Category Archives: India

Leh Palace- Once the Residence of Royals in Ladakh

June 17, 2018 allgudthings 20 Comments

When we talk about Leh Ladakh, we all talk about the colorful monasteries, vast landscapes, cobalt blue sky, high passes, high altitude lakes and the Tibetan culture there. Nobody talks or indeed tells about the grandeur unique Leh Ladakh Palaces there. During our 13-day road trip to Leh Ladakh, we made it a point to explore some Leh Ladakh Palaces and one of them was the majestic Leh Palace.

About Leh Palace

Overlooking the Himalayan Leh town, on the top of Tsemo Hill lies the former palace or residence of Royals known as Leh Palace. Locally, the Palace is also known as Lhachen Palkar. It is a 9 storied structure one of its own kind erected in the 17^th century. Indeed it was the tallest of all structures during its heydays.

The Leh Palace looks quite distinct from the other Palaces of India – quite simple, yet elegant and its greyish black dun color merges well with the surroundings. Palace has almost no signage board except the history board at the entrance and various board markings on the floor levels. So, scratch your head, make guesses and talk to the guards to find out facts about the Leh Palace, exactly as we did.

Ticket for Leh Palace

For Indians Rs. 15/- per person & Foreign Nationals – Rs.100/- per person. Camera charges are Rs. 25/-

Timings to visit

From sunrise to sunset

History of Leh Palace

The construction of Leh Palace was initiated by Tsewang Namgyal, the founder of the Namgyal Dynasty in the 16^th century and was completed by King Sengge Namgyal, the 5^th king of Ladakh in the 17^th century. It is said to be the replica of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, except being smaller in size.

The Palace was the residence of the Royals till it was attacked by the Dogra forces. During the attack, Leh Palace suffered quite losses and family was shifted to the Stok Palace. Today, the palace stands still but is in battered shape. The restoration work here is carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The architecture of Leh Palace

Leh Palace is a perfect example of Tibetan architecture. It has 9 stories in total, out of which Level 1 and 2 lays separate from the rest Levels. The lower two floors 1 and 2 were used as storerooms and stables whereas the upper floors were used as their residence by Royals.

The Palace has no such plush flamboyant décor, to attract tourists or travelers. It is simply made of wood, mud, sand, and stone. The uniqueness is the way 9 floors are laid down on the slanting hill and its buttressed walls. The materials used in the construction are used with a purpose. The mud keeps the rooms warm in winters and cool in summers. Wood acts as an insulator and prevents loss of heat. Sand is used as a gluing material in between the stones.

Level Third – Entrance

After parking our car, a long cobbled road took us to the main Palace entrance. We thought it to be the first floor but it was actually third. So, the main entrance to the Palace is at the third level. The entrance has wooden pillars and some ferocious Lion carvings on it, decorated with Tibetan clothes.

From there started the long dark corridors with the maze of several small rooms with low entrances. The whole place from inside looked gloomy and some of the rooms had now been turned into the exhibition halls.

The only attraction we saw in these rooms were the huge glass windows which gave the panoramic view of Leh town and Polo ground. And the irony is now the Polo ground is just a taxi stand. We also heard the guide describing that King used to sit here and watch the Polo match. Isn’t that the example of a luxurious life?

Level Four – Khatok Chenmo

The end of the corridor on the third floor had a steep staircase that took us straight to level four. The open courtyard in the front here, offered the magnificent view of Leh town whereas the sides had beautiful, geometrically designed windows and overhanging balconies. The windows were decorated with yellow prayer flags, making it highly contrasting and appealing. On the other end, I could see the staircase leading to the top floors and the curiosity was juggling in me was to reach the top soon.

Before we could climb to the next level; we saw the signage reading Duk – Kar- Lhakhang, also known as the temple of the Royals. Being hesitant is removing our shoes, we skipped going inside the temple. But the multiple pair of shoes outside completely depicted that Temple is still active and used for offerings. On inquiring we got to know, the Temple houses a statue of Lord Buddha and several ancient religious literatures. And from there, we further climbed the stairs to reach the next level.

