Understanding Electoral Bonds: A Closer Look at India’s Controversial Political Funding Mechanism

India’s electoral bond system has been a subject of intense scrutiny and debate since its inception in 2018. Designed to introduce transparency into political funding, electoral bonds have instead raised questions about their efficacy and the influence of big money in politics. Recent revelations about the top electoral bond donors shed light on the scale and impact of corporate contributions to political parties. Here’s a closer look at the top contributors and the controversies surrounding their donations:

How Electoral Bonds Work:

1. Purchase: Electoral bonds can be purchased from specified branches of authorized banks during designated periods.
2. Donation: The bonds can be donated to registered political parties within a prescribed timeframe.
3. Encashment: Political parties can encash the bonds within a limited window through their designated bank accounts.

Criticisms and Controversies:

• Lack of Transparency: Critics argue that electoral bonds fail to address the core issue of transparency in political funding, as the identities of donors are not disclosed to the public.
• Potential for Money Laundering: There are concerns that electoral bonds could be misused for money laundering or channeling illicit funds into political parties, given the anonymity they afford to donors.
• Level Playing Field: Some critics argue that electoral bonds disproportionately benefit the ruling party, as they may have access to information about donors, while opposition parties remain in the dark.

Exploring India’s Top Electoral Bond Donors: A Dive into Political Funding

1. Future Gaming and Hotel Services Ltd: Topping the list with a staggering more than Rs 1,200 crore worth of electoral bonds, Future Gaming and Hotel Services Ltd, owned by Santiago Martin, has drawn attention due to its involvement in the lottery business. The company’s bonds have been listed under various names in the Election Commission data. However, both the company and Martin have faced investigations by the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation, raising concerns about the source and legitimacy of their donations.

2. Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd: Based in Hyderabad, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd ranks second on the list, having purchased electoral bonds worth more than Rs 800 crore. The company, founded by PP Reddy, has close ties to Telangana Chief Minister KCR, sparking speculation about the nature of its contributions and potential conflicts of interest.

3. Qwik Supply Chain Private Limited: Donating a total of Rs 410 crore through electoral bonds, Qwik Supply Chain Private Limited, headquartered in Maharashtra, has raised eyebrows due to its director’s connections to Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries. The company’s substantial contributions highlight the intersection of corporate interests and political funding.

4. Vedanta Limited: A mining giant founded by businessman Anil Agarwal, Vedanta Limited has purchased electoral bonds worth more than Rs 380 crore. Despite controversies surrounding its environmental practices and conflicts over regulatory compliance, the conglomerate’s significant donations underscore the role of extractive industries in political funding.

5. Haldia Energy Limited: With electoral bonds worth around Rs 395 crore, Haldia Energy Limited, a subsidiary of CESC Ltd, has attracted attention for its thermal power plant operations in West Bengal. Reports of preferential treatment by the Narendra Modi government raise concerns about the nexus between political patronage and corporate donations.

6. Essel Mining and Industries Ltd: Part of the Aditya Birla Group, Essel Mining and Industries Ltd has purchased electoral bonds totalling more than Rs 200 crore. The company’s involvement in iron ore mining and past allegations of illegal mining highlight the challenges of regulating extractive industries and their influence on political processes.

7. Western UP Power Transmission Company Ltd: Controlled by the Megha Group, Western UP Power Transmission Company Ltd has purchased bonds worth Rs 220 crore. The group’s significant contributions underscore the concentration of power and influence in the hands of select corporate entities.

8. Keventer Foodpark Infra Limited: Based in Kolkata, Keventer Foodpark Infra Limited has donated Rs 195 crore through electoral bonds since 2019. The company’s presence in the food processing sector highlights the diverse interests of electoral bond donors and their impact on policy-making.

9. MKJ Enterprises Limited: Headquartered in Kolkata and dealing in steel, MKJ Enterprises Limited has contributed Rs 180 crore through electoral bonds. The company’s ties to other corporate entities, including Keventer companies, raise questions about the interconnectedness of corporate interests in political funding.

10. Madanlal Ltd: A part of the MKJ Group and Keventer Group of companies, Madanlal Ltd has purchased bonds worth Rs 185.5 crore. Engaged in the purchase and sale of securities and real estate, the company’s donations reflect the complexity of corporate contributions to political parties.

