Vellore Travel Information

Vellore is now pulsating with more activities as a commercial, administrative and medical centre. It has the privilege of being the seat of the Pallava, Chola, Nayak, Maratha, Arcot Nawabs and Bijapur Sultans.

Vellore grew into a bustling town gradually since 6th century changing the rulers and growing in importance. It has an ancient fort and a well preserved temple. The fort constructed around the seventeenth century is one of the exquisite specimens of military architecture in South India. It was described as the strongest fortress in the Carnatic in 17th century and witnessed the ghastly massacre of European soldiers during the mutiny of 1806. The temple inside the fort is said to contain sculptures which surpass even those of Madurai.

Vellore is renowned for the famous Christian Medical College and Hospital which attract patients and research scholars from all corners.

General Info. :

Area :
11.65 sq.kms.
Population :
1,75,061 (1991 census)
Altitude :
204 above Sea Level
Climate :

Summer : Max. 39.0°C, Min. 29.5°C
Winter : Max. 27.3°C, Min. 17.0°C
Rainfall : 1053 (average)
Clothing :
Tropical Season : Throughout the year
Language Spoken :
Tamil, English and Telugu
STD Code :
0416
 

Yercaud Travel Information

Yercaud in the Servaroyan hills (Shevaroy Range) of Salem District is a quiet and restful hill stationin Tamil Nadu. The Servaroyan Hills as a whole, provide many beautiful vistas and panoramic views. Yercaud itself is a pretty hill station with a pleasant cool climate. Yercaud's temperature never rises above 30°C or falls below 13°C. This is one hill station where one does not feel the biting cold of winter. With such a salubrious climate, Yercaud can be visited round the year. It is an hour's drive from Salem and is the least expensive hill station in India.

Places of Interest :

GENERAL INFORMATION

Area :383q. kms.
Altitude :1515 Metres
Population :36863 (1991 Census)
Climate : Max Min.
Winter : 25° . C13 °. C
Summer :
30° . C
16° . C
Average 13°.C to 30°.C
Rainfall : Min 1500 mm - Max 2000 mm .
Season : Throughout the year
Clothing Winter : Ordinary cotton with light wollen pull -over is enough.
Clothing - Summer : Ordinary Cotton.
Languages Spoken : Tamil and English.
STD Code : 04281

Udhagamandalam Travel Information

 

Popularly referred to as "Queen of Hill Stations". Ooty (Udhagamandalam) is located at a height of 2,286 mts. (7,500 feet). Popular tourist attractions include the Botanical Gardens, Lake, Doddabetta, Mukurti Peak, the Pykara Dam and sprawling tea plantations.

Trek routes are available. TTDC has telescope house at Doddabetta. Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary is 60 kms. from here. Kotagiri is 29 kms. from here.

General Info. :

Area :
36 Sq.kms.
Altitude :
2,240 mts
Temperature :
Summer : Max. 25°C, Min 10°C
Winter : Max. 21°C, Min 5°C
Rainfall : 121 cms
Population :
81,763 (1991 census)
Season :
April to June and September to November
Clothing :
Heavy woolen in winter.
Light Woolen in summer.
Languages spoken :
Tamil, Malayalam, Kannadam and English.

Getting there :

Air : The nearest airport is Coimbatore (100km) which is connected to Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore.
Rail : Udhagamandalam on the narrow gauge railway is connected to Mettupalayam which is directly connected to Coimbatore and Chennai on board gauge.
Road : Udhagamandalam is connected by good motorable road. It is 535 km from Chennai (Via Salem, Mettupalayam ); 89 km from Coimbatore.
Bus Service : There are regular bus services connecting Udhagamandalam to Coimbatore, Trichy, Bangalore, Madurai, Kanniyakumari, Mysore, Palghat, Calicut and Tirupathi.

Places to Worship :

Temple:
Murugan Temple, Elk Hill, Venkateswara Perumal Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple, Subramania Temple, Vittaba Temple, Muniswara Temple etc.

