Warangal

Introduction and history: The Warangal city is one of the ancient dynasties of Vishnukundins, located in Andra Pradesh. It is believed that their history traces back even prior to the Buddhist. During the 8th century it was called ‘Orukal’ (meaning one stone), which also served as the capital of Kakatiyas. After the fall of Bahamani Kingdom, Warangal fell to the ‘Qutab Shahis’ of Golkonda and thereafter it has came under the sway of Nizam’s domination. Post Independent it joined the independent India and located in the Telangana region of the state. Apart from many of the monuments the Kakatiyas left, Warangal is known for its granite quarries, grain market, cotton and tobacco.

What to see and when to go: Being one of the ancient cities of Andra Pradesh, the city of Warangal offers multiple tourist options in form of historical monuments and lakes. The Thousand Pillars Temple, Ramappa Temple, Warangal Fort and Ghanpur Group of Temples, Badrakali Temple are the main attractions. Ramappa Lake, Pakhal Lake and Lakhnavaram Lake are the famous water bodies around Warangal. Some of the recently developed modern attractions include Musical Garden, Rock Garden and Regional Science Centre. October to March is the ideal time to visit Warangal.

Accommodation: As most of the tourist activities happening in the recent past, many accommodation options have developed recently. It doesn’t have many luxury hotels but many decent options are available at a very reasonable price. There is Government promoted guest houses available in the city as well.
Mode of Transport: Hyderabad is the nearest Airport located about 140 Kilometers from Warangal. It is connected with all the major cities of India and few of the international cities with regular flights. Warangal is one of the important railway lines that connect the northern and southern parts of India. The National Highway 202 (NH - 202) traverses from Warangal, connecting it with Hyderabad and other major cities.
Related links:
• Andra Pradesh Tourist information: http://www.aptourism.in/
• Official website : http://warangal.nic.in/

See also (nearby places): Hyderabad, Nagarjuna Sagar and Etunagaram Wild Life Sanctuary are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

Visakhapatnam

Introduction and history: The city of Visakhapatnam is a coastal and port city located in Andra Pradesh. Popularly known as ‘The Jewel of the East Coast’ it is also the administrative headquarters of Visakhapatnam District. It is the second largest city of Andhra and one of the fastest growing cities in Asia. It is believed that the city has derived its name from the deity ‘Visakha’ meaning the God of Valour. The city’s history traces back to Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata in multiple chapters. The Chola Kings conquered the place during 12th century and constructed multiple temples around. Followed by them the Mughal ruled this area under the Hyderabad Nizam and later the merchants from Europe and the East India Company used this natural port to export tobacco, ivory, muslin and other textile products.

What to see and when to go: The city of Visakhapatnam has multiple tourist attractions of all forms. There are number of places of tourist interest in Visakhapatnam right from temples and Buddhist sites to nature spots and beaches. Rushikonda, Bhemunipatnam, Dolphin’s Nose, Ramakrishna Beach, Kailasagiri, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Araku Valley, Borra Caves, Thotlakonda, Sankaram and Pavuralakonda are some of the major tourist attractions of the city. September to December is the ideal time to visit this city.

Accommodation: There are multiple luxury and budget accommodation available in the city, which can go up to 6000 rupees per day. State government promoted guest houses are available offering extremely affordable accommodation.
Mode of Transport: Visakhapatnam has its own Airport which is connected by air to Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. It is an important railway junction on Kolkata-Chennai main line and is connected to both the cities by train. National Highway 5 (NH - 5) connects the city with nearby destinations.
Related links:
• Andra Pradesh Tourist information: http://www.aptourism.in/
• Tourist information: http://www.vizagcityonline.com/

See also (nearby places): Kakinada, Rajahmundry and Gopalpur are nearby tourist attractions.

Vijayawada

Introduction and history: The city of Vijayawada is located on the banks of the Krishna River, is the third largest city in Andra Pradesh. Bounded by Indrakiladri Hills and Budameru River, the city’s name translates to ‘Place of Victory’. It is the commercial centre of Andra and prominent business center, which is also popularly known as ‘Business Capital of Andhra Pradesh’. The history of Vijayawada traces back to the time of Chalukyas of Kalyan, when they conquered this place. During the British Raj the city experienced significant infrastructure growth especially the railway bridge on the Krishna River. The Krishna River has a large catchment area in the nearby areas, which make Krishna district as one of the fertile places in Andra Pradesh.

