Category: Travel Tips

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Travel Tips Travel Trends

Four lessons solo travel teaches you

In many ways, organizing your travels has never been easier. In the US for example, 48% of smartphone users in the US would be happy to research and book their entire holiday straight from their device. Nothing could be easier! But imagine finding an irresistible bargain to far-off climes, but no one’s available to go with you. Would you go alone?

Many people feel instantly put off by the idea of traveling solo. The notion of negotiating stressful airports and hotel transfers all alone may feel like anything but fun. But many have discovered that traveling alone turned out to be the perfect tonic for the soul and that a solo excursion worked wonders for their character. Here are just four fantastic things traveling by yourself may do for you.

1. Boost your confidence

Traveling solo boosts confidence. Heading off alone shows that you don’t have to depend on others for your own happiness. Encountering situations and dealing with them all by yourself works wonders for your self-confidence and you will begin to discover latent abilities within yourself.

It’s not about becoming an isolationist or a hermit, of course, but it is about tapping into your own inner powers of independence. As an added bonus, these new-found powers may draw more like-minded people into your life.

Image: unsplash.com

2. Find out who you are

You can more easily rediscover who you are deep down when you travel independently. Usually, in the company of our friends and acquaintances, we tend to follow expected patterns of behavior – and we may have been doing this for so long we don’t even realize we’re doing it.

Traveling alone in unfamiliar surroundings surrounded by unfamiliar people somehow lifts the burden of having to conform to expectations. You may realize while on your solo sojourn that you have been acting a part for most of the time. Perhaps you’ve been playing the extrovert so long you don’t notice how exhausted it makes you feel because you’re really an introvert, for example.

Traveling alone puts you back in touch with who you are at your core, giving you the freedom to explore different aspects of your personality without worrying what others may think of you.

Image: unsplash.com

3. Get creative

Traveling on your own gives you the perfect opportunity to tap into your creative powers. Often, creative thinkers find their most inspiring ideas in moments of solitude or when they’re least expecting it.

Remember that creativity isn’t the sole preserve of writers and artists. We all need to think creatively; whether it’s to come up with solutions to personal problems or to work out what we want to do with our lives. Traveling alone offers the perfect opportunity to think beyond the obvious. It even makes us into a more savvy traveler as we recognize we are responsible for our own spending and other actions. Solo travel is a great education in the art of living.

Image: unsplash.com

4. See people in a different light

Very often you will see people in a different light when you travel alone. Traveling solo makes you that little bit more vulnerable, which isn’t always a bad thing. Being that little bit more vulnerable often brings out the best in people around you and will often show you just how helpful people can be when you need it.

While it’s definitely not a great idea to trust everyone, traveling solo will undoubtedly show you that most people are genuine, giving you a brighter view of the world. Of course, balance this bright outlook with research about your destination beforehand, always stay vigilant and precautions.

Image: unsplash.com

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Asia Travel Tips Travel Trends

Countries that allow visa-free tourism to Indians

International travel is often considered a luxury holiday. The holiday is expensive and there are all the visa formalities that have to be met. However, there are several amazing international tourist destinations that allow visa-free entry for Indians and can thus be visited without needing a license as long as you have an Indian passport. Here we take a look at some of the best of these tourist attractions. :

1.    Maldives

The honeymoon capital of Asia, Maldives, is the first in our list of countries that allow visa-free tourism to Indians on the back of its stunningly beautiful and romantic sea beaches.

2.    Mauritius

The island nation of Mauritius is second in our list of countries that allow visa-free tourism to Indians. The island nation is popular for aesthetically pleasing shores – even rewarded for having best sea beaches. It has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Aapravasi Ghat Aapravasi and Le Morne Brabant. Ghat (immigration depot) is a building complex located in Port Louis on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, it was used by the British Empire for migration of Indentured labor from India throughout the empire. Le Morne Brabant, on the other hand, is a reminder of other evil of the colonial era,  slavery. It was a refuge for runaway slaves. Wildlife enthusiasts will love Black River Gorges National Park famous for Mauritian flying fox which is also the home to island’s endemic birds: pink pigeon, Mauritius kestrel,  Mauritius parakeet, Mauritius bulbul,  Mauritius cuckoo-shrike, Mauritius fody, Mauritius olive white-eye, Mauritius grey white-eye etc.

