Jog falls

Introduction and history: Jog Falls is the highest waterfalls in India, situated in the Shimoga district, of Karnataka. This is the place where the river Sharavati falls from a height of 292 Meters, which is giving the pride. The river forms four different tracks which are named ‘Raja’, ‘Rani’, ‘Roarer’ and ‘Rocket’, which finally unites as a waterfall. Known as Gerusoppe Falls or Jogada Falls, backwater of river Sharavati forms so many small islands, but there is no way to reach them. During monsoons, the falls are hidden behind a thin mist, surrounded by lush green vegetation, giving the place a mystical atmosphere.
What to see and when to go: The Jog falls offers multiple activities for nature lovers in form of Trekking, mountain climbing, river rafting and multiple other adventurous activities. The short journey from here to Talguppa is one of the most enchanting rail routes through lush green paddy fields. There are multiple small streams near the Sharavati River flowing down the rocky slopes and taste the fresh spring water, which should not be missed. For nature lovers, you can walk down a narrow pathway to the bottom and take a dip in a pool of water at the foot of the falls. The best time to visit this place is between August-November.
Accommodation: The accommodation is available only in form of Karnataka government promoted guest houses, which offer budget accommodation starting with 700 rupees per day. However advance booking need to be done in order to avoid any last minute hiccups.
Mode of Transport: Bangalore is the nearest Airport, which is located at 380 Kilometers from Jog falls. Sagar is the nearest railhead, which is well connected with other parts of Karnataka. Multiple buses connect Jog with Bangalore and Sagar.

Related links:
• World water falls website: http://www.world-waterfalls.com
• Shimoga tourist information: http://www.shimogaonline.com/
See also (nearby places): Murudeshwara, Bhatkal, Kollur, Banavasi, Yana, Maravanthe, Gokarna and Kundapur are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

Jamnagar

Introduction and history: The city of Jamnagar is a coastal town, located in Gujarat state. Founded by Jam Raval during 14th century, it was so named after the ruler who called themselves ‘Jamshree’. In the recent years it is popularly known for its oil refineries built by Reliance Industries. Initially the city was built around Ranmal Lake, which in the centre of the city. During the formative years it was called as ‘Nawanagar’, named by Jam Raval. There is a story behind the creation of this city. Once Jam Raval made a territory of his own around the city, he wanted to choose a capital city for the same. Once on a hunting trip on the land of present day Jamnagar, a hare was found to be brave enough to turn on the hunting dogs and putting them to flight. Deeply impressed by this, thought this place has bravery built in its soil. After consulting astrologers he formed the ‘Nawanagar’ on the banks of two rivers Rangmati and Nagmati. Jamnagar is having the only Ayurvedic University in India.
What to see and when to go: Jamnagar is one of the important tourist destinations in Gujarat. It offers multiple attractions from historical monuments to beaches. Some of the historical places include Darbargadh Palace, Lakhota Fort, Willingdon Crescent,Pratap Vilas Palace, Kotha Bastion, Dhanvantri Mandir (Ayurvedic University),Solarium and Bhujio Kotho are some of the major tourist attractions in Jamnagar. It also has multiple bird sanctuaries like Khijadia Bird Sanctuary, Marine National Park, Rozi and Bedi Ports and Cremation Park. Being a costal city Jamnagar has also got multiple beaches to its credit. Some of the main beaches are Positra, Dabdaba, Madhi and Pirotan. October to March is the ideal time to visit Jamnagar.
Accommodation: Jamnagar offers multiple options for accommodation and multiple star hotels are available. Accommodation can go up to 2000 rupees per day for a luxury hotel. Budget hotels can offer accommodation for about 600 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: Jamnagar has its own Airport, which is located at 10 Kilometers from the city. It is having frequent flights connecting with with Mumbai. Its Railway Station is well connected with Mumbai, Ahmadabad, Delhi, Calcutta and other important cities of India. Jamnagar has a well-established road link to various cities of Gujarat.

