Best Properties in India on AIRBNB

Hosting Indian tourists and guests on AIRBNB- Airbnb tips

2017-01-30T01:07:00.002-08:00

I have been a little around the world and stayed at Airbnbs and thus I can understand the differences between hosting styles, guest expectations etc. across different cultures.

Below I'd like to mention 5 points to remember while dealing with booking requests and reservations by Indian hosts. Also I would like to mention that most Indians are best hosts, know the nuances and will do everything to make you feel at home.

However, there might be some who are still leaning the nuances of Airbnb hosting and because they aren't aware of a lot of things- may appear indifferent or ignorant.

I'd like to mention here that I'm not trying to sterotype my fellow Indians n any way and only sharing my personal experience with some Indian guests barring these all were super warm abd fantastic.

I hope you find it useful [Hit the thumbs-up button if you do, and I shall post more tips]. Also note that India is a country of extremely diverse cultures, thus you might not have similar experiences with all guests.

So here we go:

1. Be ready to answer a lot of queries - Airbnb is still a fairly new concept in India and is growing faster than ever before. Most guests are first time users of the Airbnb platform and aren't very familiar with the concept of Home-sharing. You might encounter some obvious questions like "What's the total price?", "Can you provide your contact number?", "Would we have the entire place to ourselves?" etc. although these answers are present on your listing, please try to be patient in ansering these questions.

Remember that these are people who haven't used online payments as much as you and are sceptical about it as it's their first time. There is a great economic divide in India so 50% people are super affluent, literate and have all the idea but for other online banking/use of credit cards is not that common and so is Airbnb that is yet to establish a strong user trust in India as conventional hotels still dominate the market however people are quickly realizing the benefits of staying at an Airbnb and are willing to try out.

So be a little patient, helpful and supportive in your approach.

2. Online discounts are a welcome - Negotiating before renting any service or purchasing any commodity is a common practice in India. It's a necessary skill that most posses and use quite frequestly so in case someone tried to negotiate with you by asking to give a Special Discount Offer or offer Free Meals or Airport Transport, don't be surprised or upset. It is not considered as bad practice and guests might sometimes appear to be a little more pushy/demanding. If you aren't okay with this, try explaining the same politely if you are successful, the guests would be convinced that you aren't overpricing and would readily book. Give them context about the normal rate in your surrounding, add details about some of the extra facilites that you provide and why your costing is appropriate.

3. Take sometime to explain how your facility is a home and is different than a hotel - As mentioned in point 1, most guests are quite new to the concept of Airbnb and so it is important that you firmly yet politely establish prior to booking that your are opening the doors to your home which is your personal space to a complete stranger and it is absolutely necesssary that guests follow the house rules and treat your home with respect and care. Use the word "Home" insead of "Property", "Listing" during your communication to emphasize the same. Tell them I am sharing my home with you; I am hosting you at my place- hoping you will treat this as a home and not a hotel. Once guests understand this well, they'll be more thoughtful about how that treat your home.

5. Share instructions especially with appliances- Best is to have a house manual but even if you don't have one, for appliances like Nutribullet, Nespresso, kettles etc. you should paste instructions - In case you are allowing your guests to use your Kitchen, make sure that when you are giving them a house tour, you explain in detail what they can use and what they should not.

Use sticky notes to mark cabinets which have stuff that's for guests to consume/use. Note that Indian/Asian food uses plenty of spices and flavours, so if your guests are cooking, it's quite possible that you might be exposed to strong aromas/smells which you haven't experienced before. If you aren't going to be okay with this, talk about it in advance and arrive at an agreement.

Another important point to note is that most Indians who can afford to travel overseas can still afford to have maids at their homes and thus might not be used to washing the dishes after use. Ensure that you have this conversation in advance and explain that guests are expected to clean the dishes and the kitchen after use. I'm certain they'd be happy to do so.

There's much more to learn but I shall stop here. Indians are mostly very humble and caring folks and are known for their hospitality and if you communicate well, you might end up making friends for life.

Always over-communicate so that there's minimal scope for confusion later.

Please remember that if you see that the guests are well travelled on Airbnb and have got good reviews, you may skip teh coaching and let them enjoy. These tips are for the first time AIRBNB users obviously.

