Alappuzha Houseboats

Taking tourists through the dream land of lakes and lagoons, coconut palms and paddy fields, 'Alappuzha Houseboats', offers adjustable cruise packages in its 1/2/3 bed rooms houseboats with air-conditioned comfort and luxurious furnishings. Based in the heart land of backwater tourism in Alappuzha district, these houseboats cruise through Vembanad Lake, four river estuaries and the labyrinthine canals, amidst the emerald green tropical vegetation and exotic fauna. Birds, fishes, animals, butterflies, flowers, paddy fields, waterlilies, and a lot more add to the charm and magic of the backwaters, all of which can be seen on a cruise voyage through the tranquil water-scape. Alappuzha houseboats offer adjustable and negotiable packages with different destination circuits. Duration of the cruise and its timing is left to the convenience and interests of the tourists. Those with plenty of time to spend in the tropical environment richly blessed by Nature, can have a package lasting several days and nights. Those with busy schedules and little time, can enjoy a few hours in the blue lagoons, around Alleppey, historically famous as 'Venice of the East'. Or they can visit Kumarakom, and surrounding bird sanctuaries. There are many more options too.

Alappuzha Houseboats - Typical Packages

Long Voyages to multiple destinations, lasting several nights. Short Rides around Alleppey city and backwater suburbs.

Features of Alappuzha Houseboats

Deluxe category/Luxury category 1/2/3 bedrooms with attached toilets Air-Conditioned / Non-AC Luxurious furnishing and fittings Aesthetically designed superstructure Sun-deck for tanning and basking in sunlight Eco-friendly materials used Kitchen facilities Cook's service Guides/translators service Negotiable tariffs & Packages Choice of multiple destinations

Places to See in Delhi

India Gate 
Built as a memorial to commemorate the 70,000 India soldiers killed in World War I, India Gate was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and completed in 1931.
Built from sandstone, the arch also houses the Eternal Flame, a gesture in memory of the Indian soldiers who laid their lives in the 1971 war with Pakistan. 

Rashtrapati BhawanFormely the Viceregal Lodge, the building is the highlight of Lutyen's New Delhi and was completed in 1929 at a cost of 12,53,000 pound sterling. Located in an area of 130 hectares, the palace has 340 rooms.




Red FortSo called because of the red stone with which it is built, the Red Fort is one of the most magnificent palaces in the world. India's history is also closely linked with this fort. It was frorth here ht the British deposed the last Mughal ruler, Bhadur Shah Zafar, marking the end of the three century long Mughal rule. It was also fromits ramparts that the first prime. Minister of India, pandit Jawharlal Nehru, announced to the nation that India was free form colonial rule.

Qutub Minar The origins of Qutab Minar are shrouded in controversy. Some believe it was erected as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India. Others say it served as a minaret to the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer. No one can, however, dispute that the tower is not only one of the finest monuments in India, but also in the world.


Purana Quila The fort is said to be constructed on the historic site of Indraprastha (900BC) by Humayun and Sher Shah. Covering a circuit of about a mile, the walls of the fort have three gates and are surrounded by a mat fed by the river Yamuna.


Jantar MantarAt first sight, the Jantar Mantar appears like a gallery of modern art. It is, however, an observatory. Sawai Jia Singh II of Jaipur (1699-1743), a keen astronomer and a noble in the Mughal court, was dissatisfied by the errors of brass and metal astronomical instruments.


Humayun's Tomb The mughals brought with them a love for gardens, fountains and water. The first mature example of Mughal architecture in India, Humayun's Tomb was built by the emperor's grieving widow, Haji Begum, in 1565 AD.


Jama Masjid Work on the Jama Masjid mosque was begun in 1650 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to complement his palace at the Red Fort. More than 5,000 workers toiled for six years to complete the largest mosque in India. Every Friday, the emperor and his retinue would travel in state from the fort to the mosque to attend the congressional prayers.

Safdarjung's TombRepresenting the last phase of the Mughal style of architecture, Safdarjang's Tomb stands in the centre of an extensive garden.


