KASHMIR-The Paradise on Earth

DAL LAKE -Ready for boating ?

Kashmir is called and known as the Paradise on Earth because of its   natural widespread beauty. It is located in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent.

Attractions:

 Dal Lake,Gardens-Shalimar, Nishat ,JNMBotanical & IGMTulip, Gulmarg(for experiencing snowfall) and Pahalgam

TULIP

How to reach: You can reach Srinagar by air, rail and road .Road journey is tire-some. Rail is only up to Jammu. So, better transport is by air even if it is costly.

By Air: 

Nearest domestic Aerodromes: Srinagar (14 km to the city) Jammu (357km to Srinagar by road. Flights are available from here) Amritsar ( Srinagar flights from here) Delhi (Srinagar flights are conveniently available.Delhi is also well connected with international and domestic flights  

By Rail:

Nearest Railway station:              Jammu Tawi-This is the nearest railway station to Srinagar, which is at a distance of 290 km. Jammu railway station is well connected to all major cities in India by rail. Direct train services are available from Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Trivandrum. Taxi services are available from Jammu to Srinagar and the fare is about Rs 6,000. You can also get govt. buses to Srinagar. For railway booking and informations visit www.irctc.co.in

By Road:                    Srinagar is well connected by road with major cities like Delhi (876 km), Chandigarh (646 km), Leh (424 km) and Jammu (258 km).There are good services of Buses and Cabs available.

A MYRIAD VIEW OF TULIP  FLOWERS

Accommodation:               In Srinagar, there are hotels to suit every requirement in terms of price, location and facilities. The most desirable location for a hotel is considered the Boulevard, which overlooks the Dal Lake. Hotel rooms that overlook the lake cost more than those opening in the opposite direction. Dalgate, which is fairly central for shopping and nearest to the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), has mostly budget accommodation. Some good hotels are also located in Sonawar and Rajbagh, which are largely residential areas within 2 kms of the TRC. Also there are several hotels on Residency Road, which is right in the middle of a shopping centre, very close to the TRC. Lal Chowk, in the city’s centre, has several medium category hotels, mostly preferred by visit

HORSE RIDING AT PAHALGAM

J&KTDC (Jammu Kashmir Tourism development Corporation) ,the govt. owned agency, provides accommodation on reasonable rate. It`s hutments at Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Patnitop are furnished and attractive for those who have their own transport. It has also hotel blocks where rooms are allotted for transit visitors. Advance booking is necessary for these rooms. The J&KTDC has also started 80-roomed Heemal hotel which is conveniently located on the Boulevard. For booking and other details visit www.jktdc.co.in

SNOWFALL AT GULMARG

Things to remember:       Avoid travel by road possibly, even though we    could enjoy the beauty of valley and hills covered with snow.

Select hotel for accommodation judiciously. Don’t forget to take sweater, jacket and sports shoe. (To visit Gulmarg jacket is compulsory. This is available there for hire. But, don’t expect clean one)

For communication Post-paid mobile phone is must

MUGHAL GARDEN NISHAT

AMRITSAR-The Holy City

Golden temple in "holy pool of nectar"

The name of the city,Amritsar, derives from the name of the pool around the Golden Temple and means "holy pool of nectar" (Amrit: elixir; Sar: lake). It is the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion, and they are rightfully very proud of the city and their very beautiful and unique Gurdwara (place of worship).

Best time to visit :

Between October and March

Main attractions:

Golden Temple, Jallianvala Bagh, Matha Temple, summer palace of Maharaja Ranjith singh, Ramthirth and Wagah border

How to reach:

By Air: Amritsar International airport is about 11Km away from the city .Domestic and international flights are available here. Almost all domestic flights are connected with Delhi. Direct flights from ….are also available to Amritsar. International flights from London, Doha, Toranto, Bergama, Barcelona, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Birmingham, and Bratislava operates to Amritsar.

By Rail: Amritsar is well-connected with Indian cities by rail. For train schedule, seatavailability,fare etc. please visit  http://www.indianrail.gov.in/between_Imp_Stations.html

By Road: Amritsar is well-connected by bus to most major cities and the northern areas within a day’s drive.  JALANDHAR is about 80 kms from here, KAPURTHALA (royal city) is about 65 kms from here. There are daily direct buses to Delhi, Jammu,Srinagar,Katra, Chandigarh etc. You will also get luxury/Volvo buses from  Delhi, Chandigarh and Katra to Amritsar. Best HAVELIS (hotels) are on the way from Delhi to Amritsar.

Wagah Border in Ceremony

Large number of hotels and guest houses are in Amritsar with comfortable rooms to suit your budget. Some budget hotels are given hereunder.