If you have ever hosted Indian guests, feel free to share your experiences below :)

----rewritten from Inderjeet's post on Airbnb community

Is AIRBNB safe in India?- Tips and tricks from the host

2016-09-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

Hotels are fun, and even cheap hotels have their charms. But sometimes, you have to dig deeper. Indian hospitality is justifiably famous — captured by the slogan, Atithi Devo Bhava, which means The Guest is God.

If you want to have a new experience you need to come out of the confines of a hotel room. To fully experience this philosophy in action, and to really get to know the culture when you travel in India, you have to stay with an Indian family or in an Indian accommodation that is more homely than a serviced apartment.

Is Airbnb Safe?

Airbnb has lots of safety and security measures in place to make sure that you stay safe. First of all, guests and hosts are both required to provide identification to Airbnb, usually in the form of a scanned ID.

They also verify your phone number. Both guests and hosts receive reviews that allow you to see their history on Airbnb. All payment is handled through Airbnb itself, so you won’t get stiffed by your host or guest. For guests, if necessary, Airbnb’s customer service can be contacted 24/7. As for hosts, Airbnb will cover up to $1,000,000 in damage, though there are some exceptions to this.

But as safe as Airbnb is, remember that nothing is ever 100% safe. Bad experiences can happen from time to time with Airbnb, just as they can with hotels or hostels. To reduce your chances of a bad experience, read on.

TIP NO.1 - Use Linkedin

Most of the AIRBNB Superhosts are available on Linkedin and you can go through their background and education. This will help to scan through initially and decide who do you want to stay with. Also if you share common interests, passion, hobbies or experience.

Tip no. 2- Private room Vs Entire place

If you are travelling with a group you may feel safe almost everywhere but when travelling alone or with small kids- here are a few things you should consider before confirming your stay.
a. Location of the property- in terms of a local police station, hospital, your local embassy or known friends. When I travel to places I have never been so far- I try and ask friends on Facebook or their relatives about safety of that place. I also ask the Host to provide me a full address of his/her property so that I can put it on GPS and look for nearby areas, neighbourhood, police station etc. One more thing I just started doing is googling the apartment complex- most reputed builders in India like Prestige, Purvankara, Aparna, Godrej, Tata and others have good amount of security personnel available with round the clock security.

Caution: Never ever handover your travel document, passport or other such important documents to anyone. Best to carry them with you while you are out for sight seeing etc.

Tip no. 3- After checking in

We recently read about the hoax spread by some stupid AIRBNB host claiming that he is filming guests in his apartment- it has not been proved. Bad publicity stunt! However, just toby on the safer side- take some time to go through the place- look at the drawers, wardrobes, and familiarise yourselves with refreshments, amenities, stationary and other items provided by the host. If all looks good- you can relax!

Tip no. 4- For Solo Women travellers
Well, I may sound like a total hypochondriac or Paranoid but I would always advice a solo women traveller to buy her own booze, water and eatables and not depend on what is provided by the host or cooked for her. I advice to buy pepper-spray, a local SIM card and travel with a Personal Safety kit. You can always buy these on Amazon as well. Always carry a local SIM, a smartphone with apps like OLA, UBER, MERU already installed in them. All of these taxi providers are pretty much available in all popular cities of India and provide GPS tracking and other safety features provided you book using the app. Women safety is a big topic in India so if you google your city (where you are about to stay) plus women safety as a keyword in google- you will come across patrolling vehicles numbers, mobile apps, distress numbers etc. Make sure to take a snapshot and keep them handy. For all states in India 100 from your phone lands up at the emergency desk of the police station control centre so mug this one up!

Tip no. 5- Phone Search
All over the world, phone numbers can now be searched to look for a person's real identity. In India there is this service as well, it is called (as you may already know) Truecaller. Truecaller has more than 2 billion phone numbers and you can search a person's real name in case he is using an Alias on AIRBNB as a host. You need just an email (Gmail/Microsoft) to register. You may also copy paste the number on Google to see relevant mentions in some OLX ads, University records or electoral rolls. Trust me- it is worth a try!

Tip no. 6- Pay attention to Reviews
As reviews are guests' curated content, take some time to go through the reviews. Most people just look at 4 or 5 stars- and don't care to read detailed reviews at all. I shall highly recommend reading reviews in detail if you have time at hand. Not to name any names but I noticed this.A property that was hosting mostly bachelors got 5 stars reviews over 9 stays but when my sister's family stayed there, they realised that it was very close to shady bars and slums so venturing on the road after 9pm was a bit of a bad experience. When i came home and started submitting the review I realised that 2 ladies have already mentioned this in their reviews and obviously felt stupid that I never paid attention to those.

