Hill Stations in INDIA

Near Thames River, Richmond

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 15:43:00 -0700

Pictures shot at Thames river, Richmond

Richmond Park

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 15:24:00 -0700

After a long time, i am posting some pictures on my blog. These are not related to this blog as it is created to publish pictures and content about the Hills stations in India. I relocated to London and living here for the past 3 months I thought of not creating a separate blog to post pictures shot in london. I am using this platform to share the pictures.

Richmond Park

Few More

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:45:00 -0800

Some more from the Ooty Wax World

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:40:00 -0800

Veerappan in Oooty

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:36:00 -0800

Veerappan's wax figure in Oooty's Wax World Museum

Manali Photo Series Contd

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Sun, 1 Jun 2008 10:55:00 -0700

Snow Covered Car

Rohtang Pass Road Blockage

Out Skirts of Manali

Delhi to Manali Bus

Manali Photo Series Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Sat, 31 May 2008 03:15:00 -0700

Wanted to start the photo series on Manali & Here it is!
Posting some of the cool snaps captured by Experienced & Ametuer Photographers on the beautiful Hill Station "Manali"
Thanks to all the Photographers & i will mention the credits to them here on my Blog.
Some of the snaps i got today।

Manali Leh Road

Rohtang Pass

A House in Manali Village

Manali Woman

Manali Manu Temple

Complete facelift to Kodaikanal

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:50:00 -0800

As i am planning to Visit 'Ooty' and 'Kodaikanal', my focus will be on these 2 hill stations.Here are some of the latest news on Kodaikanal.
Kodaikanal to have more attractions from this year
Facilities at Bryant Park, Coaker’s Walk to be enhanced
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A musical fountain at a cost of Rs.40 lakh planned
Tourists could take a stroll at Coaker’s Walk even after 6 p.m.
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Kodaikanal: Tourists visiting Kodaikanal this year will have more attractions and better facilities at all tourist spots as the district administration gears up for several modernisation works to give complete facelift to it.

A new look is being given to Bryant Park, facilities enhanced at Coaker’s Walk and new children’s park created at VGP lay out.

A pond at Bryant Park is completely desilted. Tender is finalised for installing a musical fountain at a cost of Rs.40 lakh. The work will commence shortly. Planting of new flower plants that will blossom in April is over. Glasshouse is also fully renovated. A new children’s park is created and an ultra modern toilet is constructed for the convenience of tourists in the park.

To maintain electricity supply, the TNEB will install three transformers – one exclusively for Bryant Park and two for supplying power to street lights around Kodaikanal Lake.

Children’s park
Another children’s park is being constructed at VGP lay out. The park will also have a water fountain and landscape at a cost of Rs.46 lakh.

A complete facelift is being provided to Coaker’s Walk. Walking space is being widened and fencing strengthened.

With installation of streetlights at a cost of Rs.25 lakh, now, tourists could stroll at Coaker’s Walk even after 6 p.m.

Inspecting various developmental activities on the hill on Saturday, Collector R. Vasuki said that most of the work was over and the rest would be finished before April.

A blanket ban on lifting water from Kodaikanal Lake would be imposed.

To offer protected drinking water to hotels and residents of Moonjikkal, three bore wells were sunk at a cost of Rs.35 lakh on marshy land. Seventy per cent of construction of ultra modern tollgate near Silver Cascade was over, she added.

Clean environment
Top priority has been given for clean environment. A compost yard will be set up at an estimated cost of Rs.60 lakh for safe disposal of wastes.

Plastic wastes generated on the hill will be used for laying plastic roads. Safe disposal of bio and non-biodegradable wastes will be introduced as trial basis in ward 22.

“With a new face, Kodaikanal will be ready to receive tourists in April.”

Source:The Hindu

Atlast got some free time!

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:29:00 -0800

Hey,
Really tired & bored of the routine work since couple of months. Atlast got some free time to enjoy, to blog, to be happy.
It's been long time to log in to post.
nothing to update as i have not visited any place.
Got to know that the 'Hill stations are crowded with tourists' & with full of snow.
I am in Chennai now & the Hill stations i m planning to see are 'Ooty' & 'Kodaikanal'. Heard so much about the places before & have searched for train tickets to go.
Below is the result.(No tickets available for this weekend & also the next weekend)
2671 NILAGIRI EXP 01-02-2008 CHENNAI CENTRAL METUPALAIYAM GENERAL

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - SL Class -3A
1 1- 2-2008 WL 176/WL 103 WL 16/WL 5

Decided to try after some days.
'Nilgiri' express is the only train which will go up to 'Metupalayam' from chennai. otherwise you need to catch a train from 'chennai' to 'coimbatore' & then 'coimbatore' to 'metupalayam'.