3.    Indonesia

A list of countries that allow visa-free tourism to Indians won’t be complete without Indonesia. Indonesia is increasingly becoming a popular travel destination. Besides its large coastline with numerous sea beaches, Indonesia also has the ancient Prambanan Temple Compounds (dedicated to Lord Shiva) of value for their Hindu festivities, which have been a source of attraction for Hindu tourists of India. Borobudur Temple Compounds, a thousand-year-old Buddhist temple, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that wildlife lovers won’t want to miss, it gets its name from giant aggressive lizards that go by name of ‘Komodo dragons’. Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy of India –  a philosophy that brings together three realms, i.e., that of nature, spirit and human world. These are the only tip of that giant iceberg of a list of attractions that is Indonesia. You don’t need a visa for a trip to this country as long as you have a valid Indian passport return back in 30 days

4.    Fizi

A favorite tourist attraction among Australians and New Zealanders, Fizi is next in our list of countries allowing countries that allow visa-free tourism to Indians. You can get a tourist visa of Fizi for up to 4 months. The island nation has stunning sea beaches to offer that go well with its active nightlife, scuba diving, and sea sports. The Botanical Gardens of Thurston in Suva, Sigatoka Sand Dunes, and Colo-I-Suva Forest Park are some of its other attractions

5.    Nepal

When it comes to countries that allow visa-free tourism to Indians, Nepal is the country that has gone further than any other. There is complete freedom of movement for Indians. No visa is required and you can stay as long as you like. Amazing Himalayan mountains are the biggest attraction of the state. Kathmandu has many beautiful Buddhist and Hindu temples. Hanuman Dhoka, aka Durbar Square, is an important historical site that attracts tourists. Swayambhunath, aka Monkey Temple, is home to numerous monkeys and has images of several gods including, of course, the monkey god Hanuman. Boudhanath is an important Buddhist temple.

6.    Jordon

Next in our list of countries that allow visa-free tourism to Indians is Jordon. Make sure to book hotels, carry 30 dollars per person and a valid Indian passport, and you will be welcomed to historical country Jordan.  You can get an electronic visa permit for a maximum of 30 days. Jordan is famous for its world historical sites.

It is a part of the promised land. Petra and Jerash have historical ruins that will attract history lovers.  Al-Maghtas is the place where Jesus had his baptism. There are shrines here of Mohammad’s companions. It is thus an important place for followers of all three Abrahamic religions. Also consider visiting Alimatha Island, Veligandu Island Beach, and Manta Point.

The tourism industry is severely affected by turbulence that has become common in the Middle East. The Arab spring, for example, had a bad effect on tourism. But Jordan is now recovering and is considered a safe country to visit. The nightlife to has started emerging during recent times.

7.    Qatar

Qatar is next in our list of countries that allow visa-free tourism to Indians. This is the Arab state that has shown the highest rate of human development. It is also the richest country in terms of per capita income. It is also the biggest buyer of art in the world. Its biggest USP as far as this list goes is a chance for tourists to have a taste of prosperous life. Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art will attract art lovers. Tourists with Valid Indian passports can stay in Qatar for up to 30 days.

8.    Trinidad and Tobago

If you are smitten by Caribean, the twin-island city of Trinidad and Tobago is the place to be. One of richer Caribian island nations, Trinidad and Tobago is the last our list of countries that allow visa-free tourism to Indians – a place it has earned on the back of its beautiful sea beaches which have attracted a lot of tourism from USA and Canada. An Indian passport holder can stay here for as long as 90 days. Perhaps the best time for a cricket lover would be when an Indian team is visiting the West Indies.

9.    Haiti

You do not need a visa to tour Haiti as long as you hold an Indian passport and return within 3 months making it the last in our list of countries that allow visa-free tourism to Indians. Its dazzling sea beaches overlooking the Caribbean sea and amazing mountain ranges are its main attractions. It is also home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites – Citadelle Laferrière, Sans-Souci Palace, Buildings of Ramiers, all of them in Milot.

Conclusion

This is by no means an exclusive list. Bhutan, Haiti, Dominica, Jamaica, Micronesia, El Salvador, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Grenada are some of the other countries that allow visa-free tourism to Indians. You can read through another follow-up article from #ghoomophiro If formalities of getting a visa are too much of a bother for you, we hope you take the opportunity presented by relative freedom of movement by these destinations. In fact, many Indian tourists have already been taking advantage of the same. Did we miss an attractive tourist destination that allows visa-free travel for Indians? Do write to us in comments below.

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Travel Tips Travel Trends

Mobile data connectivity in Spiti

Staying connected with our loved ones has become a sort of necessity of the modern era. Gone are the days when people had the patience to wait for letters. Now we start worrying when our loved one won’t pick the phone for five minutes. This need becomes even more imperative when someone is traveling. Here we bring you a list of tips that you can increase your mobile phone connectivity when traveling with a special focus on Spiti Valley.

1. Research about connectivity in advance

Find out all you can about mobile connectivity issues of the region you are traveling in to stay informed and not be taken by surprise.

2. Pre-paid and postpaid connections

The first thing to be considered while traveling is considering whether your prepaid or postpaid connection will work in a given region. When traveling internationally, for example, you may want to consider getting a local number. These connections work well in Spiti Valley though not so much in Ladhakh. Most of the connectivity issues are with routes to the valley and there are some weak network zones and others where there is no network for several kilometers.

2. Selection of the telecom service provider

You might want to have a temporary connection with a service provider that works best locally. As far as Ladhakh and Spiti region go, BSNL is safest and Airtel is your second best bet. Even these connections fail in some routes in the region but the others are worse

3. Inform your friends and family

Inform them when you are about to enter a region with connection problems to save them from needless worries. Don’t tell them when they can next be sure to find you. Rather tell them that you will call them or send them a text whenever you find connection and keep doing it.

4. Satellite phones

In case of an emergency, you can use a satellite phone installed at Chandra dhaba on Manali-Kunzum Pass -Kaza route. The charges are 2 rupees per minute for STD/ISD calls. However, remember it is an emergency phone.

5. Data connectivity

The data connectivity is mostly limited in the Spiti valley.  The data speeds are low in the region. When traveling to such a region, Whatsapp is the most reliable chatting app. It manages to send text messages on very low speed even if it won’t send voice or image or video texts. And that is more than you can say about a lot of chatting apps.

6. Seasonal fluctuations

Connectivity suffers in and around Spiti Valley during winters when it is at its worst. Connectivity might also suffer due to weather changes and might be simply gone for several days for no good apparent reason.

7. Daily Variations

Networks work better during the days especially in mornings compared to nights and thus you will need to plan accordingly in and around Spiti valley. This is particularly true in case of BSNL and you should, thus, plan accordingly. Remember early and early to rise makes a good strategy in Ladhakh

8. Of course, Patience

The biggest problem is often the lack of patience in travelers. They are just too used to high internet speeds of big cities. It might take you several efforts to put through a call or send a single text back home. It is thus a test of patience more than anything else.

Conclusion

This is all on mobile connectivity in Spiti Valley. We hope you find this blog helpful. If there are tips that you think can help to let tourists stay connected, please write to us in the comments below.

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Travel Tips

How you should choose your hiking footwear?

Footwear is Hiker’s biggest asset. They shield hiker’s feet from getting strained by the roughness of treks. We thus decided to write this blog to tell you how to chose the right hiking footwear.

The shoes are normally divided into cuts – low cuts, mid-cuts, and High cuts. Please note that no shoes are ideal for all conditions. The shoes suited to one trek might be far from best for another trek.

Keep the following things in mind while deciding upon the hiking shoes:

1. Nature of trek

Treks can generally be classified into three categories – easy (strolls in local woods), tough (higher vegetation regions) and really tough (featuring extremely difficult treks and climate conditions). Low cuts shoes will do for easy treks. you will need mid-cut shoes for tough terrains and high cut shoes are necessary for really tough terrains.

2. Safety

Naturally, safety is the most important factor. And safety is directly related to the nature of the trek and shoes you are wearing. The tougher the trek, the more the need for safety from shoes. The higher cut shoes offer higher safety compared to ones with a lower cut. And thus the tougher the terrain, the higher the cut you should wear.

3. The weight of the shoes

You must carry the weight of shoes with you. Thus avoid too heavy shoes wherever possible. The general rule is the bigger the cut, the bigger and the heavier the shoes. Higher cut shoes though offering higher safety necessary in really tough terrains are just extra weight for feet in easy treks.

4. Choice of Fabric

The common options are leather and synthetic fiber. Leather shoes are more durable and better suited for longer trips but they are also more expensive. Synthetic shoes are lighter and cheaper and thus more suited to easier treks,

5.  Comfort and Breathing space for feet

your feet also need space to breathe in. Normally speaking, the breathing space is reduced with a higher cut. Leather shoes also compromise with breathing space for your feet. Breathing space becomes a key factor where treks are long. We thus recommend avoiding high end and/or leather shoes when going on easy treks.

6. Durability

Leather shoes are more durable compared to synthetic fiber ones. The higher cut shoes are likely to last longer.

7. Luggage

The less the durability of shoes, the more the number of them you will have to carry. With synthetic fiber shoes you must always carry an extra pair unless the trek is really easy and familiar.

8. Cost of shoes

It should always be the last factor affecting your decision. As safety and comfort are more important. But like we said, leather shoes are more expensive. And higher cut shoes are normally more expensive than ones with a lower cut.

Conclusion

Based on the above discussion, we recommend you choosing your shoes as follows:

1.    Small and easy treks – Synthetic fiber low cut hiking shoes.

2.    Long and easy treks – multiple pairs of synthetic fiber low cut hiking shoes or a pair of low cut leather shoes

3.    Small Difficult treks – Synthetic fiber mid-cut hiking shoes

4.    Long difficult treks  – Midcut leather shoes

5.    Small really difficult treks – Synthetic fiber high cut shoes or leather high cut shoes based on whether you wish to compromise on comfort or durability.

6.    Long really difficult treks – multiple pairs of leather high cut shoes.

Like we said the choice of right shoes is the most important decision for a hiker preparing for his or her next adventure. And we hope that this blog helped you in making the choice. What other factors do you consider? Do write to us in comments below ☺

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Foodie Travel Tips

Are you a vegeterian traveler? These tips should be handy

India has the largest vegetarian population in the world especially in North India thanks to the large Hindu population. However vegetarian food becomes harder to find in places where vegetarian is not the norm – in coastal areas of the country and outside India. One of the biggest obstacles thus for a vegetarian traveler is to find good, healthy vegetarian food with ease and good price on his or her travels.

Ghoomophiro says no fear. A vegetarian/vegan need not grow reluctant about traveling. There are some quite basic Tips to survive as a vegetarian traveler:

1. Carry some food from home

It is something travelers have always done since ancient times. Carry some cooked food from home. You can also carry pickles etc.

2. Choose from local cuisine

It is a myth common among the vegan majority community that non-veg people have nothing purely vegetarian in their cuisine. Even the non-vegetarian restaurant often have vegetarian food options. Same when you are getting invited by locals. And of course, our favorite, street food.

3. Cook it yourself

Cooking is a living skill that every traveler,  regardless of sex, should know. It is an economical and easy way to find food if you can have a kitchen handy. And with several accommodations offering personal kitchens, all you have to do is buy some vegetables from the nearest food store. If cooking is not your biggest strength, you can at least cook noodles.

4. Learn the phrases in the local language

Learn the local languages enough to be able to say “I am a vegetarian. I won’t eat animal flesh or food.” The restaurants are often accommodating to their customers’ needs but you must know how to ask for it. You can use it Google translator for the purpose which is a handy tool for a traveler in several other ways as well.

5. Religious institutions

Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist temples among other religious institutions are a great source of vegan food and some of these can often be found at most popular tourist destinations all over the world.

6. Research about local cuisine

Local cuisine always has food items you never heard names of. And some of them are always vegetarian. It thus makes sense to research about local cuisine in advance – particularly street food which by its nature is very easily available. Happy Cow is a great option to find local cuisine in any place.

7. Plan your meals in advance

You can plan all your meals in advance. You can use google maps and assistant to locate the vegetarian food points near to your tourist attractions you intend to visit and you can plan your tour so that you can visit those points in time for meals.

8. Ask at hotels or locals

Hotel staff always has good advice for travelers on all sort of subjects. You can always ask them about the availability of vegetarian options. Similarly, you can ask locals, especially street food vendors about vegetarian alternatives.

Conclusion

It is only a myth that vegetarianism is a handicap in traveling especially in today’s world where there is no lack of food options. It is more of a constraint which has to be worked around and we hope these tips will help you do it. Any other tips you can suggest for surviving as a vegetarian? Write to us in comments below. ☺

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Travel Tips Travel Trends

FAQs relating to Ladakh/Spiti Trip

Are you considering a trip to Ladhakh/Spiti? It is your normal tour, this adventure might involve some health risks and thus you might need some precautions. However, do not let that alarm you. We are here to answer all your questions.

Who can go on a  Ladakh/Spiti Trip?

The high altitude means you run the risk of suffering from Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) no matter how healthy and strong you are. That is a risk you will have to consider  – especially People with blood pressure and heart problems, old people, asthma patients or people with delicate health should probably consult a doctor before taking on this adventure. We won’t advice going with children under the age of 5 and even with children over the age of 5, we recommend traveling only after ensuring you have taken all the desired precautions.

Most important precaution against AMS is to increase the altitude slowly so that your body has time to adapt to conditions.

Carrying an oxygen cylinder and AMS preventive medicine is another important precaution. If one of your co-traveler is suffering from AMS, you should all descend. Make them use medicine and/or oxygen cylinder.

Other precautions to take include:

Keep yourself well hydrated. Under hydration is terrible but people often err on the other side. You must avoid overhydration too.

You must avoid sleeping at high altitudes and especially during the day. When you must sleep, try doing it in an upright position.

You must avoid overexertion at high altitudes

Avoid tobacco, smoking, alcohol, drugs etc. Instead, eat carbohydrate-rich food.

Keep yourselves warm

What are things I should carry on my Leh Ladakh trip?

Besides the usual clothes, ids, toiletries and hygiene products (including things you would normally expect to find in a hotel or locally like soaps and sanitary napkins) and luggage you might need things like basic first aid, Extra spectacles with cover,  small scissors, torchlight or flashlight, multi-plug, plastic ziplock bags, sun cream, safety pins, swiss knife, water bottles, cigar lighter, matchboxes, moisturising cream, cologne talc, lip guard, small mirror etc. Carrying sufficient cash, AMS preventive medicine, and oxygen cylinder is highly recommended.

Laptops that do not have Solid State Drives should not be carried for there is the risk of them crashing or losing data. If you must carry them, you should keep them shutdown especially when you are at an altitude of 10000 meters and in cold conditions. Even in other condition, Keep them outside in the environment for a while before switching them on.

Why should I carry cash? Cant I use ATMs?

We do not recommend depending upon the few local ATMs for your cash requirements. There is a very good chance they might be all down. You should thus try to rearrange the money you will need. In order to avoid carrying too much money, you can go for advance booking options.

What are clothes I should carry on my Leh Ladakh trip?

There are a lot of weather and climatic diversions. We recommend carrying warm clothes that you can wear in layers for sake of flexibility. woolen clothes including a heavy jacket and soaks, caps or hats, sunglasses, insulated and good hiking shoes.

Why should I carry oxygen cans or a cylinder?

mount of oxygen present in the atmosphere decreases with time which might cause AMS to some people.  Thus we recommend carrying medium to large-sized oxygen cylinders. They can buy a person suffering from AMS. Small cylinders might not get you enough time. Also, carry AMS preventive medicine. Hopefully, you won’t need them but it is always better to be prepared

We hope this helps. Have an adventurous and worry-free journey.

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Group Travel Himalayas North India Travel Tips

5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh

It is as Benjamin Franklin said, “Early to bed, early to rise; makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” Well, normally, we would return with “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man an unhappy wife” but if you are traveling Ladhakh the Benjy advice is very important due to a number of factors. Here we bring you a list of 5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh:

1. Beautiful Scenarios

For you don’t come this far to visit Ladhakh if you do not love its natural beauty. The breathtaking views nature has to offer are at their best in time for sunrise and sunsets. And so the first of 5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh is to have time to go click-happy and ornament your Instagram account.

2. Avoiding delays

There are plenty of construction projects forever in motion in Ladhakh sometimes blocking roads for hours, in fact, there are many scheduled road closures. The later you start, the more chances of being stuck in a road closure. So next in our list of 5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh is that it is your best option if you wish to avoid delays or waiting for long hours in traffic. You may as well stay in your urban city if that is what you were going to do. Right? Besides the fact that delays will eat into your precious time (a traveler can never have enough time), they are just annoying and mood killers.

3. Avoiding snow slides and landslides

Another reason in our list of 5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh is that it is your best option if you wish to avoid snow slides and landslides. With an increase in temperature during the day, the snow starts melting causing problems on roads and even closing roads especially during the latter half of the day.

4. Avoiding shooting rocks

Yes you heard it, there is such a thing as shooting rocks and it is not a very pleasant thing.  The strong wind can carry stones at the speed of bullets which won’t be good for your cars’ glass windows. The later in the day, the more the speed of the wind. It is thus fourth in our list of 5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh. Like with watersides, your car might have to suffer from shooting stars because of your laziness. Show mercy on the poor thing!

5. A contingency plan

With so many factors working against you, it is always good to have a contingency plan. For it is not a very good thing if you end up at nowhere place in Ladhakh in the middle of the night. The cold climate, if nothing else, would bug you. Thus the last of 5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh is to make sure to reach your destination well in time before darkness.

Conclusion

So this is all from our list of 5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh. We hope this blog helps in planning your trip. In fact, some of these reasons hold good for traveling in rough mountain regions at high altitudes in particular and all kind of travels in general. If you are lazy or a night animal like us, it is easier said than done but we do hope this blog will give even the laziest among you reason to get up early. ☺

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Travel Tips

Your Holiday Calendar for 2019

The tourism industry in India has seen a tremendous growth in the past few years and much of this growth can be attributed to the growing market segment of middle class organized sector jobbers. Many of us actually began our day by looking at the annual holiday list at work only so that we can plan our holidays in advance. And of course, it is often the motivation for us to go through the dull days at work. And so here we have prepared for you the 2019 holiday calendar. Of course, we don’t expect you to follow it word by word, you can adjust it according to the holidays at your workplace, budget etc.

29 December 2018 – 1 January 2019
If you take off December 31, you will have a four-day break long weekend. We recommend you take off to Pondicherry for the new year’s eve this time and celebrate it having fun with your friends and family at sea beaches – the way new year’s eve is meant to be celebrated. I know it is cliche to recommend Goa, but Goa can be crowded around the time for just that reason. Pondicherry combines the French culture inherited from times it was a French colony and Indian traditions sowed in form of ashrams such as Shri Aurobindo Ashram with evenings spent at sea beaches.

