Manali Tour – Paradise for Honeymooners

When the scorching heat becomes irrestible on the plain lands in summer then it makes people think of to escape somewhere where it is cold and cozy . In my experience I have seen people choossing Manali or to Shimla 8 out of 10 times. One of the best place among honeymooners and those looking for cooler climes – Manali is an ideal destination in Himachal Pradesh. But it is not only in the peak summer that people go to Manali, I have seen a lot of my friends going to Manali with their personal cars or rented ones in the months of December and January too to experience the snowfalls.

The scenic beauty of Manali and an irresistible appeal that attracts tourists to this small town located 274 kilometers north of Shimla. Its close proximity to the snow-line in the lap of the Kullu valley makes it a popular tourist destination in Himachal Pradesh. Manali stands at an altitude of 2,050 meters above sea level. The Beas River that flows through the town accentuates its scenic beauty.

Manali is also called ‘Valley of the Gods,’ Manali literally means the ‘abode of Manu,’ a mythological character who believed to have survived when the whole world had submerged under the flood. He then came to Manali and recreated human life. This has made Manali a pilgrimage spot for Hindus. It also has a number of Buddhist monasteries as well.

Manali is just not a two dimensional tourist destination; it has other facts as well. Apart from the beautiful views of the snow covered peaks, Manali also offers good options for adventure tourism. One can try skiing, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, trekking and mountain biking in and around Manali. It also has amazing snowfields and some flourishing apple orchards. Manali is a refreshing getaway and first choice for those who want to see and touch snow for the first time.

There are plenty of other exciting things to do in Manali. It is a typical tourist destination, where you get to do all sort of activities. Shopping, dress & photo in traditional Himachali costume, sit on a Yak & get yourself clicked, hold a rabbit in your lap and get yourself clicked again, learn skiing and stumble, try ice skating, go paragliding, visit ancient temples, and go for a trek. The multitude of options available in Manali makes it popular tourist spot among people of all age groups.

Other Places of Interest:
Naggar Fort, south of Manali is a reminder from the Pala Empire. The fort is made from rocks, stones, and elaborate wood carvings, which resembles the rich and elegant art works of Himachal. The castle was later converted to a hotel and is currently under himachal tourism.

Hidimba Devi Temple, erected in 1553, is dedicated to the local deity Hadimba, wife of the Pandava prince, Bhim. The temple is noticed for its four-store pagoda and exquisite wooden carvings.

Rahla waterfalls lie some 27 km (17 mi) from Manali at the start of the climb to the Rohtang Pass, are the beautiful Rahla Falls at an altitude of 2,501 m (8,205 ft).

Solang valley, popularly known as Snow Point, is 13 km northwest of Manali.

Manikaran, located about 45 km. from kullu on the way to Manali is known for its hot spring near the river Parvati.

Rohtang, located about 40 km from manali is one of the most famous snow point, but its closed during winters due to snow.

Climate:
The climate in Manali is very cold during winters, and moderately cool during summers. The temperatures range from 4 °C (39 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F) over the year. The average temperature during summer is between 14 °C (57 °F) and 20 °C (68 °F), and between −7 °C (19.4 °F) and 10 °C (50 °F) in the winter.

Time to visit:
The best time to visit Manali is May and October but one can visit this place during winters too.

How to reach?
By Air: The nearest airport is Bhuntar in Kullu about one and a half hour’s drive from Manali. Not all airlines fly to Bhuntar, only a few do. Please find out before you decide to fly to Manali.

By Train: The nearest railway station is Chandigarh at 310 kilometers and Jogindarnagar at 180 kilometers, which has a narrow gauge track.

By Bus: Manali is 570 from Delhi, from Shimla the distance is 280 km. From Delhi, there is a regular HPTDC Luxury and Volvo Coach to Manali from Janpath. There is one that leaves Janpath at 7 pm and reaches Manali at 10 am. On the way you'll cross Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu before reaching Manali.

One can always make Delhi, India to be the centre point to visit Manali.

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Sikkim - The Destination to Eastern Himalayas

One day I was sitting along with my wife and was just planning a small trip for our summer vacation. We both came across the decision that we gonna visit Sikkim. Sikkim, a mountainous region situated in the eastern Himalayas. Sikkim is 7300 square miles in area and contains Mount Kanchenjunga, the third-highest peak in the world. Sikkim offers the Magical feel of Himalayan fairy tale land. It's an awesome Place of Hidden valley, Mystical Monasteries, Snow-fed lakes and mountain setting covered with flowers & forests. Bhutias, Lepchas and Nepalese- which provides a colourful campsite of cultural. Sikkim has 4000 species of flowering plants, making it a botanist's paradise. It has around 600 species of orchids, and 40 species of rhododendrons. With the introduction of eco-tourism, including serious birding, Sikkim has begun to focus on enterprise-based conservation.

