Regarded as the subcontinent’s London, Kolkata capital city is a potpourri of Indian heritage, culture, and coming to age lives. The city of palaces boasts a unique history closely knitted to the shadows of the British Indian era. The city is also an Indian hub of art and literature. Some of the most famous artists including Nobel laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore were born in Kolkata. This is what intrigued ghoomophirosisters to plan the trip to the place. The next step for us was to fly from New Delhi to Kolkata via Cleartrip in another half an hour we were all ready for our epic journey to the city of Joy. Local sightseeing in Kolkata spawns an unforgettable experience for travelers. If you have a penchant for discovering solace in different realities of life, then Kolkata is the destination for you.
Pay a Visit to Indian Museum
Care for a date with dead Egyptian mummies? If you do, then you should not miss a visit to the Indian Museum when in Kolkata city. It earns its reputation for being the oldest museum in the Asia Pacific Region. Founded by the Asiatic Society of Bengal, the museum hosts dinosaur fossils as well. The locals also call it the house of magic for its out-of-the-world collection.
The museum has been divided into six central departments: Zoology, Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Art, and Economic Botany.
A Date with the Iconic Howrah Bridge
Howrah Bridge is one of the first engineering marvels of the world of its time. The spot enthralls you with its exotic views and life that keeps on going around unawares. Tourists are not allowed to take pictures of the bridge. You will often be stopped by guards if you try to take pictures with your camera. You can click pictures from ferries, though.
Feed Your Senses at Marble Palace
This landmark palace was built by King Rajendra Mullick in the year 1835. It hosts a variety of exotic sculptures, antique paintings, small menagerie and aviary off Chitranjan Avenue in North Kolkata. The mansion earns its reputation for boasting a range of more than 50 marbles.
The Victorian Taj Mahal: Victorian Memorial
Modeled on the Taj Mahal, Victorian Memorial is the homage to Queen Victoria who left for her heavenly abode in 1901. The entire model was a brainchild of Luz Curzon. The memorial takes you through an array of paintings of British families, miniature paintings of the Mughal School, oil paintings of the company school, historical artifacts such as the Throne of Nawab of Bengal, the document of historical significance amongst many other things.
Set up in exotic lawns, the Victorian Memorial is a sight to behold especially at night when it is lit up. A part of the Victorian Memorial is believed to be haunted. It has been quoted in some books and magazines.
Living it Up at Esplanade
This is one of the most happening spots in Kolkata city. Right in the heart of Betnick Street, the place oozes out life in different colors. It is often regarded as the Fun adda (spot) by local people. There are loads of activities that you can do here such as shopping and playing. It is also a hot favorite picnic spot surrounded by some of the best eateries. You can indulge in indoor sports and outdoor sports.
Some of the major attractions of the spot are Hotel Taj Bengal, Shopping Chains, Sri Ram Market, City Mart, and Big Bazar amongst many others.
As they say, the real joy is in the journey. That’s why I love road trips, especially around the Himalayas. So, this March, my best friend and I headed for what would be a fun-filled ride to Manali. This time of the year is perfect to hit the mountains; the temperature is perfect to enjoy the outdoors, the sun doesn’t feel harsh, and the spring bloom just makes the drive all the more scenic.
It was going to be a really long journey. The end-to-end distance from my home in Delhi to Old Manali, where we had booked a cottage, is 550 Km and takes almost an entire day. So we booked a comfortable Delhi to Manali taxi and planned to break the journey into two/three parts, stopping at important places on the way. This would keep us from getting any travel fatigue and also let us explore these in-between places, which otherwise we would never visit.
First Stop
We first went to Chandigarh. Though the drive to Chandigarh is not exceptionally scenic, it was more of a strategic decision. The road from Chandigarh to Manali is faster and better (in terms of traffic and road conditions) than that from Delhi. We were lucky to have found a reliable cab service which came with an amazing chauffeur. Friendly and experienced, he was the perfect guide for the long journey ahead.
After an overnight stay in Chandigarh, we headed back on the road towards Manali. We were discussing with the driver about interesting places to stop at, when he suggested a detour to Kalka, only an hour away from the city.
Second stop
It was the coziest little place tucked inside the mountains. Surrounded by endless greenery, this natural exclave seemed like the perfect break from the city of Chandigarh. The town is famous for a wildlife sanctuary that awakens after the monsoon. We went for a short drive on the misty trails around the town and stopped for our morning tea. I had visited Kalka long ago, as a child and traveled to Shimla on a toy train. That train still runs and I really wanted a ride, but time did not permit me that extra little luxury.
So, we were soon back on our highway to Manali. As we crossed the urban perimeters of Chandigarh, it felt like an entirely different world. The wide, sun-kissed roads, the clear blue sky, wide fields on either side and old Bollywood songs on the car radio, made me feel like I was in one of those music videos. In no time, we were driving through Punjab. The landscape here looked exactly as you would see in Bollywood movies- the yellow mustard fields lined with colorful brick houses, and tractors rolling along the fields. Although we were traveling along the fringes of the state, it gave us a flavor of what lied in its core. It was the most relaxing and refreshing sight I have had in a long time.
Third Stop
But I couldn’t be relaxed for long, as hunger pangs set it. Our dear driver was a local and a Punjabi, which made it easier to stop at the best place. We stopped at Rupnagar, at the famous Haveli Dhaba for our first food break. This vintage place had also fed some celebrities throughout its tenure. After a typical Punjabi-style brunch, we were back on the road.
Fourth Stop
Around late afternoon, we crossed Bilaspur. One of the busiest settlements in Himachal, Bilaspur is famous for two things- the historic Bhakra-Nangal Dam, and the Govt. Engineering College. We had been traveling for quite a few hours and needed a break and nothing seemed better than taking a breath of the fresh air near the river. The dam and its adjoining reservoir were 26 Km off the main highway. The Gobind Sagar Lake was a beautiful nature spot and the perfect place to unwind. The clear lake with the mountains in the background was just the trailer of what we were soon to find at our destination. I inhaled the fresh air as much as we could before we were back on the road.
Last stop
In was nearly sunset, when we crossed Sundernagar. From this point onwards, I actually felt the pressure of the altitude. The roads here were not that great but thankfully we had rented a bigger car which could tread the mountain terrain. Around late evening we passed through Kullu. It was late for hill station standard and shops were closing, except for a few small street-side stores and tea vendors.
Always ensure that the Delhi to Manali taxi fare is reasonable otherwise a road trip like this can be heavy on the pockets. In a couple of hours, we reached Manali town, at our resort. We had been on the road for two days but not for once was I exhausted. That was the magic of the mountains which I look forward to experiencing all over again.
