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Kashmir
June 16, 2011 | 
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An inspiration for art, music and pottery, Kashmir is also a honeymooners’ paradise, a nature lover’s wonderland and a shopper’s dream come true. The sheer beauty and grandeur of the Kashmir Valley cannot be captured in plain words. Set at the foot of the awesome Himalayas, with the splendid Jhelum river meandering through it, this land of raw natural magnificence has enticed people from all over the world, for centuries. Kashmir is home to some of India’s famous sites that leave the onlooker mesmerized. There are few places that must be visited, while in Kashmir.
The Alluring Locales:
Srinagar:
The capital of Jammu and Kashmir stands on the Dal lake, the Dal lake is a maze of intricate airways. The city is renowned for its canals, houseboats and Mughal gardens. The popular sites in Srinagar are the Shah Hamdan Mosque, Pather Masjid and the Jami Masjid that were built by the Mughal emperors.
Mughal Gardens:
The Mughal Gardens will take you back in time. Chashme Shahi (Royal Spring), Nishat Bagh (Pleasure Garden) and Shalimar Bagh (The Abode of Love) are the highlights.
» Sonmarg:
80 km north-east of Srinagar and at an altitude of 2743 metres, this is strewn with alpine flowers, giving it the sobriquet of “Meadow of Gold”.
» Gulmarg: The hill resort with magical meadows and mountains. Gulmarg literally means “the meadow of flowers”. In spring the slopes get a carpet of daisies, buttercups, blue bells and other blooms. The slopes of Gulmarg make it Asia’s only heli-skiing resort.
» Pahalgam: Is at an altitude of 2,133 metres, at the junction of Lidder and Sheshnag streams and amidst lofty deodars, fir, pine, junipers and other conifers. For trekking and mountaineering, and pilgrimage to the holy cave of Amarnath, the spot is an ideal starting point.
» Religious Places: Kashmir has notably several religious shrines. The Hazratbal Mosque in Srinagar is especially sacred to Muslims, because a reputed hair of the prophet Muhammad is held there. Hindu shrines include Amarnath Cave, northeast of Srinagar, and Vaishno Devi, outside Jammu city. Numerous Gompas (Buddhist monasteries) dot the Ladakh region.
Shopper’s Gusto:
Kashmir is a handicraft lover’s delight. Beauty and art is exhibited in Kashmiri artifacts: paper mache, lacquered & painted in floral designs, wood carvings & screens, carpets soft & fine in typical oriental designs. Silks, woolen shawls embroidered in traditional paisley & hand work of great beauty. The J&K Handicrafts Corporation has a large display of all handicraft items, carpets, etc. at the Government Arts Emporium, housed in what was once the British resident’s mansion with a big. lovely garden. The prices of all items here are fixed & quality guaranteed.
Climate:
Winter: winter is very cold and lasts from November to March. There are strong winds, snow and rainfall during this period. The monsoons bring a lot of rain. In the higher mountain areas around the valley, there is often snow fall.
Summer: Mild and much shorter than winter. Warmer weather begins in the middle of March and lasts till the end of July.
Transport:
» Airway: Flights operate from Jammu to Delhi, Srinagar, Chandigarh, Leh & Amristar.
» Railway: Trains link Jammu with Delhi, Madras, Bombay, Calcutta, Gorakhpur and Varanasi.
» Roadway: Buses connect Jammu with Srinagar, Delhi, Amristar, Pathankot.
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Goa
Goa is situated on the western coast of the Indian peninsula. Goa displays colonial heritage that had been patronized by the Portuguese. India’s most popular beach resort lures ardent tourists from all over the globe. Afternoon siesta and evening feista rule the way of life here. Goa is a traveller’s ultimate destination for its scenic splendor, golden beaches, rocking night life and scrumptious food and of course the good old feni. A walk down the city promises to captivate your attention with the beautiful churches and the towering forts that take you back into the Portugese era. Goan culture is a confluence of many cultures. The vibrant life of Goa makes it an irresistable vacation destination.
Hot Spots At Goa:
Goa is truly a traveller’s delight as it offers an array of visual treat in the form of its beaches, forts and churches.
Beaches:
Goan beaches have never failed to charm its tourists. The swaying palms and the cool waves splashing on your face is a unique experience that Goa promises you with its finest beaches. It boasts of some wonderful beaches likeCalangute, Colva, Baga, Anjuna, Vagator, Sinquerim and still many more wait for you to explore them.
Churches:
Old Goa possesses some of the most opulent churches and cathedrals that trace their origin to the Portuguese period. The architecture of these churches exhibit pure Portuguese style. Some of the famous churches are Se Cathedral, Convent & Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Church of St Augustine Ruins and others.
» Dona Paula: The famous Dona Paula is located near the rocky point between the Mandovi and Zuari rivers at the place where these two rivers meet the Arabian Sea. There is a small and peaceful palm fringed beach with casuarina groves. One gets a panaromic view of the Zuari estuary, at this secluded bay. Tourists throng this place to simply chill and sunbathe.
