Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Kumarakom Sightseeing

Kumarkaom : When nature is all you need to recuperate, Kumarakom is undoubtedly the most invigorating, fascinating paradise in Kerala, God’s own country. The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere, its never ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves nesting birds of a hundred varieties can peacefully calm and invigorate your mind with renewed inspiration for your vocation and life. That is the pristine beauty of Kumarakom.


Vembanad Lake is the largest lake in Kerala. It is India’s longest lake too as the vast expanse of water runs from Kochi in north to Alleppey in south. It is otherwise known as Vembanad Kayal. It invites migratory birds from all parts of the world. It is a confluence of three rivers. To explore Kumarakom, you could hire a houseboat and sail the stretch of water. The small islands around and the serene atmosphere will be heavenly. The lake is rich in marine creatures with over 150 different kinds of fish in the waters.
The 14 acre bird sanctuary is the favorite spot for migratory birds from all parts of the world. It is situated on the banks of Vembanad Lake. The bird sanctuary houses a wide range of birds including cuckoo, water duck, owl, kingfishers, woodpeckers and egret. The migratory birds that attract attention include Siberian cranes, teal, wood beetle and many more. It is a birdwatchers’ paradise and you could make best use of your visit to this place by hiring houseboats and motorboats.
Kumarakom backwaters is a scenic place where you can enjoy the bliss of nature. It is home to a wide range of plants and animals. The best way to enjoy the beauty of Kumarakom backwaters is to go on a houseboat that takes you through various canals, lakes and river around here. The houseboats offer you the best possible facilities you need for a comfortable journey on water. Be a passive admirer by sailing along or indulge in various water sports such as skiing and wind sailing. You could get lucky if you attempt at fishing.
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a popular Vallam Kali held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, Kerala, India. Vallam Kali or Vallamkali literally means boat play/game, but can be translated to boat race in English. The most popular event of the race is the competition of Chundan Vallams (snake boats). Hence the race is also known as Snake Boat Race in English. This is held every year since 1952

Thekkady Sightseeing


Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary :
Located by the side of the river Periyar, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the main attraction of Thekkady. Spread over an area of about 777 sq km with about 360 sq. km of which is thick evergreen forest, the sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. However, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary can also be recognised as one of the natural treasure houses of some of the rare species of flora and fauna. The flora of the park includes over  flowering plants, grass species, species of orchids and the only South Indian conifer Podocarpus Wallichianus. Apart from the tigers, the fauna of the park includes wild elephant, gaur, sambar deer, wild boar, Nilgir Tahr, lion tailed macaque, bonnet macaque, Malabar giant squirrel, flying squirrel, tiger, jungle cat, sloth bear, hornbill, stork, woodpecker, kingfisher, raptor, cormorant, grackle, darter, cobra, viper, krait, monitor lizards, frogs, toads, masheer (famous and endangered game fish of India) and otter. Noted for its geo-morphological diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty, the Reserve attracts visitors from all over the world. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar river adds to the charm of the park. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar remains the large herds of wild elephants that come down to the lake’s edge.



Periyar Lake : 
The lake of the Periyar wildlife sanctuary makes an important site to visit in Thekkady. This splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River adds to the charm of the park. Periyar is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters form the safety of a boat on the lake.
Murikkady : Located at a distance of just 5 kilometres from Thekkady, Murikkady is another important site to visit. Murikkady is particularly famous for its panorama of cardamom, coffee and pepper plantations. A must visit to include in your excursion itinerary.



Become the jungle guard for a night
Go for a night patrol with the forest authorities accompanied and forest guards.
Learn about Kerala spice plantation
The fertile land of Kerala has an abundance of tea, coffee and spice plantation of various sizes. Thekkady is especially known for its the cardamom, pepper, vanilla etc. Also learn how to make natural rubber from latex oozing out of rubber trees.



Ride the majestic elephant
Elephant rides are very common and popular in Thekkady. They are available not only in the Periyar Tiger Reserve but also in the various spice plantation compounds.
Be one with nature
Among the many programs arranged at the Periyar Tiger Reserve, the Nature Walk is a trail that takes one through dense deciduous forests and swampy grasslands. A local tribal guide will accompany a group of 5 persons and venture into a perfect exploration.

Munnar sightseeing

Munnar is one of the most popular hill stations in South India.  It is nestled in Western Ghats at an altitude of 6000 ft and is located in Idukki district of Kerala.  This picturesque hill station beckons nature lovers from far and near.
Large tea plantations, forests, hill ranges, valleys and wildlife makes anyone fall in love with this place. I am going to share a few places that you should visit (or try to) when you are in Munnar. And if you already visited Munnar recently, then I hope these will make you want to do another trip very soon!


