Guwahati

Guwahati is the gateway to North East India. The capital of Assam, Dispur is within the city Guwahati. It is the most happening place of North East and the only commercial and educational centre. The mighty Brahmaputra flows within the town is the main highlight of the town. And the entire city is bordered by beautiful green hills.

Sight seeing
There are many interesting places to see in Guwahati. The first among them is Kamakhya temple. It is a very famous temple in the lap of Nilachal hill. Baishistha temple, Bala ji Temple are well known destinations in Guwahati. Another must visit place in Guwahati is Umananda island temple on the river Brahmaputra. The boat ride to this island is very pleasant. Guwahati is not a very big city one or two days are enough to cover the city. So short trip to Kajiranga national park, Shillong, Cherrapunjee are good options to explore the charm of North East India.

People , food, shopping
Assame people are very simple and good by heart. Guwahati is a combination of Assamese and Bengali people. Bihu is the main festival of Assamese and during the 'bahag bihu'(in the month of April) the whole Guwahati looks very colourful with bihu song and dance. When it comes to Assamese cuisines nothing can beat the fish items. 'Maas tanga' is a famous fish curry of them. Assamese food are less spicy and staple food is rice and fish. The popular fast food of the region is steamed momo with tangy chili. Besides these continental, chinese, south Indian restaurants are common in Guwahati.
For shopping in Guwahati 'Fancy Bazar' is an excellent place. Assamese ethnic wear mekhla chadar are ideal item to get from Guwahati. All types of bamboo products like basket, show piece, jewellary, table, chair are available in mind blowing designs in Guwahati. Packets of tea leaves form Guwahati is the best gift to the near and dear one.

Getting there
Guwahati is well connected from Delhi and Kolkata by air. But if you have time it is always pleasant to go Guwahati on train. The lush green hills, tea garden unfolding before one's eye are some excellent feeling while journey by train in Guwahati.

Lodging
No scarcity for hotels. Luxury to budget hotels are easily available in Guwahati.

Warning
Since the political situation is not very comfortable in Guwahati visitors are advised not to roam around in the city till late night.
Otherwise it is an ideal place to sit in nature's lap.The life in Guwahati is quite slow and perfect place to live in leisure.

Haridwar

Haridwar is considered as the gate way to God. It is here in Haridwar that the river Ganga emerges from the hill in plain. The serene, holy Ganga has made the city visitor's paradise and God's abode. It is among the seven sacred cities of India and a popular gateway to char dham. Haridwar is one of the four venues of the Kumbh mela, and today it is gaining industrial importance because of BHEL, as it has got a huge plant there.

Main Attractions

The main attraction of Haridwar is Har ki pauri, the famous ghat. Here, every day thousands of devotees take bath in the river Ganga, and this really makes their mind and body fresh and pure. Saffron clad sadhus deep in meditation, families performing funeral rites, bare-chested pandits worshiping the sun are some very common and amazing sights of Har ki pauri. The Aarti in the evening at Har ki pauri should not be missed. Earthen diyas with marigold flowers floating on the river Ganga gives a feeling of spiritual ecstacy. Other attractions of Haridwar are Manasa Temple, Chandi Temple, Anandamayee Ashram, Rudraksha Temple and Ramkrishna Moth. The rope way to Mansa temple is an extremely exciting journey.

Excursion

Just half an hour away from Haridwar is Rishikesh, an ideal spot for river rafting. The ancient temples of Rishikesh also attract pilgrims. It is a place where ancient and religious traditions exist happily together with youthful adventurous sports. Neelkanth Mahadev temple, a four hour walk from Lakshman Jhula is truely a not to be missed travel destination away from the madding crowd. Rajaji National Park is a place for wild life lovers near Haridwar. Another near by place of Haridwar is Patanjali Yog Pith , the famous Ashram of Ramdev Ji. People who have interest in Yoga and Ayurveda can make a visit to the place.

The center of Haridwar is compact with tiny shops and food stalls. Bara bazar on Upper Road is famous for glass bangles, walking sticks, mind boggling idols of various gods, artificial jewellary, brass and copper puja utensils. All types of paratha, puri aloo, and rabri methai are the major attractions of the food stall. And the foods are very reasonable and fresh. Back home the best gift from Haridwar is a bottle of Ganga jal.

Getting There

Haridwar is easily accessible by bus or by train from all the centre of India either directly or via Delhi.

Accommodation

Haridwar has got lots of lodges and hotels. So there is no scarcity of place and the tariff is also very reasonable.

Gwalior

Gwalior is a land of forts and palaces in Madhya Pradesh. The whole city is a visual and aesthetic feast or can be called a picture perfect land. Gwalior is a city of historical importance. The city is blessed by classical music maestro Miya Tan Sen. This place is patronised by many great rulers. And the memories of the mighty past have been preserved with care in great palaces and museums.

