Ganpatipule - The popular tourist destinations in Maharashtra

Ganpatipule is approximately 400 kms. drive south of Mumbai, off the Mumbai-Goa highway. It is in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra and around 30 kms. from Ratnagiri city. The route to Ganpatipule which we took is 8 hours long, so it would have been better if we started really very early in the morning to avoid the traffic around Panvel, and also carry some food and beverages to avoid the halt for breakfast because it was almost evening by the time we reached. If you want to travel faster, greener and cheaper at the expense of some privacy, Ratnagiri is also a railway station on Konkan Railway and almost all trains on the route stop here. Auto-rickshaws from there charge around 300 rupees for a 45 min. ride to Ganpatipule. The roadways had many ghats and the view from there is very picturesque.

Ganpatiphule

If you are fond of Malwani food, there are some good places to have lunch on the highway around Chiplun, which comes about 120 kms. before Ganpatipule. I have marked a couple of restaurants on the route map.

The Destination

One of the main reasons for the popularity of Ganpatipule is that it caters to both type of Indian tourist – one looking for fun and the other looking for pilgrimage. Because this place is about a temple on a beach.

The Temple

As the name suggests, this place hosts a very beautiful temple of Lord Ganesha. Not only does it has beach on one side but also a small hill on the other which gives its visitors a very serene feeling. The structure of the temple is made of red stones which are intricately carved. The idol of Lord Ganesha itself was of red stone and the legend has it that the idol was discovered there and not man-made. Devotees can perform abhishek (a Hindu ritual) here in the morning. But for that, we had to intimate the temple authorities on the previous day, and they gave us a time-slot during which we can come to perform the ritual. When we reached the temple at the appointed time, we (the men) were made to wear Pitambar (kind of dhoti - I couldn’t take our pictures in the dress) while the ladies were already asked to come wearing the sarees. To perform the abhishek we were allowed to enter the sanctum of the temple where all the arrangements were made by the temple priests. We offered flowers, and other goodies to the Lord Ganesha while the priests chanted sacred shlokas. At the end we left with Lord’s blessing in the form of flowers and Prasaad (sweets and coconut).

There is one very unique thing about this temple. It is the Pradikshina path. Usually all Hindu temples have a small pathway encircling the inner sanctum within the structure which everyone walks clock-wise at the end of visit to the temple. However, at Ganpatipule, the Pradikshina path is a whole one kilometre trek around the hill behind the temple. It was very nicely laid footpath with trees on both the side. And since we visited just after monsoons, it was all lush with greenery. It was almost like a small nature trek. I suggest that anyone visiting Ganpatipule must take the trek. I have posted some of the picutues at the online album.

The Beach

The beach is another reason to visit Ganpatipule. It is only a small stretch of about a kilometre or so, but it is ultra-clean (even as compared to the beaches of Goa). Also the water is almost transparent to the extent that you can see your feet inside the water. However, it is not safe to tread deeper here as they say that there are patches of quicksand. The guards there were quick to call out the ones who tried to be adventurous and go into deep water. We could also see a couple of fishing boats on the horizon. Also, since it is a pilgrimage destination, there were no beach-side shacks serving alcohol and non-vegetarian food. However, there is a long row of small shops and cafes nearby. All in all, a perfect beach to visit with the family.

The Stay and the Food

There are quite a few options for staying in Ganpatipule, and most of them are economical. However, be sure to make reservations at least a week in advance, as most of the good hotels tend to be fully occupied during the extended weekends and festive days. We had planned for the trip just a few days before, and hence couldn’t make reservations. So we had to scout for rooms after reaching there which took us almost couple of hours. There is one Shiv Sagar Palace (looks like a palace literally) almost a couple of kilometres before the main market area starts. All the rooms of this hotel are well appointed and have beautiful sea-view. However the staff wasn’t so welcoming, and the receptionist didn’t even answer our queries promptly. Opposite the palace on the other side of the road is an unnamed hotel which offered basic lodging facilities (read – no TV, no AC – just bed, fan and running water in bathroom) at almost one-third the rates of Shiv Sagar Palace. But the view from each room was more magnificent. It overlooked the entire hill and the beach below. Also there were quite a few hotels in the main market area near the temple which offered almost the same basic lodging. There is also a MTDC resort opposite the temple.

