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Fast Facts Kodaikanal/Palani How to get there Kodaikanal is.situated on the southern crest of the Palani hills about 120 kms from Madurai, Kodaikanal is surrounded by thickly wooded slopes, waterfalls and rocky outcrops. The nearest railway stations are Palani to the north and Kodaikanal Road to the east. Both are about three hours away from Kodaikanal by bus. The Madras-Madurai Mahal Express connects Madras to Kodai Road and the Coimbatore-Rameshwaram Express connects Coimbatore to Palani. The Vaigai Express and the Madras-Madurai Kudal Express connects Madras to Madurai and takes about nine hours. A second AC chair car ticket from Madras to Madurai is priced at Rs 378 and a sleeper ticket is priced at Rs 206. A second AC sleeper ticket from Coimbatore to Madurai is priced at Rs 495 and a sleeper ticket is priced at Rs 115. The nearest airport is at Madurai. Jet Airways and Indian Airlines fly into Madurai. To check the flight schedules and availability try this link: Airline timetable and availability Approximate one way fares (return is double): Bombay-Madurai: Rs 5,600. Madras-Madurai: Rs 2,625. US dollar fares are 30 per cent higher. Business fares are 32 per cent higher. Daily buses run between Kodaikanal and Madurai or Dindigul. The journey takes about three and half hours.There are frequent buses from Palani 65 kms, Tiruchirapalli 197 kms, Coimbatore 244 kms, Madras 513 kms away. Taxis can also be hired from Madurai to make the journey. A one way trip by by non-AC car would work out to about Rs 1,400. Where to stay Seasonal rates for hotels at Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu: Hotel Carlton, one of the most luxurious hotels in Kodaikanal, overlooks the lake and is a modernised colonial house. The hotel offers the following packages. Package valid till October 15. The package for a double room is priced at Rs 6,710 for two nights and three days and Rs 9,540 for three nights and four days. The package for a suite is priced at Rs 9,210 for two nights and three days and Rs 13,290 for three nights and four days. The package for a cottage is priced at Rs 8,210 for two nights and three days and Rs 11,790 for three nights and four days. Children below 12 will be charged Rs 2,282 for the two nights package and Rs 3,348 for the three nights package with taxes. An extra person will be charged Rs 3,480 for the two nights package and Rs 5,145 for the three nights package. Its facilities: an in-house restaurant serving Indian and continental cuisine, a bar, conference facilities, beauty parlour, health club, coffee lounge, discotheque, travel desk and foreign exchange. Hotel Carlton, Lake road. Phone: 04542-40056, 40071 Bombay: 022-6400101, 6400202. The Hill Top Towers, Kodaikanal, situated close to the lake, offers its tariffs for the year. Tariffs, on room only basis, valid till March 2001. The tariff for a double room is Rs 450 plus taxes per night. The tariff for a suite is Rs 625 plus taxes per night. An extra person will be charged Rs 120 plus taxes per night. Its facilities: two restaurants serving Indian, Chinese and continental cuisine, a bar, conference facilities and a travel counter. Hill Top Towers, Club road. Phone: 04542-40413. The Garden Manor, Kodaikanal, situated on a hill, offers its tariffs for the year. Tariffs valid till November 15: The tariff for a double room is Rs 1,200, plus taxes, per night. This includes breakfast. The tariff for a suite is Rs 1,600, plus taxes, per night for four adults. This includes breakfast. Children below 10 will not be charged. An extra person will be charged Rs 200 plus taxes per night. Tariffs valid from November 16 to December 15 and from January 16 to March 2001: The tariff for a double room is Rs 1,000, plus taxes, per night. This includes breakfast. The tariff for a suite is Rs 1,500, plus taxes, per night for four adults. This includes breakfast. Children below 10 will not be charged. An extra person will be charged Rs 150 plus taxes per night. Tariffs valid from December 16 to January 15: The tariff for a double room is Rs 1,500, plus taxes, per night. This includes breakfast. The tariff for a suite is Rs 1,900, plus taxes, per night for four adults. This includes breakfast. Children below 10 will not be charged. An extra person will be charged Rs 300 plus taxes per night. Its facilities: an in-house restaurant, indoor games. Horse riding and boating can also be arranged. The Garden Manor Lake road. Phone: 04542-40461. The Taj Lodge, Kodaikanal, offers its tariffs. Tariffs valid from June 16 to March 2001. The tariff for a double room is Rs 490 plus taxes per night. One child below 12 will not be charged. An extra person will be charged Rs 100 per night. Its facilities: an in-house restaurant serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals. The Taj Lodge, off Club road Phone: 04542-40940. Back Netarhat How to get there You may approach Netarhat from Palamu, 120 km away and Palamu is 25 kms from Daltonganj, the nearest