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.

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.

I still remember the day when my father planned a South India tour. We, all five members of the family were really excited because for one or another reason, the tours earlier planned by us got limited to just planning only. It was for the first time when my whole family accompanied me on this 18 days tour.

Well, we reached Chennai by flight from Delhi. On being reached and welcomed there in the evening, we were transferred to a good hotel. Believe me, staying out with your family is a wonderful experience. Next day, the tour started with morning city tour of Chennai.

While visiting the Fort St. George, we realized that we were in a new world. Beautifully surrounded by cannon-proof walls, the fort reminds one of old era. Within the fort, we came across little St Mary’s Church and Protestant church. The day was good and we returned to hotel in night.

Next day, we embarked on a full day sightseeing tour of two famous cities-Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram. There we reached Kanchipuram, the Golden City of a Thousand Temples. I was too delighted as I love to explore religious spots and there I was.

We all visited some temples of 7th and 8th centuries like the Vaikunthaperumal Temple, Ekambareshwar Temple, Kamakshi Temple and Kailashnath Temple. My father who has a great interest in exploring new places, shared his knowledge with us about the temples. It reminded me of my childhood days when we all siblings used to sit beside my father and heard many religious stories.

Well, we moved ahead and shop around Kanchipuram. Embellished with striking patterns there are fine silk saris and my mother could not help herself buying one.

At Mahabalipuram, we came across several attractions related to Mahabharata age. There is exquisitely rock cut temple, known as Five Rathas, dedicated to Pandavas and Draupadi. We also saw ‘Arjuna Penance’, which is a group of elephants.

Next day, we headed towards Pondicherry. This union territory is situated within the state of Tamil Nadu.
Based on our experience, I can say that the city is like a living monument of French culture in India.

We got an opportunity to visit The Aurobindo Ashram, where we meditated for some time. It was a great experience. The tranquil ambience of the Ashram fills your heart with calmness and peace. ‘Auroville‘, the international township was also became a part of my exploration.

Our enjoyment, and curiosity was piqued with each passing day. The next day started with paying a visit to Tanjore, where we visited a big temple, dedicated to lord Shiva. Another attraction which we visited there was Tanjore museum. It houses a beautiful collection of South Indian sculptures and paintings.

Sri Ranganathaswami Temple

In Trichy, we came across several worth-admiring temples. Located on 83 m long rock outcrop,  Rock Fort Temple, showcasing the finest example of architecture.

We also visited Sri Ranganathaswami Temple, which is 7 km from Trichy. It is said to be the abode of Sri Ranganatha. It is said to be the largest temple in India. Visiting temple was already a great delight and moreover, the magnificence of temples just left us amazed.

To be continued…

Elephanta Cave  

Even after reaching Mumbai, we could not forget the spell of Goa. The whole experience of Goa was unforgettable for us that really made our honeymoon a celebration. Especially, the breeze coming from the sea whispering romantic melodies in the ears was just creating a perfect romantic ambiance. The wonderful attractions of this destination just insisted us to stay there for a long time. Though we didn’t feel like coming back yet we had to.

The next day in Mumbai started with one hour boat ride with my spouse. This romantic ride took us to the lush green Elephanta Island, where we saw the beautiful Elephanta Caves. These intricately carved caves date back to 8th century. The whole experience was amazing and the beautiful locations blessed with sheer natural beauty added charm to it.

To continue this wonderful experience, I persuaded my spouse to go on Bollywood tour. This full day tour offered us to opportunity to visit a film studio where we could see live shooting. To witness the glimpse of bollywood stars was like a dream come true for me.

The other popular attraction worth to mention is Kanheri Caves in Mumbai. They are a group of rock-cut monuments, located north of Borivali. The name, ‘Kanheri’, is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Krishnagiri’ that means ‘black in colour’. These caves were also carved out of a giant piece of basaltic rock.

It is a must visit destination for short excursions. These popular caves date back to 2nd -9th centuries and are known to be carved out by Buddhist monks. They are one of the biggest Buddhist monastic establishments on the Konkan coast.

The other attractions, which became a part of our exploration during the tour were Gateway of India, Marine Drive, the Towers of Silence and the Dhobi Ghat. We also paid a short visit to Mani Bhawan, a small museum dedicated to the life of Mahatma Gandhi. In the late evening, we were transferred to the International airport from where we took a flight back to home.

At the end of our honeymoon tour, we were happy to select Goa as our honeymoon destination. A trip to Goa really gave a magic start to our new life with its never-ending charm and captivating natural beauty.

