Mysore Attractions

Located 159 kms southwest of Bengaluru, Mysore is the historic seat of the Wodeyar Maharajahs and one of the south India's most famous attraction. It is the second biggest city in the state of Karnataka. Mysore is certainly a charming, old fashioned town, dominated by the spectacular palaces , parks and temples. It is most famous for its traditional paintings, rich silks, stimulating filter coffee, delicious Nanjangud bananas, sandal wood and incense production. The city of Mysore is now promoting itself as an international center for Ashtanga Yoga. History of Mysore :

Mysore was erstwhile capital of the Wodeyar – the rulers of the Mysore state. In the 10th century, Mysore was known as 'Mahishur'- the city where Goddess Durga killed demon buffalo Mahishur. In the year 1761, Muslim ruler Hyder Ali and his on Tipu Sultan, took over the charge of the city. After the two years, the new rulers demolished the labyrinthine old city to replace it with the elegant grid of sweeping, leafy streets and public gardens that survive today. After the defeat of the Tipu Sultan in 1799 by British Coronel, Arthur Wellesley, Wodeyar power was restored. Today Mysore is one of the major cities of Karnataka.

Sightseeing in Mysore :

Maharaja's Palace :

Mysore is dominated by the walled Indo-Saracenic palace, which was once the seat of maharajah's of Mysore. It was constructed in the year 1912 for the 24th Wodeyar raja, on the site of the old wooden palace that was somehow destroyed in the fire in 1897. The palace was exclusively designed by the famous architect Henry Irwin. It was built at the cost of Rs 4.5 million. Entry to the palace is though the Gombe Thotti. The carved wooden floors, mosaic floors, and the historical paintings are worth checking. The palace also boost of the Hindu temples including Shweta Varahasswamy Temple. Tourists are requested to keep the camera and the cell phones at the deposition center at the entrance gate.


Chamundi Hill :

Chamundi hill, located at the height of 1062 m, is dominated by the Sri Chamundeswari Temple. On is supposed to climb 1000 steps that takes around 45 minutes to reach the top. It is same site where Ma Durga slew demon buffalo Mahishur. One third of the way down is a 5 m high Nandi that was carved out of the solid rock in 1659. Please carry the water bottle along with you.



Jagachamarajendra Art Gallery :

West of the Maharaja's Palace is the Jagachamarajendra Art Gallery, which was once the royal residence until was turned into a picture gallery and a museum in 1915. The gallery has a huge collection of kitsch objects and memorabilia from the Wodeyar's including wonderful musical machines, rare instruments, Japanese art and paintings of Raja Ravi Varma. It remains open from 8:30 am to 5pm and the entry fees is just Rs 8.


Aparana Chauhan

Read More

Western Ghats

The Western Ghats or the Sahyadri mountains are the continuous range of mountains, rising up to the India's Malabar coast. They are one of the world's largest ecological region in India. The Western Ghats run north to south from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu for about 9,941 miles (1,600km)and have the peaks of many different heights upto 8,841 feet. Approximately sixty percent of the Western Ghats are located in the state of Karnataka.

Western Ghats eco regions :

Western Ghats comprises of diverse eco systems, ranging from evergreen to moist deciduous forests. There are numerous peaks and ranges in the Western Ghats that comprises of plenteous dense forests . Some of them are Kalsubai, Mahabalehwar, Taramati, Harishchandragad, Mullayanagiri, Nilgiri and Biligirirangans are.

The highest peak in the range a towering 8,841 ft falls in Idukki. Western Ghats prepare the largest forest area in South India. The major vegetation types are tropical evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, scrub jungles, sholas, savannas including the high rainfall savannas.

Western Ghats Rivers :

Countless small streams, rivers and steep canyons forms the major part of he Western Ghats. Some other important rivers that run either inland or towards the Bay of Bengal include Godavari, Krishna, Bhima and Kaveri. Apart from that Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Tungabhadra, Hemavati and Kabini also flows here. These small rivers and streams are a home to highly endemic aquatic biota with over 100 fish, about 20 per cent of mollusc species, and 100 amphibian species.

Some of the fish species that are declared as threatened includes Malabar batasio (Batasio travancoria), Peninsular hilltrout (Lepidopygopsis typus), six species in the genus Hypselobarbus, and Indian blind catfish (Horaglanis krishnai).

