Shyamali Basu
Sunday, June 7, 2009

Trip to Keylong : A first hand experience.


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Very recently I visited Keylong along with my family. As I could not gather much information before traveling there, I decided to share my experience in the web for many more who intend to visit the heavenly place.
Our team consisted of six – four adults and two children. The oldest man in the group was my father in law – 62 years and the youngest – my younger son – less than 3 years of age.
We reached Manali on 25th of May,2009. The tourist lodge of Himachal Tourism was reserved for us. It is an economical tourist lodge on the bank of river “Beas” with four dormitory type accommodations in each room with common toilet. The cost of leaving is only Rs 100/- per head per day. We visited the local sight seeing in the next day which included Hadimba Temple, Club House {within three KM from the Mall} and Vashistha Kund {3.5 KM – in the way to Rohtang Pass}.
We were about to visit Kaza and Keylong but unfortunately the road towards Kaza was not clear then. So we had to cancel our trip to Kaza. We hired a Maruti Omni Van for Keylong. We started on 27th morning and returned Manali on 31st May in the afternoon. The whole trip costs Rs 7000/- for the car [All inclusive]. A larger car like Tata Sumo or so will cost Rs 10 to 12000/- for this tour.
Keylong , the HQ of the district Lahaul and Spiti is at a distance of 130 Km from Manali. We started at 9AM and reached Rohtang Pass[13000Ft] in three hours and faced severe traffic jam there. It was full season in manali and tourists from all over India was crowding Manali, and it is a must to visit Rohtang Pass. It took nearly three hours more to cross the snow clad pass which was full of cars and tourists there. It was a shiny day and in the absence of strong wing, it was not very cold there. Everybody in a festive mood there – playing with snow, riding snow scooter [Charges minimum of Rs 500 per couple} etc. At nearly 2 P.M. we crossed the gathering and headed for Keylong – 80 more KMs in a very bad road condition. After the Pass, it comes Garmpho where the road bifurcates for Kaza and Keylong. In the Keylong way, we stopped at Koksar for lunch – the coldest place in Lahaul region. It was nearly four in the afternoon and it was cold with strong breeze. We took simply rice/dal and veg curry – the only available dish there then at the cost of Rs 40/- per head. We again started for two more hours. Again stopped at tandi, just 8 Km before Keylong where the tow rivere – Chandra and Bhaga unites and proceeds towarda the hillocks to reach the neighbouring country of Pakistan. It was a very beautiful place. No still it was not dark – the daylight is available in this region up to 7.30 P.M in this time. We have contacted the state PWD Dept. earlier for accommodation and got it confirmed over phone. The Circuit House [3105 Mtr] near the bus stand was allotted for us. It is a very good accommodation in the best located position from where you can have a very good landscape of the snow clad peaks in the hand shake distance. The rooms are well furnished with lawns, beautiful interiors with all modern amenities. There is another Rest House of PWD in the lower part of Keylong, near the market. There is a hotel of tourism above the circuit house – Hotel Chandra Bhaga, which is expensive enough and it runs between May and November – the accessible part of the year for Keylong. Simple meal of rice/chapatti, dal, veg/egg curry is available with the chowkidar of the circuit house at Rs 60/- per head if ordered earlier. As an Central Govt. employee, I had to pay Rs 250/- per double room[which can easily accommodate three adults] per day. Next day we visited a monestry, nearly 15 Km from there. It was amazing as the monestry was clearly visible from the circuit house in the next hill but the serpentine road to reach there takes nearly 45 minutes. It is a nice place and the whole of Keylong is clearly visible from the hill top.
Next day we headed for Udaipur to visit an ancient temple, 65 KM from Keylong and visited nearby Trilokinath temple. The road condition was very bad indeed but the landscape was picturesque. Keylong has not full of so called tourist spots, only few monestries out of which we visited another on the penultimate day. The other monestries are not accessible by motor and in the shortage of oxygen in the atmosphere, we decided not to take the risk of trekking with the strange composition of our team, 3 to 62 Years. We got climate mostly clear in Keylong with moderate cold not below 7 degree Celsius. The market has a statue of Sri Rashbehari Bose, the freedom fighter who escaped here befor his journey to Japan. Keylong has a very small market with essentials but being the district HQ, several Govt. offices are located here. One afternoon we noticed a small procession on the road with one person with garland and being greeted by the locals with beat of drums. I thought him a local body election winner but after enquiring I got to know the person has just retired from Govt. service that day itself and it is a custom there to greet him such way.
Next day, on 31st May 2009 we started for Manali at 9AM biding goodbye to Lahaul and Spiti, promising myself to come here again.
Tips :-
Try to start from Manali as early as possible to avoid traffic jam in Rohtang Pass.
Contact details for reservation of PWD Circuit House/Rest House :
Deputy Commissioner office Keylong
Ph 01900-222501 Fax 01900 222506.
For more information about Kaza and Keylong visit my earlier blog post.

