TRAVEL SPECIAL.... QUICK GETAWAY

TRAVEL... QUICK GETAWAY

FROM MUMBAI: DAJIPUR, 458KMS, 25 DEGREES, 6 HRS, 30 MINS, 20 DEGREES APPROX
    Dajipur may not be the first name to crop up to your mind when you think of a quick getaway from Mumbai. However, it has enough to keep you busy and is a beautiful family destination. It is situated 1200 meters above sea level and is best known for the Bison wildlife sanctuary and the Gagangiri Maharaj in Gaganbawda. If you are a photography enthusiast, don’t forget to take your camera along. The place is surrounded by a mountain range and dense forests, which means ample opportunity for scenic shots. Another added feature of this place is that its seclusion makes you forget the city life completely for some time. You can spot a variety of animals and teach your kids a thing or two about them while here. Bison, wild deer, chital, gawa and many varieties of wild animals and birds can be found in Dajipur. Take an excursion in the surrounding area and visit the Gagangiri Maharaj’s Math, which is a popular tourist spot around here. It is located in the midst of the dense forest, so getting here could be a bit of a task. Over the years the Math has built a steady reputation as a place to visit for those seeking spirituality and is visited by both locals and foreigners.
By Rail: Nearest railhead is Kolhapur on South Central Railway. By Road: Take the route via National Highway 17 to reach Dajipur. FROM DELHI: SULTANPUR NATIONAL PARK, 50 KMS, 1 HR, 30 MINS, 18 DEGREES APPROX
    Sultanpur National Park is located a stone’s throw away from Delhi and is yet another spot that can be visited with anyone for company — friends, families or even just yourself! It is a peaceful picnic spot, which sometimes tends to get crowded on holidays. It has accommodation facilities and restaurants to dine at. The lake swamp area is the dwelling place to many migratory birds visiting this sanctuary. The credit to establishing the bird sanctuary is given to famous ornithologist, Peter Jackson. He was also the Honourary Secretary of the Delhi Bird Watching Society, who strove to get the lake declared as a bird sanctuary.
    The Sultanpur Bird Reserve was established in 1972 and it was upgraded to a National Park in 1989. It is a protected area and over 250 species of birds have been sighted. Migratory birds, Kingfishers and Blue Bulls are the major attractions here.
By Rail: Delhi is the nearest rail head. By Road: Sultanpur National Park is located 16 kms from Gurgaon, on the Gurgaon-Farrukhnagar stretch, off the Delhi-Jaipur Highway (NH 8). FROM BANGALORE: TALAKAD, 133 KMS, 2 HRS, 40 MINS, 28 DEGREES APPROX
    Talakad is in Mysore district. The area is famous for its sand dunes and also the temples buried underneath. Talakad once boasted of more than 30 temples in its midst, till the time it was buried under sand in the 16th century. Research says that a natural disaster caused this tragedy, though local stories claim otherwise. Several myths state that Talakad was buried under sand because of the curse of the queen of the region, Alamelu. The five temples, namely the Vaidyanatheshwara, Pathaleshwara, Maruleshwara, Arkeshwara, and Mallikarjuna Temples are quite popular in this region. The Keerthinatheshwara Temple here is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and stands among the five Shiva temples, and is now being reconstructed.
    When you visit, have a fun outing with your friends in the River Kaveri. The river is ideal to take a bath in and splash some water around. The flow is shallow in this region which is why it is considered to be safe to take a dip here.
By Rail: Nearest railhead is Mysore. By Road: Take the NH 209 (Kanakapura road) past Malavalli and continue towards Kollegal. About some 5 kms before the detour for Sivanasamudram, there are sign boards indicating Talakad.

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