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Borra Caves is known for its Stalactites and Stalagmites
In Tourist destinations around Bangalore

Araku: Unparalleled Beauty-Exotic Visit

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ARAKU VALLEY

Mesmerizing View of Araku
Mesmerizing View of Araku

Reasons why you must visit Araku Valley:

  1. An offbeat, serene, peaceful destination
  2. Away from the busy bustle of cities and a respite from sweat-prone Visakhapatnam
  3. A good picnic spot and a place that makes you nostalgic and romantic.
  4. The Green Valleys and pleasant weather add the cherry on top.
  5. Borra Caves: Yes, you heard it right. It’s right here and a must-visit. The natural stalactites, stalagmite formation, and artificial lighting are splendid to watch.
  6. Waterfalls, sightseeing, and tribal culture to study.

Location: Araku Valley is on the way to Koraput/Jagdalpur when you travel westwards from Visakhapatnam. Road and rail routes are available. But, the real fun is travelling by train, when you can see mesmerizing green valleys and misty clouds passing through several tunnels. Isn’t it worth it!

Tourist Attractions around Borra Caves/Araku Valley:

The places around Borra Caves are the Ananthagiri Coffee Plantation, Padmapuram Gardens, Katiki Falls, Tatipudi Reservoir, and Damuku View Point.

Borra Caves is known for its Stalactites and Stalagmites
Borra Caves is known for its Stalactites and Stalagmites

Distance Chart:

Vishakhapatnam : 90 km
Chilika:327 km
Vijayawada: 422 km
Bhubaneshwar:455 km
Puri:456 km
Konark:487 km
Hyderabad:693 km
Ranchi:861 km
Chennai:871 km
Kolkata:888 km
Bangalore:1069 km

How to Reach Araku Valley/Borra Caves:

Road Routes:

From Visakhapatnam: Visakhapatnam-Kothavalasa-Srungavarapu kota-Borra Guhalu-Araku Valley

Come from anywhere; Vizag/Visakhapatnam’s the key to Araku. Yes, you got it correct. So you must catch a train from Vizag and get down at either Borra Guhalu or Araku. Timings are listed here. If you are coming from the Rayagada side, then, in that case, you need to leave the train at Koraput and catch a train towards Vizag.

NOTE: For Borra Caves, leave the morning train at Borra Guhalu. Borra Caves is just minutes away from the railway station.

Train Timings from Vizag to Araku.Suggest you to take the first train!
Train Timings from Vizag to Araku.Suggest you to take the first train!

AIR: Visakhapatnam/Vizag is the nearest airport, after which you must opt for a rail or road network.

ROAD: If you have your bike or car, 1.5-2 hrs is all you need from Visakhapatnam. But in case you want to save some bucks and go for public transport, then go for APSRTC bus service or opt for the APTDC Package, which is worth every penny. Going by bus, the 5 am bus is apt in case you want to ditch the fantastic train ride. So I will strongly suggest you opt for rail-cum-road package by APTDC worth 1000 bucks. It’s not much considering what all is inclusive in the package!

Waterfall near Borra Caves
Waterfall near Borra Caves

Map:

Visakhapatnam -Araku-Lambasingi Map With Distance
Visakhapatnam -Araku-Lambasingi Map With Distance

Time to Visit:

Mid-Sept to Mid May(monsoon season to be avoided)

Tatipudi Reservoir
Tatipudi Reservoir

Spend Time With:

Family,Friends,Solo,Group Picnic.

Food and Lodging:

Apc approved lodging available. To save bucks, opt for Srungavarapu. Kota. Food is not a problem, but lodging needs to be decided based on your budget.

Expense:

Since I had booked a hotel online at Srungavarapu Kota, I took a bus, reached the hotel by evening(EX-Bangalore), rested, and headed to Araku the following day. I got a bus that left me at Borra Caves. A nominal fee for caves and after which, gave 1.5 hours to caves. After that hired an auto and went on to see Araku Valley, the Tribal Museum, and Katiki Falls. In the late afternoon, went by bus to Tatipudi reservoir from the hotel. The reservoir is worth giving a shot, folks!

