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Places to see in Jaipur, India

Jaipur , the royal city is one of the most important and famous historical places in India. The fforts and monuments situated here clearly depict the taste and grandeur of Rajput kings who ruled this place for centuries.Jaipur is famed for its rich cultural heritage, glimpses of which can still be witnessed in and around the place, drawing tourists from all over the world.

Forts and monuments in Jaipur-

Amber Fort-

Situated about 11 kms from Jaipur this massive fort was built by Sawai Man Singh -1 and modifications were made by Sawai Jai Singh.The fort was the royal palace of achwahas from 1600 AD to 1727 AD. The fort is named after the town of Amber which in turn is named after goddess Amba. The main sights within the fort include the Sheesh Mahal, adorned with thousands on thousands of mirror tiles on the walls and ceiling.

It's a bit of a hike up from the town, and the touristy thing to do is to hitch an elephant ride to the top (in order to get an elephant it is better to to arrive there in the morning, otherwise at midday the elephants are over.Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds it's ultimate expression.

Jaigarh Fort-

It is said that this fort was never conquered in the battle.It is one of the few military structures of medieval India preserved almost intact, containing palaces, gardens open and covered reservoirs, a granary, an armoury, and several temples.But the main attraction of this fort is the largest canon of the world called as Jaivana.According to local stories this canon was only fired once and the cannonball flew for 35 kms.

A better reason to visit the fort, though, are the scenic gardens at the other end and the spectacular views over the Amber Fort and the hills around. The remains of the foundry where the Jaivana (and many more) were cast are also in the fort grounds.

Nahargarh fort-

Perched on a hill top this is the smallest of all the forts located in Jaipur and is famous for the view of the adjoining hills and Jaipur city it offers.The fort houses the Madhavendra bhawan.
The fort was initially built by Sawai Jai Singh in 1734 and then modified by Sawai Madho Singh.

Hawa Mahal-

Hawa Mahal meaning "Palace of wind" is one of the most important landmarks of Jaipur. The palace was built by Pratap Singh in 1799. The palace served as the stands for the royal women who used to see the processions and happenings in the city through this palace.The palace is a five storeyed structure having 953 niches and windows.
The Hawa Mahal is built with redstone and is the most striing monuments in Jaipur.From outside it may look like a bee hive but infact if you look closely it is made in the form of the crown of lord krishna.

Jal Mahal

Jal Mahal which is hindi word for "water Palace" is one of the famous palaces in Jaipur and is located on the way to Sisoia Rani Garden. The palace is an excellent example of the rajput style architecture and sits in the middle of the Mansarovar lake. The lake is dry during summer seasons so excellent view of the palace can only be seen during monsoon and post- monsoon season in the months of September to Februaary.

Jantar Mantar-

The name Jantar Mantar is derived from the hindi words- "Yantra" meaning instrument and "Mantra" . Basically it is an astronomical observatory containing instruments for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars in their orbits, ascertaining the declinations of planets, and determining the celestial altitudes etc. Jantar Mantar was built by Sawai Jai Singh and is the largest of all five observatories bult by him.

City Palace-

The city Palace is a huge complex of many palatial buildings and comprises about one seventh of the pink city in area. This palace in Jaipur was built by Sawai Jai Singh II. The premises of city palace contains many hige and imposing structures inside it.Some of the important ones are-
Chandra Mahal (home to present Maharajah of Jaipur), Mubarak Mahal (housing a textile museum), Diwan-e-Khas (or Hall of Private audience housing the two largest silver vessels in the world, which are duly mentioned in the Guinness book), the Diwan-e-Aam ( or Hall of Public Audience) and the gateway Ridhi Sidhi Pol (with four small doorways decorated with motifs depicting the four seasons). Another integral part of the palace complex is the Hawa Mahal, standing away from the main complex. The palace is an excellent example of amalgamation of architecture of Rajputs and Mughals.

Moti Dungri-

Moti Dungri means "The Pearl Hill". This small hill lies in the centre of Jaipur.It derived its name as pearl hill because it looks like a pearl drop.A palace is perched on the top of the hill.The palace once belonged to the son of the Sawai Madho Singh. The palace is a replica of the scottish castle.

Gaitore-

Gaitore is the final resting place of Kings of Jaipur. Situated in a narrow valley this place lies just off the Jaipur- Amber road.The cenotaphs of the former Maharajas are chhatris made in typical Rajput architecture.The royal chhatris are engraved with typical Rajasthani carvings. The chhatri of Sawai Jai Singh II is of special mention for its carvings that exaggerate it. The cenotaphs are erected with a perfect blend of architectural essentials of Islamic tomb architecture and Hindu temple architecture.

Temples in Jaipur-

Govind Devji Temple-

The temple lies in the premises of and is one of the integral parts of the city palace lying between the Chandra Mahal and Badal Mahal.. The temple is dedicated to Govind Devji one of the incarnations of the Lord Krishna. Sawai Jai Singh established the image of Govind Devji in this temple which was brought here from Vrindavan. A legend is attached to this place which has been described as follows-

According to a legend, Govind Dev Ji appeared in the dream of Raja Sawai Jai Singh and asked him to bring his idol from Vrindavan to Jaipur. As a consequence, Raja Sawai Jai Singh brought the idol and placed in the City Palace complex of Jaipur. After the sad demise of Jai Singh, many successors acquired the throne, but Raja Man Singh took the initiative to build the temple in 1890.

