India travelguide

Aatwan phata : By 0900 am ST bus from Lonavla to Sahara, one can getdown at Aatwan phata (12 km).At Aatwan phata, on left one can see the Mulshi lake. Turn right to a depression and the small track climbs down to a lower plateau. Follow the water nullah (dried) right and take a long traverse of the steep rock wall to the base of Moradi peak. Then find a nullah which climbs down to Mangaon village. The trek takes 3 hour. Travel to Parali and then to Khopoli via six seater/ ST. From Khopoli one can travel to Mumbai.

Lonavla is a popular hill station with nice climate 60 km from Pune on the Mumbai highway.

For photos visit : http://gallery.bizhat.com/showgallery.php?cat=1697

Wish you all a WORLD AIDS DAY - December 1. Know AIDS say no to AIDS. Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a Sexually transmitted disease having no vaccine at all. Potential ways of disease infection are infected blood, saliva, urine, sperm and vaginal fluids. The virus become active after a period of 6 months (incubation period) and can be detected by tests - Western blot test, Elisa test. One it is positive, avoid the virus exposure in the future. Every exposure increses the no of virus and the patient' s condition will go worse with in a short period. Normally, if detected early, with medicines one can delay the coming of severe diseases viz TB, some type of cancer etc. AIDS is fastly spreding all over the world. it can only by controlled by awareness of the public regarding the disese.

KOLKATA (CALCUTTA) - Haora bridge : busiest hanging bridge (457 m length and 8 m wide with 8 line traffic), Vidya sagar setu (1993, second hanging bridge across Hooglie), botanical gardens with 2000 year old giant Banyan tree (19 km), Alipore zoological gardens, National library, Indian museum, Birla industrial and technological museum, Shahid minar, Kalighat temple, Victoria memorial, Birla planetarium, St. Paul's cathedral, Raj Bhavan, Writer's building, trams, double deckker bus, Marble palace at Chor Bagan, Parasnath Jain temple, Nakhoda mosque, Metro underground railway (16.5 km from Dumdum to Tollygunje), Belur (15 km, Ramakrishna mission headquarters), Dakshineshwar Kali temple (11 km), Tarakeshwar temple (80 km).

SUNDERBANS - Wild life sanctuary, a world heritage centre (Dec to May), the biggest delta in the world. Diamond harbour : River side picnic spot.

SHANTINIKETAN - Tagore's Viswa Bharathi University (215 km). TARAPITH temple (80 km from Shantiniketan).

DARJEELING (666 km from KOLKATA) - Shiliguri : 90 km toy train route to Darjeeling, a world heritage route, major hill resort, New Jaipalguri (86 km, 7.5 hour) connects Darjeeling by narrow gauge. Trekking (April-May, Oct-Nov), gardens, museums, temples, handicrafts, fishing, Himalayan training institute, zoological park and museum, Lloyd botanical park, Rangeet valley rope way (5 km), Observatory hills, Ghoom Buddhist monastery (6 km), Senchal (11 km) : View of Everest and Mt. Kanchenjunga from Tiger hill, picnic spot.

KALINGPANG - Hill station, tea plantation, handicrafts, Buddhist monastery.

SANDAKPHU - Excellent views of Himalaya, trekking.

JALDHAPARA - Wild life sanctuary (Dec to May).

FESTIVALS - Durga puja (Sept/Oct), Diwali (Oct/Nov), Baisakhi (April/May).

Capital : Kolkata.

Area : 88, 752 sq.km.

Literacy : 69.6%.

Languages : Bengali, Hindi.

Roads : 77, 579 km.

Railways : 3, 768 km.

Airports : Bagdogra, Kolkata, Cooch-Behar, Malda, Balurghat.

When to visit : Oct to Mar.

Climate(in °C) : Summer 40 to 24 Winter 26 to 7.

Monsoon : June to Sept

Districts : 19, Bankura, Bardhaman Birbhum, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, East Midanapore, Hooghly, Howrah, Jalpaiguri,

Kolkatta, Maldah, Murshidabad, Nadia, North Twenty four Parganas, North Dinajpur, Puruliya, South Twenty four

Parganas, South Dinajpur, West Midanapore.

Places of Tourist importance : Kolkata, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Shantiniketan, Sunderbans national park, beaches -

Digha, Shankarpur, Junput, Sagardwip, Bakkhali.

1. NAG TIBBA (3040 m) - Mussoorie to Barkot/Kuwa. On the way getdown at Nainbagh (1115 m). Trek to Panthwari (1524 m, 11 km) and then to Nag Tibba (8 km).

