Araku Valley

Araku valley is a famous hill station in Andhra Pradesh situated at an altitude of 2992 feet above sea level. Journey to Araku by train is a memorable experience as the train goes through tunnels, hill sides and streams. You can spend in tree top cottages that hang 10 feet above the ground level in the middle of green surroundings of Araku Valley.


Another attraction of Araku is Borra caves. Borra caves are located 29 km from Araku Valley at a height of about 800 to 1300 meters above sea level. Inside the caves, there is a formation that looks like the human brain, hence the name.
Anantagiri waterfalls, Dumbriguda waterfalls, Padmapuram Gardens, tribal museum and tribal dance are other attractions.

Kerala

The main attraction in Kerala is backwater houseboat. Kettuvallam (houseboat) is made of wood without using a single nail.


The boat has one or two double bed rooms with attached bath room with all modern comforts. It is equipped with lamp and fan that work with solar energy. The cruise through the backwaters of waters of Kerala, visit simple villages to see the products made by the local artisans, paddy fields, temples, beaches etc till sunset. It is anchored at a picturesque location for night. Other tourist places in Kerala include Kochi, Kovalam beach, Kumarkom and Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resorts.

Ooty

Ooty is a popular hill station located in Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu state. It is situated at an altitude of 7,440 feet above sea level. This “Queen of Hill stations” attracts tourists with its dense forests, lofty mountains, tea estates and charming flowers

Manali

Manali is the most beautiful honeymoon destination in Himachal Pradesh state. It is popular for its natural beauty. People say this place as “India’s Switzerland”. The best time for visiting this place is May to October as the climate is very cold during the other months. Rafting, Skiing, Paragliding are some of the adventurous activities that can be done here. Rahalla Falls, Malan Valley, Manali Sanctuary etc are some other attractions here.

Nainital

 

Nainital is a beautiful, serene and a green hill station situated at an altitude of 6,358 feet above sea level. It is in Uttarakhand state. There are many attractions like snow view, Naina peak, Tiffin Top, ropeway, horse riding and boating etc. ‘View Point’ is another beautiful tourist spot which is 5 kms away from Nainital where you can have a glimpse of mighty Himalayan range. As this place is famous for people who love walking you can enjoy the scenic beauty by taking long walks.

Taj Mahal

 

The eternal symbol of love, one of the seven wonders of world the Taj Mahal is situated in Agra in Uttara Pradesh state. The mausoleum is set against the plain across the river Yamuna, through their reflection, changes the view of the Taj. The Taj is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines. Walking with your beloved at the pavement of Taj when the moon shines is unforgettable memory. In addition to Taj, Agra Fort, Ram Bagh, Fatehpur Sikri etc are some of the tourist places in Agra.

Sky Watch Friday - Changing Landscapes

The mountains near the Ambaji Temple in Gujarat are well known for their marble mines. In fact, the local name for the mountains and the forest there -  Arasur - comes from the word for marble. No wonder every temple in the area is made of marble! Here is one view of the hills.........

Here is another... from right among these hills....

Take a closer look.....

The marble mines have eaten up the heart of the mountain, and not much is left. With the kind of demand for marble today, I wonder how much of these hills will be left in a few more years!

This has been quite a depressing post, but for some really good images from around the world, go to Sky Watch Friday.