The foodies in us were however disappointed. There were hardly any proper restaurants. Most of them served home-style food and would close down even before 8 in the evening. The only restaurant that we could find was the one inside MTDC resort and we had to wait to find a table. Even the taste of food was just about okay and we ate only to fill ourselves. The Chinese dishes that we ordered tasted more like Punjabi cuisine. At least the breakfast was good, because we like Indian snacks. The beach-side cafes, that I mentioned before, served hot and spicy wadapav, misal, puri-bhaaji, etc. If you like burgers, fries, sandwiches, omelettes and cakes for breakfast, forget it.

The Shopping

The Ratnagiri belt is famous for its kokum and mango products. So we bought dried kokum (used in Indian dishes), kokum sherbet, mango pickles, aam-papad, etc. We also saw quite a few shops selling wooden toys and show-pieces. Some say they are the speciality of the area.

Things to do in Varanasi

Varanasi is one of the oldest cities of India situated on the banks of River Ganges. People used to mean this city as one of the holiest cities from India. The place is believed to be a sacred city with very old tradition and culture. Varanasi or Banaras is a place which still yet hasn’t flown down by the western culture. It is still very orthodox but also booming as modern cities. The city has all those major amenities which a modern advance city requires.

Varanasi-The-Kashi-Vishwanath

Varanasi is famous for spiritualism, mysticism, Indian philosophy and Hinduism. All these are reflected in numerous sects, temples, Ashrams and Ghats. Varanasi is associated not only with Hinduism but also with Buddhism and Jainism. Varanasi also boasts of Buddhist Stupas and Jain temples. Varanasi is mainly associated with Hinduism, temples form the main attraction. The Ganges Ghats (river fronts) are the main center of religious activities and rituals and also form one of the main attractions of Varanasi. The most important temples of Varanasi are Durga temple, Vishwanath temple, Sankat Mochan temple, Tulsi Manas temple and the Bharat Mata temple.

Temples of Varanasi:

Varanasi is a place can be considered as the place especially for different temples. The place has great spiritual importance with so many other attractions. Varanasi is home to about 2,000 temples, and also known as the city of temples. Many important and famous temples are located at the Ghats of Ganges. The holy river Ganges in the place is like icing on the cake. Varanasi is also called Kashi, “the City of Light”. The “Kashi Vishwanath temple”, located near the Ganga Ghats, is the most famous and important temple of Varanasi.

Rana-mahal-ghat-banaras

Here is a detailed coverage of the Temples of Varanasi.

Ghats:

Spiritual life in Varanasi revolves around the ghats, the long string of bathing steps leading down to the water on the western bank of the Ganges. Most are used for bathing but there are also several ‘burning ghats’ where bodies are cremated in public. The main burning ghat is ‘Manikarnika’. There, one can often experience watching funeral processions threading their way through the backstreets to this ghat. The best time to visit the ghats is at dawn when the river is bathed in a mellow light as pilgrims come to perform puja (literally ‘respect’; offering or prayers) to the rising sun, and at sunset when the main ‘ganga aarti’ ceremony takes place at Dasaswamedh Ghat. One can explore a trip from Dasaswamedh Ghat south to Harishchandra Ghat and can have a great knowledge about the place Varanasi.

Siberian-birds-ganga

Varanasi is mainly popular for these ghats and the spiritual environment over here. People here come to explore about the Hindu culture, tradition and religion. Thus this place is very famous and caters a good quantity of visitors every year.

Bharat Kala Bhavan:

Bharat Kala Bhavan, located inside the BHU campus, is an art and architecture museum and houses a vast collection of paintings, Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and other materials of archeological importance. Bharat Kala Bhavan was established in the year 1920 A.D. In the main hall of the Bharat Kala Bhawan, there is a figure of a man standing on one leg and one hand on his hip and lifting a mass of stone above his head, with one hand.

