India, the land of picturesque vistas, diverse cultures, affluent structural legacy and scrumptious cuisines offers the immensely diversified topographical multiplicity that will leave you immersed in its beauty! It is the land of holy Ganges, serene beauty of Jammu and Kashmir, sultry Goa, Himalayan heights, and splendid temples.

The western region of India has Rajasthan and Gujrat, the two states full of spectacular hues and cultural vibrance. In fact, Rajasthan is the only state that is so topographically diverse that it has lofty rock to rolling sand dunes, fiery heat to chilly cold, fertile plains to deep wild jungles as well as Thar wilderness all absorbed in one state.

The opulent Palaces of Rajasthan are based on the Rajput school of architecture which is a beautiful amalgamation of Mughal and Hindu structural buildings, depicted through splendid Palaces and elaborate Havelis. With magnificent Forts to pristine Palaces, intricately carved Temples to ornamental Havelis, Rajasthan is a storehouse of renowned structural specimens like Lake Palace Hotel- Udaipur, Hawa Mahal- Jaipur, Dilwara Temples- Mount Abu, City Palace- Udaipur, Chittorghar Fort, Jantar Mantar, Jaisalmer Havelis and many such monumental buildings positioned across Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur and other cities.

Touching Arabian Sea in the western corner of India, the immemorial Gujarat is noted for its marble temples of gods and goddesses, verdant and lush green jungles, luxurious palaces and rich cultural heritage of tribal life, the celebration of music, dance and multicolored traditions. The holy temples of Dwarka, Somnath are wayside shrines of Lord Krishna and Shiva from around the globe. The youthful and joyous spirit of Gujarat is visible through varied fairs and festivals the state celebrates which is further enriched by the various tribal groups residing here.

The Gandhi Ashram in Porbandar- Gujarat, the land of father of nation is a site that holds several historical moments during India’s struggle for independence. The father of the nation – Mahatama Gandhi had built this Ashram and stayed here for more than 15 years.

Through years of modernization Gujarat has preserved the ancient art and craft techniques and still practices them with celebrated determination. Gujaratis – the people of Gujarat are proud of their customs and traditions that they have inherited from their ancestors.

The region of Gujrat and Rajasthan had also emerged as a provincial capital during Indus Valley Civilization.  Kalibangan (ancient cities of Indus valley civilization in Rajasthan), located on the dry riverbed of river Ghaggar, was the third excavated city of Harappan sites and one of the earliest town which was destroyed by earthquake. The traces of Indus Valley Civilization in Gujrat- Rangupr in Limdi Taluka of Ahmedabad district emerged between 1954 – 1958.

You can spent holidays to India across western shores of India, taste its rich culture, and enjoy lip-smacking cuisines. Explore India – the land of adventure travel vacations and immerse in its vibrant hues, cultural diversity.

For centuries only travelers have been aiding the widespread of food culture across countries and regions. It is the advantage of globalization that has made food from the farthest corners of the world straight into our plate! Thai food is world renowned for its extremely simple but cooked to perfection flavors with just basic garnish of spices and vegetables.

Thai food has a harmonious blend of chili-hot flavors from centuries-old Eastern culture and western influences into something uniquely Thai. Thai food reflects the characteristics of Thai lifestyle with aquatic animals, plants and herbs as main ingredients. Thais shunned the usage of big meat chunks and replaced it with shredded and laced herbs and spices.

The old age Thai cooking techniques involved stewing, baking and grilling. However, with the influence of Chinese culture frying, stir frying and deep-frying later became the part of Thai food cooking techniques. Thai food has less influence of overpowering pure spices; rather they adapt fresh herbs like Lemon Grass and Galangal in their cuisines.

Another interesting aspect of Thai tradition is that Thai meals are served all at once, rather than serving dished in courses. The culture is to encourage collective eating and enjoying contemporary combinations of different tastes altogether.

