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

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to get there:
Since Easter Island is close to both Chile and Tahiti (although close is a misnomer, with the distance being at the closest around 2,000 miles), there are connections from both of these places, with flights and tourist packages available. Since the island now depends primarily on tourism, there are a number of local homes, guesthouses and hotels run by the islanders (and it may be a nice experience staying in a facility run by an islander, just as long as you have done enough research).

Blogs / Sites about Easter Island:

1. History of Easter Island (link), with many photos

Easter Island is the world’s most isolated inhabited island. It is also one of the most mysterious. Easter Island is roughly midway between Chile and Tahiti. The triangular shaped island is made mostly of volcanic rock. Small coral formations exist along the shoreline, but the lack of a coral reef has allowed the sea to cut cliffs around much of the island. The coastline has many lava tubes and volcanic caves. The only sandy beaches are on the northeast coast. Ovahe Beach, North Shore.
All but a few of the moai of Easter Island were carved at Rano Raraku, a volcanic cone that contains a crater lake. It is an eerie spot. Scattered all around Rano Raraku are 394 moai in every stage of evolution. Some are fallen – a common sight around the island – and some appear to have only heads, although they are really full figures that have been nearly buried by soil over the centuries. For reasons that remain a mystery, it appears that the workers at Rano Raraku set down their tools in the middle of a multitude of projects – and the moai-building abruptly ceased.

2. Easter Island on Wikipedia (link)

The island was populated by Polynesians who navigated in canoes or catamarans from the Marquises islands (3200 km away) or Tuamotou islands (Mangareva, 2600 km away) or Pitcairn (2000 km away). When Captain Cook visited the island, one of his crew members, who was a Polynesian from Bora Bora, was able to communicate with the Rapa Nui. In 1999, a voyage with reconstructed Polynesian boats was carried out, reaching Easter Island from Mangareva in 19 days.
According to legends recorded by the missionaries in the 1860s, the island originally had a very clear class system, with an ariki, king, wielding absolute god-like power ever since Hotu Matu’a had arrived on the island. The most visible element in the culture was production of massive moai that were part of the ancestral worship. With a strictly unified appearance, moai were erected along most of the coastline, indicating a homogeneous culture and centralized governance.

3. Attempting to replicate the movement of a moia (link)

This is the story of a team of archaeologists and a 75-person crew who sought to unravel a central mystery of Easter Island: how hundreds of giant stone statues that dominate the island’s coast were moved and erected. For one month, the team struggled to raise a 10-ton moai, using only the tools and materials available to the ancient Easter Islanders.

4. Sacredsites (link)

n the early 1950s, the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl (famous for his Kon-Tiki and Ra raft voyages across the oceans) popularized the idea that the island had been originally settled by advanced societies of Indians from the coast of South America. Extensive archaeological, ethnographic and linguistic research has conclusively shown this hypothesis to be inaccurate. It is now recognized that the original inhabitants of Easter Island are of Polynesian stock (DNA extracts from skeletons have confirmed this), that they most probably came from the Marquesas or Society islands, and that they arrived as early as 318 AD (carbon dating of reeds from a grave confirms this). It is estimated that the original colonists, who may have been lost at sea, arrived in only a few canoes and numbered fewer than 100. At the time of their arrival, much of the island was forested, was teeming with land birds, and was perhaps the most productive breeding site for seabirds in the Polynesia region. Because of the plentiful bird, fish and plant food sources, the human population grew and gave rise to a rich religious and artistic culture.

5. Map of Eastern Island (link)
6. A description along with photos of many of the Eastern Islands locations (link)
7. A comparison of what happened on Easter Island to current (link)

Among all such vanished civilizations, that of the former Polynesian society on Easter Island remains unsurpassed in mystery and isolation. The mystery stems especially from the island’s gigantic stone statues and its impoverished landscape, but it is enhanced by our associations with the specific people involved: Polynesians represent for us the ultimate in exotic romance, the background for many a child’s, and an adult’s, vision of paradise. My own interest in Easter was kindled over 30 years ago when I read Thor Heyerdahl’s fabulous accounts of his Kon-Tiki voyage.

Photo / Image Gallery:

1. Unique South America Travel Experience (link)
2. Photos from JPL at nasa.gov along with text (link)
3. Many beautiful photos at Easter Island Quest (link)
4. Photos at World Nomads (link)

Sikkim is a land of peace and tranquility, an ideal destination for trekking and for seeking some rest from fast paced action of life. People can rejuvenate themselves by being much closer to nature, walking in green areas, among mountains and trees. The Night sky is clear with constellations being clearly visible as opposed to cities where the light hides everything. Spend some time in this cultural wonderland, get some insights into Buddhism, enjoy shopping in the local markets, and overall forget all your tensions and problems.
Small but beautiful. Sikkim is situated in the eastern Himalayas. The state is legendary for its peaceful nature and simplicity. Famous for Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, along with a view of the majestic Mount Everst. The mountain state of Sikkim offers tremendous variety of plant and wildlife besides a diverse ethnic mix of people with rich cultural tradition.
Sikkim is rich with a wide variety of flora and fauna, and can make nature watchers salivate at the prospect of finding nature’s marvels so easily accessible. About 450 varieties of orchids, over 600 species of butterflies, 500 species of birds along with red pandas, snow leopards and other animals can be seen in Sikkim. The largest collection can be seen at the Kanchenjunga National Park which covers an area of 850 square kilometers. As a result ornithology tourism is also gaining in prominence in Sikkim.

TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATION:
Airlines:
Nearest airport is Bagdogra (124 kms) in North Bengal which is about 4 hours drive from Gangtok. Sikkim Tourism operates daily five-seater helicopter service between Gangtok and Bagdogra connecting all civil flights. We also arrange Helicopter service for sight-seeing.

Railways:
The two nearest railway stations are Silliguri (114 kms) and New Jalpaiguri (125 kms).

Road:
Good condition roads connect Sikkim with Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Silliguri all the way to Kolkata. The Sikkim Nationalized Transport (SNT) plies regular bus service from Gangtok to all Major cities and towns in North Bengal and within the state. Booking facilities are available at Silliguri and Gangtok. Private buses and taxis are also available in plenty connecting Gangtok, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Silliguri.

View Larger Map

Places to visit in Sikkim :

- The Ridge Park : It stretches from the Main Palace Gate to the White Hall. A long idyllic stretch lined by the beautiful cherry trees that in season burst into flower in a profusion of delicate pink blossoms, this is the perpetual haunt of the jogging enthusiasts. The flamboyant marquee or ‘Hawa Ghar’ with ornate design holds sway over the Park where you can laze around or watch the local children romp exuberantly. The Flower Festival which is held year round is just a short walk down.
- Saramsa : It is the home to the Ipecac Garden is another popular tourist destination that is a mere14kms away from Gangtok. Home to many rare orchids and other flora, its shady lawns often play host to picnic parties.
- The Water Garden : A little further away at 16 kms is another alternative worth exploring. Cool off in the small and sheltered swimming pool there. Or else clamber over rocks in the vicinity and dip your feet in the river.
- Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology : It was Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal, the last monarch of Sikkim who realized a long cherished dream when he set up this Institute. HH The Dalai Lama laid the foundation stone of the NIT which is done in typical Tibetan architectural style in Feb 1957. The following year Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the NIT.
- Do-drul Chorten : It is one of the most important Chortens or stupas of Sikkim that is exquisite as it is sacred. It was built in 1945 by Trulshik Rimpoche, a great teacher and interpreter of Buddhism.

