Kufri

Kufri is a tiny hill station located near Shimla. It is famous for its trekking and hiking trails. Adventure-seeking travelers throng Kufri in winters to enjoy skiing and tobogganing along its snow-covered slopes. Kufri is also famous for its nature parks and picnic spots. Kufri's proximity to the hill station of Shimla makes it an important place to visit.

Kufri is located in the southern part of the state of Himachal Pradesh, in the northern region of India. It is perched at an altitude of 2,510 m above sea level amongst the foothills of the Himalayas. It is 13 km from Shimla. The weather in Kufri is alpine. Summers (April-June) are mild while winters (November-February) are cold. It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September. It experiences heavy snowfall in December-January.

The best time to visit Kufri is in summers, between April and June. However, one may also the place between December and February to enjoy snowfall and skiing.

The region around Shimla including Kufri was once a part of the Kingdom of Nepal. This region remained obscure from the rest of the world until the British 'discovered' it in 1819. The British made Shimla their summer capital in 1864 and it remained so until 1939. As Shimla gained importance, Kufri also began to be recognized as an important place to visit near Shimla.

Tourists attractions: Kufri is a tiny hill station. It is famous for its beautiful environs and the cool refreshing atmosphere that pervades it. In summers, travelers can enjoy the panoramic view of the surrounding verdant valleys and snow-capped peaks. There are a number of picnic spots, hiking and trekking trails in and around Kufri. Travelers can explore Kufri and its surrounding areas also on horseback. They can hike through thick forest around Kufri to the Mahasu Peak. The other places to visit in Kufri are the Himalayan Nature Park, which has a collection of animals and birds found only in Himachal Pradesh, and the Indira Tourist Park, which is near the Himalayan Nature Park and provides panoramic view of the locations around Kufri. In winters, the snow-covered slopes of Kufri come alive with skiers and other visitors.

Places around: Shimla, the capital city of the state of Himachal Pradesh is only 13 km from Kufri. It is an important destination on the tourist map of India. The British developed Shimla as an important hill station and the summer capital of India to escape from the heat of Delhi. This sprawling hill station set amongst the picturesque Shivalik range and Shimla hills has a number of tourist spots and important temples, apart from its beautiful natural surroundings. Travelers visiting Kufri generally travel via Shimla. Fagu, which is 6 km from Kufri, is an interesting picnic spot set amongst forests and orchards.

Fairs & festivals: A winter sports festival is organized every year in the month of February in Kufri. Skiing enthusiasts and adventure seekers participate in this festival.

How to reach:
Road - Kufri does not have an airport or a railway station. However, Kufri is linked with Shimla, Narkanda, and Rampur by road. Travelers can also hire taxis from Shimla to reach Kufri. The area around Kufri can be explored on horseback.

Mandu

Mandu is situated in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is around 283 km away from the capital city Bhopal. Mandu enjoys an extreme climate. The best season to visit this place is during the monsoon, that is, from July to September. While other places in Madhya Pradesh and most of the north and peninsular India are closed for tourism during monsoon, Mandu is more of a monsoon resort than anything else. The natural surroundings are in full bloom during this time.

Mandu was founded as a fortress and retreat in the 10th century by Raja Bhoj. It was conquered by the Muslim rulers of Delhi in 1304. After the victory of Mughals in the early 16th century on Delhi, Mandu came under the administration of Afghan Dilawar Khan, the Governor of Malwa. Hoshang Shah, son of Dilawar Khan, transferred his capital to Mandu. Until 1561, it remained under the Afghans when Akbar defeated Baz Bahadur, one of the Afghan chieftains ruling a part of central India. Baz Bahadur fled Mandu instead of facing the Mughal army. During the administration of Marathas, the capital of Malwa was shifted back to Dhar and Mandu became a ghost city for some time.
Tourist attractions
For convenience, the buildings of Mandu can be divided in three groups: the Royal Enclave Group, the Village Group, and the Rewa Kund Group.
Royal Enclave Group
Jahaz Mahal (or the Ship Palace) is probably the most famous building in Mandu. This ship-like structure was constructed by Ghiyas-ud-din, son of Mohammed Shah, for his harem. According to the legends, this harem was home to 15,000 maidens. There are two lakes on the east and west side of the palace that create a perfect illusion of a ship with its rectangular shape.
Taveli Mahal is located just south of Jahaz Mahal and now houses the antiquity gallery of the Archeological Survey of India.
Hindola Mahal (or Swing Palace) was a pleasure dome that gives the impression that the inward slopes of the walls are swaying.
Champa Baoli is an interesting step-well on the north edge of the tank situated there. It was a popular hot-weather retreat and featured cool wells and bathrooms.
Village Group - Jama Masjid is a huge mosque built in 1454 dominating the village of Mandu and is considered the finest example of Afghan architecture in India.