Will post with the latest news/updates on the Indian Hill Stations.

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:56:00 -0700

View from my Kodambakkam room!

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:44:00 -0700

Kodaikanal River

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Thu, 9 Aug 2007 02:47:00 -0700

Kodaikanal hill station view

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Thu, 9 Aug 2007 02:32:00 -0700

Kodaikanal-Saw the below snap in TrekEarth & wanted to post it here.

Honeymoon in Hill Stations

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Wed, 8 Aug 2007 10:55:00 -0700

Couple of days back i got the idea of giving some details about the Honeymoon packages in Hill Stations.
Ha, i got married in May & till now i have not planning for any honeymoon trip, Actually i was little bit busy about my relocation from Delhi.
So busy in searching for jobs & not bothered about updating the blog.
I decided to stay here in Delhi for at least 6 more months(Actually i want to spent the winter here) & want to visit Manali again, ha you know why!

So for myself & for you guys i have done some search & below are the results, Hill Station wise.

Manali Honeymoon Packages:
Caravan Travel Talk
@ Holiday Onn
5 Star +
03 nights 04 days
15999/-

@Span Resort
03 nights 04 days
15999/-

@Ambassador Resort
4 Star Luxury
03 nights 04 days
16499/-

@The Orchard Green
4 Star Luxury
03 nights 04 days
9999/-

@River Country Resort
03 nights 04 days
14499/-

@Manali Inn
03 nights 04 days
14999/-

@Honeymoon Inn
3 Star
03 nights 04 days
7490/-

@Sitara International
3 Star
03 nights 04 days
6999/-
& here are some of the other resorts in Manali
1. Apple Country Resorts
2.Himachal Pradesh India
3. Snow Valley Resorts
4. Ashex Tourism

Honeymoon in Munnar:
Munnar Guide

1. Discover Lakeview - AP - Rs.18111/-

3 nights - 4 days is Rs.18111/- AP

2. Monsoon Lakeview - AP - Rs.12,999

3 nights - 4 days

3. New Year Lakeview - AP - Rs.24,999

3 nights 4 days

HineyMoon in India
Travels Kerala

Honeymoon in Ooty:
Below are the few sites which are helpful
India Tour Online
Journey Mart
Ooty Cottage
Pick your Trip
South India Tours Hub
Kerala Honeymoon

Khurpatal Continued

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 11:39:00 -0700

"Dynamic Resort", Khurpatal-Snap taken from a Tourist bus.

A small temple near by the Resort.

Statue of Shiva @ the Resort entrance.

Resort in Khurpatal, Nainital

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 11:06:00 -0700

I always wanted to updated with this resort details in the blog.
I have stayed in this resort "Dynamic Resorts" in khurpatal, 10 kms from Nainital on Kaladungi Road, Nainital.
Any one who are planning to Nainital jus have a look @ the below pictures.
You can find more information from the Dynasty Resorts website also.
For Accomodation & Tariff, click here.
If you are a budget traveller, forget this.

I went to Khurpatal in september 2006 & stayed for couple of days in the resort.
The hospitality was good & also the food.
I enjoyed a lot in the two days trekking near by hills & the fun thing was i did it on rainy days.
It was absolute beauty on a rainy day.

As the resort website says "The house of Enchanting memories". Infact it is

-Sridhar Varma

Who is under the shelter?

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 11:52:00 -0700

This was the snap i clicked right from my room.
It was raining & some guys are hiding under the sheet, no where to go!
I was jus waiting to take a snap of the guys,but unable to do & this is what i got.

Rain and Power Cuts

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 11:45:00 -0700

It rained heavily today evening, but jus for an hour.Rain brings power cuts to Noida.
Either heavy winds or fallen trees was the obvious reason, Since so many days i am facing the same issue-Power cut.
I dont know when & why the power goes, even if it come, it comes with a low voltage.
Summers suck in Noida.
Thank god i am leaving this place by this month end.

Road to Ladakh via Rohtang pass opens

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 05:55:00 -0700

It was in last year september i went to manali. Rohtang pass which was nearly 51 kms from manali was a beautiful place covered with snow & sorrounded with
mountains.i am not able to see the place but get some time to play with snow. we halted/stopped nearly 11 km to rohtang pass as the area was completely
covered with snow & was very difficult for drivers of tourist vehicles.
that was the only reason gaurds doesn't allow you to pass through the gates.