Related links:

• Tourist information: http://www.jamnagar.org/
• Official website : http://www.mcjamnagar.com/

See also (nearby places): Rajkot, Porbundar, Bhuj, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, Baroda and Surat are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

Jabalpur

Introduction and history: The ancient city of Jabalpur is located in central India on shores of holy river Narmada. The Narmada River valley having world famous Marble Rocks the only of its kind in the world. The city name is derived from the Arabic word Jabal, meaning mountain. According to Hindu mythology, it is also believed that Jabalpur was a place where sale Jabalie attained salvation. During 8th Century it was taken over by the Kalachuri dynasty who made Jabalpur their capital. During the 16th century the Gond raja of Garha-Mandla extended his power over fifty-two districts, including the present Jabalpur. During the minority of his grandson, Asaf Khan, the viceroy of Kara Manikpur, conquered the Garha principality and held it at first as an independent chief. Eventually he submitted to the Mughal emperor Akbar. From time to time, the Mughal rulers tried to overrun it. The legendary Gond Queen Rani Durgavati also died fighting the Mughal forces led by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar.
What to see and when to go: Madan Mahal Fort, Sangram Saga, Bajana Math, Tilwaraghat, Bedaghat, Dhuandhar, Chausat Yogini Temple, Tripur Sundari Temple, Rani Durgavati Memorial and Pisanhari ki Madiya are some of the major tourist attractions in Jabalpur. The Narmadha Valley is another major attraction in Jabalpur, which is a treat for nature lovers. October to March is the ideal time to visit this place.
Accommodation: As Jabalpur is an important gateway for Kanha and Bandhavgarh National parks, it plays a significant part in state’s tourism. It offers a range of accommodation starting from low-end to high-end hotels. Most of the economy hotels are located near the main bus stand.

Mode of Transport: Jabalpur has an airport called Dumna, located at 20 Kilometers from the city center. It is connected with all major airports in India. Jabalpur’s railway station is connected with all major cities in India, having direct trains to Satna (189 Kilometers), Varanasi (505 Kilometers) and Bhopal (336 Kilometers). The National Highway number 7 (NH-7) connects the city by road with other nearby places. Regular bus services are available to the city.

Related links:

• Jabalpur District website: http://jabalpur.nic.in/
• Tourist information: http://jabalpurguide.com/

See also (nearby places): Kanha and Bandhavgarh National parks form the major nearby attractions. Marble rocks is another attraction nearby.

Indore

Introduction and history: Indore is the largest and the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh. Situated on the Malwa Plateau, Indore is an important administrative headquarters. The city derives it name from its ‘Indreshwar’ temple, which is located near the banks of river Saraswati. One of the rulers, Nandlal Singh found the location to be safe, being surrounded by rivers started moving multiple operations to this place. Followed by that, he built the Shree Sansthan Bada Rawala fort to protect his people, primarily from Marathas and Mughals. The ancestral origin of Indore traces back to its founders, belonging to traditional lana owners of Malwa, from there the power was passed on to the Mughal. Post India’s independence, Indore along with a number of other princely states, became part of the state of Madhya Bharat, which eventually became Madhya Pradesh.

What to see and when to go: The Lalbagh Palace of the Holkars on the banks of the Khan River is one of the grandest monuments the Holkar dynasty left to Indore city. Other attractions include Krishnapura Chhatris, Khajrana, Kanch Mandir, Rajwada, Bada Ganapati and Annapurna Mandir. October to March is the ideal time to visit Indore.

Accommodation: There are multiple luxury hotels available at Indore, which are run by famous hotel chains at the most prominent sections of the city. Being the industrial and tourist hub of Madhya Pradesh, there are multiple options for accommodation. A luxury accommodation can cost up to 5000 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: Indore has its International Airport, located at a distance of 8 Kilometers form the city. Being the most important airports in the state, it is connected with all the major cities of the country, including and international locations. The city has four railway stations from where connecting trains to all the metro cities and the other important neighboring cities. Well maintained national highways (NH-3, NH-69, and NH-86) provide excellent road journey to and from Indore.

Related links:

• Official Website: http://indore.nic.in/
• Tourist information: http://www.indoreonline.com/

See also (nearby places): Ujjain, Patal Pani, Omkareshwar, Dewas and Bhopal are nearby tourist attractions.

