My India

Magnetic Fields Indie Music Festival Rajasthan December 2014

2014-10-27T02:20:00.001-07:00

The charming Alsisar Mahal in Shekhawati, Rajasthan will be hosting a 3-day indie music festival in December this year. Indian and international bands will perform live. Online tickets along with accommodation packages in the palace suites and in tents are now available. Besides music, there will be yoga sessions in the mornings, local crafts to learn during workshops, costume balls to be a part of and delectable local cuisine to feast on.

Festival Dates
12th December, 9p.m. to 14th December, 11p.m.

The Performing Artistes
From India

Monica Sharma Dogra, also know as Shaa’ir
BASS Foundation Roots sound system
BEGUM- Band trio with Kshitij Dhyani (bass), Karan Singh (drums and keys), Kartik S Pillai (guitars and vocals)
Soulspace, music producer
Nischay Parekh and Jiver, a trio of Nischay Parekh, Jivraj ‘Jiver’ Singh (drummer) and Dylan Varner-Hartley (multi-instrumentalist and composer)
Sulk Station - Tanvi Rao’s (vocals) and Rahul Giri (producer)
Curtain Blue (Abhishek Bhatia), vocalist
Hoirong, a rock band with Akhil (guitar ), Kamal (guitar, vocals),  Samar (guitar, vocals),  Akshat (drum)
Nicholson, singer-songwriter and keyboardist
Mathieu Josso, aka M.Mat
SpaceJams, Yohann Jamsandekar
Loopkin
Pink Noise
Dualist Inquiry, soloist Sahej Bakshi
Until We Last, rock band with Ketan Bahirat, Ralston D’souza (drums), Chaithanya Jade (guitars) and Anjan Bhojraj (bass)

International

Dream Koala (France) - Yndi Ferreira
Graciela Maria (Mexico)
Mohammed Uraibi Abood (aka DJ MoCity) (UAE)
DJ Vadim (UK)
Zahed Sultan (Kuwait)
Suren Seneviratne, aka My Panda Shall Fly (UK)
DJ Flava D (UK)
Gunsal H. Moreno (Spain), better known by his musical project BeGun
DJ and producer Pawas Gupta (Germany)

More artistes are likely to join up later.

Tickets

Festival Pass: Rs.5,000/-
Royal Palace Suite Package - From: Rs.35,000
Royal Bedouin Tent Package – From: Rs.20,000
Pitch your own Tent – From Rs.2,250
2-person Classic Tent – Rs.9,000
3-person Classic Tent – Rs.13,500
4-person Classic Tent – Rs.16,000
6-person Classic Tent – Rs.18,000

Note: There are no day passes available. You will be given a wristband so that you can enter and exit during the event at any time. You can buy tickets without accommodation. When booking online tickets, make sure that you take a print-out of your email confirmation & take it with you to the event. Tickets are not refundable.
Refer: http://tickets.magneticfields.in/faq/

You can also volunteer for the festival by sending your C.V. to: info@magneticfields.in

For Tickets information: tickets @ magneticfields.in
To book tickets online visit: www.magneticfields.in

2014 Goa Coconut and Cashew Festival dates and events

2014-05-19T02:50:00.002-07:00

Goa Tourism is organizing the very first edition of the Coconut & Cashew Festival from May 21^st, 2014 to May 25^th, 2014. The aim of the festival is not just to have a fun time but also to showcase the multiple uses of the coconut and cashew.

Highlights & Events of the Festival

Cashew stomping sessions
Coconut breaking
Coconut tree climbing
Display of coconut and cashew products
Local handicrafts
Cookery shows
Cocktail demos using Feni
Music concerts
Demos and workshops on Goan cuisines conducted by the Goan Culinary Club

Venue: Campal Grounds, Panjim, Goa

For more information:

Department of Tourism, Government of Goa
Purshottam Bhagwan Building
Dr. Atmaram Borkar Road, Opp. Hotel Nova Goa,
Panaji, Goa- 403 001
Ph: 0832 - 2438750/51/52
Email: deptgoatourism@gmail.com

2014 Uttarayan Kite Festival Gujarat schedule of events

2014-01-09T22:38:00.001-08:00

It is that time of the year when the skies over Gujarat will be filled with lot of colour - the Uttarayan Kite Festival has arrived! Watch national and international ace experts in kite flying displaying their majestic kites. Buy kites from the local bazaars and fly your own. Attend cultural events in the evening on the riverfront of the majestic Sabarmati river. Lots of excitement, lots of fun for one and all!

2014 Kite Festival Gujarat Dates and Venues

Here's the detailed list of all the special events, timings and venues of the kite festival in Gujarat, which begins today:

DATE	TIME	EVENT	VENUE
01-10-2014	10.30a.m. - 2p.m.	Kite Flying	Hostel Ground, Bharuch
01-10-2014	10.30a.m. - 2p.m.	Kite Flying	Dhordo - White Rann & Mandvi Beach, Kutchh
01-11-2014	10.30a.m. - 2.30p.m.	Kite Flying	Navlakhi Ground, Baroda
01-11-2014	7p.m.	Inauguration of Theme Pavilion	Navlakhi Ground, Baroda
01-11-2014	7.30p.m. - 9.30p.m.	Indo-Western Musical Fusion cultural performance	Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad
01-11-2014	Night time	Tukkal Flying	Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad
01-12-2014	9a.m.	Inauguration by Hon.CM Narendra Modi	Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad
01-12-2014	after inauguration	Parade and Kite Flying	Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad
01-12-2014	7.30p.m. - 9.30p.m.	Theme-based Music and Dance cultural performance	Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad
01-12-2014	at night	Tukkal Flying	Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad
13/1/2014	10.30a.m. - 2.30p.m.	Kite Flying	Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad
13/1/2014	7.30p.m. - 9.30p.m.	Indi-pop Band EKA performance	Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad
13/1/2014	at night	Tukkal Flying	Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad

Contact Information for Events:
Ms. Vidhi Sutaria
Associate. Manager (Events), Head Office, Gandhinagar
Ph: +91 23222523 / 23222645

Email: Vidhisutaria@gujarattourism.com

Website with list of Tourism Offices: http://www.gujarattourism.com/showpage.aspx?contentid=1001&lang=English

2013 Taj Mahotsav Agra India tickets and accommodation

2013-02-15T00:51:00.000-08:00

The Taj Mahal Agra, a world renowned heritage monument to love, attracts visitors daily throughout the year. Centered around this historic mausoleum is the annual Taj Mahotsav, a 10-day festival which showcases the skills of artistes and artisans from around the country. In addition, there is a fun fair with rides for kids & adults and food, all located near the the Eastern Gate.

Dates of 2013 Taj Mahotsav, Agra, India: February 19^th to February 28^th 2013.

2013 Taj Mahotsav Entry Fees

Adults: Rs.40/- per person
Children: entry free for kids up to 5 years of age
Foreign tourists: free entry
School children (in school uniform): Rs.300/- for group of 50 children, with free entry for 2 teachers
Cultural programs: no separate entry fee

Where to buy tickets: at all the entry gates

2013 Taj Mahotsav Accommodation

1.You can stay in the following places provided by the Govt.