Level Five – Hall of Public Audience

Again the zigzag, low lying corridors behaved no less than a maze to us. Indeed, I and Tashi were lost in our own direction and simultaneously were searching for each other. Here we saw a huge naturally lit room i.e. Hall of Public Audience, now used as an exhibition hall by ASI. There were several murals and paintings in the room. Some of them appeared to be more than 500- 600 years old and were now in dwindling state.

Level Six – The Royal Apartment

Level 6 appeared to be a more open and spacious courtyard. Also. the view of Leh city was widening with an increase in every level. In the center of Level 6, stood the top surface of the Hall of Public Audience, giving ample light to the room. On one end of the courtyard, there is a The Royal Apartment, secluded from everything whereas the other end leads to the trailing stairs to the next levels.

Level Seven- The Last Courtyard

The steep stairs from Level 6 took us to another higher level of the courtyard, offering the most thrilling panoramas of Leh city. The views were so contrasting that probably one can get confused looking at his own pictures. If one side of the Leh city is painted in green, the other side is probably painted in the dun shades and the front had a tint of both.

From here, you also get a perfect view of Tsemo Namgyal Castle, built by King Tashi Namgyal in the 16^th century.

Level 8 and Level 9 of Leh Palace

The last two levels 8 and 9 looked more broken down as compared to the rest levels and were closed for the public. The Guard sitting at the 7^th level told us that probably these levels also had been the royal rooms used for their own living.

Level 1 and 2

Now the only left part was Level 1 and 2. We wanted to go down and explore it but it was already time for sunset and Palace to shut down. So, we just clicked some shots of the same from level 3 while exiting. And these levels were used as stables and storehouses of the Royals.

How to reach Leh Palace

Leh Palace lies almost 2 kilometers away from the main Leh Market on the hilltop. There are two options to reach here. One is by driving till the palace and second is climbing the steep slopes from the Leh market. The first one is easier but the second one is more adventurous. The climb makes you pass through the Ladakhi houses and shops and it can be covered in 20-25 minutes.

Some Important Tips

Leh Palace is dark from the inside, so Nyctophobic people be prepared for the journey
The doors are really small. So, mind your head. Indeed, you will also find the boards quoting “Mind your head” with in the palace
Carry a water bottle to stay hydrated as it really gets tiring while climbing up and down
Wear flat shoes and comfortable clothing
Remove shoes before entering the Temple
Listen to the guards and don’t enter the prohibited areas as they have a valid reason to stop you from entering them. Palace is almost in broke downstate, so be safe
Don’t lean against the overhanging balconies and windows

Our Opinion

The visit to Leh palace is a journey to the primitive world. Its starking grand building is quite unique as compared to the other palaces of India. It clearly depicts the royalty and the power Royals had enjoyed. And the best is views- if on one side you see bustling Leh town, then on the other is Stok Kangri and Zanskar Himalayan range. We still can’t get over the views we had enjoyed and lived there.

That was all about our experience. Have you visited the Leh Palace or you want to visit it? Do share your thoughts on the same in the comment section. You can also pin it or share it with friends and family.

Other articles you can Check from Leh Ladakh series are:

Leh Ladakh Road trip from Delhi

A walk with Indian soldier at Kargil War Memorial

Nubra Valley: The Valley of Flowers in Ladakh

A day at White Lake Tso Kar in Ladakh

Attractions on the Srinagar Leh Highway

Ladakh-The land of High Passes

All you need to know about Leh Ladakh Inner Line Permit

Story of Gata Loops

Dos and Donts for Ladakh Road Trip

Hemis Monastery: Biggest & Wealthiest Gompa in Ladakh

Sonamarg, Kashmir – The Golden Meadows of India

Bhuttico Kullu Shawls & Accessories – The Gift of Valley

Leh Ladakh Palaces

10 reasons why everyone should travel India

The colored Tibetan Prayer Stones – Mani Stones

India, Jammu & Kashmir, Tourism, Travel

Dos and Donts for Ladakh Road Trip

June 13, 2018 allgudthings 19 Comments

Leh – Ladakh the crown of India or the Land of high passes is the dreamland of every adventurist. It boasts to be the land where the valleys extend in several kilometers, where mountains are dotted with innumerable ancient Buddhist Monasteries, where the sky is cobalt blue during the day and fill with infinity stars at night, where you can see a shooting star every moment, where there is a desert on one end and the high Rocky Mountains on others. But do you know to see all this, one needs to cross the most Treacherous Roads, with poor connectivity and sometimes huge traffic jams. Yes! You read it right. Here the quote “Difficult roads often lead you to beautiful destinations” perfectly fits in. So, in this post, we have compiled up certain pointers that you must keep in mind before heading for the Ladakh road trip.

