Romantic beaches of Goa

Over a million tourists, mostly from abroad, visit Goa annually. This state with an area of 3000 sq.km. Enjoys a coastline of more than 100 km. Its coastline, opens to the Arabian Sea and on its eastern flank you will find the mountain range.A former Portuguese colony parted from British, ruled India by a mountain range. Goa has become well established as an exclusive and exciting holiday destination. The smallest state on the west coast of India, is quite distinctive among other coastal tourist spots that India possesses. Visitors are attracted by the light blue beaches, lush green hills, adventures blue water and coconut groves of sunny Goa.When it comes to fun, Goa has numerous golden sand beaches along its 105 km long coastline. These golden sand beaches are open for urban pollution and it provides relaxation and peacefulness. At the Baga beach Dolphin Rides are quite popular among tourists; a boat takes you into the sea, where you can see dolphins gliding along. Most of the beaches like Caranzalem, Dona Paula, Candolim, Calangute, Baga, etc. has small restaurants and resorts for relaxation. At some of these beach deckchairs, umbrellas as well as water scooters and other water sports facilities are also available.One of the most beautiful place in Goa the Famous Dudhsagar Waterfalls in east. Here water falls from the height of hundred feet, with a gushing sound. The falls look more beautiful during the month of June to August. Because During the month of June to August when Goa is slammed by heavy rains; for the rest of the year Goa is warm and humid.Goa has been very alert of its ecology and nature, it has a number of wildlife national park and bird sanctuaries. Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary is a small preserve where you see the jackal, black-faced langur, Indian bison, wild boar etc. .Well, Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the northern part of Goa. In southern Goa, Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary is the largest wildlife preserve where you can see Indian bison, deer, and black panthers.Catholic religion has strong roots in India and there are many Christian churches in Goa that are famous. For example the 16th century Basilica of Bom Jesus has the protected finite remains of St. Francis Xavier treasured in a silver chest since 1553; it is famous among Catholics of the world. Cathedral of St. Catherine, which has an 80m long aisle and 14 altars is the largest church in Asia. The crowd of Goa is Open, fun loving and people here have a unique passion for music and dance,every restaurant or bar boasts a live band! They have a fortunate relaxed lifestyle which they follow with the rhythm of music. Goan cuisine comprises of fiery curries and stews using beef, pork and fish with generous use of coconut in it. if I am not wrong the cuisines are inspired by the local Konkani food style and Portuguese food style.Apart from that many modest hotels cater to the backpackers and hikers.There are more than five star hotels in various cities of Goa.

Sikkim expects heavy loss in tourism business due to Darjeeling crisis

The political turmoil that is currently going in northern West Bengal has very badly influenced the business of the festive season tourism of adjoining state of Sikkim. Though the movement is in its declining phase now, the damage already done is not likely to get reversed for the himalayan state that has a very high dependency on the tourism industry.

As per PD Rai, a MP from the state, the situation definitely needs to be considered seriously as the state has witnessed very high number of booking cancellations off late. According to T Roy, the Secretary of the Eastern Himalayan Tour and Travel Operators Association, Darjeeling has witnessed over 82% cancellations after the eruption of the political turmoil. This happened in the first week of August, which is the peak booking period for festive season. As per a veteran tour operator and tourism advisor to Government of Sikkim Mr. Basu, nearly 70% of travellers, coming to this region, prefer visiting Sikkim and Darjeeling. So, cancellations at any side cause huge business loss for both the sides. Off late, UK and USA have issued a refreshed travel alert, which advises all their citizens to avoid traveling in Darjeeling region. This has also created a serious impact for the entire region including Sikkim.

As far as the tourism industry is considered, Sikkim contributes about 40% of annual travel business volume of more than Rs 400 crore of this region. Sikkim is a tourist hotspot in the region, with about 82% of its area under forest cover, around 3% under Glaciers and around 14% under round the year snow cover. In addition to that, Sikkim also has a hilly terrain ranging from 1000 ft to 28,000ft altitude above mean sea level.

According to Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, Sikkim’s high dependency on tourism revenue makes the state keen on utilizing this potential without jeopardizing the rich biodiversity and sensitive ecology. The state ministry has already prepared a tourism mission with a target of around 10 lakh domestic tourist and about 40 thousand foreign tourists per annum by 2015 against the existing figures of 7 lakh and 20 thousand respectively.