Tatipudi reservoir is worth giving a shot
Tatipudi reservoir is worth giving a shot

Bangalore to Visakhapatnam Train:800 INR

Hotel:535 INR

Bus Misc:100 INR

Food:200 INR

Auto:600 INR

Entry ticket to Borra Caves:60 INR

Entry ticket to the tribal museum: 20 INR(Approx)

Return to hotel: 60 INR(Bus)

From Tatipudi Reservoir (need to walk around 1-1.5 km from Junction):30 X 2=60 INR

Return to Visakhapatnam:60 INR(Approx)

Total:  1695INR.

Nearby Attractions:

Lambasingi-92 km( hill station)
Visakhapatnam-115 km
Chilika Lake- 352 km
Konark Sun Temple-510 km
Jagdalpur(Chitrakoot Falls-Widest Falls in India)-185 km
Vijayawada-432 km



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Kolhapur
In tourist destinations around mumbai and pune

Kolhapur and Ratnagiri-One a historical realm,other a ocean of riches!

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Kolhapur and Ratnagiri-both big cities in the Maharashtra state of India have lots in wraps for history. Kolhapur had been a throne to many Maratha empires for decades and centuries, whereas Ratnagiri-the birthplace of unforgettable freedom fighter-Lokmanya Tilak. However, Kolhapur has a freshening vibe with less soaring temperatures and a beautiful lake view in late evenings with palaces and street food apparent. Ratnagiri is an excellent place to scuba dive, plus had great beaches to visit -beaches are mostly clean and less populated!

Reasons why you must visit Kolhapur and Ratnagiri:

  • Panhala Fort is one of Kolhapur’s most popular attractions consisting of structures like the Teen Darwaza, Konkan Darwaja, Andhra Bavai and the Kalavanticha Mahal.
Ratnagiri Fort
Ratnagiri Fort
  • Rankala Lake is at the heart of Kolhapur and is an excellent place to chill out in the evenings with many food stalls and the hustle and bustle of a humongous crowd. There are several gardens around this lake where you can take some rest and have some merry picnic time as well. In the evenings, this is the place you should be in Kolhapur.
  • Ratnapura Fort is a 1300 m long fort overlooking the Arabian sea and jetties and is located on a hilltop in Ratnagiri, surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides. A lighthouse is also situated in the fort, which guides the ships and vessels. This is a beautiful place to view the ships and boats passing by, with a cool breeze across the Arabian Sea. Another fort, the Jaigad Fort, is a historical fort built in the 17th century.
View from Ratnagiri Fort
View from Ratnagiri Fort
  • Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s birthplace is at 10 min walk from the bus stand of Ratnagiri. Visit this converted museum for sure!
  • Thibaw point is located on a small hill in Ratnagiri, from where you can get a panoramic view of Bhatye beach, the Arabian sea and Someshwar creek. At a short distance from Thibaw point is Thibaw Palace which was built in 1910-11.
  • Ratnagiri is famous for Alphonso’s mangoes. So grab some at a lesser price right here.

Location  : Ratnagiri and Kolhapur are about 350 kms south from Mumbai and about 300 kms south from Pune .

A fort at Kolhapur
A fort at Kolhapur

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

In Ratnagiri-Jaigad Fort, Ganapatipule Beach, Thibaw palace, Ratnadurg fort, Bhatye Beach, Gateway, Mandavi Beach, Marine Museum, Aare Beach, Lokmanya Tilak Birthplace

In Kolhapur-Rankala Lake, New Place, Mahalaxmi Ambabai Temple, Shalini Palace, Shree Jotiba Devasthan

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Kaas Pathar, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Doodhsagar Falls and even Goa from hereon.