Tip no. 7- Local Knowledge
To get the best out of your homestay experience make sure you take full advantage of your hosts’ local knowledge. They will be able to advise you on things to do and see in the local area and help you arrange any activities, ensuring you are charged a fair price. Eating at your homestay offers the opportunity to try some delicious home cooked food and many of the hosts’ are well known for their cooking. Don’t forget to ask for the recipes of your favourite dishes, a souvenir you can share with your friends back home as you recreate the taste of India in your own kitchen.

Tip no. 8- Safety again!
Before booking or even after you have checked in- make time to go through the House Rules, Home Safety Card, and House Manual. Go outside, in the corridor and figure out fire extinguishers' location, emergency exists, elevators available and society office of the apartment complex. If possible also get the maintenance office, security office and doorman number. Airbnb's Host Protection Insurance program provides primary liability coverage for up to $1,000,000 per occurrence in the event of a third-party claim of bodily injury or property damage related to an Airbnb stay.

Here are some examples of what the Host Protection Insurance program should cover:

A guest breaks their wrist after slipping on the rug and brings a claim for the injury against the host.
A guest is working out on the treadmill in the gym of the apartment building. The treadmill breaks and the guest is injured when they fall off. They bring a claim for the injury against the host and the landlord.
A guest accidentally drops their suitcase on a third party's foot in the building lobby. The third party brings a claim for the injury against the host and the landlord of the host’s building.

You will see my property listed on the right hand side that says "CITY CENTRE DESIGNER 1BHK Apartment" When you follow this link and land up on my listing- you will see a small briefcase icon next to it which means that it is business travel friendly as well. We have mhostedmany women travellers and solo business travellers as well. Would be happy to host you too. I hope you will find this post helpful.

Our Boulders are our heritage- Hyderabad's best views @airbnb

2016-09-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad is a city of rocks. We have always lived alongside rocks, with the various hillocks around the city. They have become so integral to our lives that we hardly notice them. Maybe it’s high time we did.

1. United We Stand Rock, Gachibowli: A single formation rock, with access only through Urdu University.

2. Tortoise Rock, B.N.R. Hills, near Durgam Cheruvu: A beautiful single formation, preserved in a road island.

3. Toadstool, Road No. 35, Jubilee Hills: Access only for avid boulderers, undeveloped bouldering area behind Blue Cross.

4. Skull Rock, Hitec City Phase II: Single formation behind Hotel Lemon Tree. Access through parking area of the hotel.

5. Rock formations around Shamirpet Lake, Shamirpet: Among these, Venkateshwara Gutta is highly recommended for rock outings, inspite of a water reservoir being built on the hill top. Extensive hillock with a temple in the rocks; there are many possibilities for walking, climbing, bouldering. shamirpet

6. Sentinel Rock, near Maula Ali: Single formation with a few surrounding boulders, good for a short climb. senitel rock

7. Hamburger Rock, near Telecom Nagar, Gachibowli: Impressive single formation; access only through NITHM Compound. hamburger rock

8. Hillocks around Durgam Cheruvu: Beautiful lake between the new Hitec development and the rocks of Jubilee Hills; best viewing from Durgam Cheruvu Lake Resort near Ambedkar Open University. durgam cheruvu

9. Cliff Rock, Hillock in Road No. 46, Jubilee Hills: No access because of new constructions around the rocks. cliff rock

10. Bear’s Nose, now surrounded by Hotel Trident, behind Cyber Towers, Hitec City: Single formation surrounded by hotel building site; visible from Rock Heights Function Park. Bears-Nose

11. Mushroom Rock, HCU: Now this one’s a pretty popular hangout spot among the students of HCU.

12. Obelisk, Formation in Road No. 66, Jubilee Hills: Small single formation on a sidewalk.

13. Pathar Dil Rock, Gachibowli: Single formation; access through Urdu University.

14. Monster Rock, Formation in Road No. 71, Jubilee Hills: Single formation, no access, good view from Nandagiri Hills and Road no. 71 Jubilee Hills. monster rock

15. Mahakali Temple in Golconda Fort, built into the rocks: This one is a classic example of religious activities not interfering with nature.

