India Travel Tourism

After a long tiring schedule, I decided to take a break and planned a trip to Himachal Pradesh to rejuvenate myself. The place as I have heard is really full of charming destinations that you can not take off your eyes on the unparralled beauty. I found it the most plesant state and was amazed to see its natural grandeur. The state of Himachal Pradesh encompasses rivers, lakes, snow cover peaks that make it a beautiful place to visit.

While visiting this most beautiful tourist destination, I felt extremely delighted to experience the natural beauty which was in abundance there. Being a nature lover, I always try to make the most of such an opportunity that offers me enchanting sightseeing of nature. My tour to Himachal Pradesh was just a blessing to me that enabled me to visit some of the most wonderful tourist destinations there.

Shimla is a place that has always been my center of attraction. After watching beautiful sightseeing of nature here, I felt really delighted. The moment you enter in Shimla, you feel as if you have entered in a new world where the only thing you can see is Enchanting Beauty of Nature. High mountains, calm valleys, numerous adventure sports and dense deodar forests are simply awesome to watch. Shimla is aptly called Queen of Hills that gives you a marvelours experience to stroll around greenery and natural beauty.

To make the most of my trip to Himachal Pradesh, I also moved towards another picturesque hill station Manali. The place is extremely beautiful and is gifted with sheer natural beauty. Here, you can enjoy an enchanting view of the mountain peaks that are covered by snow and form a worth watching sightseeing.

At last, I felt like going for some spritual place and my search ended in Dharamsala,

which is situated in Kangra Valley. This exotic destination offers you many others religious places and one of them is McLeodganj. It is the place of Dalai Lama, a spritual leader and is beautifully carved. The calm ambience of the place spreads the message of devotion and allows you to gain inner peace.

After collecting the cherishable memories of my tour to Himachal Pradesh, I left for Delhi. Visiting this enchanting land and experiencing its unmatched natural beauty, I felt myself completely rejuvenated and was ready to back to my work with a delighted mood.

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I don’t known from where to begin my experience about my Nainital Tour because everything was unplanned. This two days holiday tour began from a phone call from my friend on Friday evening while I was returning to home from my office. The whole tour plan was discussed on phone. Though I was also interested and excited regrading this backpacker journey yet I finally decided regrading this tour with some apprehension.

We hired a taxi on Friday night after taking dinner and reached Nainital next morning. Nainital is one of the most charismatic hill stations in India. This city is called as the ‘Lake District’ of India’ because it is dotted with five lakes Naini, Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal, Khurpatal and Sattal. The unending expanse of scenic beauty summons scores of national as well as international tourists to this place from across the world.

The night journey was memorable because we hadn’t slept and keep on gossiping on various things related to our past, present and future life. Next morning when we reached Nainital we felt sleepy but the scenic charm of natural splendour and engrossing atmosphere refreshes us. After taking refreshment at hotel we moved to explore scenic charm and various tourists attractions of this place.

Nainital is a renowned hill resort of India which is visited by scores of foreign tourists during their India travel. This mesmerizing destination is located at an altitude of 1,938 meters above sea level which derives its name from the Naini Lake. The Naina Devi Temple situated at the end of the lake is one of the 64 Shakti Peethas in India. According to Indian mythology it is the place where Sati’s eyes (or Nain) fell down after which it came to be called as Nain-tal or lake of the eye.

Some of the popular attractions which we visited during our Nainital Tour are:

Naini Lake
This is a natural freshwater body situated amidst the Nainital Town and surrounded by seven mountains. This crescent shaped green coloured lake is the most sought after attraction of this place which spreads over an area of 120.5 acres. Many tourists flock here to enjoy views of the sunrise and sunset with sun’s lovely reflection on the lake. Apart from this tourists also come here to enjoy pleasure of a boat ride in serene and scenic ambiance.

Naina Peak
It is the highest point in Nainital which is also known as the China Peak. It is situated at a height of 2615 meters above sea level at a distance of 6 km north of the city centre. This place gives the spectacular view of the snow laden peaks of the Himalayas ranging from Bunder punch Glaciers to Api Peak. From this place one can also get a bird’s eye view of Nainital town which appeals most to visitors during their visit to this place.

Tiffin Top or Dorothy’s Seat
This place is known as Dorothy’s Seat is located at a distance of 4 km from the main town of Nainital. It is situated at an elevation of 2292 meters above sea level. This place can be easily reached by road or by trekking. It is named Tiffin top because visitors come here with packed lunch and enjoy a peaceful picnic with family, loved ones and friends.

