Travelling in India

Still Unexplored Taj – The True Fantasy

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:38:00 +0000

Ever since its construction, Taj Mahal Indiahas always amused not only the travelers coming here but also the poets, film-makers and writers. Not only the construction, its beauty and the love story behind Taj Mahal is fascinating but the different myths that has been prevailing since ages has grasped the attention of the travelers coming to Travel in India. So here I am sharing few of such legends which I read recently associated with Taj.

Foreign Architect:
Up till now it was believed that only the marble used in constructing the Taj was brought from Italy but according to historical scriptures it was revealed that Italian architect Geronimo Veroneo was one of the prime architect who was especially called for by Shah Jahan himself.

Third Graves:
Other legend associated with Taj is that there are another set of graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal lying just beneath the central chamber. The graves that are there in the central chamber are fake graves or just a mere impression of the originals.

Taj Is Sinking:
Located on the banks of Yamuna river the very common myth about Taj is that this beautiful monument is sinking slowly. Infact with the passage of time some cracks have also been discovered on the marble platform and the monument. But till now nothing has been proved.

Black Taj:
The most popular of all the myths linked with Taj Mahal in Indiais of the black Taj Mahal. It is said that after constructing the white marble Taj, Shah Jahan was so much awestruck with its beauty that he decided to erect an exact replica of the monument on the opposite side of the Yamuna bank. But his dream could not be fulfilled as he was captured by his son. There can be some truth about this story as historians have found some of the remains of the black marble on the construction site.

But whatever the truth may be it is true that Taj Mahal is the most popular Place to Visit in Agracity and the country also.

Srinagar, the City of Lakes

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 07:12:00 +0000

Beat your summer blues by spending your vacations in the cool and refreshing atmosphere of Srinagar. The beautiful summer capital is perched amidst of Kashmir valley, at an altitude of 1,730m above the sea level. Referred as crowning glory of hill resorts, it is one of the most celebrated tourist spot for its picturesque snow-capped Himalayan backdrop. Discover the beautiful lakes rimmed by houseboats and Shikaras and several scenic sites.

Major Tourist Attractions in Srinagar:
Mughal Gardens
The blossoming gardens with a backdrop of lofty hills, commands a stupendous view of the Dal lake. Shalimar Bagh, Chashmesshahi Bagh and Nishat Bagh are the Mughal gardens, planted with steeped terraces and beautiful flowing watercourses. These are well laid out gardens, where visitors can enjoy the beauty of colorful blossoming flowers and admire the amazing water works.

Dal Lake
Dal lake is one of the important tourist attraction of Srinagar, located on the eastern part of the city. The panorama of series of lake with houseboats floating on them is worth praising. Surrounded by majestic mountains, the site offers panoramic view of the lake. Vacations can enjoy the traditional Kashmiri boat or the Shikaras ride and explore the immense natural beauty. Nagin is one of the most lovely part of Dal lake, separated from Dal lake by a causeway.

Shankaracharya Temple
Located on the Takhat-e-Suleiman hill, Shankaracharya Temple is one of the prominent sacred place of Hindu pilgrims. Lord Shiva is the presiding deity here. The temple is one of the oldest shrine of the Kashmir valley, constructed by Raja Gopadatya in 371 BC. It holds great archaeological importance and has a Persian inscription inside it. The main shrine with a circular cell, offers a magnificent view of the Srinagar. The temple is supported by a high octagonal platform, approached by a flight of hundred steps.

Add some thrill in your tour

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:56:00 +0000

India is a land of surprises. Foreign tourists get amazed after visiting India that there are so much activities available in one single country. A part from visiting the interesting places in India there are option for other tours according to one's choice. For example there are tours like pilgrimage tour, adventure tour, fort and palace tour, wild life tour, ayurveda and yoga tour etc. One has to just find his field of interest and can set out for the tour. If you are a adventurous lover and like to enjoy the thrill of life then make a trip to some adventure tour of India. Here you can feel the excitement of climbing up to the peak of Himalaya and rafting down to the snowy river. You can feel the thrill of camel safari in the desert of Rajasthan on the other hand you can track a tiger while sitting for a elephant safari. There are adventurous water sports like para sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling etc which give immense delight. One can go for the following thrilling tour in India :

Trekking- There are vast wonderland trekking routs in India. Himalayan foot hills are ideal to start with. The Garhwal and Kumaon regions are famous for trekkers. Himachal Pradesh, Ladak, Jammu and Kashmir, Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas are favourite destinations to the trekkers. A trekking expedition is a discovery of nature as well as of oneself. There are hiking, camping available for the trekkers in different adventurous tour.

Jeep Safari – For the adventure lovers jeep safari is an excellent tour full of thrill to explore the remote areas of the great Himalaya. Jeep safaris include wide range of areas within a short period of time. In India you can enjoy jeep safari from Delhi to Leh via so many interesting places.

Horse, Camel, Elephant safari – These are best to explore a kinky track. Wow... the animal safaris in Rajasthan are just amazing. These adventurous safaris can be enjoyed in the desert and wild life sanctuaries of Rajasthan. Can you imagine spotting an animal just sitting on another animal, it is just awesome.

Mountain Biking - Get ready ... steady and go...for mountain biking through the narrow trails of Himalaya. It is really exciting biking through the snow clad lanes amidst picturesque background, people waving their friends. There are trans Himalayan adventurous biking tour arranged by different organization which gather thousands of adventurous lovers every year.

River Rafting – If you like water then go for it. You will really love it. White water in high altitude, turbulent waves and uncontrollable water ... yes these are back ground of river rafting. The risk in this sport is as high as the waves. Your life here sticks to a fragile rubber raft, is not it thrilling?
Beside these daring tour India has got other thrilling sports like mountain cycling, para gliding, Skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving etc.
It should keep in mind that to go for such adventurous tour you have to be physically fit, have to full fill certain criteria.

Lathmar Holi

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:33:00 +0000

The colorful festival of Holi is celebrated with great gaiety and enthusiasm. Every part of India has its unique way of celebrating the festival. The festive fervor indulges every individual to color their life with happiness and joy.

On arrival of spring season, everybody gets delighted for the huge celebrations. Holi in Mathura and Vrindavana is famous for its unique way of celebrating the festival. Popularly known as Lathmar holi, the spirit of festivity is high among the people. It is celebrated in Barsana, a small village tucked at a distance of 15 km from Vrindavan. This is a birth place of Lord Krishna and the trend of playing holi was started by him. He use to play pranks with Radha and other Gopis.

In Barsana young females and women welcome the colorful festival with stout sticks. Women take a sweet revenge of the pranks played by Lord Krishna. Men try to put a flag on the temple dedicated to Radha. As they are well aware about the situation, so they come fully padded, carrying shields to protect themselves. Women beating men is an interesting view. The whole ambiance is filled with the loud sounds produced by the stick hammering those shields.

Once the women are tired, the game comes to an end. And now its men turn. They reciprocate by invading the village and drench the women folk with colors of palash and kesudo. Every individual have great fun during this special occasion, leaving behind all their worries and tensions.

By-

Nisha Kaur

Desert Camping in Rajasthan

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:42:00 +0000

Desert camping is a unique way to explore the immense beauty of colorful desert. A cozy stay at desert camps offers life time memories to be cherished. Enjoy the cool desert breeze at night and relish at traditional Rajasthanis cuisines. The majestic sand dunes of golden deserts invites people from every walk of life to have a panoramic view of mesmerizing surroundings, with an added charm of windblown sand marks and the ripples on the wind-caressed dunes. Such a magical site create enchanting mirages that delights every visitor.

Amenities at Desert Camp
Camping in fascinating deserts, underneath the star-studded sky is an exclusive experience. These camps accumulates the convenience of modern amenities including bedrooms, camp cots, quality bathrooms with hot water facilities, kitchen staff and other facilities required for your comfort. The tents are spacious enough to relax and move around comfortably.

Tourist Activities on Sand Dunes
Delight yourself with camel ride on the golden sands of serene deserts, in beautiful sunsets that enchant both your mind and soul. Explore the beauty of wide spread deserts, painted in myriad shades with sun rays, offers scenic beauty in the dawn. The charm of majestic deserts adorned with golden sands, rare vegetation and the picturesque view of camels walking swiftly in row mesmerizes the tourist.

Camping Nights
Immerse yourself in the dusky atmosphere at dawn and experience the magical expedition in heavenly deserts of Rajasthan. Night turns out to be lively with cultural performances by the locales. The arid land illuminates with folk songs and dances performed by the dancers, dressed in traditional attires, adorned with heavy jewelery. Spending leisure hours around the campfire, the whole ambiance filled with soft music, delights the visitors utmost. Relish at delectable Rajasthan cuisines, cooked with flavors of local spices to treat your mouth-watering tongue.

By-
Nisha Kaur

Pushkar fair in India

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:32:00 +0000

India is a land of fairs and festivals. Have a glimpse of vibrant Rajasthani cultural in the dazzling traditional gathering at Pushkar. Spectators enjoy the traditional musical dance-dramas in the regional language. Pushkar is one of the popular pilgrimage spot for Hindus, with 400 temples of which the most important are dedicated to Lord Brahma- the creator of the universe.

