There are lots of things to do before you travel – by being prepared your journey will go more smoothly, and in the event of an emergency you will have a fall-back.

Visit (links to government sites): US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland all have travel advice sites. (TBA)

Passports and Visas
For every country you want to visit – find out if you need a visa. For a list of embassy and consulate websites, visaproject.com is a site that can help you. Check it out.

Examples: European Union – citizens of member countries can travel around freely, no visas required. Americans can travel to the European Union without visas – be aware that not all of Europe is part of the European Union – Ukraine is not a member and many nationalities need a visa. Europeans need a visa for visiting Australia!

Before applying for a visa, check out your passport, how long is it valid for ? If it is not valid for more than 6 months after the expected end of your travels – get it renewed – many countries require you to have a period of validity on your passport of 6 months beyond your entry, for example Australia.

TravelTIP: Look after your passport – on the road it is one of your two most important possessions, the other being your money/atm/credit card. Do not let these get damaged or stolen. Get an under-clothes wallet, and a watertight plastic bag that is slightly larger than your passport – a zip locking freezer bag is suitable, with a piece of rigid (but thin plastic) that is the same size – place your atm card, credit card, rigid plastic and passport inside the water tight bag, and place all this in your under-clothes wallet. Keep some of your money, a photocopy of your passport in a more accessible place, as you’ll be asked for your passport details quite often for administrative purposes, such as checking in to hostels and hotels – so use the photocopy instead.

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You need a trusted person at home (especially useful if you can remember their phone number!), a photocopy and scanner(optional), your passports, the emergency numbers for your ATM/Credit Cards, your travel Insurance Document and emergency numbers.

Photocopy your passport – if you’re travelling with someone, get a copy with both passports on the same piece of paper. Leave a copy with your trusted friend/family at home – next, have one each in an accessible place – you will be asked to for passport details on checking into many hostels and hotels – you don’t want to be rummaging around under your clothes every time – the only people that need to see your identification are border guards and police (and if you get asked by police, go to the police station with them, do not hand over passports on the street – common street scam). Finally, for extra security you can scan a copy of your passport and email it to your self, in the event of losing everything.

Copy down all the emergency telephone numbers for your credit/ATM cards onto two pieces of paper, one for your underclothes wallet, one for a trusted person at home. Also email a copy to your on-line web mail account. In the event of a robbery, it is crucial that you contact these numbers as quickly as possible to avoid being liable for any losses to your accounts.

Get two copies of your travel insurance document, one for your underclothes wallet, and one for your trusted home person.

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About Changu Lake
Changu Lake is literally known as the ‘ source of the lake’ in Bhutia language. Situated around 35 kms away from Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, this calm lake is located at an altitude of 12,310 ft on the Gangtok Nathu La highway.

The lake is about 1 km. Long, oval in shape, 15 meters deep and is considered sacred by the local people. It’s cool, placid water smoothly merges with the scenic beauty around. This placid lake remains frozen during the winter months up to mid-May.

The lake has charming Alpine forests, which is home to some rare animals like the Red Panda, Brahminy ducks and variety of birds. Between the month of May and August one can see a variety of flowers blooming like the Rhododendrous, various species of Primulas, Blue and Yellow Poppies, Iries etc.

NOTE : Foreigners are not allowed to visit Changu Lake and the Indian tourists are allowed only if they have inner permit, since the Lake falls in the restricted area.

Getting There
Since the Changu Lake is nearby Gangtok, one can easily reach it after landing in Gangtok.

Air: Nearest airport is Bagdogra in West Bengal (124 kms), where flights fly to and fro from Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati. The Bagdogra airpot is connected to Gangtok by a helicopter service operating between Gangtok and Bagdogra.
Rail: There are two nearest railway stations, Siliguri (114kms) and New Jalpaiguri (125 kms ) connecting Sikkim to the important cities of India.
Road: Gangtok is well connected with other parts of Sikkim and the country by weather metaled roads. Hire a private taxis, Jeeps that ply regulary on the Gangtok Siliguri Highway and reach Changu Lake.