"Traffic resumed on the second highest motorable road in the world after Border Roads Organization (BRO) cleared the snow from a highly
treacherous road connecting Ladakh with the rest of the country."

The road linking Manali and Leh towns is closed for over six months every year,
as high mountain passes are cut off with heavy winter snow.

The rugged 470-kilometer road passes through the 5,360 meters high Tanglang La pass and the Rohtang Pass is,
however, the biggest hurdle on the long-winding road.

The BRO used snow cutters and heavy machinery to clear the road, which also serves as a strategic route for the army to reach the mountainous town of Leh.

The weather changes unpredictably, and temperatures dip to as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius making working in the region harsh and the sun is
extremely bright.

The only other vital road link to Leh, from Srinagar city in Jammu and Kashmir via Kargil town, was opened by BRO a fortnight ago.

The BRO, established as an arm of the Indian army, is responsible for construction and maintenance of vital border highways across the
entire Himalayan range.

The BRO has also undertaken fencing stretches of India's porous borders with Bangladesh.

Just a shot from a Moving Train

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Mon, 2 Jul 2007 12:58:00 -0700

I have taken this snap when i was travelling from Kolkata to Varanasi.
I am trying to get the expressions of the lady, but unfortunately could'nt do that & finally got the below angle.
Thats why i mentioned "Just a shot from a moving train" as i didn't get any thing else to name this pic.
And also i thought of doing photoshop to crop that window rods, but decided to post the original.

Dell Inspiron 640 M- My latest Love

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Wed, 23 May 2007 00:05:00 -0700

My new "Dell Inspiron 640 M" join hands with other gadjets like Sony Handycam & Sony Digicam in my home.
Now the stage is set, i am now ready to transfer video & image files with in seconds.
Not posting since April month end i think.
There is a news!!!
I got married on May 10th & the reason for being busy for these days.
Photos will come soon, till then i am posting a snap of mine.
Got some free time today & here i am.
Wanna share my notebook snaps, so here we go ......

Nelliyampathy Hill station, Kerala

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 03:06:00 -0700

Nelliyampathy is 75 km from Palakkad. By Road it takes 2.30hrs
The ranges here consist of a chain of ridges cut offf from one another by valleys. The highest peak is Nellikota. The forest contains teak of extraordinary height and girth. Estates of tea, coffee, orange and cardamom dot the ranges. Located at a distance of 52 kms from Palakkad, the cool hills of Nelliampathy, nestling atop the Western Ghats, offer a breathtaking view of the misty mountains and enchanting valleys interspersed with sprawling tea, coffee, cardamom and orange plantations.

The bracing climate and green magic of nature enhance the exhilarating experience. For a vantage view of the spectacle, one must visit Seethakundu, where a 100m high waterfall provides an added attraction. It offers a fantastic view of the valley below a wide-angled vision of one-third of the entire Palakkad area. A forest range 75 kms from Palakkad, the Nelliyampathy hills comprise a chain of ridges cut off from one another by valleys of dense evergreen forests and orange plantations.

The height of the hills ranges from 467 metres to the tallest peak Padagiri looming at 1572 metres. Nelliyampathy has immense trekking potential. The community hall at Kaikatty provides a good camping ground for the trekkers.

Accessing Nelliyampathy from Palakkad is a sensation on its own, as one has to negotiate over a dozen hairpin curves on the Ghat Road, passing through the fascinating jungles of the Sahya Ranges. En route, 17 kms from Palakkad, the shimmering Pothundi Reservoir and its manicured surroundings make for the ideal stop over.

Wagamon-Luxury Hill station, Kerala

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 03:02:00 -0700

The Wagamon hills located at a height of 1,100 meters above the sea level and situated at a distance of 64 kilometers from Kottayam in Kerala, South India is a very popular Kerala hill tour destination in Kerala, South India.

Wagamon hills in Kerala, South India are dotted with delightfully attractive meadows, tropical forests, waterfalls and valleys. Stretches of tea plantations on the Wagamon hills are a common sight. The splendid rock formations on the Wagamon hills located at Thangal Para are definitely worth paying a visit to during your Kerala hill tours to the Wagamon hills in Kerala, South India. Besides these picturesque rock formations you could also go on tours to the Kurisumala Ashram located on the Wagamon hills in Kerala, South India.

Wagamon hills in Kerala, South India offer adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers endless opportunities for pure fun filled and pleasure tours. The exotic appeal of the Wagamon hills in Kerala, South India lies in the exquisite natural beauty of this region, the natural trekking trails that pass through the wooded area on the Wagamon hills in Kerala, South India.

