Vellore Fort - Its Prime Attraction Is Completely Made In Granite stones

VELLORE FORT

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TAMILNADU

Vellore Fort is a large Fort situated in the heart of the vellore city, in the state of Tamil Nadu State Of India. The Fort was at one time the Headquarters of the Aravidu Dynasty of the Vijaanagara Empire.

Vellore is popularly known as the Fort City of Tamil Nadu. Now a very calm and understated place, it was once a battleground and has seen many wars. The name Vellore also means a City of Spears. Vellore has an enriching legacy reflecting the early Dravidian culture. It has been ruled by the Pallavas, Cholas, Vijayanagara Empire, Rashtrakutas, Carnatic kingdom and the British. 

Vellore has many historic and religious attractions. The famous Sripuram Srilakshmi Golden Temple is situated near Vellore. The Vellore Fort is prime attraction in the town completely made of granite stone. The Fort might have been built during the rule of Chinna Bommi Nayak (1526 to 1595 AD).

The Fort is one of the most perfect specimens of Military architecture in South India. The Jalakandeswarar Temple inside the Fort is a very fine example of Vijayanagar architecture. The other important attractions of Vellore include the Clock Tower, the State Government Museum, the French Bungalow, Science Park, Vainu Bappu Observatory, Amirthi Zoological Park, Big Mosque, St. Johns Church and the Pearl Palace.

Vellore is a popular and one of the oldest cities of South India. It is the administrative headquarters of Vellore district in Tamil Nadu situated on the banks of Palar River. Vellore along with Sripuram is among popular weekend getaways from Chennai for a 2 day tour and it is a major historical site in Tamilnadu. Vellore is also one of the top Tourist places in Tamilnadu.

Vellore has very good connectivity with major towns in Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Katpadi Junction on the outskirts of Vellore has frequent train connectivity with cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Mangalore, Trivandrum, Coimbatore, etc. Vellore Bus Station is connected with frequent buses to above cities along with nearby towns like Kanchipuram, Pondicherry, Chittoor, Tirupathi, etc.

The best time to visit Vellore is between the months of October to March. It usually takes a full day to visit important places in Vellore.

By Air

Nearest Airport: Chennai - Menmbarkam Airport (131 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Vellore Town Railway Station (0 Kms)

Katpadi Junction (6 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Vellore Central Bus Station (2.5 Kms)

Chandragiri Fort - It Was Built On Huge Rock

CHANDRAGIRI FORT

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TIRUPATI

Chandragiri Fort is Under the control of Archaeological Survey Of India, and it is situated in Chandragiri near Tirupati  of Chitoor District in Andra pradesh state of India.

Chandragiri Fort was built on huge rock by Vijayanagar Rulers in 1000 AD. Surrounded by eight ruined temples, the fort complex has Raja Mahal, Rani Mahal and other ruined structures. The Archaeological Museum houses in three storied Raja Mahal and displays good collection of artifacts and sculptures relating to Chola and Vijayanagar period.

The Chandragiri Fort is located at Chandragiri which was once upon a time the Capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire and is linked with the Aravidu dynasty. The Chandragiri Fort dates back to 1000 AD. Overtime, more and more improvements were made to it to make it more beautiful and elegant to look. 

The fort is strategically located over the top of a small 183m hill. The southern side of the hill is enclosed by strong walls, surrounded by a ditch so as to prevent any intruder from entering into the fort. The remains of the lower fort contain the two Mahals, the lower portion of which is built in stone and the upper in brick. The main building known as the 'Raj (Chandragiri) Mahal' is majestic in appearance and with the modern colorful lighting system introduced, the Mahal is a delight to the eyes and gives a nice view to the eyes during night. The modern town of Chandragiri lies to the east of the hill on which the fort stands.

The Raja Mahal palace is now an Archaeological museum, which houses a great collection of metal and stone sculptures dating back to 2nd BC. The museum can be categorised into Bronze Gallery, stone Gallery, Model Gallery and Yaganti Gallery.

Bronze Gallery host articrafts that wer made out of Pancha loha, a mixture of Copper, brass white lead, silver and golder metals. The gallery hosts a collection of utensils, coins, temple ware, dating back to 10th centure A.D. The highlights of the bronze collection are the bells, harathi plates, idols of Lord Vishnu, Navaneetha Krishna, Sita and Ram, Lord Vishnu with Sridevi and Bhudevi, Veerbadra incarnation of Lord Shiva with four hands. There is also a lion leg which is made out of Bronze.