railhead. It makes more sense to arrive at Netarhat from Ranchi. Netarhat is five hours and 160 odd kms away from Ranchi, the nearest airport and a busy railway junction. Trains pull into Ranchi daily from Calcutta, Patna and New Delhi. A daily Indian Airlines flight connects Ranchi with New Delhi, Patna and Bombay. To check the flight schedules and availability try this link: Airline timetable and availability Approximate one way fares (return is double): New Delhi-Ranchi: Rs 5,600. Patna-Ranchi: Rs 1,940. Bombay-Ranchi: Rs 6,545. US dollar fares are 30 per cent higher. Business fares are 32 per cent higher. Where to stay The only place to stay is at the tourist bungalow, where about six rooms are available. They have a decent in-house restaurant too. Back Panchmarhi How to get there It is possible to reach Panchmarhi by train and by road. By train you have come up to Pipariya and take a bus up the hill to Panchmarhi. Pipariya is the nearest railhead, albeit a tiny station where fewer trains stop. It is important that your arrive earlier in the day so that you are assured of onward transport from Pipariya. It is therefore an easier and safer option to come up to Itarsi by rail and then drive upto Panchmarhi, about 100 km away. Pipariya and Itarsi are both on the main Bombay-Allahabad route. Bhopal is six hours away by road. Itarsi about two hours. Where to stay Madhya Pradesh Tourism offers various types of accommodation in its five hotels in Panchmarhi. Simple, tidy double rooms are available at MPTDC Amaltas for Rs 550 and MPTDC Holiday Homes for Rs 290. Airy, pleasant and more comfy rooms are offered at the MPTDC Panchvati for Rs 590, at Rock End Manor for between Rs 1,590 and Rs 1,990 and at MPTDC Satpura Retreat for Rs 690 and 1790. Double rooms in cottages are offered at MPTDC Panchvati for Rs 790. Book in advance because the hotels get booked up in the summer months and the accommodation in the other private hotels in town is rather colourless. If rooms are not available at the MPTDC resorts try the most decent of them, Saket hotel, 0757-52165. For MPTDC bookings contact: Central Reservations Division, 4th Floor, Gangotri, T T Nagar, Bhopal. Phone: 0755-778383, 774340, 774342, 774343. Fax: 0755-772 384,774289 Calcutta: Chitrakoot, 6th Floor, 230 A, A J C Bose Road. Phone: 033-2478 543 Telefax : 033-2475 855 Bombay: 74, World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Colaba. Phone: 022-2187603. Telefax : 022-2160 614. New Delhi: 204 - 205, 2nd Floor, Kanishka Shopping Plaza, 19, Ashoka Road. Phone: 011-3341 187 Telefax : 011-3366528 Panchmarhi: Amaltas Complex, near Tehsil. Phone: 07578-52100 Panchmarhi: Tourist Office, Bus Stand, Pachmarhi.Phone: 07578-52029 Back Puri How to get there The nearest airport is Bhubaneshwar, 62 kms away. A taxi will charge about Rs 500 to do the journey from the airport to Puri. Trains pull in daily into Puri from New Delhi and Calcutta and into Bhubaneshwar from Calcutta, Madras and New Delhi. From New Delhi the Nilanchal Express is the best train to take. It departs from New Delhi at 0635 hours on Tuesdays Fridays and Sundays and reaches Puri at 2035 hours the next day. Or the Purshottam Express which departs from New Delhi daily at 2235 hours and reaches Puri at 0735 hours two days later. An AC sleeper ticket on these trains is priced at Rs 1,849 and a sleeper ticket is priced at Rs 426. >From Calcutta the Howrah Puri Express is the best train to take. It departs from Howrah at 2145 hours on Tuesdays Fridays and Sundays and reaches Puri at 0840 hours the next day. An AC sleeper ticket on these trains is priced at Rs 846 and a sleeper ticket is priced at Rs 194. Indian Airlines flies into Bhubaneshwar daily from Calcutta, Madras and Bombay. To check the flight schedules try this link: Airline timetable and availability Approximate one way fares (return is double): Calcutta-Bhubaneshwar: Rs 2,510 Madras-Bhubaneshwar: Rs 5,905 Bombay-Bhubaneshwar: Rs 7,285. US dollar fares are 30 per cent higher. Business fares are 32 per cent higher. Where to stay and eat Puri has a very good hotel situation. A good variety of cheap and nice places are available. Most of these hotel cater to non-guests dining at its hotel restaurant: Hans Coco Palms, Goudbadsahi, Swargadwar. Phone: 06752-30038, 30951, 30952. Fax: 06752-30165. Presently closed for renovation. Will open in October. Double rooms are available for approximately Rs 2,500 per night. Each room has a balcony. Good spot. Good atmosphere. If you can afford it go for it. Good for children. Mayfair Beach Resort, Chakratirtha road. Phone: 06752-27800, 24041, 24042. Fax: 06752-24242: Doubles rooms are available for Rs 2,450 per night. Cottages are available for Rs 2,750 per night. Suites are available for Rs 3,750 per night. Posh but comfy place to stay. Some rooms a have sea view. Mayfair has a swimming pool. Good but pricey food available for non-residents too. Bengal Nagpur Railway Hotel (BNR) also called South Eastern Railway Hotel, Chakratirtha road. Phone: 