Kullu Manali

Manali is a small town in close proximity to the snow-line, in the lap of the Kullu valley. Standing at a height of 2050 mts above sea level, its beauty is heightened by the Beas River that flows through it. A glorious summer retreat away from the scorching heat of the plains, Manali is a veritable 'Valley of the Gods'.

Manali literally means 'the abode of Manu', a mythological character who is said to have survived when the whole world was drowned in a flood. He is believed to have recreated human life at Manali, which has become a pilgrimage spot for Hindus. It also has a numbers of gompas or Buddhist monasteries owing to the large Tibetan population found here.

Apart from its amazing snowfields Manali has some flourishing apple orchards and is as popular honey moon destination. For the more adventurous ones Manali offers a number of skiing, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, trekking and mountain biking options.

A quiet refreshing vacation or some high speed sports, a few temple visits or some great shopping, you are bound to enjoy Manali, whichever way!

Hotels in Kullu Manali

Kullu: Kullu was once known as "Kulanthpitha"; 'The end of the habitable world'. Beyond rose the forbidding heights of the Greater Himalayas, and by the banks of the shining river Beas, lay the fabled 'Silver Valley'. Kullu got its first motorable access only after Independence. The long centuries of seclusion has however allowed the area to retain a considerable measure of its traditional charm.

Manali: 40 kms. away from Kulu to the north, Manali is situated near the end of the valley on the National Highway leading to Leh. The landscape here is breath taking. One sees well-defined snow capped peaks, the Beas river with its clear water meanders through the town. On the other side are deodar and pine trees, tiny fields and fruit orchards.

Places to Visit: Manikaran, Pulga and Kheerganga, Katrain, Naggar, Camping Sight Raison, Bajaura, Largi, Malana, Kasol. Cheap Hotels in Kullu Manali – Accommodation at Luxury / Low Cost Kullu Manali Hotels in India

Hotels in Kullu Manali:

Springdale cottages Simsa: Springdale cottages Simsa, is situated barely a kilometer and a half, short of manali town, a branching metalled road from hotel Preet leading to kanyal village lands you at the destination in just under five minutes.

Green Swiss Cottage: Green Swiss Cottage, Manali is a part of “GREEN HOTELS & RESORTS” and is located at the posh & pollution free area of Manali before down town, right in the lap of Mother Nature facing snow-capped peaks all around and surrounded by Apple Orchards.

Heritage Village Resort: Heritage Village Resort is a one of its kind resort situated in the Kullu-Manali Valley Region. Literally in the Lap of nature. A veritable Eden from the madding crowd.

Hotel Gilbert: Hotel Gilbert is nestled at a walking distance of 5 minutes form mall road, below the above of goddess. Hadimba Devi, The hotel give a clear view of the majestic pine covered mountains which provide a breath taking backdrop.

Swan Residency: Swan Residency a small hotel in breathtaking Manali is the perfect blend of tradtional Himachali hospitality and scenic beauty with 12 rooms overlooking the main bazar.

Hotel Sweet Home: Hotel Sweet Home is Centrally located near Circuit House.It is hardly 100 Meters from the Mall and Tourist Information Office on Hadimba Temple road. It is Surrounded with apple trees. View of nature from each room is magnificent.

Hotel rates start from an unbelievable Rs 100 per night to few thousand

Cheap Hotels in Kullu Manali - Information about cheap hotels in Kullu Manali India & also provides exclusively safe and secure online hotel reservation for Kullu Manali hotels in India through Makemytrip.com

Lonavala and Khandala

Straddled in the Mumbai-Pune highway, Lonavala and Khandala are two charming hill stations just around 5 kilometres apart. These lace the western slopes of the Sahyadris and are quite popular with tourists for the hills, cool breeze, the greenery, the cascading waterfalls, caves, lakes, and lots more...

Scenic beauty and the proximity to Mumbai has made these two hill stations a great favourite with film makers, and hence you may find the locale here to be quite familiar.

Both hill stations have been blessed with an abundance of scenic beauty though Khandala is the smaller and the calmer of the two. The monsoons see tourist thronging the place in hundreds. The mist and the crispy air, coupled with the falls and the hills form an interesting combination that most visitors find worth exploring.

There is a strange but interesting story about the 1000 years old Bedsa caves. It is believed that all the details and the entire history revolving around the caves was carved out on the cave walls for all to read. However, a local officer in order to please his seniors, had it all painted over when a British Officer was to visit the region. Due to lack of evidence that could substantiate it, this story, about important artifacts being lost forever, remains just that - a story.

KHAJURAHO

This is a little temple town where you don't have to worship anybody. One that unleashes your most remote erotic fantasy on its walls. Made way back in the 11th century, Khajuraho is one of the biggest tourist attractions of India.

When you do come here, a village-like charm of Khajuraho's 5000 strong population will welcome you with its simple bylanes, exotic Swiss and Japanese restaurants.

Guides tell you how Hemvati, the lovely daughter of a Brahmin priest was seduced by the Moon God and later gave birth to Chandravarman, the founder of the Chandela dynasty. He built these temples after a dream visitation by his mother who asked him to reveal the shallow nature of human passion to the world.

While much science and artistry has gone into making these temples, just walking around the enclosures makes one realize that they really do look like a dream. Some in a state of disrepair or being worked on, these temples bowl one over with an artistic revolution that happened in our evolved past. The people in this neat little hamlet are terrifically well meaning and help make for a wonderful stay.

Kerala

Green, riotous green. It’s everywhere you look, towering above the narrow backwater canals, reflecting in the gentle water. And you float down in a houseboat, gently, like a dream.

People usually say Kerala and Backwaters in one breath. The verdant backwaters stretch from Cochin in the north to Quollam in the south, comprising a confusing maze of inland waterways flanked by the famous verdant greenery, yes, but also a lifestyle that remains hidden if you visit only the towns. Here are small villages shielded from view elsewhere and lives are led by the backwaters with people bathing, cleaning, fishing and lounging. Traditional kettu vallam boats glide through, making you see these glorious sights. The backwaters are the lifeblood of God’s own country, its veins that give Kerala its character.

Three backwater destinations that tourists usually cover are Alleppey (Alapuzha), Kumarakom and the neighbouring Kottayam, the nearest ‘big’ town. We have tried to give you a gist about how to navigate your way around these three towns, taking in the beauty of the backwaters.

Jaipur

If it's pink, it's got to be here!

Popularly known as the Pink City, Jaipur is possibly one of the most popular destinations visited by tourists. This rustic city is dotted with palaces, forts, museums, temples and what not, the terracotta shade that colours the walls giving it its name.

Jaipur is one the angles of the famous Golden Triangle. From camel carts, multihued fabrics, cars to traditional men sporting bright turbans, the city flaunts everything that's comfortably conventional.

The city was founded in 1727 by the king of Amber, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II - a mathematician and an astronomer. In collaboration with the Bengali architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, Sawai Jai Singh built Jaipur according to the Shilpa Shastra, the ancient Hindu text on architecture.

Jaipur is built of pink sandstone hence earning the name of the Pink City. To really explore Jaipur, simply walk through its markets thronging with local crowds dressed in shockingly bright colours, women laden with trinkets and men wearing pagris and huge moustaches. Keep your eyes open as you might just spot a faded, carved door or the sepia terrace of a haveli, jutting out from between billboards and shops, taking you back in time, enchanting you.