ISLAND GALLERY

Let me start with Andaman & Nicobar first

An archipelago of 527 islands, Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a carrier of a major section of India’s historical past

Location:

Occupying over 700 Km in the Indian Ocean, in the southern part of the Bay of Bengal, the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is one of the most favored tourist destinations in India

Museums:

The Marine Museum and the Fisheries Museum are the two of the main museums that witness a major influx of visitors. They preserve some of the most beautiful and rarest species of plants and animals. The Anthropological Museum, another of the attractions here, helps you discover the aborigines, their lifestyle and their weaponry. The Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair stands as a major hunting ground of the tourists as you can pick up some nice shell and wooden artwork items to keep as souvenirs or gifts

Wildlife:

Corals are the main members of animal life in Andaman and Nicobar islands. Amongst them the most popularly spotted are the brain coral, antler coral, finger coral, plate coral, vase coral and leather coral. Other members of the fauna collection are fish, crab, lobsters, shrimps, sea urchins, anemone, cleaner wrasse, clownfish. Preserving more than 110 species of wild orchids, it is home to a considerable number of tribal reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. You will enjoy your visit to the bird sanctuary at Chiriyatapoo in the Andaman and the Nicobar Islands.

Adventure Sports:

Indulge in some of the adventure sports as they are some of the most exciting tourist attractions in Andaman and Nicobar islands. Take the hike from Mt. Harriet to Madhuban to come across the rarest of forest life. There are other trekking routes as well and you can avail of the tents for island camping that are available in certain intervals throughout the Andaman and the Nicobar Islands.

Scuba diving and snorkeling are some of the most exciting adventure activities in the Andaman and Nicobar islands. For snorkeling visit the Wandoor or the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Carbyn’s Cove Tourism Complex and the Havelock Island. For scuba divers, amateurs or professionals, the Andaman Scuba Club is best. Water skiing, parasailing, and wind surfing, are other water sports here. You will enjoy the thrilling elephant safari, and lagoon cruises on this trip.

Festivals:

The festivities celebrated in Andaman and Nicobar Islands are actually some of the finest tourist attractions here. Annual Island Tourism festival held during the months of December and January is a major event that includes cultural performances, exhibitions, and water sport competitions. In January you can opt to participate in the Subhash Mela and the Vivekananda Mela that commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda respectively at the Havelock Island and the Neil Island.

I will soon update you with tour Itinerary ...

WAYANAD

Nestled among the mountains of western ghats, lies Wayanad.
The name Wayanad is believed to be derived from the word Vayalnadu, which means "the land of paddy fields". The present district of Wayanad was carved out from the parts of Kozhikode and Kannur districts which came into being on 1st November 1980 as the 12th district of Kerala.

General detailsArea: 2126 sq km.Location: Located between North Latitude 11°47' & 15°58' and East Longitude 75°47' & 70°27', district of Wayanad is on the southern tip on the Deccan plateau.Altitude: 700-2100 mts above mean sea level. Temperature: 13°c - 32°cMain crops: Coffee, Pepper, Tea, Rubber, Cardamom, Vanilla. Click here to know moreClimate: Uniform pleasant climate throughout the yearClothing: Light summer wear for most of the year. Between Dec & Feb, carry warm clothes.Language: Malayalam is the local language. English and Hindi are widely spoken and understood. Kannada and Tamil are also understood towards border region. STD codes: Mananthavady :: ++91 (0)4935 Kalpetta & Other :: ++91 (0)4936Where to stay: Please check the Accommodation pageTaluks: 3 (Vythiri, Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery)Municipality: 1 (Kalpetta)Grama Panchayaths: 25 Click here to knowBlock Panchayaths: 3District Head Quarters: KalpettaAssembly Constituencies: 3 (Kalpetta, Sulthan Bathery, North Wayanad)Parliament Constituencies: 2 Kannur (North Wayanad) & Kozhikode (Kalpetta, S.Bathery)

