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TOP 3 TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN GULMARG

But during winters, Gulmarg gets totally covered under snow and thus sets the stage for skiing and polar golf. Very few Indian hill stations cater to high altitude sports infrastructure which makes Gulmarg one of the top winter sports destinations of India.

Here are some of the Top 3 Tourist destinations in gulmarg which are frequented by tourists.

Maharani Temple of Gulmarg: This temple was constructed by the Dogra Dynasty during medieval period and is situated at the heart of the valley, on top a small hillock. It is garlanded with a beautiful yellow coloured flower from which the valley gets its name. This is the temple which also features in the 1974 Bollywood blockbuster ‘Aap Ki Kasam’ movie’s Burman melody “Jay Jay Shiv Shankar/ Kaanta lagena kankar/ Ke pyaala tere naam ka piya…”

The valley wears different looks with the change is seasons but there is not a single day when Gulmarg loses its appeal. That is why natives often say, “Gulmarg ka mausam aur Bambai ka fashion ka koi bharosa nahi. Kabhi bhi badal sakta hain.” Meaning, Gulmarg’s weather and Mumbai’s fashion are so vulnerable that either can change anytime. There is a romantic intoxication in its air which will make you fall in love with this slice of paradise at your first step.

Kongdoori: It is a snow laden high hill destination in the Kashmir valley with an altitude of 12,500 feet above sea level. There are two basecamps at Khillanmarg — Kongdoori and Mary’s Shoulder on way to the Apharwat Peak. Both are considered as the ultimate ski points of India which receive thousands of international footfalls during winter. Kongdoori can be easily visited from Gulmarg over a day’s trek or on horseback. We chose the latter. It took us exactly two hours to cover the 2000 feet gradual ascent from Gulmarg to the Gondola point along the mountain slopes. There were two stages of the Gondola — the first stage (approx. 600 meters) transfers from Gulmarg to Kongdoori station in about 9 minutes and the next stage to Mary’s Shoulder. We were at Kongdoori by quarter past twelve.

Mary’s Shoulder: This is the second basecamp, approx. 1 kilometer up from Kongdoori and it can be reached in about 12 minutes by Gondola stage one. The area beyond line of control falls under Pakistan, locally popular as Azaad (independent) Kashmir. The initial operations had started way back in 1998 but the second stage was opened to public only in 2005. A medical test needs to be done to set for the final trail as many first time skiers require additional oxygen at the Apharwat Peak (approx. 14,000 feet).

Way back, we flew over the Gaddi huts when I saw a little girl waving at our Gondola cabin. As I waved back, her golden smile concluded our Khillanmarg trek with cherished memories. It took us almost the entire day to acclimatize to the high hill meteorological conditions. Evening temperature declined probably to sub-zero. Dinner was ordered by seven from the in-house restaurant. Early retirement was much needed to gear up for tomorrow’s return trip to Srinagar.

Reetwika’s Travel Tip: For detailed information about the Top 3 Tourist destinations in gulmarg, visit the individual articles available in Tours and Journeys under Jammu & Kashmir category.

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Top 5 Tourist Attractions In Pahalgam - Tours and Journey

We were travelling to Pahalgam, the valley of shepherds, on road from Srinagar. At the outskirts of the hamlet, a big green board welcomed us. ‘Pahalgam’ literally means ‘The First Village’. It was perhaps named, as per a common mythical belief that during Lord Shiva’s way to Amarnath Cave, this small village served as His first resting point. He had performed a rigorous meditation for many days before heading onto His heavenly abode.

History of Pahalgam depicts an interesting trend with the change in kingdoms. Until 1346 AD, Pahalgam used to be a rich Hindu kingdom; later it was captured by the Muslims led by Shams-ud-Din. Centuries later during 1586, when Kashmir was conquered by Akbar, Pahalgam was seized under the Mughal Empire. After the Battle of Plassey in 1757, it was further attacked by the Afghans and was temporarily annexed to Afghanistan until Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh captured it from Ahmed Shah Durrani. In 1846, the British took it back from the Sikhs and sold to Jammu’s Hindu Maharaja Gulab Singh against a hefty sum. Since then, Pahalgam has a mixed lineage of Hindu, Sikh and Muslim residents. Presently it falls under the administration of Anantanag District of Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. top 5 tourist attractions in pahalgam.

