Chennai Tourism

Chennai formerly known as Madras is the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal and also regarded as the gateway to the south India. This is the fourth largest metro city in India and known as the automobile capital of India. The city is also a proud host of India's only ATP tennis event i.e the Chennai Open.

Chennai at a Glance : The city is known for its diverse cultural heritage. The exotic city is famous for its ancient temples, sea beaches, historic buildings, a unique culture which is totally different from the north with foreign influence. The city offers a number of tourist places which attracts tourist from all over India.

Prime Attractions :

Marina Beach It is one of the longest beach in Asia stretching over an area of 13 km. Its golden sand, clean blue sea make it a popular tourist spot of the City.

Kapileshwar Temple This 8th century Pallava temple of Dravidian architecture is situated in Mylapore which attracts thousands of devotees from all over India. This temple is dedicated to lord Shiva and has some beautiful sculptures including 63 bronze idols of Saivite Saints.

» St. George Forte : This was built in the year 1653 by the British East India Company and presently used as the state secretariat. It has a museum which houses numerous British and French antiques. Also inside the fort is the St. Mary's church which is the first English church in Chennai.

» Shopping Spots : There are several emporiums which are renowned for its handicraft objects made of ivory, sandal wood, bronze and silver. It is also famous for leather goods, silk and hand-woven fabrics.

Climate
Being situated in the tropical zone the city has a very hot and humid climate. There is not much temperature difference between winter and summer as the city receives rainfall through out the year. In summer the maximum temperature rises up to 40 degrees C while in winter the minimum temperature is about 18 degrees C. The best time to visit the city is in winter i.e from November to February.

Reaching Chennai
Chennai is well connected to all the major places of India and abroad by Air, Rail and Road.
» Air : The city has an international airport which links Chennai with all
the major parts of world and the domestic airport connect it with all the major cities of India.

» Rail : An excellent wide network of railways connects it with all major cities and towns in India. Madras Central and the Egmore are the two main railway stations.

» Road : A good motorable road network connects Chennai with all important cities of Tamil Nadu and other parts of India.

Bangalore Tourism

Bangalore is the capital city of the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is the 5th largest city of India also known as the garden city of India for its beautiful gardens. Because of its IT industry, it is also called the Silicon Valley of India.

City Tour
The city was founded in 16th century but in 18th century, it gained prominence under the rule of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. The city is known for its numerous gardens and several historic buildings which attract tourists from all over India.

Must visit places

The Vidhan Soudh This magnificent granite building of Vidhan Soudh was built in 1954 represents a Neo-Dravidian style architecture which houses both State Secretariat and the State Legislature with some other offices.

Lal Bagh This is a beautiful garden houses a number of species of flora including tropical plants, trees and herbs. Every year a number of flower shows are organised here especially during the Republic Day.

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» Tipu Sultan's Fort : This is another important tourist destination which symbolizes the glory of emperor Tipu Sultan in the 18th century.

» Cubbon Park : This park is located near the Vidhan Soudh constitutes various species of trees, an aquarium with a multitude of fishes, the City Central Library with some rare books and a children's playground.

» Ulsoor Lake : Ulsoor lake is located in the northeastern part of the city. This is a picturesque lake which offers boating facilities and is an important picnic spot.

Shopping Spots
Bangalore can be considered as a shoppers paradise where you can find everything from clothes, jewellery to handicraft products. There are a number of state owned and private owned emporia which are famous for its handicraft products, silk saris, and jewellery. The most famous shopping attractions are several emporia situated in M.G.Road, Brigade Road, K.G Road and the Malleswaram where you can find traditional handicraft items of sandalwood and rose wood.

Climate
Bangalore is situated in the Deccan Plateau enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year. The maximum temperature in summer (April - June) is around 38 degrees C and in winter the lowest temperature is around 12 degrees C. The city experiences rains in the months June - August by the southwestern monsoon.The best time to visit the city is in winters i.e between October to February.

Transportation
Bangalore is accessible by air, road and rail.

» Air : Bangalore airport is 6 km from the city centre from where regular flights operate to all the major cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi etc. It has direct international flights to Muscot, Sharjah and Singapore.

» Rail : There are regular train services which link the city with other cities of India. The City Railway Station is the main terminal of the City. There are a number of express trains like Shatabdhi, Bridavan, Lalbagh connect Bangalore to Chennai.

» Road : Bangalore has a large Bus terminal near the railway station from where daily bus services link the city with other major cities of India like Mysore, Chennai, Mumbai, etc.

Bodh Gaya

Location : Bodh Gaya is located in the central part of the state Bihar in the northeastern India near the river Niranjana or the Falgu. It is a part of the greatest Ganges plains and is 13 km from the Gaya town.

