Srinagar - Earth Heaven

Srinagar

Best Time to Visit:

Month of April to October

From the tourism point of view Srinagar is the most prominent place of Northern India which is situated at an altitude of 1730 meters above sea level. Every year thousands and thousands of all type of tourist come to visit here. Here, you can explore your tour in several beautiful places like wildlife sanctuaries, snow peaked mountains, amazing temples, historical places, Gardens, Lakes, House boating. The green lush valleys and houseboats city is the capital of the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Patnitop etc are the most visited places and these are famous for natural beauty and pilgrims. You can shop of beautiful handicrafts and Woolen cloths. There are budget hotels and resorts are available. This is known as paradise of earth.

• Kashmir - The Heaven on Earth article to read.

PLACES OF INTEREST:

Gulmarg: The original name of the Gulmarg is Gaurimarg. Its amazing beautiful scene attracts the tourist every year. You can do several activities like horse riding, skiing, hiking etc. There are 21 different varieties of flowers so this is called the city of flowers. Gulmarg, nestled in the Himalayas, and very close to the Line of Control receives heavy snowfall in winters and is a popular ski resort.

Pahalgam: The valley for Shepherds, located 95 kilometers east of Srinagar at an altitude of 2130 meters near to Badgam district, Srinagar. The towering mountains, glossy glaciers, solid sulk, cedar forests increase the beautifulness of the Pahalgam. This place is the famous for lovers and honeymoon couples.

Sonamarg: Sonamarg, located at the distance of 81 kilometers from Srinagar at an altitude of 2730 meters. In winter, you can visit in the month of February and November. Sonamarg offers mainly trekking adventures and alpine skiing is also available at high altitude. It is also called the Heaven of Earth.

Dal Lake: Mostly visitors to Srinagar stay out in the Dal Lake for delightful houseboat. The wonderful Mughal gardens on its shores contribute to the beauty of the Dal Lake. This charming Dal Lake is divided into two parts 1. smaller ones the Lokut (small) Dal and 2. Bod (big) Dal. Potato, tomato, pumpkin, cucumber and lots of other seasonal vegetables are grown here cultivation other floating gardens which also lie in this part of the lake is another interesting feature.

Mughal Gardens: It is one of the fascinating tourist places of the Srinagar which is laid by emperor Akabar in 1586. The Nishant Bagh is laid by Asif Khan in 1633 AD. Chesmansahi is the first Mughal Park with a amazing layout and a wonderful view. So the Mughal Gardens is combination of three renowned gardens namely the Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Gardens and Chashm-e-Shahi.

Pari Mahal: Pari Mahal has a charmingly laid out garden and is a five-minute drive from Cheshmashahi that is situated just above the Cheshmashahi garden, 10 kilometers from Srinagar. Pari Mahal is a historic monument as well as well-laid immense garden. Located around a small spring, the garden has beautiful flowering plants and various types of fruits.

How to Reach:

Jammu & Kashmir is the nearest airport and railway station.

Read more...

5 Best Place to Visit Kashmir

1. Kashmir - The Heaven on Earth

2. Sonamarg - Gold Land

3. Gulmarg - Ski your way

4. Pahalgam - Picturesque Scenery

5. Patnitop - Perfect Paradise

KASHMIR - The Heaven on Earth

 Kashmir - The Heaven on Earth

Kashmir - The Heaven on Earth, Nature's gift to India, explore all types of natural things: Lakes, Foothill Plains, Blue Valleys and Mountains where international and national tourists come to enjoy all types of tours like Spiritual Tour, Hill Station Tour, Wildlife Sanctuary, Honeymoon Tour, Trekking Tour, etc. If you are planning to visit the cultural tour then you can also choose the Kashmir because the culture of Kashmir is quite interesting. It is truly “The Paradise of Earth” which is closed to all-natural beauty places like Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Patnitop, and many more. Adventures activities like Trekking, Rafting, Fishing, and Mountaineering make the Kashmir tour amazing. So, if you are planning to make an unforgettable tour then visit, Kashmir. 

Pic Courtesy by: www.hellotravel.com

ABOUT KASHMIR

The word Kashmir is an ancient Sanskrit word that means Land of Kashyap Rishi. Kashyap Rishi was a Saraswat Brahmin and one of the Saptarshis, who was instrumental in the formalization of the ancient Historical Vedic Religion. Kashmir pandits are his descendants and have named the valley in his honor. According to "Nilmat Puran", the oldest book on Kashmir, on Satisar, an ancient lake in the Kashmir valley that means "Lake of the Goddess Sati", lived a demon called Jalodbhava (meaning "Born of Water"), who tortured and devoured people who lived near the slopes of the mountains. Hearing the suffering of the people, Kashyap, a Sahrawat brahmin, came to the rescue of the people who lived there.

