Different places to travel » Forest

Mori, a hill station located in North India

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

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

Places to see in and around Mori

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

Mori – Best time to visit/climate

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

Location on Google maps

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Route from Mussorie to Mori:

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How to get there

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

Places/hotels to stay

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

Blogs/sites for Mori

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

Images of Mori, Uttarakhand

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

Dhanaulti – a hill station in Tehri Garhwal District in Uttarakhand

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

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

Places to see in Dhanaulti :

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

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

Location on Google Maps:

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

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

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

Blogs / Sites about Dhanaulti

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

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

Photo / Image Gallery:

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

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

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

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

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

Location on Google Maps:

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

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Route map between Rishikesh and Pauri Garhwal:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chamba – a beautiful hill town in Himachal Pradesh, India

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

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

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

Location on Google Maps:

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Route between Shimla and Chamba:

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Route between Chandigarh and Chamba:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bandhavgarh National Park – A beautiful National Park in the state of the Madhya Pradesh, India

Traveller — Fri, 21 May 2010 11:32:14 +0000

Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the wild life sanctuaries in the Indian state. The national park is situated at 197 km away north-east of Jabalpur. This wild life park derived its very name from an ancient fort in the area. Bandhavgarh National Park belongs to the Vindhyan mountain ranges of central India and it boasts to have the highest density of tiger population in the country. Now there are about 46 to 52 tigers one can spot here.
The Bandhavgarh National Park is located within the district of Sahdol in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. This forest nestled among the Vindhya hills came into existence in 1968 when the Maharaja of Rewa handed over the area to the government for it’s formation. At the time when it was handed over to the government, the fauna was not faring too well due to the difficulty in the control of poaching.

History and Mythology

Looming high over the entire park and located in the heart of it’s core area, is a fort dating back to the mythological era of Rama and Hanuman from the Hindu epic Ramayana. It is said that the two monkeys who created the “setu”, or bridge, between India and Lanka to enable Rama to cross over and vanquish the demon king, Rawana, were also the architects of the Bandhavgarh fort. This fort was used by Rama and Hanuman on their journey back to their kingdom from Lanka. This fort was later handed over by Rama to his brother Lakshmana who came to be known as the “Bandhavdhish”, lord of the fort.

Bandhavgarh national park is well connected with all the major cities and station in India.

Location of Bandhavgarh National Park on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Distance from major cities :
Umaria : 35 km/ 45 min
Khajuraho : 270 km/ 6 hrs.
Jabalpur : 190 km/ 4 hrs.
Satna : 120 km
Delhi : 978 km
Gwalior : 565 km
Katni : 102 km

By Air:
Fly from Delhi, Agra or Varanasi to Khajuraho and drive (7-8 hours) to Tala park entrance at Bandhavgarh. Nearest airport from the park is Khajuraho.
By Rail:
Nearest railway station is Umaria after Katani railway station, from there it is about 40 minutes drive to Nature Heritage. Alternatively, take the overnight train from Delhi to Umaria and drive (30 minutes) to the park. Only jeeps are available for transfers. Khajuraho / Bandhavgarh distance is 250 Kms, (8 hrs drive).

Best Time To Visit

There are three well defined seasons – the cool (from middle of October to end of February ), the hot (from march to middle of June), and the wet (from middle of june to middle of October.
Casual Summer clothing of natural colors is best from march to may. Sunglasses and sunhats are preferable. From November to Febuary carry warm clothing for chilly mornings and misty evenings. The ideal season for tiger spotting is from November to June.
The park is closed form July 1 to September 30.