Also, more and more landscaped rock gardens are emerging near company buildings who are aware of the great asset they possess in the beautiful natural rockscape around them, which is a good sign. Adventure clubs like GHAC regularly organize bouldering, trekking and rappelling meetups for beginners. You should join one and experience the beauty of rocks first-hand!

The History of Deccan Plateau in hyderabad

2016-09-15T04:54:00.003-07:00

Few relics of prehistoric settlement on the Deccan Plateau have survived. The earliest culture appears to date back to the second millennium B.C., when light-complected Aryans began pushing the native inhabitants from the Indus River valley to the south. Many of them settled on the Deccan Plateau, where they retained their original religion and tribal organizations.

Over the centuries, certain Aryan elements, such as Vedic gods, made their way into the Deccan culture. The first important state to arise on the Deccan Plateau was the Satavahanas dynasty. The Satavahanas created a kingdom based on the superiority of the Brahmans and the political organization of the Mauryan Empire. Power was decentralized, with much authority given to local governors. Although the Satavahanas were Hindus, they granted religious freedom to the Buddhists who controlled trade in the region.

Satvahanas c.240 BC - AD 200

If the Mauryas are credited with forming the first empire in northern India, then the credit for forming the first southern empire should go to the Satvahanas. The Satvahanas (Satavahanas, or Sattvahana) are also called the Andhras, mainly because one of their clansmen, King Puloma, is considered to have been the first amongst Andhra kings (the Andhras are a community residing in present day Andhra Pradesh state in southern India, and Puloma was the first to capture the territory which later made up the Andhras).

They belonged to Dravidian stock, Indians who predated the arrival of the Aryan Indo-Europeans from the north. The were essentially Brahmins who were later accepted in the Aryan fold. They probably remained regional chieftains under Mauryan rule. After the death of Ashoka they declared their independence from the Mauryas and founded their own empire. The kingdom of the Satvahanas lay to the west of Iron Age Kalinga.

Cities became more common under the Satavahanas, and extensive land and sea trade routes developed, linking northern and southern India. The Satavahanas kingdom lasted from the second century B.C. to the third century A.D. It then split into smaller kingdoms that were ruled by families who had been feudal vassals of the Satavahanas. For nearly 1,000 years, India was divided into regional kingdoms that developed their own cultures.

The amazing rock boulders in Hyderabad

2016-09-15T04:53:00.000-07:00

The amazing rock formations that are quaintly perched at artistic angles in the Deccan Plateau have been a part of the magnificent landscape of the city of Hyderabad and its surroundings for eons. They provide a breath-taking view of nature in its raw grandeur. They are indeed the eternal rock stars of Hyderabad. Geologists date these rocks to 2,500 million years back, among the oldest and hardest rocks in the world.

These graceful boulders in a variety of shapes and sizes have withstood the vagaries of nature and its elements for ages. These formations are in the danger of being reduced to rubble due to the onslaught of relentless urbanisation and mindless development. Even a casual visitor to the city would not miss the presence of these unusual formations. Writes Erla Zwingle in her field notes in National Geographics: Deccan Plateau is a granite shield that has weathered into beautiful, bizarre formations. These have eroded in a way that gives the granite a texture characteristic of rhinoceros hide. It’s distinctive to this part of India.

While central Hyderabad has lost most of these breath-taking beauties to concrete constructions, the east and west of the city still enjoys nature’s creativity in all its granite splendour. No wonder, the balancing boulders have inspired many an artist and writer. While Jatin Das sculpted human faces out of them, Krishen Khanna painted them with fantasy animals.

Local artists Lakshma Goud and K.V. Reddy portrayed them on canvas. Well-known Hyderabadi and historian Narendra Luther brought out Rockumentary, a picturesque tribute to the bewitching beauty of the rocks and a passionate plea to conserve them. Interestingly, the flora and fauna around these rocks is significant and rare, according to microbiologists.

According to them, rocky areas are a treasure trove of unique flora and fauna, including ancient micro-organisms. Nature’s bounty is being recklessly destroyed, aided by an indifferent civic authority. It fell upon a foreigner to raise a voice against the destruction.

Frauke Quader, a German who settled in Hyderabad years ago, started a movement to espouse the cause of the rocks. The Deccan’s rocky boulders, precariously perched on top of each other, are a wonder that no other city can boast of. Over the years, seeing the gradual destruction of this beautiful landscape, the realisation grew that something must be done to save these sculptures of nature.

