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SRINAGAR, JAMMU AND KASHMIR


Srinagar is the summer capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and is often touted to be one of the top 5 hill stations in the country. It lies in the Kashmir Valley, on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus.


It is the first stop for most travellers to Kashmir; and with its great lake and meandering river, its exquisite pleasure gardens and romantic shikara rides, the old-world charm of its houseboats and the ageless grace of its architecture, the city is a fitting introduction to the many enchantments of the valley.


The vast Dal lake is, of course, Srinagar’s emblematic feature, and its deep waters carry the most popular of Srinagar’s attractions: houseboats and shikaras. Many visitors are content to spend a great part of their holiday aboard these waterborne hotels, watching the lake’s traffic float by from cushioned balconies, venturing into the houseboat’s walnut-wood interiors for delicious, fragrant Kashmiri cuisine. If at all one can bring oneself to leave the boat, it is to step into another – the dainty, canopied shikaras. Fitted with generously cushioned seats and footrests, these elongated little boats constitute one of the great luxuries of the world, and have long been the very epitome of romance.


Shalimar, Nishat and Chashm-e-Shahi constitute the famous Mughal Gardens of Srinagar. They are known as much for their architectural exquisiteness as for the history that surrounds them. The Mughal Gardens is one of the splendid places in this city, glimpses into an earthly heaven of many-hued flowers, carpets of grass and playful fountains . Due its magnificent charm, the garden lures the attention of a number of travelers from different corners of the world and makes a visit to Srinagar. It was in the 17th century that Shalimar Bagh (garden) was built as a summer residence and royal court.


Jaluka, the son of Emperor Ashoka had built this Shankaracharya Temple around 200 BC. Nestled at an elevation of 1100 feet, the temple is one of the famous sacred sites in Srinagar.One has to climb 250 stairs to reach Shankaracharya temple. The tranquil atmosphere of this temple fills one with great peace of mind.


The numerous lakes and gardens of the city lend it its famous charm. Nagin Lake is an amazing place which is bounded by trees. Commonly, it is known as the 'Jewel in the Ring’ and is located at a distance of 6 km from Dal Lake in Srinagar. The tranquil atmosphere of the place offers a pleasant departure from the hustle bustle of the market. A travelers delight because it is away from heart of the city, no hassle and noise, its a pure and clean place. A small distance away from the Dal Lake, in Nagin Lake you can boat, swim and attempt water skiing.


Claimed to be the largest freshwater lake in India, the Wular lake can spread over nearly 200-sq-kms but its actual surface area tends to vary during the year. The Jhelum River flows into the lake, 40-km downstream from Srinagar, and then out again. The lake, calm though it may appear, is noted for the fierce winds that sometimes blow up. The deepest part of the lake is known as Mota Khon, since the bodies of people drowned in the lake were all supposed to be washed to this place.


The Hazratbal mosque is situated in Srinagar district, on the western banks of the picturesque Dal Lake. Facing the beautiful Nishat Bagh, the mosque offers a spectacular view of the lake and the mountain afar. This revered shrine houses the Moi-e-Muqqadus (preserved sacred hair) of Prophet Mohammad. Public display of the hair takes place only on religious occasions.


The Jama Masjid of Srinagar is situated at Nowhatta, in the middle of the old city. An important mosque in Srinagar, it was built by Sultan Sikandar in 1400 AD. The attractions of the Jama Masjid of Srinagar, Kashmir include beautiful Indo-Saracenic architecture, a magnificent courtyard and 370 wooden pillars. Another feature of the mosque is the peace and tranquility inside it, standing out against the hustle of the old bazaars around it. Thousands of Muslims assemble at the mosque every Friday to offer their prayers.


