Easy Tourist Guide

Tithal – one of the finest beaches on the western coast of India along Arabian Sea has grown into a popular tourist destination of Gujarat in recent years. The palm fringed beaches along with immensely popular temples of Sai Baba and Swaminarayan on the beach combines perfectly to make it a holy beach resort of Gujarat. Nearness to important cities like Surat, Ahmedabad and Mumbai makes Tithal an ideal weekend gateway to relax and rejuvenate in its sandy beaches. If one wishes to discover nature in its pristine form and quench his spiritual thirst then he must pay a visit to Tithal beach.

Where is Tithal?

The beach of Tithal is in the western part of the Valsad city. Valsad is the district headquarter of Valsad district in the Indian state of Gujarat.

About Tithal

Tithal beach was hardly a known destination among tourists a few years back. The place first came into prominence with the set up of Sai Baba temple and Ashram. Although the place is now a popular destination is still untouched by modern encroachments.
The stunningly beautiful palm fringed beach of Tithal is an ideal gateway to escape the humdrums of urban life and let oneself loose to bask in the unblemished beauty of the nature in its full bloom. The best way to relax and get rid of the tiredness is to recline on its golden glistening sandy expanse amidst palm fringed cottages for long hours and observe the beauty of the nature. Apart from its serene and tranquil beauty, swimming, surfing, parasailing, fishing and diving are some of the other major attractions of this grand natural beach. Staying options at cottages with all modern amenities on the beach is another major point of attraction of Tithal.
Tithal is now more a religious beach resort of south Gujarat where Sai Baba, Ausho Rajnish, Jains Bandhutriputi and Swaminarayana have made their holydham. The tourism department and government’s initiatives have put Tithal strongly on the tourism map of India.

Sightseeing in and around Tithal

Apart from the scenic beauty of the grand beach with unique blackish sand, there are quite a few places in and around Tithal which are major tourist attraction for tourists. Some of them are :

Swaminarayan Temple – This large temple on the beach is one of the prime attractions of Tithal. Apart from being a major tourist attraction, large number of devotees flock to this temple for offering their prayers and quenching their spiritual thirst. This nice and clean temple on the beach is worth a visit to discover how nature and God are the two faces of the same coin. This beautiful temple also provides accommodation facilities to weary travellers. It is probably the most beautiful place to stay and enjoy in Tithal.
Sai Baba Temple – Popularly known as Saidham, it is another major tourist attraction. Situated on the other side of the beach, it also has a good guesthouse and resting facilities. Daily arti in the evening is attended by a large number of devotees from far and near. Immense popularity of Sai Baba has added to the number of visitors visiting Tithal.

Hazira Beach – This is another beach nearby which provides an ample opportunity to discover oneself alone in the lap of nature. This virgin beach is certainly an ideal place to spend time with your loved ones dancing to the tune of the placid waves.

How to reach Tithal?

By Air – Surat at a distance of about 105 Km is the nearest airport of Tithal beach in Valsad city. Airport at Vadodara at a distance of about 250 Km is another option for those travelling through air.
By Train – Valsad is a prominent railway station in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. From the station, the beach is just 05 Km away.
By Road – Valsad is well connected to all major cities like Surat, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Vadodara, etc with good conditioned metallic roads.

Where to stay in Tithal?

Staying on the beach in modern cottages is undoubtedly a good and memorable option. One can also stay at the Saidham or Swaminarayan temple. There are also a number of good staying options in the city of Valsad ranging from budget accommodations to luxury hotels.
Salty Beach Resort (For booking contact – 02632255111/09904355111)
Hotel Adina Palace (For booking contact – 02632-248067/248068/222427)
Country Club resort (For Booking contact – 02632-227900)
Hotel Dhanalaxmi (For booking contact – 09377633023)

Pelling – one of the most popular tourist destination of Sikkim is famous for offering breathtaking views of the snow-capped Himalayan ranges. With its laid back scenic beauty, this hamlet town of West Sikkim is one of the fastest growing hill resort of north-east India. Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain peak of the world is perhaps best viewed from Pelling, because of its unique strategic location. Snow covered mountain ranges of the Himalayas, green valleys, gurgling waterfalls, Buddhist monasteries, sacred lakes, – Pelling has all the ingredients for being such a popular tourist destination in a very short span of time.

Where is Pelling?

Pelling is a small hill town in the West Sikkim district of the state of Sikkim in India. Pelling is about 133 Km away from Siliguri and 125 Km from Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim.