What to see and when to go: The city of Vijayawada has multiple tourist attractions of all forms. Kanaka Durga Temple, Gunadala Matha Shrine, Prakasam Barrage, Undavalli Caves, Rajiv Gandhi Park, Gandhi Hill, Victoria Museum, Mangalagiri, Kondapalli Fort, Kolleru Lake and multiple Buddhist sites like Amaravati, Bhattiprolu, Goli, Guntupalli, Ghantasala and Chinna Ganjam are major tourist destinations near Vijayawada. Between September to February is the ideal time to visit Vijayawada.

Accommodation: As Vijayawada is the commercial centre of Andhra Pradesh, perpetually receives visitors from far and wide. Depending on the preferences and budget, a range of luxury hotels, budget hotels and guest houses are available. Accommodation at budget prices is available from 400 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: The local Airport is located at Gannavaram, 20 Kilometers from the city, which is connected to and from Hyderabad and Vishakhapatnam. Is is the largest railway junction of the South Central Railway, it is well linked with all the major cities of India. National Highway numbers 5 and 9 (NH - 5 and NH - 9) is well connected with the major cities of Andhra Pradesh and India.
Related links:
• Andra Pradesh Tourist information: http://www.aptourism.in/
• Tourist information: http://www.vijayawada.net.in/

See also (nearby places): Hyderabad, Warangal, and Vishakhapatnam are the major nearby tourist attractions.

Ujjain

Introduction and history: The city of Ujjain is situated on the banks of the river Shipra the holy river. According to Hindu mythological tale, there was a churning of the ocean by the Gods and Demons happened to get the Nectar for attaining immortality. It is believed that during the wild scramble for immortality, a few drops were spilt from the Nectar which fell over Ujjain because of which it is regarded as a holy city. In the contemperory history the city was governed by the likes of Vikramaditya and Ashoka. Kalidas the famous poet wrote his thought provoking poetry from here. Today, Ujjain represents an interesting blend of an age old legacy and the modern day lifestyle. The Mahakal of Ujjayini is known among the twelve celebrated Jyotirlingas in India.

What to see and when to go: Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir, Chintaman Ganesh, Pir Matsyendranath, Bhartrihari Caves, Kaliadeh Palace, Mahakaleshwar and Sandipani Ashram are some of the major attractions of the city. This city can be visited throughout the year. The Kalidasa Academy, setup by the state government for promoting classical studies and research in Sanskrit. It is an important visit for travelers who want to understand the classical work done by this great poet.

Accommodation: There are multiple luxury and budget accommodation available in the city, which can go up to 3000 rupees per day. Government promoted guest houses are available offering extremely affordable accommodation.
Mode of Transport: Indore is the nearest Airport located at 55 Kilometers from the Ujjain. It is well connected by flights with Delhi, Bhopal and Mumbai. Ujjain’s railway station is connected by train with all major destinations in India. Regular bus services connect Ujjain with Indore, Bhopal, Ratlam, Gwalior, Mandu, Dhar and Omkareshwar.
Related links:

• Official Website: http://ujjain.nic.in/
• Tourist information: http://www.mptourism.com/

See also (nearby places): Amarkantak, Bandhavgarh,Bhopal, Gwalior and Indore are nearby tourist attractions.

Somnath

Introduction and history: The town of Somnath is located in western coast of Gujarat. Is has one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, which makes it one of the most important pilgrimage centers in India. According to Hindu mythology it is believed that the temple was created by Moon God himself. In the past few centuries multiple attacks in India destroyed some portion of the temple and remains of the temple of Somnath has withstood the shocks of time and still remain as a great example for imposing architecture. The construction of the present form of temple began in 1950.Its beautiful sight facing the blue Arabian Sea is a treat to watch.

What to see and when to go: The Someshwar Mahadev temple is the main attraction of this place, which stands tall among the temples of India. The pinnacle rides to a height of 155 feet and the kalash atop the shikhar weighs 10 tonnes. The flag mast is 37 feet long, which gives an account of how mammoth the temple is. In historical times the temple, the third to be precise, was raged to the ground by Sultan Mohmad of Ghazni. Bhalka Tirth, Junagarh Gate, Mai Puri, Jama Masjid, Bhidiyo Pagoda and Mai Puri are some of the other attractions. October to March is the ideal time to visit Somnath.

Accommodation: Even though Somnath is one of the important tourist destinations, no luxury accommodation is available. For the pilgrims and tourists, there are other options available in form of guesthouses and rest houses at budget pricing starting as low as 300 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: The nearest Airport is at Keshod, which is located at 47 Kilometers from the temple. It is connected with Mumbai with frequent flights. Veraval railway station located at 5 Kilometers is the closest Railway station. It is well connected with Mumbai and Ahmadabad. Multiple transport buses and private luxury coaches are available from all parts of Gujarat connecting Somnath.

