Category: Relax

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Beaches Foodie Ghoomophiro Blog Hotel Reviews Relax Staycation Treks Western Ghats wildlife

All about Devbagh Beach Resort, Karwar

Devbagh Beach Resort

Devbagh is a stop for an ardent beach lover. Sun, sand, surf, sea and endless open space, Devbagh is famous for its private beaches, where you can build your dream castles, collect seashells, chase crabs, locating fishermen in boats or just soak yourself in sun and let waves wash away your worries. 3 Kms away i.e just 29 minutes ferry ride from Karwar is situated one of the finest property of  Karnataka Tourism. Devbagh Beach Resort is located in the converging landscape located in Karwar, which is 100 Kms away from Dabolim airport and located at Karnataka–Goa border. Devbagh is at its beautiful best from October to May.

Accommodation: Resort opens a world of pristine natural beauty.  It has got lovely log-hut cottages with a balcony. Rooms are spacious with all modern facilities. The Gol Ghar, is the group dining hall, serves a delectable buffet spread of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine. The seafood is highly recommended. Fishes served here are usually fresh. Dinner is served on the beaches wherein every evening bon-fire is set up with snacks. Spa here is amazing. Oils and other ingredients used are purely herbal.

Activities: Devbagh has something or the other for everyone. 24 hrs are less for you to explore the place completely. If you are an adventurous person, try parasailing, snorkeling (which is being done under the supervision of trained professionals, who ensures complete safety of its guests), banana boat ride, scooter-ride and other water sports. One can also go for speed boat cruises in Arabian sea to spot Dolphins. If you are a nature lover, get up in morning and take a stroll in backwaters and can spot rare birds in mangrove thatches. It is a paradise for bird watchers as conditions are conducive for migratory birds. If you like studying human nature, then a stroll in an adjacent fishing village is a good experience; wherein you can witness how their day starts, to how it ends. It gives a complete picture of a day in fishermen’s life. If a relaxing vacation is on your mind, then soaking in the sun or lazing on a hammock is a good option. One can also cruise up to the confluence of Arabian sea and river Kali. A trek in the jungles is highly recommended and capturing sunrise and sunset is photographer’s delight at the resort. The Place is indeed photogenic.  A day tour to the city is also organized by the resort on request, wherein you can roam around the Karwar. All activities are conducted under strict supervision and interaction with the staff adds lots of value.  The staff here is very courteous. Manager of the lodge makes it a point to spend time with each family staying and take care of their day to day needs. Personal attention is given to all guests. If you are looking for a getaway beyond Goa with all similar amenities, Devbagh beach resort tops the priority chart. You can reach out to www.dandeli.com for your bookings. They made it really simple for me when it comes to the arrangement.


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Adventure Central India Ghoomophiro Blog Hotel Reviews National Parks Relax Staycation Travel Trends wildlife

Forsyth Lodge- Experiential Lodge to get lost in Satpura Reserve, Madhya Pradesh

Forsyth Lodge, is a 2 hrs drive from Bhopal airport. It is just 10 min away from Madhai gate of Satpura tiger reserve, Madhya Pradesh.

Accommodation: There are 12 luxury cottages overlooking 44acres of land. Each cottage is well spacious, well maintained with best of fixtures. Rooms are comforting; with few of them have machan terraces. As you enter the room, you are welcomed by a beautiful message that talks about wilderness. Interiors are very artistic and remind you “welcome to jungle”. Their walls are made from packed straw, mud and cow dung (as is the local building style) and painted with wild animals and flowers, giving them a whimsical touch. Cottages have private balconies, wherein you can sip your morning coffee, read your favorite book overlooking the great jungle. Air conditioning, Fan, Mosquito net, Extra beds Terrace Bathrobes, Toiletries , Hairdryer etc are available. The highlight of the cottages are their Eco-friendliness. Every small thing kept there is well thought. Everything here is recycled, even the fixtures in washroom are such that, water can be recycled. Basic amenities like swimming pool, spa is available.


