Travelnjoy february 2017

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Travelnjoy Vol. I - Issue 02 - February 2017

Travel & Leisure e-Magazine

Reade r

ship

04 Wildlife India

08 The Maldives Unrivalled Luxury

12 14 16

Offbeat

Lonar Crater Lake Amazing

Tarkarli Beach

Responsible Tourist & Eco-Tourism

18

Pattaya 20

Asia’s Premier Beach

Beautiful

Treks in India

Special Offer: Book your Ad or Advertorial space in March 2017 issue absolutely FREE

Editorial

Travelnjoy

Travel & Leisure e-Magazine ------------------------------------------------Editor: Shirish Kirtane Contributors: Girish Pimpale Design & Layout: Shirish Kirtane Manish Malve Photography: Shraddha Kirtane Shruti Kirtane Published by: Travelnjoy Holidays A/302, Ankush CHS, New Viva College Road, Vartak Ward, Virar (W).

--------------------------------------------------------------Be a contributor by sending travel related articles, photos and other contents helpful to the readers. We are looking for the contributors. Those who are interested can contact on: shirish.travelnjoy@gmail.com OR shirish@travelnjoy.co.in To read the magazine online log on to: www.travelnjoy.co.in

Dear readers, I am very much thankful to the readers for their support to the January 2017 issue. I express my gratitude for this overwhelming support. The online readers count of January 2017 issue is increasing day by day.

Many travel professionals, travel service providers and hotel & resorts service providers who met me in IITT 2017 expo held at BKC, Mumbai, appreciated this magazine to a great extent.

Many of them willingly expressed to provide their contribution to this magazine by way of advertisement or advertorial.

Many people from social media like Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, liked and shared this magazine as a good collection.

In January 2017 issue we covered some offbeat and favourite destinations from Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala along with useful travel tips for the travellers.

In this issue we have covered some interesting destinations like wild life and treks in India. Read about responsible traveller and eco-tourism. You will also find the list of destinations which are best to visit in the month of March.

Dear friends now you can also contribute to this magazine by providing your travel experiences, photos, articles and many other contents helpful to the readers.

I believe you enjoy reading this magazine. Your feedback, suggestions are expected.

Happy Travel N Joy.

--------------------------------------------------------------Cover Photo Credit: Shraddha Kirtane

Regards Shirish Kirtane

DISCLAMIER

We have taken all reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy of the information on this magazine. However we can give no warranty regarding the accuracy or completeness of the content of this magazine. Hence we accept no liability for any losses or damages, whether direct, indirect or otherwise arising out of errors or omissions contained in this magazine. We reserves the right to update, add, amend, remove, replace or change any part of the content at any time without prior notice. We shall not be liable for distortion of data arising from any technical fault including transmission errors, technical defects, interruptions or third party intervention.

Travelnjoy | February 2017 | 03

Wildlife

Wildlife Safari India

Kaziranga National Park Famous for: 1 Horned Rhino Location: 217 km from Guwahati, Assam Best Time to Visit: November – April Sheltering a major portion of world’s population of Rhinos, Kaziranga lies partly in Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam. The park is one among the five natural UNESCO world heritage sites in India. Providing home the great Indian one-horned Rhinos and many other exotic species of mammals, Kaziranga is one of the most sought after destinations for the wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. The park has been recognized as conservation framed area for the numerous exotic species including the pride of state called one-horned Rhinos. Birdlife International has outlined the major portion of the park as Important Birding Area (IBA) for conservation of avifaunal species. Some of the other rarely found animals and species that can be seen here like Civet cats, Swamp Deer, Hoolock Gibbons, Tigers etc. The vast topography of the Jungle is covered with deciduous forest, plush flora that includes tall elephant

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grass, dense tropical moist broad leaf forests and marshland. If you wish to explore the most amazing wilderness of Kaziranga National Park, plan a weekend tour to Kaziranga and opt for an Elephant Safari or Jeep Safari.

If you are a true wildlife lover and fond of travelling to different destinations, then surely Kaziranga is going to mesmerize you as there are many interesting places to see near Kaziranga. Some of them are Bokakhat which is 23 Kms away from the national park and very much popular among the traveler as it forms the base for various tourist attractions. Behora is famous for its tea plantations and exact treatment for tired minds and body. Kakochang fall located at a distance of 46 Km is a wonderful picnic spot and an excellent place to relax in silvery atmosphere. If you love collecting information about ancient ruins, you may visit Deopahar (51 Km) that is well known for the Numaligarh ruins.

