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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:

View Larger Map

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

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:

View Larger Map

Route between Shimla and Chamba:

View Larger Map

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’.