Stupas

Sanchi is famous for its Stupas. This historic site is located to the west of Betwa River in Raisen district, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh). It is a plain ground a top a sandstone hill. It is about 90 m above its surroundings and has preserved some of the most famous Buddhist monuments for a long time.

Sanchi is the site of three Stupas.

Stupa No 1, also called the Great Stupa is one of the most magnificent monuments of its time. The Emperor Ashoka probably started its construction in the mid-third century B.C. and later it was enlarged. It is enclosed by a massive stone railing pierced by four gateways. These gateways have elaborate carvings depicting the life of Buddha. Each gateway is made up of two square posts, topped by statues of animals and dwarfs. It consists of a base, bearing a hemispherical dome (anda) representing the dome of heaven enclosing the earth. It is surmounted by a square-rail unit (harmika) from which rises a mast (Yatsi). It symbolizes the cosmic axis. The mast bears umbrellas (chatras) that represent the various heavens (devaloka).

Stupa No.2, with railing decorations, has carvings relating to late Sunga period (1st century B.C.).

Stupa No.3, with its single gateway (torana) was constructed in late first century A.D. These Stupas are a great attraction for visitors. Thousands of people visit them every year.

Other prominent features of Sanchi include a commemorative pillar erected by the Emperor Ashoka (265-238 B.C.). There is also one famous temple Gupta Temple which was built in the early 5th century. On the whole it contains some of the best specimens of the celebrated Indian sculpture.

NATURE'S BOUNTY BEYOND VARANASI

'Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, even older than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together' Thus spake Mark Twain. Today Varanasi remains one of the most sacred center for ‘Spiritual Tourism’. Taking a hind side view of this sacred city one can also traverse back to the natural world of pre-historic era. This natural world is just 113 Kms away from Varanasi and provides you a rare view of natural interplay like water falls, rare tree rock fossils and historic and pre-historic rock arts in cave and rock shelters in Eastern Vindhya range.

Destination Robert Ganj; Start your journey at early hour. Enjoying the morning breeze one passes through Adal Hat where the famous sculpturers who built Chunar fort resided. Little ahead one finds a valley Ahraur Ghati. Those road-side hamlet within the puncturation of greenary one finds small hillock. Important occupation is querrying and manufacturing Sil Bhatta or hand operated Grinding Stone which is very special in every Indian ktchen. After some more kilometer Adwa Bandh is another hamlets within the hillocks. It is said there were some ancient quila has submerged and some portion is visible.

Just after travelling 55 Kms from Varanasi one reaches the Lakhania Dari or a water fall. Soothing Water falls emerges from Vindhya and runs through pebbles and stone mounds. The unique sound of gushing water flows beneath the bridge and on the otherside silence befall. If you are adventerous then you can walk upto the caves nearby where one can find ancient rock paintings of historic times.T he aesthetic autobiography of ancient people about their life style and the then world would make an awe feelings for the onlookers. Another 24 Kms of motoring would take you to Sonbhadra. This is a belt of traditional people like Kol Koewa, Panika,Gonr etc. tribes. Farming rice is one of the major agricultural activities of this area.

From the world of traditional people one reaches chowk Mohani or Robert Ganj,the center of Natural World of Eastern Vindhya. From Chowk Mohani a 25 minutes drive one reaches the Awai Gram or Village. On the road side Dhaba Ragunath Prasad can be your guide who would take you to this pride of the Vindhya hills. One has to walk for twenty minutes across the field to reach a hill-top where an amaging natural beauty awaits you. ‘Patthare ke Perh’ Stone Trees as local people refer it. Local aboriginals narrates people (perhaps Geologists)do come from the city and say ‘these are precious treasure of India’.

An old signboard of Forest Department declares it is ‘Pride of Salankhan’ which is akin to the US Yellow park,fossils of trees found in this area dated to be 1100 million year old. There are some thousands of trees turned into rock fossils reminds us of our rich natural heritage.

There are numerous trunk of black colours can be seen all around,but when you touch them you would realise those are hard stones. You can see the stub with rings within which tell the age of the trees. Thus unique remnants of yesteryears would remind us that once our earth was full of green vegetation.

From era of million years one can come to the era of c. 10,000 to 25,000 when early man used to live in caves and rock shelters. And those primitive people while resting in those shelters created various drawings on the walls of those shelters/caves. Those rock arts interestingly contain the record of ‘pre-historic’ to ‘historic’ times and today we get an unification at some level which creates confustion to ascertain the date.

