Richest Temples (Devalayas) in India

A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism. A characteristic of most temples is the presence of murthis (statues) of the Hindu deity to whom the temple is dedicated. They are usually dedicated to one primary deity, the presiding deity, and other deities associated with the main deity. However, some temples are dedicated to several deities, and others are dedicated to murtis in an aniconic form. Many temples are in key geographical points, such as a Hill Top, near Waterfalls, Caves and rivers, because some believe the Puranas mention that "the gods always play where groves are near rivers, mountains, and springs. In those top mandirs, I am listing out few top temples that always having visitors (devotees) flow.

1)      Thiruvananthapur Ananthapadmanabha swami temple

2)      Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam:

3)      Shirdi – Maharashtra:

4)      Siddivinayaka temple – Mumbai:

5)      Golden temple - Amritsar

Ladakh

Honeymoon in the monsoon months

Are you recently married or planning to get married in these monsoon months? After marriage you certainly would like to go out with your newlywed partner for a sweet honeymoon in some corner of India? 

The answer from your side is certainly yes! But you are little confused and puzzled about your destination,  right! As most of the places in India are blessed with rain in these months of monsoon, you cannot go out freely. I believe, regular travelers too do not like these months of monsoon as it creates lots of inconvenience while traveling.

But do not worry there are many places in the northern India which do not get affected by this south-west monsoon. So plan for your trip to those places of India where you will not get caught up with rain.

In the valleys of Kashmir there is a place named Ladakh. Not much explored, but a place where the pristine beauty of nature will endear you. Here is a place where you can commune with God Himself.

Ladakh is wedged between Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas in the south. Ladakh or Kashmir as a whole can be your best destination for touring or honeymooning in between the months of June to September in India. That is if you do not like rains.

Ladakh, situated at an altitude of around 3500 m and shadowed by the world’s highest peaks, is really a land of pristine beauty. The presence of white crowned high mountains all around makes the flowing river look tiny, along with glistening glaciers making their way through this picturesque land of Ladakh.  

Being sparsely populated area and not much ventured by the tourists, this place is still maintaining its natural beauty.

 Ladakh hardly receives any water from the rain; the main source of water in this place is the snow-melted water.  The same water is used for irrigation through small streams, which is preferred by the farmers than rain water.

This land of many passes has Buddhist monasteries all around, which are really worth visiting. Other than the mesmerizing surroundings, the serene and peaceful atmosphere of the monasteries is so relaxing that it makes you forget all your worries.After this meditation hour of the morning, you can go for different outdoor activities like white water rafting, trekking, jeep safaris and mountaineering.

Shopaholics and foodies don’t worry.There are lots of things in your store too. The place is well known for the Ladhaki artifacts. 

So you can shop Ladhaki artifacts such as Buddhist relics, Pashmina and Cashmere shawls and stoles. Foodies can savour the varieties of Ladhaki, Kashmiri, Tibetan and European dishes, which the place is well known for.

While visiting Ladakh, the nearby places that you can include in your itinerary are Leh, Khardung-La ,Zanskar, Nubra valley and Panamik.

So I think I have given one solution to your problem of choosing the destination. So what are you waiting for? Plan for your trip and make the arrangements right now.

One moment, sorry! I have forgotten to tell you of how to reach the place and the precautions to be taken while travelling.

There is an airport in Ladakh’s capital Leh, in which services are provided by Indian Airlines. From the airport there are regular buses and shared jeep- taxies to take you to your destination.

There is no rail facility in Ladakh, you can go there only by flight or buses. Now hurry up!  Book your stay and flight as soon as possible, as the flights and hotels are usually full in the summer months.

Some Precautionary Measures:

• As Ladakh is situated at a great height you may feel sick on the first day, as body takes time to acclimatize with the surroundings, so you can consult your doctor before starting the tour for the remedy.
• Though you are visiting in summer, you need to carry woolen garments, as the atmosphere is quite cool there.
• Do not eat much before travelling by road to Ladakh, as you may get nausea while travelling through the hilly roads.