Previous to this, the state’s tourism trade had a big jolt due to a devastating earthquake on September 18, 2011 that killed near 125 people. The state had bounced back in an excellent way with high tourism inflow in 2012. This year, the initial trend was even better. However the scenario became too gloomy now.

 Introducing Puducherry                    (Pondicherry)            

    

Nestled amidst lush greenery, wide avenues, and classic French architecture, Puducherry (formerly known as Pondicherry) is a seaside town that houses quaint buildings, pristine beaches and forms an eclectic cultural mix of the traditional past and the modern present.

Puducherry, or ‘Pondy’ as it is more fondly known, is a former French colonial town that continues to retain much of its old worldly charm. A popular weekend destination, Puducherry is designed in a grid pattern, with a French quarter and a Tamil quarter. The French quarter is characterised by the wide roads and colonial-style buildings. The Tamil quarter is recognizable with its open verandahs and distinct Indian heritage.

Getting There:

The best way to reach Puducherry is by road. It is well connected to major cities. You can either book a taxi or take the Express bus from Chennai’s Koyembedu bus stand. The journey takes approximately 3 to 4 hours by bus. There are several private buses as well.

The closest airport is Chennai. Other airports are in cities such as Bangalore, Madurai or Trichy. From the airport, there are taxi services available.

If you would like to travel by train, the nearest station to Puducherry is Villipuram. The trains connect to the city of Chennai.

 Climate

The summer months are from March to July with temperatures varying between 35°C to 40°C. The monsoon season is from July to October- November, with the rains bringing much relief to the heat. The winter months are from December till February, with a temperature of about 30°C.

The winter season is usually the tourist season in Puducherry, due to the pleasant weather. While the summer months tend to be very hot, the evening breeze from the sea makes up for the humidity.

What to see

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is well-known in Puducherry for its spirituality. The ashram’s philosophy is based on the power of yoga as its founder Sri Aurobindo Ghose, one of India’s biggest poet and philosopher, discovered the spiritual realm after arriving in Puducherry. After his death, the Ashram was run by his Chief Disciple Mirra Alfassa, (also known as “The Mother”). Their mortal remains are housed in the Ashram’s main building. The Ashram is open to the general public everyday between 8 am to 12 pm and again from 2 pm to 6 pm. Children below the age of 3 are not allowed to enter the Ashram. Photography is prohibited unless you obtain permission from the Ashram.

Auroville

The idea of Auroville was conceived by The Mother, the disciple of Sri Aurobindo. The city houses more than 2,000 people, most of them non-Indians. The idea behind the city was to build a city where people of goodwill can live together in harmony and peace. The residents are involved in agriculture, handicrafts, education and healthcare. For more information, you can check the Auroville website www.auroville.org

Beaches

The town has four main beaches and all of them are popular with both tourists and locals. The beaches are well-maintained and clean and not crowded. The beaches to visit are Promenade, Paradise beach, Serenity beach and Auroville beach.

Museums

The museum of Puducherry is open 6 days a week. Mondays are holidays, along with National holidays. The museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm. It features a significant collection of rare sculptures made from bronze and stone from the Pallava and Chola empires.

Shopping

Due to the low sales tax levied on goods, shopping at Puducherry is a true delight for anyone. There are several stores and botiques that cater to a wide range of tastes. The main shopping areas are Mahatma Gandhi Street, Nehru Street, Anna Salai, and Cathedral Street. You can pick up textiles, aromatic candles, incense sticks, pottery items, handicrafts, and a variety of jams, pickles and other preserves that are uniquely ‘Pondy’.

The Queen of Hill Stations – Ooty

The Queen of Hill Stations – Ooty

The Nilgiris, which can be literally translated as ‘blue mountains’, are a mountain range that run through Tamil Nadu and borders Kerala and Karnataka as well. The scenic hill station of Ooty, official known as Udhagamandalam is nestled between four peaks of the Nilgiris and is considered to be the Queen of Hill Stations in the southern part of India.

