Mcleodganj - Dharamsala

Around 4km above Dharamsala, or 10km via the main road, McLeod Ganj is the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile and the residence of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. It’s also the main traveller hangout in Himachal Pradesh, with dozens of budget hotels, trekking companies, net cafés, traveller restaurants, video movie parlours and wall-to-wall shops selling Tibetan souvenirs.


Dharamsala is situated in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It lies on a spur of the Dhauladhar range, the Pir Panjal region of the Outer Himalayas; and commands majestic views of the mighty Dhauladhar ranges above, and the Kangra Valley below. Dhauladhar means "white ridge" and this breathtaking, snow-capped range rises out of the Kangra Valley to a height of 5,200 meters (17,000 feet).


McLeod was established in the mid-1850s as a British garrison and it briefly served as an administration centre for the colonial government until the devastating earthquake of 1905. It remained a back­water until 1960, when the Dalai Lama and his entourage claimed asylum here following the Chinese invasion of Tibet.


Since this time, McLeod has become a major centre for the study of Buddhism and Tibetan culture. There are all sorts of holistic activities and courses on offer, and lots of travellers come here to volunteer on community projects that focus on the refugee community.


Sightseeing 
There are several sight seeing places in McLeodganj. The most important of all is the Buddhist temple, Tsuglag Khang. It is the biggest Buddhist temple outside Tibet and is located opposite to the Dalai Lama's residence. Norbulingka Institute is also a must visit because it is the center for training of traditional Tibetan arts and crafts. You can watch the craftsmen at work. The Tibetan Institute for Performing Arts (TIPA) is another place to learn about the traditional Tibetan dance and opera. There are several monasteries where you can train yourself to practice Buddhism. Other than that, you can also enjoy the serene beauty of the surrounding mountains. Bhagsu Waterfall is an ideal recreation and picnic spot here. You can also go trekking and camping at Triund.


How To Reach

On the MAP:


By Air
The nearest Airport is at Gaggla, approxiamtely 13 km away from the town. 
By Rail
The nearest railway station is that of Pathankot, approxiamtely 85 km away.
By Road
There are regular bus services from Manali, Delhi and Shimla to Dharamsala.

Neemrana Fort - Jaipur

Neemrana town in Alwar and is located on the Delhi-Jaipur highway. Neemrana has got its name from a valiant local chieftain named Nimola Meo. He had to suffer defeat at the hands of the Chauhans and appealed that his name should be given to his lost kingdom. Neemrana is an ideal base to explore the surrounding destinations that have lots in store to offer to visitors. A trip to Neemrana is incomplete without a visit to the Neemrana Fort, which is the most popular among the tourist attractions in Neemrana. Neemrana Fort is located on a high hillock and it commands magnificent views of the surrounding nature beauty. When you step inside this hotel, you will virtually get transported to an entirely different world. The ambiance is simply captivating and features period furniture, antique works of art and frescoed paintings. The nearby town of Kesroli is located at a distance of 155 kms from Delhi and is an ideal base for exploring the grandeur and natural beauty of Rajasthan. This place is only some distance from Neemrana and excursions from Neemrana would be ideal for exploring this magnificent town that has also its mention in the mythology. 

According to the historians this place can be traced to Matsya Janapada of the Mahabharata times. Here you will come across some of the oldest remains of a Buddhist Vihara where the Pandavas are believed to have spent the last year of their exile. One can catch a glimpse of the reclining statue of Hanuman; memorial of the ruler saint Bhartrihari and Talavriksha with very old water reservoirs. 

General Information about Neemrana Fort Palace:

Location: Neemrana on Jaipur – Delhi Highway

State: Rajasthan

Capital: Jaipur

Language: Mewari, Hindi, English

Best Season: September to March

How to Reach Neemrana Fort Palace:

By Air :

Neemrana Fort-Palace is India’s oldest heritage resort. It is also Rajasthan’s closest palace from New Delhi, situated at 122 kms. on the Delhi-Jaipur highway – only 100 kms from Delhi’s international airport.

By Rail :

Delhi is connected to almost all the cities in the country by super-fast and express trains. The city of Delhi has three major railway stations at Delhi, Old Delhi, and Nizamuddin. Luxury trains like the Palace-on-Wheels; Fairy Queen, and Royal Orient Express can be taken from Delhi Cantonment railway station. Rajdhani Express trains connect Delhi from the state capitals. Shatabdi Express trains connect Delhi to the neighboring cities.

By Road :

New Delhi is connected to all the major cities of the northern India through road.

Have You Bought Your Games Ticket Yet

Where to Purchase:

Online: www.tickets.cwgdelhi2010.org

By Phone: 1800-20-1294 (Toll free)

By Person:

Cental Bank of India Branches:

Parliament Street
Greater Kailash -1
Defense Colony
Khan Market
Press Area
Janakpuri

Here Honda Outlets:

Patparganj, Delhi
G.T Karnal Road, Delhi
MG Road, Gurgaon
Neelam Bata Road, Faridabad
Sector - 4 NOIDA

Sample Flats for Commonwealth Games Unveiled by Tourism Minister

Tourism minister Kumari Selja inspects the interior of a DDA flat in Vasant Kunj

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) unveiled its sample "hotel" flat for the Commonwealth Games 2010on Thursday. The flats, which are meant to buffer the shortage of accommodation for tourists that the city may face during the Games, will be handed over to the ministry of tourism in March 2010.

Unveiling the upgraded and furnished DDA flat, tourism minister Kumari Selja said the flat is part of the Alternative Accommodation Scheme for Commonwealth Games 2010 to bridge the shortage of rooms. The tourism ministry is readying more than 5,000 rooms in the DDA flats for the biggest sporting event in the country next year.

Furnishing these rooms at an estimated cost of about Rs 100 crores, there would be 2,709 flats with 5,009 rooms in Vasant Kunj ready before the Games. Flats in different categories are to be upgraded and furnished at par with three-star standard by the Indian Tourism Development Corporation. Selja added that the flats would be ready by ITDC for use much ahead of the Games.

Besides Vasant Kunj flats, there are 330 flats at Jasola which could be used for domestic budget travellers, supporting staff and volunteers of the Games. The tourism ministry is monitoring the requirement for accommodation for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, 2010 being held in Delhi.

The flats incidentally would be later sold off by the DDA as part of its housing scheme once the Games are over. On Thursday, Selja held a meeting with the representative of state governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, all land owning agencies and other stakeholders to take stock of the progress made in respect of various segments of accommodation for the major sporting event. A task force has also been constituted to review and monitor all the hotel projects that are coming up for the Commonwealth Games.

While reviewing the progress of work relating to the new hotel projects she advised the different agencies that each room needs to be accounted for and therefore all concerned agencies should closely review and monitor the Commonwealth Games projects.

As regards the proposal to use licensed guesthouses during the Games, Selja laid stress on the beautification and up-gradation of the surrounding areas by Delhi government as this would be an important factor for overall improvement of the guesthouses.