Posts Tagged ‘travel to india’

India Tours–Top 5 Historic Places to Visit in India

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

India is truly enigmatic with its mountains dusted with snow and beaches washed with sun around the year; there is a lot to discover in this land of diversity. India tours seem never ending as there are lots of enticing places from software savvy cities to lousy, lovable villages. India has long history and a deep rooted culture that runs into the thinnest veins of the nation. Most common heritage tours India include, Taj Mahal, Khajurao, Ajanta and Ellora caves, Fatehpur and Hampi.

Agra is a famous heritage destination in India. The one thing that attracts tourists like bees to honey is the Taj Mahal that stands tall as fame of eternal beauty. The white dome has an eternal tale of love and is built exquisitely by the Mughal king. Forming the first destination of the Golden triangle route in India, Agra is truly a magical place to visit. Apart from the Taj Mahal there are other attractions like good food and great shopping experience that make the place a truly traveler’s paradise.

Khajurao Temples is another place that beholds the historical past of India in its truest spirits. The temples located in quaint village of Madhya Pradesh are very fascinating and unique as they do not symbolize devotion and religion but are rather full of erotic images that reveal the treasures of passion and lust. Indian architecture, manifesting itself in most magnificent manner in these temples, is a perfect blend of tradition and science. This is elaborately revealed in these temples that contain numerous images of Gods depicting the crudest pleasures of life.

The ghost city is one of the next ideal heritage destinations in India.  Located 40 kilometers west of the city of Taj Mahal, Fatehpur houses are some of the most well preserved palaces and forts. Any India Tour is incomplete without a visit to this ghost city that has the famous sandstone palaces, worth a walk at during the twilight hours of the day.

Most heritage tours in India include another fascinating place, acting as repository of Indian architecture and the rich cultural heritage of India – the caves of Ajanta and Ellora. Famous for the cave shrines that are cut out of rocks by using hands, these caves are a must visit.

Any India tour is incomplete without a visit to the old village of Hampi. Hampi is one of the vital heritage destinations in India with its ruins appear like a museum that beholds the Indian history, art, architecture and religion all under one vast open land spread over an area of about 25 square kilometers. Packed with temples, market streets, ancient museums, palaces and fortifications, Hampi is an ideal destination to visit.

For more information about Indian Heritage Travel Destinations browse http://www.indiantraveldestinations.com/

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Places to visit in India during the monsoon season

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

It is understandable that the thoughts of rain and floods can dampen your holiday plans in India, but in reality you do not have to avoid traveling to India during the monsoon season. Travel to those parts of India where there is scanty or no rainfall. This way you can enjoy India tours during monsoon seasons also.

The main monsoon season in India runs from the month of June to September. Though most part of India receives rain during these months there are few remote destinations in India where you can travel even during monsoons. The following are some of the best monsoon travel destinations in India:

Leh & Ladakh

Leh & ladakh lies near the Indus valley, at the far flung corner of Northern India. Situated at 3505 meters above sea level these destinations are some of the most beautiful places in India.

When you visit this area you will notice that it is bounded by two of the world’s largest mountain ranges and is surrounded by alpine forest. Some of the oldest and historic Buddhist monasteries are also present here like the Shanti Stupa. You can also visit the 800 year old Kali Mandir that houses a fascinating collection of masks. You can stop on your way there to spin a huge prayer wheel. The Leh Palace, which was built in traditional Tibetan style, offers a great view of the town so make sure to visit this place. Also take a trip to Thiksey Monastery to see amazing sunset views.

The best time to visit Leh & Ladakh is between the months of May and September. The weather is warm during this time as these places do not experience rain like elsewhere in India.

The Valley of flowers National Park

The dazzling landscape of the Valley of Flowers National Park located in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand comes alive during the monsoon season. This high-altitude Himalayan valley has around 300 different varieties of alpine flowers which will appear to you as a bright carpet of color against the snow capped mountain background.

This National Park is only open from the months of April to October. The best time to visit here is from the months of July to August as during this time the flowers are in full bloom after the first monsoon showers. Avoid travelling to this place before the month of July as you will not find any blossomed flowers during this time.

Goa

The state of Goa in India has much more to offer than just the beaches! This place is especially beautiful during the monsoon season (June to September) as it is during this time that nature flourishes here. The rain brings refreshment and romance in Goa and you can taste a traditional flavor of this state.