Do make sure you know how to Drive in the mountains

Whether you enter from Manali and take exit via Srinagar or vice –versa, roads are narrow and serpentine with lots of mud, gravel, and potholes. So, take a decision to drive to Leh Ladakh only if you are confident with your driving skills. Otherwise, hire a cab or take a flight to Leh and you can check the Leh Ladakh Road Trip itinerary here.

Don’t Rush

Leh Ladakh road trip is one of the most scenic road trips in India. Indeed, there are unlimited panoramas on the way. So be slow, make unsolicited stops to capture gushing rivers, glaciers, pitch blue skies, and locals.

We reached Leh from Delhi on the fourth Day, making multiple stops. And the maximum of these was on the Srinagar Leh Highway. But have no regrets as every stoppage left a unique impression on the heart.

Do Rest and Acclimatize, before heading to the next stop

While road tripping to Leh Ladakh from Delhi one should gain altitude slowly and gradually. This will give the body enough time to adapt to the low oxygen levels with ever-increasing altitude. Indeed it will help to beat or avoid Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) / Altitude Sickness. In case, you still suffer from it, then take Diamox.

We also suggest you to consult your doctor prior to your Leh Ladakh road trip if you have any breathing issues.

Don’t refer to Google Maps for the time frame

We all rely on Google Maps for getting time estimates to reach a particular destination but at the same time, we suggest you not to rely on Google Maps when in the land of High passes. Here, the map may show you just a distance of 100 kilometers which can be covered in 3 hours, but in actual it takes around 6-7 hours to cover it. So, the only advice is to start your journey early and retire for the day too timely.

Treacherous Roads in Ladakh which will definitely longer

Do make sure your documents are complete

Ladakh lies in a sensitive zone as it shares its border with neighboring countries like China and Pakistan. So, everyone needs special permits to enter and roam in this zone. Indians need Leh Ladakh Inner Line Permit and foreign Nationals need Protected Area Permit to visit them. You can read all about the Inner Line Permit here, before taking a road trip to Ladakh.

Don’t attempt to take Shortcuts

Shortcuts are alluring. They might take you through the most adventurous routes but can be equally dangerous, especially in Leh Ladakh. So we advise you not to follow GPS in Leh Ladakh and stay on the highways only. Locals can give you the best, recent updates on the routes. Talk to them before leaving.

Do make a visit to the Leh Ladakh Palaces before they Disappear

Leh Ladakh castles are architectural marvels on the hilltop hidden from the rest of the world. They might have been majestic during their eras but today only their ruins and rubble exist. So we advise you to take little detours where ever required and visit these palaces before they completely disappear.

We explored 6 Leh Ladakh Palaces during our Leh Ladakh Road trip and each one was completely unique in its own way.

Don’t depend on Phone and Internet Connectivity

Phone and Internet connectivity is extremely sparse in Ladakh, especially after crossing Sonamarg. Airtel postpaid and BSNL works well in Leh and other tourist towns like Kargil on the way, whereas in Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri and Tso Kar only BSNL works. The Leh Ladakh road trip was a perfect way to digital detox but we think it won’t be in the coming years as we saw the phone connection lines getting spread on most of the routes.

During our road trip to Leh Ladakh, most of the guesthouses were offering net connectivity but the speed was really slow because of multiple users.

Do carry some Food Supplies and Medicines

Ladakh is considered as one of the remotest areas, after Spiti Valley. Getting medical supplies and eateries while road tripping can be really tough here. So, we suggest you to always carry some eateries and medicine with you in the car. Also, if there is an emergency do take help from the locals. They are for sure one of the happiest people to help.

