India Travel Agency

An India travel agency is a bureau or administrative unit or body that helps the tourists with finding out new and exciting places, locations and destinations within India as well as outside India. It also helps them with choosing the best national as well as international travel and tour packages that suit their budgets, finances and other requirements and demands. It ensures that the travel and tour packages and programs it offers, are rated reasonably, so that they can be afforded by the clients. It also makes sure that its clients and tourists get one of the best services.

The India travel agency makes the clients aware of new places and exotic destinations that exist within the premises of India and outside the country that they were not acquainted and familiar with. It houses multiple travel agents and experts who make all the travel arrangements for the clients during their tour and make them comfortable with respect to other possible facets of the journeys or trips.

It organizes and arranges their stay in luxurious hotels and resorts where they are subjected to various benefits and discounts. Also, they are escorted from one place to another and told about the same by the travel agents, and experts of the agency. As India is a land of diverse mountains, hills, rivers, lakes, temples, palaces, monuments, forts, deserts, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and deep jungles, the clients are escorted to such stunning and gorgeous attractions and satisfied.

A travel and tour agency is the right authority that needs to be contacted by the clients who wish to embark on a journey across or outside India. It is something that has earned huge amount of respect and experience in the travel enterprise and is a huge success. Its main aim is to take the clients on a whirlwind tour and travel to various places in India and outside it, and make them experience the cultures and traditions of the same they are a part of, and the nations abroad.

There are many Indian clients who usually visit foreign countries, and are completely unaware of their own country wherein such gorgeous places and destinations exist. It is the duty of an India travel agency to take such clients on a journey which makes them realize the true importance, potential and real value of their own country. Also, the travel agency ensures that the locations and places within India and outside it are shown to the clients from the point of view of Indians.

An India travel agency is also called an India travel company or a firm and it offers different kinds of travel packages to the clients. The clients can select the kind of packages they want and embark on an exciting journey across India, its towns and abroad. Different travel packages take the clients to different exotic and new places within India and outside it, and sometimes to neighboring nations, wherein the clients get to compare them with their own country and note down their similarities, dissimilarities, advantages and disadvantages.

The travel agencies of India fall within the top most travel agencies of the world, both with regard to the quality and standards. They also sell and advertise their commodities, tools and services. Some India travel agencies that were not able to grow and flourish due to the availability of inflexible travel packages, came out of the mess, and entered mature travel business areas and regions where they developed big time. They remain updated about the travel and tour market divisions, and offer abundant desirability and flexibility to their clients.

An India travel agency also aims at functioning effectively in contending complicated, busy and intricate environments and book the best hotels and resorts and provides excellent services to the clients. It has its own Internet website where it offers better products, travel and tour benefits, amenities and services to the clients based on their changing trends and moods and basically, to suit their needs. It follows their daily trends and intends on designing suitable commodities and services for them.

An India travel agency also interacts with the clients and comprehends their demands and adjusts the travel and tour package costs and prices to satisfy them. It ensures that the travel and tour packages it offers, fit into their budgets and make them feel at ease. It benefits and profits by garnering its net income with respect to organizing the conveyance and accommodations of and from the clients. It also interacts with them about the tours and discusses the locations and modes of conveyance with them. In short, they discuss all the issues likely to crop up during their travel.

There are many India travel agencies located all over this country and all of them look forward to meeting the client needs and providing the best client services. In fact, most of them claim to do so. However, there are certainly, some much better travel agencies that are very famous, reputed and popular and really provide excellent services to the clients. Some of these India travel agencies are PK Tours and Travels Private Limited, makemytrip.com; which is an online travel agency, Prime Travels, Raj Travels, Travel Tour Guru, Compass Tours India, Goodwind Travels Private Limited, SOTC Tours, Galileo International, Thomas Cook India, and Air Travel Enterprise India.

These famous and popular India travel agencies have their administration and client support departments and offices all across India. Some of them take the clients on international tours as well. ‘Kesari’ and ‘Cox and Kings’ are two such popular travel agencies or companies through which the clients embark on international or global travels and tours. As there are some travel agencies that offer costly travel and tourism packages, there are others that offer travel and tour packages just the other way around, and those that are very client friendly.

All kinds of national travel and tour packages and events are offered by the travel agencies of India. Some of them are North India Tours, South India Tours, Ladakh Tours, Kerala Tours, East India Tours and Pilgrimage Tours. Others are Assam Tours, Wildlife Tours, Adventure Tours, Luxury Tours, Honeymoon Tours, Goa Tours, Himachal Pradesh Tours, Kashmir Tours, Ayurveda and Spa Tours, Golden Triangle Tours, etc.

The travel agencies of India that make international travel and tour arrangements for the clients and offer them with international travel packages, take them to various international locations, like Singapore, Malaysia, Bangkok, Pattaya, Hong Kong, the United States, among many others. Swagat tours and travels is one more travel agency that is one of the most popular travel agencies in India. Cox and Kings offer some of the best business tour transactions to their clients and arrange for their global, national as well as luxury tours.

Make My Trip, as we talked about earlier, is an Internet website based India travel and tour agency that gives answers to the queries of the clients round the clock and at any time. There are certain other online and on the spot travel agencies in India that solve the client queries and arrange for their air, train and shipping tickets and accommodations at low prices. Some of the travel agencies also provide expert travel agents as well as travel guides who give rough ideas to the clients about the various places they are going to visit.

The India travel agency ensures that it contains one of the best travel guides and travel agents who can lead the clients through complicated journeys and satisfy them. Sometimes, the agency acts as agents, sells travels and tours commodities, tools and services on behalf of the providers. Most of the sections of an India travel agency make travel and tourism arrangements for the clients, while the others major in business and industrial travels and tours only.

Thus, the India travel agency is famous for providing excellent services to its clients and for making all the travel and tourism arrangements for the same.

Honeymoon Packages in India

India is a nation with millions of people living around. It is also a nation that is visited by an equal number of tourists from all over the world. At last, but not the least, it is a nation that does not fail to amaze them. The humaneness in India is praise-worthy and displays itself in a broad variety or range of beliefs, faiths, virtues, religions, languages, races, customs, practices and cultures.

This country has millions of cities, towns and villages that exhibit all kinds and varieties of trends. There are many facets that exist to it, and most of these features and characteristics are simply amazing and only help to understand it better. But inspite of somebody travelling all around India, it gets difficult to comprehend it fully.

Such is the bewilderment that India leaves behind in the minds of travellers, tourists and visitors. The married couples of India are also among the ones who feel truly blessed in having spent quality time and in indulging in romantic rendezvous with each other by embarking on specially designed and planned honeymoon packages in India.

