Ooty : Tamil Nadu

Ooty short for Ootacamund  (officially), Udhagamandalam sometimes abbreviated to Udhagai Tamil, is a town, a municipality and the district capital of the Nilgiris district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. 

Ootacamund is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills. Ooty stands at an approximate height of 7,500 feet (2, 286 m) above sea level.

Located in the Blue Mountains of the Western Ghats Ooty draws a large number of tourists every year. Lofty mountains, great lakes, dense forests, sprawling grasslands, miles of tea gardens and eucalyptus trees greet the visitors en route to Ooty. The hill station itself is a land of picturesque picnic spots

Some of the important tourist / historical landmarks of Ooty are as listed below:

Ooty Botanical Gardens:

The 22 Acre Botanical Garden was laid out in 1847 and is presently maintained by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The original purpose of the "Botanical Gardens" was purely academic: to promote and study the various flora in and around Nilgiris. Now, it is open to the public as a park that can be enjoyed by visitors.The garden also has a 20 million year old fossilized tree. Another major attraction is an Italian-style garden bordering a pool. The place is also an ideal location for bird watching.

 

Ooty Lake & Boat House:

This is an artificial lake built by John Sullivan. It used to be much larger than its present size of 4 km² and is 2.5 km in length, and encompassed the present bus stand and race course as well as much of the present market. Boating is the major attraction at the lake

Stone House

This was the first "Pukka" house in Ooty(now called old Ooty), built by John Sullivan. It is situated inside the premises of the Government Arts College. It now houses the government office. 

Toda Huts

There are a few number of Toda Huts up in the hills of Botanical Garden were Todas still dwell. 

Railway Station

The railhead of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. The station itself is part of this World Heritage Site. Ooty Railway station offers a unique glimpse of the British raj built railways. 

St. Stephen's Church

This one of the oldest churches in the town, it architecture is essentially old style with tall spires. It is located near the District Court house building. 

Wax World, Ooty

A wax museum that houses life-size look-alike wax statues of personalities of Indian history, culture and heritage housed in a 142 year old bungalow. 

Ooty Golf Links

A forested and grassy area, partially home to a golf course. 

Doddabetta Peak

The highest point in the Nilgiri Hills, offering spectacular views over the town and district. There is road access to the summit. There is a reserved forest area around the peak. 

Tea Plantations

Tea plantations are present at a lower altitude and attract a large number of tourists by their picturuesque nature.

Ketti Valley

This valley is referred to as the 'Switzerland of Southern India' due to the year-round pleasant climatic conditions. There is a view point called "Valley View" on the main Ooty to Coonoor road. 

Pykara Lake Boat House and Pykara falls

This is the most accessible of all the nearby lakes. A boathouse and picnic area has been developed to provide access to this area. Most of the remainder of the lake is within a reserved forest and off limits to visitors. 

Pine Forest

Situated between Ooty and Thalakunda. This tourist destination known as pine forest (locally also known as pinus forest) was once featured in the Tamil movie song "Deena". It is a small downhill region where pine trees are arranged in an orderly fashion. 

Wenlock Downs

This is a grassland area typical of the original bio scape of the Nilgiris. It has gently undulating hills, and is often compared with areas in the British isles such as the Yorkshire Dales. This is a popular film shooting area, particularly two areas situated approximately six and nine miles (14 km) out of Ooty on the main Ooty to Pykara road (also known as Mysore Road). These locations are accordingly named "Sixth Mile" and "Ninth Mile". 

Kamraj Sagar Lake

This lake is situated on the way to Pykara lake. 

Mudumalai National Park

Situated at a lower altitude and easily accessible to visitors. It borders the Bandipur National Park in Karnataka. It is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. 

Mukurthi National Park

A large protected area generally not accessible to visitors. It also contains a lake and peak of the same name. 

Needle hill view point

A viewpoint situated between Gudalaur and Pykara. 

Parsons Valley Reservoir

This is the primary water source for the town and is mainly in a reserved forest and is thus largely off-limits to visitors. 

