Travel India-Travel Reviews & Honest suggestions

Title: A Spiritual Journey and a Brush with Humanity at Maha Kumbh on Mauni Amavasya 29 january 2025

2025-01-31T01:47:00.000-08:00

Introduction: On January 29th, 2025, I and my wife had the privilege of experiencing one of the most sacred and overwhelming events in India—the Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj. The Mauni Amavasya day was particularly special, drawing millions of devotees to take a holy dip in the Ganges. What began as a spiritual journey filled with devotion and awe, turned into an unexpected test of resilience and a reminder of the profound humanity we share.

The Spiritual Energy of the Maha Kumbh: As soon as we arrived, the air felt different. The sound of chants—jai Shri Ram and Bam Bam Bhole—filled the atmosphere, creating a deep sense of peace. Pilgrims, each on their own path to spiritual fulfillment, gathered in a sea of humanity, their eyes full of faith. The energy was palpable, with people helping one another, even in the chaotic crowds, showing how deeply the spirit of service lives within this sacred gathering.

The Holy Dip: A Powerful Experience: For us, the most profound moment came when we took the holy dip in the Ganges. As we waded into the cold, flowing waters, a sense of calm and power enveloped us. It felt as if the river was cleansing not just our bodies, but our souls as well. Little did we know that this was just the beginning of an unexpected journey.

The Crowd and the Struggle: After the holy dip, we began our walk to complete our spiritual journey—covering over 25 kilometers. But as the hours passed and the crowds thickened, things took a turn. At 4 am, we found ourselves stuck at a crossing point near Sector 21-22, surrounded by an overwhelming throng of people. In the chaos, we found ourselves facing a 10-foot-high tin wall, which we had no choice but to jump over, seeking refuge in a nearbymath (temple complex) to avoid the crowd stampede.

The situation was tense. Small children were crying, and there was desperation in the air. Despite our efforts to offer water, food, and cloth from the wall, the temple management refused to open the doors, fearing it would escalate into even greater chaos. We spent hours there, waiting until 7 am, hoping things would calm down.

An Angelic Encounter: When we finally left the math and continued our journey, we met couple who are local residents—Deepak and Navya. Strangers in the crowd, they could sense our exhaustion and overwhelm. We had casually mentioned how we had forgotten to bring back some holy Ganga water for our family in Delhi due to the crowd chaos. Without a second thought, Deepak and Navya, who had also left their bike behind, guided us through the crowd, safely leading us out of the chaos.

Once we were in a safer area, they made sure we could continue our journey to Nehru Park, where we could catch our bus back to Delhi. And as if that wasn’t enough, they even went out of their way to bring us Ganga Jal. We were deeply moved by their kindness, especially in such a challenging situation.

A Final Act of Kindness: The journey didn’t end there. On our way to Nehru Park, we met an elderly man from Bihar who had gotten separated from his family. His hands were shaking from the shock, and he had no way of contacting them. We helped him connect with his son, who was anxiously trying to find him. After our return to Delhi, we received a call from his son, letting us know that they had successfully found each other. It was a small act that brought so much joy, reminding us of the ripple effect of kindness.

Conclusion: The experience at the Maha Kumbh Mela was far more than just a spiritual one. It was a lesson in human connection, kindness, and resilience. From the holy dip to the overwhelming crowd and, finally, the strangers who became our angels, I walked away with a heart full of gratitude and awe. The Kumbh is not just about rituals; it’s about experiencing the depth of humanity, the highs and lows of our shared journey through life. This trip was a beautiful reminder that, even in the most chaotic moments, there is always someone willing to help, and the divine presence is never too far away.

5 Days in Dalhousie And Mcleodganj

2016-06-23T02:55:00.003-07:00

DAY 1

Gali Number 1A(New delhi railway station)

Our journey started from New Delhi, we reached metro station at 7:30 pm to reach New Delhi railway station. Metro route was the fastest and easy option to reach our destination without city traffic. Train departure time was 8:40 pm. Travel time from Tilak nagar metro station to New Delhi railway station was 31 min With one stoppage. We board our Jimmu Rajdhani express at 8:20 pm.

