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Tourist Places to Visit in Istanbul, Turkey

Tourist Places to Visit in Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul is the biggest city in Turkey geographically positioned between 41°00′49″ north latitude and 28°57′18″ east longitude. It is considered as the economic, cultural, and historical capital of Turkey. Istanbul covers an area of 5,343 sq. km. and has a population of over 13.9 million.

Istanbul is placed between Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea positioned at an altitude of 288 meters. It is located about 454 kms northwest of national capital Ankara.

Istanbul is referred as ‘the cultural capital of Europe’ and is in 10^th position in the world’s most popular tourist destinations list. In 2010, Istanbul was visited by more than 7 million overseas tourists. Istanbul is one of the highly emerging cities in the globe houses most numbers of Turkish companies, MNC centres and media outlets.

History of Istanbul:

Byzantium was the earlier name of Istanbul and the name Byzantium derives from the local King Byzas. The modern name Istanbul is derived from Medieval Greek.

Culture, food and shopping in Istanbul:

Most of the buildings at Istanbul were built with Byzantine and Ottoman architecture. Higher majority of Istanbul population is filled with Muslim groups especially Sunni subgroup. International Istanbul Film Festival and the Istanbul International Jazz Festival are the cultural events organized in Istanbul.

The Grand Bazaar is the main market of Istanbul and is also considered as one of the biggest enclosed bazaars in the globe. Mahmutpasha Bazaar and Egyptian Bazaar are other popular market centres in Istanbul.

Kebab is very famous dish in Istanbul. Istanbul houses more than 50 seafood restaurants along with Mexican, Italian and Chinese food corners.

Connectivity to Istanbul:

O-1, O-2, O-3 and O-4 are the most important motorways of Istanbul. The city has Metro Train facility along with general trains. The trains are well maintained and give good transportation services to public. Haydarpasa Train Station is one of the major railway station of Istanbul. Istanbul has two international airports namely Ataturk International Airport and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport.

Places to see in Istanbul:

Ataturk Museum:

Ataturk Museum was constructed by modern Turkey creator Ataturk in the year 1908. Before shaping it as a museum, it was the residence of Ataturk. The museum comprises the pictures of Ataturk and his clothes and paintings. The museum is open only five days of the week Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 9:30 am – 4:00 pm.

Blue Mosque:

Blue Mosque also called as Sultanahmet Camii is a Muslim worship centre located in front of Hagia Sophia and was constructed during 17^th century. The stunning architecture and cool environment of the mosque gives a lovely feel to visitors. The mosque is open in all the days of the week. The museum at the mosque is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 9 am to 4 pm.

The list of other top tourist attractions in Istanbul include:

Archaeology Museum
Basilica Cistern
City Museum
Dolmabahce Palace
Istanbul Museum of Modern Art
Hagia Sophia
Galata Tower
Aya Sofya
Topkapi Palace
Blue Mosque
Süleymaniye Mosque
Chora Church
Galata Tower

Best time to visit Istanbul:

From April to June and September to November is the ideal time to visit Istanbul.

Accommodation options in Istanbul:

The luxury hotels in Istanbul are listed below.

Grand Oztanik Hotel
The Ritz Carlton
Maywood Hotel
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Ibis Istanbul
Istanbul Marriott Hotel
En Estambul Residences
Hotel Zeugma
Sirkeci Konak Hotel
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul
Dersaadet Hotel
Best Western The President Hotel
Zeynep Sultan Hotel
Kariye Hotel

Beautiful Places to Visit in Damdama, Gurgaon, Haryana, India

Beautiful Places to Visit in Damdama, Gurgaon, Haryana, India

Damdama is a beautiful lake situated in Sohna Town in Gurgaon District in the Indian state of Haryana. It covers over an area of 3,000 acres and is considered as one of the biggest reservoirs in Haryana. Damdama Lake is located between 28.304° N latitude and 77.129° E longitude. The lake is situated about 10 kms from Sohna Town and 24 kms away from Gurgaon City.

