Dramatic Alila Fort Bishangarh To Welcome Guests From February 2017

OPENING IN FEBRUARY 2017

Located at Bishangarh Village in the Jaipur District, barely 6 km off the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway, Alila Fort Bishangarh is easily accessible from both Delhi and Jaipur. It is 180 km (3 hours) from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi while it is only 55 km (1 hour) from Jaipur Airport. 

The drive to Amber Fort at Jaipur is only 45 minutes away and Bishangarh is a good base to explore Jaipur’s innumerable tourist attractions.

Alila to reopen 230-year-old fort in Rajasthan

Alila has unveiled a dramatic new hotel in India, set in a 230-year-old fort in Rajasthan.

Scheduled to welcome its first guests in February 2017, Alila Fort Bishangarh will be positioned on a peak in the Aravalli hills, with 360-degree views of the Rajasthani landscape. The building is surrounded by original two-metre thick stone walls with turrets.

Once inside, the luxury hotel will feature just 59 suites, all with large openable windows, bathtubs and day beds. There are four suite categories and 22 different layouts.

F&B options at the hotel include an indoor restaurant, outdoor grill, a lounge and a bar with a “cigar and cognac turret”, while other facilities include a spa, a large banqueting hall and a conference room.

Outside the hotel walls, at the bottom of the hill, lie banqueting lawns, a swimming pool and terrace, another bar, a fitness centre, children’s clubs and an organic garden.

“The quest in the preservation of this ancient warrior fort inspired the creation of a world-class boutique resort for guests to appreciate the beauty of the Aravalli hills,” Alila said in a statement. “The project grew out of a love for the heritage of the building and the surrounding landscape, with sustainability as a core commitment.

“The original fort has been left intact and much care has been given to the reconstruction of new residential areas to ensure it is everything a modern-day Maharaja or Maharani could wish for and more,” it added.

Alila Fort Bishangarh will become the company’s second property in India, following the Alila Diwa Goa which opened in 2010.

Chausath Yogini Temple - Yoginis In This Temple Are Gracefully Carved And Portrayed An Exceptional Position

CHAUSATH YOGINI TEMPLE

AT

JABALPUR

Chausath Yogini Temple is Located between the Bhedaghat and the Dhuandhar Falls and it is in the Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh State of India.The temple has a view of the beautiful Narmada river flowing through Bhedaghat. 

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple has intricately detailed carvings on its walls, giving it an artistic splendor besides a huge religious significance.One of the oldest heritage sites in India.

Chausath Yogini Temple is situated on a hilltop in Jabalpur. Built in the 10th century A.D., the temple is the abode of Goddess Durga along with 64 yoginis or shaktis considered to be the different forms of the Goddess. Though the temple has been partially damaged, it speaks greatly of the ancient dynasties that ruled in Jabalpur.

The complex of the temple consists of 64 shrines in circular motion, one for each yoginis and a main shrine where Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati are seen riding on Nandi, the sacred bull. 

The temple was constructed during the reign of Kalchuri Dynasty and was mainly made with local granite. Mughal invaders, later on, destroyed and deformed most of the temple.

The design of the temple has been kept simple but the idols of yoginis are exquisitely carved, each one depicting a unique posture. The environment at the site is very calm and composing with lush greenery around. 

Standing at the open-sky courtyard you can witness a panoramic view of the River Narmada and the surrounding landscape. Being the oldest Yogini temple in India, this place is a must visit for all heritage lovers!

Climbing the 100 odd steps to reach the compound is an easy climb and the temple looks beautiful in sunlight. The idols of the Mother Goddess and Lord Shiva seated inside lend a divine aura. 

There are 64 sculptures of Yoginis inside the temple which are placed along a semicircular compound wall have been ravaged by time.  Walking along the wall, behind the temple, the view of Narmada and the greenery around is soothing and calm.

By Air

The nearest airport to Amarkantak is at Jabalpur, which is 245 km away from City of Amarkantak. Pre-paid taxi services are available from the jabalpur airport to Amarkantak. 