Courtesy : http://blog.hoparoundindia.com

Cherrapunji, This Monsoon

Under the cover of clouds lies this green and wet city of Meghalaya named as Cherrapunjee. It is in the terrain of East Khasi Hills district, at around 4,800 feet above the sea level with its floor always remaining wet. Just 60 Km away from the capital city of Shillong, located in the latitude of 25.30◦ N and longitude of 91.70◦ E and at an elevation of 1484 m above sea level, this city of Cherrapunjee is always engulfed in clouds Standing 600 meters above the surrounding valleys, viewing the plains of Bangladesh, Cherrapunjee lies in the southern part of East Khasi Hills, which is at Indo-Bangladesh border. Cherrapunjee has rich physical features; it gets rain throughout the year, which keeps the surrounding cool and green. The continuous rain give rise to numerous waterfalls which are really pleasing to our eyes and on the other side it has many caves, which will certainly make our blood run cold while caving.

The original name of Cherrapunjee is Sohrapoonjee. The natives of this place call Cherrapunjee as Sohra. Sohra got its name from Soh and rah, in the loacal Khasi language "Soh" means fruit and "Rah" means carry. The people of Cherrapunjee bring fruit from the neighboring villages to sell it in Sohra market. The head village from where the tribal chief rules his terrain is referred as 'Poonjee' in local language. . That is how Cherrapoonjee got its name as Sohrapoonjee. The Britishers could not pronounce Sohrapoonjee, so they named it as Cherrapoonjee.  Secondly as the place has orange groves all around, it got the name as Cherrapunjee, which means the land of oranges.

Lying on the lap of East Khasi Hills, this place is truly nature's blessing as it experiences only monsoon season throughout the year with lush green surroundings. It receives an average annual rainfall of 11,777 mm. For receiving the highest rainfall of 22,987 mm in a year between August 1860 and July 1861 and for highest rainfall of 9,300 mm in the month of July 1861, it proudly holds two Guinness world records respectively. The amazing fact about rainfall in Cherapoonji is that, it rains mostly in the night, so it hardly affects the daily routine. As it receives both southwest and northeast monsoonal winds, this place experiences monsoon season throughout the year. The average temperature of the place is 11.5◦C in January and 20.6◦C in July. The annual mean temperature is 17.3◦C. The upward movement of air from lower altitude to higher altitude enhances the precipitation process as water vapor get condensed into water droplets quickly, creating clouds, which results in high humidity.

The reasons for plentiful rain in Cherrapunjee are:

1.Elevation: Due to its high elevation above the sea level, the atmosphere is quite cool here and when the moisture laden air blows above this valley, it gets condensed and form clouds, which results in rain later.

2.Monsoons: The second reason for heavy rainfall is the continual supply of monsoon winds loaded with moisture, for six months through this land.

This place is famous for its orange groves, orange honey and the limestone caves. Best quality of oranges and pineapples are produced here. These oranges are the ancestors of the famous Nagpuri oranges. It is the proper place for the botanists as it houses rare orchids, ferns and moss. Very unusual "Living Root Bridges", which last hundreds of years pull the tourists towards this destination.

The place is mostly inhabited by the Khasi people, having unusual social system where the females are the dominant members of the family or the head of the family is female and the family name is derived from maternal side. The native language of this place is Khasi, and the people of this place are mostly Christians. For writing Khasi people use Roman script.

Each and every state or place of India has its own specific traditional attire, so how come Cherrapunjee be without that.

Jymphong is the traditional dress for men, which is a long sleeveless coat without collar, tightened to the body with the help of laces in front. They wear Jymphong and Sarong with an attractive band around waist along with a turban on their head in various ceremonies.

Jainsem and Dhara are the traditional attires of the females. Both of them are made of several pieces of cloth, which gives the body a cylindrical shape. A crown of silver or gold with a spike or peak on their forehead adds on to their beauty in some ceremonial occasions. Jainsem has two pieces of material tied at each shoulder whereas Dhara has only one piece of material to be tied on each shoulder. The dressing styles of Khasis are quite influenced by the Welshs. Cherrapunjee and Shillong have become easily accessible to the foreign nationals through the land entry point at Dawki or Tamabil from Bangladesh.