If you are a traveller and want to have a majestic view of these boulders, stay with us by booking on AIRBNB, Homeway or TripAdvisor

Views from our property:

The vivacious Hyderabad- Rich heritage

2016-09-15T04:52:00.000-07:00

AIRBNB stay in Mount Abu, RAJASTHAN INDIA

2016-07-10T08:00:00.001-07:00

Mount Abu is an oasis in the barren desert land of Rajasthan. The cool climate of Mount Abu is due to its extravagant flora, which consists of flowering shrubs and coniferous trees. Situated 1,720 meters above sea level, this hill station is the most visited of north-west India and is known for beautiful lakes, the Aravali Range, ancient forts, hidden picnic spots, and first class resort accommodations. The area hosts varying religious temples (Jain & Hindu), and well preserved historical architecture throughout the town.

Mount Abu is a hill station in western India’s Rajasthan state, near the Gujarat border. Set on a high rocky plateau in the Aravalli Range and surrounded by forest, it offers a relatively cool climate and views over the arid plains below. In the center of town, Nakki Lake is a popular spot for boating. Close by are the centuries-old Dilwara Temples, ornately carved from white marble and of great spiritual importance.
Elevation: 1,220 m

Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan and therefore, you will find it jam-packed during the summer months. If you want to beat the rush and enjoy its cool and calm atmosphere, avoid going here during the peak tourist season between March to June. Another attraction here is the world famous Dilwara temple. These clusters of Jain temples are famous for their delicate lattice work on marble. So, they are worth a visit even if you are not particularly religions. The temples are open only for Jains in the morning. Others can visit them noon onwards.

Apart from the Dilwara temples, there are no tourist points in Mount Abu. But, you will really enjoy this place if you like to appreciate nature in every form! So, come here if you want to beat summers in style!

My stay at Mount Abu was with Tia. It is a peaceful place in an Indian village nearby a spiritual ashram (place of meditation and retreat).After travelling around India for the last 20 years I have found THE place: peaceful, a moderate climate around the year, surrounded by a wildlife sanctuary, located in the outskirts of a small town, unobtrusive but very friendly neighbours, wow!

Fondly referred to as just ‘Abu’, it is a great destination to spend a few quiet days away from the city rush and heat. Continuing with the Hitchhiker’s series, here is a handpicked list of travel recommendations and tips for you if you are planning a visit to Mount Abu.

Nakki Lake

The highlight of Abu, Nakki Lake is about a kilometer long in length and a top draw among tourists for a variety of reasons. Depending on your mood, you can choose to spend your time boating or atop an air balloon overseeing the Aravalli hills. I chose to sit by the quiet café overlooking the lake and spending some serious lazy moments reading a book over eight cups of coffee. To each his own!!

Aero Balloon & Boating at Nakki Lake

The Aero Balloon is a great idea if you have kids in your entourage else you can skip it. The balloon put you on top of the world for a few minutes from where you can see all of Abu. The charges for adults are Rs. 300 and Rs. 200 for children.

Boating is a favourite activity among tourists and a paddle boat can be hired for Rs. 100/head for a half-hour sortie. The Shikaras charge Rs. 120/head for a half-hour ride and are more popular among couple and families alike.

Jodhpur Bhojanalya was the place I headed to for dinner that evening. As the name suggests, the food here is Rajasthani and the serve the most amazing Daal-Baati-Churma! Many of us are not even aware of what Churma is. Let me explain: Heat and crush the Baati in pure ghee (clarified butter) and add a generous quantity of gud (jaggery) and continue to heat it till all of it melts into the Baati. Serve hot. This is the most amazing dessert I’ve ever eaten. It is simply wow! Arbuda is another popular eatery at Mount Abu.

Best Airbnb stay in Uttrakhand

2016-07-10T07:41:00.001-07:00

Himsukh is just beyond the charming hill station of Ranikhet. The 3-bedroom wood and stone cottage boasts of a fabulous view of the Kumaon Himalayas - featuring the peaks of Nanda Devi and Trishul. Perfect for a quiet, relaxing getaway. Him means Hill (Snow laden) and Sukh means (happiness) content.

