India travelguide

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Andaman Nicobar Islands : Tourist Information

Capital : Port Blair.

Area : 8, 249 sq.km.

Literacy : 81.3%.

Languages : Hindi, Tamil, English, Bengali.

Roads : 2, 806 km.

Airports : Port Blair.

When to visit : Dec to April.

Climate(in °C) : 33 to 22 .

Monsoon : May to Oct

Districts : 2, Andaman, Nicobar.

Places of Tourist importance : Andaman - Long island, Neil island, Mayabander, Rangat, Little Andaman island, Cellular jail, National memorial museum, Ross island, Scuba diving, Indira point - northern most point of India, Barren island with India's only active volcano.

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CHANDIGARH : General Information

Capital : Chandigarh.

Area : 114 sq.km.

Literacy : 81.9%.

Languages : Hindi, Punjabi.

Roads : 141 km.

Railways : 8 km.

Airports : Chandigarh.

When to visit : Oct to Mar.

Climate(in °C) : Summer 43 to 35 Winter 14 to 7.

Monsoon : Jul to Sept.

Districts : 1, Chandigarh.

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Daman & Diu : Tourist Information

Capital : Daman.

Area : 112 sq.km.

Literacy : 81.2%.

Airports : Daman, Diu.

Languages : Gujrathi, Marathi, Hindi.

Climate(in °C) : 29 to 34.

Monsoon : Jul to Sept.

Districts : 2, Daman, Diu.

Places of Tourist importance : Fort of Moti Daman, Jampore beach, Kadaiya lake garden, Diu fort, museum, Zampa waterfall and sanctuary.

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DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI : General Information

Capital : Silvassa.

Area : 491 sq.km.

Literacy : 60.6%.

Languages : Gujrathi, Marathi, Konkani.

Roads : 518 km.

When to visit : Oct to Mar.

Climate(in °C) : Summer 41 to 27 Winter 29 to 14.

Districts : 1, Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Places of Tourist importance : Khanvel, Tribal cultural museum, Vanganga lake.

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LAKSHADWEEP : Tourist Information

Capital : Kavaratti.

Area : 32 sq.km.

Literacy : 87%.

Airports : Agatti.

Languages : Malayalam, Tamil.

When to visit : Oct to May.

Climate(in °C) : Summer 22 to 35 Winter 20 to 32.

Monsoon : Oct to Nov.

Districts : 1, Lakshadweep.

Places of Tourist importance : Minicoy light house, Urja mosque, Buddhist archaeological remains at Andrott.

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PONDICHERRY : Tourist Information

Capital : Pondicherry.

Area : 492 sq.km.

Literacy : 81.6%.

Languages : Tamil, French, Malayalam, Telugu.

Districts : 4, Karaikal (Tamil nadu), Mahe (Kerala), Pondicherry (Tamil Nadu), Yanam (Andhra Pradesh).

Places of Tourist importance : Pondicherry - Auroville and Sri Aurobindo ashram, museum, botanical garden, Ananda Rangapillai, war memorial, Statue of Joan of Arc, light house, Varadarajaperumal temple.

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Jama Masjid or the Jami Masjid was built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, between 1644 and 1658 and is the final architectural piece built by him. Situated in the ancient town of Old Delhi, this pride of the Mughals was built by five thousand artisans. The mosque stands on Bho Jhala, which is one of the old Mughal capital cities of Shahjahanbad. Originally called the Masjid-i-Jahanuma, or "mosque commanding view of the world", this magnificent structure is the largest and most exquisite mosque in India and is made up of alternate vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble.

On the east, this monument faces the Lal Quila (Red Fort) and has three gateways, four towers and two minarets. The gateways in the north and south are led by a fleet of steps. The main eastern entrance remains closed on most days of the week and was perhaps used by the Emperors.

The main prayer hall is used on most days by worshippers and is made up of high cusped arches and marble domes. On Fridays and other holy days the courtyard is filled with devotees who come in for 'Namaaz'.

The cupboard in the North gate of the mosque contains a collection of Muhammad's relics - the Koran written on deerskin, a red beard-hair of the prophet, his sandals and his footprint, embedded in a marble slab, all of which are still preserved.

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Khardung la (5602 m , world's highest motorable road, which connects the world's highest battlefield - Siachen glacier) : Leh - South pulu (25) - Khardung la (40) - North pulu - Khardung village (71) - Khalsar junction (95) - Sumur (128) - Teggar (130) - Panamik (150, road head to the Siachen glacier) - Sasoma(165). This route - Nubra valley - requires inner line permit from DM Leh. Khalsar junction - Deskit (116) - Hunder(124). One can find double humped camels here. Basic accomodation facility occurs in the villages. Buses operate twice in a week to Nubra. Cars can be hired from Leh on this route.

On the way to Khardung la, from South pulu onwards one will feel the chilly weather. Even on day time, the temperature on top will be below 8 C. On Khardung la, everyone gets a hot delicious tea free. There is one temple and a military radio communication station are located. In the morning time (up to 1300 hour) the up convoy from Leh goes to Nubra valley via Khardung la. Foreign cyclists are common site on the Leh-Khardung la route. There is a bus service twice in a week from Leh to Nubra.