DAY 2

SH 33 somewhere between pathankot and dalhousie

At 4:30 am we have hired a taxi for 1500 Inr from pathankot cantt to Dalhousie. We had one stoppage for breakfast and refreshment at 6:30 am.

Dalhousie

After checking in to our hotel we rested for couple of hours before leaving for trekking to punj pula.spent 3 hours in kids activity,small water fall at punj pula and return back trekking to shubash chowk.

After reaching back to Subash chowk we visited local church and enjoyed great rainfall at Subash chowk. Weather was really good .we spent our evening at hotel.

DAY 3

Dainkund - Chowari Jot

On 3rd day we had our breakfast at hotel and then reached to Subash chowk to hire local taxi for local sight visit. As we have already covered punj pula, we got a deal to visit khajjyar, kala top wild life sanctuary and dainkund at 2050 INR.

We reached dainkund at 11:35 am and spent 4 hours doing trekking of 2.5 km. When we asked our driver about how this place is so beautiful and looks like untouched place of nature with no hotels and resort nearby, he told us that the reason is it comes in remote location and under army area and secondly this place is still considered to be haunted by dain( witch) . This place was so beautiful that we just do not want to come downhill back to our parked taxi. Please find below video link to dainkund.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UtFXJ_CzX4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ue7N9zFsWw

Dalhousie Khajjiar Rd

Our second stoppage was kalatop, there nothing special on this location as compared to dainkund, I recommend skip this place or go for trekking in the woods rather going in car. Route to the destination is more beautiful than kala top.

There is one route to khajjyar by trekking 12 km. I do not recommend this for family with kids.

Khajjiar Local Trail

Our next destination was khajjyar. It is a nice long plain ground bigger than 3 stadium area surrounded by mountains and devdaar trees.

DAY 4

DFO Rd

On day four after the breakfast from our hotel. We travel to mcleodgunj from local bus stand at Dalhousie

We reached mcleodgunj in the evening, had our evening snack. We had thungpa (kind of a noodle soup) . it was really spicy. After food we checkin in a local hotel near to bus stand.

DAY 5

Bhagsunag Rd

Our day five started with mcleodganj water fall"bhagsu waterfall". After that we visited local Tibetan market. Dalai lana temple and booked our return Volvo bus to delhi departures at 7:30 pm.

Indian travelers :- Mysore Review

2014-02-28T01:18:00.000-08:00

Mysore :-

Mysore is noted for its palaces, including the Mysore Palace, and for the festivities that take place during the Dasara festival when the city receives a large number of tourists. It lends its name to the Mysore style of painting, the sweet dish Mysore Pak, the Mysore Peta (a traditional silk turban) and the garment known as the Mysore silk saree. Tourism is the major industry, while information technology has emerged as a major employer alongside the traditional industries. Mysore depends mainly on rail and bus transport for inter-city connections. It also has an Airport serving the city, also known as Mandakalli Airport. The city was the location of the first private radio station in India. Mysore houses Mysore University, which has produced several notable authors, particularly in the field of Kannada literature. Cricket is the most popular sport in the city.from hotel.

Local sightseeing in Mysore:-

Mysore sight-seeling :- Mysore St.Philomina's Church, Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hills, Zoo, Maharaja Palace, Art Gallery , and at last Brindavan Gardens

Places to visit near Manali Photo gallery :-

Brindavan Gardens - Mysore

Tipu palace - Mysore

Mysore St.Philomina's Church

Outer view Maharaja Palace - Mysore

Wall decoration Maharaja Palace - Mysore

Maharaja Palace - Mysore

Somanathapuram Temple

Famous Thing to Buy In Mysore
Mysore is known across the world for two main things, namely sandalwood and silk. Visitors coming to this beautiful city are sure to bring back a good number of famous sandalwood agarbathis or perfumed incense sticks. Women also love to shop for beautiful sarees and dress materials made from the famed Mysore silk, as they can get them at a lot lesser rates than those offered outside the city.

