Top 6 Alluring Indian Destinations
India, the great nation with diverse culture is an incredible travel destination. With a number of adventurous, alluring and beach destination, it is one the most popular countries among the tourers. If you are looking for complete peace of mind then you must visit some of the top alluring Indian destinations...
India, the great nation with diverse culture is an incredible travel destination. With a number of adventurous, alluring and beach destination, it is one the most popular countries among the tourers. If you are looking for complete peace of mind then you must visit some of the top alluring Indian destinations...
Manali, Himachal Pradesh
The mesmerising hill station is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is encircled by pinewoods with the meandering Beas River and snowy mountains that give it an amazing pure white look. Manali is popular for its aesthetic beauty, and colourful fairs and pretty shrines. It is popularly known as the queen of valleys. The lovely hill station is closely situated to Himalayas. It is close knit with the legendary law giver of ancient India, Manu. It believed that the Manali is the place where the ark of Manu found its resting after a great flood. Manali, which literally means the abode of Manu, has got remarkable significance in the ethnic culture and tradition of India.
The distinguished holiday spot offers the chunky afforests with cool gentle winds, the vast expansion of meadows, small quaint settlements and lovely orchards, give a majestic look to the serene ambiance of Manali.
Must Visit
- Rohtang Pass
- Solang Valley (Snow Point)
- Hadimba Temple
- Raghunath Temple
- Vashisht Baths
- Beas Kund (Chandratal Lake)
- Jagannathi Devi Temple (Bekhli Temple)
- Chandrakhani Pass
- The Great Himalayan National Park
- Pandoh Dam
Get in
By Air – The nearest Bhuntar (Kullu) Airport is about 50 km from Manali, and 10 km from Kullu. You can easily hop the plane from Chandigarh and Delhi.
By train – From the capital city of India, Delhi, nearest Broad Gauge Rail Head is Ambala Cantt only 200 km or Chandigarh about 250 km. Several trains are running daily from Delhi to Ambala Cantt and Chandigarh on the Jammu main lines. Kalka and Jogindernagar are other, less preferable, rail heads for Manali. The nearest Broad gauge station is Kiratpur Sahib in Punjab near the city of Nangal. It lies in Ropar district of Punjab. The station lies on the Ambala Cantt - Una route of Indian Railways. From here you can easily get buses for Manali.
By road – Manali is well connected via road and about 540 km from Delhi. There are buses connecting the town with Delhi, Shimla, Dharamsala and Leh.
Munnar, Kerala
The beautiful hill station in the Kerala state is a haven of peace and harmony. The incredible hill station is popular among the tourists across the globe. It is positioned at a height of 6000ft in the Idukki district and is the most privileged summer resort. Munnar was a significant resort even during the British monarchs in those colonial days.
The popular tourist place is opulent with unique species of flora and fauna. It also has a wide-ranging stretch of tea plantations among the high mountains and unspoiled valleys, giving an amazing feeling. The aromatic cool air is filled with the aroma of spices. The rising and falling terrain of Munnar is covered with forests and grasslands.
Munnar the undulated topography offers several scenic views. You would get a chance to see some of the trees found in this region including teak, rose wood, red sandalwood, jungle jack, etc. For the bird watchers, Munnar is a paradise as rare species of birds seen in abundance.
If you are looking for honeymoon location or thirsty for the adventurous tour, then Munnar is one of the perfect destination for you. It is filled with natural beauty, wildlife, etc. that boost your love life.
Must Visit:
- Anamudi Peak
- Mattupetty Dam
- Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary (Thattekad Sanctuary)
- Rajamalai National Park (Eravikulam National Park)
- Idukki Arch Dam
- Hill View Park
- Sita Devi Lake
Get in
By air – Cochin International Airport is the nearest one to reach Munnar. This airport is also known as Nedumbassery Airport and CIAL. The airport is only 110km away from Munnar via road. Another Madurai International Airport is 140Km from Munnar.
By train – Munnar is well connected via rail routes and several trains are available to reach Munnar. The nearest railway station is Aluva which is 110 km away from the hill station. Two other stations Ernakulam and Madurai are about 130 and 135 kilometres away. Regular buses are available from all three stations.
