Cherrapunji – The Rainy Valley of India

High above misty valleys and foaming rivers, ensconced in swirling clouds and perched on an escarpment, lies Cherrapunji (4,500 feet). This is a stunning location and the year-round rain earned Cherrapunji coveted entry long ago into the Guinness Book of World Records as the wettest place on earth, the place where the rainfall can be recorded in feet rather than in millimeters.

Today, climatic changes have edged Cherrapunji out of the topmost 'wet' slot, but it still retains its pristine beauty, its unusual facets, the perpetual clouds, and the perpetual mists…. Appropriately, Cherrapunji lies in the heart of the State of Meghalaya-the abode of clouds.

History:

As in days gone by, the faces of Cherrapunji change not with the seasons, but with the pattern of rainfall. The heaviest downpours span approximately five long months-from May until September. The clouds then are dark and menacing, full blown with rain, which descends earthwards with the stinging force of a whiplash.

Tour to Cherrapunji Throughout these months, Cherrapunji is transformed into a sea of tiny, gushing rivulets. The raindrops beat incessantly on rooftops and treetops creating a compelling tattoo of awesome sounds, which cannot be savored anywhere else but in the Northeastern states. These are also the 'record-making' months, which contribute to records such as the stunning 22,987 mm of rainfall in 1861. The annual average rainfall of Cherrapunji stands today at 10,871 millimeters. Barely 10 km from Cherrapunji stands the village of Mawsynram, which has snatched away the heaviest rainfall record, with 12,163 millimeters of rainfall.

With the passage of September, the rhythm of the rain-its main force spent-changes to a gentle patter. And the Khasis and other residents of Cherrapunji, the flora, and the fauna respond to the change in the Rain God's mood. Soft pastel shades begin to appear in skies that were gray all day and rainbows that are a photographer's delight begin to make unexpected guest appearances.

Tourists Attractions:

The home of enterprising Khasi clans, Cherrapunji's place in the Guinness Book of Records is not its only claim to fame. Along with falls lesser in height but no less alluring, the spectacular, cascading 1,035-ft-high Mawsmai Falls-the fourth highest in India-lie just a few kilometers beyond Cherrapunji.

Close by is situated a fascinating labyrinth of underground passages beneath age-old caves-a veritable dream for amateur explorers. Elsewhere around Cherrapunji, Khasi monoliths (stones in memory of their ancestors) lie dotted around-a vague reminder of the forests of Bastar.

Amidst all the surprises of Cherrapunji, perhaps the most abiding is the startling realization that the wettest place on earth where it rains every month also has an amazing amount of warm sunshine. When the clouds drift away, there are a series of memorable views, and one can see as far as Bangladesh. Orchids blooming a few feet away from a patch devoid of vegetation. Dense woods interspersed by rocky, cliffs furrowed by erosion.

As the months move on, the smell of decaying vegetation lessens as the showers become intermittent. New plants spring to life, and people go about their tasks with renewed energy.

The hills around Cherrapunji do not have the lush green vegetation one normally associates with wet places. The vegetative cover in the form of dense woods appears in patches and constitutes yet another marvelous surprise: the richness and variety of the flora in these 'zones' has to be seen to be believed. An amazing variety of rare orchids, ferns, and moss convert each pocket into a botanist's paradise. Cherrapunji produces the best quality of oranges as well as pineapples. In fact, Cherrapunji oranges are the ancestors of the famous Nagpuri oranges in the Central India.

How to Reach:

Cherrapunji is 58 km from Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya. A steep motorable road, almost perpetually bathed in mist as it climbs upwards on the last lap, leads up to Cherrapunji. Buses and taxis ply to Cherrapunji from Shillong.

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A Trip Kamakhya Temple in Assam

About Kamakhya Temple:

Kamakhya Temple, which is situated at the top of the Nilachal Hill at about 800 feet above the sea level. The entire temple complex not only comprises of many other temples but also a whole set of people connected with them. Apart from the main devi temple, it also comprises of some other major temples of devi Kali, Tara, Bagala, Chinnamasta, Bhuvanesvari, Bhairavi and Dhumavati.

There are some other temples of various goddess can be seen in the complex. They are the Sitala Temple, the Lalita Kanta Temple, The jaya Durga Temple, the Vana Durga Temple, the Rajarajesvari Temple, the Smasanakali temple, the kail temple of Abhayananda dharmashala and the Sankhesvari temple. There are five temples of Lord Shiva in the Kamakhya complex. They belongs to different forms of Lord Shiva like Kamesvara (Umananda), Siddhesvara, Amratokesvara (Heruka), Aghpra, and kotilinga (Tatpurusa).

