World's 1000 beautiful tourist places

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Dev Prayag It is the first major confluence on this route, the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers. In sanctity it comes next only to Triveni Sangam. Most of the priests of Badrinath live here during winter. Dev Prayag has a number of small temples. The Devi temple has a huge bell and can be heard from a great distance.

At Dev Prayag, we cross the holy Bhagirathi named after king Bhagirath who was instrumental in bringing her down on earth. The sons of his ancestor, Sagar, were cursed by a sage and could only be redeemed by taking a dip in the holy river Ganga which flowed in heaven. The unwavering perseverance of Bhagirath accomplish the task of bringing Ganga to earth. So Ganga is also called Bhagirathi on account of the superhuman efforts of the great king.

A 32 km road journey from Dev Prayag takes to Srinagar.

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Srinagar is believed to be established by Shri Guru Shankaracharya. The very name 'Shri Nagar', the dwelling place of god, conveys the immense sanctity of the town. Srinagar is situated in a vast plain and is famous for the Kamaleshwar Mahadev temple.

On the route one can see verdant forests of beautiful trees like deodar, blue pine, fir and spruce. Ganga shines like a streak of silver during the day and on moonlit nights. Here the river flows in plain forming vast white sand deltas.

From Srinagar, the road zigzags to Rudra Prayag.

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Rudra Prayag is at the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. The place derives its name from Rudra, one of the names of Shiva. There are various temples of Shiva and Annapurna Devi. An iron chain has been fixed at the confluence where steps lead to the fast flowing water.

Rudra Prayag was also a witness to an infamous man eating leopard. From 1918 to 1926, the beast killed more than 300 people before it was shot dead by the legendary Jim Corbett. India's first national park is named after Jim Corbett for his efforts for preserving wild life. The place where it was shot is just short of Rudra Prayag on the road from Srinagar. A monument stands at the exact spot of it's death.

ON THIS VERY SPOT WAS KILLED THE MAN EATING LEOPARD OF RUDRA PRAYAG BY JIM CORBETT ON 1 MAY 1926 AT 10 PM.

The road to Kedarnath temple bifurcates a Rudra Prayag. A new Rudra Prayag bypass road has been made on Srinagar - Kedarnath road.

The Badrinath road leads us to Karna Prayag.

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Karna Prayag is at the confluence of Alaknanda and Pindari rivers. The hillside around Karna Prayag are covered with jungles of pine. The morning breeze produces gentle rustling sounds in the pine jungles. At the confluence, the roaring rivers bring huge quantities of logs. Karna, the son of Kunti and Surya propitiated Surya at the holy confluence and was blessed with unusual might. Badrinath route from Kuamon (Almora) and Garhwal unites at Karna Prayag.

One road bifurcates from Karna Prayag to Gwaldam/Almora and the other goes via Nand Prayag to Badrinath. From the Karna Prayag - Gwaldam route, one can visit the mystery lake of Rookund and Homkund via Zorawar gali (5350 m).

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Nand Prayag is at the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. From here an old track leads to Tapoban over the Kuari pass. The route is an absolute trekker's delight.

After Nand Prayag, the Badrinath road reaches Chamoli. From here a road goes to Okhimath via Gopeshwar and meets the Kedarnath road. Chamoli is 15 km from Nand Prayag.

Another road from Nand Prayag leads to Ghat, from where one can trek to the famous Roopkund lake. The lake shot into fame in 1954 when scores of dead bodies were discovered in the area.

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Roopkund (5029 m) is a small glacial lake situated on the north eastern corner of Chamoli district in the lap of the famous peaks - Nanda Ghunti (6300 m) and Trishul (7120 m). Visitors has taken Skulls as memento with them. Presently one will get a single skull an around 25 leg bones on the banks of Roopkund. There are many theories and legends about the human skeletons found at the lake.

Once, hundreds of years ago, the king of Garhwal had a young daughter of great beauty called Bala Ampa. The king of Kannauj had a handsome son. This prince named Jasidhal, came to Garhwal on a shoot and stayed on as a royal guest. He fell in love with the princess and asked her hand in marriage. This was agreed and the marriage was arranged. So deeply was he in love that the rituals normally performed at weddings were ignored.

Nanda Devi, the presiding deity of Uttarakhand, was not given her due. As a result the kingdom of Kannauj fell on evil days. Enemies of the state gained strength. Royal astrologers were consulted by queen Bala Ampa. They ascribed the bad luck to the negligence in paying homage to Nanda Devi. Bala Ampa was pregnant and lest any evil should befall the child, a religious procession was immediately ordered to proceed to Nanda Devi. King Jasidhal jeered at the blind faith of the queen. However, he reluctantly gave permission for the procession, which started with great pomp and show and reached the village Wan. King Jasidhal wanted to combine pleasure with duty. Even dancing girls were taken along. This further aroused the wrath of goddess Nanda. The dancing girls were the first to be struck.As they started singing lewd songs, they were transformed into stones. Since that day, the exact spot of this occurrence is called Pather Nachauniyan or petrified dancers. Some buglers, drummers and other musicians with the party were the next to be struck down and they become ghosts. Even now, the sound of bugles and drums is heard at times as this unearthly procession moves in the area. A little beyond Bala Ampa had labour pains. She was taken to a cave where a daughter was born to her. The cave to be called Bala Ampa ka Khelra or the maternity home of Bala Ampa. This cave is about 5 km short of Roopkund.

As the procession arrived at the lake, the full fury of the elements hit them. A severe blizzard started with attendant and avalanches which engulfed the whole party. Here they lay for centuries till discovered in the early fifties. Others believe that the skeletons are of a contingent of the army General Zorawar Singh, a Dogra General who attacked and conquered the western Tibet in 1841.

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Pipalkoti : A 17 km journey takes one to Pipalkoti, which is famous for its cane and bamboo baskets of great variety and utility. The road from Pipalkoti crosses Garud Ganga, Birehi Ganga and Patal Ganga before reaching Helang.

Helang : It is 17 km from Pipalkoti on the Badrinath route. Kalpeshwar, one of the shrines of Panch Kedar lies 9 km from Helang. A 14 km journey takes to Joshimath (5 hour travel from Karna Prayag).

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Joshimath (1890 m) : Joshimath commands an excellent view of the beautiful peak, Bethartoli Himal. It is the base for expeditions to scores of peaks in the Zanskar range as well as the Great Himalayan Range. It is also the base for pilgrimages to Badrinath, Hemkund Sahib, Tapoban and treks to the valley of flowers and Kuari Pass. It is the main base for mountaineering, trekking and skiing. It is nice to spend a night here and enjoy a good rest for the onward road journey.

Joshimath is road head for approaching the famous skiing station Auli. A ropeway operates from Joshimath and takes tourists to Auli during winter months. A jeepable road also connects Auli.

In the eight century Shankaracharya came here and established his seat. He planted a mulberry tree with his own hands, which is still in existence. The circumference of its trunk is almost fifteen metres. In the hollow of the trunk, four men, or a cow can sit easily. The tree is believed to be a fulfiller of all desires. In front of the Durga temple in the bazaar, there is a huge statue of Vasudev. Narsingh shrine, one of the Panch Badris, is nearby.

A road bifurcates and goes to Malari (70 km) via Tapovan, Reni, Lata (25 km) and Juma. (a) From Tapovan one can trek to Bhavishya Badri (17 km). (b) From Malari trek to Niti village (5038 m, 16 km) - world's highest inhabited village. (c) Trek from Lata to Dharansi (4250 m, 17 km) and then to Nandadevi sanctuary (40 km) with permit - A world heritage centre with Mt. Nandadevi (7817 m, India's second highest peak).

Experienced trekkers can trek to valley flowers over the difficult Lakshman pass (16800 ft). It is the base for Mt Kamet and other nearby glaciers.

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Govind ghat (1828 m) : It is 18 km after Joshimath on Badrinath route. It is the base for the Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage and Valley of flowers trek. Take permit from Govind ghat for Valley of flowers trek. Porters and ponies can be hired from Govind ghat at fixed rates.

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HEMKUND (4329 m) : Sikh Pilgrim centre dedicated to the tenth Guru of the Sikhs - Shri Guru Gobind Singh - is 6 km trek from Ghanjhira. Sikhs believe that Guru Gobind Singh had meditated here in his earlier life as Rishi Medhasa. The Guru has referred to this lake as Hem Kund meaning the lake of ice, Vachitra Natak, his autobiography. In 1932, Havaldar Sohan Singh who was a religious teacher in the Golden temple at Amritsar was fascinated by the study of the Vachitra Natak. His explorations leads to the discovery of Hem kund and later a Gurudwara was constructed here.

Lakshman temple and Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib are located on the banks of the lake - Lakshman Kund is also called Lake Lokpal or Hemkund. It is accessible only from mid June to mid October.

For the rest it is covered by snow and even during the summer huge ice fields can be seen tucked away in shady corners. The nights are cold and a thick crust of ice forms on the surface of the lake. Rishikesh (293 km).

A steep route takes one to Hemkund from Gagaria in 5 hour. The return trek takes 3 hour. So start early for the trek.

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Badrinath is 28 km from Gobind ghat via Pandukeshwar and is the most popular of the Chardhams. Mana is the last Indian village and is 3 km from Badrinath.

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Melbourne ( Australia ) beautiful place to visit beautiful place to live. Just getting a bit busy these days..

Country Victoria ( Australia ) Anywhere is fantastic to see! Checjk your own backyards before travelling overseas.. there is soooo much out there to see even on your own doorstep

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Kolkata : It is the capital of West Bengal. Bengali sweets are world famous. The city is notorious for traffic jams and the easy-slow pace of travel. Kolkata has the India's first Metro (underground railway system). The single line is from Dum Dum to Tollygunje.The Metro is clear, calm, cheap and efficient.

Trams run in the city using overhead electrical lines. They are a major cause of traffic jams, so their days may be numbered. It is cheap and the best way to see the city.

Howrah bridge (Rabindra Setu) : It is Kolkata's landmark - a 450 m single span hanging bridge over river Hooghly. It is the world's busiest bridge with 100,000 vehicle crossing a day.

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Indian Museum : India's largest museum (admission Rs 10, Camera Rs 50, Monday closed) has a world class gallery of religious sculptures, gallery on plants and horticulture and a life size reproduction of the Barhut gateway, built by Bihari Buddhist in the 2nd century BC.

Victoria memorial : It is the most impressive colonial building in India (admission Rs 10, Monday closed). It is made of shining white marble and has statues and portraits of all the main players in the history of British India. During British Raj, a British family has 110 servants.

Marble palace : This marvellous mansion built by Raja Rajendro Mullick Bahadur in 1835. The raja was an obsessive collector of Victoriana and his palace is a treasure house of chintz. There is barely space to move between the marble busts, chandeliers, gold clocks and pottery dogs.

The palace garden has a small zoo with deer and birds. Permission for visiting can be obtained from West Bengal tourist office (no photography, closed on Mondays and Thursdays).

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St Paul's Cathedral : It is the principal place of Christian worship, constructed between 1839 and 1847 with impressive stained glass.

Birla Planetarium : This large planetarium offers the best way to see the stars in smoggy, polluted Kolkata (admission Rs 20, 1.30 pm and 6.30 pm).

St John's church : The imposing church has some important colonial graves, including the octagonal mausoleum of Job Charnock, the ex-founder of Kolkata (admission Rs 10).

Nakhoda mosque : This huge red sandstone mosque built in 1926 and modelled on Akbar's tomb at Sikandra.

Park street cemetery : It worth a visit and has some interesting memorials including the mausoleum of Asiatic society's founder, Sir William Jones. Buried beneath stone columns, plinths and pyramids you'll find characters such as George Bogle, the first British envoy to Tibet, Elizabeth Jane Barwell etc.