The Teesta river is the main river in the Sikkim. The main stream Teesta originates from the glacier lake Chhu Lhamo located at the northeastern corner of the State. The Chola range in the east the Singalila range in the west determine the boundary of the Teesta. Other major rivers are Rangit, Zemu rivers. For the adventure lovers trekking in Sikkim is an experience of many in the high Himalayas. For sheer exhilaration nothing can match the view of the mountains, which seem to reach the heaven. Sikkim is a 22nd state of India tucked in the Himalaya areas. Nepal's eastern Frontier. It is Bounded by Tibet to the north, Bhutan to the east and Darjeeling to the South respectively. You can reach Sikkim by Air, Train/Rail and Road.



EAST SIKKIM

The capital of East Sikkim district is Gangtok which is also the state capital. It is the hub of all administrative activity in the state.The district is a very sensitive area with the Indian army having control over most areas east of Gangtok and near its borders with People's Republic of China and Bhutan. This region is restricted and just a few areas are open to tourists in the areas east of Gangtok. Popular tourist places to visit are the Tsongmo Lake, Baba Mandir and the Nathula Pass. The Nathula Pass formed the offshoot of the ancient Silk Road which connected Lhasa to India. The pass and the famous Baba Mandir are open to Indian nationals only. To enter this region a special pass — The Inner Line Permit has to be obtained one day prior to departure. This pass is made through local tourist offices.


WEST SIKKIM

West Sikkim is a district of the Indian state of Sikkim. Its capital is Geyzing, also known as Gyalshing. The district is a favourite for trekkers due to the high elevations. Other important towns include Pelling and Jorethang.You can witness the protected forests of silver fir, hemlocks, magnolia and many more. Some important species like the Maroon-Backed Accentor, Red-faced Liocichla and so on are found around these forests. The Khecheopheri Lake hosts migrant ducks and occasionally some rare species such as Black-necked Crane, Black-tailed Crane and many others can be seen here.



SOUTH SIKKIM

South Sikkim is the district in Sikkim. Its capita is Namchi. Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary is the main attraction. The sanctuary starts from 2000m, with a sub-tropical forest, gradually taken over by moist temperate forest at around 2500-3000m and then sub-alpine conifer forests at altitude higher than 3000m. Rabongla/Ravangla to Maenam top is about 12km and a further 1km trek will take one to Bhaledhunga, a cockscomb shaped stone. Important birds in this trek include Satyr Tragopan, Kalij pheasant, rusty-bellied Shortwing, Minivet, Yuhina, flycatchers and many more...


NORTH SIKKIM

The capital of north sikkim district is Mangan. It is the largest of the four districts of Sikkim. The people are mainly of Nepali descent. It also has one of the lowest populated regions of the state. Tholung Valley, in North Sikkim is also a treasure house of birds.Over 67 species were recorded in this region from Little Cormorant, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black Eagle, Common Kestrel, Himalayan Monal, Kalij Pheasant, Spotted Dove and many more. Most of North Sikkim is restricted to travelers and permits are needed to visit these areas. The area, which shares a sensitive border with the People's Republic of China is heavily patrolled by the Indian army.


Climate of Sikkim

The climate ranges from sub-tropical in the south to tundra in the northern parts. The tundra-type region in the north is clad by snow for four months a year though the temperature drops below 0 °C (32 °F) almost every night. The peaks of north-western Sikkim are perpetually frozen. Most of the inhabited regions of Sikkim, however, witness a temperate climate, with the temperatures seldom exceeding 28 °C (82 °F) in summer or dropping below 0 °C (32 °F) in winter. The mean monthly temperature in summer is 15 °C.[29] The state has five seasons: winter, summer, spring, and autumn, and a monsoon season between June and September. The average annual temperature for most of Sikkim is around 18 °C (64 °F)


Best Time to Visit

The beautiful state observes the five seasons, winter, summer, spring, autumn and monsoon respectively. Summer season prevails from April to June and provides a fine time to enjoy the blooming rhododendrons and orchids that grow in the region. Summers are the ideal time to grab the opportunity for trekking too. Sikkim is one of those rare states in India that receive regular snowfall. During monsoons, the rivers and roads becomes surmounted. Sikkim is prone to land-slides, thus it is recommended not to visit the state during the monsoons. The best time to visit Sikkim is between mid-March to Mid June.


How to reach Sikkim?

The nearest airport is Bagdogra which is near to Siliguri, West Bengal, India. The airport is about 124 km away from Gangtok nearly 5 hours drive. Bagdogra has regular flights from Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati. The Bagdogra airport is connected to Gangtok by a helicopter service which takes approx. 30 minutes to reach Gangtok. Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation operates the service at a fare of Rs1500/- per person. It is a five-seater chopper and mountain flights and other such tours to North Sikkim are also conducted. The two closest railway stations are Siliguri (114 km) and New Jalpaiguri (125 km) connecting to Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Lucknow and other important cities in India. National Highway 31A and National Highway 31 together link Siliguri to Gangtok. The Sikkim National Transport runs bus and truck services. Privately run bus, tourist taxi and jeep services ply throughout Sikkim and also connect it to Siliguri.

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