Bhatye Beach at Ratnagiri
Bhatye Beach at Ratnagiri

Distance Charts:(Kolhapur | Ratnagiri)

Ratnagiri Marine Museum
Ratnagiri Marine Museum

How to Reach Kolhapur-Ratnagiri:

Road Routes:

Mumbai-Pune-Satara-Kohlapur-Ratnagiri

Lokmanya Tilak Birth place,Ratnagiri
Lokmanya Tilak Birth place,Ratnagiri

An important note from my experience:

1)Ratnagiri is best just after the monsoons when it doesn’t rain much and is pleasant enough. Summers are very humid and warm. The best time is between November to January, when the climate is pleasant.

2)Kolhapur local sightseeing can be done by shared transport and autos, whereas in Ratnagiri, most places need a private auto, so it is better to make a deal and visit prominent places or fix spot basis rates.

3)If Scuba diving is your love, spend an extra day at Ratnagiri and learn some scuba diving from experts. There’s a dedicated institute to serve this purpose.

4)Food is not an issue at both these places. But do have water and an umbrella, especially in Ratnagiri, as you tend to dehydrate owing to the coastal region,

Thiba Palace,Ratnagiri
Thiba Palace,Ratnagiri

RAIL:Both the places are well connected by railways.

AIR: Pune or Hubli can be nearest ones.

ROAD: The Mumbai-Bangalore highway will cover most of the portion of Kolhalpur journey .For Ratnagiri, you’ll need public transport (MSRTC bus transport) to reach from Kolhapur through thick forested Western Ghats.

Map:

Mumbai-Kohlapur-Ratnagiri Map via Pune and Satara
Mumbai-Kohlapur-Ratnagiri Map via Pune and Satara

Time to Visit:

October to March will be good time to be here

Shahuji Chhatrapati Museum.Kolhapur
Shahuji Chhatrapati Museum.Kolhapur

Spend Time With:

Friends,Groups,Solo,Family,Couple

Food and Lodging:

Cheap and best Hotels are available at both these tourist spots .No bookings needed and no worries. For food local food at these places will suffice.

Expense:

A 2 day trip costs:(start from Mumbai late night to reach Kolhapur next day morning)

Rocky beaches in Ratnagiri
Rocky beaches in Ratnagiri


Food: INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X2

Transport: For Kolhapur, most places can be covered by public buses and autorickshaws, whereas for Ratnagiri, you may need private auto booking and ferries to reach a few places. A total cost of INR 800 is considered for local site seeing.

Lodging: INR 700/day X 1 

Entry Fees include various places (varies): INR 200 is an approximate fee per person.

Camel stares sweet!!!

Total: 2300 INR

Camel stares sweet!!!
Camel stares sweet!!!

Total: 2300 INR

Nearby Attractions(Kolhapur | Ratnagiri)

The symbol of Ratnagiri fort
The symbol of Ratnagiri fort
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Himalayas as seen from Lalsavunga Park,Aizawl
In Tourist Destinations Revisited-The Himalayas

Mizoram-The less frequented Himalayan Jewel of North East, not to be missed!

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Mizoram: Yes, it exists, and it’s a state of beautiful North East, but many miss out on this pretty state. This state has unique art and culture, a distinct landscape, and natural beauty. Aizawl is a lot to explore, with Reiek presenting a fantastic view of meadows far and wide; Hmuifang/Phawngpui Peak gives a dreamy greenery view along with the crispy Himalayas in sight from Lalsavunga Park. Vantawng Falls, Tam dil(lake) and Palak Dil(Lake) are some other beautiful places in Mizoram.

Reasons why you must visit Mizoram:

  • Mizoram is synonymous with Tamdil lake, famous for frogs, boating, and an enchanting green landscape.
Hmuifang,an hour drive from Aizawl in early afternoon
Hmuifang,an hour drive from Aizawl in early afternoon
  • The Durtlang hills are a great viewpoint close to the capital of Mizoram to have a birds-eye view of Aizawl.
  • The Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary, Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary, and Dampa Tiger Reserve are beautiful places in Mizoram if fauna is something you love!
  •  Vantawng Khawhthla or Vantawng Falls, about 140 km from Aizawl with a height of 750 feet, is the most famous and must-visit waterfall in Mizoram to visit from September to January.
Dusk in Reiek
Dusk in Reiek
  • Falkawn-a hamlet near Aizawl, is a great place to witness the rich culture of the Mizo people.
  • Saiha has the largest lake in Mizoram, Palak Dil, with a wildlife sanctuary as a bonus. The lake is pretty like many other lakes in Mizoram.

