Sun Temple in Konark Orissa

August,4th, 2010

The Sun Temple in Konark, Orissa, is an ancient Hindu temple build in the name of the sun god. Shaped like a giant chariot, this 13th-century temple is known for its exquisite stone carvings that cover its interiors and exteriors.

Located 35 Km North of Puri, the Sun Temple is the most popular tourist destination in Orissa. People from across the world, travel to India just to get a glimpse of this magnificent World Heritage Site.

What to See

The Sun Temple in Konark was built in the form of a huge chariot for the sun god, Surya. It has 12 pairs of stone-carved wheels and seven galloping horses. Of these seven horses only one remains intact today.

The temple architecture of Sun Temple symbolizes the passage of time which according to Hindus is under the control of sun god. The seven horses, which pull the temple towards the East into the dawn, represent days of a week; the twelve pairs of wheels, represent twelve months of a year whereas the eight spokes in each of the wheels symbolize the eight stages of a woman’s day.

The main entrance of the temple is situated in front of the ‘hall of offering’ also known as the Bhogamandapa. This hall was used for ritual dance performances in ancient times. You will notice sculptures of musicians and dancers intrinsically carved on the walls of this hall.

The roof of the Sun Temple has three tiers covered in statues of musicians and dancers offering prayer to the sun god. A Shiva Nataraja sculpture in the posture of a cosmic dance can be seen on the bottom of the platform. Just beyond the porch you will find a double staircase that leads to a shrine. The shrine contains the statue of the sun god which is a beautifully carved green chlorite stone sculpture. This sculpture is one of the masterpieces of Konarak Sun Temple. The sculpture of lord Surya is accompanied by the charioteer, Aruna, at his feet. From here you can climb down to the remains of the inner of the temple, where the deity was originally enshrined.

Other sculptures decorating the Sun temple’s exterior wall include animals, floral patterns, mythical beasts and aquatic monsters. The twelve pairs of giant wheels are beautifully carved. Each of the eight spokes of these wheels is decorated with figurative carvings.

Getting There

There are regular bus and jeep services from Puri that will take you to Konark. This journey lasts usually for about an hour. Alternatively, you can also take an auto rickshaw to Konark Sun Temple from Puri.

Jaipur’s Jantar-Mantar granted World Heritage site status

August,2nd, 2010

Jantar Mantar of Jaipur, a famed astronomical observatory built in the early 18th century, is now a World Heritage site.

The Jantar Mantar observatory has great religious significance. It was used by ancient Indian astronomers to understand celestial phenomenon. It basically consists of fourteen major geometric devices for measuring time, tracking star’s location as our earth orbits around the sun, predicting eclipses, ascertaining the declinations of planets and finding out their celestial altitude.

“This is India’s 28th and Rajasthan’s 2nd World Heritage Site (Rajasthan’s 1st is Keoladev National Park). It is a matter of immense proud for us and for the entire country as well. The status would boost tourism in Rajasthan,” said the state Tourism Minister Ms. Bina Kak reacting to the decision taken by World Heritage Committee, UNESCO.

Jantar Mantar, an ancient observatory, was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II between the year 1727 and 1734. It is one of the seven sites in the world which have been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO, this year.

Ms. Kak said that a three-member team from Rajasthan submitted a management plan of Jantar Mantar before the UNESCO committee. “Following this, the astronomical observatory was declared as a World Heritage site. The UNESCO committee discussed over 37 sites across the world before finally declaring its results in a meeting held at Brasilia,” stated the minister.

“The state’s, particularly Jaipur’s hotel industry will benefit a lot following this World Heritage status. The government is also considering granting concessions to the hotel & tourism industry. We expect that tourist inflow, which is presently around 8 Lakh, would drastically increase during the upcoming tourist season,” she said.

For more information about Indian Heritage Sites browse http://www.indiantraveldestinations.com/

Places to visit in India during the monsoon season

August,2nd, 2010

It is understandable that the thoughts of rain and floods can dampen your holiday plans in India, but in reality you do not have to avoid traveling to India during the monsoon season. Travel to those parts of India where there is scanty or no rainfall. This way you can enjoy India tours during monsoon seasons also.