Birla temple or Lakshmi Narayan Temple-

Birla temple- Jaipur india- travelling to india

The temple is a modern style temple built on a top of hill in South Jaipur .This temple is made up of white marble and one of the must visit place of south Jaipur.The temple stands erect on a raised platform, at the footsteps of the Moti Dungri Hill. Birla Mandir is constructed in the finest quality of white marble. The three huge domes of the temple represent three different approaches to the religion. The beautiful white marble temple mesmerizes the onlookers, when it glows at night. The best time to visit this temple is after sunset as the brightly lit temple is breathtakingly beautiful.

Galtaji-

This temple is located about 10 kms away from Jaipur city on the Jaipur Agra road near the garden of Sisodia Rani.he vast complex of Galta Ji has several temples in it. The Temple of Galtaji is famous for its natural water springs. Set amidst the beautiful landscape, Galtaji Temple offers a picturesque view of the city.

Museums in Jaipur-

Albert hall-

Situated in the middle of the Ram Niwas garden, as a centre attraction was the exquisitely built structure of Albert Hall Built in hybrid style of English and north Indian architectecture this imposing structure is a well maintained and contains some great collections of paintaings,carpet, ivory, stone and metal sculptures and colourful crystal works etc. This building was built by british architect, sir Swinton Jacob.

Parks and Gardens in Jaipur-

Kanak Vrindavan --
Not so old but definitely an exquisitely land scaped gardens with beautifully carved temple in beige stone, which is a vast complex with terrace sites all around and intricately carved marble columns and lattices. Located in the foothills of Nahargarh hills on the way towards Amer, this complex is a popular spot for picnic and film shooting.

Sisodia Rani ka Bagh --

Sisodia rani ka bagh- jaipur india- Famous places in india

Sawai Jai Singh built it in 1728. The garden is laid in Mughal style and it depicts the legends of Radha and Krishna. The garden is located 8 km from Jaipur - Agra road .It consists of tiered multi-level gardens with fountains, watercourses and painted pavilions. Sawai Jai Singh built it for his Sisodia Queen from Udaipur. The palace house has several galleries, pavilions and beautiful murals depicting scenes from the life of lord Krishna.

Vidyadhar Gardens --
Located near the Sisodia Gardens,it is a beautiful vineyard, which unfolds itself in the valley. It is named after Vidyadhar Bhatacharjee the architect of Jaipur. .

Jaipur, India:General Information

Jaipur , once the capital of princely state of Jaipur is now the capital state of Rajasthan in India. Also known as the 'pink city' , Jaipur is a place where history still lives. Jaipur is one of the most famous historical places in India and a number of tourists both domestic and international reach here in great numbers to see the grandeur of Rajput kings who ruled this place in the past.Jaipur was founded by the king of Amber Sawai Man Singh who shifted to this place due to shortage of water in his capital Amber. The construction of the earliest planned city in India, Jaipur started in 1797 and was built following the principles of Shilpa Shastra, the Indian Architecture.It took around 4 years to complete the major palaces, roads and square. The city was divided into nine blocks, out of which two consist the state buildings and palaces, whereas the remaining seven blocks were allotted to the public. In order to ensure the security, huge fortification walls were made along with seven strong gates.

It has been claimed to be the first planned city in India.It was at that time one of the best planned cities in Asia. Jaipur(Amber)'s Kings are not considered to be good rajputs but were certainly good rulers. In an era when most of the rajputs were busy fighting with each other, Jaipur's kings diplomatically broadened their control sphere maintaining good relations with Mughals. But certainly they lacked the well known rajput pride.The city was planned according to Indian Vastu Shastra (Vedic or Pouranic Planning for the comfort and prosperity of the citizens).
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How to reach Jaipur-

Jaipur is well connected to all major cities of India by Air, Railways as well as Road. By far the best way and cheapest way to reach his historical place by train.

Reaching Jaipur by Air-
Jaipur airport situated in the satellite town of Sanganer. Many flights from many parts of the world operate from here. It recieves direct flights from Dubai, Sharjah, Muscat, London and Dublin. Flights from Singapore and Bangkok reach here via Delhi.

Jaipur airport receives flight from all major cities in India, namely, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and some major cities in the state of Rajasthan like, Jodhpur and Udaipur.

Reaching Jaipur by Train-
This is the most convenient way and the cheapest way to reach this city.Most of the major cities are well connected to Jaipur by train.A number of daily trains connect Jaipur to Delhi, Ahmedabad, Agra,Mumbai, Jodhpur, Kota, Alwar and Ajmer. Daily connections are also available for Udaipur, Chittaurgarh, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Kolkata, Jammu, Pathankot, Ludhiana, Kanpur, Roorkee, Haridwar, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur and Bhopal.

There are three railway stations in Jaipur namely, Jaipur Junction (main station),Durgapura and Gandhinagar (Jaipur) but most of the trains arrive and depart from Jaipur Junction and other two stations recive only a few trains.
Apart from regular trains that operate from every corner of country there are some special trains that are meant only for tourists.These include-
Palace on wheels- One of the most talked about trains in India, Palace on wheels tour you across seven tourist destinations for 8 days starting on Wednesday.
Heritage on wheels- This train takes you to 3 destinations, Jaipur, Talchhapur and Bikaner which is a 4 days trip.
Royal Orient train- The train take you to & destinations including Jaipur in seven days.

The above mentioned trains are special trains meant only for tourists and tourists don't use these trains essentially to reach Jaipur but the experience is undoubtedly everlasting.

Reaching Jaipur by road-
Jaipur is well connected to all adjoining cities by road. Regular buses operate from neighbouring state of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. A?c, Deluxe, Semi Deluxe and Volvo buses operate from almost all places. Other cities in the state of Rajasthan are also connected to Jaipur by road.There is an excellent bus service between Jaipur to Delhi by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation with buses approximately every half an hour both sides. From Delhi you can board the bus from Bikaner House on Pandara Road next to India Gate.