Shyamali Basu
Thursday, April 23, 2009

Tripura


The Princely state of Tripura joined the Indian Union in 1949.No great peaks punctuate the skies, nor are its major rivers, such as Khowai, Manu and Gomatidddd any match for the mighty Brahmaputra.Its forestland,cavalcade of historic palaces, rock-cut-carvings,stone sculptures, Buddhist and Hindu holy places, wildlife sanctuaries and tribal people have been a great attraction to the people.Tagore, an honoured guest found its pollution free , eco-friendly environment, pleasant climate and tranquility, the perfect retreat to compile some of its works here.

For the visitors, Tripura, one of the relatively unknown holiday destinations of the North East, is a bundle-ful of surprises. Its cross-cultural ethnic diversity, its ancient temples,its rich tradition of handicrafts are tempting enough to draw the discerning holiday-maker.

Capital :-Agartala.

Railhead and Airport : Tripura

Area:-10491.69 sq.km.

Population :-31,99,203 {2001}

B est Season : September to March.

PLACES Of INTEREST :-

Ujjayanta Palace-

Ujjayanta Palace :- This Royal House which stands in Agartala covering one sq.km area was built by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya in 1901 A.D.

Unakoti:- It is the largest Basrelief sculpture in India. It means one less that a crore. Rock-carvings of 7th-9th centuries A.D.It is Shaiva Pilgrimage.{186 km.}

Pilak – Treasure house of the Hindu and Buddhist sculptures of 8th-9th centuries A.D.Numerous stone and terracotta images including the images of Avolokiteshwar and Narasimha have been found. {113 km}

Chabimura {Devtamura} :- famous for panel of Rock carvings on the stiff mountain wall on the bank of Gomati. {85 km}Jampui Hlls :- The permanent seat of eternal spring is situated at an altitude of 3000 ft.Jampui is famous for its charming landscape and bracing climate. {250 km}

Neermahal :- the water palace built in 1930 A.D.{ 53 km}

Tripura Sundari Temple :- One of the 51 pithas of Hindu pilgrims. {56 km}

BhubaneswariT emple ;- locaed on the bank of Gomai river have a good number of lakes.{55km}

Mahamuni Pagoda- Buddhist temple {134 km}

Chandrapur Mosque {135 km} AND Dumboor Lake {112 km}

Kamalasagar Kali Temple – is situated just beside the Bangladesh border. {28 km}

WILDLIFE SANCTUARY :- SEPAHIJALA {24 km},TRISHNA {95 km}.TEPANIA ECO-PARK {47 km}

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS :- In January:- Pous Sankranti Mela at Tirthamukh and at Pilak/ Rajarshi festival 21st to 23rd February at Bhubaneswari Temple/Ashokasstami festival at Unokoti in March/April,Buddha Purnima festival at Vanuban Bihar and Mahamuni Pagada in May/Boat Race at Rudrasagar Lane in August/Dumboor festival at Gandachara in October/Neermahal Festival at Neermahal in December


Shyamali Basu
Friday, April 17, 2009

Jammu and Kasmir : Part II



Srinagar is located in the heart of the Kashmir valley and spreads . km on both sides of the river Jhelum at 6 metres high above the sea level. Today’s Srinagar is a pleasure resort for the tourists, who can expenience, at first hand the peculiar beauty of the valley that has attractedthe Chinese, the Mughals and the Britshers.Its waterways,the unique accommodation in house boats, decorated shikaras, blossoming gardens, watersports activities, shopping for lovingly hand-crafted souvenirs, camping and trekking and Srinagar’s satellite resorts make it a chenshed spot among those looking for a memorable holidays.

N.B. All foreigners entering J and K State are required to register their arrival and departure with the Foreigner’s Regional Registration Offices located at the Airports and in the cities. At Srignagar the office is at Shervani Road and New Airport.