The main monsoon season in India runs from the month of June to September. Though most part of India receives rain during these months there are few remote destinations in India where you can travel even during monsoons. The following are some of the best monsoon travel destinations in India:

Leh & Ladakh

Leh & ladakh lies near the Indus valley, at the far flung corner of Northern India. Situated at 3505 meters above sea level these destinations are some of the most beautiful places in India.

When you visit this area you will notice that it is bounded by two of the world’s largest mountain ranges and is surrounded by alpine forest. Some of the oldest and historic Buddhist monasteries are also present here like the Shanti Stupa. You can also visit the 800 year old Kali Mandir that houses a fascinating collection of masks. You can stop on your way there to spin a huge prayer wheel. The Leh Palace, which was built in traditional Tibetan style, offers a great view of the town so make sure to visit this place. Also take a trip to Thiksey Monastery to see amazing sunset views.

The best time to visit Leh & Ladakh is between the months of May and September. The weather is warm during this time as these places do not experience rain like elsewhere in India.

The Valley of flowers National Park

The dazzling landscape of the Valley of Flowers National Park located in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand comes alive during the monsoon season. This high-altitude Himalayan valley has around 300 different varieties of alpine flowers which will appear to you as a bright carpet of color against the snow capped mountain background.

This National Park is only open from the months of April to October. The best time to visit here is from the months of July to August as during this time the flowers are in full bloom after the first monsoon showers. Avoid travelling to this place before the month of July as you will not find any blossomed flowers during this time.

Goa

The state of Goa in India has much more to offer than just the beaches! This place is especially beautiful during the monsoon season (June to September) as it is during this time that nature flourishes here. The rain brings refreshment and romance in Goa and you can taste a traditional flavor of this state.

You can visit the Mollem National Park and Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa. The Dudhsagar Falls and the acclaimed spice plantation in Savoi are the best during the monsoons. Take an evening boat cruise up the Mandovi River from Panaji and enjoy Goa’s historic character-filled buildings while you are in Goa.

Periyar National Park

Periyar is one of the most famous national parks in southern India which extends around the banks of a huge artificial lake. This park is known for its magnificent elephants and you can take a 30 minute elephant rides through the jungle. The best time to visit this park is during the cooler & drier months of October to February. However, the aroma of the moist vegetation during the monsoon also gives it a very special appeal.

Shillong

Popularly referred to as the ‘Scotland of East’, Shillong is a fitting evocation of a unique natural beauty. Located in the rippling pine covered hills, Shillong enjoys milder climatic condition all through the year. During monsoons, wind whispers through luxurious forests here and the land is rhythmical of music and full of life. The blues and cascading waterfalls will completely enthrall your senses. Due to all these reasons Shillong is a famous monsoon destination in India.

Ranikhet

Tucked at the height of 6,000 feet above the sea level, amidst the charming Kumaon hills, this picturesque little town has forever held its old world charm. This region will offer you the amazing view of the Himalayas. It will provide you an opportunity to enjoy scintillating walks among the cedar and pine trees.

Udaipur

Udaipur was founded by Maharana Udai Singh of Mewar in the 16th century. You can enjoy a camel safari here or take a stroll along a pristine lake like the Pichhola Lake which is surrounded by the Aravalli hills at the backdrop. You can get spectacular view of the city of Udaipur and enjoy the rain at the same time if you visit this place during monsoon season.

So these are some of the destinations in India that you can visit during the monsoon season. Ask your travel operator to include these destinations in your India tour package.

Kerala Wildlife Tour

August,2nd, 2010

The unique geography of Kerala makes it a home to diverse species of flora and fauna. These flora and fauna are efficiently conserved in numerous natural reserves which are spread all over the state. Though wildlife in Kerala majorly consists of tigers and elephants, you will also find rare and endangered species such as Lion-tailed Macaque, Indian Sloth Bear and Gaur in these parks. So, set out on a Kerala wildlife tour to explore and discover some of the best wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala.

1) Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary This is also known as the Vembanad Bird Sanctuary, since it is located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake. The mangroves forests, the rugged terrain and the nearby paddy fields; all provide great support to the large number of flora, fauna and avifauna species of the park. You can spot animals like Nilgiri Tahr, Wild Pigs, Leopards and Tigers whereas amongst birds, Cuckoos, Herons and Waterfowls are the most common in the park. In case you have book a Kerala wildlife tour for the migratory season, you can also spot various migratory birds like Siberian Cranes.

2) Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary This is the most famous wildlife sanctuary in Kerala. It is located in the Western Ghats spreading over an area of 777 sq km. The Periyar Lake flows across this park. Interestingly, this is the only wildlife sanctuary in India where you can watch the wild animals by taking a boat cruise in a lake. Some of the frequently spotted animals of this wild reserve are tigers, sloth bears, wild elephants, stripe-necked mongoose and wild boars to name a few. If you are a bird watcher, this sanctuary will be a paradise for you since it homes 260 different varieties of birds.

3) Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary This sanctuary is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is adjacent to three other protected natural reserves namely Nagarhole, Bandipur and Mudumalai. Some of the wildlife attractions of this park are elephants, tigers, gaur, sloth, cheetal, leopards, jackals, dholes and otters. Besides animals, the sanctuary is also home to a large variety of avifaunal species like crested serpent eagle, crested hawk eagle, malabar grey hornbill, red-wattled lapwings, king vulture and nightjars. Some rare and beautiful species of butterfly like the leopard butterfly can also be spotted in Wayanad.

4) Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary It is amongst the most visited wildlife sanctuary of Kerala. Located 40 kilometers away from the Thodapuzha district, this park is situated at a height of about 750 meters above sea level and spreads across an area of 77 square kilometers. This exotic place supports a large variety of fauna of which the main type are elephants, jungle cats, sambar deer, tigers, cobras, woodpeckers, jungle fowls, kingfishers, peafowl and a number of poisonous & non poisonous snakes.

5) Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary Some of the wildlife species found in this wildlife sanctuary are tiger, leopard, nilgiri tahr, gaur, lion-tailed macaque, atlas moth, Kerala laughing thrush, langur, sambhar, the white bellied shortwing and elephant. You can also spot a variety of beautiful birds here such as Yellow-Throated Marten, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, White Bellied Shortwing and Black-and-orange Flycatcher. To add more adventure to your Kerala wildlife tour you can include trekking to the Anamudi peak that is located inside this park.

These are some of the famous wildlife sanctuaries situated in Kerala. You must definitely visit these destinations if you admire nature and love to watch animals in their natural habitat. To explore the diversities of wildlife in Kerala buy a proper Kerala wildlife tours package that covers a visit to the above mentioned destinations.

Best Places to Visit in India

July,27th, 2010

India’s tourism industry is booming with new opportunities due to government support. Every year millions of national and international travelers tour India to see its culture heritage, natural beauty and wildlife reserve. However, since India is a very vast country, planning what to see on a tour to India can be a really daunting task especially if you have to choose destinations between the South, North, East or West of India. Whether on a spiritual quest, a cultural visit or a relaxing holiday, it is advisable that you plan your India tour in such a way that you are easily able to cover a few important destinations of a particular region.

India can be divided into four regions i.e. North, South, East and West and each one of these four regions nurture cultures that are unique only to them. Moreover, these regions are also different from each other with respect to people, architecture, food, and languages spoken. Though, it will not be impossible for you to cover popular tourist destinations like Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa and the Golden Triangle in a single trip, try to avoid it as it may lead to exhaustion. Select a single region and travel across it. Ask your tour organizer to pack in as many top destinations as possible across a particular region in your India tour package.

Here are some of the best places to visit in India according to the four regions of the country.

The North

The northern states of Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh together form the Golden Triangle with its three cities Jaipur, Delhi and Agra. These are the most famous destinations of North India Tour.

The state of J&K has places like Leh & Ladakh which are famous for their high mountain peaks which can be compared with no other place in the World. Due to its unusual terrain and barren landscape it is sometimes referred to as “Moonland”.

Uttaranchal or Uttrakhand is a newly formed state of North India. It is blessed with natural beauty and picturesque landscapes and boasts of some untouched and un-spoilt natural places. It is a perfect place for wildlife lover as it homes various wildlife reserves and natural parks. Some of the best tourist attractions here are: Nainital, Ranikhet, Binsar, Mussoorie and the Valley of Flowers.

