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Traveling just around 50 kilometers away from the hustle bustle of Hyderabad, India and with just Rs. 5 entrance ticket, what one gets is a wonderful vista of the biggest monolithic rock one would have ever seen. Bhongir fort, often called as Bhuvanagiri, is located in a small town located in the Nalgonda district on Warangal-Hyderabad highway, in Telangana state of India. While the roads leading to Bhongir fort provide a much needed respite for Hyderabad city dwellers, the rock as such makes for wonderful climb and gives great views of the surrounding areas. It is a great destination for day outing from Hyderabad and here we provide our experience of visiting Bhongir fort. We planned to visit Bhongir fort on one fine weekend in June. The clouds had taken over and we were desperate to get out after staying indoors most of the harsh summer. Without any second thoughts, our hearts called out for a bike trip and short distance to Bhongir made it the ideal place to go. We started off early from Hyderabad around 6:30 AM on 3 bikes to avoid the traffic. But as one might know Hyderabad these days rarely lets you escape the traffic, we too took much more time to get out of the city than expected. Traveling around some 20 kms away to reach outskirts of the city, we stopped for breakfast on the Warangal - Hyderabad highway. The roads from here were in pretty good condition and with amazing cloudy weather it did not take much time to reach Bhuvangiri town. Bhongir fort is in the middle of the town and the massive rock on which it stands can be spotted right from the highway. We quickly parked our vehicles, bought the entrance tickets and got ready for the trek. A big gate protects the main entrance which is supposed to open at 10 AM. Right at the bottom of the Hill, a statue of Sardar Sarvai Panappa, the monarch of Goud community, caught our attention. He was once a ruler of this fort and the surrounding regions. As we ascended further, we saw many fearless goats grazing at the very steep end of the rocks. There weren’t many visitors which made the surroundings more beautiful and peaceful. Even the clouds were caring enough blocking the direct Sun and adding charm to an already lovely weather. The initial climb to the top wasn’t a herculean task and we enjoyed taking halts and clicking photographs. The fort appeared low from distance but as we went closer, it rapidly raised up into the sky. The hill is more than 500 feet high and is spread about 40 acres. We got amazing view of the town below on ascending a bit further and we kept on pausing every now and then to have a sight of the now tiny town and the vast fields below. We often came across dilapidated historical structures with plants growing on it. After passing through the rocky steps, we came across a lawn spread across an expansive area. The view from one end of the lawn was spectacular. We were able to see the Hyderabad-Warangal highway cutting through the vast landscape of fields. We also saw a train passing the railway line on the other end. We got busy photographing and lying down for some rest here. Little did we know we had only come half the way! The magnificent fort of Bhongir was visible from here and so were some canons lying around neglected. The remaining climb involved small bumpy steps with a railing to hold on to. At few places the steps were non-existent and we literally had to walk on the sharp slopes of the slanting rock by holding the railing. After a few steps of climb we saw few reservoirs naturally made by deep cuts in the rocks. We were surprised to see lotuses blooming in one of such large pond like reservoir. Somehow, halting, sweating, panting and motivating each other we reached the top. All the energy drain was worth it as we witnessed the awe-inspiring views. A moat encircles Bhongir fort. The fort is mostly in ruins but we happened to see cannons, underground chambers and trap doors. Other places to visit as a weekend outing from Hyderabad According to legend, there once was an underground corridor connecting Bhongir Fort to Golconda Fort. The Fort held its own army against enemies but by the 15th century, the strategic importance of cannons were reduced due to the advent of gunpowder and the army lost to the Bahmani Sultans of Bidar who tried to renovate it, and thus gave it an Islamic style. There are many interesting legends over the origin of the Bhongir fort. During the ancient times a dynamic Hindu king wanted to construct a fort and was in search of a suitable place. A shepherd with whom the King was impressed put up a condition that the fort be named after him and his wife if he is able to find a suitable site to build it and the King agreed. The shepherd had very good knowledge of the hills and forests, terrain, plants and animals as he used to wander in those areas. At this time the rocky hill at Bhongir was completely covered by a very large wild creeper and the rock was not seen from outside. The shepherd promptly cut off the large root of the creeper and soon it dried up. In few days the rocky hill was exposed in all its glory. He king was immensely thrilled at the site and ordered the officials to plan and build a fort covering the rocky hill. It was soon completed and was named after the shepherd couple as Bhonagiri (Bhoniah, the shepherd and his wife Giremma). While most people believe this to be the story, others say that the fort and the town are named after the king named Bhuvanika Malludu who built it in the past. The steep sides of the fort were considered impregnable. It is also said that the fort was built in 12th Century by Chalukya ruler Tribhuvanamalla and thus named Tribhuvanagiri which gradually became Bhuvanagiri and now Bhongir. A climb through the steep stairs in one of the pillars of the fort took us to the citadel on the top of Bhongir fort which gave us a bird-eyes view of the scenery around. We sat there as a group for a pretty long time chatting and complimenting the views. A government office of TV and communication department with its long tower occupies an area besides the fort. After our heart was content, we started descending the hill slowly and within an hour were back to the parking area and quite eager to eat. Since the town is really small, it was difficult to find a decent place to have lunch and the one we had found based on various recommendations online was also quite shady for our taste. The food was still decent and we were soon on the road again to head back to Hyderabad. A day well spent under the sky, we would definitely recommend Bhongir fort to all in Hyderabad rather than heading to the nearest mall or watching the latest movie on the next weekend. Especially if the weather is fine, you would definitely enjoy your day much more at Bhongir. Pin this image Have you been to Bhongir fort? Do let us know your thoughts on our Bhongir trip. Want to know more such weekend destinations from Hyderabad ? Read our travel blogs and you will find many such experiences. #India #SouthIndia #Hyderabadweekendoutings #AndhraPradesh #Telangana

Around 160 kilometres from Hyderabad and around 200 kilometres from Vijayawada in India, is a perfect weekend destination for the city dwellers - Nagarjuna Sagar. Nagarjuna Sagar is mainly known for the tallest masonry dam in the world. It also forms India's second biggest water reservoir and thus offers good boating opportunities. Along with couple of other attractions it is a fairly good option for those looking for weekend outings from Hyderabad or Vijayawada . People also tend to travel to Srisailam along with Nagarjuna Sagar which is located on the same river Krishna around 170 kilometres towards west. Though most people go for day trips as everything can be covered in a day, as always we planned a little longer stay i.e. 2 day trip to explore the place. Also a 2 day trip ensured we could go around at the best times of the day - sunrise and sunset which those coming for day trip miss out on. So here is our experience of a peaceful and serene sojourn at Nagarjuna Sagar. Other places to visit as a weekend outing from Hyderabad Hyderabad to Nagarjuna Sagar: Nagarjuna Sagar is often visited as a weekend destination from Hyderabad due to its close proximity to the city. As the New Year 2016 came around, we planned our customary New Year road trip. This time we had planned on visiting Nagarjuna Sagar, the tallest masonry dam in the world built over river Krishna. We began our journey around 7 AM on 2nd Jan, little later than what we had planned. Couple of friends joined us on the way and before we knew we were out of Hyderabad on highway. Taking couple of breaks on the way mainly to remove the fatigue that comes along when you travel on motorbikes by driving and sitting continuously, we reached our destination, Nagarjuna Sagar around 11 AM. Accommodation / Stay near Nagarjuna Sagar dam We had booked rooms in the only decent option available in Nagarjuna Sagar, government’s chain of Haritha resort. The one at Nagarjuna Sagar is known as Vijay Vihar resort. As we knew already, all Haritha resorts across the state have mediocre services and maintenance but are located in beautiful locations, we were prepared for what we saw. Behind the reception was a breathtaking view of the huge lake formed due to the Nagarjuna Sagar dam. Serene, peaceful, extremely quiet, it was definitely a must visit place and a perfect start to the year. We had lunch in Haritha Vijay Vihar and rested for a while before starting off exploring the place. Nagarjuna Sagar is a small town mainly developed post construction of the dam. The dam itself built around 50 years back is lifeline of various districts in #AndhraPradesh and #Telangana including Hyderabad providing most of the required water supplies and generating electricity. We went around on our bikes looking for interesting locations and views on the other side of the Nagarjuna Sagar dam where a small river flowed since the gates of the dam were not opened. This side of the dam had its own beauty with stones and rocks all around, number of birds flocking the area and kids having fun in the water. We found a road bordered by red rocky hills on both sides giving us a perfect spot for our usual photography session. We went on to a bridge directly in front of the Nagarjuna Sagar dam which gave us a perfect view of the river below us and various types of birds playing their own games in the water. We could see the circular coracle boats used by fisherman from a distance as the evening approached fast. We wanted to have the best view of the sunset and felt the place to watch it would be from Haritha Vijay Vihar resort. Hence we started back reaching just on time to witness an amazing sunset by the Nagarjuna Sagar lake. As expected the afterglow post the sunset showed us wonderful hues of colour leaving us spellbound. Ethipothala Falls near Nagarjuna Sagar After spending some time watching the sky left behind by the sun, we embarked on our next destination. We had heard about a waterfall nearby, about 20 kilometres from Nagarjuna Sagar dam and unlike most other waterfalls this place was well lit in night. It's named Ethipothala Falls. Since we had never seen a waterfall in night, we decided to go there post sunset. The road leading to Ethipothala falls was completely dark without any street lights and barely few vehicles. After driving on the road for a long time, it was actually scary seeing no sign boards or even existence of human life. Much to our relief the place did exist and had couple of groups visiting as well. One cannot go right till the Ethipothala waterfall but can see it from a distance. Unfortunately we didn’t have a tripod but yet managed to click some amazing pics of the waterfall. The drive back to Nagarjuna Sagar was surprisingly shorter and quicker and we slept like a baby post a tiring day. We were up early to capture the sunrise but there weren’t any good spots that could have given us a good view of the rising sun. Hence we chose to go back to our bridge from yesterday which held some promise of a decent view. The sunrise behind the hill was better than our expectation and we got some decent photographs along with some bird activity down on the river. We went back to the resort, had breakfast, clicked some final pics of sprinklers and water drops and checked out to see our next spot. We went to Nagarjuna Konda, an island on the lake formed due to Nagarjuna Sagar dam which houses Buddhist statues and ruins. To our surprise Buddhism was extremely popular in south India long ago, especially amongst females of the kings family. It turns out Nagarjuna was a Buddhist master and ran universities in this area in 2nd Century AD. Nagarjuna konda was supposedly the capital of Ikshvaku dynasty which is also around whom Amish’s latest book – ‘Scion of Ikshakavu’ is based upon. What remains of this capital city now is an isolated island as the surrounding areas are covered due to lake formed by the dam. Archaeological survey of India runs boats to take tourists to the island which houses a museum. The place is average and much to our disappointment was further spoiled by January heat and local crowd who were flocking the area as it was Sunday. Also the boating experience was not that great as the journey was too long and after initial excitement, you have the same views and nothing else to do. We reached back to the mainland around 2 PM post which we hurried back to Hyderabad as we wanted to reach before dark. The return journey from Nagarjuna Sagar was a bit daunting due to a tiring and uneventful morning and hot afternoon but we had no choice. However we have experienced nature has its ways of helping you out often when you travel or probably life in general. During the return we were awestruck by the sunset happening right in front of the road hiding beyond the horizon till we reach further towards it only to see it hide again. It was like witnessing the sunset 3 times in a single evening. But we were in such a hurry that we didn’t even stop to click pics. We reached back little late but were pretty satisfied with our first road trip of the year. All in all, a great road trip, a good visit for 1-2 day holiday from Hyderabad and some good clicks, what else do you need? The year of travel was off to a good start and hopefully the year will show us more such trips. Pin this image Have you visited Nagarjuna Sagar? How was your experience. Are you looking for more weekend travel choices from Hyderabad? Checkout our detailed accounts of various weekend destinations from Hyderabad such as Vijayawada , Srisailam , Warangal , Hampi , Gandikota etc.. #India #AndhraPradesh #Telangana #HyderabadWeekendOutings #ChennaiWeekendOutings

Day 1 of the trip Hidden in the remotest reaches of Himalayas lies one of the most inaccessible places in the world named Zanskar Valley. Spread over an area of 7000 square kilometres (which is 11 times bigger than Mumbai), Zanskar Valley is located in the Ladakh region, a Union Territory in India. The only motorable road to Zanskar Valley is from Kargil through Penzi La pass which remains closed for nearly eight months every year due to heavy snowfall. However, recently a new road has been constructed to reach Padum (headquarters of Zanskar Valley) from Darcha in Lahaul Valley of Himachal Pradesh. The region of Zanskar Valley stands out as one of the few places in the Himalayas where traditional Tibetan culture, society, and buildings have survived both - the Chinese cultural revolution & global modernisation. This isolation and purity of Zanskar culture, as well as some of the most magnificent landscapes in this region of Indian Himalayas, lured us to visit this 'lost valley'. Though the road leading to Zanskar Valley was completed in the late '70s, it has always remained an unpaved & graded (kacha), which makes the journey extremely difficult. Due to this, the people of Zanskar Valley have been living in nearly total isolation throughout their history until recently. 14,000 people scattered across numerous villages depend on the yak and mountain farming for livelihood. Without any doubts, the people of Zanskar Valley have lived a simple, spiritual existence. In this series - The Zanskar Odyssey, we take you through our travel journey through this region and give you a glimpse into unique people, customs, traditions and landscapes of Zanskar Valley. If you have any interest in exploring and understanding different people and places of the world, this 'The Zanskar Odyssey' is bound to captivate you. We joined Saurabh Chatterjee, a renowned professional photographer based in Hyderabad who also conducts photo tours ( www.siaphotography.in ). The plan was to land in Leh and then reach Kargil before embarking on the strenuous journey through Rangdum to our final destination Padum, capital of Zanskar Valley. The itinerary was also designed to ensure we cover Stongdey Gustor festival at Stongdey monastery near Padum before heading back to Srinagar to catch a flight back home. After a pretty sleepless night, we took off in an early morning flight to Leh from Mumbai. We got some amazing views from the flight before reaching Leh. All the tiredness suddenly disappeared seeing the vast snow-capped mountains and barren desert. Ladakh is a cold desert and Leh is, in fact, a bit of a city in the desert. Inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent, the region stands at 3000 meters above sea level and is one of the most sparsely populated regions in Ladakh. No train routes exist to reach Ladakh. One can reach there either by air from various parts of India or by road (from Manali or Srinagar). Ladakh has recently become a union territory. It surely is a unique and special place for everyone who visits it and no words can do justice to what you see and experience here. Leh’s airport is small but unique with colourful decor. It is one of the highest commercial airports in the world. A quick drive in a pre-paid taxi to our hotel and an introductory session with the rest of the members of the photo-tour marked the beginning of our journey to Zanskar Valley. After half a day of rest to acclimatise ourselves with the high altitude and cold weather, we decided to go for a little sightseeing. Stakna Monastery, Leh: A Ladakh trip is incomplete without visiting its beautiful monasteries. Our first place of visit in Leh was Stakna monastery. It is located some 25 odd kilometres from the city of Leh on Leh-Manali highway. The roads are well built and smooth. The monastery is located on a hill besides Indus River. We crossed a wooden bridge over Indus river full of colourful Tibetan flags to reach Stakna monastery. From atop the hill where the monastery was located, we got a picturesque view of the flowing river and the copper coloured sand mountains. We could also see the Thiksey Monastery which we were going to visit next. Stakna monastery is centuries old (built in 16th Century) and simple yet colourful with many items of Buddhist art like stupas, statues, wall paintings, swords and ancient Buddhist scriptures. The ‘Manis’ outside the main building of Stakna monastery completes its antiquated look. Thiksey Monastery, Leh: We next visited Thiksey monastery which is just 5-6 kilometres back towards Leh on the same road from Stakna monastery. It was past 6 PM and hence was monastery’s closing time, thus we weren’t able to see the interiors of Thiksey monastery. This monastery, however, resembles the Potala Palace of Lhasa and is the largest monastery of Ladakh. It was built in the 15th Century. It has a fort-like structure from outside and is painted red and white. The path to the main worship place is like a hill slope. Various large Manis are placed enroute the main path. It offers an excellent view of the Indus valley and the whole setting is so calm and peaceful that it puts you in a silent trance. We were fortunate to see the sunset in the orange and red coloured clouds across the horizon and the moon rising on the other side at the same time from atop the Thiksey monastery parking lot. Our excellent team of photographers got some amazing clicks of the monastery and the Indus valley. Shadows of clouds were present everywhere around us but seldom seen. Ladakh offered us numerous opportunities to capture the constantly changing interplay of lights and shadows falling on its massive barren mountains. It had been a long day and it was getting dark. Driving through the Leh market, we reached back to our hotel and slept dreaming of the next day’s exciting journey. Though we would have loved to stay more at Leh and explore other must-visit places in the area, we were more excited to start our journey to Zanskar Valley and see what it had in store for us. Due to difficulty in accessing Zanskar Valley, its untouched raw beauty, and the fact that very few tourists visit it, the valley was far more enticing to us than Leh. This was just day 1 of our journey and we already felt amused by what we had seen. Keep reading the Zanskar odyssey to see how our journey unfolds. Read day 2 of our journey from Leh to Kargil and the surprise that awaited us there. It will be great if you can let us know what you thought about the blog, pictures or the trip. Feel free to comment below. Read all our blogs of the series The Zanskar Odyssey by clicking on the links below: 1. Exploring Leh 2. Leh to Kargil 3. Kargil to Rangdum 4. Rangdum to Padum 5. Exploring Padum 6. Stongdey Gustor Festival 7. Padum to Srinagar #India #NorthIndia #UnionTerritories #Ladakh

