Goa - Pearl of the Orient

Known by some as "Pearl of the Orient", the state of Goa is located on the western coast of India in the coastal belt known as Konkan.
Beautiful beaches, silvery sands, rich cultural heritage, captivating churches, terrific temples, thick forest, exotic animals and birds, silver rivers running through and forts with history written in their very stones, Goa has it all.
Having been the meeting point of races, religions and cultures of East and West over the centuries, Goa has a multi-hued and distinctive lifestyle quite different from the rest of India. Hindu and Catholic communities make up almost the entire population with minority representation of Muslims and other religions. The feasts and festivals are things not to be missed. Goa is also known for its laidback culture and rocking nightlife.
Panaji (Panjim) is the state capital located on the banks of the Mandovi river and Vasco, Margao, Mapusa and Ponda are the other major towns.
Goan cuisine is a blend of different influences the Goans had to endure during the centuries. The staple food in Goa is fish and rice, both among the Hindus and the Catholics. Unlike the Christian food the Hindu Goan food is not strongly influenced by the Portuguese cuisine. Goa’s seafood will have you licking your fingers and asking for more. You may sip a beer, enjoy bird watching, relax in the sun or indulge in water sports.

The tourist season in Goa begins in late September and carries on through early March. The weather in these months is usually dry and pleasantly cool.
Then the weather gets fairly hot around May and by end of June, Goa receives the full blast of the Indian monsoon with sudden downpours and tropical thunderstorms. However it is also during the monsoon that Goa is probably at its most beautiful, with greenery sprouting all around.
This is the only state that guarantees to relax and rejuvenate you and at the same time set your adrenalin rushing with the amazing varieties it has to offer.

Kausani - Switzerland of India

Standing 1890 mts. above the sea level, Kausani is nature's own reserve. Several snow- capped peaks stand in a stately row, over 300 kms. in length, shining against the azure sky making the horizon as seen from Kausani an enviable spectacle. The glory of the snow crowned Himalayan range reaches its pinnacle when the sunrays turn them into crimson and gold.Kausani is ideal for those who seek to escape from the din and dust, hustle and bustle of big cities and wish to spend a quiet holiday in the lap of nature.Indeed, Kausani is a veritable heaven of beauty to which an excursion must be made on visiting Kumaon. Mahatma Gandhi himself, overwhelmed by the mesmerizing views from this paradise in the Kumaon hills, christened Kausani ‘the Switzerland of India’. His Anashakti ashram enjoys a grand view of the heavens and still welcomes seekers of solitude. Best from February to June, then again from September to November.

Reaching there: Rail – Nearest Station: Kathgodam (138 km/5 hr).
Road –From Delhi, drive along NH24 to Rampur and NH87 till Bhowali, then take a right towards Khairna and then to Almora. Kausani is 50 km north of Almora via Kosi and Someshwar.

Things to do: The famous temple towns of Baijnath and Bageshwar are close to the hill resort of Kausani and attracts a large number of devotes as well as tourists all round the year. Kausani combines beautiful landscapes with a number of adventure sports. The hill resort offers the adventure seekers fine treks like the Bageshwar Sundardhunga Trek, Adi Kailash Trek and the Base Kausani Trek. Visit the Anashakti ashram where Mahatma Gandhi wrote his commentary on the Anashakti Yoga. Travellers can also stay here. Tea is available at the tea factory and Kausani is also known for its buransh squash.

Kausani offers various accommodation options ranging from deluxe hotels, standard hotels and budget hotels catering to requirements of the travelers visiting this beautiful hill station.

