Places to visit in Madekeri, Karnataka, India

1. Abbey Falls:

Abbey Falls also called as Abbi Falls is located 1 km from the town of Madikeri. The waterfall is located between coffee plantations with coffee bushes and spice estates with dense bushes and green trees where the Kaveri river cascades down a rockface.

The falls appear suddenly, the water cascading over rocks into calm pools. The roar of the falls can be heard from the road. The water flow is very high during the monsoon season and during the dry seasons the flow is considerably less. A hanging bridge has now been built across the gorge here offering a good view of the falls.

The best time to visit is early winter when the monsoons bring plenty of water. The falls can be reached by a narrow road from Madikeri. Cars can reach the entrance of these falls from where a downhill walk of 500 metres on slightly paved steps takes one to the waterfalls.

2. Raja's Seat:

Raja’s Seat is a small pavilion with a garden surrounding it; offering a view of the green valley below. According to legend, the kings of Coorg spent their evenings here. The spectacular sunset and the far stretching blue mountains will take ones breath away.

3. Madekeri Fort:

Madikeri fort was first built by Mudduraja in the last quarter of the 17th century. He also built a palace inside the fort. It was eventually rebuilt in granite by Tipu Sultan who named the site as Jaffarabad. In 1790, Doddavira Rajendra took control of the fort.

The palace was renovated by Lingarajendra Wodeyar II in 1812-1814. One can find two life size masonry elephants in the north-east corner at the entrance and a church in the south-east corner.

4. Omkareshwara Temple:

Omkareshwara temple was built by Lingarajendra in 1820. It is located just 1 km away from the heart of the Madikeri. The temple has both Islamic and Gothic style of architecture. There is a tank in front of the temple. There is a footpath leading to a small Mantap.

It is said Lingarajendra killed an honest and pious Brahmin to fulfill his political ambitions. That Brahmin became a Brahmarakshasa and started troubling the king. The king got rid of the so called Brahmarakshasa only when he brought a Shivalinga from Kashi and installed it after building a temple. The shivalinga was named as Omkareshwara and regular rituals were performed. The bars of the windows of the temple were made of Panchaloha and an alphabet ‘lim’ has been placed in between the bars.

Places To Visit In Dubai

1.Dubai Autodrome:

The Dubai Autodrome is the region's first fully integrated motorsports facility. The complex, a part of the Union Properties Motorcity development, not only includes an FIA sanctioned 5.39km circuit, which offers six different configurations, but also incorporates a Race & Driving school and a CIK approved Karting track.

 

Officially inaugurated in October 2004 when it hosted the final round of the FIA GT Championship, the Dubai Autodrome is designed to accommodate all types of motosports events from world class to local. This multi-purpose complex also serves as an ideal setting for concerts and corporate events, whether conferences, seminars, or motoring exhibitions.
Built to world-class standards, the Dubai Autodrome offers manufacturers and racing teams a perfect location for testing, prototype development, vehicle demonstrations, product launches, driver training, and hot weather car research for international manufacturers.

Irrespective of how the facilities are used, the Dubai Autodrome offers a full range of five star corporate hospitality services that guarantees a unique and unforgettable outing.

Located 25 minutes from central Dubai with direct access via a network of modern highways, the Dubai Autodrome is a safe and controlled motoring environment that can accommodate large crowds. It is also a social destination and tourist attraction for overseas visitors.

2.Dubai Beaches:

Dubai has a number of excellent beaches and beach parks.

Dubai BeachDubai's main beaches run along Jumeirah Road. In truth, it is one long beach divided up by hotels and private clubs, interspaced by a few public access beaches. The Jumeirah beaches have soft white sand that slip into the shallow warm turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf.

There is also a public beach at Al Mamzar Park on the Deira side of the Creek. The public facilities include playgrounds, barbecue sites, food kiosks, and picnic areas for families. January temperatures are pleasant so the beaches are full of Europeans.

Summer temperatures can reach 45-50 degrees centigrade with equally high humidity.

3.Dynamic Tower: 

The Dynamic Tower in Dubai is the first Building in Motion to be constructed in the world, and it will herald a new era of architecture and become a symbol of Dubai, the city of the future.

The developer is Rotating Tower Dubai Development Limited of Dynamic Group.

