Saturday 15 March 2014

Gearing Up For Weekend Escapades

‘Vacation’ the word that can paint a rosy picture instantly; is however not a recurrent boon one can enjoy anytime.  Especially when long leaves can foul play with your job; it is advisable to avoid the risk. Don’t make that long face! As the solution lies in your calendar! Puzzled?  Well, it is nothing but your short and sweet weekend escapades.  Here are the best names around the metros of India.

•    From Delhi

Agra – The Delhi-Agra expressway makes the to-and-fro Delhi- Agra voyage really hassle-free. Situated at a distance of 197Kms, the Taj city has become the most preferred weekend spot for the Delhites.  It is beholding one of the most spectacular wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. This is why every year this city witnesses tourists sprawling in, from all across the globe.
Other than Taj, there are numerous other attractions in Agra, such as Itmad ud Daula Tomb, Mehtab Bagh and Agra Fort and so forth.

Red Fort Agra, India
Image Courtesy : www.hoteljyotiagra.com
Bharatpur – Located 186Kms away from Delhi. It is well-known for sanctuary - the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, UNESCO certified World Heritage Site.  Every year rare migratory birds visit Bharatpur in winters. The city also houses several ancient relics that date back to the early 15th century.

•    From Kolkata

Shanti Niketan (abode of Peace) - Away from madding crowd, it is an ideal weekend getaway for the Kolkatians. Nestled in 212Kms by road, it is the home of Nobel Laureate and National poet of India Rabindranath Tagore. This University town is not only rich in culture but also in scenic beauty.  One can get a glimpse of village life; enjoy various festivals including Poush Mela, Basanta Utsav, Nandan Mela etcetera. You can also bring home local handicrafts hawked at Sonajhuri Haat.

Image courtesy : www.radiancetour.com
Sundarban- Sited at a distance of 114kms, it is a perfect spot for wildlife as well as photography lovers. This is the hub of Sundari trees, thus the place named accordingly. This dense national park covers an area approx. 38,500sqft. Beside 30,000 royal Bengal tigers, it accumulates deer, wild boars, fowls and reptiles.

•    From Mumbai

Shillim – Sited on the Sahyadri mountain range, Shillim is at 90kms away from Mumbai. It is located in The Mavaal region. The region holds significant historic importance. It offers a placid beauty sans modernization. The prime attraction of Shillim is the spectacular Lake Pawna which facilitates the boating option. Trekkers will get abundant chances of trekking at Tikona hill. The Ariel view of the place can be received through paragliding.

shillim, Sahyadri mountain range
Image Courtsey : www.booking.com
Gorai and Manori beaches-These two beaches are the ideal weekend escape for those who are just looking forward to have a relaxing session without participating into any kind of activities. Gorai beach is 44Kms away whereas Manori beach is at 48Kms away from Mumbai.

•    From Chennai

Pondichery- Located 244 kms away from Chennai, it is known as the “Quintessence of France” as it was ruled by French people for 281 years. The city still holds the mark from past in its magnificent colonial mansions, serene boulevards, name of the streets and peaceful promenades. Auroville is a place which houses 50,000 people throughout the globe. At the center of the city lies sacred Matrimandir, a lake and the amphitheater with Urn of Human Unity containing the soils of 121 countries and 23 Indian states. One should not miss the chance of treating his taste buds with lip-smacking French food served in the local eatery.


pondichery, Chennai
Image courtesy : pondicherryinfo.in
Dakhinashetra- Developed and maintained by Madras Craft Foundation, it is small heritage village positioned on the beautiful Mahabalipuram Beach. Situated at 21Kms away from Chennai, this village represents glaring example of traditional South Indian art, craft as well as architecture. One must try hands at crafting a terracotta doll.

We highly recommend before moving ahead:


•    Make a research of near about spots.
•     Plan your travel idea at least before four to five days.
•     Prepare a “things to do” list especially of pending tasks before and after the holidays. This will help, pre planning in a systematic way and also to get back on track quicker, post-vacation.
•    Get financially prepared. Make a rough estimate of the trip expenses. Though now we have the privilege of carrying cards instead of cash, but it is always advisable to carry liquid cash with you.
•    Book the place to stay, in advance
Without niggling for a near impossible extended leaves; plan weekends out and refresh your, mind, soul and body. We wish you happy weekends!

