Alibag (also called Alibagh or Alibaugh) is an idyllic, peaceful town on the western coast of India (which is known as the Konkan region). It lies on almost the same latitude as the southern tip of Mumbai and is very close to this tip across the narrow strip of the Arabian Sea, conquerable by a ferry. Alibag is a place that any Mumbai dweller can think of going when he / she wants to make a getaway (same with people from Pune). Its nearness and lush tropical beauty make Alibag very attractive for those seeking a break from frenetic city life, and causes an increasing number of people to make this trip. Palm fringed beaches, lush mango orchards, chikoo-wadis and paddy fields make Alibag a pleasantly verdant and unpolluted retreat, especially with a number of beaches. Alibag is particularly beautiful during the monsoons, with rain washed trees and the goodly smell of wet earth making you wish you could stay here forever. For those on their honeymoon, nothing can be more romantic than Alibag in the rains.

Alibag on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Alibag has a beach in the city as well as there are nearabout 9 beaches around the city. Like other beaches on the Konkan coast, Alibag too has a historic fort, the Kulaba Fort, which is just off the main seashore. The fort can be visited during low tide when the waters have receded. Alibag is not only a city of sun, or beaches it is also said to be the one of most amazingly budgeted place. Alibag used to be the headquarters the great Maratha Admiral, Kanhoji Angre and has the famous Kolaba fort in the sea. Kanhoji Angre created the town of Alibag towards end of 17th century. Legend has it that a wealthy Muslim named Ali Owned many plantations, which gave the town the name Alibag.
By road, the trip is longer, with the trip being a three-hour drive from Mumbai as the route winds north from the Mumbai peninsula to Navi Mumbai and then curves and moves south along the mainland coast. The hill range of the Western Ghats line the other side of the city giving it a unique character of greenery and the blue of the ocean. It’s a wonderful place to take a relaxed vacation with nothing on your mind. Alibag is a place for a vacation. An unhurried pace of life is a small town with a beautiful beach and the green hills on the other side, free of pollution and noise.
Some of the attributes that make Alibag a beautiful place are:
Eye soothing greenery with many coconut trees standing in queue
Old huge houses as the remains of the history, and excellent pieces of architecture
Historically important places
Pleasant atmosphere, accompanied by the twitter of birds, the mysterious sounds of waves

Places to see:

Mandwa & Kihim: Mandwa is a beautiful, untrodden beach. On a clear day one can enjoy a long, breathtaking view across the bay, up to the Gateway of India. Mandwa village too, has a charm of its own — with its beautiful groves of coconut palms. You can plan an unusual tent holiday nearby at Kihim. Unspoilt and isolated, this beautiful place has a soothing effect on all city dwellers. For the nature lover, Kihim has a lot to offer: woods brimming with wild flowers and rare butterflies and birds.

Chaul: 15 kms from Alibag. A historic place with Portuguese ruins, Buddhist Caves, the Hamam Khana, a church, a temple and a synagogue.

Alibag beach : It is the main beach of the town. One can see the Kolaba fort from here. It is about 15 -20 minutes walk from Akshay Bungalow.

Nagaon beach : It is situated about 7 km away from Alibag. On the way to Nagaon you’ll come across many ‘Wadis’ - Indian style farm houses with personal coconut and beetle nut gardens.

Kashid Beach : It is situated about 32 km away from Alibag, on the Alibag-Murud highway, it is one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches.

Plus, you can do trekking nearby and have a great time. And if you are fond of sea food, then you cannot find a better place varieties in sea food, such as Pamphret, Prawns, Ravas, Crabs, Lobsters, Bombay ducks etc. which are fresh delicious and cheap.

Places to stay:
Big Splash
Hotel Ravikiran
Kashid Beach Resort
Prakruti Resorts
Sand Piper Resort
Sunglow Resorts
Private Bungalow
Tropicana Resort
Akshay Bungalow
Golden Swan Beach Resort
Sun n Sea Beach Resort
Hotel Sea View
Guruji Holiday Resort
Mauli Resort
Jogalekar Cottage
Hampton Cottage
Hotel Sahyadri
Kaivalya Farms
Ghanvatkar Bungalow
Hotel Meera Madhav
Radisson Alibaug
Sandtop Hill Resort

External articles:
1. Photos of Alibagh Fort along with post (link)
2. Trip to the Fort from Mumbai (link)
3. View of Sarjekot Fort (link)
4. Photo of a beach in Alibag (link)
5. Trip to Alibag and Murud (link)
6. Trip to Alibag (link)
7. Bike trip to Alibag (link)
8. Photos of sunset at Alibag (link)
9. Photos of Alibag and beach (link)
10. Bhuvaneshvar Mandir In Alibag (link)
11. Photos of Alibag and Kashid (link)
12. Post about trek (link)
13. Photo of canons at the Kolaba fort (link)
14. Dabbas, Alibaug and Blogposts (link)

Scenic Panchgani was discovered by the British during the British Raj as a summer resort (among the many other resorts developed by the British in the 19th century), and a superintendent named John Chesson was placed in charge of the hill station in the 1860s.
The five hills surrounding Panchgani are topped by a volcanic plateau, which is the second highest in Asia after the Tibetan plateau. These plateaus, alternatively known as “table land”, are a part of the Deccan Plateau and they were raised by pressure between the earth plates. The area has high seismic activity, with an epicenter near Koyn?nagar where the Koynanagar Dam and a hydroelectric power plant have been built. Panchgani is known for its many boarding schools since the late 1800’s. They attract student from the nearby cities of Mumbai and Pune, and also from abroad.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

The name is unique, with the name of Panchgani being derived from the five hills around it. At an altitude of 1334 m it is just 38 m below Mahabaleshwar. These 38 m translate themselves into a breathtaking 20 kms approach from Mahabaleshwar, that swoops around bends with abandon, offering heart stopping views of the river krishna on one side & the coastal plains on the other. Panchgani is the quintessential hill station, with the Raj stamped indelibly all over it. It can be seen in the old architecture of the old British buildings, the parsi houses, & the boarding schools that have been for a century or more.
If you are on a tour of Panchgani, try exploring the town, riding on the back of a pony. You can ride through little villages and farms and imagine yourself touring the countryside, and is the recommended means of going through the countryside. On a serious note though, if you really wish to see the scenic beauty, then pony ride is a good option or else you can take a taxi or rent a bicycle. Do not forget to check out the enchanting River Krishna while you are there.

Places nearby and worth seeing:

Sydney Point: This site is situated on a small hillock facing the Krishna Valley. From here one can see the the glittering waters of the Dhom Dam and Pandavgad and Mandhardeo.

Table Land: Situated around 60 mts high, this flat large expanse of laterite rock is the second longest mountain plateau in asia. There are some spacious caves that can be seen from here and one of them is Devil’s Kitchen. Depicted in a number of movies.

Parsi Point: From here we have a view of the rice and wheat fields of Chikli village and flowing past is the Krishna river. A look through the telescope and a rough guide to the area for five rupees should give you a fair idea of what to see.

Devil’s Kitchen: The Devil’s Kitchen situated to the south of tableland, is also a place of mythological interest. It is believed that the Pandavas stayed here for a while and used this place to cook their food. There are some legends regarding this, though most of them appear to be mere tall tales. Some people claim that Pandvgadh Caves (near Wai) are also built by them and bear their name.

