Patiala: Moti Bagh Palace & Sheesh Mahal in Punjab

Patiala

It was founded in 1753, by Maharaja Ala Singh and named Patiala, literally the territory (pati) of Ala. In 1948, it became the capital of a new state, PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab States Union), created by merging the princely states of East Punjab. The rulers of Patiala were great patrons of art and crafts, which made the city an important centre of Punjabi language and culture.
Moti Bagh Palace : The magnificent palace in Indo-Saracenic style was completed in early 20th century and is one of the largest residences in Asia. It is surrounded by beautiful terraced gardens and water channels. The main palace now houses the National Institute of Sports and Sports Museum.


Sheesh Mahal : The charming palace near a small lake was built during the reign of Maharaja Narinder Singh (1845-1862). Its interiors are beautifully embellished with pieces of glass and mirror (sheesh). An Art Gallery here displays antique paintings, bronzes, sculptures and portraits of the Maharajas of Patiala. World’s largest collection of medals, decoration and orders of various countries are exhibited here.

Reaching there:
By Air
The nearest airport is located in the city of Chandigarh. You can take a flight to the airport in Chandigarh and can take a taxi or bus from there to Patiala. There are many domestic flights to Chandigarh as this is an important airport, and the airport is well connected to all Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore.
By Train
The nearest railway station is Patiala. There are regular trains from the cities of Mumbai, Chandigarh and Delhi and train fares will cost around Rs 450 to 550 (approx.). You can take air conditioned coaches or normal coaches, and tickets need to be booked well in advance.
By Road
Travelling to Patiala from local destinations through bus can be easy. Buses to Patiala will charge fares of around Rs 150 to 250 (approx.) within Punjab.

Golconda Fort (from Hyderabad 12 kms.) in Andhra Pradesh

The glorious remains of this once impregnable fort sprawl over a hill side about 1000 feet above the surrounding countryside. The forts name is derived from the Telugu word “Golla Konda” meaning “Shepherd’s Hill”. Originally, it was a mud fort built by the Kakatiya kings of Warangal in 1143. The Qutub Shah dynasty held it from 1518 to 1687 and the first three Qutub Shahi kings rebuilt Golconda over a span of 62 years. The prosperous city was famous for its diamonds and hand painted textiles. Attracted by the wealth and prosperity of Golconda, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered Golconda after an eight month siege. The grandeur of this mammoth fort can be experienced from the top of the citadel. Within the fort are – an armoury, palaces, the store, courtyards, fountains, mosque, public and private meeting halls and temple. The fort is noted for its magnificent acoustics, the structural grandeur of its palaces, factories and ingenious water supply system. A sound and light show is held here in the evenings.

Reaching there:
By Air
The nearest airport from Golconda fort is Hyderabad International Airport (12 Kms.). It is well connected to many important cities abroad.
By Train
The nearest railway station is Secunderabad, one of the twin cities with Hyderabad, is a major station with the head quarters of Southern Railway.
By Road
Andhra Pradesh state owned buses connect Hyderabad city with all cities in the state and the neighboring states. Golconda fort is well connected with Hyderabad. Hyderabad is a hub of deluxe, super deluxe, A/C and Volvo tourist buses. Hyderabad is connected by these superb buses to many cities, including Bangalore, Chennai, Vishakapatnam and Vijayawada.

Somnath Temple in Gujarat

Somnath, the shrine eternal facing the blue expanse of Arabian Sea is said to be as old as creation. Like a phoenix, it has risen seven times from ashes and depicts a saga of devotion and heroism. The legendary temple is believed to have been built by the Moon God – ‘Soma’ and enshrines one of the 12 jyotirlingas. Somnath celebrates a large fair on the day of the full moon of Kartik Purnima in November/December. Maha Shivratri in the month of March is also a major festival here. The present temple structure was commissioned by Sardar Patel in 1950’s. One can visit the place round the year but the best season to visit is winters-from October to March.