Pic Courtesy by: www.lonelyplanet.com

After performing penance for a long time, the saint was blessed and, therefore, Lord(Bhagwan) Vishnu assumed the form of a wild boar (pig) and struck the mountain at Varahamula, opening an opening for water to flow to the plains below. The lake was drained, the earth appeared, and the demon was killed. The saint encouraged the people of India to settle in the valley.

Pic Courtesy by: en.wikipedia.org

As a result of the hero's actions, the people named the valley "Kashyap-Mar", which means Kashyap's residence, and "Kashyap-Pura", which means Kashyap city, in Sanskrit. The name "Kashmir", in Sanskrit, implies dried land of water: "ka" (water) and shimeera (to dry out). The ancient Greeks began to refer to the region as "Kasperia" and the Chinese pilgrim Hien-Tsang who visited the valley around 631 AD. C. called it "KaShi-Mi-Lo" In modern times, the people of Kashmir have shortened the full Sanskrit name in "Kasheer," which is the colloquial name Koshur of the valley, as noted in the introduction of Aurel Stein to the metric chronicle Rajatarangini.

Pic Courtesy by: en.wikipedia.org

The "Rajatarangini", a Kashmir story written by Kalhana in the twelfth century, coincides with Nilmat Puran, stating that the Kashmir valley was previously a lake. This lake was drained by the great rishi or sage, Kashyap, son of Marichi, son of Brahma, by cutting the gap in the hills of Baramulla (Varaha-mule). Cashmere is a variant of Kashmir spelling, especially in the English language.

Pic Courtesy by: en.wikipedia.org

Read more...

5 Best Place to Visit Kashmir

1. Srinagar - Earth Heaven

2. Sonamarg - Gold Land

3. Gulmarg - Ski your Way

4. Pahalgam - Picturesque Scenery

5. Patnitop - Perfect Paradise

For making your tour more memorable, you can also visit some nearby tourist sites in series like the beautiful Dal Lake, Shalimar Garden, Chashmashahi, Jama Masjid, Vaishno Devi Temple, Amarnath Temple, Kishtwar National Park, etc. And as all these places are very near to Srinagar & Jammu you don't have to invest your whole day for site seeing.

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Haridwar

For centuries, Haridwar is a place that preserves the Hindu religion and mysticism. Haridwar literally means "Gateway of God", located on the banks of the Ganges River, this small town is undoubtedly one of the holiest Hindu places in the world. This discreet city, chaotic and unforgiving, witnesses millions of pilgrims every year. The place is also a gateway to Char Dham or four religious centers: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, which promise sacred, adventure and cultural experiences for travelers.

Pic Courtesy by: www.cleartrip.com

Religiously, Haridwar is more important than the Rishikesh neighborhood, with a clamorous crowd in Har-ki-Pauri at night time, aarti, impressive temples, ashrams and in general an aura of religious fervor, making it a religious potpourri. It goes without saying that, being a religious city, it hosts several religious festivals throughout the year. Some of the renowned festivals are Kumbh Mela, Kavad Mela, Somvati Amavasya Mela and Ganga Dussehra.

Sights & Activities:

Har-ki-Pauri – This is the signature attraction of Haridwar, which literally means the ‘Footsteps of God’. According to legend, Lord Vishnu dropped some heavenly nectar and left behind his footsteps here. Despite of fast current of Ganges, pilgrims take a dip holding chains fixed with the bar of ghats and donate money to the priests and shrines. Every evening an illustrious Ganga aarti (river worship ceremony) is staged here. This is best thing one can watch in Haridwar. The best times to visit the place are early in the morning and just before nightfall.

Mansa Devi & Chandi Devi Temples – Mansa Devi temple is situated on the hilltop and can be reached through a cable car. The path is lined with stalls selling Prasad (food offering in religious ceremonies). Travelers can also walk down 1.5 km path, but monkeys are atrocious here. Another temple Chandi Devi temple is located on Neel Hills, 4 km southeast of Haridwar. Many pilgrims combine these two temples in a same cable car, or one can walk through 4 km and reach there.

Haridwar Ashram Stay – Many travellers, especially foreigners make a beeline for Rishikesh to learn yoga and Hindu spiritual practice. However, no one can deny a few but serious ashrams in Haridwar run by learned masters and less commercial pursuit. Two most notable ashrams are: Sri Prem Nagar Ashram and Mohyal Ashram

Pic Courtesy by: www.euttaranchal.com

Rajaji National Park - This unspoilt park is located almost 13 km from Haridwar, covering 820 sq.km in the forested foothills a home to number of elephants, a few tigers, deers, leopards, a handful of sloth beers and some 300 species of birds.  Unlike other national parks where elephant safari is predominant, this national park offers only jeep safari, accommodating a maximum of 8 people. If anyone wants to stay overnight in the forest, there are three historic but rudimentary rest houses in the park. Staying in one of the rest houses will make the entry fee valid for three days. There is no food available in the rest houses, so one need to arrange food from Chilla. The comfortable stay is in Chilla GMVN rest house outside the park.

