Monday, January 3, 2011

Uttarakhand Tourism

Uttarakhand Tourism , Main Attractions :Almora , Badrinath, Kedarnath, Kedarnath, Corbett National Park, Dehradun, Gangotri,
 Yamunotri, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Nainital, Ranikhet, etc.    
 

Almora : Almora is cultural centre of Kumaon and a picturesque mountain resort. Sunrise offers a particularly beautiful view of the greater Himalayas. Almora is also called a town of temples. Situated in the center of the town is the temple of Goddess Nanda Devi. Situated at an elevation of 5400 ft, in the Kumaon Hills, Almora is known for its healthy climate. Almora is a horseshoe shaped town spred on a 5 km long mountain range.

Badrinath & Kedarnath : The temples of Shiva and Vishnu at Kedarnath and Badrinath have been the destination of pilgrims for centuries. The route to the two sources begins at Rishikesh and passes ancient temples and Valleys along the way. Badrinath is one of the four Dhams; a devout Hindu has to visit in his lifetime to attain salvation. One of Hinduism's holiest sites, it was founded by Sri Shankaracharya, in the ninth century. The temple, also known as Badri Narayan, is dedicated to Vishnu, who is said to have done penance in the mythical Brindavan that once covered the mountains of Uttarakhand.
Kedarnath : Kedarnath is the most important Hindu shrine in Himalayas, and among the major Shiva temples, of the country. Located at the source of the river Mandakini, Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyothirlingas, of Lord Shiva, and one of the Panch Kedars. Mythology identifies the deity at Kedarnath temple, with the rump of a bull, a form assumed by Lord Shiva, when eluding the Pandavas, who had come for repentance for killing their kith and kin, in the great battle of Kurukshetra. It is believed that the Pandavas constructed the temple of Kedarnath.
Corbett National Park : Corbett National Park lies in two districts - Nainital and Pauri - in the hill state of Uttaranchal in northern India. It covers an area of 521 sq. km and together with the neighbouring Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve Forest areas, forms the Corbett Tiger Reserve over 1288 sq. km. Corbett has been a haunt for tourists and wildlife lovers for a long time. Tourism is allowed in selected areas of Corbett Tiger Reserve so that people get an opportunity to see its splendid landscape and the diverse wildlife living here.
Dehradun : Nestled in the mountain ranges of the Himalaya, Dehradun is one of the oldest cities of India and is recently declared as the Provisional Capital of newly created Uttarakhand State in the month of Nov'2000. The city has many beautiful rest houses and good hotels to provide accommodation to the tourist. For many years, it has been one of the best known educational centres in northern India. Dehra Dun is well linked by rail and road with Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Lucknow and Varanasi.
Gangotri : In the hinterlands of the Himalayas is Gangotri where, it is believed, Ganga, the stream of life, touched earth for the first time. According to the Hindu religious scriptures, the goddess manifested herself in the form of a river to absolve the sins of King Bhagirathi's sons, following his penance of several centuries. The Goddess Ganga is worshipped by the devout as a deity. The Gangotri temple was built in the early 18th century by a Gorkha commander, Amar Singh Thapa and later rebuilt by the Maharaja of Jaipur.
Yamunotri : Yamunotri, the source of the river Yamuna, is the westernmost shrine in the Garhwal Himalayas, located on a flank of the Bandarpunch peak. The trek along the riverbank is quite magnificent, dominated by a wide panorama of mountains.
Haridwar : Haridwar, on the right bank of River Ganga at the feet of Shivalik ranges, an ancient pilgrim city is one of the holiest places for Hindus. Haridwar is at the point where the river Ganga spreads over the northern plain. It lies at the base of the Shivalik Hills where the Ganga passes through its last gorge and begins a 2000 km journey across the plains. One of the four venues for the Kumbh Mela, a festival held once in twelve years, it is among the seven sacred cities of India. A holy dip at Har-Ki-Pauri is a must for every devotee.
Rishikesh : Rishikesh is one of the most popular pilgrim centres and gateway to the Himalayan shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, & Yamunotri. The Yoga centres of Rishikesh have enhanced the significance of the place. Legend has it that the sage Raibhya Rishi did severe penance and, as a reward, God appeared to him in the form of Rishikesh. Rishikesh also represents the site where Lord Vishnu vanquished the demon Madhu. The place is known as the Tapo Bhumi or the place for meditation of the Gods. In the 1960s, the place came into limelight as the place where the pop group Beatles met their guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
Mussoorie : The queen of hill stations is about 89 km from Haridwar and the salubrious climate and deep woods make it an ideal hill station. The name, Mussoorie, derives its name from plants of 'Mussoorie', found in abundance here. After its discovery, this place gradually developed as a center of education, business, tourism and beauty.
Nainital :
Dotted with lakes, Nainital has earned the epithet of 'Lake District' of India. Nainital’s unending expense of scenic beauty is nothing short of a romance with awe-inspiring and pristine Mother Nature.
Ranikhet :
Ranikhet is a place, which has preserved its virginity and pristine charm. The sweep of Himalayan range visible from here is arguably the largest available from any place. It is a pure heaven 6,000 feet above the sea level, away from the bustling lifestyle of city life. In Ranikhet, nature's beauty overwhelms with its sheer abundance. It is believed that the hill resort of Ranikhet derives it name from the Rani Padmini, queen of Raja Sukherdev, the local ruler. The queen was awe-struck by the beauty of the place. The queen was so captivated by the place that she decided to stay there, and the place came to be known as Ranikhet i.e. "the queen's field".
Festivals & Events