Created by revolutionary architect Dr David Fisher, the mixed use Dynamic Tower offers infinite design possibilities, as each floor rotates independently at different speeds, resulting in a unique and ever evolving structure that introduces a fourth dimension to architecture, Time.

The Dynamic Tower in Dubai will have 80 floors, and will be 420 meters (1,380 feet) tall, Apartments will range in size from 124 square meters (1,330 square feet), to Villas of 1,200 square meters (12,900 square feet) complete with a parking space inside the apartment. the first 20 floors will be an offices, floors 21 to 35 will be a luxury hotel, floor 36 through 70 will be residential apartments, and the top 10 floors will be luxury villas located in a prime location in Dubai, it is destined to become the most prestigious building in the city.

The Dynamic Tower in Dubai will be the first skyscraper to be entirely constructed in a factory from prefabricated parts, it will require only 600 people in the assembly facility and 80 technicians on the construction site instead of 2,000 workers on a similar size traditional construction site, Construction is scheduled to be completed by 2010.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, is considered by many to be a true visionary of the future, Dr Fisher's dreams for the Dynamic Tower in Dubai were inspired by His Highness who said “Do not wait for the future to come to you…face the future.” 

4.Hatta Village (Heritage Village): 

The Hatta Village, or Dubai Heritage Village, is constructed around an old settlement and is a recreation of a traditional style mountain village set in an oasis. The Dubai Heritage Village helps you discover the old world charm of barasti or palm leaves and mud houses. There's a large central fort and tower which overlooks the Dubai Heritage Village. Other added attractions of Heritage Village are falaj, an oasis and vegetated seating areas where you can cool your heels.

Signs in Arabic and English will guide visitors to various sections of the Heritage Village which include an old mosque, dating back 200 years, and the Al Husen Majlis, where the governor of the Heritage Village received guests and visitors. Al Husen contains the conference room, the governor's living quarters and weapons room.
There are several outdoor meeting places and resting areas in Heritage Village known as Al Hadeera, also known as Al Barza in the local language of Heritage Village, where visitors will be served coffee and dates.

Heritage Village of Dubai mainly focuses on the Emirate's past maritime, pearl diving traditions and architecture, the village guide has a storybook that displays some heritage pictures of Dubai, including a tented Bedouin village, ancient armory, wooden chests and cooking utensils.

Dubai dates back 20 to 30 centuries. Hatta village is considered one of the most ancient village locations in the Emirate of Dubai. It is distinguished by its fortified buildings, and has about 30 houses, which have been fully restored to their old Village style. This Traditional Heritage Village was located near the mouth of the Creek, and was created by potters and weavers. Visitors can look back in time and experience some of Dubai's heritage.

In the Dubai Heritage Village, all houses are in the traditional Hatta style, showing a majlis, store, kitchen, master bedroom and children's room. The village is overlooked by two round towers, the Southern and Northern Towers of the Heritage Village, which were built to protect the city from external attacks. These towers of the Village were built in the 1880s, When Shaikh Hasher bin Maktoum bin Butti was the Ruler of the Dubai.

Visitors to Dubai Heritage Village will get a glimpse of the traditional and social life of Dubai's historical villages. In the houses of Heritage Village, there are three rooms inside one house, one of them showing private room used to entertain family and guests, the second room of has scenes of social life of villagers and the third the impact of outdoor life on the Village.

The Palm Tree products house in Dubai Heritage Village contains two rooms, one displaying palm tree products of the Village such as items made a large compound leaf of a palm and the other room of that house shows dates and how to make honey from dates.

Traditional handicrafts house in the vollage shows various types of traditional and regular occupation such as blacksmith, farmer, etc. A photo studio gives opportunities to the peoples and visitors to take pictures of the local people.

The people of Dubai Heritage Village earn money from the visitors. There are traditional works such as dyeing cloths using colours of vegetables, farming, and blacksmiths. Visitors can also rent rooms in the hoses of the village, with the money going to the local house owner. A pearl diving ship carries 10-60 people on board for a tour. The team comprises a captain, some divers, seeb, and other staff of the ship.

Divers often risked their lives to collect pearl from the sea bed. They used to dive deep for more than two minutes to collect a handful of oysters. The season lasted only for six months starting from April because the Gulf waters during this season were warm and safe. A diver displays this skill at the Hatta Village. The Emirate of Dubai was most active in this adventurous occupation and owned about 335 pearl fishing dhows at a time.