No other place in the world has so widely been referred to as paradise, as Kashmir in India. Srinagar, the summer capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and a beautiful valley set with lakes, brooks and exquisite gardens, is a wonderful first-hand rendition to what Kashmir truly is! We arrived in Srinagar smack in the middle of Spring Equinox, just when the winter had loosened its hold on the valley and the delicate fragrance of almond blossoms filled the air. This article will act as a complete travel guide on Srinagar that’ll highlight places to visit and stay in Srinagar, local delicacies to try in Srinagar, best restaurants/cafes in Srinagar, what and where to shop in Srinagar, and what an ideal Srinagar itinerary will look like. Suggested read Best places to stay in Srinagar, Kashmir Offbeat Places to Visit in Kashmir Table of Contents About Srinagar, Kashmir Is it safe to travel to Srinagar, Kashmir? How to reach Srinagar? Air Rail Road Best time to visit Srinagar Places to visit in Srinagar Gardens of Srinagar Tulip Garden Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden Nishat Bagh Shalimar Bagh Badam Wari Other Gardens Lakes of Srinagar Dal Lake Nigeen Lake Higher points giving 360-degree views of Srinagar Shankaracharya Temple Pari Mahal Hari Parbat Fort Old City of Srinagar Naqashband Sahab Shrine Jamia Masjid Budshah Tomb Pathar Masjid Kadals/Bridges Khanqah-e-Moula Hazratbal Mosque Other places to visit in Srinagar Floating Post Office Museums Places to visit near Srinagar Where to stay in Srinagar? What to eat in Srinagar (Local delicacies)? Best restaurants/cafes in Srinagar What and where to shop in Srinagar? Local conveyance in Srinagar Srinagar itinerary About Srinagar, Kashmir Located at an altitude of 5200 feet above sea level, Srinagar is nestled in the Himalayas, forming the northernmost part of India. Blessed with beautiful lakes, fertile land that blooms every year, historical gardens, and River Jhelum that forms the lifeline of Kashmir, the landscapes of Srinagar are reminiscent of what one would fancy painting in childhood. Historically, Srinagar has been a major trade center connecting Persia to Central and East Asia. As Kashmir has been ruled by different religious monarchs over the last 2000 years, namely Buddhist rulers in Ashoka’s and Kushana's time, Hindu rulers in medieval times, Islam rulers for most of the last 600 years, Afghani rulers for shorter durations, and Sikh rulers during Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Srinagar has become a cauldron of all these cultures. Tourism as well flourished in between 1950s to 80s when Kashmir used to be most visited place in India by foreign travellers. In fact from what we were told by some locals, the famous houseboats of Srinagar where introduced by foreign tourists who legally could not own anything on land which was immovable and fixed. But they could venture into building and buying houseboats on Jhelum river. River safaris used to be a popular concept where one would travel across Kashmir in these boats. Slowly locals realized the income potential of these houseboats and moved their base to Dal lake. All of this however came to a halt with exodus of Kashmiri pandits in early 90s as political unrest took control. Tourism slowly started again in mid 2000s and since then has been on a rise. Is it safe to travel to Srinagar, Kashmir? While one may still feel safety could be a concern while visiting Kashmir, times have changed. In our 3rd trip to Srinagar across 9 years, we could definitely see how most people have left the past behind and are embracing the future. Srinagar feels like any other developing city of India. Education and economic prosperity are at the forefront of people's mind. Though you might still see Army personnel all around, we never for a second felt unsafe in our 3-week trip across Kashmir. The innate welcoming nature of Kashmiris is unparalled. Their humility and friendliness have always existed. While many things have changed, as travellers we need to change our perception as well. How to reach Srinagar? You can reach Srinagar by either of these 3 routes: Reach Srinagar by air The Sheikh ul-Alam Airport in Srinagar is an international airport and is well connected with regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Chandigarh. You can book connecting flights to Srinagar airport with a few hours layover at any of these airports. Srinagar airport is located about 15-20 kilometres from the centre of the city. Reach Srinagar by rail Udhampur railway station (150 km away from Srinagar) and Banihal Railway Station (100 km away from Srinagar) are the two nearest railway stations to Srinagar. These railway stations are connected by a network of trains to the major cities in India via Northern Railway Line. You can reach any of these stations and then hire a private taxi or take a government bus to reach Srinagar. Reach Srinagar by road Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state. The city is very well connected with National Highways to major Indian cities like Delhi (800 km), Chandigarh (570 km), Leh (420 km), and Jammu (250 km). There are decent bus services and cab rentals available from these cities to Srinagar. Best time to visit Srinagar We are often asked this question and it is the most difficult one to answer! All the seasons are very prominent in this part of India. The spring season (late March to April) is all about new blossoms and varied colours (especially white, pink, and yellow). Asia’s largest Tulip Garden opens for about a month during spring and is visited by thousands of tourists. During this time, there’s still snow in high-altitude areas near Srinagar (like Gulmarg, Doodhpathri and Yusmarg), but spring has made it’s way in the city. So a trip to Kashmir at this time will allow you to enjoy best of both seasons (winter and spring). In the summer season (May to August) everything turns green. The weather is pleasant, various trek routes open up near Srinagar (like Great Lakes trek starting from Sonamarg and ending at Naranag), the valleys bloom with beautiful flowers, saffron blooms cover the entire area near Srinagar in purple coloured flowers, Dal Lake is covered in pink coloured lotuses, and the apple, pear, and plum trees are laden with fruits. Also, the inaccessible valleys and passes that receive high snowfall in winter (like Bangus valley, Gurez valley, Sinthan Top in Daksum), open up for visitors in summer time. However, this is also the peak season, when lakhs of tourists visit Srinagar/Kashmir (especially May-Jun which is summer vacation in most schools in India); hence if you choose this time, make sure you make all the bookings in advance and be ready to face a lot of crowd. As autumn season arrives (September to November) , the valley shifts its colour to amber, orange, brown, and reds. The leaves of trees, especially the Chinar trees, shed and cover the ground in magical colours. It’s amongst the best time to visit the Mughal gardens in Srinagar (as well as in Kokernag, Anantnag, and Verinag), which are full of Chinar trees. In the winter season (December to February) , the valley is covered under a white sheet of snow. Snow in Srinagar city only lasts for about a fortnight, but you get to experience snow in almost all the nearby areas like Sonmarg, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. If you are into snow sports like skiing, sledging, snowshoeing, and ice-skating, this is the best time to visit Kashmir. As you may have realised, each season gives you a different flavour in Kashmir. The best time to visit Srinagar/Kashmir depends on what season you enjoy the most, what you want to see, and what exactly you are looking to do. Note that Jul to Sep could also see some rains. However over time, rains have become quite erratic like many other places across the world and off-season rains also happen very often. Places to visit in Srinagar Most tourists arrive in and depart from Srinagar during their Kashmir tour. However, in a run to visit the touristy places (like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg), they fail to visit the gems of Srinagar. Following is the detailed guide on all the places to visit in Srinagar that you must spare time for: Gardens of Srinagar - There is no shortage of scenic gardens in Srinagar. With evergreens, ornamental trees, and perennial flowers that have different bloom times, the gardens in Srinagar have something to offer the visitors every season. All gardens have an entrance fee of INR 24 per adult except Tulip garden which has a fee of Rs.50 per adult. Tulip Garden Tulips are among the first flowers to bloom after a prolonged spell of winter in Kashmir. The tulip blossoms last only for 4-6 weeks in the months of March end and April. Srinagar’s Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden is Asia’s largest tulip garden, where you can see display of millions of tulips in full bloom, in 20 acres of land painted with different colours of the flower. The dates could slightly vary each year and is published beforehand. Note that due to limited timeframe, it is usually full of visitors. It is highly recommended you avoid weekends when locals and tourists in equal numbers flock the garden. Weekdays in morning at the time it opens (around 8:30-9 AM) is the best way to avoid crowds. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden is located just besides the Tulip Garden and is worth a quick visit. The garden surrounds a huge pond and is filled with wide varieties of flowers and trees planted in decorative ways. The well-manicured garden is a great picnic spot, both for locals and visitors. Nishat Bagh Nishat Bagh, located on the banks of the Dal Lake, is the largest of all the Mughal Gardens in Srinagar. The garden has stair-typed shallow terraces with a water channel in the middle that carries fresh spring water from its source high up in the Zabarwan Hills. The garden has huge Chinar trees, which we’re sure might be a sight to behold in the autumn season. Nishat Bagh is also adorned with seasonal flowers and numerous fountains. Shalimar Bagh Built by Mughal emperor Jehangir for his beloved wife, Empress Nur Jahan, Shalimar Bagh is the most magnificent Mughal Garden of Srinagar. It’s also referred to as an ‘abode of love’ for the same reason. Built in the same architectural manner as Nishat, Shalimar Bagh also has several terraces with a canal flowing through the middle of the garden. During our visit, the daffodils and apricot trees were in full bloom, decorating the garden with vibrant white and pink colours. Badam Wari Badam Wari, meaning ‘garden of almonds’, is an almond haven which becomes an eye candy for visitors during the onset of spring season by covering 38 acres of land with white-coloured almond blossoms and some pink cherry blossoms. The locals come here during the spring with food, tea, and bread and spend time in recreation. Badam Wari is one of the most beautiful gardens on the banks of Nigeen Lake, which is less touristy and gives a more local feel. Other Gardens Apart from the ones mentioned above, Srinagar is home to several other well-maintained gardens that include Chashme Shahi Mughal Garden, Chinar Heritage Park, Naseem Bagh, and Nageen Park - each one quite unique and offering good views of the Dal/Nigeen Lake and providing a serene experience. Lakes of Srinagar Lakes in Srinagar are not just the usual water bodies that you find in other cities or areas, but they are the quintessential examples of Kashmiri beauty, with snow-capped mountains as scenic backdrop. It’s hard to believe that all the lakes in Srinagar, in fact in Kashmir, are connected to each other through narrow canals or rivers. Dal Lake Often referred to as the Jewel in the Crown of Kashmir, Dal Lake is a popular tourism and recreation spot in Srinagar and the second-largest lake in Kashmir (first one being Wular Lake). The lake’s shoreline is encompassed by a boulevard and is lined with Mughal gardens. Tourists can opt to stay on the Dal Lake in Kashmir’s indigenous houseboats, made of pure cedar wood, and those staying elsewhere on land can also enjoy the lake by taking a bedecked ornamental Shikara ride. In summers, lotus flowers grow in the Dal Lake, which turns a part of the lake ‘pink’. Dal lake has more than 30 ghats starting with ghat one at Dal gate. Ghat number is usually the reference point for sharing addresses of house boats. We recommend taking the Shikara Ride twice - First of course in the evening, when the setting sun imparts golden colour to the water of Dal Lake. There are many options based on how long you want to go around and how many points you want to cover. We opted for a 3-hour Shikara ride in the lake in the evening, where the Shikara-boy rowed the boat with heart-shaped oars and took us to 8 points in Dal Lake, including the floating post office, the Nehru Park, the Golden Lake, the Gurkha houseboat (where Mission Kashmir movie was shot), and the floating market - Meena bazaar (selling all kinds of Kashmiri handicrafts and trinkets) that can be accessed only by a boat. You would also find number of hawkers on boats coming by to sell all kinds of things such as Kahwa (Kashmiri Tea), Barbeque, handicrafts, flowers and even offering to shoot your photographs. Note that you might have to pay a higher cost for most items on the Dal Lake. We opted for a 3-hour Shikara ride in the lake in the evening, where the Shikara-boy rowed the boat with heart-shaped oars and took us to several points in Dal Lake, including the floating post office, the Nehru Park, the Golden Lake, the Gurkha houseboat (where Mission Kashmir movie was shot), and the floating market - Meena bazaar (selling all kinds of Kashmiri handicrafts and trinkets). We definitely suggest going for a Shikara ride, but note that you might have to pay a higher cost for most items on the Dal Lake. Another great time to enjoy a Shikara ride in the lake is very early in the morning, when the waters are still and reflections in water much better and hardly any tourists around. The added advantage of this time is getting a chance to see the lake dwellers buying and selling fresh vegetables at throw-away prices at the floating vegetable market known as ‘Raad’ in Kashmiri. Note that to witness this, you may have to start very early (around 5 AM) in your Shikara based on how far you you stay from this market. Nigeen Lake Leading from the Dal Lake is the smaller Nigeen Lake. This lake’s surroundings are more serene and and peaceful. The lake is surrounded by willow and poplar trees, whose reflections are beautifully mirrored in the water of the lake. Nigeen Lake is a nice getaway from the happening / chaotic (depends on how you see things) Dal Lake and acts as a perfect place to escape from the hectic and busy urban life. Without having to travel out of Srinagar, Nigeen Lake provides tourists a chance to unwind. We stayed in houseboats at both Dal and Nigeen Lake, and all we can say is that the lakes are completely opposite of each other. At Dal, you will be surrounded by a lot of hawkers selling over-expensive trinkets in their boats; who, after a point of time, start irritating you. However you can access the boulevard road easily that has hordes of shops, restaurants etc. At Nigeen, everybody mind their own business and that’s what makes it peaceful. Houseboats are spaced apart in Nigeen unlike Dal making it much more quite and serene. Higher Points Giving 360 degree Views of Srinagar Whenever we explore a city, we first try to get to its highest point to get a real perspective of the place, understand the geography, and of course to enjoy a birds eye view. Here are some places you can visit in Srinagar to get such a view. Shankaracharya Temple Situated at an altitude of 1100 feet above the surface level of city, Shankaracharya Temple is a renowned Hindu temple in Srinagar, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Adi Shankaracharya, who was a philosopher, stopped to stay at this very place in Srinagar about 1000s of years ago, hence the name. You will need to climb some 200 well-laid stone steps to get to the Shankaracharya temple. But from the temple premises, you get a stunning 360 degree view of Dal Lake and Srinagar city on a clear day; worth all the hard climb. Note that road leading to the hill gets closed at 4:30 PM itself and hence you will have to plan accordingly. Pari Mahal Pari Mahal (also called as ‘The Palace of fairies’) is the highest of all the Mughal gardens in elevation from the sea level, as its located atop a hillock in Srinagar. It has a total of seven shallow-terraced gardens built one above another that lead to a palace. Pari Mahal is different from the other Mughal gardens due to the absence of a water channel in the middle. Nevertheless, the garden offers a matchless view of Dal Lake and Srinagar city from its terraces. Hari Parbat Fort You can also get a bird’s-eye view of Srinagar from the Hari Parbat Fort, built under the reigns of Mughal emperor Akbar in 1590 AD. Hari Parbat Fort stands on a hillock and the topmost point of the fort provides breathtaking view of Dal and Nigeen Lakes as well as most of Srinagar city. The fort also houses a Hindu temple, few mosques, and a gurdwara, making it a symbol of the diverse religious and cultural history of the region. Hari Parbat Fort is maintained by the Indian Army and late in the evening, it is lit beautifully in tricolours. Old City of Srinagar If you want to see real Kashmir, you need to venture into the non-touristy areas (beyond Dal Lake and Mughal gardens) and visit the old yet culturally rich interiors of Srinagar city. And the best way to explore such areas is to enroll for a guided walking tour. We joined a Heritage Walking Tour organised by Cliffhangers India, who apart from organize adventurous treks and offbeat tours across Kashmir, also specialise in having intimate knowledge of the city and its history. Our walk started from Naqashband Sahab Shrine , a Sunni Muslim shrine, located amidst a garden. It’s believed that when the holy relic of Phophet Mohammad’s hair was brought to Kashmir in the 1690s, it was first kept in this shrine; which was later shifted to Hazratbal shrine. The Naqashband Sahab Shrine is made of wood with intricate carvings in the pinjra-kari style of work. The shrine also embraces a graveyard of martyrs who were killed by the Dogra forces in its surrounding gardens. The heritage walk then moves towards the Jamia Masjid , one of the most important mosques in Kashmir. Jamia Masjid’s construction is highly influenced by Persian architecture, with the traditional Chaar Bagh plan and a small water body in the middle. The mosque can accommodate up to 30,000 pilgrims during prayer time and has separate sections for women to offer their prayers. We then meandered through the Kashmiri Pandit areas, where we saw their abandoned shops and homes having projected balconies and arc-shaped doors. The heritage walk then opened into magnificent Sufi mosques and tombs like the Budshah Tomb , located on the banks of Jhelum River. The tomb is of the mother of the most benevolent ruler of Kashmir, Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin - the 8th emperor of Shah Mir dynasty that ruled Kashmir from 1339 to 1561. The tomb looked more like a grand mosque and is believed to be influenced by Persian architecture. Again on the streets, we moved towards Pathar Masjid , a Mughal-era stone mosque with several arches. Built by Empress Noor Jahan, it is amongst the very few structures erected by a Queen in Kashmir. The mosque really stands out with a lotus-like plinth and non-pyramidal roof. We crossed wooden bridges (locally referred to as Kadals), over the Jhelum River, a few times during the walk. The view of all the notable monuments from Ali Kadal and Zaina Kadal was breathtaking. We also separately walked to the Zero Bridge while staying near Dal Gate. It’s a beautiful wooden structure marvel. There are 7 old wooden bridges on River Jhelum that are named after the various rulers of the region and also in numbers 'zero to six'. Buzzing markets surround these bridges. Our walk ended at Khanqah-e-Moula , the most stunning Kashmiri monument decorated with papier mache art on the walls. The mosque is prominently green in colour with intricately carved wooden doors and windows. The inside is adorned with chandeliers and colourful walls. Khanqah-e-Moula has a huge pavilion, where the worshippers feed grains to hundreds of pigeons flying around in the complex. A perfectly marvellous end to our Heritage Walking Tour with Cliffhangers India . The Heritage Walking Tour was much more than a guided tour; more like an friendly walk with a highly knowledgeable person - Mr. Arif, who is not only passionate about Kashmir and its heritage, but is also well-read and keen to answer all our curious questions ranging from Kashmir to Islam. He was open enough to objectively view his own religion and history & paint an honest picture for us. As someone who has seen political aspects of this region only from a distance - this walk was a complete eye-opener for us and we highly recommend it to visitors who want to understand Kashmir beyond the tourist-traps. We also happened to visit the Hazratbal Mosque separately. It is actually a Dargah, which houses the holy relic of Prophet Mohammed. Hazratbal Mosque is located on the banks of Dal Lake and provides a great view of the lake from the backside garden. Made of white marble, the mosque is amongst the most respected Dargah in Kashmir. It’s fun to see thousands of pigeons cooing and playfully flying between trees in the backside garden. Other places to visit in Srinagar Floating Post Office The Nehru Park Floating Post Office located on the Dal Lake is the only floating post office in the world. The post-office is basically in a houseboat anchored close to Ghat No. 9 and easily accessible from the Boulevard road surrounding the lake. The post office generally sells postcards at the houseboat itself, but they are running out of stock since 6-7 months now. The nearest shop that sells postcards is near Ghat No. 1, so we had to drive all the way back to Dal Gate to get the cards. And disappointingly, the quality of the photos on the postcards that we saw were way outdated. Any tourist would have better photos with them, if only we could get them printed! With no option left, we bought those average cards at INR 20/postcard. Back at the floating post office, the post master stamped the cards (INR 5 stamp for India and INR 20 for foreign countries) and put a seal of 'a man riding a shikara' over the stamps. All-in-all, the service at the post office is smooth and quick, just get your cards from elsewhere. The red post box is hung right outside the floating houseboat and excitedly we dropped our cards in there, hoping they’ll reach the addresees. Museums If you are one interested in museums, Srinagar does not have many options. The best museum to visit in Srinagar is Sri Pratap Singh museum in Lal mandi which is located in summer palace of Maharaja Sri Pratap Singh, ruler of Jammu & Kashmir from 1848 - 1925. There are upwards of 70,000 artifacts here that enlighten visitors about the rich cultural heritage of the state. One can easily spend an hour here going through archaeological section, antiquities, coins and decorative arts. You can also visit craft museum in central market near Airport which houses various handmade artifacts such as Namdha carpets, copperware, sozni embroidery, Papier-mâché, clothing items etc. Places to visit near Srinagar Gulmarg (50 km), Pahalgam (90 km), and Sonmarg (100 km) are the most touristy places to visit near Srinagar and are often frequented by lakhs of visitors each year. We did an Offbeat Tour of Kashmir to lesser known places around Srinagar with Cliffhangers India. The Offbeat Tour included places like Daksum (100 km), Doodhpathri (50 km), Yusmarg (50 km), Bangus Valley (100 km), Lolab Valley (100 km), Athwatoo (70 km), and Naranag (50 km). Other places to visit near Srinagar include Gurez (130kms), Dachigam National Park (20 km), Wular Lake (65 km), Manasbal Lake (30 km), Aru and Betaab Valley (100 km). Where to stay in Srinagar? We were in Srinagar for few weeks and were hopping around different areas which helped us identify some great places to stay in Srinagar. You can read our detailed article on Best places to stay in Srinagar , but here is a quick summary of places we experienced and would recommend. Mascot Houseboats Undoubtedly the best luxury accommodation in Srinagar. Mascot Houseboats are a group of three houseboats located in a quiet corner of Nigeen Lake. They have palatial rooms with 5-star amenities and an upper deck, that offers stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Their Kashmiri hospitality is top-notch and food so yum, you will lick your fingers! Mr. Showkat, the host at Mascot, has built the iconic houseboats with great zeal and they truly are a marvel of intricate wooden artwork. Naivasha Ladakh House An apartment/boutique stay you should