Archive for the ‘States of North India’ Category
January 16th, 2012 | 
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If your are short on time, the ‘Best of India Tour’ is the best tour package to explore India. The ‘Best of India Tour’ combines the Golden Triangle tourist circuit and Udaipur to bring you the best of India.
Tour Information
Duration: 08 Days / 07 Nights
Destinations: ( Delhi- Agra- Fatehpur Sikri- Jaipur- Udaipur )
Day 01: Arrival Delhi
You will be received by our representative at the airport, who will take you to the hotel. You will be accorded a traditional welcome. Overnight at hotel.
Day 02: Delhi
After breakfast, head on a guided tour of New Delhi. Some of the monuments you visit on your sightseeing tour include Bahai Temple (Lotus Temple), Humayun’s Tomb, the Qutab Minar, Connaught Place and India Gate. In the afternoon proceed on a sightseeing tour of Old Delhi, visit Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Raj Ghat and other memorials. You also take a ride on a cycle rickshaw.
Dinner with an Indian family is the main highlight of your evening activity. You visit an Indian family for dinner to get an insight into the Indian way of life. Overnight at hotel.
Day 03: Delhi- Agra
After breakfast proceed to Agra. In the afternoon tour the massive Agra Fort, which was built by the Mughal emperor Akbar. The fort houses various beautiful palaces and mansions that you can visit on your tour of Agra Fort. In the evening visit Taj Mahal and watch the wonder monument change color as the sun sets. Overnight at hotel.
Day 04: Agra-Fatehpur Sikri-Jaipur
After breakfast proceed to the Pink City—Jaipur. En-route visit Fatehpur Sikri, the capital city of Akbar, the Mughal emperor. The city has some palatial buildings, a mosque and the shrine of saint Salim Chisti. Upon arrival in Jaipur, check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 05: Jaipur
This is the day to take in the architectural beauty of the Pink City. You visit Amber Fort, City Palace, Jantar Mantar Observatory, Hawa Mahal and other important places on your sightseeing tour of Jaipur. Jaipur is rich with ancient monuments, which were built centuries ago. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 06: Jaipur-Udaipur
After breakfast transfer to airport to catch a flight to Udaipur. Upon arrival check in at hotel. The city was founded by Maharana Udai Singh about four centuries ago. On your tour you visit many important tourist places in Udaipur, which include the Jagdish Temple, the City Palace and Lake Pichola.
Day 07: Udaipur-Delhi
The day is at leisure. Take independent walks in the bustling bazaars of Udaipur. You can also visit Shilpgram, the crafts village to shop for some exquisite handicraft items. Afterwards transfer to airport to catch a flight to Delhi.
Day 08: Delhi
Upon arrival check in at hotel. Refresh and relax. Later transfer to airport to catch a flight back home. Tour ends.
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Altitude : 2730 meters
State : Jammu and Kashmir
Languages : Kashmiri and Hindi
Attractions : Skiing
A huge cup shaped meadow, lush and green with slopes where the silence is broken only by the tinkle of cowbells, Gulmarg looks like a fantasy set in a film and not surprisingly have been the venue of several films.
The valley of Gulmarg, a large meadow about 3-sq-kms in area, stands at 2,730 metres, 56-km south west of Srinagar. The name means ‘Meadow Of Flowers’ and in the spring it’s just that, a rolling meadow dotted with countless colourful Bluebells, Daisies, Forget Me Not’s and Buttercups. The valley itself is about 3-km long and up to a km wide.
All around are snow-capped mountains, and on a clear day one can see all the way to Nanga Parbat is one direction and Srinagar is another. It’s a popular day trip from Srinagar to Gulmarg, although many people extend their stay or use it as a base for trekking. The road from Srinagar rises gently towards the lower slopes of the range, passing through rice and maize fields.
