Cheap Budget Holidays - Kozhikode

When Vasco Da Gama, the Portuguese Navigator set forth on his voyage to discover India through sea route, he first landed at the sea shore of Kappad, in Kozhikode district in 1498. There he constructed a memorial in tribute to his historical landing. Kozhikode was also known as Calicut and it was once most prominent place in Malabar region. Zamorins made it their capital to rule the region. It was a significant center for trade and commerce in those days and still it handles a major part of international as well as domestic trade. This place is a nodal point for the trade of pepper, coffee, lemon grass oil, coconut and rubber. All these natural products are from Kozhikode and the other surrounding places of Malappuram, Kannur and Wayanad districts.   

With the peaceful and pleasant background of placid Arabian Sea and mountains of Wayanad hills the Kozhikode district with the luxuriant green landscapes, historic monuments and beaches are the sightseeing spots of the tourists. People come in folks to spend their budget holidays here. From the prehistoric period it has been charming the travelers with its mesmerizing scenic beauty and natural treasure.

Kozhikode District - Attractions

Kappad beach: This is where Vasco Da Gama landed on 27^th May, 1498. Visitors have a great time here.

Dolphin's Point: This beach is 2 km away from Calicut town and popular for the view of dolphins in the early hours. Lions Club Park and Light House are the attractions to the tourists.

Pazhassirajah Museum:This museum houses fresco art works of ancient days, very old and traditional bronzes and replica of olden temples and the like. This museum is managed by the Archaeological Department of the Kerala state.

Art Gallery: It is beside the Pazhassirajah Museum and houses the paintings of famous Raja Ravi Varma.

Krishna Menon Museum:This museum was dedicated and named after the popular political leader V.K. Krishna Menon. All of his relics are displayed in this museum.

Mananchira: this is located in the center of the city with town hall, public library and some more such institutions. The Commonwealth Trust Office is located here and a large park with pool adds beauty to this place.

Kallai: It was Asia’s largest trading center in olden days. This place is very famous for timber trade.

Beypore: This place is just 11 km away from Kozhikode. This costal town, once famous as a ship building center and stands for local crafts known as “Uru” made by Khalasis, shipbuilders of those days.

Badagara: It is famous center for martial arts and birth place of the historical hero Thacholi Othenan. This place is 48 km away from Calicut.

TRANSPORT

 Kozhikode is accessible through four ways of air, train, bus and boat. The shuttle services are available from Mumbai, Middle East and Bangalore. The nearest airport to Kozhikode is Karipu airport 23 km away from Kozhikode. Apart from this, Kochi international airport and Thiruvananthapuram airport are the other nearby airports.

Train and bus facilities are available from all the cities of India. And this is also accessible by boat from Vadakara, Kadalundi, Elathur and Badagara.

Cheap Budget Holidays - Mussoorie

Mussoorie is one of the leading hill stations of India. Tucked away in the foothills of the Himalayas, it has such a pleasant and idyllic natural environment that it is described as a ‘fairyland’ to tourists coming to visit this budget holiday destination. It is 1800 mts. above sea level and overlooks the Doon Valley. It is visited primarily for the reprieve it offers from sweltering summer days. The town was the exclusive retreat of the British officialdom during their heyday in India and there are many schools and colleges in town which date back to the days of the Raj. The Dalai Lama was given asylum in Mussoorie before being relocated to Dharamsala.

The months from May to August are the best time to visit Mussoorie. Most of the tourists hail from north India when the acute summer season brings in heat waves. In peak winter, there can be heavy snowfall which might cause blockage of roads. There are many hotels in Mussoorie that tourists can choose to stay at. The countryside is full of jungle land and hills and the Mussoorie vegetative cover provides habitat to such rare birds like the quails and magpies etc. it is one of the most abundantly vegetative area of the region.

Gun Hill is the point at which the Mussoorie tourist circuit begins. This is where a cable car starts and gives the riders view of peaks with names like Srikantha, Bunderpunch and Gangotri. There is also the Municipal Garden which is frequented by tourists as a leading picnic spot. The artificial lake and the prospect of boat rides along with nominal entry fees is what makes this destination interesting as a budget holiday. The street called Camel’s Back Road links Rink Hall with Kulri Bazar, over a distance of three kilometers. The horse riders along this path make an interesting sight.

The highest point in Mussoorie is called Lal Tibba and it is at an height of almost 2,300 mts. There are many waterfalls to see in Mussoorie and the Jharipani Fall, Bhatta Falla and the Kempty Fall are some of the popular ones. There is also an ancient temple called the Nag Devta temple. The Mussoorie Lake, Van Chetna Kendra, Sir George Everest Home and Jwalaji Temple are the other recommended sites for tourists. Excursions from Musssoorie include Naga Tibba, Dhanolti and the Lakha Mandal. Mussoorie is one budget holidays hill station where historical and current day attractions can be checked out by the tourists.

Kullu is one the most magnificent and renowned hill stations of India. At a height of 1220 mts. it has been described as the ‘Valley of the Gods’ and the ‘Silver Valley’. It is the town where the two rivers, Beas and Saravari meet. The valley is renowned for its magnificent hills and mountains as well as for its laid roads. It is about 500 kms. from Delhi and 250 kms. from Chandigarh. Every year, Kullu becomes the summertime getaway for thousands of Indians on budget holidays. Some tourists prefer to visit it during April through June, while others wait for October so that they can watch the festivities associated with the Dussehra festival. July and September are the rainy months.