About Pelling

This small hill resort of Sikkim is perched at an average altitude of about 2150 m above sea level. Pelling has grown into a immensely popular hill resort because of the magnificent view of the snow-capped mountains of Kanchenjunga along with other sister mountains like Koktang, Kumbhakarna, Rathong, Kabru, Dom, Pandim, Zopuno, Shimbho, Narsing, Siniyalchu. Inspite of major tourist influx in recent years, Pelling is still a virgin territory bathed with alpine vegetation and numerous waterfalls lining the hillside. Pelling with its excellent scenic beauty, numerous waterfalls, soft trek routes and cool climate has grown into a preferred holiday destination of Sikkim in recent years.
Apart from being a magnificent hill town, Pelling is a repository of culture, history snd relegion of Sikkim. The people here have a distinct cultural identity that is quite different from that of other parts of north-east.

Sightseeing in and around Pelling

Pemayangtse Monastery – Located at a distance of just 2 Km from Pelling it is one of the oldest and most important monasteries of Sikkim belonging to the Nyingma order. This popular sightseeing spot from Pelling was planned, designed and founded by Lama Lhatsun Chempo in 1705. The monastery follows the Nyingma Order of Tibet Buddhism and controls all other monasteries of that Order in Sikkim. The monks of Pemayangtse Monastery enjoys the unique privilege of performing all royal ceremonies.
Located at the top of a hill, the monastery has many traditional collections of Buddhist statues, traditional paintings, wooden masks and ritual texts. At the top floor there is beautiful wooden replica of Zangdog Palri the celestial adobe of Guru Padmasambhava and is the main attraction of the Monastery. This colorful and beautiful piece is kept inside a big glass box for preservation.
Sangacholing Monastery – Built in 1697, it is one of the oldest monasteries of Sikkim and is situated on a steep hilltop above the famous Pemayangtse Monastery. To reach the Monastery one has to walk on steep hilly slope through thick forest. The Sangacholing Monastery located with a scenic backdrop is a rich storehouse of valuable artifacts like wall paintings, scriptures, statues, etc. The monastery also offers splendid views of the snow peaks of the Himalayas and is extremely popular among tourists. Believed to have been designed and built designed by the late Dongzin Rimpoche over five years the monastery is considered sacred by the followers of the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism.

Khecheopalri Lake – Located at a distance of about 25 Km from Pelling, this sacred lake is one of the major tourist attraction of this hill resort. Also known as the ‘Wishing Lake’ this pristine lake with sparkling blue waters, is a pilgrimage spot sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus. Strangely, not a single leaf is seen floating on its waters. Legend has it that all day long, the birds of the forest dutifully pick them up.
This scenic lake surrounded by prayer flags is covered with rich, dense forest is an excellent site for bird watching as well. The lake can be reached by walking through the forest area for nearly 25 minutes and provides an excellent opportunity to have a feel of the pristine nature.
Kanchenjunga Waterfall – At a distance of about 25 Km from Pelling is the Kanchenjunga Waterfall, one of the largest waterfalls in Sikkim. Falling from a height of about 300 ft, this massive fall is placed between a magnificent carve of two hills. The fall is extremely popular among tourists and is a major sightseeing destination from Pelling. The place is rich in natural beauty and lush vegetation making it a prime tourist attraction.

Singshore Bridge - located in Dentam Uttarey Road at a distance of about 25 Km from Pemayangtse monastery, this hanging bridge is a piece of mechanical marvel and is a prime tourist attraction. This highest bridge of Sikkim is worth a visit for the spectacular views it offers of green hillsides and beautiful waterfalls. The downward view from the bridge is a mind boggling experience with the sight of beautiful waterfalls.

There are quite a few other places around Pelling which are worthy of a visit. Some of them are - Rabdentse Ruins (ruins of the fort or palace of second capital of Sikkim), Yuksam (was the cradle of Sikkim’s Buddhist civilization), Sewaro Rock Garden (artificial garden on the bank of a river), Darap valley (popular village tourism destination), Rembi Water fall (relatively a smaller set in picturesque surrounding) and quite a few others.

How to reach Pelling?

By Air – Bagdogra airport is the nearest airport at a distance of 154 Km from Pelling. The airport at Gangtok at a distance of 85 Km is also close to Pelling.
By Rail – Jalpaiguri at a distance of about 187 Km is the nearest railway station. From here one can either travel by hired vehicle or buses run by Sikkim transport.
By Road – Pelling is connected by all weather metalled road with Siliguri, Kalimpong, Gangtok etc.

Where to stay at Pelling?

