Sunday, August 28, 2011

List of Toll Free Numbers in India : Airlines, Banks, IT Companies, Automobiles, Couriers, Home Appliances, Healthcare, Insurance, Pizza etc





Indian Airlines - (1800 180 1407)
Jet Airways - (1800 22 5522)
Spice Jet - (1800 180 3333)
Air India - (1800 22 7722)
Kingfisher - (1800 180 0101)


ABN AMRO - (1800 11 2224)
Canara Bank - (1800 44 6000)
Citibank - (1800 44 2265)
Corporation Bank - (1800 443 555)
Development Credit Bank - (1800 22 5769)
HDFC Bank - (1800 227 227)
ICICI Bank - (1800 333 499)
ICICI Bank NRI - (1800 22 4848)
IDBI Bank - (1800 11 6999)
Indian Bank - (1800 425 1400)
ING Vysya - (1800 44 9900)
Kotak Mahindra Bank - (1800 22 6022)
Kotak Mahindra Bank (Investment Banking)
Lord Krishna Bank - (1800 11 2300)
Punjab National Bank - (1800 122 222)
State Bank of India - (1800 44 1955)
Syndicate Bank - (1800 44 6655)


Mahindra Scorpio - (1800 22 6006)
Maruti - (1800 111 515)
Tata Motors - (1800 22 5552)
Windshield Experts - (1800 11 3636)


Adrenalin - (1800 444 445)
AMD - (1800 425 6664)
Apple Computers - (1800 444 683)
Apple Computers
Canon - (1800 333 366)
Canon (Digital Cameras)
Canon (Digital Camcorders)
Cisco Systems - (1800 221 777)
Compaq - HP - (1800 444 999)
Data One Broadband - (1800 424 1800)
Data One WebMail
BSNL Data One Broadband
Dell - (1800 444 026)
Epson - (1800 44 0011)
eSys - (3970 0011)
Genesis Tally Academy - (1800 444 888)
HCL - (1800 180 8080)
IBM - (1800 443 333)
Lexmark - (1800 22 4477)
Marshal's Point - (1800 33 4488)
Microsoft - (1800 111 100)
Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft Virus Update - (1901 333 334)
Microsoft Security
Seagate - (1800 180 1104)
Symantec - (1800 44 5533)
TVS Electronics - (1800 444 566)
WeP Peripherals - (1800 44 6446)
Wipro - (1800 333 312)
Xerox - (1800 180 1225)
Zenith - (1800 222 004)


ABT Courier - (1800 44 8585)
AFL Wizz - (1800 22 9696)
Agarwal Packers & Movers - (1800 11 4321)
Associated Packers P Ltd - (1800 21 4560)
DHL - (1800 111 345)
FedEx - (1800 22 6161)
Goel Packers & Movers - (1800 11 3456)
UPS - (1800 22 7171)


Aiwa/Sony - (1800 11 1188)
Anchor Switches - (1800 22 7979)
Blue Star - (1800 22 2200)
Bose Audio - (1800 11 2673)
Bru Coffee Vending Machines - (1800 44 7171)
Daikin Air Conditioners - (1800 444 222)
DishTV - (1800 12 3474)
Faber Chimneys - (1800 21 4595)
Godrej - (1800 22 5511)
Grundfos Pumps - (1800 33 4555)
Hitachi Air-Conditioners India - (1800 200 8585)
LG - (1901 180 9999)
Philips - (1800 22 4422)
Samsung - (1800 113 444)
Sanyo - (1800 11 0101)
Voltas - (1800 33 4546)
WorldSpace Satellite Radio - (1800 44 5432)


CAMS - (1800 44 2267)
Chola Mutual Fund - (1800 22 2300)
Easy IPO's - (3030 5757)
Fidelity Investments - (1800 180 8000)
Franklin Templeton Fund - (1800 425 4255)
J M Morgan Stanley - (1800 22 0004)
Kotak Mutual Fund - (1800 222 626)
LIC Housing Finance - (1800 44 0005)
SBI Mutual Fund - (1800 22 3040)
Sharekhan - (1800 22 7500)
Tata Mutual Fund - (1800 22 0101)


Club Mahindra Holidays - (1800 33 4539)
Cox & Kings - (1800 22 1235)
God TV Tours - (1800 442 777)
Kerala Tourism - (1800 444 747)
Kumarakom Lake Resort - (1800 44 5030
Raj Travels & Tours - (1800 22 9900)
Sita Tours - (1800 111 911)
SOTC Tours - (1800 22 3344)