Things to do in Bandavgarh

- Jeep Safari
Morning and evening jeep safaris in Bandhavgarh National Park are escorted by our specialized naturalists for extensive wild life viewing. An open Gypsy awaits you to take you even more closer to the nature and to see the majestic tigers. We provide some fruits neatly packed and a bottle of mineral water for you 4 hour safari in the jungle.
- Elephant Safari
The experience of sitting high a top an elephant in a teak wood chair, through the cool jungle of Bandhavgarh, is an experience you’ll never forget. The tour includes air-conditioned hotel transfer, Park admission, safari ride, buffet lunch all in one complete package. Don’t miss this great value tour.
- Fauna
Bandhavgarh is blessed with a large variety of residents – both in terms of animals and birds. In the category of animals, it is possible to sighttigers, leopards, gaur (Indian Bison-although some say this is no longer seen), chital (spotted deer), Sambar deer, Dholes, nilgais, wild boars,chinkaras, sloth bears, rhesus macaques, black faced langurs, jungle cats, hyenas, porcupines, jackals, foxes, wild dogs, chausinghas and ratels, among others. It is the density of it’s big cat population that has made Bandhavgarh really famous across the globe. Bandhavgarh National Park is also famous for bird watching. It has more than 140 bird species. The main bird species at Bandhavgarh national park are white browed fantails, steppe eagles, green pigeons, grey malabar hornbills, black and white malabar hornbills (quite a rare sighting), blossom headed parakeets, parakeets, blue bearded bee eaters, green bee eaters, white bellied drongos, owls, Jerdon’s and gold fronted leaf birds, minivets, woodshrikes and the lovely paradise flycatchers.
- Bandhavgarh Fort. The Bandhavgarh Fort is situated in Bandhavgarhin Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is located on the Bandhavgarh hill, rising 811 meters above sea level at the centre of the Bandhavgarh National Park. It is a surrounded by a large number of smaller hills separated by gently sloping valleys.
- Baghel Museum. Located at a close proximity from the resort at Bandhavgarh national park, it houses certain precious belongings of the Maharaja of Rewa who maintained Bandhavgarh as his Shikargah, or a game preserve, a stuffed white Tiger still stands in the museum amidst certain personal belongings of the Maharaja.
- Village Tala. To view a day in the life of an Indian village where the pace of life is still measured by the rhythm of the seasons.
- Climber’s Point – Nature’s Beauty. Woody climbers of butea superba and Bauhinia wahlii amidst the giant sal trees offer spectacular view for the tourist.

Accommodation Facilities at Bandhavgarh

- Bagh Sarai Resorts: Village Parasi, Post Dhamokhar, Bandhavgarh National Park,Bandhavgarh National Park 484661, India.
- Infinity Resort: NA Bandhavgarh Wilderness, | P.O. Taala, Bandhavgarh National Park,India.
- Maharaja’s Royal Retreat: Bandhavagagh Village Tala Dist Umeria, Bandhavgarh National Park484661, India.
- Wildhaven Resort: Bandhavgarh National Park, India.
- Tiger Trails Resort: Village Tala | Distt. Umaria, Bandhavgarh National Park 484661, India.
- Golbro Tiger View Resort: Near Petrol Pump, Tala, Bandhavgarh | Distt. Umaria, Bandhavgarh National Park 484 661, India.
- Nature Heritage Resort, Bandhavgarh.
- Tiger Den Resort
- Bandhavgarh Jungle Resort

Ranthambore National Park – A famous wildlife sanctuary in Rajasthan, India

Traveller — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:42:33 +0000

Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest and most famous national parks in northern India. It is situated in Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan. Ranthambhore was established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Government of India, and was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973. Ranthambhore became a national park in 1980. In 1984, the adjacent forests were declared the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary, and in 1991 the tiger reserve was enlarged to include Sawai Man Singh and Keladevi sanctuaries.

The Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve is the single largest expanse of dry deciduous Anogeissus pendula Forest left intact in India. Such forests were found all along the North and Central Aravalis but in the last few decades they have been badly degraded and right now this Tiger Reserve is their last strong hold. The areas surrounding the Tiger reserve have been totally deforested and as a result, the Ranthambore tiger reserve is now an “ecological island surrounded by farmlands and overgrazed pastures.”