Tourist Bunglaw, Raja-Ki-Mandi . Ph: +91-562-2851720, 2850120
Taj Khema, Eastarn Gate, Taj Mahal. Ph: +91-562-2230001, 2330140
Youth Hostel, Sanjay Place, M. G. Road. Ph:+91-562-2854462
Gulistan Tourist Complex, Fatehpur Sikri. Ph: +91-5613-282490
Archeological Survey of India, Fatehpur Sikri. Ph: +91-5613-282248

2. You can stay as a Paying Guest at the following places:

Mahatim Singh - 71-Gulmohar Enclave, Shamsabad Road, Agra. Ph: 9319000644/2480748
Col. Indrajeet Singh Lamba -58- Gulmohar Enclave, Shamsabad Road, Agra. Ph: 3298921/9319842921
Sharma Paying Guest House-HIG-6, (Gr 14) Taj Nagri, Agra. Ph: 2330317/9319200312
Col. Mahendra Pratap-102, Taj Nagri, Near TDI, Fatehabad Road, Agra. Ph: 2332480
Smt. Madhu Raj Vansha-11- Kaveri Vihar, Phase III,Shamsabad Road, Agra. Ph: 6454315
Gurcharan Singh-52 A, Gough Road, Agra Cantt, Agra. Ph: 9412534752/3093949
Dr. (Smt.) Chandra Singh-No.1 - Kunwar Colony, Khandari Agra. Ph: 9837006433/2852211

2013 Taj Mahotsav Events Schedule

The Artisans' Works

Agra: marble and zardozi work
North East India: bamboo and cane work
Tamil Nadu: wood and stone carvings
Kashmir: paper mache work, shawls and carpets
Saharanpur: wood carving
Moradabad: brass wares
Bhadohi: hand made carpets
Khurja: pottery
Lucknow: chikan work
Banaras: silk and zari work
Gujarat: shawls & carpets
Farrukhabad: hand printing
West Bengal: Kantha stitch

...and lots more!

The Artists' Works

Folk dances
Classical
Semi-classical

The cultural programs will be organised at 3 venues:

(1) Sadar Bazaar open air theatre

(2) Noorjahan Auditorium, Shilpgram

(3) Sursadan, Agra

Other events include plays, classical dances, performances by musical bands, a photography competition on 23^rd February (outdoor event) and a bodybuilding performance by the Agra Police on 28^th February (7p.m. at Sursadan)

Complete schedule of events here

Contact information for 2013 Taj Mahotsav

Office of Secretary, Taj Mahotsav Samiti
U.P. Tourism
64, Taj Road,
Agra-282001
Ph: +91-562-2226431/ 2233056 // Fax: +91-562-2226431
E-mail: info@tajmahotsav.org / agrauptourism@gmail.com
Website: www.up-tourism.com

2013 Republic Day India Beating the Retreat tickets

2013-01-21T07:24:00.000-08:00

Like the parade at Rajpath, the Beating the Retreat Ceremony is an important part of the Republic Day of India celebrations. In fact, this ceremony marks the end of the celebrations. The music bands from all the sections of the Indian Armed Forces, namely, Army, Navy and Airforce, are part of the ceremony. The most exciting part of these bands is when only the drummers perform the Drummer's Call. At the very end is the sound of bugles at 6p.m., to announce the end. [2014 Republic Day parade & beating the retreat tickets]

The Band Master who leads the entire ceremony then formally marches up to the Chief Guest, who is the President of India, and takes permission to lead back all the bands. Then the bands turn back, playing the music of the patriotic song Saare Jahan Se Achcha. The National Anthem is sung, the tricolour lowered from its flag post and thus the celebrations formally come to a fitting end.

Date of 2013 Republic Day Beating the Retreat event: January 29th 2013

Venue of 2013 Republic Day Beating the Retreat event:Vijay Chowk, New Delhi, India

Where to by tickets for 2013 Republic Day India Beating the Retreat Band Ceremony

The public can buy tickets for the full dress rehearsal of the Beating the Retreat ceremony at the following places:

1. ITDC Travel Counter at Ashok Hotel
50B Chanakyapuri

New Delhi 110021
Ph: (011) 26110101

2. ITDC Travel Counter at Janpath Hotel

Janpath, Connaught Place New Delhi, India
Ph: 011 - 23340070

3. DTDC Counter at Coffee Home

Coffee Home
Opp Hanuman Mandir,
Baba Kharak Singh MG, CP,
Delhi – 110001
Ph: +(91)-(11)-23363813

4. DTDC Counter at Food and Craft Bazaar

Food and Craft Bazaar,
Dilli Haat,
Aurobindo Marg, opposite INA Market,
New Delhi

5. DTDC Counter at Dilli Haat

Price of the tickets for 2013 Beating the Retreat: Rs 50/- and Rs.20/-. There will be no reserved seats for this event.

2013 Republic Day India parade features and tickets booking

2013-01-21T07:03:00.001-08:00

The Republic Day of India is a day of pride & joyous celebrations, of rewarding brave youngsters & remembering martyrs, of showcasing the equipment & skills of our armed forces and also displaying in grandiose splendour our rich culture. In short, one grand spectacle celebrating the sovereignty of a beautiful nation. Take pride in being a part of India![2014 Republic Day parade & beating the retreat tickets]

Republic Day India Parade Features

The main aspect around which the Republic Day of India's celebrations is centered is the parade. This parade is held at Rajpath, New Delhi, the capital city of India. A leading head of another country is generally invited to be the Chief Guest at the parade. The 2013 Republid Day India Chief Guest is likely to be the Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said Al Said.

Prior to this parade, a somber activity is the laying of a wreath by the President of India at India Gate, at the base of the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial. This memorial was set up as a tribute to the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives for India. A thunderous salute of 21 guns then follows after which the National Flag of India is unfurled. Winners of various gallantry awards then receive their awards. These winners are driven in open jeeps in the parade, with the child winners seated atop gaily decorated elephants. Regiments of the Army, police units, Home Guards and National Cadet Corps all are part of the parade. Next up are the beautifully designed tableaus representing the culture of the different States of India. School children put up traditional dances too. At the parade finale, the Border Security Force (BSF) display stunts on motorycyles which has the crowd roaring! At the very end is the flypast by the pilots of the Indian Airforce, releasing colour to show the colours of the national flag.

Where to buy tickets for 2013 Republic Day India Parade

Tickets for the Republic Day Parade will be available on all working days at:

North Block round about
South Block round about – Timings: 10a.m. to 7.30p.m.
Pragati Maidan (at Bhairon Road Gate No.1),
Jantar Mantar (at the Main Gate entrance) – Timings: 10a.m. to 7.30p.m.
Red Fort (near the Police picket)
Government of India Tourist Office: 88 , Janpath ,
Connaught Place,
New Delhi - 110 001
Ph: +(91)-(11)-332 0005
Shastri Bhawan (near Gate No. 1) – Timings: 10a.m. to 7.30p.m.
India Gate (near Jamnagar House) – Timings: 10a.m. to 7.30p.m.
Parliament House (at the reception office) – Timings: 11a.m. to 4p.m. [ will be available till January 28th 2013).