Clean, crisp mountain air. Majestic Himalayan views and greenery. All this can be enjoyed in a cosy cottage, with a garden, that has many modern amenities to make you as comfortable as possible. Each of the 3 rooms can be booked individually as well.

This room is approximately 170 square feet.

The common areas of the cottage - living room, dining room and the gardens outside.

Use of the kitchen is not permitted by guests.

This is our holiday home so we will not be there at all times. However, our 2 caretakers/cooks are always on site and will clean and cook on a daily basis.

Himsukh is in a quiet community of similar cottages set in peaceful, green surroundings. Small local shops are located nearby and the town of Ranikhet is just 11 kilometres away.

Himsukh is :

•11 kms from the Chaubatia apple orchards

•11 kms from the Golf Course

•11 kms from Ranikhet Town

•17 kms from the Jhula Devi Temple

•66 kms from Bhimtal

•67 kms from Nainital

•85 kms from Kathgodam Railway Station

•150 kms from Pantnagar Airport

•380 kms from Delhi

Local buses do ply but it is most convenient to have your own car or hire taxis to get around.

• Food bills (breakfast, lunch & dinner) will have to be settled by cash, on site, at the time of check out, as per the arrangement with our local hospitality partner.

• Snacks, Beverages & Laundry will be charged extra as per actuals

• Charge for a driver accommodation will be Rs.250/- per night inclusive of meals

• The other rooms of the cottage might be occupied by other guests during your stay.

• If the generator is in use, it will be switched off by 11.00 PM

I also find a bit expensive house which is fantastic as well.This gorgeous house of natural stone and reclaimed wood is the perfect cottage in the hills. The home has space for a large group, with three bedrooms and all home electronic essentials {washer, dryer, TV, iron and the internet!}. Located just 100 metres from Naukuchiatal Lake, La Belle Vie offers a serene, private location to help you tune out the world you left behind, but also offers a variety of activities {boating, trekking, paragliding etc.}. A minimum two night stay is required.

Where: Nainital, Uttarakhand

Price: INR 12,027 per night

Type of Stay: Entire home

Can Accommodate: 10 guests

There is this space is in the 'Lake District' of Uttrakhand. La Belle Vie is just 100 meters to the Naukuchiatal Lake. Tucked away in the midst of a forest and near an eco-resort. At the same time it is close to markets, hospitals, restaurants and other recreational activities like boating, paragliding, treking, nature walks etc. It's like a hub from where one can travel to exotic places like Ranikhet, Binsar, Mukteshwar, Ramgarh, Almora. A minimum of 2 families (2 adults, 2 kids) can easily fit in to 2 suites.
Ideally, the space is for 6 people since there are 3 double beds but more people can be tucked in.

Airbnb Best stay in Hyderabad, India

2016-06-04T08:49:00.001-07:00

Hi Guys,

I was travelling to Hyderabad from US for a few days for some office work and I got to know about the rich culture of Hyderabad as I googled about the City of Nawabs.

My office was at Hi-Tech city and so I wanted a place closer to that but something modern, luxurious (if possible), convenient and one that is well connected as I was planning to spare my weekend for some sight-seeing around.

My friend advised me several places like Gachibowli, Kukatpally, Miyapur and Madhapur but there were some disadvantages with almost all of them. Though Miyapur and Madhapur were close to my office but the building were like single apartments with little/no security and no community vibe. There was a lot of traffic in these areas.

In Kukatpally I faced worst roads and Gachibowli though very peaceful, posh and serene was quite a drive away from my office. So I picked, Chandanagar which is close to Miyapur, Hi-tech city but was less crowded. The AIRBNB property that I stayed in (1BHK Condo) was a surprise.

Modern, luxurious with a great expansive view of boulders and rocks- peaceful and loaded with amenities like Tennis courts, Gym, Swimming pool, Garden; In-house restaurants, pharmacy and grocery stores and all that you need to move around- Buses, auto, cabs, taxis at a stone throw away.

After enjoying the office and modern Hyderabad for 5 days, I started exploring what we called as old part of the city called Secunderabad. Let me tell you such a diverse city. While the modern Hyderabad looked like a Mumbai, Bangalore or London if I may say. The old part of Hyderabad looked too Middle eastern to me. It was for the first time that I was in a metro city and I was seeing niqab and hijab-clad women and girls heading for their offices and colleges.

