Hyderabad - The Pearl City

The two famous cities of Andhra Pradesh Hyderabad and Secunderabad are known as twin cities of India.During the glorious era of the Nizams, pearls of various types were showered on the subjects by their patrons. Similarly, the kings received choice pearls as 'nazranas' or gifts, especially the Asif Jahis and the Qutub Shahis - The two dynasties that permanently set the pearl on Indian ornamental history.

The main shopping areas in Huderabad are Abids, Basheerbagh, Nampally and Sultan Bazar and MG Road, Rashtrapati Road in Secunderbad. The markets around Charminar are famous for bangles and pearls. Hyderabad is synonymous with pearls. Cultured pearls studded in gold and silver jewellery of exquisite design are a specialty of hyderabad jewellery. Pearls come in many shapes and of particular interest is the ‘rice-pearl’ – a tiny variety. The precious "Basra"- a pearl unmatched in lustre, colour and price and is available in selected stores. Pearls are sold in strings or raw by weight.

Hyderabad is also known as the city of pearls. The pearl market is situated near Charminar. Ornaments made with Rice Pearls can be bought from Char Kaman or the General Bazaar Market.People form everywhere flock here to possess a few of these pearls. Strange that there is no sea anywhere near the city. Yet it has become almost synonymous with quality pearls.

Jewelers in the pearl markets of Hyderabad have for centuries combined pearls with the glitter of gold, the richness of rubies and the ecstasy of emeralds. It is indeed amazing and heartwarming to see traditional designs still surviving the march of history in the narrow alleys of the Old City today.

The areas surrounding Charminar like 'Char kaman' and 'Mitti-ka-sher' are famous for antique kundan and enamel jewellery, temple sarees, old bidri and silver, crystal and pearls. "Darushafa" is famous for the tissue-thin silver leaf that decorates Indian sweetmeats, and bidri ware. The appliquéd patchwork skirts, bags and belts, set with sparkling mirror and tiny beads of the Banjara gypsies; Nirmal lacquer ware, ornate brass from Pembarthi, Kondapalli carved toys, leather puppets and Warangal carpets combine to make Hyderabad, truly a shopper's paradise.

The pearl markets of the city also offer unlimited varieties of chokers and lockets. The last few decades have witnessed a gradual influence of western designs on the Hyderabadi pearl market. However, the City of Pearls has retained it's luster.

The Queen Of The Hills - Darjeeling

Darjeeling is popularly known as the "Queen of the Hills", and for those who are a bit tired of the hustle and bustle of Kolkata it is the ideal place to go. Old colonial style mansions and lush green hills are waiting for you.

Darjeeling is one of the most beautiful Hill Stations in India coming under the state of West Bengal. The view of Kanchenjunga, and other ranges of the Himalayas is the attraction of this little city. Darjeeling can be reached either by Air and the nearest Airport is Bagdogra. By train, you will have to travel overnight from Kolkatta at alight at New Jalpaiguri, then take the famous Toy Train which is running for more than a Century. Winding itself into the hills there is a fantastic history behind the laying of tracks for this rail route. Darjeeling can also be reached on road by jeep, van or car. But the rail route is the most enjoyable.

As per Railway authorities during the British period in India, Darjeeling was their attraction to spend in summers and they decided to lay the railway track from the plains to the hill top. The distance was less and the height disproportionate.

The Engineer behind the construction and planning the rail route lost all hopes of laying the track and frustrated, he sent a telegram to his wife in England. She replied him saying "GO BACK" meaning dont give up. This word struck his mind and he lay the route succesfully. That is why when one travels in this train would suddenly find himself or herself going on reverse and then forward again. When the train goes on reverse, it also covers a height of 12-15 feet and then forward again. Hence, he finally succeeded in laying the track and it is being maintained as the most precious piece of engineering.

Well, the train goes slowly along the road and many Hindi movies are picturised for the scenic beauty of the hill and the train and road routes going hand in hand. There are many small stations in between like Kurseong. Until you reach Ghoom (meaning round), once cannot see the city of Darjeeling. After the train takes a 360 degree round, you see the beautiful hill station lit up because the train reaches late evening it appears like lakhs of Fireflies flying in the air.

