Thursday, December 18, 2008

Famous Beaches in India

Beaches in India have the potential to hold time as per their own rhythm. Not only scenic beauty, but these beaches feature an exotic culture, an interesting heritage and lip-smacking cuisines. And when it comes to enjoying beach sports, you have options like wind surfing, scuba diving, parasailing, canoeing, kayaking etc. So, be ready to have the time of your life!
Famous Beaches in India are:
Goa Beaches
Kerala Beaches
Orissa Beaches
Tamilnadu Beaches
Karnataka Beaches
Andhra Pradesh
Maharashtra
Gujarat Beaches
Andman Nicobar

Famous Adventure Options in India

When in India, you don’t need to be an expert in adventure activities, beginners too can have a great deal of fun. India offers adventure sports options for all abilities. Whether it’s the Himalayas or the Thar Desert, you can enjoy the activities with your whole family. All you need to do is just choose an option which you like the most and the rest will be just done for you.
Famous Adventure Options in India are:
River Rafting
Paragliding
Camel Safari
Ballooning
Bird Watching
Camping
Jeep Safari
Biking
Scuba Diving
Rock Climbing
Snow Skiing
Trekking

Famous Pilgrimage Destinations in India

A religious trip to India holds a lot of significance for travellers. India is the ‘Land of dharma’ and spirituality is like oxygen to its natives. A boat-ride along the Ganges in Varanasi, a trip to the chardham in the foothills of the Himalayas, visiting Budhhist and Jain religious centres are just a hint of what you are about to see. There are many more rich experiences just waiting for you!

Famous Wildlife Parks in India

It might be a little confusing for travellers to explore the Indian wildlife when the list has around 86 national parks and 441 wildlife sanctuaries. But, you need not worry as we’ll be telling you where to find and watch the rare and endangered animal species and what will be the most ideal time to go to a particular national parks. We’ll also be arranging lectures on flora and fauna.
Famous Wildlife Parks in India
Corbett
Bandhavgarh
Sunderbans
Ranthambore
Kanha
Periyar
Sariska
Kaziranga
Gir

South India Highlights

Ever experienced the charm of floating on soothing waters on a country raft poled by local oarsmen? Don’t let your hectic city life keep you from experiencing such wonderful real life moments and much more. The tourist attractions in southern India happen to be much more than what meets the eye. Some of you might be interested in backwater tours, some might like to explore the temple architecture while some other may want to experience the local culture. Even you might be in search of photogenic villages where time would simply seem to have come to a standstill. There are sights that will bring a smile to your face and a laugh to your belly whereas there are some that’ll make you feel completely nostalgic. A trip to the southern part of India brings you closer to local people, lets you reconnect with nature, makes you remember the glorious days of history, gives you an opportunity to explore the ancient temple architecture and lots more. Right from the iconic Charminar of Hyderabad and the imposing palaces of Mysore to the pristine beaches of Kerala, you have a wide range to choose from. The bird sanctuary at Kumarakom, that you’ll come across during your backwater cruise from Alappuzha, is a hot favourite of travellers. Here, you can spend hours sighting some of most beautiful and rarest of feathered species. Given below are some highly rated tourist attractions in southern India:
Kerala Backwaters
Charminar
Golconda Fort
Thousand Pillar Temple
Mysore Palace
Kerala Beaches
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Ooty
KodaiKanal