The amazing fact about Cherrapunjee is that, though it rains throughout the year , there is an acute shortage of potable water during the winter months when there is less rain or no rain. The main reason for this is that there is no absorption of water underground due to its deforested hills made of limestone, which allows free fast flow of rain water without any hindrance.

Economy:

• The occupation of most of the people of Cherapunjee is mining. They usually mine coal, limestone and sand in unplanned ways using unscientific methods, which is leading to poor quality of potable water in some places.
• Though it rains throughout the year the economy is not agrarian, as the top soil gets washed away due to heavy rains, the soil is not rich in humus. Due to this reason, people are encroaching into the forest.
• Due to its scenic beauty and still being pollution free, this place is gaining popularity among the tourists, so the economy of the place depends on tourism too.
• In 1960 Mawmluh Cherra Cements Ltd, a Government of India undertaking started to develop this place with the available resources of limestone and coal mineral. This factory gave employment opportunity to the youngsters of this place and was able to remove poverty by transfusing money into the local economy.

The locals of the place are mostly dependent on Government jobs, as the jobs in private sector go to the nationals of Bangladesh and Bhutan, who illegally enter India through the border as they become available in very low wages.

Flora and Fauna of Cherrapunjee:

The land of continuous rain Cherrapunjee, having lush green surroundings, is holding enormous natural treasures within itself to be proud of. The varieties of flora and fauna in Cherrapunjee are the lush green canopies standing on the mountains and in the valleys, rocky hills, and untamed rivers. Cherrapunjee is considered as botanists' paradise as it has various collections of ferns, moss plants, dense woody forest and having a treasure of colourful and exceptional variety of orchids. The place is well known for the orchards of pineapple and oranges too.

You can catch the sight of varieties of birds in and around Cherrapunjee. Winters is the best time for birding as the birds from Siberia, China, Tibet and from other parts of Himalayas, migrate to this place for their comfortable stay. The resident birds are hornbills, king vultures, eagle,teals, quails etc. The animals which can be traced in this hilly region are elephants, tigers, leopard, jackal, bear, golden langurs etc.

Market in Cherrapunjee:

The market put up in Cherrapunjee is not like the markets of other places. Here the market place becomes the point of socializing other than buying and selling of different things. There are two types of market Iewbah and Iewrit meaning big market and small market respectively. Iewbah is put up once in 8 days and Iewrit is held on the 4^th day of Iewbah.

The main market in Cherapunjee is Cherra bazaar, stocked with different handicraft items made by the locals and orange honey, along with daily usable items.

There are different sections for the fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, iron implements for agriculture, bamboo baskets, bakery products and various other things of human need. The market scene is really colorful, with different colored consumer products along with customers in different colored rain wears and umbrellas adding to the beauty of the market place.

On the market days the roads are full of traffic with crowded buses and Ambassador taxis moving through the roads in snail pace, shuttling passengers to and fro from nearby villages to the market and back. The tourists going to Cherrrapunjee must visit the market place on the market days to know better about the lifestyle of the locals there.

The strange thing about the place is that there is 100% attendance in all the offices on these market days. On other days the offices are taken care by handful of workers and they are hardly bothered to get full salary at the end of the month. By these entire scenes one can understand the reason of slow pace growth of the place.

Festival: Cherapunjee Indigenous Festival: This 4 day long festival is held every year from 8^th to 11^th of December in Laitmawsiang of Cherrapunjee. The main intention to hold this festival is to highlight the traditional art and culture of Meghalaya. For maximum participation, there are free bus services from Shillong to Laitmawsiang after each hour. For the visitors coming from across India, there are facilities of temporary accommodations nearby, in huts and tents.

As music is in the blood of North Eastern Indians, it holds National Level Rock competition on 10^th of December of every year, where the prize money is Rs 150,000 for the winner and 30,000 for the runners up.

To keep the visitors of different age groups engaged and have fun, there are various competitions held along with Archery, the traditional sport of North East.  Shopaholics, foodies and admirers of art and craft get hooked to this place due to Traditional Kashi Exhibition and sale of different art and craft materials and traditional food joints. If you have any requirement of herbal medicines, you can grab them from the herbal medicine stalls put up there. This is the biggest festival of Meghalaya.