Legend of Kamakhaya:

Once Naraka, motivated by his carnal desire, wanted to marry Devi Kamakhya. When proposed, the goddess playfully put a condition before him. If Naraka would be able to build a staircase from the bottom of the Nilachal hill to the temple within one night, then she would surely marry him. Naraka took it as a challenge and tried all with his might to do this marathon task. He was almost about to accomplish the job when the Devi, panic-stricken as she was to see this, played a trick on him. She strangled a cock and made it crow untimely to give the impression of dawn to Naraka. Duped by the trick even Naraka thought that it was a futile job and left it half way through. Later he chased the cock and killed it in a place which is now known as Kukurakata, situated in the district of Darrang. The incomplete staircase is known as Mekhelauja path.

Festivals:

Durga Puja is celebrated annually during Navaratri in the month of September- October. It is a three day festival attracting several visitors.

Ambubachi Mela, also known as Ambubasi festival, is held annually during monsoon in the Kamakhya Devi Temple at Guwahati, Assam. In 2010, the beginning date of Ambubachi Mela is June 22nd and the festival ends on June 26. The Ambubachi festival is closely related to the Tantric cult and is also known as Kamkhya Devi Puja. It is believed that Goddess Kamakhya goes through her menstrual cycle during these days and therefore the temple remains closed for three days. Ambubachi Mela is also known as Ameti or Tantric fertility festival and is a four-day mela (fair). It is widely believed that Goddess Kamakhya goes through her yearly menstrual cycle during the Ambubachi days. The temple remains closed for three days – the menstruation period. People in large numbers wait outside the temple on the fourth day, when the temple will be opened. Sanyasins and Pandas from around the country assemble at the Kamakhya temple during this period. Large number of devotees make a mad rush when the temple reopens to receive the unique ‘prasad’ which is small bits of cloth, which is supposedly moist with the menstrual fluid of Goddess Kamakhya. It is considered highly auspicious and powerful.

How to Reach:

The Kamakhya temple is situated at the center of the city. Buses and cabs run almost all the time right from the morning to the night. The Kamakhya temple is about 20 km from the airport. It is about 6 km from the railway station. From the airport as well as from the railway station cars are easily available for rent. So, devotees can hire cars for a trip to Kamakhya temple. There are two well maintained staircase from the bottom of the hill to the Kamakhya temple made up of stones is also there, which can also be used to climb to the Kamakhya temple.

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Mumbai to Shirdi – A Holy Weekend Getaway

Shirdi is a village north-east of Mumbai and has an extensive temple complex devoted to Shirdi Sai Baba. It is located by road on Ahmednagar-Manmad State Highway No.10 at 83 kilometers from Ahmednagar, and 15 kilometers from Kopargaon. The place is around 296 km (around 6 hours drive) from Mumbai. Sai Baba's shrine has been incorporated as one of the holy places in the world's map of pilgrimage.

Places to Visit:

Samadhi Mandir of Shri Sai Baba was actually owned by a millionaire from Nagpur and a famous Sai devotee Shreemant Gopalrao. He wanted to keep an idol of Murlidhar here. However, according to the legends, Baba himself became Murlidhar and the temple became the Samadhi Mandir of Baba. The Samadhi of Baba is built with white marble stones. The railings around it are full of ornamental decorations. The idol of Baba is a marvelous statue made up of Italian marble built by Late Balaji Vasant in 1954. The temple has an assembly hall for about 600 devotees. The assembly hall also houses a showcase having various items used by the sage. The first floor of the temple has the pictures depicting the life of the saint.

The temple opens on 5 AM with morning prayers and close down at 10 PM with night prayers. Situated on the right side of the entrance of the Samadhi Mandir is Dwarkamai, a mosque. This was the place where the sage stayed until the end of his life. Main attraction of the site is the oil paintings of the sage.

The place from where Sai Baba first came to Shirdi in the form of a Bal Yogi (child ascetic) is known as Gurusthan. A temple has been constructed on this site. There is also a small shrine in Gurusthan.

At a short distance lies Baba's Chavadi. Baba used to sleep here every alternate day. The Chavadi is divided into two parts. One part of the Chavadi has a large portrait of Baba along with a wooden bed and a white chair belonging to him.

