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.