Meals: Meals (included in the room rate) are served in various locations around the lodge. Under trees, by the pool, on sofa’d torchlit terraces or in dining rooms. There are Western and Indian offerings at each meal with detailed menu laid out.
Breakfast was equally delicious and plentiful: fruit and fresh-pressed pomegranate juice, followed by eggs cooked to order, grilled tomato, bacon, mushroom ragout and multigrain toast. Out on an early safari? Then it’s a packed breakfast in the middle of the tiger reserve for you.
Afternoon tea, with its fresh-baked cookies and cakes, is nice, but it’s dinner when Forsyth pulls out all the stops: cocktails and nibbles around a roaring bonfire, followed by dinner under the stars, either on a terrace in the main lodge or out in the bush with oil lamps hung from the trees (the bar was set up on a bullock cart!). You start with a soup and then move on to succulent meat curries and fragrant vegetarian dishes served with Indian bread.
#theForsythExperience – Yes, this is what one would call #theForsythExperience, when you are greeted by wonderful hosts Rishi and his team, who work reluctantly to ensure the best experience for each guest, by their constant efforts. It seems these guys are on a mission to bring you close to wildlife. There are multiple activities, which team involves you in. The itinerary planned is power packed, and the day starts with the wake-up call at 6 AM, to go for a walk inside the Satpura Tiger Reserve. These jungle walks are accompanied by great naturalists David Raju and Surya, who let you discover the vast array of species inside the jungle. The highlight of this walk is spotted dears and breakfast in the midst of the jungle. Other excursions being organized by lodge includes Canoeing, wherein you can watch birds involved in soaking in sunlight, as you paddle the canoe nearest to them and watch the sunrise in beautiful Deneva river. One can also enjoy Jeep safari and enjoy the drive with sloth bears, spotted deer, gaurs, bisons and other wild animals in their natural surroundings. I was lucky to get hold of the mother bear with her two cubs in action. The place is a paradise for the bird watcher. Evenings are made beautiful with bonfires and bullock cart dinner experience, where you can enjoy your dinner under the sky in amazingly romantic ambiance. This dinner is usually followed by star gazing, where you are taken to the stories of greeks and Romans. 2 days are little short to complete the experience as there is a lot more to explore with eminent naturalists. Btw, not to miss is the handsome dog there, who is just adorable. It is indeed a recommended place, if you are looking for a getaway away from the city with limited access to the network, and want to get lost in the wilderness. It is the place, from where you would surely not like to come back. It is indeed bewitching and at times gives you the feeling that whole property belongs to you.


P.S-> During Monsoons, Lodge is closed for renovations.
Thank you Forsyth Lodge for the amazing experience. You can reach out to them at Facebook,Instagram,twitter.

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Adventure Himalayas Rejuvenate Relax

Another of those cool hill retreats left behind by the British; Dalhousie

About the Place:Dalhousie is a gateway to the ancient Chamba Hill State, now Chamba District of the state of Himachal Pradesh of India. This hill region is a repository of ancient Hindu culture, art, temples, and handicrafts preserved under the longest-running single dynasty since the mid-6th century.

Spectacular snow-covered Dhauladhar mountains are also visible form this enchanting town. Dalhousie was popular with the British Army personnel in 1860’s. By road Dalhousie is about 550 km from Delhi, 52 km from Chamba via Banikhet and 43 km via Khajjiar and the nearest railheads at Pathankot & Chakki bank railway station are approximate 85 km.

Must see places:Kalatop, Khajjiar, Jandari Ghat, Bholani Mata, Sach Pass

Good Time to Travel:Summer months from March to June are the best time to Visit Dalhousie

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Adventure Relax Travel Trends Tribal wildlife

6 To-Do’s at Dandeli

Dandeli, is a small river side town in North West Karnataka is very popular with tourists from Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore. The modern town on the river is surrounded by deciduous forests and a renowned wildlife habitat where one can spot rare animals and birds, roam in deep valleys and hilly terrain. It is around 4 Hr. drive from Goa Dabolim airport and the road trip from Goa to Dandeli is very scenic. Though place is famous for white water rafting and tree-houses, but apart from the same, there are few must to do’s at the place.
Kayaking on the Kali River
If you are white water lover and want to be high on water sports, then kayaking on the Kali river can offer lot to you. Options available are from class 4 rapids for professionals to calmer beds for beginners.

Rafting on the rapids of the Kali River 

River Rafting are a great team activity and the class 4 rapids on the Kali offer the perfect group getaway. There are half day or full day options and the river has water for most time of the year as the dam above the river is opened every morning to generate electricity.