Best on Health - (1800 11 8899)
Dr Batras - (1800 11 6767)
GlaxoSmithKline - (1800 22 8797)
Johnson & Johnson - (1800 22 8111)
Kaya Skin Clinic - (1800 22 5292)
LifeCell - (1800 44 5323)
Manmar Technologies - (1800 33 4420)
Pfizer - (1800 442 442)
Roche Accu-Chek - (1800 11 4546)
Rudraksha - (1800 21 4708)
Varilux Lenses - (1800 44 8383)
VLCC - (1800 33 1262)


AMP Sanmar - (1800 44 2200)
Aviva - (1800 33 2244)
Bajaj Allianz - (1800 22 5858)
Chola MS General Insurance - (1800 44 5544)
HDFC Standard Life - (1800 227 227)
LIC - (1800 33 4433)
Max New York Life - (1800 33 5577)
Royal Sundaram - (1800 33 8899)
SBI Life Insurance - (1800 22 9090)


GRT Grand - (1800 44 5500)
InterContinental Hotels Group - (1800 111 000
Marriott - (1800 22 0044)
Sarovar Park Plaza - (1800 111 222)
Taj Holidays - (1800 111 825)


Asian Sky Shop - (1800 22 1800)
Tele Brands - (1800 11 8000)

Domino's Pizza - (1800 111 123)

BenQ - (1800 22 08 08)
Motorola MotoAssist - (1800 11 1211)
Nokia - (3030 3838)
Sony Ericsson - (3901 1111)

Bookmark and Share

Chandigarh Tourism : Introduction, Place to Visit, Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake, Capitol Complex, Leisure Valley, Dolls Museum, Chandi Mandir


Chandigarh is the best-planned city in India, with architecture which is world-renowned, and a quality of life, which is unparalleled. As the capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh it is a prestigious city. The face of modern India, Chandigarh, is the manifestation of a dream that Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru envisaged and Le Corbusier executed.



Rock Garden is a unique attraction as Chandigarh, in its being a magnificent gallery of artistic works made out of industrial and urban wastes. The raw materials have been molded to form lively images of animals, human beings, trees, etc. Founded by Nek Chand, a government official, in 1957, the garden preserves a special collection of artistry found nowhere else in the world.

Sukhna Lake is a popular artificial lake in Chandigarh, made at the foothills of the Shivalik hills. It was created by Le Corbusier, in the year 1958. It is an ideal place for exercises like walking, jogging, strolling and even organizing picnics. The lake is rich in natural beauty and serves as the shelter for several migratory birds as well.

Capitol Complex is Le Corbsier’s most spectacular work in the Chandigarh city. He had conceived the master plan of Chandigarh as analogous to the parts of the human body, in which Capitol Complex was supposed to be the heart. It consists of three architectural Government buildings, High Court, Secretariat, and Legislative Assembly. In the middle stands The Open Hand, the official emblem of the city, signifying the city’s credo of “open to be given, open to receive”.

Le Corbusier planned lots of greenery in Chandigarh, by constructing a series of parks and gardens, collectively called the Leisure Valley. The valley consists of gardens extending from Sector 53 in the Southern edge to the Sector 1 in the North. Some of the gardens and parks are Rajendra Park, Bougainvillea Garden, Fitness Trails, Rose Garden, Children Traffic Park, Botanical Garden and Smriti Upavan & Topiary Park.

International Dolls Museum is situated in Bal Bhawan, in Sector 23 of Chandigarh. It contains more than 300 dolls from nearly every country in the world. It was inaugurated on 24th December, 1985. The museum was established by Chandigarh administration, in alliance with Rotary Club of Chandigarh, for the purpose of entertaining the children. It is a must-visit if you’re visiting the city with your kids.

Government Museum & Art Gallery is located in Sector 10 of Chandigarh and has a fine collection of stone sculptures belonging to the Gandhara School of Art. It also displays fossils and artifacts belonging to the prehistoric times and works of modern art and miniature paintings. This square building (165 feet by 165 feet) is a splendid display of architecture by none another than Le Corbusier himself.

Chandi Mandir is a temple located in the northern border of the city. Devoted to the Mother Goddess of power, Chandi, it is considered as one of the twelve Shakti Peethas for Hindus. The name Chandigarh is derived from this shrine only. There is an aura surrounded to this temple and if you are in search of divinity and tranquility, there is no better place for you than this temple. It is also one of the oldest temples of the area, claimed by many to date back to era of Mahabharata.

