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Kausani

2013-04-26T02:48:00.000+05:30

Famous for:
A very beautiful hill station with breathtaking panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges and has excursions to many glaciers.

Video: Beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges

Background:
Located at an altitude of 1890 m in the Kumaon hills, Kausani is a small but very beautiful hill station with amazing view of the Himalaya mountain ranges spread out for over 300 km around it.
Infact, many tourists like the views and natural beauty of Kausani better than Ranikhet!
It is the birth place of the famous Hindi poet Sumitra Nandan Pant and even Mahatma Gandhi had spent 12 days in Kausani in 1929.
It is an ideal place to relax, see the mighty snow covered Himalayan ranges and go for excursions to many surrounding glaciers.

Video: The Himalayan ranges seen from hotel room

What to see:
Though there is not much to see in Kausani, it is highly recommended as a tourist destination for its breathtaking beauty and view of over 300 km of the mighty Himalayan ranges that surrounds it!
It has landscapes of ever green forest with fields all around.

Kausani is also known for excursions to the surrounding glaciers including the world famous Pindari Glacier (3350 m, located between the Nanda Devi and the Nandi Kot mountains).

Anashakti Ashram
Location: In Kausani
The house where Mahatma Gandhi stayed when he visited Kausani in 1929 is now converted into Ashram.

Baijnath Temple
Location: 19 km from Kausani on the banks of the Gomti river.
It is an ancient temple dating back to the 12th century and has the largest statue of Goddess Parvati in the North India.

Video: Beautiful Himalayan ranges around Kausani

Reaching there:
Air: Pantnagar (182 km) is the nearest airport to Kausani

Rail: Kathgodam (136 km) is the nearest railway station for Kausani.

Road: Kausani is easily accessable by road from Ranikhet (72 km), Almora (53 km), Nainital (120 km) or Kathgodam (136 km).

Video: Pindari Glacier Trek

Video: Pindari Glacier - zero point

Kasauli

2013-04-26T02:02:00.000+05:30

Famous for:
A beautiful and scenic hill station, very famous for its flora and fauna, flowers and trekking, Kasauli is also know for woolen cloths, handicrafts and local artifacts.

Video: Driving to Kasauli

Background:
There are many stories with regards to founding of the Kasauli hill-station. Some believe it was founded by some Rajputs who had fled from Rewari (Haryana) way back in the 17th century and settled down by the flowing spring of fresh water. Over the years, that village became Kasauli. While others believe it has derived its name from Kushmawali or Kusmali, meaning the flower maiden, since there is abundance of flowers in Kasauli in autumn.
Sir Henry Lawrence was the first Britisher to settle in Kasauli. His cottage called "Sunny Side" built in 1848, still exists. He had even built the Lawrence School.
Kasauli is very famous for its natural beauty, its flowers, forest and animals. People enjoy long walks here and it is one of the favorite hill stations of people from Northern Region.

Video: Beautiful mountains around Kasauli

What to see:
Monkey Point
Location: 4 km from bus stand
It is the highest point in Kasauli and is named after the Rishi Man-ki who used to worship the idol of Lord Hanuman here. There is now a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman and the place is occupied by IAF (Indian Air Force).

Video: Riding through snow

Sites Nearby
Lawrence School
Location: 6 km from Kasauli at Sanawar
Counted amongst the best schools in India, it was built by Sir Henry Lawrence almost a hundred years old.

Dharampur
Location: 15 km from Kasauli, on NH 22 and Kalka-Shimla railway line.
It has one of the best hospitals for the cure of tuberculosis.

Baba Balak Nath Temple
Location: 3 km from Kasauli
The miracle temple is known to fulfill the desire of childless couples.

Shri Sai Baba Mandir
Location: 1/2 km from Garkhal
The temple was built in 1989 by the Sai Baba Trust.

Video: Drive from Kasauli to Dharampur

Reaching there:
Air: Chandigarh (64 km) and Shimla (77 km) are the nearest Airport to Kasauli. Kausali is well conencted with both these places by road.

Rail: Kalka (40 km), is the nearest railyway station to Kasauli. Shimla and Chandigarh are the other railway stations near Kasauli.

Road: NH 22 (Ambala - Kalka - Shimala - Narkanda - Rampur - Indo China Border Near Shipkila) is the National Highway nearest to Kasauli.
Taxis and Buses are available from Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla and Kalka.

Video: Foggy day at Kasauli

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Kanyakumari

2013-04-25T02:26:00.001+05:30

Famous for:
The meeting place of the 3 seas known for its beautiful rocky coastline and the temples situated on these rocks.

Video: Around Kanyakumari

Background:
Kanyakumari or Cape Comorin is located at the very tip of the Indian Peninsula, at the point where the the 3 seas, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal meet. It has become a very famous tourist spot due to its location, the temples and the beautiful sunrise and sunset.

Video: Sunrise at Kanyakumari

What to see:
Kumariamman Temple
Location: Located on the Shore
Also known as the Kanyakumari Temple, it is dedicated to Goddess Parvati. The temple is believed to have been built on the spot where she stood waiting for Lord Shiva to come and marry her. The idol is also famous for its diamond nose-ring whose sparkle is said to be visible even from the sea.

Sripada Parai Rock
Location: Close to Vivekananda Rock
It is the rock believed to have been touched by the goddess feet and has her footprints imprinted.

Vivekananda Rock
Location: Southeast of Kumari Amman Temple
It is the rock on which Swami Vivekananda sat in deep meditation and attained spiritual enlightenment. A memorial was built here in 1970.

Gandhi Memorial
It is a memorial built on the spot where the urn containing the Mahatma's ashes was kept before immersion. The amazing design of the memorial ensures that every year on 2nd October (Gandhiji's birthday), the first ray of the sun falls exactly on the place where the ashes were kept.

Video: Vivekananda Rock

Sites Nearby
Suchindram
Location: 13 km from Kanyakumari
It has a dedicated to a deity representing the combined forces of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. It also has a 6m tall statue of Hanuman (Monkey God).

Udayagiri Fort
Location: 34 km from Kanyakumari
The 18th century fort built by King Marthanda Varma.

Nagarcoil
Location: 19 km from Kanyakumari
It has a temple dedicated to Nagaraja , the king of Snakes.

Olakkay Aruvi Water Fall
Location: 34 km from Kanyakumari
A beautiful waterfall and a picnic spot.

Thiruvattar
Location: 60 km from Kanyakumari
It has one of the finest temple in the region with amazing architecture and paintings.

Video: Windmills by the road, just few kilometers from Kanyakumari

Reaching there:
Air: Trivananthpuram /Trivandrum (87 km) has the nearest domestic as well as international airport.

Rail: Kanyakumari Station is connected to all major towns and cities of India including Jammu by broad-gauge railway network.

Road: NH 7 (Varanasi - Mangawan - Rewa - Jabalpur - Lakhnadon - Nagpur - Hyderabad - Kurnool - Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Salem - Dindigul - Madurai - Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari)) and NH 47 (Salem - Coimbatore - Trichur - Ernakulam - Trivandrum - Cape Commorin (Kanyalumari)) are the National Highways that connects Kanyakumari to rest of India.
It is very well connected with other cities like Trivandrum, Madurai, Rameshwaram, etc by good road.

Video: Ride by the coastline

Kanha National Park

2013-04-25T01:00:00.000+05:30

Famous for:
Has highest density of tigers in the world and home to rare hardground Barasingha. Rudyard Kipling got inspiration to write "Jungle Book" from Kanha.

Video: Elephant safari and Tiger sighting at Kanha National Park

Background:
Formed in 1955, Kanha National Park covers 940 sq. km, and is one of the largest National Parks in India. The Tiger Reserve was created in 1974 under Project Tiger and today it has the highest density of tigers in the world.
Some of the animals that can be seen here are Tiger, the rare hardground Barasingha, Blackbuck, Bison, swamp deer, sambhar, chital etc.
Rudyard Kipling got inspiration to write his famous "Jungle Book" from Kanha.
Park Timings:
Morning trip: 0630 to 1000 hours.
Afternoon trip: 1430 to 1800 hours.

Video: Drive through Kanha NP watching Tiger and many other animals

What to see:
Forest department guides are available for guided tours of Kanha.
Wildlife
There are about 22 species of mammals and the main attractions are Tiger (highest density of Tigers in the world), bison, sambhar, chital, barasingha, barking deer, black deer, black buck, mongoose, etc.
Birds
Over 200 birds species are found in Kanha. They include storks, herons, peacock, jungle fowl, spotted parakeets, kingfishers, woodpeckers, etc

Bamni Dadar / Sunset point
Location: Inside Kanha NP
A beautiful part of the park and great place to see sunset and animals like sambhar, barking deer, gaur etc

Video: Tiger, dancing peacock and other animal sightings

Reaching there:
Air: Jabalpur (164 km) has the nearest airport. Other nearby airports are Nagpur Airport (260 km) and Raipur Airport (215 km).

Rail: Jabalpur (164 km) is the most convenient railway station. Bilaspur (180 km) is the other nearest railway station on the mainline. Jeeps, private cars and buses are available from both these places to reach Kanha.

Road: NH 7 (Varanasi - Mangawan - Rewa - Jabalpur - Lakhnadon - Nagpur - Hyderabad - Kurnool - Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Salem - Dindigul - Madurai - Cape - Commorin (Kanyakumari)) and NH 27 (Allahabad - Mangawan) are the National Highways near Kanha.
Khatia and Mukki are the two entry points to Kanha National Park. Khatia is 3 km from Kisli.
Good motorable roads connects Jabalpur with Kisli (164 km) and Mukki (205 km). Mukki is also convenient while coming from Bilaspur (180 km) and Raipur (215 km), while Kisli is more convenient while coming from Nagpur (260 km).

