Different places to travel http://travel-spots.com All the information you want about different travel locations. Sat, 19 May 2012 19:47:41 +0000 en hourly 1 Travel – Kuna Yala, Panama – inhabited by the Kuna indigenous people http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/travel-kuna-yala-panama-inhabited-by-the-kuna-indigenous-people/ http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/travel-kuna-yala-panama-inhabited-by-the-kuna-indigenous-people/#comments Sat, 19 May 2012 19:47:41 +0000 Traveller http://travel-spots.com/?p=599 Kuna Yala is a region in Panama which is inhabited by the Kuna indigenous people. The word Kuna Yala means Land of the Kuna. This region is bounded in the north by the Caribbean Sea, to the south by the province of Panama, in the East by Colombia and in the west by the province [...]]]> Kuna Yala is a region in Panama which is inhabited by the Kuna indigenous people. The word Kuna Yala means Land of the Kuna. This region is bounded in the north by the Caribbean Sea, to the south by the province of Panama, in the East by Colombia and in the west by the province of Colon. This region is spread over a land area of 3206 square km. Kuna Yala is an archipelago of 365 islands out of which 49 are inhabited. The population is approximately about 36,500. Agriculture, fishery and tourism industry form the main economic activities of the region. The crops of guineo, corn (maize), sugarcane and coconut are the main farming crops of the region. Kuna language is the local language here. El Porvenir is the capital of Kuna Yala. Mola is a tribal art form that is very popular here.

This region is divided into cities:
• Carti
• San Blas Islands
• Puerto Obaldia
• Rio Sidra
• Norgana
• Playon Chico
• Ailigandi
• Mamsucum
• Mulatupo o Sasardi
• Carreto

Ecotours, fishing, snorkeling, and touring of nearby villages are the main activities of the region. There are many beaches in the island of Carti, Ukupseni and Isla Pino.

Attractions of Kuna Yala and around:
• PEMASKY which means Proyecto de Estudio para el Manejo de Areas Silvestres de Kuna Yala: It is a bioreserve inside Kuna yala which started in 1983. This is a natural park near Nasugandi. This bioreserver preserves the heritage and marine and land ecosystems of Kuna Yala.
• The San Blas Islands are a group of 378 islands out of which only 49 are inhabited. It is an archipelago of Panama. These islands lie off the north coast of Isthmus. To its east is the Panama Canal. It has been home to Kuna Indians which are part of Kuna Yala tribe along the Caribbean coast of Panama. These tribes welcome tourists very warmly into their ancestral home. Their official language is Tule but Spanish is prevalent in schools. Tule is the spoken language of Kuna Yala tribes.
• Dog Islands: These islands are famous for snorkeling. One can find variety of tropical fish in these waters.
• There are tiny islands with beaches that are used for sunbathing or swimming.
• Isla Pelicanos: These island beaches are soft with white sand and clear with shallow water over a coral reef making it perfect for snorkeling. One can see tropical, colored fishes. The waves are calm and gentle here.
• The island of Achutupu: This Island has the best beaches for scuba diving. It is here that off of the coast one can see a shipwreck of a Colombian cargo boat which is a popular dive spot. The beaches have transparent turquoise waters.
• Kagantupu, Wichubwala, and Coco Blanco: These have secluded beaches with white sand and palm trees lined up.
• Thatched Hut Village: A tour through a Kuna village where one can see their huts, lifestyle, and costumes is a must do on these islands visit.
• Mola Shopping: The Molas that are created by The Kuna is great for look out as well for buying.
• Pargue Soberania: This is about 15 minutes away from Panama City and is a hiking place. The hiking trail goes through the rainforests with caves and lakes and bird watching, with fishing also being a part of it.
• The Panama Canal: This canal is about 77 km (48 miles). It is a shipping canal that is in Panama and this canal joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and has been the key for the maritime trade. The traffic is about 1000 ships in early days and present it is about 14,702 vessels a day. This canal has its own measurement system called Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) in tons. It is one of the largest engineering projects of the times. The alternate route is via the Drake Passage and Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America.
• Panama Viejo: This was once the gateway city for the Spanish conquest of Latin America. Presently there are ruins of the battles which were fought with the English pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. There is a museum with Spanish exhibits near the site. One need to know Spanish or take a guide for translation for understanding as most of the exhibits is in Spanish.
• Casco Viejo: This is an established Spanish colonial city of 1671. This city was established after the downfall of Panama Viejo in battles and until 20th century, this city was Panama City. Panama bay and other sites depict its history with Spain, France and United States.
• Panama Canal Rainforest: The Panama Canal rainforests are one of the pristine rainforests in the world. The Soberania National Park is about 30 minutes away from Panama City and 45 minutes from the international airport. This is a base for ecotourism.

