MOATSU FESTIVAL

MOATSU FESTIVAL

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NAGALAND

Nagaland is another name for exotic, mystic and beautiful. This northeast state of Nagaland is luxuriously green and inhabited by tribes who have fiercely protected their tradition, culture and identity.

Moatsu Mong is now being promoted by Nagaland Tourism as a national event, and Chuchuyimlang village is the main showcase for the celebrations- a great place for visitors from across the country and abroad to get a ringside view of Naga life.

Colourful costumes complete with clan motifs and headdress, war paint once in a while, lyrical singsong dialects and traditional villages are just some of the intriguing facades of the people of Nagaland.

Add to it the verdant green that is broken only by the white and red rhododendrons and multihued orchids, and you’ll have many reasons to enjoy this exotic destination tucked away in the northeast of India.

Traditionally, Moatsu Mong was celebrated only after the biggest (and most time-consuming) tasks of the community were completed- the sowing of grain, the cleaning of village ponds, the construction and repair of houses.

 The days leading up to the festival are, even today, a period of hectic activity. Homes are cleaned and decorated; rice beer is brewed and cows, pigs and fowls are fattened for the inevitable feast.

For the three days of Moatsu Mong, there is much rejoicing, singing and dancing; delegations go from one village to the next, bearing gifts, feasts are held, and eulogies are sung in praise of traditional heroes.

Many tradition and rituals are the part of this festival. Everyone is relaxed for a week, refreshes their body, mind and soul to take up future tasks, and challenges in the year ahead.

By Air

The airport is in Dimapur, 74 kms away from Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland. There are flights from Guwahati (Assam) and Kolkata (West Bengal) to Dimapur.

By Train

The nearest railhead is Dimapur, 74 km from Kohima. There are trains that connect Guwahati to Dimapur. Guwahati, in turn, is very well connected to the rest of India.

By Road

Kohima is connected to Imphal in Manipur (123 km) and Guwahati in Assam (400 km) by road. 

SOMNATH TEMPLE

SOMNATH TEMPLE

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JUNAGADH

Somnath temple is also known as Prabhas Pattan and the Shrine Eternal. Somnath is one of the 12 jyotirlinga shrines of God Shiva.

The Somnath temple located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, India. Meaning of Somnath is the protector of God moon. First temple of Somnath was built before the commencement of the Christian era. Second temple was built by Vallabhi King in 480 - 768 A.D

Somnath Temple is one of the very ancient temples of India located in Gujarat and stands as a famous landmark in the Indian history. Somnath Temple is located about 79 kilometers from Junagadh in the Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval and the most legendary temples of the western coast of India. Somnath Temple is the ideal sacred place of the Hindus that survived the ravages of time. 

 The Somnath Temple is an ideal example of the ancient Indian temple architecture.The Somnath Temple is known as the eternal shrine whose glory and fame are legendary. It is believed that Somraj, the moon god, built the Somnath Temple or the Somnath Pattan out of gold.

 It was rebuilt by Ravana in silver. Again Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu built it in wood. Further in the 10th century it was rebuilt in stone by King Bhimdev Solanki.

The ruins of the Somnath Temple were pulled down in October 1950 and the mosque was shifted a few miles away. The temple was built in 1951. A statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel stands in front of the temple as a mark of honour for his contribution to the building of the temple.

The Somnath Temple is visited by millions of devotees every year. It is not just the temple, but other tourist attractions like Somnath Museum, Somnath beach and Junagadh Gate also attract visitors. The Sound and Light Show held in the temple is another attraction.

By Bus

State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect various centres of Gujarat to Somnath.

By Train

Somnath is well connected to other major cities of the country via regular trains.Veraval, (5 kms.) is the closest Railway station.

By Air

There are no regular flights from other major cities of the country to Somnath. Nearest airport is Diu Airport.

Somnath-63 km away Diu Airport (DIU), Diu, Daman And Diu

Somnath-114 km away Porbandar Airport (PBD), Porbandar, Gujarat.

Somnath Prabhas Patan 362268, Junagadh, Gujarat. India.

