|
Nearby Locations
COCHIN
Cochin is a beautiful city by the Arabian Sea and is also a
major tourist spot. This city is a major tourist destination in India and
epicenter of touring Kerala, ‘God’s Own Coutnry’. The wonderful beaches,
the Chinese Fishing boats, the churches and the spice markets make Cochin
a special place. There are many places from visit in Kerala.
Munnar
Munnar is a pristine hill station famous for the tea plantations. It is
gifted with a serene natural beauty of the Western Ghats and wonderfully
maintained tea gardens. Muunar is just three to four hours drive from
Cochin and you can go in the morning and come back at night if you wish.
There is a gorgeous dam in Munnar, which should be visited, and trekking
enthusiasts can also have a gala time there. The Annaimudi range, highest
in Southern India is close to Munnar.
Alleppey
Alleppey is a wonderful tourist destination, which is just one and half
hours from Cochin. The backwaters of Alleppey are divine and it is truly
named the ‘Venice of the East’. You can enjoy the backwaters by hiring a
country boat for a day and can also stay in the many house boats.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady
The Periyar Wildlife sanctuary is a gorgeous reserve forest, home to some
of the most exotic flora and fauna. This forest is famous for the lion
tailed macaque, which is endemic specie. The other animals, which can be
seen in this forest, are elephants, bison, monkeys and bears. It is about
one ninety kilometers from Cochin.
Kalady
Kalady is a famous village just 48 kilometers from Cochin. The village is
the birthplace of Sri Adi Sankaracharya, famous Hindu saint and
philosopher.
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
The Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is about sixty kilometers away from Cochin.
It is located on the banks of Periyar River and is a bird watchers’
paradise. One can see some rare species of birds in this sanctuary.
Lakshwadeep
Lakshwadeep is an archipelago on the Arabian ocean, which is very near to
Cochin. There are passenger boats, which goes regularly from Cochin to
these islands. The reefs and atolls in this group of islands are truly
spectacular. The distance is about 220 kilometers from Cochin and one can
reach there by both water and air.
Cheruthuruthy
Cheruthuruthy is at a distance of one hundred and ten kilometers from
Cochin. It is a famous art and dance academy of Kerala, which churns out
great performers. Here you can see and experience the rich cultural flavor
of Kerala.
Kolkata
One of the bustling cities Kolkata is considered among the
hottest tourist destinations in India; Kolkata is the capital of West
Bengal which is one of the most culturally and ethnically divers states of
India. It takes you on an idyllic trail of some of the best virgin
forests, mind-boggling scenic beauty slipped from the tight-fist of nature
which is sure to be packed with fun. During the weekends ATI trainees will
have enough time to enjoy the wonder-filled journey through the rich
cultural treasures of the state. Kolkata is a city full of surprises, and
if you're the kind of traveler who's game for the thrill of discovering
new places, people and cultures, Calcutta is the perfect holiday
destination for you.
Getting around
Writers' Building: Writers Building is one of the finest examples of
classical European architecture anywhere in the world.
Sahid Minar: Literally meaning Martyrs' Monument, situated in the northern
part of the green belt of Calcutta called the Maidan. The base of the
monument is Egyptian, the column Syrian and the crown, a Turkish cupola.
Raj Bhawan: It's a must-see if you're in the Esplanade East area. During
the early days of British rule, when Calcutta was the capital of British
India, Raj Bhavan was the official residence of the Viceroys.
General Post Office: Built in 1868, located in BBD Bag area that controls
the entire postal system of Kolkata.
Eden Gardens: One of the top worlds famous cricket stadiums that can
accommodate around 1 lakh spectators.
High Court: Built by Walter Granvile in 1872 is one of the oldest courts
in India and landmark in Kolkata.
Indian Museum: One of the oldest museums in Asia, the Indian Museum was
founded in 1814. You'll need an entire day, or more, to fully enjoy the
fossils, coins, stones, Gandhara art, meteors and much more that go to
make up this museum. Don't miss the 4,000-year-old mummy here.
The Victoria Memorial: Amongst the must visit places of Kolkata is the
Victoria Memorial. It is a huge white-marble structure and the most
enduring of remains of the British Raj in India. The structure, which is
now floodlit in the night, gives a fascinating site.
Birla Planetarium is one of the largest of its kind in the world, and a
good place to visit while in Kolkata. Regular shows in Hindi and English
are held here.
Howrah Bridge is another important place to be seen in Calcutta. It is an
excellent example of engineering techniques of the early 20th century. The
whole bridge is 450 m long without any pylon in the river. The bridge is
well known as the busiest bridge in the world catering to around 100,000
vehicles and innumerable pedestrians.
Kali Mandir in Kalighat and Dakshineshwar: One the must visit temples
dedicated to Goddess Kali.
Belur Math: the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission is another tourist
attraction of Calcutta. The place was founded in 1899 and houses a
structure that was designed to be a church, temple, and mosque all in one.
Jorasanko Thakurbari ( Tagore’s house ): The rambling Thakurbari was built
in the 18th century by Dwarkanath Tagore, the grandfather of Nobel
Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. This is also the place where Rabindranath
was born and passed away.
Other important sites that can be visited are Fort William, Maidan, BBD
Bagh, Botanical Garden, Marble Palace, Church of St John, Nakhoda Mosque,
Town Hall, St. Paul's Cathedral, Calcutta Race Course, Rabindra Sadan.
Weekend trips / Excursions
For some more excitement and adventure one can go for a short excursion
from Kolkata to the following destinations:
The most popular place to visit around Calcutta is Shanti Niketan which is
situated 136 km northwest of the city, this is the place where
Rabindranath Tagore lived and established a university.
Another good place to visit is Chandannagar which is around 35 Kms from
Kolkata.
Bishnupur, 100 km northwest of Calcutta, is yet another exciting and
hitherto unexplored excursion for Kolkata. Bishnupur houses unique
terracotta temples, each more beautifully embellished than the other.
Bishnupur is renowned for its crafts such as intricate Balucheri saris,
the rare ganijifa (circular Indian playing card), delicate carving on
shells and bell metal artifacts. This is the perfect destination for those
seeking for a trip full of adventure.
|
|
|
