Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Pushkar Information Guide

Nestled between spectacular mountain ranges and trespassed by a scenic lake, the city of Pushkar is home to a number of tourist attractions. Known as a 'pilgrim city', Pushkar is renowned for Pushkar Temples and serene surroundings that combine to present a perfect holidaying experience.

With The Rajputana Experience, travel to Pushkar becomes all the more interesting and lucrative. The various tourist attractions of Pushkar are straddled around the beautiful Pushkar Lake.

Some major Tourist Attractions In Pushkar :

Pushkar Lake : One of the most sacred sites for Hindus, Pushkar Lake is the most famous tourist attraction in the holy town of Pushkar. It's a beautiful semi-circular lake with 52 lovely ghats surrounding it. According to beliefs, a dip in the Pushkar Lake on the auspicious occasion of Karthik Poornima brings salvation to devotees.

Brahma Temple : It's the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe according to Hindu temple, in all over India. The beautiful marble temple is famous for its four-headed idol of lord Brahma. It's decorated with silver coins and a silver turtle on its black and white chequered floor.

Savitri Temple : Dedicated to goddess Savitri, the first wife of Lord Brahma, it's the second most important temple in Pushkar. Located just behind the Brahma Temple on a hilltop, it provides a panoramic view of the scenic Pushkar Lake and exotic sand dunes nearby.

Rangji or Rangnath Temple : Rangji Temple is known for its gracious south Indian style of architecture. The temple houses a huge image of Lord Vishnu. It has a high rising 'Gopuram' (large gate) and Garuda pillars studded with a mythical bird styled in gold.

Varah Temple : One of the most sacred temples in Pushkar, Varah Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It has an image of Vishnu in the incarnation of wild boar. According to a legend, Lord Vishnu visited the earth in the incarnation of a Varah (Wild boar) to kill an atrocious demon Hirnayaksh.

Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Temple :
The only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma, the universe's creator, is housed in Pushkar, Rajasthan. Standing on a high pedestal, this 14th century temple can be reached through marble steps.

Pushkar Camel Fair :
One of the biggest fairs in India, the cattle fair of Pushkar attracts buyers and sellers from all over the country who travel to Rajasthan to participate in this annual event.

Held in October or November on Kartik Purnima, the five-day Pushkar Fair is the ultimate showcase of the Rajasthan. Cultural performances, folk music and dance, camel and horse races, etc light up the festivities during the fair. It is indeed a boon to travel to Pushkar during the peerless Pushkar Fair.

Apteshwar Temple : Another important temple in Pushkar, this 12th century temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Saraswati Temple : Saraswati is the wife of Brahma. Literally her name means 'the flowing one' . In the Rig Veda she represents a river deity and is connected with fertility and purification.

Ramavaikunth Temple : The Ramavaikunth temple is an intricately carved Hindu temple dating to the 1920 and has images of 361 deities.

Bathing Ghats In Pushkar : Pushkar town is setup around a tiny little lake that has 52 bathing ghats around it and is surrounded by three mountains.

Man Mahal : The Man Mahal palace is very close to the Pushkar lake and Pushkar Temples, as well as within walking distance from here.

Pushkar Palace : Pushkar Palace was built about 400 years ago by the Maharaja of Kishangarh. Situated on the edge of the lake it offers a panoramic view of 400 temples, banks, sand dunes and the Aravalli hills.

How to Reach Pushkar :

By Air : The nearest airport to reach Pushkar is Jaipur Airport, which is about 138 kms from Pushkar. One can get direct flights from /to Delhi and other cities in India.

By Rail : Ajmer is the nearest railway station (about 11kms) and is connected to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Udaipur and Jodhpur by regular trains. Two of the best trains of the Indian Railways, Pink City Express and Shatabdi Express connect Ajmer to Delhi and Jaipur.

By Road : Pushkar has two bus stands--The Marwar bus stand which has buses to some long distance places including Delhi, Jodhpur and Bikaner while the Ajmer bus stand is located east of the Pushkar town and offers bus services to Ajmer and Jaipur. There are regular buses from Pushkar to Ajmer.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Himachal Exotic Tour Package

Duration : 13 Days / 12 Nights
Destinations Covered : Delhi - Chandigarh - Dharamshala - Dal House Manali - Shimla - Delhi

Day - 01 : Delhi
After arrival at international airport transfer to Hotel. Check in hotel. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day - 02 : Delhi
After breakfast departure for Delhi sight seeing. Old Delhi sight seeing include Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Rajghat New Delhi sight-seeing includes Birla Mandir, India Gate, President House, Parliament house, Qutab Minar, Humayun's Tomb, and cannaught place a very famous shopping point. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day - 03 : Delhi - Chandigarh
After breakfast departure to chandigarh (approx 6 hrs.) by road check in Hotel.

