Top 15 Most Beautiful Royal Palaces in INDIA

Top 15 Most Beautiful Royal Palaces in INDIA

India is home to number of beautiful grand Palaces located throughout the country and built by emperors who ruled the region. These Forts and Palaces are the Marvel Architecture of engineering and the historical monuments of India. Most of the palaces are situated in Royal Rajasthan but other notable places are Jahaz Mahal and Red fort Delhi, Leh Palace,Bangalore Palace,Moti Bagh Palace of Patiala,Cooch Behar Palace and Kareng Ghar of Assam. Here is the list of some popular palaces across the country that will surely excite you to visit.


Amar Mahal Palace - JAMMU AND KASHMIR

The beautiful Amar Mahal Palace is situated in Jammu, now been converted into a Museum. Amar Mahal Palace is situated on the bank of river Tawi and offers a grand view of majestic Sivalik Hills. The palace was built a Dogra king and last official residence of the Dogra Rajas,Suryavanshi Rajputs. 


Amba Vilas Palace - KARNATKA

Amba Vilas Palace is known as The Palace of Mysore is situated in the city of Mysore,Karnataka. Mysore Palace is built by Wodeyar kings in the 14th century. After the Taj Mahal, The Palace of Mysore second most famous tourist attractions in India. Amba Vilas Palace is the venue of world famous Mysore Dasara festival with a parade elephants and other events at the palace grounds.


Kangla Palace - MANIPUR

The Kangla Palace is built by Meitei rulers of Manipur at Kangla on the the western bank of the river Imphal. The Palace of Kangla is situated at the center of the Imphal city and a holy place for religious worship and ceremonies.

Umaid Bhawan Palace - RAJASTHAN

The spectacular Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the largest residences place in the world. Umaid Bhawan Palace is situated Chittar Hill in the Jodhpur city of Rajasthan and a residences of Jodhpur royal family. The Chittar Palace is currently served as the residence of the royal family,a luxury Taj Palace Hotel and a Museum. 


Lakshmi Vilas Palace - GUJARAT

The Laxmi Vilas Palace is located in Vadodara and with series of palaces it is also known as the Maharaja Palace. Laxmi Vilas Palace is built by Gaekwad in in old classical style. The Maharaja Palace is used as a Museum, a venue of music concerts and other cultural events.


Marble Palace - WEST BENGAL

The Marble Palace is a Mansion and and most elegant houses located at Muktaram Babu Street of North Kolkata. Marble Palace is well known for its marble walls and floors built by Raja Rajendra Mullick. The house contains large sculpture, paintings and other valuable pieces along with a Marble Palace Zoo located next to the palace. West Bengal also have another famous palace called Cooch Behar Palace or the royal palace of cooch behar on the model of Buckingham Palace.


Presidential Palace - DELHI

The Rashtrapati Bhavan is huge mansion built on a floor area of 200,000 square feet in Delhi. Area of Rashtrapati Bhavan contains Rajpath,a huge square Vijay Chowk start from house and end at the at India Gate. Rashtrapati Bhavan also has Gardens situated at back known as the Mughal Gardens with vast variety of flowers.


Jahangir Palace - UTTAR PRADESH 

The Jahangiri Mahal is situated inside the great Agra Fort,located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Jahangir Palace is one of the noteworthy structure inside the Agra Fort others are The Khas Mahal,Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-e-Khas,Anguri Bagh and Moti Masjid.

ChowMahalla Palace - ANDHRA PRADESH

The Royal Chowmahalla Palace is belongs to the Nizams of Hyderabad, located at the center of Hyderabad. Magnificent Chowmahalla Palace is renowned for its unique style and elegance design situated just next to the famous Charminar.

Ujjayanta Palace - TRIPURA

The palace of Tripura is a royal Palace situated in the capital of Tripura, in Agartala. Palace of Ujjayanta was built by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya and currently served as state legislative assembly. Ujjayanta Palace is one of the major attractions of Agartala along with State Museum, Tribal Museum and Laxminarayan Temple.

ThiruMalai Nayakkar Palace - TAMIL NADU

The Thirumalai Nayak Palace is built by King Thirumalai Nayak in the city of Madurai,Tamil Nadu. Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal is one of the most beauitful Palace and considered to be one of the wonders of the South India. Thirumalai Palace is situated near to the famous the Meenakshi Amman Temple.