Dhom Dam: Water sports is a great attraction for tourists, located 21 kms away from Panchgani. This is a beautiful boating spot and here one can enjoy with Scooter boats and Speed boats.

The Lingmala Falls: The Lingmala Falls in Mahabaleshwar can be reached by road. It lies on the Mahabaleshwar-Poona road. The stream here precipitates over the face of steep cliff, unbroken when the torrent is swollen by rain but ordinarily divided by projecting rocks about one third of the way down into thin silver streaks and sprays often circled by rainbows. The forest bungalow of lingmala is also close by.

Rajapuri Caves: About 10 km from the town, the caves have a religious importance as there is a temple of Lord Karthikeya, (Lord Shiva’s son) here. A temple of local goddess Ghatjal Devi is also in the area. A small local fair is held at the time of the harvest season.

Satara (45 Km): A district headquarters, Satara was the capital of the Maratha empire form 1699. The places of interest here include the Shri Bhavani Devi Jalamandir, Ajinkyatara Fort of Satara and Shri Kshetra Mahuli (6 Km).

Wai (12 Km): Wai is a small holy town situated on the banks of the river Krishna. Wai is known for its ancient temple of Lord Ganapati, the Kashivishweshwar temple and the Buddhist caves at Lonara (7 Km).

How to get there:

Distances: 98 kms from Pune, 266 kms from Mumbai via Mahad, 20 kms from Mahabaleshwar

Air: The nearest airport is Pune (100 Km) which is connected by Indian Airlines and other airlines with Delhi, Mumbai and other cities /towns.

Rail: The nearest railhead is Satara (44 Km) but the convenient railhead is Pune (100 Km), which is a major railhead on the Central Line.

Road: Panchgani is connected by motorable roads with Aurangabad 330 Km, Mahabaleshwar 19 Km, Mumbai 258 Km, Nashik 306 Km, Satara(via-Wai) 44 Km, Pune 100 Km)

Places to stay:
Listing (link)
Cliff Inn Resort (link)
Comfort Inn Dhanhills (link)
Blue Country Resort (link)
Hotel Millennium Park
Ravine Hotel, Panchgani (link)
Basilica Hotel, Panchgani (link)
Mount Castle, Panchgani
Summer Plaza Resort, Panchgani (link)
Lords Panchgani Club, Panchgani (link)
Prospect Hotel, Panchgani (link)
IL Palazzo Hotel (link)
Rahil Plaza Hotel, Panchgani
Summer Palace, Panchgani (link)
Sai Palace, Panchgani
Aishwarya Hotel, Panchgani
Five Hills, MTDC, Panchgani

External articles:
1. Photos of Panchgani (link)
2. Schools located in Panchgani (link)
3. Sunset at Panchgani (link)
4. Panchgani at holidayiq.com (link)
5. Blog and photos (link)
6. Blog at Umang Dutt (link)
7. Motorbike ride to Panchgani (link)
8. Photo of Panchgani (link)
9. Riding on the clouds in Panchgani (link)
10. Lots of photos of Panchgani (link)
11. Dragon clouds at Panchgani (link)
12. Nature at Panchgani photos (link)
13. Photo Gallery at Panchgani (link)
14. Review of Il Pallazo (link)
15. Beautiful photos of Panchgani with blog (link)
16. Trip to Panchgani (link)

Havelock Island is a beautiful island located approx 56 km from the capital of the Andaman Island chain in India, Port Blair (a distance covered in 2.5 hours by ferry). The island is famous for having extremely beautiful beaches (with the beach # 7, called the Radhanagar Beach having being declared as among the top 10 beaches in Asia). The island offers plentiful opportunity to people interested in exploring the sea, with both snorkeling and scuba diving options (Havelock has a Scuba Diving club where a person can actually undergo scuba diving classes and get certification). The arrival port is at Beach #1, the junction at the center is Beach #3 and so on. The island has other beautiful beaches, located at different locations, all of them numbered (who has heard of beaches being known by their numbers rather than by names?). The beaches are all white sand based, and are great for relaxing, enjoying the wonderful sights, and for swimming.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

The town is small and has only a handful of shops and local dhabas. Most accommodation is grouped along the road from Beach #3 to Beach #5. From the ‘junction’ near Beach #3 a road veers off to Beach #7 (Radhanagar Beach). Mid-January until mid-May sees the best weather, and often the best diving conditions. The days are mostly sunny at this time of year, and the sea sometimes flat enough to reflect the clouds. The monsoon usually hits around late May, lasting until the end of July, and is probably the worst time to visit the island – strong winds, frequent rain and low visibility underwater. August thru November see some occasional showers and slightly rougher seas, but diving can still be great at this time of year. The weather often takes a turn for the worse for the month of December through early January.
When traveling to Havelock Island, do not depend on plastic money, make sure that you are carrying actual money. Havelock island does not have an ATM and almost none of the hotels are able to perform card transactions, although Barefoot Scuba, Barefoot at Havelock Jungle Resort and Island Vinnies can accept Credit Cards. You will also need to carry some of the basic requirements such as flashlights, mosquito repellants, etc because finding them in Havelock Island may be a challenge.
Besides the various sea forms (including dolphins and large fish), what else does the island have ? In the deep forests one can find elephants also. Only one third of the Northern island is inhabited.

How to get there:
Ferries are the way to get there, and it is preferable to book in advance. First you need to reach the city of Port Blair, and then stay overnight in Port Blair and then head off to Havelock Island the next morning. The ferries go at 6:30AM followed by one at 10:30AM and and a “tourist special” at 2PM (exact timings should always be confirmed).

Places to stay:
Barefoot Resort (link)
Cafe del Mar (link)
Pristine Beach Resort (link)
Island Vinnie’s (link)
Sunrise Beach Resort
Orient Legend Resort
Wild Orchid (link)
Dolphin Beach Resort
Emerald Gecko (link)
Silver Sand (link)
Bay View Inn

Other articles:
1. Scuba diving on Havelock Island (link1, link2). Also with photos.
2. Reviews of Hotels on Havelock Island (link)
3. Trip to Havelock Island along with photos (link)
4. Dan Shetler trip to Havelock Island along with many photos (link)
5. Post on plentymag.com (link)
6. Post on Havelock Island (link)
7. Trip to Havelock Islands (link)
8. The elephant Rajan in Havelock Island (link)
9. Very informative blog on Havelock Island (link)
10. Article on livemint.com (link)
11. Blog post on Havelock Island (link)
12. Beautiful photos of Havelock Island (link)
13. Boat journey along with photos (link)
14. Photos of Havelock Island (link)
15. Photos on Wikipedia (link)
16. Photos on trekearth.com (link)
17. Great photo of the beach (link)
18. Photos on Travelpod (link)
19. Wikitravel (link)

Alleppey is famously known as the ‘Venice of East’ because of its vast water network. It is located 64km north of Kochi in Kerala. Alleppey is also known as Alappuzha (the local language, Malayalam name for Alleppey). Why the water like term of Venice ? Well, Alleppey is surrounded by the Arabian sea on the west and a vast network of lakes, lagoons and fresh water rivers crisscross it. The large network of canals provides Alleppey its lifeline, proving to be a great transportation network. It has a spectacular long sandy beach.
But when Raja Kesavadasan, the Dewan of Travancore (king), founded the town in 1762, there was just one canal through the strip of sand between the backwaters and the sea. This soon grew into a bustling waterway, with shops, factories and commercial establishments springing up on either bank of the canal. This attracted merchants from other parts of the country and from outside, making this a thriving business location.
By the mid-19th Century, the sea had receded a mile, offering more land along the sand strip. Trading vessels soon began to call on Alleppey (Alappuzha). In 1859 the first organized coir factory & products was started here and began producing matting from coir yarn on a loom developed by an English sea captain. Soon other British company -owned weaving establishments followed.

