Why Travel Insurance is Important

Travel insurance is one of the most important things to consider if you are traveling overseas. While most of the tourists traveling overseas take adequate precaution and travel safely, in a few cases they find themselves in difficulties. Each year, thousands of cases are reported by tourists traveling overseas especially developing and underdeveloped nations. Medical emergency includes cases of hospitalization, death and in emergency evacuation to another location or home country for medical attention.

Why travel insurance is important if you are traveling overseas

Medical treatment overseas is an expensive whether from injury or illness.  Daily hospitalizations cost in Southeast Asia could reach as high as USD 800. In cases where the individuals are not covered by travel insurance, personal tragedies could be compounded by a long term financial burden.

Same could happen with loss of luggage in transport or passport. You may miss flight due to confusion at airport terminals or there could be some terrorism related activity which forces you to cancel your travel plan. To cover all these unforeseen circumstances, travel insurance comes as a great respite and lifesaver.

Here is why travel insurance is important especially if you are traveling overseas for long  vacation. Click to Tweet

• Your flight has been cancelled

• Your baggage is lost in transit

• You had your wallet stolen which had your passport and you need cash and replacement

• You have a medical emergency and you need evacuation to another country because adequate medical facilities are not available

• Sudden illness makes you cancel your trip

• The cruise you were traveling in goes bankrupt and you need to get to your destination as well as the coverage of non-refundable expanses

• An incidence of terrorism takes place in the city you were planning to travel to

Trip Cancellation

Insurance for trip cancellation or interruption is a must consider point if you are traveling long distance. These kind of policies cover cancellations due to weather, sudden illness, death and emergencies whilst at home or abroad For traveling to Delhi from Bangalore, it is not advisable to go for the insurance but if you are traveling from Delhi to Los Angeles on your dream trip or going for a cruise in Mediterranean, you should definitely go get yourself insured for trip cancellation and interruption. Do not buy this insurance from the individual travel provider because the chances are that if the company goes out of business so does their insurance.

Medical Emergency

Medical emergency is perhaps the single most important factor to consider proper travel insurance cover. Under this cover, you will get assistance if get sick or injured overseas. The policy covers your treatment cost, cost of medical advice from doctors, medical bills and even evacuation to your home country or nearest country where adequate medical facilities are available for your treatment.

Baggage Insurance

Baggage insurance is generally covered in trip cancellation and interruption policy but it is always advisable to go for larger policy if you are traveling overseas for a long vacation. Go for excess valuation which requires you to declare the contents of your luggage. And it’s well worth it if your carrier does lose your bags.

Other insurance policies which could come handy are Golf Travel Insurance, Adventure Sport Travel Insurance and the credit card coverage. Credit card coverage is available to if you have used your credit card to book your trip. You need to check with your credit card provider for more details on coverage.

Author Bio: Contributed by Nikhil Chandra

Gangotri : Chardham Yatra

Temple at Gangotri

Gangotri is one of the sacred pilgrim centers in India. The place has great significance in the Hindu mythology and is considered holy as the river Ganga, known to be the stream of Life, came on earth for the first time. The natural setting of the place also mesmerize the devotees and experience the heavily bliss. One can also enjoy the mystic view of Indo-Tibetan border. This town of Hindu pilgrimage is situated at the banks of river Bhagirathi, at a height of 3100 meters on the Himalayan range.

History of Gangotri:

The temple of Gangotri was said to be constructed in the early years of the 18th century by a Gorkha Commander. Later, the kings of Jaipur, rebuilt it. At Gaumukh is the origin of the sacred river that sets in 19 km trek from Gangotri, known as the Gangotri Glacier.

Mythology:
The Hindu mythology states that the grandson of King Sagar, King Bhagirath did self-punishment for almost 5500 years. This penance was to purify the ashes of the King Sagar’s 60,000 sons. Pleased Lord Shiva sent Goddess Ganga to shrive the sins of ancestors of King Bhagirath. As Goddess Ganga was sent in the form of river, Lord Shiva caught her in his matted locks to put a control over her force. Therefore, at the source, the river is called Bhagirathi and later from Devprayag, where it meets Alaknanda, obtains the name Ganga. The pilgrims offer Gangotri water to Lord Shiva.