Contact Information for 2013 Republic Day India Parade

Shri S Arora, Officer on Special Duty (Sale of Tickets & Printing),

Room No. B-26, near Gate No. 9,

South Block,

New Delhi – 110011

India

Ph: 2301 5701

Read also: Beating the Retreat Ceremony Tickets

2013 Kumbh Mela Prayag dates and accommodation at Allahabad India

2013-01-14T01:39:00.001-08:00

Kumbh is a religious and cultural festival of India. In fact, it is the largest religious gathering in the world which begins today. The Kumbh Mela occurs once in 12 years, this year it being for 55 days (it was previously held in 2001). People from diverse cultures and religions congregate from all over the world at Allahabad (formerly known as Prayag). Just as the city forms the confluence of three rivers, namely the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati, so also the Kumbh mela is a congregation of faiths. It is also believed that the mere sight of the Ganges washes away all sins.

Important Bathing Dates of 2013 Kumbh Mela

January 14^th 2013: Makar Sankranti
January 27^th 2013: Paush Poornima
February 10^th 2013: Mauni Amavasya
February 15^th 2013: Vasant Pachami
February 25^th 2013: Maghi Poornima
March 10^th 2013: Maha Shivratri

Important Rules

1. Do not use polythene

2. Do not litter the area with paper, food leftovers, water bottles or other materials. Keep the surroundings clean. Throw garbage in the dustbins provided.

3. Do not touch unclaimed and unidentified objects. Inform the admn about them.

4. Do not use soap while bathing in the rivers.

5. Do not throw materials used for rituals or worship into the river.

6. Do not wash clothes on the river banks or in the river waters.

Contact Information for 2013 Kumbh Mela India

Sri Mani Prasad Mishra, Mela Officer(Fair Officer)

Ph: 2500791, 2500775, 22103608, 22103609 / Fax: 2509430

Email: kumbhmelaadhikari-up@nic.in

Accommodation for 2013 Kumbh Mela India

The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department has made arrangements for the comfortable stay of visitors. Check in and check out time is 12 noon. For reservation you will have to pay 100% advance. All applicable Taxes will be charged extra.

The options are:

1. Rahi llawart Tourist Bungalow
Address: 35 M.G. Marg, Allahabad
Ph.: 0532-2407440, 2408374 Fax : 0532-2408461
E-mail : rahiilawart@up-tourism.com

Rooms & Tariff: From 1st January to 10th March 2013

(a) Ganga- Yamuna & Saraswati room: Rs.7000/- (double occupancy). Includes: Cold Drink, Mineral Water, Break-fast-Complimentary for two persons

(b) A.C. Deluxe: Rs.3300/- (single occupancy) / Rs.3500/- (double occupancy). Includes: Cold Drink, Mineral Water, Break-fast-Complimentary for two persons

(d) A.C. Economic: Rs.2300/- (single occupancy) / Rs. 2500/- (double occupancy)

(e) 4 Bed: Rs.2500/-

(f) Dormitory: Rs.500/- per bed

2. Rahi Triveni Darshan
Address: Yamuna Bank Road , Keedganj

Ph.:0532-2558646
E-mail : rahitrivenialahabad@up-tourism.com

Rooms & Tariff: From 1st January to 10th March 2013
(a)Suites: 3 rooms: Rs.4000/-
(b) A.C.: 10 rooms available: Rs.2000/- (single occupancy) / Rs. 2200/- (double occupancy)
Note: in-house restaurant is there

3. Tent Colony-
A. 43 semi-luxurious tents for which the tariff till 10th March 2013 is:
(a) Swiss Cottage (Double Occupancy, A.P.Plan): Rs. 6000/- per day
(b) Dormitory Cottage: Rs. 500/- per bed- per day.

B. 10 Maharaja Tents: Rs.12,000/- per night. Tent has master bedroom furnished with wooden bed, coffee table and chairs, dressing room and bathroom with all modern amenities.

Important Tip: you can avail of discounts on accommodation rates on the non-bathing days (see bathing dates above)

You can also book tour packages.
Contact:
Central Reservation Centre UP Tours
Rahi Hotel Gomati,
6, Sapru Marg,
Lucknow
Phones: 0522-2615005, 2612659
E-mail : uptouslko@up-tourism.com

General Helpline No. of UP Tourism: 0522-3303030

Heli Skiing in Manali Himachal Pradesh

2012-10-24T02:33:00.001-07:00

The picturesque hill station of Manali located in the Kulu Valley of Himachal Pradesh is no longer a tourist destination for just visiting monasteries and temples. It has grown phenomenally as a globally popular hub for adventure tourism too. In recent years, one of the main aspects of this adventure tourism is heli-skiing. In this adventure sport, you board a helicopter to get airlifted to high slopes and mountain tops & you then ski down the slopes.

There are plenty of tour operators who organize heli-skiing for national and international travelers. One of the well-known ones is Himalayan Heli Adventures Pvt. Ltd. (HHA)

The HHA organises 1 week heli-skiing trips in Manali. The 'heli' part of the trips are aboard Bell-407 and/or Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopters which are flown by experienced Swiss pilots & are maintained by professional Swiss engineers. The guides who take you on your expedition are internationally certified heli-ski professionals who are equipped with all emergency medical skills and are also experts in snow safety, rescue techniques and mountain travel. All guides carry rescue and emergency gear.

HHA Helicopter

Lodging

HHA can arrange for accommodation in top hotels in Delhi and Himachal Pradesh or in mountain lodging (with food provided) in Manali.

You can also avail of tour packages within Delhi city, including unique walk-around tours which take you around the popular local heritage structures.

HHA Heli-skiing tour packages tariffs

The price of a heli-skiing trip to Manali is very high, with a cost of € 4,300/- per person for a Himalayan Ski Tour package which is includes 7 nights of full board accommodation on twin sharing basis, 6 days of heli-accessed ski touring (One hour of helicopter time/guest/ week), return travel to your hotel in New Delhi, airport transfers in Delhi, Himachal State Government Royalty and Central Government Service Tax levy. Other packages include Himalayan Odyssey package, Himalayan Safari Package, Lodge-based Himalayan exploration, Himalayan Exclusive package & Himalayan Maharaja package.

How to book
The 2013 heli-ski season packages from HHA are from 19th January to April 6th 2013. To reserve a week you can contact:
Himalayan Heli adventures P. Ltd., tel. & fax +91 1902 251593 during official opening hours of 09:00 up to 18:00 local time (UTC or Greenwich time + 5:30 hours), or send us an e-mail to the following address: sales@himachal.com / info@himachal.com

Contact Information
Himalayan Heli Adventures Pvt. Ltd.
Thakur Building
Village Chadyari
P.O. Vashisht, Manali
Himachal Pradesh 175131
India
Tel: +91 1902 251593
Telefax: +91 1902 251594
Mobile +91 98160 25899, +91 98160 85688, +91 98821 00093
Email: info@himachal.com, sales@himachal.com
Website: http://www.himachal.com/

2012 Kutch Rann Utsav Gujarat India

2012-09-12T00:07:00.000-07:00

The Kutch district of Gujarat is home to a wide ecological diversity with picturesque beaches, exquisite monuments and beautiful royal palaces as well as fascinating wildlife. In addition, cultural festivities for a greater part of the year create a lot of fun & excitement for locals and tourists alike. One such festivity is the month long desert festival organised by the Gujarat Tourism Board. Known as the Kutch Rann Utsav, this festive carnival includes showcasing folk art, music & dance of the locals.

