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In The lovely Nepal destinations

Pokhara-The Gateway to Annapurna Trek and Muktinath-towards Beautiful tempting landscape

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Pokhara is the second biggest city after Kathmandu and is equally beautiful, with a better view of the Himalayas and more natural places to see. The view from World Peace Pagoda and Phewa Lake is simply astounding-snow capped mountains at Sunrise are something not to be missed.

Gorkha Memorial Museum and the International Mountain Museum are masterpieces of history. Check them out! Some other beautiful places are Mahendra Gufa, Cave, and Devi’s Falls.

Reasons why you must visit Pokhara:

  • Ready for an adventure like bungee jumping, paragliding and the longest zipline-Pokhara is there for your adventure sports anytime-take a day off and get some adrenaline rush!
Sarangkot Paragliding,Pokhara
Sarangkot Paragliding,Pokhara
  • Shanti stupa, also known as World Peace Pagoda, is a great place to meditate and observe peace watching over Pokhara city, Annapurna range and Phewa Lake on a clear sunny day.
The beautiful Pokhara City
The beautiful Pokhara City
  • Mahendra cave, or Gupteshwor Gufa, is known for Lord Shiva’s statue and beautiful cave views with streams flowing around. Worth a visit for sure!
  • Devi’s Falls is a prime attraction. It’s one of its kind and crystal clear and beautiful. The falls are more pronounced in rains.
  •  Seti River gorge is also a place worth a short trip, but nowhere close to these waterfalls.
  • The mountaineering and Gorkha museum arent to be missed. Both are vast and take time to explore and a lot to understand the history of warfare as well as the mountainous regions of Nepal.

Location: Pokhara is 200 km west of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal and about 190 km north of Sonauli-the border of India and Nepal.

Gurkha Memorial Museum
Gurkha Memorial Museum

Tourist Attraction on the Spot:

World Peace Pagoda, Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, Mahendra Cave, International Mountain Museum. Shree Bindhyabasini Temple, Seti River Gorge, Gorkha Memorial Museum, Chambre Gufa, Rupa Lake, Begnas Lake, Devi’s Falls, Phewa Lake

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

Kathamandu,Muktinath,Lumbini and Manang are few places that are great to visit in 6-12 hours of journey.

Seti River Gorge
Seti River Gorge

Distance Charts:(From Pokhara)

Devis Falls
Devis Falls

How to Reach Pokhara:

Road Routes:

Ex India: Lucknow-Gorakhpur-Sunauli(India-Nepal border)-Lumbini-Tansen-Putalibazar-Pokhara

Pokhara as seen from Peace Pagoda
Pokhara as seen from Peace Pagoda

An important note from my experience:

1)Visit Pokhara after monsoons, i.e. September to November, when skies are clear and the Himalayas are visible.

2)April to May should be avoided along with rainy winter seasons as the weather will be gloomy with drizzles and if not rain-the cloud cover is enough to spoil your mood.

3)Most tourist spots have an entry fee between 20 to 100 NPR.So be ready with some spare cash in hand.

4)Public transport is available, but if you expect a smooth buttery tour of Pokhara with public transport, nope-it won’t be. For a few places, taking a private car makes more sense which, have their rates depend on the destination,

Inside Gupteshwar cave, Pokhara

6)There is this problem all over Nepal. Some will consider Nepalese currency, and some Indian. In most cases, they accept both. Please make sure to ask in which currency they need to be paid. Usually, the higher price denotes the Nepali rupee. (1 INR is 1.6 NPR)

Inside Gupteshwar cave,Pokhara
Inside Gupteshwar cave,Pokhara

RAIL: Unfortunately, the rail network is not present in this region

You can watch the below video to get a better idea! Do like and share if you find it worth it.

You can watch the below video to get a better idea!Do like and share if you find it worth…

AIR: Lucknow in India and Kathmandu/Pokhra airports in Nepal are nearby to Lumbini.