Related links:

• Tourist information: http://www.gujarattourism.com/
• Somnath temple website : http://www.somnath.org/

See also (nearby places): Dwarka, Bordi, Daman, Udvada, Palghar and Silvassa are nearby tourist attractions.

Porbandar

Introduction and history: The city of Porbandar is located on the western coast of Saurashtra, Gujarat. The name ‘Porbandar’ is derived from two words: ‘Porai’ (local goddess) and ‘Bandar’ (harbor), thereby giving the meaning of goddess’s harbor. During 10th century it was referred as ‘Pauravelakul’, which was mentioned in the Hindu epics as the hometown of Sudama, a beloved friend of lord Krishna. Some accounts also call this place as ‘Sudamapuri’. However the contemporary Indians know this city as the birth-place of Gandhi, the Father of The Nation. Porbandar is extremely rich in natural resources thanks to its location. It has lengthy sea-shore, rivers, lakes, hills, valleys and fields.

What to see and when to go: The main attraction of this place is called Kirti Mandir, which is the Birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. Known for its spiritual nature and long history the city has multiple temples. There are multiple attractions in form of Sudama Mandir, Bharat Mandir, Gita Mandir, Gayatri Mandir, Ram Dhoon Mandir and Rokadia Hanuman temple. Other attractions include Kamla Nehru Park, Nehru Planetarium and Tara Mandir. The climate at Porbandar is generally pleasant throughout the year.

Accommodation: Frequently visited by tourists from all over the country,
there are a good number of hotels in Porbandar that provide quality service to their guests. There are also multiple guest houses available to provide budget accommodation starting from 300 rupees per day. Some of the standard hotels have a beautiful sea view.
Mode of Transport: Porbandar has its own Airport, which has daily flights connecting with Mumbai. It also has a well-established road and rail links connecting with Mumbai and Ahmadabad.

Related links:

• Tourist information: http://www.porbandaronline.com/
• Official website : http://porbandar.gujarat.gov.in/

See also (nearby places): Kuchdi, Ghumli, Gope and Barda Hills are some of the nearby attractions.

Patna

Introduction and history: The city of Patna is the capital of Bihar state, is one of the ancient cities in India. Its history and tradition traces back to the earliest dawn of civilization of more than 4000 years. The name of Patna was derived from ‘Pataliputra’, which has undergone many changes. Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of Maurya empire declared it as his capital during 4th century A.D. Followed by Chandragupta, his grandson Ashoka, transformed the capital into a stone construction around 273 BC. Much later, multiple Chinese travelers came to India in pursuit of knowledge and recorded their observation about Pataliputra in their travelogues. In the years that followed, the city saw many dynasties ruling the India, but it was unable to have the glory that it had under the Mauryas.

What to see and when to go: As an ancient city, Patna offers multiple tourist attractions. Starting with one of the oldest temples Hanuman Mandir other attractions include Kumhrar, Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb, Golghar, Patna Museum, State Secretariat Building, Patna Planetarium, Qila House, Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Sadaqat Ashram and Nagholkothi. The best time to visit Patna is between October to March.

Accommodation: Being the capital city of Bihar, Patna offers a wide variety of accommodation. Multiple star hotels are available with price as high as 3000 rupees per day. Multiple budget hotels are available that provide basic accommodation facilities.

Mode of Transport: The Patna has its own Airport, which is connected with all major destinations in India. It is one of the most important railway junctions in Bihar, connecting it with multiple destinations in India. It is also connected by Road to nearby cities.

Related links:

• Patna official website: http://www.patna.nic.in/

See also (nearby places): Gaya, Nalanda, Gaya, Vaishali, Pawapuri, Rajgir, Maner, Vikramshila and Muzaffarpur are nearby attractions.

Orchha

Introduction and history: The town of Orchha is located in Madhya Pradesh, was founded in the 16th century by Bundela Rajput chieftain Rudra Pratap. He choose the place along the Betwa river, which also served as its capital. Followed by him many smaller kings ruled the place, most notable was Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo who built the exquisite Jehangir Mahal. With its rich history the town of Orchha is famous for multiple palaces and temples built in the 16th and 17th centuries. In this medieval city, Orchha’s grandeur has been captured in stone, frozen in time and the architectural splendor of the monuments in Orchha reflects the glory of its rulers. Known for its rich heritage in Art, exteriors are interiors of these monuments represent the Bundela School of painting.
What to see and when to go: The Jehangir Mahal is the main attraction of Orchha, which was built in the 17th century to commemorate the visit of Emperor Jehangir to the town. Its rich architectural beauty is reflected in delicate Chhatris and trellis work. Raj Mahal, Rai Parveen Mahal, Chaturbhuj Temple, Laxminarayan Temple, Ram Raja Temple, Dinman Hardaul’s Palace and Phool Bagh are the main tourist attractions. The best time to visit Orchaa is between October and March.
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Accommodation: The accommodation available in Orchha is cheap and economical in nature. There is an important hotel located inside the Jehangir palace, which is called as Hotel Sheesh Mahal. There are not many luxury accommodations available here.