Western Ghats Mountains :

The major hill range that highlight the Western Ghats is the Sahyadhri mountain range. It also comprises of Cardamom hills and Nilgiri Hills that falls in the north western part of Tamil State and Anaimalai hills that falls in the western Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The major attraction of the Western Ghats is the Ana Mudi ( 2,695 metres (8,842ft) is) which is the highest peak in India. Some of the other peaks in the region are Chembra Peak (2,100 meters), Banasura Peak (2,073 meters), Vellarimala (2,200 meters), Agasthya Mala (1,868 meters) and Doddabetta (2,623 meters).

Western Ghats Flora and Fauna :

Western Ghats comprises of some of the renowned wildlife parks and sanctuaries that are popular through out the world. The most important among them is the Periyar National Park, which is home to about 1000 elephants and at least 46 tigers. Than the Nagarhole National Park, Bandipur National Park, Wayanad National Park and Mudumalai National Park are also located in these ghats.

Western ghats are known for the 56 genera of flowering plants, which are considered as endemic. Apart from this there are four thousand species of flowering plants that are known from the western ghats includingCycas circinalis (Cycadales), Decussocarpus wallichianus (Coniferales ), and Gnetum ula and G. contractum (Gnetales).

Amongst the lower plants 320 species of pteridophytes, 200 species of bryophytes, 300 species of algae and 800 species of lichens are known. Western ghats are known for the several endemic species on earth like lion tailed macaques, claw less otters, Nilgiri langurs, Nilgiri Tahr

Read More

Itanagar :: Nature's Turf Of The East

The political capital of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar is located amidst small flat topped hillocks, embracing ancient monuments, tribal areas, green landscapes, tea gardens, apple orchards, bordering Himalayas and a pleasant whether. The place is also known as the 'Land of the Dawn lit mountains' because the place is first to witness the sun's rays, every morning on the Indian landmass.

QUICK FACTS:
Location: Located in the north-eastern part of India in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Climate: The city is blessed with a pleasant whether and a good monsoon season. The temperature ranges between 37 degree Celsius in summers and 12 degree Celsius in winters.

Known For: Monastries, pleasant whether, tea-gardens and beautiful landscapes.

Best Time To Visit: October to May.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS:
Ita Fort:

With the toilsome terrains of the hilly region, unsuitable for fort-like structures, Ita fort is the sole fort, that too of the 14th Century, which stands tall even today and marks its gigantic presence. Its importance is known from the fact that the name of the city Itanagar comes from its name, as 'Ita' means bricks. Around 8 million bricks have been used in making the fort, which is quite a huge number.

Buddhist Temple:
The calmness and tranquility of the prayer hall of the Buddhist temple, pull travelers to this place of worship. When you see the idol of meditating Lord Buddha, you will know the reason behind the pin-drop silence. The external face of the temple looks quite unusual with a golden yellow roof amidst the greenery that surrounds the place. The temple is adorned by the devotees and the various articles of worship.

Jawaharlal Nehru Museum:
A repository of tribal culture, art and way of life, the museum has a lot to offer to enhance ones knowledge about the north-eastern tribes. The museum also houses a library and a crafts section.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS:
Losar: A five day festival marking the new year celebrations. People enjoy the days by preparing traditional delicaices, wearing new clothes, offering prayers to God, hoisting colored flags on top of their houses and illuminating the house with lamps.

Reh: The six-day festival is mainly celebrated by the Mishimis tribe.

Tamladu: On this festival, the Digaru Mishimis offer prayers to the Earth and Water Gods.

Khan, Mopin and Sangken are the other festivals celebrated in the region following various customs and traditions.

SHOPPING:
The most shopped items of Itanagar are wooden utensils and showpieces, handicrafts and wooden carvings. Baskets and toys of wood with intricate designs and paintings are also popular among the travelers.

Apart from these, bamboo and cane products, carpets, sarongs, shawls and other woolens are also hand made and authentic items to pick from the local markets. The thankas, which are the Budhist paintings, are also very unique an attractive, and a must buy for art lovers.

RECREATION:
Itanagar Wildlife Sanctury:
Located in a place called Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar Wildnlife Sanctury is also connected by helicopter services. It possesses a wide array of wildlife species like leopard, tiger, deers, elephants, etc and a collection of orchids and other fauna too.

Ganga Lake:
Ganga Lake, located at a distance of about 6 km from Itanagar, is a famous picnic and recreation spot with the greenery around the fresh water lake, boating facilities and blooming orchids with a backdrop of the Himalayas.