By bus – Munnar bus station is located on the main street, Main Bazaar and well connected via roads. You can catch buses from Kochi, Aluva and other locations to reach Munnar. The nearest bus station to the Cochin International Airport is Aluva. There are also buses from Coimbatore and Pollachi.
Ooty, Tamil Nadu
The queen of hill stations and capital of Nilgiris district, Ooty is one of the most famous tourist attractions in India. It is also known as Ootacamund, and the best picnic spot with picturesque views. It is one of the busiest tourist resorts in India during summers and weekends. It is located at an altitude of 2,240 mt above sea level.
One of the major attractions for the tourists is the mountain train journey on a ratchet and pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam and wends its way through many hair-raising curves, fearful tunnels and chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens.
Several tea estates made it more popular across the globe. On the most routes dense forest, lofty mountains, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles of tea gardens greet the passengers. An annual tea and tourism festival attracts a huge number of tourists every year. The amazing environment invites numerous visitors to come and enjoy a wonderful time with nature in Ooty.
Must Visit:
- Ooty Botanical Gardens
- Doddabetta Peak
- Ooty Lake
- Tiger Hill
- Sim's Park
- Dolphin's Nose
- Catherine Falls
- Hidden Valley
Get in
By air – The Coimbatore airport is the nearest one to the Ooty. It is well connected with other major airports including Singapore, Sharjah, Colombo and most parts of India including Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. Another nearest airport is Mysore airport from Ooty.
By train – The hills are connected to by a nightly train. The Nilgiri Express leaves from Chennai at night, and reaches Mettupalayam (which Indian Rail spells Metupalaiyam), a small town at the foothills of the Nilgiris early the next morning. The train The Nilgiri Mountain Railway leaves Mettupalayam, pushed by a small steam powered historic locomotive that is a remnant of Swiss engineered trains imported in the late 1800s. The train journey will be a very good experience, but only 30 tickets are issued on the spot. A separate queue for this train is at Mettupalayam railway station. You have to be in queue at least by 5 am.
You would enjoy the steam train ride that takes a very scenic route, and the pace of travel will let you take in the beautiful scenery at leisure with stops at stations for the engine to take on water (the journey takes about 5-1/2 hours compared to 2 hours by road). The train uses a rack and pinion system to haul itself up steep slopes, and also to prevent the train from sliding down when stopping. The train often travels only at 5 - 10 Kmph, allowing some adventurous passengers to disembark from the train and walk along the train. This practice is not recommended and can be dangerous, besides there is a good chance that the train will speed up, and you will be unable to get back on board.
By bus – Bus services are available that can be boarded from most parts of India to Ooty. The Coimbatore "new bus station" has frequent bus service to Ooty via Mettupalayam, and it takes around 3-1/2 hours to get there.
Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu
One of the most alluring hill stations in Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal is located in the popular Palani Hills in Western Ghats and is known as the Princess of hill stations. It is situated about 7,200 feet above the sea level. It is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in the South India. The mesmerising beauty of the hill station attracts numerous people from across the globe.
According to the local language the word Kodaikanal means a gift of the forest. It has several dense forests that includes many varieties of trees, the huge rocks in the wilderness and the enchanting waterfalls, makes it a real gift for the tourists visiting this place. Kodaikanal is popular for eucalyptus oil, plums, homemade chocolates, pears and kurinji - flowers, which blossoms only once in twelve years.
Visitors can enjoy several activities including horse riding, cycling, boating, trekking and more adventurous activities. All types of food and neat hotels in all price ranges are available in Kodaikanal for a comfortable stay.
Must Visit:
- Green Valley View (Suicide Point)
- Pillar Rocks
- Devil's Kitchen
- Bear Shola Falls
Get in
By air – There are three nearest airports to Kodaikanal - Madurai 120 km, Trichy 150 km, and Coimbatore 175 km.
