Archive for the 'Nature' Category
Travel India Murud Janjira – the invincible fort
Author: Binoy Gupta
Murud Janjira
Murud is a beautiful fishing village on the western coast of India – about 5 hours drive from Bombay (Mumbai). Since it has a municipality, water supply, schools and hospitals, you could even term it a small town.
It has a beautiful beach ideal for swimming, bathing and water sports. The beach is fringed with swaying coconut trees, a variety of palm trees and casuarinas. Unfortunately, the only water sport presently available is boating, sailing and deep sea fishing.
Murud is historically important because it was the capital of the Janjira State (area – 842 sq. kms.). The Nawabs of Janjira ruled the area around from here. The Janjira Fort is located 2 kms. into the sea – about 6 kms. from Murud.
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read comments (10)Travel India Matheran – the pollution free resort
Author: Binoy Gupta
Matheran
Matheran is a no-vehicle zone… so go ahead and walk in the clouds at this hill-station.
Prized, protected: Rain clouds, dense mist
It is the only hill-station where any kind of public or private transport is prohibited by law; and the prohibition enforced effectively. Besides the buses, cars and other four-wheelers and two-wheelers such as motorbikes, even bicycles are not allowed inside Matheran. 
As for the plastic bottles and carry-bags littered by irresponsible tourists, this hill-station tackled the problem long ago. In November 2002, Prof H.Y. Mohan Ram, Chairman of a Government Expert Committee, declared Matheran clean and free of garbage, and the cleanest hill-station of India.
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Travel India The Unique Baobab
Author: Binoy Gupta
Have you heard of the Adansonia digitata tree, the Upside Down tree, the Monkey Bread tree, Dead Rat tree, or the Bread Fruit tree? 
These are all different names of a most unusual and remarkable tree – the Baobab tree. It was given the botanical name Adansonia digitata in honour of Michel Adanson (1727-1806), the French Naturalist, who first saw it in Senegal in 1749.
It is called the Monkey Bread tree because monkeys eat the fruits like bread. It is called the Upside Down tree because when it is leafless, it looks like a tree planted upside down. It is called the Dead Rat tree because its furry fruits look like dead rats hanging down on their tails. And it is called the Bread Fruit tree because its fruits can be eaten like bread.
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Travel India Travel India Mahabalipuram – Site of a Lost City
Author: Binoy Gupta
Mahabalipuram
Site of a lost City
On 26th December 2004, the killer Tsunami waves struck the shores of Mahabalipuram. When the waters receded, there were rumours that they had left behind some statues, rock carvings and remains of what could be the work of human hands.
All this stirred up expectations. Once again, archaeologists, historians and scientists began wondering whether there indeed was an ancient city which now lies buried under the sea.
The Archaeological Survey of India and the Indian Navy have just completed joint underwater excavations for this year. Alok Tripathi, a Deputy Superintending Archaeologist from the Archaeological Survey of India, and leader of the expedition team, told the media that the Tsumai had given Mahabalipuram a lot of publicity but nothing in terms of archaeology.
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Travel India Kodaikanal – the Gift of the Forest
Author: Binoy Gupta
Kodaikanal
The Tamil word Kodaikanal which means ‘Gift of the Forest’ aptly describes this quaint, little, hill station. No other name could describe this place better!
Nestling deep amidst thick forests, Kodaikanal is a unique hill station where you would love to spend a few days. You would love to walk through the wooded forests. Perhaps take a bath in one of the splashing waterfalls. Row in the lake. Try horse riding. Or simply admire the endless varieties of flaura and fauna.
Covering an area of 21.45 square kilometers, Kodaikanal is situated on the southern tip of upper Palani hills in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu at an altitude of about 2133 metres. Except during the monsoons, from October to December, when the monsoons really pour, the weather is fairly uniform throughout the year.
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Travel India Ranthambore – the land of the Tiger
Author: Binoy Gupta
An Amalgam of Antiquity and Nature
How about a vacation under the shadows of one of the oldest fort in India – with tigers for company at breakfast and tea ?
Ranthambore is the place I selected.
History
The magnificent Ranthambore Fort is one of the oldest forts in India. The Fort was built by the Kachhwaha Rajputs (Chauhans) but there is no certainty about the time and who the actual founder was. Some historians tell us that it was built by King Sapaldaksha in 944 A.D. Others historians say it was built by King Jayant of the same dynasty in 1110 A.D. There are other historians who give the credit to some one else.
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Travel India Dandeli – An idyllic forest destination in India
Author: Binoy Gupta
Dandeli
a little known unique destination in South India
Dandeli is a little known, rustic hamlet, near the borders of Maharashtra and Goa in North Karnataka in South India.
Dandeli is the gate way into the dense virgin forests and is a wonderful get away place within motorable distance from Hubli, Dharwad, Belgaum, Goa, Bangalore and Mumbai.
Travel India Sunderban – Journey to nowhere
Author: Binoy Gupta
Land of the Royal Bengal Tiger
Largest Delta in the World
The two great rivers, Ganges 2,510 km. (1,560 miles) and Brahmaputra 2,900 km. (1,800 miles), are born in the snowy peaks of the Himalayas. On the last lap of their long journey, just before they enter the Bay of Bengal and merge with the oceans, they meander through the plains of Bangladesh and West Bengal (India) creating the largest delta in the world.
Travel India Goa – the land of the sun, sand and feni
Author: Binoy Gupta
Goa
The Old Portugese Settlement
Goa is a dream world of fun, frolic and leizure – rolling stretches of silver sands, wonderful golden beaches and waving palm trees.
Travel India Ooty – the Queen of Hill Stations
Author: Binoy Gupta
Ooty
The Queen of Hill Stations
The Queen of Hill Stations in South India is Udhagamandalam or Ootacamund. I find both terms far too long and tongue twisting; and prefer the much shorter term Ooty.
Ooty is certainly the most popular hill station in South India.
Ooty, located in the Western ghats at a height of 2240 metres, is the headquarters of the Nilgiris district where the Eastern and Western ghats meet.
Flora and Fauna
Ooty is full of coffee estates and tea plantations. The dense forests around are full of connifers, eucalyptus, pine and wattle; numerous animals and birds.