Howrah

Howrah Bridge is located over the Hoogli River in West Bengal. It is said to be the busiest bridge of the world. It got its name owing to the fact that it connects the city of Howrah to Calcutta.

Hawrah Bridge is also known by the name 'Rabindra Setu', was set up in 1874. It stands on two 270 feet high pillars. Calcutta Howrah Bridge is a cantilever truss bridge that was constructed without using any nuts and bolts. Though, earlier it had a tram route, but presently, it is serving mainly as a Road Bridge. Howrah bridge has got two sister bridges also, namely, Vidyasagar Setu and the Vivekananda Setu that are situated at different points over the hoogly river. This bridge acts as an important symbol of Kolkata.

Bylakuppe

Bylakuppe in Coorg of Karnataka is one of the many Tibetan settlements in India. To be precise, this was the first such refugee settlement established way back in 1961.

During the 1950s, thanks to the strained relation between Dalai Lama and the Chinese authorities over Tibet, he fled to India seeking asylum. Also followed him was an exodus of refugees. Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Indian Prime Minister of India agreed to provide assistance to the refugees, in the form of settlements in some cooler regions of India.

Lugsung Samdupling, oldest of all Tibetan settlements in India came into existence in 1961 in Bylakuppe. The plan was to settle those fled to India, till a time arrives before their eventual return to Tibet. That did not materialize in any serious sense over the four to five decades.

State Highway 88 ( SH88 ) that connects Mysore – Madikeri – Mangalore passes via Kushalnagar, the nearest town for Bylakuppe.

But refugees kept coming steadily from Tibet. The camps slowly developed into larger settlements. Eight years later another settlement – Dickyi Larsoe – was setup next to the first settlemet. Now with a number of schools, nunneries, temples and monasteries, Bylakuppe looks more like an important center for the Tibetan Buddhism rather than a refugee settlement. Bylakuppe even houses one of the largest Buddhist universities called Sera Monastic University. There are many monasteries practicing various traditions of Buddhism.

Nyingma tradition.

However from a visitor’s perspective it’s a pleasantly surprising cultural landscape in this part of the country. The most popular among the tourists is the so-called Golden Temple, located inside the large Namdroling

Nyingmapa Monastery.

Hundreds of Buddhist monks live here. While the exterior of the new Zangdokpalri temple temple looks majestic with a majestic rainbow arch, the interior of the Golden temple next to it is awe-inspiring. The path to the Zangdokpalri temple passes through a sprawling garden. Around the garden are the residential quarters of the monks.

The temples are painted richly with saturated bright colours. The walls are intricately decorated with repetitive patterns and murals of Tibetan Buddhist themes. The altar of the Golden Temple contains the imposing golden images of Guru Padmasambhava (on your left), Buddha Sakyamuni and Amitayus ( on your right). Outside the Golden temple are a small shrine and a garden in front of it. The path that goes towards the back of the Golden temple leads to a huge open field. At one end of this ground is a long row of the prayer wheels. Baring the geography every bit of the ambient emulates a piece of Tibet in India.

Tourists are welcomed to visit the monasteries and temples. Photography is allowed even inside the temple. However follow the etiquettes and courtesies deemed for a place of worship.

There’s a large parking area near the Golden Temple. A shopping arcade next to it houses many curios shops and restaurants. There are not many hotels in Bylakuppe, though there are some guesthouse accommodation part of the Monastery. Better options for stay are available at Kushalnagar and Madikeri in that order.

Shillong

Shillong is properly called as "Scotland of the east". What exactly it has in common with Scotland maybe a matter of discussion but the majority of the population - the Khasis and the Jaintias - boats of a clan system that would any day outrival the Scottish clans!

As the car winds up from Guwahati in neighbouring Assam, 103-km away, the flat, dusty and grimy plains give way to rolling hills that rise slowly and sinuously. No abrupt, sudden assault on the senses. The charms of Shillong begin to work gradually but effectively. The road snakes up through lush green forests, seeping into the senses like heady wine.



Even before the effect of Umiam Lake wears off, Shillong spreads out with its lush green undulating hills, cottages tucked in its folds with a sprinkling of old world cathedrals and churches and localities with quaint names like 'Laitumkrah', 'Sunnyhill', 'Lachumiere', 'Mawalai', 'Nongthymiah' and 'Pokseh'. 

