Goa Holiday India Honeymoon Travel Tours

Goa offers a scintillating combination of sun, sand, surf, and the sea! Goa is a showcase of the best in Portuguese architecture, ambiance and a laid back lifestyle. Its never ending beaches, pristine beauty, mystical hills, the rhythmic pounding of the sea and swaying palms - all make it a dream vacation destination for the earnest traveler. As such, Goa is one of the most picture perfect destinations in India.

Goa is the perfect place for honeymooners. Your honeymoon will become all the more enchanting in Goa as the place ensures ample privacy for a special bond to develop between couples.

This unmatched paradise for honeymooners offers luxury and romance. The hotels and beach resorts in Goa offer the best of facilities and services for an unforgettable honeymoon in Goa.

On the South bank of the river Mandovi, Panaji is the capital of Goa State. The Portuguese heritage is visible everywhere in the architecture, the many churches, the friendly casual ambience and the bars and cafes. Visit the Sebastian Chapel, Jama Masjid, Braganza Library and the Mahalaxmi Temple on your luxury travel to Panaji, the capital city of Goa India.

10 kms from Panaji is the former Portuguese capital of old Goa, where it is worth spending a day to see the old churches and remains of the former colony. Visits to the churches could include The Church of St Francis of Assissi, the Se Cathedral and the Basilica of Bom Jesus, which houses the mortal remains and the tomb of St. Francis Xavier.

Goa Beaches
The beaches in Goa, particularly those of Miramar and Dona Paula are famous for their beautiful stretch from Siquerim, Candolim, Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Vagator and Arambol. There are a wide variety of places to stay and eat suiting every budget. The Baga beach has a lot of exciting action for tourists visiting Goa. A huge number of resorts, hotels and shacks, restaurants and eateries to suit one’s palate exist in near vicinity. Goa’s Anjuna Beach is famous for its Wednesday flea market and its ability to attract all kinds of eccentrics and die-hard hippies. Beaches of Bagmalo, Colva and Benaulim are also very popular. Colva with its pristine white sands offers a wide range of accommodation and restaurants and shacks.

Wild Life Sanctuaries
Bondla, Molem and Catigao Wild Life sanctuaries must definitely be on one’s itinerary while visiting Goa. Bondla is the most popular of the three because of its easy accessibility and regular sightings of wild boars and sambar.

Cuisine
Apart from the seafood, the key specialties of the Goan cuisine include Vindaloo, xacuti and sorpotel. Bebinca, a popular Goan dessert with vanilla ice cream is a favourite of many a tourist. The local spirit, feni, made from either coconut or cashewnut is notorious for its “kick” and a must try for those who can handle their drinks!

Transport
Apart from the lackadaisical buses and expensive taxis, the popular means of transport is motorcycle taxis. Motorcycles and bicycles are also available on hire.

Best Season to visit Goa
October to March is considered to be the best season for a visit to Goa in India. In the months of April and May, one may find Goa under a quiet, lethargic spell. One should avoid these months if he cannot tolerate the soaring temperatures. However, the sea is still calm enough for a swim during these months. Still, the best time to visit Goa is around Christmas and New Year. The celebratory mood is infectious, the parties loud and outrageous, the fun element at its peak and the anonymity in the milling crowds really enticing. One may also get to brush shoulders with many Bollywood stars whose favourite destination during the time is Goa!

Andaman & Nicobar Tours Travel India

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were shrouded in mystery for centuries because of their inaccessibility.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands present the true essence of natural beauty and a landscape replete with breathtaking and picturesque locales.

These Andaman & Nicobar islands feature a  dense forest covering it almost entirely. One can find rare exotic flowers and birds giving the place a truly poetic and romantic atmosphere.

A peaceful destination
Andaman & Nicobar islands are what a dream destination should be! Full of greenery, multi-cultural population, beautiful beaches, extremely tasty sea food, mangroves and beautiful corals under the water give a magical touch to the place. It is destination of peace, relaxation, and lot of enjoyable moment. I highly recommend it for honeymoon couples as the place offers a lot of privacy away from the hum-drum of the city life, something essential to get closer to your spouse!

Excellent food, breathtaking sights and exquisite shopping experience
Almost all types of food is available at Andaman & Nicobar islands but the specialty, of course, is the sea food. A few notable restaurants include Annarporna restaurant, Ananda restaurant, Temptation and Gagan etc. The main attractions for sight-seeing include the cellular jail, Ross and viper island, Havelock and Neil island, Jolly bouy and red skin, marina park and Gandhi park, city tour including sagarika musuem, anthropological museum, sumudrika musuem, Baratang island. For shopaholics, there are ample memorabilia on offer ranging form handicraft items, shells and jute items.