In Darjeeling, you have many places to visit. The famous Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Zoo, Foot Ball Playground, Buddhist temples, Japanese Styled Buddhist Temple, The Rock Garden, innumerable Tea Estates, a park in memory of the Soldiers, and the Tiger Hills a spot where people go to watch the sunrise from below the mountains and before it actually rises, there is a ray of golden shine on the snow covered Himalayas giving a feast to the eyes of the nature lover. One cannot also, miss to visit the House of Tenzing Sherpa, the first man to conquer Mount Everest. There is a famous lake called the MIRIK, almost on the border of India-NEPAL, one can go boating too in the calm atmosphere.

The native of this place are called the Ghurkhas. They are mongoloid like, very affectionate and loving. We coiuld see small little children attired from head to toe from the freezing cold walking along the ups and downs of the city to reach their school in the morning. They look like toys in motion. Jeeps are available for local sight seeing at a very reasonable rate. Though this Station is also getting crowded during the seasons, it is a beautiful Hill Station to be visited for relaxing and enjoying nature. Obviously, it is one of the precious jewel of India, with a touch of the British influence.

Some Useful Travel Tips

Keep the copy of your Passport, Visas, Airline Tickets and Travel Documents, besides the Original Documents separately.
Keep all the documents under lock and key in the safety of a hotel room or always carry them with you. Never show or hand them to others.
Avoid tap water or water from unknown sources. Always drink packaged drinking water.
Use only authorized taxis and buses and negotiate rates before the start of the journey.
Never share your taxi or hotel room with strangers.
Be careful of imposters posing as guides and porters.
Change currency from official moneychangers only and retain the currency exchange slip of every transaction.
Get a prescription from your doctor for some general medicines. Use mosquito repellents, coils or nets.
Wash fruits or vegetables properly brfore eating.
Always carry sunglasses, sunscreen, hats and umbrellas.
Respect the religious faiths of the locals and sanctity of the religious place. Observe a decent dress code in places of worship.
Do not insist on entering religious places restricted to outsiders or followers of different faiths.
Do not take photographs where photography is prohibited like military places, religious places, railway stations, airports and bridges.
Offering tips is a matter of personal discretion.
If you ever land in trouble, contact your Embassy and the nearest Police Station.

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Nearest Locations of Chennai

As a city Chennai continues to maintain the best of South Indian traditions. Besides the modern city itself, there are several interesting towns like Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram, each with a rich collection of ancient temples and an array of traditional handicrafts which are very much their own.

MAHABALIPURAM: Famous for monolithic sculptures on the seashore. These sculptures belong to the period of Pallava Kings who ruled this part of South India many centuries ago. Chariot, Elephant and other huge sculptures out of single stone is worth seeing.

KANCHIPURAM: A famous place for temples and silk sarees. Also one of the place where the Hindu mutt called the Shankaracharya Mutt is situated. Varadaraja Perumal Temple and Kanchi Kamakshi temples are very famous. There are many colonies who involve in weaving pure silk sarees worth seeing and purchasing too as it ranges from a simple Rs.2000/- to Rs. 1 Lakh also.

SRIPERAMBUDUR: On the way to Kanchipuram is another place called the Sriperumbudur, came to light from a sleeping village after the assassination of Shri Rajiv Gandhi, India's youngest elected Prime Minister on May 21, 1991, who in a short span of his politics, brought in a rapid change Information Technolocy, Communications Systems in India.

DAKSHINCHITRA: Situated on the ECR High way at about 25 Kms. from the centre of Chennai. It is worth spending atleast a day here to see the ancient type of common houses of the South India as it depicts the variety of houses built in those days to suit their needs. For e.g the fishermens' house in Kerala, Weavers house in Tamilnadu (Kanchipuram), Karnataka, and Andhra. One can also find the handicrafts of these states and many families actually live here and show you how they work on a potters' wheel, weave silk sarees, make glass idols and the same items are sold here. Many volunteers work here to promote the work of these artisans.