Church :
st. Stephen's Church, Union Church, Holy Trinity Church, Sacred Heat Church, St. Mary's Church, St. Therasa's Church and Kandol Shrine.

Mosque :
Available.

Fairs & Festivals :

Tea & Tourism Festival Ooty (January)
Thaipoosam in Elk Hill Murugan Temple (February)
Bookkapuram Mariamman Annual Festival (February)
Ooty Mariamman Temple Festival (April)
Coonoor Mariamman Temple Festival (April)
Boat Races and Boat Pageantry in Ooty (May)
Flower Show in Ooty (May)
Fruit Show in Coonoor (May)

Wayanad Travel Information

Area : 2132 sq. km
Population : 671,195
Altitude : 700 - 2100 m above Sea level

Wayanad is one of the districts in Kerala that has been able to retain it's pristine nature. Hidden awy in the hills of this land are some of the oldest tribes, as yet untouched by civilisation.

Wayanad is known for it's picturesque mist - clad hill station, sprawlin spice plantations, luxuriant forests & rich cultural traaditions. The leading tourist centres of South India like Ooty, Mysore, Coorg, Kozhikode & Kannur are around this region.

Accessing Wayanad

Telephone access code : ++91-493

Air : Nearest Airport : Kozhikode.
Rail : Nearest Railway Station : Kozhikode.
Road : Well connected by roads from Kozhikode, Kannur, Mysore & Ooty.


Tribal arts:
The major tribal arts performed in Wayanad are Vattakkali and Kooliyattam of the Paniyar tribe, Gadhika of the Adiyar tribe, Kolkali of the Kurumars and Nellukuttu pattu of the Kurichias.

Spices:
Cardamom, tea, pepper, ginger and cocoa are the major spices grown in the district. Sughandagiri Cardamom Project, Vvthiri and Priyadarshini Tea Instates at Mananthavady are experimental projects managed by the Government for the rehabilitation of tribals.

Handicrafts
Attractive articles handcrahed from coHee stem are characteristic of Wayanad.

Festivals

Valllyurkavu Bhagavathy Temple {Fc~rnary~llarch)
Thlrunelly/Temple (August)
Seethadevi Temple (January)
Pallikkunnu Church (February)
Nadavayal St. Thomas Church (January)
Varambatta Mosque (March) o Maidoni Mosque (March -April)

Warangal Travel Information

One of the greatest ruling clans of Andhra Desa made this fort city its capital. Orugallu, as it was known, is today's modern Warangal. During the reign of the Kakatiyas, Telugu culture and literature attained great heights. Some of the finest forms of architecture in the whole of South India can be seen in the ruins of the once glorious empire. Only the beauty of the surrounding lakes matches its historic past. Welcome to Warangal, the heartland of Andhra. The capital of the Kakatiya empire.

Warangal is well connected by rail from New Delhi, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Chennai. The city is a cluster of three towns - Warangal, Kazipet and Hanamkonda. Today, the city and the district of Warangal offer, for the connoisseurs of art, architecture and nature, a rich spread.

Vijaywada Travel Information

Historically considered as the cultural, political, pilgrimage and educational center of the state, Vijayawada is located on the banks of the holy river Krishna. It is believed that Arjuna, of the epic Mahabharatha prayed at the Indrakeeladri Hill and won the blessings of Lord Shiva.

People from this land of legends gathering thousands for a dip in river Krishna on important festivals particularly on Mahasivarathri. Krishna Pushkaram occurs once in 12 years is an all India festival and lakhs of people pay their homage to the sacred Krishnaveni. Arjuna obtained the famous "Pasupathastra" after doing penance of "Indrakeela" hill.

The Prakasam Barrage constructed in 1957 with an impressive 1223 meters long across the river Krishna is a panoramic beauty of Vijayawada.

Kanakadurga Temple:
Built a top Indra Keeladri a sacred Kankadurga Temple is synonymous with Vijayawada. Kanakadurga, the Goddess of power, riches and benevolence is considered to be the presiding deity of Vijayawada. During Dassara, one of the important festivals of this country special celebrations are held.