Mattupetty dam and its reservoir  is  located 13 km away from Munnar.  This concrete gravity dam is built between the hill ranges and it is used mainly for water storage for hydroelectric projects. Its reservoir is an idyllic place to enjoy the serene nature. It is also said to be one of the waterholes where the elephants in the region often visit..
 
 
 

Top Station : It is about 40 km from Munnar and it is 1,880 meters above sea level. The panoramic view of the Western Ghats and the valley of Theni from Top station is simply breathtaking. Top station got this name from it’s being the uppermost located railway station on the Kundala Valley Railway.
Echo Point  is about 15 km from Munnar. Go there and scream as loud as you can..and wait for a minute. You can hear your echo back! Its quite interesting. If you have kids with you..they will love it. They can experience this natural phenomenon firsthand.
 
 

Rajamala, part of Eravikulam national park, is located at about 15 kms from Munnar.  This region is the natural habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragas hylocres). It was converted to a national park to provide a safe sanctuary  for the already endangered species of Nilgiri Tahr.
This tea museum is first of its kind in India. It is located at KDHP’s Nullatanni estate in Munnar. The aim of this museum according to its founders is to showcase the growth of more-than-a-century-old tea plantations in this region. Anyone visiting this museum will get a clear  picture of how laborious this tea processing really is.


 

Blossom International Park is about 3 km away from Munnar town and it spreads over 16 acres. It is a peaceful location to enjoy a calm and relaxing nature walk admiring flowers and surrounding green hillside. The park offer many activities for tourists like boating, cycling, roller skating etc.

Monday, August 29, 2016

Namchi Sightseeing

Namchi : Namchi, literally translating as ‘top of the sky’ is the South district headquarters and fast emerging as a tourist destination. Set in a picturesque location, Namchi offers an unmatched view of the Khangchendzonga range and the Rangit valleyNamchi hosts the very popular Namchi Mahotsav, a Tourism, Culture and Food Festival, every year in October. A flower festival is also held annually.

#Char Dham
Char Dham is a pilgrimage destination situated at Solophok Hill, which is at a distance of about 5 km from Namchi Town. Solophok Hill has a historical and religious significance, as it is believed that visiting this place washes away one’s sins. According to legends, during the Kurukshetra  war between the Kauravas and Pandavas; Arjuna used to worship Lord Shiva here. Lord Shiva, pleased with Arjuna, appeared in the form of a hunter and his blessing is said to have helped the Pandavas win the war against the Kauravas.

#Temi Tea Garden
Temi Tea Garden is the only tea estate in Sikkim. The tea garden was established in the year of 1969 and is spread over in an area of 435 acres on a hill slope, originating from the Tendong Hill. It produces around 100 million tonnes of tea, every year. There is an old British bungalow that lies below the tea garden, providing an option to stay close to nature.


#Samdruptse Dham
In Bhutia language Samdruptse means ‘wish fulfilling hill’. This is place where tourist can admire the tallest statue of Guru Padmasambhava. This wide gigantic statue of Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rimpoche, is known to have blessed Sikkim more than 1,200 years ago, and is considered as a tribute to the saint. Within the complex, there’s a permanent photo exhibition of archival images from India’s history, including a rare photo of Mahatma Gandhi.

#Siddhesvara Dham
Siddhesvara Dham major attraction is the 108 feet, gigantic statue of Lord Shiva (Hindu God) in sitting posture, enclosed with twelve Lingas (temples) spread all over India. Solophok Hill has a historical fact in religious belief. A pilgrim cum cultural heritage complex is built by Rural Development and Management Department, Government of Sikkim with state of art technology has all the capacity to turn out to be the most sought after tourist as well as pilgrimage destination of Sikkim in the near future.


Pelling Sightseeing

Pelling : The pleasant little town of Pelling is famous for magnificent views of the snow-capped Kanchenjunga range, the third highest peak in the world. Pelling is about 130 Km away from Siliguri and 115Km from Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, and is well connected by bus and jeep services.The Placid town pulls most of the visitors for its representative status in history, nature and culture of the state of Sikkim.




#Pemayangtse monastery
The Pemayangtse monastery was mainly built for ta-sang lamas or the purest monks, but it eventually grew in size and started serving all communities. The monastery houses much famous collection of ancient antiques, Buddhist idols, scriptures and sculptures. First floor of the monastery has a beautiful wooden sculpture of Sanghthokpalr.








