Since time immemorial, Delhi has demonstrated a magnetic quality about itself. Invaders who have stepped into the city have never returned and chosen to make the city their home for centuries.
Being a true Delhiite, I am no different from my ancestors when it comes to my fondness for the city. Delhi looks no different from any other international city with its wide tree-lined roads, glitzy malls, multiplexes, high-street shopping centres, museums, art galleries, luxury hotels, inns, guest houses and fine-dining restaurants. Being the mecca for shoppers, Delhi offers shopaholics a multitude of options be it the premium high streets of Connaught place, South Extension, Janpath or the traditional markets of Chandni chowk, Karol bagh & Palika Bazaar which have catered to the needs of Delhiites for generations.
Very few places in the country provide such a combination where old world charm blends perfectly with 21st century infrastructure. All you need to do to enjoy your holiday is take a flight to Delhi this winter, stay there for 10 days, explore its myriad places of interest including the most famous Red Fort and enjoy some great shopping. Your visit to Delhi, one of the top 10 cities to visit in 2010 will be a magical experience to cherish for the lifetime.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
India – A Globetrotter’s Delight
So, you have decided to tour India. Bravo! This country will spoil you for choice with its myriad exotic locales. Hill enthusiasts can pick from South India’s picturesque Ooty and numerous other spectacular spots to Northern India’s tremendously beautiful destinations like Manali, Srinagar, Gulmarg, Mussourie – the list goes on. In skiing, Gulmarg is among the top five global skiing destinations. Don’t miss the riot of colours at the ‘Valley of Flowers’ or the adrenalin soaring white water rafting at Rishikesh, which bewitched all – from Sir Edmund Hillary to Brad Pitt.
Recreate colonial times at the little known quaint town of McCluskey Ganj. This erstwhile nation of snake charmers also satiates the spiritualist. Mythology, complete with fakirs and sadhus comes alive at the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh and Benaras among other myriad cultural hot spots. See the images of Kamasutra carved in the stone sculptures of Khajuraho. From the ‘Char Dham Yatra’ of the Himalayas to the Durgah at Ajmer and scores of mosques, temples and churches – it is easy to lose yourself in a religious frenzy.
Beach enthusiasts would do well to visit the former Portuguese settlement of Goa. The sun kissed beaches are perfect for water sports or sheer lazing around. Superb cuisine tantalises the gourmet.
Heard of Jim Corbett, the famous British hunter who became a terror for man eating tigers and leopards in India during colonial times? Explore his hunting grounds on a jungle safari to the Corbett National Park. The Sunderbans Delta with its man eating Royal Bengal Tigers and the Kanha National Park are further jungle destinations among many others.
India stuns with its plethora of sights, smells, tastes and heart touching people. In this land of contradictions, you might actually see a bullock cart and a Jaguar vying for space in a narrow street.
Recreate colonial times at the little known quaint town of McCluskey Ganj. This erstwhile nation of snake charmers also satiates the spiritualist. Mythology, complete with fakirs and sadhus comes alive at the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh and Benaras among other myriad cultural hot spots. See the images of Kamasutra carved in the stone sculptures of Khajuraho. From the ‘Char Dham Yatra’ of the Himalayas to the Durgah at Ajmer and scores of mosques, temples and churches – it is easy to lose yourself in a religious frenzy.
Beach enthusiasts would do well to visit the former Portuguese settlement of Goa. The sun kissed beaches are perfect for water sports or sheer lazing around. Superb cuisine tantalises the gourmet.
Heard of Jim Corbett, the famous British hunter who became a terror for man eating tigers and leopards in India during colonial times? Explore his hunting grounds on a jungle safari to the Corbett National Park. The Sunderbans Delta with its man eating Royal Bengal Tigers and the Kanha National Park are further jungle destinations among many others.
India stuns with its plethora of sights, smells, tastes and heart touching people. In this land of contradictions, you might actually see a bullock cart and a Jaguar vying for space in a narrow street.