Kullu is reputed for its great year-round climate, temples, handicrafts and the Dusshera festival. The many unnamed mountainsides of the town are the sojourns where visitors lose themselves in soulful reflection. Although skiing and trekking are popular, there are many who simply like to travel up and down the slopes and indulge in sights of the town and the valley by day and night. The main sightseeing destinations at this celebrated budget holiday spot are Sultanpur palace, Raghunathji temple, Bijli Mahadev temple, Akhara Bazar and Kasol, Jagatsukh and Manikaran. Kullu caps and shawls have also made a name of themselves.

Tourists also like to go fishing in the Beas river and shopping for fruit. Apples are Himachal Pradesh’s specialty and many other dry fruits are also found in the town. There are many woods that are worth exploring with a local guide and for those interested in genuine outdoor adventure, they can check out locations like Rohtang Pass, Camping Site Raison, Katrain and Naggar. Trekking to the Chandrathal Lake is one of the most exciting expeditions for those who love to trod the mountains. The adventurous can also go for rafting and paragliding.

Jeep Safaris are also arranged to destinations like Ladakh, Lahaul and Spiti. The Gypsy is the preferred vehicle for these tours and it has a charm of its own. The heights of the Himalayas are scaled on these seasoned set of wheels. Mountain climbing and biking are the other activities that are popular among tourists and the various equipment and paraphernalia required for the trip are offered by agencies located about town. Budget holidays in a place like Kullu are fun-filled, full of new discoveries and exciting as well as exhilarating.

Cheap Holiday Packages - Kullu

Kullu is as much a haven for the adventure- seeking holidayer as it is a tranquil destination for religious visitors. The labyrinth of valleys and studded with lakes, meadows, streams and hoary mountain passes have earned it the name of the Silver Valley. The best time for visiting Kullu is from March to November.

WONDERS OF NATURE
Rohtang pass
This high mountain pass, more than 4000 mts. above sea level, connects Kullu valley with the valleys of Lahaul and Spiti. The historic significance of this pass is that it served as the ‘link-route’ for the peoples of Hindu and Buddhist religions to each other. The Sonapani glacier can be viewed clearly from Rohtang. Snow Point in Rohtang Pass is where tourists can also enjoy skiing and ice skating etc.

Vashist Springs
These are hot water springs on the banks of the Beas river. The hot waters gushing out of the spring are believed to abound in medicinal properties. The warm water, soothes the symptoms of many an ailing tourist.

Beas Kund
The Beas Kund is located at the source of the Beas River. The Kund (small lake) has a stony igloo-like fortification around it. The sage Vyas is believed to have bathed at the Kund.

Arjun Gufa
The gufa is a cave in which Arjuna is believed to have performed austere penance and was given the Pashupat Astra as a boon by Indra. The cave is in a remote location in the mountains of a village called Pirni.

ManiKaran
ManiKaran is best known for its hot-water springs. Food can be cooked in these steaming waters. Hindus believe that goddess Parvati happened to drop her earring in Manikaran, with which the snake-god Sheshnag disappeared into the netherworld. Enraged with this Lord Shiva broke out into his cosmic dance, ‘Tandava’ and the terrified Sheshnag hissed and the hot springs burst forth, along with many precious stones.

Ooty - Cheap Holiday Packages

Ooty is the first name among hill stations in south India. It is situated in the Nilgiri Hills. It is debated whether the blue haze all around Ooty is due to the emanation from eucalyptus trees or due to the blossoming of the kurunji flower that takes place once every 12 years. Ooty is situated at an altitude of more than 2200 meters above sea level. Tea gardens and eucalyptus trees dominate most of the countryside terrain of this budget holidays destination.  The summer months are the best time to visit the town.  The closest airport is the one in Coimbatore and there are trains connecting it to other parts of the state.

The Government Botanical Gardens are among the most visited place in Ooty. They were established a century before India’s independence. Twenty-two hectares’ flowers and blooming plants accounting for 650 species make it one of the largest and most variegated gardens in the country. There is a summer festival that is held in the garden every year. An even older land, rather water mark is the Ooty lake that was established in 1825. Boating and fishing are both allowed. The Dodabetta Peak, at an altitude of more than 2,600 meters is reputed for being so high that one can see as far as Coimbatore and Mysore from the top.

Talk about excursions from Ooty and the Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is the first name to come up. It is located about 65 kilometers from the city and is the choice of nearly every budget holidays tourist because it lets him/her see animals not in captivity but in their natural habitats. Barking deer, elephant, sambhar, chital and flying squirrels apart from birds like parakeets, crested eagle and the trogon. It is indeed a treat for children. One could also head to the Kalhatty Waterfalls and apart from the cascade, there is plenty of harbored wildlife in the vicinity.

Just seventeen kilometers away from the city, there is the hill station of Connoor. It stands at a height of more than 1800 meters above sea level and is one of the great picnic spots closer to Ooty. Tea and Tourism Festival takes place every year in May and it is one of the signature festivals Ooty and tourists have a chance to taste some of the best varieties of tea during this festival. In the same month, the flower show takes place at the botanical gardens and it draws enthusiastic participants from all over the region, apart from many other budget holidays vacationers.