As legend has it, Shri Agasti Rishi meditated here for a year, surviving only on water and air.  Pleased with his display of devotion, God came down to Earth and blessed Shri Agasti Rishi with a stream of the Ganga river, which is now known as the Pravara River.

Wilson Dam was built way back in 1910 on the Pravara-River and standing 150 mts high, it is the largest earthen dam in India- a powerful testimony to the engineering skills of days gone by.  During the monsoon, when the level of the lake rises, the dam opens its gates to release a torrent of water that finds its way down to the plains below.
You could stand at the edge of the garden embankment and enjoy the cool spray, or visit the picturesque Umbrella Falls, which are another major attraction during the monsoon. Arthur Lake, a tranquil blue mirror amidst the dense greenery of Bhandardara, is fed by waters from the Pravara River.

At 1,646 mts, Mount Kalsubai is the highest peak in Maharashtra. A favorite with trekkers; it had great strategic importance during the Maratha wars as an observation post.  There is a small temple on the top with an old well in its backyard.  It is said that the water level in the well has never dropped below 3ft.

This age-old dwelling of the Agasti Rishi Ashram is mentioned in the scripts of the Ramayana.  It is believed that Lord Rama and his brother Laxmana visited Shri Agasti Rishi to seek his blessings.  The Rishi gave Lord Rama an arrow, which he used to kill Ravana and rescue his wife Sita.  The Ashram, situated on the bank of the Pravara River, continues to attract visitors.

The ancient fort of Ratnagad was one of Shivaji’s favourites.  Very popular with nature lovers and trekkers, it offers spectacular views from its ramparts.

Best time to visit: The peak season is between November and April, but Bhandardara is spectacularly beautiful during the monsoons.

How to Reach:
•    The nearest airport is Mumbai 177 km. away.
•    Igatpuri, 45 km. on Central Railway is the Nearest railhead.
•    Mumbai-Bhandardara, 180 km. (Via Ghoti) Pune-Bhandardara, 191 km.

Close to the Leh city, there is the Magnetic hill which is said to have magnetic properties strong enough to pull cars uphill and force passing aircraft to increase their altitude to escape magnetic interference. Then there is the road at Hunder which is perfect to travel as well as to take pictures. The journey to the Pangong Lake or the Leh City too make for a lovely trip.

Ladakh has many lovely lakes like the Pangong, Tsomoriri, Tsokar or Chandrataal. You can stay in tents at the Pangong and Chandrataal and the latter’s kitchen you’ll probably have the best breakfast in your life.

Khardungla pass which happens to be the highest motorable road is a must visit. If you’re lucky you’ll witness the snowfall here. Other asses to visit are Chang La, Baralacha La, Tanglang La.

The best time to visit is between April to August. If you go towards the end og the tourist season you’ll get some really cool bargains!!

Wayanad has a lot of opportunities for adventure tourism. Trekking to the Chembra peak, the highest hill in Wayanad, is a risky mountaineering endeavor and takes almost a day. Tourists can also stay one or two days at the top of the peak in temporary camps where guides, sleeping bags, canvases, huts and trekking implements on hire are available.

The Edakkal cave in the Ambukuthy Mountain is not a cave in the real sense but is a fissure made by a corner of rock splitting off from the main body due to natural causes. On the wall of the cave are some interesting carvings, which represent human and animal figures and objects of human use and symbols which speak of highly civilized people of pre-historic age who inhabited the area.

The Kuruva island, which is spread over 950 acres of ever green forest on the tributaries of east flowing river Kabani, is an ideal picnic spot where you’ll get to see rare species of birds, orchids and herbs. One of the highest locations in Wayanad, Lakkidi also commands picturesque scenery. The lofty mountain peaks, the gurgling stream, luxuriant vegetation and the bird’s eye view of the deep valley on the south, with its winding roads, are breath taking.

Muthanga, located 16 km. east of Sulthan Bathery, is located near the Karnataka border. Wild forests covering an area of 345 sq.km form the Muthanga wild life sanctuary; which houses the biggest abode of wild animals in Malabar including elephant, spotted deer, bison, tiger, cheetah, wild bear, etc. Pazhassi Tourist Resort at Mananthavady is a good picnic centre in north Wayanad. Boating facilities for tourists are available here. Pazhassi Raja, the Lion of Kerala, who organised guerilla type warfare against British East India Company, was cremated here in 1805.

The Pookot Lake is a natural fresh water lake of breathtaking beauty. Boating facilities are available here too. Spices and handicraft items are also arranged for sale at Pookot. The Sentinel Rock Waterfalls near Chooralmala in Meppadi panchayat is a picnic spot as well as a trekking centre. The sentinel rock, a rock of more than 200 m in height, is ideal for rock climbing.

