Experience the Royalty with Maharaja's Express (Part-1)

Maharajas Express

The moment I started my journey with Maharaja Express, I could realize how royal it was going to be. Well, traveling from Kolkata to Delhi will be that memorable for me, I did not think.

The tour was planned with two of my friends, Dhara and Veronika. We all three were ready to spend our savings for treating ourselves with this royal experience. This was 8 days and 7 night’s journey that was full of surprises for us.

Decided to make the most of the time, we set out our journey with this luxury train. On being reached, we were served with a welcome drink.

You can imagine the royalty and luxury by just having a glimpse of the five deluxe cabins, six junior suites, two suites and a grand presidential suite. Redolent with the romance and charm of bygone era, interior of the train is considered to be the most luxurious in its class.

All the modern amenities are waiting for you!

Maharaja Express Restaurant

Enjoy the time of leisure watching LCD televisions or listening to music DVD players. You can also avail Wi-Fi connectivity on board the train. What I liked the most is that you enjoy a panoramic view of the fleeting outside through the large windows!

Then, we headed towards Gaya where I felt the immense tranquility at several pilgrim places. With its rich cultural past, the place is renowned as one of the most sacred places for Hindu pilgrims. Visiting Maha Bodhi Temple is an experience to cherish. The temple complex is now renowned as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We slept well as we were supposed to rise early to proceed to legendary city of Varanasi. The experience of witnessing a spectacular sunrise over the sacred Gangas, was simply amazing that filled my heart with peace and tranquility.

The third day that we spent in Varanasi was full of delightful memories. Lively bazaars, ancient temples, the magnificent palaces, what else could we ask for! Being amidst the loud sound of temple bells as well as religious chants just are a perfect way to connect your soul to divine.

Following lunch, we visited the ancient ruins of Sarnath. The guide told us that this was the place, where Lord Buddha delivered his very first sermon about Buddhism. Visiting ruins, stupa and the Ashoka Pillar was simply a great experience.

Maharajas Express Facilities

At night, we enjoyed lip-smacking cuisines on board. Dinning is a great experience here that simply takes away your heart with its warm hospitality.

Next day, which was our 4th day on this train, we proceeded to the Bandhavgarh National Park which is known for the highest density of tigers. We get to see many animals here like deer, sloth bear, languor monkeys and chirpy birds.

Following brunch, we enjoyed spending some time at leisure than visited nearby village. We had a scrumptious dinner on board. The food served was too good that we had up to our fill.

Our next destination was Khajuraho, the most awaited one. It was our 5th day which we were enjoying to see the magnificent temples of the place. Known as UNESCO World Heritage site, these temples present the beautiful example of architecture. The emotions carved in stones exhibit the finest example of architecture of bygone era. The erotic idols also reveal the fact that 'Sex' was not a taboo subject those days rather it has been beautifully depicted through various sculptures.

We returned to the train and shared the knowledge about the Khajuraho temples till we fell asleep.

To be continued...

Explore the Famous Wildlife Parks in India

India is a land, which has achieved a distinguished name for wildlife tourism. There are many wildlife parks in the country that are home to various abounding flora and fauna. They capture wildlife lovers and tourists from all over the world who come here to explore the wildlife. Tourists can also enjoy different exciting activities like bird watching, safaris and trekking.

Some famous wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of India include:

·        Ranthambhore National Park

·        Sariska Tiger Reserve

·        Jim Corbett National Park

·        Kaziranga National Park

·        Bandhavgarh National Park

·        Kanha Tiger Reserve

·        Periyar Tiger Reserve

My uncle is fond of wildlife tour and he has been to many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Recently, he had a trip to Kaziranga National Park in Assam, where I also accompanied him.

It is one of the leading national parks in the world, which is known as the pride of North East India. The park is situated in the extreme geographical location, offering a colossal range of flora and fauna.

Wildlife Parks in India

The opulence of the rhinos in this park is the major attraction which is why this park has been rated as the finest park of India. It is a most sought after destination for nature lovers.

On being entered, we saw an amazing view of a variety of wildlife like Indian rhinos, wild water buffalo, swamp deer and elephants.

The park also features many famous hotels ranging from luxury, budget, deluxe and economy hotels. They cater to all types of travelers and serve them with world-class amenities.

Some of the major hotels in this park include:

·        Bon Habi Resort in Kaziranga

·        Hotel Landmark Woods

·        Nature Hut Eco Camp

·        Wild Grass Lodge

Indian National Parks

We also enjoyed a jungle safari on elephant's ride which was a great experience. Sitting on elephant's back, we could see the rhinos roaming around the park freely. The trip to the Kaziranga National Park was quite rewarding for us as I could see the animals from very close.