The people of Uttarakhand celebrate almost all the major Indian festivals including Basant Panchami, Bhitauli, Harela, Phooldei, Batsavitri, Ganga Dusshera, Dikar Puja, Olgi or Ghee Sankranti, Khatarua, Ghuian Ekadashi and Ghughutia. Kumbha (Kumbha means pot) Mela is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage takes place at Haridwar where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas. Haridwar is one of the four locations where pilgrimage occurs once at each locations every twelve years.

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TOURISM IN INDIA

Taj Mahal , Akshardham Temple , Golden Temple , Hawa Mahal , Kerala Backwaters , Victoria Memorial , Gateway of India , Charminar , Ajanta Ellora Caves , Bodhi Temple, Mysore Palace ....

Main tourist Attractions of India Tourism in India Packages Hotels Operators Guide Visiting Places

Taj Mahal

Located in Agra city of Uttar Pradesh, the world famous Taj Mahal is one of the seven 'Wonders of the World.' Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, Taj Mahal stands as a symbol of eternal love for centuries.

BY AIR- Indian Airlines (Domestic Airline in India) runs daily flights from Delhi to Agra. Kheria Airport (Airport of Agra) is about 6 km from the Agra city

BY RAIL -Well connected by excellent train services to Delhi such as The Shatabdi Express (2 hrs), Taj Express (2.5 hrs), Intercity Express (3 hrs).


Akshardham Temple

The massive temple is located in Delhi, on the banks of the river Yamuna. The temple complex sprawls over 100 acres, is an amazing world of Indian culture ornate with 20,000 statues, floral motifs, arches and intricately carved pillars.

Location - East Delhi, on Yamuna bank near Nizam -ud-Din Bridge.

How to Reach -Take an auto or cab or disembark at Indraprastha Metro station

Golden Temple

The Golden Temple or Sri Harmandir Sahib or Sri Darbar Sahib, is situated in Amritsar, Punjab. Built by Guru Arjan Sahib, the temple is visited by thousands of devotees throughout the year.

How to reach the Golden Temple

Air : Flights operate to the Rajasansi airport at Amritsar from many national destinations. Rail : Regular trains operate between Amritsar and national capital Delhi. Road : Buses are available to Amritsar from Delhi and other destinations of Punjab. Amritsar is at a distance of 234 kms from Chandigarh and 464 kms from Delhi.



Hawa Mahal-Situated in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Hawa Mahal is a major landmark of Rajputs rulers. Built in the traditional Rajpur architecture, the five story palace offers the breathtaking view of city. How to Reach -By Air Jaipur is connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Aurangabad, Kolkata and Varanasi by domestic flights.By Rail Jaipur is well connected to major cities of India by rail. The train service to Jaipur is available from all the major parts of the country.By Road Jaipur can be accessed from all the major places in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Mumbai by bus.


