India travelguide

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HARYANA: Tourist Information

CHANDIGARH - Capital of Haryana, Punjab and union territory Chandigarh, designed by Le Corbusier. Nek Chand's rock garden, Sukhna lake (3 sq.km) : boating and fishing, Zakir Rose garden (Asia's largest), museum, art gallery. Pinjaur gardens (22 km).

JHAJJAR - Ancient town, palace, museum.

KURUKSHETRA - Temples, sacred tank.

PANIPAT - Babur's mosque, tomb and tanks.

HISAR - Palace, mosque, fort.

FESTIVALS - Holi (Feb/Mar), Baisakhi (mid April), Teej (July/ Aug).

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Himachal Pradesh : General Information

Capital : Shimla.

Area : 55, 673 sq.km.

Literacy : 77%.

Languages : Pahari, Hindi, Punjabi.

Roads : 29, 610 km.

Railways : 269 km.

Airports : Kullu, Shimla, Kangra.

When to visit : April to Oct.

Climate(in °C) : Summer 33 to 14 Winter 15 to 0.

Monsoon : July to Sept.

Districts :12, Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, Una.

Places of Tourist importance : Shimla, Chamba, Kangra, Solan, Kullu, Manali, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti.

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Himachal Pradesh: Tourist Information

SHIMLA (120 km from Chandigargh) - Toy train for Shimla starts from Kalka. The narrow gauge route has 107 tunnels and 96 km is covered in 5 hour, State museum & art gallery, hill resort, forest, The Mall - busy shopping area, at the top end of Mall is Scandal point and Christ church, Jakhoo hills (2438 m, 2 km) is the highest point and is half an hour walk from Christ church, Chadwick falls (67 m, 7 km), handicrafts, Kufri (2622 m, 16 km) - famous for summer and winter sports. Naldehra (23 km) - scenic beauty, 9 hole golf ground. Theog (32 km for fishing ), Solan - hill station, Karol Tibba and Meteol are pretty spots; Fagu - Scenic beauty; Chail - World's highest cricket ground; Narkanda (64 km) at 2707 m is famous for skiing, Jalori pass connects to Kullu via Aut; Tattapani hot springs (54 km).

BHAKRA - Dam, picnic spot.

DHARMSHALA - Head quarters of Dalai Lama at Macleodganj, Tibetan handicrafts, hill station. DALHOUSIE - Hill station, picnic spot.

JAWALAMUKHI - Temple with shining gas flame is revered as Goddess. Baijnath temple. KANGRA - Barjeshwari temple, fort . KASAULI - Hill station.

KULLU - Raghunath temple (Dussera), scenary, famous for Kullu shawls, Jagatsukh Shiv temple (8th C, 6 km), Naggar (30 km on Manali route) - Roerich's museum.

MANIKARAN - 45 km from Kullu, famous for hot sulphur springs.

MANALI - Hadimba devi temple, hill resort, Vashist hot springs (3 km), Solang nala (14 km) for moutaineering and skiing.

KYELANG - Monastery on the scenic Manali-Leh route.

FESTIVALS - Dussera (Sept/Oct), Jawalamukhi mela (October).

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Trekking in Himachal Pradesh

TENTU PASS (4996 m) : Manali to Solang Nala (14 km) by bus. Trek to Dhundi (2480 m, 7 km, river crossing, jeepable route), to Beaskund (6 km) via Bakar Thatch and to Tentu Pass (3.5 km, steep climb over boulders) : 4 days. Pass is windy and temperature drop substantially at night. Start early morning to avoid high winds. Season : Mid June to Sept. Friendship peak (5200 m).

CHANDRA lake (4480 m) - Manali to Jagatsukh by bus (6 km). Trek to Chikka (3000 m, 9 km), to Chandra lake via Seri (3900 m, 14 km). Fine views of Deo Tibba (6001 m).

CHANDRATAL lake (4270 m) - 18 km trek from Batal, which is at the base of Kunzam la (4590 m) on the Kyelong - Kaja road.

MALANA (2100 m) - Naggar (30 km from Kullu) trek to Chanderkhani pass via Rumsu Thach (3650 m, 5 hour, views of White Sail (6446 m) and Papsura (6451 m), 12 km) then to Malana village (7 km) via Nagruni. 5 hour trek to Jari. Travel to Manali via Manikaran by bus : 4 days.

