India -World's Best Destination For Holidays

Goa

2007-05-01T03:03:00.000-07:00

The most popular celebrations in Goa are Christmas, Easter Sunday, Ganesh Chaturthi, New Year's Day, the Shigmo festival and the Carnival. However, since the 1960s, the celebrations of the Shigmo and carnival have shifted to the urban centres, and in recent times these festivals are seen more as a means of attracting tourists. Celebrations for all festivals usually last for a few days and include parties and balls.
Western English songs have a large following in most parts of Goa. Traditional Konkani folk songs too have a sizable following. Manddo, the traditional Goan music which originated in the nineteenth century, is sung and danced on special occasions. Goa is also known for its Goa trance music.
Rice with fish curry is the staple diet in Goa. Goa is renowned for its rich variety of fish dishes cooked with elaborate recipes. Coconut and coconut oil is widely used in Goan cooking along with chili peppers, spices and vinegar giving the food a unique flavour. Pork dishes such as Vindaloo, Xacuti and Sorpotel are cooked for major occasions among the Catholics. An exotic Goan vegetable stew, known as Khatkhate, is very popular dish during the celebrations of festivals, Hindu and Christian alike. Khatkhate contains at least five vegetables, fresh coconut, and special Goan spices that add to the aroma of Khatkhate. A rich egg-based multi-layered sweet dish known as bebinca is a favourite at Christmas. The most popular alcoholic beverage in Goa is feni; Cashew feni is made from the fermentation of the fruit of the cashew tree, while coconut feni is made from the sap of toddy palms.
Goa has two World Heritage Sites: the Bom Jesus Basilica and a few designated convents. The Basilica holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, regarded by many Catholics as the patron saint of Goa. Once every decade, the body is taken down for veneration and for public viewing. The last such event was conducted in 2004. The Velhas Conquistas regions are also known for its Goa-Portuguese style architecture.
In many parts of Goa, mansions constructed in the Indo-Portuguese style architecture still stand, though in some villages, most of them are in a dilapidated condition. Fontainhas in Panjim, has been declared a cultural quarter, and are used as a living museum showcasing the life, architecture and culture of Goa. Some influences from the Portuguese era are visible in some of Goa's temples, notably the Mangueshi Temple, although after 1961, many of these were demolished and reconstructed in the indigenous Indian style.
Football is widely popular in Goa, particularly around Margao where the main football stadium, located at the Fatorda, Margao. Football is also played in local fields, during the non-monsoon, non-planting season, particular in central coastal Goa. Many of the country's top NFL clubs such as the Vasco, Salgaocar, Dempo, Sporting Clube de Goa, Fransa-Pax Football Club and Churchill Brothers are based in Goa.
In recent decades, a growing influence of cricket is visible, in large part fuelled by the massive coverage this sport gets on national television, thus making an impact even in a part of South Asia which hardly had any contact with the British Empire.
The state's sole stadium is the Fatorda stadium, located near Margao. The stadium hosts both international football as well as cricket matches. Field Hockey is the third most popular sport.

Mumbai

2007-05-01T02:50:00.000-07:00

Mumbai is located on Salsette Island, which lies at the mouth of Ulhas River off the western coast of India, in the coastal region known as the Konkan. Much of Mumbai is at sea level, and the average elevation ranges from 10 to 15 metres. The northern part of Mumbai is hilly, and the highest point of the city is at 450 metres (1,450 feet).[15] Mumbai spans a total area of 468 km² (169 mi²).
There are five lakes supplying water to Mumbai. They are Vihar, Vaitarna, Powai, Tulsi and Tansa lakes. Three lakes are located within the metropolitan limits — the Tulsi Lake, Vihar Lake and Powai Lake. The first two are located within the Borivali National Park, and supply part of the city's drinking water. Mumbai also has three small rivers within the city limits originating in the National Park. The coastline of the city is indented with numerous creeks and bays. The eastern seaboard of Salsette Island is covered with large mangrove swamps, rich in biodiversity. On the western seaboard, there are two beaches, named Juhu beach and Chowpatty beach.
Soil cover in the city region is predominantly sandy due to its proximity to the sea. In the suburbs, the soil cover is largely alluvial and loamy. The underlying rock of the region is composed of black Deccan basalt flows, and their acid and basic variants dating back to the late Cretaceous and early Eocene eras. Mumbai sits on a seismically active zone[16] owing to the presence of three fault lines in the vicinity. The area is classified as a Zone III region, which means an earthquake of up to magnitude 6.5 on the Richter-scale may be expected.
Mumbai is classified as a metropolis of India, under the jurisdiction of the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation. It consists of two distinct regions — the city and the suburbs, which also form two separate districts of Maharashtra.

