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Shri Vinod Narain Garg takes you on a journey through alluring touristic delights of the South Eastern Railway network.
Straddling the seven states of West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, South Eastern Railway (SER) takes you to the esoteric world of hoary traditions and fascinating cultures, kept alive in carved stones, ruins of ancient cities, temples and forts. Landscapes with majestic mountain ranges, verdant forests, picturesque vistas and bewitching beaches in the region served by it are the ultimate delights to a tourist and ideal getaways.
 For the tourist who has a penchant for beaches, the region offers a series of breathtakingly beautiful seashores along the coastline. Digha - the only beach resort of West Bengal - is easily accessible by road from either Kharaghpur or Contai-Road stations. The sprawling Golden Beach at Puri is a delightful hideaway for quiet relaxation. SER runs an excellent hotel close to the blue waters of the sea. With its old-world hospitality, the hotel is an ideal place for solitude seekers. Gopalpur-on-sea in Orissa is a lovely beach 13 kms away from Berhampur railhead. Chandipur, 10 kms from Balasore railway station, is another beach resort, which is easily accessible from Kolkata. Ramakrishna beach and Rishikonda beaches in Visakhapatnam are two enchanting beaches easily approachable from the busy Visakhapatnam terminus. If some are drawn to beaches, others would like to scale greater heights. The hilly terrains of Ranchi, Amarkantak and Anantgiri hills near Araku offer a pleasant sojourn on serpentine hill tracks. While travelling on these hilly tracks the holiday begins before one reaches the destination. Netarhat, 144 kms from Ranchi, is the Queen of Chotanagpur hills. In the midst of thick forests, barren rocks and gurgling waterfalls, it is easy to bond with nature. Tourists can get modest accommodation at the Palamau Dak Bungalow and also visit places like Magnolia Point, for a panoramic view of the misty hills. Amarkantak, an unspoilt hill resort, 3,600 feet above sea level from where the holy Narmada and Sone originate, is easily accessible from Bilaspur or Pendra Road railway stations of Madhya Pradesh.
 Lost in the heart of the woolly forestlands of the Eastern Ghats, Araku valley used to be one very closely guarded secret amongst travellers. The swarming hordes still haven’t reached here to mess its natural beauty. An equable climate, gushing rivulets, stunning waterfalls and boundless swathes of fields dotted with villages, make the entire valley a peaceful paradise. Soaked in the culture of its ancient tribes, the place is protected by the locals, who live here in the same manner for centuries now. The Dhimsa and Mayuri dances, a celebration of life, are at their colourful best during the hunting festival of Itika Panduga in April. Deep in the earth’s crust, hidden amongst the Anantgiri hills are the famous Borra caves where halogen lamps light up the surreal underworld of stalactites and stalagmite formations created over millennia by the flow of the river Gosthani through these limestone hills. The remote Araku valley, the Borra caves, and the eco-tourism camp at Tyda make an interesting excursion from Vizag. Their lush environs peppered with coffee plantations, waterfalls and orchards are a paradise of tranquility. The railway tunnels, which pop up amidst the lush verdure, are a reminder that this is the Indian Railways’ highest broad gauge railway line. Further up, if one travels upto Jagdalpur, the tourists can get a glimpse of the majestic Chitrakoot Falls, which are comparable to the famed Niagara Falls. Located in the centre of the country is Pachmarhi - a pretty hill station close to Chhindwara on the narrow gauge system of Satpura region of Madhya Pradesh. Tensa Hill, little known picnic spot of Orissa located 110 km from Rourkela, is also considered as a mini hill station located close to iron ore mining site of the Rourkela Steel Plant, which can be approached by train up to Barsua station, a few miles drive from Tensa. The view from the lookout point with its rolling hills and dense forests for as far as the eye can see, has fascinated many a visitor, and remains a lifelong memory.
 For those looking for a bit of adventure, this region offers an array of national parks and sanctuaries where one can watch rare white tigers, migratory birds and magnificent leopards.
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