Kerala is known to be a very serene and beautiful place by travelers. It is popular for its palm-lined beaches, spices and coastal views. Setting foot on this refreshing, green land will quench your soul giving you absolute bliss. Enjoy the spicy cuisines, elegant houseboats while exploring the regions. You can find a variety of exotic birds, wild elephants, and even the odd tiger. But it is hard to see everything when you are on a schedule. It is better to plan everything out beforehand. I am here to make that job easy for you.
Here is a travel itinerary for 6 days in Kerala that will let you enjoy the food, cultural heritage and Kerala tourism. We start from Cochin and move on to Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppy, Kovalam and then back to Cochin for final departure.
Day First Cochin
After you reach Cochin International Airport or Railway Station, go straight to a hotel. Get refreshed and eat up before you move on to sightseeing. Proceed to visit Dutch Palace, St Francis Church, Museums, Puthenthodu beach, and Bastion Bungalow. Another place called Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple is a divine and sacred place to visit on your trip to Kerala. After an overnight stay at Cochin, move on to Munnar for the next day.
Day Second Cochin to Munnar (3 and half hours)
Munnar is a beautiful hill station in Kerala and filled with tea gardens and tea plantations. Munnar has various lakes and forests. Some main places to visit are Eravikulam National Park, Munnar Tea Museum and Fun forest. Stay overnight in some of the best budget hotels in Munnar for family and continue sightseeing the next day.
Day Third Munnar to Thekkady (3 hours)
Take a drive to Kundala Dam, Echo point, Deikulam. Go backpacking across Anamudi Mountain. Then move on to Thekkady. After arriving at Thekkady, check into a hotel and get refreshments. The main attraction in Thekkady is a boat ride on the lake and Mullai Periyar Dam. The boat ride will be 2 hours long so you can look at wildlife. There are a lot of fun outlets at Periyar Wildlife sanctuary like Bamboo Rafting, Nature walk etc. Keep a good camera with you with an optical zoom feature to click pictures of rare wild animals. Thekkady is a heaven for natural spice so you can visit spice plantations as well.
Day Fourth Thekkady to Alleppey (3 and half hours)
Proceed to Alleppey and after arriving, check into a houseboat. Alleppey or Alappuzha is known for its houseboat cruises, backwaters and network of canals and lagoons. Also visit Alleppey Beach, Krishnapuram Palace, Karumadi, Marari Beach and Edathua Church.
Day fifth Alleppey to Kovalam (4 hours)
Kovalam is a small coastal area known for its beaches. There is a Lighthouse beach at the southern end that has a platform for viewing. There are also Palm-black beaches like Hawah Beach and Samudra beach that you can visit. There is a German Bakery that has the best breakfast menu. Enjoy the pancakes and shakes on a serene evening. There is a spot called Edakallu that lies between Hawah and Samudra Beach which is popular for its breathtaking sunset view.
Day Sixth Kovalam to Cochin
You can get a soothing massage at Santhigiri Ayurveda Heritage which will rejuvenate you before your departure. There is a Swiss cafe that offers tasty European dishes or you can visit Vizhinjam Aquarium that displays a variety of fish from Kerala’s water. At the end, final departure from Cochin.
Though it is a place that will not let you leave, you will have to look for flight booking from Cochin to go back home while the visions and sights of Kerala swirl in your mind compelling you to visit again. With its vibrant heritage, cultural dances and temple festivals it is not hard to embrace Kerala’s slogan, “God’s Own Country.”
There you have it, the perfect plan to explore Kerala’s main attractions, all in six days. The main thing is to time the trip right; you wouldn’t want to mess up your schedule wanting to see more spots. Enjoy the trip and HAVE FUN!
Driving its name from Odiya language, Odisha might be one of the younger states but land on which it stands has the history as old as times of Ashoka who fought a bloody battle to win this land (at that time known as ‘Kaling kingdom). The state has a rich history, great biodiversity, and rich culture. Add to it, the vast coastline and you can imagine the variety of pleasure you stand to enjoy from a tour to Odisha. Its ability to attract tourists have rightly earned it the title of Goa of the East. Here we bring you a plan with which to get maximum from a five-day tour of the city. Where to stay?
The best way to see whole of Odisha is to change hotels instead of wasting your time and energy commuting to different destinations and back. Arriving late in the evening, Bhubaneshwar is the best place for your first stop. If you feel rested enough, you can start early. The capital city is also ISBT offering bus services to all major tourist location as well as air and railway services. Afterward, we recommend changing your hotels to those in Puri and Konark. Almost all major tourist spots have good hotels and eating spots. Place of our stay
We spent our first day in Mayfair Lagoon. The staff was most friendly and paid very high attention to cleanliness and hygiene. The luxurious hotel has air-conditioned spacious rooms offering beautiful views and most beautiful views, thanks to its location in a lagoon. It offers all 5-star benefits. The food is delicious, and breakfast buffet, swimming pool etc but the best thing about it is that it might be considered a tourist spot in itself – displaying amazing artifacts of the country besides the abundance of beautiful natural vegetation. There are options to go jogging, playing games like table tennis, basketball etc, even a yoga and fitness center. Day 1
We recommend starting your day as we did by chilling out in Biju Patnaik Park. Walk around the lake, go boating, sea water of fountain dance to music here to refresh yourself to go traveling before returning to the hotel. If you still have time, go shopping in the urban part of the town for souvenirs.
Then visit Parashurameshvara Temple, the forty feet high wonder of ancient architecture dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Next, we saw the city’s most popular landmark Lingaraj temple standing one hundred and eighty feet high, have your lunch around here before seeing the temple. Visit Rajarani and Mukteswara temple if you have time but make sure that you reserve your evening for Dhauli Hills, where the famous Kalinga war is supposed to have been fought. The stupas and pillars here are thought to have been built at the end of the war, thus one of them is rightly called Shanti Stupa. Being there, it was difficult at times for us to believe that it was Indian work, and at that, ancient Indian work. We ended our day by seeing Buddhist Peace Stupa in Dhauli Giri before returning to the hotel.
Day 2
We started the day by visiting Nandankanan Zoological Park. The name ‘Nandankanan’ literally means‘The Garden of Heaven’. And this 400-hectare zoo might rightly be called so being home to over sixteen hundred species including White Tigers, Asian lions etc besides having a botanical garden, aquarium and a reptile house guarded by…. Ross Galler should Wait for it! …. a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Spend some time in the Tribal Research Institute Museum, also known as ‘Museum of Man’ and get a chance to observe and study tribal art and artifacts, displayed in its five different parts -You can find Personal Adornments in first Hall, Belongings, Arts, Paintings Photographs in second Hall, Hunting Fishing Implements & Weapons of Offence and Defense in the third hall, Household Objects and Agricultural Implements in fourth hall and Dance, Musical Instruments and Dhokra Items in the fifth hall.
