Touring India

India At A Glance!

2007-06-22T05:22:00.009-07:00

Whirl your mind, dazzle your eyes and fall in love with India's extremes.

India will sideswipe you with its size, clamour and diversity - but if you enjoy delving into convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual overload, then it is one of the most intricate and rewarding dramas unfolding on earth, and you'll quickly develop an abiding passion for it.

Nothing in the country is ever quite predictable; the only thing to expect is the unexpected, which comes in many forms and will always want to sit next to you. India is a litmus test for many travellers - some are only too happy to leave, while others stay for a lifetime.

When To Go

Climate plays a key factor in deciding when to visit India. Keep in mind that climatic conditions in the far north are distinctly different to those of the extreme south.

Generally, India's climate is defined by three seasons - the hot, the wet (monsoon) and the cool, each of which can vary in duration from north to south. The most pleasant time to visit most places is during the cooler period: November to around mid-February.

The heat starts to build up on India's northern plains from around February, and by April or May it really hots up, peaking in June. In central India temperatures of 45°C and above are commonplace. South India also becomes uncomfortably hot during this time.

Late in May the first signs of the monsoon are visible in some areas - high humidity, electrical storms, short rainstorms and dust storms that turn day into night. The hot season is the time to abandon the plains and head for the cooler hills, and this is when hill stations are at their best (and busiest).

When the monsoon finally arrives the rain comes in steadily, generally starting around 1 June in the extreme south and sweeping north to cover the whole country by early July. The main monsoon comes from the southwest, but the southeast coast (and southern Kerala) is largely affected by the short and surprisingly wet northeast monsoon, which brings rain from around October to early December.

Things don't really cool down: at first hot, dry and dusty weather is simply replaced by hot, humid and muddy conditions. It doesn't rain all day, but it generally rains every day. Followed by the sun this creates a fatiguing steam bath environment.

Around October the monsoon ends for most of the country. This is when India sees most tourists - however, it's too late to visit Ladakh (May to October is the optimum period). During October and November it's generally not too hot and not too cool (although October can still be hot and/or humid in some regions). In the thick of winter (around mid-December to mid-January), Delhi and other northern cities can become astonishingly cold, especially at night - and it's bone-chilling in the far north. In the far south the temperatures become comfortably warm during this period.

It's worth checking the dates of particular festivals - you may be attracted or repelled by the chaos (and jacked-up prices) that attend them. There are virtually no festivals in May/June. The wedding season falls between November and March, when you're likely to see at least one lively procession through the streets.

Areas of Conflict

Several Indian regions are prone to occasional conflict; Jammu and Kashmir (as distinct from Ladakh) are subject to political violence and travellers should seek consular advice before entering any area bordering Pakistan in Rajasthan, Punjab and Gujarat.

Similar advice should also be sought before travel to Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Meghalaya and Manipur in northeast India. There are militant groups operating sporadically in some rural areas of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Orissa.

Important Note:

Cows are considered sacred in India, and are never killed or eaten by Hindus. Cows, givers of milk, are often associated with fertility and nurturing, and much celebrated in Hindu texts, especially in stories of the young Krishna as cowherd.

Getting There

India's major international airports are Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta) and Chennai (Madras); there are other international airports at Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore and Kochi, although these service far fewer international flights. Delhi is one of the cheapest places to buy air tickets in India, as are Kolkata and Mumbai. International flights to neighbouring countries can be good value, especially between Kolkata and Dhaka (Bangladesh), Delhi and Karachi (Pakistan) and Tiruchirappalli and Colombo (Sri Lanka). Departure tax is included in 99% of all tickets.

The most popular overland routes between India and Nepal are Birganj-Raxaul Bazaar, Sunauli-Bhairawa and Kakarbhitta-Siliguri. If you're heading from Kathmandu or Pokhara to Delhi or elsewhere in northwestern India, then Sunauli is the most convenient entry point; to reach Kolkata or most of eastern India, Birganj is the best place to cross the border; and to get to Darjeeling, it's easiest to go via Kakarbhitta. It's fairly easy to travel between Kolkata and Dhaka overland. The only border crossing currently open between India and Pakistan is at Attari between Lahore and Amritsar. This and all other border crossings are by road only.

Getting Around

India's major domestic airline, the government-run Indian Airlines, has an extensive network, although with the recent opening of the Indian skies, there are now scores of private carriers servicing many destinations within India. These carriers include Jet Airways (rated as India's best airline), Sahara Airlines, Spice Jet, Air Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines. The country's international carrier, Air India, also operates domestically on the Mumbai (Bombay)-Delhi, Mumbai-Kolkata (Calcutta), Delhi-Kolkata and Mumbai-Chennai (Madras) routes. The country's international carrier, Air India, also operates domestically on the Mumbai (Bombay)-Delhi, Mumbai-Kolkata (Calcutta), Delhi-Kolkata and Mumbai-Chennai (Madras) routes. Deregulation has radically improved service and swollen the number of secondary operators, though several have gone belly up recently.

The Indian Railways system is deservedly legendary and Indian rail travel is unlike any other sort of travel on earth. At times it can be uncomfortable and frustrating, but it's also an integral part of the Indian travel experience. You should try to pick up the key points of Indian train etiquette as quickly as possible, otherwise you'll find yourself hopelessly attempting to defend your own private space. There are a number of different classes and a number of different trains: you want express or mail trains, but try all the different classes just for the hell of it. The Indian reservation system is labyrinthine and worthy of anthropological study, but be patient because it's one of the few bureaucracies in the country that actually works. When booking tickets, take advantage of the tourist quota allotment if one exists. You'll find it easier to reserve a seat this way.

Buses vary widely from state to state, but there is often a choice of buses on the main routes - ordinary, express, semi-luxe, deluxe, deluxe air-con and even deluxe sleeper. Government buses are supplemented by private operators on many routes. Private buses tend to be faster, more expensive and more comfortable and can make a lot of sense on longer jaunts. Bus travel is generally crowded, cramped, slow and uncomfortable. This is the good news. The bad news is the rugby scrum you often need to negotiate in order to board, and the howling Hindi pop music which blares from the tinny speakers. Buses are the only way to get to Kashmir and the best way to get to Nepal from Uttar Pradesh; they are generally faster than trains in northern Bihar and in large areas of Rajasthan.

You can hire a car and driver very easily, but you need nerves of steel and excellent karma to consider driving yourself. Cars are usually rented on a daily (ie 8hr) basis and come with a limited number of kilometres per day. For long trips, negotiate a package deal and ensure this includes the driver's expenses. If you're planning a long trip, it's wise to go for a short spin with your prospective driver just in case you don't like his braking ability.

Motorcycling around India (especially on an Enfield Bullet) has become a popular pastime, though it's a hazardous endeavour and not for the amateur two-wheeler. Bicycles are a great way to get around India's smaller (less traffic-filled) towns and can usually be hired for a pittance. Long-distance touring, however, is not for the faint-hearted or the weak of knee. If you're thinking of bringing your own bike, think twice about bringing your state-of-the-art 10-speed unless you want it to be poked, probed and perved at every time you stop.

Local transport includes buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws and tongas (horse-drawn carriages). Taxis may have meters, but don't expect them to be working in more than a handful of cities. Three-wheeled auto-rickshaws are generally half the price of a taxi and allow the passenger much better inhalation of diesel fumes. Cycle-rickshaws have all but disappeared from the centres of major Indian cities but are still an essential part of the transport network in smaller towns. Be sure to agree on a fare beforehand.

Fast Facts

Full Name

Republic of India

Capital City

New Delhi

Area

3,287,590 sq km

1,269,338 sq miles

Population

1,000,000,000

Time Zone

GMT/UTC +5.5 ()

Daylight Saving Start

not in use

Daylight Saving End

not in use

Languages

Hindi (official)

Although it is India's national language, Hindi is only spoken as a mother tongue by about 20% of the population, mainly in the area known as the Hindi-belt, the cow-belt or Mimaru, which includes Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. This Indic language is the official language of the Indian government and the states already mentioned, plus Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

Urdu (official)

Urdu is the state language of Jammu and Kashmir. Along with Hindi, it evolved in early Delhi. While Hindi was largely adopted by India's Hindu population, the Muslims embraced Urdu, and so the latter is written in the Perso-Arabic script and includes many Persian words.

Tamil (official)

An ancient Dravidian language at least 2000 years old, and the state language of Tamil Nadu. It is spoken by around 65 million people.

Bengali (official)

Spoken by nearly 200 million people (mostly in what is now Bangladesh), and the state language of West Bengal. Developed as a language in the 13th century.

Kashmiri (official)

Kashmiri speakers account for about 55% of the population of Jammu and Kashmir. It is an Indic language written in the Perso-Arabic script.

Kannada (official)

Over 2000 years old, Kannada is spoken by over twenty million people worldwide and is the official language of the state of Karnataka.

Marathi (official)

An Indic language dating back to around the 13th century, Marathi is the state language of Maharashtra.

Gujarati (official)

State language of Gujarat, it is an Indic language.

Telugu (official)

Telugu is the Dravidian language spoken by the largest number of people;it is the state language of Andhra Pradesh. Malayalam is also a Dravidian language; it's the state language of Kerala.

English (essential)

A product of British rule, English is still widely spoken and written in most Indian states 50 years after independence.

Religion

82% Hindu, 12% Muslim, 2.3% Christian, 1.9% Sikh, 0.8% Buddhist, 0.5% Jains, 0.5% other

Currency

Indian Rupee (Rs)

Electricity

230-240V 50HzHz

Electric Plug Details

South African/Indian-style plug with two circular metal pins above a large circular grounding pin

European plug with two circular metal pins

Country Dialing Code

India Culture & History

2007-06-22T05:22:00.007-07:00

Whirl your mind, dazzle your eyes and fall in love with India's extremes.

Overview

It has been said that India is less a country than a continent, and it holds as many variations in religion, language, customs, art and cuisine as it does in topography. For the traveller, this cultural feast is India's great strength.

Indian art is basically religious in its themes and developments, and its appreciation requires at least some background knowledge of the country's faiths. The highlights include classical Indian dance, Hindu temple architecture and sculpture (where one begins and the other ends is often hard to define), the military and urban architecture of the Mughals, miniature painting, and mesmeric Indian music. Of course, India's creativity continues to thrive, its most lively contemporary expression being filmi culture.

Pre 20th Century History

India's first major civilisation flourished for a thousand years from around 2500 BC along the Indus River valley. Its great cities were Moenjodaro and Harappa (in what is now Pakistan), which were ruled by priests and held the rudiments of Hinduism. One theory purports that Aryan invaders swept south from Central Asia between 1500 and 200 BC and controlled northern India, pushing the original Dravidian inhabitants south.

The invaders brought their own gods and cattle-raising and meat-eating traditions, but were absorbed to such a degree that by the 8th century BC the priestly caste had reasserted its supremacy. This became consolidated in the caste system, a hierarchy maintained by strict rules that secured the position of the Brahmin priests. Buddhism arose around 500 BC, condemning caste; it drove a radical swathe through Hinduism in the 3rd century BC when it was embraced by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, who controlled huge tracts of India.

A number of empires, including the Guptas, rose and fell in the north after the collapse of the Mauryas. Hinduism underwent a revival from 40 to 600 AD, and Buddhism began to decline. The north of India broke into a number of separate Hindu kingdoms after the Huns' invasion; it was not really unified again until the coming of the Muslims in the 10th and 11th centuries. The far south, whose prosperity was based on trading links with the Egyptians, Romans and southeast Asia, was unaffected by the turmoil in the north, and Hinduism's hold on the region was never threatened.

In 1192 the Muslim Ghurs arrived from Afghanistan. Within 20 years the entire Ganges basin was under Islamic control, though Islam failed to penetrate the south. Two great kingdoms developed in what is now Karnataka: the mighty Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar, and the fragmented Bahmani Islamic kingdom.

Mughal emperors marched into Punjab from Afghanistan, defeated the Sultan of Delhi in 1525, and ushered in another artistic golden age. The Maratha Empire grew during the 17th century and gradually took over more of the Mughals' domain. The Marathas consolidated control of central India until they fell to the last great imperial power, the British.

The British were not, however, the only European power in India: the Portuguese had controlled Goa since 1510 and the French, Danes and Dutch also had trading posts. By 1803, when the British overwhelmed the Marathas, most of the country was under the control of the British East India Company, which had established its trading post at Surat in Gujarat in 1612.

The company treated India as a place to make money, and its culture, beliefs and religions were left strictly alone. Britain expanded iron and coal mining, developed tea, coffee and cotton plantations, and began construction of India's vast rail network. They encouraged absentee landlords because they eased the burden of administration and tax collection, creating an impoverished landless peasantry - a problem which is still chronic in Bihar and West Bengal. The Uprising (also known as the War of Independence) in northern India in 1857 led to the demise of the East India Company, and administration of the country was handed over to the British government.