Included in the tour package is accommodation in tents (air-conditioned as well as non air-conditioned) and exciting activities such as visiting a traditional village, attending cultural programs, watching the sunset, etc. Optional tour packages are available.

The 2012 Kutch Rann Utsav will be organised between 15^th December, 2012 and 31^st January, 2013.

2012 Tour Packages for Kutch Rann Utsav

Dates of the Tour Packages

The 3 nights package dates are: 15^th, 16^th and 17^th December & 29^th, 30^th and 31^st December.
The 1 night and 2 nights package dates are available on: 19th December 2012, 22nd December 2012, 25th December 2012, 2^nd January 2013, 5^th January 2013, 8^th January 2013, 11^th January 2013, 14^th January 2013, 17^th January 2013, 20^th January 2013, 23^rd January 2013, 26^th January 2013 and 29^th January 2013.

2 nights package itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Bhuj by air/rail and road; transfer to Dhordo; Check in at Tent Village and lunch. At 15:30hrs. Visit Hodko village for handicrafts & witness the sunset at White Rann; dinner & night halt at Tent village.
Day 2: 08:30hrs. – after breakfast, departure for Indo-Pak border tour OR Mandvi Beach Tour with lunch and evening tea on route; dinner and night halt at tented village.
Day 3: 08:30hrs. – Check out after breakfast & departure for Bhuj, visiting on the way Khavda Black Hills & Ludiya village.
14:00hrs: Arrival at Bhuj

3 Nights Package

Day 1: Arrival at Bhuj by air/rail and road; transfer to Dhordo; Check in at Tent Village and lunch. At 15:30hrs. Visit Hodko village for handicrafts & witness the sunset at White Rann; dinner & night halt at Tent village.
Day 2: 08:30hrs. – After breakfast, departure for Indo-Pak border tour OR Mandvi Beach Tour with lunch and evening tea on route; dinner and night halt at tented village.
Day 3: 08:30hrs. – After breakfast any one optional tour: (a) Mandvi beach tour or (2) Narayan Sarovar tour. Lunch and evening tea will be on route, while dinner & night halt will be at the tent village.
Day 4: 08:30hrs. – Check out after breakfast & departure for Bhuj, on the way visiting Khavda Black Hills and Ludiya village.
14:00hrs.: Arrival at Bhuj

2012 Kutch Rann Utsav Tour Package Tariff Rates

Particulars	Rates	No. of nights	Dates
A/C Tent	Rs.12,500/-	3	15th, 16th, 17th Dec & 29th, 30th, 31st Dec.
A/C Tent	Rs.9,500/-	2	[see above for dates]
A/C Tent	Rs.4,900/-	1	[see above for dates]
Non A/C Tent	Rs.10,500/-	3	15th, 16th, 17th Dec & 29th, 30th, 31st Dec.
Non A/C Tent	Rs.7,500/-	2	[see above for dates]
Non A/C Tent	Rs.3,900/-	1	[see above for dates]

Group Booking Discounts

20 to 49 persons: 10% discount
Above 50 persons: 15% discount
Senior Citizen discount: 20%
Foreign Tourist discount: 10%

Contact Information

Ph: 1800-233-7951 (toll free number)

SMS or call: 098203 57739

Email: tibmumbai@gujarattourism.com

Website: www.gujarattourism.com

The perfect marriage recipe: can you cook it up?

2012-08-22T23:54:00.002-07:00

Marriages are made in heaven. Yeah, right. There are beautiful people all around playing angelic music on their harps while God presides benevolently over the proceedings. Everything is perfect and the couple are divinely happy - always, indefinitely.

Well, that is heaven. Now, down on earth, specifically in India, such a perfect marriage is somewhere on the distant horizon (if at all). First comes all the band-baaja. No, I am not referring to the baraat, but to all the hectic activities that precede the marriage itself. Where does it start? Let's see...

At the very beginning is the query "When are you going to settle down?" In India, this is a standard query asked to a girl the minute she has become eligible age-wise for marriage. It is a standard query asked even when the girl has started earning & is thus financially settled. Financially settled, though, is not settled in the eyes of sundry relatives because this question is asked by well-meaning relatives who equate settling down with marriage. It is rarely asked of a boy, if at all. If asked, it will be more direct: “When are you going to get married?” and with fewer expectations of the boy getting married in the immediate future.

So let's begin cooking up a perfect marriage dish. We will imagine a scenario of an arranged marriage akin to a recipe:

Ingredients:

1 girl
1 prospective groom
2 sets of parents (assuming parents of both are alive)
An assorted bunch of relatives
1 astrologer (more if required)
A set of horoscopes (of both girl & boy)

Method:

Take girl & prospective groom in separate bowls and keep aside.
Take one or two relatives as required from both sides and 2 sets of parents. Mix (arrange meeting) in appropriate bowl (venue).
Check out if girl & boy are compatible (discussion of their character, education, job, etc).
Throw in horoscopes. Take astrologer (either 1 or 2 as per requirement) and thoroughly mix with horoscope. Let stand for a while (astrologer taking time to check horoscopes).
If the mixing results in matching quality (no bad stars), mix parents again (fixing time for girl & boy to meet).
Now put girl and boy together in one bowl (meeting fixed, generally at girl’s house) but remember to put in parents too (parents required to supervise meeting).
Add plenty of garnish (tea and snacks, preferably made by the girl).
If appetizing (girl likes boy & vice versa), serve dessert (box of mithai).

Voila! Your final dish is ready (marriage arranged).

What about a recipe for a love marriage? For such a dish, only 2 ingredients are required: girl & boy - and, of course, garnished with plenty of saccharine sweetness (love). The other ingredients may or may not be included. For example, without parental consent the 2 get married or irrespective of whether horoscopes are matching they get married.

So which recipe would be the better one or an ideal one? I don’t think you can really fix on one particular one. Both can result in a burned out dish at the end!!

Ideal recipes apart, there should be less emphasis on looking at the pros and cons of a love vs arranged marriage. It should also never be assumed that because a love marriage has been arranged or an arranged marriage has been successfully created to the satisfaction of both sides that the marriage will be ideal. What is much more important as far as the marriage is concerned is working on the relationship together.

Sure, there will be thorns as is the case with any relationship – but the flowers could be in greater abundance if there is a give & take in the relationship rather than just give or just take. There should be doses of trust, mutual understanding and the ability to give space to one another.

All these ingredients could then make for a near perfect recipe and kindle (no prize pun intended) the embers for a long lasting workable relationship.

By now you must be wondering why on earth have I posted this at, of all places, a travel blog. So here's the answer: I am a proud member of Indiblogger & am submitting this post as an entry for the contest on the theme Love Marriage Ya Arranged Marriage. This is the theme & name of Sony TV's ongoing serial in which Shivani & Mansi each support opposite views but both seek a happy marriage. Catch what's happening in their lives here: http://www.facebook.com/LoveYaArrange

Saputara Gujarat Mosoon Tourism Festival 2012

2012-08-13T02:24:00.002-07:00

The Gujarat Tourism Board is organizing special tour packages for the 2012 Saputara Gujarat Mosoon Festival, from 4th August to 1st September 2012.

Saputara is a lovely hill station located in the midst of the Dang forest area in the Sahyadri mountain range. Thanks to its high altitude location, the weather remains pleasant throughout the year.