Reaching there:
By Air
The nearest airport from Somnath is Keshod 55 km away and linked to Mumbai. There are regular buses and taxis plying between Keshod and Somnath.
By Train
The nearest railhead is 6 km away at Veraval, which is connected by train to Ahmedabad and some other cities in Gujarat.
By Road
State transport corporation buses and private coaches run regular service to other cities in the region. Somnath is connected by a good road network to the other nearby places like Veraval 6 km, Mumbai 890 km, Ahmedabad 400 km, Bhavnagar 265 km, Junagarh 86 km, and Porbandar 121 km.

Surajkund in Haryana

Surajkund is located just 8 kms. from south Delhi on the Delhi-Agra National Highway and is also very well connected by road with Faridabad and Gurgaon. Today, it is synonymous with the world famous Surajkund Crafts Fair, held every year from Feb.1 to Feb15. Some of the finest handloom and handicraft traditions of India are on display here. Visitors can buy these products directly from the weavers or craftsperson, bypassing the middlemen and distributors. One can also view the craft and loom techniques in the demonstration sections. The fair is also an introduction to rural life in India. One can enjoy the various colorful cultural programmes as well as the authentic Indian cuisine at the mini Food Festival. Hermitage Huts, Rajhans and Sunbird are the three tourist resorts run by Haryana Tourism at Surajkund.

Reaching there:
By Road
Surajkund is 8 km from South Delhi. The approach road branches off from the Mehrauli-Tughlaqabad highway and goes past the Rifle Shooting Range. Alternatively, Surajkund and Badhkal can be approached from the Delhi-Agra highway, turning right before Faridabad.
By Air
Surajkund is 25 km from Palam Airport and 35 minute drive from the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
By Train
The nearest railway junction is Old Delhi railway station. Faridabad and Gurgaon are both connected to Delhi via railway lines. The car/cab/tourist coach is available from the railway station to Surajkund.

Chandannagar (at Hooghly) in West Bengal

Around Kolkata (39 kms from Kolkata)

Chandannagar (Chandernagore) : This former French colony on the banks of the river Hooghly is dotted with churches, convents and other relics of colonial past. A picturesque promenade beside the river hooghly is ideal for strolls; it is also called “Strand”. The city is also known for the Jagaddhatri Puja.

Jagaddhatri Puja: this is, the most important festival of Chandannagar, held in the month of November. Images of the four-armed Goddess are worshipped in houses and at Pandals erected specially for the Puja. After the four-day ceremony, these images are immersed in the river. Also lighting of this festival is very colorful & attractive. If you want to come in Chandannagar, this time of Jagaddhatri Puja i.e. Oct-Nov is the best season for coming.

Visiting places: Chandannagar Museum, Strand (alongside of the river), Sacred Heart Church, Library, Clock tower & Rabindra Vaban at strand, Jora Ghat (Twin quay/ bathing place), Nandadulal Temple, Temple of Maa Borai Chandi, Probartak Ashram, Bhasa Sahid Minar, Patal Bari (Underground home), KMDA & Chhuti park etc. Chandannagar is also called as “Jagaddhatri Nagar” for the famous festival of Jagaddhatri Puja. If you visit the West Bengal, you must visit this charming city for the one time and you will get plethora memorable experiences for lifetime.

Reaching there:
By Train
The city has a small railway station that is well connected to Howrah. Regular trains are available and this is a good option. Few express trains also halt at the station. Autos and taxis can be hired from the station to the city.
By Air
The nearest Airport is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport ( Dum Dum Airport). Distance of Airport to Chandannagar is about 40 kms. You can easily travel from airport to this city by taxi or Bus.
By Road
Chandannagar has good road connectivity and one can reach the place using buses or taxis. The city of Kolkata is situated at a distance of around 39 kilometers from the place.
By River
The city has a small quay (Rani Ghat) of ferry service which is well connected with Kolkata / Howrah by the river ‘Ganga’( Hooghly river). When you travel using the waterway for reaching Chandannagar, you can feel pleasant and see the scenic beauty alongside the ‘Ganga’ river which will be superb experience to you forever.