book if you prefer living with the locals irrespective of the centrality of the location. The studio apartment is spacious with a functioning kitchenette. The best part of Naivasha Ladakh House is the lovely orchard in their backyard, that was ready to bloom with flowers during our visit. We found this gem on AirBnB and are grateful that we got to stay here. Fozia is an excellent host and we had some extremely interesting conversations with her. The Cottage Nigeen Located close to the Nigeen Lake, The Cottage is a charming homestay with service staff that promises you an authentic Kashmiri experience. The accommodation is an old, re-furbished house with featuring five large rooms surrounded by a well-maintained garden. The Cottage Nigeen is a perfect place to stay in Srinagar if you are looking for a vintage Kashmiri house and home-cooked food. What to eat in Srinagar (Local delicacies)? Kashmir is known for its street food, so here’s a list of culinary experiences you must sample when you are in Srinagar. Wazwan The cuisine of Kashmir, Wazwan, is an aromatic feast with rice, lamb, and chicken forming the basis of the dishes. Our host at Mascot Houseboats was kind enough to prepare a vegetarian Wazwan for us, which included Kashmiri Haak (green leafy vegetables cooked in mustard oil, asafoetida, and local spices), Aloo-Bukhara (peeled apricots tossed in a spicy gravy), Nadru Yakhni (lotus stem cooked with spices and yoghurt), and Paneer tossed in two different gravys (spicy and sweet); everything served with local bread and rice, ending with Phirni (dessert made of rice, milk, saffron, and cardamom). Absolutely yummy! Nadir Monji This is a fried street food made by dipping lotus stems in rice and gram flour, and then deep-frying them in oil. The outer covering is crispy, but as you start chewing, the inner lotus stem gives a soft yet neutral flavour. Masaal This Kashmiri version of tacos is made by filling the local Lawasa roti (bread) with chick peas (a legume) and making a wrap out of it. Masaal is quite fulfilling and not just satisfies hunger, but taste buds too. It is served with radish chutney. Moong Masala A basic take-away healthy snack, where black gram and other Kashmiri beans are steamed with spices and salt and served hot. Halwa Paratha A much-loved Kashmiri street food. Halwa is made of semolina (sooji) and ghee and served hot with a portion cut from a huge (3-feet diameter) paratha made of all-purpose flour. Kahwa A soul-warming Kashmiri drink made by boiling green tea leaves with local saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, Kashmiri roses, herbal infusions, and lots of different nuts. It tastes yum when the brew is served hot. Noon Chai It is a traditional Kashmiri tea made with green tea leaves, milk, salt, and baking soda. The chai is pink in colour and tastes salty. Sometimes, butter and almonds are added to noon chai. Where to Eat in Srinagar or the Best Restaurants/Cafes in Srinagar? Having stayed in Srinagar for a fortnight, we hopped to eat in several restaurants and cafes each day. Here are the ones that we found the best. The Central Perk As the name suggests, this café is themed around the popular sitcom show - F.R.I.E.N.D.S. The interiors are bang on with the famous apartment blue door, the famous couch, and posters on the wall with each characters’ famous dialogues. The Central Perk majorly serves fast food, but there was also a small section of Indian cuisines. We ordered noodles, burger, and oreo shake; all served in good quantity and tasted yum. Highly recommend this café for food and photography. The staff is friendly and are willing to click pictures if you ask them. They also sell F.R.I.E.N.D.S-themed merchandise like notepads, coasters, magnets, cushions, and mugs. There’s another restaurant named - The Winterfell Cafe, themed around the Game of Thrones, in case you are a fan. Nathu’s Sweets If you crave for some authentic chaat, sweets, and fast food dishes while in Srinagar, do visit Nathu’s Sweets located on the Boulevard Road around Dal Lake. Nathu’s Sweets is basically a sweets and snack shop, but they also have an in-house restaurant serving mouth-watering, freshly-prepared food. We ordered Pav Bhaji, Sev Puri, Ras Malai, and a couple of drinks and everything we tried tasted awesome. We hear that they also serve amazing Pani Puri, but by the time we finished eating everything else, we were super-satiated! Not really Kashmiri delicacies but still highly recommended. Cafe Emerald Cafe Emerald is located on the Foreshore Road with stunning views of the Dal Lake. They have a first-floor seating that overlooks the lake and you can opt to sit outside in the balcony as well as inside. The place is creatively decorated with flowers and pot plants, and is beautifully surrounded by nature. Do try their coffee, mocktails, and vegetable rolls. The food is priced reasonably and the service was quick. Full marks for the location though! Books & Bricks Cafe This one’s a book themed cafe. Books & Bricks Cafe is very uniquely designed with a good collection of books across all genres. It’s ideal for a book lover, a foodie meeting friends, and even for someone who just wants to chill with a coffee and book, and work. We tried a Falafel Burger that came with cheesy garlic dip and with a good portion of French fries. Also ordered pasta that was served with two big portions of garlic bread. Their hot chocolate is yum and must try. All-in-all, great ambiance and good food! With best companion (books), of course. Apart from these, if you are non-vegetarian and looking for authentic Kashmiri cuisines, Ahdoos restaurant, Stream restaurant and Kareema restaurant would be places you must consider. What and Where to Shop in Srinagar? Srinagar’s markets are huge and sell all sorts of things. But these are the things that you should buy from Srinagar - Dry Fruits: The valley is full of walnut and almond trees and you sure will get high-quality of these dry fruits in Srinagar. There are several wholesale shops in Lal Chowk area in Srinagar that sell finest quality of dry fruits. Spices: Kashmiri saffron, the world’s most superior spice is grown in bulk in areas around Srinagar (Pampore and Lethpora). Apart from saffron, Kashmiri red hot chilli and Kashmiri jeera are the other spices that you should buy from Srinagar. You will find the spice shops in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar. Kashmiri Art: Kashmir is famous for art work like making of carpets, wicker baskets, papier-mâché, silk, copperware, silverware, Kashmiri shawls, and other embroidered garments. When it comes to buying art work, why not buy them directly from the artists. Cliffhangers India conducts a day tour named ‘Art and Crafts Safari’ in Srinagar, where they take you to places where artists work, you get to see and understand first hand how things are made, what materials are used, what skills are required, and then you may also opt to buy their art/craft pieces. For example, they take you to a carpet making warehouse, where you get to see how carpets are made, and likewise. Fruits: Well, since fruits are perishable, you can’t store them for long, but that shouldn’t stop you from sampling these superior Kashmiri fruits. You can buy apples, pears, plums, cherries, and peaches from any local market in Srinagar and savour on their delicious taste. You would also find related products such as jams, jellies, dried slices etc. Kahwa Powder: Kahwa also comes in powder form which simply needs to be mixed with hot water. Easy to make and also bring back home. Now whenever we make Kahwa chai, it’s flavour reminds us of our early morning Shikara ride to the floating vegetable market in Dal Lake. Cricket Bats: Kashmir is the largest exporter of cricket bats in the world. Willow trees grow at large, in and around Srinagar. The cricket bats are made out of this tree’s wood. There are lots of cricket bat factories in Bijbehera, a town in Anantnag district near Srinagar. You will find big stores on the highway to Anantnag that sell these cricket bats. Local Conveyance in Srinagar Cab aggregators like Uber and Ola do not have their services in Srinagar. The local conveyance is controlled by taxi union and travel agencies. You can either book a taxi with any of the travel agencies or ask your accommodation hosts' to help you with the cab bookings. In touristy areas, you can easily hail an auto-rickshaw to get from one place to other. But be ready to bargain as they quote exorbitant rates. We tried using cab/auto aggregator app named Jugnoo for getting around in Srinagar, and surprisingly, it worked extraordinarily well. You could also try Novo Cabs which is a local app allowing you to book cabs within Srinagar. We also rented a scooter for a weekend from one of the local two-wheeler rental agencies near Dal Lake. It generally costs upwards of INR 800 / day depending on what kind of two-wheeler you choose to rent. We rode the vehicle to all the sightseeing places in Srinagar without any issues. You could also use the vehicle to visit places bear Srinagar. Another way you can get around Srinagar is by renting bikes/bicycles. Though you can get the bicycles on rent through several local shops/agencies in the city (mostly located around Dal Lake), we also came across mobile-app based cycle aggregators like Curve Electric, who have several docking stations in the city from where you can take the cycle, leave it at any docking station, and the amount will be deducted from your app based on the duration you took the cycle for. Guide to Srinagar Itinerary You can find all the above listed places of interest in map below. You can use it to further plan your itinerary in detail. For Srinagar, we suggest spending a minimum of 3 nights which will allow you to explore everything listed above: Day 1: Land/arrive in Srinagar, check-in to your place of stay. Late afternoon, visit Nigeen / Dal Lake and take a Shikara Ride. Day 2: Full day sightseeing starting with the Mughal gardens - Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, Chashme Shahi Bagh, Pari Mahal and then move on to visit the Shankaracharya Temple. While returning back, visit the floating post office. Day 3: Book a half-day Srinagar Heritage walking tour for this morning. Late in the afternoon, visit Hari Parbat Fort and Badam Wari. Day 4: Very early in the morning, go for a Shikara ride (booking to be done a day before) to the floating vegetable market in Dal Lake. The ride starts at 5 AM and you will be back by 8 AM, when you can check-out and move on to other places to visit near Srinagar. You could of course stay more and do things slowly. You might also get more time to shop, do art and craft walks or hop cafes. Pin this image That's all about Srinagar - best places to visit, stay, eat, and everything in between. If you have already visited Srinagar and have suggestions, please leave a comment below. Hope this guide on Srinagar helps you plan your trip.

Kaziranga National Park is a wildlife sanctuary nestled in the lush green landscapes of the state of Assam in North east of India. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, tucked between the Golaghat and Nagaon districts in Lower Assam, is home to the world’s largest population of rare, great one-horned rhinoceros. Spread across 1000+ square km area, live around 2500+ beautiful one-horned rhinos along with many other species of birds and animals. Kaziranga National Park has long been on our must-visit list. Luckily, we recently had the chance to experience Kaziranga's wildlife wonders for ourselves on an open-top jeep safari adventure. Kaziranga seriously amazed us with its diverse animals lurking around every corner. The national park houses over 2000 animals, including tigers, Asian elephants, hoolock gibbon, capped langurs, sloth bears, and of course, one-horned rhinos. All we can say is, get your cameras ready for an adventure of a lifetime! In this blog, we'll share everything you need to plan your own memorable trip to Kaziranga National Park. Ready? Let us show you how this animal lover's paradise in northeast India can dazzle you. Table of Contents Reaching Kaziranga National Park in Assam Best Time to Visit Kaziranga National Park Types of Safaris in Kaziranga National Park Kaziranga National Park Elephant Safari Kaziranga National Park Jeep Safari Price of Safaris in Kaziranga National Park, Assam How to Book a Safari at Kaziranga National Park Our Jeep Safari Experience Other Things to Do in Kaziranga Enjoy Leisure Time at Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park Visit the Kakochang Waterfall Take a Tour of the Tea Estates Shop for Traditional Souvenirs Visit Assamese Tribal Village Where to stay in Kaziranga Reaching Kaziranga National Park in Assam Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast, nature lover, or simply looking for a unique travel experience in India, a visit to Kaziranga National Park should be on your bucket list! Located in Assam - the largest state in North east of India, the park does not have direct air or rail connectivity. However, it can easily be accessed through the nearest airports, train stations, and roads. By Air The closest airport is Rowriah Airport in Jorhat, located 97 kilometers from Kaziranga National Park in Assam. There are regular flights to Jorhat from major cities like Delhi and Kolkata. We hopped on to a shared taxi from the Jorhat town to reach Kaziranga, which took us about 2.5 hours. Though flying to Jorhat is an easy option, the more well-connected option is Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, 217 kilometres away from Kaziranga National Park. From Guwahati, you can take a private taxi, shared taxi, train, or a bus to cover the 5-6 hour journey to Kaziranga. By Train The nearest railway station to Kaziranga National Park is Furkating Junction in the Golaghat district, which is about 80 kilometers away. Regular trains connect Furkating to Guwahati and Upper Assam. The onward journey to Kaziranga National Park by taxi or bus takes 2-3 hours. Guwahati railway station, 240 km away, has connectivity across India. Take an overnight or day train to Furkating to continue your onward journey. By Road Kaziranga is located just off NH-37 connecting Guwahati, so there are regular buses between Guwahati and Kohora town (main town in Kaziranga) near the park entrance. The 230 km journey from Guwahati takes about 5-6 hours by bus. Shared taxis are also available from Guwahati, taking 4-5 hours. The nearby city of Tezpur in North Assam is 180 km away and is well connected to Guwahati and Upper Assam. Best Time to Visit Kaziranga National Park Winter: The winter months from November through April are the best to visit Kaziranga National Park. The weather is just perfect - sunny days, cool nights, not too hot or cold. Better than the humid summers! With clearer skies, winter brings a ton of cool migratory birds alongside Kaziranga's usual feathery residents. Grab your binoculars because it's a birdwatcher's paradise! More importantly, February to April is when you'll spot the most animals. The grass is shorter, so the Kaziranga rhinoceros, elephants, and maybe even a tiger are easier to spot as they hang out in the marshes and grasslands. The water is lower too, so there are lots of animals gathering around the few watering holes that are still filled. And the cute baby animals are super playful this time of year! Monsoon: The park closes due to flooding in monsoon months - May, June, July, August, and September. Pro tip - Aim for November or April if you can. The national park officials cut the grass shorter in March, hence spotting animals in April becomes easier. Mid-winter (read, December) gets really crowded. Unless you don't mind the crowds and love a good Indian festival: The Magh Bihu celebrations, mid-December is also fine to visit Kaziranga National Park! Types of Safaris in Kaziranga National Park Kaziranga National Park offers a plethora of activities to immerse yourself in the treasure trove of wildlife. You can indulge in elephant safaris or adventurous jeep/gypsy safaris to truly explore the rich biodiversity the park harbors. To safeguard and manage this precious wildlife gem, the park has been divided into four zones: the Central/Kohora zone, the Eastern/Agaratoli zone, the Western/Bagori zone, and the Burapahar zone. Each range presents unique opportunities to witness diverse flora and fauna. Jeep/gypsy safaris are conducted in all zones, whereas elephant safaris are limited to Bagori and Kohora gates. 1. Kaziranga National Park Elephant Safari While we do not promote elephant safaris, the elephant ride allows visitors to traverse through various vegetation types, including tropical semi-evergreen, alluvial savanna woodlands, and tropical moist mixed deciduous forests. The chances of spotting one-horned rhinos are higher during elephant safaris, adding to the unique experience of exploring Kaziranga National Park in Assam. The mammal takes you on a guided tour on the periphery of the national park. Timings for Elephant Safari: Twice every morning (1 hour ride): 5 AM to 6 AM and 6 AM to 7 AM (Elephant safari slots are to be booked one day prior to your safari date) Note: Elephant safaris run only from the Bagori gate (for Indians) and Kohora gate (for foreigners and VIPs) 2. Kaziranga National Park Jeep Safari One of the most exciting ways to explore Kaziranga National Park in Assam is Kaziranga jeep safari. These guided tours allow visitors to cover expansive ground throughout the park in search of diverse wildlife. The jeep safari takes you to the heart of the dense national park. Cruising in 4x4 vehicles provides prime wildlife spotting opportunities. Knowledgeable naturalist guides expertly navigate the dirt trails, stopping frequently when animals are sighted. Kaziranga jeep safari goers can hope to encounter iconic species like the Indian one-horned rhinoceros as well as elephants, tigers, wild buffaloes, and a myriad of birds. Timings for Jeep Safari: Twice each day (2 hour ride): 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM and 2 PM to 4 PM Note: The early morning ride from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM is ideal for viewing active wildlife against the sunrise. Each elephant seats 2 passengers on its back. Price of Safaris in Kaziranga National Park, Assam Here is a quick insight into the cost of Safaris in Kaziranga National Park. However these could have changed and would request you to check the latest rates. Disclaimer: Jeep/Elephant safari timings and rates change from season to season. Also note that separate camera charges may apply. How to Book a Safari at Kaziranga National Park The most convenient way for Kaziranga National Park safari booking is through your accommodation. Most resorts/hotels have safari help desks that can make all arrangements for you. Share your preferences with the staff and they will organize the vehicle pickup, entry permits, taxes, guide, etc. Payment is also handled via the hotel/resort. And no, they don't tend to charge you more. Just a couple of bucks extra. You can also head to the official Kaziranga National Park Safari booking office located opposite to the park's main entrance gate (Central/Kohora gate). Go to the ticket counters to check availability and reserve your slots. Rates are displayed on a signboard outside. Tip: If you are not in a group (maybe a couple/ solo traveller) and the entire jeep is expensive for you, wait at the ticket counter to share the jeep with other passengers. The jeep seats 6 passengers. Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure to complete formalities. Carry ID proof and a mosquito-repellant. Set out early to catch the best wildlife action! Our Jeep Safari Experience We do not promote/encourage animal riding. So, from early on we knew that we wouldn’t opt for elephant safari. Hence, we booked an early morning 7:30 AM open-top jeep safari through our resort in Kaziranga National Park in Assam. Our driver arrived at the hotel entrance to pick us up in a 4x4 vehicle right on time (around 7 AM). He had already handled purchasing the permits, taxes, and fees, so we just showed the entry tickets at the gate before cruising into the park. We had opted to enter through the Central/Kohora gate. Our enthusiastic naturalist guide cum driver reminded us to have cameras ready as he expertly navigated the bumpy dirt trails. It wasn't long before we spotted our first wildlife - a large herd of Indian elephants with playful young calves staying close to their mothers. We stopped for 15 minutes as they crossed the road, admiring their graceful movements through our zoom lenses. Further along, noisy monkeys were shaking the tree branches and peering down curiously at our jeep and massive wild buffalos wallowed in a marsh nearby. After about an hour spotting varied species of wildlife, our driver brought us to a wooden tower. We eagerly climbed up the platform, which offered an incredible 360-degree view over the vast grassland expanse. In the distance, we finally spotted two rare greater one-horned Kaziranga rhinoceros peacefully grazing by a wetland. A thrilling sight! We spent quite some time at the tower-top, admiring the rhinoceros with our camera’s zoom lens. Just before exiting the park, we caught a glimpse of a lone adult rhino bathing in a marsh, dangerously close to the road. We held our breath as the massive beast slowly emerged, allowing us to admire its intricate skin texture and prominent horn up-close before it snorted and retreated into the tall grass. Inside Kaziranga National Park, you are not allowed to disembark from the jeep, with the exception of specifically designated areas, such as the viewing tower and a lake. Despite this restriction, our overall experience was delightful, and we were fortunate enough to spot some Kaziranga one-horned rhinoceros during the safari. Other Things to Do in Kaziranga 1. Enjoy Leisure Time at Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park The Orchid Park in Kaziranga is a really cool spot that any nature lover should check out. They've got a super impressive collection of rare orchids. They also have vegetable garden, cactus garden, nursery, bamboo garden, museum, souvenir shop, restaurant and more. The best part is wandering through right before sunset when all the flowers are blooming - it's gorgeous! Besides the orchids, they also have traditional music and dance shows at night. Grab a seat and watch the colorful costumes twirling around. It's thrilling to see the local culture. And you can't leave without trying the tasty tea they serve. There's also a nice little restaurant if you fancy a huge lunch/dinner platter. Do not forget to try out authentic Assamese thali to taste the local cuisine. Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park is an awesome spot to really experience Kaziranga National Park's natural beauty and cultural traditions up close. After spending the day on safari spotting rhinoceros and other wildlife, it's the perfect place to kick back amidst the gorgeous flowers, sip some chai, and absorb the local vibe. 2. Visit the Kakochang Waterfall Kakochang Waterfall is a serene escape hidden in pristine wilderness in Kaziranga town. You can also admire the ruins of the historic Numaligarh fort from this picturesque spot. The natural beauty of the falls is enhanced by the surrounding vistas of lush tea plantations blanketing the landscape. The trek to reach the waterfall's base takes you on an enchanting journey through untamed nature at its finest. 3. Take a Tour of the Tea Estates Exploring the sprawling tea gardens surrounding Kaziranga offers an unforgettable experience for the senses. These gardens are exquisite gems that fill the region with immense pride and charm. Globally famous for producing Assam's distinctive, bold black tea, these plantations contain one of the largest tea growing areas in the world. For any tea lover, walking through the seemingly endless rows of lush green tea bushes, learning about cultivation practices, and sipping fresh brews at local factories promises a one-of-a-kind tea tourism adventure. 4. Shop for Traditional Souvenirs Kaziranga offers many unique opportunities to shop for traditional Assamese souvenirs - each infused with artistic flair and cultural symbolism. Chat with friendly shopkeepers to learn about tribal designs and the stories behind the crafts. Haggle for deals on these wonderful handmade treasures to take a piece of Assam’s rich artistic heritage home with you. 5. Visit Assamese Tribal Village Visiting the tribal villages near Kaziranga provides a fascinating glimpse into traditional local lifestyles and culture. You can get an authentic understanding of indigenous communities' daily existence and way of life. Witnessing their artistic talents firsthand is truly captivating - residents craft intricate handicrafts brimming with cultural meaning and creativity. Where to stay in Kaziranga You can find various types of accommodations in Kaziranga to suit your needs. From luxury resorts to budgeted homestays, all these accommodations should be able to arrange a visit to national park for you. We would suggest booking a suitable accommodation in advance, at least during peak seasons (November to April). If you are visiting in peak season, it is also advisable to call them in advance to ensure there is no double booking or any other issues with your stay. Below table gives you some shortlisted stays across different price ranges that you could consider for stay in Kaziranga. Click on icons to check availability and current price. Kaziranga National Park showcases India's incredible wildlife and natural heritage. Safaris offer adventurous ways to admire exotic species roaming freely in their native habitat. We highly recommend adding this UNESCO site to your travel bucket list! Save this pin if you find this article useful and would like to save it for later. Save this Pin