Best time to visit / climate:
The best time to visit these islands is from April to June and November to December. This time of the year is great for snorkeling and scuba diving, as the water is warm, clear, and calm. From January to April is the dry season and a perfect time for sun bathing.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
By plane: There are daily flight services from Panama City to El Porvenir via Air Panama. Air Panama also services Achutupu, Corazon de Jesus (Rio Diablo/Nargana), and Playon Chico.
By boat: There are boat options from Colombia.
Sailing boats are to/from Colombia/Cartagena.
Cargo boats leave to/from Carti Island and Porvenir Island (San Blas Island/Kuna Yala) to Puerto Obaldia into Colombia and motorized boats take only 5 to 6 hours.
By land: The road into San Blas Kuna Yala is vastly improving and is accessible all year round. A bridge has been opened, eliminating the need to cross the river in the vehicle. One can drive from Panama City to Carti in the San Blas Islands.

Lonely Planet Panama Panama AdventureMap (National Geographic) Fodor’s Panama, 2nd Edition

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
• Hotels at virtual panama
• Hotels at costaricahotels
• Hotels at costaricapages
• Restaurants at wikitravel
• Hotels at wikitravel
• Hotels at you.travel

Blogs / Sites about Kuna Yala, Panama

• Blogs and reviews at travelblog
• Blogs and reviews at travelpod
• Blogs and reviews at travbuddy
• Blogs and reviews at the lonely planet
• Blogs and reviews at blogtopsites

Images and photos of Kuna Yala, Panama

• Images at google
• Images at travel-images
• Images at igougo
• Images at galenfrysinger

Videos of Kuna Yala, Panama

Kuna Yala Molas

Kuna yala

Kuna Yala montage

San Blas Panama , Kuna Yala

Kuna Yala (San Blas) Panamá por Marco Simionato (fotos)

KUNA YALA an ECO EXPLORER TOUR

Molas Kunas San Blas Islands Panama

]]> http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/travel-kuna-yala-panama-inhabited-by-the-kuna-indigenous-people/feed/ 0 Travel – Hora Sfakion – located in the southwest of Crete http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/travel-hora-sfakion-located-in-the-southwest-of-crete/ http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/travel-hora-sfakion-located-in-the-southwest-of-crete/#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 09:04:17 +0000 Traveller http://travel-spots.com/?p=588 Hora Sfakion is located in the southwest of Crete. It has a tiny harbor and has about 475 inhabitants, and from the population size, you can see that it is a very small place, but well known. It is the capital of Sfakia region, situated to the south coast of Crete. There are many beaches [...]]]> Hora Sfakion is located in the southwest of Crete. It has a tiny harbor and has about 475 inhabitants, and from the population size, you can see that it is a very small place, but well known. It is the capital of Sfakia region, situated to the south coast of Crete. There are many beaches like Ilingas, Filaki and Sweet Water Beach.
Attractions of Hora Sfakion:
• Sweet water beach or Glyka nera: Sweet water in Greece means Glyka. Under the beach there is always drinkable water. One can reach there using a small boat “Delfini” which takes 15min and about 45 minutes by feet. A small tavern is also present for those who like some refreshment.
• Filaki beach: This is a beautiful beach that is near the naturist hotel.
• Hotel Vritomartis: This is the only naturist hotel (where people like to be in the same state as they were when they were born, without clothes) in all of Crete and also in all of Greece.
• Frangokastello Orthi Ammos beach: This beach is about 12km to the east of Chora Sfakion. There is a village named Frangokastello which is 500m to the east from the castle.
• Marmara beach: Marmara beach is about 20 minutes from Loutro and is towards the end of Aradena gorge. By walk it takes 50 min.
• Agios Pavlos beach: This beach takes about an hour by feet from Agia Roumeli and about 2 hours from Agios Ioannis. From Loutro it takes about 3-4 hours. It is a long and almost deserted beach.
• Diving: One can snorkel along the plunging coastline of Sfakion which has small shoals, octopus etc. There are scuba diving, cave diving and night diving available at this place. There are diving excursions to the Gavdos and Gaydopoula islands.
• Agios Nikolaos (or Aghios Nikolaos) is a city or a coastal town on the island of Greek of Crete. The city lies to the east of the capital, Heraklion and to the north of lerapetra and to the west of sitia. This town is the capital of Lasithi. The three faces to the sea of this town are The Lake & port, Kitroplatia beach and the Marina.
• Lake Voulismeni (Límni Voulisméni): This is a small lake which connects to the sea. It is situated at the centre of the town of Agios Nikolaos on the Greek island of Crete. The diameter of the lake is about 137 m and depth is about 64 m. This lake is connected to the harbour of the town with a channel. There is a small park around it. This lake is popular for its fireworks celebrations on Orthodox Christian Easter day.
• The Cretan diet: This is a traditional local diet of the Mediterranean island of Crete, also called “Mediterranean diet” which is very popular in the place.
• Chrissi Island: For enjoying the quiet presence of palm trees and soothing watered sandy beaches, one can take a boat trip from here to Chrissi Island.
• Visit to Elounda & Spinalonga Island: There are Kritsa’s tourist shops from where one can buy some local hand woven linens, rugs, tablecloths and handicrafts.
• The Katharo plateau above Kritsa and the Lassithi Plateau: This is known for its climate, topography and geology.
• Elounda: It is a town which is a fishing port and has several sandy beaches from the centre square. This port offers boat trips to the island of Spinalonga.