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About Yumthang Valley
Yumthang is a valley in the high reaches of Himalayas also known as the valley of flowers. The Yumthang valley is situated at an altitude of 1180 ft ( 35564 m) with a close proximity of Tibet. Yumthang is a beautiful destination, covered with Rhododendron and Primula flowers. It also offers view of a stunning array of peaks with Pauhunri and Shundu Tsenpa. A number of hot springs are scattered in the valley providing an unexpected opportunity to feel the warmth of the water even in freezing temperature. Rich in sulfur these springs are believed to have miraculous healing power. A tributary of the river Teesta flows past the valley and there’s the town of Lachung, the nearest inhibited center.

NOTE : Foreigners are allowed to visit the valley only if they procure a permit from the tourism department of Sikkim.

Getting There
Air: Nearest airport is Bagdogra in West Bengal (124 kms), where flights fly to and fro from Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati. The Bagdogra airport is connected to Gangtok by a helicopter service operating between Gangtok and Bagdogra.
Rail: Visitors can travel by rail from Kolkata up to New Jalpaiguri. Gangtok is about 15-km by road from this place. Taxis are available at the station for hire.
Road: Gangtok is well connected with other parts of Sikkim and the country by weather metaled roads.

Accommodation
Accommodation is not available at the valley. One can stay at Lachung, which is about an hour away from the valley. There are hotels, Lodges and tourist hostels in Lachung but not as compared to other destinations in Sikkim.

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About Gopalpur-on-sea
Gopalpur-on-sea, also termed as ‘best beach resort in Orissa’ by the visitors, is a lovely laid-back village on sea-shore, carrying an altogether different attitude from the temple towns of Orissa. Gopalpur got its name from an 18th century temple dedicated to Krishna (Gopala). Once a prominent trading sea-port, during the British Raj, Gopalpur has transformed into a quiet and relaxed place. The crumbling walls and pillars of the harbor, are a witness to its past glory of commercial activity. It has been growing into one of India’s prettiest beach resorts.

Take a break from your routine activity and enjoy a lazy though lovely holiday at Gopalpur-at-sea. The beach is spread for miles and covered with coconut groves, casuarina trees and sand dunes. Gopalpur-on-sea is a perfect place for your beach-holiday. Watch the blue waters and high waves, sleepy lagoons and tiny creeks. Its a place where you can goof off on the sand or stroll down the beach and gorge on seafood. Climb up the ancient lighthouse or take a yatch in the midst of the sea-waves. Seafood of Gopalpur is the best thing you can enjoy, besides the golden beach.

Major Tourist Attractions near Gopalpur-on-sea
Taptapani
Situated 67 km away, Taptapani has hot water springs and is a wonderful place to soak away your aches and pains.

Dhavaleswar
Situated 15 km away, Dhavaleshwar is known for its widespread golden beach and a sand bleached Lord Shiva Temple.

Beach Activities
How about yatching? Get a yatch from the old sea-port and go in the sea to tackle the sea-waves. Move to the old lighthouse and climb it up. Watch the lovely scene of the bay from the top of the building. Or just wander around the seashore, watching the blue water, high waves and the sea lagoons.

Getting There
Air: The nearest airport is Bhubaneswar, which is 180 Km from Gopalpur.
Rail: The nearest railway station is Berhampur, only 16 Km from Gopalpur.Berhampur os well connnected to Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Chennai and other major cities of India.
Road: Gopalpur is connected by road to Berhampur (16-km), Bhubaneshwar (180-km) and Puri (242-km).

Accommodation
Gopalpur has variety of choices to stay, ranging from star class hotels, tourist resorts and beach shacks. Luxury hotels offer rooms facing the sea, and offer you the best services and comfort. Tourists can also get renovated old bungalows on rent. While economy options like the youth hostel are also there.

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About Kolkata
Kolkata, earlier called as Calcutta, used to be the political capital of India before independence. The city does not have a very old history, as what is Kolkata today, was just a collection of three small villages some 300 years ago. The city, now one of the top four metropolitans of India, was developed by the East India company following their policy of expansion. Kolkata has some of the finest buildings during the British rule in India. The city is famous for the Howrah bridge, the largest bridge in India, the first metro train in India, for being the hometown of Mother Teresa in India and the birthplace of Rabindranath Tagore. Kolkata has a mystical medley of the traditions and modernity.