In addition to the various tourist spots, Chandigarh has lots to offer to the people seeking religious visits. Right from temples to the gurdwaras, the religious places in the city offer a wide variety. In fact, it has a plethora of worship places not only within, but also near its bounds. For instance, there is Chandi Mandir, after which Chandigarh has been named. Then, there is Nada Sahib Gurdwara, which witnesses a huge rush of devotees - Sikhs, Hindus, Jains, and so on, every Sunday.

Bookmark and Share

List of Best Restaurants In Chandigarh : Fast Food, South Indian, Chinese, Sweets

Chandigarh offers a variety of eating-out options. Being multi-ethnic in nature, the city has number of restaurants catering to the taste of almost every person. It will surely have something memorable to offer to you, whether you like traditional food or are one of the Chinese and continental food seekers. You get a variety of foods to eat in Chandigarh, starting from spicy to sweet items and that too at reasonable rates. Below is given the list of some of the popular eating joints of Chandigarh.



KFC (Madhya Marg, Sec-8)
Food Plaza (Sec-22)
Chow Choppe (Sec-34)
McDonald's (Sec-35)
Pizza Hut (Sec-26, Phase-5, Mohali)
Smoking Joe Pizzas (Sec-35)
Domino's Pizza (Sec-17)
Ruby Tuesday (Fun Republic)
Sugar Loaf (Sec-8)
Tingu's (Sec-9)
Jam Pack (Sec-11)
Slice Of Italy (Sec-11)
Oven Fresh (Sec-35)
Subway (Sec-17, 35)
Hot Millions (Sec-17)
Chaplin Fast Food (Sec-16, Panchkula)


Sundaram (Sec-35)
Sagar Ratna (Sec-34,17)
Annapurna (Sec-11)
Swagath (Sec-26)
Ratnam's (Sec-35)


Mandrain (Sec-17)
Fen Fang (Mani Majra)
Shangri-la (Sec-35)
Yo! China (Sec-5, 9)
Chop Stick (Sec-22)
Black Lotus (Sec-17)
Hong Kong Restaurant (Sec-17)


Baskin Robbins (Sec-17, 35)
Hot Millions (Sec 17)
Milkfood (Sec-17)


Sugar Loaf (Sec-8)
Ghazal (Sec-17)
Indian Coffee House (Sec-17)
Mehfil (Sec-17)
Sizzler (Sec-17)
Maya Palace (Sec-35)
Metro-35 (Sec-35)
Pallavi (Sec 5, Panchkula)
Mezbaan (Phase 4, Mohali)
Gopal's (Sec-8, 35)


Gopal's (Sec-8, 35)
Talwar (Sec-15)
Sindhi Sweets (Sec-17)
Doaba Sweets (Sec-21)
Gobind Sweets (Sec-27)
Maa Durga (Sec-34)
Katani Sweets (Sec-35)
Anupam (Sec-11, Panchkula)
Katani Sweets (Phase 1, Phase 3B2 - Mohali)


Nik Bakers (Sec-9, 35)
Polka Pastry (Sec-5, 34)
Golden Bakery (Sec-37)
National Bakery (Sec-19)
Real Bakery (Sec-15)

Bookmark and Share

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Silent Valley National Park : Introduction, Location, History, Beauty, Interesting Facts & Tourism

Place: Palghat district, Kerala
Nearest town : Mannarkkad (40km)
Best time to visit:September to March
Area : 89 sq km
Altitude : 658 - 2,383 metre above sea level
Rainfall :624.3 mm
Maximum Temperature : 39°C
Minimum Temperature : 20.4°C
Main attraction:Lion-tailed Macaque and Nilgiri Langur

Located in the Kundali Hills of the Western Ghats, the Silent Valley National Park holds a valuable reserve of rare plants and herbs. The park is rich in its wildlife, and elephants, lion-tailed macaques and tigers are the most common denizens of this park. A visit to this park should be considered a lifetime experience, as this is the last representative virgin tract of tropical evergreen forests in India.
Though smaller in size in comparison to the other national parks in India, what makes it unique is the sylvan environment the region has along with its high altitude peaks and several rivers that run through it

Enjoy the thick jungle, see the birds, you are lucky if you see the big mammals (on the short trek). Mostly you will see the Malabar Giant Squirrel, black langurs and of course many kinds of birds. Trek down to the Kunti river. There is also a watch tower overlooking the jungle. The back of the Inspection Bungalow at Mukkali is a great place for bird watching.


