Kullu and Manali hill stations in India

Kullu
Kullu is located on the banks of the Beas river in the Kullu Valley. Kullu is the capital of the Kullu district  and the largest valley in the Kullu district. Kullu is a well known and one of the most popular tourist destinations in India.  The area is endowed with beautiful settings  and superb scenic beauty.
With its pine and deodhar forests, flower meadows fruit orchards, beautiful landscapes along with cool breeze and songs of the birds around  is so enchanting that the  place is called as the valley of the Gods.  This will be a perfect place for quality time with family as well as  for the honeymoon couples searching for some privacy.

Manali
Manali  is an hill station  located at a height of 2050 m,  at the northern end of the Kullu Valley, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, in India. Manali is located on the road leading to ladakh which goes through the valley of Lahaul and spiti.
Manali situated on the river Beas is a popular tourist spot for locals as well as tourists in summer and is a magical, snow-covered place in winter.  This is also the starting point for various trekking trails  of the Beaskund , Chandrakani pass. You can also participate in many of the sports activities like White water rafting.

Places to visit in the Kullu Manali
Bijili Mahadev Shrine is located at about 10 kilometers from Kullu and is one of the most striking temples of the District. The temple can be reached only after an arduous about  climb of 10 kilometers  and once you reach the temple  you will be rewarded not only the dharshan of the deity but also of the panoramic view of the beautiful  Kullu and Paravati valleys.

Raison, the camping site is located at a distace of 16 kilometers from Kullu and is an ideal place for spending some time in solitude and a quiet holiday. You can see large number of fruit orchards in the area. HPTDC has log Cabins there which can be hired for spending the night.

Bajeshwar Mahadev temple is a pyramid shaped temple  is located in Bajaura at about 15 kilometers from Kullu. This temple is said to belong to the 8th century AD. There are beautiful looking carvings which are made in stone as well as sculptures in the shikara style. The Bajeshwar Mahadev Temple is placed at about 200 meters from the village Bajaura between the main road  and the Beas river.

Manikaran is located at an altitude of about 1700 meters  and about 45 kilometers from Kullu.  As per the legends it is said that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were relaxing there when Parvati's ear rings fewll into the river. Shesh nag of the Patal Nagri too them into his custody and refused to return them to Parvati. Later when all the Gods prevailed upon him to return them, he snorted them out through his nostrils  causing a boiling fountain to erupt with the ear rings. Those are supposed to be the hot water springs there  and the water in the main spring is so hot that you can cook rice and dal in it.

Hadimba Devi  Temple is located at just about a kilometer from Manali, in the middle of a forest called the Dhungiri Van Vihar. This is an ancient cave temple  dedicated to Hidimba Devi one of the wives of Bheema and the mother of Ghadotghaja.  The Hadimba Temple is surrounded by cedar forests  at the foot of the Himalayas and is built over a rock jutting from the ground.
The Hidimba temple is said to be built in 1533 AD and has a superbly crafted four tiered  wooden pagoda type roof.  The temple also has a very exquisitely carved beautiful doorway.  This is a antique temple which is said to be more than 500 years old. The temple does not have an idol but only a foot print on the stone. On the first of the Jaith month  or 14 th of May every year Hidimbi's birthday is celebrated as a Mela. The mela held in the forests lasts for 3 days. Many people come from in and around the area to attend the mela and make merry in music and dance.

How to reach Kullu Manali ?
By Air
Bhuntar is the nearest airport located at about 50 kilometers from Manali. There are flights connecting Delhi and Chandigarh. Since Delhi is an International airport almost all the airlines operate flights to the city. From Delhi you can get a connection flight to reach Kullu Manali. Prepaid taxis are available at the airport for you to reach your destination. 

By Rail
Travel by rail to Kullu Manali is a bit difficult as the nearest railway stations are Chandigarh and Ambala in Chandigarh. Both stations are about 350 - 360 kilometers away from Kullu Manali. If you have to travel by train then charter taxis from the respective railway station to reach Kullu Manali.  From Chandigarh flights are also available.

By Road
Buses run by the government as well as by the private companies ply regularly to take you to Kullu Manali . You can find buses from the neighbouring states also plying regularly.
You can also drive by yourself if you have a car at your disposal. The route is so enchanting and breathtaking, you will enjoy your drive very much.