Dr Arjun Das Kesri,a local well respected teacher of Robert Ganj actually found these sites some twenty years back and written a book as well. Though he remains ‘silent’ about not getting recognistion said that these palces are treasure hills. He found out many pre-historic stone age tools of early years of human origin. I found a friend and a reserach scholar of immense potentiality who took me around various rock shelters of the area.

There are hundreds of such rock art sites in eastern Vindhyachal region. One can have a quick glimpse if one travels to Panchmukhi rock art sites which is some eight kms south of Robertganj town. There is a small village road which is the landmark of this elegant natural rock shelters of yester years.

There is a very ancient Panchmukhi Temple of Shiva. The dates cannot be ascertained however the bricks do indicate that it might have been part of some ancient Baudh Vihar. There are some unique sculptures which are lying uncared for leaning on those historic stones. Some 200 mt southern side of this temple one can find the ‘rock art’ where Rhino, Camel, Goat and Pigs are found. There are some human hunting figures available. This indicate once upon a time here Rhino and Camels were found which cannot be traced today. Just 25 mts towards south from this site there is another cave. Here also one can find various drawings of hunter gatheres’ era. Around it there are four five sites can be seen even ‘unknown’ script is found on the walls and on the surface rocks. There are scenes of entertainment such as drumming, dancing and coupling as well. There are all kinds of superimposed motifs available starting from animal hunting to the world of Gods and Demigods. This site has references of domestication of animal, war fare techniques, rhino huntint to agriculture in short.

Thus Panchmukhi is a natural library of ancient world and provides an unique peeping opptortunity to have an hind side view of the gone by era. If one is interested in the ‘Natural World’ then this is a nice hide out from the hustle bustle of the city.

Nalagarh - The gateway to Himachal Pradesh

Nalagarh, en route to Simla, is located 60 km north of Chandigarh. It is a semi-hilly town that boasts of the title of 'Gateway to Himachal Pradesh'.

Nurtured by hillocks on all sides and adorned with lush greenery, it is a perfect destination to escape the scorching heat of Delhi. It provides both the feel of a sabbatical and a pleasure trip.

The famous Mughal Gardens at Pinjore are only 35 km away. Also, fishing enthusiasts have plenty of opportunity for a good catch at the Gobind Sagar Lake, Gambar River(22 km) and the Sutlej Barrage(22 km). The Naina Devi Temple beckons from only 60 kms away, and of course, Simla is only 135 km away.

The most interesting place to put up at is the Nalagarh Fort, located on a hillock at the foothills of the mighty Himalayas. It was built during the reign of Raja Bikram Chand in 1421 and is now a hotel, which provides great lodging facilities. In addition, one can go for Ayurvedic oil treatment, golf and swimming. If you've visited the Neemrana Fort, you can relive the experience at Nalagarh Fort. The Fort affords a breathtaking view of the surrounding towns of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh at night.

21 km north of Nalagarh stands the Ramgarh Fort, at a height of 4000 feet. The fort ramparts command a panoramic view of the snow clad Himalayan peaks. Ramgarh is an important landmark of the famous Gurkha Wars of the mid-nineteenth century.

Nalagarh is also home to a textile factory (GPI Textiles Limited), a footwear company and not to forget a Kwality Walls production plant. These manufacturing units not only provide employment to the local folk but also drive the town towards necessary development.

Nalagarh can be reached by road via Ambala and Pinjore and by air and rail via Chandigarh.

If you're looking at a long vacation, stay at Nalagarh and check out all the surrounding places one by one. You'll love it.

Is India a Preferred Tourist Destination?

The Travel and Tourism Industry is one of the largest and most profitable industries in most developed countries. Increased work related stress is forcing most working professionals to take regular breaks and holidays throughout the year. There has also been a marked improvement / rise in income levels followed by increased spending power of people that has given a major boost to the tourism industry as a whole.

Countries such as USA, UK, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and Bangkok feature high on the list of favourite tourist destinations. Which leads to the million dollar question -

Where does India stand among other Preferred Holiday Destinations?

Despite the fact that India is a large and beautiful country with many tourist attractions and places to see as well as a mix of cultures and traditions to experience, the Tourism Industry in India fails to keep up with relatively smaller countries like Singapore.

Tourist Destinations in India - Places to visit in India

From contemporary cities to ancient monuments, religious places and holiday destinations, India offers a lot of variety to the foreign tourist.

