India Travel » Hill Stations In India

Top Ten Places To Visit In Karnataka, South India

admin — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:26:23 +0000

Karnataka, one of the southern states in Indian Peninsula, is gifted with abundant natural beauty and glorious monuments, built by the earlier mighty rulers like Vijayanagar empire, Hoysala dynasty, Chalukyas etc. Tourists are attracted from all over the world to this enchanting land to admire the rare beauty of these ancient monuments and the natural beauty. Karnataka also has wild life sanctuaries and beautiful waterfalls. Though there are many interesting places in Karnataka, only just ten top places are given below -

1. Bangalore

The bustling city is the capital of Karnataka, and also the fastest growing cosmopolitan city in Asia. It was known as Pensioners’ Paradise, and City of Gardens, but now it is more known as the Cyber City, and Silicon Valley of India. Blessed with salubrious climate, gardens, parks, natural lakes, architectural landmarks, shopping malls, best restaurants and pubs, Western and Indian music concerts, Bangalore is a tourist paradise.

2. Mysore

The Imperial city of Palaces lies 140 kms away from Bangalore. Mysore is also blessed with excellent climate and rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid out gardens, and zoo.

3. Mangalore

Mangalore is a beautiful scenic city, abundant with lush green surroundings, narrow winding
streets, lofty coconut trees, unique tile-roofed houses, beautiful beaches, ancient temples and churches, located 357km west of Bangalore.

4. Madikere

This picturesque, charming town is situated at an elevation of 5000 ft above sea level, offering you breathtaking views. Madikere is the headquarters of Kodagu (Coorg), called as Scotland of India. Kodagu is one of the most beautiful hill stations in India, and also produces some of the world’s best coffee, honey and spices.

5. Hampi

Located 350 kms away from Bangalore, Hampi was the capital of famous Vijayanagar Empire, who ruled South India from 14th to 16th century AD. After the destruction by the invaders, what remains today is the ruins of Hampi, scattered about 26 sq.km in area, amidst giant boulders and vegetation, silently telling the stories of the glorious period of their rule. Hampi ruins, a world heritage site today, is packed with giant temples, palaces, market streets, aquatic structures , fortifications and an abundance of other ancient monuments.

6. Belur-Halebid

Located 220 kms from Bangalore, on the banks of river Yagachi, in Hassan District, Belur was once the capital city of the Hoysala dynasty, who ruled Karnataka during 11th and 12th centuries. They constructed the beautiful star shaped Chennakeshava temple at Belur, which took 103 years and 3 generations to complete the task. 16 kms away lies Halebid, which is also famous for its magnificent temples, set up on raised platform. Halebid was their earlier capital during 12th and 13th centuries AD, when it was known as Dwarasamudra. Even after 87 years of laborious work, the task was never completed at Halebid. One can spend days together admiring the beauty of these architecture marvels.

7. Shravanabelagola

Located 147 kms from Bangalore and 83 kms from Mysore at Hassan District, Shravanabelagola is one of the most popular Jain pilgrim centers . Shravanabelagola is wedged between Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri hills. A giant monolithic statue (58 ft) of Bhagawan Bahubali (Lord Gomaetheswara), said to be the world’s largest monolithic statue, is standing on the Vindhyagiri hills as a monument of peace.

8. Badami

This historic town is famous for the cave temples built by Chalukya kings, who ruled Deccan in 6th and 7th centuries and Badami was their capital. Among the rock-cut and structural monuments, the most richly decorated are the cave temples, which are carved into the cliff on the southern side. There are four such cave temples in Badami. The natural surroundings enhance the aesthetic appeal of these cave temples.

9. Pattadakkal

The sacred complex at Pattadakal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated on the banks of the River Malprabha. Pattadakal is famous for its 8th-century temples, built by Chalukya kings during their reign. These are built in the combination of North Indian and South Indian styles.

10. Bijapur

Located 530 kms from Bangalore, Bijapur is famous for the historical monuments like Gol Gumbaz, which is the second largest tomb in the world. In the circular balcony of Gol Gumbaz, visitors can witness its greatest marvel. There are more monuments in Bijapur, such as Jumma Masjid, Ibrahim Roza etc. Bijapur was the capital of Adil Shahi dynasty who ruled this land during 13th century.

