You can turn on the e-book reader’s wireless connection and buy the current editions of The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Newsweek. Within a few minutes, each publication is delivered wirelessly to your Kindle 2.

You Can Comfortably Read a Newspaper in Coach
Have you ever tried to read a newspaper in a crowded coach cabin? You have to fold the paper just so, and then position your arms in a certain way, so your elbows don’t make contact with your seatmate’s teeth. That’s not the case with a Kindle. You can comfortably read papers, as well as magazines, books, and blogs, with ease, no matter how sardined you are.

You Can Read Documents and Web Content
If you’ve got a lot of work-related reading to do in flight, you’ve traditionally had two options: (1) Print out and pack what you need, which adds bulk to your carry-on bag; and (2) Read it on your computer, which depletes your laptop battery.

The Kindle gives you a much better option for reading documents and even Web content in flight–one that adds no additional weight to your bag because you don’t need to carry printed pages, doesn’t drain your laptop/netbook battery (so you can use your portable PC for something else, like watching video), and doesn’t require in-flight Wi-Fi.

To read documents on your Kindle 1 or 2, most files will first need to be converted to the Kindle’s native formats (.azw and .azw1). (The Kindle DX supports PDF documents as well.)
There are a couple of ways to do this. The easiest is to e-mail your Microsoft Word files, PDFs, HTML pages, and other documents to your Kindle e-mail address. (If you didn’t set up a Kindle e-mail address, you can do so by signing in to Amazon’s Manage Your Kindle page.) The next time you turn on your Kindle’s wireless network, the document(s) will be automatically converted and downloaded to the device. The conversion process takes about 5 minutes, usually. However, Amazon charges 15 cents per megabyte for transferring documents to your Kindle wirelessly via e-mail. That’s not much, and the convenience is worth it. But if you plan to send dozens of documents on a regular basis, the cost can add up.

The other option is free but a tad more complicated. You e-mail the file you want to transfer to your Kindle address, but you add free to the address. For example, if your Kindle e-mail address is yourname@kindle.com, you’d e-mail the attached file to yourname@free.kindle.com.

Within a few minutes, you’ll receive an e-mail from Amazon Kindle Support. The e-mail will include a hyperlink, which, when clicked, will download the converted file to your computer. Now you can drag and drop the file into your Kindle’s Documents folder, when the e-book reader is connected to your computer via USB cable. Amazon outlines the steps for transferring documents and files to a Kindle on its Web site.

You can download travel guides
While traveling to destinations which you’ve never traveled before, you can purchase travel guides on the Kindle 2 and refer them as you go on to your adventure.
Check out travel guides available for Kindle and PDF downloads

The Wrap Up
Paying $359 or $489 for the Kindle 2 or Kindle DX, respectively, may be way too much for many people in this economy. But any device that can lighten your carry-on load, and yet keep business travelers productive and entertained during long flights, is worth considering, if your budget allows.

Tip: M-Edge’s Platform Jacket ($30) for the Kindle 2 does double-duty as a protective cover and book stand. You can prop up your Kindle 2 on your seatback tray and read almost entirely hands free (you’ve got to push the Next Page and Prev Page buttons, of course).

If you own an iPhone then you can also download the Kindle reader application for iPhone for free!

A complete guide to Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jaipur and Ranthambore National Park. Also, get all the insights into the Palace of Wheels.

For more information on the following topics, please see the TravelOnTheDollar Rajasthan travel guide available for download and Amazon Kindle:
- Getting there and away
- Getting around
- Sights
- Accommodation
- Activities
- Restaurants
- Useful Information

Rajasthan Kindle price: $15.99

Jaipur City Palace

Jaipur, the City of Victory, is chaotic and congested, though it still has a habit of tickling travellers pink. Stunning hilltop forts and glorious palaces fit like footprints from a rich royal past, candyfloss-bright turbans blaze a trail through brilliant bargain-filled bazaars, and fluttering saris catch the eye like butterflies.
As the gateway to the desert state of Rajasthan, however, it’s also a city permanently under siege. Package tourists are captivated by (and offloaded on) the bustling bazaars, world-class hotels and clammy sophistication, while camel carts and cows waddle through diesel-soaked streets, rampaging rickshaw drivers hustle and burn past businessmen and tourists, and scores of street children beg outside huge jewellery shops and palatial hotels. Jaipur beams boldest at dusk – when it’s well worth walking to Amber – and, much like its founder, Jai Singh II, the Pink City is both proud and resilient.