Aga Khan Palace - MAHARASTRA

The Aga Khan Palace was built by Shah Aga Khan III in 1892 near the Bund Garden in Pune. Aga Khan Palace is one of the majestic landmark of the city and one of the greatest marvels building of India.

Jai Vilas Palace - MADHYA PRADESH

The Jai Vilas Palace is one of the grandiose, huge and beautiful palace of India,built by Maharaja Jayaji Rao Scindia. Jai Vilas Mahal is situated in city of Gwalior and now the the residence of the royal Maratha family The Scindias.

Bolgatty Palace - KERALA

The famous Bolghatty Palace is situated in the beautiful scenic island known as Bolgatty island in Kochi, Kerala. Bolgatty Palace was a mansion built by Dutch and now its a heritage hotel resort managed by the KTDC. The Bolgatty Palace has a golf course,swimming pool,ayurvedic and Kathakali center and a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Anand Bagh Palace- BIHAR

The Anand Bagh Palace or Lakshmivilas Palace is situated in Darbhanga town of Bihar state. Anand Bagh Palace was built by Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh know for its gardens with several rare species of plants such as Rudraksha, orchids and Sandalwood.

***** PALESTINE *****

10 Highlights of Palestine

As Bradt brings out its first guide to Palestine, its author, Sarah Irving, recommends her top 10 things to see and do in the West Bank, from ancient palaces to new community tourism projects - and the world's most unlikely Oktoberfest

 Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem.

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For most people, the words Palestine or West Bank won't shout holiday destination. But set aside stereotypes: Foreign Office bars on travelling in the West Bank were lifted several years ago, and visitors to Palestine will be met with a warm and enthusiastic welcome. This tiny area packs in more historical, religious and cultural heritage than perhaps anywhere else in the world, and its small size means it's completely feasible to visit a good proportion of its sights in a fairly short trip. Several new community tourism and hiking or biking holiday operators also make experiencing Palestine's stunning scenery and great food increasingly easy.

The vast majority of travellers to Palestine visit over Christmas, when Bethlehem sees thousands of visitors for Midnight Mass. Leaders of the various Christian denominations lead processions from Jerusalem, and Manger Square fills with boy scout bagpipe bands. For religious travellers Christmas and Easter will be major draws, but prices are lower and accommodation easier to find at other times of year.

Getting around the West Bank is pretty simple, on the informal but extensive shared taxi (or service taxi, pronounced "serveece") network. The longest journey you're likely to face is between the administrative capital, Ramallah (with its cosmopolitan restaurants and nightclubs and official arts centres), and the northern city of Jenin. That trip can take just an hour and a half if Israeli checkpoints en route are open. Foreign visitors are still rare enough that shared taxis are a great way to meet local people; many Palestinians speak at least some English and are very happy to practise on you – a conversation that often ends in an invitation for sweet Arabic tea or a set of helpful phone numbers.

Recent years have also seen new hotels, guesthouses, hostels and home-stay programmes opening across the West Bank. This makes it easier to stay in Palestine without being tied to the pilgrimage hotels of Ramallah and Bethlehem, and for visitors to make a real contribution to isolated rural economies.

Granted, tourism to Palestine still faces many challenges, not least the Israeli border authorities who control all routes into the West Bank. For international travellers, crossing the checkpoints into the West Bank at Qalandia and Bethlehem is usually straightforward. Declaring your intention to visit the West Bank at Ben Gurion airport or the land crossing from Jordan will often, however, result in questioning which can last for hours. Travellers with stamps from countries such as Lebanon, Syria or Iran may well face long interrogations or a complete refusal from Israeli border controls. Gaza is another matter; the Foreign Office currently advises against all travel here, and visits require journalistic or diplomatic accreditation to go via Israel.

Sebastia

 Ruins at Sebastia, Palestine.