NORTH SIKKIM :
- Dzongu : The territory of Dzongu in North Sikkim was set up in 1975. It is a land where pristine glacial streams thread their way through thick virgin forest. Countless waterfalls cascade down the steep cliff-sides and hot-springs bubble inside the hidden caves. The area is very remote, and is surrounded by sharply tilted verdant mountains that are stacked on top of each other at a forbidden angle. The elevation ranges from 500m to 6000m, and these extremes have nurtured an amazing diversity of plants and wildlife.

EAST SIKKIM :
- Rumtek Monastery : It is now the largest Buddhist monastery in East Sikkim and is the place where the monks perform sacred rituals and practices. Many sacred objects are housed within the complex, and one of the most magnificent is the Golden Stupa, which contains the precious relics of His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa.
- Pastanga : The village located in East Sikkim is very rich in culture and folklore; and is surrounded by hills covered with dense forest and cascading streams with rivulets cutting through the landscape and appealing orchids blooming on tree tops.
- Khedi – Located in East Sikkim, is renowned for its two sacred lakes, the Bhale Pokhari and the Pothi Pokhari where a festival is celebrated every year attracting hundreds of pilgrims from all over Sikkim.

WEST SIKKIM:
- Pelling : The city of Pelling located in West Sikkim is balancing on a ridge at an altitude of 2.040 m. One of Pelling’s main attractions is the Pemayangste Monastery. Known as the “Perfect sublime lotus” it is one of the oldest Monasteries in Sikkim being founded in 1705. The Sagachoeling (or Sang Gnak Choling) monastery is an even older monastery, dating back to 1697, and situated on a hilltop close to Pelling. Khecheopalri Lake, which is considered to be a holy lake by both the Buddhists and the Hindus, can be easily reached from Pelling.
- Darap : The picturesque village of Darap, located 8 kilometers from Pelling is a 20 minutes drive downhill passing through cardamom groves and terraced paddy fields.
- Yuksam : Yuksam is situated in the far western corner of Sikkim and nestled at the base of high forest-covered snow-capped mountains. Yuksam literally means ‘the meeting place of the three monks’.
- Uttaray : Tucked away in the lap of mother nature is the tranquil village of Uttaray, the gateway to the Singalila trek. This village provides visitors with many options to go for short hikes or longer treks in the vicinity or visit the Limboo village of Sopakha located an hour walk from Uttaray.
- Hee Bermiok : The newly developed destination of Hee Bermiok with widespread community participation is an ideal destination for visitors wanting to sample unique rural lifestyle of Sikkim. The strong Limboo culture of this area is worth appreciating.

SOUTH SIKKIM :
- Namchi : Sikkim’s South District, is the second largest populated districts of Sikkim. Its headquarter is in Namchi, meaning “High sky”. The area does credit to its name, nestled among the hills it gives panoramic views of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and the magic snow-capped mountains in the back.
- Kewzing : It is a typical Bhutia village in South Sikkim under the cover of the forest. At an altitude of 1200 m Kewzing provides its inhabitants with magnificent views of mountains including Mt. Kabru. Best mountain views occur from mid September to mid December. The atmosphere in the village is very serene and peaceful as the local people are very friendly and hospitable.

TREKS IN SIKKIM :
Most of the mountain areas in Sikkim have a fragile ecosystem. This demands any trekkers to obtain special permit to trek. Trekking in Sikkim is conducted in an organized manner. Individuals cannot trek on their own.
* Darjeeling to Kanchenjunga Trek
* Darjeeling and Sikkim Trekking
* Off Beaten Treks
* Singalila Ridge & Goecha La Trek
* Sikkim and Kanchenjunga Trek(20d)
* Sikkim and Kanchenjunga Trek(23d)
* Varsey Trek
* Yuksom To Dzongri & The Goecha La

RIVER RAFTING IN SIKKIM :
Rafting in Sikkim is an adrenalin pumping exercise especially in the two snow fed rivers of Teesta and Rangit. During the monsoon season hundreds of small streams can be found all over Sikkim. The two trails that are possible amongst rafters are :
* On River Teesta: Chungthang – Dikchu – Singtam – Melli
* On River Rangit: Legship – Jorethang – Melli

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7200244138493866871

Where to stay in Sikkim ?
- Heritage Hotels
* Norkhill Heritage Hotel, Paljor Stadium Road, Gangtok
* Himalayan Heights Hotel, Palzor Stadium Road, Gangtok
- Luxury Hotels
* Tibet Hotel (3 Star), Paljor Stadium Road
* Chumbi Residency, Tibet Road
* Tashi Delek Hotel (4 Star), Gangtok
* Hidden Forest Retreat, Lower Sichey Busty
- Deluxe Hotel
* Tashi Gang Resort, Yangtey near Peling, West Sikkim
* The Bliss Resort, Biksthang, Mangalbarey, West Sikkim
* Hotel Golden Pagoda, M.G.Marg
* Golden Heights, M.G.Marg
* Hotel Tashi Tagay, Tadong, Gangtok
* Hotel Bayul, M.G.Marg
* Hungry Jack, National Highway – 31 A
* Hotel Mount Simvo Tadong, Gangtok
* Middle Sichey, Gangtok
* Tashi Ghang Hotel, Yuksom

See towering mountains reach up to a clear blue sky, and seem to touch it. Hear the rhythmic chant of Buddhist monks in an ancient monastery where time stands still, in a land with a mix of religions living peacefully with each other. See the rushing waters of an icy river, the Indus (Sindhu) surge down from a glacial height. This is all part of what Ladakh (the Land of Passes and the Roof of the World) awaits you. From age-old Buddhist monasteries to exciting adventure tours, Leh (the capital of Ladakh) has a lot to offer. Explore a Gompa, go mountaineering in the Himalayas with sheer slopes and rocky cliffs, camp on the Ladakh plateau, trek on treacherous and breathtaking routes and see rare mountain goats ascend the slopes. Tour a land that will amaze you with its stark beauty and delight you with the warmth of the Ladakhi people.
Leh has a cold, arid climate with long, harsh winters from October to early March, with minimum temperatures well below freezing for most of the winter. The city gets occasional snowfall during winter. The weather in the remaining months is generally fine, and leads to a tourist season that peaks between July and September.

Leh (capital of Ladakh) on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Travellers flock to Ladakh from all corners of the globe, and Ladakh is becoming an adventure for a large number of Indians as well. This trans-Himalayan district of Jammu and Kashmir has now become a favourite of both adventure freaks and culture enthusiasts, and a good place to consider going to when you want to avoid those commercial tourist locations.
Leh, the capital of Ladakh is a fascinating destination. Monasteries that seem from the ages, quaint lanes, colorful markets, friendly people, and stunning views of the Himalayas make Leh an exotic destination. Leh is where your adventure in Ladakh begins. You can go trekking through the mountainous terrain of Ladakh, or even enjoy a game of polo in a high altitude arena or watch a local contest of archery between local residents. Mountaineering, white water rafting and wildlife tours are other adventurous attractions of Leh.
Leh is is bounded by Pakistan occupied Kashmir in the West, China in the north and eastern part, and Lahul Spiti of Himachal Pradesh in South East.

