Lansdowne :::The Weekend Gateway:::

History of Lansdowne----

Originally known as Kaludanda (Hindi: कालूडाण्डा) after Kalu (Black) and Danda (Hill) in Garhwali, Lansdowne was founded and named after then Viceroy of India (1888-1894), Lord Lansdowne in 1887, and by 1901 it had a population of 3943.^[1] Lansdowne was developed by the British for catering for the Recruits Training center of the Garhwal Rifles. Lansdowne was a major place of the activities of freedom fighters from British Garhwal during British period. Nowadays, the famous Garhwal Rifles of the Indian Army has its command office here.^[2] Lansdowne is one of the quietest hill stations of India and is popular since Britishers came to India. Lansdowne is unlike other hill stations as it is well connected with motorable roads but remote in its own way. It is situated at an altitude of 1,706 mts above sea level surrounded with thick oak and blue pine forests in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand state.

How to reach Lansdowne:-

By Train: Two trains run from Delhi to Kotdwar (Mussorie Express and Garhwal Express). By Road: From Kotdwar it's about 40 km away. From Haridwar, a bus to Kotdwara. This will take approximately an hour.

It is the nearest hill station from Delhi and can be reached from Delhi by either road or train. The nearest railway station is Kotdwar at a distance of 44 km situated an elevation of only 370 m. Since Lansdowne is more than 1,300 m higher than Kotdwara, the drive from Kotdwara to Lansdowne is quite steep and scenic. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, near Dehradun at a distance of 152 km viaKotdwar-Haridwar road. The other and better route to reach Lansdowne is from Delhi via Meerut, Bijnore, Najibabad, Kotdwar and on to Lansdowne. It saves about 50 km and the road quality is also good all the way to Kotdwar. One has to take a right turn from NH-119 at a place where The Garhwal Rifles has put a huge signboard by painting the directions on rocks. Lansdowne is 81 km from Pauri and about 250 km from Delhi. The drive through Blue Pine trees on hills near Lansdowne is a wonderful experience.

Places to see at Lansdowne::-

The War Memorial, at the Parade Ground of the Garhwal Rifles Center is an attraction for the visitors.

Tip n Top View Point offers excellent views of surrounding Shivalik Hills.Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple Santoshi Mata Temple, Regimental Museum, Bhullatal Lake(a must visit for boating enthusiasts) St. Mary's Church, Lover's lane etc.  Lansdowne is also famous for standard education.

Read More

Ajanta 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments

The Ajanta Caves are situated in Aurangabad District of Maharashtra states of India. which comes under MARATHWADA region. with reference to many historian caves are situated there since 2nd century to about 480 or 650 CE.
The caves include paintings and sculptures described by the government Archaeological Survey of India as "the finest surviving examples of Indian art, particularly painting", which are masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, with figures of the Buddha and depictions of the Jataka tales. The caves were built in two phases starting around the 2nd century BCE, with the second group of caves built around 400–650 CE according to older accounts, or all in a brief period of 460 to 480 according to the recent proposals of Walter M. Spink. The site is a protected monument in the care of the Archaeological Survey of India and since 1983, the Ajanta Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ajanta is the major tourist attraction of India's tourist places.

These caves were accidentally rediscovered in 1819 by John Smith a British officer when he was there for hunting joy.They are Buddhist monastic buildings, apparently representing a number of distinct "monasteries" . The caves are numbered 1 to 28 according to their place along the path, at the entrance for the convenience of visitors. Several are unfinished and others are small shrines, included in the traditional numbering as  "9A"; "Cave 15A" was still hidden under rubble when the numbering was done. Further round the gorge are a number of waterfalls, which when the river is high are audible from outside the caves.
The elaborate architectural carving in many caves is also very rare, and the style of the many figure sculptures is highly local, found only at a few nearby contemporary sites, although the Ajanta tradition can be related to the later Hindu Ellora Caves and other sites.

