Plan Your Holiday

Traditional Maharashtrian Food

2012-12-07T10:00:00.000+05:30

Maharashtrian cuisine covers a range from being mild to very spicy dishes. Wheat, rice, jowar, bajri, vegetables, lentils and fruit form important components of Maharashtrian diet. Popular dishes include puran poli, ukdiche Modak, batata wada and “Kande-pohe”.

The staple dishes of Maharashtrian cuisine are based on bread and rice. The Thali consists of salt, wedge of lime, a fresh chutney, achar (pickle), a raita (vegetables or fruits in spiced yogurt), rice wafers and pakoras. Maharashtrians are particularly proud of their astonishing range and diversity of chutneys, achars, brine pickles and koshimbirs.

Another vital point of maharashtrian etiquette is arrangement of rice. the rice should never be in the middle of the thali. It should never be the haphazard mountain of rice. It should be placed to one side of the thali. Above the rice is thoordal puree. Next is one dry vegetable and one curry. In even the fanciest maharashtrian meal there will still be only two vegetable dishes on the right-hand side of the thali. The vegetables are never overcooked and the spices are always mild.

Popular Dishes

Sweets :

Puran poli
Gulachi Poli
Modak
Karanji
Gulab Jamun
Anarsa
Chirota
Basundi
Shrikhand
Laddu

Snacks :

Chivda
Poha
Upma
Surali wada
Vada pav
Pav Bhaji
Thalipeeth
Bakarwadi
Misal Pav
Kanda Bhaji

Curries:

“Amti” (Sweet and Sour Lentil Curry, made with Tamarind and Jaggery)
Batatyachi Bhaji (Potato preparations)
Vangyache bharit (Baingan Bharta)
Dalimbya (Beans)
Farasbichi Bhaji
Palkachi Takatli Bhaji (Spinach cooked in buttermilk)
Kelphulachi Bhaji (Banana/plantain bloom)
Fansachi Bhaji ( Jackfruit preparation)
Walache Birdha

Have you checked these : Kashmiri Food, Kerala Food, Karnataka Food, Gujarati Food, Bengali Food,Andhra Food

Why is Deepawali (Diwali) celebrated?

2012-11-09T13:06:00.000+05:30

Deepawali, the festival of lights is celebrated by Hindus not only in India but all over the world. It marks the celebration of victory of the good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Even Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs also celebrate this festival for various reasons. There are various legends and history behind the celebration of Diwali.

1. As per one of the legends the occasion of Diwali is actually the birth anniversary of Goddess Lakshmi. It says the Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi was re-incarnated on the new moon night of the Karthik month. To mark the importance of this day people perform Lakshimi puja and seek the blessings of Goddess of wealth and prosperity.

It is also believed that on this day Lord Vishnu in his fifth incarnation as Vamana-avatar rescued Lakshmi from the prison of King Bali.

2. The most popular legend goes like this. In Hinduism Diwali is celebrated to mark the homecoming of Lord Rama with Sita and Lakshmana to the kingdom after 14 years of exile and defeating the demon king Raavana.

It is believed that the people of Ayodhya lit oil lamps along the way to light their path in the darkness.

3. In Jainism, Diwali marks the attainment of nirvana by Mahavira on 15 October, 527 BC

4. In Sikhism it celebrates the return of Guru Har Gobind Ji (1595-1644), the sixth Guru of Sikhism, to Amritsar who was imprisoned along with 53 other Hindu kings at Fort Gwalior by Jahangir.

5. Krishna Killed Narakaasur: On the day preceding Diwali, Lord Krishna killed the demon king Narakaasur and rescued 16,000 women from his captivity. The celebration of this freedom went on for two days including the Diwali day as a victory festival

6. The Return of the Pandavas: According to the great epic ‘Mahabharata’, it was ‘Kartik Amavashya’ when the Pandavas appeared from their 12 years of banishment as a result of their defeat in the hands of the Kauravas at the game of dice (gambling). The subjects who loved the Pandavas celebrated the day by lighting the earthen lamps.

Significance of Karva Chauth

2012-11-02T10:00:00.000+05:30

Karva Chauth is an important Hindu festival celebrated in the Northern parts of India. It is usually celebrated by married women who fast for the entire day and pray for the safety, prosperity and long life of their husbands. However, in some parts like Punjab and Haryana, even unmarried girls observe this festival to get good life partners.
The latest trend is even husbands have started observing Karva Chauth to show love and commitment towards their better halves.

Karva Chauth falls on the fourth day after the full moon (according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Kartik). Karva means diya (earthen lamp) and chauth means four in Hindi. This term overall means that the festival falls on the 4th day after the full moon.

Karva Chauth book: This is required to read the story (katha) in front of other women who are fasting. The story is usually read by an elderly woman or priest.

The Karva Chauth Pooja Thali: The puja thali is decorated beautifully. It consists of the roli, vermilion, sacred water, dry fruits, earthen clay pots, diyas and different types of Indian sweets. The thali can be of any material silver, brass or steel thali depending on one’s choice. Even the items can vary from culture to culture. Women in Rajasthan put wheat, matthi. In few cultures, steel strainer is used to view the moon whereas in other cultures, women directly look at the moon and break their fast. So, different places follow different traditions.

Beginning of Vrat: The day of Karwa Chauth begins very early morning when the women of the family have a sargi i.e. the pre-dawn meal. The sargi consists of several scrumptious dishes. Once the married woman has eaten her share of sargi, her phase of fast begins. Now on wards she is not supposed to eat or even drink water for the entire day. The entire day is celebrated like a festive occasion with community gathering, songs, henna rituals and other such things.

Women get all decked up to celebrate the most awaited festival. They mostly wear red colored sarees or lehengas and dress up like brides. Mehendi is one of the most important shringar items. It is very crucial to apply mehendi on the palms.

Food items: Different sweets are made in every household. While few prepare dishes like kachori, sabzi, there are many who go for special delicacies. Even sweets vary from culture to culture.

Telugu for Tourists

2012-10-31T10:00:00.000+05:30

A visitor to the city with a fair knowledge of Hindi or Urdu can easily manage through his stay. Yet knowing and using a little bit of native language Telugu, can prove a rewarding experience. Here are a few basic words and sentences in Telugu that you can use during your stay in Andhra.

English	Telugu
Welcome	Susvaagatam	Good morning	Supra bhetam
Hello	Aemandee	Good afternoon	Shubha dhina
How are you?	Meeru aelaa unnaaru?	Good night	Shubha raathri
I’m fine, thanks. And you?	Naenu baagunnaanu, dhanyavaadhamulu, mari meeru?	Goodbye	Shubha gaa vellira di
What’s your name? My name is …	Nee peru emiti?? naa paeru …	I love you	Naenu ninnu praemisthunnaanu
Long time no see	Chaalaa kaalamai?dhi mimmalni choosi	Sorry	Maa kshamaapanalu
Where are you from?I’m from …	Meeru ekkada nu?chi vachchaaru? naenu … nu chi vachchaanu	Help!	Sahaaya! sahaaya!
Pleased to meet you	Mimmalni kalavada chaalaa santhoashagaa undhi	Fire!	Ma talu! ma talu!
I don’t understand	Naaku ardha kaalaedhu	Stop!	Aapa di!
Please write it down	Dhayachaesi aadhi raaya di	Excuse me	Kshamicha di
Do you speak Telugu?Yes, a little	Meeru thelugu maatlaadathaaraa? aunu koncha maathra gaa)	Cheers/Good health	Shubha aaroagya
How do you say … in Telugu?	….. ni theluguloa elaa cheputhaaru?	Have a nice day	Shubha dhina
Please speak more slowly	Dhayachaesi nemmadhigaa matlaada di	Bon voyage	Shubha prayaana
Please say that again	Dhayachaesi mallee cheppa di	How much is this?	Dheeni dhara entha?
Thank you. Response	Dhanyavaadhamulu. maa santhoasha	Tell once more	Inka okka sari cheppu
Where’s the toilet?	Dhoddi gadhi ekkada unnadhi?
This gentleman/lady will pay for everything	Ee pedhdha manishi annitikee dhara isthaaru
Would you like to dance with me?	Naathoa naatya chaesae kuthoohala? unnadhaa?
Get well soon	Mee aaroagya thvaraloa kudhuta padaalani koaruku tunnaanu
Leave me alone!	Nannu prashaa thathoa vadhili petta di
Call the police!	Rakshaka bhatulani pilava di!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year	Santhoashakaramaina kristmas Mariyu noothana samvathsara shubhaakaakshalu
Happy Birthday	Janma dina Shubhakankshalu
Do you know telugu?	Neeku telugu vachchaa/thelusa?
I don’t know Telugu.	Naaku telugu raadhu/thelidhu
What are you doing?	Em chestunnav? (‘Emi chestunaru’ is more formal)

NUMBERS
0 Sunna	10 Padi
1 Oka	20 Iravai
2 Rendu	30 Muppai
3 Mudu	40 Nalabhai
4 Nalugu	50 Yabhai
5 Ayidu	60 Aravai
6 Aru	70 Debbai
7 Edu	80 Enabhai
8 Enimidi	90 Tombhai
9 Tommidi	100 Vanda
10 Padi	1000 Veyy

Know More about State Punjab

2012-10-29T10:30:00.000+05:30

About the State : Punjab, the land of Five rivers is the richest state in India. The word Punjab is a combination of two Persian words 'Panj'(five) and 'Aab'(water). The five rivers flowing here are Beas, Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum. Punjab is also known as the Food Basket and Granary of India. It has a long history and rich cultural heritage. The earliest human civilization Indus Valley Civilization (Harappa civilization ) is believed to have been established in this region. Chandigarh is the state capital. Punjabi is the state language.

Major cities

Mohali

Chandigarh

Ludhiana

Amritsar

Bathinda

Patiala

Jalandha

Must see Places : Amritsar: Golden Temple, Lakshmi Narain Temple, Wagah Border (The pageant of the beating of the retreat and the change of guard of the Indian and Pakistani forces makes the most charming of the spectacles as a daily evening drill), Jallian Wala Bagh, the Martyr’s Memorial (which depicts the brutal killings of the innocents by the British). During summer it is open to tourists from 9 am to 5 pm and in winters from 10 am to 4 pm. Ram Bagh, Ram Tirath, Samadhi of Guru Angad Dev Ji, Jama Masjid Khairuddin, Samadh of Shravan, Khoo Kalyanwala, The Historical Banyan Tree (Shaheedi Bohr)
Chandigarh : Rock Garden, Sukana lake, Pinjore Gardens, and Rose Gardens better known as Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, is the largest rose garden in entire Asia and features a stunning range of over 1600 rose species.
Patiala is renowned for its palaces, museums, sports, cuisine, fashionware. Malerkotla is famous for embroidery , insignias and handiwork artifacts. Fatehgarh Sahib and Sirhind nearby have several historical buildings, especially of the Muslim era. Chandigarh is an ideal starting point for visiting Punjab. Read More....

Best eating Joints : Relish the Punjabi cuisine at these places

Pure Vegetarian Dhaba Bharawan Ka Dhaba (Brother Dhaba) Kesar ka Dhaba Kundan Da Dhaba	Non Vegetarian Dhaba Surjeet Ka Dhaba – Famous for Amritsari Machchi (Fry Fish) Pal Ka Dhaba – Famous for Chicken and Kharore (Goat Feet dish) Bhire ka Dhaba – Famous for Grill and Tandoori Chicken
Kulcha Land Oka Cafe Crystal Restaurant Narula’s Restaurant Hot Mirchi, Ranjit Avenue	Famous Amritsari Sweet Shops Amritsar is one of the highest consumption of Desi (Pure) Ghee in India. Some famous shops are : Bikaner Sweets, Kacheri Chownk Munim Di Hatti, Lawrence Road Bansal Sweet Shop, Lawrence Road Novelty Sweets , Lawrence Road Goenka Sweets, Katra Ahluwalia Khubi Halwali , Katra Ahluwalia (Famous for Desi Ghee’s Jalebi)

What to buy where: Punjab is famous for its durries, jutties, woolen shawls, inlaid furniture, phulkari work, parandis, sport goods, leather garments and the jewelry.
Visit local Bazar in Amritsar. The main shopping areas are the Hall Bazar, Katra Jaimal Singh and Lawrence Road. Several shops outside Golden Temple sell all kinds of souvenirs such as photo’s, paintings, ornaments and even knives, swords and shields.
The main attractions are woolens, carpets and blankets, besides juttis and embroidered stuff. The bazaars of Amritsar offer a range of traditional and modern wares from carpets, durries, kites, fireworks, bangles, shawls to cut-glass and woolen textiles.

99% of the world’s wooden chess is made in Amritsar ! Go to Focal Point (industrial Area) and you’ll find many small houses who make chess boards.
You can buy Wooden Chess, Camel Bone Chess, Artistic Chess, Chess Boards, Chess Boxes
What to pay: from Rs. 50 to Rs. 3000 depending on the size.