A proper Thai meal usually consists of a soup, a curry dish with condiments, fish or vegetables with an accompanying dip and a spicy salad. Soups are usually spicy. Thai food has a harmony of tastes and textures within the individual dishes and the entire meal.

Thai green curry, locally known as Gaend Kieow Wan usually includes poultry or fish. It is based on coconut milk. Tom Yam is another famous Thai delicacy which is a famous hot and sour soup. Tom Kha Gai is a creamy coconut milk soup which is made of chicken. Another very famous Thai delicacy is Khanom Chin Nam Yaa, a soft thin rice noodles served with pork rib, tomatoes and black bean sauce.

The staple ingredient of Thai food is rice. Whether ordinary or glutinous, rice is combined with a variety of dishes that can be eaten in almost any order. Food can be individually seasoned with condiments like fish sauce and chili peppers as per preference. Thai desserts usually consist of fresh fruit or one of the many Thai sweets.

So, next time you find a Thai food joint, don’t just pass by, give it a shot and enjoy the flavours from Thailand!

Planning on traveling overseas is incomplete without the picture of the air travel in the itinerary. The development in the aviation industry has made the lives easier for millions of people around the world. The gist of the matter is taking a flight is the simplest and fastest means of reaching your desired destination. And when it comes to passenger flights, the strongest contender among all the passenger aircraft is none other than the Queen of the Skies or Boeing 747, the world’s largest passenger airplane.

Boeing 747 is originally built in America and it turned 40 in January this year. Since its inception in the year 1970, it has shown quantum leaps in terms of aircraft design, size, speed and comfort. It is three times larger than conventional aircraft owing to its wide and able steel body. Boeing 747 aircraft family has gone through tremendous changes down the line in terms of speed, technology and comfort. The rapidly developing aviation technologies have enabled it to integrate advanced technology to make 747-8 one of the world’s most modern and fuel efficient aircraft.  Boeing 747 also known as Queen of the Skies was the first ever wide body aircraft built in the history of aeronautics.

The aircraft is powered by four-engine and used double deck configurations for parts of its length. The 747-400 is the latest version of the Boeing generation with the record of being one of the fastest airliners in service. Endowed with the lowest operating cost per ton-mile in the industry, 747-400 Freighter is the only cargo transporter of the Boeing family. The strength and might of this aircraft can guessed from the fact that its wing measure 5,600 square feet (524.9 sq m), a distance which is large enough to hold 45 medium sized automobiles. In addition, Boeing 747 was the first passenger jet to have twin-aisle cabin setting with a staircase leading to an upper deck in the nose section of the aircraft.

Boeing 747 aircraft is not only a boon for the passengers but also is a no 1 cargo name in the air cargo market. The aircraft is also credited with 31% of the world’s freighter fleet capability. Air cargo generates approximately $52 billion revenues annually and hence has an integral role in the international business activity. Since the 70’s when Boeing 747 aircraft first took to the skies, flying experience has always been pleasurable and appealing.

If looking down ground zero from heights gives cold sweats trickling down your forehand or in short you are Altophobic then this is definitely not a good adventure sport for you. But, for all those daredevils who are eager to vent up their adrenalin, nothing else can beat Parasailing. The Silicon Valley has not only gained the reputation of being the most sought after IT hub in India but it has become a popular parasailing spot in the country.

Parasailing was in fact an unlikely sport in India not until about a decade ago now it has captured the heart of all the adventure lovers. The list of adventure tours in India stands incomplete without the mention of parasailing, a sport which is rapidly becoming popular among young tourists and adventure lovers. For once human beings have befooled nature unlike Icarus who burnt out to the scorching heat of the sun that ultimately melted away his fake wings leading to his fatal fall. Safety equipments and special materials have paved the way for an incredible flying experience, floating in the blue sky with the aid of speeding boats on the water surface or moving vehicles on land surface in some cases. In short, this recreational activity involves a person attached with a parachute being towed by a moving vehicle. Ideally, parasailing may be done in three ways namely—winch boat parasailing, beach parasailing and platform parasailing. Besides trekking tours in India parasailing is another important adventure sports widely performed in Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, some parts of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Goa and Bangalore.