Attractions:

Gangotri has bountiful attractions for the tourists and devotees to enjoy. Nature lovers can visit Dodi Tal, Ganges Glacier, and Kedar Tal. The magnificent beauty and serenity helps in enjoying the rejuvenating trip. The pilgrims also enjoy the mystical ambiance at Gangotri Temple and Vishwanath Temple. Apart from this, Harsil, Maneri, Tapovan, and Uttarkashi are also some of the popular tourist attractions of Gangotri.

Best time to visit:

Best time to pay holy visit to the sacred city of Gangotri is from April to June and September to November.

•    The summer months from April to May are very pleasing as the temperature does not cross 30°C (max) and can drop to very lower point making nights very cold. Hence, this is the appropriate time for sightseeing and pilgrim tours.

•    The monsoon months from late July to August make sojourn to the temple difficult due to heavy rainfall in the area.

•    The winter months from November to March are not advisable for visit to the temple due to heavy snowfall and freezing cold.

Reaching Gangotri:
The city of Gangotri could be reached by various modes, say air, rail and road.

•    By Air: Jolly Grant airport, Dehradun, is the nearest airport. It is at a distance of 162 km from Gangotri.

•    By Rail: Rishikesh is the nearest railhead that is 145 km from Gangotri.

•    By Road: From Rishikesh, Uttarkashi, Tehri, Haridwar, and other nearby places, there are regular buses that provide service till Gangotri. For road traveol, private taxies could also be hired.

Looking for pilgrimage tours in India? You may also find following post interesting:

Amarnath Cave Yatra

Kedarnath Temple: Chardham Yatra

Amarnath Yatra Planning: Travel Tips

Maha Kumbh Mela Yatra 2013 - Allahabad

HOHO Bus For Sightseeing in Delhi

Do you live in Delhi? Ever heard about HoHo Bus? When I first heard this name, it sounded strange; something new to me. Yesterday I heard this name by my one colleague. After some research on HoHo Bus now, I have come with this post.

I have also come to the conclusion that HoHo bus is the best way of getting around in Delhi, if you are a tourist and traveling to Delhi to visit its monuments, bazaars, museums and discover its rich heritage.

Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus Facilities:

 

HoHo Bus is equipped with air conditioned, cushioned interiors and have on board entertainment facilities and GPS tracking system. The bus timing is very flexible and comes very frequently at the station. And it also provides tour guide facilities.

Bus Routes and Destinations:  Ho Ho Bus runs on its 3 different routes – Red Route, Green Route and Red + Green Routes.

Red Route:

Sher Mandal inside Purana Qila

This route covers over 13 destinations, which embark on from Baba Kharak Singh Marg in Connaught place and finally concludes in Jantar Mantar.  First bus arrives at 8.30 AM and after that approximately every 45 minutes.

Red Route Destinations: Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Feroz Shah Kotla, Red Fort, Rajghat, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), India Gate, Purana Qila, Humayun Tomb, Safdarjung Tomb, Indra Gandhi Museum, Nehru Museum, Rastrapti Bhawan, National Museum and Jantar Mantar

The main attractions of this route are Word Heritage sites and Museums.

Green Route:

India Gate

This route covers more than 10 destinations across central Delhi. The bus service starts from India Gate and ends in Safdarjung Tomb. The first run of the bus starts at 8. 30 AM after that available in approximately every 30 minutes.

The main attractions of this route are shopping markets and heritage properties.

Green Route Destinations: India Gate, National Gallery of Modern art (NGMA), Humayun Tomb, Lajpat Nagar, Lotus Temple, Saket Market, Qutub Minar, Hauz Khas Village, Delhi Haat and Safdarjung Tomb.

Red + Green Route:

Lotus Temple

This route covers 19 destinations of it’s both routes (Red and Green) and which takes 2 days.

