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Tharpa Choling Gompa
Built in 1922, this ambient Gelugpa-school Tibetan monastery contains statues of the past, present and future Buddhas. A Garuda protects each Buddha from above, his mouth devouring hatred and anger (in the form of a snake). It’s a 30-minute walk (uphill) from town, 50m past Tripai
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Than
Site of a monastery dating back to at least the 12th century). This is a laid-back place to explore the surrounding hills, and the architecture ranges from crumbling mud brick to Portuguese-style stucco, blue and whitewash bell towers, with a hint of basil and marigold in the air.
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Museum & Art Gallery
The museum and art gallery within the Uttarayan complex (Tagore’s former home) are worth a peek if you are an aficionado of Tagore. Reproductions of his sketches and paintings are sold here. The bookshop at the main gate has plenty of Tagore’s titles (₹100 to ₹250) in English.
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Jami Masjid
Champaners largest mosque, with a wonderful carved entrance porch that leads into a lovely courtyard surrounded by a pillared corridor. The prayer hall has two tall central minarets, further superb stone carving, multiple domes, and seven mihrabs (prayer niches) along the back wall
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Archaeology Museum
The refurbished Archaeology Museum is housed in the wonderful 200-year-old Sakthan Thampuran Palace. Its mix of artefacts include 12th-century Keralan bronze sculptures and giant earthenware pots, weaponry, coins and a lovely carved chessboard. To the side is a shady heritage garde
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Lakshminarayan Ladia Haveli
Further south of Mohan Lal Saraf Haveli, on the same road, is the Lakshminarayan Ladia Haveli. The western wall features a faded picture of a man enjoying a hookah, and a good procession frieze. Other pictures include that of Rama slaying Ravana (demon king of Lanka, now Sri Lanka)
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Choukhandi
Located 500m from the Badami Tombs are the serene mausoleum of Sufi saint Syed Kirmani Baba, who travelled here from Persia during the golden age of the Bahmani empire. An uncanny air of calm hangs within the monument, and its polygonal courtyard houses rows of medieval graves.
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Shahi Burj
North of the Royal Baths is the Shahi Burj, a three-storey octagonal tower, where Shah Jahan planned the running of his empire. In front of the tower is what remains of an elegant formal garden, centred on the Zafar Mahal, a sandstone pavilion surrounded by a deep, empty water tank
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Rail Museum
Behind the train station, this open-air museum’s main exhibit is the Mysore maharani’s saloon, a wood-panelled beauty dating from 1899 that provides an insight into the stylish way in which the royals once rode the railways. A toy train (₹10) rides the track around the museum.
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Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
The Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is on one of three islands in the Cauvery River. The storks, ibises, egrets, spoonbills and cormorants here are best seen in the early morning or late afternoon on a short boat ride . There’s also a maze made from herbal plants and a restaurant on s
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Tsolding Buddha Park
The name suggests something far more intricate than the reality, which is simply a small shrine in a pretty upland pond grazed by dzo (half-cow, half-yak crossbreeds) and playground to many a marmot. Its worth a brief stop if youre driving past en route to the Nubra Valley.
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Khwaja Mahmud Gawan Madrasa
Dominating the heart of the old town are the ruins of Khwaja Mahmud Gawan Madrasa, a college for advanced learning built in 1472. To get an idea of its former grandeur, check out the remnants of coloured tiles on the front gate and one of the minarets which still stands intact.
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Surya Mandir
On the ridge above Galta is the Surya Mandir, which rises 100m above Jaipur and can be seen from the eastern side of the city. A 2.5km-long walking trail climbs up to the temple from Suraj Pol, or you can walk up from the Galta side. There are hazy views over the humming city.
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Sassoon Dock
Sassoon Dock is a scene of intense and pungent activity at dawn (around 5am) when colourfully clad Koli fisher-folk sort the catch unloaded from fishing boats at the quay. The fish drying in the sun are bombil, used in the dish Bombay duck. Photography at the dock is prohibited.
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Samudrika Marine Museum
Run by the Indian Navy, this museum has a diverse range of exhibits with informative coverage of the islands’ ecosystem, tribal communities, plants, animals and marine life (including a small aquarium). Outside is a skeleton of a young blue whale washed ashore on the Nicobars.
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Katraj Snake Park & Zoo
There’s a mediocre selection of Indian wildlife on show at the Katraj Snake Park & Zoo . But a trip to this faraway park on Pune’s southern outskirts makes sense if you want to know more about snakes, of which there are plenty. Most snakes are housed in open pits; don’t lean ov
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Kailasagiri Hill
Kailasagiri hill, rising above Beach Rd in the north of town, has a cable car with panoramic views, attractive gardens, a sculpture park, playgrounds, a toy train, a gargantuan marble Shiva and Parvati and several cafes. Bus 10K runs there from the RTC Complex and Ramakrishna Beach
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Gupawala Mandir
Tucked behind a gaggle of shawl stalls in an easy-to-miss side valley, the Gupawala Mandir is a small complex of cave-tunnels with glitteringly colourful Krishna and Shiva caves. Its probably not worth seeking out as a sight in itself, but adds colour to a multi-temple day tour.
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Hindu Temples
On the west side of the lake is a group of smallish Hindu temples dedicated to Krishna and Lakshmi (white, in the street), Shiva (blue, on the left as you walk clockwise) and the sage Rishi Lomas (white, on the right), who was forced to do penance here as a dedication to Shiva.
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Lingdum Gompa
Completed as recently as 1998, peaceful Lingdum Gompa grows out of pine forests in impressive layers, with pleasant side gardens and a photogenic chorten. The extensively muralled main prayer hall enshrines huge statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Guru Rinpoche and the 16th Karmapa.
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