The disclosure of electoral bond data by the Election Commission has shed light on the scale and scope of corporate donations to political parties in India. As concerns about transparency and accountability persist, calls for reforming the electoral bond system continue to grow louder. The nexus between corporate interests, political funding, and regulatory oversight remains a critical challenge for Indian democracy, highlighting the need for comprehensive reforms to ensure fairness and integrity in the electoral process.

Here is the Screenshot

The largest freshwater lake in northeast India is also the only floating national park in the world. LOKTAK LAKE IS FED BY the Manipur River in northeast India’s Manipur state, situated between Myanmar and Bangladesh. At nearly 111 square miles, Loktak is the region’s largest lake, but what makes it unique is its collection of floating phumdis.

The biggest freshwater lake in Northeast India is celebrated for its remarkable gliding vegetation called phumdis. This is a mass of explicit vegetation, soil and natural issue, which is drifting on the lake surface. The most novel and the biggest aspect of this phumdis covers the territory of 40 sq km

Best Time To Visit Loktak Lake

The best time to visit Loktak lake is in winter from November to early March. The deer are in residence then. During other parts of the year they live in the surrounding hills. Migratory birds are at Loktak during winter too. Yaosang, a full moon festival, is celebrated in February-March.

How to Reach Loktak Lake

Loktak Lake is situated about 48 km away from Imphal. To reach Loktak, you must first take a taxi or a cab from Imphal for Moirang which is 30 km away and costs INR 50 per head. Taxis are found at the stand near Jiribam, Imphal market road.

Activities at Loktak Lake 

The lake and the encompassing zones are ideal for investigating by foot, on a bicycle, or by pontoon. There’s additionally a lot of shared taxicabs puttering around on all the streets. A few different ways to take a break include: 

Visit the little island of Karang. A neighborhood “traveler” pontoon is 10 Rs for every individual, and there are a few vantage focuses from where you can get a decent gander at the lake and the phumdis (little drifting islands of vegetation and natural issue). 

Lease a pontoon and take a dip, or simply appreciate a vessel ride. The water temperature is quite ideal gratitude to the shallow lake profundity, and a vessel ride is the ideal method to acknowledge how enormous the lake really is. 

Visit Keibul Lamjao National Park, the main skimming public park on the planet. To arrive, head back to Moirang and request Keibul Lamjao to locate a common taxi. Section is 200 Rs for outsiders (30 Rs for local people), with a 250 Rs camera charge (50 Rs for local people). The guard was remiss, however, so in the event that you put your camera in a pack you can presumably evade the camera expense.

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Hampi is a small town in Karnataka, India. Hampi is known for its ruins, temples and many spectacular viewpoints but there’s so much more than that. For us, the best thing about Hampi was its natural beauty. There are many amazing places to visit in Hampi but most of the people just come here for a day or two, visit the temples and then head to their next destination. Yes Hampi has amazing temples but please don’t miss so many other things this place has to offer.

Best Time To Visit Hampi

Summer (April-June)
This place has quite a hot weather during the summer season. It is suggested to avoid visit Hampi in May and June as the weather is scorching and dry.

Monsoon (July – September)
Monsoons bring rainfall in Hampi along with good time to marvel at monuments and several other sites here. Showers make the town come to life as Hampi weather in July turns pleasant. This encourages tourists to visit the place for a great experience.Those love adventure activity such as rock climbing, should avoid this season.

Winter (October -March)
Winter season begins in full swing. Hampi weather in October witnesses drop in temperature. Most especially, November to February, the region offers pleasant days and no rainfall facilitates trekkers to tread through the boulders and those who want to enjoy sightseeing on foot. Vijaya Utsav (Festival of Hampi), celebrated in November is also a great reason to visit Hampi.

How to Reach Hampi

By Air: The district Ballari has an airport that is the closest airport to Hampi. with a distance of almost 64 km from Hampi, Bellary offers flight connectivity with various cities of India.
By Rail: The town of Hampi has no railway station. However, nearest railway station to Hampi is in Hospet. The Hospet Junction Railway Station is situated at a distance of around 13 km from Hampi.
By Road: Hampi has a smooth network of roads that facilitates holidaymakers to reach the site easily. The road network connects Hampi to a host of towns and cities of Karnataka.

