Andaman & Nicobar Travel Guide
Andaman & Nicobar is the string of 300 islands lies in the middle of the Bay of Bengal. The islands are ethnically not a part of India for until quite recently they were only inhabited by indigenous people. These islands are often called the "perfect tropical paradise". The islands stretch into the territory of some 750 km from north to south in the Bay of Bengal. These islands are now being developed and will soon be major tourist centres. Point Calimere and Mudumalai wildlife sanctuaries define the eastern and western tips of the state while at the northern extreme is Pulicat Lake and at the southernmost tip is Cape Camorin or Kanniyakumari. There are 19 islands in the Nicobar group. Palm trees abound and, as a result, coconuts and arecanuts, and their derivatives, are important products. Planters also cultivate sugar cane. The complex network of lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals fringing the coast of Kerala forms the basis of a distinct regional lifestyle, and travelling by boat along these backwaters is one of the highlights of a visit to the state. The boats cross shallow, palm-fringed lakes studded with Chinese fishing nets, and along narrow, shady canals where coir (coconut fibre), copra and cashews are loaded onto boats. Stops are made at small settlements where people live on carefully cultivated narrow spits of land only a few metres wide, and there's the chance to see traditional boats with huge sails, and prows carved into the shape of dragons. The most popular backwater trip is the eight-hour voyage between Kollam and Alappuzha, but most of your fellow passengers on this route will be Western travellers. If you want a local experience, or you simply feel like a shorter trip, there are local boats from Alappuzha to Kottayam and Changanassery.
The islands offer a wide selection of handicrafts made from wood, fibre, and sea shells. There is mother - of - pearl jewellery in the form of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, etc. Then there are coconut shell ashtrays, soap dishes, lampshades, apart from wood items like walking sticks, trays, bowls tables and stools. Kollam is on the well-serviced Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulum bus route, as well as being fortuitously placed on no less than four different railway lines. Getting there from any number of the major southern cities is no problem; however it is 2750 kms from New Delhi. The Andaman tribes have little contact with the outside world. Most islanders follow their own religious and tribal customs, although many Nicobarese have been converted to Christianity. Beaches: Corbyn's Cove And Chirya Tap, Radhnagar Beach, Harminder Bay Beach, Karmatang Beach, Ramnagar Beach. Sunbathe in the mellow sun as you sip from a fresh coconut. Then swim out into the waves where dolphins and many-hued fish will give you company. The clear waters of the Andamans are ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving. The best beaches are at Wandour, Corbyn's Cove, Jolly Buoy and Ross Island. Forests are the green extend over gold of the islands. The reserved and protected forests extend over 86% area of the territory and the forest cover is more than 92 %. About 50 % of the forests has been set aside as Tribal Reserves, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, which are inviolate. Luxuriant mangroves, perhaps the richest in the world, occupy nearly 5 % of the territory. More than 150 plant and animals species are endemic in nature. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is rich in corals, varieties of colored fishes, sea turtles etc., besides other marine life. It is a birds paradise - more than 271 varieties of birds inhabit the idyllic landscape, out of which 39 are endemic. Megapode, Swiftlet, Hornbill and Nicobar Pigeon are some of the specialties of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The islands have a tropical climate. There is medium to heavy rain during the monsoon, in the months from May to mid September and November to mid December. There is no extreme climate except rains and tropical storms in late summer often cause heavy damage. Since the Nicobarese are the ones who most need assistance, and have the least access to relief and aid, the Institute for Social Ecology, University of Klagenfurt (Austria), has set up a trust account operated by a Notary and under the responsibility of Prof. Marina Fischer-Kowalski. This money will be eventually sanctioned to local NGOs and perhaps even Nicobarese Tribal Councils for projects aimed to rebuild indigenous lands and economy once official channels are opened. Though so close to the Andamans, the Nicobar are quite distinct in their topography and population. The aborigines of the Nicobar Islands are believed to be of Mongoloid origin as against their Negrito neighbours. This fact itself is quite intriguing to the ethnologist. The Nicobar Islands are flatter compared to the Andamans. The vegetation includes coconut palm, casuarina and pandanus. There are a variety of species of animals and birds in the Nicobar Islands; crab-eating monkeys, nicobarese pigeons, and magapode birds are some of these.
Places to see in Andaman & Nicobar :-Cellular Jail, Andaman Water Sports Complex, Gandhi Park, Corbyn's Cove Complex, Anthropological Museum ,Fisheries Museum, Ross Island, M.G. Marine National Park, Cinque Island,, Havelock Island
Access: Indian Airlines has regular flights to Port Blair, from Calcutta and Chennai. There are regular trips to Port Blair, from Calcutta and Chennai. The trip usually takes three to four days
India Travel Guides
Jammu and kashmir : The Temple Skyline Of Jammu City
The Temple Skyline Of Jammu City It consists of a cluster of temples and is the largest temple complex in northern India. Its inner sanctums contain gigantic statues of deities and numerous 'lingams'. It contains representatives of almost the entire Hindu pantheon, which make it a rare site to behold.
Food: Kerala
No Problem For Those Who Are Happy To Eat 1 Or 2 Vegetarian Meals A Day (Around 6rs), But If You Belong To The Group Who Get Sick Of Cold Rice And Strange Looking Accompaniments, You Will Have A Hard Time In Southern India And Will Have To Dig Deeper
By Road: Bhuj
By Road: Bhuj Bhuj Is Connected By A Good Network Of State-Highways To All The Major Centres Of Kachchh, Like Mandvi (60 Km), Anjar (41 Km), Mundra (55 Km) And Bhachau (85 Km). Bhuj Is Connected To The Rest Of The State And Country Via National Highway 8a Through Bhachau. Ahmedabad Is
GAURIKUND
GAURIKUND: Some distance short of Sudh-mahadev is the legendary spring where Goddess parvati used to bathe before commencing her daily prayers at Sudh Mahadev. This spring is named after her as 'Gauri Kund' .
Omkareshwar : By Road
Omkareshwar : By Road Regular bus services from Indore, Ujjain (133 km), Khandwa (61 km) and Omkareshwar Road.
Textiles And Handicrafts : Gujarat
Textiles And Handicrafts : Gujarat Is Well Known For Its Textiles. The Double Ikat Patola Silk Sari Of Patan Is Called The Queen Of Textiles. Ahmedabad Is Known For Its Tex¬tile Industry. Surat Is The Centre For Intri¬cately Woven Textiles Like The Tanchoi Sari (Above) Beautifully Embroidered Jacket Of A Bharwad
Bangalore : By road
Bangalore is a major hub of road communications in south india and national highways nos. 47 and 48 connect to all major centres of the region. Additionally, a good network of state highways provide links to all parts of the state. The roads are generally in a good condition and
The Heritage Trails : Himchal Pradesh
The Heritage Trails Shimla, the summer capital during the British Raj, was first settled during the earlier part of the nineteenth century. Since then it was adorned by a number of fine buildings, both government and private, that used a variety of architectural styles and craftsmanship. Many important personalities of
Mysore : Standard hotels
Quality inn southern star 13-14, vinobha road 0.5 km from railway station • 72 rooms, cp a/c single, dou¬ble, deluxe; suite. restaurants, tea lounge, bar, confer¬ence/banquet halls, business centre facil¬ities, health club, swimming pool, enter¬tainment and games - table tennis, cro¬quet, darts, chess, carrom etc., disco¬theque, beauty parlour, credit
DAKSUM
DAKSUM: Tucked away in a densely forest-Edgorge, at an altitude of 2438 m Daksum would [(completely silent but for the Bringhi river which gushes through it.