Nearest Airport: Surat (172kms)

Nearest railway station: Bilimoria (80kms)

Bus route: You can board buses at Chikhli, Bilimora, Nasik and Surat.

Distance between Saputara and other major cities:

From Ahmedabad: 420km
From Vadodara: 300km
From Bhavnagar: 589km
From Rajkot: 603km
From Surat: 172km
From Bilimoria: 80km

2012 Saputara Gujarat Mosoon Tourism Festival Tour Packages

1. 2 nights/3 days ex-Saputara Monsoon Pakage
Price: Rs.3,500/- per person. This includes A/C double-bed accomodation on twin-sharing basis. Meals included, with one optional tour of 1 day.

2. Saputara 1 day local tour
(a) Dang Tribal Tour
Price: Rs.490/- per person including lunch and transport (Mini bus or Travera / Innova as per booking)

(b) Monsoon Dang Tour
Price: Rs.490/- per person including lunch and transport (Mini bus or Travera / Innova as per booking)

Contact Information
Toll free Ph: 1800-233-7951
More info here: http://www.gujarattourism.com/downloads/Document1.pdf

Swamimalai Temple Yelagiri Hills

2012-07-22T06:47:00.000-07:00

Yelagiri Hills' most famous landmark is the Swamimalai Temple. While there are plenty of other temples dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Swamimalai Temple is the most famous of them all. If you are coming here via a vehicle, you can park it in the Mangalam village which is at the base. In fact, visit the Mangalam temple too. At the outset let me inform you that going up the hill to the Swamimalai Temple is not as easy a climb as many think!

Steps leading up to the temple

There are a number of steps which you have to tackle & probably you will need to rest from time to time as you make your way up.

So wear sensible footwear & do carry lots of drinking water. You can also carry a few biscuit packets or fruits, but avoid carrying heavy sling bags or backpacks. Keep it light. More important: Please don't litter the place! It is also advisable to climb in the early hours of the morning if you are going in the summer season. During winter, take extra care as there is a lot of fog. There are many who visit really early, well before 6a.m., just to see the sunrise.

The climb can be tiring, but is worth it to see the unusual temple location. The unusual factor is that there is a huge - and I mean really huge - boulder right atop it.

Swamimalai Temple

Large boulders are everywhere!

The view is said to be stunning from the top, but when we went we found nothing great. Just the usual view you would see from atop any high point when going on an upward trek just about anywhere. We were told that the view is much better when the flowers are in bloom & then there is also the chance to spot some birds, mainly bulbuls.

View of the village below

The hills and clouds meeting

Another view

The highest point here is a rectangular area barricaded by railings. You have to go up a rickety ladder to this area (see photo below) to get the best views of the surrounding region.

The iron ladder which you have to carefully climb for highest view

Climbing back down to the base is not as tiring. It takes less time too. Back on the road, you can then proceed to other places in Yelagiri, such as the Punganur Lake where you can enjoy boat rides. While Jalagamparai water falls maybe a popular tourist spot, actually most of the time there is no proper waterfall at all so if you are on a really brief trip to Yelagiri there is really no point in visiting there.

You can stay at the Aura Valley Resort on your visit to Yelagiri.

Mangalam Temple Yelagiri Hills

2012-07-22T06:05:00.001-07:00

While the Swamimalai Temple in Yelagiri is more well-known, the Mangalam temple too has its own importance. In fact, to get to the Swamimalai Temple you have to start at the Mangalam village. From this village you can trek up to the Swamimalai Temple.

The Managalam village is located in Yelagiri Hills in the Vellore District of Tamil Nadu.

In Mangalam village there is a lotus pond around which there is a heritage village. If you are visiting in the month of July you are likely to be in the midst of a cultural festival with the temple at the center of it.

At the Mangalam Temple what you should not miss is part of a chariot which is kept in an adjacent structure (see photo below)

Part of a chariot

After visiting the Mangalam temple, you can proceed to the Swamimalai temple.

If you are staying overnight at Yelagiri, check out the Aura Valley Resort.

Visiting Golconda Fort Hyderabad – tourist tips

2012-07-19T23:45:00.001-07:00

View from top of Golconda Fort

This is the fort that can give you the chills and thrills. If you go by day, the heat is killing, the climb arduous. Go there in the evening for the sound and light show and it’s almost as if you can hear the fort speak long after the show fades out. It’s one of the truly atmospheric forts whose ramparts are still forbidding.

Best way to reach Golconda Fort Hyderabad

The easiest and most effective way to reach it is the local bus. Just ask the locals who thankfully speak Hindi, English and even Marathi unlike other parts of South India. There is no direct bus, but two connecting buses. But it’s fast, it’s convenient and pretty empty and more importantly frequency is good. There’s a bus depot just outside Golconda Fort so it’s very accessible. You can make quick booking of flights & hotel accomodation through the box below (article continued below box).

Golconda Fort Sections

Golconda Fort Map

Main entrance to Golconda Fort

Entrance gate ~ note the detailed carvings

Entrance doors


Path to Darbar Hall from where you can start climbing up

Five metal cannon

Rani Mahal

View from the top of the fort

Sound and Light Show review at Golconda Fort Hyderabad

For the tickets avoid buying the more expensive tier seats which is supposed to give a better view. You get a good view even from the row of lesser priced plastic chairs than the tiered seat stand. Yes, it’s just a stand placed on the side. Try and get there early so you can catch the front row.

Since the dark means mosquitoes, they light small fires at the front. Smoky but adds to the effect. But cover feet and hands to avoid getting bitten and take a pillow or shawl to place on the plastic chairs as it gets really cold in the evenings.

The sound and light show is wonderful solely because of Amitabh Bachchan’s baritone delivery. The rest of the narrators just don’t match up. But it’s worth sitting through it. For some strange reason the narrative ends at the annexation by Aurangzeb. It’s almost as if the Hyderabad tourist board does not wish to talk about the history of the fort once dynasties changed.

The best part is the outer arches of Golconda Fort still stand, through which the modern road snakes. And there are homes and shops along the way much like it must have been in yore. Never experienced this combo of history and the contemporary living cheek by jowl. So do make a visit. It’s also clean and proper signage. There’s a cold drink samosa stall as well as guides and booklets.

All in all, a visit to the Golconda Fort is a must during a trip to Hyderabad.

Top Slip Sanctuary

2012-07-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome Board at Topslip Sanctuary

Boundaries are seen clearly on a geographical map, but in reality areas could well overlap making actual boundary lines between regions redundant. This is the case with the Parambikulam Sanctuary in Kerala, the forest area of which on the other side is within the State of Tamil Nadu. Visitors to Parambikulam Sanctuary should know that the entry to this wildlife sanctuary is not on the Kerala side but on the Tamil Nadu side, at the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park.

Board highlighting tourist spots

Sethumadai check post

The main entrance is located at the Sethumadai check post (Tamil Nadu Forest Dept.) near the entrance of the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park (see image on right).

Small Office

The sanctuary is also referred to as Top Slip sanctuary, Topslip being a small forest area within the sanctuary region. From there, you have to drive down a short distance to the Annapady checkpost (Kerala Forest Dept.). An annoying feature here is the absurdly small office. Barely enough head room, leave aside place to stand (see image on left).

