Destinations


This is a map about our current plans:












And here is the first draft of our travel plan:



                    Description of the Destinations 

                                        New Delhi

New Delhi is the capital of India and hosts the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The City is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites: Humayun`s Tomb and the Qtb complex (Wikipedia). New Delhi is one of the fastest growing cities in the world with a population of 13.85million (Census, 2001). 

The city is separated into two different parts: Old Delhi used to be the capital of Islamic India and is now marked by a “labyrinth of narrow lanes lined with crumbling havelis and formidable mosques”(Delhi Tourism, 2011). The imperial city of New Delhi  was created by the British Raj and is famous for its  wide , tree-lined avenues and impressive government buildings (Delhi Tourism, 2011). The City is known for its vibrant cosmopolitan culture that offers a huge variety of entertainment. You can find  cinema halls, pubs, hotels and recreational centres which are open on all weekends. Also New Delhi has world class multiplexes like the PVR, Big Cinema, Fun Cinema, DT Cinema etc. The night life in Delhi consists of clubs, bars, restaurants, etc., which promise a “world class ambience with quality service” (Delhi Tourism).

Best time to visit:
Delhi Tourism suggests that the best time to visit Delhi is from Oktober to March as the weather is then most enjoyable and flowers are blooming at their best.

Transport to Delhi:
by Plane: Indira Gandhi International Airport
by Train
by Car


Transport in Delhi:
Metro Trains, Local Trains, Buses, Taxies, Rickshaws etc.

Places to see:


  • India Gate
(source: Golden Triange India Tours, 2011)


  • The Lotus Temple
   
(Delhi India Information, 2011)
  • The ISKCON Temple

 
(source: Yahoo Groups, 2011)


  • The Red Fort
   
(source: Delhi City Guide, 2011)
  • Qutub Minar
 
(source: I love India, 2011)
  • Jama Masjid
(source: Delhi Travel, 2011)

References:
http://delhitourism.nic.in/delhitourism/itinerary/itinerary.jsp



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mumbai- the city that never sleeps


Mumbai, also formerly known as Bombay, is the largest metropolitan city in India and hosts the biggest population in the world with 21 million in 2011 (India Online Pages, 2011). It is also the richest city in India with the hightest GDP in the South West and Central Asia and the commercial capital of India.

In Mumbai two extreme standards of living exist aside of each other: Mumbai: the lavish, luxurious, glamorous, extravagant City and at the same time Mumbai as  a harbour for the poor and  hopeless(Mumbai Facts,2011).

The city offers a wide range of entertainment, including art galleries, auditoriums, Bollywood, Cinema Halls, shopping malls, museums etc.  Mumbai is also famous for its vibrant nightlife: a huge variety of pubs, bars, lounges, nightclubs which are more and more influenced by western culture  are drawing people into the streets at night. 

Best time to visit:
 October to February as the weather in the winter month is nice to enjoy the attractions of the city. It is not suggested to visit the city between March and May because the high temperature doesn't allow you to enjoy your visit (Mumbai, 2011)

Transport to:
by Plane:Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport(formerly: Sahar International Airport)
by Train
by Car

Transport in Mumbai:
by car, taxis, Rickshaws, buses etc. Some people like to have the experience of travelling on the train in Mumbai. Mumbai has an efficient but overcrowded suburban train network (Lonely Planet, 2011). 



Places to visit:

  • Gateway of India

(India Net,2011)

  •    Chowpatty Beach  
(Rediff,2011)

·   

  • ·         Chhatrapati Shivaju Terminus(Victoria Terminus) 

(BBC,2011) 

  • ·        Mani Bhavan 
(Travel247,2011

 
References:
http://www.mumbai.org.uk/best-time-to-visit-mumbai.html
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/mumbai-bombay
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai

Jammu- the city of Temples

Jammu city is the largest city of Jammu and the winter capital of the state. It is situated on a hillock, on the bank of river Tawi and home to 4.9 million people.
Jammu is surrounded by the state Kashmir in the north, Ladakh in the east and Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in the South. There is a line of control that separates Jammu from Pakistan.


