Visit to "City of Pearls" - Hyderabad.

Hyderabad is the capital of southern India's Telangana state.It was historically known as a pearl and diamond trading centre, and it continues to be known as the "City of Pearls".Now a major center for the technology industry, it's home to many upscale restaurants and shops.Some of it’s sites include:

The Charminar, a 16th-century mosque whose 4 arches support towering minarets, is an old city landmark near the long-standing Laad Bazaar.

Golconda Fort, a former diamond-trading center that was once the Qutb Shahi dynastic capital.

Hussain Sagar Lake is one of the most popular tourist places in Hyderabad. The lake connects two parts of the city (Secunderabad and Hyderabad) to each other. The largest artificial lake in Asia.

Ramoji Film City, the largest studio complex in the world. is a popular tourism and recreation centre, containing natural and artificial attractions including an amusement park.

Other sites: NTR Memorial Park,  

Visit to Lonar:

Closest  railway station is Jalna. From station to Jalna bus stand is 2.2km, auto rickshaws available. Jalna bus stand to Lonar 90kms around 3hrs. From Lonar bus stand to Crater is 2km.

Lonar Crater is 1.8km in diameter. The lake is on the floor of the Crater which can be accessed by climbing down the slope.

Lonar Lake was created by a meteor impact during the Pleistocene Epoch and it is the only known hyper velocity impact crater in basaltic rock anywhere on Earth.
It is 1.3km in diameter & made of saline water. Ph level of water is high.

Many temples can be found near the lake, today the temples are in ruins. Some migratory birds & monkeys can be seen.

The Gomukh temple is situated on the rim of the Lonar Crater Lake. In the one the Kunda (tank) in the temple, there is an eternal water stream. The water stream is called as ‘Dhar’ in Marathi hence the temple is also named as ‘Dhar Temple’ and the Kunda in which the stream is channelized is called as ‘Dhar Kunda’ which is assumed by devotees to be holy. 

   

Lonar can also be traveled from Aurangabad. 

Dudhsagar Falls

End of February 2017 went to visit Dudhsagar Falls which later I felt was not a good idea.
 

 

Dudhsagar Falls (literally Sea of Milk ) is a four-tiered waterfall located on the Mandovi River in the border of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located on the Madgaon-Belgaum rail route about 46 km east of Madgaon and 80 km south of Belgaum. Dudhsagar Falls is amongst India's tallest waterfalls with a height of 310 m (1017 feet) and an average width of 30 metres (100 feet).

 

The waterfall forms the border between Karnataka and Goa states. The area is surrounded by a deciduous forest with a rich biodiversity. The falls are not particularly spectacular during the dry season but during the monsoon season however, the falls are fed by rains and form a huge force of water.

 

 

Boarded a train from Madgaon to Kulem railway station.  At Kulem station was guided to the Dudhsagar view point (around 11km from Kulem station).  On the way passed Sonalium station which is 8km from Kulem station and 3km from view point.  It took me 3hrs to reach the view point from Kulem station, with view of passing goods and passenger trains on the rail track.

 

 

At this time of the year the water flowing through the falls is less and that was very disappointing but quenching my thirst with the cool water from the fall was refreshing. After spending some time at the fall took the path back to Kulem station.

 

 

Note: Walking along the track is punishable under law.

 

Visit - Thiruvananthapuram,India

Attractions in Thiruvananthapuram (Capital of Kerala):

 

Kerala Government Secretariat

The Kerala Government Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram is the seat of administration of the Government of Kerala, housing important ministries and bureaucratic offices. The Secretariat complex was originally constructed as Durbar Hall for Travancore Kingdom.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Padmanabhaswamy temple is built in an intricate fusion of the indigenous Kerala style and the Dravidian style (kovil) of architecture associated with the temples located in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu, featuring high walls. It is the richest Hindu temple in the world.
The principal deity is Vishnu. Sree Padmanabhaswamy is the deity of the royal family of Travancore. The titular Maharaja of Travancore Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma is the trustee of the temple. Those who profess the Hindu faith are permitted entry to the temple and devotees have to strictly follow the dress code. The name of the city of Thiruvananthapuram in Malayalam translates to "The City of Lord Ananta", referring to the deity of Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

 

 

Puthe Maliga Palace museum

The palace of the Travancore maharajas has carved wooden ceilings, marble sculptures and imported glass. Inside you’ll find Kathakali images, armoury, portraits of maharajas, ornate thrones and other artefacts.
The palace grounds consist of the Chitrali Museum containing loads of historical memorabilia, photographs and portraits from the Travancore dynasty.

 

 

Thiruvananthapuram Zoo

 



 

The Thiruvananthapuram Zoo (also known as Trivandrum Zoo) is located in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, India. It occupies 55 acres (22 ha) of woodland, lakes, and lawns. It is the oldest zoo in India and Asia.
Napier Museum is an art and natural history museum situated in the compound of the zoological park in Kerala.

