Category Tourist Spots in India

               The capital of Uttarakhand, Dehradun, is a gateway to some of the most popular hill stations in the country like Nainital and Mussoorie. It lies between the Ganga and Yamuna Rivers, two of the most prominent water bodies in the country.

               The city is famous for its picturesque landscape and slightly milder climate, and provides a gateway to the surrounding region. The landscape of Dehradun gives the city a majestic charm that complements its beautiful temples and structures. Dehradun is very near to some of India’s most popular pilgrimage sites such as Haridwar and Rishikesh.

               Some of the attractive places to visit are Laxman Siddh, Tapkeshwar Temple, Santala Devi Temple, and Ram Rai Gurudwara. Some of the other prominent places in Dehradun are the Malsi Deer Park, Sahastradhara, and the Indian Military Academy.

               Dehradun has always been famous for different sports such as ice skating, and cricket, and is also home to the first ice rink in India.

 

 

 

 

 

               Commonly known as the ‘Lake District of India’, Nainital is one of the most beautiful hill stations in North India. Nainital is surrounded by mountains on three sides.

               Situated at an altitude of 2,084 metres above sea level, Nainital is set in a valley containing a pear-shaped lake, surrounded by mountains.

               Nainital used to be the summer capital of the United Provinces during the British era, and remained so for many years even after independence. The British were the first to ‘discover’ Nainital as a holiday resort in 1841. Today, it has grown into a highly popular tourist destination. Packed around a wide, lush volcanic lake, Nainital is Kumaon’s biggest town, and favourite hill retreat. Many hotels are set in the hills around the lake. There is a bustling market and hillside viewpoints facing the distant Himalayan peaks.

               Nainital, in the Kumaon hills, maintains pleasant weather throughout the year. Some of the other places of tourist interest are the Mall, now known as the Govind Ballabh Pant Marg.

               Lonavala, a popular hill station, is a part of the Sahyadri slopes between Pune and Mumbai. Tourism peaks during the monsoon season. With lots of waterfalls, lakes and hills around, Lonavala is frequented by all sorts of people, especially hikers and trekkers.

               This tourist destination has many attractions to its name like the Bhaja caves, Bushi dam, Karla caves, and Rajmachi fort, Ryewood Park, among others. The host of caves like Bhaja, Bedsa and Karla, are believed to be the reason why Lonavala derives its name from the Sanskrit word lonavli, which means caves.

               The hilly landscape makes it an ideal destination for adventure sports such as trekking, fishing, and camping. Lord Elphinstone, the Governor of Bombay Presidency in 1871, is credited with the discovery of Lonavala.

               Another place of interest is the Tungi Fort; one of the forts captured by Malik Ahmad nears the village of Karjat, known for its natural strength. Several forts including Lohagad, and Tikona were important battle stations during Shivaji’s reign, and fell into Mughal hands under the ‘Treaty of Purandar’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures credit: google

               Auli is one of the less explored hill stations in India, located in the northern state of Uttarakhand. Auli is towards the north of the state, and forms a part of the Garhwal mountain range. It is at a distance of 16 km from Joshimath, on the Badrinath route.

               The slopes, which are as high as 3050 metres above sea level, are covered with dense deodar and oak forests, and this often reduces the velocity of the chilly winds to the minimum. The slopes offer a panoramic view of many a famous Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet, Mana Parvat and Dunagiri.

               Auli is known for its enthralling ski retreats and beautiful surroundings. Some of the well-known attractions surrounding the vicinity are Auli Artificial Lake, Joshimath, Winter Ski Resort, Trishul Peak and much more. The slopes are intended for both professional skiers and novices. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited, a state government agency, which takes care of this resort, and the Uttarakhand Tourism Department conduct winter sport competitions at Auli to encourage skiing in India.

               Situated off the coast of Kerala, Lakshadweep is spread over 36 islands and surrounded by 4,200 sq km of lagoon rich in marine wealth and is one of the most spectacular tropical island systems.

               The ten inhabited islands are Agatti, Amini, Andrott, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan and Minicoy. The precious heritage of ecology and culture is supported by an extremely fragile eco-system. Most of the islands are endowed with the beauty of coral reefs, sandy beaches, unpolluted and clear water and hospitable settings. Due to its isolation and scenic appeal, Lakshadweep was already known as a tourist attraction.

               Water sport activities such as scuba diving, wind surfing, snorkeling, surfing, kayaking, canoeing; water skiing, yachting and night sea voyages are popular activities among tourists. Tourists flock to these islands throughout the year, except during the south-west monsoon months, when the seas are extremely rough.

               Gulmarg is a town, a hill station, and a popular skiing destination in Jammu and Kashmir. The beauty of Gulmarg and its proximity to Srinagar makes it one of the most popular hill stations in India. Originally called Gaurimarg, Gulmarg got its current name from Sultan Yusuf Shah in the 16th century.

               The town of Gulmarg is not just a mountain resort which boasts of exceptional beauty, but it also has other claims to fame like the highest golf course in the world, and India’s premier ski resort which has earned it the title of the ‘heartland of winter sports in India’.

               The picturesque landscape offers myriad options for sight-seeing in Gulmarg. It’s not so much a town as a twisting 4 km long loop of road ringing the undulating ‘meadow of flowers’ for which it’s named.

               There are many tourist attractions in Gulmarg like Gondola Lift, Gulmarg Ski Area, Golf Course, Apharwat Peak, Khilanmarg, Tangmarg, Verinag, Alpather Lake, Ferozpore Nallah, and much more.