Jim Corbette National Park Famous for: Bengal Tigers & Birds Location: Ramnagar, Uttarakhand (240 km from Delhi) Best Time to Visit: March to June Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India and was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger. It is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand and was named after Jim Corbett who played a key role in its establishment.

The park was the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative.

The park has sub-Himalayan belt geographical and ecological characteristics. An ecotourism destination, it contains 488 different species of plants and a diverse variety of fauna. The increase in tourist activities, among other problems, continues to present a serious challenge to the park’s ecological balance.

Corbett has been a haunt for tourists and wildlife lovers for a long time. Tourism activity is only allowed in selected areas of Corbett Tiger Reserve so that people get an opportunity to see its splendid landscape and the diverse wildlife. In recent years the number of people coming here has increased dramatically. Presently, every season more than 70,000 visitors come to the park.

Corbett National Park comprises 520.8 km2 area of hills, riverine belts, marshy depressions, grasslands and a large lake. The elevation ranges from 1,300 to 4,000 ft. Winter nights are cold but the days are bright and sunny. It rains from July to September.

Dense moist deciduous forest mainly consists of Sal, Haldu, Peepal, Rohini and Mango trees. Forest covers almost 73% of the park, 10% of the area consists of grasslands. It houses around 110 tree species, 50 species of mammals, 580 bird species and 25 reptile species.

Kanha National Park Famous for: Tigers, Barasingha Location: Madhya Pradesh, 176 km from Jabalpur, 270 km from Nagpur Best Time to Visit: February to June Kanha Tiger Reserve, also called Kanha National Park, is one of the tiger reserves of India and the largest national park of Madhya Pradesh, state in the heart of India. The present-day Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries, Hallon and Banjar, of 250 and 300 km2 respectively. Kanha National Park was created on 1 June 1955 and in 1973 was made the Kanha Tiger Reserve. Today it stretches over an area of 940 km2 in the two districts Mandla and Balaghat. Together with a surrounding buffer zone of 1,067 km2 and the neighboring 110 km2 Phen Sanctuary it forms the Kanha Tiger Reserve. This makes it the largest National Park in Central India. Kanha Tiger Reserve was ranked in the top 10 Famous Places for Tourists.

The park has a significant population of royal Bengal tiger, Indian leopards, the sloth bear, barasingha and Indian wild dog. The lush Sal and Bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha provided inspiration to Rudyard Kipling for his famous novel Jungle Book.

An exciting conservation effort in this national park is the reintroduction of barasingha. The gaur will be relocated to Bandhavgarh and some Barasingha will be relocated to Satpura Tiger Reserve The objective of this project is to introduce about 500 Barasingha in this national park to eight or nine different locations.

There is also a project to capture about twenty tigers and relocate them to Satpura Tiger Reserve.

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Tadoba Andhari Tiger Project Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra state in central India. It is notable as Maharashtra’s oldest and largest national park. It is one of India’s 43 “Project Tiger”.

There are 88 tigers, as of August 2016 in the reserve, and 58 in the forests immediately outside the reserve.

Tadoba Andhari Reserve is the largest national park in Maharashtra. Total area of the reserve is 625.4 square km. This includes Tadoba National Park, created in 1955 with an area of 116.55 square km (45.00 sq mi) and Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary created in 1986 with an area of 508.85 square km.

are formed of Tadoba and Andhari range. The south part of the park is less hilly.

The main attraction of the Tadoba National Park is its jungle safari trips. Open top Gypsy vehicles, buses with trained local guides are available for visitors.

Accommodation is also available at various locations.

Tadoba reserve covers the Chimur Hills, and the Andhari sanctuary covers Moharli and Kolsa ranges.

It’s bounded on the northern and the western side by densely forested hills. Thick forests are relieved by smooth meadows and deep valleys as the terrain slopes from north to south. Cliffs, talus and caves provide refuge for several animals. The two forested rectangles

Bandhavgadh National Park to keep a watch on Lanka (Ceylon). Hence the name Bandhavgarh (Sanskrit: Brother’s Fort).

This park has a large biodiversity. The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is one of the highest known in India. The park has a large breeding population of leopards, and various species of deer. Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa captured the first white tiger in this region in 1951. This white tiger, Mohan, is now stuffed and on display in the palace of the Maharajas of Rewa. Historically villagers and their cattle have been a threat to the tiger. Rising mining activities around the park are putting the tigers at risk.

Famous for: Tigers, Nilgai Location: Madhya Pradesh, 197 km from Jabalpur Best Time to Visit: February to May Bandhavgarh National is one of the popular national parks in India located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh was declared a national park in 1968, with an area of 105 km2. The buffer is spread over the forest divisions of Umaria and Katni and totals 820 km2. The park derives its name from the most prominent hillock of the area, which was said to be given by Hindu Lord Rama to his brother Lakshmana

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Winning is the tradition

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Destination Maldives

U

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The Maldives

nmatched luxury, spectacular white-sand beaches and an marvellous underwater world make the Maldives an apparent choice for a true holiday of a lifetime.

The island nation of the Republic of Maldives is as blissful as it sounds. Full of turquoise reefs, white sandy beaches, palm trees and serene lagoon waters, it tempts the senses as much as it calms the soul. Renowned for its unspoiled beaches and azure blue waters, water sports and cruises are a must do. It is a place full of character, where its people have long spent their days languishing in the very spirit of idyll living. While it is the perfect place to sit on a beach and gaze at the sunset with a cocktail in your hand, it is also an ecological spectacle, knowing that there are thousands of fishes swimming around the vivid corals just a few feet away from where you sit.

A diverse culture that is traditionally vibrant connects you to this paradise so much that you promise to revisit once more.

Location and Geography The Maldives lies in two rows of atolls in the Indian Ocean, just across the equator. The country is made up of 1,192 coral islands formed around 26 natural ring-like atolls, spread over 90,000 square kilometers. These atolls structures are formed upon a sharp ridge rising from the ocean, making way for their secluded uniqueness. Each atoll in the Maldives is made of a coral reef encircling a lagoon, with deep channels dividing the reef ring. A string of islands take their places among this atoll ring; each island has its own reef encircling the island lagoon. The reefs of the islands, alive with countless types of underwater creatures and vibrant corals, protect the islands from wind and wave action of the surrounding vast oceans.

This unique structure of reefs and channels makes navigation almost impossible for the passer-by without sufficient information about these waters. Ninety-nine percent of the Maldives is made up of sea. The people of the islands are widely dispersed across the atolls, with about 200 inhabited islands. About 90 islands are developed as tourist resort and the rest are uninhabited or used for agriculture and other livelihood purposes.

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Unrivalled Luxury

Weather and Climate The weather in the Maldives is usually picture perfect: sunlit days, breezy nights, balmy mornings, and iridescent sunsets.

The temperature hardly ever changes - which makes packing for your holiday an easy task. With the average temperature at about 30 degrees Celsius throughout the year, the sun is a

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constant on most days, shining through treetops, creating lacy patterns on your feet, healing cold-bones with its warmth.

Maldives has two distinct seasons; dry season (northeast monsoon) and wet season (southwest monsoon), with the former extending from January to March and the latter from mid-May to November.

Culture The islands of Maldives appear in-between the trading route of the Indian Ocean. Thus settlers, and visitors from neighbouring regions and around the world have come in contact with the islands for as long as history has been recorded. Such is the toand-fro flow of people and their cultures that a marked effect has been left in the Maldivian people, the language, beliefs, arts, and attitudes.

Language The language of the Maldives is Dhivehi and displays much resemblance to several other languages from Sri Lanka, South East Asia, and North India. Dhivehi contains many Arabic, Hindi and English words. English is widely spoken

by Maldivians. In the resorts, a variety of other languages like German, French, Italian etc. are spoken by the staff.

Currency The currency in the Maldives is the Rufiyaa, consisting of 100 Laari. The US dollar is the most commonly used foreign currency. We recommend that you bring US dollars (in cash) as it is readily accepted. The current exchange rate for USD is 15.42 Rufiyaa. Credit cards are accepted at many of the beach resorts. However it is best to have some cash on hand.

Travel Tips • The Maldives is an Islamic country. However, bikinis and other beachwear is acceptable at beach resorts but not while travelling around the inhabited islands.