Be sure to leave in time for Dayagiri and Khandagiri Caves. There is some climbing that has to be done and you must be on top in time to enjoy the sunset and beautiful carving on the walls of the cave that house an ancient monastery there. Remember to carry your water bottles and beware of monkeys.
Day 3
We checked out of our hotel in Bhubaneshwar as, though we did have to return to the city once more, it would still mean commuting extra distance. We took the bus to Konark, only sixty kilometers away from Bhubaneshwar.
We spent our day enjoying the architectural beauty of the Sun temple here. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this seven and a half century old temple has been labeled Black Pagoda by European travelers as early as in seventeenth century. The temple is actually a temple complex, each one of which is a celebration of Indian Sculpture art in itself. The open display of sexuality is some of the cravings of this temple might shock those holding narrow views of Indian culture.
A bus ride of another thirty kilometers from here will take you to Pune in time for lunch. Spend the afternoon marveling at the amazing architecture of the famous Jagannath Temple, labeled ‘White Pagoda’ by European travelers. Jagannath Puri is one of the four dhams of Hinduism.
We follow it up with a relaxing beach evening and were easily able to find a budget hotel in Puri. It was easy to find a reasonably comfortable budget hotel here to crash in the night.
Day 4
We took an early bus to reach Chilka Lake. It is the largest lagoon in the world and the second largest in the world. Besides being home to many species of migratory birds, it also shelters Irrawaddy Dolphins. Satpada, located next to Puri, is in fact known as dolphin Sanctuary. Dolphins were so pretty!
After having our fill of nature, we paid a visit to Mangalajodi village on this lake. Declared as International Bird Reserve Area, the wetlands offering scenic beauty are home to thousands of migratory birds.
We returned to Bhubaneshwar via bus and catch a train from there to Sambalpur. The train takes roughly six hours to reach Sambalpur. We managed to catch 15:05 train which meant that we had reached Sambalpur in time to find a budgeted hotel there.
Day 5
Tired of having traveled so much yesterday, we had a somewhat late breakfast before going to visit the Hirakund Dam and letting ourselves be awed by its grandeur.
Our last stop was Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary. A 22-kilometer bus journey from Sambalpur, this beautiful Sanctuary shrines several rare spices like tigers, elephants, sambar leopards,bison etc.
Conclusion
The above plan will give you a chance to see the best of Odisha in five days. There are lots of other attractive spots but Odisha is a big state and these spots are too far apart. Moreover, there are not many airports, thus if you are willing to see it all, you may wanna consider an extended tour.
Ours was an 8-day long trip exploring the region in Uttarakhand. We saw incredible views of the snow-capped Himalayas and mostly clear blue skies. Since there is a lot to be explored, we followed this itinerary instead of fumbling on our own through the days. Our journey began from Delhi via tempo traveler along with other fellow members and through the course of the next eight days, we were blown away by the beauty that Kumayon had to offer.
Day 1
We were so excited to be at our destination that we all reached our starting point on time.During the journey, we took tuck buying, tea, photo break to keep ourselves entertained. Our guide Mr.Ramesh, who decided to make KMVN’s Kathgodam as our lunch our pitstop. The lunch was delicious. We had Bhat ki dal, which is a traditional preparation of Kumaon. There is nothing much to do at Kathgodam, it is the last railway station on the railway line. Beyond this, you need to hire a car to discover Kumaon.
We stopped at Bhimtal. The main attraction there had to be the vast lake which was quite beautiful. Since it is monsoon season the tourist were almost nil and that have given we a chance to just sit by the lake and relax.
Then our last stop was Nakuchiatal, the nine-cornered lake. We stayed at KMVN Parichay which was right near the lake and our room gave the perfect view of the lake and the mountains in a scenic landscape. A stroll near the lake during sunset had us finally realizing that this trip was going to be incredible.
Day 2
The next day took us firstly to Kainchidham which is located on the Nainital- Almora road. The temple had its own ethos and it was quite a peaceful place to be at. It is popular as the religious retreat for people of all faiths and we felt quite at ease around there. The next place we went to was Kakadighat where Swami Vivekananda got his inspiration. There is a Peepal tree under which he sat & meditate, before leaving for the Himalayas.
Then, we had our lunch at Khairna in a place called ‘Standard fast food and restaurant’ which had decent food. We stuck to our North-Indian routine since there was a lot of driving to look forward to, so we didn’t want to try something new and spoil our appetites. We drove through hilly areas to reach Ranikhet Golf course, stopped and wandered around for a while and then headed to Sitlakhet which is approximately 24 km away from Ranikhet via Kathpuria. We were welcomed at KMVN’s TRH at Sitlakhet. Today it was Harela festival, a local sowing festival. On this occasion we planted trees. The view from the terrace was amazing we could see the Almora city.
Day 3
We got up early in the morning to capture the sunrise and see the snow peaks. But our luck was bad as it was too cloudy to see anything. We decided to hike around Sitlakhet and were lucky to see peaks like Nanda Devi, Trishul, Panchachuli etc. After breakfast, we headed towards Katarmal sun temple which was built by the Katyuri King Katarmalla. It is the second most popular sun temple in India after Konark and one look at the place tells you exactly why.
While we were heading towards Someshwar, we saw a lot of farmers doing paddy plantations as it was sowing season. Mr. Ramesh told us that like every one of us gets bored with their job & routine work they too get bored and too keep themselves entertained, the group sing local folk songs which sowing the paddy. It was such an amazing feeling to see women working hard in the fields
Throughout the rides, we looked out the window for sights of the region which never failed to amaze us. It was incredible how similar the cities looked in every place, but the remote areas always had their unique identity. The trip from Someshwar to Kausani was another 10 kilometers. The best part about traveling in Uttarakhand was the delicious local food which was a treat for our taste buds.
Day 4
This day was dedicated to doing sightseeing & discovering places near Kausani. Kausani is also known as Switzerland of India. We first headed to the Anasakti Ashram which is a religious site and Gandhiji stayed here in 1929. It had a small prayer room, a museum, and a beautiful setting.
Then, we also visited the Sumitra Nandan Pant Museum. The famous Hindi poet was born here. His house is converted into the museum which has manuscripts of his poems, & the glimpse of his lifestyle. There is a large collection of Hindi & English book as well. To comrade his birth anniversary, poetry sessions are organized there. If you have an artistic taste and want to revisit your school days, then it is a must visit the place.
The bus was now heading towards the Baijnath Temple which was 37km west of Kausani. It was a nice Lord Shiva Temple on the banks of Gomti River. The temples were built in 1150 AD by local kings. It is one of the four places in Shiva Heritage Circuit’ in Kumaon.
