This
beautiful botanical paradise was first brought to the public eye
by John Sullivan, Collector of Coimbatore district in 1819. But
prior to this in 1812, the first Englishmen who were sent up the
Nilgris by the Collector of Coimbatore, were Mr. Keys, Assistant
Revenue Surveyor, and his Assistant, McMahon. They made their
way via Dananayakan Kottai to Aracad and the existing village
of Denad, and penetrated as far as Kallatti, the lower level of
North Ooty, but never set their eyes on the beautiful valley in
which Ooty lay. After Keys’ visit there was no further expedition
until 1818 when J.C.Whish and N.W.Kindersly (Asst. and second
Asst. to the Collector of Coimbatore respectively) went up by
the Dananayakan Kottai-Denad route, crossed the plateau in a south-western
direction and descended by the Sundapatti pass from Manjakombai
to the Bhavani valley and then went back to Coimbatore. The purpose
of their visit is not known.

In March 1819, John Sullivan obtained Rs 1,100 (Rupees of those
days not to be compared with the present-day rupee) from the Board
of Revenue for laying a bridle path up the hill from Sirumugai
to Kotagiri and its neighboring village, Dhimatti. The work was
executed by McPherson in a period of 2 years starting 1821. This
was the only route to the Nilgris from Coimbatore until 1832,
when the first Coonoor ghat road was laid, thanks to the then
Governor, S.R. Lushington, who got the work executed by Lehardy
and Capt. Murray. The present metalled ghat road from Kallar to
Coonoor, a distance of 25 km which has 14 hair-pin bends and a
gradient of one 18 ft, which facilitated carriage traffic from
Madras to Ooty, was mainly constructed by Colonel G.V. Law in
1871. It is gratifying to note that the cascade of the Coonoor
river near Wenlock bridge on the Coonoor-Mettupalayam road named
after Law, continues to bear the same name.

The Coonoor-Mettupalayam road was extended to Udagamandalam, covering
a distance of about 15 km. The Kotagiri-Mettupalayam road (about
34 km long) which was 8 ft wide to begin with, was widened to
17 ft in 1872-75 with a gradient of one in 17 by the Dist. Engineer,
Major Morant R.E. and handed over to the District Board in 1881.
During the period from 1819 to 1830, John Sullivan’s contribution
was, apart from laying the route to Ooty, that he built the first
house called Stone House in this place. This formed the nucleus
of Government offices. Further, at his own expense, he conducted
experiments on agricultural and horticultural crops and in animal
husbandry to find the most suitable crops and breeds of milch
animals for future settlers.Next to the magnificent task of laying
the road to Ooty, the British took up, around 1880, the stupendous
task of connecting Mettupalayam to Ooty by rail. A Swiss engineer,
M. Riggenback and Major Morant of Kotagiri road fame prepared
an estimate of 1,32,000 pounds (currency) for laying the rack
railway and floated a company called The Rigi Railway & Co Ltd.
Since capital was not forthcoming, Mr. Richard Wolley of Coonoor
came forward to advance money on the condition that the contract
would be entrusted to Mr. Wolley by the Government of Chennai.

The agreement between the 2 was signed in 1886, and the company
called The Nilgri Railway & Company came into being with a capital
of Rs 25 lakhs. The work on the line was started in August 1891
by Lord Wenlock, Governor or Madras, but the company was liquidated
in 1894. Later, a new company was formed in 1894, and the work
was completed in 1899. The line was worked by Madras Railway,
to start with. Though the Nilgris formed part of Coimbatore district,
it was separated into an independent district in 1868. For a period
of 13 years from 1830, it remained part of Malabar district. This
was to prevent tobacco smuggling from Coimbatore. From John Sullivan’s
days to this date, more than 170 years have rolled by. Udagamandalam
considered a sanatorium and hill resort by the Europeans, has
come to be like any other district. The devastation was so much
that a ban on fresh construction was belatedly imposed by the
Government. 

Nearest
broad gauge railway head is Mettupalayam (46 kms). Major
broadgauge railway junction is Coimbatore. It is connected
with all major cities. Mettupalayam to Ooty, is connected
by a Mountain Railway which is 4 hours journey.
At
a height of 2,600m stands Udhagamandalam (Ooty) the Queen
of Hill Stations. The ‘Nilgiri toy train’ connects Ooty
to Mettupalayam, at the foot of the Nilgiris.

