YERCAUD

HILL STATION 

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YERCAUD

Yercaud is a hill station in Salem District, in Tamil Nadu, India. It located in the Shevaroys range of hills in the Eastern Ghats; the Yercaud hill area is called the Shevaroy Hills.

 It is situated at an altitude of 1515 metres (4970 ft) above sea level, and the highest point in Yercaud is the Servarayan temple, at 5,326 feet (1,623 m).

Yercaud is fastly gaining popularity among the locals and foreign tourists. The name Yercaud is derived from two Tamil words – ‘Yeri’ (lake) and ‘Kadu’ (forest).

Yercaud is known for its plantations majorly of coffee, orange, jackfruit, guava, cardamom and black pepper. Coffee is the main produce and was brought to Yercaud by the Scottish Collector Mr. M. D. Cockburn in 1820 from Africa.

There is also a reserve forest, which has the woods and wildlife in the original unexploited state.

Even though Yercaud is a hill station it never gets extreme temperatures, making it easier to pack clothes for the tourists and avoid those heavy winter wear which is difficult to carry.

Apart from sightseeing tourists can opt for trekking around Yercaud, and if visiting during the month of May, the Summer Festival is a must see which is a spectacle consisting of fairs, boat races, flower and dog shows.

Some of the most popular tourist attractions in Yercaud are Big Lake, Bear's Cave, Lady's Seat, Gent's Seat and Children's Seat, Arthur's Seat, Anna Park, Botanical Garden, Montfort School, Servarayan Temple, Sri Raja Rajeswari Temple and Tipperary View Point.

By Air

The nearest airport is at Trichy (165 km). You can also arrive at the Coimbatore Airport and then plan a further trip to Yercaud via Salem. From the airport take a cab or a bus to get to Yercaud.

By Train

The nearest railway station is in Salem (36kms) and Salem Town (33kms). Also there are direct trains to Yercaud from Chennai, Coimbatore and Bangalore.

By Bus

Yercaud is 190 km from Coimbatore, 220km from Bangalore and 357kms from Chennai and is well connected to all these cities through an efficient road network system. Many buses pass through Yercaud on their way to and from Salem, which is a mid-size industrial town.

GANGTOK

HILL STATION 

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GANGTOK

Gangtok is located at an altitude of 5,410 ft in East-Sikkim. This is one place which many tourists like to combine along with a visit to Darjeeling. In fact the combined trip of Darjeeling-Gangtok is a common recipe when people think about visiting this part of the country.

Gangtok is the capital of the northern Indian state of Sikkim.This beautiful land is well-known as the land of monasteries. It has large area bounded by lush green forests located on the Shivalik Hills.

Gangtok being an eminent Buddhist pilgrimage center in India as well as an ideal hill station for leisure travellers encircling some high altitude lakes and mountain passes is well connected by road to other mighty hill stations as well as nearby cities.

Nestled in the clouds and surrounded by the plush greenery, deep valleys and scenic view of Khangchendzonga (Kanchenjunga),the beautiful hill town is a business, political, cultural, education and tourism hub of the state where a good number of tourists(both business and leisure tourists) come throughout the year.

There are also numerous attractions in & around Gangtok to visit. Some of the wonderful and popular tourist places to visit in & around Gangtok are the following. Rumtek Monestery,Himalayan Zoological park,Nathula,Ganesh tok, Tosmgo lake, Temi tea garden, Hanuman Tok, Banjhakri falls, Ropeway.

By Air

The airport nearest to Gangtok is about 124 kilometres away in Bagdogra, West Bengal. From the airport, you can hire a shared taxi or a private vehicle that will get you to Gangtok in a matter of two hours. From Bagdogra, you can also take a TSA helicopter to get to Gangtok in just 20 minutes.

By Train

The nearest railway station to Gangtok is about 148 kilometres away in New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri. The station is well-connected to major cities like Kolkata and New Delhi. From New Jalpaiguri you can take a taxi to Gangtok or go to Siliguri Bus Station and catch a state-run bus to Gangtok, which will take you about 5-6 hours.

By Road

The road routes from Bagdogra, NJP and Siliguri all meet the Sevoke Road which leads to the National Highway NH31A. Tourists rolling in nearby places like Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kolkata prefer to drive to Gangtok. The roads are well-maintained, except in a few places.

SUMMER FESTIVAL

SUMMER FESTIVAL

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 MOUNT ABU

Summer Festival is organised every year by Rajasthan Tourism in the beautiful hill station Mount Abu, which serves as an ideal location for the festival because of its attractive location, rocky terrain, serene lakes and pleasant climate.

The Summer festival is held every year during the month of May on Budh Poornima. The festival celebrates the warmth and cheerfulness of the people of hill station, who welcome the tourist from the depth of their hearts.

 The hospitality of the people, their colorful culture and exotic location made this festival a never to be forgotten experience.

The festival begins with a ceremonial procession, which starts from the RTDC Hotel Shikhar and gather at the Nakki Lake Chowk followed by folk performances of Rajasthan & Gujrat states.

A variety of sporting events and competitions like Skating Race, Boat Race, Horse Race, Tug-of-War, Panihari Matka Race, Deepdan are organised too and adds to the thrill of the celebration.

 The Sham-e-Qawwali is a much anticipated musical show where well-known qawwali singers enthral the audience.

The second and third day of the festival is more interesting because of various competitions that take place the whole day. Skating Race, skater’s Show, CRPF Band Show, Boat Race, Horse Race, Tug of War, Panihari Matka Race and Deepdan add to the excitements of the celebration.

The Summer Festival in Mount Abu concludes with stunning fireworks, bringing an end to the festivities.

