Vijayadurg

Introduction And History : Vijayadurg, initially known as Gheria, is one of the strongest marine forts on the west coast of India. It was enlarged by the Bijapur rulers and then widened and resurrected in the mid-17th century by Sivaji, to whom it owes its triple line of fortifications, towers and also its new name, Vijayadurg – The Victory Fort. During the time of Kanhoji Angre (1667-1729 AD), the naval chief of the Marathas, the fort was so strong and firmly held that it successfully withstood assaults of the European maritime powers. However in 1756 AD, it could not resist the combined forces of Peshwas and the English forces. The victory fort had the mainstay of Peshwas till 1818 AD before it was surrendered to the English.

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What To See : The great Maratha ruler Chatrapati Shivaji used Vijaydurg as naval base during his reign to fight against his enemies. So this place has lots of historical sites to see apart from the picturesque beaches and the temples dedicated to Hindu deities renowned in the Maratha pantheon. The must watch is the Vijayadurg fort, the victory fort, built by Shivaji in the 17th century. The best time to visit this grand Victory fort is from September to April.

Things to do : Vijayadurg, also known as, the Victory Fort is one of the coastal forts of Maharashtra. The speciality of this place is that its beach is hidden from view and not obvious to the casual visitor, so one has to explore a little more to locate it. The drive to Vijayadurg is extremely beautiful and the bucolic countryside with well-surfaced roads makes it a lovely journey that will live in your memory for a long-long time.

Accomodation : Accommodation available as you visit this grand fort is available at the Vijaydurg village. It is not the most luxurious ones but travellers will not be able to complain about the comfort.

Mode Of Transport : Nearest airport is of Goa. This fort can also be reached by road or train from Mumbai, Goa or Mangalore. Cabs are the primary mode for local transport.

Related links : Tourist information : www.geocities.com/trekforts/f_vijaydurg.html

See also (Nearby places):Sindhudurg fort, the ancient Rameshwar Temple, Kunkeshwar temple on the beach, a trek to Padagar waterfalls (highly recommended for the adventurous), beaches at Goa, mangalore, Pune and Mumbai.

Sindhudurg

Introduction And History : Sindhudurg is an important historical place in Maharashtra. It is situated along the Konkan coast and can be reached from Goa as well. It was once a strong naval base of the Maratha rulers and the Sindhudurg fort bears testimony to the Maratha supremacy and power, especially during the reign of Sivaji.

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What To See : Sindhudurg is famous for its serene and beautiful beaches, temples, historical forts and folk art forms like Dashavtar, Chitrakathi, Pangul, Keertan, and Dhangiri dance. The best time to visit Raigad fort is from October to March.

Things to do : The most famous attraction here is the Sindhudurg fort, from which the town gets its name. The fort itself is very extensive, a little less than 2 miles round the ramparts. It is a visible testimony to the Maratha martial supremacy, under the great Shivaji. Even the temples within its premises are temples dedicated to Bhavani, Mahadeo, Jarimai, Mahapurush and Shivaji. Some of the other temples here are the Kunkeshwar temple, Rameshwar temple and the Redi Ganapari temple in the nearby areas.

Accomodations : There variety of accommodation available to people visiting Sindhudurg. One can choose comfort to budget hotels depending on one’s pocket. Cabs are perfrece means of transport for to take a look around at this beautiful place.

Mode Of Transport :Nearest airport is of Goa. This place is also well connected via road from bus or train from Mumbai, Goa or Mangalore.

Related links:• Official website: http://sindhudurg.nic.in

See also (Nearby places): Vijaydurg fort, the ancient Rameshwar Temple, Kunkeshwar temple on the beach, a trek to Padagar waterfalls (highly recommended for the adventurous), beaches at Goa, mangalore, Pune, Mumbai.

Shiridi

Introduction And History : Shirdi is the home of the famous Indian saint Shri Saibaba, and is a small town fragrant with the devotional strength that ropes in devotees from not only India but also the world over. It is one of the most revered among the spiritual destinations of India and is situated in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra near the sacred city of Nasik. Both Hindu and Muslim pilgrims visit this town from far corners of India and tourism in Shirdi is gaining huge popularity, drawing considerable number of foreign tourists as well.