Best time to Visit: September to May

How to reach: By Air: The nearest airport from Wayanad is the Karipur airport of Kozhikode (100 km )

By Rail: The nearest railway station from Wayanad is at Calicut (110 km).

By Road: Wayanad is well connected by a wide network of roads and this place can be easily accessed from anywhere in Kerala as well as from neighboring states. .

It is breathtakingly beautiful with well maintained lawns, rare tree species, a 20 million year old fossilized tree, a vast variety of flowering bushes and plants in myriad hues and a fern house with a vast range of ferns and orchids. A flower show along with an exhibition of rare plant species is held every year in the month of May at this garden.

The Ooty lake built in 1825 and is about 2.5 km long. Boating and fishing can be done on the lake, the latter requiring permission. The Dodabetta Peak stands at an altitude of 2,623 meters and is merely 10kms from Ooty from where on a clear day one can see far off areas, even the plains of Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore. It offers an amazing view of the surroundings.

If you want to venture and explore places around Ooty then one option is to visit the Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary located at a distance of 67kms from Ooty. The Wildlife Sanctuary boasts of very rich flora and fauna, and is home to many endangered species including giant squirrels, sambhar, chital, barking deer and flying squirrels. If you are simply fond of the majestic elephants then, you might like to visit the elephant camp within the sanctuary, Theppakkadu.

The beautiful Kolhatty waterfalls, around 13 km from Ooty, are about 100 feet in height and are located on the Kalhatty slopes. Apart from visiting the waterfalls, you can explore the Kalhatty-Masinagudi slopes that are home to many wild species including panthers, sambhar, bison and wild buffaloes.
About 36 km from Ooty is Mukurthi where you can take a look at the imposing Mukurthi peak. According to the Todas, the indigenous people of Ooty, the souls of the dead move on to the next world from this sacred place. Those who don’t believe in life after death too can enjoy the flora and fauna of the place which bears a striking resemblance to that found in Himalayan region. You can also visit the Mukurthi lake which is close to the peak and is worth a closer look.

Best time to Visit: Throughout the year
How to reach:
By Air: The nearest airport is Coimbatore (88 km from Ooty). One can take Indian Airline flights to Coimbatore, Bangalore, Cochin and Chennai.
By Rail
The Ooty railway station is merely 2kms from the City Center and the other railway station is 46km away at Mettupalayam.
There is also a toy train that connects Ooty with Mettupalayam and Coonoor, another famous hill station.
By Road
Traveling by road is a not a bad idea either, since Tamil Nadu has a very good road network.

Some of the places of interest are the Butterfly museum built by Frederic Smetacek at Jones Estate, which has over 2,500 butterfly and moth specimens and 1,100 species of insects that are found in this region. There is a spectacular natural spring of fresh water arising out of dense oak forest west of Sattal called Subhash Dhara which is worth visiting.

Dr Stanley Jones (1884-1973), the evangelist and missionary adapted the concept of the Indian ashram to Christianity and established the first Christian Ashram at Sattal in 1930. The ashram is not on tourist map, but the place is ideal for connecting to God, nature, meditation and relaxation. St. John’s Church is part of this ashram and showcases a mixed colonial architecture. There is also a Sattal Christian Ashram chapel situated nearby. It was established in 1930 to introduce Christianity into the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand

Best time to go: March to June, September to December
Distance: 320 km from Delhi
How to Reach:
By Train: Nearest Railway Station is Kathgodam, 34 km away
By Road: Journey time-6 ½ hrs. Take NH 24 to Rampur via Hapur, Gajraula, Joya Moradabad, NH 87 to Ranibagh via Rudrapur, Haldwani and Kathgodam, district road to Sattal via Bhimtal.

According to the local people, the “Ice Shiv Lingam” was discovered around 14 years ago by Baba Prakash Puri who later built a small temple and an ashram in the cave that houses the lingam. A large number of tourists visit this place between December and March to have a glimpse of nature’s creation. The Lingam is usually 20 feet tall and the spray of the waterfall from above serves as a natural ‘Abhishek’.

The place is also called Anjani Mahadev since it’s believed that Anjani Devi, the Mother of Hanuman meditated there. Vehicles ply upto a particular point after which you need to trek uphill or ride horseback. Acharya Pandit Naveen Shashtri offers pooja at the temple everyday and devotees are offered tea or kheer as Prasad in the temple.Just below the Lingam you can opt for some adventure sports like paragliding and skiing and zorbing.