I wanted to make the most of my tour to this most famous India Wildlife Park. So, I decided to visit tea gardens of Assam. The beauty of these gardens and lush green surroundings captivated me for a long time. The thrill, excitement and fun which I had experienced during my India Wildlife Tour still fill my mind with great memories.

Ranthambore National Park Tour

Wilderness, enchantment, adventure - these three words govern my wildlife-obsessed heart. And the bait of enchanting wildlife was enough for me to take the Ranthambore National Park Tour once again. I can never have enough of wildlife which makes me visit wildlife destinations of India time and again. With my friend Vaidehi I visited this Park with some expectations in my heart.

Ranthambore National Park Tour

We were booked in the heritage Hotel Nahargarh Fort Ranthambore which is located just a few km from the National Park. The hotel is fashioned like a traditional hunting lodge. We liked the old-world charm of the hotel and mesmerizing interiors. One of my friends had told me about this wonderful heritage hotel of Sawai Madhopur district. We had reached here at night and after gorging on traditional Rajasthani cuisine we retired to bed dreaming about the wildlife we would soon get to see.

The next morning I woke up to the melodious chirping of birds and cool breeze which was no less than some movie scene for me. What a pleasant beginning of the day it was! We had our morning tea and left for a jeep safari to Ranthambore National Park.

As we entered the Park we got overwhelmed by its sweet fragrance and soothing hues. Everything was so beautiful and admirable. Every now and then different beautiful birds would pass over us and we would try to catch a glimpse of them. Our guide could recognize some of the birds.  

Ranthambore National Park is a famous wildlife destination of Rajasthan where wildlife enthusiasts come from all over the world. Located in Sawai Madhapur district, the Park sprawls over an area of 392 sq km. This Tiger Reserve remains open from October to June. Rich in bio-diversity, the Park has three lakes namely Raj Bagh, Malik Talab and Padam Talab.

While exploring the Park we came across several wonderful creatures of nature such as Sloth bear, Marsh crocodile, jungle cat, sambhar, deer, Indian hare, nilgai, mongoose, porcupine and Monitor lizard. It was so good to see these creatures. We did have a desire to sight a tiger but his absence in our list of ‘wildlife sighted’ didn’t dampen our spirit. It is purely a matter of luck. So telling ourselves ‘better luck next time’ we moved to the Ranthambore Fort. Built in the 10^th century, it is one of the oldest forts of Rajasthan. We were amazed to see the huge Banyan tree in the fort. It is the second largest Banyan tree in India. Many monkeys were jumping from one branch to another as if flaunting their fitness. Overall experience of the Ranthambore Park was a good one. We left the Park with a desire to come back soon to enjoy its wilderness.

While coming back from the Park I and Vaidehi were discussing the tiger issue in India. The future of this enchanting creature is gloomy and the word endangered seems to be inseparable from the word tiger. It is so sad to know that now only 1411 tigers are left in India. I wonder is it the same India which was once the home of thousands of tigers. These enchanting creates of Mother nature are very much a part of the heritage of India which we must save with the best of our efforts.

Ooty – The Hill Station with Timeless Appeal

One of my friends work as a dubbing artist for National Geographic Channel, which gives her a chance to know about the various interesting events and destinations. The other day she called up and said that she did a program on Ooty and was really mesmerized by its natural beauty and attractions. It’s a great tourist destination to visit. So we a group of five friends packed our bags and flew down to Coimbatore international airport and from there we drove to Ooty.

Ooty - The Hill Station

Ooty is an enchanting hill station of the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Ideally located in the gorgeous green hills of the Nilgiris, this destination attracts tourists from across the globe. It is a famous summer retreat of incredible India. It was established in the 19th century by the British.

We stepped into this wonderful land in the morning when it was enveloped in mist and offering breathtaking views of rolling hills. It was refreshing to the hilt. I felt as if a wonderland has straight away come out of a fairytale book.

We were booked in the Lakeview Hotel which offers picturesque views of the lush green surroundings, lovely lake and mesmerizing terraced slopes of a hill. It is the largest hotel in Ooty. We stayed in a luxury cottage and the experience was great. Our guide told us that many Bollywood movies have been shot in this hill station.

Ooty Tour offers attractions like rolling hills carpeted with lush green vegetation, orchards of plums and peaches, terraced tea gardens, captivating lake and a beautiful garden with a wide variety of floral species. Ooty hill station is located at an altitude of 7, 347 feet above sea level. It attracts tourists round the year as it is blessed with salubrious climate throughout the year.

We strolled through the aromatic tea gardens which was such a refreshing experience. The workers at work in the tea gardens were plucking tea leaves. We chatted with them and they told us that there is a special technique of plucking the leaves. One old man at work showed us how to pluck only the typical two leaves and a bud from the tea plants. He also told us that the tea plants have an average life span of 100 years. Well this is something I didn’t know.

