Red Fort - Lal Quila - Tourist Places in Capital of India

Shah Jahan shifted his capital from Agra to Shahjahanabad and laid the foundation of Red Fort, or the Lal Quila, on 16th April 1639. It took nine years to build this mighty citadel and it got completed on 16th April 1648. It is said that about one crore rupees, an astronomical sum in those days, was spent on its construction. Half of this sum was spent to build the exotic palaces within the fort. Built of red sandstone, it is octagonal in shape, with two longer sides on the east and west.

The perimeter of its strong ramparts is about 2.41 km. Red Fort rises to a height of 33.5 m on the town side and 18 m along the river. A wide moat surrounds the fort, which was originally connected with the river and was always filled with water. The two main gateways, known as Lahori Gate and Delhi Gate (named so, as they face Lahore and Delhi respectively), are three storeys high and are flanked by semi-octagonal towers. They are situated on the centre of the western and southern sides respectively.

The main entrance to the Lal Quila is through the Lahori Gate. Beyond the gate, there is a roofed passage, flanked by arcaded apartments leading to the palaces, known as Chhatta Chowk. These apartments are now used as shops. Besides these, there are three more gates on other sides, which are kept closed now. The master builders of the Red Fort were Hamid and Ahmad. Visitors are allowed only in a part of Red Fort, as the army occupies the rest of it.

Tousist Places in Delhi, India

Qutub Minar: Qutab Minar is among the tallest and famous towers in the world. The minaret is 234 feet high and the highest individual tower in the world. Other towers in the world are the Great Pagoda in Pekin, China and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy but these towers are not as high as the Qutab Minar in Delhi.Qutab Minar is another great masterpiece of Mughal architecture. It has a number of floors or storeys which has beautiful carvings like the one on the tomb of Iltutmish. There are inscriptions all round the tower and these inscriptions reveal that Iltutmish finised the tower. The structure of the wall is made as such that it widens from top to bottom, just to make the minar stronger.The architectural wonder is surrounded by a lush green manicured garden, which is a much favoured leisure pad for Delhites, and you can see people lazing out their afternoons here and there.

Nainital - The hill station of Lakes

A rejuvenating place dotted with beautiful lakes. You would love this place for its pure scenic beauty.

Nainital is a small town located in the Hills of Kumaon flanked by hills in three sides.

Once this place used to boast of 60 lakes. But the few that remain today have a magical charm around them that hold the admirers hostage to their divine beauty.

The town of Nainital grows around the lake of Naini named after the revered goddess.

Nainital was discovered in 1841 by a Britisher called Lord Barron. The weather, the surrounding and the mesmerizing beauty of this area attracted the British administrator who turned this place into the summer capital of the United Province. Being a major tourist place Nainital is always bustling with visitors and it is always better if accommodation and other facilities are prearranged.

If you are in Nainital and have some horse riding experience then hire a horse and feel free to roam the town and explore the beauty of the adjoining area. It will give you a view that can seldom be matched by any other mode of transport. If you are a trekking enthusiast then you are in for a treat. choose from among the various trekking routes, pack a small bag and get going. I would advice not to go in a crowd. Split into smaller groups and then feel the peace and beauty of Nainital trickle into your veins. Honeymoon tour packages for Nainital are very popular among young couples in India and the Indian Subcontinent.

Ooty - The Sapphire in Blue Mountains Range

Ooty is known for its unique picturesque landscapes, plesant climate, tea estates and the abhoriginal Todas tribe.

Ooty is located in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. Its the most popular hill station in south and the top choice destination for honeymooners and trekkers. A very suitable place to enjoy with your family and friends. If you are interested in Trekking then Ooty provides some very trekking tracks that are so serene and beautiful that you would like to trap every moment of your trek in your lens. The nilgiri bison, black monkeys, flying squirrels are really interesting creatures and you can see them if you are lucky. If you are in Ooty do not miss a ride on the Ooty toy train. It is a world heritage.

Places to visit in and around Ooty:
Botanical Garden: Great location and nice collection of exotic flowers and plants from around the world.

Ooty Lake: Good place to hang out on the lawn or take a boat ride in the lake. Entertainment for children with some joy rides 3d theaters etc.

Rose Garden: Laid on a terraced slope it blooms 2500 plus varieties of roses.

Dodabetta Peak: The highest peak in south India and is a cool view point.

Tea Museum: This place will catch your eye where ever you are in the Ooty town. It tells you about tea museum about history of Tea and a real time display of tea production. A free tea too.

Other places to visit around ooty: Pykara lake and falls, 9th Mile, Avalanche grass lands, Coonor, Catherine Falls, Dolphin Nose View point etc.

Munnar - Little London of India

Situated at the confluence of three mountain chains, Munnar is known for its climate and tea estates. The green hill station also boats of the highest mountain in south India - Anaimudi. Because of the likeness with the climate of London the erst while British officers made it their summer resort and affectionately labeled it "little London".

Hills all around Munnar are laid with tea estates since 1870 when A.H Sharp planted the first tea sapling. Munnar is also know for the exotic flower "NeelaKurinji" that blooms once in 12 years and bathes the whole landscape in blues color. Nature lovers and trekking enthusiasts will be in for a treat here. The wildlife sanctuary of Eravikulam is an ideal trekking zone. Just after the monsoon season in first half of August the world famous Kerala Snake Race is held in Alleyppy near Munnar.

