The Gomati District with its headquarter at Udaipur was created in the year 2012. Udaipur is popularly known as the city of lakes and was the capital of Tripura till 1760 A.D. The city is famous for its Mata Tripura Sundari Temple which is situated about 3 km away from Udaipur at Matabari. The temple is one of the 51 Mahapithasthans of India. The Gomati figures prominently in Tripura’s indigenous folklore, culture, religious rites and ritual so much so that tribal people perform posthumous rites dedicated to their departed near and dear ones on the bank of the river Gomati in the conviction that ablution with the consecrated water of the sacred river will pave the way for ascendance to heaven of their departed dear ones. As part of the administrative reorganisation effected in October last year the Gomati district comprising Udaipur, Amarpur and newly created Karbook subdivisions was created as a truncated version of the erstwhile South Tripura district.Topographically,the Gomati district is marked by lush green and fertile Gomati valleys and the towering Debtamura hill range which straddles Udaipur and Amarpur subdivisions of the district with its exquisite sculptural works carved on panels of the hills.

The Gomati River in Udaipur, Tripura, Northeast India, India, Asia. Robert Harding Picture Library provides travel, nature, wildlife & environmental photos. © Michael Runkel

The Gomati River in Udaipur, Tripura, Northeast India, India, Asia. Robert Harding Picture Library provides travel, nature, wildlife & environmental photos. © Michael Runkel

Udaipur is famous for its many temples and ancient heritage
August 20, 2017

Udaipur, Tripura’s historic capital, is situated on the banks of the Gomati river. About 53km from Agartala, this small town can be easily accessed via road from the capital city.

Referred to as the ‘Lake City’, the town serves as the headquarters of the Gomati District. Udaipur was the capital of the Manikya kings, till Maharaja Krishna Chandra Manikya Bahadur moved the capital to Agartala.

Formerly known as Rangamati, Udaipur is dotted with many beautiful lakes and ancient temples. The Tripura Sundari Temple is the holiest shrine for the people of this state, while some of the popular lakes, which are frequented by tourists, include Kalyan Sagar, Mahadeb Dighi, Jagannath Dighi, Amar Sagar and Dhani Sagar.

Aurangabad laid low through most of the tumultuous history of medieval India and only hit the spotlight when the last Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, made the city his capital from 1653 to 1707. With the emperor’s death came the city’s rapid decline, but the brief period of glory saw the building of some fascinating monuments, including Bibi-qa-Maqbara, a Taj Mahal replica, and these continue to draw a steady trickle of visitors. Alongside other historic relics, such as a group of ancient Buddhist caves, these Mughal relics make Aurangabad a good choice for a weekend excursion from Mumbai. But the real reason for traipsing here is because the town is an excellent base for exploring the World Heritage Sites of Ellora and Ajanta.
One of the most fascinating archaeological sites in Maharashtra, Ellora dates back to the Rashtrakuta dynasty, about 1,500 years ago, and is the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture. The 34 caves are actually structures excavated out of the vertical face of the hills of Charanandriand you will find here evidence of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain ‘viharas’ and ‘mathas’ which tell the story of how social and economic order was often represented through religion. The caves of Ellora are located 31 kilometers from Aurangabad. The closest government guesthouse near Ellora is in Khuladabad on the way from Aurangabad.

Mumbai is in all ways a mega-city driven by power, wealth, glamour and fame which attracts people to give shape to their dreams and aspirations. But it is also a city with strong historical links, wonderful British architecture, museums, beaches, places of worship, and above all, a true galaxy of stars where Bollywood reigns supreme.
It is said that every train that comes to Mumbai brings on it hundreds of people from across India who are not only drawn to ‘experience’ the city’s mesmerising attractions but would also like to make it their home. A city of diverse cultures and a melting pot of commerce, industry, entertainment, enterprise, and politics, Mumbai’s trysts with wealth and fame have, however, been recent. It wasn’t a cosmopolitan finance centre to begin with. Its history has witnessed several shifts in power, and the seven islands changed hands frequently.

Mumbai undeniably is the business capital of India and one of the major port cities in the country. Mumbai has a diverse nature and multi-cultural lifestyle. On one hand, this city is the hometown of Bollywood, and on the other, this city has India's largest slum population. With the huge inflow of migrants, this city welcomes all with open arms. The city developed its identity from these communities that are settled in here. The culture here is a fine amalgamation of festivities, religions, music, food, music and theatres. Mumbai is said to have most active nightlife in comparison to other cities.

This city celebrates the festivals of every religion with grandeur and fervour. The popular festivals celebrated in Mumbai are Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas, Navratri, Good Friday, Dussehra, Moharram, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja and Maha Shivratri. Fairs and fests add on to the glitter of the city; Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is an exhibition that displays works of various renowned artists in the fields of music, dance, theatre, and films. Also, Bandra fair is an annual fair that begins on the next Sunday after September 8 each year. This festival commemorates the nativity of Mother Mary on September 8. This city has a lot to offer in terms of attractions, for those who want to explore this vividly colourful place.