Chandigarh's Sector 17 has everything to offer to satisfy one's shopping desires. Branded showrooms, fashionable clothing stores, shoes, electronics, jewelry, books etc. Do visit Khadi Ashram for homespun textiles and herbal beauty products. Phulkari is a Punjab Govt. Emporium with everything from handicrafts to jootis, woolen shawls, scarves and beautiful bedspreads. Jalandhar is famous for leather items and thus has a wide array of leather goods, which one can conveniently find at almost any shop. Popularly known as the Sports Capital of India, it has wide variety of sports goods for the sports lovers

The most popular shops that sell traditional items include Oriental Crafts, Prince Glass Corner, Taj Handicrafts, Janta Textiles and Handicrafts, Loveleen Handicraft, Pacca Bagh and Jaina Crafts.Basketry and wood works are other items that one can shop for, in Jalandhar.

Weekend Getaways from Hyderabad

2012-10-27T10:00:00.000+05:30

Bhongir : 40 Kms from Hyderabad. A perfect getaway for the history lovers, Bhongir welcomes tourists in large numbers to visit the ancient Bhongir fort. The Bhongir fort is located on top of a monolithic rock structure, which has a height of around five hundred feet. You can also visit the Hanuman Temple that is located on top of the hill and a temple dedicated to Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy which is located at a distance of thirteen kilometers from Bhongir.
Ramoji film city: Ramoji Film City (RFC) is one of the world’s largest integrated film studio complexes at over 2,000 acres of land. It is also a popular tourism and recreation center, containing both natural and artificial attractions including an amusement park. Every year, the studios attracts over a million tourists, and the complex creates revenues in billions of rupees. Film City boasts of comprehensive pre-production, production, and post-production resources for the film makers. Having no less than 500 set locations; the film city can accommodate shootings for twenty international films and forty Indian films at a time.

Snow World :Spread over 17,000 square feet and filled with over 200 tons of snow, Snow World will bring to life all your snow fantasies. Once inside, you can pick from snow fights, snow slides and snow cruising with Ice bumper cars or simply enjoy the all-time favorite, Merry-Go-Round. It also has Kart Kave, said to be India’s largest indoor go-karting center
Golkonda : 11 Kms from Hyderabad. Golconda Fort is one of the most wonderful monuments. One of the most important features of this fort is the excellent acoustics where the sounds of hands clapped at the entry gate can be heard quite clearly heard at 'Bala Hissar', the highest point, a kilometre away. Dont miss the light and sound show at Golkonda fort which brings life to the fort.

Salarjung musuem: The Salarjung Museum is the third largest museum in India housing the biggest one-man collections of antiques in the world. It is well known throughout India for its prized collections belonging to different civilizations dating back to the 1st century.

Ananthagiri hills and Deccan Trails: Ananthagiri hills near vikarabad is situated at a distance of 90km from Hyderabad. It is one of the favorite trekking destinations for the adventure seekers in Hyderabad.

Sangareddy : Sangareddy is mainly popular for the various temples that are located in the vicinity of the town. The famous being Ramalingeswara temple at a distance of 15 kms form Sangareddy at Nandi Kandi. This temple houses the local deity Rameshwara, and is especially well known for its unique architecture. The temple is one of the very few temples in India that is shaped like a star
Moulali hill lock: Moulali is situated at a distance of 10km from Secunderabad. After climbing the hill, you can have a beautiful view of Hyderabad.

Warangal : 150 Kms from hyderabad. Warangal is a cluster of three towns Warangal, Kazipet and Hanamkonda. Warangal's important history, exquisite monuments, grand temples, superb gardens, beautiful lakes, and sanctuaries with rich fauna & flora attract tourists in large numbers. Warangal Fort, the 13th century star shaped Shiva temple, Bhadrakali temple and the thousand pillared temple. Wildlife Sanctuaries at Pakhal and Eturnagaram and Pakhal Lake are other tourist spots which are worth visiting.
Nagarjunakonda : Nagarjunakonda is an island in the middle of the Nagarjunasagar Lake, surrounded by the town of Nagarjunasagar. Its not only a heritage city of India but a pilgrim center for Buddhists. A massive dam, Ethipothala Waterfall, Srisailam wildlife reserve and a museum with rare antiques make a visit to Nagarjunakonda a real treat.

Nalgonda : 103 Kms from Hyderabad. A city bounded by two hills, Kapuralagutta and Lateef Shahi Gutta, Nalgonda is blessed with a glorious past. The history of Nalgonda dates to the Paleolithic Age. It is surrounded by many interesting places. Some of the major tourist attractions of Nalgonda are Nanda Konda, Museum of Central Archeological Department, Panagal, apart from Kapuralagutta and Lateef Shahi Gutta
Nizamabad : 172 Kms from Hyderabad. A very important city in the British era, Nizamabad has many tourist attractions. Nizam Sagar Dam is constructed on the river Manjira and the ancient reservoir of Ali Sagar, which was built during the tenure of the Nizam. The Nizamabad Fort of the 10th century is located on the south-western part of the town. This fort has some ancient artefacts related to Jainism. Kanteshwar is a nearby region of Nizamabad and is known for the ancient temple, which is said to be about 500 years old.

Srisailam : A unique combination of forest sanctuary and pilgrimage town can be seen in Srisailam. The River Krishna carves a deep gorge through the woods of the Nallamalai Hills, and leaves in its wake a lush forest that is home to India's largest tiger reserve. The reserve is huge - 3568 sq km - spread over five districts in Andhra Pradesh.
Kurnool : Visit the ancient prison of Kurnool Fort by the name of Kondareddy Burz. Located on the banks of the River Handri is the 17th century tomb of Abdul Wahab and the ruins of the palace of the last Hindu ruler, Gopal Raju. Kurnool has many places of religious importance like the temples of Nagareswarasawami, Peta Anjaneyaswami, Venugoplaswami, Iswaraswami, Saibaba and Birla Mandir or Satyanarayaswami.

Mantralayam : 256 Kms from Hyderabad. Mantralayam is situated near the border of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh along the banks of River Tungabhadra. One of the famous pilgrimage destination in South India, Mantralayam houses the Samadhi of Vaishnava saint Shri Raghavendra Swamy.Mantralayam is also popular for Manchalamma Temple and Venkateswara Swamy Temple.
Mahbubnagar : It is said that the famous Golconda diamonds including famous "KOHINOOR" diamond came from Mahabubnagar district.The most important place of interest near Mahabubnagar is the famous banyan tree called Pillalamarri, which is about 8-km from the city. This famous 500 yr. old Banyan tree here, covers an area of over three acres and can accommodate about 1000 people in its shade.

Kuntala Waterfalls : 240 kms from hyderabad. A perfect getaway in the monsoons. Kuntala Waterfall is the highest waterfall of Andhra Pradesh. River Kanda flowing through the dense forests; at this point comes gushing and falls from a height of 45metres.One has to experience the sight of water splashing down with such a force that water below turn into whirls.
Vemulawada : 150 Kms from Hyderabad. Sri Rajarajeswara Swamy temple and the Mosque inside the premises Vemulawada, is a fine example of communal harmony where both Hindus and Muslims offer obeisance to Lord Siva and Allah. The temple at Vemulawada is next only to Tirupati in terms of its revenues. It is one of the very few temples devoted to Lord Siva. Popularly known as Dakshana Kashi (Benaras of South India) the temple attracts lakhs of devotees from all over the country.

Dharmapuri : 183 Kms from Hyderabad. It is a small town, famous for the temple of Lord Sri Laxmi Narasimha Swami. The town is situated on the southern bank of River Godavari near the town of Karimnagar. Dharmapuri is considered to be one of the oldest villages of Andhra Pradesh famous for an ancient temple of Lord Vishnu where the Lord takes the form of Narasimha Swami. Though the place is not very popular the temples the artifacts, the epigraphs indicate that this tiny village has been a busy centre and had a lot of importance culturally and religiously from Vedic times

National Parks of Jammu and Kashmir

2012-10-25T10:00:00.000+05:30

1. Dachigam National Park located 22Kms from Srinagar, is set amidst stunning Himalayan mountains. The Park is blessed with beautiful landscape ranging from grasslands and pine forests, to cliffs and rocky outcrops, and bare rock-faced mountain tops lying high above the tree line. It covers an area of 141 square kilometers with altitude ranging from 5500 ft to 14000 ft above mean sea level. Due to this variation, the park is differentiated as upper and lower Dachigam. In addition to the beautiful natural setting, Dachigam National Park is home to the last remaining wild population of the Kashmir Stag (or "Hangul") an endangered species.

Founded in 1981, the name "Dachigam" (meaning "10 villages"), was derived from the ten villages that were relocated at the time of the formation of the Park.

2. Hemis National Park is a High Altitude National park situated in the Ladakh region of J&K. Hemis was established as a National Park on 4th February 1981 and covers an area of 600 sq.km. Named after the famous monastery Hemis Gompa, this national park is known as the Snow leopard capital of India.The altitude ranges from 3,300 to 6,000 mt above the sea level, and hosts a remarkable variety of wildlife.

This national park offers the tourists an abundant treasure of natural beauty with mountains of various shapes and sizes, mixed with vast flatlands, deserts and bordered by the fast flowing river Indus.

3. Kishtwar National Park covers an area of 400 sq.km and is surrounded by the cachments on all four sides. In the north there is Rinna River, South is covered by Kibar Nala, in the east lies Great Himalaya and to the south-west Marwa River where all the three Kiar, Nanth and Kibar nalas drain into Marwa River and joins with River Chenab just above Kishtwar town.

The terrain is generally rugged and steep with narrow valleys bounded by high ridges opening out in their upper glacial parts. There are around 15 species of mammals found here including Musk deer, Markhor, Hangul, Ibex, Langur, Leopard and Himalayan Black and Brown Bear.

4. Salim Ali National Park Named after the famous Orinthologist, Salim Ali, the National Park was formerly called the City Forest National Park. Established in 1992, it covers an area of 9.07 sq.km and situated close to the capital Shrinagar.The major wildlife found here are the Snow cock, Hangul, Serow, Chakar, Monal etc

Sikh Pilgrimage Destinations in India

2012-10-23T10:00:00.000+05:30

The Sikh religion emerged during the early 16th century in the state of Punjab in North India. The founder of this faith was Guru Nanak, who from his childhood was attracted to both Hindu and Muslim saints. Born a Hindu, but also inspired by the teachings of Islam, he began to preach the message of unity of both religions. According to him, the basic teachings of both faiths were essentially the same. Nanak attracted many followers and came to be known as a Guru or a teacher. His disciples came together to form a new religious tradition called Sikhism. Sikhism propounds monotheism, i.e. worship of one God. Some of the well known pilgrimage centers of Sikhs are :

1. Anandpur Sahib is a small town 80 km from Chandigarh. It lies in the Ropar district of north-east Punjab, on the border with Himachal Pradesh. On one side of Anandpur Sahib are the foothills of the towering Shivalik range, on the other, the river Sutlej. Located on the Ambala-Sirhind-Ropar-Nangal rail route and the Ambala-Nangal road, it is 45 km from Ropar and 22 km from Nangal.

2. Golden Temple is the chief pilgrimage place of the Sikh people and is situated in the holy city of Amritsar. It is also known as Darbar Sahib or Sri Harmandir Sahib and is the symbol of glory of the Sikh community. One can wash away his/her sins by having a dip in the holy waters of The Golden Temple. The Temple is built on a 67 ft square of marble and is a two storeyed structure. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had the upper half of the building built with approximately 400 kg of gold-leaf.

3. Delhi Gurudwaras Delhi has many beautiful and magnificent Gurudwaras that surely give a feel about the prosperity of Sikhism and Sikh community. Delhi Gurudwaras hold reverence not only for Sikhs, but people of other faiths as well. Also, almost all the Gurudwaras in Delhi has some interesting legend attached to it. Some of them include Gurudwara Sis Ganj, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Gurudwara Nanak Piao, Gurudwara Rakab Ganj, Gurudwara Majnu Ka Tila.

4. Hemkund Sahib Hemkund ( Lake of gold), is situated nearly 29 kms from Joshimath via Govindghat, in northern state of Uttaranchal in the Garhwal region. It is set in one of the famous beauty spots of the central Himalayas and has a lake of crystal clear water located in beautiful surrounding. The glaciers from Hathi Parvat and Sapt shring peaks feed the lake and a small stream called Himganga flows out of the lakes.

It is believed that Guru Govind Singh , the 10th Guru of the Sikh faith had meditated on the bank of this lake in one of his earlier births, as alluded to in the holly Granth sahib.

5. Manikaran The Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurudwara provides some extraordinary sights. One can enjoy a dip in the hot waters from the springs. There are altogether three baths, one is located under the Gurudwara itself. It is said that by taking bath here and by drinking water of this place, people go to Heaven. The Manikaran hot spring are noted for their healing powers. Manikaran is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus and Sikhs and has a temple and a gurudwara. .

