Udaipur, Rajasthan, India-

Udaipur is one of the famous tourist destinations in the state of Rajasthan of India.It is also known by the name of "City of Lakes" or "Venice of the East". It was the historic capital of the Mewar kingdom and presently administrative headquarters of Udaipur district. Nestled between the hills of Aravalli and with many lakes, Palaces, and forts situated here it is one of the most favourite destinations among both domestic as well as international tourists.

The city of Udaipur was founded by the Mewar king , Rana Udai Singh.There is a legend associated with the establishment of the city. According to the legend Rana Udai Singh came here after following a Hermit.Hermit told the king to build a fort here and he will be protected here.The legend has been well described in Wikipedia-

Legend has it that Maharana Udai Singh came upon a hermit while hunting in the foothills of the Aravalli Range. The hermit blessed the king and asked him to build a palace on the spot and it would be well protected. Udai Singh established a residence there. In 1568 the Mughal emperor Akbar captured Chittor, and Udai Singh moved the capital to the site of his residence, which became the city of Udaipur.
Source

How to reach Udaipur-

Udaipur is well connected from rest of the country and rest of the cities in Rajasthan by air railways as well as road. Reaching here from the main cities of India is not a problem at all.

Reaching Udaipur by Air-
Udaipur has a small airport named Maharana Pratap Singh Airport and only receives flights from domestic circuit. The airport is situated about 20 kms from Udaipur and from here you can hire a taxi to reach the main city of Udaipur. Flights from some major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Jodhpur reach here on regular basis.Indian Airlines operate a daily flight from Jaipur and Mumbai. Jet airways and air Deccan has also regular flights from Delhi, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Mumbai.

Reaching Udaipur by Railway-
A few years back Udaipur was located on narrow gauge line but now the narrow gauge line have been transformed into broad gauge and travelling by railways has become the easiest and cheapest source to reach this historical city. Many daily trains arrive and depart from here connecting Udaipur to some large cities of India like Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Jodhpur.For more information and train schedule log onto government railways website.

Reaching Udaipur by Road-
Udaipur is well connected with every major city in Rajasthan and the neighbouring state.Deluxe, Semi-Deluxe, A/C as well as general buses are available from cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Gwalior , Ahmedabad and many other cities on regular basis. In Delhi you can find buses for Udaipur at Bikaner House as well as ISBT (inter state bus terminus).

Where to stay in Udaipur-

Udaipur has whole range of hotels with budget, mid range and costly splurges all available and scattered all along the city.Finding a hotel hat suits your need is not a problem here at Udaipur. Most of the hotels are located near Pichola lake and it would be advisable to hire a room here as most of the places of tourist interests are located at comfortable distance from here. It would also be advisable to book your room beforehand to avoid hassles after you reach here.

Eating out in Udaipur-

Udaipur has plenty of nice places where you can enjoy some real delicious dishes.Most of the good ones are located near lake and in the heart of the city. You can get all kinds of relishing recipes here like, Italian, Chinese, Indian as well as western. If you are looking for change in taste then try out some Rajasthani delicacies. Dal- Baati- Choorma is one of the famous cuisines of Rajasthan and youy can try this food which is extremely delicious. Other dishes worth eating are Ghevar, Gatte - ki - Sabzi and mirchi bada.
Hukam, The Family Restaurant. Multi Cuisine Restaurant, situated at Sahelion Ki Badi Road serves mouth watering Dishes.aircondition & Ambience Par Excellance.

Weather and best time to visit-

Being very near to Thar desert Udaipur is extremely hot during the months of April to August. It would be good to avoid visiting this place during these months as it will spoil your mood and it is almost next to impossible to move around during these months.
The best time to visit this place would be during winter months from the month of November to February. Take some woolen clothes if you are visiting this place during the month of December and January..

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-

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 --
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. .