What To See : There is nothing particularly attractive about Shirdi. Saying so, an abundance of profoundly not so aesthetic pink, white and yellow concrete has nudged out the green spaces that must have once defined the landscape. And the odour of mercantilism simply pervades the air from hotel proprietors to street vendors to the temple authorities; everyone appears to have acquired breathtaking savoir-faire in the practice of peddling the Sai Baba phenomenon. The best time to visit this divine place is from the months of September to April.

Things to do: As a tourist of Shirdi, it is expected that you offer prayers at the temples located at Shirdi; also go for excursions to various tourist spots from Shirdi, take strolls in the lush green gardens of the region. The key attractions of Shirdi are Sai Baba mandir (temple) and his samadhi (memorial), Dwarkamai (mosque), Gurusthan, Chavadi, Lendi Baug, Maruti Mandir, Chawadi and Samadhi of Abdulbaba.

Accomodations : Although Shirdi is a small place, you can avail accommodation of the highest class here. It has the accommodation for every devotee who comes there.

Mode Of transport : Nearest Airport is Nashik and nearest rail station is Kopergaon. You reach Shirdi by road taking Ahmednagar-Manmad highway. You can also take taxi from Aurangabad, Pune or Mumbai.

Related links: Related Website: www.shirdi.org.uk

See also (Nearby places): ): Nashik, Pune, Sakori, Shanisinghnapur, Ajanta and Ellora caves.

Sarkhej_Roja

Introduction and History :Sarkhej Roja is a small city of forgotten times. Located 10 Kilometers outside Ahmadabad, the complexes and buildings that it houses are reminiscent of the Muslim era in India. Renowned for its architectural beauty, the complex comprises of tombs of kings, mosque, summer palaces and also memorials of priests. The surprising fact is that elegant buildings in the city show great influence of Hinduism than that of the sarcenic style that was prevalent in Ahmadabad in olden days. It was home to a great Sufi saint Sheikh Ahmed Khattu. He was a close friend and an advisor to Sultan Ahmed Shah. The saint is said to have lived till the age of 111 years. He died in 1445, after which the Sultan ordered the construction of a mausoleum and a mosque in his honor. The Roza of Sarkhej is very famous. The buildings are well-noted for the complete absence of arches and the use of pierced stone trellises.

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What To See :Visit the Mausoleum of Azam and Mu’assam, who were responsible for Sarkhej’s architecture.The Mausoleum of Mahmud Begara, his queen Rajabai is an interesting monument. The Tomb of Ahmad Khattu Ganj Buksh is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Sarkhej Roza. The main attractive and big roza of Saint Ahmed Khatu Ganjbux is in the middle of the complex. There are intricate carvings on the walls and tombs withTraceries carved out in marble stones. Sarkhej Roja is ideal to visit anytime of the year. The view of the setting sun really looks great from this place.

Things to do: Shoping at law garden evening markets, also check out the roadside food stalls.Sarkhej Roza also organizes exhibitions for its visitors

Accomodations : One can stay at Ahmadabad where hotels are available. Comfortable hotels are available from 2500 to 12000 rupees per day.

Mode Of Transport : Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel airport at Ahmadabad provides adequate air facilities. Ahmadabad is very well connected with rest parts of the country by train. Located at a distance of 10 kilometers from the southwest of Ahmadabad, Sarkhej Roja is easily accessible by well-connected roads.

Related links:
• Official website: www.sarkhejroza.org

See also (Nearby places): Adalaj Wav, Gandhi Ashram, Jama Masjid, Akshardham Temple, Law Garden Market, Kankaria Lake and Shanku Water Park.

Raigad fort

Introduction And History :Raigad fort, also known as Shivaji’s fortress, is a hill fortress situated in the modern day Raigad District of Maharashtra, India. The great Maratha king Shivaji made the fort his capital in 1674 when he was crowned king of a Marathi kingdom which later developed into the Maratha Empire. During the times of war of independence, the British named it as ‘Gibraltar of East’ as they repeatedly got defeated while trying to capture this fort.

