Chitrakoot Waterfall - Niagara Waterfall of India

The Chitrakoot WaterFalls (alternative spelling Chitrakut) (Hindi: चित्रकोट जलप्रपात)  is a waterfall located near Jagdalpur, in Bastar district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh on the Indravati River. The height of the falls is about 29 metres (95 ft).The breadth of the waterfall varies, as the water level in the river goes down drastically during summer. However during a monsoon the river touches both the banks and is filled with silt. In contrast, during summer the water carries no silt and looks different. This is a contrast to Jog falls which has water that looks white even during monsoon.The area around the falls is largely forested.

Chitrakoot Falls is listed amongst the most popular waterfalls in Chhattisgarh. The strikingly beautiful falls showcases immense natural beauty amidst the densely forested surroundings.The waters of the river flowing through dense vegetation and cascades from a height of about     95 feet is a treat to watch and attracts thousands of tourists. The breadth of the waterfall varies according to the season and goes down drastically in the summers. 

Indravati River flowing through the majestic grandeur of Vindhya ranges is one of the main tributaries of the mighty Narmada River. Chitrakoot  s also an important religious destination and a famous Hindu pilgrimage center in Chhattisgarh. Every year thousands of pilgrims visit this place for Hari darshan and offer prayers and homage to the Lord Hari. Tourists and pilgrims get a golden opportunity of watching the falls as well as offering prayers on their visit to Chitrakoot   The best season to visit this place is during the months of July through October.

Chitrakote WaterFalls is also referred as the Niagara Falls of India and has got the distinction of being the broadest waterfall in India. It is located 38 km (24 mi) from Jagdalpur and is accessible by road only.There is a helipad but it is used by government only. A very good quality resort namely Chitrakot Resorts has been set up by Chhattisgarh Tourism near the falls.

Majuli-largest river island in the world

                                                                     Aerial View of  Majuli  River Island

             Majuli (Majoli) which lies in the Brahmaputra River in Assam state is one of the world’s largest freshwater river islands. Majuli lies about 200km east of Guwahati, Assam’s largest city, and can be reached by ferry from the town of Jorhat.

                                                                 

                                                                  

              

             

                 The majority of majuli’s inhabitants are tribal’s, mainly Mishings, who migrated here from Arunachal Pradesh hundreds of years ago. There are 144 villages with about 1.5 million people. The island was once the centre of the Vaishnava cult (there are 22 of the original 65 satras or monasteries which have survived), and the Ras or the dance of Krishna and the gopis, is still performed here during Bihu, the harvest festival.Its tributaries, mainly the Lohit. Mājuli is also the abode of the Assamese neo-Vaisnavite culture.

                                   

      

Tourist interests

                                                                                An exotic view of Majuli

              Mājuli is situated at a distance of 20 km from Jorhat. One can take the bus or a hired taxi to the Nimati Steamer Ghat from where ferry services ply. The distance takes over three hours to cover, with three bus rides and two ferry rides.

            On the north-bank is the river Subansiri and on the South bank, the mighty Brahmaputra has excided the island from the main land. Lakhimpur town is to the North and Golaghat is to its southwest. The town of Sibsagar is on the southeast and Jorhat is to the south. On the extreme east is Dibrugarh District.

• The Vaishnava Satras founded by Sankardeva
• The colourful culture of the tribes
• Migratory birds
• The Ali-ai-ligang festival in Feb-March
• Pottery making
• Mask making
• Paal Namm festival in the end of winter
• The sunset in winter
• Exotic homespun masks crafts

How to go :
              

               Majuli can be reached by three prime routes in normal time. From Jorhat through Nematighat, Luit-Khabalu ghat from North Lakhimpur and Dhakuakhana from Dhemaji. Air connectivity to Jorhat from Delhi via Kolkota and daily flight to Guwahati from Delhi and Kolkota are available. By roadways Jorhat and Lakhimpur are the first destination where from you will get next road communication to Majuli through daily ferry services available on the bank of Brahmaputra and Khabalu river respectively. By roadways daily train services are there to Guwahati from Delhi and Kolkota.

Kutumsar Caves-World's Second Largest Cave with Blind Fish

More than 330 m in length, the serpentine Kutumsar cave claim to be the second largest in the world (the longest cave of the world is Mammoth Cave in the U.S.A. which is some 572 kilometres long). This is a biggest tourist attraction, and are close to Tiratgarh waterfalls. Both Kutumsar Caves and Kailash Gufa are located in Kanger Valley National Park and situated at a distances of 38 Km. and 40 Kms.

           You will find steps cut on rocks at the entrance and once inside you are bound to be fascinated by the mystifying shapes of the stalactites. One must be very careful because of a dearth of sunlight inside the cave, the floor remains covered in puddles of water. The cave lakes has blind fish and frogs.It is 40 feet deep and an amazing 4,500 feet in length.