6. Patna Sahib Gurudwara is regarded as the centre for propagating Sikhism in the east. As history would have it, Takht Sri Patna Sahib is the second accepted and acknowledged Takht of the Sikhs. Takht Patna Sahib enjoys the privilege of being the birthplace of the Tenth Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. He was born here on December 22, 1666 and spent early years here before moving to Anandpur. Handi Sahib (20 kms) is also visited along with Patna Sahib

7. Poanta Sahib Surrounded by a sal forest and on the banks of river Yamuna, the historic town of Paonta Sahib (350m) was founded by a tenth sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh. When only 16 years old, the Guru left Anandpur Sahib and on the invitation of Raja Maidini Prakash of Sirmour, lived at this beautiful spot for over four years. The historic gurudwara commemorates his stay and interestingly the water of the Yamuna fall silent below this- which happened at the Guru's behest. The old 'Paonta' means 'Space for a foothold'

8. Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib is located on the banks of Godavari in Maharashtra. It is the place where Guru Govind Singh's ashes were buried. Some of the sacred relics of Guru Gobind Singh are also preserved here. This is also one of the Five Takhts of Sikhism and therefore most important from pilgrimage perspective. The inner room of the temple is called Angitha Sahib. Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib is the principal shrine at Nanded.

Spectacular Beaches of Kerala

2012-10-21T10:00:00.000+05:30

Renowned for their breathtaking beauty Kerala has some of the finest, most charming beaches, coconut groves, natural harbors and lagoons. Spread along a 900 Km coastline, the beaches offer a perfect destination for a great vacation or an exotic honeymoon. The palm and coconut dotted tranquil beaches range from gold to silver to gravel.

Alappuzha Beach
	Known as the 'Venice of East', with the Arabian Sea in the West and a large number of lakes and lagoons crisscrossing it, Alappuzha is one of the most beautiful districts in Fascinating Kerala. The Alappuzha beach is breathtakingly amazing.This beach along with its famous backwater Houseboats and Boat races attracts thousands of tourists every year. Blessed with nature's green beauties such as lagoons, vast lakes and numerous fresh water rivers, Alappuzha is a natural wonderland of Kerala.
Kovalam Beach
	Located 16 km south of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) city, Kovalam is a world-famous beach,a favorite tourist spot. Kovalam Beach consists of three successive small crescent beaches; the southern most known as Lighthouse Beach, where most of the visitors spend their time. The middle beach is called Hawah. Each morning this beach acts as a base for the local fisherman. The northern most beach, Samudra, least affected of all by the changing times. It is dotted with few rudimentary wooden fishing vessels. The unforgettable image of Kovalam is that of the coconut-palms-lined high rock promontory that cuddles the calm and wide expanse of the blue waters.
Cherai Beach
	Cherai Beach located near Vypeen Islands is a swimmers paradise. The sea on the western side and the backwaters on the east, gives the beach a very unusual touch. This place is also blessed with thick and dense coconut groves and some captivating Chinese fishing nets. Cherai beach, however, stands exceptional for its cleanliness. The extended shoreline of about 10 km in length, along with recently beautified main beach area and the attractive walkway decked with high mask lamps, is incredibly pleasing to eyes.
Varkala Beach
	Lying in the north of the capital Thiruvananthapuram, at a distance of 54 kms, the Varkala Beach is one of the most isolated Beaches in Kerala. Away from the noise and tensions of daily life, the beach proves to be an ideal haven for those in need of one. Swinging palm trees above and soft sands beneath you feet, promises you a rejuvenating vacation. Popular for many things, the Varkala Beach Resort is widely known for mineral springs near the beach which is believed to have some medicinal value, thus witnessing a large number of people coming all year to drink and bathe in the mineral springs.
Kappad Beach
	16 kms from Kozhikode (Calicut) (Calicut), this is the historic beach where Vasco-da-Gama landed on the 27th of May 1498, with 170 men in three vessels. A monument on the beach commemorates this historic event. The rock studded beach is locally known as Kappakadavu. An interesting feature of the landscape is the sprawling rock that protrudes into the sea. The temple on the rock is believed to be 800 years old.
Vallikunnu Beach
	Situated amidst a thick coconut grove, the Vallikunnu beach is truly a marvel of nature. As you curl up with a book or take a lazy stroll along the sandy stretch, you are surely going to have a pleasant time at the Vallikunnu beach. A beach resort set in the middle of a coconut grove is the main attraction here. The kadalundi bird sanctuary is just a short distance away. With its secluded beauty, the Vallikunnu beach is also a great place to indulge in a quick game of volleyball before splashing into the warm water for a refreshing swim.
Fort Kochi Beach
	A leisurely walk through the lanes of the city is the best way to discover historic Fort Kochi Beach.A favourite haunt of Kochiites, the beach at Fort Kochi is a tranquil experience at any time of the day. Do it alone or in the company of your loved ones, it offers the ideal ambiance to relax and to let your thoughts soar to new heights of creativity.
Papanasam
	is a holy beach which means 'Destroyer of the sins'. Mineral water springs come gushing out from the cliffs bordering the beach and are known for their medicinal qualities. The narrow road leading to the beach from Varkala is flanked by paddy fields and tall palm trees, on both sides. A Nature Cure Centre and a Jagannath Swamy (Vishnu) Temple are situated near the beach. Visitors can pay homage to Kerala's saint and reformer Sree Narayana Guru.
Mararikulam Beach
	Right in the heart of the "spice coast" just an hour from Cochin and even less to Alleppey lies the Mararikulam Beach. It has the most fabulous stretch of soft sandy beach fringed with palm, an idyllic retreat for those who want to get away from the city's hustle bustle. Marari originates from "mararikulam", one of the local fishing villages, where life still goes on much as it did a hundred years ago, with the men going out to sea each day to earn a living bringing in the daily catch. Marari offers endless miles of superb sand beaches backed by swaying palms, virgin territory and the local charm.

Traditional Kerala Food

2012-10-19T10:28:00.000+05:30

Kerala cuisine mainly consists of coconut based foods. Since, Kerala is the chief exporter of coconut, it is used liberally over here. Kerala is a place well known for its beautiful backwaters and thus, this place is a paradise for seafood lovers. There is an abundance of seafood specialties.

Rice is the staple food in Kerala. Closeness to the sea ensures easy availability of the choicest seafood. Kerala state are known for their exotic dishes and a delicious spread consisting of mouthwatering biriyanis, pathiri ( a pancake made out of rice flour), fish moilee(fish cooked the traditional way in coconut milk), meen pollichattu(fish cooked in a banana leaf) and other delicacies vegetable dishes .

Weddings and other auspicious occasions are not complete without an elaborate Sadhya.

With coconut being available in plenty, coconut oil is the main medium of cooking. However, there has been a significant shift in preferences in the recent times. With the health aspect gaining prominence, many Keralites are shifting to low fat cooking oils. However, the flavor and taste of a dish cooked purely in coconut oil still remains unmatched.

Popular Vegetarian Food: Aviyal, olan
Popular Non-vegetarian Food: Shrimp coconut curry, fish poriyal

Some of the popular Kerala dishes and recipes are:

Best Dishes	Meen Moilee, Mutton Biryani, Theeyal, Duck Roast with Malabar Porotta, Chilly Fried Crabs, Lacy Idiappam, Crisp Meen Prichathu, Appam with Mena Curry, Fresh Toddy, Parpu Kari, Kuttanad Fish Curry, Chemmeen Coconut Fry, Fish Korma, Chamundi Dish.
Cuisine Exotica	Puttu, Vattayappam, Kallappam, Idiappam.
Non Veg Dishes	Fishes like Pomfret, Sardines, snapper, crustaceans, Karimeen, Egg and Poultry, Mutton, Beef and Pork.
Veg Dishes	Mix Vegetable Avial, Stew with Coconut Milk, Cheena Molagu (local Cuisine), Puzhukku- Root Vegetables.
Feasts for all Occasions	Sadyavattams, Aviyal, Olan, Kootu Curry, Puli-inji, Kaalam, Koova.
Famous Drinks	Kattan Kapi, Black Coffee, Chooku-Kapi (Dried Ginger Brew).
Not To Be Missed	Dishes like Crisp Appam, Parakka Kerdatam, Parippu Vada with Cocunut Chutney, Vada Sambhar.
Frying Spree	Alathur Chips, Nendrankai, Chakkara Varattina Varuval – (Thick Chip cut in Halves or Quarters), Jackfruit (Chakka) Chips.
Festival Dishes	Sambar/Kuzhambu Varieties, Rasam Varieties, Kootu/Curry Varieties, Payasam Varieties, Keerai Varieties, Podi Varieties, Rice Delights.
Sweet Dishes	Mango Pachadi, Kheema Pulao, Payasam, Sweet Sauce, Milk Rice, Coconut Rice, Vermicelli sweetened with Jaggery, Avalose.
Traditions of Central Kerala	Erachi Olathiyathu (Fried Mutton, beef or Pork), Meen Mullgattathu ( red fish Curry), Meen Pollichathu ( Fish Roasted in plaintain leaf), Prawn Mappas, Peera Pattichattu (fish dish with grated Coconut), Ducjk Roast and Kozhi Piralen ( a fried Chicken).
Grand Fiest with Sadya	Sadya is Traditional Big Feast. An improperly laid Ela (plantain Leaf) is an indicator. The leaf is laden with Lime Curry, Mango Pickle, Puli-Inji, Lime Pickle. Remaining area is studded with Thoran, Vegetable Strew or Olan, Avail ( thick Mixture of Vegetables), Pachadi (Raw Mango and Curd Mixture), Elisseri (Vegetable like Pumpkin or Green Banana). Rice served at the bottom and Rasam( Fiery Pepper Soup) is served throughout the course of the meal.

Have you checked these : Kashmiri Food, Karnataka Food, Gujarati Food, Bengali Food, Andhra Food

Tamil for Tourists

2012-10-10T10:00:00.000+05:30

One of the Dravidian languages, Tamil has ancient richness and heritage. Tamilians are said to be very proud of their language. Though English is understood and spoken with an accent variation depending on the educational background of the speaker and area of origin, it is advisable to know and learn some basic dialects when you plan to visit the land of Tamil Nadu

English	Tamil
What’s your name?	Unga péranna?	You	Nienga
My name is...	En péru ...	Good/ Bad/ So-So.	Nallathu / Mosam / Appadithaan.
Do you speak (English/ Tamil )?	Nienga (english/ thamizh) pésuviengala?	Big/ Small	Periya / Chinna
Just a little.	Konjam konjam.	Today/ Now	Indru / Ippothu
Mr…/ Mrs.…/ Miss…	Thiru…. / Thirumadhi…. / Selvi…..	Tomorrow/	Naalai
Nice to meet you!	Ungalai santhithathil magizhchi (or) Magizhchi!	Yesterday	Nétru
You’re very kind!	Nienga romba nallavar.	Yes/ No	Amaam / illai
Where are you from?	Nienga engirundhu varrienga?	Really!	Nijamavaa?
I’m from....	Naan …… irundhu varéan.	Look!	Paarunga
Where do you live?	Neinga engéa vasikkirienga?	Hurry up!	Siekkiram!
Did you like it here?	Ingu nalla irukka?	What? Where?	Enna? Engéa
What do you do for a living?	Enna vélai seirienga?	Good luck!	Nallathu!
I work as a (translator/ businessman)	Naan ……. Vélai seiyaréan.	Sorry (for a mistake)	Mannikkanum!
I like Tamil	Enakku Thamizh pidikkum	Happy birthday!	Pirandha naal vazhthu!
I’ve been learning Tamil for 1 month	Naan oru maasama thamizh padikkiréne.	Happy new year!	Iniya putthaandu!
Oh! That’s good!	O! Romba Nalladhu!	Merry Christmas!	Iniya kiristhumas!
How old are you?	Ungalukku ethanai vayasu?	Congratulations!	Paaraattukkal
I have to go	Naan poga véndum.	I love you!	Naan unnai virumpukirén.
I will be right back!	Naan udané thirumpuvéne.	Give me this!	Adhai enakku kodu
Enjoy! (for meals…)	Nanraaga saappidunkal	I feel sick.	Enakku udambu sari illai.
Good night and sweet dreams!	Nalla thoungunga!	I need a doctor	Daktarai paarka véndum
I’m Sorry! (if you don’t hear something)	Mannikkanum!	What’s That Called In Tamil ?	Thamizhil enna solvaarkal?
No Problem!	Onnum prachanai illai	What time is it?	Ippo mani enna?
Can You Say It Again?	Thirumba sollunga?	What Is This?	Idhu enna?
Can You Speak Slowly?	Porumaiya pésunga?	Don’t worry!	Kavalai padaathey!
Write It Down Please!	Adhai ezhuthunga!	Do you like it?	unakku idhu pidikkuthaa?
It’s 10 o’clock. 07:30pm.	Ippo 10(patthu) mani. Ezhu nuppathu(7.30)	I Don’t Know!	Enakku theriyaathu
Me/ You. Him/ Her.	Enakku / Ungalukku. Avanukku / Avalukku	I Don’t Understand!	Enakku puriyala!
This/ That. Here/There	Idhu / Adhu. Ingu / Angu	I Have No Idea.	Ennaku theriyala
In The Morning/ Evening/ At Night.	Kalaiyil / Maalaiyil / Rathri (or) iravil	I really like it!	Enakku idhu romba pidikkuthu.
What Does “gato” Mean In English?	Englishil “lingua” enraal enna?
How Do You Say “Please” In Tamil ?	“Please” enbathai thamizhil enna solvaarkal?
My Tamil is bad.	En …(thamizh) romba mosam.
I need to practice my Tamil	Naan thamizh pésa véndum.
I’m hungry/ thirsty.	Enakku pasi / thagam irukku.