The air condition city of India, Bangalore lacks adequate water bodies of aquatic properties which is why terrestrial parasailing is more commonly preferred over water parasailing. It is only due to the monsoon season that the entire parasailing activities take a beating. There are many adventure clubs like Venture Adventure Club, Horizon Adventure Club and India Adventure Club in the Silicon Valley offers the sport that is otherwise referred to as parascending. The best places for ‘Parasailing Bangalore’ undoubtedly include Jakkur aerodrome and the Hoskote dry lake beds.

Besides trekking tours in India parasailing is another important adventure sports widely performed in Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, some parts of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Goa and Bangalore. If you have always hoped for making the sky your aerial playground then exploring parasailing adventure tours in India may be just what you need for your vacations. Some of the top spots for parasailing are—Miramar, Calangute, Candolim, Sinquerim, Cansaulim in Goa, Billing in Himachal, the eastern Himalayas in Darjeeling/ Gangtok area, Auli in Uttaranchal and Sansar in Kammu and Kashmir.

Parasailing has become one of the most popular adventure sports in India. Information on almost all the travel agents or organizations offering parasailing sports is available online. All you have to do is simply navigate online for the best deal.

Trekking is a journey mastered by the adventurers who have the conviction, determination, perseverance, aim and the craving for thrilling experiences in life. It being an ideal travel sport enthusiastic trekkers explore the beauty of nature on foot and absorb the essence of life in every breath of cool air. Karnataka is not only host sporadic mushrooming of technology hubs popularly known as the ‘Silicon Valley’ but it also has some of the best places for India trekking.

Of the many trekking sites in Karnataka, trekking in Gadaikallu Peak and Bandajje Falls can be one the most enjoyable and memorable adventure tours because of their priceless scenic landscape, picturesque aerial view of the land forms and the lush green surroundings. Gadaikallu Peak is silhouetted by the mesmerizing Western Ghats against the skyline, a dreamy abode— a gift of nature. This splendid work of nature physically resembles a dome-shaped mount and is located near Ujire in Dakshina Kannada. The history of this dreamland dates back to the British era and bears the famous Jamalabad Fort built by the great Indian King Tipu Sultan. Located at the height of about 500m, Gadaikallu Peak is one of the most favorite places for trekking in Karnataka. Trekking during the rainy season can be a challenging task on this kind of a terrain but nevertheless a true adventure.

Bandajje Falls is a breathtakingly beautiful waterfall, standing high over 200 feet above the ground in the state of Karnataka.  The aquatic force of nature is sure to tantalize your sensation and help you rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit. This magnificent gift of nature is located near Bandajje village and it is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Charmadi ranges. It can also be reached through Dharmasthala via Ujire and Mundaje. Taking on uphill trekking on this land steep can be a difficult task especially during the summers. Surrounded by evergreen forests and shola clad mountain peaks of the Western Ghat, trekking on this tranquil, grandeur and awe inspiring landform will not only fulfill your definition of adventure sports but it will also bring you in sync with nature. Trekking to the top of the waterfall peak can be considerably tiresome however the mind-blowing aerial view of the landforms below will be worth a lifetime. Beside these two magnificent trekking sites, there are few other beautiful places for trekking in Karnataka namely— Kumara Parvata, Kudure mukha, Kurinjal, Tadianda mol, Kodachaadri, Aagumbe and Green route.

If trekking India is what you have in mind then choosing Karnataka, a state located in the southern part of the country, as your trekking destination is a worthwhile decision. Unlike the rest of the India, Karnataka offers a very pleasant climate throughout the year—just the right thing needed to fuel your trip.