The following can be reached by walking or as below:
• Imbros Gorge:
Chora Sfakion to Imbros (bus) – 30 minutes
Imbros Gorge – 2 hours 15 minutes
Bottom of gorge to Chora Sfakion, via Komitades – 1 hour 10 minutes

• Loutro and Sweet Water Beach:
Chora Sfakion to Loutro (ferry) – 20 minutes
Time in Loutro
Loutro to Sweetwater – 1 hour 15 minutes
Time at Sweetwater
Sweetwater to Chora Sfakion – 1 hour (or boat)

• Askyfou Plateau
Chora Sfakion to Askyfou by KTEL bus – 40 minutes
Askyfou Plateau – Variable, depending on detours and refreshment breaks. (Allow at least 2:30 to 3 hours)
Askyfou to Chora Sfakion – 40 minutes by KTEL bus

• Askyfou, Asfendou gorge and Agios Nektarios
KTEL bus Chora Sfakion to Ammoudari/Askyfou or Kares – 40/45 minutes
Ammoudari/Askyfou or Kares to Asfendos – 2 hours 30 minutes
Asfendos to Agios Nektarios – 2 hours 15 minutes
Agios Nektarios to Chora Sfakion by KTEL bus – 20 minutes

• Loutro, Marmara, Agios Pavlos and Agia Roumeli or Samaria
Chora Sfakion to Loutro by ferry – 20 minutes
Loutro to Marmara by boat – 20 minutes (or walk – 50 minutes)
Marmara to Agios Pavlos – 2 hours 30 minutes/45 minutes
Agios Pavlos to Agia Roumeli – 1 hour 15 minutes
Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakion by ferry

• Niato and Trikoukia, in the village of Askyfou
KTEL Chora Sfakion/Chania bus to Ammoudari/Askyfou – 40 minutes
Ammoudari to Niato – 2 hours
Niato to Trikoukia – 30 minutes
Trikoukia to Imbros – 1 hour 45 minutes
Lunch in Imbros. KTEL bus Imbros to Chora Sfakion

• Old village Anopolis and return via
Chora Sfakion to Anopolis – 2 hours 30 minutes
Time in Anopolis
Anopolis to Loutro – 2 hours
Loutro to Chora Sfakion by ferry

• Kalikratis gorge, near of the village Frangokastello
KTEL Chora Sfakion / Chania bus to Kares – 45 minutes
Kares to Asfendos – 2 hours 30 minutes
Asfendos to Kallikratis – 1 hour 15 minutes
Time in Kallikratis
Kallikratis, via Gorge, to Patsianos – 2 hours 15 minutes
Patsianos to Chora Sfakion by KTEL bus – 25 minutes

Best time to visit / climate:

The best time to visit this place is in summer. One can expect showers between October and April. The temperatures are ideal from July to August.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
One can drive over the mountains from the north coast on a good road and some public buses are also available from Agios Nikolas.
Agios Nikolaos (Crete) is about 40 miles from Herakleion Airport (HER). The journey takes about 45 – 60 minutes by car or taxi.

By Bus: There are local bus services available in the place.

By Ferry:
Ferry services run to Agios Nikolaos from Athens (Piraeusport), Rhodes, Chalki, Karpathos and Kassos.
Major ferry lines operate to the port of Herakleion with buses connecting at the main bus station near to the port. Ferries run directly to the town via LANE lines from Pireaus and Rhodes.

By plane: The distance is 40 miles from Heraklion airport to Agios Nikolaos.

Get around:
By Bus: Elounda, Kritsa, Sitia, Heraklion (and from there, Knossos), Malia and Hersonnisos are accessible with a regular bus service.
Among other methods of commute are taxis, scooters, rent car facilities available in the place.

Top Sights Travel Guide: Crete (Kindle) Rough Guide Map Crete [Folded Map] Lonely Planet Crete (Regional Guide)

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

• Hotels at travel to crete
• Hotels at wikitravel
• Hotels at hotel-stavris-chora-sfakion
• Hotels at explorecrete

Blogs / Sites about Hora Sfakion:

• Blogs and reviews at greece.creteisland
• Blogs and reviews at crete travel
• Blogs and reviews at explorecrete
• Blogs and reviews at explorecrete

Images and photos of Hora Sfakion:

• Images at sfakiacrete.gr
• Images at sfakia-crete
• Images at explorecrete

Videos of Hora Sfakion on Youtube:

Ferry Trip – Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakion – Southern Crete (Greece)

