Category Tourist Spots in India

               The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu, is located 475 km from Jaipur, in the Sirohi district on the highest peak of the Aravalli range. It is known for its Dilwara Jain temples. With coniferous trees and flowering shrubs covering the hillside, the climate in Mount Abu remains quite cool, making it the summer capital of Rajasthan.

               The highest peak on the mountain is Guru Shikhar at 1,722 m above sea level. It is referred to as ‘an oasis in the desert’ as its heights are home to rivers, lakes and waterfalls.

               The Dilwara Jain temples are a complex of temples, carved out of white marble, that were built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. The historical Achalgarh Fort, built in the 14th century by Rana Kumbha of Mewar, encloses several Jain temples, including the Achaleswar Mahadev Temple, and the Kantinath Temple.

               In the heart of the city is the Nakki Lake, another attraction for tourist to Mount Abu. It also constitutes ecotourism sites such as Arna Village. The setting sun scene on Mount Abu is famous among tourists.

               Puducherry, also known as Pondicherry, situated on the east coast of India, 135 km south of Chennai. The union territory of Puducherry was under French rule until 1954. Even years after the French left it, Pondicherry has managed to retain its French influence with Mediterranean style houses.

               One of the prominent attractions here is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo and a French woman called ‘Mother’. The Sri Aurobindo Ashram still operates from Puducherry.

               A major attraction in the area is Auroville, an experimental township where people from all countries, races, castes, creeds and political ideologies can live together in peace and progressive harmony.

               Made up of four small unconnected districts- Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam and Mahe – the union territory of Puducherry is bordered by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.

               Other attractions in Puducherry are the Police museum, Manakula Vinayagar temple and the Immaculate Conception cathedral. The quiet beaches in Puducherry are really wonderful too.

Picture credit: google

               Gangtok is one of the prominent destinations for travel enthusiasts simply because of its Himalayan environment. Gangtok, capital of Sikkim, is located in the eastern Himalayan range, at an elevation of 1,650 metres.

               The state is bestowed with a great variety of vegetation and undisturbed valleys, total sanitation, peaceful environment, hospitable and humble people and a rich cultural heritage. It is known for its scenic beauty and striking views of Mount Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world.

               Tourism, which peaks in spring and summer, is the main source of income in Gangtok.

               Gangtok is surrounded by dense forests which are full of poplar, oak and elm trees. From coniferous green trees of the wet alpine zone to rare orchids and bamboos, this region has it all.

              Kanchenjunga view point, Teesta River rafting, the Nathula Pass, and Buddhist monasteries, including the Enchey monastery, are the major attractions.

               Binsar, in Uttarakhand, nestled amidst the beautiful Himalayas every tourist’s dream destination. A few kilometres away from Nainital, Binsar is surrounded by Alpine forests.

               The summer capital of the erstwhile Chand kings of Kumaon, Binsar is one of the most scenic spots in the Himalayas. Perched at an elevation of 2420 metres, Binsar is known for offering spell-binding views of the majestic Himalayan peaks such as Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Panchchuli, and Kedarnath.

               Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1988 for the conservation and protection of the shrinking broad leaf oak forests of the Central Himalayan region, and it has over 200 bird species.

               The main attraction of Binsar is the 300 kilometres of majestic and panoramic view of Himalayan peaks from Zero Point. Apart from this, the popular tourist attractions located in the vicinity of Binsar include the Bineshwar Mahadev Temple, Binsar Sanctuary Museum, and the Kasar Devi Temple.

               The temple city of Mahabalipuram (also called Mamallapuram) is situated just 75 km off Chennai, on the Bay of Bengal coast, in Tamil Nadu. This place, a UNESCO world heritage site, is known for a group of monuments that are a collection of 7th and 8th century religious monuments.

               There are ten major rathas, ten mandapas, two rock bas-reliefs and three structural temples. The monuments were built during the Pallava dynasty.

               The site has the largest open-air rock reliefs in the world. The site, restored after 1960, has been managed by the Archaeological Survey of India.

               The Mahabalipuram Beach, recognized as one of the pristine beaches of Tamil Nadu, attracts thousands of tourists every year. There are many breathtaking attractions and places here, offering an ideal spot for holidaying.

               Known for its numerous tea estates, the queen of hill stations has several picturesque picnic spots with lofty mountains, dense forests, and scenic grasslands. Its natural environment attracts tourists and it is a popular summer destination.

               Between April and June, Ooty serves as a getaway from the heat with its pleasant weather.

               Ooty, also known as Ootacamund, Udagamandalam or Udhagai, is the capital of Nilgiris district in the state of Tamil Nadu. Ooty was established by the British as the summer headquarters of the Madras government.

               The Ooty Botanical Gardens which were laid out in 1847, cover an area of about 22 hectares, and contains about 650 species of plants and trees, including the fossil of a tree believed to be more than 20 million years old. The Doddabetta Peak, the highest point in the district, is another tourist attraction.