PIN PARVATI PASS (5230 m) - Manikaran (1700 m, 45 km from Kullu) to Pulga (2100 m, 4 hour). Pulga tourist bunglow is nearby. Pulga to Kheer Ganga (2850 m, 4 hour). Kheer Ganga to Bhojtunda (3200 m, 5 hour). Bhojtunda to Thakur Khan (3400 m, 5 hour). Thakur Khan to Mantakal Lake : 6 hour via Pandu bridge (50 km). Manatak lake to High camp : 7 hour. High camp to Pin Parvati pass - Pin valley : 5 hour. Pin valley to Mud (3600 m, 8 hour). Mud to Sangam : 4 hour. Distance of 100 km covered on foot in 9 days. Reach Shimla by bus (24 hour).

KINNER KAILASH - Shimla to Kalpa by bus (244 km) via Rampur. Kalpa to Thangi (2966 m) by bus. Trek to Lambar (12 km) - Charang (12 km, 3500 m) - Lalanti (8 km, 4420 m) - Base camp (6 km, 5000 m) - Chitkul (9 km, 3450 m) via Lalanti Pass (5000 m) - Sangla by bus : 8 days. Mt. Kinner Kailash (6474 m).

SACH PASS (4667 m) - Dalhousie to Chamba. Chamba to Trella (90 km, 5 hour). Trek to Bhanodi (2744 m, 13 km, 6 hour), Satrundi (3658 m, 13 km, PWD rest house), to Sach pass (5 km, 3 hour). Start early morning to avoid high winds.

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Jammu & Kashmir : General Information

Capital : Srinagar, Jammu (Winter).

Area : 2, 22, 236 sq.km.

Literacy : 54.4%.

Languages : Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Ladakhi.

Roads : 13, 042 km.

Railways : 84 km.

Airports : Srinagar, Jammu, Leh.

When to visit : April to Oct.

Climate(in °C) : Srinagar Summer 30 Winter below 0.

Districts :14, Anantanag, Badgam, Baramula, Doda, Jammu, Kargil, Kathua, Kupwara, Leh, Pulwama, Punch, Rajauri, Srinagar, Udhampur.

Places of Tourist importance : Jammu, Srinagar, Leh.

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Jammu & Kashmir : Tourist Information

JAMMU - Winter capital of the state, Dogra art gallery and Mubarak mandi palace, Ranbireswar temple, Raghnath temple, tombs, Bahu fort, VAISHNODEVI - Hindu pilgrim centre, 14 km trek from Katra (40 km from Jammu); PATNITOP (111 km on Srinagar route) - Hill station.

PAHALGAM - Hill station, fishing, picnic spot. DACHIGAM wild life sanctuary - season : April to October.

AMARNATH (3900 m) - Cave with ice Shiv lingam which waxes and wanes with moon, Pahalgam to Chandanwari by jeep, trek to Panchtarani via Sheshnag and then to cave (40 km), Return to Baltal in 4 days; BALTAL - Base camp for trekking to Amarnath cave (15*2 km, in a day). Season : June to Sept.

SRINAGAR (293 km) - Dal, Nagin and Anchar lakes, Sri Pratap singh Govt. museum, Mughal gardens - Chashmasahi, Nishat, Shalimar, Pari mahal, Shankaracharya temple on hill top (4 km, 300 m), Hazratbal mosque - Hair of Prophet Mohamed is kept here, Charar-i-Sharif (28 km) , Khir Bhawani temple (27 km, in marble); Wular lake (47 km) - largest fresh water lake in Asia, scenic beauty, fishing.

GULMARG (46 km from Srinagar) - Meadow of flowers, winter sports : ice skating/ skiing, 2 km rope way to lift Ski enthusiasts, Tangmarg camping site (6 km), scenic beauty.

SONMARG (81 km from Srinagar) - 'Meadows of gold', flowers, Tajiwas glacier (4 km).

DRASS - World's second coldest inhabited place, in 1995, - 60oC temperature was recorded. Drass to Kargil : 60 km via Zoji la (3530 m).

KARGIL - Base for trekking & mountaineering : Nun (7135 m) & Kun (7100 m).

LAMAYURU - Monastery (80 km from Kargil on Leh raod).

LEH (434 km from Srinagar at 3512 m) - Leh palace, mosque, Mangyal Tsemo, Gompa Tsemo, Spituk monastery (9 km), Shey palace, Tiksey monastery - largest in Ladakh (15 km), world's highest motorable road : Khardung la (5600 m, 40 km). Hemis monastery (50 km) - richest monastery in Ladakh. Pangong lake (4267 m) & Tso Moriri are high altitude lakes. Camel Safari in Nubra valley - road leads to Panamik, double humped camel.

MARKHA VALLEY Trek - Karu (50 km from Leh) to Chogdo via Marchelang and then to Nimaling via Kongmaru la (5100m) : 14 km, views of Kang Yaze (6400 m).

LEH - MANALI (475 km, 2 days) : One of the world's highest roads over Tanglang la (5300 m) and Lachlung la (5100 m).

FESTIVALS - Shivratri (Feb/Mar), Hemis (June), Amarnath (July/Aug).

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Trekking in Jammu Kashmir

WAISHNODEVI - Hindu pilgrim centre, 14 km trek from Katra (40 km from Jammu).

KALHOI glacier (5485 m) - Pahalgam to Aru (11 km, jeep), trek to Lidderwat (11 km, PWD rest house) to glacier (3350 m, 13 km). 35 km trek from Aru : 3 day. Lidderwat - meadows in forest and camping site.

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Trek from Serbal before Baltal near Sonmarg to Kalhoi glacier via Nilamug.

TARSAR - MARSAR lakes (3795 m) : 8 hour trek from Lidderwat. Both lakes have ice floes floating on their surface.

AMARNATH (3900 m) - Hindu pilgrim centre, cave temple with ice Shiv lingam which waxes and wanes with moon, Pahalgam to Chandanwari by jeep, trek to Panchtarani via Sheshnag and then to cave, return to Baltal in 4 days (60 km); Sheshnag - lake, glaciers via trek from Pahalgam (20 km). Season : July to Sept.

HARMUKH (5184 m) - Srinagar to Bandipur by bus. Travel to Sumlar by jeep (8 km). Trek to Sarbal via Kudara (18 km), then to Harmukh via Ganaspatra (12 hour stiff climb). Located near Wular lake.

SONMARG (2740 m) - Tajiwas glacier (4 km) & Khajiar glacier. 81 km from Srinagar.
1. BALTAL (20 km) - Base camp for trekking to Amarnath cave (15*2 km, in a day). 2. Sonmarg to Cathedral peak via Lashimarg and Nichinai (3620 m, 13 km).
3. From Nichinai trek to Vishansar & Kishansar lakes via Ram Patri (3818 m, 13 km) after crossing 4080 m range.

KARGIL - Nun (7135 m) & Kun (7017 m) peaks are within 250 km, by Kargil - Padum road reach Gulmatonga. Trek to base of Kun (15 km). Nun base trek : Kargil to Parkachik via Pannikar by bus/truck. Trek to Shafat (20 km, BC for Nun). The Kargil - Padum road is over Pensi la (4401 m).

LEH (434 km from Srinagar at 3512 m) - Khardung la (5600 m, 40 km) - World's highest motorable road leading to the roadhead (Panamik) for world's highest war field - Siachen glacier (6700 m).

MARKHA VALLEY TREK - Spituk to Zingchen (12 km), to Yuvutse (14 km), to Sku via Kanda la (4800 m), to Markha (12 km), to Hankar (11 km), to Nimaling (10 km), to Shang Sumdo via Kongmaru la (5100 m), to Martselang (10 km), to Hemis (6 km) : 8 days. Then to Leh by bus.

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Karu (50 km from Leh) to Chogdo via Marchelang and then to Nimaling via Kongmaru la (5100 m) : 14 km, views of Kang Yaze (6400 m). It snows even in summer and nights are chilly.

LEH - MANALI (475 km, 2 days) : One of the world's highest roads over Tanglang la (5300 m) and Lachlung la (5100 m). Trek enroute - From Darcha on Manali to Leh road to Zanskar Sumdo (25 km) and to Pulu over Shingku la (5100 m). Trek further to Padum : 12 days.

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JHARKHAND: Tourist Information

Capital : Ranchi.

Area : 79, 714 sq.km.

Literacy : 54.6%.

Languages : Hindi, Urdu, Local languages.

Roads : 25, 283 km.

Railways : 172 km.

Airports : Ranchi.

When to visit : Oct to Mar.

Climate(in °C) : Summer 45 to 7 Winter 20 to 7.

Districts : 20, Bokaro, Chatra, Deoghar, Dhanbad, Dumka, Garhwa, Giridih, Godda, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Kodarma, Lohardaga, Pakur, Palamau, Pashchimi Singhbhum, Purbi Singhbhum, Ranchi, Sahibganj.

Places of Tourist importance : Dassm falls, Hundru and Jonah falls at Ranchi, Hazaribagh national park, Palamau national park, Baidyanath temple, Deoghar - Hindu pilgrim centre, Dhanbad.

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KARNATAKA : General Information

Capital : Bangalore.

Area : 1, 91, 791 sq.km.

Literacy : 67.6%.

Languages : Kannada, Urdu, Tamil.

Roads : 1, 42, 754 km.

Railways : 3, 059 km.

Airports : Bangalore, Belgaum, Mangalore, Bellary, Hubli, Mysore.

When to visit : Oct to April.

Climate(in °C) : Summer 35 to 26 Winter 25 to 14.