The
construction of this line was a big challenge as the terrain
is rather tricky. It was in 1854 that the first plans were drawn
to build a mountain railway from Mettupalayam to the Nilgiri
Hills. But it was a good 45 years later in 1899 that the first
train chuggd up this track. This itself is a charming blue and
cream with wooden coaches and large windows. It is hauled uphill
by steam engines, designed and built by the Swiss Locomotive
Works. Twelve of such locomotive engines survive even today.

The train covers the 46 km to Udhagamandalam in four - and -a
half hours. There are five stations between Mettupalayam and
Coonoor - Kallar, Adderely, Hill Grove, Runnymede and Kateri
- and, at one time, there were five between Coonoor and Ooty
too. Though Wellington, Aruvakkadu, Ketti, and Lovedale are
still functional, Fern Hill, the last one, was closed down a
few years ago.

Extensive rice fields surround the 7km stretch between Mettupalayam
and Kallar. Soon after is an impressive 21 km section through
truly rocky terrain. The track passes over 26 viaducts, and
twists and bends through 13 tunnels. After a steep climb, the
train enters Coonoor, the little hill station known for its
tea plantations. From here, the track is uphill till you reach
Fern Hill at a height of 2,218m, the highest point on the railroad.
Shortly before Ooty, the line dips downhill. If you enjoy taking
pictures, keep your camera ready for a few shots of the viaduct
between Kallar and Adderley.

This ride is sure to turn the most hardened rail critic into
an avid fan. You’ll delight in the edge - if -the - seat twists
and turns as the train runs across tall girder bridges, and
over green hills before gently meandering through rolling tea
estates. The exhaust beat of the loco never falters, maintaining
a deafening staccato which can be heard for miles around. Truly
a journey to remember.

Ooty
is well connected by good roads. It is 535 km from Chennai (via
Salem), 89 km from Coimbatore, 18 km from Coonoor (via Gudalur),
155 km from Mysore, 187 km from Calicut, 290 km from Bangalore,
281 km from Kochi (via Coimbatore and Palakkad), 236 km from Kodaikanal
(via Coimbatore and Palani)

There
is a regular bus service from Bangalore, Mysore, Coimbatore, Calicut,
Kanyakumari, Thanjavur, Tirupathi and Cochin. Buses ply regularly
to Mudhumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Kotagiri, Coonoor and Doddabeta.

Kanyakumari is located at the southern
tip of the Indian subcontinent. With an area of 1672 sq.km. Kanyakumari
occupies 1.29% of the total extent of Tamil Nadu. The district name is
spelled as ‘ Kanniyakumari ‘ in official records which are in tune with
the spoken name of the district in Tamil language. The District is
bound by Tirunelveli District on the North and the east. The South
Eastern boundary is the Gulf of Mannar . On the South and the South
West, the boundaries are the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea . On the
West and North West it is bound by Kerala.

The
small temple dedicated to Kanyakumari , or the youthful form of the
primeval energy Shakti (Mother Goddess) is located on the seashore, in
the town known by the same name. Kanyakumari was referred to by the
British as Cape Commorin. Kanyakumari represents the site where the
spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda spent days in meditation upon a rock
off of the coast. A memorial built in his honor is accessible via
ferry. There is also a recently built memorial to Tiruvalluvar, the
author of the philosophical work Tirukkural - a treatise on the Indian
way of life.

The
Kanyakumari district was one of the worst affected districts in the
Tsunami that ravaged the coasts of various countries in South and South
East Asia, on 26th Dec 2004.

writers personal experience

- High tides of Kanyakumari  is breath taking

- Best place to buy beach goodies like seashells, starfish, but do negotiate.

- sunrise and sunset are the popular tourist attraction

-Triveni Sangam (place where Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean & Bay of Bengal meet) is mind- blowing 

A city of multiple cultures, Mangalore is a seaside town on the Konkan coast, and a very important port city of the state of Karnataka. The origin of the city’s name is from the Goddess Mangaladevi. However, there are many references to this city by names that are slightly different. For instance it was called ‘Managalapuram’ in 715 AD by a Pandya King, while in the 11^th century an Arabian traveler called it ‘Manjarur’. Today, its new name is ‘Mangalooru’, renamed by the Karnataka Government. The city of Mangalore is a scenic city dotted with coconut palms, hills and streams, and is known for its temples and beaches.

Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatheshwara Temple

This temple has to its credit the fact that it is the only temple in Karnataka built by Shree Narayana Guru. The Guru was a great philosopher and social reformer and he hailed from Kerala. During his visit to Mangalore in the year 1912, he expressed his wish for the Billavas to have a temple of their own. This wish was translated into reality when this temple came into being. It  was built by a devote called H. Koragappa in the year 1912. Compared to other temples in and around Mangalore, this one is a recent inclusion.   Situated in the city of Mangalore, this beautiful temple is the abode of Gokarnatha, another name of Lord Shiva.   Incidentally, the name of this place has an interesting past. The land on which the temple is built was earlier used by Tippu Sultan to graze his horses. Hence the name Kudre-valli (Kudre in Kannada means horse) which later on became Kudroli.     Mangaladevi Temple This place of worship is located at a distance of 3kms from Mangalore. The word “Mangalore” is derived from Goddess Mangaladevi, the main deity in this temple. Travelling back in time, Mangaladevi was a princess from Kerala (Malabar), who came into this region accompanying Matsyendranatha, one of the propounders of the Nath cult. It is said that she breathed her last on this land.   The natives of the land have staunch faith in this deity. They believe that she bestows their land with happiness and prosperity. She is also referred to as “Shakti” (meaning strength). It is also believed that ladies who fast (observe the “Mangala Parvati Vrata” as it is called) will have their wishes fulfilled and bestowed with a good marriage. Therefore, the temple has a special significance for maidens. It is also believed that those who conduct their marriage in this temple will have a happy married life.   Other festivals such as Ganesha Chaturthi and Dussera are celebrated here with great enthusiasm. Navaratri is also celebrated with great pomp since the temple is dedicated to a powerful Goddess. The temple was built by Ballal family of Attavar.

Shekhawati Havelis They are in North West Rajasthan; Jaipur is 185 Km and Bikaner 230 Km from Shekhavati region. Shekhawati’s magnificent havelis or mansions, built by rich
merchants of the region, display a unique architectural style that evolved around the courtyards to ensure safety and privacy of the women folk and protection from the heat of the long and harsh summers. The havelis, painted predominantly in the blue, maroon, yellows, green and indigo have beautiful wall paintings that adorn their walls. The earlier wall paintings (1830 A.D. -1900 A.D.) were largely based on the mythological themes, depicting local legends, animals, portraits, hunting and wrestling scenes and a glimpse of everyday life. The highlight of the havelis is the frescoes that are seen almost everywhere - on the facades, gateways, courtyard walls, parapets and ceilings.

Kumbalgarh

Kumbhalgarh is 105km from Udaipur. Kumbhalgarh fort is rising from ridge ,1914m high above the sea level. This massive fort encompassed by a 36 km long wall has
majestic gates. Rana Kumbha of Mewar used the natural munitions provided by the Aravali Hills to enhance the security of the Kumbalgarh Fort built by him in the 15th century. There are Shiva & Ganesh Temples, a village and a palace on top of the hill.

Jaisalmer Fort

It is situated in Jaisalmer city in Rajasthan. The fort stands admist the golden stretches of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill and had been the scene of many battles. It is also known as the “Golden Fort”. It is built of sandstone and is one of the largest forts in Rajasthan. It was built in 1156 AD by the Bhati Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal, from where it derives it name. At one point of time the entire population of Jaisalmer used to live within the fort; but with the increase in the population, people was forced to move out and find shelter under the foot of the Trikuta Hill. The main attractions inside the fort are: Raj Mahal (Royal palace), Jain temples, Laxminath temple, 4 massive gateways, merchant Havelis.

Mehrangarh Fort

Mehrangarh Fort, located in Jodhpur city in Rajasthan state is
one of the largest forts in India. The fort is situated on a lofty height, 400 feet (122 metres) above the city, and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. Inside its ways, there are several palaces, which are known for their intricate carvings and sprawling courtyards.
The foundation of the fort was laid on May 12, 1459by Rao Jodha on a rocky hill 9 kilometres to the south of Mandore. Past of Mehrangarh fort in Rajasthan, India has no mention of any seizure. The invincible fortifications are six meters thick. Some of the walls still bear cannon marks they had once withstood. The Chamunda Mataji was Rao Jodha`s favorite goddess, he brought her idol from the old capital of Mandore in 1460 and installed her in Mehrangarh. She remains the Maharaja`s and the Royal Family`s Isht Devi or adopted goddess and is worshipped by most of Jodhpur`s citizens as well. Crowds throng Mehrangarh during the Dussehra celebrations. It contains period rooms like Moti Mahal -The Pearl Palace, Sheesha Mahal -The Hall Of Mirrors, Phool Mahal -The Palace Of Flowers, Takhat Vilas -Maharaja Takhat Singh`s Chamber.