Video: Very close encounter with the Tiger at Kanha NP

Video: Driving from Nagpur to Kanha National Park

Kaziranga National Park

2013-04-13T02:58:00.000+05:30

Famous for:
One-horned Rhino, Tiger, Elephant and many other animals and birds

Video: Elephant safari and Rhino sighting

Background:
Kaziranga National Park is situated on the southern banks of the Brahmaputra river, covering 430 sq km.
This World Heritage site (UNESCO 1985) is well known for its one-horned Rhino. It was made a wild life sanctuary in 1950 and in 1974 was made a National Park. It also got an award for being one of the best-managed parks in India in 1999.
Apart from one-horned rhino, it is home to many mammals, including Tigers, Elephants, Leopard, Wild Buffalo, Wild Boars, Panthers, Bears, and thousands of birds.

Video: Tiger sighting at Kaziranga

What to see:
The park has tall elephant grasses that can grow up to 6m high with marshland and evergreen forest. One of the best ways to see the wildlife is on the backs of elephants.
Mihimukh is the starting point for the park from where elephants can be hired. The one hour elephant rides are very famous and seats needs to be booked the previous evening at the park administrative Center in Kohora.
The Elephant rides timing are: 0500-0600, 0630-0730 and 1530-1630.
Jeeps are also available and the timings are 8 am to 11 am and 2 pm to 4.30 pm
There are watchtowers located at Sohola, Mihimukh, Kathpara, Foliamare and Harmoti within the park for viewing the wildlife.
Boat rides at the nearby Rhino land park are also available.
Assam Tourism Offices in Guwahati and Jorhat also take bookings for conducted tours of the park.
The contact details are:
Director,
Kaziranga National Park,
P.O Bokakhat, District. Jorhat,
Tel: 03776-68095 / 68086
Joint Director of Tourism, Kaziranga,
P.O Kaziranga National Park,
District Jorhat,
Tel: (036776) 62444

Video: Elephant safari, following the rhino's

Sites nearby:
The Kakochang waterfalls
Location: 13 km from Bokakhat
The Kakochang waterfalls are not far from the park. Near the waterfalls, there are ruins of the ancient Numaligarh, which are of great archaeological importance.

Video: Animals seen from National Highway 37

Reaching there:
Air: Jorhat Airport (94 km) is the nearest airport. It has direct flights from Kolkata. Guwahati Airport (217 km) is better connected with flights from more cities of India.

Rail: Furkating Railway Station (75 km) is the nearest railway station. It is on meter gauge line and is connected with Guwahati, which in turn is well connected with other parts of India by rail.

Road: NH 37 (Junction with NH 31B Near Goalpara - Guwahati - Jorahat - Kamargaon - Makum - Saikhoaghat) is the nearest National Highway. The approach to park by road is from Kohora, which is 5 km from the Park on the NH 37.
Buses of ASRTC ply from Guwahati, Tezpur, Jorhat, Furkating and halt at Kohora. Accommodation is available at Kohora.

Video: Jeep safari through Kaziranga NP

Kalimpong

2013-04-13T01:08:00.000+05:30

Famous for:
Natural beauty, handicraft and wooden carvings. Also famous for Kalimpong Cheese and Lollipops.

Video: Kalimpong town and attractions

Background:
Kalimpong means King's Ministers strong hold in Bhutanese language. It was the part of the Kingdom of Bhutan till 1865, after which the British annexed it and merged it with Darjeeling.
It is a beautiful hill station famous for its monasteries, orchid nurseries, flowers, river rafting and nature walks.
The road from Darjeeling to Kalimpong very pretty passing by river through forests and tea gardens.

Video: Driving through Kalimpong town

What to see:
Tharpa Choling Monastery
Location: At Tirpai Hill
Established in 1937, the Gompa belongs to the Gelukpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism to which Dalai Lama also belongs.

The Tongsa Gompa
Location: 1 km from Kalimpong town
Built in 1630, it is the oldest monastery in this region.

The Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Monastery
Location: 5 km south from town center
It was blessed by the Dalai Lama and contains the Kanguyar of 108 volumes that was brought by the Dalai Lama when he fled Tibet. It also has great view of the town and its surroundings.

Sericulture Research Institute
Location: On the road to Darjeeling
Here, one can get a look at how silk is produced.

Dr. Graham's Home
Location: On slopes of Dealo, Kalimpong's highest hill
A school located in 500 acres estate, which was started in 1900 by a missionary Dr. John Graham. The school is in a very picturesque surrounding and has its own dairy, poultry and bakery.

Durpin Dara
Highest point in Kalimpong with breathtaking view of the surrounding.

Gauripur House
Location: 2 km from Kalimpong on the way to Durpin Dara
Famous as the place loved by Rabindranath Tagore. He stayed here whenever he visited Kalimpong.

Video: Paragliding over Kalimpong

Sites Nearby:
Teesta Bazaar
Location: 16 km from Kalimpong
It is the place to go for whitewater rafting. The best time is between November and February.

Lava
Location: 32 km from Kalimpong
A small village located at 2,350 m with dense forest, and an old monastery. Just 3 km leisure trek from Lava is Rishyap/Risop, from where you can have 300 degree view of Himalayan ranges including amazing view of Kanchenjungha. Lave is also the starting point to trekking to the Neora National Park.

Video: Trek from Lava to Rishyap/Risop

Reaching there:
Air:
Bagdogra (80 km) is the nearest airport, which is connected with Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and other places of northeastern India.

Rail:
Silliguri (60 km) is the nearest meter gauge railway station and New Jalpaiguri (74 km) is the nearest broad gauge railway station.

Road:
NH 31 (Junction with NH - 2 Near Barhi - Bhaktiarpur - Mokameh - Purnea - Dalkola - Silliguri - Sivok - Cooch - Behar - North Salmara - Nalbari - Charali - AminGaon Junction with NH-37) is the National Highway near Kalimpong.
Jeep services are available between Kalimpong to Darjeeling, Gangtok and Siliguri.

Jodhpur

2013-04-12T01:26:00.000+05:30

Famous for:
Desert City with forts and monuments, also known for white marbles mined at Makrana, near Jodhpur. It is also known as the 'blue city'.

Video: Jodhpur fort and the blue city

Background:
The desert city of Jodhpur is the second largest city of Rajasthan (after Jaipur).
It was founded and is named after Rao Jodha, the chief of Rathore clan in 1459. The region is known as Marwar and it flourished under the reign of Maharaja Umed Singh.
Located at the edge of the Thar desert, with the massive Mehrangarh fort looming in background, the old Jodhpur city is surrounded by 10 km long wall with 8 gates, each facing different directions. The new Jodhpur lies outside the walls.
Polo has been the traditional sport played by the royalties and today Jodhpur is the perfect blend of old with new.
It has history written all over the place and at the same time is a bustling city with many hotels and comforts for the tourist. It also is a military and airforce base.

Video: Zipline (flying fox) at the Mehrangarh fort

What to see:
Mehrangarh Fort
Location: On the hill, 5 km from Jodhpur city
On top of 150 m hill, the Mehrangarh Fort is one of the most magnificent and formidable forts of Rajasthan. It was built by Rao Jodha in 1459 and the later kings added to the structure. It has 7 gates and many cannons by the walls. Spread over an area of 5 km, it has a great view of the Jodhpur city located below. It has a museum, which is one of the finiest museum of Rajasthan and houses good collection of heritage of Rathores including arms, paintings and costumes. Phool Mahal within the fort was made by Maharaja Abhaya Singh (1724 - 1749), is a very ornate room with gold, paintings and was the private chamber of the dancing girls. The Jhanki Mahal, which used to be the place from where the royal ladies used to watch the official proceedings now houses richly decorated royal cradles.

Jaswant Thade
Location: On the way down from the Mehrangarh fort
Also known as the Taj Mahal of Marwar, it was built by Maharaja Sardar Singhji in the memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II in 1899. It is a beautiful marble monument with the main structure built like a temple with intricate carvings and sculptures.

Umaid Bhawan Palace
With 347 rooms, it was the biggest private residence in the world. Built by Maharaja Umaid Singh, it is also the last of the great palaces built in India. It has a library, museum, indoor swiming pool, tennis court, billiards room, and a squash court made of marble. It is said to have been constructed to give employment to the famine struck farmers of Jodhpur.
Today it has been converted into a super luxury heritage hotel and a part of it is a museum, which houses, amongst other items, weapons and a large collection of clocks.

Mandore Garden
Location: 8 km from Jodhpur
Mandore was the former capital of Marwar rulers. The Mandore Garden has many cenotaphs of the former rulers, which are built like Hindu temples. The cenotaph of the Maharaja Ajit Singh (1678-1724) is the best of them all. All the cenotaphs are laid out by beaufitul landscapped gardens. Nearby is the shrine of 3 hundred million god, which has brightly colored images of many Hindu gods. A little further from the garden is the ruins of the Mandore city and its old palace.

Giridkot and Sardar bazar
Location: In the heart of the city
These are popular with tourists where one can buy wide range of handicrafts and other items.

Video: Jodhpur fort and walk through the streets

Places nearby:
Guda
Location: Bishnoi village
It is a pond where one can see many birds and wildlife like antelopes and black bucks.

Osian
Location: 58 km from Jodhpur
The ancient desert town is an oasis, where tourists can stay in camps and is famous for evening camel rides followed by night of traditional music and dancing. There are also many Jain temples nearby.

Kalina Lake and Machiya Safari Park
Location: On the way to Jaisalmer
A picnic spot and nice place to see wildlife like deer, monitor lizards, monkeys etc and many species of birds.

Sajot City
Location: Near Pali town at the banks of the Sukri river on the way to Udaipur or Mount Abu.
A small city famous for the traditional art of Mehndi or Heena. Many tourists come here to have their hands and feet painted decoratively by Mahndi.

Nagaur city and Ahhichatragarh fort
Location: 135 km from Jodhpur
The desert city surrounded by fort, which was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar and Shah Jahan. The beautiful fort has well laid out Mughal style gardens.

Video: The super luxurious Umaid Bhawan Palace

Reaching there:
Air:
Jodhpur has a domestic Airport, which is 5 km from city center. There are flights connecting it with Delhi, Udaipur, Jaipur, and Mumbai.