Weather wise:
Goa has a consistent climate throughout the year with just meager fluctuations in the temperature. December and January might require light woolens, but April and May are warm. The period from June to October brings heavy rain, almost up to 320 cm. The temperature during the summers ranges from 24°C to 32.7°C and during the winters it ranges from 21.3°C to 32.2°C.
Climate:
Goa has a moderate temperature showing negligible variations in different seasons. May is the hottest month while January and February are the coldest. There is a prevalence of tropical weather rest of the year. Southwest Monsoon brings rain in Goa between June and September. July is the month that receives maximum rainfall while February gets least amount of rain.
Shopper’s Stop:
Goa is a highlight on the shopper’s map, the place is primarily famous for shells decoratives and cashew nuts. The other attractions include terracotta and brassware. The Anjuna Beach is famous for its Wednesday Flea market. One can also lay their hands on the famous feni and native jute items here.
How to Get There :
» Air :You can fly to Goa from Bombay, Delhi, Bangalore, Cochin and Trivandrum. For overseas travellers Bombay has the best connected airport.
» Rail : Travelling by train, is fairly convenient from Bombay (490 Kms.), Bangalore (430 Kms.) and Delhi (1874 Kms.).
» Road : Driving down by road from Mumbai (582 Kms.) is easy as well as picturesque as Goa is situated right on the main highway.
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra, one of the most powerful cities in the medieval world. Agra is a part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, in the northern region of India. It is a part of the great northern plains and is situated on the west bank of river the Yamuna. Agra is 204 km south of Delhi.
Legendary Saga:
An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, Arjumand Banu. The Taj Mahal is one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage and the jewel of Muslim art in India. Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed at a cost of 32 Million Rupees.
Elegy in Marble- Taj Mahal:
Taj Mahal means “Crown Palace” and is in fact the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tomb in the world. The architecture is stunning and the unique mughal style combines elements of Persian, Central Asian, and Islamic architecture. Most impressive are the black and white chessboard marble floor, the four tall minarets (40 m high) at the corners of the structure, and the majestic dome in the middle. If observed minutely around the archways, the lettering of the Quran verses appears to be uniform, regardless of their height.
The impressive pietra dura artwork includes geometric elements, plants and flowers, mostly common in Islamic architecture. There is a high level of intricacy involved in artwork when one realizes that a 3 cm decorative element contains more than 50 inlaid gemstones.
the Taj Mahal is inspired by love and shaped to perfection, it immortalizes one man’s love for his wife and the splendor of an era.
Highlights Around the Taj Mahal:
Fatehpur Sikri
The imperial city of the Mughal dynasty between 1571 and 1584, Fatehpur Sikri was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar. The architectural grandeur of this city has to be experienced.
Itmad-Ud Daulah
Itmad-ud daulah, one of the most beautiful of Mughal tombs, contains cenotaphs of Mirza Ghiyas and Asmat Begum, parents of the powerful Mughal Empress Nurjahan, queen of Jahangir.
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» Agra Fort :-The Agra Fort was bulit by Akbar in Red Sandstone. The fort worked both as a military strategic point as well as the royal residence. The Diwan – i – Am, the Diwan – i – Khas, the Khas Mahal, the Palace of Mirrors, the Pearl mosque, the Nagina Masjid, the Garden of Grapes, and the Fish Pavilion are the other monuments in the fort complex.
» Akbar’s Tomb:
Sikandra/ Akbar’s tomb, 10 km north of Agra lies Akbar’s tomb, in Sikandra. Named after the Afghan ruler Sikander Lodi, Sikandra is the final resting place of Emperor Akbar.
Plan Your Trip:
The wide range of travel options in this region can also be used to travel to some wonderful locations around Agra. These can be visited in a span of 2-3 days.
Climate of Agra:
The climate of Agra is extreme and tropical. Summers are extremely hot and the maximum temperature can be as high as 45 degree Celsius, while winters are cold and foggy. Heavy rains and high humidity mark the monsoon season.
Agra can be visited throughout the year, but one must avoid the extreme hot summers (April-June) and rainy season (July-Sept). The most suitable time to visit Agra is in winters.
Visiting Taj- Transportation:
» Airway: Agra airport is 7 km from the city center and 3 km from Idgah bus stand. Indian airlines operate daily tourist shuttle flights to Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi and back. It only takes 40 minutes from Delhi to Agra.
» Railway: Agra is well connected by railroad. The main railway station is the Agra Cantonment station. Agra is well connected by rail to Delhi, Varanasi and cities of Rajasthan. Trains like Palace on Wheel, Shatabdi, Rajdhani, and Taj Express are the best choices if you want to reach Agra from Delhi.
» Roadway: Idgah bus stand is the main bus stand of Agra, from where one can catch buses for Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura, Fatehpur-Sikri, etc. Buses for Mathura also leave from Agra Fort bus stand.