Calangute
Calangute is a famous beach in north Goa. It remains crowded throughout the year. The sea-beach is decked up with rows of beach chairs lying under the colourful beach umbrellas. The beach slopes down to the deep blue water of Arabian Sea.
The shops on both the sides of the road leading to the beach exhibit plethora of items made from shells, conch shells and Goanese handicrafts. On the right hand side of the sea beach stands a dense forest of Caucasian trees.
Corbett National Park
Named after the renowned hunter of man-eating tigers and conservationist Jim Corbett, India's first national park is located along the Himalayan foothills in Uttar Pradesh. Previously known as the Haily National Park after the name of William Hailey, governor of United Province in the year 1935, the park received the status of national park in the year 1957 and was renamed as ‘Corbett National Park’. The park is accessed through the town of Ramnagar, where park-entry permits are to be obtained from the Field Director’s Office. The Ramganga River cuts through the depth of the jungle.
Joshimath and Auli
Cradled in the lap of lofty mountains on the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway, 52 km before Badrinath, Joshimath is a small town placed at the height of 6,150 meters by the side of Alakananda River. It’s a nodal point in the journey to Badrinath where weary pilgrims can seek one night’s refuge before completing rest of their pilgrimage to the temple of Badrivishal. However, the prime attraction of this place is Auli – a lush green meadow 16 km away from Joshimath at the height of 2,790 meters. In winter the greenery of the glade hides beneath the thick layers of white snow and Auli turns into playground of sports and adventure enthusiasts, Indian and foreigners alike. Other times of the year Auli wraps herself in satin green drapes and sits pretty encircled by the famous peaks of Garhwal and Kumayun Himalayas – Nandadevi, Dunagiri, Nandakot, Hati, Ghora, Nar, Kamet, Kakbhusundi, and others – arranged in half–circle at the north. Climbing up a few kilometers along the serpentine hilly roads from Joshimath towards Auli one can gradually see the mountain ranges standing in a row afar. The sides of the winding pathway are covered with groves of oak and birch trees.
Sundarban
The great mangrove forest of Sundarban, at the south of West Bengal, is a wonder in itself. It’s a natural shield that protects the region from the yearly cyclonic storm of Bay of Bengal. Situated in the delta of Ganges and Bramhaputra, Sundarban is spread across 25,000 sq km of area. The major portion of the delta falls in Bangaldesh. Only 102 islands lie within the Indian territory. A reserve forest encompasses 48 islands. The rest 54 islands have human habitat.
Splendor of Sundarban mangrove forest is mesmerizing. The abundance of flora and fauna makes it very unique and unparallel. Apart from the mangroves, whose survival strategy in utmost adverse situations is amazing, there are varieties of vegetation. These forests are heavily infested with animals and of course the Royal Bengal Tiger is the prime attraction. Migratory birds throng this place during winter.