MANTRALAYAM

MANTRALAYAM

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KURNOOL

Mantralayam is a constituency in Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, India. It lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra river on the border with neighbouring Karnatakastate. It is also called as Manchale.

The town is popular for the Samadhi of Saint Raghavendra Teertha and is a highly sought-after religious destination by devotees of Lord Vishnu. The followers of the saint believe that he was the incarnation of Bhakta Prahlad, who was character from the Hindu epic Mahabharatha and an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu.

Mantralayam is associated with the famous saint Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy, renowned Hindu saint and philosopher. Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy, lived between 1595 and 1671 was an influential saint in Hinduism.

Followers of the saint consider him to be an incarnation of Bhakta Prahallada, who was saved by Vishnu in the avatar of Narasimha. Sri Raghavendra Swamy is said to have performed many miracles during his lifetime and has a large following even today. 

Mantralayam is a small and peaceful town situated on the banks of the River Tungabhadra and gets thousands of devotees from all over the country.

This is the place where the Vaishnava saint Sri Guru Raghavendra took Jeeva Samadhi (tomb). Mantralayam is situated near the border of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh along the banks of River Tungabhadra, a chief tributary of River Krishna.

Darshan Timings: 6 AM to 8:30 AM,

9:30 AM to 2 PM

 4 PM to 9.30 PM.

By Air

 The closest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. Hyderabad Airport is 250km from Mantralayam. If you are wondering how to reach Mantralayam from here, book a Hyderabad flight and then take a taxi or cab to Mantralayam.

By Train

The train station, called Mantralayam Road, is located about 15 k.m.away from Mantralaya, locally, it is also known as Tungabhadra. It is easily accessible by train as it on the Chennai /Bangalore – Mumbai line. Almost all train stops at Mantralaya Road station which is just 12 Kms from the Mutt. For those coming from Mumbai, Mumbai – Chennai Express starting from Mumbai at 2 PM is most convenient as it reaches Mantralaya by 4 AM. Bangaloreans can reach Mantralaya by Udyan Express.

By Bus 

 Mantralayam has a Mantralayam Bus Station maintained by the APSRTC. Make a Mantralayam visit by bus in any of the buses available from the region you’re travelling because all buses reach the Mantralayam Bus Station as its final destination in Mantralayam.

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BOTANICAL GARDEN

BOTANICAL GARDEN

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OOTY

One of the most beautiful attractions in Ooty is the Botanical Garden,situated on a hillock. Spread over 55 acres the Botanical Garden was laid out in the year 1847 by the Marquis of Tweedale. The garden is taken care of by the Horticulture Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

The Ooty Botanical Gardens captures a massive area of 22 hectares with the spectacular Blue Nilgiris Mountain Range as the perfect backdrop setting. It is placed on the lower slopes of the stunning and magnificent Doddabetta Peak, the highest point in South India and hence lends one of the most unforgettable panoramic sights to view for all visitors.

The botanical gardens in Ooty is home to many rare species of trees. Chief among them are the cork tree, the only one of its kind in India. The paper bark tree, the monkey puzzle tree and an old fossilized tree (estimated to be 20 million years old) round out the other rare species. The monkey puzzle tree has been named so because even monkeys fail to climb it.

The Summer Festivals is an annual event held at the gardens in May. The highlight is the flower show where several rare species of plants are exhibited as well as various cultural programs showcasing the talent of the locals and renowned artists.

Presently, the Ooty Botanical Gardens features 5 sections named as the Lower Garden, Fountain Terrace, Italian Garden, New Garden, The Conservatory and Nurseries Section

In order to create better awareness amongst flower growers about the flora of Ooty and the Nilgiris region, a garden competition is organised prior to the Flower Show Festival that involves Public Gardens, Estate Gardens, Private Cottage Gardens and various other Garden categories to partake. About 200 Gardens compete in this event every year, held within the Ooty Botanical Gardens, where the best gardens are awarded with prizes and trophies.

Ideally, the month of May is thebest time to visit the Botanical Garden, as there are several exhibitions and other programmes organised, which draws many tourists to the venue

Entry fee for Adults : 20 Rs. 
Entry fee for Children : 10 Rs.