You can visit the Mollem National Park and Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa. The Dudhsagar Falls and the acclaimed spice plantation in Savoi are the best during the monsoons. Take an evening boat cruise up the Mandovi River from Panaji and enjoy Goa’s historic character-filled buildings while you are in Goa.

Periyar National Park

Periyar is one of the most famous national parks in southern India which extends around the banks of a huge artificial lake. This park is known for its magnificent elephants and you can take a 30 minute elephant rides through the jungle. The best time to visit this park is during the cooler & drier months of October to February. However, the aroma of the moist vegetation during the monsoon also gives it a very special appeal.

Shillong

Popularly referred to as the ‘Scotland of East’, Shillong is a fitting evocation of a unique natural beauty. Located in the rippling pine covered hills, Shillong enjoys milder climatic condition all through the year. During monsoons, wind whispers through luxurious forests here and the land is rhythmical of music and full of life. The blues and cascading waterfalls will completely enthrall your senses. Due to all these reasons Shillong is a famous monsoon destination in India.

Ranikhet

Tucked at the height of 6,000 feet above the sea level, amidst the charming Kumaon hills, this picturesque little town has forever held its old world charm. This region will offer you the amazing view of the Himalayas. It will provide you an opportunity to enjoy scintillating walks among the cedar and pine trees.

Udaipur

Udaipur was founded by Maharana Udai Singh of Mewar in the 16th century. You can enjoy a camel safari here or take a stroll along a pristine lake like the Pichhola Lake which is surrounded by the Aravalli hills at the backdrop. You can get spectacular view of the city of Udaipur and enjoy the rain at the same time if you visit this place during monsoon season.

So these are some of the destinations in India that you can visit during the monsoon season. Ask your travel operator to include these destinations in your India tour package.

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Traveling in India? Grab Great Holiday Tour Packages

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Across the world, India is known for its lively colors, culture and festivals. It is a country with vast treasure of rich heritage that is clearly visible from its numerous monuments and temples. All of these make India tour one of the most in demand tours globally.

India is such a vast country that it will be difficult for you to fix a travel itenary without the guidance of an expert tour organizer. These travel agencies offer innumerable India holiday packages that make traveling in India a lot easier. They will not only help in planning and booking your hotels and travel tickets but will also make sure that you get the most from holidaying in India.

However, while looking for an India tour package you must make sure that a tour deal accommodates all of your needs and requirements. Ensure that it is designed in such a way that your comforts and convenience are not compromised. After all besides being cheap, a travel package must also cover all the important tourist spots of the country.

To help you make correct decisions regarding India tours here are some of the promising Indian holiday packages that will make you discover something new and interesting in India every time you decide to take a trip around the country.

Adventure tour packages – This package covers all the major adventure tour destinations in India. It will take you for a Markha Valley trek, a wildlife safari in Rajasthan, a jeep safari in Himalayas or a river rafting on the Ganges. Experience the real thrill of adventure travel in India by opting for this package.

Beach Tour packages – If you are one of those who love spending some quiet time in the beaches this package is best for you. With packages like Andaman Beach tour package, Tiger tour with beach package, Goa Carnival package and South India Beach package available under this category, you are bound to have some extraordinary time travelling in India.

Heritage tour packages – For those who take keen interest in the rich heritage of India, this package offers the most. You can choose from Rajput heritage tour, Heritage tour with river Ganges, Ladakh Kashmir heritage tour and many more.

Wildlife tour packages – Some of the most fascinating flora and fauna can be seen spread across India’s 96 national parks and 350 wildlife sanctuaries. Keeping this in mind, travel operators have come up with packages like South India wildlife tour, Tiger tour, East India wildlife tour, Rajasthan wildlife tour and bird watching tour to name just a few.

Pilgrimage tour packages – India is known to be home to people belonging from different religious beliefs. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Buddhists and Jews live in India in perfect harmony. Visit some of the devotional places of all these religious beliefs by availing packages like South India pilgrimage tour, North India pilgrimage tour, Char Dham Yatra and Islamic tour package.

Honeymoon tour packages – You must come to India for your honeymoon. It has some of the most exotic hill stations, beaches and backwaters in the world. Choose form Best of North East, Beast of Kerala, Uttranchal Honeymoon tour or India Beach tour to make your beginning of a lifelong partnership special and memorable.

So, don’t forget to consult a travel organizer the next time you plan to tour India. Purchase an affordable India holiday tour package and simply relax & enjoy the beauty of this incredible country!

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Travel to India- Foreign Tourist flock to Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

According to latest records of the Indian tourism ministry, domestic tourism registered a 15.5% growth during 2009 despite adverse advisories and the financial crunch. On the other hand, foreign tourist visits (FTVs) in India saw a decline of 2.8% from last year’s record. This, experts say, is due to the drop in number of tourists due to fallout of swine flu and recession in the country.

However, despite this fall in numbers, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra has recorded a considerable growth in the number of foreign tourists. These have been the most visited international tourist destinations in 2009. The complete list of states with their FTV is as follows: Tamil Nadu (20.3 lakh), Maharashtra (20 lakh), Delhi (19.6 lakh), Uttar Pradesh (15.3 lakh), West Bengal (11.8 lakh), Rajasthan (10.7 lakh), Andhra Pradesh (80,000), Kerala (55,000), Bihar (42,000) and Himachal Pradesh (40,000). All of these states have recorded high FTVs during 2009. The percentage share of the top five states is Tamil Nadu (17.3%), Maharashtra (14.6%), Delhi (14.3%), Uttar Pradesh (11.25) and West Bengal (8.6%).

Interestingly, Tamil Nadu has emerged on top of this list leaving behind Delhi, which traditionally receives the highest FTVs since it’s the country’s capital. Similarly, Maharashtra remained the second preference amongst foreigners mainly due to the fact that Mumbai is the commercial capital of the country.

Though it is hard to point out the exact reason for such a change in preference amongst international tourists, authorities from the tourism industry suspect that tourists now want to go beyond the beaten track of Jaipur and Agra.

Further, during 2009, the number of FTVs in India was 1.37crore compared to 1.41 and 1.33crore in 2008 and 2007 respectively. Also about 65 Crore domestic travelers visited India last year compared to 56.3crore in 2008 and 52.7crore in 2007. “While the FTVs dipped, the domestic tourism industry grew. This reemphasized the importance of domestic tourism on the overall Indian tourism,” a tourism ministry official said.

Andhra Pradesh, because of Tirumala – Tirupati, and Uttar Pradesh because of its religious places like Banaras, topped the list of states with highest domestic tourist footfalls.

For more information about Indian Travel Destination browse http://www.indiantraveldestinations.com/

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Places to Visit in India during Summers

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Summers in India are the appropriate time to pack your bags for a summer vacation tour. You can either choose between the mighty mountains of Northern India or the rippling sand dunes of Rajasthan. Otherwise you can also opt for the beautiful palm fringed beaches of Goa and Kerala. In addition to these there are other attractive holiday destinations for you to travel while in India. So where do you plan to spend your vacations this year?India Hill Stations

In case you want to visit a hill stations in India to enjoy your summer vacations, you have multiple choices to choose from. India has some of the most popular and picturesque hill stations in the world like Kullu Manali, Ooty, Darjeeling, Kodaikanal, Mount Abu, Mussoorie, Nainital and Shimla. All these are places that are visited by tourists and vacationers from all over the world due to their pleasant climatic conditions and rich flora & fauna. In Manali you can enjoy sporting activities like river rafting, trekking, mountaineering, skiing, parasailing, hiking and ice-skating. Whereas, in Nainital you can go for a ride on yacht, boat or paddle on its lovely lakes.

However, if you decide to go on a beach holiday, Kerala would be an ideal destination for your summer vacations in India. This place will surely captivate you with its vast green landscapes. The natural beauty of this place is mainly due to the presence of lush green tea plantations, peaceful backwaters and unusual wildlife.

Having said this, traveling in India during summers requires special planning if you want to escape the scorching summer heat. You need to choose the right destination for your India travel else you end up either wasting your vacation time or spend too much money on irrelevant activities. To avoid these, you should take the services of one of the top travel operators of India who offer cheap tour packages to make your summer trip hassle free.

Once you have availed one such tour package in India, you need not worry about travel arrangements and boarding & lodging facilities during your entire summer vacation tour in India. You can now comfortably go out to explore many holiday destinations in India during summers with your family and friends.

Article Source: Ezine

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India’s Heritage Trains – Merging Luxury With Travel

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

If you want to explore India, the most convenient and pleasant way is to travel by one of the several luxurious trains of the Indian Railways. All of these beautiful and elegant trains promise the passengers a world class facility and a variety of services. Popularly named as Heritage Train, touring in one of them will provide you with an opportunity to experience the luxurious life which was once enjoyed only by the erstwhile maharajas of India.

Palace on Wheels

Travelling by this train is like taking a step back in time. Being the oldest luxury train of India, it reminds its travelers the princely life of former kings of Rajasthan. Rated as one of the ten best luxurious trains worldwide, the Palace on Wheels boasts of two high class restaurants and a sophisticated bar area. The train’s interiors are decorated with traditional Rajasthani style art highlighted with hand crafted curtains and chandeliers in all of the 14 carriages.

Departing from Delhi the train travels through Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur and Agra; the entire trip lasting for 7 nights.

Royal Rajasthan on Wheels

The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels made its first journey in the year 2009. Though the train’s route and duration are identical to the Palace on Wheels, this train is different because it offers unabashed lavishness.

Main attractions are the super deluxe suites in addition to 13 deluxe cabins. Besides these there are two restaurant lounges, spas and wireless internet connections. The interiors of the train are stunningly beautiful with rich color schemes in accordance to the colorful names of the cabins.

Deccan Odyssey

The magnificent Deccan Odyssey treats its passengers with a combination of alluring beaches and forts of Maharashtra. During the 7 night journey, you will visit places like Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Goa, Kolhapur, Pune, Nashik, and Aurangabad.

Designed to reflect Indian royalty, the Deccan Odyssey is fully decorated in ornate style. The interiors of its 13 carriages are inspired by the historical forts of the Deccan Plateau and other popular tourist spots visited by the train along its journey. This train also houses spacious presidential suites, gymnasiums, spas, fine dining restaurants, business facilities and bars.

Deccan Odyssey – The Indian Maharaja

The Indian Maharaja is a new and improved version of the Deccan Odyssey. Running since the year 2009, it follows a new route travelling from Mumbai through Rajasthan going up to Agra and finally Delhi in 7 nights.

This train has 21 coaches including two presidential suites. It also has a conference car besides two restaurant cars where Indian and continental dishes are served. A library, Ayurvedic massage centre, steam bath centre, lounge bars, gym and beauty parlor completes the opulent picture.

Golden Chariot

The Golden Chariot, started in 2008, got its name from the stone chariot of Hampi. Its carriages are named after the dynasties which ruled Karnataka. The train has two restaurants in addition to a gym, lounge bar, conference space and a spa. The best attractions of this train are the performances of local artists inside the train’s Madira Lounge Bar, interiors of which have been designed depicting the Mysore Palace.

Departing from Bangalore the train travels to Mysore, Kabini and Nagarhole National Park, Bandipur, Hassan, Hampi, Gadag, Badami and finally Goa in 7 nights.

Maharaja’s Express

The Maharaja’s Express is the newest amongst all. Commencing from January 2010, it is boasted to be the most costly luxurious train of India. Moreover, it is also the first luxury train to travel across the entire country. You can choose from one of the following tours:

1. The Princely India Tour ( Mumbai, Vadodara, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Agra and Delhi in 7 nights )

2. The Royal India Tour ( route same as above but in reverse order )

3. The Classical India Tour ( Delhi, Agra, Gwalior, Khajuraho, Bandavgarh National Park, Varanasi, Gaya and Kolkata in 6 nights )

4. The Celestial India Tour ( route same as above but in reverse order )

The train has a total of 23 coaches, with four distinct configurations. It houses deluxe carriages, suite carriages, junior suite carriages and a presidential suite. The presence of two fine dining restaurants, bar, an observation lounge with another bar, game tables and club; define the epitome of luxury. The other unique feature of this train is that it has a state of the art suspension system for a smoother ride along with climate control facilities and direct telephones from each cabin.

Each of these heritage trains is well equipped with facilities that are usually available at luxurious heritage hotels. Moreover, you will be travelling through the night to the different cities while explore them at daytime. The cost of travel is all inclusive i.e. you pay at the beginning of the journey and then just sit back and enjoy the accommodation, meals, sightseeing, cultural entertainment. Though service and alcohol charges needs to be paid separately.

Travel to India to explore what India travel is all about. Indian travel packages makes traveling to India interesting and unique by offering affordable tour packages that includes pilgrimage tours, golden triangle tour, wildlife tours, adventure tours and many more. For more visit IndianTravelPackages.com

Article Source: Ezine

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