How to Reach There :-

 The caves attained the name from a nearby village named Ajanta located about 12 km. About 59 kilometres (37 miles) from Jalgaon railway station on the Delhi – Mumbai line and Howrah-Nagpur-Mumbai line of the Central Railway zone, and 104 kilometres (65 miles) from the city of Aurangabad.
So the destination can be accessed by train easily and also by Delhi Nagpur Bound Air Flights.there are many buses plying from Aurangabad and Jalgaon. many tour operators are operating cabs too. so as per convenient you may reach there.




Whether and best time to visit Ajanta and Nearest Ellora Caves:-

as the area around the caves are jungle and rock mounted.In summer around May and June it's too hot and suitable to visit. The destination for types of travellers, be it family, kids and couples, Ajanta & Ellora is, however, mostly preferred by Couple, Group. The best season or months to visit places in Ajanta & Ellora are January, February, March, October, November, December. There are 7 tourist places in Ajanta & Ellora, which can be explored by travellers. Local attractions can be visited at any time of the day, be it early morning, afternoon, evening or night, as suitable for travellers. Sightseeing in Ajanta & Ellora can be done by travellers, which will take half a day or one day, but to see all sightseeing places, travellers need to stay in Ajanta & Ellora for 2 days to 3 days.

 Ajanta & Ellora can be visited in summer, monsoon or winter.

Read More

 Visit Singapore's Little India Now

When I Reached Singapore, it was in Little India,when I was wandering there I feel like home town,   is a Singaporean neighbourhood east of the Singapore River—across from Chinatown, located west of the river—and north of Kampong Glam. Both areas are part of the urban planning area of Rochor. Little India is commonly known as Tekka in the local Tamil community. that I found an escape from homesickness. It was here that I heard the melodies of familiar languages and ate familiar foods, dishes that my family has cooked and eaten in both the Old World and the New.
Serangoon Road, the neighborhood's main thoroughfare, has been for centuries a commercial and community space for immigrants from the Subcontinent. Indians were among the first migrants to Singapore in the early 19th century, and Singapore was part of a larger interlocking colonial network, the hub of which was India.

Little India is distinct from the Chulia Kampong area, which, under the Raffles Plan of Singapore, was originally a division of colonial where Tamil immigrants would reside under the British policy of ethnic segregation. However, as Chulia Kampong became more crowded and competition for land escalated, many ethnic Tamils moved into what is now known as Little India. (The Chulia Kampong district no longer exists as a distinct area.)

The Little India area is reported to have developed around a former settlement for Tamil convicts. Its location along theSerangoon River originally made it attractive for raising cattle, and trade in livestock was once prominent in the area. Eventually, other economic activity developed, and by the turn of the 20th century, the area began to look like a Tamil ethnic neighbourhood.

Little India was the site of a two-hour-long riot that occurred on 8 December 2013, after a man was killed in a traffic accident. 27 people were injured, and 40 people were arrested.

Although ethnic Tamils no longer tend to stay solely segregated in one place as previously arranged under the modern People's Action Party (PAP) policy of racial harmony, for the sake of cultural heritage, many of the ethnically Tamils commercial or cottage industry usages are concentrated in Little India, although Tamil-dominant commercial zones are also found in HDB estates. Contrary to stereotypes, Little India is not solely a Tamil neighbourhood. Located in the neighbourhood alongside shops that cater predominantly to the Tamils are Chinese clan associations, places of worship of different religions, and a variety of different business ranging from electrical supplies, hardware, second-hand goods alongside traditional spice grinders and grocers. One of the more prominent examples of cross-cultural patronage besides those regarding food is that many Chinese parents go to shops in Little India to grind rice to make congee for infants. The machinery utilised in this instance was initially flown in from India to grind spices into powder for use in Tamil cuisine. Little India differs from many other neighbourhoods in Singapore in many ways. Tekka Market is also multi-cultural, with produce and sundries that cater to the many ethnic groups in Singapore.

How To Reach There:---

The North-East MRT line's Little India and Farrer Park stations, near Serangoon Road, are convenient entry points into the area. Bugis station on the East-West line is also within walking distance. The new Downtown MRT line's Rochor and Jalan Besar stations, near Sim Lim Tower, will also be operational by end of 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Getting taxis in Little India can be difficult, especially on weekends. It's best to either book by phone or head to the major roads on the edges to flag one down.