Chamba, India: General information

Situated at an altitude of about 960 mts. the town of Chamba has been the capital of Pahari kings since long.The town was founded by the king Sahil Verman who named the town after her daughter, Champavati.Surrounded by higher ranges Chamba has preserved the ancient culture and heritage and Chamba is known for the elegence of its temples and handicrafts. This makes this little hill town a bit different from the ones that are situated near to it.

Chamba valley lies enclosed between two principal spur ranges of the Great Himalaya, the Dhauladhar and the Pangi-Pir Panjal.The sedimentary deposits of the Shivaliks give way to the first granite range in the system, the Dhauladhar. The Pir Panjal runs roughly parallel, to the north but on a converging line, and in between lies the drainage basin of the Ravi, one of the principal rivers of the Punjab.

How to reach Chamba?

Chamba is not directly connected with air and railways thus, reaching here by road is the most convenient way. Although the town can be accessed by railways and air if you are ready to break your journey rather than reach here directly.

Reaching Chamba by air-
Chamba is not directly connected by air route. The nearest airport from Chamba is Gaggal airport in Kangra district but very few flights operate from here and many a times flights get cancelled due ti bad weather. From Gaggal airport you can hire a taxi or travel by bus to reach Chamba.

Reaching Chamba by Railway-
Chamba is not directly connected by railway route.The nearest railway station is Pathankot ( Lies on Broad Gauge).Pathankot is well connected from other parts of the Northern India.From Pathankot regular buses can drop you to Chamba.Alternatively you may hire a taxi to reach Chamba. The nearest narrow gauge head is Jogindernagar.

Reaching Chamba by Road-
Chamba is well connected to rest of the northern India by Road.Regular buses operate from cities like, Delhi, Chandigarh, Ambala, Amritsar, Shimla and Jammu. Deluxe ,semi-deluxe and A/C buses are available.Afew HPTDC buses also run from different parts of the northern India.

Where to stay in Chamba?-

Numerous budget hotels are there in Chamba with most of them located on the Temple Road and near Post Office. There are only a few good quality hotels and five star and four star hotels are rarity here. During high seasons tourists may get problem finding a good hotel.So, it would be advisable to book a hotel beforehand through a travel agent or on the internet. Tent and huts are also available here in Chamba which can add to your experience when you stay in it.There are some cheap hotels run by HPTDC and can be booked from HPTDC website.

Where to eat in Chamba?-

Chamba has many cheap and and mid-range resytaurants that serve most of the north indian dishes.Many of them are located near Chaugan, temple road and post office. Most of the restaurants lso erve western dishes, south indian and chinese delicacies.Most of the hotels here has small restaurants attached which can be the most convenient place to eat.If you are looking for some local dishes then there are little options available.Just ask a local person for a place serving local dishes and they can guide you to a small restaurant serving some nice local delicacies.

Best time to visit and clothings to carry-

Best time to visit Chamba is between April and October.Weather is cool and sky is generally clear during these days.After October winter sets in making the place extremely cold.

Carry light woolens during summer months and heavy woolens during winter months (October to February).

Places to see in Dharamshala-

Dharamshala also called as the 'Mini Lhasa' because the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in exile is situated here, has many religious places and some gorgeous natural scenic beauty. The calm and serenity of the place together with the spiritual condiments make this place a delight to watch. The high pine trees , the tea gardens and timber yielding trees make this place breathtakingly beautiful. Some of the places worth watching in Dharamshala are-

Tsuglagkhang complex-

Located on the temple road this place has tha largest Tibetan temple located outside Tibet. The temple complex has a large central meditation hall containing some beautiful statues and thangkas, as well as a Kalachakra temple with beautiful murals. It is the monastery of His Holiness, Dalai Lama. The residence of Dalai Lama is located just in front of this temple.