The rock cut caves dedicated to Akkanna, Madhanna on the way to the Kanakadurga Temple remainds the Qutub Shahi rules of 17th Century.

Victoria Museum:
Located in Victory city of Vijayawada, having collection of ancient sculpture, paintings, idols, inscriptions, the Victoria Museum is one of the center of attraction.

Gandhi Hill:
A visit to the tallest structure of 15.8 meters the Gandhi Stupa a top Gandhi Hill earlier known as "Orr" Hill is one of the panoramic beauty of Vijayawada.

Erected in 1968 has a tribute to father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi this hill has a Planetarium, library and birds eye view point of the city with the sound and light show on Mahatma Gandhi's life.

Bahavani Island:
Located in the upstream of river Krishna close to Prakasam Barrage this Island has a panoramic beauty and center of attraction for many tourists. The Tephostsavam during Dassara Festival adds glory to this Island.

Gunadala Matha Shrine:
In 1925 Rf. Arlati PIME, the then Rector of St.Joseph's Orphanage at Gunadala cut small pathway half way up the hill and placed a small statue of Our Lady in "niche". Soon a pathway to the grotto was slowly cut out of the hill. It was since then the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes became an annual feast. A beautiful church was built and blessed in 1971 that was extended in the recent years.

Andapalli Fort:
A 7th century Fort with an impressive 3 storied rock towers on a Hill, the Kondapalli Fort is located 16km away from Vijayawada. The Kondapalli Fort which has witnessed the glory of many dynasties, used as a military training base by the British rules. It is a picturesque and panoramic picnic spot.

Kondapally Toys:
No one can resist the charm of beautiful hand made toys of Kondapally. The world famous toys made of a light wood called poniki have the characteristic Indian mythological figures, birds, fruits, vegetables and houses

Tirupati Travel Information

The presiding deity, Lord Venkateswara, is famous all over the world as the giver of boons, and is paid homages by people from all religions and races.

Nestled cosily among seven hills of the Eastern Ghats, Tirupati is the destination divine for the pilgrims in search of God. It is located in Chittoor District, 572kms from Hyderabad, 240 kms from Bangalore, ISOkms from Chennai. The sublime seven hills of Lord Venkateswara beckon you to a stimulating experience in the divine destination of Tirupati. Picturesque locations, gorgeous valleys, ancient temples, and enthralling historic places.

You will be awe-struck by the sparkle of the exquisitely carved Golden gopuram of this ancient Dravidian temple of Lord Venkateswara, giver of boons, the richest of all deities. He is flanked by his two consorts - Alamelumanga and Padmavati. You can also take part in the annual Brahmotsavams - a virtual convergence of devotion !

Take the path up by foot or by bus - the winding way up will leave you gaping at the enchanting scene. The premises of the temple and the sanctum sanctorum will lure you back again and again!

Festivals at Tirumala - Tirupati

Brahamotsavams in Saptembar - October & Rathotasavam
Rayalaseema Food & Dance Festival conducted at Tirupati every october for 3 days unfolds the rich cuisine & art of the Rayalaseema Region.

How to Reach :

Tirupati is well connected by air, rail, road from Hyderabed, Chennai, Banglore & other major cities of India.

General Information :

Climate : 24° C - 34° C.

Languages Spoken : Telugu, Tamil, English & Hindi.

Clothing : Tropical & light Woolen in Winter.

Thrisur Travel Information

 

Area : 3052 sq. km
Population : 274,225
Altitude : Sea level

Thirissur, with its rich history, cultural beritage and archaeological, wealth is called the cultural capital of Kerala. From ancient times, this district has played a significant role in the political history of South India. Many rulers and dynasties beginning with the Zamorins of Kozhikode, Tipu Sultan of Mysore and Europeans, including the Dutch and the British, have had a hand in moulding the destiny of this region.

Raja Rama Varma popularly known as Sakthan Thampuran was the archited of the present Thrissur town. Today Thrissur is world famous for its Pooram festival. Thrissur houses the Kerala Kala Mandalam, the Kerala Sahitya Academy and Kerala Sangetha Nataka Academy.