Darjeeling in West Bengal

Delightful Darjeeling, the ‘Queen of Himalayas’ perched at an altitude of 2,135 metres is said to be named after a Tibetan word, ‘Dorje ling’ or ‘Place of the Thunderbolt’. It is endowed with exceptional scenic beauty and offers a magnificent view of the grandeur and beauty of the mighty Himalayas. The beautiful town is indeed a paradise for holiday and adventure seekers as well as botanists, ornithologists, photographers and artists. The lovely lush woods around Darjeeling are full of conifers like fir, pine and birch and are known for exotic orchids and are home to rich animal and bird-life. The name Darjeeling is also synonymous with the most exquisite tea of the world. There has many attractable tourist spot; these are Batasia Loop(5kms.), Bhutia Basti Monastery, Dhirdham Temple, Chowrasta or Crossroad, Natural History Museum, Tenzing Norgay Mountaineering Institute, Observatory Hill, Lloyd Botanical Garden, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Garden, Japanese Peace Pagoda etc.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR)
The famous Toy Train of Darjeeling is listed among the World Heritage Sites of UNESCO and is a living reminder of the 19th century Darjeeling. It runs between Shiliguri and Darjeeling, covering a distance of 82 kms. on a 610 mm gauge. The mini train is a marvel of rail engineering and weaves a magical spell as it passes through the beautiful landscape teeming with tea gardens, serpentine streams and excellent view points. The Ghoom railway station on this track is located at the highest altitude in the country. One should at least take a joy ride on this magnificent train from Darjeeling to Ghoom.

Darjeeling Ropeway
There are two ropeway systems at Darjeeling. The first one is 1,410 m long, connecting Darjeeling with Bijanbari at the little Rangeet Valley. While the second one is a bi-cable passenger ropeway that connects Darjeeling’s North Point and Singla, covering an aerial distance of 8 kms. It is the first bi-cable passenger-carrying ropeway in India and the longest of its kind in Asia.

Reaching there:
By Air
The nearest airport is Bagdogra near Siliguri, which is at a distance of 92 km from Darjeeling. This airport is connected to Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati. International travelers can get connecting flights from Kolkata or Delhi. Both are well connected with many cities in India and abroad.
By Train
The nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri. This is well connected to most of the major cities in India. The town of Darjeeling is approachable from Siliguri, nearly 80 km away, by Darjeeling Himalayan Railway also known as Toy Train.
By Road
Regular bus services connect Darjeeling with many cities in and around Darjeeling. Siliguri, Kurseong, Gangtok and Kalimpong are well connected by private vehicles also.

Kollam in Kerala

Kollam, one of the oldest sea ports on the Malabar Coast was a flourishing centre of trade and commerce and had trade links with the Arab, China, Greek, Roman and later on with Portuguese, Dutch and British. Early travelers mentioned it as the largest port in the world and its market as one of the finest in India.

Ashtamudi Lake: The scenic lake amidst red cliffs and swaying palms, stretches northwards from Kollam town. The huge lake is named ‘Ashtamudi’ as it branches off into 8 creeks. The eight hour trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is the longest and most enchanting experience on the back waters of Kerala. It also provides extensive facilities for retting coconut husks which makes the district a hub of coir industry. Chinese fishing nets add to the spectacular scenic beauty of the lake.

Kochupilamodu Beach: The model park at the beach is worth a visit.

Thirumullavaram Beach (6 kms. from Kollam): It is yet another attraction of Kollam.

Reaching there:
By Air
The nearest airport from Kollam is Thiruvananthapuram, which is 71 km away from Kollam.
By Rail
Kollam is connected by rail with several important cities of Kerala and India.
By Bus
Kollam is also connected through a well laid out network of roads making it accessible from anywhere in Kerala.