Panthera tigris tigris – the Indian or the Bengal Tiger is the flagship species of Rantambhore and right now it is the only place in Rajasthan where tigers exist. The Ranthambore tiger reserve is also a crucial link and wildlife corridor between a chain of Protected areas from Dholpur district in the North-East to the Kota district in the South-West. This Project tiger reserve is also an invaluable watershed for the surrounding areas, a fact that is made more significant considering that the surrounding areas have low annual rainfall. Ranthambhore is an important catchment area for the river Chambal, which in turn, is an important river in the Gangetic system.
The terrain of Ranthambhore tiger reserve is mostly rugged and hilly and is intimately related to the Great boundary fault.
The hills to the northwest of fault-line are the Aravalis and typically have ridges on one side and gentle slope on the other.
The hills south west of Great boundary fault are the Vindhyas. The sand stone beds of these hills are flat-topped and form extensive table lands known as “Dangs”. The ravines are prominent feature of both the rivers, the Chambal and the Banas. These ravines are formed due to sandy nature of the soil along the banks of the rivers.

How to reach

By Air – The nearest airport to Ranthambore is Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan. Jaipur is located at a distance of 140 Km from Ranthambore. You can arrive in Jaipur by flights from any major city in India, such as Delhi or Mumbai and then travel to Sawai Madhopur by train or road transport.

By Road – You can easily travel to Ranthambore by road from anywhere in Rajasthan. Both the Rajasthan Tourism Department and many private operators run road transport services to Ranthambore. You can choose from local buses, luxury coaches or private taxis to travel by road to Ranthambore National Park.

By Rail – The main railway line from Delhi to Mumbai runs past Sawai Madhopur, which is connected by regular trains from cities across Rajasthan and India. You can travel to Sawai Madhopur by train and then cover the remaining 11 Km to Ranthambore by taxi.

Flora and Fauna

Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan is a breeding ground to a number of wild animals such as Tigers, Leopards, Striped Hyenas, Sambar deer, Chital, Nilgai, Common langurs, Macaques, Jackals, Jungle cats, Caracals, Sloth bears, Black bucks, Rufoustailed Hare, Indian Wild Boar, Chinkara, Common Palm Civets or Toddy cat, Common Yellow Bats, Desert Cats, Civets and Common mongoose.
The park is acclaimed for its diurnal tigers and a range of fascinating reptiles such as Snub Nosed Marsh Crocodiles, Desert Monitor Lizards, Banded Kraits, Cobras, Common Kraits, Indian Pythons, Rat Snakes, Russel’s Vipers, Saw-scaled Vipers and the Indian Chameleon. The Ganga Soft Shelled Turtles, and North Indian Flap Shelled Turtles are among the famous amphibious species commonly spotted here.

Climate

The Ranthambhore tiger reserve, with its sub-tropical dry climate, has three very well defined seasons – summers, winters and monsoons. October and March are the time when the weather changes from monsoons to winters and from winters to summers, respectively.

Park Visitation Timings
- Between October To March: 6.00 am – 9.00 am & 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm”
- Between April To June: 6.30 am – to 9.30 am & 3.30 pm – 6.00 pm”

Other Tourist Attractions

- Bakaula – The Bakaula area is an area dotted with little water holes and thick foliage. you’ll get a shivering environment here. Even in peak summers it feels like an air-conditioned room.
- Lakarda & Anantpura – These areas located in the North-Western and Northern regions of the park are ideal locations to visit if looking for Sloth Bears. These areas have a lot of ant hills, which are a favourite of the beers.
- Raj Bagh Ruins – These ruins are located between the Padam Talao (lake) and the Raj Bagh Talao. These ancient stone structures like arches, palace outhouses, domes and steps give the area an aura that is not possible to find anywhere else in the world.
- Padam Talao – This is the largest of the lakes present in the park. The famous and beautiful Jogi Mahal is located at the very edge of this lake.
- Ranthambore Fort – This fort stands majestically atop a hill overlooking the entire park. The walk up, one of the only places this mode of transport is possible, is a very refreshing and exciting one as even the big cats have been spotted up there.
- Rajabagh Talao – This is probably the most picturesque of the three lakes. This mostly due to the ruins that can be seen along it’s edges. Yet, it owes some of it’s beauty to the animals that seem to always flock to it’s waters.
- Malik Talao – This is the smallest of the three lakes in Ranthambore National Park. But, as they say, all the best things come in small packages.
- Kachida Valley – This valley, which consists of many rocky outcrops and low hills, is located close to the outskirts of the park. A jeep would be the ideal mode of transport when trying to visit this area.