Where to stay in Jaipur-

Jaipur has a wide range of hotels available through out the city.Jaipur has plenty of hotels well equipped with all modern amenities. The city comprises variety of luxury, deluxe, heritage and budget hotels, one can choose the place of accommodation according to one's requirement and budget. Most of the budget and mid range hotels are located around railway station, and bus stand (Sindhi camp bus stand). Other places where you can get sme budget and mid range hotels are - Civil lines area, Ajmer road and Behari Marg.
Apart from low cost hotels Jaipur has countless number of high range hotels where the facilities are superb and you are treated like Maharaja (The King). Many of these hotels treat you with traditional rajput style showing the grandeur of Rajput Kings who ruled this place for centuries.
A list of some of these hotels is present on wikitravel website here.

Eating out in Jaipur-

Jaipur has many restaurants which range from cheap eating places mainly on the sides of the road to some expensive restaurants with good facilities. There are numerous places in Jaipur which serve a variety of dishes such as, italian, chinese, western ,north indian and south -india. But it would be very nice to try out some rajasthani cuisines like, Daal-Baati-Churma and Pyaaz ki kachori and some sweet dishes like, Ghevar and Rasmalai.
You can find a list of nice restaurants here.

Weather and best time to visit Jaipur-

Jaipur has semi arid climate due to its proximity to the Thar desert. The summer months are extremely dry, hot and desiccating. Jaipur receives more than 50 cms of rainfall annually mostly during the months of July ,August and September. Winters are cold and you would require some woolen clothes when you are visiting it in the months of December and January.

Best time to visit Jaipur is duringwinter seasons as the temperature touches maximum to 22°C and gets down to the extent of 5°C.

In winters, one can enjoy the regal city of Jaipur to its full. The spectacular views offered by the ancient monuments of the city fascinate the visitors. The city looks awesome in the winter evenings when it gets covered with fog. Jaipur offers rich food with lots of butter and ghee, which is best enjoyable in the winter season. To put succinctly, the best time to visit the incredible Jaipur is between the months of October to March.
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Places to see in Manali-

Manali the land where once sage Manu dwelled has many temples and religious places that are centre of attraction among the tourists. But by far the most important thing that people like is its sheer natural beauty. When you are in Manali you will feel like you are in heaven with nature sprinkled every spells to beautify it.For this reason Manali is somtimes reffered as 'Switzerland of India'.Here in this post I have given a brief but enjoyable account of places of interest in Manali.

Hidimba Temple-

Manali india- Hadimba temple- Famous places in India

Famous for its exquisitely carved doorway this temple was built in 1553. The temple has four tiered pagoda style roof and it is the most important structure in Manali both archaelogically as well as religiously. The temple is dedicated to Hidimba or Hadimba who was wife of Bhim one of the Pandavs in the epic of Mahabharat.
The temple is situated about 1 km away from main Manali amidst a forest called as Dhungiri Van Vihar.Due to this the temple is sometimes called as Dhungiri temple. The temple has some intricate wooden carvings which depicts mythological characters and motifs of animals and cosmic dancers. Every year in May a major festival is organized here. This place is a popular picnic spot among the tourists.

Manu Temple-

The temple lies about 3 kms from old Manali bazaar (Market) and is the only temple dedicated to rishi Manu , the creator of human race on earth. The temple lies across the Manalsu river which flows beside the Hadimba temple and meets the river Beas shortly after.

Vashisth-

Just three Kms from the Manali lies the village of Vashisth which is famous for its hot sulphur springs. Some temples also lies in this village which is dedicated to Rishi Vashisth and Lord Rama. Thge sulphur springs are said to have miraculous power and patients specially of skin diseases take a bath in the spring to get rid off their diseases.

Jagatsukh-

The village lies 6 kms away from Manali on the left bank of river Beas on the Manali- Naggar road. Th place houses very old temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Shandhya Gayatri.The temple has been built in Shikhara style and is worth visiting.

Arjun Gufa-

Arjun Gufa lies just ahead of Jagatsukh about 4kms from Manali near the village of Prini and on the road towrds Naggar. It is said that Arjun one of the Pandavs has meditated and performed his penance here. The place gives an excellent view of mountains and panormic view of Manali.

Rohtang Pass-

Situated at a height of about 3700 mts , Rohtang pass is situated on the highway to Keylong or Leh about 51 kms from Manali. The site offers an excellent view of mountains and panorma and one of the most important excursions from Manali. The pass is open from june to October each year It is a gateway to Lahaul Spiti, Pangi and Leh valley.It is the highest point on the Manali-Keylong road and provides a wide panoramic view of mountains rising far above clouds, which is truly breath taking. Close by is a small lake called Dassaur Lake. Beas Kund, the source of river Beas, is also nearby.Just beyond the Pass is the Sonapani Glacier and the twin peak of Gaypan.

Rahalla falls-

Rahalla falls are located about 16 kms away from Manali just before the start of the Rohtang pass and at an altitude of about 2500 mts.If one goes to Marhi on foot from Kothi from the old road, the sight of the falls is fascinating. It is a good picnic spot for tourists and locales alike.

Nehru Kund-

This place is located about 5 kms from Manali on Manali- Leh highway and is named after the first prime minister of India Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru. It is said that Pt. Nehru used to drink the water of this spring during his stay in Manali.This spring is believed to originate from the Bhrigu lake situated high-up in the mountains. The water of this lake is cold and clear and the view of the spring is spectacular.

Kothi-

The village lies about 15 kms from Manali and is situated on the bottom of Rohtang Pass. The village provides a spectacular view of the gorge through which Byas river flows. The village is pictursque and is known for its idyllic view.A PWD rest house is situated on a ridge overlooking a narrow valley with a very good view of mountains and valleys. Shooting of many films has been done here and it is the finest place for peace lovers and solitude lovers.

