Uttrakhand Tourism: Things to do in Nighlat

A Hidden Treasure in Uttrakhand

For travellers looking to get off the beaten track and find a remote and unexplored destination is the small town of Nighlat, tucked away in the rolling hills of Uttrakhand is just waiting to be discovered and is one of the top places near Nainital to extend a holiday there.

Trekking-in-Nighlat

Close to Nainital and Bhimtal discover things to do in this secret location where you can appreciate the soothing calm of the mountains. Here are are top seven things to do in Nighlat.

Hikes

Alpine forests hide the curvaceous trails amidst the mild and tough slopes of the mountains. Explore your own paths or follow a local shepherd for day long hikes which are exciting and yet do not fall in the ‘experts’ bracket. Ensure that you carry some food and water in a light backpack. Plenty of streams and vast meadows make for good picnic spots. Mild treks to Macchli Diggi and Gaggar are also fascinating.

View-of-beautiful-Nighlat

Explore local gardens

Many homes in Niglahat have a penchant for gardening and keeping immaculate green patches. The weather is conducive to growing fresh vegetables and various varieties of flowers and keen gardeners will find plenty of like minded locals to share tips with.

Adventure activities

Bhimtal, being only a short distance away, has plenty of options for activities like rappling, trekking and camping with experts. You can make Niglahat your base camp and head out for treks to places like Pine Riviera, Munsiyari, Lilam, Mukteshwar and Ramgarh. Please note that some of the tougher treks will require a degree of fitness and experience.

Beautiful-Nighlat-Lake

Enjoy the various ‘taals’ of the region

The region is very famous for lakes in places like Nainital, Bhimtal, Saat Tal and Nachiketa Taal.

Visit the fruit orchards

Khairna, which is famous for its lush orchards in the backdrop of the Himalayan peaks, is a short drive of about 11 kilometres from Niglahat.

Visit an Ashram

A famous Ashram for Neem Karori Baba very close to the Niglahat. The ashram is filled with visitors from all walks of life and many nations. Stop here to have a look at the temples inside the ashram; the most famous of them is known as the ‘Kenchi’ Temple. Neem Karori Babaji is said to be one of the avataars of Hanuman, the monkey God.

Neem Karori Baba-Ashram

Just relax

Enjoy the serene company of mountains and enjoy your stay amongst the lush green landscape with only the sounds of the birds chirping!

Gujarat Tourism: Places of Tourist Interest in Gujarat

Gujarat, the growth engine of India and the land of legends is located in western part of the country along with Arabian Sea with the longest coastline of India. Gujarat is one of the major tourist regions of India and known for its scenic beauty of mountain ranges, coastline beaches and the Great Rann of Kutch. It offers wide range of tourism in terms of Cultural, Wildlife, Religious and Business.

Local Villages and Tribes of Gujarat

Villages of Gujarat are more advance then any other villages of India, These small towns and villages are awarded for best gram panchayat like Punsri and Chikhli. Kutch villages,Gir sanctuary villages and coastal villages are tribal villages and primarily sheepherders and known for their unique culture and traditions. Tribes Gowala,Bharwad,Garacia,Rabari and Banjara are few important tribes of the region.

Local-Tribes-in-Gujrat

Culture and Food

Gujarat has very vibrant and colorful culture,people, Languages and food. The traditional Gujrati thali is one of the best way to know the Gujarati cuisine. During the famous festival such as Navaratri and Uttarayan, the true culture and tradition of Gujarat come into the picture along with special food items, most famous Gujarati dishes are dhokla, fafda, khandvi, basundi and chivda.

Dhokla

Temples and Pilgrimages

The state is well famous as the devotional center for Hindu and Jain Pilgrimage  along with other religions. Famous temples in Gujarat are Dwarka -one of the major four centers of Hindu,Somnath temple -one of the 12 jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva, Ambaji-one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, Pavagadh, Sun Temple Modhera and Akshardham of Gandhinagar. It also host many Jain temples, includes Mahudi Jain Tirth,Palitana temples,Taranga Girnar and one of the biggest and oldest mosques of India, Jami Masjid of Ahmedabad.

Somnath-Temple

Major Cities and Towns of Gujarat

Gujarat is also home to big Sea port, sardar sarovar dam – one of the biggest dam of India in Narmada river, India’s first Canal-top Solar Power Project and some of the India’s fastest developing cities like Ahmedabad, Surat-the city of flyovers, Gandhinagar -green city of India and Jamnagar, the Oil City of India. Other major cities are Anand -the Milk Capital of India,Vadodara,Rajkot, and Godhra-the spirit of India.

Surat-city-diamond-city-of-india

Fairs and Festivals

It celebrates unique festival and fairs such as Garba during the Navratri, Kite Festival in Makar Sankranti or Uttarayana, Modhera Dance Festival and world famous Rann Utsav in November–December at Kutch. The major fairs includes Tarnetar Fair and Vautha Mela along with many other religious fairs at respective temple. Rann Utsav is one of the most popular festival and a cultural extravaganza to display the real and traditional flavor of area and Vibrant Gujarat.

Kai-Po-Che-Flying-Kite-High-in-Gujarat

Fort & palaces

Gujarat has wide variety of great historic forts,grand palaces, beautiful temples and other historical monuments.These Forts and Palaces have very impressive Architecture and the historical background of Maharaja. Major forts are Taranga Fort,The Upperkot fort,Tera Fort and Pavagadh, known for a famous Mahakali temple. The Palaces of Vadodara know as Laxmi Vilas Palace is one of the Grand palace of India and a major popular tourist sites in Gujarat.

Laxmi-Vilas-Palace

Historical sites and Monuments & Museums

The land has a rich Heritage and Historical places that dates back from Indus Valley Civilization to Mahabharata. Major Heritage spots are Kirti Mandir,Pavagadh and Vadnagar,famous for its torans and Hatkeshwar Temple. World heritage sites like Lothal, Dholavira and Champaner are major attraction of Vibrant Gujarat along with Monuments Amrutvarshni Vav,Ancient Masjid,Ancient Step Well and Navlakha Temple.

Lothal-historical-site

Apart from the above Historical places Gujarat offers splendid historical spots like Hriday Kunj,Sabarmati Ashram,Fateh Singh Museum and famous Calico Museum of Textiles. The city also has unique Kite Museum at Ahmedabad,Takhteshwar Temple,bhadreshwar temple,Pratap Vilas Palace and famous six times destroyed Somnath Temple.

Calico-Textile-Museum-in-Gujarat

Lakes and Waterfalls

The water bodies of Gujarat are very famous and major attractions, like Ranmal Lake,Hamirsar Lake Vastrapur Lake and Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary. It also have important rivers Narmada river,Sabarmati river and Tapti river along with famous waterfall such as Gira Falls, Girmal Falls and Ninai Waterfall.

Gira-falls in Gujrat

Beaches and Islands

The longest coastline of Gujarat offers some of the most beautiful Indian Beaches and Sea island such as Mandvi Beach, Gopnath Beach,Dumas Beach,Dwarka Beach, Porbandar Beach and islands are Pirotan and Narala Island and Diu. Pirotan Island is located in the Marine National Park, only its kind of national park in India situated in the Gulf of Kutch. The Marine Sanctuary offers home to Corals, Fish, Crabs, Prawns, Molluscs, Sea snakes and Turtles along with sea birds.

Mandvi-Beach

Mountains and Hills

Gujarat host four major mountain ranges of India, including Aravalli, Sahyadri,Vindhya and Satpura along with hills Girnar Hill,Saputara hills and famous Wilson Hills. These collection of mountains and hills offers habitat for Indian Lion, the only place in the wild with 411 Asiatic lions in the Gir forest. The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is the fully protected area for diverse flora and fauna and Dangs district has largest forest cover area under the Saputara range.

Wilson-Hill-in-Gujarat

Wildlife of Gujarat

Habitat of Gujarat provides shelter to rare and unique species of Flora and Fauna, which includes The Asiatic Lions, Blackbuck, Wild Ass,Dolphins,Whale Shark and The Avifauna are Great Horned Owl,majestic eagles and fascinating buzzards along with migratory Birds like Pelican,Flamingos and cranes. The major national park, wildlife Sanctuaries and Bird Sanctuary of Gujarat are famous Gir National Park,unique Marine National Park,Porbandar Bird Sanctuary, Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary,Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary and Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary of the Little Rann of Kutch.

Resting-Lioness-in-Gir-National-Park

Kumbh Mela 2013 - Photos

Millions of Hindus gathered at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers, yesterday for Makar Sankranti and first the day of the Maha Kumbh Mela, in Allahabad, India.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, believed to be the largest religious gathering on earth, is held every 12 years on the banks of Sangam

Ganga Arti Blessings - Haridwar - Maha Kumbh

Ganga Arti - Haridwar - Maha Kumbh

Devotees arriving for Kumbh Mela 2013

Young gun's of India enjoying Maha Kumbh bath in Ganges - Maha Kumbh Mela 2013

Sadhu ganges dip at Maha Kumbh Mela 2013

Naga Baba's arriving at Maha Kumbh Mela 2013

Naga Baba's first dip in Maha Kumbh - Kumbh Mela 2013

Devotees paying respect to Ma Gange - Maha Kumbh Mela 2013

Baba Ramdev arriving at Maha Kumbh - Kumbh Mela 2013

Har Har Gange -- Naga babas jumping for holy dip in Ganges - Kumbh Mela 2013

Naga Baba smooking Ganja - Kumbh Mela 2013

Naga baba's chanting "Har Har gange" and taking a Holy Dip - Kumbh Mela 2013

Another one at Maha Kumbh 2013

Woman's praying to Ma Gange and taking Holy Dip during Maha Kumbh 

Sadhu walking to Ganges for Holy Dip - Kumbh Mela 2013

Sadhu's at Maha Kumbh 2013

Woman's drying cloths after Holy dip in Ganges - Kumbh Mela 2013

Couple's enjoying Holy Dip together during Maha Kumbh - 2013

Himachal Tourism: Things to do in Palampur

Himachal Pradesh, one of the Northern states of India, still holds a unique allure for travellers with its untouched landscapes and rustic charm. Majestic mountains, turbulent rivers and the unassuming local culture of the state makes this a favourite for those who are looking at adventure or those who just want to bask in the natural beauty of the place.

On-the-way-to-Palampur

Within Himachal Pradesh, Palampur is one of the key destinations in the Kangra Valley region. Owing to the numerous streams that flow in the town, it was given the local name “pulum’, meaning abundant water. Enjoy the view of snow clad mountains from the famous Neugal Cafe.

View from Neugal Cafe in Palampur

Things to do in Palampur

Palampur makes for a great stopping point as there are a number of tourist specific things to see and do around it. The most important day tours are Darang, Dharamshala and Mcleodganj. Here are some of the other things to do in Palampur:

Monks-in-Palampur

• Bir and Beelling: Only 35 kms from Palampur, these villages are famous for Buddhist monasteries. It is also famous as an adventure destination for hand gliding and paragliding enthusiasts. The duo is also known for Tibetan handicrafts and its verdant topography.
• Baijnath: A spiritual destination, Baijnath is 16 kms from the city and has a much revered Shiva shrine. It is said the Ravana himself has prayed to Shiva in this temple.
• Andreta: A short drive from town, this is home to the well known artist, late Sardar Shobha Singh and late playwright Norah Richards. Dhauladhar Range presents itself in a beautiful panoramic view from here.
• Bundla Stream: Again, a great spot for adventure lovers, this stream runs in a deep chasm of 100 metres and swells violently in the monsoon months. If one walks the 2 km distance between Palampur and Bundla, one can hear the stream continuously.

Festival-in-Palampur

When to go 

Palampur has pleasant weather all through the year except for winters when it is extremely cold. However, for those who like the crisp chill in the air, this one is a perfect destination for you.

How to get there 

The closest airport to Palampur is Gaggal, which is 40 kms from the town. Flights are not that frequent to this airport and are also limited in connectivity from the number of places in India. The more convenient way to get here is by train to Pathankot and then travel 100 kms to Palampur. Delhi is well connected to Pathankot by train.

The Great Himalayan National Park

With a lush bio-diversity, India is not just seen as a culturally rich destination but has also increasingly become popular for its wildlife. Tiger saving initiatives in particular have highlighted attention on India’s national parks in recent years.

Mount Kailash

Latest on the list of hot-spots for wildlife, is the Great Himalayan National Park.

About The Great Humalayan National Park

Located in Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, the park is spread over an impressive 1171 sq km. It has about 375 fauna species and a wide array of mammals, birds, reptiles and insects, including snow leopards.

Snow Leopard

Cradled in the foothills of the Himalayas, the Great Himalayan National Park is replete with rivers, camping spots, trekking trails and wildlife watching locations.

How to Get There

The Park is accessible by over-night buses from Delhi or flights that land in Bhuntar in Himachal Pradesh. Make Kullu your base and then enter the park for wildlife spotting.

Birdwatching-Himalayan-National-Park

Entry Fees

There are separate fees for Indian and Foreign Nationals for the park entry at Rs 10 and Rs 200 per head, respectively. You also have to pay charges for carrying still and video camera. Students can get discounted prices.

Season

The best weather conditions for wildlife spotting are summers. This is the time when the animals step out of their verdant surroundings in search for water. If visiting Kullu, it is best to use this as a gateway for other places in Himachal and also Ladakh. Avoid the monsoon season due to road blocks and landslides.

Things to do

Apart from the key activity of wildlife spotting, the Great Himalayan National Park allows for some more interesting activities as the park lies in the heart of Himachal and there are plenty of opportunities to mingle with the locals. Some of the things that you may want to include:

Trekkers_in_Himalayan-National-Park

Treks – There are 7 serious treks that you can do in addition to numerous smaller hikes. Sainj Valley, Tirthan, Gushaini, Jiwi Nala, Rakistar and Pin Parvati are some of the names that many adventure lovers reckon with. Book ahead to get a place on the treks with experts from the region.

Local Architecture – There has been a huge effort to retain and preserve the old Himachali architecture in the region. See the old wooden, mud and stone houses preserved by the Ecozone of GHNP, which blend in seamlessly with the environment.

Local-Himalayan-People

Festivals – The Eco Tourism wing of the park gives you the opportunity to mix with the locals, especially at the times of the festivals. It is a great way of adding a unique experience to your visit and to get an understanding of the local lifestyle. Be a part of Fagli in winter, village fairs in April and the much celebrated Dusherra in October.

There are a number of pilgrimage sites close to the park. Local deities and Gods command great reverence. Raktisar, Hanskund and the Sirikhand Mahadev Lake are three places that one can visit.

Watch educational films and documentaries at the Larji Information Centre built for the benefit of the tourists. This is a great place to engage children with some knowledge based activities.

Taking a deep breath

Explore the region

There are many reasons to visit this part of Himachal Pradesh and a variety of experiences for travellers. Make your base in the non touristy areas, and explore the hills and the frothy rivers. Camping, rafting, climbing, fishing and getting up close to village life should all be part of the itinerary.

Great destinations to explore in Himachal Pradesh include Manali which is just 32km from Kulla and a good place to base yourself for a few days.

Himachal Tourism: Things to do in Matiana

Location

It is located at about 2400 meters height above the sea level. And is about 45 kilometers from Shimla. The location falls under Tehsil Theog. 

History

Matiana is basically a small village. The local people are basically Rajputs and worship Goddess Durga (Ma Maheshwari or Bhagvati). They are devout followers of the Goddess. Many believe that people from the upper part of Himachal are the natives while the rest are migrants. 

Language

Pahari is the local language but hindi is spoken by virtually everyone. 

Cuisine

Much like everything else in the hills, even the cuisine of Matiana is simple and unadulterated. Fresh fruits are grown in many orchards around which also produce fresh jams, jellies etc. vegetables are grown locally and therefore are fresh when cooked. 

Attractions

In Matiana one must sit for a cup of tea, bite of an apple from the local orchards or click a photograph of the beautiful landscapes. Offering a view of high peaked mountains, with fresh breeze airing through the local village, Matiana offers to be one of the most mesmerizing and soul invigorating locations in the lap of nature. Trekking, horse riding, driving, picnics, golfing etc. are popular activities.

Apple orchards stretch over the length and breadth of this small town on NH 22, between Shimla and Narkhanda in Himachal Pradesh. Perpetually pleasant weather, a strong connection with the Goddess Durga and businesses rooted in apple farms, makes this a verdant and relaxed place to visit.

A small town feel and easy pace of life makes Matiana an ideal base for travellers who wish to relax and explore the region away from the tourist crowds. Matiana has a number of things to offer for those who like to walk around and soak in the atmosphere.

Here are our favourite things to do in Matiana.

1. Birdwatching 

This small town of Himachal gives a vast opportunity for birding enthusiasts to see plenty of different species. The varieties are distinctly different from that of other parts of India. Birds like Drongo, fly catcher, bar tailed tree creeper, black bulbul and Grosbeak can be spotted here.

Birdwatching-in-Matiana

2. Walking Trails 

The hills are a perfect place to explore and there are plenty of local trails to follow. Small village settlements, old-towering trees and local life are found along some of the most beautiful trails here. A good way to see the destination and get acquainted to the local culture, this is highly recommended.

Trekking-in-Matiana

3. Explore the Apple Farms

You can’t escape the importance of the apple farms in the region. Most people here have small or big farms and the conversations invariable leads to the season’s production and other issues. Visit an apple orchard and enjoy the freshness of apples right off the tree. While most of the harvest is sent to local or larger distributors, many people have diversified into small units of chutneys (Indian condiment) and juices. Perfect souvenirs to take home!

Juicy-Apples

4. Hatu Peak

A little over 15 kms from Matiana, the Hatu peak towers over the Narkhanda town. It takes about an hour from the town to drive up to this serene spot with oak stands and bright green pastures in the middle. From here, you can get a good look at the Himalayas on a clear day. Try not to visit on a weekend – the number of visiting cars and bikes often end up in a jam.

Hatu peak towers over the Narkhanda town

5. Local Temples

Matiana has always been associated with its devotion to the Goddess Durga. Apart from her, the destination is also sprinkled with other smaller temples. You will find temples tucked away in nooks and crannies, below trees, by the road and some elaborate ones. The religious zeal in the people is commendable here.

Jai Mata Bhawani!

When to go

As Matiana is high up in the hills it is pleasant all year round. Summers are usually not crowded by the hottest part of the year. Snow can be found in places like Hatu even in March.

How to reach

Getting in:  Bikers usually pass through Matiana using National Highway-22. Narkanda is one of the main stops for people travelling to Leh and Ladakh taking the route from Delhi-Chandigarh-Shimla-Narkanda, NH-22 is also a good way to drive down to Matiana. Trains aren't well connected. And direct trains are hard to find.

Getting around: Taxis can be rented through hotels and homestays. There's no better reliable mode of transport around. Hikes, treks and walks are fun for some people.

Distance to other cities

Shimla....................47 Km

Chandigarh............167 Km

Manali...................215 Km

Dharamsala............283 Km

Delhi......................411 Km

Corbett..................498 Km

Ranikhet................610 Km

Indian Greetings and the meaning

India is one of the most diverse countries in the world. It has a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multicultural society. Many different religions are followed here; Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism. The diversity of religion has resulted in an assortment of different customs and traditions, including forms of social greeting.

Say hello; the meaning of namaste

The traditional and customary way to greet people in India is the word ‘namaste’ (pronounced na, ma, stay). Indians generally prefer this non-contact form of greeting to a handshake or an embrace. It can be used for everyone regardless of gender, age or social background.

In some parts of India, like the south, people use ‘namaskar’ or ‘namaskaram’. Namaste is derived from Sanskrit and is a combination of two words, ‘namaḥ’ – meaning bow or salutation – and ‘te’ – meaning ‘to you’. Namaste therefore means “I bow to you” or “I bow to the soul in you” or “I respect the divinity in you that is also within me”. It says that the life force, the divinity, is the same in all.

The word namaste is accompanied by a graceful gesture which involves pressing both palms together and placing them at chest level, fingers pointed upwards. Usually people do a quick bow of their heads along with the gesture. When greeting an elder, or at places of worship, the head is bowed down completely. The position of hands also plays an important part – when folded hands are placed on the forehead or above the head, it indicates deep respect. This gesture is used mostly at places of worship. When greeting someone, you can choose to use just the gesture, and drop the word. It is understood that the gesture itself signifies namaste.

Namaste is generally used as a greeting or salutation by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists.

Other traditional greetings

Other communities such as Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Parsis etc have their individual tradition of greeting. Sikhs use the phrase ‘Sat Sri Akal’ which roughly translates into ‘God is the ultimate truth’. Or the phrase ‘Vaheguru ji ka khalsa / Vaheguru ji ki fateh.’

