Monday, February 8, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Golden Triangle Tour - India
The Golden Triangle of north India is one of the most popular and well-received tourist circuits of the country. The tour basically covers three of the most vibrant, beautiful and amazing cities of India – Delhi, the country capital over decades, Agra- the seat of power during much of Mughal rule and home to the spectacular Taj Mahal, and Jaipur - the Rajasthani Capital with its traditions of chivalry and valour.
Anyone even slightly acquainted with India would know that she has no one face, no single image. With a full acknowledgement of this reality, the golden triangle tour has been structured in a manner that includes some of her best images and at the same time captures her diversity.
Starting with Delhi, one sees a modern metropolitan that is home to people of different regions, languages, and cultures. Created mainly between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries, today Delhi is equipped with all the advantages of a modern city, and has the added appeal of having a rich historical and cultural basis that can be seen at every nook and corner in her streets. From the bustling lanes of her old city to the archaic charm of her Lutyens center, to the many monuments that mark the richness of her past, to her shopping arcades and contemporary malls –each of these offers a different flavour of the Delhi experience.
From here we move on to Agra where we witness a completely different atmosphere. Agra’s biggest claim to fame is the Taj Mahal that stands as a lasting tribute to love and lovers beyond time. Chosen to be the seat of their power by the mughals, this city began its journey to fame in 1526 with the arrival of the Mughal King Babur. Filled with architectural gems, it also has a rich tradition of handicraft and culture. One of the best things about Agra is that it offers easily accessible and adventurous excursion possibilities like the Bharatpur bird sanctuary, and the Fatehpur Sikri famous for its mystic Sufism.
Then we come to Jaipur. This capital of the state of Rajasthan was actually color washed with pink to create the impression similar to the red standstone of the mughal cities. Like any good tourist spot Jaipur has all the amenities of big city, but its real charm lies only in the inner lanes and streets of her markets. The regal aspect of this desert city is obvious to all who visit her and the atmosphere is infused with the romance, adventure and bravery of an amazingly rich historical tradition. Jaipur is also poplar for its Elephant Festival that is unique to it. Complete with its camels, elephant rides, desert sounds and folk culture, Jaipur is one of the most colourful experiences one can hope to have.
Offering a tour of these 3 completely different but equally riveting cities of India, the Golden Triangle Tour is the best opportunity to imbibe the multifaceted ness and diversity of the sights, sounds, colours, flavours, architecture and all-encompassing beauty of an authentic Indian experience.
Tourism in Orissa
Tourism in Orissa
Orissa, the land of quintessential charm is one of the most preferred tourist destinations in India. Tourism in Orissa is a major industry that has shown phenomenal growth in the past few years. Orissa Tourism department has recognized the importance of tourism promotion in economic growth, and has accordingly, undertaken several measures. These include development of infrastructure, and preservation and restoration of historical monuments, promotion of various tourist spots, and development of entertainment leisure centers in the from of amusement Parks, theme Parks, multiplexes; water sports complexes; golf courses, bowling alleys and other sports related facilities. The new colorful logo of Orrisa tourism positions Orrisa as a vibrant tourist destination which is scenic, sublime and, serene. Various Fairs and festivals such as 'Ekamra Utsav' at Bhubneshwar, 'Sreekhetra Utsav' at Puri, and 'Konark Festival' at Konark are organized by Orissa tourism to exhibit tourism and cultural potential of the State.
Orrisa Tourism is also participating in many leading tourism fairs and marts shows like 'Leisure Moscow' at Moscow, 'Buddhist festival' at Bangkok, 'PATA convention' at Kuala Lumpur, 'WTM' at London, and 'IATO' at Kochi, 'TTF' at Kolkata. In order to provide complete information about Orissa, Orrisa Tourism has opened up tourist information centers at various important cities in India. Tourists can buy Orrisa tourism publications like brochures, maps, destination folders and, Orissa tourism guide from these centers. The colorful and comprehensive website of Orissa tourism highlights a wide range of tourism products of the state and displays beautiful snapshots of temples, festivals, tourist destinations of Orissa.
Best time to visit Orissa
The ideal time to visit Orissa is from October to March owing to its salubrious weather conditions.
