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In The east India

The Thousand Pillars Temple, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, and Vijayawada: a lot of history to speak of and a man-made giant!

05/08/2023 No Comments

I have been focusing on circuit trips in most posts, which also comes across as just that. The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, famous all over India, is a great place except for the heat. There’s boating too, but it depends on the number of tourists. I couldn’t do it because of the lack of tourists willing to boat. The 1000-pillared temple in Warangal is a mark of architecture, though pretty silent and in a small area.

Reasons why you must visit the 1000-pillar temple:

A Thousand Pillar Temple is a top-rated pilgrimage center and thousands of devotees from all over India visit it every year for its unique architecture.

Nagarjuna Konda, known for ancient Buddhist excavations, can be reached by boat in the middle of Nagarjuna Sagar. It’s a must-visit if you are here. Check the visiting hours, morning or late afternoon should be the right time.
The site, known as Undavalli Caves, is 8 kilometers from there and dates to the 7th century BC.
The 5-meter-long statue of Lord Buddha in a reclining position, carved from a single granite block, is the centerpiece. The villages, the sunset, and the views from the top of the park are breathtaking.

Andhra Pradesh’s agricultural areas are irrigated in part by the Prakasam Barrage on the River Krishna.
It is a well-liked tourist destination and works as a traffic bridge as well.
The first memorial to Gandhi was constructed on top of the hill in Vijayawada in 1968.

Location: Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is 200 km from Vijayawada, A thousand Pillar temples are 400 km from there,

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Some popular tourist destinations include the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam,, A Thousand Pillar Temples, and Bhavani Island.

Tourist Attractions in the Vicinity:

You can visit Visakhapatnam, Araku Valley, Hyderabad, Kakinada, and Srikakulam which will fall in the vicinity.

Distance Charts:

Warangal (260 km)
Nagarjuna Sagar (200 km)
Bangalore (660 km)
Kanyakumari (1150 km)
Delhi (1850 km)
Mumbai (1000 km)
Pune (850 km)
Hyderabad (280 km)
Ooty(930 km)
Munnar (1030 km)
Cochin(650 km)

How to reach

Road Routes:

Vijayawada – Guntur – Nagarjuna Dam – Warangal – thousand pillar temples – Hyderabad

Travelling over Prakasam Barrage on River Krishna

An important note from my experience:

1. If you visit the Thousand Pillar Temple in the morning, this dam can be completed the same day, but if you want some time to go boating, consider going to the dam site in the morning or late afternoon.

2. Visits to Sagar require chilly weather. I went there in March

3. Spend some time visiting Bhavani Island and Caves while you’re in Vijayawada. If you’re in the middle, all three are worthwhile stops.

Rail: Macherla and Vijawada are the nearest railway stations. for these tourist places.

AIR: Vijayawada and Hyderabad have their airports.

The road network is pretty good, and I would say well-connected by public transport (APS RTC / Telangana Road transport). The stretch from Warangal to Sagar is a bit patchy and bumpy, but the public transport does the rest for you!

Map:

Vijayawada-Nagarjuna Dam-thousand pillar dam road map — Vijayawada-Nagarjuna Dam-thousand pillar Temple road map

Time to Visit:

September to March is a good time to be here.

Spend Time With:

Friends, groups, solo, families, couples

Food and Lodging:

Hotels are there in good numbers in Vijayawada, but for Sagar Dam. It should be a transit point and stay is either be made for Vijayawada or Warangal, which has decent stay options as well. Have snacks and a bottle of water for the whole journey, especially the Vijayawada – Nagarjuna Sagar – Warangal section, as the roads look deserted and lackluster with very few food options!.

Expense:

A 2-day trip to these 3 places will cost:

Food:INR 100/person/day (3 times a day) X2
Transport: The bus charge from Vijayawada to Warangal via Dam will be INR 500 one way. Local public transport will help you reach all tourist places in these 3 tourist destinations. Adding a total cost of 250 for local transport.
Entry fees: INR 250 in all.

