Gopalpur is a town in the district of  Ganjam of the state of Orissa, India. Popularly known as Gopalpur-On-Sea, it is a beach town and a famous tourist destination in Orissa. The town is situated in the Bay of Bengal and has pleasant weather most of the time of the year. Its temperature ranges from 23 to 35c in summer and 16 to 27c in winter. Oriya is the main language of the town. Gopalpur was a major hub trading for the British in colonial time. Now it has become very popular tourist destination in the state. It is mainly known for its beautiful beach.

What to see: Apart from its famous beach Gopalpur offers its tourists many places of interest in and around it.

Gopalpur beach :-
Gopalpur beach houses a light house which is the main attraction of the tourists. Gopalpur was prominent port and many ships and traders used to come there. This light house was there to show the directions to many trading ships. Now this ancient monument is in ruins but it is still one of most visited sites. The light house offers its visitors beautiful views of surrounding greeney from its top. Ruins of Old Jetty are found in the beach area. This old jetty is the same jetty from where many travelers started their journey by sea to reach other countries.

Dhavaleshwar :-
Dhavaleshwar is another place worth visiting around Gopalpur.  It is a beautiful island located in Mahanadi River. It is small paradise for those who want calm and secluded place. This island has everything from cool breeze to lush greenery around. It is an ideal place to spend holyday. Taptpani, the hot water as it literally means, is yet another place of interest around Gopalpur. It is a major tourist attraction and it is about 67 km away from Gopalpur.

How to get there:  

Gopalpur is well connected by road to other parts of the state and the country. State run buses, private luxury buses and other private vehicles connect the town to other cities and town of the state. Nearest railway station to Gopalpur is Berhamur Railway Station which is just 16 km away from the Gopalpur. Biju Patnike Airport is nearest airport to Gopalpur. The airport is located at Bhubaneshwar, the capital city of the state. It is about 180km away from the Gopalpur. The airport is well connected by many flights to many major cities of India.

Other details:  

Beach festival of Gopalpur is very fascinating festival and attracts many tourists from far and wide. This festival was started way back in 1996 to promote culture and tourism of the region.

Asansol is the second largest city of Indian state of West Bengal after Kolkata. The city is located in Burdwan district of the state. It is one of the major industrial and commercial centers of India. The city has large work force, moderately higher per capita income, educational institutions and good transport facilities.  According to data released by International Institute of Environment and Development, a UK based policy research non-governing body; Asansol is among 11 Indian cities in the list of 100 fastest growing cities. Bengali is widely spoken language of the city. Hindi and Urdu speaking people are also found there. Asansol is a major educational center for the whole coal belt region the state from Dhanabad to Ranigunj. Economy of the city is based on coal and steel industries.  Though the Ranigunj coalfield spreads over four districts, Asansol is the heart of coalfield. The average Temperature of Asansol in summer is 30c while it is about 15c in winter. About 2500 year ago the region was a significant place of Jain activities. It is believed that the last Thirthankar of Jain religion, Mahavir Vardhaman once lived and worked there.

 Places to visit: 
Asansol houses many places worth visiting in and around it.

Asansol Kalyaneswari Temple :

Situated 20km from Asansol Kalyaneswari Temple is a pilgrimage center particularly for barren women.

Maithon Dam :

Maithon Dam is situated 20km from Asansol and is a place worth visit. 

Panchet Dam :

Panchet Dam is another dam situated 17 km from Asansol.

Satabdi Park:

Satabdi Park is an amusement park especially for children. It is also nice place to spend evening.

Joychandi Pahar :

Joychandi Pahar is a popular picnic spot. It is just 30 km away from Asansol.

Churulia :

Churulia is the place where famous poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was born. He was the national poet of Bangladesh. The village is about 17 km from Asansol. The village houses a museum of his works and memorial for him. A cultural program is organized on the occasion of poet’s birth day.