The markets of Srinagar offer a vast variety of the most refined crafts – from pashmina shawls, to intricately handwoven carpets, delicately carved woodwork and glittering copperware. Epicureans will delight in the rich Kashmir cuisine: from melt-in-the-mouth gushtabas to irresistible walnut tarts, or even a handful of warm, roasted chestnuts cracked open in the sun. For those who wish to squeeze a little more of Kashmir into their stay, Srinagar is within comfortable driving distance of several popular sites. Horse-riding though the meadows of Gulmarg, angling in the cold waters of the Lidder river at Pahalgam, the spellbinding beauty of Sonamarg and the architectural treasures of Pandrethan and Parihaspura, these can all be experienced as day-trips from Srinagar.



The city is served by many highways, including National Highway 1A and National Highway 1D. Srinagar Airport has regular domestic flights to Leh, Jammu Chandigarh and Delhi and occasional international flights. Srinagar is a station on the 119 km long Kashmir Valley that started in October 2009 and connects Baramulla to Srinagar, Anantnag and Qazigund. The railway track also connects to Banihal across the Pir Panjal mountains through a newly constructed 11 km long Banihal tunnel.



 There are ample number and variety of accommodation options available for those desirous of staying over at Srinagar. The Tourist Rest Houses/Bunglows run by the Uttaranchal Tourism subsidiaries and good number of private hotels with Deluxe and Luxurious facilities with reasonable fare are available.
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LEH, LADAKH


The Ladakh capital city of Leh lies near the eastern parts of Jammu and Kashmir, on the crossroads of the historic "Silk Route" from Sinkiang to West Asia and to the plains of India. Leh is situated roughly between 32 to 36 degree north Latitude and 75 to 80 degree East longitude and altitude ranging from 2300 mtrs to 5000 mtrs above sea level. District Leh with an area of 45100 Sq. Kms. makes it one of the largest District in the country. It is at a distance of 434 Kms from State capital ( Summer) Srinagar and 474 Kms from Manali (HP). Topographically, the whole of the district is mountainous with three parallel ranges of the Himalayas, the Zanskar, the Ladakh and the Karakoram. Between these ranges, the Shayok, Indus and Zanskar rivers flow and most of the population lives in valleys of these rivers.



Visiting Leh Ladakh can be a great experience as these places have a lot of natural beauty. There are a number of attractions in Leh Ladakh that are filled with extreme pristine beauty, with numerous trekking trails, valleys, and picturesque lakes, mountain peaks, wildlife safaris, adventure activity spots and much more. Renowned as the land of monks and monasteries there is lots to see in this amazing piece of land. Ladakh with a unique characteristic that is a blend of Indian, Tibetan as well as Buddhism linings make it a place which is worth paying a visit to.


This beautiful hilly region, every year, is visited by a large number of local as well as foreign tourists. It is both a popular summer as well as a winter holiday destination. Its untouched beauty, snow-clad mountain peaks, lush greenery and secluded spots attract a lot of honeymooners too. 


Built by the kings of Ladakh in 1553 the Leh Palace was once the world’s highest building. The primary attraction within the Leh city, Leh palace now only has the palace prayer room which lives up to the sense of former grandeur of Leh Palace.


Suru and Zanskar valley is one of the most remotest and least visited areas in leh Ladakh region. Suru and Zanskar is a part of Kargil and Pensi la pass almost midway between Padum and Rangdum separates Zanskar from the Suru valley.


Pangong Tso lake in Leh is situated at a height of about 4,250 m (13,900 ft). It is 134 km (83.3 mi) long and extends from Ladakh to China.Two thirds of the length of this lake lies in Tibet.The lake is 5 km (3 mi) wide at its broadest point. In winter, the lake surface freezes completely despite being salt water.


Tso Moriri lake in Changthang region of Ladakh is one of the most beautiful, calm and sacred (for ladakhis) high altitude lakes in India. In fact, it is the largest high altitude lake in India that is entirely in Indian Territory. This beautiful blue pallet lake is about 7 KM wide at its broadest point and about 19 KM long.


Khardung La (in Tibetan, La means pass) is situated at a distance of about 40 km from Leh. The pass offers amazing views of the valley and the roads winding up the mountain. The pristine air, scenic vistas and the feeling of being on top of the world have made Khardung La a popular tourist attraction. It figures high as a must visit for every tourist visiting Leh. So huge is the tourist rush that traffic jams are inevitable.