Red + Green Route: Baba Kharak Singh Marg - Feroz Shah Kotla - Red Fort - Rajghat - National Gallery of Modern Art - India Gate - Purana Quila - Humayun Tomb - Lajpat Nagar - Lotus Temple - Saket Malls - Qutub Minar - Hauz Khas Village - Delhi Haat - Safdarjung Tomb - Indiara Gandhi Museum - Nehru Museum - Rashtrapati Bhawan - National Museum - Jantar Mantar

Bus Fare:

	Indian		Foreigner
Route	Adult	Child	Adult	Child
Red	Rs. 300	Rs. 150	Rs. 600	Rs.300
Green	Rs. 300	Rs. 150	Rs. 600	Rs.300
Red + Green	Rs. 500	RS. 250	Rs. 1000	Rs. 500

Note:

• HOHO bus does not operate on Monday.
• The bus ticket is valid 2 days.
• HOHO bus also offers tours for student, Group, Corporate and Family

For more details visit - www.hohodelhi.com/

You may also find following post interesting - 

India Gate : Attractions in Delhi

Purana Qila: Attractions in Delhi 

A Guide to Street Food in Delhi 

How to get around in Delhi by Metro Rail

Qutub Minar: Attractions in Delhi

Top 10 Things to do in Delhi – Straight From a Real Delhiite! 

7 Must Visit Places to Delhi 

About the Author:
A seeker, learner and explorer, Sandeep Manral loves to travel which could be attributed to the fact that he was born and brought up in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand located in Great Himalaya, a digital marketing professional by profession, Sandeep also loves to write on diverse travel topics along with regular features on SEO and Digital Marketing tips and tricks.

How to get around in Delhi by Metro Rail

When it comes to transport in India, Metro is the rapidly growing transit in India. It was first started in 1984 in Kolkata and after that Chennai in 1944 and Bangalore in 2011. Delhi Metro was launched in 2002.

Delhi Metro is the safest and most pollution-free, efficient, fastest and punctual mode of public transit in Delhi. After the resounding success of Delhi Metro, construction work for metro rail is ongoing in Mumbai, Jaipur, Kochi and Hyderabad.

Delhi Metro: At A Glance:

Operation Began: 24 October 2002

Track Length: 192.7 Kilometers approx

Train Length: 4/6/8 Coaches

No. Of Lines: 6 ( Red Line, Yellow Line, Blue Line, Green Line, Violet Line and   Delhi Airport Metro Express)

No of Stations: 142

Seating Capacity: 4 Coach Train: 1506 passengers Approximately (With Seated and Standing)

6 Coach Train:  2,200 passengers Approximately (With Seated and Standing)

8 Coach Train: 2,800 passengers Approximately (With Seated and Standing)

Longest Line: Blue Line with 58.67 approx Km & 51 Stations (Including Yamuna Bank to Vaishali Route)

Highest Train Runs: 70 trains in Blue Line (Noida City Centre to Dwarka Sector 21 and Yamuna Bank to Vaisali)

First Line: Red Line (Dilshad Garden to Rithala)

Fare: Minimum 8 Rs and Maximum Fare Rs. 30/-

Timings: 6:00 AM to about 11:00 PM in the night.

Visit here for first train and last train timing.

Recently Delhi Metro celebrated its 10th year of operation. The first Metro journey started on 24 December 2002 flagged off by current Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Whereas the constructions work had started on 1 October, 1998.

Traveling Experience on Delhi Metro: 

Delhi Metro is equipped with modern amenities like full ac coaches, well seating facilities & standing space, CCTV cameras in and outside the coaches, power supply connections inside coaches to charge mobiles and laptops, better humidity control and microprocessor-controlled disc brakes. And one of the great features of Delhi Metro is that it’s always clean and tidy.

Delhi Metro runs with 4 or 6 or 8 passenger cars. The first coach of every train in the direction Delhi Metro is moving is reserved for ladies. It is prohibited for male to board the coach reserved for ladies and if violated it is considered a punishable offense.

Remaining coaches could be boarded by both males and females and there is a few seats reserved for ladies, senior citizens and differently abled. The train frequency at stations is about 2 to 5 minutes.

Personal Space: Don’t Mind it:

India is a country of one billion and Delhi as its capital is very much crowded. If you are traveling in Delhi Metro mind that you don’t mind personal space. This is especially applicable for travelers from overseas (West).