The journey to Gulmarg is half the enchantment of reaching there– roads bordered by rigid avenues of poplar give over to flat expanses of rice fields interspersed with picturesque villages. Depending on the season, nature’s colours could be the translucent green of spring, summer’s rich emerald, or autumn’s golden hues, when scarlet chillies festoon windows of village homes. After Tangmarg, the climb to Gulmarg begins through fir-covered hillsides. At one point, known simply as View Point, travelers generally stop their vehicles for a few minutes and look out a spectacle of snow-covered mountains, almost within touching distance.
Shimla is a beautiful Hill station in the lap of Himachal Pradesh and is also its capital. It is located at an altitude of 2213 m. Shimla derives its name from goddess ‘Shayamla Devi’ , another form of Goddess Kali. Shimla has been blessed with natural beauty and is surrounded by green pastures and snow-capped peaks. Its green valleys, the beauty of its trees, pine, oak and deodar and its beautiful weather attract the tourists throughout the year. The spectacular cool hills accompanied by the structures made during the colonial era create an atmosphere, which has given Shimla Hill Station the title of ” Queen of Hills “. Though Shimla has a regular flow of tourists throughout the year, maximum tourists come in May and October. In December, tourists flock to Shimla to enjoy the pleasant snowfall.
Shimla retains its colonial heritage, with grand old buildings, charming iron lampposts and Anglo-Saxon names. Besides the old Tudor and Georgian cottage-pattern houses erected by the British, new edifices have also been constructed in Shimla. Shimla is also famous for its flowers like lily, rhododendron and many undiscovered and anonymous beauties.
Apart from its natural attractions, Shimla is also famous for its architectural buildings, wooden crafts and apples. The Mall, The Gaiety Theatre, Himalayan Bird Park, Kufri, Chail, Nalderao, Fagu, Viceregal lodge, Himachal State Museum, Sanjauli, Temples and Daranghati Sanctuary are just some of the famous tourist spots of the hill station. Shimla is also famous for its adventure sports, which include trekking to the Kullu valley and trout fishing at the Pabbar River . The more adventurous can also opt for skiing at the Narkanda and Kufri . The nine-hole golf course at Naldehra is also a major draw for the tourists.
Gurudwara Manji Sahib Alamgir is situated in Alamgir Village near Ludhiana Distt. Guru Gobind Singh Ji reached Alamgir village after the martyrdom of his mother & four sons by Mughals and stayed here for few days. On reaching Alamgir, one of the horse trader of the Village named Bhai Nigahia Singh, gifted a horse to Guru Ji. Bhai Nabi Khan & Bhai Gani Khan provided a bed (manji) to Guru Ji. Guru Ji asked an old lady who was picking cowdung whether he could get some water from somewhere to take bath to which the old lady replied that
“Pir Ji this is a place of ruins, there is no water here”.
There is a well far away but there is a big python that lives there, no one goes there. On listening this, Guru Ji hit the python with an arrow & gave it ” Mukti ” ( exemption from further transmigration ) & the python fell into the well. When the people went to take water from the well, they found that the water is not clean, Guru Ji, then hit one more arrow & there was a water spring that came out & all had a bath. On seeing this miracle, the old lady fell into Guru Sajib’s feet & said
“Peer Ji you are a wonderful Peer, I have a request. I have leprosy & i have gone to various places to get the treatment done but it has not been cured, kindly cure my disease & help me to get rid of this disease”.
Guru Ji said that whoever takes a bath under this water spring with belief, GOD will cure all his sadness. Then Guru Ji sat on the horse given by Bhai Nigahia Singh & went towards Raikot. The old lady had a bath in that water spring & was cured. She went back to the village & told about the whole story. The place where Bhai Nabi Khan & Bhai Gani Khan kept GURU SAHIB’s bed, today at that place exists a beautiful Gurudwara known as Manji Sahib Alamgir.
Manali is located in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh. Situated at an altitude of about 1950 m above sea level, it is about 250 km away from the state capital of Shimla.