Modern History

Opposition to British rule began in earnest at the turn of the 20th century. The 'Congress' which had been established to give India a degree of self-rule, now began to push for the real thing. In 1915, Gandhi returned from South Africa, where he had practised as a lawyer, and turned his abilities to independence, adopting a policy of passive resistance, or satyagraha.

WWII dealt a deathblow to colonialism and Indian independence became inevitable. Within India, however, the large Muslim minority realised that an independent India would be Hindu-dominated. Communalism grew, with the Muslim League, led by Mohammad Ali Jinnah, speaking for the overwhelming majority of Muslims, and the Congress Party, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, representing the Hindu population. The bid for a separate Islamic nation was the biggest stumbling block to Britain granting independence.

Faced with a political stand-off and rising tension, Viceroy Mountbatten reluctantly decided to divide the country and set a rapid timetable for independence. Unfortunately, the two overwhelmingly Muslim regions were on opposite sides of the country - meaning the new nation of Pakistan would be divided by a hostile India. When the dividing line was announced, the greatest exodus in human history took place as Muslims moved to Pakistan and Hindus and Sikhs relocated to India. Over 10 million people changed sides and even the most conservative estimates calculate that 250,000 people were killed. Gandhi was deeply disheartened by Partition and the subsequent bloodshed. On 30 January 1948 he was assassinated by a Hindu fanatic.

Following the trauma of Partition, India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru championed a secular constitution, socialist central planning and a strict policy of nonalignment. India elected to join the Commonwealth, but also increased ties with the USSR - partly because of conflicts with China and partly because of US support for arch-enemy Pakistan, which was particularly hostile to India because of its claim on Muslim-dominated Kashmir. There were clashes with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971.

India's next prime minister of stature was Nehru's daughter Indira Gandhi, who was elected in 1966. She is still held in relatively high esteem, but is remembered by many for meddling with India's democratic foundations by declaring a state of emergency in 1975. Mrs Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984 as a reprisal for controversially using the Indian Army to flush out armed Sikh radicals from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The Gandhis' dynastic grip on Indian politics continued when her son, Rajiv was swept into power.

Despite his reputation being tarnished by widely-publicised corruption scandals, Rajiv brought new and pragmatic policies to the country. Foreign investment and the use of modern technology were encouraged, import restrictions were eased and many new industries were set up. These measures projected India into the 1990s and out of isolationism, but did little to stimulate India's mammoth rural sector. Rajiv was assassinated on an election tour by a supporter of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers.

The dangers of communalism in India were clearly displayed in 1992, when a Hindu mob stormed and destroyed a mosque built on the alleged site of Rama's birth in Ayodhya. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were keen to exploit such opportunities, and led several disparate coalitions to power. Despite the dangers of playing communalist politics, the BJP's traditionalist Hindu stance attracted voters concerned about retaining traditional values during the sudden onslaught of modern global influences.

In 1998 India tested its first nuclear weapons. Despite international outrage, the nuclear tests were met with widespread jubilation and support for the BJP. But by April 1999 PM Vajpayee had lost his majority and was forced into a vote of confidence, which he lost by one vote. Italian-born Sonia Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi's widow, was expected to lead the Congress Party to victory, but she was unable to secure a coalition and India was forced to the polls for the third time in as many years. The BJP was returned to government with a slimmer lead.

Tensions with Pakistan flared periodically despite top-level attempts at rapprochement, and natural disasters also took their toll. In January 2001 an earthquake in Gujarat killed about 20,000 people and left more than half a million homeless. In December of that year, gunmen storming the national parliament killed 13 people, while hundreds were killed in Gujarat a year after the earthquake in conflicts between Hindus and Muslims.

Recent History

The Kashmir situation threatened to escalate from border sabre-rattling to all out war in 2002 with both India and Pakistan testing nuclear-capable warheads in the region and taking the moral high ground over Kashmir. The US and UK urged their citizens to leave India and Pakistan as diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis stuttered in the background. Fortunately, by late 2003 both countries had declared ceasefires and resumed direct air links and the Indian government had historic talks with Kashmir separatists.

In 2004, with fresh elections called, the BJP were expected to win re-election. The Congress party was again led by Sonia Gandhi and gained surprising support through an exhausting grassroots campaign. So successful was she that the dominant BJP were ousted for the first time in almost 10 years. Concerned for her wellbeing, and also aware of the controversy her non-Indian origin could cause, Sonia Gandhi declined the Prime Ministerial role, sending shockwaves through her party. Instead she nominated India's first Sikh leader, an anti-corruption stalwart and economic reformist, Manmohan Singh, to lead the parliament.

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami killed over 15,000 people and caused large scale damage along the southeastern coast of the country. The central coast of Tamil Nadu suffered the worst of the devastation with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Pondicherry and Kerala states also hit hard. Basic aid and temporary housing made possible by the Indian government (and reinforced by a half-billion $US World Bank pledge) ensured a swift recovery.

In recent years Prime Minister Singh has gone to great lengths to firm up India's diplomatic and trade relations, particularly with former sparring partners such as Pakistan, China and the US. In July 2006 the worst terrorist bombing in over a decade killed nearly 200 people on several Mumbai commuter trains. In February 2007 a similar attack killed over 60 on the Samjauta express which runs between Delhi and Lahore. Although the attacks were linked to Pakistan-based militants, India continued to pursue a positive relationship with its neighbour including the opening of a cross-border bus service. Though leftist Naxalite insurgents in the northeast and central south have grown more brazen in their attacks, the national economy continues to flourish and the world's largest democracy is taking a larger role on the global stage.

India Weather, Health & Safety Info

2007-06-22T05:22:00.005-07:00

Whirl your mind, dazzle your eyes and fall in love with India's extremes.

Weather Overview

Climate in India varies greatly, from the arid deserts of Rajasthan to the cool highlands of Assam, allegedly the wettest place on earth. But basically India has a three-season year - the hot, the wet and the cool. The heat starts to build up on the northern plains around February and by April it becomes unbearable - expect 35-45°C (95-113°F) days in most places. The first signs of the monsoon appear in May, with high humidity, short rainstorms and violent electrical storms. The monsoon rains begin around 1 June in the extreme south and sweep north to cover the whole country by early July. The monsoon doesn't really cool things off, but it's a great relief - especially to farmers. The main monsoon comes from the southwest, but the southeastern coast is affected by the short and surprisingly wet northeastern monsoon, which brings rain from mid-October to the end of December. The main monsoon ends around October, and India's northern cities become crisp at night in December. In the far south, where it never gets cool, the temperatures are comfortably warm rather than hot.

Health and Safety

Dangers & Annoyances

Take extra care on crowded public transport. Thieves tend to target popular tourist train routes, such as the Delhi to Agra Shatabdi Express service. Train departure time, when the confusion and crowds are at their worst, is the time to be most careful. Occasionally tourists (especially those travelling solo) are drugged and robbed - Bihar, Jharkhand and Siliguri (West Bengal) can be particularly notorious for this. The usual scenario seems to be that after striking up a conversation, the traveller is offered a drink that has been doused with sedatives or the like. Be cautious about accepting any drinks or food from relative strangers, particularly if you are on your own.

In the Kullu region of Himachal Pradesh travellers have allegedly been the victims of drug-related set-ups, while others have vanished or even been murdered in allegedly drug-related incidents. You're strongly advised to trek in an organised group and steer clear of drugs. Trekkers should also make a point of telling people where they are going and when they will be back.

Sensitive border areas, such as Jammu and Kashmir, are subject to sporadic bouts of terrorist activities. Although smooth-talking touts (especially in Delhi) may try to get you to visit these areas, it's wise to seek the latest advice from your embassy.

Several women have reported being molested by masseurs and other therapists in Varanasi and McLeod Ganj. No matter where you are, it's always wise to check the reputation of any teacher or therapist before going along to a solo session. If at any time you feel uneasy, simply leave. In all parts of India (as elsewhere in the world) women should avoid walking alone in the streets late at night

Indian beaches can have dangerous rips and currents and there are drowning deaths each year. Some of the more popular beach destinations may have lifeguards or signs warning of dangers, but many do not. Exercise caution and always check locally before swimming anywhere in the sea. Note that the Ganges is also reported to have strong currents.

Local Health Conditions

Cholera

This diarrhoeal disease can cause rapid dehydration and death. Cholera is caused by a bacteria, Vibrio cholerae. It's transmitted from person to person by direct contact (often via healthy carriers of the disease) or via contaminated food and water. It can be spread by seafood, including crustaceans and shellfish, which get infected via sewage. Cholera exists where standards of environmental and personal hygiene are low. Every so often there are massive epidemics, usually due to contaminated water in conditions where there is a breakdown of the normal infrastructure. The time between becoming infected and symptoms appearing is usually short, between one and five days. The diarrhoea starts suddenly, and pours out of you. It's characteristically described as 'ricewater' diarrhoea because it is watery and flecked with white mucus. Vomiting and muscle cramps are usual, but fever is rare. In its most serious form, it causes a massive outpouring of fluid (up to 20L a day). This is the worst case scenario - only about one in 10 sufferers get this severe form. It's a self-limiting illness, meaning that if you don't succumb to dehydration, it will end in about a week without any treatment. You should seek medical help urgently; in the meantime, start re-hydration therapy with oral re-hydration salts. You may need antibiotic treatment with tetracycline, but fluid replacement is the single most important treatment strategy in cholera. Prevention is by taking basic food and water precautions, avoiding seafood and having scrupulous personal hygiene. The currently available vaccine is not thought worthwhile as it provides only limited protection for a short time.

Dengue Fever

The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the dengue virus, is most active during the day, and is found mainly in urban areas, in and around human dwellings. Signs and symptoms of dengue fever include a sudden onset of high fever, headache, joint and muscle pains, nausea and vomiting. A rash of small red spots sometimes appears three to four days after the onset of fever. Severe complications do sometimes occur. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible if you think you may be infected. There is no vaccine against dengue fever.

Hepatitis

The symptoms in all forms of this illness include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, feelings of weakness and aches and pains, followed by loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-coloured faeces, jaundiced (yellow) skin and yellowing of the whites of the eyes. Hepatitis A is transmitted by contaminated food and drinking water. Seek medical advice, but there is not much you can do apart from resting, drinking lots of fluids, eating lightly and avoiding fatty foods. Hepatitis E is transmitted in the same way as hepatitis A; it can be particularly serious in pregnant women. Hepatitis B is spread through contact with infected blood, blood products or body fluids, for example through sexual contact, unsterilised needles (and shaving equipment) and blood transfusions, or contact with blood via small breaks in the skin. The symptoms of hepatitis B may be more severe than type A and the disease can lead to long-term problems such as chronic liver damage, liver cancer or a long-term carrier state. Hepatitis C and D are spread in the same way as hepatitis B and can also lead to long-term complications. There are vaccines against hepatitis A and B, but there are currently no vaccines against the other types. Following the basic rules about food and water (hepatitis A and E) and avoiding risk situations (hepatitis B, C and D) are important preventative measures.

Malaria

This serious and potentially fatal disease is spread by mosquito bites and is endemic in most countries of the region (the exceptions being Singapore and Brunei). If you are travelling in endemic areas it is extremely important to avoid mosquito bites and to take tablets to prevent this disease. Symptoms range from fever, chills and sweating, headache, diarrhoea and abdominal pains to a vague feeling of ill-health. Seek medical help immediately if malaria is suspected. Without treatment malaria can rapidly become more serious and can be fatal. If medical care is not available, malaria tablets can be used for treatment. There is a variety of medications such as mefloquine, Fansidar and Malarone. You should seek medical advice, before you travel, on the right medication and dosage for you. If you do contract malaria, be sure to be re-tested for malaria once you return home as you can harbour malaria parasites in your body even if you are symptom free. Travellers are advised to prevent mosquito bites at all times. The main messages are: wear light-coloured clothing; wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts; use mosquito repellents containing the compound DEET on exposed areas (prolonged overuse of DEET may be harmful, especially to children, but its use is considered preferable to being bitten by disease-transmitting mosquitoes); avoid perfumes and aftershave.

Use a mosquito net impregnated with mosquito repellent (permethrin) - it may be worth taking your own.

meningococcal meningitis

This is mainly a problem in trekking areas.

Not every headache is likely to be meningitis. There is an effective vaccine available which is often recommended for travel to these areas. Generally, you're at pretty low risk of getting meningococcal meningitis, unless an epidemic is ongoing, but the disease is important because it can be very serious and rapidly fatal. You get infected by breathing in droplets coughed or sneezed into the air by sufferers or, more likely, by healthy carriers of the bacteria. You're more at risk in crowded, poorly ventilated places, including public transport and eating places. The symptoms of meningitis are fever, severe headache, neck stiffness that prevents you from bending your head forward, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light, making you prefer to stay in darkness. With meningococcal meningitis, you may get a widespread, blotchy purple rash before any other symptoms appear.