Emerald Lake

This lake is situated near the town of the same name. There is a view point near the dam. The rest of the are is mainly in a reserved forest and is largely off-limits to visitors 

Avalanche Lake

Adjacent to the Emerald lake, this picturesque lake is mainly situated in a reserved forest and is largely off-limits to visitors 

Porthimund Lake

This is mostly situated in a reserved forest and is largely off-limits to visitors where the shooting of the blockbuster tamil movie Roja has been shot. 

Upper Bhavani Lake

This lake is within the Mukurthi National Park and also largely off limits to visitors.

 Location: Ooty,Tamil Nadu

Co ordinates : 11°23′N 76°42′E / 11.38°N 76.70°E

How to reach the destination:

 By Air :

Coimbatore airport is the nearest airport to Ooty. It is 105 km away from Ooty. A number of private airlines give their services to Coimbatore. Coimbatore is well connected with many south Indian cities by air including Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai and Hyderabad.

  

By Bus :

Ooty is well connected with all most all south Indian cities by bus. There are regular bus services from Mysore, Bangalore, Madurai, and Kanyakumari and also from many cities in Kerala. 

By Train :

Mettupalayam, which is 47 km away from Ooty, is the nearest major railway station. There are regular train services from Coimbatore and Chennai to Mettupalayam. Mettupalayam and Conoor are connected to Ooty with toy trains .

Khajuraho Temple : Madhya Pradesh

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments in Khajuraho , a town in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, located in Chhatarpur District, about 620 kilometres (385 mi) southeast of New Delhi, are one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their erotic sculpture. The Khajuraho group of monuments has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is considered to be one of the "seven wonders" of India.

The name Khajuraho, ancient "Kharjuravahaka", is derived from the Sanskrit word kharjur meaning date palm.

The temples are grouped into three geographical divisions: western, eastern and southern.

The Khajuraho temples are made of sandstone. The builders didn't use mortar: the stones were put together with mortise and tenon joints and they were held in place by gravity. This form of construction requires very precise joints. The columns and architraves were built with megaliths that weighed up to 20 tons.

Location - Khajuraho,Madhya Pradesh

Co ordinates - 24°51′N 79°56′E / 24.85°N 79.93°E

How to reach the destination:

Air: Regular services link Khajuraho airport with Delhi, Agra and Varanasi.


Rail: The nearest rail heads are Harpalpur (94km) and Mahoba (61km, 2 1/2 hrs). Jhansi (172km/ 5 1/2 hrs) is a convenient rail head for those travelling from Delhi and Madras; Satna (117km, 4hrs), on the Mumbai-Allahabad line of the Central Railway for those coming from Mumbai, Kolkata and Varanasi.


Road: Khajuraho is connected by regular buses with Satna (117km, 4hrs), Harpalpur (94km), Jhansi (172km) and Mahoba (61km). Khajuraho is located 600km (11hrs journey) south West of Delhi. There are bus services from Agra (12 hrs), Gwalior (9hrs) and Jhansi.

Mysore Palace : Karnataka

The Palace of Mysore  is a palace situated in the city of Mysore in southern India. It is the official residence of the Wodeyars - the erstwhile royal family of Mysore, and also houses two durbar halls (ceremonial meeting hall of the royal court).

The architectural style of the palace is commonly described as Indo-Saracenic, and blends together Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles of architecture. It is a three-storied stone structure, with marble domes and a 145 ft five-storied tower. The palace is surrounded by a large garden.

The three storied stone building of fine gray granite with deep pink marble domes was designed by Henry Irwin. The facade has seven expansive arches and two smaller ones flanking the central arch, which is supported by tall pillars.

Above the central arch is an impressive sculpture of Gajalakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, good luck, and abundance with her elephants.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Every autumn, the Palace is the venue for the famous Mysore Dasara festival, during which leading artists perform on a stage set up in the palace grounds. On the tenth day of the festival Vijaya Dashami, a parade with caparisoned elephants and other floats originate from the palace grounds.

To celebrate this festival the Palace of Mysore is illuminated with more than 96,000 lights during that two month period.

UNIQUE ROOMS:

• Ambavilasa or Diwan e Khas.