Indian Travelers :- Bangalore Review

2014-02-26T06:27:00.000-08:00

Bangalore :-
Bangalore (or Bengaluru) is the capital city of the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka.Bangalore is known as the Silicon Valley of India because of its role as the nation's leading Information Technology (IT) exporter. Located at a height of over 3,000 feet (914.4 m) above sea level, Bangalore is known for its pleasant climate throughout the year.Max temerature in Bangalore in month of April is 32 degree Celsius. The city is amongst the top ten preferred entrepreneurial locations in the world.
For Indian Traveler's the best part is you can find local people communicating in English fluently.

Local sightseeing in Bangalore:-

A)Cubbon Park
On a grassy expanse over a few hundred acres in the centre of Bangalore is Cubbon Park, planned and laid out in 1864 by Sir Richard Sankey, thethen Chief Engineer of Mysore. It is named after Sir Mark Cubbon, Bangalore's longest serving Commissio- ner. Lawns with vibrant flower beds, shady bowers and flowering trees, make this an ideal place for fitness freaks and the elderly to take their morning jogs or evening walks. The Park has elegant classical buildings like Attara Kacheri (the Karnataka High Court) and the Visveswaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, Government Museum, Aquarium, Venkatappa Art Gallery and Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall, all of which are well known. Besides these, it also houses Bal Bhavan - an amusement park for children.

Cubbon Park is open to the public at all times, but is closed to traffic from 5 am to 8 am every day.

B) Lalbagh
Surrounding one of the towers erected by Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bangalore, is the 240 acre landscaped Lal Bagh gardens. Haider Ali, the warrior-king of Mysore, decided to create this garden in 1740 on the lines of the Mughal Gardens that were popular during his time.

The park has some rare species of plants brought from Persia, Afghanistan and France. Hyder Ali's son, Tipu Sultan, added to the beauty of the garden by publicising his wish to receive much-sought-after species of plants from visiting dignitaries.

C) Vidhana Soudha
The legislative House of the State of Karnataka, this granite building was built by Sri K. Hanumanthaiya, Chief Minister of the then Mysore state 1951 to 1956. The then Prime Minister Sri Pandit Jawaharalal Nehru laid the foundation on 13 July 1951. It was built at an expenditure of Rs 18.4 Million. Marvel of neo-Dravidian architecture and one of the most imposing building not only in Bengaluru but in India. One of the interesting feature of this building in grand stairs in its front.

The grand stairs has a flight of forty-five steps 62 m (204 ft) wide 21 m (70 ft) deep giving a direct Access to the foyer of first floor leading to an Assembly Chamber. The architecture of the building is Based on Dravidian style, comprising richly carved bases and capitals for pillars, deep friezes, kapotha Cornices, chaithya arches, heavy pediments domical finials, etc; At the same time, the construction has Been on modern designs, making use of the present-day materials like steel, reinforced cement Concrete glass, plastic, etc.
D) Tippu Sultan's Palace
Which dates from about 1790, is the summer retreat for Tipu sultan, the two story structure is made Mostly out of wood with finely embellished balconies, pillars and arches.

What remains now is parts of the fort wall with a tablet marking the place where Cornwallis had breached it in 1791. In the courtyard is the Ganesha Temple that is popularly thought to represent Tipu Sultan's religious tolerance. The fort is noted for its beautifully carved arches on the gate walls.

You can cover almost all main places in Bangalore in a day tour which you can get in your Hotel deal.

Places to visit near Bangalore Photo gallery :-

Lalbagh - Famous HMT clock -Bangalore

Lal-bagh- Bangalore

Tipu Sultan Fort

Hotel to stay in Goa:-

The Pride Hotel, Richmond road :- I personally recommend my blog visitor to stay in This hotel. I have booked this hotel for 14 night 15 days and I loved my stay in the hotel. I stayed there as a business traveler for 14 nights. The hotel is pretty new and hence its a good property to stay in. Nice rooms & a good bathroom. They have a wide variety of food to offer,and their breakfast spread is lavish as with most others, but the taste is for south Indian food lovers. Location is excellent and is very central.

