Wednesday, 13 August 2014

Mandvi Beach is a pristine and tranquil sea shore which is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the region. It is endowed with a calm and clean environment and makes for a peaceful getaway from the city. 
The silky smooth sand of Mandvi Beach is an inviting carpet which gives way to the salty waters of the Arabian Sea.
The best part of Mandavi was the beach. Normally any place which has a beach tends to be very humid but this place was an exception! Throughout the day though it was sunny but the weather was amazing and breezy.
You can enjoy the serene beauty of this place with your friends and family, or go all out and explore the windmills that are situated here as well. In addition to being a laidback beach destination, Mandvi Beach is also popular for its camping and water sports facilities.
How To Reach
By Air - The nearest airport is Keshod around 145 km, which is connected to Mumbai with regular flights.
By Rail - Delwada railway station is situated around 9 km from Ahmedpur-Mandvi and connected to the Ahmedabad-Veraval line.
By Road - State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect Ahmedpur- Mandvi with various centers of Gujarat.

Mandavi,Gujarat,India

Location: Gujarat, India

Sunday, 10 August 2014

Dabhari Beach is located in a small Dabhari village in Olpad Taluka, Surat District, Gujarat State, India. It falls under Dabhari Panchayath. It is situated 27 KM towards west from Surat and 18 KM away from Olpad. 
Dabhari Beach is prominent for its delightful shorelines. There are a lovely piece of shorelines in Dabhari Beach and most by far of them are flawless and quiet.
This flat beach is an amazing picnic spot. It is also famous for the Khodiyar Maa temple located near the beach.
Attractions nearby this beach includes Khodiyar Mata temple, Jalaram Temple, Baps Swaminarayan Temple, Radheshwar Murudeshwar Mahadev Temple, Pindeshwar Mahadev Temple.
Clean Sand and Epic view of Sunrise and Sunset on Dabhari Beach makes it a ultimate destination. 
How to reach 
By Air : The two nearby Airports are Surat Airport located 33 KM via NH53, Bhavnagar Airport is 79 KM away.
By Road : The Road to Dabhari Beach is very good except for last six kilometers. A private vehicle, bike or auto rickshaw is nice options. It is 27 KM away from Surat City and 51 KM away from Navsari.
By Rail : There is no railway station in Dabhari village. The two nearby Railway Stations are Surat, a major railway station 25 KM away from Dabhari. It connects a maximum number of main stations of India. Utran, Surat railway station, it is 26 KM to the beach. But not all super fast and express trains have stopped here.

Dabhari,Gujarat,India

Location: Dabhari, Gujarat 395005, India

Saturday, 9 August 2014

Tithal is a beach on the west of the Valsad town. Adjacent to the Arabian Sea, this beach is known as a black sand beach. Located in the south of Gujarat.
The beach is an excellent spot for picnics, a leisure stroll, building sand castles, swimming or simply lazing on the sands and relaxing as you view the waves crashing on shore. 
This beach is located about 95 kms from Surat in the neighboring town of Valsad, but is well worth the visit. Valsad also has an imposing structure called Moti Daman Fort that is also worth a visit.
Apart from lazing and counting your blessings, you can also visit the nearby Sai Baba temple and Swaminarayan temple.
March to October is the best time to visit Tithal.
How to reach
By Road
The beach is easily accessible by Road. Located at a distance of 6 km towards the west of Valsad town, the beach can be reached through NH-8. The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) also operates various buses to Tithal Beach from the Valsad central bus station. Rickshaws also ply to the Tithal beach in plenty.
By Train
Valsad is well connected by rail to the major cities of Gujarat as well as India. In order to reach Tithal, one can get out of the railway station from its west and take a rickshaw. 
By Air 
Various domestic flights connecting metros and other major cities are operational from the Surat Airport.