Bharat-Kala-Bhawan

Bharat Kala Bhavan also has a great collection of miniature paintings from the courts of Mughals and other Kingdoms and principalities. Some of the important sections in the Bharat Kala Bhavan are Mahamana Malaviya gallery, Nicholas Roerich gallery, Chhavi (Painting Gallery), sculpture gallery, Nidhi (Treasures) gallery, sculpture gallery, archaeological gallery, decorative art gallery and Banaras through age’s gallery.

Banaras Hindu University:

The Banaras Hindu University or BHU is an internationally reputed University and is situated in Varanasi. The great nationalist leader, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, founded the Banaras Hindu University in the year 1916. Dr Annie Besant also played an important role in the formation of the BHU. The Banaras Hindu University played an important role in the Indian independence movement. Over a period of time, it has developed into one of the greatest centers of learning in India. The BHU has produced many great freedom fighters and Nation builders. It has immensely contributed to the progress of the nation through a large number of renowned scholars, artists and scientists.

Jantar Mantar:

Jantar Mantar is an observatory, built by Jai Singh, the Maharaja of Jaipur  in the year 1737. Jai Singh was a great admirer of science and technology and he was particularly passionate about astronomy. Before the commencement of construction (of observatories) he sent scholars abroad to study the foreign observatories. The emissaries returned with many manuals on astronomy. The Jantar Mantar at Varanasi was built in line with Delhi, Mathura, Ujjain and Jaipur observatories. There are Jantar Mantar Clones in Delhi and Jaipur as well.

Ramnagar Fort:

The Ramnagar fort lies about 14 km. from Varanasi and is situated on the opposite bank of river Ganga. It is the ancestral home of the Maharaja of Banaras. Maharaja Balwant Singh built this fort-palace in the eighteenth century. The fort is built in red sandstone. The Ramnagar fort has a temple and a museum within the grounds and the temple is dedicated to Ved Vyasa, who wrote Mahabharata, the great Indian epic. Legends have it that Ved Vyasa stayed here for a brief period.

Ramnagar-Fort-Varanasi

The Ramnagar fort is a museum displaying the Royal collection which includes vintage Cars, Royal ‘palkies’, an armory of swords and old guns, ivory work and antique clocks. The ‘Durga Temple’ and ‘Chhinnamastika Temple’ are also located at Ramnagar. A temple of Dakshin Mukhi Hanuman is there. Inside the giant walls of the Ramnagar fort-palace, there is a big clock. This particular clock shows of the movement of the stars. An interesting array of ornate palanquins, gold-plated howdahs and weapons are some of the artifacts on display in the Ramnagar fort-palace museum.

Sunset-varanasi-india

Besides these places you can also look for places like; Sarnath Museum, Ashoka Lion Capital, Buddhist Temples, Chaukhandi Stupa, Dhamekh Stupa, Dharamrajika Stupa etc.

• Banaras Hindu University - a very green and peaceful campus. Few actually know that this University was built during Indian freedom struggle and is known as Oxford of the East. This is the largest residential university of Asia, having approx. 124 independent departments. You can also visit Bharat Kala Bhavan, a museum of Art and Archeology inside the university. There is also a huge white marbled temple called Vishwanath Temple which was bulit by Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya, the founder of the university.
• Sarnath - It is believed that in Sarnath Buddha gave his first sermon to his disciples after getting enlightenment. There is also a Museum in Sarnath. The exact location is also known as Deer Park. Sarnath is 13 Km from Varanasi and is very peaceful. Several Asian countries have built Buddhist temples there following their own ancient architectural traditions.
• Ram Nagar Fort - the fort of the King of Kashi which is situated at the other side of the river.
• Gauri Matha Temple - The devi at this temple is supposed to be the sister of the lord Kashi Vishwanath. Its a tradition to visit her just before you leave Kashi. You buy sea shells at this place and offer them to the God saying that the virtues of donating the shells goes to her while you keep the virtues of having visited the holy shrines in Kashi and bathing in the ganges. The trip to Kashi is expected to yield results only after completing this custom.