Nubra Valley is one of the must visit places in Ladakh especially if you are visiting for the first time. The ultra wide landscapes, humongous mountain faces, lovely trails, wide variety of colors and musical Shyok river flowing midst the valley will take your breath away at first sight.


At Magnetic hill experience the magic yourself. The science behind the phenomenon is unknown but it has been observed that if you leave your vehicle at the base of the hill with the brakes unlocked, it will start moving uphill slowly on its own. Magic? Definitely not. It’s simply the superpowers you get when you reach this place.


Spituk is yet another interesting monastery, on the hill top near Indus about 18 kms. from Leh on Srinagar road. The Spituk monastery offers a commanding view of Indus. It has a totally new Gompa within the monastery as well as the old Gompa has also been restored meanwhile. It is constructed in a series of tiers with courtyards and steps. Higher up in the hill is a chamber which houses the enormous statue of goddess. Its face is covered and uncovered only once in a year during the festival time.


What better place to invoke some thoughts from within to asses yourself in life. One of the many reasons why people take a trip to Leh-Ladakh is to find some time to take a break from the everyday schedule and re-assess their lives. Shanti Stupa offers the perfect location for the same. The nighttime view is even better and a little meditation besides the stupa might help you get what you came here for.


The Hall of Fame Leh is a museum constructed and maintained by the Indian army in memory of the brave soldiers who lost their lives in the Indo-Pak wars.



Leh is connected to the rest of India by two high-altitude roads both of which are subject to landslides and neither of which are passable in winter when covered by deep snows. Leh airport has flights to Delhi at least daily on Jet Airways and/or Indian Airlines and/or Air India which also provides twice weekly services to Jammu and a weekly flight to Srinagar. Go Air operates Delhi to Leh daily flights during peak time. Hotels in Ladakh features absolute tranquility and serenity with the two ranges, Karakom and the Great Himalayan range forming an amazing backdrop.
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RISHIKESH, UTTARAKHAND



One of the most amazing adventure hubs in India, Rishikesh along with its twin city Haridwar is of prime religious importance. It has been a preferred destination for those seeking spiritual salvation. 



It is now the Yoga Capital of the World, with many ashrams and all kinds of yoga and meditation classes. Most of this happens in the northern part of town, the less-crowded part. So while mornings are spent in yoga, evenings in Rishikesh are spent watching the nightly Ganga aarti. If you are planning to go for bungee jumping or for river rafting, holidays in October are an ideal time to visit Rishikesh before the weather gets too chilly. Backpackers come by the dozen to try out these activities.


 
Triveni Ghat is a confluence of three holy important Rivers the Ganges, the Yamuna and the Saraswathy, is a most revered sacred bathing spot in Rishikesh and is situated on the banks of Ganges River. It is of belief that those who take a dip in water at this ghat washes away all the sins and purifies the soul and will have salvation, a relief from all sins carried out; the water here has the power to purify them. Daily in the morning and evening there are thousands who take bath here and enjoy the Maha Aarti being performed. It very soothing to sit on the banks of the river and enjoy the cool breeze from the river.



Located at a short distance of just around 20 kilometres by road, Haridwar is one of the most important pilgrim spots in India. The name of the town itself means gateway to god in Sanskrit. Hardwar has been a typical place to start a pilgrim’s journey in order to reach Mount Kailash, the eternal abode of Lord Shiva and Badrinath which has a temple of Lord Vishnu and is one among the ‘char dhams’ pilgrimage of the Hindus .




Parmarth Niketan Ashram is just next to the Ganges you can go to the Ganges by walk they have his own private ghat. Ashram will provide his entire pilgrims a sacred & peaceful atmosphere for his guests who came all over the world. With over 1,000 rooms, the facilities are a perfect blend of modern amenities and traditional, spiritual simplicity. The daily activities at Parmarth Niketan include morning universal prayers, daily yoga and meditation classes, daily sat sang and lecture programs, kirtan, the world-renowned Ganga arti at sunset, as well as Nature Cure and Ayurvedic treatment. There are frequent camps in which pilgrims come from across the world to partake in intensive courses on yoga, meditation, pranayama, stress management, acupressure, Reiki and other ancient Indian sciences.