Don’t be Fussy about Food and Accommodation

Remember, Leh Ladakh lies at an altitude above 10,000 feet where the living conditions are extremely tough and resources are limited. So, stop cribbing. Go with the limited expectation and accept happily whatever you get. Rest, soak your eyes and soul with natural beauty.

Do carry multiple layers of clothes

While heading from one destination to another in Leh Ladakh there is a high altitude variation. For e.g. while heading to Nubra valley from Leh, you cross KhardungLa at 18,000 feet to reach 11,000 feet, which itself means a lot of temperature change. So, the advice is to carry multiple thin layers of clothes. This will keep your body as warm as required, without making you sick.

Don’t forget to charge your Camera Batteries

Every frame on the Leh Ladakh road trip is click-worthy. So remember to charge your camera batteries and also carry some extra batteries along. Electricity supply is there in all the major towns on the way except at Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri and Tso Kar.

That is all you need to remember about planning a Leh Ladakh Road Trip. If you plan well nothing can stop you from soaking yourself with gorgeous panoramas.

The humble request is to travel responsibly. Please do not litter anywhere in the Himalayas and get your plastic waste back. Help locals wherever you can.

India, Tourism, Travel, Uttarakhand

Chakrata – The unseen land of Uttarakhand

May 27, 2018 allgudthings 21 Comments

Some experiences stay with you even after you come back home. The sky turning colorful and then fading shades, the scintillating lights in the valley, the cool breeze and that silence at night, well defines our feelings for this heaven – Chakrata in Uttarakhand.

The clouds were roaring and we could see lightning making patterns, MET department had forecasted storm and heavy rainfall alert in Uttarakhand. We were bit anxious to travel to the upper Himalayas but not to the lower ones. To satisfy the arisen wanderlust; we planned to make a weekend trip to the offbeat unexplored gem Chakrata in Uttarakhand.

Chakrata

Chakrata, a cantonment lies at an elevation of 7500 feet in the Garhwal Himalayas in Dehradun district. The hill station lies approximately 89 kilometers from Dehradun city and 323 kilometers from Delhi. It was developed by British rulers as a summer retreat for the high executives, exactly like all other cantonments of India.

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Historically, Chakrata falls in Jaunsar – Bawar region where Jaunsar refer to the lower part of valleys and Bawar refers to the upper snow clad region. The region is enclosed by River Yamuna in the east; River Tons in the west; Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkashi in the North and Dehradun in the South. The habitats of this area call themselves Jaunsaris and trace their origin back to epic Mahabharata.

The green town Chakrata has a population of 5000 and is completely circumscribed by deodar, pine and spruce trees making it hardly visible from outside. The hill town has few well spread beautiful homes with simple smiling Pahadi people, who can leave you smiling too with the experiences to cherish forever.

Chakrata is an access restricted military cantonment. It serves as the permanent garrison of elite Special Frontier Force (Est. 22), the only ethnic Tibetan unit of Indian Army, raised after Sino – Indian War of 1962.

Also Read: Mukteshwar- The cocktail of calmness and serenity

Attractions of Chakrata

The secluded hill town Chakrata apparently looks quite green, shadowed and silent but it offers quaintest experiences to its travelers and tourists. The place has some major attractions, which should be on your list too for adrenaline rush.

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Tiger Fall

The 312 feet high fall lies completely hidden among the mountains and can be sighted from above just as a normal stream. The waterfall can be reached via trekking 5 kilometers through the oak and rhododendron trees or by car till one point and then walking for almost 1.5 kilometer. The charges for taking vehicle down are mere Rs 30 per person.

The fall looks mysterious and leaves one spell bounded. There are only 2-3 shacks nearby so the place is quite clean and not much commercialized as compared to the other falls. The fall is believed to make roaring nose like Tiger after plunging down into a small pond, hence named as Tiger Fall.

Note: The trail as well roads leading to the fall is quite narrow and can get quite slippery after rains. So, be really careful while driving as well walking.