This was used by the king for private audience and is one of the most spectacular rooms. Entry to this opulent hall is through an elegantly carved rosewood doorway inlaid with ivory that opens into a shrine to Ganesha.

• Gombe Thotti (Doll’s Pavilion)

Entry to the palace is through the Gombe Thotti or the Doll’s Pavilion, a gallery of traditional dolls from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The pavilion also houses a fine collection of Indian and European sculpture and ceremonial objects like a wooden elephant howdah (frame to carry passengers) decorated with 84 kilograms of gold.

• Kalyana Mantapa

The Kalyana Mantapa or marriage hall is a grand octagonal-shaped pavilion with a multi-hued stained glass ceiling with peacock motifs arranged in geometrical patterns. The entire structure was wrought in Glasgow, Scotland. The floor of the Mantapa continues the peacock theme with a peacock mosaic, designed with tiles from England. Oil paintings, illustrating the royal procession and Dasara celebrations of bygone years, make the walls more splendid.

TEMPLES:

The palace complex includes twelve Hindu temples. The oldest of these was built in the 14th century, while the most recent was built in 1953.

ATTRACTIONS:

The palace houses several rooms of importance. These include:

• Audience Chamber: This was Hall of Private Audience, where the king would confer with his ministers. It was also the chamber in which he gave audience to people deserving special attention.

• Public Durbar: The Diwan-e-aam was a public hall where the general population could meet the king at prescribed times with petitions.

• Royal wedding hall

• Armoury: The palace houses an armoury, which contains a collection of different types of arms used by the members of the royal family. These include weapons that were used in the 14th century (lances, cutlasses, etc), as well as weapons that were used in the early twentieth century (pistols, etc).

Location - Mysore,Karnataka

Coordinates - 12°18′14″N 76°39′16

How to reach the destination:

By Road :

 
Mysore is 139kms to the south west of Bangalore. There are ordinary buses, semi-luxury buses and luxury buses operated by the Government of Karnataka. Corporations of other states and private tour operators have buses plying to Mysore as well.

By Train :

 
Mysore is connected with a number of trains to Bangalore. The quickest and most comfortable way to reach Mysore is via Bangalore.

By Air :

The nearest airport to Mysore is Bangalore (139 km). All the domestic airlines in the country operate their flights to Bangalore from all the major cities in the country. Some international airlines too have flights to Bangalore.

Kumarakom : Kerala

Kumarakom is a tourist village in Kottayam district, Kerala, India. It is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala.

Kumarakom is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a noted bird sanctuary where many species of migratory birds visit. The Vembanad Lake, the largest backwater in Kerala, is habitat for many marine and freshwater fish species and it teems with Karimeen (Pearl spot), shrimp and prawns.

It is a major tourist attraction. The Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls is another natural attraction. These waterfalls are located 18 kilometers from Kumarakom and has surfing water flowing down the mountains.

Kumarakom has a wide variety of houseboats. They are used only for tourists these days.Apart from these, there are elegant special boats like Kochu-odi Vallam, Odi-Vallam, Iruttukutthi Vallam, Churulan Vallam and Chundan Vallam(Snake Boat), which take part in the boat races around Onam time. The Kumarakom boat-race is conducted in the big canal in the centre near the market. 

It is a unique experience that will beckon the visitors time and time again as there are several activities for visitors.

The Bird Sanctuary can be visited by canoes, which can be arranged with local fishermen at the entrance to the sanctuary. A two-hour rowing canoe trip is quite cheap, and is best undertaken in the evening or early morning to avoid the afternoon sun.

House boats or speed boats can cover longer distance.

Location - Kottayam,Kerala

Coordinates - 9°35′0″N 76°26′0″E

 How to reach the destination: 

By air: via Cochin International Airport and the Trivandrum International Airport  

By rail: via Kottayam  

By boat: From Muhamma (near Alappuzha) to Kumarakom Jetty.  

By road: (16 kilometres) Buses and taxis are easily available at all times of the day from Kottayam.

