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Ajabgarh located in Rajasthan (183 kms from Delhi) is named after its founder Ajab Singh Rajawat, the grandson of Madho Singh, founding ruler of Bhangarh. Moghul Emperor Akbar the Great is said to have stayed in Ajabgarh during the inauguration of Somsagar, a reservoir lake in the hills behind Ajabgarh. Shah Jahan, famed creator of the Taj Mahal, was entertained here at a chhatri erected specially for him by Ajab Singh when the former was passing through this valley to join his son, Aurangzeb, on a campaign against the Maharajah of Orchha. Ajab Singh’s grand-aunt, Jodha Bai of Jaipur was married to Akbar. In the 1930’s, the dam which borders Amanbagh was built. Garh is the Hindi word for fort and in this part of Rajasthan there are three such places i.e Ajabgarh, Pratapgarh and Ramgar,á all named after their founders who were brothers. …

Ajabgarh’s finest present day attractions are the fort and the old temple, dedicated to Shri Raghunathji. Built in 1635 AD, it features a 24-pillared open courtyard and a marble facade. This temple once housed a statue a Lord Rama and the Goddess Sita, bejeweled with precious stones. It was unfortunately stolen. The temple and Ajabgarh fort are connected by an underground passage originally designed for use by the royal ladies so they could enter the temple in complete privacy. The resort in Ajabgarh : Amanbagh is a verdant oasis of mature palm, fruit and eucalyptus trees lying within a walled compound once the staging area for royal hunts. Evoking the palatial elegance of the Moghul era, AmanbaghÆs Haveli Suites and Pool Pavilions provide a tranquil base from which to explore the rich heritage of Rajasthan, IndiaÆs dramatic frontier region. AmanbaghÆs award-winning design features domed cupolas and private courtyards. Excursions to Ajabgarh from Amanbagh can be organized during the day on foot, by camel and horseback, or in the resortÆs open jeeps. During the warmer months, you can travel via camel or open jeep to a candle-lit dinner for two (or more) in a chhatri ruin near Ajabgarh. This overlooks the lake and mountains with the fort perched above. Ajabgarh is located 62.1 KM away from the nearest Airport at Jaipur.

Kovalam is a beach town on the Arabian Sea in Thiruvananthapuram city, Kerala, India. It is located around 13 km from the down town of Trivandrum. Kovalam means “a grove of coconut trees” and true to its name, the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. Kovalam first received attention when the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore constructed her beach resort, Halcyon Castle, here towards the end of the 1920s. Thereafter the place was brought to the public eye by her nephew the Maharaja of Travancore. The European guests of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potentiality of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in the 1930s. However, Kovalam came into limelight in the early seventies with the arrival of the masses of hippies on their way to Ceylon in the Hippie Trail. This exodus started the transformation of a casual fishing village of Kerala into one of the most important tourist destinations in India.

Kovalam has three beaches separated by the rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline; together these three form the famous crescent of the Kovalam beach. The three beaches are Lighthouse Beach, Hawah (EveÆs) Beach and Samudra Beach. The beaches have steep palm covered headlands and are lined with shops that offer all kinds of goods and services. The normal tourist season is from September to May. There are a large number of beach resorts in and around Kovalam. The sea port of Vizhinjam is about 3 km away and famous for its special varieties of fish, old Hindu temples, big churches and a mosque. Kovalam was among the most prominent tourist spots in India especially during the hippy era. It still has a high status among tourists from Europe and Israel. Kovalam is finding a new significance in the light of several Ayurvedic salons, and recuperation and regeneration resorts, which provide a wide variety of Ayurvedic treatments to tourists.

The Kerala backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast) of Kerala state in southern India. The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both man-made and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents. These had created low barrier islands across the mouths of many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range. The Kerala Backwaters are a network of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes and inlets, a labyrinthine system, which is formed by more than 900 km of waterways, and sometimes it is compared to the American Bayou. In the midst of this landscape there are a number of towns and cities, which serve as the starting and end points of backwater cruises. The backwaters have a unique ecosystem – freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea. In certain areas, such as the Vembanad Kayal, where a barrage has been built near Kumarakom, salt water from the sea is prevented from entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes. Many unique species of aquatic life including crabs, frogs and mudskippers, water birds such as terns, kingfishers, darters and cormorants, and animals such as otters and turtles live in and alongside the backwaters. Palm trees, pandanus shrubs, various leafy plants and bushes grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green hue to the surrounding landscape. Vembanad Kayal is the largest of the lakes, covering an area of 200 km▓, and bordered by Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts.