Visiting Hours - 8.00 AM - 6.30 PM

By Air

Approximately 88 kilometres away, Coimbatore is the nearest domestic airport from Ooty which is well-connected with most of the Indian cities. You can also take a flight from Bangalore (which is 295 kilometres from Ooty) as Bangalore airport is connected with most of the cities across the globe. There are regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai connecting Bangalore and Coimbatore. Once you reach the airport, you can take a taxi or bus from there to reach Ooty.

By Train

The nearest railhead is Mettupalyam, 40 kilometres from Ooty. There are trains from Chennai, Coimbatore, Mysore and Bangalore connecting Mettupalyam. Some of the popular trains are Ooty Udagamandalam Passenger train, Mettupalyam Udagamandalam Passenger train, Mangalore Mail and Mangalore Express. From here on, you can also board the heritage train known as the Nilgiri Mountain train which takes you uphill on an exciting journey. However, if you wish to reach faster, take a taxi from the railway junction.

By Bus

Ooty is a major tourist attraction of South India. You will get both government and luxury buses from Bangalore, Mysore and Chennai to Ooty. These are overnight buses and the journey is quite comfortable. Note that a special government bus leaves daily at 5pm and 7pm from Calicut and it takes just 6 hours to reach Ooty.

Vannarapettai, Ooty, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu - 643002

SCIENCE CITY

SCIENCE CITY 

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KOLKOTTA

The Science City, one of its kind in India, inaugurated on 1st July,1997 has been developed as a major attraction for the residents’ of Kolkata as well as for the national and international visitors to the metropolis. Developed by the National Council of Science Museums, it is one of the largest and finest in the world, presenting science and technology in a stimulating and engaging environment that is truly educational and enjoyable for the people of all ages. It has, over the years, become a place for memorable experience and enjoyment for both the young and the old. 

Science City, Kolkata, a unit of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India and the largest science centre in India, was developed with a onetime capital grant by the administrative ministry.

Science City consists of two facilities, the Science Centre and the Convention Centre. The Science Centre complex comprises Space Odyssey, Dynamotion, Evolution Park Theme Tour, Maritime Centre, Earth Exploration Hall and a sprawling Science Park.

 It has already recorded footfall of more than 24.75 million since its launch and is the major attraction in Kolkata to local residents as well as to the national and international visitors to the metropolis. While in Kolkata one cannot miss this iconic institution combining education and entertainment in sharp contrast to the science museums existing elsewhere in the country.

Setting up of Science City on a plot of land once used for dumping of City’s garbage for over 100 years was a total make-over with a welcoming garden of science and environment friendly landscape.

The Convention Centre complex, a unique component of Science City, Kolkata comprises the Main Auditorium of 2232 seating capacity, one Mini Auditorium of 392 seating capacity and a Seminar hall complex consisting of 11 halls ranging from 15 to 100 seating capacity, an indoor (270sq.m.) and an open air exhibition ground (20000 sq. m). The auditoria’s and the seminar halls are fully air-conditioned. The Convention Centre of Science City is a major destination in the city of Kolkata for conventions, conferences, AGMs, trade exhibitions and cultural programmes.

Science City is also a unique example of self sustainability in the Government sector and meets its operation and maintenance expenses from its own revenue generation.

For General Vistiors

ENTRY	Rs.40/ PER HEAD
SPACE THEATRE	Rs.60/ PER HEAD
EVOLUTION PARK	Rs.10/ PER HEAD
3D THEATRE	Rs.30/ PER HEAD
TIME MECHINE	Rs.20/ PER HEAD
ROAD TRAIN	Rs.15/ PER HEAD
CABLE CAR	Rs.30/ PER HEAD
MONO CYCLE	Rs.15/ PER HEAD
CATERPILLER	Rs.10/ PER HEAD
GRAVITY GOASTER	Rs.30/ PER HEAD

By Air

The nearest airport to Science City is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose intl airport , kolkata which is 13 km away from Science City 

By Train

The nearest railway station to science city is Sealdah Railway Station which is 3 km away from Science City.

By Bus

It is well connectd with all the major modes of public transport,
connectivity from major cities.

B.S Haldane Avenue, Kolkata, West Bengal 700046, India