Places to stay in Ranthambore

High End Resorts /Hotels in Ranthambore
- Vanya Vilas Resort : The Oberoi Group’s new luxury resort is located adjacent to the famous Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve.
- Aman-I-Khas
- Tiger Den Resort, Ranthambore
The Tiger Den resort is located in village Khilchipur that is very close to Ranthambhor National Park. It is at a distance of 450-kms from Delhi and 185-kms from Jaipur.
- Tiger Moon Resort, Ranthambore
The Tiger Moon resort is located in village Sherpur adjoining Ranthambhor National Park. It is at a distance of 450-kms from Delhi and 185-kms from Jaipur.
- Hammir Wildlife Resort : It is named after the Hindu ruler “Hammir” of Ranthambore in Rajasthan. Located on the main Ranthambore road at an easily accessible distance from the park as well as from the town of Sawai Madhopur, Hammir Wildlife Resort enjoys the privilege of an ideal location. The resort has ultra-modern facilities and friendly staff.
- Ranthambore Regency : The lovely hotel is situated on the way to the Ranthambore national Park. The Hotel is beautifully landscaped and has peaceful and enchanting ambiance.
- Ranthambore Bagh : It is located near The Rathambore National Park. The hotel is rated as a resort. Tented area at night.

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

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

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

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

Location of Saputara on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there

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

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

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

Places to see in Saputara

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

Places to stay in Saputara

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

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

Harihareshwar, a small holy town on the Konkan coast in Maharashtra, India, with a beautiful coastline

Traveller — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:30:48 +0000

State : Maharashtra
Distance : 219 kms South of Mumbai.
Journey time : 5 hrs by road.
Route : NH17 to Lonera Phatta via Mangaon and Goregaon ; SH97 to Shrivardhan via Mhasla ;
SH98 to Harihareshwar.
Location : The holy town of Harihareshwar is set on a lowcliff on the Konkan coast where the Savitri river flows into the Arabian sea, surrounded by the four hills of Harihareshwar, Harshinachal, Bramhadri and Pushpadri in southern Raigad district. Going by car is the best option.

Best time to go : June to August is a good time to visit, where you can pay your respects to God while witnessing the holy fury of the rains. November to Feburary is also a good time to visit.
Gentle winds, soft sands and inviting waters make Shriwardhan Bay irresistible to beach lovers. And if one relishes sea-food, there is no dearth of delicacies to sample here. Adventurers can even take a small boat to the north side of the bay and explore a land where the Peshwas or prime ministers of the Maratha kingdom, originally resided. The Peshwa Smarak is of interest to most people who visit Shriwardhan. The town of Harihareshwar is known for its tranquil and picturesque beach and is also famous for the temple of Harihareshwar.

Location of Harihareshwar on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

A small town located around 200 km from Mumbai and just 175 Kms. from Pune. Harihareshwar had long been popular as an important pilgrimage town. It was only a few years ago that it gained the reputation of a quiet weekend getaway from Mumbai. The 16th century temple at Harihareshwar is located right on the beach. And it is these beaches which has made it popular with city-wallahs looking for an escape. Long, shallow and wide, these pristine beaches are ideal for swimming. The backdrop of the Konkan coastline adds its own charm to this scene.

Places to visit in Harihareshwar

- Bagmandala
Bagmandala is a lovely small village a few miles away from the holy city of Harihareshwar. This is the place where the Peshwa (Prime Minister) of the Maratha Kingdom lived for many years. Bagmandala carries the legacy of Peshawa in a Peshwa Smarak as well as in an ancient fort named as Bankot fort.
The prime attraction of the Bagmandala is the jungle jetty (sea harbor in the forest). This small port ferries the local people across the Bagmandala creek. Those who like for a ferry travel can cross over Bankot fort and enter the nearby Ratnagiri fort

- Ganesh Gully
It is a culvert which is very narrow of about 3 feet wide in between two hard Rocky Mountains. It is believed that at the end of the culvert, there is a holy niche, a place where Lord Ganesh Idol is placed. The niche is about 30 feet under water and it is assumed that during the tidal periods one can observe the Ganesh idol placed perfectly at the niche.
Many tourists visit this place to have a glimpse of the Ganesh Idol. The place Ganesh gully itself is in the backdrop of natural beauty and calm smoothening winds.