Solang Valley-

The valley is about 13 kms from Manali and lies between the Solang village and Byas Kund (the source of the water of river Byas).Solang valley offers the view of glaciers and snow capped mountains and peaks.Apart from this the place has some nice ski slopes making it a finest place for people loving ice games.Located here is a hut and guest house of the Mountaineering and Allied sports Institute, Manali. Now a few hotels have also come up. The winter skiing festival is organised here. Training in skiing is imparted at this place.In recent times some hotels has also been erected at this place.

Mountaineering Institue-

mountaineering institute- manali india- tourism places in india

This Institute organises basic and advance training courses, in trekking, mountaineering, skiing and water sports and is located about 3kms from Manali towards the kullu.Skiing and trekking equipments can be hired from here by booking in advance. Tourists can visit an interesting showroom here.

Tibetan Monasteries-

Apart from the view of mountains that Manali offers, it is also famous for its Gompas or Buddhist monasteries. These Gompas are maintained by donations or offerings or through sale of hand woven carpets.There are 3 newly constructed colorful monasteries, where visitors can buy carpets and other Tibetan handicrafts. Two are located in the town and one at Aleo on the left bank of Beas river.

Manali ,India : General Information-

Manali located about 40 kms from kullu is named after Manu. There is a beautiful mythological story asociated with Manu and the place Manali.The story has been best described on HPTDC (Government official tourism website of Himachal Pradesh)-

One day, Varvasvata, the seventh incarnation of Manu found a tiny fish in his bathing water. The fish told him to look after it with devotion as one day it would do him a great service. The seventh Manu cared for the fish till the day it grew so huge that he released it into the sea. Before departing, the fish warned Manu of an impending deluge when the entire world would be submerged and bade him to build a sea worthy ark. When the flood came, Varvasvata and seven sages were towed to safety by Matsya, the fish which is regarded as first avatar of Lord Vishnu. As the water subsided the seventh Manu's ark came to the rest on a hill side and the place was named Manali (2050 m) after him.

Manali is a place of breathtaing and mesmerizing natural beauty. Administratively a part of kullu district, Manali is an important and famous hill station in the northern state of Himachal pradesh of India.it is a popular tourist spot for Indians in summer and a magical, snow-covered place in winter. A staging point for a number of treks (Beas Kund, Chandrakhani Pass) and sports such as white-water rafting, Manali is also on the road to Ladakh via the valley of Lahaul and Spiti.

How to reach Manali-

Unfortunately there are limited options to reach this exotic hill station. Travelling by bus to reach this place is the best option. Manali doesn't have a railway head and airport so reaching here by these media is somewhat inconvenient.

Reaching Manali by Air-
Nearest airport from Manali is Bhuntar which is about 60 kms away from Manali.Furthermore Very limited number of flights operate from here most of them run to and from Delhi.So reaching Manali by air is somewhat inconvenient as you don't have many options available and to add to it you may have to break your journey several times in order to reach here.

Reaching Manali by train-
Jogindernagar is the nearest rail head to Manali but it is a on narrow gauge line and not too many trains arrive and reach here.Most of the trains reaching here are from adjoining areas. The nearest broad gauge rail head is Chandigarh which is some 354 kms from here.From Chandigarh you have to journey by bus to reach Manali.

Reaching Manali by road-
The most convenient option to reach this place is by road.You can hire cars and taxis or you may travel by bus which operate from many parts of the country on a regular basis.The cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Shimla, Dehradun, Ambala etc. are well connected to Manali via road.Perhaps the road to Manali is the highest motorable road in the country.

Where to stay in Manali-

Manali boasts of having many hotels ,resorts and guest houses.In fact it is said that Manali has more number of hotels than Delhi.Furthermore ,huts and tents on hire are also available which can certainly be a nice experience.But even with so many options available to stay it is sometimes difficult to find a place of accommodation during summer months (May and June). So, you should make arrangements for accomodation even before starting your journey or atleast before reaching here.

Numerous HPTDC run and recognised accomodation options are available which can be booed via internet. For booing a hotel through HPTDC click here. It would be advisable to boo your accomodation places through HPTDC which is the government official tourism website and thus more reliable.If you are not able to find a place through HPTDC then you can go for some other travel websites.You can search for these websites through google with search term " Manali Hotels".

Eating out in Manali-

There are plenty of places to eat in Manali. Most of the eating places are located in the centre of the city and there are many options to choose from.Right from chat to Indian (veg/nonveg) to international cuisine like Italian/Chinese are available in the main market which is just opposite the Manali Bus stand. The mall road has a variety of eating options ranging from stalls and dhabas to fancy restaurants. Deeper into the lanes of the town, one can find more local eating places, catering to special tastes and habits ranging from Tibetan food, to Vaishnavi Dhabhas. You are sure to find something without hunting around too much.

Places to see in Kullu-

Kullu has many temples some of them are as old as of 8th and 9th century.But best thing you can do in Kullu is to just watch the beauty of nature which not only soothes your mind but also your soul.Kullu can also be a hill station of choice if you are fond of adventure sports.Some of the places worth seeing in Kullu are-

Bishweshwar temple -

Kullu india, bisheshwar temple, kullu- Famous places in India

The temple is located in Bajaura about 5 kms from Bhuntar airport and at an altitude of about 1600 mts. It is the largest and most attractive temple in Kullu valley and is believed to be built in 9th century.The temple has been declared as the protected site. It is believed that the heroes of the epic Mahabharat, Pandavs built this temple in one day.The architecture of this temple is so good that it withstood the eartquake of 1905.