The average elevation of Pahalgam is 9000 feet, located centrally in the Lidder Valley. It marks the confluence of two significant Trans Himalayan rivers – the Seshnag stream and Lidderwat. The hill station is thus quite popular among tourists, adventure seekers as well as pilgrims for its geographical significance, natural splendour and comfy weather. Just at a pebble throwing distance there was a river and if you look up from there were ranges of snow-peaks. You just need to carry a pocket camera to take snaps – wherever you click it’s bound to be the best one ever! However, here are top 5 tourist attractions in pahalgam.

ARU VALLEY

Aru Valley: Located at a road distance of around 12 kilometers from Pahalgam, Aru is a picturesque valley in the lap of Mt. Kolahoi (the highest peak in this part), with a visibility of more than a kilometer during summer and spring time. The elevation ranges approximately from 8000 to 12,000 feet above sea level and houses innumerable endangered biodiversity, flora and fauna. Though during winter months it remains covered in snow, it is relatively soothing round the year with an average temperature of around 11 to 15 degree Celsius. Surrounded by deodar, birch, pine and other alpines, Aru offers a fantastic green beauty amidst snow. There was a pony stand just behind our hotel from where we had hired our horses for Aru trek. We made our way through a narrow hillside road, closely resembling a green serpent, through the dense conifers, Kashmiri villages, mountain streams and finally a pitch road which ended at the grasslands of Aru – all the way keeping Lidder River on our left. The gurgling sound of the stream, whistling cedars tuned with horse neighs created a mystic charm altogether. Serenity, tranquillity, heavenliness – would sound synonymous to Aru once you land up at this pristine meadow.

BETAAB VALLEY

Betaab Valley: Betaab Valley alias Hagoon alias Hagan Valley is a lush green grassland full of dense vegetation (now fenced like a hill park) at a kissing distance from the gurgling waters of Lidder, around 15 kilometres uphill from Pahalgam towards northeast. It is perched at an altitude of 8000 feet. The road conditions were moderately good, and it took us around an hour by car from Pahalgam market to reach the entrance of Hagoon. The region had been reigned by Turks and Mughals since 15th Century AD. Indo-Turkish Army General Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat loved the ambiance of these vast meadows and named it Hagoon. Later during British Raj, it was further renamed to Hagan Valley. Of late, the film shoots of Sunny Deol-Amrita Singh starrer 1983 blockbuster ‘Betaab’ was made here and hence the beautiful Hagan transformed to Betaab Valley. The view of snow-capped mountains, Pir Panjal and Zanskar glaciers, colourful birds, vibrant flower beds, superfluous Lidder, ice cold streams bubbling beneath the frozen glaciers, an antique wooden footbridge, old-fashioned Kashmiri wooden benches – such a paradisiacal ambiance in totality. The panoramic vista makes it a must go place in Pahalgam circuit. top 5 tourist attractions in pahalgam.

CHANDANWARI

Chandanwari: We continued to Chandanwari from Hagoon along the same road. It’s a spectacular high-altitude countryside in Kashmir which serves as the gateway to Greater Himalayan Range. Situated at an altitude of around 10,000 feet above sea level, Chandanwari presents snow laden peaks against a caerulean canvas.This is where we witnessed walls of ice on both sides of the road. Distance would be barely 14 kilometres but since the road comprises of very steep rise and falls, it took us almost three hours with an unprecedented road blockage enroute. It’s the same road that Amarnath Yatra visitors traverse and after a day long trek, they camp overnight at Chandanwadi. According to Hindu mythology also, Chandanwari is a very significant juncture. It is said that before entering naked inside the Amarnath Cave with His consort Parvati, Lord Shiva had shredded all his possessions one by one on his way to the holy cavern. And as the religious beliefs go, Lord Shiva had removed the Moon from His hair bun (Jata) right here. Another school of theologists preach that little higher from Chandanwari, near Pissu Top, a fierce clash had happened between demi gods and ferocious daemons where divinity was falling short to evil. With the help of Lord Shiva’s super power, the demi gods could slaughter the highly outnumbered daemons and the heap of their corpses gave rise to the high mountains of this area which also closely resemble a seven headed mythical snake (often referred as ‘Seshnag’). Even today the standstill snow peaks, pine forests, chilly breezes and the gaudy Lidder waves stand as testimony to these mythological legends of erotic desire and blood battle, making Chandanwari a complete tourist destination.