The Kutumsar caves are pitch-dark caves, which has Stalactites and Stalagmites in fantastic formations. There are guides who take you in with the help of torches. It is the stalagmite Shivlinga formed over a period of hundreds of years at the extreme end of the cave that serves as the main attraction. Walk till the end of the cave to view the Shivlinga. Carrying torch is recommended. Living in tents in the dense forest and trekking through the many trails is exicting. Kailash gufa is also similar to the Kutumsar caves.

How To Reach :

By Air - The nearest airport is Raipur

By Rail - The Kutumsar Cave is 32 km from Jagdalpur

By Road - Well connected by roads

Murudeshwara- the world's second-tallest Shiva statue

           Murudeshwara is a town in the Bhatkal Taluk of Uttara Kannada district in the state of Karnataka, India. Famous for the world's second-tallest Shiva statue, Murudeshwara beach town lies on the coast of the Arabian Sea and is also famous for the Murudeshwara Temple.

Major attractions

          Murudeshwara Temple and Raja Gopura: This temple is built on the Kanduka Hill which is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Arabian Sea. It is dedicated to the Lord Shiva, and a 20-storied Gopura is constructed at the temple. Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps leading to it. The entire temple and temple complex, including the 237.5-feet-tall Raja Gopura, is one among the tallest, was constructed to its present form by businessman and philanthropist R. N. Shetty.

          The temple is entirely modernized with exception of the sanctum sanctorum which is still dark and retains its composure. The main deity is Sri Mridesa Linga, also called Murudeswara. The linga is believed to be a piece of the original Atma Linga and is about two feet below ground level. The devotees performing special sevas like Abhisheka, Rudrabhisheka, Rathotsava etc. can view the deity by standing before the threshold of the sanctum and the Lingam is illuminated by oil lamps held close by the priests. The Lingam is essentially a rough rock inside a hollowed spot in the ground. Entry into the sanctum is banned for all devotees.

          Statue of Lord Shiva: A huge towering statue of Lord Shiva, visible from great distances, is present in the temple complex. It is the Second highest statue of Lord Shiva in the world. The Tallest Lord shiva statue is in Nepal known as the(Kailashnath Mahadev Statue).The statue is 123 feet (37 m) in height and took about two years to build. The statue was built by Shivamogga's Kashinath and several other sculptors, financed by businessman and philanthropist R.N. Shetty, at a cost of approximately 50 million Rs. The idol is designed such that it gets the sunlight directly and thus appears sparkling. Originally, the statue had four arms and was adorned in gold paint. However, large wind gusts blew one arm off (the one that held a small drum), and rain dissolved the paint.

Travel Guide:

         The nearest airport to Murudeshwar is Mangalore International Airport at distance of 160 kilometre. Murudeshwar has railway station on Konkan railway route.

Pirotan Island

               Pirotan Island (also known as Pirothan) is an Arabian Sea island in the Marine National Park, Jamnagar District of Gujarat state, India.It is located 12 nautical miles (22 km) off the coast (Bedi Port), consists of mangroves and low-tide beaches, and has an area of 3 square kilometres. The center of the island is at 22°35′59.7″N 69°57′20.8″E. Rozi island is located about 10 kilometres to the southeast.

          

       The island was originally known "Pir jo thaan" meaning the place of the holy Saint Khwaja Khizer Rahmatullahialaih. The sacred shrine of Khwaja Khijer Rahmatullahialaih is located on the island.

     

      Of the 42 islands in the park, Pirotan Island is the most popular and is one of the two islands where visitors are normally permitted.[citation needed] Visitation is strictly limited, permission is required from the Forest Department, Customs Department and the Ports.The mangroves consist mainly of species of Rhizophora, Avicennia and Ceriops.

        There are no routine ferry service to island. One has to hire boats from the port. These boats take about 1.5 hours to reach the island. Since the beach is very shallow, the boats can only reach the island during high tide and leave the island during high tide.

Marine: 

 Various types of Crabs    Wiper- Isosceles     Sea Worms

 Neptune                              Sea snakes               Sabella

 Wolf                                  Sea slugs                   Mud Skipper

 King crab                           Sea Horse                  Sea Bonellia

 Hermit crabs                      Squid                        Coaster Cather

 Ghost crabs                       Sea Anemone             Sea Urchin

Sea Scorpions                         Octopus    

Plus there are Saw-scaled Vipers & Scorpions too  

                                                                                                                               

   

Visiting Pirotan:

           Most visitors come in the morning with the high tide and leave by evening. Weekends in winters may bring more than 200-300 visitors.                                                                                              

        The island being protected marine park, several permissions are required for visiting. For Indian Nationals, permission from local Forest Department, Customs Department & Ports Department. Foreign nationals additionally require permission for Police Office.

       There are no routine ferry service to island. One has to hire boats from the port. These boats take about 1.5 hours to reach the island. Since the beach is very shallow, the boats can only reach the island during high tide and leave the island during high tide.