Visitors looking for something different, have another treat in store for them at the capital, New Delhi. Indian Railways is all set to signal the revival of Fairy Queen, a tourist train hauled by the world's oldest working steam engine. Beginning this month, the train will ply on the Delhi Cantonment - Sariska (Alwar) circuit, covering the journey to Sariska in seven hours. Keeping the winter cold in mind, you board the train at a leisurely pace, in time for its 9 a.m. departure from Delhi cantonment. The Fairy Queen will commence its return journey the following afternoon, reaching Delhi at the reasonable hour of 6.45 p.m. In action since 1855, the engine is a National Award recepient. It is sturdy and still going strong. So train lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, get geared for 'a slice of the wild life' in the company of a trusted oldie!
Sponsored by Easy Tours of India.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
An 'Aura' of rejuvenation for travellers at The Park, New Delhi.
Travellers, desirous of indulging in the luxury of wellness therapies during their trip to India, now need not travel as far as Kerala for rejuvenating massages and related therapies. The Park, New Delhi has recently launched Aura, a luxury day spa and gym that offers unique treatments
with regional specialities.
Some of the finest wellness therapies from around the world are delivered by specially trained therapists. Its relaxing treatments include traditional Ayurvedic therapies; a wide range of specialised massages including deep tissue, acupressure, Swedish and reflexology techniques; signature beauty treatments using rare combinations od natural herbs, flowers and spices, inspired by rich ancient traditions and fruit based body wraps and scrubs using milk, honey, lavender, sweet basil etc. The packages include Aura's soul balancing face massage - a treatment to rebalance the bio-energy of the body, through activation on specific points on the face, scalp and feet.
Aura, with its magnificent views of Jantar Mantar and Lutyens' Delhi, also boasts of a state of the art gymnasium, a beauty salon, a relaxing sauna chamber and yoga classes for those in search of holistic healing. It is a must for the intrepid traveller, to keep the body in a state of fitness and the mind relaxed and receptive to new and exciting experiences which travel in
India is bound to offer.
Sponsored by Easy Tours of India.
with regional specialities.
Some of the finest wellness therapies from around the world are delivered by specially trained therapists. Its relaxing treatments include traditional Ayurvedic therapies; a wide range of specialised massages including deep tissue, acupressure, Swedish and reflexology techniques; signature beauty treatments using rare combinations od natural herbs, flowers and spices, inspired by rich ancient traditions and fruit based body wraps and scrubs using milk, honey, lavender, sweet basil etc. The packages include Aura's soul balancing face massage - a treatment to rebalance the bio-energy of the body, through activation on specific points on the face, scalp and feet.
Aura, with its magnificent views of Jantar Mantar and Lutyens' Delhi, also boasts of a state of the art gymnasium, a beauty salon, a relaxing sauna chamber and yoga classes for those in search of holistic healing. It is a must for the intrepid traveller, to keep the body in a state of fitness and the mind relaxed and receptive to new and exciting experiences which travel in
India is bound to offer.
Sponsored by Easy Tours of India.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Boutique Hotel opens in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad, popularly referred to as the the Charminar City on account of this well known monument, now plays proud host to a new boutique hotel - The Residency. The Bangalore-based Boutique Hotel and service Apartments has forayed into into the capital of Andhra Pradesh with this new property.
The Residence Hyderabad resembles a private residence rather than a hotel. The interiors of this small but exclusive property, are truly unique. They have been fashioned and designed by the duo of Deepika Govind and Shankar Prasad, who are known for their understated luxury and exquisite detailing. Original paintings and sculptures by young, upcoming artists have been
handpicked by the talented designers and create an intimate ambience.
Sponsored by Easy Tours of India.
The Residence Hyderabad resembles a private residence rather than a hotel. The interiors of this small but exclusive property, are truly unique. They have been fashioned and designed by the duo of Deepika Govind and Shankar Prasad, who are known for their understated luxury and exquisite detailing. Original paintings and sculptures by young, upcoming artists have been
handpicked by the talented designers and create an intimate ambience.
Sponsored by Easy Tours of India.
Honor For Metropolitan Hotel, New Delhi.
The Metropolitan Hotel, a five-star hotel located in Connaught Place, New Delhi 's premier business and shopping district, has now joined the elite Preferred Hotel Group under the Summit Hotels and Resorts Collection. It has the distinction of joining three other signature hotels in India, namely The Imperial, Devi Garh and Samode Palace, under the prestigious Preferred Hotels and Resorts banner. In accordance with its new enhanced status, each of the Metropolitan's 180 guest rooms and suites have been refurbished and now offer their guest the ultimate in modern conveniences.
Sponsored by Easy Tours of India.