Before heading to our day’s final destination it was time to refuel ourselves, we had our lunch at Bageshwar at the KMVN TRH. Then we headed over to Chaukori and visited the picturesque Tea Plantation sites. Chaukori is another hill station and we stayed at KMVN Chaukori which gave the perfect view of the Himalayas right from our window. It is a quiet little relaxing place with great weather.
Day 5
Though we got up early to capture the sunrise, we another unlucky day the whole town was engulfed in clouds & fogs. But this view was quite mesmerizing. The flower plants in the TRH were in full bloom. Since the rest-house itself is in a secluded area, there was not much to do there except sit back and enjoy the scenery, so we headed over to Patal Bhuvneshwar which had the limestone caves that are popular among pilgrims. Legend has it that the cave enshrines Lord Shiva which accounted to their popularity. Patal Bhuvneshwar was not just one cave but a series of caves. We almost crawled down to 90 feet to reach sanctum. The guide followed us through the cave & explained the carvings which were quite interesting.
After that, we headed over to Gangolihat which is 14 km away from Patal Bhuvneshwar. Then we headed to Paanar Gaon to view the Saryu-Ramganga confluence which is popular mainly because of Lord Shiva and the holy rivers. Then we also went to Lohaghat which is perched on the banks of river Lohawati. For as far as our eyes could see, there was lush green scenery and oak forests. There were also many temples with a historical and mythological importance that we stopped to pray and get blessings.
Day 6
The next day consisted of us heading to Abbott Mount which was at a 7 km distance. The Abbott hill had an infamous bungalow on it called ABBEY which is believed to be a haunted place. Since no one goes there after dark, we visited the place in bright light of the day but the place still managed to give us the creeps, just by appearances and the ghost stories of mysterious instances associated with it. It was believed that the building that was donated to a hospital contained a Mukti Kothri where the patients died exactly as predicted by the Doctor. Though another theory is that the doctor himself killed the patients to prove his prediction and now the ghosts of those patients haunt the place. After the scary visit, we traveled to the Mayawati Ashram which is an Ashram dedicated to the study of Advaita Vedanta. Till date, no idols are worshipped here. Our next stop was the Vivekananda Ashram at Shyamlatal which is situated on the banks of the Shyamlatal lake. So, we also got to see the Shyamlatal Lake which is of dark color due to muddy substances present in the water, thus giving it the name of ‘Shyam’ synonymous with Lord Krishna of Hindu Mythology. Then we went to Tanakpur which is a buzzing town known mainly for its Devi Purnagiri temple. People usually breeze by this place while heading towards Kumaon hills or some other place, but we took our time exploring the region.
Day 7
The next day we crossed the borders. Just kidding, or perhaps not. Our 7th day morning took us to Brahmdev in the western Nepal area. The Brahmdev Temple is quite adored by tourists and one can easily guess why after being there. Then we visited the Nanaksagar reservoir which was a magnificent sight. The lake spread out in front of us in all its magnificence. For further spiritual satisfaction, we headed over to the Nanakmatta Gurudwara which was just nearby. We heard the sound of Gurbani and it relaxed us to the core and then we ate delicious langar (food) there. By this time, we were already feeling the end of the journey and felt nostalgic about all the days spent and the places we had seen.
Day 8
The next day was our return to Delhi and we spent the time scrolling through pictures on our phones, relishing all these memories we had created in just eight days. Uttarakhand is simply beautiful, and we were glad we took our time to see all the places.
There are many other itineraries for exploring Uttarakhand, but this is the most common one and that is for a reason. The reason is that it covers most of the places a tourist would come to Uttarakhand to see. So, make your plans and travel arrangements and go exploring this wonderful place. We did find the KMVN properties to be most comfortable for our stays, certainly had the best views, but you can pick according to your needs and travel packages.
Jakarta is a popular place for tourists as it has much to offer in terms of entertainment. Make your
trip to Jakarta an unforgettable one by following this list of things to do:
1. Ancol Dream Park
Ancol Dreamland is an amusement park near Ancol beach and you can spend your whole day here
refreshing your mind through wonderful rides and fun activities. There are animal shows, SeaWorld
beaches, Hailai club and paintball games. You can even play golf or go bowling. There is an ART
academy and art market to see as well.
2. National Museum, Jakarta
Jakarta has lots of museums including the Kite Museum, Bank Indonesia museum, maritime
museum, Jakarta textile museum and of course, the national museum. The National Museum has an
enormous collection of statues, treasures and artefacts. There are also models of architectural
brilliance, glittering necklaces and stone images displayed that will inspire awe in the eyes of the
beholder.
3. Enjoy the Nightlife and cuisines
Jakarta has one of the most happening nightlife in Indonesia. There are a number of incredible
restaurants and bars that you can visit all over the city. You can go to Awan Lounge which has a
Rooftop garden bar that is just incredible or cafe Ecobar. For good food, you can visit Nusa that has
best local cuisines of Indonesia. You can also go to Mamma Rosy’s Kitchen for some authentic Italian
food.
4. Monas tower
The Monas tower is a national monument and a spot for tourist attraction. It is a must-visit for every
person travelling to Jakarta as it is a symbol of strength in Indonesia. It is near the National History
museum and opens every day from 8 am – 3 pm. You can visit Monas early in the morning. Monas is
known because of the splendid view it has to offer.
5. The Catholic Cathedral and The Istiqlal Mosque
Istiqlal Mosque is the largest mosque in South East Asia and though there are lots of mosques in
Jakarta, this is a special must-visit. Right across the street from Istiqlal Mosque is the Jakarta
Cathedral. This cathedral was built back in 1901 in neo-gothic architectural style.
6. Spa and Massage
There are lots of spa and massage options to choose from. You can take a day off from hectic
travelling schedules and just relax. Try the traditional Indonesian massage or spa to soothe yourself.
7. Grand Indonesia Mall
There are lots of malls in Jakarta and The Grand Indonesia mall is the best one. You can just do
window shopping or buy souvenirs for your friends and family back home. But if you want some
cheaper place to go, try Thamrin city or Tanah Abang.
8. Market of Jakarta- Pasar Santa
Pasar Santa is an indoor market in Jakarta and you can find all sorts of trendy or vintage
commodities here. There are also Vinyl record stores and cafe lounges where you can sit back and
relax.
9. Taman Ismail Marzuki
It is the main cultural hub in Jakarta with a great variety of theatres and cinemas. You can watch live
performances of folk dance or performance arts like Sundanese dance or go there during the
gamelan musical event.
10. Escape the city and Visit the Thousand Islands
A thousand islands is a chain of islands that you can reach from North Jakarta. If you have had
enough of sightseeing in the city and want to escape to some peaceful and marvelous locations,
take a boat to these islands and make your trip unforgettable.