Silent Valley has a very eventful history in comparison to the other wildlife parks in the country. The local name for the park is Sairandhrivanam (the forest in the valley) and had been a centre of hot debates and protests in the decades of the 70's and 80's of the 20th century. The history of the park goes way back to 1888 when the region was declared a reserved land under the Forest Act and later notified as a Reserved Forest by the Government of Madras in 1914.

In the later half of the 1970's, Kerala State Electricity Board decided to construct a Hydel Power Project in this region and when in 1980, this region was declared as National Park, the area of Hydel Project was not included. This started fierce discussions and protests and the Board had to drop its plan. Subsequently, in 1984, the park was again renotified as a National Park with the project area included. In 1986, the Silent Valley was declared the core area in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Bookmark and Share

Marayoor, Idukki District of Kerala : Location, How to reach, Climate, Introduction, Major Attraction in & around Marayoor, Munnar, Tourism

Marayoor is the only place in Kerala with natural sandalwood forests and is located in the Idukki District in the state of Kerala in India. Marayoor is located at about 42 kilometers north of Munnar while you drive through Udumalpet to go to Munnar. The name Marayoor is said to have derived from the word ‘mara’ which means hide in both malayalam and Tamil, then ‘Ooru’, a village, that is, meaning, an hidden village.

By road: Marayoor is 40 km from Munnar and 55 km from Idukki.National Highway NH 49 passes through Idukki district.
By Rail :Nearest railway station: Aluva railhead, which is 120 km away. Ernakulam railhead is 173 km away.
By Air : Kochi international airport, about 150 km away.
Access
Marayoor is one of the main towns in the district of Idukki. This place can also be accessed from Pollachi / Palani in Tamilnadu and from Munnar. Tourists can find a good number of accommodation facilities at Marayur or in Munnar.

Winter (can go down to 8 oC)
Summer (can go up to 30oC)

It holds a lot of nature’s blessing to be unfolded before its visitors.It’s also a unique place where tourism meets adventure. The fresh mountain air, the mist-clad hills and panoramic view make it worthy of a visit. By travelling either from Marayoor to Munnar or from Munnar to Marayoor, one can feel the enchanting beauty of nature’s blessing to be remembered for a life time.

The enchanting beauty of Marayoor offers diversity in every aspect of the land and its culture. Hamlets, rocky hills, rivers, brooks, cave temples, sugar cane fields, waterfalls, stone coffins, sandal wood and bamboo forests are all in store for the visitor. It is the only place in the state with a natural growth of sandal wood trees. The rare Neelakurinji flower is native to this region.

The road from Rajamala to Marayoor is flanked by lush green tea estates. There are occasional waterfalls. Then comes the sandalwood forest. The air is cool and one comes under the rain shadow area. A major tourist spot is the Muniyaras, or the stone coffins, which date back to the Neolithic period.

Sandalwood forest
Marayoor is the only place in Kerala with a natural growth of sandalwood trees. The sandalwood factory run by the Forest Department is of tourist interest.

Muniyaras
The muniyaras or stone coffins date back to the Neolithic period. The legendary wanderings of Rama and Sita and the Pandavas are clearly depicted here.

Neelakurinji flowers
The rare Neelakurinji is native to this region. Neelakurinji is an exotic flowering plant that paints the hills blue when it blossoms once every 12 years.

Thoovanam waterfalls
The spectacular Thoovanam waterfalls provides venue for adventure and romance. Visitors will enjoy the beauty and freshness of this ideal picnic spot.

Children’s park
A children’s park formed under the canopy of a single banyan tree spreads across a hectare of land and is really a wonderful sight. The Rajiv Gandhi national park nearby is also a prime attraction.

Kanthalloor

Bookmark and Share

Papanasam Beach, Varkala Kerala : Location, Introduction, How to reach, Climate, Major Attraction ( Shree Janardhana Swamy temple etc) , Hotels

Varkala is a town in the Indian state of Kerala, about 50km north of Trivandrum and is home of the popular Papanasam Beach. Also, the Samadhi of Kerala's saint Sree Narayana Guru is situated in this town and hence has become a place of pilgrimage.

