Posts Tagged ‘Holiday Destination’

Top Historical Destinations to Include on Your Indian Tour

January 18th, 2012 Tushar Mathur

The nation of India is a top tourism destination for countless reasons. The comfortable climate, incredible scenic beauty, vibrant cities and thrilling attractions all combine to make one truly wonderful holiday destination. For those interested in history, there are also plenty of architectural, historical and cultural landmarks worth a visit in India. In order to gain the most from your visit, learn as much as possible and feel safe throughout your journey, consider a tour that stops in one or all of these incredible historical destinations.

1. Taj Mahal: Without a doubt, this stunning structure is one of the most famous and most iconic landmarks in all of India. Built in the 17th century by the Shah Jahan in honour of his deceased wife, this is perhaps the most famous tomb on Earth. Built from marble, the Taj Mahal is a brilliant structure worth a tour of both the exterior and the interior. Tickets are limited each day and often sell out by mid-morning, but tour guides will generally purchase them in advance for their tours.

2. Golden Temple: Located in the city of Amritsar, the Golden Temple is a truly magnificent and massive structure. It is a religious Sikh building, and many of the tourists who visit the temple each day are actually religious pilgrims to visit the holy site. The temple is made up of several large buildings, as well as the Amrit Sarovar, a body of water for pilgrims to wash in front of the site. Come to the Golden Temple both during the day to experience the hustle and bustle of the site as well as at night to see it lit up in all of its glory.

3. Hampi: These ruins are found at the site of what once the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire. Although the empire reached its peak in the 14th century, today nothing remains but the giant expanse of Hampi ruins, occupying over 26 kilometers of land. The landscape is made of barren rock, making the majestic temples, shrines and monuments look as if they rise directly from the earth. With the buildings taking up such a large amount of space, it is recommended that you try a tour to take in any many of the sites as possible.

4. Ajanta and Ellora Caves: These famous caves are actually rock shrines built underground between the 3rd and 7th centuries AD. The walls of these caves, which number over 60, depict the detailed history of religions like Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.

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The New 7 Wonders of Nature

December 26th, 2011 Tushar Mathur

The new 7 wonders of nature were recently chosen and I for one was pretty excited when it came to the night of the announcement. I live in Cape Town and, of course, we all saw that Table Mountain was chosen as one of the seven wonders. The chosen seven wonders consist of the most beautiful places in the world. With the holiday season coming up so fast, I reckon that plenty of people will be looking for places to go on holiday, and there is now no need to go researching for what would be the best places to visit. This is an overview of why exactly these places were chosen as the top 7 Natural Wonders.

The Amazon

The Amazon Rainforest was originally known as the Amazonia. The forest is about 1.4 billion acres and comprises fully half of the total global rainforest land. There are 40,000 plant, 3,000 fish and 370 reptile species. Of course, this is not an actual holiday destination that you want to go stay at, but it is still worth a visit sometime in your life.

 

 

Halong Bay

Halong Bay is part of the Quang Ninh province in Vietnam and is filled with marvellous caves and floating villages. The entire place is made up of various small islands and surrounded by 200 fish and 450 mollusk species, this is perfect for somebody that wants to soak up the blue sea views then take a little journey through some caves.

 

The Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls is located on the Iguaza River, and is the world biggest waterfall. This is a place that you can go visit easily because of the two airports that are located nearby the river. The temperature is always high here, no matter what time of the year it is. There are massive walkways that you can use to get a close view of the falls as well.

 

Jeju Island

Located on the southern coast of Korea, this volcanic island is quickly becoming a very popular tourist attraction. The 1950m above sea level volcano has over 360 smaller volcano’s surrounding it. Those that are paranoid about the eruption of the volcano while they there shouldn’t stay to long. The area has the same climate as the Hawaiian area, and has a wide range of activities for visitors to choose from.

 

Komodo

The Komodo consists of three large islands and a few smaller ones. The total size of the park is 1,817 square kilometres and only a little over 600 square kilometres of that is land, with the rest being water. The protection of the Komodo Dragon is the parks number one priority.

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Exploring the Great Australian Outback

November 8th, 2011 Tushar Mathur

Australia is as famous for its vast “outback” as it is for its sparkling beaches, but relatively few overseas visitors venture into the outback unless it is to see Uluru. It is an understandable but unfortunate oversight. Unlike the ill-fated Burke and Wills, whose expedition through the outback ended in disaster, today’s outback explorers can do so in complete safety. While Uluru should be high on your “Must See” list of Australian destinations, here are some outback destinations that you won’t want to miss, either.

Broken Hill

Broken Hill is arguably as popular a holiday destination amongst east coast Australians as Uluru is. Part of its attraction is that it is located close enough to Sydney that it is more easily and cheaply reached, but of course who would bother unless there was something to see there?

