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Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram -- Mahabalipuram is a sleepy coastal town 60 kms south of Chennai. This tiny sea side village set in a boulder strewn landscape is a site of many ancient sculptural marvels. It was the port city of the Pallavas who had mastered the art of construction without using bricks or mortar, carving out exquisite sculptures from rocks. The best examples of the ir art here are the five monolith chariots, the pride of Mahabalipuram. The various panels on the walls depict scenes from Hindu mythology and fables from the Panchtantra. The Mahabalipuram ruins, date to the seventh century and consist of a cave temple, shore temple, monolithic rathas (rock-carved temple chariots) and bas-reliefs (among the world's finest.). It is the ideal place to purchase intricately shaped and skilfully carved statues.
Mahabalipuram , is one of the Indian towns that was devastated by the recent Tsunami waves in December 2004, but in true Indian style, the city's inhabitants showed tremendous grit and courage and had the city back to normal very quickly.
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Getting to Mahabalipuram
» By Air-- The nearest airport is Chennai, 60 kms away.
Munnar
Munnar - breathtakingly beautiful - a haven of peace and tranquility - the idyllic tourist destination in the South Indian State of Kerala, also called God's own country. Set at an altitude of 6000 ft in Idukki district, Munnar was the favored summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days.
Unending expanse of tea plantations - pristine valleys and mountains- exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests - aroma of spice scented cool air - yes! Munnar has all these and more. It's the place you would love to visit - it's the place you would wish never to leave.
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Getting to Munnar
» By Air -- The nearest airport is Cochin, 150 KMS away.
» By Rail -- Munnar is connected to Cochin (150 kms) and Periyar (110 kms)
Mysore
Mysore -- 140 Kms from Bangalore, in the Southern Indian State of Karnataka, lies Mysore, the abode of untold grandeur and glory. Mysore, the capital city of the Wodeyars has always enchanted its admirers with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, road shady avenues and sacred temples.
There's an old world charm about the city that reaches out and leaves no one untouched. Mysore is one of the major cities of Karnataka. Today, Mysore is a vibrant city teeming with tourists and visitors. It is known the world over for its exotic sandalwood and rich silks. Its grand and imposing palaces, majestic temples, gardens leave an ever-lasting impression on the visitor. Situated 770m above sea level, Mysore has a warm and cool climate throughout the year.
Palaces worth visiting in the city of Mysore include the Mysore Palace, Brindavan Gardens and Chamundi Hills
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Getting to Mysore
» By Air -- The nearest airport is Bangalore, 150 kms away.
» By Rail -- Mysore is connected by superfast trains to Bangalore as well as Chennai.
» By Road -- Mysore is connected to Bangalore (150 kms) and Ooty (140 kms)
Ooty
Ooty, in the Southern Indian State of Karnataka, is called the "Queen of hill stations" and is the capital of Nilgiris district. It is one of the most popular tourist resorts in India. Nilgiris means "Blue Mountains". It is a land of picturesque picnic spots. Used to be popular summer and weekend getaway for the Britishers during the colonial days. It is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level.
An added attraction for the tourists to Ooty is the mountain train journey (also called the toy train) on a ratchet and pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam and wends its way through many hair-raising curves and fearful tunnels and chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens. One can notice a marvellous change in vegetation, as one goes from Kallar to Coonoor. The establishment of numerous tea estates made Ooty famous. Lofty mountains, dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles of tea gardens greet the passengers on most routes. The annual Tea and Tourism Festival attracts crowds in huge numbers. Getting to Ooty.
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Getting to Ooty
» By Air -- The nearest airport is Coimbatore, 100 kms away. The airport most frequently used by visitors to Ooty is Bangalore, 290 kms away.
» By Rail -- The nearest mainline railhead for Ooty is Mettupalayam (46 kms) from where one can take the picturesque toy train.
» By Road -- Ooty is connected to Bangalore (290 kms), Mysore (150 kms) and Cochin (295 kms)
Pondicherry
Pondicherry - Pondicherry a former French colony settled in the 18th century, is now a Union territory and a beautiful seaside town with traces of French culture still intact.
Apart from the charming atmosphere, excellent restaurants, and cheap beer, what attracts most travelers to Pondicherry is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The ashram, founded by Sri Aurobindo in the year 1926, has brought international reputation to this coastal town.
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Getting to Pondicherry
» By Air -- The nearest airport is Chennai, 162 kms away.
Ranthambore
Ranthambhore - Ranthambhore, hailed as one of India's finest wildlife destinations, is located near the town of Sawai Madhopur, which is around 180 km south east of Jaipur in Rajasthan.
It was established as a sanctuary in 1959 and included in the very first phase of Project Tiger in 1972. In 1981, Ranthambhore was awarded the status of a National Park. The park derives its name from the 11th century fort of Ranthambhore, which sits on a rocky outcrop in the forest. The fort was a vital citadel for the control of central India. Though overrun by vegetation, remnants of the summer palaces, temples and guard stones within the fort still remain.