The Heart of India is Madhya Pradesh, and the hearth of Madhya Pradesh is Khajuraho. These ancient temples are an example of rich cultural heritage of India. Additionally, visit destinations like Orchha, Pachmarhi and Satpura, in the city of Gwalior to witness some of the finest monuments and natural beauty of the country.

The West

Maharashtra is home to India’s commercial capital, Mumbai (Bombay). Here you will find several amazing tourist destinations. You must also visit Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala and Khandala (quite near to Mumbai) during a West India Tour for their pristine beauty.

The state of Goa in Maharashtra is known for its carnivals and lush tropical beaches. Don’t miss it.

The East

Eastern India is well known for the Sun Temple, tea estates, Buddhist monasteries and tribal cultures. It consists of the beautiful “seven sisters” i.e. Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur. All these seven states of India are extremely beautiful places to be holidaying in India. Don’t forget to visit Shilong and Cherrapunji, in Meghalaya, during your East India Tour.

The South

Kerala is also known as the “Gods Own Country” and is one of the prime tourist destinations of South India Tours. It is a perfect destination for holidays, honeymoon, art, culture, tradition, health care, yoga, Ayurveda and meditation. Kerala is famous for its natural beauty, amazing beaches, delicious sea food and backwaters. Visit beautiful places like Munnar, Periyar and Kovalam while you are in Kerala.

Tamil Nadu has the famous hill station named Ooty. It is one of the famous hill stations of southern India and is popularly referred to as “Queen of Hills”. Also take a trip to Kodaikanal and Coimbatore to see scenic natural beauty.

The state of Karnataka in South India has wonderful tourist destinations Coorg and BR Hills. Coorg is a place that is believed to haunt you forever with its timeless beauty. It is also described as the Scotland of India.

Famous Heritage Destinations in India

July,26th, 2010

India is the land of rich heritage, diverse traditions and colorful cultures. It is popular worldwide for its cultural inheritance that epitomizes royal majestic beauty. Tourists from all over the globe tour India’s heritage destinations simply to take a glimpse of this grandness that is today represented by beautiful architectural monuments.

Each state of India is dotted with a slew of heritage destination that sings tales of ancient Indian civilization. If Uttar Pradesh has the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, Delhi is known for Red Fort, Humayun Tomb, Qutub Minar, Lotus temple and Akshardham Temple. Maharashtra boasts of the ancient Churches of Goa, Elephanta caves and the most popular Ajanta & Ellora caves. Khajuraho temples and Buddhist Monastery at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh are big crowd pullers whereas Nalanda and Bodhgaya in Bihar are popular due to their association with Buddhist culture. Down south, Tamil Nadu houses & Karnataka has numerous beautiful temples and historical monuments which showcase architectures that is unique to this part of the country only.

Some of these destinations that have been selected as World Heritage Sites and make for popular heritage tours are:

Taj Mahal: Beauty, timeless and enduring….the Taj Mahal. Located in Agra, this is probably one of the most beautiful creations on earth. Voted as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is a showcase of beautiful Mughal architecture.

Konark Sun Temple: Konark Sun Temple is also known as the Black Pagoda. It is located in the state of Orissa and is dedicated to Sun God. This temple is built in the form of a chariot with twelve pairs of wheels and seven horses. This chariot was believed to be ridden by the Sun God.

Ajanta and Ellora Claves: These are located in Maharashtra and dates back from 200 BC to 250 AD. The walls and ceilings of Ajanta & Ellora caves are decorated with beautiful paintings that depict incidents from the life of Lord Buddha and Buddhist cultures.

Khajuraho temples: These beautiful temples are situated in Madhya Pradesh. It has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples and is considered to be one of the “seven wonders” of India.

You can easily book a tour package to visit these exotic heritage destinations. There are several reliable tour operators in India who offer customized travel deals to heritage destinations in India that suit all the needs of tourists. These tour operators not only plan your heritage tour in India but also help you in booking flights and rooms in Indian hotels and resorts.

