Arambol Beach in Goa

Arambol Beach is located within the Pernem administrative region of the district of north Goa of the state of Goa, in India. Arambol Beach is placed at just about an hours drive from the Dabolim airport of Goa. Arambol Beach  has a distinct bohemian feel , unlike the other beaches like calangute which no longer have it.  This feel brings most of the international  tourists to the Arambol Beach during the winter season.

Arambol is in the district of North Goa and is located  at about 32 kilometers of northwest of Mapusa.  Because of its remote location  and the  beautiful rock bays in the headland, it attracts many tourists  and gets crowded at times. The main reason for the beach to get too many tourists stems from the fact that the beach has both rocks and sand along the beach.

Places to visit near the Arambol Beach

There are attractive rocky bays which are great for swimming , Querim Beach is located at bout 12 kilometers from this Arambol beach, which is also a pristine and a less crowded stretch. Keri, as called by the locals, is a perfect place to spend the day bathing in the sun and swimming in the sea.

There is an old Portuguese fort called Terekhol fort which is another attraction near the Arambol Beach. This fort lies on the opposite bank and you can ferry across  to see the fort.The Terekhol fort was built in the 18th century  and a small chapelinside is dedicated to St Anthony.

There is a freshwater lake which extends along the bottom of the valley into the jungle. The lake is a good place for the picnics with family and friends. The water in the lake is a mixture of fresh water and sea water. There is a spectacular Banyan tree in the middle of the jungle and adjoining the banyan tree there is a sculpture created by the American Conceptual and Land art artist Jacek Tylicki "Give if you can - Take if you have to" also called "the money stone". The sculpture has become a pilgrim destination.

Accommodation facilities in and around Arambol Beach

Welcome Inn Hotel
Arambol Beach
Arambol, Goa - 403524
Tel : 0832 - 2242510

Siolim House
Opp Wadi Chapel,
Siolim, Bardez,
Goa 403517
Tel : 0832 2272138 / 941, 98225 84560

Hotel Arambol Plaza Goa
Arambol Beach Road, Arambol
Pernem-Goa.
Tel : 0832-2242052 / 961.
Call Rashesh :  0 9545550733
EMail : naksonhotels@gmail.com

Anjuna Beach in Goa

Anjuna Beach  is a favourite with all kinds of tourists  be it locals , monks , hippies, artists, seers or even someone who is looking for a place to relx and rejuvenate oneself.  The beach is full of life and enthusiasm  written all over with long night beach parties from Christmas to New year parties, smanky full moon parties and what not.Anjuna is always there for everything.


Anjuna is located at about 8 kilometers west of Mapusa  and is one of the most popular beaches of Goa, in India. The sea at Anjuna is so calm that you can enjoy swimming and also enjoy the beauty of the sunset from any of the resort windows or balconies. You can also enjoy easy strolls in the snads  as well as funky music  and the loud beach parties  that are common fixtures of the anjuna Beach.

There is a famous flea market  or the shopping hangout of the beach in the cool silvery sands, where you can get anything and everything you might need or ask for.  On the part of Food, Anjuna offers varieties of gourmet foods, from the village hotels as well as proper beach front restaurants but th best bets are the semi open, thatched palm leaf shacks. They specialize in fish delicacies and the western food. You can also get fruits from the beach like watermelon, pineapples and locally grown coconuts.
You can see  here some of the Restaurants at the Anjuna Beach

Some of the Accommodations available on the Anjuna Beach, Goa

Villa Nina
Near Bhumika Temple
Anjuna
Near Ingos Saturdaynite Bazaar
Goa
India
Tel: 0 9823047509
www.primevillasgoa.com

White Negro
Anjuna Beach
Near St anthony Chapel
Bardez
Goa - 403509
India
Tel:  0832 2273326

The Tamarind
Anjuna
Goa - 403509
India
Tel: 0832 2274319
website - www.thetamarind.com

Lotus Inn
Zor Vaddo
Anjuna
Goa
India
Tel: 0832 - 6454669
www.lotusinngoa.com

Country Club De Goa
836/1,Behind Staroo Hotel
Second Left Near Manali Guest House
Anjuna
Goa - 403509
India
Tel: 0832 - 2274741
www.countryclubedegoa.net

Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary

Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary was formerly known as Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary or Hollongapar Reserve Forest.This was an isolated area of evergreen forest located in the state of Assam of India.  The area was set aside initially in the year 1881  and its forests were seen to extend to the foothills of the Patkai mountain range.  Nowadays it is seen that the forests have been fragmented  and  got surrounded by tea gardens and other small villages.