Sound & LightShow is conducted here:

1st Show (Telugu): Nov-Feb: 6.30 pm to 7.15 pm; Mar-Oct: 7.00 pm to 7.45 pm

2nd Show (English): Nov-Feb: 7.30 pm to 8.15pm; Mar-Oct: 8.00pm to 8.45 pm

Ticket Cost: Adult: Rs.20/- Child: Rs.10/-

By Air

Nearest airport is Tirupati with 57 km.

By Train

Nearest railway station is Chittoor. 

By Bus

Buses and private vehicles are available from other cities to Chittoor.

Mirik Hill Station - It Has Rejuvenating Effect

MIRIK

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DARJEELING

Mirik, the hill resort lies in the West Bengal state of India. It is situated fifty-two km away from Siliguri and 55 kms from the nearest Airfield of Bagdogra. It stands at an altitude of 1,768m in the Eastern Himalayas. Mirik is wrapped in the forested hills of the Himalayas. Mirik is surrounded by tea estates, orange orchards and cardamom plantations.

The natural beauty of this beautiful hill resort has a rejuvenating effect on the tired urban soul. All the wild flowers, enchanting lakes and flourishing forests of Cryptomaria Japanica trees make Mirik a paradise on earth, and the Kachunjanga as a backdrop adds immense beauty to the whole scenery.

The most prominent of tourist spots in Mirik is the Sumendu Lake. It is a man made lake enveloped in a forested ridge, and surrounding it is a flower garden and there is also a floating fountain in its center. Though not for swimming, Sumendu is considered ideal for boating and Fishing.

The temple of Singha Devi or the Devi Sthan is on the west bank of the river and you have to take the bridge over the lake to get there, not only is it frequented by the pious but also the nature lovers. Other temples dedicated to Hanuman, Shiva and Kali Mata can also be visited there. Bokar Gompa is another place of religious importance.

A holiday package usually also includes a tour to the Rameetay Dara, which is ideal for watching the spectacular sunset and the sunrise. Deosi Dara is yet another vantage point in Mirik. One can also take a tour to Rai Dhap, which has a small lake that is the source of potable water in Mirik and is also an ideal picnic spot.

The hill station of Mirik is also quite famous for its oranges, you can move through orange orchards either on foot or hired ponies. One can also take a tour to the cardamom and tea plantations, which add even more to the beauty of the hill resort. The tea plantations can also be visited and many conducted tours to the factories are organized from time to time.

A viewpoint from where one can get a sweeping view of the plains and the mountains. Sunrise and sunset seen from this point are memorble sights.

Sumendu Lake at Mirik is a man made lake which attracts tourists in Mirik. The Sumendu Lake is wrapped in forested ridge and a flower garden and has a floating fountain in its center. The Sumendu Lake is ideal for activities like boating and fishing.

There are eight tea gardens in Mirik area. Thurbo T.E., one of the best tea-estates, is only 2 kms from the lake. The factory may be visited with the permission.

 It is a era point in Mirik that must be visited to catch some vistas of the plains, hills and peaks in and around Mirik. 

By Air

The nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport, 55 km from Mirik. 

By Rail 

Nearest major stations are New Jalpaiguri .

By Road

Excellent road network links Mirik with places like Bagdogra, Siliguri, Darjeeling and Kurseong.

Dandeli - It Is One Of The Best Natural Habitats In The World

DANDELI

Dandeli is a picturesque town on the banks of the River Kali in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. Dandeli is one of the top destinations of Karnataka Tourism. It is quite famous for its gorgeous natural backdrop, wildlife and adventure activities. 

Dandeli has a dense forest cover and is one of the best natural habitats in the world. Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka. The sanctuary is crisscrossed by River Kaneri and River Nagajhari, tributaries of River Kali. The sanctuary is the natural habitat for several wildlife species such as tigers, leopards, black panthers, elephants, gaur and languor.

Dandeli is one of the top white-water rafting destinations in India. Kayaking, canyoning, water rafting, overnight rafting or canoeing trips on the Kali River along with other adventure sports like cycling and mountain biking are some of the things one can indulge in here. Dandeli also offers crocodile spotting, nature walks, treks, boating, bird watching and angling trips.