Top Things of attractions in Hampi

Bouldering In Hampi
An ancient village in the south Indian state of Karnataka, Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. People travel from all over India to Hampi as it is of significant value to the pilgrims.With numerous hindu temples situated in this place, it is a popular location among travelers.

Camping In Hampi
Accorded the title of World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Hampi offers an exhilarating venture that anyone can undertake. Camping in Hampi, is one of the most famous outdoor avocation amid the historical ruins and surrounding natural beauty.

Matanga Hill Trek
Matanga Hill is amongst the most popular places to visit. The tourists get a mesmerizing view of the city of Hampi. There is a small temple on the top of Matanga Hill known to be the Veerabhadra Temple. On the way down there is a small cave marked where it is believed that Sugriva, ruler of Kishkinda, used to hide.The track between Hampi Bazaar and Achyutaraya Temple is a popular track passing at the base of the hill.

The Hippie Island in Hampi (Hut Stay)
This is the nickname of the tiny island which is across the river, also known as Virupapur Gaddi.

Anjaneya Hill – the birthplace of Lord Hanuman a.k.a. Monkey Temple
Hampi, this place is in the nearby village Anegondi which is easy to reach from Hippie Island. It is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman

The Sunset Jam Session at Sunset Point on Hippie Island.
Note – Please avoid going to Hampi during Summer season because of dry heat waves.

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My recent visit to Rajasthan was a really special trip for me because I was planning to visit Udaipur and other places since 2015 , almost exactly four years after the first time I went to Rajasthan! on 22nd March 2019 on the occasion of Holi , I made so many memories on this trip. My friends and me took a car from Chandigarh to travel to Udaipur. My travel style has changed a lot from my backpacker days. I was excited to see Udaipur from a new angle – and I was not disappointed! I found the BEST hotel, had the perfect boat ride and other top things to do in Udaipur, saw the iconic places to visit in Udaipur, and had my besties.

It was around 950 Km from Chandigarh to Udaipur , So we took our first stay in Neemrana place that is around 130 km from Delhi and we reached their around 1:30 Am. On the Holi day we went toward Jaipur and at 12 Pm we reached Amer Fort but it open around 2 pm due to Holi festival the entry fee for Indian are Rs 100 and for Foreign Tourists is Rs 500 . There we took many pics and around 5 pm we went out to explore other places , but it was too late to visit other fort like Nahargarh Fort and Hawa Mahal, so we  went ahead toward Ajmer to visit Ajmer Shariif we reached there around 9 Pm and on the next day we reached Udaipur around 4 AM . Then we went to our Hotel we rested there and after breakfast we First visit Jagdish Temple which was near our hotel and after visiting temple we went to City Palace and tickets for City Palace complex is Rs 30 , if some want to visit City Palace Museum then its ticket price is Rs 300 and  Rs. 100 for Children (5 to 18 yrs age). Museum timing is till 5:30 PM in the evening ,if someone want to visit Jag Mandir its ticket Price is Rs 480 , but after 2:00 Pm it price is Rs 800. If  someone want to take only boat ride in Lake Pichola then tourist must consider muncipal boat ride its Price is Rs 150 but it will not take you to Jag Mandir.

Next Day , we went to Sajjangarh Fort its entry price is Rs 10 for Indian Tourists and Rs 80 for Foreign Tourists  its timing is 9AM to 6PM  and in evening we went to Fateh Sagar Lake we one can have every type of fast foods and can enjoy there with there friends and families. On 24 March we went to see Badi Lake which is 6 KM from Sajjangarh Fort ,but there is nothing to see near lake and we spend around 20 -30 min took some pics and went back . On same day we planned to visit Chittorgarh Fort but due to some reason we drop that plan instead of that we visit Eklingji Temple which is outside the Udaipur city and temple is too old .Eklingji Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the tutelary deity of the former Mewar rulers. Ek means ‘one’ while ling means ‘lingum or the life giving phallic symbol of Lord Shiva’. The patron deity of the Mewar clan is considered the actual ruler of the region while the kings are merely the Dewan (or the Prime Minister) of this God of Mewar. Initially, the temple was built in 734 AD by Bappa Rawal, the founder of the Mewar dynasty. In the later years, it was repaired and modified by various Kings, to clean the remnants of obliteration made by the attacks of Mohammedans. Tourists are not allowed to took picture from inside of temple. It is good place to visit .

