 Thailand - a country blessed with nature, warm weather, rich culture and breathtaking islands! My first time traveling outside India with wonderful colleagues made this trip really memorable for me. During this time I was working with a travel agency and we got a really tempting offer from the airline and suppliers in Thailand. Our boss could not say no to all our cute puppy faces and the tour to Bangkok and Patayya was finalized. ** Thailand offers visa on arrival for 19 countries** Thailand is known for it's beautiful Royal Palaces, white sandy beaches, intricately designed temples adorned with magnificent statues of Buddha. It is blessed with a splendid coastline with island spreading across the Andaman sea and the Gulf of Thailand. We arrived in Bangkok, a vibrant city packed with places to see! One simply falls in love with all it's liveliness, bustling roads, shopping paradise, delicious street as well as posh food places. Our first stop was The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. The Grand Palace, built in 1782 was the home of the Thai Kings for 150 years. I was in awe with the breathtaking architecture and intricate carving. Buddha has always calmed me. Looking at the calm and serene statues of Buddha, you automatically feel relaxed and content. Wat Phra Kaew also known as the Temple of Emerald Buddha, enshrines Phra Kaew Morakot. This intricate Buddha image is carved from a single block of Jade. Next we headed to Wat Pho - The reclining Buddha. It is famed for a giant golden Buddha in a resting position which is a 46 metres long statue. There are 4 chapels inside containing long lines of Buddha statues in the Lotus position. Then came my favorite part during travels - Shopping! We went to Chinatown to experience a bustling, colorful market. Packed, at any time of the day with market stalls, it offers you all the variety that one can expect. We had booked a cultural show - Siam Niramit, an experience not to miss. 150 artists costumed in colorful traditional Thai outfits, gives you some insights about Thai culture, history and religion. Though Bangkok has a reputation of an active nightlife, it's history, beautiful architecture and vibrant culture are a must see for every traveler. - Amruta Badamikar-Pardeshi
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 Welcome to the land of History! The trip to Rajasthan was an impromptu one. My very first image of this historic land was being awed by the magnificent royal forts and palaces. The land is a classic example of the rich Indian culture. The palaces show how lavishly the kings and queens, princes and princesses lived during their monarchy and emits the vibrations of the bravery the ancestors have shown. Even today their descendants carry forward their legacy and you get a glimpse of the past. Though this was my second visit, I was all the more exhilarated to know more about the cultural heritage this place offers since my husband comes from a family of Rajputs. Every city in Rajasthan tempts you to stay for a bit longer and explore the grand havelis, forts, castles that are oozing with rich vibrant culture. In addition, the gold sandy deserts stretching out to the horizon, authentic cuisines to pamper your taste buds, and traditional crafts, makes Rajasthan a perfect destination for every traveller. I sank myself in ghee, spicy curries and oily veggies. The shopping areas aka bazaars in Jaipur are a treat for a shopaholic like me. We were a little short on days so we decided to visit some of the main cities. We finalized on Mt Abu, Udaipur, Pushkar, Ajmer, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer. In this blog, I hope to do a little justice to all these different places and document my experiences in this land of kings. Mt. Abu: The only hill station in the Aravalli Hill Range in Rajasthan. A paradise for hikers! The shrine of Dattatray - Guru Shikar - built atop one of the mountain peaks is a must visit! The view is breathtaking. We also visited the Dilwara temple, one of the most popular Jain pilgrimage sites, located a few kilometers away. I was blown away by the intricate marble carvings on the pillars and ceilings. Udaipur: A former capital of kingdom Mewar in the times of Rajputana Empire, known as the city of lakes and the venice of the east! Lake Pichola, Udai Sagar lake, Fateh Sagar lake, Rajsamand lake and Jaisamand lake are the five prominent lakes of Udaipur and I had the chance to visit them all. A boat ride in lake Pichola offers a scenic view of the Jagmandir, which was used by the Royal family as a summer resort. The Moti Magri, perched on a hill near the Fateh Sagar lake is a monument to commemorate the Haldighati battle. History comes alive before your eyes. when looking at the bronze statue of Maharana Pratap and his horse Chetak. My favorite was the magnificent city palace and museum - the residence of the royal family, standing tall besides Lake Pichola. It now houses antique articles, royal artifacts, paintings. If you wish to live like one the royals, try to find a room in the lake palace ;). It's an ancient white marbled palace which is now converted into a luxury five star hotel, managed by the Taj group of hotels. Ajmer: This bustling city is Rajasthan's most significant site when it comes to the Muslim culture and history. Home to the Ajmer Sharif Dargah - a pilgrimage centre for the shrine of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Jaipur: Widely known as the "Pink City"! A gripping, enthralling, colorful, historic capital city of Rajasthan. We walked around the different architectural sites, visiting yet another beautiful house of the