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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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The Ooty Hill station
In Tourist destinations around Bangalore

Ooty-Udhagamandalam and Coonoor-The queen of hill stations in South India

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Want a weekend gateway to forest areas from Bengaluru-Look no further -Wayanad in Kerala and the adjacent district of Karnataka that is Coorg is waiting for you. When the monsoon calls it quits leaving a trail of fresh air and green aura, that’s when you should be here, seeing overflowing Iruppu Falls, the gigantic Cauvery river at Talacauvery, the tea estates in Wayanad, and beautiful treks like Pakshipatalam or Brahmagiri trek.

15 Reasons why you must visit Ooty and Coonoor:

  • Ooty is one of India’s most visited year destinations and should be on your charts if you make it to south India.
Doddabetta Peak
Doddabetta Peak
  • You could go boating in the beautiful Ooty Lake or to Pykara lake to enjoy a boat ride in paddle boats, motorboats, or rowing ones with your friends or family. Cycling and horse riding around the lake is equally enjoyable.
  • The Nilgiri Toy Train, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must rail journey in India, starting from Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam and crossing about 250 bridges and 16 tunnels. You can halt at places like Coonoor, Wellington, and Lovedale on the way to Ooty.
  • Four hundred feet Kalhatti Falls in Bellikal is known for lush greenery around the falls and birds unique to this region.
The Nilgiri railways dotting the plains of Ooty
The Nilgiri railways dotting the plains of Ooty
  • Visit Doddapetta park, which houses the highest point, the Doddapetta peak offering beautiful views of Nilgiri hills and Chamundi hills and the sunset through telescopes and binoculars.
  • Coonoor, another hill station near Ooty, is famous for its tea plantations and is at a good height of about 2000 meters offering splendid views of the valleys and vast hilly regions.
  • Dolphin’s Nose is located about 1500 m above sea level and is one of the most frequented places by tourists in Coonoor. There are canyons and valleys with lush green hills, along with a clear view of the Catherine Falls.
  • Three kilometers from Coonoor, Highfield Tea Factory, is a place for tea lovers to learn how tea is processed, packaged, and shipped. You can also get some tea for your friends and family, chocolates, and eucalyptus oil.

Location: Ooty is 300 km south of Bengaluru via Mysuru and 600 southwest of Chennai via Erode.

The lake in Ooty boasts good boating facilities
The lake in Ooty boasts good boating facilities

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Ooty: Ooty Boat House, Botanical Garden, Rose Garden, Doddabetta Peak Telescope house, Nilgiri Mountain Railway Line; Coonoor: Pykara waterfalls, Sim’s Park, Catherine Water Falls, Rangaswamy Peak

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Wayanad, Coorg, Mysuru, Thrissur, and Kozhikode as excellent destinations.

Thread Garden in Ooty
Thread Garden in Ooty

Distance Charts:(Ooty)

Rangaswamy peak near Coonoor
Rangaswamy peak near Coonoor

How to Reach Ooty and Coonoor:

Road Routes:

Bengaluru/Chennai-Erode-Coimbatore-Coonoor-Ooty(rail route)/Bengaluru-Mysuru-Ooty.

Tea estates in Ooty is pretty common and pretty to look
Tea estates in Ooty is pretty common and pretty to look

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)Ooty and Coonoor are pleasant hill stations throughout the year-I was here in May, and the climate was just mindblowing. So hop in anytime monsoons from June to September are better avoided.

2)Hotels can get damn expensive and scarce in summers, which is the peak season, so get yourself a booking or hard luck. Off-season getting a hotel is no big deal, even with no booking.

3) Some tours are organized to see tourist spots at Coonoor and Ooty. Check them out on relevant sites and travel agents in and around Ooty.

4)Buses are an excellent way to travel to some tourist spots and in and out of big cities to and fro Ooty. They are economical and have a good frequency.

5)Food at restaurants can be damn costly. What can save you bucks is having idli-dosa on the streets or small hotels-They are tasty authentic, and cheap! However, North Indian hotels will be a lot more expensive.

Flowers from Botanical Garden
Flowers from Botanical Garden

RAIL: Nearest railway stations are Ooty as well as Coonoor. There’s a toy train plying between Mettupalayam and Ooty, and Mettupalayam is connected to Coimbatore by a broad gauge line.

ROAD: You can come from pretty much anywhere to Ooty. TNSTC and KSRTC have excellent bus services directly to Ooty.

Map:-

Chennai-Erode-Coimbatore-Coonoor-Ooty road route

Bengaluru-Mysuru-Ooty-road-route

Time to Visit:

Except for rains-June to August-anytime is fine.

Catherine falls,Ooty
Catherine falls,Ooty

Spend Time With:

Family, Friends, Solo, Couple, Groups

Food and Lodging:

Food isn’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 the best hotels-its full jammed. Better book in advance through Goibibo, Makemytrip, or the Yatra website; that will save hassle and bucks.

Expense:

A 2 day wholesome trip in Ooty and Coonoor will cost:

Ketti Valley
Ketti Valley

Food: INR 150/person/day(3 times a day)X2

Transport: There are shared tours happening-you. I need to do a bit of google search -take it as INR 1000. Else you can hop for bus services for main spots only which will cost INR 500.

Lodging: INR 800/day X2 (1 day in Ooty and other at Coonoor)

Entry Fees include various places (varies): Assume INR 300 as there are entry fees on several sites (including boating on sharing basis)

Avalanche Lake or Emeralad Lake
Avalanche Lake or Emeralad Lake

Total: 3300 INR(INR 3800 if a shared tour is taken, which is a better way to go)

Nearby Attractions(Ooty)

The Ooty Hill station
The Ooty Hill station
Bhavani Lake
Bhavani Lake
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