5.The World Islands:

The World Islands is a man-made archipelago of 300 islands constructed in the shape of a world map, four kilometres off the coast of Dubai, UAE. Like Dubai's Palm Islands, they are built mainly using sand dredged from the sea.

All the artificial island projects are being developed by Nakheel Properties and were originally conceived by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.

Each island in the archipelago ranges from about 14,000 m² (150,000 square feet) to 42,000 m². The distance between each island will be an average of 100 metres. The entire development covers an area of 9 km in length and 6 km in width, surrounded by an oval breakwater. Roughly 232 km of shoreline has been created. The overall development cost of The World was estimated as 14 billion USD. The individual islands mostly range in price between 15 and 50 million USD, with one island still for sale at a price of 250 million USD.

The project was unveiled on 6 May 2003 by Sheikh Mohammed. Dredging began four months later in September 2003. By January 2008, 60% of the islands had been sold, 20 of which were bought in the first four months of 2007. In January 2008, the final stone on the breakwater was laid, completing initial development. The next phase of the project is to hand over the individual islands to developers.

6.The Palm Islands: 

The Palm Islands are the world's three largest man-made islands, built in the shape of palm trees. They add 120 km to Dubai's coastline, and are so large they can be seen from space with the naked eye.

The project is being undertaken by Al Nakheel Properties (Nakheel Corporation), which is also the company planning the Nakheel Tower, planned to be the world's tallest building at over one kilometre high. Al Nakheel is also responsible for the man-made islands in the shape of the world.

The original two islands were the Palm Jumeirah and the Palm Jebel Ali, announced in 2002. They are in the shape of a date palm tree. The design consists of a trunk, a crown and 17 fronds. There is also a surrounding crescent island, the back of which forms a breakwater for the main island.

The project took four years of methodical planning and exhaustive feasibility studies in Dubai, ensuring that the islands would not disrupt the environment. The first stage of the development of The Palm Islands, included construction of the land foundations, mainly sand transfer and rock placement. The next stage is the building of infrastructure and services, as well as the 300 meter (990 feet) bridges linking the islands to the mainland. The final stage consists of the construction of homes, townhouses, and apartments.

A third island, the Palm Deira, was announced in 2004 by the crown prince of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The third island, the largest of the three, will be built on reclaimed land off the coast of Dubai's Deirah beach.

7.BURJ AL ARAB:

Guess where it is ..?? Again in Dubai, the City of Wonders..!!

The Burj Al Arab is one of the rarest of jewels that can be found in the world. One of the most luxurious hotels in the world, it has earned the name of being the first 7 star hotel; and so far the tallest Hotel in the world.

The name Burj Al Arab in Arabic, meaning "Tower of the Arabs"; has become an iconic symbol of Dubai. The hotel resembles a dhow (Arabian sea vessel) with a billowed out sail. Construction of this massive hotel, began in 1994 and was opened to the public in 1999; after 5 years. These five years saw the taking shape of the first of its kind, hotel built out into the Arabian sea, which was to become the symbol that the Emirate of Dubai, would be eventually identified with.

Places To Visit In Coorg

1.Madikeri Fort:
This 19th century fort, in the center of Madikeri, houses a temple, a chapel, prison and a small museum. The fort offers a beautiful view of Madikeri.


2.Omkareshwara Temple:

Omkareshwara temple was built by Lingarajendra in 1820. It is deidcated to Lord Shiva, it is located in Madikeri town. The temple has both Islamic and Gothic style of architecture. There is a tank in front of the temple with tons of fishes in it and a footpath leading to a small Mantap. The temple has four minarets around it and a dome in the center (similar to a Muslim Masjid).

History says Lingarajendra killed an honest and pious Brahmin to fulfill his political ambitions and there is another story which tells he desired a brahmin girl (apparently as a daughter-in-law though some accounts suggest he wanted to marry her). However her father, a poor brahmin man, refused to give his daughter away in marriage, and Linga Raja was furious because he refused and got the brahmin killed.