By: Lakshmi Menon

Shillong – The Scotland of North East India

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:57:07 +0000

The declaration of the independent state of Meghalaya by the late Mrs Indira Gandhi brought into focus a small, yet extremely charming destination by the name of Shillong. The capital of Meghalaya, where the clouds reside, or the abode of heavens, is what aptly describes this small town – now almost a city. It is a two and half to three hour journey by road from Guwahati. The drive itself, with its breath taking beauty prepares you for the lovely destination beyond. Almost as a gateway to Shillong and enhancing its beauty is the huge Barapani Lake which also happens to be a major source of water to these hilly areas. The uphill drive thereon mingled with tall pine trees and the unmistakable chill in the air announces the arrival of Shillong.

Like most other hill stations, Shillong is marked by its rambling houses and small flower pots which carry more flowers than they can hold. The air of Shillong almost hits you with its freshness and sudden chill. Unlike most hill stations in India, Shillong is quite big, not only in size, but also in its wide roads and ample shopping destinations. The beauty here is not only restricted to its locales but also intricately connected with its people. Inhabited mostly with the Khasi, Garo and Jaintia tribes, Shillong is almost the face of the north east. The predominant Khasi tribe, which is incidentally matriarchal, shows off its ladies with great panache. A walk in the brightly lit ‘Police Bazar’ streets is a must for witnessing the highly fashion conscious beauties of Shillong. Walking down its enchanting roads, rather than driving around, is the way to experience the true essence of Shillong, like exchanging pleasant “Khubleis” with the betel nut stained, pretty Khasi’s carrying babies on their backs.

Like most tourist places, Shillong has more than its fair share of attractions. Built by the British as a summer capital and education centre for their children, Shillong boasts of some of the biggest and best convent schools.

Other places of interest like Wards Lake, Shillong Peak and the three magnificent waterfalls of Bidon, Bishop and Elephanta, make for a full itinerary. Most tourists visit upper Shillong, the beautiful golf course and graceful churches. The uniqueness of Shillong comes from the fact that one never gets bored here. Even a month long stay seems not enough to appreciate its true beauty. The more one sees, the more fascinating it becomes.

As in most hill stations, night comes on suddenly and with great stealth. Gazing down the hills, you can witness the mesmerizing sight of millions of fireflies lighting up the mountains. One takes back the image of a charmingly, refreshing place where the orange blossoms vie with the forget-me-nots and tiny children in their blazers walk up the lovely streets.

By: Maitreyee Chowdhury

Unexplored Hill Stations in India

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:35:00 +0000

India is a land of amazing treasure troves. It is a world famous destination for memorable vacations that will linger into your heart and mind for rest of your life. India has distinct topographical features like plains, verdant valleys, barren desert, hills which makes it a picture perfect land.

Hills stations in India are the most sought after tourist destinations for both Indian and foreign tourists. There are several hill stations in India which are located amidst the Himalayan mountain ranges. Due to their proximity to Himalayas they have a pleasant atmosphere through out the entire summer season. Some of the popular hill stations of northern India are Srinagar, Gulmarg, Shimla, Dehradun, Nainital, Manali etc. Even there are some more popular hill stations which are located in southern part of our country such as Kodaikanal, Ooty, Coorg etc.

Beside these popular hill stations, India is also blessed with some more hill stations which are still unexplored but can be an ideal destination for a great weekend or honeymoon vacations. Such hill stations are available in each and every region of India like in northern India, there are Chopta, Kausani etc, Kalimpong in eastern India, Chikaldhara hill station in western region and last but the not the least in southern India there are Anantgiri hills and Yercaud hill stations.

Unexplored Hill Stations:

Chopta Hill Station: Chopta is a picturesque hill station located on the Gopeshwar-Ukhimath Road about 40 kms. from Gopeshwar in the Garhwal region. It is perched at an altitude of about 2,900 m above sea level. This tiny hill station is enriched with some beautiful tourist attractions such as Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Tungnath Shiv Temple, Gopeshwar, Kanchula Korak Musk deer sanctuary, Ukhimath etc. This beautiful place is decorated with alpine vegetation, orchids, and many high altitude vegetations.

Kausani Hill Station: Kausani is a hill station of awesome view, located just 53 km north of Almora in Kumaon region of Uttaranchal state. It is only 14hours drive from Delhi by road. From Kausani, one can have the privileged to view the snowy Himalayas and the high snow-capped mountain peaks of Nanda Devi and Trishul. Plan your trip to Kausani, from April to June, as it is the best time to visit Kausani. At this time of the year, temperature ranges from 11c to 26c.

