World's 1000 beautiful tourist places

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Brindavan gardens : The ornamental gardens below the Krishnaraja Sagar dam is a popular picnic spot (Admission Rs 10, camera Rs 25). The garden will be illuminated daily from 7 to 8 pm. The illuminated dancing musical fountain is another attraction.

Bus No 301, 304, 305, 306 and 365 depart from Mysore's City bus stand (Rs 7, 45 minute, 19 km).

Tibettan settlements : Travel by Mysore-Madikeri (Mercara, Coorg) bus and get down at Kushalnagar. Shared autos will take you to Sera at Rs 10. The Namdroling monastery is 5 km from Kushalnagar is the home of Golden temple having a 18 m high gold plated Buddha. When the school is in session and it rings out with gongs, drums and chanting of hundreds of young novices. The spectacular Zangdogpalri temple is nearby.

About 2 km from Namdroling, Sera village is the site of Sera Jhe and Sera Mey monasteries, which houses around 5000 monks here.

Madikeri : Madikeri is the capital of cool town Kodagu (Coorg) region. The green mountainous region is a good base for treks to the nearby peaks - Tadiyendamol (1745 m) and Pushpagiri (1712 m). The trekking season is from Oct to March and a guide is essential for the forested route treks.

The forested hills, whose roads ramble through flowering vines, cardomom plantations, bamboo trees (nibbled by elephants) and coffee estates. In March and April, white blossoms illuminate the hills of deep green coffee plants.

The Kodava wedding ceremonies include complex dances, mock fighting with sticks and symbolic chopping of a banana leaf with a sword can be viewed at Madikeri's Kodava Samaja building.

Abbi falls (7 km) and the Raja's tombs on the route are nice places to visit. The Municipal headquarters (fort), nearby old church and the Omkareshwara temple are worth a visit.

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Belur : The Channekeshava temple was constructed in 1116 to commemorate the Hoysala's victory over the Cholas at Talakad. The religious ceremonies are at 9 am, 3 pm and 7.30 pm. The front of the temple has dancers and characters from Kamasutra, while the back has gods. The internal supporting pillars are also decorated with carvings. The 14 century seven storey gopuram has sensual sculptures portraying the activities of dancing girls of the temple.

The other Hoysala temples of Belur are the Chennigaraya and the Viranarayana temples. Direct buses operate from Mysore (Rs 60, 4.5 hour). Halebid is 16 km from Belur an has a bus in every 30 minutes.

Halebid : The Hoysaleswara temple is the most outstanding examples of Hoysala art with it's intricate carvings. The star shaped temple set on a platform is covered with riots of Hindu deities, sages, stylised animals and friezes depicting the life of the Hoysala rulers.

The temple is in a garden and have a small museum (Rs 2, Friday closed). The Kedareswara temple enclosure in Halebid has three Jain temples with fine carvings.

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Sravanabelagola : It is one of the most important Jain pilgrim centres in India, and the site of the 17.5 m high Gomateshvara statue (Bahubali). The statue was carved out of granite by the sculptor Aristenemi in 981 AD. Bahubali's father was the great emperor Vrishabhadeva, who became the first Jain tirthankar (revered Jain teacher), Adinath.

The statue is on Vindhyagiri hill and can be reached by 614 rock cut steps with naked foot (even no socks !). Sravanabelagola is 48 km from Hassan. Travel to Channarayapatana (Rs 15, 45 minutes) and change there.

The other temples of the town are Chandragupta Basti on the nearby Chandragiri hill, Bhandar Basti with the Sravanabelagola's largest temple, Chandranatha Basti temple with 650 year old paintings.

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Jog falls : The highest waterfall in India. The longest of the four falls Raja, which drops 293 m. There is little flow due to Linganamakki dam further up the Sharavati river. The bottom of the falls can be accessed via 1200 steps. Beware of leeches during monsoon season.

Three buses go to Karwar via Kumta (Rs 38, 3 hour). Karwar is a station on the Mangalore - Madgaon (Goa) Konkan rail line.

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Araku valley & Borra caves, AP : Andhra's best train ride through the magnificent Eastern ghats to the Araku valley, 120 km north of Visakhapatanam. The area is the home to isolated tribal communities and the tiny museum of Habitat. The million year old Borra caves filled with stalagmites an stalactites is 30 km from Araku. A train leaves Vizag at 7.45 am and reaches Araku (Rs 24, 5 hour). The train leaves Araku for Vizag at 3 pm. The rail route further leads to Jagdalpur (200 km, Chhatisgarh), which is famous for it's waterfalls.