Accessing Thrissur

Telephone access code : ++91-487

Air : Nearest international airport: Nedumbassery (58km)
Rail : Thrissur is an important railhead of the Southern Railways
Road : Thrissur is well connected to almost all the major towns and cities of India. There are three mjor bus stations in the town.

Thiruvananthpuram Travel Information

 

Places of Interest

Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple is a blend of the Kerala & Dravidian styles od sculpture & architecture. It is known for it's murals & carvings. Only Hindus in traditional attirs can enter.

Kuthiramalika ( Puthenmalika )

The palace, built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Verma, is a specimen of workmanship in the traditional Travancore style architecture. The palace which is today a museum, is located near Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple.

The Napier Museum

The Indo - Saracenic structure dating back to the 19 th century, houses a rare collection of archaeological specimens.

Sree Chithra Art Gallery

Located bear the Napier Museum, this art gallery displays Raja Ravi Varma's paintings & exquisite works from the Rajput, Mughal & Tanjore scholls of art in India.

The Zoological Park

One of the first & most well planned in India, this park houses rare wildlife.

The Kanakakunnu Palace

The palace & is it's sprawing grounds are today the venue for many cultural meets & programmes.

Science & Technology Museum

Exhibits include science, techology & electronic devices. Also houses the Priyadarshini Planetarium & Biotechnology Museum.

Shanghmukham beach

Just 4 km from the city, this is a favourite haunt of the people of Thiruvananthapuram.

Veli Tourist Village

This picnic spot where the Veli lake meets the Arabian sea, offers boating facilities.

Tirunelveli Travel Information

Tirunelveli is about 2000 years old is a town of hoary tradition. Next to Madurai it was an important city of the Pandya Kingdom as it served as their Capital for some time. Situated on the banks of the river Thamiraparani, it is on the way to Kanniyakumari from Madurai. It is a twin town Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai.

General Info. :

Area :
87.64 Kms.
Population :
3,65,932 (1991)
Altitude :
100 metres (Approximate)
Temperature :
Summer : Max: 34.8°C Winter: Max: 21.6°C
Rainfall :
100 cms - Average
Season :
Throughout the year.
Clothing :
Tropical
Languages Spoken :
Tamil and English.
STD Code :
0462

Access

Air : The nearest Airport, Madurai, is 151 Kms away.
Rail : Tirunelveli is an important railway junction on the southern railway and is connected to all major cities.

Road : Tirunelveli is served by a good network of roads.

Shopping :
Poompuhar Handicrafts Sales Emporium
Tamil Nadu Khadi and Village Industries sales Centre
Kanthimathi Co-optex Sales Emporium

Thiruchirapalli Travel Information

Situated on the bank of river Cauvery, Tiruchirappalli, the fourth largest city in the State was a itadel of the early Cholas which later fell to the Pallavas. But the Pallavas never really managed to retain control of this strategic city and lost it to the Pandyas several times. This tug of war finally ended when the Cholas reasserted themselves in the 10th century. The fort of Tiruchi continued to be in their possession until the decline of the empire after which it became a Vijayanagara stronghold.

When Vijayanagara empire collapsed in 1565, Tiruchi came to be occupied in turn by the Nayaks of Madurai, the Marathas, the Nawabs of Carnatic, the French and finally the British. But it was under the Nayaks of Madurai that Tiruchi flourished and prospered in its own right and grew to be the city that it is today. Tiruchi is a fine blend of tradition and modernity built around the Rock Fort. Apart from the fort there are several churches, colleges and missions dating back to the 1760s. With its excellent infrastructure facilities Tiruchi will serve as a good base to see central Tamil Nadu.

General Information

Area :
23.26 sq.kms.
Population :
7.11.120 (1991 census)
Altitude :
78 metres
Temperature :
Summer : Max. 37.10c
Min. 26.40c
Winter : Max. 31.30c
Min. 20.60c
Rainfall : 83.5 cms.
Season :
Throughout the year
Clothing :
Tropical
Languages spoken :
Tamil and English
STD Code Number :
0431

How To Get There

Air :
Tiruchirappalli has an airport (5 km). Indian Airlines connects Tiruchi with Chennai, Calicut, Kochi, Sharjah and Kuwait. Airlanka also connects Colombo with Tiruchirappalli.