Tithal,Gujarat,India

Location: Tithal, Gujarat, India

Wednesday, 30 July 2014

One of the most popular beaches in Dapoli, Harnai is a long flat beach with the Suvarnadurg fort looming in the horizons on the northern side and the vast expanse of sandy beach extending upto Karde and further towards its south.
Harnai port is the main fishing village. Every evening hundreds of fishing boats come back after fishing and gather to auction their catch. The fish auction is the essential trade step between fish landings and the trade. Business worth lakhs of rupees is carried out daily between 4 pm to 7 pm. Loads and loads of Pomfret, kingfish, mackerel, white jumbo prawns, lobsters, squids, sting rays and many more varieties of fish are auctioned and sent to Mumbai, Cochin as well as exported to the international market. You can also participate into the fish auction and bid for fish of your choice. It is an unforgettable experience for all seafood lovers. Watching fish auctions has become one of the major tourist attractions at Harnai.
Situated 15 km from Dapoli, Harnai beach provides a quite and a peaceful experience. It is an isolated stretch that is lined with a fort on its northern end. With natural harbor, clear waters, beautiful seascape and rocky coasts, it promises to be a place for pleasurable holidays. It is becoming a popular tourist spot amongst many visitors from Pune and Mumbai. People love to spend their relaxing vacations here by exploring the deserted beaches and feasting on delicious sea food.
Harnai promises a quiet and peaceful natural harbor, clear waters, delicious sea food, beautiful seascape and rocky coasts. Harnai is a place blended with olden styles of Maratha architectural buildings and the modern terraced buildings and ancient temples.
There are hills on one side of the beach, a mosque in the backdrop and Harnai Bunder on the adjacent side. In the evenings one can see boats anchored near the bunder, many colourful flags fluttering atop them.
If you wish to get away from the daily hustle-bustle of your city life, but have time constraints, a visit to the beautiful serene beach city of Harnai would be perfect. An ideal weekend getaway from Mumbai and Pune.
How to Reach
Air
The nearest airport is at Mumbai.
Rail
The nearest railway station is khed on Konkan railway.
Road
Number of state transport buses ply regularly to Dapoli from Mumbai, Pune and Kolhapur. Harnai-Murud is just 14 kms away from Dapoli and autorikshaws are available in ample.
Book your Harnai holidays with our affiliate partner Booking.com

Harnai-Maharashtra-India

Location: Harnai, Maharashtra, India

Tuesday, 1 July 2014

Torna was the first fort captured by Shivaji Maharaj. He captured this fort and started his journey to build the Maratha empire when he was just sixteen years old (in 1643). This shows his valor and determination to construct a new empire.
Torna Fort is also known as Prachandgad. The Marathi word prachand means ‘huge’ in English. The name Prachandgad itself suggests the spread of the fort. This huge fort is perched in the great Sahyadri Ranges in the district of Pune in Maharashtra state of India and boasts to be the tallest in the district with an altitude of 1405 meters from the sea level.
The fort has two temples on it. The first one is of goddess Toranjai and the second one is of goddess Menghai. You can stay in the temple of goddess Menghai if necessary. The fort has two major wings (in Marathi Machi) the Zunzar Machi and the Budhala Machi. On the Budhala Machi, there is big vertical rock. When seen from distance it seems to be a thumb held up. The fort also has two gates: the Binicha Darwaja (Bini Gate) and Konkan Darwaja (Konkan Gate). The Binich Darwaja takes you inside the fort, while the Konkan Darwaja takes you to the Budhala Machi.
Torna was an extremely important fort of Maratha kingdom because of its strategically important position. James Douglas a famous British traveler described this fort as "If Sinhagad is lions cave then Torna is Eagles nest"       
Though most parts of the Torna fort is in ruins the panoramic view the fort offers is well worth the climb up.
A number of monuments like Bini darwaza, Kothi darwaza, Hanuman Bastion around the fort make the visit more interesting for history lovers as well as picnickers. Trekking along the steep hillside of the tallest fort makes it more challenging and inviting for adventure seekers.
How To Reach
To get to the Torna, one has to first reach the base village called Velhe.  From Swargate bus station in Pune, take a state transport bus with route 'Swargate - Velhe - Ghisar'. This bus will drop you at Velhe in around 1hr 45mins. It will be good to start in early morning for the fort. 6.30am bus will be very good option to reach early to the fort.
 Velhe is the base village of the fort and the trek up to the fort will approximately take 3-4 At Velhe you can park your vehicles Near the police station and start trekking. and Fort could be seen within 2 hours.
By Railway 
Pune Railway Station
By Air
Pune International Airport