Chora Sfakion – Lefka Ori Sfakia Crete HD 1080i

Chora Sfakion

Xenia Hotel and restaurant – Hora Sfakion

Crete Agia Roumeli – Chora Sfakion

KTEL Bus Ascending on a Mountainous Road Near Chora Sfakion, Crete

Hora Sfakion Folkloristic dance

]]> http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/travel-hora-sfakion-located-in-the-southwest-of-crete/feed/ 0 Bijbehara – a town in Anantnag district in Jammu & Kashmir http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/bijbehara-a-town-in-anantnag-district-in-jammu-kashmir/ http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/bijbehara-a-town-in-anantnag-district-in-jammu-kashmir/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 14:42:57 +0000 Traveller http://travel-spots.com/?p=584 Bijbehara or Vejibyor is a town. It is a notified area committee in Anantnag district in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India. The town of Bijbehara is situated in the north of district headquarters. These headquarters are located on the banks of Jhelum River which are popularly known as “Veth”. It is one of [...]]]> Bijbehara or Vejibyor is a town. It is a notified area committee in Anantnag district in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India.
The town of Bijbehara is situated in the north of district headquarters. These headquarters are located on the banks of Jhelum River which are popularly known as “Veth”. It is one of the notable towns of the district. It is four miles to the north of Anantnag town.
The town is surrounded and intersected by plateaus. These plateaus are called “The Totak Shah”. From this plateau, the whole town can be seen. There are many other plateaus which are getting urbanised.
The town of Bijbehara is filled with Chinar trees. This town is hence also known as “The Town of Chinars”.The Chinar trees were imported by Mughal emperors from Iran.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Attractions of Pahalgam

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

Attractions in Srinagar

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

Things to do in Srinagar

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

Best time to visit / climate

The best time to visit is between April and September.

Location on Google Maps


View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

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

How to get there?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blogs / Sites about Bijbehara

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

Images and photos of Bijbehara

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

Videos of Bijbehara

]]> http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/bijbehara-a-town-in-anantnag-district-in-jammu-kashmir/feed/ 0 Sonamarg – path of gold or golden meadow in Jammu & Kashmir. http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/sonamarg-path-of-gold-or-golden-meadow-in-jammu-kashmir/ http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/sonamarg-path-of-gold-or-golden-meadow-in-jammu-kashmir/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 11:41:17 +0000 Traveller http://travel-spots.com/?p=582 Sonamarg which means path of gold or the golden meadow is a paradise on Earth. Sonmarg or Sonamarg is a town of Jammu and Kashmir state in India. Sonamarg itself signifies its beauty. This place is set in a backdrop of snowcapped mountains and bright flowers. This place is located at 87 km from Srinagar [...]]]> Sonamarg which means path of gold or the golden meadow is a paradise on Earth. Sonmarg or Sonamarg is a town of Jammu and Kashmir state in India. Sonamarg itself signifies its beauty. This place is set in a backdrop of snowcapped mountains and bright flowers.
This place is located at 87 km from Srinagar and is a popular tourist destination. Sonamarg is at an altitude of 3,000 metres above sea level. Sonamarg is 87 km north-east of Srinagar. It is the Sindh nallah. The Sindh nallah is the largest tributary of the Indus River in the Kashmir valley. It is upwards of sixty miles long valley and deep rock-girt gorge. This gorge opens to grassy meadow land and village-dotted slopes.
Sindh abounds with trout and mahseer, snow trout can be caught in the main river. Ponies can be hired for the trip up to Thajiwas glacier. This glacier is a major attraction during the summer months. One can experience a breathtaking view of Himalayas from Sonamarg valley.
From Sonamarg, trekking routes lead to the Himalayan lakes of:
- Vishansar (4084 msl)
- Satsar
- Krishnasar (3810 msl)
- Gangabal Lake (3658 msl)
- Gadsar Lake

Attractions in and around Sonamarg

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

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

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

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

Attractions in Srinagar

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

Things to do in Srinagar

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

Best time to visit / climate

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

Location on Google Maps


View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

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

How to get to Sonamarg?

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

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

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

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

Some travel books from Amazon about Sonamarg

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

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

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

Blogs / Sites about Sonamarg

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

Images and photos of Sonamarg

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

Videos of Sonamarg


]]> http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/sonamarg-path-of-gold-or-golden-meadow-in-jammu-kashmir/feed/ 0 Travel – Dodecanese Islands – an island group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/travel-dodecanese-islands-an-island-group-of-12-larger-plus-150-smaller-greek-islands/ http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/travel-dodecanese-islands-an-island-group-of-12-larger-plus-150-smaller-greek-islands/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 18:47:38 +0000 Traveller http://travel-spots.com/?p=580 The Dodecanese Islands (which means “twelve islands”) are an island group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands in the South Aegean Islands of Greece. These islands are off the southwest coast of Turkey, to the southward of Samos Island and to the northeastward of the Crete Island. Byzantine churches and medieval castles are [...]]]> The Dodecanese Islands (which means “twelve islands”) are an island group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands in the South Aegean Islands of Greece. These islands are off the southwest coast of Turkey, to the southward of Samos Island and to the northeastward of the Crete Island. Byzantine churches and medieval castles are the tourist specialties of the island. There are a large number of islands, with the total number being 163, out of these only 26 are inhabited islands. The most well known of the twelve islands is Rhodes, Kos and Patmos with the remaining nine being Astipalea, Kalimnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Leros, Nisyros, Symi, Tilos and Kastelorizo which are located in the east Mediterranean.
Other islands in the chain are Agathonisi, Alimia, Arkoi, Chalki, Farmakonisi, Gyali,Kinaros, Levitha, Lipsi, Nimos, Pserimos, Saria, Syrna and Telendos. There are many municipalities that come under these islands and some of them are Afantou Archangelos, Astypalaia, Attavyros, Chalki, Dikaio, Ialysos, Irakleides and Kallithea.