Rabindra Bhavan :

Rabindra Bhavan is a major cultural hub of the city. Sarat Mancha is another cultural centre located at Asansol Police lines.   

How to get there:

Asansol is well connected by rail and road to other parts of the state and the country. Being a major railway junction on Howrah- Delhi track, Asansol is connected to many other cities of the country. Many buses run by state government connect Asansol to many other cities and towns of the state.  Kolkata is the nearest airport for Asansol. The airport is connected by many flights to major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, etc. You can hire a cab to reach your destination.

Other details: 

Durga Pooja is the most important festival of West Bengal. The festival is also celebrated in Asansol with great enthusiasm. Holi and Naba Brasho are other major festivals celebrated in Asansol

Situated at the altitude of 1938 m, Nainital is a famous hill station in the state of Uttara Khand, India. It is the head town of district of the same name Nainital district. It is also known as the Lake District of India. Nainital is located in a valley which has beautiful pear-shaped lake. The lake is two mile long in circumference. Nestled with fascinating mountains and beautiful natural surroundings, Nainital has become a popular tourist spot in the state. It has pleasant weather throughout the year and can be visited any time of the year.

Places of interest

Nainital is gifted with many places of tourist attraction in and around it. Naini Lake is the main place of interest in the town. The lake is situated in the center of the town and because of this lake Nainital has earned fame as hot tourist spot.

Bhimtal Lak :

Bhimtal Lake is another lake located just 22km away from Nainital. It is the largest lake of Nainital.

Nauchia Lake :

Nauchia Lake is yet another beautiful lake to be seen in Nainital. All these lakes have beautiful surrounding nature and also offer  facility of boating which one can take to explore beautiful surrounding nature.

Naini Devi temple :

Naini Devi temple is prominent place of worship for the Hindus. It is situated on northern bank of Naini Lake and according to mythology it is believed to be the place where one part of the body (assumingly the eyes) of goddess Sati had fallen when the lord Shiva was carrying her body.   

Governor’s House :

Governor’s House is another place of interest in Nainital. It is built in 1899 and is one of remnant monuments of British era in India. It is built in Victorian Gatholic style of architecture and presently is the guest house of governor of Uttara Khand. Prior permission is necessary to visit this monument.

Snow view point :

Snow view point is another must visit place in Nainital. It is perched at the height of 2260 m and offers tourists picturesque views of surrounding snow-covered peaks and other beautiful sights.
 Being of the highest peak of Nainital, Naini Peak presents the tourists the most fascinating views of the hill station. The peak is located just 6 km from the center of the town.
 Tiffin Top, Land’s End, Pangot and Eco Caves Garden are some of other many places to be seen in and around the hill station of Nainital.

How to get there:

 If you are travelling by train, Kathgodam railway station is the place where you can get down. It is just 35km from Nainital and well connected to it by state run buses or you can hire a car, taxi from other cities to reach Nainital. Kathgodam is furthermore well linked by many trains to Lucknow, Agra, Barely and other cities and towns of the state and the country. Pantnagar Airport is located about 71 km from Nainital and serves as the nearest airbase to it. The air port is well linked by several flights to Delhi.

Jatwada is a small village in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. It is at a distance of about 18 km from the city of Aurangabad. It is on the way to Ajanta caves from Aurangabad.
Jatwada is known for a Jain temple it hosts. This Jain temple is dedicated to the 23rd Tirthankara of Jaina tradition. The 23rd Tirthankara is known as Parsvanatha who lived around 8th and 7th century BC. He was the last but one Tirthankara, and Mahavir Jain happens to be the 24th Tirthankara.
Parsvanatha belonged to a Royal clan from Varanasi (son of King Ashvasena and Queen Vama).  He took up the Path of Jaina ascetic tradition after completing 30 years as a nobleman. Legends say that he was very kind and was an adored man of many.
There are many temples of Parsvanatha (with at least 108 different images) in India. The Jatwada Jain temple (Aurangabad) is one among them. The image of Parsvanatha in Jatwada is known as Kalikund Digambar Chintamani.
The devotees who wish to have a pilgrimage around Jain temples near Aurangabad can visit temples situated at these spots: Ellora, Jatwada, Kachner, and Paithan. Ellora is 21 km away from Aurangabad; Aurangabad to Ellora takes 18 km drive; from Jatwada you can go to Kachner (48 km); and from Kachner you can go to Paithan (33 km).