Location: Aizawl is about 450 km south of Guwahati capital of Assam and about 170 km south of Silchar, a town in the Tripura state of India.

Tlawng River on my way to Reiek
Tlawng River on my way to Reiek

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

State Museum, Solomans’s Temple(Church), K.V.Paradise,Reiek Tlang,Lalsavunga Park, Hmuifang, VantawngFalls,Tuirihiau Falls

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Imphal, Haflong, Agartala, Gangtok, Shillong, Kohima and Tawang, among others, within 500-600 km from Aizawl.

Khonoma Village near Kohima is an excellent place to be!

Khonoma Village near Kohima is an excellent place to be !
Khonoma Village near Kohima is an excellent place to be !

Distance Charts:(From Aizawl)

Himalayas as seen from Lalsavunga Park,Aizawl
Himalayas as seen from Lalsavunga Park,Aizawl

How to Reach Imphal/Ukhrul:

Road Routes:

Guwahati(Assam)- Karimganj-Aizawl

The Himlayas as seen from Falkawn
The Himlayas as seen from Falkawn

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)Mizoram is a great place to be, especially if you look for stretched meadows amidst green hills with short trails and hikes

2)Hmuifang and Reiek are must visits -try spending a day at each of these places-it’s worth it. The view is like the countryside, greenery all over and calm winds blowing across-its so much fulfilling!

3)Winters, I’ll say it is a lovely time to be you get pleasant weather plus its Christmas time-a lot of hustle bustle in the capital.

5)Try visiting Palak dil and Vantawng Falls if you can add two days to your itinerary or Mizoram as these are must-visit places.

Vantawng waterfalls Mizoram

RAIL: Silchar is the nearest rail station, after which shared cabs are there to help you reach Aizawl.

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

  AIR: Aizawl has its airport well connected to any part of India.

ROAD: You can come down straight from Guwahati via Karimganj to Aizawl, or else you can get a cab from Silchar will drop you at Aizawl in 7 hours.

Vantawng waterfalls Mizoram
Vantawng waterfalls Mizoram

RAIL: Silchar is the nearest rail station, after which shared cabs are there to help you reach Aizawl.

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

AIR: Aizawl has its airport well connected to any part of India.

ROAD: You can come down straight from Guwahati via Karimganj to Aizawl, or else you can get a cab from Silchar will drop you at Aizawl in 7 hours.

Map:

Manipur to Loktak Lake and Ukhrul road Map
Dimapur to Imphal -Loktak Lake- Ukhrul Map

Time to Visit:

The best time to visit will be around either September-March (Avoid rains between June and September)

The beautiful Aizawl city of Mizoram
The beautiful Aizawl city of Mizoram

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends, Solo, Couple

Food and Lodging:

Hotels are readily available in Aizawl. Food is available at almost all places on the roads of Mizoram. You can go to Goibibo, Makemytrip, and Easemytrip if you need to make a booking. Zomato and Swiggy can be used for food bookings! In most cases, you don’t need bookings here.

Expense:

For a 2 day trip to Aizawl,following is the expense:

K.V. Paradise,Aizawl
K.V. Paradise,Aizawl

Expense:

For a two-day trip to Aizawl, the following is the expense:

K.V. Paradise, Aizawl

Food: INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X2

Transport: Consider INR 1500-2000 if you hire a motorbike cab that lets you see places like Hmuifang, Reiek, etc.INR 500 for a shared cab.

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

Entry Fees: Around 100 INR(max)

Total: 4100 INR(Can go upto to 4600 INR)

Nearby Attractions(Kohima) :

Vaivakawn market , Aizawl, Mizoram
Vaivakawn market , Aizawl, Mizoram
K.V. Paradise,Aizawl
K.V. Paradise,Aizawl
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Swami Vivekananda Memorial,Kanyakumari
In Tourist destinations around Bangalore

Rameswaram, Madurai & Kanyakumari-From temples to the divine meeting of the three seas!