Day - 04 : Chandigarh
After breakfast sight seeing in chandigarh, rock Garden, Rose Garden, Museums and art
Galleries, Sukhna lake where you can enjoy boating then very famous pinjore Garden which includes the Rajasthani Mughal style shish mahal Palace. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day - 05 : Chandigarh - Dharamshala
After breakfast departure to Dharamshala (approx 3 hrs.) visit Kangra Art Museum in Dharam Shala and then visit MC lead Ganj 14 Kms. Upper to Dharamshala check in Hotel. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day - 06 : MC leod Gunj
After breakfast departure for sight seeing in MC leod Gunj visit Tsuglagkharig Complex official residence of Dalai Lama, Bhagsu Temple tiund at the foot of dhauia Dhar, st. john church and Tibetan cult\:lred museum evening free for leisure and shopping overnight at the Hotel.

Day - 07 : Dharamshala - Dal House's
After breakfast departure to Dalhousie (approx 3 hrs. Journey) check in Hotel. Later visit Kala top wild life sanctuary, TIbetan market, Lakkd mandi etc. Overnight at Hotel.

Day - 08 : Dal Housie
After breakfast sight seeing to khaji or 22 km. from Dal housie toward chumba the 12th century knajjinag temple has fine woodcarving on the cornices and and forms crude carvings of the fine pandavas, the her 05 of the Mahabharata which were installed in the temple by Raja of Chamba in 16th century. Later in the afternoon visit Lakshmi Temple Brijeshwari Devi Temple bhuri singh Museum Gandhi Gate in the Chamba. Which is an the way to Dalhousie.
Then back to Hotel in Dai housie overnight at the Hotel.

Day - 09 : Dal Housie - Manali
After breakfast departure for Manali (approx 8 hrs. Journey) check in Hotel overnight at the Hotel.

Day - 10 : Manali
After breakfast sight seeing in Manali Dungari Devi temple, Museum of Traditional Himachal culture Gadhan Thekchokling Gompla and visit to old Manali in clouded Maharishi temple there evening free for leisure and shopping /Rohtan G Pass On Request. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day - 11 : Manali - Shimla
Afternoon Breakfast departure to 5himla (approx 6 hrs.) check in Hotel. Overnight stay
at Hotel.

Day - 12 : Shimla
After breakfast visit sightseeing to shimla like Himachal state museum, Viceregal Lodge, Jakhu Temple, Botanical Garden. 51. Michael's Cathedral, Jakhu Temple, Mall Road or Bazaar.
Overnight at the Hotel. Kufri & Chail on request

Day - 13 : Shimla - Delhi
After breakfast departure to Delhi (approx 10 hrs. Journey) reached Delhi and transfer to Airport for onward flight.

Dip In The Hemkund Sarovar

Duration : 09 Nights / 10 Days
Places Covered : Delhi - Rishikesh - Joshimath - Gobindghat - Ghangariya - Hemkund Sabhib - Ghangariya - Joshimath - Rishikesh - Delhi

Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
On arrival, assistance and transfer to hotel. After lunch, half-day visit to Gurdwaras Sisganj, BangIa Sahib and Rakab Ganj. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 02 : Delhi - Rishikesh
After breakfast, drive by car/coach to Rishikesh. Check-in and lunch at hotel. Visit the Laxman Jhoola, Muni-Ki-Reti and the local Gurdwara. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 03 : Rishikesh - Joshimath
After breakfast and a short visit to Gurdwara, drive by car/coach to Joshimath, lunch enroute. Dinner and stay at Tourist Rest House.

Day 04 : Joshimath - Gobindghati - Ghangariya
After breakfast, drive by car/coach to Gobindghat (18kms/l hrs), situated near the confluence of roaring Laxman Ganga and Alaknanda rivers called Vishnu Prayag. Lunch at gurdwara. A 14kms trek us to Ghangariya, the base camp for Hemkund Sahib. Dinner and overnight at Tourist Rest House.