A resident of Mumbai is called a Mumbaikar, or Bombayite. Many residents prefer to stay close to major railway stations for easy access to their workplaces, as a significant amount of time is spent on daily commuting. Thus, many live a fast-paced life, with very little time for social activities. Bombay residents celebrate Indian and Western festivals with great fanfare.
The metropolis has its own local roadside fast food flavour, comprising vada pav (leavened wheat bread split in half, with fried dumplings as filling), panipuri (deep fried crêpe with tamarind and lentil sauce), pav bhaji (leavened wheat bread accompanied with fried vegetables) and bhelpuri (puffed rice mixture), while South Indian and Chinese food are also very popular. The cosmopolitan residents have unique tastes in cuisine, music, film and literature, both Indian and international. In 2004, Mumbai received three heritage conservation awards from the UNESCO.
Mumbai is the birthplace of Indian cinema (Dadasaheb Phalke laid the foundations by his silent movies followed by his Marathi talkies), with the oldest film broadcast here in the early 20th century. Mumbai also boasts of large number of cinemas, including Asia's largest IMAX dome theatre, which feature mainstream Bollywood, Marathi and Hollywood movies. Many film festivals are avidly attended throughout the year. Besides catering to cinephiles, the city has a thriving theatrical tradition both in the regional languages and in English. Contemporary art is well represented in both government funded art spaces and private commercial galleries. The government funded art galleries include The Jehangir Art Gallery and The National Gallery of Modern Art. Built in 1833, the Asiatic Society of Bombay is the oldest public library in the city. The city also contains most of India's tallest buildings.

Cricket is the most popular sport in the city, and is usually played in the maidans (grounds) around the city. Gully cricket, a modified form of cricket, is played in the narrow by-lanes of the city, especially on Sundays. Mumbai has produced several famous international cricketers, and is home to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). International cricket is widely watched, and the city almost comes to a virtual standstill on days when the Indian cricket team plays important matches. The city has two international cricket stadiums, the Wankhede Stadium and the Brabourne Stadium. The local Mumbai cricket team is among the strongest competitors in the Ranji Trophy, the nation's top domestic cricketing circuit.
Football is the second most popular sport with the city clubs playing during the monsoons, when other outdoor sports cannot be played. The Football World Cup is one of the most widely watched television events in Mumbai. India's national sport, field hockey, has gone into a sharp decline in the recent years, losing out in terms of popularity to cricket, though many Mumbai players play in the national team.
Other sports are mostly played in the numerous clubs and gymkhanas, and include tennis, squash, billiards, badminton, table tennis and golf. Mumbai also plays Rugby, one of the few cities to do so in the country. Every February, Mumbai holds the Derby races in the Mahalaxmi Racecourse. The event sees many of the city's glitterati attending, arrayed in the latest fashions. In recent times Formula 1 racing has also caught the public's attention. Other sports such as volleyball and basketball are mostly popular in schools and colleges.
In 2004, the Mumbai Marathon, an annual event sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, was established in a bid to bring the sport to the Indian public.

Jaipur

2007-05-01T02:48:00.000-07:00

Nahargarh Fort
Amber Palace The Amber Palace complex overlooking the artificial lake south of the town of Amber is one of the most popular tourist sites in the city, famous for its mixture of Hindu and Muslim architecture, and offering elephant rides from the town up to the palace courtyard. Although the structure is today known as Amber Fort, the complex was initially a Palace Complex within the Fort of Amber which is today known as Jaigarh fort.
Jaigarh Fort The Jaigarh Fort on the hills above the Amber Palace complex offers stunning views of the foothills of the Aravalli range, as well as attractions such as immense underground water-storage tanks, a medieval canon foundry and an impressive collection of medieval cannons including the Jaivana which is reputed to be the world's largest cannon on wheels. Historically this was the original Amber Fort, although it became known as Jaigarh from the time of Sawai Jai Singh II onwards.
Jal Mahal is located in Jaipur India, which is the capital of the State of Rajasthan. It is on the way to Sisodia garden. The rajput style "Water Palace" sits in the center of the Man Sarobar lake. The lake is often dry in the summer but winter monsoons frequently turn it into a beautiful lake filled with water hyacinths.[2]
Jantar Mantar
Galtaji
Govind Dev Ji temple
Albert Museum in Ramniwas Bagh
Jawahar Circle
Central Park
Birla Temple
Gaurav Towers

Mysore has a tradition of wrestling, football and kho-kho. Mysoreans have represented India at various international tournaments in football and wrestling. Athletics, Cricket, Swimming and Tennis have emerged as sports that the city's sportspersons have taken to. Javagal Srinath, Prahlad Srinath, Mohit Vijaykumar, Madhu Nagaraja and Reeth Abraham are examples.
The Mysore University has a sports program equipped with excellent infrastructure for athletics, tennis, gymnastics, basketball, hockey and cricket. A swimming pool maintained by the University at Saraswathipuram caters to the needs of the swimming fraternity. The Department of Youth Services and Sports, Mysore is constructing an international standard swimming pool adjacent to the Chamundivihar Indoor stadium. The Mysore Tennis club, which began in August 1969 with 2 courts, has now expanded to 8 courts. The National Games of India were held in Mysore in 1999. Infrastructure was further enhanced as a result, a new Indoor stadium was constructed with a seating capacity of 3000 at the Chamundivihar Sports complex.
The Wodeyars were keen followers of horse racing, and the Race Club of Mysore stands testimony of the interest. The Jayachamaraja Wodeyar Golf Club has 18 holes around the race course.
Mysore was also one of the first places in India where youth hostels were established, as early as 1949.[6] Specifically, the Youth Hostels Association Of India (YHAI) had its beginnings in Mysore. There are now two main units in Mysore - Gangothri Unit and Mysore Youth Hostel Unit. The Gangothri Unit is active in a variety of activities such as trekking, rock-climbing, river rafting and organises meetings periodically to educate young people about the environment

Mysore

2007-05-01T02:47:00.000-07:00

Tourist attractions in Mysore
The Mysore Palace
Chamundi Hills
Devaraja Urs Road
Mysore Zoo & Karangi Lake.
Brindavan Gardens & KRS Dam
Jaganmohan Art Gallery
St. Philomena's Church
Government Silk Factory
Lalitha Mahal Palace
The Rail Museum
Cauvery Emporium (Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited)
ISKCON Temple
Regional Museum of Natural History
Folk Lore Museum (University of Mysore campus)
Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Ashram
Sri Ramakrishna Ashram
Balmuri Water Falls
Interesting Places Around Mysore
Srirangapatna : Sri Ranganatha Temple, Sri Lakshminarasimha swamy Temple, Col. Baley's Dungeon, The Fort, Watergate Site of Tippu's death, Nimishamba Temple, Iman's Dungeon, Maszid -E-Ala, Magazine house, Dariyadaulath bagh (Tippu's Palace), Gumbaz, Sangam, European cemetry, Karigatta hill plain, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary.
Coorg(Kodagu) : Abbi Falls, Irpu Falls, Raja's Seat, Nisargadhama, Omkareshwara Temple, Madikeri Fort, Madikeri Palace, Tala Cauvery (River Cauverys Birth Place),
Bylakuppe : Buddhist Golden Temple
B. R. Hills : Himavad Gopalswamy Betta
Talakad : Keerthinarayan temple
Melkote : Cheluva-rayaswami Temple
Shivanasamudra Falls : Bharachukki and Gaganachukki
Nanjangud : Nanjundeshwara / Srikanteshwara temple
Belur
Halebidu
Shravanabelagola
Gomatagiri
Kabini River Lodge
Bandipur National Park
Nagarahole (Rajiv Gandhi National Park)
Somanathapura

Srinagar

2007-05-01T02:42:00.000-07:00

The city is located on both the sides of the river Jhelum, which is called Vyath in Kashmir. The river passes through the city and meandering through the valley, moves onward and deepens in the Wular Lake. The city is famous for its nine old bridges, connecting the two parts of the city.