Hotel PR residency

Akal Residency Hotel

CJ international Hotel

Singh International Hotel

Shiraz Regency

City Heart Hotel

Hotel Teg Royal

Grand Hotel

Many web sites are available for hotel review and booking. As far as possible, book hotels directly after seeing the review. You will get phone number and site address of hotels from the sites.

Jallianvala Bagh

Things to Remember:

If you are travelling in summer (April-June), carry only cotton garments, shorts, light colored clothing. A trip in winter season (October-February) necessitates woolen clothing as the temperature often touches sub-zero levels.

Budget travelers can minimize their expenses by eating as often as possible at the Langar (The Common Kitchen) in the Golden Temple and other gurudhwaras.

When you visit the Golden Temple, make sure you leave your footwear out and cover your head with a piece of cloth. Visit the temple early morning so as to avoid long waiting.

Jallianvala bagh is very near to the golden temple at walkable distance.

Wagah border is 27 Km away from Amritsar. To get seat for seeing border ceremony, you should reach there by 3.30 PM

AGRA- the city of Taj Mahal

FRONT VIEW OF TAJ

Agra is the city of TAJ MAHAL, one of the wonders in the world. It is in Uttar Pradesh, the northern state of India, and 200 Kms away from Delhi. 

Main Attractions:

Taj Mahal : This is the world famous white marble mausoleum built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife ,Mumthaz.

Agra Fort :   Built by the Mughal emperor Akbar,grand father of Shah Jahan, in 1565 AD (4.7 Kms  from Agra cantonment railway station)  

 Fatehpursikri: An epic in red sandstone built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1564 AD(39 Kms from Agra city)

AGRA FORT

How to reach:

By Air: Delhi International Air port is the nearest air port which situates 200 Kms away from Agra. Reaching Delhi by flight is very easy. Because this city, capital of India, is well connected domestically and internationally with other cities of the world by air.

By Rail: Agra is connected with other cities of India by rail. From Delhi you can reach Agra within 3-4hrs by superfast and express trains. For booking and enquiries visit http://www.indianrail.gov.in/between_Imp_Stations.html. The nearest railway stations to Taj Mahal are Agra fort and Agra cantonment. The distance from these stations to Tajmahal is 3 Kms and 6 kms respectively. Trains coming from Delhi stop at Agra Cantonment and trains from Varanasi stop at Agra fort. Taxi and Autoriksha services are available at both stations.

By Road: Agra is also well connected to the major cities by road. Delhi, Chandigarh, Mathura, Kanpur, luck now, Varanasi and Jhansi are some of them. All kinds of buses, luxury, A/C, non A/c etc., are available from these cities.

INNER SIDE OF AGRA FORT

Accomadation:

(Under Govt )

o   UPSTDC Taj Khema, Eastern Gate Taj Mahal, Tel : (0562)2330140.

o   Youth Hostel, Sanjay Place, M.G. Road, Tel : (0562) 2854462.

o   District Board Guest House, Baluganj, Agra,

o   PWD Inspection Bungalow, M.G. Road, Agra Cantt.

o   Railway Retiring Rooms, Agra Cantt. Railway Station.

o   Railway Retiring Rooms, Agra Fort Railway Station, Tel : (0562)2464131.

o   Archaeological Survey Rest House, Fatehpur Sikri Campus.

Agra Club Mall road - 2226579

There are many hotels in private sector too. Choose hotel according to your requirement in terms of facilities and location.

TAJ (In a different angle)

For Tourism information contact:

UP. Govt. Tourism office, 64, Taj Road, Agra Tel : (0562)2226431, e-mail:agrauptourism@gmail.com, touristbeuro@dataone.in

Government of India Tourism Office, 191, The Mall, Tel : (0562)2226368, 2226378

U.P. Government Tourist Reception Counter, Agra Cantt, Railway Station, Tel : (0562)2421204

Entry Fee For Taj Mahal

S.No. Tourist Type Amount (Rs.) (Inclusive of ASI & ADA fees ) 1. Foreign tourist 750/- 2. Citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC Countries 510/- 3. Domestic/Indian Rs. 20/-

Note- For all the World Heritage Sites tickets are available on Ticket Counters of World Heritage Sites in India. A composite ticket of Taj Mahal (Inclusive of ASI & ADA fees) is available at all World Heritage Sites in india. No Entry fee for children below the age of 15 years. (both Domestic and Foreigner)

Things to remember:

·        Fridays are holiday for Taj. Don’t travel this day. It opens from sunrise to sunset on other days.

·        Use disposable foot wears (Poly foot cover which is available) while walking on basement of Taj during summer to avoid foot burn. 

MAIN ENTRANCE TO TAJ