Kalpetta, the district headquarters of Wayanad, is the only municipality in this hilly region. The town has hotels, bars, restaurants and shops, making it a convenient base to visit this place while at the same time enjoying these facilities.Chembra peak-At 2100 mts above mean sea level, Chembra is the highest peak in Wayanad and is ideal for trekking. Climbing this peak is a challenging mountaineering endeavour and would take a full dayThe scenic beauty of Wayanad, which is visible from the top of Chembra, is very exhilerating. The surrounding areas offer exceptional photo oppurtunities. Camping on the peak is an unforgettable experience. District Tourism Promotion Council provides guides, sleeping bags, canvases, huts and trekking implements on hire. Distances from: Kalpetta (KPA)-14 Km, Sulthan Bathery (SBY)-42 Km, Mananthavady (MDY)-52 Km
Neelimala View Point-Closer to Vaduvanchal, Neelimala is an excellent venue fro trekking with lots of stimulating trails. The summit of this hill affords a great view of the cascading Meenmutty fallsand the beautiful valley in its foreground.Distances from: KPA-27 Km, SBY-26 Km, MDY-62 Km
Meenmutty falls-An interesting 2 km jungle trek off the main Ooty road, Meenmutty is the largest and most spectacular waterfall in Wayanad. A unique feature is that water drops about 300 metres over three stages.Distances from: KPA-37 Km, SBY-12 Km, MDY-54 Km
Sentinal Rock Waterfalls-22 kms south of Kalpetta near Chooralmala. Locally known as Soochippara and is a very popular leisure destination. This is a three step waterfall more than 200 mts in height. Framed by enchanting scenery. A must to see site! This region is ideal for rock climbing. Soochipara can be reached by a scenic 2 kms. nature walk and deer and other wildlife can be seen near the waterfront.Distances from: KPA-22 Km, SBY-43 Km, MDY-58 Km
Kanthanpara waterfalls-22 kms south east of Kalpetta and 8 kms east of Meppadi, a beautiful waterfall about 30 mts in height. Relatively smaller than Sentinel Rock falls, and rather less frequented Kanthanpara and its surroundings offer a very pleasant site. A easy hike away from the main road, its perfect for picnics.Distances from: KPA-22 Km, SBY-23 Km, MDY-57 Km
Banasura sagar project-21 kms north east of Kalpetta. Situated at Padinjarathara. A mini hydel project with the largest earth dam in India and the second largest in Asia is being built here. The Banasura project precincts are an ideal starting point for treks to the Banasura Peak. A quaint feature is a series of islands that were formed when the reservoir submerged the surrounding areas.Distances from: KPA-21 Km, SBY-47 Km, MDY-34 கம்

KODAGU or COORG AS IT IS CALLED.....

