Special Category > பயண கட்டுரைகள் - NATURE AND TRAVEL

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MysteRy:
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary



Located in Kerela, amidst the lush green forests of the Western Ghats, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the most famous wildlife sanctuary in South India. It is also commonly known as the “Elephant Reserve” and the “Tiger reserve” and is spread over 777 km out of which the 360 km is covered by dense, evergreen forests.

It was declared a Tiger Reserve in the year 1972. Four species of primates are found at Periyar – the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, Gee’s Golden Langur, Common Langur And Bonnet Macaque.



Periyar wildlife sanctuary also has a 100 year old artificial lake which offers a one of a kind experience of observing and photographing wildlife from a very short distance. It is home to a 1000 elephants and 46 tigers as well as sambars, boars, deer, bison, lion-tailed macaques and so on.



As if all this wasn’t enough, this unique sanctuary has 49 species of mammals, 246 species of birds, 28 species of reptiles, 8 species of amphibians, 22 species of fish and 112 species of butterflies. The Nilgiri Tahr, which is rarely to be seen also inhabits this park.









In addition to all the fauna, the Periyar wildlife sanctuary is also known for its flora. Some of the deeper valley contains trees that have grown to a height of up to 130-140 feet and seem as though they’ve been there since the beginning of time. They form an extremely thick cover which even bright sunlight sometimes finds hard to penetrate.



The edges of the lake and other water bodies contain marshy grasslands. Throughout the park one will also find areas of semi-evergreen forest which are used by many of the animal species as cover.



You can also enjoy a trek to the ruins of the Mangala Devi Temple, a picturesque old stone temple situation in the heart of the Thekkady forest. However, most people come to Periyar to watch the elephants that come down to play at the lake.



From the lovely scenery on the road up to the lake cruise and a walk through the jungle makes one long to come back for more.

Ideal time to visit the park: From the months of October till June.

How to Reach Priyar wildlife sanctuary:

Air : Kochi (Cochin) at 200 km or Madurai in Tamil Nadu at 140 km are the nearest airports from Periyar.

Rail : Kottayam at 114 km is the nearest railhead from Periyar.

Road : Kumily, the nearest town from Periyar is well served by both state and private buses from Kottayam, Ernakulam and Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

MysteRy:
Hawa Mahal



Situated in the picturesque city of Jaipur, the stunning Hawa Mahal overlooks one of the city’s main streets.  The palace, which is part of a huge complex is also popularly known as the “Palace of Winds” due to its unique design which allows wind to circulate freely through the 950 windows, keeping the palace cool.

This impressive five-storied, semi-octagonal structure was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Singh.

Its purpose was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday activities as well as to enjoy the processions without being seen.



This architectural marvel is made up of small casements, each with small windows and arched roofs with hanging cornices.



The overhanging balconies, domes and spires, carved sandstone grills and lace screens truly make it one of the finest examples of Rajpur artistry.



Its fascia makes Hawa Mahal look more like a screen than a palace.



Built as part of the City Palace located in Sireh Deori Bazaar, this monument is also known as “fantasy in pink stone”. Along with the numerous distinctive structures inside, the palace also has a museum near the entrance displaying a beautiful collection of handicrafts, paintings and many other such displays.



The top storey of the palace offers magnificent views of the city and its many attractions. The entrance of the palace is from the back side.

Hawa Mahal Fee- Rs. 50

Hawa Mahal Timings- 9:30am-4:30pm (Open on all days)

MysteRy:
Jadhavgadh Fort, Hotel Pune



Jadhavgadh Fort is the world’s first museum heritage hotel & resort and offers an unparalleled experience. Built in 1710 by “Pilaji Jadhavrao”, a valiant Maratha general, the Jadhav Gadh fortress lies in the heart of the 25 acre Jadhav Wadi.

An imposing and impressive structure, the Fort Jadhavgadh Pune is now a unique luxury hotel and it stands, quite literally, in two worlds: the traditional and the modern.

Jadhavgadh is situated in the beautiful rolling hills of Saswad located 22 kms away from Pune on the old Pune – Satara Road at a height of 2511 ft above sea level.  Fort Jadhavgadh was made in the year 1710 as a place of residence as well as a safe haven when being attacked by enemies. Although not as magnanimous as other Maratha era Forts like Sinhagad, Jadhavgadh had quite a few architectural similarities and a fine example of Maratha craftsmanship. Built on a quaint hill top all that was visible of the fort, and still is, were the gigantic walls of brown black stones.









The steps going up the main entrance were huge stone blocks making it easier for the animals like horses and elephants going up the fort. But the step way itself was curved. A sharp left turn after the initial climb and then again a steep climb with a left turn after entering through the main spiked doorway. This was essentially done to make the task of a probable enemy and his troops all the more cumbersome if they had to force entry through the main door, inadvertently giving precious time for those inside for last minute preparations.