Remember, if you are in Jakarta take all that the city has to offer. Have a great trip!
It’s easy to find the itineraries and guides to the base camp easily, each explaining how the journey is not too tough. Well, as long as it isn’t climbing Everest, right?
Well, like the great saying, “It is not about the destination but about the journey,” we actually felt it is true on this trip. The trek to Everest Base Camp is not the actual climb to Everest but a hike to where the actual climbers begin from. That doesn’t make it any less special. The walks are equally beautiful though ours was a little less challenging.
Mount Everest towers 8848m above sea level over the Himalayas and is every adventurer’s dream. Our dreams only took us as far as the Everest base camp which is still 5364m above sea level and not child’s play. It was common sense to think that the trek would be hard but we underestimated the level of effort it would require getting to the feet of the world’s highest mountain peak. While it was all about reaching the destination when we embarked on this journey, looking back from the destination, we realized it was more about the trip, because the base camp itself was nothing more than a pile of rocks, though, with a great view.
This blog entry is all about our day-to-day experience while on the Trek. The idea was to capture each moment before it slipped away from memory and instead it became a caution tale too about how hard it was to hike each day. This is just daily documentation of our experience and you can judge for yourself if it is the right trek for you.
Let’s start from the beginning. Before starting about the day-to-day activities on the trip, we’ll talk about our arrival into Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal and the chaos that it ensured. The arrival at the airport was met by a mess of people and a struggle to get our baggage. We spent a couple days exploring Kathmandu since there were places we wanted to visit there. And after a few days of wandering in the city streets, we finally went to bed knowing that the experience that began the day after would remain with us for the rest of our lives.
Day 1 Fly from Kathmandu(1400m) to Lukla (2860m), then hike to Phakding- 7.8 km (2 hrs 20 mins)
We woke up with an early alarm excited for the beginning of our journey. While en route to Tribhuvan International Airport, we kept thinking about the trip and beautiful sights we would get to see on the way. We took an 8 am flight and sat on the window seat while flying to the world’s most dangerous airport- Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla and we must say either it was the beautiful sight or the thrill itself, it just added to our excitement.
While Lukla is just a small town at the foothills of Himalayas, its airport is built atop a hill and has been prone to many air crashes. The flights also get canceled a lot because of bad weather. We were grateful that nothing like that happened with us, though the flight was delayed by ninety minutes. The short scenic view during out flight towards the hills is imprinted on our minds. As soon as we got off the plane, we were greeted by lots of guides and porters, much like the Taxi and Rickshaw drivers in usual airports. Some things just never change. But it is good for people making last-minute bookings who haven’t planned the things beforehand. It was after this that we finally started walking. It took about two and half hours to reach the small settlement of Phakding. The walk through the Himalayas jungle and swing bridges seemed easy enough and the first day was the easiest of them all. Phakding has developed a lot over the years and we saw shops on either side of the rocky pathway with even a Reggae bar and free wi-fi. We got a hotel room and it was clean and comfortable.
Day 2 Hike from Phakding (2600m) to Namche Bazar (3440m) – 12 km (In 6 hours, 15 mins)
Though yesterday’s walk was easy, we knew it wouldn’t be the same today. Our introduction to the Himalayas had prepared us or something more challenging today. We had a climb over 800 meters so we began by having a hearty breakfast. It was going to be a big day hiking after all. The steep ascension and moving across suspension bridges was exhilarating, especially with the wild wind blowing. The mountainside was filled with many prayer wheels, shrines and stupas. Along with the beauty of our surroundings, we were also able to take in the spiritual feel of the place. But the feeling of stepping on the suspension bridges, 80m above the river really made us feel pray. The thrill had an edge of fear to get off the bridge as soon as possible. But the view from the bridge, the huge waterfalls and massive gashes in mountainside is a sight to behold if you are able to concentrate anywhere besides your own feet that is.
The path was a busy one though not crowded with our fellow humans but with Yaks and donkeys who carried people’s belongings through the path along with goods for locals and tourists that would be sold in the main Market area, which was also our destination for the day Namche Bazaar.
The walk started pretty mildly and we enjoyed it but once we passed Monjo village, it got steep with no signs of the earth flattening anytime soon.We kept climbing up and up and up. It was when we crossed about 3000 meters that we started to slow down since we knew the altitude also starts affecting at the time. That was a tough walk and our body started feeling the one and half hour long hoke on the steep slope. Afterward, we reached a checkpoint and felt like we were finally getting close. Reaching Namche bazaar was exciting since this whole settlement seemed to have popped out of nowhere, just around the corner. Located on the edge of a cliff, the place was full of color and felt like fun from the moment we stepped in. This is one of the main trading posts in the Himalayas and is used as a spot for acclimatization because of its wide availability of shops and bars and relaxed surroundings.And we abided by the same principle, taking in delicious food and resting after the difficult hike we had just endured.
Day 3 Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazar
The thing about rest days in a trek is that they aren’t really resting days at all. So we had to throw the idea about sitting back in our hotel room, lying around or wandering Namche Bazar out the window. It works like this, this day is a chance for your body to adjust to the high altitude, so to do that, you have to hike up to a higher elevation and then steep lower to sleep. Our day constituted of climbing a ‘small’ mountain behind Namche Bazar to the highest five-star hotel in the world, the Everest View Hotel. The hike did put a lot of strain on us as we started to feel the effects of high altitude. Along with puffiness of breath and getting tired easily, there was a nagging headache. But the little rest time in the Hotel with a cup of tea and a view of the Everest made things wonderful again. That afternoon we also went to a museum on the outskirts of Namche that displayed artifacts of the first-ever ascent to Mount Everest.
The best advice is to slow your pace on the rest days and save energy for the days that matter. It is a 12-day long trek, so it becomes essential to pace accordingly. We relaxed for the rest of the afternoon to save some energy for the upcoming days. The altitude had started affecting us at this point and we felt shortness of breath even while doing everyday tasks. At this point, it is essential that while hiking you walk slow. It was already starting to feel like a difficult hike but we still had a long way to go.
Day 4 From Namche (3440m) to Tengboche(3860m) (4 hrs)
As the walk began, we were amazed by the glimpses of Everest as we walked on a fairly easy path around the sides of mountains. We saw an amazing view of the majestic Ama Dablam Mountain. Frankly, this was one of the most scenic days of the hike and as the trail took us down, we reached close to a river where we stopped to have lunch before indulging in a steep climb again. And by steep, we mean scaling over 500m of the steep slope for 90 minutes. By the time that ended, we were all sweaty and yet it was an accomplishment knowing we had made it.