Read More

Pench National Park

Pench National Park is in Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh in India. It derives its name from the Pench River that flows through the park from north to south dividing the park into almost equal western and eastern halves, the well forested areas of Seoni and Chhindwara districts respectively. It was declared a sanctuary in 1977 but raised to the status of national park in 1983. In 1992, it was established as a tiger reserve. The park is famous for rafting. In 2011, the park won the "Best Management Award". This park is accessible from Pauni on National Highway 7 and has two famous entry gates, Turiya and Karmajhiri.

History

The area of the present Pench Tiger Reserve has been described in Ain-i-Akbari, and is the setting of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.
There are 10 villages in the national park, one inside the park (Fulzari) and nine on the periphery.

Features

Pench National Park comprises 758 km² out of which 299 km² form a core, the Pench National Park core area and Mowgli Pench Sanctuary. The remaining 464 km² form the buffer zone.
The protected area is covered with small hills and well-stocked teak mixed forest in the southern reaches of the Satpura Ranges. Elevation ranges from 425 to 620 m The temperature varies from 4 °C (39 °F) in December to 42 °C (108 °F) in May. Average rainfall is 1,300 mm (51 in).

 The best time to visit the park is between November and May. The park is open to visitors between 6 am and 10:30 am and between 3 pm and 6 pm. The park remains closed during July, August and September.

Wildlife to be seen there

The Bengal tiger is the main cat species of the park present in good numbers but since last one year due to 6 new born cubs their sightings have increased and being sighted almost everyday. As per latest Tiger Census, there are apprx 40 tigers in the park, 39 species of mammals, 13 species of reptiles, 3 species of amphibians. Commonly seen wildlife is chital, sambar, nilgai, wild pig, and jackal. Also Indian leopard, sloth bear, wild dog, porcupine, monkey, jungle cat, fox, striped hyena, gaur, four-horned antelope and barking deer live in the park.
The park is rich in bird life too. According to an estimate of the wildlife authorities, the park harbours more than 210 species including several migratory ones. Some of them are peafowl, junglefowl, crow pheasant, crimson-breasted barbet, red-vented bulbul, racket-tailed drongo, Indian roller, magpie robin, lesser whistling teal, pintail, shoveller, egret and herons, minivet, oriole, wagtail, munia, myna, waterfowl and blue kingfisher.

How to reach there  >>>

Nagpur is the nearest rail head and all the south bound trains stop here. Even Nagpur is the nearest airport, one can hire a taxi or board a bus from Nagpur and come to Khawasa which is 80 Km from Nagpur on Nagpur-Jabalpur NH-7.  Also Tourist can come similarly from Jabalpur to Khawasa which is 190 kms from Jabalpur. From Khawasa tourist has to hire a petrol vehicle to enter into park through Turia gate which is 12 kms from Khawasa.

Tourist can use their own jeep/car or can hire from Nagpur, Jabalpur or Seoni.

Accommodation facilities is also available there with effort to M.P. tourism.at very economic price. if you love nature & wild Life I recommend 
to visit there for your new experience.

Read More

Elephanta Caves (Maharashtra)

Island with an ornately sculpted, 7th-century cave temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva

Overview

The island has two groups of caves in the rock-cut architectural style. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. All caves were painted in the past, but only traces remain. The larger group of caves, which consists of five caves on the western hill of the island, is well known for its Hindu sculptures. The primary cave, numbered as Cave 1, is about 1.5 km (0.93 mi) up a hillside, facing the ocean. It is a rock-cut temple complex that covers an area of 5,600 m² (60,000 sq ft), and consists of a main chamber, two lateral chambers, courtyards, and subsidiary shrines. It is 39 metres (128 ft) deep from the front entrance to the back. The temple complex is the abode of Shiva, depicted in widely celebrated carvings which reveal his several forms and acts.

monuments. This hill is named after the religious Stupa monument that they display. One of the two caves is incomplete, while the other contains a Stupa made in brick.^[1]

How to reach Elephanta Caves

Elephanta Island is located near Mumbai in India

So the first point is to get to Mumbai. This is one of the most connected cities in India. A large number of daily flights are operated to Mumbai (BOM) from the rest of the main cities in India. So are the international connections to Mumbai.