Earlier the hunting reserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur, the park at Ranthambhore was once the scene of royal hunting parties. Today, it is famous for its tigers and is one of the best places in the country to see these majestic predators in the wild. The tigers can be spotted quite often even during the day, busy in their normal pursuits - especially stalking or hunting and taking care of their young. With the strict measures that have been taken for their conservation, they seem quite accustomed to human presence and are not disturbed by it.
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Getting to Ranthambore
» By Air-- The nearest airport is Jaipur, 180 kms away.
» By Rail -- Sawai Madhopur, the rail station at the edge of the Ranthambore National Park, is well connected to Delhi, Bharatpur, Jaipur and Mumbai by Express and Superfast trains.
» By Road -- Ranthambore is 295 kms from Agra and 180 kms from Jaipur.
Trichy
Trichy, situated on the banks of the river Cauvery, is in the Southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu. It was a citadel of the early Cholas which later fell to the Pallavas. Trichy is a fine blend of tradition and modernity built around the Rock Fort. Apart from the Fort, there are several Churches, Colleges and Missions dating back to the 1760s. The town and its fort, now in Trichy were built by the Nayaks of Madurai. This city has given great Tamil scholars whose contributions to the Tamil literature have been very significant. The most famous land mark of this bustling town is the Rockfort Temple, a spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky out crop which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city.
It was one of the main centers around which the wars of the Carnatic were fought in the 18th century during the British-French struggle for supremacy in India. The city is a thriving commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is famous for artificial diamonds, cigars, handloom cloth, glass bangles and wooden and clay toys.
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Getting to Trichy
» By Air -- Trichy is connected by regular flights to Chennai.
» By Rail -- Trichy is connected by superfast day as well as overnight trains to Chennai.
» By Road -- Trichy is approx. 200 kms from Madurai.
Goa
Goa -- Silver sands, sparkling blue waters, the sky mirroring the sea below, white churches resting against green paddy fields and coconut trees lining the coastal streets. Goa - a place you can fall in love with at first glance. There's much more to Goa than sun, sand and sea. The allure of Goa is that it remains quite distinct from the rest of India and is small enough to be grasped and explored in a way that other Indian states are not. Ruled by the Portuguese till 1961, Goa still retains its indo-portuguese character -- very visible amongst its architecture as well as its people. Goa's tourism byline of "Goa - 365 days on Holiday" is absolutely true.
Tourists inevitably come to Goa only for its sandy beaches, but experienced travellers say that the beaches are only a part of the attraction of Goa. Goa has 500 year old churches, forts and temples, trekking routes, waterfalls, wildlife sanctuaries and even spice plantations that are worth visiting.
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Getting to Goa
» By Rail -- Goa is connected by air to Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Cochin and Mumbai by regular domestic flights. Several International charter flights from the UK, Western Europe and the CIS countries also operate to Goa during the peak season from October to April.
» By Road -- Goa is best connected by rail to Mumbai. Trains are also available from Delhi, Bangalore, Cochin etc.
Bangalore
Bangalore -- Bangalore is one of Asia's fastest growing cities, and India's fifth largest city. Situated at an altitude of 920 metres above sea level, Bangalore is the principal administrative, cultural, commercial and industrial centre of the South Indian State of Karnataka. Thanks to its altitude, Bangalore enjoys a pleasant and equable climate throughout the year. Tree-lined streets and abundant greenery made it the 'Garden City' of India.
However, since local entrepreneurs and technology giant Texas Instruments discovered its potential as a high-tech city in the early 1980s, Bangalore has seen a major technology boom and is now home to more than 250 high-tech companies, including homegrown giants like Wipro and Infosys. The erstwhile garden city has now been pegged the 'Silicon Valley' of India.
The people in the city are warm, hospitable and friendly. Bangalore is generally regarded as a place that most visitors like to chill out in. Not to say that it has nothing for the people interested in history. Along with the modern day pubs, discos and hangouts, one can still see remnants of the older Bangalore. All in all, a lovely city to visit.
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Getting to Bangalore
» By Air -- Bangalore is now a fairly busy International airport with airlines like Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, Singapore Airlines, Air India, Thai Airways and Air Lanka connecting with the rest of the world. All major domestic airlines serve Bangalore, connecting it with the rest of India.
» By Rail -- Bangalore is well connected to all major Indian cities. There are number of daily express trains from Bangalore to other cities of India.
Chennai
Chennai -- Chennai or Madras, as it was called earlier, is known as the Gateway of Southern India and is the capital of the Southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu. The fourth largest metropolis and the third important port in India, Chennai is flanked by the breathtakingly beautiful Marina beach on the eastern side and the city skyscape with its eclectic mix of temple towers, steeples, minarets and star hotels on the other. From classical concerts to trendy nightclubs, Chettinad to multi-cuisine restaurants, museums to Internet cafes, Chennai offers choices that range from the quaint to the ultra modern.