Major tourist attractions

• Leh Palace: This is a building built to reflect the grand traditions of Tibetan architecture, and which is said to have inspired the more famous Potala palace in Lhasa (Tibet), built half a century later. The palace was built long back, in the 17th century and had nine storeys with different floors for the royals and for those who server them, but it is now dilapidated and deserted (It was the home of the royal family until they were exiled to Stok in the 1830s). Within the palace are Buddhist wall paintings, centuries old ‘tankas’ or painted scrolls and other artefacts. Above the palace, at the top of the Namgyal hill, is the Victory Tower, built to commemorate Ladakh’s victory over the Balti Kashmir armies in the early 16th century.
• Leh Monastery and Gompa: The central area of Ladakh has the greatest concentration of major Buddhist monasteries or gompas, incredibly beautiful and a must see. Of the twelve situated on or near the Indus, the oldest monastery is that of Lamayuru, which is believed to have been a sacred site for the pre-Buddhist religion known as Bon. The monasteries of Phiyang, Hemis and Chemrey were all founded under the direct patronage of members of the ruling Namgyal dynasty. Phyang represents an act of penance by the 16th century King Tashi Namgyal for the violence and treachery by which he reached the throne.
• Spituk Monastery – The Gompa is famous for a wonderful view of the commanding river, the Indus. Further, the gompa stands on the top of a hillock, 8 Kms. from Leh. Many icons of Buddha and five thankas are found in 15th century monastery. There is also a collection of ancient masks, antique arms, and an awe inspiring image of Mahakal.
• Shanti Stupa: Shanti Stupa is a fairly recent monument, build with the support of the Japanese Government, and build by a Japanese who wanted to spread Buddhism around the world. The Shanti Stupa is located at Changspa, on the hilltop, and was inaugurated by Dalai Lama in 1985. Its state of the art work attracts a lot of tourists to Ladakh and is spectacular to watch. The stupa is connected by a ‘motorable’ road and a steep flight of stairs. The view from the top is great, and you can stop for a snack in the tea shop, and enjoy the panoramic view of the chain of mountains and the peaceful little village of Changspa (having typical Ladakhi houses built along a gushing stream), and the towering Namgyal Tsemo in the distance.
• Shey Gompa: 15 Kms upstream from Leh, a 7.5 metre high copper statue of Buddha, plated with gold, and the largest of its kind, is installed in the palace.
• Soma Gonpa (Jokhang): The Ladakh Buddhist Association in 1957 built the small Gonpa opposite to SBI, in the main bazaar, which is open throughout the day for visitors. The Gonpa contains a statue of Joyo Rinpochey (crowned Buddha).
• Stok Palace Museum: 17 km from Leh town, this museum exhibits precious stones, thangkas, coins, royal crowns and dresses and prayer instruments.
• Namgyal Tsemo Gompa – The Namgyal Tsemo Gompa was built in 1430 by King Tashi Namgyal on Namgyal Tsemo peak overlooking the town. The monastery contains a three-story high solid gold idol of Maitrieya Buddha (future Buddha also called laughing buddha) and a one-storied statue of Avaloketesvara and Manjushri along with ancient manuscripts and frescoes. The fort above this gompa is ruined, but the views of Leh from here are breathtakingly beautiful. The associated temples here remain intact, but they are kept locked except during the morning and evening hours when a monk toils up the hills from Sankar Gompa to attend to the butter – lamps in front of the images.
• Leh Mosque – Apart from all the Buddhist structures, the striking green and white Leh Mosque, an exquisite work of Turko-Iranian architecture, stand in the Main Bazaar of Leh. This historical mosque was built in 1666-67 A.D. consequent to an agreement between the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and then ruler of Ladakh, Deldan Namgyal.
• The Nubra Valley – The Nubra valley gets clad in endless bushes of yellow and pink wild roses. However, once the rose season is over, a carpet of wild lavender lies gently on it. Nubra is also a relatively warmer valley in Ladakh making it perfect for crops and fruits to grow. Diskit Village located near Khalsar, dotted with apricot plantations is one of the larger village of the Nubra valley. The road between Diskit and the quaint little Hunder Village winds through a gorgeous stretch of sand dunes. A quiet and pleasant evening can be spent amidst nature with snowcapped peaks in the background
• Pangong Lake – This lake is situated at a elevation of 14,000ft. In the Eastern sector of Ladakh, at a distance of 154km. from Leh across Changla pass (17,000ft.). This lake is one of the largest and most beautiful natural brakish lakes in the country. It is located 1/3rd in India, and 2/3rd in China, and one needs a permit to visit the Lake. The trip to the lake is half the pleasure of the lake itself.

Things to do:

Trekking : Leh is a trekker’s paradise. The treks from Spituk to the Markha valley and Lamayuru gompa to Chiling village alongside the Zanskar River are the most popular treks in the region. Another trek route is from Likir to Temisgam. Treks are open from the June end upto mid October. The passes for trekking are as high as 5,000 m in altitude, so you need to attempt these only if you are fit, and have experience. Many trekking agencies in Leh offer trek packages with a guide, packhorses, food and supplies.

Polo : Polo is also very popular in Leh. Apart from a well-maintained polo ground, regular matches and competitions are organised during the Ladakh festival.

River Rafting : One might also take fun of rafting in the Zanskar River in the month of July to September.

Places to stay:

Mehek Guest House
Green Land, Ladakh Hotel
Khangri Hotel, Ladakh
Laser Mo Hotel
Hotel Lumbini
List of places to stay (link to post)
Chamba Camp
The Grand Dragon
Hotel Caravan Center
Hotel Cho Palace
Hotel Dragon
Hotel Gawaling International
Hotel Holiday Ladakh
Hotel Khanglachan
Hotel Mandala
Hotel Lotus
Hotel Namgyal Palace
Hotel Omasila
Hotel Royal Palace
Hotel Shambha-La (link)
Hotel Spic N Span
Hotel Yak Tail
Sangaylay Guest House
Hotel Singge Palace (link)

By Air: The airport is approximately 8 kms away from Leh.

By rail: Jammu is the closest among all with a distance of 620 Kms.

By road: Kashmir valley is the closest place to approach Leh. The approach road to Leh is either through (434 km) Srinagar-Kargil-Leh, or through (473 km) Manali-Keylong-Leh. Both roads are open only on a seasonal basis.

External articles / blogs:

1. Biking from Srinagar to Leh (link to article):

Early on the 10th June we started for Leh. After 8.5KM of uphill we took a 5KM deviation from the main road to visit the Likir monastery. The ride from Likir monastery till the main road was an easy downhill and later the road was relatively flat till Nimmu (our Lunch halt). After climbing up till the Magnetic Hill and facing some heavy wind which made even standing difficult we reached the Pattar Sahib Gurudwara. The road beyond the Gurudwara was a neatly paved downhill for more than 10KM. This stretch gave us an oppurtunity to touch a maximum speed of 77.7KMPH and soon we entered the busy Leh city!

2. Proposed drive to Leh on the 4th of July (link to article)
3. Drive from Srinagar to Leh with some great photos (link to article)
4. Complete guide to Leh-Manali Road (link to article)

It is the difficulty involved in traversing the road that attracts travelers to make the journey from Manali to Leh by road. Nowhere else in India do you get to drive hundreds of kilometers without seeing a single permanent habitation. The road runs above ten thousand feet for almost entire journey, and the highest point on the road is above 18,000 feet. The landscapes are unparalleled. The superb greenery on the way out of Manali will be the last stretch of abundant vegetation that you encounter until the day you return from Ladakh

5. Ice hockey in Leh (link to article)

The famous Karzoo Ice Hockey Rink has become the most sought after destination in Leh during winters for the localites as well as tourists having a passion for Ice Hockey. It is the highest Ice Hockey rink in the country, which is situated at an altitude of 3483 meters above sea level. 2009 has been an year of achievement for the local players from Ladakh, where they got an opportunity to represent their county in International Ice Hockey Federation Challenge Cup of Asia held at Abu Dhabi.