ROAD: The easiest way to be in Lumbini is to ride from Gorakhpur(India) to Sunauli and a bus from Sunauli to Pokhara. From the Nepal side, you’ll take a shared car from Kathmandu.

Map:

Patna Sitamarhi Janakpur Kathmandu Pokhara Jomsom Muktinath Map
Patna Sitamarhi Janakpur Kathmandu Pokhara Jomsom Muktinath Map

Time to Visit:

The best time to visit will be around September to November. April-May may be considered but beware of gloomy rainy drizzles-not good for landscape sightseeing.

International Mountain Museum,Pokhara
International Mountain Museum,Pokhara

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends, Solo, Couple, Groups

Food and Lodging:

Hotels are readily available in a reasonable price range. Even food is cheap and easily available.No need to book a stay at Pokhara in advance. If you are still looking for one, you can book from Goibibo, Makemytrip or Yatra websites.

Expense:

For a 1 day trip to Pokhara,following is the expense:

Vindhyavasini Temple,Pokhara
Vindhyavasini Temple,Pokhara

Food: NPR 150/person/day(3 times a day)

Transport: Frankly, you need two days for the public transport scene- that too, not all places- assume NPR 1200-1500 for this -note 1 day of food and stay @1200 NPR gets added- in case you opt for a private vehicle -will cost you 4000 NPR/day.

Lodging: NPR 700/day at Pokhara

Entry Fees include various places (varies): NPR 500(all in all max)

Total: 4500 NPR(Public transport-2 days stay);5700 NPR for private vehicle and one day stay here

Nearby Attractions(Pokhara) :

Phewa Lake,Pokhara
Phewa Lake,Pokhara
Begnas Lake in late afternoon
Begnas Lake in late afternoon
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Tawang Monastery
In Tourist Destinations Revisited-The Himalayas

Tawang-The North East hidden recipe

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Arunachal Pradesh-I still doesn’t understand why people miss out on this state when they are here for a trip, especially the Tezpur-Tawang section. How can you miss such a beautiful section of Himalayas-the beauty is pretty close to Sikkim’s but different. Sela pass remains the route’s highlight, with Bomdila having a lovely landscape and Tawang showing the upper Himalayan sector.

9 reasons why you must visit Tawang:

  • Tawang is mainly known for its monastery, Asia’s second-largest monastery, and is a significant place for Mahayana Buddhism. It has a 28-foot high golden statue of Lord Buddha and an extensive library of historical manuscripts and books. Some other gompas are Singsor Ani Gompa,Taktsang Gompa and Brama Dung Chung Ani Gompa .
The beautiful winters in Sela Pass,Tawang
The beautiful winters in Sela Pass,Tawang
  • Urgyelling Monastery is of utmost significance as its the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama- Tsayang Gyatso.
  • If you want to explore the region’s culture, look no further and visit the Monpa tribe, known for their friendly behaviour and religious beliefs.
  • If you are in here, how can you miss the famous majestic 13700 ft Sela Pass, which has a beautiful Sela Lake or Panga Teng Tso as well!
  • Nurannang Waterfalls is the only powerful and famous waterfall in the entire region with majestic landscape and beautiful rainbows.
A monastery at Bomdila
  • Thingbu Hot springs are not visited by many, but if you have spare time, visit this place, taking a diversion to the right of Tawang Road from Jang.
  • Visit Bumla Pass-5000 m pass which embarks India China border from where Dalai Lama entered India in 1962.
  • It is known for its unique food dishes like Zan, Thukpa, Khura and Gyapa-khazi, among others, Do taste them!
  • A trek to rugged Gorichen Peak in Arunachal will do some justice for avid mountain lovers!

Location: Tawang is close to 400 km north of Tezpur, a town in the Assam state of India.