Royal family, the Jantar Mantar, a UNESCO world heritage site which is a royal Observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh II and houses a set astronomical instruments from the nineteen century and the Amber or Amer Fort - a fairy tale grandeur, another UNESO world heritage site which was the residence of the Rajput Maharajas. The intricate honeycomb structure of the Hawa Mahal is a visual treat and hence one of my favorite sites. Jodhpur: It was a capital of the former kingdom of Marwar. Known as the ‘Blue City’ after most of the houses colored in blue to cool them down from the scorching heat. This city adds some more architectural delights to the list. The Mehrangarh Fort – a mighty, impregnable fort rises on a hill known for ornate carvings inside the fort and sprawling hallways, Umaid Bhavan Palace – a magnificent structure built by Maharaja Umaid Singh. The royal family still resides in this palace. Although, a part of it is converted into a lavish 5 star hotel managed by Taj group of hotel and the Jaswant Thada – a mausoleum built in the memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. I could not stop admiring the array of domes here. Jaisalmer: The ‘Golden City’ located in the heart of Thar – The Great Indian Desert. The havelis are made of the golden-yellow sandstone giving it the name! The splendid temples, vibrant bazaars offering a variety of handicrafts and narrow roads are an added bonus. I almost lost my way engaged in watching the carvings inside the Patwa ki Hawali, a part of which is still open for travelers to explore. We also visited the sand dunes in Jaisalmer and thoroughly enjoyed the thrilling Jeep safari while I was screaming my lungs out. We were also lucky to experience a beautiful sunset while sitting in a camel cart. From vast deserts to beautiful lakes, the diversity that this place offers never fails to surprise me. The immaculate palaces and forts offer a ride to the past dating back to the 17th century and I assure you that this journey will leave you speechless. Still overwhelmed by the historical and architectural delight, I am looking forward to going back to the lands of Ravishing Rajasthan! - Amruta Badamikar-Pardeshi My trip to Sinhagad is always, almost the same. There is the same itinerary, the same culinary stops and the same feeling of content…
Sinhagad is one of the few must-dos when visiting home and this tradition is here to stay! - Anita Bhandare Going back as far as I can remember, summer vacations had always been about family outings. I don't recollect any summer where I had to worry about finding things to do because there was always a holiday planned. Being away from home now always makes it difficult, but we still try to carry on the tradition whenever possible. In summer 2016, all of the nostalgia kicked in on the unforgettable journey to the Lakshadweep islands, a tiny dot on the world map located south west of India in the Laccadive Sea. Since I wanted to relive the whole train journey experience, we decided to take the Konkan railway. I always find train journeys, especially in India quite fascinating. They sure do take way longer in comparison to flights but they are far more entertaining. Personally, traveling in a typical second class compartment coach of the Indian railway is all about meeting new people, sharing experiences, lots of food, card games, fighting for the upper berth, reading a book that I've been meaning to and a never-ending chitter-chatter. The best part about a rail journey is staring out of the window for what feels like eternity as the trees pass by, the clouds kiss the mountain tops, the birds dance around with joy and the wind sweeps right across your face and the moment it does, it takes away all your worries. The best feeling ever! After a 24 hour long travel, covering roughly 1667 kms from Pune we finally reached Ernakulam and then headed to Cochin which was a 20 minute auto ride away. We spent the evening in Cochin and a very comfortable night at the Fort Square homestay. The owners were extremely helpful, gave us some local tidbits and made us feel at home. The holiday had just begun and I was all excited for our 5-day cruise offered by the Lakshadweep tourism to visit the islands of Kavaratti (the capital of Lakshadweep), Kalpeni and Minicoy. We spent 4 nights on board the majestic M. V. Kavaratti cruising around these islands. The tour was very well organized, the staff was welcoming and the stay on board was made extremely comfortable. Lakshadweep islands are particularly famous for their coral reefs and it was my first encounter to witness such a huge blanket of the diverse ecosystems. Each of the three islands had their own peculiarities, but my personal favorite will always be the island of Minicoy. It was my first ever scuba diving experience and I will never have enough words to describe it. I finally found Nemo!! After starting off at a depth of 4 meters, I decided to go for a 12 meter dive during our visit to the Kavaratti island. It was yet another breathtaking experience with witnessing so much variety of the flora and fauna underwater and saying hello to master Oogway. We spent our days exploring the three islands, visiting the villages and being fed by the locals with some mouth watering cuisine. I spent most of my evenings on the deck, waiting for the sun to set and the sky to be covered with billions of stars whilst listening to a perfect background score offered by the waves. The Lakshadweep islands will always be a highly recommended, perfect getaway location for anyone and everyone traveling to India in the early summers. - Asmita Bhandare |