Best time to visit:


The climate in Jammu District is marked by cold winters where the temperatures can drop down to 4  and hot summer where the temperature can rise up to 47(Official Website of District Jammu).The best time to visit is: March to October (Bharatonline,2011)


Tansport to Jammu:

by plane: Civil Airport Jammu/Satwari Airport in Katra
by train:  to Trivandrum, Kanyakumari, Ahmedabad and Patna
by car/ cabs/buses

Places to see:

  • Purmandal

Purmandal, is located 35 km from Jammu city. It is an ancient holy place with several temples of Shiva and other deities.

  • Vaishno Devi shrine

Close to Jammu, there is the town Katra. This is where you find the sacred cave Vaishno Devi shrine at a height of 1700m . The cave is 30 m long and only 1.5 m high.  The shrines can be found at the end of the cave. They are dedicated to the three forms of the mother goddess- Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasarasvati. Pilgrims from all over the country trek to the cave temple, which is 13 km from Katra to reach the shrines

 
(source: Tour Places of India, 2011)

  • Bahu Fort

Bahu Fort is located 5km from Jammu City and also serves as a religious temple. It might be the oldest fort and edifice in Jammu city. Inside the fort, there is a temple dedicated to the Goddess Kali. Pilgrims head this temple and partake in "Tawi flowing worship" every Tuesday and Sunday. The fort is surrounded with a beautiful terraced garden which is a favourite picnic spot of the city folk.
(source: Hotel Khoj, 2011)

  • Raghunath Temple

The Raghunath Templeis situated right in the heart of the city. There are many galleries with thousands of saligrams. The temple consists of seven shrines. It is the largest temple complex in northern India. The main sanctuary is dedicated to Lord Vishnu`s eighth incarnation and Dogras' patron deity, the Rama. 

(source: Temples and Tourism, 2011)

  • Peer Kho Cave

The Peer Kho Cave temple, is located on the bank of river Tawi and it is widely believed that Ramayancharacter Jamvant (the bear god) meditated in this cave.

  • Shivkhori

The cave shrine of Shivkhori is one of the most venerated cave shrines of Lord Shiva in the region. It is over 150 m long. In the cave yuou find a lot of natural impression and images of various Hindu Deities and full of divine feelings. Shivkhori is also known as "Home of Gods".

(source: Bloomingstar India, 2011)

http://jammu.nic.in/


Haridwar

Haridwar is an important pilgrimage city and also known as the `Gateway to God` (Haridwar, 2011). It is the seventh holiest place for Hindus. Haridwar has a population of 1,927,029 people (Census, 2011)

The river Ganges is flowing directly through the city and its water is generally, apart from the rainy season, cold.

Best time to visit:
Temperatures in Haridwar are 35-44 degress in summer and 6-24 degrees in winters GMVNL, 2011). The best time to visit Haridwar is from October to March. April to June is too hot for a visit to Haridwar and in September it gets unsuitable due to the monsoon. 


Transport to Haridwar: 


Haridwar is has access to a highway which makes transport by bus, cab and taxi possible. A train from the Indian railways connects Haridwar with other major cities in North India. A domestic airport is located in Dehradun which is 35km away from Haridwar.


Places to see in Haridwar:

  • Har ki Pauri

This sacred Ghat is famous for the evening prayer that takes place at dusk offered to the Goddes Ganga at the steps of God Hara or Shiva (Har-Ki-Pauri ). The prayer is supposed to be an enchanting experience for any visitor. After the ceremony a spectacle of sound and colour is seen when pilgrims float diyas and incense on the river that are dedicated to their deceased ancestors. Thousands of people from all round the world do make a point to attend this prayer on their visit to Haridwar.It is also rated on first place of the top things to do in Haridwar by tripadvisor users.

(source: Sanaton Society, 2011)

  • Chandi Devi Temple

Chandi Devi Temple is a renowned holy shrine in North India and is dedicated to Goddess Chandi. The temple is 6 km away from the main city of Haridwar (Cultural India, 2011) and can even be reached by a ropeway which takes 20-25 minutes to reach the temple. The temple complex receives millions of people and pilgrims who seek blessings from the Goddes ( Cultural India, 2011).


  • Mansa Devi Temple

The temple of Goddess Mansa Devi which stands for the Goddess who fulfills mansa (desire) is a popular tourist destination. The main attraction of this temple are two impressive sculptures: the mother Goddesses of Mansa Devi Temple with eight arms and the other with five arms and three mouths(Maps of India, 2011). The temple can also be reached by a ropeway and trolley which offer a picturesque view of the entire city.

