the beach paradise in Goa

the beach paradise in Goa

Goa, an endearing abode of scenic charm is a paradise, squeezed between the seas and the lush forested hills. Offering glistening sands, swaying coconut palms, and ultra fresh seafood. Your Goa Tours will involve exploring sensuous beaches and historical forts that have kept the legacy of Portuguese alive. Travel to Goa, to explore the mystical charisma of the exotic abode. Let's make your holiday to Goa even better by taking you to the upmarket locales of North Goa, which boasts of gleaming seas and golden sands.

The beaches in South Goa are an ideal destination for honeymoon couples. The beaches in South Goa are less crowded, clean, less commercialized and offer the silence and calm that is sought after by privacy seekers. Most of the resorts in South Goa offer enthralling views of the Arabian Sea and private dining restaurants by the sea shore. The beaches in South Goa are also an ideal place for long cruise rides and fishing.

Bogmalo Beach Resort in Goa is beautiful in itself and many may disagree but it has been made special by the ‘Oberois’ who managed this property here built by Trade Wings. This building is right on the sea. As the waves lash the parapets of the open-air restaurant, the drone of the restless Arabian Sea lulls to sleep even the most insomniac. This is one attraction which all the tourists eagerly look forward to submit to, though some feel the Oberois have stolen the natural beauty of the beach.

Beyond the building are mysterious little islands, shipwrecks in the silt and, around the hotel, plenty of pleasant eateries-each one of them claiming to be Osibisa's favorite. This pardonable selling trick began about 10 years ago when the Oberoi hosted the group.Bogmalo is just another small fishing village, surrounded by a pair of palm fringed headlands at the northern end of Colva bay. The presence of the sandy beach at the end of the cove makes it even more picturesque and breathtaking.

the snow heaven Pelling town

the snow heaven Pelling town

The pleasant little town of Pelling is famous for magnificent view of the snow-capped mountains of Kanchenjunga. Pelling is about 133 km away from Siliguri and 125km from Gangtok and well connected by bus and jeep services.

Pelling has had an interesting history. It is said that it was the first capital of Sikkim. It is also believed that the Chogyal dynasty lived and ruled here. It is famous for its view of the snow-capped peaks of the Kanchenjunga. Situated at an altitude of 6,800 ft, it offers a great view of the complete mountain ranges like the Koktang, Kumbhakarna, Dom, Kanchenjunga and others. The great Himalayan ranges and the Kanchenjunga can be sighted at close quarters from Pelling. Pelling also serves as the base camp for treks in West Sikkim.

Places to visit in and around Pelling include the local monastery, the rock garden and waterfall at nearby Rimbi, the imposing double-pronged Kanchenjungha Falls, the archaic quaint Singshore Bridge, the Chhange Waterfalls, the Khecheopalri/Khechuperi Lake holy to Buddhists and ancient Pemyangtse/Pemyangshi Monastery.

Sangacholing Monastery
This monastery is located on a ridge above Pelling and the famous Pemayangtse Monastery. To reach the Monastery one has to walk on steep hilly slope which lead through rich forests area.During your sightseeing in Pelling explore this monastery which is not so well known when compared to Pemayangtse Monastery yet has lot to reveal when you visit it.

Khecheopalri Lake
Khecheopalri Lake is considered as one of the sacred lakes of Sikkim by the Hindus and Buddhists and hence is amongst the topmost places for sightseeing in Pelling. The lake remains hidden in the forests. It is believed that birds do not permit even a single leaf to float on the lake surface.

Kodaikanal-the beautiful hill station

Kodaikanal-the beautiful hill station

Kodaikanal is the most beautiful and popular hill station in Tamil Nadu and the most sought after honeymoon destination in South India. It has the attribute to leave any nature lover mesmerized by its charms

Kodaikanal is the most sought after honeymoon destination in South India because of its scenic beauty and it has the attribute to leave any nature lover mesmerized by its charms.

The unique flowering plant 'Kurunji'(Strobilanthus Kunthanus) that last bloomed in 2004, is nature's gift to Kodaikanal. Kodaikanal located amidst the folds of the verdant Pali hills is one of the most popular serene hill stations in India, which mesmerises any visitor and is frequented all through the year.