Pic Courtesy by: rajajinationalpark.co.in

Bara Bazar - Located on the railroad road, Bara Bazar is a popular shopping place in Haridwar. As Haridwar is a religious city, all you can expect here are the elements that are required in a Pooja (Adoration). However, in Bara Bazar you are also likely to find  handicraft items. Rudraksha seeds, Churan (digestive powders) and a variety of Methai (Sweets) made with mawa & milk can also be brought from Bara Bazar. Ayurvedic medicines are also a fairly popular purchase in the market.

Pic Courtesy by: www.oyorooms.com

ShantiKunj - It is the headquarters of one of the most famous spiritual and social organizations, the All World Gayatri Parivar in India. Located on the banks of the Ganges River and at a distance of about 5 km from the Haridwar train station, a large number of people approach Shantikunj in search of spiritual guidance, as it adds to your spiritual journey in the city. Shantikunj key features are social reforms, psychosocial engineering, self-sufficient development of rural India, comprehensive training programs, resurgence of Vedic culture, reinvestigation of Vedic literature and methods of Sadhana, sixteen sanskar (sacramental rites), Worshiping the deity of human life through the triple path of Upasana, Sadhana and Aradhana, and Ascent and Empowerment of Women and Transformation of Youth: Shiksha and Vidya (Education, knowledge and just intellect).

Pic Courtesy by: hindi.awgp.org

Charre-Marre Waterfall

After writing about the famous waterfall of India, The Mandwa Waterfall Waterfall, let's come towards the most Unexplored place of Chhattisgarh which is Charre-Marre Waterfall.

Charre-Marre Waterfall is located in Kanker district which is sixteen meter high zig-zag waterfall on the Jogidhara river. In the dense forest of Pinjadin valley, at the small stream of Nirgud, Chare Mare waterfall comes into existence.

The Charre-Marre Waterfall in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh State is Approx 17 Kms away from Antagarh City, on the way to Gaon Aamabera, there is a place or gaon called Charre Marre. The deep valley is horse-shoe shaped or resembles the English letter ‘U’ and comprises of green and dark black granite rocks, through which the serene Antagarh river flows ( local people refer it as Jogi river). Every year thousands of tourists from all over the world and from all across India visit this beautiful and picturesque waterfall. The waterfall is definitely a feast for your eyes.

One of the unique feature of this waterfall is that this is the only fall in Bastar division, which can be enjoyed as one complete view, otherwise in other waterfalls like Tirathgarh. Chitrakote e.t.c, you have to come down to the fall depth to enjoy in its extreme. So, Charre-marre is not provided by any watch tower or gallery, in fact, it is beautiful from any view. On one side of its upper view, there lie two idols of Lord Hanuman. One of which is ruined and kept exposed outside, while the other one is still in better condition, and kept inside a house shaped temple, built by the local bodies. Mostly people used to offer nearby stones or pebbles to Lord Hanuman's Idols. as the local people believe that clapping and then offering stones (during prayers) will render them blessing when the stone will be accepted.

Source: www.indianholiday.com

Connectivity :

Located approx 10 kilometers away from Antagarh City of District Kanker, Chhattisgarh and approx 85 kilometers away from Chitrakoot. It is only reached by road lines.

The nearest airport to reach Charre-Marre Waterfall is in Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh. The airport stands name as Swami Vivekananda Airport situated between Mana and Raipur City at a distance of Approx 128 KM from Kanker City and can be reached in approximately 3-4 hours taking a hired taxi or by Bus facilities.

The Raipur Jn Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Charre-Marre Waterfall. Travellers can fly to Raipur and take a Taxi, shared taxis or by bus can be hired to reach Charre-Marre waterfall from Raipur City.

One more alternate is there, you can reach Kondagaon City (comes between NH-30, 75 kms from Jagdalpur) and follow the state highway to Antagarh via Narayanpur.

Kanker is a famous city of Chhattisgarh and is very well connected with the rest of the state.

Source: www.csidc.in

Best Time to Visit :

Obviously rainy season is the best time to enjoy any waterfall whereas October to January remains the best time for photographers and nature lovers who wish to see the waterfall.

Accommodation :

For accommodation here, There is no any such type of resorts or huts available in Charre-Marre to stay you have to reach to nearby city Antagarh or Narayanpur.

Regarding lodging and boarding, rest houses are available in Narayanpur and Antagarh and as Narayanpur is the District Head Quarter, you can easily get necessary materials required for your tour.