400 AD MAMALESHWAR TEMPLE

400 AD Mamaleshwar Temple: We took an afternoon walk to the famous 400 AD Mamaleshwar Temple nestled on top of a small hillock on the banks of Lidder. Arguably, it is perhaps the smallest and oldest temple of Kashmir Valley. Mythological legends say that Ganesha was appointed as the doorkeeper of this ancient temple to prevent admitting anyone inside, so that his father Lord Shiva can perform meditation without any earthly interruptions. Ganesha performed his duty so loyally that he did not even allow his mother Devi Parvati to enter the temple. That is why even today, during prayer time no ladies are allowed to enter the temple beyond a certain limit. Basically, ‘Mamal’ in Kashmiri means ‘do not enter’. As per historical evidences, it was built by a Muslim ruler dating back to 4th century AD who had wreathed the entire temple and shrine with pure gold. However, later rulers invaded the gold and left it at its present state since centuries.

PAHALGAM MARKET

Pahalgam Market: On both sides of the road, one can find a plethora of shops selling almonds, black raisins, apricot, dry dates, kahwa, saffron and other local products like pashmina, silk, blankets, leather items, wooden craftworks etc. A must go place in Pahalgam for sure. While walking back, we stopped at a couple of them and made some purchases, but most of the items were highly overpriced. Funniest thing was, everyone would ask you ‘Khush ho naa?’ (Are you happy) after demanding a hefty bill against petty service or product. Another striking aspect was, it’s very difficult to publicly discuss in Bengali at Pahalgam because every second Kashmiri can speak Bengali and knows Bengal better than a Bengali.

Imminent stormy night tempted us for a deep sleep. We jumped into depths of dream under the furry blanket.

Reetwika’s Travel Tip: For detailed information about the top 5 tourist attractions in pahalgam, visit the individual articles available in Tours and Journeys under Jammu & Kashmir category.

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Top 5 Tourist Attactions In Pahalgam · 1. Betaab Valley · 2. Aru Valley · 3. Chandanwari · 4. Mamaleshwar Temple · 5. Pahalgam Market ·

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Lower Assam tourist places and picnic spots. - Tours And Journeys

Lower Assam tourist places includes stunning sceneries in Saralpara,Bogmati,Bhairabkunda ,Chandubi lake etc.

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Manali travel Blog | Manali places to visit

Manali travel blog and Manali places to visit consists of offbeat places near manali like Atal tunnel,Sissu,Jispa,how to reach manali.

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BEYOND THE MALL ROAD OF MANALI

Manali Travel Blog

Welcome to this Manali travel blog where I will take you to the best places to visit in Manali. This year I and my husband decided to go for a workcation on hills somewhere and the first name which we together came up with was Manali itself. We decided to stay in a homestay for 15 days and booked Guruchhaya cottages for this purpose.

Manali is one of the most famous hill stations in India. It is a hill station in the Kullu Valley district in Himachal Pradesh. Situated at a height of 2050m (6398 ft) at the banks of the Beas River is one of the busiest hill stations in terms of tourism.

Manali means the ‘Home of Manu’. According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that Manu recreated human life in Manali.

It is a one-stop destination for all those who are looking for beautiful views, adventure, peace and recreation. As a higher elevation hill station, it is snow-covered in winter, and its lush meadows and Deodar woods draw the attention of trekkers, skiers, and rafting all year (except monsoons).