Mapmyindia map of Alleppey:

Alleppey is also known for its boat races. The most famous of the races is the ‘Nehru Trophy Boat Race’ (named after the first Indian Prime Minister) which began in 1952 on the occasion of the visit of India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to Alleppey. The boat race is now a regular major (tourist wise) event held on the second Saturday of every August and features the gigantic snake-boats of Kerala, the chundans, (once the battleships of the Malayalee kings from times past). Competition is severe as the boats, with over 120 rowers in each, race to the finish to the accompaniment of rousing music. Each boat is sponsored by a different village and winning the race is a matter of great pride for these villages.
A grand annual festival is celebrated at the unique ‘Nagaraja Temple’ here in October/November. ‘Chirappu Mahotsavam’ is a big occasion at Mullackal Temple in December. Another festival celebrated by the temple is a one-day Thaipooyan kavadi. The famous Chandanakudam is celebrated at the Kidangam-Parampu Temple during December every year. Kottamkulangara Temple in Alappuzha have two festive seasons in February and March, because of two deities with separate flag masts in same compound wall.
For tourists Alleppey(Alappuzha) is the pivotal point for trips into Kerala’s famed backwaters (houseboats & motor boats) and the state’s lush rice bowl, Kuttanad. Between Quilon to the south and Kottayam to the east lie some of the most entrancing scenery of palm-lined banks, islands, quiet water-bound villages and little boats taking the local people to and fro-everything framed in green.
A glide in a “Kettuvallam” (Houseboat) through the enchanting backwaters of Alleppey is sure to rob your heart. Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either sides of the canals are panoramic sights one can never forget. The Chinese fishing nets, the reminiscent of our past trade links, are also found on the way. Flocks of ducks swimming around the banks and tiny birds flying across the sky remains as enduring pictures reflecting the charm of this unique land.
The weather of Alleppey is pleasant throughout the year making it the ideal destination for tourists. The summers though hot, are pleasant. The temperature varies between 22°C to 35°C in summers. You hardly experiences any winters here. The temperature during winters usually varies between 18°C to 30°C.
The months from January to April and August to October are the ideal months to visit Alleppey. The place experiences heavy monsoon showers and if you love rains, it’s not a bad idea to visit Alleppey during monsoons but if you don’t like rains then avoid monsoon as it rains heavily.

Places to see:

Champakulam Church - One of the oldest churches in Kerala, the St. Mary’s Church is believed to be one of the seven established by St. Thomas. The annual feast at this church falls on the 3rd Sunday of October every year. The feast of St. Joseph is celebrated on March 19th.

Alappuzha beach - This is one of the most popular picnic spots in Alappuzha. The pier, which extends into the sea here, is over 137 years old. Entertainment facilities at the Vijaya beach park add to the attractions of the beach.

A short distance from Alleppey (Alappuzha) is Punnapra, a village that has gone down in history as the scene of a battle between the Communists group and the Travancore State Police in the Punnapra - Vayalar Communist Uprising of 1946.

A traveler can use Alleppey (Alappuzha) as a base to make excursions to nearby historical sites and scenic spots. Pathiramanal, (near kumarakom) a beautiful little island in the Vembanad Lake; it is the largest lake in the Asia, which can be reached only by boat, is set to be developed as a major tourist spot. The Sri Krishna temple at Ambalapuzha, 14 km from Alleppey (Alappuzha), is among kerala’s more famous ones, boating through of the typical temple architectural style of the state. It is equally famed for its palpayasam, a sweet milk porridge offered to the diet. The temple’s main festival occurs in March/April. It was in this temple that the 16th century poet Kunjan Nambiar staged his first Ottan Thullal, a solo dance performance with a high social content.

How to get there:

Air: The nearest airport is Cochin, 64 km to the north; Trivandrum International Airport is 159 km to the south.

Rail: Alleppey has recently been linked to Cochin by rail. The Alleppey Railway Station is 5 km from the central bus stand and the boat jetty.

Road: Alleppey is on the NH 47 highway and is connected to all-important towns in south India by public state transport buses.

Houseboat Boat / Motorboat: Alleppey is linked by boat services through the backwaters to Quilon and Changanassery, Kottayam, Cochin, Kumarakom, Kavalam and Chengannur, Kuttanad places.

Places to stay:

Raheem Residency (site)
Akkarakkalm Memoirs: phone: 91 477 2261522
Nelpura Heritage Homestay (site)
OG’s Beach Bungalow (site)
Hotel Royal Park (site)
Arcadia Regency (site)
Alleppey Prince Hotel (site)
Marari Fishermen Village Beach Resort (site)
Marari Beach Resort (site)
Lake Palace Resort (site)
Coir Village Lake Resort (site)
Punnamada Backwater Resort (site)
Kayaloram Heritage Lake Resort (site)
Pagoda Resorts (site)
Pozhiyoram Beach Resort (site)
Kondai Lip Backwater Resort
Palmgrove Lake Resort (site)
Grand Nirvana Resort: phone: 91 478 2861970
Alleppey Beach Resorts (site)
Lake Heaven Island Resort (site)
Keraleeyam Health Resort (link)
Shanthitheeram Lakeside Heritage Resort (site)
Pathiramanal Lake Resort (site)
Green Palace Kerala Resort (site)
Kuttanadu River Resort (site)
Pooppallys Heritage Homestay (site)
Mullackal Home Stay (site)
Gowri Heritage Residence (site)
Emerald Isle Heritage Villa (site)
Mappilassery Mansion (site)

External articles / sites:

1. Houseboats (link)
2. Location Map (link)
3. Ghumakkar.com trip (link)
4. Forum posts on driving from Alleppey to Goa (link)
5. Houseboat cruise experience (link)
6. Photos from a houseboat (incuding kitchen) (link)
7. Cruise on a houseboat (link)
8. Photo of stream and lake (link)
9. Cruising Alleppey in a houseboat (link)
10. Varkala to Alleppey (link)
11. Alleppey to Munnar (link)
11. Johnson’s blog (link)
12. Backwater tours (link)
13. Grand Nirvana Resort Photos (link)
14. All happy in Alleppey (link)
15. Alleppey continued (link)
16. Trip to Alleppey (link)
17. Photo Gallery on world66.com (link)

Kanyakumari forms the southern most end of mainland India, being the place where the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean merge (and consequently being famous for the merge of 3 different bodies of water). Kanyakumari has been a great center for culture, civilization and pilgrimage for years. Kanyakumari is named after the virgin goddess Kanyakumari whose temple is situated here. Legends have it that Kanya Devi, an incarnation (avatar) of Goddess Parvati, was to wed Lord Shiva but he did not turn up for the wedding (having turned back in a mistake) and the marriage never took place. According to legends, the rice and cereals meant for the marriage remained uncooked. Even today, stones that look exactly like rice and cereals are available in the market. It is a common belief that these stones are the leftovers of the legendary marriage, which could not be solemnized. As the marriage could not take place, Kanya Devi became a virgin goddess.