Rail :
Tiruchirappalli is an important junction on the Southern Railway. It connects Chennai, Thanjavur, Madurai Tirupathi, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Rameswaram, Bangalore Coimba-tore, Nagore, Mysore, Kodai Road, Kanniyakumari Mangalore, Quilon, Mumbai, Howrah and Ahmedabad.

Road :
Tiruchi is well connected by road with important places of Tamilnadu and Southern Cities.

Local Transport :
City Bus service to all places of touris interest from Central Bus Station and from Chinthamani Main Guard Gate Bus Station. Tourist Taxis, Auto Rickshaws and Cycle Rickshaws are also available.

Thiruvannamalai Travel Information

It is one of the important pilgrimage center of tamilnadu.Though Hindus seek god in the form of idol, it is also their strong belief that god can be worship in the form of light or Flame. The Karthigai Deepam festival when the big flame is lit atop the Thiruvannamalai hills draw a huge crowd and devotees.

The Sculptures in the pillars and the idol lingam are very huge and enticing that tey make one wonder at the renowned. A large number of foreign as well as domestic tourists and aspirant for spiritual solace and solitude congregate here.
Thiruvannamalai has become an international center of study in spiritualism.

Thanjavur Travel Information

The home of Carnatic music, musical instruments, dance and traditional handicrafts. Thanjavur is famous for the Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple, constructed more than a thousand years ago by the Chola King Raja Rajan is an architect's marvel. The town of Thanjavur is also the headquarters of the district of the same name.

The distict is the granary of Tamil Nadu. The Art Gallery and the Saraswathi Mahal Library are also well known places of interest. Excursions include Thiruvaiyaru, Thirukandiyur, Kumbakonam, Thirubuvanam and Darasuram, all within 40 kms.

At Gangaikondacholapuram (71 kms.) is a temple dedicated to Lord Siva: Nagore (85 kms.) is a renowned pilgrim centre for Muslims; Velankanni, (90 kms.) is a sacred place for Christians. But people from all walks of life congregate in the above said two places.

Access :
Tiruchirappalli (60 kms.) is the nearest airport. Thanjavur is on the Chennai-Tiruchi metre gauge rail route. Express buses connect Thanjavur to other towns.

General Info. :

Area :
29.24 sq kms.
Population :
200,216 (1991 census)
Altitude :
59 metres
Climate :

Summer : Max. 36°C, Min. 32.5°C
Winter : Max. 23.5°C, Min. 22.8°C
Rainfall : 111.37 mm average
Season :
Throughout the year
Clothing :
Tropical
Languages :
Tamil, English and Marathi

Sankaram Travel Information

Discover this lovely Buddhist site located 41kms.from Visakhapatnam.

The name Snakram comes from the term Sangharama.

Numerous monolithic votive stupas, rock-cut caves, brick-buit structural edifices, early historic pottery and Satavahana coins dating back to the 1st century AD, have been discovered here.

The main stupa was first carved out of a rock and then veneered with bricks.

Close by, you can visit other Buddhist site like Bojjanalonda, which has numerous images of Buddha carved on the rock-face of the caves.

At Lingalametta, there are innumerable rock-cut monolithic stupa in rows, spread all over the hill.

Other attractions are a relic casket, three chaitya halls, votive platforms, stupas and Vajrayana sculptures.

The vihara was active for about 1000 year, spanning the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana phases of Buddhism.

Salihundam Travel Information

On the right bank of the river Vamsadhara, about 116 kms from Visakhapatnam, in the Srikakulam district, there are a number of Buddhist stupas and huge monastic complex on a hillock amidst scenic surroundings.

You can see Maha Stupa, Votive Stupas, Platforms and Viharas.

There's distinct evidence of the presence of the Vajrayana cult.

