Tuesday 18 November 2014

New to Nainital

Set amidst the scenic Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Nainital city is surrounded by seven mountains. Its natural beauty and scented candles attract many a tourist from far and wide. Travel to Nainital and treat your senses with views of majestic Himalayas, the tree carpeted hills and mesmerizing lakes. There are several amazing spots in Nainital which offer breathtaking views of the beautiful surroundings.

Major attractions in Nainital


Naini Lake
It is the foremost attraction of the city. Hemmed in by hills, the lake is in a pear shape. This picturesque lakeoffers beautiful views of sunset and sunrise. It is also one of the 64 Shakti Peeths held in high respect by the Hindus. Boating in this lake is a pleasurable experience. The famous Naina Devi Temple is located on the bank of this lake where Goddess Shakti is worshiped.


Naini Peak
If you wish to enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty, then visit the Naini Peak which is the highest peak of Nainital. With an altitude of 2611 m, it offers enchanting views of the blissful surroundings. You can reach this peak on pony, horse or car.


Bhim Tal
Located at a height of 1,379 m, this is a wonderful lake with an island. It was named after the second Pandava brother Bhima in the great Hindu epic Mahabharata.


Hanuman Garhi
This religious place with a beautiful Hanuman mandir(temple) is located at an altitude of 1951 m. This site is also famous for breathtaking sunset views.


Snow View Point
Located at an altitude of 2270 m above sea level, this point is accessible by ropeway or pony. Here you can treat your eyes with overwhelming views.


Shopping in Nainital
Nainital is a shopper's paradise where you can buy a variety of wonderful handicrafts such as candles, junk jewelery, bags, scarves, woolen socks, shawls, shoes and watches.


Accommodation
There are a variety of hotels falling into different categories available in Nainital. From budget to Luxurious hotels, all are available.


How to reach Nainital
By Air: The nearest airport is at Pantnagar, which is 71 kms away. A coach takes tourists to Nainital. Taxis and buses are also available.
By Rail: The nearest railhead is at Kathgodam, which is 35 kms away.

By Road: The city is well connected by a road network.

Holy Haridwar

Haridwar, also known as Hardwar is a divine city located in the state of Uttaranchal. This place is known as the Gateway to the Gods and is among the seven holiest places of Hindu religion as God and Goddess are said to have left their footprints here. This holy city also serves as the gateway to the three sacred religious destinations of India i.e. Rishikesh, Badrinath, and Kedarnath. Etymologically the word Haridwar is derived from the Sanskrit word which means Dwara of Hari or Gateway to God, 'Hari' meaning god and 'dwar' meaning gate.

Tourist Attractions

Har ki Pauri
This temple is located 1.5 km from the city and was built by King Vikramaditya in memory of his brother Bhatrihar. Here one can see the footprints of Lord Vishnu in the temple adjacent to the ghat.

Maya Devi Temple
This temple is one of the known Siddhpeethas of India which is dedicated to the Maya Devi, the Adhisthatri deity of Haridwar. According to Hindu mythology it is the place where the heart and navel of goddess Sati had fallen.

Mansa Devi Temple
This is the most sacred temple of this place which is dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi. Here one of the statues of the deity has three mouths and five arms while the other one has eight arms. It is situated at the top of Bilwa Parwat where devotees can reach via rope-way cable cars. This place offers a bird's eye view of the city.

Chandi Devi
The temple of Chandi Devi is located 6 km from the city centre atop the Neel Parvat on the other bank of river Ganga. This beautiful temple was built in 1929 A.D. by Suchat Singh, the King of Kashmir.

Sapt Rishi Ashram and Sapt Srovar
It is located 7 km from Har Ki Pouri.  It is said that River Ganga had split herself in seven currents at this place so that the Sapt (seven) Rishis (Sages) worshiping there don't get disturbed.

How to Reach Haridwar
Haridwar is the district headquarters and it has good connectivity with the other towns of the district and the states of India. It can be reach by.
RoadHaridwar is located on National Highway no. 45 which makes it well connected to all the major cities and other parts of the India viz. Delhi (214 km), Agra (386 km), Ambala (168 km), Badrinath (325 km), Dehradun (52 km), Kedarnath (250 km), Saharanpur (81 km), Nainital (286 km).
RailIt is connected with all the important cities of India via rail viz., Bombay, Delhi, Agra, Howrah, Varanasi, Allahabad, Ujjain, Amritsar, Dehradun, Lucknow, etc.
Air: The nearest airport is located 41 km from Haridwar in Jolly Grant, Bhaniawala near Dehradun.

Best Time to Visit
Haridwar can be visited round the year, but the best time to visit is between October to March during the winter season.
Where to Eat

There are several good restaurants in Haridwar which serve delicious pure vegetarian food. Varieties of lip smacking sweets are also an important part of Haridwar cuisine.

Monday 17 November 2014

Shivering Shimla...Cond


Shimla brings fascinating attractions making your holidays memorable and pleasurable. Its natural beauty and pleasant climate never fail to rejuvenate tourists.

Main Attractions of Shimla

The Ridge Road

It is an arresting place of Shimla where you can see breathtaking views of the mountains. This road is also famous for the Neo-Gothic Christ Church and Tudar Library.

The Mall 
It is the famous shopping place of the city. There are numerous shops and restaurants in this area. You can buy a variety of colorful and fine handicrafts from here. The Lakkar bazaar located here is the best place if you wish to buy wooden objects.

Jakhu Hill
It is the highest peak of Shimla with an altitude of 8000 ft. It houses Hanuman Temple where monkeys are found in great numbers. The monkeys here don't harm anyone and their sole purpose is to get some food from the visitors. This hill offers a mesmerizing view of the city.

Chadwick Falls
Located amidst deodar trees, Chadwick falls is a peaceful and blissful place to visit. You can also visit the temples near the waterfall. 

Adventure sports
To add more charm to your Shimla tour indulge in adventure sports such as trekking, skiing, golfing, river rafting, para-gliding, heli-skiing and fishing. 


Shopping

The bustling bazaars of Shimla are full of handicrafts, wood and metal objects, shawls, pullovers, local tweeds, caps, Tibetan carpets, pickles, jams and squashes. 

How To Reach Shimla

By Air: Jubbarhatti (23 km) is the nearest airport from Shimla.
By Rail: Shimla has a narrow gauge railway line which is connected to all the major parts of India via Kalka.
By Road: Shimla is well connected to all the major cities of India by road.