Goa is the destination that became very special for me as I opted the place for celebrating my honeymoon. After browsing a lot on Internet, we finally selected a renowned tour operator to plan our honeymoon trip as the Goa honeymoon package offered by them was well-planned and suited our preference.

We left from Delhi and reached Goa by flight. As I have already heard a lot about this beautiful place and on being reached there, I could see why it is called a perfect honeymoon destination. The exotic aura of beaches and the serene natural ambiance seem magical. We enjoyed our dinner and stayed overnight at hotel.

Our entire day was dedicated to full day sightseeing of Goa. We visited Old Goa and some famous Cathedrals and Churches there. These include Se-Cathedral, St. Catherine’s Church, Church of St. Francis Xavier and Arch of Vice Roy of Goa.

Then, we headed for Miramar beach, which is the only beach near any city. It offers a wonderful view of the river Mandovi flowing into the sea. We decided to discover the scattered beauty of nature with river cruise. It is structured at the long Mandovi River. The cruise was fun-filled and exciting that made me nervous initially but later on I enjoyed it. During the river cruise, we could also admire the astonishing sunrise and sunset.

We also got an opportunity to visit Dona Paula, a small fishing village, which was located at the tip of Panji. After coming back, we stayed overnight at hotel.

Next day, we simply enjoyed at leisure and spent time with each other. We too enjoyed the amenities of the resort. That was a complete relaxing day for us and we made the most of it by enjoying each other’s company in the beautiful resort.

The moments that we spend on Goa Beaches were really magical for us. We visited Condolim Beach, Baga Beach, Arambol Beach, Vagator Beach, Benaulim Beach, Palolem Beach, Agonda Beach, Mobor Beach and Cavelossim Beach. Basking in the sun, taking pleasure in the fun-filled water sports like parasailing, waterskiing & river rafting and enjoying the natural beauty with your partner is truly a blessing.

Next day, after spending the morning at leisure, we were transferred to airport for flight to Mumbai. On being arrived at Mumbai, we met their representative and afterwards, checked in into the hotel for staying overnight there.

To be continued……

Rajasthan Desert Tour-Part 1

Rajasthan is a pulsating destination, which is known as the land of royal kings. It has so many attractions that simply draw my attention towards this beautiful desert land. Recently, I planned to visit this princely state with my two friends, Sakshi and Pooja. We all managed to take leave for around 18 days and left for a relaxing break.

We decided to go for a Rajasthan Desert Tour and started from New Delhi, we left for Mandawa. We were transported to our Hotel Castle Mandawa which was already booked by our tour operator. Then, we relaxed in the hotel for sometime and left for Bikaner.

The beautiful city of Bikaner is in the northwestern part of Rajasthan. We all were excited to visit the most famous tourist attractions here and finally we were there only to admire the architectural beauty of Junagarh Fort, which is also known as Bikaner Fort.

The Camel Breeding Farm is also another major tourist attraction here where we went. Sakshi was very excited  when she saw the baby camels . She also clicked some pictures of young camels.

We also visited Lalgarh Palace and visiting the palace is like a learning experience about the royal family. This huge palace is built of red sandstones and is beautifully embellished with exquisite filigree work. Pooja has a great interest in exploring arts and crafts so she insisted us to visit the museum as well. We got to know the timings of the museum which was from 10 am to 4:30 pm, but it remains closed on Fridays. As it was just 2 o’clock by then, we had ample time to explore the Lalgarh Museum, which was right across from the palace.

We came across some marvelous miniature paintings of Bikaner school, terracotta wares, armors, manuscripts and armaments in the museum. I am a passionate reader felt great to see the largest collection of original Sanskrit manuscripts on copper, parchments and gold or silver plaque in the library of the palace. We came back and stayed overnight at hotel.

Next morning, after having delicious breakfast in our hotel, we left for next destination of Rajasthan Desert Tour, which was Jaisalmer.

This exhilarating destination of desert land is known as the Golden City. When we reached there, we felt delighted to view the sand dunes, magnificent forts, beautiful temples and majestic havelis. In our morning sightseeing of Fort and Jain Temples, we could catch the glimpses of whole Jaisalmer city from the top of the Fort. Then, we left to explore the famous havelis of the city like Patwon Ki Haveli and Nath Ji Mal Ki Haveli. Outstanding work of architecture, exquisite craftsmanship and the royal feeling … this is what I could say about the marvelous havelis of Jaisalmer.

After this wonderful experience, we were all set to experience the Camel Safari, another popular tourist attraction of Rajasthan. Based on my experience, I must say that safari is the best way to explore the rippling sand dunes of the desert land. This fun-filled adventure allowed us to see the rural desert life.

