Srinagar

Location : Jammu & Kashmir
STD Code : (91) - 194
GMT : +5:30
Languages : Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu and Ladakhi
Best time to Visit : April to June and September


About Srinagar 
The Kashmir Valley attracts travellers to Jammu & Kashmir while Srinagar keeps them glued to the wonderful valley of Kashmir. The famous northern Indian hill station, Srinagar occupies a position at an altitude of 1,730 m above sea level. While in Srinagar, shikara ride along the Dal Lake and leisurely stroll through the Mughal Gardens happen to the favourite activities of travellers from all over the world. Tourist attractions are many in Srinagar and there is never a dull time to make a trip to Srinagar. Apart from exploring tourist attractions in Srinagar, you can also enjoy wonderful getaways to places like Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam. And when it's time to leave, you can also get your hands on some of the most exquisite items of handicraft. 

Climate & Best time to Visit Srinagar
The weather in Srinagar remains pleasant during the summers (April to June) when temperatures remain around the mid 20's during the day and the city is bathed in sunshine most of the time. Winter season (November to February) can be extremely cold with temperatures dipping below the freezing point. The region experiences heavy snowfall during peak winter months of December and January. The best time to visit the place is during summers and early winters. 

Major Tourist Attractions in Srinagar
The city of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir has a number of exciting tourist attractions for you in store. Though Dal Lake is the biggest attraction for travellers, Srinagar also offers to see other much known tourist attractions.

Dal Lake
Probably the most talked about tourist attraction in Srinagar is the Dal Lake, situated just outside the main city. The huge lake houses a number of other water bodies in its boundaries including the Nagin Lake. Numerous tourists flock the place to enjoy a ride in the famous 'shikaras' or houseboats of Dal Lake. A life that is completely different and laid back from the one that exists just a few miles away at the city, awaits you at Dal. Do not miss out on buying a souvenir to take back home from one of the houseboat shops. 

Mughal Gardens
The Mughal Gardens spread over the city display the love of Mughals for beauty and nature. The sprawling gardens are well laid and decorated with apple orchards, flowering plants and green trees. Chashme Shahi near the Nehru Park and Nishat Bagh along the Dal are two of the famous ones. 

Hazratbal Mosque
A number of mosques are situated throughout Srinagar city, the most important of them being the Hazratbal Mosque, situated near the Dal. The mosque is said to house a hair of the Prophet Mohammad which is exhibited in front of the public on certain auspicious days of the year. 

Shankracharya Hill
The Shankracharya Hill is situated in Srinagar city at a height of around one thousand feet above the sea level, named so after the Shankracharya temple situated on the hilltop. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the ancient temple is said to date back to 2500 BC. The top of the hill affords a breathtaking view of the surroundings, thus lending it its share of tourist interest. 

Popular Getaways from Srinagar
The getaways from Srinagar are no less exciting than Srinagar itself. You can plan wonderful side trips to places like Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam, located in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Gulmarg
Situated at an altitude of 2730 mts above sea level, Gulmarg is a pleasant hill town located just 52 km southeast of Srinagar. The hill station is flocked by tourists throughout the year, being laden with flowering plants g excellent snow sports opportunities during winters. Other famous attractions of Gulmarg include the world's highest golf course. 
Sonmarg
80 km northeast of Srinagar lies another untouched paradise. Sonmarg, situated at an altitude of 2740 mts above sea level is set in picturesque environs, housing several shimmering lakes. The hill slopes are covered with colorful flowers, lending the place a picturesque ambiance. Breathtaking views of snow covered Himalayan peaks at an arm's length is enough captivation to draw visitors besides the added advantages of adventure sports as trekking and hiking. 

Pahalgam
More famous as the base camp for the pilgrimage to the holy cave of Amarnath, Pahalgam is located 95 Km east of Srinagar in the Liddar valley, at an altitude of 2130 mts above sea level. Adventure sports activities such as hiking, trekking and fishing have made the place a favourite among tourists. 