Map of Kanyakumari on MapMyIndia.com

Besides its importance as a Hindu pilgrim center, it is famous for its beautiful views of sunrise and sunset over the waters. The multicolored sand is a unique feature of the beach here. Due to its proximity to the sea, Kanyakumari enjoys a pleasant climate and can be visited throughout the year. However, the best season to visit this place would be between October and March. During summers, the temperature can rise to a high of 34.8°C while it can dip to a low of 20.4°C during winters.
Kanyakumari or the Cape Comorin was once known as the Alexandria of the east. A hub of art, culture, civilization, and pilgrimage for years, it was famous for commerce and trade. The architecture of this beautiful beach land is greatly inspired by the influence of many religions like Islam, Christianity and Jainism. Kanyakumari was ruled by the Cholas, the Cheras, the Pandyas and the Nayaks, all great rulers of south India. The credit for the architectural beauty of the temples found in Kanyakumari goes to these rulers. As per convention, Kanyakumari was given the name Cape Comorin by the British as it was easier for them to pronounce.
Christianity arrived in South India around AD 52 through St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ. However, European missionaries, who arrived in the 16th century, propagated Christianity in the area. St. Francis Xavier (April 7, 1506 – December 2, 1552) was the pioneer in preaching Christianity in the present day Kanyakumari district. Islam is believed to have entered the southern part of India through Kanyakumari during the early part of the eighth century AD through traders and missionaries who came through sea-routes. Islam, Christianity and Jainism have also contributed to the architectural wealth and literary heritage of the region.

Places to see:

The Kumari Amman or the Kanyakumari Temple, located on the shore, is dedicated to a manifestation of Parvati, the virgin goddess who did penance to obtain Lord Shiva’s hand in marriage. The temple and the adjoining ghat, picturesquely situated overlooking the shore, attract tourist from all over the world. The diamond nose-ring of the deity is famous for its sparkling splendor said to be visible even from the sea. Legend has it that the light emanating from this nose ring misguided arriving ships and caused them to crash onto the rocky coast.

The striking Gandhi Memorial has been built on the spot (on an island) where the urn containing the Mahatma’s ashes was kept for public viewing before immersion. Resembling central Indian Hindu temples in form, the memorial was so designed that on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday (October 2), the first rays of the sun fall on the exact place where the ashes of the father of the nation were kept.

The famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial is built in several architectural styles off the coast on rocks that protrude from the ocean. Built in 1970, it marks the place where Swami Vivekananda meditated and evolved his philosophy, close to the memorial is Sripada Parai where the footprints of the virgin goddess are supposed to have fallen. Ferry services to the rocks are frequent. This memorial stands on one of two rocks separated by about 70 meters. It opens from Wednesday to Monday. Tuesday is a holiday. It opens from 0700 to 1100 and from 1400 to 1700.

Thiruvalluvar Statue: Located at the southern most tip of the Indian Peninsula where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, is Kanyakumari, the place famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Here out in the sea, about 400m from the shore, on the minor rock adjoining the Vivekananda rock memorial lies a Statue of Saint Thiruvalluvar, the author who gave us quintessential words of wisdom through his philosophical work ‘Thirukkural’, a treatise in Tamil on the Indian way of life.

Vattakottai Fort was built in 18th century by the Travancore king Marthanda Varma for defending coastal areas. It was designed by the Dutch captain De Lannoy and is an interesting fort extending to the sea. Fort sides are flanked by beaches and you will rarely find people at the beach. So most of the time it is like being in a private beach!

Thirparappu Water Falls - Thirparappu water falls is a beautiful and elegant waterfall on the Kodayar river. It is a very popular tourist destination and is jam packed at almost all times! Thirparappu waterfall is located about 60KM from Kanyakumari and about 10KM from Marthandam.

Petchi Parai Dam - Pechiparai dam is located about 40KM from Nagercoil. It is built across Kodayar river and is at the downstream of Thirparappu waterfalls. There is a camp shed for tourists.

Udayagiri Fort - Udayagiri Fort is located about 14KM from Nagercoil and about 33KM from Kanyakumari. It was built in 16th century and later in 18th century was rebuilt by Travancore king Marthanda Varma. It is located on the NH47 and hence you can visit it while travelling to or back from Kanyakumari.

Situated 13 km from Kanyakumari, Suchindram bears the imprint of various kingdoms. The Thanumalayan temple here is a repository of art treasures belonging to those kingdoms. The temple is famous for its musical columns and its impressive six m-tall statue of the monkey god, Hanuman. The main deity in the form of a shivling represents Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, the trinity of the Hindu pantheon. Ancient inscriptions dating back to the ninth century are found in this place.

The Lord Subramanya temple at Kumarakovil (34km) is situated in the midst of lush greenery on a hillock. It is noted for its architecture and the lake near it is big enough to boat in.

How to reach:

By Air : The nearest airport from Kanyakumari is situated at Trivandrum about 80 kms away. It is directly connected with Bangalore, Mumbai, Cochin, Delhi, Goa, and Chennai by regular flights.
Kanyakumari is connected to most of the cities by the Indian Railways network, with direct trains to Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Jammu, Chennai and many others. Tirunelvelli, situated around 80 kms away from Kanyakumari is the other nearest railway junction and can be reached by road via Nagarkoil (19 km).
Additionally, buses are available to go to Trivandrum, Nagercoil, Tirunelvelli, Rameswaram and other nearby towns. The nearest airport is located in Trivandrum.
Distances - Trivandrum (86 km), Nagarkoil (19 km), Tirunelvelli (91 km), Tiruchendur (89 km), Tuticorin (129 km), Rameshwaram (300 km), Courtallam (130 km), Madurai (242 km), Thekkady (358 km), Kodaikanal (362 km), Palani (370 km), Ootacamund (576 km), Cochin (309 km), and Coimbatore (478 km)

Places to stay:

Hotel Singaar in Kanyakumari (link)
Hotel Sea View (link)
Hotel Samudra
Hotel Trisea (link)
Hotel Parvathi Residency
Review of some places to stay (link)

External articles:

1. Trip to Kanyakumari (link)
2. Trip to Kanyakumari on paintedstork.com (link)
3. Trip to Kanyakumari (link)
4. Hotels, places, and others in Kanyakumari (link)
5. Cochin - Munnar - Thekkady - Kumarakom - Kanyakumari - Kovalam (link)
6. Photos at Flickr (link)
7. Tribute to Swami Vivekananda (link)
8. Kanyakumari travel report (link)
9. Bangalore-Madurai-Rameshwaram-kanyakumari (link)
10. Picture Gallery for Kanyakumari (link)
11. Travelpod (link)
12. Review of mouthshut (link)
13. Some beautiful photos from Travelpod (link)
14. Great photos at pbase.com (link)
15. Blog on Kanyakumari on travelblog.com (link)
16. Photos of Kanyakumari at geocities.com (link)
17. Photo Gallery at the official site (link)