Kodai is situated at an altitude of about 2,133-m high and covers an area of 21.45-sq-km. The hill town is renowned for its educational institutions of international repute. The hill-plantain fruits and plums are known for their freshness and taste. Berijam lake, one among the beautiful lakes of South India, spreads over an area of 24 hectares.

Berijam Lake - perhaps the most pristine of the three lakes in Kodai. This is a plastic free zone and it is beautiful and serene. The lake lies within a reserved forest region. You need to get permission to visit this lake. Permissions need to be obtained on the morning of the intended day of visit from the forest office. Usually the person who arranges the vehicle will arrange the permit. Moreover, in peak season, a limited number of vehicles are allowed in per day.

Coakers Walk- If you wish to catch the scenic valleys, the best time to visit the place would be before 2PM. But if you want to watch snow-like clouds (only in winter) beneath you form an ocean, reach the place between 3PM and 6PM. Try and catch the sunrise here or in the nearby Greenlands Hostel. A marvel. Also try out the telescope near the main gate. This place is very near the bus stand.

Cherrapunjee - the East Khasi Hills

Cherrapunjee - the East Khasi Hills

Cherrapunjee is situated in the East Khasi Hills District of the state of Meghalaya. Sitting on the top of a mountain with a bonfire is just one of the normal days in Cherrapunjee. A night will take you on a journey of stars where life is not just usual; it's a feeling of being extraordinary.

The lower reaches of the southern slopes of Khasi and Jaintia hills are humid and warm and are streaked by many swift flowing rivers and mountain streams.  A species of Indian Rubber tree - botanical name: Ficus elastica - thrives and flourishes alongside these streams and rivers.

This tree can comfortably perch itself on huge boulders along side the riverbanks or in the middle of rivers and send its roots down to the riverbed.  Thus, they have adapted themselves very well to high soil erosion caused by these fast flowing rivers and streams that come down about 3000 feet along precipitous slopes.

Cherrapunjee holds two Guinness World Records; one for having the maximum amount of rainfall in a single year between August 1860 and July 1861. The second record is for the maximum amount of rainfall in a single month, in July 1861. This region experiences an annual average rainfall of around 11,430 metres. Further, it is the only place in India which experiences monsoon all year round.


The average annual rainfall at Cherrapunjee from 1973-2011 (39 years) is 11,820.8 mm (i.e. 38.78 feet- i.e. 453.36 inches). Due to two consecutive years (2005 & 2006) of below average rainfall the average had been pulled down to under 12,000 mm.

GNGTOK THE CAPITAL OF SIKKIM

GNGTOK THE CAPITAL OF SIKKIM

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim has emerged into the mainstream travel destination of the Tourism Industry, with more and more tourist coming to this little Himalayan state every year. It is a city, which, till one sees it, one would believe exists only in picture-story books.

Gangtok is full of gompas, stupas, parks and gardens. Some of the major attractions in and around Gangtok are the Rumtek Monastery, Pemayangtse Monastery, Tashiding Monastery, Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La Pass, Hanuman Tok etc. Visitors who want to explore Gangtok and its surroundings but do not want to do the planning themselves can opt for the several Gangtok holiday packages available.

Built about 100 years ago is the Labrang Monastery, just 1 km further from Phodong. This monastery belongs to the Nyingmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, the same as that of Pemayangtse monastery in West Sikkim. Its name translates simply as the dwelling place of the Lamas (Buddhist monks).

A must visit place in Gangtok, this is a 200 year old monastery, built by Lama Drupthob Karpo who is believed to had powers of flying. The monastery is home to about 90 monks and becomes particularly happening when the annual dance festival Chaam is held here and lamas perform an enthralling masked dance.

Amboli the hill station

Amboli the hill station

Amboli is a placid and beautiful hill station in South Maharashtra. Summers at Amboli are extremely pleasant and cool and beautiful waterfalls can be seen here during the rainy season The hill station has plenty to offer. The glorious scenes of the traversing valley and the tree lined sandy decoration of the Konkan coast.