Meningococcal meningitis is an extremely serious disease that can cause death within a few hours of you first feeling unwell. Seek medical help without delay if you have any of the symptoms listed earlier, especially if you are in a risk area.

Typhoid

Contaminated water and food can cause typhoid fever, a dangerous gut infection. Medical help must be sought. In typhoid's early stages, sufferers may feel they have a bad cold or flu on the way, as early symptoms are headache, body aches and a fever that rises a little each day until it is around 40°C (104°F) or more. The victim's pulse is often slow relative to the degree of fever present - unlike a normal fever where pulse increases. There may also be vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation. In the second week, the high fever and slow pulse continue, and a few pink spots may appear on the body; trembling, delirium, weakness, weight loss and dehydration may occur. Complications such as pneumonia, perforated bowel or meningitis may occur. The fever should be treated by keeping victims cool and giving them fluids (watch for dehydration). Ciprofloxacin, 750mg twice a day for 10 days, is good for adults. Chloramphenicol is recommended in many countries. The adult dosage is two 250mg capsules, four times per day. Children between eight and 12 years old should have half the adult dose; for younger children one-third the adult dose.

India Events & Money

2007-06-22T05:22:00.003-07:00

Whirl your mind, dazzle your eyes and fall in love with India's extremes.

Events Overview

India is blessed with a huge number of festivals, some so spectacular that you would be a fool to miss them. They start with the secular Republic Day Festival in Delhi each January, which includes elephants, a procession, and plenty of military might and Indian princely splendour. Holi, in February/March, is one of the most exuberant Hindu festivals in the north of India. It marks the beginning of spring and basically involves throwing coloured powder and water over as many people as you can in one day.

The 10-day Shi'ite Muharram festival, also in February/March, commemorates the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson. It's marked by a grand parade and dedicated penitents scourge themselves with whips in religious fervour. It's best seen in Lucknow, the principal Indian Shi'ite city; its timing varies with the Islamic calendar. The massive Kumbh Mela festival commemorates an ancient battle between gods and demons for a pitcher (kumbh) containing the nectar of immortality. During the fight for possession, four drops of nectar fell from the pitcher and landed in Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain. The mela is held every three years rotating through these four cities. The next Kumbh Mela is scheduled to take place in 2007 at Nasik.

Don't mistake the great Rath Yatra (Car Festival) for a rally race. This spectacle in Puri in June/July involves the gigantic temple car of Lord Jagannath making its annual journey, pulled by thousands of eager devotees. One of the big events of the year in Kerala is the Nehru Cup Snake Boat Race on the backwaters at Alappuzha (Alleppey), which take place on the second Saturday of August.

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi in August/September is dedicated to the popular elephant-headed god, Ganesh. It's celebrated widely, but with particular enthusiasm in Mumbai and Pune. Shrines are erected, firecrackers let off, clay idols are immersed in rivers or the sea, and everyone tries to avoid looking at the moon.

September/October is the time to witness the Dussehra (Durga Puja) Festival, which is perhaps at its most spectacular in Kullu, Mysore, West Bengal and Ahmedabad.

October/November is the time for the huge and colourful Camel Fair at Pushkar in Rajasthan. Diwali (or Deepavaali) is the happiest festival of the Hindu calendar and is celebrated over five days in October/November. Sweets, oil lamps and firecrackers all play a major part in this celebration in honour of a number of gods.

There are also usually holidays during major festivals. These vary from state to state.

Money

Preferred Form

Officially you're not supposed to take any Indian currency into or out of India, however carrying up to INR5000 doesn't seem to be a problem. The rupee is fully convertible so there's not much of a black market, even though you can still be haunted by offers to 'change money'. In cities you can change most major foreign currencies and brands of travellers cheques - but you'll widen your options and save yourself hassles if you stick to US dollars, Euros or pounds Sterling and either Thomas Cook or American Express travellers cheques. In fact, it's wise to bring a couple of different brands of cheques in different currencies since some branches of some banks have particular idiosyncrasies, such as refusing to handle X-brand of travellers' cheques in pounds Sterling denomination or Y-brand in US dollars.

Changing Your Money

It's relatively straightforward changing money, especially in the larger cities. You are supposed to be given an encashment certificate when you change money at a bank or an official moneychanger; you'll need these encashment certificates to change Indian currency back into foreign currency when leaving India (at the international airport), however for exchanges below INR10000 certificates aren't necessary.

Credit cards are widely accepted in Indian cities and larger towns, particularly American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa; MasterCard and Visa are the most widely accepted. Credit cards can also be used to get cash advances in rupees at some banks. Nowadays, almost all Indian cities have 24-hour ATMs that may accept Cirrus, Maestro, MasterCard, Plus and Visa. It's wise to check in advance with your home bank whether your card can access banking networks in India and if so, what the charge per transaction is and whether there are schemes to minimise these.

Tipping

Baksheesh, a term which encompasses tipping and a lot more besides, is widespread in India. More often than not, you 'tip' in India not so much for good service but in order to get things done. Judicious baksheesh will often open closed doors, find missing items and perform other small miracles. In mid-range and upper-end restaurants or hotels a service charge (usually 10%)is often added to bills, so tipping is very optional. In smaller places, where a service charge has not been added to the bill, a tip is warmly appreciated - the amount you give depends on how happy you are with the service. Anything upwards of IRS20.00 is the norm, but exceptional service should be rewarded with at least IRS50.00.

Money Tips

If you stay in cheap hotels, always travel on the cheaper train classes and learn to subsist on dhal and rice, you could see India for around INR500.00 (US$10.00) a day. If you prefer a few more creature comforts, like a simple private room with a bathroom, a varied diet, and occasional 1st class rail travel on long journeys, count on around INR850.00-INR1000.00 (US$20.00-US$25.00) a day. Staying in mid-range hotels, eating in decent restaurants, and occasionally hiring a car and driver will cost anywhere between INR1000.00-INR2000.00 (US$30.00-US$45.00) a day. If you don't want to set foot anywhere other than converted maharajahs' palaces and five-star international hotels, budget as if you were travelling luxuriously in the West.

Indian currency notes circulate stay in circulation for a very long time and the small notes in particular become very tatty - some should carry a government health warning. You may occasionally find that when you try to pay for something with a ripped or grubby note that your money is refused. You can change old notes for new ones at some banks or save them and use them creatively as tips. Don't let shopkeepers palm grubby notes off on you as change - simply hand them back and you'll usually be given a note slightly higher up the acceptability scale. Keep a supply of smaller denomination notes - there is a perpetual shortage of small change.

Currency Notes

Rupee notes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 (the INR1000.00 note is not as commonly found, especially outside of big cities).

Currency Coins

The rupee (Rs) is divided into 100 paise (p). The paise comes in coin denominations of five, 10, 20 (all no longer being issued) 25 and 50. There are also rare rupee coins in denominations of one, two and five.

India In Images

2007-06-22T05:22:00.001-07:00

Whirl your mind, dazzle your eyes and fall in love with India's extremes.

Shirdi Travel Information

2007-06-19T23:16:00.013-07:00

Who is not familiar with this renowned abode of Saibaba ? Devotees belonging to every faith throng here to pay their respects to his memory.

Thursday is the special day, and Ramnavmi, Guru Pournima and Dassera. Fairs are organised on a large scale. Besides the Saibaba shrine, there's the Dwarkamayi Mosque and Sakori Ashram.

Getting there :

By Air : Nearest airport is Aurangabad.

By Rail : Nearest railhead is Kopargaon, 15 kms. on the Manmad-Daund section of Central Railway.

By Road : Mumbai-Shirdi, 296 kms. (Mumbai-Nashik-Niphad-Yeola-Shirdi) Nashik-Shirdi 112 kms. Aurangabad-shirdi 126 kms. (Aurangabad-Vaijapur Yeola-Kopargaon-shirdi) Pune-Shirdi, 183 kms. (Pune-Kalamba-Sangmner-Talegaon-Shirdi)

State Transport buses ply regularly from Mumbai, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Pune and Kopargaon. MTDC runs a bi-weekly round trip bus service to Shirdi from Mumabai.

Pune Travel Information

2007-06-19T23:16:00.011-07:00

Shivaji, and later the Peshwas, carried on their activities from Pune, so did Lokmanya Tilak! Today, a busy, bustling town, Pune has its own charm-the National Defence Academy, Shaniwar Wada, Bund Gardens, the Snake Park, the Raja Kelkar Museum and the Kasturba Gandhi Samadhi Mandir-(Agakhan Palace) contributing generously to this charm. The city celebrates the Ganesh Festival on a grand scale.

With Pune as your base, you can make an exciting journey into history by visiting any of the historic forts of Shivaji-Pratapgad, Raigad, Shivneri and Sinhagad.

It is also a convenient base for the Ashtavinayaka tours. Besides, you can witness the Shaniwarwada sound and light show which discovers the glory of Maratha history in 50 Minutes unfolding the tales of bravery and conquests of Maratha statesmen. (Except Wednesday) Daily two shows after sunset.

Getting there :

By Air : Pune airport is 12 kms from the city.

By Rail : Mumbai - Pune on Central Railway. 192 kms. Madras-Pune on South Central Railway, 1088 kms.

By Road : Mumbai-Pune, 170 kms. Nashik-Pune, 209 kms, Aurangabad-Pune, 230 ksm.

State Transport buses ply from Mumbai, Nagur, Aurangabad, Solapur and other places to Pune.

Porbandar Travel Information

2007-06-19T23:16:00.009-07:00

This ancient port on the Saurashtra peninsula, on the Arabian Sea is mentioned in Skanda Purana as Sudamapuri and Ashmavati. It is the city of a mythological story about the great friendship between Lord Krishna and Sudama. Porbandar was the last capital of the Jethwa Rajputs, who ruled this area for about 1200 years- shifting capitals from Ghumli, Ranpur and Chhaya.

Present day Porbandar was established as a capital by Rana Sartanji in 1785 AD. Porbandar, originally a fortified town. with high rampart walls, bastions and five gates, lost its fortification by the order of Colonel Lally in 1888 AD. Even today, a ritual to circumambulate the fortification is performed by Hindus.

The prosperity of Porbandar was due to maritime trade and it was a thriving port in the Mughal period. It was attacked by the Portuguese in the wake of achieving supremacy over sea trade in 1531 AD. The Walker Treaty of 1807 AD between the ruling clans of Saurashtra and the British put an end to the feuds and it resulted in a favorable environment for the civic development of the Porbandar State.

The most impressive feature of Porbandar is the city planning and the stone buildings with ashlar masonary and rich carving. The facades of the houses on either side of the streets, with series of windows, carved gateways, using eclectic architectural language, invites tourists to experience the streetscape on foot. The series of vistas enriched by a skyline of temples and beautiful public buildings and edifices overlooking the sea on Marine Drive puts Porbandar on the list of coastal heritage towns of Gujarat.

Kirti Mandir is built next to the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, who was born here in 1869 AD. Lacs of Indian tourists visit the house of the Mahatma and Kasturba, his wife. Kirti Mandir has a Gandhian library and a prayer hall.

There is no Indian, who has not heard of the legendary friendship of king and devotee- Krishna and Sudama- starting from the ashram of Sandipani Rishi and culminating at the court of Lord Krishna, in the city of gold, Dwarika. The story comes alive with the sight of a beautiful temple in the middle of Porbandar town. In whole of India, this is the only temple dedicated to Sudama. The maze on the platform in the campus is an interesting feature.

Rana Sartanji built Darbargadh, the fortified palace, with a huge carved stone entrance gate flanked by high turrets and massive wooden doors. It is a typical example of such royal enclosures situated within the town of Gujarat. The nearby edifices on the left of the entrance are also good examples of large mansions with courtyards and intricately carved wooden elements.

Rana Sartanji built the three-storeyed summer pavilion, Sartanji Choro, in Rajput style as a retreat in the midst of the garden, each side representing a different season. The pillars with images of musicians, profusely carved foliated arches and a single dome at the top gives an idea of bygone days, when Rana Sartanji used to compose poems in Braj bhasha, sitting under this pavillion.

Huzoor Palace is located at the end of Marine Drive, in a huge campus. The sprawling palace, built in the European style with sloping roofs is a horizontal structure with several wings and big windows, overlooking the sea. The wings are interspersed with the back and front yards, bringing nature and the building together by gardens and fountains. The semi-circular porticos with neo-classical pillars, decorated entrance gate and commanding view makes it a must for the visitor. Other such examples of Royal and Public heritage buildings from the colonial period are public library, old Raj Mahal (now a college), Victoria Jubilee Madresa, Collectorate, Bhavsinhji High School, Natwarsinhji Sports Club.

Nagpur Travel Information

2007-06-19T23:16:00.007-07:00

This city, the headquarter of the Nagpur Division and district is situated on the South Central Railway. The city of Nagpur was founded at the beginning of the 18th century by the Gond Raja Bakht Buland. The city then flourished with the growth of the Bhonsla. Kingdom and was considerably improved by the rulers of the Bohul dynasty. This is the second capital of Maharashtra and also known as orange city.