Hoshang's Tomb is located immediately behind the mosque and reputed to be the oldest marble structure in India. The tomb was constructed in 1435 and depicts typical Hindu influences including carved marble lattice screens (jali). It is said that Shahjahan sent his architects to study this double-domed structure before constructing Taj Mahal.
Ashrafi Mahal was originally built as a madarsa (a Muslim religious school), but later extended to become Mohammed Shah's tomb. Now only the ruins of this building are visible.
The Jain Temple is a complex of numerous buildings. There is also a Jain museum in the complex.
Rewa Kund Group - Baz Bahadur was the legendary king featuring in many folk stories of India for his love with Rupmati. He was the last independent king of Malwa. His palace was constructed in 1509 beside Rewa Kund. The palace displays a curious mix of Rajasthani and Mughal style of architecture. There was a water lift at the northern end of the tank to supply water to the tank.
Rupmati's Pavilion is situated on the very edge of Mandu Fort. It is a very romantic building, a perfect setting for fairytale romance. Nevertheless, unfortunately, the love story of Baz Bahadur and Rupmati had a tragic end. It is said that Akbar attacked Mandu for the sake of Rupmati and Baz Bahadur fled Mandu leaving Rupmati to poison herself.
There are some other monuments in Mandu like Darya Khan's Tomb, Hathi Mahal, and Neelkanth Palace that can be visited.
Places around
Bagh Caves is around 50 km off Mandu on the road between Indore and Vadodra in Gujarat. These Buddhist caves date from AD 400 to 700 and were in a poor condition until few years back when the restoration work began. There are some government guesthouses and dak bungalows nearby.
Fairs & festivals : Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over the Malwa region with much fun and gaiety. The festival is celebrated during September/October. The celebrations provide a window to the rich and colorful cultural heritage of the region.
The Malwa Festival is organized in Mandu by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department. The traditional art and cultural heritage of the region are displayed during this festival.
How to reach
Air - The nearest airhead is Indore, 99 km away from Mandu. Regular flights connect Indore with Delhi, Mumbai, Gwalior, and Bhopal.
Rail - Ratlam is the nearest railhead (124 km) on the Delhi-Mumbai main line. There are many trains linking Ratlam to other important cities of India.
Road - Mandu is connected with other cities in the region by a good road network. There are direct buses from Indore via Dhar. Mandu is also connected with Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh by direct buses.

Bhimtal

The small town of Bhimtal is famous as a lake resort. It offers to the tourists a quiet vacation and facilities for water sports. This beautiful town also attracts hundreds of tourists every year by its peaceful green surroundings.

Bhimtal is located in the northern part of the state of Uttarakhand, in the northern region of India. It is located at an altitude of 1,371 m above sea level amongst the Kumaon hills. It is 23 km from Nainital. The weather in Bhimtal is alpine. Summers (April-June) are mild and winters are cold (November-February). It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September.

Best time to visit: The best time to visit Bhimtal is from mid-April to mid-July and from mid-September to October.

History: The origin of this small town is obscure. Bhimtal got its name from Bhim, one of the legendary personalities and central characters mentioned in the Indian epic of Mahabharata.

Tourist attractions: The main tourist attraction of this small hill station is its lake. It is one of the largest lakes in the district of Nainital. The lake offers scope for boating to travelers. In the middle of the lake, there is a beautiful island with a restaurant. The island provides a panoramic view of the lake as well as its luxuriant surroundings. Travelers can also explore the region around the lake and take a walk through the quiet forest surrounding the lake. There is a large Victorian dam at one end of the lake and terraced flower gardens can be found on either side.
Bhimtal is also known for its lovely dappled paths, ravines festooned with dog rose and wild raspberry. Farmhouses are set among terraced fields and citrus trees laden with fruits. There is a Folk Culture Museum in Bhimtal, which is a private institution. It has a good collection of artifacts and information about the hill districts of Uttar Pradesh. The collection includes ancient wooden artifacts, information about traditional rites, rituals, stone implements, and items of archeological importance. It also houses a sizable collection of reproductions and photographs of rock art.
Places around
Naukuchiatal is 4 km from Bhimtal. It is a lake having nine corners. Like Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal also has quiet verdant environs, which attract the travelers. This tree-fringed lake is good for boating.

Sat Tal (literally seven lakes) is 7 km from Bhimtal. It is another important place to visit. Sat Tal was originally a cluster of seven lakes, out of which two have dried up. It is famous for fishing and boating. The densely wooded hills and little creeks along the shores of the lakes are a perennial attraction for tourists. Godhakhel Temple is 3 km from Bhim Tal.

How to reach
Air - Bhimtal does not have an airport of its own. The nearest airport is at Pant Nagar (55 km) and the nearest railway station is at Kathgodam (23 km).
Road - Bhimtal is well connected by bus with Nainital and Kathgodam. Tourists can also reach Bhimtal by hiring taxi from Nainital or Kathgodam.