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What To See :Raigad fort gives you the immense insight into Shivaji’s lifestyle and his aura. Travellers will get opportunity to know trivial information ranging from his faithful dog, Waghya, to the story of the village names Chhatri Nizampur. The best time to visit Raigad fort is from September to November.

Things to do: Even though there are no grandiose remains, it’s an incredible experience just to be up there. The views are immense and to go during the rains you to realise that the fort was built as high up as the clouds. Takmak Cliff and Lingmala Rockface can be exhilarating for rock climbers. On the top, there is the gutted Queen’s Palace to see, as well as the granaries, Raj Bhawan and Takmak Tok, or the punishment point, from where Shivaji’s enemies were unceremoniously hurled down into the valley. There is also Gangasagar Lake, which apparently has waters from the Ganga brought here for Shivaji’s coronation, Jijamata Palace and Jagadishwar Temple nearby to visit.

Accomodations :Raigad is called the tourist delight as one can have food and accommodation at the price that suits to every pocket. The place has some luxurious accommodations that can arrange an awesome trip of an entire area.

Mode Of Transport : Nearest railway station is Veer on the Konkan Railway. Nearest airport is at Pune which is 126 kilometres away. Via road Raigad can be reached from Mumbai, Pune, and Malad. Ropeway is available to reach Raigad fort.

Related links: Tourist information: http://www.raigadropeway.com

See also (Nearby places): Mahad and Kakneshwar.

Panhala fort

Introduction And History :Located 18 kilometres North-West of Kolhapur, Panhala fort was discovered by Raja Bhoja in the later 12th century. It is said that temple has connection with God Parashurama as well. Panhala fort, which carries a rich heritage, is the largest of all the Deccan forts. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is believed to have spent more than 500 days in this fort. It was constructed completed during the time frame from 1178-1209 AD.

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What To See : The fort comprised of three magnificent double walled gates, out of which two have survived. The Teen Darwaza, to the west, is an imposing and powerful structure. There are a number of ruined monuments in the fort that will take back you in time. The most impressive among them are the three huge granaries. The best time to visit Raigad fort is from October to December.

Things to do: Apart from historical significance, Panhala is famous for trekking. The places to visit at Panhala are Ambarkhana, Sajja Kothi, Ambabai temple, Sambhaji temple, and Nayakini Sajja. Panhala also offers other tourist attractions such as Someshwar tank and Andhar Bav. Since Panhala is close to Kolhapur, the streets of Panhala are famous for selling Kolhapuri chappals that is a speciality in this region. A few kilometres away from the Panhala fort is the Raj Dindi.

Accomodations :Accommodation is available at the hotels and rest houses in Kolhapur. The cost for accommodation is affordable for every tourist.

Mode Of Transport : Nearest airport and railway head is Kolhapur. It is 428 kilometres from Mumbai by road. There are regular buses and luxury coaches that run between Kolhapur and the Panhala Fort.

Related links: Official website: http://www.kolhapur.nic.in

See also (Nearby places): ): Dajipur Bison Sanctuary, Ganapatipule Beach, Tarkarli Beach, Sindhudurg Fort, Vishalgad Fort, Gajapur Hills, Bhudargad Fort, Paargad Fort, Narasimha Wadi and Amboli.

Nashik

Introduction And History :Situated at 185 kilometres from Mumbai, Nashik is also known as ‘Grape city’ or ‘Wine capital of India’, is located on the banks of river Godavari in the western Ghats region. The city echoes with history and religious fervour. Nashik has been a centre of religion since the 1st century BC, when Buddhist monks lived there. Indian mythological saga Ramanayan says, Lord Rama and his wife Sita resided here for sometime during his 14 years of exile from the kingdom of Ayodhya. The Mughals named Nashik as Gulshanabad after they were over awed by the natural and scenic beauty of this place.