Shikara Ride in Srinagar
Shikara or houseboat ride is a must do in Srinagar. The long ended shikara boats can be seen all around the lakes carrying tourists back and forth across various destinations of tourist interest. The most pleasant experience can be had at the Dal Lake which remains thronged by visitors and houseboats offering an enchanting experience amidst serene environs. 

Popular Shopping Centres in Srinagar
The region is famous for its handicrafts items, especially hand woven silk fabrics and Kashmiri shawls. Other must buys include cane and bamboo work, metal crafts, brass and silverware, willow baskets and woolen garments. The main shopping hubs in Srinagar include Lal Chowk, Badshah Chowk and Polo View. Be sure to bargain hard before buying, especially from roadside vendors. Govt. run shops and emporiums are also located in the main city. 

Srinagar Travel (Airport/Railway/Road) Information
By Air : Srinagar airport is located just 14 km from the main city. A number of airlines operate between Delhi and Srinagar. Flights are also available to Srinagar from Chandigarh, Amritsar and Jammu. The frequency of flights increases during the summer season when several flights in a day are available from Delhi. Flight time between Delhi and Srinagar is generally around seventy minutes. More information on flight schedule and timings can be obtained from the official website of Indian Airlines at http://indian-airlines.nic.in/

By Rail : Jammu is the nearest railhead, connected to most of the major Indian cities including Delhi, Calcutta, Pune, Mumbai and Kanyakumari. It takes around ten hours to cover the distance between Delhi and Srinagar, usually an overnight journey. For online booking and train timings, refer to the official website of Indian railways at http://www.indianrail.gov.in/

By Road : Srinagar is connected to other parts of the country through two routes, one via the road from Jammu and the other via Chandigarh and Amritsar. State transport corporation operates regular buses between Delhi and Srinagar while privately run Volvo buses are also available. The tourist reception centre at Srinagar is where all the buses arrive and depart from. The Dal Lake is situated at a walking distance from here. 

Distance from Srinagar to Major Cities

• Amritsar : 512 Km
• Chandigarh : 646 Km 
• Delhi : 876 Km 
• Jammu : 293 Km 
• Pathankot : 400 Km 
• Shimla : 751 Km

Alleppey

Location : Kerala
Tourist Attractions : Karumadikkuttan, Krishnapuram Palace, St. Mary's Church
Local Tongue : Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, English
STD Code : (91) - 477
Best time to Visit : August to March


About Alleppey
Alleppey or Alappuzha is a pleasant little market town consisting of a number of islands surrounded by a network of lakes, lagoons and water bodies, thus making it one of the most bewitching backwater destinations in Kerala. Housing silvery beaches lined with swaying palm trees, this tiny heaven is packed with umpteen tourist attractions that make it hard to forget even after your dream vacation is over. Alleppey is also home to a varied species of plant and animal life. 

Alleppey has always occupied an important place in the maritime history of Kerala owing to its proximity to the sea which makes it easily accessible to merchants and traders from across the world through the sea route. The place subsequently became the hub of coir making industry with the establishment of the first coir factory by a British captain. 

Climate & Best time to Visit
Owing to its proximity to the sea, the climate of Alleppey is humid with not much difference in temperature during the summer (22 to 35 degrees) and winter (18 to 32 degrees) seasons. Although the place remains fairly cool and pleasant during the winters, it can be visited anytime between August and March. 

Tourist Attractions in Alleppey
Karumadikkuttan
Just 3 km outside Alleppey, Karumadikkuttan is a tiny village and an important Buddhist pilgrimage centre. The place houses a large centuries old black granite statue of Lord Buddha. 

Krishnapuram Palace
The 18th century palace of the Travancore kings is situated 47 km from Alleppey. Built in a unique Keralan style of architecture, the palace houses a collection of miniature paintings, bronze statues, antique furniture and beautiful sculptures. The most famous is the statue Gajendra Moksham, which is the largest of its kind in the state. 

Ambalapuzha Temple
Ambalapuzha, situated 12 km south of Alleppey is known for its religious shrines including the famous temple dedicated to Lord Krishna which is known for the milk porridge 'prasadam' served here. An ancient image of Lord Buddha is situated near by, from the times when Buddhism was at its peak in the region. 