For Australians, the mystique of the outback goes far beyond the hardships of the early explorers. When you visit Broken Hill, you are visiting a magical place that embraces all of Australia’s history, from the Dreamtime to the gold and silver rushes to the present:

  • Originally settled by the Barkindji aboriginal clan, you can see superb examples of ancient aboriginal rock art as old as 8000 years in nearby Mutawintji National Park.
  • Broken Hill’s nickname is “Silver City.” The rush for silver in the 19th century was as frantic as the Australian gold rush and many of Broken Hill’s attractions date from that tumultuous era.
  • In the 1960s, Broken Hill was rediscovered by Australia’s artistic community. The spectacular beauty of this outback region has provided them with inspiration ever since. This new breed of Broken Hill explorer inspired and instigated the creation of the spectacular Living Desert Reserve. Within the confines of the reserve is the amazing Sculpture Symposium, an outdoor art gallery that you will never forget.

The Flinders Ranges

The South Australian outback is as awesome as the outback gets. Said to be some of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, they have gone through some major changes in their 130 million year history and the whole story is told in the Brachina Gorge Geological Trail. You don’t need to be a geologist in order to read the story, since the twelve mile long trail is signposted at intervals throughout its length.

If you explore the Flinders, you won’t want to miss Wilpena Pound. This amazing natural amphitheater was once thought to be the remains of an extinct volcano, but is now known to be where two great continental plates collided. The entrance to Wilpena Pound is not far from the old mining town of Coober Pedy.

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Summer Holiday Destinations in India

August 26th, 2011 Tushar Mathur

Summers in India mean searing heat and humidity. They also mean fun and adventure. Wondering how? If you haven’t already discovered the beauty and the ecstasy of the Indian summer, go ahead and plan a trip across the summer holiday destinations in India. The immense beauty of the Indian hills promises you of solace that is reinvigorating both for the body and soul.

Places to go and where to stay

The geographical location of the country has blessed it with some of the exotic summer destinations. While Ooty, Shimla, Kullu-Manali, and Kashmir are the most common getaways for travelers, places like Coorg, Mahabalipuram, Munnar, and holidays to Goa could make for an adventurous refreshing trip.

Worried about the budget? While summer resorts in these places can be quite expensive, there are other options too, which are both cost-effective and comfortable. Here are a few options that you can opt for:

Ooty: Considered to be the ‘Queen of the Hills’, this holiday destination has the most number of visitors during the summer. Hosting thousands of travelers across the world, the hill station boasts of some of the best hotels in India. Among the high-end hotels, Meadows Residency, Fortune Hotel Sullivan Court, and Club Mahindra Derby Green are considered to be the best. With state-of-the-art facilities, including swimming pool, concierge, health clubs, sauna or massage corners, playground for children, lounge area, restaurants, etc, these hotels speak of class and luxury.

Among the budget hotels, hotel Darshan and hotel Khems witness a number of footfalls. Though cost-effective, these hotels do not compromise with the quality of their services. The staff is friendly and the services tailor-made considering requirements of the guests. Offering a host of accommodation options, these hotels offer facilities that include television, 24 hrs hot and cold water, etc.

Coorg: Extremely popular among hikers and trekkers, this holiday destination is known for its serenity and picturesque beauty. The coffee, honey and orange plantations adorning the huge landscape here leave an ever-lasting impression on your mind.  Some of the other places of interest include Talakaveri, Abbey Falls, Iruppu Falls, Nisargadhama, and Bhangamandala. So visit these places while you stop over at some of the best hotels and resorts in the region. These include the Orange County Resort, Club Mahindra Resort, the Bethel Home Stay, and the Homey Valley Estate. Offering some of the best services, these hotels are known for their quality services.

Booking the right hotel in advance can help you get the best deals, which meet the various vacationing requirements of the travelers-be it honeymoon, a weekend trip or a long vacation.

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Morocco, a beach holiday for grown ups

April 19th, 2011 Tushar Mathur

Over the years, I’ve had my fair share of beach holidays. When I was small, my parents took me to the seaside as often as they could, although  it has to be said that we didn’t have too far to go, and while I’ll always treasure the excitement of those trips, I have to admit that as soon as I hit my teens, I was ready to get further away. Then followed a few years of cheap package holidays to resorts in Spain and Portugal, which were all lovely in their own way. Now though, I’m looking for something a little different when I think of sunny holidays – and I think that’s why I’m such a fan of places like Morocco.

Not your typical, cheap and cheerful beach holiday destination, but a wonderful place to soak up a little sun as well as some gorgeous views. It’s got both Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, so there are plenty of beaches to choose from. And while the sea is a little too rough for swimming sometimes, especially if you’re not a strong swimmer, it’s perfect for my desires (which are basically to spend plenty of time relaxing with a book and a few minutes dabbling my toes in the surf every now and then).

