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In Tourist Destinations Revisited-The Himalayas

Chandigarh and Amritsar-one a king of planned city,other a historic kingdom

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Chandigarh is a city that even children know about, but they especially know about rock gardens and a well-planned city with the proper urban planning of roads, homes, and drainage. Amritsar is a famous Punjabi city that has considerable involvement with the freedom struggle in the British period-the Jalianwala Massacre-the more exciting part being the patriotism at Indo-Pak Wagah Border -it is a once in lifetime watch for sure!

11 wonder-la Reasons why you must visit Chandigarh and Amritsar:

  • Rock Garden of Chandigarh started as a small activity by Nek Chand in the 1950s and now has hundreds of sculptures made from waste, discarded materials, concrete, rocks, bangles, and broken glass. This is a must-visit if you are in Chandigarh-I will say that’s the prime attraction here!
The Golden Amritsar in afternoon
The Golden Amritsar in afternoon
  • Rose Garden, in sector 16 of Chandigarh, is spread over a large area of 30 acres and has around 825 varieties of flowers and 32,500 varieties of trees and plants . An annual rose festival, Rose Festival, is organized in February and March. This is another must-visit place to be!
  • Chandigarh also repeats itself on the list of the cleanest cities in India. Interesting to be in a clean place. Right!!!
A pose just for my camera-hope he sees this post someday!
A pose just for my camera-hope he sees this post someday!
  • Chandigarh can be a starting point to several hill stations like Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, and Dalhousie, which are only 5-6 hours away.
  • The Partition Museum at the Town Hall of Amritsar, a five-minute walk from The Golden Temple, shows the struggle against the torcher inflicted by the British under their rule in Punjab province.
  • One place that you shouldn’t miss in Amritsar is the Govindgarh Fort. Try to get in at around 4 pm to witness the evening cultural show, Martial Arts, and the Light and Sound Show.

Location: Chandigarh is 250 km north of Delhi, capital of India, and Amritsar falls 450 km northwest of Delhi and 200 km west of Chandigarh.

Wagah Border,Attari
Wagah Border,Attari

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Chandigarh: Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake, Other Gardens; Amritsar-Jallianwala Bagh, Sri Harmandir Sahib, Golden Temple, Wagah, Other Gurudwaras; Bhakra Dam

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

Shimla, Bhakra dam, Tosh, Manali, Kullu, Narakanda, Jammu, Dharamshala, and Khajjiar are some places within the 300-400 km range to visit.

On mah way to Golden Temple,Amritsar
On mah way to Golden Temple,Amritsar

Distance Charts:(From Chandigarh | Amritsar)

Rock Garden famous for making use of waste to make such beautiful masterpieces-Credits to Nek Chand
Rock Garden famous for making use of waste to make such beautiful masterpieces-Credits to Nek Chand

How to Reach Khajjiar, Chamba, Kangra and Bir-Billing:

Road Routes:

Delhi-Panipat-Kurukshetra-Chandigarh-Jalandhar-Amritsar

Another view of interiors of Rock Garden,Chandigarh
Another view of interiors of Rock Garden,Chandigarh

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)Chandigarh and Amritsar-these places are only good in winters -Chandigarh’s weather is also bearable in the month of, say, June, but Amritsar is hot and humid. So it would be best if you covered these places in November, December, January, and February.

2)Chandigarh has some gardens to see along with some supercool malls and lakes-these all can be easily covered by an efficient, cheap public bus here in a single day.

3)Amritsar has mainly three things-Jallianwala Bagh, Golden Temple, and Wagah Border, so these three places are must-visit not just in Amritsar-these places come across as must-visits across India.
4)Wagah Border Ceremony must be confirmed in advance to avoid last-moment disappointment. And this happens at around 4 pm, so be here by 3 pm, and it’s going to be scorching hot and humid, but the ceremony will be an antonym.

5)Don’t miss out on street food at Chandigarh as well as Amritsar; the local cuisines and street food aren’t to be missed

Rose garden pathways,Chandigarh
Rose garden pathways,Chandigarh

RAIL:Chandigarh and Amritsar both are well-connected by railways to entire India

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

AIR:Chandigarh/Amritsar are the nearest airports.

ROAD:Roads aren’t required as much but in case you require the road that takes you from Delhi to Chandigarh will further land you at Amritsar.

Map:

Delhi Chandigarh Amritsar Map
Delhi Chandigarh Amritsar Map

Time to Visit:

September to November;March and April are comfortable months for both these places.