Health is the greatest wealth that one can possess. And with travelling, managing a healthy routine often takes a backseat. Having realized that quite early on, we were always looking for an alternative way of traveling, where the objective of the holiday/vacation is to look out for our physical and mental health. Our search led us to Veda5 on our recent trip to the mythological towns of Haridwar and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, India. Veda5 is a luxurious Ayurveda and Yoga wellness retreat located at the foothills of the Himalayan ranges, just 10 kilometers outside from the hustle and bustle of Rishikesh. The property is surrounded by lush green forests and overlooks a tributary that joins the Ganges. Rishikesh, also referred to as 'Yoga capital of the world' is perfectly placed to practice yoga and focus on holistic wellness. Veda5 Rishikesh is not your regular wellness retreat. It’s a journey down a healthy lane, with Ayurvedic therapies, yoga, meditation, fitness, recovery, Sattvic food, relaxing stay surrounded by ample nature, and much more – all adding to a sense of tranquillity. Our 8-day Ayurveda and Yoga wellness retreat at Veda5, Rishikesh was a journey towards healing. Suggested reads Red Hills Nature Resort, Ooty, India Poovar Island resort, Poovar, South Kerala, India Rockholm at lighthouse beach, Kovalam, South Kerala, India Dudhsagar Plantation & Farmstay, Goa, India Kahani Paradise, Gokarna, India Table of Contents Reaching Veda5 Rishikesh Arrival at Veda5 Rishikesh Rooms at Veda5 Rishikesh Ayurvedic Therapies at Veda5 Rishikesh Yoga and Meditation at Veda5 Rishikesh Food at Veda5 Rishikesh Other Amenities/Activities at Veda5 Rishikesh Staff at Veda5 Rishikesh A Typical Day at Veda5 Rishikesh Reaching Veda5 Rishikesh: Nearest airport, Jolly Grant International Airport, Dehradun is connected to major Indian cities. If you are coming by air, it may take around 1 hour to reach Veda5 though the distance is only around 31 kms. They can pick you up from airport, cost for which is included in your stay and wellness package. We were picked from Rishikesh in a chauffeur-driven car and transferred to Veda5. It roughly takes half an hour to reach Veda5 from Rishikesh but the journey isn’t for the weak hearted; especially the last one kilometer, which is extremely steep and curvy route to drive on. If you are driving on your own, call them in advance to understand the route and any chances of landslides (frequent in monsoon). Arrival at Veda5 Rishikesh: On our arrival at Veda5 Rishikesh, we were warmly greeted with a tilak and given a Rudraksha mala and a silk scarf. While downing a refreshing welcome drink at the reception, we were informed of all the amenities and were given a weekly schedule of the treatments and activities, including the timings of restaurant, yoga and meditation classes, and Ayurvedic doctor consultations While our luggage was taken directly to our room, the staff escorted us to our room while showing us the place. On the way we realized the resort was setup on a slope of the hill and hence had few levels. If you consider the reception as lowest level, the restaurant is at next level, this is followed by swimming pool and Ayurvedic spa followed by next level where 2 storeyed buildings containing most of the rooms are present. Due to these levels, you always have good hill views, open spaces and fresh breeze around you. Rooms at Veda5 Rishikesh: All rooms at Veda5 Rishikesh are spacious and beautifully done with pleasing interiors. Staggered across the mountain, each room either has a small garden or a balcony. We were appointed one of the best rooms with panoramic mountain and river views from our spacious balcony. Large roof-to-ceiling windows in the room ensured we had immense natural light and ample chances to immerse in nature’s proximity. Rooms at Veda5 Rishikesh feature a king-sized bed with lamps on the side tables, a sofa and a center table, a closet, a tea/coffee maker, a perfectly appointed bathroom with adequate toiletries, and a geyser. We were impressed with the quality of room servicing; every day when we returned to our room after yoga and Ayurvedic treatments, the entire room was cleaned and reordered. There are also room options with 3 beds or family rooms where 2 rooms are combined. Ayurvedic Therapies at Veda5 Rishikesh: Our Ayurveda and Yoga wellness retreat at Veda5 Rishikesh began with a consultation with a senior Ayurvedic doctor. The doctor gave us a simple and small questionnaire to fill, checked our pulse, and diagnosed the physical, mental and emotional imbalances of the Ayurvedic doshas in our body. He drew up a schedule for the Ayurvedic treatments and suggested us a diet to balance those doshas. We were then given a breathable, cotton uniform consisting of a T-shirt and a pajama, which we were free to wear whenever we wanted, but especially during treatments so we don’t spoil our regular clothes. The Ayurvedic therapy center at Veda5 Rishikesh is designed to meet each individual’s need and health goals. It offers age-old authentic Ayurvedic therapies and other holistic treatments. Through the week, we indulged in different types of massages and treatments, followed by steam and sauna. All the therapists and masseuse at Veda5 Ayurvedic centre are well-trained in their areas of expertise. The treatment rooms are spacious and designed with a great attention to detail to make the guests feel calm, relaxed, and de-stressed. We received varied treatments each day, including Abhyanga (full body massage with medicated oil), Shirodhara (slow dripping of medicated oil/butter milk on forehead), Udhwartana (body massage with a herbal paste), and Potli massage (massage with heated herbal pouches). The center also specializes in providing other different therapies like reflexology (applying gentle pressure on various points to ease stress), naturopathy (acupressure or water-based treatment using natural herbs and oil), and Soundarya treatment (to improve complexion and texture of skin). Yoga and Meditation at Veda5 Rishikesh: The yoga and meditation hall at Veda5 Rishikesh is vast with glass windows adorning the walls, which allow guests to feel one with the surrounding nature. Every time we entered the hall, it felt like we have entered a stunning theatre-like setting with yoga mats, blocks, and blankets strewn all over the floor for the guests to use. Our main aim to join the Ayurveda and Yoga wellness retreat at Veda5 was to bring flexibility in our body and to understand each asana in a proper way. Two classes of yoga were held at Veda5 Rishikesh every day: early morning yoga class for beginners and late morning yoga class for intermediates (focused on a specific body part - back bending, hip opening, shoulder opening, arm strengthening, and likewise). These classes helped us achieve our goals, learn new asanas, and better our postures without injuring ourselves. Our yoga instructors were experienced, professional, and friendly. We made the most of the yoga classes and learnt so much from them. Thanks to the meditation classes at Veda5 Rishikesh, we emerged from the retreat much calmer. Our meditation coach had a very calming and soothing voice, and her quiet words during practice drew us closer to a spiritual place of our own. We practiced different types of meditation, including Chakra meditation, Trataka meditation, Transcendental meditation, mantra chanting meditation, and likewise. These made us more aware of our thoughts and emotions and helped us connect with ourselves and experience the peace within us. Food at Veda5 Rishikesh: The restaurant at Veda5 Rishikesh serves pure vegetarian Sattvic food (without garlic and onion). But let this not deter your plans to book a retreat with them. All the dishes prepared by the chefs at Veda5 are finger-licking delicious. Every food item is prepared fresh, using natural whole food, and includes a balanced composition of nutrients (carbohydrate, protein, fiber). Neither too spicy nor too bland, the food is so nicely presented that it’s a joy to dine at Veda5. They customize and quickly fix the meals as per your dietary preferences based on the assessment of your Ayurvedic doshas and body type. The restaurant staff is highly organized and well behaved. Each dish served at Veda5 Rishikesh has a nutritional information connected to it, which states the calorie count in each serving and the grams of proteins, carbohydrates, and fat. But that doesn’t mean you’ll crave for desserts; in fact, they serve drool-worthy desserts. Be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner, we were always spoilt for choices. The dining hall at Veda5 Rishikesh promotes health with the usage of copper utensils and quotes on healthy eating adorning the walls. From freshly squeezed juices, flavor-infused water, nutrient-rich fruit/vegetable salad, to savory sprouts, everything they served was healthy and tasty. The chapatis and dosas were customized and made fresh. The restaurant staff also organized barbecue nights at the stunning outdoor pavilion. Other Amenities/Activities at Veda5 Rishikesh: There are a range of activities at Veda5 Rishikesh that you can indulge in while enjoying your wellness retreat. They have a super-nice swimming pool that overlooks the surrounding mountains with lots of greenery; best used after an intense session of yoga. The indoor play area at Veda5 has some interesting games like table tennis, carrom, chess, etc. To keep the kids occupied, there are a few board games and a separate painting area, where they can draw and color. There’s also an outdoor play area equipped with swings and slides for children. The music room at Veda5 Rishikesh is equipped with some interesting musical instruments like drums, harmonium, keyboard, guitar, drum boxes, sound bowls, and happy drums. The in-house guests are free to use these instruments anytime as per their liking. The small yet resourceful library at the property features books from all genres, be it self-help, story books, novels, fiction, non-fiction, history, mythology, or spirituality based. Adventure seekers can hike up the hill behind Veda5 for some great views or head to the natural meditation cave to spend some time in silence and tranquillity. For others, there are several beautifully decorated sit outs across the Veda5 campus, where you can spend time and enjoy splendid views. If you want to spend some time meditating in absolute peace, they also have a meditation cave and a meditation hut. You could sit here in stillness and silence as long as you want with a Buddha statue. Multiple sit outs throughout the property allow you to share moments with other guests while soaking the sun. Staff at Veda5 Rishikesh: Everything at Veda5 Rishikesh is top class and at par with the highest quality standards, but what really sets the retreat apart from others is their staff. Every person working at Veda5, right from the housekeeping staff, the restaurant staff, the trainers, the therapists, to the staff at higher levels of management, is incredibly warm and welcoming. We were greeted with a ‘Namaskar’ 100 times a day; always with folded hands and a friendly smile. The staff celebrates all festivals with their guests, and we were lucky to be there on the Indian Independence Day, which was celebrated with great pomp and grandeur. From time-to-time, various staff members, including chefs, doctors, and receptionists, will ask how everything is and if there’s anything they can help us with. We had engaging conversations with all levels of management, and were so well looked after and pampered that while departing, we felt like we are leaving a family behind. A Typical Day at Veda5 Rishikesh: This is more or less how our days looked like during our Ayurveda and Yoga wellness retreat at Veda5 Rishikesh. The schedule can ofcourse change while you plan to be there. The schedule for next day is put up in restaurant and at reception which you can simply click to refer later. 06:30 AM – Wake up, get fresh, and spend some time in balcony with nature 07:30 AM – 1 hour yoga class for beginners 08:30 AM – Breakfast and networking 09:30 AM – Get back to the room, take a shower, relax 11:30 AM – 1 hour yoga class for intermediates 12:30 PM – Lunch followed by a session of Yog-Nidra (Restorative yoga) 02:30 PM – 1 hour Ayurveda therapy 04:00 PM – Participate in daily activities organized by the staff (dance, tambola, cooking class, lectures, movie-screening, etc.) 05:00 PM – Tea/Coffee time 05:45 PM – 1 hour meditation session 07:00 PM – Evening Aarti (a worshipping ritual) 07:30 PM – Dinner, network with fellow guests, and retire So, you see how busy yet relaxed they kept us! We had lots of free time in between all these schedules, when we just relaxed, read books, got around in the campus, spent time in the balcony (our favorite place!), and talked to other guests. Not even once through our weeklong stay, did we feel like getting out of the campus to sightsee or visit Rishikesh market! We highly recommend booking your wellness retreat with Veda5 Rishikesh. However, if you are not a mountain-person, they also have a similar center in Kerala and Goa, and we hear that those are right by the beach!!! Book your journey to healing with Veda5 and let us know how your experience was.

A Sunflower field is a fascinating place to visit, both for a photographer and a regular traveller. When you look at a sunflower, it would surely bring a smile on your face. But when you look at a blooming sunflower field, it is difficult to name what you feel. All we can say is our heart fluttered the moment we first laid our eyes on a sunflower field. In this article we take you on a visual journey of sunflowers fields and leave you with a quick guide on how to shoot sunflowers. To start with, we were so captivated by the idea of visiting sunflower fields that we scoured the internet looking for information on when and where we can find Sunflower fields in India. We could not find much useful information but finally found one picture on Indiamike forum where someone posted a picture of a sunflower field taken between Hampi and Badami in Karnataka in the month of August. Based on this little glimmer of hope, we rented a bike from Hampi and set out on a trip to explore places around Hampi yearning to see sunflower fields on the way. Note that this was before Gundlupet near Mysore was even written about and named as flower pot of Karnataka. Little did we know about the jackpot we were going to hit. Before we get into full fledged fields and some photography tips on shooting Sunflowers, lets understand what the Sunflower plant looks like. Over the years, there have been varieties of sunflowers developed around the world. The sunflower plant could be 10-15 feet high when full grown, though most flowers we encountered were 4-5 feet high. Most of the flower plants that you might be familiar with would be more elaborate, meaning they would have many flowers in one plant. Sunflower is a seed head plant meaning one plant has only one flower which is full of seeds. It does have a wild version which could have many flowers in one plant, as the name suggests. However, they are not too common and you would not come across a farm of wild sunflowers. A small sunflower bud almost looks like a face with its eyes closed. The bud is smaller in size and has its petals all curled in while the plant grows in height. This is because the Sunflower has all its florets in the central area and needs protection before they are developed. At some point, usually when it has reached its maximum height, the petals slowly start peeling back and opening up. You may find some flowers which have their petals partially open. You would then start seeing how spectacular a Sunflower could be. It can take 3-4 months for a Sunflower plant to fully bloom. But once it does, it surely looks so pretty. It feels like a face that had its eyes closed is now happy and smiling. The face is bright and all lit up. Once the petals have fully opened up, the central disk of florets continues to grow. If you are interested in getting some tips of how to photograph Sunflowers, scroll down to end If we go deeper and focus on this amazing pattern that the florets form, you will see a structure in the randomness. The objective of the flower is to have as many seeds as possible in the central area. Now how would it achieve this? It starts growing from the centre outwards, but what should be angle at which each seed grows so that it maximizes the number of seeds? Sounds like a mathematical problem? Well go on to read about Golden ratio, Golden angle, Fibonacci series and how a Sunflower uses these concepts here. Without making this article geeky, the only point of all of this is that nature has a way to make things beautiful which is scientific and mathematical. We perceive things as beautiful because they follow some scientific principles and mathematical rules. And a Sunflower is one of the many such beautiful things found in nature adhering to these concepts. If you are someone who feels lost in all the above logics, just see the below pictures to be hypnotised by nature's magical patterns. Sunflowers are also known as composite flowers, because within the large flower head that you cannot miss, you might not realize hundreds of small florets. These florets contain pollens. The primary purpose of the lovely yellow petals is to attract bees and butterflies. These bees and butterflies are important for pollination. After the sunflowers have been pollinated, seeds start forming underneath the florets. These are little heavier and as more seeds form, the flower finds it difficult to bear the weight. It then starts to droop and that is a sign of the sunflower ageing. The Sunflower seems to look sad and the leaves start drying up. The view of an entire sunflower field at this stage is quite heart aching. What remains is a drooping black head full of sunflower seeds. Thats when you know its time to harvest. You remove the head, pluck out the seeds, some seeds are used for processing oil or consumption while others are used to store and sow for next cycle. And thats how the life of Sunflower goes, something we realized was so similar to humans. The most interesting thing about Sunflower is also something you may have already heard of - They are heliotropic plants - meaning the plants responds to sun's movements. However, this is seen mainly in younger days of the plant while the flower is still growing. Once the flower is fully open, it stops following the Sun and stays where it was, usually the east. What is incredible is what happens at night. Sunflower obviously detects direct sunlight and tracks it through the day heading from east to west. But it also has an internal clock (again similar to humans) which works with its ability to detect light. This internal clock helps it go from west to east during the night in anticipation of the next sunrise. Isn't that amazing? This happens till they get old and stop moving. When they would get old, they continue facing the same direction through rest of their lives, usually east. Knowing how plants which are fixed, non-movable things show this movement is even more interesting. It turns out that the growth in stem is responsible for heliotropism. At night when the flower needs to move from west to east, it seems there is growth in only west side of the stem. This allows the flower to automatically tilt towards east. The opposite happens during the day. The plants know that Sun is extremely important for their growth and they want to take as much as possible. It almost feels like they are in love with Sun and keep chasing their love through their prime. And don't be surprised in case you come across a rebel who refuses to look in the direction where everyone else is looking. We all know fellows who choose to walk on a different path against the tide! How to shoot Sunflowers So now that you know enough about Sunflowers, you surely want to click good pictures of a sunflower field. Here is a quick photography guide that you can download which will help you shoot sunflower fields. In case you would prefer private online coaching to learn photography or any such creative arts, you could also seek a personal tutor at Tutor hunt. Click on image below to sign up for our newsletter (2-3 mails per month) and access a quick guide to shoot sunflowers Hope you enjoyed going through this photoblog and learnt a few things about Sunflowers and how to photograph them. Pin one of these images to mark this article for future reference. Feel free to drop in your comments below. Check out other photography blogs.