Bomdilla:
Bomdilla is around 350 km from Itanagar, with a terrific view of the Himalayan terrains, orchids and and Buddhist monasteries. Bomdilla-Tawang offer a wonderful trekking space for adventurous folks, especially the route of Jong to Mago, which is surrounded by scenic waterfalls and forests. The craft centre and museum at Bomdilla are also worth a visit.

HOW TO REACH:
Air: Lilabari in Assam is the nearest Airport to Itanagar, at a distance of 67 km. It connects the city from Guwahati, Assam. Helicopter services are available which connects Itanagar to Guuwahati. Another airport is located in Tezpur in Assam which is 226 km from Itanagar, flights are available from Kolkotta International Airport to Tezpur.

Rail: The nearest railhead is Harmuti in Assam, around 32 km from Itanagar.

Road: Itanagar is connected to major cities of the north-east like Guwahati (429 km ) and Shillong (495 km), by an excellent network of roads. Road links are also there for Kolkata and Siliguri.

Aparana Chauhan

Read More

Mysore Palace in Karnataka

LOCATION:
Mysore Palace is one of the most renowned palaces of the south, situated at Mirza Road, in the heart of the city of Mysore in Karnataka.

History:
The ancient palace of Mysore dates back to the 14th Century, which was wrecked by lightning. It was re-established by Wodeyar King Randheera Kantheeveera Narasaraja in the year 1638 AD. Later, Tipu Sultan destroyed the old palaces of Mysore to build a new town 'Nazarabad' and rebuilt the Mysore Palace in a jiffy, to fulfill the requirement of a palace. The already stumbling palace was completely destroyed by a fire in the year 1897 AD, which was replaced by the current palace structure built in the year 1912 on an investment of around forty lakh rupees.

ARCHITECTURE:
Among the largest palaces of India, the palace was built as the royal residency of the twenty-fourth Wodeyar King of Mysore by Henry Irwin, a British architect, in the year 1912. The signature palace of the Wodeyar dynasty, its showcases a brilliant confluence of Hindu-Islamic-Rajput-Gothic styles of architecture.

The three storied palace stands 145 ft tall and is made up of grey marble stones. There is a gigantic Elephant Door to the east of the palace. To the south there is a marriage hall where festivals are celebrated, called the 'Kalyan mandap'. On the ground floor is the Durbar hall with its stunning gold plated Pillars and ceilings, while on the first floor lies the area of personal meetings, known as 'Amba Vilas'. The 'Gombe Thoti' has an immensely pretty elephant structure beautified with 80 kg of gold.

The carved domes of the palace represent the Islamic monumental structures. The five domes decorating the palace were built in 1914 AD. There are five entrances to the structure namely, Jayarama, Balarama, Varaha, Brahma Puri and Kari Kallu Thotti. The main structure of the Palace is thronged by twelve ancient temples and beautifies by a garden-view in the front.


MAIN ATTRACTIONS:
The brilliantly lit palace under the clear moonlit sky, at 7pm to 8 pm on Sundays and public holidays, and 7 pm to 9 pm during the ten-day Dussehra festival, is a must -watch extravaganza.

The unprecedented structure combining the Hindu, Islamic, Gothic and Rajput styles of architecture with amazingly beautiful halls especially the Amba Vilas and the Darbar Hall, courtyards, paintings, murals, pillars, domes and carved panels, all give an impression of the adeptness and skills of the architects and the workers of that period.

The ornamental ceilings and pillars of the Darbar Hall and the colorful murals of the Kalyan mandapa depicting the Dussehra festival processions, attract the attention of the travelers.

The museum in the palace that preserves the belongings of the royal family of the Wodeyars, including weapons, jewelery, royal wear and souvenirs.

Twelve ancient temples that surround the Palace, including the Varashaswamy Temple, which represents the Dravidian style of architecture.

The festive procession of Dussehra, with illuminated palace and ornamented Elephants topped with vivid Chattris, torch-light processions and gallantry parades are a must-see during the month of October/November.

NEARBY SIGHTSEEING:
The nearby attractions to the Mysore palace include other palaces of the city like Jagmohan Palace, Jayalakshmi Palace, Rajendra Vilasa and Lalitha Mahal.

Aparana Chauhan

Read More

Hill Fort Palace Hyderabad

LOCATION:

The Palace is situated near the Bella Vista Palace, overlooking the Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh, in the southern part of the country.

