Tawang is famous for being the birthplace of Lobsang Gyatso, the sixth Dalai Lama and also known for having the largest Buddhist monastery in India. There are many lakes, rivers, and waterfalls here. When the reflection of blue sky and clouds emerges in the water, then this site proves to be an unending sight for tourists.

Places to see in Tawang

Sela Pass: Sela Pass is the most visited place in Arunachal Pradesh Tawang. It is one of the high-altitude mountains in the world. It connects town Tawang to Dhirang and Guwahati. Sela Lake, near the pass, is sacred in Tibetan Buddhism.

Tawang Monastery:  Tawang Monastery is the largest monastery in India and the second-largest in the world after Potala Palace. It is in the northwestern part of Arunachal Pradesh which is situated in the valley of the Tawang River. It was established during the 17th century by the Mera Lama. This monastery is also famous for its amazing collection of manuscripts, books, and other artefacts.

Nuranang Falls:  Nuranang Falls, also known as bong bong falls, is at an altitude of about 100 meters. The Nooranang River and the Nuranang Falls are named after a local woman named Nura who helped soldiers in the 1962 Indo-China war.

Bumla Pass: Bumla Pass is about 37 km from Tawang and is about 16,500 feet above sea level. The time between May and October is appropriate to visit here. The immense beauty of this place attracts people towards it.

Tawang War Memorial: Tawang War Memorial is located at a height of 40 feet which is built in the form of a stupa. This memorial is dedicated to the martyrs of the India-China war held in 1962. This monument is situated amidst beautiful peaks. This memorial is popularly known as Namgyal Chorten.

Fairs and Festivals

Fairs and Festivals form an important part of the tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh. The same goes for the Monpa tribe of Tawang. Like other tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, the festivals of the Monpa community are mainly associated with agriculture and religion. Monpas of Tawang celebrate many festivals every year. One of them is Losar. It is a New Year festival, celebrated in full swing in late February and early March. Toragya is another important festival. It is celebrated every year on the 28th of the 11th month according to the lunar calendar. It is believed that this festival is celebrated to expel evil spirits who cause diseases and misfortune in humans as well as crops. The Saka Dawa festival is also celebrated on the 28th of the 11th month according to the lunar calendar, which usually falls in January. Its purpose is to protect crops from supernatural powers and to produce good yields.

Arts and Crafts of Tawang Region

The Monpa people are skilled craftsmen. The beauty of wood articles, woven carpets, and bamboo utensils is worth seeing. People here have also earned a lot of fame through Thanka painting and handmade paper. The wooden facade is also prominent in the artefacts made of wood.

Best time to visit Tawang

The best time to visit Tawang is from the month of March to October. During this time, the weather here is very pleasurable.

How to reach Tawang

Tawang can be reached from other parts of the country via Guwahati and Tezpur. Flights are available from Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and all other major cities to Guwahati.

This ancient magnificent city now survives only in ruins. From the view of the ruins here, it seems natural that once upon a time there was a flourishing civilization in Hampi. There are more than five hundred monuments between the valleys and dunes. There are many buildings which include temples, palaces, cellars, water-ruins, old markets, royal pavilions, platforms, treasuries, etc.

 According to historians, Hampi was once called Kishkindha, in fact, from the 13th to 16th century the city prospered as the capital of the Vijayanagara kings. Hampi is an open museum for both tourists and pilgrims. Every turn of Hampi is amazing. Every monument holds a secret than it reveals.

Hampi is called a city of temples. Let’s know about some temples and sites that are worth visiting while Hampi and also included in the UNESCO world heritage site.

Virupaksha Temple

This temple of Hampi is dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, who is another form of Lord Shiva. Virupaksha Temple is a sacred place situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River at Hampi in the state of Karnataka. Built during the seventh century, this temple was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its history and beautiful architecture. The temple has beautiful sculptures of many deities which reflect mythological stories related to them.

VITTHAL TEMPLE or VITHALA TEMPLE

The Vitthal temple is one of the most influential temples in Hampi. The Vitthal temple was built during the 16th century. In fact, this temple presents its rich architecture beautifully. Hampi has a famous stone chariot which is considered an iconic symbol of Hampi’s architecture. This temple has a large courtyard which is located in the center. It signifies the majesty of Vijayanagar and the glory of Kalavabhava.

HAMPI CHARIOT

The main attraction of the Vithala temple is its pillared walls and stone chariots. These pillars have a unique feature that can’t be found anywhere else. They are known as musical pillars because the music comes out of them when patted with love. The stone chariot is a wonderful piece of architecture. The temple has been carved in stone, which is in the shape of a chariot.

LAKSHMI NARASIMHA TEMPLE

Hampi Lakshmi Narasimha Temple or Ugra Narasimha Temple is made of large rock which is the tallest statue of Hampi. It is about 6.7 meters high.

