Travel to India

Amber Fort

The day began and we left for Jaipur. This colourful city had always allured me with its heritage collection. Unlike the small houses and messy streets, the royal palaces had been the part of my dreams. Also known as the ‘Pink City’, Jaipur is one of my dream lands that I always wanted to visit. As we entered the city, the aura made us realize as if we were in the city of kings.

Founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1728, the city still carries the charm of the golden vintage era. We had two days in hand to explore the city. So, we decided to take rest for some time in the hotel. After reaching the hotel, we ordered Rajasthani cuisine items for lunch. The food was delicious. The taste still lingers with our taste buds. After taking a short nap, we started exploring the region. Colourful markets of Jaipur were dipped in the culture and tradition. Each and every shop of these markets was speaking volume about the traditions of the land.

Till the time we were in Jaipur, we explored different regions and attractions including Amber Fort, City Palace, Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal. Each of these was amazing. No matter how hard we try to speak about the architecture, glory and grandeur of these attractions, a visit to these places will be more rewarding. We clicked numerous pictures to ensure that we would not miss any memorable moment we spent there.

Our next destination was Agra, the land of love. En-routing Agra, we visited Fatehpur Sikri. This land has the charm and the glory of the old era. Also known as the ‘Ghost Capital’, the land had served as the political capital of Mughal empire in India.

Fatehpur Sikri

A visit to Fatehpur Sikri ensured us that our remaining trip would be as interesting as we had imagined. After reaching Agra, we checked in the hotel and we must say that the tour operator did not ditch us anywhere. The hotel was meeting our expectations and the promises made by the tour operator. I and Jerry was craving, so we ordered Mughlai cuisines to taste the cuisines of the Mughal era. The dinner was tempting, we couldn’t resist ourselves to get overloaded. After a short walk, we went to the rooms and took off for the day.

With a wake up call from the Jerry, I opened up my eyes. He told me that we were already late for that day. I started my day in hurry and reached in lobby of the hotel in just 15 minutes. We had light dinner in the hotel restaurant and left to get the ultimate experience of Visiting Taj Mahal.

My wife, Jenelia had told me many times about her wish to visit that symbol of love and I always wondered that what is the special about Taj Mahal. Believe me, in pictures no one can guess the reason of its popularity. Even no one can describe Taj Mahal in the words. I and and Jerry, both were speechless while standing in front of this beautiful architecture. Built by Shahjahan in 1613, this architecture deserves a place in the Seven Wonders of the World.

We also visited Sikandara and Itmad–Ud–Daulah’s Tomb on the same day. After visiting all these places, I and Jerry were filled with royalty.

That night we did not sleep as in just few days we had collected the memories which needed to put into a series. I and Jerry always carry a memory book with us on every trip and try to collect every single shade of the experience in that book. That night was dedicated to that book.

Next morning, we left for Delhi and the journey was over but we were loaded with unforgettable memories and extraordinary ideas for the job.

Pushkar Fair

The moment we deboarded the train, the sacred aura of the city made us realize that we were in Ajmer. The place is an important destination for Hindus as well as for Muslims. The city famed for different reasons was always on my list of must visit places. Harmonious balance of people from different communities was the first reason that attracted me towards Ajmer. I must say, rich culture and sacred aura are the factors that are making Ajmer popular across the globe.

It was lunch time when we deboarded the train. From there, we drove to Pushkar, our destination.

This small town is frequently visited by the devotees from the nearby locations. It has many bathing ghats and temples but the major attraction is the grand ‘Pushkar Fair’.

The hotel was already booked by the tour operator. As we entered the room, we felt little relaxed. The room was well-decorated and was meeting the promised standards. As we were tired due to a long journey, we ordered some food in the room itself. After lunch, we had a nap.

After exploring the region for a couple of hours in evening, we were back in the hotel for the dinner. We ordered Rajasthani food. It was amazing. After having such mouthwatering Rajasthani cuisines, we decided to order only Rajasthani cuisine during our stay in the hotel. Dinner was over and the time was to enjoy the cozy bed

Next day was for Pushkar Fair, the fair that drew us to the incredible land called India. We got up early in the morning as we had only one day to collect the ideas for the job.

Pushkar Fair is one of the largest camel fairs in the world. It lasts for five days and is dedicated to camel and livestock. Different competitions organized in the fair were the attractions. The main attractions of the fair were Matka Phod, Longest Moustache and Bridal competitions. These three drew attention of many tourists. There we came to know that the visitors especially came to the town to participate as well as to enjoy these competitions from different locations across the globe. Traditionally dressed people and beautifully decorated camels made the environment colourful. The day got over and the time was to leave back to the hotel.