Cherapunjee is 11.7 Km away from Mawsynram, 60 Km away from the state capital Shillong and 181 Km from the Assam Capital Guwahati.

For Attractions of Cherrapunji Visit www.hoparoundindia.com

Hop Around India's July Newsletter

Doctor's Day – July 1st

Doctors are like God in the heaven on earth. Doctor's Day is celebrated on July 1st in India; this celebration took place in 1991, the birth anniversary as well as the death anniversary of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy the legendary physician and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal He started many institutions, hospitals and was fully dedicated to the upliftment of Indian society, and he was honored with highest civilian award Bharat Ratna on February 4, 1961. The official symbol of Doctors Day was red carnation because this color of flower depicts

Guru Purnima – July 3rd

"Guru is revered as Brahma, the creator of Universe; as Vishnu their preserver of the Universe, and also as Siva, the destroyer. He is the source of the Absolute. I offer all my salutations to the Guru. (In India, Guru is considered as important as the Trinity of God's Lord Vishnu, Siva and Brahma and as the supreme source of Knowledge and Destroyer of Ignorance. My salutations to such a Guru).This holy day is celebrated in ashada (full moon day) as per Hindu calendar that falls in the month of July. This celebration is honoring the great saint Vyasa, who compose the four Vedas and wrote 18 puranas in Mahabharata and the srimad Bhagavata.Guru Purnima also called as "Vyasa Purnima".

Champakulam Boat Race – July 3rd 

The Champakulam Moolan Boat Race is the most popular vallam kali (snake boat race) in kerala. The race is held on the river Pamba on Moolam day of the Malayalam month Midhunam, The day of the installation of the divinity at theAmbalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple in Alappuzha District.

Nagg panchami – July 23rd

Naggpanchami is celebrated on the fifth day after Amavasya of the month of Shraavana(July). This day all steady snakes come out of their holes that get flooded with rain water to seek shelter in gardens and sometimes in houses, serpents are adore on this day. This holy day all married women and unmarried girls will wake up early morning and take head bath, set necessary things for puja and reach the nearest Snake's home. They offer puja and milk to the serpent's home and pray to Snake God for the wellness of their Brothers and their families.

Parents Day – July 24th

"We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves" Parent's day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July in many countries. 'Parents Day' was officially established by former US president, Bill Clinton, in 1994. During his presidential term in the White House, Clinton felt that although fathers' day and mothers' day were in existence, he strongly felt the urge of having a specific day to commemorate the effort of both the parents together in raising a child. The fourth Sunday of July was declared as 'National Parents Day'. They play important role in the development of a child by directing them to become a mature and responsible citizen and led a comfortable life. Parents are a first teacher, well-wisher, mentor, role-model and protector to their children. Hats off to their unconditional love and hard work.

Destination of the month : Shimoga Kalpetta

If you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at info@hoparoundindia.com Newsletter July-2012 Copyright@ All rights reserved with www.hoparoundindia.com


Courtesy : Hop Around India

Mandu Madhya Pradesh

Mandu city is a ruined city located in the Dhar district in the Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh state, central India. With Geographical Coordinates 22°20′7″N 75°24′57″E, Mandi or Mandavgarh is situated at an elevation of 633 meters (2079 feet) and extends for 13 km along the crest of the Vindhya Range, overlooking the valley of the Narmada River to the south and the plateau of Malwa to the north which acted as natural defenses to this place.

Mandu was originally known as the fortified city in 6th Century. It was later named Mandhavgarh in the 10th or 11th century by the rulers of the Parmara kingdom. In the year 1261, capital of the Parmaras was transferred from Dhar to Mandu. In 1305, the Parmars were captured by the Khiljis. Allauddin Khilji named the city as Shadiabad, meaning the ‘City of Joy and happiness’.