Halebidu

Introduction and History: Halebidu is located in Hassan district in Karnataka, which is one of the architectural marvels of Hoysala Kingdom. Built during the year 1121 A.D, this temple was attributed to the famous Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana and queen, Shantala Devi. The word ‘Halebidu’ means ‘Old house’ in local Kannada language, reflecting its ancient nature. It took over 100 years for the temple to complete. It is believed that Queen Shantala Devi, was an epitome of beauty and fashion. Sculptors were stuck by hear beauty and her dancing figures eventually became model for their sculptures. History of Hoysala mentions Shantala Devi had great influence in the administration and religious reforms during Vishnuvardhana reign. Halebidu was the capital of Hoysalas during 12th century. The Hoysaleswara temple and Shanthaleswara temple are the two major attractions of this place.
What to see and when to go: The Monolithic soapstone or Chlorite Schist was used for the construction of these temples, which is unique to this place. The God on the northern side temple is called as Shanthaleswara and that on southern side is called as Hoysaleswara. Apart from these two main gods there are numerous sculptures depicting Hindu mythology, art, war methods, birds and Shilabalikas. The Shanthaleswara temple is on the northern side stands on a platform like a casket in shining black soft stone, covered with variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. It is believed that these people followed Jainism as their religion. There is a nearby Basdi Halli, which is a of Jain temples famous for its pillars. It is another attraction that tourists should not miss out. October to March is the ideal time to visit Halebidu.
Accommodation: It is advised to take the accommodation in the city of Hassan which is the nearby city. It offers multiple attractive options for accommodation starting from 800 rupees per day. From Hassan travelers can hire a local taxi to visit Halebidu which is 60 Kilometers away.
Mode of Transport: Bangalore is the nearest airport, located at 220 Kilometers. For travelers covering multiple parts Karnataka can stay in Bangalore and visit this place. Hassan is the nearby railhead, which is well connected with Bangalore. Multiple buses frequently ply between Belur with nearby places like Bangalore, Mysore and Hassan.
Related links:
• Tourist information: http://www.karnataka.com/
• Temple information: http://www.halebidu.com/
See also (Nearby places): Shravanabelagola, Belur and Somanathapura are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

Dwarka

Introduction and history: Dwarka is one of the most important Hindu Pilgrimage cities in Gujarat. According to Hindu mythology it is believed that Dwarka was the kingdom of Lord Krishna. It is also believed that Lord Krishna settled here after leaving Mathura. It is one of India’s seven oldest towns, where he reigned for decades. There are lot of stories and beliefs associated with the city since the Mahabharata time frame. When Arjuna was hesitant to launch the battle against his own gurus and relatives, Lord Krishna set out from Dwarka to the site of the battle, to instruct him, which is popularly known as Bhagavad Gita. This is also the place where Lord Krishna received his poor friend Sudhama and the Lord finally abandoned his body and reached the heavenly adobe. In recent years the city remains point to a level of prosperity unusual at that time. It has been visited by many persons, which include Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanuja, Narsinh Mehta, Mira, Kabir and Nanak.

What to see and when to go: Jagat Mandir is the main temple which is believed to be the adobe of Lord Krishna. The festival of Lord Krishna, called as Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated there every year here with great splendor and amidst great rejoicing. The Sharada Peeta, Bet Dwarka and Nageswar Mahadev are some of the other attractions of the city. October to March is the ideal time to visit Dwarka.
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Accommodation: Various types of hotels are available in Dwarka to suit all budgets. Many hotels charge starting from 500 and luxury accommodation can cost up to 2000 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: Jamnagar is the nearest airport and is about 150 Kilometers from Dwarka. Jamnagar is connected with Mumbai with frequent flights connecting them. Visitors can travel to Dwarka from Jamnagar either by road, rail or bus. It is one of the important railway stations in the railway line that runs from Viramgam to Okha, which is well connected with nearby cities Ahmedabad (378 Kilometers), Rajkot (217 Kilometers) and Jamnagar (137 Kilometers). The state highway connects Dwarka with the above mentioned cities as well.