6. Khardung La – World’s Highest Motorable Road (link to article)

Khardung La (la means pass in Tibetan) (elevation 5359 m) is a high mountain pass located in the Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The local pronunciation is “Khardong La” or “Khardzong La,” but, as with most names in Ladakh, the romanised spelling varies. It is the highest motorable road in the world as signs put up by the Border Roads Organization proudly proclaim. The views from this pass are no doubt breathtaking – with the Ladakh range to the south and Karakoram to the north. And snow capped peaks at almost touching distance all around. The pass experiences up to 10 feet of snow in winters, with temperatures dropping to 40 degrees Celsius below zero. Even though temperatures in summers average 20 degrees Celsius, the weather can turn for the worse suddenly.

7. Not walking to Leh (link to article):

We traveled to Leh, in northern Kashmir, a few years ago. Good sample-the-local-culture tourists that we are, we traveled on crowded buses, hitchhiked on trucks, and once, memorably, on a fully loaded gasoline tanker truck driven by a dozing driver. One thing we did not try to do much was hike.

8. Whether safe to plan to drive in October on the highways (link to forum post)

I’m looking at doing the trip from manali to leh. Trying to coordinate the trip with some friends overseas and the only time that works for all of us would be early – mid october. Also we’d only have 12 days from arriving in delhi to leaving delhi. So first of all how trafficable is the route at this time of year – I’ve heard it officially closes in september. We would be self supported on mountainbikes so not opposed to a bit of snow and the like but don’t want to do anything stupid. Also what would we find in the way of tent villages and permanent villages along the way. As for the 12 days (probably 10 by the time you bus out to manali and fly back from leh) is it realistic in this time. I don’t expect or want this to be an easy ride but I don’t want to bite off more then I can chew.

9. Trip to Leh (link to article)

For the spiritually inclined, the monasteries of Thiksey, Hemios, Spitup, and Lamayuru provide perfect refuge. Most monasteries also have small guest houses where visitors may stay and participate in Buddhist rituals with the resident monks. These monasteries offer great insight into the culture of Leh – with their museums holding great treasures of tourist interest. Religion plays an important part in Leh’s culture and it is advisable to listen carefully to your guide so as to not disrespect any religious sentiments.

10. Leh and Ladakh (link to article)
11. Long trip covering Leh and Amarnath (link to forum post)
12. Ketchup with Aubs (link to article)

The capital city of Leh offers a rare insight into what Tibet was like before the Chinese invaded the country. It also boasts the highest golf course in the world at the Indian army base (at about 3,200m). Permission can be sort to play a round. Similar to the Gulf, you carry a piece of artificial turf around and aim for the “greens”, which are actually brown – a mix of oil and sand which offers a seriously challenging putting surface.

13. Manali-Leh highway (link to article):

From Manali, a pretty village in the green foothills of the Himalayas, the journey takes two days and ends up 500kms north in Leh, Ladakh’s capital – a staggering 3505m above sea level. It’s certainly an experience worth having, but the combination of Indian driving and a disconcerting lack of barriers on the windy mountain roads makes for a nail-biting trip. Rather alarmingly, our driver was suffering with altitude sickness and kept momentarily blacking out, reminding me to ‘grab the wheel’ if he fainted. On the plus side, he did own the full Bob Marley collection which blared most of the way, so, you know, swings and roundabouts.

14. Adventure on the Leh-Manali highway (link to article):

arlier this week I took a 20-hour jeep ride from Leh to Manali. Their were 10 people (I was the only non-Indian) in a jeep that was made for 7, so it was uncomfortable. Despite, the discomcomfort, or perhaps because of it, it was a ride I will never forgot. The scenery was stunning, and the road was terrifying. The road was rarely more then 1 lane wide and was on the edge of a mountain atleast 75% of the time.

15. manali-Leh highway (link to article)

The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. The road is only open between June and October, and by this time the landscape is a vast expanse of barren, snow-capped mountainous and deep canyons with rivers running through it. There’s the odd house or tiny settlement along the way, but the most people you’ll see are at the numerous rest-stops where drinks and snacks are sold. There are no toilets though – you’ll have to bare your bum at the side of the road – not so bad higher up where you can hide behind a mound of snow, but pretty embarrassing in the open, barren expanses lower down.

16. Wonderful post on travel through India (with Leh at the lower section) (link to article):

I visited Thiksey Monastery (or Gompa) first, leaving at sunrise and watching the incredible changes of light on the harsh, bare, and beautiful mountains. Thiksey sprawls down a mountainside, and has the usual monastery accoutrements of small shrines, huge Buddhas, and many steps. What it did not have many of, that day, was monks, as they were mostly visiting in the village for a funeral. It was fascinating to wander around, though, and is very aesthetically pleasing.
The monasteries have incredible artwork, but what I loved best about this area is the flowers. The garden at my guesthouse is a small treasure, and everywhere at the “gompas” (monasteries) and along the roadsides in the valleys there are flowers of all shapes and sizes, most noticeably vivid hollyhocks. They have such a short season that everything seems to grow with abandon.

Photos of Leh / Ladakh:

1. Photos from Srinagar to Leh (link to article)

2. Photos of Leh-Manali highway (link to photos)
3. Beautiful photos of Leh (link to post)
4. Photos at thisismyindia.com (link)
5. Official site (link)
6. Leh Photo Gallery at world66.com (link)
7. Photo Gallery at pbase.com (link)
8. Blog + Photo Gallery (link)

Map of Tawang on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Another map here (maplandia.com)

Trip to Tawang put photos and wrote about the beauty (link)

Tawang, perched at a height of over 10,000 ft, is world-renowned for its 400-year-old Buddhist Monastery, one of the biggest in India. The sixth Dalai Lama was born here. The Tawang Monastery has an interesting collection of Thangkas (Tibetan painting on cloth) and a large gilded statue of Sakyamuni (the historical Buddha) in the prayer hall. The Tawang Monastery, also known as the ‘Galden Namgyal Lhatse’, is beautifully situated on a spur about 2 km from the heart of the town.

Post on AdmirableIndia.com (link)

Founded by the Mera Lama Lodre Gyasto in accordance to the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso, The Tawang monastery of the Gelugpa sect is the largest Buddhist monastery in India. The name Tawang means Chosen Horse. It is also known in another Tibetan name known as Galden Namgey Lhatse, which means a true name within a celestial paradise in a clear night. Located at an elevation of 10,000 feet (3,300m) in the district capital, Tawang Town, it is home to more than 600 Lamas. It also houses the Parkhang library: a collection of the 400-year-old Kangyurs which consists of 110 volumes with 400-500 pages in each bundle in addition to invaluable manuscripts.

Khajuraho is a village in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, located in Chhatarpur District, about 385 miles (620 kilometres) southeast of Delhi (the capital city of India). The Khajuraho group of monuments has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is a protected site. One of the most popular tourist destinations in India, Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their erotic sculpture. The name Khajuraho, ancient “Kharjuravahaka”, is derived from the Sanskrit word kharjur meaning date palm.

Location (Google Maps)

View Larger Map

The story of Khajuraho is that in a burst of passion, the Moon God enticed the beautiful Brahmin girl, Hemavati, while bathing in the Rati one evening, resulting in the birth of Chandravarman. Harassed by society, the unwed mother sought refuge in the dense forests of Khajuraho where she was both mother and guru to her young son. The boy grew up to become the founder of the Chandela dynasty.
When he was the ruler of the land, Chandravarman had a dream where his mother implored him to build temples that would reveal all aspects of the human passion and fantasy to the world and in doing so bring about a realization of the emptiness of the human desire. Thus began the story of a fervent artistic desire for the construction of the first of the temples, and successive rulers added to that which resulted in the Khajuraho temples. The temples serve as fine examples of Indian architectural styles that have gained popularity due to their explicit depiction of the traditional way of sexual life during medieval times.
Per year in the month of February – March, Khajuraho Dance Festival is organized by the Kala Parishad under the Madhya Pradesh government. Popular Classical Dancers from all India performs during this Dance festival at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. The aim of organizing this event is to promote cultural heritage and traditional dances of India.
Dancers from abroad also perform during this week long festival in Madhya Pardesh. Live performances of classical dances like Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, and Bharatnatyam, Manipuri are the main attractions of these dance festival. The Festival of Khajuraho Dance is internationally recognized by international dancers and academies. A large number of foreign tourists come to India for classical dances like Khajuraho Festival of Dances. The venue of the festival is the Vishwanatha temple and open-air auditorium in front of the Chitragupta temple. Both the temples are beautifully lit and stand glittering with the colorful lights.