#Khecheopalri Lake
Khecheopalri Lake is a sacred lake, located in the north-west direction of Pelling town. This lake is known by many names like the Wishing Lake, Kha-Chot-Palri and Sho Dzo Sho, which means Oh Lady, Sit Here. Considered holy by Buddhists as well as Hindus, this lake is thronged by devotees from around the world.  According to folklore, one day the deity Goddess Tara Jestum Dolma appeared in front of a monk and asked him to fill a vessel from the lake and assured to guide him. Submissively the monk did what he was told and the guidance brought him to the Khecheopalri Hill. There he was told to pray and pour the water from the vessel in the shallow lake after which, the lake magically filled and today is known as the Khecheopalri Lake.









#Kanchenjunga Falls
Kanchenjunga Falls is a perennial waterfall and takes about an hour to reach. There are small steps which lead to the base of the water fall.









#Rabdantse Palace Ruins
When descending from Pemayangtse Monastery you can take a left turn and take a walk for 10 min to reach to the gateway of Rabdanse Ruins. The ruins lie hidden from the main road. The walk towards Rabdantse is through a forest area with some rare species of orchids and a few lakes. These lakes are also home to local carp fish. There are good views from the top of the ruins looking across the deep valley and to the Khang-chen-Dzonga ranges.








#Rimbi Waterfalls
Rimbi Waterfalls are approximately 12 km away from Pelling and further about 5 km from the Darap Village. They are situated along the banks of Rimbi River.These waterfalls lead into the Rimbi River,famous for activities like fishing.









#Darap Subba Village
Darap Subba Village is located 6 km away from Pelling on the way to Yuksum. This palace  in inhabited mainly by people from Limboo Community and a small number of families from mixed communities like Bhutias, Chettris, Tamangs, Rais, Gurungs and Lepchas.


Gangtok Sightseeing

Gangtok : Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim is located on a ridge at a height of 5500 feet. With a spectacular view of the Khangchendzonga, the town provides the perfect base for travel through the state. Once an important transit point for traders traveling between Tibet and India, it is today a busy administrative and business centre and presents an interesting mix of cultures and communities.










#Hanuman Tok
Hanuman Tok is a famous temple in Gangtok dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The temple is situated at an altitude of approximately 7200 feet on the upper reaches of Gangtok and is known for its serene atmosphere and surreal vista of mighty Kanchenjunga. Visitors need to climb stairs to reach the top where the temple is perched.The legend about the place suggests that Lord Hanuman halted for a rest here while carrying Sanjeevni to Lanka from the Himalayas. Touirsts and pilgrims gather at the temple in large numbers to pray and wish fulfilment. The idol of Lord Hanuman was erected here in 1950 when an officer named Appaji Pant had a divine dream at this location.









#Enchey monastery
Enchey monastery was later rebuilt in the year 1908 by the 10th King of Sikkim - Sikyong Tulku. The monastery follows an unique architecture which is an artistic adaptation of Gyanak Riwo Tse-Nga or the sacred mountain with five peaks in China - which is the spiritual place of Jampalyang. He is known as the god of knowledge to the northern Buddhists. The monastery is therefore one of the most recognized ones in the whole of Sikkim.







#Do Drul Chorten
Arguably the most popular stupa (a dome-shaped Buddhist shrine) in Sikkim, Do Drul Chorten was built in 1945 by a Tibetan Buddhist named Trulshik Rinpoche. Surrounded by 108 prayer wheels on which Buddhist mantras have been engraved, monks and tourists swirl the wheels, which is equivalent to completing 108 beads










#Ban Jhakri Falls
Ban Jhakri Falls is a water fall located in Gangtok. This spectacular falls plunges from a height of 70 ft amidst lush green surroundings. Ban Jhakri Falls Energy Park, a well-maintained park has been built here. The ethnic tribes of Sikkim have a lot of faith in their local occults called Jhakris who have healing and magical powers and can influence the spirits to bring about good and evil. The park is filled with ethnic sculptures and figurines of the Jhakris who are seen healing the sick.A foot bridge built over the water stream and a dragon splash are other major attractions of this theme park.








#Research Institute of Tibetology
Perched on the top of a beautiful hill, the Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology was established in 1958 to promote research into the Mahayana sect of Buddhism and Tibetan language and culture. The institute was initially known as the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology after Late Palden Thondup Namgyal (the Chogyal of Sikkim). You can enjoy the views from the top of the hill as well as learn a lot about the norms and traditions of Mahayana Buddhism and Tibetans. The institute also plays host to one of the world’s largest collection of Buddhist books, rare manuscripts and Tibetan cloth paintings called thangkas.