The regions that come under this prefecture are:
• Astipalea: This island is located between Kos and Amorgos and is a small and not very well developed island. This island is on the borders between Dodecanese and Cyclades. The island has traditional villages and wonderful sandy beaches. This island is in the shape of a butterfly.
• Halkiis: This is also a small and not a very developed island that is close to Rhodes. This island is good for those interested in trekking. The island is popular for its traditional architecture, the lovely waterfront, the calm beaches and the abandoned village in the centre of the island.
• Kalymnos is an island that is located between Kos and Leros that is close to the coast of western Turkey. This is the most beautiful island in Greece, that is also well known as the island of sponge fishers. This is actually a mountainous island but it also has two valleys that are best known for its agricultural products. Beaches, castles and churches make this is a popular place.
• Karpathos is an island that is located between Rhodes and Crete. It is the second largest island of the Dodecanese Greece islands. It is known for its clear waters and beaches and hills. This island is full of mountain villages with whitewashed houses with red tiled roofs and the narrow paved streets.
• Kos is the second most popular and the third largest of the Dodecanese islands after Rhodes. It has a good nightlife along with a beautiful landscape and soft sandy crystalline waters. There are verdant forests and the island is rich for those interested in archaeology.
• Leros: This Island is one of the smallest islands of the Dodecanese Greece islands and is full of vegetation, verdant trees, bright colored along with the deep blue of the sea and the golden sand that is the main attraction, attracting people like a paradise.
• Nisyros This Island is to the south of Kos and is a small island with the only ‘active’ volcano of Greece. The capital of the island which is known as Mandraki is a traditional settlement in blue and white colors. The beaches of Nisyros and the roads on Nisyros are not very developed.
• Patmos: This island is to the north of Leros and is known to be the most religious of Greek Islands as Saint John the Theologian who was exiled in 95-95 AD revealed and wrote the Apocalypse. It is located between Ikaria and Leros. The island has whitewashed cubic houses and flowered gardens, surrounded by narrow streets and stone steps.
• Symi: This is a small island that is located between Rhodes and Kos and to the north of Rhodes. The island has scenic towns and villages. This island is close to the Aegean and the Turkish shores and has a coastline of about 85 kilometers. This island is a mountainous island.
• Rhodes: This is the most popular and the largest of the Dodecanese islands. This island is the one of the most favorite tourist destination. This island has nice sandy beaches, picturesque villages and has an Old Medieval Town (the capital) which is very scenic. This island is very popular among the tourists.
• Tilos: This is another small and remote island that is located between Kos and Rhodes.

The provinces of Dodecanese islands are as below:
• Province of Patmos – Patmos
• Province of Kalymnos – Kalymnos
• Province of Kos – Kos
• Province of Rhodes – Rhodes City
• Province of Karpathos & Kasos – Karpathos

Best time to visit / climate:
The climate of is a mild Mediterranean climate; sunny with dry summers and mild winters. The months of July and August has the temperatures as being more bearable and is the best time to visit the place.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
One can reach these islands from Piraeus, Athens.
Most travelers arriving in Piraeus from Athens make use of the very convenient Metro Line 1 that terminates at the Port from where one can take a walk to the Saronic Gulf ferries, hydrofoils and catamarans, or a free shuttle-bus ride to the ships sailing to Crete and the Dodecanese. Direct Airport Express buses run 24 hours between the port of Piraeus and Athens International Airport.

Frommer’s Greece (Frommer’s Complete Guides) Lonely Planet Greek Islands Lonely Planet Greece

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

• Hotels at top-hotels-greece
• Hotels at dodecanese-islands
• Hotels at greekhotels

Blogs / Sites about Dodecanese:

• Blogs and reviews at bootsnall
• Blogs and reviews at lonelyplanet
• Blogs and reviews at worldreviewer
• Blogs and reviews at travelpod

Images and photos of Dodecanese:

• images at Google
• Images at greeka
• Images at united-hellas

Videos of Dodecanese:

Dodecanese Islands – Greece
embed>

Karpathos & Kastelorizo : Two of the Dodecanese Islands – Greece

Dodecanese Islands – Greece

Kassos – A remote island

A video tour of Rhodes, Kos and Kalymnos in Greece’s Dodecanese islands

Rodos Island Greece

]]> http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/travel-dodecanese-islands-an-island-group-of-12-larger-plus-150-smaller-greek-islands/feed/ 0 Poonch – a border town in Jammu and Kashmir http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/poonch-a-border-town-in-jammu-and-kashmir/ http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/poonch-a-border-town-in-jammu-and-kashmir/#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 05:16:40 +0000 Traveller http://travel-spots.com/?p=575 Poonch is a town and a municipal committee in Poonch District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Poonch is based on the Mah?bh?rata evidence. The evidence from 7th Chinese traveler Xuanzang. The districts of Poonch along with Rajauri and Abhisara had been under the sway of the Republican Kambojas in epic times. Poonch [...]]]> Poonch is a town and a municipal committee in Poonch District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Poonch is based on the Mah?bh?rata evidence. The evidence from 7th Chinese traveler Xuanzang. The districts of Poonch along with Rajauri and Abhisara had been under the sway of the Republican Kambojas in epic times.
Poonch has an average elevation of 981 metres (3218 feet). Pir Panjal range of mountains separates Poonch valley from Kashmir valley. The only road connection between the two valleys was from Jammu. With the completion of Mughal Road which connects Bufliaz in Poonch to Shopian in Kashmir, there is a direct connectivity between the two.
It consist of 4 tehsils viz Haveli, Mendhar Surankote and Mandi. Poonch is one of the remote and border district of Jammu and Kashmir state which is located at the Line of Control. Poonch is separated from Kashmir valley by the gigantic Pir Panjal range. The higheset peak is TATAKUTI which stands at 15560 ft. falls in Poonch.