Day 05 : Ghangariay - Hemkund Sahib - Ghangariya
After breakfast, treak to Hemkund Sahib, 4239m above sea-level (5kms/3hrs). Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru of Sikhs, is believed to have mediated here in his previous birth. A gurdwara stands here in his memory on the bank of a sacred lake. Return to Ghangariya for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 06 : Ghangariya - Valley of Flowers - Ghangariya
After breakfast, trek to Valley of Flowers (4kms/2 ½ hrs), carrying packed lunch. Explore the valley and witness the rare Himalayan flora, i.e. Brahm Kamal (Saussurea Obvalata), Himalayan Blue Poppy (Meconnopsis Aculata) and many more. Return to Ghangariya for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 07 : Ghangariya - Gonindghat - Joshimath After breakfast, trek down to Gobindghat. Lunch at Gobindghat and drive back by car/coach to Joshimath for dinner and overnight stay at Tourist Rest House.

Day 08 : Joshimath - Rishikesh

After breakfast, drive by car/coach to Rishikesh. Lunch at Shrinagar's local restaurant. Check-in, dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 09 : Rishikesh - Delhi (230kms/6hrs)
After breakfast, drive by car/coach to Delhi.
Enroute visit Har-Ki-Pauri at Haridwar. After Lunch, continue journey. Check-in, dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 10 : Delhi / Back Home
After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to onward journey/back home.

Kerala Explorer Tour Package

Duration : 9 Days / 8 Nights
Destinations Covered : Cochin, Munnar, Rodo Valley, Suryanelli, Thekeddy, Kumarakom

Day 01 : Cochin
On arrival in Cochin you will be met by our representative and will transfer you to hotel.Visit : The Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Jews Street, St.Francis church, Chinese fishing net & The indo-Portughese Museum. Enjoy a typical kerala meal at the hotel Overnight in Cochin.

Day 02 : Cochin - Munnar
Leave cochin and drive to Munnar the drive is very beautiful with plantations and forests fully coverd with thick green plants 140 km 4 Hrs) arrive munnar and check into hotel evening at leisure, overnight at hotel.

Day 03 Rodo Valley
Leave the resort and take a half an hour drive to the point where the trek begings (near the silent Valley Tea Estate). Start the trek and climb to the mountain ranges to over 7500ft , to the final destination at rodo valley . the guides who accompany the tour from the local community and they know these ranges intimately and have these mountains Ranges their home . the trek passes through brilliant scenes , astride the grassland s and high altitude mountain forests ( called sholas locally) . it is possible to sight wildlife amist these towering mountains- elephant , deer and the endangered Nilgiry Thar .Arrive at camp in for a lat lunch time . Trekking covers between 4 to 6 hrs.

Day 04 Suryanelli
After breakfast hike for 2-3 hrs to reach the peak of Meesapulimala - the second hightest features to reach the world's tea estate - kalukumalai at 7600ft . Around 2-3 hrs walk through the tea estates until the tea hamlet of Suryanelli is reached . Night camp is follows amidst the beauty of the valley and the lake below .

Day 05 Thekeddy
Drive towards the periyar Tiger Reserve . Thise is approximately a 3 hrs drive . En - route you can see the endless forests with cardamom plantation . On arrival at periya , check into a forest cottage at peiyare tiger reserve , the forest cottage is made usong natural materials and amboo.

Day 06 Thekeddy
Early morning , depart for a boating in periyar lake and later experience bamboo rafting expedition on the periyar lake . into the heart of the rain forest . This give you ringside view of the majesty of the rain forests of periyar and an excellent oppourtunity to spot wildlife . A Short trek is also included to help you study the wealth of bio- diversity in a typical rain forest . Return by evening . Overnight stay at the spice village . Breakfast and lunch are included.

Day 07 Kumarakom
Depart periyar for the last part of the journey to discover the backwaters on country made boates , start kayaking by mid afternoon from the jetty pulincunnu and kayak through to the island of kavalam . Kavalam is the earst while headquaters off affluent agrarian families , the majestic homes stand testimony to the grandeur of their part . As you pass along the rivulet , you will come across local people engaged in fishing ,Duck rearing , Shell & Mud collection for the farms , you may also see the traditional to day trapper at work on coconut palms . Evening transfer to Hotel in Kumarakom .

Day 08 Kumarakom
In the morning you have the opportunity to walk around Kumarakom bird sanctuary enjoy watching many bids n their natural habitat. Afternoon Start kayaking once again .

Day 09 Departure
Transfer to Cochin Railway Station / Airport to connect train / flight for return journey.

Kerala Holiday Package

Duration: 3 Nights / 4 Days
Destinations: Cochin - Munnar - Thekkady - Cochin

Day 01 : Cochin - Munnar
Arrival at Cochin. On arrival depart for Munnar (140kms), the beautiful hill station on the Western ghats at about 1600 meters above sea level. On arrival check in at the hotel and the rest you day is at leisure. Overnight at a Hotel of your choice.
Munnar is the center for some of the world's highest tea growing estates. The combination of the craggy peaks, manicured tea estates and Crisp Mountain air makes Munnar a ideal retreat for visitors.