#Tashi View Point
Tashi View Point constructed by the King of Sikkim, Tashi Namgyal, is located at a distance of 4 km from Gangtok. Adorned with a park on its top, this view point is one of the best places in entire Sikkim to enjoy beautiful view of Mount Kanchenjunga. In addition, the Phodong Monastery and the Labrang Monastery located on the opposite hills can also be seen from the Tashi View Point.

Kalimpong Sightseeing

Kalimpong : Kalimpong, the famous hill station is situated at an altitude of 1250 metres.The beautiful mountain scenery and the abundance of flowers have made Kalimpong an attractive resort. The lifestyle of the local people reflect the social and religious influence of its neighbouring nations like Nepal, Tibet, Sikkim and Bhutan. Kalimpong excels in producing orchids, amaryllis, rose, cacti, dahlias and gladioli for. The climate of Kalimpong is pleasantly cool throughout the year with warm summers and cool winters.










#Deolo Hill
Deolo Hill, located to the north-east of the town, is one of the two hills in between which the town of Kalimpong stands. The hill is also the highest point of Kalimpong town, with a height reaching up to 1,704 metre above mean sea level. Out of the three water reservoirs located within the destination, two of which are primary source of drinking water, are located atop this hill.From the top of this hill, tourists can enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding villages of Relli valley and Teesta River along with the town of Kalimpong. In addition, there is a park located at the summit of this hill, which is constructed for recreational purposes.








#Mangal Dham
Mangal Dham, a temple located in the beautiful town of Kalimpong, was built in 1993. The temple was constructed by Shri Krishna Pranami, a Hindu sect and in the memory of late Guru Shri 108 Mangaldasji. Sprawling over an area of 2 acres of wooded land, this temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna.In addition, the Mangal Dham temple also houses the idols of Prannath, Raj Shyamji and Mangaldasji, which are present on the top floor of this temple. This floor also has pictures depicting several scenes from the lives of Lord Krishna and other patron saints of the temple. The idol of Mangaldasji is on the ground floor of this temple.








#Dr. Graham's Home
Dr. Graham's Home was founded in 1900 by Dr. John Anderson Graham. Located on the lower slopes of Deolo Hill, this educational institution is sprawling over an area of 500 acres. In addition, the institution also houses farmhouse, bakery, dairy, poultry, hospital and clothing department.A festival called May Fair is organised every year at this Graham's Home. This institution is still supported partially by charitable collections and sponsors from all across the globe.










#Durpin Dara
Durpin Dara, located at an altitude of 1,402 metre, is known for its beautiful views. It is an observatory point, which is located approximately 3 kilometre from the town. Tourists visiting this place can enjoy beautiful views of the Himalayan ranges. Durpin Dara, easily accessible by car, is the highest point in Kalimpong. In addition, this observatory point also offers views of the plains along with River Teesta.









#Pine view Nursery
Flower Nurseries are in abundance in Kalimpong, as the place is famous for cultivation of horticultural plants. These flower nurseries are engaged in beautiful and exotic flowers. It is the only place in entire West Bengal where a number of commercial flower nurseries are located.One of the most famous flower nurseries located in Kalimpong is Universal Nursery, which is located at a distance of approximately 3 kilometre from the town.








#Golf Garden
This golf course is said to have 18 holes and is situated in scenic hillside in the place named Kalimpong. This club prospers with the Indian Army officer’s golf activities and the purpose of the club is maintaining the fitness of army professionals for performing certain activities at high altitude. This club is a wonderful spot for watching charming views of the surroundings and taking snapshots. From this place one can relish beguiling of the Durpin monastery. The excellent maintenance of this club and the presence of lush green backyards attract many tourists to this club. The rolling hilly land makes the golf club a demanding field. This also serves a place to have an excellent position from where photographs of the beautiful Durpin monastery can be taken. Tourists who are interested in playing golf here are supposed to take permission from the army post. The tourists are advised to take their golf kit along with them because there is no availability of the kit to be hired here.

Darjeeling Sightseeing

Darjeeling : Darjeeling is a town and a municipality in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located in the Mahabharat Range or Lesser Himalaya . It is noted for its tea industry, the spectacular views of Kangchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Darjeeling is the headquarters of Darjeeling district which has a partially autonomous status within the state of West Bengal.