By train – The closet railway station is Kodai Road at a distance of 100 km from Kodairoad station; one has to travel only by road. Taxis are available for hire up to Kodaikanal but since these might the only mode of transport here, the prices are often not negotiable. Another Railway station that is quite close is Dindigul Railway station. It is easier to come to kodaikanal using this station as it is a much bigger city.
By bus – It is well connected via roads, one can catch the bus from Dindigul city to reach kodaikanal which is only 90 kms away, and there are plenty of buses plying from various parts of the state. Buses ply from Chennai, Pondicherry, Madurai, Trichy, Palani, Dindigul, and Coimbatore.
Goa, Goa
One of the most popular beach destinations across the world, Goa, is a small state in India, which exhibits every bit of influence left by the Portuguese during the 500 year rule. It is widely known for its vast stretches of beautiful clear blue waters, sandy beaches, verdant green mountain ranges and its idyllic lifestyle which embraces any newcomer into its fold.
One can enjoy his/her holidays with the clean talcum sand under the feet stretches forever, the relentless splashing of waves never ceases, the variety of food served never fails to amuse and the party around you just never gets over. It is also famous for its wide range of religious places which form an integral part of its historic & religious tourist spots. Numerous places of worships are widely popular for its amazing architecture. The Basilica of Bom Jesus located in the old Goa attracts thousands of visitors from all faiths and makes.
Must Visit:
- Tito's
- Basilica de Bom Jesus
- Church & Convent of St Francis of Assisi
- Se Cathedral
- Fort Aguada, Calangute Beach
- Vagator Beach
- Flea Market
- Baga Beach
- Candolim Beach
- Shri Mangueshi Temple
Get in
By air – The Dabolim airport in Vasco da Gama is Goa's only airport. Some airlines fly directly to Goa, but most international flights arrive via Mumbai. Many domestic airlines have daily flights to and from Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Kozhikode (Calicut).
By train – Goa is well connected via Indian Rail Routes, several direct trains available from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Mangalore, Kochi, Kolkata, Thiruvanantapuram, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. Travelling to Goa by train is a real pleasure as the route passes through greenery and many tunnels.
By bus – There are numerous bus routes from several cities, but most traffic is from mainly Mumbai and Pune. Due to increasing demand from the south, there has been an increase in buses and trains from Mangalore, Bangalore and New Delhi.
Nainital, Uttarakhand
One of the most popular hill stations among the tourists across the globe, Nainital, is the Lake District of India. It is located in the Himalayan belt amongst the Kumaon hills. The city is a paradise for nature lovers. The mesmerising holiday destination with a rich treasure of lakes and hills is loved by young and the old alike.
The Nainital city of lakes referred to as the lake of three sages, or the Tri Rishi Sarovar as mentioned in the Manas Khand chapter of the Skanda Purana. It is believed that the three sages Atri, Pulastya, and Pulaha stopped over at Nainital on their pilgrimage, to quench their thirst. Finding no water, they dug a hole and transferred some water into it to from the sacred lake of Tibet, Mansarovar. Thus the famous lake of Nainital came into existence.
Another belief about the lake is that the left eye of Lord Shiva’s wife Sati fell in this centre and formed and emerald eye (Nain) shaped lake, and thus emerged the city of Nainital.
The city is the best getaways from the busy and crowded cities, and experiences the peaceful natural zone in the lap of Mother Nature. The lavish mesmerising beauty of Nainital would let you enjoy your holidays away from the maddening crowd and pollution.
Must Visit:
- Tiffin Top (Dorothy's Seat)
- Naini Lake
- Naina Peak
- Land's End
Get in
By air – PantNagar Airport is the nearest one and takes around two hours to reach Nainital. It is one of the least busy airports in the country, handling only 6 scheduled flights a week.
By train – Kathgodam is the nearest railway station which is 35 km away. You can catch bus or hire taxi to reach Nainital from Kathgodam.
By road – Regular bus service is available from Delhi ISBT Anand Vihar. You can hop Uttarakhand Roadways buses to reach Nainital that takes 7 to 8 hours.
Take your time and decide where you want to visit in the coming holidays, and book your tickets or holiday package in advance to avoid any hassle.