NUMBERS
0 Poochiyam	10 Patthu
1 Onnu	20 Irupatu
2 Rendu	30 Muppatu
3 Moonu	40 Narpatu
4 Naalu	50 Aimpatu
5 Indhu	60 Arupatu
6 Aaru	70 Elupatu
7 Ezhu	80 Enpatu
8 Ettu	90 Tonnuru
9 Onbadhu	100 Nuru
10 Patthu	1000 Ayiram

I really like it!

Know more about State Maharashtra

2012-10-09T10:00:00.000+05:30

About the State : Maharashtra, the land of colorful and diverse cultures is the second most populous state. The mountains, the temples, the beaches, the great monuments and architectural structures attract people from all over the world. Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra, which is also the Financial capital of the country. Marathi is the state language.

Major Cities

Mumbai

Pune

Nagpur

Nasik

Aurangabad

Must see Places :
Monuments : Gateway Of India, Agakhan Palace, Kesari Wada, Vishrambag Wada, Lal Mahal, Chand Minar.
Beaches : Juhu Beach, Marine Drive, Chowpatty Beach, Madh Island Beach, Versova Beach, Murud Janjira, Dahanu Bordi, Ganapatipule, Mandwa and Kihim, Marve Manori and Gorai, Shriwarhan and Harihareshwar, Tarkarli, Velneshwar, Vengurla Malvan
Hill Stations : Mahabaleshwar, Matheran, Bhandardara, Chikhaldara, Panchgani, Lonavala and Khandala
Forts : Vijaydurg Fort, Sindhudurg, Shivner Fort, Pratapgad fort, Murud – Janjira fort, Lohagad and Visapur Forts, Harishchandragad Fort, Arnala Fort and Ajinkyatara FortCaves : Ajanta caves, Elephanta caves, Ellora caves, Auranagabad caves, Pitalkhora
Religious Places : Kumbh Mela of Nashik, Mumbadevi Temple of Mumbai, Kailash Temple in Aurangabad, Pandharpur, Shirdi, Bahubali Temples, Hazi Ali tomb in Mumbai, Takhat Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib of Nanded, Osho Ashram in Pune, Mount Marry Church and Afghan Memorial Church in Mumbai, Sidhi Vinayak Temple

Know more about Traditional sarees of India and how to wear saree in Maharashtrian style

Some well known Restaurants : Maharashtrian cuisine covers a range from being mild to very spicy dishes

Italian Don Giovanni’s Mezzo Mezzo Vetro (The Oberoi Hotel) Celini (The Grand Hyatt) Mangi Ferra Taxi Spaghetti Kitchen	North Western Peshawari (Maratha Sheraton) Kandahar (The Oberoi Hotel) Kebab Corner (Hotel Intercontinental) Copper Chimney Khyber Kareem’s Malad	Regional Indian Dakshin (Maratha Sheraton) Woodlands Oh! Calcutta Poush Preetam’s Dhaba Urban Tadka Chetana Thacker’s Rajdhani Casa Soul Fry Brittania Jimmy Boy Sheetal Bukhara Great Punjab
Vegetarian Swati Snacks Little Italy New Yorkers Creame Center Statua Relish (Hotel Samrat)	Sea Food India Jones Mainland China Ming’s Pavillion Golden Dragon (Taj Mahal Hotel) Great Wall (Renaissance) Spices (JW Marriott) China Gate China White Royal China	Japanese Wasabi by Morimoto (Taj Mahal Hotel) Tiffin (The Oberoi Hotel) Pan Asian (Maratha Sheraton) India Jones Spices (JW Marriott) Origami (Atria Mall) Japengo Café (CR2 Mall) Tetsuma
Combination Oriental India Jones Pan Asian (Maratha Sheraton) Seijo and Soul Dish Jos	Lounge Olive Rain Indigo Cafe Leopold Cafe Mondegar Mocha	Coffee Shops Trattoria (Taj President) Frangipani Vista (Taj Land’s End) Hornby’s Pavilion (ITC Grand Central) Lotus Cafe (JW Marriott)

What to buy where: Mumbai: Chor Bazar is the best place for best antiques, jewelry, wooden articles, leather ware. Check out Crawford Market for flowers, fruits, meat and fish, Fahsion Street for affordable and up-to-date fashionable wardrobe, Zaveri Bazar for range of jewelry items.

Kemps Corner, Warden Road, Breach Candy and Napean Sea Road are for those who look for the glamorous shopping.

Mereweather Road behind Taj Mahal Hotel is popular for colourful and innovative carpets. Here the range is extensive, exclusive, but prices slightly higher.

State emporiums at the World Trade Centre, at Cuffe Parade are a perfect for buying souvenir, a rare artifact or textiles. The prices at the Central Cottage Industries Emporium (Apollo Bunder) and Khadi Village Industries Emporium (D.N.Road) are fixed, But the quality found is genuine.

Pune: Tulsi Baug offers household items; jewellery, Maharashtrians traditional wares, pearl nose ring, necklace and the nine-yard sarees. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar(Deccan Gymkhana)is a small market place for fruit, leather items, gifts, food, shoes, and furniture. There is a lane called Hong Kong lane that sells trinkets, cosmetic jewellery, cassettes and flowers. Sweetshops of this marketplace are famous for its sweet pedas, barfis and amrakhanda as well as spicy bhakar wadis and saurali wadis. Juna Bazaar or Old Market is a place for accessories like necklaces, screwdrivers and door hinges. Antique coins are casually sold here. Laxmi Road is mainly famous for its garment shops for all weathers and its purses. It is said that a visit to Pune is incomplete if you have not visited Laxmi Road once. Mondays closed.

Mahatma Gandhi Road is a place with big stores. selling garments along these big stores. There are also plenty of food stalls and ice cream parlours on this road as well as in nearby areas to satiate one's hunger. Mahatma Gandhi Road, like Laxmi Road is also one way. This place is favourite for evening hangouts. It is closed on Sundays and in the afternoons.

Aurangabad is rich in its culture and heritage as well as its art and crafts. Himroo shawls, mashroo and kimkhab weaves are famous. Well-known fine paithani silk sarees are avialble here. The silver inlay craft of Bidri ware too is world famous.

Nagpur’s Sitabuldi, WHC Road, Dharampeth Road, Residency Road (Sadar) are famous for Shopping. Poonam Chambers in Chhindwara Road is a shopping mall for branded clothes and non-branded clothes, shoes, super bazaar, gifts and cards, jewellry shops, furniture, snacks and fast food, and music.

Nagpur is famous for its world-class oranges. Orange products like jam, jelly, marmalade and fruit squash can also be purchased in cheapest rates with best quality.

Nashik is known to be a religious city. Kumb Mela is organized here for every three years in the city. Little brass statues and beaded necklaces are available everywhere. Nashik is popular for its jewellery as well. Adgaonkar Bandhu, Adgaonkar Saraf, Adgaonkar Sons, Amruta Jewellery, Dhanvardhini Jewellers, Dusane and Sons, Gulawanchkar Jewellers, Heena Jewellery and J B Ankaikar Junnarkar Jewellers are some of the important jewellery shops.

Clothing and fashion apparels can be shopped at Amarson Cloth Centre, Anil Cloth Stores, Shivaji Cloth Market Bhadrakali Nasik, Babubhai Cloth Store, Beauty Corner, Bombay Silk Stores, Deolali Cloth Stores, Ganpati Cloth Store, Gurunanak Cloth Stores and Harish Cloth Stores.

Kolhapur is popular for its cotton textiles, in particular Kolhapuri sarees, also popular for its jewellery and leather sandals or Kolhapuri chappals.

Kolhapur is famous for its special type of traditional necklace called Kolhapur saaj. Har and malas, mohanmal, bormal, chaplahar, kolhapuri saaj, pohehar and putlihar are the jewelleries that are made in Kolhapur. Thushi, a choker with closely bound tiny gold beads, is very popular in Kolhapur.

Mahadwar and Shivaji Roads are regarded as good places to shop. Tourists can find a good variety of Kolhapuri chappals and other leather goods on Bhausinji Road. One can also shop around the bus station in the Rajarampuri area. Shetkaari Bazaar is the cheapest place to shop.

Weekend Getaways from Mumbai

2012-10-08T10:00:00.000+05:30

You have a long weekend coming up and want to escape from the mundane routine life? Here is a small guide to show you the way. Picnic spots and quick getaways in and around Mumbai to beat the heat of the city. Read on...

Lonar: 14 Kms from Mumbai. The town is famous among both tourists and pilgrims alike, because of the presence of an ancient temple and the Lonar Crater which was formed due to the collision of a meteorite on the surface of the region around 52000 years ago.
Panvel : 38 Kms from Mumbai. Locally called as the gateway to the Konkani region, Panvel is a old historical place and the earliest known settlement in the region was around 3000 years ago. Other important tourist destinations nearby are The Elephanta Caves, Haji Malang, Karnala and Karjat
Karnala : 50 Kms from Mumbai. Karnala is the best picnic spot for bird lovers. The Bird Sanctuary iis best after monsoons, when the forest is green and pristine. An easy trek to Karnala fort through thick forest is invigorating.
Dueshet : 58 Kms from Mumbai. Blessed with a vast coverage of dense forest, Durshet, in the lap of the majestic Sahyadris offers a pleasant and tranquil atmosphere. A perfect blend of calmness and beauty intertwined with the sparkling water of Amba river, Durshet paresents the nature at its best.

Vajreshwari : 70 Kms. Mumbai > Virar > Vajreshwar Ganeshpuri is a natural hot spring. Just a Kilometre from Ganeshpuri is the famous temple at Vajreshwari. The existence of 3 rivers Tejsa, Tansa and Surya in the vicinity adds to the tourism value of the place.
Matheran : 100 kms from Mumbai. It is a tiny hill station with clean and crisp air. Free from pollution as automobiles are banned within the hill station Lusting greenery, serene environments and unpolluted ambience Matheran is a fantastic tourist destination at a height of about 2516 feet above sea level .
Kamshet : 110 Kms fromMumbai. Kamshet is synonymous with Paragliding. Many operators offer joyrides and paragliding courses.
Jawahar 115Kms from Mumbai. A hill station popular for its scenic environment and Jai Vilas palace, the palace of Warlis and Bhopadgad Fort are the nearby attractions. Unspoiled and mostly unexplored waterfalls are the prominent tourist attractions in Jawahar. Dadar-Kopra falls and Palusa are the two scenic waterfalls placed perfectly amidst lush greeneries

Lonavla and Khandala : 120 Kms from Mumbai. Lonavala and Khandala are popular weekend getaways from Mumbai. During Monsoons, it comes alive with numerous waterfalls, mist and carpet of greenery. Try easy treks to Koregad and Lohagad. Do not forget to taste Chikkis
Malshej Ghat : 120 Kms from mumbai is magical during Monsoons - covered in mist with numerous waterfalls. Head to Pimpalgaon Joga dam during winters to catch thousands of pink Flamingos.
Kolad : 120 Kms from Mumbai.Kolad is popular for Kayaking and river rafting on Kundalika river.Kolad is famed for plenty of waterfalls, its rugged topography and Rocky Mountains. The trekking trails in Kolad offer medium challenges to adventurous trekkers and the trekking during the Monsoon has a special charm, making it a unique feature of Kolad
Lonavala and Khandala are popular weekend getaways from Mumbai. During Monsoons, it comes alive with numerous waterfalls, mist and carpet of greenery. Try easy treks to Koregad and Lohagad. Do not forget to taste Chikkis

Bordi : 140 kms. Popular weekend beach destination near Mumbai. The backdrop of Casurina trees and Chikoo orchards makes the beach beautiful.
Kashid :165 Kms from Mumbai. It is a small picture perfect beach with silver white sands.A fast emerging, wacky destination, Kashid’s spotless water, awfully clean beach makes it the most beautiful spot in the nearby areas. A drive through this coastal belt is the perfect way to catch the awesome rustic beauty of rural India. Nearer to Kashid beach is the famous Janjira fort.
Bandhardhara: 165 Kms from Mumbai.Bandhardhara and surrounding areas gets magical during Monsoons. Try treks to Ratangad and Kalsubai mountains.
Elephanta Caves : Heritage Located in an island approx 11 Kms north-east of Mumbai. It has to be reached thru a ferry. Elephanta caves is a world heritage site

Kolari Fort :120 Kms. On Mumbai Murud Highway Picnic Spot Secluded beach and a Portuguese fort. Villagers at Korlai speak Creole, a language of Portuguese origin
Rajmachi : Located some 20 km away from Lonavala, Rajmachi is a scenic trek to the twin forts named Manaranjan and Shrivardhan. The proximity to Lonavala has added to the convenience of taking a day trip to Rajmachi. An ideal weekend getaway from Mumbai, Rajmachi is great for those looking for a slice of adventure and scenic beauty.
Igatpuri : Located 2000 ft above sea level, on the Mumbai - Nashik route, Igatpuri surrounded by the highest peaks of the Sahyadri ranges is a heaven for adventure lovers as well as for those looking to rejuvenate and recharge their batteries. What make this place even more special is that Igatpuri is far cooler than the famous Lonavala–Khandala - all the more reason to head towards it for a weekend escape.
Raighad Fort: Nestled in the Sahyadri mountain range at an altitude of 2851 feet above the sea level is Raigad - the former capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Meaning the ‘the king’s fort’, Raigad is a mountainous terrain famed for its breathtaking natural beauty as evident from its canyons, deep gorges and lush vegetation. The beauty of the place is further enhanced by the crisscrossing rivers of Gandhar and Kal that rushes down through the beautiful valley.

