Travel India

Blessed with magnificent glaciers, majestic snow-clad mountains, gigantic and ecstatic peaks, valley of flowers, skiing slopes and dense forests, this Abode of Gods includes many shrines and places of pilgrimage. Char-dhams,the four most sacred and revered Hindu temples: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are nestled in the Mighty Mountains.

A picturesque state, with a breathtaking panoramic view of Himalayas, Uttarakhand promises its tourists a visit full of fun and unforgettable moments. Uttaranchal is a set of 14 hilly districts. Carved out of the Himalayan ranges, most of the districts of Uttaranchal have an abundance of flora and fauna. Adding to the natural splendor of the state, Uttaranchal is also home to some of the most important pilgrimage sites in the country. Uttaranchal chiefly consists of two hilly divisions, Kumaon and Garhwal.

You can visit pilgrimage spots like Haridwar, Rishikesh and Hemkund Sahib.

Rishikesh is located at a height of 1360 feet above sea level. With the sacred river Ganga gushing through the foothills of the Himalayas, Rishikesh abounds in natural beauty and splendor. There are a lot of ancient temples in Rishikesh that run along the banks of the Ganges. Rishikesh is also known as the Yoga Capital of the World. Yoga, Meditation and Spirituality are still practiced in the ashrams.

Haridwar literally meaning “the gateway to the Gods” is among the seven most holy places in India. The point of attraction in Haridwar is the river Ganges that receives hundreds of devotees everyday that come here for a holy dip.

Hemkund is the World`s highest shrine, situated at an altitude of 4,329 m. surrounded by seven huge snow-covered mountains, which are collectively called Hemkund Parvat. The lake’s rocky shores are covered with snow through most of the year, making Hemkund Sahib inaccessible through the winter months. In the summer months when the snows melts, the almost mythical yellow-green flower known as the Brahma Kamal, the `Lotus of the Gods’, blooms amidst the rocks. The lake is about two kilometers in circumference. Its clear, still waters mirror images of the Saptashringa Peaks (5500mtrs) that surround it. It is believed that Guru Govind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikh faith had mediated on the bank of this lake.

This state also has rich forests most of which are reserved. Infact 63% of total area is covered by forests. You can explore these wildlife treats at the famous Jim Corbett National Park, Rajaji National Park, Nanda Devi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gobind National Park. A perfect place for nature lovers.

Lakes like Nainital, Asan Barrage and nanaksagar matta are famous for their calm and scenic beauty.

A perfect tourist destination for nature lovers. You can find the spiritual side of yourself at Uttaranchal.

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Basic Facts – Jammu & Kashmir.

Population: 10.1 million

Area: 222,236 sq. km

Capital city: Srinagar (summer), Jammu (winter)

Languages: Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi, Ladakhi, Purig, Tibetan and English

Best Time to go: Kashmir - April to October, Jammu - October to March, Ladakh - May to October

STD Code: 0191

Regions: Leh, Kargil, Zanskar, Vaishno Devi, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Kishtawar, Katra, Basohli, Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Poonch

Adjoining Indian States: Himachal Pradesh

International Borders: Pakistan, China

BY ROAD - One can easily reach Jammu by the National Highway 1A that goes from Punjab and runs through this city, connecting it to the rest of the state, including the capital Srinagar. The state transport corporation runs several buses to most of the big towns and cities in north India.

BY RAIL - Jammu Tawi is the main railhead of Jammu & Kashmir. It is connected to most of the important towns and cities of the country. Moreover, the longest rail route that stretches from Jammu Tawi to Kanyakumari and touches almost all the main cities and towns of the country originates from here.

BY AIR - The state has three major civil airports at Srinagar, Jammu, and Ladakh connected to Delhi and other places in the country. Indian Airlines and its subsidiary Alliance Air operate in the Delhi-Chandigarh-Ladakh and Delhi-Jammu-Srinagar routes.

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The state of Jammu and Kashmir offers a lot of adventure sporting action, right from mountaineering to trekking, to parasailing, Para gliding, white water rafting and numerous other winter sports.

You can indulge in a series of a little less rigorous adventure sports, such as Water Skiing, on Srinagar’s Dal and Nagin Lakes, a popular part time in the valley. Water trekking is calculated to delight anyone wanting to explore the valley in a boat. A Gondala, locally known as Shikara, takes sightseers along a five-day route along rivers and lakes situated within the valley. Enjoy spending nights camping along the way. Trout fishing is another delightful water sport in Kashmir and fishing season lasts all through summer. The amazing trekking trails in Zanskar, Ladakh, Kargil, Jammu and the Kashmir valley act as a major allure for the people looking for some adventure.

Golf:

You can go for a game of Golf at the world’s highest green golf courses in Gulmarg. The Gulmarg course is usually open between April and November, as it is covered by snow for the rest of the year and its gentle slopes are transformed into mini ski runs for beginners.

River Rafting:

River Rafting is gaining popularity in the state among tourists. Rafting can be done in the Indus river and its tributaries. Ladakh. provides the best opportunity to enjoy and experience the natural beauty of the spectacular landscape with deep gorges, towering snow-capped peaks, hilltop monasteries, hillside villages, and glimpses of the unique wildlife. Ladakh offers a range of rafting options on the Indus and its major tributaries.

Mountaineering and trekking:

People from both within the country as well as outside, come in huge numbers to scale the heights of the peaks that surround the state, making it a ideal place for all the adventure loving people.

Pir Panjal, Himalayas, Zanskar, Ladakh and Karakoram are some of the areas in the state that serve as popular Mountaineering destination.

The climbing season extends from mid - May to mid -October, the ideal period being from June to September because during this time only Ladakh remains unaffected by the monsoon, which holds sway over most of the Himalayas. Foreign climbing expeditions are required to obtain permission from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation for climbing all listed peaks.

You could also choose trekking possibilities which include short, daylong walks up and down mountain slopes to visit isolated villages or monastic settlements, or across a ridge to enjoy the sheer beauty of the lunar mountainscape. Or long, trans-mountain treks involving weeks of walking and camping in the wilderness.

Fishing:

Fishing is big business in Kashmir through spring and summer. The British introduced the brown and rainbow trout to the streams of Kashmir, where they have thrived. At the same time they introduced the system of anglers reserving ‘ beats’ on their favorite river. Trout fishing in Kashmir is far cheaper than it is in any other part of the world. Kashmir is home to innumerable streams and rivers meandering through it. The geographical variation along the course of each river is immense, affording endless possibilities for the angler.

There are 61 beats open for reservation throughout the season, ranging from the turbulence of the Sindh and Wangat Rivers to the tranquility of the high altitude lakes Krishanshar, Vishanshar, Gangabal and Nunkhol.

Paragliding:

Jammu and Sanasar are the popular destinations for Para gliding in the region. They are the only destination infact, where Para gliding is held in an organized manner ensuring full safety of the adventurers. Batote that is located at a distance of 125 kilometers from Jammu is also a center for paragliding. Hot air ballooning in the Suru valley and the Zanskar area is a challenging activity.

Winter sports:

If you love winter sports J&K can be a fun place to be in winters when everything is covered with thick snow. Gulmarg, in Kashmir, has world-class ski slopes varying between 8,700 and 10,500 feet, the highest in India, with the ski and chair lifts providing basic utilitarian facilities along with simple link-up for beginners.

So there is a lot to explore and experience in this rich state of India.

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