Amusement Park Entrance Charges India

India is a vast country comprising of many big cities and towns. Many cities in India have amusement and entertainment parks that offer a variety of fun and enjoyment to children and elders. Equipped with funfilled activities and watersports the amusement parks charge entry fees from Rs. 20 to 100. Below is the list of famous Amusement Parks and their entrance charges.

Amusement Parks in Bangalore Charges

Name of Amusement Parks - Entrance Charges

Pearl Water Park Ltd ( Crazy Waters) - Rs 80 for children, Rs 100 for adults.

Complex Arcade Rs 125

Neeladri Amusement And Water Park Rs 20 for kids and Rs 30 for adults

Amusement Parks in Chennai Charges

MGM Dizzy World Rs 120 For Children, Rs 200 for adults

Kishkinta Rs 150 for Children, Rs 250 for adults

Amusement Park in Delhi Charges

Appu Ghar Rs 200

Polo Amusement Park Rs 250 for Children, 300 for adults on Sundays and Holidays.

Amusement Park In Ernakulam Charges

Veega Land Rs 200

Amusement Park in Guwahati Charges

Accolade Amusement Park Not Available

Amusement Parks in Kolkata Charges

Nicco Park Rs 50 and Rs 150 additional for all rides

Aquatica Water Theme Park Not Available

Clown Town Not Available

Amusement Parks in Mumbai Charges

Suraj Water Park Mon- Sat: Adult-Rs 200/-, Child ( below 2 ft) On Sunday- Adult: Rs 400/-(inclusive of buffet lunch) and child Rs 300/-

Water Kingdom 4-12 yrs. Rs 225/- and 12-60 yrs Rs 275/-

Fantasy Land Adult- Rs 175, Child- Rs 125

Essel World 4-12 yrs. Rs 200, Adult- Rs 225

Amusement Park in Nagpur Charges

Ocean Aqua World Not Available

Essel World Rs 200 for adults and Rs 175 for children.

Amusement Parks in Thrissur City Charges

Dream World Rs. 300

Silver Storm Water Theme Park Not Available

Uttarakhand - A charming state of North India

Once known as Uttaranchal, Uttarakhand was the part of Uttar Pradesh till Nov 8, 2000 A.D. The beautiful state is located in the northern Indian, and is bounded by the mighty Himalayas. Uttarakhand shares its international borders with China and Nepal and is neighboured by the states Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Dehra Dun, the largest city in Uttarakhand is the provincial capital of the state.

Uttarakhand is blessed with towering peaks, lakes and streams, rolling forests, pilgrimage centres and all of it welcome a great party. As an adventure sports destination and a major pilgrimage centre of Hindus, Uttarakhand generates a good revenue from tourism enterprises. The pleasant climate also makes it a popular vacations spending resort and an escape from the scorching north Indian sun.

Uttarakhand is dominated with the presence of mighty peaks and hills of the Himalayas. The state is primarily divided into two zones - Garhwal and Kumaon. There are 13 districts in all; seven in the Garhwal zone and six in the Kumaon zone. The two zones see a multitude of sky reaching peaks that form parts of the Greater Himalayas. These mountains are also the source of the great rivers of India - the Ganga and the Yamuna.

Some of the high peaks in the region include Bandarpunch (6,316 m), Yogeshwar (6,678 m), Sri Kailash (6,932 m), Kedarnath (6,490 m), Bhirigupanth (6,772 m), Chaukhamba (7,068 m), Kamet (7,756 m), Mana Peak (7,272 m), Abl Gamin (7,355 m), Mukut (7,242 m). These snow clad peaks give rise to a number of lakes that flow down and join the tributaries. The slopes at certain places are also ideal for winter sports. One such destination is Auli.

History of Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand happens to be one of the cultural places in India where the dominant culture and civilization emerged and evolved centuries ago. One of the earliest references is found in Vedas and epics. A quick look at Uttarakhand's history reveals the influence of the following empires - Kushanas, Kudinas, Kanishka, Samudra, Gupta, Palas, Chandras, Pawaras and the British. The popular culture, however, flourished at all times and since the time of Shankaracharya the place has retained its values and sanctity.