Markets at Night near Sukhna Lake,Chandigarh
Markets at Night near Sukhna Lake,Chandigarh

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends, Solo, Couple, Groups

Food and Lodging:

Chamba and Kangra have no hotel shortages, just that, in peak season-rates are on higher side but available . Refer to Goibibo,,easemytrip if you really want an advance booking. For food, you have lots of cheap and best hotels where you can have a good meal. Only towards Brailling, you’ll need snacks with you.

Expense:

For a 2-day trip by state transport for Amritsar and Chandigarh ,expense is:

Entrance of Wagah Border,Amritsar
Entrance of Wagah Border,Amritsar


Food:INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X2
Transport: INR 800 using public transport at both places together.
Lodging:INR 800/day X2 at Chandigarh and Amritsar(you will get dormitory at 300-500 INR in Chandigarh near bus stop/railways)
Entry Fees includes various places (varies):Entry fees in gardens and Wagah in Chandigarh/Amritsar.(INR 300 approx in total)

Jallianwala Bagh,Amritsar
Jallianwala Bagh,Amritsar

Total: 3300 INR(Can go upto to 3000 INR if a dormitory is opted )

Nearby Attractions(Chandigarh | Amritsar)

Rock garden-a beautiful view inside
Rock garden-a beautiful view inside
Sukhna Lake,Chandigarh
Sukhna Lake,Chandigarh
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In Tourist destinations around Bangalore

Kodaikanal-The best popular hill station in Tamil Nadu

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8 reasons why you must visit Kodaikanal:

  • Kodaikanal is known for tourist spots like Dolphin’s Nose, Coakers Walk, Byrant’s Park, Green Valley View, Bear Shola Falls, Silver Cascade falls,etc.-each, and every place is worth a watch!
Lake View Point,Kodaikanal
Lake View Point,Kodaikanal
  • Kodai Lake is a prime attraction. It is a star-shaped 4 km in circumference. You can enjoy a relaxing boat ride with your friends and family, gazing at the greenery and hills. You can also visit the beautiful Berijam Lake, a freshwater reservoir.
  • 6 km from Kodaikanal is Vattakanal which is known for tranquility and peace. There’s a little crowd, and hence, you need to have a private vehicle to get there.
Golf Course in Kodaikanal
Golf Course in Kodaikanal
  • Dolphin’s Point offers a clear view of lush green valleys and hills and is a mere 15-20 min hike from the main road. It’s a must-visit place!
  • During the monsoons, waterfalls like Fairy Falls, Silver Cascade, and Bear Shola Falls have water in full force enough to enjoy the vacations.
  • Kodaikanal is also famous for its variety of chocolates and spices. Trust me, the taste of chocolates here are superior to that of renowned brand chocolates. They are authentic, delicious, and less sugary.
  •  Bryant Park is an excellent 20-acre park to visit, lying east of the lake. It’s vast and can be a great picnic spot with family and friends.
  •  Pine Forests are worth visiting south of Kodaikanal, where you can get yourself clicked amidst pine trees.

Location  : Kodaikanal is about 500 kms south of Bengaluru, as well a Chennai.

Silver Cascade Falls,Kodainkanal
Silver Cascade Falls, Kodainkanal

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Kodaikanal Lake, Coaker’s Walk, Bryant Park, Silver Cassade Falls, Pine Forest, Vattakanal Falls, Upper Lake View, chettiar Park, Silent Valley View, Dolphin Nose.

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Madurai, Munnar, Thekaddy, Meghamalai, and HighWays hill stations.

Kodaikanal Lake
Kodaikanal Lake

Distance Charts:(Kodaikanal)

Suicide Point,Kodaikanal
Suicide Point,Kodaikanal

How to Reach Kodaikanal:

Road Routes:

Bengaluru/Chennai-Salem-Dindigul-Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal overcast
Kodaikanal overcast

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)Kodainkanal, if avoided in peak season, is better-first there’s a hotel search problem, and second it’s too crowded to enter the city-like you see 2-3 km traffic lines in summers!

2)Even in peak season, you do find hotels, but bumped-up prices are with what you lodge in!

3)For some tourist spots, you might need a private vehicle. Public transport seems to be there, but the timings must be checked. If you have 2-3 days in hand, public transport and walking can help cover many places.

4)Kodaikanal shall be avoided between June and September, when it rains and pours heavily. Hill stations are not a great place to be in the rainy season, attributed of landslides and traffic.