Ghats-at-varanasi

Swaad with Sharmaji

Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan

Breaking away from the royal and desert sights of Rajasthan, Ranthambore is the pride of the Indian wildlife and nature scene. A vast array of wildlife, flora and fauna, makes for an impressive lush topography, just 180 kms away from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Previously a hunting ground for the Maharajas, the national park is now rich in wildlife and is located in the Sawai Madhopur district.

Aravali_range_inside_Ranthambhore_Rajasthan

About the Park

The National Park is spread over more than 1300 sq kms, and is flanked by sanctuaries like the Mansingh Sanctuary and the Kaila Devi Sanctuary. Though the endangered tigers have been most talked about, Ranthambore also harbours a large variety of other animals, avian species, flora and fauna.

Ranthambore_Tiger

The 1970s turned around everything for the national park when it was declared one of the Project Tiger Reserves. The Banas and Chambal Rivers add to the lush topography of the region.

How to get there

Jaipur is the closest airport from Ranthambore National park. Plenty of cabs are available from the airport. The national park is also connected by rail to the closest station at Sawai Madhopur, only 11 kms away. The road to Ranthambore is also in a good condition and makes access easy from other parts of Rajasthan.

Best Time to Go

The Park is open from beginning October to June, which is a great time to spot tigers.

Ranthambore_National_Park

Things to Do

1. Safari Rides: The safari rides are planned two times in the day: early morning and afternoon. Please check the exact timings at the time of booking. The rides are for 3 hours and are guided by experts. There are options between smaller open vehicles and 20 seater small buses. The fees vary each year. It can range from Rs 500 onwards and you may be charged separately for cameras.
2. History: Ranthambore also has a lot of history embedded in the region. The Ranthambore Fort was built in the 10th century and overlooks the park area. The majestic fort stands at a height of 700 feet. There are 3 famous temples inside the fort.
3. Padam Talao: This is one of the biggest lakes in the region, which also has the magnificent Jog Mahal at the edge of the water.
4. Hiking- There are some simple hiking trails which can be traversed only with experts. This is a great one for bird watching enthusiasts.

Ranthambore_fort

What to take and wear

1. Dull coloured clothes. Abstain from wearing bright colours in the jungle.
2. Plenty of sunscreen and a hat if you are going for the afternoon safaris.
3. Comfortable walking closed shoes.
4. Binoculars are a good investment. Even though the guards and forest experts have a pair in the car, it’s good to carry your own and not miss a sighting opportunity.
5. Your camera and plenty of space on your memory card!

Sightseeing in Jaipur

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan captivates visitors. This beautiful pink city springing from the desert offers a wealth of sightseeing opportunities from hilltop forts, regal palaces, well organised museums and colourful bazaars.

Our sightseeing in Japiur guide will help you plan your itinerary.

Jantar Mantar

A key attraction of Jaipur is the Jantar Mantar. Between 1727 and 1734 Maharajah Jai Singh II of Jaipur constructed five astronomical observatories in west central India. The observatories, or “Jantar Mantars” as they are commonly known, incorporate multiple buildings of unique form, each with a specialized function for astronomical measurement. These structures with their striking combinations of geometric forms at large scale have captivated the attention of architects, artists, and art historians world wide. Jantar Mantar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jantar_Mantar_at_Jaipur

Timings 9.00 A.M. – 5.00 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 20 / Foreigner Rs. 100 / Child Rs. 20

Amber Fort

Amber Fort located in Amber, 11kms away from Jaipur, used to be the capital of the Kachhwaha clan, untill Jaipur was made the official capital in 1727. The Amber Fort looks stunning, built in white marble and red sandstone. To add to its charm, Maotha Lake makes a beautiful foreground. This beautiful fort is one of the very few well preserved military structures of medieval India.

Amer-Fort-Jaipur

Timings 7.00 A.M.- 6.30 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 25 / Foreigner Rs. 150 / Child Rs. 25

City Palace

The City Palace forms one of the most famous tourist attractions and a major landmark in Jaipur. The beautiful palace was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh during his reign. Among the various forts and palaces of Jaipur, City Palace stands apart, with its outstanding art and architecture. The beautifully carved marble interiors, magnificent pillars, jali or lattice work and inlaid ornamentations are exceptional and a highlight for visitors. Jaleb Chowk and Tripolia Gate are the two main entrances to the City Palace Jaipur. The City Palace is actually a palace complex comprising of “Chandra mahal” and “Mubarak Mahal” amongst other palaces and buildings.

