destinations of India. Trains to Rishikesh are frequent. Taxis and buses are available from Rishikesh to Rudraprayag.
By Road: Rudraprayag is well connected by motorable roads with major destinations of Uttarakhand and northern states of India. Buses to Rudraprayag and Rishikesh are available from ISBT Kashmiri Gate. Buses and Taxis to Rudraprayag are easily available from major destinations of Uttarakhand like Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Srinagar etc. Rudraprayag lies on National Highway 58 from where road diverts to two major destinations Kedarnath and Badrinath.

The distance chart from major cities to Rudraprayag is as below
Delhi to Rudraprayag – 380kms
Meerut to Rudraprayag – 306kms
Rishikesh to Rudraprayag – 139kms
Haridwar to Rudraprayag – 165kms
Pauri to Rudraprayag – 64kms
Dehradun to Rudraprayag – 190kms
Mussoorie to Rudraprayag – 163kms
Devprayag to Rudraprayag – 68kms
Tehri Garhwal to Rudraprayag – 91kms
Barkot to Rudraprayag – 180kms
Uttarkashi to Rudraprayag – 165kms
Lansdowne to Rudraprayag – 142kms
Kotdwar to Rudraprayag – 166kms
Joshimath to Rudraprayag – 106kms
Chamoli to Rudraprayag – 70kms
Srinagar to Rudraprayag – 35kms
Okhimath to Rudraprayag – 37kms
Gaurikund to Rudraprayag – 66kms

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

1. http://www.euttaranchal.com/hotels/hotels-in-rudraprayag.php (gives names of the hotels, fares of the hotel, price and directions to the hotel)
2. http://www.holidayiq.com/Popular-Rudraprayag-Hotels-Resorts-Reviews-Ratings-Tariff-Rates-621-7-yes-destination.html
3. http://www.holidayiq.com/destinations/Rudraprayag-Know.html (gives tourist info addresses and phone numbers to contact)

Blogs / Sites about Rudraprayag

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudraprayag
• http://rudraprayag.nic.in/
History: Rudraprayag District was established on 16th September1997. The district was carved out from three adjoining districts.
Firstly, whole of Augustmuni & Ukhimath block and part of Pokhri & Karnprayag block from Chamoli District and Secondly part of Jakholi and Kirtinagar block from Tehri District and thirdly part of Khirsu block from Pauri District. It is widely known as Kedarnath Temple in the North, Madmaheshwar at east, Nagrasu at southern east and Shrinagar at extreme south. The holy Mandakini originated from Kedarnath and is the main river of the district.
• http://www.holidayiq.com/destinations/Rudraprayag-Overview.html
• http://www.indiaholidaypackages.com/hill-stations-packages/rudraprayag.html
• http://www.tourisminrudraprayag.org/

Images and photos of Rudraprayag:

• http://www.google.co.in/images?q=Rudraprayag&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7GPCK_enIN389&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=u11ITOORPISdcaec_c4M&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=5&ved=0CDwQsAQwBA
• http://www.holidayiq.com/destinations/photos/Rudraprayag-Photos.html
• http://www.tourisminrudraprayag.org/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudraprayag#Photo_gallery

Videos related to Rudraprayag:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYTU8h1Zk9s
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig9NvT1HT04

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

View Larger Map

Route from Mussorie to Mori:

View Larger Map

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:

View Larger Map

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