Khajuraho

Khajuraho
Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their erotic sculpture. The Khajuraho group of monuments has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name Khajuraho, ancient “Kharjuravāhaka”, is derived from the Sanskrit words kharjura = date palm and vāhaka = “one who carries”.

The Khajuraho temples are made of sandstone. The builders didn’t use mortar: the stones were put together with mortise and tenon joints and they were held in place by gravity. This form of construction requires very precise joints. The columns and architraves were built with megaliths that weighed up to 20 tons.

These temples of Khajuraho have sculptures that look very realistic and are studied even today.

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Kumarakom

kumarakom thumbnailKumarakom is an amazingly beautiful, scenic, must-see tourist destination in Kerala famous for its backwater tourism. It is set in the backdrop of the pristine Vembanad Lake, abundant in marine life.

Kumarakom is on man-made land reclaimed from the vast Vembanad Lake. The name Kumarakom was derived from the deity of its oldest temple Kumaran. Kumaran’s Akam or place became Kumarakom.

 

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Royal Springs Golf Course, Srinagar

The Royal Springs Golf Course has been carved out of forests within the backdrop of Zabarvan mountains under Chashma- Shahi, the royal springs. The picturesque Chashma- Shahi garden built by the Mughals overlooks the Golf course. A visit to the Royal Springs Golf Course, whether for a day or for over night,  is a marvelous experience for both the golf lovers and the nature lovers.

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Gulmarg, Srinagar

Gulmarg Hindi translation: “Meadow of Flowers” is a hill station and a notified area committee in district Baramula of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located at an average.height of 2690 meters. Gulmarg is known for having one of the worlds highest Gondola (cable car).

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Lotus Temple

The Bahá’í House of Worship in Delhi, India, popularly known as the Lotus Temple due to its lotus bud like shape with 27 petals. It is a prominent attraction in Delhi. It was completed in 1986 and serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent.

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Dal Lake, Srinagar

Dal Lake is situated in the hub of the modern city of Srinagar, the summer capital of the State. The urban lake which is the second largest in the state is integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir and is nick named as Srinagar’s Jewel.

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Havelock Island

havelock beachHavelock Island is the most visited of the Andaman Islands. It’s becoming popular for its pristine beaches, coral reefs and great scuba diving. The pace of life is slow and relaxed, the locals are friendly and still not too affected by tourism, and the facilities are moderately basic for the most part.

Havelock Island is a small Island and most of the population are Bengali settlers. The distance between Port Blair and Havelock Island is 30 kilometers.

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Ganpatipule

GanpatipuleGanapatipulé (गणपती पुळे in Marathi) is a small town located in the district of Ratnagiri on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra. The town of Chiplun is to its north. According to local folklore, the Hindu god – Ganapati गणपती, taking umbrage by a remark made by a native lady, moved to Pulé पुळे (a few km ahead of the town) from his original abode of Gulé. Thus the region was named Ganpati-pulé.

400 years old Ganpati idol at Ganpatipule is said to have sprung up from the soil. This deity faces the West, so as to guard the western gates, unlike deities in other Indian temples who face the east. The temple is at the base of a hill, and pilgrims walk around(pradakshina) the hill as a mark of respect. Continue reading Ganpatipule

Marari Beach

Marari BeachMarari Beach is a beach in Alappuzha District of Kerala, India. Barely 11 km from Alappuzha (Alleppey) town, this sleepy little village (also called Mararikulam), is an idyllic location for a vacation. Currently the only resort in the area is the ‘Marari Beach Resort’ belonging to CGH Earth chain of resorts, although there are a number of homestays and a new resort called Pollethai which is 1 mile south of Marari. Muthoot Leisure & Hospitality Services part of the Muthoot Group has begun construction of a 100 bedroom resort with an investment of Rs.60 Crores at Marari, this would make it the biggest resort at Marari. The resort is expected to be completed by 2011. The beach is clean and safe for swimming. Continue reading Marari Beach

Dalhousie – Switzerland in India

DalhousieDalhousie is a beautiful hill station in Himachal Pradesh. Established in 1854 by the British Empire in India as a summer retreat for its troops and bureaucrats, the town was named after Lord Dalhousie who was the British viceroy in India at that time.

It is built on and around five hills. Located on the western edge of the Dhauladhar mountain range of the Himalayas, it is surrounded by the beautiful scenery of snow-capped peaks. Dalhousie is situated between 6,000 and 9,000 feet above sea level. The best time to visit is in the summer, and the peak tourist season is from May to September. Scottish and Victorian architecture is prevalent in the bungalows and churches in the town.

Dalhousie is a gateway to the ancient Chamba Hill State, now Chamba District of the state of Himachal Pradesh of India. This hill region is a repository of ancient Hindu culture, art, temples, and handicrafts preserved under the longest-running single dynasty since the mid-6th century. Chamba is the hub of this culture. Bharmour, the ancient capital of this kingdom, is home to the Gaddi and Gujjar tribes and has 84 ancient temples dating from the 7th–10th century AD. Continue reading Dalhousie – Switzerland in India