The travel and tourism companies of India are ever expanding with regard to the huge number of clients they get and with respect to the amount of business and revenue they generate. Many numbers of honeymoon travel and tour packages are offered by these companies and only two of them are listed below:

Gorgeous Manali Honeymoon Travel and Tour Package

As the name suggests, this honeymoon travel and tourism package is truly awesome and breath-taking due to its gorgeous vicinities, abundant snowfall and beautiful ambiences and surroundings. It is a tour package that takes the tourists and couples on a beautiful trip across some of the best hill stations of India. It has a duration of six days and five nights and spans across places and stations like Manali, Shimla and Delhi and Rohtang Pass.

The journey of the tour starts from Delhi, where the newly married and honeymoon couples are greeted and helped with the inside details of the entire tour. They are initially escorted to their already reserved hotel rooms in Delhi and are requested to relax and prepare for the approaching journey. After they are done with their breakfasts, they are led to the interiors of the beautiful hill station of Himachal Pradesh called Shimla.

Shimla Tour

On reaching Shimla, they are directed towards their hotel rooms and are also given time to relax after the long journey. On waking up and feeling all relaxed and rejuvenated, they are led to some lovely sight-seeing and titillating walks across the hill station.

Initially, it is the Mall Road of Shimla that comes right in front of them, but as time passes and the journey progresses, they get to investigate many other places like the Christ Church, State Museum, Kufri Mountains, Jakhu Hills, Tara Devi Temple, Vice Regal Lodge and the Chadwick Falls, which leave them impressed.

Then, the couples and tourists are taken to the amazingly beautiful and majestically old and ancient National Museum of Natural History, which is the main attraction and pulls huge number of crowds.

The external walls and internal rooms of the museum are neatly polished and well-furnished. The museum looks completely new and fresh and also houses old political documents, wills, agreements, maps, weapons and armours among many other things. The museum is a major delight to the eyes of first time visitors and museum fans.

Manali Tour

After breakfasting at Shimla ( the next day ) and enjoying it thoroughly, the honeymoon couples get ready to embark on a journey to Manali. On the way, they get to view and enjoy the romantic, lovely and gorgeous natural sights and the beautifully alluring and enticing snow-capped hills. On reaching Manali, they are led to their single hotel rooms and provided free time, wherein they shop and unwind.

After relishing the special dinners and luxurious services provided by the hotels, they travel towards its natural and hot tourist spots. The Vashist Hot Water Springs and the Rohtang Pass (which is at a distance of fifty one kilometres from Manali) are the main hot tourist destinations. The Rohtang pass links multiple valleys in Himachal Pradesh and is very scenic.

Also, the Hidamba Temple, Rohalla Waterfalls and the 12th century Gauri Shankar Temple are some of the attractive sites and major crowd stealers in and around these regions. They are then, taken on full day pleasure trips to the enchanting valleys and the night is spent in the hotels. Next day, they return to Delhi and all this marks the end of this particular honeymoon travel and tour package and the couples return home.

Darjeeling Honeymoon Travel and Tour Package

The Darjeeling honeymoon travel and tourism package is specially meant for newly married couples and is very fantastic and mind blowing. It covers the places that are named Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Gangtok and Darjeeling. It lasts for a time period of seven days and six nights and is very exhilarating.

Darjeeling Tour

The journey starts from Siliguri or New Jalpaiguri, where the tourists and couples relax for some time and do some shopping in the evening. The night is spent at the hotels.
The next morning after breakfasting, they start a journey to find out lots of things and places in Darjeeling. On their journey, their steps are administered towards the Tiger Hills at Kanchenjunga.

The Zoological Gardens, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Ghoom Monastery, Senchal Lake and Dirdham Temple are some of the other hot travel and tourism destinations that are visited by them.

The hills are the next things of nature that need to be explored. The couples catch toy trains from Darjeeling to Kurseong and spend quality time with each other.

On this train journey, they come across many beautiful and pleasant sights and valleys that are very instinctive, self-generated and spontaneous. These natural qualities of nature make them feel at ease and comfortable and also make them feel like they are in heaven.

Kalimpong Tour

The couples and tourists reach the next destination called Kalimpong, as per their travel and tour package itinerary and get ready to visit its natural sites after a heavy breakfast. The favorite and fashionable flower nurseries, flower markets and monasteries of Kalimpong are worth seeing and are visited very often by the tourists and couples. They loosen up for the night at the already arranged hotel rooms and get ready to go to Gangtok in Sikkim.

Gangtok Tour

The next morning, they embark on a trip of about three hours to Gangtok, which is situated at a distance of around ninety four kilometres from Kalimpong.

Afte reaching Gangtok, they are guided to their respective hotels and are asked to relax for some time. Here, they visit the famous travel and tourism sites of the region like the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Hanuman Tok and the Ganesa Tok. They enjoy these thoroughly.

The famous hills and lakes are also seen by them while they walk together. They take a break for snacks, after which they are led to natural sights like the Rumtek Monastery, Baba Harbhajan Temple and the Tsongo Lake, all of which are amazingly gorgeous.

They also enjoy the special and tasty honeymoon dinner that is served to them at the hotel rooms and spend the entire night there itself.

Back to New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri and the End of the Journey

The next morning, the tourists leave Gangtok after breakfast and reach Siliguri or New Jalpaiguri within a period of four hours. This is where the tour ends and they depart for their respective homes.

All this was a just brief description of two honeymoon packages in India that are quite famous, popular and tempting and that most of the newly married couples choose in order to have the best time of their lives and to celebrate their honeymoons, happily, comfortably and prosperously. Going on such honeymoon tour packages proves to be a much more rewarding experience rather than what has been mentioned here.

There are many other India travel and tourism companies that offer different honeymoon travel and tourism packages to newly married couples and tourists who want to have quality time, spend their honeymoons in luxury and ease and who want one of the best client and luxurious services.

Top Ten Famous Places in India

India is a country with millions of people and places. As it is a very vast nation and boasts of multiple tourist attractions and travel places, it is bound to comprise many famous places and sites.

The top ten famous places in India are described here in detail. Hopefully, the information provided in this article would greatly help the tourists, travellers and visitors in discovering and exploring more of this nation.

Among some of the famous tourist places in India are the following.

Agra

Agra Fort

The city of Agra in India is house to one of the most famous travel sites and tourist historical memorials of all times. This historical city is placed in Uttar Pradesh and is the pride of the nation.

It is store to stunning and wonderful edifical structures and serves as one of the most important and gripping inheritance spots of the world. The memorial of Taj Mahal is something that Agra is really famous for.

The Taj was built to signify the love of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan towards his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It took about twenty two years to complete and is one of the wonders of the world.