Wild Life in Poonch

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

Poonch Specials

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

Attractions in and around Poonch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other places near Poonch

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

Religious Tourism in Poonch

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

Trekking in Poonch

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

Best time to visit / climate

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

Location on Google Maps


View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

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

How to get to Poonch?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some travel books from Amazon about Poonch

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

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

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

Blogs/Sites about Poonch

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

Images and photos of Poonch

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

]]> http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/poonch-a-border-town-in-jammu-and-kashmir/feed/ 0 Travel – Contadora, Panama – one of the islands in the Pearl Islands in Panama http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/travel-contadora-panama-one-of-the-islands-in-the-pearl-islands-in-panama/ http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/travel-contadora-panama-one-of-the-islands-in-the-pearl-islands-in-panama/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 18:42:18 +0000 Traveller http://travel-spots.com/?p=573 Contadora Island is one of the islands (the 5th largest) of the Pearl islands in Panama. These islands are along the Pacific Ocean and about 50 miles from Panama City. Some of the most popular activities for which these islands are known among tourists includes diving, snorkeling and sports fishing. There are about 13 beaches [...]]]> Contadora Island is one of the islands (the 5th largest) of the Pearl islands in Panama. These islands are along the Pacific Ocean and about 50 miles from Panama City. Some of the most popular activities for which these islands are known among tourists includes diving, snorkeling and sports fishing. There are about 13 beaches around the island. The nearby islands offers excursions for the tourists with some of these islands being uninhabited. The natives of this place were Indians until the 16th century; later the Spanish took over the island. The pearls over here were famous and were shipped to Spain from here and hence the name Pearl Islands.
Spanish is the most spoken language with English being the second most spoken language.

Attractions in Contodara and around:
• Fishing is very popular in these islands. Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Yellow Tail Tuna, Sailfish, Marlin, Red Snapper, Mero, Corvina, RoosterFish and Bojala are among the fish species that are found here on these islands.
• Pacheca Island is a spot for frigate birds and an ideal spot for bird watching. Swimming from Playa Sueca to Playa Larga is also enjoyable. It is also an area to spot sharks and turtles. Playas Cacique, Galeon and Canoa are other beaches of the place.
• Coral Reefs: One can find arrays of stony corals and reefs in Contadora.
• San Jose Island is another island which is spread over a land area of 44 sq. kilometers and has forests and beaches.
• Golf Cart Rental: There are golf carts available for rent; these being two seater, for golfing or to just move around the island.
• Beach Combing: One can enjoy walking along the beach or looking for shells, sea glass and green stones in beach water. The waters are crystal clear and warm. Mogo Mogo beach can be reached by boat.
• Walking Around: The walk along the island and in the streets is pretty enjoyable.
• Snorkeling from the Beach: There are rentals like Coral Dreams for snorkeling gear. They take one to the best spots for snorkeling from the beach.
• Snorkeling and Whale Watching Tours: There are snorkeling tours along with whale watching by companies like Roxanna and Guillermo at Coral Dreams Dive Shop.
• Fishing and Island Hopping Tours: The local fisherman offer to take the tourists on excursion for fishing. There are different species that one may catch like Sierra, Roosterfish, Dorado, a variety of snappers and Tuna.
• Scuba Diving: Guillermo at Coral Dreams Dive Shop offers even Scuba diving for divers.
• Sailboat Tours: There are sailboat tours by 44ft catamaran with facilities of lunch, drinks, snorkel equipment and kayaks.
• Whale Watching: there are Humpback whales that migrate from both the Southern & Northern hemisphere. About 30 species are available for watching. There are tour packages available for whale watching such as Whale Watching Panama which is offering 5 day and 2-3 day tour packages which include swimming with whale and dolphins too.
• Rio Mar: This offers warmest water and is a best surfing spot. One can also enjoy the beach wind and sip a drink enjoying the view and hear the waves splashing and relax.
• Punta Chame: This beach is ideal for wind surfing and the dry season is the best time for it. The other activity is kite surfing.
• Buenaventura: This beach offers plenty of water activities like surfing, snorkeling, swimming etc. If one is not going for these, just the peace of the beach is enough to enjoy.
• Gorgona: This beach is one hour away from Panama City. One can enjoy the beach activities here too in its warm waters.
• Playa Blanca: This beach resembles Florida beach, Nikki beach. One can swim in warm waters and other water activities.
• Amador Causeway: This causeway gives the best views of Panama City’s skyline and the Panama Canal. This is about a mile long causeway that connects four small islands with rock excavations. They also serve as breakwater to the Pacific Coast to the Panama Canal. A Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research aquarium, souvenir and specialty shops, a cruise port and a yacht marina are some of the causeway attractions. Some of the restaurants have ocean and Canal views

Best time to visit / climate:
The rainy season starts from May through November and a dry season from December through April and hence the best time to travel is from December through March as the humidity is low and rain chances are the least.