06752-22063. Non-AC double rooms with no meals are available for Rs 650. Non-AC double rooms on the ground floor are available for Rs 1,000 with meals. Non- AC double rooms are available for Rs 1,200 per night with meals. AC double rooms are available for Rs 1,500 per night with meals. Reasonable and extremely atmospheric place to stay. A Raj era hotel. Great choice. Toshali Sands, Konark Marine Drive. Phone: 06752-22888, 23573, 23571, 23573. Fax: 06752-23899. Single/double rooms are available for Rs 2,090 per night plus 15 per cent taxes. Double rooms are available in cottages for Rs 3,290 per night plus 15 per cent taxes. Suites are available for Rs 4,390 to Rs 6,190 per night plus 15 per cent taxes. Apartments are available for Rs 4,390 plus 15 per cent taxes. Very pleasant atmosphere. Located in a palm grove 2 km from beach. Good for children. Toshali has a swimming pool. Shankar International, near Chakratirtha road. Phone: 06752-22696: Non-AC double rooms are available for between Rs 200-250, non-AC rooms with four beds are available for Rs 500 per night and rooms within cottages are available for Rs 400. Old style, simple but very pleasant hotel. Many of the rooms have beach view. Good value for money. Gandhara International, Chakratirtha road. Phone: 06752-24117. Fax: 06752-22154: Non-AC double rooms are available for between Rs 450 per night. AC double rooms are available for Rs 750 per night. Rs 30 dorm beds available. Simple, decent hotel. Recommended. Will even serve tasty Japanese food. Sea view. Love and Life, Chakratirtha road. Phone: 06752-24433. Fax: 06752-26093. Doubles rooms are available for Rs 200-250 per night. Cottages are available for Rs 200 per night. Rs 35 dorm beds available. Simple, modest but comfortable enough hotel. Good value for money. Popular with foreigners. Does Japanese food. OTDC Panthanivas, Chakratirtha road. Phone: 06752-22740. Email: Panthanivas: Fairly well run OTDC resort. Near the ocean. Try the new rooms. Non-AC double rooms are available for between Rs 350 and Rs 550 and AC rooms for Rs 750 per night. Hotel has an in-house restaurant and bar. Hotel Vijoya, Chakratirtha road. Phone: 06752-22702, 23705. Fax: 06752-22881. Non- AC double rooms are available for Rs 660 per night. AC double rooms are available for Rs 990 per night. Deluxe suites with four beds are available for between Rs 1,210 and Rs 1,650 per night. Good value for money. Modest but good hotel. Restaurant faces the sea. Z, Chakratirtha road. Phone: 06752-22554. Email: Z. Non-AC double rooms are available for Rs 350 per night. Shared non-AC rooms are available for Rs 200 per night. Beds in a dormitory available for women for Rs 50 and up. A very popular choice with foreigners -- cheap, clean and fun. Located in an old bungalow. They prefer foreigners and do not take advance bookings from Indian tourists, Santana, Chakratirtha road, Pentakota. Phone: 06752-23491: Non-AC single rooms are available for Rs 100 per night and double rooms for Rs 200 per night. Clean and cheaper shared rooms available for Rs 40 and up. Another tourist haunt. For meals also try: Harry's, Chakratirtha road: Good fresh fish. Holiday Resort,, Chakratirtha road: Good Bengali lunches. Mickey Mouse, Chakratirtha road: Pubby, happy place. Wild Grass, junction of VIP and College road: Garden restaurant serving all types of cuisine including good seafood. Trupti, C T road: Good veg food. Back Joshimath How to get there Joshimath is about 250 km northeast of Rishikesh and 270 km northeast of Haridwar. Rishikesh/Haridwar are five hours and roughly 250 km away from Delhi. The most comfortable way to reach Joshimath is to come up to Haridwar by rail by the New Delhi Dehra Dun Shatabdi and then continue on to Joshimath by road. The Shatabdi departs from New Delhi at 0710 hours and reaches Haridwar at 1122 hours. An AC chair car ticket on the Shatabdi is priced at Rs 460 and an AC executive class ticket is priced at Rs 910. Other convenient and cheaper trains that pull into Haridwar are the Mussoorie Express (departs 2215 hoursand reaches 0545 hours) and the Ujjaini Express (departs 1130 hours and reaches 1645 hours). An AC sleeper ticket on these trains is priced at Rs 302 and a sleeper ticket is priced at Rs 104. >From Haridwar or better Rishikesh it is possible to take a bus to Joshimath or hire a car for Rs 1,200 approximately. Where to stay and eat Dronagiri, Ropeway. Phone: 01389-22254 : Not atmospheric but comfortable. Most comfortable place in town. Good view. Double rooms are available for Rs 1,351. Suites are available for Rs 1,500. Shailja, Upper Bazaar. Phone: 01389-22208: Decent place. Better location. Good multi-cuisine food. Double rooms are available for approximately Rs 200. GMVN Joshimath, Upper Mall. Phone: 01389-22226, 22131: Double rooms are available for between Rs 460 and Rs 590. Dorm beds are available for Rs 130. Rooms with four beds are available for Rs 520. Comfy modest hotel. Also a good place to stay at in Joshimath. For meals try: Marwari: Good veg food. Back