Not so frequented tourist spots

As Diwali vacations close in, you must be planning some vacations. Tired of usual and crowded destinations? Cityblog informs you about some scenic yet unfrequented tourist destination not so far off.

Saputara

This picturesque hill station is perched on a plateau in the Dang forest area of the Sahyadri Range. At an altitude of about 1000 m. It has a cool bracing climate, the highest temperature even in the summer do not exceed 28 °C. Saputara means the 'Abode of Serpents' and a snake image on the banks of the river Sarpagana is worshiped by the Adivasis on festivals like Holi.

Saputara has been developed as a planned hill resort with all the necessary amenities like hotels, parks, swimming pools, boat club, theaters, ropeways and a museum to ensure an enjoyable holiday in the cool of the hill. Saputara is only 172 km. from Surat. Saputara will soon have its own airport as state government is considering the plan. Maharashtra state border is only 4 km away from Saputara. Excursions from Saputara can be made to the wild life sanctuary in the Mahal Bardipara forest, 60 km. from here and to Gira Waterfalls 52 km away.

• Vansda National park : Originally, a private forest of maharaja of Vansada, the park now covers on area of 24 km². Despite its small size the park harbours tiger, leopard, pangolin, rusty-spotted cat, python, giant squirrel, four-horned antelope etc. Prior permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden, of Gandhinagar or DFO, Ahwa, is required before visiting the park.

• Purna Sanctuary: Covering an area of 160 km², Purna Sanctuary is a part of a dense moist deciduous forest in the Western Ghat of Gujarat. Situated at Mahal[1], 60 km north of Dangs, the sanctuary is crossed by Purna and Gira rivers. There are bamboo-lined pathways for trekkers. Prior permission is necessary for visiting.

• Boating: The Saputara Lake surrounded by greenery makes it pleasurable to sail in the lake in a row or paddle boat.

• Sunrise Point: It is a point which offers the best view of Saputara and adjoining Malegoan could be reached after a walk of 1.5 km in the direction of Waghai[2].

• Sunset point: Gives a breathtaking view of a vast spans of Dang Forest. It provides an aerial view of distant villages in forest. This thick forest around Saputara is dotted with Adivasi (tribal) villages.

• The Ropeway: A ten minutes ride across the valley to the sunset point organised by Hotel Vaity.

• Gira falls: Makes an excellent excursion option from Saputara. Just 52 km away from Saputara the Gira Waterfalls should not be missed especially during the months of June to November

• Gardens: Rose Garden, as the name suggests, is a spectacular garden with many variety of Roses.[1]. Step Garden is a garden set up in steps. On the steps are laid beautiful plants and flower pots. Another garden is Lake Garden on the banks of Saputara Lake, which is an excellent picnic spot. All these gardens make Saputara a beautiful place.

• From Saputara you may move ahead to the wildlife sanctuary in the Mahal Bardipura forest. At a distance of 60 km from Saputara the Mahal Bardipura forest is bestowed with rivers and bamboo glades thus offering excellent walking and trekking options.

The hill resort of Saputara promises to refresh the tourists throughout the year with its cool weather. Saputara does not experience any extreme temperature variations and is an ideal getaway for the sun-scorched souls of the plains. The monsoon rains add to the magic of Saputara. Thus you may plan your trip to the Saputara hills any time of the year the best time is from middle of March to middle of November.

Reaching: Saputara is 420 km from Ahmedabad, 589 km from Bhavnagar, 603 km from Rajkot, 172 km from Surat, 80 km from Nasik, 185 km from Mumbai.

Air: Surat is the nearest airport, 172 km away.

Rail: Nasik is also most convenient railhead, 80 km away.

Road: There is bus facility from Nasik and Surat.

CHikhaldara

The deep misty valleys of Chikhaldara has a new shade in every fold unwrapped. Chikhaldara (Chikhaldhara) is located in Amaravati district of Vidarbha region. The only hill station in the Vidarbha region offers you an abundance of wildlife, viewpoints, lakes and waterfalls. Chikhaldara has many things to be explored.

It is named after "Keechaka". This is the place where Bheema killed villainous Keechaka and threw him into the valley. It thus came to be known as "Keechakadara" - "Chikhaldara" is its corruption.

Chikhaldara is full of deep valleys, and these valleys are full of velvet mist and majestic trees. Chikhaldara is situated at an altitude of 1,118 m and has the added distinction of being the only coffee-growing area in Maharashtra. Chikhaldara is full of deep valleys, and these valleys are full of velvet mist and majestic trees. All this makes it a very popular summer retreat. With abundance of natural scenery, exciting wildlife, breathtaking waterfalls and a placid lake, the beauty of Chikhaldara is overwhelming. The climate is always breezy and walking on the clouds often becomes a reality.