Jagannath Temple : Puri : Orissa

The Jagannath Temple in Puri is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath (Krishna) and located in the coastal town of Puri in the state of Orissa, India. The name Jagannath (Lord of the Universe) is a combination of the Sanskrit words Jagat (Universe) and Nath (Lord of).The temple is an important pilgrimage destination for many Hindu traditions, particularly worshippers of Krishna and Vishnu, and part of the Char Dham pilgrimages that a Hindu has to be visited in one's lifetime 

The temple is famous for its annual Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three main temple deities are hauled on huge and elaborately decorated chariots.

STRUCTURE:
The huge temple complex covers an area of over 400,000 square feet (37,000 m²), and is surrounded by a high fortified wall. It contains at least 120 temples and shrines. With its sculptural richness and fluidity of the Orissan style of temple architecture, it is one of the most magnificent monuments of India.

The main temple is a curvilinear temple and crowning the top is the 'srichakra' (a eight spoked wheel) of Vishnu. Also known as the "Nilachakra", it is made out of Ashtadhatu and is considered sacrosanct.The main shrine is enclosed by a 20 feet (6.1 m) high wall.

The temple's kitchen is considered as the largest kitchen in India.

The Singhadwara

The Singahdwara, which in Sanskrit means The Lion Gate, is one of the four gates to the temple and forms the Main entrance. The Singhadwara is so named because two huge statues of crouching lions exist on either side of the entrance.

Other Entrances

Apart from the Singhadwara, which is the main entrance to the temple, there are three other entrances facing north, south and west. They are named after the sculptures of animals guarding them. The other entrances are the Hathidwara or the Elephant Gate, the Vyaghradwara or the Tiger Gate and the Ashwadwara or the Horse Gate.

The Mandapas

There are many Mandapas or Pillared halls on raised platforms within the temple complex meant for religious congregations. The most prominent is the Mukti Mandap the congregation hall of the Sevayats or the temple servitors. Here important decisions regarding conduct of daily worship and festivals are taken.

Minor Temples

There are numerous smaller temples and shrines within the Temple complex where active worship is regularly conducted.

Festivals

There are many festivals each year attended by thousands of people. The most important festival is the Rath Yatra or the Chariot festival in June. This spectacular festival includes a procession of three huge chariots bearing the idols of Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra through the Bada Danda meaning the Grand Avenue of Puri till their final destination the Gundicha Temple. 

 
Location-Puri,Orissa

 
Coordinates: 19°48′17″N 85°49′6"E

 
How to reach the destination :

 
By Air:

 
Bhubaneshwar is the nearest airport.

 
By Rail:

 
Puri is a rail terminus on the southeastern railways and is well connected to other parts of the country through the rail network.

 
By Road:

 
It is well connected to other parts of the country through the road network.

Kovalam : Kerala

Kovalam is a beach town on the Arabian Sea in Kerala, a state in south India. It is located around 13 km from downtown Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum).

Kovalam was brought to the public eye by the Maharaja of Travancore. The European guests of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potentiality of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in the 1930s. However, Kovalam shot into limelight in the early seventies with arrivals of the masses of hippies. That started the transformation of a casual fishing village of Kerala into one of the most important tourist destinations in all India- the Kovalam beach. It is a beautiful place in Kerala.

Kovalam has three crescent shaped beaches separated by rocky outcroppings. Shallow waters stretching for hundreds of metres are ideal for swimming. The beaches have steep palm covered headlands and are lined with shops that offer all kinds of goods and services..

The larger of the beaches is called Light House Beach for its 35 metre high light house which towers over it atop Kurumkal hillock. The second largest one is Hawah Beach.The northern part of the beach is known as Samudra Beach in tourism parlance.The local fishermen ply their trade on this part.The normal tourist season is from September to May. Ashoka beach is also the part of Kovalam beach..

There are a large number of beach resorts in and around Kovalam. The sea port of Vizhinjam is about 3 km away and famous for its special varieties of fish, old Hindu temples, big churches and a mosque. The Proposed International Trans shipment Terminal at Vizhinjam is also close to Kovalam.