RajghatThe mortal remains of mahatma Gandhi were cremated on this spot on the west bank of the river Yamuna on the evening of January 31, 1948.


Lakshmi Narayan MandirBuilt in 1938, the temple is an ideal introduction to some of the gods of the India pantheon. The temple contains a large number of idols and visitors can also watch priests performing ritualistic prayers. 

Pench National Park

" The jungle speaks to me because I know how to listen."                                                                       - Rudyard Kipling This is the land that inspired Rudyard Kipling to write that all-time favourite, "The Jungle Book" - walk through Pench and one can imagine Mowgli swinging through the trees and almost hear the roar of Sher Khan. Situated on the border of Madhya Pradesh and adjoining Maharashtra, the Pench National Park is as well-known for the abundance of flora and fauna found within the park as the varied species of wildlife. Named after the river that flows nearby, Pench was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1983 and in 1992, Pench was included under the umbrella of "Project Tiger" as the 19th Project Tiger Reserve.

Spread over 758 sq.kms of tropical moist deciduous forest, Pench is one of the most accessible tiger reserves in the country, and just 90 kilometres north of Nagpur. The Reserve is located in the southern part of the Satpura hill range in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh. The terrain is undulating, with most of the area covered by small hills and mounds. The forest area of Pench National Park is redolent with tropical dry deciduous teak and interspersed with bamboo trees and other species of shrubs. The 'Kullu tree' (a species of gum tree) in Pench is a highlight, and visitors are often mesmerized by its almost white bark and spread out branches that are a startling contrast to the lush greenery around. In addition there are many rare varieties of herbs and grasses in this region -many of them of medicinal use. Fauna-wise, a number of endangered species have made it their habitat including the Indian wild dog, the wild pig, nilgai, chital, muntjac, gaur, the four-horned antelope and of course tigers. The tiger population in pench is one of the hightest - 55, in number. The park is also rich in bird life with over 200 species like barbets, bulbuls, minivets, orioles, wagtails, munias, mynas, waterfowls, and blue kingfishers. The Pench River and water streams that weave through the area, along with nallahs and ravines provide the perfect habitat for the water birds of this region. This is also the hunting ground for crocodiles and turtles.  Access The nearest railhead is Seoni which is only 30 kms away from Pench National Park. Nagpur is only 92 kms and a two-hour drive from Pench. Nagpur is very well connected and one can reach Nagpur either by air or train from Delhi, Mumbai and other places in India. Pench is 190 kms from Jabalpur station. Best time to visit If you want to catch sight of tigers and other wildlife, plan your visit to the park during the summer months, as this is the time the animals come out in search of   waterholes. Winters months maybe may more comfortable, but it is very difficult to view much wildlife during this season. The Pench National Park is open to visitors from early November to end June each year and closed during the rainy season (July- October). Accommodation The Pench Jungle Camp is a good place to stay and provides canvas tents and A/c rooms.The Jungle Camp also offers facilities like billiards room, badminton courts, wildlife research centre and a multi cuisine restaurant. The other accommodation facility is Bagh Van Lodge located just five minutes away from the entrance of the Pench National Park. It has cottage-type accommodation and also has a main dining and lounge area.  For more information contact:  Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. 4th Floor, Gangorti Complex, T.T. Nagar, Bhopal - 462 003.  Tel.: (0755) 277 8383, 277 4343, Fax: (0755) 277 4289, 277 2384

Parambikulam Sanctuary

Lying adjacent to the Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, the 285 sq km stretch of forest known as the Parambikulam Sanctuary is one of Kerala’s premier wildlife reserves. Parambikulam lies in the Annamalai Hills, south of the Palghat Gap in the Western Ghats. The area’s hilly and rocky, drained by several rivers, including the Parambikulam, the Sholayar and the Thekkedy.  Thickly forested with stands of bamboo, sandalwood, rosewood and teak, the sanctuary has some marshy land and scattered patches of grassland. Parambikulam was once home to some of south India’s finest stands of teak; most of these, however, have now been replaced by teak plantations.