‘Spa’ is a niche in the sphere of wellness treatments all over the world. The revival of spa— a traditional water therapy that uses the curative powers of mineral waters treatment— and its popularity owes to the increasing trends of unhealthy lifestyle and the uncontrollable effects of industrialization on the lives of ‘tens of thousands’ of people. Ideally, visiting a spa offers immeasurable reliefs and rejuvenation, plus, it is one of the most effective de-stressing tools one can think of. Most people consider spa to be an expensive option that needs little importance however regulars at ‘spa’ clubs or health facilities have found immense health benefits and improvements in their overall well-being.

Typically, spa is a part of water therapy which is also commonly referred to as ‘Balneotherapy.’ According to historical records, Greeks are believed to be the earliest practitioners of ‘bathing regimen’ in hot or cold springs, laden with minerals, for curing ailments. Small bathtubs, wash basins and hygienic foot baths were considered to be widely carried out as part of the spa treatment process. Since then, the ancient western bathing practices have evolved into modern day ‘spas.’ With the passage of time, spas have branched out into different forms in different parts of the globe—

Ayurveda spa— Ayurveda spa, like the name suggests, originated in India and it is replete with natural products and treatment procedures.

Club spa—   ‘Club spas’ are some of the most common spas, mushroomed in each and every part of the globe, the primary focus of these spas are vested upon fitness and well-being.

Cruise ship spa— ‘Cruise ship spas’ are usually offered onboard cruise liners to vacationers along with exuberant spa services, fitness and wellness components of spa.

Day spa – Day spa has become a popular wellness options for many people, it offers a variety of professionally administered spa services to clients on regular basis.

Destination spa— Destination spa is a modernized form of spa services offered to individual spa goers to develop healthy habits. This type of spa services includes spa services, physical fitness, activities, wellness education and healthful cuisines.

Mineral springs Spa— Mineral springs spas offer natural mineral springs treatment at natural mineral source, thermal or seawater locations.

Dental Spa — These facilities are some of the most popular ‘concept of spa’ that offer traditional dental treatment along with spa services.

Spas are excellent recreational places that revitalize the mind, body and soul— requisite exercises, aroma therapy, essential oil massage, Yoga and meditation and delicious health foods are the main non-medical procedures used in spa treatment.

Our planet, Earth, has uncountable number of countries, cultures, religions, cuisines, languages and people in the world. Ancient explorers and travel enthusiasts have uprooted the taboos associated with ‘globe-trotting’ and, have carefully implanted in its place— the wonder and the pleasure of traveling. Since the beginning of time, human beings are created with the innate qualities to explore far flung areas and discover the secrets of nature. The quest to reveal the magical formulas behind inaccessible and hostile places has always attracted human attentions and learning. Travel documentaries on people, places and life-style on television channels like Discovery channel, Travel and Living channel or TLC and National Geographic Channel (NGC) have succeeded in drawing a huge volume of TV viewers from all across the globe. Traveling to your dream destination is no longer an unachievable dream; all you have to do is to plan out your itinerary and budget well in advance.

Unlike travel abroad, domestic travels do not require personal identification and hefty budgeting on travel fares. Besides the mandatory official verification processes, the travel experience overseas in itself is worth a life-time memorabilia. So, few of the top priorities that need to be considered in the decision-making process of international travels are— cheap first class flight tickets and hotel bookings, reliable and competent international travel agency and a well-planned out expenses. In fact, a traveler need not have to shell out huge sums of money to procure international flight fares for the desired travel destination. Roping in one of the best deals from an online travel agency may just help you to save money as well as efforts involved. In conclusion, an individual must be utterly careful not to compromise on the other aspects of the travel itinerary for the sake of cheap travel packages. Hence, it is crucially important to seek the services of only those international travel agents which are well-known in the industry for their quality and efficiency. Although, booking international flight tickets from the respective airline is also a credible option, they are often expensive compared to special promos offered by reputable travel agents.