Some of the must-sees in India include - Kashmir with its beautiful gardens, lakes and snow, Gateway of India and Haji Ali at Mumbai, the Taj Mahal in Agra, Kerala - the Venice of India, The Dilwara temple at Mt. Abu, The Charminar at Hyderad, the rustic beauty of Rajasthan, the varied colors of Gujarat, the rural charm of villages in Punjab and Haryana and the various hill stations like Darjelling, Ooty, Nainital and Shimla etc - the list is long and very colorful.

What is Lacking in India's Tourism Industry?

Despite the fact that India has a wealth of amazing places waiting to be seen and appreciated and an unbeatable tourism potential, India receives far lesser tourists compared to other relatively smaller countries.

Most foreigners who visit India for the first time are heard complaining about

* over priced Hotel rooms

* corrupt autos and taxi drivers waiting to take them for a ride, literally!

* lack of proper infrastructure

* confusion and chaos at the airport

* unhygienic conditions etc

Considering the fact that the Tourism Industry contributes largely to the countries total GDP, isn't it time that the Government and authorities pay attention to the problems that tourists and travelers face in India?

The need of the hour is to go on an overdrive to remove corrupt middlemen who take foreigners and tourists for a ride, improve infrastructure and create hygienic conditions in the country so that the next time a foreigner visits India, he goes back praising and promoting us to his friends and family.

The Highs & Lows Of Delhi

New Delhi is the capital city of India with a beautiful conglomeration of people from different religions, cultures and stratas of society. Immensely popular for its shopping, food, sight seeing opportunities and social activities, New Delhi is truly the hub of India.

There was a time when Delhi was known more for its myriad monuments that stand tall as a symbol and reminder of India's rich history. However, over the years, Delhi has acquired the reputation of being an extremely notorious city known more for its killer blue line buses, Meter-Not-Working Autos rickshaws and ogling men.

If you venture out to explore Delhi, you will be surprised to see stark contrasts between the lifestyles of the rich vs. poor, educated and uneducated. Delhi is home to a plethora of 5 star hotels as well as JJ colonies, people living in palatial bungalows and those sustaining themselves on the roads, bearing the brunt of harsh and ever changing weather.

Temperatures in Delhi sore during the summers with massive humidity and drop considerably during winters making the weather highly oppressive and extreme for most part of the year.

One of the best things that could ever happen to New Delhi is the Delhi Metro that has revolutionized the way the common man travels. After all, who wouldn't want to travel in a cool, air conditioned train - also a perfect way to avoid running after and traveling in those killer buses of Delhi.

It is said that there is always a strong connection between people and their birth place. This unexplainable and highly emotional bond can create a blind eye, preventing a person from seeing and acknowledging certain less-likeable aspects of their favourite city.

I decided to write down things that I like and dislike about Delhi in an attempt to break this myth and check if I was up to the challenge of looking at Delhi from an unbiased perspective.

Here are some things I like about New Delhi

* Broad roads and greenery

* The Delhi Metro

* Large variety of food available and all kinds of eating joints

* Speed checking at various points by the Traffic Police

* Large choice in Educational Institutions

What I hugely dislike about New Delhi

* Lack of safety for women

* Chaotic traffic, road rage, speeding vehicles - it seems like everyone wants to be ahead of everyone else!

* Killer Blue Line Buses

* Stinking road sides

* Roads full of pot holes.

* Corrupt Auto drivers who sometimes don't even announce that their meter is not working. They simply refuse to turn it on - no questions asked!

* Ogling men wherever you go!

I think I have been able to state why we love to hate Delhi!

Kerala - An E Tourism Target

Kerala is among the 50 must see destinations suggested by the National Geographic Magazine.

Tourism is a global phenomenon. It is an expression of man's natural instinct to move from one place to another and to appreciate the handiwork of the Great Creative Original Artist!

India with her naturally beautiful lakes, backwaters, beaches, hills and forests is one of the best tourist attractions in the world. If a tourist wants trekking and mountaineering, which mountains in the world can compete with the Himalayas ? If he wants exposure to the sea and the sun, where else would he find thousands of miles of virgin beaches against the background of swaying coconut palms ? If he wants to visit ancient ruins or sites, which country can match the monuments of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Muslim, Sikh and Christian faiths ? If he wants to move far from the Madding Crowd, away from modern Civilization, where else can he find such natural beauties like the Andamans with their thick rain forest and the Lakshadweep islands with their sparkling clear waters ? If he wants to study and research Ayurveda and Yoga, where else can be find Ayurvedic and Yogic retreats run by bona fide Yogis and Ayurvedic Doctors?