Once in Mumbai head for the Gateway of India. This is an immensely prime landmark of Mumbai. It is from this point the ferries to Elephanta Islandoperate.Though heavily crowded during the peak hours, Mumbai has an excellent suburban local rail network.

From wherever you are in Mumbai, catch a local train to Churchgate or CST station. Both are terminal stations, so it is a bit easy to get out and get in. By the way CST (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus) railway station itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Churchgate or CST, one can walk to Gateway of India along the heritage lane. It’s a 20 to 30 minute walk. Or a 10 minute taxi ride.

Alternatively you can depend on the city bus or taxi to Gateway of India. Auto-rickshaws are not permitted to this side of the city.Once in Gateway of India, you are just a 60 minute away from Elephanta by the ferry.

As you approach this locality you can easily notice the imposing Gateway of India structure facing the sea. Walk towards it and on your left is the where you can board the ferry to Elephanta. In all probability by this time selling the ferry tickets for Elephanta would have approached you shouting ELEPHANTAAA!! at the top of their lungs.

Officially it is sold at the counter nearby. Rs 120 (USD 3) for a return ticket. They collect Rs10 inside the boat to sit on the upper deck. It’s worth this ‘premium’ as you can get a good panoramic view, the crowd and noise is relatively less.

Buy the ticket and ask for the direction to board the boat. If a boat is not already boarding, you may need to wait till the next boat arrives. Typically every 30 minutes a boat leaves for Elephanta. Make sure that you are boarding the Elephanta boat rather than the local sightseeing boat.

On a clear day you can see the Elephanta Island in the horizon as a thin strip from Gateway of India, most likely the haze makes it impossible to see the island which is about 11 km (7 miles) from the shore. In any case halfway down your journey you can spot a small island on your left known as Butcher’s Island. This is a mooring jetty for the oil tankers. Strait ahead in the direction of the boat Elephanta emerges as forest covered island.In Elephanta, the boat will leave you at the jetty that is at the north of the island. The cave temple is a kilometers’ walk (under a mile) from the jetty.

There is a small toy train from the jetty to the base of the hill (Rs 5 one way). You may chose to walk along the pier. This will lead to the entrance to the Gharapuri village. There is a security gate and a village entry fee (Rs5) to be paid .

Further you need to trek the 120 steps to the plateau where the caves are located. This trek path goes through a packed curios, souvenir, guidebooks and T-shirt selling stalls.  The ticket counter for the caves is located at the end of this path.

There is also a palanquin service (dolly) at the island for whom can not scale the steps to the caves site.

A queue at the Archeological Survey of India Ticket counter is the last point to cross before you enter the courtyard of the main cave in Elephanta.

Layout for convenient  visiting :----

Main Hall 1. Ravana lifting Kailash 2. Shiva-Parvati on Kailash 3. Ardhanarishvara 4. Trimurti 5. Gangadhara 6. Wedding of Shiva 7. Shiva slaying Andhaka 8. Nataraja 9. Yogishvara 16. Linga

East Wing Shrine 10. Kartikeya 11. Matrikas 12. Ganesha 13. Dvarapala

West Wing Shrine 14. Yogishvara 15. Nataraja

Read More

Recently Top 10 Most Visited Places in India

Visiting Places In India....................................!

The rich history of India, along with its cultural and geographical diversity makes its international tourism appeal large and diverse. Let us have a look at the most visited places in India, where people from all over the world flow into, for an exotic vacation -

 Agra

Agra is the most visited city in India, since it is home to one of the greatest eternal symbols of love-Taj Mahal. This white domed marble mausoleum is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and has an epic love story behind it. Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, Akbar's tomb, Ram Bagh and Sikandra fort are some of the must visit places in Agra, apart from Taj Mahal.