 

Veli Tourist Village

This picnic spot, where the Veli Lake meets the Arabian Sea, offers boating facilities and
speedboats are also available for hire. Veli Tourist Village also has a children's park and a Floating Cafe by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC).
The Veli beach not suitable for swimming due to waste poured from nearby industrial unit.

 

Shankumugham Beach

The vast stretch of white sand and the serene atmosphere, provide an ideal place for relaxation with eating kiosks and a vantage point for enjoying the sunset.

 

Kovallam Beach

Kovallam beach is known for its beauty and is a famous beach of India. It consist a host of shops and has a high rank among tourists. Kovallam known as ‘Paradise of South India’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

Visit - Kollam, India

Attractions at Kollam:

 

 

Kollam Beach

 

Kollam Beach, also known as Mahatma Gandhi Beach, is a beach at Kollam city. The beach is not safe for a swim due to deadly waves at any time.
The beach also features a park, the Mahatma Gandhi Park, which was inaugurated on 1 January 1961 by the then Vice President of India, Zakir Hussain.

 

 

Tangasseri Lighthouse

 

Thangassery Lighthouse is in operation since 1902, the cylindrical lighthouse tower painted with white and red oblique bands has a height of 41 metres (135 ft), making it the tallest lighthouse on the Kerala Coast.

 

Tangasseri Fort

 

St. Thomas Fort also known as Tangasseri Fort, is a ruined fort located in the beach town of Tangasseri on the shores of the Arabian Sea in the city of Kollam,

Adventure Park

Asramam Adventure Park is an urban park in Kollam city. It was opened after 1980, on 48 acres (19 ha) of city-owned land located beside the backwaters of Ashtamudi, this place popularly known as Asramam Picnic Village. It is the main centre of recreational activities in Kollam city. The Kollam District Tourism Promotion Council conducts regular backwater cruises in houseboats, luxury boats and speedboats from the Boat Club. Many endangering species of trees are surviving here in the park.

 

Visit - Kanyakumari, India

Attractions at Kanyakumari:

 

Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Kanyakumari

 



 

Located near the shores of Kanyakumari, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial was built in the honour of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation. Also known as Gandhi Mandapam.

Mahatma Gandhi has visited Kanyakumari twice, in the year of 1925 and then in 1937. After his demise in 1948, his ashes were kept in 12 different urns so as to transfer them to different parts of the country. One of these urns was brought to Kanyakumari. Before immersions, it was kept at the spot where the memorial is built now for public so that they can pay their last homage to one of the greatest sons of India. Later the ashes were immersed in the sea waters at Kanyakumari. Later Mahatma Gandhi Memorial or Gandhi Mandapam was built at the same place.

The construction of Gandhi Memorial was completed in the year of 1956. An excellent example of modern architecture, it draws inspirations from Orissa style of architecture. The central spire of this mandapam with pink portico has a height of 79 feet which is symbolic of the age of Mahatma Gandhi at the time of his demise. The most striking feature of Gandhi Mandapam is the ceiling of the building. It has an opening that has been built in such a way that on every 2nd October which is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, rays of Sun falls exactly on the spot where his ashes were kept.

 

Kamraj Memorial Mandapam

 

As a tribute to K.Kamaraj, who served as the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu and who was a great freedom fighter, the Government of Tamilnadu constructed a Memorial at the place where his ashes were kept for public to pay homage before immersion in the sea. He was popularly known as Black Gandhi among the masses and king maker during congress regime. Many rare photographs of Kamraj and his meeting with various leaders are displayed in this Memorial.

 

Kanyakumari Temple

Devi Kanya Kumari, is Shree Bhagavathy in the form of an adolescent girl child. Devi is also known as Shree Baala Bhadra or Shree Baala. She is popularly known as "Bhagavathy" (Durga or Parvati) "Devi". The Bhagavathy Temple is located in Cape Kanya Kumari in Tamil Nadu; the southern tip of main land India, there by located on the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. She is also known by several other names, including Kanya Devi and Devi Kumari. She is also worshiped as Shree Bhadrakali by devotees. Sage Parashurama is said to have performed the consecration of the temple. The Goddess is believed to be the one who removes the rigidity of our mind.

View Tower

Panoramic view of landscape, seashore, Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Thiruvalluvar Statue etc., can be seen at View Tower.

Vivekananda Rock Memorial

Vivekananda Rock Memorial was built in 1970 in honour of Swami Vivekananda who is said to have attained enlightenment on the rock.

 

Thiruvalluvar Statue

The Thiruvalluvar Statue is a 133 feet (40.6 m) tall stone sculpture of the Tamil poet and philosopher Tiruvalluvar, author of the Thirukkural. It is located atop a small island near the town of Kanyakumari, where two seas and an ocean meet; the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean.
The Tirukkural or Thirukkural, or shortly the Kural, is a classic Tamil sangam literature consisting of 1330 couplets or kurals, dealing with the everyday virtues of an individual.