Getting there :

By Rail : Nagpur is a junction on S. C. Railway.
By Road : Nagpur-Mumbai 837 kms.
By Air : Nagpur is connected by air from Mumbai.
State Transport buses ply from Pune, Aurangabad, Nashik, Pandharpur, Nanded, Jalgaon, Amravati, Shegaon, Akola, Yeotmal, Buldhana, Wardha, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli and other places in Vidarbha.

Places of Interest

Nagardhan :
Nagardhan is an old town and was formerly of considerable importance as it gave its name to the district. It was founded by a Suryawanshi King, but Mr. Hiralal supposes it to have been established by a King named Nandivardhan belonging to the Shail Dynasty. There is a fort said to have been built by the Bhonslas with brick walls.

Getting there :

By Rail : Nearest railhead is Ramtek, 8 kms.
By Road : Nagpur-Nagardham, 60 kms.
By Air : Nearest Airport is Nagpur 60 kms.
State Transport Buses ply from Ramtek.

Nagzira :
The Nagzira wild life sanctuary situated in the Bhandara District. Endowed with excellent natural forest. The abundance of vegetal cover and presence of small and big water bodies. This is a very rich habitat, where you can see gaur, the largest of world's cattle, Sambar, Deer, Chousingha, Sloth bear, Nilgai, Barking deer, wild dogs, leopard or tiger, panther etc.

Getting there :

By Rail : Nearest rail head is Tiroda, 19 kms.
By Road : Sakoli - Nagzira , 22 kms.
By Air : Nearest Airport is Nagpur 122 kms.

Nawegaon Bandh :
Nawegaon, Vidarbha's most popular forest resort, is the ultimate adventure spot. It is said to have been built by Kolu Patel Kohil in the beginning of the 18th century. There is picturesque lake set in the midst of hill ranges with watch towers that enable you to view wildlife. Make sure you visit the deer park, the Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, the three beautiful gardens and children's park. Almost 60% of the birds species found in Maharashtra have been recorded in Nawegaon. You may see the leopard, sloth bear, gaur, sambar, chital and the langur.

Getting there :

By Rail : Nearest rail head is Devalgaon, 1 kms. On South Eastern Railway.
By Road : Mumbai-Nawegaon, 995 kms. Nagpur-Nawegaon, 132 kms.
By Air : Nearest Airport is Nagpur 142 kms.
State Transport Buses ply from Bhandara, Nagpur and Devalgaon to Nawegaon.

Nawegan Khairi :
Navegaon Khairi is also a dam site situated in Parseoni range forest. It is ideally suited to be a good picnic spot because of its surrounded by thick forest on three sides.

Getting there :

By Rail : Nearest rail head is Nagpur, 65 kms.
By Road : Nagpur-Navegaon Khairi, 65 kms.
By Air : Nearest Airport is Nagpur 65 kms.
State Transport Buses ply from Nagpur, Ramtek, Parseoni.

Pavnar :
Pavnar is historical village in the Wardha district. It is situated on the bank of river Dham. Pavnar is one of the oldest settlements in the Wardha district and is supposed to be named after a legendary Rajput King Pawan. Of the modern places to have been invested with sanctity are the Gandhi Kuti and the Paramdham Ashram of Vinobaji, the Sarvodaya leader who launched the bhoodan movement.

How to Get There

By Rail : Nearest railhead is Wardha, 12 kms.
By Road : Nagpur-Pavnar, 65 kms.
By Air : Nearest Airport is Nagpur 65 kms.
State Transport Buses ply from Nagpur, Wardha to Pavnar.

Ramtek :
The story goes that Shri Ram rested here a while with Laxman and Sita. Hence, the name. It was here that the prolific Sanskrit poet Kalidas wrote his epic Meghdootam. Besides the Shri Ram Temple and the Kalidas Memorial, there are Ramgiri Hill and Ramsagar lake.

How to Get There

By Rail : Ramtek is a station on South Central Railway and regular trains ply between Nagpur and Ramtek.
By Road : Mumbai-Ramtek, via Nagpur is 913 kms.
By Air : Nearest Airport is Nagpur 50 kms.
State Transport Buses ply from Nagpur to Ramtek.

Pauni :
Pauni is situated on Wainganga river. Many a legend are current about Pauni and one such considers the town as an old one and well peopled in the days when the greater part of the district was an impenetrable wilderness. The name is derived from the mythical king Pawan. The excavations carried out have proved that Pauni was a well known centre of Buddhism in the ancient times. Its antiquities go back to Pre-Ashokan times. Within the town is an old fort with walls consisting of loose dressed stones of a large size. Among the shrines, the temple of Murlidhara is the most important.

Getting there :

By Rail : Nearest rail head is Bhandara, 61 kms.
By Road : Nagpur-Pauni, 116 kms.
By Air : Nearest Airport is Nagpur 116 kms.
State Transport Buses ply from Nagpur, Bhandara.

Sewagram :
Sewagram is an important village in Wardha District. Its original name was Shegaon but Gandhijis selecting it as a centre of his social service work changed its name to Sewagram is the epitome of Gandhiji's teachings of simplicity and truth. There is also Gandhi Ashram, Gyan Mandir.

How to Get There

By Rail : Nearest railhead is Wardha, 9 kms.
By Road : Mumbai-Sewagram, 830 kms.
By Air : Nearest Airport is Nagpur 88 kms.

Totladok :
The Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru National Park is situated in this area. It is surrounded by Satpuda hills providing a pleasant climate. This National Park is best known for animal viewing, bird watching and trekking. There is also situated a hydroelectric project a joint venture of Govt. of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

How to Get There

By Rail : Nearest rail head is Nagpur, 85 kms.
By Road : Nagpur-Totladoh, 85 kms.
By Air : Nearest Airport is Nagpur 85 kms.
State Transport Buses ply from Nagpur, Ramtek.

Tadoba National Park :
Tadoba National Park is the most attractive spot in Chandrapur district and is situated in the heart of the reserved forest. It has become an ideal resort for the visitors who want to get away from the hustle and bustle or the city loife and the modern civilization. The following are the animals species commonly found in Tadoba Park, i.e. Tiger, panther, bison, sloth bear, hyaena, jackal, wild dog, blue bull, sambar, cheetah, barking deer and a variety of other animals

How to Get There

By Rail : Nearest rail head is Chandrapur, 45 kms.
By Road : Chandrapur-Tadoba, 45 kms.
By Air : Nearest Airport is Nagpur 205 kms.
State Transport Buses ply from Chandrapur.

Adasa :
A small village in the Nagpur District. The village has osme historical temples. One of them is the Ganapati temple. The image of Lord in it is of a huge monolithic stone. On a hill near the village lies a temple of Mahadeo with three lingas, which are Swayambhoo (believed to have come forth from the ground).

Getting there :

By Rail : Nearest rail head is Nagpur, 45 kms.
By Road : Nagpur-Adasa, 45 kms.
By Air : Nearest airport is Nagpur, 45 kms.
State Transport buses ply from Nagpur, Kalmeshwar, Saoner.

Ambhora :
Ambhora is a small village situated on the bank of river Wainganga. Here, there is a well known temple of Chaitanyesvara and the Samadhi of a Hindu Saint Har Har Swami. Three annual religious fairs are held here.

Getting there :

By Rail : Nearest rail head is Nagpur, 60 kms.
By Road : Nagpur-Ambhora, 60 kms.
By Air : Nearest airport is Nagpur, 60 kms.
State Transport buses ply from Nagpur and Kuhi.

Bhadravati :
Bhadravati or Bhandak is a large flourishing village. Its ancient name was Bhadravati which was later changed to Bhandak. Today it is better known as place of religiously significant for the jains than for its historical identity. The temple was very well maintained with its floors paved with marbles.

Getting there :

By Rail : Nearest railhead is Chandrapur, 26 kms.
By Road : Chandrapur-Bhadravati, 26 kms.
By Air : Nearest airport is Nagpur, 123 kms.
State Transport buses ply from Nagpur, Chandrapur, Warora.

Dhapewada :
Dhapewada is situated on the bank of Chandraprabha river. The town possesses a notable temple of Vithoba, overlooking the river. It was built by Umaji Aba, Diwan to Raja Baji Rao Bhonsla. Dhapewada is known as Vidarbha's Pandharpur.

Getting there :

By Rail : Nearest rail head is Nagpur, 36 kms.
By Road : Nagpur-Dhapewada is 36 kms.
By Air : Nearest airport is Nagpur, 36 kms.
State Transport buses ply from Nagpur, Kalmeshwar-Saoner.

Khindsey Lake :
This is a beautiful lake in the green expanse, situated beneath the Ramtek hill. A gleeful and cheerful site to spend your lovely holidays. A lake enriched by the Vidarbha's first thrilling water sports is just 5 kms. away from Ramtek.

Khekranala :
Khekranala is a dam site situated in Khapa range forest. This area is palm green and finest natural and fascinating with a bracing climate and healthy environment round the year. The water reservoir is idyllic and surrounded by the thick forest on two side.

Getting there :

By Rail : Nearest rail head is Nagpur, 55 kms.
By Road : Nagpur-Khekranala, 55 kms.
By Air : Nearest airport is Nagpur, 55 kms.
State Transport buses ply from Nagpur, Khapa, Saoner.

Markanda :
Markand is a smal village situated on the left bank of the Vainganga river and is known as a place of pilgrimage. The Markanda is supposed to derive its name from Sage Markandeya and second from a beautiful group of temples including the one housing Siva Linga which Markandeya is believed to have worshipped. There are nearly twenty four temples in the group. There are no inscriptions to tell their age but their style is similar to that of the temples of Khajuraho.
Getting there :

By Rail : Nearest rail head is Chandrapur, 91 kms.
By Road : Gadchiroli-Markanda 47, kms.
By Air : Nearest airport is Nagpur, 177 kms. State Transport buses ply from Gadchiroli, Chamorshi.

Mumbai Travel Information

2007-06-19T23:16:00.005-07:00

Mumbai is home to people of all Indian creeds and cultures, a fascinating city, throbbing with life and for many people 'GATEWAY TO INDIA'. Mumbai is a group of seven islands (Colaba, Mahim Mazgaon, Parel, Worii, Girgaum and Dongri) whose inhabitants, the Kolis have given the city its Indian name Mumbai, after their Goddess, Mother Mumba Aai.

The early Hindu rulers were conquered by Sultants of Gujarat who were later superseded by the Portuguese. The British, who followed, received these seven islands as a dowry when Charles II married Catherine of Braganza.

The British in turn leased them to East India Company. A far sighted President of the company, the real founder of the present city, was Gerald Aungier. He invited Hindu and Parsi merchants from Gujarat to come to Bombay and develop it, giving them all help and city never looked back.

How To Reach

Air :
Most of the inteniational airlines touch Mumbai and connect it with cities of the world. Domestic airlines connect Mumbai with all parts of India.

Rail :
Mumbai is connected with all major cities and towns of the country by rail.

Road :
Mumbai is connected by good motorable roads with all major tourist centres all over India.

There are regular bus services to Goa,Ahmedabad, Aruangabad, Bangalore, Belgaum, Bhaynagar, Hyderabad, Mangalore, Udaipur and many other places. The State Transport operates regular and semi-luxury buses to all towns as well as villages within the State.

Distances From Mumbai

Aurangabad 388 km; Nasik 188 km; Shirdi 278 km; Matherab 104 km; Karla 104 km; Pune 170 km; Mahad 177 km; Mahabaleshwar 238 km; Harihareshwar; Ganapatipule 374 km; Sindhudurg 532 km.

There is a daily service by ship between Mumbai and Goa (Except during monsoon).

All types of tourist vehicles are easily available on hire.

Mahabaleshwar Travel Information

2007-06-19T23:16:00.003-07:00

At 1, 372 metres above sea level, Mahabaleshwar is one of the most spectacular and the largest of Maharashtra's hill-stations. Mahabaleshwar is Sanskrit for God of Great Power. The first Briton to set foot here was Sir Charles Malet in 1791. Under General Peter Lodwick and Sir John Malcolm, the Governor of Bombay, a sanatorium was built in 1828. Mahabaleshwar was then considered a British territory and was named 'Malcolm Peth' for some years. The bazaar is still named so. John Malcolm was completely taken in by the hill-station.

Under British rule, roads were built, following which several resorts quickly sprang up. Bungalows, churches and the Mahabaleshwar Club were built. A polo ground and race course were opened. In the 19th century, as soon as the sanatorium was founded, an open jail reformatory centre was established. Convicts from China and Malaysia were stationed here. They were involved in constructing roads, grinding cornflour, maintaining potato cultivations and other vegetable gardens in the English resorts. Now, the Public Works Department bungalow stands on the site of the prison. Mahabaleshwar was the summer capital of the Governor of the old Bombay Presidency. The Britishers built various mansions, cottages and bungalows around the town, lending it a charming, sophistication.