Lodging at Vijayawada:INR 800 -one night

Total: 2400 INR

Nearby Attractions

Warangal(260 km)
Nagarjuna Sagar(200 km)
Hyderabad(280 km)
Cochin(650 km)

In The east India

Jagdalpur and Chitrakoot Falls-Can’t just ignore this sheer beauty amidst immense greenery!

08/07/2023 No Comments

One of the least visited places by outsiders-yet one of the most beautiful forested stream clad regions of India is Jagdalpur in Dantewada district of Chhatisgarh which we all know is sensitive but when visited is one of the most memorable journey. Come in late monsoon period that is August end, and you’ll see flowing streams, heavy waterfalls, green paddy fields and dense forests-you’ll love being so close to nature with more residential homes rather than apartments and less of commercialism. If you want to see Kailash-Kotumsar Caves, and Kanger Valley national park, late September will be a better month..Chitrakoot and Tirathgarh Falls are prime attractions here. Danteshwari temple and several other temples make up to the list of places to visit as well, more so because of scenic drives.

Reasons why you must visit Jagdalpur:

The 2 km long 35 m underground Kailash and Kotumsar caves consisting mainly of stalactites and stalagmites, are a must-visit at Jagdalpur; it’s close to Tirathgarh falls, so you can’t miss it out post monsoon. S

Chitrakoot or Chitrakote falls of width 980 feet known as the Niagara of India over Indravati river is why you’ll mainly be at Jagdalpur. And you’ll have to be here in July and August to see falls in full glory -you’ll love it!
Tirathgarh waterfall is another one you won’t like to miss out on because it’s pretty scenic with dense forests and ideal for taking many selfies and getting wet under the falls. Monsoon anytime is the best time to be here!
Danteshwari Temple in Dantewada is a religious place you shouldn’t miss if you have time to spare and want to give some time to the Dantewada region. The surroundings are scenic, with a river flowing by and forests in the vicinity. It’s mainly known for the Dusshera

Paddy fields are treat to watch in rains in Jagdalpur

Eh! In Bastar district, and you miss Kanger Valley National Park? How come…you cannot as it’s one heck of tourist’s prime attraction but yeah, be sure you keep checking their site to know about bookings and best time to visit-not monsoon time of course. Kutumbasar, Kailash and Dandak caves are also worth a watch, along with booming flora and fauna.
Dalpat Sagar, Chitradhara falls, Zonal Anthropological Museum and Bastar palace are some other exciting places you must set your eyes on! I need a day extra!!!

Location : Jagdalpur is about 300 km south of Raipur and 300 km west of Visakhapatnam, with Visakhapatnam route being more safe and well-connected.

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Chitrakoot Falls, Kotumsar Cave(not in monsoons), Danteshwari Temple, Museum, Teerathgarh falls, Bastar Palace, Kanger Valley National Park

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Visakhapatnam, Raipur, Araku Valley, Srikakulam and Chilika lake which will fall in vicinity.

Distance Charts:(Jagdalpur)

Raipur(290 km)
Visakhapatnam(310 km)
Bhubaneshwar(590 km)
Kolkata(960 km)
Chennai(890 km)
Vijayawada(440 km)
Delhi(1510 km)
Ranchi(730 km)
Dantewada(85 km)
Araku(185 km)
Nagpur(480 km)
Mumbai(1250 km)

How to Reach Jagdalpur:

Road Routes:

Visakhapatnam-Araku-Koraput-Jeypore-Jagdalpur-Dantewada

An important note from my experience:

1) To see caves and national parks, avoid the rainy season, come here after September month.

2)If forests, greenery and waterfalls are what you prefer, drop in July to September. You’ll love the greenery of paddy fields and dense forests.

3)Carry snacks and water with you as shops on the roads are few, and it takes time to reach another city.

4)Carefully study the news and the situation before arriving here. Otherwise, you can be in real trouble. Watch the news for yourself, and you’ll get to know the region’s sensitivity. Not making you fear, though!

5)Araku Valley is something you can easily cover by adding a day extra, and it’s worth it-its the best hill station of Eastern ghats in India-fact!

6)Booking a car is way better than public transport, but come in group-solo travel is not for the faint-hearted and, God’s sake-avoid venturing into forests-stay in city limits!