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Ahh! All of you must be familiar with the names of these three stunning locations in India, like Rameswaram. Ram constructed Ram Setu so that Lord Rama could persuade King Ravana to restore his wife.
There are still visible remnants of the Dhanushkodi bridge that were carried away by a breeze. The large zMeenakshi Temple, the city of temples, is renowned for its beauty and ambiance and is a must-visit.

Reasons why you must visit

Rameshwaram Temple
Rameshwaram Temple
  • The last settlement on Panbam Island before Sri Lankan territory begins is Dhanushkodi.
  • Rameshwaram and the Indian mainland are connected by the Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge over the Palk Strait.
Pamban Bridge,Rameswaram
Pamban Bridge,Rameswaram
  • One of the most famous and stunning temples in South India is the Shiva-dedicated Shree Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai.
  • It is worthwhile to travel to Madurai just to see the Gandhi Museum, which displays Mahatma Gandhi’s life story and their long involvement in the freedom movement.
  • At Vivekananda Rock, you might witness stunning views of the sunrise, sunset, and moonrise.
  • The beaches in Kanyakumari have multicolored sand, namely yellow, black, and red sand, which makes the coastline look adorable.

Location : 450, 600, and 700 km south of Bengaluru, respectively.

Kanyakumari Beach
Kanyakumari Beach

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

  • Kanyakumari Beach

Tourist Attractions in the Vicinity:

You can visit Ponmudi, Ooty, Kochi, and Palghat when visiting places on this route,

Vivekananda Rock Memorial,Kanyakumari
Vivekananda Rock Memorial,Kanyakumari

Distance Charts:(Madurai | Kanyakumari)

Agni Theertham rameswaram
Agni Theertham rameswaram

How to Reach Kanyakumari via Madurai and Rameswaram:

Road Routes:

Bengaluru to Salem, then Karur to Madurai. Then, Manamadurai to Rameswaram to Kanyakumari

Sri koodal azhagar temple madurai tamil nadu
Sri koodal azhagar temple madurai tamil nadu

Important Note from My Experience:

  • You will experience heat all year long since all of these locations are in Tamil Nadu. So when visiting these locations, wear cotton clothing, bring an umbrella, and bring a liter of water to drink.
  • I always suggest early morning or late afternoon visits to avoid any rush in the evenings.
  • You need to stand in a queue for hours to get a boat ride. To be at the Memorial
Subramaniya Swamy Temple madurai
Subramaniya Swamy Temple madurai

RAIL: All the three places have their railway stations.

AIR: Chennai is the nearest airport.

If you start from Chennai, you can come in many ways to Madurai and thereafter head to Rameswaram. For public transport, TNSTC and KSRTC help.

Map:

Madurai-Rameswarm -Kanyakumari Route Map
Madurai-Rameswarm -Kanyakumari Route Map

Time to visit:

September to February is best time to be at these 3 places.

House of Kalam (APJ Abdul Kalam House ),rameswaram
House of Kalam (APJ Abdul Kalam House ),rameswaram

Spend Time With:

Family, friends, solo, couple, groups

Food and Lodging:

You’ll find hotels anytime in these places, Food of all kinds is available at these places.

Expense:

A 3-day trip will cost:

Vattakottai fort kanyakumari
Vattakottai fort kanyakumari


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

Transport: Railways shall be the primary mode of transport among these three cities or the state transport. The cost will be around INR 1200.

Lodging: INR 700/day X2

Total: 4400 INR

Padmanabhapuram Palace,Kanyakumari
Padmanabhapuram Palace,Kanyakumari

Nearby Attractions(Maduari | Kanyakumari)

Kanyakumari Sunrise View
Kanyakumari Sunrise View
Gandhi memorial museum madurai
Gandhi memorial museum madurai

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