Jaisalmer Fort

Northern Indian state of Rajasthan is famous for its forts and palaces. The state boasts of rich cultural heritage. Talking about the forts, Jaisalmer fort is one of the oldest and massive forts of Rajasthan. It is located in the remote Thar Desert. Jaisalmer is one of the most renowned cities of Rajasthan since the medieval times. It was well placed on the trade route which helped it in gaining prosperity. The city has countless havelis and palaces and is celebrated for its brave rulers. Jaisalmer is also famous for its aesthetic sense depicted through palaces, sandstone mansions, screen windows, buildings, well designed balconies and sculptures. Among the forts, Jaisalmer fort definitely holds the commanding attention. The fort has 99 bastions and it is two hundred and fifty feet tall.

Old city of Jaisalmer is situated within the walls of Jaisalmer fort. There are many gates through which one can approach the Jaisalmer fort. The entrance gate is Akshya Pol whereas Suraj-Pol is across the road. Hawa Pol is known for its enormous size. It was constructed during the 17th century AD. Jaisalmer Fort is a fine example of Rajput style of craftsmanship. It is one of most striking architectural monument in India. The fort has an intriguing and fascinating five interconnected palaces embroidered with windows and balconies.

One can have the wonderful view of old city and adjoining desert from the walls of the Jaisalmer fort. There is a market called Manek chowk outside the fort. Plenty of houses, shops and temples are based inside the fort. Jaisalmer is the venue of famous desert festivals. The city is easily accessible through rail, road and air.

Somnath Temple

Somnath temple is one of the most famous holy pilgrimages of Lord Shiva, located in the state of Gujarat. Every year, thousands of Hindu devotees make a beeline to have a glimpse of the holy Lord. Considered as the one of the twelve ‘Jyotirlingas’, the temple of Somnath has existed since many centuries. In fact, the holy Hindu scripture Rig Veda also mentions the presence and importance of this temple. It was also attacked by foreign invaders on several occasions because of its wealth. The Somnath temple has been destroyed many times by the invaders yet it has always been rebuilt.

There are interesting legends about the construction of Somnath temple. It is believed to have been made by Moon first then demon king Ravana and even by Lord Krishna. One of the rulers of Gujarat, Bhimdev is also believed to have made the Shiva statue in stone. The temple boasts of amazing architecture and finesse. It is a beautiful example of rich architectural heritage of ancient India. The temple has been constructed in Chalukya style. The skilled artisans of Gujarat have really made the carvings intricate and flawless.

Thousands of Hindus visit this temple every year. The beauty of the temple has not vanished despite the onslaught of changing times. It has stood the test of time and devotion of pilgrims. To reach Somnath temple, one can take a flight to Keshod which is the nearest airport to Somnath. The distance between Keshod and Somnath is 47 kilometers. Somnath is also well connected through road and railway.

Darjeeling

Its summer time and people have already started to make plans to escape from heat waves. There is no dearth of tourist places in India but some of them, over the time have witnessed huge rush. This can be a turn-off for tourists who prefer to rest in peace and tranquility. One such tourist destination that despite being hugely popular, still offers you a wonderful opportunity to make the most of your vacation time is Darjeeling. Located in the Shivalik hills on the lower range of the Himalayas, it is an amazingly beautiful place.

Situated in the culturally rich state of West Bengal, Darjeeling is a mesmerizing hill resort. Darjeeling first came into prominence when British used it as their summer resort during the colonial era. This quaint travel destination is not just popular among the Indian tourists but also frequently visited by the foreigners. The place is quite popular for its tea plantation. Exported to numerous countries all over the world, its ‘Muscatel Tea’ has always been in huge demand.

There are number of places one must visit in Darjeeling. The place will always impress you with its spectacular scenery, exotic flora and fauna, lush greenery and rolling slopes. Tiger hill is perhaps the most famous place in Darjeeling. One can have a bewitching view of sunrise and sunset standing atop the hill. If you are lucky, you can have a view of Mount Everest as well.

Ghoom is basically a small hillock in Darjeeling that houses one of the most popular monasteries of the hill resort, Ghoom Gompa. A visit to Darjeeling cannot be completed without having a look at its tea gardens. Apart for that, one can visit Observatory Hill that is supposed to be the oldest site in this part of land, Chowrasta for shopping activities, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park to discover the rich wildlife of Himalayas and museums.

Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal is one of the popular hill stations in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. When you feel like describing this place, words like ‘beauty and tranquility’ will immediately come to your mind. Located amidst the lush Pali hills, the place is sheer magic. You will be mesmerized with the enormous rocks, twisty lake, forested slopes and cascading waterfalls of the Kodaikanal. It is situated at an altitude of approximately 2133 m and standing on the top of the hill you can truly enjoy the true magnificence of the valley.

Kodaikanal truly represents the grandeur associated with a hill station. Large number of tourists visits this place every year. Kodaikanal is also known for housing reputed educational institutions. There are several places to see in this popular hill station. Right from beautiful parks, soothing lakes to historical museum and massive rock, you can rejoice inherent charm of every facet of nature.