Some Important Local Tourist Trips:-

  1. Srinagar-Mughal Gardens trip {42 km} to Chashma Shahi, Harwan, Shalimar Gardens and Nishat Bagh.
  2. Srinagar-Pahalgam {245 km} round trip the longest one halting at Avantipur, Anantnag, Achhabal, Kokernag, Mattan and Pahalgam
  3. Srinagar-Gulmarg trip covers a distance of 100 km.
  4. Srinagar-Sonamarg trip covers a distance of 200 km.
  5. Srinagar-Yusmarg trip covers 98 km.
  6. Srinagar-Wular Lake trip covers 160 kms.

Tourist Spots in Srinagar:-Dal Lake/Nehru Park/Char Chinar/Kabutar Khana/Pratap Singh Museum/ Shah Hamdan Mosque/Shahi alies Fathar Masjid/Jama Masjid/Badshah/Hari Parvat Fort/Nagin Lake/Hazartbal Mosque/Nasim Nagh/Sankaracharya Temple/Chashma Shahi/Nishat Bagh/Salimar Bagh/Shri Pratap Singh Museum/Golf Club/Verinag/Kokarnag/Daksoom.


L A D A K H

Kargil{2704m}, 204 kms from Srinagar in the west, is the second largest urban centre of Ladakh and headquarters of the district of same name.

Places of Tourist interest : Dras- 57 km. short of Kargil is reputed to be the 2nd coldest injabited place in the world./Suru Valley-fertile valley of immense beauty. In Kartse village has a seven metre high rock sculpture of Maitereya, which is the remanant of the ancient Indo-Buddhist influence/Rangdum-17th Century Monastery on a central hillock/Mulbekh-typical Buddhist town/Karsha-largest and wealthiest of all monasteries in Zanskar 16th century./Burdan- monastery has an interesting collection of idols and stups/Phugtal-rare cave monasteries of Zanskar/Zong-Khul- another cave monastery built around 2 caves in the sheer rock-face of a gorge.

Leh-the district headquarters of Ladakh is 434 km away rom Srinagar.It is situated between the two highest mountain ranges in the world, Himalayas in the south and Karakoram in the north.

Best Season :- June to October.

Nearest Airport:- LEH

Places of Tourist Interest :- Leh Palace/Namgyal Tsemo/Leh Mosque/Gompa Tsemo

/Alchi Gompa/Choglamsar/Hemis Monastery/Gotsang Gompa/Lamayuru/Likir Gompa/Phiyang Gompa/Shankar Gompa/Shey Palace and Monastery/ Spituk Monastery/Stakhna/Thiskey Monastery.

Distance from LEH :- Monasteries, Spintuk{8km}/Hemis{43km}/Tikse{20}/Alchi{70 km}/Fort {1 km}.Tso Moriri Lake {240 km}. Pangong Lake 156 km}

SOME IMPORTANT HIKING TOURS :

  1. Darsha-Padam by the Shinkum La { 9 days}
  2. Darsha-Padam by the Baralacha La {10 days}
  3. Kishtwar-Padam by the Umasi La {10 days}
  4. Pahalgam – Panikar by Amarnath {10 days}
  5. Padam – Phuktal-Padam by the Thonde La {7 days}
  6. Hemis – Padam by the Jhelum {10 days}
  7. Hemis – Darsha by the Rupshu {11 days}
  8. Padam – Lamayuru {10 days}
  9. Rangdum – Khalse by the Kanji La {6 days}
  10. Lamayuru-Stock {6 days}
  11. Lamayuru – Alchi by the Tara La {4 days}
  12. Likir – Khalse {3 days}
  13. Stock – Hemis by the Markha Valley {8 days}

For Details Please contract, Officer in-Charge,Mountaineering Wing,Director of Tourism, Tourist Reception Centre, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.


Shyamali Basu
Monday, April 6, 2009

Jammu and Kashmir

Capital : Srinagar (Summer) & Jammu (Winter)

 Area :2,22,236 sq.km

No of District : 14

Best time to visit : April to July & December to January ( for winter sports)


Jammu  & Kashmir, the earthly paradise of India, the elegent pleasure garden for tourists, is a state in the far north of the Republic of India.The state is divided into three territories – Jammu, Kashmir & Laddakh..

The two seasons in the valley offer  different charms.The valley appears in Summer in glittering dress. The vale is adorned with pink and white mastered flowers and poppy flashed with saffron as it burning.The Chinar also changes its colour in Summer.The Winter covers vale with silvery carpet of snow. The water of Dal Lake are frozen, the shikaras of house boat do no float and cycles run over the Dal. Local traders move down to the plains with their merchandise. The state administrative headquarters is shifted from Srinagar to Jammu.