In the early days artificial regeneration was used to irrigate the area  which reulted in the rich biodiversity. The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary contains India's only gibbons, namely the hoolock gibbons which are  the  only nocturnal primates of Northeastern India,  and the Bengal Slow Loris. The upper canopy of the forest is dominated by the Hollong tree (Dipterocarpus macrocarpus), while the Nahar (Mesua ferrea) dominates the middle canopy. The lower canopyof the forest consists of evergreen shrubs and herbs. The habitat is being threatened by illegal logging or cutting down of the trees, encroachment of human settlements and habitat fragmentation.

The area of the Sanctuary officially extends  Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest, Dissoi Reserve Forest, and Tiru Hill Reserve Forest. These tea  gardens belong to the estates of Dissoi Kothalguri and Hoolonguri cover the distance betwen the sanctuary and the nearest forests in Nagaland.

The tea gardens include Katonibari, Murmurai, Chenijan, Koliapani, Meleng, Kakojan, Dihavelleoguri, Dihingapar, Kothalguri, Dissoi and Hoolonguri. Neighboring villages include Madhupur, Lakhipur, Rampur, Fesual A (the western part), Fesual B (the eastern part), Katonibari, Pukhurai, Velleoguri, Afolamukh, and Kaliagaon.

The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary gets a rainfall of about 249 cms every pear and is situated at an altitude between 100 and 120 m, with a gentle sloping topography from southeast to northwest. The Bhogdoi river which originates from the Naga hills and a tributary of the River Brahmaputra  flows through the Jorhat district of the state of Assam, creates a waterlogged  region which is dominated by semi-hydrophytic plants along the border of the Hoolongapar Wildlife  Sanctuary.  The Bhogdoi river thus helps to create three distict micro eco systems in the Park, namely, the up-slope zone, the down-slope zone, and the flood-prone zone.

Fauna of the Hoolongapar Wildlife Sanctuary 
There is a rich biodiversity  in the Hoolongapar Wildlife Sanctuary  which is home to Western Hoolock Gibbon,  the only apes in the whole of India and Bengal Slow Loris ,  the only nocturnal primate of the Northeast India. Stump Tailed Macaque,  Rhesus Macaque, Northern Pig-tailed Macaque, Eastern Assamese Macaque and Capped Langur are the other primates found in the Sanctuary. One can also find  Indian elephants, tigers, leopards, Jungle catswild boar, three types f civet, four types of squirrels etc. There are at least 219 species of birds and snakes  are also known to live in the Sanctuary.

Flora of the Hoollongapar Gibbon  Wildlife Sanctuary
The vegetation at the Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary  is evergreen in character and has so many canopy layers. The upper canopy consists of the trees which have straight trunks like Sam, Amari, Sopas, Bhelu, Udal and Hingori.
Nahar dominates the middle  canopy  with its spreading branches  and casting shade over the area like Bandordima, Dhuna, Bhomora, Ful Gomari, and Bonbogi etc
A variety of the evergrn shrubs makes the lower canopy and the ground layers. Dolu Bamboo, Bojal Bamboo., Jengu, Jati bet, Houka Bet, Tora, Kaupat and Sorat.

How to reach Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary?
The sanctuary is connected by road from Jorhat city (20kms) and Mariani town (5kms). Nearest airport is at Jorhat.

How to Reach Jorhat?
Rowraih is the airport of the Jorhat city. Jorhat is connected to soe of the major cities of India like Guwahati, Kolkata, Bangalore and New Delhi.  Jorhat airport also connects Dibrugarh and Shillong of the Northeast India.

If you are travelling by air to Jorhat you can get connection flights from other cities particularly Kolkata and Guwahati  and then travel by taxis, private cabs and state transport cuses.

If you are travelling by rail to JorhatJorhat railway station is connected to Guwahati railway  station through two trains. The nearest Major railway  junction  is located at Marianni  which is about 17 kilomeers from the Jorhat town.there is a higher frequency of trains at the Marianni Junction. Taxis are available both at Jorhat and Marianni stations.

