Festivals and Fairs of India

MAHAVIR JAYANTI:
India has a large Jain community which celebrates the birth of the last, the 24th Teerthankar, Lord Mahavir. The Jains celebrate the birth anniversary of Mahavir, the founder of Jainism on a large scale. This religious event is largely observed by visiting sacred sites and worshipping the Teerthankars.

HINDU NEW YEAR:

The Hindu New year is celebrated through out the country in nearly all the states with different names. People mainly cook and eat sweets and wear new clothes and wish each other on this occasion. They sing and dance and start with new ventures on this day.

RAMNAVAMI:The ninth day of the first month in the Hindu calendar is celebrated as the day of birth of the Hindu God, incarnation of Vishnu and the hero of the epic Ramayana, Lord Ram. The festival is celebrated all over the country with people fasting and worshipping the Lord for the whole day. Ramnavami is also celebrated as the Vasant Navratra and the celebration starts from the first lunar day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra and lasts up to Ramnavami. On Ashthami or the eighth day, Durga is worshipped. Both Ram and Durga symbolize the victory of good over the evil.

RAKSHA BANDHAN:The first full moon falling in August celebrates the relations between a brother and a sister. On this day sisters tie a sacred thread called Rakhi on their brothers' wrists and pray for their well being while the brothers return the love by gifting them and promising to take care of the sisters for the rest of their lives. This full moon day is celebrated as Nariyal or the Coconut Pournima along the coastal areas of India. It is basically festival of the fishermen who pray the sea God seeking his permission to venture into the sea to fish, after rest of two months, which is the peak monsoon season. Sweets made of coconut are prepared and everyone enjoys. In South India, it is celebrated as Avani Avittam. The holy thread is changed and libation of water is offered to the ancestors and Rishis on this occasion.

KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI:Eighth day of the black half in the month of Shravan is celeb rated as the birthday of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu. Legend says that the Lord was born in the midnight and it was raining heavily then. People all around the country celebrate this festival with equal fervour. They fast the whole day and rejoice the birth in the middle of the night by breaking the fast. Songs and dances are performed all around the temples of India and children make a small display of the birth scene of Lord Krishna.

Varanasi : The Holy City

Varanasi… one of the most ancient inhabited cities of the world is also the oldest living city of the world. Varanasi is considered to be India's religious and spiritual hub and derives its name from the tributaries of the Ganges, Varuna and Asi that it is located on. Its original name Kashi comes from Kasha meaning the place of sacred light. The other name Benares might have been either a corruption of Varanasi by the British or from the Pali version of the word Varanasi to Baranasi to Benares. Famous author Mark Twain after visiting the city in the 19th century wrote, "Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together."

Varanasi is one of the most famous Hindu pilgrimage centers of India. Legend says that it was the dwelling place of Lord Shiva and therefore the devotees believe that a dip in the Ganges at Varanasi washes all their sins and helps them attain salvation. People from all over India come here at least once in a lifetime so that they can purify themselves. The age old people come here in the last days of their lives to die on the Ghats of Varanasi. They believe that such death would relieve them of the vicious circle of rebirth and they would attain the eternal salvation or Moksha. Varanasi is an amazing spiritual power for all ages. The old come here to die while the infants are brought here by their parents to take the first holy dip in the Ganges and worship the reigning deity, Lord Shiva. The newlywed come for the blessings of the Gods and the widows come here to lead a life devoted to the same God.

Varanasi finds a mention in the epics of Mahabharata and the ancient Hindu scriptures. Although the history of the city is lost in its antiquity, it has been glorified and described in the Skanda Purana as Kashi, written nearly 5000 years ago. Kashi since then has been a centre of education and knowledge. While the city is important for the Hindus it also gained importance when Buddha preached his first sermon in Saranath, just 10 kms away from Varanasi.

By the time the Chinese scholars such as Fa Xian and Xian Zhuang had visited Varanasi and written about its advanced and developed culture, the city had already grown into prominence all over India and into its neighbouring countries as the city of Temples, as the city of education and the as the city of spiritual bliss. It was renowned as the flourishing centre of religion, education and commerce by the 3rd century A.D.

The prosperity of this city of temples became an inevitable bone of contention for the local rulers and also attracted the Muslim rulers of the north. From the 11th century onwards it was looted and stripped many a times till the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Hence although it an ancient city it hardly has any ancient temples and most of the present ones standing were rebuilt by various Hindu rulers in the 18th century.

After accession by the British during the Raj and later after the Independence, Varanasi still retained its identity and remained a prominent city. With time the paths of salvation might have changed and definitions of purity may have been redefined.But even today the city holds its unique charm with narrow by lanes and innumerous Ghats, with devotees performing their traditional rituals in the Ganges and the people flocking to this city to attain salvation.Apart from the mornings on the Ghats and rituals at the temples, Varanasi is famous for producing the most beautiful and ethnic silk saris those are world famous. The beetle leaf, the Benarasi paan from the city is equally famous for its pungent taste yet soft structure.Varanasi is a haunting city of dignified buildings, although many of them crumbling, glorified by myth and legend. An old eternal city sanctified by religion retaining its very special vitality.A visit to Varanasi is experience of some kind. For some its self discovery, for others its salvation while for some it's just an ancient city and few unlucky ones who carry back nothing but only worst of the memories from the city.

Location: Varanasi is strategically located on the Delhi - Kolkata route on the banks of the great River Ganges. Placed around 300 kms from the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, Varanasi is one of the most ancient inhabited civilizations on the earth. It is based on the banks of tributaries of the Ganges, the Varuna and Asi rivers and hence gets the name of Varanasi.