Bishnoi Village

Bishnoi area comes under the city of Jodhpur,
Rajasthan. Bishnoi area is a wonderland where wild animals walk past village
huts; where the villagers prefer to sleep without food so that the animals are
fed and are ready to die to save the trees and nature. Bishnoi carpenters never
cut trees. They wait for trees to die on their own or fall down during storms. The
varied species in Bishnoi Villages include blackbucks, antelopes, chinkaras,
peacocks and even cranes. The blackbuck is also a much-worshiped animal among
the Bishnoi tribes who inhabit the area. Bishnois follow world’s only
environmental religion.

Ranthambore National Park

It is situated in Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern
Rajasthan, about 130 km from Jaipur. Ranthambhore is most famous for its large
tiger population. Besides tigers, the reserve has a thriving bird population
with more than 270 different species of birds here.
The varied topography of the national park is home to animals like the jackal,
mongoose, sloth bear, leopard and the tiger, prey species like sambha and
cheethal. The park lies at the edge of a plateau, and is bounded to the north
by the Banas River
and to the south by the Chambal
River. It is is one of
India`s Project Tiger reserves.

Amber
Fort

Amber Fort ( also known as Amer Fort) is located in Amber, 11 km from Jaipur. The
rugged forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise with a beautiful fusion of
art and architecture. Amber is the classic and romantic fort-palace with a
magnificent aura. The interior wall of the palace depicts expressive painting scenes
with carvings, precious stones and mirror settings. In the foreground is the Maota Lake,
providing a breathtaking look. Built over the remnants of an earlier structure,
the palace
complex which stands today was commenced under the reign of
Raja Man Singh. One of the most striking parts of the fort is the Hall of
Mirrors. The hall could be lit at night by a single candle because of all the
tiny, intricate mirrors.

Hawa
Mahal

Hawa Mahal is a grandstand in Jaipur,
India. It has
five stories and is constructed of red and pink sandstone, highlighted with
white quakeee quick lime. The side facing the street outside the palace complex
has 953 small windows, and the breeze (hawa) which circulates through these
windows gives the palace its name, and keeps it cool even in hot months. It was
built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, and designed by Lal Chand Usta in
the form of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu
god. Its façade makes Hawa Mahal look more like a screen than a palace. Ladies
of the fort used to look at the festivities on the street.

City Palace

City Palace is a palace situated in Udaipur in Rajasthan. Built in granite and marble and surrounded by crenellated fort walls, the largest palace complex in Rajasthan stands on a
crest overlooking the Pichola Lake. The balconies of the palace provide panoramic views of “Jag Niwas” (the world wide famous Lake Palace), Jag Mandir on one side and on the other the city of Udaipur. City Palace is a massive series of palaces built at different times from 1559. Its main entrance is through the triple-arched gate - the Tripolia,
built in 1725. The palace contains many antique articles, paintings, decorative furniture and utensils and attracts thousands of visitors every day.

Pushkar

It is situated 11-kms from Ajmer (132 kms from Jaipur) along the bank of the Pushkar Lake. Puskar has one of the few Brahma Temples in the country. From a mere 14,000 to a massive 200,000, is how the population of Pushkar swells during the Pushkar Fair. It is also the time when Hindu devotees come here to take a dip in the holy waters of the sacred Pushkar Lake, to wash away their sins. The fair is held on the Kartik Purnima day falling in the month of October or November and continues for around five days. Livestock owners from all over the country meet at Pushkar to trade. The fair at Pushkar involves not only livestock trading but also pilgrimage and festivities. The festival hosts around 50,000 camels which are sold, decorated, shaved and raced.

Bundi Fort

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The town of Bundi is situated 36 km from Kota and 206 km from
Jaipur. Rajput architecture is depicted here in the intricately carved
brackets, pillars etc. In ancient times, the area around Bundi was apparently
inhabited by various local tribes, of which the Parihar Meenas
were prominent. Bundi and the eponymous princely state are said to derive their names from a former Meena king called Bunda Meena. It is known for its Murals.

Ranakpur Jain Temples

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Ranakpur is located in the mountain ranges of Pali district, 23 kms. away from the Phalna railway station. An enormous basement covers 48,000 sq. feet area. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty four pillared halls and eligibly
domes supported by over four hundred columns. The artistically carved nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures at a height of 45 feet are an engrossing sight. Light colored marble has been used for the construction of this grand temple which occupies an area of approximately 60 x 62 meters. The Ranakpur Jain Temples were built during the reign of the liberal and gifted monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. Ranakpur is one of the five most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism. In the assembly hall, there are two big bells weighing 108 kgs. whose sound echoes in the entire complex.

