Different places to travel » Temple

Mori, a hill station located in North India

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

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

Places to see in and around Mori

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

Mori – Best time to visit/climate

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

Location on Google maps

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Route from Mussorie to Mori:

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How to get there

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

Places/hotels to stay

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

Blogs/sites for Mori

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

Images of Mori, Uttarakhand

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

Srinagar – the Paradise on Earth – India

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

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

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

Location on Google Maps:

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

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

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

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

Dhanaulti – a hill station in Tehri Garhwal District in Uttarakhand

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

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

Places to see in Dhanaulti :

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

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

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

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

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

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

Blogs / Sites about Dhanaulti

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

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

Photo / Image Gallery:

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

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

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

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

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

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

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

View Larger Map

Route map between Rishikesh and Pauri Garhwal:

View Larger Map

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chamba – a beautiful hill town in Himachal Pradesh, India

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

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

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

Location on Google Maps:

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Route between Shimla and Chamba:

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Route between Chandigarh and Chamba:

View Larger Map

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trip to Egypt – Landing in the city of Cairo and traveling through the city – the concept of tips and a stay at the Oasis Hotel in Giza – Part 1

Traveller — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 16:33:56 +0000

We were searching for a destination where we could have a family destination. It had many months since we met, and we were in different countries with a 8 hour flight gap between us. So, a lot of planning went into a common location, and the concept of traveling to Egypt to see the numerous important monuments over there was an important part of the planning. The trip was planned for around 8-9 days, and the challenge was about making the trip one that covers the major tourist destinations in Egypt, and yet the trip should not be one that attempts to run around the whole country without catching a breath of air (you know those trips, where the attempt is to capture everything that is there to see in the whole region, and where you end up more tired at the end of the trip than when you started the trip). Some of the places that we thought were important to see in the country were:
Cairo (Museums, Pyramid, Sphinx, etc)
Aswan (Enjoy Aswan) (High Dam, Abu Simbel, and unfinished obelisk)
Luxor (many temples, Valley of the Kings, etc)
Many temples between Aswan and Luxor on a cruise on the river Nile
Alexandria (Wikipedia)
Sharm-el-Sheikh
and there were many other locations in the country that were important, but these seemed the most significant from a tourist point of view. We had planned this trip for Feb, since that time worked out in terms of vacations, and hopefully, many of these locations would not be too hot. And of course, I am extremely fond of photography, so this seemed like a place where I could really get to enjoy on that front as well. Out of these, Alexandra proved a bit on the lower end in terms of priorities, and so, we dropped this from the list. Further, even though Sharm-el-Sheikh was fairly far away from Cairo, the planning was in terms of taking a vehicle for this journey. There were going to be young children with us for this journey as well, and we decided that getting a more comfortable trip in terms of guides and vehicles everywhere would be the good thing to do, rather than a backpacker journey (we are now all middle aged, and like our luxuries where possible).
And finally, the time came for the journey, we made sure that everything was in place, handed over the house to a caretaker for the 9-10 days we were going to be away, and off we went. The journey went fairly fine (as fine as long distance economy class journeys can be), and we were soon in Cairo International Airport. And this was where the first level of comfort was there, we were met by the local travel agency, Sakkara Travels, before the immigration, and we were guided from that point onwards.
Soon, we had collected our luggage from the Airport (the airport was fairly fine, the movement did not take too much time), and were bundled in the bus arranged by Sakkara to take us to our hotel. We had been booked into the Oasis Hotel located very close to Giza. This is a 4 star hotel located very close to the Pyramids in Giza, although this makes it atleast an hours distance from the airport. As a result, we ended up passing through the city of Cairo, and there were some areas where there was a good amount of traffic, but finally we made it.

Crowded streets of cairo – traffic can take some time to clear

Check-in in the hotel was fine, and we had some comfortable rooms, not very large or anything, but comfortable. The hotel has a lot of greenery inside, and seems to spend a lot of time on maintenance of the landscaped gardens.