Significance - This place is associated with the life of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhist religion. This is the place where Buddha attained Enlightenment or Nirvana under the Bodhi tree. Thus, Bodh Gaya is an important Buddhist pilgrimage and study centre which attracts thousands of believers from all over world.

Pilgrim Spots in Bodh Gaya
» Mahabodhi temple : Mahabodhi temple is the main attraction of Bodhgaya which is now a World Heritage Site. The temple represents the architecture of Gupta and later Gupta Age. The temple has a large number of images of Lord Buddha and the carved inscriptions in the temple shows that pilgrims from Sri Lanka, China and Myanmar had visited this place between 7th and 10th century AD.

» The Bodhi Tree : The Bodhi Tree and a pond is located in side the temple complex where accroding to legends, Buddha had meditated here. The present Bodhi Tree is a descendant of the original tree.The red sandstone or the Vajrasana under the Bodhi tree is said to be the place where Buddha had meditated.

There are also a number of monasteries built by different countries like Sri Lanka, Japan, China etc. which attracts tourist from all over the world.

Climate
In Bodhgaya the summers are extremely hot with maximum temperature rising up to 45 - 48 degrees C, while in winter the maximum temperature is arround 28 degrees C and the minimum is arround 4 degrees C. The best time to visit the city is between October to February.

Transport
Bodh Gaya is well connected to all the major cities of India by air, rail and road.

» By Air - The nearest airport is the Gaya International Airport which connects the city with other major Indian cities and also to Bangkok (Thailand). Besides, the Patna airport is also another important airport with flights to the major Indian cities.

» By Rail - Gaya is the nearest railway station which links the city with other major cities of India. There are direct trains available for Delhi, Kolkata, Varanasi, Puri and Patna.

» By Road - Bodh Gaya is well connected by road. The State Road Transport Corporation runs bus services to Gaya and other cities of Bihar.

Andaman Islands

Andaman & Nicobar group of islands are like sparkling jewels, floating in isolation amidst the azure blue water of Bay of Bengal. The gorgeous green surroundings, captivating corals reefs, soft sands, bright sun, smooth water, gently swaying coconut trees, rich forests and smooth sea waves all around, makes for a heavenly ambience.

This tropical paradise is sure to steal your heart at the very first sight of yours. Be in the lap of the nature here and check out the wildlife sanctuaries, tribal reserves, national parks, copious mangroves, exotic wild orchids, dugong, dolphin, whale, fishes, sea turtles and more.

The beaches at Andaman & Nicobar captivates the sights of every single tourist to this land. The sandy beaches with sun and sea makes for an ideal beach holiday destination throughout the world. This eco friendly tourist destination is indeed a paradise for the ecologists as well as the nature lovers.

Beaches in Andaman and Nicobar Islands :

Corbyn's Cove and Chirya Tapu Corbyn's Cove and Chirayu Tapu is a beautiful beach, ideal for laid back holidays. The beach is visited by the swimmers and sunbather alike for the appealing sights around and tremendous water sports facilities are available. The beauty of this place is just unbelievable.

Radhnagar Beach Located in the Havelock islands in Andaman & Nicobar, the virgin and pristine beaches of Radhnagar and Vijaynagar Beaches appeals to every single beach worshiper and nature admirer. White Wales, Banded Sea Snake, Frogfish,

Havelock Island, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India

» Harminder Bay Beach : At a distance of 100 km from Port Blair the state capital, the picturesque beach at Hut Bay Island can be easily accessed by ship from Port Blair. This beach is a complete package for the sand, sea and sun lovers. » Karmatang Beach : Situated at Mayabunder, towards north of Middle Andaman, the Karnatang Beach is 240-km by road and 136-km by boat from Port Blair. The beach here is the nesting ground of the turtles. » Ramnagar Beach : The Ramnagar Beach on the Diglipur Island of the Andaman's group, is connected by two daily boat services from Mayabunder and twice a week from Port Blair. The sandy beach is a fine location for beach enthusiasts around the world. » Climate : The climate at Andaman & Nicobar Islands is tropical throughout the year. The humidity level is relatively high between - 70% to 90%. The maximum and minimum temperature at Andaman & Nicobar is 31 degree C and 23 degree C respectively throughout the year. Way to Andaman & Nicobar Islands » By Air : Port Blair is connected with Chennai and Kolkata by air. At present, Alliance Air and Jet Airways too operates flights to Andaman & Nicobar. Alliance Air operates on Chennai-Port Blair-Chennai route on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday and on Kolkata-Port Blair -Kolkata route on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday. Jet Airways too operates flights every day on Chennai - Port Blair - Chennai line. » By Sea : Passenger ship services are available to Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata and Vishakhapatnam and back on regular basis. There are three to four sailings every month from Kolkata and Chennai to Port Blair and vice-versa. There is one sailing from Vishakhapatnam in a month.