#Ghoom Monastery & Batasia Loop
Nestled at a distance of approximately 8 km from the heart of Darjeeling, Ghoom Monastery is one of the major attractions in Darjeeling. The Ghoom Gompa was founded by a Mongolian astrologer/monk in the year 1875. The place is also well-known as Yogachoeling Gompa. One is greeted by a huge 'Maitreya Buddha' statue at the entrance gate of the Gompa. Visitors also find bells, ornate thanka scrolls as well as drums inside the Gompa.
Batasia Loop as the name suggests, is a loop or a spiral of a narrow gauge railway track where the Toy Train negotiates a sudden sharp descent from Ghoom. It's a wonderful viewing place with manicured gardens, streams and falls, from where you can get a wide range view of the Darjeeling's landscape, Kanchenjunga and the other Eastern Himalayan peaks.









#Tea Garden
Spread across a massive area of 437-acres, and situated at an elevation of 2,100 meters above sea level, the Tea Garden is one of the major tourist attractions in Darjeeling. The place is located a midst some of the most breath taking surroundings in India. It also houses one of the highest tea factory in the world and was established in 1854 by an Englishman and was later taken over by an Indian aristocracy from Hoogly.










#Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
HMI is a destination by itself and a said to be a pilgrimage for all climbing enthusiasts of the world. It was established in honor of Tenzing Norgay after he and Sir Edmund Hillary climbed the Everest in 1953. It has a well stocked museum with mountaineering displays and many expedition artifacts, a boarding school for mountaineering students, houses for the trainers, a restaurant, a souvenir shop and more. HMI is located on Jawahar Road or the Birch Hill that can be accessed from the Mall Road and Lebong Cart Road. One can actually walk down Mall road & then Jawahar road to reach HMI.










#Tibetan Refugee Self Health Centre
This center was established on October 2nd, 1959 for rehabilitation of Tibetans who followed Dalai Lama and escaped their homeland during the period of mayhem. In order to sustain living, they adopted the principle of self help. The center is located on a hill top that can be approached from the Lebong Cart Road. You can see Tibetan men and women making exquisite hand crafted items like woolen carpets, shawls, carved wooden crafts, leather items and more. There is an outlet at the center from where you can buy these items...









Ropeway & Japanese Temple
This is one way you can be part of special diverse offerings from the nature and all in one place. From the ropeway of Darjeeling which is also known as the Rangeet Valley Passenger Cable Car, you can have mind blowing view of the valley below, see the spread of lush tea gardens, dense forests, mountain streams in their full flow, waterfalls, and the awesome snow peaks at the background. Get off at a lower station and enjoy the tea estates, walk through the tea gardens, or just relax and enjoy the view around. It's hard to find all these together in one place.
The Japanese Temple is built in traditional Japanese style where you can join the prayers and feel the spiritual peace amongst humming and chants. Close to it is the Peace Pagoda where there are four large avatars of Lord Buddha. The view from the top is magnificent. You can see the snow peak range from here including the Kanchenjunga.






#P.N. Zoological Park
Known for its famous Red Panda and Snow Leopard breeding program, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is spread in an area of 67.56 acres. The zoo is located at an average elevation of 2,134 meters above sea level and is the largest high altitude zoos in India. Some of the rare and endangered species in the zoo are snow leopards, red pandas, Himalayan Salamanders, Tibetan wolf, Himalayan mountain goat and Siberian tigers.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Kausani Sightseeing

Kausani : Kausani also serves as a base to a number of wonderful excursions as well. The famous hill-tops like Nainital, Almora and Ranikhet make excellent excursion options from the town. Kausani also proves as a great base for the Pindari and Gafri glaciers. The famous temple of Baijnath is within a range of 20 km from this place. In other words, the place has a lot of excursions with which to keep you occupied throughout your trip, right from the glaciers to the temples of Uttarakhand.


#Baijnath Temple 
Baijnath Temple is a considered to be 1,000 years old and is dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. The temple was consecrated in 1204 AD and is a fine specimen of the North Indian Nagara style of architecture. The sources suggest that a Shiva temple has existed since ages before the present structrure was constructed in 1204. The temple also provides some of the most amazing views of the surrounding mountain ranges.
#Ranikhet
Ranikhet is the perfect destination for those who love to enjoy the calm and serene beauty of nature, away from the hustle-bustle of cities. It is also the base for the Kumaon & Naga Regiment of Indian Army. The city is blessed with magnificent scenic grandeur and enjoys a salubrious climate throughout the year. Beautiful views of the majestic Himalayas as well as the blooming gardens make Ranikhet surely viewer's delight. Ranikhet derives its name from Rani Padmini, the queen of Raja Sudhardev, who was in love with this place and subsequently chose it as her residence.