Places to stay:

Hotel Chandela ( Taj Group ) , Khajuraho
Hotel Usha Bundela Khajuraho
Ken River Lodge, (Panna) Khajuraho
Ramada Hotel, Khajuraho
The Lalit Temple View, Khajuraho
Kairali Ayurvedic Resort , Khajuraho
Grand Temple View, Khajuraho
Hotel Clarks, Khajuraho
Hotel Greenwood Khajuraho , Khajuraho
Radisson Hotel, Khajuraho
The Jewel of the Jungle, (Panna) Khajuraho
Hotel Surya
Hotel Harmony
Hotel Marble Palace
Holiday Inn Khajuraho
GW Grand Hotel
Hotel Siddharth
Best Western Greenwood Khajuraho
Hotel Casa di William
Payal Hotel

How to get to Khajuraho:

By Air
Khajuraho is directly connected with all major Indian cities.

By Rail
The nearest railheads are Mahoba and Harpalpur. Jhansi is a convenient railhead for those travelling from Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai and Varanasi the railhead is Satna, on the Mumbai-Allahabad section of the Central Railway is ideal. Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Agra by train to the railheads.

By Road
Khajuraho is connected by regular and direct bus services with Chhatarpur, Mahoba, Harpalpur, Satna, panna, Jhansi, Gwalior, Agra, Sagar, Jabalpur, Indore, Bhopal, Varanasi and Allahabad.

Articles about Khajuraho (photos, blogs, etc)

1. Photos of Khajuraho at Sulekha.com (link)
2. Photos of Khajuraho at Flickr (link)
3. Train to Khajuraho (link)
4. Video on Youtube of visit to Khajuraho (link)
5. Drive to Khajuraho (link)
6. Varanasi and Khajuraho (link)
7. Photo of Khajuraho on Flickr (link)
8. Varanasi to Khajuraho (link)
9. Khajuraho trip along with photos (link)
10. Photo of Khajuraho on Treklens (link)
11. Dance Festivals at Khajuraho (link)
12. Video of Khajuraho Dance Festival (link)
13. Jhansi to Khajuraho on Ghumakkar (link)
14. Temple Tours, Khajuraho (link)
15. Travel Blog (link)
16. Book on Khajuraho (link)
17. Review of Hotel Chandela in Khajuraho (link)
18. Photo of temple (link)
19. Photos of Khajuraho at Flickr (link)
20. Great photo of architecture of a temple (link)
21. Post with some great photos of the temples (link)
22. Photos of the temple sculptures (link)
23. Khajuraho Photo Gallery at the ASI site (link)
24. Khajuraho Photo Gallery (link)
25. Khajuraho Photo Gallery on World66 (link)
26. Khajuraho Photo Gallery at pbase.com (link)
27. Another Khajuraho Photo Gallery (link)
28. Khajuraho Photos at fotosearch.com (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)

Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath, is situated in the eastern part of Orissa and is one of the four holy dhams of Hinduism. Puri is also called “Sri Purusottama Dham” or “Martya Vaikuntha”, the abode of Lord Vishnu on earth. It is an extremely important religious center for Hindus. Puri is located approx. 60-km from Bhubaneswar (the capital of the state of Orissa) and approx 35-km from Konark on the Marine Drive. For centuries now, the beach at Puri has been the venue of countless pilgrims taking the traditional purification dip.

Map of Puri (including directions) from Mapmyindia.com

Puri is the abode of Lord Jagannath and considered one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage destination. The temple here and the associated Rath Yatra is a very important religious institution. Puri is the forerunner of the Jagannath cult in Orissa, which saw the flowering of several temples dedicated to Jagannath all over the state. Puri’s ancient shrine, enshrining Krishna (in the form of Lord Jagannath) in the form of a wooden image, also is accompanied by wooden images of Balabhadra (Balarama) and Subhadra, the brother and sister of Krishna respectively.

Rath Yatra : Rath Yatra, which is also known as the Chariot Festival, is one of the most prominent festivals of Orissa, which is celebrated in the holy city of Puri. The Rath Yatra has derived its name from the words Rath, which means Chariot, and Yatra, meaning a procession. This festival is celebrated with gusto in almost every part of the country, with the Rath Yatra in Puri being arguably the most famous one. The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is a very colorful festival, in which a large number of people participate enthusiastically.
During the yatra, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, are brought out and placed on their respective chariots. Then these chariots are pulled by the devotees and taken to Gundicha Temple. The deities are placed at this temple for seven days and then, are taken back to the Jagannath temple, in a similar procession. Before the procession starts, Gajapati (the ceremonial King of Puri) comes and cleans the chariots with a golden broom and then, sprinkles holy water on them.
Historically, as per tradition, the local king used to sweep the road on which the procession was to take place with a golden broom, proclaiming to be the Lord’s first servant. The king being a sweeper would normally be seen to be something that is unthinkable, but in the case of the Rath Yatra, it is seen to be a holy right of the king.
It is believed that it is very auspicious if one manages to catch even a glimpse of Lord Jagannath on the chariot, and people throng the route to try and catch a glimpse of the Yatra. People also hold a belief that the one who manages to touch the chariot, or even the ropes with which it is pulled, is bestowed with the results of several pious deeds for ages. In ancient days some devotees would throw themselves beneath the wheels of the Chariot in the belief that such an act of piety involving Lord’s blessings would send them straight to heaven.

The most famous temple in the town is the Shri Jagannath Temple. The Temple of Lord Jagannath (Lord of the Universe) was built approximately during the 12th century A.D. by Chodaganga Deva and the wonderful structure dominates the landscape for kilometers around. Being the tallest temple (65 metres) in Orissa, it is one of the most magnificent pieces of monuments of India. The majestic ancient temple of Lord Jagannath is situated in the middle of the Jagannath Puri.
The Aruna Stamba is in front of the main gate of Jagannath Temple. On the top of the stamba is the figure of Aruna the charioteer of Sun God. The Jagannath Puri temple is a great example of the Orissan style of architecture. In the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha ) there are a strange archaic type of wooden images of Sri Jaggannath, his sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra. Subhadra’s image is in between her two brothers and smaller in size.
History : The history of the present temple goes back to approximately the 12th century A.D. when the founder King of the Ganga Dynasty, King Chodaganga Deva began the construction of the temple, with the construction being completed by King Anangabhima Deva. As per available records, the temple existed in one form or the other since ancient times; being patronized by the Kings ruling Orissa at the time with some of the rulers pursuing a policy of neglect. With the construction of the grand temple around the 12th century, patronage of the kings was assured. The King acknowledged Lord Jagannath as the actual ruler of the kingdom with the King ruling on behalf of the Lord.
Over the years, the royal worship continued until the invading Afghans defeated the Orissa Kings and plundered the temple in the 16th Century. The temple priests saved the deities from the invaders until kings were able to reclaim the kingdom. With the Moghuls invading the empire again, worship stopped for some time and was restored again. The advent of the Imperial British East India Company and its successor British rule by the crown again brought the temple Management under stress. However, the British respected the right to worship of the Hindus at Jagannath and indirectly allowed patronage. They recognized Jagananth Puri’s King of Orissa (Gajapati Maharaj) as the Superintendent of the Temple and granted some revenue rights and privileges to the temple to run its affairs.

