Top 10 Monsoon Destinations In India...

Hello friends!!! I am back from summer trips… I have visited so many top summer destinations in this summer with my friends. And I think this is a good time to plan our Monsoon trips. So, I have prepared a list of “Top 10 monsoon destinations of India” and I want to share this with my all travel buddies. This is for those who are really enthusiasts of monsoon travelling with their loved ones… Check it out this list and plan your monsoon trip 

1)      Leh Ladakh – Jammu Kashmir

2)      Periyaar National Park - Kerala

3)      Karwar - Karnataka

4)      The valley of flowers national park - Uttarakhand

5)      Goa

6)      Shillong - Meghalaya

7)      Bundi - Rajasthan

8)      Ajanta - Maharashtra

9)      Coorg - Karnataka

10)    Udaipur - Rajasthan

I hope this post will help you to plan your monsoon trip… I will back soon with more travel tips… Happy travelling… 

Balle-Balle In Ambala

Last year during my trip to Pathankot from Delhi, I happened to stop at Ambala enroute to meet an old classmate of mine who is in the army posted there. As a matter of fact Ambala is not new to me as my father was posted there many years ago when I was an infant. I and my friend had tried joining the armed forces through an entrance examination which he cleared and I failed in my SSB, hence, doing a favor to the Indian Armed Forces.  Cut to, present Ambala Cantt, everything had changed, it still boasts of being one of the largest cantonments in India, may be a touch bigger or smaller to Meerut cantonment area-wise. To give me a taste of Ambala Cantt, my friend took me to the famous hang-out place- The Sadar. If you are a true Indian and have grown up on junk food, the Sadar Bazar area is an ideal place. Try the ‘Saare Ambala Mein World Famous’- Shikanji at the Jain Soda Water shop, a little ahead you can freak out on the Paneer sandwiches at Prakash Coffee House, in case you relish them don’t think twice before getting them packed for your next day’s breakfast. For junk food like ‘tikkis’ or ‘cutlet ragada’ and jalebi’s, find your way to Halwai Bazaar (Nikku ki Tikki). If you are looking to visit Sadar during lunch time, hunker down at Puran Ka Dhaba or any other close by Dhaba on GT Road which is located opposite the station. Puran Ka Dhaba is crowded as most people visit it all the time. The food tastes hmmmmmm….Yummy!

If you are a foodie in the real sense and happen to travel up north by road, please do yourself a favour by stopping enroute at Ambala Cantt as you might end up saying- “Balle-Balle Ambala” in Haryana before entering Punjab.

Backwater in Andhra Pradesh?

Yes!!! there is...

Everyone is heard about the beautiful picturesque of ‘God’s own country’ Kerala. But hardly any tourist have heard about another picturesque tucked away among the swaying coconut groves on the bank of the river Godavari in Andhra Pradesh, which should also get similar title like Kerala.

On the banks of mighty river Godavari, the second largest in the country after Ganges, lies this small village called Dindi, in Malkipuram Mandal of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. 

This pristine land of beauty with swaying coconut groves on a vast piece of land with water all around with waves lashing the shore, welcomes the tourists with lovely earthy fragrance. Thanks to computer technology, that the people are slowly coming to know about this place and visiting this place. No doubt this place is gaining popularity day by day amongst the tourists. Read More...

Hemis Festival in June 2012

The largest Buddhist Institution in Ladakh – located in the highland town of Hemis at 11,000 feet altitude, 40 kms from Leh – the Hemis Monastery celebrates the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava in a grand and elaborate annual 2-day festival held in the Hemis Monastery on 29^th & 30^th of June this year.

The high-point of the Hemis Festival is the performance in the Monastery courtyard by the Lamas of the Monastery – a Mask Dance which depicts the victory of good over evil. The brightly coloured costumes and large multi-coloured masks constitute the performers’ attire during the Hemis Festival Dances performances which stretch for two days. The over-sized and grotesque masks are the main aspects of the slow and graceful dance. Few other Lamas provide the music for the Hemis Festival with percussion instruments such as the drums, cymbals and long trumpets.