Well, the best results of international travel can also be achieved through a light-baggage arrangement, since an overloaded travel-package can slow down one’s mobility, security and accessibility. On top of that, heavy baggage could also invite unnecessary penalties or extra-baggage costs. Therefore, an ideal luggage should contain just a check-in bag and a carry-on bag to store important travel documents, personal belongings and need-basis clothing. Valuables are best to be avoided in long journeys as they may attract criminals, thieves and pick-pockets that are in the look-out for tourists and other vulnerable travelers. Losing important identification documents like one’s Passport and baggage can ruin your trip in entirety and dragged one into legal hassles. So, the best advices are to—stay clear of strangers and stay vigilant of your personal belongings during your stay abroad.

Kerala, the land of exhilarating vibrancies, sun-soaked sand and sea, backwaters, rolling hills and exotic wildlife is truly the ‘God’s Own Country’. Creating several lakes, canals, estuaries & deltas, there are as many as forty-four rivers crisscrossing the land to finally fall into Arabian Sea on the west. Kerala is located at the southern-most part of India also having Western Ghats on the east. Add to this extremely delightful cuisine and a wealth of rich cultural heritage, Kerala has almost everything to offer.

Kerala is one of the most progressive and highly educated states of India. The people of Kerala, also referred as Malayalees, are culturally inclined. Though the regional language of Kerala is Malyalam, there is an abundance of people also using English as their day-to-day language.

Savor the tunes of Land

Kathakali, one of the oldest dance-drama forms in the world involves dancers performing abstracts from Hindu mythology, especially from the two epics – Ramayana and Mahabharata. The most interesting aspect of Kathakali is its very elaborate make-up worn by the characters. The dance is highly developed form of bodily gestures through which characters convey the whole sentences and stories.

Kerala Backwaters

Alappuzha (also known as Alleppey) is acclaimed as the backwaters paradise, attracting several thousands of national and international tourists each year. To get the real feel of Alleppey, you have to spend at least one full day sailing on Kettuvallam (houseboat) through magnificent palm-fringed trees meeting crossover, exquisite bird species, and beautiful water lilies amidst deep, dense vegetation. Alappuzha is also world renowned for its snake boat race that takes place during the time of Onam –the spring festival of Kerala.

Kovalam Beach

Situated around 16 km from Thiruvananthapuram (the capital of Kerala), Kovalam beach is rated amongst the best beaches in the world. Tourists enjoy swimming in the Arabian Sea, sunbathing on the sandy beach, and other water sports activities such as surfing, jet skiing, catamaran rides and water skiing.

Munnar

A very small hill station set amongst Kannan Devan hills, Munnar is known for its lush green surroundings, lakes, reservoirs, forests and tea estates. It also features the highest peak of south India, Amamundi that rises to the height of 2695 meters.

Ayurvedic Health Resorts

Rejuvenate the charm of ancient healing in Kerala, which is perhaps the only Indian state that practices this system of medicine with absolute deduction.

Finding a reasonably green hotel may entail a little legwork and if you are not in a mood to do so, just scroll through and escape to the best of green hotels all across the world.

Not very long ago the concept of green homes started catching eyes but, by promoting the adverse effect of global warning these houses became the talk of the town and was much needed since there on. Now, green hotels are resetting the trend of eco friendly living. In fact such hotels are more likely to be preferred by people on travel and living. Effective price, stylish décor and innovative ideas make these hotels best among all.

Looking at the growing demand of such hotels it won’t be wrong to say that Green is in these days as sensible people fortunately are turning more environment-friendly. As per a new study conducted, Green hotels are trendy and most favored by the tourists. The eco hotel not only serves an elegant lifestyle but also, make sure that you save on the resources and use more of natural energy. This indeed is an effective way to pep up your living and do your bit to the environment. Though these hotels might cost you a bit more than the regular ones but, once stayed you would certainly wish to come back to them again and again. The convenience, style quotient and comfort of such green hotels are much more as compared to others.

Great hotels have always been a memorable part of your travel and living, keeping this in mind here’s giving you a list of green hotels across the globe: Read the rest of this entry »

Now days Singapore Airlines seems to be gaining a lot of applause, the secret lies in their services. Meanwhile British Airways proved to be one of the lowest rating flights heading from Australia to Britain. How? Let’s find out!