The impressive Hellenic watchtowers, ruined Samaritan palaces and crumbling Byzantine churches of Sebastia are a fairly well-known destination for whistle-stop Israeli tours. But a new community tourism project in the Palestinian village of Sebastia makes staying on in this picturesque region a delight. The elegant little Sebastia Guesthouse serves up breakfasts of fresh bread, olive oil, herbs and fruit sourced literally yards away; eat on a terrace with views over miles of olive groves or in the renovated rooms of Byzantine- and Mamluk-era homes. Young locals have been trained up as guides for hikes from the information centre to the Ottoman railway station or the ancient maqamat – Islamic shrines – that dot the surrounding hilltops. Both the information centre and guesthouse are located just on the edge of the village's main square.
• Reach Sebastia by shared taxi from Nablus. Sebastia Guesthouse (+972 9 253 2545, tinyurl.com/sebastiastay) costs from £85 for a double room

Haram ash-Sharif, Jerusalem

 Dome of the Rock interior. 

The great golden Dome of the Rock may be an internationally recognised symbol of Jerusalem, but actually getting into the "Noble Sanctuary", Islam's third holiest site, can be a bit of an enterprise. The entrance for non-Muslims is tucked away behind the security gates for the Western Wall Plaza. Get there early in the morning, and be prepared to queue, because it's worth every second of the wait. As well as the soaring gold-and-blue Dome of the Rock (Qubbat as-Sakhra) and the sombre splendour of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the sanctuary complex houses many other smaller, but equally beautiful, structures. Especially worth looking out for is the Mamluk-era Sabil (drinking fountain) of Qait Bey, with its elegant carved stone dome, one of the few of its kind outside Egypt.
• Official hours (though these are subject to change) are Sun to Thurs 7.30am–11am, 1.30pm–3pm. Usually closed for Islamic holidays, Jewish holidays, Fri/Sat (except Muslim worshippers), and whenever the Israeli authorities consider there to be a security risk. Visit early in your stay, so you can come back if it is shut

Deir Ghassaneh

 Deir Ghassaneh. 

Readers of Mourid Barghouti's I Saw Ramallah will be familiar with Deir Ghassaneh. His autobiographical account of growing up in this small village, north of Ramallah, evokes the brooding atmosphere of its old stone houses, grouped defensively around narrow passages and courtyards. Built for the most part in the 18th century, when the village was the base for one of the families who ruled over small parts of Ottoman Palestine, many of these homes still have wells for storing water, olive oil and grain to withstand sieges. Now, the local women's association offers a way into the village, running a small museum of rural bits and pieces, where they also serve splendid banquets of local food and give afternoon lessons in authentic Palestinian cookery.
• Visit via service taxi or private car from Ramallah, or contact the women's association via the Palestinian Association for Cultural Exchange (+972 2240 7611,pace.ps), traditional meals from £5-£10

Jenin's Old City

 Olive harvest, Jenin. 

Being woken at 4.30am is rarely a plus. But heard from the Cinema Jeninguesthouse in the city centre, in a cool, clear dawn, the haunting musical waves of the azan, or call to prayer, roll along Jenin's hills. It's a moment of calm beauty in this bustling town, sadly better known for the Israeli army's massive 2002 attack on the refugee camp. But in the ancient, dust-coloured Old City, staff at the Palestine Fair Trade Association's Al-Dabbeh Street offices in a stone Ottoman home explain the difference their fair trade olive oil make to the lives of thousands of farmers. Or Umm Imad, whose journalist son was shot dead by an Israeli soldier in 2002, smiles as she shows off piles of meticulous embroidery for sale in the courtyard of the Women's Cultural Society a few yards up the street. As well as making a living for local families, her society continues her son's mission to keep Palestinian culture alive.
• Reach Jenin by shared taxi (1.5 hours) from Ramallah's central bus station. Cinema Jenin Guesthouse (+972 4250 2455, cinemajenin.org) has doubles from £44

Hiking and Biking

 The Mar Saba monastery in the Judaean desert.