Bird watching at old magazine house resort 

The place is always surrounded by variety of birds and is heaven for bird watchers. At any season, you can find their naturalists spotting more than 150 different birds a day. Place is famous for hornbills but if you are true birder, this place is must for you in the list. It is surrounded by birds endemic to Western Ghats. If lucky, one can spot rare birds too.

Visit some of the unique tribes of Dandeli
One must always feel the locals and engage themselves with their lifestyle. Spending time with them gives the tourists true flavor of the place. Dandeli offers four different tribal experiences. There is famous Lambani tribe, who comes are nomad in nature. Then, there is the very famous Siddi tribe, who are people of African origin and who were brought to India as slaves. Then, there are the Gowli tribes who manage cattle and earn their living by selling milk and milk products. There is Medar tribe who works in the forest and is bamboo craft artisans.

Watch the sunset from Ganeshgudi Hill
Ganeshgudi hill can be reached after hiking for 40 minutes from Old magazine house. Usually they have their groups going for hiking around 4 PM in evening. From the top of hill, one can witness the conglomeration of 4 beautiful rivers and the view as sun sets down is beautiful. During hiking, if lucky, one can spot wild sloth bear and other small birds and natural flora and fauna. Sitting and waiting for sun to set at the hilltop is photographer’s paradise.

Taking a coracle boat ride on the Kali
If you are not a water sport fan, but still want to experience Kali River, one can take a ride in coracle boat. Options available are for half an hour to one hour. During ride, one can spot crocodiles basking in sun and hornbills. The ride in itself is very scenic with trees around.
Whenever you are going Goa, do make sure to add 3 more days to visit this beautiful but silent place called Dandeli, which will let you lost in the wilderness.

Why not plan a vacation to this beautiful gateway Dandeli. Thank you for the wonderful stay team Dandeli. They can be contacted at +919483940400

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Adventure Himalayas Rejoice Relax Spiritual Hubs Travel Trends

5 Safest places to travel solo for women in North India

#travelsolo, is the upcoming buzzword in female fraternity. Unless one takes the plunge, issues like security etc are on their mind. But let’s face the fact that not all places are same, and one should not miss the incredible India because of our assumed apprehensions.
1. Nainital, Uttarakhand:
Nanital is a lake district of Uttrakhand. Its beauty lies in the warm people who made you feel comfortable with their smiles. It has several mythological stories attached to itself. Niani lake is the prime attraction, whereas you would not like to miss on Bhimtal, Khurpatal and Sattal. Place is well connected via motorable roads with important destinations across India. It is just 9 Hrs drive from Delhi.
Quick To-Do’s
• Trek to China Peak
• Shop at Tibetan Market
• Take a Boat Ride at Naini Lake
• Go for Horse Riding
• Take a Cable Car Ride to Snow View
• Eat Sonam’s Momos
• Sip on the Coffee by Lake Side with a book
• Visit Balram Heritage Hotel
2. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh:

Khajuraho, the UNESCO world heritage site always reminds us of erotic temples, is indeed beautiful and great place for solo female traveler. Winter is a good season to explore the place. It is well-connected to roads and Khajuraho airport. Lakshmana Temple, Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Old Village, Lakshmi Temple, Matangeshwar Mahadev Temple, Parshwanath Temple, Lord Mahavira Temple and Adinath Temple are major attractions of the place.
Quick To Do’s
• Shopping at Shilpgram and Mrigyananni
• Visit to temples to witness exemplary carvings
• Coffee at Raja’s Café
• Sound & Light Show at Western Group of Temples
• Yoga Sessions at Yoga Meditation Centre
• Visit to Archaeological Mueseum
• Visit to Panna National Park
3. Udaipur, Rajasthan:
Udaipur is highly hospitable city and is a place known for its maginificence and elegance. Place is surrounded by beautiful lakes. People within the city make it easy for you to travel solo. September to March is the best season to be here. It is around 700 Kms away from Delhi and can be drove easily overnight, if you enjoy roadtrips.
Quick to Do’s:
• Shop in Hathi Pol, Bada Bazaar, Rajasthali, Sadhana Emporium
• Go for Sunset Point
• Visit to Udaipur lake Palace
• Visit Udaipur Solar Observatory
• Other Major attractions around the place includes City Palace, Lake Pichola, Ahar Museum, Sajjan Garh/ Monsoon Palace, Bagore ki Haveli, Sunset Point & Machla Magra, Fateh Sagar Lake, Jagdish Temple, Saheliyo ki Bari and Jag Mandir

4. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh:
Varanasi in itself is an experience. It is an amalgam of culture, colors and spirituality. Though the general notion about the place is, it is unsafe due to crowd, but if you make sure what to say and what not, you can surely make your way out and come with mesmerizing experience for lifetime. It is one of the holiest cities for Hindus and you can easily fly to the place.
Quick to Do:
• Take a walking tour
• Evening Aarti at Ghats
• Visit to Vishwanath Temple, Durga Temple, Bharat Mata temple
• Apple Pie at Pizzeria Vatika café
• Silk Shopping at Baba Blacksheep
• Meal at Brown Bread Bakery
• Boat Trip at Assi Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat during dawn.

5. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand:
Rishikesh is termed as the yoga capital of India. If you are looking for peace and tranquility and some adventure at the same time, this is the place to be. Place is overnight drive from Delhi.

Quick to Do’s :
• White Water Rafting
• Fox-flying
• Bungee Jumping
• Cliff Jumping
• Eat at Little Buddha Café
• Have Coffee at Devraj Coffee Corner
• Practice Yoga
• Camping by the River and watch the moon
• Other Attaractions include Swarg Niwas Temple, Shri Trayanbakshwar Temple, Swarg Ashram, Lakshman Jhula, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Asharam, Neelkantha Mahadev Temple.
Note: Though all the above places have been visited by author herself, but would request you to dress appropriately to avoid unnecessary attention and just be polite to the locals to have lifetime memories.
Hola!! Where are you vacationing next?

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Adventure Relax Travel Trends

5 Spooky places in and around Delhi.

Paranormal activities often have an extraordinary effect on us and we are attracted in some way or other towards them. If you are a delhite and are adventurous, these are the places for you.
Bhanghgarh Fort, Rajasthan
The ghost town of Bhangarh is one of the scariest, spookiest places and boasts of being amongst the one of the most haunted places in India. The Bhangarh Fort is located on the border of the Sariska Reserve in the Aravali range of hills in Alwar district of Rajasthan. It is around 235 Kms from Delhi. Many TV shows have been shot and folks have encountered paranormal activities in the region. Place is currently owned by ASI, which bans the entry of people in the fort post sunset. Though there are multiple stories, but the commonest one is the tale of a magician who fell in love with the local princess. Despite knowing, the match is impossible, he still moved ahead, but when stopped by the king, being quite the master of dark magic, he casted his spell on the palace which resulted in its doom. Many deaths have been caused due to paranormal activities.


 Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan
The village of Kuldhara is popularly known to be a deserted ghost village that has been abandoned since 1800s. Located 17km west of Jaisalmer, it is assumed to carry a curse, and since then no one can spend whole night at the place. The village lies in ruins since then. It was established by the Paliwal Brahmins, who were a very prosperous clan and were known for their business acumen and agricultural knowledge. The mystery story behind the place says that Salim Singh, the minister of the state, once visited this village and fell in love with the beautiful daughter of chieftain and wanted to marry her. The minister also threatened the villagers against grave consequences, if his wishes are not met. The chief of the village along with those of adjoining villages decided to abandon their forefathers land and move on. It is said that the villagers also cast a spell on the village as they left, cursing that no one will inhabit the land in near future. There are stories, that whosever have tried staying have experienced paranormal activities including teams from government organizations.


 Feroz Shah Kotla Fort
Situated near the Pragati Maidan metro station in Delhi, the place boasts of being haunted by Djinns, spirits who grant wishes of the people. The fort was built back in 1354 by Feroz Shah Tughlaq, who built Firozabad (one of the seven cities of Delhi). It is situated on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, where a narrow lane leads to this macabre citadel. In order to get lost in the peace, you can explore massive Ashokan-era stone pillar, Step-well or cells beneath the building platforms. Though there is no story or tale which is being talked about, but yes, every Thursday, you can find locals lighting candles, incense sticks, leaving offerings of milk & grain and writing letters to appease the Djinns in the hope that their long cherished wishes will come true soon. On a lighter note, during conversations it has been revealed that people wishes have been granted and henceforth, they have visiting the place and encouraging others too.

Khooni Nadi, Rohini , Delhi
As the name suggests, the river flows through Rohini region in Delhi boasts of witness many suicides and deaths. Though there is no story associated, but it is believed that mysterious forces in river doesn’t let people to come out and also encourage them to get into it. It is assumed that, it has suck them all, who dared to get inside and tried their luck. Locals also compare it to Barmuda Triangle, though condition is not that severe. Nearest metro station to reach the “Khooni Nadi” is Rohini metro station.


Sanjay Van, near Vasant Kunj Delhi
Sanjay Van is a long 10-km stretch of greenery near Vasant Kunj area of south Delhi and is famous for spooky activities. Area has lot of majaars and ruins of Qila Rai Pithora. Place is known for the free spirits, screams and crawls that get prominent in night and makes the night venturesome for its visitors.


So what are you waiting for? Get your bags backed and explore the unexplored.

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Ghoomophiro Blog Hotel Reviews Relax Staycation

Hyatt, Ahmedabad

The hotel Hyatt offers a spectacular view of the Vastrapur Lake. I happen to stay at this place during my exploratory visit to Ahmedabad. Hotel is just next to the shops and cinema at Alpha Mall, as well as 2 km from Ahmedabad City Centre. It is 9 km from Ahmedabad Railway Station and 15 km from Ahmedabad Airport.

Food, Amenities and Services – The room I stayed has got elegant décor and it is evident from the moment you enter the lobby. The ambience revitalized my stay and made it calm and relaxing. The hotel room has all major amenities that include individually controlled air-conditioning, LCD TV with satellite channels, mini-bar, tea/coffee maker, and electronic safe.  The hotel offers a relaxing swimming pool, great fitness centre and spa which can rejuvenate and can have a soothing effect on its vacationers. Not to miss, one can choose anything from the salon menu to pamper thyself at reasonable rates.

Spa

The highlight is free wi-fi in all rooms. The office staff is humble and courteous and ready to help their guests 24*7. The vividity of services that let the guests say “wow” includes room service, limousine facility on request, 24-hours concierge, doctor on call, currency exchange, sightseeing tours, valet parking and much more. The hotel also has banquet halls, which can be used for business meetings, parties, or birthday celebrations. Hotel offers bouquet of dining options from Multi-cuisine to authentic Pan-Asian. For an informal dining experience, Collage offers an extensive spread, which includes Indian selections, with a beautiful view to the Vastrapur Lake. Nonya, which serves authentic Pan-Asian cuisine has a beautiful ambiance.  Chocol’art is the ideal choice if chit-o-chat is on your mind and serves freshly brewed coffees, pastries, sandwiches and other munchies. Indeed a beautiful, cosy and luxurious property in Ahmedabad for both business and leisure vacationers.

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Corporate Outings Ghoomophiro Blog Hotel Reviews Relax Staycation

Wonder La Resort, Bengaluru

Wonder La

Wonder La Resort, Bengaluru is located at Mysore road around 70Kms from the airport. I happen to stay at this place during my business visit to Bengaluru. Some of the major places of interest located close to the hotel are Kothi Anjaneya Swamy Temple (Approx. 3km) and Nelligudde Kere.

Food, Amenities, and Services – Highlight of the resort is the huge amusement park attached to the resort, which is surrounded by lush greenery. I stayed in the deluxe room which came with all modern facilities. The room is spacious, comfortable and cozy. Basic room amenities include air conditioning, hairdryer, iron, minibar, newspaper, refrigerator, safe, telephone, tea/coffee maker, bedside lamp, channel music, cookie tray, LCD TV electronic safe and express laundry service among others. Bathrooms are neat and clean with modern facilities bathrooms, bathrobe, slippers, shower, etc. Wifi is complimentary across the property. The resort offers Swimming with regulated temperature and is the highlight of the place. The well-equipped gym is present for fitness enthusiasts to keep them fit. In order to unwind, guests can use recreational room that has a pool table, foosball, etc. Services include 24-hour front desk and room service,  ATM/cash machine, parking, travel desk, wheelchair access, 24-hour security, and bus parking. The resort has 4 banquet halls including one at the open terrace to conduct formal and informal celebrations. All are well-equipped air-conditioned rooms with state of art facilities. Woods & Red Ice retro bar are the two available dining options for guests at the resort. Woods is a thematic multicuisine restaurant where-in guests can satiate themselves with Indian, Chinese and continental dishes. The buffet spread is vast to pick and choose. The “Red Ice” a swish resto “o-bar” where I enjoyed sipping my drink with quick munchies. The resort truly gives a break from the hustling schedule.

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