Nestled in the Satpura ranges, at an altitude of 1,100m, Pachmarhi is one of the most beautiful hill stations in central India (and the only one in Madhya Pradesh). The beauty of the place is present in its relaxing nature and pace, with peace, seclusion and a quiet unobtrusive beauty as its prime attractions. Nature, finds many different way to express itself - Formed of red sandstone, the valley, ravines and the maze of gorges, add colour to this tranquil hill station. The air remains pleasantly fresh and cool throughout the year, except for the peak time in summer, thus making Pachmarhi, a hill station that can be visited throughout the year.
But more significantly it is for the silence, serenity and solitude Pachmarhi offers that keeps it distinct from many other such hill stations.
Pachmarhi is widely known as “Satpura ki Rani” (Queen of Satpura), situated at a height of 1000 m in a valley of the Satpura Range in Hoshangabad district. The highest point in the central India region and the Vindhya and Satpura range; Dhupgarh at 1100 m is located in the region.

Map of Pachmarhi on MapMyIndia.com

A derelict church and houses with a perceptible colonial ambience are vestiges of the British Raj. Pachmarhi was in fact founded by Colonel Forsyth, a Bengal Lancer, who discovered Pachmarhi in 1857, and the point where he first sighted and fell in love with the area was named after him and earlier called Forsyth Point. Today this has been renamed Priyadarshini Point. This enthralling feeling of Forsyth was echoed by other Englishmen who, finding the town pleasant throughout the year, settled here and developed Pachmarhi into a cantonment, and it is still a cantonment, with the army owning most of the town. Development has come by way of government aided projects which are geared more towards cottage industries.
Pachmarhi is a place for walks, along the short or long chakkars, along the predictable way or along lesser known routes where one can come across rock shelters such as those in the Maradeo hill covered with paintings depicting warfare, food gathering and hunting, some dating as far back as 1000 BC. Walks take one through forests and meadows, to hill tops such as Dhoopgarh, the highest point in the Satpuras where the sunsets are quite spectacular, or down gorges and valleys where water and shade have led to a luxuriant growth of vegetation in every conceivable shade of green. In addition, there are more options in Pachmarhi. For more adventure there are walks in woods in the Saputara ranges. For short walks you may visit the Jata Shanker cave. Visit to the hilltop temple of Chauragarh is another interesting option. With or without guide trekking is an excellent option to explore the hill resort of Pachmarhi.
Beauty apart, the Mahadeo Hills are a pilgrimage center, with ancient shrines to Shiva concealed in deep ravines and cliffs. The sacred site of Mahadeo in Chauragarh is the spot where the God tricked the demon Bhasmasur, and Jata Shankar, as the name suggests, resembles Shiva’s untamed locks. A dark cave in Jata Shankar has two naturally formed Shivlingas on which water drips constantly from a pool. The mythological Pandava kings are said to have spent part of their exile in the Pandava Caves or Panch Mathi, which lent their name to Pachmarhi.
Complementing the magnificence of nature are the works of man; Pachmarhi is also an archaeological treasure-house. In cave shelters in the Mahadeo Hills is an astonishing richness in rock paintings. Most of these have been placed in the period 500-800 AD, but the earliest paintings are an estimated 10,000 years old.

Places to see:

Handi Khoh, is the most impressive precipice, which dramatically cuts down over 100 meters deep into the bowels of earth. One can, by making a slight effort, hear the gentle murmur of flowing water and can spot huge undisturbed beehives clinging to the sheer rock face.

The rock-cut Pandav caves are associated with the Pandavas of the epic Mahabharata. Pandavas had a halt here in their wanderings across India.

Jatashankar an important rock formation is -a place sanctified by the Shaivite lore. The stones are indeed shaped like the mater hair of the great Hindu god Shiva, and inside a natural Cavern there is a stone formation like the hundred-headed divine snake Seshnag.

Forsyth Point: This vantage viewing point marks the place from where Pachmarhi was discovered. In 1857, Captain Forsyth from the Bengal Lancers approached the plateau at the head of a column of troops. At this point (originally named after him), he first glimpsed the extraordinary beauty of this aucer-shaped scenic spot. Now called Priyadarshini Point.

Duchess Falls: The beautiful streams of water get divided because of big rocks and fall down from a 4.0 kilometers of hight. The different branches of water fall makes it looks like silver embroidery over a leaf green saree.

Mahadeo: This is lord Shiva’s temple, in a hilly area. People climb long stair cases to reach the temple and few people donate Trishuls to make their wishes come true. On the way coming down there are caves with paintings and carvings.

Dhoopgarh: This nice sunset point is in the peak of Satpura range and give a beautiful picture of surroundings. Always carry ample amount of water if going to do tracking towards Dhoopgarh, there is no proper water source on the way.

Catholic Church: A great example of French and Irish mixed architecture, built by the British in 1892. There is cemetery attached to the church which has graves from the time of world war I and II.

Christ Church: This is most beautiful small church in Madhya Pradesh, built by British in 1875. Another momentum of British rule. This church’s architecture is as fascinating as catholic church.

Apsara Falls: A lovely little bathing pool, and easily accessible from Jai Stambh, this ‘fairy pool’ is an idea. Picnic spot for families with children, as the pool is shallow. Deepening only towards the base of the fall which cascade gently into its waters.

Rajat Pratap: Those seeking adventure will find it in this ten-minute walk over rocks and boulders from Apsara Vihar to the top of Rajat Pratap, the ‘big fall’. A thrilling experience is looking straight down to the bottom of the fall which plunges down a 350-foot-high precipice.

Irene Pool: This pretty pool was discovered by Irene Bose, wife of Justice Vivian Bose, and named after her. The approach to this bathing spot is from the car stop to Reech Garh, The route upstream leads to a cave, through which the stream goes underground and then over a khud in a series of falls.

Satpura National Park: For the animal lovers visit to the Saputara National Park is a must. The park has fantabulous flora and fauna. You may spot animals like the bison, tiger, leopard, bear, four-horned deer and blue-bull et al. The evergreen sal, teak and bamboo together with the mountain peaks add to the beauty of the park.

How to reach
By Air: The nearest airport is Bhopal (195 km), connected by regular flights with Delhi, Gwalior, Indore and Mumbai.
By Rail : 45 kilometres by road from Piparia station on the Indian Railways. Piparia is on the Itarsi Jabalpur train line, a 2 hrs train run from Jabalpur. All the trains on this line pass through Piparia, but only a few halt here. Although you can also take a car / taxi from the Bhopal railway station
By Road : Pachmarhi is connected by regular bus services with Bhopal, Hoshangabad, Nagpur, Pipariya and Chhindwara. Taxis are available at Pipariya.