Inside the fort was divided into the outer walled area and an inner structure where the women folk resided. This area was also utilized for rain water harvesting, dexterously taking benefit of the ample showers the region received and saving water for future use. A number of dungeons were also made in the fort, the main purpose of these being to store grains and as was inevitable during those tumulus times, to keep prisoners of war. Till date, four of these enigmatic dungeons have been traced and are being restored. It is believed that one of the dungeons may be a secret pathway that Pilaji Jadhavrao and his men used in times of crisis.









Fort Jadhavgadh is a hotel property with modern amenities catering to International Standards of a leisure hotel, without hurting its heritage status,which truly reflects the spirit of the local province, its people and its customs. Value-for-money luxury, after considering the secluded location and concept of a museum fort hotel, it is extremely neat and clean with the natives of the province making perfectly courteous hosts. Two restaurants, one serving authentic Maharashtrian cuisine and the other, a round the clock eatery, serving continental and Italian food (not quite great ) are the options in-house, whereas several dhabas (street side eateries serving variety of Indian cuisines) are in close proximity which do not belong to the hotel.









The hotel also has a temple (which is a part of the ancient fort) consisting the idol of Lord Ganesha. It has premium rooms (the preferred mid-category to stay) with a choice of mountain views or rain shower equipped bath-spaces attached individually to each of such rooms.



To conclude, Jadhavgadh Fort is a good family outing for the local people whereas a great, one of its kind cultural stay for foreigners seeking an exceptional life-time experience!

MysteRy:
Marina Beach, Chennai



Enjoy these Stunning Marina Beach Pictures, which is a popular urban beach in the city of Chennai,  India along the Bay of Bengal. The beach runs from near Fort St. George in the north to Besant Nagar in the south, a distance of 13 km (8.1 mi), making it the longest urban beach in the country and the world’s second longest.

Bathing and swimming at the Marina Beach are legally prohibited because of the dangers, as the undercurrent is very turbulent. It is the among the most crowded beaches in the country.

Attractions in the Beach

Marina beach is a major tourist attraction of the city. People visiting Chennai make a point to visit the beach. It is also the main place for the local people to escape from the summer heat.The beach is popular for its shops and food stalls run by about 500-odd vendors. The memorials and statues, morning walk, joggers’ track lovers’ spot, aquarium, and the like make it a hangout for people of all ages. Kite flying and beach cricket are common sports at the beach, and there are also facilities for pony rides. The sea is generally rough and waves are strong. There are fishermen colonies present at both ends of the beach.












Walking Path

In 2009, a 4.5-km-long stretch along the beach was announced plastic-free zone, prohibiting the sale and use of plastic. In November 2010, the corporation imposed a fine of 100 on the usage of plastic items that are less than 20 microns thick on the entire stretch. Within a couple of years since the ban, the use of plastics on the beach was reduced by 70 per cent.

In 2012, the government allotted 89 million for the renovation of the memorials of Anna and MGR. This include 12 million and 43 million towards renovation of Anna Memorial and MGR Memorial, respectively, 34 million towards additional construction at the MGR Memorial






Events

Being the most prominent open space in the city, the Marina Beach hosts several events throughout the year. The annual Independence Day and the Republic Day ceremonial parades and air shows are held along the promenade along with the unfurling of the national flag in the Marina. The annual idol-immersion event following the Hindu festival of Vinayaka  Chathurthi takes place at the beach where most of the idols of Lord Ganesh kept on display during the festival in the city is immersed into the sea. The event occurs in the month of August–September. The beach is also the venue for several marathon and walkathon campaigns throughout the year conducted for various cause.

MysteRy:
Stunning Alibag Beaches and Forts



Beautiful Sea, a Fort that gets surrounded by sea water, a few temples and a lot of fun. Alibag (Alibaug) is the ideal place for a one day return trip. Alibaug is 145 kms away from Pune and 30km to the south of Mumbai. There are some stunning beaches here along with forts and temples!

The Kolaba/Kulaba fort lies 2 kms inside the sea. Kulaba fort gets surrounded by sea water at the time of tide. There are the Uma Maheshwar and Balaji temples in Alibag too.

Alibag was developed in 17th Century by Sarkhel Kanhoji Aangre the naval chief of King Shivaji’s Kingdom. Bene Israelite Ali was a rich man in the city and owned many plantations of mangoes, coconuts in his gardens. So the local people called the place Alicha bagh (Gardens of Ali) which became in due course, Alibag.

Alibag Fort

Alibag Fort: Alibag is the seat of District Administration of Raigad (formerly Kolaba) district since 1852. The name Kolaba is attributed to a Sea Fort Kolaba built by Shivaji the great, in 1680 to fight the mighty naval prowess of the Siddis’ (Abyssenians) of Janjira and the British of Mumbai. Kolaba fort is famous for many battles, between Siddis and Kanhoji Angre, the British and the Portugese.
Safety Tip – It is safe to go in the fort before or after 1 hours of fall. But one should always keep in mind that he should come back within 1 hour after the full fall. If you get stuck inside the fort you cannot come back for at least for 5 hours.