RAIL:Jagdalpur is well connected by daily rail service from Visakhapatnam.

AIR: Visakhapatnam is nearest airport for Jagdalpur.Raipur also can be the other one.

ROAD: You can approach Jagdalpur from Durg/Raipur or Nagpur side as well as from Visakhapatnam end as well.Roads are in good state but please check the local civil issues and aggressions before approaching roadways. This area is critical and sensitive so please be where public is-don’t try to be a lion in unknown black-hole…

Map:

Visakhapatnam to Jagdalpur via Araku map

Time to Visit:

August to March is a good time to be here.

Spend Time With:

Friends,Groups

Food and Lodging:

Hotels are there in Jagdalpur and you should make your stay here only as this is a safe call.No advance bookings needed as per my experience.Fooding will be available in major cities of Chhattisgarh so better have snacks and water with you all the way!

Expense:

A 2 day trip to Jagdalpur costs:

How close can I get to Chitrakote falls in rains

Food:INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X2
Transport:To do local sight seeing ,get some friends and make a group and go for car sharing-will cost around 3500 INR per day but its safer.May cost 6000 INR for days.If you manage to get public transport here,won’t cost more than 1000 bucks all inclusive.
Lodging:INR 700/day X2
Entry Fees includes various places (varies):Assuming INR 300 including entry fees at national park.90 % of places are rid of entry fees.

The beautiful eastern ghats in late august

Total: 3300 INR(8300 INR in case you opt for safer transport!!!I am stressing this for some valid reason :-))

Nearby Attractions(Jagdalpur)

Visakhapatnam(310 km)
Bhubaneshwar(590 km)
Pachmarhi(720 km)
Jabalpur(620 km)
Amarkantak(530 km)
Hyderabad(550 km)
Vijayawada(440 km)

In The east India

Tripura:A mark of tradition and culture in North East India

29/05/2023 No Comments

Tripura, a state sandwiched between Bangladesh and the state of Mizoram, is a bouquet of history. It’s a state of the art and culture, and you’ll love being a part of it and watching its glorious past.

Reasons why you must visit Tripura:

Unakoti hills in North Tripura are known for their Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Ganesh, and Nandi engravings on huge rocks. Dating back to the 7th–11th centuries. This is a bit isolated, but the greenery around it with a short trek makes up for the hassle you take to get here.

Tripura is well-known for Neermahal in Rudrasagar Lake, the former royal palace in South Tripura, India. What makes it captivating is it looks beautiful in the middle of the Lake.
The views from Neermahal are fabulous too.
An India-Bangladesh border ceremony happens every evening, which ain’t to be missed when you are here.
Ujjayanta Palace, was once a royal palace of the kingdom of Tripura. Which we now see as a museum, giving us an in-depth picture of Northeast art, culture, and history.
The Heritage Park of Agartala is a scenic park which helps you see all the famous tourist places in Tripura in this park itself, in the form of models. It is spectacular to watch.
The Sipahijala Wildlife Sanctuary is well known for its lush greenery. There are a variety of wild animals like the clouded leopard and spectacled monkey.

Mekhlipara Tea Estate is a great place to see tea estates in Tripura, though Assam is the best place to see tea plantations

Location : Agartala is in the extreme south of Tripura state. About 300 KMS from Silchar. 550 KMS from Guwahati.

A view of Neermahal from the shores of Rudrasagar

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Neermahal, Ujjayanta palace, Kalibari, and Heritage Park are some nearby tourist destinations around Tripura.

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Shillong, Majuli, Cherrapunji, Aizawl, Imphal, Haflong, and Darjeeling within a 400-500 km radius.

Distance Charts:(From Agartala)

How to Reach Tripura:

Road Routes:

Guwahati(Assam) to Shillong. And then, Silchar to Kumarghat to Agartala

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)Agartala is best visited in winter. Somewhere from October onwards, as summers are harsh.

2)Visiting at Durga puja time will be best as you’ll see Agartala in full pomp and show. Plus, you can do sight visits later on as well.