Torna Fort - Maharashtra - India

Location: Rajgad - Torna Trek Path, Charhat Wadi, Maharashtra 412212, India

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

Bakkhali is located on one of the many deltaic islands spread across southern Bengal. Most of the islands are part of the Sunderbans, barring a few at the fringes. Some of these are joined together with bridges over narrow creeks. This small island juts out into the vast expanse of the Bay of Bengal.
 There is a 7 km long beach stretching from Bakkhali to Frasergunj with gently rolling waves. These are twin towns now forming one continuous locality. Except on an occasional holiday the beach is not crowded. A small stretch near Bakkhali has been lighted up. It is a hard beach suitable for cycling or even driving. One can take long walks.
 “A beach to yourself” is how one would describe Bakkhali. Close to Sunderbans, it is a halcyon getaway in itself. Away from the hustle bustle of the main city.
 Bakkhali comes across as a treat to its visitors. It is lined with casuarinas and one can take advantage of a mystic sunset here. Being one of the most secluded white sand beaches in India.
 This is basically a beach town, and there are spectacular views that one can expect to find here. Bakkhali is one of the best getaway place from Kolkata. The sea waves of the Bay of Bengal are something that can offer unique experiences to the tourists.
This is considered to be the perfect place for relaxing, especially during the summers. Apart from that, monsoon is also a wonderful time to visit this place.
How to Reach 
By Bus – One needs to cover a distance of 125 km to travel to Bakkhali from Kolkata. Travellers can get into any one Kolkata to Bakkhali bus operated by the West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC) which starts from Dharmatala in Kolkata at 7 am, 8 am and 2 pm, taking about 5 hours of travel time.
By Train – Kolkata to Bakkhali train starts from Kolkata Sealdah station and stops at Namkhana Station from which one needs to hire a van to Ferry Ghat alternated by van and bus journeys, all which take about 4 hours of journey time.
By Road – Kolkata to Bakkhali distance is only about 125 kilometres. This means that Kolkata to Bakkhali by road travel is very easy as the roads are very open and not congested at all. Travelling from Kolkata to Bakkhali by car takes just about 4 hours.
Book your  Bakkhali holidays with our affiliate partner Booking.com

Bakkhali - West Bengal – India

Location: West Bengal, India

Saturday, 7 June 2014

A relatively unexplored destination, Mandarmani is a seaside village located in the East Midnapore district of the Indian state, West Bengal. The Mandarmani Beach stretches to about 13 kilometres and has a serene environment that attracts tourists who wish to enjoy their moments of solitude.
 Mandarmani is a beach in South Bengal. It is known as the longest motor able beach of India.Pristine and relatively tourist free, it is situated 180 kms from kolkata. Quaint fishing boats dot the beach and give it an old world air. Go to this beach if you like to spend a quiet holiday without doing too many things. If you are the busy sort who likes to keep doing something then it is not for you. Read a book, drink some local coconut water r simply laze around.
 The journey from Kolkata to Mandarmani is not at all boring and all throughout the way you will be able to see wonderful scenery of rural Bengal. Most of these are cultivation land so you will get to see a perfect example of a day in a life of a farmer in this country.
 This is literally a virgin beach. The loneliness of the beach makes one meet nature in various forms. On the beach one will undoubtedly get the chance to feel the divinity and tranquility. If that’s not enough to please your senses, then roll on the sand and listen to the waves crashing upon the shore, which will surely refresh your body and mind. Relax, swim and enjoy every moment of your stay at the beach. The moment you get tired you can cool down with green coconut water. You are not likely to have many visitors around and that’s the beauty of this beach. Just spend the days gazing around swooping birds and singing waves. Don’t forget to rejuvenate yourself by sunbathing here.
 Mandarmani has always been just a small village of some fishermen in East Midnapore  Few scattered huts of the fishermen, some dykes for prawn culture, long, flat beach, endless tranquility and peace this was Mandarmani in short.
 People visiting Mandarmani Beach would be amazed by the serenity that it offers, along with some marvellous views of the sunset.
 The spectacular view of the rising and setting sun will definitely indulge you to fall in love with nature. The whole surroundings transforms into a reddish hued fairy tale like atmosphere which is a unique experience to cherish lifelong.
How to Reach 
By Air
The nearest airport is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Intl Airport in Kolkata, located about 183 km from Mandarmani. The airport is well connected by flights to Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru. From the airport taxi services are available for Mandarmani.
By Train
The nearest railway station is at Digha. Trains from Howrah halt at the station. The other nearest railway station is at Contai, about 17 km away.
By Road
Mandarmani is well connected by road. One can board state-run and private buses from Esplanade, Howrah and Kolkata. Mandarmani can also be reached by road from Kolkata.
Book your  Mandarmani holidays with our affiliate partner Booking.com