We came back to the hotel and had a sound sleep.

To be continued……

Khajuraho is one of the most renowned destinations where you can see the human emotions in its purest form in its temples. This temple town is located at Chattarpur district in Madhya Pradesh. My two friends, Geetika and Ajay accompanied me on Khajuraho Temples Tour. After a couple of hours taxi drive from Jhansi, we were in the temple city of Khajuraho.

We took rest for sometime at a hotel in Khajuraho and after having refreshment, we left for visiting temples.

Highlights of Khajuraho Temples

The famous Khajuraho temples were built between the 9th and 11th centuries by the kings of the Chandela. These exquisitely carved temples are also the venue for an annual mela which is organized on the occasion of Shivratri, a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The temples of Khajuraho are segregated as per their geographical locations like the Eastern group, the Western group and the Southern group. These temples are known for their breathtaking architectural beauty. Some important temples of Western group are Lakshmana Temple, the Varaha Temple and the Matangesvara Temple.

Most of the temples are based on the theme of eroticism. Various theories have been put forward to explain the subject of Sex and sexual relationships. Many erotic groups have been depicted in the form of stone carvings. The architectural beauty of the images portrayed at Khajuraho temples grabs the attention of every visitor, who comes to these temples.

Next morning, we visited Western group of temples. All we could enjoy there was the calmness of nature and tranquil ambiance. We were struck by the expertise of artisans who built these temples and explored the following temples:

Adinath

This particular Jain forehead is beautifully constructed in the form of ‘Sapta-ratha’ and is adorned with exquisite carvings. It is solitary towered ‘shikhara’ provides an elegant turn to the shrine.

Devi Jagdamba

This temple is renowned because of its sensual and perfectly created numbers. The Garbha griha encompasses a great picture related with Jagdamba, the Devi associated with World.

Parsvanath

Parsvanath temple includes beautiful statues, structures and many stunning idols. These idols illustrate different Devis actively playing musical instruments like gandharva, manjeera, mridanga and shankha.

Lakshmana

It is a good east-facing temple with 2 open up pavilions, called as mandaps. The actual forehead is exquisitely created using the images of six hundred gods and goddess from the Hindu mythology.

Chausath Yogini

The actual temple is focused on sixty four yoginis, considered as the actual demos from the Mom Goddess. It’s constructed on the big elevated podium and is encircled along with small temples.

We all were amazed to see the erotic sculptures depicting the various scenes of the most taboo subject, ‘Sex’ in the country. The intricate rock carvings impressed us a lot.

Later on, Geetika was willing to go for nearby excursions. So Ajay accompanied her. He also insisted me to go there and we came across the following places:

Panna National Park

After a 30-minute drive, we reached this beautiful park. The wildlife of this park is worth-paying a visit. Besides dense flora and fauna, we also enjoyed to see many animals like leopards, gharials, wolves, wild boars, cheetals, sloth bears, chowsinghas and porcupines.

The Pandava Waterfall

This enchanting waterfall is situated on the Ken River. It is believed to be the place where the Pandavas spent a good part of their exile period. After capturing the best glimpses of this beautiful waterfall, we left for next place.

Dhubela Museum

Dhubela Museum is located in a place on the Jhansi-Khajuraho road. It encompasses a wide collection of Shakti cult sculptures, garments, weapons and paintings.

How to Reach Khajuraho

Khajuraho has a good connectivity by road, rail and air. It is connected by air to Delhi, Varanasi and Agra by a daily flight. It is around 600 kilometers away from Delhi. Jhansi is the nearest airport. It can be accessed by driving from Jhansi, which is 172 kilometers and Satna, which is 117 kilometers. The nearest railheads are Harpalpur at 94 kilometers and Mahoba at 63 kilometers. Train is the major mode of transport, connecting Khajuraho to the remote corners of India.

At last, I thanked Ajay for taking me to the excursions from Khajuraho and I could visit some not-to-be-missed places as well.

Srinagar Tour  

Last month, I got an opportunity to visit Srinagar with my cousin, who was going there for some official work. I had nothing much to do while he planned this trip so I too decided to accompany him.

Popularly known as ‘Venice of the East’, Srinagar is the capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

It lies in Kashmir valley, on the banks of Jhelum river. I had heard a lot about the lakes and houseboats of Srinagar, so that was perfect opportunity for me to explore them.

Soon, we were in Srinagar. My cousin completed his official work same day and then we had ample time to explore the city, so we embarked on Srinagar City Tour to make the most of it.