MUTTUKADU: This place is a picnic spot where you can go for boat ride, or row your boat along the backwaters and enjoy the cool breeze of the sea after 3.00 PM.

Toy Train - The Classic View

Toy train is a very well known attraction for tourists in Darjeeling. Toy train Links the town of New Jalpaiguri with the east Indian hill station of Darjeeling, this famous little trains is drawn on its 86 km journey by a 100-year-old engine in 7.5 hours.To reach Darjeeling by train, you can take the famous Toy Train at New Jalpaiguri, which is running for more than a Century. There is a fantastic history behind the laying of tracks for this rail route.

As per Railway authorities during the British period in India, Darjeeling was their attraction to spend in summers and they decided to lay the railway track from the plains to the hill top. The distance was less and the height disproportionate.

The Engineer behind the construction and planning the rail route lost all hopes of laying the track and frustrated, he sent a telegram to his wife in England. She replied him saying "GO BACK" meaning don't give up. This word struck his mind and he lay the route successfully. That is why when one travels in this train would suddenly find himself or herself going on reverse and then forward again. When the train goes on reverse, it also covers a height of 12-15 feet and then forward again. Hence, he finally succeeded in laying the track and it is being maintained as the most precious piece of engineering.

Well, the train goes slowly along the road and many Hindi movies are picturised for the scenic beauty of the hill and the train and road routes going hand in hand. There are many small stations in between like Kurseong. Until you reach Ghoom (meaning round), once cannot see the city of Darjeeling. After the train takes a 360 degree round, you see the beautiful hill station lit up because the train reaches late evening it appears like lakhs of Fireflies flying in the air.

Obviously, Darjeeling is one of the precious jewel of India, with a touch of the British influence.

Kalimpong - A Bustling Town

Kalimpong - A small but bustling town in the Himalayan foothills of West Bengal. Kalimpong is a small hill station between Siliguri and Gangtok. The road is one of the most scenic routes in this part of the nation. The swift flowing Teesta river runs by the side of the road adding to the beauty of the scenery.

The name, Kalimpong, has three different origins. One, it means the place where the local tribesmen gathered to organize field sports, second, it takes it’s name from the Bhutanese king’s minister’s stronghold and thirdly, it is named after Kaulim, a fibrous plant found in abundance in this region.

The town is 1250 M above sea level and offers excellent views of the Mt Kanchenjunga and the other Himalayan peaks. The popular view points are Durpin Dara and Deoro Hill.

This bazaar town was originally a part of Bhutan but later it was taken over by the British and finally it became a part of West Bengal. Kalimpong has several monasteries and also a Kali temple, Churches and a private library for the study of Tibetan and Himalayan languages, culture etc. The Tibetan Monastery and curio center and Dr Graham's home are important tour stops.

Lava (32kms), a small village is another good place. Lava is also the base for trekking to the Neora National Park. Lolegaon is 25 kms from Lava and one can see the Singalila ranges from here.

Some facts:

Language: Gorkha, Nepali, Hindi, Bengali, English.
Weather:
Summer:
Mar to Jun 15°C -25°C.
Monsoons:
Jul to Aug. Rainfall: Average Annual 2030 mm (80 inches)
Autumn & Winter:
Sep to Feb 7°C -15°C.

Source:- National Information Technology Promotion Unit, Kolkata

The Heaven of India - Kashmir

Welcome to the beautiful nature blessed land of Jammu & Kashmir. Whether a boat ride at the Dal Lake or a visit to the highest Golf Course in the world at Gulmarg or travelling to the delightful Pahalgam, Sonamarg or the serene Leh and Ladakh – a tour to Jammu & Kashmir is overhelming in every way. Explore and cherish the beauty of this wonderland with exclusive tour and travel packages of Jammu & Kashmir. Jammu & Kashmir tour is an ideal getaway for all nature-lovers and a paradise for all honeymooners. Come and Enjoy your Jammu & Kashmir travel and relish the magnificent beauty of this heaven on earth.

Strategically located the state of Jammu and Kashmir constitutes the northern most extremity of India. Jammu & Kashmir with its summer and winter capitals at Srinagar and Jammu, respectively, is divided into 3 major and distinct regions - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.