HISTORY:

The young prince of Nizam VII, Moazzam Jah, used to reside in the spectacular Hill Palace, which was built in the year 1915 by Sir Nizamat Jung. Sir Nizamat Jung, an asthma-patient, was advised to live in open confines, in a dust-free environment. The prince then built this palace, with an amazing view of the Hussein Sagar lake and the Bella House, built in 1905. The cost of the palace came to around one lac rupees, which was a huge amount at that time.

After Sir Nizamat Jung's decision to live a more sober life, as a result of his visit to Mecca, he decided to sell his property to Hyderabad's Nizam at a price of Rupees, which was the cost of its construction. Later, the Junior Prince used to stay in the palace with his wife, Niloufer, niece of the last caliph of Turkey. The Prince was a poet and it is well reflected in the poetic ambiance of the palace with its nocturnal courts.

The palace served as an office for the Development Commissioner of Hyderabad, for some time and was later in 1955, converted into a hotel under Ritz group of hotels, the best in Hyderabad. The lease given to Ritz Hotels was terminated in the year 1989 and Government decided to convert the palace into a heritage hotel, as it continues to be till date.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS:
The Islamic style of architecture.
The royal bath.
The nocturnal castles and the poetic ambiance.
A royal stay at the Palace.

NEARBY SIGHTSEEING:

Char Minar:
The main attraction of Hyderabad, is the famous architectural edifice called Char Minar or four minarets, situated in the old city of Hyderabad. It was built by Mohommad Quli Qutub Shah in the year 1591.

Golconda Fort:
Situated 11 km from Hyderabad city, Golcondo Fort is one of the most spectacular monuments of the state. Golconda literally means 'shephard's hill'. It was built in the thirteenth Century by the Kakatiya kings, and was reconstructed by the Qutub Shahi kings. The astonishing features about the fort is that the sounds of clapping from the fort can be heard from the top of the hill too!

Hussein Sagar Lake:
Constructed in 1562 AD under the aegis of the Nizams of Hyderabad, the lake is also known as Tank Bund. It is named Hussein Sagar after Hussein Shah Wali, who helped Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah of the Qutub Shahi Dynasty, recover from the ailment he was suffering from. The pictureque tank conncets the cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Aparana Chauhan

Read More

Mattancherry Palace in Kochi

LOCATION
Located at a comfortable distance of 10 km from Ernakulam city at Palace Road in Kochi. It is in the southern state of India, Kerala.
HISTORY

Mattancherry Palace was a Portuguese creation which was gifted to Veera Kerala Verman, the erstwhile king of Kochi in 1557, to get his favors and to mitigate their wrongdoings as they had annihilated a Hindu temple. The Palace came to be known as the Dutch Palace as it was later renovated in the 17th Century, by the Dutch Rulers, who won over the Portuguese.

ARCHITECTURE

The external facade, with its simple two-storeyed structur, plain white walls and brown roofs, misrepresents the beautiful interiors and the valuable Kochi culture it preserves. The Hindu temples of Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna, throng the Palace. The central hall of the Palace consists of a temple where the royal family of Kochi used to worship their deity, Pazhayannur Bhagvati. The murals represent the Royal memoirs in the form of weapons, accessories, ceremonial drapes and palanquins of the Kochi Kings. The second floor of the Palace possesses remarkable carved ceilings, made of wood. The walls of the assembly hall narrate the tales of Mahabarata and Ramayana, the sacred Hindu epics, through wall paintings.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS:

Murals depicting the Goddess Lakshmi seated on the lotus flower, Lord Vishnu resting, Lord Krishna lifting the Gobardhan Parvat with his little finger.

Carved wooden Ceilings on the second floor, brass cups decorating the place, coconut shell flooring that represents Kerala's art and innovativeness.

A fine representation of the Royal traditions of Kochi through various artifacts and murals.

NEARBY SIGHTSEEING:

Fort Kochi: The oldest church of India, Saint Francis Church is in this part of the country, it was built in the early 16th Century.

Bolgatty Palace: Situated in the Bigatti island, it offers a scenic view of the island and makes an excellent recreation spot. You can enjoy a stay at the Palace, as it presently serves as a hotel.

Aparana Chauhan

Read More

Padmanabhapuram Palace

LOCATION:
The palace is emplaced in Padmanabhapuram fort in Thuckaley, near Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. It is at a distance of about 65 km from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala.