Jaipur, also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan state, India. Jaipur is the former capital of the princely state of Jaipur. Founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 5 million residents.

His Highness Sawai Bhawani Singh Bahadur (born 1931) is the current titular Maharaja of Jaipur. The city is remarkable among pre-modern Indian cities for the width and regularity of its streets which are laid out into six sectors separated by broad streets 111 ft (34 m) wide. The urban quarters are further divided by networks of gridded streets. Five quarters wrap around the east, south, and west sides of a central palace quarter, with a sixth quarter immediately to the east. The Palace quarter encloses a sprawling palace complex (the Hawa Mahal, or palace of winds), formal gardens, and a small lake. Nahargarh Fort crowns the hill in the northwest corner of the old city. Another noteworthy building is Sawai Jai Singh’s observatory, Jantar Mantar.

About Jaipur

History
Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, a Kachwaha Rajput, who ruled from 1699-1744. Initially his capital was Amber (city), which lies at a distance of 11 km from Jaipur. He felt the need of shifting his capital city with the increase in population and growing scarcity of water. Jaipur is the first planned city of India. The King consulted several books on architecture and architects before making the layout of Jaipur.

After several battles with Marathas, Jai Singh was keen on the security aspect of the city. Being a lover of mathematics and science, Jai Singh sought advice from Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, a Brahmin scholar of Bengal, to aid him design the city architecture.

The construction of the city started in 1727. It took around 4 years to complete the major palaces, roads and square. The city was built following the principles of Shilpa Shastra, the Indian Architecture. The city was divided into nine blocks, of which two consist the state buildings and palaces, with the remaining seven allotted to the public. Huge fortification walls were made along with seven strong gates.

For the time, architecture of the town was very advanced and certainly the best in Indian subcontinent. In 1853, when the Prince of Wales visited Jaipur, the whole city was painted pink to welcome him. Today, avenues remain painted in pink, provide a distinctive appearance to the city.

In the 19th century the city grew rapidly; by 1900 it had a population of 160,000. The city’s wide boulevards were paved and lit with gas.

The city had several hospitals. Its chief industries were in metals and marble, fostered by a school of art founded in 1868. The city also had three colleges, including a Sanskrit college (1865) and a girls’ school (1867) initiated under the reign of the enigmatic Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II. There was also a wealthy and enterprising community of native bankers, particularly the Jains and the Marwaris.

Geography
Jaipur has an average elevation of 432 metres (1417 ft). The district is situated in the eastern part of Rajasthan. It is bound in the north by Sikar and Alwar, in South by Tonk, Ajmer and Sawai Madhopur. Nagaur, Sikar and Ajmer in the west and in east by Bharatpur and Dausa districts.

The major rivers passing through the Jaipur district are Banas and Banganga. Ground water resources to the extent of about 28.65 million cubic meter are available in the district. Although serious drought is rare, poor water management and exploitation of groundwater with extensive tube-well systems threatens agriculture in some areas.

Climate
Jaipur has a semi-arid climate. Although it receives over 650 mm (25 in) of rainfall annually the rainfall is concentrated in the monsoon months between June and September. Temperatures remain relatively high throughout the year, with the summer months of April to early July having average daily temperatures of around 30oC. During the monsoon months there are frequent, heavy rains and thunderstorms, but flooding is not common. The winter months of November to February are mild and pleasant, with average temperatures in the 15-18oC range and little or no humidity. There are however occasional cold waves that lead to temperatures near freezing.