The very first monument we visited was the Birla Mandir-The Birla Mandir, located in south end of Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad, stands atop the Kala Pahad, the twin hillock of the Naubat Pahad. The temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara (Vishnu), is constructed with white marbles from Rajasthan. From the extreme top of the temple, the entire urban Hyderabad can be seen, which is a breath-taking sight.

The second stop was the old-city of Hyderabad. Of course, when we speak of the old city we talk of the Charminar- The famous Charminar Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the 5th ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, built Charminar in 1591 shortly after he had shifted his capital from Golkonda to Hyderabad. He built this famous structure as a sign of the elimination of a plague epidemic from the city. He is said to have prayed for the end of a plague that was ravaging his city and vowed to build a masjid (Islamic mosque) at the very place where he was praying. He wanted it to be open for all people of all religions.

Charminar was given to a contractor called Sanamvenkata Balaya to construct and today one can see the city as evidence of the prayer being answered. The Mosque was called as Charminar because of its four minarets. The structure was constructed from granite, lime, mortar and, some say, pulverised marble. Initially the monument with its four arches was planned in such a way that when the fort was opened one could catch a glimpse of the bustling Hyderabad city as these Charminar arches were facing the streets. There is also a legend of an underground tunnel connecting the palace at Golkonda to Charminar, with the intention of being an escape route for the Qutub Shahi rulers in case of a siege, though the exact location of the tunnel is not known. The bazaars surrounding the Charminar are also bustling.

Herein, one can find a wide variety of products, ranging from bangles to books and from CDs to pearls. “Pearls” are the actual specialty of the city. While purchasing them, a lot of bargain needs to be done. The cost of the pearls can range from mere Rs. 100 to several thousand! Islamic population here wears the niqab, the hijab, caps, Pathan suits; Islamic perfumes are also readily available. Never to forget, that if anyone is looking for some delicious and inexpensive biryani, this is the exact part of the city you are to be in. A huge and magestic structure lies just next to the Charminar. Yes, this is the Mecca Masjid- Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad/Wikimedia Makkah Masjid was built during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Qutub Shah, the 6th Qutub Shahi Sultan of Hyderabad. The three arched facades were carved from a single piece of granite, which took five years. More than 8,000 workers were employed to build the mosque.

It is said that Muhammed Qutub Shah himself personally laid the foundation stone of the ‘mosque’. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, the French explorer, in his travelogue wrote about the Mecca Masjid, “It is about 50 years since they began to build a splendid pagoda in the town which will be the grandest in all India when it is completed. The size of the stone is the subject of special accomplishment, and that of a niche, which is its place for prayer, is an entire rock of such enormous size that they spent five years in quarrying it, and 500 to 600 men were employed continually on its work. It required still more time to roll it up on to conveyance by which they brought it to the pagoda; and they took 1400 oxen to draw it” If you are a girl, you may not be allowed into the mosque for not being in proper attire to be within the premises.

Thus, I took a picture of the mosque from within the Charminar. It was afternoon. We had some local Hyderabadi Biryani in haste, as we were to rush towards Golconda fort. By around 2 p.m., we were on our way. Golkonda is the name of the ruined city of south-central India and capital of ancient Kingdom of Golkonda (c. 1364—1512). It is 11 km west of Hyderabad. Golconda fort in Hyderabad The most important builder of Golkonda was Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah Wali, the fourth Qutub king. The fortress citadel of Golkonda, was rebuilt for defense from invading Mughals from the north. They laid out Golkonda’s splendid monuments, now in ruins, and designed a perfect acoustical system by virtue of which a hand clap sounded at the fort’s main gates, was heard at the top of the citadel, situated on a high hill.

The kingdom of Golconda stretched over the Telangana region and some parts of present day Karnataka and Maharashtra. The fort has many places within it to see. Some mosques, beautiful gardens, high cliffs, etc. Hyderabad is a beautiful city to be in. In fact, I could cover only a few important tourist attractions due to lack of time. Other tourist spots worth mentioning are the Lumbini Park, Hussain Sagar Lake and Ramoji Film City (a city within a city). Hyderabad is a city of pearls, biryani, kebabs and monuments. The only precaution one needs to keep in mind, however, is that anything related to communalism and the political situation in the middle-east should never be discussed in public. Issues related to the Telangana region should be avoided in discussions. Once, these precautions are taken, Hyderabad is a paradise to be in; a place harbouring everything a human being needs.