The other popular tourist attractions which we visited next day of our Nainital Tour are Aerial Ropeway, Cave Gardens, Hanuman Garhi and Snow View Point.

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Come summers and I start planning a trip to hill station to escape the heat for some time. I was going through ‘Srishti’, a nature based magazine and came across an article on Mount Abu, a hill station in Rajasthan. After reading the article featuring amazing pictures of this hill station I decided to explore Mount Abu this time. I immediately called up my friend Monika and Pallavi and soon we finalized Mount Abu as our destination for this summer.

Mount Abu is the only hill station of Rajasthan which attracts many a tourist from far and wide. Located at an elevation of 1,220 m above sea level, this hill station is famous for its scenic beauty, pleasant climate and several other amazing attractions. We reached Mount Abu at 6 in the morning and were booked at the heritage hotel, Kesar Bhawan Palace. It is a wonderful place to stay at as it is located on a hillock offering breathtaking views of the surroundings. Also the famous Lake of Mount Abu and bazaars are located at a walking distance from the hotel.

After refreshment we began our Mount Abu tour with our guide Ravinder Singh. Chatting with him we headed towards the Nakki Lake by car.  It is the most enchanting attraction of this hill station. Ravinder told us that the legend goes that this lake was dug by the Gods with their nails. Highly picturesque, this lake is hemmed in by majestic Aravalli mountains which adds more beauty to it. Beautiful gardens and rock formations are the other attractions near the lake. The climate was very pleasant here which was a great relief from the sultry heat of Delhi. We sat here for some time and captured the natural beauty in our camera. The Toad rock near the lake was an interesting feature of this place. Lying overhanging the lake, this rock is in the form of a toad. Ravinder told that it would be great if we come here in the evening also to enjoy breathtaking sunset views.

From here we went back to our hotel for lunch. After relishing delicious lunch we set out for Dilwara Jain Temple, which are well known throughout the world for their stunning architectural beauty. As we reached there I was completely bowled over by their architectural beauty. The exquisitely carved walls, ceilings and pillars of the temples are simply awe-inspiring. Dilwara Jain Temples is a World Heritage Site where people come from across the globe. These temples were built during the 11^th to 13^th century AD. They are majestically carved out of white marble.

After exploring the Dilwara Jain Temples we headed towards Gurushikhar, which is the highest point in the Aravalli mountain range. Here we greeted our senses with picture-perfect views of the surroundings and breathtaking sunset views. This marked the end of our memorable and pleasurable Mount Abu Tour.

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Moving upwards on the hills while sitting in a Pony and admiring the spotless

divine beauty of Mother Nature! This poetic description is, certainly, not taken from any of William Wordsworth poems – but is a part of my trip to Nainital, which made me realize that weekend gateways can also be memorable for a lifetime.

Seeking a break from the heat and dust of Delhi, I planned a weekend tour to Nainital with my friends. We were booked in a cozy resort suiting our budget, and it was located at a close proximity to various specialty restaurants. While spending a couple of house at leisure, I went through Nainital travel guide and came to know that this popular summer retreat, situated at an altitude of 1,938 meters, attracts innumerable tourists during the summer heat as it is blessed with gorgeous greens and majestic mountains.

Luckily, it was the third week of June, and our arrival in Nainital coincided with the sailing race that takes place in the Naini Lake every year. So we decided to start our exploration from there only. The lake was dotted with countless colourful yachts. The group of participants from the Nainital Boat Club was enjoying the environment with full enthusiasm. As decided, we also enjoyed a short boat ride there and moved for the Cheena Peak or the Naina Peak.

This was the place that let us enjoy the finest of panoramic views of snow-capped Himalayas and the Nainital Valley. We also paid a short visit to the View Point as well from where we clicked a few photographs of the Himalayas and Tibetan borders. After relishing a quick bite of spicy mommos at a restaurant, we headed towards the Hanumangarh temple. Close to the temple lies an observatory where the night view of the moon is considered unbeatable and incomparable. But being very tired and hungry, we walked down to our resort.

Next morning, we started with the St. John Church, which is one of the oldest buildings of Nainital. When asked for a short sightseeing trip, I asked everyone to pay a short visit to Sat Tal, which is 21 km away from Nainital. Believe it or not, we were actually transported to a paradise. A cluster of seven tals or lakes surrounded by fresh divine greens was there in front of us. We spent a couple of relaxing hours there and got back to Nainital to board our train in the evening. Our last halt in Nainital was the market street where we spotted plenty of handloom products and Kumaon woolens. This way, my short trip to Nainital was refreshing & rejuvenating and full of fun ‘n frolic.