Keylong How to get there Keylong is 115 km from Manali on the Manali-Leh highway over the Rohtang Pass. The pass opens usually in late June but this year the pass has laready opened. Several buses a day (private and state), connecting Manali with Leh, stop at Keylong. Moving out of Keylong to Leh on the same buses that brought you to Keylong may be difficult in tourist season (July and August) as they may be full. However returning to Manali should pose no such difficulty. HPTDC can organise gypsies to Keylong for about Rs 2,000. Where to stay and where to eat Hotel Snowland, near Circuit House. Phone: 019002-2219: Simple but comfortable enough. Double rooms are available for Rs 350 plus 10 per cent luxury. Dekyid, near the police station: Simple but adequate rooms. Good view. Best choice. Double rooms are available for about Rs 400. HPTDC Tourist Bungalow: Tents and rooms available. Pleasant atmosphere. Swimming pool on the premises. Also good choice. Double rooms are available for about Rs 300. Tashi Delek: New hotel with good clean rooms. Double rooms are available for about Rs 300 to Rs 400. All these hotels have their own in house restaurants offering decent meals Back Ranthambore How to get there The nearest railhead is Sawai Madhopur which is 14 km from the park. Trains pull in daily from Kota, Agra, New Delhi, Bombay and Jaipur. August Kranti Rajdhani (131/2 hours) connects Sawai Madhopur with Bombay, as does the Frontier Mail (17 hours) and the Paschim Express (18 hours). Kota is about one and a half hours away by rail and the Frontier Mail and the Paschim Express connects Sawai Madhopur with Kota. August Kranti Rajdhani (41/2 hours) connects Sawai Madhopur with New Delhi, as does the Frontier Mail (6 hours) and the Paschim Express (7 hours). Bombay. An AC sleeper ticket between New Delhi and Sawai Madhopur is priced at Rs 672, a third AC ticket is priced at Rs 433 and a second class ticket is priced at Rs 171. An AC sleeper ticket between Jaipur and Sawai Madhopur is priced at Rs 418, a third AC ticket is priced at Rs 242 and a second class ticket is priced at Rs 124. An AC sleeper ticket between Bombay and Sawai Madhopur is priced at Rs 1,380, a third AC ticket is priced at Rs 8833 and a second class ticket is priced at Rs 326. Jaipur is four and a half hours away by road. Kota is about four hours away by road. New Delhi is about six and a half hours away by road. If you hire a non-AC car it would cost about Rs 2,500 to make the journey and an AC car will cost Rs 3,500 to make the journey. The nearest airport is at Jaipur. Jet Airways and Indian Airlines fly into Jaipur daily. For details on flight connections into Jaipur, please check this link: Airline timetable and availability Approximate one way economy domestic fares (return is double): Bombay-Jaipur: Rs 4,580. Udaipur-Jaipur: Rs 2,185. New Delhi-Jaipur: Rs 1,770. Calcutta-Jaipur: Rs 6,710. Ahmedabad-Jaipur: Rs 3,005. US dollar fares are 30 per cent higher. Business fares are 32 per cent higher. Where to stay Ankur Resorts: Double rooms are available for about Rs 600 per night. Clean adequate accommodation Tiger Moon: Double rooms are available for about Rs Rs 2,500 per night. Good value for money. Accommodation in neat cottages. Sawai Madhopur Lodge, Ranthambore National Park road. Phone: 07462-20541, 20247. Fax: 07462-20718: Email: Sawai Madhopur Lodge: Double rooms are available for Rs 4,250 per night plus 10 per cent taxes. Deluxe double rooms are available for Rs 4,750 per night plus 10 per cent taxes . Suites are available for Rs 5,500 per night plus 10 per cent taxes. Very atmospheric. Great place to stay even at that price. Back Kalimpong How to get there Kalimpong is easily accesible from Calcutta. The nearest airport is at Bagdogra about 80 km or three and a half kms away. You can hire a car to traverse this distance for about Rs 800 or secure a seat on a bus or in a shared taxi for Rs 80 or so. The nearest railhead is at New Jalpaiguri, about 70 km away. Indian Airlines flies into Bagdogra three times a week. IC 721 departs from Calcutta at 1105 hours and reaches Bagdogra at 1200 hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The IA one way prices (return is double) between Calcutta and Bagdodgra: Rs 2,405 for an economy class ticket for Indian passport holders Rs 3,545 for a business class ticket for Indian passport holders US $ 80 for an economy class ticket for foreign passport holders US $ 120 for a business class ticket for foreign passport holders Jet Airways flies into Bagdogra three times a week. IC 721 departs from Calcutta at 1110 hours and reaches Bagdogra at 1210 hours on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays. The Jet one way prices (return is double) between Calcutta and Bagdodgra: Rs 2,530 for an economy class ticket for Indian passport holders Rs 3,850 for a business class ticket for Indian passport holders US $ 80 for an economy class ticket for foreign passport holders US $ 124 for a business class ticket for foreign passport holders The