Tourists magnetically attracted by its snow clad towering pea, verdurous panorama, rippling and musical sounding and drunken rivulets,divine singing fountains, silvery snow drop pearls, laden grassy dales, appearance of pink and purple down and dust, blooming apple, pomegranate grapes, apricot, pear and cherry branches and buds of almonds,  nautral lakes, tall deodar pine and grand chinar trees, handsome male and beautiful ladies in curious traditional fashions, its flower bed ponds throngled with lotus and its craftsmanship on wood, shawls, woolens and papier mache objects.

The happy vale of Kashmir in renowneal most for its invigorating air, lovely natural scenery and exquisite beauty, where one can make life most enjoyable to different taste and interest.

Jammu the 2nd largest city, and the summer capital of the state.It is situated on Shivalik hillock at the height of 305m above mean sea level, with the river Tawi flowing by at the foot of hill. Jammu is said tohave been founded by Jamboo Lochan  of the 9th Century BC.The city has long been a centre of Indian culture and arts. It is spacially famous for its exquisite Phari School miniature paintings.mu is the Gate way of Kashmir.


 

How to get there :

By Air : Srinagar Airport & Jammu Airport

 

By Rail : Jammu Tawi is an important railhead of Northern Railways

By  Road : Jammu is on National Highway No. IA. Some important road router distances are : Amritsar 243, Chandigarh 436,Delhi586,Katra 48  Srinagar 305 and Manali 428 km.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

Place of Tourist interest :-

Jammu :-Amar Mahal Palace-build in 1907,Museum (Monday closed)/Bagh-e-bahu-landscape garden/Dogra Art Gallery/Peer Khoh-Shiva Lingam/Bahufort/Raghunath Temple/Ranbireshwar Temple- built in 1883 A.D. Lord Shiva/Mansar Lake(80 Km)/Sudh Mahadev (120 Km)/Surinsar Lake (42 Km)

Vaishno Devi-  62 Kms. From Jammu including 14.5 km to be completed by trek or by horse.Yatra Slip is available from the Reception Centre at Katra..On the way devotees can see Charan Paduka-Ban Ganga-Adi Kumari(Garbh June Cave)/Vaishno Devi temple/Bhairavnath temple, at an altitude of 6,750 feet.Helicopter service is also available here now a days.

 

Shyamali Basu
Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Mizoram


Mizoram, nestled in the picturesque and gentle hill folds situated between Manmar and Bangladesh. Mizo people have blended themselves in the changing landscape to suit into it. Front door of their houses are built in the strret level. The back of the house stands on stills fascinatingly in an unreal balance. Mizos love flowers. 87% are Christian. Their hospitality is world renowned.


 

Area : 21,087 Sq Km.

Capital : Aizawl.

No. of Districts : 8

Season : October to March.

Access : Nearest Rail Head, Silchar – 180 Km from Aizawl.

Lengpui Air Field in Aizawl is connected by Indian Airlines and offer daily service from Kolkata.

Guwahati {easily accessable by both Air and Rail}is 420 Km ffrom Aizawl.

Entry Formalities : Domestic tourists can obtain Inner Line Permit from Liason Officer posted in New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Silchar and Shillong. Two passport sized photograph and a photocopy of Identity proof [Voter ID/PAN Card/ Driving License] are to be attached with the prescribed application form.

Entry Formalities for foreign tourists : For a group of 4 or more – Resricted Area Permit {RAP} may be obtained from the Govt of Mizoram thorough Liason Officer posted in New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Silchar and Shillong.

For less than four – RAP can be obtained from Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India, New Delhi.


 

Place of visit :

Aizawl – Bung Picnic spot – 15 Km on a hill, Tamdil Lake – 85 Km, Vantawng water falls, Reiek Tourist Resorts – 35 Km.

Champhai – Mura Peak – a cluster of 6 men inside caves curved out of solid rock {6 Km}, Kungawrhi Park , Tian river in the boundary of India and Myanmar.

Rihdil Lake – Inside Myanmar but permission is easily obtainable from the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Champhai.

Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary 296 Km., Tawi Wildlife Sanctuary – 101 km.

                                                        

Shyamali Basu
Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Meghalaya

Meghalaya is overwhelmingly beautiful, where everything is impossibly green and alive. The rolling mists in the valleys , the undulating hills, numerous lakes, water falls, caves, dense forests and exotic flora and fauna together with the unique tribal culture makes Meghalaya a unique and interesting destination.