Places to stay:

Panchvati Huts & Cottages
Golf View Pachmarhi
Rock End Manor
Satpura Retreat
Amaltas Hotel
Glen View Hotel
Pachmarhi Regency Hotel (link)
Holiday Homes
Pachmarhi Hotel
Hilltop Bungalow
Misty Meadows (link)
Club View Hotel
Indraprastha Hotel
Giri Shingar Hotel
Pandav Hotel
Sahakar Bungalow
Evelyn’s Own
Highlands Hotel

External articles:

1. Blog on abctales.com (link)
2. Pachmarhi lake (link)
3. Detailed article on Ghumakkar.com (link)
4. Pachmarhi on merinews.com (link)
5. Detailed trip to Pachmarhi (link)
6. Trip to Pachmarhi on nainakohli’s blog (link)
7. funzzone.blogspot article (link)
8. Visit to Pachmarhi (link)
9. Unforgettable trip to Pachmarhi (link)
10. Visit to Pachmarhi (link)
11. Photo of rock paintings at Pachmarhi (link)
12. Journey to Panchmarhi (link)
13. Trip to Pachmarhi with friends (link)
14. Videos of a trip to Pachmarhi (link)
15. Photos of Pachmarhi at Webshots (link)
16. Waterfall stream in Pachmarhi (link)
17. Pachmarhi photos at HolidayIq.com (link)
18. Photos of Pachmarhi (link)
19. Photos of Raj Mahal at Pachmarhi (link)
20. Photos of various tourist spots at Pachmarhi (link)
21. Road journey from Indore to Pachmarhi (link)

A beautiful church in Kriens, almost at the starting point for the Gondolas upto Mount Pilatus

A panoramic gondola, at the starting point of the journey to Mount Pilatus from Kriens

View of a beautiful countryside from the panoramic gondola on the way to Mount Pilatus

The base station is the starting point for small aerial gondolas that carry 4 people up the hill. These go just over the tree line, and make for a wonderful journey. The aerial gondolas go all the way to Fräkmüntegg, from where you need to get out of the gondolas and transfer to the aerial cable car (that can carry more people, and also have an operator; the gondolas did not have any operators). The cableway is supposed to give a great view, but in our case, even though we went in July, it was very overcast and there was fog and clould that totally obscured our view.

Panoramic Gondolas make the journey between Lucerne and Kriens, on the way to Mount Pilatus

We soon reached Mout Pilatus, and boy, did the shivering start as soon as came into the open. The place was cold, with some bitter winds blowing that also obscured visibility. It was a bit difficult to wander around with all the cold, and we soon ducked inside to get some hot coffee and something to eat. There were a couple of eating places, with a hotel at one side, and 2 more hotels (one a fine eating place, and another that was more of a self-service). There were a number of tables and benches in the open as well, but it was hard to visualize anybody eating over there with that cold wind blowing.

The Hotel Pilatus-Kulm on a windy foggy day

Open air restaurant at Mount Pilatus - not possible because of wind, cold and fog

The main building of Mount Pilatus - it was cold and windy

There was also a small path that led up to the top of the peak where there was a small structure, with the way up through a combination of wooden and stone stairs (and in that cold, you can visualize how the wind would have made the climb so difficult). The only creatures who seemed to be easily visible were Black birds, around the size of a crow, that were eating of whatever had been left behind by tourists (and apparently, this was not done, since a local attendant came and removed these leftovers, clucking his head about tourists leaving food stuff behind).

Beautiful round ceiling lights with yellow light inside Mount Pilatus restaurant

Many black birds (Dohle) foraging for food on Mount Pilatus

Our journey to Mount Pilatus over (we did not try any of the supposed adventure sports over there), we decided to head back to Lucerne. This time we took the alternate route, on the cogwheel train that leaves for the station of Alpnachstad. These are small red trains heading through down the hillside, and was a great journey (especially since it was raining). As we reached the base station of Alpnachstad, we started getting a view of the Lake Lucerne from a height.

View of the tracks (including out of alignment) from within the train on Mount Pilatus

Photo shows the steep climb that the train takes to reach Mount Pilatus from Alpnachstad

The last leg of the journey was from Alpnachstad to Luzern. This was on Lake Lucerne, on a 2 hour journey across the waters of the Lake. It was a fairly thrilling journey, and after such a long trip, just relaxing on the cruise ship was like a relaxing end.

And of course, our journey over, we headed back to Zurich on the next day morning, catching a train. We had around 5 hours between our train having reached Zurich, and the departure time for the flight, and we decided to take small view of Zurich in the meantime. We headed out from the station carrying all our luggage, and decided to take a small walk - all around the river, admiring the view, the beautiful buildings. There was almost no crowd around at that time, and we were able to make our small walk around casually. The only problem was carrying luggage on the cobble-stone path. Soon, it was time to head off to catch a train to the airport for the journey back home.

Zurich train station

View of the Limmat river along with surrounding architecture

Elegant bridge and surrounding beautiful architecture

Other articles:
1. Lots of photos on a journey to Mount Pilatus (link)
2. Photos of the return journey from Pilatus to Luzern via the lake (link)
3. Article with lots of photos (link)

Ranikhet is a hill station and cantonment town in Almora district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the home for the Kumaon Regiment (KRC) & Naga Regiment and is maintained by the Indian Army. This hill station is undoubtedly a tourist’s paradise. The scented mountain breeze, fresh & pure, the singing of birds, the panoramic view of the Himalayas, the sights, sounds and smells leave the onlooker spellbound. Weaving an instant spell on the visitor Ranikhet draws visitors all the year round. Ranikhet reflects the very best of the heavenly Himalayas: their lush green forests, majestic mountain peaks, exotic plant life and attractive wild life.
Take in the panoramic views of the Himalayas and breathe in the fresh pine scented air even before you reach the main hill station. Ranikhet is a cantonment area and somewhat similar to Kasauli of Himachal as it is clean and reminds you of the gone by British raj with it’s colonial buildings et al. Being under the army no major constructions have been allowed in Ranikhet allowing it to retain it’s old world charm. One can go for long walks in the jungle or admire the lovely view of the Himalayas from Bhagirthi in the west to Nandakot in the east, all day long.

Map to Ranikhet from Maps.google.com

View Larger Map

Ranikhet, which means Queen’s meadow in Hindi, gets its name from a local legend, which states that it was here, that Raja Sudhardev won the heart of his queen, Rani Padmini, who subsequently chose the area for her residence, giving it the name, Ranikhet, though no palace exists in the area.
In 1869, the British established the headquarters of the Kumaon Regiment here and used the station as a retreat from the heat of the Indian summer. At one time during British Raj, it was also proposed as the summer headquarters of Government of India, in lieu of Shimla. In 1868, the site was selected for stationing British Troops and the following year the Cantonment was established after acquiring the land from villagers of Sarna, Kotli and Tana on payment of compensation of Rs. 13,024.00. The Cantonment comprises Ranikhet proper, Kumpoor, Chaubattia and the standing camp also known as Dulikhet and is about 6 km long with an average breadth of 8 miles and has an area of 4,262.61 acres.
Ranikhet offers some wonderful treks for trekking enthusiasts. Adventure lovers can enjoy trekking to Kausani, Dunagiri and Sitalakhet

Places to see:

Cantt. Aashiyana park - The Multifarious Environmental Zone: Ranikhet has developed a multifarious environmental zone named as “Aashiyana”. As there was not a single park where tourists can visit and take a short break from their usual hectic schedule, it is a complete park in all respect. The park is a complete world for all age group. It contains a complete children park, herbal garden for those persons who are interested in herbal and medicinal plants, lawn, sitting arrangement, colorful fountains, view points for Himalayan peaks, evening lighting etc. It was inaugurated on 14/11/04.