Little remains of the original teak forests, other than the famous Kannimari teak tree, the largest in Asia. The tree is about 5 km from Thunakadavu, and is one of Parambikulam’s prime attractions.

Parambikulam’s animal species include many of India’s most prominent mammals: tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, elephants, wild boar, barking deer, spotted deer, langurs and macaques. Parambikulam is also home to Kerala’s largest population of gaur. Besides these, civet, chevrotain, pangolin, crocodile, jungle cat, porcupine and some 140 species of birds are found in the sanctuary. Although the larger cats are few and far between, gaur, monkeys and deer are fairly common in the sanctuary.

Entry Requirements 
Visitors are allowed into Parambikulam only between 7 am and 6 pm; no vehicles can leave the park after 6.30 pm. The entry fee is a paltry Re 0.50; for light vehicles an entry fee of Rs 5 is payable, for heavy vehicles, it’s Rs 10.

Permits are issued by the Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) at Thiruvananthpuram (Tel: 62217), the Field Director, Project Tiger at Kottayam, and the Divisional Forest Officer at Parambikulam.

Access
The town closest to Parambikulam is Pollachi, in Tamilnadu; it is about 48 km from Thunakadavu, and there are two daily buses, at 10 am and 5 pm, from the town to the sanctuary. Pollachi is also the nearest railhead and has train connections to Coimbatore and Palakkad. Both Coimbatore (88 km from Parambikulam) and Palakkad (97 km from the sanctuary) are important railway junctions, with a number of trains coming in from even as far as Delhi. Coimbatore, in addition, has a domestic airport served by Indian Airlines and Jet Airways. Important towns in Kerala- such as Kochi, Thrissur, Nenmarra and Kollangodu- are connected by road to Parambikulam.

Touring the sanctuary is possible by boat or jeep; both can be hired from the park authorities. Alternatively, you can climb one of Parambikulam’s two watch towers for a bit of wildlife-watching. One tower is at Anappadi (8 km from Thunakadavu) and the other’s at Zungam, 5 km from Thunakadavu.

Best time to visit
Parambikulam is open throughout the year, but is best avoided during the monsoon. Between June and August, the monsoon rains lash Parambikulam, making hillsides unstable and causing slush, mosquitoes, drippy roofs and other nuisances.

Accommodation 
Visitors to Parambikulam can stay for a sum of about Rs 200 per night at the forest resthouses at Thunakadavu (the headquarters of the sanctuary), Thellikal and Elathode. 

Another option is the interesting tree house at Thunakadavu; rooms here cost about Rs 300-600 per night. If you’re visiting neighbouring Annamalai, you could stay in the Top Slip area, the headquarters of Annamalai; the place is about half an hour’s drive from Thunakadavu and offers a number of accommodation options.

Accommodation can be reserved through the Range Officer, Thunakadavu. Rooms at the Thunakadavu PWD Resthouse and the Tamilnadu Government Inspection Bungalow can be booked through the Junior Engineer, Tamilnadu PWD, Parambikulam.

The nearby towns of Coimbatore and Palakkad, by virtue of their size and importance, offer a much wider range of accommodation, and are a good base for visitors to Parambikulam. Rooms in either of the two towns usually cost between a couple of hundred rupees for basic amenities to around a thousand or slightly more for fancier accommodation.

Further information about Parambikulam can be obtained from the Wildlife Warden at Thunakadavu or the Divisional Forest Officer, Teak Plantation Division, Thunakadavu Post, Parambikulam, Palakkad District, Kerala.

Nagarhole National Park

Welcome to one of the best places in the world to find the tawny, black-striped Royal Bengal Tiger, elusive and stealthy, noble and regal: Nagarhole. Karnataka's Nagarhole National Park (officially known as the Rajiv Gandhi National Park) is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India's largest stretch of protected forest, an area which includes, besides Nagarhole, the neighbouring sanctuaries of Bandipur, Mudumalai and Wynaad. Established in 1955 as a wildlife sanctuary, Nagarhole was designated a national park twenty years later. The park today stretches in a series of gentle hills and valleys, over an expanse of 640 sq km, north of the river Kabini. The park is centred around a perennial water reservoir formed in 1974, when the Kabini River was dammed.