There is a cottage of Abdul Baba, an ardent devotee of Shri Sai Baba, in front of the Chavadi. Photos and various items that were handled by Sai Baba and Abdul Baba are there in the cottage. There is a Maruti Mandir located at some distance from the cottage of Abdul Baba. This mandir was visited by Baba for the sat-sang with Devidas, a Bal yogi, who lived at the Mandir ten to twelve years before Baba arrived.

There are also temples of village deities named Shani, Ganapati, and Shankar that are worth visiting. At some distance from Gurusthan, there is the Lendi Baug. This garden was made and watered daily by Baba himself. It got its name from a nullah (a drain), which used to flow there. Baba used to come here every morning and afternoon and take rest under a neem tree. Baba dug a pit, 2 feet deep, under the neem tree and kept a deep (a lighting object) lit in that pit. An octagonal deepgriha (lighthouse) called Nanda Deep has been built in marble stone in memory of this place. It constantly burns in a glass box. On one side of the deepgriha is a pipal tree and on the other side is a neem tree. Other sites to visit are Datta Mandir and Khandoba Mandir.

Fairs and Festivals:

The most important festivals and events that are celebrated in Shirdi are Guru Poornima, Dussehra, and Ram Navami. These are the only days when the Samadhi Mandir of Shirdi opens for the whole night. Every Thursday, a palakhi bearing a photograph of the sage is taken out from the temple.

Mumbai to Shirdi by Bus:

You could take a Cab; hire a private taxi or drive. (If you are an international tourist you may want to check the requirements for Driver's license and road regulations with the Maharashtra State Road Transport department.). You could take a Maharashtra State Transport Bus. You could take a Bus operated by Private operators. For Fares, Schedules and other details contact your local travel agent, the Government of India Tourism Office, the Maharashtra State Tourism Board Office or the Maharashtra State Transport booking office.

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Raigad- The King’s Fort

Raigad famed for its rich heritage, ancient monuments and rocky terrain is the erstwhile capital of Chathrapati Sivaji. The literal meaning of the term Raigad is “The King’s Fort”.

Located at an altitude of 2851 feet above the sea level, Raigad is gifted with natural splendor. It is nestled in the Sahyadri mountain range which displays the magnificent mountainous terrain. Raigad is distinguished from the nearby mountains by lovely and profound canyons and the deep gorge with 1.5 kilometers width houses lush and lustrous vegetation. Rivers Gandhar and Kal flows through this verdant valley giving it a majestic look which makes the surroundings scenic and tranquil.

Lingana Mountain in Raigad is another favorite hot spot of tourists. It is located at a height of 4,514 feet and is one among the interesting trekking points in Raigad. Beside a center of adventurous tourism, this mountain range holds the panoramic view of the Borhatyachi Naal which is a valley lying between the Lingana and Raylingi mountains. An ancient fort built by Sivaji is located here. It is built in order to venerate Sivaji’s victory over Chandrarao. This gallant fort was a key figure under the Maratha regime. Though in a ruined state, this fort allures the spectators with its rich heritage. Raigad is also famed for its varied and rich cultural heritage, folkarts like Keertan, Koli Dance, Bhajan, and Bharud.

Raigad’s is blessed with hilly terrain and natural foliage and this awesome beauty gained it a prominent place in the tourism sector. Raigad’s serene, calm topography is certainly a solace to keep one away from the hustle bustle of the city life.

Summers in Raigad are sultry and sweating and prevails from March to May. The winter prevails from December to February. Monsoons are humid with medium to heavy rainfall and prevail from June to September.

The most favorable period to visit Raigad is from October to March, having good pleasant climate and also coinciding with grand festival celebrations.

Places to Visit:

• Shri Varad Vinayak Temple
• Purandar
• Vichitragad
• Rayreshwar
• Lohgad
• Visapur
• Tikona
• Sinhagad
• Memorial of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar

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Sarnath and Ayodhya – Two Places of God

Sarnath: Sarnath also known as Mrigadava, Migadaya, Rishipattana and Isipatana. Mrigadava means "deer-park". Isipatana is the name used in the Pali Canon, and means the place where holy men (Pali: isi, Sanskrit: rishi) fell to earth. Sarnath is the deer park where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna. Sarnath is located 13 kilometres north-east of Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh, India. Sarnath, from Saranganath, means “Lord of the Deer” and relates to another old Buddhist story in which the deer named Bodhisattva offers his life to a king instead of the doe. The king was very touched by this act and hence created the park as a sanctuary for deer which exists still date.