Kashmir

The Paradise on Earth, Kashmir's major attraction lies in its scenic beauty, snow clad peaks, lush green valleys, Alpine villages, cascading waterfalls, flower gardens etc. Kashmir is a destination worth visiting, during winter season where you can enjoy the boat ride on picturesque Dal Lake. The other major attractions are Gulmarg, Srinagar, Sonmarg, Nagin Lake, Pari Mahal, Shankracharya shrine and Pehalgam. 




Goa

Goa, the smallest state of India is known for its exotic beaches with amazing sunset view, golden sand and coconut palms playing with the wind. If having a great time with a dear one is on your mind, Goa is the perfect place for togetherness. Tasty seafood, parasailing, wind surfing and water-skiing facilities make the beaches of Goa a core fun place. Alorna Fort, Ancestral Goa Museum, Arvalam Waterfalls, Chapora Fort and Calangute beach are some of the popular destinations in Goa.



Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari which is also known as Cape Comorin is the place where the three humungous water bodies namely, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal meet up. People cannot stop gazing at the darkening horizon and enjoy the moments of solitude. Sunset is more spectacular than a sunrise here and witnessing the setting of the sun makes up for a serene holiday. Lakhs of tourist, round the year are lured by the serene beauty of this place and the spectacles of sunrise and sunset.



Jaipur and Udaipur

Jaipur and Udaipur, located in Rajasthan gives us an insight into the rich cultural and artistic traditions of the state. Hawa Mahal or 'Palace of Winds', located in Jaipur , designed in the form of the crown of Lord Krishna is a beautiful construction, which draws tourists from all over the country. This pyramid shaped monument with 953 small windows stands as the entrance to the City Palace, Jaipur and is a notable sight here. The Lake Place of Udaipur is one of the most beautiful palaces in the world, which is now converted into a hotel equipped with 66 rooms and 17 suites.


Kerala

The enchanting backwaters of Kerala, the mesmerizing waterfalls, the hill stations and the serene atmosphere make the state one of the most preferred tourist destinations. Kerala Backwaters comprises of a chain of lagoons and lakes which lies parallel to the Arabian Sea. A cruise in the House boats gives tourists a unique and exciting chance to experience the beauty of the surrounding greenery and nearby villages. Munnar, Thekkady, Wayanad, Athirapally waterfalls, Varkala beach and Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple are the most preferred tourist destinations in Kerala.

Delhi

Delhi is one of the most historic capitals in the world and it is also home to some of the stunning and gorgeous tourist sites. The India Gate- the national monument of India, the Bahai House of Worship, commonly known as the Lotus Temple, Jama Masjid- the principal mosque of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan -the official residence of the President of India situated near Parliament House and Qutub Minar- a UNESCO World Heritage Site are the renowned and most visited destinations in New Delhi.



Darjeeling

Darjeeling is fondly called the ''Queen of the Hills'' and is at an altitude of 2134 meters above mean sea level, nestled among the rolling mountains. Darjeeling produces most popular teas in the world and one can admire clear view of the world's third highest peak, Kanchenjunga from here. Darjeeling hosts some of the most popular hill resorts in India and the sight of sunrise is simply spectacular.




Mysore

The cultural capital of Karnataka, Mysore is located at the base of Chamundi Hills and is noted for its palaces, mainly the Mysore Palace. This palace, also known as the Amba Vilas Place is one of the most famous tourist attractions in India after Taj Mahal and is visited by more than 2.7 million visitors annually. Mysore Dasara festival, celebrated here during the season of autumn attracts people from various parts of the world. Chamundeswari Temple, Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, St. Philomena's Church and Brindhavan garden are the popular landmarks of Mysore.

Ajanta Ellora

The Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra are 30 rock-cut cave monuments and these splendid architectural wonders portray the rich heritage of India. The paintings and sculptures in these caves are supposed to be masterpieces of Buddhist religious art. The cave temples are positioned in a horse-shoe shaped cliff.
The cave temples of Ellora located in the Deccan Plateau were excavated between 600 AD and 900 AD. There are numerous Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain temples here and all of them are made from solid rock. The Kailas (heaven of Siva) temple in Ellora is one of the most interesting and attractive cave temples here. Ellora, also known as Ellooru, represents the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture.

Read More