Even before one enters Puri, this 65-metre high temple makes its presence felt. A 20-foot high wall surrounds it. A traditional porch, shrine, hall of offerings and a pillared hall of dance, form the rest of this temple. The remarkable feature about this temple, since its early beginnings, is that there has been no discrimination, ever, between castes. There is no caste distinction and all are welcome before the Lord Jaggannath but non-hindus are not allowed inside the shrine. They can have a fair view of the inside of the temple from the nearby roof of the Raghunandan library, opposite the main gate of the shrine.
There are four gates to enter into the complex.
Eastern Gate : Generally people enter into the temple through this gate. These figures of two lions made of sandstone are placed at both sides of the entrance, for which the gate is known as Simghadwar or lion’s Gate. There is a pillar named Aruna-Stamba in front of this gate. It is a monolithic sharft or chlorite having sixteen sides and in 33 feet 8 inches. high from the ground.
Southern Gate : The Southern gate of the temple is known as Aswadwar (Horse gate) and it is five steps above the road in front. Towards the right side of the steps, a huge figure of Hanuman has been installed. The door is said to better entrance of the tantric to go inside the temple.
Western Gate : Four steps above the road there is a door at the westernside and two small figures of tiger are place at both sides of it, therefore it is called Byaghradwar on the Tiger Gate
Northern Gate : It is known as Hastidwar or the Elephant Gate, small figures of two elephants made of stone are seen standing at both side of the gate. The upper door-frame depicts the nine planets in usual Orissan style. Local people are named this gate as chemenidwar, because large number of house-bats staying on it.

Other temples and places nearby (in Puri and outside):

Bada Danda: This place is also known as the Grand Road. The Bada Danda extends from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, and is the scene of the great Festival of the Chariots or Ratha Yatra..
Ideal for shopping: The grand road, as surprising as it seems, is ideal for a leisurely stroll as well as shopping for souvenirs. Typical Puri handicrafts include miniature stone-sculptures, woodcarvings, seashell items, patta paintings and colourful applique work.

Gundicha Temple: The most important sanctuary of Jagannath is the Gundicha temple, the abode to which Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are driven each of his or her wooden cars once in a year, during the Car Festival for 7 days. During these 7 days, the temple is occupied by the Lord, and remains unoccupied for the other days, but there is a small establishment of servants by whom it is regularly maintained. it is situated at the other end of the great highway (Badadanda). The distance between the gates of Jagannath temple and the Gundicha temple, is exactly 2,688.0696 meters (8327 feet). The temple is surrounded by a wall and stands in the middle of garden. it consists of four pars connected with kitchen rooms by a narrow passage. The tower, a construction of Pidha type, is 75 feet high with a base of 55 feet by 46 feet outside, and 36 feet 8inches by 27 feet inside. All the four structures (Vimana, Jagamohan, Natamandap, and Bhogamandap) bear the traces of several plastering and are carved in places with obscene figures in mortar. There is a plain raised seat, 4 feet high and 19 feet long, made of chlorite, and this is called the Ratnavedi- the throne on which the images are placed when brought to the temple.

Astasambhu Temple: The eight guardians Siva’s of this abode of Jagannath (Vishnu) are Markandeswar, Yajneswara, Nilakantheswara, Vilveswara, Kapalamochana, Baleswara, isaneswara and Pataleswara.

Astachandi Temple: The eight Chandis, collectively called Astachandi, are Bata Mangala, Bimala, Sarvamangal, Ardhasani, Alamba, Dakshinakalika, Marichika and Harachandi.

Panchatirtha Temple: The sacred tanks are indradyumna near the Gundicha temple, Manikarnika in the Marnikarnika street, Markanda towards the north of the Jagannath temple and Swetaganga towards the south of the Jagannath temple. These four tirthas or sacred waters together with the sea make the Panchtirtha or five sacred waters in which pilgrims are solemnly enjoined to take bath. Some of these places and few other places, such as: Lokanath temple, Atharnala Bridge, etc., deserve special mention.

Loknath Temple: This is the famous Siva temple of Puri Located about One Kilometer away from the Jagannath Temple towards the western end. There is a popular belief that Lord Ram had installed this lingam with a Lauka or Pumpkin. The Temple was build during 10th-11th century A.D. The devotees come here to see Lord Loknath in order to be cured from any kind of disease. There are certain festivals observed in this temple out of which ‘Saranti-Somobar-mela’ is the important one. There is a stream on the head Sivalinga playing the roal of the Ganges and linga, it self remains under the water. The flowers, sandal paste, ‘Bilva-patra’, etc. offered to the God remain decomposed in the water emittining a special smell. The festival of Siva Ratri is observed in the temple of Lokanath with great devotion. A meeting of Siva and Vishnu takes place on the day.

Chakratirtha Temple: The Chakratirtha, a small and unprotected pool, is in the South-east of Jagannath Temple on the Sea-Beach of popularly known as C.T. Road heading towards Pentha Kata – The fisherman village. The place is known as Bankimuhana. Near-by is the temple of Chaitanya called Sunar – Gouranga.

Chakranarayan Temple: Towards the northern side of the temple of Sunar-Gouranga is the temple of Chakranarayana. The image of Lakshmi-Narasimha is worshipped here.

Daria Mahabir Temple: At the distance of about thirty meters to the west of the Chakranarayan temple, Daria Mahabir is a small temple dedicated to Hanuman. He is also known as Bedi Hanuman.

Ardhasani Temple: On the way to Gundicha temple, Ardhasani is a small temple dedicated to the goddess of that name. She is also known as Mausi Maa (mother’s sister) of Lord Jagannath.

Siddha Mahavir Temple: At a distance of about half a mile (804.672 meters), to the west of Gundicha temple, there is a small temple dedicated to Siddha Hanuman. it is believed that Tulasidas resided at this place during his stay at Puri.

Jameswara Temple: This is again a temple of 11-12th Century A.D. located on the extreme end of Harichandi Street. It houses Jameswara Siva, who protects this holy land from the influence of Yama, on the other hand it is know on as Yamanaka Tirtha.

Alabukeswara Temple: Alabukeswara is a Siva shrine situated to the west of the Yameswara.

Kapalamochana Temple / Manikarnika: Kapalamochana is a small Saiva temple in the immediate neighborhood of the Alabukeswara in the Manikarnika Sahi. The sacred pool of Manikarnika is also located here.

Daksinakali Temple: The temple is situated towards the south-eastern side of the Lord Jagannath temple on Balisahi. Puranic tradition say that in Sriksetra or Puri, Sri Jagannath is regarded as Daksinakalika. The deity is enshring in a modern temple at an higher rasied platform. The temple is facing to east an consist of a vimana and a Jagamohana. The deity is four armed and seated on a corrpse. She is shown as drinking blood, with a dagger and holding severed head in two of her hands. it is believed that Daksinakalika is the guardian of the kitchen of the Lord Jagannath Temple.

Dasavatara Temple: There are the ruins of a temple of the ‘Dasavatara’ of Vishnu near Gundicha temple. This is the place where the Kabi Jayadeve, the author of Gitagovindam stayed. Being inspired with the ten incarnations of Vishnu, he wrote Dasaavatara Strotra in his famous work Gitagovindam.

