Goa Tourism: Things to do in Panjim

Year after year, innumerable tourists descend on the famous little destination called Goa. Yet, every time it manages to offer something new and something unforgettable. Panjim is the capital of the Indian state of Goa. This small and charming the city lies along the left bank of the Mandovi River set up against terraced hillsand red-tiled roofs and a riverside promenade. We investigate the top things to see.

1.Take a dip into history

To date, the mysterious Fontainhas, which is considered Goa’s Latin Quarter and is located in the heart of Panjim remains one of the most charming places to explore. Apart from the vibrant coloured walls and quaint streets there are some delightful hidden surprises. Make sure you have some extra space in the bag to carry some delicious treats home.

Fontainhas in Panjim

2.Holy shrines

The heart of Goa is the Church Square or Municipal Garden which is home to the Portuguese Baroque Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church. It was built in 1541 and other tourist attractions of the place are the 16th century Adilshahi Palace, the Mahalaxmi Temple, the Jama Masjid mosque, and the Chapel of St. Sebastian.

The Panjim Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

3.The Carnival

Carnival celebrations in February go through Panaji and then the other parts of Goa. The colourful parade is a huge draw for the city and the area of Panajim.

Goa Carnival

4.Shopping

The 18th June Road is a popular area in the heart of Panajim for shopping.

5.Beaches

Goa is most famous for its beaches. And near Panji the most famous beaches are Miramar, Bambolim and Dona Paula. Dona Paula is the meeting point for two of Goa’s famous rivers, which meet at the Arabian Sea. Miramar Beach is located near Panjim but is very popular and can get over crowded.

Dona Paula

6.Green Goa

Goa has some fantastic villages to explore, provided you are ready to be lost in the luscious Arpora hills. You can plunge you right into the wilderness with local experts and naturalists who give inspiring talks on snakes and the indigenous flora and fauna. Highly recommended for environment enthusiasts.

Explore the villages of Goa

7.Birds of Goa

Many locals have an inherent eye for bird-watching in the hilly terrains of North Goa. For this you can arrange a day tour from Panjim. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is Goa’s important bird sanctuary. It is located in Chorao and is home host to rare and endangered bird species. Bird watching walks are lovely all year round except from May – July when there is a lot of humidity.

A white peacock in Goa

8.The Mystifying Island

From Panjim you can access Old Goa, which has always been rather elusive to the tourists who throng the popular beaches up North. We suggest you do not miss a tour to the mystifying island of Divar. The island can be reached by regular ferries from Old Goa. An old white church, flanked by Banyan trees, stands atop a hill, visible from all points below. The sleepy island has stretches of fields and hardly any inhabitation. Great for a long drive and a quick break for a cold beer in local cafes.

9.Brown Town

From Panjim take a drive to Bicholim, a pottery town and an untouched destination. It is fascinating to see the mud covered town, still preserving the old art of clay and porcelain.

10.Serene Sands

Having heard of only the popular beaches of Goa, many miss many secret pristine beaches. A forty minute drive north of Arpora will lead you to beautiful lesser known beaches called Ashwem, Mandrem and Morjim. Carefully tucked away from the busy clamour of hotels and guest houses, spend some quiet time in the few tasteful shacks at the far end of these un-commercial beaches.

Mandrem beach

11.Test your luck

As you walk out of this faraway world, you can visit one of the only casinos in India. This can be done deep in the Mandovi waters, which provides the casino an off shore status thus making it legal.

Strike it lucky

PRACTICAL INFORMATION: Panjim Goa

• Season – November till April is the most pleasant to visit.
• Single/ Female Travelers – Though largely safe to travel alone, single or female travelers should bear in mind that it is good to avoid late nights.
• Connectivity – Well connected by flights, trains and buses to major metros and towns of tourists’ interests like Hampi.

Largest earthen dam in the world

The Hirakud Dam built on the Mahanadi River in Orissa is the world’s largest earthen dam and the longest dam in India . It was built in 1956 and its total length is 25.8km. It also forms the biggest artificial lake in Asia, with a shoreline of over 639 km.

Hirakud-Dam

The dam is 15 kilometers from Sambalpur and was the first large scale, multipurpose river valley project in India after 1947. It was built to control the problem of flooding in Orissa and over 22,000 families were displaced during its making.