Interesting places
The most magnificent monument of Gwalior is The Fort. This sand stone fort dominates the whole city and it had been described by Babar as 'the pearl amongst the fortresses of Hind'. The outer wall of the fort is 35 feet high and 2 miles long. With in the fort is the Gujari Mahal of medieval architecture. It was a monument of love by Raja Mansingh Tomar for Mrignayani. The mahal has been converted into an archaeological museum. Another interesting place is JaiVilas palace and museum, current residence of Scindia family. The Scindia museum gives us an idea about the royal India. Tan Sen's Tomb is an important monument in Gwalior and it is a part of Gwalior's cultural heritage. Every year during November or December renowned artists perform there to pay tribute to Tan Sen.

Art and culture
The art and culture of Gwalior is a fusion of modern and classical. The mural art of Gwalior is very famous as it was acknowledged as the worlds largest indoor murals by Guinness Book of Records. Gwalior is famous for its classical music. Many famous Indian classical singers are from Gwalior. The people of Gwalior celebrate all the famous festivals of India including Holi and Diwali. But Rang panchami and Ganesh chaturthi are celebrated in Gwalior in a completely different way.

Excursion
Shivpuri is a place near Gwalior where tourists can enjoy the serene beauty of nature. The famous river Chambal near Gwalior is another spot of tourists' attractions for its variety of aquatic life. On the Gwalior Jhansi road there is Pawaya which bears the ruins of ancient India.
Unless one happen to be in Gwalior during a special event there is not much to do except sight seeing. Tourists can have a walk on the streets and by lanes to absorb the flavour of the city and can enjoy the famous Gajak of Gwalior.

Getting there
Gwalior is fairly well connected from all the places of Madhya Pradesh and important places of India. From Delhi, Indore and Bhopal regular flights are also available for Gwalior.

Staying there
There is plenty of accommodation in Gwalior in different types of hotels, so staying there is not at all trouble some.

Ahmedabad

The City - The commercial capital of Gujarat, Ahmedabad is located on the bank of tranquil river Sabarmati. It is the most important city in the Gujarat region that has established itself as the home of booming textile industry. It is also a favourite haunt for tourist for its colourful festivals, rich cultural heritage, varied wildlife, magnificent mountain, religious shrines and variety of Gujrati-food.

Today, Ahmedabad is also thriving industrial and business centre, it is one of the happening place in India. How can one forget the most prestigious IIM Ahmadabad and NID. Ahmedabad shows the traditional and modern culture of India. A rising center of education, Information Technology and scientific industries. Ahmadabad is the culture and commercial heart of Gujarat and much of western India.

The People - The people of Ahmedabad are very lively and they live their life to full extent. They love spicy food and also like to share them with their friends and guests. People of Ahmedabad are very fun loving and have love and respect for their tradition. The energetic and enthusiastic nature of people never let them sit idle. Its a place full of colour, and the people are always seen in colourful attire. The generous and jovial nature of the Gujratis make the tourist visit the place more frequently.

The Famous Attractions - Ahmedabad is famous for its monuments. One should visit places like Kankaria Lake, Jain Temples, Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram, Sidi Syed Mosque, Bhadra Kali Mandir , (Temple) water park , Fort and museum are some other places of interest. It was the Sabarmati Ashram where Gandhiji started his 'Dandi march' and it is preserved as a national monument. A sound and light show is held on the life of the Mahatma Gandhi every evening in the Ashram (excluding one day). Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya is a nice place to visit in Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad is also famous for its museum, the Calico Museum being one of the finest textile museums in the world.

The Colourful Festivals - This place witnesses the rich culture of India. It ia a blend of ancient heritage and vibrent present.The most famous festivals of the Gujrati people is the Navaratri and Uttaravan – a kite flying festival. The nine nights of Navaratri are celebrated with people performing Garba. These festivals are well known throughout the India. Gujrati people can be seen in their most vibrant outfit during the festive season.Raksha bandhan and Janmasthami are celebrated in Ahmedabad with great enthusiasm.

Excursions - When people are through with the sight seeing of Ahmedabad, they can make a trip to near by places like Lothal city, (80 km), Modhera Sun Temple (102 km), Nal Sarovar bird Sanctuary, Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary and Shanku Water Park (60 km ). The Shanku Water Park is the country’s first water park, and the Akshardham Temple in near by Gandhinagar is famous as a Swaminarayan temple. It is also known for its intricately carved stone work.

Shopping - It is always advisable to get Gujarati handicraft while returning from Ahmedabad as they show very rich taste of art. The people of Ahmedabad themselves love shopping. They have an urge for shopping that is why the shopping malls are mushrooming in numbers. Few items that can be bought from Ahmedabad are Gujrati bandhni fabric, chappals and Gujrati jewelry. All these items are available under one roof in different malls, so it is a added advantage to those who want to save time.