Rail:
Jodhpur is very well connected by rail with Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Mumbai, Udaipur, Kolkata, Chennai etc.

Road:
NH 14 passes through Jodhpur. Jodhpur is very well connected by good roads with cities and towns of Rajasthan. It can be reached from Jaisalmer via Pokaran.
There are regular buses from Agra, Delhi, Ajmer, Ahmedabad, Udaipur etc.

Video: White marble mines at Makrana

Jaipur

2013-04-12T00:34:00.000+05:30

Famous for:
Known as "the Pink city", Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and gateway to other places in the state. It is known for ethnic handicraft, Jewelry and foodstuff like "Ghevar" and "Dal Bati".

Video: Jaipur city

Background:
The walled city of Jaipur is the Capital of Rajasthan and is the favorite tourist destination forming the famed golden triangle along with Delhi and Agra.
Named after its founder Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh (1688-1744), Jaipur was founded when the Maharaja decided to move the capital from the hilltop city of Ambar (Amer) to the plains. Jaipur was designed by Bengali architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya and was perhaps the first planned city of India.
It was the major weapon producing center during the Mughal period for the Mughals and the Rajputs.
With the backdrop of ancient forts on hilltops, Jaipur is a bustling city, which has retained its age old charm in its excellent palaces, gardens and forts.
The old Jaipur city, painted in Pink is rich in cultural heritage while the new Japiur is developing as one of the industrial cities of India.

Video: Jaipur attaractions

What to see:
City Palace
Location: In the heart of the city
Built by Sawai Jai Singh, it is a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The complex also has buildings made by other Maharajas in the later dates. It has Mubarak Mahal or Palace of Welcome, which was built by Sawai Madho Singh in the 19th century. It is now a museum displaying costumes, cloths and other items of arts.There is a Maharani's Palace (Queens Palace), which houses different arms and ammunition used by the Rajputs. The art gallery is located in Diwan-I-Aam (Hall for public audience). Between the Maharani's Palace and Diwan-I-Aam is Diwan-I-Khas (Hall of private audience), which has amongst other things, two very large sliver vessels, which are mentioned in Guinness Book of Records as largest silver objects in the World. There is also the Chandra Mahal Palace, which is residence of the present day royalties.

Hawa Mahal
Location: Within the City Palace, overlooking the bazar.
The five-storey palace is the best-known landmark of Jaipur. Made by the poet King Sawai Pratap Singh, the Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds has 953 sand-stone windows (Jharokhas), which were built so that the ladies of Royal household could watch the everyday life of people from the comfort within. It also has an archaeological museum.

Jantar Mantar
Location: Near the Palace
The Jantar Mantar is one of the five observatories in India and was made by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. The Maharaja has passion for astronomy and this observatory is one of the largest and the best preserved. The main attraction here is the large Sun-dial, which can show accurate time and positions of heavenly bodies.

Moti Dungri
Location: On a small hill in the middle of the city
The Moti Dungri (Pearl hill) has a palace made in Scottish style of architecture and has a famous temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha.

Ram Niwas Garden, Albert Hall and Zoo
Location: In the outskirts of Jaipur
Ram Niwas garden is a very beautiful garden with fountains, Pools, lawns and flower beds. It used to be the venue for recreational activities and evening parties specially during the British time. The high society people and royalties were entertained here. In the center of the garden is the beautifully built structure called the Albert Hall. Built in 1887 AD, it is the pride of the new Jaipur and has a large collection of paintings, costumes, ivory work, woodwork, brassware, jewelry, etc. Opposite the Albert Hall is one of the oldest Zoo of India.

Nahargarh Fort
Location: On the Aravali hills in the North of Jaipur
Built in 1734 and extended in 1868, the fort has an excellent view of the Jaipur city lights in the night. The fort is also floodlit in nights and is a beautiful sight. Within the fort is the Madhavendra Bhawan, which was used by the Royal family during their excursions in summer and is now a picnic spot.

Jaigarh Fort
Location: On the hilltop, 15 km from Jaipur
Built between the 15th and the 18th century, Jaigarh or Victory Fort is the most magnificent of the three forts of Jaipur. It is one of the few ancient Indian military structures, which is very well preserved. It has palaces, granary and cannons including Jai Ban, the largest cannon in the world! The fort was responsible for protection of Jaipur and Amber (Amer).

Amber (Amer) Fort
Location: 11 km from Jaipur
Amber was the capital before Jaipur. It has the classic romantic Rajasthan fort-palace of red sandstone and marble built by Raja Man Singh I in 1592 and completed by Sawai Jai Singh I. The architecture is the fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles. The inner-wall of the palace has paintings and sculptures with settings of mirror and precious stones. At the foreground is the Maota Lake. Elephant rides are available for the tourist to reach the Amber fort.

Gaitore
Location: 15 km from Jaipur off the way to Amber
It is the final resting place of the Maharajas of Jaipur and has chhatris made in typical Rajasthani architecture. The cenotaph of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, is the finest.

Kanak Vrindavan
Location: On the foothills of Nahargarh hill on the way to Amber
It is a famous picnic spot and location for film shooting with a complex of landscape gardens, beautifully carved temples, marble columns and terraces.

Sisodia Rani Ka Baug
Location: 8 km from jaipur on Jaipur-Agra Road
A beautiful Mughal style multi-level garden with lawns, fountains, watercourses. It was built in 1728 by Sawai Jai Singh for his Sisodia Queen from Udaipur.

Birla Temple / Lakshmi Narayan Temple
Location: Below the Moti Dungri
Built on the raised ground and surrounded by lush green gardens, the white marble temple is dedicated to Lord Vishu and his wife Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth

Video: Elephant ride to the Amber fort

Sites Nearby:
Sanganer
Location: 18 km from Jaipur
Sanganer is known for beautifully carved Jain temples, crafts and hand & block printed textile, paper making and pottery.

Samode
Location: 40 km from Jaipur
Samode is a small village famous for its beautiful Samode Palace Heritage Hotel, which is the winner of the Best Heritage Hotel of India for 5 consecutive years and in Jan '99 was voted the 5th best hotel in the world by London Times.

Sambhar Lake
Location: 60 km from Jaipur
It is the largest salt water lake in India spanning around 190 sq km. The lake is divided into two parts by a 5 km long stone dam. There are salt pans and a rail-trolley system that is used to carry salts and people over the long dam. The lake and some nearby fresh water ponds are known for its birds population like flamingos, storks and pelicans.

Tonk
Location: 98 km from Jaipur
Tonk is an old town, which was ruled by the Pathans of Afghanistan and is known for its leather work and the Sunehri Kothi or Golden bungalow, which has extremely beautiful and very ornate interiors.

Video: driving through Jaipur city

Reaching there:
Air:
Sanganer Airport, Jaipur is very well connected with daily flights from important cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Jodhpur and Udaipur. There is an internationsl flight from Dubai.

Rail:
Jaipur is on the mainline and is very well connected by trains to all major cities of Western and Nothern India. There are regular trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, Channai, Bikaner, Jodhpur etc.

Road:
NH 8 connects Jaipur with Delhi, Ahemdabad and Mumbai. NH 11 connects Jaipur to Agra and Nikaner. NH 12 connects Jaipur to Bhopal and Jabalpur.
Jaipur is very well connected by road to places nearby and it is very easy to reach Jaipur by road from Delhi or Agra.

Video: Folk dancers at the Elephant festival

Jabalpur

2013-04-11T01:29:00.001+05:30

Famous for:
Gateway to Kanha and Bandhavgarh National Parks, Jabalpur is also famous for the marble rock cliffs and finding of a full skeleton of dinosaur in 1930.

Video: Jabalpur

Background:
The name is derived from Jabal, meaning rocks in Arabic. Almost all types of rocks can be found in or around Jabalpur and a full skeleton of a dinosaur was found here in 1930.
Situated on the Deccan plateau on the bank of the Narmada River, Jabalpur was the pleasure resort and capital of the Gond Kings during the 12th century.
Its history dates back to the times of Mahabharata and was ruled by the Mauryans, the Guptas, the Kalchuri rulers, the Gonds, the Marathas and finally the British.
Today it is an important administrative centre and a hub of commercial activity of the region.

Video: Marble rocks and waterfalls at Bheraghat

What to see:
Rani Durgavati Museum
Built in the memory of the queen Durgavati it is has a fine collection of inscriptions, sculptures and prehistoric relics.

Madan Mahal Fort
Location: On a rocky hill, on the route to the marble rocks
Built by the Gond Rulers in 1116 AD, the fort has a panoramic view of the city and its surrounding.

The Marble Rocks
Location: 22 km from Jabalpur
Amazing place with Marble cliffs by the Narmada river. Boating near the cliffs in the moonlit night is an experience to have. The Bheraghat/ Dhuandhar waterfall near the gorge is also a beautiful site.

Kanha National Park (click here)
Location: 164 km from Jabalpur
Kanha is one of the largest national parks in Asia, has a tiger reserve under Project tiger and was the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling's 'Jungle Book'.

Bandhavgarh National park (click here)
Location: 170 km from Jabalpur
A well known National Park having the highest density of tiger population in India.

Video: Boat ride near marble rock cliffs

Reaching there:
Air:
Jabalpur has a domestic Airport but Bhopal Airport (297 km) is a better connected with other cities.

Rail:
Jabalpur is on mainline and all major trains halt here. It also falls on the Mumbai - Howrah (via Allhabad) line.

Road:
NH 7 (Varanasi - Mangawan - Rewa - Jabalpur - Lakhnadon - Nagpur - Hyderabad - Kurnool - Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Salem - Dindigul - Madurai - Cape Commorin (Kanyakumari)), NH 12 (Jabalpur - Bhopal - Khilchipur - Aklera - Jhalawar - Kota - Bundi - Devli - Tonk - Jaipur) and NH 12A (Jabalpur - Mandla - Chilpi - Simga) connects Jabalpur to major centres within the region and other cities.
It is well connected by taxis and bus with Bhopal, Indore, Raipur, Satna and Nagpur.