Delhi Agra Jaipur with Varanasi Golden Triangle Tours

Golden Triangle Tour with Varanasi to India includes a visit to three most beautiful cities of India i.e., Delhi, Jaipur and Agra including a pilgrimage destination Varanasi, This tour is the most popular travel route in North India. One corner of this tour is Delhi, second is Jaipur and the third one is Agra. Adding Varanasi to this tour makes this tour the most accepted tour.

Delhi, the first spot in Golden Triangle was known as Indraprastha earlier. Delhi is one of the most rapidly growing cities in India. It is located on the west bank of River Yamuna. Here you can visit Red Fort, Jama Masjid, India Gate, Jantar Mantar, Kutub Minar, Bahai Temple, Rashtrapati Bahawan, Parliament House etc.

You can experience the old and new atmosphere here by visiting different historical monuments, street markets and modern malls. Delhi is a perfect place for sight seeing, shopping and eating. You can shop anything from the market from a simple plain cloth piece to beautiful shopping arcades.

The second city in the Golden Triangle Tours will be Jaipur. Jaipur, known as the Pink City is the capital of state Rajasthan. Rajsathan is famous for its historic and regal culture. This state is full of color, customs, rituals and diversity.

Jaipur is full of beautifully constructed Fort & Palaces, forts and Havelis. The city is about 262 kms away from Delhi by road. The various famous atractions in Jaipur are Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort etc. Local market of Jaipur is as colorful as the city itself. It is mainly famous for precious and semi precious stones such as diamonds, topaz and emeralds. Your shopping in Rajasthan will be incomplete without shopping for handicrafts and textiles.

Basically, Bandhani, Block Printing and Sanganeri are very famous. The third city in your Golden Triangle Tours will be Agra. Agra is famous for the world wide beauty The Taj Mahal. Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. This amazing white marble beauty is so beautifully designed that every year thousands of tourists visit Agra just to have a look of Taj. Apart of Taj Mahal, other places to visit in Agra are red Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. Like Jaipur, here also you will find an amazing market. Agra is famous for gem stones, marble made articles, jewelry, rugs, leather items and ethnic handicrafts.The fourth city you would visit is Varanasi. Varanasi is basically a Hindu pilgrimage city since ages. It situated on the bank of River Ganga. It is strongly believed that River Ganga carries away the wrong doings of people. Here, you can visit Hindu Temples, Ashrams, Ghats, Stupas etc.

Apart from these temples, you can also visit Archaeological Museum where you can find Ashoka Pillar, which is the National Emblem of India. Different temples in the city are Durga temple, Sankat Mochan temple, Vishwanath temple and Tulsi Manas temple. Various famous Ghat in Varanasi are Prahalad Ghat, Ravidas Ghat, Kabir Ghat and Vishnu Ghat. Varanasi is also famous for its silk sarees. Banarasi Silk Sarees has a very important part in Indian Wedding. Apart from sarees, Mizapur carpets, musical instrument, sweet betel leaves and mangoes are also famous in Varanasi.

Enjoy the three major cities of India include with Varanasi during your India tours.

North India

Located in the upper part of India in the foothills of the Himalayas, the northern region of India is enriched with different cultures, religions, marvelous monuments, immense wildlife parks and sanctuaries, holy rivers, majestic Himalayas, and diversified climate conditions. The whole of north India borders countries like Pakistan, China, Nepal and Bhutan from northwest to northeast. Geographically north India has great diversity. The towering majesty of the Himalayas, the breathtaking mountainous beauty of Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir, the agriculturally rich plains of Punjab, Haryana and the Ganga basin of Uttar Pradesh that has nurtured many ancient civilisations form an incredibly rich visual extravaganza. This rich cultural tapestry is woven with brilliant strands of many hues-dance, music, food, costumes, languages, customs, festivals -a variety staggering in its appeal. The origin of sacred river Ganga, Yamuna and sources of many other important rivers are in northern India.

