Hightlights

Hightlights

Gorge On Fresh Seafood
Mahabalipuram is not only famous for rock cut temples and palm fringed sea shores but also its mouthwatering cuisines which will surely pamper your taste buds. From the spicy and fried seafood to the delicious South Indian delicacies, eating out in Mahabalipuram is always a pleasure.

There are lots of food stands in the centre serving large portions for next-to-nothing prices. Clustered around Othavadai Street and Othavadai Cross are restaurants catering primarily to tourists, which serve generally undistinguished Western food. Your best bet is often fresh grilled fish (which you can usually select yourself) served with French fries or salad.

Ride The Toy Train
The world famous Nilgiri Toy Train covers a distance of 46KMs between Ooty and Mettupalayam in 4-5 Hours. Once you are in Ooty, taking a ride of this Nilgiri Toy train is must. There are close to 16 tunnels and bridges on this scenic route. It is the steepest railway track in the whole of Asia. Alternate Biting system (ABT), also called the rack and pinion system, is used to overcome this steep ascent. It is similar to the fashion in which we climb a ladder. Here the engine pushes the train from behind during this uphill climb and is present in the front while going down from Ooty to Mettupalayam. Not everybody has time to enjoy this entire ride. Also it is very inconvenient for people coming to Ooty from Bangalore and for people taking their own cars. I would suggest to take the train from Ooty to Coonoor and take the bus back from Coonoor to Ooty. You will have to book the tickets in advance. Tickets can also be purchased from the ticket counter at the platform.

Pondicherry - The Little France In India
Pondicherry, renamed as Puducherry in September 2006, is one of the seven union territories in India. It comprises of non-contiguous enclaves, or districts, out of which the largest is Pondicherry, after which the union territory has been named. The capital city of the district is also known as Pondicherry (or Puducherry). Founded by the French, Pondicherry serves as the perfect destination for those people who want to take a break from the mind-boggling and hectic pace of the city life.

Situated far away from the mainland, and its nauseating crowd, Pondicherry serves as the perfect tranquil haven for the tired city tourists. Here, you can spend time at the beach, listening to the melodious murmur of waves and bathing in the soothing rays of the setting sun, rejuvenating your body as well as your mind. If it is spiritual bliss that you are after, then the Aurobindo Ashram, based on the goal of "Supramental Consciousness", is just the place for you. If you want, you can also attend the meditation session conducted there, on weekdays.

Apart from Aurobindo Ashram, there are a number of places in Pondicherry that will engage your interest. One of them is the Government Palace, which dates back to the 18th century, when it was constructed by Joseph Dupleix, the Governor of French territories in India. Then, there is Varadaraja Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and Manakula Vinayagar Temple, known for its architectural as well as sculptural wealth. Srimoolanthar Temple, being an ancient shrine dating back to the 10th century, is also worth visiting.

Your visit to Pondicherry will be as good as incomplete if you do not visit the churches that adorn the place. While Church Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus is known for its stained glass windows, Eglise De Notre Dame De Lourdes contains the statue of Our Lady gifted by France. Pondicherry has been a favorite spot amongst tourists, local as well as international, since a long time. This has made it a popular hospitality destination as well. Pondicherry hotels cater to all types of travelers, from the ones demanding luxury to those concerned about budget. So, just book your tickets and head for the enticing destination!

Sri Meenakshi Temple
Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple located in the holy city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva (in the form of Sundareswarar or Beautiful Lord) and his consort, Goddess Parvati (in the form of Meenakshi). The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2500 year old city of Madurai. This temple has a stunning architecture and a significant testimony for dravidians for their master architecture in sculpting this temple. The complex houses 14 magnificent Gopurams or towers including two golden Gopurams for the main deities, which are elaborately sculptured and painted. The temple is a significant symbol for the Tamil people, and has been mentioned since antiquity in Tamil literature, though the present structure is believed to have been built in 1600. The tallest temple is 51.9 metres (170 ft) tall.

Mudumalai National Park
Wildlife in Mudumalai National Park Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the finest and most attractive wildlife sanctuaries in south India. Located in the most picturesque surroundings of the hilly terrain of the Western Ghats, the Mudumalai National Park covers an area of approximately 321 sq km. The Mysore-Ooty highway runs through the Park, following the course of the Moyar River, which separates Mudumalai National Park from the famous Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka. The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is also a part of the famous Nilgiri Bio-sphere Reserve of India.

Endowed with a moderate climate and diverse geographical features, the Mudumalai National Park supports a wide variety of flora and fauna. The wildlife in the Mudumalai National Park mainly comprises of predators and a variety of birds. The sanctuary is home to over 200 species of birds belonging to 48 families. In predators, the Asiatic Wild Dog or Dhole is most prominent wild animal in the park, known for its ferocity. Even Tigers and Leopards think twice before challenging them, especially when Dholes are in a group. The Dholes are most commonly seen in the eastern part of the Mudumalai National Park, where the vegetation is scant.

Marina Beach
The Marina Beach is a beach situated along a 12 km shoreline in the city of Chennai, India along the Bay of Bengal, part of the Indian Ocean. Unlike the short, rocky formations that make up the Juhu Beach in Mumbai on the west coast of India, the Marina is primarily sandy.

The beach begins near Fort St. George in the north to Besant Nagar in the south, a distance of about 12 km. A famous characteristic of the beach is the set of stone statues that adorn the roadside area of the beach. Most statues are of Indian/local legends like Mahatma Gandhi, Kannagi, Thiruvalluvar, while others have symbolic significance like the Statue of Labour. Also memorials for M. G. Ramachandran and C. N. Annadurai, former Chief ministers of Tamil Nadu are present on the beach. Recently, a statue of the legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan was installed.

Marina beach is a major tourist attraction. People visiting Chennai make it a point to visit the beach. The beach is popular for its shops and food stalls. The memorials and statues, morning walk, joggers' track, lovers' spot, aquarium, etc., make it a hangout for people of all ages. The sea is rough and waves are strong. There are fishermen colonies present at both ends of the beach.

Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari is a town in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu state, India. Located at the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, it is also know by its former name Cape Comorin. The closest major cities are Nagercoil, the administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari district, (22 km) and Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala (85 km). The town is a popular tourist place in India.

Beginning the early part of the 1970s, tourism has been an important activity in the town. Today, it is one small town in South India where one can see different languages of India spoken at different street corners, among the tourists and traders. Of late, Tourism is increasingly being promoted in the district also, apart from the town, with several beautiful natural landscapes, historic and religious places found around the district. A total of 1.9 million tourists (domestic and foreign) visited Kanyakumari in 2007.

With tourism also picking up in neighboring Kerala, the future prospects for the growth of tourism looks bright both in Kanyakumari town and the district. Though there are several places of tourist-interest in the town and district, Kanyakumari is especially popular in India for its spectacular and unique sunrise and sunset. The confluence of three ocean bodies - the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea - makes the sunrise and sunset even more special. On balmy, full-moon evenings, (locally called Chitra Pournami) one can also see the moon-rise and sunset at the same time - on either side of the horizon.