Kolkata Tourist Spots
Flanked by River Hooghly, ‘The City of Joy’, as Kolkata is called, blew my imagination with its own brand of charm. Extremely helpful and friendly people personify the soul of this city. Arguably India’s best spot for cheap and scrumptious food, Kolkata also teems with numerous attractions – old and new.
Curious about the Raj days? Visit the grand Victoria Memorial with its opulent display of Moughal and European architecture and colonial artefacts. Another Raj remnant is The Botanical Gardens, founded by the East India Company. Largest in India, this garden is an oasis of peace amid Kolkata’s bustle. The Park Street Cemetery, where Kolkata’s founder Job Charnock rests along with British martyrs invokes nostalgia for a rich past.
The bygone era’s sinfully rich nawabi splendour assails one at the Marble Palace, where priceless antiques, including Joshua Reynolds and Rubens masterpieces adorn the walls. Shoppers have a tough time deciding where to go. Options are many – Park Street with its age old food joints and shops, Swabhumi, Central Cottage Industries Emporium and Dakshinapan to name a few. Culture throbs at the Academy of Fine Arts and the Nandan Complex.
Hindu religious fervour reaches crescendo at Kalighat’s Kalibari and at Sagar Island’s Gangasagar Mela. The highly acclaimed St. Paul’s Cathedral, Belur Math and Dakhnineshwar Temple also offer an intoxicating religious high but in a much more relaxed manner. Kolkata is probably among the last few places in the world where hand pulled rickshaws and trams still ply.
An unforgettable highlight of my trip was the visit to Sunderbans Delta, a natural habitat of man eating tigers. Exploration and sightseeing during the day, followed by an electrifying nightlife or an evening of downing drinks at a bar with garrulous locals makes you fondly reflect on the phrase that Kolkata is a city of joy.
Curious about the Raj days? Visit the grand Victoria Memorial with its opulent display of Moughal and European architecture and colonial artefacts. Another Raj remnant is The Botanical Gardens, founded by the East India Company. Largest in India, this garden is an oasis of peace amid Kolkata’s bustle. The Park Street Cemetery, where Kolkata’s founder Job Charnock rests along with British martyrs invokes nostalgia for a rich past.
The bygone era’s sinfully rich nawabi splendour assails one at the Marble Palace, where priceless antiques, including Joshua Reynolds and Rubens masterpieces adorn the walls. Shoppers have a tough time deciding where to go. Options are many – Park Street with its age old food joints and shops, Swabhumi, Central Cottage Industries Emporium and Dakshinapan to name a few. Culture throbs at the Academy of Fine Arts and the Nandan Complex.
Hindu religious fervour reaches crescendo at Kalighat’s Kalibari and at Sagar Island’s Gangasagar Mela. The highly acclaimed St. Paul’s Cathedral, Belur Math and Dakhnineshwar Temple also offer an intoxicating religious high but in a much more relaxed manner. Kolkata is probably among the last few places in the world where hand pulled rickshaws and trams still ply.
An unforgettable highlight of my trip was the visit to Sunderbans Delta, a natural habitat of man eating tigers. Exploration and sightseeing during the day, followed by an electrifying nightlife or an evening of downing drinks at a bar with garrulous locals makes you fondly reflect on the phrase that Kolkata is a city of joy.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
India Travel Menu
The exotic land of India with deep jungles, meandering rivers, looming mountains, time forgotten villages, haunting historical buildings, colonial architecture, countless vernaculars and excellent cuisines offers a bewildering array of exciting vacationing activities. If you are addicted to skiing and other winter sports, visit Gulmarg during December to April and at a fraction of the cost that one would incur at the Swiss Alps. Gulmarg also boasts world’s highest golf course. If beaches are your idea of fun, head to laidback Goa with its delightful Portuguese ambience or scenic Kerala. Definitely not to be missed is the world famous adrenaline pumping white water rafting on the raging currents of the Ganges at Rishikesh. This activity has seduced quite a few celebrities – Sir Edmund Hillary and Brad Pitt to name just two. With most airlines operating flights to India from Heathrow, visiting this destination is a breeze.