Activities & things to do
Water sports activities including scuba diving, snorkeling, mountaineering are all on offer for those with the adventurous streak!

Food in Delhi, India

There are several food outlets in Delhi serving international cuisine including Italian and Chinese.

Pizza is one international dish available in Delhi that is sure to be appreciated by international tourists enjoying their holidays in India.

Pizza Hut has one centralized number for Pizza delivery (based in Gurgaon). You can dial 95124-39883988 or 0124-39883988 from anywhere in Delhi.

Due to Delhi’s large cosmopolitan population, cuisines from every part of India, including Rajasthani, Maharashtrian, Bengali, Hyderabadi cuisines, and South Indian food items like idli, sambar and dosa are widely available.

Punjabi cuisine and Mughlai delicacies like kebabs and biryanis are popular in several parts of Delhi.

Local delicacies include Chaat and Dahi-Papri.

Delhi Hotels - 5 Star Deluxe Hotels

Delhi Hotels - India Hotels - 5 Star Deluxe Hotels in New Delhi, India

There are a number of good hotels in Delhi for any tourist visiting in India. The hotels in India offer the best of amenities and a safe and congenial atmosphere. Some of the best 5-Star Deluxe Hotels in New Delhi include:

The Ashok Palace
50 - B, Chanakyapuri
Tel : 91-11-26110101, 26116161
Fax : 91-11- 26876060, 26873216

Hyatt Regency
Bhikaji Cama Place
Tel: +91-11-26791234
Fax: +91-11-26791122

Hotel Le Meridien
1, Windsor Place
Tel: +91-11-23710101
Fax : +91-11-23714545

Intercontinental
Barakhamba Avenue,
Connaught Place
Tel: +91-11-44447777
Fax: +91-11-44441234

Oberoi
Dr. Zakir Hussain Marg
Tel: +91-11-2436 3030
Fax: +91-11-2436 0484

Taj Palace
2, Sardar Patel Marg,
Diplomatic Enclave
Tel: +91-11-26110202
Fax: +91-11-26110808, 26884848

Welcome Group Maurya Sheraton Hotel & Towers
Diplomatic Enclave
Tel: +91-11-26112233
Fax: +91-11-26113333

Taj Mahal
1, Man Singh Road
Tel: +91-11-23026162
Fax: +91-11-23026070

Radisson
National Highway 8
Mahipalpur
Tel: +91-11-26779191
Fax : +91-11-26779090

Grand Hyatt
Nelson Mandela Road
Vasant Khunj Phase II
Tel: +91-11-26121234, 26771234
Fax : +91-11-26895891

Monuments in Delhi, India

New Delhi has several government buildings and official residences reminiscent of the British colonial architecture. These include the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Secretariat, Rajpath, the Parliament of India and Vijay Chowk.

Also, there are a number of monuments and forts from the Mughal era, which include

Humayun Tomb
Haji Begum, wife of Humayun, built the Humayun Tomb in the mid 16th century. This red sand stone structure is considered to be the predecessor of Taj Mahal and is one of the best example of Mughal Architecture. Humayun’s wife is also buried in the red and white sandstone, black and yellow marble tomb. The entry in the complex is free on Fridays.

Old Fort
It is believed that the Pandavas had built their capital, Indraprastha at the place where the old fort stands today. This fort, now in ruins, was the seat for administration for many emperors. The legendary Prithviraj Chauhan ruled from here till he was defeated by Abdali in the battle of Panipat. A new light & sound show is held by the Department of Delhi Tourism every evening. Timings and Tickets are available from the tourist office.

Safdarjung Tomb
The Safdarjang tomb is besides the of Safdarjang airport. This tomb was built by the Nawab of Avadh for his father. The structure is one of the finest example of architecture of its time and tells a saga of the last remnants of a dying empire.

Jantar Mantar
Few minutes walk from Connaught Place is is a strange collection of solomon coloured structures. These were built by Maharaja Jai Singh and is actually an observatory. Though not as large as its compatriot in Jaipur Jantar Mantar at Delhi also an attraction for the tourists. The astonishing part of these observatories is that they can calculate many astronomical movements very accurately.

Red Fort
Built in Red Sand stone this imposing fort is 3 kms in perimeter with the height of the wall varying from 18 to 30 meters at places. When the Red fort was being built Yamuna used to flow on its one sides and there were deep moats on the other. Today Yamuna flows almost a kilometer away from the fort and the moats have dried up. In the evening the Delhi Tourism organises a light and sound show which narrates the history of Delhi in context of the Red Fort.