Also Read: Bhalu Gaad Waterfall

Deoban

Deoban is formed from two words – Deo meaning Deodar and Ban meaning forests. So, it is a thick Deodar forest area at 10,000 feet, 18 kilometers away from Chakrata. The place is a natures paradise with unprecedented beauty and a heaven for adventure junkies.

From Chakrata Toll barrier (Entry Fee: Rs 160/-), drive till Forest Guest house. Park your vehicle outside and walk to the Vyas Shikhar point, to get the panoramic view of Himalayas. Unfortunately, we could not get the expected views, because of heavy clouds, still it was a drive to remember. The Vyas Shikhar too has an interesting history. It is believed that Sage Ved Vyas wrote the Hindu epic “Mahabharata” at this place.

Deoban is a paradise for bird watchers. Make sure to turn back by 6 pm as the place gets pitch dark and looks haunted after that.

Note: The road to Deoban is quite narrow, steep and unraveled. Expect lot of traffic jam by cows, buffalo, and sheep. After rains, the roads get too slushy, so drive with full concentration and be really slow.

Also Read: Binsar

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Chilmiri Point

The Chilmiri point is a wide, green plateau and locally famous as the sunset point. It lies 4 kilometers from the Chakrata market. The road to the point is steep but well graveled. After reaching meadows, further a steep road goes up towards the canopies and prayer flags. Do walk or drive till there to get one of the best views of the valleys.

Kanasar

Kanasar, another Deodar forest near Chakrata is rated as Asia’s best Deodar forest. It lies 25 kilometers from Chakrata market on Chakrata – Tuini Road. The meadows here are famous picnic spot. The place houses Asia’s oldest, biggest and largest deodar trees. One of them is claimed to be with a diameter of 6.5 meters.

The proud Kanasar temple lies in between the meadows and just nearby lies the Forest Rest House at an elevation of 2166 meters. The Forest Rest House can be booked prior visit and the place gives the mesmerizing and astounding views of thick green woods. So, Kanasar is a delightful place for all camping enthusiasts, trekkers and tourists.

Note: The roads to Kanasar is completely an off road drive. There are mud roads with lots of pot holes.

Budher Caves

The Budher caves lie at an altitude 2738 meters; at a distance of 30 kilometers from Chakrata. These stalactite and stalagmite caves are also known as Miola Caves as they were discovered by German Explorer named Miola. Mythologically, the caves are believed to be built by Pandavas and they extend up to 150 kilometers in length.

The caves can be reached by driving till Budher Forest Rest House and then trekking further for 2.5 – 3 kilometer till Moila Top. The trail to cave is really narrow but equally breathtaking. The entrance to the Budher cave is surrounded by the beautiful green meadow. Just like Kanasar there is an ancient Temple here.

Note: The route inside the caves is really complex and tedious, so don’t attempt them without a guide.

Apart from these, there are other attractions nearby like Mundali Meadows, Kimona falls, Lokhandi, Ram Taal, Kalsi, Lakhamandal etc.

Also read: Harsil – The virgin village of Uttarakhand

How to reach Chakrata

Chakrata can be reached from Delhi by car, bus, train or cab. The nearest airport and railway station is at Dehradun. From there one can hire cab or take a bus to reach Chakrata.

Acc. to AllGudThings, the best way is to take a self-drive road trip. There are two routes and we opted for route 1 because it is a highway and to avoid heavy traffic at Meerut and Saharanpur.

Route 1: Delhi – Panipat –Karnal – Yamunagar – Ponta Sahib- Chakrataa

Route 2: Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut – Saharanpur –Dakpathar – Chakrataa

Total Time taken to reach: 8 -9 hours with 1-2 stops

Condition of Roads: Excellent, fully graveled highway roads. The steep roads start only after Ponta Sahib

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Best Season to Visit Chakrata

Chakrata can be visited throughout the year except few areas like Deoban which gets cuts off by road in winters because of heavy snowfall. Rest, the town has pleasant temperatures during summers and freezing temperatures during winters despite being at lower Himalayas.