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Staying as a bachelor & working in a firm that provides offs on every Saturday & Sunday certainly has amazing benefits. The best among those is you can plan a short weekend trip with your friends, without having any prior notice! I enjoyed such a trip last week with two of my friends. On Friday morning, we made a plan to visit Shimla and surprisingly, we left for it the same evening! Shimla is about 370 km from Delhi and after a relaxing overnight journey we reached there Saturday morning comfortably.

A guide there told us that this beautiful hill station derives its name from ‘Goddess Shyamla’, who is supposed to be an incarnation of Goddess Kali. Like most of the hill stations in India, Shimla was also discovered by the British and it used to serve as their summer resort. I was completely amazed to see that the city still retains its age old colonial glory in its buildings.

Our exploration started with the Jakhu Hill that is located at 2 km from the town. Serving as the highest peak of Shimla, Jakhu Hill offers panoramic views of the town and the nearby mountains. The holy temple of Lord Hanuman is established on the same hill. Summer Hill is again a picturesque suburb of Shimla, located at a distance of 5 km from the heart of the city. It houses the esteemed Himachal Pradesh University.

We stopped for a quick bite at the Coffee House in Shimla, which is now run under a cooperative society. With simple decors and a few framed pictures, the Coffee House serves original flavours of coffee picked from the plantations. Our next halt was the State Museum at Shimla, which showcases various miniature paintings, costumes, textiles and jewellery of the region.

Lastly, we paid short visits to the Kamna Devi Temple, Tara Devi Temple, Kali Bari Temple, Christ Church etc. that are some of the highly revered pilgrimage centres in Shimla. I was not aware of the fact that this superb hill station could offer such beautiful theme based tours until I visited the same.

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After exploring a number of beautiful places in India, I have started

considering every bit of rejuvenating nature as the source of my inspiration. I watch and admire crystal clear waterways, chirping of birds, pleasing greenery with dew drops and the divine morning prayers. As I made a wish to seek God in nature, luckily I got an opportunity to visit Gangtok on an official tour. This city of beauty, adventure, spirituality and relaxation has always been a favourite of all the travellers.

As I arrived Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, I was welcomed by snow capped Himalayas, dense greens, aromatic air filled with Buddhist chantings and the true sense of relaxation. Kush, my guide, told me that this bewitching hill-station located amidst the multiple-hued mountains of Sikkim, is perched at an altitude of 1,870 m. Being an impeccable tourist destination, it has ample of places to see and appreciate.

I started my exploration with the monasteries. I could see Buddhist Lamas, wearing red chogas, and brightly painted pagoda roofed houses in every street of the city. My first halt was the famous Labrang Monastery, which belongs to the Nyingmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The best part with the monastery is that it showcases a wide range of ancient Buddhist artifacts and manuscripts. The Thanka paintings

were simply spell-binding. Similarly the Enchey, Rumtek and Phodong monasteries are the excellent examples of Buddhist architecture.

Next I visited the picturesque Kangchendzonga National Park that lies over the green forest floor and covers a few treetops. The snow line on the higher altitude offers splendid views. It is a wonderful place to explore the superb flora and fauna of the place. Besides, the Deer Park (adjacent to the new secretariat; also called the Rustomji Park) is also a nice place to spend some quality time with family or friends.

In the evening, I headed towards the crystal clear Kechopari Lake. The entire region is surrounded by dense forests and green hills. A few species of colorful birds add some more beauty to the place. Kush insisted me to pay a short visit to Lachung as well, which is the last habitation on the road to Yumthang monastery. But we were running short of time and I asked him to take me to the market.

Kush told me that the main markets for shopping in Gangtok are Old market, New Market and Lal market. These market areas are loaded with good quality carved furniture, Lepcha weave bags, wooden clothes, bamboo artifacts etc. My last halt in Gangtok was the handicraft and handloom directorate office in New market, where I found a huge variety in carpets, masks, bright Choktse tables and Thanka hangings.

I found the natural splendor of this beautiful city quite enchanting and mesmerizing. Steep mountain slopes along with lush rice terraces, encircled by graceful, babbling & foaming rivers add to the beauty of Gangtok.

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