Mussorie Sightseeing

Mussoorie : Popularly known as the Queen of Hills, this charming hill station, 34 kms from Dehradun is situated at an altitude of 2003 mts in the Garhwal hills. above sea-level. Mussoorie is one the beautiful hill stations in India and the most frequently visited. It provides excellent respite to people who want relief from the hot sultry conditions of the plains, especially since it is close enough to the capital to make just weekend trip. Also, major Hindu pilgrimage sites like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Haridwar, Rishikesh are not far from this place. 

#Kempty Falls
a place that promises wonderful memories for you. It will be hard to get your eyes off the mesmerizing Kempty falls. You can step into the pool formed by the falls and join its game. Take a dip or splash the cold water on your friends or family, enjoy the way you want. The place will fill you with extra energy, soaking you in fun and frolic.Accommodation arrangements are made in the huts around Kempty if you plan to spend the day in exploring the beautiful falls. It is adviced that you avoid going here during the Monsoon due to the heavy flow of water.








  


#Mall Road
The Mall is one of the prominent shopping locations situated at the centre of the destination. Dotted with benches and lampposts lined up at the sides of roads, the Mall offers architectural styles of colonial period.The prime attractions of the area include 1980s style video game parlours, the Methodist Church and skating rinks. Tibetans can also be seen in the market place, who sells woollens, fabric wall hangings, imported goods, Tibetan metal ware and a collection of wooden items. Apart from this, walking sticks, bowls, trays, cane baskets and jewellery are the other prominent articles available at the Mall.
#Gun Hill Point
Gun Hill is one of the popular tourist attractions of Mussoorie, possessing historical significance dating back to pre-independence. It is believed that a canon was fired from the place at a fixed time on every afternoon. This firing at the hill provided an idea of time to the local residents of the destination and they adjusted their watches accordingly.Situated at a height of 400 ft above The Mall, the location presently houses a water reservoir of the destination. Tourists can witness snow capped peaks of Himalayas and The Mall on either side of the place.Gun Hill can be easily reached by taking a ropeway ride, which is operated frequently for transfer of passengers. In addition to this, tourists can also cover a path from The Mall to reach the location by foot.





Saturday, August 27, 2016

Naintal Sightseeing

Nainital : The city of lakes or the lake district of India, Nainital has such titles to its credit because of its scenic landscape dotted with lakes. Nainital is located at a height of 1938 meters above the sea level. Nainital also known as India 'Lake District' because of some 60 lakes out here that spread across its boundaries. Gorgeous greens and the majestic mountains add to the beauty of the hill resort. A small town in the hills of Kumaon, Nainital is a lovely hill station surrounded by mountains on three sides.


#Nainital Lake
Known commonly as the Naini Lake, it is situated in the middle of the town and is the lifeline of Nainital. Boating facilities are available for the visitors and alternatively a slow paced stroll around the lake will offer a serene relaxation like no other.





  
#Naina Devi Temple
The Naina Devi Temple is dedicated to goddess Naina Devi, who is believed to govern the Naini Lake. It is believed to be one of the 64 Shaktipeeth’s in India, places where parts of Goddess Sati’s body fell while Lord Shiva was carrying her. It is here that her eyes fell, and hence the temple and the goddess is called Naina Devi.

 



#Tibetan Market
Situated along the banks of the beautiful Naini Lake, Tibetan Market is a popular shopping venue that attracts a number of tourists. This flea market is one of the popular attractions and is run by a majority of Tibetan natives. Dotted with shops and shacks of local specialities, this bustling market impresses visitors with its vibrancy and uniqueness. Tibetan bags, exquisite scarves, ethnic dresses, intricately designed shawls, woollen mufflers, junk accessories and stylish watches are sold here. Another highlight of this market is that all these fascinating articles can be purchased at affordable prices. Do not miss to bargain.




#Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal and Sattal
Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal and Sattal are lakes in Kumaon at about 300 kms from Delhi and 25 kms from Kathgodam Station and visited for Bird watching and a nature centric experience.Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal and Sattal at a height of about 3000+ ft asl and weather here is moderate as compared to Nainital, especially in Winter. Also in comparison to Nainital (which wears a typical hill station character), Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal and Sattal are quiet, offer spreadout resorts and offer relaxing /rejuvenating experience for any getaway seeker.