The dam provides an ideal home for rare species of flora and fauna. Its reservoir receives up to 25 species of migratory birds during winter. The Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary is located here.

The India Coffee House

The quick in and out espresso bar of Europe has yet to make its way to India, where people still like to spend hours over a cup of coffee. Chains of coffee shops have mushroomed all over the country. In fact, an urban neighbourhood is likely to have more than a dozen of such swanky outlets. The oldest name in the business, however, is a far cry from the modern-day cappuccino-selling shops.

The India Coffee House chain, founded more than 70 years ago, has a presence in all major cities and many small towns. There are close to 400 such outlets, with Kerala notching up the highest number with more than 50. Orderlies with cummerbunds and pointed turbans can be found in many of the Coffee House branches. The coffee menu is usually restricted to hot coffee (black or with milk), cold coffee (without ice-cream), tea, milk and a handful of sherbets and milk shakes. The accompaniments are what contribute to the high footfall, despite the fact that some of the outlets are in need of a makeover. Plates of mutton samosas, biryani, cutlets, omelettes, paranthas, dosas and pakoras fly off the counter as quickly as the coffee served in modest white cups and saucers.

The-India-Coffee-House

The most legendary India Coffee House branch is the one opposite Presidency College in Kolkata. This is where film-makers, politicians, poets, writers and statesmen spend hours over coffee, making it the hotbed of intellectualism. They say that many a revolution was born, many a script written, many a deal struck and many a love affair blossomed over a cup at the ‘Coffee House on College Street’.

Coffee-Cup

Breakfast in the south of India,usually idlis, upma, idiappam and suchlike, is incomplete without the signature filter coffee, served in stainless tumblers. Be it the legendary MTR (Mavalli Tiffin Room) chain in Bangalore or the popular Murugan’s Idli Shop in Chennai’s T. Nagar, the filter coffee served is a mix of dark roasted coffee beans and chicory. Filter coffee mixes as well as the coffee maker, a set of two tumblers,are good souvenirs from a holiday in the south.

Traditional-Coffee-Cups-Maharashtra

The moment a train enters the south, you will see vendors selling tea are far outnumbered from those with coffee. The coffee available on railway platforms is usually served in a small paper cup. The vendor almost always sprinkles coffee powder on the top, giving you as authentic a taste you can ask for Rs. 10 or even less. In some cases, you will find a vendor selling ‘chaffee’ a mix of coffee and tea.

WHILE ON THE MOVE….

Here’s a pick of good places to go for coffee, conversation and more:

• India Coffee House on Shimla’s Mall. Also try the mutton dosa.
• Devraj Coffee Corner, the only German bakery in Rishikesh. Have coffee with the brown bread and yak cheese.
• Brown Bread Bakery in Varanasi, which is a great place to catch up with fellow travellers.
• Matteo, Bangalore’s hottest new cafe.
• Auroville Bakery in Pondicherry, which is also much known for its cakes and croissants.
• Lila Cafe on Baga beach in Goa, also famous for the pumpernickel bread and apple pie.

COFFEE CARDAMOM KULFI RECIPE

Try this delicious coffee based recipe for an alternative but very popular way to get your coffee fix!

Ingredients:

Servings: 5

8 cups milk

3 tbsp sugar

12 cardamom pods

6 tbsp brewed espresso

Method

Heat the milk in a heavy-bottomed pan. When it reached boiling point, reduce to low heat and stir occasionally for 20 minutes.

Crush the cardamom and add to the milk. Simmer for 60 minutes (or untill the time the milk reduces to two cups). Pour the milk into a bowl, add espresso and sugar, and stir. Leave it to cool down.

Churn the mixture in an ice-cream maker until thick. Put  the mixture into five kulfi moulds and refrigerate.

Add slivered almonds and a few strands of saffron before serving.

Swaad with Sharmaji

Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary

The protected Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary offers an impressive amount of wildlife and fauna for the outdoors enthusiast. Just 10km from Kashid beach in Maharashtra it’s a great spot to get back to nature. Our guide gives you the essential visitor information.

About the sanctuary

The wildlife sanctuary has four major trails and umpteen opportunities to spot wildlife. Though spread over only 52 sq km, the Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary is replete with a large variety of flora and fauna.