Tourist Destinations of Uttarakhand

The fascinating terrain, peaks, glaciers, lakes, sanctuaries and holy centre makes Uttarakhand a favorite hunt for tourists. There are quite many places that guarantee the best of the vacations at Uttarakhand. The places are famous for their unique beauty, opportunities they provide and much revered places for Hindus. Tourist usually reach here seeking a summer resort to get rid of the extreme temperature in north, adventure sports and for pilgrimage. The famous destinations include Dehra Dun, Nainital, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mussorie, Kausani, Tehri and Auli.

Pilgrimage in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is one of the major pilgrimage centres and much revered place for the Hindus. Both Garhwal and Kumaon zone feature a number of important sites. However, the four sites at Garhwal - Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath, are primary places of visit; two other being Hemkund Sahib and Joshimath. In Kumaon zone the sacred places include Baijhnath, Bageshwar, Jageshwar, Punyagiri and Ritha Sahib.

Adventure in Uttarakhand

The low lying southern tracts of the Himalayas and the towering northern peaks puts Uttarakhand on the adventure destinations map in the Indian sub continent. As if this were not enough, the rushing waters and gentle slopes open a hundred doors for various outdoor sports activities. White water rafting, Skiing, Paragliding and trekking are some of the popular events conducted in the state. There are multiple destinations, each with a scope and thrill of its own.

Wildlife in Uttarakhand

The lower Himalayan tracts in Uttarakhand see lush vegetation and forest growth. The foothills of Uttarakhand support great many species of wild animals. The dense out growing forests provide a perfect cover for the wild species, most importantly to the tigers. The lush vegetation also supports a number of game species for the tiger. The swamps and water holes further make up the habitat for a number of amphibious species. Corbett National Park, one of the famous wildlife reserves also fall in the region. Other important wildlife sanctuaries are Valley of Flowers , Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajaji National Park and Nanda Devi National Park.

Yoga and Meditation in Uttarakhand

The unique geographical features of Uttarakhand contribute to the good will of the state in more than one way. The natural ambience, isolation and un-interrupted solitude pours new life and lifts up the spirits. For centuries now, ordinary people as well the scholars have taken advantage and made incredible personal benefits. Rishikesh, one such place has developed into a popular yoga and meditation centre. The Himalayas are believed to effect in more ways than can be explained.

How to Reach Uttarakhand

Buses, trains, air flights provide the means of access to the state from long distances. For commutation buses, taxis and auto rickshaws serve the purpose. The popular modes are as follows:

Air: Two airports deliver their services at Uttarakhand, namely Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun and Patnagar Airport. These airports are connected with limited flights from the national capital New Delhi.

Rail: Northern Railways of the Indian Railways Division, connects the towns of the state with the rest of the country. Some major rail heads include Dehradun, Haridwar, Kathgodam and Roorkee.

Road: Dehradun and Nainital are two main entry points in the state. Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, regularly sees buses arriving from Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Nainital, likewise, is connected by bus services from many neighbouring states and cities.

Bus Travel in India

One of the fast developing nations, India is criss-crossed by thousands kilometers of roads include National Highways, State Highways and town roads. The vast network of road in turn makes an excellent base for plying of buses. In fact, buses in India provide easy connectivity to small towns as well as big cities.

Buses are the most convenient mode of transport in India. From small villages to big cities, bus services are offered in almost every part of the country. Today, one can see various types of buses plying on the roads such as Deluxe, Luxury, Air-Conditioned, Volvo and passenger buses.

A Low Floor Bus Run By DTC, Delhi

You may chose from luxury to local buses, depending on your budget and requirements. In almost all states of India State Road Transport Corporations offer bus services to common public that connects the cities of the state and also the cities and towns of neighbouring states. Besides the government operators, several private operators also provide buses for travelling across India.

Usually the state transport corporation have one or more bus stands in cities or towns depending on the size of population. For catching the buses you have to reach the nearby bus stands or terminals. From the bus stands you can board either public transport or private bus for your desired destination by paying reasonable fare. All the state transport bus terminals have enquiry offices and ticket counters as well. You can gather important information related to your journey from the officials.