What’s more, it could take quite some time for you to actually start on the safari since for each safari bus the minimum requirement of 15 passengers needs to be met. You are allowed to enter with your own private vehicle, but must park it in the designated parking spot. You cannot drive around inside the sanctuary in your vehicle. The most important thing to remember: you should give your vehicle number in order to book a safari. By the way, you have to pay camera fees too if you are planning to capture your trip for posterity.

Please do follow rules & regulations displayed prominently:

Rules

Food: The safari ticket does not include food. You can have a wholesome meal at the canteen on the premises. It is really good, served the traditional way on a plantain leaf.

Canteen

Entry Fees for Parambikulam Sanctuary

Vehicle Safari Ticket

For Indian citizens: Rs.15/- per person
For foreigners: Rs. 200/- per person
For children below 12 years: Rs.5/- per person
For bonafide students: Rs. 5/- per person
For video cam / movie camera: Rs.200/-
For ordinary camera: Rs.25/-
For heavy vehicle: Rs.200/-
For light vehicle: Rs.50/-
Other types: Rs.25/-
Cost of Safari: Rs.150/-

If not a tiger, deer sighting for sure!

Contact Information of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park

The Wildlife Warden
Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park,
176, Meenkarai Road,

Pollachi,
Coimbatore - 642001

Tamil Nadu
Ph: (04259) 25356

Raoji Residency Homestay in Valparai

2012-06-09T08:19:00.001-07:00

Staying in Valparai is not at all expensive. In fact, for budget travellers it is really good. The problem is finding a good place to stay. We had initially booked rooms at the Green Hill Hotel Valparai, but shifted from there after being unhappy with the not-too-clean & dingy-looking rooms. It appeared that there are quite a few homestays in Valparai where lodging is provided, though not meals. We discovered a homestay named Raoji Residency.

Raoji Residency Homestay Valparai Review

Exterior view of Raoji Mansion

At first glance, the Raoji Mansion (it is an ancestral property) does not look promising because the upper storeys of this 2-storyed house looks derelict & uncared for (see photo at left).

Don't go by this exterior view though! The rooms where we stayed were on the ground floor & were a complete contrast to what we saw of the outside. We booked the 3 rooms, all of which were extremely neat and squeaky clean, as was the bathroom.

The exterior walls of the rooms were in a bright sunny yellow ~ immensely cheerful colour!

Entrance to room

Room

Room 2

Room 3

TV nook

Middle room with hotplate

Wash basin

Bathroom

Raoji Residency Homestay in Valparai Room Rates: We paid Rs.2,500/- for the 3 rooms which can accommodate 10 persons. It was an excellent budget stay & is highly recommended. The only setback: it had rained & we hung our clothes outside on the clotheslines to dry. A pair of jeans was stolen overnight. So don't leave your clothes out to dry at night!!

Note: meals are not provided. You have to eat out. However, the owner did say that arrangements could be made on request.
Contact Phone Number for Booking Rooms at Raoji Residency Homestay in Valparai: 04253 221384
Address of Raoji Residency Homestay in Valparai:
28/117, Opposite Post Office,
Valparai - 642 127
Contact Person: Mr. R.T.Kumarrao - Mobile: 9489180024
Email: rtkumarrao@yahoo.com

Green Hotel Valparai review

2012-06-09T07:57:00.000-07:00

Hotel entrance

Contrary to what many people have said about Green Hill Hotel in Valparai, it is not recommended to stay here. Located on the State Bank road, it does not have any good views at all.

What's more the rooms look a bit dingy since overall it does not give an impression of a clean room at all. The food is served in a dining hall & is not worth writing about. It was also annoying to have one's ears badgered by music from the hall opposite.

Only if you just don't get any place to stay at all, then as a last ditch option you should stay here. The Green Hill Hotel Valparai room tariff is Rs.1400/- per day (for 2 persons in one room). Since we had booked in advance, we stayed only for one day & the next day shifted to this homestay in Valparai. In fact, the reason why we had booked here is because it is one of the few places which have parking facility.

Dull furniture

More of the furniture...

Rumpled pillow covers

Not too clean a bathroom

Travelling from Chennai to Valparai

2012-06-08T03:35:00.001-07:00

Heading to Valparai by road from Chennai is quite an experience, primarily because you are not just travelling up the ghats but because you have to manouver your way through 40 hair pin bends!

View of hair-pin bends on the Chennai-Valparai road route

We hit the road in our own car early Sunday morning, starting from Thiruvanmiyur....

Where to have breakfast on Chennai-Valparai road route

Highway Foods, Tindivanam

Breakfast

We stopped for breakfast at Highway Foods. This restaurant is located on NH 45 at a town called Tindivanam.We feasted on idlis & dosas which were accompanied by delicious chutneys & sambhar.

Just for sampling the chutneys, it is worth stopping here to eat!

Where to have lunch on Chennai-Valparai road route
Then our lunch stop later in the day was at Hari Bhawanam restaurant in Coimbatore. They serve both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food & there is parking facility. It was a wholesome meal of rice, curry & vegetables, served on a banana plantain leaf. We highly recommend it for a tasty & inexpensive dining experience.


Hari Bhavanam Restaurant

Lunch

Address: SKP Hotel complex, Balasundaram Road (near RTO Office), Coimbatore.

Hair pin bends on Chennai-Valparai route

First hair-pin bend

On route again, we braced ourselves to tackle the ghats. Actually, most of you may feel that going round 40 hair pin bends is quite a boring and annoying experience. So the best way to enjoy the road journey through those hair pin bends is to stop on the way every now & then. We did just that and, believe me, the spectacuular views, not to mention the interesting encounters with four-legged creatures on the way, is good fun.

Each hair-pin bend is marked clearly on a large rectangular yellow-painted stone, with the number in the form of a fraction. Thus, the first one is 1/40, the next 2/40, and so on.

At approximately the points of the 8th and 9th hair pin bends, you encounter 2 species: monkeys & Nilgiri Tahr. The monkeys seemed to be playing hide and seek, while the Nilgir Tahrs roamed freely on the road and the craggy hillsides nearby (see photos below)

9th hair-pin bend


Anyone for a hide-n-seek game?!

Nilgiri Tahr captured on camera near rainbow colours

Taking a walk, keeping to the left!

Drive carefully ~ speed breakers like this one can come up suddenly

And, of course, we must not forget to soak in the atmosphere of spectacular views....The view from the 9th hair-pin bend is called Loam's View. A signboard states that the road was planned & constructed by an engineer of the Public Works Dept. (PWD) named Mr. Mathew Loam

Loam's View


Loam's View

View of tea estate

Talking of tea estates, naturally you simply cannot leave the region without a hot cuppa! We had some really strong tea at a small tea stall on the road leading through the Waterfall Tea Estate. It is served in a small paper cup & you should buy the biscuits too (Rs.5/- for one biscuit). It was so good, we had 2 cups each & bought quite a few biscuits as well as a packet of the tea. It is approx. 20kms. before you reach Valparai hill station.

Tea Stall in Waterfall Tea Estate area

Tea brewer

Fabulous strong tea

Nature's best seats!

Remember to buy a packet of that tea

Staying at Ambrra River Resort Pollachi

2012-06-03T02:49:00.002-07:00

Soaking feet in cool river waters

Wouldn't you love to do this?!