Places to visit in Chennai include the Marina Beach, a marvellous 13 km stretch of sea and sand, the San Thome Cathederal, built on the site of a 16th century Portuguese basilica which is said to be the tomb of the apostle Thomas, who is reputed to have brought Christianity to India in the 1st century AD. The Fort St George and the Fort Museum which has a collection of objects from the tenure of the East India Company in Chennai, including letters from Robert Clive.
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Getting to Chennai
» By Air -- Chennai is Southern India's busiest International airport and is served by a large number of International airlines including British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Air Lanka, Malaysian Airlines, Air India, Delta Airlines and Kuwait Airways. All major domestic airlines serve Chennai, connecting it with the rest of India.
» By Rail -- Chennai is also well connected to all the major cities in India. The main railheads are Chennai Central and Egmore.
» By Road -- Chennai is well connected by road to all major cities of tourist or commercial importance in Southern India. Chennai also serves as the gateway to the temple towns of Tirupati (160 kms) and Mahabalipuram (60 kms).
Cochin
Cochin -- Cochin or Kochi as it is now called, is the commercial capital of the Southern Indian State of Kerala, is sometimes referred to as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea'. Cochin proudly boasts a rich cultural heritage, but is one of the most fast-paced and modern cities in India. It is also one of the finest natural harbours of the world and a major Indian port.
Always a tourist favourite, this city offers visitors plenty. Forts, palaces, museums, old churches, cool backwaters, palm fringed lagoons, beaches and the practicality of a contemporary metro.
The interesting places to visit in Cochin include the Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace), built by the Portuguese and presented to the Cochin Raja in 1555 AD. A fine blend of Indo-European architecture, The Chinese Fishing nets, St. Francis Church, where Vasco Da Gama was buried before his remains were taken back to Portugal 14 years later and Jewish Synagogue, situated close to the Mattancherry boat jetty, the Synagogue and the ancient Jew town built in 1568 A.D. is of great historical importance.
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Getting to Cochin
» By Air -- Cochin is fast developing as a busy International airport as well and is now served by a few International airlines viz, Air India, Emirates, Sri Lankan, Silk Air, Qatar Airways, and Kuwait Airways. All major domestic airlines serve Cochin, connecting it with the rest of India.
» By Rail -- Various super fasttrains connect Ernakulam (twin city for Cochin) with the rest of the country.
» By Road -- Cochin serves as the Gateway to Northern Kerala, and is connected by fairly good highways with Kumarakom (85 kms), Munnar (160 kms) and Periyar (200 kms).
Periyar
Periyar -- Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is an 800 sq mtr sanctuary in Thekkady on the borders of the South Indian states of Kerala and Tamil nadu, and is one of the most important National Parks in Southern India. It boasts of elephants, bisons, antelopes, sambars, wild boars and if one is lucky, even tigers.
Periyar is the best sanctuary in India for watching and photographing elephants at close quarters. What makes Periyar fairly unique as a forest is that game viewing takes place either by small boats through the lake or even on foot.
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Getting to Periyar
» By Air -- Cochin (200 kms) is the main gateway for Periyar .Periyar is also accessible from Madurai(160 kms).
» By Rail -- Periyar is easily accessible from Cochin(200 kms) , Kumarakom (150 kms) and Madurai(160 kms).
Kovalam
Kovalam -- Kovalam is just 16 kms away from Trivandrum, the capital of the Southern Indian state of Kerala . The Kovalam beach has for long been known as the "Paradise of the South".
"Kovalam" means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. The crescent-shaped beach has three parts. The southern most beach, and the most popular, is light house beach. It offers an amazing sight of Vizhinjam mosque. The northern Samudra is a laidback one and time seems stands still here. The middle, hawah, in the early day, is a beehive of activities with fishermen setting out for sea. With a high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights.
Its scenic beauty and serenity is supplemented by the availability of excellent accommodation . There are a lot of restaurants which provide western as well as Indian style food .. The grilled seafood items such as lobster, king prawns and kalamari are got fresh from the sea at Kovalam. Ayurvedic massage parlours, yoga centers and water sport facilities, makes Kovalam a popular haven for tourists from all over the globe.
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Getting to Kovalam
» By Air -- The Thiruvananthapuram/ Trivandrum airport is just 20 kms away . Trivandrum is well connected to all major Indian cities , and is now also served by a few International airlines like Silk Air, Gulf Air, Emirates and Qatar Airways.
» By Rail -- Kovalam is well connected to Cochin (230 kms) as well as to other destinations of Kerala.
Kumarakom
Kumarakom -- Kumarakom (Paradise of Travelers),is rated as one of the top 15 beautiful spots in the world by the National Geographic.The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, and this small water world is part of the Kuttanad region. The bird sanctuary here, which is spread across 14 acres is a favorite haunt of migratory birds and an ornithologist's paradise.
Egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild duck and migratory birds like the Siberian stork that live There in flocks are a fascination for visitors. The best way to watch the birds of the Kumarakom sanctuary is a boat trip round the islands.An unbelievably beautiful paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals adorned with while lillies - this is Kumarakom.
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Getting to Kumarakom
» By Air -- Kumarakam is just 85 kms from the Cochin Airport and 175 kms from Trivandrum airport.