The memorial was built in white marble by around twenty thousand stone craftsmen, labourers and jewellers. It is situated in the midst of some very creatively developed and improved gardens.

Alongside the Taj Mahal, Agra is also house to many other famous historical monuments and memorials. One more beautiful architectural sample of this city can be seen in the Red Fort of Agra.

Jaipur and Udaipur

Amber Fort Jaipur

Both the cities of Jaipur and Udaipur are located in the state of Rajasthan, and are respectively known as the pink city and the most romantic city of India.

The city of Jaipur boasts of being a rich academic centre of learning, apart from being a famous tourist site. The memorials, palaces and castles of the city are marvellous and indicate the celebrated and heroic history of the city.

Jaipur’s economy is on the rise due to tourists and travellers flocking it from various parts of the world. Few of the globe’s top most refined and classy hotels are situated here and look simply brilliant.

Some of the other famous memorials and palaces of the city are the Jal Mahal, City Palace, Central Museum, Rambagh Palace, Jaigarh Fort and the Amber Fort.

Udaipur is also house to many famous historical monuments and is of great diachronic significance. It is a place to unwind and spend good time with relatives, friends and family members.

Goa

Dudhsagar Fall, Goa

Goa is famous for its pure, clean and fresh beaches and stunning and gorgeous holiday resorts located next to them. Majority of its local people as very classy and stylish and belong to the religion of Christianity.

It is one of the most active and entertainment hubs of India and hosts a broad range of programs and festivals. Some of the main festivals and events that are held here with much celebration and gaiety are the New Year parties and Christmas carnivals.

The famous Sunburn Music Festival is yet another famous event that is held within the Candolim Beach of Goa every year and is administered, hosted and directed by MTV VJ and DJ Nikhil Chinappa.

The city is house to many discos and pubs and boasts of delivering windy and pleasing weather conditions. These are some of the chief reasons for the tourists flocking here in large numbers. Goa provides the ultimate party ambience to everybody.

Kashmir

Shikara Ride in Dal Lake, Kashmir

Kashmir is one of the most stunning places in this world and is also called the heaven on Earth. It is house to the beautiful and charming Himalayan mountains and boasts of scenic natural beauty.

It is a valley and has beautiful and dainty gardens, hills, lakes, temples, parks, hill stations and environmental surroundings.

The tempting and enticing Dal Lake, Shankaracharya Temple, Shalimar and Nishat Gardens, hill stations of Gulmarg and Sonmarg and the houseboats, snow capped mountains, snowfalls, climatic conditions and sceneries of this valley are simply astounding and can’t be compared to any other place or city.

Visiting and experiencing these kinds of things are indeed very delightful and leave everybody gasping for more.

Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari is the southern end of India and is also known as Cape Comorin. It is a place of terrific historical, traditional and cultural significance and is therefore visited by large number of travellers from various parts of the globe all round the year.

It is a place from where one can see really strange and brilliant kinds of sunrises and sunsets. The meeting of the three famous seas and oceans of India, here make them appear very wonderful.

The Vivekananda Rock Memorial is very famous in Kanyakumari and is an amalgamation of an island and fort. It is here that the Great Yogi and thinker Swami Vivekanada had reflected and mulled over the vital and riveting facts of life and focused on attaining higher knowledge and learnings.

Darjeeling

Darjeeling City

The hill station of Darjeeling is located in West Bengal and is one of the most scenic and dainty hill stations of India. It is mainly famous for its natural beauty, greenery, scenic hills, and cool breeze.

It also offers stunning eye shots of the Himalayas, sunsets and sunrises. It is adorned with tea estates and is full of natural brightness and magnificence.

Mysore

Mysore is situated in the state of Karnataka in India and is famous for hosting the popular Dasara festival having a duration of ten days and for being store to the Mysore or Ambavilas Palace.

This memorial is visited by huge number of tourists from all corners of the world and is one of the historical prides of India.

Delhi

Red Fort, Delhi

The capital of India and a diachronically significant city of the nation, it is mainly famous for its old historical mosques, memorials and defence establishments and old fortresses.

It also has magnificent temples and shrines and other well developed and famous government edifical structures and constructions.

Ajanta and Ellora

Ajanta Ellora Caves

The famous caves of Ajanta and Ellora are situated in the district of Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra in India and are rock molded and sliced cave memorials.

These memorials are store to various kinds of statues and drawings that are well thought out to be the work accomplishments of both the general illustrative arts and the Buddhist sacred and spiritual arts.

Both these caves serve as international inheritance spots and have great importance in the history of India.

Guwahati

Guwahati is the capital of Assam and is famous for being home to the Kaziranga National Park and the Guwahati Planetarium. It is store to some very famous temples and is also house to the Assam State Museum and the Manas National Park.

All these are renowned tourist spots and make the city a very special and famous one. The city is a renowned tourist place in India.

Thus, the top ten famous places in India serve the roles and duties of the top ten tourist places in India and are famous for their natural beauty, old memorials, national parks, deserts and beaches.

Top 5 Famous Historical Hill Forts of Rajasthan

The land of Rajasthan tells the chivalric tale of the glorious Rajputana rule when many royal forts were constructed all around. To know more about the major forts of Rajasthan, read on...

Rajasthan, the royal State of India, abounds in Forts and Palaces, a legacy of the princely rulers of the various kingdoms in this region. If you want to experience what it must have been like centuries ago when people lived inside forts in order to stay protected against marauding invaders, you can visit some of the forts on your trip to Rajasthan. The landscape is dotted with forts from East to West and North to South but going to the biggest and the largest gives you an idea of the grandeur of those times.

1- Chittorgarh Fort, Chittorgarh

Chittorgarh Fort at Night

Chittorgarh fort epitomizes the bravery of Maharana Pratap and the valiant resistance of Rajput rulers of Rajasthan against muslim invaders. Located near Udaipur, Chittorgarh is India’s largest fort and picturesque, surrounded by 22 water bodies as it sits majestically atop a hillock. Said to be built by Chitrangad, a Rajput ruler sometime in the 5th Century, the Fort was subsequently expanded by various rulers. Some believe the fort is even more ancient. The fort is a World Heritage Site and covers an area of about 700 acres. It encompasses a collection of wonderful palaces, temples and towers, visiting which will take you almost a day or more. A mute testimony to the bravery of the Rajputs, the fort was the scene of mass suicides or Jauhar committed by the wives and children of the Rajputs when they lost against the invaders. The walls are about 4.5 km in length and have seven gateways for access.  Inside the fort you will find a bridge across the Gambhiri River. You will also find 4 palace complexes, memorials and 19 temples. The notable structures are the Vijay Stambh or tower. Of course, the most impressive structure is the Rana Kumbha Mahal home to the Rana and to Mira Bai. Just next to it is the Rana Fateh Palace, a more modern structure. The Padmini Palace is a beautiful structure in white, about 3 storeys in height and home to Maharani Padmini, wife of Maharana Rattan Singh.