One of the most beautiful states in India, Meghalaya will amaze you in number of unimaginable ways. From its sheer natural beauty in the form of countless waterfalls, calm lakes and pristine rivers to humble people and their matrilineal culture, Meghalaya lures you into a different world altogether. A world where man does not use nature for profits but lives in harmony with it, be it using living roots of trees to build natural bridges or protecting the rare flora in sacred forests or inhabiting wettest place on earth. If any of this sounds interesting, Meghalaya in north east India is the place for you to be. Read on to know how you can go about planning a trip to abode of clouds - Meghalaya, what itinerary would suit you and what all places you should visit in Meghalaya. In this series - The Meghalaya Odyssey we take you through some of the best places to visit in Meghalaya primarily in Khasi hills of the state along with recommendations of places to stay. We will also talk about our itinerary of Meghalaya visit. In the first article of the series, we introduced Meghalaya to you and walked you through different parts of the state, the culture of people and our suggestions on best time to visit the state. Now that you might have an idea of all of this, in this second article in the series, we take you through different places you must visit in Meghalaya, how should you go about creating an itinerary and planning your trip. 'The Meghalaya Odyssey' is a series of 10 travel blogs and 2 photo blogs. Check out other blogs in the series by clicking on the below mentioned links or photographs: 1. Introduction to Meghalaya 2. Plan your trip to Meghalaya - This article 3. ​Shillong Travel guide 4. Mawphlang Travel guide 5. Sohra (Cherrapunjee) Travel guide 6. Sa-I-Mika Resort @ Cherrapunjee 7. Mawlynnong - A Photostory 8. Mawlynnong (Asia's cleanest village) Travel guide 9. Experience Dawki, Shnongpdeng and adventure sports on Umngot river 10. Amazing Dawki, Shnongpdeng and the river Umngot in Meghalaya - A Photo blog 11. A Complete Travel Guide to Jaintia Hills 12. Mawsynram & Mawlyngbna Reaching Meghalaya The best way to reach Meghalaya is to reach Guwahati in Assam state of India. Guwahati has an international airport and also is well connected by road, rail and frequent flights from various parts of India. Once you reach Guwahati, you can take a private cab, shared cab or government buses to Shillong which is roughly 120 Kms or 3 hours away. It is advisable to take a private cab for the entire duration of your trip to Meghalaya right from Guwahati airport which will be far more comfortable and time saving than looking for shared cabs or government buses at every point. It will also allow you to wander into hinterlands and villages which would always pleasantly surprise you. Many of the places to visit in Meghalaya, that we will recommend you to add to your itinerary, are offbeat and you might not find a suitable public transportation to visit those places. Note that Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya does have a civilian airport 30 kms away from the main city but the frequency of flights here is very low and they tend to be costlier. Flying to Guwahati and taking a cab to Shillong would cost you much less than taking a flight to Shillong. Also note that there is no railways in whole of Meghalaya. The first railway station in the state was opened only recently in 2014 at Mendipathar which is part of Garo hills. Garo hills is much more remote than Khasi hills and most of the places to visit that we will be recommending lie in Khasi hills. Hence, your itinerary will be mostly around places to visit in Khasi Hills and little bit in Jaintia Hills. Another way of reaching Shillong which is part of Khasi hills could be driving yourself. You can book a self drive car or rent a bike from Guwahati. Though some roads in and around Shillong might be narrow, the roads in general in Meghalaya in Khasi region are pretty awesome. You would definitely be surprised to see smooth roads in some places to visit in Meghalaya like Mawsynram despite being the wettest place on earth. Places to visit in Meghalaya - Helping you plan your itinerary to Meghalaya As detailed in our first travel blog in the series - The Meghalaya Odyssey, most of the places to visit in Meghalaya state are in Khasi hills. Don't fret over pronouncing or remembering some of the names of tourist destinations which you will find too difficult as they are in Khasi. We are providing pronunciations of most difficult words to make it easier for you. Note that 'Maw' in Khasi language means 'stone' as you will come across 'Maw' a lot of times. Places to visit in Meghalaya - Shillong - A must in your itinerary to Meghalaya Shillong is the capital city and the most urban place you will find in the state of Meghalaya. Though it tends to be much colder than other parts of the state and is relatively crowded especially because of roads being narrower, Shillong does have some good places to see. Museums like - Don Bosco museum, Air force museum, Ever living museum, Rhino heritage museum, lakes like Ward's lake and Umiam lake, Waterfalls like - Elephant falls and Sweet falls; and other attractions like Cathedral of Mary, Shillong peak, Lady Hydari park are the places to visit in the city. A minimum of 2 full days would be required to cover Shillong and it is better to ensure Sundays are not part of it as many places such as all museums are closed on Sundays. Areas around Police bazaar and Lewduh market are also very popular for those interested in shopping. One can find winter clothes, handicrafts and handmade jewelry and organic produce. As we mentioned in last article, people of Meghalaya are very much passionate about music and you can find many cafes and bakeries themed around legendary rock musicians. You can read more about places to visit in Shillong and plan your trip in our travel guide. Places to visit in Meghalaya - Mawphlang - Do not miss out on this place Pronounced - Maw - phlang (Maw rhymes with Law) Mawphlang is enroute from Shillong to Cherrapunjee and is mainly famous for its sacred forest. One can also spend some time at Khasi heritage village and Mawphlang dam. The famous David Scott trail also starts from this region and those interested in trekking can do it if it is not too rainy. Mawphlang would require 2-3 hours of sightseeing time plus 4-6 hours of trekking time if you wish to do it. There is no real need to stay here for night unless you would like to visit the sacred forest early in the morning to meditate or do yoga which can be a wonderful experience. If you plan to do David Scott's trail, the whole day might go into this area. You can read more about places to visit in Mawphlang in our travel guide. Places to visit in Meghalaya - Cherrapunjee - Your Meghalaya itinerary is incomplete without this Most Indians would know Cherrapunjee for rainfall. It used to be wettest place on earth and part of every kid's school syllabus. It is no more the wettest place on earth, this title is now held by Mawsynram, just 80 kms from Cherrapunjee. However the high rainfall it receives along with sudden steep plateaus makes Cherrapunjee a sanctum of waterfalls. There are so many falls here but the most popular ones are Nohkalikai and Seven sister falls. Apart from waterfalls, Mawsmai caves, Anthropological museum at Ramakrishna Mission, Thangkharang park etc. give some diversity to the type of sightseeing places Cherrapunjee has to offer. Another major must visit place in Cherrapunjee is the double decker living root bridge. While single living root bridges are many in Meghalaya; Nongriat near Cherrapunjee has a double decker living root bridge and is a must visit if your health allows you to. We will be detailing more around this in our Cherrapunjee travel guides which will be published soon. Cherrapunjee would require a minimum of 2 full days - one for regular sightseeing and one for double decker living root bridges of Nongriat. Places to visit in Meghalaya - Mawsynram and Mawlyngbna - These offbeat places will be highlight in your Meghalaya itinerary Pronounced - Maw-sin-rum , Maw - lib - na (Maw rhymes with Law) Mawsynram as we already mentioned is currently the wettest place on earth. The only thing you can do here is visit Mawjymbuin cave and get a photo clicked with the sign board saying wettest place on earth. But once you go little further around 15 kms from Mawsynram, you will reach Mawlyngbna village. Areas around this village have quite a few interesting things. Firstly it has Umkakhoi which is a lake surrounded by interesting boulders and their formations. One can do some adventure sports such as Kayaking and Zip lining here. The famous carnivorous Pitcher plant is a common sight here, Split rock is interesting and one can also take Luri-Lura trail for trekking. While there is no need to stay at Mawsynram, one night stay in Mawlyngbna would be adequate for all activities and trekking here. Places to visit in Meghalaya - Mawlynnong - Asia's cleanest village - A must in your Meghalaya itinerary Pronouned - Maw-leen-ong (Maw rhymes with Law, Leen rhymes with Keen, Ong as in Song) This small village is a gem which tourists generally tend to commit the mistake of visiting briefly only for couple of hours. Strolling around this village of barely 100 houses and talking to people of Mawlynnong could be highlight of your trip if you are of the inquisitive kind. The social systems and community governance processes are enlightening and the small village is simply beautiful. We would recommend spending at least one night in Mawlynnong unless you want to go trekking into nearby forests which can take few days to a week depending on how deep you plan to go. You can read complete travel guide to Mawlynnong or see our photo story on Mawlynnong. Places to visit in Meghalaya - Dawki - Shnongpedong - Do not miss out on adding this to your Meghalaya itinerary Pronounced - sh-nong-puh-deng Dawki is a small village near the Bangladesh border. It is famous for Umngot river that flows near it. Little ahead lies another small village Shnongpdeng which is where you can spend a night besides Umngot river and enjoy doing some adventure sports. If you are wondering what is so great about this, you just need to hold your breath, see the picture below and raise your eyebrows. You can also touch upon Tamabil which has India bangladesh border and you can fancy standing on the border. We definitely recommend spending one night camping at Shnongpdeng and get involved in some water sports. The best place to do this is through Pioneer adventures who have a very well kept campsite besides the river. Apart from tasty food and hygienic washrooms, they are the best adventure sports providers. You can do Scuba diving, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Ziplining, Jumping etc. You can read our experience of traveling to Dawki, Shnongpdeng and camping besides Umngot river or can see our photoblog to see how amazing Umngot river truly is. Places to visit in Meghalaya - Jowai in Jaintia hills - Add this to your Meghalaya itinerary if you have additional few days There are few places of interest all around Jowai (capital of Jaintia hills) such as Monoliths and Durga temple in Nartiang, few lakes and caves etc. but what we would definitely recommend here are some of the waterfalls. Krang Shuri waterfalls would blow you away and other number of falls would make your detour to Jaintia side of Meghalaya worth it. While spending one night around Jowai would be recommended, you can spend few hours in some key attractions and go ahead to next destination in case you have less time. There are so many such smaller interesting places to visit in Meghalaya that one might require a month or more to cover the whole state. One can also venture towards relatively unexplored Mawphanlur in west khasi hills and Jakhrem famous for medicinal hot springs. In this article we are not even touching Garo hills which is roughly a third of Meghalaya. Garo hills too have number of interesting places but is much more remote and unexplored with very few and basic facilities for travelers. Most tourists visiting Meghalaya visit above listed places and some might skip few places due to lack of awareness or time. Meghalaya Itinerary outlining the best places to visit in Meghalaya If you look at all the listed places they form a fork type shape with Shillong-Mawphlang being part of the handle and (1) Mawsynram-Mawlyngbna, (2) Cherrapunjee, (3) Mawlynnong-Dawki-Shnongpdeng, (4) Jaintia hills being four prongs. However, one can go from Shnongpdeng to Jowai and circle back to Shillong making it a 2 prongs and a spoon! We would recommend you plan a minimum of one week of trip to Meghalaya if you want to cover most of the destinations listed above satisfactorily. The more time you have, the deeper you can go into hinterlands and explore some amazing unfrequented places. Assuming you are coming from Guwahati airport, you would most likely reach Guwahati in early noon. It might take around 3-4 hours to reach Umiam lake with lunch. Our recommended itinerary to visiting Meghalaya would be as shown below. 1st day - Umiam lake (Night stay near Umiam lake) 2nd day - Mawphlang - Mawsynram - Mawlyngbna (Night stay at Mawlyngbna) 3rd day - Cherrapunjee (General sightseeing, Night stay at Cherrapunjee) 4th day - Cherrapunjee (Double decker living root bridge in Nongriat, Night stay at Nongriat or Cherrapunjee) 5th day - Mawlynnong (Night stay at Mawlynnong) 6th day - Dawki - Tamabil - Shnongpdeng (Night stay at Shnongpdeng) 7th day - Jaintia hills - Shillong (Night stay at Shillong) 8th day - Shillong (Night stay at Shillong) 9th day - Head back to Guwahati airport In case you have more time, we would recommend adding a night stay at Mawphlang and do David Scott's trail or adding night stays at Jowai and Mawphanlur in your plan or spending more time at Cherrapunjee. In case you have less time, we would recommend leaving out Mawsynram, Mawlyngbna or even Jowai in Jaintia hills from your plan. A shorter trip would mean heading to Cherrapunjee from Mawphlang and while returning from Shnongpdeng, heading straight to Shillong. However we strongly recommend you plan a trip to this part of the world only when you have enough time on your cards. Clubbing Kaziranga sanctuary or even packing Arunachal pradesh in the same trip would mean your trip to Meghalaya would be too short to make the most of it and you will miss out on most of the very interesting places to visit in Meghalaya. Planning such a trip on your own can be quite tedious and research based. If you feel that planning a trip like this is not your cup of tea or is a time consuming process, we recommend you book one amongst these North East Tour Packages. Some other tips for planning your Meghalaya trip Mobile connectivity can be poor in some remote areas such as Mawlyngbna. Also in most other villages you would get mobile network but internet connectivity would be very poor. You will get 4G connections in Shillong, Cherrapunjee and nearby areas You should get ATMs in most of the state but carrying more cash would be advisable as credit cards would not work in most rural areas If you go around January, prepare for cold weather. Nights can be really cold along with good winds especially around Shillong so pack your woolens accordingly. Cherrapunjee or other places closer to Bangladesh are relatively warm due to plains nearby Learn 'Khublei' (Pronounced - Khoo-bley). The Khasi word for Thank you. Though you will find people speaking fluent or broken English everywhere, interacting with rural folks in remote villages can be difficult and Khublei would definitely bring a smile on their faces Having a driver who know local Khasi language can help especially with roads and interacting in few places PIN THIS IMAGE We have a separate travel guide for each of these places to visit in Meghalaya as part of the series - The Meghalaya Odyssey. Follow our upcoming blogs to know more about the places in our Meghalaya itinerary. So if you are planning your trip to Meghalaya, subscribe to our newsletter so that you know when those blogs are published. Did this article help you to plan your trip to Meghalaya better? Do you think we can add any specific detail which could make this article more useful to readers? Do let us know your thoughts below. #India #EastIndia #Meghalaya #TravelPlanning

Robert Frost, in his narrative poem ‘The Road Not Taken’, mentions that when he is faced with a choice between two roads, he elects to travel the one that appears to be less worn, and that made all the difference. Isn’t that what offbeat or unexplored travel is all about? But nowadays the words ‘offbeat’ and ‘unexplored’ are used very cursorily. I’ve seen places like Gulmarg, Sonmarg, and Pahalgam being included in the list of offbeat places to visit in Kashmir, India. These places are visited by lakhs of tourists every year since decades! So, when we got a chance to do a true ‘Offbeat Kashmir’ tour, we decided that we will make a genuine list of ‘Unexplored places in Kashmir’. This list of offbeat places to visit in Kashmir is based on data like less tourist footfall, little/no information on the internet, and relative lack of chitter-chatter on social media. Although some names might be a bit familiar, you are going to come across names of places that you may have never heard of. We were able to visit some extremely unheard-of nook and corners of Kashmir, thanks to Cliffhangers India. Some of these places do not even have resorts or hotels, but only homestays or JKTDC accommodations. However, these destinations will surely offer you the much sought-after desolation (read peace) and will keep you away from the tourist radar. So here we go with the list of most unexplored places to visit in Kashmir. Scroll till the end to find an ideal ‘Offbeat Kashmir itinerary’. Suggested read Travel Guide to Srinagar, Kashmir Best places to stay in Srinagar, Kashmir Table of Contents Offbeat Places to Visit in Kashmir 1. Daksum 2. Kokernag 3. Verinag 4. Yusmarg 5. Doodhpathri 6. Bangus Valley 7. Lolab Valley 8. Athwatoo 9. Naranag 10. Other offbeat places to visit in Kashmir a. Dachigam National Park b. Saffron fields of Lethpora and Pampore c. Martand Sun Temple d. Achabal Garden e. Manasbal Lake f. Wular Lake g. Gurez Valley h. Aru Valley Cliffhangers India - Our Travel Partner Offbeat Kashmir Itinerary Offbeat Places to Visit in Kashmir 1. Daksum Located in the Kokernag district, about 100 kilometres away from Srinagar, Daksum is a hardly inhabited, virginal spot surrounded by Pir Panjal Mountain ranges. This offbeat place to visit in Kashmir is situated in Brengi or Bringhi River valley and houses a wide grassy meadow (part of which was covered in snow when we visited in March), several nomadic shepherd cottages, and an ever-green coniferous forest. The Indian hill trout fishes spawn and thrive in the fresh and cold-water streams of Bringhi River. Daksum lies on the trekking route towards Kishtwar and is often used as a base by trekkers who wish to cross the Sinthan Pass (Sinthan Top) at 3750 metres. The road to Sinthan Pass was closed due to heavy snow at the top when we visited, and hence we weren’t able to drive to the pass and enjoy panoramic view of the valley. However, we enjoyed our short time in Daksum village by playing in snow, making snowman, and sipping hot Kashmiri Kahwa sitting on the banks of the gurgling Bringhi River. We also happened to visit the Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary known for inhabiting the Van-Gujjars and Bakerwals - amongst the oldest tribes residing in Kashmir, who are sheepherders. This sanctuary houses a quarantine facility for imported Australian Merino sheep that were brought to J&K to improve the fineness of wool production in Kashmir. We were lucky to spot a flock of these sheep pasturing the natural resources - grassy meadows of the sanctuary. Apart from a few homestays, the only tourist accommodation facility in Daksum is the government-run JKTDC tourist bungalow; however, we opted to stay in JK tourism cottages in Kokernag (about 15 kilometres away from Daksum). We also heard that during summer, tourists pitch their camps on the banks of the Bringhi River and enjoy a day of trout-fishing, angling, and sleeping under the blanket of stars. While staying in Daksum, you can revel in the warm hospitality of local Gujjars and be a part of their cultural traditions. Daksum is certainly amongst the most beautiful unexplored places in Kashmir and should be a part of offbeat Kashmir itinerary for the ones who seek peace and quiet in the company of nature. 2. Kokernag Kokernag is a famous tourist spot, but still is amongst the lesser known, unexplored places to visit in Kashmir. Located about 80 kilometres away from Srinagar, Kokernag falls on the way to Daksum. The place houses the Kokernag spring, the Kokernag botanical garden, and one the largest trout fish farms in Asia. We stayed at the J&K tourism run accommodation right inside the Kokernag botanical garden. Early in the morning, when we decided to stroll the Kokernag botanical garden, we were greeted by some rare species of birds. With not a soul around, and only the sound of the gushing waters of Kokernag spring that’s known to possess medicinal properties, we meandered through the garden developed around the springs, crossing the many beautiful wooden bridges built on the water. The botanical garden is bigger than what we had thought and showcases a diverse collection of trees and flowering plants. The colours spread by majestic Chinar trees must be a sight to behold in the autumn season! And the sweet fragrance of pine filled the air as we collected a few pinecones that fell beneath the huge conifers. From the botanical garden, the Kokernag spring water rushes down to the trout fish breeding farm, which is located adjacent the garden. The cold weather of Kashmir and the fresh and freezing spring water provides perfect temperature for the trouts to breed. At the breeding farm, one can partake in fishing trouts from the stream channelized in different raceways and then buy the caught trouts. The lack of crowd in Kokernag was a blessing as we could sit around in the lawns and soak in the warm sunlight without any disturbance. The J&K tourism have done a commendable job creating and maintaining a garden that rivals the beauty of even the Kashmiri Mughal gardens. Do not miss out on including this intrepid jewel if Kashmir in your offbeat Kashmir itinerary. Also remember, the best way to explore Kokernag is by staying at the JK Tourism cottages and visiting the gardens early in the morning or late in the evening, when the local crowds and the day visitors have left. 3. Verinag Verinag is located around 85 kilometres away from Srinagar and about 20 kilometres away from Kokernag. We drove to Verinag after visiting Kokernag and were thrilled to see the Pir Panjal range up-close from a few viewpoints (Lisser viewpoint and Titanic viewpoint) on the way. Verinag is the place from where a spring originates, which is believed to be the major source of the Jhelum River. After meandering through a major part of Kashmir including Wular Lake, the Jhelum River meets Pakistan to join the Chenab River. An octagonal base is built at the spring, surrounding which is a Mughal Garden constructed by Emperor Jehangir. From the entrance of the Mughal Garden, the walkway took us to the octagonal pool. Verinag spring water is clear as crystal is deep turquoise blue green in colour. The octagonal pool can be approached through a 24-arch colonnade. The water comes from the spring deep below the pool, which then flows to the small channel from the axial reservoir towards the Mughal Garden. The Mughal Garden surrounding the Verinag spring is clean and well-maintained. It has lots of trees, especially huge Chinar trees and we can’t stop wondering how beautiful this place might be in autumn, covered under multi-coloured hues! While the Verinag spring reservoir was constructed by Emperor Jehangir, the garden is believed to be laid out by his son, Shah Jahan. Both the spring as well as the garden are recognised by the Archaeological Survey of India as monuments of national importance. We found our way to the top of the 24-arch colonnade surrounding the octagonal pond and the view from there was a sight to behold. The Mughal Garden at Verinag is equal to (if not better than) the other gardens in Kashmir. Verinag is truly an underrated place, and it receives a minimal tourist footfall, which makes it one of the best unexplored places to visit in Kashmir. 