The statues of Tara and Marchi were discovered at this site.

From here, Buddhism spread to Sumatra and other Far-Eastern countries.

Rameshwaram Travel Information

 

Rameswaram is hallowed by the epic Ramayana. A devout Hindu who visits Varanasi is expected to visit Rameswaram also for the culmination of his quest for salvation. Rama sanctified this place by worshipping Lord Siva after the war against Ravana. Therefore, it is held sacred by Saivites and Vaishnavites as well. It is one of the major marine food centres in the south, much of its fish and prawn catch being exported.

General Info. :

Area :
51.8 sq.kms.
Population :
27,928 (1991Census)
Altitude :
Sea level: 2,74m.
Climate :

Summer : Max. 48°C Min. 46°C
Winter : Max. 30°C Min. 25°C
Rainfall : 50 cms
Season :
Throughout the year
Clothing :
Tropical
Language Spoken :
Tamil, Hindi and English

Nagarjunakonda Travel Information

Seventeen hundred years ago, Vijayapuri served as the capital of the Iakshvaku kingdom, and was home to a centre of Buddhist learning.

Today, in its place flourishes Nagarjunasagar, a modern township named after Acharya Nagarjuna, the founder and father of Mahayana Buddhism.

Relics of the Buddhist civilization found here, date back to the 3rd century AD. The excavated remains were reconstructed and have been carefully preserved at Nagarjunakonda, a unique island-museum in the midst of the man-made Nagarjunasagar Lake.

he museum has been constructed in the shape of a Buddhist vihara and houses a stupendous collection of relics of Buddha, Buddhist art and culture. The main stupa called the Mahachaitya contains the sacred relics of Buddha.

The center of attraction is a partly ruined monolithic statue of Buddha in a striking image of peace and poise.

The cultural remains of ancient man ranging from the prehistoric to the Neolithic period, a university, vihara, monasteries, and an 'Aswamedha' sacrificial altar dating back to the early historic period have been unearthed here.

Most of the monasteries were built by the Royal Ladies of the Ikshvaku Kingdom. During the construction of the Nagarjunasagar Dam, the ruins of an ancient Buddhist University were unearthed here. These have been reconstructed at Anupu, 4kms.away from the right bank of the reservoir.

What's more, a 3rd century vihara and an amphitheatre with fine acoustics takes one back into history.

Mysore Travel Information

770m above sea level and 140 kms from Bangalore, this iperial city was the erstwhile capital of the Wodeyars. so known as the City of Palaces, Mysore retains a quaint iarm that never fails to enchant.

City Sights:

Mysore Palace. Once the residence of the Wodeyars, this structure is one of the largest of its kind in India. Built in 1912 in the Indo-Saracenic style, this palace exudes a grandeur that is unmatched.

The Golden Royal Elephant Throne, the Durbar Hall, the Kalyana Mandap and the Gallery are the main attractions here. Sir Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery. Housed in the Jaganmohan Palace, this gallery has a collection of exquisite paintings dating back to 1873. The collection includes paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, the Russian Svetoslav Roerich and the traditional Mysore gold leaf style of painting.

St. Philomena's Church, in the Gothic style, is one of the largest churches in the country and has beautiful stained-glass windows.

Mysore Zoo houses some rare animals bred in captivity and exotic species of plants.

Chamundi Hills. Towering over the city, these hills are 13 kms away from Mysore. Halfway - up is the Nandi Bull, a 4.8 m monolith. Right on top is the 2000-year-old Chamundeswari Temple, dedicated to the patron goddess of the royal family.

Brindavan Gardens (Mandya Dist.). 19 kms north-west of Mysore is the KRS Dam and the ornamental Brindavan Gardens. The musical fountains and colourful lights transform this place into a fairy land in the evenings.


Festivals :

The Dasara celebrations in Mysore bring back the glory and grandeur of a bygone era. During Oct-Nov., the entire city rejoices with colour and gaiety. The 10-day festivity culminates in a grand procession on the last day- Vijayadashami.

Local Food Specialities : Mysore is famous for Mysore Pak - a sweet rich in ghee. Other delicacies include spicy rice preparations, idii, dosai and vada.

Shopping :

Sandalwood, its products and silk are Mysore's specialities, sold in Government-owned emporia at fixed prices. The Government Silk Factory offers silks straight off the loom.

Accessibility :

Mysore is connected by rail and road to Bangalore, Mangalore and Madras. Around Mysore (Distances and directions from Mysore):

Srirangapatna (Mandya Dist.) is 14 kms north-east, on the Bangalore-Mysore highway. This island fortress, once the capital of the warrior-kings HyderAli and his son Tipu Sultan, has magnificent monuments that are well worth a visit.

Daria Daulat Bagh - Tipu's Summer Palace built in 1784 was his favourite retreat. Made of teak, this Indo-Saracenic structure has ornate and beautiful frescoes. It is now a museum and tells eloquently of Tipu's valour and his losing battle against the British.

Fort. It is from here that Tipu charged at the British soldiers with his legendary sword. An obelisk in the fort marks the place where he fell - betrayed by his own men. The fort holds within it, a mosque and the Ranganathaswamy Temple. Outside the fort is the Gumbaz, Tipu's tomb with splendid ebony doors inlaid with ivory.

Sangama is 3 kms south of Srirangapatna where the two branches of river Cauvery re-unite in joyful exuberance.

Bandipur. Situated 80 kms from Mysore, the Bandipur National Park is one of the most beautiful wildlife centres. Rare species of animals and birds can be seen in their natural habitats. Bandipur has also been chosen as a centre for the Project Tiger Scheme launched in 1973 by the WWF to save the tiger.

Himvad Gopalaswamy Hills is a popular hill resort and a trekker's delight as well. It is situated in the verdant western ghats of Mysore District. The temple here is dedicated to Lord Hoysala.

Ranganathittu (Mandya Dist.) 4 kms from Srirangapatna and 18 kms from Mysore is a Bird Sanctuary that houses exotic birds. Birds from as far away as Siberia and even North America make their home here. Crocodiles basking in the sun is also a familiar sight. Best season -January to February.

important pilgrim centre and is famous for its Nanjundeshwara Temple (from which the place derives its name). Built in the Dravidian style, the temple is one of the biggest of its kind in Karnataka.

Somanathapur 35 kms east is famous for its 13th century Hoysala Temple. The temple in excellent condition, has frescoed exteriors with episodes from the epics.

Melkote 30 kms north, is a sacred pilgrim centre, known for its Vairamudi festival in March-April. More than one lakh devotees congregate here for the festival. Melkote is also known for its handlooms.

Talakad is situated on the banks of the river Cauvery and is completely buried beneath sand dunes. Its temples are opened for ceremonial worship on special occasions - once in twelve years.

Cauvery Fishing Camp. 82 kms from Mysore, at Bhimeshwari is a paradise for anglers. Mahasheer, the finest game fish is found here. This camp is also accessible from Bangalore (100 kms).

Shivasamudram (Mandya Dist.) is 85 kms east of Mysore, where the river Cauvery cascades down in two picturesque waterfalls. Falling down from a height of 73 m into a deep rocky gorge, these falls are best during the monsoons. 1.5 kms away is Asia's first hydro-electric project set up in 1905.

Nagarhole National Park and the Kabini River Lodge are perfect get-aways for nature lovers. Abounding in a rich variety of wildlife, one can find elephants, antelopes and even leopards here.

B.R. Hills. This picturesque hill range, at a height of 5091 ft., is 120 kms from Mysore and is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. The temple on the hill, dedicated to Biligiri Rangaswamy attracts devotees round the year.

Mahadeshwara Hills, about 142 kms from Mysore, is a popular pilgrim centre. Atop the hill is a temple dedicated to Lord Mahadeshwara which is in the form of a Linga.

Accessibility: Tourist spots around Mysore City are well- connected bv road.