2- Jaisalmer Fort, Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer fort at Night

Though not as large as Chittorgarh, the Jaisalmer Fort in Jaisalmer is impressive. It was built in 1156 AD by Rao Jaisal from local yellow stones due to which it is known as Sonar Qila or golden fort. Another World Heritage Site you will come upon on your trip to Rajasthan’s forts, the fort is a massive structure and encompases royal palace and a large number of havelis with intricately carved stone jharokhas or windows and a number of Jain temples. The fort is in the centre of the city and is a bustling hub of activity unlike other forts that are outside the city and isolated.

3- Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

Mehrangarh Fort at Night

Mehrangarh can also be counted as one of the largest forts in India. it overlooks the city of Jodhpur from atop a hill and the massive fort walls are embellished with canons. There are seven gates set in the walls and the fort itself encompasses Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesha Mahal and Sileh Kahana. There is also a museum showcasing palanquins and royal cradles among other royal artifacts.

4- Amer or Amber Fort, Jaipur

Amber Fort, Jaipur at Night

Raja Man Singh I started construction of this fort in 1592 and Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh completed it. Located about 11 km from Jaipur, the Amber or Amer Fort sits on a  rock overlooking the city. The outside is rocky walls but inside you will find exquisitely carved stone walls and paintings as well as mirror work. Inside you will find various buildings such as the Diwan-e-Aaam or the Durbar hall and the Dewan-e-khas for priate audiences. Also of interest are the Sheesh Mahal Palace, Sukh Nivas and the Jai Mandir. The courtyard has some beautiful gardens and the whole scene is just breathtaking, a throwback to what must have been a magnificent past.

5- Ranthambore Fort, Sawai Madhopur

Ranthambore Fort

The fort was built by the Chauhans in the 8th Century but has even more ancient roots. It is on top of a hill in the middle of the Ranthambore National Park and approach is through a steep flight of stairs. You will see the Sameton ki Haveli, a 32 pillared Chatri, the Toran dwar and the Ganesh Temple, which are the main attractions.

Gujarat Tourism - Gujarat Travel Guide

Area: 196,024 km²

Population: 6.27 crores

Language: Gujarati, Hindi

Capital: Gandhinagar

Best Time to Visit: October to March

Gujarat, a state located at the Western tip of India where people speak their first word “Aavo Padharo”. Aavo Padharo are the words of welcome in the language of Gujarat because this is the only place where these words chime truly and the guest is 'God' and the people of Gujarat are gregariously friendly, inviting and will tempt you to come again and again. The unique natural and man-made countryside of the Gujarat that is from outpourings of the volcanoes to fossil fields and from the fine art of the Neolithic cave artist to the stone masterpieces of a chain of cultured structural design.

Historical Facts

The history of Gujarat is as old as the beginning of Indus Valley Civilization and it was culminated with the conquest by the Muslim rulers from central Asia. Some of the ancient cities of Indus Valley Civilization are in Gujarat as Lothal, Dholavira, and Gola Dhoro. Before 11th century, there was an era of Gupta Dynasty and Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty. Later Muslims came to Gujarat and the first Muslim who was victorious in Gujarat was Mahmud of Ghazni, whose invasion successfully ended the rule of the Solankis. Since its ancient history, Gujarat was enriched by their commercial activities which attracted many European powers too. The first European power to arrive in Gujarat was Portugal. It acquired lot of the Gujarat coastal areas, including the Daman and Diu and the Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Later, the British East India Company rooted an industry in Surat in 1614, which formed their first foot in India. The rule of the British officials paved one of the many paths to the modern day’s contemporary Gujarat. Also, the role of Gujarat in Indian independence can never be kept aside. The greatest freedom fighter of India was great Mahatma Gandhi, born in Gujarat. He was joined by other Gujarati Indian freedom fighters like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Morarji Desai, KM Munshi, Narhari Parikh, Mahadev Desai and Ravi Shankar Vyas. Mahatma Gandhi led the Salt Satyagraha in Gujarat which was a movement of nonviolent protest against the British salt tax in colonial India. It was one of the most observable images of Gujarat during the days prior to independent India.

Economy of Gujarat

The economy of Gujarat is one of the most affluent state economies of India. The Gross domestic product (GDP) of Gujarat is twice as fast as of the country. The economy of Gujarat is affluent because of rapid industrialization. The major income creation from agriculture comes from cotton. The agricultural economy of Gujarat is mainly reliant upon the recurrent cotton yields. Gujarat ranks high in the manufacturing sector.

Cultural Facts

State of Gujarat boasts of a prosperous rituals, traditions and legacy. The Gujaratis have preserved the ancient art and craft techniques and still practice them with great willpower. They are proud of their customs and traditions and follow them with extreme pride. The character of Gujarat is clearly evident from the variation of fairs and festivals celebrated in this state. Therefore, Gujarat has a cultural variety which is an exceptional characteristic of this state. The various song, dance and drama forms practiced in Gujarat are famous throughout India and abroad. The most attractive thing is that the origin of some performing arts as old as the ancient era of Lord Krishna. The folk drama popular in Gujarat is known as Bhavai. Other popular folk dances of Gujarat are Dandiya, Garba, Garbi, Tippani Nritya, Siddi, Padhar Nritya, Dangi Nritya and some other local tribal dances.

Geography Facts

Gujarat has 7% of overall geographical region under forest which makes 4 National parks and 21 sanctuaries. Gujarat is the only habitat of Asiatic Lions and is the only current natural habitat of lions outside the Africa continent. In the South-West part of the Gujarat there exist Gir Forest National Park which covers only part of the lions' habitat and the other big cats can also be found in this National Park as Leopards. Leopards can be found across the large plains of Saurashtra and South Gujarat mountains. Major mountain-ranges of India like Aravalli, Sahyadri, Vindhya and Satpura are found in Gujarat. Girnar is the famous and tallest mountain of Gujarat and Saputara happens to be the only hill-station here in Gujarat. Narmada River is the biggest river of Gujarat followed by Tapi, even though Sabarmati covers longest area in the state.

The coast line of Gujarat stretches up to 1600 kms and is one of the longest in india. Gujarat is consecrated with a number of beaches in India like the beach of Ahmedpur, Mandvi, Beyt Dwarka Beach, Chorwad Beach, Gopnath Beach, Somnath and Veraval Beach. Other than the forest area, Gujarat has some of the tourist destinations like Jami Masjid, Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, Buddhist Cave Monastery, and Durbar Hall Museum.