We were filled with the new ideas. Again we ordered the special Rajasthani food in the dinner and later we discussed highlights of the day.

Our next destination was Jaipur, the ‘Royal City’.

To be continued…

Pushkar Fair

I and Jerry work together for an event management company. We both work on incorporating new ideas and themes in our services. We have explored different regions across the globe to take out the best of the events and use the ideas, themes, trends and traditions to add a distinct flavour in the themes.

I and Jerry got a chance to visit India and that too, for experiencing the Indian tradition during Pushkar Fair. A package named Pushkar Fair Tour  with Golden Triangle was booked by our company. We just had to pack our bags and board the flight.

As it was November, we packed some woolen clothes as well. We landed at International airport in Delhi and were welcomed in a traditional way by the representative of the travel company. He helped us to check-in the hotel where rooms were already booked. The rooms were spacious and met our expectations as well as the promises of the tour organizing company. For that day, we took rest and planned to start afresh from the next morning. We had dinner in the hotel itself, the food was amazing. The taste, aroma and the presentation of food doubled our hunger and we had much more than our regular diet. After dinner, we left each other for a nap.

Our next day was dedicated to Delhi. The very first attraction we visited, was Raj Ghat. The memorial is dedicated to ‘Mahatma Gandhi’, the father of the nation. Set amidst the manicured garden, it is a platform made up of black marble that marks his cremation (on 31 January 1948). As it was Friday, we were the part of the weekly commemorative ceremony.

From there, we moved towards India Gate. It is an open architecture of 1931. Composed of granite and red and pale sandstone, it is known as ‘All India War Memorial’. The memorial is dedicated to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War I & the Afghan Wars. Walls of this memorial are inscribed with the names of those soldiers. We saluted there to the brave soldiers and moved towards President’s House.

It is a beautiful architecture of 1931. Formerly known as ‘Viceroy’s House’, it is now the official residence of the President of India. With rich history, the architecture is standing gloriously. Completed in 19 years, the architecture is amazingly beautiful and is spread over a large area. All these attractions were in the vicinity to each other.

Our next target was Humayun’s Tomb. Built in 1562, the architecture is the memorial of Mughal Emperor Humayun. Listed in the world Heritage Sites, this tomb is first of its kind Mughal architecture in India. We also visited Qutub Minar, built by Qutub–ud–din Aibek in 1206. This is not only listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites but also is the tallest brick minaret on the world.

We were tired but the charm of Delhi did not allow us to move back to our hotel. After having a fight between our heart and body, we moved towards the hotel and took rest for the day. We had dinner in the room itself as we had clicked many pictures and we needed to work on them.

Next morning, we boarded the train to reach Ajmer with the help of our guide who was a genuine person and took extreme care of our comfort as if we were his personal guests. During journey, I and Jerry were really excited as in few hours we were about to reach the land of kings. Ajmer, the land that has great history and colourful culture is a sacred place.

To be  continued…

Roopkund Trek Tour

The day I read about Roopkund trek, I decided to explore the region in my next vacation but due to the peak time, I was not able to get even the weekends. After waiting for long, my application for a long vacation got approved and I packed my bags for Roopkund. Along with my best buddy Deepak, I booked a tour with one of the most reputed tour-planners. Since the region was totally new for me and him both, so we preferred to book it with an expert service provider.

We both were very excited to explore Roopkund. For me the reason was its mysterious history and for Deepak the reason was an adventure tour. The first day was of the tour was dedicated to Delhi. Even after spending so many years in Delhi, I found this capital city still has many unleashed faces. After exploring Delhi, the nest destination according to the tour plan was Nainital. I and Deepak were excited because we had never been to Nainital. Exploring Nainital for us was like an added flavour to the Roopkund trekking tour.

The next day, the surprise was Kausani, Baijnath, Mundoli, Nanda Gunti and Lohajung. We did not expect that the tour was going to be this much interesting. The night was hosted by Lohajung, the beautiful place. In early morning, we covered a trek route down into Gyan Ganga Valley and also followed a river before climbing to Didana.

As the days were passing, our adventure buds started craving for more. And then, they were fairly treated with a serious uphill trek through forests. The trip was going smooth but I and Deepak were waiting for Roopkund trek and as we were getting close to the destination, the excitement was getting increased.

We covered several other destinations in next two days including Bedini Bugya and Bagubasa. Finally, the day arrived and we were ready to get the glimpses of the mysterious lake Roopkund.