Butterfly-in-Phansad-wildlife-sanctuary

It is well known for its population of leopards, hyenas, jungle cats, barking deer, sambhar, wild boars, giant squirrels and bonnet macaque. Even the bird watchers have a notable list of avian friends to follow- Pied hornbills, three toed Kingfishers, Malkohas, Pittas and more. Almost 90 species of butterflies and a number of insects are also a part of the sanctuary. For herpetology enthusiasts, there are a large number of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. With its growing popularity, specialists are at work in identification of all flora and fauna. The list of plants stands at about 710.

Getting Around

The Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary is a favourite with weekend photographers, who are free to take guided hikes around the forests on the specified trails. Private vehicles need prior permission from the Forest officials. Observation kiosks are made near the water bodies.

Phansad-wildlife-sanctuary

Location

The Phansad Wildlife sanctuary lies in Raigad, which is about 150 kms from Mumbai. The distance is convenient for also a weekend trip. It is just a short trip from the wonderful Kashid beach destination.

Best Season to Visit

The sanctuary is best to see in the warmer months of April and March before the rains, so that there are more chances to spot wildlife.

Punjab Tourism: Things to do in Amritsar

The city of Amritsar in the state of Punjab in Northern India has lots to offer visitors. People flock to see the glittering Golden Temple but also discover a city full of interesting sights and plenty of world-class restaurants. Here are some things to do in Amritsar to make the most of this vibrant destination.

1. The Golden Temple

The Harmandir Sahib commonly known as the Golden Temple is a prominent Sikh gurdwara. Construction of the Golden Temple began in 1574 on land donated by the Mughal emperor Akbar. The building project was overseen by the fourth and fifth Sikh Gurus.

The-Golden-Temple-Amritsar

The temple was completed in 1601, but restoration and embellishment continued over the years. The Golden Temple has unique architecture. It has been deliberately built at a level lower than that of the neighbouring land in order to teach the lesson of equality and humility. The shrine can be accessed from all four directions signifying that people belonging to every walk of life are equally welcome.

The only restrictions are that visitors must not drink alcohol, eat meat or smoke in the shrine. Visitors are asked to leave their footwear at a facility near the entrance, cover their head and wash their feet by wading through the shallow pool before entering. It is advised to come here keeping a few hours spare in order to soak in the magic of this divine temple.

2. Jalianwala Bagh

A historical monument telling the sad story of mass killing during India’s freedom struggle is another must visit in Amritsar. The site is famous for the memorial of the martyrs of the 1919 carnage carried out by British General Dyer. He was convinced that a major insurrection was going on and hence banned all meetings. On being informed that about 15,000 people had gathered at Jalianwala Bagh, he along with 50 riflemen opened fire and kept firing till all ammunition was exhausted. Although, Dyer was removed from duty and forced to retire, this tragic incident left a deep scar on the people and was a catalyst in quickening the struggle for Freedom. The place also has a park. The Martyr’s Gallery is open to all from 10 am to 4 pm during winters and from 9 am to 5 pm in summers.

Jalianwala Bagh-in-Amritsar

3. Wagah Border

Wagah, on the Indo-Pakistan border, is 28 kms from Amritsar. Numerous visitors come to see the ceremonious change of guards and the flag hoisting and lowering activities done skillfully and with precision by the border security forces of both the countries. It is interesting to note that border security forces of both India and Pakistan undergo the elaborate ceremony jointly! The ceremony is impressive and one of its kind in India, and is a sure shot recipe to evoke feelings of patriotism. The flag down ceremony starts at 4:30pm and goes on till 5:00pm.

Wagah-Border

4. Khair-ud-Din Masjid 

Renowned for its architectural beauty, Jama Masjid Khairuddin is one of the most admired religious center of Amritsar. Famous among the tourists as well as the locals, this beautiful mosque was built by Muhammad Khairuddin in 1876. This holy place is where Tootie-e-Hind, Shah Attaullah Bukhari raised his voice against the British rule. This grand edifice of the freedom struggle displays one of a kind architectural elegance. Do note that being located in the midst of a busy market, this mosque is quite crowded.

5. Durgiana Mandir

Located in close proximity to the Golden temple is the Durgiana Mandir which was built during the 16th century. Although dedicated to Goddess Durga it also houses other deities such as Lakshmi and Narayana. Located in the middle of a pristine lake, it does not follow the typical temple architecture of ancient times. A renowned depository of Hindu scriptures, this temple displays an unusual grandeur and elegance of its own.