Rani Jheel: As Ranikhet is located at a higher altitude (between 5500 ft to 7500 ft.), no river is crossing through the vicinity of this naturally beautiful small town. Even there is no such lake/dam, which can preserve rain water/spring water. Hence the Cantt. Board is developing a huge lake named as Rani Jheel. It is beautifully located between two natural ridges of Ranikhet i.e. between Canossa Convent School and Kendriya Vidyalaya.After complete development of the said Jheel the same will preserve rain water as well as spring water of 3 perennial springs joining the lake.

Bhalu Dam: It is the most beautiful artificial lake situated in the reserved forest 3km below Chaubattia in the Cantt. area. The lake was constructed by the Britishers in 1903.The Imperial Gazetteer of India 1908 says about the Bhalu Dam “an excellent system of water-works have recently been carried out”. Water from the dam comes to reservoir at Nagpani treatment plant by gravity and then it is supplied to Chaubattia.

Sun Set Points: One of the major attractions of Ranikhet is to view the gradual sun set from different locations. The prominent are:- At Machkhali from hill top near Woodvilla, the other are at Golf Ground, site between Transit Camp and Ganiadeoli, and the site located on the road leading from Jhoola Devi to Bhargaon approx 1 k.m. away from Jhoola Devi Temple.

Nanda Devi Mela: Nanda Devi Mela is a fair of great religious and cultural significance. It is held at Nanda Devi Temple in September to commemorate the memory of goddesses, Nanda and Sunanda. It is said to have started in Kumaon, during the reign of Raja Kalyan Chand in the 16th century. Nanda means prosperity and well being. Nanda Devi Mela is held as a symbol of prosperity, both material and spiritual, of the hill regions. The Nanda Devi Mela is held at Almora, Nainital, Nauti, Dandidhara, Munsyari & Ranikhet, of which the Almora and Roopkund fairs are the most famous.

Upat Kalika : 6 Kms. from the town on Almora Road the place has one of the best mountain golf links (9 Holes) in the country surrounded by dense forests. Just one km. from Upat is Kalika with its famous temple.

Chaubatia, 10 km from Ranikhet away houses the botanical gardens and a Govt. fruit research institute where one see different varieties of exotic flowers and orchids. It also serves as a vantage point to view snow clad Himalayan mountain peaks including NandaDevi, Trishul, Nandaghunti and Nilkanth.

Hairakhan Dham : It is 5 kms. from Ranikhet , ashram of Hairakhan Baba is loacted here.

Jhoola Devi Temple: This is a very famous temple of Ma Durga the Goddess of Sakti . It is 7 Kms. from Ranikhet on the way to Chaubattia. There is a long and quite scientific mythology and traditional faith behind this temple well explained in the information board displayed at the temple gate. Devotees pray at the temple for fulfillment of their wishes and after so devotees come again and to pay tribute, devotees tie bells at Ma Jhoola Devi temple. As a result, there are thousands of bells hanging in the temple premises.

Ram Mandir: The most famous temple of the Kumaon hill, it is dedicated to lord Rama. It is above Jhoola Devi Temple.

Mankameshwar Temple: This temple is a beautifully designed and developed temple by Kumaon Regimental Centre for Lord Shiva and Radha Krishna. This temple is near to the Nar Singh ground.

Majhkhali: On the Ranikhet - Almora road, 13 km, is a spot of entrancing, celestial beauty. Here is an awe-inspiring view of the majesty of the snowy peaks. The U.P. Government Agriculture Farm is situated here.

How to get there: It is located at a distance of 360 km from Delhi, 55 km Nainital

Road: For Ranikhet follow the same route as for Nainital till Bhowali. From Bhowali follow the road to Khairna and on to Ranikhet. For Delhi-Nainital route click here.

Train: Nearest railhead from Ranikhet is 80 km away at Kathgodam. Get a taxi or a bus from there.

Air: Nearest airport is at Pantnagar 110 km away.

DISTANCES / LOCATION
Delhi to Nainital : 325 Kms
Ranikhet to Nainital : 60 Kms
Kathgodam (Nearest Railway Station) to Nainital : 35 Kms
Corbett to Nainital : 118 Kms
Delhi to Corbett : 295 Kms
Almora-Nainital via Khairna : 67 Kms
Dehradoon Nainital : 360 Kms
Almora-Nainital via Ranikhet : 106

Places to stay: (some details available at this link)

Rosemount (heritage property)
Trishul Lodge
Woodsvilla Resort, Ranikhet (link)
The West View Hotel, Ranikhet
Parwati Inn, The Mal Ranikhet
Cosmos Ventures, Ranikhet
Trishul Lodge, Ranikhet
Hotel Holm Farm Heritage
Hotel Ranikhet Inn
Cost Plus Resort
Windsor Lodge

External Articles:

1. Ghumakkar.com (link)
2. Locations in Ranikhet (link)
3. Photos of Ranikhet on holidayiq.com (link)
4. Ranikhet photos on Webshots (link)
5. Photos of Ranikhet on oktatabyebye.com (link)
6. Photos of Ranikhet on trekearth.com (link)
7. Some Wordpress.com articles on Ranikhet (link)
8. Ranikhet Photo Gallery (link)
9. Ranikhet Photo Gallery on shunya.net (link)
10. Photos on raahi.com (link)
11. Photos of Ranikhet on mustseeindia.com (link)
12. Blog on Ranikhet (link)
13. Ranikhet by Sumit (link)
14. Blog on Ranikhet (link)

Map of Shrivardhan from Mapmyindia.com

If you really want some adventure, then you can hire a small boat. The boat will take you to the north side of the bay, and there you can find the heritage (this is the location where the Prime Ministers of the Marathas, called the ‘Peshwas’, originated from). The ‘Peshwa Smarak’ is of interest to most people who visit Shriwardhan.
The town of Harihareshwar is known for another beautiful beach and equally famous for the temple of Harihareshwar, which is also quite famous. The temple of Lord Harihareshwar is quite famous and gets a lot of devotees. It is well known for Rotha Supari and tourists often shop for it.
This place has famous Kalbhairav Shiva Temple. Peshwa Smarak and Bankot Fort at Bagmandala is only about 4 km away from here.

Getting there:
The nearest railhead is Mangaon on Konkan Railway.
Mumbai by road is nearly 200 kms. away. The nearest Mumbai - Goa highway point is about 60 kms., at Goregaon, which is about 170 kms. from Mumbai (via Vashi Creek Bridge).

Places to stay:

Shiv Shanti Holiday Inn
Rajas Holiday Home
Niwara (Other Bread and Breakfast places in Shriwardhan as per this link)

External articles:
1. Some beautiful photos of Shriwardhan (link)
2. Photos (link)
3. Beautiful photo of water and sun (link)
4. Directions for getting to Shriwardhan from Mumbai by road (link)
5. Great directions for getting to Shriwardhan (link)
6. Bike riders heading to Shriwardhan (link)
7. Beautiful picture gallery of Srivardhan (link)

Yercaud, a famous hill station in South India (but not as famous as Ooty or Kodaikanal) is located in the Shevaroy Hills of Tamil Nadu. Yercaud is a place for relaxation, for having a break from the busy city life that we all need; it’s not a place where you can see too many sights (basically meaning that if you want to cover a number of different places within a tourist site, then Yercaud is not the place for you. You should rest in the lap of nature, have a relaxed stroll through greenery and enjoy the waters of the lake). Yercaud is more like a heaven for vacationing.