The Nilgiris are India’s first biosphere reserve and is very rich in flora and fauna. Considered a traveller’s paradise, Ooty offers panoramic views of tea gardens, lush green landscapes, lofty mountains and quaint lakes, making it a popular picnic spot.

History

This piece of heaven was surprisingly not discovered by the big Southern dynasties, but by the British in the early years of the 1800s. The then British Collector of Coimbatore, John Sullivan, founded the pretty town of Ooty as a retreat for the British to escape the intense Indian heat.

Sullivan created the famous Ooty Lake, and helped introduce the concept of horticulture in Ooty. The town then became the summer capital of the Madras Presidency. The British also modernized Ooty and made it accessible via the first railway line in that area.

The Todas, who are the original inhabitants, still live around the hill station and their tribal community is famous for handicrafts like shawls which can be characterised with their trademark embroidery of white, red and black.

Temperatures

Summer – 10°C to 25°C

Winter – 5°C to 21°C

Season

April to June and September to November

Getting there

BY AIR: The nearest airport is Coimbatore which is about 100 km away from Ooty. You can reach Coimbatore from major cities of India like Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, Mumbai, and Delhi

BY TRAIN: The nearest railway station is Coimbatore, which is connected to major Indian cities. If you wish to experience the scenic beauty of Ooty by rail, then you can take the Nilgiris Mountain train from Mettupalayam which is 46 km from Ooty. The train travels from the foot of the hills from Mettupalayam to the hill station of Ooty. This toy train is painted blue and white with large windows and open coaches offers panoramic views of the mountain range, tea plantations, rice fields, and is one of the few remaining steam locomotives used around the world today.

BY BUS: Ooty is well connected by good roads to major cities like Chennai (535 km), Comibatore (89 km), Mysore (155 km), Bangalore (290 km). There are also regular buses plying from cities like Mysore, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Chennai, and Cochin.

Sightseeing

§  Government Botanical Gardens: Spread over 22 hectares, this garden showcases well maintained lawns, rare tree species and a yearly flower show with an exhibition of rare plants.

§  Ooty Lake: This artificial lake was formed in 1824 and extends to 65 acres. It offers boating activities

§  Deer Park: A high altitude wildlife park, this gives nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts a chance to study wildlife in their natural surroundings. Out of the 22 acres of the sanctuary, only 6 acres is open to the public.

§  Doddabetta Peak: This is located about 10 km from Ooty at 8,652 feet, which makes it the highest point in the Nilgiris.

§  Tea and Coffee Plantations: You can see large slopes covered with tea and coffee plantations, and can also visit the tea factory to know how tea is processed.

§  Wax World: This museum has life-size wax statues of famous people from Indian history.

Kashmir – Paradise on Earth

 Kashmir – Paradise on Earth

Nestled between two major Himalayan ranges, the Great Himalayan Range and the Pir Panjal, Kashmir is truly a ‘Paradise on Earth’. With its enchanting beauty, serene lakes, snow-capped mountains and exquisite gardens, Kashmir is a traveller’s paradise.

The Mughals discovered Kashmir as a retreat, to escape from the sweltering heat of the plains. They patronized the development of arts and crafts amongst the locals and helped lay Srinagar’s waterfront gardens, better known as the Mughal Gardens. Kashmir has four distinctive seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

Spring is during the months of March to May, when the entire valley is covered with blooms from a variety of flowers.  The weather varies from 6°C to 23°C. There might be short bursts of rain, but these are brief. Summers are from May to August and the temperatures vary between 25°C to 35°C, during the day. The myriad lakes and water bodies provided cool relief from the heat.

Autumn is believed to be the best season to visit Kashmir for its beauty. The leaves turn from green to golden and then to red. From September to November, the temperatures in the day are around 23°C and night temperatures come down to 10°C or even lower. From December to March is winter, when the snow-capped mountains are a magnificent sight to behold.

Getting There

By Air: Srinagar has an International Airport and all major Indian airlines operate daily flights to and from there, from major cities in India. The airport is located 14 kms from the city.

By Rail: Trains operate from major railway stations to Jammu Tawi, which is the nearest railway station to Srinagar. It is approximately 300 kms away from the city.

