Hampi

Hampi attracts thousands of tourists and pilgrims every year. This is an important religious site in the south Indian state of Karnataka, which houses Virupaksha Temple and several other notable monuments. Hampi has been listed in the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Years ago, Hampi was the capital of Vijayanagara, an Hindu empire in southern India. The historical place is situated in the northern part of Karnataka, which has developed from the ruins of Vijayanagara.

Located at a strategic location, Hampi bounded by the torrential Tungabhadra River on the one side and surrounded by defensible hills on the other three sides.

It is like a paradise for backpackers in India travel. Hampi is close to Hospet, about 13kms away. The state capital Bangalore is 353 km away and Bellary is 74 km away. Hampi is a beautiful place to visit. 

First ‘Dreamliner’ finally reaches India

Much awaited world’s most advanced passenger jetliner Boeing 787, popularly known as the Dreamliner, finally landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport here on Wednesday. This is the maiden voyage of the flight to India. The plane was given a water-cannon salute.

The beauty of this plane is that it is able to operate non-stop ultra long haul routes up to 16, 000 kms with 250 passengers.

Air India, India’s national air carrier has ordered 27 Dreamliners. The airline expects the delivery in October of this year. While Jet Airways, India’s second largest private carrier has placed an order for 10 aircraft. Its delivery is expected by 2014. State-owned airline Air India is planning to give training to its pilots to fly Boeing 787 from next month.

Darjeeling

Darjeeling is a Himalayan town in West Bengal, a state in eastern India. It is a renowned tourist destination where thousands of tourists swing in round the year. This stunning eastern spot is intertwined in Bengal, Sikkim and Nepal. Once remained a British military depot, Darjeeling is fondly known as “Queen of the Hills” with its stellar accomplishment.

Darjeeling is nestled in the Mahabharata Range of the Lesser Himalaya.

Darjeeling experiences temperate climate with five distinct seasons: summer, spring, autumn, winter and monsoon.

Two most significant contributors in Darjeeling’s economy are tourism and tea industry. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a UNESCO Heritage Site. The railway connects the town with plains.

The popular food of Darjeeling is Momo, a steam dumpling containing cooked meat in a doughy wrap, and Thukpa.

Must-do activities in Darjeeling are Trekking, white water rafting, etc.

Scouring travellers can come down to Darjeeling any time of the year. There is Darjeeling Himalayan Railway from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. One can take national highway 55 from Siliguri which is 77 Km from Darjeeling. International travellers can take direct flight to Bagdogra wherefrom Darjeeling is 90 Km away.

Ahmadabad

Ahmadabad is a city of Gujarat. Colloquially it's called Amdavad in Gujarati. It is nearly 32 Km away from the state capital Gandhinagar. The city is referred to as the industrial capital of the Gujarat state. With booming textile industry in the city, Ahmadabad earned the nickname the “Manchester of the East.”

Ahmadabad is located on the bank of the Sabarmati River.

Sulatan Ahmad Shah founded Ahmadabad in 1411.


Ahmadabad experiences semi-arid climate with three prominent seasons: summer, monsoon and winter.

Ahmadabad is well connected by rail, road and air. Sardar VallabhBhai Patel International Airport is 15 Km away from the city centre Ahmedabad.

Gandhinagar

Gandhinagar is the capital of north-central-east Gujarat, a state in western India. It is about 23 Km away from Ahmadabad, the biggest city of Gujarat.

Gandhinagar is situated on the west bank of the Sabarmati River.

Gandhinagar experiences three seasons: summer, monsoon and winter.

The famous Akshardham Temple is located in Gandhinagar.

Gandhinagar is well connected by rail, road and air. Sardar VallabhBhai Patel International Airport in Ahmadabad is the nearest airport.

Gujarat

Gujarat is a state, bordering Rajasthan to the north, Maharashtra to the south, Madhya Pradesh to the east and the Arabian Sea and Pakistan to the west. It is located in western India. Its capital is Gandhinagar, a planned city.

The state encompasses major sites of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization: Lothal, Gola Dhoro and Dholavira. Gujarat is also known as Pratichya and Varuna.

Gujarat was ruled by the Gupta Empire, the Rashtrakuta Empire, the Pala Empire, the Gurjara-Pratihara, the Maitrakas and then the Solankis. Then Muhamad of Gazani, the first Muslim conqueror in India, invaded Somnath and put an end to the Solanki Empire.

Portugal was the first European power to arrive in Gujarat. Then the British India Company established a factory in Surat in 1614. It was their first base in India.

The state has a coastline of 1,600 km.

Gujarat has four national parks and 21 sanctuaries. It is home to Asiatic Lions in Gir Forest National Park.

Narmada, one of the major rivers of Peninsular India, is the biggest river in Gujarat, followed by Tapi and Sabarmati. Sardar Sarovar Project is built on Narmada River.

Gujarat is the main producer of Tobbaco, Cotton and Groundnut in India. The state is the largest producer of Milk in India.

The state symbol of Gujarat is Lion (Animal), Glagota (Flower), Garba (Dance), Gujarati (Language), Kabbadi (Sport), Mango (fruit) and Jai Jai Garavi Gujarat (Song).

Gujarat was created a state in 1960. Surat is the commercial capital of Gujarat.

Gujarat is well connected by rail, road, waterway and air. There are 10 airports in the state. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport operates several scheduled international as well as domestic flights from here.

Chandigarh

Chandigarh is a union territory in India, serving the capital of two states: Punjab and Haryana .

Le Corbusier, a Swiss architecture, is credited to have planned the city of Chandigarh in 1955. It is the cleanest city in India.

Chandigarh experiences humid subtropical climate with very hot summers, mild winters and unreliable rainfall.

The state is covered by dense flora and fauna, including thick Banyan and Eucalyptus plantations. Deers, Sambars, Barking deers, Parrots, Woodpeckers and Peacocks are also protected in the state.

There are many beautiful places worth visiting in Chandigarh. Sukhna Lake, which is home to a variety of ducks and geese, Chandigarh Capital Region, Mohali, Panchkula, Zirakpur and Rock Garden are some of them.

There is Le Corbusier Centre where the work and legacy Le Corbusier has been preserved. It was set up in 2008 on the 121st birth centenary of Le Corbusier. Its entry is free. Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. The centre remains closed on Mondays and gazetted holidays. Photography is allowed.