Timings: 4.15 AM – 6.45 AM, 10.30 AM – 1.30 PM and 5.15 PM – 7.45 PM

On our last day we went to Alwar to explore Bhangarh Fort  is known as the most haunted place in India and the third haunted place of World, and perhaps the greatest unsolved mystery. There is no doubting the fact that anything associated with the supernatural attracts a huge amount of attention and the deserted city of Bhangarh cashes in on that very idea. The many haunted stories of Bhangarh Fort have transformed it into a bucket list destination of sorts. We had a great time there it will take 2 hours for tourists to explore that place .

n- My advice is to not to visit Rajasthan during Summer (March to September) because its to hot to explore best time is October to February.  Rajasthan is quite expensive place than other places of India. We were four people we spend around 25K for 5 Days in Rajasthan. If someone is visiting Rajasthan mininum expenses for one person is going to be around 7 to 8k  if they are exploring two places with four days . But Rajasthan is one the best place to visit in India. Now I’m planning to visit it again next year to explore it more properly.

Mesmerising sunrises, the untouched beauty of the hills, the old-world charm of the past, and the welcoming smiles of the local people all add up to make Darjeeling one of the most beautiful hill stations in Eastern part of India. Spread over a steep mountain ridge, nestled amidst acres of lush green tea plantations, Darjeeling stands at the height of 2,050 meters above sea level, thus boasting of cool climes all year round. This scenic hill station is the perfect getaway for a romantic honeymoon and is just around 700 kilometres away from Kolkata.

Best Time To Visit Darjeeling

Summer (April-June)
These months constitute the summer season in Darjeeling which is quite pleasant and not harsh. The maximum temperature is around 25 degree Celsius. Bright sunlight packed with windy air in the evenings make for a great vacation in Darjeeling amidst the picturesque surroundings.

Monsoon (July – September)
Monsoons in Starting July till August, heavy rainfall is observed in Darjeeling. It might not be the best time to visit the place during the monsoons as you can come across some roadblocks.

Winter (October -March)
Winter season begins in full swing and it is during the months of mid-November to January, when the average temperature ranges between 7 and 5 degree Celsius. Snowfall is rarely seen in Darjeeling. But sometimes, the temperature can drop down to -2 degree Celsius, so make sure you pack some woollens.Winter season remains extremely chilly in Darjeeling as the temperature ranges between 2°C and 7°C during the season.

How to Reach Darjeeling

By Air: Bagdogra Airport is the nearest air connection which is 96 kilometres away from Darjeeling. Many carriers like Air India, Jet Airways, Spice Jet, Indigo, Go Air run direct flights from Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata to Darjeeling. Delhi and Kolkata airports are well-connected with international cities across the globe. .
By Rail: The Darjeeling railway station is administered by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR). The nearest railway station in Darjeeling is at New Jalpaiguri (62 kilometres from the main town) which connects major Indian cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar and Cochin. The DHR Toy Train service starts at New Jalpaiguri and will get you to Darjeeling at a speed no faster than 30 miles per hour. It takes 7 hours and halts at Batasia Loop from where passengers can take photographic shots of Mt. Kanchenjunga.
By Road: The regular bus service from Siliguri (which is approximately 70 kilometres away) to Darjeeling is quite slow but economical. Similar bus services are also available from neighbouring towns like Kurseong and Kalimpong which is 31 and 50 kilometres away respectively. Even Gangtok city runs daily buses to Darjeeling; however, we suggest taking a shared cab instead..
Top Things of attractions in Darjeeling

Tiger Hills
Passenger Ropeway
Toy Train
Himalayan Mountaineering
Tea Garden
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
Mirik Lake
Peace Pagoda
Ghoom Monastery
Note – Please avoid going to Darjeeling during Monsoons season because one can see Landslide and other dangerous things.