Jwalamukhi temple-

This is one of the famous temples in northern India and is situated about 56 kms from Dharamshal. The temple is dedicated to the "Goddess of Light". Unlike other Hindu temples, this temple doesn't contain any idol instead , the flame inside the temple is regarded as the manifestation of the Goddess.An eternally burning and shining blue flame emanates from the rock sanctum and is fed by the priests with the offerings of devotees. The golden tower (dome) of the temple was a gift from the Emperor Akbar, The Mughal Badshah.

Jwalamukhi temple also witnesses two fairs held during the festival of Navratra, one in the month of April and other in October. HPTDC cottages and some guest houses and hotels are available near the temple for devotees.

Bhagsunath Temple-

Located about 11kms from Lower Dharamshala and about 3 kms from Upper Dharamshala (McLeodganj) near the village of Bhagsu. Bhagsunath temple is an ancient temple. The temple complex contains a tank and a spring which are considered sacred by Hindus. The temple contains an idol of Lord Hanuman. The Bhagsunath temple is also famous for annual fair which is held in the month of September every year.The temple is the kul devta of the First Gorkha Rifles from the time that the regiment was based in Dharamshala.

Bhagsunag falls-

Bhagsunag falls is located just behind the Bhagsunath temple in the village of Bhagsu.The ideal time to see this fall is during rainy season when it turns into beautiful cascade with a lot of water rolling down from the top of the peak.The mountain side of the fall is decorated with stylish slate graffiti. It is an ideal spot for picnics and recreation.

Dal Lake-

Located about 13 kms from Lower Dharamshals ,Dal lake is beautifully placed spot with Deodar forest surrounding it from all side.It is the starting point of excursions and trekking and is located next to the Tibetan Children's village.There is a small Shiva temple on the bank of the lake. The spot witnesses a fair in the month of September which is attended by Gaddi folk and other people in the district.

Kunal Pathari-

Kunal pathari can be accssed by a 3km level walk from Kotwali Bazaar. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Kapaleshwari. This rock temple has beautiful rock crvings of Gods and Goddesses. It is believed that the Kapal (skull) of Devi Sati fell here after being cut off by the chakra of Lord Vishnu.

Masroor-

Located about 40 kms from Dharamshala and at an altitude of about 400 mts Masroor is famous for its monolithic rock cut temples. There are about 15 temples that show striking resemblance with the temples located in Elora and Mahabalipuram. The temples ar dedicated to Lord Rama ,Lakshman and Sita. These partly ruined temples are built in Indo- Aryan style and are profusely decorated with sculptural ornamentations.

Nurpur-

Located about 60 kms from Dharamshala this place is named after the wife of Mughal emperor Jehangir, Nurjehan. Nurpur is famous for an old fort and the temple of Brij Raj. You can buy the Nurpuri shawls from here. Options to stay here are limited with a few guest houses and a HPTDC rest house.

Temple of Chamunda Devi-

Located on the Palampur road about 15 kms from Dharamshal this temple is dedicated to Goddess Chamunda Devi. You can watch the exquisitely beautiful sight of Dauladhar ranges and adjoining valleys from here. The Baner Khud flowing from beside the temple adds to the beauty of the place. A legend is attached with this place which has been quite aptly described at India site.

It has to do with the two demons, Chanda and Munda, trying to harass the goddess Ambika. The duo, followers of the notorious demon king, Shumbh Nishumbh, once set out for the Himalayas with their chaturangini army. Upon reaching here, they saw the devi (goddess) sitting high up on a peak, smiling to herself. Chanda and Munda then flew their arrows at her.

Furious at this, Ambika knitted her brows and lo! From their folds emerged this terrifying form of Kali, decked up in a cheetah skin sari (long piece of cloth cleverly draped by Indian women) and a garland of skulls. Kali fought all the demons singlehandedly and killed Chanda and Munda. Pleased, Ambika declared that Kali would now be worshipped here as Chamunda – a compound of Chanda and Munda. That is how the temple is supposed to have come up.
Source

Chamunda Devi temple is said to be more than 700 years old .The temple compound has a small tank in it where devoptees take a dip. The idol inside the temple is considered very much sacred, so muvh so, that it is concealed even for the eyes to a glimpse of it.

Trilokpur-

Trilokpur is situated about 41 kms away from Dharamshala and is famous of natural cave temple dedicated to Goddess Mahamaya Bala Sundri.Temple of Trilokpur contains a stalactite and stalagamite is dedicated to Shiva. High on the ridge of the cave are ruins of a palace and baradari (audience hall) of Lehna Singh Majitha, Governor of Kangra hills during the Sikh rule.The Goddess of the Trilokpur Temple resembles a stone lingam like Lord Shiva.

Triund-

Located about 20 kms away from Dharamshala , Triund lies at the foothill of Dauladhar peak and at a height of about 3000 mts. The snowline starts at Ilaqa wich is about 5 kms from here. Triund is a favourite picnic spot fr tourists and starting point for many trekking camps. A ropeway is being installed from Dharamshala to this place.

The Tibetan Institute of Performing arts-

It is 1km. walk from McLeod Ganj and preserves a number of musical dance and theatrical traditions of Tibet. It holds an annual 10-day folk opera commencing on the second Saturday of April. There is also a Tibetan handicraft centre situated at McLeod Ganj and a Sunday market is organized at about 10 minutes walk from here.

Gyote Ramoche Monastery-

This is an imposing structure called the Gyuto Ramoche Monastery (near Dharamshala). It is the base for the Karmapa Llama who is the second most respected religious authority after the Dalai Lama. He is also controversial ever since he escaped from Chinese control and arrived in India after an arduous 8 day trip across the Himalayas.

Norbuligka institute-

Norbuligka institute provides training ,education and employment to Tibetans.It supports an environment in which Tibetan community and family values can flourish. It reconciles the traditional creatively and respectfully with the modern, and seeks to create an international awareness of Tibetan values and their expression in art and literature. The inside of the institute is calm ,clean and very beautiful.

Dharamshala: General Information-

Dharamshala , the district headquarter of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh is famous because of the tibetan community that dwell here. Dharamshal is the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in Exile which is led by 14th Dalai Lama , Tenzin Gyatso. Dharamshala and its beauty has been quite beautifully described by Incredible India as follows-

This is a hill station lying on the spur of the Dhauladhar range about 18 kms north east of Kangra town. Hill station is wooded with oak and conifer trees and snow-capped mountains enfold three sides of the town while the valley stretches in front. The snow line is perhaps more easily accessible at Dharamshala than at any other hill resort and it is possible to trek to snow point after an early morning's start.
Source

Geography of Dharamshala-

Dharamshala is divided into two parts which are separated by a height of about 350 mts.
The lower Dharamshala is a typical small indian town and apart from bus stand there is nothing of interest here for the tourists.Lower Dharamshala is located at a height of about 1400 mts.
The upper Dharamshala is about 9 kms away from lower Dharamshala and is known by the name of McLeodganj.It lies at an altitude of about 1750 mts and is the centre of Tibetan Government in exile. A taxi or bus takes about 10 minutes to drop you here from lower Dharamshala.
Other smaller villages in the vicinity of the town are-
Forsyth Ganj
Bhagsu and
Dharamkot.

How to reach Dharamshala-

Dharamshala is accessible from other parts of north India by buses, taxis, trains and also air (in recent times). But by far the most convenient way is by bus as you don't have to break your journey to reach here.

Reaching Dharamshala by Air-
Gaggal airport is the nearest airport from Dharamshala which lies about 10 kms away from here. From Gaggal you can hire a taxi or travel by a bus to reach Dharamshala. Sadly, not too many flights operate from Gaggal airport. There are only a few flights of Indian Airlines and Jagson air that operate from here. To add to this, many a times flights are cancelled due to bad weather or because enough passengers don't show up.So, travelling by air to reach here is certainly not convenient.

Reaching Dharamshala by Train-
The nearest broad gauge rail head is Pathankot (Chakki Bazaar) which is well connected from the rest of the north India. A bus or a Taxi takes about 3 hrs to reach Dharamshala from Pathankot.

Reaching Dharamshala by Bus-
This is by far the most convenient way to reach Dharamshala and most of the tourists to Dharamshala reach here b Bus. Dharamshala is well connected from rest of the north India by road.Regular buses from Delhi, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Ambala and Amritsar run to and from Dharamshala. There are a variety of buses to choose from ,like, Deluxe Ac buses, Semi-deluxe buses and regular buses. In recent time some sleeper buses has also started running from Delhi. Some HPTDC buses also run from the neighbouring states.

Where to stay in Dharamshala-

There are numerous accommodation places situated in Mc Leodganj with a wide selection hotels, guest houses and rented houses. The Lower Dharamshala has also got some hotels near the bus stand but they are relatively dearer and offer lesser facilities than those situated in McLeodganj. If you are searching for some cheap and budget hotels then you can find many such hotels on Jogiwara road. The near by villages of Bhagsu, Dharamkot and Forsythganj also offer some cheaper places to stay in.

Where to eat in Dharamshala-

Dharamshala has a wide range of eating places all scattered around McLeodganj and places around the tourist spots. Here you can enjoy some nice north Indian recipes but if you are here it would be worth to try some Tibetan dishes.Some of the Tibetan delicacies that you should try are-
Momos, Thukpa,Thenthuk, Pocha etc.
Tibetan Chai (Tea) is also worth trying .It is salty with some butter in it.

Apart from Indian and Tibetan food there are plenty of places that offer italian, chinese and western recipes at cheaper rates.

Places to see in Dalhousie-

Located on the western edge of Dhauladhar peak this famous hill station of India is quite apt to relax, retreat and rejuvenate not only your body but even your soul. The forested hills around the town of Dalhousie give an excellent view and shows the splendour of nature.These hills are covered with a thick growth of ban oak, rhododendron, pine and deodar (cedar) tress, and a large variety of shrubbery.

Some of the places worth visiting in Dalhousie are-

Panchpula-

This exquisitely beautiful place lies barely 3kms from the centre of the town of Dalhousie (GPO). The main water supply of Dalhousie comes from the stream of Panchpula.he stream springs from the north side of Dayan Kund and runs down a picturesque ravine to the waterworks of Panchpula. One of the great revolutionary, Ajit Singh died here and a samadhi has been built in his memory . This monument is beautifully placed at a site where several streams meet at one place.There is a Tourism restaurant and several chai shops in Panchpula that offer hot and cold beverages and snacks.
On the way to Panchpula lies Satdhara ,an overly beautiful stream with cool, clean and freshning water. The water of this spring is said to have medicinal property.

Kynance-

This building was constructed during the year 1933 by Dr. N.R.Dharamvir of Lahore and it used to be the private residence of Dharamvirs. This place gained popularity because Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose,3One of the freedom fighters stayed here for a period of seven months. This place of historical importance lies about 50 kms from GPO (heart of Dalhousie).An insignificant looking board bearing the name of Kynance hangs from a tree and is discernible to only those tourists who have an eye for details.

Norwood Paramdham-

Lying about 5kms from Gandhi Chowk this beautiful building is located on the eastern side of the Bakrota hill and is locally popular by name of Kainth wali Kothi. This building surrounded by forest of Deodar tree gained importance due to a Yogi.During 1925 a young Yogi Swami Satyanand came to Dalhousie and stayed here. He meditated here and took a silent vow that he will not break his fast till he finds the truth and God.

Kalatop-

Located about 10 kms from GPO (heart of Dalhousie) this beautiful place is netled at a height of about 8000 feets.Dalhousie water system, Tibetan Handicraft Centre and Dalhousie Potato Farm at Ahla. Lakkarmandi is nestled between 8600 feet high DayanKund peak on its right and Kalatop on the left. Dayan Kund has military installations and is closed to civilians except the local people who visit Bhulwani Mata temple near DayanKund. The best way to explore this place is by walking and trekking towards it but it requires a good health and is pretty much tiring.

Khajjar-

Lying at a height of about 6400 fts. this beautiful place is called as the 'mini Switzerland' ( because of meadowy look) and lies about 23 kms from Dalhousie and 13 kms from Kalatop. Khajjar is a stunning valley with a spring in the middle, while being quite beautiful, it gets littered with trash in the peak season of July when a massive amount of tourists come. Surrounded by a thick forest of pine and Deodar Khajjar is delight to watch and grazing goats and cttles gives a perfect pastoral view. A temple dedicated to Khajji Nag is located here and it is believed to be built in 12th century. The centre of the temple has life size statues of Pandavs and the defeated Kaurvas hanging from the roof of the circumambulatory path. The sanctum of the temple has been beautifully carved from wood.

Bharmaur-

Lying about 63 kms from Chamba this place is called as the 'land of Gaddies or Bharmaur'. It remained the seat of power of state of Chamba for about 400 years when it was known by the name of Brahmpur. Bharmaur is known for some very old archaelogical remains of temples.All these temples stand on a level area, which call the Chaurasi after the 84 Siddhas who are believed to have meditated in Bharmaur over 1000 years ago. These Siddhas hailed from Kurukshetra and visited Manimahesh. The oldest temple in the complex are of Ganesh and Lakshna Devi. The Manimahesh is the tallest temple in the complex and has been built in Shikhara style.There is a small water source called Ardh Ganda in a corner of the temple complex. Bathing in its water is considered religiously significant.

The place around Bharmaur is believed to be belonging to Lord Shiva and thats why it is sometimes referred to as Shiva Bhumi (Land of Shiva). Just about 4 kms from this archaelogical site lies the temple of Bharmani Devi. It lies on a hill top and trek upto this place is quite revitalizing.

Mani Mahesh-

The place lies about 28 kms from Bharmaur and is one of the most famous pilgrimage centre of the area.In the month of August/September the famous JATRA of Mani-Mahesh commences from Laxmi-Narayana Temple in Chamba.Off late people from north India and beyond have started visiting this sacred lake. According to an estimate nearly one lakh people visit this sacred lake every year and take a holy dip. The lake is situated at the base of the hill called as Mani Mahesh Kailash hill and is situated at a height of about 13,500 ft.

Chhatrari-

This small village situated about 45 kms from Chamba is famous for the hill style temple Shamti Devi. The temple is regarded as one of the holiest ones competing with well known temples of "Lakshna Devi" at Bharmour and of "Bhawani" at Kangra.he Shakti Devi temple is of interest owning to the elaborate decoration of its facade, ceiling and pillar. The sanctum, its architecture and sculpture betray a conscious effort on part of its builder to introduce a highly refined post Gupta art in this remote part of Chamba.

Other temples in the region are temple of Gauri Shankar which is believed to be built in 10th century AD.A few minutes walk up the mountain slopes from the main village is the Charauta temple which houses a stone image of BHATOD NAG who gives water to the people in return for one black and four white goats every three years. There are 36 water sources in the village around which beautiful PANIHARS (Fountain slabs) can be seen.

Churches in Dalhousie-

St. Patrick's Church-

This3is the largest church in Dalhousie and is located about 2kms from Dalhousie bus stand on the military hospital road. Built in 1909 the church is still in good condition.This Church was built exclusively from contribution made by officers and ranks of the British Army. At present the Church is managed and maintained by the Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar. Tis church has a sitting capacity of 300 people in its main hall.

St. Francis church-

This catholic church is very prominent structure located at Subhash chowk.Like St. Patrick's church is also maintained by Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar.St. Francis' Church on Prtrain hill is believed to have been built on the lines of a certain church in England. Beautiful glasswork and intricate stonework can be seen in the Church. Beside the church lies the residence of priest.