The foundation of Damdama Lake was laid by the British Government in the year 1947 for the purpose of rain water harvesting. Damdama is placed at the foot of Aravali Hills and is one of the favorite places for students, families and corporate people. In the middle of the lake, Dream Island Resort is located to serve the tourists with its different entertainment activities like Commando Bridge, Australian Trolley, Travoline trevasse, Manmade Rock climbing and Free Fall.

Tourists can come across over 190 species of birds during all the seasons of the year in Damdama Lake. Cranes, cormorants, terns, egrets, kingfishers and water fowl are the beautiful birds to watch around the lake. Kayaking, angling, rock climbing, valley crossing, cycling and para sailing are the adventure sport activities tourists can enjoy near Damdama Lake.

Connectivity to Damdama Lake:

National Highway 8 (Jaipur Highway) is the best roadway to reach Damdama Lake. There are ample numbers of tourist vehicles passing near Damdama Lake. Sohna Town Bus Stand is the nearest and major bus stand to Damdama. Other than Sohna Bus Stand, tourists can board buses at other local bus terminals of the city.

The distance between Damdama Lake and Basai Dhankot Railway Station of Basai is about 30 kms. The closest airport to Damdama Lake is Indira Gandhi International Airport at Delhi placed about 42 kms away.

Other tourist places to see near Damdama Lake:

Hot springs:

Hot springs is a prime attraction situated in Sohna Town located in the vicinity of Damdama Lake. It is an added advantage for visitors to see two beautiful spots at one location.

Shiva Temple:

Shiva Temple is an ancient historical worship place placed in Sohna. The natives celebrate special occasions of Shiva like Shiv Chaudas and Shivratri with great vehemence and splendor in Shiva Temple.

Sheesh Mahal:

Sheesh Mahal is situated in Farukh Nagar about 47 kms away from Sohna Town. It was built by Nawab Faujdar Khan in the year 1793 and was constructed with top Mughal architecture. Sheesh Mahal is designed with striking mirror work and was constructed by stone, slate and lime. Ali Gosh Khan Baoli and Jail are two major attractions of the Palace.

Surajkund Tourist Complex:

Surajkund tourist complex is one of the special shopping centres very famous among the regions of Gurgaon. On February of every year there is enchanting handloom and handicrafts annual fair organized in Surajkund tourist complex and also the locals and nearby regions artists will perform folk dances, magic and acrobats during the annual fair.

Wet ‘n’ Wild:

Wet ‘n’ Wild is a water resort and is considered as one of the 1^st water resorts in India located about 35 kms from Damdama Lake. The resort includes 5 swimming pools, bowling alley and pool table. Tornado and pendulum are the prominent water slides of Wet ‘n’ Wild resort. It is the major attraction of Gurgaon attracts water sports lovers from all round the state.

The list of other tourist attractions near Damdama Lake:

Qutub Khan’s Tomb
Aliwardi Masjid
Farrukh Nagar Fort
Ali Gosh Khan Baoli
Sultanpur Lake Bird Sanctuary
Museum of Folk and Tribal Art
Shri Mata Sheetla Devi Temple
Urusvati Museum of Folklore
Aliwardi Masjid
Sitaram Mandir

Ideal time to visit Damdama Lake:

Between October and March is the best time to visit Damdama Lake, when the migratory birds visit Damdama Lake and also the environment remains very pleasant.

Accommodation Options near Damdama Lake:

Top luxury and budgeted hotels located Sohna Town and Gurgaon city are as follows:

Dream Island Resort
Ibis Hotel
Lemon Tree Hotel
Courtyard Gurgaon
Leela Kempinski The
Emblem Hotel
Optus Sarovar Premiere
Galaxy – A Lifestyle Hotel
Best Western Resort Country Club
Emblem Hotel
Optus Sarovar Premiere
Galaxy – A Lifestyle Hotel
The Oberoi Gurgaon
Westin Sohna Resort & Spa
Crowne Plaza Hotel

Tourist Places to Visit in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

Tourist Places to Visit in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

Meerut is one of the major cities of Uttar Pradesh located in Meerut District about 68 km northeast of Delhi and about 454 km northwest of state capital Lucknow. It is placed between 28.99° N latitude and 77.70° E longitude and covers an area of 272 sq. km. The Postal code of Meerut begins from 250001.

