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Lonavala - A Chilled Off Destination By: Rashmiranjan Patil
Lonavala is beautiful hill station located in the district of Pune in Maharashtra. Sitting in close proximity to cities like Pune and Mumbai, Lonavala is a popular weekend getaway for the locals of these regions and other nearby areas. Tourists from other regions of India and also rest of the world also flock to the region to cool their heels off in the beautiful surroundings of Lonavala. This hill station is particularly renowned all over for its hard candy sweet called 'Chikki'.
The name Lonavala is derived from Prakrit language and means a series of resting place carved from stone. The region like any other hill station is rich in natural beauty and boasts of vast stretches of lush greenery, roaring waterfalls, sparkling lakes and ponds, woodlands, glorious hills and a lucid cover of mist surrounding the entire region, giving the entire region a very dreamy feel.
Lonavala also boasts of a rich and interesting history that adds character to the entire region. Lonavala owes its origin to Lord Elphinstone, Governor of the Bombay Residency during the British rule. The present Lonavala was under the Yadava dynasty, later over taken by the Mughal empire after they the strategic importance of the region. Remnants of the regions interesting past is still visible in the various forts and other relics found in the region.
In terms of tourism attractions in Lonavala, there are quite a few options like the various vantage points namely Rajmachi Point, Tiger's Leap, Shivlinga, Lion's Point and the Shooting Point. Other than the various vantage points the other attraction of the region includes the Ryewood Parka and Shivaji Udayan, Valvan Dam, Lonavla Lake, Tungarli Lake, Duke's Nose, Karla Caves, Lohagad Fort, Bushy Dam, celebrity Wax Museum and others.
There are also plenty of Lonavala Hotels across various budget ranges that cater to travelers traveling on various budgets. Hotels irrespective of their budget range offer quality lodging facility and various services and facilities ensuring a comfortable stay, no matter in what type of hotel or resort you are putting up at.
Lonavala is a year round destination however, it is best to avoid the region during the monsoons but plan a trip just after the monsoons when the rains have injected the region with a new life and vigor. The nearest airport is located in Lohegaon in Pune, while the region has its very own railway station connecting Lonavala to various regions in Maharashtra and the rest of the country. Other than that there is also good number of state and private buses available from various regions in the state for Lonavala. Lonavala is very near to Mumbai. The distance from Mumbai to Lonavala is only 88 km. The distance from Lonavala to Pune is 65 km. It is popular as a hill station.(read entire article)(posted on: 2012-07-30)
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Shirdi - A Calming Experience By: Rashmiranjan Patil
Shirdi is a small town located in the Rahata Tahasil in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. It is a quaint little town with nothing much to offer other than Shirdi Sai Baba, a great spiritual leader. Every year thousands of pilgrims from all over the country and also far across come to this small town to seek the blessings of the secular spiritual leader. Sai Baba is revered not only among the Hindu sect but also across various castes and creeds.
Shirdi was the region where Sai Baba lived and delivered his teachings and blessings to all his followers till the time he took Samadhi in the year 1918. Owing to its religious significance Shirdi is a major pilgrimage center of Maharashtra with pilgrims from all walks of life and all parts of the world flocking to the region to seek the blessings and also catch a glimpse of the life size idol of the great saint put up at the temple.
Shirdi being pre-eminently a pilgrimage site the major attractions of the region are the various temples and other significant places related to the life of Sai Baba. The Sai Baba Temple located in the heart of the town, housing the Samadhi of Sai Baba is the major attraction of the region, other than that other attractions of Shirdi drawing in huge crowd are the Dwarkamayi the dwelling place of Sai Baba, Chavadi located next to Dwarkamayi is another revered place where Sai Baba used to sleep every alternate day, Khandoba Raya Temple, Shani Mandir, Narsimha Mandir, Sakori Ashram and much more.
Shirdi being a popular tourist as well as pilgrimage site attracts a large number of people from all over the country and as such there are numerous good hotels in Shirdi offering quality lodging facility along with various services and facilities for the ease and comfort of all the travelers. The Shirdi hotels are present across various budget categories, thus, efficiently catering to the needs and preferences of the myriad of travelers to the region.
The best time to visit Shirdi is during the months of January to March, another very significant month to visit Shirdi is the month of October when the death anniversary of Sai Baba is observed, which draws in innumerable pilgrims from all quarters. Shirdi is well connected to various regions of the country by rail and road, while the neighboring airports of Aurangabad, Mumbai, Nasik and Pune provide the air connectivity to Shirdi. Even there is excellent road connection between Nasik to Shirdi.(read entire article)(posted on: 2012-07-30)
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Pune Shopping Guide By: Rashmiranjan Patil
Pune the cultural capital of Maharashtra and also the hub of education and Marathi movies of India witnesses a major inflow of tourists every year and catering to them are the Pune hotels and market places.
Since shopping occupies a major place in every tourist's itinerary Pune markets get decked up with all the indigenous handicrafts and artifacts item along with the latest range of goods to lure tourists to their stalls.
Some of the must buy items of Pune are the kolhapuri chappals , cotton silk sarees and other local handicrafts and other such items.
Pune can literally be said to be a shopper's paradise with innumerous markets offering a range of goodies. Some of the major markets of Pune are Deccan Gymkhana, Laxmi Road, Bajirao Road, MG Road, Fashion Street, Tulsi Baug, Mahatma Phule Mandai (market), Timber Market, Market yard, Juna Bazar, Nan Peth and Bhavani Peth, Dhole Patil Road, Koregaon Park and Fergusson College Road.