Map of Yercaud at mapmyindia.com

Yercaud is located on the Eastern Ghats and promises a unique experience because of its unusual topography. While the rest of the region around Yercaud is dry, Yercaud itself stands out as a great contrast; it has a cool climate and a temperature that never goes above 30ºC. The current advantage of Yercaud is also that it is not so popular with tourists (rather, not very well known) and hence you get more value for your money here than in its popular counterparts in south India like Ooty and Kodaikkanal.
What are the attractions of Yercaud as a Hill station ? Yercaud’s pretty landscape mostly comprises coffee plantations that stretch for long distances, and thickly forested slopes. Before getting into this coffee-plantation hamlet, you have to drive through the textile town of Salem (also the closest town to Yercaud, around 30 km away). If you stop in Salem and try your hand at some shopping, you might pick up some great handloom fabrics at a price that is much cheaper than other locations.
While on the road to Yercaud, just before you start to climb into the hilly region, you can see an interesting group of brightly coloured idols to the left of the road. These are the guardian deities who are known as the deities who protect the villages, and are often known as Aiyanars.
The road journey is fun, not very dangerous, but if you have not driven on hills before, then you should learn how to negotiate steep turns and also how to learn patience. The winding road is famous for its 20 sharp (hairpin) turns. In between, if you are fond of the spices cloves and pepper, there is a small thatched stall at the side of the road called ‘Fresh Garden Produce’. Then come the coffee plantations before entering cottage-dotted Yercaud.
The name Yercaud is an amalgamation of two Tamil words ‘yeri’ and ‘kaadu’ meaning lake and forest respectively (and you will see why the name was well deserved). Yercaud was discovered by the British in the early 19th century. Along with its beauty as a Hill station, it is also famous for educational intitutions such as the Sacred Heart Convent for girls, Montfort School for boys and the Holy Cross Novitiate House. The highest point in Yercaud is Shevaroy temple, situated at a height of 5,326 ft above sea level.
And now onto the lake. Yercaud Lake is one of the prime attractions of the hill station, surrounded by well-groomed lush green gardens and well-wooded trees; and like all other lakes in tourist locations, you can get either paddling or rowing boats for the lake. The Summer festival held in May here is something to be seen if you are in the locality. There are a number of beautiful parks surrounding the lake such as Anna Park, Lake Park, Gandhi Park and Children’s Park.
Yercaud has some historical buildings, and is famous for its historic churches. More than 100 years old, Holy Trinity Church is well maintained and among the other churches, you can find the Sacred Heart Church, Lutheran Church, St Joseph’s Church and The Retreat Church. National Orchidarium with India’s third largest orchid house, 300 ft high Killiyur waterfalls, the Servaroyan temple atop the Servaroyan hill and the Small Lake famous for being fed by seven wells are some other highlights of the city.
There are some fantastic viewing points in Yercaud. Lady’s Seat offers you a spectacular view of Salem Town and Mettur Dam on the Cauvery River. Gent’s Seat or Pagoda Point is other viewing point that is situated very close to Lady’s Seat.
Shevaroy temple dedicated to local deity Servaran is situated atop Shevaroy Hills, at the highest point in Yercaud at 5.326 ft above sea level. Local tribes celebrate their annual festival here in May. It’s one of the main attractions of tourist visiting Yercaud.
On the way to Shevaroy Temple, there is the famous Bear’s Cave believed to be an escape route of a long gone raja (king) when he was attacked and fleeing.

Places to see
Yercaud Lake: The lake is one of the main attractions of this hill station, and combined with some beautiful surroundings, forms a magnet for tourists from places nearby.

Lady’s Seat: As mentioned above, this is a location where there is a sheer view of the hils, of the city of Salem located some distance away, and of the road that leads to Yercaud. Lady’s seat is the name given to a cluster of rocks on the south west side of Yercaud. There is a steep drop of about 200 feet below from this point.

Killiyur Falls: The Killiyur waterfall is located at a distance of about 3 km from the Yercaud Lake. Like other waterfalls, you get to see the sheer power of nature, with water falling from a depth. You can see the surplus water from the Yercaud Lake and other points of the Shevaroy Hills fall deep into the Killiyur Valley below, making a 300 feet waterfall. The ideal time to visit the waterfall is immediately after the monsoons.

The Grange: The Grange is one of the oldest buildings in Yercaud, built in 1820’s by the then District Collector of Salem, M D Cockburn.

Bear’s Cave: The Bear’s cave is situated near the Norton Bungalow on the way to Servarayan temple. It is an important tourist spot as it is considered one of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya. It was also famous as a spot where a king managed to escape from a wild animal.

The Servarayan Temple: The Servarayan temple is situated atop the Servarayan hill, being located in a narrow and dark cave having the God Servarayan and the Goddess Kaveri inside representing the Shevaroy Hills and the Cauvery River. The local tribes celebrate their annual festival in the Servarayan temple during the month of May.

Places to stay:

Sterling Resorts
Gem Holiday Resort
Hotel Shevaroys
Sterling Days Inn Resort
Green Fort Inn
Hotel Shoba
Silver holidays Cottages
Hotel Tamil Nadu
Grange Resort (link)
Sky Roca
The Lake Forest Hotel Yercaud
Classic Cottage
Kongu Resorts
Ponkailash Holiday Home
Silver Holiday Cottages
Svayambh Villa
Yercaud International
Cliftons Inn

Nearest domestic airport: Trichy, 180 km away from Yercaud. Other airports are Coimbatore or Bangalore. Coimbatore is 190 Km away from Yercaud. All of them are connected to Chennai/Madras, which has an international airport.
Road: Yercaud is 190 km from Coimbatore and 237 km from Bangalore. Many buses pass through Yercaud on their way to Salem. You can drive up to Yercaud by a rented car, taxi or bus.
Rail: The nearest railway stations are at Salem (36 km). There are direct trains from Chennai, Coimbatore and Bangalore.

External articles:
1. Hotels in Yercaud (link)
2. Map of Yercaud (link)
3. Some photos of Hotels in Yercaud (link)
4. Visit to Yercaud (link)
5. Photos of Yercaud (link)
6. Ride to Yercaud (link)
7. Photos of Yercaud, Nilgiris, and Bandipur (link)
8. Photos of Yercaud and a brief write-up (link)
9. Montfort School in Yercaud (link)
10. Beautiful photo of sunset at Yercaud (link)
11. Blog on trip to Yercaud (link)
12. Some photos of Yercaud (link)
13. Blog on trip to Yercaud (link)
14. Blog on trip (link)
15. Blog on trip to Yercaud (link)
16. Blog on trip to Yercaud (link)
17. Lots of pictures of a trip to Yercaud (link)
18. Trip to Yercaud (link)
19. Photos of flowers, buildings, sun, scenery, etc at Flickr (link)