The place is popular with tourists, especially from Mumbai and Pune, wanting to take a break from the rush of the rat race. The hill-station is very crowded during vacations like Christmas & Diwali and in summers.

Unlike Matheran, Mahabaleshwar has long motorable roads to its sights and points. And several taxis stand by to help you on your way. If you're in a more adventurous mood, you could even hire a pony for the birdle paths, instead of a vehicle.

Places of Interest

Mount Malcolm :
It used to be the most famous building in the olden days. It was built in 1829 with magnificent architectural skills. Unfortunately, it has lost a lot of its old charm now.

Catholic Church :
A visit to the old Roman Catholic Holy Cross church is worth a detour. Although the church is practically falling apart, its stained-glass windows are still a sight to behold. This deserted church is now looked after by a Hindu family.

Mahabaleshwar Club :
The club was built in 1881 and is still flourishing and well-maintained. Only members of the club can stay here. It is very popular for its well-tended roses and lovely jogging track. Christmas is grandly celebrated by loyal members every year. Fortunately, one facility is open to visitors; who can use the golf-course whenever they feel like it.

Morarji Castle :
Also worth a look is this old structure. Mahatma Gandhi once lived here in 1945.

Pratapgad Fort :
This is 24 kms. away from Mahabaleshwar. The fort was built in 1656 by Moropant Trimbak Pingle under the command of the Maratha ruler Shivaji. It was here that the mighty General of Bijapur, Afzal Khan, was killed by Shivaji. The fort has a great view.

Various Points in Mahabaleshwar :
There are various points around the edges looking out over the flat-topped ghats, dense forests and lush green valleys below. Almost 1,240 metres above sea level, Lodwick Point has a great view. There is a monument in memory of the general, erected by his son. Between Lodwick Point and Elphinstone Point lies the Dhobi waterfalls. Also on the path to Elphinstone Point is a small scenic spot overlooking the Koyna river valley. Elphinstone Point is named after a former Governor of Bombay. Lying at 1,348 mts above sea-level is Arthur's Seat, overlooking the beautiful Jor Valley. About a kilometre from this is Tiger's Spring and, following the same path, you will reach a small ledge known as 'The Window'. The view form here is simply mesmerising.

For those looking for a spiritual experience, there are the Krishna and Mahabaleshwar Temples. As well as the point of the five rivers which flow over the Deccan Plateau, namely the Krishna, Koyna, Savitri, Veena & Gayatri. Mahabaleshwar was considered a holy place with a strong historical background for centuries. The name Mahabaleshwar means great ("Maha") power ("Bali"). The place is still frequented by local devotees. Another interesting temple is a black stone one, a little ahead from the others, with a lovely view.

Kate's Point, along Duchess Road, at 1,290 metres is yet another great point to look over. The Lingmala waterfall, at the top of Venna Valley, six kms. from the post office, is the most impressive spot of Mahabaleshwar. The uninterrupted fall descends down, five-six hundred feet from the cliff.

A little ahead of the falls, Wilson Point stands at 1,435 metres, the highest point in the hill. South east from this point lies Helen's Point at the Blue Valley, overlooking the Panchgani and Gaolani Points. Babington Point overlooks the Koyna Valley. Heading south from this point is Chinaman'' Waterfall. Falkland Point follows next in line. Nearby is Carnac Point, named after Six James Rivett Carnac. Yet another spectacular view is seen ahead at Bombay Point. If you enjoy boating you will find boats for hire on the Central Yenna Lake next to the golf course.

Around Mahabaleshwar :
Tucked away in Satara district, just 19 kms east of Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani is also amongst the most frequented hill resorts. The name is derived from the fact that it is located at the centre of five hills ("Panch" = five, "Gani" = hills). The place is well known for trekking and other adventure activities. Climb atop 'Table Land', a famous flat-mountain top, from where you can have a look at the vast plain below. The berry farms here are another tourist attraction.

More Details

Climate: It has a pleasant climate throughout the year. In summers, temperatures range between 16 and 20 degrees celcuis and in winters it falls even further.

Languages Spoken : Marathi, Hindi and English.

Clothing : Since the climate is pleasant throughout the year, loose cotton attire is preferable. Although during winters light woollen clothes are advisable.

What to buy :
In Mahableshwar honey and strawberry crushes & jams are very famous. The place also has a wide variety of chikki (a famous local sweet).

Goa Travel Information

2007-06-19T23:16:00.001-07:00

Goa which was liberated on 19th December, 1961 alongwhh Daman and Diu from 451 years Portuguese Colonial Rule, became the 25th State of the Indian Union when it was conferred Statehood on 30th May, 1987.

The State of Goa has a Legislative Assembly with a strength of 40 elected members. Besides, Goa has three elected representatives in the Central Parliament. The Governor is the Head of the State and is advised by a Council of Ministers headed by Chief Minister. Panaji, a small picturesque town on the left bank of river Mandovi, is the seat of the State Administration.

Ensconced on the slopes of the Western ghats (Sahyadri ranges) Goa is bounded on the North by Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, on the East by Belgaum, on the South by Karwar district of Kamataka and on the West by Arabian Sea.

Goa : Places of Interest
Mapusa | Margo | Marmugao Harbour | Panaji | Pilar | Vasco-Da-Gama

Goa Beaches
Calangute | Colva Beach | Dona Paula | Miramar | Anjuna | Vagator | Arambol Beach | Palolem

Places of Worship in Goa
Churches | Temples | Mosques

Goa : Wildlife
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary | Bondla Forest | Catigao Wildlife Sanctuary | Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary

Goa : Fairs & Festivals
Hindu | Carnival | Christian | Muslim | Other Festival

Goa : Museums & Art Gallery

Gandhinagar Travel Information

2007-06-19T23:15:00.005-07:00

Gandhinagar, named after the father of the Nation, is the new capital city of Gujarat. Built on the river Sabarmati it is just 32 kms away from Ahmedabad. In 1960 when the old Bombay State was partitioned into Maharashtra and Gujarat, the city of Bombay went to Maharashtra. It was then decided to construct a new capital for Gujarat. Thus was the genesis of Gandhinagar, the second planned city in India after Chandigarh.

Gandhinagar occupies an area 57 sq. kms. It presents a spacious, well designed look of an architecturally integrated city. It has 30 sectors with each sector having its own shopping, health, housing colonies and community centre. Extensive planting of trees and large recreational areas along the river gives the city a fresh, green garden city atmosphere. The famous temple of Swaminarayan is also built in Gandhinagar.

Places of Interest :
Akshardham is the famous temple of "Swaminarayan Sect" which is the richest sect in the world. It is a unique cultural complex built in Gandhinagar in memory of Lord Swaminrayan. Inspired by H. D. Pramukh Swami Maharaj,Akshardham is a miracle worked by the service and devotion of thousands of volunteers. It is an intricately carved, majestic monuments of 6000 tons of pink sand stone awash with spiritual stillness. The entire monument was built without the use of steel. Besides a 7 feet gold leafed idol of Lord Swaminarayan and his holy relics, there are three exhibitions on Indian Culture with light and Sound shows, a multimedia show and an animatronic show. Games, rides and food refreshments are other attractions of Akshardham.

How to get there

Air: Nearest Airport is Ahmedabad.

Railway: Nearest Railway Stations are Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad.

Road: State transport buses connects various centres of Gujarat. It is situated 32 Kms. north east of Ahmedabad.

Ganpatipule Travel Information

2007-06-19T23:15:00.003-07:00

Mix religion with relaxation. For Ganapatipule offers itself as an ancient pilgrim centre bearing a Swayambhoo (a naturally formed idol) of Ganapati and Glittering white-sand beach. Flanked by stretches of scenery, Ganapatipule is the seaside resort of today especially for families. Some interesting day-trips are the Jaigad beach and the fort, the Velneshwar Beach, Temple and Pawas, where Swami Swarupanand's Ashram is located.

Getting There :

By Air : Nearest airport is Mumbai.

By Rail : Convenient railhead is Ratnagiri, 50 kms. on the Konkan Railway.

By Road : Mumbai-Ganapatipule, 375 kms. via Mahad. Pune-Ganapatipule 331 kms. via Satara, Kolhapur-Ganapatipule, 144 kms.

State Transport buses ply from Mumbai and Ratnagiri to Ganapatipule. MTDC bus plies between Mumbai & Ganapatipule. (Seasonal)

Ellora Travel Information

2007-06-19T23:15:00.001-07:00

The cave temples and monasteries at Eitora, excavated out of the vertical face of an escarpment, are 26 kms. north of Aurangabad. Extending in a linear arrangement, the 34 caves contain Buddhist Chaityas, or hails of worship, and Viharas. or monasteries, Hindu and Jain temples. Spanning a period of about 600 years between the 5th and 11th century AD. The earliest excavation here is of the Dhumar Lena (Cave 29).

The most imposing excavation is, without doubt, that of the magnificent Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) which is the largest single monolithic structure in the world- Interestingly. Eitora. Unlike the site of Ajanta.. was never 'rediscovered. Known as Verul in ancient times, it has continuously attracted pilgrims through the centuries to the present day.

Ellora has been designated as a World Heritage Site. to be preserved as an artistic legacy that will continue to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to come.

Listing of Caves:

Buddhist Caves :
Caves 1 to 12at the southern end.5th Century to 7th Century AD
Hindu Caves:
Caves 13 to 29 in the middle.
8th Century to 10th Century AD.
Jain Caves:
Caves 30 to 34 at the northern end.
9th Century to 11th Century AD.
Source; Archaeological Survey of India

Cave 1 : This is the first monastery at the southern end of Eilora. It has four residential cells cut into the side walls. The cave is devoid of any carvings or sculptures.

Cave 2 : This has a verandah, with a recess at the right, housing images of Panchika, the god of wealth, and Hariti the goddess of prosperity. The entrance is flanked by guardians, next to whom are figures of the Buddha and other divinities. Each of the lateral wells m the hall has sculptures of five seated Buddhas flanked by celestial figures and by Bodhisattvas, or saintly beings who are destined to become Buddhas. A similar but larger figure of the Buddha can be seen in the sanctuary. The porch to the right of the sanctuary depicts the Miracle ofShravasti when the Buddha manifested himself in a thousand forms.

Cave 3 : This cave has an unfinished image of the seated Buddha in a shrine Pot and foliage motifs adorn the columns of the hall.

Cave 4 : A two-storeyed excavation this cave is now mostly in ruins. At tne lower level is a pain hall, with a columned aisle leading to a shrine, where a figure of the seated Buddha is accompanied by attendants. A similar but smaller shrine is located on the upper storey.

Cave 5 : Excavated at a higher level, this large cave consists of a spacious hall divided into three aisles. Porches in the middle of the side walls have small cells on either side Columns are decorated with medallions and other motifs surrounded by intricate foliage. Severai benches are carved out of the floor. The entrance to the central shrine 's carved with Bodhisattvas bedecked with intricate headgear and jewellery. In the shrine is a figure of the seated Buddha.

Cave 6 : The rectangular hail in this cave has columns with pot and foliage capitals. The walls of an antechamber in the rear of the hall, which leads into a small shrine, are covered with figures of the Bodhisattva and the goddesses Tara and Mahamayuri The doorway of the shrine is carved with elaborate sculptures on either side. On the left is Avalokiteshwara holding a lotus and a rosary in his hands, with a deer-skin draped on hss left shoulder. On the right is the sculpture of Mahamayuri the Buddhist goddess of learning, with a piumed peacock by her side. Within the shrine is the figure of the seated Buddha, flanked by multiple smaller Buddhist figures, attendants and devotees on the side wails.

Cave 7 : This is a simple hail with four plain pillars.

Cave 8 : This is the only monastery at Ellora. where the sanctum is isolated from the rear wail. with a circular passage around it The passageway has three cells on the left. an incomplete columned gallery at the rear and two columns in the front Sculptures of the Buddha adorn the hall.

Cave 9 : This consists of an open terrace with a baicony and a shnne housing figures of Buadhist divinitses The embellished facade has. among other motifs, an unusual scene of the goddess Tara rescuing devotees from the perils of a snake, a sword, an elephant (left). fire and a shipwreck (right).

Cave 10 (Vishvakarma) : Named after Vishvakarma the architect of the gods. this cave marks the culmination of Chaitya architecture in India The hall has porticos on three sides, raised on a basement carved with animals.