Gujarat Foods

Gujarati cuisine is more or less strictly vegetarian but it is pleasantly appetizing and most of the cuisines are served traditionally on large silver platters along with rice and a variety of wheat breads. A wide range of seasonal vegetables, a sensible use of spices and herbs, and a light touch make authentic Gujarati cuisine a gourmet's delight. Gujarati snacks (farsans) are delicious. Some common dishes includes Khaman Dhokla, a salted steamed cake, made from chickpea flour, Doodhpak, Amras, Sev-Ganthia, Paunk, Kadhi and Shrikhand. Desserts are generally made from local sugar cane, jaggery, milk, almonds, and pistachios were initially served at occasion of weddings and several family occasions as an instant liveliness booster for relatives travelling long distances to attend. Now days, sweets are more characteristically made from milk, sugar and nuts are to be served as part of a Thali and Magas and Ghooghra are dry sweets which are loved by the people of Gujarat.

So, what else an individual can ask for, tour to Gujarat tries to fulfill every type of demand. Become a part of Gujarat and get fascinated with its eternal sweet charm.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple - History, Location, Legend

As you all know India is one of the countries who has still maintained and conserved their tradition and culture with lots of changes having within it such as development in science and technology.

The ideologies and thinking have changed but the faith and trust in god has not changed. One of the exemplar is Tirupati temple situated in Andhra Pradesh. From all over India and other countries, people come here to worship the idol of Venkateshwar, popularly known as Balaji.

Tirupati Balaji Temple

It is also known to the richest and most visited temple in the India. It is said if you make a wish or pray for something the Balaji grants it and for that reason people whose prayers were granted they would donate money, gold or silver to show their gratitude.

Not only it gets lots of expensive offering but also many devotees shave off their heads and tons of hair is collected, later sold by the temple. It is believed that by shaving your head there in the name of lord, you are wiping out the ego within you.

Location

Tirupati temple is situated on Tirumala Hill which is 3200 ft above sea level and around 10.33 sq miles in area. The hill comprises of seven peaks; Neeladri, Anjanadri, Venkatadri, Seshadri, Vrushabadri, Garudadri. The temple of Balaji is at seventh peak – Venkatadri which in the southern banks of the Sri Swami Pushkarini. You will find there many small traditional temples.

Ideal

The Tirupati temple is made of gold and the room where idol of Balaji is kept is lit only with diyas so you just see the outline of the idol, gold jewelry and red line (tikka) on his forehead gets lightened up by the diyas light as the whole idol is black in color. The whole scene from getting in the area to stand in queue with more than 60 thousand people is tiring as well as exciting. All the chaos around and people shouting Govinda – Govinda, makes you part of their passion to see their lord and love towards him. Once you enter the temple, except the pushing and shouting the name of god, the whole event is mesmerizing.

History

The history of this temple goes long back around 9th century AD when ruler of Kancheepuram, pallavas, supported the holy place but during Vijayanagara dynasty that’s around 15th century AD this place got recognized. Now the place is run by autonomous body called Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanam Committee which is a group of trustees.

Richest Temples In India

As this temple gets lots of donation and is known as one of the richest god in the world, the whole money is spent on the renovation and development of place so the devotees coming to Tirupati won’t face any problem to reach. As lot of money is spend on constructing roads, building lodges to accommodate if any one plans to stay overnight, etc.

Legend

The legend behind this temple is said to be that in 11th century AD, Saint Ramanuja, climbed this seven hills and lord Venkateshwar appeared and blessed him. And then Saint Ramanuja lived for 120 years to spread the teachings and beliefs about his god.

Best Time to Visit

In the month of late December-January is said to be auspicious to go there. According to the Hindu calendar this time is called month of Margashira or Margashirsha. As Venkateshwar is known to be another identity of lord Vishnu, so according to the Vaishnavism culture (those who follow Vishnu) believes that in Vaikunta which comes between late December and January is very auspicious day as on this day ‘the gate of lords inner sanctum’ is opened. So during this period more than lakh of pilgrims come here to perform pujas and yagnas.

Accommodation

At the Tirumala the whole accommodation supervised by the Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanam committee (TTD). You will get to stay at dormitories made available around temple. During off seasons you can make advance booking by sending draft check of Rupees 100 and a letter to the TTD.

How to Reach

Bus transportation is made available from airport to Tirumala and back to the airport by the APSRTC bus for convenience for the passengers. Plus there are buses which are free of cost working in and out of Tirumala and around Tirumala.

Gir Forests National Park - One of the oldest Sanctuary of India

Gir National Park is a wild life sanctuary located in the Gujarat state of India. Gir forests national park is also recognized as Sasan Gir.  It is a forest area of about 1400 sq. km, with about 250 sq. km area is come under Gir national park and rest of area is come under wildlife sanctuary. It is declared as national park in 1965 by Indian Government. Sasan Gir or National park is 65 km far way from city Junagadh and 43 km away from Somnath.

Gir National Park

Gir National Park

Asiatic lions can be seen only in the Gir National Park. It is the only place where these creatures can be seen. In Asia, it is the best protected areas for lions due to its different species and climatic condition. Many wildlife activists and government put efforts to protect the ecosystem of Gir forests. Hunting is prohibited in this area and no one can harm its flora and fauna. As a result, number of lions increases from 52 from 2005 to 411 in 2010.

In Gir forests, some major rivers passing through this area are Godavari, Hiran, Shingoda. Kamleshwar Lake is the prime lake of this area and it is an important part of this forest.

During hot season, water accessibility is the major problem for forest department. Whenever deprived rainfall occurs, water shortage becomes main problem for its creatures.

In Gir forests, about three hundred different types of flora are found. Dry deciduous forests are found in this area. Teak forests are important part of this. These are located mainly in the eastern part of the forest. Large amount of green grass also harvested annually from the forests.

More than 200 species of birds are found in Gir mainly as, Rock Bush-Quail Brown Fish Owl, Indian Eagle-Owl, Pygmy Woodpecker, Black-headed Oriole.

Asiatic Lion (Gir Lion)

The Asiatic lion generally lives in dry and deciduous forest. In other parts of the world, North Africa, Greece are the areas where these lions can be seen. While Gir forests are well protected, but there is also some case of poaching. Also some lions could be affected by attacking poisoned livestock. Some natural calamities also present danger for this creature; however government tried their best to protect these Asiatic lions.

Asiatic Lion at Gir

A large numbers of tourists come to Gir National Park to see Asiatic lions, as it is the only place where these creatures can be seen, so many tourists attracted towards this. Visitors can see Asiatic lions in their natural habitat, Lions taking sun bathe, with their Children. The park is opened for tourists all the year except in the time of rainy season because it’s not safe to safari in the rainy season.