How to Reach: Guide to manali travel blog

By Bus:

The connectivity to Manali via road is very nice. There are a lot of buses: local and private; available for Manali. Manali has a well-connected road between Delhi and Chandigarh. The conditions of the roads are very good and smooth.

Apart from buses, several taxis: shared and private; can also take you to Manali from Delhi or Chandigarh.

By Air:

The nearest airport from Manali is Bhuntar which is 50 km from Manali. Taxis are available from Bhuntar which can take you to Manali.

By Train:

Ambala Cantt, which is 200 kilometres distant, is the nearest railway station to Manali. Another alternative is to take a train to Chandigarh, which is around 250 kilometres distant.

Places to visit in and Near Manali: Introduction to manali travel blog

Jogini Falls

Jogini or Jogni Falls is a picturesque waterfall located in Vashisht Village in Himachal Pradesh, 4 kilometres from Vashisht Temple and 7.5 kilometres from Manali Bus Stand. The fall is generated by a stream that flows into the Beas River downstream. Trekking from Vashisht Temple will take you to the waterfall.

The waterfall is on several levels but the best view comes after the hardest climb to the top level of the falls. The entire hike path is incredibly gorgeous, passing through charming villages set against the backdrop of expansive landscapes. This is one of the greatest short treks in Manali for taking in the local scenery and village life. It is sacred to the village goddess Jogini & is, therefore, a place of female power, known as a Shakti Peeth.

Vashisht Village

Vashisht is a little village on the other side of the Beas River, about 3 kilometres from Manali. This lovely place is known for its sulphurous hot water springs and Vashisht temple, which is located right next to them. This spring’s water is said to have incredible therapeutic properties, curing a variety of skin disorders and illnesses.

The architecture of the temple is incredible and beautiful. The temple is believed to be of more than 400 years old and this village is named after the Rishi Vashisht. Next to the Vashisht Temple is another old stone temple called Rama Temple. Vashisht is a major Hindu pilgrimage destination. The Beas River and Old Manali may both be seen from Vashisht.

Solang Valley

Solang Valley, commonly known as the ‘Snow Valley,’ is well-known for hosting a variety of winter adventure activities such as skiing, parachuting, paragliding, hiking, and climbing. This sparkling valley, located at an average altitude of 2,560 metres above sea level, is one of the most gorgeous vistas in Manali. It is one of the most popular hiking destinations for visitors visiting Manali. Solang Valley, located between Solang town and Beas Kund, provides breath-taking views of glaciers and snow-capped mountains.

Hadimba Temple-A religious encounter in Manali travel blog

Hadimba Temple, built in the 16th century, is one of the greatest locations to visit in Manali and is set on top of a hill amid a gorgeous Deodar forest. The temple is very important to both the villagers and the visitors who come to seek blessings from Goddess Hadimba. The temple is devoted to the Goddess Hadimba, who was also the wife of the Pandava brothers’ fiercest warrior, Bhima. The temple grounds contain a shrine of Ghatotkacha, the son of Bhima and Hadimba and a hero of the Mahabharatha conflict, whose idol is fashioned mostly of wood and lies 70 metres from the Hadimba temple.

Old Manali- A heritage sightseeing in Manali travel blog

Old Manali is a hamlet for backpackers who are living for peace and indeed works best for the people who want to go to Manali for a workcation. It is an abode full of aesthetic cafes, homestays and hostels. Situated on the banks of the Manalsu river and surrounded by Deodar trees, it is an absolute treat for all kinds of people.

Old Manali is famous for the Manu Temple. Manu Temple, dedicated to the Indian sage Manu, is located in historic Manali, 3 kilometres from the Manali Bus Stand. Manali is named after the sage Manu, who, according to tradition, was the originator of the human species on Earth and is said to have meditated here. It is the only temple of Manu in India.

Furthermore, roaming and walking around to explore new perspectives and secret pathways where one may be in the embrace of Mother Nature is a lot of pleasure. The hippy lifestyle can be felt in full force in Old Manali. Set in a bizarre landscape, this Manali hidden treasure will provide you with the right Himalayan feelings.

