Waah India - Beauty of Haridwar, Ladakh, Champaner

Haridwar, Uttarakhand

One of the most important places for Hindu Pilgrimage, Haridwar is a small town located in the upper half of India which is very famous among the tourists. Haridwar ( the gateway to god) holds so much importance because it is the entering place for the water of River Ganga through the Indo-ganges plains. Millions of pilgrims every year come to Haridwar to offer prayers and bath in the holy water of river ganga. It is believed that a Bath in Ganga will make us sin-free.
 

There are many allocate channels in Haridwar for the pilgrims to take the holy bath which are known as Ghats. In and around the town, there are many big and small temples of great historical importance to Haridwar. Rishikesh, another important Hindu pilgrimage place is just an hour's drive away from Haridwar.

Kankhal is a small town adjacent to Haridwar which is also the house to many of the Hindu ashrams. The daksha mahadev temple is also located in Kankhal near haridwar. But the most visited are the Mansa devi temple and maya devi temple both of which have ropeway facilities for the pilgrims. The ropeway ride to the mansa devi temple is quite magnificent and scenic.
The Patanjali Yogpith of swami ramdev is also located on the route of Delhi-Haridwar. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ladakh or popularly known as Leh Ladakh - A dream destination. It was planned and cancelled in 2010, planned again in 2011 to be cancelled once again. And as always the best trips are those which are planned at the spur of the moment without any plan. It finally happened this year.

After getting reprimanded in the office on Friday sitting with a beer in my hand with 2 friends near a deserted lake at 3 in the night, a friend says lets go somewhere. I was not in a mood to go to office and wanted to go somewhere, desperately. And within minutes it was decided we all are taking a week off from our respective offices.

With Internet it is difficult to expect surprises and get an expression of an awe and there is exhausting detail about every possible thing and place, so we decided it was better to keep our knowledge to minimum and explore the place realistically than virtually.

After some extensive riding for 2 days we reached Leh the capital of Ladakh passing through the mighty hills, dangerous passes, crossing a number of streams, rivers, roads with mud, black snow and sometimes riding on so called roads. But the ride to Leh-Ladakh is full of picturesque views and serene valleys and raging rivers. It’s a complete journey.

Ladakh: It’s a heaven on earth with unparalleled splendid beauty, diverse, distinct, unlike any place of earth. Ladakh is encompassed by mountains in all directions accompanied by grasslands, barren desert and countless streams.  Ladakh remains cut off from rest of the country for most part of the year. Ladakh is also known as ‘little Tibet’ because of the cultural similarity which it owes to its proximity to Tibet.

There is no shortage of natural wonders as well as other human made structures. Here are a few must visit places in Ladakh:

Leh: Leh is the capital of Ladakh but sparsely populated. Leh has some famous Monasteries and largely buddhist population.

Shanti Stupa: The beautiful Shanti Stupa was opened by Dalai Lama. Shanti Stupa is the most important attraction in Ladakh.

Khardung La: Khardung La is the highest motorable in the world. For every motorist it’s an achievement to drive on this circuit.

Pangong Tso: Pangong Tso is the surreal blue water lake stretching from Spangmik to China. 

Nubra Valley: Scenic vistas, barren deserts, bactrian camels, lush green orchards, Nubra valley has it all to awestruck you with its serenity and grandeur.

Magnetic Hill: 27 kms from Ladakh, Magnetic hill attracts a number of tourists for anti nature phenomenon it exhibits.

Hemis National Park: Hemis national park is the second largest biodiversity park in South Asia. The national park is home to numerous species of mammals nearing extinction. The park has more than 200 snow white leopards. Near 400 yr old Hemis monastery is also located in this park.

Tso Moriri: Tso Moriri is another high altitude lake in Changthang, though less famous than Pangong Tso, it is full of splendid beauty

Zanskar: Zanskar is one of the most unexplored and isolated place in the country. Zanskar is very famous among adventurous enthusiasts. Trekking, Rock climbing and the white water rafting are very popular here. Quaint old monasteries, raging water bodies, mighty Indus, free fluttering flags and no civilisation in sight, this is what describes Zanskar. It’s a place where you feel at peace with yourself.

The 10 days I spent in this barren splendour, snow clad mountains, mighty passes, ravaging rivers or in short the heavenly Ladakh are the most amazing days of my life with each day imprinted in my mind as if it happened yesterday. The bike ride to ladakh is a must. It’s a place to let go of your inhibitions and explore the unexplored in this pristine, serene, extraordinary, primeval world.

It’s rightly said you do return from ladakh but your soul is left wandering in beautiful passes of Leh-Ladakh which makes you to return to this place again and again.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Champaner , The world Heritage Site

The archeological zone of Champaner and pavaadh comprises Gujarat's first UNESCO listed world heritage site. Here,you can s4ee an impressive variety of monuments including forts, temples, mosques, step wells , palaces, pavilions, granaries and man made water bodies.

                                                         

The Machi plateau facing the Pavagadh hill is about 822 meter high and clothed with woodlands. The rope way journey from Machi plateau in a Swiss style six seat cable car is a spectacular experience. Little tea stalls serving tea and snacks line the  

Laukalish Temple. Built in the 11th Century, this temple of Champaner is now largely ruined but the standing walls reflect te fine architecture and intricate carvings of Champaner region. From here, one can walk up to the Kali temple or the Jain Derasar complex. The view from top of Pavagadh is a major attraction; one can also see imposing monuments at Champaner town which was the political capital of Gujarat for a while. The massive city walls with inscribed gateways still stand encompassing the customs house, exquisite mosques and funerary monuments of Champaner. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Munnar Kerala 

 

Wander just a few kilometres outside the scruffy little hill station of Munnar and you'll be engulfed in a sea of a thousand shades of green. The lolling hills all around are covered by a sculptural carpet of teatrees, and the mountain scenery is magnificent – you're often up above the clouds, watching veils of mist cling below the mountaintops. Once known as the High Range of Travancore, today Munnar is the commercial centre of some of the world's highest  tea-growing estates.

Just like Darjeeling, Munnar has been one of the favorite hill stations for the Indian tourist. The magnificent streams, fresh aroma of Tea trees, traditional cottages, exquisite luxury villas, Munnar has something to offer to every tourist. The grasslands and forests which rise and fall are just a gifted sight for the eyes. 

Munnar is environmentally diverse and has plenty of flora and fauna including a variety of breeds for the Wood like Sandalwood, Teak , Rosewood etc. The bird watchers too feel lucky in munnar as an Regalia of various species of birds is offered by the nature at Munnar. 

Located in Kerala, The god's own country, Munnar is away from all the hustle bustles of the city and is a very peaceful town amidst the large tea gardens giving you the ultimate enjoyment of Tranquil.

Sights & Activities
The main reason to be in Munnar is to explore the lush, tea-fi lled hillocks that surround it. Hotels, homestays, travel agencies, autorickshaw drivers and practically every passer-by will want to organise a day of sightseeing for you.

• Tata Tea Museum : Located around 1.5km north of town, this museum is, unfortunately, about as close as you'll get to a working tea factory around Munnar. It's a slightly sanitised version
  of the real thing, but it still shows the basic process. A collection of old bits and pieces from the colonial era, including photographs and a 1905 tea-roller, are also kept here. The short walk to here from town is lovely, passing some of the most accessible tea plantations from Munnar town.