Jaipur_City_Palace

Timings 9.30 A.M.- 5.00 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 35 / Foreigner Rs. 150 / Child Rs. 25

Gaitore

Another interesting visit would be to Gaitore, situated about 15kms from Jaipur on the Jaipur – Amber Road. Gaitore is a royal cremation site of the majestic rulers of Jaipur. There is a cenotaph for each Maharaja, built in his honour. These royal cenotaphs of the Maharajas are commonly known as ‘Chhatris’.

Timings 9.00 A.M.- 5.00 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 20 / Foreigner Rs. 30

Hawa Mahal

One of the most popular attractions of Jaipur is the Hawa Mahal, it stands upright as the entrance to the City Palace. Hawa Mahal is an epitome of the Rajputana architecture. Its unique five-storey exterior is also akin to the honeycomb of the beehive with its 953 small windows called jharokhas that are decorated with intricate latticework. The original intention of the lattice was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen, since they had to observe strict “purdah” (face cover) It is particularly striking when viewed early in the morning, lit with the golden light of sunrise.

Jaipur-Hawa-Mahal

Timings 9.00 A.M.- 4.30 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 10 / Foreigner Rs. 50

Jaigarh Fort

Jaigarh Fort which is located immediately above the Amber Fort on the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles). It provides an excellent view of Aravalli hills and the Amber Fort sitting 400m below. Similar in design to the Amber Fort the fort features a cannon named “Jaivana”, which at the time of manufacture was the world’s largest cannon on wheels.

Rajasthan-Jaipur-Jaigarh-Fort-compound

Timings 9.00 A.M.- 5.00 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 25 / Foreigner Rs. 75

Nahargarh Fort

Nahargarh Fort is situated atop a picturesque hill. It is the first of the three forts built by Maharaja Jai Sawai Singh of Jaipur. The Fort stands at the top of rugged point of the Aravalis and offers a spectacular view of the City. The fort has nine absolutely identical suites each delightfully decorated with motifs.

Timings 9.30 A.M.- 4.30 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 10 / Foreigner Rs. 50

Composite Ticket

The Rajasthan Tourism Office has introduced the tourist friendly concept of a “Composite Ticket” This ticket costs Rs.50 for an Indian and Rs.300 for a foreigner and allows the ticket holder to visit five tourist spots namely Hawa mahal, Jantar Mantar, Albert hall, Amber Fort and Nahargarh Fort.

It is recommended to check timings and entry fees for all attractions before setting out as these are subject to change. The entry fee for foreigners in many places is different from that for India nationals.

Swaad with Sharmaji

The Living Root Bridges of Cherrapunjee, India

The lower reaches of the southern slopes of Khasi and Jaintia hills, in Northeastern India, are humid, warm and streaked by many swift flowing rivers and mountain streams. On the slopes of this hill, among the dense undergrowth, a species of Indian Rubber tree – (Ficus Elastica) -  thrives and flourishes. These trees shoot out many secondary roots from their trunks. The trees, supported by these secondary roots, can comfortably perch itself on huge boulders along side the riverbanks or in the middle of rivers and send its roots down to the riverbed.

Root Bridges

The ancient War-Khasi people, a tribe in Meghalaya, had noticed these qualities of this tree and had adapted it to serve their need for building bridges across rivers and streams. In order to direct the roots in the desired direction, the Khasis sliced betel nut tree trunks half in the middle for their entire length, hollowed them out and passed the thin and long tender roots through them. The roots start growing towards other end of the stream and when they are reached they are allowed to take root in the soil. Given enough time, a sturdy, living bridge is produced.

Root-bridges in day

Some of these root bridges can carry fifty or more people at a time and can be over 100 feet long. These bridges take 10 to 15 years to become fully functional, and they keep growing in strength by the day. Some of these bridges are well over 500 years old.