Muslims use ‘Salaam’ or the full ‘Assalaam Aleikum’ (‘Peace be upon you’), accompanied by a gesture – sweeping your right hand up and placing it on your heart. Tibetans use ‘Tashi Delek’ which means something like, “May everything be well”. In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, people use ‘vanakkam’. Khasis of Meghalaya will greet you with ‘khublei’ or ‘may God bless you’.

Embracing as a means of greeting

Hugging, embracing or kissing is not a very common way of greeting in India unless it is in urban cities or with close friends and family. Indians as a rule do not like physical contact when they greet each other. Among Indian Christians, a greeting can involve a hug and a kiss within family and close friends. However, some religious occasions have a tradition of greeting by hugging.

For instance, during the Muslim festival of Eid, men hug each other as a way of greeting or celebration. It’s a special hug – as per tradition, they hug once, then move heads to the opposite shoulder, then back to original shoulder again. Similarly, in the eastern state of West Bengal, during some festivals (like Durga Puja) and occasions like Nobo Borsho (Bengali New Year), it is common to see men embracing each other with the traditional embrace of ‘kolakuli’ (again done three times). The ‘kolakuli’ is a male-only thing and is done between those of the same age. In case of elders, the way of greeting becomes a ‘pranaam’ – touching the feet with hands.

Pranaam

The ‘pranaam’ is one of the very few instances of an Indian greeting when one gets physical. It is a form of salutation that involves a younger person taking the blessing of an elder. It is also done with gurus, and icons/images/idols of gods. In response, the elder places a hand over the head of the person as a way of blessing.

Here’s how the ‘pranaam’ is commonly done – dip down and touch the feet of the elder with the right hand, then touch the hand to your chest. However, there are other, more intricate ‘pranaam’ styles – the ‘ashtangana’ which is a full prostration when you touch the ground with your knees, belly, chest, hands, elbows, chin, nose, and forehead; the ‘shastanga’ (touching the ground with toes, knees, hands, chin, nose); ‘panchanga’ (touching the ground with knees, chest, chin, temple, forehead); and the ‘dandavata’ (bowing forehead down and touching the ground).

Say goodbye

Namaste can be used to end conversations too. In India, several communities use different versions of the phrase ‘See you soon’ or “We’ll meet soon’ when bidding farewell.

There’s ‘phir milenge’ – a Hindi phrase meaning ‘we shall meet again’, used when bidding farewell. In Bengal, people prefer the word ‘aashchhi’, which roughly translates to ‘I’ll be back’. Muslims use ‘alvida’ (‘goodbye’) or ‘khuda haafiz’ (may god keep you safe). ‘Rab rakha’ is used by the Sikh community and has a similar meaning. In Kerala, it’s ‘sukhaayiriku’ or ‘take care’.

Weekend getaway From Mumbai

If you are in Mumbai and fancy a weekend getaway then make sure you consider Goa and Sindhudurg. Either makes a great break that is easily accessible from Mumbai.

Goa

One of India’s top tourist destinations, Goa is located just 580 kms from Mumbai. People can just hop into their cars and leave the stresses of big city living behind. There are over 40 mesmerizing beaches which dot the 131 km-long coastline of Goa. Some of the most popular amongst them are Colva, Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Miramar, Vagator, Dona Paula, Majorda and Bambolim. Goa turns into a riot of colours and music during the annual Goa Carnival. From bohemian shacks to the ultimate in high end resorts, and everything in between, Goa caters to beach lovers of all kinds. Some beaches like Mandrem are perfectly serene while others like Anjuna are the toast of the party circuit.

Goa

Sindhudurg

Sindhudurg is the southernmost district of Maharashtra and stretches for about 125 kilometers along the Arabian Sea. It is situated 500 kilometers from Mumbai and is famous for the Sindhudurg Fort. The Fort was built three by Shivaji is a symbol of the Maratha naval power during his reign. The 48 acre Sindhudurg Fort can be reached by boat. Snorkeling sessions around the Fort are organized by the government. In Sidhudurg one finds the Tarkarli beach which is often called ‘the Tahiti of India’. This white sandy, sun-kissed beach open up to emerald-green waters.

Sindhudurg-Fort