Singhpur is a village situated 1 km away from the Sarnath is the birth place of Shreyansanath who is the eleventh Jain Tirthankar of the present age (Avasarpini). A temple is been dedicated to him which is an important Jain pilgrimage.

Post his enlightment, Buddha went from Bodhgaya to Sarnath to spread the teachings of spiritual power to his companions. After leaving Uruvela, he travelled to the Isipatana to join and teach them. Besides the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, several other suttas were preached by the Buddha while staying at Isipatana, namely Anattalakkhana Sutta, Saccavibhanga Sutta, Panca Sutta (S.iii.66f), Rathakara or Pacetana Sutta (A.i.110f), two Pasa Suttas (S.i.105f), Samaya Sutta (A.iii.320ff), Katuviya Sutta (A.i.279f.), a discourse on the Metteyyapanha of the Parayana (A.iii.399f), and Dhammadinna Sutta (S.v.406f), preached to the distinguished layman Dhammadinna, who came to see the Buddha.

Sarnath is a very well known temple city of India and has a very calm and serene atmosphere. This historic land has many visitors especially during the weekends. Sarnath contains a rich library and there are excellent frescoes by Kosetsu Nosu at the Mula gandha Kutir Vihara. The Sarnath Museum, not far from the site, contains some of the finest specimens of Buddhist sculpture.

Places to Visit:

Religious Spots:

• Chaukhandi Stupa
• Dhamek Stupa
• Mulagandha Kuti Vihar
• Thai temples, the Burmese, Korean and Chinese temples, have all been built recently. Apart from these, there are three Tibetan temples and a Japanese temple.

Other Attractions:

• Dharmrajika Stupa
• Ashoka Pillar magnificent Lion capital
• India’s National Emblem at Sarnath Museum
• Saddharmachakra Vihar’s at excavated ruins
• Sarnath Archeological Museum

Ayodhya: Ayodhya is blessed with many saintly personalities and the most well known among them is that it’s the birthplace of Lord Ram. It is one of the ancient city founded by Manu, the law-giver of the Hindu. Ayodhya is situated on the banks of the river Ghagra and is 6 kms from Faizabad and is a well known pilgrim centre.

Ayodhya is the ancient city of India and old capital of Awadh situated in Uttar Pradesh. It is also the capital city of Kosala Kingdom. Ayodhya was once known as Saketa in the ancient times as it reverberates the spectacular moments from the great epic Ramayana.

For centuries, Ayodhya was the capital of the descendants of the Surya dynasty of which Lord Rama was the most celebrated king. Ayodhya during ancient times was known as Kaushaldesa. The Atharvaveda described Ayodhya as “a city built by Gods and being prosperous as paradise itself”. Ikshvakus of the solar clan (Suryavansa) were the ruling dynasty of this region. According to tradition, Ikshvakus was the eldest son of Vaivasvata Manu, who established himself at Ayodhya. The earth is said to have derived its name “Prithivi” from Prithu, the sixth king of the line. A few generations later came Mandhatri, in whose line the 31st king was Harischandra, known widely for his love of truth. Raja Sagar of the same clan performed the Asvamedha Yajna and his great grandson Bhagiratha is reputed to have brought Ganga on earth by virtue of his penance. Later in the time came the great Raghu, after whom the family came to be called as Raghuvamsa. His grandson was Raja Dasaratha, the father of Rama, with whom the glory of the Kausala dynasty reached its highest point. The story of this epic has been immortalized by Valmiki and immensely popularized by the great masses through centuries.