• When visiting the capital Male’, or local islands, visitors should adopt a more modest form of dress and ensure that shoulders and thighs, at least, are covered.

• Topless sunbathing is against the law.

• Handshaking is the usual form of greeting and while a large number of the locals smoke this is discouraged during Ramadan together with eating.

• Traditionally the locals eat with their fingers. If you wish to follow local customs please be aware that it is considered unhygienic to touch food with your left hand.

• Possession of illegal drugs carries severe penalties and the public demonstration or observance of religions other than Islam is banned.

Visa & Entry All nationalities will be issued a free 30 days visa upon arrival in the Maldives. A valid passport, a return ticket and proof of sufficient funds are all necessary to enter the country. Visa extensions are granted by Department of Immigration and Emigration in Male’ for visitors who provide proof of sufficient funds and who stay in a resort or hotel, or present a letter from a sponsor. Heavy fines and deportation applies to those who overstay without proper authorization.

Things to do in Maldives Diving You ought to do Scuba Diving in the Maldives. Maldives is one of the premier scuba diving destinations on earth and if there is one place you need to give it a try, it’s here.

There are many affordable PADI(Professional Association of Diving Instructors) dive centres where you can take a discovery dive if you are not certified, or sign up for several dive options to one of the many reefs.

The Maldives is known for its stingrays, eels, sea horses, crabs, lobsters, whale shark migration and sea turtles. The crystal clear blue waters offer unbelievable visibility and there’s no need for a wet suit here as the water’s warm and inviting.

Snorkelling If scuba diving isn’t your thing, snorkelling is a great option.

The reefs are so unspoiled in the Maldives that you don’t have to go deep to see a lot!

Maldives is a giant aquarium where you can snorkel with sea turtles and colourful fishes flocking together as they float with the tides.

Dolphin Spotting One of the best things to do in the Maldives is the Dolphin excursion. The dolphins in the Maldives are some of the most active and playful you will ever see!

Island Hopping There is a large community of inhabitants in the Maldives and many locals live and work on the islands. One of the things you can do is to make sure to book an excursion to visit the nearby communities.

The Maldives follow strict a Muslim culture so be sure to dress respectably with long skirts/shorts and no spaghetti strap sleeves.

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There is something magical about seeing the different shades of water below as you fly over the Maldives.

The islands create a pattern in the sea as the deep ocean crashes into sand bars and coral reefs. Many islands are surrounded by miles of shallow waters low enough to wade through at low tide.

The turquoise waters of the world’s most beautiful islands holds a magnificent, unique and incomparable site in store for you. Its surreal beauty gives you the feeling that you are dreaming. You will fly over Maldives and its little islands, on which can be found the most luxurious hotel resorts. Soar with us and enjoy the majesty of this leeward island.

Chill Out There is a lot more to it than over the water bungalows in the Maldives. You must take advantage of these beauties and make the most of them while you’ve got them.

Surfing Zip up your wetsuit, grab your board and get ready to hit the waves at one of the famous surf destinations – known for its beauty as well as its break.

The Maldives attracts top surfers from around the world to face its awesome break free from crowds. If you aren’t a pro, don’t worry, there are other islands in the Maldives were you can take some surfing lessons.

Stand Up Paddle boarding If you are in Maldives don’t miss a chance to try the exciting SUP ( Stand up Paddle Boarding) and feel the fun and thrill as you paddle. This adventure water sport activity is the best water sports for the beginners.

Enjoy paddling in the crystal clear water as you stand up and paddle through the currents. The Maldives is great for stand up paddle boarding, because most islands are surrounded by calm shallow waters that only ebb and flow with the rising tides. You can paddle along in safe bays with water so clear you can see fish swimming right below your boards.

Enjoy a Balinese Massage The tranquility of Balinese Massage evolved from the early traditional home medicine and focused on warming the body through palm pressure firm fingers and long stimulating strokes. The Massage is performed to ease body tension, release stress and invigorate the sense. When in Maldives, you must take some time to pamper yourself. Most people visiting the Maldives were couples and families and we highly recommend a couple’s massage for upping the romance factor.

Sunset Romantic Dinner Maldives Romantic Sunset dinners give you the chance to treat your beloved, to show them what they mean to you.