St. Andrew's Church-

Lying about one and a half km away from Dalhousie bus stand this church is also called as the 'church of Scotland'. This church was built in 1903 by protestant chriatian and is in fairly good condition.Recently a boundry wall has been erected around the church to protect it from any damages.

St. John's Church-

This is the first church built after the establishment of the city of Dalhousie.The church lies about one and half kms from the Dalhousie main bus stand and is the most prominent structure located on Gandhi chowk.Building of this church is a copy of Roman Catholics Church of England but this church belongs to Protestants. Service is conducted on every Sunday.

Dalhousie ,Himachal Pradesh,

India: Genaral information-

Dalhousie ,located in the state of Himachal Pradesh on the western edge of Dhauladhar peak of Himalyas. The place has been named after one of the British Governor General of 19th centuryi, Lord Dalhousie. One of the important and famous hill stations of India, Dalhousie has charming colonial architecture, including some beautiful churches. The spectacular snow-covered Dhauladhar Mountains are also visible from this fabulous town of Himachal Pradesh.

The altitude of Dalhousie town varies between 1500 mts to 25500 mts and lies on and aroud five hills named- Kathlog, Patreyn, Tehra, Bakrota and Balun. HPTDC has best described the beauty of Dahousie by saying-

Its location presents panoramic views of the plains and like a long silver line, the river Ravi twists and turns below Dalhousie. The spectacular snow-covered Dhauladhar mountains are also visible form this enchanting town.

How to reach Dalhousie-

Although Dalhousie is accessible by Air, train as well as by road but by far the most convenient way to reach here is by bus from adjoining cities in Himachal Pradesh and other states.

Reaching Dalhousie by Air-
The nearest airport to Dalhousie is Gaggal airport in Kangra which is about 134 kms away from Dahousie.From Gaggal airport you have to hire a taxi or travel by a bus to reach Dalhousie. Furthermore, There are not too many flights that operate from Gaggal airport and to add to it many a timess flights are cancelled due to bad weather or due to fog. So, reaching here by flight is certainly not a good option.

Reaching Dalhousie by Train-
The nearest railhead from Dalhousie is Pathankot which is about 84 kms away from here. Trains from many parts of India arrive and depart from Pathankot. From Pathankot you can hire a taxi or rde on a bus to reach Dalhousie.Buses and taxis are easily available from here.

Reaching Dalhousie by Road-
I regard bus journey as the best to reach Dalhousie.Firstly it is convenient as you don't have to break your journey and secondly the view of the mountains from the bus and road is simply astounding. Buses from adjoining states operate on a regular basis. Dalhousie is well connected by other cities of Himachal Pradesh like, Shimla, Chamba, Kullu and Manali. Apart from this buses also operate from Chandigarh , Delhi, Ambala and Amritsar.

Where to stay in Dalhousie-

Being one of the famous hill place in India , Dalhousie has ample number of hotels to meet the needs of every type of tourists.Most of the hotels are located in the main market around the GPO which is at the heart of the town. But generally hotels in this area are dearer so to get a budget hotel you have to move towards either Subhash Chowk or Mall road.
In the month of July you should make prior arrangements for hotel as this is the peak season and most of the tourists flood into the town to get respite from the heat of the summer.

Where to eat in Dalhousie-

There are a few quality restaurants situated in and around GPO which serve delicious north indian, south indian and western recipes.The options are few if you want to taste some local cuisines.Just ask locals for a a restaurant which serves local delicacies and they can lead you to some good restaurants.By far the most convenient and quality place to get your foods is your hotel itself.

Best time to visit and clothings in Dalhousie-

Best season to visit Dalhousie is between June to November as weather is pleasant during these months.July is the peak season when most of the tourists flock in here.

You need light woolens during summer months (June to mid september). During winters you need heavy woolens as the region is extremely cold during winter with temperatures sometimes reaching below freezing point.

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-

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-

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 -

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-

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.