There is so much to see in this incredible city. The city has different connotations for people. People see it as a city of joy as well as a dirty, crowded, and noisy place. A shoppers paradise, the city has good markets which offer unique novelties on sale. Never to be missed is the exotic Bengali cuisine, which specialises in spicy fish and chicken preparations, along with the globally famous sweets like Sandesh, Rosogolla, Chanar Payesh & Misti Doi. Chinese cuisine is equally popular and is available in the restaurants around the city.

Major Tourist Attractions in Kolkata
Victoria Memorial
A fascinating piece of architecture, which has been converted to a museum, hosts the most memorable artifacts and collectibles from the days of British rule. The building was built from the white marbles of Jodhpur as a memorial to Queen Victoria.

Indian Museum
Established in 1814, the building has beautiful structure. The oldest museum in India, it has one of the rarest collections of archeological importance. Some of the coin in the collection are about 2400 years old.

Eden Garden
The oldest cricket ground of India, gets its name from Mrs. Eden, sister of Lord Auckland. The garden has a Burmese pagoda and a band stand. The cricket ground here can accommodate more than 1 lac people.

Birla Planetarium
Its one of the largest planetariums in the world, and a good place to enjoy. Inaugurated on 29th September, 1962, the internal diameter of the tomb is 82 feet. The auditorium has a capacity of 500 and it conducts regular shows in Hindi, English and Bengali.

Howrah Bridge
An excellent example of engineering techniques, the 450 m long bridge hangs without any towers in the river. The bridge is also one of the busiest bridge in the world, catering to around 100,000 vehicles and innumerable pedestrians. The bridge connects Kolkata and Howrah over river Hooghly.

Shanti Niketan
136 km from Kolkata is the place where Rabindranath Tagore lived and established a university.

Getting There
Air: Kolkata is home to the N.S.C. International airport at Dumdum. Regular flights to rest of India and world are available here.
Rail: Howrah and Sealdah are the two major railway station, which are very well connected to the other parts of the country.
Road: Kolkata, being among the top metros of India, is connected to the rest of India by excellent road network.

Accommodation
Like any big city, Kolkata has numerous options for stay. Luxurious star rated hotels, government owned hotels, guest houses, hostels, lodges and budget hotels provide the tourist with variety to chose from.

http://www.oasistravelindia.com

About Kolkata
Kolkata, earlier called as Calcutta, used to be the political capital of India before independence. The city does not have a very old history, as what is Kolkata today, was just a collection of three small villages some 300 years ago. The city, now one of the top four metropolitans of India, was developed by the East India company following their policy of expansion. Kolkata has some of the finest buildings during the British rule in India. The city is famous for the Howrah bridge, the largest bridge in India, the first metro train in India, for being the hometown of Mother Teresa in India and the birthplace of Rabindranath Tagore. Kolkata has a mystical medley of the traditions and modernity.

There is so much to see in this incredible city. The city has different connotations for people. People see it as a city of joy as well as a dirty, crowded, and noisy place. A shoppers paradise, the city has good markets which offer unique novelties on sale. Never to be missed is the exotic Bengali cuisine, which specialises in spicy fish and chicken preparations, along with the globally famous sweets like Sandesh, Rosogolla, Chanar Payesh & Misti Doi. Chinese cuisine is equally popular and is available in the restaurants around the city.

Major Tourist Attractions in Kolkata
Victoria Memorial
A fascinating piece of architecture, which has been converted to a museum, hosts the most memorable artifacts and collectibles from the days of British rule. The building was built from the white marbles of Jodhpur as a memorial to Queen Victoria.

Indian Museum
Established in 1814, the building has beautiful structure. The oldest museum in India, it has one of the rarest collections of archeological importance. Some of the coin in the collection are about 2400 years old.