Other Name: Banaras

Languages Spoken: Hindi and English

Long Distance Code: +91-542

Importance: The oldest living city of the world on the banks of the mighty river Ganga

Area: 73.89 sq.km

Best Time To Visit: October To March

Varanasi Attractions:

Ghats of Varanasi

Varanasi has since ancient days been famous for its prime location on the great River Ganges and its temples. It is considered to be the prime abode of Lord Shiva. As the common belief goes a holy dip in the Ganges rescues a man from the circle of birth and rebirth. These Ghats are the stepped embankments on the River Ganges built by various Hindu rulers for their private use. Till date these embankments are used for the daily rituals of taking holy bath in the River or worshipping the Sun God and the River in the early morning. Visitors to the city do not miss out an opportunity to visit the Ghats, where one can actually experience the daily rituals of the Hindus of the city. Most of the Ghats were built and patronized by Maratha rulers like the Peshwas, the Holkars, the Scindias, the Gaekwads and the Bhonsles. Till date few of Ghats are owned by the local rulers of Varanasi.

All the Ghats are placed in the periphery of four to five km stretch on the bank of the River Ganges. These Ghats are best visited at dawn, before Sunrise. A boat ride on the River watching the sun rising and at the same time following the traditional rituals of the devotees is a picturesque sight. Sunset is another time to visit the Ghats when hymns are sung in the praise of The Almighty and the Ganges worshipping with lamps. By the time the sun dips down, men and women place small lamps on leaves and sail them in the river as an offering. Hundreds and thousands of lamps sail in the calm waters giving an impression of star lit sky. A beautiful mesmerizing site not to be missed.

The Dasashwamedh Ghat quite unspoilt and beautiful Ghat is the most famous Ghat of Varanasi. It offers a splendid view of the water front and has a mythological legend behind it. It is said that the Ghat is where Lord Brahma sacrificed 10 horses to bring back Lord Shiva after his banishment from the place. So it is considered to be the most pious of all the Ghats in Varanasi. The Manikarnika Ghat was once a pit dug by Lord Vishnu by his charka and filled it with his perspiration while performing various penances. While Lord Shiva watched him, his ear ring made of pearl fell in to the pit giving it the name of Manikarnika. Another Ghat is known as the Chakrapushkarni Ghat where Lord Vishnu lay is footprint. Other famous Ghats are the Manmandir Ghat, the Hanuman Ghat and the Kedar Ghat.

Temples of Varanasi

The Kashi Vishwanath temple:

The presiding deity of Varanasi is Lord Shiva and the temple is dedicated to the same. Also known as the golden temple owing to the golden top donated by the Maharaja of Lahore, Punjab in 1885 A.D. the structure of the temple is new. It was rebuilt in 1776 A.D. by Ahilyabai Holkar, the Maharani of Indore. Although the structure is around 250 year old, the idol, the Shiva Lingam is believed to be ancient. It is said that the idol was well preserved by the priest of the temple during the demolition of the temple by The Mughal king Aurangzeb in the 17th century. The temple is a major attraction of the devotees to Varanasi other than the Ghats.

The Bharat Mata Temple:

A unique temple and probably one of its kind in the whole of India, this temple is dedicated to the country, the mother land. The temple built by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta and Durga Prasad Khatri was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1935 A.D. It houses a beautiful map of India carved out of marble.

The Durga Temple:

Dedicated to Goddess Durga, denoting the energy, this is one of the important temples of the city and is built in the Nagara style of Architecture in the 18th century.

The Alamgir Mosque:

This Islamic place of worship is placed just next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. It is said that the earlier structure of the Kashi Vishwanath stood right where the mosque stands today. The temple was demolished by the Mughal King Aurangzeb in the 17th century and built a mosque here naming it the Alamgir mosque. The Vishwanath temple was rebuilt later. The mosque is also known as the Gyanvapi mosque.

Sarnath

The most important pilgrimage centre for the Buddhists, Saranath is hardly 10 km from Varanasi. It is here that Lord Buddha preached his first sermon unfolding the four noble truths of life giving the eight fold path to Nirvana or enlightenment in 530 B.C. It was at Saranath that Lord Buddha preached the middle path which became the corner stone of the Buddhist religion. Saranath was called as Sarangnath earlier another name of Buddha in his previous births as the king of Antelopes. Sarangnath later came to be known as Saranath. Another reason is may be that the place where Buddha gave his first sermon was in a deer Park and hence the name of the lord of the deer, Sarangnath.

Saranath was made into one of the major Buddhist religious destinations after the great Mauryan emperor Ashok realized its historic importance. He built the magnificent Stupas and buildings patronizing the place. But today what we see of this place is just the ruins of which was described as the Turning of Wheel of Law, by the Chinese traveler Xian Zhuang in the 7th century.

The Dhamekh Stupa built in the 6th century is the only proper monument that stands today. It commemorates the spot where Buddha gave his first sermon to five disciples. Hardly anything of the magnificent Ashok pillar remains. But the inscription on it tells the monks to lead the path of religion without breaking the Sangha. The Archaeological Museum of Saranath however is probably one of the best and outstanding archaeological museums in the country. It displays the artifacts that were excavated from the ruins of Saranath. The most notable being the Lion Capital which once surmounted the Huge Ashok pillar with four back to back lions.

The Lion Capital, carved from one single block of rock, has been adopted as the national emblem by free India. The four back to back Lions have a four panel band which features Lion, Elephant, Horse and Bull. The Capital stands on an inverted Lotus flower which is symbolic to the seven lotus flowers which bloomed after Buddha's death. The Museums contains many other relics built during the Mauryan period dating back to the 3rd century B.C.

The other important place in Saranath is the temple built by the Mahabodhi society in 1931 which has the original relics of Lord Buddha in a silver casket. The interior of the temple are decorated with beautiful frescoes depicting the life of Buddha and also has a replica of 5th century statue of Buddha in Gold.

Ramnagar Fort

Around 16 kms from Varanasi on the stretch of the Bank across the river Ganges stands the magnificent Ramnagar Fort. This fort is still a royal residence of the Kings of Varanasi. The Durbar hall is converted into a museum displaying the royal artifacts like the Guns and ivory items. The fort is famous for the Ramlila it hosts during the Dusshera festival. Ramlila is the story of the epic hero Ram of Ramayana. It is enacted in the form of drama with songs. The staging of the story begins one month prior to Dusshera and ends on Dusshera by showing victory of Ram over the demon king Ravan.