Specially designed gazebos set on the beach in front of the signature Maldivian sunset - surrounded by a tranquil ocean and white sand enjoy a bottle of champagne, private waiter and a meal prepared right at your table While most food is buffet style in the Maldives, take a break from the smorgasbord and enjoy either a sunset beach or sunset pier dinner.

Scenic Flight Sightseeing from a small plane or helicopter on a scenic flight will give you the ultimate view of Maldives’ spectacular geography.

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With an over the water bungalow, you can jump right into the waters and snorkel or swim.

With a private deck it’s perfect for sunbathing, swimming and pure relaxation. You can order room service, there’s a mini bar and fridge and lots of water on hand. You dont’ ever have to leave if you don’t want to.

Finally....

And that is exactly what the Maldives are. Paradise. I don’t think anywhere quite compares with the sheer beauty of Maldives. The abundance of atolls jutting out of deep blue waters is overwhelming. While flying in from Male, you see one paradise after another. The islands are so small that they have to build bungalows over the water. And the water is so shallow, they are able to. These islands are sitting on underwater plateaus just waiting for you to come and visit.

Contributed by:

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Travelnjoy | February 2017 | 11

Offbeat Destination Lonar Lake

Lonar Crater Lake Lonar is a small town in Buldhana district of Maharashtra close to Aurangabad. It is famous tourist place for Lonar lake formed in a crater from a meteorite hit some 50,000 years ago.

Bus or motor vehicle are the only means of transport to get to Lonar itself. The closest major city is Aurangabad approximately 3hrs / 160 km away by road and is connected among others to both Mumbai and Hyderabad with regular express rail and overnight coach services. The cities of Shegaon, Akola, Janla, Nanded and Washim are all reachable from Lonar and are well connected by road, rail and air. If travelling from Aurangabad try to get to Jalna which is nearer. From Jalna many buses are available. In case a direct bus to Lonar is not available, try to go to Sultanpur on Mumbai - Nagpur highway. The conveyance is better from there as both long distance and local buses are available from there.

Lonar is the pre-historic site of a meteor which crashed on earth some 50,000 years ago and formed a large crater in the ground. Though there are other impact craters in the world but this one is the only in basalt rock. The pH value of water in the lake which has formed in the crater is 10.7 which points to its alkaline nature. There are no living organisms in the lake and even trees whose roots get into the lake water die. This site is must visit for scientifically inclined and for others just for curiosity sake. Hang out by the lake and explore the flora and fauna of this beautiful place.

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It is best enjoyed before sunset. One could go down upto water level and experience the water which is harmful. There is also a temple of Kamalja Devi at the edge of lake. Apart from lake one could visit Daityasudan Surya temple which is a small ruin of Khajuraho like temple. Gaimukh is a perennial source of fresh water with some masonry work done by Peshwas to channelize the water.

Motha Maruti is a Hanuman temple built around a magnetic rock supposedly formed from meteor effect. One could visit the retired principal of the local school who accompanied various scientific expeditions in the region, including the one by NASA and has some research material with rock samples. There is an MTDC (Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation) resort near the crater and one could stay there for its absolute peaceful surroundings.

Lonar is a small town so most of the places are within walkable distances, there is also a Lonar Darshan bus every day which shows you around the important tourist attractions in Lonar, it is recommended to get the ticket the day before if possible.

How to Reach:

By Air : Aurangabad, 122 km.

By Rail : Jalna 90 Km - Washim : 75 Km. Road distances from major cities : Mumbai-Aurangabad-Jalna-Lonar: 600 Km; Buldhana-Lonar: 95 Km; Aurangabad-Lonar: 145 Km.

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Travelnjoy | February 2017 | 13

Offbeat Destination Tarkarli Beach

Amazing Tarkarli Beach Tarkarli is 8 km south of Malvan and 546 km from Mumbai on the west coast of India, at the confluence of the Karli River and the Arabian Sea. Tarkarli beach has a long coastline and clear waters.

Tarkarli beach is located at the confluence of the Karli River and the Arabian Sea. This place has gained prominence because of its long and narrow stretch of beach with pristine waters. On a clear day, one can see the bed unto a depth of 20 ft (6.1 m). It presents a panoramic view with tall Suru trees in the background. The wide river, the sailboats, and the tiny hamlets situated on the riverbank add to the attraction of Tarkarli. Sighting dolphins is a major attraction here.