4. Yusmarg or Yousmarg The word Yusmarg is an amalgamation of two words: Yus or Yous (referring to Yisu meaning Jesus) and Marg (meaning meadow) - thus literally translating to ‘Meadow of Jesus’ in local Kashmiri language. Its legend is that Jesus passed through this valley (and even stayed here) and hence the name. A slightly different version says Yus refers for Yusuf / Yousuf. True or not, Yusmarg valley is so beautiful that it definitely must have been laid out by God! Yusmarg is located only 50 kilometres away from Srinagar, making it an offbeat, yet easy-to-reach destination in Kashmir. Yusmarg valley lies at the end of the road from Charar-e-Sharif, the holy shrine of Shiekh-ul-Alam, the famous Sufi-poet, spiritual guide, and an Islamic preacher. Shiekh-ul-Alam spread his teachings mostly through poems, the most popular one being “Ann poshi teli yeli wan poshe” which translates to “Food will thrive only till the woods survive.” He is also credited with translating Quran into Kashmiri language. Even before reaching the Charar-e-Sharif dargah, we were able to spot in afar from the road. With intricate wooden carvings and massive chandeliers, the shrine is as magnificent from inside as it is from the outside. There are picturesque trekking trails in any direction you choose to walk from the parking lot in Yusmarg Valley. Several pony riders surrounded us to take us to the trail of our choice (there were 17 trails listed on a sign board). Since we have a ‘no-animal riding’ policy, we decided to hike to one of the easier trails instead of taking a pony ride. The vast, open valley was blanketed in a white sheet of snow. Due to shortage of time, we only had a few options out of the 17 trails listed. We chose to trek to Doodhganga River, which is an easy walk of about 1.5 kilometres. While walking towards the river, we met a guide who convinced us that instead of Doodhganga River we should hike to Burgah Valley. And we are glad that we changed routes because Burgah valley is dream-like! As we started our descent to the promised valley, the thickness of snow sheet kept increasing and we were soon walking in ankle-deep snow. We passed a few nomadic Gujjar huts, which were abandoned due to heavy snow, and soon entered a pine forest. We now reached a higher ground, which again opened to a huge valley - the Burgah Valley. Burgah valley is raw and pristine, seldom visited by any tourist, making it one of the best unexplored places in Kashmir. We were awed by the dome-shaped structure resembling an ice stupa right in the middle of the valley. Surrounded by pine forests and snow-covered mountains, we clicked photographs, had a fun-filled snowball fight, and returned to the parking lot. Wish we had more time to hike the other trails - bookmarking Doodhganga trail and Nilnag trail for the next time. Apart from the tourism board-run JKTDC Resort, there are very few accommodation options in Yusmarg. However, we opted to stay in Tribe Homestay in Nilnag village, about 5 kilometres away from Yusmarg Valley. It was a truly unique accommodation with rooms and common areas designed in tribal-hut style. The highlight of the stay was a wooden attic that offered outstanding views of the Pir-Panjal Mountain ranges, especially in the evening when the peak shines golden. The next morning, the homestay’s host took us on a short hike to the adjacent hill and then down to the river. 5. Doodhpathri Doodhpathri is another stunning valley located almost 45 kilometres away from Srinagar. We had read and heard from locals that it’s amongst the most beautiful unexplored place in Kashmir and should be a part of offbeat Kashmir itinerary. However, when we visited Doodhpathri in March, the valley had received fresh snowfall, and hence the place was full of tourists who had come from Srinagar for a day trip. We stayed at the JKTDC Resort at Doodhpathri, which is the only option here apart from one another recently built hotel. So, when the day-trip travellers left late in the afternoon and before the nest set of tourists arrived from Srinagar in the morning, we literally had the entire place to ourselves. Doodhpathri, translating to ‘Valley of Milk,’ is named so as two rivers pierce through the valley - Shaliganga and Sukhnag, and the fast-flowing water of both these rivers give a milky appearance when it strikes against the rocks. About 4 kilometres from the car parking, the road snakes down the hill to the bowl-shaped valley. This distance can be walked, or one can take a pony ride. Since we had booked our stay at JKTDC resort, we were allowed to drive our car down till the last point, that saved us a lot of time and a long walk. Even in mid-March, Doodhpathri valley was covered under an immense amount of snow. Snow activities like skiing, sledding, and ATV rides were being offered at the touristy points. After crossing the wobbly wooden bridge over the Shaliganga River, we tried to move away from the tourists and hiked a steep hill towards the Dikshal trail. The trail gradually ascended and we walked some more into the towering pine and deodar trees to reach a large snow-covered meadow, where we laid our picnic mat and built a snowman. Such excited were we, we spent close to 3 hours there, running up and down the slopes and playing with snow to our heart’s content. Several hiking trails emerge from Doodhpathri valley. You can either rent and ride a pony or trek on foot to wherever you choose to. Back at JKTDC Resort, we stayed in an igloo cottage in the middle of the snow. In the night, the snow shone bright like flickering stars under the moonlight, and it was magical. Offbeat or not, Doodhpathri definitely doesn’t receive as many tourists as Gulmarg and Sonmarg do, and its beauty is comparable to both these places if not more! 6. Bangus Valley Bangus Valley is another offbeat place in Kashmir, which is hidden in the northern region of Kupwara district of J&K. Located about 100 kilometres away from Srinagar, Bangus Valley lies very close to India’s most disputed border. There are 3 ways to reach Bangus Valley - from Mawer (Reshwari), Rajwar, or Chowkibal. Most tourists drop the idea of visiting Bangus Valley because of the rough terrain and poor road conditions. We took the Mawer/Reshwari route, which passed through a forest range. From Reshwari, the approach road to Bangus Valley is still under development. A government-run JKTDC tourist rest house is located in Reshwari, where we opted to stay. The accommodation is right on the banks of Mawer River and is surrounded by unlimited natural beauty and sound of the flowing river. We had pre-hired a guide to explore the valley but were disappointed to learn that the approach road to Bangus, which is anyway not in a good condition, is covered under thick layer of snow, and hence is non-driveable! Our guide, however, took us on a nature walk in snow. We crossed the Kashtwar Nallah steel bridge, located only 7 kilometres from the Line of Control, and further to forested pine- and deodar-covered hills. We used a wobbly wooden bridge over the Mawer River, where small streams enhanced the valley’s charm. Later, we spent a lovely evening on the banks of the river close to the tourist rest house, enjoying its fluidity and vitality. 7. Lolab Valley Located in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, Lolab Valley is by and large an unexplored place in Kashmir. Almost 120 kilometres from Srinagar, Lolab Valley is well connected to the state’s capital city. Locally known as ‘Wadi-e-Lolab,’ the valley is a treat of nature with thick, verdant forests and sprawling pastures. Immediately after check-in to our hotel in the Lalpora area, we met our guide and headed-out for sightseeing. We first drove to the Forest Adventure Park in Diver Village. This park is recently built; however, some parts are still under construction. Surrounding the park is a dense deodar forest. We walked through the forest’s periphery and reached Kairwan Lake. Though the water was a bit smelly and brown in colour, it mirrored the reflection of nearby mountains quite well. From the park, we drove ahead to Dorusa Dam, located in the middle of pine and deodar forest. The place did not seem like a tourist place. The view was just okay. We slowly walked over on the outstretched metal walkway on the dam to get to the centre. The view from there was just okay. We wouldn’t recommend tourists with children to get to the centre. In the interest of time, we decided to drive to our next destination - Chandigam, another town in Lolab Valley. A JKTDC Guest House is located in Chandigam, which is also a good place to stay. In Chandigam, we stopped by a beautiful lake to click pictures, and again got in the car to get to Kalaroos Valley. Kalaroos gets its name from Qile Roos, which means the ‘Fort of Russia’. Kalaroos caves, located up on the hill in Kalaroos, are considered to be secret tunnels, which lead to Russia. Our guide knew the terrain well, and we soon started a 30-minute hike to reach Satbaran Rock - the Seven Doors! We recommend wearing a good pair of hiking shoes. The Satbaran Rock is a huge monolithic rock with seven sculpted chiselled niches. The rock is half-buried and has several fables wrapped around it. It’s believed that idols of Indian Gods and Goddesses once adorned each niche. The view of Lolab Valley, in its full expanse, from the Satbaran Rock is breath-taking. Kalaroos caves are a 20-minute further climb from the Satbaran Rock. The caves were dark and narrow. We went into one of them, which further opened into a big cavern. The path seemed endless, but we didn’t risk going beyond a point as the caves were infested with bats (also, we didn’t want to reach Russia!). Kalaroos caves are rich in several minerals, especially copper. With the sun setting, the walls of the caves shone in golden colour. We climbed up to an opening in the cave to watch the sunset. Exhausted and thirsty, we filled up our water bottles from the fresh streams flowing down the hill and took some rest. Our journey back to the car was uneventful. All in all, Lolab Valley excelled in its beauty, and we surely would like to return some day for a longer stay. 8. Athwatoo Out of all the less explored places that we visited in our Offbeat Kashmir tour, Athwatoo was the most offbeat. Though not very far from Srinagar (only about 70 kilometres away), Athwatoo felt like an out-of-the-world place. The place is in the north-eastern side of Bandipora district. The term Athwatoo loosely translates to ‘confluence of eight roads.’ From Bandipora town, the road to Athwatoo is quite narrow, bumpy, and curvy. We took a wrong turn and lost our way from Bandipora town, had to make a complete U-turn, and return to the town to find the right path. We suggest not relying much on Google Maps and asking your way around to the locals who are always helpful. We don’t know why Athwatoo isn’t on the tourist map. The place lies amongst the mountains, besides a fast-flowing river stream named Madhumati, and surrounded by thick forests. Madhumati stream originates from the high-altitude Harmukh mountain. With not a soul around and no noise pollution, all we could hear was the flowing stream water. We were the only travellers in Athwatoo. Even the locals looked bewildered on our arrival. The tourism board has recently constructed a beautiful property - the Athwatoo Resort, on the banks of the Madhumati stream, but we stayed at an even unbelievably stunning and unique accommodation. Ours was a one-bedroom tree house built on a walnut tree. The balcony of our room faced the rushing stream! Till date, this is the most unique accommodation we have stayed at. Our room on the treetop is made of premium wood and is warm and cosy. We were told that in summers, the tree is fully laden with walnuts and one can pluck fresh walnuts right from the room’s balcony. The tree house is surrounded by a large veranda with lots of hang-out spaces and viewpoints adorned with Kashmiri carpets, floor mattresses, and comfortable cushions. We spent some quality time at these little hang-out spots, dipping our feet in the cold water. The property is well-looked after. There’s even a fish breeding centre on the premises, which is full of trout fishes, hence giving ample opportunities for fishing and angling. We were offered fruits and biscuits with Kashmiri Kahwa on arrival and the caretakers cooked delicious meals. We slept to the sound of flowing river. We are sure that, on clear days, one could even spot the Milky Way clearly. There is no mobile network, internet, or wi-fi in Athwatoo, which gives a chance to connect with the locals and the loved ones. This place is ideal for people who love solitude, who want to meditate, or who is just seeking some peace of mind. From the treehouse, we had opportunities to go trekking to the upper forest area, however, we were so content with the place, we never felt a need to venture out. Athwatoo village has an abundance of pastures for shepherds. A folklore says that, after fleeing Egypt, Prophet Moses spent time in Athwatoo village. Our guide took us to the place where he dwelled. Though not very well maintained, this place is now covered with colourful flags and has lots of monkeys. It is often visited by Jews who happen to visit Kashmir. Note - If you are fascinated by the stories of Jesus and Moses visiting Kashmir and living in India, there is much more. There is even a place called Rozabal shrine in Srinagar which many believe is the actual tomb of Jesus Christ! Interesting? This is not just some story that some locals believe in. It is well documented by various historians and scholars across various faiths. You can read more about these stories in many books that could be bought on Amazon. 9. Naranag Naranag is only about 50 kilometres away from Srinagar but is a by-and-by different world altogether. Located in the Gandarbal district, Naranag is a small yet beautiful village, which acts as a base camp for several treks in Kashmir. The famed ‘Kashmir Great Lakes’ trek starts in Sonmarg and ends in Naranag. Other trails that start here are the Naranag-Dumail-Marchoi trek and Naranag-Gangabal Lake trek. But apart from trekkers, Naranag is seldom explored by tourists travelling to Kashmir. The Wangat River flows through Naranag and is adorned with a big glacier on one of its banks. Naranag is also a pilgrimage centre with a cluster of ruined Hindu temples divided in two groups - the Western Group and the Eastern Group. Due to years of neglect, the ruins are in a sad state of affairs. In the Western group, the main temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The roof of this temple is long gone and is covered by a layer of tin sheets. This temple is surrounded by several smaller ones. In the Eastern group, the largest temple is dedicated to Lord Bhuteswara (again Lord Shiva) and it houses a big Shiva Lingam. Further ahead is a large basin, where a spring flows. Crossing the Naranag temple complex, we walked on the Marchoi trail running along the Wangat River, that lead us to the glacier. We found several abandoned Gujjar houses and towering pine and walnut trees on our way. We went to the riverbank to see the glacier up close. A waterfall from the top pierced through the glacier before joining the river. It was quite a sight. The highlight of our visit to Naranag was our stay with a local family. There are no hotels or restaurants in the village. Guest house or homestay is the way to go. We stayed in a simple house with the family of our guide. Our hosts were warm and friendly and treated us with utmost affection. They served delicious home-cooked meals and we all sat together to eat around a heated Bukhari (fire chamber) to stay warm. We had a heart-to-heart conversation about Islam, Kashmiri way of living, and how media is responsible to have stained Kashmir’s image as an unsafe destination. 10. Other offbeat places to visit in Kashmir Here are few other offbeat places in Kashmir you could plan on visiting. Some of these places can be covered along with already listed places above while some may require you to head out specifically to visit this place. a. Dachigam National Park (20 kilometres from Srinagar) This national park was formed after relocating ‘10 villages’, and hence the name. It is a protected reserve, which can be easily covered as a day trip from Srinagar. Dachigam National park is known for the endangered Kashmiri stag - the only species of red deer to be found in India. Other animals and birds that you may spot includes bear, leopard, flycatcher, wild goat, golden oriole, falcon, griffon vulture, golden eagle, paradise flycatcher, monal, Eurasian eagle owls and more. b. Saffron fields of Lethpora & Pampore (15-25 kilometres from Srinagar) Lethpora and Pampore villages in Kashmir are renowned for their saffron cultivation, and visiting during October - November is a treat for the senses. One can marvel at the picturesque landscapes adorned with vibrant saffron blossoms in full bloom, painting the fields in hues of purple and gold. Immerse yourself in the aromatic ambiance and witness the meticulous process of saffron cultivation. From the delicate handpicking of precious saffron threads to the sun-drying techniques, you'll gain insight into the rich traditions behind this prized spice. A visit to these saffron fields offers a truly unique and sensory experience, combining natural beauty with cultural heritage. c. Martand Sun Temple in Anantnag district (70 kilometres from Srinagar) This temple is not visited as much as it should be. Martand Sun temple is a grand temple, which is now in ruins, but after visiting it, you can imagine how grand it must have been during its peak days. You can club visiting Martand Sun Temple along Saffron fields of Pampore and Lethiport and Achabal Garden, as they are located in the same direction on the way to Kokernag and Daksum. d. Achabal Garden in Anantnag district (70 kilometres from Srinagar) This was the first Mughal Garden we visited in Kashmir, and we simply loved the beauty of Achabal Garden’s. This garden was commissioned by Nur Jahan, the wife of Emperor Jahangir, during the Mughal era in the 17th century. It was designed as a pleasure garden and served as a retreat for the royal family. The garden showcases the distinctive features of Mughal architecture and landscaping, with terraces, water channels, fountains, and vibrant flower beds. Its historical significance and regal charm make it a must-visit destination for those seeking a glimpse into Kashmir's rich cultural heritage. Pro Tip: Visit Achabal Garden in autumn for a colourful exploration. e. Manasbal Lake (~30 kilometres from Srinagar) Having derived its name from Mansarovar lake, Manasbal Lake is known for its tranquil surroundings, pristine waters, and scenic beauty. One of the deepest fresh water lake in India, Manasbal lake is often referred to as the "supreme gem of all Kashmir lakes" due to number of aquatic birds that flock here and lotus blossoms seen in July - August. Visitors can enjoy boating, birdwatching, and exploring the scenic walking trails that surround the lake. A mughal garden called Jarokha bagh was buillt by empress Nur Jahan further adds to the captivating charm of the lake. f. Wular Lake (50 kilometres from Srinagar) This lake might not be as unexplored as the other places that are mentioned in this article, but it is definitely less visited and should be explored. Wular Lake is actually the largest freshwater lake in India. It spans an area of approximately 189 square kilometers and is located in the Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir. The lake is surrounded by picturesque mountains and is known for its rich biodiversity, serving as an important habitat for numerous bird species and aquatic life. Wular Lake offers a serene retreat for nature enthusiasts and bird watchers alike. The lake is best viewed from the Wular Vintage Park and the Durkei Lut viewpoint. g. Gurez Valley (130 kilometres from Srinagar) Road to Gurez Valley (that includes crossing Razdan Pass at 3560 metres) closes for about 6 months due to heavy snowfall, hence the valley can only be visited during summer and autumn months i.e., April-September/October. Do not miss out on viewing the pyramid shaped Habba Khatoon peak that turns golden in colour at the time of sunset. Travellers generally enjoy camping and trekking in Gurez Valley. h. Aru Valley (105 kilometres from Srinagar) Nestled amidst the majestic Himalayas, Aru Valley in Kashmir is a serene haven for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. With its picturesque landscapes, snow-capped mountains, and gushing rivers, the valley offers a perfect escape especially between May to September when meadows are green. Visitors can embark on lovely treks to explore the surrounding glaciers and alpine lakes, or opt for leisurely walks through pine forests and alongside meandering streams. Cliffhangers India - Our Travel Partner Exploring offbeat Kashmir isn’t an easy feat. Venturing alone may prove difficult/dangerous for several reasons. Since the above-mentioned places aren’t a part of general tourists’ itinerary, not many local drivers of Srinagar are aware of the routes or are trained in driving in the back-breaking terrains. Booking accommodations is complex and reaching out to the guides or stay hosts’ is even more difficult. Some places are restricted and may require a permit to visit. Due to these reasons, you may want to hire a travel agent. And hands down, there’s no better travel agent for exploring offbeat Kashmir than Cliffhangers India. Cliffhangers India is a decade-old travel agency registered with J&K Tourist Department. They specialise in separating a traveller from a tourist, with a keen eye for unexplored locations and deeper travel experiences. The owners, Adil and Arif, are avid travellers and trekkers themselves, which means they are clearly in the profession for the journey, and not just the destination. They curated and customised our entire itinerary as per our requirements and booked all our accommodations, some of which were pretty unique. They are local Kashmiris and hence have plenty reliable contacts who know the region in and out. Cliffhangers India also hired local guides for us in some of the offbeat places in Kashmir, who took us around their villages/valleys and offered us an immersive travel experience. They stayed in touch with us each day of the tour and ensured that we just sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip. Cliffhangers India offers tailor-made itineraries to meet individual agendas and budgets and provide the best Kashmir tour packages - whether its adventure sports, trekking across mountain ranges, camping under the night sky, or luxurious tours. You can book your tour with Cliffhangers India through their official website. Offbeat Kashmir itinerary Our 10-day offbeat Kashmir itinerary was curated by Cliffhangers India and it we think it is an ideal itinerary for anyone seeking to visit the unexplored places in Kashmir. Day 1 - Land in Srinagar, check-in to a houseboat, enjoy a Shikara ride Day 2 - Srinagar to Kokernag. Visit Achabal garden on the way. Explore Kokernag Day 3 - Kokernag to Daksum and explore Daksum. Daksum to Verinag to Srinagar Day 4 - Srinagar to Yusmarg and explore Yusmarg. Visit Charar-e-Sharif Masjid on the way Day 5 - Yusmarg to Doodhpathri and explore Doodhpathri Day 6 - Doodhpathri to Bangus and explore Bangus valley Day 7 - Bangus valley to Lolab and explore Lolab valley Day 8 - Lolab valley to Athwatoo and explore Athwatoo. Visit Wular Lake on the way Day 9 - Athwatoo to Naranag and explore Naranag Day 10 - Naranag to Srinagar and fly back If you have more days, you could add few places that we mentioned earlier such as Gurez valley or include a night stay around Wular lake. You could also plan to spend couple of nights in places like Doodhpathri or Yusmarg rather than one allowing you to have a little more relaxed trip. In case you are strapped for time, you could consider bucketing above listed places across different trips. For example Achabal - Kokernag - Verinag - Daksum could be 2-3 days trip, Yusmarg - Doodhpathri could be combined into one trip of 3-5 days, Bangus - Lolab could be combined into another trip, Athwatoo can be covered with Gurez valley in a separate trip. Based on how much time you have, you can use above information to curate your own itinerary. Save this Pin The real beauty of Kashmir lies in these above-mentioned quaint little spots that have still managed to stay hidden from the travellers who frequent the union territory. We have unlocked these places with a hope that you, as a reader and a traveller, will treat these destinations with respect, shower them with the care they deserve, and keep them clean. All these places can be reached in a few hours’ time from Srinagar. Of all these unexplored places to visit in Kashmir, which ones will you put in your travel bucket list? Let us know in the comments section below.