Kerala and Kashmir are two outstanding states known for their intrinsic natural beauty. While Kashmir resembles the beauty of a cine actress, Kerala on the other hand resembles an aristocratic damsel. Strategically located at the South Western tip of India, Kerala has unique geographic features which make her one of the most sought after tourist destination spots in Asia. This puny state is a breathtakingly ravishing greenland. Excellent investment opportunities in Tourism Industry is bestowed by this state with her natural endowments like tranquil beaches, exhilarating hill stations, soothing backwaters, spectacular art forms, historic monuments, rejuvenating health packages, year round festivals & exotic wildlife.

The tourist is enriched by a unique experience, having tasted a strikingly beautiful land as the Lord made it, and this enchants him throughout his life.

Kochi, the Queen of the Arabian Sea, will be donning the robe of the industrial hub of South India, in terms of development & infrastructure, within a couple of years. IT, BT, Service Sector Companies & owners of hotels & resorts will make a beeline for space in this city and she will become the home of thousands of well trained professionals.

An investment of almost 30000 crores is in the offing with 20000 crores coming from the Central Government and this investment will favour IT, BT, Eductiona and Tourism sectors. Here are some projects in the pipeline

GAIL Petro Project 7000 crores, ICTT, Vallarpadam 2118
Petronet LNG 2200, KRL Single Buoy Mooring
KRL- BPCL City Gasification, Subsea Pipeline, Kochi Kayamkulam NTPC Phase, Boating
Marina, Internaltional Bunkering Terminal
Real Estate & Hangar Expansion of CIAL, Smart City, Fashion City

Tourists do not complain about the lack of infrastructure. On the other hand the absence of such facilities such as phone, TV, AC etc is the USP of Kerala. Nature in her pristine purity is preserved and it is upto the tourist traveller to enjoy it. Does not Naturopathy advocate living in harmony with Nature ? Modern Civilization has moved away from Nature, with its emphasis on Fast food and the Digital Era. " Back to the Wisdom of Nature" seems to be the motto of Kerala. Does not Kerala echo Wordsworth ? ("Nature never did betray the heart that loved her"!)

The modern term luxury means 'opulence of the built up space' but should be redefined as the ' enriching quality of the experience '. If one can commune with Nature at her original best, cant that experience be called " luxury"? Wordsworth, a Nature lover, remarked

With bliss ineffable, I felt
The sentiment of Being spread around
Over all that liveth and all that moveth still !
Such Cosmic Consciousness is possible only in a Nature blessed land!

Innovations in Tourism like Farm Tourism & Monsoon Tourism have paid rich dividends. The success in Farm Tourism was illustrated by Philip Kutty's example - the entire rural landscape is transformed by its adaptations. The erstwhile poachers of the Periyar Tiger Reserve have changed into guides . Tourism has reinvigorated and put new life into a rather dolorific rural & agri economy. Farm stays, home stays & tourist visits are increasing, thus transforming the state's core sector

Kerala, despite her economic backwardness, is the most egalitarian & literate state. To quote Burton Stein, 'Not only did Kerala launch an exemplary land reform programme, but it also devoted relatively large expenditures to basic education and health care, making the state the most egalitarian, best educated and healthiest in the Indian Union, though it remained among the poorest.' National Geographic defined Kerala as a 'Mount Everest of social development' and a must see in a life time destination ! Lack of industrial infrastructure may have drawn criticism from many quarters.

But it has saved Kerala from pollution and the modern fast food culture and made her achieve much in the social sector and get a relatively pristine environment, which has made a her a powerful must see in the tourist map of Incredible India! The agri sector is reinvigorated by the surging demand for organic food, especially with the tourism inducted markets. Kerala's agri & knowledge base, based more or less in Ayurveda & Naturopathy, enable her to emerge as one of the largest producers of organic foods, including spices, rice and tropical fruits.

Statistical Research carried out by Peter Aderhold revealed that there are two types of travelles. The ' Sun-Sand-Surf"(SSS) and the other the " Alert Independent Traveller "(AIT). While SSS is the mass market and AIT the newly emerging niche, AIT is the rising star, according to the latest research.

The SSS category traveller will prefer Goa with her beaches while the AIT will favour "God's Own Country", Kerala!

Lansdowne, Uttaranchal

Dwelling in the panoramic location, Lansdowne is a small pretty hill station at the height of the 600 km above the sea level. Lansdowne is favorite haunt among the peace lovers who escape the urban chaos to spend some time in the lapse of the hills. The place gives you the opportunity to bask in the glory of the snow capped hills and have some light refreshment.