Tengboche has a beautiful old Monastery, one of the oldest in the Himalayas and it welcomes guests and tourists every day around 3 pm when the local monks come to pray. That act itself is something mesmerizing to witness. The whole ceremony takes place in less than half an hour and yet it leaves such a spiritual impact. Tengboche also has a bakery with a delicious range of cakes and we tried some. At this point, we were already pretty tired and it was funny how our body shut off right at 8 pm, straight after dinner. We needed the rest after all and by this time we were already at a high altitude, so it seemed reasonable.
Day 5 From Tengboche (3860m) to Dingboche (4410m)—11.6 km (4 hours)
It was at Tengboche that we discovered how hard it had gotten to breathe. Even the landscape was now shifting from trees to a desert feel. Though we didn’t mind the shift in the terrain, the shortness of breath, while we had to climb such a long way, was quite difficult. It was good that this day didn’t include any steep sloped, but some steady and slow inclination up to the mountain till we reached Dingboche.
We hit the track and were still amazed by the scenic beauty of the place. The swing bridges came back again and so did small settlements. A headache begin too at this point as we kept moving to high altitudes and by the time we finally got to our destination, we both felt fatigued as well. Dingboche turned out to be a big settlement with a couple of shops and a Café. What struck us interesting about the café was that it was filled with tourists eating popcorns and enjoying coffee, watching the movie ‘Everest’. Turns out they show the movie every day.
After having our dinner, we both went back to bed and ate Diamox (altitude sickness medicine) because the headache still refused to leave us.
Day 6 Dingboche Acclimatization day 6 km – 4 hours
Another rest day that wasn’t really a rest day at all, but today’s goal was easy. Well, who am I kidding? It was again a strenuous exercise. We all headed towards the Nangkartshang peak. It started off mildly but close to the top when only last couple hundred meters was left, we finally started feeling the pressure. But once we did reach the top, the views were completely astonishing as it had snowed there the night before. We got to see a snow-covered view of the mountains and the entire valley which was glorious. The rest of the day was for just that, rest. And we have to say it does get boring since there is nothing much to do during that time.
Day 7 From Dingboche (4410m) to Lobuche (4925m) in 3 hours and 50 mins (9.8km)
It was a fairly easy hike in theory but the altitude made it difficult anyway, yet it was the great views that kept us going even while our bodies protested. The glorious walk along open pastures and old abandoned houses is how it began that day until we reached a small settlement named Thulka where we stopped for a cup of tea. After the break, it was still a 45-minute walk straight uphill, at a steep slope. We had to take quite a few breaks on this hike because of the pressure making our heart hammer fast but in the end, we made it to the plateau safe and sound and almost healthy.
While walking uphill, we were greeted by many stone memorials of the climbers who had lost their lives right there on the mountain that we were so determined to climb. It was quite moving actually, instead of being demotivated, we became even more determined to climb the mountain. Many people paused to absorb the serenity of the place and the emotions it arose. We came across one special memorial- Rob Hall and Scott Fisher’s whose fate we had seen in the movie just a day before. That really was the highlight of all the things we saw on the way. It just had a special significance that couldn’t be forgotten. The rest of the walk was quite tough as we had started to feel the fogginess in our heads along with the loss of concentration. That didn’t bode well for the kind of path that we were on and all the stumbles and near falls made us more careful.After reaching our guesthouse at Lobuche, we finally decided to rest and do nothing else for the entire day.
The guide had told us that it was necessary to save our energy for the upcoming day. We were also told to take a short walk to a higher level but we were just too tired to muster up energy, so instead, we decided to sleep and give our bodies some rest from the exhaustion.
By this time, we had already begun to look forward to getting off the mountain but that hope was a little less than our excitement for the final destination- Everest Base Camp.
Day 8 From Lobuche (4925m) to Gorak Shep (5140m) and finally Everest Base Camp (5364m)- 13.2 km (In 7 hours including breaks)
Knowing that this was the day we had been waiting for and had made so much effort made for a great motivator to battle the altitudes. With each step, the excitement level rose with the anticipation of the destination. After all, today was the day it was all about, right? It was quite a struggle to reach the place but as we kept walking, slowly yellow specks appeared and that kept us walking faster. There were amazing views all around us throughout the whole walk and we also passed by a dried river where Khumbu glacier used to be before it receded up the mountain by a few kilometres.
We had an early lunch after we reached Gorak Shep to muster up more energy for reaching the Base Camp. Though, we have to say it was a bit underwhelming,Everest base camp turned out to be nothing more than a pile of rocks with a couple of flags. The case is probably different for the actual Everest climbers but to us, the journey so far had drained everything. But it wasn’t all about the destination and the underwhelming pile of rocks but the journey we had undertaken and the rocky transformation we had gone through to reach the place. The rocky landscape was more a symbol of our achievement and when we looked at the place with that thought in our heads, it actually looked like the place of dreams.
We had finally reached the place we had been climbing so hard for, yet, no one broke out the champagne to celebrate.Probably because you should NEVER drink at high altitudes, yet, we were dizzy enough from the altitude itself. We spent around half an hour at the place, capturing pictures to keep a memory of that moment and taking in the surroundings.One of the most awesome things about Everest base Camp was that we could hear the ice shelves around the place creaking and breaking under the changing atmosphere. Then we had to trek back to Gorak Shep which was 200m descending since our resting place was there.
Day 9 Gorak Shep (5140m) to Kallar Pathar (55mom) to Pheriche (4371m)
We were finally relieved to have been getting down the mountain, yet there was another hill to climb before that. This was the day we had decided we would climb the Kallar pathar, a place known for its beautiful sunrise and panoramic views. Though we were reluctant to climb any more, yet it seemed a shame to miss out on the place when it was right there and what is a few more hours anyway. The hike was the toughest till yet and the altitude had started taking effect as we were on the brink of vomiting, yet we made it to at least 5400m which gave us a magnificent view of the tallest mountain in the world along with a vantage point for seeing the sunrise. After this, we began descending, knowing that there would be no steep slopes from here, just going down. We were exhausted yet relieved from the pressure which kept us going for while longer.
We trekked down the valleys while passing the glaciers and memorials on the way till finally reaching the treeline that was 4000m above sea level. We stayed at Pheriche village. It was the same village we had passed by on our way up yet entirely different, for this time we felt comforted, knowing that there were no more hard walks ahead of us, just retreat. Yet, we turned out to be so wrong. What the walk back lacked in hard terrain and pressure of high altitude, it matched up with covering long distances in a day’s time. Even the walk back made us so exhausted and strained our bodies. This place has rudimentary hospital under Himalayan Rescue Association.