The Himalayas on the way to Tawang from Tezpur
The Himalayas on the way to Tawang from Tezpur

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Tawang Monastery ,Nuranang Falls, War Memorial, Panga Teng Tso Madhuri Lake, Bomdila Monastery, Buddha Park, Bomdila War Memorial, Jaswantgarh, Bumla Pass

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Bhutan, Itanagar, Mechuka, Gangtok, Majuli, Shillong, and Darjeeling within a 300-400 km radius.

Tawang War Memorial in January
Tawang War Memorial in January

Distance Charts:(From Tawang)

Yak in Dirang
Yak in Dirang

How to Reach Twang:

Road Routes:

Tezpur-Bhalukpong-Bomdila-Dirang-Sela Pass-Tawang

Sela Lake in winters
Sela Lake in winters

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)Tawang should be ideally visited by road as there are must-visit tourist places like Jaswantgarh, Bomdila and Sela Pass, which have historical and tourist significance.

2)Spare 2 days in Tawang to explore places like Bumla pass and Shonga-the Lake(Madhuri Lake) as these are equally beautiful places to be.

3)Roads are super-terrible, nasty and landslide-prone, so no rash driving -drive slow and safe throughout! Have plenty of water and snacks too!

4)Have spare tyres, petrol/diesel, and mechanical instruments as there aren’t many mechanical shops at bay

5)Make sure to start early, say four am-day starts early-start as soon as possible, be it any place in North East India.

Nuranang Falls
Nuranang Falls

RAIL: Rangapara North is the nearest railway station to take public transport.

You can watch the below video to get a better idea! Do like and share if you find it worth it…

AIR: Tawang can be reached from Guwahati/Tezpur via helicopter service. (Need to check once/will be costly as well)

ROAD: There is only one way to reach Tawang, and that’s by a landslide-prone Bomdila-Sela Pass road. It takes a whole day, considering how pathetic the roads are! However, APSTS BUSES can be checked out if you want to travel by public transport.

Map:

tawang bumla Sungester lake map
Tawang Bumla Sungester lake Gorichen Peak tourist spots map

Time to Visit:

Best time to visit will be around March to May and September to November.

Bomdila entrance
Bomdila entrance

Spend Time With:

Family,Friends,Solo

Food and Lodging:

Hotels are not many like other hill stations, but yes, for the tourist inflow, the number of hotels is adequate, and you won’t face issues. You can go to Goibibo, Makemytrip, or Easemytrip if you need to make a booking. For food, I highly stress having snacks and water all day when you go for Tawang from Tezpur. It’s a long day without much help all the way!

Expense:

For a 3 day trip to Tawang,following is the expense:

Madhuri Lake,Tawang
Madhuri Lake,Tawang

Food: INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X3

Transport: Consider INR 1600 for 2-way shared car trip from Tezpur to Tawang; if you book a car for local sightseeing, add 4000 INR for that.

Lodging: INR 700/day X2 at Tawang(two nights stay)

Entry Fees include various places: Consider INR 100,

Total: 8000 INR(4000 INR in case you opt out of sightseeing)

Nearby Attractions(Tawang) :

The Tawang-Tezpur road is always landslide prone due to road widening activity
The Tawang-Tezpur road is always landslide prone due to road widening activity
Jaswantgarh War Memorial stones
Jaswantgarh War Memorial stones
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In Tourist Destinations Revisited-The Himalayas

Nainital-Almora-Ranikhet-a triple saga to Uttarakhand vibes-The cute hill stations!

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Uttarakhand is a state which ain’t to be underestimated for the beauty it presents as being a part of the Himalayan belt. Mussoorie, Dehradun, Almora, Ranikhet, and Nainital; not to forget Chardham-these names shall be ringing in your ears since early childhood and why not-these places are unique and have a characteristic landscape which makes a large sum of tourists flock over the place. Ranikhet has beautiful green meadows, Almora has a picturesque city view, and Nainital has many lakes that are simply stunning in their many ways! Do visit all these places when you knock on the door of Uttaranchal(UK, India)

Reasons why you must visit Nainital-Almora-Ranikhet Circuit:

  • Ranikhet is a “queen of meadows”-the stretch is all green, lush green to be honest, as far your eyes can go-beautiful place to sit, sleep under the sun, and just relax-this ain’t going to be on your to-miss list!
The beautiful meadows at Ranikhet
The beautiful meadows at Ranikhet
  • Almora is not known for its intrinsic value; it is more sorted for the treks it offers, like Kuari Pass and Binsar.On the way, you find many temples, along with Gobind Vallabh Pant Museum, Kumaon Regimental Centre Museum, Martola, and Thana Bazar. Views are great on sunny days in Almora.
An evening in Naini Lake
An evening in Naini Lake
  • Nainital’s nightlife is worth every penny. I hit the streets twice in Nainital’s Mall Road; the ambiance is excellent! It’s a lengthy walk mathematically the perimeter of Naini Lake as the whole market on Mall road is based around Naini Lake.
  • G B Pant High Altitude Zoo is a beautiful place to be with local Himalayan flora and fauna in store-something unique and confined to the Himalayan belt, so this should be your must-visit site when you do visit Nainital. Red pandas, Himalayan birds, and leopards are some of the most eye-catching species!
  • Nainital Winter Carnival is a wholesome three-day local-centric festival with a vibrant culture of Uttarakhand popping up. If you plan in winter, check out the dates of this Carnival, and you can plan accordingly!

Location: Nainital is around 300 km east of Dehradun- the capital of Uttarakhand- close to Kathgodam railway station(about an hour by road).

Sattal lake in Nainital
Sattal lake in Nainital

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Sariyataal, Sitataal, Naini Lake, GB Pant zoo, Temple and Gurudwara, and Mall road are a few essential points in Nainital, along with some distinct viewpoints like snow view point. Ranikhet is known for its golf course, and Almora has some trek trails like Binsar and Kuari Pass and temples and museums.

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

Kausani, Auli, Pithoragarh, Joshimath, and Munsyari are some places within a 300-400 km radius of these three tourist places. All these places are equally worth a visit.

The long winding road to Ranikhet
The long winding road to Ranikhet

Distance Charts:(From Nainital-better base location for other places)

Thandi Sadak-the road sideways Naini Lake at night,Nainital
Thandi Sadak-the road sideways Naini Lake at night,Nainital

How to Reach Almora(Ex Delhi):

Road Routes:

Delhi-Moradabad-Rampur-Haldwani(Kathgodam)-Nainital-Ranikhet-Almora

Naini Lake from Naina Peak,Nainital
Naini Lake from Naina Peak,Nainital

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)Most places can be covered by buses/public transport.If you want to save a day or so,prefer hiring a car at 3000 INR/day which ll specially help in Nainital local sightseeing.

2)Best time will be post monsoon in september-november months when sky is clear on consistent basis

3)Monsoons are spoiler alert in all of Uttarakhand except for Valley of Flowers. The months from June till September create a havoc in the state, and it’s no way pleasant to be here. Landslides, cloudbursts and heavy rains-I have been here in mid-June as well, but rains didn’t allow me to explore the places and I had to call the plan off. April and May-Plan in these months, checking the overcast conditions beforehand, as April also consists of patches of rains with cloudy skies.

4)Roads are butter smooth for these places as well as there won’t be much issue of food and petrol bunks here and there.

Sattal Lake view 2
Sattal Lake view 2

RAIL: Kathgodam is the nearest railway station from where it takes just an hour to reach Nainital, provided traffic is smooth.

You can watch the below video to get a better idea! Do like and share if you find it worth it…

AIR: The nearest airport is Dehradun’s airport, from where you’ll get regular state buses to Nainital.

ROAD: You will need to get to Haldwani, or Dehradun (pretty far as compared to Haldwani)from any part of India by road, rail, or air, and then smooth roads will take you anywhere in Uttarakhand. UTC bus services may help you save some bucks.

Map:

tourist map for nainital ranikhet and almora
A simple map for nainital ranikhet and almora road route

Time to Visit:

Late April to the first week of June; Late September to March(for pleasant weather-October and November)

A lake in G B Pant High Altitude Zoo
A lake in G B Pant High Altitude Zoo

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends,Solo, Couple,Groups

Food and Lodging:

Hotels are plenty in Almora and Nainital. Ranikhet has pretty few to say. Food stalls are available all over the road routes here, so not an issue. Hotels can be prebooked or booked on the spot (if you come with family, better to prebook in peak season-Rush is for real!). Goibibo, Makemytrip, Easemytrip if you want a booking. Zomato and Swiggy can be used for food bookings!

Expense:

For a 2-day trip to these 3 tourist spots ,the estimate is as follows:

Red Pandas at G B Pant zoo,Nainital
Red Pandas at G B Pant zoo,Nainital


Food:INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X2
Transport:3000 INR for Nainital local sightseeing;assume INR 500 for bus conncetivity to all these 3 places.
Lodging:INR 600/day X2 at Nainital(one night stay)
Entry Fees includes various places (varies):Entry fees at GB Pant zoo and boating charges(INR 300 / person)

Sunrise in Nainital
Sunrise in Nainital

Total: 5600 INR (can be possible in 3500 INR as well if you are having a rented scooty or you can walk a bit and spare a day more/curtail a few tourist spots in Nainital)

Nearby Attractions(Nainital)

Gurudwara close to Naina Devi Temple,Nainital
Gurudwara close to Naina Devi Temple,Nainital
Eco Cave Park,Nainital
Eco Cave Park,Nainital
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Polem Beach at dawn
In Tourist destinations around Bangalore

Gokarna,Udupi and Murudeshwar-Want to see cleanest beaches,hop in right now with Jog Falls

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Gokarna has the cleanest and most secluded beaches in India-a point to be noted! This is closely followed by South Goa beaches, which are peaceful and clean with fewer people. If you go down further, you’ll see the Lord Shiva statue facing the beautiful Arabian Sea. Then further down, we have Malpe and Udupi beaches with the beautiful Manipal University on the left.

16 Reasons why you must visit Gokarna, Murudeshwar, and Udupi:

  • Jog falls are a combination of 4 (Raja and Rani fall inclusive) that plunge into a deep gorge in the form of different streams. The falls are in full flow in the rainy season(August-September) when one should visit these falls. These are one of India’s highest falls with a considerable waterfall volume, making the view much more majestic!
  • Gokarna is a unique set of beaches that upholds the ranks of peace and tranquility with blessed nature. The hills and greenery around the beaches and the trek over these hills to get to the next set of beaches make this place a must-visit and a memorable one.
The famous Jog Falls close to Murudeshwar
The famous Jog Falls close to Murudeshwar
  • At Gokarna, you can enjoy camping, have a bonfire, enjoy seclusion with a clear sky full of stars and enjoy peace at night with a cool breeze and calm waves.
  • The most beautiful beach in Gokarna is the Om beach, which resembles the sacred Hindu symbol (of Om). It is a trendy beach in Gokarna with many crowds and get-togethers.
  • Kudle beach lies next with multiple cliffs and a superb view of Om Beach and Paradise Beach. It offers more tranquility and has less crowd around.
Shiva Statue in Murudeshwar
Shiva Statue in Murudeshwar
  • Half-Moon Beach has the name because it resembles the crescent moon. This is another crowded and easily accessible beach in Gokarna, though on a cleaner side.
  • Malpe Beach, about 6 km from Udupi, is an important port and fishing harbor. It is a clean beach with a gentle sea, palm trees, and golden sand.
  • The world’s second-largest Lord Shiva Statue, at 123 feet after Shiva Statue in Nepal, is a must-visit in Murdeshwar.

Location: Gokarna is 500 km northwest, whereas Udupi is 400 km west of Bengaluru.