 Mandavagarh, popularly known as Mandu is presently about 35 km from Dhar. In the 11th century, Mandu was the sub division of the Tarangagadh or Taranga kingdom. This fortress town on a rocky outcrop about 100 km from Indore is celebrated for its fine architecture. Mandavgarh is famous for its amazing fort which is 82 km in perimeter and is considered to be the biggest in India. It contains the ruins of palaces, ornamented canals, baths, pavilions etc. The fort was once the monsoons retreat of the Mughal emperors. Mandu was built in keeping with the regional style of Islamic architecture. The city is full of battered walls, bold but ascetic masonry and the prominent use of colour, of which only traces now remain, are the distinguishing features of this style. There are fading glazed patterns, tiles and inlay work of semi-precious stones now can be seen in bad condition which serve as reminders of lost glory. The fortifications of Mandu, built from debris and rocks, originally extended 59.5 km in circumference around the plateau. Kakra Khoh, the canyon that surrounds the hilltop, can be crossed via a causeway with steps providing ample scope for defense movement. Within this boundary wall are two more fortified enclosures to protect the royal palaces. One of them circles the Royal Enclave and another protects the palace of Baz Bahadur.

The way to the complex is from the north through a series of gates: the Alamgiri Gate, Bhangi Gate and Kamani Gate. After the Bhangi Gate the road branches odd to the Delhi Gate and Gadi Gate. The Delhi Gate built in 1405-07 is the main entrance to the fort. It is a steep path that bends sharply into a long gateway with low steps for elephants. It ends to guardrooms. The city has over 40 monuments. The buildings of Mandu can be divided into six distinct groups. Starting from the Delhi Gate, they are: the Royal Enclave, the group around the village, the Sagar Talao group, the Rewa Kund group, the group between the Sagar Talao and the village, and finally, a group of miscellaneous monuments.

Mandu is about 35 km from Dhar and is about 90 km from Indore.

More City Guides @ www.hoparoundindia.com

Top 10 Tips For India First-Timers

Undoubtedly, India continues to remain one of the most visited travel destinations in world. Travelling has become easier for its visitors especially foreigners who find it a lot less taxing than the earlier times. Although, the Govt. has taken ample measures to promote tourism and travelling a pleasure but still a travellers is skeptical about backpacking to India.

Whatever be your trip agenda to India, going to India for the first time can be a lot more pleasant if you follow these ten tips...

1. Know your place(s)- Browse thru some of the popular travel sites on the net and get as much related information about the place(s), attractions, culture, people, weather, etc.you plan to travel. Offhand information always helps.

2. Have a travel itinerary- It's always good to have one if you plan to avail a tour package. If not, it's not bad to go all by yourself as you may end up saving a lot of money. Have enough buffer of time in case you have a bad travel day due to unforeseen circumstances. Have an alternative option in place if you do not plan to avail a package deal.

3. Book early -Booking your room in advance in a hotel or lodge can really make your trip pleasant. If you buy a package, chances are high that you may get a hotel also booked along with it, or else see that you book it online after checking the check-in, check-out time, facilities, reviews and ratings provided by other users.

4. Travel light-The lighter you travel the better your journey. A backpack should suffice with bare minimums as you need not hire a 'Coolie' if you are travelling light. Locals may not worry you to carry your luggage if you have just a backpack.If not you may end wasting a lot of time bargaining.

5. Hiring Taxis & Autos -This a common sight if you have just got out of a train, flight or bus. You will see a volley of cab and auto drivers asking you- 'KahaanJaanaHai?' meaning- 'Where do you want to go?' Never fall prey to them as they will charge you exorbitantly. It's always better to contact the nearest tourism center or policeman who can help you get to your destination in the best possible way.

6. Food stuff & water - Always carry some snacks that are light on your tummy. Check out on some of the restaurants nearby which offer good hygienic food. Vegetarian food should be on your preference list instead of non-vegs.Can go for specialtiesif the place has to offer. Mineral water is a must while travelling in India, so check the bottles and seals before purchasing as some may turn out to be local brands which should be avoided.

7. Have the local phone no's-Make sure to carry all local important phone numbers(Police, Tourist Center, etc.) of the place you plan to visit, these may come in very handy if needed.

8. Carry minimum cash- Plastic money should suffice while travelling in India;most of the places accept credit and debit cards. Try carrying minimum cash.

9. Entry fees -Try checking out attractions if there is an entry fees or not, as some may have and some won't but it's always good to check from the tourism authorities. Cameras and videos also need to be checked as some of the religious attractions may not permit.