On killing the brahmin he acquired the brahma hatya dosha and began to get nightmares,like  falling off the throne. Then he was advised to build a temple to get rid of his dosha.That Brahmin became a "Brahmarakshasa"and started troubling the king. The king got rid of him only when he brought a Shivalinga from Kashi and installed it after building a temple. The Shivalinga was named as "Omkareshwara" and regular rituals were performed.

The Shivalinga now worshipped in the temple has its origins in Kashi. Among the many Shivalingas in Kashi five are considered the most sacred, and Omkareshwara is one of them.

The bars of the windows of the temple were made of Panchaloha and an alphabet lim has been placed in between the bars. Praying to Omkareshwara is thus believed to get rid the sinner of the tormenting ‘Brahmarakshasa’.

3.Talakaveri / Talacauvery:

River Kaveri which is one of the 7 sacred rivers of Sapta Sindhus of the Hindu scriptures, originated at a place is called Talakaveri (head of Cauvery) in the Brahmagiri hills, at about 4,500 ft above sea level. This place is marked by a tirtha kundike or Brahma kundike (small spring/pond) from where the river emerges as a small perennial spring, but flows underground again to emerge a short distance away. It is about 48 kms from Madikeri.

There is a shrine near the kundike and a big tank in front of it where devotees baths before offering prayers. There are 2 temples, a Shiva temple and with a rare and ancient Shiva Linga, and another temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. This temple has a holy Ashwantha tree where, according to legend, the Trimurtis - Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh gave darshan to sage Agastya.

Legends also has it that every year on Tulasankramana day (approximately on 17 October) Goddess Parvati appears in the Kundike as the sacred teerthodbhava. This occasion is marked by the sudden unsurge of water in the kundike and is considered very auspicious

From Talakaveri, steps lead up to the nearby Brahmagri peak, where the 7 great sages called the Sapta Maharishis had performed a special yagna. From the peak, as well as on the drive to Talakaveri, tourists can enjoy a good view of the misty blue Brahmagiri hills.

4.Nagarahole/ Rajiv Gandhi National Park:

Nagarhole National Park also known as 'Rajiv Gandhi NationalPark,' is located 94 km from Mysore. It is spread between Kodagu and Mysore Districts. Located to the northwest of BandipurNational Park, Kabini reservoir separates the two. There were exclusive hunting reserve of the former rulers of Mysore, the park has rich forest cover, small streams, valleys, and waterfalls. Its area stretched to 575 km².

In Kannada, Naga meaning snake and hole referring to streams, rightfully means the place with snake. Set up in 1955, it is one of the best-managed parks in the country, with the office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests situated in Hunsur, about 47 km away from Nagarhole. The climate is tropical; summer is hot and winter is pleasant. The park boasts a healthy tiger-predator ratio, and tiger, bison, and elephant are much more populous here than in Bandipur.

The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Nagarhole, in the Coffee land of Coorg was declared a National park in 1974. It has recently been renamed 'Rajiv Gandhi National Park.' Gentle slopes and shallow valleys surround it on all sides. You find a variety of trees and shrubs often making it a sanctuary for illegal timber traders. Huge herds of Asian Elephants flock here together and it is blessed with wildlife abundance Among reptiles, the marsh crocodile, monitor lizard, rock python and several other species can be found. Aquatic and terrestrial tortoises, frogs, toads and tree frogs and a myriad insects, including some very colourful butterflies, adorn this lovely southern jungle of India.

To the south-east lies the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary while to the west, coffee plantations separate the park from Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary. This entire stretch is one of the finest remaining habitats of the Asian Elephant. Huge herds hang about in Nagarhole, and it’s said that summer is the best time to see them. It is held that Nagarhole is worth visiting in the dry season, when wild animals are spotted in large numbers near the water bodies but don’t bet your money on it. Successive dry spells have shrivelled the water sources so much that the animals feel content lying in the shade, away from view.

Then, as the pre-monsoon showers bring the forest alive with streams, the resident birds start their breeding activities and the air resounds with melodious calls. Sprouting grass in the meadows and view lines attract elephants and gaur in large numbers. As rains intensify, the river resuscitates and the grandeur of Nagarhole slowly begins to unfold.

Places to visit in Mumbai, India

1. Dhobi Ghat:

It's a fascinationg place, a huge human powered laundry factory, where 100s of washermen wash clothes in large concrete wash pens under the open sky. It's a hereditary profession for many and most of the washerman (Dhobi in Hindi) families are working here since last 2 or may be 3 generations and their technique have remained same.

