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               If you are an adventurer and a wildlife enthusiast, Kaziranga is the place for you. Kaziranga National Park which is also a world heritage site, hosts two-thirds of the world’s greater one-horned rhinoceros.

               Kaziranga also boasts the highest density of tigers among the protected areas in the world, and was declared a tiger reserve in 2006. Though sighting of tigers is difficult, because of the tall grasses that provide excellent camouflage, their presence can be felt everywhere by way of pug marks, kills, and territorial markings. The park is home to large breeding populations of elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer.

               First established in 1908 as a reserved forest, it subsequently was designated a wildlife sanctuary before becoming a national park in 1974. Kaziranga National Park is a birding paradise; the grasslands are a raptor country that can be seen on safari makes a remarkable experience. Huge numbers of migratory birds descend on the park’s lakes and marshy areas during winters, including grey-lag geese, bar headed geese, gadwall, falcated duck, red crested pochard, and the northern shoveller.

               Located at about 1,600 metres above the sea level, Munnar is a beautiful hill station in the district of ldukki, Kerala.

               Once a summer resort for the British, Munnar is known for its pleasant climate and pristine beauty. The rolling hills covered in mist, intersected by the winding road, the dark emerald green coloured plantations, and the few lone houses in their midst, will make you fall in love with this place instantly.

               Munnar is also an ideal place for nature lovers, wildlife lovers and adventure enthusiasts alike. You can indulge in boating, trekking and paragliding. Munnar rises as three mountain streams merge - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala.

               Among the flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji. This flower which bathes the hills in blue once in every twelve years will bloom next in 2018. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, which towers over 2,695 metres.

               Some of the main attractions here are the Eravikulam National Park, Mattupetty Dam, Pallivasal, Munnar Tea Museum, trekking to Chokramudy, Kundala Dam etc.

               If you wish to see two million tulips over 60 hectares of the Kashmiri landscape at an altitude of 1706 metres, you must visit Asia’s largest tulip garden — the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden.

               One of the best gardens to visit in the month of April, this Tulip Garden was formerly known as the Siraj Bagh. The garden covers the banks of Dal Lake with a colourful carpet of flowers. This Tulip Garden was created in the year 2007. Overlooking the picturesque Dal Lake, the enchanting garden sprawls over the foothills of the Zabarwan mountain range.

               The climatic condition of Kashmir is ideally suited for tulips. The garden is built on a sloping ground in a terraced fashion, consisting of seven terraces. Apart from tulips, many other species of flowers, including hyacinths and daffodils have been added as well.

               The Tulip Festival is an annual celebration that aims to showcase the range of flowers in the garden as a part of the tourism efforts undertaken by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.

               A popular weekend getaway from Mumbai, Matheran is located just 90 km from the big city. Perched on an elevation of about 800 metres on the Western Ghats in Maharashtra, the hill station has a pleasant climate. Literally meaning ‘forest on the head’, Matheran refers to the thick woods at the top of the hill. This is the smallest hill station in India.

               Matheran was first frequented in the mid-19th century by British officials and visitors from Bombay, and it has continued to be a popular tourist destination. It is Asia’s only automobile-free hill station. Automobiles are not permitted here, and with ponies transporting luggage, people on horseback and the lack of tarred roads, Matheran retains the vintage charm of hill stations developed by the British.

               There are around 38 designated look-out points in Matheran, including the Panorama Point that provides a 360-degree view of the surrounding area, and also the Neral town.

               The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is the highlight of a visit to the popular hill settlement of Ooty, in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu.

               The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) was built by the British in 1908. NMR is the only rack railway in India. Although the railway was proposed in 1854, it wasn’t completed until 1908, as the rocky terrain and thickly forested hills made the work difficult. A Swiss inventor, Riggenbach, worked on the first part of this mountain railway, and built up the initial line up to Coonoor by the year 1899.

               The railway mostly relies on its fleet of steam locomotives. Covering a distance of 46 km in around 5 hours, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway takes tourists from Mettupalayam to Ooty. This is a truly amazing journey that takes tourists from a height of 325 to 2203 metres. The uniqueness of this rail line lies in it being the steepest one in Asia. It covers a total distance of 116 km and crosses 250 bridges and 16 tunnels.