Atal Tunnel-Pride of Manali travel blog

The Atal Tunnel is a 9-kilometer-long tunnel on the Manali-Leh Highway traverses the Rohtang Pass. It offers all-weather access to the Lahaul Spiti Valley and northern India, cutting travel distance by 47 kilometres and travel durations by up to four hours. This tunnel has been recognised as the world’s longest single tube highway at this height by the World Book of Records, London.

Rohtang Pass

Rohtang Pass, at an elevation of 13,054 feet, serves as the entryway to Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti valleys. It is around 53 kilometres from Manali and connects Kullu valley with Lahaul and Spiti, which in turn allow access to Leh. Because of the number of individuals who died attempting to cross it, the name Rohtang translates as “ground of corpses.”

The Rohtang Pass is located in the Himalayan Pir Panjal Mountain Range. Rohtang Pass, known for its beautiful splendour, is strategically important for India. The pass provides breath-taking views of glaciers, peaks, the Lahaul Valley, and the Chandra River. It generally remains open from June to October. The rest of the year it is closed due to snow.

Kothi Village

The Kothi Village is located on the Leh – Manali Highway, 13.5 kilometres from the Manali Bus Stand and 8 kilometres from Gulaba Village. Kothi is located at an elevation of 2500 metres in the foothills of the Rohtang Pass. This picturesque settlement provides a breath-taking view of snow-capped mountains and glaciers, as well as the Beas River, which flows through a very deep and tight valley at this point. It is one of the most scenic places in Manali.

Gulaba

Gulaba is well-known as a magnificent snowy location, but it is also well-known among sports and adventure fans, who flock to the town to participate in adventurous activities. The natural setting of Gulaba hamlet draws a huge number of tourists each year, who come to enjoy the beauty of the location. Gulaba is one of the rare spots in Himachal Pradesh where you can just go away from your daily lifestyle and enjoy the quiet and tranquillity. It is a well offbeat place for the trekkers and the campers.

Sajla Waterfall

Sajla Waterfall, located on the left side of the River Beas, is a lovely natural waterfall in the village of Sajla. It is approximately 10 kilometres from Manali. Sajla Falls is a wonderful picnic site surrounded by Deodar trees, Pine trees, apple orchards, and stunning snow-covered mountain peaks.

It is one of the very less travelled places when it comes to Manali. The tourist generally visits only one part of the waterfall and then they go back but there is a hidden lesser-known trail to the upper part of the falls which gives you a total experience of ‘Alice in the Wonderland.’

Soyal/ Soil Village

Soyal is a village in Naggar Tehsil in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu District. It is 22 kilometres north of the district headquarters in Kullu. Mansari hamlet in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, is the starting point for the Soyal (Soil) Village walk. The walk is met by several water streams, as well as little cafes where you can sit and enjoy some free time in between the mountains.

It is a beautiful secluded place for the people who like camping and also have cafes where you can actually cook fishes which you caught during fishing in the river there itself.

Naggar Castle

Naggar Castle is a stunning mediaeval edifice. Raja Sidhi Singh constructed the fortress in 1460 AD in an amazing blend of European and Himalayan design. The castle is built in a traditional style known as Kathkooni, which combines stones and wooden beams. It is 20 kilometres from the Manali bus station.

The castle was turned into a rest home in 1978, and more recently into a heritage hotel administered by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC). The Naggar Castle was recently refurbished while preserving its historic form.

Kasol

Because of its picturesque valley, untamed mountains, and fantastic climate all year, Kasol is an ideal location for hikers, trekkers, and environment enthusiasts. It is a key starting point for treks to Sar Pass, Yanker Pass, Pin Parbat Pass, and Kheerganga.

If you wish to relax in the lap of nature, Kasol is an excellent choice for a holiday. This town is an open place on the Parvati River’s banks where one may spend peaceful days. The river is teeming with trout and is ideal for angling.

Manikaran

Manikaran is located 41 km from Kullu. It is located in the Parvati Valley created by the rivers Beas and Parvati and is adored by people of both Hindu and Sikh faiths. There are three hot springs where one could bathe, one inside the Gurudwara and the other two privatised by guesthouses. The water in these springs includes sulphur, which has the ability to heal ailments.