Kovalam was among the most prominent tourist spots in India during the hippy era. Kovalam is finding a new significance in the light of several Ayurvedic salons, and recuperation and regeneration resorts which provide a wide variety of Ayurvedic treatments for tourists.

The sands on the beaches in Kovalam are partially black in colour due to the presence of ilmenite and thorazite.

Location-Kovalam,Kerala

Coordinates -8°18′N 77°12′E / 8.3°N 77.2°E

 

How to reach the destination:

By Air: 

Nearest airport is Trivandrum International airport which is about 15 km away from Kovalam.  Trivandrum International airport is connected to all major airports in India and it is connected to many cities abroad including Colombo, Singapore and many gulf cities. 

By Road:

 Kovalam is well linked by the city bus services from Trivandrum and other main junction in the district. Tourist luxury buses are available from many cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Madurai and Nagarcoil to Trivandrum.

By Rail:

The nearest rail head to Kovalam is Trivandrum Central (Thampanoor) railway station. It is about 15 km away from Kovalam. Trivandrum is well linked with all cities in India through rail. 

Haji Ali Dargah : Mumbai

The Haji Ali Dargah  is a mosque and dargah (tomb) located on an islet off the coast of Worli in Southern part of Mumbai. Lying as it does in the heart of the city, the dargah is one of the most recognizable landmarks of Mumbai.
The Haji Ali Dargah was constructed in 1431 in memory of a rich Muslim merchant, Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari (R.A.), who gave up all his worldly possessions before making a pilgrimage to Mecca.  

As per the legends, Haji Ali left this world during his journey to Mecca and miraculously the casket carrying his body, floated back to these shores, getting stuck in the string of rocky islets just off the shore of Worli. Thus, the Dargah was constructed there.

On Thursdays and Fridays, the shrine is visited by at least 40,000 pilgrims. Irrespective of faith and religion, people visit the 'dargah' to get the blessings of the legendary saint. Sometimes, especially on Fridays, people may find various sufi musicians performing a form of devotional music called Qawwali at the Dargah.
 

The Dargah Sharief is built on a tiny islet located 500 meters from the coast, in the middle of Worli Bay, in the vicinity of Worli. The edifice is a brilliant specimen of the Indo-Islamic style of architecture.

The walkway, offering 500-yard-walk, is the highlight of this expedition, where the touch of cool waters and pleasing breeze altogether will make this a divine experience. Sprawling in an area of 4,500 meters, Haji Ali Dargah has a tomb that is always covered with a brocaded red and green sheet, supported by a delicate silver frame. The marble pillars inside the main hall are decorated with multihued mirrors and embrace the ninety-nine names of Allah.

Location-Worli Bay,Mumbai

Coordinates- 18°59′06″N 72°48′36″E / 18.985°N 72.81°E

How to reach the destination:
 

Air : 

Bombay's International Terminal is at Sahar, 30 kms (Ph: 8366700) and Domestic Terminal at Santacruz, 26 km (Ph: 6116009) respectively from downtown Mumbai. Most of the International Airport, Indian Airlines Vayudoot & many other private airlines touch Bombay and connect it with the major cities of India and the world.  

Rail: 

Mumbai has trains connecting it to all the major cities of the country . Regular train services connect Bombay with all major towns and cities in India. Intra city trains in Mumbai are very good, and are the fastest and cheapest way to move around in Mumbai.  

Road: 

Mumbai is connected by good motorable road to Pune 163 km, Nasik 185 km, Mahabaleshwar 239 km, Shirdi 307 km, Aurangabad 392 km, Vadodara 432 km, Ahmedabad 545 kms, Panaji 597 kms, Hyderabad 711 kms, Bangalore 998 kms. Intra city bus services are also very good. The Maharashtra State Transport Bus Terminal (Ph: 3076622, 3074272), J B Behran Marg, is directly opposite the Central Train Station.

Konark Sun Temple : Orissa

Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century Sun Temple (also known as the Black Pagoda), at Konark, in Orissa. It was constructed from oxidizing and weathered ferruginous sandstone by King Narasimhadeva I (1236-1264 CE) of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. The temple is one of the most well renowned temples in India and is a World Heritage Site

The temple takes the form of the chariot of Surya (Arka), the sun god, and is heavily decorated with stone carving. The entire complex was designed in the form of a huge chariot drawn by seven spirited horses on twelve pairs of exquisitely decorated wheels..