In a random survey done on almost 9000 people, their customer advice was taken to rate the airlines. The one that gets the maximum number of votes as per their rates, services, comfort level, etc. wins the survey. That’s what happened with Singapore Airlines!

Out of 12 Australian destinations, Singapore Airlines was voted as the top most and preferred international flight for 11. It shows how much people favor this airline due to its outstanding services and all. Seats, cost, food, time, check-in and outs and other various processes make all the difference! You certainly would love to travel through this airline once you have experienced its overall quality and satisfactory service. Won’t you?

The survey was taken over 11 airlines such as Britain, the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, Italy, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Hong Kong and China. The one destination where in Singapore Airlines could not throw its magic was to New Zealand, reason being its flights are run by Air New Zealand.

Though there are various flights running for different destinations all day long but, one that makes your day special is worth remembering! What do you think? As per the reports many airlines were criticized for its poor facilities and few were appreciated for the quality services. So, you see it all depends on the customer’s satisfaction and feedback. How do you choose your airline?

What makes you prefer an airline?

Well, the answer is simple! If the cost is reasonable and services are awesome you take it, right? Whenever you choose a fight it depends that what type of journey is it and what type of servicing you are looking for. For instance, if you are going for a business meeting, you need to reach there on time; there in you want to have your own space to prepare for the meeting and all where as if it is a holiday trip then you take it in a much relaxed pace.

While selecting an airline you need to keep a check on your priorities and that’s how you decide which flight you want to go on. Right?

No matter where you are travelling via flight in the entire world, what matters is that are you enjoying your flight or not? So, when are you picking your favorite flight among all and escaping to a memorable trip?

Ever imagined what should be the sexiest part of any hotel, Bedroom? Ballroom? Lobby? Na….it’s the bathroom that makes any hotel please your eyes. A dazzling, spacious room with more than a handful bathing accessories and a sleek shower or bath tub can actually take your breath away.

Beautiful chandeliers, fully covered with mirrors, sleek shower handing down the roof and a bath tub half the size of your home swimming pool, imagine yourself among all these and you certainly don’t want to break through imagination. With these immersing features and a lot more many hotels worldwide are experimenting with their ultra modern bathrooms to make their customers spend most of their time under their hotel showers.

It’s not only a romantic dine or a dance that can revive the romance in the ambience, given below are few most romantic and appealing hotel showers to make your eyes wide open:

Mondrian South Beach- Miami

Made of smooth lined wall, custom built glass and sky blue texture depicts the perfect soothing ambiance of Miami. Oozing water from the hanging shower volunteers the drizzling rain making the moment picture perfect. Instead of a cozy room, this room can spot the most amazing views of the city making it an open affair. The entire room is charmed by lightning and beautiful bath products making you go weak on knees.

Viceroy Anguilla

With the marvelous view of nature the outdoor showers are getting much of an attention by the tourists these days. Adding a spark of romance to your bath (may be), these hotels showers are truly inspired by the beach baths. Besides marble, here it is the glass and wood that’s taking all the attention.

Alila Cha-Am- Thailand

Feel like dancing in the rain again? Well, go ahead with 24-by-19-inch shower sprinklers of one of the posh hotels of Thailand. This absolutely glossy and amazing big showerhead actually drops in like natural rain water in the bathrooms. You may pick from the cascade spray that surrounds you with a blanket of water or may opt the central shower that pours down immersing you completely. Between the white sand, palm trees and spring flavor, you may not feel like leaving the place even after a couple of constant days stay.

So, next time you go under a shower do not forget to feel these providential pleasures and master piece of hotels!
Where once the hotel showers were a much extra thought now, it is more than a piece of beauty should be cherish and treasured. With such more innovative and creative thoughts the world hotels and travel and leisure sector seems to be growing bigger and better day by day.