10. Best time to travel - Make a note of the best time to visit the place or attraction. It is always advisable to see places in India during the winter season which happens to be from October to March. 

More Articles @ www.hoparoundindia.com

Sabarimala Kerala

LORD AYYAPPA, is also called as “HARIHARAPUTHRA” and commonly known as “MANIKANDAN”, his divine parents tied a golden bell around his neck, as per legend of his birth. The presiding supreme deity of Sabari Hills is worshipped by millions of devotees. Ayyappan's origin is uncertain, but is sometimes believed to be an incarnation of Dharma Sasta, who is the offspring of Shiva and Vishnu (as Mohini, in his female form). Sabarimala is located in very deep and dense forests and the devotees who wear Ayyappa maala for the first time are called as Kanne ayyapan’s and they will walk to Peddha Paadam for darshan. And chinna paadam is mandatory which is around 15 km situated on the top hill.

                As there was river with a continuous flowing called “pamba” and lord ganapathi was settled in the form of “Pamba Ganapathi”, the young daughter, Leela, of Kalari Panicker fell in love with Ayyappa. She requested for proposal. But Ayyappan turned down her request as being a Brahmachari. As she was offered her seat as “Maalikappurathamma” On a condition Ayyappan promised her that he would marry if incase there is no Kanni Ayyappans (First time pilgrims with iru-mudi) to come to Sabarimala then he would marry her, It is mandatory, every Kanni Ayyappan should deposit Saram (arrow of soft wood) at Saramkuthy as a mark of their arrival. A visit to Sabarimala brings to the devotees' contentment, spiritual upliftment, prosperity and fulfillment of devotees' desires and wishes. The months of Kaartika / Vrishchika, Maargazhi / Dhanur (15 Nov - 15 Jan) are most auspicious for Sabarimala pilgrimage. Lord ayyappa will appear as Makara jyoti on Saturday, maargazi panchami in uttara nakshatram.  As a gracious in Vrischika, Dhanur and Makara (Nov, Dec & 1st half of January) months, sabari hills celebrated with Mandala puja.

                Total Sabarimala is sourrounded by lush topical jungles and 18 hills. One should visit this temple once in their lifetime.

Read More Blogs @ http://blog.hoparoundindia.com

Leh, This Monsoon

Apart from the scenic splendour, pleasant weather and diversified international history, Leh also has to offer mind and body challenging activity such as trekking. The city takes advantage of its surrounding hills and mountains of rock and snow. Scaling a rocky or snowy sloping terrain has been challenging for body and mind in terms of stretching the limits of physical fitness (that too against gravity as opposed to flat terrain walking) and mental determination to continue the path when one hits a road block. You can avail of both structured and organized trekking trails as well as random ones from the city of Leh. Trekking trails from Leh can be as short as daylong or extend upto a few weeks depending on the routes and time you wish to invest in this activity.

Few of the longer, established and organized popular and strenuous trekking trails originating at Leh are:

1. The Nubra Valley Trek - could take about 3 weeks round trip.
2. The Indus Valley Trek - takes about 2 weeks round trip.
3. The Markha Valley Trek - could take about 10 days round trip.
4. The Zanskar Valley Trek – could take about 2 weeks round trip.
5. The Suru Valley Trek – could take about 3 weeks round trip.
6. Khardung La Trek – can be done in 4 days round trip.

To know more about Leh visit www.hoparoundindia.com

5 Indian States to travel this Monsoon

Gone are the days when anyone would advise you not to travel during the monsoons in India. The travel concept has changed over the years as many travellers wait for the arrival of the monsoons to explore places which offer them enough excitement to make it a memorable experience. 

Though India offers plenty exciting destinations but here we have listed out our top 5 states which are a must to travel in India during the monsoon season with minimal hiccups.

1. Jammu & Kashmir: Not the Kashmir Valley but just the region of Leh & Ladakh, which is a part of the Indus Valley and lies in the far flung corner of northern India. This remote place has some of the most exciting popular tourist destinations since it was opened in 1974, especially for adventure sport lovers.