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What To See :There are holly places like Ramkunda, Muktidham temple, Pandavleni caves and Trambakeshwar that can make a visitor known to great Ramayana and Mahabharata. Additionally, there are many other places like Sita Guha, Kapaleshwar mandir, Thapovana. Ganapur waterfalls is near to Nashik to have some fun. The ideal time to visit Nashik is from October to March.

Things to do: Nashik is one of the four destinations that hold Kumbh Mela every four years. The trip can be real religious if the travel is planned during this time For treckkers Trambakeshwar offers a great experience by climbing down the mountain to know the origins of river Godavari. Pandavlene caves are known for their imaginative water storage. It has total 24 caves.

Accomodations : Nashik is called the tourist delight as one can have food and accommodation at the price that suits to every pocket. The place has some luxurious accommodations that can arrange an awesome trip of an entire area.

Mode Of Transport : Nashik has an airport, railway station and also a major road link in the state of Maharashtra. The common mode of transport within the city is Auto rickshaw.

Related links:
• Official Website: http://www.nashik.com
• Additional information: http://www.nashik.net.in

See also (Nearby places):): Holy city Shirdi, Dudhasgar waterfalls, Saptashringi Devi Temple, Nandurmadhmeshwar, Bhandardara, Jawhar hill station, Radha falls, Arthur lake, Ratangadh Fort, Amritheshwar Temple, Bhandardara Dam, Jai Vilas and Nandur Madhameshwar Bird Sanctuary.

Lothal

Introduction And History : Lothal is located 80 Kilometers to the south-west of Ahmadabad in Gujarat. A visit to Lothal offers a glimpse into one of the oldest civilizations of the world, The Indus Valley Civilization. Discovered in 1954 and dating from 2400 B.C. It is the first site excavated in India. Lothal means ‘Mound of the Dead’ and it was an important city that served as a trading link between Harappan cities in the north-west and the Saurashtra peninsula. The city’s archaeological prominence is due to a dock-the world’s earliest, built by the Harappans, that was connected to the sea through the Saraswati river and a magnificent warehouse. The people of Lothal were skilled in bead-making and artistry. They carried on flourishing maritime trade(beads and gems, jewels, seals, imported ceramics, terracota models of Mummy and even gorillas, gold beads, seal of Persian origin) with the countries in West Asia and Africa.

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What To see : Lothal is the place to visit the vast ruins of the ancient city. The most important being the ancient dockyard, the acropolis, the lower town, the bead factory, the warehouses, and the drainage system.
The archeological museum is another attraction which houses the artifacts excavated here such as mirrors of bronze and copper, perforated and painted potteries, toy bullock carts, beads, jewellery and a variety of objects made from stone, shell, and bone. The museum also displays seals from Bahrain, terracotta figures from Sumeria, and objects from Egypt that was imported by these people. Also on display is a plaster of Paris model of the city based on reconstructions made by archeologists. October to December is the best reason to visit Lothal.

Accomodations : Accommodation is a little problematic in Lothal. There is only one hotel to stay at, The Palace Utelia about 7 Kilometers from Lothal. Even finding tea-stalls is difficult in this lonely place.

Mode Of Transport : Ahmadabad is the nearest Airport, which is well connected with other parts of the country. From there travelers can take train till Burkhi from where a rickshaw can be hired to go to Lothal.

Related links:
• Tourist information: http://www.ahmedabadcity.com/
• Historial information : http://www.harappa.com/

See also (Nearby places):Adalaj Wav, Nal Sarovar Bird sanctuary and zoo.

Lonavala_khandala

Introduction And History : With 5 kilometres distance between each other, Lonavala and Khandala lie on a Mumbai-Pune highway at an altitude of 625 metres. This twin tourist destination is very popular as health resorts, also as most visited hill stations in Maharashtra, and visited by numerous tourists from all across the world throughout the year. There are a number of sanatoria dotting the hills in both towns. Khandala is smaller and the quieter of the two. Both Lonavala & Khandala offers scenic views of the hills surrounding them. The monsoon, with appealing waterfalls is very enchanting at these hill resorts of Maharashtra.