A long frieze depicting a hunting scene appears above the brackets in the hall. A Stupa in the middle of the rear wall has a seated Buddha figure. A filght of steps in the verandah leads to the upper gallery. The facade behind this gallery consists of a doorway flanked by Chaitya a window motifs, flying celestials, ana Bodhisattvas with female attendants. On either side of the doorway, to the inner gallery. Are recesses housing the figures of female deities and the Bodhisattva A large figure of the Buddha, in the teaching position, is carved on to the front of the centra! Stupa accompanied by flying attendants and Bodhisattvas

Cave 11 (Do Tal) : A three-storeyed excavation aating back to the 8th century. Do Tal, or two storeys- was the name erroneously given to this cave when its ground floor was buried under deDris. The lowest level has two cells and a central sanctuary with figures of the Buddha in the leaching position Tne intermediate ievei consists of five excavations, the first being incomplete and the last being a cell with a rock-cut bed The remaining three have images of the Buddha extended by Bodhisattvas The uppermost level has a long columned hall with a shrine in the centre. On the rear wall are images of the goddess Durga and Lord Ganesha, indicating that this cave was later converted for worship by the Hindus.

Cave 12 (Teen Tal) : A three-storeyed excavation, this is the last in the series of Buddhist caves. The lowest floor consists of a long hall with small cells carved in the side walls and a shrine in the centre. The intermediate level has similar architecture. The upper level has a hall with rows of seven Buddhas fianked by flying figures on both sides of the antechamber. Within the antechamber, leading into the shrine, are twelve goddesses seated on double-petalled lotus flowers.

Cave 13 : This is the first in the series of Hindu caves at Ellora. It only has a small storage hall.

Cave 14 (Ravana ki Khai) : A single-storeyed excavation dating from the 7th century, this is a small sanctuary with a doorway adorned with large guardians and river goddesses The panels carved on the side walls of the hall include various Hindu deities. On the left walt are sculptures of the goddess Durga. Lord Vishnu seated with Shridevi and Bhudevi and Lord Vishnu with his consort. The right wall has sculptures of Durga, the dancing Shiva, Ravana shakma Mount Kailasa (the sculoture from which the cave derives its name) and Shiva speanng Andhaka the demon.

Cave 15 (Dashavatara) : This was excavated as a Buddhist monastery in the 8th century and, was later, converted to a place of Hindu worship. It has an open court with a free-standing, monolithic Mandapa, or a columned hall, in the middle and a two-storeyed temple at the rear. The doorway of the Mandapa is flanked by the river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna. On the roof are reclining lions and seated Ganas, or dwarfs. A flight of steps, to the left of the entrance, ascends to a spacious Mandapa on the upeer floor. Large sculptural panels occupying the spaces between the columns illustrate the ten incarnations, the Dashavatara, of Lord Vishnu and a wide range of mythological subjects. Clockwise, from the front of the left wall, are Shiva spearing Andhaka, Shiva and Parvati playing dice, and the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. Among other sculptures on the rear wall, from the left, are Shiva emerging from the Linga to rescue Markandeya, a young devotee, and Shiva containing the force of the river Ganga in his hair.

Cave 16 (Kailasa) : The most stupendous single work of art ever executed in India, this is an elaborately embellished, three-storey high temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is unique for being carved out of solid rock from top to bottom. The exterior wall has a gateway in the middle that leads into a spacious court surrounding the main temple. In from is the free-standing Nandi pavillion with richly decorated, 17-metre high monolithic columns, spending on either side. A pair of three-dimensional elephants stands nearby.

Porticos and shrines are cut into the side walls of the court. To the left of the entrance is a shrine housing images of the river goddesses and, to its immediate right, is the Lankeshvara Temple.

The west facing temple is raised on a solid lower storey, with its walls sculpted with elephants gathering lotus flowers. At the upper level, is a 16-columned Mandapa with three porches. Bridges connect the front porch with the Nandi pavilion and, in turn, with the upper storey of the gateway.

The sculptural scheme at Kailasa is elaborate. Guardians and river goddesses appear at the gateway of the complex, while Durga (right) and Ganesha (left) flank the interior passageway. The two staircases leading to the Mandapa of the main temple are carved with narrative friezes. These include episodes from the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The pannels which adorn the lower storey depict Shiva dancing with the skin of the elephant demon. The upper storey Mandapa walls show. the vulture, Jatayu. attacking Ravana (south), among others. In the subsidiary shrines are images of the goddesses Lakshmi and Durga among other deities.

Cave 17 : This cave, partly incomplete, is noteworthy for its richly decorated doorway and pillars. Caves 18, 19 & 20 : These caves adhere to the usuai pattern of traditional Hindu architecture.

Cave 21 (Rameshvara) : This ss one of the earliest excavations at Ellora dating back to the 7th century. It is approached through a court with a monolithic Nandi. on a plinth. This leads to a verandah. on the left of which is the gracefully posed figure of the river goddess Ganga, while the figure of Yamuna is sculpted on the right. Carved panels in the hall include the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, their warrior son Kartikeya, and Durga (left end of the shrine), the dancing Shiva, the seven Matrikas - a group of seven goddesses, with Lord Ganesha and Shiva holding the Veena, and the skeletal Kala and Kali (right end of the shrine).

Caves 22 to 28 : Except for the free-standing Nandi shrine in Cave 22 and a sculpture of Surya. the sun god, on the ceiling of Cave 25, there is nothing particularly noteworthy in these caves.

Cave 29 (Dhumar Lena) : The earliest excavation at Ellora. this cave has a shrine, with a Shiva Linga inside. The four entrances of the shrine are guarded by Dwarapalas. or guardians. and accompanying lady attendants. On the left and right walls are scenes of Shiva and Parvati.

Cave 30 (Chhota Kailasa) : This is the first in the series of Jain excavations. and an incomplete, miniature replica of the Kailasa Temple (carved ornamentation is mostly restricted to the Jam saints and goddesses.

Twenty-two seated Tirthankaras, or teachers worshipped by the Jains, are located in the Mandapa. An image of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism. seated on a lion throne, is enshrined in the sanctuary.

Cave 31: This is an extension of Cave 32 rather than a separate excavation.

Cave 32 (Indra Sabha) : This is the finest excavation of the Jain caves. An open court, with its sides adorned with lions, elephant friezes and Tirthankaras has a monolithic shrine in the centre. A double-storeyed temple is excavated into the rear side of the court.On the lower level is an unfinished Mandapa comprising incomplete cells. Tne upper storey has a similar columned Mandapa which is more complete. With a sanctuary in the middle of its rear wall. Among the sculptures deserving special attention are Ambika, the mother goddess, with a child in her lap, a lion beneath and a huge tree above. Other panels depict Lord Mahavira Gommateshwara- son of Adinatha, the first Tirthankara. and Parshwanatha - the second last Tirthankara. Paintings on the ceiling of the upper Mandapa show couples and maidens flying through the clouds.

Cave 33 (Jagannath Sabha) : This cave has five independent shrines, each with a columned Mandapa and a sanctuary built on two levels.

Cave 34 : The last in the series of Jain caves, this is a small sanctuary-situated at the extreme northern end. The shrine door is carved with figures of Matanga and Sidhaika, on either side. A seated figure of Mahavira is housed in the centre of the shrine.

Elephanta Island Travel Information

2007-06-18T18:30:00.001-07:00

9 nautical miles across the sea from the Gateway of India lies Elephanta, also known as 'Gharapur'. Visit this green island for the wonders of the 7th century, the painstakingly hewn rock-cut cave temple, dedicated to Shiva. The Maheshamurti panel in which Shiva is shown as a creator, protector and destroyer, is a sight that should be enjoyed at least once in a life-time. Regular excursions to Elephanta start every day from the Gateway of India.

Getting there :

By Air : Nearest airport is Mumbai 20 kms. up to Gateway and 9 nautical miles across the sea.

By Rail : Nearest railheads are Churchgate (W.R.) & Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST, C.R.)

Bhandardara Travel Information

2007-06-18T18:29:00.003-07:00

A quiet, away-from-it-all, little holiday resort, with lovely picnic spots. Arhur Lake set amidst scenic forests affords many hours of entertainment. The streamlet from the lake cascades down 45 m. as the Randha Falls. The Wilson Dam at a height of 150 m. is yet another lovely sight. Overlooking Bhandardara is Mt. Kalsubai, the highest peak in the state.

For adventure-loving trekkers, Bhandardara is an ideal destination. The Ratangad Fort, one of Shivaji's favourite forts, is an interesting climb.

Getting there :

By Air : Nearest airport is Mumbai.

By Rail : Igatpuri, 45 kms. on Central Railway is the nearest railhead.

By Road : Mumbai-Bhandardara, 185 kms. Pune-Bhandardara, 191 kms.

Aurangabad Travel Information

2007-06-18T18:29:00.001-07:00

Aurangabad. There is a lilt and rhythm to the name evoking memories of a splendid heritage for this city was founded as a viceregal capital in the Deccan by the Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb. The fort wall surrounding the city is a poignant reminder of its ancient history. Though the splendour of the 16th and 17th centuries found its finest expressions in the royal monuments of Delhi and Agra, there is enough in Aurangabad to reward the curious visitor.

BIBI KA MAQBARA
From Persia came the idea of an arched alcove surmounted by a swelling dome, developing its own individual character in India - seen at its height of perfection in the Taj. Bibi Ka Maqbara, the tomb of Begum Rabia Durani, wife of the Emperor Aurangazeb, is a pleasing example of the same idea. It was built by her son in tribute to his beloved mother.

PAN CHAKKI
An intriguing water mill dating back to the 17th Century. Ingenious engineers channelled and brough down water from a spring on a hill some distance away to generate energy to turn the large grinding stones which served as a flour mill in times gone by.

AURANGABAD CAVES
Hidden in the hills just outside of the city are a cluster of caves probably excavated in the early sixth century. There are Tantric influences evident in the iconography and architectural designs of the caves. Some of the chaitya halls here are constructed on a mandala plan for the circumambulation of the Buddha who is depicted here seated on an intricately carved throne.

AJANTA
It takes barely two hours to cover the 99 km. From Auragabad to Ajanta, two hours to transport you to the second century B.C. when the first of these caves was hollowed out from the side of the cliff.

Early in the 19th century a party of British officers scrambling over the thickly wooded slopes of the Sahyadri hills, discovered these caves buried under debris and screened by foliage. Strung out in a sweeping horseshoe shape in an inner fold of the hills, the caves were a seculded retreat for Buddhist monastic orders and yet offered easy access to the trade routes that swung past here to the coast.

With little more than hammer and chisel but with a deep faith inspiring them, these simple monks excavated chaityas, chapels for prayer and viharas, monasteries where they lived and tought and carried out ritual performances.

The 30 caves of Ajanta, some unfinished, span a period of 800 years and contain numerous images of Buddha. The sculpture in cave 26 is elaborate and beautiful; highlights here are the panel of the temptation of Buddha and the Parinivrvana depicting the breaking of earthly ties and Buddha's passing into nirvana - a wonderful recumbent figure amid people in attitudes of mourning and sorrows. The arched chaitya window set into the elegantly simple façade of cave 9 (first century B.C.) is repeated in the elaborate frontage of cave 19 (fifth century), which has several figures of Buddha on the portico. This is a fully developed chaitya with a slender votive stupa enclosing a standing Buddha at the far end. Of particular note here is a sculpture of a seated Nagaraja with his consort and female attendant. Cave 16 is an elegant vihara with an inscription that mentions the king and his minister who built this cave. The shrine has a towering figure of Buddha preaching, flanked by attendants with fly whisks. Although tucked away deep withing the folds of the hills, the sancturies are illuminated by natural light for some part of the day. Using metal mirrors to reflect sunlight into the inner recesses, monks and artists painted the wonderful frescoes that glow on these walls. These were in a fairly good state when the caves were first discovered but have deteriorated over the years with dampness and exposure to ever increasing numbers of tourists every year. Still in caves 1, 2, 16 and 17 you can see some undamaged portions of frescoes that are vibrant and clear; the fading colours recall how beautiful these caves must have been in centuries gone by. Ajanta is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India and has been included in the World Heritage list of monuments.

The Boddhisatvas who figure prominently in the Ajanta paintings are celestial beings, often personifications of the virtues of Buddha, who visit the world of men. In later Buddhist philosophy, the time when these rock shrines were hewn out of the hill side, the Boddhisatvas were beings who had renounced the attainment of nirvana to attend to human needs. The Boddhisatva Padmapani (cave 1) is a wonderful portrayal of the tender compassion that infuses his ministry to suffering mankind - gentle eyes, delicate lips about to speak words of consolatioin and a lotus held in a beautifully drawn hand. In the same cave you see the golden figure of Avalokiteswara with an elaborate crown hung with looped stands of pearls; pearl necklaces adorn his handsome body and a gold girdle fastens his striped garment.

Under the royal patronage of ruling dynasties, professional artists helped the monks and left a record of contemporary life with palaces and princesses and processions along with tales of piety and faith. Narrative panels in the caves illustrate stories from the Jatakas - the large collection of tales of the previous births of Buddha and his increasing strength and moral stature through one incarnation after another. Symbolic of the soul's long journey through many births, these tales for the benefits and instruction of people are depicted here in artistic detail.

The nymphs, princesses and attendants of Ajanta are women of exquisite elegance and charm, hair dressed in intricate styles and jewels highlighting slender necks and waists.