Eden Garden
The oldest cricket ground of India, gets its name from Mrs. Eden, sister of Lord Auckland. The garden has a Burmese pagoda and a band stand. The cricket ground here can accommodate more than 1 lac people.

Birla Planetarium
Its one of the largest planetariums in the world, and a good place to enjoy. Inaugurated on 29th September, 1962, the internal diameter of the tomb is 82 feet. The auditorium has a capacity of 500 and it conducts regular shows in Hindi, English and Bengali.

Howrah Bridge
An excellent example of engineering techniques, the 450 m long bridge hangs without any towers in the river. The bridge is also one of the busiest bridge in the world, catering to around 100,000 vehicles and innumerable pedestrians. The bridge connects Kolkata and Howrah over river Hooghly.

Shanti Niketan
136 km from Kolkata is the place where Rabindranath Tagore lived and established a university.

Getting There
Air: Kolkata is home to the N.S.C. International airport at Dumdum. Regular flights to rest of India and world are available here.
Rail: Howrah and Sealdah are the two major railway station, which are very well connected to the other parts of the country.
Road: Kolkata, being among the top metros of India, is connected to the rest of India by excellent road network.

Accommodation
Like any big city, Kolkata has numerous options for stay. Luxurious star rated hotels, government owned hotels, guest houses, hostels, lodges and budget hotels provide the tourist with variety to chose from.

http://www.oasistravelindia.com

The Architecture
Calcutta-Howrah Bridge is a feat of nineteenth-century bridge engineering and technology. The 270 ft high and 1528 ft long bridge was completed in 1874, becoming the biggest floating structure of India. Famed British professional Engineer Sir Bradford Leslie was appointed the chief architect for the project. Due to some technical reasons, a portion of the bridge was made in England and shipped to Calcutta. The bridge got partially destroyed by the great cyclone of 20 March 1874. A steamer, collided with the bridge and damaged three pontoons, amounting to total destruction of 200 ft of the massive structure. The bridge eventually got completed and was opened for traffic on 17 October 1874. It was described as a structure of novelty and originality in its design. The bridge though has gone very old but is still holding good. A new bridge, alongside the old bridge, got constructed to reduce the traffic load on the older one.

Tourist Information
Visiting Hours: Is open throughout for the traffic.
Entry Fee: Nil.
When to visit: Best time to visit Kolkata is October to March.

Other Attractions near the Howrah Bridge
In Kolkata, the famous Victoria memorial (1921) and Indian Museum (1814) can be visited. These museums have some exclusive collections of ancient paintings, sculpture, stamps etc. India’s oldest cricket ground, Eden Garden, is also in this city. Birla Planetarium, one of the largest
planetariums in the world is a good place to enjoy. The auditorium has a capacity of 500 and it conducts regular shows in Hindi, English and Bengali.

Getting There
Air: There is N.S.C. International airport at Dumdum in Kolkata. Regular flights to rest of India and world are available here.
Rail: Kolkata is very well connected to rest of India through two major railway station, Sealdah and Howrah.
Road: Kolkata is connected to the rest of India by excellent road network.

Accommodation
Kolkata has numerous options for stay. One can find luxurious star rated hotels, government owned hotels, guest houses, hostels, lodges and budget hotels to choose from.

http://www.oasistravelindia.com

» Location : 13 Kms From Munnar, Kerala
» Languages : Malayalam, Hindi, English
» Altitude : 1700 m Above Sea Level
» Famous For : Indo-Swiss Livestock Project

Hill Stations in Kerala
» Munnar
» Mattupetti
» Ponmudi
more Hill Stations in South India

Situated at a height of 1700 m, Mattupetty is famous for its highly specialised dairy farm, the Indo-Swiss live stock project. Over 100 varieties of high yielding cattle are reared here.

Visitors are allowed into three of the eleven cattle sheds at the farm. The Mattupetty Lake and Dam, just a short distance from the farm, is a very beautiful picnic spot.

The sprawling Kundala tea plantations and the Kundala Lake are other attractions in the vicinity. DTPC Idukki provides boating facilities on the Mattupetty Dam. Speed Launch and slow speed motor boats are available on hire.