Airbnb recommendation for an indian couple

2016-02-29T11:07:00.002-08:00

And I met this cute and old Indian couple during my stay in Defence colony, Delhi who asked an avid traveller like me as to where should they plan their retirement honeymoon?? Retirement honeymoon ---very interesting hahaha.

And I helped them book. I wish I could share their picture. It was blissful is what the couple told me...

I helped them book for Giethoorn, Overijssel, Netherlands. No roads, no traffic, no skyscrapers- pure fun!! They checked into Martin and Wilma's farmhouse and thoroughly enjoyed their stay. Overijssel is bordered by Germany to the east, the Achterhoek region of Gelderland to the south, the Veluwe region of Gelderland and Flevoland to the west, and Friesland and the former moors of Drenthe to the north.

Also known as the Venice of the north, Giethoorn is a village that has a lot of water. In the old days all the transport was done by water, because the land around Giethoorn was to swampy to built roads. Today the canals are more a tourist attraction lots of small boats tour the canals. you can rent a boat yourself or go on a tour.

In the older days Blokzijl was a harbour situated along the so called 'Zuiderzee'. There was a lot of trade with the town of Amsterdam and you can recognise the 'Amsterdam school' in the style of the houses. Around the harbour and in a couple of narrow streets you will find some very beautiful examples of houses from the 17th century.

Nowadays Blokzijl is very busy in the summer season with lots of motorboats, yachts and sailing boats. Specially in and around the lock it is always a hustle and bustle.
But in other seasons it is a very quiet and nice little town with a small museum, some galleries and a couple of shops and nice restaurants. Just relaxing to stroll around.

The water mill of Singraven - already built in 1448 - gets its water also from the Dinkel and is Netherland’s biggest three wheel water mill and is still used for grinding corn and sawing wood. It is absolutely relaxing to stroll around this historic place, seeing the wheels turning and hearing the babbling sound of water. It is easy to walk around the mill and the mill pond at the back.
There is also a terrace (Restaurant ‘De Watermolen’) with great views of the mill and the river and an idyllic spot for a drink or a lunch.

This is what the couple mentioned on their return "We didn't manage to take a boat tour, but we did walk around the canals. I have to say this was one of the most picturesque place I have seen in a while. It was a brisk (cold) but beautifully sunny day when we took a quick walk. I would definitely go back and would love to stay at a beautiful B&B for a weekend. If you are in the area this is a MUST."

Airbnb New Delhi stay, India

2016-02-29T10:32:00.000-08:00

And you will ask me where do I stay in Delhi. I had my sister travelling with me to Delhi so I was extra cautious- you know what I mean! This place is not safe for women. However, I think there is no safe or unsafe place- you need to be extra safe at some places. So what do we do- steer clear of Airbnb setups? The answer is no.

I have stayed in Delhi umpteen number of times to say so. Here are my best stays so far. I was visiting a few artists in Chittaranjan park area in Delhi and had some work to do in South Delhi as well. Plus as I mentioned, I like privacy so shared accommodations are out of question and I am on a budget.

I found this place in Greater Kailash that met my expectations which include:

1. safety and security
2. cleanliness
3. free Wi-Fi
4. comfortable bedding

I had a pleasant stay for 4 days and looked forward to stay here again. The only minus was a small TV and very tiny refrigerator. My sister felt comfy as the property was easy to locate with a huge market nearby. For less than $30, this place was a steal.

Bangalore AIRBNB stay

2016-02-29T10:10:00.001-08:00

I wanted to stay in a big place but in the heart of the city so I packed my bags and took the 10 am flight from Delhi to Bangalore. Took the airport shuttle as I landed at the Kempegowda airport..The bus ride was interesting and it was hot in Bangalore during May.

booked an accommodation in Koramangala which is considered as the heart of the city. The idea behind trying Airbnb in India to zero down on my best properties as I stay here- plus I need to identify a few as backups as well. I was running on a budget and was a solo traveller so was not sure if I can afford a big house. I landed up booking what they call as "The ArtHouse". It costed me $27 so was damn cheap.

It was an old property with some artefacts kept around, solid wood furniture and old mosaic flooring. It was safe for even girls passengers as this was in a busy area which is dominated by cosmopolitan people. There might be photograph that's a lie and hence my try is to highlight best properties.

I had a comfortable stay for less than $30 and I loved it. Must try!!