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Mahabaleshwar : The Queen of Hill stations in Maharashtra

At an altitude of 1372 meters, nestled in the Sahyadri mountain ranges, is the queen of hill stations in the state of Maharashtra, Mahabaleshwar. Although located in the Satara district, Mahabaleshwar is near to Pune. The beautiful mountain plateau is surrounded by the greenery all through and is famous for its ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and its great produce of Strawberries.

Infact the name comes from the temple of Lord Shiva, known as the strongest or with the greatest of strengths and power, which is Mahabaleshwar. The ambience is soothing and the jungles are still unexplored. One can engulf into many activities in wonderful serene environment still untouched by commercialization like the rest of the hill stations of India. One can go for horse riding, boating, fishing or just explore the marvels of nature.

There is no authentic recorded account of the early history of Mahabaleshwar. It has, however, been ascertained that a Jadav king of Devagiri visited it in the 13th century and built a small temple at the source of river Krishna. In the mid-16th century the Maratha family of Chandarao More, became rulers of Jaoli and Mahabaleshwar, during which period the temple of Old Mahabaleshwar was rebuilt. It was also looked after the by the legendary King of the Marathas, Shivaji. But the place came into prominence only when the British came here in the beginning of the 19th century and made it there summer getaway from the humid heat of Mumbai.

The deep gorges of Krishna and Koyna Rivers, the ever-gushing waterfalls and the stupendous views of the surroundings that include the magnificent ancient fort of Pratapgad are some of the major attractions of this hill station. The sister town, an another hill station named after the five rivers those are seen here, the Panchgani hill station is also an attraction for the visitors. But what allures the visitor, are the strawberry fields, which are considered to be the best in the country. The red beautiful fruit is seen all over the hill station and the visitors are allowed to experience the plucking of this beautiful fruit.

Mahabaleshwar has as many as 30 viewpoints, which offer a splendid view of different locations. It rains heavily in Mahabaleshwar and therefore other than during the monsoons the hill station is full of tourists, all through the year.

Location: Located at the distance of around 150 kms is the Queen of Hill stations in Maharashtra, Mahabaleshwar.

Languages Spoken: Marathi, English and Hindi

Long Distance Code: +91-2168

Importance: Hill Station

Area: 145.04 sqkm

Best Time To Visit: October To June

Mahabaleshwar Attractions:

Venna Lake

One of the most beautiful spots in the region, Venna Lake offers a number of activities right from boating to fishing.There are many other specific points in the area offering great views of the surroundings such as the Lodwick point, the Arthur point, the Babington point and Kate's point. An excursion can be taken to the nearby magnificent fort of Pratapgad and the twin hill station of Panchgani.

Mahabaleshwar Temple

This is the temple, which gives this exotic hill station its name. Built in the Hemadpant style of architecture, the Mahabaleshwar temple settles down in the old part of the town. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva has a naturally formed shape of a Lingam, which is worshipped.

Lingamala Water falls

Like many others in the area, the Lingamala waterfalls are of utmost beauty. They offer an enthralling sight and are favourite with picnickers.

Wilson point or the sunrise point

As the name denotes this highest spot in Mahabaleshwar offers a great view of sunrise form the cliff, which seems clinging to the mountain.

Panchaganga Mandir

This ancient temple has been built to honour the five rivers which show a token presence in the area in forms of springs which are, Krishna, Venna, Koyna, Savitri and Gayatri. These five rivers are referred to as the Panch Ganga. The temple also offers a splendid view of the surroundings.

Mahabaleshwar Hotels:

HOTEL PANORAMA

Total Rooms : 20

Star Category : 3

The Panorama-isle our own pleasure island. A beautiful man-made little wonder, complete with a swimming pool and 20ft. waterfall cascading down to canal which gently winds it's way around. Our paddle boats will take you on a cruise around this enchanting isle, and through a tunnel that features ….. … guess what ? Truly it's going to be a most exotic experience to you.

SAJ RESORT

Total Rooms : 78

Star Category : 3

You will not only feel pampared by our staff, but also enjoy the homely ambience of our rooms. Coming to SAJ is like entering paradise. Springs and water falls abound in the area offering lovely picnic spots. The winding rides through thick foliage are an experience. If one really wants to enjoy nature in all its placid glory, it is a must for every visitor to take leisurely walks along these sylvan paths. One can also ride on ponies' backs, savouring nature's virgin viridity.

VALLEY VIEW RESORT

Total Rooms : 78

Star Category : 0

Guest Satisfaction is always our top priority. Every effort is made to elevate your holiday experience at Mahabaleshwar. Indeed we are proud of our high service standards. And we'd like every guest to experience this special treatment. So, here is a guide to all our fantastic services that we provide.

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Cuisines of India

India is vast, touching the Mount Everest in the north to the Indian ocean in the south and the Bay of Bengal in the east to the Arabian sea in the west. This vast country is a melting pot of many cultures and religions. As Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India had pointed out; India is a mosaic. And truly it is. No other country on this planet may have such diversity in demography, culture, weather, religion, language and food.

It is said that every 10 kilometers in India, the dialect changes; so do the food habits and the eating culture. At t2india we are making a small effort to give you a glimpse on the Indian food culture. An amazing amalgamation of region mixed with religions which come out with mouth watering delicacies throughout this subcontinent.

With extensive immigration and intermingling through many millennia, the subcontinent has benefited from numerous food influences. The diverse climate in the region, ranging from deep tropical to alpine, has also helped considerably broaden the set of ingredients readily available to the many schools of cookery in India. In many cases, food has become a marker of religious and social identity, with varying taboos and preferences.

Although Indian food is synonymous to butter chicken and chicken curry, there is much more to it than these two. The variants of spices, vegetables and the time of cooking are the key ingredients of this wonderful cuisine. These spices, vegetables, meats and the style of the cooking are influenced by region, religion and generations of cooking instructions passed on from mothers to their daughters. The demography, the weather and the climatic conditions of the region are other factors to influence the cuisine.

