Year: 2017

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Corporate Outings Travel Trends

Some great and enchanting weekend getaways near Kolkata     

Kolkata weaves a magic of surprises with it the offering of a unique cultural heritage. It exudes an aura of British Indian era through an array of timeless landmarks sketched in its heart. The city of palaces is surrounded by exotic destinations unfolding unforgettable experiences for their travelers.

Apart from the historical treasures in its heart, the subcontinent’s London boasts some of the best getaways in the country. We have compiled you a list of these hot getaways from Kolkata.

Digha, West Bengal, 171 km from Kolkata

Regarded as the Beach Town of West Bengal, Digha is one of the most popular tourist destinations in West Bengal.. The town is visited by thousands of tourists from the state for its exotic beaches and scenic views. This destination is a hot favorite amongst families looking to spend some quality time together.

Digha_Kolkata

This beach town blends a diversity of major attractions. From religious temples to untouched beaches to research centers, there is a variety on offer for people of all age groups.

Sundarbans, West Bengal,125 kms from Kolkata

Regarded for the largest mangrove forest in the world, Sundarbans is a UNESCO heritage site. The site turns out to be one of the best getaways for people looking for some peace, natural beauty, and dynamic flaura and fauna. It is a wildlife sanctuary that is home to over 400 Royal Bengal Tigers and 30,000 spotted deer.

The site is shared by both India and Bangladesh. One of the best ways to explore Sundarbans is by exploring the site. From roaring rivers to wildlife safaris, the experience of being in Sundarbans is mind boggling.

Santiniketan, West Bengal, 179 kms from Kolkata

Santiniketan is mainly popular for being the home of Rabindra Nath Tagore. It has now been converted into a university called Visva Bharati University. It is a small town right in the heart of Birbhum district.

This university was established by the father of Rabindra Nath Tagore. The university got popularity for spreading a different the concept of education in the country. This town has now become one of the most popular tourist destinations in West Bengal. It combines the art and exotic locations like no other spot in the country.

Shankarpur, West Bengal, 161 kms from Kolkata

The world is currently noticing a surge in synthetic pools made out of natural beaches. However, Shankarpur is one of the most precious luxuries you can ever have when it comes to the thrill of beaches. The best part about being in Shankarpur is that you get a chance to explore the pristine surroundings with a tinge of sun dipping in the sea.

Situated right in the heart of East Medinipur district of West Bengal, Shankarpur is a hub of isolated beaches that gives you the luxury of scenic beauties, calmness, and introspection.

Bishnupur, West Bengal, 150 kms from Kolkata

Often regarded as the town of terracotta temples, Bishnupur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in West Bengal mainly for its art, handicraft, and architecture.

This small town in the heart of West Bengal boasts a historical heritage of the country. It presents a mystique aura around its arts, culture, architecture, and music. You can feel it all in the music and Baluchari Saree of the town. Some of the most popular temples of the town are Jorbangia Temple, Rasmancha Temple, and Shyamrai Temple amongst many other.

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Adventure North India Treks

A Snowy adventure trek to Kedarkantha

As winter takes it full form in the Himalayas, it opens its gateway for the adventure seekers to the Kedarkantha Trek. This trek is especially meant to be experienced during winters when the meadow is completely under the blanket of snow. The trek lies in the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.

The Trek

Day 1
The Kedarkantha trek starts from Sankri that goes via Mussoorie, Barkot, Purola, Mori, Netwar along the Tons river. Once you reach the campsite, set your camps to stay overnight. The campsite is surrounded by lofty snow peaks and is a perfect space for bird watching.

Day 2
Resume your journey next day for a destination known as Juda Ka Talab. The picturesque place is surrounded by huge pine trees and provides beautiful views of snow clad peaks right in front of you from the camp.

Day 3
The day three is a trek to Kedarkantha Peak base, which takes approximately 4 hours to reach. Spend rest of the day enjoying the beauty of nature in its full form.

Day 4
Gear up in full form for the next day as it is going to be a long day trek up to the summit of Kedarkantha peak.  The same day you can come back to the base camp. On your way back from Kedarkantha to Sankri, follow the route via Hargaon.