Monday 10 March 2014

Go Fishing in India

Deadlines at work, hectic work schedules and tight commitments; can make anyone distressed. Much awaited thing is a break, as it is always said “de-stress before you get distressed.”
The hustle and bustle of busy lifestyle never grants a long escape. With periodic nightmares of re-joining work, one can only think of few easy doorways to unwind oneself. As a matter of fact, fishing, the game of patience can be one of the most appealing activities of unwinding yourself by staying very close to nature. 
With a vast coastline of near bout 3000 Kms as well as 55,000 Km of water bodies including lakes, streams, rivers, tributaries and reservoirs, bodies; India hosts exhilarating fishing adventures  includes trawling, sport fishing and angling.

Permits

Fishing licenses are compulsory to guarantee safety of ecosystem. Therefore, before heading to any fishing safari, get endorsed for a legalized fishing. Contact the state tourism and fisheries department of the state, which one intends to visit.

Go for Fishing in India
Image Courtesy:  lakesideindia.wordpress.com
 N.B-Fishing permits are not issued during the breeding season. 

Season for Fishing

 Since the diverse land of India has climatic differences from region to region, thereby fishing can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Honing the Hobby

Waiting for a nibble is an art of tremendous patience. The keys to successful fishing expedition are time and patience to keep quiet and still for hours. The tough challenge one has to face while pulling in a big prized-catch can be one way of de-stressing all that accumulated pressure  one faces in his daily hurly-burly.One more exciting part of fishing is the eating your hard earned catch.

Fishing is a game of angling. Place your line close to a swift areas there have more oxygen for a better catch. One must carry Fishing Rods, Lines, Hooks, Reel, Flies, Spoons, Spinners and Bait.

Things to wear

Wear light cotton clothes or waterproof protective clothing, light sandals or water proof rubber calf length shoes.  Take tube of sunscreen, hat and sunglass for sun protection.

To fully enjoy, tag along with a number of friends or family and share the thrill, gatherings around bonfires, overnight stay by camping in the wilds or forest lodges can be good options. Of late the state governments have started all these amenities to the tourists to encourage fishing safari.


Fishing holidays India
Image courtsey: www.sportquestholidays.com
Places and time:

Trawling in Himachal Pradesh - The Beas River in the Kullu-Manali region, Larji Valley, is popular for Brown Trout. Other than these Sutlej, Ravi,Tirthan, Sainj, Uhl, Baspa, Pabar, Lambadug, Giri, Rana, NugalGai, Baner, Bata, are the mean streams for angling in Himachal Pradesh where fishes like Mahseer, Barilus sp, Glyptothoraxsp, Nemacheilusspp, Schizothoracids Crossocheilus sp. are abundantly available. October to November and from April to June, are the recommended time for visit. Avoid fishing during the chilled seasons of winters.

Angling in Uttar Pradesh– Dodital fresh water lake, is ideal for trout fishing all through the year. One can choose to stay in the forest rest-house at Dodital and Bartok. Ramganga and the Sharda rivers in the range of Jim Corbett National Park, are the ideal water bodies for Mahseer hunt. Rishikesh can also be considered.

Catching fish in South India - April to September, is the ideal time for trout-fishing in southern India.  For stay, go camping in forests bungalows. Mysore is a great place to catch Mahseer. One can stay at Cauvery Fishing Lodge. In Kerala, streams around the hill stations of Munnar are best for fishing during the month of April to September.

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Maharashtra: The Monsoon Beauty


If you are among those who don’t mind getting drenched in the natural shower, hop in the muddy paddles, trail the thunder, gaze at the rainbow; then of course the best time to keep a date with nature is the monsoons

With the spectacular beaches, hail-washed Western Ghats, magnificent waterfall, mysterious mist, Maharashtra certainly converts into the “heaven on earth” with the approach of monsoon, which worth a visit.

Lonavala and Khandala undoubtedly are the places in you tour planner. These two hilly beauties are located between Mumbai and Pune. When it rains the barren hills around Lonavala turn out to be lush green carpets and numerous rain fed springs cascade freely all over. One never would want to leave the overwhelming Khandala Ghats which can wow anyone with its splendor of clouds passing by and the gushing waterfalls.

Lonawala, Khandala
Image Courtesy:ecabs.in
For trekking aficionados, Duke’s Nose, Rajmachi Trek are prevalent routes and zone beyond Tungarli offers an amusing lakeside panoramic view.