Pahalgam is a town situated in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India. It is located in Anantnag district of the state and is populalr tourist spot. It is situated at the altitude of 2130 m and is nestled with lush green valleys. Pahalgam is just 96 km away from Sri Nagar, the capital city of the state. Pahalgam serves the base to the pilgrims of Anantnag. Pahalgam valley offers picturesque views of majestic Himalayan Mountains.
There are many places of interest in and around Pahalgam which attract many tourists.

Aru valley :
Aru valley is small village and offers beautiful views of surrounding nature. The valley also offers tourists trekking trails.

Betaab Valley :
Betaab Valley is another valley one can visit.  It is situated on the way to Chandandwari near Pahalgam. The valley got its name from the Hindi film named Betab as the major portion of the film was screened here. Earlier it was known by the name of Hajan Valley.

Tulian Lake :
Tulian Lake is another place of attraction near Pahalgam. The lake is perched at the altitude of 4000 m and one can get there by 2 day long trek which one can take from Aru. Ponies are also available on rent to reach the lake. Most time of the year the lake remains in frozen condition.

Mamleshwar Temple :
Mamleshwar Temple is the temple of Lord Shiva and is situated near Pahalgam. The temple was built in 12th century and is entirely made of stones. Many devotes visit the place throughout the year.

Panchtarni :
Panchtarni is another place of attraction near Pahalgam. Five streams meet there and offer a beautiful look to the visitors. One can also enjoy the sport of golf. Pahalgam has golf club equipped with all facilities of the sport. There is a golf course perched at the altitude of 2400m near Pahalgam.

Chandanwari :
Chandanwari is another scenic spot situated at juts 16km away from Pahalgam. You should not miss this spot as it leaves the visitors spellbound by its beauty. Snow covered mountains and large glaciers nearby mesmerize the tourists.

How to reach :

Sri Nagar is the nearest railway head to Pahalgam and is well linked to other cities and towns of the state and the country. Many state run buses and other private vehicles like cars and luxury buses are available from Sri Nagar and other cities and towns of the state. Sri Nagar also serves as the nearest airbase to Pahalgam. The airport is well connected by several flights to other major cities of India.

Hansi is a city in the district of Hisar of Indian state of Haryana. Situated on the national highway no.10 it is just 26 km away from the Hisar. It houses many ancient buildings and monuments of historical importance. Agriculture and other allied business activities along with service sector are its main sources of income for the people of Hansi. It is learnt that the city of Hansi was larger and more important than the district of Hisar. Punjabi and Hindi are widely spoken languages in Hansi.   

Places to visit:
Hansi is popularly known for its tombs, forts, mosques and shrines and their architectural value. Hansi has five gates to welcome the visitors. These five historical gates are located in such a way that each one of them faces a different direction. Delhi Gate, Hisar Gate, the Barsi Gate, Gosain Gate and Umra Gate are names of those gates. Barsi Gate is known for its excellent sculpture and it attracts many tourists to visit the place.

Prithviraj Chauhan Fort :
It is another place of interest in Hansi. The fort is also known as Asigarh and was built to safeguard the city but it was later on conquered by the Mughal. This magnificent fort is stretched over 30 acres and are surrounded by other 80 smaller forts. Outside the fort there are statues of Bhagavan Mahavir and Bhagavan Gautam Buddha. Hansi also houses shrines of four Sufi saints. These shrines are located at Daragah Char Qutub and attract many pilgrims from far and wide.

Gujari Mahal :
Built by Mughal, Gujari Mahal is another place of attraction in Hansi. It is famous for its architectural value.   