            Though it was among the underexplored destinations, this hill station, thanks to its picturesque landscapes has earned a lot of attention from tourists across India.

            Chikmagalur is a town located in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. It is located at the foothills of the Mullayanagiri Range. The town with its favourable climate and coffee estates attracts tourists from around the state.

            Chikmagalur also has many wildlife tourism spots and adventure sports locations. Hill stations, beautiful waterfalls and national parks - Chikmagalur has them all!  

            The hill station is sometimes referred to as ‘coffee land of Karnataka’ because of its numerous coffee plantations. There are many waterfalls located in this district like the famous Hebbe Falls, Shanti Falls and several others.

            Located close to the city of Bangalore, it is a popular weekend getaway for the people of India’s Silicon Valley, Bangalore. Chikmagalur attracts tourists due to its hill stations like Baba Budan giri, Kudremukha, Mullayanagiri, Kalasa, Jayapura and Mudigere.

 

 

 

 

               Rishikesh, a most tranquil place in Uttarakhand, surrounded by hills, and bisected by the wide and sluggish Ganges, is often claimed to be the ‘yoga capital of the world’. The city is located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is known as the gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas.

               Located near the Himalayas, Rishikesh has been revered as one of the major pilgrimage destinations since ancient times. The Ganges is the river that flows through the city, and rafting in its waters is one of the popular tourist attractions for tourists, both from India, and abroad.

               Rishikesh is considered as the adventure capital of India. For adventure seekers, Rishikesh is the ideal place suggested for starting their trekking expeditions to the Himalayan peaks and for white water river rafting. India’s first fixed platform bungee jump destination is at Mohan Chutti, a pristine location tucked in the Shivaliks, near Rishikesh.

               There are lots of holy temples and ashrams here, including the Vanprastha Ashram, Omkarananda Ashram, Sivananda Ashram and Parmarth Niketan.

               Would you like to tour the captivating backwater destinations? Then you should be spending part of your vacation at the backwater stretches of Kerala.

               Kerala’s backwaters are many and varied. The scenic backwaters of Kerala comprise serene stretches of lakes, canals and lagoons, located parallel to the coast of the Arabian Sea. The backwater regions of Kerala are among the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

               The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers. The Vembanad is the largest of the lakes, covering an area of 2033 sq km. The tranquil backwater cruises are a once in a lifetime experience.

               Alappuzha, known as the ‘Venice of the East’, is especially popular for its houseboat cruises. Kerala houseboats are an integral part of the vast expanse of waterways, and form the backbone of Kerala’s backwater tourism. These houseboats serve as the most popular mode of transportation for tourists.

               Standing majestically on the banks of the Yamuna River, the Taj Mahal, for most people, is synonymous with India’s beauty. The name ‘Taj Mahal’ was derived from the name of Shah Jahan’s wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and means ‘crown of buildings’.

               Shah Jahan got this monument constructed in the memory of his beloved wife. The purity of the white marble, the exquisite ornamentation, precious gemstones used, and its picturesque location, all make a visit to the Taj Mahal gain a place amongst the most sought-after tours in the world.

               Nothing short of an architectural marvel, it’s no wonder that the Taj stands proud at being one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’.

               Ustad-Ahmad Lahori was the main architect of the Taj Mahal. It was commissioned in 1632. The construction was completed in 1643, but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years.

               Masons, stone-cutters, painters, calligraphers, dome builders and other artisans were requisitioned from the whole of the Mughal Empire, and also from Central Asia.

               Home to one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’ - the Taj Mahal - Agra is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. It is as loved by Indians as it is by foreigners who throng here in large numbers to admire its beauty.

               Agra is a city on the banks of the River Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh, and the 24th most populous in India. The city stands as testimony to the great amount of architectural activity of the Mughals, most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri.

               Right from the epic Mahabharata to the Mughal dynasty, Agra has been monumental, and has played a significant role in shaping India’s history. From the Persian Gardens on the banks of the Yamuna, to monuments and mausoleums, this great city’s golden age started during the rule of the Mughals. Agra Fort attracts many tourists. Largely overshadowed by Taj Mahal, this fort is one of the finest Mughal forts in India.