The hill station is a romantic honeymoon destination too. For honeymoon couples, Amboli has all the seclusion and beauty they need. Be it a honeymoon or just a vacation, Amboli is a place which extends a pleasant and freshening change of pace.

The main attractions are the many viewpoints that offer panoramic vistas of the valley such as Sea-view Point, Purvicha Vas, and Mahadevgad Point - all of which unfold a view of the Konkan coast merging with the Arabian Sea. Tourists can visit the ruins of Madhavgadh fort in the vicinity. Mahadevgad and Narayangad are other hill stations in the area.

Winter is the ideal time to visit Amboli, when the waterfalls can be seen gushing down from the hills. The other major attractions of the place are Nagatta Falls, Hiranya Keshi, Shirgonkar, Mahadev and Narayan Gad, Bauxite Mines and Sea View Point.

There is also a small temple and a red laterite cave nearby that is a base for exploration by many trekkers. Tourists can visit the Hiranya Keshi temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva; while Nagatra falls and Narayangad, which are about 9 km away, are perfect for picnicking and angling. One can also shop for the famous Savantwadi wooden toys and numerous food items made of the sour fruit Kokum.

AULI THE SKIING PLACE

AULI THE SKIING PLACE


Auli is the most popular skiing place of Uttaranchal state. Auli is situated in Chamoli district of Garhwal region covering elevation from 2,519mts to 3,050mts above sea level. Auli is a "bugyal" which means meadow in the regional language. Auli is often compared with best ski resorts of the world foreigners. Auli is going to host SAF winter games in the year 2010. Auli is blessed with invigorating views of the splendid mountain range, Himalayas. The slopes of Auli provide enough thrills to professional skier and novice as well.

Ski

Auli is starting to get popular among the ski-lovers. Though the long,tiring travel and unpredictable weather can be the mood killer. You cannot be sure till you reach what to expect. Few lucky can gets to enjoy snow fall and skiing. If luck is not on your side snow storm can lock your room for days. For some its hard solid snow which take away the skiing pleasure. Though the GMVNL has imported snow beater it cannot give the experience of fresh snow. There is a long Ski-Lift connecting lower slopes to the Top.

Artificial lake

The world's highest man-made lake is at Auli, right next to the private hotel, Clifftop Club. The government has developed this in view of creating artificial snow on the new ski slopes in the event of low snow fall. The water from this lake will be used to feed the snow guns stationed along the ski slopes and thus provide a good skiing surface and exend the ski season.

Views

Walking through the misty slope provides one with the imposing spectacles of some of the lofty mountain ranges like Nanda Devi, Mana Paravat and Kamat Kamet. Besides these snowy miracles, the boulevards through the slopes offers marvelous views of gorgeous apple orchards and fine deodar trees, Here you will understand why the Sadhus (sage) came to Himalayas for meditation. The feeling of solitude and oneness with god will do wonders to you mind and have a positive effect on you body. You will get which no money can buy "Peace of Mind"Cable car view, Auli

Trekking

Apart from skiing there are some trek options available and below list is some of the trail normally completed in single day Auli - Gorson around 7 km Gorson - Tali around 6 km Tali - Kuari Pass around 11 km Kuari Pass - Khulara around 12 km Khulara - Tapovan around 9 km

KUDREMUKH THE PLACE IN CHIK MANGALORE

Kudremukh is a grassy broad hill station in the Chikmagalur district that has many rivers, green forest, and alluring cascades, making it a calm and secluded hill station. The valley is a chain of mountains connected with each other by steep slopes. There is abundance of flora and fauna as well as the iron ore deposits in the region; the virgin valley of the quite hill station is a trekker’s paradise.

Kudremukh literally mean Horse face. It is so called, for its mountain ranges look like the face of a horse. This is the largest reserve of a tropical wet evergreen forest in Karnataka. A hilly region, situated 1894 m above sea level, it overlooks the Arabian Sea. The pristine green forests beckon you to a paradise unspoiled. A holiday here can be truly rewarding. The Kudremukh Iron Ore Company set up the entire township of Kudremukh.