Related links:

• Official website of Jagat Mandir: http://www.dwarkadhish.org/
• Tourist information: http://www.gujaratplus.com/

See also (nearby places): Gopi talao, Bet Dwaraka, Rukshmani Mandir, Harisiddhi Mandir, Porbandar and Somnath are nearby tourist attractions.

Bijapur

Introduction and history: The city of Bijapur, which is also the district headquarters of the Bijapur District, is located in the North Western part of Karnataka state. Established during 10th century by the Chalukyas, the city was names as ‘Vijayapura’ meaning the ‘City of victory’ in order to mark Chalukya’s victory tradition. Followed by Chalukyas, the city was captured by the Khilji Sultanate from Delhi by the late 13th century. The city is well known for the great architectures of historical importance. After the Indian independence in 1947, some portion from the older Bijapur, called Satara was made part of the Maharashtra state leaving Bijapur as a district head quarters. Being a border district, Bijapur stands as an example for diversity.

What to see and when to go: The city of Bijapur is best known for its magnificent Gol Gumbaz’ which is the second largest dome in the world. In the central chamber of this dome every sound is echoed seven times, which is one of the unique attractions of this monument. It is also one of the examples used by science students for understanding the behavior of sound. Apart from that Bijapur has multiple historical attractions which include Malik-e-Maidan, Upri Buruj, Chand Bawdi,Asar Mahal,Gagan Mahal,Barakaman,Anand Mahal, Jod Gumbaz, Jumma Mosque, Sat Manzil, and Jal Manzil. September to February is the best time to visit Bijapur.

Accommodation: With his historical importance and rich monuments Bijapur offers accommodation ranging from budget to luxury. Most of the hotels in Bijapur offers accommodation less than 2000 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: Belgaum is the nearest Airport, which is located at 205 Kilometers from the city. It is well connected to nearby cities Mumbai and Bangalore. It is also well connected with nearby cities by rail. Most of the places in South and Western India are easily reachable from Bijapur via road by National highway number 13 (NH 13).

Related links:

• Bijapur Official website: http://bijapur.nic.in/
• Karnataka tourist information: http://www.karnataka.com/

See also (nearby places): Gulbarga (159 Kilometers), Badami (132 Kilometers), Basavana Bagevadi (43 Kilometers) and Kundalasangama (67 Kilometers) are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

Bhopal

Introduction and history: The city Bhopal is the capital of Madhya Pradesh. Founded during the 11th century by Raja Bhoja, it today presents a multi-faceted profile. Followed by its formation the city was originally named as ‘Bhojpal’, with its first part derived from the founder and the second one meaning the dam (’pal’), which he constructed to form the lakes surrounding Bhopal. It is also the second largest Muslim state in pre-independence period ruled by four Begums from 1819 to 1926. Though India achieved Independence in August 1947, the ruler of Bhopal acceded to India only on 1 May 1949. Even though the modernization has happened in the city the old city old mosques and palaces still taking us back in time. The city is also known as the ‘Lake City’ as its landscape has a number of natural as well as manmade lakes.

What to see and when to go: During the Begum rule, they constructed Jama Masjid which has cold spikes crown this beautiful mosque. There are multiple other mosques which include Moti Masjid, Shaukat Mahal, Sadar Manzil, Taj-ul-Masajid and Gohar Mahal. The government promoted Archaeological Museum is another place to take a walk back in the history. Van Vihar, Regional Science Centre, Upper and Lower Lakes are other major attractions in Bhopal, which can be visited during any part of the year.
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Accommodation: Being the capital city, Bhopal offers accommodation in all sizes and shape. The governments promoted luxury hotels are available, where accommodation can cost up to 5000 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: Bhopal has its Airport where regular flights connect it with Delhi, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Indore and Mumbai. It forms one of the important railway junctions of Madhya Pradesh, which falls on the Delhi route. Regular bus services connect Bhopal with nearby cities of the state which include Indore (186 Kilometers), Ujjain(188 Kilometers), Khajuraho(383 Kilometers) and Gwalior(423 Kilometers).