The flying apsara (cave 17, fifth century) in a fashionable embroidered turban tells you of the splendid jewellery worn by high born women; the pearl tassels of her necklace and turban swing delicately with her aerial movement. Row upon row of Buddha figures 'The thousand Buddhas', intrigue the observer in cave 2. Queen Maya's dream of the white elephant, interpreted by royal astrologers to mean the birth of an illustrious son, is a detailed panel in cave 2. Look for the dark princess and the lively panel of a dancing girl and musicians (cave 1). Eloquent and moving is the tall Buddha with a begging bowl asking alms from his wife and son in cave 19.

A court scene (cave 1) featuring a bearded man in fur trimmed hat and boots, surrounded by attendants is believed to depict the reception of a Persian embassy at Chalukys court.

From this vast collection of classical Indian art sprang the style that travelled out with Buddhism to many parts of the world. Buddhist painting in Sigiriya in Sri Lanka, Bamiyan in Afghanistan, Tibet, Nepal, China and in Japan all trace their origins to the classic mode first expressed in the Ajanta frescoes.

In their range of time and treatment the paintings at Ajanta are a panorama of life in ancient India and could well the studied for a description of the culture of those times the architectural details of buildings, the variety of textiles used for the different purposes, hair styles, ornaments and jewellery, family life, court scenes, street scenes, musicians and their instruments and many beasts and birds and flowers. Grace, lightness and movement infuse these paintings which never seem still - a swirling many-splendoured pagentry of life.

Before you leave, climb up to the flat top of the hill opposite the caves for a wonderful sweeping view of the horseshoe shaped gorge of Ajanta.

ELLORA
Even more impressive in terms of architectural splendour are the cave temples of Ellora, about 30 km. From Aurangabad. Here are some 34 caves, carved out in a curve on the slopes of low hills; 16 of them are Hindu, 13 Buddhist and five of the Jain faith. And yet no signs of religious hostility disturb the tranquil atmosphere of Ellora. These rock temples and monasteries were constructed between the fifth and eighth centuries A.D.

The Kailasa temple, dedicated to Shiva, is unquestionably the most glorious achievement here. Transcending the earlier concept of a cave temple hollowed out of rock, the whole splendid structure of Kailasa is "an enormous monolithic rock carving in architectural form" Three great trenches were cut down into the rock and beginning from the top of the cliff, work progressed down to the base. Massive blocks had to be left intact to fashion the inner sanctuary, the porch, the two free standing pillars, the life sized elephant in the courtyard, lesser shrines and cloisters. The main shrine was placed on a high podium which was carved in a continuous frieze of lions and elephants that seem to carry the massive structure effortlessly on their backs as they march in slow procession.

And all this accomplished by hammer and chisel held in the hands! The deep relief of the Shaivite themes and incidents from the Puranas that so profusely ornament the Kailasa temple make them appear almost like free standing sculptures. The Kailasa temple alone would absorb all your time in Ellora. Yet there is so much here…

The impressive double-storied Visvakarma (cave 10) has a trefoil window in the façade of the upper level, set off by beautifully grouped flying figures. This is both chaitya and vihara with a seated Buddha in the stupa. There are dwarfs dancing and playing musical instruments in bands of frieze above the pillars. Next to this is a three storied monastery (cave 11). Exquisitely carved bracket figures of river goddesses adorn the entrance to Ramesvara (cave 21) which has a low parapet wall with a long freize of elephants.

Dumar Lena (cave 29) is dedicated to Shiva and is similar in plan and style to the great cave shrine at Elephanta.

The most interesting of the Jain caves is 32 with a beautiful lotus carved on the ceiling of the shrine and a magnificent yakshi seated on her lion under a mango tree laden with fruit. This is a double-storied cave with paintings in a fair state of presentation on the ceilings.

EXCURSION :

DAULATABAD :
This fortress with an amazing history started as an old Hindu stronghold that was captured and plundered in the 13th century. Made the second capital of the Delhi Sultanate a hundred years later, Daulatabad was held as a fine fortress by successive dynasties in the Deccan. Dominated by a great conical hill, daulatabad commanded a natural pass; artificial scarping made it impregnable. The Chand Minar, a 30 m. high minaret with three circular galleries, looked down over the approach from the north and east and had a defensive as well as religious role in this fortress.

KHULDABAD :
A few kilometres from Daulatabad is the austere, plastered masonry monument that commemorates the memory of Aurangazeb who directed that his tomb should be the simplest possible.

GHRISHNESHWAR TEMPLE
Less than half a kilometre from Ellora is the Ghrishneshwar Temple; one of the 5 Jyotirlingas of Maharashtra.

PITALKHORA
78 kms. from Aurangabad, in a remote and picturesque defile on the ancient trade route linking Ajanta and Ellora and progressing the coast, is a group of 13 cave sanctuaries - chaityas and viharas - dating back to the second century B.C. with additions in the fifth and sixth centuries. The beautiful sculptured façade of the great vihara (cave 4) still impresses though it has largely crumbled away. The relief work in Pithalkora is richer and more elaborate, the carving more precise, than at other early sites.

PAITHAN
The ancient city and pilgrimage centre of Paithan is situated on the banks of the Godavari, 56 kms. south of Aurangabad. The Marathi poet-saint Ekanath lived here and several centuries ago Paithan was famous as a seat of learning. It is also well-known for the beautiful 'Paithanis' - silk sarees with intricate zari borders.

Of special interest to nature lovers are the gardens around the Jayak Wadi Dam nearby where observation points enable you to watch resident and migratory birds.

Getting there :

The Deccan city of Aurangabad is a convenient base for visitng its ancient environs. It is accessible by air, rail and road from Mumbai & Delhi.
By Air : Aurangabad airport is 10km. From the city and is airlinked directly to Delhi and Mumbai.
By Rail : Aurangabad is a section on the Nanmad - Kachiguda line on SCR. Aurangabad is directly connected to Mumbai by rail.
Mumbai :- Aurangabad (via Manmad) 375km.
Delhi-Aurangabad (via Agra, Gwalior, Jhansi, Bhusawal, Manmad) 1395km.
Jalgoan, a railhead on CR, is only 59kms. from Ajanta.
By Road : Mumbai-Aurangabad is 388 km. (via Manmad) Mumbai-Aurangabad is 400km. (via Pune). Delhi-Aurangabad is 1323km. (via Mathura, Agra, Gwalior, Shivpuri, Indore, Dhule, Jalgoan, Ajanta).
S.T. buses run from Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Shirdi, Nashik & Dhule to Aurangabad, and from Jalgaon to Ajanta.

Shopping
Aurangabad is famous for its Himroo shawls, Mashru & Kimkhab weaves, Bidriware, agate stone and Paithani silk sarees.

General Information

The tourist season extends right round the year but the best time to visit is October to March. These are cooler months and the max. temp. is 340 while the min. is 120 C.

In summer, from April to June, the temperature ranges from a max. of 390 to a min. of 220C. The area records a rainfall of 800mm. From June to Sept. Clothing: cool cottons in summer and a light cardigan in winter. The languages spoken are Marathi, Hindi, Urdu and English.

Ajanta Travel Information

2007-06-18T18:28:00.001-07:00

About 107 kms. from the city of Aurangabad. the rock-cut caves of Ajanta nestie m a panoramic gorge, in the form of a gigantic horseshoe. Among the finest examples of some of the earliest Buddhist architecture, cave-paintings and sculptures, these caves comprise Chaitya Halts, or shrines, dedicated to Lord Buddha and Viharas, or monasteries, used by Buddhist monks for meditation and the study of Buddhist teachings.

The paintings that adorn the walls and ceilings of the caves depict incidents from the life of the Buddha and various Buddhist divinities. Among the more interesting paintings are the Jataka taies, illustrating diverse stories relating to the previous incarnations of the Buddha as Bodhisattva, a saintly being who is destined to become the Buddha.

Occupied for almost 700 years, the caves of Ajanta seem to have been abandoned rather abruptly. They remained shrouded in obscurity for over a millennium, till John Smith, a British army officer, accidentally stumbled upon them while on a hunting expedition in 1819.

The 'View Point' - from where John Smith first glimpsed the caves, provides a magnificent sight of the U-shaped gorge and its scenic surroundings.

Cascading down the cliff is 3 spectacular waterfall, which at the bottom feeds a natural pool calledthe Saptakunda.

Ajanta has been designated as a World Heritage Site. to be preserved as an artistic legacy that will continue to suspire and enrich the lives of generations to come.

Listing of Caves
Phase 1 : 2nd century BC to 1st century BC.Caves 9 & 10: Chaitya Halls or shrines.
Caves 12 & 13: Viharas or monasteries.
Phase II : 5th century AD to 6th century AD.
Caves 19, 26 & 29: Chaitya Halls or shrines.
Caves 1-7,11,14-18, 20-25, 27 & 28: Viharas or monasteries.
Unfinished Caves : 3, 5, 8, 23-25. 28 & 29.

The caves of Ajanta can be classified into two distinct phases: the earlier Hinayana phase (I). In which the Buddha was worshipped only in the form of certain symbols. And the later Mahayana phase ('il). in which the Buddha was worshipped in his physical form.

Cave 1 : This is one of the finest monasteries at Ajanta. Graciously posed Bodhisattvas with elaborate head-dresses flank the antechamber doorway. On its either side are two of the best known murals-Bodhisattva Padmapani holding a lotus (left) and Bodhisattva Vajrapani holding a thunderboit (right.) accompanied by attendants, divine musicians and fiying figures. The left wall of the antechamber depicts the assault and temptation by Mara, the god of passion, and on the right wall is the dark princess being offered lotuses by a lady. In the shrine, the Buddha is seen in the teaching position. Under his throne appears the Wheel of Life The left wall of the hall shows scenes from the Mahajanaka Jataka To the right of the rear wall are episodes from the Champeyya Jataka.

Cave 2 : It is remarkable for the painted celling with large medallions, delicate bands of lotus flowers, scroll work and abstract geometric patterns. Episodes connected with the birth of the Buddha such as the dream of his mother Maya, its interpretation by the priests and the birth of Gautama occupy the left wall. Next to this is a representation of the Miracle of Shravasti when the Buddha manifested himself in a thousand forms.

Cave 4 : Planned on a grandiose scale, but never completed. this is the largest monastery at Ajanta it has a central doorway embellished with guardians, flying figures, maidens clutching trees and also images of the Buddha and Ganas, or dwarfs, with garlands Six gigantic standing figures of the Buddha are carved m the walls of the antechamber.

Cave 6 : Excavated on two levels, it has a splendidly carved entrance. The lower hail has 16 octagonal columns In the shrine is the seated Buddha accompanied by standing Buddhas. The upper hall has only one painting, depicting the gift by a monk

Cave 7 : Unlike the other monasteries. this one contains only two small porticos and does not have a hall. The shrine has a seated Buddha with a halo carved on the back wait.

Cave 9 : Rectangular in plan, with a monolithic hemispherical Stupa in the centre Traces of wall-paintings can be seen above which are figures of the Buddha m various poses.

Cave 10 : Probably the earliest cave excavated at Ajanta The paintings through largely obliterated, reveal a royal personage accompanied by soldiers, musicians and dancers, worshipping the Bodhi Tree and the Stupa. Also of interest are the Jataka tales on the nght wall.

Cave 11 : Believed to be excavated in phase II, it has an entrance with a lion-head at each end of the threshold. The ceiling of the verandah is painted with trees, birds, beasts and geometric aesigns. The wails of the hati are adorned with figures of the Buddha.

Cave 12 : Among the earliest of monasteries its doorways in the hail are topped with arched Chaitya wmdow motifs. Particularly noteworthy is a Brahmi inscription recording the gift of the merchant Ghanamandada. on the rear wail of the cell in the right corner of the hail.

Cave 13 : It is a small monastery belonging to the earlier phase of excavation.The hall has seven narrow cells, each with two stone beds. One of the cells has a raised s.tone pillow in it.

Cave 14 : This cave, excavated at a higher level, can be reached by passing through an incomplete cave. It has a central doorway whose top is adorned with attendants and maidens clutching branches.

Cave 15 : A two-tiered structure, it has a Stupa with a canopy of serpent hoods in the lower tier The upper tier has a Chaitya window motif with a pair of beautifu!!y carved pigeons. The rear wall of the hall is carved with an image of the Buddha seated on a throne.

Cave 15A : Reached by a descending flight of steps near Cave 15. The walls of the hail are carved with Chaitya window motifs in relief Each of the cells in the hall has a door and raised platforms, which served as beds.

Cave 16 : It is one of the finest monasteries at Ajanta. It has a donative inscription of Varahadevaa minister of the king Harisena. The ceiling of the front aisle replicates wooden beams, the ends being supported by Ganas, musicians and flying couples. The teaching Buddha is seated on a iion-throne To his left is the Dying Princess (the bride of Buddha's cousin Nanda) On the right wall is the painting of Siddhartha (later the Buddha) using the bow. and the Buddha begging for alms from his wife and son. On the front wall of the hall are two scenes from the Jataka tales in which the Bodhisattva appears as an elephant and as a wise judge, settling a dispute between two women claiming motherhood of the same child.