Clothes are soaked up in boiling water with Caustic Soda and then they are flogged on a flogging slab to get rid of stains etc.

After drying them in the open, clothes are ironed with age old charcoal presses with heavy wooden handles. It's a great photo opportunity if nothing else, you can get a view from the bridge next to the Mahalaxmi station. If you have given your clothes for washing, most probably they are being washed here. Most of the local people find it rather amusing that an activity as mundane as washing arouses such curiosity.

2. Jain Temple:

The temple is dedicated to Lord Adishwar (also known as Rushabhdev), the first of 24 Jain "Tirthankaras" (omniscients - also called "Arihants" or "Jinas") of the current era. The temple is presently used by thousands of devotees of the Jain religion for their daily worship. The core belief of Jainism is that "moksha" (freedom from the cycle of birth and death) can be achieved by the three-fold path of right knowledge, right faith and right conduct.

Compared to most Jain temples, it is very large. In addition to the main idol of Lord Adinath, it contains idols of several other Arihants and also many tableaux of scenes from the Jain scriptures. In the outer courtytard there is a small shrine dedicated to Shri Ghantakaran Mahavir, a "deva" (celestial being) whose worship is believed to provide powerful protection from various kinds of harm through the invocation of a special mantra.

All visitors are required to remove footwear before entering the temple (socks are permitted). Women should dress modestly (no shorts, skirts or low-cut tops) and should not enter the temple if they are menstruating.

3. Gateway Of India:

The Gateway of India is of course, the logical place from where to begin your tour of Mumbai. 

After all, you're following in the footsteps of royalty!

The English King George V landed in India in 1911 at this very spot, and the citizens of Bombay pooled money and ideas to build this grand memorial to him.

Gandhi returned to India from South Africa through this very arch. People thronged to the gate to see him, they had heard stories of his success in South Africa. They called him Mahatma - Great Soul.

After Indian independence, the last British soldiers departed through this arch.

But the most important thing about the Gateway is not the arch at all - it's the sea beyond it. You see, it was this deep and safe harbour that first attracted the Portguese, who called it "Bom Bahia" - Good Bay (that's where the city's name comes from).

The Portuguese later gave away the island to the English as part of the dowry of the Portuguese princess Catharine Braganza. And the English East India Company developed Bombay into a major shipping and trading harbour.

So, you see, the city's very existence is because of this stretch of calm water.

To view the Gateway and its environs from the comfort of an aiconditioned ambience, get a table by the window at the Sea Lounge at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel opposite. The Sea Lounge is a quintessentially Mumbai institution and a must on the itinerary of a first-time visitor. Apart from the restaurant itself, the lobby and the staircase of the heritage wing of the Taj Mahal hotel are worth a look.

4. Kanheri Caves:

Located 10 km  from Borivali, and in the midst of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, lies these caves. The word Kanheri originates from Sanskrit word "Krishnagiri"  and means, "Black Mountain".

Considered to be in use during the period of 1st century BC to 9th century AD, primarily by Buddhist monks, the caves were chiseled out of a massive basaltic rock outcropping. Most of the 109 Buddhist caves chiseled out of the volcanic rock are spartan and unadroned simple small chambers, known as viharas. However,  the most appealing is the Chaitya cave, built sometime during the 4th to 5th Century AD, shows signs of decorative woodwork on the roof still present, and is definitely a big draw for the tourists.There are many sculptured statues of Buddha, on the outer sides of the wall, mainly in the Avalokiteswara incarnation. 

                                                                                                        -By Anirudh

Places to visit in Goa, India

1. Maya Lake:
Maya Lake also known as Mayem Lake is situated in Mayem in the Bicholim taluk of North Goa. It is a popular tourist spot in Goa for boating. It is a famous picnic spot for the locals of Goa and tourists alike. On the roadside there are vendors dealing in Goan handicrafts and refreshments boasting of delicious coconut water.

When visiting the Mayem Lake, a trip to the famous Chamundi temple at Piligao is worth a visit. The image of the Chamunda goddess was originally brought from a temple in Goa Velha which was ruined by the invasions of the Muslim ruler, Malik Kafur in 1312. This temple is very old, although having been rebuilt a number of times. The temple tank is quite large and in its centre is a platform stone with ancient carvings.