Jaisalmer is a major tourist spot located in the northwestern state of Rajasthan in India. It is called the ‘golden city’ due to its bounteous golden dunes flowing in the Thar Desert. Jaisalmer is adorned with lakes, ornate Jain temples, havelis and castles clad in golden yellowish sandstone. Climb on to the camel saddle and make your way through this desert or camp under the night sky in this golden land for an unforgettable experience.Beneath the ramparts, particularly to the north, the narrow streets of the old city conceal magnificent havelis, all carved from the same golden-honey sandstone as the fort – hence Jaisalmer’s designation as the Golden City

Best Time To Visit Jaisalmer

Summer (March-August)
Summers is Jaisalmer can be very harsh and extremely hot due to it’s proximity to the Thar Desert. The summer season begins from the month of April and continues till the month of August with temperature going up to 42°C.If you can’t bear the heat and if you’re looking for some exciting activities like camel riding and desert safari then summers are not considered to be quite a favourable time for you to visit.

Monsoon (September-October)
Monsoons in Jaisalmer lasts from September to October, witnessing very little or no rainfall. Temperatures range between 19 to 33 degree Celsius. The weather is warm and pleasant. The monsoon season comes as a relief after the scorching hear of the summer season, which in turn helps reduce the excessive heat in the atmosphere. .

Winter (November-February)
Winters are the best time to be here. Beginning from November until March, the weather of this otherwise torrid place is pleasant. Temperatures range from 5 to 24 degrees celsius during the day and drops to 7 degrees at night.

How to Reach Jaisalmer

By Air: The military airport of Jaisalmer offers direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and other important cities in Rajasthan as well as India. People who like to save their traveler time can opt this way and reach Jaisalmer quickly. The other way is to reach Jaisalmer is to fly to the domestic airport in Jodhpur and enjoy drive of approximately 5 to 6 hours and reach Jaisalmer.
By Rail:   The best means of transport to reach Jaisalmer is the railway as this network covers all major cities very easily. Howrah Jaisalmer Express, Delhi Jaisalmer Express are some of the express trains connecting various cities to the historic land Jaisalmer.

By Road: Travelling by road will be another fascinating experience, but there are direct buses only from the major destinations of Rajasthan as the journey consumes much time from other cities.
Top Things of attractions in Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer Fort and Palace Museum

Jain Temples

Havelis

Camel Safaris

Sand Dunes and Desert National Park

Vyas Chhatri Sunset Point

Bada Bagh

Rooftop Restaurants

DESERT FESTIVAL

Organised by the Department of Tourism around January-February, the Desert Festival is the best place to enjoy rich and colourful Rajasthani folk culture. The high points of the festival are puppeteers, acrobats, camel races, camel polo, folk dances, etc
Note – Please avoid going to Jaisalmer during Summer season because of hot weather.

 

Known as the ‘Land of High Passes’, Ladakh is renowned for its remote beauty and culture. Its numerous monasteries have attracted Buddhist pilgrims for the last millennium, but the rugged terrain has limited the number of other visitors for centuries. Things have slowly changed since the mid-1970s, however, when the region was opened up to domestic and foreign tourists. In the last 15 years or so, there has been an exponential increase in the number of visitors and Leh, the largest town in Ladakh, has been their base. In 2010 , around 10k people visited Ladakh but after the shooting of 3 Idiots movie of Amir Khan the number went to 230K due to which ladakh is now a huge problem .

Increasing rubbish is ruining Ladakh’s pristine landscape is running its beauty:

• Leh – Ladakh draws multitudes of visitors from across the country and the world, who are eager to experience its inimitable culture and breathtaking mountainous landscape. Yet, not many are aware of Bomb Guard near Diskit Tsal, where all the garbage from Leh is dumped.
• Undeniably, the tourist boom has brought in increased revenue and created employment. But it has also strained the region’s scarce natural resources. Consumption patterns have changed and this is most apparent in the deluge of packaged food. Around 30,000 plastic water bottles are dumped in Leh every day which is great concern.
• Meanwhile garbage, notably plastic waste, continues to inundate Leh and is being dumped at Bomb Guard indiscriminately, making residents worry. “Mounting garbage in Leh can undo the good that tourism brings.
• Due to which Ladakh region in running out of water,Glaciers are getting far away from the locals because of the construction of roads and new buildings. Around 100 mm rainfall is received by ladakh every year which is very less than plain areas.Number of natural disaster is also increasing every year.