2. Uttarakhand:This northern state comes alive during the monsoons. A part of the Himalayan kingdom, Uttarakhand has some stunning landscape, sanctuaries, hill stations and trekking destinations. Not to forget the river rafting which can be risky but with all the safety gears available is worth the effort.

3. Kerala: God's own country, how true! During the rains Kerala is the place to be for everyone. The place invites you with open arms to enjoy its natural beauty and its unique safaris in the national parks and backwaters by boat, making it a very peaceful place to be. They say- One can smell the real fragrance of Kerala during the monsoons.

Kerala's rainy season is ideal for Ayurvedic treatment as the atmosphere is cool, moist and dust free enabling your body to rejuvenate, naturally!

4. Goa:Although not recommended to enjoy the sun, sand and surf during the monsoon, Goa offers lot more than just beaches. Being part of Goa's spectacular sceneries and vibrant monsoon festivals can be an experience by itself. You can go fishing if you like and be a part of the dance and music of the locals. 

Goa can be affordable during monsoons as you can get attractive hotel deals during this time of the year before the peak season approaches and the prices shoot up.

5. Madhya Pradesh:This might be a surprise, but yes, it's true that this statein central India offers plenty of destinations to be explored. Sanctuaries can be a sticky affair, Khajuraho, Mandu near Indore, Bedhaghat near Jabalpur and Pachmarhi with all its splendid waterfalls leave you mesmerized. Following the Narmada Riverand the sporting adventures that it offers can make your monsoon memorable.

To know more, visit us @ www.hoparoundindia.com

Skiing Narkanda

Skiing is a major reason for tourists to visit Narkanda.  Skiing is organized in the month of December - March each year as this is the time when the slopes are fully covered with ice. There are different slopes here that are suited for beginners as well as experienced skiers.

Skiing Place at Narkanda

People are of the opinion that only athletes can do skiing. To break this thought the HPTDC has taken initiative to extend the sport to common man. They have started conducting many courses in skiing at Narkanda. They have qualified instructors trained by the Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports. They impart training to students under a designed 7 day program from 10th January to March, every year. The training Gears and equipment too are provided by them.

They guide the students to proper exercising pattern so that they are able to do the sport appropriately and safely.

Half a km from Narkanda bus stand is a place called Dhumri which is a famous ski slope and attracts large number of tourists in winters on its gentle slopes.

More Narkana info @ www.hoparoundindia.com

What to carry while traveling during Monsoons?

1. A large sized umbrella of good quality.

2. Dark color clothes should be worn so that mud spots cannot be seen which get splashed while walking.

3. Put on short trousers, to avoid the trouser getting wet from the bottom.

4. Now-a- days you get shoes which are suitable for all types of weather, you can put on those shoes or you can go for rubber sandals or shoes which are made only for rainy season. Gumboots or Wellington boots are the best for this season but they may not be handy while travelling.

5. A small first aid box to be carried with antiseptic solution or cream, a ball of cotton, band aids or plasters, bandages etc.

6. A full size raincoat or two pieces rain coat will be the best choice if you are walking on the road or travelling on a bike.

7. A water proof back pack to carry different stuffs required for travelling like a change of clothes, a hand towel, hair dryer, first aid box, and some other emergency items.

8. Stagnant water is the breeding ground of mosquitoes and during monsoon water gets stored in many pockets, which result in increase in number of mosquitoes in the surroundings. So mosquito repellent must be carried.

9. If you are staying in some budget hotels, then carrying mosquito net is the best idea.

10. Avoid eating roadside food during monsoon specially, as the carrier of germs flies also increase in number.

11. If you want to attend some special programme, (especially ladies) you must put on water proof make up.

11. A special care should be taken in case of drinking water.

12. Light woolen garments can be carried, as the atmosphere sometimes may become cold.

Courtesy :-- www.hoparoundindia.com

The Hyderabad Bonalu

Origin of Bonalu festival

The festival history has started in 1813 in hyderabad and secuderabad. plegu disease broke out in Hyderabad around that time claiming thousands of lives. People believed that the disease was the result of the anger of Mother Goddess.So peaple offered bonalu(Bojanalu) to Mother Goddess Mahankali.