The crossroads leading from here proceeds towards the Mayem Lake. It leads through a beautiful and natural array of cashew trees surrounding hills and valleys, areca nut palm trees with betel leaves and pineapple plantations. An occasional glimpse towards the coast, one can see the capital of Panjim with the Mandovi River in the far distance. 


2. Arvalam Waterfalls:

The Arvalem or Harvalem waterfalls, which cascades down from the mountains, from a height of 50 metres, is one of the most awe-amazing spots. It is situated at about 2 km from the small town of Sanqilm, and 8 km from Bicholim, in North Goa.


The Arvalem Waterfall is a very scenic and beautiful picnic spot. This charming waterfall is a mind-blowing experience, with Rudra Esha Temple in its vicinity. The temple holds importance for the Hindus who believe in releasing the soul on the 12th day after death.


While leaving the temple of Rudreshwar, one can descend the staircase to look at a majestic waterfall shedding its exuberant silvery showers. The beautiful Arvalem fall, with a head of about 24 feet high, forms a sizeable lake at the bottom, which offers a sizeable temptation to seasoned swimmers.


The best time to visit this site is just after the copious monsoon when it presents a rapturous, ravishing and riotous aspect. The water flow here during the monsoon is quite less. It has a lot of greenery all round with fruit laden trees with various fruits such as bananas, bread fruits and coconut palms to name a few.


The ancient caves in the vicinity adds a touch of antiquity to this picturesque place, which finds a major attraction for the film makers as a favourite shooting spot. The Rock cut caves are just situated nearby. The Government has also developed a park from which the view of the waterfall can be peacefully relished.

3. Chorao Island:

The Tiswadi island of Chorao is situated 5 kms from Panaji. The earliest settlers of the island were 10 families of the Goud Saraswat Brahmins. The people of the island are today known as the Chodankars. The island was earlier called Chudamani, which means 'stunning precious stone' in Sanskrit. According to the locals who call it Chodan or Chodna, when Yashoda the mother of Lord Krishna threw away diamonds, the islands emerged from them. Later it got the name Ilha dos fidalgos (Island of noblemen) as the Portuguese noblemen found the island a pleasurable place to live.


Amongst the first places to be captured by the Portuguese who called the island Chorao, the Chorao Island is a quaint place that has a whitewashed church and some old villas. The island mystifies many visitors as it is screened by a thick hedge mangrove beyond the aquatic swathe. It is known to be the largest amidst Goa's 17 islands which is also bestowed with rich riverine endowments by the Mandovi and Mapusa rivers jointly.


One can reach the Chorao Island by taking a ferry from Ribandhar which is on the road to Old Goa at around 3 km from Panaji. There is also a ferry linking Chorao to Pomburpa on the island's west. One of the roads moves northwards to Mayem and Bicholim and the other road passes uphill by the majestic 16th century church of Sao Bartholomew.


Facing the Arabian Sea, the Sa Bartholomew church was erected in 1569 and founded by the Jesuits. The magnificent landmark reflects the grandeur of Mannerist Neo-Roman architectural style. The church was transferred to the diocesan clergy before 1642 and it was remodeled in 1649. In 1559, the second church dedicated to Our Lady of Grace came up in Maddel. This church was known for its large fairs that were held on the feast day with horses, camels and textiles being traded by foreign merchants.


It is known that in the island of Chorao earlier there existed a branch of a University that was affiliated to the University in Benares. It had its own seat of learning, teaching Sanskrit and ancient literature. On April 2, 1761 when the Oratorians took over the academic responsibilities, a seminary known as Real Colegio de Educacao de Chorao was also established.


The Chorao island also had many ancient temples including Ganesha, Ravalnatha, Bhaukadevi, Mallinatha, Bhagvati, Devki, Santa-Purusha, Barazan, Narayan, Cantessor, Chandeussor and Dadd-Sancol. These were destroyed by the Portuguese and this was the time that the people of Chorao smuggled the deities via Mayem to Naroa and Marcela where they are held.


The Chorao island offers picture postcard views of the towering Old Goa convents. The famous Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary is also situated here. However to explore the sanctuary one needs a canoe as the forest department has no operational boats. A number of soft drink stalls are situated on the ferry wharf on Chorao and one of these hires out a canoe with a guide in season that is from October to April. A drive around the island takes you back to vintage Goa.

