Baby gifts are very special and are a great way of expressing your love and appreciation for the baby. Buying a unique gift for a baby becomes a very tedious job sometimes. Sometimes you run out of options and some times they are too expensive to fit in your pockets.

I have tried to consolidate few options here. Share you opinion and ideas as well…

Generally baby gifts are different for baby boys and baby girls, but some common gifts can be baby photo frames, toys, moneyboxes, teddy bears, stuffed toys, trainer bikes, Baby Photo albums and lot more. But again where can I get these in very reasonable prices!!!!! Now that’s a big question!! But internet and THE GOOGLE can be a great help.. Key in term like baby gifts, baby presents, gifts to babies and you will find plenty of results which can help with great baby gift ideas.

I found a very interesting site http://www.oskarblack.com, having amazing ideas for baby gifts, baby christening gifts, baby birthday gifts…

Some other sites were

http://www.prettybabygifts.com/

http://www.cuddlesngifts.net/

http://www.toocutebabygifts.com/

http://www.babygiftidea.com/

Check them out if you are also confused and not able to find a perfect baby gift…

Enjoy Shopping !!!!!!!! and Happy Travelling !!!!!!!!

Hey!!! I know i am dropping in after a long time. But i didn’t had some thing new to talk about. …

Now i do.. was on a trip to London. It’s an amazing city. experienced some real good and exciting boat rides there. Saw some marinas here…..

Some of the topmost marinas of London are owned by a big name called Premier Marinas.

Was surfing about it net and surprising found few news articles here….

Check it out

• Premier Pushes Power
• Premier Unveils New Prices
• Sovereign Harbour Marina Gets New Look

It was first in the 1900 Paris that India participated in Olympics and was represented by an Anglo Indian, Norman Pritchard who was holidaying in Paris during that time. In there he won two silver medals in 200m dash and hurdles. Again India then participated in 1920 at Antwerp Olympics with eight members in Paris Olympics.

Today it’s great news for our nation that from a population of 1.1 billion people an ace shooter has come up with gold in the tournament. Abhinav Bindra is the king shooter who made India proud at the Beijing Olympics 2008.

In pool, Michael Phelps picked up his second gold, Lin Yue and Huo Liang synchronized to perfection in men’s diving and Kosuke Kitajima and set a new record in breaststroke, but day four of the Beijing Olympics belonged to Abhinav Bindra. See the Olympics Medal Tally.

Indian hockey team failed to qualify for the tournament for the first time and other participants in the Games from India are on their way struggling for podium positions.

Participating events of India in Beijing Olympics 2008 are Archery, Badminton, Boxing, Judo, Rowing, Shooting, Swimming, Tennis, Weight Lifting, Athletics, Wrestling and Table Tennis. Check out Events, Schedule and Athletes of India in Beijing Olympics 2008

Though it is a painful fact that even though India being a country of billion people, but had never been a competitive side in the Olympics and has always ranked at the fathoms of the Tally list. Abhinav Bindra’s success comes up sweet in this context and every Indian savors the taste of it.

Independance Day Weekend Getaways

Its time again to celebrate our independence!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are in our 61^st year of independence and it’s good to feel that as a country we are growing at a good pace. We should also remember the sacrifices that our freedom fighters did to see a free and independent India. That is why Independence Day is a time to enjoy the spirit of our hard earned freedom and taking owe that we will take India, where our freedom fighters dreamt to see it.

This year Independence Day is coming with a long weekend. So all travel freaks like me would be making plans to enjoy Independence Day with a complete freedom from work. So this is the time to make your travel plans for long weekend getaways and enjoy to your fullest in these 3 holidays. So my theme for this post would be weekend destinations for 15^th August Long weekend.

Depending upon the weather (the Monsoons) and the mood (Independence Day) there can be many awesome and hidden gems in India, where we can travel in this weekend. Choices can vary from hill stations to beaches, heritage to deserts, nature to mountains and many more. As this long weekend is falling in Monsoon, so there can be many monsoon getaways in India, where you can plan your weekend. Varying from popular hill stations like Mussoorie, Munnar, Kasauli and Mukteshwar to silent and unexplored gems like Karjat, Bakkhali beach, Hogenakkal falls, chitrakoot and shantiniketan are some of the places where you can spend your Independence Day weekend with your family.

For avid travelers residing in metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata planning a long weekend is much easy, as many online travel agents would be offering good packages to some popular destinations. But for offbeat travelers options can be much more interesting. Like some weekend getaways from Delhi can be Chiliyanaula, Ghiyagi, Mukteshwar, Shekhawati etc.

Mumbai weekend getaways can be Igatpuri, Malshej-ghat, Panchghani, Raigad Fort. Weekend destinations from Bangalore are Hampi, Coonor, Wayand and Kolkata weekend getaways are Bishnupur, Digha, Ghatsila, Mayapur etc.

So I have mentioned few from the many more options that you can choose from. Check out some exciting Independence Day Weekend Packages here…

Enjoy your Independence Day!!!! Happy Traveling!!!!!!!!!!!

