DAL LAKE SRINAGAR(www.forceearth.org)

Dal Lake has rightfully become an icon of the Kashmir tourism industry. A Himalayan urban lake, it has five basins and a number of channels that are well linked with each other.

There are plenty of fishes in Dal Lake and fishery is the second largest industry of the region centered on the lake. The sparkling quiet waters of Dal surrounded by snow-capped mountains on its three sides, undoubtedly mark it as one of the most beautiful lakes of India.

 It is also the second largest lake in the State of Jammu and Kashmir with numerous gardens and orchards all along its shores.

Houseboats form an indelible part of the scenery of the Dal Lake that are always ready to take tourists to a romantic and peaceful ride of the lake and soothe their nerves as the houseboat floats over the slightly rippling waters.

 They also offer some of the most exotic views of the splendid scenery of the Dal Lake.

SOLAN WEATHER

BEST SEASON / BEST TIME TO VISIT SOLAN

The climate of the city of Solan can be classified as a sub temperate climate and the conditions are pleasant for most parts of the year. The place gets a good amount of rainfall during the monsoon season and snow fall also can also be expected in higher areas during the winter season.

 The peak summer months can be warm; however it is possible to visit even during this time.

The summer season starts in the month of March and ends in May. The temperatures range from a minimum of 15°C and can go up to a maximum of 35°C. The hottest month of the year is usually May.

Nights are significantly cooler as the temperatures fall after sunset.

The place gets rainfall from June to September from the South West Monsoon. It is possible to visit even during the monsoon season and the entire place is lush green and pristine. The months of October and November are good time to visit as they signify the end of the monsoon season and the conditions are mild.

Temperatures during the winter season range from a minimum of -2°C and can go up to maximum of 15°C. The winter season is from December to

MUSHROOM CITY SOLAN

The Directorate of Mushroom Research is located in Solan city of Himachal Pradesh, endeared as the gateway of Himachal Pradesh, the mountainous wonder of Solan city is famous for its cultural splendor, excellent picnic spots, numerous old temples and seasonal vegetable crops. Being quite industrialized, Solan is widely popular for its mushroom cultivation and bearing the title of “Mushroom City of India”. Considering the contribution of this city and endeavor of DMR towards mushroom research, development, cultivation and popularization of mushroom, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh declared Solan as Mushroom City of India on 10th September, 1997 during the Indian Mushroom Conference organized jointly by the DMR and Mushroom Society of India.

SHIMLA

BEST SEASON / BEST TIME TO VISIT SHIMLA

Shimla is beautiful throughout the year and can be visited in any month, however, September to June will be the best months for travelling to Shimla.

·         Winter (October to February) are ideal for enjoying snowfall, skiing and ice skating. Average temperature during winter is 8°C and can dip as low as -2°C. This is a good time for honeymooning.

·         Summer (March to June) are the suitable time to enjoy the scenic beauty. Temperature ranges between 15°C to 30°C and is ideal for indulging in paragliding, trekking, camping and rafting. There will be no snowfall, but snow can be enjoyed on very high altitudes.

·         Monsoon (July to mid September) are not the best time to visit as excessive rain can result in landslides.

While summers are good for adventure and sightseeing, winters is perfect for honeymooning and enjoying snow. The natural beauty is at its maximum during monsoons but travel can be made difficult due to unexpected landslides.

CHENNAI

Chennai is one of the four metropolitan cities and also an important part of South India. The city sited on the coastal region includes the scintillating natural beauty of sea beaches.Since the colonial times, Chennai is the home for thousands of Christians. As early as the 1500s, Christianity started to spread in South India and with the coming of the Europeans like the Portuguese.

Chennai is the largest city in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, and located on the south-eastern Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal, this vibrant metropolis serves as a gateway to the culture of South India. The city is a major hub of cultural, commercial and education in South India. The city of Chennai has also been endowed with the rich heritage of art and culture. Carnatic Music and Bharatanatyam are two of the best and biggest cultural exports of Chennai or broadly, the Tamil culture. The annual cultural event of Madras Music Season, where respected artistes pour in from all over the city to perform, is a chance when you can soak in the absolute magic of rich musical heritage of South India. Besides, the city offers a kaleidoscopic view to the rich South Indian drama, architecture, sculpture, arts and crafts.

PUNJAB

The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryanato the south and southeast and Rajasthanto the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjabto the west. It is also bounded to the north by Jammu & Kashmir. The state capital is located in Chandigarh, which is a Union Territory and also the capital of the neighboring state of Haryana. Major cities of Punjab include Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Firozpur, Bathindaand Mohali.

List of major cities population in Punjab are:-

1. Ludhiana population of 1,613,878.

2. Amritsar population of 1,183,761.

3. Jalandhar population of 862,196.

4. Patiala population of 404,686.

5. Bathinda population of 285,813.

Sikhism is the predominant faith in Punjab followed by around 61% of the populace. The holiest of Sikh shrines, the Sri Harmandir Sahib, is in the city of Amritsar. The Sri Akal Takt Sahib, which is within the Golden Temple complex, is the temporal seat of Sikhs. Of the five Takhts (Temporal Seats of religious authority) of Sikhism, three are in Punjab. These are Sri Akal Takt Sahib, Damdama Sahib and Anandpur Sahib. The Punjabi Language, written in the Gurmukhi script, is the official language in the state.

The state capital of Punjab is Chandigarh. There are 14 cities and 157 towns in Punjab. The major cities in Punjab are Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Nawanshar, Amritsar, Patiala, Mohali, and Bhatinda.

Tourism in Indian Punjab centres around the historic palaces, battle sites, and the great Sikh architecture of the state and the surrounding region. Examples include various sites of the Indus Valley Civilization, the ancient fort of Bathinda, the architectural monuments of Kapurthala, Patiala, and Chandigarh, the modern capital designed by Le Corbusier. The Golden Temple in Amritsar is one of the major tourist destinations of

Punjab Bhangra is a form of dance and music that originated in the Punjab region. Bhangra dance began as a folk dance conducted by Punjabi farmers to celebrate the coming of the harvest season.

AGRA FORT