2. HAR KI DOON - Mussoorie to Purola (97 km). Then to Netwar (50 km) and to Taluka (23 km) via Saur, Trek to Osla (2559 m, 11 km), to Har Ki Doon (3566 m, 8 km). The road upto Taluka is motorable except during monsoon.

3. DODITAL LAKE (3024 m) - Uttarkashi to Kalyani (1829 m, 11 km) by jeep. Trek 21 km to Dodital lake via Agoda.

4. BUDDHA KEDAR - Tehri to Ghuttu via Ghansali (63 km). (a) From Ghuttu (1524 m) trek to Bhairon Chatti (2493 m, 9 km), to Buddha Kedar (1524 m, 7 km) via Tolachati. Travel to Ghansali by bus (32 km). (b) SAHSRATAL LAKE - Buddha Kedar to Jhala (5 km), to Belak (9 km), to Sahsratal (9 km). (c) From Ghuttu (1524 m) trek to Duphanda (2896 m, 7 km), to PANWALI KANTHA (3963 m, 3 km).

5. KHATLING GLACIER / MASARTAL LAKE - From Ghuttu (1524 m) trek to Reeh (2132 m, 10 km), to Gangi (2584 m, 10 km), to Kalyani (2683 m, 5 km), to Bhelbagi (3110 m, 13 km), to Khatling (3717 m, 7 km), to Masartal (3675 m, 6 km).

6. PINDARI - KAFNI GLACIER - Bageshwar to Song by bus (40 km, 1400 m). Trek to Dhakuri (14 km, 2680 m) via Loharkhet, to Khati (2210 m, 8 km), to Dwali (2576 m, 11 km), (a) to Pindari glacier (3353 to 4625 m) via Phurkia (8 km, 3260 m) : 6 day trek. (b) Kafni glacier (13 km, 3800 m) via Byaligar. All places have dak bunglows. Executive Engr PWD Almora is the reservation authority.

7. SUNDERDUNGA GLACIER - Bageshwar to Song by bus. Trek to Dhakuri via Loharkhet (14 km), to Jatoli via Umla (15 km), to Kathalia (3206 m) via Dungiadong (13 km), (a) to Sunderdunga glacier (7 km, 3800 m) : 7 days. (b) to Sukhram glacier (7 km, 3900 m). (c) Maiktoli glacier (7 km, 3800 m). Tharkot (6100 m), Mrigthuni (6856 m), Maiktoli (6804 m) and Pawali Dwar (6663 m) are nearby peaks.

8. ROOPKUND LAKE (5030 m) - Bageshwar to Gwaldam and then to Debal (45 km) by bus. Travel by jeep to Mandoli and then to Wan. Wan to Bedni Bugyal (3350 m, 14 km) : 6 hour. Bedni Bugyal to Bhagwa Basa (4100 m, 5 hour). Then to Roop Kund and back : 100 km , 5 days. Lake is at the foot of Trishul (7122 m) peak.

9. MILAM GLACIER (4267 m) - Bageshwar to Munsiyari (135 km, 2290 m). Birthi falls on the way. Trek to Lilam (11 km), to Bugadiar (8 km), to Rilkote (10 km), to Milam village (14 km, 3423 m) via Martoli, to glacier and back (4 km) : 8 days.

OR

Bageshwar to Martoli by bus. Trek to Milam glacier (20 km, length of 27 km and 3 km width).

10. NANDADEVI SANCTUARY - A world heritage centre with Mt. Nandadevi (7817 m, India's second highest peak). Joshimath - Malari (70 km) road goes through Tapovan, Reni, Lata (25 km) and Juma. (a) From Malari trek to Niti village (5038 m). (b) Trek from Lata to Dharansi (4250 m, 17 km) and then to Nandadevi sanctuary (40 km) with permit.

11. VALLEY OF FLOWERS (3658 to 3962 m) - A world heritage centre and the only flower national park in India with variety of flowers, discovered by Frank Smythe. Season - July to August. Govind ghat (1828 m, 18 km after Joshimath on Badarinath road) to Ghanjhira (3048 m, 15 km, Gurudwara/Rest house) by trek. Trek 5 km to Valley of flowers. Take permit from Govind ghat. HEMKUND/LOKPAL (4329 m) : Sikh Pilgrim centre, 6 km trek from Ghanjhira. Lakshman temple and lake.

12. CURZON TRAIL - Nandaprayag to Ghat (19 km). Trek to Ramni (1982 m, 10 km), to Sarkot (2439 m, 4 km), to Jhenjipatni (1524 m, 9 km), to Panarani (2043 m, 12 km), to Sanatoli (2439 m, 5 km), to Domabhiti (2286 m, 5 km), to Kauri pass (4268 m, 5 km), to Tapoban (18 km). Travel to Joshimath (15 km, Jeep). Joshimath has highest and 3.9 km long rope way to Auli skiing centre (10 km by Jeep).