There are 3 trains which reaches Jorhat at fixed time out of which 2 trains run daily one to Jorhat and the other to marianni.  JanShatapti runs on all days except Sundays.
The timings  and the days are mentioned below.
From Guwahati (GHY)  to Jorhat
Jttn Intercity (15605)  -   08:45 AM(duration: 10h 15m) All Days
Jan Shatabdi Ex (12067)  -  01:10 PM(duration: 6h 40m) Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat
Marianni Jn (MXN) Ghy Intercity(15606)  -  07:00 PM (duration: 0h 30m) All Days

Distances by road to Jorhat from the nearby cities and towns
Guwahati - 293 kilometers
Itanagar - 318 kilometers
Ranchi - 1317 kilometers
Kohima - 194 kilometers
Imphal - 338 kilometers
Shillong - 354 kilometers
Darjeeling - 767 kilometers

About the Enchanting Houseboats of the Backwaters in Kerala

A holiday in the state of Kerala, that too God's own country with lots of greenery through out the year, has become a fashion for the local as well as the foreign tourists. A holiday of cruising in the houseboat through the numerous network of backwater canals have become very popular and loved by one and all.

These houseboats were Kettuvallams of the yesteryears and have become one of the most important attractions and the money earners for Kerala Tourism.
Kettuvallam literally means a bundled boat or a knotted boat, in which jack fruit tree planks were knotted together with coir and shaped in to a boat. These boats were used to carry agricultural produce from one place to another in the interiors  in the absence of roads in the early days. Nowadays these kettuvallams have become houseboats of Kerala for cruising the beautiful, calm, tranquil backwaters of Kerala.

These typical kettuvallams which were used for carrying Cargo from one place to another, were about 20 - 25 meters long and 4-4.5 meters wide.  They could carry loads up to 30 tonnes and that is about 2 or 3 truckloads of cargo.
These kettuvallams were old and traditional carriers which used  to carry goods like rice, coconuts and spices through the  inland waterways in the western lowlands of the state of Kerala. These boats were made of different capacities, shapes and sizes and were just used as inland transport for carrying loads from one village to another, where roads were not available.

Now that the roads and the road transport are available, these boats have become useless and are lying waste. These boats had enough space and facilities for cooking and sleeping for boatmen and their family. The songs they sung during their trips were also very famous as well as their cooking. The recipes and the ingredients they used were simple as they stayed away for a long time from their homes on boats altogether. They had developed their cooking and living by adapting to the conditions inside the boat where they stayed months together at a time.

Classification of Houseboats in Kerala
The Department of Kerala Tourism has brought about a scheme to classify  the houseboats in Kerala just to evaluate the safety and service standards. To sustain the houseboats tourism, the Tourism department has brought about some guidelines on how to to classify them.

These houseboats are classified into three categories namely Gold star, Silver star and Green palm certificates.
Golden star houseboat - AC Deluxe and luxury houseboats
Silver star houseboat - Non AC standard  houseboats
Green Palm Kerala houseboats - Non mechanized Punting / Electric Engine houseboats, those are NON polluting

In no time Alappuzha emerged as the nerve center of the Houseboat industry. The earlier houseboats were pooled together and the present ones came up with fitted engines. These are inboard engines which run on Diesel as fuel.

Facilities in Houseboats in Kerala
Earlier in the houseboats, the rooms available were small and cramped but now in the recent times they have undergone a big change. The small dingy rooms have given way to spacious and luxurious rooms which can match the comforts of a hotel room like air conditioning, attached bath etc.  You can also find big houseboats operating which have several bedrooms and a conference hall having a seating capacity of about 150 persons at a time.

More than 10 houseboats are getting launched every year,  according to Mr Tomy Pulikattil , the Houseboat owners Association Secretary.  The number of tourists always goes beyond the availability of Houseboats in the peak season. The ratings for the houseboats are fixed according to the facilities it can offer and around 25 Golden Star houseboats are there in the backwaters of Kerala.
You can find single to five bed roomed houseboats  and you can choose the one in which you would like to spend your time cruising along the backwaters of Kerala.

To know more contact 
DTPC House boat Pre-paid Counter
For booking houseboats, travellers can make use of the House Boat Pre-paid Counter 'Trusted Service, Trusted Rates' managed by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC).

Contact details
Alappuzha - House boat pre-paid counter
Mobile: 09400051796, 09447483308,
Tel : +91-477-2251796, +91-477-2253308.

You can also book through Coco houseboats 

Dharamshala inn Himachal Pradesh

Dharamshala is a city in the state of Himachal Pradesh, earlier known as Bhagsu located in the upper reaches of the Kangra Valley, in the shadow of the Dhauladhar mountains. Dharamshala is the administrative headquarters of the Kangra District in the state.
Dharamshala is the winter capital of the present day Himachal Pradesh. The Legislative Assembly is located at Sidhbari, which is near the Chinmaya Tapovan Ashram. Winter sessions of the state government are held at sidhbari

The city is surrounded by dense coniferous forest. Dharamshala is placed at an altitude of 4780 feet. Dalai lama has its residence here and runs his government in exile from the city. CTA, the Central Tibetan Administration, was moved from Mussooriein the year 1960 to the village Mcleodhanj of Dharamshala.