Mode of Transport: Gwalior is the nearest Airport located about 119 Kilometers from Orchha. It is well connected with Delhi, Bhopal, Indore and Mumbai. Nearest railhead is Jhansi, located at 16 Kilometers distance which is on the Delhi-Mumbai main line. All major mail and express trains stop at Jhansi. By road Orchha can be reached by taking the Jhansi-Khajuraho road, which is having regular bus services from Jhansi.

Related links:

• Bundelkhand District website: http://bundelkhand.in
• Tourist information: http://www.mptourism.com/

See also (nearby places): Jhansi, Gwalior, Khajuraho, Panna, Sunderbans, Kanpur and Pench are nearby tourist attractions.

Nalanda

Introduction and history: The city of Nalanda is one of the ancient heritage cities of India. Located in southeast of Patna, the Capital City of Bihar, is a village called the ‘Bada Gaon’ (big village), where the world famous ruins of Nalanda University are found. It is believed that the university was found during 5th Century A.D, but exact date of creation is not yet determined. Nalanda is known as the ancient seat of learning where 2,000 Teachers and 10,000 Students from all over the Buddhist world lived and studied at Nalanda, which is the first Residential International University of the World. In the later stages many monasteries and temples were built around this place. The famous Chinese traveler and scholar, Hieun-Tsang stayed here and has given a detailed description of the situations prevailing at that time.

What to see and when to go: The ruin of Nalanda University is the main attraction, which occupy an area of 14 hectares. This university was completely built with Red Bricks, which once upon a time stood as a symbol for spreading knowledge and wisdom to the rest of the world. The Nalanda Archaeological Museum, Silao and Surajpur Baragaon are some of the other attractions of this place. The best time to visit Nalanda is between October and March.
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Accommodation: As Nalanda is one of the important tourist destination for Buddists, travelers can find a wide variety of accommodation, including star category hotels offering excellent services to many budget hotels that provide basic accomodation facilities. Accommodation can start as low as 600 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: The capital city Patna is the nearest Airport, which is located about 93 Kilometers from Nalanda. The city is well connected by train with major cities of Bihar with nearest railway station is Bakhtiyarpur located at 38 Kilometers distance. It is also connected by Road to Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Delhi and Kolkata.

Related links:

• Nalanda Digital library: http://www.nalanda.nitc.ac.in/

See also (nearby places): Gaya, Surya Mandir and Patna are nearby tourist attractions.

Junagarh

Introduction and history: Junagarh is an ancient city situated at the foot of Mount Girnar on the northern fringes of the Gir forest. Junagarh means Old Fort, which is also known as ‘Sorath’, the name of the earlier Muslim-ruled Princely State of Junagadh. Tracing back the history, it was originally held by the Maurya dynasty by Chandragupta in 319 BC. Followed by them the Solanki and Mughal dynasty conquered this place. Junagarh is also a place of pilgrimage and has produced a number of saints in its long histroy, which includes Gujarati poet, Narsimha Mehta. It is also a wonderful nature reserve for various flora and fauna.

What to see and when to go: The main attraction is the Uperkot Fort, which stands on the eastern side of Junagarh. It is believed that the fort was built by Chandragupta in AD 319, it was rebuilt several times in the later centuries. The fort also houses Jami Masjid, Tomb of Nuri Shah, and two baolis (step wells)-Adi Chadi and the Navaghan Kuva. There are some Buddhist caves, which are believed to be 1,500 years old.Mahabat Maqbara,Durbar Hall Museum,Girnar Hill temples, temples of Neminath, Mallinath, Amba Mata, and Damodar are some of the major tourist attractions.October to March is the ideal time to visit Juagarh..
Accommodation: There are not many luxury accommodation options in and around Junagarh. However there are lots of low and middle-budget accommodation options available starting with 350 rupees per day.
Mode of Transport: The nearest airport is Ahmadabad, which is 300 Kilometers from Junagadh. There are regular trains run between Junagarh and Veraval, Ahmedabad. Junagarh is well connected by road with nearby cities Rajkot (100 Kilometers), Porbandar (107 Kilometers) and Jamnagar (184 Kilometers).
Related links:
• Tourist information: http://www.gujarattourism.com/
• Junagarh information : http://www.gujaratplus.com/

See also (nearby places): Somnath temple, Ahmedabad, Porbandar, Gir national park Kamleshwar dam and Keshod are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

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