It was hard to believe that this amazing beauty of the Roopkund had a scaring face too. Also famous as the skeleton lake, this lake made me realize that abundant natural beauty could also be scary. It was getting hard to imagine the condition of the person who first discovered more than 500 human skeletons at the edge of this lake. The time we visited the lake, there was a thick layer of snow, but it is said that if the snow is not thick till date the remains of human as well as the animals can be seen.

After exploring the region for few hours, we came back to Bagubasa. In next 4 days, we explored many other destinations which included Pather, Nachauni, Bhuna, Kanol, Sitel and Rishikesh.

Roopkund trekking tour was over, but my heart was still there with the beauty and mystery of Roopkund lake whereas Deepak was loaded with unforgettable memories of the adventure tour.

Goa Honeymoon Tour

After collecting some beautiful moments of the day at Miramar beach, we came back to the resort in the night. A perfect blend of Goan decor and advanced amenities of the hotel offloaded my tiredness of the day. Manicured gardens, unmatched natural views, excellent room services and above all the warm company of John, I was feeling spoilt during the dinner. After finishing the lip-smacking food at the resort itself, we moved towards our room and took some rest.

To enjoy each other’s company, we spent a lazy morning. After having the lunch in resort, we moved towards the local markets of the state. Then it was time to explore the real Goa. We tried to uncover every nook and corner of the nearby area, which was an amazing experience.

As we were there in the month of December, we could witness the preparations of the Carnival celebrations and before that X- Mas. The state was getting ready to paint the town red. Each and every Goan was excited to make it the best time. These two major festivals of the state have made Goa really popular. Not only Goans, but also tourists from other countries were there to ensure their presence in these most happening festivals.

In the evening, we reached resort. As our plan was to experience the electrifying night life of the state, we collected some information from the resort. After taking some rest, we decided to hit the party, which was organized at the beach. We booked a vehicle from the hotel itself and left for the party.

After reaching there, I could understand why Goan parties are that much popular. Dance, music, fun and no one to stop, what can be more electrifying than that! It was the experience that cannot be expressed in words.

The tour was about to over, till date I wish that we could have extended it to experience at least X-Mas celebrations. Unfortunately, all the hotels and resorts of the state were pre-booked by tourists during that time. So, we packed our bags and checked out on the decided date. We followed the same route to go back.

The tour was short but amazing. I and John will soon plan another tour to Goa but this time we will ensure to hit the state during its celebration time.

Goa Tour

I and John have always been a travel freak. We never miss out a chance to explore a new place whenever we get time. Be it celebrations, occasions or just weekends, our plan was to hit a new place and this was the most important celebration of our life. After marriage, this was our first vacation together. So we planned our honeymoon in Goa, which is the most popular honeymoon destination in across the globe. After deciding the destination, it was the time to search a tour planner, who can give us the best deal and can ensure the comfort.

After a lot of search, we finalized a tour package that was perfect in every term. Starting from the flights, our stay and guide assistance, everything was covered in the offered Goa Honeymoon Tour.

Finally, the day arrived and we boarded the flight from Hong Kong international airport and landed in to the commercial city of India, Mumbai. John was delighted with the comfort in the flight but as I was extremely excited to visit the beaches of Goa, for me it was a long journey.

After landing on Chhatrapati Shivaji international airport, Mumbai, the guide from the tour organizer was waiting for us. He helped us to reach hotel and made us comfortable. Our excitement got double as we were very close to our destination, Goa but as it was already specified and of course it was necessary also to rest for that day, we rested in the hotel.

I could not sleep all night and spent the night, thinking about beaches, churches, culture and the parties of Goa. Next morning, we left for Mumbai airport and boarded the flight for Goa. In just one hour and few minutes, we were there. We were escorted by the hotel representative, who took us to the booked beach resort and helped us to get settled.

At the time of booking our honeymoon tour package, we were offered beach resorts, five-star hotels , four, three and two star hotels and even the budgeted hotels but we opted for beach resort in Goa, so that we can spend a quality time with each other amidst the endless water views. Located at a small distance from Anjuna Beach, the resort was loaded with modern amenities and excellent services. As the journey was short, we decided to explore the beach on the same day so that we could dedicate our next day to other beautiful beaches of Goa.

I and John had spent a lot of time on beaches together but I must say experience at Anjuna was completely different. That evening was just for us. Blue water, velvety sand, feet kissing waves and both of us, that was the perfect and most romantic evening I could imagine. As the resort was very close to the beach, we spent the evening and even a part of night on the beach itself. It was the first day in Goa and we wanted to make it memorable, so we just sat on Anjuna beach and hold each other’s hand. To make it more special, we enjoyed dinner in the moon light on beach itself.