Tourism is the most significant segment of the city's economy. The city of Srinagar has been serving as a gateway to some of the most scenic and beautiful places of the Indian subcontinent. For decades, tourism has been contributing massively to the economy of the city for last several decades, but it has been adversely affected on account of insurgent activities by certain elements.

Dal Lake, going from the Mughal Gardens side back to Srinagar.
Srinagar is well known for its lakes. Dal Lake with its houseboats is famous all over the world. Srinagar is a small and beautiful city with a wonderful climate in the summer. Just outside the city are found the beautiful Shalimar Gardens created by Jehangir, the Mughal emperor, in 1619.
Houseboats were introduced accidentally to Kashmir: members of the Indian Civil Service serving in the plains who vacationed in Kashmir were not permitted to build permanent homes because of the then Maharaja's suspicion of a British presence in Srinagar. They thus chose to live in houseboats. The first such, named Victory, was designed by Mr. M.T. Kenhard in 1888. There are now about five hundred on the Lake.
Srinagar has several gardens which are part of the several such gardens laid by the Mughal emperors across the Indian subcontinent, and which are known as Mughal gardens. The Mughal Gardens located in Srinagar and its close vicinity include Chasma Shahi (the royal fountains); Pari Mahal (the palace of the fairies); Nishat Bagh (the garden of spring); Sahlimar Bagh; and the Nashim Bagh

Like the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar too has a distinctive blend of cultural heritage. Holy places in and around the city depict the historical cultural and religious diversity of the city as well as the Kashmir valley.

Holy places
Holy places of the city include:
According to Kalhan’s Rajtarangini, a temple dedicated to Shiva was constructed in 371 BC by Gopadatya, on the top of a hillock (1100 ft). The temple is currently called Shankaracharya temple, and Shanakracharya is believed to have visited the place and meditated there.
Kheer Bhavani shrine, located about 26 km from Srinagar is one of the most revered Hindu Shrines of Kashmir. It has a spring which changes colours indicating the fortunes of people.
A mosque named Jama Masjid which was actually a Hindu temple, located in the old city and spacious enough for 30,000 people, and was built in 1398 by Sultan Sikandar also called Sikandar Butshikan, the destroyer of Idols.
The Hill of Sharika situated in the centre of Kashmir is the oldest shrine in Kashmir which bears its origins to Puranic Times and finds mention in Nilamatapurana. This shrine is dedicated to goddess Sharika.

Shimla

2007-05-01T02:34:00.001-07:00

Shimla district is located in the middle western ranges of the Himalayas This region has a hilly terrain and has an uneven cover of evergreen pine forests. The Shimla city spreads over the hill at an average altitude of 2000 meters

Being the capital of the state, Shimla is the hub for cultural activities in Himachal.
The Summer Festival held in May June every year is a very famous festival. Many cultural activities and festivities go on for 2 weeks. Many great artists have performed at this festival including Jagjit Singh, Ghulam Ali, etc.

Railway
The heritage Kalka Shimla Railway narrow gauge railway line runs daily passenger trains between Kalka and Shimla. The train speed is slow but the scenic beauty and 103 big and small tunnels en route make the train trip memorable. Kalka is connected by a regular rail line to other major Indian cities.

Places of interest

Heart of the city

The ridge and the adjacent Mall form the heart of the city. Vehicular traffic is not allowed on the Mall, making it a favorite place for walking. Everyday many youngsters can be seen roaming ,which considered to be favorite pastime of the youth of the city. Saturdays attract heavy crowds.Friendship day, karvachauth , valentine's day, first snowfall of year ,new year eve all make mall road the default public celebration place .This is also the main shopping area with most of the shops still housed in old time buildings.Many reputed schools of the city are from waking distance from the Ridge. One tier below this shopping area is the Middle Bazaar with smaller shops mixed with residences. A tier below Middle Bazaar is the Lower Bazaar which houses small shops catering to everyday needs and the vegetable market called the Sabzi-Mandi. This market is the most crowded of the three though the going can get tough on the Mall Road during peak tourist season. Most of the locals shop from the Lower Bazaar using the Mall road to shop for durables. The famous Shimla Summer Festival(in May or June every year)of Shimla , which lasts for 3-4 days, is celebrated on the RIDGE only. Many noted singers come here every year to perform in the festival.