Pune is in Maharashtra, India. It is second largest city in the state and is considered the state's cultural capital. The city contains the headquarters of an administrative division officially known as the Pune division. The large student population in the city makes for a lively nightlife and vibrant atmosphere. Pune also houses fantastic restaurants, good museums and is well known for its surrounding hill forts which offer panoramic bird's-eye views. 
The city of Pune, located about 170 km from Mumbai, is the second largest city of the State of Maharashtra and is regarded as the cultural capital of the state. The city has witnessed some important historical events like the Anglo-Maratha War, Battle of Khadki etc., and was home to some great people like Shivaji and Tilak. Residing in a realm of picturesque milieus, it also offers a fantastic view of vibrant nature. It has often been called the "Queen of the Deccan" and provides an entryway to the famous hill stations of Maharashtra. It was a land of many historical dynasties, which left their imprints in the form of tombs and monuments that stand as architectural wonders even today.
Pune is also recognized for its educational institutions and has been considered "The Oxford of the East". Now, this city is in a fast-pace growth phase, turning into one of the major IT hubs. Many MNCs and big automobile units have burgeoned throughout the city within a short span of time. Moreover, Pune is among the top most expensive cities in India.

Nagpur city is the winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, with a population of 46,53,570. It has also recently been ranked as the cleanest city and the second greenest city of India.In addition to being the seat of annual winter session of Maharashtra state assembly “Vidhan Sabha”, Nagpur is also a major commercial and political center of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. ”
Nagpur is also famous throughout the country as “Orange City” for being a major trade center of oranges that are cultivated in the region. Nagpur city was established by prince of Gond tribe “Bhakt Buland” in first half of 18th century. Nagpur lies precisely at the center of the country with the “Zero Mile Marker” indicating the geographical center of India. It has 14 Talukas and 12 Assembly Segment Constituencies.

Lonavla and the adjacent Khandala are twin hill stations 622 metres (2,041 ft) above sea level, in the Sahyadri ranges that demarcate the Deccan Plateau and the Konkan coast. The hill stations sprawl over an approximate area of 38 square kilometres (15 sq mi). Tourism peaks during the monsoon season. The name Lonavla is derived from the Sanskrit lonavli, which refers to the many caves like Karla Caves, Bhaja Caves and Bedsa that are close to Lonavla. A trip to Lonavla and Khandala can be combined with sight-seeing visits of Karla, Bhaja and Bedsa caves and also the two fortresses, Lohagad and Visapur.
Lonavala and Khandala have magnificent waterfalls that give a heart catching view during monsoon. Tourists can plan their trip together with Karla, Bhaja, and Bedsa caves, which are very near from Lonavala. This hill station is also known as the 'Jewel of Sahydri', because of its nature's gifted of beautiful valleys, hills, milky waterfalls, lush greenery, and pleasant cool winds.
Khandala is smaller than Lonavala and relatively calmer. It is known to be the pride of the Sahyadri Mountains. Beautiful waterfall amidst green environment is really splendid to see. The place refreshes the exhausted tourists. Tugauli, Lonavala, Bhushi and Valvan Lake are the important lakes of this hill station. Nearest airport is situated at Pune (64 km). Lonavala and Khandala are 104 km from Mumbai and 64 km from Pune on the Mumbai-Pune highway.

Shirdi is a holy place where the revered saint Sai Baba lived and performed numerous miracles. The very name Shirdi symbolizes the power of faith in the almighty that resides in the hearts of human beings. The town of Shiridi is located in Rahata Tahasil in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra. The town also houses a temple dedicated to Sai Baba. The temple has a beautiful idol and the samadhi of Sai Baba, which is visited by devotees in great numbers. The temple was built by Shreemant Gopalrao who had unwavering faith in Sai Baba. Shiridi is an important pilgrimage center of the Hindus and is visited by tourists from across the world.

Located in front of the samadhi of Sai Baba are the two silver pillars, which are beautifully decorated with amazing designs. The life-sized idol of Sai Baba is carved out of Italian marble, which was enshrined inside the temple in 1954. There is an assembly hall in front of the temple that houses numerous articles, which were once used by Sai Baba. The beautiful pictures hung on the walls of the first floor of the temple depict the life of Baba.
The best time of the year to visit Shirdi is January through March. April to June is summer, followed by the monsoon. Pilgrim arrival peaks between September and November when many Hindu festivals occur. Baba's death anniversary is commemorated in the month of October, the exact date depending on the Hindu calendar. Some of the most important festivals in Shirdi are Dussera, Guru Poornima and Baba's death anniversary. During this time lakhs of devotees come to Shirdi.