Summers –March to June and have temperature between 10 -30 degree Celsius

Monsoons -July to September and roads become highly slippery

Autumns– October to November

Winters – December to February and temperature lies between -5 to 15 degree Celsius

Accommodation

There are limited stay options in Chakrata. We could find only 4 hotels – Hotel snow view, Hotel snow valley, Himalayan Paradise and Uttarayan. The Himalayan Paradise is the most famous one and it lies around 7 kilometers from city. We stayed at Hotel Snow Valley which is situated at a perfect location, bit away from the city but still quite accessible. After staying we found that hotel snow view and valley was one property earlier and now is divided into two.

The Hotel Snow Valley has descent rooms with attached washrooms and some of them offers the perfect valley views. Food tastes exactly like home food. So, do enjoy some sitting in the open; admiring mountains and greens.

Also Read: The valley view Homestay, Ranikhet

Food

There are no cafes or big restaurants in the cantonment town. The only place to relish complete meal is Sher-e –Punjab Hotel in Sadar Bazar, which opens till 10:00 pm. Also, try one of the best Momo’s at Chandna’s food joint.

Important Points

-Chakrata is a cantonment area, so obey the rules and regulations

-Drive carefully as the roads are narrow and get highly slippery after rains

-Do remember to carry some woolens in summers too as the temperature changes here drastically

-There are limited food and stay options in Chakrata

-For staying in Forest Guest House, make the reservation prior your visit. There is no scope of reservation on the spot

-There is no petrol pump in Chakrata. So, get your vehicle fueled up at Vikasnagar

-There are plenty of ATM’s in the market, so don’t worry about cash

-All mobiles networks work here except at few places, where you get only 2G connection

-Do not litter anywhere in the mountains and do get back your trash

Overall, Chakrata is a perfect weekend getaway for those who are in search of peace and want to experience the serenity of nature, away from city’s hustle bustle.

Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand

Tehri

Badrinath Dham and Mana Village

Auli in summers

India, Rajasthan, Tourism, Travel

Safari in Sariska Tiger Reserve: Call of the wild

May 1, 2018 allgudthings 17 Comments

The alarm had already rung thrice but the warmth of quilts and pin drop silence was not letting us step out of our beds. At the back of mind, I imagined black and yellow striped big cat crossing in real and that excitement finally pushed me out of bed. I pulled the curtain to see out, it was still pitch dark, mist was hiding the dense beauty of jungle and there was hardly anything visible beyond 1 meter. There; I woke Tashi up and asked, are you sure we are going for Jeep Safari in Sariska Tiger Reserve. I doubt they will take us in so much fog and we will see the ferocious beautiful big cat – Tiger.

Without further discussion we stepped out to buy the safari tickets. The counter opened at 6:00 am and we were the first ones at window counter. Jeeps and canters were already lined up for 7:00 am Safari, with their engines on; and the guides were sipping tea gathered around the bonfires. Next 5 minutes we got our tickets with guide name Mr. Ramesh mentioned on it. We met him there and he directed us to be ready, outside our Hotel The Tiger Den.

Jeep Safari in Sariska Tiger Reserve

By 7:00am, darkness had already lifted; and an open jeep was standing at our gate. We jumped in with the excitement each occupying the corner seats as the whole gypsy belonged to us but then got to know three more members had to fit in from our Hotel itself. Like a child, I asked Ramesh, will we see tiger today. He turned, glared at me and with a small smile answered – Hanji, mam jaroor dikahega (Yes! Mam for sure you will see it). That raised my hopes and I crossed my fingers. We left in next 5 minutes and reached Gate No.1. After getting our tickets checked, we entered the Sariska Tiger Reserve.

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The Jungle appeared much darker and quite inside. Dusty trails had the tires prints marked on it and some animal paws prints too. The sun rays started filtering out from the leaves shading the sky and jungle in the golden hues. Peacock started chanting and came out from the bushes on the trail.

I shouted with the excitement, whereas everyone’s camera’s started making a “click” “click” noise. Not one but group of peacock and peahen crossed the trail completely nonchalantly, after all it was her territory and we were the aliens.

Quail at Sariska National Park- Sariska Tiger Reserve — Quail

On the other side, we saw Quail, sitting together in a group of four, guessing the way to fight winters and stay warm. Nilgai / Blue Bull a bit far was raising her neck to find some food over the branches, but coexisted beautifully in the surrounding. After the continuous up and down trail, we saw a huge pond in the middle of the trail which used to be tiger shooting spot by kings, which made us clear the reserve area was never free from human settlements.