Step back into time at the Mathoor village of Karnataka. Here Sanskrit (supposed to be the world’s oldest language) is the language of choice. One can revisit shades of quaint colonial life at the sleepy hamlet of Jharkhand’s McCluskieganj. Watch Kamasutra coming alive in stone sculptures at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. The famous golden triangle tour of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur is a wonderful lesson in history. Here, one gets the opportunity to behold the architectural wonders of the awe inspiring Red Fort and the magnificent Taj Mahal. Jaipur, known as the Pink City, is jam packed with havelis, forts, and other grand remnants of India’s rich royal past.
Hill lovers may have a tough time selecting a hill destination as there are so many of them. Every hill station outdoes the other – be it Kashmir, known as the Switzerland of India, or Darjeeling with its dazzling view of KanchanJunga, supposedly the world’s second highest mountain peak. Another rare treat is the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, a riot of colourful flowers and butterflies during the summer months of June to September.
India, with scores of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, is also a boon for wildlife enthusiasts. Just some of the most famous ones are The Corbett National Park, the Sunderbans Delta with its notorious man eating tigers, the Kaziranga Rhino Sanctuary, the Kanha National Park, and the Gir Forests, home to the Asiatic Lion, which is on the verge of extinction.
With innumerable temples and pilgrimages, India also acts as panacea to the soul who seeks solace in Eastern mysticism. Every Indian city will leave you with fond memories, be it the ‘City of Joy’ (Kolkata) or ‘City of Pearls’ (Hyderabad). In fact, India may well be your best bet if you want quality but cheap holidays.
Step back into time at the Mathoor village of Karnataka. Here Sanskrit (supposed to be the world’s oldest language) is the language of choice. One can revisit shades of quaint colonial life at the sleepy hamlet of Jharkhand’s McCluskieganj. Watch Kamasutra coming alive in stone sculptures at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. The famous golden triangle tour of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur is a wonderful lesson in history. Here, one gets the opportunity to behold the architectural wonders of the awe inspiring Red Fort and the magnificent Taj Mahal. Jaipur, known as the Pink City, is jam packed with havelis, forts, and other grand remnants of India’s rich royal past.
Hill lovers may have a tough time selecting a hill destination as there are so many of them. Every hill station outdoes the other – be it Kashmir, known as the Switzerland of India, or Darjeeling with its dazzling view of KanchanJunga, supposedly the world’s second highest mountain peak. Another rare treat is the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, a riot of colourful flowers and butterflies during the summer months of June to September.
India, with scores of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, is also a boon for wildlife enthusiasts. Just some of the most famous ones are The Corbett National Park, the Sunderbans Delta with its notorious man eating tigers, the Kaziranga Rhino Sanctuary, the Kanha National Park, and the Gir Forests, home to the Asiatic Lion, which is on the verge of extinction.
With innumerable temples and pilgrimages, India also acts as panacea to the soul who seeks solace in Eastern mysticism. Every Indian city will leave you with fond memories, be it the ‘City of Joy’ (Kolkata) or ‘City of Pearls’ (Hyderabad). In fact, India may well be your best bet if you want quality but cheap holidays.
Tips to reduce the cost of your travel to India
If you are amongst those who travel frequently to India and are tired of looking for cheaper fares then here is some help for you to slash your travel costs.
Flexibility is the key if you want to keep you travel costs low. Unless on a tight schedule, try to be flexible with the date as well as the time of your flight. Tickets on early morning or late night flights are usually cheaper as fewer people prefer to fly during these unearthly hours.