Snorkeling (to see corals and fishes), scuba diving, boating, white water rafting, and water rides are held at Tarkali. Boats can be hired for dolphin seeing, golden rocks, tsunami island (for water sports) and snorkeling. Beaches can be dangerous as currents are strong on shore and locals recommend not to wander in more than waist high. Boat owners will stop the boat in deep water to allow a swim where the currents are less strong.

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Tourist attractions: • Fishi at sea bed of Tarkarli • Mahapurush Temple • Khalcha Mahapurush Temple • Vitthal Temple • Scuba Diving • Boating Point & Water Sports point in Karli river • Sangam, the point where the Karli river drains into the Arabian sea. Good place to see. The town itself is called Devbag and is the end of the land.

• Nivti Beach • Golden Rock • Sindhudurg Fort at Malvan • Malvan Market • Rock Garden at Malwan • Kunkeshwar Shiva Temple - 46 km from Tarkarli

by MSH 4.

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Treks

Beautiful Treks in India

Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand Getting to the Valley of Flowers requires a trek of about 17 km. The nearest major town is Joshimath in Garhwal, which has convenient road connections from Haridwar and Dehradun, both about 270 km from Joshimath. From Delhi, one can take the train to Haridwar and then travel by bus to Govindghat via Rishikesh. Govindghat is approximately 24 km before another important destination of Badrinath. It is also possible to drive from Delhi to Govindghat, a distance of about 500 km.

Govindghat is a small place close to Joshimath (around one hour distance), where the trek begins.

From Gobindghat, shared taxis up to 4 km and then a trek of less than 11 km brings trekkers to Ghangaria, a small settlement located about 3 km from the valley. One can also hire a porter, mule or helicopter to reach Ghangaria. The trek from Gobindghat to Ghangaria is common to the Sikh Temple at Hemkund and a trekker is likely to find many Sikh pilgrims on the route.As one nears Ghangaria one is

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greeted by fields of perfumed wild flowers, wild rose bushes and wild strawberries by the sides of the path.

The visitors to Valley of Flowers need to get a permit from Forest Department, at Ghangaria and the permit is valid for three days and visiting and trekking is allowed only during day time. As visitors are not allowed to stay inside the National park, accommodation can be obtained at Gangaria. Best time to visit is between late July and early September, when the valley is full of flowers, just after the outbreak of monsoon. Kuari Pass, Uttarakhand

Prashar Lake - Himachal Pradesh Prashar Lake lies 49 km north of Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India, with a three storied pagoda-like temple dedicated to the sage Prashar. The lake is located at a height of 2730 m above sea level.

With deep blue waters, the lake is held sacred to the sage Prashar and he is regarded to have meditated there.

Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and looking down on the fast flowing river Beas, the lake can be approached via Drang.

The temple was built in the thirteenth century and legend has it was built by a baby from a single tree. The lake has a floating island in it and it is said to be unclear how deep it is, with a diver not being able to determine its depth.

Spiti Himachal Pradesh

The Spiti Valley is a desert mountain valley located high in the Himalaya Mountains in the north-eastern part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The name “Spiti” means “The Middle Land”, i.e. the land between Tibet and India.

Local population follow Vajrayana Buddhism similar to that found in the nearby Tibet Autonomous Region and the Ladakh region of India. The valley and surrounding region is one of the least populated regions in India and is the gateway to the northernmost reaches of the nation. Along the northern route from Manali, Himachal Pradesh or Keylong via the Rohtang Pass or Kunzum Pass respectively, the valley lies in the North East of the Indian hill state of Himachal Pradesh, and forms part of the Lahaul and Spiti district. The sub-divisional headquarters (capital) is Kaza, Himachal Pradesh which

is situated along the Spiti River at an elevation of about 12,500 feet above mean sea level.

Lahaul and Spiti is surrounded by high mountain ranges. The Rohtang Pass, at 13,054 feet, separates Lahul and Spiti from the Kullu Valley. Lahul and Spiti are cut off from each other by the higher Kunzum Pass, at 15,059 feet. A road connects the two divisions, but is cut off frequently in winter and spring due to heavy snow. The valley is likewise cut off from the north up to eight months of the year by heavy snowfalls and thick icing conditions. A southern route to India proper is periodically closed for brief periods in the winter storms of November through June, but road access is usually restored a few days after storms end via Shimla and the Sutlej in the Kinnaur district.