                                                                                                            -By Anirudh

Places to visit in Bangalore, India

1. Wonder La Amusement Park:
Wonderla Holidays Private Limited owns two amusement park in the brand name of Wonderla in Bangalore & Kochin. These parks has been set up with International standards and has been attracted more than 13 million people. Both the parks have secured ISO 14001 (environment friendly) & OHSAS 18001 (Safety & Helathy) certification from BVQI, France. Wonderla parks use Reverse Osmosis treated water in the pool and the temparature of the water maintained @ 28 degree celecius. The rides at the park caters to people of all age and follows the system of pay once and enjoy unlimited rides.


2. Shivanasamudra Falls:
Waterfalls present near Mysore on average of 90Km from he city.


3. Lalbagh Botanical Garden:
The sprawling 240-acre botanical garden houses some over 1,000 species of plants including some 100-year-old trees. The construction of Lal Bagh was started by Hyder Ali in 1760 and completed by his son Tippu Sultan. Currently the park hosts a deer park, aquarium, a lake and a small rocky hillock on which is sited one of the city’s four Kempe Gowda Towers and also a Glass House.  Another highlight of Lal Bagh is the Rose Garden; this has almost all the species of roses available worldwide. The Lal Bagh Rock, one of the oldest rock formations on earth, dating back to 3000 million years, is another attraction that brings the crowds. Flower shows are conducted every year to educate people about different flora and help cultivate habit of growing plants among the public.

 The Glasshouse inspired by the Crystal Palace in London is the venue of the annual flower show. This was built in the year 1840. The Annual flower, fruit and vegetable shows held here. Lal Bagh also houses the offices of the Karnataka Horticultural Society that renders free advice and conducts weekend courses in horticulture and flower arrangement to those interested in flowers and gardens. A giant Electronic Quartz Flower clock is also in the garden built by HMT.

4. The Art Of Living:

The Art of Living International Center, founded by H H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is located on the picturesque Kanakapura Road, Bangalore, India. Visalakshi Mantap, an architectural marvel, is the main meditation hall in the campus.

5. Bannerghatta National Park:

Park hours are 9am to 5pm.  Avoid the Sunday rush or go to the zoo early around 9.30am. Avoid hours after 3pm -  you probably won't have enough time to see everything you might like to see. Best visited when less crowded. Eat full breakfast before start your trip.  If you're ok with junk food...plenty is available at this site. Carry bottled water.

The cost of the tickets vary from Rs.35 to Rs.100 depending on the day and type of visit - weekends are higher by approx. Rs. 10-25 for the visits.  The combinations include Zoo visit, Tiger+Lion Safar, Grand Safari (most popular) etc. Expats/Non-Indians pay twice the ruppees as would an Indian.

Camera fee is Rs. 20 and Video Camera is Rs. 110 (you may not want to do this). 

 

There is butterfly conservatory near the zoo (2 mins walking distance).  The cost of the ticket is Rs. 20 in addition to the zoo fees.  

Do the safari tour first, then visit the zoo.  Animals most commonly spotted during the safari are deer, bear, bison (not staged); tigers (staged/caged).  Bus windows have grills (criss/cross wired), for safety reasons, which would obstruct the view for taking photographs and video shooting.
                                                                                                                                  - By Anirudh
           

Places to visit in India (General)

Welcome travel lovers to India. India is a land of opportunity and a land of tourism and fun. There are many package deals to India from all abroad places.

There are many places to visit like for example there are many snow covered regions at North India like Kedar, Gangothri(Birth Place Of Sacred Ganga River) and many passes like Ratang pass,Shplip-la , Jalep-la which connects Kalimpong of West Bengal with Lhasa,the capital of Tibet. Coming down to central India we have Madhya Pradesh and many other regions which are places of birth of many rivers in India(mainly South flowing). This is place for many waterfalls and also Natural beauty of Mother Earth. In south India there are many places like Kerala, Karnataka where in case you have to have a glimpse of the rafting in rivers and also boating (House Boats). Goa and Mangalore are some of the coastal places.

Every time you travel to India make sure that you visit all the above mentioned places as they are places of interest and also for tourism.
                                                                                                                                        - By Anirudh