travelindianplace: October 2014

Monday, October 13, 2014

List of top 10 waterfalls in India

There are some amazing waterfalls which are in full swing during the monsoon season. There are falls in India which can give Niagara Falls a run for their money. Here is a list of top 10 waterfalls in India, and keep in mind, these are not the highest or the most voluminous, but they are definitely some of the most beautiful.

1. Jog Falls, Shimoga, Karnataka

Karnataka is blessed with some of the highest waterfalls in India. The Jog Falls is the second-highest plunge waterfall in India.As water falls down the cliff from a height of 253 meters, you can almost feel the force of it against the rocks. When in full flow during the monsoons, 3.4 million tonnes of water fall down the cliff every second.

2. Dudhsagar Falls, Goa

Dudhsagar literally translates to “ocean of milk.” When the water falls down a height of 310 meters at Mollem, Goa, it seems nothing short of milky water. When in full swing, these falls can pack quite a force.

3. Iruppu Falls, Coorg

Coorg is blessed with plenty of natural beauty, which makes it one of the most popular hill stations of South India. A highlight of the natural beauty of Coorg is the Iruppu Falls, located close to Nagarhole National Park. People flock to the waterfalls during Shivratri to absolve themselves of their sins before they head to the nearby temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

4. Nohkalikai Falls, Meghalaya

You can expect waterfalls by the numbers in Meghalaya, the wettest state of India. One of the most spectacular of the lot is the Nohkalikai Falls, which is also the tallest plunge fall in India. With a height of about 1100 meters, these falls are a true spectacle of nature. The best part is, you can expect these falls in full flow almost throughout the year, since Meghalaya receives plenty of rainfall round the year. It is one of the spectacular and amazing waterfalls in India.

5. Jang Falls, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

Jang Falls is one of the beautiful waterfalls in India. You need to trek a distance of about 200 meters from the power station to reach these waterfalls. Located close to Jang Village in Arunachal Pradesh, these waterfalls not just serve as a tourist attraction, but also serve as the source of electricity for the people of Arunachal Pradesh.

6. Kune Falls, Maharasthra

Mumbai may be a commercial jungle, but the whole of Maharashtra isn’t. In fact, the Lonavala-Khandala region is blessed with several beautiful waterfalls during the monsoon season. Kune Falls stand out among the rest. These are 200 meters high, 3 tiered waterfalls, which are sight unto themselves. Although you can only watch them during the monsoon season, when you do, you will be left amazed by their sheer beauty.

7. Bhimlat Falls, Rajasthan

The Bhimlat Falls are almost like a well preserved secret of Rajasthan. Almost all of us associate Rajasthan with the imagery of hot afternoons, sand dunes, and a rugged terrain. But Bhimlat Falls crash that stereotypical imagery of Rajasthan. In fact, Bundi Village, the village closest to these waterfalls, actually receives more average rainfall than Delhi during the monsoons. The Bhimlat Falls may just be 60 meters high, but the sheer fact that they are located in Rajasthan make them worthy of this list.

8. Athirapally Falls, Thrissur, Kerala

Kerala isn’t just about the placid backwaters. Come the monsoon and the Thrissur district springs to life with natural beauty all around. The gem of Thrissur district is the Athirapally Falls, which can be seen in full flow during the rainy season. They are far from being as high as Jog Falls of Karnataka or other waterfalls of India, but they are definitely a sight to behold.

9. Hogenakkal Falls, Tamil Nadu

They are unofficially referred to as the “Niagara of India”. That pretty much sums up the beauty of these waterfalls, located in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. It is a major tourist attraction of Tamil Nadu, also well known for its disease curing properties.

10. Ethipothala falls, Telangana

Ethipothala Falls is a 70 feet high river cascade, situated on the Chandravanka river, a tributary of the River Krishna. The waterfall is a combination of three streams namely Chandravanka Vagu, Nakkala Vagu and Tummala Vagu. It is situated about 11 kilometres from Nagarjuna Sagar Dam.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

11 Road Trips That You Must Take In India

It doesn't really matter what you do or how old you are, everyone deserves a little fresh air from time to time. We can all use a road trip to shed old skin and live a little, de-stress, forget our troubles and make some fond memories along the way.
Here is a list of some impressively beautiful places and routes you should all take once in your lifetime!

1. Pamban Bridge

The Pamban Bridge is a cantilever bridge that connects Pamban on Rameswaram Island to Tamil Nadu, India. There are rumours regarding a man letting his son die to save the lives of thousands while operating on the bridge. Spooky things aside, it is a must to-be-traveled road for bikers to be mesmerized by the surrounding blue waters.