Durgiana-temple

6. Akal Takht

The Akal Takht, next to the Golden Temple, is the seat of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, the religious governing body of the Sikhs. The principal sacred text of Sikhism, Adi Granth is housed in the ground floor of the Akal Takht and is taken out in procession every morning to be placed at the Harmandir Sahib. Again at night, it is brought back to the Akal Takht. It also houses the 68 holy shrines of the Hindus and according to the teachings of Guru Arjan Dev. It was enough for the devout to visit these shrines and not visit all the original Hindu shrines which are spread all over the country so come visit the Akal takht if you’re seeking a short cut to your journey of spirituality!

Akal-takht

7. Shopping

Shopping in Amritsar can be very exciting and you will be spoilt with the amount of choice that is available. Famous for its traditional Phulkari Embroidery, Amritsar can be quite a haven for shoppers. Also available are the beautiful Patiala Salwars worn by the women of this region. To team with them get the Punjabi Jutis, the traditional shoes of the people of this region. Considering that Amritsar does got quite chilly during the winters, you can also buy here some fantastic woollen garments, carpets and blankets woven by the people of Punjab.

The old city bazaars are the best places to go for shopping the traditional items. You can try out Guru Bazaar, Mochi Bazaar and Shastri Market to get hold of some elegant Patialas. The market places are abuzz with activity right from 11:00 in morning till 9:00 in the evening.

8. Food

Last but not the least, no write up of Amritsar could ever be complete without mention of food. Known for their fish fry, lassi, paranthas, puri channa, Kulfi, Sarson ka saag and makki ki roti you are going to need days if not weeks to sample all of it!

Punjabi-food

Kesar da dhaba in the heart of old city whips up some delicious but also quite heavy food. Surjeet food plaza located in a capacious basement on Lawrence Road is best known for its yellow daal, paneer dishes, and the tandoori fish. KulchaLand located at the District Shopping Complex serves up delicious Amritsari kulchas from morning till evening 4 p.m. The pickles, jams and jellies of Amritsar, made by the rural women are great to carry back home.

10 beautiful birds of India

The avifauna of India includes a large variety of unique and rare species of birds including Great Indian Hornbill, Great Indian Bustard, Green Avadavat and Sunbird’s. Total of around 1301 species of bird found in India out 42 are endemic to Indian subcontinent and rest of others are Introduced and accidental species. Some of the most beautiful academic birds of India includes Malabar parakeet,Himalayan Quail,Nilgiri flycatcher,Indian peacock and Bugun Liocichla. Also there are few beautiful wild birds of India are Babblers,Green Bee Eaters,blue Indian Roller and giant Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, along with other common birds Red Whiskered Bulbul and Indian Ringneck Parakeet. There are 12 species of birds who are endemic to the only Andaman and Nicobar Islands are Nicobar pigeon, Nicobar Bulbul, Andaman Scops-owl, Nicobar Parakeet and Andaman Drongo.

Asian Paradise Flycatcher: 

The amazing Asian Paradise Flycatcher is a impressive medium-sized bird found across all over India.The male Paradise Flycatchers has a long and impressive tail with a with a greyish throat and underparts. Rufous and white forms of an Asiatic paradise flycatcher can be spotted in the thick forests and well-wooded habitats from Himachal Pradesh,Rajasthan to Andhra Pradesh.

Asian-Paradise-Flycatcher

Fire Tailed Myzornis: 

The little Fire-tailed Myzornis is a member of the genus Myzornis and a local resident in Himalayas ranges. Fire-tailed Myzornis got its name due to its fabulous tail, Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

Fire-Tailed-Myzornis

Himalayan Monal: 

The beautiful bird form pheasant family Himalayan Monal also known as the Impeyan Pheasant or Danph is the state bird of Uttarakhand. The colorful and stunning bird is academic to the higher altitudes of the Himalayas mountain ranges including states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

Himalayan-Monal

Indian Peafowl: 

The Indian peafowl or Blue peafowl is one of the most colored bird of the pheasant family and native to to South Asia. The male is known as a peacock is one of the large bird found in India with a length of 40 to 46 inches. Indian Peacock is the National bird of India and one of the sacred bird in Hindu mythology. The beautiful blue peafowl is the resident of the Indian Subcontinent and frequently found across all over India and neighboring countries.