Belum caves : Longest underground cave system in India, about 3.225 km long and 30 m deep. 2 km of the area has been made accessible for public viewing. Beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations, huge halls, waterfalls and a hall of lingas gives a breathtaking view. Underground water springs and streams developed. The caves are in Karnool district in Andhra Pradesh.

Entry Fee: Adult Rs.25/-; Child Rs.15/-

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Kerala : God's Own Country. Experience the floating life of Kerala's backwaters in a houseboat, enjoy the village life, paddy fields and coconut groves. Kerala has beautiful beaches and a number of wildlife sanctuaries sit side by side with coffee and spice plantations. Experience the most renowned dance 'Kathakali', the holy dance 'theyyam' near the villages of Kannur. The 16th century Jewish synagogue at Kochi, Chinese nets and colonial architecture of Fort Kochi are unforgettable. The delicious cuisine and the hospitality of the people will put your plans to see the rest of India in serious trouble.

Kerala is the right place to have an Ayurvedic massage. Main festival of the state is Onam (Aug/Sep). Other festivals are Trissur Pooram (April/May), Nehru Trophy boat race at Alapuzha (2 nd Sat in Aug). The main pilgrim centres are Guruvayur temple near Thrissur and Sabarimala.

Vasco da Gamma's arrival in 1498 at Kappad beach near Kozhikode heralded an era of European colonialism. The Kerala state was formed on 1 Nov 1956. Kerala had the first freely elected communist government in the world, elected in 1957. State has low infant mortality and 91% literacy (highest in India).

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Thiruvananthapuram : The main attractions are admanabhaswamy temple, Zoological gardens, Napier museum, Sri Chitra art gallery, Science museum, Secretariat buildings, Kovalam beach etc.

Padmanabhapuram palace : The palace constructed in teak and granite is the finest example of traditional Keralan architecture (Admission Rs 10, camera Rs 25, Monday closed). It has rosewood ceilings carved in floral patterns, windows laid with jewel-coloured mica and floors finished to a high special compound of crushed shells,coconuts, egg whites and local plant juices. The palace has intricately carved rosewood chairs, screens and ceilings, as well as large Chinese pickle jars. Guides are available at Rs 50 to 100.

From Thiruvananthapuram, travel by Kanyakumari bus and get off at Thuckalay. The palace is 15 min by walk or travel by auto.

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Varkala : Varkala is a perfect beach with a more laid back feeling than Kovalam. An Arabian sunset viewed from the cliff top over a fresh fish dinner is a small piece of heaven. The Papanasham beach is a peaceful area away from the crowd and hawkers. There are numerous centres for Ayurveda, yoga and massage. So beware, ask advice,
avoid touts !, it is business.

Varkaka is one of the most dangerous beaches in Kerala due to strong currents. So ask for advice to lifeguards at the beach before swimming. The beach is 2 km from the town and Railway station (Rs 40 by Auto). Varkala is 42 km from Thiruvananthapuram (40 min by train, Rs 25 2nd class).

Janardhana temple : It is a popular Hindu temple at the town.

Sivagiri Mutt : It is a popular pilgrimage site and is the head quarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangam trust. Sree Narayana Guru was a social reformer (1855 -1928).

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Kollam : It is surrounded by coconut palms, cashew plantations and Ashtamudi lake. The public ferry across Ashtamudi lake to Guhananadapuram (1 hour) and Perumon (2 hour) are enjoyable trips at Rs 6. Munroe island trip is also a popular trip. It is 1.5 hour travel (Rs 45) by bus from Thiruvananthapuram.

Krishnapuram palace, Kayamkulam : The two storey palace cum museum is a fine example of Keralan architecture, which houses paintings, antique furniture and sculptures. Its renowned 3 m high Gajendra moksha, the chief of elephants, as told in the Mahabharata. The palace is 600 m from the bus stand. Located between Kollam and Alapuzha, Rs 26 by bus.

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Alapuzha (Alleppey) : This pleasant market town is built on canals and surrounded by coconut trees. Nehru trophy snake boat (chundan vallam) race is conducted at Vembanad lake here on the 2nd Saturday of August every year. Each boat is over 30 m long with a raised prow like the head of a snake, and is crewed by up to 100 rowers singing in unison and shaded by gleaming silk umbrellas.

Alapuzha has a nice beach with an ancient lighthouse. It was a busy port long ago, and the rusting sea bridge at the harbour tells the past. The boat jetty is near the bus stand. One can enjoy the backwaters at the public ferry boat. Long trips to Kollam (8 hour) and Kottayam (Rs 10, 2.5 hour, 5 times daily) are also available. Houseboats can also be hired for exploring the backwaters in luxury.