Location on Google Maps:


View Larger Map

How to get there:

By Air: There are multiple flights every day from Albrook Airport in Panama City which takes about 20 minutes.
By Sea: A ferry service is present between the causeway near Panama City and Contadora Island.
Get around: Golf carts, scooters or ATVs are used to travel around the islands. The size of the island is small and hence walking around is also a good option.

Lonely Planet Panama Panama AdventureMap (National Geographic) Fodor’s Panama, 2nd Edition

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

• Hotels at tripadvisor
• Hotels at contadoraislandpanama
• Hotels at travel.yahoo
• hotels at bigtravelweb

Blogs / Sites about Contadora, Panama

• Blogs and reviews at travelpod
• Blogs and reviews at blog.panamatotal
• Blogs and reviews at travelblog

Images and photos of Contadora, Panama

• Images at google search
• Images at travelpod
• Images at contadoraislandinn
• Images at pearl-islands-contadora

Videos of Contadora, Panama

Contadora, Panama

Contadora, Panama

Contadora Island Panama

Contadora Island, Pearl Islands – Playa Galeon Beach

Whale watching at Contadora, Panama

Flight from Panama City to Contadora

Silent Flight of Pelicans Over Contadora Island – Panama

Hotel Punta Galeon, Virgin Ocean Snapshots (Contadora Island)

]]> http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/travel-contadora-panama-one-of-the-islands-in-the-pearl-islands-in-panama/feed/ 0 Mattan or Martand – Surya Temple and a major Hindu pilgrimage in Jammu & Kashmir. http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/mattan-or-martand-surya-temple-and-a-major-hindu-pilgrimage-in-jammu-kashmir/ http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/mattan-or-martand-surya-temple-and-a-major-hindu-pilgrimage-in-jammu-kashmir/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 15:36:00 +0000 Traveller http://travel-spots.com/?p=571 Mattan is a town and a notified area committee in Anantnag district which is in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Overview

• This pilgrim village is just off the road that leads to Pahalgam. • The word ‘Mattan’ is an abbreviation of ‘Martand’. • It has traditionally been a major Hindu pilgrimage. • [...]]]> Mattan is a town and a notified area committee in Anantnag district which is in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Overview

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

Attractions in and around Mattan

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

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

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

Attractions of Pahalgam

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

Attractions in Srinagar

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

Things to do in Srinagar

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

Best time to visit / climate

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

Location on Google Maps


View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

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

How to get there?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blogs/Sites about Mattan

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

Images and photos of Mattan

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

Videos

]]> http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/mattan-or-martand-surya-temple-and-a-major-hindu-pilgrimage-in-jammu-kashmir/feed/ 0 Amarnath Yatra – a journey to the holy cave temple of Lord Shiva. http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/amarnath-yatra-a-journey-to-the-holy-cave-temple-of-lord-shiva/ http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/amarnath-yatra-a-journey-to-the-holy-cave-temple-of-lord-shiva/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 14:19:03 +0000 Traveller http://travel-spots.com/?p=568 Amarnath yatra packages are a complete tour to the holy temple of Lord Shiva. This yatra offers hassle-free tour packages to Amarnath Yatra. The Holy Amarnath Cave is situated at an altitude of 14000 ft. above sea level. This yatra is organised by the State Government. The yatra is taken during the month of July [...]]]> Amarnath yatra packages are a complete tour to the holy temple of Lord Shiva. This yatra offers hassle-free tour packages to Amarnath Yatra. The Holy Amarnath Cave is situated at an altitude of 14000 ft. above sea level. This yatra is organised by the State Government. The yatra is taken during the month of July and August.

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

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

Travelling Expenditure

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

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

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

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

Nearest Attractions to Amarnath Yatra

• Pahalgam
• Chandanwadi
• Sheshnag
• Panchtarni

Attractions of Pahalgam

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

Attractions in Srinagar

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

Things to do in Srinagar

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

Best time to visit / climate

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

Location on Google Maps


View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

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

How to get there?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blogs / Sites about Amarnath yatra

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

Images and photos of Amarnath yatra

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

Videos of Amarnath Yatra


]]> http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/amarnath-yatra-a-journey-to-the-holy-cave-temple-of-lord-shiva/feed/ 0 Patnitop – a hill top tourist place in Jammu and Kashmir. http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/patnitop-a-hill-top-tourist-place-in-jammu-and-kashmir/ http://travel-spots.com/2012/05/patnitop-a-hill-top-tourist-place-in-jammu-and-kashmir/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 14:47:07 +0000 Traveller http://travel-spots.com/?p=566 Patnitop or Patni Top is a hill top tourist place that is located in Udhampur district which is in Jammu and Kashmir, India. This place is situated on the National Highway 1A, on the way from Udhampur to Srinagar. It is about 112 km from Jammu. It is situated on a plateau in the Shiwalik [...]]]> Patnitop or Patni Top is a hill top tourist place that is located in Udhampur district which is in Jammu and Kashmir, India. This place is situated on the National Highway 1A, on the way from Udhampur to Srinagar. It is about 112 km from Jammu. It is situated on a plateau in the Shiwalik belt of the Himalayas.