The port of Kochi (Cochin) is located at the lake’s outlet to the Arabian Sea. Alleppey, “Venice of the East”, has a large network of canals that meander through the town. Vembanad is IndiaÆs longest lake. The kettuvallams (Kerala houseboats) in the backwaters are one of the prominent tourist attractions in Kerala. More than 2000 kettuvallams ply the backwaters, the kettuvallams were traditionally used as grain barges, to transport the rice harvested in the fertile fields alongside the backwaters. Thatched roof over wooden hulls, 100 feet (30 m) in length, provided protection from the elements. At some point in time, the royalty used the boats as living quarters. Converted to accommodate tourists, the houseboats have become floating cottages with a sleeping area, western-style toilets, a dining area and a sit out on the deck. Most tourists spend the night on a houseboat. Food is cooked on the board by the accompanying staff û mostly having a flavor of Kerala. The houseboats are of various patterns and can be hired as per the size of the family or visiting group. The living-cum-dining room is usually open on at least three sides providing a grand view of the surroundings, including other boats, throughout the day when it is on the move. It is brought to a standstill at times of taking food and at night. Ketuvallams are motorized but generally proceed at a slow speed for smooth travel. All ketuvallams have a generator and most of the bedrooms are air-conditioned.

Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as ‘God’s Own Country’. The city lies about 220 kilometres (137 mi) north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram and about 180 km south of Kozhikode, the third largest city in Kerala . Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala. From time immemorial, the Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese have left indelible marks on the history and development of Cochin. Over the years, Cochin has emerged as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala and is perhaps the second most important city on the west coast of India (after Mumbai/Bombay). Cochin is proud of its world class port and international airport that link it to many major cities worldwide. This lovely seaside city is flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. Its proximity to the equator, the sea and the mountains provide a rich experience of a moderate equatorial climate.

Cochin is a small town, but has outgrown its original bounds and is now the general name given to much of the region adjoining the original town, which now includes Cochin, Fort Kochi, Mattanchery, Ernakulam and many other nearby towns and villages. Cochin is situated in Ernakulam district in the state of Kerala. Ernakulam is also the name of a town – the administrative capital of Ernakulam district – but for all practical purposes Ernakulam and Cochin, generally, refer to the same place. Kochi is the arguably the ideal starting point for exploring the unfathomable diversity and beauty of Kerala, rated in the top three tourist destinations by the World Travel & Tourism Council and featured in National Geographic Traveler’s ’50 greatest places of a lifetime’. The major tourist spots of Kochi are Chinese Fishing Nets, Fort Kochi beach, San Francisco Church, Jewish Synagogue and Jew Town Mattancherry, Dutch Palace. Bolghatty Palace and many more.

Kabini is one of the most popular wildlife destinations of Karnataka, probably because of its easy accessibility, lush green landscape surrounding a large picturesque lake, and fantastic sights of large herds of elephants. It is 80 km away from Mysore and 205 km from Bangalore, and comprises the southeastern part of Nagarahole National Park. Situated on the banks of the Kabini River, this forest reserve is spread over 55 acres of forestland, steep valleys, and water bodies.

Once a private hunting lodge of the Maharaja of Mysore, Kabini was a popular hunting (shikar) hotspot for British Viceroys and Indian royalty. Now it is considered as one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka, famous for its spectacular wildlife and bird life. Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary houses a number of endangered and rare species of animals. Some of the animals found here are leopard, panther, sambhar, spotted deer, cheetal, panther and 250 species of birds. The Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary is considered as one of the best bird sanctuaries in India. The water body inside the forest is unique to the Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary. The dam across the river near Beechanahalli adds beauty to the wildlife reserve. Major activities to be done in Kabini are Wildlife Safaris, Boating, bird watching, Nature walks, Bicycle trails, bonfires and tribal village. The best time to visit the Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary is October to May. During summer, animals in large numbers gather near the lake. It is best to avoid visiting the sanctuary between June and September as the region experiences heavy rainfall during this time of the year.

Chikmagalur is a town located in Chikkamagaluru district in the southwestern part of Karnataka. Located in the foothills of Mullayanagiri range, Chikmagalur is famous for coffee and is known as the ‘coffee land’ of Karnataka. Coffee seed was planted here for the first time in India. Chikmagalur is a trekker’s delight due to its rugged mountain trails, numerous hills, valleys and fresh water streams. Explore the rare wildlife sanctuary, ancient temples and forts. Take a stroll through the coffee plantations or catch a magnificent sunset. Experience the best of Western Ghats in Chikmagalur. For an enriching experience on the world of coffee, visit the Coffee Museum… Chikmagalur is famous for its hill stations.

It has international school called Ambar Valley and a star resort by the name Serai. The nearest airport to this town is Bajpe International Airport of Mangalore (160 km). The nearest railway station is Kadur (40 km). Chickmagalur district was called Kadur district until 1947. The district took its name from the headquarters town of Chickmagalur which literally means younger daughter’s town – Chikka + Magala + Ooru (in Kannada). It is said to have been given as a dowry to the younger daughter of Rukmangada, the legendary chief of Sakrepatna. Another part of the town bestowed on the elder daughter is known as Hiremagalur. A centre of education, trade and commerce, the town enjoys a salubrious climate and has venerated monuments of all religions- Kodandarama temple a synthesis of Hoysala and Dravidian styles of architecture, Jamia Mosque and the new St.Joseph’s Cathedral with an attractive shell shaped portico.

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