Meerut is placed at an altitude of 224 meters and is bordered by Baghpat District to the west, Ghaziabad district to the south, Jyotiba Phule Nagar district towards southeast, Muzaffarnagar district in the north, Bijnor district on the northeast.

Meerut city houses several medium and small scale industries include paper sugar, chemical, engineering, IT and ITES companies. Meerut is one of the highest manufacturers of sports goods and musical instruments in the country and known for multiplexes, restaurants and shopping malls.

History of Meerut:

Meerut was ruled by prominent dynasties namely Maurya Empire, Delhi Sultan, Mughal Empire and British East India Company. Also Meerut witnessed the rule of Dutch, Portuguese and French in the earlier times.

Cuisine, Culture and Shopping in Meerut:

Meerut Cuisine differs from places to place. Rotli, Dal or Kadhi, Rice, and Shaak Sabzi are the famous food items and Kansar, Ghughra, Monthar, Penda and Barfi are the popular sweets of Meerut. There are several homemade food centres located all around Meerut City.

Dandiya Raas, Garba, Garbi and Padhar are the popular dance styles of Meerut. The city is packed with full of cultural centres and film theatres. Gujarati is the widely spoken language and also the natives speak Marwari, Hindi, Urdu, Sindhi and Marathi languages along with Gujarati.

Meerut is one of the fastest developing cities in India in the field of infrastructure, real estate, industrialization and shopping sector. Meerut city houses plenty of international retail outlets, shopping malls, marriage halls and multiplexes as well.

How to reach Meerut?

Meerut is well connected with prime cities like Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Delhi and Noida through well maintained National Highway 58, 119, and 235. One can board buses of the major cities from Bhainsali Bus Terminal and Sohrab Gate Bus Terminal.

The trains are accessible at Meerut Cantonment Railway Station and Meerut City Railway Station.

Meerut is served by Indira Gandhi International Airport at Delhi placed about 88 kms away from centre of the city.

Places to see in Meerut:

Jama Masjid:

Jama Masjid is a historical monument as well as the popular tourist attraction and was built in the year 1019 by Hassan Mahdi. It is believed that Jama Masjid was the first Masjid of North India.

Clock Tower:

Clock Tower is one of the major attractions of the Meerut and was built in the year 1914 by British. It situated in the vicinity of old Shambhu Darwaza and Begum Bridge.

Shri Shantinath Digamber Jain Temple:

Shri Shantinath Digamber Jain Temple is an ancient Jain Temple and has an idol of Jain Tirthankara Shantinath. It was constructed with the great Jain architecture style.

Suraj Kund:

Suraj Kund was built in the year 1714 by a big corporate person Lawar Jahawar Lal. Baba Manohar Nath Temple is another famous temple of Meerut located few kilometers near Suraj Kund.

Gandhi Bagh:

Gandhi Bagh also called as the Company Garden is located on the Mall Road. This garden is popular for musical fountain show arranged every evening.

Other tourist attractions in Meerut are:

John’s Church
Parikshitgarh
Appu Ghar
Mansa Devi Temple
Bale Miyan ki Dargah
Shri Shantinath Digamber Jain Temple
Chandi Devi Temple
Shahpeer Sahab ki Dargah
Kailash Parvat
Kali Paltan Mandir

Best time to visit Meerut:

Tourists can visit Meerut City in the months of August, September, October, and November to watch the historical monuments and other tourist attractions.

Accommodation options in and around Meerut:

Meerut is one of the big and prominent cities of Uttar Pradesh State houses plenty of restaurants, guest houses and luxury hotels. The hotels at Meerut are known for North Indian, South Indian and Chinese dishes. The faculties available in the hotels of Meerut include swimming pool, conference hall, fitness centre, doctor on call, cable TV, air ticket booking and 24 hour electricity. The list of best hotels in Meerut is as follows:

Yedu Residency
Hotel Harmony Inn
Naveen Deluxe Hotel
Crystal Palace Hotel
Mayur Hotel
Hotel Narayana
Samrat Heavens
Hotel Mukut Mahal
Shere Punjab Hotel
Hotel Krome
Hyphen Premier
Godwin Hotel

Best Tourist Places in Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India

Best Tourist Places in Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India

Medinipur also called as Midnapore is a town in Paschim Medinipur District in the Indian state of West Bengal situated about 128 kms west of state capital Kolkata. Medinipur is located between 22.25° north latitude and 87.65° east longitude and situated at an elevation of 23 meters. The Postal code of the Medinipur is 721 101.