A Bus on Mumbai - Pune Expressway

For tourists, special tourist buses are offered by the private operators as well as government transport departments. If you are looking for group tour, buses are also offered by the private and government operators. You can book buses from one day to one week according to your requirement from the concerned offices. Nowadays, many bus operators offer online booking facility in advance. Some of the noted websites offering bus bookings in India are Ticketwala, RedBus.in, MakeMyTrip, Yatra, etc.

In India bus services are available in varied options such as express buses, luxury buses, super deluxe, video coach, air-conditioned volvo coaches, airport shuttle buses, local buses etc. All types of buses run in all parts of India, but their fares differ according to comfort.

Some of the important bus services operational in India are mentioned below.

Intercity Bus Services in India – Intercity buses run within the cities covering all the important places. Such services are available in national capital New Delhi and other cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.

A Volvo Bus infront of a hotel at Lonavala

Interstate Bus Services in India – Interstate bus services are available from almost all major cities of states in India. Interstate buses run from one state to other neighbouring states. Such bus services are available to and from Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and other important cities of the country. Public road transport services and private transportation offer luxury, deluxe or other types of buses on interstate routes.

Intrastate Bus Services in India – These buses run within the important places of the state. Intrastate bus services are available in almost all states of India. Some example of intrastate bus services are buses running between Jaipur and Ajmer, Hyderabad and Warangal, Bangalore and Mangalore, Mumbai and Aurangabad.

Airport shuttle bus services in India – The bus service connect different airports in India to important locations in the vicinity. For example Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport to Dwarka Domestic airport or any other place in Delhi. Recently DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) has introduced airport buses on 534 route between IGI Airport and Anand Vihar, on 729 route between IGI Airport and Old Delhi Railway Station.

Tour buses in India: These buses are meant for tourists to show them places.

Coach buses in India: Coach Buses are used for long term trips across cities etc.

Public transit buses in India: The Public Transit bus is the most common form of buses found on Indian roads. They are just another form of commuting like the taxi and subway used by civilians to travel from office to home etc.

Famous Buses in India

Star Bus, Globus, Marcopolo, Viking BS-I - city bus, Viking BS-II - city bus and Cheetah BS-I

List of Bus manufacturing companies in India

- Kerala State Road Transport Corporation

- Mahindra Navistar

- Ashok Leyland

- Tata Motors

- Coach Line Industries

- Aglow Engineers Private Limited

- Delite Technologies

- Gujarat Corporation

- Bhutani international

- Volvo Buses

- Swaraj Enterprise

- Eicher Motors

- Force Motors

Train Travel In India

Indian Railways - The pride of India

Bestowed with world’s second largest rail network, India is easily accessible by various types of trains such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Mail, Express, Super Fact and passenger trains. In fact, Train travel is the most convenient and economic mode of transports in India. Even long distances such as Delhi to Mumbai can be covered with ease through trains by using sleeper class berth and you will not get tired. Besides, train travel is safe and cheap as you have to pay a reasonable fare.

Barog Railway Station on Kalka - Shimla Route

One can see and experience India at its best through train travel. Maintained and run by Indian Railways the trains in India connect almost all the state capitals and other important cities and towns of the country. The rail network in Indian spreads over 63,000 kms and there are around 6, 800 stations. India’s rail network spreads from Jammu & Kashmir in north to Kanyakumari in the south, Assam in the north-east to Rajasthan in the west. Interestingly, the rail network of India extends from plains to hill stations such as Shimla, Darjeeling and Ooty.

Fact is that, for travelers to India the trip would be complete without the experience of travelling on the trains run by Indian Railways.

Types of trains running in India

General Trains of India - For travelling across India, Indian Railways have a variety of trains including fast, superfast, express and local trains. Passengers choose the trains according to their requirements and budget. Shatabdi and Rajadhani are two high-class trains, running at a speed over 100 km per hour, having all Air-conditioned coaches. Besides, there are hundreds of superfast and express trains running across the country. For short distance the Indian Railways run local passenger trains.

Exterior of New Delhi Railway Station

Luxurious Trains of India - Indian Railways run these trains keeping in mind the tourism point of view. Most of the luxury trains offers five star facilities to passengers on board. Running for a duration of two days to one week, these trains take you on a once upon a lifetime journey. You find a fine chance to explore the picturesque terrain along with enjoying royal hospitality. Palace of Wheels, Deccan Odyssey, Heritage on Wheels and Fairy Queen are some of the popular luxurious trains in India.