Mount Abu, the only hill-station in Rajasthan, India, is situated on an isolated plateau of Aravali range of hills about 4000 feet above sea level.  It’s a summer capital of Rajasthan and is home to lakes, waterfalls and green forests. It has a very cool climate due to its rich flora covering the entire hillside that includes coniferous trees and flowering shrubs.
Mount Abu is a tourist attraction for reasons from natural beauty to historical and architectural places.  The famous Delwara Jain temples are situated at Delwara village about 2½ Km’s from the beautiful city of Mt. Abu. The temples are an architectural marvel carved in pristine marble, and the design and accuracy of workmanship is unbelievable. The temple dates back to 11th and 12th century A.D. There are 5 temples belonging to different centuries that constitute Delwara: Vimal Vasahi (Shri Adinathji temple),  Luna Vasahi (Shri Neminathji temple), Pithalhar (Shri Rishabh Deoji temple),  Khartar Vasahi (Shri Parshavnathji temple), Mahaveer Swami (Shri Mahaveer Swamiji temple).

The historical Achalgarh fort, was built in the 14th century by Rana Kumbha of Mewar, the valiant Rajput ruler of Mewar.  He was an esteemed designer and this huge fortress alongside the other thirty two is a notable example of his skills. The fortress is surrounded by massive battlement walls and is situated at the top of a mountain peak whereby the 15th century fortresses and the temples are enclosed within the fortified walls. Another must visit temple is the 9th century Achleshwar temple which houses the famous  Nandi which is made of 5 metals, fold, silver, copper, brass and zinc ( Panchadhattu) and weighs more than 4 tons. There are also many other sculpted idols which are made of a crystal like stone called Spatik in Hindi.

In the heart of the hill is the  Nakki Lake, is another popular visitor attraction of Mount Abu. It is a very ancient sacred Lake, according to the Hindu legend is believed to be dug out by the Gods with their nails (Nakh in Hindi) and hence the name Nakki Lake. Boat rides and Horse rides outside the lake are available.

The Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary is the perfect place to enjoy some splendid scenic beauty and a variety of species of birds and animals. The Sanctuary spreads over 7 kilometers in length and 300 meters in width. This area was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1960. The floral and fauna that inhabits this sanctuary is reflective of the rich wildlife of the region.

Best time to Visit: January to June and Oct to December
How to Reach
By Air: Nearest Airport is Udaipur airport (185 km)
By Rail : Nearest Railway Station is Abu Road railway station  (28 km from Mount Abu)
By Road: A good road network links Mount Abu with the key cities in India and buses & taxis are available to and from cities like Delhi, Ajmer, Bundi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Udaipur.

The temple of the area, such as the grey sandstone Gauri Shankar Temple of Shiva that lies close to the Castle, the chatar Bhuj Temple, Tripura Sundri Devi Temple, the Jagti Patt Temple, with its triangular slab of stone, strewn with rose petals and rupee notes and the Murlidhar Temple, are worth a visit. The Urswati Himalyan Folk Museum near by is another place to visit.
Hadimba Devi Temple, erected in 1553, is dedicated to the local deity Hadimba, wife of the Pandava prince, Bhim. The temple is noted for its four-store pagoda and exquisite wooden carvings. This wooden temple is located in the middle of a forest called the Dhungiri Van Vihar.
Rahala waterfalls lie some 27 km from Manali at the start of the climb to the Rohtang Pass, and is an integral part of the Himalayan ecstasy. Gushing down from an altitude of 2,501 meters, the Rahala Waterfalls is a product of melting glaciers.
It is located 16 Kilometers from Manali and 4 kilometers away from Kothi. The area around the Rahala Waterfalls is absolutely marvelous and the location also allows a picture perfect view of the surrounding areas. The pleasant view twined with the sound of the gushing water makes Rahala Waterfalls an ideal picnic spot.
Solang valley, popularly known as Snow Point, is 13 km northwest of Manali and is the site of Manali’s ski school and, once the snow has gone, of all the local paragliding ’schools’. HPTDC organizes ski packages during winter. Manikaran, located about 45 km. from kullu on the way to Manali is known for its hot spring near the river Parvati.
Distance: 565 km from Delhi
Best time to Visit: Mid- April to End June and September to mid-November.
How to get there:
By Air: Nearest Airport is Bhuntar, 50 km from Manali
By Rail: Nearest Railway Stations are Chandigarh, 310 km and Ambala, 355 km from Manali
By Road: Driving time is 14 hrs from Delhi and 10 hrs from Chandigarh.