Pelling being a popular tourist destination offers a range of luxury and budget hotels. Some of the good staying options at Pelling are :
Hotel Sonamchen (For booking contact at – 03595-258346/258606/258257)
Norbu Ghang Resort (For booking contact at – 03595 – 258245/258272)
Hotel Tashigiyalsen (For booking contact at – 9831058887)
Hote Rabdanse (For booking contact at – 03595 – 258612)
Hotel Siniolchu (For booking contact at – 9830266450)
Hotel Norling (For booking contact at – 9830163154)
Hotel Newa Regency (For booking contact at – 03595 – 258596)

Bomdila – a relatively off-beat tourist destination in the north eastern part of India is perched amongst the panoramic settings of the lofty ranges of the eastern Himalayas. Bomdila with its apple orchards, Buddhists monasteries, magnificent valleys and awesome view of the snow clad Himalayan ranges are a tourist’s paradise. This tiny paradise of the north-east is not the typical tourist hot spot with loads of places to see, rather is a nature lover’s retreat. Bomdila is an adventure lover’s paradise with numerous pretty trekking trails that run through the hills, forest and orchards.

Where is Bomdila?

Bomdila is the headquarters of the West Kameng district of the state of Arunachal Pradesh in the north-east of India. This breathtakingly beautiful hill station is situated in the north-western part of Arunachal Pradesh.

About Bomdila

The small hill town of Bomdila is perched at an average altitude of 8000 ft. above sea level amongst the mighty mountain ranges of the Himalaya. This lofty paradise remains snow clad for a major part of the year and makes a delightful destination to get away during summer. The idyllic hill town of Bomdila is known to the offbeat tourists as the place that means snow-capped mountains, apple orchards and Buddhist monasteries.
This tiny hamlet town of Arunachal Pradesh with its alpine climate is an ideal place to relax amidst nature. Being a remote destination in the north-east of India, Bomdila has escaped the maddening rush of tourist and has successfully preserved its natural serenity and peace.
Bomdila, like other towns in the area, has a strong Buddhist and Tibetan influence evidenced from the fair number of monasteries and quaint little eating-places serving traditional Tibetan cuisine plus the all time favourite – momos and thukpas.

Sightseeing in and around Bomdila

Bomdila Monastery – Apart from its scenic beauty, the Bomdila monastery is the major attraction of this hill town. Built in 1965, the monastery owes its inception to the 12th reincarnate of Tsona Gontse Rinpoche. Bomdila monastery is an imitation of the Tsona Gontse Monastery, located at Tsona in South Tibet. The main prayer hall of the monastery was added later on by the 13th reincarnate of Tsona Gontse Rinpoche and was later sanctified by His Holiness, Dalai Lama, in October 1997.

This beautiful monastery also houses a temple of Lord Buddha and residential quarters for the monks. It is one of the most important centers of the Lamaistic faith of Mahayana Buddhism and is extremely popular among tourists visiting Bomdila.
Craft Centre – This is another major tourist attraction of Bomdila. The craft centre has a delightful range of hand-woven carpets, woven by the local Monpa tribe. Superbly designed dragon carpets that are on sale are a huge hit among tourists. Also produced at the centre are traditional wall hangings, paintings and masks presenting the wondrous artistic skills of the locales. The cheap prices of all these products make them hugely popular among tourists.

Apple Orchards – A visit to the apple orchards and taking a walk through it is an experience in itself. The beautiful orchards with its wide stretches provide an ideal place to take a leisurely stroll.

The trees laden with fruits are another major attraction. Tourists visiting Bomdila during winter, which is indeed the preferred season for visiting this paradise of north-east rarely give a miss to visit these apple orchards. Sight of these fruit laden apple trees brings an immense joy in the mind of everyone who sees it.

How to reach Bomdila?

By Air - Nearest airport is situated in Tezpur in Assam at a distance of 160 Km from Bomdila. From here one has to opt for government buses or hire private vehicles to reach Bomdila.
By Rail - Nearest railway station is Tezpur in Assam. Rangapara Railway Station is another option and Arunachal Express has a stop over here.
By Road - Regular bus services connect Bomdila with Tezpur and Tawang. Bus services of APSTC and ASTC are available from Guwahati, Tezpur, Tawang and Itanagar.

Where to stay at Bomdila?

Comfortable accommodation is available at the Tourist Lodge, PWD Inspection Bungalow and the Government Circuit House apart from medium and economy budget hotels. The reservation authority for the above mentioned places lies with Deputy Commissioner, Bomdila, Tel 03782-22021.
Other staying options of Bomdila are :
Pangchen Lodge (Contact number : 09836489939)
Hotel La (Contact number : 03782-222097)
Hotel Sifiang Pong (Contact number : 03782-222286)
Hotel Sang-Ri-La (Contact number : 03782-222226)
Hotel Bomdila (Contact number : 03782-222416)
Hotel Himland (Contact number : 09831097019)