Dharamshala is divided in to two distinct divisions Lower and Upper Dharamshala. LOwer Dharamshala consists of most of the government offices, Schools, the local Hospital, and commercial areas. It is just that you can enjoy while driving through Lower Dharamshala, except one or two tea gardens you don't have anything worth while visiting.

Upper Dharamshala is better known as McLeodganj where Tibetan exile Government is located.  It is home to the Tibetan community as well as the centre of tourist activity. Bhagsu, a small quiet urban area, full of shops and restaurants, is located at about 2 kilometers in the north east.
Dharamkot, is placed to the north of McLeodganj at about 3-4 kilometers away. It is divided into lower and upper Dharamkot, where in Lower Dharamkot is similar to Bhagsu.

Upper Dharamkot is nestled among the woods and is loved by those wanting quicker access to the trekking trails that start just of the edges of Dharamkot.

Adventure tourism in Dharamshala
Dharamshala is a starting point to a number of trekking trails that especially lead trekkers across Dhauladhar into the upper Ravi Valley and Chamba district. En route, trekkers cross through forests of deodar, pine, oak and rhododendron, and pass streams and rivers and wind along vertiginous cliff tracks, and the occasional lake waterfall and glacier.

There are many trekking trails some of which are;
Bhagsu waterfall trek is about 3 kilometers long,
The trek to Dal Lake nestled among tall pine trees, is about 4 kilometers and goes past Naddi river.
Triund hill, the Jewel of Dharamshala, is at about a day trek at the upper reaches of the village McLeodGanj, situated at about 9 kilometers from McLeodGanj. Triund is a trek for the brisk walkers which take you to an higher altitude of 2875 meters. For this trek you will have to wear proper trekking shoes, carry water and some food along with an extra vest or coat. It is known to get sudden snow storms up there.
Trek to Toral Pass (4575m) begins from Tang Narwana (1150m) that is nearly 10 kilometers from Dharamshala.
The trek across Bhimghasutri Pass (4580m) is via near-vertical rocky ascents, steep cliffs and dangerous gorges. This is a highly difficult level trek and takes around six days to complete.
The trek from Dharamshala to Bleni Pass (3710m) and then to Dunali, when compared to other trekking trails, is much easier and takes around four or five-days to complete. The trek leads you through alpine pastures, woods, and streams, before ending at Dunali, on the Chamba road.

Rock climbing enthusiasts can go rock climbing over the ridges of the Dhauladhar range.

How to reach Dharamshala?
Gaggal airport is the nearest and is about 10 kilometers from Kangra to the north of dharamshala and about 15 kilometers from the south.

If you are travelling by rail
You have to reach Kangra, Himachal Pradesh town by Kangra Valley Railway line to Pathankot, which is about 94 kilometers away. Pathakot is a broad gauge railway head. After you reach Kangra you can take a bus or a taxi to dharamshala.

Camp Bodhisatva at Rajgadh

Bodhisatva is an activity based  holiday camp set up at a small patch of land of a fruit orchard at Haloni Pul, in  Rajgarh in the Sirmour district of the state of Himachal Pradesh. The Camp has been set up in such a way that the flora of the place is undisturbed.

This is an ideal place for the trekkers who feel adventurous  as they can challenge the Churadhar peak at an altitude of about 12000 feet above sea level. This is a rigorous trek for about 2 days  or can also be taken as a 4 day gentle trek. If you do not feel adventurous you can just laze around the camp i a hammockor can take a sun bath by the side of a stream near the camp Bodhisatva.

About The Camp Bodhisatva
Rajgarh is more like a place where past and the present meets in a perfect harmony.  You can have the best of integrated communication networks, reguar supply of electricity, transport network and the nearby supply locations make things easy for the urbanites to adjust  with, at the same time have a laidback village style and scarce population gives you a calm and serene atmosphere.

The camp set up in the fruit orchard faces a mountain and the narrow valley results in cool breeze all the time. There is a thicket of deodar trees which help maintain the temperature at acceptable high and low.

Activities which can be pursued at the Camp Bodhisatva
You can spend time wandering aimlessly around the hills near the camp, chase butterflies , watch birds,  swing in the hammock as if you have all the time in the world, read a favourite book of yours, laze around half immersed in the water, frankly doing nothing.  This camp Bodhisatva is a destination to do just that, a place for Soul Vacation, to get away from everything  and do something different.