Ranikhet Hill Station in Uttarakhand, India

Ranikhet is a hill station located in the Almora district of the state of Uttarakhand in India. This is a cantonement area and  is the home for the Military Hospital, for the Kumaon Regiment and Naga Regiment. The town is maintained by the Indian Army. Ranikhet is placed at an altitude of about 1,869 m  and is spread across the two ridges, one is called the Ranikhet ridge, which is placed at an altitude of 5,983 ft (1,824 m) and  the second, is called the Chaubattia ridge, placed at an elevation of 6,942 ft (2,116 m).

Ranikhet is a hills station placed at about at an altitude of 6132 ft ( 1869 m ) above sea level and  you can see the western peaks of the Himalayas from here. The lush green forests with pine trees, plants and the attractivebirds and the wild life, with the fragrant, fresh and pure  mountain breeze along with the beautiful enchanting view of the great Himalayas makes you feel heavenly. 

Bes‫t time to visit Ranikhet
Throughout the year except the three months December, January and February when the snow falls occur, are very good  to travel to Ranikhet. During these three months it will be evry cold and you can enjoy during the rest of the months in a year.

Almora Hill Station in Uttarakhand, India

Almora Hill Station is in the state of Uttaranchal. This is one of the favourite hill stations in the area. Almora is surrounded by hill ranges on all four sides and all those ranges have temples at their top of goddesses Banari Devi, Kasar Devi, Sayahi Devi and the temple of Sun god. Almora is also called as the cultural capital of Kumaon.

The Climate at Almora is said to be moderate when compared to other resorts, since it has warm mornings, pleasant evenings and cold nights. The best time for tourists would be April - June and Spetember - November and the snowfall time will be end of December.

Unlike many other resorts of India this one was found by Raja Balo Kalyan Chand of Katyuri dynasty and was made his capital when he shifted from Champawat in 1568 .


Temples of Almora

Almora is one hill station from where you can watch the elegance of the snow capped central himalayas. There are many tourist spots in and around Almora like the 1000 year old ancient temple of Nandadevi.

Chitai temple 8 km away from Almora is dedicated to their local God Golu. This temple is visited by thousands of Kumaonis living in Kumaon or outside to write letters to fulfil their desires and hang a bell for their God.

The 800-year old Sun Temple at Katarmal just 7 km from Almorais known for its architecture and intricate carvings. It is one of the biggest sun temple in the whole of Uttaranchal.

Amidst a dense Deodar forest a group of 125 temples exists, dating back to 7th -11th century AD. The majority of these temples ios of Lord Shiva and the others of various godesses. One among them Jageshwar temple which is 34 kms away from Almora is a Shiva temple and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.

Govind Vallabh Pant Museum is near the main bus stand and in that museum lots of idols and statues found during the archaelogical excavations of Kumaon. Vivekananda Memorial and the Library is also there nearby Almora town, where Swami Vivekananda is supposed to have stopped on his way to the Himalayas.

Ramakkalmedu

Ramakkalmedu is a hill station in the Idukki district of the Kerala state , located very close to the Tamil Nadu state border. The hill station gives you the best of winds blowing from the Tamil Nadu state.

Places to visit in Ramakkalmedu
Statue of Kuravan and Kurathy located on one of the hills in the hill station is a tourist attraction.
Wind farm has been planned in the area and about 7 of them are already set up. All of them supply wind energy to the Kallar  sub station at about 17 kilometers away. From the hills you can see the wind energy farm.

How to reach Ramakkalmedu
Madurai domestic airport in Tamil Nadu is the nearest one located at about 140 kilometers away.
Kochi Nedumbassery International airport is the next nearest airport in the state of Kerala and is located at about 190 kilometers from Ramakkalmedu hill station.
Changanassery is the nearest railway station and is about 93 kilometers from it.
If you are planning to travel by road, you can get buses both private and state owned from Aluva, Kochi, Kumily, Kottayam and other nearby towns.