HISTORY :
The palace was built by Trippapur Moopam, the head of the Trippapur Swarupam Dynasty that ruled over Padmanabhapuram. It was constructed in the 14th Century, as a mud palace in the Nalukettu style of architecture that prevailed in Kerala.

The palace was restructured in the 18th Century, using granite in most of the parts of the fort, by Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, King of Travancore, who named the palace Padmanabhapuram after the name of prime deity of Travancore, Lord Padmanabhaswamy.

ARCHITECTURE :
The palace is known to be an architectural marvel of the south, being the largest wooden castle in Asia. The palace gets its uniqueness from its subtle facade, differentiated style of architecture and its intricately carved woodwork and granite work. A collection of 14 ethnic palaces and 127 beautiful royal rooms, Padmanabhapuram palace is a restores the rich cultural heritage and royal styles of living, safely within its periphery.

The palace consists of the King's Chamber called Mantrasala, for council meetings, constructed in the traditional style of Kerala using egg-whites, burnt coconut shells and decorated with colored mica. The King's mother's palace is the oldest one which comprise of sloping roofs and carved pillars, one of which is a masterpiece as it is carved out of a single piece of wood. Natakshala, a huge hall where performances used to take place, has a shiny polished granite flooring and a room for the royal women folk to watch the performances from. Thekee Kotaram also known as the Southern Palace, houses the royal artifacts and various articles of cultural and traditional importance.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS:
The royal balcony called Ambarimukhappu, from where the King used to give public appearance and watch various celebrations.

Thaikkottaram or King's mother's palace, with its smooth red flooring, decorated ceilings, open courtyard at the centre and carved pillars is a must-see for visitors. Though much of the curiosity is generated by the dark pathway which acted as a secret exit leading to Charode Palace, which is around 2km from the Padmanabhapuram Palace.

Navratri Mandapam is considered to be the most attractive segment of the palace with its reflective marble flooring and carved pillars, where dance performances take place. It is placed near the Saraswati Temple.

The palace also houses an informative museum that treasures artifacts from 8th to 18th Century including scriptures, arms, murals, paintings and coins, enough to create one's curiosity to know about the ancient culture of the south.

Time tested wooden architecture and carvings in the interiors of the palace, Chinese carvings on the furniture used by the royal family, open air bath, Chandra Vilas, Indra Vilas and the continuously lit brass lanterns are some of the other attractions to check out in the Palace.

NEARBY SIGHTSEEING:
Puthenmalika Palace Museum, Kovalam Beach, Museum Complex, Attukal Bhagvathy Temple, Kannakanu Palace, Karikakkom Temple and Christ Church are the important sites near the Padmanabhapuram Temple to enjoy the colors of the beautiful southern India.

Read More

Palitana Temples in Gujarat

Location :
Palitana is the largest group of Jain temples, situated on the Shetrunjaya hills in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, which is known as a tourist spot for its abundance in temples, beaches and wildlife. Palitana is situated at a distance of 51 km from Bhavnagar and is one of the most important pilgrimage centres for the Jains. It is considered to be mandatory for the Jains to travel to this place once in their lifetime. The 863 temples located on the path to the top of the hill, present a sacred route to achieve virtue and Lord's blessings.

History:
The beautiful cluster of temples on the pathway to the top of the hill, is a collective effort of the rich businessmen who had faith in the religion, following the belief that building temples, adds to their religious merits. The temples were built in 12th Century and the 16th Century. The wealthy devotees built the series of temples, according to the resources they had.

It was a tiring job to first clear and flatten the hill surface take the huge pillars from the ground surface to the hill and carve them on site. The temples were then walled and structured. It is a strenuous task to work on the hill and come back daily before dusk. The temples that we see today are mostly of the 16th century as the 12th century temples were destroyed by the Muslim invaders.

Architecture:

The Palitana group of Jain temples seems to rise like the mountain peaks, as they are built in such a manner that the there is a successive level of temples, growing in size as we go further towards the peak. The temples stand on pillars which are carved with floral motifs, images of idols and geometrical decorations. The marble blocks were carried from Rajasthan to Gujarat and then lifted uphill, slab by slab.

The most important temple on the Shatrunjaya Hill is the temple of Jain Tirthankar, Adinath, which is the most decorative one with a perfectly symmetric shape of a square subdivided further into smaller squares, that form a cross. The pillars and domes made up of finely cut marbles in the shape of dragons, is really impressive for the traveler.