Monsoon Holidays

India

is a land of diversities and one of such diversities can be found in the form of seasons here, prominently “summers, winters, autumn, monsoons”. Every season has its own characteristics and charm but when we talk about monsoons, the whole body is filled with excitement and chills up and down the spine of the cold wind with water dripping up the head. It is a magical experience of its own kind and it works on everybody.

India is at its best in Monsoons. Exploring India in monsoons are the most charming and adventurous thing to do. Many travelers plan their holidays in monsoon to see India’s virgin beauty. In this post I would like to put some light on some of the hidden Gems of India in Monsoon.

Indian hill stations flourish in Monsoon. Hills cleaned up with rains, show off their true beauty. Few must visit hill stations are Mussoorie, Munnar, Kasauli, Pachmarhi, Panchgani, Shillong, Mukteshwar and Karjat.

Mussoorie is also popularly known as the “Queen of Hills” as this place has magnificent scenic beauties with snow clad mountains. Mussoorie is at its best during Monsoons. Waterfalls look magical and hills looks appealing. Mussoorie in Monsoon attracts a lot of travelers, especially photographers.

Munnar is a beautiful Hill station in Kerala. High up in the hills of Munnar, the monsoon brings a kind of magic to all the senses. Not many people dare visit a hill station in the rains, but at Munnar, it’s worth the effort. Otherwise also Munnar is surely a nature lover’s paradise monsoon or no monsoon.

Kasauli is a writer’s paradise. This untouched beauty is still to be explored by many travelers; and monsoon can be one of the best season for the same. Imagination surely goes wild when it rains in the hills. If this is what you wish to experience come to Kasauli in Monsoon.

Pachmarhi and Panchgani are other two lovely hill stations in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Scenic beauty is at its best in these hill stations.

Beaches in Monsoon can be the other option for Monsoon Holidays. Famous beaches in Goa look in Magical in Monsoon. Goa in Monsoon is a very good holiday option. Pondicherry as a monsoon Holiday Destination is also a good option. Clean beaches and pleasant weather makes Pondicherry in Monsoon a Romantic destination too.

Other offbeat beaches in Monsoon are Daman and Diu, Chandipur and Bakkhali.

Many people chose Indian Heritage sites as their Monsoon Holiday Destination. Orchha, Udaipur and Bikaner are some of the hot destinations for Monsoon. Weather in Udaipur is very pleasant in Monsoon. Lakes are at their full flair and thus making the city of lakes a perfect destination for Monsoon.

Bikaner Desert offers delightful scenes for the camera of a nature lover traveler, while Orchha looks pleasant and surely an eye treat in Monsoon.

Check out some exciting Monsoon Holiday Packages !!! 

Apart from the places mentioned above, India is beautiful in the season of rainbows and raindrops. People go out in this season to various destinations to enjoy every minute of this phase as the land of India becomes more vivid in the monsoons. The very captivating clouds and the flashes like fireworks are an unparallel experience in the monsoons. So Happy Holidays and Happy Traveling in Monsoons!!!

India has a rich heritage of jungles and national parks. There is something so magical and exciting about being in a forest. Being in jungle is a different experience. Instead of poor infrastructural facilities, heat and humidity, Indian wildlife has always been a place an excitement and enthusiasm for Indian Travelers. The privilege of stepping into a pure and untouched world is a reward in itself.

Indian wildlife heritage varies from Tiger reserves in Ranthambore, Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Corbett to butterflies in Namdapha Wildlife Sanctuary.

The wilder India includes tiger reserves, bird sanctuaries, fishing camps and national parks for elephants, lions, snow leopards, deers, Rhinoceros and many more.

Tiger and family covers the major part of national parks in India. Some of the major tiger reserves in India include Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Ranthambore national park in Rajasthan, Corbett national park and Bandhavgarh national park. While Dandeli wildlife sanctuary reserves Black Panther and hemis national park reserves snow leopard.

Elephant, Rhinoceros and birds comes next in Indian wildlife. Bird lovers have some great options to holiday in India that includes Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Sambhar salt lake, Chilika lake and Assan Barrage.

Gir forest and national park is the only famous reserve for Lions in India. Other wildlife getaways includes Periyar, Rajaji national park and Nagarhole national park for elephants and kaziranga national park for Rhinoceros.

Check out some exclusive wildlife sanctuaries in India.

Indian Premier League (IPL), a brainchild of BCCI or to be more precise its vice-president Lalit Modi, is a Twenty- league sanctioned by ICC. Eight franchise teams owned by business tycoons, Bollywood stars and media magnets feature in the league. IPL is setting a prominent travel trend in India. IPL matches are affecting the travel patterns in the cities where matches are being held.