Beaches in Alibag






The following are the main beaches in and around Alibag:

Alibag beach: This is the main beach of the town.
Thal beach: Isolated Beach 5 km from Alibag.

Varsoli Beach:Located about a mile from the main beach, home to a very large naval base.It is situated just on the outskirts of Alibag. It is relatively less visited site and as a result is a quiet beach with sparkling white sand and cleaner seawater. Varsoli is a small satellite village across Alibag, complete with thick vegetation of coconut and Casuarina.

Akshi Beach: It is situated 8 km away from Alibag.The famous Kashid beach is located 18 km from Murud. The specialty of this beach is the beautiful slivery white sand. literally dazzling silvery on this clean beach. It is a favourite spot for advertising, TV serial and film shoots. The beach is complete with small-food stalls. This beach is well suited for the children and ladies as the sea is flat for a long distance. One can walk through to a considerable distance towards the sea.

Nagaon beach: It is situated about 10 km away from Alibag and is famous for coconuts and betel nuts.









Kihim-Navgaon Beach: Kihim is a secluded place at a distance of 12 km from Alibag. The Kihim beach is famous for dense cover of Coconut trees. It is also famous for woods which are home to rare butterflies, birds and flowers.

Awas: It is situated about 16 km away from Alibag.

Saswane: It is situated about 18 km away from Alibag.

Rewas: It is situated about 24 km away from Alibag.

Chaul Revdanda: It is situated about 17 km away from Alibag.



Kaneshwar Mandir: It is situated about 17 km away from Alibag to Karlekhind – Chondi road.13 km from Alibag in Northeast direction is this very famous Shiv temple on a 900 ft. high hill. It is a 5000 ft. long climb on well paved stairs, which takes around one hour. Landmarks along the route are tombs of MohanGiri and Balgiri, Nagoba Rest, Jambhali Plateau, God’s stair, Gaymandi etc. It comprises various small temples of Sri Paleshwar, Sri Hanuman, Sri Balram Krishna and Lord Shiv.

Mandawa: It is situated about 20 km north of Alibag. The catamaran/ferry services are available from Mumbai to the Mandawa jetty. Many Bollywood celebrities own bungalows here.

Kashid Beach: It is 36 km away from Alibag, on the Alibag-Murud highway, also this beach is possibly one of the cleanest and most beautiful beaches in the region with almost ‘white’ sand. There are many cottages and resorts available ranging from around RS:1500 to RS:20,000. Prakruti resort is the luxury and the costliest of all. One can find water sports facility and number of small shops for snacks.

Korlai Beach: A quiet serene beach with alternate white and black sands, along a serene stretch of the Arabian coastine, adjacent to a village of Korlai Creole Portuguese speaking Indians.Just across the bridge, to the right there is Korlai fort within the sea and attached to the mainland by a narrow land strip through the Korlao fort through the Korlai Village. It is supposed to have been built by the Portuguese in 1521. The main gate has an inscription which means ‘no entry without a fight’. The fort has seven gates, a sweet water well, a church in disuse, a Hindu timple and a Lighthouse






Hotels & Resorts in Alibag

‘KARPE WADI’- Agro Tourism center approved by ITDC. Must visit for good local food and Great Ambience.

“Kill nothing but Time, Carry nothing but Memories, Leave nothing but Footprints.”

Karpewadi Agro-Eco tourism hub practises sustainable management and encourages you to do so too. Located just 100 kms from Mumbai and 155 kms from Pune, Karpewadi is an ‘agrotel’ where proximity to Nature is the central theme. For those who crave for action, there is private beach access, a range of activities to choose from onsite and a number of sightseeing destinations nearby. Professionally managed services, a no- compromise approach to providing basic creature comforts and the best quality home- cooked cuisine ensure that you are well taken care of.

‘AQUA SPLASHH..’ – Maharashtra Maritime Board Approved Water Sports. They have certified lifeguards and well trained staff.

A vacation is all about fun. Adrenalin racing, heart thumping and amusement. At Aqua Splashh you get all that and a bit more — Memories. Come have the fun and tell the world what you did this vacation at Aqua Splashh. Enjoy shooting your loved ones or friends with Paint Ball. Celebrate the water waves in Jet Ski, Bumpy Rides, Banana Rides & Boat Rides. Enjoy the sea shore on All Terrain Vehicle ( ATV ) and Beach Buggy. Come make your vacation an unforgettable fun.



Samudra manthan’- An ideal resort for groups

Prasanna’- Economical resort right next to the beach

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