Indian-Peafowl

Indian Pitta: 

Indian Pitta is a medium sized bird mostly pops out in every winters season for breeding in southern part of India and sub-Himalayas foothills. The small stubby-tailed bird found mostly in the thick undergrowth and on the floor of forests. It has long and strong leg with very short tail and crown with nine colors green upper parts, blue tail,red lower belly, black coronal stripes,orange vent,and white throat. Indian Pitta is one of the rare bird of Indian subcontinent and found in a very large range of habitats.

Indian-Pitta

Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird: 

The small and beautiful Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird is found only in the north east region of Indian states. Its natural habitats range is distributed from Uttarakhand to Himalayas of north-east India and neighboring countries. Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird is one of the 12 species of Sunbird found in India.

Mrs.-Gould’s-Sunbird

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher: 

The Alcedinidae family bird is also known as the Black-backed Kingfisher is a small beautiful red and yellow kingfisher bird. Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher is endemic to western ghat of southwest India found mainly into the densely shaded forests of Konkan region. Indian three-toed Kingfisher is one of the most popular out of 12 species of Kingfishers found in India.

Oriental-Dwarf-Kingfisher

Red Headed Trogon: 

The Red-headed Trogon is a species of Trogonidae family habitats in the tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It found in the forests of the eastern parts of India and neighboring countries.

Red-Headed-Trogon

Sarus Crane: 

The large Sarus Crane is the only resident crane of Indian Subcontinent, Mostly found in south to the Godavari River, west to coastal Gujarat,Punjab,east to West Bengal and Assam. Sarus Crane is the largest of Indian cranes with a maximum height of about 5.9 ft making them the world’s tallest flying bird. The population of Sarus Crane is declining in the country so falls in the category of endangered species of bird in India. Sarus Crane species was a close contender to the Indian Peafowl as the national bird of India.

Sarus-Crane

Satyr Tragopan: 

The Crimson Horned Pheasant or Satyr Tragopan is Pheasants only found in foothills of great Himalayas of India and Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan. The bird of Pheasants family is facing subject to hunting and habitat loss of most of its ranges and only a very small population found in India. The beautiful Satyr Tragopan is one of the five species of tragopans of India,male has blue horns and a gular wattle to display during the mating season to attract females.

Satyr-Tragopan

Longest Road and Rail Tunnel of India

India is the fastest growing industry of mega structure of Civil work,whether its bridges, amazing cloverleaf or elevated freeway in Indian cities. Indian road and rail network are one of the largest transport network in the world and bridges,Tunnels play a major role to complete the connectivity across the country. There are many longer tunnels under construction in the Himalayas ranges as part of Indian railway. Most of the tunnel in India are located in Western Ghat and Himalayas ranges. Maliguda Tunnel is the highest broad-gauge railway tunnel in India and the second highest in the world.

Longest Railway Tunnels of India:

Pir Panjal Tunnel: 

The Pir Panjal Tunnel is a long under construction railway tunnel at the Pir Panjal Range of Himalayas in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The 11.00 km long Banihal railway tunnel will be India’s longest railway tunnel and and Asia’s 2nd longest railway tunnel. The great tunnel is located on the highest mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal range in middle of Himalayas. Indian Railways is closer to finish the work on India’s longest transportation railway tunnel. The longest tunnel of India is successfully pass its train trial run through Pir Panjal tunnel.

Pir-Panjal-Tunnel

Karbude Tunnel: 

Karbude Tunnel was the longest rail tunnel in India before Pir Panjal tunnel.The Karbude tunnel is 6.5 km long and one of the India’s biggest engineering marvels is located on the Konkan Railway route near Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. Karbude tunnel is known to be the longest rail tunnel on Konkan railway line situated between Ukshi and Bhoke station.

Karbude-Tunnel

Natuwadi Tunnel: 

The second longest rail tunnel of Konkan Railway is situated between Karanjadi and Diwan Khavati station in the state of Maharashtra. The 4.3 km long tunnel was constructed on 1997 and comes under the Zonal railway of Konkan. Konkan Railway is one of the most beautiful train route in India, runs from Mangalore in Karnataka to Mumbai in Maharashtra through Goa,along the west coast of India and Western Ghats.