Video: Arriving at Jabalpur by train

Itanagar

2013-04-11T00:11:00.004+05:30

Famous for:
Itanagar is a beautiful capital city of Arunachal Pradesh with evergreen forest and the mighty Himalayan ranges.

Video: Informative documentary about Itanagar

Background:
Arunachal Pradesh, known as 'the Land of the Dawn lit Mountains', is an ancient region where Sage Vyas is believed to have meditated. Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, is an old city, which was known in ancient times as Mayapur. The Jiti Dynasty, which ruled over this region in the 11th century, had made Mayapur their capital city. The modern day Itanagar is built in the vicinity of the old city of Mayapur.

Video: Short film about the beautiful Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary

What to see:
Buddhist Temple
Location: On a hillock in Itanagar.
The newly built Buddhist shrine is a beautiful yellow roofed temple standing on top of a small hillock. It is surrounded by well-maintained gardens and there is even a tree planted by the Dalai Lama.

Ganga Sekhi lake / Gayker Sinyi
Location: 6 km from Itanagar, amidst dense forest.
The Ganga Sekhi Lake is a small lake and a beautiful picnic spot with bamboo bridge and boating facility. It is surrounded by forest with bamboo groves, orchids and thick vegetation.

Jawaharlal Nehru Museum
Location: Near the Secretariat, Itanagar
The museum houses good collection of art, instruments, woodcarvings, head wares etc of different tribes It also has good information about archaeological findings in the region.

Polo Park
Location: In Naharlagun, 10 km from Itanagar
The Polo Park has a botanical garden and a small zoo. It is over a small ridge overlooking the town.

Itanagar Sanctuary
Location: 7 km from Itanagar near Naharlagun
Established in 1978, Itanagar Sanctuary covers 140 sq. km of land and has a small population of tiger, elephants, barking deer, leopard and good variety of plants and orchids

Ita Fort
Location: In Itanagar
The magnificent Ita Fort, is believed to have been built by King Ramachandra in the 14th - 15th century. It is an irregular shaped fort made mostly of bricks (ita). It is estimated that almost 80 lakh bricks and over 46,000 man days were required to built the fort.

Video: Ganga Sekji Lake, Itanagar

Sites nearby:
Orchidarium
Location: At Tipi near Bhalukpong (the Assam-Arunachal border)
Asia's third largest Orchidsrium, it has a collection of over 7,500 orchids. New Hybrid varieties of orchids are also developed here.

Ziro
Location: 150 km from Itanagar
Ziro is in an extremely picturesque valley of Apatani Plateau. It is at an altitude of 1475 m is surrounded by pine-covered mountains.

Rupa
Location: 18 km from Itanagar on the banks of the Tenga river
Rupa is a beautiful hill town an ideal picnic spot.

Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary
Location: In the East Kemeng district
Spread over 271 sq km, Elephants, Tigers, Leopards, red panda and Sambar are found in this sanctuary

Video: Tribal houses made of Bamboo at Itanagar

Reaching there:
Air:
Itanagar does not have an airport. Lilabari (67 km) and Tezpur in Assam are the nearest domestic Airports. There is also a helicopter service between Itanagar and Guwahati thrice a week.

Rail:
Itanagar does not have a railway station. Harmutty (33 km) and North Lakhimpur are the nearest railhead.

Road:
NH 52 (Baihata - Charali - Tezpur - Bander Dewa - North Lakhimpur - Pasighat - Tezu - Sitapani Junction with NH - 37 Near Saikhoaghat) is the National Highway passing near Itanagar and NH 52A (Bandar Dewa - Itanagar - Gohpur) is the National Highway passing through Itanagar.
Itanagar is well connected with buses from Guwahati, North Lakhimpur and Tezpur. Good network of roads connect it to other major towns in the region like Agartala, Aizawl, Kohima, Imphal, and Shillong.

Video: Hilly drive towards Itanager

Permits:
Indian Tourist:
Any domestic tourist coming to Arunachal Pradesh has to obtain an Inner Line Permit. The inner line permit can be obtained from any of the following places:
Residence Commissioner,
Government of Arunachal Pradesh, New Delhi
Arunachal Bhawan, Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
Phone No. 011-23013915/23013956/23913786
Deputy Residence Commissioner,
Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Kolkata
CE - 109 , Sector- 1, Salt Lake City, Kolkata
Phone No. 033-23341243/23589865
Deputy Residence Commissioner,
Government of Arunachal Pradesh
Guwahati, R.G Baruah Road , Guwahati- 781021
Phone No. 0361-562859

Foreign Tourists:
Foreign Tourists intending to visit Arunachal Pradesh require Restricted Area Permit (RAP). This permit can be obtained from all Indian Missions aboard, All Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs) at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai, Home Ministry, Govt. of India and Home Commissioner, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar can also issue a permit for a period of 10 days for a group consisting of four or more persons.
Foreign Tourists visiting Arunachal Pradesh will have to pay US $ 50 (the amount may change) per head to Government of Arunachal Pradesh and application for RAP should be applied through local approved Tour Operator.

Video: Tribal girls dancing to celebrate the New year

Copyright @ Data Online. All rights reserved. Unauthorized copying/use of content from this website, either in part or full is strictly is prohibited.

Indore

2013-04-10T00:54:00.002+05:30

Famous for:
Flourishing industrial city, famous for its temples, bangles, cotton textiles and food.

Video: Night drive through Indore city

Background:
Situated on the banks of River Saraswati and Khan, Indore was planned and built by the brave Maratha Holkar Queen, Rani Ahilya Bai.
It gets its name from the 18th century Indreshwar temple.
Indore took over from Maheshwar to became the State capital in 1811 AD and remained till 1948.
Today Indore is an important industrial city, with textile industry and is the center for trading activities. It has many monuments belonging to the Holkar period and is also known for its temples.

Video: Indore city bus service

What to see:
Rajwada
Location: old part of the city, near Khajuri bazaar
The 7 storey, stone and wood Rajwada or the old palace was built by the Holkars around 200 years ago. However there were 3 major fires, which destroyed most of the palace.

Lal Bagh Palace
Location: southwest part of Indore
Built between 1886 and 1921 by the Holkars, it the grandest monument of Indore. Covering an area of 28 hectares, it used to have one of the best rose gardens of India.

Kanch Mandir
Location: Near the Rajwada
The Kanch Mandir or Glass temple is a unique Jain temple, which has its walls, doors, floors, ceilings etc made entirely of glass. Even the paintings are done in glass. It has 3 statues of Lord Mahavira, which gets reflected in the mirror and gets multiplied infinite number of times.

Indore Museum/ Central Museum
Location: Near the Main Post Office
It houses a good collection of artifacts, coins, arms etc.

Bada Ganpati
It is was built in 1875 and is famous for its World's largest 25 ft high statue of Lord Ganpati. It is made from bricks, limestone, soil, eating masala, mud, powder and metals.

Gandhi Hall / Town Hall/ Gantha Ghar
Built in 1904, the Indo-Gothic style building has a library, children park, a temple and is used as a venue to hold exhibitions and fair.

Chhatri Baag
Location: Near Rajwada on banks of the Khan River.
It has a number of Chhatris or tombs built in the memory of the early Holkar rulers and their family members.

Kasturbagram
Location: 8 km from Indore, on Khandwa Road
It is the headquarters of the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust, which was formed by Mahatma Gandhi. Its objective is the development of rural areas and welfare of rural women and children.

Video: streets and temple at Omkareshwar

Sites nearby:
Omkareshwar
Location: 78 km from Indore
Located on an island, at the intersections of the Narmada and Kaveri Rivers, it is famous for the the Shiva temple of Shri Omkar Mandhata, which has one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.

Ujjain
Location: 55 km from Indore
A very important town, it is one of the sites for the Kumbh Mela festival held once in 12 years. It is also believed to be the town fallen from heaven to bring heaven on Earth. And according to ancient Hindu calendar, the first meridian of Earth passes through Ujjain, making it the universal time coordinate. Also known for Shri Kaal Bhairav Temple, where liquor is offered to the god as a part of ritual and then distributed to worshipers.

Video: Shri Kaal Bhairav Temple at Ujjain

Reaching there:
Air:
Indore has a domestic airport with many flights operating between Bhopal, Gwalior, Delhi and Mumbai.

Rail:
Indore Station (on the Western Railways) is connected to all the major Indian cities with daily trains to Delhi and Mumbai. There is also a meter gauge connecting Indore to Jaipur.

Road:
NH 3 (Agra - Gwalior - Shivpuri - Indore - Dhule - Nasik - Thane - Mumbai), NH 59 (Ahmedabad - Godhra - Dhar - Indore), NH 59A (Indore - Betul) and NH 79 (Ajmer - Nasirabad - Neemach - Mandsaur - Indore) are the National Highways passing through Indore.
Regular bus services connect Indore to other cities of MP (Bhopal, Gwalior, Mandu, Maheshwar, Ujjain, etc.) and the major cities of neighbouring states (Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Aurangabad, etc.)

Video: Aerial view of Indore

Imphal

2013-04-09T23:53:00.002+05:30

Famous for:
Capital of Manpiur known for handicraft, handlooms and Ladies garment Also has the world's only floating National Park.

Video: Imphal city

Background:
Known as the 'Land of Jewels', Imphal is the capital of Manipur.
It is a mini-metropolis and the center of all cultural, commercial and political activities.
A beautiful land of green hills, it has palaces, temples and ceremonial houses.
Manipuri, the famous classical dance is from this region. Manipur is also known as a center for Martial Arts and Thang-ta is the famous local martial art form.
Yet another special feature of Imphal is the Archery Stakes that are held everyday on various low-lying stretches of ground. It has evolved from an ancient tribal sport. Archers shoot as many as 500 arrows within a span of a few minutes!

Video: Evening drive through Imphal

What to see:
Manipur Zoological Gardens
Location: 8 km from Imphal, on the Imphal-Kangchup Road.
It houses many rare species of birds, animals and reptiles. It also has the brow-antlered thamin deer, one of the rarest species of deer in the world.

Khonghampat Orchidarium
Location: 7 km from Imphal
Spread over 200 acres, it showcases around 110 varieties of Orchids. The best time to visit is between March and April.

Khwairamband Bazaar
Location: Imphal city
It is a unique bazaar run by women. They sell everything from fish to woven shawls, farm products, groveries, handloom items and local artifacts.

Shri Govindajee Temple
Location: Located close to the Royal Palace, Imphal
The 18th century temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is an important centre for Vaishnavite. There are also idols of Balarama and Krishna and Jagannath. During Holi, local boys and girls perform the Thaba Changba folk dance all night.

Manipur State Museum
Location: Near the Polo grounds
Displays wide range of items depicting the history and tribal heritage of the state.
Timings: 1000 to 1630 hours. Closed on Sundays and holidays.

Shahid Minar
Location: In the heart of the city, at Bir Tirkendrajit Park
Shahid Minar was raised in memory of martyrs who sacrificed their lives fighting against British for India's independence in 1891. There is also cemeteries maintained by the Commonwealth Grave Commissions of the British and Indian soldiers, who died during the Second World War.

Video: Beautiful Manipur

Sites nearby
Moirang
Location: 45 km from Imphal
A historical place where, on 14th April 1944, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted the flag of Indian National Army (INA) for the first time. There is an INA museum that houses the letters, photographs, badges and other articles related to the historical event.

Keibul Lamjao National Park
Location: 53 km from Imphal on Southern part of Loktak Lake
It is the world's only floating National Park and the last natural habitat of the thamin deer.

Ukhrul
Location: 83 km from Imphal
It is the highest hill station of the state.

Moreh
Location: 100 km from Imphal, close to the Burma border
It is a commercial center.

Loktak Lake and Sendra Island
Location: 45 km from Imphal
Loktak Lake is one of the biggest freshwater Lakes in the Northeast. The Sendra Island has a tourist bungalow with cafe right in the middle of the lake. There is also boating facility. The World's only floating National Park, the Keibul Lamjao National Park, is on the southern part of lake.

Video: Loktak Lake

Reaching there:
Air:
Imphal Airport is well connected with the major cities like Delhi (via Guwahati), Kolkata (via Silchar) etc.

Rail:
Dimapur Railway station (219 km) is the nearest railway station.

Road:
NH 39 (Numaligarh - Imphal - Palel - Indo Burma Border), NH 53 (Junction with NH - 44 Near Badarpur - Jirighat - Silchar - Imphal) and NH 150 (Aizawal - Churachandpur - Imphal - Ukhrul - Jessami - Kohima) are the National Highways passing through Imphal connecting it to the major cities.
BLUE HILLS TRAVEL, run by the Manipur State Transport, operates luxury buses connecting all the state capitals of the North Eastern region. Nagaland State Transport also runs a semi-luxury bus daily from Dimapur to Imphal (9-hrs journey).

Jaisalmer

2013-04-09T02:54:00.001+05:30

Famous for:
Beautiful Desert city known for the 3-day Desert festival (held in Feb), Desert Safari, handicrafts, leather items, stone statues, colorful embroidered fabrics.

Video: Jaisalmer, the beautiful desert city

Background:
Situated in the Thar desert, the desert city of Jaisalmer was founded in 1156 by (and is named after), the Bhatti Rajput ruler, Rawal Jaisal.
It is famous for its magnificent 12th century Jaisalmer fort, palaces and havalies built by the rich merchants.
It was a prosperous city located on the ancient trade route of India with places like Africa, Egypt etc. The Mughal Emperor, Alla-Ud-Din Khilji captured it in the 13th century. He ruled Jaisalmer for 9 years but the place is filled with stories of valor and courage shown not only by the Rajput men of those times, but also by the women who all committed Jauhar (self immolation) rather than surrendering to the Mughals.
Today, it has become the destination for tourists who would like to experience the true desert life and is especially known for the 3-day Desert festival organized by Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation in February, near the awesome Jaisalmer Fort. Very famous amongst both, local and foreign tourists for handicrafts, folk performances by local artisans in colorful dresses, music, dances, food, camel rides and some interesting competitions like camel tug-of-war and best moustache contest! A must for traveler in this region.

Video: Bikaner to Jaisalmer by road

What to see:
Jaisalmer Fort (Golden Fort / Sonar Quilla)
The awasome 12th century Jaisalmer Fort is the landmark of Jailsarmer. Standing tall in the desert, it has a fairytale look and is almost a city by itself. Within the fort are shops, temples, royal havlies (mansions), stalls, business establishments etc.

The Jain temple
Location: Within the Jalsalmer fort.
These beautiful temples were made between 12th and 15th century and are worth visiting.

Salim Singh Ki Haveli and Patwonji Ki Havili
Location: Below the hill (Salim Singh Haveli) and in narrow lane (Patwonji Havili)
The 300 year old magnificent Haveli (mansion) belongs to the then Prime Minister of the Princely state of Jaisalmer, Salim Singh. It is known for its intricate craftsmanship and exquisite decoration. A part of this haveli is still occupied. The other Haveli worth seeing is the 5-storey high Patwonji Ki Havali, which is the largest haveli in Jailsalmer.

Gadi Sagar Tank
Location: South side of the city wall.
It is a beautiful tank, which used to be the source of water for the Jaisalmer city. There are many gates, temples and shrines around the tank.

Sam Sand Dunes
Location: 42 km from Jaisalmer, at the edge of the Thar Desert
Amazing place for excursion to see the desert and sand dunes. The overnight camel safari is the best way to experience the desert and see the colorful sunrise and sunset.

Lodurva
Location: 16 km from Jaisalmer
It was the ancient capital of Jaisalmer and has ruins of the ancient city. It is also known for the Jain temples.

Desert National Park
Excellent place to see the Thar Desert flora and fauna. Typical desert vegetation like Cactus trees and thorny shrubs with few animal species like the black-buck, wolf, fox, etc. can be seen here.

Pokran
Location: at the junction of Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner road.
Pokran has been in news recently for the Indian Nuclear testings. It is also known for its old Pokran fort, and is a great place for furniture and interior decoration items.

Video: Jaisalmer desert festival

Reaching there:
Air:
Jaisalmer has an airport, which is located 9 km from the city center. However this airport is open only during tourist season (1st Oct to 31st March). During this time, there are few flights from Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Mumbai.

Rail:
Jaisalmer is connected to Jodhpur by a meter gauge line (overnight journey) and Jodhpur is connected by railways to other parts of the country.

Road:
NH 15 is the National Highway passing through Jaisalmer, connecting it to Bikaner and going upto Amristar and Pathankot. Jaisalmer is also connected to other cities of Rajasthan like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner, Ajmer, Mt.Abu etc and there are regular bus service from these cities.

Video: Tug of war at the Jaisalmer desert festival

Video: Sam sand dunes

Hyderabad

2013-04-09T01:06:00.001+05:30

Famous for:
Capital city of Andhra Pradesh and a historical place with many monuments. Also very famous for its mughlai style cuisine, especially Hyderabadi birani, kababs, and meat preparations like Haleem.

Video: Drive through the Hydrabad city

Background:
Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, is bland of the old and the new.
It has great influence of the Qutab Shahi era and like the northern Indian cities of Agra and Fatehpur Sikri, it also has influence of the Mughal era.
Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah, the fifth sultan of the Qutab Shahi dynasty of Golconda, in the year 1589, decided to shift his capital from Golconda to the place by the banks of the river Musi. The place flourished with many magnificent palaces and mosque and thus Hydrabad was created. Later in the 18th century, its twin city, Secunderabad was founded by the British as an Army cantonment area.

Video: The street scene near the Charminar, Hyderabad

What to see:
The Charminar
Location: Begum bazaar in the heart of the city
Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah built this landmark structure with four minarets and numerous small decorative arches in the year 1591. It is believed that he made it to safeguard the city from evil forces when it was threatening it with plague.
At a height of 56.7 m (186 ft), the Charminar is the symbol of the Hyderabad City. The Arch is illuminated every evening and is a sight to be seen.

The Mecca Masjid
Location: Near the Charminar
One of the largest Mosque in the world, it can accommodate up to 10,000 people at a time. Muhammad Quli Qutab Shah started the work for the Mosque in 1614 and Aurangzeb completed it in 1687. A particular stone brick in the mosque is believed to have been brought from Mecca.

Jami Masjid
Muhammad Quli Shah built the Jami Masjid in the year 1592 after he founded the city.

Toli Masjid
Location: by the Purana Pul
This mosque was built by Musa Khan, a supervisor of works at the Mecca Masjid,
For every Rupee spent on building the Mecca Masjid, he levied a damri and with this collection he built the Toli Masjid

Salar Jung Museum
Location: Near Afzalgunj
It is one of the oldest museums in the twin cities and the prime tourist attraction. It is renowned as the world's largest one-man collection and houses over 35,000 items. Opened in the year 1951, the major portion of the Museum's collection was acquired by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan also known as Salar Jung-III There are 35 galleries housing work of art from India, Middle East, Far East and Europe. A must see for all visitors to Hyderabad.
The museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm hours on all days except Fridays and public holidays

Golconda fort
Location: Langar house in the outskirts of the Hyderabad city
Built on a 120 m high granite hill, this magnificent fortress is known for its amazing acoustics whereby even a sound of a clap at the entry gate is heard clearly on the highest point of the hill, which is 1 km away!
The Kakatiyas, rulers of Andhra region in the 12th Century originally constructed the Fort. It was later expanded and fortified by the Qutb Shahi kings. Granite stones were used in reconstruction and the granite walls and barricades extend to nearly 7 km in circumference.
Golconda was also famous for diamond mining and trading and some of the most renowned diamonds in the world like the Kohinoor and the Orloff diamond originated from here. A sound and light show is also organized at the fort in the evenings.

Tombs of the Qutab Shahi Rulers
Location: Near the Golconda fort
Amidst beautiful gardens near the Golconda fort lays the tombs of the Qutab Shahi rulers. Once decorated with red and green tiles, the tombs have intricate carvings over them.

Hussain Sagar Lake
Location: Tank Bund
Built in 1550, by Ibrahim Qutab Shah, the Husain Sagar Lake is a large artificial lake lying between Hyderabad and Secunderabad. It is named after Hussain Shah Wali, who had cured Ibrahim Qutab Shah of a disease.

Nehru Zoological Park
Location: Bahadurpura in Hyderabad city
This is one of the best Zoo's of Asia and has nearly 1500 spices of birds and animals. There is also a pre-historic dinosaur park, a natural history museum, a mini-train and animal rides.

Birla Mandir
Location: on top of kala pahad near Hussain Sagar Lake
A beautiful white marble temple on a hill overlooking the south end of Hussain Sagar Lake. Close to the Birla Temple is the B M Birla Planetarium. It's one of the technically most advanced and modern science planetariums of India.

Ramoji Film city
Location: on the National Highway after Hayatnagar
This is the new attraction of Hyderabad, a 2000-acre fairytale land for film shooting. There are many film sets like airports, hospitals amongst beautiful Japanese style gardens, waterfalls etc.

Osman Sagar
Location: 20 km from Hyderabad city
A good picnic spot known for the lake, garden and beautiful road.

Video: Ramoji Film City

Sites nearby:
Warangal
Location: 157 km northeast of Hyderabad
Warangal is famous for its thousand-pillar temple - a specimen of the Chalukya architecture.

Bidar
Location: 110 Km northwest of Hyderabad,
Known for many palaces, mosques, baths, schools and tombs within a strong fortified area

Video: Golconda Fort

Reaching here:
Air:
Hyderabad Airport is located centrally between Hyderabad and Secunderabad. It is linked by air with all the major cities in India like Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkatta, Tirupati, Goa etc.

Rail:
Hyderabad has a Railway station but Secunderabad is the preferred station and is well connected by rail with major cities in India.

Road:
NH7 (Varanasi - Rewa - Jabalpur - Nagpur - Hyderabad - Kurnool - Bangalore - Krishnagiri -Salem - Dindigul - Madurai - Cape - Kanyakumari), NH 9 (Pune - Sholapur - Hyderabad - Vijayawada - Machillipatnam) and NH 202 (Hyderabad - Warrangal - Venkatpuram - Bhopalpattnam) are the three National Highways passing through Hyderabad.
Hyderabad city is very well connected by road to many cities and towns of the country. There is regular bus service between Hyderabad to Bangalore, Chennai, Guntur, Tirupati and Mumbai and most people prefer traveling by bus rather than trains.

Video: Hydrabad city tour

Copyright @ Data Online. All rights reserved. Unauthorized copying/use of content from this website, either in part or full is strictly is prohibited.

Haridwar

2013-04-08T23:55:00.000+05:30

Famous for:

A religious place and one of the 7 sacred cities of India. One of the four venues of the famous "Kumbh Mela" and is the gateway to the "Char Dhams".

Background:

Situated by the holi river Ganga, Haridwar is a very important religious place for the Hindus and is one of the seven most holy cities of India. It is also one of the four venues of the famous Kumbh mela (others being Allahabad, Nashik and Ujjain).

The other importance of Haridwar is that it is the gateway to Rishikesh and the Char Dhams.
Hindus offer prayers on the banks of the Ganga river to do penance and get salvation for their ancestors. The daily aartis (prayers) on the banks of the Ganga are well known especially the evening aarti when thousands devotees float small lamps in the holy river.

Video: Haridwar, the holy city

What to see:

Har Ki Pauri or Brahma Kund

Location: On the banks of the Ganges

Built by King Vikramaditya in memory of his brother Bhatrihari, this is one of the most sacred of all the ghats (holy platform for puja by river) in India and is the venue of the holy dip during the Maha Kumbh mela and Ardh Kumbh Mela. It is also known for the daily evening aartis when thousands of devotees float small lamps in the holy waters of Ganga.

Mansa Devi Temple

Location: on the top of Bilwa Parvat

It is a temple on the top of the Bilwa Parvat dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi , which can be reached by ropeway. It has a great view of Haridwar and the Ganges.

Sapt Rishi and Sapt Sarovar
Sapt Saravor is the place where the river Ganga splits and gets divided into seven small streams. It is believed that this happened because there were seven Rishis (Saints) meditating here and Ganga split herself so as not to disturb them.

Chandi Devi
Location: 6 km from Haridwar and 3 km from Chandi Ghat, on the top of Neel Parvat hill, which is by the Ganges
Built in 1929 by Suchat Singh, the King of Kashmir, it is believed to have the statue that was established in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya.

Daksha Mahadev Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is believed to be the palce where King Daksha Prajapati, father of Sati (wife of Shiva) had performed a yagna (puja) in which he did not called Shiva. Sati felt insulted and burnt herself in the yagna.

Neel Dhara Bird Sanctuary
A good place to watch birds particularly in winters.

Gurukul Kangadi University

A Gurukul way of learning where education is imparted in the traditional Indian way.

Video: Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri or Brahma Kund

Sites nearby:
Rishikesh
Location: 24 km from Haridwar
Rishikesh is a popular pilgrimage center for the Hindus. It is also known as a center of meditation, yoga, spiritual well being and for adventure sports like rafting, trekking etc

Dehradun
Location: 66 km
The capital of Uttaranchal, it is known for scenic beauty, picnic spots and many famous institutes.

Video: Evening Aarti at Ganga Har Ki Pauri or Brahma Kund

Reaching There:

Air:
Though Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (42 km) is the nearest airport, but there are very few (if any) flights from here Delhi airports (202 km) are better suited to reach Haridwar by Air.

Rail:
Haridwar has a railway station, which is very well connected by trains to Delhi, Mumbai, Howrah, Varanasi and all the major towns and cities of India.

Road:
NH 45 passes through Haridwar. People normally reach Haridwar from Delhi either by tourist bus or tourist cars. Haridwar is connected by good roads with other towns and cities in the region like Rishikesh, Dehradun, Ambala, Saharanpur etc and to the Char Dhams.

Home

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Welcome to YouSeeIndia.com!

YouSeeIndia.com is a unique Video Travel Guide of India. Here you will find videos and details of tourist destinations across the country.

Take virtual tour of places and experience the sights and sounds of this incredible country!
Know the places firsthand, as you plan your next trip in India!

More destinations are getting added even as you read this, so visit www.youseeindia.com everyday!

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Historical Places

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Historical Places

Agartala, TRIPURA

The capital of Tripura, Agartala is known for its beauty and palaces

Agra, UTTAR PRADESH

The Taj Mahal,The Agra Fort, Itmad-ud-Daulah tomb, Akbar's tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, Jama Masjid etc, the historical city of Agra has many things to offer to the travellers.

Ahmedabad, GUJARAT

There are many places of historical importance in and around Ahmedabad like Jumma Masjid, Sidi Saiyad's Mosque, Jhulta Minara etc and also Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram.

Allahabad, UTTAR PRADESH

Allahabad was one of the main center during freedom struggle and its one of the few places in India that has places of historical importance along side the places of religious importance

Amritsar, PUNJAB

The city of Amritsar has witnessed the painful effects of the partition more than any other place of India and Jallaianwala baug, where thousands of innocents lost their lives still bears the mark of the bullets on the wall

Aurangabad, MAHARASHTRA

Aurangabad is a historical city with many important Mughal monuments like Aurangazeb's tomb and Daulatabad fort. It is also gateway to the World Famous Ajanta and Ellora Caves.

Bhopal, MADHYA PRADESH

Capital of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal is called the city of lakes and mosques. Here you can find many monuments made in Islamic / Mughal style of architecture

Chittorgarh, RAJASTHAN

Historical city of Rajasthan known for forts and monuments

Gwalior, MADHYA PRADESH

The hometown of the great musician "Tansen", one of the nine gems of Akbar's court, Gwalior is also known for the Gwalior fort, palaces and monuments

Hyderabad, ANDHRA PRADESH
Capital city of Andhra Pradesh and a historical place with many monuments.

Indore, MADHYA PRADESH
Flourishing industrial city, famous for its many monuments belonging to the Holkar period

Jaipur, RAJASTHAN
With the backdrop of ancient forts on hilltops, Jaipur is a very popular tourist destination, which has retained its age old charm in its excellent palaces, gardens and forts.

Jodhpur, RAJASTHAN
Jodhpur, with the massive Mehrangarh fort looming in background, has history written all over the place

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More historical places of India are getting added...watch this space!!!

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Hill Stations and Trekking

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Hill Stations and Trekking

Aizawl, MIZORAM

Capital of Mizoram and a hill station known for scenic beauty. It is quite popular with tourists and is famous for its tribal culture, handicrafts and exotic natural beauties

Alchi, JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Located in the valley at the left bank of the Indus river in the Ladakh region, its known for its 11th century monasteries, and is called jewel amongst Ladakh's monastic foundations

Almora, UTTARANCHAL

A very beautiful hill station in the Kumaon Himalayas with great view of snow covered mountains. It is also known for the cottages in lovely surroundings, thickly wooded forests with streams, rivers, lakes and trekking routes around the region

Badrinath, UTTARNCHAL

One of the most sacred center of pilgrimage for Hindus it is popular for trekking to breathtaking places like "valley of flowers"

Chamba, HIMACHAL PRADESH

Chamba is quite famous amongst trekkers and the entire region is known for beautiful valleys, meadows, rivers, lakes and springs

Coonoor, TAMILNADU

Located on the Nilgiri Hills, at an altitude of 1859 m, Coonoor is known for its pleasant climate, natural beauty, trekking and hiking trails

Coorg (Madikeri), KARNATAKA

Known as Scotland of India, it is famous for its natural beauty, misty hills, orchids and tea and coffee plantation

Dalhousie, HIMACHAL PRADESH

A beautiful hill-station made up of five hills, which are covered with colourful flowers and deodar & pine trees

Darjeeling, WEST BENGAL

Called "Queen of Hills", Darjeeling is a beautiful hill station. It is a land of breathtakingly beautiful vibrant green hills surrounded by the majestic Himalayas in all its splendor. It is also kown for trekking and its Darjeeling Tea

Dehradun, UTTARANCHAL

At an altitude of 640 meters, it is surrounded by the Himalayas and is known for its pleasant climate, scenic surroundings, excursions and beautiful picnic spots. lt is very close to Mussoorie, Haridwar, Rishikesh, etc

Dharamshala, HIMACHAL PRADESH

Located at an altitude of 1200 to 2000 mts on the high slopes of the Kangra valley, it is the home of Dalai Lama and is known for carpets and local & Tibetan handicrafts

Gangotri-Gaumukh, UTTARANCHAL

A very holy center of pilgrimage, it is also the base for many Himalayan treks in the surrounded by forest and mountains.