Shimla Railway Station, Shimla

Mountain Railways of India - Mountain Railways is a special attraction of Indian Railway and also the most convenient way to visit the hill stations of India. Developed by the British government about 100 years back, during their rule over India, Mountain Railways now served as the main mode of transport to hilly areas. Travelling on mountain rail is a thrilling experience, as you get a wonderful chance to see the beautiful green countryside and other amazing wonders of nature. In fact, three of the Mountain Railways namely Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Kalka – Shimla Railway have been declared World heritage properties by UNESCO.

Accommodation Classes in Indian Trains or Classes of Travel in Trains of India

The Kalka - Shimla Route

Usually there are six classes of accommodation found in Indian train, but some other classes such as AC Executive class may be found in important trains like Shatabdi Express. Below are the important classes, found in trains of India

Newly Constructed Double Decked Boggy

Air-Conditioned First Class (AC1) in trains of India – AC1 class is the most comfortable and luxurious way to travel in Indian Railways. However, AC1 class is found only in the important trains including all Rajadhanis. First class coaches are spacious and carpeted having 4-berth and 2-berth compartments, with washbasin. During the daytime berths can be converted into seats. Passengers are provided all necessary bedding materials such as bedsheet, blanket, pillow and towel.

Air-Conditioned Second Class (AC2) in trains of India – Second Class AC are not divided into separate compartment like First Class, but are also very comfortable to travel. The coaches are open-plan with berths arranged in bays of four on one side and in bays of two on another side. For privacy each bay is curtained and like First AC bedding is provided to passengers.

Air-Conditioned Three Tier (AC3) in trains of India – Three Tier AC is almost similar to Second Class AC, but it has three tiers of bunks – arranged in bays of six on one side and bays to two on other side. AC3 coaches are more crowded than Second Class AC and also lack the private curtains. Bedding materials such as pillows, sheets and blankets are provided to passengers. AC3 is a good option for families who are looking for long distance travel in comfort.

AC Chair Class in trains of India – AC Chair class is a fine choice for day time short-distance travel. The classes are found mainly in ‘intercity’ daytime trains consist of comfortable air-conditioned seating cars. Such classes are available in Shatabdi trains running from Delhi to Ajmer, Chandigarh or intercity trains.

Sleeper Class in trains of India – Sleeper class is used by the most of the Indian people and found on all long distance trains except Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express. The coaches of Sleeper class comprise of open plan berths with upper, middle and lower bunks. The windows are fitted with bars and also have a glass pane and a shutter which can be raised and lowered.

Unreserved Second Class in trains of India – These coaches have wooden or padded plastic seating seats suitable for only short journey. Unreserved second class is not recommended for long distance journeys especially overnight journeys.

Train Fares for trains of India

Train Fares for sleeper class ranges from few hundreds to thousands, depending on the class and routes. However, for unreserved second class journey you have to pay very nominal fare. For more information about the train fares visit the official website of Indian Railways.

How to reserve train tickets in India

For any long-distance and short distance journey, in Sleeper class or Air-Conditioned Class, it is necessary to reserve a seat or berth. You can travel by buying an ordinary ticket in these classes. Booking for reservation open 90 days in advance, although the duration may be less in some short-distance inter-city trains.

In Indian reservations are completely computerized and reservation facility is available in all the important stations of the country. Due to huge rush most of the express trains get booked weeks ahead before the departure. So, you should make reservations well in advance, for hassle free journey. Various types of quotas, such as tourist quota are also available in Indian trains.

Tourist Quota in trains of India

Several important India trains have a special quota of berths for foreign tourists and IndRail passholders. A few ‘tourist quota’ berths remain available within a day or two of departure, so foreign travellers can book at short notice. But, you may have to wait couple of days for getting the berth for your desired destination. For tourist quote berth you have to pay in US Dollars, Pounds, or Indian rupees backed by an exchange certificate.

The railway stations in major cities of India and tourist centres in cities like New Delhi, Bombay, Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and Varanasi have an International Tourist Bureau, where Foreign travellers can book tickets. There is also a round the clock rail booking office at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. For more information on tourist quota reservation visit the official site of Indian Railways.