For more information on the following topics, please see the TravelOnTheDollar Jaipur travel guide available for Amazon Kindle and download:
- Getting there and away
- Getting around
- Sights
- Accommodation
- Activities
- Useful Information

Jaipur, Rajasthan New! A complete guide to the former capital of the princely state and known as the ‘Pink City’ – Jaipur in the state of Rajasthan, India Kindle price: $9.99

Rajasthan New! Take the magnificent journey through palaces, temples, museums and national park of the western, desert state of Rajasthan. A complete guide to Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jaipur and Ranthambore National Park. Also, get all the insights into the Palace of Wheels. Kindle price: $15.99

Vivekananda Rock, Kanyakumari

India is probably one of those privileged lands which have high mountains on one side and oceans and sea shores on the others. India is also one of those rare countries that have their shores shared between not one, not two, but three great seas – The Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. And there is probably only one place in the whole world where one can witness the ‘confluence’ of three great seas; and that place is Kanyakumari. This unique geographical phenomenon has made this little town in the southernmost tip of mainland India one of the significant destinations in any religious or pleasure trips that one seeks to undertake in this country where the fame of Kanyakumari has in the past attracted great saints like Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi. There is beauty in every part of this little town and one has to be there to witness it. Moreover, Kanyakumari is one of the few places in the world where one can witness both the sunset and sunrise at the same beach due to the geography.

The oldest and the most ancient landmark in this town is the temple of Goddess Kumari who prayed to Lord Shiva to be accepted as wife by him. The name of this place has taken after the name of the Goddess. During the British Raj, it was also known as ‘Cape Comorin’, is probably a British spoilt version of ‘Kumari’, which mean virgin. The town is so small that an enthusiastic tourist may actually walk the entire length and breadth of the town and not shed a drop of sweat. Anyway, buses are available and the fares are rock bottom. The auto rickshaws fares are also very reasonable. In short, travelling in and around Kanyakumari is not expensive.

Approached through a surreal landscape of wind farms, Kanyakumari is the ‘Land’s End’ of the Indian subcontinent, where the Bay of Bengal meets the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. Chaitrapurnima (Tamil for the April full-moon day) is the time to experience simultaneous sunset and moonrise over the ocean.
Kanyakumari has great spiritual significance for Hindus, and is dedicated to the goddess Devi Kanya, an incarnation of Parvati. Pilgrims come here to visit the temple and bathe in the sacred waters. Although wildly overdeveloped, the town and fishing beaches still manage a certain relaxed charm and there’s enough to keep you occupied for a day or so.

Orientation & Information
The main temple is right on the point of Kanyakumari and leading north from it is a small bazaar lined with restaurants, stalls and souvenir shops. The approximate stay is from 2 to 4 days depending on how much time you can give for sight seeing.

Kanyakumari

Vivekanada Rock Memorial

Gandhi Memorial

Kanyakumari

For more information on the following topics, please see the TravelOnTheDollar Kanyakumari travel guide available for Amazon Kindle and download:
- Getting there
- Sights & Sounds
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Useful Information

Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu A complete guide to the southern-most tip of India – Kanyakumari, where the sunset and sunrise can be witnessed at the same beach. Kindle price: $9.99

Kullu-Manali

Kullu is the local administrative centre and makes a pleasant change from the hippie holiday resorts elsewhere in the valley. Most of the year the town goes quietly about its business, but every October some 30,000 devotees descend on it for one of the largest and loudest Dussehra festivals in India. Over 200 idols are paraded into town from surrounding temples, led by a huge rath (chariot) holding the statue of Lord Raghunath from the Raghunath Temple in Sultanpur. Simultaneously, a week0long carnival and market is held on the parade ground, with entertainment such as acrobats, musicians and a motorcycle Wall of Death.

Kullu is divided in two by the Sarvari River. The southern part of the town has taxi stand, tourist office and most restaurants and hotels. The bus station and Raghunath Temple are north of the river – take a short cut down through the bazaar below the Hotel Shobla International.

About Kullu
Geography
Kullu has an average elevation of 1,362 metres (4,469 feet). The town of Kullu lies on the bank of River Beas. A major tributary Sar-vari, (derived from “Shiv -Baardi”) leads to the less explored and steeper Lug-valley on the west. On the east of Kullu lies a broad mountainous ridge having the village-temples of Bijli Mahadev, Mount Nag and Pueed. Beyond the ridge lies Manikaran valley, along the Parvati river which joins Beas in Bhuntar. On the South of Kullu lie towns of Bhuntar, Out(leading to Anni, Banjar and Siraj Valley) and Mandi(a separate district). Historically Kullu was accessible from Shimla via Siraj valley or through passes on the west leading to Jogindernagar and onto Kangra. To the north lies the famous town of Manali, which through the Rohtang pass leads onto the Lahaul and Spiti Valley. Once can see an enormous change in the climate as one climbs up the windward side of the ranges to proceed to the leeward and much drier plateaus to the north of Manali.

Manali
The surrounding mountain scenery lures tourists to Manali year-round. Domestic tourists come here for honeymoons and mountain views, while foreigners come for adventure sports or, more commonly, to hang out in the hippie villages around the main town. Until the 1960s there was nothing here but a few old stone houses and temples, but modern Manali is crammed with concrete hotels and the town is in severe need of some town planning – stay in the villages of Vashisht or Old Manali for a more peaceful mood.
This is also the main jumping-off point for Ladakh, Spiti and Lahaul, with daily buses to Leh, Keylong and Kaza from approximately June to October. Many tourists are also lured here by the famous Manalicharas but be warned – local police are more than happy to arrest people for possession or sting them for bribes. According to legend, Manu, the Hindu equivalent of Noah, alighted his boat here to re-create human life after floods destroyed the world. Indeed, from April to June and September to late October it can feel as if all of humanity has returned to Manali. There’s another surge in visitors for Christmas and New Year. Prices for rooms can more than triple at these times. Old Manali and Vashisht close for winter from around October to May.

About Manali
Orientation
Manali is based around one street, the Mall, a continuation of the highway that runs into town. The bus and taxi stands are on the Mall and most hotels and restaurants are on the alleys branching west. Two roads run north from Manali along the Beas River – one to Old Manali on the west bank and one to Vashisht and the Rohtang La on the east bank.

For more information on the following topics, please see the TravelOnTheDollar Kullu-Manali travel guide available for Amazon Kindle and PDF format:
- Getting there
- Getting around
- Sights & Sounds
- Restaurants
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Activities
- Useful Information

Kullu-Manali, Himachal Pradesh A complete guide to the two beautiful tourist resorts on the foothills of the Himalayas – Kullu and Manali. Kindle price: $12.99

Naini Lake

Nainital is a town in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and headquarters of Nainital district in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas. Situated at an altitude of 1,938 metres (6,358 feet) above sea level, Nainital is set in a valley containing a pear-shaped lake, approximately two miles in circumference, and surrounded by mountains, of which the highest are Naina (2,615 m (8,579 ft)) on the north, Deopatha (2,438 m (7,999 ft)) on the west, and Ayarpatha (2,278 m (7,474 ft)) on the south. From the tops of the higher peaks, magnificent views can be obtained of the vast plain to the south, or of the mass of tangled ridges lying north, bounded by the great snowy range which forms the central axis of the Himalayas.

Mythology
It is believed that Nainital figures in some ancient myths of India. In the Manas Khand of the Skand Puranas, Nainital Lake is called Tri-Rishi-Sarovar, hinting at the story of three sages (or rishis), Atri, Pulastya and Pulaha, who, upon finding no water in Nainital, dug a large hole at the location of the present day lake (sarovar = lake) and filled it with water from the holy lake Manasarovar in Tibet. According to lore, a dip in Naini Lake, “the lesser Manasarovar,” earns merit equal to a dip in the great lake.

It is also believed that Naini Lake is one of the 64 Shakti Peeths, or religious sites where parts of the charred body of Sati (Parvati) fell on earth while being carried by Lord Shiva. The spot where Sati’s eyes (or Nain) fell, came to be called Nain-tal or [lake of the eye.] The goddess Shakti is worshipped at the Naina Devi Temple on the north shore of the present day lake. The temple however is a post 1885 construction, evident from the photographs of that era.

About Nainital
Geography
In the Uttranchal, district of Nainital lies in the Kumaun division. To its north is Almora district and to its south lies the Udham Singh Nagar district. Champawat district flanks it in the east and district of Pauri Gahwal is in the west. It is located approximately in between 80º14’ and 78º80’ east longitude and 29º00’ and 29º05’ north latitude. On the northern side lies the Himalayan ranges while on the southern side lies the plains making the resultant climate of the district enjoyable one.

The total geographical area is 3422 km. Geographically the district is divided in to 2 zones – Hilly and Bhabar. The hilly region in outer Himalayas is known to geologist as Krol. The highest peak of the district is Baudhansthali 2623m high near Binayak adjoining Nainital town. The hilly region of the district. The hilly region of the district used to have big & small lakes – Bhimtal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal, Khurpatal, Nainital, Malwatal, Harishtal, Lokhamtal etc. are known lakes of bigger size.

The foothill area of the district is known as Bhabhar. The name Bhabhar is derived from a tall growing grass growing in the region. The underground water level is very deep in this region.

Kosi is the main river of the district. River Kosi arising out of Koshimool near Kausani flows on the western side of the district. There are number of smaller rivulets like Gaula, Bhakra, Dabka, Baur etc . Most of these have been dammed for irrigation purposes. Nainital district has good received good rainfall in recent years. As per 1999 records total average rainfall of district was 1338.08 MM while total average rainfall up to Aug. 2000 was 1602.69 MM.

Climate
Nainital has temperate summers, maximum temperature 27 °C (81 °F); minimum temperature 10 °C (50 °F), during which its population increases more than fivefold with an annual influx of tourists predominantly from the plains of Northern India. In the winter, Nainital receives snowfall between December and February with the temperatures varying between a maximum of 15 °C (59 °F) and a minimum of −3 °C (27 °F).

For more information on the following topics, please see the TravelOnTheDollar Nainital travel guide available for Amazon Kindle and download:
- Getting there
- Getting around
- Sights & Sounds
- Restaurants
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Useful Information

Nainital, Uttaranchal A complete guide to Nainital, also known as the Lake District of Uttarakhand, is an absolutely beautiful and tranquil hill station situated amongst the seven hills. It is one of the most popular hill stations in North India. Kindle price: $9.99

Mussoorie Road

Popularly known as the Queen of Hills, this charming hill station, 34 kms from Dehra Dun is situated at an altitude of 2003 meters above sea-level in the Garhwal hills. Mussoorie provides excellent respite to people who want relief from the hot sultry conditions of the plains, especially since it is close enough to the capital to make just weekend trip. Also, major Hindu pilgrimage sites like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Haridwar and Rishikesh are not far from this place.

In 1820, Captain Young of the British army was influenced by the beauty of this place and made it his residence. The name, Mussoorie is derived from plants of ‘Mussoorie’ which were found in abundance here. After its discovery, this hill station gradually developed as a centre of education, business, tourism and beauty.
When to visit
Mussoorie is a hill station which has pleasant climate around the year. It is a very cool place with greenery at its full bloom during September to November. The best time to visit Mussoorie is between April to June and again during September to November when the plains of North India experience heat waves, Mussoorie provides a welcome break. September – November is spring time here. During this season Himalayas are clearly visible. It’s best to avoid monsoons as the roads to Mussoorie are in bad shape. Same thing applies for the winter when roads are blocked due to snowfall.

Festivals
The year starts with the popular Magh Mela on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. This event is marked by huge crowds, both local and tourists, who come from different regions of Kumaon, Garhwal and Uttar Pradesh. The Siddha Fair is a local religious fair held every Sunday. However, it attains special importance on the last Sunday of April, when people turn up in large numbers and offer prayers to the Samadhi here. Kunjapuri Fair is held in October every year during Navrataras. This fair is attended by over fifty thousand people and showcases a vibrant display handicrafts and local handmade articles. Surkhanda Devi Fair: Surkhanda Devi Fair is held on the Ganga dussehra day at Surkhanda Devi temple, located at a distance of 33 km from Mussoorie. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga and is an important pilgrimage center. It can be reached by trekking about 2 km from Kaddukhal via Dhanolti on the road to Chamba. The worship of the Goddess is the main attraction of the fair. Besides folk music and dance, the traditional handicrafts are also on display. Lakhwar Mela is a village fair held during September or October and is a manifestation of the customs and traditions of the Garhwalis. A must visit – this unique fair presents a great opportunity to experience the culture and lifestyle of the people of Uttaranchal.