Gangtok,SIKKIM

Capital of Sikkim, surrounded by Himalayas, known for its natural beauty, scenic mountains and Buddhist monasteries

Kalimpong, WEST BENGAL
A beautiful hill station famous for its monasteries, orchid nurseries, flowers, river rafting and nature walks.

Kasauli, HIMACHAL PRADESH
Kasauli is very famous for its natural beauty, flowers, and forests. People enjoy long walks here and it is one of the favourite hill stations of people from Northern Region

Kausani, UTTARANCHAL
A very beautiful hill station with amazing view of the Himalaya mountain ranges spread out over 300 km around it.

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More hill stations and trekking circuits of India are getting added...watch this space!!!

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Religious Places

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Religious Places

Agartala, TRIPURA

Agartala is the capital of Tripura and is known for its beauty and temples

Ajmer and Pushkar, RAJASTHAN

Ajmer has a blend of Sufi Culture and Hindu religion. The Dargah of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddun Chisti is sacred for both Muslims and Hindus. Pushkar is the holy place for the Hindus

Allahabad, UTTAR PRADESH

A very important religious place for Hindus and venue of "Kumbh Mela" held every 12 year, which is the largest gathering of humans in the world

Amarnath, JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Holy place for Hindus known tor the Lingam of Lord Shiva formed naturally by ice

Amritsar, PUNJAB

A very sacred city for the Sikhs. The Golden temple and the Akali Takhta are located here

Ayodhya, UTTAR PRADESH

Ayodhya city is the place where Lord Ram was born and so is an important pilgrim center for the Hindus. It is also a popular pilgrim center for Jains and Buddhists

Badrinath, UTTARANCHAL

It is one of the four (char) Dhams and is the most sacred center of pilgrimage for Hindus. You can also see videos of Hemkunt Sahib Gurudwara

Bhubaneshwar, ODISHA

The capital of Odhsia (Orissa), Bhubaneshwar is also known as the "Temple city of India". Once, it had more than 1000 temples, but today few hundred remains

Bodhgaya, BIHAR

Important Buddhist Pilgrimage center. The Bodhi tree under which Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment is located here

Chamba, HIMACHAL PRADESH

It is famous for its medieval temples and museums

Chennai, TAMILNADU

A large city with many temples and churches

Dharamshala, HIMACHAL PRADESH

It is the home of Dalai Lama, the living God of the Buddhists

Dwarka, GUJARAT

Dwarka is an important pilgrimage center for the Hindus, and is associated with the life of Lord Krishna. It is also known as the on of the four seats (maths) of Adi Shankaracharya

Gangotri - Gaumukh, UTTARANCHAL

Source of the holy river Ganga, Gangotri is a very holy center of pilgrimage and one of the Char Dhams (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath)

Guwahati, ASSAM

A city in banks of the mighty Brahmaputra river, it has many temples and is believed to be the birth place of Kamdeva, the God of Love

Haridwar, UTTARANCHAL

A religious place and one of the 7 sacred cities of India. One of the four venues of the famous "Kumbh Mela" and is the gateway to the "Char Dhams".

Indore, MADHYA PRADESH
Situated on the banks of rivers Saraswati and Khan, Indore is known for its temples and is a gateway to Omkareshwar and Ujjain

Kanyakumari, TAMILNADU
The point where 3 seas, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal meet. Very famous for the Vivekananda Rock.

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More Religious places of India are getting added...watch this space!!!

Wildlife

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Wildlife

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

The clean ocean around the islands are filled with great marine life and exotic corals, and the islands and the forest have been home to aboriginal tribes since per-historic times

Bandhavgarh National Park, MADHYA PRADESH

The animals found here includes Tigers, Indian Bison, Sambar, Barking deer etc and it has the highest density of Tigers in India

Bandipur National Park, KARNATAKA

Tiger Reserve with good population of Elephants, leopards, bison's and sloth bear

Corbett National Park, UTTARANCHAL

India's first Tiger Reserve and part of Project tiger known for Tigers, Elephant, Crocodiles and birds

Eravikulum National Park, KERALA

Has half the Worlds population of the endangered "Nilgiri Tahr"

Eaglenest wildlife Sanctuary, ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Located near Itanagar, the Eaglenest wildlife sanctuary is spread over 271 sq km and is known for Elephants, Tigers, Leopards, red panda and Sambar.

Kaziranga National Park, ASSAM
Awarded as one of the best-managed parks in India, Kaziranga NP is well known for its one-horned Rhino, Tigers and Elephants.

Kanha National Park, MADHYA PRADESH
Has highest density of Tigers in the world. Rudyard Kipling got inspiration to write "Jungle Book" from Kanha.

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Desert

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Desert

Bikaner, RAJASTHAN

A true Desert City with Red and Yellow sandstone Palaces, Forts and Temples. It has the best camel rides in the world and "Bikaner Bhujia" is a very famous snack

Jaisalmer, RAJASTHAN
Beautiful Desert city known for the 3-day Desert festival (feb), Desert Safari, handicrafts, leather items, stone statues, colorful embroidered fabrics

Jodhpur, RAJASTHAN
Located at the edge of the Thar desert, the desert city of Jodhpur is the second largest city of Rajasthan

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More desert cities of India are getting added...watch this space!!!

Cities and Gateway Cities

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Cities and Gateway Cities

Agartala, TRIPURA

Agartala is the capital of Tripura and is known for its beauty, temples, palaces and lakes

Agra, UTTAR PRADESH

The Taj Mahal, handicrafts, shoes, carpets, Jewelry, marbles and Zari embroidery. Also known for a sweet called "Peitha".

Ahmedabad, GUJARAT

Important city of Gujarat and a major textile center. Famous for exquisite handicraft items, Jewelry, copper and brass fine screens, beads and mirror works. Known for museums, Mosques, temples, and for Gujarati food

Aizwal, MIZORAM

Capital of Mizoram and a hill station known for scenic beauty, handicraft and hand woven textiles

Allahabad, UTTAR PRADESH

One of the important cities of Uttar Pradesh. Popular historical and religious place. Venue of "Kumbh Mela" held every 12 year, which is the largest gathering of humans in the world

Amritsar, PUNJAB

The second largest city of Punjab and a sacred city for the Sikhs. The Golden temple, the Akali Takhta and the Jallianwala Bagh are located here

Aurangabad, MAHARASHTRA

One of the fastest growing cities of Maharashtra and gateway to World heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora caves and Daulatabad fort

Bangalore, KARNATAKA

The IT city or "the Silicon Valley" of India, is also known for its Gardens, pubs and shopping (silk sarees and Sandalwood items)

Baroda (Vadodara), GUJARAT

An ancient city in Gujarat known for Art galleries and Museums. It is an important Cultural center of India

Bhavnagar, GUJARAT

A city near coast. Known for Cotton products displaying various shades of Gujarat's culture. It is an ideal point for the tourists wishing to go to Palitana and the sacred hill of Shatrunjaya.

Bhopal, MADHYA PRADESH
Capital of Madhya Pradesh, called the city of lakes and mosques

Bhubaneshwar, ODISHA

Capital of Odisha (Orissa), also known as "Temple city of India"

Chandigarh

Capital of two States of India, Punjab and Haryana. The "planned city" is famous for woolen cloths, ladies garments and Authentic Punjabi food.

Chennai, TAMILNADU

Capital of Tamil Nadu, the Gateway to Southern India, has fort, temples, churches and the second largest beach in the world

Coimbatore, TAMILNADU

Called "Manchester of South" due to its textile industry. It is an ideal entry or exit point for Kerala and to the Nilgiris and Ooty

Dehradun, UTTARANCHAL

Capital of Uttaranchal with scenic beauty and is the gateway to important tourist destinations in Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh.

Guwahati, ASSAM

Guwahati is a important tourist link point to the seven other North-Eastern states of India

Gwalior, MADHYA PRADESH

The ancient city of Gwalior is now a modern Indian city known for its temples, palaces, monuments and educational institutions.

Hyderabad, ANDHRA PRADESH

Hyderabad, is the capital of Andhra Pradesh and is bland of the old and the new. A historical as well as a modern bustling city of India.

Imphal, MANIPUR
Known as the 'Land of Jewels', Imphal is the capital of Manipur. It is a mini-metropolis and the center of all cultural, commercial and political activities.

Indore, MADHYA PRADESH
Flourishing industrial city, famous for its temples, bangles, cotton textiles and food.

I tanagar, A RUNACHAL PRADESH
Itanagar is a beautiful capital city of Arunachal Pradesh with evergreen forest and the mighty Himalayan ranges.

Jabalpur, MADHYA PRADESH
Jabalpur is a gateway to Kanha and Bandhavgarh National Parks. It is famous for the marble rock cliffs and finding of a full skeleton of dinosaur in 1930.

Jaipur, RAJASTHAN
Known as "the Pink city", Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and gateway to other places in the state.

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More cities and gateway cities of India are getting added...watch this space!!!