Major Attractions:

The stunning carvings and sculptures on the marble spires holding the temples. The view of sunset down the hill as a backdrop to the series of temples rising from the altitude.

The Chaumukh Temple, dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar, Lord Adinath, in which the Lord is shown facing to the four sides. The temple is a 17th century creation. The challenging journey to the top of the hill, going through all the ancient temples enroute, is the prime attraction of the place. The journey includes a steep fleet of 3950 steps covering a distance of 3.5 km of the hill. One is not supposed to eat or sleep during the journey uphill, since the hill is considered to be God's abode.

Nearby Sightseeing Tour:

Bhavnagar:

Bhavnagar is the main industrial hub of Gujarat and is the true representer of the vibrant state. It acts as a base for the travelers visiting the Jain temples of Palitana in Saurashtra and offers a wide range of interesting places to unveil the culture and history of the state. Takhteshwar temple, Gaurishankar Lake, Barton Library, Gandhi Smriti Museum and the Nilambag Palace are some of the attractions of the city.

Lothal:
The main attraction of the place is the ruins of the Indus Valley Civilization dating back to the second millenium B.C. The important archaeological site consists of the magnificent town planning of the Harappan era including the baths, granaries, drainage, etc. A multitude of items are preserved in the museum including potteries, jeweleries, seals, etc of that era.

Aparana Chauhan

Read More

Ladakh - Naturally beautiful yet largely unexplored

High up the mountains where Mothers is in its best form, Aparana Chauhan shares a first hand experience about her tour to the isolated, largely undiscovered but naturally bewitching Ladakh with Journey to India.

My excursion trip to the scenic land of Ladakh began even before the plane landed the rugged Leh airport. Before landing, even the travelers from United States, Netherland, Germany and other places, plus a fair dispersion of fellow Indians could not withstand the immense awe inspiring beauty – while looking at the snow cladded mountains and majestic peaks providing a compelling contrast as the vibrant Sun rays added to the grand view.

The first day in Leh was spent without doing any arduous physical activity due to the high altitude and need of adjustment. It is not recommended through posters at many places but is almost compulsive. But, I had no such plans to waste my precious time, so I did next best thing. At Hotel Kang Lha Chen,which has been named after the peak, I got talking to Mrs Zena Samuel and Pitra from United States who were on a two week tour to Ladakh.

What destination you covered in Ladakh? I asked as we sipped hot coffee in the lush hotel garden overlooking the amazing Himalayas. Without taking a minute, they told that they like Leh Palace, Hemis Monastery, Sankar Gompa, Shey Monastery and Lamayuru Monastery.

Pitra quickly added that the monks praying at Thiske monastery offers you a lifetime experience. They were quite impressed with the life of monks and their devotion towards their Lord. Mrs Zena told me about her last trip to Tibet in 2007. But for them this tour was truly divine as they find more feeling and realization here that is devoid of any sort of superficiality. They got the chance to spend some time with the monks here. Travelers are passionate about polo being played at such an altitude here.

As I already got idea about major attractions of Ladakh, next day I decided to visit the Thiksey Monastery located on the hill top north of Indus river, which is still inhabited by sher number of monks. My next destination was Stok Palace dating back to the time when invading Dogra Forces kicked out the ruler of Ladakh. My tourists guide Robin Tunney, who is well trained trekker and a photographer took me to the other popular monasteries and gompas in Ladakh.

We took a turn to International Meditation Center run by Bhikku Sanghasena since 1986. It is a center of education and meditation for monks. Here I got the chance to meet Thupsten Cheweng, member of parliament who watched development of this center. Next day, In the morning I met Jigmed Wangchuk Namgyal, who propagated the concept of long tern sustainability of all the major attraction of Ladakh, particularly the monasteries. He said UNESCO has also shown interest in this....adding that is important to preserve the attractions for which the travelers come here.

Before the end of my short trip to Leh and Ladakh, I got the chance to meet Tundup Dorjey, who has done his masters in Tourism from Pondicherry and now runs the renowned travel agency making sue that domestic tourism grow, so that both the visitors and hosts, gain through tourism.

Aparana Chauhan

Read More

Magical Kingdom – WelcomHeritage Mandir Palace

Jaisalmer with its fairy tale like sandstone Fort amidst the desolated beauty of hot barren sand dunes of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, is popular for its heritage havelis, historical mansions of the erstwhile rich merchants that conducted a brisk and wealthy trade while Jaisalmer was on the wagon train route.