North India Tourist Destinations

Delhi
Delhi being the capital of India, reflects the cultural diversity and religious unity of India. It is difficult to define the culture and religion of India. As there is a continuous inflow of people from all parts of India, the cultural diversity is very prominent.
Agra
Agra is the most famous one for the Taj Mahal which is one of the most famous tourist attraction in the world. It boasts the eternal love of Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz. Million of tourists all across the world visit this city to see the architectural beauty of this fantastic monument.
Jaipur
The city of Jaipur is the logical starting point for anyone traveling in Rajasthan because of its central location and good air, road, and rail connections.
Jodhpur
Jodhpur is the second largest city of Rajasthan. It was founded by Rao Jodha in 1459. The elegant handicrafts, folk dances and music creates an ambiance of romantic city. The city is having beautiful palaces, forts and temples that bring back the splendor of the past.
Pushkar
Pushkar is situated at the foot of the hills which add to its beauty. Five rivers, Suprabha, Kanaka, Prachi Nanda, and Saraswati flow here and make the place more beautiful and serene. Pushkar is about 153 kms from Jaipur, which is also the nearest airport, 13 kms from Ajmer Railway Station.. A winding road among the hills leads to Pushkar. The way is full of natural scenes.
Udaipur
Udaipur is one of the most romantic cities in all of Rajasthan. It is better known as the city of lakes. The marble palaces, the beautiful gardens and the placid blue lakes enhance the beauty of this city. It was founded in 1568 by Maharana Udai Singh II.
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is a city of forts, havelis, and sand dunes with added attraction of camel rides. The main attraction is Jaisalmer Fort along with Jain Temple, Salim-singh-ki-Haveli, Patwon-ki-Haveli, Gadsisar Sagar Tank, Bara Bagh, and Jaisalmer Culture Center.
Bikaner
Bikaner holds a secondary rank amongst the principalities of Rajpootana. It is an offset of Marwar, its princes being scions of the house of Joda, who established themselves by conquest on the northern frontier of the parent state and its position, in the heart of the desert, has contributed to the maintenance of their independence.
Shekhawati
The land of Shekha (Rao Shekaji 1433-1488) – Shekhawati is today known as the ‘open-air art gallery’ of Rajasthan. Earlier a part of the former Jaipur State and now comprising the districts of Jjunjhunu & Sikar in north eastern Rajasthan, the Shekhawati region is noted for its human and artistic enterprises. This region has been the home of the Marwari community, which for more than a century has been the backbone of commercial entrepreneurship in India.
Khajuraho
Khajuraho is the famous site of the temples which glorify the erotic motif of Hindu art. The temples lie amidst the verdant lawns and pink flowers and are embellished with the sinuous curves of sculpture unparalled in their beauty. Of the 85 temples built by the Chandela rulers in a style which is essentially Indo-Aryan, only 22 survive today.
Varanasi
The land of Varanasi (Kashi) has been an ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Often referred to as Benares, Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world and as Mark Twain said, "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together".
Kashmir
Kashmir, the northernmost part of India, is considered the crown of the nation. Nestled in the lap of the mighty Himalayan ranges, Kashmir is most rapturous and beautiful with lovely vales, waterfalls, gardens and snow clad peaks. Kashmir is the essence of everything that is Indian--its culture, history, tradition, people, and natural splendor.
Leh
Leh is breathtaking. Towering over the city is the tall nine storeyed palace built by Ladakh’s ruler Sengge Namgyal in the early 17th century. It is said to have served as the model for the Potala palace in Lhasa.
Ladkh
Ladakh is a land abounding in awesome physical features, set in an enormous and spectacular environment. Bounded by two of the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Karakoram in the north and the Great Himalaya in the south, it is traversed by two other parallel chains, the Ladakh Range and the Zanskar Range.
Mumbai
Mumbai, named after a Marathi earth goddess, is built on a long, thin island just off the west coast of Maharashtra and linked to the mainland by causeways. It has cool, glitz and glamour. This is where India’s big money and beautiful people hang out, creating a city full of flashy skyscrapers and designer boutiques, overlaying elegant colonial foundations.
Goa
The former Portuguese colony of Goa is one of the most sought-after destinations in India. Situated on the western coast of India, the state is blessed with many attractions including, sun drenched beaches, forts, churches and beach resorts, colonial charm. Last but not the least it is the culture that makes it different from other states of India.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Heritage Destinations in India