And tourists use more water. A study by the Ladakh Ecological Development Group (Ledeg) found that the average Ladakhi uses 21 litres of water per day, while a tourist needs as much as 75 litres.

Experts say that precipitation is declining because to climate change. SN Mishra, a researcher from the Indian Air Force, found a clear declining trend in precipitation during winter months – which accounts for nearly 70% of all precipitation in the region. These geographical factors make water a rare commodity in the cold desert. “The influx of tourists has furthered burdened our water resources,” said Sonam Dawa, former chief executive councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council. “To supplement the growing water demand in Leh, we are now lifting water from the Indus river.”
Solution:

Tourists need to be mindful of what they consume and the waste they generate. High altitude mountain ecology is very different from plains. For example, even organic waste can remain undecomposed for millenia due to sub-zero temperatures for most parts of the year. When this mixes with water sources, it further deteriorates the quality of water.

Please tourists avoid throwing waste on this beautiful landscape instead of that you can carry that water bottles and packets of chips to your respective places.

Hello tourists, if anyone is visiting Leh-Ladakh please ensure that you don’t make any more trouble to region.If you have any other solution to curb this environmental problem, please email us so that we can share you valuable solution to the people.

Here is link which will help you to understand better – by

ScoopWhoop Unscripted

 

Please help to save the beauty of Ladakh Landscape

 

 

The Kugti Pass in the Chamba district brings the scenic crossroads at an altitude of around 5,050 m above the sea level. Being the part of the Pir Panjal range of the Central Himalayas, this could be a perfect destination for the trekkers. By ascending to this region, the trekkers can reach up to the Duggi plain which is a grazing land and an ideal camping ground. While reaching at the summit, the trekkers can get the chance to find the spectacular ManiMahesh Kailash Peak, the Dhauladhar ranges and also the snow capped mountains beyond Lahaul Valley.

The Kugti Pass and Lahaul Valley trekking trail starts at Bharmour that leads to Hadsar, which is 13 km away, and from Hadsar the ascending and descending trail takes the trekkers to reach Kugti village. At Duggi Plain, the travelers pass through the village, and cross a side-stream to further climb along the Budhil Gorge. On the trekking route, the presence of Keylong Temple and the temple of goddess Murkula Devi of Kugti Pass make the spot more rejuvenating and spiritual

Best Time to Visit Kugti:

Summers (March to June)
The weather in summers is pleasant. The temperatures remain moderate. This is the best time for sightseeing.

Monsoons (July and Sep)
The monsoons witness high rainfall.

Winters (Oct to Feb).
The winters are extremely cold. This often disrupts the transport facility to the destination. Trekking is also hampered.

How to reach Kugti:

By Air:
No Direct air service to Kugti Village.Gaggal Airport which is also known as Kangra airport(21 Km).

By Rail:
The nearest railway station is at Pathankot. Almost all trains on the route to Jammu Tavi make a stopover at this station, from where cabs and buses can be hired to reach Dharamshala/McLeodganj.

By Road:
Kugti village is connected by road to all the important towns of Himachal Pradesh including Dalhousie, Shimla etc.
Things to Carry for Kugti Pass Trek

Duffel bag Down/synthetic camp booties
Sunglasses, Light gloves
Sleeping bag
Flashlight/Headlamp with extra batteries
Trekking Boots
Personal medicines
Thermal tops
Vitamin tablets
Thermal bottom
Extra passport photo
One pair cotton trousers or shorts
Two cotton shirts/T-Shirts One warmer (jacket with hood)

Note – Don’t forget to visit Glorious Chamba District, If interested Anna Adventures & Tour will take you to the Chamba, Khajjiar, Kalatop, Dalhousie for sightseeing with adding one more day in your remember able journey to Lord Shiva . The facility of picking and dropping to nearest Railway head / Airport and nearest cities is also available but on extra charges.

 

 

Chamba town sprawls along the bank of the Ravi River. The Lakshmi Narayan temple is the oldest temple of the group of six stone temples depicting the 8th century shikhara style of architecture. The Bajreswari temple is another temple with fine carvings. The 11th century Hari Rai Temple and contains a finely crafted four-armed bronze statue of Lord Vishnu. The Chamunda Devi temple, away from the town centre, is noted for its woodwork. Chamba is one of the places that fostered the Pahari School of miniature painting.