Lakshman Jhoola is a 450 feet long an iron suspension bridge and is one of the main religious attractions in Rishikesh. It is made over river Ganges to cross the river and is a landmark of Rishikesh. Devotees believe that Lakshman, the brother of Lord Rama, had once crossed the river with the help of a jute-rope bridge on the same spot. There are spectacular views from the bridge.



Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is among the most revered shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva that is located around 32 km away from Rishikesh. Positioned on a hill above Swarg Ashram, this ancient temple lies at the confluence of the Pankaja and Madhumati rivers, amid three valleys - Brahmakoot, Vishnukoot and Manikoot. Legends say that the venom that oozed out while the ‘Samudra Manthan’ was ingested by Lord Shiva at the place which is now known as the Nilkanth Mahadeo.


 Bharat Mandir Built by Adiguru Shankra Charya around 12th century, Bharat Mandir is situated in the heart of the old town on the banks of the Ganges. The Inner sanctum of the temple has the idol of Lord Vishnu, carved out of a single Saligram. In the inner canopy above the idol is Shree Yantra installed by Adi Sankraya Charya.


Rishikesh is one place which does not only provide the visitors with a dose of spirituality but also a taste of the thrill of adventure sports. The best example of such an offering is the jumpin heights centre, the extremely popular amusement park where you can experience the adventure of bungee jumping, fox flying asia’s longest flying fox ride, measuring 1 kilometre and the Giant swing right over the river. The place to be for adventure enthusiasts, Jumpin Heights is located at Mohan Chatti, about 15 kilometres away from Lakshman Jhoola in Rishikesh. The jumps are safe and are designed and supervised by experts from New Zealand.


Kaudiyala is considered to be one of the most visited view-points in Rishikesh. Located at around 36 kilometres from rishikesh towards Dev prayag and 380 meters above sea level, Kaudiyala is famous for offering its visitors the adventure sport of white water rafting and is one of the premier locations in the country for this sport. Dense hill forests surround the region and the place is also a habitat for many wild species of flora and fauna.


Located at a distance of 19 kilometres from Rishikesh, The town of Shivpuri is situated on the banks of the river Ganges and is famous for its Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.16 kms from rishikesh on the bank of river ganga. This place is one of the favourite destination for beach camping and rafting. There is a silver sand beach in Shivpuri with river ganga flowing one side and its tributary on the other. During your stay in Shivpuri, you can indulge yourself in number of activities like Jungle Walks, River Rafting, Beach Camping, mountaineering and Jungle Trekking. You can spend the day enjoying river rafting in Ganges and other adventure activities. In the evening, relax around a campfire and enjoy the amazing food.


Touted as the Yoga capital of the world, International Yoga Festival is undoubtedly awaited by one and all in Rishikesh. Organised every year in the month of March by Parmath Niketan Ashram, witness the biggest gathering of Yoga practitioners here. Take part in the Yoga classes as well as attend the forums and discussions given by renowned spiritual leaders.


Rishikesh has come up with a number of economy and budget hotels. These hotels give you an opportunity of enjoying the facilities of star-rated hotels at an extremely affordable price. Due to their wonderful location, most of these budget hotels are provided with facing the Ganges. There are regular buses from other major cities of the country to Rishikesh.You can easily get regular trains to Rishikesh from other major cities of the country. Rishikesh does not have an airport. Nearest airport is Dehra Dun Airport.
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MYSORE, KARNATAKA


 Mysore, the city of palaces, is a popular travel destination in south India and second largest city in the state of Karnataka . It lies 130 kms from the State Headquarters, Bangalore. It is the erstwhile capital of the Mysore Maharajas, who ruled Mysore State from this royal city.