How to Get There - Ahmedabad is easily accessible by air ,train and bus from Delhi, Rajasthan and Maharasthra. It is well connected from all the major cities. Domestic and international flights are quite frequent in Ahmadabad airport. So its totally hassle free to be there.

Where To Stay - Hotels are also easily available from five star to budget hotel. So accommodation for the tourist is not at all troublesome, rather one can feels warm welcome of the Gujarati's in all the places of Ahmedabad.

Tezpur - The City of Eternal Romance

One of the major cities of Assam, Tezpur is situated on the north bank of river Brahmaputra. Known as Sonitpur in olden days, the city is steeped in mythology and folklore. Very few know the fact that Tezpur js called the city of eternal love. Legend has it that Aniruddha, the grandson of Lord Krishna fell in love with Usha, the daughter of Baanasura, the demon king of Sonitpur. Due to love affair between Aniruddha and Usha, a firece battle ensued between Lord Krishna and Baanasura in which the land was drenched in Blood. Hence the name of the place became Sonitpur, which literally means the city of Blood. Undulating lush green valleys flanked by lofty hills and mighty snow-capped peaks of Himalayas, lush green tea gardens and archeological remains from time immeriral draw tourists from far and near.

Agnigarh Hill – A picturesque hill, Agnigarh stands as the mute witness to the eternal romance between Aniruddha and princess Usha. Once there was a massive palace of demon king Baanasur on the hillock, but today no palace exists here. The administration has made Agnigarh an imaginatively developed tourist spot. Here a series of sculptures, an open-air stage, massive mushrooms and a huge waterfall add more to Agnigarh’s charms.

Chitralekha Udyan – Also known as Cole Park, Chitralekha Udyan is a popular attraction of the city. In 1906, Colonel Cole, the then British Deputy Commissioner, develop the park and established an archeological museum here. Cole collected carvings from various ruined temple sites around Tezpur to exhibit inside the museum. The park was neglected for a longtime till 1995 when it was revived by the then Deputy Commissioner. With well-manicured walkways, water sport facilities, open-air stage and a restaurant, Chitralekha Park makes an ideal place for picnics and romantic walks.

Mahabhairab Mandir – Mahabhairab Mandir is believed to have the oldest and second largest Shiva Lingam in India. Built by Sri Swayambar Bharati, also known as Naga Baba, the temple is visited by thousands of people on the Shivaratri day. The huge temple complex houses guest rooms and shopping arcades in its beautifully landscaped surroundings.

Tezpur Festival – An annual festival, Tezpur festival is held in December in the Sonitpur district. Highlights of the festival include music and dance performances by the local artists and Assamese culinary delights. Angling, rafting, trekking, arm wrestling, boating, golf, archery, horse show and fireworks display are other iteresting events of the festival.

Da Parbaita – Situated 3 km away in the western outskirts of the town, Da Parbatia is the ruins of a 600 AD Gupta era temple. Now, only one small entrance door frame to the temple stands erected on a high plinth. The beautiful statues of the rivers Ganga and Yamuna stand along the door pillar with garlands in their hands. The rock carved door frame is decorated with floral motif.

Orang Wildlife Sanctuary – Also referred as mini- Kaziranga the wildlife sanctuary lier 65 km to the west of Tezpur. Spread over an area of 72 km, the sanctuary provide shelter to animals like one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, leopard, wild elephant, sambhar, barking deer, a variety of water birds, green pigeon, teal, geese etc.

Bhakulpong – Located 60 km from Tezpur, Bhakulpong is a must visit for wildlife and nature lovers, and adventure seekers as well. Set by the Kameng river, Bhakulgong offers adventure activities like hiking, rafting and angling. A hot spring and a huge orchid garden are other attractions of Bhakulpong. While in Bhakulpong, pay a visit to Pakhui to see the Bengal tiger, the great pied hornbiil and some endangered bird species.

Nameri National Park – Nameri is some 40 km from Tezpur, sprawled in 212 sq km. The park is home to the white-winged duck (Deo hanh), black bear, rare species of birds, butterflies and a variety of fish. An eco camp is set up at Potasali, on the banks of the river Jiabharali. Run by an NGO the camp offers activities like angling, trekking, rafting and elephant rides.

How to Reach
By Air - Direct flights are available to Tezpur from Guwahati. The Salonibari airport is about 7 km from Tezpur

By Rail – Tezpur is connected to Guwahati via Rangpura station

By Road – Tezpur is well-linked by all season roads to important towns of Assam

Where to Stay
Plenty of accommodation options are available in Tezpur. Prashanti Tourist Lodge, run by the ASTDC is a good place to stay. Other equally good accommodation options are Hotel Basant, Hotel Durba, Arunachal Guest House, Hotel Luit and Chaliha Inn.