Cave 17 : The greatest number of wall-paintings are preserved in this cave. The doorway shoves a row of eight Buddhas surrounded by female guardians, river goddesses, scroll work and lotus petals. On the left side wall of the verandah is the unusual composition of the Wheel of Life displaying all of creation. The paintings in the hall illustrate the Jataka tales.

Cave 18 : A rectangular excavation it has two pillars with moulded bases and octagonal shafts leading into another cell.

Cave 19 : One of the most perfectly executed rock-cut Chaityas with elaborately carved interiors. Seated Buddha figures as well as riders, flying figures, hermits and musicians adorn the column capitals. Two rows of richly decorated columns lead up to the standing Buddha. The shrine has a triple stone umbrella above the monolithic Stupa

Cave 20 : A small monastery with delicately carved verandah columns and bracket figures. The hall has no pillars, and some of the cells inside have, above their lintels, a design which resembles the Shikhara - the top of a temple.

Cave 21 : A monastery which, although only partially complete, has many richly ornamented columns. On the left wall is a fragment of a painting showing the Buddha preaching to the congregation. Above the side shrines of the verandah are carved Hariti, the goddess of prosperity. and her attendants to the right, and a court of Naga, the serpent king, to the left.

Cave 22 : Excavated at a higher level, this small monastery with a narrow verandah has four unfinished cells. On the right wall of the shrine are painted the seven Manushi-Buddhas with Maitreya. under their respective Bodhi Trees.

Cave 26 : The interior of this Chaitya Half is decorated with carved Buddha figures. The focal Stupa has an image of the Master seated in a pavilion. The two narrative scenes on the left wall show the temptation by Mara, the god of passion, and a colossal carved figure of the reclining Buddha, depicting his ultimate salvation from the cycle of rebirth - the Mahaparinirvana. The disciples beneath are shown to be mourning the decease of the Master, while celestials are rejoicing in his salvation.

Cave 27 : An adjunct to Cave 26. It has a shrine and an antechamber with its narrow front wall portraying a Naga king, a couple anc a female standing gracefully on a Makara, a mythical sea monster, with a bird perched on her right hand. The shrine has an image of the Buddha in teaching attitude.

Unfinished Caves

Caves 3 & 5 : These are unfinished monasteries of the second phase of excavation. Cave 5 is notable for its intricately carved doorway with female figures standing on Makaras.
Cave 8 : An unfinished monastery excavated in the earlier phase.
Cave 23 : It has some delicately sculpted figures of the river goddesses and amorous couples and decorative medallions containing dancing Ganas.
Cave 24 : An unfinished cave, its verandah has some of the finest sculptures of Naga guardians and river goddesses.
Cave 25 : A small, unfinished monastery, excavated at a higher level, with an enclosed courtyard, a pillared verandah and a hall. There is no shrine inside the cave.
Caves 28 & 29 : Both the caves are largely inaccessible. Cave 28 is a monastery and Cave 29, a Chaitya-griha, or hall of worship.

Ahmedabad Travel Information

2007-06-18T18:27:00.001-07:00

Ahmedabad blends harmoniously an ancient heritage with a vibrant present. The city's prosperous and eventful past and present is embodied in its rich kaleidoscope of history, art and culture, rich architecture and imposing monuments. Tourists can visit Ahmedabad throughout the year.

How to Reach :

Air : Indian Airlines connect Ahmedabad with Bombay,Delhi,Bangalore,Madras,Jaipur,Indore,and Calcutta. East West Airlines also connects Ahmedabad with Bombay.

Rail : Ahmedabad is directly connected to Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, Trivandrum, Varanasi etc.

Local Transport : Taxis, Auto rickshaws, City buses available.

Palces to see :

Ahmed Shah's Mosque, Balvatika, Teen Darwaza and Bhadra Fort, Daria Khan's Ghummat, Siddi Sayyad's Mosque, Gita Mandir, Swami Narayan Temple, Hathisinh Mandir, Jhulta Minar, Jumma Masjid, Kankaria Lake, Rani Sipri's Mosque and Tomb, Rani Roopmati Mosque, Rauza of Shah Alam, Sabarmati Ashram, Siddhi Sayyad Mosque, Dada Hari Vav.

Museums & Art Gallery :

Calico Museum of Textiles, Calico Mills.

Shreyas Folk Art Museum.

Gandhi Smarak Sanghrahalaya, Gandhi Ashram Sabarmati.

L.D. Institute of Indology, Navarangpura.

National Institution of Design

Tribal Research & trg. Museum, Ashram Rd.

N.C. Mehta Art Gallery, Sanskar Kendra, Paldi.

Kite Museum, Sanskar Kendra.

Veechar Utensil Museum, Vasna Tolnaka.

Natural History Museum, Kankaria.

Excursions:

Adalaj Vav 19 km, Lothal 80 km, Patan 113 km, Nal Sarovar 71 km, Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram 6 km, Gandhi Nagar 25 km, Modhera (Sun Temple) 106 km.

Vaishali Travel Information

2007-06-18T18:26:00.003-07:00

Vaishali has a pst that pre-dates recorded history. It is held that the town derives its name from King Visha, whose heroic deeds are narrated in the Hindu epic Ramayan. However, history records that around the time Pataliputra was the centre of political activity in the Gangetic plains, Vaishali came into existence as centre of Industry and trade. Lying on the north bank of the Ganga, it was the seat of the Republic of Vajji. Vaishali is credited with being the World's First Republic to have a duly elected assembly of representatives and efficient administration.

The Lord Buddha visited Vaishali more than once during his life time and announced his approaching Mahaparinirvana to the great followers he had here.

Hundred years after he attained Mahaparinirvana, it was the venue of the second Buddhist Council. According to one belief, the Jain Tirthankar, Lord Mahavir was born at Vaishali. The Chinese travellers Fa-Hiren and Hieun Tsang also visited this place in early 5th and 7th centuries respectively and wrote about Vaishali.
While talking of the famous men and women associated with Vaishali, Amrapali was the cynosure not only of Vaishali but of the neighbouring kingdoms as well.

Therefore, to avert bloodshed, the parliament of Vaishali declared her to be a Court dancer besides consigning her to lifelong spinsterhood. Later she became a devout Buddhist and served the Lord Buddha.

Shillong Travel Information

2007-06-18T18:26:00.001-07:00

Shillong, the capital of the 21st State of the Indian Union - Meghalaya derives its name from the manifestation of the creator called U Shylong.

Situated at a height of 5,000 feet on a plateau of gentle hills, there is a striking similarity between the mountain scenery of the Khasi Hills and those of Scottish Highlands. The city has been aptly named as the Scotland of the East. One of India's premier hill stations, Shillong enjoys a bracing climate throughout the year. Free from population, dotted with gardens and surrounded by pine groves, Shillong is the ideal destination for both short, exhilarating visits or long and leisurely holidays, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The city is one of the few hill stations with motorable roads all round. It has an abundance of natural scenic beauty and serves as an ideal holiday resort throughout the year.

Shillong is connected by a good arterial road with the rest of the country through Assam. The nearest rail-head (104 kms) being Guwahati. An Airbus / Boeing whisks a tourist from Calcutta to Guwahat in an hour's time. Regular flights are also available from Delhi. Various forms of transportation are available from Guwahati Airport to Shillong.

The Road (NH 37) runs through awesome scenery, cliffs on the right and gorges on the left, together with murmuring rivulets, swift-flowing streams and gurgling waterfalls. The journey is an exciting and refreshing experience, especially as one approaches Umiam Lake-a massive expanse of captive water nestled among pine-clad hills.

The Meghalaya Transport Corporation, Assam Transport Corporation and a number of Private Tourist Busesply hourly service, between Guwahati and Shillong. The distance is covered in just over 3 hours. In addition, private tourist taxis, Sumos, and Maruti Vans are also available. All these forms of transportation start from just outside the Guwahati Railway Station.

Ranchi Travel Information

2007-06-18T18:25:00.003-07:00

Capital of Jharkhand, lies on the Suranarekha river. Once the summer capital of Bihar. Ranchi lies in the tribal heartland of India called Chotanagpur. Surrounded by tiny hills, meandering streams & cascading waterfalls, it is the quiet & dreamy town that u can visit any time of the year. For the adventurous, there are wildlife parks to be explored.

Places of Interest

Tagor Hills

rabindranath Tagore is believed to have written number of books & a part of his famous Gitanjali here. Ramkrishna Ashram is also situated at the foot of the hill which is a centre of Divyayen & Agrarian vocational institute.

Ranchi Lake

Excavated by Col. Onsely, a British agent in 1842, has an boating facilities for the visitors.

Ranchi Hills

It is a popular health & holiday resort & a place of sacred pilgrimage. The hiltop offers panoramic view of the town. The famous Shiva temple situated on the top of the hill, has a water reservoir on top. At the foot of the hill is a big lake, Kanha dam & an attractive places for the tourists.

Angrabadi

Angrabadi is actually a temple of complex in Khunti which accomodated the temple of Lord Ganapati, Ram Sita, Hanuman & Shankaracharya Swami. Swarupanada Saraswati having been captivated by serene placid & celestial beauty of Angrabadi rechristened it as Amreshwar Dham.

Jagannath Temple

This is a replica of the Jagannath Temple at Puri, the only difference being that it stands atop a hill. It is frequented by the tribals as well as the non tribals & is expecially crowed during the annual Rath Yatra & CAr Festival held during July.

How to Reach

Air

Ranchi is connected by regular flights with Kotkata, Patna, Mumbai & New Delhi.

Rail

Ranchi is on the S.E. Railway & connected with Patna, Rourkela etc.

Road

Ranchi is situated on NH 23/33 & there is a network of good roads arounts it. Ranchi is directly connected by regular bus service with all main places in the state & also outside the state

Rajgir Travel Information

2007-06-18T18:25:00.001-07:00

The Buddha lived in the sixth century BC Mahavir was born in 567 BC and the traveller in Bihar will encounter them both constantly. Rajgir is 10 km south of Nalanda and sacred to the memory of the founder of both Buddhism and Jainism. Lord Buddha spent many months of retreat during the rainy season here, and used to meditate and preach on Griddhkuta, the 'Hill of the Vultures'. Lord Mahavir spent fourteen years of his life at Rajgir and Nalanda.

It was in Rajgriha that Lord Buddha delivered some of his famous sermons and converted king Bimbisara of the Magadha Kingdom and countless others to his creed. Once a great city, Rajgir is just a village today, but vestiges of a legendary and historical past remain, like the cyclopean wall that encircles the town and the marks engraved in rock that local folklore ascribes to Lord Krishna's chariot. This legend, like many others, associates Rajgir to that distant time when the stirring events recorded in the epic Mahabharata were being enacted.

Rajgir is located in a verdant valley surrounded by rocky hills. An aerial ropeway provides the link with a hill-top stupa "Peace Pagoda" built by the Japanese. On one of the hills in the cave of Saptparni, was held the First Buddhist Council, The Saptparni Cave is also the source of the Rajgir Hot Water Springs that have curative properties and are sacred to the Hindus.

Patna Travel Information

2007-06-18T18:24:00.003-07:00

Beneath the din and bustle of Patna, the capital of Bihar state, has a fascinating past. And in each chapter of its history, it has been crowned by a new name -Kusumpur, Pushpapur, Pataliputra and Azeemabad.

Turning over the pages of early Indian history one comes across the name of the pre-eminent city of Pataliputra. Located at the site where Patna is today, this city saw the rise and fall of India's first major kingdoms. Its period of glory spanned a thousand years, from 6th century BC to 6th century AD. Ajatshatru, second in the line of Magadha kings, built a small fort at Pataligram at the confluence of rivers Ganga and Sone.

This later became the famous Mauryan metropolis of Pataliputra and was ruled by Chandragupta Maurya (a contemporary of Alexander), and his grandson Ashoka, acclaimed for the spread of Buddhism. Other emperors who ruled from Patna were the Gupta and Pala kings, Sher Shah Suri (16th century) and Azimush-Shan (18th century), grandson of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who renamed it Azeemabad.

Today, Patna is an important business center of eastern India. More significantly, it is a gateway to the Buddhist and Jain pilgrim centers of Vaishali, Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodhgaya and Pawapuri.

How to reach there

There are daily flights from Delhi, Calcutta and Lucknow. Several trains leave Delhi daily for 15-hour journey to Patna. From Calcutta, the trip by rail takes around 12 hours.

Patna has extensive road connections with Bodhgaya(125 km, Calcutta (608 km), Nalanda (90 km), Pawapuri ( 90 km), Rajgir (102 Km) and many other places of tourist interest within Bihar and the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh.