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Relax Staycation

48 Hours in Mumbai via #ghoomophiro lens

A trip to Maharashtra is incomplete without at least a two-day stay at the heart of India’s Bollywood hub ‘Aamchi Mumbai’. The state capital of Maharashtra represents what truly being Indian means with its loud style and grandiosity. It showcases the ‘bindass’ attitude that most of us carry with us along with amazing sights to see and dishes to try. Though two days aren’t nearly enough to see everything that this ‘City of Dreams’ has to offer, we the #ghoomophirosisters will help you squeeze in most of it.

Must see:

 Gateway of India

Built during the 20th century, Gateway of India is a historical arch monument which was erected for commemorating the landing of Queen Mary and King George V on their visit to India. The gateway then became a symbolical entrance for Viceroys and Generals in India. It is a popular attraction of Mumbai because of its magnificent structure and has also been called as the “Taj Mahal of Mumbai”.

 Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Railway

This Railway station was formerly known as Victoria Terminus and has a rich history as well. The railway terminal is designed in Victorian Italian Gothic style architecture and is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The majestic design of the terminal is a sight to behold.

 Haji Ali Dargah

 Haji Ali Dargah is one of the most popular religious spots and visitors from all over the world, no matter the religion or caste come here to visit Pir Haji Ali. If by chance you end up here on a Friday, you might also get to enjoy the divine sufi Qawalis.  This place is surrounded by talks of myths and legends but most of all, stories of miracles. Even an atheist would like to visit just to satisfy his curiosity.

 Siddhivinayak Temple

One of the most popular and rich temples in India is Shree Siddhivinayak Mandir dedicated to Lord Ganesha of Hindu mythology. Located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, it is the busiest spot on Ganesh Chaturthi. The wooden doors on entrance are carved with images of Ashtavinayak and the roof is plated with gold. There is also a Hanuman temple nearby that one may visit as well.

 Elephanta Caves

Elephanta Caves are another popular spot and a UNESCO World Heritage site.  This collection of cave temples is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It has many rock-cut statues and shows the harmonic existence of Hinduism and Buddhism. The carvings are incredible to see.

Definite Do’s

 Watch a movie at Maratha Mandir

Every day at 11:30 AM, the place shows DDLJ. This cinema hall that opened in 1958 has become one of the most iconic spots of Mumbai. It is a very valued place for the Bollywood industry, so if you have the time, enjoy the grand Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge experience.

 Click a Selfie at Red Carpet Wax Museum

 Located in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, this wax museum displays wax statues of many famous personalities. From the popular Avengers to many Bollywood stars, they have celebrities lined up just for your amusement. It is a great feeling standing next to Obama or Harry Potter or getting to click a selfie with the Queen.

 Evening stroll at Marine Drive

 An evening stroll at Marine Drive around 6 pm would give you a glimpse into the nightlife of Mumbai. As you walk down the road or sit on a slab enjoying the twinkling lights parallel to the road, you will be amazed by the beauty of it all.

 Shop at Colaba Causeway or Fashion Street

 If you have confidence in your bargaining skills and enjoy shopping, the street-shopping experience in Mumbai would be a memorable one for you. In Colaba Causeway, you can find anything from handicrafts to antiques or books, even clothes, and jewelry. Fashion Street is more popular with the college chaps because of the latest trends and styles hitting the street first.

Take a Bollywood tour

 See the houses of Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachan, and other Bollywood celebrities while getting to know about the film city on a Bollywood tour. You get to see the behind the scenes working of Bollywood movies and meet some of the stars as well. But the tour takes 7 to 8 hours so opt for it only if you have the time.

 Best Eating Joints:

 Seafood at Trishna

Not trying Seafood in Mumbai should be criminalized. Trishna has been a great seafood restaurant for around 23 years now with Garlic Butter Crabs being its specialty. From sports legends to Hollywood celebs, all have dined here. Enjoy a heavy dinner here and try the jumbo prawns as well.

 Kebabs @ Mohammad Ali Road

 Try Skewered kebabs at Sarvi located a little ahead of Mohammad Ali road near Dimtimkar road. They set the benchmark for delicious mouth-watering kebabs and have been around for 90 years. They grill the most tender and yummy seekh kebabs but get here early before they sell out.

Sukh Sagar Restaurant near Chowpatty Beach: You cannot hope to come to Mumbai and not enjoy the delights of street-side Vada Pao/ Pao Bhaji at Chowpatty. Forget about your diet qualms for a day or two and relish the tastes of roadside eateries.

When to go:

 Mid-June to October: Travelling during this season is messy because of flooded streets during monsoon season. But it shows a different side of Mumbai amidst the falling raindrops. Even with the hassle, the life in Mumbai doesn’t slow down and you can always head off to hill stations like Khandala, Lonavala etc to enjoy.

November to February: the winter season is the best time to spend in Mumbai since it is a coastal region and the temperature remains mild and pleasant during this time. Moreover, spending Christmas in the beautiful churches of Mumbai as well as New Years in the City of Dreams can be a memorable event.

March to May: Summertime is very hot and humid in Mumbai and the temperature may go up to 40 degrees which aren’t the ideal temperature to head out or enjoy oneself. Remember to wear cool cotton clothes and carry sunglasses along with sunscreen.

Getting there:

 By Air: Mumbai has Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport with its two terminals being Santa Cruz and Sahara International airport. It is connected by domestic as well as international flights.

 By Road: One can travel from Nashik which is 170 km away via Nashik-Mumbai Expressway. Buses also travel from Nashik to Mumbai within 2 hours and 20 minutes.  Mumbai is also connected via road to Pune, Aurangabad, Goa, etc It has a well-connected bus network.

 By Train:  If you’re traveling by railways, you can choose among Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal, Mumbai Central, Dadar Railway station or Kalyan Railway station. It connects Mumbai with all major cities of the country.

 Getting around:

Mumbai’s local trains are popular for being jam-packed so you can opt for it only if you wish to have that experience. Otherwise, buses, cabs and both public and private means of transport are easily available. But you might get stuck in traffic often so prepare yourself for that while making plans for the day.

 What to pack:

  1. If you are traveling during the summer, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and cool cotton clothes are a must.
  2. Monsoons can be very wet and messy so carry a raincoat and umbrellas along with waterproof jackets and shoes.
  3. Don’t forget Mosquito repellents.

 Where to stay:

 Since this place is a famous tourist spot, getting prior hotel booking is always an advantage. As a visitor, you have complete flexibility to opt for 2-star hotels to 5 Star Hotels in Mumbai

Sofitel Mumbai: This is a luxury hotel located in Bandra Kurla Complex and has five-star hotel rooms with great aesthetic and services. There are many options for relaxation and enjoying the true essence of Mumbai.  The main highlight of the place would have to be the varied palate of culinary delights that it offers.

Ibis Mumbai Airport Hotel: This is the nearest hotel to the airport at Nehru Road, Western Expressway. With a good location and satisfactory rooms and room service along with basic amenities like an on-site restaurant and free Wi-Fi, it is the right place to stay.

The Hotel Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach:

The hotel offers a great view of the city and is a delight for the eyes as well. With rooms looking out to the sea or the city, and outdoor pool to provide full relaxation to its guests, this is one of the best picks for a hotel. And if sun terrace, free Wi-fi, and 24 hr service wasn’t enough, they also have a shared lounge and a hairdresser at the property. This is the perfect place to stay if you want to enjoy the beaches and the nightlife of Mumbai.The City of dreams awaits you in Mumbai with its charming lights and warm people. Embrace the soothing air and be free and wild. Take in all the history and get bewitched by stardom.

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Foodie Staycation Travel Trends

Why Taj Group of Hotels is my preferred choice?

From its first hotel Taj Palace in Mumbai, 1903 to its resorts and chains world over now, Taj Group is the symbol of unprecedented luxury for people around the globe. Touted as one of the world’s oldest luxury hotel and resorts chain, Taj Group has served some of the most elite people from India and abroad. Top notch politicians, Hollywood stars, musicians, sports stars, etc., all have been on the guest list of the Taj Group. We try to explore as to why Taj Group is still the milestone of luxury even after more than 100 years in the industry and we land up choosing Taj Properties in our stay. Here we go:

One of the World’s largest hotel groups

Taj Hotel and Resorts started their operations in the year 1899 and have not looked back ever since. After spending more than 100 years in the industry, Taj Group is still the most popular name on the bucket list of luxury travelers visiting India. Taj Hotel Groups has more than 108 hotels and resorts in India and 17 hotels other parts of the world.This makes it one of the largest hotel groups functioning currently.

The Unmatched Standards of Luxury

Several magazines have declared Taj as the best hotel group in the world and southern Asia. The main reasons why Taj is still on top of the list of best luxury hotels even after so many years is its unmatched standards of luxury. The hotel combines the luxury of Indian royalty with a dash of classic British sophistication. Their Indian hospitality is an out-of-the-world experience. Its guest can’t get enough of it.

One of the most beautiful hotels in the world

A scene of Octopussy (the James Bond movie) was shot in The Lake Palace, Udaipur, which is part of the Taj Group. Established right in the middle of an exotic lake in the land of the royalty of India, Rajasthan, the hotel appears like a white pearl studded in a blue diamond.Millions of tourists from across the world throng the hotel to catch its glimpse. For them, it is not just a hotel but also a major attraction in the heart of the town. Not to miss, their property in Maldives Taj Exotica boasts of being one of the best in the world, and believe us, it truly resonates it name and charm.

The world-class cuisine

No matter how beautiful or luxurious a hotel is if it does not serve good food then it is all worth no use. Taj group earns its reputation for serving its guest with the world’s best food. It hosts some of the world’s best restaurants such as House of Ming, Varq and the famous international eatery Machan. All high-profile politicians from around the world love to dine here whenever they visit India.

Taj Group also showcases some of the most exotic spa experience with lavish swimming pool. Being one of the most visited hotels in the world, the hotel also organizes guided tours for its guest.

Since its inception in the year 1899, Taj Group has achieved countless milestones during its long journey. It is the symbol of royalty, luxury, and comfort around the world. It is worth the experience. Applying to their Epicure Membership always comes handy.

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Central India Corporate Outings Staycation

Pench Tree Lodge – Home in the midst of jungle

Away from the hustle bustle of city life, we #ghoomophirosisters usually plan our weekends to the jungles of central India, and this time it was Pench Tiger Reserve for us. While we were shortlisting the place to stay, we could not stop ourselves from exploring Pench Tree Lodge supported by Pugdundee Safaris.
After a long 3.5 Hr drive from Nagpur, we reached to the Pench Tree Lodge and to our surprise the place has maintained nature in its best form. No destruction of the existing ecosystem has been made. As we reached, manager Amit Mukherjee with his staff gave us a warm welcome and briefed about the property. Few interesting facts include, do not leave the room or balcony slider open, reptiles might get in!! This itself suggested how close the place is to nature.

It is primarily an eco-conscious retreat spread over 36 acres and to your surprise has only 6 treehouse cottages. In rest of the place, one can see snakes, civets, foxes, jackals, wild boars, doves roosting in the trees, parakeets, and several other birds. The place also has kitchen garden wherein almost all seasonal vegetables you can find and it does sustain the kitchen of the property.

Rooms

They were simple elusive rooms with all modern facilities that you can ask for. A small welcome note from Pugdundee caught our eyes and was indeed heart warming. Our cottage was supported by big Mahua tree. Interiors of rooms were beautiful. Small hand made paintings of birds added the charm to the room. Must congratulate the masterminds behind the architecture of these tree-houses to come up with such marvelous tree-houses.

Iron rod bed stuffed with cushions of all sizes, what more one would want as part of the luxury stay.Lighting in the rooms was dim and sufficient enough to charge up your mood.

Small video as we explored room is here, that will definitely inspire you to pack the bags and rush for wilderness.

Smallest care was taken not to play around with nature and hence two steel water bottles were kept instead of plastic bottles. Alongside, kettle tea bags, milk powder were stacked for the convenience. A beautiful balcony with coffee table and an unimaginable view wait for you in the evening, where either you can sip a coffee or read a good book or simply gaze the nature and enjoy the parakeets, civets or other wild animals. We never found ourselves as close to nature as stay in this property made us to.

Dining Experience

We must thank chef Pankaj and his team for some delicious fusion vegetarian meals. It was just perfect. With every meal served to us, our benchmarks increased and they never disappointed us. We liked all our meals from breakfast to dinner to high-tea. Not to miss was dumplings, corn kebabs, Onion soup, beetroot pudding and the list is endless. To top it all, the presentation was icing on the cake. Needless to say, our dining experience were redefined at Pench Tree Lodge.  Overall staff was courteous and was available for our help anytime.

It would be the injustice to the team if we do not mention the breakfast in the jungle and moonlight dinner. Both of them were well executed by everyone in the staff. In the former, we were served the buffet of breakfast in the midst of jungle whereas in the later, there was small kerosene lit lamps were hanging to the trees and dinner was served under the stars. Believe us, it could not more romantic as it was.

What to do

You may customize your itinerary during your stay with the manager as they have activities lined up for you. This list includes jungle safari to Pench Tiger Reserve, Walk to the nearby Village, cycling sessions, Birding, Night Safari or simply relax in the pool.

We must say, the Pench tree lodge gives you endless opportunities to interact with yourself, stay close to nature and definitely, you are going to treasure the experience for long. The retreat is the best example of how man and nature co-exist in harmony. Needless to say, it is indeed a plush and romantic escape.. Get your bookings now!!

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Travel Tips Travel Trends

Why you should date a girl who loves traveling

Traveling is one of the most rewarding and exciting things you can possibly do, so it makes sense that dating people who make travel a priority is definitely a good idea. You might wonder, if traveler women are wifey material or not, so here you go with few convincing reasons

Life shall be super adventurous

Girls who travel are the most exciting partners as you will find them coming up with one story or the other. It is little difficult to have any dull moment with them, as they are always up with any new adventure or the other. You can always trust her that she will survive any situation and can also help you out to overcome them as well. She will always be keen to be your fantasy’s crime partner. You shall be pushed to your limits every-time, you plan anything in life with them

She is witty, spontaneous, independent and intelligent.

Travel alone usually made these ladies so independent that they can never be burden on you. Instead you will always find them giving you a helping hand in your everyday chores. Usually they are low maintenance and easy going. You wouldn’t find them getting into undue arguments unless mandatory. They are smart enough to handle situations on their own. Travel teaches them adaptability, and hence they are adaptable to all situations of life with you.  As they meet lot of people on the travel, they know how to keep the conversations engaging and add fun element to it.

She is good problem –solver

As they travel, they need to think on their feel almost every time they get stuck to difficult situations which may include delayed flights, messed up washrooms, missed trains. They are the ones, who don’t make faces in such situations. Instead they always find a work around to get the travel on. This problem solving ability lets them to be great partner in bringing their partners out from the challenges of life. She is one of those who make lemonade, when life throws lemons at her;)

She is Active

Whether she is trekking to Himalayas oar getting lost in jungle, she has the habit to cover it all in limited time. This makes her active in her day today life to be healthier version of herself.

She isn’t materialistic

She is not the one who will get wooed by expensive gifts. Instead all you need to gift her small adventure trips, your time or pictures of you too traveling together. She will be happy to listen chirpy birds or gazing stars with you. Life Experiences is what makes her happy.

Open-minded

Since she happen to have her interaction with multi-culture people, she is open to all. You can be truly yourself with her without having the fear of being judged at every step. She is not those who will tell you “You are weird”. Instead, she will come up with similar stories.

Financial Management

She is probably the hardest working gal you will ever meet in your lifetime. She will take a couple of jobs or more, to fund her trips and adventures. What’s more, she shares her travel experiences to the world via a blog, and converts it into an extra source of income. They are the ones who find myriad ways to generate money on the road.

She’s loving and thoughtful

She may be on the road a lot, but a girl who loves to travel always have the habit to write. She tries to relate everything she sees with you and miss you. You are part of his everyday routine and do take ideas from other cultures to make your life better.

So did you make up your mind or still thinking? I totally believe she will be worth it. So get ready for a wild crazy ride for entire life time, where-in you can have meaningful conversations with her while experiencing beautiful escapades, soaking lazily on the beaches.

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Adventure Ghoomophiro Blog Himalayas National Parks Relax Travel Trends Treks wildlife

Tranquility in the lap of Nature- Great Himalayan National Park

If you are looking for a surreal getaway from Delhi at a distance of overnight travel, then Himalayan National Park is a must for you. Bus from Kullu to Aute can take you inside, from where locals can guide you to the way toGoshani or Nagini, small villages in Kullu. It is from these villages, one can get into the park with the help of porters either by hiking or car can leave you at the entrance gate. Inside the park there are various hiking trails. Neuli- Sarangarh loop, Neuli- Sainj valley, Sainj- Tirthan valley, Gushaini-Tinder village, Gushaini- Shilt Hut, Neuli-Manu temple, Siund- Pashi villages, Jiwa Nala- Parvati River valley, Gushaini- Tirthan valley and Shamshi- Kaza are some of the popular ones. We took Gushaini to Tirthan. The place is bounded by lush green forests, waterfalls, and indeed make it one of the scenic places. Thankfully, modernization has not yet reached this part of the Kullu and hence place continues to brim its beauty. Park is part of world UNESCO Site. It is the home for several endangered flora & fauna and is bird watcher’s paradise.Let this photo essay drive inspire you for your next trip to Great Himalayan National Park.

Beautiful Tirthan valley & river, which is famous for trout fishing

Several locals, shepherds can be seen inside the park with their cattle.

Entry Gate to the park. There is a small entry fee, which is been taken by the forest department. Do carry your photo ID, while you enter the park.

This is what you can expect inside this beautiful jungle. The lovely camaraderie of waterfalls, trees, and birds perching. Perfect place to find your solitude and unwind yourself.

Camping in the midst of Jungle, in itself gives you goosebumps, as you set your camp beside the flowing river, and want to get lost in the wilderness.

The place is totally unchartered and your solidarity can surely resonate with the mesmerizing and unprecedented beauty of the jungles and you would not mind coming here, whenever you are looking an escape from maddening cities.

Best time to go here is summers, though the park is opened throughout the year, but summers attract a lot of trekkers to the park.

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Central India Ghoomophiro Blog Hotel Reviews National Parks Relax Staycation

Getting Lost in wilderness of Pashangarh Taj Safaris.

Pashangarh wilderness lodge is located in Pashan Garh, adjacent to the Panna National Park and is a beautiful rugged property of Taj Safaris. . It is mere 50 km from Khajuraho, a famous World Heritage Site along the river Ken. It comprises of 12 cottages of stone cottage( as Pashan means stone)

The lobby celebrates Haveli design, with a spacious central courtyard. The interiors are contemporary mix of chocolate linens, block-printed black silks, celadon cottons and cotton lace chandeliers.

All suites have private veranda machaans, luxurious bathrooms with huge central showers, seperate wc, twin hand basins.  The overall design is stony and rough, with white marble, leather, ebony and chocolate highlights. Highlight is, there are no TVs in the property. When asked, I was told, we want people enjoy the beauty rather than getting indulged in TV. The interiors make for a bold statement in luxury and stone walls reduce to buttresses at the corner where two squares intersect, leaving behind glass, jaali latisse, mosquitoes screens and sliding doors. Every small item is room is well crafted and thought through. Staff is very courteous and available for the guests.