This exotic hill station is situated 45 km from Kotdwar en route Kotdwar Pauri road in the district of Pauri Garhwal.

Lansdowne was founded in1887 by Lord Lansdowne. The hill station is named after him only. Attracted by its natural beauty, earlier the Britishers used to come here to spend some time and made it the cantonment center. Today the famous Garhwal rifles of the Indian Army has its command office here.

The region enjoys the salubrious climate all through the year. It is cold in winters and pleasant in the summers. During the winter the tourists can enjoy the snowfall. Bewitched in the midst of the oak and blue pine forests, it is the charming holiday destination for all sort of travelers.

Adventures at Lansdowne :

The best adventure activity that the tourists can enjoy here is trekking. The trekking trials are through the lovely surroundings passing through the forests which are dark and deep. If you are fit enough you can also go for hiking. There are simple and tougher climbs to choose from. Than you can go for the pleasurable nature walk, which can never bore you. Other activities at Lansdowne include camping, snow viewing and forest walk.

Kalagarh Wild Life Sanctuary :

Apart from the adventure sports you can make a visit to the Kalagarh Wildlife Sanctuary, famous for the species of the Asian elephants. It is simply the ideal place for the nature lovers. The dam across the Ram Ganga river is must visit destination.

Famous Excursions :

Kotdwar : Kotdwar is the gateway to the hills. It is one of the rail terminus for the Garhwal. The nearby places of interest include the ancient Karnva Ashram, where Shakuntala (on of the main actress of the great epic Mahabharata) gave birth to the price Bharat, Sidhbali temple and the Charaik hills. It is the important place from the historical point of view.

Jwalpadevi : Dedicated to the Goddess Durga, it is the popular religious places in the entire Garhwal and the pilgrims folk to this place in large number all round the year. Everday during the navratras, a special religious festival is held at this this temple.

Tarkeshwar Temple : Tucked in between the thick forests of deodar and pine, Tarkeshwar temple is known for the ancient Siddhpeethas. The temple is dediocated to the Lord Shiva and is at the height of 2092 meters. During the festival of Shivrati, a special worshiop is held at the temple. The temple was set up by the Aaadi Sankaracharya.

Darjeeling - Discover India's Popular Hill Station

Darjeeling is a hill station that falls in the North Western side of the state of West Bengal. It is one of the most popular and frequently visited hill resorts of India and is rightly known as the Queen of Hill Stations in India.

Where is Darjeeling Located?

Darjeeling is situated in the Himalayan region at an average elevation of 2134m or 6982 ft. People who have visited Darjeeling several times over in a span of 15-20 years are of the opinion that despite growth and modernity, Darjeeling hasn't lost its old world charm and is still as beautiful and mesmerizing today as it was many years back!

First 5 Things You Would Associate With Darjeeling

1. Darjeeling Tea Industry & Tea Plantations

2. Darjeeling's Toy Train

3. Beautiful breathtaking views and greenery

4. The view of the Kanchen Junga

5. Handicraft items.

Spending a vacation in Darjeeling can be a truly enriching experience.

Darjeeling's Tea Industry

What was started many years back by the British as a part of development plans for this area has reached great heights today - yes we are talking about the Tea plantations and the flourishing tea industry that forms a major part of the tea industry of India.

Tourist Spots in Darjeeling : Must-sees

Famous Toy Train in Darjeeling

A visit to Darjeeling is incomplete without a fun trip on Darjeeling's Himalayan Railway popularly known as the "Toy Train". Your journey aboard Darjeeling's famous Toy Train will give you a unique opportunity to discover Darjeeling in its myriad shades.

Batasia Loop & The War Memorial

As you travel through the toy train's path, you will witness a railway loop through which the train passes, called the Batasia Loop. As you move forward, the train stops for a few minutes at the War Memorial allowing you to pay homage to the brave Gorkha soldiers who sacrificed their lives in wars since the time India became independent. This memorial was built in their memory. The highest point of the journey is Ghoom at 7407 ft.

Tiger Hills, Darjeeling

To enjoy a breathtaking view of the Kanchenjunga peaks, you must visit the Tiger Hills located at about 11 kms from Darjeeling.