As  Travel reported last year, organised walking and cycling tours are an increasingly accessible way to see the Palestinian countryside and meet local families in small towns and villages such as al-Fara'a and Aqraba, which are only just beginning to open up to international visitors. Bike Palestine's itineraries span the lush hills of the northern West Bank, the eerie Judaean Desert in the south and historical cities such as Jericho and Bethlehem. The Abraham Path and Nativity Trail treks, inspired by the wanderings of the Prophet Abraham and Jesus Christ respectively, are hiking trails through the northern and central West Bank which are open to walkers of all faiths or none.
• A seven-day bike tour of the West Bank with Bike Palestine (+972 2274 8590,bikepalestine.com) costs $1,400, including meals, accommodation, guides, bike hire, transfers but excluding flights. A four-day hike along the Abraham Path with Walk Palestine (+972 2 274 8590, walkpalestine.com) costs $620, including accommodation, meals, guide and transfers, but excluding flights. For more information on the trails, see the website of the Alternative Tourism Group, Palestine (atg.ps)

Hammam ash-Shifa, Nablus

 Hammam ash-Shifa, Nablus.

After all that walking and cycling, some serious relaxation might be in order. Nablus is home to two Ottoman hammams, which offer the traditional mixture of hot steam, cold water, locally made olive oil soap and bruisingly thorough massages. The 17th-century Hamman ash-Shifa is the best known; the staff are welcoming but if going it alone seems a little intimidating, some local volunteer organisations and hotels offer organised trips which, as well as the Turkish bath experience, include tea, sweets and shisha in the bath's luxurious, cushion-lined outer room. The ash-Shifa also occasionally hosts Arabic music concerts and even book readings during the PalFest literature festival.
• Hammam Ash-Shifa (+972 9238 1176) is open 8am–midnight Mon, Wed-Sat, 5pm–midnight Tue, Sun for men, 8am-5pm Tue, Sun for women. Hammam Al-Hana (also known as Hammam al-Sammara or Samaritan Baths, +972 9238 5185) is open 6am–11pm Wed-Mon, 6am–8am, 5pm-11pm Tue for men, 8am-5pm Tue for women

Taybeh Oktoberfest

 Palestinians enjoy the beer at the Taybeh Oktoberfest.

The picturesque hilltop village of Taybeh is home to perhaps the world's most unlikely Oktoberfest. Every autumn, the Taybeh Brewery – run by a local family who learned their brewing skills in Germany – hosts a bustling festival. Oompa bands and lederhosen are thin on the ground, replaced by the likes of Toot Ard (protest ska from the Golan Heights), political hip-hop groups from the refugee camps or troupes of traditional Palestinian dabka dancers. But the beer is excellent, and if the crowds are too much the ruins of the 5th century church of St George are close by, with spectacular views across the river into Jordan.
• Reach Taybeh by bus or shared taxi from central Ramallah. For information on next year's Oktoberfest and other visits to Taybeh, see taybehbeer.com

Hisham's Palace, Jericho

 Hisham's Palace in Jericho.

The ancient, sleepy desert city of Jericho has a very different vibe from much of the rest of the West Bank. Summertime visitors will find that the residents turn semi-nocturnal to escape the heat, so at night the broad, flat roads fill up with silent cyclists. The "garden restaurants" along Ein As-Sultan Street, confined to indoor tables during the winter, spread out under the jasmine and bougainvillea for late, leisurely Arabic barbecues. Qasr Hisham – Hisham's Palace – is one of Jericho's most spectacular sights; intricate carved stonework gives an impression of the palace's glory before it was destroyed by an earthquake, and the famous Tree of Life mosaic shows off the skill of the 8th century Umayyad craftsmen. Plans for a new protective structure, to be built in 2013, mean that the palace's dramatic "carpet mosaics" may also go on permanent display, instead of having their sand coverings removed only on rare occasions.
• Qasr Hisham, (+972 2232 2522) is open 8am-5pm

Hebron's souk

 The Women in Hebron shop

Just inside the main entrance to Hebron's ancient souk is a small, cramped shop, stuffed with beautifully-embroidered materials and with chequered scarves from the West Bank's only remaining keffiyeh factory, based just up the road. This is the HQ for Women in Hebron, an indomitable little co-operative that is one of the few surviving shops in the souk. Many have closed, shut by Israeli military order to protect the settlers who have occupied parts of the city, or because the settler threat makes business unviable. But with support from the nearby Hebron Rehabilitation Committee and small groups of travellers, a few survivors from what was once the main economic centre for the southern West Bank remain. On the benches across from the shop, you can sit with a falafel sandwich (done in oily, salty, delicious Hebron style with fried potatoes and aubergine) and drink tea with some of these remarkable women.
• Women in Hebron, womeninhebron.com

Akka

 The Ottoman-era Khan el-Umdan in Akka.