5)Beware of private taxi tour packages; get help from locals before you negotiate. The current prices must be known before jumping in for a private booking and sightseeing!

Another mini falls post monsoons
Another mini falls post monsoons

RAIL:Nearest railway station will be Dindigul from where there’s plenty of state transport buses.

AIR: Coimbatore/Madurai can be considered as nearest airport.

ROAD: Pretty good network of roads from all direction-say from Bengaluru or Chennai via Salem and Dindigul or from Trivandrum or Kanyakumari via Madurai. KSRTC AND TNSTC bus services will help A LOT!

Map:-

Bengaluru or Chennai-Salem-Dindigul-Kodaikanal road route
Bengaluru or Chennai-Salem-Dindigul-Kodaikanal road route

Time to Visit:

Except rains-June to August-anytime is fine.

Another stunning view of Kodaikanal
Another stunning view of Kodaikanal

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends, Solo, Couple, Groups

Food and Lodging:(Same situation as Ooty)

Food ain’t an issue, but is costly, especially if you ask for out of context north Indian cuisines. Grab idli dosas and you’ll do fine. Talking about hotels-in peak seasons it’s not easy to get cheap and best hotels-it’s full jammed. Better book in advance with sites like Goibibo or Makemytrip or Yatra and that will save hassle as well as bucks.

Expense:

A 2-day trip to Kodaikanal will cost:

The sidewaters,Kodaikanal lake
The sidewaters,Kodaikanal lake


Food:INR 150/person/day(3 times a day)X2
Transport:You can manage a few places with shared transport but a private vehicle can be better.Try for shared tours if possible.(INR 300 for public transport and INR 3000 for car booking)
Lodging:INR 800/day X2
Entry Fees includes various places (varies):Approx 200 INR with boating.

Another waterfall in Kodaikanal
Another waterfall in Kodaikanal

Total: 3000 INR(INR 5700 if a shared tour is taken which is better way to go)

Nearby Attractions(Kodaikanal)

A hazy Top station
A hazy Top station
Beautiful flower shot in a botanical garden,kodaikanal
Beautiful flower shot in a botanical garden,kodaikanal

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Cultural event at Kuchch
In tourist destinations around mumbai and pune

Bhuj-The Rann of kutch’s vibe in festivity and Dwarka’s gift of peace-with Somnath’s Legacy!

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Today, I am here to talk about the two prolific and must-visit places of Gujarat-the Rann of Kutch in Bhuj and Somnath temple and Dwarka city near Okha. One provides the vibe of the local culture of Gujrat along with performances far and wide, whereas the latter one gives a sense of pride as to how vibrant our ancient India was. Somnath temple marks India’s wealth in the past, and Dwarka celebrates the kingdom of Lord Krishna, which though submerged, is intact in deep waters!

Reasons why you must visit Bhuj and Dwarka:

  • Kutch Rann Utsav is a colorful festival that takes place in Rann of Kutch, lasting for three months from November to January, which includes camping, musical and dance performances, camel rides, handicraft shows, etc. This is one of India’s most anticipated festivals, which everyone should visit once.
Famous Kutch festival
Famous Kutch festival
  • The Rann of Kutch is a spectacular site for photography, especially at night, sunrise and sunset. Yes, you get to see several cultural and musical performances, which give you a glimpse of local traditions and cultures.
  • The Nava Talav Lake in Kutch is an excellent spot to view birds like pink flamingos, pelicans, storks, and cranes. This place is just a must-visit for bird watchers and photographers.
Mandavi beach
Mandavi beach
  • Bhuj, the capital of Kachchh, is known for its Kachchh handicrafts and historic buildings – the Aina Mahal and Prag Mahal, for example, are both worth a sight.

Location: Bhuj is 400 km west of Ahmedabad, and Dwarka is 450 km west of Ahmedabad.

Vijay Vilas Palace.Mandvi
Vijay Vilas Palace.Mandvi

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

In Mahal Palace Bhuj-Aaina, Prag Mahal Palace, Kutch Museum, Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Kutch-Rann Utsav;  Mandvi-72 Jinalaya Jain Temple, Mandvi Beach, Vijaya Vilas Palace; In Dwarka-Rukmani Devi Mandir, Dwarka Beach, Shree Dwarkadhish Temple; Somnath Mandir and Beach

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Ahmedabad, Gir Sanctuary, and Diu UT in the vicinity

Cultural event at Kuchch
Cultural event at Kuchch

Distance Charts:(Bhuj/Kutch)

Aina Mahal,Bhuj
Aina Mahal,Bhuj

How to Reach Bhuj-Dwarka-Somnath:

Road Routes:

Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer-Palampur-Samakhiali-Bhuj-Samakhiali-Jamnagar-Dwarka-Veraval/Gir/Somnath

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Bhuj
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Bhuj

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)The Kutch is to be visited during the mid-November to Mid-January period when the whole Kutch region brightens with festivities and people(It goes upto mid-Feb, but most of the aura is gone)-don’t forget to get your light woolens-gonna to be cold!