(source: Cultural India, 2011)
  • Pawan Dham

    Pawan Dham is a modern temple that consists completely of glass piece and is now a popular tourist destination.It is is known for its exquisite mirror and glasswork andfor the elaborately decorated idols and is a must visit during your temple tours to Haridwar in Uttaranchal in India (Pawandham, 2011).

    (source: Tour Travel World, 2011)

    References

    Rishikesh- the gateway to Himalaya

    Rishikesh is located in the Dehradun district of the state of Uttarakhand surrounded by scenic beauty of the hills on three sides with holy Ganges flowing through it (Rishikesh Live and Maps of India, 2010)

    The City is one of the most holy places of Northern India and the YOGA capital of the world (Risjikesh Live, 2011). It is home to 59,540 (Census, 2001) people.
    Every year in February an International Yoga week attracts participation from across the world on the banks of the Ganga (Dehradun, 2011). 


    1968 the Beatles visited Rishikesh for several weeks where they wrote between 23 and 48 songs of which  17 were included in their White Album. In Rishikesh they attended an advanced Transcendental Meditation training session in the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (Wikipedia, 2011). The time in the ashram is suggested to have been the most create period in the bands history (Telegraph India, 2011).


    (Morrison Hotel Gallery, 2011)
    Best time to visit:


    The town is about 20 km away from Haridwar (Googlemaps, 2011). Hence the climate is comparable.  

    Transport to Rishikesh:

    by  plane: nearest airport: Jolly Grant Aiport in Dehradun, 21 km away from Rishikesh 

    by car, taxi and bus. 
    by train: the nearest train station can be found in Haridwar, 21 km from Rishikesh and 

    Places to see:
    • Bharat Mandir
     Bharat mandir is located in the center of the old town and on the Banks of Ganges. It is the oldest temple of Rishikesh. In the Inner sanctum of the temple you find an idol of lord Vishnu, which is carved out of a single 'Saligram'. 
    (source: Ibibo, 2011)

    Rishikund
    Rishikund the most ancient place of Rishikesh. The pond reflects the temple of Ragunath, which is dedicated to lord Sri Rama and his soulmate Sita. 
                                                                                           (source: Meri Yatrra, 2011)

    Triveni Ghat
    Triveni Ghat is the the main place where pilgrims take a holy dip. Every evening hundreds of pilgrims attend the Ganga Arti at the Ghat.

    Geeta Bhawan
    Geeta Bhawan is one of the oldest temple complexes in the Rishikesh with the famous Indian epic Ramayana and Mahabharta described on the walls of the temple. 

     
    Parmarth Niketan
     Parmarth Niketan is a temple complex and ashram. It is known for its great work on Hinduism and organiser of the 'Ganga Arti' and Hawan on the Parmarth Ghat every evening. 
    (source: Travel Pod, 2011)
    Tera Manzil Temple
    Tera Manzil Temple is a very popular pilgrim place because from the top floor of the temple pilgrims can have an excellent view of the entire zone. 
     (source: Uttrakhand123, 2011)

    For sports and adventure tourists, Rishikesh is also known as a centre for water sports like  white water rafting  and kayaking on the river Ganges as well as challenging spots for trekking and hiking in the beautiful Garhwal Himalayas( Rishikesh Live, 2011).

    References:
    http://www.rishikeshlive.com/rishikesh
    http://dehradun.nic.in/rishikhesh.htm
    http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/uttaranchal/rishikeshtourist.htm
    http://www.rishikesh.org/1_how_to_reach.html
    http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050327/asp/look/story_4519992.asp
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Mathura – the birthplace of Lord Krishna

    The city of Mathura lies in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the seven holy cities in India and the birth place of the Hindu God Lord Krishna (Mathura India, 2011). Mathura is full of temples. Every year a large number of people from all over the world come to Mathura in the search of themselves and peace (Mathura India, 2011). Over the year the city offers a number of festivals.


    Best time to visit:
    The best time to visit Mathura October till March although people keep on visiting Mathura almost all round the year. The temperatures in the city are 22 – 45 degrees in summer (April to June) and 4 to 31 degrees in winter(December to February) (Mathura, 2011). 

    Transport to Mathura:
    Mathura is connected with almost all states and cities by roads and railways. Delhi is only  147 km Mathura away. The nearest airport is Kheria which is in the 62km distanced Agra. 