States of North India

Jammu & Kashmir , Himachal Pradesh , Punjab , Haryana , Rajasthan , Delhi , Uttar Pradesh , Chandigarh

South India

The southern part of India touches the Indian Ocean and is rich in wild life, flora & fauna and temples. South India is a geographic and linguistic-cultural region of India. Geographically, South India is a vast triangular peninsula, bounded on the west by the Arabian Sea, and on the east by the Bay of Bengal. The Vindhya and Satpura ranges and the Narmada River are the traditional boundary between northern and southern India. South of the Satpuras, at the center of the peninsula, is the Deccan plateau, defined by the Western Ghats mountain range, which runs along the western edge of the peninsula, and the Eastern Ghats along the eastern edge. The great rivers of south India, the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri (Cauvery), rise in the Western Ghats and flow across the Deccan and through gaps in the Eastern Ghats to empty into the Bay of Bengal. As a linguistic-cultural and political region, South India consists of the five south Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry & Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Natives of these states are referred to as South Indians. South India is also called Dakshina Nad (Dakshina = South + Nad = land), Dravida Nad (Dravida = Dravidian + Nad = land), or simply Dravida. The dance forms of South India are Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohiniaattam which literally translates as 'the dance of the enchantress'. The music of the South Indian people is called as Carnatic music. The dominant features of south India are the tropical climate less harsh than the northern States, lush green tropical vegetation in the coastal areas and the architecture, culture, languages and lifestyle which had remained essentially Dravidian at the core in spite of repeated exposures to alien influences. This is a land of temples, a land of the devout, the profusion of jasmine and 'kanakambaram' flowers and the soft beat of distant drums as yet another festival starts. Main languages includes Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Tulu, among many others. The chief dressing of South Indian women is the Sari and of Men is Lungi, which is also an unstitched drape like the sari. Rice is the staple diet, with fish being an integral component of coastal South Indian meals. Coconut is an important ingredient in many of the dishes of the south Indian people. The people are largely agrarian, dependent on monsoons, as are most people in India. Some of the main crops cultivated in South India include paddy, sorghum, millet, pulses, cotton, chilli, and ragi. South India was and still is the "promised land" as far as spice cultivation is concerned. Areca, coffee, pepper, tapioca, and cardamom are widely cultivated on the Nilgiri Hills and Coorg. Education is highly valued in the south Indian community, and is seen as a gateway to a better livelihood.



States of South India

Karnataka , Tamil Nadu , Kerala , Andhra Pradesh

Population

India is also home to a large and diverse population that has added to its vibrant character since ages. Its population is one billion (one thousand million), making it the second most populous country after China. It is more than three times the population of the United States though its area is only about one-third. It is the largest democracy in the world. India, it is often said, is not a country but a continent. From North to South & East to West the people are different, the culture is different, the moods are different. A pluralist, multilingual and multicultural society, Indians are largely tolerant and peaceful. Religious practices of various faiths are an integral part of everyday life in society. In 2001, India had 35 cities / urban areas with a population of more than one million people. In total, some 108 million Indians, or 10.5 per cent of the national population, live in the country's 35 largest cities. Mumbai (Bombay) with a population of more than 16 million is now the world's fourth-largest urban area followed by Kolkata (Calcutta) in fifth place. The United Nations now estimates that by 2050 India will have overtaken China as the most populous country in the world. Today, Indians make up 16.7 per cent of the world's population with an annual growth rate of close to two per cent while the world population is growing at an annual rate of 1.4 per cent. In 2001, the sex ratio for the whole of India stood at 933 females to 1,000 males. Based on their physical type and language, we can easily divide Indian people into four broad classes. First, a majority of high class Hindus, who live in North India and whose language is derived from Sanskrit. Secondly, those who live in that part of India that is south of the Vindhyas and whose languages - Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam - are entirely different from Sanskrit. These are known by the generic name of "Dravidians". Thirdly, primitive tribes living in hills and jungles of India, who as mentioned above constitute eight percent of the total population in India. The Kols, Bhils and Mundas belong to this class. Fourthly, there are a people with strong Mongolian features inhabiting within India the slopes of the Himalayas and mountains of Assam. The Gorkhas, Bhutiyas and Khasis are striking examples of this. It is impossible to speak of any one Indian culture, although there are deep cultural continuities that tie its people together. English is the major language of trade and politics, but there are fourteen official languages in all. There are twenty-four languages that are spoken by a million people or more, and countless other dialects. India has seven major religions and many minor ones, six main ethnic groups, and countless holidays.

States of India

India is subdivided into 28 states, 6 union territories and a National Capital Territory.

Union Territories

Andaman and Nicobar Islands , Chandigarh , Dadra and Nagar Haveli , Daman and Diu , Lakshadweep , Pondicherry , National Capital Territory , Delhi.

States of India
Jammu & Kashmir , Himachal Pradesh , Punjab , Haryana , Rajasthan , Delhi , Uttar Pradesh , Chandigarh , Karnataka , Tamil Nadu , Kerala , Andhra Pradesh , Gujarat , Maharashtra , Goa ,Daman & Diu , Bihar , Orissa , West Bengal , Sikkim , Assam , Meghalaya , Arunachal Pradesh , Nagaland , Manipur , Mizoram , Tripura , Madhya Pradesh .