Many of the beaches are a little rocky, and great for walking along to enjoy the views, but people who like softer sand or who are travelling with a family will find more suitable beaches along Agadir or Casablanca.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for ways to really relax, I highly recommend a trip to a traditional public steam bath. I was a little shy the first time because I didn’t know what to expect, as it used to really be a way for a lot of people to have a bath (something I very much prefer doing at home!), but these days it’s not really any different to visiting a pool with a hot Jacuzzi or a spa.

I also managed to get some lovely shopping done in Marrakech. My best buy was a nice leather bag, although I probably paid slightly more fir it than I should have. As in some many places that aren’t the UK, you are meant to haggle and bargain when shopping at souks – and even in some shops – but I don’t have a talent for it at all. But I don’t mind, the bag was more than worth what I paid for it anyway.

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Holidays in Lanzarote

October 15th, 2009 Tushar Mathur

Volcanic LanzaroteLanzarote is part of the Canarian archipelago. A group of seven islands located off the coast of Africa which are often referred to as Europe´s Hawaii. Thanks to their volcanic terrain and great year round climate.

The Canaries first started to emerge as a popular holiday destination during the 1970´s – as package tourism started to take off in Spain. And are now established as the second most popular destination in the country, second only to Catalonia.

Lanzarote is located at the far eastern end of the group – and is more arid than the other islands. Boasting lower rainfall and less flora as a result. Lanzarote has also been more visibly affected than the other Canary Islands by volcanic activity. As a huge series of eruptions here in the 1730´s covered much of the interior in lava, whilst creating hundreds of new volcanic peaks in it’s wake.

As you’d expect from a well established tourist destination Lanzarote boasts great beaches – over 90 in fact. With some, such as Famara and Papagayo, regarded as amongst the best in the Canaries. The beaches here are also comprised of golden sands – as opposed to the black grains that predominate on the other islands.

Travel To Lanzarote

Lanzarote is just four hours flying time from the UK and Germany. The island’s two largest tourist markets. In the UK competition on this route has increased considerably over the last year – with both easyJet and Ryanair now offering low cost flights to Lanzarote from all major UK airports. With returns starting from around £100, depending on the time of year.

Where To Stay in Lanzarote

There’s a wide selection of accommodation options on the island. During the winter months the resort of Playa Blanca, located at the southern tip of Lanzarote, is the best choice. As this area enjoys the best microclimate. Whist also boasting the largest selection of four star hotels and luxury villas in Lanzarot.

The island oldest resort of Puerto del Carmen is ideal for anyone planning an apartment holiday on a budget. As this resort has the highest concentration of self catering complexes on the island.

Getting Around

Car hire on Lanzarote is much better value than in other Spanish sunspots such as the Balearics. Where prices rise dramatically during he summer season. On Lanzarote however rental rates remain the same all year round, starting at around €13 per day for basic model.

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Get a Trip to Europe

October 15th, 2008 Tushar Mathur

Europe is a very vast continent. It has many unique countries. Each country is different from the other in some or the other context. It is very difficult to choose a country which you would want to visit. Europe has countries with breathtaking landscapes, stunning views, exotic beaches, pleasant climates, wonderful people and rich cultural heritage. Europe has something for every one.

From young honeymooners to old pensioners, every one can enjoy a trip to Europe. Almost all the countries of Europe are good tourist destinations. Here are some tips that would help you to plan a trip to Europe.

1.Choose your destination country from before
Before planning a trip to Europe you should choose the country or countries that you would like to visit. Europe has many beautiful countries, so making the correct choice is very difficult. You should choose the country of your own interest. You should decide whether you want Paris, London or Italy to be your holiday destination.

2.Get all your documents in order
Before travelling to Europe you should make sure that you have all your documents in order. Get your passport ready. Order the visa of the European country you are planning to visit. Your travel insurance, health insurance documents and travel credit cards should be kept safely. Thoroughly check your papers before boarding the plane.

3.Book your airfares in advance
Keep in mind that Europe has many cheap airlines. So before booking your tickets you should do a through out market research. You should only choose that airlines which is most convenient to you. Airlines also offer huge discounts to travelers who book their flights in advance. Always go for the best available deal.

4.Choose the best package deal
Mainly all the travel agencies have package deals for all the countries of Europe. You should only go for the best package deal which offers you discounts and reasonable rates. Many travel agencies also have special offers for honeymooners and married couples travelling to Europe. Choose that deal which offers you the maximum benefits and facilities.

5.Book your accommodation in advance
Whether you are booking a five star luxury resort or a tradition countryside villa, you should always make your accommodation bookings much in advance. During high seasons and weekends it is very crowded in all main tourist attractions. So to protect your self from the last minute hustle bustle you should book your stay in advance.

Europe has many things to offer to you, but your trip will only be successful if you plan every detail properly.

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