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August 2009
Travelogue - Delhi - Manali - Road trip & Road map.
A long weekend and it was time for a hillstation tour as the heat and humidity in Delhi was unbearable this August 2009. As to all hillstations nearby were ventured many a time we had to check out a new place, yes this time it was Manali. Club Mahindra gave us the facility for a 3 day halt at Club Mahindra Snow Peaks with the necessary guidance.
HimachalPradesh, the state with a lot to explore. Lakes, rivers, forests, valleys and towering mountains, all abound here. The state has thoroughly been blessed by nature. And it has all the means to satisfy a tourist's wandering soul. Be it adventure sports, bird watching or just admiring nature's bounty. You'll find it all here in Himachal Pradesh.
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Once the summer capital of Raja Bilaspur this place is ideally situated 40 kms from Bilaspur at a height of 1220m from sea level on the Bilaspur - Chandigarh NH21. This is an ideal spot for a quite over night stay. In the night the view of the lights twinkling in the plains of Punjab is worth seeing. The temple dedicated to Laxmi Narayan is worth seeing.
How to get there
The nearest airport, broadgauge, rail head and ISBT at Chandigarh are 186 kms away. Bilaspur is just 40 kms away. Regular taxis and buses are available from Bilaspur.
Climate
In winter the temperature is mild when heavy woolens are required. Summer is very pleasant and cottons are recommended.
Places to see
Naina Devi Temple
1177m and 29 kms from Swarghat and 69 kms from Bilaspur . This is the most notable place of worship and attract thousands of pilgrims regularly and during its many fairs. Situated on the top of a triangular hillock, it commands the unparalled view of the holy Anandpur Sahib birth place of Khalsa on one side and Gobindsagar on other. Both Hindus and Sikhs hold the shrine in great veneration. The main fair is generally held in August every year when thousands of pilgrims from Northers India come to Naina devi shrine.
Bhakra
37 kms from Swarghat and 108 kms from Chandigarh, Bhakra is not merely the name of an obscure village in Himalayan foothills where the river Sutlej enters the narrow gorge but the late, has become the centre of attraction for the visitors from India nad abroad. It is considered a very important place on the tourist map of India and has been rightly described as " New temple of Resurgent India" by the Late Shri Jawaharlal Nehru who dedicated it to the nation on November 20th 1963. Bhakra is the world's highest straight gravity dam.
Vyas Goofa
The name of sage Vyas is well known in this part and infact he must have frequently roamed in this area from Thaneshwar to Rohtang wherein river Vyas emerges and where there is a pond called Vyas Kund. It is situated in the foot of new township. He is said to have meditated in this cave.
Bilaspur
It is at 673m, and at 40 kms from Swarghat. Formally the seat of the ruler of the erstwhile state now submerged in Govindsagar lake was situated on the south east side of the Sutlej river in a spacious valley through where Sutlej winds its course. The old Bilaspur town was founded by Rishi Ved Vyas. The place is famous for Govind Sagar lake which offers a variety of water sports in year round activities include boating, water skiiing, surfing, rowing etc
Kandror
This village has gained prominenceand has become a tourist attraction only during the recent timebecause of its being the site of a bridge over the upper reaches of Goving sagar. This is considered to be the highest bridge in Asia and the second highest in the world being 60m high and 285 km in span.
Markanda
This is a famous shrine about 20 kms from Bilaspur in Tehsil Sardar named after renowned Rishi Markandaya. according to a legend a tunnel connected Markanda and Vyas Cave and the two Rishis Vyas and Markandaya used to see each other through this sub-terranean path. There is also a water spring of ancient times where Markanda fair is held annually on Baisakhi day. It is believed that the water cures children suffering from skin disorders.
Forts
The Bilaspur district has many forts of ancient time which are worth visiting. Some of these are Bachhretu fort (1980m) 64 kms from Bilaspur. Baseh fort 6kms from North wards of Bachhretu fort, Kot-Kahlur fort 40kms from Bilaspur and Rattanpur fort 21 kms from Bilaspur.