Unlike in the other parts of the world, Indians prefer to eat more of rice or wheat made breads along with smaller portions of accompaniments of vegetables or meat or lentils. Lentils and vegetables are a must in every meal throughout India in some form or the other. Spices like turmeric, chilly pepper, mustard seeds, cumin seeds and many others are used at large throughout the country.

Another unique thing about Indian cuisine is that it has to be savoured using hands and fingers, preferably right hand instead of the cutlery used in other countries. Also Indian food used to be normally served sitting on the floor and not on table and chairs. But funnily enough though the eating habits may be same, no cuisine is same! The person from Kashmir may not have slightest of idea about the cuisine of Gujarat and even may not like eating it!

The Indian cuisine from whichever state it may be is most colourful cuisine. A complete laid table with various dishes may comprise of various colours. Red from the red chilly powder, yellow from the turmeric, orange with the exotic saffron, green from the fresh mint leaves and also white, with freshly grated coconut!

Religion has played a huge role in defining the types of cuisines in India. While the followers of Islam stay refrained from pork as per the religious dictum, the Hindus do not touch beef, as the cow / buffalo is sacred to the religion. Some fishes too like the shell fish and the jelly fish are not supposed to be eaten by certain religions. Many also refrain from milk and milk products having a Vegan diet. Some devout Hindu religious people also refrain from the foods with strong odours such as Onion, Garlic and egg plant. The Christians if are converted still stick to their previous religions dictums, but still most of them eat all kinds of meats and meat products. The Parsis are basically fish and meat eaters. The Jains follow strict vegan diet. The Buddhist followers too, try to refrain from meat depending on the Mahayana and Hinayana sect they follow. The Sikh followers traditionally follow the Hindu guidelines of eating.

India celebrates innumerous festivals and each festival is has its typical traditional meal, which is diligently cooked by the woman of the house. Most festivals have traditional dishes to be cooked and eaten and most of them are sweet meats associated with that festival which are purely home cooked. Also the normal meals taken on these days are vegetarian except for some regions where non vegetarian food is offered to the Gods as well.

Traditionally all the food is first essentially offered to God and then savoured. This offering can be anything from a total vegetarian meal to just a few sweetmeats or even some meat offerings. People staying in the coastal region are mostly fish eaters, also the ones who stay on the higher altitudes prefer eating meat. However in most parts of the country the priests are essentially vegetarian and refrain from eating any non vegetarian food. Although as per the constitution the caste system of India has been abolished, it is quite vehement in food habits.

The Mughals and the Europeans as well left a deep impact on the food habits and the style of cooking to the Indian cuisine. However Indian cuisine was always very spicy without the chilly but with the other spices such as the black pepper, cinnamon etc. Various oils are widely used for cooking, tampering, deep frying etc. Earlier most cooking was done in clarified butter, known as Ghee. But these days the health conscious have shifted to sunflower oil and its equals.

Indians have a delectable sweet tooth and enjoy sweet meats off and on. Sweets are taken in various forms. Some are dry some are juicy dipped in sugar syrup. Sweets are eaten during meals, as snacks and mostly offered to the Gods (naivedya) and distributed among the devotees as Prasad. The sweets are made out of dairy products, various flours and lentils mixed with sugar and jaggery. Some are baked, others are deep fried, while some are roasted and even some are eaten raw.

An Indian culinary journey is vast and intricate but delicious and intriguing at the same time. The various colours, odours and types of preparation may mesmerize you. A vegetable like potato is cooked in various styles and ways all over India, so much so that one taste cannot match the other and it can take months to repeat the same preparation of the same vegetable!

So let us take the journey to the culinary world of India. From North to South and specific to a region, let us see how the dishes change its style and various ingredients.

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Dooars : The Doors of Natural Beauty

Dooars is an unmatched area located in the north of the state of West Bengal, full of natural beauty and lengthy stretches of forests and greenery. The Dooars famous for its luxurious tea plantations and the wild life sanctuaries nearby, is actually a stretch of virgin forests with a natural network of the River Teesta with its innumerous tributaries. The eastern Himalayas forming the wonderful backdrop, this place is full of verdant forests having many wild and rare animals. Its proximity to the more known locations such as Cooch Bihar, Siliguri and Sikkim is also the advantage of this place.

The Dooars valley is specially noted for its wild life sanctuaries more famous being the Jaldapara wild life sanctuary and the Buxa Tiger Reserve. Originally known as the doors to Bhutan, this beautiful countryside is flourishing today due its unparallel natural beauty.

The drive seems to be as if the road cutting through the forests giving one an experience of a lifetime. The wild life sanctuaries have an array of wild life, ranging from the royal Bengal tiger to the small Red Panda and from various species of birds to the great Indian Bison and also various species of deer.

Long Distance Code: +91-353

Importance: Famous for the Jaldapara Sanctuary

Best Time To Visit: October To May

Dooars Attractions:

Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary

Jaldapara is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Dooars with an area of approx 217 sq.kms. it is located at Alipurduar subdivision in Jalpaiguri District. Jaldapara is covered mostly with tall grasses & a wide variety of green vegetation, which makes Jaldapara a heaven for many endangered spices. River Torsha flows through the sanctuary. Malangi is also an important river flows near by.

The Tea Gardens

The tea country is vast parkland of man made landscape, silver-barked and slim elevated trees stand evenly spaced out over trimmed tea bushes throwing a light shade over them. The Tea story of the region dates back to 1835 through the initiative of the British Governor General, Lord Bentinck and today Darjeeling & Dooars tea is famous around the world for its flavor and is acknowledged as "The Champagne of Teas". The stunning view of the tea garden along with the mountains and the foothill forests of the Eastern Himalayas from our exclusive private bungalow are enchanting. Enjoy a tour of the garden along with the factory and discover the charming character, rich culture and history with the friendly people of the tea estates of the region. Our tea garden tours include the unique experience of staying in a Private Bungalow and explore the life style of the tea industry.