Bijli Mahadev temple-

The temple is located at a height of about 2450 mts at a distance of about 10 kms from Kullu,it is one of the most striking temples and one of the famous place to visit in Kullu. The temple contains a 'Shiv Ling' , the statue of Lord Shiva.The view of the valley and wooded peaks from this temple is spellbinding.A 60 ft long trident which looks like a silver needle is placed vertically on the top of the temple.It is believed that this trident receives blessings in the form of lightening (The Hindi word for lightening is Bijli).

It requires a few hours of trekking to reach here. The trek and the climb is tiring but rewarding.A stiry is attached to this temple or rather a miracle is said to happen here every now and then.It is said that lightening breaks the 'Shivling " into many parts.After that the priest collects all the broken parts of the Lingam and sticks it together with the help of butter which acts as the adhesive.

Manikaran-

Manikaran, situated about 45 kms from Kullu and at an altitude of about 1700 mts is famous for its hot springs.Thousands o people take a holy dip here.The water is so hot that even foods like rice, vegetables and pulses can be cooked using this water.The place is an important pilgrimage centre for both Hindus and Sikhs because Raghunathji temple and a Gurudwara is situated here. According to Hindu mthology, Goddess Parvati lost her earrings here which gave rise to the hot spring here.

Raghunath temple-

Situated about 1 km away from main Kullu bus stand , the temple houses the idol of Lord Raghunath, the prinipal deity of Kullu valley.It is believed that the idol present here in the temple is the same that Lord Rama used while offering prayers during Ashva Megha Yagya. The world famous festival of Kullu valley ,Dussehra is celebrated after his name. It is believed that Raja Jagat Singh brought the idol from Ayodhya, The birth place of Lord Rama.

Vaishno Devi Temple-

Located just about 5 kms from Kullu on the Kullu -Manali highway (NH-1) lies this temple. There is a small cave here which enshrines the idol of Goddess Vaishno Devi.

Camping Sight Raison-

16 kms away from Kullu and at an altitude of about 1450 mts. the place is ideal for seclusion in the lap of nature and also for organizing youth camps.There are a number of orchards located in this part of Kullu. The atmosphere is mesmerizing with quite places very much apt for someone who want to see the beauty of nature in seclusion.

Adi Brahma temple-

Located in the village of Khokhan about 4 kms from Bhuntar this is a massive temple built with wood.his temple has idols of Adi-Bhahma ji in the center and temple of 'Garh Jogni & Manikaran Jogni' on the left and right side of the temple.

Triyug Narayan Temple-

This temple built in pagoda style lies about 12 ks from Bhuntar in the village of Dyar and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Naggar-

Situated at a height of about 1700 mts. on a wooded slope and on the left bank of river Beas , Naggar offers a commanding view of the Kullu valley. It was the capital of erstwhile Kulu state for about 1400 years. There are large number of famous temples notably Vishnu, Tripura Sundari & Lord Krishana. Cars and jeeps easily go upto the Naggar castle. Roerich art gallery which houses the paintings of Nicholas Roerich as well as his sculptures , is less than a km. from the Castle. Naggar is also a base for undertaking treks to Chanderkhani Pass and to remote valley of Malana.

Khirganga-

Located in Parvati valley and about 22 kms from Manikaran, Khirganga is a place where the elder son of Lord Shiva, Lord Kartik remained in samadhi for thousand years. For reaching Khirganga one have to go by bus upto Barshaini and form there to Khirganga on foot. This trek leads through hilly terrain.

Kasol-

Located am a height of about 1650 mts and about 40 kms from Kullu lies this broad open space.This bewitching open space slopes down towards the bank of Parvati river . This place makes a good holiday destination specially for those who have keen interest in trout fishing.

Malana-

Malna- kullu india- famous places in india

This little village lies just ahead of3Chanderkhani pass.It is believed to be the oldest democracy of world.The place is famous for the temple of Jamlu and its distinct, social and cultural life.It would be worth while to visit this village to study the style and social system prevalent there.

Places to see in Shimla-

Although the best thing to do in Shimla is to walk around and watch the panorma and the wooded mountain ranges.Shimla is surrounded by pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron forests. Still Its well developed facilities, easy accessibility and numerous attractions makes it one of the most famous places in India and biggest tourist destination for both local and forgein visitors.Some of the must see places in Shimla are-

The Ridge-

shimla india- Ridge shimla- Famous places in india

Located in the centre of the city of Shimla, Ridge is the heart and the hub centre for the tourists coming to this famous place of India.Ridge is a large open space with a very wide road.Vehicles are not allowed to come down the Ridge , so, you have to walk to reach this site.
Ridge is famous for the view of mountain it offers.The view of wooded himalyan ranges from here is awesome.Watching a setting sun from here is an immemorable experience.Apart from view it offers, Ridge is also famous as the centre of Shimla's cultural and social centre.

The Ridge is famous for the various government functions and fairs that are held here. It is usually the venue for all such celebrations and events. The most famous festival that is held at the Ridge is the Summer Festival. This famous festival is held during the months of April or May and the whole of Shimla comes alive with colors and a riot of activities.
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There is a water reservoir located in the Ridge which serves as the main water supply of Shimla.
The two famous landmarks of the Ridge are the- Christ church built in Neo-Gothic style and new Tudor library building.

Christ Church-

Located near the Ridge this church was built in 1846 and is one of the oldest churches in India. This church has been built in Neo-Gothic style.The stain-glass windows and 19th century organ are particularly impressive, and the fresco that surrounds the chapel window was designed by Lockwood Kipling, Rudyard Kipling's father.
The church is open everyday.