St. Mary's Church
One of the oldest churches in India, the St. Mary's Church is believed to have been set up by St. Thomas. Situated in Champakulam, the church is known for its annual fest which falls on the 3rd Sunday of October every year. 

Things to Do
Backwater Cruise
Alleppey is known for its enchanting backwaters concentrated around the Vembanad Lake. Luxury houseboats are available to take the tourists on a journey of a lifetime through the enchanting backwaters. Gently sail in a houseboat and witness the laid back lifestyle in God's own country, flocks of ducks swimming, colorful birds painting the skies and golden sands reflecting the rays of the sun...paradise could not be any closer. And once you are done with the backwater experience, more repose awaits you at the beach where you can lie down and feel the velvety sand press behind your back as we serve you a cold glass of your favourite beverage. 

Shopping
While Alleppey promises a unique experience in each aspect, shopping through its bazaars is also a completely different experience. Amongst the things most in demand are the coir products, which being locally produced also have the advantage of cheap price tags on them. Besides, shopping in Alleppey is also a great place to interact with the locals and get to know the local culture. 

Eat Out
South Indian cuisine is probably most different from that available in any other part of the world. Dishes like dosa and sambar are a must try as also coconut water, which besides being an excellent thirst quencher is also a great energy booster. Freshly fried banana chips in different flavours are also available. Some of the good places to eat in Alleppey are Indian Coffee House (Mullakal Road), Hotel Aryas for vegetarian food, Hotel Rajas for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, Sree Durga Bhawan for dosas and the Vembanad Restaurant for excellent veg and non-veg food. 

Stay At
A place blessed with immense natural beauty, Alleppey or Alappuzha draws thousands of tourist every year to its pristine locales. Alleppey boasts of numerous tourist attractions that include enchanting backwaters, sun kissed beaches, ancient churches and charming colonial structures. Being one of the most important tourist hot spots of Kerala Alleppey houses a number of excellent hotels such as Punnamada (4 star, situated 4 km from boat jetty, 8 km from railway station and 4 km from bus stand), Keraleeyam Home and Ayurvedic Resort (3 star, situated at Thathampally), Vaikudam House Boat (3 star), Kayaloram Lake Resort (3 star, situated at Punnamada, 85 km from airport, 10 km from railway station & 4 km from bus stand), Sauver Nigam House Boat (3 star, situated close to the beach), The Marari Beach Resort (3 star, situated at Mararikulam, 15 km from railway station & 12 km from bus stand), Rainbow Cruises (4 star, situated at V.C.N.B. Road), Alleppey Beach Resorts (3 star equivalent), Coir Village Lake Resort (4 star, situated at Thirkunnapuzha 10 km from railway station and bus stand) and Alleppey Prince Hotel (3 star equivalent, situated on A.S. Road 4 km from railway station and bus stand).

Getting There
By Air : The nearest airport is located at Kochi (Cochin) which is well connected to other parts of the country through regular flights. From Kochi, you can hire a taxi or board a bus to reach Alleppey. Another airport is located at Trivandrum.

By Rail : Alleppey is connected to rest of the cities by trains, which is also an excellent way to experience the natural beauty of the state. 

By Road : A good network of roads link Alleppey with other cities in Kerala and neighbouring cities. Buses operate regularly between Alleppey and other major Indian cities. 

Ferry Boats : This is probably the most interesting form of transport that you may not find in most of the other parts of the world. Alleppey is connected by ferry services to other cities in Kerala including Kottayam, Kollam, Kumarakom and Changanasseri. 

Local Transport : Local transport in Alleppey mainly consists of Buses, Taxis and auto-rickshaws. Taxis can also be hired to take you to various attractions inside the city. 

Distance from Major Cities

• Kochi : 64 Km
• Trivandrum : 150 Km
• Kottayam : 23 Km
• Kollam : 229 Km
• Kozhikode : 206 Km
• Delhi : 2145 Km