SHIV LINGA: Bada Shivlinga

As the name indicates, Bada, the shiv linga stands at a height of 3m. This Shivlinga has been carved out from a single stone and one of the most attractive sites to visit during the Hampi tour.

The other places that are popular and worth demanding a visit are lotus palace, monkey temple, Hippie Island, Elephant stable, and many more archaeological sites are there.

To explore the world heritage site and ancient ruins of Hampi, winters from (October to February) is the best time to visit Hampi. Visiting during this time can lead a traveller to see the events of Hampi that including Vijaya Utsav, the largest celebration happening in Hampi.

Why is World Tourism Day celebrated?

World Tourism Day was started in view of the importance and popularity of tourism. United Nations world tourism organization gives every year a new theme to World Tourism Day to make people aware of tourism around the world. The United Nations decided to celebrate September 27, 1980, as World Tourism Day. The day of September 27 was chosen for World Tourism Day because the Constitution of the World Tourism Organization was accepted on this day in 1970.

India is famous all over the world for its historical and natural beauty. The country is continuously increasing in the field of tourism. More than 1 crore foreign tourists come here every year. According to the Ministry of Tourism, the number of foreign tourists coming to India has increased. One crore sixty-five lakh tourists visited India in 2018.

On the occasion of world tourism day 2019, the Secretary-General, UNWTO said that Tourism can help us build a better future for everyone. Around the world, the tourism sector is the leading source of employment, supporting many millions of jobs and driving economies forward, both at the local and the national level.

Kasol is getting popularity because of its adrenaline-rushing adventurous trekking along the river Parvati, Kheerganga, Manikaran, and Malana. Get the panoramic and picturesque views of mighty snowy mountains, waterfalls, waters of the Parvati river, blue sky and cafes while trekking to the Kheerganga and Malana. Malana is famous for its cultivation of Malana cream.

It’s a place where a traveller can experience thrilling adventure activities or can just lay back and unwind in the lap of nature as this offbeat destination has a lot to offer. The music festival at the end of the year attracts most tourists from all over.

Reaching Kasol is easy as it is accessible through Rail, Road, and Airways. The nearest Airport and Railway station are Bhuntar Airport and Joginder Nagar railway station respectively. Kasol can be explored at any time of the year as it has a pleasant climate all around the year.

Auli is best for skiing because of its snow-covered mountain slopes. The slopes are meant for both professionals skiers and new learners. To encourage the skiing sport in Auli, the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited and Uttrakhand Tourism Department host skiing competitions. It is also known as the best skiing place in the world.

Auli is a place for trekkers and bikers. The mountains call for bike trails and trekking adventures. It also has a 4 Km cable car or ropeway journey which gives a spellbinding view of the Auli resort. Some of the tourist places that a traveller can see during the visit to Auli are Gurso Bugyal, Chattrakund, Chenab lake, Joshimath, Badrinath, etc.

Auli is around the year tourist destination because of its cold climate but for the skiing experience, November to March is the best time. It is well connected by road, rail and air transport. Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport and Dehradun and Rishikesh railway stations are the nearest stations.

Lord Brahma who is considered as the creator of the universe, his only world-famous temple is in Pushkar. Thousands of devotees every year flock to the temple for prayers. Hindus consider a journey to Pushkar to be the ultimate pilgrimage that must be undertaken to attain salvation. There is only one Brahma Temple and that too is in Pushkar is the outcome of Savitri’s curse to Brahma for marrying another Goddess, Gayatri, while starting his yagna in Pushkar.

Pushkar lake is a major tourist attraction which is believed to be generated when Lord Brahma dropped a lotus to the ground. That’s why the place is having the name Pushkar after the lotus.  It is believed that bathing in the waters of the lake on Kartik Poornima (during the Pushkar Fair) will remove the sins and cure skin diseases. All 52 bathing ghats that surround Pushkar lake attracts pilgrims from all over the world.

There is a temple right behind the Brahma temple dedicated to Savitri, the wife of Lord Brahma. The other temples that are worth seeing are Rangji Temple, Varaha temple, Gurudwara, Atmateshwar temple, Pap Mochini temple, and etc.

Pushkar is known as the Rose garden of Rajasthan as it has a huge variety of roses that are exported to other countries too.

Pushkar is also famous for the camel fair or Kartik mela that is held from Karthik Ekadashi to Karthik Purnima as per the Hindu calendar. A wide range of activities and events held in the fair that represent the culture of Rajasthan. Camel trading, camel race, camel safaris, cow and horse beauty contests, camel parades, camping, hot air balloons, etc are the main highlights of the fair.

The best time to visit the Pushkar is during the late October to November as a traveler can also enjoy the Kartik Mela or Camel fair. Summers are extremely hot, not suitable for traveling. But if one wants to have a pure glimpse of Rajasthan with cuisines, culture, dresses, folk dance, etc, they must visit the Pushkar during the colorful and vibrant camel fair.

With Whitewater Rafting industry developing and various outdoors and bistro spots jumping up, Rishikesh is developing as a top choice, taking into account individuals with various needs.