Places to Visit:

• The Hanuman Garhi
• Kanak Bhawan
• Ramkot
• Swarg Dwar
• Mani Parbat and Sugriv Parbat
• Treta ke Thakur
• Nageshwarnath Temple
• Chhoti Devkali Mandir
• Angad Tila
• Shri Rama Janaki Birla Temple
• Tulsi Smarak Bhawan
• Ram ki Paidi
• Kaleramji ka Mandir
• Datuvan Kund
• Janki Mahal
• Gurudwara Brahma Kund
• Rishabhadeo Jain Temple
• Brahma Kund
• Amawan Temple
• Tulsi Chaura
• Laxman Quila
• Ram Katha Museum
• Valmiki Ramayan Bhawan
• Mandir Sunder Sadan

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Wildlife Tour to Madhya Pradesh

One third of Madhya Pradesh land is forested, offering a unique and exciting panorama of wild life. Especially in the Vindhya-Kaimur and the Satpura and Maikala ranges and the Baghelkhand plateau. The old princely families were enthusiastic "sportsmen". Rulers of states the size of English countries, and some appreciably larger, set aside vast stretches of wilderness as their own, private, haunting grounds. Since these royal hunts were fairly infrequent affairs and as the keepers of the hunting grounds were vigilant, the animals grew and prospered: in spite of the annual butchering.

The great hunting families have given the country its great wildlife parks. When you visit wildlife sanctuaries and national parks the land, you are the interloper: the animal is king. Your movements are controlled, the animal’s are not.

About Madhya Pradesh:

Madhya Pradesh, known as “Heart of India" is a state located in the Central India. This historical land shares its boundaries with Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Madhya Pradesh is known for its religious hubs of Hinduism, Jainism and Islam, Buddhism, Khajuraho temples, impregnable forts, exquisitely carved Jain temples, palaces, which are the glorious reminders of erstwhile golden era of the royal Kings and Maharajahs. Endowed with immense natural beauty and splendor. The history of the royal state goes back to the time of Ashoka, the great Mauryan ruler. To the Chandelas, however, goes the credit of building the splendid monuments of Eros, Khajuraho, in the Northern part of the state. Between 12th and 16th centuries, the region saw continuing struggles between Hindu and Muslim kings and invaders. The fortified city of Mandu in the southwest was the scene of frequent battles.

Wildlife in Madhya Pradesh:

Home to pristine forest reserves bursting with wildlife, breathtaking palaces, historical sites, some of India’s finest examples of temple art, and a dazzling tradition of arts and crafts, the province of Madhya Pradesh lies deep in the vibrant heart of India. Madhya Pradesh is famed for its national parks, which delight with their untouched natural beauty, as well as their wildlife and birdlife. Many of these parks form the last refuge of the magnificent tiger and provide guests with a rare opportunity to view the king of the jungle, as well as many other exotic species.

 Filled with contrasts, Madhya Pradesh also boasts a variety of terrain, from river valleys, dense forests and rolling plains to the ancient hills of the Vindhya and Satpura ranges and the sprawling highlands of the Malwa plateau.  The chances of seeing a big cat, a tiger or lion within naked lens’ reach, are extremely high in Madhya Pradesh. And the fact that they are not frightened of you lets you make observations and take pictures, which only dedicated naturalists could have hoped for just a decade ago. Kanha and Bandhabgarh national parks have been very famous national parks around the world. The king of the forest may be easily sighted at Kanha and Bandhavgarh. Equally at home in the Jungles of Kanha and Bandhavgarh is the Gaur who does not fear the tiger. Another native is the Barasingha the only swamp deer who has adapted to hard ground. Chitals (spotted deer) can be sighted in hundreds. Sloth Bear, the leopard and the buffalo Colorful bird. are much less common. At times one is surprised that wild life has survived so well despite the decades of senseless slaughter indulged in by the so-called big game hunters. Many of the princes marked out areas as their personal hunting reserves: Shivpuri near Gwalior for instance, which has served in recent years as the nucleus of the wild life park and where Madhav National park is particularly rich in many species of deer and famous for its white (albino tic) tigers. Pench National park is also an upcoming national park in Madhya Pradesh.

Travel to Madhya Pradesh:

The call is wild and clear. Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Panna National Park offer some wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities. Take few days off and enter into the Jungle Book written by Kipling and see the Jungle Home of Mowgli-the Jungle Boy. You can feel the presence of Mowgli riding on the Black Panther with his friends the avuncular Bhaloo -the bear; Kaa- the Python; and those rowdy monkeys; the bunder log and Sher Kahn- the Tiger!!

Madhya Pradesh is well connected with rest of the country. If you are planning to start your journey from Delhi, Mumbai or any other major cities of India, you can check flights or train based on your travel budget. MP is well connected with bus too. The capital Indore is connected through bus with Agra, Delhi, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai and other major cities. Once you planned your trip, you can check bus services available for Madhya Pradesh. Bus form delhi to agra Online bus booking is fairly easy process now. On the net you can search, compare and do cheap bus booking in no time. So why wasting more time? Look at calendar and plan a wild weekend in ‘Heart of India’.