How to reach?
The French city enjoys good road and rail connectivity. It has its own airport and Chennai Internation Airport is 135 kilometers away.
What to see?
Seabeaches – to spend an evening sunbathing or for sea sports, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Yoganjali Natyalayam, French styled buildings. Ousteri Lake, museums – Pondicherry Museum, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Bharathi Memorial Museum, Jawahar Toy Museum, Ananda Ranga Pillai Museum

21 – 24 March 2019
Holi Falls on 21st of March which is a Thursday, if you can take the 22nd the Friday off, you have a four-day long weekend. Now there are a number of places to go traveling for the break but we highly recommend Indore. Indore. Indore is highly popular for its celebration of Holi. The playing with colors, flag yatra, the singing and dancing that are a part of the celebration of Holi are even more awesome here. Plus temperature is modest.
How to reach?
Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport, which is named after Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore, is just eight kilometers away from Indore and it supports flights to several major cities of the country. The airport is one of the best and cleanest small airports of the world. The city also has eight railway stations and Agra National Highway connects it to Mumbai which is just 585 kilometers away. The local bus service is awesome. And talking about transportation, you should definitely try Indore Magic – Indore’s local auto-rickshaw.

What to see?
Rajwada Palace, Lal Bagh Palace, Centeral Museum, Bada Ganpati, Mahatama Gandhi Hall, Kanch Mandir
Nearby Places
Omkareshwar and Maheshwar are prominent destinations nearby – famous for its temples. Annapurna temple and Khajrana temple are some of the other prominent temples nearby.
What to eat?
Indore has been called the food capital of India. And rightly so, it combines the cuisine from all parts of India – and outside too, all coming together and combining to form the unique fifty shades of Indore cuisine.

19-21 April 2019
It is Good Friday on 19 April and well if it is a Friday, which is lucky as it extends the weekend by another day to three days. For this Good Friday, we recommend you a tour to Mussoorie. It is one the favorite getaways among North Indians and for very good reasons. The ‘Queen of Hills’ can be visited repeatedly for the beauty nature has endowed it with. Moreover, three days is just the amount of time you need to enjoy Mansoorie in its entirety.
How to reach?
Mussoorie is well-connected by road to Delhi via Saharanpur-Delhi road – a distance of two hundred and ninety kilometers. The nearest airport and railway station are both at Dehra-dun from where you can take a taxi or a bus to Mussoorie – a bus leaves for Musssorie ever hour or two from Dehra-dun.
What to eat?
Mussoorie has a very rich cuisine offering Indian, Western, Chinese, Thai, Tibetan and even Mexican food. Have at least one meal in Chaar Dukan – the food is delicious but it is the beautiful surroundings and a chance to see Europeans and Americans learning Hindi that makes it even more awesome. Also, visit New Lal Teeba coffee point for an early morning coffee – the perfect place to see the sunrise from the Himalayas. Go to Happy Valley for some Tibetian food.
What to see?
Mall Road, Gun Point, Happy Valley, Lake Mist, Kempta Falls, Cloud’s End, Chaar Dukaan, Saint Paul’s Church, Sister Bazaar, New Lal Teeba Coffee Point,
Nearby Places
Jwalaji Temple, Dhanaultri, Sukanda Temple

15-18 August
Independence day falls on Thursday this year. This means that if you take off Friday the 16th, you will have a four-day long weekend. Now, the most obvious choice for an extended weekend getaway around Independence Day is Delhi – you get to see parades and all but we won’t do the obvious thing. We recommend that you go Hiking in Valley of Flowers in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand Uttarakhand. Valley of Flowers is just what the name says and is as beautiful as the name suggests and it is open only for a few months in the year. The extended weekend is just the time when the valley will be at best of its beauty with rare varieties of flowers such as cobra lilies, Himalayan knotweeds etc.
How to reach?
The nearest airport is Dehra-dun. You can catch buses from Chamoli, Rishikesh, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Joshimath etc.