    Places to see:


    •  Krishnajanam bhoomi
    Krishnajanam bhoomi is the birthplace of  Krishna and is the most famous tourist attraction(Mathura India, 2011). For trip advisor users it is the number one and only destination, but Mathura India also suggests the following places as tourist attractions:

    • Ramjanam bhoomi
    Ramjanam bhoomi is the birthplace of the Lord Rama who is also a major god in the Hindu religion(Mathura India, 2011). 

    • Durvasa rishi ashram
    Together with the Gurudev ashram the Durvasarishi ashram is one of the most famous ashrams of Mathura. Both ashrams are spread over a large area of land and visited by a large number of people from India and other countries who come in the search for peace for their mind and soul (Mathura India, 2011). 



    References:
      
    http://mathuravrindavan.com/
    http://www.mathuraindia.com/
    http://mathura.nic.in/
    http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Tourism-g297688-Mathura_Uttar_Pradesh-Vacations.html

    Vrindavan

    Vrindavan is another holy city in India and just 15 km away from Mathura. It is supposed to be the childhood place of Krishna and it is said that Krishna never leaves Vrindavan(Mathura Vrindavan, 2011). The city has nearly 4000 temples including several private shrines and sattras within 10 km(Tourism of India, 2011)

    Every year millions of people come to participate in a number of festivals relating to Krishna`s life on earth. Vanaism is a center of learning with many operating ashrams and is the major tradition of Vrindavan.

    Best time to visit:

    Since Mathura and Vrindavan are just 15 km apart, the weather will be the same.

    Transport to Vrindavan:

    by plane: closest airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport
    by train: closest station: Mathura, but there is a passenger train to Vrindavan(Shubhamhotels, 2011)
    by bus: direct bus from Delhi to Mathura

    Places to see:

    As mentioned before, there are many temples in Vrindavan. Underneath, three of the most popular temples are described

    • Bankey Bihari Temple


    The Bankey Bihari temple was build in 1864 by Swami Haridas. The temple deliveres the stories of Krishna`s childhood and the offered services are made in a style as if a small child is nortured (Cultural India,2011). Hence, the temple opens late in the morning because it is believed that the lord plays at night and gets up late(Cultural India, 2011).

    (source: Mathura City, 2011)

    • Govinda Dev Temple

    The Govinda Dev Temple is one of the architectually finest temples in India with an altar made ofsilver, gold and marble(Shubhamhotelns, 2011) and a sculture in form of a lotus flower hanging from the seiling. In 1670 the temple was plundered and destroyed leaving three stories of the original temple. Nowadays the temple is empty and its replica are worshipped in the new Govindaji Mandir behind the temple.

    (Source:Silence of Soul, 2011)

    • The Sri Ranganatha Temple

    The Sri Ranganatha Temole is a 30 meters high temple with three gateways a tall crown and gold-plated decorations. The temple was built in the south Indian style and dedicated to the Ranganatha lord. In the temple you can find a 15 meter hight pillar that is made of gold. At the entrance a puppet show tells stories of Krishna (Shubhamhotels, 2011)


    References:


    Neemrana

    Neemrana is an ancient town in Rajasthan. 

    The main reason why people visit Neemrana is the famous fort which tells the major history of Neemrana. The Neemrana Fort was built in 1964 and became the third capital of the descendants of Prithviraj Chauhan the third. He had to flee from Delhi in 1192 the loss of the battle with Muhammad Ghori. The rulers of Neemrana continued to assert themselves. Their kingdom suffered under the British and their land was given away to Alwar, Patiala, Nabha and others who entertained the viceroys of the Raj with shikar and Champagne breakfasts. In 1947, Raja Rajinder Singh of Neemrana moved down tonoticed that the façade of his Fort-Palace crumbled and its ramparts began to give way. He tried to free himself of his liability for fourty years but there were no takers.

    Today the Neemrana Fort-Palace is a big heritage hotel. It opened in 1991 and nominated for the  Aga Khan Award in 2004. It included a pool,a health spa, an amphitheatre, hanging gardens with a salon, a restaurant with a roof-top garden and conference rooms and many special suites (Fort-Palace, 2011).