Prime Attractions of Mattupetti
§ Indo-Swiss Livestock Project : (Mattuppetty is noted for its Indo-Swiss Livestock Project, where improved varieties of cattle are bred. The farm is open to visitors from morning till evening.

§ Mattupetty Lake And Dam : A nature lover’s paradise, Mattuppetty Lake is nestled on the hills of Idukki, one of the most nature rich districts of Kerala.The calm, tranquil waters of the Mattuppetty Lake offer solace to the weary souls. A boat cruise on the lake is the best way to experience the idyllic destination.

The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) at Idukki is providing speed boats, motor boats, pedal boats and row boat facilities at the lake.

How to Get There
Air : Nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, about 130 km.

Rail : Nearest railway station is at Kottayam about 142 km from Munnar.

Road : Mattuppetty is just a 13 km drive from Munnar, the most enchanting hill station of south India.

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» Location : Kerala Backwaters
» Significance : Traditional Houseboats
» Other Activities : Backwater Cruises, Angling
» Also Known As : Kettuvallams

House Boat of Kerala
» The Glory of House Boats
» Features of Houseboats
» Kettuvallam Houseboats
more Kerala House Boat

Kettuvallams, the stitched boats provide the best way to experience the colourful backwaters of Kerala. The Kettuvalloms of Kerala are giant country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length.

The traditional house boat, the indispensable part of the picturesque backwaters of Kerala, was mainly used in Travancore and Kochi and in the Minicoy Islands in olden times.

The wood commonly used to make Kettuvalloms is ‘Anhili’, which is found in abundance in central Travancore area. Large planks are tied together using hand made coir ropes and beaten coconut fibres.

This gives the Kettuvallams enough strength to withstand heavy waves in the sea. These long cargo boats are a familiar sight on the backwaters. These traditional house boats undoubtedly form one of the most abiding images of the backwaters in Kerala.

Today, these goods carriers have been adapted to make the most exciting tourism product in India, the luxuriously furnished house boat. Kettuvallams or the ‘house-boats of Kerala’ dot the serene palm-fringed backwaters of Kerala.

Witness The Making Of the Traditional Kettuvallams
At a quiet spot just outside the small town of Karunagapally, 23 kms north of Quilon, it’s possible to watch the construction of traditional Kettuvallams. Kettuvallams are built entirely without the use of nails.

It requires great skill and adroitness to construct these giant boats by tying huge planks of jack wood together. The boats are applied with fish oil and cashew nut oil and left to cure for days.

Oil is simultaneously applied atleast three times before the boat is set on water. Each jackwood plank is joined to the next with coir rope, and then the whole is coated with a caustic black resin made from boiled cashew kernels. With careful maintenance, they last for generations.

The Luxury In Water – Kerala House Boats
Kettuvallams, the large traditional house boats are converted into floating luxury dwelling units. These house boats are available in all sizes and shapes, the most popular accommodation type being a suite, having one or two bath attached bedrooms, one living room, kitchenette, an open lounge, deck and a crew comprising oarsmen, a cook and guide.

The house boats are generally powered by a small outboard engine, allowing one to cruise along the backwaters. A recent innovation is a small conference room in a house boat.

Enjoy The Backwaters of Kerala
A sojourn in Kettuvallams, the House boats of Kerala, offers a panoramic view of one of the most picturesque aspects of the God’s Own Country. One can cruise in it through the palm-fringed backwaters, throughout a night in waxing moonlights.

The lullaby of the waves and the dazzling delights of the moonlit night can be experienced by spending a couple of nights aboard the Kettuvallam. The traditional house boat of Kerala is one of the most enduring images of the backwaters. These house boats are converted version of the “Kuttanadan Kettuvallams”.

Price For Comfort
A 24-hour stay costs somewhere in the range of Rs. 6000. There are cheaper ones including dormitories and one bedroom. About 250 boats operate along the backwaters.

Cheaper boats are available for much less but it is a cheaper experience too. At the dockside, called Finishing Point at Alappuzha, the town of house boat operators and the starting point for backwater journeys, the boats are available for even Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per day.

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