Garumara National Park

50Kms from Siliguri, Garumara national park is a magnificent diverse forest of Himalayan trees and tall elephant grass. Located in the flood plains of "Murti" and "Jaldhaka" rivers, this 80 sq. kms forest and was declared as national park in 1992. This national park is also a well known corridor for migration of the Asiatic Elephant and there are 21 great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros residing in this park along with almost 50 different types of mammals, 300 species of birds, 20 types of Reptiles and thirty different types of amphibians. Garumara is also connected with a Tondu Reserve Forest and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary.

Rocky Island:

Rocky Island is an upcoming destination in Dooars. Murti River flows through the destination. The place is surrounded by hills and ideal for land base adventure activities like trekking, rock climbing & rappelling. Tented accommodation & a river bath are added attractions of Rocky Island.

Jayanti & Buxa Tiger Reserve

At the eastern most end of Dooars valley there is Buxa Tiger Reserve the second largest tiger reserve in West Bengal. It is having an area of 350 sq.kms. with a core area of about 330 sq.kms. within this 315 sq.kms. is a sanctuary out of which about 115 sq.kms. area has been declared as national park.

Dooars Hotels:

SINCLAIRS RETREAT DOOARS

Total Rooms : 72

Star Category : 0

Located at Chalsa Hill overlooking the Dooars Valley, Sinclairs Retreat offers the ideal break from the stresses of a fast-paced urban life. The getaway to relieve oneself from mental and physical pressure. You may enjoy it as a tranquil retreat or a base for exploring the natural attractions of the Dooars; or a convenient access point for adventurous treks, climbs and water-sports; or a venue for the many restorative nature-based therapies available here. You could just sample all of these to get a feel of nature and blend with it.

Port Blair: The Jewel in the Crown of Andaman and Nicobar

The only modernized town of the bunch of these Islands is the majestic administrative capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair. Port Blair takes its name from the name of the British Lt. Archibald Blair who was asked to survey the islands way back in 1789. Although native tribes always inhabited the place, the British decided to put up a penal settlement here after the first upsurge of the freedom movement in 1857. Port Blair gave importance to the region when the cellular jail was constructed here to torture the freedom fighters. This was the most infamous part of the town that sent chill down the spine of the Indians as they referred the place as the black water or Kaala Paani.

Today Port Blair stands a mute witness to the historical torture. It has now become a melting pot of many cultures and a mini India in itself. The town was used as a settlement platform by the Indian government for the refugees coming from various places to India. It has also become the prime tourist centre of the islands with many places of historical importance and natural charm around it. The small sleepy town today has an airport bringing flocks of tourists over here to live in the lap of natural luxury which is not found anywhere around.

The luxurious forests and the unexploited beaches lined with historically important monuments are the places of tourist interest in Port Blair. Being near to the sea, seafood is the favourite amongst the people and the rare fruits that are specialty of this region are the main ingredients in the diet of the people living here. Of course the people coming from various cultural background have retained their culinary flavours, most have adapted to the new environment around. The clothes are also modernized today. But the local and the native tribes have maintained their distinction by not mingling with the modern people. Their culture, their food habits and their life is totally different from that of the normal people of the region.

Location: Located in the south of the islands, Port Blair is the capital of these islands and the only entry point to these islands. It is also the only place where foreign nationals can go to.

Languages Spoken Dialects, Bengali, Tamil, Hindi, Telgu and English

Long Distance Code +91-3192

Importance Capital and the only entry point to the Andaman & Ncobar islands.

Best Time To Visit October To March

What to see in Port Blair:

Cellular Jail

Cellular Jail located in Port Blair was built by the British to jail the freedom fighters and other convicts brought to the island to serve their sentence. Construction of the building started in 1890 and took 18 years to complete. Individual cells were built in the jail for solitary confinement of the prisoners and thus it acquired the name 'cellular’. The jail is now a memorial and a national museum. A moving sound and light show, narrating the saga of the freedom struggle is staged every day in the jail.

Sippighat Farm

A Government Research farm where research into spices such as cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, coconut and pepper are conducted. The farm sprawls across 80 acres of land, 15 km from Port Blair, on the way to Wandoor.

Barren Island

Barren, the only active volcano in South Asia, is a small island in eastern location of Andaman group of islands in Indian territory. This island lies 300 m above the sea level and the volcano in this place erupted last in 2006. A deep void land, the face of the volcano, is an attraction to the tourists. This is a barren region uninhabited by the people. This is a natural habitat for wild goats which live here by drinking the salt water and is a unique feature of this island.

Havelock Island

Havelock Island, mostly inhabited by Bengalis, is situated nearby Port Blair. The villages in this imposing picturesque Island are identified with the numbers. The Main bazaar is in Village No 3 and the boat dock is in village No 1. Havelock Island is an ideal location for the enthusiasts tourists to engage in sunbathing, beachcombing, swimming, surfing, beach camping and snorkeling. The stunning beauty of the nature is the prime attraction of this Island.

Marine Museum

The Marine Museum, also called Samudrika, is an exciting site in Port Blair with a huge collection of corals, shells and about 350 species of marine life. It also includes displays of the tribal people of the island and their lifestyle, of marine life and archaeology. The museum is divided into five sections. It is open to public from 9 am to noon and 2 pm to 5.30 pm, except on Sundays and public holidays.

Port Blair Hotels:

BAREFOOT HAVELOCK RESORT

Total Rooms: 18

Star Category: 0

Barefoot at Havelock Jungle Resort is the only resort in the Andaman Islands that is eco-friendly and promotes sustainable tourism development. The resort is spread over 7 acres of land that is free of fertilizers and pesticides. The entire construction of the resort is done with environmental friendly and indigenous raw materials. Infants and children below the age of 5 years will be complimentary on the adult meal plan without any extra bed. If an extra bed is required, then the above child rates apply. Children between 5 – 12 years will be charged as per the child rates. Children above 12 years or third adult will be charged as per extra adult rates.

HOTEL SINCLAIRS

Total Rooms: 28

Star Category: 4

Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman Islands, consisting of more than 572 islands and islets is spread over 8,249 sq kms of the Indian Ocean. It's that rare phenomenon: an unspool beach resort, whose principal attractions are the clear sapphire waters of the sea, the golden shores, the breathtaking coral formations, the flora and fauna, the endlessly fascinating marine life and the native people.

SENTINEL

Total Rooms: 53

Star Category: 2

Hotel Sentinel – named after a local Tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is situated in the heart of the Port Blair city at Phoenix Bay. The hotel is surrounded by the lush green gardens provides the best of the leisure and amenities to the tourists. The royal welcome starts at the reception and through the sojourn. The Hotel presently offering 53 Rooms with many different layouts, luxury, modern amenities. The friendliness and the personalized service experiences you a new feel at the Hotel. Hotel Sentinel have been successfully handling the accommodation, food and beverage, travel requirements and providing other allied services some of the major corporate clients of India and Abroad.

PEERLESS SAROVAR PORTICO

Total Rooms: 50

Star Category: 4

Peerless Resort is only hotel in Port Blair to rise on its only beach - Landing you right in the heart of Andaman's magic. From its lush green surrounding the resort looks onto the blue sea - The perfect setting for the most memorable holiday. Peerless Resort puts together all ingredients for non-stop fun under the sun. Make yourself at home in its air-conditioned rooms with sea facing breezy balconies or any of the cozy cottages. 24 hours hot & cold running water, excellent service and air-conditioned airport transfers (available on request) are some of other highlights. The resort has splendid arrangement for large consortiums too. Those can efficiently accommodate and cater up to a thousand diners.

MEGAPODE NEST

Total Rooms: 30

Star Category: 3

Megapode Nest is a three star hotel having 20 standard rooms, 4 deluxe rooms, 4 Nicobari cottages and 2 eco-friendly cottages. All the rooms and cottages are air-conditioned and provided with telephone, colour TV etc. Nicobari Cottages are provided with refrigerator, bathtub and balcony overlooking sea.

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Bodhgaya: The Place of Enlightenment

Nearly 3000 years ago this was the place that transformed Prince Siddhartha to Lord Buddha giving him enlightenment and thus a birth of new religion, Buddhism. After experiencing severe austerities for six years, Prince Siddhartha realized the futility of such penances to find the ultimate truth for salvation of Human kind. He had wandered enough. He chose to sit under a Bodhi tree in meditation until he found out the true path to salvation. Not caring of his physical needs, he meditated for 45 days and it was then that he was enlightened and the realization of the cause of sorrow and path of salvation dawned upon him. Since then Bodhgaya has become the place where the story of Prince Siddhartha ends and saga of the world's greatest teacher begins.

Bodhgaya thus continues to be the site of utmost importance to the Buddhists and apart from being a vital Buddhist centre also happens to be an important archaeological site. People from far and wide come here to pay their homage to the great world teacher. They come here to learn more about Buddhism and its doctrines and also to learn the art of meditation.

The focal point of Bodhgaya is the Mahabodhi Temple. This 50 meter high temple was originally built by Emperor Ashok in the 3rd century B.C. after he became the follower of Buddhism. The temple was destroyed and resurrected many a times. But the present structure is said to be around 10 centuries old. This temple complex has the famous Bodhi tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment. The original tree died long back. A sapling of the original tree was taken to Sri Lanka by the daughter of Ashok, Sanghamitra. She got it planted in Sri Lanka. The present tree at Bodhgaya is the sapling of that tree in Sri Lanka. Emperor Ashoka also erected a diamond throne shrine at this spot with a canopy supported by four pillars over a stone representation of the Vajrasana, the Seat of Enlightenment.

Inside the temple there is a colossal image of the Buddha in the Bhumisparsha Mudra; Lord is shown touching the ground. The temple is surrounded by a small pillars and delicate lattice work.

Apart from this main site the small town today has many monasteries built by various Asian countries in their own architectural styles. All these monasteries are meant for learning Buddhism and are patronized by the people from those particular countries.

Location: Bodhgaya is a small village in the eastern state of Bihar, is situated near the Hindu pilgrimage centre of Gaya. Around 11 kms from Gaya, Bodhgaya is around 105 kms from the capital city of the state, Patna. The sleepy village has grown to prominence today as one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites of the world. The best season to visit Bodhgaya is in the winter months when the air is cool and pleasant.

This dusty village situated on river Falgu, earlier known as the River Niranjana, is one of the most sacred sites in India.

Other Name: Bodh Gaya, Buddha Gaya, Buddhagaya

Languages Spoken: Hindi, English and Maithili

Long Distance Code: +91-631

Importance: Lord Buddha attained enlightenment here

International Access: Gaya international Airport

Best Time To Visit: October To March & During May; for the Budhha Purnima celebrations

Bodhgaya Attractions:

Gaya

The town of Gaya is very near to Bodhgaya and is one of the important Hindu pilgrimage centers of India. According to a legend, Lord Vishnu gave Gaya the honours of forgiving the sinners of all their sins and purifying them in every way if they give offerings to their ancestors and take a dip in River over here. The temple of Vishnupad, where Lord Vishnu is believed to have ascended and his foot is printed in that place, also attracts huge crowds of devotees.

Barbar Caves

Around 40 kms from Bodhgaya is an unexploited Buddhist site not many are aware of. The hills of Barabar and the Nagarjuni are now important archeological sites. Here one can find seven rock cut caves. Out of the seven caves four are located on the hill of Barabar

Most probably built during the time of Mauryan emperor Ashoka; these caves are carved out of solid rocks which bear details of the life of Buddha. The caves consist of temples and sanctuaries hacked out of huge granite outcrops and are designed to look as if they have been made of wood.

The four caves have names each and are different in their own way.

The Lomas Rishi Cave, which is sculpted to resemble lattice screens, is the first available example of the famous Buddhist Chaitya Arch style in India. The entrance is in Egyptian form and only walls of the outer rooms are polished.