Natural grasslands and thick shoal forests makes the greenery in the sequence of rolling hills in the northern, eastern and central regions of the town. Kudremukh, a part of the majestic Western Ghats, is famous for bio-diversity conservation and is identified as one of the twenty-five hot spots in the world.

A place known for mining ores, the ore company situated in Kudremukh carry out mining , purifications and transportation of the slurry to the Mangalore port through huge pipelines. Presently Kundremukh is thriving as a modern township,The dense forest cover is very intriguing because of its rich variety of wildlife and exhilarating pristine green views. Situated in the Chikmagalur district, it is now a Tiger Reserve under the Bhadra Sanctuary. This area is the origin of significant rivers such as Tunga, Bhadra, and Netravati; the Kadambi Waterfalls is a major tourist attraction.

Noted for its scenic beauty rich in wildlife surrounded by natural dense forests, spotting wildlife is challenging. One has to go deep into the forest and only daring enthusiast is welcomed. The drive through these dense forest ranges is highly enjoyable and enchanting.

Located 32 km (20 mi) from the Kalasa, the water fall has water falling onto Natural rock formations from a height of more than 100 feet (30 m). Getting into falls involves some trekking. The best time to visit this place is between October and May.

Agumbe the heaven of rain fall

Agumbe is one of the most scenic places on the Western Ghats of the Southern  India. Added to the lush green view all around, the attractions for the visitors is the spectacular sunset and vast opportunities it offers to the trekkers.

Agumbe is among the places that receive high rainfall and is rightly called the Cherrapunji of South India. Agumbe also served the screening of most of the episodes of one of the most popular television serial Malgudi Days based on R.K Narayan's novel. z

Sunset Point

Agumbe has a sunset point which receives lot of visitors. On a clear day, one can see the sun setting over the Arabian Sea though the sea is at quite a distance from Agumbe. It's located on the 14th hair pin bend on the mountain ride to Agumbe.

Kunchikal Falls

Important Info: Kunchikal Falls are not the highest waterfalls in India. Rumors have been spreading all over internet about this being a 455m falls, thus claiming it is the highest in India. 455 meters is the height of the top of the falls above sea level, not the height of the waterfalls.

Kunchikal Falls is a small waterfalls also known as Kunchikal Abby, located about 20kms from Thirthahalli. It is formed by the Varahi river.

Barkana Falls:
 
The trek to Barkana Falls is a beautiful trail, again passing through deep jungle. This is not a good trek during the rainy season. On the way to the falls, you will pass the Barkana Viewpoint. From here, you can get a tantalizing view of the waterfall, across a stretch of dense jungle.

Onake Abbi Falls:

 The trek to Onake Abbi Falls is a short trail, and there are steps leading up to the top of this small but amazingly beautiful cascade. From the top, you can get a full view of the waterfall and the stream that it creates. Onake means pounding stick in Kannada.

yercadu-the hillstation in salem

Yercaud is a hill station near Salem in Tamil Nadu, in the Eastern Ghats. Scenically, Yercaud is as enchanting and picturesque as the hill stations on the Western Ghats and trekking here can be one of the most pleasurable ways to pass time The town gets its name from the lake located at its center - in Tamil "Yeri" means "lake" and "Kaadu" means "forest". Yercaud is known for coffee plantations and orange groves. It also has an orchidarium run by the Botanical Survey of India.

Yercaud is famous for oranges and coffee plantations and it has preserved some of the forests in original condition with several resident species of flora and fauna. The main crop frown in Yercaud is coffee, but fruits like guava and jackfruit and spices like black pepper, cardamom are also grown as plantation crops. The coffee plants were brought to Yercaud from Africa in 1820 by M. D. Cockburn.

Yercaud is known for Coffee Plantations and Orange Groves. The lofty hills of extraordinary scenic beauty are endowed with a salubrious climate. This quiet little hill station on the Shevaroy hills of the Eastern Ghats is the only one of its kind in Northern Tamil Nadu. Coffee and citrus fruits, most notably oranges, are grown in abundance apart from bananas, pears and jack. Scenically, Yercaud is as enchanting and picturesque as the hill stations on the Western Ghats and trekking here can be one of the most pleasurable ways to pass time.