Panchgani : 100 Kms from Pune , 258 from Mumbai. Named after the five hills that surround it, Panchgani is a paradises one would love to visit again and again. Located some 4400 ft in the Sahyadri ranges, the hill station has more to it than just the famous boarding and residential schools it has. With its quaint and charming colonial cottages, sleepy hamlets, towering hills, verdant valleys and gurgling rivulets, Panchgani no doubt makes for an excellent weekend holiday
Shirdi : Shirdi was the home of Sai Baba, the great saint of the 20th century. The whole village and every corner of it have some association with the great saint. His Samadhi is visited by thousands of tourists everyday.
Mahuli Fort : Located at the convergence of beautiful rivers Krishna and Yenna, Mahuli, a tiny locale in the Thane district of Maharashtra is also called as Sangam Mahuli. This town is famous for the fabulous temples, ancient forts, and of course for its mountainous terrain.
Sajan : Sajan is surrounded by dense forest from all the sides and has a liberal growth of Mango and Chikoo (Sapota) plantations. The plantation owners have mostly converted their beautiful areas into multi use Farm houses thus it’s a dream come true for all those nature lovers to actually reside in a tree house or just pitch up a tent and enjoy the vast greenery and winding river running along it.

Kamshet : One of the favorite spot for paragliding activities, Kamshet is a renowned hill station located at a height of about 2200 feet above sea level. It is a picturesque tourist destination in the Western Ghats enclosing small villages with thatched traditional houses.
Palghar : Though Palghar is an industrial city with all facets of growing cosmopolitan, it is still greenish with farms with palm trees, coconuts and rice cultivation. Blessed with many serene lakes, soft sandy beaches, historical forts, and unique temples like Ram Mandir, Palghar attracts many tourists to its lap.
Khodala : Khodala, a fascinating village with a quiet and calm ambiance, is located at an altitude of 1800 feet. This is a dense woody place in a hilly environment and is really an amazing picnic spot to roam in. A visit to Khodala offers a wonderful experience of adventurous sports like trekking, mountain biking, waterfall rappelling. The Amala wildlife sanctuary that houses an array of rare reptiles and other species of the animal kingdom is a fabulous place for a stopover.
Daman : Daman is a tiny little area sandwiched between the State of Maharashtra, Gujarat and the Arabian Sea.Daman prides itself on its rich and varied historical heritage covering more than 2 millenniums. tranquil seashores, heavenly beaches makes it a tourists hot spot.

Trimbakeshwar : Trimbakeshwar is famous for one of the twelve Jyothirlinga temples in India dedicated to Lord Shiva. The holy Jyothirlinga circuit will be complete with the visit to this sacred Shiva temple. The Linga in the temple is in the form of a three faced structure consisting Tridev, Brahma, Vishu and Shiva.
Mahabaleshwar : A picturesque hilly resort nestled in the lap of majestic mountain ranges of Western Ghats, Mahabaleshwar offers panoramic view of the plains with the imposing sloppy peaks and surrounding woods at an altitude of 1372 meters. This prettiest hill station is often referred as the queen of hill stations in Maharashtra.
Bhimashnakar: 128 Kms from Pune and 270 km from Mumbai.It appeals to both the religiously inclined and the one in love with nature It is one of the 12 jyotirlingas in India and hence a revered spot for the Hindus. Bhimashankar is a good place to take a break in the lap of nature. It is a paradise for nature lovers, trekkers, jungle lovers and bird watchers.

National Parks of Gujarat

2012-10-06T10:00:00.000+05:30

1. Gir National Park is situated about 65km South East of Junagarh district in Gujarat. The National Park was established on 18th September 1965 as a Forest Reserve primarily to conserve the Asiatic lion considered as one of the world's most threatened species. Now Gir National Park is the only remaining place in the world, where one is likely to see the Asiatic Lion.

The Gir is a mixed deciduous type of forest with teak, ber, jamun, variety of acacia, particularly babul. It is a hilly track with plenty of rivers which offer a pleasant long drive to the visitors. The other wildlife that can be sighted in the sanctuary is the Chital or Spotted Deer, Nilgai, Chinkara, Sambhar, Black Bucks, the four horned Antelope, Wild Boar, Indian Flying Foe, Grey Musk Shrew, Indian Hare, Pale Hedgehog, Small Indian Mangoose, Small Indian Civet, Indian Pangolin, Indian Porcupine, Ratel, Indian Fox, and Jackal. The forest is also rich in bird life, and an estimated of 300 species are found inhabiting Gir National Park over the years

2. Marine National Park is India's first Marine Sanctuary and National Park. It is situated in the Gulf of Kutch, 30 Kms from Jamnagar. It covers a total area of 458 Sq Kms. The world's only four-horned antelope, the chowsingha is found in good numbers here. It is also home to one of the most sought after and endangered species of birds known as the Great Indian Bustard,

There are 7 species of mangroves here, performing vital functions such as maintaining the balance between salt and fresh water systems, and protecting the coast from erosion. The major flora include sea grass and sea weeds, Saag, Sesam , Kheru, Limda etc. and the major Fauna are Coral lichen, Coral sponge, Green sponge, Puffer Fish, turtles, dolphins, crabs, Prawns, Sea anemones, Jelly Fishes, Starfishes, octopus etc. In all, the area supports 37 species of hard and soft corals, 70 species of sponges, 150-200 species of fishes, 27 species of prawns, 30 species of crabs, more than 200 species of molluscs, 3 species of endangered sea turtles, 3 species of sea snakes, 3 species of sea mammal, 94 species of water birds, 78 species of terrestrial birds and 108 species of brown, green and red algae.

3. Vansda National Park The Vansda national Park established in 1979 in Navsari district, Gujarat. The Park covers an area of 24 sq.km and is nestled in the mountains of Western Ghats or Sahyadris. Eventhough the park is small, it is extremely dense and has a wide variety of flora and fauna. Some parts of the park are dark even during daytime

The types of forest found in the park are mainly Moist deciduous and Dry deciduous covered with bamboos, tall teak trees, mango groves and gigantic creepers. In all there are over 250 species of plants, including many variety of Orchids. The forest is a habitat to Leopards, python, four-horned antelope, pangolin, rusty-spotted cats, Jungle Cat, Civets, Mongooses, Macaques, Barking Deer, giant squirrels, Hyenas and a wide species of birds like Great Black Woodpecker, Malabar Trogon, Shama and Emerald Dove, Grey Hornbill, Racket-Tailed Drongo, Paradise Flycatcher, Leaf birds, Thrushes, Sunbirds, peafowls etc.

4. Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar is the only tropical grassland in India recognized as a National park. Located in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat, it covers an area of 34.08 Sq.kms. The Park has areas of dense grasslands, sparse grasslands, Prosopis shrubland, Saline lands and high tidal mudflats. 39 species of grasses and 46 species of sedges, shrubs and trees represent the diversity of flora.

The fauna of the park comprises exclusively of Indian Blackbuck after which the sanctuary is named after. Other wildlife includes Antelope, Blue bull, Wolf, jackal, hyena, jungle cat, fox, Wild Boars and birds as well. All these animals can be viewed on the open Flat grassland from very close range.

Muslim Pilgrimage Destinations in India

2012-10-05T10:00:00.000+05:30

Islam is the second largest religion in the world. The word "Islam" means "submission," reflecting the religion's central tenet of submitting to the will of God. Islamic practices are defined by the Five Pillars of Islam: faith, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage and alms.

1. Ajmer Sharif Dargah Sharif' or 'Holy Dargah' is one of the most sacred Muslim shrines in the country. Situated in Jaipur, Rajasthan, it is venerated by both Hindus and Muslims. It is the tomb of Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti, a Sufi saint who came from Persia and devoted his life to the service and upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. The Dargah has a massive gate with silver doors built in several stages Dargah Shariff of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti is indeed an ornament to the city of Ajmer. The Khwaja Saheb, as a ‘living spirit’ of peace and harmony, enjoys universal respect and devotion ever since he set his holy feet on the soil of Hindustan.

2. Fatepur Sikri Fatehpur Sikri is located 37 kms from Agra, a city predominantly in Red Sandstone.This town was built by the Mughal Emperor, Akbar. Fatehpur Sikri is the best example of the culmination of Hindu and Muslim architecture. Fatehpur Sikri Mosque is said to be a copy of the mosque in Mecca and has designs, derived from the Persian & Hindu architecture.

3. Haji Ali Dargah was built in honor of the Muslim saint Haji Al. Haji Ali was a wealthy Muslim merchant, who renounced all his worldly belongings before embarking on a pilgrimage to Mecca. This mosque was built in the middle of the sea with only a narrow path leading to it giving it an ethereal look. The tomb itself is over eight hundred years old and linked to the mainland by a path that is annually submerged in the high monsoon tide. Inside the central shrine, throngs of worshipers stoop to press their heads against the richly brocaded red and green chaddor covering the tomb, which lies in an exquisite silver frame engraved with all the ninety-nine names of Allah. As per the Muslim traditions separate praying rooms for ladies and gents are provided here to pay their respects.

4. Jama Masjid Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India and the final architectural extravagance of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It's also known as 'Masjid-i-Jahan Numa', 'Jahan' means 'World' and Numa means 'Visible'. It is situated some quarter of a mile from the Red Fort. It was designed as Emperor Shahjahan's principal mosque. The sprawling esplanade, which separates it from the arterial road is a fascinating leisure ground.

Spectacular Beaches of Karnataka

2012-10-04T10:00:00.000+05:30

Dotted with tranquil and isolated beaches, Karnataka's coastline stretches to 320-kms. The pristine beaches with the mesmerizing charm and serenity of the nature will bring you back here again and again. The coastal folk and their delightful cuisine is just awesome.

Karwar Beach
	You must visit Karwar beach to feel nature's true essence. Long stretches of Golden sands and gentle waves welcome you to this uncluttered, peaceful pristine beauty. It needs a special mention that the great Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore was inspired by this beauty which he has expressed in 'Prakritir Pratishodh', one of his earliest works.
Malpe Beach
	is around 386 km form Bangalore and about 6 kms from Udupi. The Malpe is an ideal picnic spot with its virgin beach. The endless stretch of golden sand, graciously swaying palm trees, the clear blue sky and the gurgle of the sea all set the perfect mood for an unforgettable holiday here. You can indulge in boating, fishing and various other fun activities.
Murudeshwara Beach
	Murudeshwar is a town located in the Bhatkal Taluk of Uttara Kannada district. Murudeshwar beach situated between Honnavar and Bhatkal, 1 km off the National Highway is the scenic holy place of Murudeshwar.It is a popular picnic spot, having beautiful blue waters of the sea and the majestic mountains. With the roaring sea to the west, the towering hills to the east and the coconut and areca groves nearby, the temple attracts a lot of devotees and tourists as well.
Gokarna
	is a religious place as well as a tourist attraction. It is an ideal place for trekking too. You get ample opportunity to explore the beautiful beaches (Kudle beach and Om beach nearby), visualisation of the simple living style of the local villagers. It brings the panoramic beauty of sea banks, those who are looking for least lavishness with most space idled out, Gokarna beach offers the same, with only the sun, the waves and the seagulls for company. One can enjoy a pretty good bath in this sea beach, a hippy paradise with drums, hammocks and guitars.
Maravanthe
	beach is located about 30 miles from Udupi. The eternal stretch of yellow sand, influential palm foliage, apparent blue sky and the clear seashore attract thousands of tourists to Maravanthe beach. You can indulge ini fishing, boating and various other fun activities. It is safe for swimming too. Do not miss the spectacular sun sets.
Panambur Beach
	is a popular outing located 13 km from Mangalore and lies next to the New Mangalore Port. The pristine surrounding adds awe and charm to the place. It is one of the best beaches in Mangalore because of its its cleanliness and safety measures. The beach is also known as the land of money, "panam" meaning money and "ur" meaning a place in Tulu, the local language.