The Mall & Chowrasta

Tourists love to visit the Mall at Darjeeling to indulge in some real time shopping. The items on sale here include almost anything and everything that a tourist may wish to buy including shoes, clothes, stoles, gadgets, purses, leather items, bags etc. The chowrasta is a must-visit to pick out some exciting souvenirs including trinkets, handicrafts items etc. A walk through the mall road will astound you with the choices in shopping as you see locals selling a host of interesting items tempting you to stop and have a look. From purses to bags, sweaters, shawls and caps, jewelry etc.

Hungry after all that shopping? Pop into Glenary's - a very well known confectioners chain in the North East states of India!

Other places of interest include The Ghoom Monastery, The Pagoda Temple and the Tenzing Norgay Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.

Getting There - Darjeeling

By Air : Various airlines run flights to Darjeeling, the closest airport being Bagdogra, near Siliguri.

By Rail : The closest major Railway Station near Darjeeling is in New Jalpaiguri.

By Road : Most people enjoy getting to Darjeeling by road on large cars such as Land Rovers that can navigate well through the difficult paths. If you are traveling during the monsoons, there are chances of landslides and blocked roads. Hiring a taxi is also a good option to reach Darjeeling.

Whichever mode of transport you may select to reach Darjeeling, you can be rest assured of awe inspiring natural beauty.

Tarkarli Beach - The Queen of Sindhudurg Beaches

From Mumbai : (1) By road Tarkarli is approx 520 kms from Mumbai, go upto panvel and take right turn to NH17 wihich leads all the way to Kudal, from there take the SH and pass through Malvan you will reach Tarkarli, from Kudal, Tarkarli is approx 34 kms, from Malvan, Tarkarli is approx 6 kms.

(2) By Train Alight at Kudal Station, there you have 2 choices one is you could hire an autorickshaw and proceed to Tarkarli the charges are about Rs 300.00 – 350.00, the second and best option is to hire an autorickshaw for Rs 20.00 and get down at Kudal Bus Depot, from here there are many ST buses that ply between Malvan and Kudal the distance is covered in approx 1hour and 20 minutes, once at Kudal Bus Terminal board a bus for Deobaugh, the conductors know the area and are very helpful.

Advice : if you are traveling by road please keep the digicam at hand, there are some scenic spots worth taking pictures.

Accommodation : The tourist has various options of accommodation, but depending on season one should opt for a suitable accommodation do not go by hearsay, judge for yourself, I was told that it was burning hot in October, but to my surprise the weather was absolutely pleasant, it tends to get hot from mid afternoon to around 4 in the evening, therefore decide accordingly, yes in the summer months the entire konkan belt tends to get sticky and hot due to the proximity of the sea.

MTDC has a resort adjacent to the Tarkarli beach they have Konkani houses both AC and Non-Ac their bookings are available online at mtdc.com, there are various hotels that offer accommodation at Tarkarli, but the value for money I would recommend SAAGAR Beach Resort run by Ghanshyam Kubal 9422584154/9420209495, this place is bang near the beach, has a private access to the beach, he has six rooms to let out all Non AC, but you could bet your bottom dollar on the hospitality that this guy shows his customers, probably put a many class hotels to shame, personal attention is given to each of the guest.

The Houseboat : Lesser known, but MTDC has two houseboats at Tarkarli, anchored in the creek, about 3 km from the Resort. Excellent for a one-day (overnight) stay. As expected, you need to make your own arrangements to get there (no transfers by MTDC).. The houseboat takes you for a 2-hour round of the creek in the evening, and another in the morning. Overnight, you’re anchored at the Deobaug Jetty, a nice place with lots of greenery around. The two rooms of the houseboat (with a viewing deck) costs Rs. 7,100 each (including taxes) and each extra guest paid Rs. 1,000 extra. Another option is the houseboat without the deck, at about Rs. 6,300 per room, all inclusive.

The other places to stay are Sagar kinara, soham resorts, manali resorts etc

Caution : Please confirm with the so called beach resorts they tell on phone its just 2 minutes …but once there the 2 minutes could be by car, to walk to the beach takes a good 6 – 7 minutes, in my opinion there are only 5 beach resorts that are actually at the beach MTDC, Sagar Kinara, Sagar Beach resort are few of those.

If you are on a holiday and want to stay at a beach then the best option would be to stay at Tarkarli, but if the idea is to visit places and just visit the beach then probably the ideal place to stay is Malvan city.

Eating Out : The entire konkan region is a fish lovers and non-vegeterian diet zone, so finding a good place to dine should not be a problem in Tarkarli or Malvan.