Facilities available  at the Camp Bodhisatva
1. They have 10 - 12 feet tented accommodation witha centre table,  two beds with mattresses and sleeping bags and with weather proof and well ventilated with roll up windows. The floors are made of tiles by locally available slate rocks.

2. There is a kitchen at the camp to take care of the meals as in a buffet arrangement from the Indian, Chinese and Continental menu. Bottled drinking water is also provided if needed.

3. Toilets in the camp are provided in the central compound. 7 western toilets and one Indian toilet are made available at the Camp along with bathing units that have running water facility. Hot water is also available if required.

4. There is a doctor who lives in the camp area about 300 feet away. Rajgarh also has a government hospital and the doctors are available in an emergency. Rajgarh is just 5 kilometers away fro the Camp.

How to reach Camp Bodhisatva

If you are travelling by road
Camp Bodhisatva is about 350 kilometers away from Delhi and about 100 kilometers away from Chandigarh. Delhi Chandigarh route is mostly fast highway and the hill section starts from Kalka to Solan for about 42 kilometers and then to Rajgarh for about 45 kilometers.

The actual route is Delhi - Karnal - Ambala - Panchkula - Kalka - Barog - Solan - Ochghat - Yashwant Nagar - Sanora - Rajgarh  - Haloni Pul - Camp BodhiSatva

If you are travelling by train
Kalka / Chandigarh are the nearest railway stations. Kalka is about 90 kilometers away and Chandigarh is about 100 kilometers away from the Camp Bodhisatva.  Both the stations Kalka and Chandigarh are well connected by trains from all over India

Contact Details  of The Camp Bodhisatva
Camp Bodhisatva
Jagmila Orchards,
Haloni Pul, Rajgarh,
Dist Sirmour,
Himachal Pradesh

Head Office
5 - L, 2nd Floor, Jungi House,
Shahpur Jat,
New Delhi - 110049
Tel :  011 26493074 / 3076

Mobile Phones
Manishankar - 0  9810299733
Pankaj -  0 9810614238
Sandeep -  0 9818056962
EMail  info@questrails.com
Skype / Gtalk ID - questrails
Website : http://questrails.com/camp-bodhisatva

Beaches in Goa

Goa is known world wide for the most beautiful and the spectacular beaches it has. Tourists and travellers flock into Goa during the peak seasons that is December to January, every year. Goa is located in the west coast of India by the side of the Arabian sea  and that makes it a holiday maker's paradise.

Goa has about 125 kilometers of coast line  with many palm fringed sandy beaches. These beaches offer the perfect destination either for a honeymoon couple or for a leisure traveller.  There are two districts in Goa, that is  North and South Goa. Anjuna, Baga, Vagator, Bambolim and Dona Paula, are among the well known Goan Beaches in India,  as they offer a great deal of relaxation and recreation as well to the tourists and travellers.

Beaches in North Goa
Arambol,
Morjim,
Chapora,
Vagator,
Anjuna,
Baga,
Calangute,
Candolim,
Sinquerim,
Bambolim,
Miramar,
Ashwem
Dona Paula

These beaches in North Goa are known for Water sports, namely, swimming, river cruising along the Baga, Candolim and the Calangute beaches, water scootering,  dingy sailing, jet skiing para sailing, water skiing, scuba diving, wind surfing and banana boat riding.  These beaches  are  also the venues for the parties, carnivals and outdoor sports etc.

Beaches in South Goa
Bogmalo,
Majorda,
Colva,
Benaulim,
Varca,
Cavelossim,
Mobor,
Canaguinim,
Agonda
Palolem.

The beaches in south Goa are comparatively calmer and quieter, they offer secluded ambiance  along with beautiful scenery and natural beauty.  These beaches are preferred by the tourists who come in to spend time  with their family and friends  and relax as well.

Accommodation facilities at the Beaches in Goa
You can find many luxurious as well as budget hotels and resorts in and around the beaches of Goa. Choose the one you would like to stay in. book the room if you are planning to go there during the Christmas / New year season. Reserving a room is compulsory for you to go to Goa in the months of December and January.

How to Reach Beaches in Goa
You have to reach Panaji  or any other city in Goa. If you are travelling by air, you have to reach Dabolim airport. You can connection flights from whichever international airport you reach in India.
From Dabolim airport you can get prepaid cabs to reach the hotel of your choice.
Likewise you can reach the railway station in Goa and get hired cabs to reach the hotel. Almost all the hotels and the resorts are placed in front of the beaches with their rooms giving you the best view of the sands and the waves of the Arabian Sea.