Difficulty level of trek

As compared to other snow treks, Kedarkantha trek is one of the easiest treks in the Himalayas to explore under the blanket of snow. This could be your first snow trek. The duration of the trek is less, but the altitude goes above 2000ft every day you trek.

Who can all go for this trek?

Anyone who is above the age of 7 and is physically fit can go for this trek. Make sure to start working out on regular basis 2 months prior to the trek.  As most of the trek is a steep climb, start preparing by climbing flights of stairs or jogging about 4 km every day.

Best time to go for trek

The best time to go for the trek is during winters. Here, the snow starts in the middle of December and stays until the third week of April. So it is ideally the best time to go on a snow trek.

Risks/ Precautions/Tips

Like any other trek, Kedarkantha trek also demands precautions as there are the number of risks involved.

1. The temperature ideally falls below zero, so it is advised to carry more minus degree clothes
2.  Starting from soil to snow with micro spikes, it might take time for one to get used to it.
3. Temperate at night falls below -7 degree and so there are chances of hypothermia. Prevent it by wearing dry clothes especially before going to sleep.
4. Start working out regularly at least two months before the trek.
5. Purola and Sankri have last mobile connectivity and ATM point. So make sure to make all important calls before you proceed.

Categories
Foodie

Be a proud Delhiite at Cafe Delhi Heights

Cafe Delhi heights located in DLF Place Mall, Saket is everything you desire in a place where you can dine and hang out with your family and friends. The ambiance is amazing, the food is crazy and the place reeks of typical Delhiite vibe from every corner. Being one of the high end and popular places in the entire Select City walk and DLF area, the place is always crowded especially on the weekends. So, we would strongly advise you to book the tables in advance in order to avoid being disappointed.

The average cost per person for dining in the restaurant is approximately 1000 INR.

Ambience

The place is as beautiful and lively as it gets and at the same time ideal for the family outings and romantic dates with your loved ones. The well-decorated walls contrast perfectly with the artistically illuminated interior of the place. The ancient heritage of Delhi, of which the Delhiites seem to be so proud of, can be felt pretty easily once you set your foot inside. The place gives out a happy and positive vibe that would easily make Café Delhi Heights enter your list of favorite places to eat in and around Delhi. Overall, the interiors were beautifully done and certainly a decent one to visit. The music there might captivate your soul, hence you can also call it a paradise for music lovers.

Cuisines

Delhiites are known to be ardent foodies. They know their way around food like no other people. Delhi Heights does a great justice to that aspect of the locales. The menu is diverse and there are food options ranging from the north Indian meals to the Continental, America, and Chinese, for which Delhiites are known to be super crazy.

For the breakfast, you have varied options such as Divine Doughnuts and Oatmeal and Date which would provide you with an amazing taste in your mouth along with the essential nutrients. The place is specifically famous for the delicious burgers it serves which are said to be addictive. The several different varieties of both vegetarian and nonvegetarian burgers are just finger licking. We had a really good time with the Jucy Lucy Burger for what Café Delhi Heights is mostly known for and to our surprise, it was quite large such that a single person just cannot finish it all by himself and so large so two people started binging on it. The chocolate brownie shake is an outstanding one and a must try.

Paani Puri, pepperoni pizza, whole wheat pasta and sauteed broccoli on the boat also serve an incredible experience. The bar menu is quite extensive as well some authentic imported wines and whiskeys, all the best brands you could imagine.

Delhi burger and the American hot dog are two of the most popular meals the place happens to have on their huge menu.

For the deserts we have all the usuals such as ice creams and cakes.

Highlights

The biggest crowd puller aspect of the place is the Delhi theme, but other than that, there are enough good things about the place which somehow makes it a foodie magnet.

One amazing thing about the place is that they provide a complimentary bread basket with butter and potato wedges which satisfies your hunger pangs till the food ordered arrives and the wait becomes a  becomes a lot easier and fun.

Cafe Delhi Heights is one place that every proud Delhiite must be visiting at least once to add on to their gastronomic experiences.

Categories
Adventure Central India

The Haunted ruins of Kuldhara

Rajasthan has a dual nature, you fall in love with it and it can also scare you to death. There are countless places of pure manmade and natural beauty over here and there are plenty of haunted places to stay away from. Bhangarh and Kuldhara are two places famous in all over the world and acts as magnets for the seekers of supernatural experiences. Kuldhara, specifically is known for some scary stories that have been told and retold again and again to the point that it all feels so real.