Tourist Attractions Orissa
Nandankanan Zoological Park, Orissa State Museum, Chilika Lake, Puri Beach., Konark Sun Temple, Jagannath Temple, Barabati Fort, Qadam-I-Rasool, Lingaraj Temple, Puri Rath Yatra, Mukteswara Temple, Udaigiri & Khandagiri Caves are the major tourist attractions in Orissa. Bhubneshwar, Konark, Puri, Ratnagiri, Dhavaleshwar , Gopalpur on Sea, and Chilka Lake are some of the popular travel destinations in Orissa.
How to reach Orissa
Travel to Orissa by Air: There is just one airport in Orrisa, which is located at the capital city, Bhubneshwar. All major low cost carriers and full service airlines operate regular flights to and from the city. Bhubneshwar is well connected to New Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Raipur, Varanasi, Mumbai, and Chennai.
Travel to Orissa by Rail: Bhubneshwar is the most convenient and important railway station in Orissa. An excellent train network connects Bhubneshwar to Calcutta, Puri, Madras, Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Tirupati and Trivandrum. Apart from Bhubneshwar Railway Station, there are numerous railheads in Orissa, which link all major cities and towns to Bhubneshwar and other important places with in and outside the state.
Travel to Orissa by Road: Orissa has a wide network of roads that connects well to the rest of the country by National highways and State highways. Bhubneshwar the capital city is well linked to all major cities with in Orissa and its neighboring states.
Travel in Orissa
There is no dearth of local transportation in Orissa. Once can avail taxis, auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws to move within the city. Orissa State Transport operates regular buses between Bhubneshwar and Berhampur, Cuttack, Konark, Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Paradip, Chilka, and other places. Deluxe coaches and tourist taxis can also be hired from Transport Manager, Orissa Tourism Development Corporation.
Travel to Daman & Diu
Tourists undertaking Daman and Diu travel can experience the old and rich legacy of the Portuguese period.
Daman and Diu form a Union Territory of India, which is bordered by the Arabian Sea, situated at the western coast of India. The geographical coordinates of Daman and Diu are 20° 25' N latitude and 72° 50' 60”E longitude and 20° 41' 60”N latitude & 70° 58' 60”E longitude respectively. Travel to Daman and Diu would give tourists chance to get acquainted with the Portuguese architectures.
History says that Daman was ruled by the Kushana Emperor. Portuguese entered Daman in the later part of 14th century and the first half of 15th century. Since then the places became Portuguese colonies. Daman and Diu got the status of a separate Union Territory when Goa was bestowed with statehood in the year 1987. The best time to visit Daman and Diu is between October and May.
There are many places of attraction in Damn and Diu. The sun kissed beaches, historical monuments and thick palm-groves of the places attract many people. The serene and the virgin atmosphere enthrall the tourists visiting Daman and Diu. Some of the places ofinterest at Daman and Diu are:
- Fortress of Panikotta
The tourists to Damn and Diu can indulge themselves in various water sports. They can also go for excursions to nearby places and enjoy the fun of horse riding at the sea beaches.
Tourism in Gujarat
Beyt Dwarka Beach: Beyt Dwarka is a beautiful but lesser known beach that is located in Dwarka (an important Hindu pilgrimage center in Gujarat). The beach comprises of a small isolated island named Beyt Dwarka and is accessible by ferries and small boats. The Beyt Dwarka beach is a fine place to relax amidst the splendors of nature and adds up to a truly rejuvenating experience. Besides, the Beyt beach is also a great place to indulge in some exciting bird watching exercises.
Chorwad Beach: Chorwad is a small fishing village in Gujarat that boasts of a fine stretch of sand along the coast. Indeed, the Chorwad beach is simply perfect for a relaxed beach holiday. Complete with lush green surroundings and a wonderful resort, the Chorwad also offers great opportunities for enjoying long walks and romantic evenings. This beach holiday spot also serves as a wonderful base for those who would like to visit places like Somnath and Porbandar in Gujarat.
Veraval Beach: Located near the religious city of Somnath in Gujarat, the Veraval Beach is known for its scenic beachfront. What makes the Veraval beach even more impressive is an old but grand fort that lies along the beach. The beach is safe for swimming and also has a jogging track lined with benches to rest. Besides, the Veraval beach is also ideal for rejuvenating walks or simply lazing under the sun. Visitors can also enjoy some amazing seafood as part of their Veraval beach tour in Gujarat.