We went to see the famous sites of the area like Dal Lake and Gulmarg or Yusmarg. Besides these beautiful locations, we also visited historical places of pilgrimages like Shankaracharya Hill and the Vedic Shiva Temple. Many devotees were there to do puja among the heavy security.

The beauty of Mughul Gardens captivated me for some time. It was one of the best gardens I have seen in India. We also saw the Shri Pratap Singh Museum that had large rock sculpted idols of Vishnu and other Vedic divinities. Another famous place I visited is Shah Hamdan mosque which is dedicated to Shah Hamdan.

Following are several other attractions which became a part of our exploration during the tour:

Hari Parbat Fort

The 18th century fort is located at the Sharika Hill. This fort was constructed by Atta Mohammad Khan. Lies to the west of the Dal lake, this fort is a famous tourist attraction.

Hazratbal Mosque

Situated on the western shore of Dal Lake, it is an important Muslim religious place. Its amazing white marble elegance can be seen in the crystal clear waters of the lake.

Pari Mahal

Pari Mahal or the ‘House of the Fairies’ is located just above Chashma Shahi Gardens, which is around 10 km from Srinagar. Pari Mahal is a historic monument and a well-laid garden. It also overlooks the beautiful Dal Lake.

Tomb of Zain-ul-Abidin

The tomb of King Zain-ul-Abidin shows a clear Persian influence in its amazing domed construction and glazed tiles.

Our curiosity to explore the Excursions of Srinagar took us to following places:

Gulmarg

The valley of Gulmarg is located at an altitude of 2730 m above sea level. It is a pleasant hill town situated around 52 km southeast of Srinagar. Flowering plants, golf course and snow sports activities during winters are some popular attractions of the place.

Pahalgam

It is located 95 km east of Srinagar in the Liddar Valley. The place is famous for its several adventure sports activities like trekking, hiking and fishing.

Sonamarg

Sonamarg lies around 80 km in the northeast of Srinagar. Situated at an altitude of 2740 m above sea level, the place offers breathtaking views of snow covered Himalayan peaks.

After enjoying Shikara Ride, we came back to our hotel in late evening. Next morning, we left for home with delightful memories.

Char Dham Yatra holds great significance among the Hindu pilgrims. The term ‘Char Dham’ means four places where Gods reside. Char Dham tour includes four destinations of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri. These four places are located amidst the Himalaya in Garhwal region of Uttaranchal state.

According to Hindu Mythology, the yatra is fruitful when it is done like a ‘Parikarma.’ Thus, the journey starts from Yamunotri, proceeding to Gangotri and finally to Kedarnath and Badrinath. Char Dham Yatra is also considered as a way to wash out your sins and to attain ‘Moksha’ or Salvation.

My parents wanted to go for Char Dham Yatra, I too accompanied them. Started from Delhi, we reached Haridwar, the holy city. The places we visited there Mansa Devi temple, Sapt Rishi and Daksha Mahadev temple. We stayed there to see the Maha Aarti on the Ganga bank. The scene was so beautiful that it simply made us forget our fatigue and filled us with divine peace.

Walking through Rishikesh, we headed towards Yamunotri. Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, this holy site has a great significance. It is believed that Lord Krishna used to play on the banks of river Yamuna.
We visited the temple via Hanuman Chetty. Horses were also available on rent, offering a wonderful opportunity to view the breathtaking beauty of waterfalls.

Gangotri was our next destination. Considered as the place where Ganga merged in the earth, Gangotri has a 18th century temple. Our heart filled with great devotion when we reached this sacred site, hustling and bustling with religious activities. We also took a holy dip in river Ganga and visited beautiful places adjacent to Gangotri.

Our customized Char Dham tour package proved helpful for us as we could visit all the places we wanted to see. To experience the eternal bliss, we reached our next destination Kedarnath. After reaching there, we felt the tranquility and great peace of mind because everywhere you could listen the sound of praising God by devotees. There is a temple which was built by Pandavas. It is known as the abode of Lord Shiva.

It is said that the present temple was built by Adi Shankracharya in the 18th century. The temple has decorated inner walls in the assembly hall. A large statue of the Nandi bull stands outside the temple door. Blessed with great scenic beauty, Kedarnath is also the origin place of River Mandakini.

Connecting ourselves with divine during our tour, we reached Badrinath, the last destination of our tour. It is situated in the lap of Nar-Narayan Parvat, at an elevation of 3,133 meters above sea level. Badrinath is considered as the most sacred religious site of Hindu. This pilgrimage site boasts of Tapt Kund and Surya Kund, which are the springs of natural hot water.