Mandarmani - West Bengal – India

Location: West Bengal, India

Saturday, 24 May 2014

One of the most posh beaches in India, Digha awaits with a purposeful getaway itinerary for you. About 187 kms from the city of joy, Digha is connected by a number of means from Kolkata. This seas resort has a low gradient and a shallow sand beach with gentle waves extending upto 7 kms in length.
In 1923, an English tourist, John Smith was charmed by Digha's radiance and started living there. He brought the place into limelight via his writings. After independence, he convinced Bengal's chief minister to develop Digha as a beach resort.
The Digha Beach is popular for its views of the Bay of Bengal amidst the many casurina plantations along the seaside. The sea at Digha is mostly calm and shallow upto a mile off the beach, which makes its makes it safe for various marine activities like swimming, scuba diving, jet ski-ing and surfing.
The sea at Digha is serene and shallow for about a mile making it safe for swimming. The place is an absolute delight for seafood lovers; one has a variety of fresh water fishes like Ellis, Pomfret, peas and prawns to choose from.
The scenic beauty of the place is charming and enticing. The sunset  shining off the saline waters of the Bay of Bengal is something directly off an artist's frame.
Digha beach is situated in the Southern most coastline of the state of West Bengal in India. Though Digha beach is not so popular as compared to other beaches all over India, Digha is growing up as an important hotspot for tourists to spend their weekends at.
Digha is an ideal beach destination for a fun-filled holiday. The sun, sea and sand a potent combination at all times - is made all the more pleasant in Digha because it is neither too crowded nor too commercial a beach resort. Called the Brighton of the East by Warren Hastings.
Digha in West Bengal is a popular beach town. An ideal destination for a refreshing break from the city, it offers a complete holiday experience.
How to reach 
By Bus – Direct Kolkata to Digha buses are available and these are most popular as they are considered to be the most economical means of transport between Kolkata and Digha. So many government buses are providing services from Kolkata to Digha. Burdwan, Sahispur and Madhupur are the main bus stops in this route. To travel to Digha from Kolkata, it takes around 4 hours.
By Train – Kolkata to Digha trains are also available and the time take to cover the distance from Kolkata to Digha is approximately 3 hours. On most days, the Duronto Express leaves Howrah at 11:15 am and arrives at Digha in 2 hours and 30 minutes. These timings should be checked before you make travel plans in case they are changed for whatever reason.
By Cab – Kolkata to Digha by car is the fastest option to reach the destination. Kolkata to Digha distance of 190 km must be covered taking around 2 and a half hours.
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Digha- West Bengal – India