Dining

Dining in Pashan Garh is an experience in itself, not only with the vividity of menu but also in the presentation. Dining experience is also the highlight of the place. Lunch was served to us in the nearby rural settings in bitten silver cutlery. However, poolside lunch is also available. Care is taken for each and every guest separately to make sure, they have Wow experience.

What I enjoyed most was the lakeside bullock cart dinner, which not only gave us privacy but also complete freedom to gaze the stars as we had our dinner. Other option available is dinners on the deck. The presentation of breakfast next morning added to our experience.

Highly recommended property if you are traveling to Khajuraho,  if you plan to get lost in the wilderness for few days.

 

 

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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.

Categories
Adventure National Parks Rejoice wildlife

Relax in Aravali hills while sighting Indian tigers- Ranthambhore

About the Place: Ranthambhore is one of the largest national parks in northern India, covering an area of 392 km². It is situated in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan.

Must See places:

Forests: The Park terrain alternates between dry deciduous forests and open grassy meadow. The flora of the park includes 539 species of flowering plants.
Safari Rides: Rides are carried out at 6:30 and 14:30. Each ride lasts for about three hours. There are two options of vehicles for the safari: 20 seater open top cantor or 6 seaters open top gypsy. Each ride costs around Rs700-800 per person. The core park area has been divided into several zones and the safari vehicles go to one of those zones. There are many resorts to stay in on the way from Sawai Madhopur to the national park.

Ranthambore Fort: The majestic fort, built in the 10th century, towers over the entire park area. It stands 700 feet above the surrounding plain. Inside the fort, there are three red Karauli stone temples devoted to Ganesh, Shiva and Ramlalaji. There is a Digamber Jain temple of Lord Sumatinath (5th Jain Tirthankar) and Lord Sambhavanath. The temples were constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Padam Talao: This is the largest of the many lakes located in the park. A red sandstone Jogi Mahal can be found at the edge of the lake. A gigantic banyan tree, considered to be India’s second largest, is also near the lake Good

 Time to Travel Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary is known for its tigers and is one of the best places in India to see these animals in their natural jungle habitat. Tigers can be easily spotted even in the daytime. The best times for tiger sightings at Ranthambore National Park are in November and May.

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Adventure Deserts Rejuvenate

The “Haunted Place” of India- Bhangarh, Rajasthan

About the Place: Bhangarh Fort is situated on a hillside in the deserted town of Bhangarh, Rajasthan. Bhangarh is a ruined town between Jaipur and Alwar in Rajasthan and is located at the edge of Sariska Tiger Reserve. Bhangarh fort is a major tourist attraction and is said to be one of the most haunted sites in the world. Many legends are associated with the haunted folk.

It was established in 1613 by King Madho Singh. It might be renowned for its haunted and spooky presence but it can be visited as the place is beautiful and tranquil. There are several spooky stories attached with it. Entry for bhangarh is prohibited between sunrise and sunset.

Legend belives that the city of Bhangarh was cursed by the Guru Balu Nath, who sanctioned the establishment of the town with one condition, saying, “The moment the shadows of your palaces touch me, the city shall be no more!” When a descendant raised the palace to a height that cast a shadow on Balu Nath’s forbidden retreat, he cursed the town as prophesied.


Good Time to Travel:Place can be travelled any time and good getaway for Delhi folks.is one of the largest national parks in northern India, covering an area of 392 km². It is situated in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan.

How to reach from Delhi:

Delhi-Gurgaon-Bhiwadi-Alwar-Sariska-Thanagazhi-Pratapgarh-Ajabgarh-Bhangarh.
It’s a nearly 300-km drive.

Must things to carry :

1. Always carry a spare tyre as there are stretches where for kilometres there are no petrol pumps or habitations.

2. Always carry some dry food as good dhabas and eateries are rare.

3. Carry a torch with you as the fort does not have electricity and even in day time, a torch will help you to see parts of the fort better.

Categories
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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