Manali has been named after Brahmas’s appointed lawgiver, Manu, who is said to have arrived in this region to begin the seventh cycle of creation and destruction. The region is also said to be the home of the seven great sages of the Hindu religion.
As an important hill station and tourist destination of India, Manali offers much in terms of natural beauty such as panoramic views of the surrounding snow-capped mountain, flower gardens and orchards with green & red apples; with places such as Solang Valley known as a winter sports location; the Nehru Kund, which is a clear water spring; the Kothi Village, offering views of a deep gorge through which River Beas flows; and the Rahalla Falls.
Apart from being a hill station, there are also several other attractions in Manali. The Hidimba Temple, built in 1533 AD, is dedicated to hidimba, the wife of Bhima who was one of the pandavas. The Manu temple, dedicated to the sage and lawgiver, Manu, is located in old Manali. The Vasishta temple, dedicated to Lord Rama and Sage Vasishta, is known for its hot springs. The nearby town of Jagatsukh is home to a few old temples dedicated to Shiva and Sandhya Gayatri.
Tourist places in Manali
Located at an elevation of 1,950 metres, Manali and the surrounding area is of immense significance to Indian culture and heritage, as it is said to be the home of the Saptarshi, or Seven Sages. An igloo shaped temple, Beas Kund has a spring, which is the origin of River Beas.
Located in the middle of a forest called the Dhungiri Van Vihar, Hadimba Temple is one of the most important temples in the region. Manu Temple enshrines Manu, who landed and settled down in Manali after the great floods and became the progenitor of human beings.
Gauri Shankar Temple, located in Jagatsukh, is dedicated to Shiva and Parvati. On the bank of River Beas, is the Vashisht Village, which is famous for a temple dedicated to Lord Rama and hot springs that are said to have medicinal properties. Malana, a hamlet across River Parvati, is believed to have been inhabited by the descendants of the Greeks that came as Alexander’s army.
Established on the south-eastern corner of Ludhiana city, Manji Sahib Gurudwara expresses the divine presence of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. One of the sacred places of Sikh devotees, the Gurudwara assigns its history to the early period of 1700s when Guru Ji passed through this holy spot.
The historical saga of the Manji Sahib Gurudwara of Haryana reveals a rather fascinating tale. While going to Malwa, in 1705, Guru Gobind Singh Ji stopped his palanquin-bearers on the very location where the Gurudwara of Manji Sahib exists.
He chose the place as a stop-over and asked one of the local peasants to bring a horse for him so that he can use it for his journey. The man assigned with the job told a lie to Guru Ji and presented a mare to him, not realizing the imminent consequences. Guru Ji did not accept the mare and left the place. On going back to his home the farmer found his horse dead. This way the local people came to know the sacred powers of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
The sincere followers of Guru Ji in the coming years built the Manji Sahib Gurudwara on the same spot where the Guru took rest for sometime. Apart from regular sessions of Guru Granth Sahib Recitation, the Sikh followers also attend the ceremony of the first, fifth and tenth Guruparabs in the premises of the Gurudwara. Commemorating the sacrifices of Guru Teg Bahadur, Shahidi Divas is also followed religiously in this sacred place.
The shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is one of the most visited pilgrim sites in India. Situated at a height of 5, 300 ft., the site is located inside a cave in a hill. One of the most visited pilgrim sites in India, the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is located in a cave, amidst the folds of the Trikuta Bhagwati hill at a height of 5, 300 ft., in the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J & K). This cave temple is at a distance of 61 kms from Jammu and the last 13 kms of the way have to be negotiated on foot by the yatris, as the devotees are called. Once at the entrance to the cave, the path turns into a narrow tunnel with a cold stream named the Charan Ganga running through it. The pilgrim has to wade through this to reach the sanctum sanctorum.
Significance Of Vaishno Devi
The holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji is unique as it contains the holiest of holy Pindis manifesting Mata in her three forms which are Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati. Each of these forms represent particular attributes.