The new Bradt guide also covers areas of Israel that are home to large numbers of Palestinians and where their culture survives. Not to be missed is the old city of Akka (also spelled Acre), a small port on the Mediterranean which is one of the oldest inhabited sites in the world, was the capital of a Crusader kingdom, and whose fortifications put paid to Napoleon's Middle Eastern ambitions. It's a popular day trip with tourists to Israel, but it's worth staying to explore its Arabic heart, away from the "official" tourist complex near the main gate in the city walls. The sleepy port is home to the famous Abu Christo fish restaurant, which serves the fresh catch from the adjacent port. Just yards away are several of the city's imposing khans, huge caravanserais whose rows of stone arches housed Silk Road trains for whom this was the end of the journey. They are mostly half-derelict, and visitors are free to wander round; local fashion photographers looking for scenic settings and gangs of small boys playing football blithely ignore the warning signs under the crumbling walls.
• From Jerusalem, the quickest route to Akka is by shared taxi and train via Tel Aviv, taking 2.5-3 hours if the connections are good. Abu Christo restaurant (+972 4991 0065, abu-christo.co.il) is located at the start of the sea wall by the port, mains £5.50-£13

See More On Thousand Places of ASIA:

• Palestine Geography

• Palestine Travel Guide

• Palestine History, Language & Culture

• Palestine Things to See & Do

• Palestine Accommodation

• Palestine Shopping & Nightlife

• Getting Palestine And Away

• Palestine Weather

• Palestine Food & Drinks 

• Palestine Visa

*** Best Valleys in ASIA ***

Most Beautiful Valleys In Asia

Asia, being the largest continent on the earth has numerous beautiful sceneries .Valleys are one of the most magnificent places to visit. Natural Beauty is at its peak when we visit these amazing wonders. Here is a collection of most beautiful valleys in Asia.

Phobjikha Valley
The Phobjika Valley is a vast glacial valley, also known as Gangteng Valley named after the Beautiful Gangteng Monastery of the Nyingma sect in central Bhutan.The broad valley with its best-known marshland in Bhutan, is known for its scenic splendor and cultural uniqueness.The valley has rich collection of diverse animal species including globally threatened Black-necked Cranes Grus nigricollis and 13 other globally threatened species.

Hunza Valley
The Hunza is a mountainous valley in the Gilgit–Baltistan region of Pakistan.he Hunza valley is situated to the north of the Hunza River, at an elevation of around 2,500 metres (8,200 ft). The territory of Hunza is about 7,900 square kilometres (3,100 sq mi).As much as the valley is famous for its beauty, the people of Hunza are noted for their friendliness and hospitality. The local languages spoken are Burushaski, Wakhi and Shina, many people understand Urdu.

Swat Valley
Swat is a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, located close to the Afghan-Pakistan border.The capital of Swat Valley is Saidu Sharif, but the main town in the Valley Swat is called Mingora. Its high mountains, green meadows and clear lakes make Valley Swat a popular tourist destination.The river Swat is a clear water river starting from the Ushu rage of mountains to the spread of the valley of Swat. It is on of the most green valleys of the Northern Pakistan and is well connected to the rest of Pakistan.

Naran, Kaghan Valley

Naran is a medium sized town in upper Kaghan Valley in Mansehra District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of the Pakistan. It is located 119 kilometers (74 mi) from Mansehra city at the altitude of 8,202 feet (2,500 m).Naran is one of the most scenic place in Pakistan.Kunhar River which is famous because of its trout fish flows through the valley and has towns of Balakot, Paras, Mahandari, Kaghan and Naran on its banks. The valley features pine forests, alpine meadows and crystal clear water lakes and cool mountain streams.The road to naran valley travells alongside with River Kunhar which Starts from the glaciers of Kaghan and flow deep down in mansehra.  The local languages of Naran Valley are Hindko and Gojri but every individual overthere can speak and understand urdu.