Sponsored by Easy Tours of India.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Gorgeous Gajner
Located approximately 30 kilometers west of Bikaner (in Rajasthan), Gajner is a tiny oasis in the Thar desert. Filled with blackbuck, chinkara, neelgai, wildboar and fox, it was once the private hunting reserve of the maharaja of Bikaner. A palace was originally built here on the banks of a manmade lake in the mid-eighteenth century, but it was only in the early nineteenth
century, about a hundred and seventy years later, that the astute Maharaja Ganga Singh converted it into a modern, luxurious resort .
Known as the Gajner Palace, this gorgeous heritage hotel is a flamingo-pink sandstone palace with jharokas, jaalis, and cupolas carved to a fragile filigree - a classic Rajput pleasure palace designed by a British knight. A secluded retreat in which to enjoy a luxurious holiday and be pampered like royalty!
Located four and a half hours by road from Jaipur(which is also the nearest airport), Gajner is also connected by rail.. The nearest railhead is Bikaner and Gajner Palace organises a pick up for its guests from the railway station - 36 kms from the hotel.
For those interested in experiencing the ambience of this desert region, a new metre gauge Heritage on Wheels luxury train by the Rajasthani State Tourism Corporation now takes in the areas of Bikaner and Shekhawati. For the wildlife enthusiast, the hotel organises jeep safaris into the reserve and a variety of excursions to other places to cater to every taste.
Sponsored by Easy Tours of India.
century, about a hundred and seventy years later, that the astute Maharaja Ganga Singh converted it into a modern, luxurious resort .
Known as the Gajner Palace, this gorgeous heritage hotel is a flamingo-pink sandstone palace with jharokas, jaalis, and cupolas carved to a fragile filigree - a classic Rajput pleasure palace designed by a British knight. A secluded retreat in which to enjoy a luxurious holiday and be pampered like royalty!
Located four and a half hours by road from Jaipur(which is also the nearest airport), Gajner is also connected by rail.. The nearest railhead is Bikaner and Gajner Palace organises a pick up for its guests from the railway station - 36 kms from the hotel.
For those interested in experiencing the ambience of this desert region, a new metre gauge Heritage on Wheels luxury train by the Rajasthani State Tourism Corporation now takes in the areas of Bikaner and Shekhawati. For the wildlife enthusiast, the hotel organises jeep safaris into the reserve and a variety of excursions to other places to cater to every taste.
Sponsored by Easy Tours of India.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Bhopal Bonanza
Bhopal, the capital of the massive State of Madhya Pradesh with its myriad attractions, boasts of an architectural legacy that is as diverse as it is fascinating. While an appealing amalgam of Rajput, Gond, Afghan, British, French and Mughal influences define the old city, luxuriant sprawling spaces and contemporary structures dot the new areas. Architectural hallmarks include the famous Charles Correa's Bharat Bhawan, an arts complex and the new Vidhan Sabha.
What is unique about this charming city situated at different altitudes and fringed by the Arera hills is, as an intrepid traveler so aptly put it, 'the bequest of the begums'. From Begum Qudsia's elegant Gohar Mahal, standing opposite the Bara Talab or Upper Lake, to the Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque built in 1860 A.D. by Begum Sikander Jehan and the old city's most celebrated landmark, architectural marvels abound. Patterned on the style of Delhi's Jama Masjid in red sandstone, it has a prayer hall built in striking white marble. Opposite the mosque stands what is known as the 'royal ensemble' - an intriguing concept of buildings. Basically divided into two distinct blocks comprising the Sadar Manzil Maidan and Khirniwala Maidan, a number of palaces
bearing the distinctive artistic stamp of its rulers, were constructed around these two courtyards over a period of a hundred years, beginning in the early 19th century.
The Khirniwala Maidan, thus christened because of the many khirni trees in the compound, evolved into the Diwan-i-Aam. Around it stand Shaukat Mahal, Hira Masjid, Zeenat Mahal and Sheesh Mahal with Moti Mahal partitioning the two courtyards . This quad, with its projecting turrets on the parapets, endows it with a disdinct French ambience.
An ornate arched gate leads to the second quad, the Diwan-i-Khas, meant for private audiences.Around it are the administrative units Sadar Manzil, Hamid Manzil and Humayun Manzil, now mostly home to government offices.
Bhopal's many lakes still provide water to the inhabitants of this city. These lakes are manmade, created over 1,000 years ago by cleverly exploiting the terrain and constructing three small dams. They are also the venue for national aquatic tourneys and short boat rides for tourists to the city.
It would only be fitting to pay homage to Shahjehan Begum before we bid adieu to this city of many flavors! Credited with the construction of the Taj-ul- Masjid, considered to be one of the
biggest mosques in Asia, she took over the reigns of Bhopal in 1868 A.D. She beautified her capital rapidly, erecting buildings in quick succession including three palaces for herself - Taj
Mahal, Ali Manzil and Benazir Mahal. The legacy she left behind, however, goes beyond the
erection of beautiful monuments - to the living art of elaborate beadwork, which the women of
Bhopal's Pari Bazaar have diligently kept alive with their artistic creations.