The Venna lake is one of the major tourist attractions of Mahabaleshwar. The lake is surrounded by trees on all sides and tourists can enjoy a boat ride over the lake or a horse ride next to the lake. A number of small eateries line the banks of the lake. The Mahabaleshwar city market and the S.T. bus stand is about 2KM from the lake and makes for a nice walk during the day. Most tour operators include the Venna lake in their tours.

With another popular and scenic hill resort Panchgani in close vicinity (about 20KM), most tourists often visit both places together. The ‘Table-Land’ phenomenon of nature at Panchgani is breath-taking which is a flat land over the hill top.
Around 25 km from Mahabaleshwar is the legendary fort, Pratapgad which was built by the eminent Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the year 1656 in order to be in command of the rebellious rulers of Javali basin located nearby. This place is also the site of the historic battle that took place between Shivaji and Afzal Khan, who was the ruler of the Bijapur Sultanate.

Mahabaleshwar is also home to several scenic points that are located here such as the Lodwick Point, Elphinstone Point, Kate’s Point, Wilson Point, Helen’s Point, Badington Point, Falkland Point and Carnac Point.
For the pilgrim tourists there is the Panchaganga Mandir, where the five holy rivers Krishna, Venna, Koyna, Savitri & Gayatri show their appearance here in five springs flowing closely. They are seen flowing in five stone ducts & joining in one horizontal half channel leading to the Goumukhi cowface spout. Another temple is the Shri Shankar Mandir where the Mahalinga of the lord Shiva is of Rudraksha shape & believed to be ’self-bodied’ (swayambhoo) It is called Trigunatmaka meaning Brahma-Visnhu-Mahesh are on it for ever. Mother Jeejabai was weighed by gold by Raje Shivaji in this temple & then the gold was distributed in charity.

The Bazaar is in the center of town and consists of a pedestrian-only street with shops selling everything from fancy locally-made walking sticks to snacks and the specialty of the region – roasted chickpea nuts. You also get a variety of hand crafted wooden articles and decorative items and numerous shops selling jams, jellies, squashes and chikkis.

Best time to Visit: Throughout the year

Some of the attractions of Chambal are the Laxmi Narayan Temple, built in Shikhara style, which is the main temple of Chamba town and which was built by Sahil Verman in the 10th century A.D. The Vajreshwari Temple is believed to be 1000 years old and is dedicated to Devi Vajreshwari-Goddess of lightning. The temple is situated on the northern most corner of the town at the end of Jansali Bazaar and is built in the Shikhara style with wooden Chhattries, elaborate carving and two other minor temples on either side of the main shrine. Other temples are the Chamunda Devi Temple and the Hari Rai Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and dates back to 11th century.

There is the Akhand Chandi Palace, the residential building of the Chamba family which was started by Raja Umed Singh sometime in1748-1764 AD. The beautiful structure of the palace with its painted walls and glass work, ceiling, intricate woodwork is fast deteriorating, since sufficient funds are not available for the maintenance of this monument. The palace offers a good view of the Chaugan, Laxmi Narayana Temple, Sui Mata, Chamunda Devi Temple, Rang Mehal, Hari Rai Temple and Bansi Gopal Temple.

One of the largest monuments, Rang Mahal is located in Surara Mohalla. The foundation of Rang Mahal was laid by Raja Umed Sing (1748-1764). Now under the aegis of Handicrafts Department of the State Government, most of the rooms of this palace are being used as work-shops for making shoes, chapples and rumals.

Bhuri Singh Museum at Chamba opened formally on 14-09-1908, it is named after Raja Bhuri Singh who ruled Chamba from 1904 to 1919 and houses a collection of paintings of Bhuri Singh and paintings of Bhagwat Purana and Ramayana inspired by Basohli style of painting.  Besides these major items of collections, there are coins, hill jewelry and costumes- both traditional and royal, arms and armor, musical instruments and various decorative objects.

Also visit the Church of Scotland , which is over a hundred years old and is remarkable for its fine stone work and buttress and lancer arch windows. The Chowari Jot (Chowari Pass) is located almost midway between Chamba and Chowari and on one side of Chowari road is nature’s wonder Khajjiar and on the other is Kainthli Dhar full of deoder and kail trees. Its altitude from main sea level is 8000 feet. It snows heavily in winter but it is quite pleasant in summer. The blossoming rhododendron fill the place with beatitude in April-May. The place is located at a distance of 18 kilometres from chowari and Chamba respectively.

Best time to Visit: March to June

How to reach:

Nearest Railhead: Chakki Bank. The best option would be to take Jammu Express from Delhi and take a cab to Chamba

By Road: From Delhi to Pathankot via Jalandhar on NH 1.