Sissu

Sissu, also known as Khwaling, is located in Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh, on the right bank of the Chandra River. A journey out of the Rohtang/Atal Tunnel’s North End will bring travellers to Sissu, which is surrounded by high peaks such as the Gyephang Goh.

Darcha valley is 11,000 feet above sea level and surrounded by snow-capped Himalayan peaks. Darcha is famous for its Dracha-Padum Trek.

Koksar-Concluding Manali travel blog

Koksar is a hamlet in the Lahaul Mandal of the Lahaul and Spiti District of the Himachal Pradesh state in Northern India. Koskar is the coldest spot in Lahaul, located around 19 kilometres from Rohtang Pass.

It is a magnificent mountain location with panoramic stunning views and hiking trails. It is situated around 40 km from Manali. The community also contains a monastery, which draws a large number of tourists due to its religious significance and the monastery’s position, which is nestled within the cliff and is the only one of its sort in the valley.

Thus, Manali is much beyond Mall Road and the famous spots. Due to the construction of the Atal Tunnel, it has become simpler to visit places beyond Manali. Manali is indeed one of the best gifts of the Himalayas to the world. The decision for staying in Manali came out to be successful and it was an absolute treat.

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Best travel blogs on offbeat destinations in India

Toursandjourneys is all about giving you the best travel blogs on offbeat destinations in india. Our travel blogs are on offbeat places.

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STUNNING PLACES TO VISIT FROM AIZAWL TO THENZAWL

Stunning places to visit from Aizawl to Thenzawl

Mizoram is a heaven on earth so I welcome you to this blog where I will explain some stunning places to visit from Thenzawl to Aizawl. The unexplored places of north east is a paradise on earth. So lets not waste time and let us plunge into the beauty of mizoram.

Mesmerising Thenzawl

Thenzawl is situated in the southern parts of mizoram and is a quiet hill station with beautiful homestays. The highway from aizawl to thenzawl is in great condition and it takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes approx to reach thenzawl from aizawl. On the way the places you can visit is the tropic of cancer point from where the latitude 23.46 degree passes. It’s an important geographical location and is a perfect picture clicking spot for travellers. Tropic of cancer is the most northerly circle of the earth where the sun directly lies overhead. So at the time of June solistice the sun’s heat is maximum here. This has a great significance on this place.

Moving further we reached Hmuifang. This is a scenic hill station with lots of view points. There is also a park situated in this town with green grasslands to explore. The view points gives a panoramic view of the entire Hmuifang hills and the cliffs that provides and out of this world experience. In the morning if one visits this small town there will be lots of clouds which covers the distant villages in the gorges. Also the road will be misty with clouds passing by our heights. The entire beautiful village is covered with view points and green valleys. If you want to stay in Hmuifang there is a tourist lodge of the government that provides cosy cottages and delicious food.

Moving further I reached Sialsuk village. Like Hmuifang village this is also a beautiful hill station located further south. The Sialsuk peak is the topmost visited place in this town. The entry fee to the Sialsuk park is Rs 160 for three persons including the car. There is a motorable road that takes us to the peak. From the peak the view is just majestic. Lush green valleys and panoramic view of the mountains gives us an out of this world experience. All the green mountains and the entire Sialsuk town covered with clouds can be seen from here. On reaching the topmost point we were surprised to find some graves that dates back to the 19th century. This made the places even more magical. Gorges ,valleys and the pine trees will make every traveller spell bound on reaching to this place. The highway is pretty good and hats off to Mizoram tourism for maintaining this place.

Moving further I reached Thenzawl at afternoon after starting around 9 from Aizawl. Thenzawl golf course resort was my first choice for accomodation in this beautiful town. Thenzawl is a larger town compared to hmuifang and Sialsuk and it has a few number of homestays and lodges of mizoram tourism. But my choice was undoubtedly Thenzawl log huts. We stayed at the Thenzawl golf course and resort which is a lavish property in Thenzawl, Mizoram. The property consists of beautiful wooden cottages, i.e., log huts. We stayed in one of the log huts for two days and the stay was amazing. The cottages are spacious, well-lit, and beautiful. They consist of a bedroom and a living room. The log huts provide all the amenities required for a comfortable stay. From the balcony of the log huts, one can enjoy breathtaking view of the meadow in which the golf course is located. The golf course is owned by the government of Mizoram.