Traditional Kashmiri Food

2012-10-03T11:30:00.000+05:30

A Kashmiri food can be a simple meal that can be prepared for a family or it can be an extravagant 36 – course wedding banquet which they call it Wazawan. The Kashmiri staple diet is rice. A mutton meat, fish and chicken are also important part of a Kashmiri meal.

Kashmiri food makes an extensive use of turmeric and yoghurt. In the making of Kashmiri dishes, garlic and onion are not used much as in the case of other Indian cuisines. The strong influence of Kashmiri pandits, who are predominantly meat eaters, explains the reason why the cuisine of Kashmir has more of non vegetarian dishes. Kashmiri thali is preferred mainly for its non vegetarian dishes.

Traditional Kashmiri thali consists of Wazwan, which demands lot of preparation. Infact, preparing Wazwan in itself is considered a great art. Substantial time and effort is spent on the making of this special feast. The cuisine of Wazwan encompasses near about 36 dishes. The head chef known as Vasta Waza does all the requisite preparations. It is mostly prepared on some big family occasion or festivity.

The use of curd in the preparation of food gives the dish a creamy touch. To enhance the flavor of the meat dishes, Kashmiris add asafoetida (Hing) to it. Other addictive spices used to add to the taste are dry ginger and Saunf (aniseed). Sometimes, ginger is used in excessive quantity that makes the dish pungent. Kashmir being the leading producer and chief exporter of saffron makes an extensive use of it in the form of a colorful flavoring agent. For its amazing aroma, it is added to pulaos and sweets.

Kashmiri dishes make a regular use of dry fruits, especially in the preparation of curries. Kashmiris use ghee to cook meals, though in urban areas, well educated families have started using mustard oil as an alternative, to avoid the intake of high fat in ghee. Kashmiri rice is also quite aromatic and light and thus the Kashmiri rice pulao is well liked by people. The cuisine of Kashmir is truly unique and has absolutely no comparison. This food is usually mixed with fruits to add flavors to the dish.

Some of the delectable Kashmiri recipes are given below

Daniwal Korma	a mutton curry with lots of coriander.
Rogan Josh	Roghan Josh is the succulent lamb meat, prepared in yogurt cream with authentic mixture of different rare spices.
Chaman qaliya	cottage-cheese squares in gravy with kashmiri spices.
Dum Aloo	potatoes cooked in yogurt gravy.
Hak (with Nadeir/Vangan)	a local variety of greens.
Muji Chetein	a sharp radish and walnut chutney.
Nadeir Yakhean	lotus stem in a delicate yogurt sauce.
Nadier Palak	lotus stem with spinach.
Rista	meatballs in a fiery red gravy.
Tabak Maaz	ribs of lamb simmered in yogurt till tender, then fried, can be served as a snack/side-dish.
Aab Gosht	spicy lamb curry purely made in kitchen of kashmir
Martswangan Korma	an extremely hot lamb preparation.
Kabaab	minced meat roasted on skewers over hot coals.
Gushtaba	velvety textured meatball in white yogurt gravy,a specialty .
Yakhni	delicately spiced yogurt curry.
Phirni	a dessert of rice flour thickened in milk set in earthenware cups with nuts and “varq”-silver leaf.
Razmah dal aanchar Razmah Goagji Veth Chaman Dhani Phul Gaad kufta Gushtaba Shami Kabab Choek Vangan

Have you checked these : Kerala Food, Karnataka Food, Gujarati Food, Bengali Food, Andhra Food

Punjabi for Tourists

2012-08-27T10:00:00.000+05:30

If you are planning a trip to Punjab, among the other things on your itinerary, you could pick up a bit of local dialect and feel at home. While you are traveling, you may want to ask for directions or know the fare for a cab or describe your preference to a shop-keeper. Have a look at this small dictionary. It will surely help you to learn few words of Punjabi which will help you make your visit a comfortable one.

English	Punjabi
General salutation/greeting	Sat Shri Akal
Welcome	Jee Aayan Noo
What is your name?	Tuhada naa ki hai?
My name is ......	Mera naa ...... hai
Very beautiful	Bout Sohna
How are you?	Ki Haal hai?
Can you help me?	Tussi meri madad kar sakde ho?
Transport/Directions Context
How much is the fare?	Kinna kiraya?
I have to go to the hotel	Main hotel jaana hai
Where does this road go?	Eh sadak kithe jaandi hai?
How can I reach there?	main othe kiwen jaavan?/ Othe jaan da raah ki hai?
Is it walking distance?	Ki paidal jaa sakden haan?
Is there a cybercafe nearby?	eithe kidre nede cybercafe haiga e?
Shopping Context
Where is the market?	Market kithe aa?
How much for this? (or) How much does this cost?	Eh Kinne da?
Where can I make an STD call?	Ethe STD call kithon kariye?
Food Context
What special dish can we get here to eat?	Ethe khan noo ki khaas hai?
This tastes good	Eda swad changa hai
Can I have some more lassi?	thodi hore lassi milegi?
I am hungry	Mainu bhukh laggi hai
What else can we get to eat?

NUMBERS
0 Sifar	10 Dass
1 Ikk	20 Vih
2 Do	30 Tih
3 Tinn	40 Chali
4 Char	50 Pamjah
5 Panj	60 Sathth
6 Chhe	70 Sattar
7 Satt	80 Assi
8 Ath	90 Nabbe
9 Naum	100 Sau
10 Dass	1000 Hajar

Know more about State Kerala

2012-08-25T10:00:00.000+05:30

About the State : Kerala, God’s own country, a perfect destination for holiday, honeymoon, art, culture, health care and ayurveda. It is a small state located in the South of India on the West coast. It offers the picturesque and scenic beauty of Nature at its best. Trivandrum is the capital of Kerala. The literacy rate is the highest among all states in India.It is also famous for its rich culture and heritage. Malayalam is the state language.

Major cities

Tiruvananthapuram

Kochi

Kozhikode

Kollam

Trissure

Palakkad

Alappuzha

Must see Places :

Hill Stations : Munnar(The Kashmir of South), Nelliampathi, Ponmudi
Keralite Architecture : Padmanabhapuram Palace, Bolghatty Palace
Backwaters : Kumarkom, Alleppey, Kochi
Beaches : Kovalam, Cherai, Varkala Beach
Wildlife Sanctuaries : Periyar National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Silent Valley National Park, Mathanga Wild life Sanctuary Wayanad, Periyar Tiger Reserves in Thekkady
Edakkal Caves
For the adventurer, trekking in Muthanga, Edakkal and Pakshipathalam
Trissure-the cultural capital of Kerala for Trissure Pooram, one of the biggest festivals.

Know more about Traditional sarees of India and how to wear saree in Kerala Style or Mundu Neriyathum style

Best Eating Joints : Enjoy the Kerala delicacies here

Kochi Restaurants serving local dishes are:

Sri Krishna Cafe (Gujerati road, Mattanchery) They serve amazing Stuffed Parotta & Vegetable Masala Dosa.

Art Café Here, you get really delicious Banana and Chocolate cakes. The coffee served at the café is also pretty good.

Arya Bhavan All kinds of basic Tamil food is served here

Palms Restaurant (Metropolitan) It is bit expensive, but the menu includes really authentic and sumptuous local cuisine.

Some other good restaurants in Kochi are Salt N Pepper, Solar Café, Fort House Restaurant and Kashi Art Café.

Multi-cuisine restaurants in Kochi :

Pandhal on MG road is a family restaurant. They also have an attached pastry counter. Renaissance on MG road offers Continental, Chinese and Thai food, apart from Indian dishes. Tharavad is located on Willingdon Island. This is Casino hotel's coffee shop and a variety of cuisines are available here throughout the day.

Indian Coffee House for Coffee

Azad Restaurants & Arya Bhavan for South Indian Thali Appam & Stew at Cafe Magnet, Mutton Biriyani/Paratta & Mutton Curry at Azad Restaurants

Puttu & Mutton Curry/roast/fry – Hotel Buhari Bolgatty Palace Hotel for Perfect seafood

Some other famous food joints are:

Bimbi's Fast Food - Shanmugham Road
Chariot Beach Snacks Princess Street - Fort Cochin
Chinese Jade Pavilion Taj Malabar hotel - Willingdon Island
Kashi Art Café Snacks Burgher Street - Fort Cochin
Pandhal Multi Cuisine - M.G. Road, Ernakulam
Ramathula Hotel - Irimpichi Road and New Road
Sealord Seafood - Shanmugham Road, Ernakulam
Utsav Indian Taj Residency - Marine Drive

What to buy where : There are so many places in Kerala to satiate one's shopping desires. Apart from Gold, you can buy ivory carvings, pottery, brocade fabrics, earthenware products, Kathakali faces, Spices, Kerala Sari, famous Banana chips, ecofriendly coir crafts, Canned Sea Foods, Raja Ravi Varma paintings.

Kochi is known for its textiles, readymade garments, jewellery, handicrafts, antiques and spices. M.G. Road is the main commercial center. Besides, Broadway and Marine Drive in mainland Ernakulum and Jew town in Mattenchery are some of the important shopping sites in Kochi.The shops in Jew Street sell antique pieces of crockery, carved wooden furniture, bronze and brass sculptures, jewellery and many other things. Kumily in Idukki district is an important shopping center and spice trade center. Aranmula is famous for its metal mirrors, a unique craft that is not found anywhere else in the world.

Some of the well known Malls in Kochin:

Abad Nucleus Mall
Bay Pride Mall
Forum Thomsun Mall
Gold Souk Grande Mall
Lulu Kochin Mall
Oberon Mall

Visit the Connemara market at Trivandrum and pick up some great variety of beautiful South Indian silk sarees, handicrafts and antique souvenirs, clothes, fabics, spics

When it comes to rejuvenating yourself, visiting a meditation and yoga center or a relaxed ayurvedic massage would be the best option. There are umpteen number of ayurvedic spas offering wellness of body, mind and soul. Choose the right place and surrender yourself in the serene beauty of nature to experience the bliss in your life.

Weekend Getaways from Kolkata

2012-08-24T10:00:00.000+05:30

Have you planned anything for this weekend? Do you want to make this weekend an exciting one? If you are staying in Kolkata, then check out these places nearby to make most out of this weekend....
1. Howrah : The sister city of Kolkata, Howrah city is an industrial center situated on the west bank of the Hoogly River.You can take a ferry ride on the river and take a day trip to the city of Kolkata. Old banyan tree in the Shibpur neighborhood of Howrah is said to have the greatest canopy in the world. Botanical Gardens established by the British in 1786 is worth the visit. Make a visit to the Santragachhi Jheel also.
2. Tarakeshwar: One of most popular pilgrimage centers of West Bengal, Tarakeshwar is a small town that attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year. The town is famous for its 18th century Tarakeshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Tarakeshwar is located near Serampore near Kolkatta in Bengal.

3. Baikkhali : one of India’s most secluded beaches, Bakkhali boasts of a beautiful casuarina trees that line white sand beachfront.Catch a fantastic sunset in Bakkhali it will be a special memory for ever.
4. Jiarambati : The picturesque village is surrounded by lush green trees and shrubs, mesmerizing landscapes and meadows and has fantastic rural atmosphere.It is the village in which Sri Ramkrishna, the great saint of India, spent his many years. Saradadevi, revered incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and spiritual life partner of the sage Sri Ramakrishna Pramamhamsa, was born in 1853 AD in this small hamlet. It is said that after the birth of Saradadevi, known as Holy Mother, the land became very fertile and showed prosperity

5. Kamarpukur : A holy place, renowned as the birthplace of great saint Sri Ramakrishna is situated in the Hooghly District of West Benga. Kamarpukur is a scenic village and has a special place as a natural attraction apart from the importance as a religious destination. The natural beauty and the calmness of this place attract thousands of seclusion seeking tourists to this place. There are many serene ponds suitable for undertaking water sports activities and water tourism.
6. Diamond Harbor: 50 Kms form Kolkata. Situated in the southern suburbs of Kolkata is a perfect place for an exciting weekend. You will be amazed to locate this charming destination within such a short reach from Kolkata. The site is located close to the deltaic region of the city. Formerly known as Hajipur, Diamond Harbour is actually located at a point where River Ganges takes a southward turn to converge with the sea.