The temple symbolizes the majestic stride of the Sun god. At the entrance of the temple is a Nata Mandir. This is where the temple dancers used to perform dances in homage to the Sun god.  

The temple is famous for its erotic sculptures, which can be found primarily on the second level of the porch structure. It will become immediately apparent upon viewing them that the frank nature of their content is combined with an overwhelming tenderness and lyrical movement. This same kindly and indulgent view of life extends to almost all the other sculptures at Konark, where the thousands of human, animal, and divine personages are shown engaged in the full range of the 'carnival of life' with an overwhelming sense of appealing realism. It is admittedly the best in Orissa. Its fine traceries and scrollwork, as well as the beautiful and natural cut of animal and human figures, give it a superiority over other temples.

The poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote of Konark: "here the language of stone surpasses the language of man."

Location- Konark, Orissa

Coordinates: 19°54′N 86°07′E / 19.90°N 86.12°E

How To Reach The Destination - 


This prominent tourist destination of East India, Konark is well linked to all the major parts of the country by air, rail as well as road.  

By Air - 

The Bhubaneswar airport is the most expedient point for entering the city with a number of flights connecting Konark with Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai plying on a regular basis.  
Rail / Train - 

Located in the twin cities of Puri and Bhubaneswar, the railway stations at Konark is well linked with almost all the major destinations in India by regular trains. 
By Road -

An extensive road network of within Konark, connects it well to the rest of the country via National highways and State highways linking it with Puri, Bhubaneswar and other cities in Orissa and its neighboring states.

Golden Temple : Amritsar

Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple, (on account of its scenic beauty and golden coating for English speaking world), is named after Hari(God) the temple of God. The Sikhs all over the world, daily wish to pay visit to Sri Amritsar and to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in their Ardas.

Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Sri Harmandir Sahib.  

Despite its great sacred status, the Golden Temple is open to visitors, like all Sikh temples. 

The most famous and sacred part of the Golden Temple complex is the Hari Mandir (Divine Temple) or Darbar Sahib (Court of the Lord), which is the beautiful golden structure at the center of a large body of water. The gold-plated building features copper cupolas and white marble walls encrusted with precious stones arranged in decorative Islamic-style floral patterns. The structure is decorated inside and out with verses from the Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy book). 

The water that surrounds the Hari Mandir is a sacred pool known as the Amrit Sarovar (Pool of Nectar). The temple is reached by following the Parikrama, which circumscribes the sacred pool in a clockwise direction. Connecting the pathway with the Hari Mandir is a marble causeway called the Guru's Bridge, which symbolizes the journey of the soul after death. The gateway to the bridge, the Darshani Deorhi, has magnificent silver doors. 

Another major highlight of the Golden Temple complex is the Guru-ka-Langar, a dining hall where around 35,000 people a day are fed for free by temple volunteers. Everyone is invited to join this communal breaking of bread. All participants sit on the floor, regardless of caste, status, wealth or creed, powerfully symbolizing the central Sikh doctrine of the equality of all people. 

Sri Harmandir Sahib, is built on a 67ft. square platform in the centre of the Sarovar(tank). The temple itself is 40.5ft. square. It has a door each on the East, West, North and South. The Darshani Deori (an arch) stands at the shore end of the causeway. The door frame of the arch is about 10ft in height and 8ft 6inches in breath. The door panes are decorated with artistic style. It opens on to the causeway or bridge that leads to the main building of Sri Harmandir Sahib. It is 202 feet in length and 21 feet in width.
 
Location-Amritsar,Punjab
 

Co ordinates- 31.620045° N, 74.876397° E 

How to reach the destination:

Air : 

Flights operate to the Rajasansi airport at Amritsar from many national destinations. A few international flights also land at the airport.

Rail : 

Amritsar is well connected by railway network. 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.