Come monsoon and Malshej Ghat, just 160 km from Mumbai, acquires almost a mystical look. Not to forget the hilltop gets extremely windy during this season. Famous for its dam, waterfalls and with completely uninhabited area around it, Bhandardara is only 80 km away from Nashik. One has to navigate the vineyards, windmills and lakes to reach here.  Saputara on Maharashtra-Gujarat border is a perennial and tranquil hill station. Especially during monsoon, the beholder just gets carried away to a different dimension with the picturesque beauty of this hilly land. At 120Kms away from Melghat Tiger Reserve, Chikhaldhara is worth a visit during cloud burst. Initially built as summer resort by the British and hovering at a height of about 2,516 ft. above sea level, the eco-friendly Matheran is a real treat for eyes. It is well-known for its 33 viewpoints like Panorama, Sunrise, Heart, Echo, Luisa, Monkey, Malang, Porcupine, Lords, Artist, Alexander, Chowk, Rambaugh Point etc. Facilitating expedition at Honeymoon Hill or One Tree Hill or a simple ride in the toy train like that of Darjeeling, Matheran is a bliss! A train tour in Konkan region, is believed to be one of the stunning experiences.

Western Ghats, India
Image Courtesy:exploringtourism.com
Dudhsagar, literally meant the “Sea of Milk” is a 10m long and milky white Waterfall at Someshwar. During monsoon the falls is an awe-inspiring sight for the sightseers. In addition, one can make a visit to Dhobi and Chinaman's Waterfall, Venna Lake as well.

Have your rain gears ready and chalk out trip during monsoon.

Explore the Maharashtrian marvels of wet weathers!

Saturday 1 March 2014

Shopping and Dining in Ubud: Bali’s Paradise!

The fun part of any tour remains incomplete without tasting the local food and getting home the souvenirs! Don’t you agree?

Located in tropical Bali, Ubud; is one of the most fascinating travel destinations of recent times. As the cultural hub of the island, it grants many culinary and shopping treats to the tourists.

Ubud
Image Courtesy :ihavenotbeenthere.com
Let us explore the myriad array of dinning and bargain hunt.

In reality, the fine dining at Ubud is designed to satisfy varied taste buds. Who will not go gaga over a delectable taste and tempting aroma?  And things will turn more exciting if one gets the chance to explore through the bargain-basements of the shopping hubs.

Café Wayan and Bakery, situated at a distance of 3Kms from Monkey Forest, serves the most comprehensive set of choices of Balinese specialties. If you can make it on a weekend, do not miss the luxurious traditional Balinese buffet served on Sunday evenings.

Similarly, Dirty Duck Restaurant locally known as Bebek Bengil is another name.  Placed in the heart of Ubud, this eatery is popular for specific innovative à la carte recipes including snails, fish and chips, finger foods and obviously the famous crispy duck steamed with a combination of Balinese spices and then quickly deep-fried at a high heat for a very crunchy result and amazingly delicious taste.

Dirty Duck Restaurant
Image Courtesy :baliholi.blogspot.com
IbuRai Bar & Restaurant is another must visit eating place.  Since 1960, this outlet is widely known for selling delicious, reasonably priced and healthy food.

IbuRai Bar & Restaurant
Image Courtesy :limewave.com
Are you a shopaholic? If the answer is yes, then Ubud is the place for you. Here the shopping experience is no less than being on the seventh earth. The choices are endless starting from jewelries to furniture. You name it, in all probability you’ll get it.

 There are few best handicraft centers which highlights both traditional as well as chronological side of Bali. Names like Sukwati and Ubud are the two most talked markets related to craft and cloth shopping. Choose the best of Indonesian dresses, shirts, scarf, cushions, scarf, bags and batiks from Sukwati market. On the contrary rattan stuff - bags, baskets, placemats and tissue box holders made of coconut husk, sarongs, pareos, masks, bags, salt and pepper shakers are the best picks at Ubud market. Celuk village is the stop for bagging a few metal artifacts. Here the shopper is blessed with copious choices for gold and silver ornaments. Ubud is also packed with malls and flea markets. The area appears like a paradise for fashionistas where one can get hold of replicas of famous designer wears. Jalan Raya tops the list because of its moving collection. If wood crafts is what you are looking for then it certainly ends in Mas village. Batubulan presents you with its stone carved pieces, ideal as keepsakes. Nusa Dua on the outskirts of Ubud is another hub for handicrafts.

N.B. - Credit cards are accepted everywhere except family owned souvenir and gifts shops.
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