And even if the stories aren’t enough to scare the hell out of you, there is this thing that the entire village is haunted. Not like other places in the country such as Bhaangarh fort. The ruin in the village reeks of horror and it feels like a ghost is just there staring at you right in the eyes. Literally anytime in a year is good to visit the place but the summers are considered the best. As the sun shines at its very best, the walk into the ruins of the place is made way more expressive. However, if you are one of thoghostbusterter types, the foggy nights in winter will give you the best horror experience of your life.

A 20-kilometre drive to the west of Jaisalmer city with brings you here. Located in the desert, this little village got abandoned by its inhabitants decades ago. But it wasn’t always this way. It used to be a quite happy and prosperous village that was flourishing under the Jaisalmer state. All that was some 300 years ago. The dreaded prime minister of the state Salim Singh had bad intentions for the daughter of the village head and he wanted her to be his wife. Under pressure, the villagers refused to give their daughter and decided to desert the village. Although, before leaving the village, they gave the village a curse that nobody will ever be able to inhabit the place. The legends say that since then whoever tried to stay here intentionally or unintentionally gets haunted by the evil spirits. Overtime, people have made their pact with the fact that this place can never become habitable.

The first monument you witness upon entering the town is a barren place. The remains of the building reek of years of suffering from the changing seasons, rains and desert storms. The place however is a protected area and is maintained this way by the Archaeological survey of India. After collecting the ticket to enter, we fall upon the village which sure looks like it must be full of life once. But now it all looks straight out of a post apocalyptic movie. The roofless walls, the rotten streets and rows of mud all tell a sad story. The story of the people who must have this place as their home and the dreaded reason they left this place for, it all seems so depressing.

There is a place right in the middle of the village which looks like a house. Although most of it has been ruined, still there is pretty much of it that is left intact. There are few rooms with broken furniture, scary walls and everything else that makes you feel the presence of something supernatural. The roof is still intact and gives a great glimpse of the entire village. Although it did seem all scary to us, somehow, the village was accepting us. Maybe the nights would be scarier, but we didn’t wait for it and left.


All these experiences do make us realise that there are some outward forces in the midst of us. These haunted places are a great way to experience the complicated phenomenon that human existence is.

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Festival North India Spiritual Hubs

Memories from Ghats in Varanasi

One of the best experiences that one has while travelling to the holy city of Varanasi is taking a boat ride across the ghats for which the city is famous. These ghats, which happen to be over 100 in Varanasi, are of great significance to the people of Varanasi and the Hindus in general.

There are a few of them though, which you should not miss at any cost if you happen to be in the city even for a very short period of time.

Assi Ghat- The Assi ghat is located right at the place where the Holy River Ganges meets the Assi River. It’s not as crowded or chaotic as the other ghats in the city and it being located at the southern corner of the series of ghats, it’s one of the most beautiful of them all.

Chet Singh Ghat- Other than the obvious, Chet Singh ghat is also known for one other thing. It was the place where Maharaja Chet Singh fought the British troops in the 18th century. There is very grand fort nearby, marking the defeat of the king.

Darbhanga Ghat- Darbhanga ghat is arguably the most impressive, beautiful and architecturally significant ghat in the city. It has a grand palace in its proximity which was built by the royal family of Bihar in the early 1900’s.

Dasaswamedh Ghat- This one is the ghat where the grand aarti takes place every other evening. It is one of the oldest and the biggest tourist attraction in the city. The chaotic vibe of the ghat is not irritating; it’s the extreme opposite, soothes the senses.

Man Mandir Ghat- The amazing Rajput architecture influence makes this ghat separate from the rest. This also happens to be one of the oldest ghats in the city and there is a grand palace right nearby it which is said to have been built by Raja Man Singh of Jaipur in 1600. An additional observatory got added later in the 19th century.

Scindia Ghat- Scindia ghat is picturesque and peaceful to its core with absolute distance from the chaos of the nearby Manikarna ghat, the ghat that burns. Other attraction besides the ghat itself is the submerged Shiva shrine which happens to be partially visible. The temple sunk underwater in 1830 due to some construction work that took place.

Bhosale Ghat- Bhosale ghat looks distinctively fresh and got built by the royal Maratha family of Nagpur. The artistic nature of the ghat makes it quite popular among the tourists as the windows at the top of the building are amazing to watch.

Manikarna Ghat- This is the ghat where most of the bodies get cremated in the entire city. Hindus hold a firm belief if the bodies were burnt here, it would make them free from the cycle of birth and death.

Do’s and Dont’s

Do’s

Do respect the rituals taking place at Cremation Ghats in Varanasi. The fact that they even allow tourists to watch such a personal affair in their lives is incredible but at the same time, you should respect the holy surroundings. Before entering, you should put your earphones in your backpack and avoid indulging into music at such places.

Dont’s

While planning to visit these cremation ghats, do not carry your camera and do not click photographs of cremations and rituals nearby, not even from the river, as it believed to interrupt the soul’s journey to Nirvana and also it is disrespectful to the family members in grief. Also, do not indulge in littering the holy sites.

One can see thousands of people bathing in the Ganges usually at sunrise at these ghats which is a beautiful sight to watch. Don’t miss on going for a boat ride (at early morning or after sunset) and explore the different sounds and tempting smell coming from the alleys.

For bookings to Varanasi, connect with us at ghoomophirosisters@gmail.com

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Adventure Festival North India Spiritual Hubs

One of the wealthiest Tibetan monastery – Hemis Monastery

The Hemis monastery is one of the wealthiest Tibetan monastery located 45km away from the Leh in Hemis, right on the bank of river Indus. The monastery has been dedicated to the prestigious Dugpa Kargyutpa order and is built surrounded by some of the most beautiful visuals in the entire country. The monastery is also ones of the oldest one founded in the year 1630 by the first incarnation of Stagsang Raspa, Nawang Gyatso.

The place is religious primarily, but from a tourist’s point of view, the place has to offer much more. Set amidst the enchanting greenery in the arms of the Himalayan range, the monastery has more than 200 branches, where about 1000 monks pray and live in peace. The richest and wealthiest monastery in India is the Hemis monastery of Jammu.

How to Reach

The monastery is about 45km away from the Leh in the south direction. By road, the visitors can opt for taxis, buses and one can travel through their own vehicle.

It is advisable to keep map while traveling to this place as the route is confusing. By air, flights run on the daily basis from Delhi to Srinagar from where Zoji-la pass road connects to Leh. Interestingly, for those who want to seek some adventure, they can reach the Leh by cycle with a large group of friends through highways.

The monastery is surrounded by majestic mountainous region and is well connected to motorable roads. The bike rides to the monastery are a common sight and one of the most memorable ones at that.

The monks here believe in living the life of grandeur and there is no dearth of necessities being provided to them.

Sightseeing

Impressive and intriguing, the sprawling complex of the monastery is segregated into two parts – the Tshongkhang and the Dukhang. As you take a walk along the corridors, the vividly painted corridors depicting the stories of the Kalachakra and the Lords of the Four Quarters are delight to watch.

The Hemis Monastery is the biggest and the richest in the Ladakh region and it is much evident in the eye-catching gold statues adorning the stupas, embedded with precious stones. The Hemis Monastery also has an interesting library that hosts that an inspiring collection of Tibetan books, relics, manuscripts and more.

You can also find an extensive museum inside the monastery, a little place that documents the history of the Gompa and has some very precious religious treasures. Do not miss the souvenir shop where you can buy curios.

The Hemis Festival

The famous Hemis festival shouldn’t be missed at any cost.  It is celebrated on every 10th day of lunar according to their calendar. The festival is celebrated annually somewhere near the end of June or early July. The monks perform the Chham dance wearing heavy brocade gowns and masks which are a visual treat to the observers. This dance depicts the victory of good over evil.

The festival lasts for 3 days in the month of June.

The monastery provides a great place to stay for the tourists who intend to spend the nights here. The food and butter tea provided by the monks to the tourists are in the house.

Food

Hemis shares cuisine varieties with Leh. Do not miss the different styles of cuisine including the thukpa (thick soup with vegetables), Pava which is made of sattu) ,  khambir and tasty sandwiches prepared with apricot jam.

Here are a few best restaurants to explore while you are here.

  1. Bon Appetit, Leh, Ladakh
  2. Lamayuru Restaurant(Indian Restaurant)
  3. The Nook
  4. Tibetian Kitchen
  5. The Zen Hotel Leh Ladakh

The best time to visit

The best time to visit Leh is the ‘season’ time starting from June, and this is also the time when the Hemis Festival is held. It’s an ideal time to visit as one can cherish the clear skies and take delight in the mountains sparkling in the sun.

Important details you need to know

The Monastery can be visited from 8 AM onwards and it is open every day for the visitors. There is no entry fee for visiting the monastery, but to visit the museum, you will need to buy tickets.

Places to stay in Hemis Monastery

The monastery provides a great place to stay for the tourists who intend to spend the nights here. However, if you do not want to stay in the monastery, there are other resorts and hotels to stay near Hemis Monastery.

Some of the best options to stay are Ratna Hotel Ladakh, Hotel Shangrila, Hotel Royal Palace, Hotel Ladakh Imperial and Hotel Cho Palace.

Categories
Corporate Outings South India Treks

Enjoy the thrill of Betta Rangaswamy Night Trek this weekend

Kunti Betta is a magnificent view of two rocky hills right in the heart of sugarcane and paddy fields. Situated some 125 kms away from Bangalore in Pandavapura of Mandya District, Kunti Betta is surrounded by the lush green coconut trees with the fragrance of deeply rooted cultures in the air. The legends have it that this exotic destination once served as the habitat of Kunti (the mother of Pandavas in Mahabharata) during their exile.

There is a temple right at the foothills of the rock. During monsoons, the place turns lush green. There is a beautiful pond called Kunti Kund. The name of the destination originally is Kunti Betta but colloquially it is known as just Betta.

Traveling to Betta right at the midnight is the journey full of surprises, adventure, and fun. It is advisable to have some light dinner before boarding on the journey of your lifetime. You will have to pass through dense coconut trees and then a school to reach the temple of Kunti Betta.

You can use school area as the parking lot for your trekking. The stairs are guarded by the dense coconut trees. While climbing up the stairs to the temple, you will notice a cave that housed Pandavas during their exile. The Pujaris of the temple now live in that. There are a few rooms in the cave. These rooms are now used by pilgrims from all over the country. The temple of Kunti Betta is right in the middle of two rocky hills. A pillar on the top of rocks is believed to have been used by Kunti.

You should start your Betta night trek from the right side of the pond. You will notice a steeply inclined surface of a single rock. This is where you should step your foot and start your climb. As you trek for a few meters, you will realize that there is an inclination of about 60 degrees or so. Be careful while navigating your way through the slope. You will notice a number of boulders on the side of the trekking path. Soon you will be able to see the Kunti Kund—the famous pond of historical significance. A straight wall will appear. Do not try to scale this wall. Instead, take the right turn from the boulders and keep trekking on that trail. The trail will pass through dense trees.

You will have to crawl through these dense vegetations and sometimes scale up the rocks. Keep trekking until you experience a spectacular view of the natural beauty. You feel glorious just like Pandavas.

One of the best parts about trekking in the night is sunrise. When you are on the summit, the sunrise suddenly starts to collect the dark of the night religiously.

The chanting of Shlokas and sacred noise of the temples fill the environment like they are praising for your victory over the hills.

Be careful while descending as well. You should carefully arrive at Parikrama Point. You will notice some really weird shaped rocks at this point. People say that these were the utensils of the Pandavas.

Categories
Culture Tribal

Bastar, Face of Tribal India

About one third of the total lands of Chhattisgarh are covered with dense forests. And in those deep forests, there are some tribal people, who happen to be largely unaware of what the world looks like outside the forests. Some people belonging to those tribes have somehow peered their way into the more mainstream civilization and it is believed that over 70 percent of the total population of the state is tribal people.

Their lives has been seeped well into their ancient traditions and culture and visiting the places could be one of the most rewarding experience any travel junkie can have. Below is an insight into the different tribes dominating the lands of Chhattisgarh.

Gonds- Gond tribal people, who also call themselves as Koytorias are the most dominating and largely populated people in the state. They are spread across the entire state but southern Chattisgarh’s Bastar district is their primary home. The literal meaning of the word Gond is hill, these people are also known as Hill People. The people of this tribe speak Gondi which belongs to the Dravidian family of languages and relates to Tamil and Kannada. Like many other tribes, Gonds worship a high god known as Baradeo, who has alternate names such as Bhagavan, Sri Shambu Mahadeo, and Persa Pen. Many Gond festivals are connected to agriculture. Pola, a cattle festival, and Nagpanchami, the snake festival, are very popular.

Stick dancing is a Gond custom undertaken by young people, where bands of young people travel from village to village, dancing, and singing. The dancing is regarded as a religious duty and also an occasion for fun. Gonds are protective in nature towards pregnant women and protect them against spells and evil influences, thus performing several rituals after a baby is born. How they welcome their visitors is quite inspiring in itself. Gonds use dried tobacco leaves, fruits, or other small gifts to welcome their visitors. Many villages also have guest huts.

Abhuj Maria– This tribe happens to be one of the oldest tribes in Chhattisgarh who still follows by its rules and traditions. Settled in Abhujmar forests, they are isolated tribal people who have had little contact with other social communities and are known for their aggressive nature. They are cut off and rather hostile to the modernistic adaptations other tribes have witnessed over the years. They don’t like to cover themselves in anything and are largely dependent only on the lion cloth to cover themselves. This tribe mainly resorts to hunting for their survival.

Bison Horn Maria- These people are also known to evolve from the Gond people themselves. They are spread across some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra as well. The name they got is attributed to the headgear that they wear, which somehow resembles horns of a bison. Although that headgear is put on the heads during the special occasions such as marriages, it is enough to distinguish them among the other tribal people in the region.

Muria- Muria tribal people also form a great chunk of the overall population of the state of Chattisgarh and Bastar district. Their native home is the jungles of Narayanpur tehsil. Muria people are known to be quite broadminded people and their economy is primarily agrarian. Rice cultivation is their favorite occupation and in the recent times, they have started sending their youths to the outside cities for better education.

Halbaa- Halbaa people are known to be peace loving and honest to their core. Agriculture is their biggest occupation and they are well respected and popular people. They have a great reputation to be one of the most progressive and contemporary tribal group. They speak Oriya and Marathi primarily along with Chhattisgarhi and their customs and traditions reflect the progressive nature of them. They also speak the Halbi language, an Indo-Aryan language which is written in the Devanagari script.
The tribal people of Bastar are as fearful as they are peaceful. Living in an isolated land, they somehow have managed to survive and are continuing to do so.

Categories
Central India

Bhedaghat the land of striking marbles

Bhedaghat is one of those very few places in Madhya Pradesh that offers perfect combination of the natural and manmade marvels to feel amazed about. Also known popularly as the place of the marble rocks, Bhedaghat is one beauty of a city. Reaching here isn’t also very difficult as the nearest airport, the Jabalpur airport happens to be about 30 kilometres away from the place. Coming here through the roadways is also quite easy and straightforward. Government buses runs in innumerable numbers to the city from Jabalpur.

Home of the Narmada River, Bhedaghat has a lot of things to offer to the visitors. A few among them are listed below.

Marble rocks- Remember the movie Asoka? Starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan? We know you do! The film was extensively shot here. The huge marble rocks are located at the place and are a great source of amazement to the visitors. The gigantic Magnesium and limestone rocks flow freely in the Narmada river and that provides a great view that seems mystical and outwardly. This is one of the biggest attractions in the city and hopefully will keep attracting the massive number of tourists each year.

Dhuandhar Falls-The Dhuandhar Falls famous with the name Smoke cascade, which refers to its name ‘Dhuan’ means smoke and “Dhar” means flowing water. The beautiful picturesque art of Mother Nature, the famous waterfall of north India is located at Bhedaghat 30 km away from Jabalpur. The  Waterfalls are always a definite win when it comes to visiting a place that remains largely under appreciated. As the Narmada Rivers makes its way swiftly through the massive marble rocks, there comes a spot where the distance narrows down to a great degree and that results in the great waterfalls. Dhuandhar literally means crazy and wild, get the idea yourself now.

Boating- Boating is always a great experience and when it takes place amidst some of the most delicious landscapes, it’s worth a lot. Bhedaghat and the Narmada River offer the same to the tourists. A boat ride down the smoothly flowing water of the Narmada River while having a surrounding view of the villages that comes in the way. Most of the boating takes place under the night when the nature is calm and composed. It’s just you, your loved ones and the clear sky full of stars.

Chausath Yogini Temple- This particular attraction is for the more religious ones among the tourists. Dedicated to the fierce goddess Durga, the temple is said to have been built in the 10th century. There is intricate stone work that has been done on the inside along with the very magnetic idols of the goddess that reeks of artistic brilliance.

Soapstones Artifacts- If you happen to be one of those very few people interested in the intricate stone work, then you must take a look at what artists of this little place are actually capable of. The locales are quite well versed in giving some amazing and delicate design to the marbles. You can’t leave the city without buying a few of them.

Travel Tip

Bhedaghat is open for visitors in all seasons but travellers must note that boating remains closed in monsoon season i.e. from July to September.

Categories
National Parks North India wildlife

Dudhwa national park is a great paradise for wildlife enthusiasts

Dudhwa national park is a big natural habitat for India’s diverse flora and fauna and lies on the India-Nepal border in the Terai district of Uttar Pradesh. It happens to be a part of Dudhwa tiger reserve and one of the most visited national park for the researchers and tourists alike in the entire country.

The rich and extremely fertile Indo-Gangetic plains play a pivotal role in supporting a flamboyant growth of forests diversity of fauna. Some of the best forests of ‘Sal’ tree in the world, amongst other flora can be found here.

Sprawling across an area of 811 square kilometers of marshes, grasslands, and dense forests, Dudhwa National Park is acknowledged as an unexplored paradise beholding the nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and bird watchers. The main attractions of the park are Swamp Deer and Tigers species.

How to reach

The place is at a distance of about 600 kilometers from Delhi and a drive of 9 hours will take you here. Or take a train to Shajehanpur from where the park is at a distance of 40 kilometers. The nearest airport is Lucknow airport, from where it may take 4 hours to reach the park.

Sightseeing

Dudhwa National Park is home for over 38 species of mammals, 16 species of reptiles and 400 species of birds. The park comprises two core areas: Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur wildlife sanctuary.

Out of the many attractions, the park has for you, tigers and swamp deer are two most beautiful and endangered species one can see. Hispid hare, one of the most exotic species of rabbits which was considered to be extinct three decades back, was later found right here in the park. So, in a way, there may be some pleasant surprises waiting for you here.

The other animals one could see here are sambar deer, barking deer, spotted deer, hog deer, tiger, Indian rhino, sloth beer, ratel, jackal, civets and jungle cats among many other common wild animals. Other that, there is barasingha, a rare deer species that is hardly found anywhere else in the world. A study that was undertaken on the population of barasingha revealed that of all the barasinghas present in the world today, half of them are right here in Dudhwa national park. One can easily spot the herd of this rare animal walking around casually in the park in its very natural habitat.

Birds

Dudhwa national park is a paradise for birds. Some rare species could be found here, along with the migratory birds that cover a distance of about half the earth to be here. There are more than 350 species of birds that can be witnessed here any day. Of them, there are some special species that are rare such as swamp francolin, great slaty woodpecker and Bengal florican. In winters, the migratory birds settle their bases in the park and leaves as soon as the winter ends such as bulbuls, sales and minivets.

There are also the drongos, barbets, cormorants, ducks, geese, hornbills, bulbuls, teal, woodpeckers, heron, bee-eaters, minivets, kingfishers, egrets, orioles, painted storks, owls. There are other common species as well. In short, it can be said that Dudhwa national park happens to be a sure shot delight for the avid bird watchers and photographers. The Bengal florican has always been in the highest demand when it comes to wildlife photography and a survey revealed that most of the photographers head here from across the country and the world to catch the beautiful bird in their cameras.

Conclusion

India is a diverse country, and so is the animal kingdom that lives here. Among all the other national parks, Dudhwa is one of the ideal in the country for wildlife enthusiasts.

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