- Harihareshwar Beach
It is the main attraction in Harihareshwar. The beach is extremely good for an elegant stay enjoying the natural beauty in a happy vacation holidays. Soft clean sands and soothe breeze make this beach in the lap of Arabian Sea a much sought place in Harihareshwar. The beach is unpolluted and mostly unspoiled. The Harihar hill on the sea shore add to the attraction of the beach. Solitude seeking tourists can make the visit to Harihareshwar beach a unique experience. The enthusiastic tourists can have a water journey by small boats available in the beach.

- Kalbhairav Temple
It is one of the ancient renowned temples in Maharashtra. The main deity enshrines the temple is Lord Shiva. Kalabhairava, a lord of all manthrasastras, is also placed as one of the idols. Legends associated with the temple say that Lord Shiva created Kalabhairava and blessed him with all manthras. The architectural style of the temple is attractive. Temple Yogeshwari known as Dakshin Kashi is located in the premises. In most of the special occasions like Mahashivarathri, one can view long queues for Darshan. Cool breeze from the Harihareshwar beach makes the temple premises a nice place to relax as well

List of other sight-seeing places in and around Harihareshwar:

• Harihareshwar Temple – 8 km (Gayatri Tirth, Sita Sansar, Vishnu pad, Pandav Tirth, 101 Kaurav Astitva)
• Gram devata Somajadevi (10 km)
• Jeevaneshwar Temple – Swayambhu Shivpind (12 km)
• Jeevnabander – Fish Port (12 km)
• Pure gold-cast Ganpati idol – Diveagar (21 km)
• Devkhot – Pandav era caves
• Shrivardhan sea shore (10 kms)
• Aaravi, Shekhadi and Walvti – most beautiful sea shores (13-21 km)
• Shrivardhan town
• Laxmi Narayan temple
• Dive Agar sea beach (21 km)
• Rupnarayan temple, Dive Agar (22 km)
• Dighi Bandar and Janjira Fort (36 km)
• Savitri river at Bankot creek (4 km)
• Bankot Fort (5kms)
• Rotha Supari of Shrivardhan
• Bhairvnath, Kusumadevi, Rameshwar and Bharadhkol Vitthal Temple
• Bhimachi Kawad (trekking point)
• Tambadi (trekking point) Table land
• Samsher Baba Peer Darga (Trekking, “S” Waterline Point)

Where to stay in Harihareshwar

- MTDC Holiday Resort near temple
Address
Harihareshwar, Raigarh
Maharashtra – 402110
India.
- Resort Harihareshwar Hilltop
At Nivale, Post Saigaon
Maharashtra.

NOTE : One important thing to keep in mind is that cell phones do not work at Harihareshwar. There are some STD booths near the temple, and you may have to ask if they work. So rest assured, your holidays are going to be mobile-free.

Durshet – Tale of two beauties – Maharashtra, India

Traveller — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:28:51 +0000

State – Maharashtra
Distance – 105 km SE of Mumbai
Journey time by road – 2hrs
Location – Between two holy Ashtavinayaks, by the Amba river near Khopoli on the old Mumbai-Pune highway.
Route – Old Mumbai-Pune Highway (NH4) to Khopoli; Khopoli-Pen Road and Khopoli-Pali Road to Durshet.
Best time to go – June to September is best and November to Feburary is also pleasant. But summers are a definite no-no.
Nearest Airport – Pune

If you are looking for a sojourn amidst nature in abundance, long and romantic nature walks in a serene place, then head to Durshet. This is a forest that is full of mahua and teak trees lying in the picturesque Sahyadri ranges. The river Amba flows right past it. This place makes for a quick getaway if you are tired of the hustle and bustle of Mumbai city life and seek a lush-green holiday. While in Durshet you can stay at the resorts deep inside the forest or at the Durshet village. You can stroll through the extensive plantations of fruit trees, casuarinas and acacias within the forest. This forest is also wonderful to go insect watching and if you prefer your wildlife a little larger, there?s wild boar, barking deer and monkeys. To sum up this is an ideal place if you are someone looking to commune with nature. Nature trails and picnics in the forest are the highlight of Durshet.