The night was about to over and sun marked his presence with the golden rays and we were still on the beach. Our honeymoon tour brought us more close on the very first day and the beach added the pamperness to that.

In the next two days, we covered Miramar Beach and Dona Paula Beach. Both the beaches were loaded with the tourists and especially honeymooners like us. At Dona Paula, people were involved in different  beach activities like motor-boat rides, para sailing, snorkelling and wind surfing. We enjoyed swimming as John loves swimming and the beach gave us a chance to experience the swimming in endless water.

While on Miramar beach, we enjoyed the beautiful views and calm ambience, which allowed us to unwind each other amidst the sun, sand and sea.

To be continued….

Darjeeling Tour

Being in Darjeeling, I experienced as if the divine nature has generously blessed the place. As the days were passing by, we felt like exploring more attractions of this amazingly beautiful land. The scenic charm, the perfect climate and the abundant beauty altogether made our tour even more interesting.

We decided to go on a short visit with its Toy Train. Started from Ghoom, the train took us to the narrow valleys of Darjeeling. This Land of Thunderbolt offers you a wonderful experience to traverse through zig-zag pathways. The serene beauty scattered along the rail line is a sight to behold. The beautiful vegetation is covered with amazing landscapes of snowy heights.

Zoological Park was our next destination. Situated just two km away from the main town, it is a home of different wildlife species. We saw there many animals like Siberian tigers, Tibetan barking wolf, red panda and Himalayan deer. It houses some rare species of animals and birds.

We headed for War Memorial, another popular attraction of the place. Constructed in the memory of heroic soldiers who sacrificed their life in the wars, it is a place worth to visit. It also offers astonishing views of snowy peaks in its backdrop.

During our tour, we got to know about the ‘Japanese Peace Pagoda’, which is a recent landmark built by Japanese monks. It offers an outstanding view of the town as well as the Himalayan ranges.
It still stands as a living emblem of peace in Darjeeling. As we started exploring the place, we found it as an outstanding temple of peace in design. Its white colour represents tranquility and unity. It is the epitome of Japanese style of architecture.

Before leaving for Delhi, we also visited Dhir Dham Temple. Located near Darjeeling railway station, this temple was constructed by Rai Saheb Purna Bahadur Pradhan. The architecture of the temple has been influenced by the renowned Pashupatinath Temple at Kathmandu. Outside the main temple, you can see an idol of Lord Shiva. Depicting ‘Pancha Bakram Tri Netram’ that means five various facial expressions of lord Shiva in diverse moods and the third eye.

Admiring our refreshing break, we bid goodbye to the beautiful land of Darjeeling.

Darjeeling Tour

The scenic beauty of the enchanting city of Darjeeling is beyond description. You can only realize it after visiting the place. Recently, I got an opportunity to visit this beautiful land for an official meeting with my colleagues. We planned to explore the beauty of the place after finishing up with the official work. As we were on official trip, we got all the facilities including air ticket, hotel booking etc.

We went Darjeeling by flight from Delhi. It is around 90 km away from the capital city. We reached Bagdogra airport in three hours and then moved ahead for the main town by car. Again, it took around three hours to reach the town and soon we were transferred to the hotel. It was a standard hotel and we were served with all the facilities. We reached there in late afternoon and welcomed by the snow-capped peaks, green valleys and enchanting waterfalls.

At first, we visited the famous Tiger Hill, which is known for offering impressive views of the majestic Everest. I must say that the place is best to capture the glimpses of first rays of the Sun. For nature enthusiasts, it is a must see place.

Just five km away from the main town, there lies the Batasia Loop. Located on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway between Ghoom and Darjeeling, it gives an amazing impression of an engineering marvel. The awesome food that we enjoyed there piping hot Momos, Thupka and Tongbas (beer) was available at affordable price. Darjeeling Tea, Noodles and Soups are also worth to give it a try.

While in Darjeeling, we also wanted to make the most of our time. So in evening we visited the nearby tea garden named Happy Valley Tea Estate. It allows you to see the manufacturing process of famous Darjeeling Tea. Visiting these tea gardens is a best way to soothe your eyes by lush green surroundings.

How could we miss out the passenger ropeway? No doubt, it is one of the most beautiful attractions of the place. Starting at North Point, it is around five km long and connects the city with Singla Bazaar. Passing over the green tea estates and beautiful hills, it offers you an amazing experience.