This opportunity we got while staying at the Ambrra River Resort, Pollachi. The resort does not have the word 'River' in it just for the heck of it. It is indeed located near a river, the Aliyar River to be precise.
In fact, you can even catch glimpses of the river through the coconut palms from your room. You don't need to worry about which room - all the cottages (called deluxe or suite rooms actually) have a view of the river. The suite rooms have a larger balcony & bathroom.

Glimpse of river from resort

As for the food, it is quite good. There is a variety of cuisine served at the resort's Palm Top restaurant.

Breakfast is included in the room tariff, but you have to pay for lunch & dinner. Breakfast includes omelettes, idli, dosa, vadas, etc. For Lunch it is buffet- style & for Dinner there are fixed types of food from which you can order what you want. It is a strange mix of north & south Indian cuisine.
Complimentary tea /coffee is served in the lawn at 7a.m.

Note, though, that the service is not perfect. Breakfast is supposedly served at 8a.m., but you will get it only at 8.30a.m. The service is really slow. So if you are scheduling to leave early morning on a sightseeing trip, better factor in a half-hour late service.

The Ambrra River Resort Pollachi Facilities & Rooms


Neat row of deluxe & suite rooms make a pretty picture

The resort is not some vast 5-star resort, but not too small either. There are many pretty cottages (see photo above), each having an outdoor deck with cane furniture (photo below).

Deck with cane seating

Green resort

The landscape of the resort is very well-maintained, with a riot of colourful flowers.

Some of the flowers made for a pretty table decoration too!

Creative flower arrangement

There is also a separate play area for children with colourful playground equipment.

Play area at resort

Each room is air-conditioned, but we did not need it all due to the cool interior + pleasant weather we experienced outside. There is a TV and refrigerator as well as a coffeemaker in each room. The bedding is clean, as is the bathroom - an essential priority for any guest! (see photos below)

Clean bedding, neat suite room

Refrigerator to one side

The suite bathroom is really a surprise. It is not a cramped place at all but in fact lengthwise, it is as long as the room itself. The lovely part is the skylight-type window which brings in natural sunshine streaming through. The 2 minor issues: firstly, there is no soap dish for the soap. You do need a place to keep the soap when bathing! Secondly, there are no rods to hang towels & your clothes.

Bathroom

Skylight window

The resort has got some quaint artefacts here and there, as can be seen in the photos below:

You will also get suddenly acquainted with pea fowls and ducks in your wanderings around the grounds of the resort.

Pea fowls

Ducks

A medium-sized swimming pool is guarded by a fence and a large board exhorts guests to use within timings and follow pool-usage guidelines.

Pool rules & timings

Pool at resort

As for that photo of cooling feet in the river ~ you can do this anytime! We even took books along, perched on rocks with large caps shading us from the sun and watched birds too sunning themselves on river rocks.You can also literally sit in the water in the shallow parts and splash around like kids with kids.


Birds perched on river rocks

Having a splashing good time!

Best seating area!


God's natural canvas

The Ambrra River Resort Pollachi Room Tariffs

Suite rooms

There are 2 room options: deluxe and suite.The room rates at the Ambrra River Resort Pollachi were reasonable. We paid Rs.2,100/- + Taxes for a suite room for 2 persons. On weekends (Mon.-Thu.) & Govt. holidays it is Rs.2,400/-. For a deluxe rom the tariff is Rs.1,800/- + taxes for weekdays & Rs.2,100/- for weekends & Govt. holidays. Breakfast is included in the tariff. Lunch & Dinner is Rs.395/- per person. It was good value for money.

All in all, the Ambrra River Resort Pollachi is definitely a place to stay on your way to/from Valparai. In fact, a good place to stay too for 3-4 days while you go sightseeing to nearby places. One negative mark against this resort: Quite shockingly we got a rude reply that "It is not my responsibility" when we merely asked the manager what were the timings for visiting the Annamalai Tiger Reserve. Not something you would expect from any staff at any place where you stay! Of course, he did give us the information later. Another thing to note is that there is no proper system of keeping track of what you are ordering for meals. We had to let them know what we had eaten & ensure proper billing. The management seriously needs to rectify this, as not all guests are likely to be honest like us!

Ambrra River Resort Pollachi Address & Location
Thalanar farms
Vazahaikombu, Nagoor Pirivu
Trichur road,
Ambarampalayam
Pollachi - 642103
Tamilnadu,
India
Contact Person: S.P.Rengaraj, Reservation & F&B Manager
Ph: 91 97507 61008 / 91 97507 61002
Email: ambrraresorts@gmail.com

How to Reach Ambrra River Resort Pollachi
We travelled from Chennai by our own car and stayed here after visiting Valparai. The resort is not in the town of Pollachi itself, but located about a 20minutes drive from there. You can also drive down to the resort from Coimbatore.

How the town of Gokarna got its name

2012-05-07T03:14:00.001-07:00

The meaning of Gokarna means cow's ear. The lingam at the Gokarn temple resembles a cow’s ear and is underground, just within touching depth. Here’s the interesting legend related to its shape and location…

The Mythological Legend of Gokarna

Ravana once prayed to Lord Shiva and said he wanted to be the ruler of all worlds. This would mean that Ravana would also rule the heavens and thus be more powerful than even the Gods & Goddesses. The wise Lord Shiva gave Ravana a pindi (lingam) and told him that he should carry it with him in his hands wherever he traveled but should never place it down anywhere no matter what. So Ravana set out on his travels, firmly holding the pindi in his hands.

When Lord Indra and the other gods came to know of Lord Shiva’s gift to Ravana, they were worried as it would make Ravana all-powerful. None of the Gods could think of a way to stop this, not even Lord Vishnu.

It was Lord Ganesha who hatched a plan. He took the form of a young lad and approached Ravana when Ravana had reached the sandy beach near the ocean in Karwar. At that point of his travels, Ravana had wanted to relieve himself but did not want to place the pindi down anywhere. He saw the young lad and called out to him, requesting him to hold the pindi while he relieved himself. The lad agreed but said that he would not hold it forever and would count till 10 by which time Ravana should take it back. Ravana agreed and turned his back to the lad, relieving himself. The lad counted to 10 and since Ravana had not yet come back, placed the pindi on the ground.

When Ravana finally turned around, he saw that the lad had put the pindi on the ground. He was furious, so much so that he hit the top of the lad’s head with a closed fist (that is why the idol of Ganesha here is said to have a slightly concave dent in the head). Ravana then tried to lift the pindi, but it was firmly grounded. Ravana made many attempts, holding the pindi tightly between the two palms of his hand to lift it & using all his might to raise it. It was all in vain. The pindi remained stuck to the ground & Ravana lost his boon of being able to rule all the worlds. That pindi became flat & took on the shape of a cow’s ear due to all those attempts of Ravana to pull it up.

Since the pindi is slightly below ground level, devotees can only touch it by hand through a hole.

This same temple has been replicated at Murudeshwar and the people in that area claim that it was there where Ravana stopped and the pindi was originally buried and not in Gokarn.

Staying at Aura Valley Resort Yelagiri

2012-05-02T01:35:00.002-07:00

On our trip to Yelagiri, a quiet hill station within driving distance from Chennai, we stayed at Aura Valley Resort. You can have your base here and visit the local Mangalam temple and Swamimalai Temple.