Woman washing cloth under root bridge

These bridges are unique to Meghalaya only and are being used daily even today by people living in many villages around Cherrapunjee. One special bridge has two bridges stacked one over the other. The villagers of Nongriat where this bridge is located at the bottom of the valley call it 'Umshiang Double Decker Root Bridge’.

Side look root bridge

Chand Baori Stepwell in India

Chand Baori in Abhaneri village near Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan,, India, is one of the most overlooked landmarks in the country. It is one of the oldest stepwell in Rajasthan, and is considered to be among the biggest in the world. Chand Baori looks like anything but a well. This incredible square structure is 13 stories deep, and lined along the walls on three sides are double flight of steps. 3,500 narrow steps arranged in perfect symmetry descends to the bottom of the well 20 meters deep to a murky green puddle of water. Built during the 8th and 9th century by King Chanda of Nikumbha Dynasty, provided the surrounding areas with a dependable water source for centuries before modern water delivery systems were introduced. As the green water at the base attests, the well is no longer in use, but it makes for an interesting stop-over to an architecturally impressive structure that is over 1000 years old. There’s also a temple adjoining the well for visitors to explore.

Chand-Baori-Stepwell-Rajasthan

Stepwells, also called bawdi or baori, are unique to India. These wells have steps built into the sides that can be descended to reach the water at the bottom. Stepwells are generally larger than common wells and are often of architectural significance, just like Chand Baori.

Stepwell

The well’s sheer endlessly appearing geometric complexity made of stairs and steps ensured that Rajput people had access to water at any time of the year, and from all sides. The reasons behind building such an elaborate step well is not fully clear. Some believe it was used as a water harvesting site. Rajasthan is a dry place, and hence, every ounce of water is precious. The large mouth of the well functioned as a rain catching funnel that contributed to the water seeping in from the porous rock at the bottom. In addition to conserving water, Chand baori also became a community gathering place for the Abhaneri locals. The townsfolk used to sit around the step well and cool off during the summer days. At the bottom the well the air is always about 5-6 degrees cooler than at the top.

Close-Chand-Baori

The steps surround the well on three sides while the fourth side has a set of pavilions built one atop another. The side that has the pavilions have niches with beautiful sculptures including religious carvings. There is even a royal residence with rooms for the King and the Queen and a stage for the performing arts.

Steps of Chand Baori

Chand Baori was featured in the movie The Fall and also made a small appearance in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises.

Water inside well

The well is now a treasure managed by the Archeological Survey of India.

chand-baori-wall-figures

chand-baori-cleaners

chand-baori-stepwell

Vivid-colors-of-Chand-Baori

Eco-sensitive traditional transport in India

The Eco-sensitive transport Rickshaws and Tangas are banned in most of the cities in India. Delhi has completely replacing tangas the oldest form of transportation in India. All major cities like Mumbai and Calcutta used these oldest forms of transports for many years. In villages of India pulled and cycle rickshaws are still one of the major forms of transport. These types of transports are the life line of the poor peoples who pulled rickshaws to survive. As of changing world these traditional transports are disappearing from the country.

Rickshaws: 

The Runner-pulled rickshaws were the local form of transportation used for traveling. The last sizable fleet of rickshaws can be found in Calcutta only. Runner-pulled rickshaws have mainly been replaced by cycle rickshaws and auto. In south India pulled rickshaws can be visible as goods carrier.

Rickshaw-puller-Kolkata

Cycle Rickshaw: 

The cycle rickshaw is one of the oldest existing forms of transportation in India. Cycle rickshaw is the replacement of runner pulled rickshaws and auto is another replacement for cycle rickshaws. Now a day’s cycle rickshaw is not allowed to use in the metro cities but in town or villages of India this is the best transport carriage. Rickshaw is used for goods as well as for public transport and mainly for school childrens. A cycle rickshaw is also known as trishaw or tricycle.

Cycle-rickshaw-India

Tanga: 

One of the best rides which has become rare with the changing world. May be the cycle rickshaw has replaced tanga at many parts of India but still The tanga or horse cart still visible in many areas of India. Delhi “The Heart of India” was famous for Tanga, but now due to the heavy traffic in Delhi, tangas are not allowed to use. It’s good that the village side area of India still nurturing horse-drawn carriage.