Nagarhole's vegetation is refreshingly different from Bandipur's dry scrub- moist deciduous forests, including bamboo, teak, eucalyptus and cassia, cover much of the sanctuary, providing a refuge for a wide range of animals and birds. Nagarhole has all the resident wildlife of the Nilgiri hills: Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, bison, leopard, Asian elephant, wild boar, deer, dhole (wild dog) and porcupine, besides tigers. A high canopy of trees- up to thirty metres tall in some places- harbours rare birds such as the endangered Malabar trogon, the Malabar pied hornbill and the crested hawk-eagle. Nagarhole saw some upheavals in 1992, when quarrelling between the wardens of the park and the local villagers resulted in arson which had an enormously adverse impact on the park and its wildlife. It will still take a few years for Nagarhole's forest and animal count to get back to normal but there has already been a resurrection of sorts and things get better every year. Entry Requirements An entry permit, costing Rs 15, is applicable for all visitors to Nagarhole. It can be obtained at the entrance to the park. Charges for boat rides, jeep or elephant safaris and accommodation are additional. Access   The major railhead closest to Nagarhole is Mysore, 80 km away, with train connections to a large number of towns and cities across peninsular India. Nanjangud, 55 km away, also has trains coming to it, but they’re fewer in number. Bangalore, with excellent air and rail links to the rest of the country, is about 220 km from Nagarhole, while the hillstation of Ooty is about 240 km from the park. Buses connect Nagarhole to Bangalore (a ride of about 6 hours) and to a network of smaller towns across Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Kerala. Alternately, you could hire a vehicle in one of the larger towns- Bangalore is especially convenient- to get to Nagarhole. Within the park, there’s ample scope for wildlife watching. Jeeps can be taken for a drive through Nagarhole, or you can go off on elephant safari- the best way, in fact, to go deep into the jungle. Hiking is also allowed through the park, although only in some areas where there are fewer chances of encountering a hungry tiger or a masth elephant! The lake is open for a slow coracle ride or a swift motorboat skim. Best time to visit  Nagarhole can be visited all through winter and through the pre-monsoon half of the summer. The winter months from November-February are exceedingly pleasant, and are the best time to go if you don’t like being hot and sweaty. The summer, on the other hand, though it may be pretty hot, is a great time to see wildlife, including the tiger. The dry, hot season (March-May) is the time when the animals gather at the lake, allowing for great wildlife viewing. The monsoons (June-September) are best avoided, as the entire road network gets washed out, and leeches and dense undergrowth proliferate in the forest. Accommodation State-owned forest resthouses, private lodges and cottages are among the accommodation options in Nagarhole. Reservations for the forest resthouses must be made at least 15 days in advance by contacting the warden’s office in Bangalore or Mysore. There is also a posh river lodge (state-run) at the Kabini River, which, though it comes for a high-end price, also offers a great experience. Bookings at the lodge can be made by calling 08228-52160 /32181 /44405. A double room at the Kabini River Lodge costs about Rs 2,750 (or US$125, for foreigners) per night, while cottages come for around Rs 2,000- all inclusive of meals, sightseeing, safaris and more. Rooms at private lodges range between Rs 2,000- 3,000 per night. Similarly-priced accommodation options exist in towns just outside the Park, at Veerana Hosahalli and at Siddapura in Coorg. For bookings at the resthouses contact Conservator of Forest, Kodagu Circle,Aranya Bhavan, Madikeri, Tel:08272-25708.  Further information on Nagarhole National Park can be obtained from the Field Director, Project Tiger, Aranya Bhawan, Ashokpuram, Mysore (Tel: 0821-480901) or the Chief Wildlife Warden, Aranya Bhawan, 18th Cross, Malleswaram, Bangalore (Tel: 560003).