5 to 8 October 2019
Dusshera this year falls on Tuesday. Assuming you are able to take off Monday, you have a four-day long Weekend. And this year, we recommend a tour to Golden Triangle of Odisha as your getaway. It is a perfect getaway which gives you options for spending some time at sea-beaches, visiting temples, enjoying the beauty of architectural wonders of India, a chance to see exotic animals etc.
Places to see
Konark Sun Temple, Lingaraj Temple, Jagannath Puri, sea beaches, Shanti Stupa, Nandankanan Zoological Park, Rajarani Temple, Mukteshwara Temple, Tribal Research Institute Museum etc
What to eat?
To begin with, there is the food served at temples. Abadha of Lingaraj Temple and Ananta Vasudeva Temple serve awesome vegetarian delights for their devotees.
Trying a fish curry known as Machha Jhola is a must-do if you visit the city. It combines well with food items like Rasagola, Rasabali, Chhena Jhilli, Chhena Gaja and Chhena Poda. Among street food, Gupchup is very popular. You can also try other items like Cuttack-chaat, Dahi Bara, Aloo dum, Bara-Gauguin etc. If the heat bothers you, try Dahi-Pakhal which is a coolant. And don’t ever fail to try some sweets.
How to reach?
Bhubaneshwar has its own airport and is also well connected by road and railways to the major cities of the country.

Conclusion
Naturally, this calendar can be extended with local holidays but we have limited ourselves only to holidays that fall near weekends and that are most likely to be celebrated everywhere in India. We hope this helps you in planning your vocations well 

Categories
Travel Tips Travel Trends

20 Myths about women solo travel

Everyone wants to travel but recently, the trend of women traveling solo is increasing and if you are women wishing to embark on a trip alone, there will be many people offering you advice and giving you words of warning about solo travel. Here we are compiling a list of Myths that people assume about women solo travel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. It’s not safe and if you walk around alone, you’ll get mugged or killed. For people who have never stepped out of their comfort zone, a new country or a new place is a scary prospect and yes, there are many dangers but that shouldn’t stop you from traveling. It should just make you cautious. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, just enter a store or a place surrounded by other people. There are some places where you have to be more careful than others.
  2. Traveling alone is lonely. That is another myth. More often than not, you will find other solo travelers like yourself and even if you don’t, you WILL meet new people. Moreover, you will not get time to be lonely. Travelling can get hectic.
  3. Solo travelers are courageous: You don’t need to be the bravest person to go on a trip alone. You just need to plan ahead and be cautious. The confidence and courage come itself once you start traveling. Yes, it takes bravery to take that first step and decide that you want to travel alone, but after that, things will fall into place.
  4. If you drink water there, you’ll get sick and since you’re alone, no one will take care of you. SOMETIMES, the water of a place doesn’t suit you, in which case, you can always buy mineral water. But mostly, you can drink tap water and it is fine.
  5. Talking to strangers: You have always been warned to not talk to strangers or you’ll get kidnapped or something awful will happen to you. With solo traveling, it is impossible to not talk to strangers. If you are traveling to a new place, every person there is a stranger and I’ve often talked to strangers who have been nothing but kind and nice. Yes, if you feel uncomfortable talking to someone or just get a wrong vibe, it is important to walk away, otherwise, not everyone is out to kill you.
  6. Solo trips need to be long and into the unknown. If you are a woman traveling solo, it doesn’t mean you have to take a long trip to some unknown place. You can travel to some place you are comfortable with and build up your confidence.
  7. There’s no love between the person and her family and friends and that’s why they couldn’t convince someone to come with them. NO. That’s not true. Maybe they prefer to travel alone or maybe the others were busy. You can have a loving relationship with your friends and family and still want o travel alone.
  8. It can be boring. It’s a myth that solo traveling brings dull moments. On the contrary, you’ll be constantly doing something or absorbing your surroundings. There is so much to experience in a new place that there won’t be one boring moment.
  9. It takes more effort to plan. On the other hand, it is easier to plan a solo trip when you just have to make arrangements on your own and keep your own safety and comfort and likes in mind.
  10. Jeopardizing your career. It is a popular belief that if you leave your job behind or take time off from college to travel, you’re jeopardizing your career. In reality, traveling lend you an experience and there will be plenty of jobs waiting when you come back.
  11. You need to know a foreign language. Another popular myth is that if you are traveling solo, you should at least know a foreign language. While it helps to know a few common words, you don’t need to learn a whole new language just to travel to a place.
  12. It is hard to maintain relationships for a solo woman traveler. It is not true. As long as there are love and trust in a relationship it will work out. As you constantly update your partner about your location and experiences, it will make the bond grow stronger.
  13. All women solo travelers are single. Sometimes you want to travel but your partner does not. That should not stop you from trying something that you wish to experience. 
  14. Eating alone makes you look pathetic. While you are trying the local street food or treating yourself to a nice dinner in a restaurant, no one is going to care that you are eating alone.
  15. It’s limiting to travel solo. Actually, it is as limiting or as limitless as you let it be. You can explore more since you won’t be worrying about your companion’s comfort.
  16. You can’t be an introvert and travel alone. Traveling solo can fill you with more confidence and MAKE you outgoing. Even introverts become more open once they start traveling.
  17. You will get unwanted attention. That will happen whether you are traveling or in your home country. Some people chose to wear wedding rings to avoid unwanted attention. Also, you can always walk out of an unwanted situation.
  18. You have to do everything yourself and it is hard. That is a benefit of traveling alone. You don’t have to plan ahead if you don’t want to. You don’t have to be considerate to your traveling buddy. You decide what you want to do or where you want to go and that is it. You can abandon your plan to go to tourist places and just sit back at an amazing location and enjoy the weather.
  19. Traveling alone is a huge life-changing decision. It is just fun. You go on a trip alone, you see things, you enjoy and then you come back. And if you lied doing it once, you might do it again. There is nothing major about it.
  20. I can’t do it. You can. Everyone thinks that it is a big deal when they first make the choice but afterward, you could not have made a better decision. Every person has the capacity to become a solo traveler.
Categories
Travel Tips