Rooms -Pride Hotel- Bangalore

main Entry Pride hotel -Bangalore

Indian Travelers : Manali Review

2014-02-26T01:03:00.000-08:00

Manali :-
Manali is a well known Hill station of India and is nestled in the mountains of the Indian state of Himachal pradesh (H.P)
Manali is located at an altitude of about 6500 ft. above mean sea level and is one of the main tourist towns of Kullu valley. It is a place inhabited by innocent village folks who continue with their traditional rites and rituals in spite of the sweeping waves of modernization. To the modern day visitors, Manali conjures up images of evergreen pine groves, snow capped mountains, whispering forests, cascading water falls and the swift flowing waters of perennial Beas.

Local sightseeing in Manali:-
Solang Valley:- It is half day sightseeing from Manali famous for snow point and adventure sports like Paragliding and Adventure Fun, Rope Way Rides, Move to Snow Point, Whatever Accessible, and then back to your Hotel by evening.

Manali Local Landmarks Sight Seeing, Important Heritage & Ancient Landmarks like Hadimba Temple, Tibetan Monastery, Club House & Hot Water Springs And Vashishth temple.

Tour for Adventure Rafting in Kullu, Enjoy Rafting, Naggar Heritage Village, Naggar Castle Building,Visit Russian Museum, Nicholas Roreich Art Gallery.

If time permits, Manikaran valley tour is possible to visit Manikaran Gurudwara along with river views of Parvati Valley crossing by Kasol town.

Places to visit near Manali Photo gallery :-

Snow Fall in Manali

Vashisht Hot Water Springs And Temple Manali

Kullu River Rafting- Manali


Manikaran Gurudwara near Manali

Rohtang-Pass Manali

Hotel to stay in Manali :-

Snow Crest Manor-Manali :- I personally recommend my blog visitor to stay in This hotel. I have booked this hotel for 3 night 4 days and I loved my stay in the hotel. Hotel will also provide half day sight seeing in the deal. Hotel property is at highest peak on manali with awesome view from your room.You can view the Snow Crest mountains from your room or from the terrace area of the hotel.

Snow crest manor- Terrace Area

The only drawback is that you need to take auto from mall road to reach the Hotel every time you came back from sightseeing as it is on top of the Hill. Otherwise value for money.

Room Tip: The rooms that offer mountain views are better( ground level rooms do not have views ) !!

Snowcrest manor - Manali

Indian Travelers : Goa Review

2014-02-26T01:00:00.001-08:00

Goa :-

Goa is s India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast.
Panaji is the state's capital, while Vasco da Gama is the largest city. The historic city of Margao still exhibits the cultural influence of the Portuguese, who first landed in the early 16th century as merchants and conquered it soon thereafter. Goa is a former Portuguese province; the Portuguese overseas territory of Portuguese India existed for about 450 years until it was annexed by India in 1961.
Renowned for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture, Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year. It also has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, which is classified as a biodiversity hotspot.

Local sightseeing in Goa:-

Goa sightseeing is divided into tow phases:- North Goa and South Goa
North Goa is famous for beaches and south Goa is famous for temple, churches and penjim cruise boat.
Places to visit in Goa are

Calangute Beach
Anjuna Beach
Baga Beach
Fort Aguada
Basilica de Bom Jesus
Church of St Francis of Assisi
Se Cathedral
Sri Mangueshi Temple
Dudhsagar waterfalls
Goa Carnival
Dona Paula view point
Dolphin watching in boat trip

Places to visit near Goa Photo gallery :-

Dona Paula View Point-Goa

Dona Paula -Goa

Baga beach night View - Goa

beach Goa

Beach photo

Cruise Boat Panjim- Goa


Thivum-Goa

Sri Mangueshi Temple - Goa

beautiful view from Dona Paula -Goa

Ferry Boat - Goa

view point-dona Paula- Goa

Hotel to stay in Goa:-

Golden Tulip, Candolim:- I personally recommend my blog visitor to stay in This hotel. I have booked this hotel for 3 night 4 days and I loved my stay in the hotel.During our stay in Golden Tulip Goa, the things we liked the most are awesome infrastructure, caring and helpful pool instructor, great room service, great assistance in getting a full day tour booked for Goa sight seeing and delicious food served during our stay. some of the hidden benefits are, General store, Liqueur shop, shopping markets and beach just walking distance away from hotel.

Great food served in Golden Tulip

We would recommend this hotel deal to my blog reader and friends.

