Manali (28 Feb-3 Mar, 2011)

Manali is an important hill station in the mountains of Himachal Paradesh, India near the northern end of the Kullu Valley. It is far from New Delhi 600 kilometers and 250 kilometers from Shimla. My friend and I left from New Delhi at 18.30 on 27 February and reached there around 8.00 on the next day.

The first day, we stayed at Vallet of Gods hotel at Vashist (3 kilometers from the city). We walked along the Manali's river and walked up the hill to the particular place. There are very nice and economy hotel, only Rs 300 per night. Another facilities such as heater and geyser are also provided. Thereafter, I booked a taxi to Solang Valley which is far from Vashist 14 kilometers, and the driver charged us Rs 700 for 4 hours (Rs 100 for extra hour). We took 45 minutes to there. There are very nice place, full with snow. Solang Valley is one of the most important for tourist attraction in Manali. There provides extrema sport such as skiing, trekking, driving snow mobil, roapway, and paragliding.

 

The second day, we took a bath at hot spring in the Vashisht Temple 200 meters from Valley of Gods Hotel. Thereis a public pond and also be separated male and female. The second day, I moved to Sunflower Hotel in the city because we would like to travel the important temples in Manali such as Tibetan Monastery, Hidimba Devi Temple, Siyali Mahadev Temple, and Manu Rishi Temple.

Tourism Map

Tibetan Monastery

Siyali Mahadev Temple

Hidimba Devi Temple

Manu Rishi Temple

Delhi (26-27 Feb, 2011)

I left Jaipur city at 00:50 on 26 Feb to Delhi Railway Station in the same day. The train took 5:35 hrs to the destination, 307 kilometers. It is quite evident that I always used public transportation along living in there, New Delhi has a rapid transportation system as metro and bus. To substantiate my view, I would like to show the metro map which can connect from important place to each other such as Airport, Bus station, Railway station, and Tourist attraction places.

For example, Dwarka Sector 21 station connects to Indira Gandhi International Airport. Rajiv Chowk stations is a central of metro station which passengers can transit and interchange to other stations.Therefore, I caught the metro from Chandni Chowk (near Delhi RS) to RK Ashram Marg in order to go to the Sunny Loudge Hotel at Pahar Ganj area. The hotel charged Rs 250 per person per night.

Sunny Lodge Hotel

Map

It is quite evident that I planed my trip by using public transportation and by walk. Therefore, I would like to buy metro day ticket which will be charged about Rs 150 per day. First day, I traveled at India Gate, Himayun's Tomb, and Lotus Temple. I went to Central Secretarial station and walked along the Rajpath Road to India Gate. This way is the best way to India Gate because we will see it along at the end of the particular road and stated the front side of the gate. Thereafter I walked along De.Zakir Hussain Road to Humayun's Tomb which is far 3.5 kilometers from each other. After that I walked along Lidi Road in order to catch the train to Lotus Temple at JLN station to Lalkaji Mandir station (600 meters from the temple).

India Gate

India Gate

Himayun's Tomb Ticket

Himayun's Tomb entrance

Himayun's Tomb

Himayun's Tomb

Himayun's Tomb

Lotus Temple 

Lotus Temple 

On the next day, I went to Jama Masjid and Red Fort which are located near Chawri Bazar station. Moreover, I went to shopping at Palika Bazar which is underground shopping center at Rajiv Chowk station. 

Jama Masjid

Jaipur (25 Feb, 2011)

I took the train form Agra Cantt RS to Jaipur RS which is far 240 kilometers from each other. I reached to Jaipur at 22.15; however, I had already booked the hotel, Hotel Anshu (Near Tank Phatak, Jaipur 302015, Ph. 3224100, Email. hotelanshu@yahoo.in), 4.5 kilometers from railway station since I traveled at Agra. The rental fee was about Rs 600 per night; moreover, the hotel also provide the sightseeing trip at the tourist attractions around the pink city. I bought the composite ticket Rs 300 which got the discount Rs 200 from normal price. The ticket is included five important tourist attraction such as Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Nahagarh Fort, Albert Hall Museum, and Jantar Mantar.

Composite Ticket

I started at Albert Hall Museum is the oldest museum in Jaipur city in Rajasthan state of India. The museum state traditional and culture not only India but also show these from all around the world.

Albert Hall Museum

Thereafter, I went to  Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal which are located at City palace area. Jantar Mantar  is a collection of architectural astronomical instruments, built by Maharaja (King) Jai Singh II at his then new capital of Jaipur between 1727 and 1734. Moreover, Hawa Mahal, palace of wind, was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai PratapSingh, and designed by Lal Chand Usta in the form of thecrown of Krishna, the Hindu god.

Jantar Mantar

Hawa Mahal

After that I went to Lake Palace and Amber Fort.

Lake Palace 

Amber Fort

Agra (23-24 Feb, 2011)

My trip was started since 23 February, 2011. I flighted from Bangalore International Airport to Indira Gandhi International Airport which is located at New Delhi. Although the airport provided the city transportation such as bus, metro, and taxi., all public transportation are available until 22.00. My flight reached to there at midnight, so I had to catch the prepaid taxi to the destination which was the railway station. It is quite evident that I planed to visit Taj Mahal and Agra Fort at Agra city which is far from New Delhi 188 kilometers by train which the train started at was Hazrat nizamuddin RS at 6.00 on 24 February. The train reached to Agra Cantt RS at 9.10; thereafter, I booked a cabs for sightseeing trip at Taj Mahal, Ara Fort, and Markets which was about Rs 650 from 9.10 to 17.00. The Taj Mahal entrance fee is about Rs 510 for SARRC & BIMSTEC Country which included Thailand and Rs 750 for the others.

Taj Mahal entrance fee

Ticket for SARRC and BIMSTEC country

Moreover, the government tourist bureaucracy also provided a guide in order to give informations for the particular place which charged Rs 1,950 for foreigner and Rs 750 for Indian. Taj Mahal was constructed with white mable which is the finest expression of love of an emperor for his queen situated on the banks of the river Yamuna, 3 kilometers from Agra Cantt RS. Moreover, it was built byMughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his queen Mumtaz Mahal, in1632.

I took two hours to visit and enjoy with the beautiful Taj Mahal. Thereafter, I went to Agra Fort which was far from Taj Mahal around  2.5 kilometers. Agra Fort is masterpiece for design and construction, was build by the great Emperor Akbar in 1565 A.D. The entrance fee for Agra Fort is Rs 250 and Rs 50 for entrance tax.