Tanga-India

Bail Gadi: 

Bullock cart or bail gadi used for transporting grass or goods in villages of India. Farmers have been using bullock carts for taking their yield to market and to ferry people. Bail gadi is the only vehicles for rural peoples of India to travel from one place to other villages. Bullock cart race is also organized by the peoples of villages in some part of India. These bulls also used for farming. A ride on bullock cart should not be missed while visiting villages of India, because India lives in villages only.

Bailgadi-India

Top 10 National Parks for Wildlife Safari in India

India has more than 200 wildlife sanctuaries and about 100 of them are classified as National Parks. However some are better than others and still unexplored. National Parks in India spread across the country offer a fascinating diversity of terrain, which is houses of large number of wild rare and giant animal species. India is a great tourism destination in world. It attracts tourists with its unique cultural and geographical features.

Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India, located at Uttaranchal. Corbett has been a haunt for tourists and wildlife lovers for a long time. Its dense forest is the home for various species. The Corbett National Park is a heaven for the adventure and wildlife seeker. Tourists are not allowed to have a walk inside the park. Story of Jim Corbett to kill an Indian leopard is very famous. The pride of India, Great Tiger can be spotted here with some luck.

Deer in Jim Corbett National Park

Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park is located in Assam. It has the highest density of Royal Bengal Tigers in the world. The park also hosts two-thirds of the world’s Great One-horned  Rhinoceroses, Indian elephants “The holy Animals“, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer. Kaziranga has achieved notable success in wildlife conservation as compare to other protected areas in India.

Buffalo in Kaziranga-National-Park

Sundarbans National Park

Sundarbans National Park is one of the largest reserves home for the Royal Bengal Tiger. This area is covered by dense rain forest,sunder ban is located in west Bengal. The park has got protection since its creation. The core area is free from all human disturbances and is habitat of many toxic reptiles in India. Man eater tigers stories belongs to sunder ban national park.

Ghadiyals in Sundarbans-National-Park

Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park is Tiger reserve park and located in the Mandla, Madhya Pradesh. The park has a significant population of Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, Barasingha and Indian wild dog. A documentary has been cover by discovery on Indian wild dogs in Kanha National Park. This is one of India’s most visited wildlife area and best place to encounter with wild animals.

Indian Wild dog in Kanha-National-Park

Gir Wildlife Sanctuary

Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is the single home of the pure Asiatic Lions or Indian Lion and is considered to be one of the most important protected areas in India as well as in Asia. Ecosystem of Gir is prefect to support all species. The lion-count in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is 411, an increase as compare to 2005. Gir also includes Sloth bears, Jungle cats, Striped Hyenas and some time black bucks also appear.

Striped Hyena in Gir-Wildlife-Sanctuary

Periyar National Park

Periyar National Park area lies in the middle of a mountainous area of the Cardamom Hills in Land of Attraction Kerala. This protected area is well famous for its diversity and natural beauty. Around 70% of the area is well covered by evergreen or rain forest,which is also home for the biggest snake in India, the Giant King Kobra. Periyar is one of the 27 tiger reserves in India, there are an estimated 53 tigers. A large number of Indian elephants can also be tourist attraction in periyar.

Giant King Kobra in Periyar-National-Park

Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh has the highest density of Royal Bengal Tigers known in the world. A female Tiger known as Sita was covered by the National Geographic and considered as most photographed tiger in the world. The park has a large breeding population of monkey also called Langur “one of the holy animals of India“, Leopards and various species of deer and smbhar.

Langur sitting in Bandhavgarh-National-Park

Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary 

Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its Royal Bengal Tigers and is one of the best places in India to see these Great Cats in the jungle. There is Ranthambore fort inside the park,hence its name become Ranthambore national park. Padam Talao is the biggest lake inside the park,other major wild animals are hyena, wild boar, sambar.