The silent and tranquil atmosphere seems to resound with the names of God as the devotees advance towards their destination. We felt immense tranquility by getting the spiritual blessings of Lord.
Apart from offering great spiritual experience, the journey also enabled us to enjoy the scenic natural beauty scattered all around the sacred sites.

Based on our experience, I would strongly recommend that one must go for Char Dham Yatra at least once in his life!

India, the kaleidoscopic land is known throughout the world for its unique cultural, natural, regional, religious and geographical diversities. I always dreamed to explore incredible beauty of India in a royal manner. I have heard and read about this mesmerizing land several times which inflamed my curiosity of India visit. Basically I belong from Australia so I have planned my India tour during vacations and fortnight Christmas vacation was the most ideal time.

After lot of internet surfing I decided that Palace on Wheel Train Tour is the most royal and regal way to explore enchanting and heritage destinations of India. This train tour is the best way to feel the glory of Indian royalty and experience the interwoven charm of India scenic beauty and cultural heritage.

While booking Palace on Wheel train tour I contacted several India tour operators but the most affordable rate was provided to me by the Caper Travel Company Pvt. Ltd. I with my wife arrived Delhi a night before our luxurious journey was to begin. On the morning via complementary taxis courtesy of the Taj we reached the Delhi cantonment station where we have to embark our journey.

When we arrived the station we were received by the attendants of Palace of Wheel (POW). They garland us and apply the large red mark on our foreheads. This is a way in Indian culture to welcome guests.

Palace on Wheels is the epitome of luxury and comfort which beckons you to travel back in time to the era of raja-maharajas. It is one of the most luxurious trains in the world reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan. This train was once the personal railway coaches of the Maharajas of the princely states of Rajasthan, Gujrat and the Nizam of Hyderabad.

Every Wednesday, from September to April, 14 carriages Palace on Wheel leave New Delhi and make their way westwards into the deserted land of Rajasthan. The enchanting journey of 7 nights/ 8 days covers Jaipur (the Pink city), Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Ramthambhor National Park, Chittorgarh, Udaipur (the city of Lakes), the Bharatpur bird sanctuary and the symbol of love and romance, Agra, before returning to Delhi, the capital of India.

The 14 air-conditioned saloons of this train are equipped with all the facilities to ensure a comfortable time in the train. The elegant furnishings are specially created to appease the travellers with an imperial feel. I like everything at the first glance. The lounge is nice and cozy, and the cabin too. Here we met our cabin stewards Hari Nath and Sambhu. These guys will be at our service for the entire 7 days. Sambhu provides us all the basic information about this train and its time table. He narrated it so nicely that we don’t required to ask again regarding anything.

The Maharaja and the Maharani are the two restaurant where you can gorge on a variety of Rajasthani, Indian, Continental and Chinese dishes. There is a bar too where you can taste several Indian and International alcohol brands.

Day 2 – Jaipur
The highlight of today is the sprawling Amber fort and palace complex which is reached by a twenty minute elephant ride through a cobblestones and snaky pathways. It was the thrilling ride which gave us a majestic feeling of royalty. The fort is the architectural splendor made up of white marble and red sandstone. Maharaja Man Singh constructed this fort by combining the Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture. This fort is known worldwide for its architectural beauty, exterior as well as interior decorations, frescoes, paintings and murals based on various themes. Intricate carvings, mosaic work and minute mirror work are the most charismatic features of this imposing structure. The other captivating chambers of this fort are Sheesh Mahal, Diwan-e-Khas, Diwan-e-Aam and Ganesh Pol which will surely leaves you spellbound.

Other such arresting historic establishments which I visited in Jaipur were:

City Palace

Once the abode of the erstwhile rulers, City Palace is an outstanding architectural piece reflecting a perfect blend of the traditional Rajasthani and Mughal style of architecture. Done to perfection, the interiors of the palace are adorned with mesmerizing mirror work and beautiful paintings. The courtyards, gardens and structures of the Palace have their own unique charm. Nakkarkhana-ka-Darwaza is the fabulous gateway of the palace which is adorned with stone elephants. The other well known attractions of this fort are Mubarak Mahal, Diwan-I-Khas, Diwan-I-Aam, Chandra Mahal, Chavi Nivas, Badal Maha Shobha Nivas.

Jantar Mantar

This is among the five astronomical observatories of India which was constructed by Maharajah Jai Singh II in between 1727 to 1734. It was used for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars in their orbits and determining the celestial altitudes of various heavenly bodies. The grand construction of this structure will surely a true feast for visitors eye.
Soon I will share my Day 3: Sawai Madhopur …