Godel Tulip, Candolim

Delhi a glimpse into the past

2011-05-17T08:38:00.001-07:00

Delhi, the capital of the world's largest democracy, a perfect synthesis of rich past and a vibrant present, a city resplendent with exotic monuments cheek by jowl with some of the finest specimens of modern architecture. A political seat of power which breathes fine arts and culture from its myriad concert halls and theaters. It is no mean task to describe the city which owes its existence to builders and designers who spanned 5000 years, from the celestial architect vishwakarma to Edvin lutyens lionized by the British in the sunset years of their role in this country.

Delhi was born as early as 1000 BC when a settlement sprung up near the purana quila on the bank of the river yamuna. Hindu mythology however, records a settlement many hundreds of years earlier at the ancient site of indraprastha.

Lal kot, first of the city's to come into being, arose out of the dust of this north Indian plain in 736 AD. six more followed each on the heels of the other siri, the second city (14th century AD);tughlakabad, the third city (14 century AD);jahanpanah, the forth city (14th century AD); ferozshah kotla (14th century AD) the fifth city; the lodi tombs provide evidence of the six city(17th century), the most prominent of city 's earlier avatar.

Delhi Famous Bhudha Jayanti Park

2011-02-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

KNOW MORE VARANASI

2010-09-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

KNOW MORE VARANASI
RIVER OF LIFE

Considered to be the oldest living city in the world,Varanasi,also known as Benares,is the seat of Hindusim.In fact,Hindus believe that dying in this city is akin to achieving moksha and being freed from the cycle of birth and re-birth.Most of the citys life revolves around the ghats of the Ganga.No occasion,whether it is birth,marriage or death can be complete without water from the holy river.Check out the following:

Kashi Vishwanath temple:

The main temple of Varanasi is dedicated to one of the 12 jyotirlingas a column of light of India.According to legend,the jyotirlinga appeared during a dispute between Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva,about who was the supreme god.Shiva converted himself into a jyotirlinga,and neither Brahma nor Vishnu could find him anywhere.They conceded defeat and accepted him as their superior.

Dashashwamedh ghat:

One of the most important ghats in Varanasi,this is where Brahma is believed to have sacrificed 10 horses,hence the name Dashashwamedh.Tourists take a boat ride here in the early hours to worship the sun or watch the magnificent aarti in the evening.

Sankatmochan temple:

Founded by Sant Tulsidas,the temple is one of the most revered in Varanasi.On Tuesdays,crowds throng the temple to pray to Hanumanji,the presiding deity,and offer garlands made of marigold flowers to the Lord.

Shopping:

Banarsi saris,paan,brass pots,Mirzapur carpets,shawls,inlaid bangles

Eating:

Paapri chaat,samosa,kachauri,rabri,jalebi,lassi

Benares is older than history,older than tradition,older even than legend,and looks twice as old as all of them put together. Mark Twain

This article sourced from times of India :-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Travel to India - a life changing experience

2010-09-06T06:56:00.001-07:00

Travel to India - a life changing experience India is a wonderland in the context of the flora and fauna as well! No land can never emulate India in the diversity of culture, climate, vegetation, and wildlife. These differences have made him the natural habitat of almost all kinds of & of the flora, fauna and thus, its fauna is rich and varied. Almost all species of animals, birds, insects, fish and other creatures, flowers and underwater vegetation are found exclusively in India. About 90 national parks, 490 sanctuaries, 13 biosphere reserves, deep openly demonstrate their dedication to the conservation of wildlife and forests. Uttrakhand and Rajasthan in the north, Madhya Pradesh in central, Karnataka and Kerala in the south, Gujarat in the west and Assam and Bihar in Eastern India ---- paramountly is important in terms of trip fauna. Thus, in general, any trip of wildlife in India is certainly to be unforgettable limited entertainment, exciting, and enlightening.
India is extensive and unrestricted both in their geographical boundaries and the experiences of sight, sound and spectacle of visitors from various corners of the world. So while it is difficult to grasp the whole of India in one visit, make sure you don & rsquo; not miss out on important landmarks or experiences that encourage the most of visiting this fascinating country.