               Gokarna is a small temple town in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. It is a famous pilgrim centre, and also one of the top destinations of Karnataka tourism because of its beautiful and pristine beaches.

               The name of the town Gokarna is derived from two words, Go and Karna, which means cow’s ear. According to mythology, Lord Shiva appeared from a cow’s ear, after he was sent to Patal Lok by Lord Brahma.

               The town is located at the confluence of two rivers, Aganashini and Gangavali, and the place where the rivers converge, forms a shape that is similar to the ear of a cow, hence the name Gokarna. Gokarna is known for its beaches. The main Gokarna Beach, in town, and Kudle beach are west facing. Om Beach, Half-moon Beach, Paradise Beach and Belekan Beach are south facing.

               This town is now an emerging beach destination that offers something to different types of tourists with its natural beauty and its history steeped in mythology.

               Ziro is a town in the Lower Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh. It is known for its pine-covered hilly slopes lowering towards the ground, its forests, beautiful paddy fields, and active cultural life.

               It has been a favourite town for World Heritage Site for a number of years now.

               Apatani Plateau, as Ziro is popularly known, is situated at an altitude of 1500 metres above sea level. It is the perfect place to connect with nature. It really is one of the most beautiful valleys in the country, with layered rice fields, and blue skies, surrounded by a ring of deep green forests and the towering jagged Eastern Himalayan range in the distance.

               There are many places of interest in Ziro. The Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Meghna Cave Temple, Kile Pakho, Ziro Puto, Dolo Mando, Dilopolyang Maniipolyang, Pine Grove, Bamboo Grove, Tipi Orchid Research Centre etc. are a few among them.

               The Great Rann of Kutch is a salt marsh located in the Thar Desert in the Kutch District of Gujarat. The Great Rann of Kutch spans an area of 7505.22 sq km and is reputed to be one of the largest salt deserts in the world. This area has been inhabited by the Kutchi people.

               It is home to a wide array of flora and fauna. The area is very famous for the Indian wild ass, found in the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary there, which is the largest in India.

               The Government of Gujarat hosts an annual, three month long festival during winter called the ‘Rann Utsav’. Rann Utsav gives visitors not only a chance to experience full moon on salt deserts but also get a taste of the local culture, cuisine, and hospitality.

               The beauty of the Rann increases manifold when a riot of colours are splashed when people wearing colourful, ethnic wear perform folk dances and music during the ‘Rann Utsav’.

               Kamshet is a hill station in Maharashtra. It is 16 km away from the twin hill stations of Khandala and Lonavala.

               Luscious green cover, placid lakes and enticing hilly terrains make it a perfect holiday destination. Kamshet has many small houses that are built in the traditional style - with mud, thatch, and reeds. The hills in and around Kamshet are dotted with ancient cave temples and medieval fortresses. Nestled in the Western Ghats about 110 km from Mumbai, Kamshet straddles the ancient trade route between the Konkan region and Pune.

               The world-class paragliding facilities attract a large number of flying-sport aficionados to Kamshet. It is one of the two main paragliding spots in Maharashtra.

               It also has many beautiful lakes such as Vadivale Lake, Thokarwadi and Pawna. Other attractions are Caves of Karla, Bedsa and Bhaja, and Temples of Wadeshwar, Kondeshwar and Sangameshwar.

               Coorg, also known as Kodagu, is a hill station located in Karnataka famous for its coffee and tea plantations. Coorg is called the ‘Scotland of India’ and also the ‘Kashmir of the South’, because of its majestic beauty and cool climate.

               The rain-drenched forests and mountain ranges provide a unique ecosystem in which many species of birds, animals, and plants find sustenance.

               It also scores as a popular destination because of its culture and people. The Kodavas, a local clan specializing in martial arts, are especially notable for their keen hospitality. Some of the most popular tourist attractions in Kodagu include Talakaveri, Bhagamandala, Nisargadhama, Abbey Falls, Dubare, Nagar hole National Park, Iruppu Falls, and the Tibetan Buddhist Golden Temple.