7. Digha: Digha located is 187 km south-west of Kolkata is West Bengal's most popular sea resort and tourist spot. The beach’s scenic beauty enhanced by picturesque sunrise and sunsets, swaying casuarinas plantations and crystal clear waters is simply alluring all the more reasons for the weary Kolkattans to head towards it for a much needed weekend break.
8. Bardhaman : It has got its name from the Jain leader Vardhaman Mahavir.There are many temples and sites of religious interest in Bardhaman that are of tourist value. You can visit Curzon Gate. This majestic structure was constructed in 1903 honoring Lord Curzon. Visit the Hawa Mahal and the tomb of Sher Afghan in Bardhaman, You can see many brick temples tha have terracotta designs in Ambika Kalna.

9. Routpara : 82 Kms from Kolkata. A visit to this less famed destination will guarantee you an extremely excitingly trip. It is located in the Arambagh subdivision of Hooghly district. This charming village of Routpara is a best example for the temple architecture of West Bengal.
10. Massanjore: 270 Kms from Kolkata. A Weekend break from Kolkata to Massanjore takes people to one of the least explored areas in Jharkhand which is famous because of the Massanjore dam built on Mayurakshi River. A number of activities can be done during the visit to Massanjore dam and with an accommodation at Massanjore, people can have enough time to explore the sightseeing places in and around the city.

11. Dhuturdaha : 51 Kms from Kolkata. Dhuturdaha is a serene village with endless stretches of fishing lakes, vegetable gardens, ponds, palm trees, mango groves, local temples and different shades of village life. Relax de-stress yourself fishing and soaking your legs in the pond. Dhuturdaha is a perfect blend of ethnic charm with modern facilities
12. Taki : 80 Kms from Kolkata. Take out time in the weekend to visit the borders of India along the Ichamati river in the small town of Taki. enjoy the mid-river experience of meeting the countrymen of Bangladesh, on the Ichamati River.You can also visit the ruins of zamindar houses, Ramkrishna Missions, Kali Temple and 300 years old Jora Shib Mandir.

13. Junput: 145 Kms from Kolkata. Junput is an ideal holiday location for those looking for enjoying their holiday in isolation. The rhythmic sound of the sea waves along with the gentle blowing breeze will take away all your exhaustion within few seconds.It is basically a small fishing village. There is no beach as such in Junput.
14. Jhilli : 180 kms from Kolkata. Jhilli is located 10 kms on concrete and village road from Kharagpur via Gopiballavpur. Spend some fun time and enjoy your picnic around the water body at Jhilli. People in search for some real adventure, can stay here and explore.

15. Chandannagar : 44 Kms from Kolkata. located in the Hooghly district of West Bengal was colonized by the French people, years ago. Chandannagar Strands on the bank of River Ganges is a hotspot for the locals and the visitors alike. Chandannagar is dotted with a number of tourist attractions, like churches, temples, museums and picnic spots. The place features lush vegetation and is admired with nicely paved pathway and bright lights. A number of buildings of immense historical significance are located here. The prime attraction of the Chandannagar Strand is the Vivekananda Mandir, which is a meditation centre.
16. Farakka Barage: 258 Kms form Kolkata. The Farakka Barrage Project was particularly designed for the maintenance and preservation of the Kolkata Port. It is the longest barrage across the globe featuring a length of around 2,240 metres and has lately been included into the Guinness book of World Records.

17. Bethuadahari : 150 Kms from kolkata. Take an adventure weekend at this great wildlife sanctuary and spend time amidst wild animals. This is a natural place where you will a huge array of animals on the mush green grounds. The entire place is covered with varieties of trees like Shal, Arjun, Teak and Hamjam. The wild animals inhabiting Bethua Dahari are salt water alligator (Gharial), tortoise, mongoose, rabbit and a huge range of snakes. So visiting Bethuadahari can be quite thrilling experience.
18. Mukutmanipur: 241 Kms from Kolkata. Mukutmanipur is located around a dam in the district of Bankura. The dam harnesses the waters of the Kangsabati and Kumari rivers. The dam itself is worth visiting. It is 10,098 m. long and 38 m. high. The gently lapping lake, covering an area of 86 sq. km., offers a grand view of the sunset. The lake nestles amidst the surrounding greenery and provides boating facilities to the visitors.

19. Mandarmoni : 255 Kms from Kolkata. Mandarmani boasts of a 13 km long motorable beach, probably the longest motorable beach road in India. This is a drive-in beach. The beach is characterized by hard sand which makes it very appropriate for drivingRelax, swim and enjoy the beach. You are not likely to have many visitors around and that's the beauty of this beach. Activities include table tennis, carrom, beach cricket, beach volleyball, and boat cruises.
20. Shantiniketan: The place where you can witness the dream of Rabindranath Tagore materialized. A social setting where cultures synthesize and the mind is in sync with the environment. A unique university where there are classrooms under the skies and in the laps of nature. The range of studies is wide, with an emphasis on art, music, dance and the humanities.

21. Gadiara: 96 Kms from Kolkata. A beautiful tourist spot,Gadiara is located at the meeting point of three rivers- Hooghly, Damodar and river Rupnarayan. The serenity of the place has been surely affected by large crowds and rising number of hotels in the vicinity, but the attraction of Gadiara is same as before.
22. Murshidabad: 225 Kms north of Kolkata. Walk down the historical memory lane of India this weekend, as you travel to one of the most pivotal historic places of West Bengal, Murshidabad. Renowned for the Battle of Plassey in 1757, Murshidabad is that chapter of Indian History that changed the destiny of not only West Bengal but also of India for the next 200 years.

23. Sundarbans: The world’s largest delta and mangrove swamp, is formed by the merging of three rivers- the Ganga, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna- and has a 2,585 sq km wildlife sanctuary that extends into Bangladesh. The Wildlife Sanctuary, which is the world’s largest estuarine sanctuary, has some of India’s most interesting wildlife, and is worth a visit.
24. Navadvipa: Navadvipa, literally means nine (nava) islands (dvip), is a town consisting of nine islands looking like an eight-petaled lotus flower. Navadvipa, also called as Nabadwip, was the erstwhile capital of Bengal during 12th century. Today it is renowned as the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.The entire Navadvipa region is an aesthetic and spiritual location and it is believed that Sri Gauranga performed the transcendental activities at this place.

25. Mayapur: It is just 130 km from Kolkata. Mayapur, a serene and scenic place at the confluence of the holy river Ganga with the Jalangi, is a renowned holy place. Mayapur is highly attractive, tranquil and picturesque on the banks of the river Hooghly.
26. Ghatshila: With a population comprising largely of tribals, the town located along the banks of the Subarnarekha River (‘Subarnarekha’ means golden streak) is known for its scenic beauty, dense forest area and salubrious climate- probably the main reason why it is getting popular with the travellers from West Bengal, who frequent Ghatsila for a quite weekend gateway.The pride and lifeline of the people of Ghatsila is the beautiful Subarnarekha River. The river, geographically placed between two mountain ranges makes a very pretty picture especially in the morning and afternoon, when the sunrays fall on the banks.

27. Chandipur : A blissful place with silvery sand and green casuarina groves in the backdrop.You are definitely going to visit this place a second time for the beautiful silvery sands and the beaches.
28. Bishnupur: An offbeat weekend gateway.Bishnupur is located 150 km from Kolkata in the Bankura district of West Bengal. Known for its terracotta and Baluchri saris, Bishnupur, however, is more famous for its unique terracotta temples. The temples of Bishnupur are mostly built in Eka-Ratna style- a square flat-roofed building with curved cornices, surmounted by a pinnacle and a Garbhagriha flanked by a porch on each side with three multi-cusped arches.
29. Durgapur: 180 Kms from Kolkata. a major rice-trading center and an industrial town situated along the banks of Damodar River. It has become quite a popular hangout place for youngsters, who look for western trends, modern cuisine and entertainment. When in Durgapur dont miss the Durgapur Barrage, Kumarmangalam Park, and Troika Park for kids

National Parks of Assam

2012-08-23T10:00:00.000+05:30

1. Kaziranga National Park lies on the banks of mighty Brahmaputra river covering an area of 430 Sq km. It lies partly in Golaghta District and partly in Nagoan District of Assam. It is a world heritage site and is well known for the successful conservation of one horned Great Indian Rhinoceros. Today it is the home to more than 70% of world's population of Indian Rhinoceros. The wild elephant, another exotic animal found in herds number over 700 here.

There are over 600 wild buffalo which is another attraction in this reserve. The fauna also includes mouse deer, hog deer, barking deer, chinkara gazelle, bears, leopards, wild boars and the gaur. You can get more information here

2. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is located in the Tinsukia District of Assam. It is a National Park as well as Biosphere reserve covering an area of 340 Sq km. Around 36 species of mammals are found here including Tiger, Elephant, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Bears, Small Indian Civet, Squirrels, Gangetic Dolphin, Slow Loris, Assamese Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Capped Langur, Hoolock Gibbon, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Water Buffalo, Feral Horses etc.

The migratory birds are a major attraction. More than 382 species of Birds are found, some of which are Greater Adjutant Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Greater Crested Grebe, Large Cormorant, Open bill Stork, Black necked Stork, Large Whistling Teal, Grey leg Goose, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Osprey, Crested Serpent Eagle, Spot Billed Pelican, White Winged Wood Duck, Baer's Pochard, Greater Spotted Eagle, Pale Capped Pigeon, Great Pied Hornbill, Marsh Babbler, Jerdon's Babbler, Black Breasted Parrot bill, etc. The park is renowned for natural regeneration of Salix trees.

3. Manas National Park is situated on the foothills of the Himalayas and a part of it extends to Bhutan. It was declared a sanctuary on October 01, 1928 and was designated a World Heritage site in December 1985. Named after the river Manas, which separates India from Bhutan, the park has dense deciduouas forest which spread over an area of 2840 Sq km. It is famous for its majestic tigers and golden leaf monkey. Endangered species like Hispid Hare, Pigmy Hog and Red Panda are found here. Other wildlife includes Wild Buffalo,Capped Langur, Indian one-horned Rhinoceros, Elephant, Gaur, Hog Deer, etc. Birds found here include giant horn bills, pheasants, jungle fowl, scarlet minivet, partridge, florican and variety of water birds.

Jain Pilgrimage Destinations in India

2012-08-22T10:00:00.000+05:30

Jainism, was originated in Ancient India. The Jains follow the teachings of Tirthankaras. The 24th Tirthankara Lord Mahavira lived in ca. 6th century BC. Jainism stresses spiritual independence and equality of all life with particular emphasis on non-violence. Self-control is vital for attaining Keval Gnan and eventually moksha, or realization of the soul's true nature.

1. Palithana Amongst all the Jain temples, Palitana temples are considered to be the most sacred. Located on Shetrunjaya hills there are 863 temples, exquisitely carved in marble. No one is allowed to sleep overnight including the priest, because the temple city has been built as an abode for the Gods. The town is considered by many Jains to be more important than the temple covered hills of Bihar, Gwalior, Mt Abu and Girnar

2. Ranakpur is tucked away in a remote valley in the Aravali range. It is situated around 60 km north of Udaipur in Rajasthan. is one of the five most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism. It houses an exceptionally beautiful temple complex in the Aravali ranges. The three other Jain temples in the same complex, including a temple of the Sun God, are all well worth a visit. One kilometer away from the temple complex is the temple of Amba Mata.

3. Shravanabelogola ,a great centre for Jain pilgrimage is situated at about 100 kms from Mysore. The hill of Sravanabelagola, also called Vindhyagiri looms majestically at 3347 feet above sea level. The 17 metre high colossal statue of Gomateshwara (or Lord Bahubali) carved out of monolithic stone, stands in majestic splendour and is visible even from a distance of 20 kms. From the base a flight of 614 steps, finely carved from the granite of the mountain, leads to the summit. At 58 feet 8 inches high, it is the tallest free-standing statue in the world.

4. Udaygiri & Kandhagiri Caves Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves are one of the earliest groups representating Jain's rock-cut shelters. The caves of Udayagiri which means Hill of Sunrise and Khandagiri means Broken Hills holds a unique identity in the filed of history, rock-cut architecture, art and religion. Some of caves are natural but most were carved by Jain monks during the reign of King Kharavela, belong to earliest Jain rock-cut temples. Udayagiri hill has 18 caves. The largest and the most beautiful cave among all 18 caves is Rani Gumpha or Queen's Cave. Khandagiri hill houses 15 caves of which Ananta Cave is the most impressive one. Along with the caves, there are a couple of Jain Temples as well.

5. Kaushambi is situated in the west of Allahabad in U.P. Ancient Jain scriptures reveal that there had been 16 Mahajanpadas in the 6th century B.C. Vats Desh was one such Mahajanpada whose capital was Kaushambi. The town, however, got its due importance with the presence of the 6th Tirthankar Padmaprabhu, who was born here. He also grew up and received his education here.

Temples of South India

2012-08-21T10:00:00.000+05:30

South Indian temples have elaborate rituals. Among the temples of South India, Kerala temples vary from other three states

The marvelous Thousand Pillar temple is located in Andhra Pradesh's ancient city of Warangal. The temple was built by King Rudra Deva in the 12th century. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Surya, one thousand richly carved pillars and a magnificent black basalt Nandi bull are the main attractions here. Built in the shape of a star, the temple is raised on a 1 metre high platform on the slopes of the Hanumakonda hill. Many small lingam shrines surround the gardens of this shrine.