The Temple of Seven Mother Goddesses: This temple is situated on the embankment of a big sacred pond, Markandeya Soravara. This reminds us of the similar temple build at Dasasvamedha Ghat of Yajpur built in the 10th century by the Somavamsi Kings. Brahmi, Maheswari, Andri, Kaumari, Vaisnavi, Varahi and Camanda are known as the seven mother Goddesses. Sometime Narasimha replace Vaisnavi, a female from the man-Lion incarnation of Lord Vishnu. However, the Shrine of the seven mother goddess at the pond Markanda proves very well that once upon a time Puri was a bonafide Sakta Pitha and Goddess Vimala was the presiding deity of this pitha.

Mausima Temple: The three chariots of Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra start from the Singha Dwara of the Temple of Jagannath and reach at ‘Gundicha Temple’, at the other end of the Bada danda. in between ‘Gundicha Temple’ and ‘Singha Dwara’ there comes the Shrine of the Goddess, Ardhamsini or Ardhasini. Popularly known as Mousima (aunt) of Jagannath where the Lord take a bhoga of ‘Podapitha”, a special cake. it is stared in Skanda Purana, Vaisanava Knadha that during the deluge, when the sea overflooded Puri, this goddess drank half of the flood water and saved the town. There for her name become Arthasini.

Balighai: Just 8 kms away from the crowds of Puri, on the mouth of River Nuanai, Balighai has excellent beach and the Sea Turtle Research center. Its serene environs are an ideal getaway from the tensions of the city life.

Exciting moments : The Casuarina fringed Balighai beach is a famous picnic spot. The Sun and fun at the mouth of the river Nuanai is unforgettable. Location : 8 kms away from Puri.

Chilka Lake: Situated southwest of Puri, Chilka is the largest fresh water lake in Asia (65 kms long, 8-20 kms wide, about 2 m deep). One can enjoy boating on the shimmering blue waters and in leisure one can enjoy fishing.
It has been affectionately called as the honeymooner paradise and breakfast island. The simmering blue water makes it an excellent site to have a break from the monotonous daily routine..

Attractions : Nalbana Island
Due to its varied flora and fauna, it forms the core of Chilika sanctuary.

Birds Island: A haven for resident and migratory birds. One can watch birds in their natural habitat here, carry a good camera here.

Kalijal Island: Kalijai Island is home to the Goddess Kalijai, venerated by the local fisher folk. Hosts a huge fair on Makar Sankranti annually in the month of January.
Location : Southwest of Puri, Orissa
Much to offer : You can boat and fish here. The thrilling sight of dolphins round the year, and abundance of migratory and resident birds in winter, makes Chilika island an ideal vacation for people who love nature. Talking about lakes, there is also Ansupa, a small but picturesque lake attracting migratory birds in winter. Saranda Mountain and the surrounding bamboo and mango groves cast interesting reflections on its waters.
Natural Bliss : The shallow waters enclose an immense area of marshes, lowlands, and islands.
The surrounding hills and sandy stretches abound in cheetals, blackbucks, monkeys, fishing cats, mongoose and porcupines and a dolphin population cavorting joyfully near the channel meeting the sea. Snakes and turtles, lizards and cobras inhabit the surrounding beach area and wooded undergrowth.

Satapara: Satapara, a retreat in nature on Chilika Lake, is opened up to the tourists. For its location near the confluence of the lake with the ocean and proximity to Puri (48 km), it is an ideal spot to enjoy Chilika. The thrilling sight of dolphins round the year and abundance of migratory and resident birds in winter make it a preferred place for a vacation with nature.

Raghurajpur: Famous for its Patta Chitra paintings, this artists village 14 kms from Puri, makes an interesting excursion. This village is heavily involved in preserving India priceless skills with its thatched, brick, houses on high plinths with sit-out platforms and artists busy at work.

Sakshigopal: The shrine of Lord Sakshigopal is only 20 kms away from Puri. The sacred feet of Shri Radha can however be only seen on ‘Anala nawami’ day..
Location : 20 kms away from Puri.
Legend : According to legend once Gopal Krishna came down to this place from Vrindavan as a witness to clear out a dispute between two Brahmins. When he saw this beautiful place he fell in love with it and stayed on.

Choudwar: Choudwar, a growing industrial area was once the capital of Somakuli Keshari Kings of Orissa. Eight prominent Siva pithas were established by the Keshari dynasty in the vicinity of Choudwar which is now in ruins. Tradition records that it was the capital of Virat, the brother-in-law of Kichaka. The five Pandava brothers with their consort Draupadi took shelter in Choudwar in their secret exile.

Chhatia: Popularly known as Chhatiabata, Chhatia is a sacred place of pilgrimage. The shrine of Lord Jagannath at Chhatia is a modern piece of Orissan temple architecture. Nearby one can find the archaeological remains of Amravati-Kataka, one of the five important forts of Chodaganga Deva. Amaravati with the back drop of the hill “Dhania” presents an attractive sight.

Jajpur: Otherwise known as Vaitarani Tirtha, Jajpur with Goddess Viraja (Durga) as its presiding deity is one of the sacred places of pilgrimage in Orissa. The place has its unique importance in India as Navigaya Kshetra where pinda is offered for the satisfaction of the ancestors. The shrine of Sweta Varaha (the white boar incarnation of Vishnu) along with hundreds of other shrines here made Jajpur a Tirtha par excellence. The “Dasavamedha Ghat”, the flight of steps leading to the Vaitarani where the ten horse sacrifices were performed is a great sanctified spot for the Hindus.

Ansupa: Ansupa the small but picturesque lake holds a prominent position in the tourist map of Orissa and offers an asylum to the migratory birds in winter. The play of the shadow of Saranda mountain and surrounding bamboo and mango groves on the rippling waters of Ansupa make it a real thing of beauty. One can have a boat journey or go for fishing in the lake.

Ratnagiri Lalitgiri Udayagir: These three hills comprise a remarkable buddhist complex. Hieun-T’sang, the Chinese pilgrim found it to be the seat of a flourishing Buddhist University called “Puspagiri”. Extensive ruins of brick pagodas, sculptured stone portals and esoteric Buddhist images testifying its ancient glory have been unearthed. Ratnagiri is the gem of this complex. The magnificently carved door jambs of the Vihar and superbly finished Buddha images from perhaps the greatest concentration of Buddhist sculpture of the post-Gupta period. Ratnagiri is 70 kms, Lalitgiri is 55 kms and Udayagiri is 60 kms from Cuttack.

Dhavaleswar: A small island in the Mahanadi, the temple of Dhavaleswar is situated on a hillock. Though a new structure, sculptures of 10 / 11th century A.D. are found in the temple premises.

The Beach: The fine white sands of Puri beach and the roar of the breakers rolling in from the Bay of Bengal have fascinated visitors throughout the years. The local fishermen, with their catamarans and wide-brimmed cane hats, are also expert masseurs. With excellent hotels and guesthouses, the Puri beach is an ideal holiday spot.
Memorable moments : Puri offers tourists the rare opportunity of witnessing the colourful sunrise and sunset on the same beach where they can bathe and relax around for hours on its golden sands. Also a marine drive is there to konark and bramhagiri.
The local fishermen, with their catamarans and wide brimmed cane hats are welcomed by tourists for they not only provide you with a ride on their boats but also act as lifeguards if you wish. And yes,they are also expert masseurs. With excellent beach facing hotels and guest houses, the Puri beach is an ideal holiday spot where you can easily spend a lot of time.
The southern end of the beach has the Swargadwara, Gateway to heaven where one can pick seashell items miniature stone sculptures and woodcarvings.
The Puri Beach Festival, with Tourism of Orissa tour packages, offers a kaleidoscopic view of Orissa’s cultural heritage and modern lifestyle. Modeled on the Goa Festival, the Puri Beach Festival has its own energy and positive vibes that will make you drop your guard and enjoy every single moment of your stay in Puri, Orissa during the Puri Beach Festival.
The Puri Beach Festival is held over 5 days, in the month of November, on the Puri beach that is a popular tourist and pilgrimage destination on its own. Come festival season and the popular Puri Beach is transformed into the well-lit colorful venue for the Puri Beach Festival. The festival gives you a chance to explore the nuances of the inhabitants of Puri, Orissa, who display a radical attitude towards changing environs and are yet deeply religious and conservative at heart.