For more information on the following topics, please see the TravelOnTheDollar Mussoorie travel guide available for Amazon Kindle and download:
- Getting there
- Sights & Sounds
- Excursions
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Useful Information

Mussoorie, Uttaranchal Popularly known as the Queen of Hills, this charming hill station, 34 kms from Dehra Dun is situated at an altitude of 2003 meters above sea-level in the Garhwal hills. Kindle price: $9.99

Har-ki-Pairi, Haridwar

What is it? “Dwar of Hari” or Gateway to God, ‘Hari’ meaning god and ‘dwar’ meaning gate. Haridwar is regarded as one of the seven holiest places to Hindus
Where is it? Uttranchal
For how long? Two days

Haridwar (also Hardwar) is a holy city and municipal board in the Haridwar District of Uttarakhand, India. In Hindi, Haridwar stands for Dwar of Hari or Gateway to God, ‘Hari’ meaning god and ‘dwar’ meaning gate. Haridwar is regarded as one of the seven holiest places to Hindus. After travelling 253 km (157 mi) from its source at Gaumukh, 3,139 m (10,300 ft) above sea level, at the edge of the Gangotri Glacier, Ganga enters the Indo-Gangetic Plain of North India for the first time at Haridwar, and this is what gave the city its ancient name, Gangadwára, the place where the Ganges descends to the plains.

Propitiously located at the point where the Ganges emerges from the Himalaya, Haridwar is Uttarakhand’s holiest Hindu city and pilgrims arrive here in droves to bathe in the Ganges. The sheer number of people gathering around Har-ki-Pairi Ghat gives Haridwar a chaotic but reverent feel. Within the religious architecture of India, Haridwar is much more significant than Rishikesh, which is an hour north and every evening the river comes alive with flickering flames as floating offerings are released onto the Ganges. Dotted around the city are impressive modern and ancient temples, ashrams and dharamsalas (pilgrims’ rest houses). Famous for its Ayurvedic medicines, the city is relatively hassle-free and is also the gateway to nearby Rajaji National Park.
Haridwar is busy during the ‘yatra’ season from April to November, but the big annual event is Magh Mela in January or February, which every six years becomes a bigger Ardh Magh Mela. Every 12 years the mega Kumbh Mela (next one is in 2010) attracts millions of pilgrims.

Haridwar, Uttaranchal Known as the ‘Gateway to God’, a complete guide to Haridwar – one of the most visited religious tourist destinations in India. Kindle price: $9.99

Rishikesh

Lakshman Jhula, Rishikesh

What is it? Known as the “Yoga Capital of the World”, Rishikesh is a magnet for spiritual seekers.
Where is it? Uttranchal
For how long? Two days

Rishikesh has been the magnet for spiritual seekers. Today it styles itself as the ‘Yoga Capital of the world’ – with some justifications – as there are masses of ashrams and all kinds of yoga and meditation classes. Most of this action is north of the main town, where the exquisite setting of the fast-flowing Ganges, surrounded by forested hills, is the ideal location for meditation and mind expansion. In the evening, the temple bells ring as sadhus (spiritual men), pilgrims and tourists prepare for the nightly Ganga Aarti ceremony. Rishikesh is now a popular white-water rafting centre, backpacker hangout and gateway to treks in the Himalaya.

Rishikesh is divided into two main areas – the crowded, unattractive downtown area, where you will find the bus and train stations as well as the Triveni Ghat; and the riverside communities 2km upstream around Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula bridges, where most of the accommodation, ashrams, restaurants and travelers are ensconced. The two jhula (suspension bridges) that cross the river are pedestrian-only. Sward Ashram, located on the eastern bank, is the traffic-free ‘spiritual centre’ of Rishikesh, which High Bank, west of Lakshman Jhula is a small enclave popular with backpackers.

Festivals
International Yoga Festival
Rishikesh hosts this festival attracting swamis and yoga masters from around the world for discourses and lectures. Most of the action is centered on the Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Swarg Ashram.