Related links:

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

See also (nearby places): Bhimbetka Caves, Sanchi, Pachmarhi, Udaigiri and Bhojpur are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

Belur

Introduction and History: Belur was the early capital of the Hoysala Empire, which is located at Hassan District of Karnataka. The word ‘Hoy Sala’ meaning ‘Strike Sala’, were the words spoken to Sala who was on of the legendary head of this dynasty to kill the tiger. Asthe legend killed the tiger single-handedly the same phrase became the name of the dynasty in order to speak their bravery for furture generations. The Hassan District was under the reign of Mouryas of North in the 3rd century BC and later by multiple kingdoms which include Kadambas, Chalukyas, Gangas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagar empire. The main attraction of Belur comes from its unique temple architecture which was brought to world by Hoysalas. The main attraction in Belur is the Chennakesava temple complex which contains the Chennakesava Temple dedicated to Lord Chennakeshava.
What to see and when to go: The Chanakesava temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture, built by king Vishnuvardhana which took 103 years to complete and Vishnuvardhana’s grandson Veera Ballala II completed the task. The facade of the temple is filled with multiple sculptures which include Elephants, episodes from the epics, sensous dancers nothing was left uncarved. The veeranarayana temple, which is part of the main temple, houses the shrines of Kappe Chenniga, Andal, Saumya Nayaki, and other deities. The veeranarayana temple houses the shrines of Kappe Chenniga, Andal, Saumya Nayaki and other deities. October to March is the ideal time to visit Belur.
Accommodation: It is advised to take the accommodation in the city of Hassan which is the nearby city. It offers multiple attractive options for accommodation starting from 800 rupees per day. From Hassan travelers can hire a local taxi to visit Belur which is 40 Kilometers away.
Mode of Transport: Bangalore is the nearest airport, located at 220 Kilometers. For travelers covering multiple parts Karnataka can stay in Bangalore and visit this place. Hassan is the nearby railhead, which is well connected with Bangalore. Multiple buses frequently ply between Belur with nearby places like Bangalore, Mysore and Hassan.
Related links:
• Tourist information: http://www.karnataka.com/
• Ancient temples of India: http://www.indiantemplesportal.com/
See also (Nearby places): Shravanabelagola, Halebidu and Somanathapura are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

Bekal

Introduction and history: The city of Bekal is situated on the seashore of Pallikara village, is one of the important tourist destinations in Kerala. Located at 12 Kilometers from Kasargod town, the word, Bekal is derived from the word Baliakulam, meaning Big Palace. It is believed that the place have been the seat of a big palace in the past. It was usual that in during olden days main cities were protected by constructing forts in them. The Bekal for might have, therefore, existed even from early days of the Chirakkal Rajas during the 17th century. Bekal served as an important military station during Tipu Sultan period. Many artifacts unearthed by the archaeological excavation conducted recently reveal this fact. During the British Raj it was the headquarters of the newly organized Bekal Taluk of South Canara District. Post independence Kasargod became part of Kerala with the state reorganization in 1956.

What to see and when to go: Bekal Fort is the main attraction of this place. This giant keyhole shaped fort, with beautiful beach surrounding the fort, backwaters and hill destinations and water sport facilities nearby. Pallikere Beach, Bekal Hola Aqua partk, Malik Deenar Mosque, Kappil beach, Anandasaram, Andnthapura Lake Changragiri fort and Valiparamba are some of the major tourist attractions nearby. Between August and March is the ideal time to visit Bekal.
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Accommodation: There are multiple beachside resorts available in Bekal, which provides high value accommodation at affordable prices. All these hotels offers all the contemporary standards of convenience and comfort. There is a government promoted Bekal Resorts Development Corporation, which offers accommodation at very economical price. Luxury accommodation can cost up to 3500 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: Mangalore is the nearest Airport (50 Kilometers), which is well connected to other parts of the country. It has a railway junction, which is connected to the north-western part of India via konkan railways. Traveling via that route is a treat to eye, where one gets to explore the nature both sides. Traveling thro’ tunnels offer thrilling experience. It has multiple national highways connecting to all important cities at Kerala, Karnataka and Tamilnadu.

Related links:

• Official Website: http://kasargod.nic.in/
• Tourist information: http://www.bekal.com/

See also (nearby places): Kanhangad, Ranipuram hills, Kottanchery hills, Valiyaparamba back waters and Padanna theme village are some of the nearby attractions.

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