Laxman Jhula, built in 1939, is the major attraction point in Rishikesh for travellers. It is a suspension bridge and is believed to be built in the same place where Laxman cross the river Ganga on a rope. This belief makes it a pilgrimage and it is always open for visitors.

Another important pilgrimage in Rishikesh is Neelkanth Mahadev temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva drank the venom when asuras and devas were churning the ocean.

Rishikesh is a splendid spot for whitewater rafting or river rafting. Shivpuri, located at a distance of 19-20km from Rishikesh, is a famous spot for river rafting and water sports.  Other adventurous experiences that can pump the adrenaline level of a person are mountain biking, Kayaking, camping, trekking, and even bungee jumping.

There are numerous ashrams, some of which are internationally recognized as centres of philosophical studies, yoga, and meditation. This place is a hub for sadhus or saints who are indulged in practicing yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, Reiki, and etc. Due to this, it is also termed as the Yoga capital of the world.

The place Rishikesh has a pleasant climate throughout the year because of its location. The summer from April to June is slightly warm but it is the best time for river rafting. A month from July to September faces rush of tourists due to Hindu month Saavan and other religious events.

The place is the right blend to see spirituality and picturesque natural beauty.

One who visits the central part of India must choose to go the woodlands of the Banjar and the Halon valley, the two shapings the western and eastern parts of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, which have been renowned for their wide decent variety of natural life.

The forest reserve was made in 1955 and, from that point forward, it has committed itself in safeguarding an assortment of animal groups. Many species that were on the verge of extinction have been saved here. Today Kanha National Park is among the grandest and wonderful natural forest reserves in Asia.

There are various Tiger reserves in India, that are saving them, yet no place would be able to consider them to be frequently, and as consistently as in Kanha National Park.  Situated in the Mandla region of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha national park cum Tiger reserve stretches out over a region of more than 940-sq-km.

Significant Wildlife Attractions Of Kanha

The main wildlife attractions in the Kanha National Park are tiger, buffalo, gaur, sambhar, chital,  barasingha, dark deer, dark buck, chousingha, nilgai, mouse deer, sloth bear, jackal fox, porcupine, hyena, wilderness feline, python, tiger, and panther and other creatures.

The Bird species include storks, pintails, lake herons, egrets, peacock, peafowl, wilderness fowl, goad fowl, partridges, quails, ring birds, spotted parakeets, green pigeons, shake pigeons, cuckoos, papihas and many more.

The Kanha National Park has one major attraction and that is the Barasinghas. Twenty years earlier, the barasingha was on the line of extinction however some urgent marks including the fencing-off of certain creatures helped spare them.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The atmosphere of this district is tropical. Summers are sweltering and sticky with the most extreme and least temperatures of 40.6°C and 23.9°C. Winters are lovely with a normal most extreme and least temperature of 23.9°C and 11.1°C, separately. The reserve remains closed from July to mid-October during monsoons.

Another adventurous activity that allure is snow skiing. Kufri is termed as the winter sports capital of Shimla. Hundreds of skiers flocked to the place during mid- December to early February.

Mahasu peak is the highest peak in Kufri which can only travel on horse/mule. For the wildlife enthusiast, Himalayan National Park is the hotspot where one can witness more than a hundred species of birds and animals.

One unique thing to do in Kufri is a Yak ride. Tourists can visit beautiful landscapes and snow covered mountains while traveling on Yaks.

The best time to visit Kufri is from December to March when snowfall occurs at its peak. Those who want to enjoy winter sports and snow skiing must visit during these months. But if you have to feel the cool breeze and want to get rid of the scorching summer of plains, one can visit during summers in the months April to June.

Triund, 2km ahead of Mcleodganj is a perfect place for trekking the majestic Himalayas. It’s a trek of 7-8 km long. The trek gives you a view of oak trees and Dhauladar range.

The most famous tourist spot of Mcleodganj and Dharamshala is Bhagsu Waterfall. It is a beautiful place known for its peace and serenity. Bhagsunath temple is also there which is a major attraction point of this place. A number of café and coffee houses are there where tourists can have a cup of coffee and other refreshments along with watching the waterfall.

As Mcleodganj witness the Tibetan culture, a number of monasteries are there, in which the largest Tibetan temple outside Tibet, Namgyal Monastery is situated here. It is believed to be as Dalai Lama’s temple where monks learn and meditate on Buddhist preaching.

Another tourist place, Tsuglagkhang, lies above the Mcleodganj and Dharamshala is the holy place where Dalai Lama resides. It has statues of Shakyamuni, Avalokiteśvara, and a statue of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche). The place is visited by many devotees from all over the world. The place has monastery, temples, museum, library, and café.

The summer’s weather is pleasant here and one can visit during the months from March to June. If one travels during the Month of April and May, he can get to enjoy the festival of Buddha Purnima which is the major festival of the place.