Mamallapuram Travel Information

East Coast Road, wide and smooth, where littoral palms, backwaters, brooks and green fields line the edges. At a distance of 55 kms from Chennai lies Mamallapuram on the seashores of the Bay of Bengal. Here you can see Pagodas, rock-cut Caves, single-stone crafted Rathas and bas-reliefs. All belonging to the times of the Pal lavas, who ruled from 600 to 750 AD with Kanchi as their capital.

An ancient port with a flourishing maritime trade, Mamallapuram, earlier called Mahabalipuram, stands today as a centre of art and as a testimonial to early Dravidian Style of temple architecture. Here you can also hear the sound of wind on stone and the swish of waves bathing the Shore Temple. The rich portraits in stone of various gods, goddesses, celestial beauties and epic stories present an endless feast for the eye and the mind, at once intriguing and inspiring. These compositions in stone, built for all years to come, are works of faith and of love.

A first time visitor to Mamallapuram feels a thrill and an excitement. The beauty ot the place is that it can be visited again and again. Mamallapura offers glimpses of the glory of the Pal lava Kings and the creativity of the craftsman, who is both a supreme artist and a devotee. No wonder that the sunny beach, silvery sand, splendours of sculpture are visited by tourists from all over the world.

Festivals
Pongal Tourist Festival is celebrated in Mamallapuram on a grand scale during the iddle of January every year. Sthalasayanaperumal Temple Festival, Masimagam and rahmmotsavam attract a large number of devotees.

Dance Festival
December-January is the time for convergence at Mamallapuram to celebrate the Mamallapuram Dance Festival every year. To the accompanying music of the wind and with Arjuna's penance serving as a fitting backdrop, artistes of Indian Classical Dance and Folk Dance from all over the country come together to perform these various forms of Indian Dance. The Dance festival ensemble attracts a large number of tourists.

How to get there

Road
A good motorable road connects Mamallapuram with Chennai and other places. The State Transport Corporation operates buses to Chennai, Kalpakkarn, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Pondicherry and Cuddalore. There are also express buses to Thiruthani, Thirupathi, Chidambaram, Nagapattinam and Bangalore.

Local Transport
Taxis, Autorickshaws, Bicycles and Mopeds are available on hire.

Railhead
The nearest railway station is Chengalpattu, 30 kms from Mamallapuram. Trains to Chidambaram, Thanjavur, Thiruchirappalli, Madurai, Ramesvaram, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari, coming from Chennai can be boarded here.

Airport
The nearest airport is Chennai which is 55 kms from Mamallapuram.

General Information

Area - 8 sq.km
Population - 12, 049 (2001 census)
Altitude - Sea Level
Climate - Max. Min.
Summer - 36.6c 21.1c
Winter - 30.5c 19.8c
Clothing - Tropical
Season - Throughout the year
Languages Spoken - Tamil and English
STD Code No. - 04114

Other Information

Places of Worship
Temple : Sthalasayana Perumal Temple
Church : Holy Family Church (RC)
Mosque : Majid Noor Jumma
 

Vishakhapatanam Travel Information

Golden beaches that stretch as far as your imagination, green hills rising high on the other side, a city thriving on modern industry and commerce in the midst. Visakhapatnam offers all these.

It is the second larget city of Andhra Pradesh and one of the fastest growing cities in Asia. It has Eastern Ghats on one side and the blue waters of Bay of Bengal on the other, giving the city a magical touch.

How to get there

Air :
Connected with Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi and Bhubaneshwar. Indian Airlines flies daily to Hyderabad and five times a week to Chennai, New Delhi and Kolkata.

Rail :
Vizag is a major junction on the commercially important Chennai-Kolkata rail line. As such the city is well connected by rail with New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad. Daily express trains are available to all these four major cities.

Bus :
Vizag is 650 km from Hyderaad and 350 km from Vijayawada. Regular bus services are available to Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Bhubaneswar, Chennai and Tirupati.

Shopping
The main shopping centres in Vizag are the Main Road stretch from Jagadamba Junction to Old Post Office; Daba Gardens, Kurupam Market, Dwaraka Nagar, One Town Area.