Delhi Metro could get too crowded especially during office hours and for that matter any time. You could get jostled and occasionally brushed by fellow passengers but believe me that is mostly harmless and unintentional.

At some stations (which are the changing points for other metro lines),  boarding and de-boarding the train (at Rajeev Chowk, Yamuna Bank and Kashmiri Gate) could get difficult.  Make sure that you are standing close to the exit get in the center or you’ll be dragged back by the people getting in.

Delhi Metro Lines: 

Delhi Metro runs 6 different routes which are referred by a particular color. The metro routes are named as Red Line, Yellow Line, Blue Line, Green Line, Violet Line and Airport Express. The Red line is the oldest line, which runs from Dilsahad Garden to Rithala.

Following is the list of Delhi Metro station on its different routes.

Line 1: Dilshad Garden - Rithala (Red Line):

Stations Covered by Line 1:  Dilshad Garden - Jhilmil - Mansarovar Park - Shahdara - Welcome - Seelampur - Shastri Park - Kashmere Gate - Tis Hazari - Pul Bangash - Pratap Nagar - Shastri Nagar - Inderlok - Kanhiya Nagar - Keshav Puram - Netaji Subhash Place - Kohat Enclave - Pitam Pura - Rohini East - Rohini West – Rithala

Line 2: Jahangirpuri - HUDA City Centre: (Yellow Line):

Stations Covered by line 2: Jahangirpuri - Adarsh Nagar - Azadpur - Model Town - GTB Nagar - Vishwa Vidyalaya - Vidhan Sabha - Civil Lines - Kashmere Gate - Chandni Chowk - Chawri Bazar - New Delhi -Rajiv Chowk - Patel Chowk - Central Secretariat - Udyog Bhawan - Race Course - Jor Bagh - INA - AIIMS - Green Park - Hauz Khas - Malviya Nagar - Saket - Qutub Minar - Chhatarpur - Sultanpur - Ghitorni - Arjan Garh - Guru Dronacharya - Sikandarpur - MG Road - IFFCO Chowk - HUDA City Centre

Line 3:  Noida City Centre to Dwarka Sector 21: (Blue Line)

Stations Covered in Line 3: Noida City Centre - Noida Golf Course - Botanical Garden - Noida Sector 18 - Noida Sector 16 - Noida Sector 15 - New Ashok Nagar - Mayur Vihar Extension - Mayur Vihar I - Akshardham - Yamuna Bank - Indraprastha - Pragati Maidan - Mandi House - Barakhamba - Rajiv Chowk - Ramakrishna Ashram Marg - Jhandewalan - Karol Bagh - Rajendra Place - Patel Nagar - Shadipur - Kirti Nagar - Moti Nagar - Ramesh Nagar - Rajouri Garden - Tagore Garden - Subhash Nagar - Tilak Nagar - Janakpuri East - Janakpuri West - Uttam Nagar East - Uttam Nagar West - Nawada - Dwarka Mor - Dwarka - Dwarka Sector 14 - Dwarka Sector 13 - Dwarka Sector 12 - Dwarka Sector 11 - Dwarka Sector 10 - Dwarka Sector 9 - Dwarka Sector 8 - Dwarka Sector 21

Note - Yamuna Bank - Vashali also come in Blue Line and you will have to de-board and change the metro train from Yamuna Bank if you are on the train going towards.

Stations Covered: Yamuna Bank - Laxmi Nagar - Nirman Vihar - Preet Vihar - Karkarduma - Anand Vihar - Kaushambi - Vashali

Line 4: Inderlok - Mundka (Green Line)

Stations Covered in line 4: Inderlok - Ashok Park Main - Punjabi Bagh - Shivaji Park - Madipur - Paschim Vihar East - Paschim Vihar West - Peeragarhi - Udyog Nagar - Surajmal Stadium - Nangloi - Nangloi Railway Station - Rajdhani Park - Mundka

Note: It also connects Satguru Ram Singh Marg and Kirti Nagar stations

Line 5: Central Secretariat - Badarpur (Violet Line)