2)Somnath Temple and Gir Sanctuary are must-visits in Gujarat-both are known for prominent reasons-the former for the representation of Golden ancient India and later being home to Asiatic lions. So do have a day for both of these reserved!

3)Gir Sanctuary usually can be seen by taking a car inside the Sanctuary-you don’t need to pay extra for a Safari van in the Sanctuary- if you have hired a car or have your own -pay the entry fees, and you are good to go-way cheaper!

Kutch Museum
Kutch Museum

RAIL:Bhuj, Somnath and Dwarka -all these 3 have their own railway stations connected by long distance trains.

AIR: Rajkot and Ahmedabad have their airports from where rail/road both can help in serving.

ROAD: The roads are butter smooth, but GSRTC state transport lags behind in terms of maintaining timings-so don’t make a tight schedule – have a buffer of 2 days.Dwarka and Bhuj sections have good road networks and they both connect each other as well, though you will need to change transport systems time to time.

Map:

Ahmedabad-Bhuj-Dwarka-Somnath Map
Ahmedabad-Bhuj-Dwarka-Somnath Map

Time to Visit:

September to March is a good time to visit these places

Somnath-Temple,Dwarka
Somnath-Temple,Dwarka

Spend Time With:

Friends, Groups,Solo, Family,Couple

Food and Lodging:

Hotels are lots more, so guest houses in large numbers with mere charges of INR 300-500/day. And I didn’t feel a need to book. Food is available in main towns like Somnath. Veraval, Dwarka, and Bhuj have many options, but when you go towards kutch, the shops are few and quite distant, making carrying some food necessary.

Expense:

A 5-day trip to these three places will cost:(Assuming you reach Bhuj by morning from Ahmedabad the prev night)

Vijay Vilas Palace.Mandvi
Vijay Vilas Palace.Mandvi


Food: INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X5

Transport: INR 2000 for Ahmedabad-Bhuj/Dwarka/Somnath round trip by bus/train.INR 100 for Bhuj local sightseeing and keep INR 600 for kutch aside.INR 500 for Mandvi and INR 300 for Dwarka and Somnath.

Lodging: INR 500/day X5

Entry Fees: INR 300 with the INR 100 fee in kutch. Many places within Bhuj and Somnath have this entry ticket system.

.

Prag Mahal,Bhuj
Prag Mahal,Bhuj

Total: 7800 INR

Nearby Attractions(Bhuj/Kutch)

Watch Tower,Kutch
Watch Tower,Kutch
  • Dwarka(400 km)
  • Gir Sanctuary(400 km)
  • Ahmedabad(330 km)
  • Jaipur(880 km)
  • Ajmer(750 km)
The Sunset at Kutch
The Sunset at Kutch

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Nohkalikai Falls
In Tourist Destinations Revisited-The Himalayas

Meghalaya-Barso Re Megha Barso aptly precise -hills romancing in the rain!

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Meghalaya-the most pretty state, I consider, just after Sikkim for its sheer romantic aura, drizzles, and vast green mountains and valleys. A plethora of waterfalls and vast grassland with pure crystal water from Dawki are memorabilia for those who make it to this state. So when you are in North East, don’t mistake excluding Meghalaya from your dream travel list! I highly recommend it as a travel destination! So pack your bags and join me on this North East adventure right in Meghalaya!!!