Malpe Beach,Udupi
Malpe Beach,Udupi

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Malpe-Kaup beaches, Sri Krishna temple in Udupi; Murudeshwar Temple and beach-Nakhuda Beach in Murudeshwar; Gokarna-Om, Kudle, Nirvana, Half moon & Gokarna beaches

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Goa,Mengaluru,Sringeri,Jog Falls,Madikeri,Belur,Dharmasthala,Bisle Ghat and Wayanad from this sectional trip.

Om Beach sunset at Gokarna
Om Beach sunset at Gokarna

Distance Charts:(Gokarna)

River Shravathi looks beautiful on our way to Jog falls from Sagar
River Shravathi looks beautiful on our way to Jog falls from Sagar

How to Reach Gokarna/Udupi/Murudeshwar:

Road Routes:

Bengaluru-Belur-Dharmasthala-Udupi-Kundapura-Bhatkal-Murudeshwar-Honnavar-Jog Falls-Honnavar-Kumta-Gokarna

The beach in Murudeshwar is splendid
The beach in Murudeshwar is splendid

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)Jog Falls comes first in the preference as it’s refreshing to watch from July to October when rains are in full swing. Get a state bus ticket from Bengaluru, and you’ll get here within 6-8 hours.

2)Have an umbrella when you come to Jog Falls, especially when falls are in full flow. And conversely, have an umbrella when you are in Gokarna, Udupi, or Murudeshwar between October to March, when it’s kind of pleasant. Still, afternoons do need you to be under the shade.

3)Murudeshwar and Udupi would hardly take much time as it’s all about temples and beaches. So 1-2 hours for each of these spots is sufficient. Early morning hours will be better.

4)Gokarna has several beaches, so it’s better you start early – say by 6 am as you will need to climb up hills, walk on hilltops for about half an hour and climb down, and you don’t want to do all this stuff by the afternoon under the heat.

5)For the Gokarna beach to beach trek, always follow the trail, which gives you a sea view. That is, you should be walking on the edge of the hill. That will help you get to the beach rather than wandering your way in the forest. You can get boat rides to beaches, but I am not sure of the rates.

Half Moon Beach,Gokarna
Half Moon Beach,Gokarna

RAIL: Except for Gokarna, Udupi and Murudeshwar have their fence stations-not all trains halt, so you need to glance at the timetable. For Gokarna, Karwar or Kumta are the nearest railway stations.

AIR: Mangalore can be considered the nearest airport.

ROAD: A pretty good network of routes from all directions- from Bengaluru, Mumbai, or Goa side and regular state transport. KSRTC buses ply regularly and are mostly on time.

Map:-

Bengaluru-Sakleshpur-Udupi-Murudeshwar-Jog Falls-Gokarna Map

Time to Visit:

September to Early March

The beautiful western ghats as from Jog Falls
The beautiful western ghats as from Jog Falls

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends, Solo, Couple, Groups

Food and Lodging:

Gokarna has a bit of a problem for hotels-camping can be a way to go. Udupi Murudeshwar has staying options, so no worries. Food will not be a problem in any of these places-in Gokarna. Carry snacks and water with you. Jog Falls is a temporary halt.

Expense:

A 3 day trip to Gokarna, Udupi, and Murudeshwar will cost(Giving an extra day at Gokarna for having real fun!)

Paradise Beach overview
Paradise Beach overview

Food: INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X3

Transport: Shared transport will be there to connect these places.INR 500 is what I assume from Gokarna to Udupi maximum. You will ideally trek the hills to cross over beaches in Gokarna.

Lodging: INR 700/day X2 

Entry Fees include various places: Nil

Stroll to Jog Falls
Stroll to Jog Falls

Total: 2800 INR

Nearby Attractions(Gokarna)

Vidyashankara Temple,Sringeri is also a great destination to be
Vidyashankara Temple,Sringeri is also a great destination to be
Clean beaches are a hallmark of Gokarna
Clean beaches are a hallmark of Gokarna
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