Bryant Park is located on the eastern side of Kodaikanal Lake. Founded by a British Army Officer named Mr. Bryant, this park is basically a botanical garden. You will come across bewitching assortment of various species of flowers. An annual horticulture show is also organized in the park.

The most popular tourist attraction of Kodaikanal is its Lake which is situated right in the middle of the town. You can do plenty of activities here like horse riding, boating, a stroll and indulge in picnic as well.

Kurinji Andavar Temple is another frequently visited place here. Dedicated to Lord Muruga (God of Hill), the temple has been built in Pallava style and is located just 3 km from the Kodaikanal Lake. There are plenty more places worth visiting like Pillar rocks, Astrophysical observatory, Dolphin’s Nose and Coaker's Walk and finally Flora museum.

Manali Tourist Attractions

The northern state of Himachal Pradesh is full of scenic places. Manali is one of those picturesque locations in the state that pulls thousands of visitors every year. Situated amidst the scintillating view of Kullu Valley, Manali is one place every travel loving person would prefer to visit. Manali is an ideal hill station. One will have magnificent views of wooded slopes, soaring peaks, blooming orchards and flowering valleys. Adventure sports lovers will always have one extra reason to visit this place. Manali has wonderful facilities for skiing, paragliding, mountaineering and river rafting etc.

The city also has Beas river that passes through the heart of the town. Tourists with religious inclinations can also witness magnificent temples and monasteries of the place. The beauty of the place is further accentuated by shade of deodar and pine trees. There are several places one can visit in Manali. 3 major temples are Manu temples, Hadimba temple and Vashisht springs and temples.

Manu temple is located in old Manali and one has to cross slippery stone paths to reach there. No less than an adventurous journey! Hadimba temple is definitely one of the most popular tourist attractions in Manali. It is a four storey wooden temple located in the forested areas of Dhungiri Van Vihar.

If you are visiting Manali, you can not afford to miss Tibetan Monasteries. The famous ones are Thekchoking Gompa, which is situated around the bottom of ‘The Mall’ and Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa. The Mall refers to main market of Manali that houses several shops selling traditional Tibetan, Himachali and Kashmiri handicrafts. Other popular places to visit are the club house, Arjun Gufa and Nehru Kund.

Magnificent Sikkim

The North-Eastern side of the country is blessed with virgin beauty. These parts of the mesmerizing India are yet to be exploited fully. North-eastern states are also known as Seven Sisters. One of the most peaceful, tranquil and beautiful state in this region is Sikkim. It is also one of the smallest states of the country. The place has amazing natural beauty, soaring mountains, bewitching locales and wonderful lakes that will surely appease your senses. Visitors from many parts of the country visit Sikkim to experience the heart-warming feelings. For a travel enthusiast, the place offers everything that he can imagine like, steep gorges, snow-capped peaks, exotic flora, gushing river and green valleys. What else one could ask from the Mother Nature? The place is enriched with elements of spirituality as well because of presence of number of monasteries.

The most fascinating aspect about Sikkim is the fact that despite lack of size it packs a punch with numerous tourist attractions in the state. Sikkim has several beautiful lakes that will offer you mental peace and serenity. Most famous lakes are, Tsomgo lake, Lakshmi Pokhari, Khecheopraj Lake, Samiti Lake and Cholamu lake. The capital of the state is Gangtok that is a hill station as well. One can visit monastaries like Pemayangtse, Rumtek, Labrang and Tasuk - la-khang (Palace Monastery) etc to sooth his soul. One must remember to explore the flora and fauna of the state. It is just amazing. Other popular attractions are Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary, Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kyongnosia Alpine Sanctuary etc.

National Parks of India

India is a glorious land with numerous attractions. One of the major attractions of Indian subcontinent is wide variety of wildlife. Credit goes to varied quality of topography that supports presence of magnificent variety of birds and animals. India houses several famous wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The idea was to protect these precious animals from getting extinct. Establishment of sanctuaries in several states also help in protecting these innocent animals from getting poached. Thanks to these parks, numerous species of animals are able to survive and also increasing their population.

Some of the famous national parks in India are,

Jim Corbett National park, Bandhavgarh National Park, Desert national park, Gir national park, Kanha national park, Bandipur national park, Dachigam national park, Manas national aprk, Nanda Devi national park, Periyar national park, Ranthambore national park, Valley of Flower and Sariska national park.

We all know about famous Jim Corbett national park that is situated in the foothills of Himalayas and is located in the state of Uttaranchal. It was established in 1936. Bandhavgarh National Park is situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh and is known for its wonderful forest and large variety of animals. Sand city of Jaisalmer houses Desert national park. This park is a beautiful manifestation of ecosystem.

Gir national park needs no introduction. Perhaps one of the most celebrated parks in india, it is located in Gujarat and is reputed for being the only natural habitat of Asiatic Lions. Kanha national park is famous for hosting tigers and is situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh whereas Bandipur National Park is in southern state of Karnataka. Finally, both Ranthambore National Park and Sariska National Park are based in Rajasthan.