By Road: Private taxis and state-run buses are available for travelling to Kashmir. National Highway 1-A is the main highway that connects Srinagar with Jammu, which is well connected to many cities of North India, including New Delhi.

Activities

§  Shikara (Boat Ride)

§  Skiing

§  Fishing

§  River Rafting

§  Mountain Biking

§  Trekking

§  Paragliding

§  Bird Watching

§  Horse Riding

Places to Visit:

GULMARG:  This hill resort is famous for its ski resort, especially in the winter. Other snow sports like snowboarding, sledge riding, heli-skiing and tobogganing are also popular here. Literally meaning ‘meadow of flowers’, this picturesque valley makes a great picnic spot.

PAHALGHAM: This hilly area is popular for all kinds of adventure sports like river rafting, canoeing, trekking and horse riding. There are also several lakes and valleys to visit around here with its rich vegetation and forest areas.

SONAMARG: Literally translated to ‘meadow of gold’, this town is a basecamp for many trekking expeditions and hiking trails. It is located 87 kms from Srinagar and is a popular route to travel to Ladakh.

LOLAB VALLEY: Located about 120 kms from Sringar, you can easily reach this valley via a local bus or taxi. This valley is well known for its fruit orchards, rice fields and its lakes and is a combination of three different valleys – Potnai valley, Brunai valley and Kalaroos valley.

The Scenic Ruins of Hampi

The Scenic Ruins of Hampi

Located amidst the remains of the Vijayanagara Empire in Karnataka, are the scenic ruins of Hampi, located about 300 kms from the city of Bangalore. This capital city was once part of the glorious Vijayanagara Empire (meaning ‘City of Victory’), which covered almost the entire southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Now classified as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hampi is truly bewitching in its ethereal beauty.

The city of Hampi is a testament to the last of the great Hindu kingdoms of south India. Hampi was much admired by travellers between the 14^th and 16^th century, when it flourished with its cotton and Indian spice trade, and its proximity to the coastline. It was invaded in 1565 by an alliance of five Muslim kings from the Deccan, who pillaged the rich city of its wealth for six whole months, before it was completely abandoned. The battle of Talikota reduced the once magnificent city into the desolate ruins it is today.

Hampi is located in the Tungabhadra basin in Central Karnataka. The rugged hills, open plains and the massive Tungabhadra river helped the city to remain impermeable until its devastation by the Muslim kings. The architecture found in Hampi tells tales of a highly evolved society that was tolerant of different religions and people from different ethnic backgrounds that flourished for a period of 200 years.

Architecture:

There are more than 1600 remains that have survived the onslaught of the invaders and stood the pass of time. These include royal palaces, sacred temples and buildings, forts, shrines, halls, defense posts, water enclosures, stables, gateways, bazaar, residential buildings, and townships. The ruins found on this site are an example of the great economic prosperity and unique architecture, and are indicative of a highly complex and well developed society.

Dravidian architecture flourished in the Vijayanagara Empire and it is characterised by its sheltered enclosures and massive towers built over entrances that are surrounded by decorative pillars. Amongst the temples found in Hampi, the most ornate of these are the Krishna temple complex, the Narasimha, Ganesha, Hemakuta group of temples, the Achyutaraya temple complex, the Vitthala temple complex, the Pattabhirama temple complex, and the Lotus Mahal complex.

The Vitthala temple is perhaps the most exquisite structure amongst all and is a true representation of Dravidian temple architecture. Another significant feature of the temples at Hampi are the wide streets used for chariot festivals. These streets are flanked by pillars and the stone chariot located right in the front is proof of its religious significance. Most of the structures found on this site are made from lime mortar, burnt bricks and locally procured granite slabs.

The Dravidian architecture found in Vijayanagara has also adopted techniques from the Indo-Islamic form of architecture, which is visible in buildings like the Queen’s Bath and the elephant stables.

Getting There:

The closest town to the village of Hampi is Hospet, which is about 15 kms away. It is the nearest railway station and bus station. There are several overnight trains from the city of Bangalore to Hospet.

There are also state-run bus services plying from Hospet to cities like Bangalore, Goa, Hyderabad, and Bijapur. Private buses are also available. From Hospet, you can take the local buses to Hampi or opt for autorickshaws.

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