Amarkantak : Madhya Pradesh

Amarkantak  is a pilgrim town and a nagar panchayat in Anuppur District in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. Also called "Teerthraj" (the king of pilgrimages), Amarkantak region is a unique natural heritage area and is the meeting point of the Vindhyas and the Satpuras, with the Maikal Hills being the fulcrum. This is where the Narmada River, the Sone River and Johila River emerge.

Amarkantak is a Sanskrit word the literal meaning of which is immortal (amar) obstruction (kantak). The place was abode of Gods but was disturbed by the hindrances of Rudraganas and hence called Amarkantak. The poet Kalidas has mentioned it as Amrakoot. Myth is that the dense forests of this region were full of mango (amra) trees. So Kalidas named it as Amrakoot, which later became Amarkantak.

  

Religious importance of Amarkantak:

Amarkantak situated on the western edge of ancient Kingdom of Kalinga is a place of worship for all the three worlds. Gods and Gandharvas (Celestial beings), Asuras (demons), Saints and Sages  have all achieved great spiritual powers here. It is believed that who ever dies at Amarkantak is assured of a place in heaven. Also if a lady makes offerings of fruits and flowers will gain the respect of her husband, and no doubt she will also achieve a place in heaven.

When Lord Shiva destroyed Tripura (The three cities) by fire, the ashes of one fell upon mount Kailash, the ashes of another fell upon Amarkantak, and the ashes of the third were saved by Lord Shiva and kept in heaven. The ashes that fell upon Amarkantak turned into crores of Shivalingas. Only one is visible at Jwaleshwar in Amarkantak.

Places of tourist importance:

Amarkantak being a unique natural heritage is very rich in biodiversity. It has got a number of places of scenic beauty. Apart from this it is source of origin of three important rivers. It is a great pilgrim center for Hindus. It is thus a great-unexplored tourism destination.

  

Narmadakund and temples

At the place of origin of Narmada River there is an open pool known as Narmadakund. Around this kund there are number of temples such as Narmada and Shiva temple, Kartikey temple, Shri Ram Janki temple, Annapurna temple, Guru Gorakhnath temple, Sri Shuryanarayan temple, Vangeshwar Mahadev temple, Durga temple, Shiv Pariwar, Siddheswar Mahadev temple, Sri Radha Krishna temple, Eleven Rudra temple etc.

Ancient temples of Kalachuri period 

The ancient temples of Kalachuri period are situated in the south of Narmadakund just behind it. These were built by Kalachuri Maharaja Karnadeva (1042-1072 AD). The Machhendranath and Pataleshwar temples are excellent examples of architecture. There is also Keshav Narayan temple built by the Bhonsle ruler of Nagpur in the 18th century.

Sonemuda

Sonemuda is the place of origin of Sone River. It is situated at a distance of 1.5 km from Narmadakund at the very edge of Maikal Mountain. The Sone River cascades from the mountain in a waterfall hundreds of feet long.

Mai ki Bagiya (Goddess garden)

A grove of trees in dense forests situated at a distance of one km from Narmadakund is named “Mai ki Bagiya” in honour of the goddess Narmada. In this natural garden there are Mango, Banana and other fruit trees along with Gulbakavli, roses and other flower plants.

Kapildhara (Kapil waterfall)

Six km northwest of Narmadakund is the Kapildhara waterfall with a fall of about hundred feet. According to scriptures, Kapil Muni lived here. There is a scene of natural beauty with mountains and dense forest down hills.

Kabir chabutra (the platform of saint Kabir)

It is an old belief that the great saint Kabir performed austerities here and achieved spiritual powers. It is therefore a holy place for the Kabir panth sect.

Shri Jwaleshwar Mahadev (the temple of Shiva)

The Jwaleshwar temple and the source of origin of the third river Juhila River is situated at a distance of 8 km from Amarkantak on Shahdol road. According to ‘Vindhya Vaibhav’ Lord Shiva himself established a Shivling here and also scattered crores of other Shivlings over Maikal Mountain

 Location-Annupur,Madhya Pradesh

Coordinates 22°40′N 81°45′E / 22.67°N 81.75°E

How to reach destination:

By Air
The nearest airport to Amarkantak is at Jabalpur, which is 245 km away from City of Amarkantak. Pre-paid taxi services are available from airport to Amarkantak costing about Rs 3,000 for the journey.