Majuli is easily one of the most beautiful places we have travelled to in Assam, India. Majuli is an island, and for that matter, it is the largest inhabited freshwater river island in the world. The island is located on the river Brahmaputra in the north-eastern state of Assam in India. Imagine how big the expanse of Brahmaputra River is, that it is home to such a huge island. Apart from the unique experience of travelling and living on such an island, Majuli (formerly known as Majali) is replete with natural beauty, cultural experiences and interesting things to do. Read this complete travel guide to Majuli and how to plan a trip to the largest river island in the world. With a total area of 875 square kilometres, Majuli Island extends for a length of about 80 kilometres and spans about 12-15 kilometres from north to south. However, since the island is merely 85 meters above the mean sea level, climate change, flash floods, and heavy erosion along the Brahmaputra River, have said to shrink Majuli by one-third of its initial size over the past few decades. Majuli Island, Assam, houses a total of about 140 small and large villages and is home to about 1,60,000 people. Yes, it's that big! Due to this Majuli was declared a district and became the first island district of India. It has also been nominated to be declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You wouldn't feel like you are on an island unless you visit the periphery. Table of Contents Where is Majuli located and how is it an Island? Best time to visit Majuli river island How to reach Majuli river island? How to reach Jorhat? How to reach Nimati Ghat from Jorhat? How to reach Majuli Island from Nimati Ghat? Ferry Charges from Nimati Ghat (Jorhat) to Kamalabari/ Afolamukh point (Majuli Island) How to commute within Majuli? Places to visit and Things to do in Majuli Where to stay in Majuli Data connectivity in Majuli Is Majuli river island worth visiting? Where is Majuli located and how is it an Island? Majuli river island is located in the north east India in the state of Assam. The island is formed as Brahmaputra coming from North east branches out as a Kherkatia Xuti river. This offshooting river then joins another river coming from North named Subhasini river. Together they join Brahmaputra back. The point where Kherkatia Xuti branches out is eastern end of Majuli while the point where the Subhasini river joins Brahmaputra is the western end of Majuli. Best time to visit Majuli river island Like all the other tourist places in Assam, Majuli Island is blessed with a moderate climate. Though the weather is always pleasant, irrespective of the time of the year, October to March is considered the best time to visit Majuli Island. However, you should plan your visit to Majuli Island based on what you want to experience. If you want to experience the festivities and the rich culture of Assam, the best time to visit Majuli Island is in November. The satras in Majuli celebrate the Raas Purnima on a big scale. There are dance and skit performances based on the life of Lord Krishna that you can witness. Another good time to soak in festivities is in April during Bihu – the harvesting festival. If you want to see the greenery in all its glory, the months right after the monsoon from October onwards would be a great time to visit Majuli Island. However, you should know that rains bring their own set of challenges to this river island, with flooding of the Brahmaputra river every year and waterlogging woes in the low-lying areas. Even the ferries to Majuli stop operating when it rains heavily and when the river gets flooded. How to reach Majuli river island? Like any other island, Majuli Island can only be reached via a ferry from the mainland of Assam. The nearest big town on the mainland is Jorhat; so the best way to reach Majuli is to reach Jorhat. Majuli is about 20 kilometres far from Jorhat. Ferry services connect Majuli Island (Kamalabari Ghat) and Jorhat town (Nimati Ghat). Note that one can also reach Majuli through north bank from places such as North Lakhimpur and Dhemaji. However this route is recommended only if you are already visiting these northern parts of Assam and would like to use Majuli as a pitstop while crossing Brahmaputra river. For most travellers, reaching Majuli via Jorhat would be ideal. How to reach Jorhat? Jorhat has a domestic airport that is connected with non-stop direct flights from Guwahati and Kolkata. So taking a connecting flight to Jorhat would be the quickest way to reach. If that's an expensive option for you, one of the options is to land in Guwahati. As Guwahati has an International airport and higher frequency of flights, connectivity and costs tend to be better. Check flights to Guwahati or Jorhat From Guwahati you can go to Jorhat by road or rail. You can choose to take a private taxi, shared taxi or buses (government and private) from Guwahati to Jorhat. From Guwahati, Jorhat is about 300 kilometres away by road. If you go by road, you can also cover Kaziranga National Park on the way. Rail connectivity is also good and you can find comfortable trains from Guwahati to Jorhat and back. It's also possible to fly to Dibrugarh in east Assam (about 140 kilometers away from Jorhat) and then take a private taxi, bus, or shared jeep ride to Jorhat (that's what we did!). Another interesting option we discovered was direct private buses that ply from Guwahati to Majuli. These are usually overnight AC pushback private buses that start from Guwahati late in the evening and drop you in Majuli early in the morning. How to reach Nimati Ghat from Jorhat Main Town? The passenger + vehicle ferries for Majuli Island are available from Nimati Ghat. This ferry point is about 15 kilometers away from the main Jorhat town. From Jorhat, you can reach Nimati Ghat via a public bus or a shared jeep. Note that the ferries leave right on time, so reach the ferry point 10-15 minutes before departure. Also, back calculate the time required to reach Nimati Ghat from Jorhat main town. This is because the road conditions are not that great, and it easily takes 45 minutes to reach Nimati Ghat from the Jorhat bus stand. How to reach Majuli island from Nimati Ghat in Jorhat? We booked our ferry tickets online from the Inland Water Transport website that belongs to the Government of Assam. Based on availability, you can also book the ferry tickets from the ticket counter at the ferry point. There are two ferry points at Majuli Island – Kamalabari point (mid-south) and Afolamukh point (southeast). Generally, tourists catch the ferry from Nimati Ghat to Kamalabari and vice-versa. Take the Nimati Ghat (Jorhat) to Afolamukh point (Majuli) ferry only if: You have not booked a ticket online, and you find that all ferries for Kamalabari are full You just missed the last ferry to Kamalabari Your accommodation is closer to Afolamukh point, which is usually rare The ferry tickets on the Inland Water Transport website open only a day before the journey. The first ferry leaves from Nimati Ghat in Jorhat to Kamalabari point in Majuli at 7:30 AM in summers and 8:30 AM in winters, and the last ferry leaves at 5 PM in summers and 4 PM in winters. A ferry is available almost every half an hour to one hour. So, if you miss one, you don't have to wait long for the next to arrive. However, ferry timings depend a lot on the weather conditions. It takes about 1 hour for the ferry to sail in the Brahmaputra from Nimati Ghat in Jorhat to Kamalabari/ Afolamukh point in Majuli. The passenger seating is separated from the 2-wheeler/4-wheeler docking area on the ferry. The seats are more or less comfortable. If the river is calm, you will be allowed to stand near the railings to enjoy the views, but if it's not, you will have to remain seated at all times. It is mandatory to wear a life jacket while on the ferry but it is common to find people violating this rule. Ferry Charges from Nimati Ghat (Jorhat) to Kamalabari/ Afolamukh point (Majuli) Since the ferries are government funded, the charges are pretty subsidized. Cost per passenger – INR 15 Cost per 2-wheeler – INR 30 Cost per 4-wheeler – INR 700 How to commute within Majuli? There are options of availing private/shared taxi or auto rickshaw to roam around in Majuli. One can also rent bicycles from Garamur, one of the larger villages in Majuli. Many hotels and homestays also keep bicycles and sometimes scooters for rent. We did not prefer bicycles since Majuli is so huge. Going around on bicycles can be fun but it would have taken too much time and effort to reach different corners of the island. So our preferred way was to take a rented scooter from Jorhat itself. There are many two-wheeler rental companies around Jorhat bus stand. Renting a 2-wheeler from Jorhat is also a convenient option to reach Nimati ghat from Jorhat main town and reaching your hotel/homestay after you arrive at Kamalabari ghat in Majuli. Places to visit and Things to do in Majuli river Island Majuli Island has a fairytale-like, magical old-world charm. There aren't too many tourist places in Majuli, but there are several experiences to gather and things to do in Majuli. We planned to stay here for one night but ended up staying three. Why? Read on to know more. You would also find a easy to follow map at the end of the article which would help you reach all these suggested places. 1. Phenomenal Sunrise and Sunsets The sunsets in Majuli are beyond magical. We happened to see three consecutive sunsets in Majuli, and they were amongst the most beautiful sunsets we have ever witnessed. We rode to different places each evening to catch the sight of the golden ball submerging into the still waters of Brahmaputra rivulets. Our favourite spot is the bridge near Luhit Ghat and the White sand beach. Watching the sun set on the distant horizon as the fishermen sailed back home with their prized catch of the day, leaving behind their Chinese fishing net setup, was fascinating. As soon as the sun sets, the whole sky explodes in a beautiful phenomenon of varied colours within minutes. This was quickly followed by the land slowly getting covered in a thick layer of winter mist and the twinkle of bright stars showing up in the dark sky. If the sky is clear and you're lucky, you'll even spot the Milky Way! Note: The sun sets really early (4 PM) during winter at Majuli Island. So, plan your day accordingly. 2. Centuries-Old Satras / Temples If you want to experience the Assamese culture at its best, visit Majuli Island. About 22 Satras (Hindu Neo-Vaishnavite monasteries) in Majuli are devoted to the teachings of Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna. Such Vaishnavite culture in Assam was introduced by the great saint Srimanta Sankara Deva in 16th century. Besides being monasteries, these satras also act as hubs for fine arts and crafts of the region. Satras are present in many parts of Assam but those in Majuli are famous due to higher concentration. For visitors who are unaware of the concept of satras, you can consider these temples and just follow what the locals are doing! We paid a visit to the most notable satras of Majuli Island, namely Auniati Satra – Biggest satra of Majuli having a huge worship place and an artifact museum Kamalabari Satra – Specializes in boat making, literature, and classical studies; Samaguri Satra – Is a center of mask making in Majuli Dakhinpat Satra – Oldest of all satras of Majuli Visiting the satras will give you an opportunity to unravel the history of Assamese traditions and culture. 3. Mask-Making Traditions If you want to acquire some indigenous skills when visiting Majuli Island, plan on learning the art of mask making using natural elements from the expert artisans on the island. The art of mask-making has been passed down for generations in Majuli and forms an integral part of their culture. Samaguri/ Chamaguri Satra is the center of mask making on the island. Here, the artisans freely share their knowledge of this art form with interested visitors. The full-face masks are inspired by Hindu mythology and are made of natural elements like bamboo, mud, cloth, jute, cane, and cow dung. These are then painted using natural colours. All masks are displayed in a small museum sort of a place near the Satra. Majuli residents use these masks in grand theatrical performances all across the world. The scenes enacted in the play bring Indian mythical heroes to life. 4. Pottery Village The art and craft skills of artisans in Majuli do not end with mask making at the Samaguri satra. There's also a pottery village on the island where you can learn pottery. The earthen pots made at the Salmora village in Majuli are without the use of a potter's wheel. Brahmaputra river is known for a special type of clay soil named Kumar Mati by the Majuli residents. They collect this soil from the river bed and use it to make pots. These pots are handmade without the use of a wheel. They are then ferried across the river to bigger villages in exchange for paddy. It's unbelievable how Majuli residents are still practicing the barter system effortlessly. We visited a potter's family home and observed an old lady making the pots and other vessels without using a potter's wheel. She was kind enough to teach us her craft, and one of us decided to dirty our hands to make a small diya. We will not lie; it's a difficult craft! 5. Tribal Handicraft Weaving Apart from mask-making and pottery, Majuli residents are also skilled in traditional weaving. The Misings (an indigenous tribe in Assam) are excellent weavers. The tribal women learn the art of weaving using a conventional wooden machine from a very young age. All clothes that the Mising men and women wear are weaved in their very household. They spend a lot of time on their loin loom to produce high—quality hand-woven garments. These garments made by Mising women have a traditional design intertwined with the tribe's cultural identity. Though we saw women weavers across most villages in Majuli, we visited a center of weaver's co-operative named Rengam, where we witnessed the making of the garments closely. Rengam is a weaving centre cum store run and managed by Mising women to support their community. They had a wide variety of traditional garment stock for sale. 6. Majuli Bridges Majuli Island is a place that takes you on a rustic countryside voyage. The villages are surrounded by wetlands and rivulets that emerge from the Brahmaputra River. And on such small and large water bodies are unique bridges. Why do we call them unique? Well, while most are sturdy bridges, some are rickety wooden or bamboo bridges. In fact, the homestay that we stayed at was surrounded by a lake. It was an island in itself! So, every time we went in and out of the homestay, we had to walk on a bamboo pedestrian bridge that wobbled and creaked every time someone used it. The villagers depend on such bridges for their everyday commute. While we cautiously approached such bridges, we saw the residents driving their vehicles at full speed and children crossing the bridge on a cycle. These bridges made for a perfect photo-op, especially during sunrise and sunset. The sheer spectacle of the water bodies, green paddy fields, floating water hyacinths, sailing countryside boats, and the play of colour in the sky made our hearts flutter with joy. 7. Yellow Mustard Fields A sea of yellow greets those who visit Majuli in the winter season. The mustard crop has offered the island a ray of hope. The island residents live off farming and selling mustard. The beauty of the blooming bright golden yellow mustard seed flowers in vast fields left us stunned. Well, we can blame it all on the Yash Raj movies where the actors romanticize the yellow flowers of mustard fields, and we weren't able to stop ourselves from doing the same. But, oh, what a sight! The fields made a beautiful landscape with blue skies as the backdrop. 8. Migratory Birds Large and small wetlands, lakes, rivers, fishes, and lots of greenery – Majuli Island has all the right essentials to attract birds. Come winter, and you will see the island transform into a safe haven for migratory birds. The sun rises to the sound of hundreds of birds and sets with the music of cymbals. The water bodies on the island support a variety of birds, fishes, reptiles, and aquatic plants. We didn't have to travel to a specific area in camouflaged attire and wait for hours to spot the birds. In fact, the kingfishers, painted storks and cranes were easy to spot from where we lived in Majuli. We were also lucky to catch sight of pelicans, shelducks, geese, egrets, stork, moorhen, and waterhen. We think 2 types of people can stay for days and days in Majuli – nature lovers and birders. 9. Assamese Cuisine A tribal Mising meal, home-cooked and served inside traditional bamboo cottages built on stilts by a tribal family – what's more authentic than this! Both the food and the experience at these tribal houses in Majuli are par excellence. So much that they run on reservations and you have to book your meal slot a day before. A traditional Assamese meal has at least 7-8 items, including soup, rice, curry, vegetables, greens, chutneys, local drink, sweet, and sometimes roti. All the ingredients to prepare the meal are sourced locally from farms, and they taste absolutely delicious. We had the traditional Assamese thali several times during our stay at Majuli Island. The food is served with so much love and affection that it fills your heart (and stomach!). These experiences are must-try and should not be missed when staying at this river island. 10. Nothingness Okay, so we aren't sure if this is even an official word, but this is what we call it. Nothingness – is a form of photographing nothing! A thick layer of fog hangs over the water bodies on Majuli Island every winter morning. As the sun rises, this fog act as a magician covering the surroundings into a white blanket with silhouetted subjects. You have to see it to understand it. Winter mornings in Majuli are a photographer's paradise. We always wanted to click these pictures and finally got an excellent chance to do it in Majuli. A bonus tip A bonus tip we would like to share is an activity that you might enjoy - Boating. You would invariably pass a concrete bridge named Doriya bridge in Majuli. This bridge is built over a water body. Do visit this lake early in mornings. You would find fishermen who would also be ready to give you a boat ride for a nominal amount. Imagine sitting on a country boat creating ripples as you move forward in a still and serene lake, fluttering of some birds and splash of water would be the only sound you hear, with morning sun giving you warmth on a winter morning. Do we need to say anything more? Where to Stay in Majuli You will not find high-end luxuries or swanky resorts in Majuli. We highly suggest you visit the island with fewer expectations in terms of stay and facilities. That said, Majuli is known for its homestays and bamboo cottages built on stilts. Many of them, but not all, come with attached bathrooms. Since we visited Majuli in winter (when it gets too cold), we were apprehensive about staying in bamboo cottages. We went to the river island with a plan that if we didn't find the stay comfortable, we would take the next ferry and return to Jorhat. But, we ended up staying in the bamboo cottage for 3 nights. We stayed at Ygdrasill Bamboo Cottages, located in the most beautiful natural setting, surrounded by paddy fields and a lake. Our cottage was simple with just the basic facilities like an attached bathroom, a table, comfortable beds, and warm comforters. The walls and roof were bamboo-made, whereas the base and bathroom were cemented. The room opened to a porch facing the lake, where we spent a lot of time under the warmth of the sun. The blankets were thick; hence, we never felt too cold at night. They also had bonfires without any additional cost. With the island gaining popularity, endless homestays are popping up, so you have many options to choose from. The rates are usually on the lower side unless you go during times like new year. We would recommend finding a place which is centrally located so that all the places described in this article are not too far. Check hotels and homestays in Majuli Data Connectivity in Majuli Majuli has good phone connectivity in most of the villages. Data connectivity is also fine but can be patchy in few villages that lie in corners near the river. Note that most accommodations would not have Wi-Fi and you will have to manage with your mobile data. Most Indian network providers work well in major villages of Majuli. Is Majuli river island worth visiting? A 100% yes! With this. we complete our guide to Majuli Island. Here is a quick map guide which would help you navigate to all the places described in this article. Although we spent just a few days here, they were amongst the most memorable ones on our trip to Assam, and we are sure to return back. Sadly, this island will stop existing someday due to floods and soil erosion, and we hope that some steps are taken by the government to stop the rapid decline of this beautiful place. Should you have any questions on how to get to Majuli, tourist places to visit, or where to stay, feel free to ask us in the comments section below. Pin below image to bookmark this article for reference in future. Pin this image