Lakkidi Hill Station, Kerala

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 02:57:00 -0700

Lakkidi, the gateway of Wayanad, is situated 700 m above mean sea level, at the crest of the Thamaraserri ghat pass. Lofty peaks, gurgling streams and luxuriant forests add magic to the journey up the winding roads to this hill station. Lakkidi is one of the highest locations in Wayanad, and registers the second highest degree of rainfall in the world.

Killikkurissimangalam in Lakkidi is the birthplace of Kunjan Nambiar, Kerala's famous satirist poet, who is regarded as the progenitor of Ottanthullal, the traditional solo dance narration.

His songs combine satirical barbs with rib tickling laughter. Some of the famous lines are still quoted to lampoon contemporary social injustices. The poet's house is preserved as a monument by the Government of Kerala.

Unique Travel Attractions of Lakkidi
Pokkot Lake
Pookot Lake, a natural fresh water lake surrounded by evergreen forests and rolling hills is located 3 kms from south of Vythiri town. Pookot Lake is undoubtedly the most beautiful tourist spot in the whole of Wayanad. The lake nestles in the lap of mountains surrounding it.Boating in the Pookot Lake is a memorable experience. Tall trees and dense forests that line along the pathway around the lake provide a visual treat. A freshwater acquarium with a large variety of fish is an added attraction.

Eddakal Caves
Situated on Ambukuthi Hills, Edakkal caves are 10 kilometers from Sultanbathery, in Wayanad district. Formed by a large split in a huge rock, the two natural rock formations represent the world's richest pictographic gallery of its kind.

The two caves located at a height of 1000m on Ambukutty Mala near Ambalavayal can be accessed only by a 1 km trek trail from Edakkal. Edakkal literally means 'a stone in between'. Edakkal rock engravings stand out distinct among the magnitude of prehistoric visual archives of paintings and graphic signs all over the world.

Chethalayam Waterfalls
Located 12 kms from Sulthan Bathery on the Pulpalli Main Road, are the breathtakingly beautiful Chethalayam Waterfalls. For a glimpse of this lovely waterfall, one has to trek a distance of around 4 kms from Chethalayam. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary is another tourist spot. Here you can see elephants, spotted deer, guar, sambhar and sloth bear.

About 15 km from Sultan's Bathery, the Wildlife Sanctuary covers over 344-sq. km. and forms part of the area of Mudumalai Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and Bandipur Sanctuary in Karnataka.

Pakshipathalam - The Bird Watching Centre
Pakshipathalam, located 7 kms north east of Thirunelli Temple in Brahma Giri Hills is a challenging tourist spot. A trekkers' paradise, this place is accessibe only by trekking.

Located at an altitude of 1740 m above sea level, this hill station offers great opportunities for bird watching. One has to trek 17 kms through the wild forests, to reach 'Pakshipathalam'. The deep rock caves formed among the thick blocks of rocks at the northern top end of the Brahmagiri is the abode of various birds and wild beasts. One can watch rare species of birds from the watchtower of the Bird sanctuary located nearby.

Soochipara Waterfalls
Soochipara Waterfalls is located 22 kms from Hotel Green Gates. On alighting the vehicle, one can reach the waterfalls after a 2-km walk into the dense equatorial forest of Wayanad.

Here, one can find nature at its thundering best. Soochipara is a 3-tiered, powerful waterfall. And the cliff face here is ideal for rock climbing.

Ponmudi Hill Station, Kerala

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy@Work) — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 02:52:00 -0700

The salubrious hill station of Ponmudi is at a distance of 61 kms from Thiruvananthapuram. The enchanting bounty of nature can be witnessed here in the quiet surroundings.
Perched at an altitude of over 100 m above sea level on the Western Ghats, the shimmering green waters of the winding streams and verdant woods of Ponmudi do not spare anybody. Trekking is a passion with the visitors to Ponmudi, lying within easy driving distance from Thiruvananthapuram.

One will find oneself compulsively pausing every now and then to drink in deep the spectacular sweep of the hill ranges, tea-estates and the mist-covered valleys, peppered with little toy-like stone cottages painted a pretty violet, pink, or white with pointed and peaked roofs.

How To Get There - Ponmudi
It takes 2 hours by road, driving 65 kms northeast from Thiruvananthapuram, to get to Ponmudi. Bus services are frequent.

Places To Stay - Ponmudi
Accommodation can be availed at Government Tourist Complex. The Complex consists of a guesthouse with 24 rooms, and ten small stone cottages sitting on the hillside named after famous Himalayan peaks.

Prime Attractions of Ponmudi
Varkala Beach
Aaranmula Boat Race