The Lahore gate, the main entrance, has some emotions and sentiments attached with the Indian independence as the Tricolour flutters on the top of this gate. On 15th August the Indian Prime minister addresses the nation from here. As soon one enters in the fort from the Lahore gate There is a small Bazzar, here all kinds of items are available. This Shopping arcade was known as the Mina Bazzar and was open only to women on Thursdays’s during the Mughal era.

The arcade leads to the Naubat Khana or the drum house where the Musicians used to play drums on the arrival of Emperors or princes. Just above the Naubat Khana is the Indian war memorial museum which has a rich collection of armours, guns, swords, and other items related to war.

The Dewan-i-Am or the place of public hearing had a wall paneled with marble in laid with precious stone which were removed during the mutiny of 1857. The Dewan-i-Khas or the Qutab Minarplace for special hearing was the area where the emperor used to hold meetings with his ministers. Next to Dewan-i-Khas are the royal baths or the Hammams and Shahi Burj which are closed for public viewing. The white marbled Moti Masjid or the pearl mosque was the private mosque for Aurangzeb.

Qutab Minar
In 1199, Qutbuddin raised the Qutab Minar either as a victory tower or as a minaret to the adjacent mosque. From a base of 14.32 mtrs. it tapers to 2.75 mtrs. at a height of 72.5 mtrs. It is still the highest stone tower in India, one of the finest stone tower in India, one of the finest Islamic structures ever raised and Delhi’s recognised landmark. It was completed by the Sultan’s successor and son-in-law, Iltutmish. The tomb of Iltutmish, which he himself built in 1235, is nearby, Its interiors are profusely decorated with calligraphy, though the dome has collapsed.

Holidays in India in 2008

A traveler to India is bound to find list of Holidays in India in 2008 of immense use. Indian festivals in 2008 are sure to add a lot of excitement to the travel plans of any tourist on a trip to India.

India Public Holidays 2008

Indian Festivals 2008

December/January* Idu’l Zuha/Bakrid (Feast of the Sacrifice).
10 January Muharram (Islamic New Year).
26 January** Republic Day.
February* Mahashivratri.
February*/March* Mahavir Jayanthi.
March/April* Milad-Un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
21 March Good Friday.
24 March Easter Monday.
April/May* Buddha Purnima.
15 August** Independence Day.
September* Janmashtami.
September/October* Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami).
2 October** Mahatma Ghandi’s Birthday.
2 October Id ul Fitr (End of Ramadan).
November* Deepavali or Diwali (Festival of Lights).
November* Guru Nanak’s Birthday.
25 December Christmas Day.
29 December Muharram (Islamic New Year).

Note

• * Dates to be confirmed.
• ** Public holidays in India tend to be observed more on a regional basis. Only the secular holidays of Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday are universally observed in the Indian states. The above dates are Government of India holidays, when government offices will be closed nationwide. In addition, there are numerous festivals and fairs which are also observed in some States as holidays, the dates of which change from year to year. For more details, contact Incredible India (see Contact Addresses).
• Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking.
• Although not government official holidays, Christmas Day (25 Dec) and New Year’s Day (1 Jan) are widely observed nationally.

Delhi, the capital of India

Delhi is India’s main point of arrival for overseas travelers interested in an Indian holiday. The city is also the major transport hub for holiday destinations in the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.

Delhi city is a true showcase of the majestic aura of the bygone era. Its majestic buildings and historic ruins find their modern counterparts in the tall skyscrapers, diplomatic enclaves and well-planned townships of New Delhi.

People of Delhi, their lifestyles, culture, traditions and even the climate are a rich and varied mixture of all that is India.

Many monuments of significance are found in the city, which include architectural marvels like the Jama Masjid (India’s largest mosque) and the Red Fort. Three World Heritage Sites—the Red Fort, Qutab Minar and Humayun’s Tomb—are located in Delhi.

Other monuments include the India Gate, the Jantar Mantar (an 18th century astronomical observatory) and the Purana Qila (a 16th century fortress). The Laxminarayan Temple, Akshardham and the Bahá’í Lotus Temple are examples of modern architecture.

to be continued…

Hello world!

Dear Friends,

I am a compulsive traveler and India is one of my favorite destinations. The country is so rich in colors and culture. The sheer beauty of its locales and the diversity of travel destinations in India are unimaginable! Only those who have visited the country and taken time to visit some of its breathtaking locales would know what I mean.

India travel really makes me wish I could just get paid for traveling India and that’s all that I would do… ever so happily!

Would regularly share my India tour experiences with you guys on my holidays in India.

Ciao!