Maha Kali represents Tam Guna : Tam stands for darkness or unholiness. In her attribute of Maha Kali, Mata is constantly endeavoring to vanquish the forces of darkness. She blesses her devotees by giving them strength to never lose heart and constantly battle the forces of darkness till they prevail upon them. Maha Lakshmi represents Raj Guna : Raj stands for sustenance, prosperity and well being. In her attribute of Maha Lakshmi Vaishno Mata blesses her devotees with wealth and prosperity and thus makes their life more comfortable and happy.
Maha Saraswati represents Satva Guna : Satva stands for purity and goodness. In her attribute of Maha Saraswati, Mata blesses her devotees with pure thoughts and a high intellect. This enables them to distinguish between the good and the bad, between righteousness and unrighteousness and helps them to adopt the correct path in life.
Yatra Of Vaishno Devi
The Yatra begins at Katra and pilgrims have to cover 13 km of terrain on foot to reach the Darbar. One kilometer away from Katra, is Banganga, place where Mata quenched her thirst and at 6 km further down, is the holy cave at Adhkawari.The entire 13 km route is quite wide and tiled. Besides, the whole path is lit up every night by powerful sodium vapour lamps. The whole route is swept and cleaned from time to time throughout the day. Yatris are requested to keep the path clean.
Shelter cum sheds and shelter cum cafeterias are setup throughout the route. Pure vegetarian food is available at these outlets. Price charts are exhibited at all these outlets prominently. Drinking water has been made available all along the route, with water coolers and storage facilities.
Public utilities with automatic flushing systems along the track and at the Bhawan. After 6 km. of trekking, you would reach Adhkawari, the holy cave where Mata meditated for nine months. Do visit the cave. After 9.5 km., you would reach Sanji Chhat where you can rest for sometime. Accommodation is also available at this place. Bhawan is just 3.5 km. away.
How To Reach
By Air
Srinagar airport is approximately 14 km from the city. There are daily flights to Srinagar, operated by Indian Airlines (from Delhi, Mumbai and Jammu) and other Private Airlines like Air Deccan, SpiceJet, Kingfisher, Jet Airways (from Delhi and Jammu).
By Rail
Jammu Tawi, approximately 305 km far, is the nearest railhead for Srinagar. Trains from Delhi, Calcutta, Pune, Mumbai and other cities arrive at this station only. During holiday season, when there is a heavy rush for Kashmir, additional trains operate for and from this station.
By Road
National Highway 1-A is the main highway connecting Srinagar with Jammu. J&K State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) as well as a number of private Super deluxe, A-class and B-class busses operate to and from the state. Private taxis are also available for traveling to Kashmir. This is one of the most adventurous though a bit strenuous travel track in India.
Main Attraction
Jammu popularly known as the winter capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir is also well known for its temples and shrines. There are a number of Tourist Attractions in Jammu and the most popular one is the Vaishno Devi Temple which is located in the Trikuta hills close to the city of Jammu.
A large number of tourists from all over the country flock to this religious spot every year. Jammu is bordered by Kashmir in the north, Himachal Pradesh in the south, Ladakh in the east and Azad Kashmir in the west. Jammu is surrounded by the Pir Panjal ranges, Tawi river basin, Trikuta hills and the Shiwalik range which add to the natural landscapes and attractive surroundings.
Jammu was initially named after Raja Jamboo Lochan who founded the city but with time the original name which was ‘Jamboo’ changed to ‘Jammu’. There are a number of places of Tourist Attractions in Jammu such as the Bahu Fort, Mubarak Mandi Palace, and Dogra Art Museum, Sheesh Mahal, Surinsar Mansar Wildlife sanctuary and the Rani Charak Mahal. The Bahu Fort is famous for the Maha Kali temple. The Mubarak Mandi Palace is a harmonious blend of the Rajasthani, European and Mughal architecture.