Day 10 Pheriche (4371m) to Namche Bazar (3440m) (In 8 hours and 45 mins)
We had finally started feeling better at this point and the lower altitude was doing its job well, keeping us comforted. Yet, these last two days of backtracking the same path we had come upon were quite strenuous and so long the day didn’t seem to end. Even the scenery wasn’t much of a motivator anymore since we had already been in awe of it before and now the only thought in our heads was going back to Lukla. As we passed through Namche Bazaar again, we stopped by to get a brownie at a café, taking in the place for the last time. When we had come to the place we had been going up with such determination in our eyes and anticipation for the glorious views, overcoming hard obstacles and making it through the day. Yet this time around, we came with tired eyes and had finally become resigned as it was time now to head back. Then it was time to head back to the village Namche Bazar. We finally took a bath and it was unbelievable, the level of satisfaction one gets after finally taking a bath after so many days. It is all about the small luxuries at places like these.
Day 11 Namche (3440m) to Lukla (2860m)
It was here, the last day of the trek and we looked forward to it with the same anticipation as we had looked towards reaching the Everest base camp. The whole trek was so glorious and it gave us plenty of time to think about the whole journey and recall every aspect of the ten days that had gone by, in what seemed like a blink of a moment now. The track had gotten busy by the time we were heading back and there were a lot of climbers excited to go on the same path we had just retreated from.
We looked at the faces of energetic climbers and hope for the best for them, knowing the distressing journey they were about to undertake. They had no idea about how physically, emotionally and mentally challenging these few days were going to be. But a person comes out better at the end of it, knowing that if you could make it out of such hard course, you could do anything.
We kept walking, knowing that the end was coming soon, yet when there were only two kilometres left for the trek, we felt exhausted and it was at that time that the walk also turned tough. The track turned into an ascending one towards Lukla and it took a lot of effort out of our energy tanks to take each step upwards. One good thing though, that by now we had been used to such strain and so after much effort and putting one step in front of the other, we finally reached Lukla.This was the end of the journey and we had done it! It was such an accomplishment. We were filled with joy at the moment.
Day 12 Departure from Lukla and the flight back to Kathmandu
It was another spectacular ride from the most dangerous airport in the world, which we enjoyed the exhilarating views. It was a comfortable ride and in a 16-seater turbo-prop no less. It just took the full runway before lifting off as the plane leaps off the cliff. Yes, exhilarating is the right word for such a feeling. We saw glorious sights again from out of the window and this time we didn’t have to walk or exhaust ourselves to see it. Our legs were aching and the body was screaming from pain and exhaustion by this time. Yet, all we felt was happy and perhaps, a little melancholic about having to head back and leave the Everest behind us. The city of Kathmandu greeted us with same hustle and bustle and it made the thought hit hard. The trek had finally ended. All that was left now was to go back home with a lot more memories than we had before, and a lot of pictures as well.
The trip ended on such a wonderful note that now when we look back at it, we see the good moments, the awesome views, the amazing memories we made on the way more than we think about how hard it was or the exhaustion or the pressure. Things like that are momentary and forgotten as soon as one takes a long bath and rests, but the memories and the sense of accomplishment remain for a long time. The trek to Everest Base Camp seems easy because it is nothing compared to climbing Everest.Yet it requires a lot of effort and determination. We were lucky enough to not fall sick, yet, we did see a woman being taken down on a stretcher who would have to be deported on a helicopter to get medical help because of altitude sickness.These are real issues that have to be tackled on the trek. Yet, somehow, it is worth it. It is worth all the stress, strain and risk. It is worth going days without taking a bath. The feeling that one gets while one of the suspension bridges or seeing the sun creep up from behind the snow-covered mountains, the people you meet on the way and the way even little things taste delicious after a long exhausting day is what makes it all worth it. We experienced it all. Now it is your turn!
For any queries related to Everest base camp, drop us a note at ghoomophirosisters@gmail.com
The vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur is the Capital of Malaysia, famed as “Garden city of lights” across the world. The beautiful city is rich in culture, heritage and has prosperous past and present. It is one of the loved destinations among the traveling freak due to its exotic nightlife. The charming city offers the blend of modern and traditional landscape and sights. A quick stopover of around 48 hours will let you see most of the things, which can capture your heart for its hospitality. Malaysia is a place, where you get a close-up of wildlife within the vicinities of the city.
We have planned a trip, which is suitable for a common man to enjoy Kuala Lumpur in a span of 48 hours without wasting much time.
Day 1 in Kuala Lumpur
After arriving in the city, it is the best idea to cover places which fall in proximity to avoid wastage of time in traveling to remote destination. There are numerous places to have fun and to check out for adventure within the city limits. This article is an attempt to guide you all through your journey to Malaysia.
Petronas Twin Towers
Petronas twin towers are sky-kissing building, which is one of the tallest towers in the world. This tower is the best example of perfect architecture, standing still at the with the height of 452 meters. The towers are designed with an inspiration of Islamic architecture and popular for its steel and glass usage all around.
Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower
The Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower is one of the most recognizable towers and a popular landmark in the nation. The tower is visible from every part of Kuala Lumpur.
Petaling Street
After lunch, Enjoy the shopping in one of the well-known shopping streets “Petaling Street”. A one-stop street for shopping. The ideal time to visit the place is after sunset to enjoy the exotic nights light and jeweled street with colorful lights.
Jalan Alor
After Shopping, you can head towards Jalan Alor, a food street, which is famous for its delicious mouth-watering traditional cuisine. The travelers enjoy the variety of street food is the cheap and reasonable price. Get full return on your investment!!
Day 2 of Kuala Lumpur
On the 2nd day in Kuala Lumpur, plan for the sightseeing across the city and places nearby. Day 2 focuses on temples, wildlife sanctuaries, and valleys around the city.
Batu Caves
Kuala Lumpur’s most visited places and frequented tourist attraction is Batu. It has a beautiful Subramanya Hindu temple along with three important caves.
Elephant Sanctuary
A drive from Batu caves to elephant sanctuary is a great way to connect back to culture due to its greenery around the sanctuary and meeting majestic elephants along the way.
Kuala Lumpur Bird Park
A 60-hectare lake garden dedicated to birds for its habitat. Kuala Lumpur Bird Park has been reputed to have most rare birds in the world and is the largest park for birds in the world.
Fahrenheit88 Mall
Fahrenheit 99 Mall is one of the biggest malls in the world with 5 floors of shops with all kinds of varieties of products. It is the right place to shop Isn’t it?
Sky Bar
The sky bar is located on the 33rd floor of Traders Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The bar is glamorous for its interiors and a cocktail lounge with swimming pool. Great views of the Kuala Lumpur city with an excellent variety of cocktails available
Heli Lounge Bar
Heli Lounge bar is located on the helicopter pad and is on the 36th floor of the building. The bar comes with both nightclub and a cocktail bar with an excellent view with an open top.