Lothal

Situated at a distance of 80 km from Ahmedabad. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in India. In the dialect of the local people`s language, Lothal means `the mound of the dead`. The site was discovered in the year 1957, followed by excavations done by the Archaeological Survey of India. It was concluded from the excavations that the ruins of the settlement belonged to the Harappan Era, dating back to the 2nd millennium BC. It is an exquisite example of Harrappan town planning. One of the most interesting sites here is the dockyard which reveals the fact that Lothal was once one of the major ports in the region. Then, there is the citadel that is divided into two parts, an acropolis and the lower town. The acropolis contains paved baths, while lower town stands laced with residential quarters, coppersmith workshops, sheds and bead factories. Apart from this, the most fascinating feature is the excellent sanitary drainage system of the town. Lothal was an important trade destination till 1900 BC.
Towards west of the archaeological excavations, there is the site museum, where there are plans, plaster of Paris models and paintings by archaeologists. All this, put together in an attempt to reconstruct what Lothal must have looked like 4000 years ago. In glass showcases, mirrors of bronze and copper, and objects made from stone, shell and bone are enclosed. In the museum are perforated and painted potteries, toy bullock carts, beads and jewelry. Throwing light on the trade prevalent with ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt and Persia, there are also a number of seals. An altar has been found here, which suggests, according to archaeologists that people believed in animal sacrifice. Lothal provides an insight into the Indus Valley civilization.

Rani ki Vav

Situated in Patan town in Gujarat. The shaft of the well is highly ornamented with intricate carvings. The wall projects the large vertical brackets in pairs which supported the different galleries of the well. The brackets are arranged in tiers. Has a stepped corridor compartmented at regular intervals with pillared multi-storeyed pavilions. The four pavilions which demarcate the stages along the descent have multiple storeys, two, four, six and seven respectively. Constructed during the period of the Solanki or Chalukya (11th-12th century). The full size sculptures of the stepwell are taken from the entire Hindu pantheon, for example, Vishnu, Shiva and their various aspects appear with or without their consorts.

Sun Temple Modhera

Located in Modhera, Gujarat, it is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati. The temple comprises three separate but axially-aligned and integrated elements. Religious gatherings are held in a magnificent pillared hall that is open from all sides and it has 52 intricately carved pillars. 108 miniature shrines are carved in between the steps inside the tank. The carvings depict various scenes from the Hindu epics of Ramayan, Mahabharat and Krishna Lila. It was built in 1026 AD by King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty. It is dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God. Modhera is now the site of several dance and cultural festivals.

Junagarh Fort

It is situated in Gujarat. It has rock edicts, set up by Ashoka, the Great Indian emperor, dating back 2200 years. The fort is girdled by a wall which is over 20m and is virtually inaccessible. The fort is around 1200 years old and was built by king Ugrasen. The fort bore witness to the 12 year long war between Sidharaj Jaisingh, king of Gujarat and Rakhengar, king of Junagadh over queen Ranakdevi. It is visited all year round by a large number of tourists.

Dholavira Site

Located in Kutch district. All its buildings are almost exclusively built out of brick. The ancient site at Dholavira, is flanked by two storm water channels; the Mansar in the north, and the Manhar in the south. Reservoirs are cut through stones vertically. They are about 7 meter deep and 79 meter long. The site was occupied from about 2900 BC for about a millennium, declining slowly after about 2100 BC, briefly abandoned and then reoccupied, finally by villagers among its ruins, until about 1450. A sign board with ten huge Indus signs found on the floor of a room at the North Gate was probably originally displayed above the gateway.

Sabarmati Ashram

Sabarmati Ashram also known as Gandhi Ashram, Harijan Ashram, or Satyagraha Ashram is located in the Ahmedabad suburb of Sabarmati and on the western banks of the Sabarmati River. The ashram now has a museum, Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalay. In 1963 the museum building was erected (designed by architect Charles Correa), and memorial activities were then started here. Established in 1915, Sabarmati ashram was the scene of many events of the Indian independence movement. It was from there that Gandhi started the Dandi March in 1930. One of the residences of Gandhi, the ashram was amongst the first satyagraha ashrams he set up. It was believed that this was the ancient ashram site of Dadhichi Rishi who had donated his bones for a righteous war. Also known as Harijan Ashram or Satyagraha Ashram. The ashram now has a museum, Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalay that exhibits the life of Mahatma Gandhi.