3)Unakoti needs one day separately for sightseeing, as it’s far away from Agartala. Plus, the public transport is average at its best. So take a train to Dharmanagar/Kumarghat and then get a bus/shared car.

4)Roads are pretty good for the most part, and you’ll have no problem with food and facilities on the roads.

Neermahal-The view through... — Neermahal-The view through…

RAIL: Agartala is well connected to the rest of India by the Indian rail network.

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

AIR: Agartala is well connected by direct/indirect flights to the rest of India

ROAD: The road from Guwahati via Shillong takes you to Silchar. It is followed by Kumarghat, and finally, the capital of Tripura-Agartala.

Map:

Time to Visit:

The best time time to visit is October to Mid-March

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends, Solo, Couple

Food and lodging

Hotels are readily available in Agartala and Silchar. No booking is necessary. You can go to Goibibo, Makemytrip, or Easemytrip if you need to make a booking. Local food is damn cheap. So, make the most of it!

Expense:

For a two-day trip to Agartala:

Neermahal, as seen from Heritage Park

Food: INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X2
Transport: Consider INR 600 for local transport
Lodging: INR 800/day X2 at Agartala (two nights stay)
Entry Fees includes various places (varies):
Boating, entry fees, etc.: INR 300

Total: 3100 INR (Can go up to to 5500 INR if a Pvt car is availed)

Nearby Attractions(Imphal) :

Guwahati (540 km)
Ukhrul (620 km)
Loktak Lake (530 km)
Itanagar (760 km)
Cherrapunji (500 km)

In The east India

Konark-Puri and Chandrabhaga-A superb combo of temples and sea beaches!Bhubaneshwar the bonus!!!

07/05/2023 No Comments

You must have heard much about Sun temple, but where is that located? Yes, you are somewhat correct- the answer is Konark -And if you ask me-is it must visit? My answer is yes, yes, and yes because of the beauty and the architecture this temple offers. You’ll find a secluded, clean Chandrabhaga Beach a few kilometers ahead. Puri is another 50 km from Konark, and you’ll find the Jaganath temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and a crowded Puri beach. Bhubaneshwar is a city of history and caves(Udaygiri and Khandagiri) with museums filled with historical facts.

11 Grand Reasons why you must visit Puri, Konark, and Bhubaneshwar:

The 700-year-old Sun Temple at Konark, built during King Narsimhadeva, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 24 wheeled chariots driven by seven horses. This is a not to be missed destination if you are in India.

Puri has a beautiful beach, not to forget an enormous crowd as well, and is a top surfing destination in India.
One of the four dams, the Jagannath Puri temple, constructed in the 11th century, is the starting point for the famous Rath Yatra in July. If you can be part of this auspicious event, do take part but beware of the rush!
Dhauli Hill on the banks of Daya River is historically significant because it was where the Kalinga war was fought. A Shanti Stupa is at the top, giving a view of the life of Buddha and presenting travelers with splendid green scenery of Konark city and around.

The Sun Temple's main attraction-The Chakra — The Sun Temple’s main attraction-The Chakra

Famous must-visit temples in Bhubaneshwar include the Brahmeshwara Temple, Lingaraja Temple, Mukteshwar Temple, and Parasurameswara Temple, which are known for impressive Kalingan architecture with intricate sculptures and carvings.
A Music Festival is held in January and visited by famous musicians and thousands of music enthusiasts, which is just 4 km away from the Biju Patnaik Airport and the Bhubaneswar Junction Railway Station.
Chandrabhaga beach organizes Sand Art Festival every year from 1st December to 5th December, a treat for the eyes as artists give their best shot to make sculptures out of the sand.

Location: Bhubaneshwar is 450 km south of Kolkata, and Konark is 50 km west of Bhubaneshwar. Puri is approximately 50 km from Konark or Bhubaneshwar; Chandrabagha beach is 5 km from Konark on the way to Puri-30 km ahead of this beach.