Do’s and Dont’s for solo female travel!!

So you’re a female traveling solo in India? Here’s what you should know.

Despite popular belief, India is actually a great place for females to travel solo. India has separate sections reserved for women in transportation, family corners in restaurants and people tend to trust a female traveller more and are eager to take her in and help her out. But with the patriarchal mindset of people and growing cases of eve teasing and harassment, it is better to be prepared. Here are some basic Dos and Don’ts for females traveling alone in India (whether they be of Indian origin or foreigner):

1. Always be prepared and carry the basic maps, food, water and first aid kit with you. You don’t want to be lost and have to depend on someone else in such a situation. Invest in a guide book and that would always be a great help. Be self-reliant because your safety is in your own hands.

2.    Be confident and strike conversations. You would be amazed at how helpful people can be after just one smile and sometimes you discover amazing things by talking to the locals around the area. Everyone will be a stranger to you until you strike up a conversation. Yet, if you feel uncomfortable, it is okay to be rude and walk away. Indians feel very accepting of an alone woman traveling and would be warm and welcoming.

3. It is better to pack light and carry a simple backpack that you can take everywhere. Avoid the hassle of big luggage that might spoil your fun experience. Moreover, you can wear the backpack on your front to avoid typical eve teasers from copping a feel.  Only carry the necessities and avoid carrying things you can easily find where you’re going.

4.Do a little research about the culture of the area you are visiting. Avoid behavior that is frowned upon, like smoking right in front of a temple or any religious place. And while entering a temple or any other religious place, dress modestly.

5.    Be careful while booking a hotel and either depends on a friend already in the area or a highly reputed hotel chain. If you try to book the cheapest room, you might end up in an unfriendly neighborhood. See if there are other female travelers or families staying in that hotel. That is the best indication of whether it is a good hotel or not. Or have someone meet you at the bus stop or the railway station if you are arriving in the middle of the night. Maybe someone from the guesthouse where you are staying.

6.    Try to do most of the traveling by daytime and avoid traveling or exploring at night. And if you do wish to look upon the nightlife, it is better to have a safe means of transportation on hand. If your taxi or rickshaw driver insists on bringing a friend along, say NO or switch to another cab. It might sound paranoid but it is the best course of action. 

7.    At least have one person with whom you keep in touch, be it a phone call or a text. Tell them about all your plans and your location. Use a local sim card as it would cost you less. Send them regular updates about the places you are visiting or where you are staying.

8.    Always carry photocopies of your important documents like passport, visa etc. You don’t want to lose anything that important but it is a possibility, in which case, you should be prepared.

9.    Though some cities in India have become more open to fashion, yet it is recommended to dress modestly to avoid unwanted stares. Chose your outfit based on the local females, or go with the usual T-shirt and jeans. Avoid wearing clothes with low necklines and miniskirts to avoid unwanted attention. Especially while traveling on buses and trains, as you will become the starting spot of every person.

10.    Carry a book or earphones with you, to avoid unwanted conversations with people. People can be extremely chatty with tourists, so if you wish to not indulge in such conversations, plug in your earphones or pretend that you are calling someone.

11.    Most of the harassment and unwanted groping happens at what we call ‘party spots’. Try to avoid drinking in public and these crowded spots or night parties. Beaches are also a no-go for long walks at night.  Eve teasing is a major problem in India and you can always report it to the authorities.

12.    Finally, remember to raise your voice if you come across a situation where you feel unsafe. Most men would back off in such a situation. Moreover, the people nearby would try to help out. If you let the people around you know about the situation, the person would feel embarrassed. You can also involve police in extreme cases.

So that is a complete list of things you should keep in mind while traveling alone in India. But don’t let this scare you. India is a magnificent place and a country that will ruin traveling for you because there will be no place that would ever compare to the fun and craziness. 

Drop us a note at ghoomophirosisters@gmail.com and plan your trip to India.

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