The history of Mysore is clearly reflected in the rich architecture of the city. Mysore has still an old world charm which have not given way to modern amenities. In addition to its beautiful silk sarees and sandalwood oil, Mysore is famous for sandalwood and rose wood carved articles. It also hosts the nada habba – the Mysore Dasara – which attracts millions of tourists every year to the state.




Mysore Palace is one of the most visited monuments in India is located in the heart of the city. It is one of the largest palaces in the country, also known as Amba Vilas Palace, was the residence of the Wodeyar Maharaja's of the Mysore state. The palace still retains the regal air with which the royal family reigned in the Durbar Hall, Kalyana Mantap and the Golden Royal Elephant Throne. It is an exponent of the Indo Saracenic style of architecture.  The Jaganmohan Palace is another royal palace in Mysore that has been converted into an art gallery and house the paintings and the miniatures of the 19th century.


The Brindavan Gardens is situated at a distance of 19 kilometers from the center of the city. Brindavan Gardens are beautifully laid near the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam that is built across the river Cauvery. These Gardens are popular amongst tourists visiting Mysore and are enriched with terraces, musical fountains, lush green lawns, trees/shrubs and colourful flower beds. The garden is elaborated with fountains that dance to the sound of music in the evenings.


 About 143 kms from Bangalore and 20 km from Mysore city center is a magical place that, one can say, is a true confluence of beauty & brains. For, here you will find the architectural & designing magnificence of Brindavan gardens and the engineering marvel of the Krishnaraja Sagar dam coming together – a spectacular visual treat. It is one of the principal dams in South India & is built close to the convergence of 3 rivers – Cauvery, Hemavati & Lakshmana Thirtha. Sir M Vishweswaraiah who was the principal engineer, conceived of this project to supply Cauvery river water to agricultural lands of Mandya and Mysore districts and for ensuring power supply to the Shivanasamudra hydro-electric power station.


Three kilometers to the south east of the fort in Mysore, lays the Chamundi Hills that rises to a height of 1050 meters above sea level. Atop the hill is the temple dedicated to the ancestral Goddess of the Mysore royal family, Goddess Kali who is also referred to as the Goddess Chamundi. The Mahabaleswara temple stands close to the Chamundi Temple atop the hill. The Mahabaleswara temple is believed to be the oldest temple of the region constructed in the 13th century.


Originally part of the Mysore Zoo, Karainji lake in Mysore City is a sprawling water body with a beautiful park around it. Picturesquely located at the foot of Chamundi hills the Karanji lake is a beautiful bird sanctuary.This is home to more than 5 dozen bird species , both local and migratory.The recently re-developed lake, spanning across 90 acres has a butterfly park, boating,children's corner, a watch tower and India's largest walkthrough aviary.



Mysore is one of the most beautiful cities of India and in dotted with a number of Lakes and Park and the Kukkarahali Lake is one of them. The Kukkaranahali Lake is located within the Manasa Gangothri which is the campus of the Mysore University. A home to a number of birds, the Kukkarahali Lake is also a retreat for many migratory birds who fly in from the different parts of the world.


Located in the heart of Mysore city, the zoo is a very popular tourist attraction. It's arguably the second sought after attraction in the city after Mysore Palace. Mysore Zoo is a pleasant experience also because most animals are kept in well spaced enclosures and it’s a delight to see them move around freely. The Mysore zoo abounds in natural vegetation cover and comprises of various rare species of plants & trees that are hard to find some where else. It is located inside the city unlike many other Zoos in India and Mysore Zoo is considered to be one of the best and oldest in the world.


Above and beyond a number of palaces together with its royal heritage buildings, Mysore city is furthermore famous for vicinity towards a assortment of several other tourist destinations which includes Srirangapatna, Bandipur National Park, Shivasamudram falls and coorg.


Mysore is well-connected by road to Bangalore, Mangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Ooty, Kozhikode, Kannur and Panaji (Goa). Buses ply frequently connecting different parts of the city and the popular means of transport, auto-rickshaws are available; and the tongas (horse-drawn carriages) are equally popular.
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