As the temperatures do not fall to the extremes, there is no need for any heavy winter clothing for tourists who visit Yercaud. There are also many trekking spots available in and around Yercaud. During the month of May, a summer festival is conducted which includes flower shows, dog show boating races and fairs.

Hazaribagh

HAZARIBAGH

Hazaribagh city lies in the state of Jharkhand. The word Hazaribagh comes from two words - ‘Hazar’ and ‘bagira’. ‘Hazar’ literally translates to ‘1000’ while ‘bagira’ translates to ‘cat’. Therefore, the literal meaning of the name of the city is the ‘city of 1000 cats’.
Hazaribagh was a cantonment from 1790 to 1884. Hazaribagh flourished under the British Rule and what resulted was a planned city. Today, that part of Hazaribagh is the Boddam Bazaar. Boddam Bazaar is named after the officer by whom it was planned.

The settlement of the Bengali community was another significant event during the British Rule in Hazaribagh in the 19th century. Some of the personalities which played a hand in shaping up Hazaribagh were Ray Bahadur Mukherjee, Manmathanath Dasgupta, Keshub Chander Sen and Rai Bahadur Surendra Nath Roy.
Ray Bahadur Mukherjee is credited with starting the Brahmo Samaj here and a lot of girls’ schools. Hazaribagh is also known to house some important educational institutions of the bygone era. Most of these institutions were started by the Dublin Mission, which worked with the support of Trinity College.

Coal reserves form the major chunk of revenue for this city. In fact, Hazaribagh has the second highest coal reserves in the state of Jharkhand. Coal mining has picked up speed in the recent past and a number of power projects have been undertaken by the government organisations like NTPC and Coal India Limited.
Hazaribagh has a cool climate, with summers being warm and the winters being cold. The temperature during the summer months hovers at about 30-32° Celsius. Other than being home to some important missionaries in the past, Hazaribagh has tourist attractions too.

Ray Bahadur Jadunath Mukhopadhay(Mukherjee) one of early settlers is much talked about. He was the first Government Pleader of Hazaribagh. His house in Hazaribagh Town played host to a galaxy of emminent persons including Sanjiv Chattopadhaya (of Palamau fame, Rabindranath Tagore and Subhas Chandra Bose. He helped in setting up the Durga Puja mandap, the Brahmo Samaj,the Keshav Hall/Union Club and Library and the first girls’ school in the town, which is now named after him.
Chanchala Niyogi physically got the school going around 1895. Those were the days when people thought that by educating their daughters they were paving the way for their widowhood. Around 1920, the new school building was built with the initiative of Braja Kumar Niyogi with funds mainly from the estate of Raja of Ramgarh. Great Scholars such as Mahesh Chandra Ghosh, and Dhirendranath Choudhury, made the town their home. The poet Kamini Roy lived in the town for some years.
Manmathanath Dasgupta, a Brahmo missionary spent many years in Hazaribagh working amongst the down trodden. Sarat Kumar Gupta contributed towards the development of the town in many ways. Doctors such as Mandindra Bhushan Banerjee (Panna Babu), Bikash Kumar Sen, Sambhu Nath Roy and Benoy Chandra Chatterjee were prominent personalities. The noted Bengali author and writer for many Hindi films like SUJATA, Subodh Ghosh was born and brought up in Hazaribagh. Many of his stories are set in the region.

