7. KULLU

Capital town of the Kullu District, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, the hill station of Kullu is located along the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley at around 10km northwards of the airport at Bhuntar. Sprawled amid the fascinating Kullu valley, it has the mighty Himalayas for its backdrop. The several temples and the yearly Dussehra festival attract huge number of tourists both in the form of devotees as well as sheer travelers.

Kullu gives you major options of tourism as there are numerous tourist attractions in Kullu and around the town as well. The scenic beauty of the place will prove to be the main attraction on your tour to Kullu. Set amid the lower base of the Himalayas, this small town offers breathtaking views of valleys like Ani, Manikaran, Korpan, Lug, Banjar, Garsa, several apple orchards, and the imposing Himalayan ranges all of which go on to create a captivating atmosphere for the tourists.

Kullu is well-known for its temples and festivals. The main tourist interest of Kullu is the Raghunath Temple, devoted to Lord Ram, who is one of the important deities of the Hindus in general and the patron deity of the whole Kullu valley. It was built by Raja Jagat Singh, the former ruler of Kullu, in 1660 to amend for his sins. He got an idol of Lord Ram from Ayodhya and established it within the premises of this temple. Jagannathi Devi Temple or the Bekhli temple is at a distance of 3 km from Kullu and is sited in the village of Bekhli. It is a steep 1½ hour ascent to the temple, but it provides a wonderful view of Kullu which is worth the climb.

Among the festivals celebrated widely in Kullu are Malani, Phalguni, Shahri Jatra and Birshu. Kullu Valley, also referred to as the “Valley of Gods”, is renowned for the seven day festival of Dussehra, a festivity of the mythological Lord Rama’s victory over the evil king Ravana.

 Kullu is also a major hub of Himalayan Adventure Sports activities. Kullu Valley is recognized all over the world for Heliskiing. This sport is generally arranged near Bhrigu peaks in the Hamta pass. Solang Nala is also another convenient venue for the sport. You can enjoy the thrill of river rafting through the rough waters of River Beas.

Other places of tourist interest in the region include Manikaran and Vashisht village near Manali (hot water springs) at 40 km north of Kullu. Malana, Kaish-Dhaar in Lug Valley, Bijli Mahadev, Bhekhli and Bajaura are dotted with the famous temples of the area. Towards the north lies the eminent town of Manali, which leads onto the Lahaul and Spiti Valley through the Rohtang pass.


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6. KHANDALA

An ideal place to unwind on the weekends far from the hustle bustle of everyday din, Khandala is one of the major hill stations in India in the state of Maharashtra. Nestled at an altitude of 625 meters, it sits pretty on the western slopes of the Sahyadri mountain range. Gifted with abundant natural beauty, Khandala offers beautiful green environs and draws the interest of travelers from far and wide.

KHANDALA WATERFALLS

Khandala Ghat A small but beautiful hill station, the town of Khandala provides a spectacular view of the lush green hilly surroundings. If you are tired of the daily work and toil, you can drive down a distance of 101 kms from the busy city of Mumbai to soak a few moments’ peace and pleasure. It has several trekking trails around it which is a delight for the adventure lovers.

HILL VIEW OF KHANDALA

 Earlier, Khandala was a part of the terrain of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Later it eventually went to the power of the British. Khandala is positioned at the top end of the Bhor Ghat on the roadway between the Deccan Plateau and the Konkan plain. The Ghat serves an extensive amount of both road and rail traffic. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the main connection between the main cities of Mumbai and Pune, cuts through Khandala.

BHAJA CAVE OF KHANDA

Located barely 5 km from Khandala is the other famous hill station of Lonavala which also has the similar picturesque landscape as that of Khandala. There are plenty of lakes around Khandala like the Tugauli Lake, Lonavala Lake and Bhushi Lake. Also the Walvan Dam located here is worth visiting.

 Karla and Bhaja Caves, situated amid the hills 16 km away from Khandala, are fine places to visit. These rock-cut cave temples which date back to as early as 2nd century BC and are amongst the oldest and excellent instances of Buddhist rock-cut temple art in India adhere to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism. Amruntanjan point is another tourist interest that impresses its visitors to the core. 

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KHANDALA ROAD WAYS IN SUMMER

KHANDALA ROADWAYS IN WINTER

TRAFFIC IN KHANDALA ROADWAYS

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8. LONAVALA

See nature at its full splendor in Lonavala which is one of the most exquisite hill stations of Maharashtra. It is also well-known as the “Jewel of the Sahyadris” owing to its fine valleys, hills, milky waterfalls, lush greenery and pleasant cool winds. It is located in the Pune district of Maharashtra and is ideal for spending some peaceful moments away from the din and rush of city life. Tourism in Lonavala is gaining rapid acceptance and it experiences a substantial footfall all the year round not only from the domestic but the international sector as well.