Jim Corbett

Corbett National park lies in the Nainital, Pauri Garwal and Bijnore districts of Uttaranchal. The entire area of the reserve is mountainous and falls in the Shivalik and outer Himalaya region. The Ramganga, a tributary of the Ganga flows from East to West through landscapes of incredible beauty. Corbett has been a haunt for tourists and wildlife lovers for a long time. Tourism is allowed in selected areas of Corbett Tiger Reserve so that people get an opportunity to see its splendid landscape and the diverse wildlife living here.
Things to do: The best places to stay within the park are at Khinnauli, Sarapduli, Bijrani, and Ghairal.
Dhikala being the most popular is rather crowded with tourists during season. It is advisable to stay in Gairal, which is quiet and offers better sightings. Ramnagar, the headquarters of Project Tiger, is also a good place to stay, provided you have prior permission from the field director. Jeeps can be hired from here for safaris into the park, and accommodation is better than at Dhikala and Gairal.
Garjia Temple, which is 14 kms. from Ramnagar on the way to Ranikhet, is a huge rock in the midst of river Kosi. The area in and around Bijrani once formed part of a shooting block. During the British period it was much famed for the quality of game hunting that it offered to shikaris. Corbett has the highest density of Tiger in the country, approximately one every 10 sq km. Nonetheless, tiger is an elusive cat, and its sighting is rare for amateurs. In Corbett, too, one often may come across alarm calls made by birds and monkeys, indicating the presence of a predator in the vicinity, but to spot the majestic animal can still remain an ambition. Some of the major mammals that can found in Corbett national park are Chital, Elephant, Wild pig, Barking Deer, Sambar, Tiger, Common Langur, Jackal, Leopard, Panther etc. Some birds found are Peacock, Jungle Fowl, partridge, crow, vulture, parakeet, Laughing Thrush, kingfisher, drongo, dove, woodpecker, duck, etc. Reptiles like Indian marsh crocodile, gharial, King cobra, common krait, Russels viper, python and monitor lizard are found. Wildlife safari timing in corbett national park is just like other national parks in the country. Timings for entry into, and exit from, the park vary according to the season. In winters, due to the shorter duration of daylight hours, the morning entry time is later and evening exit time is earlier.

Nainital - Queen of the north

Nainital nestles amidst seven hills in a lush valley at an altitude of 1938 metres. In 1841, the British first discovered Nainital as a holiday resort. Today, the town has emerged as one of the most important hill resorts of North India. Set along the backdrop of the Kumaon Himalayas, this lake resort has many interesting walks along pine forest trails in the neighbouring woods. During the high season, when holidayers can get loud and overbearing , you can move to the outskirts and let tranquil peace envelop you. An ideal place for honeymooners, Nainital ignites sparks of romance in most hearts. Naini Lake according to Hindu mythology is that the tal (lake) is one of the emerald-green eyes of Sati, Shiva’s wife. It is said that the Naina Devi Temple at the northern end of the lake is the exact spot where her eye (nain) fell, after Vishnu chopped up her body and scattered it over the country to stop Shiva’s cosmic dance of destruction. Nainital remains packed from April to November with tourist for sight seeing as well as for seeking escape from the heat of the plains. Naini lake has facilities for boating and yatching. Facilities for horse riding, skating, golf and rock climbing are also available for the visitors. Fishing is also permitted with the permission of local authorities. Talli Tal and Malli Tal are the two main trading centre at Nainital.
Reaching there: Rail – Nearest Station: Kathgodam (35 km/1 hr).
Road – From Delhi, drive along NH24 to Rampur, then NH87 via Rudrapur, Haldwani, Kathgodam and Jeolikot. (Total 6-7 hours drive). Regular buses leave for Nainital from Delhi’s ISBT Anand Vihar.

Things to do: You may stroll around the lake, try boating, shopping at the Mall or do nothing and just relax. Places worth visiting are Dorothy’s Seat also known as Tiffin Top, Naini Peak and Land’s End. The Nainital Ropeway is also worth experiencing as it slowly covers a distance of 705 meters with an altitude gain of 300 meters.

Mussoorie

One of the oldest hill stations established by the Britishers, Mussoorie is popular with tourists for its foggy hills and cool winds. Located in the Garhwal hills at an altitude of 2,000 m, Mussoorie is spread on a 15 km-long 35 km north of Dehra Dun. It commands a breathtaking view of the Himalayan snow ranges in the north-east and the Doon Valley in the south. Mussoorie is conveniently connected by road to Delhi and forms a popular gateway to the Yamunotri and Gangotri shrines.

Reaching there: Air – Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant, Dehra Dun (58 km) Taxi to Mussoorie.
Rail – Nearest Station: Dehra Dun (34 km/1 hour) Taxi to Mussoorie.
Road – Around 6-7 hours drive from Delhi via Meerut, Roorkee, Chhutmalpur and Dehra Dun.

Things to do: Visit the Gun Hill which is the second highest peak offering a beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges namely Bunderpunch, Shrikanta, Pithwara and Gangotri group and a bird's eye view of Mussoorie town and the Doon valley A ropeway ride over a distance of merely 400 meters is available from the Mall.
Visit the Mall which extends from Cloud’s end in the west to Rockville in the east. For the purpose of shopping there are walking sticks, hand-knit cardigans and sweaters and assorted curios from the Tibetan Street Market. Shops along the Mall sell wood carvings and semi-precious and precious stones. The Tibetan school, the municipal gardens and the National Academy of Administration lie along this path.
Kempty Falls is another must visit just an hour’s drive (12 km) on the Mussoorie-Yamunotri route. It has the distinction of being the largest and prettiest waterfall in the valley and is surrounded by lofty mountains.

Parenting Tips