Oasis Hotel in Giza in Egypt – the security at the entrance to the hotel

Oasis Hotel in Giza – the rocks arranged in a pattern

Oasis Hotel in Giza – View outside some of the rooms

Oasis Hotel in Giza in Egypt – Garden inside the hotel grounds

Oasis Hotel in Giza in cairo – a corridor in front of the rooms

Oasis Hotel in Giza – the swimming pool, very inviting

And then we encountered the question of tips. This is one of the points that really bothered us. Right at the beginning, when we got our travel itinerary, it was mentioned there that the concept of tips is almost like a compulsion, with the tips providing a comfort to the people employed in the travel industry who otherwise get low salaries. The same was mentioned by our travel managed from Sakkara, and the rate of the tips was supposed to be $6 per person per day for the days when you are on land, and $8 (American dollars) for the days when you are on the Nile cruise (3 days). For a group of 8 of us, on a 9 day trip, the amount of tips that we paid was itself a fairly large amount.
The next day we would do some local travel inside the city of Cairo, see the various places to see such as the Citadel, the mosque within it, and the famous local market known as ‘Khan el Khalili’.

Edfu Temple – The Temple of Horus; a spectacular temple in Egypt with a well preserved structure

Traveller — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:59:48 +0000

Of all the temples of ancient Egypt, the one at Edfu is the most complete and best preserved. The reason is that the temple had been totally submerged under the desert sand (so it got saved from the earthquakes and other natural events that caused damage to the other temples) except for the very top of the pylon entrance. A small amount of stone had been removed from the exposed part, but when excavated it was found to be in near perfect condition. The temple was built by the Greek pharaohs.

Location of Edfu temple

Edfu is located 60Km to the north of Aswan. The town of Edfu is located on the west back of the Nile River, some sixty miles south of Luxor, with Aswan further south. Edfu is located about halfway between Luxor (115km away) and Aswan (105km) and 65km north of Kom Ombo. It was the 2nd Nome of Upper Egypt and the centre of the cult of a triad of Gods, which consisted of Horus of Behdet, Hathor, and their son, Hor-Sama-Tawy.

How to get there

The temple is often included on Nile cruise itineraries but can also be reached from Aswan or Luxor, by train or road. The railway station is on the east bank and coaches often only stop on this side too. A taxi from Luxor takes around two hours and one and a half hours from Aswan. As of 2009 visitors no longer need to travel as part of the police convoy.

Location of Edfu temple on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

History of Edfu temple

- Dedicated to Horus, the falcon headed god. It was built during the reigns of six Ptolemies.
- In 332 BC, Alexander the Great conquered Egypt. After his death in 323, his successors ruled Egypt under the Ptolemaic Dynasty.
- The Temple of Horus at Edfu was built during the Ptolemiac era on top of an earlier temple to Horus.
- This is not only the best preserved ancient temple in Egypt, but the second largest after Karnak.
- The modern Arabic name of Edfu is derived from the ancient Egyptian name Djeba, or Etbo in Coptic. Djeba meant “Retribution Town”, since the enemies of the god were brought to justice therein.
- The Temple of Edfu is nearly intact and a very good example of an ancient Egyptian temple.
- The Temple of Edfu’s archaeological significance and high state of preservation has made it a center for tourism in Egypt.
- The falcon-headed Horus was originally the sky god, whose eyes were the sun and moon.
- He was later assimilated into the popular myth of Isis and Osiris as the divine couple’s child. Raised by Isis and Hathor after Osiris’ murder by his brother Seth, Horus avenged his father’s death in a great battle at Edfu. Seth was exiled and Horus took the throne, Osiris reigning through him from the underworld. Thus all pharoahs claimed to be the incarnation of Horus, the “living king.”
- The town of Edfu is today an important centre for sugar production and pottery-making.

Attractions at Edfu Temple

Pylon : The front shows illustrations of Horus and Hathor, and captives offered in sacrifice to the gods. The four niches held
flagstaffs when the temple was in use. This is the Great Pylon.

Edfu temple in Egypt – the first pylon along with tourists

The Temple of Edfu was actually not the first one here. It was built on top of a temple built for Thutmosis III by the famous architect Imhotep, who later was proclaimed a god himself because of his great works. You find him pictured in that role at the temple of Kom Ombo.
GOD Horus : Guarding the entrance of the temple are two statues of the god Horus. His importance was such that he was equalled with the king. The pharaoh was seen as a human manifestation of the god Horus.