During our 3 day stay we kept enquiring with the local people of places where we could find authentic Malvani cuisine and we would advice to surely try out these places Hotel Chaitanya, Hotel Ruchira, Hotel Bamboo, Hotel Sunitha, the last one is for sure the best place to eat, the place is very small but the food served is delicious home cooked food, of course at Tarkarli all the hotels and beach resort do serve food. Sorry Vegeterian diet tourists you may have to do a little bit of hunting to find exclusively vegetarian hotel, but I guess that too should be surely good, I wonder what makes this Malvani food so special…I ate, ate, and ate without suffering any acidity or stomach problems, and remember vegetarian or non-vegetarian no meal should be complete without a glass of Sol Kadhi.

Places To See :

Deobaug Beach : The local villagers state that this place is special to them, there is a story that this place was in ancient times had a lot of storm and would be battered by strong sea waves, however this place survived all the odds and remained intact that is why Deobaugh (abode of Gods), if you observe very carefully you will observe that this stretch ends into the open sea or rather the confluence of River Karli and the Arabian Sea , the locals call it the sangam.

Tarkarli Beach : this stretch of pristine beach rightly called the queen of beaches runs for a few kms with not many people around, this beach is famous for its white sands, clean waters and saddled all along with Carijuana (Suru) trees, you will find a few fishing boats that are anchored on the shore that’s because the local villagers houses are just away from the beach, it’s a beautiful place to take a walk around however to go across to the MTDC part of the beach you will have to cross a small river (the link between River karli and the sea) during low tide you could easily walk across, I have not seen the place at high tide so just be on the lookout) however on my enquiry with the local villagers they told me that the safest place to take a bath is the beach towards deobaugh, the MTDC beach is not very safe though for children, please check out with the local villagers there.

Dolphin Point : There are various boating points along the Karli river where for Rs 800.00 per boat you will be taken about 7 kms into the sea to see the school of dolphins ( Not all tourists are luck to have spotted them, just in case you want to see them I would recommend you board the boat at 7:00 am thereafter it gets crowded and with so much of engine noise you are surely not going to see any ) we were very lucky to have seen a school of about 8 dolphins feeding on fish, the reason being since this place is a confluence of the River Karli and the sea the fish coming into the sea from the river become easy food due to the strong ocean current and that’s the reason the dolphins are there to feed on them.

Note : Please do not forget to ask your boat operator that you want to have a bath in the island, they call it the island bhet, very safe surrounded on all sides with the sea and you could easily wade in knee deep water and enjoy the caress of the sea waves onto your chest or shoulder, you will clearly see the seabed here very clear transparent water.

Ganpati Temple : Malvan: For those who are familiar with the kalnirnay magazine will know the editor Mr. Jaywant Salgaonkar he has built a beautiful temple at Meda, Malvan in honor of Lord Ganesha, the idol is built of pure gold, the temple is maintained and kept very clean, highly recommended for those devout hindus, to pay homage to lord Ganesh.

Sindhudurg Fort : I will not dwelve on the historical part of the fort, please refer to your encyclopaedias or other magazine, but what amazed me most was the sheer size of the fort built into the sea and the farsightedness of the people who built it, there is a well that has sweet potable water right in the middle of the sea in the fort, there used to be a coconut tree with two branches which was a tourist attraction, however due to a bolt of lightning some years back the tree has now been reduced to only a burnt stump. As soon as you enter the fort you will come to a temple which has the image of Shivaji and the sword, if you look at the ceiling just before you enter in you will notice a beautiful picture of Bal Ganesh in a loving embrace of the Shivling, this picture is rarely found elsewhere out, so do not forget to take a picture of this, there are other pictures hung around which are also good. Within its precincts are temples holding the shrines of Maruti, Bhavani, Mahadeo, Jarimai, Mahapurush .A co-operative society organizes the boat trip to the fort from Malvan Jetty, per ticket costs Rs 25.00

Snorkelling : undoubtedly this should be the highlight of anyones trip to Malvan, MTDC has of late started snorkeling trips around sindhudurg fort, for Rs 250.00 per person you will be taken by a boat just to the left of the sindhudurg fort and the boat will anchor in about 20 feet of crystal clear water, you will be given a float a mask and a tube for breathing and will be taken on a 20 minute tour of the coral reef around the place, this place is rich in coral and marine life, the guides here are very courteous and a knowledgeable lot they explain to you the various types of fish found and their survival there, watch out for different species of angel fish, zebra fish and lobsters, the beautiful part is fish feeding on the coral reef. Again if you have children please keep the digicam ready and take pictures of them with the gear on, again take pictures when they are back in the boat they will be completely ecstatic of the experience.