The festival’s history can be traced to as recent as the 18th century, unlike most other festivals whose ancestry can be traced back to the hoary past. The story has it that in 1813, Suriti Appaiah, a ‘doli’ bearer in a military battalion, was transferred to Ujjain. Cholera broke out in Hyderabad around that time claiming thousands of lives.

Appaiah and his associates went to the Mahankaal temple in Ujjain and prayed that if people were saved from the epidemic, they would install the idol of Mahankali in Secunderabad. On their return, they installed a wooden idol of the goddess in Secunderabad in July 1815. This was replaced with a stone statue in 1964.

Following brahminical traditions, all hoary Hindu festivals are marked by astrological precision: their timings marked in terms of the sun/moon entering certain constellations in certain months. But Bonalu is a festival of the farming and lower classes and is certainly not brahminical. So the timing of the celebrations is not so rigorous

Where and When in hyderabad

Bonalu is celebrated in various parts of the city on different days, all Sundays. On the 1st Sunday of “Ashaada”, celebrations are held at the temple at Golconda fort. On the 2nd Sunday, at Ujjain Mahankali in Secunderabad, and the 3rd Sunday, at the Matheswari temple of Lal Darwaza in Old City.

Bonalu

Bonalu involves the worship of Kali and her various forms. She destroys disease and keeps pestilence at arms length. Three deities Maisamma, Pochamma and Elamma, are worshipped. The performances are marked by an element of aggression. Potharaju, a masculine power, is believed to weed out all evils. During Bonalu, colourful brass pots, smeared with haldi and kumkum, and decorated with neem leaves are offered to the goddess. The pots usually contain a mixture of raw rice, jiggery, and milk. Sometimes, curd is also used. 

The Ritual

Earlier they used to sacrifice a male-buffalo. Now goats and chickens are sacrificed to ward off the ‘evil spirit’ Women carrying Bonalu are believed to possess the spirit of Mother Goddess, and when they go towards the temple, people pour water on their feet to pacify the spirit.

On the first day of Bonalu, phalaram bandlu, a buffalo cart, laden with fruits is taken around (phalaru means fruits and bandlu, carts)

Rangam

Rangam, or Forecasting of the Future, Women under spell foretell the year ahead when devotees ask about the future. On the second day of the festival, a ritual known as ‘rangam’ is held. Here, a woman stands on a wet clay pot and makes predictions. This is held mostly between8.30 am and 9.30. An hour later, a procession is taken out on an elephant up to Mettuguda. Earlier, Mettuguda was the border of the city. To this day, the tradition continues.

More info @ www.hoparoundindia.com

A Trip to Nameri

Nameri National Park is a Government-protected area which is situated at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas - 45 kms north of Tezpur - the District Headquarters of Sonitpur District in Assam.

Eco Camp - Nameri National Park

Located at 27°0′36″N 92°47′24″E, Nameri National Park shares its northern boundary with Arunachal Pradesh's Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary and together both Nameri and Pakhui encompass more than 1000 square kilometres of reserves. Nameri alone protects 344 square kilometres of forest area.

Jia _ Bhoreli river ( Nameri National Park)

The Protected areas that constitute Nameri National Park are Core Area (200 sq. kms); Segment of Naduar Reserve Forests Tezpur Sub Division (80 sq. kms); Buffer Area (64 sq. kms) which total to 344 square kilometres.

The third National Park of Assam State, Nameri National Park has several rivers flowing through it - the biggest one being the 'Jia Bharali' River which is one of the major tributaries of River Brahmaputra. Jia Bharali River flows from the Lower Himalayas through Arunachal Pradesh State and then enters into Assam State at Bhalukpong and runs through Nameri National Park.

The other rivers that zigzag Nameri National Park are all tributaries of Jia Bharali River namely Diji, Dinai, Doigurung, Nameri, Dikorai and Khariet. Apart from the rich Alluvial soil deposits that these rivers perennially bring to Nameri National Park, during the monsoons the rivers swell up immensely and makes this whole terrain inaccessible which helped Nameri National Park forest area to flourish.

Read full story @ www.hoparoundindia.com