How to get there
By Air
If you're not in the USA or Canada, you begin by getting there first. It's so easy that I'll skip that bit. Once you get there, read ahead.
The region around Niagara is served by five airports (that's more than London), several highways and two railways. Niagara International Airport is the closest, with flights from most big American cities. Amtrak has a train that goes there. Most people drive down Interstate 290. Driving up from New Jersey (my base) took us about 9 hours.
Where to stay
One of the benefits of being famous is that two cities have come up besides the falls. Both are called (no surprises here) Niagara Falls, one Canadian, one American. You'll have no trouble with food or accommodation. Hotels catering to any budget abound.
For clothing carry woollens, unless you go in peak summer. Carry a raincoat - the mist soaks you. As for food, Niagara caters to every tourist's palate. Because of the large numbers of Gujarati tourists, vegetarian Indian food is no problem. You can also carry your own picnic hamper, like we did.
You may or may not shop for stuff, but you have to buy the fridge magnet. It is after all the way to show you were there. You. Were. There.
Expenses
It is the trip of your lifetime. I'm guessing you'll combine it with other American attractions, like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. A couple of lakhs of Indian rupees might suffice.
Places of Interest
Having arranged for your travel, food and stay, let's get back to talking about the falls. The Falls. The most famous plunge of water in history ever. The place you've dreamed of ever since you saw it.
In fact, there is no waterfall by the name of Niagara. Instead, the name applies together to three separate falls. The one that figures in most pictures and movies is the Horseshoe Fall. The American Fall (because, it is entirely within USA), and the seductively named Bridal Veil Fall make up the other two.
The best way to see the falls is from Canada, but that required a $100 visa. Sadly, my pockets were not that deep. You can see them instead from Prospect Point, suspended over the St. Lawrence river. It can make you feel more than a bit giddy (but luckily the fence is quite high), but it doesn't need a $100 visa. Otherwise go over to Terrapin Point on Goat Island, which takes you to the very brink of the falls. A very pretty stone bridge built in 1818 gets you there.
Next, head down to the Cave of the Winds, where you can hear the fury of nature. (Though when we went, it was blocked off due to dangerous ice). Sadly, the cave itself has disappeared due to erosion. It is some steep climbing, so you'll be forgiven if you skipped it and went to the Three Sisters Islands. Here it is said that you can hear the voices of ancient Indian spirits. I heard nothing because the tourists wouldn't keep quiet! This is also a place to see the river just before it plunges 170 feet at the Horseshoe Fall.
Other sights include the Skylon Tower (which looks like a replica of the CN Tower), the Robert Moses Power Plant and the Welland Canal. One thing we missed was the boat to the Maid of the Mist, a pool at the base of the falls which is, well, misty. They say you can see Toronto, 30 miles away, on a clear day.
You can plunge down a barrel, like many have done (beginning with 63-year old Annie Taylor who did this in 1901), though it's illegal now. You can also rope-walk across the river, thought that's illegal too.
Instead, you can linger and see the falls lit at night in several gaudy colours. You can gaze at the Rainbow bridge. Watch the gulls, the first natives of the area. You listen to the eternal roar of the falls, which apparently fell silent only once (in 1848 when the river froze completely). But there's always, always the rainbow over the mist, that entrances all who come here.
Closure Line
In spite of all that's written and will be written, the Niagara must be experienced to know it. Even today, years later, when I see the fridge magnet, it comes back to me. The roar, the spray, the mist, the rainbow... they will write themselves into your memory forever.
Source: "Gowri Ayyer, www.terrainspotter.com"
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