Jaisalmer invites you to visit its rich attractions including the popular Heritage Mandir Palace, a 300 year old hotel which is now converted into the heritage hotel. The most popular attraction of this of this premier heritage property is its 50 meter tall tower- Badal Vilas, which is the tallest complex below the hill top city fort. Another famous structure with in the Jaisalmer fort is the luxurious Durbar Hall, known for its delicate carving.

Rooms : Catering to diverse choice of the visitors, the excellent facilities and luxurious accommodation offered by WelcomHeritage Mandir Palace reminds of the royal bygone era of the Raja's and Maharajah's . All the 24 rooms are elegantly furnished and are appointed with all the modern day amenities such as AC, Television, Telephone, Study Table and Sofa with center center table.

Washroom facilities include bath tub, shower cap, toilet roll, linen and geyser. Room telephone offers intercom facility, apart from that STD and ISD calls can be availed from Reception. All the rooms of this heritage property are different in size and furnishings. The rooms' upholstery is of superior quality, and the interior of each rooms is different from one another. So every time you visit the fort, you are offered with different experience.

The deluxe rooms are more contemporary with modern furnishings and decor. While the Heritage suites have ethic and more of traditional look and feel. Along with that there is small private terrace where quest lunch and private parties at WelcomHeritage Mandir Palace.

Dinner :- For dining Welcom Heritage Mandir Palace offers the Palace restaurant and a roof top restaurant, which offers a magnificent view of the Jaisalmer Fort and the city. Along with special Rajasthani cuisines, the hotel offers Indian, Chinese, Continental.

Services and Facilities :- Here is Banquet hall that can accommodate 50 -60 guests in a theater style seating arrangement. For recreation and entertainment, the hotel offers Camel Safaris, Jeep Safaris and Live entertainment.

Aparana Chauhan

Read More

Colorful Crafts – Mother Earth Store in Bangalore

Mother Earth, one of the green stores in Bangalore, houses a range of organic products to promote
ecological lifestyle among the people. This lucullan, 11,000 sq feet eco friendly store was launched by The Future Group and Industree and displays a wide range of cautiously selected merchandise that helps promote living and social sustainability under the product heads like 'Earth Home', 'Earth Fashion' and 'Earth Food'.

The store sources large part of its merchandise from rural artisans and fair trade partners , in order to promote employment among the non farm based population in the village and remote areas. Here you find Indian craft like Dhokra or Kondapalli work or the beautiful sanjhi craft from Uttar Pradesh.

The store has also collaborated with NGO's that work for environment in various spheres like Waste Management, Composing, Afforestation and Environmental awareness.

Aparana Chauhan

Read More

Nainital - Hill Station

The Kumaon Hills are known for their immense natural beauty – snow capped mountains silhouetted against the sky, streams gushing through the silence of jungles, and pristine lakes reverberating the changing panorama of nature. Here we presents some of the well renowned resorts in North India, and Nainital, a hundred year old hill station, is located in a valley around the green blue lake. This is the famous Naini Lake or the adobe of eye goddess from the town of Nainital derives its name.

Take a boat ride across its waters, and there are religious places, jungles, trekking trials and an aerial ropeway. Nainital is also known as 'Crystal City' due to the HMT watch factory located on the outskirts of town. There are other smaller towns around Nainital.

Dotted with numerous lakes, Nainital has earned the obloquy of 'Lake District of India'. Kausani makes a perfect scenery. Ramgarh is popular for its luxurious apple orchards. Ranikhet looks stunning with snow cladded peaks. Than there is Corbett National Park known for wide population of Asiatic Elephants, lions, sambhar and tigers.

Sights and Sounds :- At the Naini lake and Bhimtal lake, boats are available on hire. The cost of hiring a boat varies on the type of boat used and the actual time time taken to circle the lake. For one hour Rs 80, up and down Rs 50, paddle boat s 40.

Enjoy the cable car ride available Rs 50 from Mall road to Snow view across the mountains. If you have enough time to spend, take on three peaks known as – China peak, Tiffin Top and Snow View. Kilbury is a nice place for picnics with friends and family. If wildlife is your passion' make a visit to the nearby Corbett National Park, or golf is an other alternate for those who love playing it.

For children there is facility of pony rides at the mall road, video games, skating ring and a huge Company Garden.

Read More