You must have heard about teleportation? A simple google search indicates that it is the transfer of matter form one point to another without traversing the physical space between them. Does that sound like a superpower to you? Well, we seemed to have possessed such superpower when we visited Fontainhas in Panjim, the capital city of Goa, India. We were physically in Fontainhas but were teleported to quaint European streets. Such is the magic of Fontainhas - it's an experience of Europe in Goa. In our efforts to unearth Offbeat Goa, Fontainhas was an easy find. Yet when we actually visited this area, we were dumbstruck to see it. Read on to know more about Fontainhas in Goa and why you must visit it. Read other blogs of the series ‘Offbeat Goa’ by clicking on the link or photos below: Dudhsagar Falls Tambdi Surla Temple and Waterfall Stay at Dudhsagar Plantation and Farmstay – A review Stay at Vivenda dos Palhacos – A review Hidden Gems of Veling – A walk with Soul Travelling Stay at WelcomHeritage Panjim Inn – A review Fontainhas of Goa - This article Fontainhas – A photojourney Places to visit in Panjim Divar Island What is Fontainhas in Goa? Fontainhas is basically a residential area in Old Panjim. You might say - So what is so special about a residential area? Well, Fontainhas is probably the most visible legacy left by Portuguese who ruled Goa for close to 450 years. Fontainhas is unlike any other part of Goa. With colorful facades of houses, Fontainhas is like a maze any traveller might love to get lost into. The houses and buildings in Fontainhas boast of a strong Portuguese influence in its architecture. Painted in pastels and fluorescents, Fontainhas was declared as a UNESCO world heritage site. Today, many of the residential houses and buildings are converted to heritage hotels, villas, art galleries and some exquisite cafes. Yet it still thrives as a residential area preserving the unique design, architecture and culture of a bygone era. Where is Fontainhas in Goa? Fontainhas is Goa's oldest Latin quarters located between the Ourem creek and the Altinho Hill. A part of old Panjim, Fontainhas is easy to reach if you are visiting Panjim or even if you are on your way to North Goa. It lies around 28 kms from Goa International airport and takes roughly 45 mins to reach. Little bit of history about Fontainhas, Goa The name Fontainhas is derived from ‘Fonte Phoenix’ (Fountain of Phoenix), which was a reservoir of water built in the Portuguese era. These reservoirs used to store water fetched by underground tunnels from nearby water bodies. One such Fonte Phoenix is easy to find and you will come across it towards end of Fontainhas before climbing up towards Altinho hill. One folk tale says that in Portuguese times, there was a rule to freshly paint the house every year and it is still obeyed by the folks residing in Fontainhas. This is one of the reason why we see such colorful facades all around. You can also find portuguese words in names of the streets such as Corte de Oitero and Rua 31 de Janeiro road each one having its own story and significance. Though some buildings are dilapidated, they still hold their colonial charm. The red tiled roofs, brightly colored walls, projecting balconies, beautiful porches and cobbled paths of Fontainhas are enough to attract anyone's attention for hours to go. How to explore Fontainhas of Goa Dotted by picturesque houses painted in vibrant shades of red, green, blue and yellow, the best way to explore the latin quarters is to take a walk in the narrow lanes of Fontainhas. We would recommend early morning walk when most vehicles are parked and you can freely roam around without worrying much about the traffic. Several heritage walks are conducted in Fontainhas that generally start from the post office, takes one through the tobacco square towards Corte de Oitero - Rua 31 de Janeiro - St. Sebastian Chapel - Wishing well - Fonte Phoenix - Maruti temple - Archbishop's house - Chief Minister's official residence - High Court of Bombay at Goa and ends at Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church. How we explored Fontainhas of Goa We joined Mr. Ramchandra Salgaonkar for the Panjim Heritage Walk. Ram is a Goan by birth who quit his corporate job to pursue his passion of travelling. Currently he is a founder of Better Goa and Market Warriors and a visiting lecturer in several colleges across India. Ram is very passionate about showcasing Panjim to the world in a very unique manner by focussing on the local trivia as well as the historical aspects. We loved the experience of going on a walk with him and would definitely recommend joining his walk if you plan to visit Fontainhas. You can book his Panjim City walk experience on Airbnb here. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ New to Airbnb? Get exclusive discount by clicking here ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We gathered at Panjim post office early in the morning and the walk started bang on time. The post office premises was once a depot for trading tobacco and hence the street is also known as Tobacco Square. It is this very place where the Britishers executed the conspirators of Pinto Rivolt. Interesting fact - If you post a letter to someone in Antartica, it will be received in Panjim. Why? Well, the Indian Government's research base station in Antartica is set up by National Institute of Oceanography, Panaji. This very first fact about Panjim by Ram and we were blown by his depth of knowledge about the place. Later we walked on Rua 31 de Janeiro road (31st January road) towards Corte de Oitero. One of the stretch of Rua 31 de Janeiro road is one of the most vibrant streets you would find with every house on both sides having varied colors. It is no doubt popular amongst couples and wedding photographers for a pre-wedding shoot. A hill used to separate 31st January road from Our Lady of Immaculate Church. To shorten this distance, the hill in between was cut (Corte means 'cut' and Oitero means 'hill') and hence the name. Interesting fact - Wondering why a road would be named after a date? The Rua 31 de Janeiro or 31st January road was named after Portugal attained freedom from Spain on January 31, 1640. We next moved in the colorful streets of the Latin quarters to the St. Sebastian Chapel. The white-washed facade of the St. Sebastian Chapel stands tall amongst the surrounding colorful old heritage houses. A bright red well with roosters mounted on it just near the chapel is believed to be a wishing well. Interesting fact - Eyes of the Christ on the crucifix in St. Sebastian Chapel are open. The open eyes is believed to have witnessed all the brutalities faced by people during the inquisition. This is rather unique as you will never find Jesus with open eyes on the crucifix. Our next destination was Fonte Phoenix located at the end of Fontainhas which we mentioned earlier. Passing through the azulejo ceramic tiles covered buildings we reached the underground tunnel from where the spring channelized. Said to have derived its name from the Fountain of Phoenix spring, it is a water reservoir constructed during Portuguese times. The base of the Altinho Hill is just round the corner. The saffron colored Maruti temple on the Altinho hill is clearly visible from here. We ascended towards the Maruti temple on the top of Altinho Hill. Colorful staircase lead up to the temple from Fontainhas. From the open courtyard of the temple we were able to see the coconut plantations in Fontainhas area below. Ram informed us that people flocked in Fontainhas only after it was converted into new capital of Goa. Before that it was just a vast coconut plantation. The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and overlooks the Latin quarters of Panjim. The temple is designed as if Lord Hanuman is riding a chariot with huge intricately carved wheels. Altinho Hill is like a hill station with spiralling roads and lots of tall trees forming a canopy throughout the driveway. The Portuguese royals used to stay here as they considered themselves higher in status than the others. Being a very established residential area, Goa's chief minister's residence and Archbishop's palace is located here. The Bombay High Court at Goa is also positioned at Altinho Hill. The High Court is one of the best that I have seen till date and it's grand yellow and white facade is a visual treat. Interesting fact - Several (close to 65) colorful staircases ascend and descend to and from Altinho Hill connecting Old Panjim to New Panjim. All roads in Old Panjim somehow lead to the church square which is dominated by Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church at its heart. The church sits on a hill and from a distance looks like a white cake with layers perched on top of another. The site was once a port where ships sailing from Portugal used to land. In those times, the church used to serve the religious needs of the Portuguese sailors. The zig zag stairs that are lined on both the sides makes it a photographer's landmark. The exterior of the church is painted bright white in color with blue touches. The white paint of the church signifies the Immaculate virgin, Mary. It is famous for housing the second largest bell in Goa that is believed to have brought from the Augustinian ruins of the church of Our Lady of Grace. Ram kept us engaged with fun-facts, travel tips, fun quizzes and other interesting tidbits that we did not even realize we walked for 3 hours by now. At the end of the walk, he treated us with traditional Goan breakfast at a 100 year old restaurant - Cafe Bhosle. The sweet buns and bhaji pav were a wonderful treat. The walk made us realize that Panjim has a lot of essence with each street and building narrating a historic story. We highly recommend the heritage walk to everyone visiting Panjim in Goa. Ramchandra Salgaonkar has invested lot of time in studying and perfecting the walk around Panjim and there couldn't be a better storyteller than him. After the walk we tried exploring a few other places on our own. Ramchandra had already provided us a better understanding on how to move around the town for the rest of our trip. Read about the other places to visit in Panjim in our blog here. Stay in Fontainhas The best way to immerse yourself in the alleys of Fontainhas is by staying right in the middle of these latin quarters. WelcomHeritage Panjim Inn is an old house nicely renovated and converted into a heritage hotel. It is located in Fontainhas area and is the best point that could be kept as a base to cover not just Fontainhas but all the places worth visiting in Panjim. Read about our experience of staying in Panjim Inn here. Where to eat in Fontainhas A walk in Fontainhas would not be complete without eating a Goan meal. We highly recommend Cafe Venite located on 31st January Road to all the foodies visiting Panjim. Cafe Venite serves traditional Goan cuisines since 1955. The ambience is charming with tables placed in cute balconies overlooking the colorful street from where you can watch the world go by. You can also have exquisite dishes at Verandah, the restaurant of Panjim Inn. So as we intimated earlier and hope you too have teleported to a different world while reading this article on Fontainhas of Goa. It is simply an incredible experience spending your day walking around these streets, having some delicious meals at such timeless cafes and staying in heritage hotels. PIN THIS IMAGE Hope you found this article useful. And do plan a visit to Fontainhas on your next visit to Goa. Do let us know your thoughts in the comment section below and share it on social media. Want to understand Panjim better? Read our article on places to visit and things to do in Panjim city here. #India #WestIndia #Goa #BengaluruWeekendOutings #MumbaiWeekendOutings #HyderabadWeekendOutings#PuneWeekendOutings

Murudeshwar, a coastal town located in Karnataka state, India, is a fantasy land for staunch devotees of Lord Shiva. This temple town is famous for the gigantic statue of Lord Shiva situated atop a small hill overlooking the Arabian Sea. Another famous landmark in Murudeshwar is a 22-storey tall Rajagopuram. Besides the temples and mythological chronicles ascribed to Murudeshwar, this town is also ideal for tourists seeking adventures like trekking and water sports, including snorkelling and scuba-diving. We realized that even if you are non-religious, Murudeshwar is a fantastic place to visit. Murudeshwar is a must-visit place near Gokarna and is often clubbed with other places to visit near Gokarna. This blog will serve as a complete travel guide to Murudeshwar and will highlight all the things to do and places to visit in Murudeshwar. How to reach Murudeshwar, Karnataka Murudeshwar is a coastal town in Karnataka in the Uttara Kannada district. It is located about 200 km south of Goa and 140 km above Mangalore city. A protrusion called Murudeshwar Island (though technically not an island) is a major attraction of this town as it houses some lovely monuments. By air: Mangalore Airport, located about 140 kilometres away, is the nearest airport to Murudeshwar. From Mangalore, you can easily hire a taxi, take a state-run bus or take a train to Murudeshwar. By rail: Murudeshwar railway station is connected to all trains running on the Western Rail lines or the Konkan Rail line. Hence, it is well connected to Bengaluru, Mangalore, Pune, Mumbai, and Goa. By road: Several government and private buses operate from major cities to Murudeshwar. Private taxis can also be hired from the surrounding major towns to reach Murudeshwar. We drove to Murudeshwar on a rented scooter from Gokarna. The road from Gokarna to Murudeshwar is a national highway and hence, excellent in condition. The distance of 78 kilometres can be easily covered in a couple of hours. We also stopped on the way to visit the beautiful Apsarakonda waterfalls, garden, and beach. Best time to visit Murudeshwar, Karnataka For temple visits, trekking to nearby hills, and sight-seeing the places to visit in Murudeshwar, October to March is the best time to visit Murudeshwar. April and May are hot and humid summer months, and June to Mid-September is the rainy season. For water adventure activities or sports like snorkelling and scuba diving, March to May and October are the best months to visit Murudeshwar. Even November to February is a good time for water sports, but the water will be cold, so depending on your body sensitivity, you can choose when to visit Murudeshwar. Water sports are closed during the monsoon months (June to September). Water sports and underwater activities can be clubbed with other places to visit in Murudeshwar. For the Shiva devotees, the festival of Maha Shivaratri in March is the best time to visit Murudeshwar. It is celebrated with great pomp and cheer in this temple town. Checkout other articles which will help you plan a trip around Murudeshwar - 1. Gokarna - Travel Guide 2. Best places to visit near Gokarna 3. Kahani Paradise - Reviewing a luxury villa in Gokarna 4. Jog Falls - Travel Guide Places to visit in Murudeshwar, Karnataka Here is list of 7 places to visit in Murudeshwar - 1. Lord Shiva statue of Murudeshwar A gigantic statue of Lord Shiva stands tall on a hill named Kanduka, which is surrounded by sea on three sides. This statue is the second tallest statue of Lord Shiva in the world (the first being in Nepal). This majestic piece of art is 123 feet tall and can be seen from a long distance. Shivamoga Kashinath and several notable sculptors took 20 years to build this statue. It was financed by a renowned businessman named R.N. Shetty, at a cost of INR 5 crore. This Shiva statue, located in the centre of a temple complex, has become an esteemed landmark in Murudeshwar and is a must-visit place to visit in Murudeshwar. Taking a parikrama (circumambulation) of the statue is highly recommended. The statue can also be viewed from the top of Rajagopuram situated just beside it. Note: The statue can be viewed from a distance at any point in time. However, for a close-up view, you will have to follow the temple complex timings from 6 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 9 PM. Checkout these cool Shiva T - Shirts 2. Raja Gopuram The 22-storeyed Gopuram in Murudeshwar is the second tallest Gopuram in the world (the first being in Tamil Nadu, India). It is the only Gopuram in the world that has an elevator. It was inaugurated in May 2008. The Gopuram is 249 feet tall and is guarded by two big elephants at the entrance. In case you are new to this term, Gopuram refers to a huge structure at the entrance of the temple built in Dravidian style architecture. Gopurams are commonly found in temples of Southern India. Tourists have access to the 18th floor, from where they can view the life-size statue of Lord Shiva with the Arabian Sea in the backdrop. The four windows located in four different directions on the 18th floor provide breathtaking panoramic views of Murudeshwar town, the Shiva statue, and the sea from various angles. The entire Gopuram is intricately carved with figures of heavenly beings, Gods and Goddesses. It is lit up with beautiful yellow lights during the evening time. We highly recommend you to experience the view from the 18th floor of the Gopuram. We regard the Gopuram to be the best place to visit in Murudeshwar. Note: The entrance to Gopuram is free of cost. You will have to remove your footwear on a stand outside the Gopuram. If you wish to enjoy the views from the 18th floor of Gopuram, the charge for the elevator is INR 10 per person. The elevator operates from 6 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 9 PM. Views from 18th floor of Gopuram (Click to enlarge) 3. Murudeshwar Temple Murudeshwar Temple is located between the Shiva statue and the Gopuram. The temple and the Gopuram have the same entry points. The granite temple is built in age-old Dravidian style architecture and is also known as the Kethappa Narayan Temple. While the temple is modernized, the sanctum sanctorum is still dark and ancient. The main deity in the Murudeshwar temple is Sri Mridesa Linga, also called as Murudeshwar. A piece of Atma-linga believed to be thrown here by Ravana is buried 2 feet below the ground level in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Thousands of pilgrims and Lord Shiva devotees flock to this place to visit in Murudeshwar daily. Note: Entrance to the temple is free of cost. However, if you want to perform any Abhishek (religious ritual), you will be charged for that. You will have to remove your footwear before entering the temple. Do not forget to buy the tasty laddus (sweet) as prasad (food offering) sold outside the temple (INR 20 for 1 big laddu). 4. Murudeshwar Statue Park Besides the Lord Shiva statue, there are a series of other statues and sculptures that narrate various folktales from the past. These folktales are mythological stories of significance. The Murudeshwar statue park houses life-size statues of Lord Ganesha receiving Atma-Linga from Ravana, that of Lord Krishna, and Arjuna in a golden chariot from Mahabharata (Geetopadesha), various statues of sages meditating in different poses, and a statue of a Surya Chakra. The statue park is an ideal place for photographers who can try their hands by clicking the statues from various angles. All the statues are surrounded by lush green, well-manicured lawns. Note: Entry to the Statue Park is free of cost. The park remains open from 6 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 9 PM. 5. Artificial Cave A cave or rather a museum located beneath the Shiva statue is named ‘Bhukailash’. Wonderfully sculpted statues depict the story of Atma-Linga and the importance of Murudeshwar. Light and sound effects are used to narrate the story in Kannada, Hindi, and English language. You have to move clockwise while listening to the story to relate it to the sculpted statues. All the sculptures are built and coloured beautifully with clear expressions on the faces of the statues. We rate the caves as one of the best places to visit in Murudeshwar for those interested in understanding the history behind this temple town. Checkout these insightful books on Shiva The story is – Mother of Ravana (Demon King of Lanka) was a strict devotee of Lord Shiva and expressed her desire to worship the Atma-Linga (the soul of Shiva). Hence, Ravana went to Kailash and worshipped Shiva. Lord Shiva, impressed by Ravana’s penance, appeared before him and gave him a boon. Ravana asked for the Atma-Linga as a boon, which he received on the condition that he would carry the Atma-Linga directly to Lanka without placing it on the ground, failing which the Atma-Linga will get embedded permanently wherever placed. Sage Narada knew that if Ravana took the Atma-Linga successfully to Lanka, he would become indestructible and immortal. Hence, he approached Lord Ganesha and Lord Vishnu for help, and they together devised a plan. When Ravana was nearing Gokarna, Lord Vishnu masked the sun with his Surya Chakra giving the appearance of evening time. Seeing this, Ravana believed that it was time for his evening ritual that he performed without fail each day; hence he started looking for someone who could hold the Atma-Linga for him till he completed his evening prayers. At this time, Lord Ganesha appeared in front of him disguised as a shepherd and agreed to help him. Handing over the Atma-Linga to Lord Ganesha, as soon as Ravana went to perform his evening ritual, Lord Ganesha placed the statue on the ground in Gokarna, permanently embedding it on the earth. Lord Vishnu then removed his Surya Chakra away, and it was daylight again. Ravana realising that he had been tricked and cheated, tried to uproot the Atma-Linga, but it failed to move. Due to the force exerted by Ravana, some pieces of Atma-Linga were scattered, which were thrown by Ravana in four different directions. Murudeshwar is one such region where a part of Atma-Linga was thrown. The other places are Surathkal, Gunavanthe, and Dhareshwara. Murudeshwar temple stands on the very spot where the scatters of Atma-Linga fell. Note: An entrance fee of INR 20 per person is collected to enter the cave/ museum. The cave is open to visitors from 6 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 8 PM. 6. Murudeshwar Beach Murudeshwar beach is a long stretch of clean, white sandy beach. The water at the beach is shallow and is safe for swimming. The view of Murudeshwar temple, Shiva statue, and Gopuram from the Murudeshwar beach is spectacular and is a delight for photographers. The hues in the sky during sunset time add extra charm to the whole environ. With the night lights turned on, the Shiva statue and Gopuram look stunning from the beach at night, and you can endlessly marvel at its beauty. During summertime, a range of water activities is operated on Murudeshwar beach, including banana boat ride, jet-ski, water scooter, speed-boat ride, water-skiing, and boating to Netrani Island. Murudeshwar beach also houses a fast-food centre and a flea market selling little trinkets and souvenirs at a cheap rate. Note: The beach is best visited during sunset time. 7. Netrani Island Netrani Island is located about 10 Nautical miles or 19 kilometres away from Murudeshwar temple. It can be reached by boat from Murudeshwar beach. Several local water sports operators will arrange for a boat for you to reach Netrani Island. The island is heart-shaped and is often referred to as ‘Pigeon Island’ owing to the presence of a large number of pigeons on the island. The sea-be surrounding the island is rich in marine biodiversity, and plenty of rare varieties of corals, fishes, and other aquatic species have been spotted here. Due to the crystal clear water, Netrani Island is considered the best snorkelling and scuba diving site in Karnataka state. Several scuba and snorkelling operators manage these water sports on the island. October to March is considered the best time to visit Netrani Island for water sports. Note: The diving packages start from INR 5000, inclusive of underwater photographs. Do carry proper attire and accessories if you plan to experience the water activities. Checkout these must have snorkelling gear Duration of visit to Murudeshwar The first 5 places listed above are on Murudeshwar Island and can be covered in a couple of hours. The amount of time you spend on Murudeshwar beach and Netrani island purely depends on your interest. So in terms of itinerary, if you start in the morning from a place like Gokarna, Udupi, or Mangalore, you can reach Murudeshwar before noon and cover all places, including adventure sports, on the same day. You can also visit any pending place the next morning. Hence a one-night stay is recommended for Murudeshwar, not just to ensure you have enough time for all activities/places, but also to see the majestic Shiva statue and Gopuram at different times of the day. If you are into photography, you will understand the importance of varying lighting conditions. Here are some of our favourite shots from Murudeshwar clicked at different times of the day - Checkout these cool Shiva themed gifts This article on Murudeshwar will be incomplete without mentioning the name of the person behind all this developmental progress. Mr. R.N. Shetty (RNS), a native of Murudeshwar, has played a big role in modernising the temple town of Murudeshwar. He holds the credit for creating the various monuments like the Shiva statue and Gopuram and the various sculptures in the Murudeshwar temple complex by financing their built-up. Everything that exists on the Kanduka Hill is developed and maintained by Mr. R.N. Shetty. As you roam around Murudeshwar town, you would also find hotels, hospitals, and colleges in his name. Stay options in Murudeshwar, Karnataka While there are plenty of basic accommodation facilities, there are a very limited number of reliable and good options to stay in Murudeshwar. RNS group of hotels owned by Mr. R.N. Shetty provides good accommodation options next to the Murudeshwar temple complex. We stayed at the RNS Residency hotel in a cosy room facing the sea. Our room was comfortably large, with a big balcony overlooking the Arabian Sea. The views from the balcony were breathtaking. Though the hotel is more than 20 years old and you might read mixed reviews on the internet, we highly recommend the RNS Residency as a stay option for all tourists travelling to Murudeshwar. Its location right on the edge of Murudeshwar Island was enough for us to book it. And the facilities we experienced were good enough for the price paid. Also, the restaurant in the hotel serves amazing vegetarian food. If you have a limited budget, you can try the RNS guest house which is right next door to RNS residency and is a little cheaper with lesser facilities. Check out the current prices for RNS Residency, Murudeshwar by clicking the below links Murudeshwar turned out to be a much better place to visit than what we had expected. We are not really much into temples or religion, but the aura of the Shiva statue, the interesting stories behind the place, the well-maintained area, and the location of Murudeshwar Island and our hotel made it for us. We could not help but feel awed by the magnificent structures and sea around us. PIN THESE IMAGES We hope you found our blog on 'Places to visit in Murudeshwar' useful. Have you been to Murudeshwar? How was your experience? Let us know in the comment section below. #India #SouthIndia #Karnataka #BengaluruWeekendOutings #MumbaiWeekendOutings #HyderabadWeekendOutings #PuneWeekendOutings