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Sun Temple Konark, Chandrabhaga beach, in Bhubaneswar-Udaygiri-Khandagiri Caves, Lingaraja Temple, Nandankanan Zoo, State Museum, Tribal Museum, Shauli Shanti StupaRajrani, and Mukteswara Temples; Puri-

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Araku Valley, Paradweep, Chilika Lake, Simplipal sanctuary, Hirakud Dam, and Visakhapatnam within 300-400 km.

Distance Charts:(Bhubaneshwar)

Konark(100 km)
Puri(70 km)
Chilika(140 km)
Paradeep(105 km)
Chandrabhaga(90 km)
Mumbai(1780 km)
Hyderabad(1050 km)
Cochin(1870 km)
Mysuru(1580 km)
Chennai(1230 km)
Bangalore(1440 km)
Rameswaram(1780 km)
Kanyakumari(1920 km)
Delhi(1720 km)

How to Reach Bhubaneshwar-Konark-Chandrabhaga-Puri:

Road Routes:

Bhubaneshwar-Konark-Chnadrabhaga-Puri-Chilika Lake

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)These places are best covered in winters between September and February as summers are humid and warm and rains are cyclone-prone and downpour oriented.

2)If you add one more day to your itinerary, you can be at Chilika lake-start seeing the lake early, and you’ll be able to complete the central part of it by evening. December to February are the best months! Even Paradweep can be covered in 3 days trip, but you have to leave out a few tourist spots from any of these places.

3)Have an umbrella and a drink to beat the sun and sweat.

4)In Puri, you should avoid the majority of pandits crowding around you for worship. You need to ignore or excuse them.

5)In Chilika, you will get original pearls and precious stones at significantly fewer prices. Do check that out.

6)Chandrabhaga beach and caves/museums in Bhubaneshwar are two other things you can’t make ignore-simply magnificent.

RAIL: Puri and Bhubaneshwar have railway stations with good connectivity to other Indian cities.

AIR: Bhubaneshwar is the nearest airport.

ROAD: Road connectivity is superb to connect all these places, and PRIVATE bus transport is pretty good too.

Map:

Bhubaneshwar-Konark-Chandrabhaga-PPuri-Chilika Map — Bhubaneshwar-Konark-Chandrabhaga-Puri-Chilika Map

Time to Visit:

September to February is the best time to be at these three places.

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends, Solo, Couple, Groups

Food and Lodging:

You’ll find plenty of hotels in any of these places, and flooding is not an issue. So chillax and enjoy the scenes. If still booking is on your mind, go ahead and book in advance using Goibibo, Makemytrip, or Yatra website.

Expense:

A 2 day trip to Bhubaneshwar followed by Konark and Puri has the following cost structure:

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

Transport: For all these places, Public transportation is more than sufficient-will cost max INR 1000 altogether

Lodging: INR 700/day X2 (1 day in Konark and another day in Puri)

Entry Fees include various places (varies): Konark Temple, few caves/museums in Bhubaneshwar have fees-add it upto INR 300

Total: 3300 INR

The east India

Reasons why you must visit the 1000-pillar temple:

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Tourist Attractions in the Vicinity:

Distance Charts:

How to reach

Road Routes:

An important note from my experience:

Map:

Time to Visit:

Spend Time With:

Food and Lodging:

Expense:

Nearby Attractions

Reasons why you must visit Jagdalpur:

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

Distance Charts:(Jagdalpur)

How to Reach Jagdalpur:

Road Routes:

An important note from my experience:

Map:

Time to Visit:

Spend Time With:

Food and Lodging:

Expense:

Nearby Attractions(Jagdalpur)

Reasons why you must visit Tripura:

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

Distance Charts:(From Agartala)

How to Reach Tripura:

Road Routes:

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

Map:

Time to Visit:

Spend Time With:

Food and lodging

Expense:

Nearby Attractions(Imphal) :

11 Grand Reasons why you must visit Puri, Konark, and Bhubaneshwar:

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

Distance Charts:(Bhubaneshwar)

How to Reach Bhubaneshwar-Konark-Chandrabhaga-Puri:

Road Routes:

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

Map:

Time to Visit:

Spend Time With:

Food and Lodging:

Expense:

Nearby Attractions(Puri/Konark/Bhubanehswar-distances from Bhubaneshwar)