Kalimpong Hill Station: Kalimpong is a serene hill station located in the northern fringe of West Bengal at an altitude of 1250m. It is a place of spectacular scenery, famous mostly for its monasteries, churches, libraries for study of Tibetan and Himalayan languages and culture. Some of the favorite spots of tourists in Kalimpong are Durpin Dara, Kalibari, St, Theresa Church, Mangaldham, Flower nursery producing orchids and gladiolis. This place is linked to Darjeeling, Siliguri and Gangtok by road. Even the Bagdogra airport is 80kms from here. You can visit this place any time in summer.

Chikaldhara Hill Station: Chikaldhara is the only hill station and coffee growing area in entire Vidharba region. It is situated at a height of 1,118m in Maharashtra. This place is famous as a summer resort and has marvelous tourists hotspots like Wan and Chikaldhara Sanctuary, Melghat Tiger Reserve, Gavilgadh Fort, Bhimkund, Devi mandir, Shakkar lake and three points namely Sunset point, Panchbol point, Hariken point etc.

Anantgiri Hill Station: Anantagiri is a splendorous hill station located just 40km from Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. It is situated atop of the Elysian Tirumala Hills approximately 17 km from Araku valley. Unmatched beauty of this place attracts loads of tourists to some of its awesome tourist attractions such as Bheemunipatnam, Ramakrishna and Rishikonda Beach, Sri Venkateswara Konda, Borra Caves, Vuda Park and Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Simhachalam Temple and Dolphin’s Nose. This hill station is a perfect site for honeymoon due to its cool and pleasant environment through out the year.

Yercaud Hill Station: Yercaud is another less explored hill resort of southern India. It is located at an altitude of 1, 515m in Shevaroy hills in Tamil Nadu. The climate of Yercaud is very cool, in contrast to the other nearby regions. Temperature here never rises above 30c. It is an ideal place for trekking in forested slopes and boating at Yercaud and Small lake. Yercaud is famous for its vast coffee plantations. It is dotted with some breathtaking tourists spots such as Lady’s Seat, Killiyur Falls, The Grange, The Servarayan Temple and Anna Park. Yercaud is well connected to Coimbatire, Bangalore, Salem by road. Tiruchirapalli has the airport which is very close to Yercaud.

By: Jolly Mazumdar

How About Taking a Trip to India

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:02:33 +0000

India is a destination in the world where investing wildlife and adventure vacation can really turn out to be your dream vacation.India is also the land of culture, spices, art and intelligence has numerous reasons to offer an analysis.If you’ve picked India as your travel destination, here are some nice India travel suggestions that would make your journey enjoyable and as smooth.

India is a fascinating destination to visit since it has different places, monuments, forts and wildlife locations to give you adventure.

South India is blessed with much sightseeing like sandy beaches, historical monuments, wildlife sanctuaries and many more. India trekking adventure covering best adventure destinations in Kumaon and Zanskar, following trekking routes.Discover fascinating Buddhist destinations of India, providing wholly mesmerizing and unforgettable experience. There is a certain image about, India with mystics and snake charmers, poverty, palanquin bearers, slums, child laborer corruption. There are many cities and places you will want to visit in India. I will just mention a few of them here. This little article could not cover the whole great country of India.

If you are preparing for vacation in India, Goa would be the right place for you if you like the beach. It is also known as the beach capital of India, and undoubtedly it is a lifetime experience for anyone. The dazzling Goa has long been a magnet for travelers inclined towards adventure and fun. If you are a keen wind surfer or water sports enthusiast, you will possibly also like Goa. Goa is one of the most generalized states in India, and for a worldwide vacationer, a trip to India can never be complete without seeing the lovely beach.

Kerala also known as the gods own county is one of the most beautiful and charming states of India. We all know Kerala is known as green paradise on earth, has some of the immaculate hill stations in India. Kerala is located on the south western tip of India and is probably the most beautiful and cleanest state of India. Kerala is a charming land of gurgling backwaters, seductive beaches and rich culture. Tourists who love to spend their holidays in lap of nature should keep visiting Kerala. Kerala beauty needs no words to describe not it needs to be praised as it is globally famous for its astonishing beauty of nature.

Chennai is located on the west cost, and it is highly nice to feel the sea breath while you are walking at the beach. In the state Tamil Nadu is the south Indian capital Chennai positioned. The City is located on the coromandel coast along the bay of bengal. Once a tiny fishing village, Chennai is now one of the 4 chief metropolitan cities of India. Most of the Chennai hotels are located within nearby proximity to the local places of a tourist attraction and city center.

New Delhi serves as the capital of India and its also regarded as the drastic hub of modified business and commercial tasks. New Delhi, the third major city and the traveler’s delight is known for its historical moments and cultural heritage. Delhi is one of the places you require to visit every time you travel to India.

By: Annelee Karlsson