To be continued…

Darjeeling Toy Train

Few months back, I got an opportunity to enjoy an exciting ride by Darjeeling Toy Train, a popular toy train of India. Fed up with my stressful life, I planned the trip with two of my colleagues, Srishti and Sameer. The reason that insisted us to travel by a toy train was to see closely the natural beauty and tea gardens of Darjeeling. We all were so excited to have the first class tickets of this toy train.

Darjeeling is a Himalayan town situated in the state of West Bengal. The place is known for its salubrious climatic conditions and beautiful wonderment of nature. During my visit, I could realize that why it is called the queen of the hills. Enveloped with the fascinating mountains and green pine trees, the place looks like a picture-perfect location. Sitting on cushioned personal seats in a funky decorated train car, we slowly started our ride from Silliguri, which is around 77 km away at 10:30 a.m.

The train ride took us through three different types of terrain. As we started, we could see the small bushy trees and yellow grass all around. After that, we began to climb the hill, which was really a thrilling experience. The scenic beauty scattered along the rail line is a thing to enjoy forever. The luxurious vegetation is covered with beautiful landscapes of snowy heights. The best part about the train was that it moved very slowly and thus, we could treat our eyes with some amazing glimpses of the natural beauty. Not only this, but we could also explore the famous attractions like Observatory Hill, Tiger Hill and Mall.

Soon, we found ourselves into a jungle atmosphere. All we could see was enchanting waterfalls and big plants. If you do not pay attention while peeping out of the windows, they might slap you in the face. When the train switched back, I could reach out and plucked the flowers of different shapes, colours and sizes, growing outside the windows.

After Kurseong, this beautiful destination has tea gardens all the way. Here, you get time to pause and give a smile at the people passing by. The next stoppage at Ghum, where we saw the colourful monastery. Finally, the train reached Darjeeling station. We ended our journey with this train around 5 p.m.

This toy train has also gained UNESCO World Heritage recognition. Travelling by a toy train is the best way to enjoy the charm of Darjeeling with your family, friends or loved ones.

Sri Meenakshi Temple

In Madurai, we came across the beautiful Meenakshi Temple. This huge temple complex houses the statues exploring different human emotions. Its exquisitely carved towers represent the finest examples of Dravidian architecture.

After the Madurai sightseeing tour, we headed towards Kanyakumari. It is known as the land’s end where you can see the horizon. The Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean seems to meet here. We all were excited to see the sunrise view and the thought did not let us sleep. Well, we had no regret of it after seeing the beautiful view of sunrise. Believe me, it was breathtaking.

Kovalam, this wonderful place was our next destination. As the name suggests, Kovalam was truly blessed with groves of coconut trees along the beaches. The palm fringed bays organized in coconut groves, offer a relaxed stay. The seamless blue waters of the Arabian Sea and far-spread white sands washed away by surf makes the beach a heaven. Visiting the beach was really relaxing and refreshing.

We were feeling ourselves fortunate enough being in the wonderful land of Kerala. The palm-fringed beaches, enchanting backwaters, exotic wildlife and Ayurveda therapies, what else you could ask for!
We headed towards Periyar wildlife sanctuary which is home for the varieties of animals and birds. The creatures we could see there were nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaque, cormorants, king cobra, python and many more.

While exploring the South Indian Cities, we also came across the city of Alleppey, which is also known as Alappuzha. It was once a busy port that serves as the entrance point of Kerala. Visiting Alappuzha beach is one of its kind experience. The beach was clean and has all the facilities to enjoy interesting water sports activities.

The days were passing with excitement to see new destination. When we visited Fort Cochin, we got flabbergasted to see the fascinating beauty of the fort. The colonial charisma and several exotic cultures still can be seen there. Jewish Signage is another popular attraction of the place. Exploring different
historic attractions in the morning, we also witnessed Kathakali dance show in a theater in the evening.

After a drive of 280 km, we reached the beautiful land of Ooty where we checked-in hotel for taking rest. Enjoying the world-class amenities of the hotel, we went for enjoying the full-day sightseeing of Ooty and Coonoor. The exotic mountain ranges of Himalayas, the salubrious weather and the gurgling streams make Ooty a destination worth to visit.

Next day, we were in the temple city of Mysore. A city which boasts of gardens, palaces, shady avenues and much more. We explored Somnathpur Temple and in the afternoon, we visited Srirangapatnam. It was a great experience altogether.

While driving to Banglore, we also visited Sravanbelgola on the way. The afternoon sightseeing tour of the city made us cheerful. Next day, we were transferred to Mumbai from where we left for home.

The 18 days which were spent with my family at different destinations are a lifetime experience for me. The beautiful memories of the tour still fills my heart with great joy.