Kerala Backwaters

Kerala is famous worldwide for its tranquil backwaters, which offer amazing boating experiences. The backwaters are created by to and fro motion of sea waves in the forms of lagoons, lakes and estuaries.

Air -The two international airports in Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and Kochi International Airport, and a domestic airport in Kozhikode are strategically located. All public and private airlines operating regular flights link these airports to major airports in India as well as abroad.Rail- Most of the places in and out of Kerala are interconnected by 200 Railway Stations . Direct trains to Kerala can be availed from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Calcutta and other major Indian cities


Victoria Memorial ( KOLKATA )

The memorial situated in Kolkata, West Bengal was built in attempt to match the Taj Mahal. The neo-classical marble building, opened in the year 1921, is a blend of classical western and Mughal architecture style.How to Reach:Air: There is N.S.C. International airport at Dumdum in Kolkata. Regular flights to rest of India and world are available here.Rail: Kolkata is very well connected to rest of India through two major railway station, Sealdah and Howrah.Road: Kolkata is connected to the rest of India by excellent road network.


Gateway of India

Situated in Mumbai, Gateway of India is one of the famous landmark of the city. The historical monument consists of a central hall with big archways.

Inaugurated in:1924 AD Highlight:It is an excellent example of Indo-Saracenic style of architecture.

How to Reach - One can easily reach Gateway of India by hiring taxis or autos, or by boarding buses or trains from the city.

Charminar

Charminar the landmark of Hyderabad city, got its name from its four minarates (towers). It was Built in 1591 by Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutub Shahi, the 56 metre high monument has beautiful galleries and arches. Places Nearby Worth Visiting:

Mecca Masjid is a very nice masjid at the distance of 1 km.Golkonda fort is around 16 kms from the Minar.Hussain Sagar is a lake in Hydrabad city. Nice place to g for evening walk. Salarjung art museum.Falaknuama PalaceChilkur Balaji Temple

How to Reach - Hyderabad is well connected with the rest of the country by air, railways and roads. Once in Hyderabad, the local transport like auto-rickshaws and taxis should get you to Charminar.

Ajanta Ellora Caves-The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ajanta Ellora Caves are situated in Aurangababd district of Maharashtra. The caves have many temples of Hindus, Jains and Buddhists faiths.By Air : The nearest airport from Ajanta caves is the Aurangabad domestic airport (99 kms). By Rail : Aurangabad is directly linked to Mumbai and Pune by rail. Jalgaon, a railhead on the Central Railways line, is 59 kilometres from Ajanta. Two trains Tapovan Express and Devgiri Express depart daily from Mumbai to Aurangabad.By Road :Well connected to rest of India



Bodhi Temple

The Bodhi Temple located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar is one of the sacred places of worship for Buddhists. The magnificent Bodhi temple is an architectural blend of many cultures.dfsaa How to Reach - Air : The nearest airport is Gaya (12 Kms) and Patna (135 Kms).. The flights of Indian Airlines connect Patna to Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Ranchi, Lucknow and many other cities.Rail : Gaya Railway Station (12 Kms) is the major rail head. .Road : Bodh Gaya is well connected by good network of roads to Gaya (12 Kms), Patna (135 Kma), Nalanda (101 Kma), Rajgir (78 Kms) and Varanasi (252 Kms). Regular buses run from Gaya, Patna, Nalanda, Rajgir and Varanasi. Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation run buses from Patna twice a day.

Mysore Palace

The palace also called as the Amba Vilas is the main palace of Mysore.. The architecture of the palace is the amalgamation of Dravidian, Indo-Saracenic, Roman and Oriental styles.

How to Reach- By Train-Mysore is connected with a number of trains to Bangalore. The super fast luxury train the Shatabdi Express connects Mysore to Madras. The quickest and most comfortable way to reach Mysore is via Bangalore.

By Air - The nearest airport to Mysore is Bangalore (139 km). By Road -Mysore is 139kms to the south west of Bangalore, well connected with rest of India.