Edfu Temple in Egypt – the statue of Horus

Birth House : The first structure we come to, at the south-west corner before the great temple pylon, is a rectangular colonnaded building peculiar to Graeco-Roman temples, known as a mammisi or birth-house, built to celebrate the divine birth of Horus. The Roman mammisi at Dendera was modelled on this structure.
Court of Offerings : Beyond the Pylon is the spacious Court of Offerings, where people could enter to make offerings to the image of Horus. The court is surrounded by columns on three sides and is decorated with festival reliefs. depict the Festival of the Beautiful Meeting, during which Hathor’s image sailed from Dendera to spend some intimate time with Horus in the sanctuary of the Temple of Edfu before sailing back.

Hypostyle Hall : The rectangular Hypostyle Hall was built under Ptolemy VII (145-116 BC) and has two rows of six pillars supporting an intact roof. The ceiling has astronomical paintings symbolizing the sky. This is the outer hypostyle hall or pronaos, with 18 tall carved columns to support a ceiling decorated with astronomical figures representing the sky. The usual offering scenes decorate the walls but there are also well-preserved reliefs from the temple foundation ceremony.

Edfu temple in Egypt – the grand Hypostyle Hall with astronomical paintings on the ceiling

Festival Hall : It marks the beginning of the oldest part of the temple, built 237-212 BC under Ptolemy III and IV. During festivals, this hall was decorated with faience, flowers and herbs and scented with incense and myrrh.

Hall of offerings : A small doorway, decorated with splendid reliefs of the sacred barques of Horus and Hathor, leads from the Festival Hall into the Hall of Offerings. During the New Year Festival, the image of Horus was carried up the ascending stairway on the left to be revitalized by the sun, then carried back down the descending stairway.

Sanctuary Of Horus : The Sanctuary of Horus, with ritual barque (barge) granite shrine in back is the holiest part of the temple. The sanctuary centers on a black-granite shrine that was dedicated by Nectanebo II, making it the oldest relic in the temple. This once contained the gilded wooden cult image of Horus. Next to the shrine is an offering table and the ceremonial barque (barge) on which Horus was carried during festivals.

Edfu temple in Egypt – Sanctuary Of Horus, the holiest part of the temple

Nilometer : One of the most remarkable elements of the Temple is the existence of a Nilometer, as well as a chapel, which was dedicated to the Goddess Nut.

Edfu temple in Egypt – Nilometer, for measuring the height of the Nile

Edfu temple in Egypt – taking a horse carriage from the cruise to the temple

Edfu temple in Egypt – view of the temple from a distance

Edfu temple in Egypt – tourist taking a photo of some of the pillars

Edfu temple in Egypt – the huge carving in the first pylon

Edfu temple in Egypt – the large carving in the first pylon

Martand Sun Temple, Kashmir – Ruins of a beautiful temple dedicated to the Sun God

Traveller — Mon, 24 May 2010 11:13:11 +0000

Martand, located atop a plateau, close to the township of Anantnag, has a temple dedicated to Surya, the “Sun God”. Built by king Laitaditya Muktapida (7th to 8th century AD), it is a medieval temple with a colonnaded courtyard and the shrine in its centre. The king appeared to be a worshiper of Sun, treating the Sun as an all pervading phenomenon. The Martand temple consists of a courtyard with main temple in the middle and colonnaded peristyle, which is 220 feet long and 142 feet broad. The temple complex has 84 columns and offers a commanding view of the valley of Kashmir. The style of the construction of the temple and the skill of the makers are rare in the history of the world. Apart from the exquisite architecture, another attraction of the Martand temple is its picturesque surroundings. It was constructed on the highest part of a plateau.
It is an example of not only some great Kashmiri architectural skill from the years past, but it also has pride of having been set up at a fine spot which is prettier than quite a few of the the spots where other historical buildings in India and outside have been built. The ruins of the huge temple stand in a square field with snow capped mountains of the smiling valley as the background. This temple has been built with strong and square limestones. The pillars of the temple are of Greek pattern.

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

View Larger Map

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

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

Saputara – Dispatch from the Dangs, located in the state of Gujarat, India

Traveller — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:27:28 +0000

State : Gujrat
Distance : 262 kms NE of Mumbai, via Nasik.
Journey time : 6 hrs by road. By train : 31/2 hrs + 21/2 hrs by road.
Location : At the southern tip of Gujrat on the border with Maharashtra,
in the forested hills of the second highest plateau in the Sahyadris and
3,196 ft above sea level.

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

Location of Saputara on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there

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

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

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

Places to see in Saputara

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

Places to stay in Saputara

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

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