Timings of Safari:

Gir Forest safari is in the 3 shifts. The morning shifts 6 to 9 am, 9 to 12 am and evening shift is 3 to 6 pm.

Safari can be experienced with Jeep. This is the open jeep in which 6 members and 2 children are allowed. The cost of safari included all charges is about Rs.3500/- for domestic and Rs.7000/- for foreigners. Identity card is must, to take safari.

Various hotels and resorts are available here, ranging from luxury to ordinary.

How to Reach:

Junagadh is about 63 km away from the park, where railway station exist, and trains from different parts of country, from Ahmedabad, Rajkot are available. So it is a good choice to come to Junagadh first, then by road you can go to the park.

You can also reach here from Somnath, it is about 43 km from Sasan Gir. Private buses and taxis are available from here.

Rajkot is the nearest airport to come to Sasan Gir. From Rajkot, you can come to Junagadh by private buses or taxis. It is about 105 km from Rajkot to Junagadh. Taxis will take normal charges and time to reach.

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Helicopter service for Chardham Yatra & Benefits

Chardham yatra is a difficult yatra as one has to trek through perilous terrains to high enough altitudes. For those who cannot manage this rigorous terrain trek, Helicopter service to the Chardhams comes as a boon. With that service, they can complete this holy expedition quite successfully overcoming whatever physical issues or weaknesses they have and that which was stopping them from undertaking the yatra. To know more about the service and its benefits, read on-

char dham yatra by helicopter

Tour of Chardham by Helicopter can be an interesting proposition. It can be a fun ride, an exciting way to travel to Chardham. Albeit it costs a few more bucks than traditional mode of travel, it can save a lot of time. Also, those who are infirm and weak, like aged and children, it is the best mode of travel without any fuss. Bypass the strenuous and lengthy schedule of Chardham yatra which can actually be more cumbersome if travelling along with aged parents or members and children. Fulfill the dream of your parents of going for Chardham yatra and let not their age or infirmity come between their precious wish.

Departure Cities:

Helicopter service for Chardham yatra is available from Phata, Augustmuni, Rampur, Dehradun and Delhi. You have to plan in advance your schedules and book helicopter couple of months before your actual journey.

Helicopter Packages:

There are many packages available based on pilgrims demand and budget. There is single trip, double trip, one dham (Kedarnath), two dham (Kedarnath and Badrinath), chardham(all four). Also, there are other packages like Kedarnath Yatra (1 day), Kedarnath Yatra (2 days), Badrinath Yatra (1 day), Badrinath Yatra (2 days), Chardham Package (1 night), Chardham Helicopter Package (2 nights), Chardham Helicopter Package (4 nights-5 days), Chardham Helicopter Package (7 nights). You may consult travel companies to get the best deal.

Best Time to Visit

The Himalayan weather is quite fickle. It is sunny one day, raining another day. But, the best time is during the summers starting from late April to late June every year. It is strict no-no to not visit during the monsoons as helicopter service might be terminated due to bad weather. Also, there are frequent landslides during the time. Also, the view will be blurred due to thick clouds all around. The next best time is during the winters during September to early November. So, if you are planning for

Helicopter Chardham Yatra it is always better to consult the weather before visiting and talk to your travel advisor.

Benefits

• Helicopter Yatra has many perks and benefits. To know more, scroll down:
• It saves lots of time. A 3-day trek to Kedarnath can be done within a few hours by helicopter. Similarly, it saves time for other three holy spots too. Thus, it is perfect for persons with tight schedule.
• It is the most comfortable mode of transport for the ailing and the aged. It is difficult for the old aged people to tolerate the strain of the difficult terrain. The long winding roads are tiring and exhausting even for the young blood.
• Although helicopter yatra costs more than the traditional mode, but it is still a good deal.
• You can get a bird’s eye view of the breathtakingly beautiful panoramic Himalayan beauty from the helicopter.
• With travel time cut short by more than half, you can actually spend more time with your family relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the mountain sipping a cup of hot coffee.

Tips for Helicopter Yatra

• There is upper limit for total weight (300 kg approx.) for a 5- seater helicopter, so it is advisable to carry less of baggage.
• Consult your doctor if you have any medical condition that may be aggravated due to high altitude, cold weather, strain and stress.
• Even before actual journey, do regular exercises and ‘pranayam’ to cope your body with the rugged mountains.
• Follow the instructions of the pilot word by word to word to do away any untoward situations or circumstances.

Dal Lake in Srinagar - Climate, Best Time to Visit, How to Reach

Dal Lake is located in Srinagar, the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The lake is spread over an area of 18 square kilometres and is divided into four various parts namely, Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nagin Lake (this is a separate smaller water body close to the Dal Lake). The lake is located at an altitude of over 1,500 metres above the sea level. The beautiful lake has a big ecological and socio-economic significance. The richness and the charm of the Dal Lake eco-system attract tourists from all across the world every year. The lake is surrounded on three sides by mountains and gardens laid along the shore. The houseboats are the unique attractions of the Dal.

Dal Lake, Kashmir

Flora

The beautiful lake is dotted with thousands of lotus, water lilies and water chestnuts. It is also surrounded by chinar, willow and poplar groves. Vegetables are also grown in the water of the Dal Lake and are sold in the local markets.

Fauna

Dal Lake is also known for its diverse avifauna. Little grebes, kingfishers, herons are some of the common birds found here. The other animal residents of this place include grasshoppers, lizards and mice.

Time to Visit

March to October is the best time to visit the Dal Lake. This period includes three seasons, namely, spring, summer and autumn. During the winter (December to early March), the entire valley region remains under snow. However, for those who want to enjoy the chill and skiing, this is the time to visit Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is the northern-most province of India and is located largely in the Western Himalayan mountain system. The state has borders with Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in the south, China in the north and east and Pakistan in the west. J&K is a territory of great political dispute between India and Pakistan and India and China. The state features three main areas, namely, Jammu, Kashmir valley and Ladakh. Srinagar is the summer capital while Jammu is the winter capital. J&K is quite rightly defined as the ‘Paradise on Earth’ for its sublime natural beauty.

Kashmir Climate

Kashmir mainly experiences four types of climate, namely, spring (March till May), summer (May to August), autumn (September till November) and winter (December till March). Spring can witness brief showers while summer is not much hot (temperature vary between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius during this time). Snowfall is common during winter.

How to Reach

By Air

Srinagar airport is near about 14 km from the city. Srinagar is connected with all the major cities of the country.

By Rail

JammuTawi is the nearest railway station to Srinagar and it is connected from New Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai and other cities.