Location: West Bengal, India

Friday, 16 May 2014

Nestled in the north of West Bengal, India are the towns of Darjeeling  and New Jalpaiguri. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which is also known as the Toy Train, runs between these two towns. Running on the narrow gauge, it was built between 1879 and 1881. The distance it travels is around 78 kilometers. The most interesting part is that it travels over the elevated terrain – from about 100 meters when it begins in New Jalpaiguri to 2,200 meters when it reaches Darjeeling.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, nicknamed the "Toy Train", is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling in West Bengal, run by the Indian Railways.
The toy train ride in the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR) is like a sweet lullaby in the midst of a dreamland. Though much has been said about the present condition of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways and Darjeeling itself, a toy train ride through the misty tracks from Darjeeling to Kurseong will definitely rekindle the romanticism in a person.
The entire track has 13 stations in between with Ghum being the Highest one at 7404 ft. Ghum had once the honour of being the highest Railway station in the world. Though this distinction has long since gone, yet Ghum is the highest narrow gauge railway station.
The Darjeeling Himalayan railways are a living heritage. When built in 1881, the engineers of DHR had pushed technology to the limit of what conventional railways were capable of that time. The engineers used various techniques such as loops and reverses to move through the difficult domain through which the train would pass. The steam locomotives along with all others provide a shining living heritage.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railways provided an outstanding example of the influence of ingenious transportation on the socio economic development of the region.
 DHR was ground breaking and outstanding in this case. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was thus very aptly given the status of World Heritage Site by the UNESCO on 5th December 1999.
Remarkably it also served as model for similar developments in the world. The development of the railways in the 19th century at such difficult terrains had an overwhelming impact on the social and economic development in many parts of the world.
Not much has been changed in the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways. The track has been extended to New Jalpaiguri from Siliguri. And now the trains are run mostly by diesel engines and not the erstwhile steam engines ,But steam engine runs on special occasions and from Darjeeling to Ghum via the Batasia Loop (called the Joy Ride).
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Darjeeling Himalayan Railway - West Bengal – India

Location: West Bengal, India

Thursday, 8 May 2014

Batasia means airy space. the As you stand on one side of the garden and see the toy train making a complete loop while hooting its whistle along the way and trying to negotiate the spiral track with a double loop, it's a fabulous experience. There are seating areas as well to enjoy the views. The entire area along with the gardens and an approach bridge that leads to the garden is about 50,000 square feet. It has been covered with grass and beautified with both seasonal and perennial flowers and shrubs. 
Batasia Loop was created by the British to counter such sharp descent. You won't even realize how the toy train actually descends by about 140ft as it completes the loop through a large circular area and on a gentle slope and then crosses its own track near the beginning of the loop through a tunnel below. It is considered as one of the greatest engineering feats.
The Batasia Loop is the last of the loops on this rail-route and is certainly the most beautiful as it's the highest of all loops on this track and offers great views of the Darjeeling Hills, Valley, City and the Kanchenjunga Mountain Range at a distance.
The weather at the Batasia Loop is wonderful as its chill and sunny and windy with sudden, occasional drizzles, which is a wonderful hilly experience that all Darjeeling tourists experience on their way up in the Toy Train.
This is definitely the best place to enjoy a 360 degree view of Darjeeling’s exquisite landscape including the hill town. One can also have a look at the snow covered peaks of the Eastern Himalayas combined with the majestic Kanchenjunga on one side. This together with beautiful garden with flowers around makes for an exquisite view for all.
Reach Batasia loop at nine in the morning and you'll see the most amazing spectacle ever - shopkeepers with their little makeshift stalls and curio-spreads on the railway lines wrap up their business with superb agility and speed as the Toy Train arrives to traverse this little loop.
This war memorial was constructed by the zilla sainik board, Darjeeling in memory of brave gorkha soldiers of Darjeeling hills who have laid down their lives for the country in all wars and operations since independence.
There is also an Eco Garden in Batasia. It provides a lot of information about organic farming and plantations in Darjeeling.
At the center of the Batasia Loop is the War Memorial . This was opened in 1995 to commemorate the Gorkha soldiers of the Darjeeling Hills who sacrificed their lives in various wars after India's independence.
On a clear day, the Batasia Loop renders clear views of the surrounding valleys and mountains.
How to Reach 
Nearest Railway Station to Batasia Loop: Ghoom Railway Station (2 kms).
Nearest Bus stand & Jeep stand to reach Batasia loop: outside Ghoom Railway Station (2 kms).
Nearest Airport to get Batasia Loop: Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri (80 kms).
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Batasia Loop – Darjeeling - West Bengal – India

Location: West Bengal, India
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