Day 02 : Munnar
After Breakfast explore Munnar, this is town is situated at the confluence of the three mountain streams Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. There are also lakes, reservoirs, forests and several tea estates. A must see is the a visit Eranakulam-Rajamala National Park known for its Nilgiri Thar (a mountain Goat) & it is ideal for trekking, This national park is situated in the Munnar forest division. Later visit the Indo Swiss Dairy Farm project, here are about 100 varieties of high yielding cattle are reared. Visit the rose garden . Opposite the Swiss farm is the Mattupaty Lake a beautiful lake surrounded by an excellent golf course.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03 : Munnar - Thekkady
Morning depart to Thekkady (Periyar 130 kms). On arrival check in at the hotel. Later in the afternoon leave for Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary to board the safari boat to view wildlife in their natural habitat. If your lucky you may see Wild Elephants, king cobra, other reptiles, wild boar, sambar, tiger, leopard, wild dog & monkeys. Return to your hotel for overnight at the hotel .

Day 04 : Thekkady - Cochin
Morning depart to Cochin. (170 kms). Enroute take one of our Optional tours to Kumarakom
or Alleppey or a boat ride down the backwaters.

Special Tour In Uttaranchal

Duration: 4 Nights / 5 Days
Destinations : Delhi– Haridwar– Mussoorie– Delhi

Day 01/ Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi Meet assist at the airport / railway station and transfer to hotel. Later proceed for half day sightseeing tour of Delhi covering Laxmi Narayan Temple, Qutab Minar, India Gate, President house. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 02/ Delhi - Haridwar
Morning after breakfast drive to Haridwar (5 hours drive). On arrival transfer to hotel. Later start for sightseeing covering Ashrams and temples- Mansa Devi and Chamunda Devi etc. Evening watch the Aarti on Har ki Pauri. Night stay in Haridwar.

Day 03/ Haridwar - Mussoorie
Morning after breakfast drive to Mussoorie enroute visit Rishikesh visiting the Laxman Jhoola. On arrival transfer to hotel. Rest of the day is free to explore various scenic sights or visit mall road. Night stay in Mussoorie.

Day 04/ Mussoorie
Morning proceed for sightseeing of Mussoorie and Falls. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Evening at leisure. Night stay in Mussoorie.

Day 05/ Mussoorie - Delhi
Morning drive to Delhi (7 hours). Arrive Delhi and transfer to airport/railway station for onward destination.

Uttaranchal Pilgrimage Tour Packages

Duration: 05 Nights / 06 Days
Destinations: Delhi - Haridwar - Rishikesh - Delhi

Day 01 : Delhi
After arrival at Airport/Railway Station in Delhi, Grand Tours India Representatives will greet you and your family. Then you will be escorted to the hotel pre-booked for you. Spending for some times at hotel in comforts, leave hotel for sightseeing of Delhi city including Birla Temple, Chattarpur Temple, Lotus Temple and Iskon Temple. Dinner and overnight stay will be at hotel.

Day 02 : Haridwar
Have a hearty morning breakfast at hotel and the drive to Haridwar- the gateway to God. Upon arrival in Haridwar, Grand Tours India Representatives will assist you to transfer to the hotel. Watch the AARTI in the evening & visit to Temple. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the hotel.

Day 03 : Haridwar - Rishikesh
Early Morning visit to the holy Ghats. Take bath in the Holy Ganga. It is said that taking bath here purifies the soul and opens the way for the ultimate freedom, Nirvana. Then breakfast at the Hotel. Later, Depart for Rishikesh. Upon arrival in Rishikesh, Grand Tours India Representatives will assist you to transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the Hotel.

Day 04 : Rishikesh
After hearty morning breakfast depart from Hotel for full day sightseeing of Rishikesh including Bharat Temple, Rishi Kund & Raghunath Temple, Laxman Jhoola, Swarg Ashram, Gita Bhawan and Parmath Nikentan, Sadanand Temple, Triveni Ghat and Kailash Ashram. Drive back to Delhi in the evening. Upon arrival in Delhi, Grand Tours India Representatives will assist you to transfer you to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the Hotel.

Day 05 : Delhi
After hearty morning breakfast, enjoy full day sightseeing of Delhi City including Qutub Minar, Delhi Haat, Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid & Red Fort (Light and Sound Show) in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the Hotel.

Day 06 :Delhi
After hearty breakfast, Grand Tours India Representatives will assist you to drop you at Airport/ Railway Stn. Delhi for your home destination.