A Trip to Madurai

<p>Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India, with a history dating all the way back to the Sangam period of the pre Christian era. The glory of Madurai returned in a diminished form in the earlier part of this millennium; it later on came under the rule of the Vijayanagar kingdom after it&rsquo;s ransack by the ravaging armies of Delhi (Malik Kafur). During the 16th and 18th centuries, Madurai was ruled by the Nayak Emperors, the foremost of whom was Tirumalai Nayakar. The Sangam period poet Nakkeerar is associated with some of the Tiruvilayaadal episodes of Sundareswarar - that are enacted as a part of temple festival traditions even today. The Sangam age or the Golden age of Tamil literature &ndash; produced masterpieces way back in the Pre christian era and in early 1st millennium . Madurai was the seat of the Tamil Sangam or Academy of learning. The entire city of Madurai, is built around the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple &ndash; the temple par excellence. Concentric rectangular streets surround the temple, symbolizing the structure of the cosmos.</p>
<p><b>Places to Visit: </b></p>
<p><b>Meenakshi Temple</b>, By far, the most common reason for visiting the city is the Meenakshi Temple, dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi (considered a form of Parvati) with a sanctum for her consort, Sundareshwarar (or Siva). Actually, historically, the Sundereshwar shrine is the larger and older of the two temple complexes. The complex itself is a splendid example of the south Indian Dravida architectural idiom. Four immense gopurams or temple towers crown the gateways at each cardinal direction, easily visible from a distance. Each tower is encrusted with more than a thousand brilliantly painted sculptures depicting an assortment of mythological and auspicious themes. It is traditional to enter through the south gopuram and, unusually, worship the Goddess before her consort. Inside the shelter for shoe-storage, offering baskets of coconuts, bananas and incense are available in addition to images of the Goddess for home altars.<b></b></p>
<p><b>Koodal Alagar Temple: </b> Important Vaishnav Temple magnificient, has three stairs of the lord posture. Sitting posture of the lord (Main moola deity), one level up is a standing posture of the lord, and the 3rd level up is the lying down posture of the lord. The temple is a spectacular one. It is located in the heart of the city, one of the Divya Desams ( 108). Worshipped by &quot;Alwars - Vasihnav Saints &quot;. Worth to see and worship </p>
<p><b>Thirumalai Nayak Palace: </b>East Market Street (Less than 2km south east of the Sri Meenakshi Temple). The remains of the palace of the 17th century ruler Thirumalai Nayak who contributed extensively to the Meenakshi Temple. Only a small portion of the original structure which was four times as larger remains. There were originally two parts-Swargavilasa heavenly pavilion, meant for the King's harem and housing the darbar court, and the ranka vilasa, which was for the servants. Currently, entrance to the roof is prohibited due the renovation work being carried out by the Archaeological Department. They claim to finish work in 6 months. There is a sound and light show in the evening (Both English &amp; Tamil Version of the show). There is also a museum, which houses not only the original portraits of Thirumalai naicker, but also unearthed stine carvings of the 17th century, along with many sculptures of Hindu Gods like Brahma, Nataraja, Saraswati of the period.</p>
<p><b>Travel by Bus: </b></p>
<p>Madurai is situated on National Highways NH-7, NH-45B, NH-49. Almost all of them are presently being upgraded to multi-lane ways as part of National highway development program. Travel from Chennai and Bangalore will take approximately 8-10 hours. </p>
<p>The city is well connected by buses to all major cities in Tamil Nadu via state government operated and private buses. Buses also ply from important cities in the neighboring states of Kerala (Ernakulam, Trivandram) and Karnataka(Bangalore, Mysore). There are lots of ordinary buses and many luxury ones too. </p>
<p>Madurai has several bus stands. Most inter-state and overnight buses terminate at Mattuthavani Bus stand. Private buses are found closer to the city center near Periyar bus stand. Ticketing and reservation facilities are available at the bus-stands.</p>
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<a href="http://www.via.com/bus-tickets" title="Bus Booking">Bus booking</a> is fairly easy nowadays on internet. If you plan early you&rsquo;ll get budget tickets online. For <a href="http://www.via.com/bus-tickets" title="Online Bus Booking">online bus booking</a> you can check different OTA&rsquo;s website. Search best bus service, compare and buy cheap tickets.