Stations Covered in Line 5: Central Secretariat - Khan Market - Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium - Jangpura - Lajpat Nagar - Moolchand - Kailash Colony - Nehru Place - Kalkaji Mandir - Govindpuri - Okhla - Jasola Apollo - Sarita Vihar - Mohan Estate - Tughlakabad - Badarpur

Line 6 the Delhi Airport Metro Express- New Delhi Metro Station to Dwarka Sector 21
Stations Covered in Line 6: New Delhi Station - Shivaji Stadium - Dhaula Kuan - Delhi Aerocity - Airport - Dwarka Sector 21

Ticket Options in Delhi Metro:

Travel Card:   You can buy this card in 100 Rs from any metro stations and you will get Rs. 50 travelling value and other balance Rs 50 will be consider as security deposit. (Refundable on return of card).

•    Refundable Deposit: Rs.50 only
•    Validity: One Year from the date of purchase or one year from the date of recharge whichever is later.
•    Renewal: Rs. 5/- will be charged
•    Facility to check balance on Card: Ticket Reading Machines at all Metro Stations.

Tourist Card:

•    For unlimited travel over short periods. There are two kinds of cards - 1 day and 3 day.
•    Value of 1-Day Card: Rs 100
•    Value of 3-Day Card: Rs 250
•    Refundable Deposit: Rs 50/- payable at purchase (refundable on return of card)

Token:

•    Single-Journey Token: For one way journey
•    Value will depend on the destination. Valid only on the day of purchase.

For more information on Delhi Metro visit - www.delhimetrorail.com/

About the Author:
A seeker, learner and explorer, Sandeep Manral loves to travel which could be attributed to the fact that he was born and brought up in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand located in Great Himalaya, a digital marketing professional by profession, Sandeep also loves to write on diverse travel topics along with regular features on SEO and Digital Marketing tips and tricks.

The Holiest Hindu Temples in Nepal

Nepal is a country replete with temples, shrines and religious sites. The country is a big draw for both pilgrims and backpackers since most of its temples are masterpieces of art & architecture.

Here are some of the holiest temples which have spurred the popularity of Nepal tourism:

Pashupatinath: The temple of Pashupatinath is easily the biggest attraction in the country. It is a highly devout temple dedicated to Lord Shiva (Pashupatinath) and is scenically situated by the Bagmati River. The premises are thronged and haunted by monkeys in surprising numbers. They add to the unearthly ambience and also the reputation of the deity as being the ‘lord of the animals’. As per the rules, only Hindu pilgrims are permitted to step inside the temple. So, if you are a non-Hindu, you will have to stay contented with an external view. But the experience of visiting the place would truly be worth it!

Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal

Muktinath: Muktinath is a temple which is hard to access. It is located at a very high altitude and it is no child’s play to manage the rough terrains. But ‘muktinath’ translates into ‘Lord who grants salvation’. So, people come here to seek salvation, as propagated by Lord Buddha. Despite being so inaccessible, it receives a fairly huge number of pilgrims.

Manakamana: Temple of Manakamana is dedicated to a deity who makes your wishes come true. Pilgrims and tourists come here to soak in its spiritual ambience and also to make a wish. The place has its own share of legendary tales and apocryphal stories. Its mysticism and devoutness together combine to make it one of the holiest places in the country.

Swayambhunath Stupa: Nepal tourism proudly flaunts the temple of Swayambhunath before the tourists. It is a grand place known for its hypnotic architectural beauty and lively atmosphere. Monkeys are rampant in this area, and it is a one-of-a-kind experience to visit this place.

Best time to visit Nepal: Though the country can be toured round the year, the best time to visit Nepal is during the autumn season (between September-November) or during the spring season (between February-April).

About Author:

Manya Singh is a traveller and adventure seeker writing about a number of Indian & International holiday destinations. Solo Travelling, playing with nature and backpacking are few more undertakings she loves. As a blogger she writes about Nepal tourism and manages all exclusive holiday packages at WAH Holidays.

Amarnath Cave Yatra: Pilgrimage Tours in India

Amarnath Yatra is one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage yatras beside the Chardham Yatra which include Kedarnath Temple, Badrinath Temple, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Located at an altitude of 12,476 feet (3,888 meter) at a distance of 140 km from Srinagar, Amarnath Cave Temple is an important Hindu shrine. Amarnath Cave is open to devotees from June to August. 