Places of interest

• Places of interest in and around Chikhaldara are the Melghat Tiger Project, Dhakana-Kolkaz National Park, Hurricane Point, Prospect Point, Devi Point, Gavilgad and Narnala Fort, the Pandit Nehru Botanical Gardens, the Tribal Museum and the Semadoh Lake.

• The Melghat Tiger Project has 82 tigers and also houses other animals like panthers, sloth bears, sambar, wild bear, and wild dogs.

• The scenic beauty of the misty mountains with rich variety of flora could be observed from Hurricane Point, Prospect Point, and Devi Point.

• Excursions to Gavilgad and Narnala Fort are also memorable ones. The mystery of nature unfolds itself in every twists and turns of the hilly way.

Weather/Clothing

• Oct – Feb: Cool and crisp. Temp in Dec-Jan Period is well below 10 deg C. Winter Clothing is necessary.

• March – Mid June: Warm in day and cool in the evenings. Comfortable summer clothing. But carrying a jacket/shawl is advisable for nights.

• July – Sept: Monsoon Time. Carrying rain gear is recommended. Also advisable to carry warm clothing for evening.

Keeping in mind that it is a forest area, wearing bright clothing is not recommended. Earthy/pastel shades are best suited and especially necessary for the wild-life Safari.

Getting there:

Nearest airport is Nagpur.

Nearest railhead is Badnera.



Mumbai-Chikhaldara, 763 kms. Nagpur -Chikhaldara, 230 kms. Amravati-Chikhaldara, 100 kms.

State transport buses ply from Amravati and Nagpur to Chikhaldara.

Pachmarhi (Hindi: पचमड़ी) is a hill station in Madhya Pradesh state of central India, also known for the Pachmarhi Cantonment. It is widely known as "Satpura ki Rani" (Queen of Satpura), situated at a height of 1000 m in a valley of the Satpura Range in Hoshangabad district. The highest point in the central India region and the Vindhya and Satpura range; Dhupgarh at 1100 m is located here.

The area was introduced to western world by Captain James Forsyth of the British Army in 1857. Pachmarhi became a hill station and sanatorium for British troops in the Central Provinces of India. The population in 1901 was 3020, rising to double that number in the hot summer months. Pachmarhi also served as the summer capital for the Central Provinces. The forest around the town is home to many rare varieties of plants. UNESCO added Pachmarhi park to its list of Biosphere Reserves in May 2009.[2][3]



Pachmarhi is a tourist retreat. During the Diwali and winter seasons many tourists visit this place, and there are reasonable accommodations like chunmun cottage(9424434599)is good for leisure travelers. Pachmarhi's elevation and the forests of the Satpuras, with their streams and waterfalls, are picturesque and home to much wildlife. Pachmarhi lies within the Pachmarhi Biosphere Preserve, created in 1999 to link two forest reserves into a larger wildlife conservation area at the highest point in Central India. Pachmarhi also has a lot of cave paintings in the forests, some of which have been dated to be as much as 10000 years old. Shown in the picture is the garden at the base of a tourist attraction called Pandava Caves, the caves are actually Buddhist in origin but the name persists. The place has rich timber reserves including teak, but being a part of a reserve no new construction or felling of trees is allowed. Having a rich and rare flora as well as fauna, Pachmarhi needs central and state government approval for any new construction outside the town area.

Some of the places of tourist interest here are:

• Rajat Prapat (Big Fall)

• Bee Fall

• Pandav Caves

• Bada Mahadev

• Gupt Mahadev

• Chauragarh (Shiv Devotees come here in huge numbers during Mahashivratri)

• Dhupgarh (The highest peak of the Satpuras and Madhya Pradesh)

• Handi Khoh (Deep Valley)

• Apsara Falls (Fairy Pool)

• Jatashankar

• Duchess Fall

• Pachmarhi hill

• Pansy Pool

• Waters meet

• Picadilly circus

• Patharchatta

• Crumps crag

• Lady Robertson's view

• Colletin Crag

• Mount Rosa

The town has many tourist hotels including the hotel run by Department of Tourism (Govt. of Madhya Pradesh). Private resorts and cottage/hotel facilities are also available. There is also a Bharath Scouts and Guides camping site about 4 km from the main town

Bhopal is the nearest airport and is about 210 kilometres from Pachmarhi. Pipariya is the closest railhead to Pachmarhi, which is about 47 kilometres away. Pachmarhi is well connected by road to Nagpur, Bhopal and Pipariya.