Each team will have a total of players, with a max of eight overseas players and a min of four U- players besides a min of four players from the catchments area as is fixed by the governing body. Name of the IPL Teams are Kings XI Punjab, Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Daredevils, Bangalore Royal Challengers and Mumbai Indians. IPL franchises bought the best cricketers of the world through the player’s auction held on Feb in Mumbai. The franchises spent lavishly to net big fishes in the shape of Dhoni ($1.7m) and Symonds ($1.3m) respectively. Franchises bought players -Indian and international – of their liking from a pool of .

Each team will play seven others in the fray on home and away basis. The top four teams at the end of league stages will make it to semi-finals and bottom four will play classification ties. The inaugural event, involving ties, kicked-off on April, when Mallaya-owned Bangalore Royal Challengers take on Kolkata owned by Shahrukh Khan at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. 

The matches will be played in the most renowned grounds of Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mohali. There can be two or one match as per the schedule per day and this entertainment saga will run for nearly 45 days showcasing not only the war for honor of the states but also the battles between the best players in the world. The final will be played June end the semi finals May end. These matches will be in Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium). This was told by the IPL commissioner and Chairman Lalit Modi after a meeting with the eight franchise owners and representatives of the match staging associations.

IPL, the billion-dollar first-of-its-kind in cricket, is loosely modeled after the mega sporting events English Premier League (EPL) a football league in UK and MLB (Baseball league in North America). However, the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question is Will the much-hyped T league match EPL and MLB in magnitude or is this a gigantic bubble waiting to burst. Time alone will tell.

IPL cricket, with its commercialization, media glitz and Bollywood’s Midas touch, is gradually inching towards acquiring an industry status which will provide bread and butter to many associated with it. Twenty- Twenty, the mini version of cricket, is intelligently packed with power and entertainment and is unlikely to stem the adrenalin flow. What is the fun in a game that doesn’t create craze equally among the rich and the poor? Hats off to IPL cricket that has pulled the people out of the saas-bahu mode!!

The final will be played June end the semi finals May end. These matches will be in Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium). This was told by the IPL commissioner and Chairman Lalit Modi after a meeting with the eight franchise owners and representatives of the match staging associations.

There is also a prediction that IPL board may consider the option of staging these important matches either at the Brabourne Stadium of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) or at the DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai.

With the summer in full swing & the summer vacations coming close, it’s time to go for a holiday…its chill out time!!! Approaching summer vacation is a good reason to search vacation ideas for May and June. Most families are now hunting for Summer Holiday Destinations which can not only involve their kids but also for the two-some. Some of the Holiday Ideas to watch out for are:

1) Red Hills: Surrounded by eight lakes and the majestic Nilgiris, Red Hills is no wonder is a treat to the eye. Part of the Niligiri Biosphere Reserve, Red Hills is 325 km from Bangalore. A beautiful place to chill out in complete harmony with nature, Red Hills is 28 km from Ooty. Check out the Red Hills Nature Resort (0423-2595755) for accommodation.

The trek starts from Irpu (in Karnataka), a small village well known for the Irpu waterfalls. Coorg has a number of hotels.

3) Rajmachi: Located in the shadows of Lonavla, Rajmachi is a great place to getaway from it all. Trek, explore forts, rappel down the rocks and be prepared for a rustic experience, Rajmachi is the place for soul searching and to connect with oneself. Rajamachi is 120 km from Mumbai and 20 km from Lonavla. Pitch a camp in the fort or in the nearby village Udhewadi, else opt for Captans Resorts (02114-271313) located not too far.

6) Mori: Situated along the banks of the Tons River, it’s a comparatively less travelled part of the hill state of Uttarakhand. Be it for relaxing or for adventure activities, Mori is the right place. Sandy beaches, guided nature-walks, beach activities, bird-watching etc will not only keep you engaged but thoroughly refresh you.

7) Mount Abu: An oasis amidst the arid desert is probably the only place in Rajasthan which can be visited even during hot summers. The scenic vista & it’s legendary past makes it an attractive long weekend option. The season of spring adds glory to the place with its most pleasant weather this time around. Mount Abu is 746 km from Delhi, well connected with road & railhead. There is no dearth of hotels in Mount Abu.

Shankarpur: A recently discovered virgin beach near Kolkata offers almost all pleasures of a private beach. Wide unspoilt beaches, casurina groves, the gentle sea and a great climate makes it a charming getaway. It’s 185 km from Kolkata and can be reached by any of the buses plying to Digha. Many a hotels line up the beaches, so stay wouldn’t be a problem.

9) Nepal: One of the most beautiful places that everyone must visit once in a lifetime at least. Nepal is dotted with temples, the calm monasteries, forested hills, tropical jungles, frozen valleys, gushing rivers & the city sights. There’s so much to do & see in Nepal that you need time. It’s equally for the families & the cozy two-some.

10) Gangtok: Gangtok is a small town which offers Scenic beauty, orchids and a fascinating travel experience. Places of tourist interest like Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok and Tashi View Point. It’s a destination that both young and adults enjoy; it is a good mix and has something for everyone. Gangtok may even be a good learning experience on Buddhism.

Hi, this is my blog.

I will be wrting about cool holiday ideas in India. So keep dropping in to read my blog !!