CHAR DHAM YATRA

CHAR DHAM YATRA

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UTTARKHAND

Char Dham Yatra is one the most popular pilgrimage route, with millions of devotees paying homage to all these religious places in aspiration of eliminates all sins and to attain salvation by the blessings of the Lord.

 Every Year More than 250,000 pilgrims visit Chardham from various parts of India. Char dham is also growing popular among foriegn tourists, who are blessed to see the heavenly natural beauty and Himalayas with a chance to know more about culture of India.

CharDhams of Uttarakand can be covered in one strech in a matter of 10-11 days. Nowdays, you can also get helicopter services to visit CharDham in just 2 days.

Due to Picturesque surroundings, high altitude mountain region (Himalayas), dense forests, large valleys and enthralling environment gives an opportunity to visitors to unwind themselves by breathing fresh air with experience of majestic locations.

The Uttarakhand administration is busy giving the final touches to preparations for the annual Char Dham Yatra that begins on May 9.

While police have strengthened security measures, the health department is working to provide healthcare facilities on the Yatra route.

The portals of Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri will be thrown open to pilgrims on Monday, while the fourth shrine, Badrinath, will be opened two days later on May 11.

The tourism department is keeping its fingers crossed over the pilgrim turnout in the wake of the negative publicity brought about by the recent forest fires.

By Air

 Jolly Grant Airport, popularly known as Dehradun Airport is the nearest airport to the Chardham. Helicopters and small private planes are also allowed to make a landing at the airport.

By Train

 The closest railheads from Chardham are Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun and Kotdwar. Buses, taxis and private cabs are easily available outside the station.

By Road

 The well laid out network of roads make it possible to reach Chardham in a hassle-free manner. Inter-city transportation services and taxis are available on a frequent basis. Buses can be boarded from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun, Gangotri and Uttarkashi.

PARSHURAM JEYANTI

PARSHURAM 

JEYANTI

Parshuram Jayanti will be celebrated on 8th May, on tritiya of Shukla paksha. Lord Parshuram was born on Vaishakh Shukla Tritiya which is why this day is celebrated as Lord Parshuram Jayanti.

Parshuram was born on this day to destroy the kings of Haideya dynasty. Parshuram was the fifth son of Jamdagni and Renuka. He had four elder brothers : Rumanvant, Sushen, Vishwa and Vishwavasu. This day is celebrated as Parshuram Jayanti because Parshuram was born on this day.

Parshuram the sixth incarnation of Vishnu is the epitome of valor and devotion towards parents. Once his father, Jamadagni got angry with his wife Renuka and ordered Parshuram to murder her.Parshuram obeyed him and killed his mother.

Contented with his act Jamadagni asked his son to ask for anything whatever he wanted. Parshuram asked to bring back his mother to life. It was Parshuram’s cleverness that brought back his mother to life again. In this way Parshuram proved his devotion to his father and mother.

Akshaya Tritiya is another name for the birthday of Lord Parasuram. There is a strong belief that the merits gained by good acts on this day are forever. It is believed that Akshaya Tritiya marks the beginning of the Treta Yug.

Hindus embrace major part of population in India. With the recovery of Hinduism after the medieval period, the birth day of Parshuram regained its importance. Except fasting, procession and satsang is also arranged in most of the towns of Northern India.

NAINITAL

HILL STATION 

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NAINITAL

Nainital is located in the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand and gets its name from the Naini lake. The city’s charm is only added to with the hundreds of ancient temples and peaks with amazing views of the mountains in the backdrop.

 The place is set in a valley containing the pear-shaped Naini lake, approximately two miles in circumference and surrounded by mountains.

Nainital and are generally considered pleasant for a day sightseeing.

This is also the best time to enjoy boat ride as the weather is favourable. Sometimes, especially during the months of May and June, the afternoon can be quite hot and hence it is advisable to go for boating after 4pm. 

The average temperature at this time varies between 10 degree Celsius and 25 degree Celsius.

In May and June the town usually gets very crowded due to the rush of tourists escaping the hot summer of the plains, but the temperatures are cool and in the range of 30 degrees C during the day time.

 If you plan on visiting Nainital at this time be aware that hotels get sold out soon so it would be advisable to make your hotel bookings well in advance. 

For the adventurous there are beautiful trekking trails to Naina Peak and Tiffins Top. You can also take a ride in cable car to Snow View from where you can enjoy the splendid view of Nanda Devi. Rock climbing at Bada Pathar is another activity that you can enjoy here. 

Nainital with its beautiful landscape and stunning views of the surrounding mountains is an ideal place for your next vacation if you want to combine a bit of adventure with some peaceful moments.

According to historical records, Nainital was discovered by a British sugar merchant named P. Barron. The merchant was so deeply enthralled by the lake settlement and its forested surrounding that he came back with a sailing boat and built a house named Pilgrim’s Cottage.

By Air

The nearest airport is at Pantnagar, 72 kms from Nainital. There are connecting bus services and private taxis plying to Nainital everyday at regular intervals.

By Train

The closest railhead for Nainital is at Kathgodam, 40 kms south. Trains connect Kathgodam with Agra, Bareilly, Lucknow and Delhi. A convenient train to take from Delhi would be the overnight Ranikhet Express which gets to kathgodam early in the morning. From Kathgodam you can take a hired taxi or bus to Nainital.

By Bus

Two main highways come in to Nainital, one to the south at Tallital and the other to the head of the lake at Mallital. Traffic coming in from the plains in the south arrive at Tallital, while those coming from Ramnagar and Corbett National Park arrive at Mallital. 

The journey from Delhi to Nainital takes about 8 hours and is pleasant drive. You can also hire a taxi, share a cab, drive up or avail the city bus services to Nainital from Delhi

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.