For more information on the following topics, please see the TravelOnTheDollar Haridwar & Rishikesh travel guides available for Amazon Kindle and download:
- Getting there
- Sights & Sounds
- Excursions
- Accommodation
- Activities

Rishikesh, Uttaranchal Known as the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’, a complete guide to Rishikesh – one of the most visited religious tourist destinations in India. Kindle price: $9.99

Erotic Art (Source: Flickr)

What is it? Group of monuments that has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, displaying erotic scupltures
Where is it? Madhya Pradesh
When do I go? September to March
For how long? Two days

Khajuraho is a village in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, located in Chhatarpur District, about 385 miles (620 kilometres) southeast of New Delhi. The Khajuraho group of monuments has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most popular tourist destinations in India, Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their erotic sculpture. The name Khajuraho, ancient “Kharjuravahaka”, is derived from the Sanskrit word kharjur meaning date palm.

Khajuraho temple complex offers a well made light and sound show every evening. The first show is in English language and the second one in Hindi. The show is about an hour long and covers the history, philosophy and the art of sculpting of these temples. It is held in the open lawns in the temple complex.

The temples are a world heritage site and belong not just to India but to the world. The Archeological Survey of India’s dedicated efforts towards their conservation rank them against the best preserved monuments of this antiquity. Most of the temples are built of sandstone in varying shades of buff, pink or pale yellow. They each belong to a different sect, the Shiva, Vaishnava or Jaina Sects, but are often indistinguishable from one another to the untrained eye. The temples are lofty with ample walking space separating them. The interior rooms are inter connected and placed in an East/West line. Each contains an entrance, a hall, a vestibule and a sanctum. Windows were added to the larger temples to add a feeling of space and light.

The openings face East with lavishly carved archways. The interior ceilings are carved with geometrical and floral designs. The roofs are a series of graded peaks that resemble a mountain range and in all probability, represent the possibility of higher levels of spiritual attainment. Erotic scenes represent a relatively small part of the carvings but sensuous eroticism prevails throughout all of the sculptures. In general, lower indulgences appear lower on the temple while the deities appear near the top. Most of the statues are about a meter high. The goddesses and gods represent the many manifestations of the divine Shakti and Shiva, the female and male principles, the Yin and the Yang.

The divine sculptures in these temples, are a tribute to Life itself, embodying everything that is sublime and spontaneous about it.. Popularly known as the 10th century temples, they represent a time frame when Khajuraho art was at its zenith. Visit to Khajuraho is a unique experience and is exciting for conservationists, students, environmentalists, culture lovers or simply those in search of an exotic destination with multiple attractions.

Laurence Rogerson a tourist from UK says the statues and carvings cover every inch of every ceiling and wall. The erotic carvings on the temples at Khajuraho give the place it’s fame. Erotic or not the level of detail is quite magnificent as these pictures clearly do show. Another tourist from Australia says “these temples depict scenes from elephant fights, mythical lions, gods, and erotic couples. In a frieze that seemed to be an exception a sodomistic scene was depicted where onlookers hold their hands in front of their eyes in disgust. The erotic scenes are sort of a 3-D rendering of the Kama Sutra book, a graphical instruction manual.”

One of the Jain temples to the east of the village has a statue and pictures of a nude man. According to the locals some of the Jain Pilgrims celebrate there without even a leaf on them. Pieces of the statues from the temples can be seen embedded in the houses of the village. Statues were used as cheap building material for building the roads too.

Khajuraho Dance Festival
Held every year from 25th February to 2nd March, Khajuraho Dance Festival takes place at the open-air auditorium in front of the Chitragupta Temple dedicated to the Sun God and the Vishwanatha Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. They are situated in the Western Group of temples, which is the largest, well maintained and most easily accessible temple group of Khajuraho. Started regularly since 2002, this weeklong festival has already become legendary with its outlandish classical dance performances presented in a dreamlike setting of splendidly illuminated temples. Khajuraho temples present sculptures depicting various skills and arts of courtly love including dance and music in stone and what venue can be more befitting to hold the cultural festival highlighting the various classical dances of India!

Some of the best artists and performers that have marked themselves in their fields come from the various states of India to participate in the festival and the performances including some of the best known dance styles such as the intricate footwork of Kathak, highly stylized and sophisticated Bharathanatyam, soft lyrical temple dance of Odissi, the dance dramas of Kuchipudi, Manipuri, the dance of rare and ancient civilization and Kathakali stage fights with elaborate masks. Recently, modern Indian dances have also found their place in the Khajuraho Dance festival. Along with the dance performances one can also see a number of craftsmen trading off their indigenous arts and crafts to the visitors.

For more information on the following topics, please see the TravelOnTheDollar Khajuraho travel guide available for Amazon Kindle and download:
- Getting there
- Sights & Sounds
- Excursions
- Accommodation
- Activities

Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh Largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their erotic sculpture, a complete guide to Khajuraho – one of the most visited tourist destinations in India. Kindle price: $9.99

Mahabaleshwar

What is it? Hill station, smeared with strawberry jam
Where is it? Maharashtra
When do I go? November to February, August to September
For how long? Two days
STD code: 02168

Strawberry fields bloom forever, their reds peeking coyly out from under crisp green foliage. Cool breezes scour urban grit from your mind and body. At 1,372 m above sea level, Mahabaleshwar is always pleasant.

About Mahabaleshwar
History
Mahabaleshwar is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning ‘God of Great Power’. The place has always been considered holy and from the 13th century, temples have been built here around the source of the Krishna river. Sir Charles Malet, the first resident in the Pune Darbar of the Peshwas was the first European to step on this plateau in 1791 AD.
When General Peter Lodwick came to the Mahabaleshwar hills in 1824 he wrote to the Bombay Courier, about the place. The letter got Mahabaleshwar attention and officials from the Bombay Presidency started coming here. Meanwhile, the British returned Mahabaleshwar and the Pratapgarh fort to Maharaja Pratapsinh of Satara (1818-1839), a 24-year-old descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Encouraged by the British residents, the Maharaja engineered a scheme to develop the site.
In 1828, Sir John Malcom, the Governor of the Bombay Presidency was invited to Mahabaleshwar. He fell in love with the place and in the same year, he officially announced the establishment of a sanatorium and the development of the place as a health resort. The new town was originally named Malcompeeth in his honour. It even became the summer capital of the British Presidency.
Basic infrastructure was put into place and soon Mahabaleshwar developed into a popular resort. The Public Works Department bungalow housed 120 Chinese and Malay convicts from 1834 to 1864, who had a hand in the station’s development. The convicts built roads and ground flour; introduced the cultivation of red potatoes, strawberries; and wove cane and bamboo baskets. Many of the prisoners stayed at Mahabaleshwar after they were released. In fact, some Chinese names were on the Municipal voter’s list till 1951.
The hill resort has over the period, developed into a major retreat for the residents of Pune and Mumbai.

Geography
Mahabaleshwar taluka lies 247 km southwest of Mumbai and covers an area of 145.04 sq km. At a height of more than 4000 m above sea level, it offers stupendous views of the valleys, lakes, waterfalls and thick forests, Mahabaleshwar has two rivers flowing past it – the Koyna and the Krishna. There are good motorable roads leading to all the points.

Climate
The tourist season starts from October (peaks during Diwali, Christmas) and lasts till about mid June. During the monsoons from June to October, it is difficult to approach the place due to flooded roads and mudslides. Hotels and bazaars shut, and the place becomes inhospitable. More than 100 cm of rain means thick fogs, mists and torrential showers.
Summer (March – September): 30°C–16°C
Winter (October – February): 24°C–13°C
Clothing: Woollens in winter and the rains. Also rain gear during monsoons.
Cottons during the day in the summer.

For more information on the following topics, please see the TravelOnTheDollar Mahabaleshwar travel guide for Amazon Kindle and download:
- Getting there
- Getting around
- Sights & Sounds
- Excursions
- Accommodation
- Eating Out
- Shopping
- Useful Information
- Survival Guide

Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra Strawberry fields bloom forever, their reds peeking coyly out from under crisp green foliage. Cool breezes scour urban grit from your mind and body. At 1,372 m above sea level, Mahabaleshwar is always pleasant. Get all the information you need – getting there, getting away, excursions, sights & sounds, things to do, useful information, etc. Kindle price: $7.99