Note : Please do not forget to write your feedback and drop it in the box placed in the boat. MTDC advices that all persons above the age of 45 provide medical fitness certificate if you want to undertake the snorkeling trip, so go well prepared, and yes….important part you do not need to be a swimmer to go snorkeling. MTDC are in the process of starting Scuba Diving, I reckon this will take a few more months as the infrastructure is being readied at the moment.

Dhamapur Lake : This place is around 13 kms from Malvan. And is situated between Are and katta village This is the biggest lake in the district and has beautiful scenic hill ranges on its two sides. The water is crystal clear and has dense plantation.MTDC has made boating facility available in the lake and walk surrounding the lake the forest depth has also constructed beautiful huts on the bank to enable the tourist staying here to enjoy the panoramic view from their cottages.

Chivala Beach : Lovely beach bordering Malvan town from the north – west

Devgad Fort : Devgad is a natural harbor and well guarded port town. It derives its name from Devgad fort laying at the confluence of Arabian Sea and Devgad Creek. The great Maratha Admiral Kanoji Angre was instrumental in erecting this fort. In ancient times Devgad's coast was the center of maritime activity, naval battles and cultural interaction with foreign countries. Big ships use to enter directly at the port. Now it has become the hub of fishermen's. The attraction of Devgad is windmill situated near government circuit house and small beach at the rear side of the fort.

Shopping : Make sure you visit the Malvan market place it is abuzz with life, local villagers selling fresh fruits and vegetables and spices. Fresh Fish is available at auction in the evening, you could carry the basket of fish and ask your resort owner to cook it the way you want.

There are shops selling cashew nuts in the market place, the zantye’s have their outlets spread across the area, you could even visit their factory or visit Mangaonkars cashew factory at Malvan and purchase it from there. Fresh Kokum is available at very cheap rates and juice too.

DIU

Word Diu is derived from Sanskrit word ‘dweep’ which means ’island’. The historical Portuguese fort, churches, the golden sand beaches, blue sea water, latest water sports, clean environment and colorful culture consist of Kathiawadi customs blended with Portuguese legacy make Diu a perfect gateway for all seasons.

The Island of Diu has chaptered History, having been under the possession of and ruled by many Kings and Dynasties; beginning with the Pauranic period and the last being Portuguese from whom it was liberated along with Goa and Daman on 19th December, 1961.

Now it is a Union Territory separated from Goa in 1987 with an area of 38.8sq.km. and a coastline of 21km. The island of Diu is separated from coast by a narrow channel on the north. The climate of Diu is pleasant throughout the year. It has sunny weather throughout the year and annual rainfall is only 60cms.

Diu offers you undisturbed peace and an unusual holiday. Diu is a beautiful place with its splendid beaches. These beaches are Nagwa, Chakratirth, Ghoghla, Gomtimala, Jalandhar and The Sunset Point.

Nagwa Beach is the main attraction which is located near the village of Gujarwada. The beach is exceptionally beautiful and quiet. It is of semicircle shape offers you a wide range of pleasures, ideal for a family to visit as well. The branching palms popularly known as Hoka trees introduced from Africa by the Portuguese and coconut palms swaying and whispering in the gentle intoxicating sea breeze extend a fascinating welcome to the visitors in Diu.

Gangeshwar Temple is also a tourist attraction point in the Diu. There are five Shiv Lingas in the midst of the rocks of the seashore, washed by the tidal waves of the sea.

A famous Portuguese colony of the past, its ancient architectural relics (fortresses and cathedrals) still has a strong Portuguese aura in the Diu.

Along with its six beautiful beaches, architectural grandeur and picturesque beauty, Diu is also known for its array of exotic liquors, rich wines with their distinctive flavor & aroma. The place is equally captivating for the solitude loving as well as the adventure seeking tourist.

An lazy evening in Diu, contemplating your own self or enjoying the sunset by the sea shore with the loved ones; languidly relaxing in the wet sand and sipping a glass of red wines or a mug of a foamy beer with the cool breeze kissing your face.....

Getting There :

Being a major tourist destination, a number of good hotels, restaurants and eating houses are available.

Diu is well connected by railways, roadways and airways. For airways; there is a regular direct flight to and from Mumbai. Veraval is the nearest railway station which is connected with some of the major cities of western India. Veraval is also well connected to all the major cities of India through its well built highways.

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