Guru Padmasambhava is also known as Guru Rinpoche and is regarded as the second Buddha by the followers of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism since the 8^th 

Century. Guru Padmasambhava is the first one to have introduced ‘Tantric Buddhism’ to people.

During the 2-day pageant, a 30-foot high painting of Guru Padmasambhava is displayed centre-stage. Several other performances, religious ceremonies and discourses and exhibition of Buddhist relics are a part of the Hemis Festival which is not only attended by the Buddhists from all over Jammu & Kashmir, it is also attended by the non-Buddhist locals of Hemis and Leh.

Tourism & Tour operators design tours of Leh which include a visit to the Hemis Monastery and its adjoining Hemis National Park (India’s largest National Park) during the Hemis Festival as this is the best time of the year to see Hemis. You will also find the media and photographers from all over the world witnessing to cover this event. Visitors of Hemis stay at Leh which is at 40 kms and do a day trip to Hemis.

In the backdrop of the Ladakh Mountains that overlook the Hemis town, the Hemis Monastery with its multi-coloured splendour gives a fascinating appearance and experience.

Author: Kavitha PT

Source: Hop Around India

Top 10 Tips For India First-Timers

Undoubtedly, India continues to remain one of the most visited travel destinations in world. Travelling has become easier for its visitors especially foreigners who find it a lot less taxing than the earlier times. Although, the Govt. has taken ample measures to promote tourism and travelling a pleasure but still a travellers is skeptical about backpacking to India.

Whatever be your trip agenda to India, going to India for the first time can be a lot more pleasant if you follow these ten tips...

1. Know your place(s)- Browse thru some of the popular travel sites on the net and get as much related information about the place(s), attractions, culture, people, weather, etc.you plan to travel. Offhand information always helps.

2. Have a travel itinerary- It's always good to have one if you plan to avail a tour package. If not, it's not bad to go all by yourself as you may end up saving a lot of money. Have enough buffer of time in case you have a bad travel day due to unforeseen circumstances. Have an alternative option in place if you do not plan to avail a package deal.

3. Book early -Booking your room in advance in a hotel or lodge can really make your trip pleasant. If you buy a package, chances are high that you may get a hotel also booked along with it, or else see that you book it online after checking the check-in, check-out time, facilities, reviews and ratings provided by other users.

4. Travel light-The lighter you travel the better your journey. A backpack should suffice with bare minimums as you need not hire a 'Coolie' if you are travelling light. Locals may not worry you to carry your luggage if you have just a backpack.If not you may end wasting a lot of time bargaining.

5. Hiring Taxis & Autos -This a common sight if you have just got out of a train, flight or bus. You will see a volley of cab and auto drivers asking you- 'KahaanJaanaHai?' meaning- 'Where do you want to go?' Never fall prey to them as they will charge you exorbitantly. It's always better to contact the nearest tourism center or policeman who can help you get to your destination in the best possible way.

6. Food stuff & water - Always carry some snacks that are light on your tummy. Check out on some of the restaurants nearby which offer good hygienic food. Vegetarian food should be on your preference list instead of non-vegs.Can go for specialtiesif the place has to offer. Mineral water is a must while travelling in India, so check the bottles and seals before purchasing as some may turn out to be local brands which should be avoided.

7. Have the local phone no's-Make sure to carry all local important phone numbers(Police, Tourist Center, etc.) of the place you plan to visit, these may come in very handy if needed.

8. Carry minimum cash- Plastic money should suffice while travelling in India;most of the places accept credit and debit cards. Try carrying minimum cash.

9. Entry fees -Try checking out attractions if there is an entry fees or not, as some may have and some won't but it's always good to check from the tourism authorities. Cameras and videos also need to be checked as some of the religious attractions may not permit.

10. Best time to travel - Make a note of the best time to visit the place or attraction. It is always advisable to see places in India during the winter season which happens to be from October to March. 

Author: Ravi Krishna

Source: http://www.hoparoundindia.com/travel-articles/38/top-10-tips-for-india-first-timers.aspx