Medinipur is home to Vidyasagar University, the only university in Paschim Medinipur District and also houses numerous best schools and colleges. The prominent temples in Medinipur include Chapaleswar Temple and The Jagannath Temple.

Etymology and history of Medinipur:

There are several theories about the origin of the name ‘Medinipur’, one theory states that Medinipur derives its name from the native goddess “Medinimata” and another theory states that Medinipur derives its name from the larger presence of mosques in Medina in the earlier times.

Medinipur has strong historical and cultural background and also well known for playing a prominent role in the Indian freedom movement. It was ruled by major dynasties of the country like Kalinga Dynasty, Bengal Nawab and Malla kings.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Medinipur:

Medinipur houses numerous historical temples like Jagannath Temple, Hanuman-Jeu Temple, Sitala Temple and Rukmini Temple. Medinipur is populated with higher majority of Hindus and equal ratio of Muslims and Christians. Midnapore Art College and Medinipur Shilpi Chakra are the famous cultural education centres situated in Medinipur.

Aurora, Mahua and Hari Cinema Hall are the major film theatres in Medinipur. Also Medinipur is well facilitated with several South Indian, North Indian and Chinese Food Corners along with local food item centres. The locals of Medinipur are fond of both vegetarian and non vegetarian food.

How to reach Medinipur?

Medinipur has good connectivity with its nearby regions and the major cities of the state through road and railway transit. Medinipur Central Bus Stand and Abash Bus Stand are two most important bus terminals of the Medinipur.

Medinipur is served by Midnapore Railway Station through express trains to Howrah, Ernakulam, Puri and Delhi is located 2 kms away from the heart of the town.

The nearest airport to Medinipur is Kolkata International Airport situated at a distance of 135 kms.

Tourist places near Medinipur:

Jhargram Raj Palace:

Jhargram Raj Palace was the house of the Malla Deb Royal family. It is located in Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur district and was constructed with blend of Gothic and Muslim architectural style. Jhargram Raj Palace was constructed in the year 1931 AD and the ground floor has been renewed into a heritage hotel.

Chandrakona:

Chandrakona is a well known town famous for historical Samoleswar Mahadeb Temple. The temple was constructed with strong stones and designed with beautiful architecture. Bidyadhar Puskarini Lake is another prime attraction of Chandrakona situated in the vicinity of Sarasanka Dighi Lake.

Jonathan Temple:

Jonathan Temple is a famous worship place of Hindus situated in Utan Lazar. It is said that this temple was built in the year 1851.

Karnagarh:

Karnagarh is a village situated about 11 kms from Midnapore Town. The village is well known for Stone Fort, constructed by Raja Karnakeshri of the Keshari Dynasty. The fort includes water tank and temples. Karnagarh houses several famous worship places namely Dandeshwar Temple and Mahamaya Temple.

Bahiri:

Bahiri is one of the villages in Midnapore District. This village is well known for Lord Rama Ashram, Bhimsagar Lake, Hemsagar Lake and Lohitsagar Lake. Ther are Buddhist stupas namely Paltikri, Saptikri, Dhantikri and Godhantikri can be seen in Bahiri Village.

The list of other tourist places in and around Medinipur include:

Pathra
Karnagarh
Deer Park
Chilkigarh Raj Palace
Kanak Durga Temple
Tribal Museum
Sabitri Temple
Gidhni Annukul Ashram
Jungle Mahal
Mukutmanipur Dam

Best time to visit Medinipur:

Winter months are advised to holiday Medinipur because of its wonderful weather condition and there are annual fairs celebrated during these months.

Accommodation options near Medinipur:

The hotels of Medinipur have the facilities of cable TV, doctor on call, free Wi Fi service, laundry, tennis court, fitness centre, swimming pool, hot water bath and air ticket booking facility. Major luxury hotels and lodges located in Medinipur are as follows: