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Nanded was earlier known as “Nandigram”. It is near about equi-distance from some important cities like Aurangabad, Hydrabad, Solapur, and Nagpur. Nanded city forms a part of east central Maharashtra and lies along the Godavari River. Nanded is situated 650-km away from Mumbai and 270-km from Hyderabad . It is also spelt “Nander” and derives its name from “Nanda Tat” (“Nanda border”), a term that refers to the boundary of the Magadha kingdom during the 7th century BC. Nanded is also a district headquarter and second largest city in Marthawada after Aurangabad . Latur and Parbhani districts surround Nanded on the west and Yavatmal district on the north: the state of Andhra Pradesh lies to the east and Karnataka State to the south.

Nanded is famous as a centre of Sanskrit learning and is important due to its historical, social and political background. The tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singhji held his court and congregation over here. This is the place where he recovered after assassins that attacked him. A Sikh gurdwara was also built on the same site. Nanded has a personality of its own due to its mythological, historical, social and cultural importance. The river Godavari flows through the city. Temples and Ghats on the banks of Godavari have made Nanded one of the holiest places for Hindus.

Places To Visit

Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib

Takhat Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib is the main Gurudwara of Nanded and is one of the four High seats of Authority of the sikhs. This is the place where Shri GuruGobind Singhji breathed his last.The Gurudwara is situated in Nanded Town. The Gurudwara was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singhji, The great Ruler of Punjab between 1830 to 1839 A.D. Inside the Gurudwara, which contains the mortal remains of the 10th Guru, there are exhibited a number of weapons of various kinds.

Sahid Masjid

The Masjid known as the Hazrat Nawab Sarfaraz Khan Sahid Masjid is said to have been constructed about 330 years back. Sarfaraz Khan was an officer in the army of Aurangzeb. The Masjid is constructed in stone. There are four minarets on the southern side which collapsed When it was hit by a lightening in 1960. The one on the north has eight chains. Below the chains is a figure in the shape of a bell. To the north-west corner of the masjid is a barrow (a well square in shape). Masjid is situated in Biloli Town.

Kandhar fort

Kandhar Town is famous for its fort. Kandhar fort is situated in the heart of Town. Encircling the fort, is a ditch filled with water. It’s construction is attributed to the Rashtrakuta King Krishna III of Malkhed who styled himself as Kandharpuradhi Swar.

Outside the Kandhar fort at some distance is a hillock on which is situated an old Idgah held in reverence by the muslims. It is of Nizamshahi period with two domes in characteristic Ahmednagar style.

Locating at an altitude of 625m, Lonavala and Khandala are famous for its beautiful hills, deep green valleys, huge lakes, historic forts and waterfalls etc. These two hill stations are at the Sahyadris Mountains of Maharashtra.

Lonavala and Khandala have magnificent waterfalls that give a heart catching view during monsoon. Tourists can plan their trip together with Karla, Bhaja, and Bedsa caves, which are very near from Lonavala. This hill station is also known as the ‘Jewel of Sahydri’, because of its nature’s gifted of beautiful valleys, hills, milky waterfalls, lush greenery, and pleasant cool winds.

Khandala is smaller than Lonavala and relatively calmer. It is known to be the pride of the Sahyadri Mountains. Beautiful waterfall amidst green environment is really splendid to see. The place refreshes the exhausted tourists. Tugauli, Lonavala, Bhushi and Valvan Lake are the important lakes of this hill station.

Nearest airport is situated at Pune (64 km). Lonavala and Khandala are 104 km from Mumbai and 64 km from Pune on the Mumbai-Pune highway.

Lonavala

Lonavala is such a place where nature is present in all its splendor. Lonavala has become famous because of nature’s gift. Lonavala has been blessed with valleys, hills, Milky Waterfalls, Lush Greenery and pleasant cool winds. This region full of natural beauty. Words are not enough to describe the beauty for this place. Lonavala is an epic poem created by God. Beautiful mountain ranges trying to reach the sky are sites that please the human mind and give an experience of heavenly pleasure. The morning sun rising over here appears as if it is sprinkling rose water all over. Chirping birds gently awaken oneself and all of this makes it a really Good Morning. The whole place is covered with a thick blanket of fog early in the morning; this is how the day begins here.

Khandala

Khandala neighbors Lonavala. Although is comparatively small, it is equally blessed with natural beauty and bounty. Deep valley on one side and high hills on the other side divide Khandala and Lonavala. Luckily, modern industrialization has not adversely affected Khandala. Whenever a tourist visits Lonavala he also wishes to visit Khandala. While traveling on Mumbai Bangalore National Highway, one has to cross the arduous Khopoli – Khandala Ghat. This is the famous Borghat. In a short distance of 8 Kms one has to climb a height of 369 meters. This is a difficult Ghat to climb.

But once you reach here, you feel that this climb has been worth the trouble. Khandala is One place where you will fall in love at First Site. In fact this is exactly the reason that we feel must have inspired the makers of the movie “GHULAM” to include a song “AATI KYA KHANDALA” in their movie which has created huge waves throughout India. Also, Lonavala and Khandala are full of tourist practically for the whole year. Main reasons for this is the fact that it is very close to Mumbai, so people from Mumbai find it very convenient, other reason is that the passengers traveling to south India or returning from there also pass through, making this place a busy spot. And the natural beauty of Lonavala & Khandala makes one forget the fatigue of the journey. Being at a considerable height from sea level, these two places enjoy a cool climate.

The golden sands, azure waters and an eternal bliss have always been a cause of enticement for the beach lovers who come to explore the Anjuna Beach from various parts of the world. Just laze and luxuriate at the beach which is solely meant for the purpose of unwinding. This beach occupies a reputed position among the various other beaches of Goa simply because of its unrivalled charm.

Location of the Colva Beach :

Colva beach lies in the south of Goa at the distance of 6 km from the city of Margao. It is the longest beach in Goa. The best time to visit the beach lies between November to February. Colva is a small village which is located in the south of Goa right on the shores of the Arabian Sea and it is at a distance of 39 km from Panaji.

Climate of Colva Beach :

Goa enjoys the pleasant climate throughout the year. The climate basically remains consistent throughout the year. Summers stats from mid March and remains till June. The maximum temperature in summers reaches up to 32.7°C and the minimum temperature is 24°C. Monsoon period in Goa rests from June to September. Winters starts at the end of November and remains till February. The maximum temperature in winters reaches 32.2°C and the minimum temperature is 21°C . There is no drastic rise during the summers and no drastic fall during the winters.

Key Attractions:

On the tour to the Colva Beach the tourists can make a visit to a very simple Church called The Church of Lady of Mercy. The church houses the wonderful statue of Menino Jesuse. It was built in the 17 century and is quite famous for the annual religious festival called ‘Fama of Menino Jesuse’. Tourists can go for the leisure walk to the nearby Colva village. There you can converse with the local fisherman and know about their lifestyle and livelihood. Than you can spend time at The Church of St John, located just 2 km from the beach. Tourists can even enjoy the bull’s fight from 4 pm onwards between the month of October to May. The fight is held in the rice field on the beats of the Konkani music. Other than these do not forget to make a visit to the pristine Benaulim beach near to the Colva beach. Benaulim provides you the completely friendly environment as well as relaxing gateway.

Food :

While on the beach you can try out the exotic sea food. Do not forget to taste the most famous drink of Goa called Feni. It is also known as Fenny. You can either try out the Cashew feni or the coconut feni. Both the drinks are equally delicious. You can even try out the cuisines from the nearby stalls.

How To Reach:

By Air: You can reach Colva beach by the air transport as the nearest airport is Dabolim which is at a distance of 29 km from Panaji and 68 km from Colva.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Karmali which is at a distance of 11 km from Panaji.

It was constructed after the completion of the Baradari by levying a contribution of a damri or quarter of a dub on all laborers employed.

The Damri Mahal which is close by was built after the completion of the Barra Darri. It is so named because it was constructed by levying a contribution of a ‘damri’ or the quarter of a dub, on an laborers employed on Barr Darri. An arcaded verandah projects in front like a portico, and contains five scolloped arches. Behind are ten rooms of varying sizes, arranged in a line. To the right are seven atom chambers with antechambers. The entrance is in the right corner. Close by, on a slightly higher level than the rest is another small but detached building. The roof is arched. There are also two cisterns, one in front of the verandah and another outside the building.
The Revenue Office building was known as the Damri Mahal. It was built after the completion of the ‘Barra Darri’. The building was built by imposing a donation of a damri which is equivalent to a quarter of a dub. The contribution was collected from all the labourers employed.

The front of the building has an arcaded verandah. This verandah just in front like a portico. The portico consists of 5 scalloped arches.

Behind the verandah there are 10 rooms of varying sizes. They are arranged in a line. There are 7 chambers and antechambers to the right. The roof is arched.

Goa which is rightly regarded as the “Pearl of the East” is a paradise for all nature lovers with its golden beaches and palm fringed beachfront. It is a wonderful retreat for all the nature lovers and tourism in Goa is burgeoning in leaps and bounds. Its Gothic churches, ancient ruins, palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves, ferry rides, and bubbly folk music are some of the things it is characterized by. The solitude hunters are definitely going to make Goa as their stopover in their tour itinerary.

Goa, the beautiful state located on the western coast of India, is blessed with many attractive tourist attractions. That includes, sun kissed beaches, churches, forts, temples, lavish hotel resorts and colonial monuments.

Goa has a long stretch of coastline of about 131 km and you will be enchanted by the beautiful beaches in Goa. A salubrious climate, friendly people, appetizing food, white-washed churches and a fascinating aura of the colonial times lends an unprecedented touch to this small state of western India. Not only the Indian tourists, the Europeans are also beguiled by the natural exquisiteness of this wonderful tropical paradise and drop in to Goa for spending vacations.

The Beaches of Goa

Beaches are the attractions of Goa that are marked as the first one on the tour itinerary of Goa. Calangute Beach, called the Queen of Indian beaches is a stretched for 7 kms. Anjuna, the traditional ramble center, is admired by the back packers. It is a real lively place with many eating joints, restaurants and bars. Baga Beach, a fascinating beach is near Anjuna Beach. Dona Paula Beach 7 kms far from Panaji gives a best opportunity to the tourists for best relaxation and sunbath.

Colva Beach near Margo offers nice accommodation options. Naturally blessed beach are Arambol Beach in the north and Palolem Beach in the south. Other famous beaches include Miramar Beach, Agonda Beach, Mandrem Beach, Morjim Beach, Miramar Beach, Palolem Beach, Siridao Beach, Patnem Beach, Keri Beach, Lemos Beach, Mandrem Beach, Morji Beach, Asvem Beach and many more. The resorts on the Goa Beach Resorts offer all the modern tourist facilities in Goa.

Sabarmati Ashram, formerly known as ‘Satyagraha Ashram”, situated in Ahmedabad at the Kocharab Bungalow of Jivanlal Desai, a barrister. Later on it was shifted to the banks of Sabarmati river and then it came to be known as ‘Sabarmati Ashram’. Gandhi stayed at the Ashram from 1915 to 1933 later on the Ashram was disbanded. The Ashram is a witness to many important historical events.

History:

“This is the right place for our activities to carry on the search for Truth and develop Fearlessness- for on one side, are the iron bolts of the foreigners, and on the other, thunderbolts of Mother Nature”.- This is how Gandhiji described the site of Sabarmati Ashram when he first visited the place for assessing if it was suitable for carrying out his work.

The site of 36 acres was a waste land full of snakes, but the order was not to kill them.

The Satyagraha Ashram, later renamed as Harijan Ashram, was started in all earnest with a two-fold purpose- one was to carry on the search for Truth, and the other was to create a non-violent group of workers, who would create a non-violent group of workers, who would organize and help to secure freedom for the country.

A View Of The Ashram :

Nandini:

It is on the right hand side of ‘Hridaya Kunj’. It is an old Ashram guest house, where guests from India and abroad are put up.

Vinoba Kutir:

Named after Acharya Vinoba Bhave who stayed here, and also known as Mira Kutir after Mirabahen, Gandhiji’s disciple, daughter of a British Admiral.

Upasana Mandir:

It is an open -air prayer ground, situated between ‘Hridaya Kunj’ and ‘Magan Kutir’ (the hut where Maganlal Gandhi, the ashram manager, used to stay).

Here, Gandhiji used to refer to individual questions after prayers and as the head of the family analysed and gave his solutions.

Chitrakut is one of the most sacred pilgrim sites of north India. It covers a vast area comprising five villages: Sitapur, Karvi, Nayagaon, Kamta, and Khohi. The mountain ranges of the Vindhya surround the area. Mixed forests spread in all directions. An aura of sanctity surrounds the place. The countryside seems to exert a peculiar power over the residents and visitors alike. Today, the main pilgrim center, Ram Ghat, on the banks of the river Mandakini is synonymous with Chitrakut.The district is bordered by Kaushambi in the North, Satna and Rewa of Madhya Pradesh in the South, Prayagraj of Allahabad in the East and Banda in the West. Chitrakoot is located in the Northern Vindhya Range, which consists of Madfa Pahar, Chitrakoot Parvat Mala and Balmiki Pahar. The district is located on the bank of the Mandakini River, which is also known as the Paishwani River.

Chitrakoot is believed to be the dwelling place of Lord Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshman, during their exile of eleven and a half years. It is also believed that all the gods and goddesses came to Chitrakoot when Lord Rama performed the ‘shraddha’ ceremony of his father. The gods and goddesses were so impressed by the beauty of the place that they were unwilling to depart.

Tourists Attractions

Chitrakoot is a popular tourist destination, which is known for its natural beauty and religious landmarks. The most important religious place in Chitrakoot is Kamadgiri. This hollow, bow-shaped mountain houses numerous caves and a big lake inside. Ram Ghat is another important sightseeing attraction, located on the bank of River Mandakini and has many temples. Sati Anusuya Ashrama, Valmiki Ashrama and Sutikshna Ashrama are few other places that tourists visit. Tourists with a flair for natural attractions can visit Mayurdhwaj Ashrama and Pramod Van. Janaki Kund is the serene stretch of river Mandakini with crystal clear greenish blue water, which is believed to be the bathing place of Sita.

Most of the spots of tourist importance are along the river Mandakini. Janaki Kund is a straight stretch of river and a series of steps on the left bank descended to the water, almost greenish-blue in color. According to a legend, it was the favorite bathing spot of Sita. Beyond Janaki Kund, the river is enchantingly beautiful. Ram Ghat is a long stretch of steps cut into the banks where pilgrims perform religious ablutions and rituals. Many compare its hallowed sanctity to Rishikesh and Benaras.

Lonavala is a Hill station in Maharashtra. Also known as the jewel of the Sahyadri Mountains. This Hill Station is also a popular Health Resort in the western ranges on the sahyadri,It Is situated on a hieght of 625 mtrs. above sea level and is a popular gateway from Mumbai and Pune. It also serves as a starting point for tourists interested in visiting the famous, ancient Buddhist rock cut caves of Bhaja and Karla, which are located near this hill station.

Location : Lonavala is located in the western part of the state of Maharashtra, in India. It is situated 106 km southeast of Mumbai at an altitude of 625 m above sea level.

Weather : The weather in Lonavala is pleasant. Summers (April-June) are mild, while winters are cool (November-February). It experiences heavy southwestern monsoon rains between June and September.

Visiting Time : The best time to visit Lonavala is between the months of October and May. It is advised not to visit Lonavala in the monsoon season between the months of June and September, as it experiences heavy rainfall during this time.

Places to See : Lonavala provides a panoramic view of the lush green surroundings of the Sahyadri ranges. The peaceful environs of the town, which provides a great escape from the hustle and bustle of Mumbai city, attract tourists to this place. Travelers can take a walk along the waterfalls, the grassy abundance and hills in and around Lonavala. The mountainous terrain of Lonavala is ideal for trekking and hiking.

Excursion : There are numerous lakes around Lonavala. Tugauli, Lonavala and Bhushi lakes are worth visiting; so is the Walvan Dam. The small hill station of Khandala is just 5 km away. Travelers coming from Mumbai pass through Khandala before reaching Lonavala. Kaivalyadhama Yoga Hospital is 2 km from Lonavala on the road to Karla and Bhaja caves. This center attracts both local and foreign yogic healing. This center was founded in 1924 and conducts various courses in Yoga along with a research center and a training college. Karla and Bhaja Caves, located in the hills at a distance of 11 km from Lonavala, are important places to visit. These rock-cut cave temples dating back to 2nd century BC and are amongst the oldest and finest examples of Buddhist rock cut temple art in India, belonging to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism. Adventure seekers can try their hand at rock climbing at the Duke. s Nose peak and other locations in the Karla hills, near Lonavala.