OVERCAST SKIES, GREEN WATERS

2010-08-27T02:08:00.000-07:00

OVERCAST SKIES, GREEN WATERS

Not many would have heard of Siliserh, a retreat near Alwar. That explains why it continues to weave its magic over those who seek solitude

MITALI KAR

Article taken from times of India :- www.timesofindia.com.

    Getting an extended weekend in Delhi is a luxury; and finding a reservation at hotels in the popular tourist getaways even more so. If you have to drive anything more than eight hours to get to your destination, quite a bit of the holiday has been spent travelling, right? So what’s the solution? Try Lake Palace Hotel, Siliserh, the RTDC-run property in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. Located only 173 km from Delhi, it will take you less than four hours to get there, even if you make a halt to fix a punctured tyre or grab a quick bite.
    We left Delhi at seven in the morning, stopping at Daruhera (70 km) for a breakfast of alu paranthas smeared with mango pickle, washed down with steaming cups of adrak ki chai. As we made ourselves comfortable on the charpoys with the wind softly caressing our faces and munched on the paranthas, it seemed like the perfect beginning to our holiday.The car picked up speed as we left Dharuhera and made our way past Behror towards Alwar.
Monsoon Madness Alwar city, also the district headquarters, is nondescript. Chock-a-block with cars, bicycles, vendors and even cows, it is almost impossible to manoeuvre your car through the mess! And if the city has just had a spell of heavy rain, as it did on that day, the situation can be maddening — you know what it’s like on Delhi’s roads; now imagine the same scenario in a small town teeming with people!
    It is possible to get lost in the lanes of Alwar. After checking with four people, we finally seemed to be on the right track. The road to Siliserh (13 km) almost springs out of nowhere. One minute there’s the mad rush, and the next, someone points to an arterial road, devoid of traffic. We cruised along and finally reached the hotel’s gates where a guard checked our credentials, noted down the number of our car and let us in.
    At first glance, the hotel seemed a bit of a disappointment, well, far from what a palace shoud be! Huffing and puffing my way up to the first floor with a duffel bag didn’t seem like my idea of a good beginning to a holiday. But soon someone appeared and offered to help with the luggage. When I reached the reception, I was blown away! There it was — Lake Siliserh — in the distance like a sheet of emerald water. It was flanked on all sides by the lofty Aravallis. Not a soul was in sight! Our rooms were on the second floor of the hotel. Depositing our bags inside we rushed out to the sprawling terrace overlooking the lake. An overcast sky threatened more rain while the sharp cry of a bird broke the stillness of the air. Before I knew it, fat drops of rained pelted my hair. We rushed inside and asked for tea. Room service suggested bhajiyas as well.
Row Your Boat Siliserh’s magic lies in its solitude. No crowds (unless it is a weekend), only you and your family left to enjoy complete privacy. Just take a book and curl up on a chair in the terrace. Or go down to the lakeside and hire a paddle boat or motorboat for a ride to the middle of the lake.
    Night-times have a magical air, especially in winter. The glow of fireflies in trees, a high-pitched growl — the staff insists that leopards roam the hills — and the comfort of your heated room where you are safe from the outside world. If you wish to eat out, there aren’t too many options. We checked out the dhabas about 2 km from the gate, asked them to prepare our dinner (‘be here by 7.30 pm,’ said the owner, as they close by 9 every evening), and left. When we returned, there were bonfires to beat the chill; the flames casting eerie shadows in the distance. It was surreal. The dhaba had excelled itself. Chicken curry with dhania, bharta, moong dal, rice and roti… if that wasn’t enough he had cooked kheer as well!
Magic In The Air We laughed, we joked, we had the time of our lives. Slowly the last embers of the fire ebbed away and
darkness began to settle in. Mosquitoes came out in full force (so it is advisable to carry a repellant). And the patient dhaba owner and his staff waited for us to finish our meal.
    We didn’t want the night to end. But it was only fair that we left and allowed our hosts to clear up. Thanking them profusely, we drove back to the hotel. That night I heard a roar far away. Had a leopard found its prey? Who knew! I was safe in my room...
SILISERH TRIVIA
• In 1845, Maharaja Vinay Singh built a palace-cum-hunting lodge for his queen, Sheela. Now a hotel, it overlooks a 10.5 sq km lake that fringes the wooded inclines of the Aravallis

• Rowboats and paddleboats are available on hire to take you on excursions around the lake. Locals claim the lake has crocodiles!