By Bus
There are state owned transport buses from Pendra Road, Shahdol and Bilaspur. Amarkantak is connected by buses to Jabalpur (245 km), Rewa (261 km) and Shahdol (67 km).

By Train
The nearest railhead to Amarkantak is Pendra Road at a distance of 17 km from the heart of the city. Anuppur at distance of 48 km from Amarkantak is also convenient for the tourists. Taxi charges are Rs 300 from Pendra Road and Rs 600 from Anuppur.

Mount Abu : Rajasthan

 

  










Mount Abu  is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan state in western India. It is located in Sirohi district. Mount Abu is 58 km from Palanpur (Gujarat). The mountain forms a distinct rocky plateau 22 km long by 9 km wide. The highest peak on the mountain is Guru Shikhar, at 1722 meters above sea level. It is referred to as 'an oasis in the desert', as its heights are home to rivers, lakes, waterfalls and evergreen forests. Ancient Name of Mount Abu is "Arbudaanchal".
 
A pleasant retreat set amidst the lush forested hills, Mt. Abu is a green oasis in the barren desertscape that's Rajasthan. Situated at the southern tip of the Aravali range the hill retreat owes its cool climate to its rich flora covering the entire hillside that includes coniferous trees and flowering shrubs.

The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is more than just a summer retreat. Its stunning array of exquisite Dilwara Jain Temples, dating back 11th- 13th centuries, make it a popular pilgrimage centre. Abu according to a legend stands for the son of Himalayan, deriving its name from Arbuada, the powerful serpent who rescued Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva, from a chasm.

Mount Abu has been home to many sages and saints.

Location-Rajasthan

Coordinates -24°35′33″N 72°42′30″E / 24.5925°N 72.7083°E

What to see:
Gaumukh Temple: A natural spring flowing through a sculpted cows head gives the shrine its name. The famous yagna of sage Vashishtha was performed here. A beautifully sculpted hill temple of Arbuada-the mighty serpent stands against the beautiful backdrop. Nearby is the magnificent marble image of Nandi, the celestial bull rescued by Arbuada.

Dilwara Jain Temple: These beautifully carved temples built between 11th and 13th century A.D. are sheer elegance in marble, dedicated to the jain Tirthankaras. The Vimal Vasahi temple is the oldest of these dedicated to the first Tirthankara. Built in 1031 A.D. (by Vimal Shah-a merchant and representative of then Gujarat ruler), it is a superb example of temple architecture.

Adhar Devi Temple: The temple is chiselled out of a huge rock reached by a flight of 360 stairs. A favourite tourist spot. 

Sunset Point: Spectacular sight of the setting sun when the hills are covered in the golden glow can be viewed from here. 

Honeymoon Point: Also known as Andra Point, it offers an enchanting view of the verdant plains and valleys. The place looks most beautiful during the dusk hours. 

Gardens and Parks: Beautifully laid parks and gardens are interspersed throughout the hilly paradise. Ashok Vatika,Gandhi park, Municipal Park,Shaitan Singh Park and Terrace Garden are some of the noteworthy gardens. 

Museum and Art Gallery: Located at the Raj Bhawan, it was a collection of archaeological excavations dating back to 8th-12th century A.D. It also has Jain bronze carvings,brassworks etc. for viewing.

How to reach the destination:

• Air : Nearest  airports are Udaipur and Ahmedabad.  
• Rail: Nearest  railhead is Abu Road (27 kms). 
• Road: By road  Mount Abu to Ahmedabad 214 kms, Bombay 835 kms, Delhi 768 kms, Jaipur 515 kms, Udaipur 182  kms, Jodhpur 291 kms, Ranakpur 168 kms. 
• Bus : Regular  buses connect Mount Abu with Abu Road, Achalgarh, Ahmedabad, Ranakpur, Ahmedabad, Udaipur,  Abu Road. 
• Taxi: Taxis and  Jeeps are available from Abu Road to Mount Abu.