Blackbird Resort :
Blackbird resort is another place where one can spend some time. The resort is specially built for tourists by Haryana Tourism.

How to reach: 

Hansi is well connected by rail and road to other parts of the state and the country. Many state run buses and other private luxury buses are available to reach Hansi from other cities and towns of the state. Hansi railway station is junction station and well linked by many trains to other cities and towns of the country. Nearest airport is located in Delhi which is about 160 km away from Hansi. The Airport is well connected by many domestic and international flights to other major cities of India and other countries as well.

Other details:  

The festival of Lohri is celebrated on 13 Jan every year. It marks the end of the winter. On the occasion people gather around bonfire and throw puffed rice, sweets, popcorns etc. and greet each other. Other major festivals of Hansi and the state include Baisakhi, Nirjala Akadashi, Gangore, Basant Panchami etc. 

Known for its backwater tourism, Kumarakom is famous tourist spot in the state of Kerala, India. Kumarakom is located near the city of Kottayam which is just 16 km away from it. Tourism, fishing and agriculture form the economic activity of Kumarakom. It has vast area under mango groves, paddy fields, and coconut groves.          

Bird Sanctuary :-
Bird sanctuary of Kumarakom is famous for many species of birds including some migratory birds. Vembanad Lake in Kumarakom is known for being the largest backwater in Kerala. The lake houses many fresh water fish species. The lake and the sanctuary are major attractions of Kumarakom.  Back water of Vembanad Lake is the main tourist place. Near the lake there are many hotels which provide facilities like boating, fishing, yachting, etc. Bird sanctuary is another attraction here and it can be visited by canoes made available by fishermen. This 2 hour long pleasant trip by canoes is available at reasonable price and can be taken in the early morning or in the evening to avoid scorching sun in the moon.

The Taz Garden Retreat :-
The Taz Garden Retreat is another place of interest in Kumarakom. It is a modern resort built in Victorian style bungalow in 1881. The place is one of the most visited places in Kumarakom.

Kumarakom has been declared as special tourism zone by Kerala state government. Kumarakom attracts thousands of tourists from across the country.

How to reach :-
If you are traveling by train you can get down at Kottayam railway station which is just 16 km from Kumarakom. From Kottayam you can take a state run bus or other private vehicles like car to reach Kumarakom. Kottayam railway station is well linked by many trains to many other cities and towns of the state and the country. State run buses and other private vehicles like cars and luxury buses connect it to other cities and towns of the state and the county. Cochin International Airport is nearest airbase to Kumarakom and is just 85 km away from it. The airport is well linked by several flights to other major cities of India and other countries.

Other details :-
Malayalam and Tamil are widely spoken languages of the region and Hindi and English are also spoken by some. In monsoon season the activity of cruising backwater is not allowed. September to February is the ideal time to visit this beautiful place.

 Gulmarg, meadow of flowers as it literally means, is a beautiful hill station in the district of Baramula of Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. Earlier known as Gaurimarg, Gulmarg is located at the altitude of 2730m and has pleasant weather throughout the year. Having blessed with the beautiful nature, Gulmarg is one of the most popular tourist places in India. Flowering gardens, beautiful landscapes, stunning peaks in the Himalayan range, serene lakes make the town a must visit place.

Places of interest:
The scenic Gulmarg offers its tourists many places of attractions.

Alpather Lake :

 Alpather Lake is one of most preferred picnic spots of the tourists. The lake is located on the valley down the twins Afarwat Peaks of altitude of about 4500 m. This lake is very calm and attractive and remains frozen during the winter. During the summer fascinating views of stream of clear water bubbling through the lake with floating ice pieces can be witnessed.

St. Mary’s Church :

Built 150 years ago by British St. Mary’s Church is religiously important place. It is surrounded by many old huts and hotels and offers tourists the right place to watch snow falling on the surroundings. Alpine trees around the church add to the beauty of the surroundings. A temple, Mosque and a Gurudwara are also situated nearby the church.