HOW TO REACH THERE:
BY RAIL: From Calcutta, New Delhi, Tirupati and Ahmedabad there are direct trains to reach Puri. Puri is a terminus on the East Coast Railway having direct express and super fast train links with New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Okha, Ahmedabad, Tirupati etc. Some important trains are Kolkata (Howrah) Puri Howrah Express, Jagannath Express; New Delhi; Purushottam Express. The station is about one km North of the town. Cycle rickshaws and auto rickshaws are available to get you to your hotel from there.

BY ROAD: By Road Puri is 60-km from Bhubaneswar and 35-km from Konark on Marine Drive.

Places to stay:
Toshali Sands (link)
Niladri Hotel
Sterling Puri Resorts
Hotel Holiday Resort
Mayfair Hotels & Resorts
Nilanchal Ashok
Pearl Beach Club & Resort
The Hans Coco Palms
Hotel Naren Palace
Hotel Samudra
Hotel Sea Palace
Hotel Shree Hari
Hotel Sonali
Hotel Swimming
Surya Beach Inn
Hotel Padma
Hotel Vijoya International
Hotel Arya Palace
Hotel Gandhara
Hotel Niladri
Hotel Prabhupada
Hotel Sapphire International
Hotel Sonar Bangla
Hotel Nayak Plaza
Hotel Deep Resort
Hotel Diamond Place
Hotel Gandhar
Map of Puri (including hotels) (link)

External articles:
1. Article on indiatravelogue.com (link)
2. Officially approved web site (link)
3. Pooja timings at the Puri Jagannath Temple (link)
4. Wikitravel link on Puri (link)
5. Blog with photos (link)
6. Locus Blog (link)
7. Photos of Puri from world66.com (link)
8. Photos from pbase.com (link)
9. Photos of Puri during the Snana festival (link)
10. Photos of Puri and Konark (link)
11. Photo of Puri Jagannath Temple (link)
12. Photos of Puri Jagannath temple including the four gates (link)
13. Scenes from around the temple at kalarte.com (link)
14. Photo Gallery from ebharat.in (link)

Hemkund (Snow Lake) Sahib, as the name itself suggests, is a high-altitude lake (4329 m) surrounded by seven huge now-covered mountains, which are collectively called Hemkund Parvat. Close to the lake is a sacred Gurudwara that is a pilgrimage centre for Sikhs and Hindus from all over the world. Hemkund Sahib is a revered site for both Sikhs and Hindus, and involved a hard trek (or a ride with ponies / porters) to reach there.

Map to Hemkund Sahib

It marks the place where Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Guru, unified with God after prolonged meditation in his previous birth. HOw was it found ? Well, the guru’s autobiography contained a detailed description of the place; and when a devout sikh, Havaldar Mohan Singh stumbled onto this place in the last century, he knew that he had rediscovered the holy site.

According to Hindu mythology, Hemkund or Lokpal as it is also known, is where Lakshman had done his penance. Hemkund is sanskrit name derived from two meaning ‘Hem’ – “Himalayas” & “Kund”, so by hindu mythology it is meant Bowl in Himalayas, where Lord Lakshman did his penance. Reaching is not easy, Hemkund comes by crossing Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandprayag & Vishnuprayag.

The lake is about two kilometres in circumference. It has clear, still water mirror images of the Saptashringa peaks (5500 m) that surrounds it. The lake is the source of the Laxman Ganga (alternatively called Hem Ganga) stream that merges with the Pushpawati stream flowing from the Valley of Flowers, at Ghangaria. From this point on, the river is called Laxman Ganga. Hemkund is also a very popular trekking destination, with Hemkund being a tough 15 km trek from Govindghat. The trek takes one through beautiful and refreshing pine forests where rhododendron (burans), wild roses, ferns and alpine flowers abound.

There is a reasonably well maintained path to the village of Gobind Dham or Ghangaria. There is another Gurudwara where pilgrims can spend the night. In addition there are a few hotels and a well-maintained campground with tents and mattresses. After this a 5,000 ft (1,500 m) climb in 6 km of stone paved path reaches Hemkund. There are no sleeping arrangements at Hemkund and one is advised to leave by 2PM to make it back to Gobind Dham by nightfall.

The best season to visit Hemkund? No doubts and there is really no other time: it’s between July and October. During these days, you’ll find the water still, has shards of ice floating in it, glinting in the sun with the rock-strewn banks of the lake covered in moss and the flowers in bright bloom. Other times, Hemkund is inaccessible because of snow from October through April. Each year the first Sikh pilgrims arrive in May and set to work to repair the damage to the path over the harsh winter, part of the ritual of ‘kar seva’.

Which are the important places here and nearby:

Gurudwara Hemkund Saheb: This imposing star-shaped structure of stone and concrete masonry is on the shores of the lake. An outlet behind the Gurudwara is source of the Lakshman Ganga.

Temple of Lord Lakshman: A small temple near by, dedicated to Lord Lakshman.

Ghangharia: 5 km. Situated in the midst of a pine grove, Ghangharia serves as a base for visiting Hemkunt Sahib, It is the last human habitation in the valley. A Tourist Lodge, log huts, tents and a Gurudwara provide comfortable accommodation.

Valley of Flowers: About 3 km from Gobinddham is the 5 km long Valley of Flowers. It is now a protected area, with the Indian Government having declared this valley as a national area to preserve this valley in its pristine shape. The best months for the Valley of Flowers are July and August, during the monsoons. Note that during these same months, the Valley can be closed to visitors if the weather is totally inclement.

Govindghat: 15 km. the confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhyundar of Lakshman Ganga. It has an imposing Gurudwara named after Guru Govind Singh.

Badrinath: 22 km from Govindghat

Places to stay:

State Govt Tourism Accommodation
* Tourist Rest House, Joshimath.
* Tourist Rest House, Ghangharia.

How to get there:

By Air : Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, 307 kms. (Dehradun 334 kms.)

By Rail : Nearest railhead is Rishikesh, 293 kms.

By Road : Hemkund Saheb is 5 Kms. from Ghangharia, which is approachable on foot from Govindghat which is connected by road with Rishikesh, Kotdwara, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Ranikhet and other important hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon Hills.

From Delhi: Hemkund, is a distant 514 km away from Delhi. DTC and UP Roadways buses ply regularly upto Haridwar / Rishikesh from ISBT, Delhi. Govindghat is 20 km beyond Joshimath on the motor road to Badrinath and 4 km before Pandukeshwar, the point at which there is a diversion for Lokpal Hemkund and the Valley Of Flowers. Hemkund is 20 km from Govindghat. After crossing the Vishnu Ganga, one has to trek 9 km to reach the Bhiyundar valley. At Ghangharia, the Pushpavati river meets the Lakshman Ganga coming from Hemkund. The 7 km trek from Ghangharia to Hemkund entails a steep climb.

Other articles:

Trip to Hemkund Sahib (link)

Photo Essay (link)

Pilgrimage Tour (link)

Photos from Hemkund Sahib (link)

Photos and a forum post (link)