Other popular attractions in Dandeli include the Ulavi Temple, Syntheri Rocks and Kavala Caves. Molangi, Syke's Point, Nagajhari Viewpoint and Supa Dam are other places of interest for travellers.

Hubli Airport is the nearest airport, which is about 66 km from Dandeli. The nearest railway station is Alnawar, which is 33 km from Dandeli. It has trains from Bangalore, Vasco Da Gama, Hubli, Delhi, Pune, Tirupati, Pondicherry, Hyderabad, Mysore, Mumbai, Mangalore and Tirunelveli. Dandeli is also well connected by bus with Bangalore, Hubli, Karwar, Davanagere and Udipi.

Dandeli has hotels for all budgets ranges from resorts, guest houses to lodges, camps and tents. Dandeli Jungle Inn, Kulgi Nature Camp, Pansoli Guest House, Hornbill River Resort, Vacation on White Water Resort, Old Magazine House, Bison Resort and Kali River Resort are the few accommodation options.

The best time to visit Dandeli is from October to March.

At a distance of 55 km from Dharwad, 73 km from Hubli, 89 km from Belgaum, 106 km from Karwar, 130 km from Panjim, 240 km from Shimoga and 462 km from Bangalore,

By Air

Nearest Airport: Hubli - Hubli Airport (66 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Alnavar (33 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Dandeli (0 Kms)

Shivanasamudra Waterfall - It Has Two Large Streams

SHIVANASAMUDRA WATERFALL

Shivanasamudra is a famous waterfall situated in Mandya District of Karnataka State. This is one of the best waterfalls near Bangalore and also among popular one day trip from Bangalore. These waterfalls are also known as Siva Samudram, literally meaning Shiva's Sea. Shivanasamudra is a segmented waterfall with several parallel stream formed adjacent to each other.

Situated on River Kaveri, Shivanasamudra is among the popular Tourist places in Karnataka. The island of Shivanasamudra divides Kaveri River into two parts that form two waterfalls, one is Gaganachukki and the other is Bharachukki. Gaganachukki and Barachukki Falls are collectively called as Shivanasamudra Falls though Gaganachukki is most commonly represented as Shivanasamudra Falls. This place offers breathtaking sight in the peak monsoons.

Gaganachukki includes a huge horsetail shaped waterfall dropping from a height of 90 m and two large parallel streams that cascade down through a rocky bed from a height of over 320 feet. The currents here are quite strong and the gorge is quite deep. So, swimming is not permitted here. Asia's first hydroelectric power station was set up in the downstream of the falls in the year 1905. The power generated here was initially used in Kolar Gold Fields. The power station is situated near a Dargah, from where you can have excellent views of the other side of Gaganachukki.

Bharachukki is situated at distance of approximately one km from the Gaganachukki (Dargah point). The cascading edge of Bharachukki is a little wider and more popular than that of Gaganachukki. Barachukki is a cascading fall with a height of 70 m forming several streams through the wide rocky formations establishing superb natural beauty. 

There are well laid plight of about 200 steps that lead down to the waterfall. The way down to the waterfall is relatively safe as it fenced with railings and there are benches to sit on and relax. An interesting way to watch the beauty of the waterfall is to take a coracle ride to the mouth of the magnificent waterfall. Barachukki also has a section of waterfall where the water flows less in volume and an ideal spot to play and enjoy a bath under the waterfall in this area. 

Though geographically both the falls are adjacent, the viewpoints of these falls are about 15 km away. The Gaganachukki waterfalls are best viewed from the Shivanasamudra watch tower. There is another approach to the Gaganachukki falls from the Dargah Hazrath Mardane Gaib which provides the best view of the right branch of the falls. Reaching the bottom of the waterfall from the watch tower side is not possible as the area is fenced and no one is allowed to go near the water. There are also warnings posted near the fence that caution visitors against crossing the barrier and proceeding to the water from that side of the falls.

July to January is the best time while August to October is the peak season.

At a distance of 130 km from Bangalore & 81 km from Mysore,

By Air

Nearest Airport: Bangalore - Bengaluru International Airport (175 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Mysore Junction (81 Kms)

Bangalore City Railway Station (130 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Sivanasamudra (0 Kms)