Best Time To Visit Chamba

(Oct-Mar)
The temperature can drop as low as 0 and at times can even drop to sub-zero ranges. The months of December and January witness heavy snowfall in Chamba leaving the whole district covered in the white sheet of snow. Chamba remains snow covered in the months of February and March as well.

(April-June)
The days are pleasant during Summers and the night become considerably cold.

(July-Oct)
The temperature in Monsoon season in Chamba district ranges between 15 and 35 degrees celsius. While it’s advisable not to visit the district in heavy rainfalls, the misty and cool monsoons are complementary to the greenery of the valley

How to Reach Chamba

By Air:   There is no direct flight connectivity to Chamba. The nearest airport is in Pathankot(120 kms), Amritsar (220 kms), Kangra (172 kms) and Chandigarh (400 kms).
By Rail:  The nearest railway station is at Pathankot, about 120 kms from Chamba. Buses and Cabs are very easily available from Pathankot to Chamba. Alternatively, you can take train till Chandigarh or till New Delhi and then take a bus or a cab

By Road:  The HRTC (Himachal Road Transport Corporation) runs regular buses from neighboring states of Delhi, Haryana and Punjab.
Top Things of attractions in Chamba

Khajjiar

Chamera Lake

Kalatop Wildlife Sanctury

Lakshmi Narayan Temple

Manimahesh Lake

Himachal Emporium , Rang Mahal

Hariraya Temple

Champavati Temple and other temple.

Note – Please avoid going to Chamba during Monsoon season because of heavy landslides.

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In the last few years, tourism in Ladakh has been rise and what once was considered a destination for adventurous types now also gets considered for family vacations. Khardung La which means that places where earlier you won’t find a living soul for miles have now started to get crowded.The tourist arrival numbers in Ladakh, both domestic and international has increased exponentialy.Today we will be sharing some tips on mobile phone connectivity in Leh – Ladakh as communication.

For Manali Leh highway, your phone network will be down as start travelling towards the Rohtang Pass. There is a possibility that you may continue to get network until Jispa and Darcha.

1. Only Post-paid mobile connections work in Leh – Ladakh

First and foremost thing to keep in mind is that only postpaid mobile connections of outside J&K work in Leh – Ladakh and other parts of Jammu & Kashmir. So, carry a postpaid connection only from your hometown else it will be dead all throughout your stay in Leh – Ladakh, and parts of Kashmir.

2. Only few routes/places have no connectivity in Leh – Ladakh

Only places like Leh, Nubra Valley , Pangong Tso (Lukung, Tangste 34 KMs before Pangong Tso), Chumathang (about 60-65 KMs before Tso Moriri), Hanle will not have any connectivity , until you reach Leh back from these places.

3. Mobile Phone Services In Leh
No matter which network provider you are using, you will get full connectivity in the city of Leh and areas around it. Things however start to change as you start to move away from the city, i.e., towards Nubra valley or Pangong Tso.

4. Mobile connectivity in Zanskar Valley: No connectivity zero chance of getting the signal in Kargil region.

5. Best connections in J&K and Ladakh region

I know for sure that BSNL, Airtel and Vodafone do work in Leh.Once outside Leh, the networks are very sporadic and only BSNL works properly. In Nubra valley, BSNL works fine, Airtel has very limited range and Vodafone none. In Kargil and Dras, all the 3 work fine, however on the Leh-Manali road, only BSNL works (that too at specific places); Airtel and Vodafone have no connectivity there.

6. We would say BSNL is the best network for Leh Ladakh region as Vodafone & Airtel also works fine there but you should go for BSNL at Leh Ladakh as the place is one of the best places in India you must visit and offers mesmerizing

Please Remember this thing in Ladakh trip – 

• Please use Post- paid network in Leh Ladakh region.
• BSNL connection is best in these regions.
• When you have network in any of the areas inform your friends or family just for feel safety.
• Drink enough water and keep yourself hydrated.
•  Last always travel in group that would be much safer in case you have any trouble.
•  However if you are a foreigner, you may apply for a prepaid phone connection by submitting photocopies of your passport and two passport sized photographs.
• Any Prepaid connection bought from anywhere in India will not work in J&K. (except local prepaid connection bought in J&K)

 

Thank you

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