KODAGU

A Dream Holiday Destination

Coorg or Kodagu is a region where one can spend days, months or years and still never tire of its startling beauty. Coorg or Kodagu as it is known now, is an astonishing land in the heart of the southern Indian peninsula. This unspoilt “country of million hills" Talacauvery, the birthplace of the sacred river Cauvery, is located 44 km from Madikeri, on the slopes of Brahmagiri Hill. Besides being a pilgrimage center, Talacauvery is known for its natural beauty. Devout Coorgs take a holy dip in a nearby pond and take home the holy water from the small pond to perform worship on the day of Cauvery Sankramana, the holiest national day for the Coorgs. Pilgrims from neighbouring districts and Tamil Nadu visit Talcauvery for a month after Tula Sankramana. The gushing of water from the small pond at an auspicious moment is considered a miracle. After the holy dip, the pilgrims take a flight of steps leading up to the summit of the Brahmagiri Hill, which offers a feast for nature lovers. Bus service is available to Talacauvery from Madikeri. BHAGAMANDALA: Bhagamandala is on the foothills of Talcauvery and is 39 km from Madikeri. Bhagamandala is the confluence of the sacred rivers of Cauvery and Kannike and legend has it that a third river Sujyothi, a subterranean stream, joins the two rivers. The Bhagandeshwara temple is located on the banks of the two rivers and is one of the important pilgrimage centers in Coorg. Pilgrims proceed to Talcauvery only after offering worship at Bhagamandala. It is customary for the Coorg men to shave their head at Bhagamandala in the event of a bereavement in the family. Bhagamandala is also famous for honey and its apiaries. Coorg has plenty to offer to those who love the great outdoors. Coorg is a haven for bird-watchers. There are about 300 species of birds. It can be a highly rewarding experience to spot the various species of birds armed with a pair of binoculars and a copy of the book - "Featured Jewels of Coorg" compiled by Dr. S.V. Narsimhan, and published by the Coorg Wildlife Society. A safari in Nagarhole Game Sanctuary organized by the Forest Department can bring the visitor close to elephants, spotted deer, wild boar, wild dogs, bison, peacocks, monkeys and a host of other species. If lucky, one could have a rare encounter with the majestic Tiger. Nagarhole Game Sanctuary is rated one of the best Tiger reserves in the country. For those who like trekking there are many opportunities. There are three major peaks in Coorg viz., Tadiandamol, Pushpagiri, and Brahmagiri. There are a few organization that arrange treks to these peaks. One such organization is the Coorg Adventure Club (CAC). CAC organize not only treks but also Water sports including river rafting, Aero Sports, rock climbing, nature camps etc. Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Nagarahole) The Nagarahole Game Sanctuary is one of the most well-maintained game parks in India. The Nagarahole (meaning snake stream in Kannada) sanctuary derives its name from a serpentine river which flows through the park. Spread over an area of 571 square km in the districts of Coorg and Mysore, the Nagarahole sanctuary is 68 km from Virajpet and 94 km from Mysore via Hunsur and Murkal and 236 km from Bangalore.The Rajiv Gandhi National Park is flanked by Karnataka’s Bandipur National Park and Kerala’s Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary. These three parks, together with Tamil Nadu’s Mudumalai forest and Kerala’s Silent Valley National Park, constitute the Nilgiri Biosphere reserve. Visitors to the park can spot majestic Asiatic elephants and graceful spotted deer moving in their natural surroundings. The lucky ones can even spot tigers and panthers. Most of the south Indian species of animals could be found in the park. They include besides elephants and tigers, leopard, wild dog, sambar, barking deer, sloth bear, wild boar, bison, mouse deer, slender loris, jackal, langur, porcupine, Malabar squirrel, striped hyena and the four-horned antelope. Irupu Falls: Irupu Falls, located 48 km from Virajpet on the way to Kutta from Gonikopppal, is both a picnic spot and pilgrimage center. The Falls is located in Kurchi village, not far away from the Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Nagarahole). CAUVERY NISARAGDHAMA:Nisargadhama is a breathtakingingly beautiful island off the state highway, two km from Kushalanagar town and 28 km from Madikeri. The 64-acre island, surrounded by the Cauvery river, can be accessed by walking across a hanging bridge. Established in 1989, the picturesque picnic spot with lush foliage of thick bamboo groves, sandalwood and teak trees has lovely river-side cottages. A deluxe cottage on stilts with the Cauvery flowing around it, can accommodate five persons. Elephant rides and boating are some of the other attractions. There is a deer park, children's park and orchidarium in the resort. Medicinal plants are also grown. Tourists are allowed to get into water at a few shallow and safe points along the river. The tariff for the cottages range from Rs 600 to Rs 1,000. For reservations, contact the office of the conservator of forests, Kodagu circle, Madikeri. The telephone numbers are 08272-225708 and telefax: 08272-228439. Or contact for reservation, the office of the deputy conservator of forests, Madikeri division, telephone number 08272-228305 and telefax: 08272-228439. BYLEKUPPE Bylekuppe near Kushalanagar is one of the largest Tibetan settlements in south India. The settlement, set up in 1960, is dotted with several monasteries and the prominent among these are the Great Gompa of Sera Je and Sera Mey and the Namdroling monastery. The Mahayana Buddhist University is at Sera. Another important monastery is the Tashi Lhumpo monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama. The gold-coated Buddhist statues in the monastery are imposing and unique, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Tibetans. The statues are of Guru Padmasambhava, Buddha Shakyamuni and Amitayus. The settlement is home to over 16,000 refugees from Tibet who fled their country after its invasion by the Chinese. There are nearly 7,000 monks and nuns. Agriculture is the main occupation of the refugees. Besides, they make handicrafts, carpets and incense. Tourists can shop for sweaters, dress material and other accessories. VALNUR FISHING CAMP: Valnur fishing camp is located near Kushalanagar on the banks of the Cauvery. Fishing enthusiasts can indulge in angling for the majestic Mahseer after obtaining fishing permits from the Coorg Wildlife Society. In 1985, a coffee plant C.S. Ponnappa caught a Mahseer weighing 40 kg near Siddapur in Coorg. Valnur is also a bird-watchers' paradise. DUBARE FOREST: This is another scenic spot located 15 km from Kushalanagar famous for its elephant training camp. It is also an ideal place for angling in the swirling waters of the Cauvery. HARANGI DAM: The Harangi dam near Kushalanagar has a beautiful reservoir, ideal for a week-end stay.