Entrance to the Aura Valley Resort

Aura Valley Resort Yelagiri review
Nothing great but not bad either as far as accomodation goes. Just comfortable. There is a friendly manager who interacts with guests.

The advantage of this resort is that there is forest area behind the resort so you can enjoy trekking, not necessarily needing a guide to do so.

Area behind resort for games,camp fire

The resort also has a large barren area behind where a group can enjoy a game of cricket, play badminton & football. The resort provides the equipment for these games.

In the evenings, after sunset, bonfires are also lit amidst some fun, games & music. There is also a children's play area with swings.

The biggest downside to staying at the Aura Valley Resort is the price of the food. It is really atrocious! For one person a vegetarian meal costs Rs.150/- and for a non-vegetarian one it is Rs.200/-. This price is for pretty ordinary food. Instead, it is a good idea to head to one of the other hotels in the area and have your meals there. We enjoyed some really good biryani at Hotel Hills. The food at Nilgiri Hotels is also good.

Room tariff at Aura Valley Resort, Yelagiri: We paid Rs.1600/- per day for a double-bed room.

Contact Information for Aura Valley Resort, Yelagiri
Address:
Yelagiri Hills,
Yelagiri - 635 853
Tamil Nadu
Ph: 04179 295031
Contact persons: Mike: 094865 65200, 094863 35200/ Sally: 094869 62565
Email: leauroville@hotmail.com

Hotel Serenade Manor Gangtok review

2012-03-08T05:20:00.000-08:00

Hotel Serenade Manor is not a luxury hotel, but has well furnished rooms with the usual phone & TV that is to be seen in any hotel room. The hotel itself has only about a dozen rooms. The rooms are comfortable enough with attached bathroom having basic toileteries. Mineral water and newspapers are available on request.

The hotel looks quite attractive from outside, as many buildings in Gangtok do, with pretty window frames. However, if you are aiming to get some scenic views from your hotel, forget it. There is no view to speak of! This is not a great disadvantage as the purpose of visiting a lovely hilly region is to get ecstatic over breath-taking views isn't it?! So only if you are not unduly bothered about views you could stay here.

Another minus point about this hotel is that if you get up early, you are unlikely to get any quick service (if at all) because it is a practically dead place during the early morning hours with no helpful staff around. A huge red banner outside informed us that pure vegetarian food & Gujarati specialities was available. Well, let me tell you, the food is nothing worth talking about. It is strictly Ok and very highly priced.

Room rates start at about Rs.1,600/- per day (taxes extra). Rooms available are Standard, Deluxe and Super Deluxe.You have to pay extra for laundry services. Transfer to and fro from the airport or railway station is NOT free.

Address of Hotel Serenade Manor Gangtok:
Tibet Road, (S.G. Marg),
S G Marg,
Gangtok,
Sikkim

Kite Festival Uttarayan Ahmedabad Gujarat

2012-01-13T00:26:00.000-08:00

The International Kite Festival in India in Gujarat, known as the festival of Uttarayan, is an annual event hosted by Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It begins a few days before the Festival of Makar Sankranti and culminates on the Makar Sankranti day, which is 14th January. The main venue of the kite festival in Ahmedabad is the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad. [Check: Details of 2014 Festival Events Schedule]

In addition to kites from around the country, flying in the sky are unique kites from Malaysia, Indonesia, USA, Japan, China and other countries. Ever seen 500 kits on one single string? Well, you'll get to see it at the festival of Uttarayan! Whether it is a box kite or a sport kite, a kite with a digital image on it or a hand-painted one, you will see them all.

A unique aspect of he festival of Uttarayan is that kites are flown even at night. During the hours after sunset, the sky will be brightened with white kites and kites with tiny lit lanterns along the string. It is a truly beautiful sight to behold!

Visitors can even purchase kites from the famous kite bazaar known as Patang Bazaar, Ahmedabad. This is located in the city's center in an area called Jamalpur [see Google View Larger Map]

2012 Mukteswar Dance Festival

2012-01-11T00:12:00.000-08:00

The Mukteswar Temple at Bhubaneswar, Odisha will be hosting the 2012 Mukteswar Dance Festival this month.

Venue: Mukteswar Temple, Khordha, Gouri Nagar, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Orissa

Dates: 14^th to 16^th January 2012

Timings: 6p.m. to 8.30p.m.

2012 Mukteswar Dance Festival programs

14^th January 2012

Shiva Bandana (chorus): Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Bhubaneswar

Odissi (Solo): Aloka Kanungo, Kolkata

Odissi (Duet): Pravat Swain & Arupa Gayatri Panda, Bhubaneswar

Odissi (Group): Art Vision, Ileana Citarist & Group, Bhubaneswar

15^th January 2012

Shiva Bandana (Chorus): Gopal Chandra Panda & Group

Odissi (Solo): Rahu Acharya, Bhubaneswar

Odissi (Duet): Chittaranjan Acharya & Asmita Acharya, Bhubaneswar

Odissi (Group): “Rudrakshya”, Guru Bichitrananda Swain, Bhubaneswar

16^th January 2012

Shiva Bandana (Chorus): Pt. Raghunath Panigrahi & Group, Bhubaneswar

Odissi (Solo): Madhusmita Mohanty, Bhubaneswar

Oddissi (Duet): Devraj & Ellora Pattnaik, Canada

Odissi (Group): Vaishali Kala Kendra, Jyoti Srivastav & Group, Noida, UP

Contact Information:
Tourist Officer
Paryatan Bhawan,
Lewis Road,
Bhubaneswar Pin - 751014
Ph: 0674-2431299
Toll free: 1800-2097-123
Email: oritour@gmail.com

Visiting Chowmahalla Palace Hyderabad

2011-11-16T01:07:00.001-08:00

The Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad is truly an eye-popping splendour. Begun in 1750 by Salabat Jung on a 45 acre site that successive Nizams expanded with additional palaces, the Chowmahalla Palace is the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty as explained in the information given at the site. It also happens to be the first and most splendid of Asaf Jahi Palaces in Hyderabad.

Information about Mir Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII

1911 abolished the death penalty from civilian criminal code.

1921 – Separated Judiciary from Executive. Took 53 yeas for it to be implemented in the rest of India.

Hyderabad was the only state in British India to coin its own money, have its own postal system and print its own stamps.
Free primary education in State. Set up Osmania University in 1917. It was the first University in the country to have Urdu as primary medium of education with English being the compulsory second language.
Donated to Aligarh Muslim University, Shantiniketan, Shivaji Vidyapeeth, Bhandarkar Institute, Lady Harding Medical College, Red Cross, Golden Temple in Amritsar. Donated last 14,000 acres to Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan movement.

What you should not miss: Selaih Khana – Arms & Armour Collection of Asaf Jahi Dynasty (1724 -1949 CE).

Chowmahalla Palace Timings for viewing: 10am -5pm (Closed on Fridays and National Holidays)

Chowmahalla Palace entry tickets price: Indian Visitor - Rs.30/- / International Visitor - Rs.150/-

Additional Facilities: You can book the venue for parties & other celebratory events.

Chowmahalla Palace Contact Information:
Khilwat, 20-4-236,
Motigalli
Hyderabad - 500 002
Ph: +91 40 24522032
E-mail: chowmahallapalace@yahoo.co.in