Natuwadi-Tunnel

Tike Tunnel: 

The 4.0 km long Tike Tunnel is located at the western ghat region of Maharashtra,between Ratnagiri and Nivasar. Ratnagiri is the beautiful port city of Maharashtra and a part of amazing Konkan along with the Sahyadri mountains. Ratnagiri region well known for its different varieties of Mangoes and lush green scenery.

Tike-Tunnel

Berdewadi Tunnel: 

The 4.0 Km long Berdewadi railway Tunnel is located between Adavali to Vilawade train route in the  Maharashtra state of India. Berdewadi Tunnel is also the part of Konkan Railway train route, along with other tunnels such as Savarde tunnel,Barcem tunnel of Goa and Karwar tunnel of Karnataka. Khowai tunnel of Tripura, Chowk tunnel of Maharashtra and Sangar Jammu and Kashmir are few different rail route tunnels of Indian railway.

Berdewadi-Tunnel

Longest Road Tunnels in India:

Chenani-Nashri Tunnel: 

The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel is the India’s longest road tunnel under construction in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir.  The 9.2 km long road tunnel is a major road tunnel project in Northern India and biggest of the country. Chenani-Nashri road tunnel is also known as Patnitop Tunnel is also one of the longest tunnel in Asia. The Shivalik mountain range of the great Himalayas will host the India’s longest 2 way traffic road tunnel.

Chenani-Nashri-Tunnels

Rohtang Tunnel: 

The Rohtang Tunnel is the World’s Highest Road Tunnel situated under the Rohtang Pass of eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas on the Leh-Manali Highway in Himachal Pradesh. The  8.8 Km long two lane road tunnel is the second longest road tunnel of the country, situated at elevation of 3,978 meters above sea level and is expected to reduce the distance about 60 km between Manali and Keylong.

Rohtang-Tunnel

Jawahar Tunnel: 

Banihal Tunnel also known as Jawahar Tunnel is a 2.5 Km long road tunnel under the Banihal pass, situated between Banihal and Qazigund in Jammu and Kashmir. One of the longest tunnel-road of India will connect Jammu to Kashmir Valley on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at a height of 2194 m above sea level. After renovations, the tunnel is now facilitates with temperature sensors,CCTVs,ventilation system, emergency exit and a world-class lighting system.

Jawahar-Tunnel

Kamshet Tunnel: 

The Kamshet West-Tunnel or Kamshet I tunnel is 1.843 km long road network tunnel situated near Kamshet in Pune Maharashtra. The longest road tunnel in Maharashtra has 2 tubes with 3 lanes lies on amazing Mumbai Pune Expressway. The Mumbai Pune Expressway is the India’s first six-lane concrete tolled expressway with a distance of 93 km and one of the best too. Maharashtra will soon have the eight-kilometer-long tunnel, the second longest tunnel in the country that will connect Khopoli to Lonavla.

Kamshet-Tunnel

Bhatan Tunnel: 

Bhatan Tunnel on Mumbai-Pune Expressway is 1.0 KM long road tunnel with all the possible new technology. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is the first six-lane concrete, high-speed, access controlled tolled expressway. The amazing expressway has reduced the travel time between the cities of Mumbai and Pune to approximately two hours. There are total 5 tunnel in Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Bhatan tunnel is one of the longest among them.

Bhatan-Tunnel

Other upcoming long tunnel project in India are A four-lane road tunnel on Jaipur-Agra highway, A eight-kilometer-long tunnel on Mumbai-Pune E-way in Maharashtra and a 24 Km long Yellow Line tunnel of Delhi Metro along with one tunnel in Chennai for Metro.

Top 12 Popular Religious Places in India

The religious places of India reflects the diversity of region,rituals,people and religions. India is home to many religions of different faiths and considered as the most religiously diverse nations in the world. The religious sites of India includes Haridwar- one of the Most visited place of worship,Kumbh mela the largest gathering in the world, 12 Jyotirlingas, Meenakshi Temple and Char Dham yatra.

Vaishno Devi -Jammu

The holiest Hindu temples dedicated to adi Shakti, situated in the hills of Katra in Jammu and Kashmir. Vaishno Devi temple is second most visited religious place in India after the world famous Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. Maa Vaishno Devi shrine also known as Mata Rani is located at an altitude of 5300 feet is a manifestation of the Mother Goddess Durga.