Kanchenjunga Express and Kamrup Express pull into New Jalapiguri/Siliguri daily. The Kanchenjunga Express departs from Sealdah at 0625 hours and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 1810 hours. The Kamrup Express departs from Howrah at 1525 hours and reaches New Jalpaiguri at 0530 hours. A second AC sleeper ticket on these trains is priced at Rs 904, a third AC sleeper ticket is priced at Rs 574 and a sleeper ticket is priced at Rs 210. But the Kanchejunga does not offer third AC sleepers. >From Kalimpong you can just as well move onto Gangtok (3 1/2 hours to the north or Darjeeling (3 1/2 hours to the east) by road. Where to stay Kalimpong offers a wide choice of accommodation for all budgets and it is often difficult to choose: Orchid Retreat, Ganesh Villa. Phone/Fax: 03552-55389 Email: Orchid Retreat: Double rooms are available for Rs 1,500 per night in cottages. Situated in an orchid nursery. Charming. Offers a "home hospitality concept" and meals are offered at the owner's home, with the family. Shangri La, Darjeeling road. Telefax: 03552-55280: Double rooms are available for about Rs 200 per night. Good value for money. Deki Lodge, Tirpai road. Phone: 03552-55095: Double rooms are available for Rs 250, Rs 350, Rs 450 and Rs 650 per night. Good value for money. Homey atmosphere. Silver Oaks, Main road. Phone: 03552-55296. Fax: 03552-55368: Double rooms are available for Rs 3,500 per night plus 21 per cent taxes. Luxury hotel. Four star. Silver Oaks has anin-house restaurant. Gompu's, Dambar Chowk. Phone: 03552-55818: Quaint. Typical Kalimpong style. Comfy. Very reasonable. Double rooms are available for about Rs 250 and a room with three beds are available for Rs 350 per night. Drolma, 9th Mile, near Novelty Cinema. Phone: 03552-55968. Fax: 03552-55290: Another atmospheric Kalimpong hotel. Good location. Belongs to the family of the former finance minister of Tibet. A variety of rooms are available. Double rooms are available for Rs 650 per night. Suites are avilable for Rs 1200. Shred rooms with no baths attached are available for Rs 450. These are the tariffs after a 20 per cent discount. In season the prices may rise 20 per cent. Chimal, Ringkingpong road. Phone: 03552-55776: Double rooms are available for Rs 300 per night. Value for money. Good view. WBTDC Morgan House, Singamari, Durpin Dara Hill. Phone: 03552-55384, 55929: Raj style accommodation. Bungalow once belonged to an English jute trader. Good garden. Good view. Double rooms are available for Rs 1,600, Rs 2,200 and Rs 2,600 per night. WBTDC Hill Top, Hill Top. Phone: 03552-55654: Decent. Modest. Perhaps not value for money considering the tariffs. Kalimpong Park, Ringkingpong road. Phone: 03552-55304. Fax: 03552-55982. Email: Kalimpong Park. Double rooms are available for between Rs 1,100 and Rs 1,300 plus 10 per cent service charge. Expensive but comfortable. Ask for rooms in the old original bulding. Kalimpong Hotel has an inhouse restaurant. Bethlehem, Rishi road,10th mile. Phone: 03552-55185: Double rooms for Rs 350 per night. Good value for money. LI>Munal Lodge, Malli road. Phone: 03552-55404: Double rooms are available for abour Rs 300 per night. Good value for money. Nice view. Gurudangma House, Hill Top road. Phone: 03552-55204. Fax: 03552-55290 Email: Gurudangma: Double rooms are available for Rs 3,000 per night. Fifteen per cent discount for direct bookings. Accommodation in cottages and tents. Himalayan Hotel, Upper Cart road. Phone: 03552-55248. Fax: 03552-55122. Email: Himalayan Hotel: Single rooms are available for Rs 1,200 per night plus 10 per cent taxes. Single rooms are available for Rs 1,800 per night with meals, plus 20 per cent taxes. Double rooms are available for Rs 1,800 per night plus 10 per cent taxes. Double rooms are available for Rs 3,000 per night, with meals, plus 20 per cent taxes. If you do not opt for a with meals tariff meals are priced at Rs 240 per person per meal plus 20 per cent taxes.This was once the home of British political officer, David MacDonald. A wonderfully atmospheric place, the Himalayan hotel has plenty of history and a great view. Choose upper storey rooms in the original hotel/home and not the newer rooms. Good food. Back Tiracol How to get there Tiracol is the northernmost beach of Goa and is 45 km from Panjim and 32 km from Mapusa. It is possible to reach Tiracol by road from Mapusa. The journey from Mapusa to Querim takes about an hour through beautiful countryside. At Querim you have to board a ferry to cross over to the Tiracol side. The ferry goes every 30 minutes or so till 2130 hours. If you hire a car to take you to Tiracol it would cost upto Rs 500. It is possible to reach Thivim or Mapusa Road by the Konkan Railways. The Sawantwadi Express pulls into Thivim from Bombay CST daily. KR111 departs at 2230 hours and reaches Thivim at 0912 hours. A second AC sleeper ticket on these trains is priced at Rs 871 and a sleeper ticket is priced at Rs 202. The Rajdhani operates twice a week a superfast express service