By car
Varkala is linked by state and national highways to all the major cities in Kerala, Tamilnadu and Karnataka.
By Air
The nearest International Airport is Trivandrum.
By bus
State Transport Buses are available from Trivandrum. Bus service available from Varkala to many parts of South Kerala and Kanyakumari
By train
Varkala is also connected by Rail Network. If coming from Trivandrum and Cochin, the better option will be coming by Train. Almost all trains passing by stops at Varkala. From Varkala Railway Station, Taxis and Auto Rickshaws can be hired. Papanasam Beach is around 5km from Varkala Railway Station.( Rs 40/50 by Auto Rickshaw)

Average temperature in Varkala in Celsius.
Summer(Humid): Mar - May: 25°c-33°c / Summer Max: 35°c.
Monsoon(Cloudy): Jun-mid - Sep: 21°c-27°c / Winter Min: 15°c.
Winter(Pleasant): Sep - Feb: 22°c-28°c.
Rainfall: 310 cm.
The beach makes a good choice for those willing to escape from their hectic work schedule and spend a few days in perfect relaxation. When compared to the other beaches, Varkala beach is much quieter and free from the madding crowd. Nothing can be more enthralling than lazing out in Varkala Kerala and enjoying the scenic views with Kerala backwater.
Varkala beach in Kerala includes a wealth of attractions for the tourists to explore. Located close to the beach, there is a mineral spring with medicinal properties. In fact, people across the globe consider this to be sacred and come here to drink and bathe in the same. Also referred to as Papanasam Beach, it is also believed that by taking a bath here, one can get rid of his/her sins. Another attraction located close by and worth noting is the Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple. Besides, a natural cure clinic is also located at an arm’s reach from the beach.

The lush green landscaped surrounding the beach deserves a mention as well. Be it the rocky cliff ends or the un-spoilt sandy stretches, everything about this beach is enticing. The difference between the sea, sand and cliffs adds to the striking sight of the beach. Beach lovers with an eye for scenic beauty cannot help but praise the breathtaking view of the sun sinking into the sky similar to that of a ball of molten gold.

Besides being a tourist hub, it also makes a great pilgrimage destination. The formerly mentioned Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa and is frequently visited by devotees round the year. Millions of devotees make it a point to plan there visit here and offer 'Vavu Bali', to show respect to their near and dear one who have left for the heavenly abode.

Shree Janardhana Swamy temple.
It is 2000 years old. Varkala has been a Hindu pilgrimage site since the 12th Century. The Janardhana Temple was built during this period and many Hindu's still visit Varkala to this day, for this very reason. The Varkala sands has become an ideal spot for confluence of cultures exotic and alien. Varkala also houses a leading pilgrim centre in Kerala. The temple, dedicated to Vishnu and Hanuman, atop the hill has brought a sobriquet for the region, Southern Kasi (Benares). Non-Hindus are not permitted to enter the inner sanctum but can hang around the temple.

Sivagiri. Sree Narayana Guru (1855-1928), saint, social reformer, philosopher and leader of Ezhava community, made Varkala his headquarters. Sivagiri mutt, instituted by Sree Narayana Guru, is another major pilgrim centre here.


Nature Care Centre. Papanasam.
East West University of Brahmavidya. Established by Guru Nitya Chaitanya Yati, Disciple of Nataraja Guru.
Narayana Gurukula. Established by Nataraja Guru.
Varkala Tunnel. Built by the British in 1880.
Fishing Hamlets of Anjengo and its British Fort.
Coir Processing Centres. In the Backwaters of Akathumuri, Kadakkavur.
Edava Beach . Beautiful and serene beaches where you can bask in the sun and salubrious climate. In fact Edava beaches are yet to be explored by the tourists. If you go further towards Kappil you will find blue lagoon, where sea and backwaters running parallel divided by a more-than-one km of straight road. There is also an estuary that connect the sea with the backwaters here.

  • The Gateway Hotel,Varkala
  • Deshadan Beach Resort,Varkala
  • Karthika Plaza Resort,Varkala
  • SS Beach Resort,Varkala
  • Varkala Marine Palace,VarkalaSea Pearl Chalets,Varkala
  • Green Palace Seaside Hotel,Varkala
  • Anandan Tourist Home,Varkala
  • Blooming Bay Beach,Varkala
  • Preeth Resort, Varkala,Varkala
  • Panchavadi Beach Resort,Varkala
  • Eden Garden,Varkala

Bookmark and Share
Related Posts with Thumbnails