I Love To See India

On the western end of India is the majestic city Jaisalmer. Made of Jurassic sandstone, it is also known as the gold city. Built in 1156 by Raja Jaisal the fort is the last major stop before the India Pakistan border. There is also an Air-force base nearby. The places worth visiting are the king's palace, magnificent Jain temples with intricate designs, a beautiful lake called Gadsisar Lake and many Havelies. A view of the Gadsisar Lake The best time to visit this place is in the winters. This also means one needs to get the reservations done in advance to get cheaper accommodation. December to February end are the peak seasons. The prices are high as most of the tourists are foreigners. The fort is also home to nearly 4000 people and is a “living Fort”. Getting around the fort is not very difficult. Auto-rickshaws are available at every corner though they wouldn't be able to take you to every nook and corner of the fort! Another option is to hire motorcycles/scooters. Ne...

Situated near the India-Pakistan Border is the city of Amritsar. Home to the Harmandir Sahib, or the Golden Temple, as it is more popularly known, it is a city of great colour and history. Amritsar, or Ambarsar, as the locals pronounce it, literally means a pool of immortal nectar. There are many ways of getting here. The city is well connected by buses and trains. One can also take a direct international flight and land here. The Harmandir Sahib is of great significance to Sikhs and attracts religious visitors from all over the world. The city is a delight for aficionados of food. In-fact many people who stay near the temple do not cook and prefer to eat out. One gets a sumptuous traditional punjabi meal with a nice tall glass of lassi at a reasonable price. Though in most cases, a single plate should feed two. There are many Dhabas which have not changed for over sixty years. Getting to these places is an adventure in itself, especially, if you do it on foot. Walking through...

Situated about 80 Km from Chennai is Vedanthankal bird sanctuary. The sanctuary is located in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu and is spread over 70 acres. Vedanthankal or the hamlet of the hunter (in Tamil) was a popular hunting spot for local landlords. Today it is a heaven for migratory birds. The sanctuary is well maintained and the sanctuary has a few observation decks from where one can get a clear view of the birds. It attracts locals, tourist and many ornithologists. The place is well connected by r oad. One can take a bus or get to Chengalpet by train and catch a bus from there. Or you can hire a cab to take you to and fro. If you have your own vehicle then you are in for a treat. You will be no NH 45 for the most part depending on where you start from. It you were to start from OMR and cut across to NH 45 the road is great. The connecting road from NH 45 to the sanctuary is also good but don't be expecting to do over 80km/hr like you were on the highway. There a...