The Sudama Cave, known in ancient times as Nigoha Kubha or Banyan Tree Cave. It is made during the 2nd century B.C. The cave has two chambers and the interiors are having highly polished surfaces.

The Karan Chopar, a single-chamber-structure with a vaulted roof and simple opening also carved out during the same time has an inscription saying the name of the cave to be Supriya cave.

The Vishva Zopari Cave is the last two chambered cave also carved around the same time.

The Nagarjuni hills have the rest of three caves namely;

The Gopi Cave which is the most important and has a number of inscriptions on it. A number of inscriptions have been found here. It is believed that in the middle of 19th century, some Islamic saints used to live in these caves. The other two caves are the Vapuiyaka Kubha and the Vedathika Kubha.

Buddhist Monasteries

Apart from the main temple of Bodhgaya, there are many temples and monasteries built in various architectural styles. These monasteries usually patronized by foreign countries'' Buddhist organizations such as Japan, Korea and China, are the main centers for promotion of Buddhist studies. Today the small town of Bodhgaya is full of many such monasteries which bring people from far and wide to take classes in Buddhism.

Bodhgaya Hotels:

HOTEL MAHAMAYA BODHGAYA

Total Rooms: 30

Star Category: 3

Mahamaya Hotel Bodhgaya is in a good and peaceful location, quite suitable for all guests coming to Bodhgaya. Either you come here for business purpose or sightseeing, you can relax in this comfortable hotel.A warm greeting, a welcoming smile and dedicated reception at the hotel lobby offer you an experience of visiting and staying at the hotel.

LOTUS NIKKO BODHGAYA

Total Rooms : 61

Star Category : 3

The Hotel is Centrally located and Nikko at the World Heritage Site of Bodhgaya combines, Hotel Has 32 Rooms Consisting of 30 Double and 2 Suites with Business Centre, meetings and conferences.

HOTEL SUJATA

Total Rooms : 45

Star Category : 3

The Birth place of Buddhism, Bodhgaya is a place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the shade of Banyan tree, 2500 years ago, and thereafter spread the virtues of truthfulness, love, peace and nonviolence to the mankind. Revered as one of the must visit destinations of India by the flowers of Buddhism, Bodhgaya today offers a touch of modern living even while experiencing the nature with its distinctive cultural and architectural settings

THE ROYAL RESIDENCY BODHGAYA

Total Rooms: 67

Star Category: 3

Royal Residency is a symbolic hotel erected on 3 acres of land in the best environment. The hotel has state of the art facilities and services to cater to the diversified needs of the business and leisure travelers alike. The hotel has all modern facilities including spacious lobby, shopping arcade, airline offices, a bar and a multi cuisine restaurant.

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Nainital : The Tourist's Paradise

Mr. P. Barron, a European merchant and an enthusiastic hunter from Rosa, near Shahjahanpur, founded "NAINITAL" in the year 1841. Mr. P. Barron was the first European who took great fancy to this land. Moved by the beauty of the sparkling lake he wrote: "It is by far the best site I have witnessed in the course of a 1,500 miles trek in the Himalayas." It is very less is known about the history of Nainital. This region was called Khasdesh in ancient times and Khasis ruled this region before Christ was born. The name "NAINI" is derived from a temple to the goddess 'Naini Devi" built on the upper edge of the lake and was destroyed by the landslip of 1880. It was subsequently replaced by a modern structure. The word "Naini" means 'Eyes' and 'Tal' means 'Lake'.

Nainital is 34 Km from Kathgodam, the gateway of Kumaon and the terminus of North Eastern Railway. It is 304 km from Delhi, capital of India, and 388 km from Lucknow.According to the District Gazetteer Nainital is situated at 29 degree 24' north latitude and 79 degree 28' east longitude, in a valley of the Gagar range running east and west, which is bounded on the north by the peak of China, which rises to a height of 8.568 feet, continued by the Alma peak (presently known as Snow-View) and the Sher-Ka-Danda to the eastern extremity, where the ridge descends almost to the level of the lake.

Long Distance Code +91-5942

Importance Famous for the Naini Lake

Best Time To Visit March To November

Nainital Attractions:

Naini Lake

This attribute lake is said to be one of the emerald green eyes of Shiva's wife, Sati (naina is Sanskrit for eye). When Sati's father failed to invite Shiva to a family sacrifice, she burnt herself to death in protest. Shiva gathered the charred remains in his arms and proceeded to engage in a cosmic dance, which threatened to destroy the world. To terminate the dance, Vishnu chopped up the body into pieces, and the remains were scattered across India. The modern Naina Devi Temple at the northern end of the lake is built over the precise spot where the eye is believed to have failen.

Snow View

At the top, a close up view of Naina Devi (7816m), which was, as the old brass plate here tells you, 'the highest mountain in the British empire'. Naina Devi was India's highest peak until Sikkim (and thus Kanchenjunga) was absorbed into the country. There's a small marble temple dedicated to Dev Mundi housing images of Durga, Shiva, Sita, Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman. From Snow View you can walk west to another point and then continue on to the main road to Kilbury. From here you could continue up to China Peak or head down the road to Sukhatal, passing great views of the lake in route.

A walk up to Snow View can take in the tiny Gadhan Kunkyop Ling Gompa of the Gelukpa order (of which the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader). Take the road uphill from the hotel city heart, from where a path branches off towards the gompa (the colorful prayers flags are visible from the road). The gompa serves Nainital's small (and mostly itinerant) Tibetan community. Most of the Tibetan families travel to Nainital in the summer season to sell sweaters and shawls, and in winter descends to the plains.

Naina Peak

Naina Peak known as the China peak this peak is the highest point in Nainital. From here Nainital appears as a bowl. You can walk or take ponies to the peak. From this peak you can capture the exciting views of Nainital. Naina peak also gives a good view of the Camelback peak. There are no hotel or restaurant on the top so carry food and water along with you.