During the day, we strolled around the amazing campus of the golf course. The property also consists of a watch tower cum food court wherein you can treat your eyes with the stunning views of the meadows and the mountains surrounding it, while enjoying scrumptious delicacies.

There is also a restaurant in the campus which serves it’s guests with delicious chicken , fish, and egg meals along with pulses and vegetables. The meals cost around 250 to 300 rupees. For breakfast, you can have either parathas or omlette with toast and sausages. Cost for night stay in these log huts is rs 4000 per Hut.

In Thenzawl there are two waterfalls one is vantawang and other one is Tuirihihau waterfall. Vantawang is the highest waterfall of mizoram. I was not able to visit the beautiful Tuirihihau as it was closed on Sunday. Please do remember that on Sundays almost everything is closed in mizoram,so plan your trip accordingly. A boat ride on the river in Tuirihihau will take you to the topmost portion of vantawng waterfall which is a site to watch for in one lifetime.

Vantawng waterfall view point is really a treat to watch. You can reach there after taking a diversion from the thenzawl and serchip state highway. Be careful the road is very narrow but it is only around 1.5 km. After reaching the view point we were mesmerised by the natural and panoramic view of the place. The place is not overcrowded and so the tranquility of the place acts as a perfect catalyst in making the place more tourist friendly.

Stunning places to visit in Aizawl

Coming back to Aizawl I visited some enchanting places to explore the city and its nearby nature. First day I visited Reik Tlang peak. Wow it was just amazing. The trek to the peak is a little scary through jungle and caves but when we reached at the top it was stunning. There were clouds passing across the body and It was coupled with strong winds and drizzle. The place was so romantic. One could  sit here and relax for hours. On the way to the view point a cave will fall which is a bit scary but the giant cave is a wonder of its own. The name of the cave is Pasalthate puk. Passing underneath the cave felt like a horror movie but it was a different experience. Reaching at the top of Reik peak my mind blew away seeing the greenery around. Lots of gorges and cliffs were visible. The mountains looked beautiful and romantic. Strolling over the peaks and getting a bird’s eye view of the mizoram valleys it was a whole out of this world experience.

My next destination was Khawhpawp waterfall. A 600 metre trek through the jungle will take you to the foot of the waterfall. The waterfall is one of the most unique waterfall that I have ever seen. It falls from behind a huge hole of a rock that makes this waterfall gain an unique shape. The jungle around and the gushing sound of the waterfall makes the place a perfect outing for any adventurous traveller. The trek to the waterfall is through dense forests which creates a canopy over the footpath. It was greenery all around and devoid of any crowds.

Next I visited the Solomon’s temple which has recently been inaugurated few years back. This is the largest church in mizoram. The white colour of the church and flower gardens makes this place so calm and quiet and beautiful. It is open on all days except Sundays from 10:00 till 5:00 P.M. There are four pillars and each pillar carries seven David’s stars symbolising seven angels of seven churches according to the book of revelations. Each four towers carries a crown which symbolises crown of salvation ,righteousness,life and overcomer. This holy church is dedicated to the lord Jesus of Nazareth and it is the most sacred place in Aizawl.

My next destination was Lalsavunga park in the outskirts of Aizawl. This is the best park as of my opinion due to immense views we get from here.It has two hanging bridges taking us to the top of a peak from where the view is even more awesome. This huge park has panoramic views from wherever you stand. Walking through the hanging bridges is a little scary but when we reached at the top ,it was sunset,so we were fortunate to have a even more better experience. Various parts of Aizwal city was visible from the peak. Green mountains ,log huts ,deep gorges coupled with an ecstatic sunset concluded our trip in the best possible way.