Few meters ahead, we saw spotted deer/ Chital, hovering over the bushes and a herd of Sambhar moving in line towards the another pond for some morning drink. The dusky sky with sun-rays plunging from it was making the Sariska Tiger reserve look extraordinary. Seeing all the natural habitat I actually forgot about the tiger.

And it was already half time, we had reached the check post diverging into three ways one from where we entered and the other to Tehla and Pandu Pul/ Pandupol. The check post inside was more of a devastated museum, with some skulls on the display. Seeing the gypsies sanding there, we realized it’s not only us, but several jungle lovers are on the go. And none of them had spotted the big cat till now.

In the mean-time folk of Rufous Treepie, the cousin of Magpie had already found its branches on the jeep. We must say they are one of the super friendly beautiful birds.

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From there, we hopped back to the jeep and started towards another pond or Kankwari lake. On the way we observed the activities of Langurs, Wild Boars, and Rhesus Monkeys. The Kankwari lake just beneath the Kankwari Fort, situated on the hilltop. Half of the pond had dried up and the rest had some Stork birds, peacock and crocodiles were quenching their thirst.

Till now, we couldn’t spot the Tiger! which had woken and pushed us out of the bed. But still the experience was thrilling and 3.5 hrs passed away like an hour. Apart from the above birds and animals, Sariska Tiger reserve area is rich in Leopards, jackals, Hyenas, Civets etc. The sanctuary has more than 200 species of birds. So, is a paradise for avid birdwatchers too.

The Sariska Tiger Reserve spread in 866 square kilometers is a hidden treasure. The dry deciduous forest along with Rocky landscapes, shrubs and hilly cliffs in the Aravalli range, makes the topography look completely stunning. Although Sariska Forest is dry deciduous but is equally rich with lakes and water-bodies. The low lying forest is lined by Salai, Ber, Khair trees whereas the upper hills have a canopy of Dhok trees. In monsoons the whole land turns to lush green, giving an ethereal feel.

History of Sariska Tiger Reserve

The Sariska Sanctuary is believed to have mythological as well Historic significance.

Mythologically: It is the place where strongest Pandava Bhishma was defeated by Lord Hanuman. So, there is a shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman at Pandupol which means “gateway of the Pandavas”. The Shrine is visited by thousands of devotes on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Historically: The beauty of the place was under the eye of royals too. The Kankwri Fort was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II. The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb imprisoned his elder brother Dara Shikoh here.

And before 1955, it was used as a private hunting ground by Maharaja of Alwar, to entertain himself, his guests and royals.

How to Reach Sariska

Sariska lies 200 kilometers from Delhi, 120 kilometers from Jaipur and 35 kilometers from Alwar in Rajasthan. The nearest airport is at Jaipur whereas the nearest railway is at Alwar. From Alwar, there are several operational cabs and buses till Sariska. Having good transport connectivity, we say it is a perfect weekend getaway from Delhi, Jaipur and Alwar.

Route from Delhi for Road trip:

Delhi – Gurugram – Bhiwadi – Chikani – Alwar- Sariska

Best Season to Visit

The best season to visit Sariska Tiger Reserve is from November to April. After that the temperature starts soaring in Rajasthan; going between 45 to 50 degree Celsius. The Park closes down in monsoon from July to September.

Timings and Cost for Jeep Safari in Sariska Tiger Reserve

At Sariska National Park, Jungle Safari takes place twice a day.

Summers: Morning Shift from 6:00 am to 9:30am and Evening Shift from 3:00 pm -6:30 pm

Winters: Morning Shift from 7:00 am to 10:30 am and Evening Shift from 2:30 pm -6:00 pm

The cost for jeep Safari is Rs. 762/- per person and additional Rs. 600 /- for videography camera. (You don’t need to pay for DSLR cameras, as we did a blunder) whereas for canter it is Rs. 400/-.