Some great reasons why you must visit Meghalaya:

  • The capital city of Meghalaya, Shillong, is known for its beautiful hilly landscape with waterfalls and lakes. The top view of Shillong city is very pleasing to the eye. Many music events happen too! So this should be in your must-visit kitty! The places to visit in Shillong are Umiam Lake, The Don Bosco Museum, Lady Hydari Park and Elephant Falls.
The night street view of Cherrapunji
The night street view of Cherrapunji
  • Mawlynnong, a village in Meghalaya, is known for being the ‘Cleanest Village in Asia’ and also has a living root bridge and natural balancing rock in the village. This place is worth a visit, especially for how villagers keep it clean.
  • Khasi, Garo and Jaintia are the three tribes Meghalaya is known for. These offer tourists a glimpse of the variety of customs and rituals.
  • Nongriat has the Meghlaya’s famous double-decker living root bridge and Rainbow fall, which requires a bit tedious trek but is worthy of a visit for sure.
Double Decker Route Bridge,Meghalaya
Double Decker Route Bridge,Meghalaya
  • Umngot River in Dawki, Meghalaya, is the cleanest of rivers I’ve seen, and it’s more beautiful when your boat over it. The surrounding beauty is equally understandable.
  • Krem Mawsmai Cave in Cherrapunji is known for bats. You also have impressive waterfalls and living root bridges to welcome you! Bangladesh plains are visible from here.
  • The Laitlum Canyon,25 km from Shillong, is another place to grab eyeballs for its scenic views. Shillong has many viewpoints, and all are worth a visit.
  • Baghmara in Meghalaya has the Baghmara Reserve Forest and Siju caves, India’s third most extended cave system. This all makes up for a perfect one-day trip here.

Location: Shillong is about 100 km from Guwahati southwards, and a 3 hr drive shall suffice.

Dawki River,Mawlynlong
Dawki River,Mawlynnong

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Elephant Falls, Umiam Lake, Dawki, Krem Mawsmai Cave, The Laitlum Canyon, Baghmara Reserve Forest, Nohkalikai Falls, Mawlynmong and Siju caves

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Agartala,Aizawl,Majuli,Darjeeling,Gangtok,Kohima in 400-500 km radius.

Tamabil,Indo-Bangla Border
Tamabil,Indo-Bangla Border

Distance Charts:(From Shillong)

Khrangsuri Falls,Meghalaya
Khrangsuri Falls,Meghalaya

How to Reach Imphal/Ukhrul:

Road Routes:

Guwahati(Assam)-Shillong-Cherrapunji-Mawsynram-Mawlynnong-Jowai-Shillong

Nohkalikai Falls
Nohkalikai Falls

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)Try visiting Meghalaya just after monsoons, that is the month of October, as the whole state will be lush green with a good flow in waterfalls.

2)Roads are a mix of good and evil with dusty patches in the Dawki section, but yes make sure you carry spare tyres and tools. They are going to be much worse in the rain.

3)Always carry an umbrella or waterproof airtight jacket as it may rain anytime!

4)Start early-I. Always stress this when someone is touring North East India as sunrise happens around 4 am. get ready by 3.30 am, sleep by 9 pm and keep this cycle going. So get your vehicle going at 4 am, and you must be at your favourite spot by sunrise.

5)Do proper planning as Meghalaya is a vast state to cover many places. So need to plan well in advance and not repeat places. It must be a circuit tour. For example, if you want to approach Tura first, get into Meghalaya from Goalpara instead of Guwahati.

Mysterious floating rock of Mawlynnong
Mysterious floating rock of Mawlynnong

RAIL:Guwahati can be reached by rail from any part of India.

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

AIR:Guwahati shall be the nearest airport.

ROAD:There’s a single road from Guwahati to Shillong that takes you inwards in Meghalaya.ASSAMRTC (astcbus.in) bus services available .

Map:

Shillong-mawlynnong-dawki-jowai classic road map
Shillong-mawlynnong-dawki-jowai classic road map

Time to Visit:

Best time to visit will be around September to March.

The focus on motor of the boat we sail
The focus on motor of the boat we sail

Spend Time With:

Family,Friends,Solo,Couple

Food and Lodging:

Hotels are available but only in big towns. The smaller ones have fewer hotels, but you’ll find a place. You can go to Goibibo, Makemytrip, or Easemytrip if you need to make a booking. Food all the way is a bit difficult but doable. Have snacks with you.

Expense:

For a 3 day trip to Meghalaya:

Mawjymbuin Cave,Shillong
Mawjymbuin Cave,Shillong

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

Transport: INR 1500 if you use local/public transport, but that isn’t covering all places-try sharing a car with friends/hitchhike ;(For Pvt car, consider INR 2500/day for three days)

Lodging: INR 700/day X3 at Imphal (two nights stay)

Entry Fees include various places (varies): max INR 300

Total: 4800 INR(Can go upto to 10800 INR if a private car is availed)

Nearby Attractions(Shillong) :

Elephant Falls,Shillong
Elephant Falls,Shillong
Hyde Park at Shillong
Hyde Park at Shillong
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