between New Delhi and Trivandrum via Vasai Road (outside Bombay) and Goa . The routing of the Rajdhani via the Konkan Railway will decrease the length of the journey by two hours. The Rajdhani will depart from Delhi Nizamuddin at 1100 hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays and reach Madgaon at 1310 hours. The fares (approximate): Rs 2,100 -- Vasai Road (Bombay) to Madgaon (Goa) by first ac. Rs 1,400 -- Vasai Road (Bombay) to Madgaon (Goa) by second ac. Rs 900 -- Vasai Road (Bombay) to Madgaon (Goa) by third ac. Rs 5,810 -- New Delhi to Madgaon (Goa) by first ac. Rs 3,265 -- New Delhi to Madgaon (Goa) by second ac. Rs 1,955 -- New Delhi to Madgaon (Goa) by third ac. It is possible to reach Panjim by air from New Delhi, Madras, Bangalore and Bombay. Jet Airways, Sahar Airlines and Indian Airlines operate daily flights. To check the flight schedules try this link: Airline timetable and availability The one way IA, Sahara and Jet fares (return is double) between Bombay and Goa : Rs 2,410 for a economy class ticket on IA for Indian passport holders Rs 2,525 for a economy class ticket on Jet for Indian passport holders Rs 2,410 for a economy class ticket on Sahara for Indian passport holders Rs 3,555 for a business class ticket on IA for Indian passport holders Rs 3,845 for a business class ticket on Jet for Indian passport holders Rs 3,555 for a business class ticket on Sahara for Indian passport holders US $ 85 for a economy class ticket on IA for foreign passport holders US $ 93 for a economy class ticket on Jet for foreign passport holders US $ 85 for a economy class ticket on Sahara for foreign passport holders US $ 125 for a business class ticket on IA for foreign passport holders US $ 144 for a business class ticket on Jet for foreign passport holders US $ 125 for a business class ticket on Sahara for foreign passport holders The IA one way prices (return is double) between New Delhi and Goa: Rs 7,010 for a economy class ticket for Indian passport holders Rs 10,455 for a business class ticket for Indian passport holders US $ 235 for an economy class ticket for foreign passport holders US $ 345 for a business class ticket for foreign passport holders The Sahara one way prices (return is double) between New Delhi and Goa: Rs 7,010 for a economy class ticket for Indian passport holders Rs 10,455 for a business class ticket for Indian passport holders US $ 235 for an economy class ticket for foreign passport holders US $ 345 for a business class ticket for foreign passport holders The Jet one way prices (return is double) between New Delhi and Goa but via Bombay: Rs 7,045 for a economy class ticket for Indian passport holders Rs 11,700 for a business class ticket for Indian passport holders US $ 225 for an economy class ticket for foreign passport holders US $ 415 for a business class ticket for foreign passport holders The Air-India one way prices (return is double) between Goa and Bombay: Rs 2,484 for a economy class ticket for Indian passport holders Rs 2,810 for a business class ticket for Indian passport holders US $ 125 for an economy class ticket for foreign passport holders US $ 95 for a business class ticket for foreign passport holders Rs 1,913 for an economy class night flight ticket for Indian passport holders US $ 65 for an economy class night flight ticket for foreign passport holders The IA one way prices (return is double) between Madras and Goa: Rs 4,075 for a economy class ticket for Indian passport holders Rs 6,060 for a business class ticket for Indian passport holders US $ 140 for an economy class ticket for foreign passport holders US $ 205 for a business class ticket for foreign passport holders The IA one way prices (return is double) between Bangalore and Goa: Rs 3,020 for a economy class ticket for Indian passport holders Rs 4,465 for a business class ticket for Indian passport holders US $ 105 for an economy class ticket for foreign passport holders US $ 150 for a business class ticket for foreign passport holders Where to stay At Tiracol there are only two places to stay: GTDC hotel situated within theTiracol fort called Hotel Tiracol Fort Heritage. Double rooms are available for Rs 400 per night. Suites are available for Rs 1,200 per night. Book in advance. Call/fax: 02366-68248 or fax: 0834-782362. A bit on the expensive side it is nevertheless a very pleasant place to lodge. Views are excellent and rooms are comfortable. 0832-782326 26 400-500, 50 Hill Rock hotel is a family run hotel. Eight rooms are available. Double rooms are available for Rs 250 per night. Call 02366-68264. Back Tawang How to get there A journey to Tawang is a long and difficult trip to negotiate. But for the brave hearted it is a journey that must be contemplated; a bit like cracking a difficult puzzle. The closest airport and railhead is Tezpur across the border in Assam. Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Indian Airlines, flies into Tezpur twice a week. CD 7215 departs from Calcutta at 0945 hours and reaches Tezpur at 1100 hours on Thursdays and Sundays. The IA one way prices (return is double) between Calcutta and Tezpur: Rs 2,285 for an economy class ticket for Indian passport holders US $ 80 for an economy class ticket for foreign passport holders Tezpur is nearly 1,100 kms away from Howrah. There are no direct trains to Tezpur and you would have to change at New Bongaigaon in Assam. The Cochin Guwahati Express, the Bangalore Guwahati Express and the Trivandrum Guwahati Express pull into New Bongaigaon daily from Howrah and conveniently connect with an onward train from New Bongaigaon. Each of these trains depart from Howrah at 1405 hours and reach New Bongagigaon at 0740 hours. The Cochin Guwahati Express does so on Thursdays, the Bangalore Guwahati Express does so on Fridays and Sundays and the Trivandrum Guwahati Express does so on Tuesdays. The 5716 Up, the Samastipur Express pulls out of Tezpur at 0745 hours daily and reaches Tezpur, about 260 km away at 1730 hours. There is always a chance that your trains don't connect and one is forced to spend the night in New Bongaigaon. New Bongaigaon does offer some decent accommodation. The fares (approximate): Rs 1,521 -- Howrah to Tezpur by second ac and first class (there are no AC sleepers between New Bongaigaon and Tezpur). Rs 385 --123 Howrah to Tezpur by second class sleeper. It takes not less than 12 hours and upto 16 hours to reach Tawang from Tezpur via Bhalukpong and Bomdila by road. Tezpur is kms away from Bomdila and Bomdila is 180 arduous km away from Tawang. Frequent private and Assam state buses connect Tezpur with Bomdila and then in turn Bomdila with Tawang. The private buses are more comfortable. A night halt in Bomdila, where a decent accommodation is available (try Siphiyang Phong, phone: 03782-22250, 22286, 22373), would make the trip easier to do. But non-stop ride in a shared jeep from Tezpur to Tawang will set you back Rs 320. Call Sumo Travels 03712-24352 or Shambhala Tours and Travels at Tezpur. Itanagar agents listed below can also arrange a vehicle at the price of Rs 2,000 per day. Indian citizens must obtain an inner line permit that takes half an hour to be issued. Foreigners require a restricted area permit (NOC) to travel in that part of Arunachal, since it is close to Tibet. They are required to travel in groups of four with their journey arranged through a recognised tour operator. They have to pay a royalty of US $ 50 per head, per day. They may pay US $ 150 per day and food, the royalty and transport will be covered but that is optional. To obtain the permit a form has to be filled and submitted with photographs and xerox copies of the main passport pages and the Indian visa. A permit make take upto eight weeks to be issued, though it may arrive earlier. Restricted area permits are available at: Arunachal Bhavan, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Phone: 011-3013915. Arunachal Bhavan, 4B Chowringhee road, Calcutta. Phone: 022-2286500. Foreigner's registration department, Annex 2, Police Commissioner's Office, D N road, near Crawford Market, Bombay. Phone: 022-022-2610446, 268222. Open 1000 hours to 1300 hours Monday to Friday. While all of this sounds dreadfully complicated there are some options: Arunachal Tourism will process your permit for you if you send them the details by post. Alternately any of these agents can arrange your trip and the desired number of companions: Travel Voyage, Bombay. Phone: 022-3888892: Call Aruna Nemo. Himalayan Holidays, Itanagar. Phone: 0360-246232. Fax: 0360-243051: Contact the helpful Michi Tajo. Where to stay Accommodation is a bit sparse and it is much easier to work through agent when it comes to booking accommodation as telephone numbers are hard to reach (line disturbances cause the sound to come and go) . Rooms are available at: Paradise, Main Market: Double rooms for between Rs 200 and Rs 500. Basic. Circuit House, Phone: 03794-22359, 22567: OK accommodation if vacant. Reserved for government officers. Arunachal Tourist Lodge, little away from main market. Phone: 03794-22567: Double rooms for Rs 200 to Rs 700. The best lodging choice in Tawang. Large rooms. Comfortable. Drema. Modest. Basic. Shangri La, near bus station: Modest. Basic Gori Chen, near Tibetan Arch: Modest. Basic Masaang, near bus station: Basic. Back Chikhaldhara For accommodation and fast fact details do check Chikhaldhara. Back Varkala How to get there Varkala is located 20 kilometres south of Quilon (Kollam). Several buses connect Varkala with Quilon. It is possible to take a taxi to Varkala from Trivandrum, 1 1/2 hours away for Rs 350 Quilon is accessible by road or train from Trivandrum, the nearest airport; one and a half hours on the Kerala Mangala Express. Indian Airlines, Air-India, Jet Airways fly into Trivandrum daily from Madras, Bombay, New Delhi and Bangalore. To check flight timetable and availability try this link: Airline timetable and availability Approximate one way fares (return is double): New Delhi-Trivandrum: Rs 10,745. Bombay-Trivandrum: Rs 5,770. Bangalore-Trivandrum: Rs 3,350. Madras-Trivandrum: Rs 3,500. US dollar fares are 30 per cent higher. Business fares are 32 per cent higher. Air-India fares are about 20 per cent lower. Air-India night fares are 30 per cent lower. Where to stay Taj Garden Retreat, Pavanacham beach. Phone: 0472-603000. Fax: 0472-602996This the best address in Varkala. A lovely place to spend a holiday. Great view of the beach. Has a swimming pool. Also the most expensive address at Rs 1,800 per double room per night. Panchvadi, Beach road. Phone: 0472-600200: Non-AC double rooms are available for between Rs 150 and Rs 300 per night. Comfortable. Near beach. Akshay Beach Resort, Beach road. Phone: 0472-602668: Non-AC double rooms are available for Rs 400 and AC double rooms for Rs 750 per night. Good value for money. Comfortable. Hillltop Beach Resort, Pavanacham Beach. Phone: 0472-601737: Double rooms are available for between Rs 250 and Rs 450 per night. Good choice at Varkala because Hilltop has an excellent view. Modest, Clean. Hill Palace, north cliff: Double rooms are available for Rs 150 per night. Accommodation in cottages. Great view. Simple but peaceful. Good budget choice. The Palms, north cliff: Double rooms are available for about Rs 200 per night. Kerala style place. Modest. Appealing Marine Palace, Beach road, overlooking beach, near cliff. Phone: 0472-603204: Double rooms are available for between Rs 300 and Rs 500 per night. Modest. Good value for money. Mamma Home or Mamma Chompos, Beach road. Phone: 0472-603995: Double rooms are available for about Rs 300 per night. Accommodation on a family farm. Basic. But rather enjoyable. Back Nagarhole How to get there Nagarhole National Park is 96 km from Mysore and reachable by road. Express buses connect Mysore with Nagarhole. It is a three hour ride. Mysore does not have an airport. Indian Airlines, Sahara Airlines and Jet Airways fly into Bangalore. For details on flight connections into Bangalore, please check this link: Airline timetable and availability Approximate one way economy domestic fares (return is double): Bombay-Bangalore: Rs 4,045. Madras-Bangalore: Rs 2,010. New Delhi-Bangalore: Rs 7,660. Calcutta-Bangalore: Rs 7,945. Trivandrum-Bangalore: Rs 3,350 Pune-Bangalore: Rs 4,185 Hyderabad-Bangalore: Rs 2,325 US dollar fares are 30 per cent higher. Business fares are 32 per cent higher. Air-India fares are about 20 per cent lower. Air-India night fares are 30 per cent lower. Mysore is three hours away from Bangalore by road and two hours away by rail. Reaching by train is more convenient. Many trains connect Bangalore with Mysore, including the fast Shatabdi for which one needs reservations. The Shatabdi leaves daily at 1045 hours, except Tuesday and reaches at 1245 hours. An AC chair car ticket on the Shatabdi is priced at Rs 280 and an AC executive class ticket is priced at Rs 550. Alternately one can reach Nagarhole directly from Bangalore by a daily KSRTC bus that leaves the Majestic bus station at 0730 hours and reaches Nagarhole at 1230 hours. On the return the bus deoarts from Nagarhole at 1300 hours and reaches Bangalore at 1930 hours. Price of a one way ticket: Rs 89. You can also hire a car from KTDC for Rs 4,000, one way. Where to stay The Kabini River Lodge run by Karnataka Tourism is considered to be one of the more unusual hotels in the world and has a visitor's book that reads like a who's who. Once the hunting lodge of the Mysore maharaja, The lodge is situated near the river and offers cosy, atmospheric rooms Double rooms are avilable for Rs 1,950 per night per person. US dollar tariffs: 110 for the first night per person and US 99 per head for the following nights. Contact Karnataka Tourism: 080-5597025. Fax : 080-5586163. Jungle Inn, Nagarhole park. Phone: 080-5599032. Email: Clipper Holidays: Comfy, pleasant hotel near the park. Very few rooms. Book in advance. Double rooms available for about Rs 1,000 per night. Back Kapurthala How to get there Kapurthala is 19 km and about half an hour away from Jalandhar and two and half hours away from Ferozepur by rail. The Punjab Mail departs from New Delhi daily at 1955 hours and reaches Ferozepur at 0515 hours. The Jammu Tawi Jodhpur Express pulls into Kapurthala from Ferozepur daily, departing from Ferozepur at 1005 hours and reaching Kapurthala at 1200 hours. You can reach Kartarpur (where the Punjab Tourism hotel is located) from Jalandhar by taxi for Rs 150. A second AC sleeper ticket on these trains from New Delhi to Kapurthala is priced at Rs 812 (Ferozepur to Kapurthala will be by second class. No AC compartments) and a sleeper ticket is priced at Rs 284. Where to stay Double rooms, cooled by air coolers, are available at the pleasant Magnolia Tourist Complex, Kartarpur, 18 km away run by Punjab Tourism for Rs 400. Call 0181-782322. Locational advantage. Kapurthala Hotel is located in Kapurthala and offers rooms for about Rs 550. Back Tell us what you think of this feature

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