Wild boar in Ranthambore-Wildlife-Sanctuary

Hemis National Park

Hemis National Park is located at the high altitude in Ladakh region of J&K. This is the only national park which contain largest protected area in India, thus become the largest national park of India. The park is home for number of species of endangered mammals including the Indian Snow Leopard. Population of Snow Leopards in Hemis National Park are around 200. Tibetan Wolf, the Eurasian Brown Bear, Sheep and the Red Fox are also present in Hemis. The big flying Predators like Golden eagle and Vulture are also best part of Hemis.

Golden eagle flying high in Hemis-National-Park

Sariska Tiger Reserve

Sariska Tiger Reserve is one of the most famous national parks in India, located in Royal Rajasthan. It is home for wild animals leopard, chinkara, wild boar and plenty of bird species and unique reptiles like big snakes, monitor lizards and turtles. Sariska is famous as bird sanctuary in India. It was selected for tiger reserve under Project Tiger scheme, but now its finally declared that Sariska indeed did not have any tigers left.

Flamingos in Sariska-Tiger-Reserve

Unexplored wildlife sanctuaries of India

Wildlife Sanctuaries of India has a unique status worldwide, It has the second largest base of bio diversity in the world. These calm and peaceful wildlife sanctuaries are the home for some very giant animals and rare species of birds. India has some of the biggest National Parks like Hemis, Sundarbans and Gangotri National Park. Rann of Kutch, also known as the Indian Wild Ass sanctuary is the largest wildlife sanctuary in India.

Area wise wildlife sanctuaries of India:

Desert National Park: 

Desert National Park, Rajasthan covering an area of 3162 km. It is one of the largest protected areas for wild animals in India. The famous Desert National Park lies on the vast ocean of sands near Jaisalmer. Its is one of the major attractions of the Jaisalmer city another one is Jaisalmer fort. This is a only desert sanctuary of India, famous for its endangered species like the Great Indian bustard. An excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar Great Desert and its rich habitat area offers the desert animals & birds including flying predators black and grey eagles, vultures, Indian peafowl, species of antelopes, monitor lizard, Russel viper and krait the most venomous snake in India.

Indian-peacock-Rajasthan

Namdapha National Park: 

Namdapha National Park is the largest protected area in the Eastern area of Arunachal Pradesh, lies on the Patkai range. It offers a wide spectrum of plants and animals and one of the richest areas in biodiversity in India. Namdapha is famous for its untouched wilderness, unexplored place and unseen natural beauty. It is the only one national park in which four Big Cats – tiger, leopard, snow leopard and clouded leopard are found. Other large predators are wolves, and Asiatic black bears. The great Hornbills and Red Giant Flying Squirrel is often seen in park.

Giant-Indian-flying-squirrel

Khangchendzonga National Park: 

Khangchendzonga National Park is the largest wildlife reserve in Sikkim in the bless by nature area of 1784 KM. It lies on one of the grandest and most unspoilt Himalayan mountain ranges called Khangchendzonga the third highest peak in the world. The park, along with its surrounding forests and mountains offers best beauty of nature. The park has the right mix of mountains, glaciers and forests, Snow leopard is the one of biggest cats found here.

Snow-Leopard-Himalayan-Region-India

Sanjay National Park: 

The Sanjay National Park in Chhattisgarh is spread over an area of 1471 km and is surrounded by Vindhyachal Mountain Ranges and rivers. After partition form madhay pradesh its name is now Guru Ghasidas national park. Main wild animals are Jackals, Sambar, Four-horned Antelopes, Jungle Cat, Monitor Lizard,Monkey, Striped Hyena and wild Dogs. It is also an ideal place to watch migratory birds. Sanjay National Park is one of the most important wild animal sanctuaries in central India. Indian Rock Python, Cobra and Russell’s Viper are the dangerous reptiles found here.

Indian-Monitor-Lizard

Indravati National Park: 

Indravati National Park is located in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh in area of 1258 KM. The park is known for the wide species of animals, birds and reptiles. The major wildlife attractions in Indravati National Park include the rare Wild Buffalo, Tigers, Leopards, Gaurs, Barasinghas and barking deer. reptiles in the park are freshwater crocodile, Indian Rock Python, Cobra and Russell’s Viper. It is the finest and most famous wildlife parks and also the only Tiger Reserve in the Tribal State Chhattisgarh.

Indian-rock-python