• Best time to visit: September to April

• The closest town is Alwar. A day trip is recommended for its attractions — Moosa Rani ki chhattri (built in memory of Rani Moosi who committed sati on the pyre of her husband Maharaja Bakhtawar Singh), Moti Doongri palace (only the temples are open to the public), Alwar Vinay Vilas Mahal (for rare manuscripts, paintings and weaponry).
TIPS
• If you want to avoid the traffic at Alwar, continue on NH 8, without taking a diversion at Dharuhera. Travel time is longer, but the drive is smooth

• Look out for the langurs outside your room at the hotel. Their numbers have diminished in the last few years, but it would be prudent to ensure that you don’t keep your windows open

• Alwar’s (13 km away) markets have a stunning range of traditional silver jewellery. Anklets, earrings, bangles… they are available at reasonable prices. Also look out for tie-and-dye bedcovers, dupattas and fabric for a fraction of the price at which you get them in Delhi

• Don’t miss Alwar’s milk cake. Soft, with the right amount of sweetness, it is one of the goodies you should carry back home

• For those travelling to Sariska wildlife sanctuary (30 km from Alwar), do include a visit to Kankawadi Fort. It is here that Aurangzeb had imprisoned his brother, Dara Shikoh. However, the track leading to the fort is, literally, like the moon’s crater. The car will careen from side to side — if you are prone to backaches, avoid Share your travel experience with us at traveltimes @indiatimes.com

(Clockwise from below): Boating at Lake Siliserh; A sambar in Sariska sanctuary; Kankawadi Fort; Shopping for saris at Alwar; Moosa Rani ki Chhatri, in memory of a queen

This article sourced from times of India :-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

india

2010-08-16T02:31:00.001-07:00

***Ajanta-Ellora***

Lod shiva Shiv ling

President house, rastrtra pati bhawan

Birla mandir Temple, India

Jallia wala bagh, Amritsar, Punjab, India

president House in night, Delhi

wild life in India

Indian martial arts

Indian art in monuments

Desi nanga sadhu, India

lord Ganesha

akshardham, India

akshardham

connaught place, Delhi

akshardham

Golden temple in night

ISKCON Temple

india darshan

2010-08-16T02:12:00.001-07:00

Travel window to India!!!

2010-08-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

Taj mahal from behind

India gate in night

Taj Mahal from Behind

Old man in rajasthan

Indian unity

royal palace in night, India

apple garden in morning, India

snow covered mountains

beautiful India

Traditional village look in Jaipur

Beautiful flower in early morning, Bhudha jayenti park, Delhi

Lal mahal, Agra

nainitaal lake,

**The Lake District of Uttarakhand -(INDIA)**

Jaipur palace, Rajasthan, India

Old monument in Delhi, India

Beautiful mountains, India

Lake view in morning, India

Beggars near pilgrimage places in India

Indian clock tower

poverty in India

classic India

Rajasthan dessert, India

Golden temple, Amritsar, India

village view in India

village in India

Bhudha jayanti lake Delhi, India

Keral, India

Indian pilgrimage

Jaipur palace, Red fort , Rajasthan

Indian sunset

Leh laddakh route, India

lake in kullu manali, Himachal Pardesh, India

Lovely mountains, India

leh ladakh

lake night view, India

Birds in zoo

Royal palace, Jaipur

lake view , India

old monuments in India

farm land near mountains India

Mahatma Gandhi statue near CP, Delhi, India

Political statue on freedom movement in India

Lal killa (red fort), old Delhi , India

Night view of India gate, Delhi, India

Folk artist performing in Siri fort auditorium Delhi, India

indian garden

Lodhi park, India

Morning walk in Bombay

Old Delhi monuments and home

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long road in India

Tibetan Monastery

Indian folk dace artist

Desi Indian below poverty line in indian village

Funny crane in indian road

Holy Haridwar, India

Snake charmer, India

Mmorning jog near beach

Indian dessert, rajasthan

Indian desi beaches

indian pilgrimage