Ideally, canter is more economical but there are 20 people in one canter whereas in Jeep there are 4 to 6 people. Moreover the jeep has more maneuverability on narrow trails.

The best is, that on Tuesdays and Saturdays one can drive inside the Sariska Tiger Reserve, till Pandupol by his/her own vehicle by just paying Rs. 250/- at Sariska Gate or Tehla Gate. We did another trip around 12 in our vehicle and took exit through Tehla Gate, further heading to haunted Bhangarh Fort.

How to Book Sariska Tiger Reserve Safari

The Safari can be booked online at http://fmdss.forest.rajasthan.gov.in/ or the ticket can be purchased at the window counter. We recommend to book it online to avoid Queue as well unnecessary hassles. Even after online booking, you need to go to the window counter to get a hard copy and to know your vehicle and guide.

While Booking online there are Routes option, select Rout 1 and 3 as the probability of spotting a tiger is bit high in these areas. We selected Route 1, still couldn’t spot it.

Accommodation

There are multiple stay options in Sariska Tiger Reserve ranging from guest houses, tents, government guest houses to luxurious hotels.

We stayed at Hotel Tiger Den, the government property managed by RTDC (Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation). It lies just 500 meters from the Sariska Tiger Reserve entry gate and costs around Rs.3500/- per night including food. You can book it from here.

Overall Experience of Safari at Sariska Tiger Reserve

The Sariska Tiger Reserve is a perfect weekend getaway for wildlife & bird lovers and nature enthusiast. We feel it is more of a wildlife reserve than the Tiger Reserve. Although, we couldn’t see the striped beast there but the overall experience was amazing.

Interesting Fact: At Sariska Tiger Reserve, there are only 14 tigers and more than 1 Lakh Peacock.

Our advice is – Don’t go with expectation to spot Tiger only. It’s a rare chance to spot the beast. People/ Wildlife photographers either might have been too lucky or must have spent many days there to capture them.

Important Tips

Carry a shawl/ scarf, hat/ cap and googles as the trails are really dusty. These accessories will protect you from cold in the winters and from heat in the summers.
Do carry a water bottle
Please do not feed birds and animals on the way
Do not get out of your vehicle without your guide’s permission
Follow the rules and guidelines mentioned on the pass
Click pictures without disturbing the animals in their habitat
While driving by your own vehicle, remember to maintain a slow speed, not more than 30-40 km/ hour
If you find a wildlife animal crossing the trail on your way, stop your vehicle and give them the way first
And most important don’t litter in the Jungle. Please bring back your bottles and wrappers. This will be helpful for the animals as well environment

About Leh Palace

Ticket for Leh Palace

Timings to visit

History of Leh Palace

The architecture of Leh Palace

Level Third – Entrance

Level Four – Khatok Chenmo

Level Five – Hall of Public Audience

Level Six – The Royal Apartment

Level Seven- The Last Courtyard

Level 8 and Level 9 of Leh Palace

Level 1 and 2

How to reach Leh Palace

Some Important Tips

Our Opinion

Do make sure you know how to Drive in the mountains

Don’t Rush

Do Rest and Acclimatize, before heading to the next stop

Don’t refer to Google Maps for the time frame

Do make sure your documents are complete

Don’t attempt to take Shortcuts

Do make a visit to the Leh Ladakh Palaces before they Disappear

Don’t depend on Phone and Internet Connectivity

Do carry some Food Supplies and Medicines

Don’t be Fussy about Food and Accommodation

Do carry multiple layers of clothes

Don’t forget to charge your Camera Batteries

Chakrata

Attractions of Chakrata

Tiger Fall

Deoban

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Chilmiri Point

Kanasar

Budher Caves

How to reach Chakrata

Best Season to Visit Chakrata

Accommodation

Food

Important Points

Jeep Safari in Sariska Tiger Reserve

History of Sariska Tiger Reserve

How to Reach Sariska

Route from Delhi for Road trip:

Best Season to Visit

Timings and Cost for Jeep Safari in Sariska Tiger Reserve

How to Book Sariska Tiger Reserve Safari

Accommodation

Overall Experience of Safari at Sariska Tiger Reserve

Important Tips

Travel Stories