Patnitop is at an altitude of 2024 metres. The river Chenab flows in close proximity to this location. Patnitop’ is a distortion of the original name of Patan Da Talab meaning “Pond of the Princess”. Patni top is in the Lower Himalayan Range close to the Pir Panjal range. It is 35 kilometers from Udhampur.

The towns of Kud and Batote are nearby Patnitop. Kud is a very small town where a sweet shop makes fresh Patissa (a sweet). Batote is known as a place for quality rajma or the kidney beans.

Attractions in Patni Top

1. Trekking
• There are many pleasant walks around this popular hill station.
• Patnitop is a good starting place for many short or longer treks which go into the nearby mountains.
• An attractive one-day walk is to Shiva Garh which is about 11-km from Patnitop is at an altitude of almost 3,500 metres.
• There are three, gushing, ice-cold freshwater springs in this area.
• These springs are known to have medicinal properties.

The complete tourist circuit covers
• Jammu-Katra-Vaishno Deviji
• Kud-Sanasar
• Patnitop-Gourikund
• Sudmahadev
• Mantali
• Latti-Dhuna

2. Adventure Sports
• Patnitop is an ideal place for walks and picnics.
• Sanasar is a 19-km away was chosen by J&K Tourism for major development.
• This town is located in a Gulmarg-like meadow which has picnic spots around.
• The 6-hole golf course is being expanded to 9-holes.
• Pony rides along little known trails.
• Camping
• Walks
• Para gliding
• Basic skiing
• Sudh Mahadev is another sacred spot that is close to Patnitop.

3. Eco-Adventure Activities
• Dawariyai take off area at Patnitop.
• Paragliding at Patnitop.
• Tandem Paragliding Joyrides at Sanasar by Extreme Himalayan Adventures.
• Billo ki powri at Dawariyai,400 steps cut into the rock face.
• High Flying from Natha Top.

4. Sanasar
• Paragliding
• Camping
• Skiing
• Trekking
• Abseiling
• Rock Climbing
• Scenic nature walks

5. Kud
• Located 103 kms from Jammu, on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
• This popular resort is situated at an altitude of 1738 mtrs.

6. Batote
• This is about 125 Kms from Jammu on the way to Patnitop.
• This is located at an altitude of 1560 metres.
• This is on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
• This resort straddles the forested slopes of the Patnitop mountain range.

7. Gauri Kund
• Some distance from Sudh Mahadev is the legendary spring.
• Here the Goddess Parvati used to have bath before commencing her daily prayers at Sudh Mahadev.
• This spring came to be named after her as ‘Gauri Kund’.

8. Mantalai
• This is located at a few kilometers further away from Sudh Mahadev.
• Mantalai is surrounded by lush deodar forests at an altitude of 2000 m.
• The place is associated with the legend of the marriage of Lord Shiva with the Goddess Parvati.

9. Mansar Lake
• This lake is located 90 kms from Patnitop.
• This is a beautiful lake fringed by forest-covered hills.
• Boating facilities are available on the spot.
• Every year around Baisakhi, a food and crafts festival is organised here by J&K Tourism.

Nearest Attractions to Patni top

• Pahalgam
• Chandanwadi
• Sheshnag
• Panchtarni

Best time to visit / climate

• Patnitop is an ‘anytime’ place.
• The best time for a visit is summer, during May-June, and autumn, September-October.
• For snowboard joys, December to March is the best time.

Location on Google Maps


View Larger Map

Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?q=Patni+Top,+NH+1A&hl=en&sll=33.073327,75.335118&sspn=0.081562,0.169086&oq=Patni&hq=Patni+Top,+NH+1A&t=m&z=15

How to get to Patnitop?

• Patnitop can be easily reached due to its proximity to the town of Jammu.
• This hill station is well connected to the town of Jammu and also to the capital city of Srinagar through a network of buses.
• These buses connect regularly ply to Patnitop.
• Local buses and taxis can be taken directly to Patnitop, and trains can be taken to the nearest city.

1. Patnitop by Bus
• Buses to the town of Patnitop can be taken from Pathankot, Jammu and Srinagar.
• These are the three major places in the state with a huge network of buses.
• Patnitop can be reached from here.
• The journey from Jammu to Patnitop will take around three hours in an average.
• Bus fares will range around Rs 100 to 150.
• This is the locally preferred mode of travel.

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

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

Some travel books from Amazon about Patnitop

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

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

• Hotels at mustseeindia.com
• Hotels at patnitophotels.com
• Hotels at patnitop.net

Blogs / Sites about Patnitop

• Blogs and reviews at rangan-datta.info
• Blogs and reviews at patnitop.nic.in
• Blogs and reviews at mustseeindia.com

Images and photos of Patnitop

• Images at google.com
• Images at tripadvisor.in
• Images at holidayiq.com


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