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Eco Tourism

Be a Responsible Tourist & support Eco-Tourism Ecotourism is a form of tourism means responsible travel to natural areas conserving the environment and improving the well-being of the local people.

Its purpose may be to educate the traveller, to provide funds for ecological conservation, to directly benefit the economic development and local communities, or to encourage respect for different cultures and for human rights. Since the 1980s, ecotourism has been considered a critical endeavour by environmentalists, so that future generations may experience destinations relatively untouched by human intervention. Several university programs use this description as the working definition of ecotourism.

Generally, ecotourism deals with interaction with biotic components of the natural environments.

Ecotourism focuses on socially responsible travel,

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personal growth, and environmental sustainability.

Ecotourism typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Ecotourism is intended to offer tourists insight into the impact of human beings on the environment, and to encourage a greater appreciation of our natural habitats.

Responsible ecotourism programs include those that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of ecotourism is the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for local communities.

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Remember that while you are on holiday, you are actually entering into someone’s home and everyday life. Your holiday, their home! Often we give little thought to the impact we will have on our holiday destination, its people, culture, economy and environment.

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Do your homework. Read up on the places you want to visit. Some things may be accepted in your home country, but in others places it may be a criminal offence! Try to dress respectfully, and follow the local costumes.

Learn a few phrases in the local language. Chat with the local people and try to speak their language. You are sure to get an instant smile and a laugh to seal those memories. You can get information from sites like caring for your destination, Sustainable Travel International, Making Responsible Tourism, Local Travel Movement, Concert on eco-friendly products and services.

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Help preserve the heritage. Some monuments are so old and fragile that they are sensitive to the touch of hands or bags and shoes

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Use local guides and drivers. Not only it is a great opportunity to interact with the locals and build friendship, but it encourages locals to learn about their history and culture and take pride in it.

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Don’t stress. Our hurried concept of time is not the same in other cultures and local peoples thought patterns differ from your own.

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Bargaining is expected in many cultures and we all enjoy the bargaining with a smile and a laugh, but the money you saved could be enough to pay for an entire family’s meal that night.

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Giving gifts unfortunately encourages begging. Find a project, health centre or school to donate to instead. This will have a more positive and long-lasting impact.

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Be mindful of other visitors. Care needs to be taken to allow others to be able to enjoy it in the future.

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Go green. Take your litter with you. Reuse the water bottles.

Don’t be a critic. Things does not always work out according to the plan.

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Turn of lights and air conditioners when not needed and think about your waste disposal.

Good manners are universal. A responsible tourist is polite, positive and eco-sensitive.

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Go local. Support the local economy. Buy from local markets. This keeps money in the economy and helps local people keep their jobs.

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Enjoy! The task of responsible tourism is to make a better place to live in and a better place to visit!

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Favourite Destination

Pattaya

Pattaya

Asia’s Premier Beach Pattaya is 147 km southeast of Bangkok, facing the Gulf of Thailand. It is Asia’s premier beach destination attracting families, couples and single visitors.

Pattaya’s relaxing tropical ambience offers every ingredient for memorable holidays. Accommodation ranges from luxurious hotels with superb convention facilities to simple guesthouses. There is a plenty of sporting opportunities both on land and water including golfing, game fishing and scuba-diving. Theme and amusement parks, offbeat museums and botanical gardens offer a variety of leisure activities and entertainment for all family members.

It is home to a huge number of speedboats, parasails and jet skis, as well as diving boats and floating restaurants.

Pattaya Beach Road, which is just a line of palm trees away from the shore.

Pattaya is always switched on and fun. This vibrant coastal city shot to fame in early 1980s, and stayed there. From sunrise to sunset, Pattaya’s beaches are constantly brimming with life, as water sports lovers and sun worshippers take to the waters. After dark, the action shifts to the streets, as revellers explore its electrified nightlife scene, where drinking and partying continue until dawn.

Photo Credit: Shraddha Kirtane

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Best destinations to visit in March

March Destinations

Photo credit: Shraddha Kirtane

Andaman Gangtok, Sikkim Photo credit: Shruti Kirtane Photo credit: Shraddha Kirtane

Photo credit: Shraddha Kirtane

Ooty, TN

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Kashmir

Photo credit: Wikimedia

Mount Abu, Raj.

Kodaikanal, TN

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