Shrine of Baba Reshi :

 Built in 1480 the shrine of Baba Reshi is situated in the valley of Gulmarg. Baba Reshi was Muslim scholar and saint who worked as courtier during the period of King of Kashmir Zain-ul-Abidin. The shrine is constructed in Mughal and Persian style of architecture. This sacred place is very revered and thousands of devotees visit the place throughout the year.

Cable Car :

One of the most wonderful attractions of Gulmarg is the Cable Car. The cable car is from Gulmarg to Kongdoor and known as  Gondala Lift. The cable car is managed by Jammu and Kashmir State Cable Car Corporation. The cable car gives wonderful experience of watching the pristine beauty of Valley. Skiing and snowboarding are some of the joyful activities in the Gulmarg. It has become a popular spot for skiing and snowboarding in India. There are many ski resorts with all facilities of skiing in Gulmarg. Golf is the attractive and popular sport in Gulmarg. Established in 1911 by the British, Gulmarg Golf Club offers 18 holes and 72 par golf courses. The club also offers membership on temporary basis, even for a day for enthusiasts. 

Best time to visit:  

March to June is the ideal time to visit Gulmarg as the climate is pleasant where as the temperature during this month is 29 degree Celsius max. to 13 degree Celsius.

How to reach: 

By road:

 Gulmarg is well connected by road to other parts of the state and the country. Many state run buses and private luxury buses are available from other cities of the state and the country.

By air:

Nearest airport is Srinagar which is 56 km away from Gulmarg. Srinagar airport is connected by regular flights to Delhi and other major cities of the country.

By rail:

Closest railway station to Gulmarg is Jammu railway station. Jammu is well connected by rail to many other cities of India.

Other details:

 Kashmiri Shawls, Kashmiri Carpets and Tibetan Handicrafts are some of the most preferred items of shopping in Gulmarg.
All major festivals of India are celebrated in Gulmarg. Besides those festivals Gulmarg Snow Festival is organized every year in the month of February. The festival attracts many tourists from all over the country.

Significance of Holi festival

   Festival of color, Holi is a spring festival celebrated by the Hindus in all over the world. It is the most charming festival of India celebrated in each part of the country.  There are many stories associated with the origin of Holi festival. It is mainly believed to be related with lord Krishna. It is said that lord Krishna often complained of his dark skin to his mother comparing his skin color to the Radha's fair color. His mother decided to apply the color to Radha. Later on Krishna played such pranks on Radha and other Gopikas. Thus the festival is celebrated to commemorate Radha’s celestial love for Krishna.
  The festival of Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter. The festival usually falls on the last full moon of day of Phalguna (Feb- March) month. On the eve of the Holi festival particular bonfire is set on fire thus marking the mythological incidence of Holika Dahan in which Holika (a demoness with a boon that she could not be burnt) dies of burning when she sits on pyre with Prhalad (an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu) who escapes the fire unhurt due to supernatural power of the god lord Vishnu.
  Celebration of Holi contains the activities of people throwing colors mixed with water and applying colors to each other. The festival of Holi gets different flavor in different parts of the country. There are many form of the festival of Holi celebrated in different ways. Lath Mar Holi in Barsna is very striking. Thousands of people gather at the compound of Radha Rani temple to witness the women striking hard with sticks to men who are seen protecting themselves with some kind of shields. Mathura, Vrindavan, Braj, Agra are some of the places related with lord Krishna and hence celebration of Holi there is very religious and divine.

Holi in different states of India

  Holi is also known by different names in different parts of the state. In West Bengal and Orissa it is known as Dolyatra of Basant Panchami while it has other name of Phagawa in Bihar. In Maharashtra and Goa Holi is known as Dhulivandan. Baithki Holi and Khari Holi are some forms of main festival of Holi. Holi festival abolishes the gap between rich and poor, men and women, young and old, rich and poor who all comes together to celebrate colorful Holi.