By Road

National Highway 1-A (from Uri in Kashmir  to Jalandhar in Paunjab) is the main road communication to this region. It connects Srinagar to Jammu and the rest of India. Several state and private buses and taxis operate on this route. The famous Jawahar tunnel falls on this route. NH 1-D connects Srinagar with Leh.

Attractions

Shikara Ride in Dal lake of Srinagar

• Shikaras and the houseboats
• Beautiful Nagin Lake
• Floating market in the lake. The vendors ferry goods on boat. Everything from fruits, nuts, flowers, leather goods, shawls are sold.
• Sona lank and Rupa lank, two islands, located in the middle of the Lokut Dal and Bod Dal.
• Mughal gardens like Nishat Garden, Shalimar Garden
• Chasmashahi
• Pari Mahal
• Harwan
• Shankaracharya’s shrine and Hari Parbat temple on the hillocks adjacent to the lake.
• Shiva Temple
• University of Kashmir campus
• Royal Springs Golf Club

Activities at the Dal Lake

• Shikara rides
• Living in the houseboats in the lake in a pristine and serene atmosphere is a lifetime experience
• Kayaking
• Canoeing
• Boating
• Water surfing
• Fishing (Dal Lake supports a huge flourishing fishing industry)
• Water skiing
• Trekking in the city forest area

Accommodation

Houseboats (there are various categories of houseboats like Deluxe, A Class, B Class, C Class and so on). Meenabazar Group of Houseboats, Persian Palace Group of Houseboats

Hotels in Srinagar like: Akbar Hotel, Broadway Hotel, Centaur Lake View Hotel, Lake Isle Hotel, Grand Palace Hotel, Hotel Diplomat, Hotel Sadaf, Hotel Ahdoo’s, Green Acre Hotel, Hotel Vikram, Ruby Hotel

Guesthouses

Problems

Popularity of Dal Lake took a heavy beating in the late 1980s and 1990s owing to the rising disturbance of terrorism. However, that situation has improved significantly in recent times. Uncontrolled growth of macrophytes is another major problem that has affected the lake’s ecosystem.

Wular Lake Srinagar - Climate, How to Reach, Visit Timing

A Splendour Called Wular Lake

Wular Lake, one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia and the largest in India, is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in northern part of India. The 16 kilometre long and 10 kilometre wide lake is located 60 kilometres northwest of Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Wular Lake acts as the natural flood reservoir for the Jhelum River, which feeds into it. In 1986, the lake was designated as Wetland of national Importance under the Indian government’s Wetlands Programme. In 1990, it was enlisted as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention of 1975.

Wular Lake

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is the northern-most province of India and is located largely in the Western Himalayan mountain system. The state has borders with Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in the south, China in the north and east and Pakistan in the west. J&K is a territory of great political dispute between India and Pakistan and India and China. The state features three main areas, namely, Jammu, Kashmir valley and Ladakh. Srinagar is the summer capital while Jammu is the winter capital. J&K is quite rightly defined as the ‘Paradise on Earth’ for its sublime natural beauty.

Wular Lake is bestowed with an unparalleled natural beauty. The small island of Zaina Lank, which is said to be built by king Zain-ul-Abidin in the middle of the picturesque lake adds to its charm.

Geographical Aspect

Wular lake has an important role to play in the hydrographic system of the Kashmir Valley for it acts as a big absorption basin for the annual floodwater here. A number of local water bodies like Bohnar, Erin, Madamati and Ningal besides the Jhelum deposit huge amount of silts into the lake. The lake lies at an altitude of 1,580 metres above the sea level and has a depth of 14 metres.

Swans & Cows, Wular Lake [source]

Wular Lake Avifauna

A fascinating natural diversity at Wular Lake supports a wide variety of avifauna. Migratory species like Egzet, Shoveler, Common Pochard and Mallard can be spotted here. Besides, marbled Teal, Short-toed Eagle, Little Cuckoo, Monal Pheasant, Himalayan Pied Woodpecker, Pallas’ Fish eagle, black-eared kite, sparrow hawk, Himalayan Golden Eagle, Chukar Partridge, Blue rock pigeon, Alpine swift, Kashmir roller, common swallow and Golden oriole are some other commonly found in and around the Wular Lake. However, the increasing human encroachment and the consequent polluting of the water body and hunting have posed serious danger to these birds.

Aqua Fauna

Wular Lake is also home and habitat to a large number of fish species, some prominent among them being Cyprinus carpio, Gambusia affinis, Barbus conchonius, Crossocheilus latius, Schizothorax curvifrons and others. Wular lake yields more than 60 per cent of the fish catch in Kashmir Valley and is source of livelihood for great many fishermen.

Attractions in and Around Wular Lake

• Boating on the lake
• Bandipore town
• Hokersar wetland which is a magnificent place for birding
• Manasbal Lake
• Ningal Nullah
• salim ali national park
• Parihaspora
• Khir Bhawani Temple
• Imambara Goom
• Anchar Lake
• Kuker Bagh Lake
• Anatomy Museum

Climate at Srinagar

The climate at Srinagar is humid subtropical with hot summers. Summer extends from June through August while winter stays from December to February, which is also the time when the city experiences snowfall. Average annual rainfall is around 675 mm.

Best Time to Visit Wular Lake

Summer is the best time to visit Srinagar and the Wular Lake. April through June is the best time.

How to Reach Wular Lake

Reaching Srinagar (Wular Lake can be reached by road from Srinagar):

By air

Srinagar is well connected by air with New Delhi, Mujmbai, Chandigarh, Shimla as well as Leh in Ladakh.

By Rail

Srinagar itself has no railway station. Nearest railway station is Jammu which is 305 kilometres away. Jammu is connected with major Indian cities like New Delhi, Bangaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Trivandrum. Taxi service is available from jammu to Srinagar.

By Road

Srinagar has road links with Jammu (266 km), Pehalgam (87 km), Sonamarg (80 km), New Delhi (808 km), Chandigarh (560 km), Leh (421 km), Kargil (202 km), Katra (249 km), Dalhousie (405 km) and other places. Tourist vehicles are available to tour different parts of J&K from Srinagar.