For more details call
DTPC Information centre
Munnar
Phone - 04865 231516

Accommodations in and around Ramakkalmedu 
Wind Haven Resort
Ramakkal
Website : windhavenresort.com
Phone : 04868 221319
Mob : 0 9747110319
E Mail : guest@windhavenresort.com/ windhavenresort@gmail.com

Punarjani Resorts
Ramakkal, Kallar
website : www.punarjaniresorts.com
Mob : 0 9605767201 / 9605767202
E Mail : sales@punarjaniresorts.com

Hill Stations of Kerala

Hill stations in Kerala all along the Western ghats are the other great tourist attractions next to its criss crossing network of Backwaters. The hill stations in Kerala offers a salubrious climate during summers and winters along with a beautiful rainy season. Numerous small and big waterfalls, beautiful landscapes, rolling tea plantations and streams running through them are enchanting to watch.

Here I am giving you a list of hill stations in Kerala in each and every district lying by the side of the western ghats.
 
Ernakulam District
Ayyampuzha
Kodanad
Kuttampuzha
Malayattoor
Thattekkad

Idukki District
Devikulm
Munnar
Mattupetty
Chinnakanal
Ramakkalmedu
Nedumkandam
Udumbanchola
Painavu
Kumily
Thekkady
Kuttikanam
Peermade
Vagamon

Kannur District
Aralam
Pazhassi
Iritty

Kasaragod district
Rajapuram
Ranipuram
Kottancheri Hills

Kollam District
Aryankavu
Kulathupuzha
Thenmala

Kozhikode District
Kodencheri
Peruvannamuzhi
Thamarassery
Thiruvembadi
Thusharagiri
Vellarimala Near Thiruvambady

Kottayam District
Mundakayam
Poonjar

Malappuram district
Nilambur

Palakkad district
Agali
Nelliampathy Hills

Pathanamthitta District
Charalkunnu near Kozhencherry
Chittar
Gavi near Sabarimala
Maniyar near Sabarimala
Moozhiyar Near Sabarimala
Seethathode near Sabarimala

Thiruvananthapuram district
Ponmudi
Vithura

Thrissur district
Athirapally
Malakkappara
Poringalkuthu
Vazhachal
Vettilappara

Wayanad District
Kalpetta
Lakkidi
Mananthavady
Muthanga
Sulthan Bathery
Tirunelli
Vythiri

Yelagiri, a trekkers destination in Tamil Nadu

Yelagiri is a popular hill station in the state of Tamil Nadu located on the Vaniambadi - Thirpattur road, surrounded by orchards, rose-gardens, and green valleys.
 Yelagiri hills is known for its salubrious climate throughout the year with an  altitude of about 1410.6 meters above sea level.
Tourists throng the place for trekkings. Swamimalai hill in Yelagiri is a well known destination for trekkers. In Yelagiri there are 14 small villages and many temples on the various hills of the region.
The highest point in Yelagiri is the Swamimalai hills standing at about 4338 feet. There is a Murugan Koil in the hills  and view from the summit is very beautiful.

How to reach Yelagiri?
Yelagiri hills are well connected by road from Chennai and Bangalore.
Chennai and Bangalore international airports and Thituchirapalli domestic airport are the nearest airports to reach Yelagiri.

Jolarpettai Junction is the nearest railway junction at about 20 kilometers from Yelagiri. You can get buses / taxis from the station to reach Yelagiri. Buses are also available from Thiruppattur, Salem and Hosur. 
By Road
From Chennai you can travel via Sriperumbudur, Vellore, Ambur, Vaniambadi on the Chennai Bangalore highway.
From Bangalore you can travel via NH 7, by the hosur road towards Krishnagiri.
While you drive by road there are 14 hairpin bends on the ghat section to Yelagiri.


Contact for more details
Forest Range Office - 04179 220185

Accommodation facilities in and around Yelagiri

Hotel Landmark
Boat House Road, Athanavur,
Opp: Murugan Temple,
Yelagiri Hills,
Tamil Nadu 635853
For Bookings:
Mobile : 9884608071 / 9444990325
Email: hlmyelagiri@gmail.com
Website: www.landmarkyelagiri.com

Yelagiri Hills Country Club
For Bookings, call - 04179-245290/ 04179-245457

Chariot Valley - 08939844511 / 04179245301
Kumararaja Palace - 04179 245325
Emerald Dove - 04179 245264
Madhura Resort - 09840544894
PWD IB - 04179 245222
YMCA Dormitories - 245226
Hotel O Nila- 04179 245371
Taj Gardens - 04179-245231/245445 /08423-245231