Unfolding the hidden chapters with the Canopy Walkway tour!!
The Canopy Walkway tour offers you to explore the folded chapters of Kuala Lumpur.This travel package provides travelers to stroll through a Malaysian Rainforest and witness the alluring landscape and scenic views around. During your walk through shady trails of arboretums, you will encounter more than 30 different species of bamboo.
Travel Tip
Malaysia is the best travel destination for travelers in all seasons. Being close to the equator it has tropical climate all through the year. The weather is generally hot and humid, but it can rain anytime, making the weather more suitable for travelers. The month of May to June is considered the ideal time to visit yet travelers can plan the trip to Kuala Lumpur anytime, there is no such cool season.
Kuala Lumpur is the best holiday destination for you, if you’re looking for the place where you can get everything, starting from natural landscape, temples, monasteries and vibrant nightlife, Kuala Lumpur has the whole package.
Don’t skip The Chettinad Banana Leaf Rice !!!
Don’t skip to witness the magical trick of fireflies at night!!
Goa is one such place where you can be for days as much as you want- a day, 10 days or month. So if you have three days in hand for a destination like Goa, well plan your itinerary to cover most of it.
Day 1
Goa is well connected to other parts of the country by a network of rail, road, and air. Upon your arrival at Goa airport or railway station, take a taxi or avail other public modes of transportation to reach your hotel. To avoid the later hassle looking for hotels, make the prior reservation. Depending on your stay, north or south Goa, start your trip by exploring the nearby places on the first day. On your arrival, check-in to the hotel and take rest.
The best mode to go around in Goa is by renting a bike or scooter. You can start exploring from the south and eventually head towards north. South Goa is comparatively quieter than North Goa. Some of the popular beaches here are Colva, Agoda, Varca, and Benaulim. These beaches are home to some amazing shacks, discos and resorts, and ideal for honeymoon couples and those who want to spend some alone time away from the crowd. End the day with dinner at Curly’s or Mambos.
Day 2
Dedicate your entire 2nd and 3rd day for North and Old Goa, as it has a lot more to explore. Rent a bike or car to reach old Goa. Take a historical walk at the Latin Portuguese quarters, witness the grandeur of historical monuments and pay a visit to the ancient cathedrals. There are century old cathedrals such as Basilica of Bom Jesus and Chapel of St. Francis Xavier. Apart from the churches, there are some famous forts from the Portuguese era. One of them is Fort Aguada that has been majorly converted into a luxury hotel.
Spend your day exploring the ancient architecture and Portuguese colonies or Fountainhas areas of Goa. Passing through the streets of brightly colored houses, makes you gaze in wonder. After devouring on sumptuous Goan food from any of the famous restaurant Gene or Ritz, head to Dona Paula to experience the sunset.
Day 3
For all those who want to see the fun side of Goa, head to North Goa. It is lined with beautiful beaches that abound in the number of water activities, pubs, and shacks offering delectable Goan cuisine. The popular beaches here are Anjuna, Baga, and Calangute where you can get indulged in in water sports such as Parasailing, scuba diving, and water skiing. This part of Goa attracts major tourist population all year round. You can even purchase some funky jewelry, spices, handicrafts, and souvenirs for your loved ones from the popular Anjuna Flea Market organized every Wednesday evening. Keep the night for the crazy trance parties that take place along the shore or at some popular clubs. Club Cubana at Arpora Hill in North Goa is a must place to be. Another popular market is the Saturday Night Bazaar.
A 3 days trip to Goa if spent wisely can be a great one for holidaymakers to enjoy the sun, sand, and surf. Reach out to us for further bookings at ghoomophirosisters@gmail.com
Hong Kong is the perfect place for a quick international getaway where you can find breathtaking views, shopping centres and great food and culture. This is a place where you can find the blend of international and local features. But if you have limited time and still wish to enjoy all the wonders Hong Kong has to offer, you better find a good itinerary and stick to it. Here’s a guide to spending 48 hours in Hong Kong:
Day 1
Get some breakfast at The brunch club since they have smoked salmon that is to die for.
Take a Hike
Walk across the trail of Wan Chai. The walk will take approximately two hours and includes architecture and culture. So, you will get to know of the country’s rich history for free. Afterwards, you can explore Causeway bay and see the largest library in Hong Kong. There are many local retailers and malls here too for the shopaholic in you.
Tian Tan Buddha
One of the islands of Hong Kong Lantau has a 34-meter long giant bronze statue of Tian Tan Buddha. Another specialty of this statue is the cable car ride to get there which is a scenic journey on its own.
Lunch
Go to Landmark Mall since it is the most popular shopping centres with famous brand names. You can also find restaurants nearby for lunch. Or you can always have lunch at the fook Lam Moon restaurant in Wan Chai.
See the view
The view from Victoria Peak at dusk is breathtaking and that vantage point provides the most incredible view of Hong Kong skyline. Afterwards, spend some time exploring shops and buying souvenirs. Also, see the wax statues at Madame Tussaud’s. Settle for street food as a light dinner.
Day 2
Breakfast with Dim sums
Dine like the locals at Tim Ho Wan and enjoy the dumplings and sweet barbeque pork buns. Go early to avoid crowds and feel like a local eating on those black plastic plates.
Walk in a park
Based on the Jiangnan gardens of the Quing Dynasty, Kawloon Walled city Park on Tung Tsing Road is a beautiful spot with a rich history. The pavilions and pathways are a wonderful sight with a fascinating history. This park is set up over a once densely populated city that worked without any government control. The place was once filled with opium dens and unlicensed practitioners.
Museum
The next stop should be the Honk Kong’s Museum of History. Located on Chatham road south, it shows you the geological and cultural history of Hong Kong. You can also visit the Hong Kong Maritime Museum at Central pier 8.
Lunch at Din Tai Fung
This is a chain of restaurants spread all over Hong Kong and you are sure to come across an outlet during your trip. If you stop by for lunch, do try their fried rice with shrimp along with chicken dumplings.
Tsim Sha Tsui
Ride the star ferry to reach Tsim Sha Tsui which is the ‘Shop until you drop’ place of Hong Kong. Dine at Jimmy’s Kitchen since they offer various cuisines from English to Chinese to Indian.
Late Night Party at Lan Kwai Fong
End the day with a couple of drinks and good music to sway to. The Hong Kong experience would be incomplete without glimpsing its nightlife at Lan Kwai Fong.
That does it, folks. An exciting and completely fulfilling itinerary for spending two days in Hong Kong. Another tip would be to save money on transport and food by buying an Octopus Card right away after arriving. In the end, just have fun.