 

Area : 22.429 Sq Km.

Population : 23,18,822 {2001 Census}

Capital : Shillong.

Season : Throughout the year.

Clothing : In winter heavy woolen, light woolen for the rest of the year.

Access : Umroi is the nearest Airport – 35 Km from Shillong but there is no regular flight. Guwahati {103 Km} from Shillong is the main entry point both by Air and Rail. Regular bus and car service available from Guwahati to Shillong.



Place of Visit.

Shillong : State capital, picturesque landscape, Wards Lake, Lady Hydari Park, Sweet falls, Elephant falls, Golf course, view point, St Cathedral church, tagore’s residence etc.

Cherrapunjee : 54 Km from Shillong. Ram Krishna Mission, falls,ECO park, Green rock ranch etc.. It was famous for the highest rainfall in India in the past but now Mawsynram in the same state has snatched the credit.

Mawphlang Sacred Groves : 24 Km from Shillong.

Smit : Cultural seat of the “Khasi”, the local habitats.

Mawsynram : 56 Km from Shillong. Cave known for the giant stalagmite and stalactite formation in the shape of Shivalinga. Maximum rainfall in the country is recorded here.

Jakrem : 64 Km from Shillong, famous for hot spring of sulphar.


 

 

Shyamali Basu
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

LAHAUL AND SPITI

Best season : June to October.

Clothing : Heavy woolens.

Access : By road from Manali. Delhi – Manali 490 Km.

Airport : Kulu.


 

After leaving behind the lash green meadows and orchard of the Kulu valley, the change in the landscape is dramatic and the road is one of the highest highways in the world – descends from the Rotang Pass {3980 Mtr} into a landscape of bare hills, steep ridges, cliffs of bare rock, deep ravines and villages.strewn with the moraine left behind by residing glaciers. Little villages with their patchwork of green fields, located near gushing streams, provide colour and relief to this rather forbidding landscape.

 

Lahul with it’s curious mix of Buddhism and Hinduism has find gompas and temples. Gomphas  of Lahul’s reach store of Buddhist art and culture and focus of social activity and festivity of the region.

 

Spiti – High altitude cold desert – land of fairy tales and fantasy. Stark range that seem painted in shades of russets, purple and pink, eroded mountain – strewn stream with bolders, deep gorges curved out by swift flowing snow-fed and streams. Small villages with box – like house in the river valleys that stand a mid lash fields and groves of juniper, poppler and willow during summer and blanketed with snow during the rest of the year. It has 30 monestries with rich Buddhist culture.

 

Place of visit at Lahul

Gomphu – 67 Km from Manali from where a branch of road went to Kunjum Pass and Spiti.

Koksar {3140 Mtr}- North of Gomphu, coldest place in Lahul.

Tandi – 94 Km from Manali. Confluence of Chandra and Bhaga river.Guru Ghantal monestry is located high above Tandi.

Keylong {3350 Mtr}- A rough cut emerald in bronze and silver setting. The green of it’s fields, with willows popler planted along water courses, make a patch of brillian colour against the bare hills. A number of important Gumphas are located here.{Kharding Monestry – 35 Km.}. Kelong is 102 Km from Manali.

 

Please visit Triloknath and Udipur while in Keylong. Also visit the temple of Marikula – 166 Km from Manali.


 

Place of visit at Spiti

Kunjum Pass – gateway of Spiti from Manali. Altitude 4590 Mtr.

Kaza – A little of deeper along the valley is Kaza, noted for it’s historic Kyi Gompha.- located 11 Km from Kaza{4160 Mtr}. Splendid monestry – a cluster of white flat roofed structure high up on a hill very much like a fort. 14th century breathes taking murals and a valuable collection of KANGYUR – ancient Buddhist text.

Losar – 60 Km from Kaza. Confluence of Losar and Peeno streams.

Attergu – Access to the Pin valley. Kungri Goompha is located here, On the left Lingti valley.

Shchichuling – 50 Km ahead Sumdo. Famous Dhankar Monestry – rich in interesting murals and stuccos is located here.

Tabo – 3050 Mtr. On the lft bank of river Spiti, surrounded by high mountains. 1000 years old Tabo gumpha is located here, established by the legendry Rinchen Tsangpo – next of Tholing Gumpha in Tibet – priceless collection of manuscripts, thangkas, murals and painted stucco.

Sumdo – Entry point of Spiti from Kinnaur.


Tour Packages : Add extra 3 days for Lahul and 3 days for Spiti.