Districts : 27, Bagalkot, Bangalore, Bangalore rural, Belgaum, Bellary, Bidar, Bijapur Chamarajanagar, Chikamagalur, Chitradurga, Dakshina Kannada, Davangere, Dharwad, Gadag, Gulbarga, Hasssan, Haveri, Kodagu, Kolar, Koppal, Mandya, Mysore, Raichur, Shimoga, Tumkur, Udupi, Uttara Kannada.

Places of Tourist importance : Bangalore, Mysore, Belur, Halebid, Shravanabelgola, Jog falls, Hampi, Pattadakal, Aihole, Madikeri.

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KARNATAKA: Tourist Information

BANGALORE - Asia's Silicon valley, Known as the Garden city, Govt. museum at Cubbon park (300 acre), Lalbaug and glass house, Vidhana Soudha, St. Mary's cathedral, Govt. museum and Venkatappa art gallery, Visvesvarya industrial and technological museum, Bull temple at Basavanagudi (6.1 m long and 4.6 m high Nandi), Bangalore palace (4 km, fort like), Whitefield (16 km) - Satya Sai Baba ashram, Ramohalli (28 km) - Giant Banyan tree spread over 4 acres of land, picnic spot; Nandi hills (60 km) - Hill station, Gandhi nilaya, Yoganandeswara temple, Tipu's palace.

KOLAR GOLD MINES - Deepest man made pit : 3030 m deep, can be visited from Oct to Feb.

MYSORE - Jagan Mohan palace (3 storied) and Sri Chamarajendra art gallery, garden, zoo, St.Philomina's church, museum of art & archaeology and folklore museum at University of Mysore, Rail museum, Lalith Mahal palace now a 5 star hotel, Chamundi hills (13 km, temple, 4.8 m Nandi statue half way up), BRINDAVAN GARDENS (19 km) - Krishna Rajendra dam, garden, dancing fountain, picnic spot, SRIRANGAPATANA (16 km) - Tipu Sultan's capital, museum, palace, fort, Sangam, mosque, Shri Ranganatha temple; RANGANATHITTU bird sanctuary (19 km), NANJANGUD (22 km) - Nanjundeswara temple, SOMNATHPUR (38 km) - Hoysala temple, Shivsamudram water falls (85 km) - Asia's first hydro electric project, MERCARA/COORG (120 km) - Hill station.

SHRAVANABELGOLA (52 km from Hassan) - Jain pilgrim centre, Gomateswara statue of 300 BC (17 m) by 640 steps. Head annoying ceremoney once in 12 years (2006); BELUR (near Hassan) - Channakeshava temple, Veeranarayana temple. HALEBID (17 km from Belur) - Hoysaleswara temple, archaeological museum.

HAMPI - World heritage centre, archaeological museum, Vijayanagara ruins - Vithala temple with monolithic chariot, Vrupaksha temple, Hazara Ramaswami temple, fort, Elephant stable and Lotus Mahal.

BADAMI - Fort, 4 caves, Malegitti Shivalaya temple, rock climbing. 163 km from Bijapur.

PATTADAKAL - World heritage centre, 30 km from Badami, Sangameswara temple, Mallikarjuna temple, Virupaksha temple, Padmanatha temple, Papanatha temple, Dance festival in Jan.

AIHOLE - Meguti temple with inscriptions, Lad Khan temple group, Durga temple, Ravanaphadi cave. 40 km from Badami.

BIJAPUR (100 km from Solapur) - Archaeological museum, Gol Gumbaz - world's fourth largest dome (37.92 m in diameter, 51 m in height and 3 m thick walls, A single minute whisper will be echoed 9 times), fort, Jami masjid, Asar Mahal, Gagan Mahal, Upli Buruj (Watch tower), Mallik e Maidan (a 55 tonne, 14 feet cannon), Bara Kaman, Ibrahim Roza tomb.

CHITRADURGA - Harihar fort.

GERSOPPA/JOG FALLS - Largest/highest waterfall in India, 292 m high Jog falls is in Shravati river, it has four distinct falls named as Raja, Rani, Rocket and Roarer. Season Oct to Dec. Magod falls (183 m is 80 km from Honavar).

MANGALORE - Mangaladevi temple, Kadri temple, St.Aloysious college chapel, light house, Govt. museum, Ullal Jama masjid (12 km), Moodabidri Jain temples (35 km, 18 number). Sringeri - Monastery by Shankaracharya, Vidya Shankara temple. Kudremukh - Deep valleys and steep precipice with natural beauty, trekking.

UDUPI - Sri Krishna temple, pilgrim centre, Malpe beach (6 km), Manipal health resort (5 km). DHARMASTALA - Manjunatha temple and Gomateswara statue.

FESTIVALS - Dussera (Sept/Oct), Sankranti (Jan).