Uttar Pradesh Tourism
The state of Uttar Pradesh is a cultural land with the wealthof monuments, rich wildlifereserves and picturesque mountains and lakes. Uttar Pradesh is situated in the northern part of India; it has the distinction of being the mostpopulous state of India. In terms of area, it is the fourth largest, among all the states. A tour to Uttar Pradesh would take you to the popular shrines and pilgrimage sites, which hold a special significance in the lives of the Indian people.
Uttar Pradesh has an ideal location, in the north its is guarded by the majestic Himalayas, decked by the holy rivers of Ganga and Yamuna.The state has a strategic importance for Indian Defense as it touches Tibet and Nepal on the Northern Border of the country. Agra, Allahabad, Fatehpur Sikri, Gangotri, Garhwal, Harsil, Haridwar, Hemkund Sahib, Jaunpur, Jhansi, Kalinjar, Kanpur, Kapilvastu, Kausani, Kedarnath, Lucknow, Varanasi form some of the main cities of the state of Uttar Pradesh.The main attractions of the city include the most popular monument, Taj Mahal situated in Agra, you can also visit places like the Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri and Sikandra which are popular tourists spots in Uttar Pradesh.
Tourism in Uttar Pradesh
Wildlife: A tour to Uttar Pradesh would include a tour to the famous wildlife reserves in Uttar Pradesh. Chila wildlife sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh is a haven for animal watchers. It is situated just 8 kms from Haridwar and 21 kms from Rishikesh. Located on the banks of the Ganga River in the heart of Shivalik hills, Chila is a part of the famous Rajaji National Park. The fauna species include elephants, spotted deer, stag deer, blue bull, wild boar, fox, porcupine, jungle fowls, and peacocks. Another famous wildlife reserve in Uttar Pradesh is the Corbett National Park. It is one of the first National Parks in the country in 1936, renamed from Hailey National Park to the Ramganga National Park to finally the Corbett National Park after the famous hunter, photographer, conservationist, and author. It is located in the terai region of the state of Uttar Pradesh, straddling the undulating Shivalik foothills of the Himalayas. Project Tiger, which was set up with the help of the World Wildlife Fund, was first launched here in an attempt to save the Indian Tiger from extinction. The best time to visit the Corbett National Park is from November to May.
Pilgrimages:
Uttar Pradesh has some of the popular pilgrimage centers where every year many pilgrims gather in order to fulfill their religious desires. Haridwar is one of the pilgrimage centers in Uttar Pradesh situated on the banks of the Ganga River. One of the main attractions of the place is the Chandi Devi Temple, which is situated on the top of the other bank of River Ganga. The temple is a 3-km trek from Chandi Ghat. The place is home to many temples including Bharat Mata Temple, Maya Devi Temple, and Mansa Devi Temple, which is dedicated to the Goddess Mansa Devi, who was the daughter of Lord Shiva.Rishikesh is another pilgrimage center near Haridwar famous for its temples. The Satya Narayan Temple in Rishikesh has the idol of Lord Satyanarayan enshrined inside. The temple is located 10 kms away from Haridwar. The visitors use this place as a station to halt for a casual worship. Badrinath and Kedarnath are other places in Uttar Pradesh, which form the most popular Himalayan pilgrimage sites.
Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir can be classified into three different regions. The foothill plains of Jammu, the magnificent mountains of Ladakh and the lakes and valleys of Kashmir that soar high up to the alpine passes. The mesmerizing beauty of the scintillating snow capped Himalayan Mountain range evokes romanticism.
Jammu and Kashmir offers scope for various adventure activities. Trans Himalayan Jeep Safari, trekking and mountaineering are some of the adventure activities that can be enjoyed here. The ideal trekking month is from April to November. Other pulsating adventure sports that can be indulged in at various places in Kashmir include:
For the sightseeing in Jammu and Kashmir, the tourists can avail either the state operated buses or 4wd jeeps.
The Jammu and Kashmir travel is never complete if the following locations are not sighted: Gulmarg, Kargil, Pahalgam, Vaishno Devi, Zanskar, Jammu, Leh, Ladakh, Patnitop, Srinagar, Sonamarg, Zangla
There are a number of resorts, hotels and houseboats in Jammu and Kashmir. Few of the renowned hotels in Jammu and Kashmir include:
Hotel Akbar, Hotel Zamrud, Grand Hotel, Hotel Zahgeer Continental
The stay in houseboats is a unique experience. Few of the recognized houseboats on Dal Lake, Srinagar include Prince of Vale, Meena Houseboat, Newzealand Houseboat, Young Morning Star, Safina Houseboat.