Pushkar fair is one of the most popular fair of the Thar desert. The arid land becomes lively with riot of colors and an exciting burst of activity. It begins on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi and continues for five days till Kartik Purnima. Hoards of people mark their presence in the fair to capture the vibrancy of state in one place.

Religious significance lies behind celebrations of the Pushkar festival. On the eve of this fair the Sarovar lake is engulfed with religious fervor, devotees take holy dip in a sacred water of this lake as they believe it will wash away their sins.

The tourists are captivated with the folk dances and folk music of Rajasthan. The devotees, musicians, acrobats, folk dancers, traders etc. dressed in bright colors makes the arid desert lively. Apart from this, the camels, horses, cows parade and race are other interesting attractions of the fair. Tug of war fills the mood with excitement and thrill.

Camel trading forms an important part of the Pushkar fair. Camel- traders from far away places flocks in Pushkar with their humped beasts. It is world's largest camel fair in which approximately 25000 camels are traded.

Finally, after the fulfillment of their spiritual duties and completion of the competition, pilgrims pack their luggage and proceed towards their home with unforgettable memories and their spirits filled with tranquility.

By-
Nisha Kaur

Ajanta and Ellora Caves

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:44:00 +0000

Nestled in the lush canopies of Aurangabad region, Ajanta and Ellora caves of India are one of the famous World Heritage Sites of India. Just 364 kms away from the hustle and bustle of the glamorous Mumbai city, Ajanta and Ellora caves are located amidst the serene ambiance of deep jungles.

Perhaps the most amazing discoveries of past millennium, Ajanta and Ellora caves are the handcrafted rock caves of ancient times. Ajanta and Ellora caves are positioned merely 100km and 30 km respectively from Aurangabad in Maharashtra.

These treasures of our country was discovered by a British officer named John Smith in 1819. There are 34 caves in Ellora and 29 caves in Ajanta which are perfect testimony of India's rich architectural heritage and communal harmony.
Ajanta caves are carved out by the laborious Buddhist monks in 200 B.C from the deep curved mountain side, lying in Sahyadri hills. These caves mainly consists of Budha sculptures, ancient paintings and exquisite frescos. Among the 29 caves, 5 caves of Ajanta served as Chastiyas (Temples) and 24 caves as Viharas (Monasteries). These caves also includes panels which displays the stories of Jatakas, a rich tale of different incarnations of Lord Buddha and image of nymphs and princesses among others.

Ellora caves regarded as the wonder of 4th century are the true specimens of religious harmony. These caves are built from 350 A.D to 700 A.D and are dedicated to three different religion viz, Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. The 12 caves on the South are of Buddhists and 17 caves in center are dedicated to the Hindus while five caves to the North belongs to the Jain's.

A huge statue of Budha seated on a two storey structure of stupa is the prime attraction of these caves. Along the state of Budha, this stupa also has dwarfs dancing and making music. In cave 16 there is a Kailasa Temple which was built by removing 200, 000 tones of rock and took a century for completion.

On the north to the Ellora caves and a mile away from central caves lies the Jain caves. The ceiling of cave number 32 showcases a beautifully designed lotus flower. These caves usually portray the Jain philosophy and traditions. In other cave you will find the Goddess Vakshi on her lion under mango tree, laden with fruits. Jain caves have the intricate designs and rich paintings on its walls and ceilings that will we a visual treat to your eyes.

By Jolly Mazumdar

Buddhist Pilgrimage Tourism

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:50:00 +0000

Introduction:
Buddhism, one of the three important and most prevalent religions in the world. It is a 2,500 years old world religion which is completely different from other systems of religion. Set on the teachings of Lord Buddha, Buddhism preaches the path of peace, practice and spiritual development that leads an insight into the truth of life.

Advent Of Buddhism:
With the birth of Lord Buddha as Siddhartha Gautam in 623BCE at Lumbini (Nepal), a distinct and organized religion has emerged on this earth. It is completely set on the principles or philosophy based on the teachings of Lord Buddha. The main objective of this holy religion is to end the suffering of cyclic existence that is the cycle of life and death. It awakes a being to the realization of the truth and the achievement of liberation. Buddhism also says that if a person wants to reach the destination of reality than one has to purify and train the heart and mind and have to act as per the laws of Karma to purify the soul.

Lord Buddha has attained enlightenment sitting under Bodhi tree, a huge pipal tree in Bodh Gaya. From then onward, Lord Buddha was called as “The Perfectly Self-Awakened one”, the Samyaksambuddha.

The Buddhist Religion:
Buddhism is an ancient religion which does not supports any given system of ritual and worship or entreaty of deities or Gods. It mainly emphasize on moral discipline or 'sila', meditation or 'samadhi' and wisdom or 'gyana' instead of idol-worship. The basic teachings of Buddhism are straightforward,
practical and states that nothing is fixed or permanent in this world. Nothing is static and change is possible in every aspect of life. Last but not the least, every action has some consequences. So, take your steps very carefully

According to Buddhism, anybody can attain enlightenment. If person strictly follows certain code and conducts such as Five Preceptions, Eightfold path and Four Noble Truths, he could easily attain enlightenment.

Buddhist Pilgrimage Destination In India:
Buddhism is a world religion which has its presence in every part of world. It starts from ancient Magadha (modern Bihar) in India and spreads to remotest corners of world. Some of the nations where Buddhism has a strong hold are India, Nepal, Cambodia, China, Hongkong, Tibet, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Phillippines and Laos.

Among all the countries, India is dotted with all several significant places related to Lord Budha as because Lord Buddha has taken birth and enlightenment in India only. Some of the Buddhist pilgrimage destinations of India are

Lumbini: The sacred land of Lumbini is the birth place of Lord Buddha. It is located 306 km from Kathmandu in Nepal. It is a World Heritage Site and has some famous places such as Sacred Garden, Maya Devi Temple, Puskani Pond, Ashokan Pillar, Nepal Buddha Temple.

Bodhgaya: Located 13 km from Gaya in Bihar, It is the place where prince Siddhartha has attained enlightenment under a pipal tree after a long quest of truth and knowledge. After this he was known as Lord Buddha. It is a highly revered place of Buddhist pilgrims. Mahabodhi temple at Bodhgaya is a World Heritage Site.

Sarnath: It is located just 10 km away from holy city of Varanasi. It is the place where Lord Buddha has shortly reached after attaining enlightenment in Bodhgaya. He delivered his first sermon at the deer park in Sarnath. Emperor Ashoka has constructed a stupa in Sarnath when he visited the place in 234 A.D. Some famous places of Sarnath are Chaukhandi Stupa, Dhamek Stupa, Mulgandha Kuti Vihar, Sarnath Museum which are built in between 3rd century BC and 11th century BC.

Kushinagar: Kushinagar is another significant place of Buddhist religion. It is the place where Lord Buddha has attained the state of Mahaparinirvana or permanent bliss at the age of 80. Main attractive place of Kushinagar are Mahaparinirvana Temple, Nirvana Chaitya, Ramabhar Stupa, Matha Kuar Shrine. Tourists as well as followers of Buddhism visit this place to pay homage to Lord Buddha.

Apart from there are some more important Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in India are Sankasya, Rajgir, Vaishali, and Sravasti

Pilgrimage Tourism In India

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Introduction:
As per the preamble of our constitution, India is a secular country and this is very well evident through the communal harmony that exists in our country. India is a banquet of numerous religion under the same roof. It is a unique land, where one will get to witness the believer of various religions living together without any chaos. All thanks to our constitution which had blessed us to follow our own faith without any hesitation.

It is said that India is the land of spiritualism. From time immemorial, many ancient sages and saints have blessed our country and made it a holy land. In India, one will come across numerous holy shrines of Hindus, mosques or dargahs of Muslims, gurudwaras of Sikhs, churches of Christians and monasteries of Buddhist etc. which are throng with the devotees through out the year. Apart from them, there are several huge rivers and lakes that are considered as pious. Devotees love to take dip in the water of these lakes and rivers to wash away all their sins.

What is Pilgrimage Tourism?
Pilgrimage tourism is a form of tourism that deals with trip to various pilgrimage destinations of our country. This kind of tourism enable the devotees to visit their religious places in a better way. Both Ministry of Tourism, India and several private travel agencies customizes various pilgrimage tours to help the pilgrims. So, that the devotees can pay homage to their respective deities.

Pilgrimage tourism aid the pilgrims to attain spiritualism and indulge themselves in meditation, spiritual healing etc.

Pilgrimage Tourism In India:
Every nook and corner of India is dotted with innumerable pilgrimage destinations of various religions. Some of the most visited pilgrimage destinations of India are :

Varanasi: Popularly known as “Gateway to Salvation(moksha)”, Varanasi is one of the ancient living cities of world. Lies at the bank of river Ganges, the most sacred river of India, Varanasi is famed for its numerous pious shrines and ghats. Due to this, Varanasi is also known as “City of temples and City of ghats”. Some of the popular temples of Varanasi are Sankat Mochan temple, Vishwanath temple, Durga temple, Tulsi Manas temple etc. Varanasi is the sole city of world where both death and life come together. The innumerable ghats of this holy city serves as the sites where the pilgrims offer their morning prayers to the rising sun. Even these sacred ghats also serves as the spot to pay tribute to the departed souls. Throughout the year, devotees throng these pious Ganges ghats to have a dip in the holy Ganges to absolve one from all sins. Some famous ghats of Varanasi are Dasaswamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Harischandra Ghat, Kabir Ghat and Assi Ghat etc. Thanks to all these temples and ghats, Varanasi is one of the most sought after pilgrimage destinations of Hindu religion in India.

Ajmer Sharif: One of the most revered destinations of both Hintravel asia dus and Muslims, Ajmer Shereif is dedicated to Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. Ajmer Sharif is regarded as the second most important pilgrimage of Muslims after Mecca. Pilgrims from various parts of India comes here to pay their homage and seek blessings of this holy soul at his dargah. This marble domed mausoleum is located at the foot of barren Taragarh hill in Rajasthan. Every year during May, an annual festival is organized here known as Urs festival. It is celebrated in memory of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. During this six day long festival, sacred kheer and milk pudding are distributed among the pilgrims and quawwallis are sung at night.

Golden Temple, Amritsar: Golden temple or Swarna mandir at Amristsar in Punjab is the most important pilgrimage destination of Sikh religion. Sikhs from far and wide place makes it a point to visit this holy place at least for once in their lifetime. Golden temple is also known as Darbar sahib. Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, the holiest literature in the Sikh religion, is place inside this gurudwara. Darbar Sahib has four doors to show that every religion or faith is welcomed to go in to meditate or just listen to the prayers for peace.

Sanchi Stupas: Sanchi Stupa are located at a distance of 68 km north of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. These stupas are created by the great Emperor Ashoka, during 3rd century BCE and 12th century A.D. More than 50 magnificent Buddhist monuments that perched atotravel asia p the hilltop of Sanchi are one of the famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These stupas are the most important characteristic monuments of Buddhist in India. Believers of Buddhism love to visit this place as one of their sacred place.

Osiyan: Osiyan is a small village at a distance of 65 km, north-east of Jodhpur district in Rajasthan. It is one of the important pilgrimage destinations for Oswal Jain community. This place is an oasis in the Thar desert and encompasses some ruined Jain and Brahmanical temples dating from 8th to 11th century.

The main temple of this place is dedicated to Lord Mahavira which was built by Pratihara king Vatsa raja in 783 A.D.

Wildlife Tourism in India

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:44:00 +0000

The Indian Wildlife has been varied as well as rich in nature. Indian approx 4% covered by the forests with 90 national parks and 482 wildlife sanctuaries. There are huge number of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the country. According to the study India has about 60-70% of biodiversity of the whole world.

India is a home of the numerous mammals like Asian Elephants, Asiatic Lion, Bengal Tiger, Sloth Bear, Indian Rhinoceros and Leopard that is associated with deities. Other Indian mammals like Wild Asian Water buffalo, Nilgai, Gaur and several species of the antelopes and deer. The dog family members like Indian Wolf, Golden jackal, Bengal Fox and Dhole or Wild Dogs which are vastly distributed over the place. Stripped Hyena, Macaques, Mongoose and Langurs are also find here in vast number.

Indian Wildlife has the 'Wow' factor as it is having varied biodiversity that attracts the tourists and the visitors from all over the globe. Some of the famous National parks in India are Jim Corbett National Park (Uttaranchal), Bandhavgarh National Park and Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Gir National Park in Sasangir (Gujarat), Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur which is having around 585 bird species. The Jim Corbett was the first National Park of the country which was established in the foothills of Himalayas.

There are certain famous and adventurous wildlife sanctuaries in the country such as:

Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan: It is known as the best bird sanctuary of the country. The Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary supports 300 species of birds and is spread over 29 sq kms.

Jim Corbett National Park: Located at the foothills of Himalayas, Jim Corbett has diverse variety of the flora and fauna. Basically it is famous for the Tigers, Leopards and Elephants. This national park has been established in the year 1936. About the flora of the Corbett it can be said that there are near about 110 species of trees, 50 mammal species, 580 species of birds, an 25 species of reptiles.

Gir National Park in Gujarat: It has been situated at the southwest peninsula of the Gujarat and is spreaded over 116 square mile of the state. The sanctuary has been made for the wild lions. The major wildlife attraction of the Gir National Park is the Leopard and itis known for the largest home for the Leopards.

Periyar National Park in Kerela: Periyar National park is located in the ranges of the western ghats in Kerela. It is home for Tigers and Indian Elephants. The other major wildlife attractions of the Periyar National Park is the Gaur, Wild Pigs, Barking Dear, Sambar, Dole or Wild Indian Dog, Mouse Dear.

Manas National Park: Manas National Park or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at the foothills of Himalayas extended till the parts of Bhutan. The park has been home to the endangered species such as Assam Roofed Turtle, Golden Langur, Hispid Hare and Pygmy Hog. This wildlife sanctuary has been spread over 360 Sq km. It has been declared as the World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO and is basically situated in Assam, India.

Kaziranga National Park: Kaziranga National park is located in Assam. The park was declared as the highest Tiger reserve in the year 2006. The park has almost two-third highest density of the one horned rhinoceros. It has the vast number of the tall elephant grass, marshland and dense tropical moist broadleaf forest.

Kanha National Park: Located in Mandla and Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh. Kanha National park is a home to the Royal Bengal Tigers, Sloth Bear, Leopards, Indian Wild Dogs and Barasingha. It has been established in the year 1955.

Matheran in Maharashtra

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:18:00 +0000

Situated 2,636ft above sea level in the western ghats, 23 kms from Karjat it can be easily be reached from Mumbai – Pune highway(NH-4). A sceneric beauty, its all about hills and hills. Picture postcards if you are looking for, you will find here. Its a true hill station – this smallest hill station of India. (You won’t find anything else here). Hold on! You might get to see the lights of Mumbai City in the dark!

Flashback
The tiniest Hill station in India was discovered by Hugh Poyntz Malet in May 1850. The Britishers developed it into a resort to beat the Indian heat.
Later on after Independence of India, its was declared as ecosenstive Region by the Union Environment Ministry. It still holds the British Architecture in its streets.

Matheran at its Best

Malet Spot – Do you wish to visit the place which is the point of discovery of this beautiful hill station. If so then do go to the Malet Spot, for it is the place which led the discovery of Matheran.

One Tree Hill Point – Yes, there is only one tree at this hill point. Known for the beautiful sceneric view it gives, a footpath from here leads to Shivajis Ladder, which then descends into the Chauk (Square) via Varose Village.

Carolettete Lake – Thinking about a cool walk down the lake side with lush greenery, this is the place to go for. Its a perfect place to track down along with your hubby. Don’t forget to take photographs.

Panorma Point – Trekking, another attraction of any hill station, can be done here. Climb to the top, by trekking or by hiking, either way it is beautiful.

Toy Train – Heard about the little cute toy trains in those Children Stories. We have one for you to take a ride. Touch it, feel it and ride on it, take photographs and enjoy the ride as it takes you to Matheran. Get your kids to take the ride, they will never forget it neither will you. It begins from Neral(87kms from Mumbai) and covers the tumulus route to Matheran.

Where and Why

You might hear another story errrr..... a reality of a lurking ghost passing by / or you might bang on a smiling ghost.... Oh its not just about the beauty of hills its also about the awkward beauty that the night arouses once the sun sets here. And yes, there’s nothing to worry about – its not scary at all to be here.

Its a place where there are places to be covered by walks – take the route to One tree hill point and the Panorma Point. Watch the sceneric beauty here while taking photographs. Malet Spot is another good place to do the hiking.

Adding to the beauty of the hills is the Charolettle lake. Take a walk down here or just sit by the shores enjoying the beauty of the surroundings.And above all enjoy this place at your leisure by just lying down idly sipping cup of coffee.

Things to Do and See in India

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:21:00 +0000

Glimpse of the Taj:

It is difficult to resist visiting the place which is the Indian identity to the rest of the world. Voted one of the 'Seven Wonders of the World' twice, this marble edifice will surely take your breadth away with its absolute cream beauty and architectural excellence. Watching the milky Taj in the glowing evening lights or on a full moon night will be an unforgettable experience that you can take back home and treasure forever.

Adventure in the Himalayas:

The beauty of the north is accentuated by the sky kissing Himalayan peaks, that are the crowning glory of the country. Its an absolute heaven for the adventure seekers, with adrenalin pumping fun awaiting them on the snow-capped peaks. Uncover the excitement and thrill by enjoying skiing, mountaineering and trekking on the steep slopes of the Himalayas.

Encounter With The Wild:

For nature lovers there is enough of scope to see the wild, lazying around in their preferable habitat. The mysterious forests of Bandhavgarh, Bharatpur, Ranthambore, Corbett, Bandipur and 441 other sanctuaries, 80 national parks and 23 Tiger reserves will give you ample opportunity to go for jeep safaris, elephant safaris and nerve wracking Tiger trails. 1250 varied species of colorful birds can also be found in different locations of India. With so much to explore, you can't just miss to hear the roar!

Holy Dip In the Ganges:

India is known for its varied faiths and strong devotion. There are many customs and beliefs followed by Indians, but to get a summation of all, you can visit the Sangam in Allahabad, where all the three sacred river Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet. These rivers are personified and worshiped as Goddesses. Ganga is the holiest of them all and a dip into the river waters is considered to bless one with salvation. Standing near the banks of the Ganges at Sangam, one can witness the real traditional culture and faith of India followed even till now, with the same vigor and enthusiasm.

Royal Retreat in Rajasthan:

Rajasthan is the reservoir of precious heritage of India. It symbolizes the rich treasures from the era of the Maharajas and kingdoms, their valor and romance, their culture and traditions and of course their architectural brilliance. The gigantic forts, opulent palaces, painted havelis and the excellent art and architecture that the state still showcases will leave you spellbound. You just cannot miss the camel safaris, sunset on sand dunes, a lavish stay at a heritage hotel, folk performances, the palace royalty, ethnic jewelery, camel festival, tie and die textiles and bright faces of the locals in colorful turbans.

Ayurvedic Massage in Kerala:

Amidst picturesque and calm environs, enjoy a rejuvenating oil or therapeutic massage to heal your mind and spirits. Kerala, also known as 'God's Own Country' for its lush environs, beaches and backwater, has perfected the art of Ayurveda treatments. People from across the world come here for meditrips to get expert treatments that cure numerous ailments and give you ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation.

Beach Splash in Goa:

The city of beaches stores within itself immense fun for tourists. Anjuna, Beach, Dona Paula Beach, Baga Beach, Miramar Beach, Colva Beach and many more lively beaches of Goa offer unlimited excitement that one can explore including cruises, water sports, backwater fun, dolphin shows,etc.
Delicious sea food served at the beach side restaurants is also one of the attractions of the place.

Shopping in Chandni Chowk:

Narrow lanes aligned with old and dilapidated shops owned by the same family for years, Chandni Chowk in Delhi, is a true representation of an ancient market and its hustle bustle. Its lanes are named after the things the shops of that lane have been selling for years, like parathe wale gali (suffed bread lane), kitabon wali gali (book lane) and the likes. Here you can taste the real Indian snacks at affordable rates. The finger licking good food and the ethnic attires are the specialty of the market. For the some of the best souvenirs of the country and a unique experience of its culture, you must visit this traditional shopping destination.

Sculptural Extravaganza of Khajuraho:

The 10th century Khajuraho temples of Madhya Pradesh are a must visit attraction of India. It was once a religious centre built by the Chandela Rajput kings. It is named as one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO for its architectural brilliance and the exotic sculptures finely carved in stone. The erotic sculptures simply narrate the adeptness of the artisans of that era to portray their art with such a finesse.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Grandeur of an Indian Wedding:

How can one leave the Indian lands without attending a king-size Indian wedding, with dhol, bhangra, mouth watering food, glittering traditional garments and the unique wedding customs. Join in the fun of the pre-wedding ceremonies like Mehndi, Sangeet and Sagai. Be a part of the Baraat and dance to the foot tapping beats of the dhol, to forget all your forthcoming schedules to live in the present. Witness the nervousness of the bride and the emotions attached with the ceremonies. You will simply love everything attached with a grand Indian Wedding.

Famous Pushkar Fair of India

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:44:00 +0000

Pushkar Fair is the most famous religious fair of India, with its popularity crossing the expanse of the Indian territory. It is the world's largest camel festival. This annual fair takes place in a small town of Pushkar, located in the western part of Rajasthan. It witnesses crowds of pilgrims, of similar faiths, coming down from every corner of the world, to take a holy dip in the Pushkar Lake, on the most auspicious bathing day of the year, to attain God's blessings and salvation. The town becomes spirited and brimmed with zest, with the hustle bustle of activities taking place during the festival.

TIME AND DURATION:

Pushkar Fair takes place at the time of Kartik Purnima or the full moon day during the months of October-November. The festival extends for about a week.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The colorful city turns more vibrant during the fair which is also called Pushkar mela by the locals, with the cultural exhibitions, shows, cattle fairs, folk dances, animal races and other such competitions taking place on a daily basis during the week long festival. The town embraces thousands of people who come together, in colorful traditional attires and long turbans, near the Pushkar lake, which has got 52 ghats. The main attractions of the fair are the world renowned camel fair and the holy dip in the Pushkar Lake.

Camel Fair:

The largest camel fair takes place in Pushkar. Thousands of camels, bedecked with jewels are paraded on the ruthless sands by their owners sporting vivid turbans and long mustaches, to sell them to the rural folks, who come in large numbers to this fair in search of good breeds of animals and to convert their cash into assets. Buyers carefully examine the cattle and bargain prices. After purchasing the animal, the cattle accessories are also next in the line to be purchased, especially the saddles, handcrafted decorations and daggers.

Events and Recreation:

Many activities and events are lined up during the Pushkar fair, which includes exciting horse, donkey and camel races, folk dances and musical nights, cultural shows and tug of war. Various stalls of animal accessories, woolens, jewelery, home accessories, textiles, bags, brass ware, and tattooes create an attractive scene where rural folk seem to enjoy shopping to the hilt. Even tourists can pick amazing variety of accessories to gift someone back home.

Religious Significance:

A bath at the Pushkar lake on the day of Kartik Purnima, is considered to be sacred and a final step in attaining salvation. The devotion and belief of the pilgrims can be seen from the fact that people wake up early even before dawn to reach the Pushkar ghats. They take the holy dips in the lake and offer prayers according to the customs and rituals. After this religious practice, devotees visit the Pushkar shrines, and complete the ritual called Parikrama. At dusk, the holy lake illuminates with numerous diyas placed upon leaves and floated on the lake waters. The morning and evening Aarti is the main attraction of the puja, and crowds of pilgrims turn out to participate in the religious affair.

People of Rajasthan await the festival with full rapture and prepare well in advance by saving money to enjoy the fair, participate in the religious ceremony and shop for their cattle, for their house and for themselves. People also visit a special temple at Pushkar, devoted to the four headed Lord Brahma, the creator of Universe. It is one of the four temples devoted to Lord Brahma and is built in the Dravidian style prevalent in south India.

Mythological Relevance:

Pushkar literally means a lotus flower. Legend has it that Lord Brahma performed a Yagya at this place along with Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, forming the trinity of Hindu Gods. During the Yagya, a lotus flower fell at this site and a steam of water sprung up from the place, creating the Pushkar lake.

On the Varaha Ghat, Lord Vishnu's avatar is considered to have appeared. At the Gandhi Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed in the Pushkar Lake and the Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh read the sacred verses from the religious epic Guru Granth Sahib at the Brahma Ghat. The site also finds its name in the famous Hindu epic Mahabharata.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS:

Apart from the main Pushkar fair, the town is also famoous for some other religious sites including the important temple of Lord Brahma, Jagatpita Shri Brahma Mandir, the Savitri Temple, the Varaha Temple, the Ramvaikuntha Temple and the Mahadeva Temple.

TEA TOURS TO INDIA

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:06:00 +0000

Tea, locally known as 'chai', is an all time favorite beverage for the Indians. It is this magical leaf that makes Indian mornings refreshing and evenings relaxed. Although it is not exactly known where and when tea originated in India but commercial tea cultivation here commenced in the 19th century, when the Britishers started using acres of hilly areas of Assam for tea plantations. Today India is one of the largest tea producing countries in the world.

India is gaining importance as a popular tea tour destination. An Indian tea tour covers the lush rolling hills of velvety tea leaves present in Assam and Darjeeling in north-east India and the Nilgiri area of south India. Short treks are organized in the silent and pleasing terrains where you can witness acres of green cover till the horizon. Local women, in traditional attires, with baskets hung on their backs, can be seen in the fields, often chatting and laughing or singing a local rhyme.

Making your tea tour more memorable and educating are the factories along side the tea gardens, where there are special provisions made for the tourists to observe the processing of tea leaves. You can talk to the workers here and learn how they efficiently they make the fragrance of these tea leaves reach our kitchen and cups.

For a peaceful and pleasurable stay amid these enchanting vistas, you can easily book one of the luxurious resorts that are present along these tea estates. As soon as you draw out your curtains, you are welcomed by the fragrance of tea leaves thats brought to you by the fresh and cool winds of the hills.
To make your trip more exciting and fun-filled, you can get on with some adventure activities like hiking and jungle safaris.

Tea Producing Regions in India:

Assam:

Green misty hills of Assam, with mesmerizing natural beauty and calmness broken only by the chirping of birds and sounds of the local music, pure winds bringing a kind of freshness to the entire region simply win the hearts of travelers. Tea estates of Assam are famous all over the world for their quality and variety. Assam's more than a 100 tea estates together produce around 350 million kg of tea every year. The unique Black Tea of Assam is demanded worldwide for its strong fragrance and distinctive flavor. July to October months are mainly the plucking season for tea.

Darjeeling:

Nestled in the foothills of Himalayas, this beautiful city of West Bengal is known for its aromatic and rich tea which is branded as the 'Darjeeling Tea'. The sprawling tea estates of Darjeeling, including Makaibari Tea Estate, Margaret's Hope, Sungma, Castleton, Happy Valley Tea Estate and Glenburn Tea Estate, are spread in an area of 20,000 hectares. Though its contribution to the total tea production in India is as small as 3 percent, but the richness of its tea produce is incomparable to any of the tea produce in the world.

Nilgiri:

The picturesque landscape of southern India is ornate with elevations supporting tea plantations. The yellow and red color soils of the Nilgiri hills are irrigated with monsoons twice in a year, helping the cropping season to last for whole of the year. The tea produced here is compared to a mild and mellow liquor which smoothly settles on the taste buds. For a tea tour in Nilgiri, one can visit the Highfield Tea Factory, the Vigneshwara Tea Estate Factory and the Lockhart Tea Estate.

WINE TOURISM IN INDIA

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:17:00 +0000

With evolving trends in tourism, India is also gearing up to break the shackles of normalcy and venture into new zones. Long known as a country of temples and palaces, India is now trying a makeover to promote itself as a wine tourism destination too. Indian Government has finally discovered the wine hungry market that's growing at a fast pace, and is trying to catch up with the front runners of the industry in a quest to promote wine tourism.

Wine tourism is one of the best ways to take the traveler off the regular track for a wine yard trip to taste, buy and learn about wines and in that process get an insight of the lives of farmers, their food habits and culture. Some of the western countries have perfected the art of wine making and have been promoting their land as a wine tourism destination since years. You will find most of the wine connoisseurs in Italy, France, New York, California, Canada, Colorado, Spain, Hungary, Germany, Argentina, Portugal, Georgia and South Africa.

So to uncork this opportunity, India is bringing more and more of its fertile lands under grape cultivation. Currently more that 50,000 hectares of land in India are used for growing grapes. Pune, Nasik, Bangalore, Belgaon, Bijapur and Nandi Valley are amongst the famous wine destinations of India. Though in the initial stage now, Indian Government is taking proactive actions to enhance the image of India as a world class wine haven.

The focus of Indian Government lies on planning the wine yards of Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to make them opulent in fine quality wine production and along with that offer best services and travel experience to the tourists. Hotels, guest houses, restaurants and spas are coming up in Nasik and Bangalore to give wine related spa treatments, like champagne showers, to attract tourist footfalls. These regions are being made conveniently accessible for the tourists, so that tourists can easily come and enjoy peaceful strolls in the vineyards.

Steps are also being taken to educate students and hospitality professionals on wine processing and wine tasting. Along with that technical assistance and know how to the farmers is being given, to get best quality produce. Concessions to attract investment in the wine industry is also being given by the state.

Major Wine Producing Regions in India:

Maharashtra

Maharashtra, in western India, is the largest producer of wine in India with a production 10 million liters of wine every year. Nasik, Pune and Sangli are the cities that are largely involved in grape cultivation. Napa Valley in Nasik boasts of being specialized in this industry with international alliances and technical know how. Its climate is said to be similar to that of South France and its temperature and humidity are considered ideal for grape cultivation. The largest wine producing companies in Nasik are Sula and Indage.

Tiger Hills Resort in Nasik is the first wine resort and spa in India. A project of Chateau Indage, it spans to a mammoth 2800 acres and features 20 luxury rooms, a lounge, restaurant and a boutique too. The USP of the resort is its spa that offers unique vino therapies including champagne showers and baths using grape seed oils and extracts. There are more such luxury wine resort projects in the pipeline in Pune, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. Apart from the resorts, wine bars are also a point of attraction in Nasik. There are currently four wine bars in the city and many more are slated to open up soon.

Karnataka:

Karnataka is the second largest producer of wine in the country, producing 1.8 million liters of wine every year. Around 600 acres of its land is used for grape cultivation. Chikkaballapur, Bagalkot, Belgaon and Bijapur cities of Karnataka have tasted the scope of this industry and are extensively involved in wine production.

Bangalore, known as an IT hub, has also established itself for rich wine produce. Karnataka Wine Board has planned out a three day wine festival here, to boost wine tourism in the state. During this festival, wine connoisseurs from all over the world can taste the Indian wine and attend seminars and conferences on wine production.

So, the next time you are in India, don't miss the magic of wine along with natural beauty, adventure and heritage. Cheers.

Village Tourism in India

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:59:00 +0000

Introduction:-
Once Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation quoted that “India lives in its village”. And, believe me its really true.

An Indian village is the true reflection of rich culture and tradition of our great nation. And, the best way to peep into a bucolic ambiance of an Indian village is by indulging yourself in a village tourism. As the name reflects, village tourism means a tourism that deals with a tour to rustic environment of a village. Similar to other forms of tourism, Village tourism is also a part and parcel of Indian tourism industry.

What is Village Tourism?
Village tourism is a specialized field of tourism whose main objective is to popularize village destinations as a tourist place.

Village tourism will surely aid you to have an insightful look into a different world of calm and serenity. Chirping birds, mud-plastered walls and thatched roofs of village huts, big shaded trees, green patches of land and zig-zag kutcha roads are the prime facet of a Indian Village. And, if you have the desire to immerse yourself in the nostalgia of a village surrounding than you must opt for Village tourism.

Popular Destinations Of Village Tourism In India:-
If you are bored with the regular tourism that gives you the glimpse of colorful city life than you must try out village tourism in India. India has abundance of villages that are away from the complexities of urban lifestyle.

Along with the other forms of tourism, nowadays Indian tourism industry is also giving special emphasis on village tourism. To serve this purpose, Indian government is developing some sites in India particularly for Village Tourism such as

Mandwa Village in Rajasthan: Mandwa village of Rajasthan is fondly called as the “open air gallery of Rajasthan. This village is one of the pioneer destination of village tourism in India. Mandwa is a desert village and dotted with some beautifully designed havellis or mansions. If you are planning to tour Mandwa than you must carry both woolen and cotton clothes as the temperature varies drastically between day and night. The best time to visit Mandwa is from September to February. While your trip to Mandwa, drink lots of liquid product to beat the heat of scorching sun rays.

Kinnaur Village in Himachal Pradesh: Another prominent destination in India that serves as popular site for village tourism in India is Kinnaur village in Himachal Pradesh. This hilly village of Himachal Pradesh is nestled among the great heights of Himalayas. It is a haven for both the adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers. Kinnaur has ample of soft and hard trekking routes and orchards of apples, peaches and apricots that will surely fulfill desires of both trekkers and nature lovers. Often routes of this village remain close for 6th months, so the best time to visit Kinnaur is from May to October. It is advisable to carry both light to heavy woolen garments for your trip to Kinnaur village due to its climate condition.

Durgapur Village in Assam: It is one of the recently developed and much hyped village tourism site in India. Durgapur village is located in the North-eastern state of Assam and very close to Kaziranga National park. It is a unique village. In this village, almost 70 families are trained by the State Tourism Board to look after the needs of tourist who comes here to enjoy a memorable village vacation in India. Durgapur village is also famed to reflect the local Assamese culture.

Beside them Indian Government is trying to develop some more villages as a spot for village tourism in India.

Red Fort in India

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:05:00 +0000

If you want to get nostalgic about the foregone Mughal era, than walk into the Red Fort commonly known as Lal Quilla. Red for is one of the largest monument and popular tourist destination of Old Delhi. It is one of the spectacular masterpiece of Mughal architecture was started by the emperor Shah jahan during his reign in 1638, when he transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi and completed in 1648. Lal Quilla is located at the town's northern end on the right bank of the Yamuna and south of Salimgarh. Due to its architectural brilliance, Red fort has been notified as a monument of national importance in the year 1913. Again in the year 2007, Lal Quilla has been declared as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO.

Even today, the Fort remains an impressive testimony to India's grandeur and power. This fort serves as the main venue for Prime Minster of India's address to the nation on 15th August celebrated as Independence day.

Architectural significance of Red Fort:
Red fort is an perfect example of high level of art form and ornamental work of the Mughal dynasty.

The art work in the Red fort belongs to the Shahjahani style, which is a blend of Persian, European and Indian art work. This kind of style is rich in form, color and expression. The fort is surrounded by strong stone walls extending up to 2kms in length with the height varying from 18 mts. on the river side to 33 mts. on the city side. At regular intervals the fort wall has bastions, gates and wickets. There are all total 14 gates among which, the important ones are the Mori, Lahori, Ajmeri, Turkman, Kashmiri and Delhi gates, some of which have already been demolished. The walls, gates and few other structures of the fort are built of red sand stone whereas the palaces within the fort are made up of
marble. The entrance to this splendid fort is from the Lahori Gate which got its name because its direction towards Lahore in Pakistan .

See and admire:
This beautiful edifice has endless array of spectacular palaces which will at once behold your eyes. The center of the fort is known as the Naubat Khana or the Drum House. It was built in front of the Chhata Chowk. In the erstwhile era, the musicians of the court used to play music for the emperors and the announcement of arrival of the royalties has been done from here. The fort has some other beautiful palaces, halls, elaborately designed gardens and a mosque.

Diwan-i-am or the hall of public audiences served as a place to listen complaints of the common people. In contrast to it Diwan-i-khas was the hall of private audiences where the emperor meets with the private audiences. This hall is made up of marble and the centre of attraction of this hall was the Peacock throne studded with rubies and gems.

Another spectacular attraction of Red Fort is the Zenanas or the women's quarter. It is comprised of the Rang mahal and the Mumtaz mahal. Rang mahal or the palace of colors, which was the home to the royal ladies. The main attraction of this building is the lotus shaped fountain which is made out of a single piece of marble. It was decorated with excellent paintings, gold bordered projections and mosaics of mirrors. The ceiling was made with gold and silver which wonderfully reflected in a central pool in the marble floor. The other attractions enclosed within this monument are the hammams or the Royal Baths, the Shahi Burj which used to be Shahjahan's private working area, and the Mumtaz mahal has now been transformed into a museum.

The Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque, built by Aurangzeb in 1659 for his personal use. It is located to the west of the hammam and is a three domed mosque carved in white marble.

Nahr-i-behisht or the stream of paradise are the continuous source of which runs through the center of each pavilion of the imperial private apartments which lie behind the throne. The Shah Burj, a tower situated at the northeastern corner of the fort helps to draw water from the Yamuna river for this stream.

Khas Mahal has the imperial chambers. It is the third pavilion from the south and contains a suite of bedrooms, prayer rooms, a veranda and a tower named Mussaman Burj built against the fortress walls.

Last but not the least, a large formal garden known as the Hayat Bakhsh Bagh or the "Life-Bestowing Garden" lies to the north of the mosque. Some later modification and reconstruction were made to enhance the beauty of the garden.

Things to do:
Light and sound show:
Delhi Tourism Ministry puts on a spectacular sound and light shows or sonet lumiere at the Purana Quila which displays the 5000 years old history of the Delhi city. These shows are a great way to spend time. The subject of these shows includes the creation of the Indraprastha by the Pnadavas, Status of Draupadi reduced to a dasi of Hastinapur, Prithviraj Chauhan gallooping away with Samyogita, and some stories related to Mughal dynasty like the legendary Razia sultana, Bhahadur Shah Zafar surrendering to the British. The shows are basically composed in both Hindi and English. The English seasons are from November to January at 7.30 p.m in January to April and September to October at 8.30 p.m and from May to August at 9 p.m.

Shopping:
Lal Quila is now surrounded by a busy market place called the 'Meena Bazaar'. This bazaar is one of the favorite shopping hub which has an excellent collection of antiques, miniature paintings and skillfully crafted fake ivory jewelery. The bazaar also sells some beautifully woven fabulous carpets.

Photography:
The Red fort of Delhi is a place for photographers delight. It has some beautiful monuments where you can click photographs as a memoir of this trip.

Birdwatching in India

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:51:00 +0000

A large number of people in world love to spend their time in admiring the various species of birds, a beautiful creature of the nature. Bird watching or birding is an adventurous sport traced back to 1800 century. The scientific name for bird watching is ornithology, which require keen observation and study of various birds with the naked eyes or with the binoculars. Birding which is a patience job require a significant auditory component, as most of the time birds are readily identified by the sound they made instead of their look and color. The term bird watching was first used by the Edmund Selous in 1901.

Unlike ornithologists who observe and study birds using more formal and scientific method, commoners engage in bird watching mainly for recreational and social reasons with the help of a binocular and an experienced field guide. Field guides are an essential part of bird watching as they provide valuable information about the habitats, birding sites, maps showing range of different birds, the time and the venue where they migrate at a particular season, and which bird creates which sound and what are they known as. Goods guides are also acquainted with the knowledge of seasonal color changes of similar appearing bird species. These guides also help in identifying the locale as well as migrated species due to the variation in their anatomy. Knowledge about birds topography and their range maps helps to identify and locate which birds lives in which part . The national bird of India is the Blue peafowl (Pavo cristatus).

The most ideal time for birding in the area having temperate climate is during the spring or fall when the greatest variety of migrated birds may be witnessed. At these time large numbers of birds travel north or south to wintering or nesting locations. Observing birds early in the morning is a better way to find them active and vocally impressive. According to the location and season, certain sites such as the local patch of forest, wetland and coast may be favored as a birding site.

Best sights for bird watching in India:
India and most of the South Asian countries are famed world-wide as the birds paradise. Almost 1200 species of birds are commonly found in India. In India 13 bio-geographical regions are demarcated for birding namely Trans Himalayan, Western Himalayas, Eastern Himalayas, Desert, Semi-arid, Gangetic plain, Central India, Deccan Plateau, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, North East, Coasts and the Andaman Nicobar Islands.

Some of the prominent sanctuaries in India are as follows:
Bharatpur bird sanctuary, Rajasthan
Nawab Ganj Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
Porbandar Bird Sanctuary, Gujarat,
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary in Kerala
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Goa
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka
Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Kolleru Bird Sanctuary and Manjira Bird Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh
Karnala Bird Sanctuary and Nandurmadhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary, Maharashtra

Dos and Don'ts of bird watching:
Every year large number of people involve themselves in bird watching which in turn creates an impact on birds and on their habitats. Due to this kind of risk , its become mandatory to strictly follow some kind of bird watching etiquette. Some bird watching etiquette are as follows:
Avoid stressing of birds by limiting the use of photography and playback devices.
Always maintain a safe distance from nests and nestling colonies and respect the private colonies.
Promote the welfare of birds and their environment.

Konark Sun Temple

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 05:40:00 +0000

A specimen of fine craftsmanship Konark Sun temple , is one of the prominent temple in the entire state of Orissa. Spread over 2.5 kilometers, it reflects the cultural essence and magnitude of the India's ancient architecture and timeless spirituality. The magnificent temple been dedicated to the sun God Surya. Also referred to as Black Pagoda, the 13th century Sun temple was built by Raja Narasinghs Deva-I of the Ganga Dynasty. The temple depicts the golden chariot of the Sun God Surya, pulled by white horses across the heavens on his daily trip across the sky. Today the shifting of the coastline has displaced this giant structure 2 km from the sea.

Architecture Admiration :

Only few sections of the Konark Sun temple are now in ruins, otherwise the major portions are retorted to their former glory. Konark is a masterpiece of the Orissa's medieval architecture. The whole, temple has been designed in the form of a chariot of Surya, drawn by seven horses. The entrance of the temple is ruled by the two powerful lions, which are shown crushing the war elephant. The whole temple is embellished with marvelous stone carvings. As soon as you enter the complex you are are warmly welcomed at Nata Mandir. The place where dancers were performed in order to pay respect to Sun God – Surya.

The intricate carvings and the sensuous figures in various poses will surely leave you spell binded. It is truly an archaeological treasure of India. The main sanctum which enshrined the presiding deity has been fallen off. The temple is most famous for its erotic sculptures. There are thousands of images that include deities, celestial and human musicians, dancers, lovers, and myriad scenes of courtly life, ranging from hunts and military battles to the pleasures of courtly relaxation. These are interspersed with birds, animals (close to two thousand charming and lively elephants march around the base of the main temple alone), mythological creatures, and a wealth of intricate botanical and geometrical decorative designs.

Things to See and Do :

Cultural Entertainment :

Konark Sun Temple is also the venue of famous dance festival that is celebrated here in the month of December every year. The classical dancers from all over the country perform in the open air auditorium at the temple. The major dances performed during this event are Odissi, Bharathnatyam, Manipuri, Kathak and many more. It is also the meeting point of artisans, who gather here especially for the craft mela, that gives them the opportunity to display their wares and get the right prises for them.

Konark Museum :

You can check out the Konark museum, located on the northern side of the sun temple. It consists of four galleries that exhibit nearly 260 antiquities, preserved as the reminder of ruins of sun temple. You may find amazing sculptures of Hindu God and Goddess. Than there are images of Sun God, Narayana, Gaja-Vyala and some pictures of king with his battle troop. Apart from artifacts there are objects of roaring lion, king enjoying dance performance, salabhanjikas, swans with garlands,

Sacred Dip :
When you are done with the sightseeing tour of the temple, take a sacred dip in the holy pond at Konark. It is assumed that by that the pond has some divine power through which all the one can get escape from all the worries of his life. Samba, son of lord Krishna, was cursed of Leprosy on throwing a stone in the Konark beach which fell into sacred pond and laid the foundation of Sun Temple.

Konark Beach :
Apart from being the major pilgrimage site, Konark is equally famous for it beach. So it serves you both as a religious as well as adventure destination also. So what are you waiting for? Go and try out some exciting adventure options at the Konark beach.

Enjoy the numerous water sports and fascinating the view of the rising and the setting sun. The view is simply wonderful and is something that one should not miss at all. While here you can also check out the Ramachandi Temple, located nearly 5-10 kilometers from this place.

Shopping :

There are many things to shop for at Konark. You can shop for the miniature replicas of the statutes and sculptures at the temple, exquisite sculptures, memorabilia and several woodcarvings. The paintings on the leaves and various handicraft items are also found in the stores near the temple.

Marari Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:28:00 +0000

If you want to experience the undiscovered Kerala,'the God's own country' and have the desire to spent a small sojourn at these unexplored trails of Kerala, than immediately pack your bags.

Marari beach one of the unexplored and virgin tourist destination of Kerala is only 15 minutes drive from Alapuzzha and 1 hour drive from Cochin. The name Marari originates from “Maraikulum”, a typical fishing village where the life hasn't change much and it is still untouched by the urbanization.

Maraikulam village lies on the shores of the Malabar coast where the Indian ocean meets with the Arabian sea.

Marari beach has much more just than the endless panorama of sand and surf. The long stretches of the sandy beaches are swayed by the palm groves. It is a destination to experience the traditional life style of a fishing village and an ancient way to rejuvenate your body, mind and soul. Marai beach also offers an awesome view when the sun slowly do down over the horizon and leaving the red patches on the sky. Due to the warm climatic condition through out the year, the season from October to May is very pleasant to visit this place.

If you have had enough of leisurely activities under the sun and swimming at the beach and now in a mood to explore the nearby beautiful places, than get ready to enjoy the marvelous back water cruises, a nearby attraction to the Marari beach. They will surely stunned you by their scenic beauty and placid atmosphere. This is an experience which will make you relax and inspire you throughout your life. Cochin, a nearby town to Marari beach is an excellent option to shop some genuine antique pieces. This small Jew town is famous as a trade center on the spice coast.

Things to do and see:

Maraikulum Coir units:
Maraikulum, a nearby typical fishing village, located 60km south of Cochin, is famous for its coir units. This village is tucked away behind the dense palm groves and coconut trees which presents a look of green fortification amidst the yellow sandy beaches.

Marari Beach Ayurvedic centre:
The Ayurvedic centre at the Marari beach is an ideal site to experience the ancient Ayurvedic treatments of India. Expert masseuses of this centre, will massage your body in such away that you will feel reborn. You can even indulge yourself in the early morning Yoga classes which will surely help you to rejuvenate your body, mind and soul, amidst the dense coconut grove.

Backwater Cruises:
Backwater cruises are also a nearby major attraction to the Marari beach. It is an superbly relaxing and inspiring experience which will enthralled your memories for ever. The tranquil and scenic beauty of the backwaters will surely fascinates and beckon you to return here again and again.

Water sports:
If you are bored of swimming and preparing sand castles at the beach, than try out some adventurous water sports at the beach. It is an excellent beach to indulge in various kinds of adventurous sports such as para sailing, surfing, para gliding and even for a game of beach volley ball.

Honeymoon Vacations In India

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:35:00 +0000

Introduction:
After the great gala of wedding, a newly wedded couple eagerly awaits for their dream honey moon. It is a vacation whose beauty is unmatched to any other vacation.

Honeymoon the most exciting moment in any couple's marital life. It ushers a newly wedded couple into a different world of love, loyalty, commitment and mutual understanding.

After the colorful and hectic wedding ceremonies, honeymoon is the time to relax with your beloved person and celebrate the beginning of a new life. Honeymoon is considered as the best moments in a couple's life as it provides a golden opportunity to understand your beloved person, with whom you are going to spend your entire life. These moments are really the most cherished moments of life as they will surely linger into your heart and soul for rest of your life.

So, always plan your honeymoon vacation in such a way that it remain as the most memorable moments of your entire life.

Honeymoon Destinations in India:
If you want to gift a special honey moon vacation to your soul mate but don't want to shell out big bucks from your wallet than you must opt for India.

India, the most sought after tourist destination of South-Asia has myriads of exotic locations that will serve as a perfect gateway for your honey moon. Even there are no dearth of romantic places in India which will automatically ignite romantic feelings within your heart.

The incredible land of India has endless array of honey moon destinations that includes salubrious and chilled mountain ranges of Kashmir valley, tranquil backwaters of Kerala, lustrous beaches of Goa, picturesque hill stations of North and South India, royal land of Rajasthan, serene islands of Andaman and Nicobar and many more.

Some of the most famed honey moon places in India are Udaipur-the most romantic city of India, Kashmir-the paradise on earth, Kerala-the God's own country, and some hill stations like Auli, Sonmarg, Gulmarg, Rishikesh, Ooty, Coorg, Coonoor etc.

Activities in Honeymoon Vacation:
To flare up more excitement in your honey moon vacation, you can indulge yourself into some kind of activities with your beloved person.
Cruising on Arabian sea or Indian ocean or Bay of Bengal
Boat cruising on the backwaters of Kerala.
Houseboat stay on the Dal lake of Kashmir.
Shack stay and party at the glistening beaches of Goa.
Romantic candle light dinner at a sea side restaurant in Goa.
Water sports like swimming and surfing on the Goan sea water.
Nature walks at the calm ambiance of Ooty, Coorg and Coonoor hill stations.
Some thrilling adventure sports like trekking, skiing, white water rafting etc.

So, if you wish to start your marital life in a blissful way than its advisable to choose a exciting and romantic destination for your dream honey moon.

Medical Tourism in India

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:39:00 +0000

Introduction:
Medical Tourism is the newest form of tourism in India. Indian government is hoping to expand its tourism industry with the help of this latest form of tourism. It is one of the fastest growing segments of tourism in India as thousand of tourists are opting for India for their health treatment.

What is Medical Tourism?
Medical tourism (also called medical travel, health tourism or global healthcare) is a term coined by travel agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidly-growing practice of traveling across international borders to obtain health care. In a general way, medical tourism can be defined as that form of tourism in which vacationers get the benefit of medical treatment while traveling or vacationing in a country.

What are the benefits of medical tourism?
Medical tourism has loads of benefits. This form of tourism combines travel with health care. Medical tourism gives a vacationer the opportunity to get rid of his disease while enjoying a pleasant holiday.

Medical tourism will also provide you a golden opportunity to treat your ailments in best hospitals without spending much money. Even, if you are planning to undergo a surgery than also medical tourism will benefit you. It will enable you to stay in the best resorts or hotels to recover with ease.

Why India for medical tourism?
With the rapidly changing world scenario, India has also emerged as a nation having world class medical facilities. In the recent past, Indian government has establishes several hospitals and health centers to combat with life threating diseases. These world class hospitals are well furnished with various medical equipments and reputed and trained medical practitioners who are well versed in treating deadly diseases.

Even, India is famed world wide for the ancient form of treatment named Ayurveda. This form of treatment is unique to India only. People from various nook and corners of world throng here to treat their ailments with the help of Ayurveda. This form of treatment does not require any heart wrenching surgical procedures or intake of heavy doses of medicines. Beside Ayurveda and Allopathic treatment, you can also opt for homeopathic treatment in India.

If you are thinking that all these forms of treatment will affect your kitty than don't worry at all. The cost of treatment in India is very less in comparison to the western nations. It is advisable to spend longer duration for your recovery in India as the accommodation charges and transportation charges are inexpensive here.

What are the famous medical tourism destinations in India?
India has no dearth of world class destinations that are famed for medical tourism. Kerala is the pioneer among all other destinations. It is blessed with both scenic beauty and pleasant weather along with some best hospitals and well trained doctors in the entire country. Apart from Kerala, other famed medical tourism destinations in India are Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai etc.

So, always choose India as a medical tourism destination, it will satisfy your thirst for traveling as well as your dream for getting best treatment at a very low cost.

Skiing in India

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 04:34:00 +0000

Introduction:
Snow Skiing is an adventurous sport that has gained immense popularity in recent years. The fantastic height and spread of the snow covered mountains, with the added advantage of powdered snow enhance the thrill and excitement attached to this game. All these things at once behold the eyes of the tourist and magnetized them in such a way that they can't resist the temptation of this awesome sport. It is a group of sports which uses skis as the main equipment. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that are attached to the ski with the use of a binding.

Depending on the binding style and history, snow skiing can be classified into two types namely Nordic skiing and Alpine skiing. Nordic skiing is the oldest form and evolved from Scandinavia. Alpine skiing includes sports that evolved from the mountain ranges of Alps. Alpine skiing is done on the prepared snow tracks, and is mostly downhills journey whereas Nordic skiing is performed on random snow spreads. Skiing for physically disabled person is known as the Adaptive skiing.

Best sight for Skiing in India:
Due to the presence of snow clad mountains of Himalayas, snow skiing have become a quite attention grabbing sport in India. Realizing the immense prospect for tourism industry, some modern and most reasonable ski resorts has been developed in India to attract the international skiing enthusiasts. January to March is the best season for skiing in India.

Some of the most favorite skiing hideouts in India are hills of Jammu and Kashmir, Kumaon-Garhwal region of Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and some area of North–eastern part of India.

Gulmarg in Jammu Kashmir is the ideal skiing locale for the beginners and the amateurs. Here, you don't require to wear heavy woolen garments.
Slopes of Auli, Mundali and Dayara Bugyal in Garhwal region provide opportunities for cross country and downhill skiing events. Munsiyari in Kumaon region is also a skiing place in India.

Kufri, Narkanda and the Manali are some of the excellent skiing destinations in Himachal Pradesh. Manali is an exceptional among all the skiing destinations in India. It offers scope for both summer and winter skiing. All these places are renowned worldwide for their panoramic beauty.

Sikkim and Darjeeling in the lower Himalaya region of Northeast India also has some beautiful Skiing locales.

Do's and Don'ts for Skiing:
These are some valuable precautionary measures require to consider before engaging yourself in skiing.

The primary skiing gear which is required for skiing is the flexible cloth which can balanced the body's temperature according to the outside temperature. The fabric used to prepare these kind clothes have more relaxed and versatile capacity.

To get wide range of motion better fitting and water proof clothes are better option.

Always use waterproof ski jackets made up of breathable fabrics, with taped seams, venting zippers and insulating stretch components for comfort.

Other essential skiing equipments are ski goggles, ski helmets, ski socks, skies, boots, boot fairings, poles, gloves, wax, ski tunning equipment and back protection. Ski goggles protect the eyes from the harmful UV rays and enhance the visibility of the eyes.

Always take instructions from the qualified instructor before performing skiing. To be expert in the sport, be aware of the technique, terrain and other skiers around you.

Observe the signs and warnings closely. So that you can avoid any kind of uncertainties.

Drink loads of water to prevent yourself from dehydration. Avoid drinking alcohol before skiing because it require both physical and mental control over the game.

To sum up, Snow skiing or snow boarding is an exciting adventurous sport which has gained immense popularity in recent years. India has some marvelous skiing destinations which attracts skiing enthusiasts from all over the world and plays a pivotal role in increasing the foreign exchange of our country.

Tirupati Balaji Temple in India

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:07:00 +0000

Tirumala Tirupati is located in the Chittor district in south eastern state of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu God - 'Venkateshwara' (Lord Vishnu). It is one of the richest and one of the most visited temples in the India. Being presiding on the seventh peak of Tirupathi hill, Sri Venkateshwara is also known as the Lord of Seven Hills. The temple is accessible from everywhere in Andhra Pradesh

Architecture of Tirumala Tirupati :

Tirumala Tirupati is an ancient temple that stands here for centuries. It is the finest example of the Dravidian style of architecture. The ancient dynasties like Pallavas of Kanchipuram, the Cholas of Tanjore, the Pandyas of Madurai and the Kings and chiefs of Vijayanagara have greatly contributed to the development of this temple. The temple has a magnificent Gopuram (tower). The cupola (Vimana) known by the mane of "the Ananda Nilayam" is entirely covered with the golden plate. The shrine comprises of three Prakarams' or enclosures. The outmost enclosure comprises the Dhvajastambha (banner post) and the other enclosures have many statues including statues of King Krishnadevraya and Todarmal (minister of Akbar). The striking idol of Sri Venkateswara / Balaji lies in the main sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

Religious Significance of Tirumala Tirupati :

In India Tirumala Tirupati temple has gained the immense religious significance among the tourists. The scriptures like Rig Veda and Asthadasa Puranas mentions the importance of pilgrimage to Tirupati temple. Many of the religious books in India have acclaimed that the worship of Lord Venkatewara is the direst path for salvation in Kali Yuga. Many dignitaries are said to have visited this temple, including Ramanuja Acharya in 11th-12th century.

Cultural participation :

Every day the religious rites starts at 3 clock in the morning. The day starts with Suprabhamtam and ends with the Ekant Seva, the time when God goes to sleep. As per the occassion, different sevas and utsavams are held in the temple from time to time. Hairs are the main offerings to the Lord in the Tirupati. Hundi' is a donation box and this is the main source of temple's income. Pilgrims offer donations as per their desire in these boxes that are kept at intervals in the temple.

Festivals :

There are number of festivals that are celebrated here from time to time. 'Brahmotsavam' is the most important festival of Tirupati, celebrated every year in the month of September for the period of continuous nine days. For the full nine days the whole town is seen llost in sacred touch of divinity.

Managed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam

Tirumala Tirupati temple is managed and controlled by the TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam). TTD has made special arrangements to comfort the pilgrims and to preserve the environment near the hills. Guest Houses and various food counters are developed facilitate the pilgrims. On the way to the temple, amenities of toilets, shelters and drinking water have been made to facilitate the pilgrims, who come on foot to the temple.

Char Minar

noreply@blogger.com (Travelling in India) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:15:00 +0000

Charmainar “ The Arc de triomphe of the East”, is an excellent testimony of the magnificent history of the present day Hyderabad. Charminar which literally means mosque of the four minarets, is the pride of possession of the state of Andra Pradesh. Built in 1591 by the Muhammad Quli Qutab Shah, this splendid piece of architecture stands in the old city of the Hyderabad. This unique icon of the city of Hyderabad is true picture of elegance and a great tribute to the fighting spirit of the man kind. This marvelous monument was created by the Muhammad to commemorate the obliteration of Plague from the city.

Architectural significance of the CharMinar:
Charminar is a fine Specimen of Cazia and Islamic style of architecture. The tangled arches and the domes of the monument represents the typical style of architecture. This beautiful edifice which derives its name from four intricately curved minaret elevates to the height of 48.7 m above the ground and is made up of granite, lime-mortar and sand. According to Islamic interpretation these four minarets are the symbol of four khalifs of Islam.

See and admire:
This fabulous colossus is a square monument with four towers at the four corners of the square. Each side is 20 m in length and opens into a plaza through giant arches. Each arch is 11 m in length and rises 20 m to the pinnacle from the plinth. This arches were earlier used as the most active royal ancestral streets. In the year 1889, four big clocks were attached to these four archways.

This notable monument has four storeys that looks like gracefully curved ring. The top-most storey of this remarkable monument has the oldest mosque of Hyderabed that includes 45 covered spaces and some open space to accommodate more people for Friday prayers. Each of this space is a spacious verandah with small and large arches in the middle. The first floor of the building has beautiful balconies from where one has a fantastic view of the city and its later accessions. The two galleries which are present inside the Charminar are supported by a vault that resembles like a dome from inside. And there is a terrace above those galleries whose serves as a roof, bordered with a stone balcony.

Inside the minarets there are 149 winding steps which lead the visitors to the top floor, the highest point in the monument which provides a picturesque view of the city. In the evening, beauty of Charminar enhances to double as it gets illuminated and looks exceptionally spectacular.

Things to do:
An autorickshaw ride:
To admire the architecture of Charminar and other nearby monuments such as Mecca Masjid, Srishailam Pevillion museum, Salar jung museum etc. and to peep into the city's everyday life an auto rickshaw is best option to hire.

Golconda fort which is situated 11km from the Hyderabad is also a nice place to visit. This fort which was built by the Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah in 1525 represents the Nawabi culture of the bygone era. An added attraction to the beauty of the fort is the sound and light shows organize by the Tourism authority. A stay at nearby villages is a nice option to explore the aesthetic beauty of Golconda fort.

Trekking:
A short trekking through the mountain path of the Kala Pahar where the Birla temple, a holy Hindu temple dedicated to the Lord Vankateshwar was built is a thrilling experience. Through out the year, this temple is thronged by the devotees and tourists.

Boating:
During your small sojourn at Hyderabad, you can also enjoy a boat ride in the tranquil and pristine water of the Hussain Sagar lake. This lakes offers an array of opportunities for the water sports lover.
This lake which links both the Hyderabad and Secunderabad has a 350 tonne monolithic Budha statue atop of the Rock of the Gibraltoar.

Shopping and eating:
The flourishing and crowded Laad Bazar, the famous bengal market around the Charminar which attracts people and traders from far and wide. Shops in the Charminar market are overflowed with various designs and colors of the glass bangles. This market is also renowned for the Hyderabadi emerald and pearls.

There are some more bustling bazars present in Hyderabed which will at once behold your eyes such as Shahali Banda, Kali kaman, and Pattar Gatti. All these bazars have a good variety of colorful bangles, embroidered dresses, sarees, perfumes and attars, leather products, antiques and emeralds. So don't miss to visit these shopping hubs in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad has some famous eating zones which serves lip- smacking Hyderabadi dishes like Dum ka biryani, Luqmi and Haleem. Hyderabad House is favorite place to eating out. This is famous for Muglai food and for some chicken and lamb specialities. Some small restaurants like Irani cafes offers piping hot cups of Irani tea, Irani Samosas and Osmania biscuits.