Jaisalmer
The name Jaisalmer evokes a vivid picture of sheer magic and brilliance of
the desert. The exotic, remote and beautiful Jaisalmer is a bit of a
paradox. So far west that it is in the heart of the desert, one would expect
barren near-desolation. Yet this frontier town is today one of Rajasthan's
best-loved tourist destinations. Local colour and warmth prevail over the
inhospitable and forbidding terrain, imbuing the medieval town with a
special magic. Major places that you can visit here include Jaisalmer Fort,
Mankapur Chowk and Havelis, Gadisagar Tank, Jain Temples and Gyan Bhandar.
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Shimla
Shimla (also spelt as 'Simla') derives its name from goddess 'Shayamla
Devi', which is another manifestation of Goddess Kali. The capital of
Himachal Pradesh came into light when the British discovered it in 1819.
Till then, it was a part of the Nepalese kingdom. In 1864 Shimla was
declared as the summer capital of India.
Shimla has been blessed with all the natural bounties one can think of.
Dwelling on a panoramic location, the hilly town is surrounded by green
pastures and snow-capped peaks. A list of major tourist attractions here
includes Christ Church, St. Michael Cathedral, Himachal State Museum and
Library and Institute of Advanced Studies.
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Goa
Goa, popularly referred as 'the pearl of the east', is famous for its
majestic Gothic churches, age-old ruins, gorgeous beaches flanked by palms,
lush coconut groves, memorable ferry rides, and peppy folk music. The state
possesses 131-km-long coastline which is the most fascinating part of Goa
tourism making the place a perfect destination for the ones who need and
want relaxation. The other important assets within the state are salubrious
climate, pristine beaches, warm and friendly people. Exotic and delicious
cuisine, hill-top forts, churches and soaring Portuguese-era cathedrals add
to the charm and grace of the state.
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Sariska
The Sariska Tiger Reserve is just 40 kms. from Alwar and about 110 Kms.
from Jaipur. The landscape of Sariska is dominated by thickly forested hill
slopes with vertical cliffs. The terrain is basically undulating with some
wide plateau lands separating the valleys. 'Dhok' (Anogeissus pendula) is
the dominant tree species of the lower hill slopes, forming almost the pure
crop. On higher and steeper slopes it is replaced by strands of 'Salar'
(Boswellia serrata) trees and in the valleys by 'Ber' (Zizyphus species),
'Dhak (Butea monosperma), 'Ronj' (Acacia leucophloea and Khair (Acacia
catechu).
The lushgreen colour during the monsoon changes to copper brown in winter,
before turning to drab grey in the summer months. Bright orange-red colour
of blooming Dhak trees during the spring season break the monotony of grey.
The combination of grass lands and wooded forests of the sanctuary provide
an excellent habitat for the herbivorous animals. Sariska has a very good
population of sambhar, chital, nilgai, four-horned antelope, wild boar and
common langur. The caracal and jungle cat. Porcupines, purely nocturnal
rodents, are conspicuous after sunset. Water holes have been created at
number of spots in the sanctuary.
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