Mall road-

Also called as the Lower Bazzar ( lower market), this is the main shopping centre of Shimla and the place where you can get cheap and budget hotels.Viceregal lodge is one of the famous landmark present in the Mall road.Another important structure present in the all road is the aiety Theatre, which is a reproduction of an old British theatre and is a center of cultural and festive activities in Shimla.Although less opulent than its upper neighbor, the Lower Bazaar retains an old worldly charm and is an excellent place to try some Shimla specialty dishes, like Uradh Dal with rice or Shepard's Pie.

Viceregal Lodge-

Built in 1888 this is an imposing strucure built during British rule.The building was built under the supervision of Lord Dufferin. The three side of the building is surrounded by British style garden.The fourth side is a very nice place to see the setting sun.
The building is open everyday and the entry fees is Rs. 10. Only the garden the main entrance hall is open for tourists to watch.Cameras are not allowed inside the mansion.

Jakhoo hill and Jakhoo temple-

jakhoo hill shimla- shimla vacation- famous places in india

Jakhoo hill is one of the highest peaks around Shimla and is located about 2.5 kms from the Ridge. Auto rickshaws and taxis and also some buses can drop you to the foothills of the peak.From there you have to walk up to the top which is very tiring.Walking sticks are available on hire in the shops located on the foothills.
Once you reach the top, yoy will find a very nice view of Shimla city and a very mesmerizing view of Deodar and Oak clad mountains. A very ancient temple is located on the top of the hill.The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and it is believed that Lord Hanuman has rested here for a while while His journey towards the Himalyas.
Like many temples in India, the temple and Jakhoo hill has a lot of monkeys ,many of them are aggressive and notorious for snatching things.So, take care of your belongings particularly any eatables.

Summer Hill

Located about 7 kms. away from the main city lies this picturesque site with a bewitching environment.It lies on Kalka Shimla railway line and is at an altitude of 1300 mts.The place offers a great view of adjoining areas and is quite apt for long walks in the shade of trees.Mahatma Gandhi ,the father of nation ,stayed at this place while his visit to the Shimla.The Himachal Pradesh university is situated on this hill.

Prospect hill and the temple of Kamna Devi-

prospect hill shimla- shimla travel- travelling to india

Located on the Shimla -Bilaspur road, the prospect hill is crowned by a temple dedicated to Goddess Kamna Devi.You can reach here by a bus or a taxi which can drop you at Boileauganj from where this place is just 15 minutes walk away.Situated at an altitude of about 2500 mts. this hill gives an astounding view of the adjoining areas.

Chadwick Falls-

Located about 7kms from Shimla this highly dense forested area can be regarded as the paradise for nature lovers.The best way to reach here is by walking from Summer hills.It takes about 45 minutes to reach here from Summer hill.
The best season to visit this place is during August- September when there is a lot of water in the fall and the dazzling water gives a look as if millions of pearls are falling on the ground to hug the earth.

Shimla State Museum-

The museum was opened in 1974 and houses many artifacts and objects related o culture and archaelogical importance of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining states.

At present Museum, has about 9000 objects in its collection. At the outset, museum started with four galleries. Since then more galleries have been added. These galleries pertain to Pre- historic, Indian Archaeology, Woodcarvings, Himachal Archaeology, Pahari Miniature Paintings Monuments, Photographs, Rajasthan paintings, Bronzes, Numismatic, Arms Gallery, Gandhi Gallery, Philatelic, Anthropological, Contemporary Art & Wall Paintings gallery. In addition to these galleries museum has one exhibition hall for arranging the exhibition and other museum activities.
Source

Image Art Gallery-

This is an excellent place to discover the culture, flora and fauna of this state, Himachal Pradesh.The gallery exhibits some 20,000 photographs of Himachal Pradesh taken by the celebrated photographer, Inder Pal.Potter's Hill is scenic area, so as well as visiting the gallery, visitors can also enjoy hiking, climbing, observing wild life and enjoy the fresh Himalayan air. Entry fee is Rs. %.Cameras are allowed but you can't photograph with flash on (flash not allowed).

Images by: vinodbahal, jz.sinr, gr8.achint

Shimla, India: General Information-

Shimla india-Shimla travel- shimla vacation, famous places in India

Shimla used to be the summer capital during British rule in India and English people used to caqll it the queen of hill stations. Presently it is the capital city of the northern state of Himachal pradesh and one of the most visited hill-stations in India. Millions of tourists flock here during summer months to get some respite from the scorching heat.

Located in the lap of North-west Himalyas at an altitude of about 22oo mts. vacation in Shimla can be enjoyed by watching the scenic beauty of the place, panormic view and Deodar and Oak clad mountains.

It is a very popular holiday-retreat during the summer months and is well-known for its Victorian architecture, which is reflected in certain areas of the Mall and The Ridge. It is also a famous holiday spot for honeymoon.
Source

Shimla derived its name from the word 'Shyamla' which means Goddess Kali whose temple existed in the dense forests that covered the Jakhu Hills in the early 19th century. British people named it as Shimla and since then the name has prevailed.

How to reach Shimla-

Shimla is well connected byAir, Railway as well as by road but by far the most convenient, cheaper and gratifying option would be to reach there by train through Kalka Shimla toy train.

Reaching Shimla by Air-
The nearest airport from Shimla is Jubbarhatti airport but it receives only a few flights and all from Delhi. So, reaching here by plane is not a convenient option as you have to first reach Delhi and from there to Jubbarhatti .Apart from this there are not many flights operating between Delhi and Jubbarhatti ,so, may have to wait for some time.

Chandigarh offers far better options. Many flights from all major cities of India arrive and depart from Chandigarh and so it is far better option than Jubbarhatti.From Chandigarh you can reach Shimla by a bus, or by hiring a taxi or through Kalka Shimla toy train.