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Dalhousie Hill-station

Dalhousie Dalhousie experiences winter-like cold climate throughout the year. Heavy rain with thunder showers are experienced during the period from June to September. In May–July it is usually warm in the morning and afternoon but gets cold early in the evening and quite cold at night. The weather becomes very cold during winter and if it rains. Dalhousie also experiences snow during the peak of winter period in December and January. Being a hill station, Dalhousie is famous for its salubrious climate. visiting places Dalhousie has many places to visit. A favorite spot for tourists is the area near Alla. It is a potato field and it offers mesmerizing scenic landscape. Another popular spot is the area of Karelanu. It is famous for its precious water which healed a great leader, Subhash Chandra Bose. He was suffering from tuberculosis and he regularly drank the water from the natural spring in Karelanu and was healed. An astounding hill station, Dalhousie is abuzz with its old charm and embraces enduring ricochets of the 'British Raj'. One among the favourite places of the British, this hilly terrain houses a large number of Victorian style mansions, which proudly testifies its former grandeur. Spread over an area of 14 sq km, Dalhousie is built on five hills, which offers a pleasant trekking experience to toddlers as well as serious trekkers. This picturesque spot is a tiny hospice, which lies at the base of the Dhauladhar mountain range. This scenic valley offers impressive views of hills concluding in the flurry of mountains and verdant valleys . Its majestic rivers that twirls and spins amidst the lush dense woods of the planes makes for picturesque views. Besides an alluring picnic spot, Dalhousie provides excellent shopping delights at the mall road where all the activities of the town are centered. A shoppers delight the shops offer a great time for the shopping buffs. Apart from these, the interlacing lanes of this magnificient hill resort are a perfect location for promenades and sight seeing. A charming location at a height of 9000 feet, Dalhousie is blessed with outstanding attractions and its salubrious weather with moderate accommodation facilities make it a thriving tourist center of modern times.

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BABA BUDANGIRI HILLS

BABA BUDANGIRI HILLS

Dattagiri / Baba Budangiri is a mountain in the Dattagiri Hill Range / Baba Budan Giri Range of the Western Ghats of India. Located in the Chikkamagaluru District of Karnataka, Dattagiri/ Baba Budangiri is known for its shrine which is a place of pilgrimage for both Hindus and Muslims.

Peaks in the Dattagiri / Baba Budan Giri Range are the Mullayanagiri and Dattagiri/Baba Budangiri (height 1895 m). Collectively, these peaks are known as 'Chandradrona Parvatha Shreni, as they naturally form the shape of a crescent moon.

Dattagiri Hills or Baba Budan Giri Range is a range of mountains in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. The range, originally known as Chandra Drona Parvatha, takes its current name from the Dattapeeta Cave and 17th century Sufi saint Baba Budan. The Dattagiri or Baba Budan Giri Range includes the highest peaks of Karnataka. Unique mountain flowers called Kurinji blooms in these hill ranges once in every 12 years and the last time this spectacle happened here was in 2006

A large number of stories have been constructed around Dada’s dargah. These stories pertain to the spiritual and healing powers including the power to bestow children, relief to physical disorders, property disputes, etc. This is one of the reasons why the site has become famous. There are stories about how Dada protected a princess who later on came to be known as Sathi Samyukta by Hindus and Mama Jigni by the Muslims. Most important is the story about how the princely state of Mysore was bestowed with an heir to the throne by Dada, and how the maharaja would be able to break the stone laid before the cave. This is a typical story which has similarities with the stories surrounding the birth of Jahangir (with the blessings of Sufi saint Nazrath Shah Sali) and Tippu Sultan (with the blessings of Tippu Aulia of Arcot). This story is important for two obvious reasons: It provided legitimacy to the claims of spiritual power of the Sufi saints, secondly, it made the state liberal, moderate and secular:

Sri Krishna Raja Wadiyar had no son in his family for a long time. He was worried much about it. Once, coming out of the dargah, he saw the stone slab where devotees broke the offered coconuts. Struck with an idea, he made a vow quietly that he would split that stone with coconuts on the birth of a son in the family. Soon after that his brother had a son, Sri Jaya Chamaraja Wadiyar. He came to the dargah with cart-loads of coconuts to fulfil his vow and began breaking coconuts one by one. The stone remained solid even after many cart-loads were finished. He was in a dilemma. He had to fulfil his vow but it appeared impossible. At long last he realised that in his anxiety he made a vow which was apparently impossible. He explained the situation and requested Hazrath Peer to take him to Dada and pray for his pardon and suggest a solution. After Hazrath Peer recited the Fateha, Maharaja expressed his gratitude to Dada, repented his folly, sought out of the dargah and following the instructions, he broke the coconut on the stone slab. To his pleasant surprise the stone developed a crack”