How to book tickets - from outside India

Most of the important trains of India get fully-booked weeks in advance, so it better to book tickets before you arrival to India. You can book train tickets online at www.irctc.co.in , which is the official government-sponsored sales website for Indian Railways.

Due to crowding of visitors, the website may respond slowly, so keep patience and follow the information given on the site. You can buy a maximum of 10 tickets in a month from this website for travelling across India. Your ticket will not be sent to your desired destination outside India or you can pick it up at the station. Only 'e-ticket' and 'i-ticket' options are available to get the ticket from the website. You have make payment through credit card such as Visa, MasterCard or Amex.

Some Important Tips for train journey in India

- Always check your coach and berth number printed on your ticket. The reservation ticket also carries the details like age, sex, origin station name and travel destination as well.

- Before boarding the train ensure your coach number and occupy the seat mentioned in the ticket. For more conformation you may consult the concerned office in the railway station or the Ticket Collector or Conductor travelling alongwith the train.

- All the long distance trains have a pantry car offering breakfast, lunch and dinner to passengers at nominal charges. Prefer the food of pantry car and avoid outside food as they may be of bad quality.

- There are fair chances of stealing in Indian trains, so take care of your belongings.

- Don't become much friendly with other fellow passengers, because some of them may bribe you or cause other types of harm.

The website of Indian Railways: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/

The website of Indian Railways Enquiry: http://www.indianrail.gov.in/

The website of IRCTC: http://www.irctc.co.in/

Delightful destinations of North India

Uttarakhand – The Land of Mountains

For all who seek calm and tranquility with a tinge of wilderness and adventure, choose from amazing holidays in Uttaranchal. Explore Corbett National Park, home to tigers or visit the quaint 'hill stations' of Kumaon that offer respite from a chaotic urban lifestyle. And don’t miss Nainital – the land of lakes and lush green mountains. Get set to delight your senses…

Himachal Pradesh – The lans of the gods

Himachal Pradesh or called Himachal in short is one of the most beautiful regions of India. This ‘Dev Bhumi’ or the land of the gods encompasses extremes, from the dry, high-altitude deserts of Lahaul-Spiti to the verdant greens of Shimla and around. Expect apple orchards, pine and deodar forests, gentle terrace farms and the brilliant vista of the snow capped mountains all around.

Kashmir – The Paradise on Earth

Wild flowers enveloped by an achingly blue sky and the never ending vista of mountains all around. Undulating valleys, gentle rivers and greenery that dazzles your eyes. Kashmir is all this and much more – rightfully, heaven on earth – it cannot be defined, only experienced.

Rajasthan – The Desert land of India

Rajasthan is a fairy tale world steeped in myths and legends, of sepia deserts and shimmering lakes, old havelis, impregnable forts and opulent palaces. From intricately carved Jain temples to the overwhelming Taj Mahal, experience India’s best with much on offer.

States & Union Territories (UT) of India

Names of States - Capital City

1. Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

2. Arunachal Pradesh - Itanagar

3. Assam - Dispur

4. Bihar - Patna

5. Chhattisgarh - Raipur

6. Goa - Panaji

7. Gujarat - Gandhinagar

8. Haryana - Chandigarh (shared)

9. Himachal Pradesh - Shimla

10. Jammu and Kashmir - Srinagar (summer), Jammu (winter)

11. Jharkhand - Ranchi

12. Karnataka - Bengaluru

13. Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

14. Madhya Pradesh - Bhopal

15. Maharashtra - Mumbai

16. Manipur - Imphal

17. Meghalaya - Shillong

18. Mizoram - Mizo Aizawl

19. Nagaland - Kohima

20 Orissa - Bhubaneswar

21. Punjab - Chandigarh (shared)

22. Rajasthan - Jaipur

23. Sikkim - Gangtok

24. Tamil Nadu - Chennai

25. Tripura - Agartala

26. Uttar Pradesh - Lucknow

27. Uttarakhand - Dehradun (interim)

28. West Bengal - Kolkata

Union Territories of India

Names of UT - Capital City

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Port Blair


2. Chandigarh - Chandigarh

3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli - Silvassa

4. Daman and Diu - Daman

5. Lakshadweep - Kavaratti

6. National Capital Territory - New Delhi

7. Puducherry - Puducherry