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What To See : Lonavala and Khandala offer breathtaking views of cascading waterfalls during the monsoon, and the surrounding mountains of the plains spread out to the horizon. A trip to these holiday resorts can be combined with that on the Karia, Bhaja, and Bedsa caves, which are very close to Lonavala. The best time to visit this amazing wild life home is from the month of October to May.

Things to do: There are numerous lakes around Lonavala and Khandala. Lakes such as Tugauli, Lonavala and Bhushi are worth a visit; so is the Valvan lake, which has a beautiful dam, a garden as well as a Pisiculture centre. Adventure lovers can try their luck at rock climbing at the Duke’s Nose peak and other areas in the Karla hills, near Khandala. At a distance of 16 kilometres from Khandala, travelers can visit the Karla and Bhaja Caves, one of the greatest tourist attractions of Khandala.

Accomodations : Plenty of hotels are available in Lonavala/Khandala to suit every budget and pocket size.

Mode Of Transport :Nearest airport is situated at Pune. Lonavala and Khandala are 104 kilometres from Mumbai and 64 kilometres from Pune on the Mumbai-Pune highway. You can take train up to the nearest railway station Lonavala or Khandala.

Related links:
• Related Website: www.lonavalakhandala.com/

See also (Nearby places): Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Pune, Mumbai, Bhaja caves, Bedsa, Chaitya caves, Karla caves, Kune Falls and Lohgad Fort.

Chamba

Introduction and Histroy :The quintessential town of Chamba is located on the banks of river Ravi, north-western part of Himachal Pradesh in India. Chamba blossomed as the ancient capital of the Pahari Rajas. It was named after King Sahil Varman’s daughter Champavati who is also a patron deity of this place. Steeped in nearly 1000 years of rich history and with beautiful intricately carved temples standing as a testament to the past glory, the town has a lot to offer for pilgrims and sightseers alike. The temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu and exhibit Shikhara style architecture. But what really sets the hill station Chamba apart is the fact that it isn’t quite tourist-thronged as the other hill stations. As every other town in the bosom of Himachal Pradesh, Chamba is covered with lush deciduous forests, sprinkling waterfalls and sprawling green town squares (Chowgan) with a wide variety of flora and fauna to boast about.

What To See :Akhand Chandi Palace, Bhuri Singh Museum that hosts a wide variety of ancient and traditional Chamba artifacts. The Hari Rai and Lakshmi Narayan temples dating back to the 10th century are wonderfully ornate in architecture. Chamunda Devi temple and many others with a unique story are also worth visiting. Also visit the 100 years old Church here. Dayanand Math founded by Swami Sarvanand Maharaja of Punjab is a spiritual place to visit.Visit the sacred Manimahesh Lake where thousands have a holy dip around Janamashtami. April to September is the best time to visit.

Things to do : Chamba is definitely a trekking paradise. One can go trekking from Chamba through Bhaderwah to Kashmir, through the Sach Pass into Pangi Valley and to other peaks in the Dhauladhar, Peerpanjal and Lashkar mountain ranges. World famed Chamba rumals embroidery and chappal along with exquisite pahari paintings make shopping an enriching experience.

Accomodations :Various low and medium budget hotels are available with prices ranging between 500 and 2000 rupees per day. Besides, hill resorts and spas are fast becoming popular. Also Himachal Tourism and Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam have deluxe rooms in town.

Mode Of Transport :The nearest airport is at Kangra (180 Kilometers) from where there are regular flights to Delhi and Shimla. The nearest railway station is at Pathankot (122 Kilometers) which in turns, is connected with Jammu, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. Dalhousie is 50 Kilometers away. Chamba is also well connected to many other major cities and there are regular buses to many cities like Pathankot, Delhi, Dharamshala, Chandigarh, Jammu etc. Within Chamba, travelers can hire taxis or choose to travel in buses and minibuses.

Related links:• Official website: http://www.hpchamba.nic.in
See also (Nearby places): Dalhousie, Khajjiar, Banikhet and Shimla.

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