Other places to visit in and around Munnar: Idukki, Kuthumkal Waterfalls, Observatory Hills, kundala, Pallivasal, Nyayamakkad, Echo Point, madupetty, Devikulam, Pothamedu

Tourist Attraction at Auli in Uttrakhand

Auli is a comparatively recent addition to the tourist map of India. Located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand among snow capped mountains, this small town is fast becoming one of the major tourist attractions of Uttarakhand. The main attraction of Auli is skiing. It is considered by many to be the best skiing slope found in Asia. Skiing in India is catching up as a popular winter sport. The vast snow-capped landscape and the perfect slopes flanked by oak and coniferous forests make Auli an ideal destination for skiing enthusiasts. November to March is usually the skiing season in Auli.

Auli is a comparatively recent addition to the tourist map of India. Located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand among snow capped mountains, this small town is fast becoming one of the major tourist attractions of Uttarakhand. The main attraction of Auli is skiing. It is considered by many to be the best skiing slope found in Asia. Skiing in India is catching up as a popular winter sport. The vast snow-capped landscape and the perfect slopes flanked by oak and coniferous forests make Auli an ideal destination for skiing enthusiasts. November to March is usually the skiing season in Auli.

The landscape of Auli is a visual treat with the Nanda Devi peak standing tall amongst the mountains facing the snowy slopes. The Hathigauri, Neelkanth, Comet and Eravath mountains present a spectacular panoramic view from Auli. The area offers splendid trekking routes to adventure lovers. A ropeway from Joshimath to Auli is one of the longest in India, extending to 4.15 kilometers. Auli is also the venue for the National Winter games in the months of February and March. Among the other interesting aspects of Auli is the grazing land spread over 6 kilomteres, known as Byugal in the local language. A large number of colorful flowers blossom during the monsoonl.

The population of Auli in Uttarakhand is composed of Tibetans belonging to the Bhotiya ethnic group. Hinduism is the chief religion practiced here.

There are many scenic and interesting spots around Auli. Joshimath, also called Jyotirmath is the site of one of the four religious centers established by the Hindu religious saint Adi Shankara. Badrinath, and Hemkunda sahib are among the famous religious centers located close to Auli. The valley of flowers is known for the colorful flowers that blossom there.

Pithoragarh is another important tourist destination near Auli. Pilgrims to Kailash Manasarovar trek through this scenic town. The town of Bageshwar has many historic temples including the Baijnath temple, believed to have been built by the Pandavas. Almora is another important district near Auli. It is famous for many old temples.

Auli is attracting an increasing number of adventure lovers and vacationers each year. Thanks to the promotional efforts of the state Government, this little hill station is already a major contributor to tourism in Uttarakhand.

Madagascar - The Land of The White Pygmies

One of the fourth largest islands in the world, Madagascar is surrounded by beautiful beaches and palm trees filled with natural reserves, grassy plateaus and dense forests. The Republic of Madagascar lies in the Indian Ocean separated from the African mainland by the 248 mile wide Mozambique Channel. The eco tourist friendly place is fun to enjoy amidst beautiful flowering plants natural history and a great place to explore and have an adventure of a lifetime.

Antananarivo: The place retains most of its French flavor with French being the main language spoken here. Even the road and shop signs are in French.

This is the best place to not only enjoy the natural habitat but also the natural history of the place. It is a nicely preserved habitat of dry deciduous forest with a lot of mouse lemurs, Coquerel’s sifaka, chameleons and the Madagascan fish eagle and of course the lovely beaches.

Ankarana Reserve: Situated 65 km south of Diego Suarez, it has a plateau made of limestone in the shape of a fortress decorated with fields of pinnacles. You can find subterranean rivers, caves and passages underneath the plateau.

Mahajanga: Mahajanga, situated at the mouth of the Betsiboka River is a wonderful place to be in surrounded by shaded arcades, flowering bougainvillea shrubs and pre-colonial architecture. The place also has many churches and mosques.

Ambohimanga: Ambohimanga is the birthplace of Malagasy state and is a significant Merina stronghold. The citadel’s main gate is a huge stone disc.

Markets of Madagascar: The markets here are full of life with the various colors and scents. In fact, the daily Zoma Market is stated to be the second largest in the world. Other busy and interesting markets are the Bazary Be and the Toamasina Market which is the country’s main port.

Things to do
Visit the country’s national monument in Antananarivo which is the Queen’s Palace and the Royal Palace or Rova said to be occupied by the Merina Dynasty in the 19th century.

Don’t miss out on Ampefy which is a volcanic region with beautiful waterfalls and a natural reserve, Perinet that has innumerable species of orchid and the indri or the tailless lemur.

For those interested in water sports, try water skiing or sailing at Lake Mantasoa, Andraikiba Lake and Ramona. You can also do some river rafting in the Highlands and on the East Coast.

Relax on the innumerable beaches like for instance the one in Antseranana which is a cosmopolitan seaport overlooking lakes, waterfalls and grottoes.