India, a platform of rich culture and tradition amidst a huge range of diversity and equality, is home to some of the excellent manifestations of art and architecture in various forms and shapes. Long and strong stretches of history have resulted in the creation of several artistic illustrations and cultural depictions. A ride through the entire sphere of these architectural masterpieces will help you delve deeper into the country’s cultural bias. East to west, north to south – travel through the vast stretches of the nation to explore the various heritage destinations of India and peep into the range of intricate forms of art and architecture of India. The heritage destinations in India basically calls for a closer look as the following options are some of the greatest landmarks in the world of culture and ethnicity of the country of ancient glory and grandeur:
Taj Mahal
Agra – This monument of pristine supremacy in terms of artistic connotations is viewed as an epitome of love and romance. Built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, in loving memory of his wife, Mumtaz, this structure of white marble flaunts a dome and minarets adorning the premises.
The immortal monument of love, Taj Mahal is one of the most visited medieval buildings of the world. Such is the importance of this eternal monument that it has almost become a symbol of India. Most foreigners who visit India are lured by the Taj and it is one of the first things that they want to visit in the country. The Taj Mahal tours take tourists on the fascinating journeys of the city of Agra and its surrounding locates, all of which still smell of history. With the numerous historic monuments that a tour of Agra promises, the erstwhile capital of the mighty Mughuls is one of the highlights of tourism in North India.
The star attraction of the Taj Mahal tours is of course, the Taj itself. Built by the fifth Mughul emperor Shahjahan (1628 – 1658), this monument has immortalized the name of Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved wife of Shahjahan, in whose memory he built this marvelous tomb.
The Taj is characterized by highly stylized calligraphy, intricate carvings in marble, delicate arrangement of precious stones, and the famous pietra dura inlay work. The sheer size of the Taj is enough to mesmerize the observer, and indeed, many distinguished visitors from all over the world have been captivated by its ethereal beauty.
Agra is known as the city of Mughuls, and rightly so. Before the Mughuls, there were rulers here, but it is the Mughuls who gave Agra worldwide fame as one of the most magnificent cities of its times. The other Mughul monuments have given Agra the status of one of the premier tourist destinations in India. The Taj Mahal tours also cover these amazing medieval monuments that have witnessed dramatic moments in the history of India.
The chief among these is the Agra fort, which remained the center of Mughul power till the capital was shifted to Delhi.
Fatehpur Sikri is yet another famous place, known for the lavish fortified palace of Emperor Akbar. It is located 37 kms west of Agra, and is among the most important destinations to be visited on an excursion from Agra. The massive gate called Buland Darwaza and the revered tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti are the chief attractions of this place, apart from the magnificent red sandstone palace itself.
Both the Agra fort and the palace complex at Fatehpur Sikri are among the best known Indian monuments. They also signify a great blend of Indian, Islamic and European architectural traditions that were allowed to fuse together under the patronage of the Mughuls. Besides the above, the Taj Mahal tours also cover some other monuments which have been outfamed by the Taj and the imposing Agra fort. These include the tomb of Nurjahan’s father, given the title Itmad-ud-daulat, Chini ka Rauza, which is a tomb of one of Shahjahan’s ministers, and is known for its brilliant glazed tiles. The city also has a few beautifully laid out gardens, whose origins date back to the times of Babur, the founder of the Mughul dynasty. The tomb of Akbar at Sikandara is located about 5 kms from Agra and is among the city’s major attractions.
Nalanda
Nalanda, in Bihar still today bears the glory of Buddhist culture in the form of the ruins of the Nalanda University. Having been traveled by educationists like Fa Hien and Hieuen Tsang as students, the University was a residential educational institution, accommodating as many as10,000 students and 2,000 teachers.
Neemrana Fort

Constructed in 1464 A.D by Prithviraj Chauhan II, it is located on a plateau of the Aravalli ranges, 122kms from New Delhi. It is actually one of the earliest heritage resorts of India.
Devigarh Palace

Opening into the valley of Udaipur, this structure is ideally an 18th century artistic illustration and gifted to Sajja Singh of Gujarat, in recognition of his gallantry and allegiance to Maharana Pratap against Akbar, at the battle of Haldighati.
Fatehpur Sikri

This red sandstone city at a distance of 37 kms from Agra was created by Akbar the Great, depicting a healthy blend of Mohammedan and Hindu architecture, thus defining the religious tolerance of the emperor.
Konark Temples

Approved as a United Nations (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, the temple at 65 km from Bhubaneswar is dedicated to the Sun God and depicts Orissa's medieval architecture.
Mahabaleshwar

Nestled amidst the Sahyadris, at 120 km south of Pune, Mahabaleshwar is presently and for quite some time now a chosen hill resort. The interesting religious spots here attract a lot of attention.
Mahabaleshwar
The erstwhile second capital of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram, this tiny seaside village at 58 kilometers from Madras on the Bay of Bengal is renowned for its shore temples.
Khajuraho Temples

Some of the most outstanding instances of intricate medieval Indian architecture, these temples built during AD 950 and AD 1050 at the time of Chandela kings, deeply illustrate the romantic episodes of the Hindu gods and goddesses.
Ajanta-Ellora Caves

One of the choicest travel destinations for tourists around the world, these caves, outside the city of Aurangabad, about 400km northeast of Mumbai, represent the evolution of Buddhism, from 200 BC to 650 AD. They proudly embody three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.