Vaishnodevi-Temple-Jammu

Tirumala Venkateswara -Tirupati

The world famous Tirumala Venkateswara Temple or Tirupati Balaji is a Hindu temple dedicated to god Vishnu. Tirupati Balaji temple is the richest pilgrimage center in India followed by Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple,Vaishno Devi and Shirdi Sai Baba. Brahmotsavam festival is best time to visit Lord Venkateswara Temple, the celebration attracts pilgrims from all over the world.

Tirumala-Venkateswara-Temple-Tirupati

Siddhivinayak -Mumbai

The Siddhivinayak temple is dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesh or the elephant god,located in the capital of Maharashtra, Mumbai. Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is the richest temples in Mumbai and one of the in Maharashtra, other are famous Dagdusheth Ganpati Pune,Mahalakshmi Temple of Kolhapur and Shirdi wale Sai Baba.

Siddhivinayak-Temple-Dadar-Mumbai

Sree Ayyappa -Sabarimala

Sri Lord Ayyappa swami Temple of Sabarimala is located in Sahyadri mountain ranges or Western Ghats in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala. The Sabarimala temple is dedicated to Hindu God Ayyappan and the largest annual pilgrimage in world. Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple is situated on a hilltop of Sahyadris ranges at an altitude of 468 m (1535 ft) and surrounded by dense forests and mountains hills.

Lord-Ayyappa-swamy-Sabarimala-Kerala

Moinuddin Chishti -Ajmer

Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti was the most famous Sufi saint in Indian Subcontinent. The dargah of Moinuddin Chishti is situated in Ajmer and visited by Muslim pilgrims as well as Hindus and Sikhs. Dargah of Moinuddin Chishti is one of the major religious site in India.

Moinuddin-Chishti-Dargah-Ajmer-Rajasthan

Harmandir Sahib - Amritsar

The golden temple or Harmandir Sahib is a prominent Gurdwara and one of the historical heritage monuments of India, located in Amritsar city of, Punjab. Sri Harmandir Sahib is holiest place for Sikhs, surrounded by a beautiful lake and four doors. Vaisakhi,the most important festivals of Punajb is best time to explore the culture and tradition of great Punjab.

The-Golden-Temple-Amritsar

Basilica of Bom Jesus -Goa

The Basilica of Bom Jesus church is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site located in old Goa. Basilica of Bom Jesus is India’s first minor basilica and the most popular church in India and a landmark in the history of Christianity. This world heritage monument is one of the oldest churches in India as well as in Goa.

Basilica-of-Bom-Jesus-Goa

Sai Baba -Shirdi

The most popular Sai Baba of Shirdi located at Shirdi town in Maharashtra. Shirdi Sai temple is a most beautiful shrine built over the Samadhi of Shri Sai Baba. Sai Baba is a very popular saint worshiped by people of Hindu,Zoroastrian and Muslim all around the world.

Sai-baba-Shirdi

Mahabodhi -Bodhgaya

The Mahabodhi Mahavihara Bodhgaya Temple is located in Gaya district of Bihar state. Mahabodhi Temple is world famous Buddhist temple where the Buddha have attained enlightenment. The Mahabodhi Temple Complex also has a holy Bodhi tree and the Bodhimanda Vihara monastery.

Mahabodhi-Temple-Bodhgaya-Bihar

Ranakpur -Pali

The Ranakpur Jain Temple is located in Pali district of Rajasthan,between two beautiful cities Jodhpur and Udaipur. The spectacular Jain temple of Ranakpur is dedicated to Adinatha and known for its Light colored marbles. Jain temple of ranakpur is one of the grand jain temple and most visited place in jainism.

Ranakpur-Jain-Temple-Pali-Rajasthan

Amarnath Dham -Srinagar

The cave of Amarnath is considered to be most famous and holiest shrines of great God, Lord Shiva in Hinduism. Amarnath Temple cave situated at an altitude 3,888 m (12,756 ft) near Srinagar and surrounded by snowy mountains. An ice stalagmite Lingam formed annually in the caves due to freezing of water during the month of sharavan.

Amarnath-cave-temple

Lord Jagannath - Puri

The Lord Jagannath temple is located in coastal town of Puri in Orissa, dedicated to Lord Jagannath. Shree Jagannath is a Hindu temple and one of the fourth pilgrimage destination for Hindu, Char Dham. The Rath Yatra of Jagannath Puri temple is well famous annual festival celebrated in the month of June.

Jagannath-Temple-Puri-Orrisa