DARJEELING

HILL STATION 

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DARJEELING

Darjeeling, the queen of hills, is not just a huge rage among the tourists but also holds great interest for the filmmakers who love to infuse the lovely backdrop of Darjeeling in their movies.

The word Darjeeling is a combination of two words 'dorje' meaning 'thunderbolt' and 'ling' meaning 'place' hence the word Darjeeling means 'the Land of Thunderbolt'. At a height of 2050 meters, Darjeeling is one of the most visited destinations in the state of West Bengal and Darjeeling tourism is one of the mainstays of the tourism industry in this state.

Darjeeling isn't your typical tourism spot imbibed with same old visiting attractions or shopping streets. Every nook and corner of Darjeeling reflects uniqueness and echoes diversity in all aspects.

 It plays a perfect host to Buddhist monasteries, tea plantations, and the very rare Himalayan Red Panda. This tourism spot draws travelers from all around the globe throughout the year and is one of the favorite hill destinations in the country.

 If you are lucky enough to land up in Darjeeling, don't miss to seize the golden opportunity of digging into its culinary delights, discovering the wonderful steep lanes, witnessing the colorful festivals and lastly, traveling around in a toy train. Find out more on the best time to visit Darjeeling by scrolling down the article.

These months constitute the summer season in Darjeeling which is quite pleasant and not harsh. The maximum temperature is around 25 degree Celsius. Bright sunlight packed with windy air in the evenings make for a great vacation in Darjeeling amidst the picturesque surroundings. This time is also good for sightseeing and other tourist activities.

Summer starts in May and lasts until July. The average temperature during summer varies between 11°C to 19°C. While May remains a popular tourist month in Darjeeling, there are good chances of showers and hails during this time. The Monsoon in Darjeeling starts in June and it starts getting misty quite frequently. So, by June most of the tourists would have left.

By Air

Bagdogra Airport is the nearest air connection which is 96 kilometres away from Darjeeling. Many carriers like Air India, Jet Airways, Spice Jet, Indigo, Go Air run direct flights from Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata to Darjeeling. Delhi and Kolkata airports are well-connected with international cities across

the globe. Now, few international cities like Bangkok and Paro also have direct flights via Druk Air airlines. Once you reach at the airport, you can hire a taxi or share a cab to get to Darjeeling, which will take you around 3 hours.

By Bus

The regular bus service from Siliguri (which is approximately 70 kilometres away) to Darjeeling is quite slow but economical. Similar bus services are also available from neighbouring towns like Kurseong and Kalimpong which is 31 and 50 kilometres away respectively. Even Gangtok city runs daily buses to Darjeeling; however, we suggest taking a shared cab instead.

By Train

The Darjeeling railway station is administered by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR). The nearest railway station in Darjeeling is at New Jalpaiguri (62 kilometres from the main town) which connects major Indian cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar and Cochin. The DHR Toy Train service starts at New Jalpaiguri and will get you to Darjeeling at a speed no faster than 30 miles per hour. It takes 7 hours and halts at Batasia Loop from where passengers can take photographic shots of Mt. Kanchenjunga.

KODAIKANAL

HILL STATION

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KODAIKANAL

Kodaikanal is Dindigul's pride to have this beautiful hill station. Kodaikanal means a cool resting place in summer (kodai). the hill is of 7000 ft height (2133m) and was discovered by the Madurai American missionary aroung 1820.

 The erstwhile collector of Madurai vere leving constructed several roads and dug the lake. the climate is quite ideal for blossoms to bloom and the Pambar stream provides excellent water. one of the world's oldest solar observatories (1899) is also located here.

During 1821, Lieutenant B. S. Ward, a British surveyor was, the first European to visit Kodaikanal, who was on the lookout for a healthy place to live, for the foreign missionaries working in Madurai and the surrounding areas to escape from the summer heat and epidemics.

The early visitors to Kodaikanal, had to travel by horse, bullock cart or palanquin. The forest were infested by robbers and wild animals, and yet it became very popular with the elite families, because of the wonderful climate and clean air.

In 1834, the Collector of Madurai climbed up from Devadanapatti and built a small bungalow at Kodaikanal. By the second half of the 19th century, churches and other colonial structures started popping up in and around Kodaikanal. Examples of some beautiful structures are the Union Church built in 1895, and a large number of private bungalows.

In 1863, Sir Vere Hendry Levinge, the Collector of Madurai, created the 60 acres Kodai Lake by damming three streams flowing through. He stocked the lake with fish. He also brought the first boat from Tuticorin. A boat club was formed in Kodaikanal in 1890. Since May 1929, the club has permitted tourists to join the club as temporary members and avail of boating facilities.

Missionaries established church properties. Many of the ruling princes built summer holiday-homes. Clubs, school and hotels came up. Civic amenities were introduced. Kodaikanal developed slowly, but steadily. They also established the famous Kodaikanal International School.

One of Tamil Nadu's most picturesque hill stations, Kodaikanal is located at an altitude of 7,200 ft in the Palani hills in the Western Ghats. Comprising of densely wooded jungles, cascading hill slopes, circuitous rivers and green rolling valleys, it is a favourite amidst tourists visiting the country's south.

Centred on a beautiful lake, Kodai rambles up and down hillsides with patches of shola forest, unique to the Western Ghats in South India, and evergreen broadleaf trees like magnolia, mahogany, myrtle and rhododendron. Another of its plant specialities is the kurinji shrub, whose lilac-blue blossoms appear only every 12 years: next due 2018.

Kodai is popular with honeymooners and groups, who collect to the spectacular viewpoints and waterfalls in and around town.

By Air

The nearest airport to Kodaikanal is Madurai airport which is at a distance of 120 km from the city. Madurai is well-connected to Chennai and Coimbatore.

By Rail

The nearest Railway stations are Palani Railway Station (64 kilometres or 40 miles) north, Kodai Road Station (80 kilometres or 50 miles) south east and Dindigul Railway Junction (100 kilometres or 62 miles) east.

One can get down at the Dindigul Railway station, and take an autorickshaw for Dindigul bus station from where straight buses are available to Kodaikanal.

By Road 

Kodaikanal is connected by road with Chennai (520km), Ooty (264km), Trichy (197km), Coimbatore (175km), Kumili (160km), and Madurai (120km). There are regular bus services from Madurai, Palani, Kodaikanal Road, Theni, Dindigul, Tiruchirapalli, Kumuli (Thekkady) and Coimbatore. For local transport, taxis and luxury buses are available for local transportation. There are no auto-rickshaws in Kodaikanal.

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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