Naturally formed Shivling inside Amarnath Cave in Kashmir draws thousands of pilgrims every year

The Legend of Amarnath Cave

As per the legends this is the cave chosen by Lord Shiva to describe the secrets of immortality and creation of the universe to her wife Parvati. It is said that before letting out the secret, Shiva told his rudra to destroy all life form from around Amarnath Cave so that no one could eavesdrop the secret of immortality. But as fate would have it a pair of pigeon who were inside the cave were not harmed and attained immortality by listening to Amar Katha (the secret of creation and immortality). This is why the cave came to be known as the Amarnath Cave.

Significance of Amarnath

Amarnath Cave is a sacred shrine because of the natural Shiv Lingam which forms naturally of ice every year. Thousands of pilgrims visit Amarnath Cave for darshan each year and to maintain order a registration for Amarnath Yatra is required before undertaking the pilgrimage. Lord Shiva, who is the destroyer in Hinduism, is enshrined in the form of an ice-lingam in this cave. This lingam is formed naturally, which is believed to wax and wane with the moon.

Preparation for Amarnath Yatra

Visitors and pilgrims should know how to prepare for Amarnath Yatra before embarking on this pilgrimage. Due to the arduous nature of the trail to Amarnath Cave, visitors are also required to produce medical certificate before undertaking this call of higher significance. Proper arrangements like uninterrupted power supply and water availability along the route are made by the authorities to ensure that pilgrims face lesser hardship.

The Spiritual Significance

It is said that after visiting the Amarnath Cave where baba blolenath Shankar narrated Amar Katha to Ma Parvati, pilgrims leave with a profound spiritual impact, a moral awakening. Swami Vivekananda, a great Hindu Philosopher and thinker proclaimed that he had never been to something as inspiring and beautiful as Amarnath Cave.

How to go:

Amarnath Yatra requires you to obtain registration before embarking on the pilgrimage. You could also book your tour through travel agents who would obtain the registration for you. You could go to Amarnath Yatra by road, taking the goat trail. Nowadays, Amarnath Yatra by Helicopter is also available for pilgrims who could not make it on foot.

Tughlaqabad Fort: Tourist Places in India

Nothing summarizes this once mighty fort as Kipling's verse in Cities and Thrones and Power:

"Cities and Thrones and Powers
Stand in Time's eye,
Almost as long as flowers,
Which daily die". 

Did you know that Tughlaqabad is the Third City out of the Seven Cities of Delhi? After Lal Kot which was invaded and captured by Muslims thus ushering in a new era of Muslim Rule in India (First Sultanate and later Mughal), and Siri which is first city built by a Muslim ruler in India, Tughlaqabad was 3^rd to be constructed. Mighty as it is, Tughlaqabad Fort was built in record time of 4 years by the military commander Ghazi Malik who served Alaudin Khilji (the builder of Siri).

A Bird Eye View of the Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-Din Tuglaq from Bijay Manadal, Tughlaqabad Fort

It is said that during a stroll near Tughlaqabad, Ghazi Malik told his Sultan Alaudin that he should build his fort here to which Alaudin Khilji replied that when when Malik becomes Sultan then he could do so. As it turned out, Ghazi Malik indeed built his city Tughlaqabad after becoming Sultan of Delhi naming himself Ghiyas-ud-din.

It is said that the city was cursed from the beginning. It is said that in hurry to complete his fort Ghiyas-ud-Din ordered all workers in Delhi to work for the construction of fort. This resulted in halt of the construction of baoli of Nizamuddin Auliya, a sufi saint and mystic. He was so peeved that he cursed the fort saying “Ya rahey hissar, ya basey gujjar” (may it [the fort] remain unoccupied/infertile, or else the herdsmen may live here). And his word indeed became true as the fort was soon abandoned after the death of Sultan.

Tughlaqabad Fort is entered from the Southern side on Mehrauli Badarpur Road and is located close to the Mehrauli Metro Station. As you’d arrive at the fort, you’ll see a broken causeway which has given way to the main road. It once connected the Tughlaqabad City and the tomb of Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughlaq. The causeway also acted as a dam in a vast water reservoir which was created by constructing additional bunds between the hills. Once Tughlaqabad had fifty-two gates of which only 13 remain today.