    (source:Neemrana Fort-Palace, 2011)  

    Neemrana can be visited all year, but the best time to visit is during the winter and the monsoon
    (Journeymart, 2011).

    It can be reached by car on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway.The closest airport is the airport in Delhi and the closest railway station is the Delhi Cantonment Railway station.
    Unfortunately, there is no public transport in Neemrana.

    Wikipedia suggests the following places to see:

    • Sariska Tiger Reserve/Sariska National Park

      The Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in the Aravali Hills and covers 800 sq km of grasslands, dry deciduous forests, sheer cliffs and rocky landscape. The park hosts a variety of wild animals like the leopard, sambhar, chital etc. in apart from the tiger. It has access to the Siliserh Lake on the edge of the park where you can find a large number of crocodiles. There is a lot to do such as camel safaris, go out for shopping in the surrounding places, visit medieval palaces or wildlife watching or a Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary(Sariska National Park, 2011)

      (source:Indianwildlife,2011)

    • Kankwadi Fort
    Kankwari Fort lies 18 km from the entrance to the Sariska Tiger reserve. It is a fine example of jungle fort and highly inaccessible located deep in the tiger infested forest. It used to be host to Prince Dara Shikoh, heir to the Mughal throne(Rajasthan Tourism, 2011)

    (source:Delhihotelbest,2011)


    • Tijara monuments

    Tijara is an old historic town. It is located 48 kms from Alwar. There is also a beautiful fort is in Tijara(Siliserhlake,2011)

    (source:herenow4you,2011)
    • Siliserh Lake

    Siliserh Lake is located 13 Kms from Alwar city and also can be used as stop over before you move on Sariska Tiger Reserve / Sariska National Park. The 10.5km lake Lake is beautiful and provides option for stay(Siliserh Lake, 2011).

    (source:Siliserhlake,2011)


    •  Jaisamand Lake

    Jaisamand Lake is Asia’s Largest Man Made Lake and was built in 1597 by His Highness Maharana Jai Singh of Mewar . On a 40 Acre Island you find the Jaisamand Island Resort where visitors can stay and enjoy the beautyful view of the lake (Jaisamand Island Resort, 2011).
    (source: Jaisamand, 2011)
    • Bhangarh

    Bhangarh is a haunted city between Jaipur and Alwal with lots of ruins of the middle area. Visitors are warned with signs not to visit the place before sunrise and after sunset(Weirdplacestovisit, 2011). The Government of India was supposed to set a military centre to patrol the place all over the night to solve the puzzle of ghosts but none of the military personnel were willing to participate in this operation(Weidplacestovisit,2011).

    (source:Weirdplacestovisit,2011)


    Sources:

    Goa


    Goa is India`s smallest, but richest state. It is located South West India, touching the Arabian sea.  Goa  was ranked on top for the best quality of life in India by the National Commission on Population based on the 12 Indicators(Wikipedia). 


    Throughout the year there are many festivals such as Carnival, Diwali and Ganesh Chathurti. 
    Goa is famous for its music: Since Goa was a Portugese colony for 450 years the Goan is quite different from traditional Indian music. The most popular forms of post Portuguese music are the mando and the dulpod although dekhni is one of the most well-known forms of dance.


    Best time to visit:


    Goa is pleasant to visit all over the year( Goa Tourism, 2011). The time between June and September is the monsoon season in which rainfall is possible. From October to Februrary the weather is pleasant and the skies are clear. The hot season of Goa is April and May. 
    Goa can be reached by train via Konkan Railway which is connected to major cities in India such as Mumbei, Goa and Chennai. 


    Transport to Goa: 


    Major airline services operate daily flights to Goa from Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune and twice a week from Chennai and Kochi. International flights airlines also available from Kuwait and Sharjah twice a week( Goa Tourism, 2011).


    Transport in Goa:
     In Goa you can get around with private buses, taxis, motercycle taxis and ferries ( Goa Tourism, 2011).  


    Places to see:


    A lot of people come to goa to relax at one of the many beaches. The most popular beach is Calangute beach. Calangute isis also called `The Queen of beaches`. It is 7km long and welcomes every year thousands of tourists during the peak and off-season. The beach is full of popular restaurants and hotels. It is the base of all travel agencies and tour operators where bookings are done for most of the other beaches.


    (Source:Howyoudoin,2011)

    References
    http://www.goa-tourism.com/index.php



    Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)