Try flying mid-week instead of weekends as many airlines charge a weekend surcharge. The weekend surcharge is applicable separately for each leg of your travel – outbound and inbound. Opting for connecting flights is always an economical option instead of flying direct. But ensure that you fulfil the set transit criteria relating to your nationality and visas while booking a flight which involves a connection as certain countries have stringent norms for such transition or connection. If you are looking for cheap flights to India from Europe, Australia or America then a connecting flight from Middle East, Bangkok, or Colombo that lands in any major Indian city will surely prove to be a lot cheaper.
Flying by the carriers of the destination country is a good idea as there are generally less taxes levied on tickets of these airlines. The Indian carriers that operate flights to India from the UK are Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher. By enrolling in frequent flyer programs of your preferred airline you can redeem the points earned to buy free tickets or holidays. Another smart idea to lower your travel cost to India is to purchase the tickets them from the web portals of airline consolidators who buy tickets in bulk and sell at discounted rates. It would be sensible to avoid booking tickets on dates which coincide with any important national holiday or religious festival as most passengers would want to travel on these days leading to a spike in ticket prices.
Even the choice of airport has a bearing on the price of your air-ticket. If you choose a lesser known airport for your arrival and departure then that would also translate into significant cash savings. If it’s not urgent, try booking your tickets a few weeks in advance to get the best rates. Do not procrastinate at any cost; grab an exciting deal as soon as you see it flashing on your screen either as a banner advertisement or as a clickable link and ensure that you keep the print out of your confirmation code safely till you embark on your journey. Delay in these matters would prove to be costly as these blink-and you-miss it deals will vanish by the time you return from your tea break.
If you happen to be a frequent flyer to India then getting email updates about the latest offers would help you get the best deals all throughout the year. A little bit of smart work would enable you to slash your travel budgets significantly and help you make the most of your vacation. Good luck in your search!
Flexibility is the key if you want to keep you travel costs low. Unless on a tight schedule, try to be flexible with the date as well as the time of your flight. Tickets on early morning or late night flights are usually cheaper as fewer people prefer to fly during these unearthly hours.
Try flying mid-week instead of weekends as many airlines charge a weekend surcharge. The weekend surcharge is applicable separately for each leg of your travel – outbound and inbound. Opting for connecting flights is always an economical option instead of flying direct. But ensure that you fulfil the set transit criteria relating to your nationality and visas while booking a flight which involves a connection as certain countries have stringent norms for such transition or connection. If you are looking for cheap flights to India from Europe, Australia or America then a connecting flight from Middle East, Bangkok, or Colombo that lands in any major Indian city will surely prove to be a lot cheaper.
Flying by the carriers of the destination country is a good idea as there are generally less taxes levied on tickets of these airlines. The Indian carriers that operate flights to India from the UK are Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher. By enrolling in frequent flyer programs of your preferred airline you can redeem the points earned to buy free tickets or holidays. Another smart idea to lower your travel cost to India is to purchase the tickets them from the web portals of airline consolidators who buy tickets in bulk and sell at discounted rates. It would be sensible to avoid booking tickets on dates which coincide with any important national holiday or religious festival as most passengers would want to travel on these days leading to a spike in ticket prices.
Even the choice of airport has a bearing on the price of your air-ticket. If you choose a lesser known airport for your arrival and departure then that would also translate into significant cash savings. If it’s not urgent, try booking your tickets a few weeks in advance to get the best rates. Do not procrastinate at any cost; grab an exciting deal as soon as you see it flashing on your screen either as a banner advertisement or as a clickable link and ensure that you keep the print out of your confirmation code safely till you embark on your journey. Delay in these matters would prove to be costly as these blink-and you-miss it deals will vanish by the time you return from your tea break.
If you happen to be a frequent flyer to India then getting email updates about the latest offers would help you get the best deals all throughout the year. A little bit of smart work would enable you to slash your travel budgets significantly and help you make the most of your vacation. Good luck in your search!
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