What is unique about this charming city situated at different altitudes and fringed by the Arera hills is, as an intrepid traveler so aptly put it, 'the bequest of the begums'. From Begum Qudsia's elegant Gohar Mahal, standing opposite the Bara Talab or Upper Lake, to the Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque built in 1860 A.D. by Begum Sikander Jehan and the old city's most celebrated landmark, architectural marvels abound. Patterned on the style of Delhi's Jama Masjid in red sandstone, it has a prayer hall built in striking white marble. Opposite the mosque stands what is known as the 'royal ensemble' - an intriguing concept of buildings. Basically divided into two distinct blocks comprising the Sadar Manzil Maidan and Khirniwala Maidan, a number of palaces
bearing the distinctive artistic stamp of its rulers, were constructed around these two courtyards over a period of a hundred years, beginning in the early 19th century.
The Khirniwala Maidan, thus christened because of the many khirni trees in the compound, evolved into the Diwan-i-Aam. Around it stand Shaukat Mahal, Hira Masjid, Zeenat Mahal and Sheesh Mahal with Moti Mahal partitioning the two courtyards . This quad, with its projecting turrets on the parapets, endows it with a disdinct French ambience.
An ornate arched gate leads to the second quad, the Diwan-i-Khas, meant for private audiences.Around it are the administrative units Sadar Manzil, Hamid Manzil and Humayun Manzil, now mostly home to government offices.
Bhopal's many lakes still provide water to the inhabitants of this city. These lakes are manmade, created over 1,000 years ago by cleverly exploiting the terrain and constructing three small dams. They are also the venue for national aquatic tourneys and short boat rides for tourists to the city.
It would only be fitting to pay homage to Shahjehan Begum before we bid adieu to this city of many flavors! Credited with the construction of the Taj-ul- Masjid, considered to be one of the
biggest mosques in Asia, she took over the reigns of Bhopal in 1868 A.D. She beautified her capital rapidly, erecting buildings in quick succession including three palaces for herself - Taj
Mahal, Ali Manzil and Benazir Mahal. The legacy she left behind, however, goes beyond the
erection of beautiful monuments - to the living art of elaborate beadwork, which the women of
Bhopal's Pari Bazaar have diligently kept alive with their artistic creations.
Sponsored by Easy Tours of India.
Blazing a Buddhist Trail
For those interested in visiting some of the cities associated primarily with Buddhism but also important destinations on the tourism map of India in their own right, here is some heartening news.
Known as the Mahaparinirvana special train, this train takes travelers throughout the Buddhist circuit and covers major Buddhist sectors like Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Varanasi, Kushinagar, Lumbini, Shravasti, as well as Agra in seven /eight days. The package includes the train journey, meals, transfers, sightseeing, entrance fee and much more. A fantastic deal, it surely can't get better than this for visitors who are keen to explore some of these places!
Sponsored by Easy Tours of India.
Known as the Mahaparinirvana special train, this train takes travelers throughout the Buddhist circuit and covers major Buddhist sectors like Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Varanasi, Kushinagar, Lumbini, Shravasti, as well as Agra in seven /eight days. The package includes the train journey, meals, transfers, sightseeing, entrance fee and much more. A fantastic deal, it surely can't get better than this for visitors who are keen to explore some of these places!
Sponsored by Easy Tours of India.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Monuments of Delhi - Qutab Minar
A towering emblem of Delhi's skyline, the magnificent Qutab Minar or 'tower of victory' as it is
popularly known, is a reassuring symbol of India's might. Begun by Qutab-ud-Din Aibak, the
founder of the Slave dynasty, it is 239 ft high. Started in 1193 A.D. , the Qutab Minar was
completed by Iltumish, Aibak's successor and is the highest stone tower in India. It is no
surprise that today the Qutab Minar and its monuments ,which include the famous Iron Pillar,
the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque and the aborted Alai Darwaza, today comprise a UNESCO
World Heritage Site for being, "an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural
ensemble which illustrates a sdignificant stage in human history."
popularly known, is a reassuring symbol of India's might. Begun by Qutab-ud-Din Aibak, the
founder of the Slave dynasty, it is 239 ft high. Started in 1193 A.D. , the Qutab Minar was
completed by Iltumish, Aibak's successor and is the highest stone tower in India. It is no
surprise that today the Qutab Minar and its monuments ,which include the famous Iron Pillar,
the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque and the aborted Alai Darwaza, today comprise a UNESCO
World Heritage Site for being, "an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural
ensemble which illustrates a sdignificant stage in human history."
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