Prime Attractions of Shillong

Anglican Cemetery

Lovers of old churchyards will enjoy the Anglican cemetery in Rilbong, with gravestones dating back to the last century, including those soldiers killed in the Lushai campaign in Mizoram.

Beadon Falls, Bishop Falls & Elephant Falls

Beadon Falls and Bishop Falls, off the Guwahati road at Mawprem, 3-km north, and Elephant Falls, set amid fern-covered rocks 12-km south, are popular waterfalls and picnic sites, and accessible by taxi.

Botanical Gardens

Kyllang Rock

Lady Hydari Park

Lum Nehru Park

Nurseries

Rengthiam Falls

Sohpetbneng Peak

Spread Eagle Falls

State Museum

Thadlaskein Lake

Ward Lake

Excursions from Shillong

Jakrem

Situated 45-km from Nongstoin (via Mawthawpdah) and 59-km from Shillong, has a hot spring of sulphur water, which is believed to have medicinal properties. People can have a dip here and experience a refreshing feeling.

Ranikor

About 156-km from Nongstoin and 120-km to Shillong is one of the best fishing spots. Anglers can row up the Jadukata river where the Kynshi and Rilang converge and enjoy angling for the huge golden Mahseers, the pride of anglers and other species like the golden carp, silver carp and the common carp are available here. The surrounding rock cliffs and the clear blue water add to the scenic beauty of the place.

Shillong Peak

For a panoramic view of the city, the best bet is Shilling peak at 1,965 m, the highest point in the state and 10-km from the city. On a clear day, the whole of Shillong spreads below it before disappearing into the distant blue green hills. And on a clear night, it is a bejewelled, twinkling carpet out of an Arabian lore.

Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar, the most developed and largest of all hill stations in Maharashtra is truly a tourists' paradise. The summer capital of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, Mahabaleshwar retains its quintessential charm, despite the increasing crowds that visit the town.

Mahabaleshwar is a gift of the British and General Lodwick was the first European who took appreciable efforts for its development as a hill station. Numerous majestic mansions built here are evidence enough of the British rule.

The history of Mahabaleshwar tells mythological tales of its birth written in Skandapuran, a holy Hindu epic. Mahabaleshwar could be called the "land of five rivers", as the holy streams of Krushna, Koyna, Venna, Gayatri and Savitri emerge from here. Picturesque viewpoints, serpentine paths, cascading waterfalls and a beautiful expanse of calm water combined with modern 

The climate of Mahabaleshwar is dry and pleasant and best in all the seasons. Nestled in the curvaceous mountain ranges of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra at 4501 ft above sea level is the cool, misty resort of Mahabaleshwar.

Away from the crowds and noise of the city, it is an ideal holiday destination. It seems to belong to the colonial era when people travelled up to the resort to escape the heat of the plateau.
 

Tucked away in the Satara district, it is best approached from Pune & Mumbai.

Lavasa

Lavasa Hill City is free India's first and largest hill city with a sprawling township spread across the 7 hills of the Mose valley. The area is quite close to the major cities of Pune and Mumbai and circles the Varasgaon lake. Lavasa is just about 65 Kms  from Pune and abut 200 Kms from Mumbai. Lavasa Hill City covers 25,000 acres with 60 Kms of lakefront. It is spread amidst 100 sq. kms., which is almost 1/4th the size of mumbai.

Lavasa city has been designed on the principles of new urbanism, and is said to offer the best-in-class infrastructure, international educational institutions, leading non-polluting industries, exciting avenues of leisure & tourism and homes for comfortable living. An ecologically sustainable environment will help you live, work, learn and play in harmony with nature at Lavasa. Over 25,000 lakeside apartments and villas with over 50,000 employment opportunities should be available at Lavasa city. Apart from it's diversity in work possibilities, Lavasa also present some wonderful housing options for permanent residents. Some other famous concepts of hill cities, but all developed during the British Raj, are Shimla, Kullu and Ooty.

The Lavasa project is being developed by HCC India. Although the land is disputed by some, the master plan for Lavasa has already won 3 Global Awards. Apart from latest technologies and state-of-the-art connectivity, Lavasa also assures of world class infrastructure and first class roads. There are five access routes to the Lavasa city, one of which, the Chandni chowk-Pune road, has been developed