Lepakshi Temple One of Andhra Pradesh's best visited temples, Lepakshi temple is located in Anantapur district of the state. The temple was built by the Vijayanagar rulers. In the Lepakshi temple, the best specimens of the mural paintings of the Vijayanagar kings are available.
The temple has been built on a low rocky hill. The hill is called Kurmasaila as it is in the form of a tortoise. They include 14 forms of Lord Shiva. About 500 metres north east of the temple is the largest image of a monolithic Nandi bull.

Guruvayoor Temple, Kerala Guruvayoor Temple of Thrissur is a very important and famous pilgrimage. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is worshipped as Lord Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Lord Sree Krishna is also called 'Guruvayurappan'. The Guruvayoor temple also holds the reputation of hosting the maximum number of marriages and rice feeding ceremony (the ritual first meal for infants).

Sabarimala Temple, Kerala is located at a height of almost 1000 meters above sea level on the Sahyadri ranges in Western Ghats. The Sabarimala temple of Kerala is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, who is said to have meditated here after killing the demon Mahishi.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kerala is an architectural wonder and a magnificent temple that is sure to amaze you. Situated in the heart of the city, the massive structure has a staggering 100 feet high "Gopuram", the main temple tower. Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple of Kerala is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one of the Gods of the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. The massive idol of the deity measures 18 feet in length and is covered with gold and other precious stones.

Hampi Temples Karnataka, The temples of Hampi, its monolithic sculptures and monuments, attract huge number travelers because of their excellent workmanship. The Hindu style of architecture found at Hampi reflects the splendor of the Vijaynagar Empire. The rugged landscape adds to the historic ambiance of this site.

Chennakeshava Temple Karnataka, A supreme example of Hoysala temple architecture, the Chennakeshava temple situated in Belur, leaves one spellbound with its exquisite structure. The temple was constructed in 1117 AD by Hoysala king Vishnuvardhan to celebrate his victory over the Cholas at the battle of Talikad. The Chennakeshava temple is decorated with stories from the Puranas, the Upanishads and the epics of Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

Bull Temple, Karnataka A temple built in the Dravidian style by Kempe Gowda, founder of Bangalore is situated at Basavangudi in Bangalore. It has a monolithic bull, made of gray granite which is 4.5 mts high and 6.5 mts long. The Nandi bull is revered as the 'vahana' (vehicle) of Lord Shiva.

Shiva Temple, Karnataka There are various Shiva temples in Karnataka, but the one located on old Airport Road, Bangalore is a worth a mention. Shiva's idol is a great crowd puller due to its grandeur, aesthetic values, scenic beauty and majestic look. It boasts of Awesome 65 feet high depiction of Lord Shiva seated in Lotus position in the Himalayas. It has the backdrop of Mount Kailash the Lord's heavenly abode and the river Ganga flowing from his matted locks

Rameshwaram Temple is significant for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to Benaras is incomplete without a Pilgrimage to Rameshwaram. The presiding deity is the Linga Of Sri Ranganatha, which happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India. Rameshwaram is also popularly referred to as the 'Benaras of the south'. In order to attain Moksha it is believed that the visit to Rameshwaram is mandatory.

Brihadeshwara Temple, Tanjavur The biggest and richest temple in Thanjavur is Brihadeshwara, monumental in design, concept and execution and the greatest architectural achievement of the Chola rulers. Built by the Chola King Rajaraja (985-1014), it is dedicated to lord Shiva as a temple fortress with a moat. A huge Nandi Bull guards the gopuram-its 'vimana' is 64 metres high.

The rich carvings of the temple are still fresh. There is also a portrait of the king with his Guru, Karur Thevar. There is a picture of royal visit to Chidambaram, and lord Shiva riding a chariot drawn by Brahma.

Meenakshi Temple The Meenakshi Temple in Tamil Nadu's Madurai is a masterpiece of architecture of that period. The presiding deity at the Meenakshi temple at Madurai, the Athens of South India, is Goddess Meenakshi. Located within high enclosures, Meenakshi(Parvati) and Sundareshvara(Shiva) are seated in the sanctum sanctorum. There are 985 beautifully sculptured pillars supporting the temple and forming the thousand pillar mandapan hall.

Spectacular Beaches of Gujarat

2012-08-20T10:00:00.000+05:30

Gujarat is blessed with some of the finest beaches of India popular for its clear blue water, swaying palm trees and a pleasant climate. Gujarat also boasts of the longest coastline of India, with a stretch of the 1600-kms. The coastal area is also popular for Portuguese forts, shore temples, port cities and beach resorts.

Ahmedpur Mandvi Beach
	A great spot for a family holiday and one of the finest beaches on the Gujarat shoreline is Ahmedpur Mandvi beach. Lovely blue waters, lots of birdlife, sandy beaches and colourful fishing hamlets offers exciting options for enjoyment to the tourists. The white and firm beach is ideal for walks, and the water perfect for swimming. this is . A variety of water sports like Water scooters, Skiing, Surfing, Para sailing, Speed boat trips can be undertaken. Ahmedpur Mandvi is at the border of the Union Territory Diu
Beyt Dwarka Beach
	Hidden amidst the refineries and temples of Jamnagar, the Beyt Dwarka Beach offers a sandy treasure to the seekers of nature!The Beyt Dwarka beach offers a much needed respite from the holiday crowds on account of it being a secluded beach, letting you relax with pure silence for company. It offers some of the best marine life with coral reefs to explore!
Porbandar Beach
	Sandwiched between Veraval and Dwarka the beautiful Porbandar beach is located on the Southeast coast of Gujarat. An ancient seaport adds to the glory of the lovely Porbandar beach, apart from Porbandar being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhiji. A walk along the Porbandar beach refreshes your mind, body and soul. Watch the flamingos and other shore birds going about their daily activities in a playful manner, gaze at the vast panorama from the hills located nearby.
Chorwad Beach
	Sandwiched between Veraval and Dwarka the beautiful Porbandar beach is located on the Southeast coast of Gujarat. An ancient seaport adds to the glory of the lovely Porbandar beach, apart from Porbandar being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhiji. A walk along the Porbandar beach refreshes your mind, body and soul. Watch the flamingos and other shore birds going about their daily activities in a playful manner, gaze at the vast panorama from the hills located nearby.
Diu Beach
	The exquisitely beautiful island of Diu with its pristine beaches, golden sands, soft breeze, dense palm groves and lush coconut trees is a major tourist attraction of Gujarat. Untouched by commercialization and located in a secluded atmosphere, they are perfect places for swimming, sun-bathing and enjoying various water-sports. Visit the magnificent Diu Fort.
Veraval beach
	Somnath & Veraval Beach in Gujrat is one of the most favoured beach destinations in India. The Beach of Somnath & Veraval is unshaded but lovely, one can enjoy cool, fresh coconuts, camel rides and splash of the waves as one walk along the shore. The most catching sight of Veraval is the fishing port, where thousands of trawlers, courtry crafts and dhows can be seen unloading their catch. The Veraval beach Gujarat is an ideal place to lay your back, with benches and a jogging path. It is also a popular place for strolls and swimming in the morning.
Kutch-Mandvi
	It is located around 52 km from Bhuj is another finest beach in Gujarat. It is located in Mandvi, a historic port town of the Maharao's of Kutch. Mandvi beach has lovely blue waters, lots of birds, sandy beaches and colourful fishing points. Next to the beach are the docks where wooden ships are built.
Gopnath beach
	It is situated 275 kms from Ahmedabad and 75 kms from Bhavnagar. The Gopnath beach has lovely, firm, sands for walking and shallow shore waters for wading, but the high tidal difference of the coast, makes the water murky and not very inviting for a long swim

Festivals of South India

2012-08-18T10:00:00.000+05:30

The southern region of India comprises of four states namely Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and the union territory of Pondicherry. The weather in these regions is mainly hot and pleasant during winters. The coastal areas are pleasant throughout the year with heavy rainfall during the monsoons. South India follows the Dravidian tradition and has different ways to celebrate their own festivals.

Famous for their passion for religion, tradition, customs and culture, people living in South India follow a very ritualistic lifestyle. Therefore, festivals of South India make them popular all over the globe. The tourists visiting South India during festive time will definitely try not to miss the celebrations of the festivals.

Andhra Pradesh represents cosmopolitan nature and varied customs and cultures are prevalent here. Hyderabad being the capital of this state, which was ruled by the Nizam, has seen the state celebrating the Id festivals with great fervour. Biryani and Haleem preparations are the specialty of Telugu Muslims during Ramzan. The festival of Makar Sankranti or Pongal holds special place in Andhra community. This harvest festival is celebrated for 3 days in Mid January. The New Year falling in the month of April is called the Ugadi and celebrated with new clothes and sweets. The birthday of Lord Ganesh, Vinayak Chaturthi, falling in September is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Rayalseema Food and Dance Festival and Lumbini Festival are unique to Andhra Pradesh. Tirumala Brahmotsavam is celebrated annually at Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple at Tirupati around September and October.

Karnataka has a multi religious and multi cultured population. Hence there is a lot of variety in the festivities and celebrations. The most famous of them all is its special Dushera, popularly known as the Mysore Dushera. The Kannadigas celebrate this festival with pomp and glamor and dedicate the festival to Goddess Chamundeshwari. It is a 10-day long festival which falls in the month of October. On the last day of Vijaya Dashami, a colourful procession of caparisoned elephants carrying the idol of goddess Chamundi is taken through the gaily-decorated streets of the city. The festival was started by the Maharaja of Mysore and is being continued till date.

Another unique festival of Karnataka is the Karaga festival which is celebrated in Bangalore in the honour of the queen of Pandavas, Draupadi. Karaga is celebrated on the full moon day of April, the first month of the Kannada calendar. Yugadi is the New Year celebration in Karnataka. This usually falls on the day after the new moon day in the month of March or April.Hampi Festival is organized in November-December in appreciation of the ruined city of Hampi, which was once the capital of the Vijaynagar empire. The city comes to life during this festival, which consist of dance, drama, music, fireworks, puppet shows, and marvelous processions, which adds to its great attraction among the tourists.
The Rajyotsava Day is a state festival celebrated November 1st every year to commemorate the formation of the state.

Kerala, famous as God’s own country, is famous for its back waters and boat races. This small state has nearly equal population of Hindus, Muslims and Christians staying and celebrating their festivals in harmony. Vishu is the New Year of the Malayali people, which falls every year on 14th of April. Another important festival is the Onam. Onam falls in August – September. This day is celebrated in the honour of the King Mahabali who once ruled Kerala. Trichur Pooram is celebrated in the sweltering heat of the summer season at the Vadakkunathan Temple in Trichur. It is believed that on this day the respective deities of other temples visit Vadakkunathan temple.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race is Held every year on the second Saturday of August. This water carnival is the biggest snake boat race in the world. The colorful boats with loads of spectators is a marvelous treat for tourists. This annual regatta is held on the Punnamada Backwaters of Alappuzha and is the most famous of all. A complete magnificent occasion to visit Kerala and explore its riches.

Pongal, the harvest festival is the most popular festival of Tamil Nadu. It is celebrated over 4 days in the month of January. On the First day of fest (Bhogi), people clean up their places and homes taking out each and every wastage and unusable item and burning them up in the bonfire. The second day (Surya Pongal) marks worshiping and offering prayers while paying homage to Sun God. On the third day they pay homage to cattle, which are decorated and given food. The fourth day is biggest day, people gather at various places and celebrate the last day with dance, music and feast.

Natyanjali Dance Festival is organized to mark respect and importance to the lord of dancers, Lord Nataraja. This famous fest is organized annually in the month of February during the beginning of Mahashivratri. The Meenakshi Kalyanam is a ten day festival, which takes place in April – May at Madurai. On this day the Goddess Meenakshi is wedded to Lord Shiva. The Karthigai Deepam festival can be termed as an extension of Diwali in Tamil Nadu as it falls just after the main festival of Diwali. It is the festival dedicated to the immortal light created by lord Shiva. Many houses add one lamp for the day from Diwali and by this day the houses are full of Lamps. The lamps are worshiped and they burn day and night also on the streets.

The Masimagam festival in mid March is a huge celebration when deities of around 50 odd temples from nearby reach Pondicherry. A sanctimonious sea bath is then held on the beach. Thousands come to witness and participate in this festival. The Veerampattinam and the Villianur Car Festival are held in July and May respectively. The deities of these temples are taken out on carriages, which are drawn by devotees. Masquerade, held in March – April, is a popular mask festival, during which brilliantly costumed and masked people of Pondicherry, dance down the streets to the music of trumpets and accordions. During the Eve of the Bastille Day in July, retired soldiers parade the streets in war finery, singing the French and Indian National Anthem.