2. Manali-Leh Highway (NH 21)

The Manali-Leh Highway scenario gives the excitement of planning, adventure and bliss while riding and lifetime memories after the ride.

3. NH 212

National Highway 212 connects Kozhikode in Kerala with Kollegal in Karnataka via Mysore and runs through the Bandipur tiger reserve in Karnataka. Do look forward to close encounters with giant Elephants on the way!

4. Chandigarh-Manali Highway (NH 21)

The foodies and the ones in love with their cameras shall absolutely fall in love with this route. You must have the aaloo paranthas from the dhabas you come upon on the way with garam-garam chai.

5. Leh-Srinagar Highway (NH 1D)

Leh-Ladakh are on the Top-5-Places-to-Visit List of each and every person who lives to travel! Riding to Leh from Srinagar on road is an amazing experience as it offers some astounding views. The scenic contrasts in the changing colors of the mountains brings a factor of surprise.

6. Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar means ‘God of Great Power’ in Sanskrit. Indeed, the place is great and bountiful, rewarding the visitor with a mix of old-world charm, natural beauty and modernity leaving you wanting more.

7. Kalyan Nirmal Highway (NH 222)

The Kalyan-Nirmal Highway runs within the states of Maharashtra and Telangana. This route shall hold you spellbound with its beauty but it might get dangerous post sunset, so we'll advise you to avoid travelling once it gets dark.

8. Rohtang Pass

Rohtang Pass is 51 km from Manali on highway to Keylong/Leh. The panoramic and spectacular mountain view will simply take your breathe away. Remember the song from Jab We Met where Kareena dances her way to Manali? You're right there.

9. Mumbai-Pune Route

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is India's first high speed, six-lane concrete road and is the best place for those of you who like to make their cars fly. But remember, with great power comes great responsibility!

10. Old Silk Route

The old Silk Route is an ancient hilly-road that used to connect Lhasa in Tibet via the Jelep La Pass to India. You would leave a part of yourself in the rare confluence of natural beauty and history of human civilization which would make you want to visit the place again and again.

11. Puri to Konark Route

Don't consider this route as a plain Puri to Bhuwaneshwar one, what it offers is every traveller's dream come true. This road offers the travellers some beautiful, scenic views to enjoy the trip as much as the destination.

Keep Riding.... Keep Expoloring!!!

17 Beautiful Places In India You Must Visit

1. Yumthang Valley - Sikkim

Yumthang Valley is a grazing pasture surrounded by the Himalayan mountains in North Sikkim. At a height of 3,564 metres above sea level, it's popularly known as the 'Valley of Flowers'.

2. Tea garden hill of Munnar

Munnar is a town that's situated in the southwestern region of Kerala. It's practically covered fully with Tea plantations, some as high as 7000 feet above sea level.

3. Stok Range, Ladakh

At 11, 845 feet, Stok Kangri in Stok Range has is a popular mountain among climbers and mountaineers. It's often considered as a practice run for Everest.

4. Nubra Valley, Ladakh

Nubra is a high altitude cold desert with rare precipitation and scant vegetation.

5. Nohkalikai Falls, Cherrapunji

Located near Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places on earth, Nohkalikai Falls is one of the tallest plunge waterfalls in India. Name of the falls (in Khasi language - "Jump of Ka Likai") is linked to a legend about a local woman, Likai, who after a family tragedy became insane and jumped off the cliff next to the falls.

6. Nanda Devi

It's the second highest mountain in India. While the peak is not that easy to climb for regular folks like us, but the surrounding Nanda Devi National Park is a must visit atleast once in a lifetime.

7. Mizoram

Mizoram is a land of rolling hills, valleys, rivers and lakes. As many as 21 major hill ranges or peaks of different heights run through the length and breadth of the state, with plains scattered here and there.

8. Lonar Sarovar, Maharashtra

The Lonar Lake is a saline soda lake located at Lonar in Buldana district, Maharashtra, India which was created by a meteor impact.

9. Matheran

The smallest hill station in India, Matheran which is only 90 km from Mumbai, provides a pretty dramatic view of the sunset and the sunrise.

10. Leh

Leh, the capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh is best experienced via road trips from New Delhi.

11. Key Monastery

Key Gompa is a Tibetian Buddhist Monastery located on top of a hill at an altitude of 13, 668 feet above sea level close to the Spiti river in Himachal Pradesh. It reportedly, was started by 100 monks in 1855.