Nainital Hotels:

THE RAMGARH BUNGALOWS

Total Rooms : 27

Star Category : 2

In the foothills of the Himalayas, The Old Bungalow- 1830, and The Writers' Bungalow -1860, are located in the fruit basket of the Kumaon region. These heritage structures once housed the British and Indian officers as well as their wives who travelled on horseback and palanquins. Many writers and thinkers have been drawn to the beauty of Ramgarh: Sri Aurobindo and Narain Swami established ashrams, Rabindranath Tagore wrote some of his major work-even contemplating founding Shantiniketan here; Mahadevi Verma made it her home and some of India's leading industrial families continue to have sprawling orchards. From May to September the orchards by the Writers' and Old Bungalows hang with Apricots, Plums, Peaches, Pears and Apples.

SHERVANI HILLTOP

Total Rooms : 25

Star Category : 3

Shervani Hilltop at Nainital is the four star boutique Resort retaining the old world charm which has been beautifully designed and makes for a complete holiday at this historical hill station. Situated 6 hours drive north of Delhi.

WELCOME HERITAGE PALACE BELVEDERE

Total Rooms : 19

Star Category : 3

Palace Belvedere, Nainital (Uttaranchal, India) was the summer palace of the Awagarh Royal Family and now a WelcomHeritage Hotel. The hotel offers a panoramic view of the famous Naini Lake.

MANU MAHARANI

Total Rooms : 67

Star Category : 3

The Manu Maharani Nainital is located 62 kms from Pantnagar Airport, 32 kms from Kathgodam Railway Station, and 1 km. from Nainital Bus Stand. The Manu Maharani Nainital is hotel is airconditioning & centrally heated, with a total of 67 rooms.

CORBETT'S CALL OF THE WILD

Total Rooms : 18

Star Category : 0

This is the only place in India, where we do the night safari in open jeeps with searchlights. Betalghat, a sleepy little Village on the banks of Kosi river that abounds in Mahseer on the edge of the jungles where Jim Corbett found his calling. This beautiful Safari Lodge, on the banks of Kosi River has been created like a forest dak bungalow from the bygone era. With lovely cottages having all modern amenities, this is the place for “that- perfect- off- beat” holiday.

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Corbett: India's First Tiger Sanctuary

The Jim Corbett national park, pride of India and one of the first protected Tiger Sanctuary of India. Named after the great nature lover and hunter, Jim Corbett, this vast park has about 520 sq kms of core area. Situated in the Kumaon and Nainital districts in the hilly and picturesque state of Uttaranchal, this was the place where the project Tiger was first launched in 1973.

Jim Corbett, a British who was born and brought up in the hills of Kumaon, mingled with the locales of the area unlike other British. Jim Corbett grew up to become an army personnel to support his family and later was summoned of and on by the local villagers to kill the man eating tigers and leopards in the area. Accustomed with the jungles and the animals, Jim Corbett became an expert of the Jungles. He used all his senses in the jungles that helped him understand the movements of the animals of the jungles. But although a perfect hunter, Jim Corbett loved nature and preached the local folks and tribes about the importance of the conservation of forests and the animals. There was no other apt name to this first Project Tiger Wild Life sanctuary other than the Jim Corbett National Park.

Aptly called the land of roar, trumpet and songs it is 120 kms away from Nainital set on the banks of the mighty Ram Ganga River.

Covered by Sal trees and the grasslands and bamboo growth, the habitat is perfect for the a list of species found in this area. There are around 582 species of birds, 26 species of reptiles, 7 species of amphibians and 50 species of mammals. The floral diversity is also extremely varied. The park has a high density of tiger population which it is most famous for.

The best way to view the animals in the park is to post you on the elephants or to take a jeep Safari to view the magnificent creatures in the most beautiful natural environs. Other than the tiger one can find various species of deer and herds of elephants with many species of monkeys as well. The reptiles such as the crocodile and the alligators with various types of snakes can be spotted here.

Other Name: Corbett National Park

Long Distance Code: +91-5945

Importance: Famous for the Jim Corbett national tiger reserve

Corbett Hotels

QI CORBETT JUNGLE RESORT

Total Rooms: 0

Star Category: 2

One of the finest jungle resort in a Reserve Forest overlooking the Kosi River offers good angling and swimming. The resort offers fully furnished wood-paneled stone cottages in a leafy mango orchard, attached baths, multi-cuisine restaurant, cocktail lounge and beautiful gardens.

MANU MAHARANI RESORTS

Total Rooms: 50

Star Category: 3

Manu Maharani Resorts is a great weekend destination. The resort is 9 Kms away from the main town, Ramnagar, towards the park. The Resort has 50 well appointed cottages with all modern amenities in clusters of two/three rooms and is a perfect blend of luxury and wilderness. The sound of flowing water of river Kosi gives a soothing and tranquil feeling to the in house guests.

RIVER VIEW RETREAT

Total Rooms : 32

Star Category : 0

Corbett River View is a charming retreat that’s big on style. A resort full of fresh innovative design ideas those are simple, yet truly stylish, which give you freedom to relax and leave the world behind at the front door. The resort spread over an area of 8 acres, is located on the fringes of the Corbett Park and on the banks of the River Kosi, providing an exotic scenic view.

TIGER CAMP

Total Rooms: 24

Star Category: 3

Tiger camp is situated in the lush green Kosi Valley, on the Eastern border of the Corbett National Park. Delhi is 260 KMS via Moradabad, Kashipur and Ramnagar 6 KMS.From Amdanda Gate (Entrance to Corbett Park).Exclusive, independent A/C and Air-Cool cottages with attached toilets and bathrooms. For those looking for the great outdoors feeling there are puffy tents, offer you an authentic Kumaoni experience with the modern day comforts that one has come to expect.

SOLLUNA RESORT

Total Rooms: 18

Star Category: 4

The Solluna Resort is nestled within the protected reserve forest of the Park. The Resort is operational, and in the midst of being refurbished. Post upgradation, the Resort would be rebranded ‘Solluna Sarovar Premier’.

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