By Train

The nearest railway station to Amarkantak is Pendra Road at a distance of 17 km from the heart of the city. Anuppur at distance of 48 km from Amarkantak is also convenient for the tourists. Taxi charges are Rs 300 from Pendra Road and Rs 600 from Anuppur.

By Bus

There are state owned transport buses from Pendra Road, Shahdol and Bilaspur. Amarkantak is connected by buses to Jabalpur (245 km), Rewa (261 km) and Shahdol (67 km).

Silent Valley National Park Offers Several Wildlife Packages For Travellers

Explore Silent Valley National Park

Tucked away in the folds of the Nilgiri Hills in Palakkad is a pristine valley, a spectacular patch of green nursing a rich palette of varied habitats- The Silent Valley National Park. With an area of 237.52 sq km, this dramatic landscape which is a unique preserve of tropical evergreen rain forests bursts with a luxurious collection of flora and fauna.

This stunning national park offers several wildlife packages for travellers.

Karuvara Trekking

Karuvara is a waterfall in Panthamthodu, 5 km away from Mukkali which is the base camp of the Silent Valley National Park. Trek through this trail which provides ample opportunities for bird watching. The journey to the waterfalls is in itself one scenic adventure. Immerse yourself in the magic of this rich swathe of greenery and tread on to reach the pristine Karuvara Falls.

Specifics: Maximum number of persons in one group is five and minimum three. Duration of the trip is 4 hours. Each group will be accompanied by a guide. The recommended season for visiting this area is from August to September and December to March. No bathing is permitted in the waterfall. Availability of this programme will depend on local weather. Advance booking is necessary.

Keerippara Trekking

Keerippara is the ideal package for those interested in wildlife. You may amble up the path snaking through the forest feasting your eyes on the magnificent canvas of greenery and wildlife conjured up by nature. Listen to the orchestra struck up by birds as you explore this slice of heaven. The trail runs through a tangle of forest types in the buffer zone of the Park. Trek through the evergreen and moist deciduous forests before venturing into the secondary grasslands at Keerippara. This refreshing trail offers mesmerising visuals of butterflies and birds flitting above.

Specifics: Maximum number of persons in one group is five and each group will be accompanied by a guide. The time span for the trek is 4 hrs. Advance booking is necessary for this programme. 

For tourist information and other logistics, please contact:

Wildlife Warden

Silent Valley Division

Mannarkkad, Palakkad,

Kerala - 678582

Email: mail@silentvalley.gov.in

Website: http://silentvalley.gov.in/SilentHome.php 

Odisha Is Home To A Mountain Destination Which Recives Snowfall Every Year

 Odisha gets as cold as any other hill station in the country

Yes, you read that right. Odisha is home to this offbeat hill station which receives snowfall every year.

Mountain lovers in India wait for the winters to come. One of the biggest reasons for this is the opportunity to witness snowfall and be close enough to the blank of white on some mountain.

The most common hill stations snow-loving Indians head travel to are Shimla, Manali, and the other popular hill stations in the northern part of the country. But did you know that Odisha is also home to a mountain destination which receives snowfall every year?

Daringbadi is a picturesque hill town situated in the Kandhamal district of Odisha, which has earned the title of Kashmir of Odisha for being as cold and as exciting as any other hill station in other parts of the country. And believe it or not, tourists from the state who are aware of this make it a point to visit this place during the cold months.

Seems like the destination is all set to get prominence in the tourist map of India. According to a report by The Times of India, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has opened a tribal museum at the hill-view park of Daringbadi.

Not only that, the CM has laid the foundation stone of a nature camp, with the aim of promoting eco-tourism at this offbeat hill station.

Built on 1,100 square feet at a budget of Rs 30 lakh, the museum showcases the depth and beauty of the local Kandha and Kutia Kandha tribes by putting on display their dress, ornaments and musical instruments.

On the other hand, the nature camp, which will be set up by the local forest department, will have six cottages, a restaurant and facilities for forest treks.

Only six months ago, the forest department has developed a nature park in the area with an investment of Rs 55 lakh. Spread across an area of four hectares, the park includes a butterfly park, a medicinal garden, 3D movie halls, and exhibits of lifesize images of wild animals.