Accommodation

• Houseboat New Lucky Flower
• Hotel Broadway
• Hotel Vikram
• Green Acre Hotel
• Adoos Hotel
• Heevan Resort
• Hotel Paradise
• Hotel Dar-es-salam
• Swiss Hotel
• Pahaldam Hotel
• Hotel Shangrila
• Bloomingdale Hotel

Other places of attraction in Srinagar

• Dal Lake
• Mughal Gardens
• Kashmir Valley
• Temple of Shankaracharya
• Jama Masjid
• Khanqah-e-mollah
• Hazratbal shrine
• Shalimar Garden
• Pari Mahal

Interesting Facts About Kedarnath Dham

Kedarnath in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand holds a unique position in the hearts of Shiv bhakts. The Kedarnath temple is one of the 12 jyotirlingams in India and one of the four Chardham in Uttarakhand. Located at a height of 3583 metres and about 223 kilometres from Rishikesh, it is the toughest leg of the char Dham Yatra and it is no surprise that many pilgrims choose to travel by pony or palanquin or fly by helicopter rather than trek 14 kilometres up the steep and winding path leading to the temple. The temple is on the banks of the Mandakini River, one of the holiest of rivers that goes on to meet the Ganga downstream. There are myths and legends associated with the temple and there are facts that you should know if you intend to make a pilgrimage.

Kedarnath Temple

It is Tough

You can travel by road only up to a point and that point is Gaurikund where one must stay overnight if one wishes to attend the morning Aarti and Darshan and it is better than looking for hotels in Kedarnath, which is a small village-town. From here you trek 13 to 14 km or take a pony or ride in a palanquin. Walking over winding steep paths up to Kedarnath is only for the fittest and it could take a whole day.

Divine Protection

The flash floods in 2013 caused havoc and also destroyed parts of the platform but left the temple untouched. Some ascribe it to divine protection of Lord Shiva while some who are more practical ascribe it to the presence of a large rock behind the temple that diverted waters.

Kedarnath Temple Night View

Darshan Times are Limited

The temple opens for pilgrims on Akshay Tritiya day and closes after bhai dooj after Diwali. When the temple is open for pilgrims they can have a Darshan starting at 7 AM in the morning. Unlike other temples where Aarti is performed in the morning, the main ceremonies are performed here between 1 PM to 2 PM after which the Lord rests. Ceremonies include Prathah Kalik Pooja (morning prayers), Maha Abhishek, Abhishek, Laghu Rudrabhishek, Shodashopachara pooja, Ashtopachar pooja, full aarti, Pandav Pooja, Ganesh Pooja, Bhairav pooja, Parvati pooja, Shiv sahasranama pooja, etc. The temple again reopens at 5 PM and stays open up to 8.30 PM with the idol of kedarnath on display between 7.30 PM and 8.30 PM. Possibly it is arranged so that those who trek all day long are rewarded with a Darshan when he arrive. In winter the idol is brought down to Ukhimath. Even the roads to Kedarnath are closed during winter due to dangers of landslides and heavy snow blocking the roads.'

The Presiding Priests are from Karnataka

The head priests are from the Veerashaiva community of Karnataka and are known as Rawals. The Rawal does not perform the ceremony but conducts it with the help of other priests.

Baba Kedar Doli

There is an Idol Here!

In almost all shiv temples across India the only way Shiva is represented is in the form of a triangular lingam. Kedarnath is unique in that there is a statue of the Lord here that people worship along with the ever present Lingam. Keeping Shiva company are idols of the Pandavas including Draupadi, Lord Krishna, Nandi and Virabhadra, one of his guards.

Kedarnath Could Also be a Vishnudham

This is perhaps rooted in legend. It is believed Nar Narayan, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu resided here and created a Shivling and prayed to Lord Shiv who descended and granted the wish that he reside in the lingam. Shiv then occupied this abode of Vishnu and called the place Kedar.

You Must Have a Receipt Before Pooja!

It is not like any other temple where you can just walk in, offer pooja and be on your way. First you have to obtain a receipt and then only they are permitted inside the sanctum.

Chardham Weather Guide - Best Season to Visit Chardham

Chardham Yatra is an important spiritual expedition for all devout Hindus. Embarking on the Chardham Yatra at least once in lifetime is looked upon as a way to attain ‘moksha’ or salvation which every living soul aspires for. Chardham Yatra takes you on a tough journey high up on the Himalayas of Uttarakhand as the four dhams or ‘char’ dhams, namely Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath are laid out at very high altitudes across the snow-clad mountains of the Garhwal Himalayas. At such a high altitude the weather conditions are always unpredictable and extremes of weather prevail in some parts of the year making the region unsuitable for travel.

Chardham of Uttarakhand

Chardham of Uttarakhand

Also, the road conditions at the Himalayas are very much dependent on the prevailing weather conditions. Therefore Chardham Yatra cannot be undertaken all round the year. It is especially a seasonal spiritual expedition that can take place only at a particular Yatra season during a year and the opening and closing of Yatra dates vary from year to year depending upon the weather conditions on that particular year. If you are planning to set out for the Chardham Yatra, you must keep the Chardham weather guide handy to steer clear of unforeseen troubles.

What is Chardham Weather Guide?

Chardham weather guide is a rough mapping of the weather conditions at the Chardham in a particular year. It consists of the approximate average temperatures of the region across the various months of the year. It tells you about the various seasons at the Chardham and also about the seasonal variations in temperatures. Also there are other details included in the weather guide such as degree of sun shine, precipitation, humidity, speed of air currents and so on.

Kedarnath Temple during Winter

Advantages of Chardham Weather Guide

The key advantages of Chardham weather guide include-

1. Knowing when to travel
2. Escaping perils of journey
3. Having a comfortable, hassle-free journey
4. Being able to pack in necessary items as per the weather conditions
5. Having a proper mindset for travel
6. The Weather Guide

The weather at the Chardham consists of three different seasons- the summers, the monsoons and the winters. The summer season spans across months late April, May and June. The monsoons start from July and continue till mid September. The winters start beyond the month of October and continue till mid April.

Summers are cool and pleasant and the day time in the summer months are bright and sunny. The average temperatures during summers usually hover around 17-18 degree centigrade. Monsoons consist in sporadic downpours of moderate rate. Due to the rains, temperature drops to some extent at the Himalayas and the average temperatures range between 11 degree and 12 degree centigrade during that time. Rainfall causes the soil at the Chardham route to loosen out which is why the region becomes highly landslide prone during the monsoons. Around months September-October, the region experiences pre-winters when average temperatures are usually around 10 degree to 11 degree centigrade. Nights may be pretty cold though during the day time, weather conditions remain quite tolerable. Beyond the month of October winter season creeps in and the chills can be felt everywhere. Temperature drops sharply until it reaches below the freezing point. Heavy snow fall starts during this time and the region gets cloaked in thick sheets of snow.

Advices

Taking into account the general weather conditions at the Chardham you are advised to choose the summer season or the pre-winter season for journeying to the Chardham. Don’t travel during the monsoons as the route becomes dangerous during that time due to frequent landslides. After the month of October too journey should be avoided as the severity of cold is not bearable and heavy snowfall blocks the routes to Chardhams.