Lonavala is not only about the picturesque sights and salubrious climate but it is also home to some of the finest places of tourist interest. The most outstanding among the tourist attractions in Lonavala are the Buddhist rock cut caves of Bhaja and Karla located in close vicinity of this hill station. On your trip to Lonavala, you must not miss out on these caves since they offer interesting insight into the development of Buddhism in the region. Rajmachi Point is quite well-known and offers magnificent view of the Shivaji’s famous fort which is located here.

You should also visit the Ryewood Park & Shivaji Udyan which is a sprawling garden and covers lot of space with the presence of tall trees. The old Shiva temple located here is also an interesting religious spot. The garden is a strong lure for the children to keep them engaged. Some of the other attractions that you should visit during your vacations in Lonavala are Tungarli Lake, Valvan Dam, Lonavla Lake, Duke's Nose, Tiger's Leap, Lohagad Fort and Lion's Point.

Lonavala is also home to some of the finest hotels and resorts of the state that provide a host of fine facilities and for the visitors dropping in to this place. Whether you want your accommodation to be a luxurious one or economical, Lonavala has all sorts of lodging options. Some of the most prominent hotels of Lonavala are Avion Holiday Resort, Bijis Hill Retreat, Highland Resort, Hotel Star Regency, Captains Resort and Hotel Chandralok. The nearby accommodations of Lonavala include Upper Deck Tungari Hills.


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9. MANALI

Travel to Manali is immensely popular among the tourists as it is considered to be an ideal getaway to escape the heat of summer. Situated on the Beas River, it is renowned for its scenic beauty. The breathtaking beauty of the landscapes can leave you mesmerized here at Manali. You can also see the true beauty of nature here. There was a time when this place was more like a sleepy town, away from the glare of bustling city life. But now, it has undergone a sea change and the place has emerged as a major tourist destination.

Manali is a popular base for several trekking routes and mountaineering expeditions. You can opt for locations like Solang Valley and the way from Rohtang Pass into Lahaul-Spiti for initiating your trekking expeditions. As Manali is situated at the end of the valley, leading to Leh, on the National Highway, the beauty of the surrounding area is at its prime. When the white waters of the Beas rushes through the town and you can watch the snow capped peaks from here, you get the feeling as if you are living in paradise on earth. Lying a little beyond the town proper, are the dense pine and deodar trees, fruit orchards and tiny fields. Manali is great place for planning your holidays and also the starting point for initiating trekking to places like Spiti, Lahaul, Leh, Kinnaur and Zaskar regions in the Kashmir Valley. All these scenic beauty have earned the name of “Switzerland of India” for Manali.

 

Tourist attractions of Manali Hadimba Devi Temple is one of the tourist destinations of Manali which is famous for its exquisitely carved doorway. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Hadimba, a female Hindu deity. You will find a beautiful hot spring at Manikaran, located at an altitude of 1700m. There are three Tibetan monasteries to be found here which too are popular among tourists. Another famous spot here is the Vashisth baths where the hot water sulphur springs are renowned for their medicinal qualities.


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10. MOUNT ABU

Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan and nestles at an altitude of 1220 meters in the Aravalli Range. Mount Abu in Rajasthan is situated at a distance of 180 kilometers from Jodhpur and 509 kilometers from Jaipur. Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan and in the north western part of India. Mount Abu is a famous pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Jain and is visited by a large number of pilgrims from all over the world. The place is also noted for its spellbinding natural beauty. Mount Abu is also referred to as “An Oasis in the Desert”, for the fact that it is the point from where several streams, waterfalls and lakes originate.

The pleasant weather of the place, the natural beauty and the numerous temples make this place an interesting tourist destination. Mount Abu is visited by tourists also because of the huge number of Hindu and Jain temples. The Dilwara Temple is considered as the most important and holy temple by the Jains. This temple is built of white marble and was built between the 11th and 13th century.

While on a tour to Mount Abu, tourists should visit the under mentioned tourist attractions, which are:

# Dilwara Temples

# Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary

# Achalgarh fort

# Nakki Lake

# Ambika Mata temple

# Achaleshwar Temple

Mount Abu can be easily reached by rail and road from almost all the important cities of Rajasthan and the neighboring states. The several accommodation options available here help the tourists to find out the most comfortable accommodation as per their budget and preference. Good accommodation facility and well developed transport system links Mount Abu to the rest of the state and welcomes tourists from all over the world. 


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