Reaching Shimla by Train-( Kalka -Shimla toy train)

Shimla India-famous places in india- Shimla travel-Kalka shimla toy train

The nearest broad gauge head is Kalka.From Kalka to Shimla you can travel by toy train.Kaka is about 90 kms away from Shimla and it takes about 5- 6 hrs for a 90 km journey by toy train.In the way the train passes through more than 100 tunnels and passing through the deodar clad mountains and springs feels like you are in heaven .I would recommed travelling by toy train if you are planning to travel to Shimla.Kalka Shimla toy train route has been recently declared as the world heritage site.

**Schedule of trains from Kalka to Shimla**
Train No.	Train Name	Kalka	Shimla
1KS Passenger	Kalka Shimla Passenger	04:00	09:20
241 NG Superfast	Shivalik Deluxe Express	05:30	10:15
251 Mail	Kalka Shimla Mail	06:00	11:00
255 Express	Himalayan Queen Express	12:10	17:20

Reaching Shimla by road-
Shimla is well connected to nearby places in the state as well as outside state by road.Regular buses from Delhi, Chandigarh, Dharmshala, Dalhousie, Dehradun, Ambala etc. arrive and depart Shimla.The distance of some important places from Shimla are as follows-

Chandigarh- 117 km,
Kullu- 220 km,
Manali- 260 km, Delhi- 343 km,
Pathankot- 380 km,
Ambala- 151 km,
Chail- 43 km,
Dehradun- 240 km

Where to stay in Shimla-

With more than thousand hotels it is easy to get an accommodation in Shimla which suits your need and pocket.But it will always be advisable to get your hotel booked before hand through any travel agent or by internet. If possible try to find a hotel near Ridge or Mall road as these places lie in the heart of the city and are almost equidistant from most of the places of tourist interest in Shimla.Lakkar Market, which lies down the Mall road can be a very good alternative to these places if in case you are not able to find a hotel near Ridge or Mall road.

Eating out in Shimla-

Most of the restaurants and other eating places in Shimla and offer a variety of cuisines like north indian ,south indian and western also .But if you are looking for some local recipes then options are very limited.A few restaurants near Ridge and in the outskirts of the city offer some local cuisines.
The food is generally hygienic and tasty and it is nice to enjoy some nice food in the lap of nature with a very good atmosphere.

Places to see in Bangalore-

Bangalore ,popularly known as the "garden city" has numerous places to see which includes, historical monuments, beautiful parks and gardens ,temples and much more.Bangalore offers a perfect trip to spend your vacation with your friend and family.

Monuments in Bangalore-

Vidhan Soudha-

This place was built in 1956 and is the Legislative House of state of Karnatka. The building has been constructed in neo-dravidian style and is one of the most imposing structures in India. The sight of this building is worth seeing on sundays between 7 pm- 8 pm when it fully illuminated. It was conceived and executed by Kengal Hanumanthaiah, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka in 1956.
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.

Vikaas Soudha-

It was constructed in february 2005 and lies just adjacent to Vidhan Soudha.Built in same style as Vidhan Soudha it s equipped with latest gadgets and gizmos to govern the state.

Attara Kacheri-

highcourt- bangalore vacation- tourism places in india

This building built in Gothic style is the high court of the State of Karnatka.The building was built in 1867 and lies directly opposite to the Vidhan Soudha.

Bangalore Palace-

The palace built in style similar to that of castles of Normandy and Englahttp://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5585635416827887281&postID=8194176807164850742nd during medieval period was built in 1887 by Waldeyar dynasty. The interior of the palace has beautiful wood carvings and Tudor-style architecture.For many years the building was neglected as a tourist attraction, but is now open to the public. The fee is Rs. 100/200 Indian/Foreigner and 500 to take photos even of the exterior. Within the premises of the Bangalore castle lies a well preserved Ganpati temple.

Seshadri Iyer memorial hall-

Located in Cubbon park this place is the state's library and has huge collection of reference books.The building is made from red stone and is a magnificient building in Bangalore. The grounds include a children's recreation area with a toy train, fairground and theater. The library remains closed on Monday.

Tipu Sultan's Palace-

This monument was built in 1790 and was the summer retreat of Tipu Sultan.The building is a two storeyed structure mainly made of wood with finely embellished balconies, pillars and arches. The palace was built by Haider Ali and was completed by his son Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan used to call it as 'The Envy of Heaven'.

Gardens in Bangalore-

Lal Bagh-

Covering an area of about 240 acres this park was laid out by Haider Ali in 1760.The Glass House, inspired by the Crystal Palace in London is a favourite spot in Lalbagh which hosts the famous Flower show during the month of August.
It is said to be the most romantic park in India and contains many lotus ponds, glass houses and 3.0 billion years old stone formations.A flower show is held during the week preceeding Indian Independence day (August 15) and Republic day (January 26) in the Glass House. This flower show features exquisite flowers and patterns designed by the experienced gardeners of Lalbagh.

Cubbon Park-

This park is named after Lt.General sir Mark Cubbon who laid out this park in 1864. Spread over a span of 250 acres this park is quite apt for long walks and lazing away sitting in the shade. Inside the park there is a children's amusement park, a doll's museum toy train. Because of its location in the centre of the city ,this park is also called as the lung of the city.

Bannerghatta national park-

Located on the southern outskirts of the city this national park has a span of about250 sq. kilometers and is is home to wild animals like bison, leopard, wild boar as well as being an important corridor for elephants migrating between the eastern and western ghats.

Lumbini Gardens-

This newly built garden is quite an apt one to spend your vacations with your friends and family.Boat rides, wave pool and children' garden are the major attractions of the park. A boat ride here is really enjoyable.