The entry fee to this protected monument is INR 10 for Indian Residents and INR 100 for travelers from overseas. From the outside one could notice the formidable façade of the city wall. Inside the Fort, buildings are mostly in ruins. Structures of note include a Mosque, some pavilions, residential buildings, formidable bastions, Hamams and meena bazaar (arched market place). The city which once would have existed for people is all ruins.

Just opposite the fort is the tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din which he himself designed. It is believed that the Tomb was first erected for Zafar Khan who also lies interred inside the structure but the Sultan so liked the place that he decided to build his own tomb there. The tomb is a peaceful and well-manicured place and gives you an appearance of small fort. The architecture of the tomb is just like the other tombs built during those times. The fortifications were built to counter the constant Mongol threat during those times.

Ideally, you should arrive early in the morning to explore this fort and 1-2 hours is enough time to explore the fort and the tomb. If you are a female traveler from overseas, I’d suggest you avoid Adilabad Fort or go there in large group. Entry to Adilabad Fort is free.

Author Bio: A post graduate in marketing from University of Mumbai, India, Nikhil Chandra seek out travel inspiration with friends and often through solo wandering, exploring heritage and culture, meeting new people, tasting local cuisine and choosing homestays over hotels . Nikhil's travel stories and articles have appeared in several travel magazines, online travel guides and travel blogs among others.

Kedarnath Temple: Chardham Yatra

Kedarnath is part of the Chardham Yatra in Uttaranchal and an important Hindu pilgrimage destination. With 1000 years old architecture, Kedarnath is the pilgrim center serving the faith of devotees in lord Shiva. The area is prone to heavy snowfall in winters and therefore time between May to October are considered ideal to visit the shrine. For the rest of the year, the temple remains close. But the pilgrims also visit the place when the temple is shutdown. Dates to visit the place are confirmed via Hindu calendar.

Snow clad Kedarnath Temple

The Legend of Kedarnath
According to the mythological belief, it is said that when the Pandavas came in search of lord Shiva to seek penance for the huge war of Mahabharata. Shiva evolved himself into a bull. Bhim, being the strongest amidst the Pandavas followed Shiva, who leaped deep into the ground. The spot at which only the tail of Shiva was left in Bhim’s hand is known to be Kedarnath. The submerged body of Shiva emerged at different places in Garhwal and became popular as Tunganath, Madhyamaheshwar, Kalpeshwar and Rudranath. These pilgrim centers long with Kedarnath are worshipped as Panch Kedars.

Attractions in Kedarnath
The construction of the Kedarnath Temple dates back to 8th century A.D. The temple was built by Adi Guru Shankaracharya, just next to an ancient temple made by the Pandavas. The architecture of the temple is superlative as the figures of the deities are finely embellished. Some of the mythological scenes are also depicted on the walls. The elements of the temple include the main idol (conical lingam), the celestial bull (statue of Nandi), ‘garbha griha’ and 'mandap'.

Kedarnath is a part of the Chardham Yatra and yet another important pilgrimage is the Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir.

Shankaracharya Samadhi is also amongst the popular attractions of the place. This place is marked as the final resting place of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, who constructed the Kedarnath temple. According to the beliefs, he attained Samadhi at an age of 32 years just after establishing the four dhams in India. Apart from Mausoleum of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, attractions like Chorabari (Gandhi Sarovar), Vasuki Tal, Gaurikund, Sonprayag, Triyuginarayan, Guptkashi, Ukshimath, Agastyamuni, Chandrashila, and Deoria Tal have also attracted tourists from all across India and abroad.

How to reach Kedarnath
To reach Kedarnath, one has to go through 14km long trek from Gaurikund that is connected by roads from Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, and other regions of Garhwal and Kumaon. During winters, no one lives in the Kedarnath region as the local people depend on Kedarnath for their living. Therefore, for devotees and tourists, there are small lodges and hotels for providing accommodation during the stay. Kedarnath becomes a buzzing place every year when the Chardham Yatra commences.