Beaches, Backwaters, Coasts

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Beaches, Backwaters and Coast

Ahmedpur - Mandvi, GUJARAT

It has one of the finest beach in India with water sports like water scooting, surfing and Para-sailing

Alappuzha (Alleppy), KERALA

Known as the "Venice of East". Great beaches, canals, houseboats in the backwaters

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Known for beautiful beaches, clear water and plenty of coral life. A great place for Snorkeling, Scuba diving

Bhavnagar, GUJARAT

A city near coast, it has a natural harbour and was declared a port in 1743. It is an ideal point for the tourists wishing to go to Palitana and the sacred hill of Shatrunjaya.

Chennai, TAMILNADU

Has the second largest beach in the world

Cochin (Kochi), KERALA

Has lovely port. Backwaters and sea food

Goa
Known as the "Beach Capital of India". Water sports like para surfing, wind surfing and deep-sea diving. Sea Food and local delicacy called Vindaloo

Kanyakumari, TAMILNADU
The meeting place of 3 seas known for its beautiful rocky coastline and the temples situated on these rocks

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More beaches and back waters of India are getting added...watch this space!!!

Gwalior

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Famous for:
The hometown of the great musician "Tansen", one of the nine gems of Akbar's court and the Gwalior fort.

Video: Gwalior city

Background:
The ancient city of Gwalior has been ruled by many dynasties until 1885, when Jiyaji Rao Scindia took it over.
Named after a the 8th century legendary saint Gwalipa who cured the then chieftain Suraj Sen of a deadly disease, Gwalior, the hometown of the legendary singer Tansen, is now a modern Indian city known for its temples, palaces, monuments and educational institutions.

Video: The Gwalior fort

What to see:
Gwalior Fort
Built in the 15th century, the magnificent fort it lies on top a hill overlooking the city. It was amongst the most invincible forts of India and still has a 2 mile long and 35 ft high outer wall. Within the fort are the 15th century Gujari Mahal, Man Mandir Palace and the Suraj Kund built by Suraj Sen sometime in the 9th century.

Teli-ka-Mandir
Location: Inside the Gwalior fort
The 100 ft high 9th century temple has roof of Dravidian style and the North Indian Indo-Aryan style of decoration.
Mohammad Ghaus Tomb
A tomb built of sandstone for the Afghan prince Mohammad Ghaus.

Tansen's tomb
Location: Adjacent to Mohammad Ghaus Tomb
Built in memory of the famous musician Tansen, the tomb is also the venue for the annual National level music festival, which is held in November - December.

Jai Vilas Palace
The 35 rooms palace is partly being used as a residence for the Scindia royal family of Gwalior and the other half is a museum showing the princely lifestyle. The main attraction is a silver toy train with cut glass wagons, whch was used for serving guests.

Places Nearby
Shivpuri
Location: 112 km from Gwalior on the Agra- Mumbai road.
It was the summer capital of the Scindia's and is famous for its Madhav National Park, Madhav Vilas Palace and the Chhatris, the memorials to former rulers.

Chambal
Location: On NH 3, 55 km from Gwalior
Known for its wilderness, hills, Chambal river and violent legends of men and beasts.

Video: Passing thru the famous Chambal ghaati in train

Reaching there:
Air: Gwalior Airport is connencted with Delhi, Bhopal, Indore and Mumbai.

Rail: Gwalior is on the Delhi - Chennai and Delhi - Mumbai line on the Central Railways and has daily trains from Delhi and Agra.

Road: NH 3 (Agra - Gwalior - Shivpuri - Indore - Dhule - Nasik - Thane - Mumbai), NH 75 (Gwalior - Jhansi - Chhatarpur - Rewa-Renukut - Garwa - Daltonganj - Ranchi) and NH 92 (Bhongaon - Etawah - Gwalior) are the National Highways passing through Gwalior.

Gwalior is well connected by roads and has with regular bus services to Agra, Mathura, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Bhopal, etc.

Guwahati

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Famous for:
The birthplace of Kamdeva, the God of Love

Video: Guwahati street

Background:
Situated at a height of 55 meters, on the banks of Brahmaputra, it was formerly known as Pragjyotishpur (the city of Eastern Light).
Its name is derived from two Assamese words; 'Guwa' meaning areca nut and 'Haat' meaning market.
Dispur, the Capital of Assam is situated just 7 km from here. Guwahati is a important tourist link point to the seven other northeastern states. It is believed that the Demon king Narkasura has built the city. It is also known as the birth place of Kamdeva, the God of Love.

Video: Brahmaputra River from North Guwahati Side

What to see:
Kamakhya temple
Location: On nilachal hill, 8 km from the railway station
Built in the 10th century by the Koch king, Naranarayan, it the most sacred among the tantrik shrines of Shakti worship in the World. Even today animal sacrifices are made to calm down the Goddess.
The temple was rebuilt in 1665, after the Muslim invaders destroyed it. Giant turtles can be found here in the nearby ponds.
Pilgrims from all over the world visit the temple, especially during the Ambuchi festival.

Shiva temple
Location: on the Peacock island, in the middle of Bramhaputra
Situated on Peacock Island, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It can be reached via public ferries and motor boats from the Umananda ghat. Ferries usually leave the ghat from 7 am to 5 pm.

Navagraha temple
Location: on Citracala hill, in the east of Guwahati town
Being an ancient seat of astronomy and astrology, it is also referred to as the 'Temple of Nine Planets'. Housed in a red beehive-shaped dome, it consists of nine linga, representing the nine planets. It contains nine phallic emblems of Shiva covered with cloths of different colors sacred to the nine planetary gods, namely, Surya (Sun), Candra (Moon), Mangala (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Sukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu and Ketu.

Vashistha Ashram
Location: 12 km from the railway station, on Sandhyachal Hill
An abode of sage Vashistha, it charm is bestowed by three rivulets namely Lalita, Kanta and Sandhya.

Guwahati Zoo
Location: 5 km east of railway station, in Japarigog area
Spread over an area of 4 sq km, it is the largest natural zoo of the country. It is well managed with a variety of rare species like the Royal Bengal Tiger, African Lions, Rhino, Zebra, cheetas and a number of snake species. The major attraction is the African two-horned Rhinos and the Assam's famous ones.
Timing: Opening hours: 07:00 hrs. - 17:00 hrs. in Summer and 08:00 hrs. - 16:30 hrs. in Winter (Friday closed)

State Museum
Location: 10 minutes walk from Railway station
The museum has a large collection of archeological artifacts made of stone, wood, metal and terracotta dating back to the 7th century. The museum also houses a library and holds lectures and film shows on occasions. The library has important historical documents relating to Ahom dynasty which ruled Assam for almost six hundred years
Timings: 1000 to 1630 hrs (Tue to Sat), 0800 to 1200 hrs (Sun)

Places Nearby:
Manas wildlife sanctuary
Location: 176 km from Guwahati
Situated on the banks of river Manas, and 176 km from Guwahati, this sanctuary is the only one from 'tiger project' in Assam. It has its own peculiar species of fauna, the rarest of which are the hispid hare and the pigmy hog. Commonly seen animals are the rhino, elephant, water buffalo and the swamp deer. Hundreds of birds migrate to Manas during winter.

Pabitora
Location: 60 km from Guwahati
It is a small wildlife sanctuary, famous for the inhabitation of Rhinos and various rare species of deer.

Hajo
Location: 25 km from Guwahati
It is a sacred place for Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists. The main spots in the town are the Pua-Mecca mosque and the Hayagriba Madhava temple. An Iraqi prince-turned preacher, spreading the teachings of the Prophet established the Pua-Mecca mosque while travelling Assam in the 12th century.
Also there exists the Hayagriba Madhava Temple, which is accessible through a long stone stairway. One of the oldest resident, a giant turtle, lives in a pond at the foot of the stairway. Hajo is also renowned for its bell metal work

Chandubi
Location: 64 km from Guwahati
It is a perfect fishing spot. Being a natural lagoon, it has abundance of fishes and one can even enjoy rowing in its waters.

Madan Kamdev
Location: 35 km from Guwahati
Madan Kamdev is famous for archeological ruins that can be found here. Another attraction here is the Durga temple, whose history and making dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries.

Sualkuchi
Location: 32 km from Guwahati
Famous for the golden silk thread of Assam, this town has almost all the inhabitants in the occupation of silk weaving. The complete procedure of making the traditional Mekhala Chador (the two piece saris) from the cocoon can be seen here.

Tezpur
Location: 181 km east of Guwahati
Tezpur, lying on the north bank of Brahmaputra River, is a town of both historic importance and adventure sports. It is the centre of the Indian tea industry. The ruins of the stone temple, Da Parbatia, lie at a distance of 5 km from Tezpur.
Other architectural remains include that of Agnigarh, Bamuni Hills, Bhairavi and Mahabhairab temples and the twin tanks of Bar Pukhuri and Padum Pukhuri.

Video: Kamakhya Temple

Reaching there:
Air: Indian Airlines as well as private airlines connect Guwahati with regular flights to cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Patna, and Agartala.

Rail: Guwahati is the headquarter of North-East Frontier Railway and is well connected with other states and parts of Assam. Many trains originate or pass through Guwahati. The important trains connecting the city are Assam Avadh Express, Guwahati Trivandrum Express, etc

Road: NH 31 (Junction with NH 2 Near Barhi - Bhaktiarpur - Mokameh - Purnea - -Dalkola - Silliguri-Sivok-Cooch-Behar- North Salmara - Nalbari-Charali-AminGaon Junction with NH-37), NH 37 (Junction with NH 31B Near Goalpara - Guwahati - Jorabat - Kamargaon - Makum - Saikhoaghat), NH 40 (Jorbat - Shillong - Indo Bangladesh Border Near Dawki - Jowai) are the National Highways passing through Guwahati.

There are bus-services operated to almost all-important centers in and outside the state. Guwahati is connected by regular bus services with Shillong, Silchar, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Tezpur, Siliguri, Sibsagar, Dimapur, Kohima, Imphal, Aizawal, Itanagar, Barpetta Road and Cooch Bihar.