So come to India and experience its spectacular heritage. Such culture and heritage tours are after all the best way to have a wonderful family holiday where your children will also get to learn a lot. After all being part of a heritage travel to India is so much better than reading the same facts from a history book.

Explore Golden Triangle of India during Commonwealth Games 2010

July,23rd, 2010

The Commonwealth Games 2010 countdown has already begun with the arrival of the Queen’s Baton in India. Sport enthusiasts from all across the world are all geared up to experience this four-yearly festival of sports and culture scheduled to be held in October this year.

With the upcoming events to be held in the capital city of Delhi, the Union Ministry of India has decided to promote its Golden Triangle tour ( )in a new package, clubbing it with Commonwealth Games 2010, during and after the event. “This”, says an official, “is being done so that tourists visiting Delhi for the games also visit Agra (UP) and Jaipur (Rajasthan) covering all the three vertices of  Golden Triangle tour. It is expected that this will vastly boost tourism at various other destinations of India.”

While Delhi’s major attractions include the World Heritage Sites of Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar; the city of Agra is famous for Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri; all three of which are also listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Jaipur, the Pink city and the capital of Rajasthan is famous for heritage buildings like Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and City Palace.

The government of India wants to promote the Golden Triangle tour more aggressively as it will compel tourists to travel to other destinations of India and thus spend a longer time in the country. This will directly help in generating more revenue for the Indian tourism industry. In order to make sure that this is successful, the Tourism Ministry officials are chalking out a plan to improved co-ordination among the Indian states for smooth movement of tourists along the three cities of Golden Triangle. All this will also require proper co-ordination between Indian railway officials and road transport officials.

The Ministry plans to promote the Golden Triangle tour as a colorful heritage tour where tourists get to see some of the most magnificent palaces and forts of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. This is due to the fact that all these three cities have been the capitals of the princely states Mughals, Rajputs and the Britishers. They are associated with glorious culture and history of the bygone era which is clearly reflected by their intrinsically designed buildings.

Just like the Golden Triangle tour of Northern India, the government of India is also planning to form multiple triangle packages for the South Indian states covering cities in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh Commonwealth Games 2010 itself to further boast tourism.

India Tour Packages, one of the most renowned tour and travel agency offers a number of golden triangle tour packages specially designed keeping in mind the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2010. Additionally there are other customized tour packages like adventure tour, Kerala Backwater tour, wildlife tour and much more. Visit the site: http://www.indiatourpackages.co.uk for more information about our exciting offers and services.

White Water Rafting in India- a Unique Experience

July,23rd, 2010

White Water Rafting is one of the most thrilling and sensational adventure sports known to humans. Those who have had the thrill of water rafting expeditions can guarantee this. Rafting in turbulent waters is an experience that you will treasure the rest of your life. The foot-hills of the Himalayas serve as the perfect playground for white water rafting in India. If you haven’t had the experience of water rafting in India yet, plan your next adventure holidays here to get pulled out of your everyday existence and be thrown into a world of thrills, chills and spills.

Whether it is the Brahmaputra valley or the Ganga valley, the excitement of white water rafting expeditions never goes down in India in any of these stretches. All of the rivers in Northern India originate in the icy Himalayas before passing through deep gorges bursting into silvery white rapids. This then serves as the perfect backdrop for some exciting water rafting expeditions in India. Sikkim, Ladakh, stretches between Devprayag & Rishikesh, and stretches between Alaknanda & Mandakini Rivers act as good white water rafting adventure travel destinations in India.

The best time for water rafting in India is from March to April or from September to November. River rafting as an adventure sport can be tempting but it can also be highly risky at times. It is therefore very important that you pay enough attention to your gear before venturing on any white water rafting expedition. Always remember to put your life jacket properly around your body, as it will secure you and prevent any mishap. Also you should wear a head gear so that it saves you from any kind of injury.

You can opt for one day or weekend water rafting adventure tour on some of the best white water rivers present in India. There are several professional tour operators in India who organize camps along the popular white water rivers of India. They offer customized white water rafting expedition packages that include personalized services from experienced life guards as well as renting of safety gear and other rafting equipments. Go for a reputed adventure tour operator so that you can completely enjoy a unique water rafting expedition in India.

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