Deccan Gymkhana Market is a renowned place to shop for goods like suiting, shirting, toys, steel and plastic articles, embroidery items and much more. So all you male tourists you know where to head to get yourself dressed in the latest suiting and shirtings.
Laxmi Road is one of the busiest markets in Pune and shops located here specialize in jewelry as well as a wide range of garments. Bajirao Road is the place to shop for furniture. This market offers a wide range of unique furniture pieces at reasonable prices. Tourists looking for gift items and other souvenir items should head to Mahtma Gandhi Road where the shops specializes in a wide variety of gift items and other knock knacks.
Fashion Street modeled on the lines of Mumbai's Fahion Street is Pune's very own hot couture district, with shops offering the latest range of clothes and accessories of both renowned international brands as well as the local brands.
Tulsi Baug lying adjacent to Laxmi market is the hub for all things ladies along with metal ware, household items, gift items and much more. Tourists looking for some fresh produce should head for the Mahatma Phule mandai, as it is the best place to shop for the freshest fruits and vegetable available in Pune.
Another very interesting shopping destination is the Juna Bazaar a hub for second hand goods it is a must visit market place of Pune. Explore through the various shops and you never know what you can find in the long alleys of this market. The visitors can include another most joyful trip Pune to Lonavala in their plan.(read entire article)(posted on: 2012-07-30)
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Munnar - Natural Delight By: Rashmiranjan Patil
Munnar is an amazing hill station and a complete delight for nature and wildlife lovers. The region offers to its tourists a natural shelter to relax and rejuvenate far away from the hustle and bustle of the cities. The region is blessed with the bounties of nature from the rolling landscape, sparkling mountain streams, dense woodlands, lush greenery and the quaint villages among others. The natural beauty of the region gets a further boost from the serene and peaceful surroundings which transform the entire region into a tranquil paradise, the perfect destination to head to, to get relaxed and rejuvenated.
Munnar blessed with rich natural surroundings is one of the finest hill stations of Kerala, acting as a heavenly escape in God's own country. This mystical hill station can be found sitting pretty on the Western Ghats, in the Idukki district of Kerala.
Munnar renowned for its tea plantation and the neelkurinji flower, which blooms only once in 12 years is named after the geographical phenomena the confluence of three mountain streams namely Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala.
There is plenty of interesting tourist attractions present in the region from the various natural attractions to the manmade marvels. Some of the popular attractions of the region include the Atukkad Waterfalls, Mattupetty, Pallivasal, Blossam Park, Pothamedu View Point, Kundala Lake and the local markets among others, which are renowned for its tea, coffee, homemade chocolates and the various spices among others.
Along with sightseeing, tourists can also indulge in various sorts of adventure sports activities like nature walks, trekking, hiking, bird watching and much more.
There are also plenty of hotels and resorts in Munnar catering to the accommodation needs of the myriad of travelers visiting the region. The various accommodation facilities are found across various budget categories ranging from the high-end luxury hotels and resorts to the budget and economy hotels thus, catering to all tastes and preferences of the myriad of travelers visiting the region.
Munnar blessed with a temperate weather is a year round holiday destination. The region is also well connected to the rest of the country. The nearest railway station sits at a distance of 120 kms in Aluva, while the nearest airport is located In Kochi at a distance of 135 km approx. Along with that there are fleets of buses and cabs of easily available from various regions of Kerala and other neighboring regions in South India. From Kochi to Munnar the distance is 127 km. t is one of the popular hill stations situated in the Idukki district of Kerala and is well-connected to Kochi by roadways. However, the best way to reach Munnar from Kochi is by car, a journey of about 3 hours.(read entire article)(posted on: 2012-07-30)
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Hiring A Town Car Service, The Easiest Way For A Comfortable Journey By: AJ Prestige
Its quick and easy service: Any destination in the town or nearby area can be easily and quickly covered in comparison to the local cab option. Whatever may be the issues like traffic, bad weather or whatever it may be; AJ Prestige Limousine Company is well known for its guaranteed on-time service.(read entire article)(posted on: 2012-07-30)
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Group Travel Does Not Have To Be Time Consuming And Difficult To Arrange By: Robert Gray
When considering your next vacation, consider hiring a group travel specialist to help you with all of your accommodations, airfares and any special needs that you may have they can provide these to you at the lowest possible price available, including Internet options.(read entire article)(posted on: 2012-07-30)
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Family Vacation In Kodaikanal And Some Good Kodaikanal Hotels By: Ipsita Mital
There are many hotels in Kodaikanal offering a contented and peaceful stay and make a Kodaikanal family vacation an unforgettable event.(read entire article)(posted on: 2012-07-30)
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Invest In It Or Rent It, Completely More Than Worth It!! By: kelly s
Try Phuket Villa rentals as it offers much freedom and privacy. The Phuket beachfront villas are most famous Luxury villas Phuket because it offers you many opportunities and are a great choice when you are looking for one of the best holidays of your entire life.(read entire article)(posted on: 2012-07-30)
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Group Holiday Deals To Italy: The Perfect Getaway With Family And Friends By: Abigail Rice
Get together with family and friends, and treat yourself to an exciting group holiday. Italy is the ideal group holiday destination - celebrate a special occasion in style on the Amalfi Coast, or enjoy a hen or stag weekend in Rome.(read entire article)(posted on: 2012-07-30)
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Activities To Do When It Comes To Amanzimtoti By: Douglas McCormick
Amanzimtoti can be found by the edges of the warm Indian ocean and it's a ideal location for individuals that like beaches across the entire world.(read entire article)(posted on: 2012-07-30)
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