By Rail

Abu Road is the nearest railway station just 28 KM from the main city, Which is very well connected by rail routes to New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Mumbai. From Abu Road you can opt for state transport service (usually every hour) or Taxis on both sharing and private basis.

By Air:

The nearest airport is Udaipur at a distance of 185 km, But Ahmedabad is having better connectivity and daily flights with other parts of the country and is just 221 KM from Mount Abu.
By Road

 Mount Abu is well connected by road with major cities of the country, Many government run (Rajasthan State Transport Corporation) buses operate from nearby cites to Mount Abu. In addition to a number of state transport buses, many private buses ply regularly to this hill station.

KOTTIYOOR FESTIVAL

KOTTIYOOR FESTIVAL

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KANNUR

Kottiyoor  is a famous Hindu pilgrim center devoted to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The proper name of the temple here is Sri Kottiyoor Mahadeva Kshetram.

 Kottiyoor temple is located near Kelakam in Kannur district of the southern state Kerala. Sri Kottiyoor temple is also known as the "Dakshina Kashi" or "Varanasi of the South" and attracts lakhs of devotees every year during the "Vaisakha Maholsavam" celebrations.

The Kottiyoor festival is unique as it involves two temples - Akkare Kottiyoor and Ikkare Kottiyoor, on the opposite banks of River Bavali. Situated in Kannur district, the annual Kottiyoor festival is celebrated for twenty-eight days and it falls during the months of May and June.

Here, the Neyyattam ritual on the first day and the Thirukalasattu ritual on the concluding day are attended by hundreds of devotees.

The Vaisakha Maholsavam celebrations begin with the ritual of bringing a sword from Muthirerikavu from Wayanad. On the following day, on Visakham star Bhandaram Ezhunnallath ritual is held.

Gold, Silver vessels, heavenly ornaments etc are brought from nearby Manathana village to Kottiyoor.

An important ritual during the festival is the 'Elaneer Vayppu' or submitting tender coconuts before the swayambhu Shiva linga.

On this special day, thousands of tender coconuts carried from different parts of Malabar by the devotees are submitted. The following day, the main priest of the temple, pours the collected coconut water on to the idol which is known as 'Elaneeraattam'.

Rohini Aaradhana is a very important ritual which is not seen in any other temple. The priest embraces the swayambhu Shiva linga as part of the ritual.

The belief behind this ritual is that Brahma himself worships Lord Shiva to pacify for the loss of Sati.

Kottiyoor is also known by the names Kudiyoor, Dakshina Kashi. Thricherumana, Vdakkumkaavu, Kizhakkumkaavu and Vadakeeswaram.

By Air

The nearest airport is at Karipur, Kozhikode which is about 93km south. The Mangalore airport is 170kms north of Kannur.

By Train

Kannur is an important railhead of the Southern Railways and the major railway station on Shornur-Mangalore line. There are trains from Mumbai, Goa, Mangaloe, Madras, Trivandrum, Kochi, Kozhikode and Coimbatore. All major trains going North through the Konkan and beyond stop at Kannur.

By Road

Kannur is 155kms south of Mangalore and 535 kms north of Thiruvanathapuram. An excellent road transport system connects the town to all the major towns of south india. There are frequent bus services from Mangalore,. Bangalore, Kochi, Trivandrum and Kozhikode.

COORG

HILL STATION

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COORG

Coorg is located in the south-west part of Karnataka bordering Kerala. Coorg measures 96 km (north-south) in length and 64 km east-west in breadth.

Coorg or Kodagu as it is officially known now, is an astonishing land in the heart of the southern Indian peninsula. This unspoilt “country of million hills”, situated on the slopes of the Western Ghats, is India’s coffee bowl. The tiny district in the state of Karnataka is the biggest producer of coffee.

Coorg is one of India’s famous travel destination and has been called the Scotland of India by the British and also called as the Kashmir of South India. Coorg has become a latest tourist hot spot and people from all over the world visit Coorg.

Coorg’s natural beauty, the people, the culture and the food is the major attraction which draws people towards Coorg from all over the world.

The wildlife sanctuaries are the most fascinating if you are with a loved one or on a family trip. Spot a bison, an elephant and if you in luck then a Panther. Take a look below for some of Coorg’s tourist places and plan your trip to the ‘Scotland of India’.

coorg has a long list of interesting places for tourists across all ages, making it a popular holiday destination.

Brahmagiri Peak is a scenic spot full of forested woods and mist-topped hills. On the way to the peak, you will trek through grasslands, colourful floras and sparkling streams of clear water.

Abbey Falls makes for one of the most popular places to visit in Coorg. Located 1 km from the town of Madikeri, the waterfall is located between coffee plantations and spice estates. 

Iruppu waterfall is one of the most popular. River Lakshmana Tirtha takes a 60 feet plunge amidst the green mountains to turn into these falls. 

Raja’s Seat is considered one of the most scenic places to visit in Coorg. A popular sunset point, it provides a breathtaking view of the green valley and the surrounding hills.

Bylakuppe is full of cultural delights. The second biggest Tibetan settlement in India, the main attraction in Bylakuppe is the Golden Temple or Namdroling Monastery which adheres to the typical Tibetan style of architecture. 

By Air

The nearest domestic airport is the Mangalore International Airport, about 160 kilometres away. The nearest international airport is in Bengaluru, which is approximately 265 kilometres away.

By Train

The nearest railway station from Coorg is at mysore, about 120 km away. Mysore is well connected to major cities in India by an extensive rail network. The rail stations in Mangalore and Hassan can also be conveniently used for reaching Coorg.

By Road

Coorg is well connected by road with all major cities in Karnataka. Cities like Mysore (120km), Mangalore (135km), Bangalore (260km), and Hassan (115km) are linked by excellent roadways with coorg.