Category Archives: Travel

Top 5 holy places to visit in Varanasi

Varanasi is known as the spiritual city of India and we all know that the River Ganges is one of the reasons why people visit Varanasi so often. During several festivities, Varanasi is packed and several people love spending time by the Ghats. Other than this, Varanasi is also known for having quite a few holy spots like temples. You will find numerous temples here which were made decades ago and are devoted towards teaching about Indian spiritual culture. Here are some of them: –

  • SankatMochan Hanuman Temple – This exclusive temple is devoted to Lord Hanuman. If you are a believer of Hanuman, you should pay your respects at this temple once in your life. Situated at the AssiGhat, the location is quite beautiful. The temple has a special story attached to it. People say that those who pray here with full devotion can actually get their wishes fulfilled by Hanuman. The temple is packed every Tuesdays as there are countless Hanuman devotes in the temple. This is one of the most ancient temples to ever exist in Varanasi.
  • TulsiManas Temple – This gorgeous temple is drop dead gorgeous. You will be mesmerized to see the white marbles and the walls engraved with Ramayana scriptures. The temple is devoted to Lord Rama and Seeta. Many foreign tourists come here to see the Indian culture and to learn about Ramayana. You cannot miss this one!
  • Sarnath – This historic and incredibly beautiful place has a ton of things to offer. If you want to spend time in Sarnath to explore, make sure you pick good hotels in Varanasi which are close to the destination. It takes about 20 minutes from the main city to reach Sarnath. The place has various temples, idols, pillars and everything related to Gautam Buddha. This is the very same spot where he taught Dharma lessens.
  • Bharat Mata Temple – This temple is devoted towards patriotism. The temple is located in the Mahatma Gandhi Vidyapeeth, and they teach Indian citizens to respect Mother India. It also motivates Indians towards the duties they need to do in their own country. This place is not typically a temple, but you can enlighten yourself about Indian Gods and Goddess here.
  • Kashi VishwanathMandir–This is yet another temple that was built ages ago. It is one of the JyotiLingas and is situated on the banks of River Ganges. This place is hyped up for all the right reasons. If you want to find a place to worship in India, this is one of the best places you will ever discover. The temple also has a VishwanathGali, which is packed with jewellery and bangles for women. The way towards the temple is quite interesting.So, find one of the best hotels in Varanasi for your upcoming trip and find your spiritual side. You can visit all the Ghats in the city too when going across the place to see temples.

Pack your bags right now and have a happy religious trip!

North Bengal: Source of Thrill To Enjoy by Debleena Dey

It would be better to state at the very beginning of this write-up, that North Bengal is neither a mere confined area nor a specific tourist site to just visit there. The whole region of North Bengal presents nature in its unprecedented vista at all. Being an absolute treasure hunt for the nature lovers & explorers, North Bengal is frequently visited by those too who seek interval for refreshment of their mind in order to avoid their restless life of modern city. Basically, it occupies the entire Northern area of West Bengal & enclosed by the international boundaries of three neighbor countries – Nepal, Bhutan & Bangladesh. So naturally it comes that its complete zone is pre-eminent in offering a panoramic view – from high mountainous region in the extreme north to the extensive Gangetic plains in the extreme south.

 

North Bengal incorporates seven districts of West Bengal, which are Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Coochbehar, South Dinajpur, North Dinajpur, and Malda. The whole area is rich enough in terms of geographical variance as well as the different cultures adopted by several tribal groups living over there. Each district is bearing its amazing history & traditions, displaying a distinct character of its own. If Darjeeling claims to be the main attraction of North Bengal, where nature’s beauty in its extreme form exists as vast Himalayan ranges are outspreads here, then Jalpaiguri is no less in regards of alluring travelers since this district exhibits rich biodiversity with deep forests, miscellaneous faunal and floral beings.

 

Coochbehar is one of the ancient cities, having various temples & large water bodies where Koch kings used to reign long ago. Dinajpur in its two parts is reputed for cultivation, so agricultural plains are seen here & there in South & North Dinajpur, which also provide an awesome scenic beauty of Bengal. Malda is known for another old city and the glorious past of this civilization has made this city very significant as well. This city has been carrying its pristine tradition and renowned heritage sites for the famous ruins of the Gour kingdom.

 

From traveling point of view, North Bengal can be reckoned as an esteemed tourist destination in Northeast India. This place has all the abilities & prospective features to draw the individual attention of all sorts of tourists & explorers. It can be an ideal site to the travelers who just visit places in order to spare their leisure time luxuriously as well as to those who aspire to know the ins & outs of any region.

Exploring rich and old culture in an Indian train tour

Trains are the most ideal approach to explore the varying and historical bases in India. In India, trains are not just the mere modes of transportation and in fact, they also let one to comprehend and appreciate the way of life in the country. Chhattisgarh Express 18238 for example is a perfect exhibit of traveling in trains in India. The train starts in Amritsar, Punjab and Bilaspur, which is in Chhattisgarh is its destination, with different interesting places and towns of Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra. Check the 18238 running status and book the tickets in advance if you wish to experience travelling in the train.

 

Indian Railways introduced its first ever luxury train called Palace on Wheels long back ago. With its first luxury train, the country showcased the flicker, excitement and luxury replete life of its supreme rulers from the bygone era. The kings and rulers viewed luxury above everything else in life, which can now be seen in the carriages/coaches of the luxury train. The carriages of this fantastic train are the first carriages, which the rulers used to travel amid their rule. This fascinating fact attracts the guests as they get lured to get a one of a kind taste of the great old imperial times.

 

It is needless to say that the trains are the bloodlines of India. In fact, travelling in India is an adventure in itself and it appeals the most to the international backpackers. All the trains running across the country say Chhattisgarh Express 18238 for an example give one an opportunity to best enjoy travelling in a train. You could check the information on 18238 running status, big and small railway stations that lie on the route, etc. online.

 

The train Palace on Wheels further paved track for the luxury trains in the country, which took Indian Railways to another level and motivated different states to display their glories through such trains. It was then just a matter of a short time that India got its second luxury train in the form of The Deccan Odyssey. It belongs to Maharashtra, the state of Marathas. The state then began to display its concealed imperial legacy with this train visit that runs on a predefined track including some most popular places in the state. The trains follows the Konkan route which apart from Maharashtra also incorporates Goa as well as the world famous Ajanta and Ellora caves.

 

The third in the series of luxury Indian trains is the Golden Chariot, South India’s first and only luxury train. This train offers backpackers a rewarding opportunity to encounter the sovereignty of Hindu rulers and their shining examples of legacy. Rather than concentrating to the legacy of the guardian state Karnataka, the train strings other conspicuous southern states that are similarly historic and energizing. The train passes through Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Union Territory of Puducherry through its two bejeweled rail routes, namely Southern Splendor and Pride of South.

 

The fourth one in the series is the Maharajas’ Express, which is often believed to be the grandest of all luxury trains in India. A cool fact – the train was also awarded with the title of being the most luxurious train in the world in year 2012 at World Travel Awards. The amazing indulgence with the establishment of five stunning courses of the train helped it gain the recognition. The Maharajas’ Express crisscrosses through numerous Indian destinations that are worth stopping-by and exploring.

A Dreamy Trip to the Backwaters of Kumarakom

The languid stretch of backwaters, gleaming modestly under the brilliant sun is the place the snakebirds sit acutely holding up to get the fish swimming underneath. Wait for the bird to uncoils its neck, swoop into the water and come back with the prey in its mouth. Furthermore, this is one of the numerous sights in Kumarakom that will leave you speechless. A lot more is in store for you here.
Check out these dreamy sites in Kumarakom that are generally the pride of the Kumarakom tour packages.  Do not miss visiting any of these.

 

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

As you sail over the shimmering backwaters, roost yourself at the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary for a one on one with nature. The Bird Sanctuary settles comfortably along the Vembanad lake. Here, you’ll be welcomed by the nearby waterfowl, duck, egret, moorhen, owl, cuckoo, Heron Darter and Siberian Cranes also. Take a stroll around the 14 acre land in the morning or at night and have an encounter with some of the rarest types of bird species you would have ever seen.

 

Kumarakom Backwaters

Contract a houseboat and set out cruising on the Vembanad Lake. Sail through the tidal ponds and backwater lined with tall coconut trees. Look through the sublime waters and try to spot little pearl spot fish or karimeen as they are commonly called. Employing a houseboat would cost you between INR 1500 to INR 1700 per hour. A complete sail would take around 5-6 hours and there would be extra charges for food per individual. There are two services- morning and night. You can also contact your own tour operators to get your own hotel arrange for these boats.

 

Kumarakom Beach

If water sports set your heart throbbing, then Kumarakom Beach is the ideal spot for you. You can enjoy water skiing, parasailing, wind surfing, sailing, water polo and swimming here. Begin with a session of volleyball or simply sit and sunbathe at the shoreline, unwind yourself and have a fabulous time at the beach of Kumarakom. There are spas and ayurvedic rub spots in the resorts lined around the beachline.

 

Bay Island Driftwood Museum

This is a gigantic museum of driftwood articles in an extraordinary and contemporary design. There are root figures in a variety of shapes for you to look through. According to legends, a teacher got the propensity for arbitrarily gathering driftwood pieces conveyed by the ocean to the shore. With every violent wind, the ocean brought along old trees and roots and left behind its plunder on the shores. These pieces were accumulated, cleaned and molded to give them innovative structures. This procedure of adding to the pillaged merchandise acquired by the Bay of Bengal is exhibited here for you to see.

 

Obviously, cruising over the backwaters, along with that special someone can be ideally the best thing to do. Visit in June and August for sighting some gorgeous and rare bird species.

 

Have a spectacular trip!

A trek to Dalhousie is a traveller’s delight

Dalhousie is one of the finest hill stations is said by Pandit Nehru Ji. The wonderful unique atmosphere and the alluring nature is god gifted. This vacation, pack your bag and ply to Dalhousie from Pathankot. Read on for more information.

 

ixigo Cab 2

Abandoned and disowned by Lahore after the division of Indian land, Dalhousie remain an ideal Indian spot. Dalhousie is a beautiful, picture perfect hill stations and it is situated in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. This hill resort is spread over five hills at 2000m. Situated between the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges, Dalhousie is blessed with charming nature. It is in the north-east of Pathankot. It is known in the year 1851, this hill resort adopted its name from the then Governor General of India Lord Dalhousie. Dalhousie also bears a strong historical background as well. Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore stayed at Snowdon which is at Upper Bakrota Road. Eminent personalities like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru also visited the town. From the point of beauty, climate and surroundings, Dalhousie is one of the finest hill stations in India.

 

Long level walks around its five hills is the most exciting things to do. The circular walk on the Thandi Sarak and Garam Sarak is popular among the other. From Pathankot reaching Dalhousie is the easiest things of all. You can take Pathankot to Dalhousie taxi or else go for a customary tour. From Pathankot, it takes 3 hours by taxi and it cost around Rs 1200, whereas by bus it takes more than 4 hours. However frequent buses are usually available. If you wish to travel by train. Chakki Bank is the nearest railhead. It is 58 km away and takes 2 and a half hours.

 

St John’s Church, St Francis Church, Sacred Heart School. St Patrick’s and St Andrew’s are the 5 important churches to visit in this region. Besides, other charming British style buildings which have been converted into hotels and other popular landmarks. The charming road of Jhandrighat is the walker’s delight. Subhas Booli, Chamera Dam and the Satdhara which is believed to have medicinal properties are some of the major attractions in Dalhousie.

 

May to November is the ideal time to explore Dalhousie. The deodar forests and verdant slopes around the hill station offers a unique picture of the region. It is a delightful journey to Chamba district. It is a backpacker’s delight to trek from Dalhousie to Kala Top. Kala top is about 13 and a half kilometres away from Dalhousie. It is an easy walk from this region to the hilltop.

 

After an early breakfast, start your journey. Follow the vehicle road going to Khajjiar. Alha is the spot which you reach. Terraced potato fields are the attractions of this region. From Alha, it takes more 3 km trek to reach Lakkar mandi Wood Depot. From here the main road takes you to Kala Top. The wonderful panoramic view will amaze you. Kala Top Wildlife Sanctuary awaits you. The area is the habitat of the variety of exotic flora and fauna. Koklash pheasant, barking deer, giant flying squirrel, goral, langur and many more will surely make your trek. For a more memorable journey, stay at Forest Rest House and soak in the wonderful nature.

 

For a detail information on a road trip to Dalhousie and fare of cabs, check Pathankot to Dalhousie cabs.