Gaiety Theater

Gaiety Theater, on the Mall, opened on the 30th of May, 1887, Queen Victoria's Jubilee Year. Notable film personalities like K.L. Saigal, Prithvi Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Jennifer Kendall, Raj Babbar, Anupam Kher, Manohar Singh, Nasseerudin Shah, frequently performed on the stage of the Gaiety theatre. Today, the Gaiety is primarily known for its social club. Different colleges and schools use this theater for performing their functions. Presently the theater is being renovated with the original structure untouched to keep its heritage preserved, but make it more attractive. The renovation is expected to complete very soon.

Viceregal Lodge
On the Observatory Hills is located the Viceregal Lodge. Also known as Rashtrapati Niwas, it was formerly the summer residence of the British Viceroys. Another name for the lodge is IIAS, i.e. Indian Institute of Advanced Study, which offers higher studies for fellows from other universities. The institute is located inside the actual Viceroy building with a big library containing rare books for fellows. The lodge is situated on a very beautiful location. A big ground in front of the lodge makes the place look even better. Tourists and local young couples are often seen here. The lodge is declared as a heritage building, so one has to buy ticket to enter the premises. The place is also used for shooting Bollywood movies. The famous movie Black starring Amitabh Bachhan had some sequences shot here. Some other music videos such as the famous one of Babul Supriyo, Sochta Hoon have also been shot here.

Kufri
19 km from Shimla,is the highest point in the surrounding region[citation needed]. Kufri has a Himalyan Wild Life Zoo which hosts rare Antelopes, Birds and rare feline species. Monal the state bird of Himachal Pradesh is worth watching. A meandring path trough the potato plantations turns into a popular Ski track in Winters here. Kufri is located on the national highway between Shimla and Rampur. A road bifurcation from here leads to Chail which is about 20 km from here. Chail is famous for Palace built by Maharaja Ranjeet Singh (Raja of Patiala riyasat) and a hill top ground which is highest cricket ground in the world.
The famous heritage hotel The Wildflower Hall is also located on way to kufri at Charabada.

Naldehra
Naldehra is about 25 km from shimla and is popular for a nine hole golf course, located on a gradual slope on scenic hill top surrounded by fir trees, and a picnic ground on hilltop. The down hill road from Naldehra leads to Tatta Pani which is approximately 22 km from here.

Tatta Pani
The name Tatta Pani, translates to "Hot - Water" in local dialect. This is about half a square kilometer area on the banks of Satluj river with boiling hot Sulpher water springs. Bathing with this water is known to be good for skin. The place is also famous for the rituals of Tula Daan, which is known to be very effective if done at tattapani on a specific day. Many pandas (people who perform the tula daan) can be seen sitting on the banks of river Satluj on those days(normally Saturdays).

Places of worship
Kali Bari (a temple of the Hindu goddess Kali) is near the Mall. Jakhoo Temple (a temple of the Hindu god Hanuman) is located at the highest point in Shimla (2600 m above mean sea level. Sankat Mochan (another Hanuman temple) is located on Shimla-Kalka Highway. Tara Devi Temple is about 10 km from Shimla, directly visible from the city. A Gurudwara is adjacent to the Bus Stand. There are a few churches also scattered around the city. Another very important religious place is Tara Devi mandir placed on a hill near the national highway. Approximately 5 km up road from shoghi , this place attracts huge number of pilgrims on navratra. This place gives a very beautiful view of shimla.

Market Places
The four main bazaars namely Lower Bazaar, Sabji Mandi, Ganj Mandi and Ram Bazaar are juxtaposed and cater to the day to day commodity requirements of the population. Lakkar Bazaar has shops which specialize in wood worked gifts and branded items. While Mall road is considered suitable for shopping branded things, which are a bit costly.

Shimla

2007-05-01T02:34:00.000-07:00