School picnics, camps or an excursion, Durshet is a great place for enjoying the beauty of nature far from the cacophony of the city life. Though unpublicized by tourist department, Durshet offers breathtaking views of the Sahyadri ranges.
There are wild boar, barking deer and monkeys. You can trek to those falls through the mahua, mango and teak tree. There are many species of birds available here as the calls of drongos, doves, parakeets, shrikes, bulbuls and warblers fill the air. At the cultivated lands adjoining the resorts here, you can find many interesting things, such as one set of tourists finding lapwings nests. Imagine sights such as a number of butterflies getting drunk on nectar or laying eggs on their favorite plants. We recognize some of them like Mormon and plain tiger butterflies.

Things to see and do

- Jungle Safari
Durshet in Maharashtra, is a woody place, which houses a large number of flora and fauna. Lying in the backdrop of the majestic Sahyadri range, the dense forest here is always a fascinating attraction to the nature lovers. The beguiling experience of enjoying the abundant natural beauty, jungle Safari in the thick forests is a refreshing experience. Private owned tourist resorts in Durshet provide with all facilities to have a nice safari in the thick forest.
- Shri Ballaleshwar Ashtavinayaka
Durshet, is a famous and spiritually awakened place, nestled between Sarasgad fort and River Amba. Flanked by all around greenery, Durshet is the only place where an Astavinayaka temple is known by its devotees name. Built in 1760 AD, the deity in Ballaleshvara is clothed like a Brahmin.
The east facing temple complex is tiled and it encloses two lakes. This pretty shrine has two sanctums and the inner one is rather big, which houses the Idol of Vinayaka. The 12 feet high outer sanctum has a rat idol with Modak in his hands and it over looks its master in the inner sanctum.
The 40 feet long and 20 feet broad hall, ornamented with beautiful pillars, and the European made big bell adds more charm to the serene ambience of the shrine. Sitting on a stone throne, with shining diamonds fixed in the eyes and naval, the Balleleshvara at Durshet is brings peace of mind to the devotees.
- Uddhar Hot Water Springs
Tourists who have time to move around can visit the hot water springs at Uddhar, 25km from Durshet. The water is said to contain medicinal sulphur and minerals good for the skin.
- Amba River
This river is famous for Botanical study and activities like pond dipping, river gauging etc. During monsoons, the river has many natural waterfalls, adding to its beauty.
- Shri Varad Vinayak
Built in 1725 AD by Peshva Sardar Ramji Mahadev Varad Vinayak Biwalkar, Varad Vinayak temple is situated in the pretty village near Durshet. Though the temple has a dull look from the outside, it looks marvelous with its 25 feet golden pinnacled dome.
The sanctum of the temple houses two idols of Lord Vinayak, on the two corners. Idol in the left corner is tarnished in vermillion and idol in the right is made up of white marble with trunk turned to the right. Statues of elephants spooled with gold and the stone statues of Vinayaka’s consorts presents an enchanting view. On the northern side of the temple is a Gomukh, a facade of a cow from which the holy water gushes.
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Places to stay in Durshet

- Nature Trails Durshet Forest Lodge, is set amidst 42 acres of forest, adjacent to the River Amba, on the Khopoli-Pali Highway (13 Kms.from Khopoli) (Maharashtra, India).
Telephone : 02192-277023-24
Website : naturetrailsindia.com
- Durshet Village, Khopali – Pali Road
Tal. Khalapur
Dist. Raigadh
Maharashtra – 410203
India