13. KEDARNATH (3584 m) - 14 km trek from Gaurikund (1981 m). Accomodation is available at Kedarnath. Chaukamba glacier is nearby. Trek to Vasukital (4135 m, 6 km, 1 km in diameter) with a guide as the route is difficult to find. Paian Tal is 1 km from Vasukital.

DEHRADUN - Capital of Uttaranchal, hill station, Indian military academy.

MUSSOORIE - Major hill station 28 km from Dehradun, gardens, trekking, Gun hill rope way, Tibettan market, Kempty falls (15 km), Yamuna bridge (27 km), Surkhanda devi temple (35 km), Yamnotri (140 km).

YAMNOTRI - Source of river Yamuna, Hindu pilgrim centre - temple, hot springs - Surya kund (88^oC), Divya shila rock pillar near the temple. Mussoorie to Hanuman chatti (130 km). 13 km trek via Janaki chatti for Yamnotri. 120 km for Gangotri.

GANGOTRI (3048 m) - Glacier at Gaumukh (24 km trek), source of Ganga river, Hindu pilgrim centre, temple, access from Dehradun by bus, Open May to October. Mussoorie to Lanka (112 km). Trek to Gangotri (11 km), to Bhajbasa (3800 m, 12 km) via Chibasa, to Gaumukh (3970 m, 12 km) and back .

HARIDWAR - Kumbh mela is held here after every 12 years, Chandi devi temple, Bharatmata temple, Mayadevi temple, Bhimgoda temple, Mansadevi temple (ropeway), Vaishnodevi temple, Hari-i-Pairi Ganga ghat for evening Aarti, temples, ashrams.

RISHIKESH - Hindu pilgrim centre, Trivel ghat : Evening Aarti, Swarg ashram : famous for Yoga and meditation, Kali temple, Lakshman Jhoola (bridge), Ram Jhoola. Kedarnath (222 km), Badrinath (300 km).

KEDARNATH - Hindu pilgrim centre near Badrinath (180 km, 3584 m, 13 km trek from Gaurikund - hot springs, May to Oct), jyotirlinga, Shankaracharya samadhi, Chaukamba glacier (2 km), Vasuki tal lake (4200m, 5 km , 2 km in dia.), trekking, wild flowers .

12 JYOTIRLINGAS : Bhimashankar (Pune), Grishneshwar (Aurangabad), Vajyanath (Parali/Bid), Nageswar/AundaNagnath (Nanded), Trikambeswar (Nashik), Viswanath (Varanasi), Mallikarjun (Srisailam, AP), Mahakaleswar (Ujjain), Kedarnath (UA), Mamaleswar (Omkareswar, Indore), Somnath (GJ), Rameshwar (TN).

BADARINATH - Hindu pilgrim centre (bus from Rishikesh, 300 km, 12 hour, 3100 m), hot springs : Taptakund and Surya kund (55C), from temple steps leads to Charan paduka. The last village Mana is at 3 km. Vyas gupha : cave, trek to Vasudhara falls via Bhim pul (5 km, 122 m water fall at 3658 m). The route leads to Mt. Nilkantha (6596 m, 10 km). Mt. Kamet (7756 m).

ALMORA - Hill station, temples, trekking, Pindari glacier via Bagheshwar (120 km, May - June for flowers), Kausani (53 km, hill station).

NAINITAL - Hill station, lakes, boating, Ranikhet hill station (50 km) - Jhodadevi temple; Railhead is Kathagodam connected to Bareilly. Almora (90 km).

CORBETT NATIONAL PARK - First national park in India, named after Jim Corbett at Dhikkal, Season : Nov to May.

Capital : Dehradun.

Area : 53, 483 sq.km.

Literacy : 72.6%.

Languages : Hindi, Garhwali, Kumaoni.

Roads : 18, 000 km.

Railways : 600 km.

Airports : Dehradun, Pant nagar.

When to visit : Oct to Mar.

Climate(in °C) : 1.9 to 40.5 .

Districts : 13, Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Champawat, Dehradun, Garhwal, Hardwar, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal, Udhamsigh nagar, Uttarkashi.

Places of Tourist importance : Dehradun, Mussoorie, Hardwar, Almora, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Auli, Gangotri, Yamnotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath, National parks - Nanda Devi, Valley of flowers, Rajaji, Askot, Corbett, Kedarnath ; Glaciers - Gangotri, Pindari, Maiktoli, Sunderdhunga, Milam, Ralam, Namik, Khatling, Nanda Devi, Satopnath, Bhagirathi-Kharak, Bandarpunch, Chorbari, Doonagiri ; Kailas Manasarovar Yatra.