Wonder la amusement park-

Like Lumbini Garden this is also a newly built park in Bangalore and infact most enjoyable spots present in Bangalore .It is located on the outskirts of the city on the Mysore Road.You can get more information about this park on wonderla.com.

Temples in Bangalore-

Bull Temple-

bangalore travel- famous places in india-nandi temple

This temple got its name because of a vast statue of the bull that has been carved out from a single boulder, which depicts Nandi, the sacred bull of lord Shiva.The temple is located in Basavangudi.
One of the oldest temples of Bangalore, Dodda Ganapathi is situated just beside the Bull temple.

ISKCON Temple-

ISKCON are centers of spiritual learning through Godly association, where a visitor is inspired to learn more about Spiritual life. The ISKCON temple is situated in Rajajinagar on the top of a hillock and is surrounded by awesome scenic beauty.There is a magnificent main temple hall, which houses the altars of Their Lordships Sri Radha Krishna-Chandra, Sri Krishna Balarama & Sri Nitai Gouranga. Also one can see the Golden Chandelier that is shaped like an inverted Lotus Flower.

Maha Bodhi society temple-

This is relatively anewer structure and is replica of the main Mahabodhi Stupa of Bodh Gaya, in state of Bihar.The calmness of the environment here is mesmerizing.

The Shiva Statue-

bangalore vacation- shiva temple- famous places in india

Located on the Old airport road this place has a huge statue of Lord Shiva (about 65 mts. high) surrounded by a pool of water.It has the backdrop of Mount Kailash the Lord's heavenly abode and the river Ganga flowing from his matted locks as depicted in the mythology. The place is heavily crowded during the festival of Mahashivratri.

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kolkata ,India: General Information
Places to see in kolkata(coming soon)

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Bangalore: General Information-

Bangalore now called as Bengalooru is the capital city of the southern state of Karnatka and one of the famous places in India frequently visited by tourists travelling to the state of Karnatka in India.It is one of the most fastly growing metropolitan in India has second highest literacy rate among metropolitans.

A legendry story is associated with the name of this city.The story has been beautifully described at karnatka.com and so I am citing the words from this site.

Legend goes that King Veeraballa of Vijayanagara once lost his way in forest. Hungry and tired, he came upon a lone hut in the thick forest where he met an old woman.When he asked for food, she gave him baked beans ('Benda Kalu' in Karnataka).The King found this humble meal taste better than the richest fare.To commemorate this incident, he called the place "Benda Kalu Ooru"(place of baked beans). Bangalore today is getting popular though for a different variety of Beans-JavaBeans.
source

bangalore vcation- tourism places in india

Owing to its predominant contribution in IT industry Bangalore is also known as the 'silicon valley of India'.Bangalore is the "Garden City of India" with its many gardens and boulevards. Its pleasant climate and laid-back charm attracted many senior citizens and thus later on came to be called at "the retired man's paradise". And of course what is Bangalore without all its Pubs. Its is now also called the Pub City with over 200 Pubs all over the town.

How to reach Bangalore-

Being a fastly growing cetre and heart and hub cetre for most of the multinational IT companies ,Bangalore is well connected to most of the parts of India and also to many parts of Asia and Europe.

Reaching Bangalore by flight-
Bangalore international airport was opened in May 2008 and became one of the busiest and moden airports in India. It is located 30 kms away from main city at Devanahalli. It receives direct flights from many parts of Asia and Europe. It also receives many domestic flights connecting Bangalore to almost every major city of India .By the end of 2008 it has started receiving many other parts of the world like USA, Singapore, Australia and middle east.

Reaching Bangalore by Train-
Bangalore two major railway stations-

Bangalore City and,
Yeshwantpur

Bangalore city station is situated in the heart of the city and most of the trains (both intrastate and interstae) arrive and depart from here.
Yeshwantpur junction is located on Tumkur road (NH-4) and it mostly receives a few mostly long distance trains from northern part of India.
Ticket bookings can be done through many railway counters situted all across the country or it may be done online.To book a ticket online visit the official website of railway or search for an online travel agent through google.

Reaching Bangalore by Bus-
The main bus stand of Bangalore is known by three names- 'Kempegowda bus station' or 'Karnatka state road transport corporation' or 'Majestic bus station' and receives buses that run between Bangalore and nearby major cities like Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Mangalore, Coimbatore etc.Buses can be luxury buses, deluxe buses, A/c volvo buses and even buses with sleeper facility for night travel.

The main bus stand of 'the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) ,' which maintains bus services within the city, is located next to the Kempegowda Bus Station. BMTC has now introduced Air conditioned Volvo buses in order to maintain the status of the IT city.

Where to stay in Bangalore-

Being a fast growing metro city, one of the favourite travel destinations in India, and heart and hub centre of IT industry Bangalore has numerous hotels spread all over the city but most of the hotels are expensive.Finding a chjeper hotel in Bangalore is like finding a needle from a heap of straw.Most of the hotels charge higher amount when compared to the facilities they provide.
Wikitravel has got a list of hotels here.

It is always advisable to make prior arrangements of accommodation through a travel agent or through internet to avoid hassles when you reach there or to avoid getting ripped off your money by touts.

Eating out in Bangalore-

Bangalore has numerous fast food stalls spread all over the city.They are cheper option to enjoy to enjoy some nice south indian vegeterian recipes.Idlis, vadas, Dosa and other other south indian recipes are not hard to find in Bangalore.Many restaurants also offer some north Indian cuisines that you would love eating.
Apart from budget places to eat you can also find mid-range, and expensive places to eat.If you are not able to find an appropriate place to eat, just ask some local person.They will help you out.Locals of Bangalore are very much helpful.

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