Next we headed towards the Ooty Lake. On the way to the lake we stopped at a tea shop where we relished masala tea. It was really very tasty. The boy at the shop also asked us to taste the chocolate tea. We had it for the first time and the taste was quite good. We even bought some tea packets from the same shop which I relished for a long time after coming back to Delhi.

Ooty Lake is one of the most famous attractions of Ooty. It is a beautiful lake surrounded by green surroundings. We enjoyed boating amidst refreshing surroundings on the lake and then headed to the Botanical Garden. Walk through this garden and you will be greeted with overwhelming views of the colorful flowers and birds. Here I found myself close to nature. While exploring the garden our guide told us that during the month of May the garden serves as a venue for the famous Flower Show. Well, Ooty is truly the baby of Mother Nature.

Day3: Golden Triangle Tour With Khajuraho

After exploring the Mughal city Agra and its world famous Taj Mahal we reached the heritage village Khajuraho.

Khajuraho Tour

This internationally renowned town is famous for its erotic sculptures carved out of stones on the outer walls of the temples. We reached there in the early morning and were booked in 'The Lalit Temple View Khajuraho' hotel, one of the most famous five-star hotels of this culturally rich town. Our hotel was located only at a distance of 200 m from the Khajuraho temples. Khajuraho is a World Heritage Site which is a must-visit destination of incredible India.


After refreshing ourselves and gorging on delicious breakfast we headed to the temples of Khajuraho. This is a small village full of greenery so we decided to walk down to the temples enjoying the pleasant weather and the beauty of lush greenery. Our guide Shankar told us that these Hindu and Jain temples were constructed between 9th to 11th century. There are several legends attached to these temples and the erotic sculptures carved on them. Initially there were 85 temples in total but now over the centuries only 20 have been restored. All the existing temples have been divided into 3 groups: Eastern group of temples, Western group of temples and Southern group of temples.

We saw all the three groups of temples and were really amazed at their architectural beauty. The Western group of temples are the most fascinating among all. The temples are located amidst lush green gardens which adds more charm to them. Here the sculptures reflect eroticism draped in beauty. After witnessing the arresting beauty of the sculptures and enjoying listening to the stories behind them we went to the nearby Raneh waterfall which is located only 20 km from Khajuraho town. It is a breathtaking waterfall famous for its 5 km long, 100 ft deep canyon of crystalline granite in varying shades of color ranging from red and grey to pink. It started raining when we reached the waterfall which made it look simply wondrous.

In the evening we reached Shilpgram, a government run cultural center located in the heart of Khajurao. The shop inside its complex sells varieties of tribal handicrafts which are extremely beautiful. After buying some wonderful handicrafts we went inside the auditorium of Shilpgram to enjoy folk dances of different states. My Japanese friends were elated and after seeing the various dance forms said 'what a wonderful culture India has'. The dance performances were awesome. This marked the end of our Golden Triangle Tour with Khajuraho. My Japanese friends said that they are taking back home some golden memories of India which they will remember for long.

Shimla: The Romantic Hill Station of India where Nature Bloom at its Best

As the summer temperature of Delhi making new records everyday I with my two friends went to Shimla last  weekend to beat the scorching heat of Delhi. This is among most popular and conveniently located hill stations near to Delhi which is visited by scores of national as well as international tourists round the year. This land of enchanted beauty can be reached via rail, road or air but for us the overnight bus journey is the most convenient and reasonable one. On Friday night we boarded a luxury Volvo Bus and reached Shimla next morning.

Shimla - A Popular Hill Station of India

The cool and pleasant climate welcomes us the moment we reached this Capital City of Himachal Pradesh. When we step out from the bus we saw a hotel representative waiting for us with a placard of our name. He took us to Bridge View Hotel located at the Mall road. After check in we relaxed and refreshed for an hour before we embarked our Shimla exploration.

Shimla is often referred to as the ‘Queen of Hill Stations’ which is situated in the north-west Himalayan region. It is the place which has been blessed with all the natural bounties that satisfies the temperament of every tourist. This place is located at an altitude of 2,128 meters above sea level and known for its magnificent hill slopes, green pastures, snow-capped peaks and Victorian architectural buildings.

As we stepped out of our hotel we were on a Mall Road which is the heart of the city and encompassed by several departmental stores, shops, showrooms and restaurants. This is also called lifeline of Shimla bustling with social life which fascinates most of visitors during their tour to this place. Fairly level meandering esplanade that runs along this place mesmerized us most during visit to this place. Apart from this the jovial crowd, youthful environ and scenic beauty around the road kept us busy till afternoon. After enjoying the scenic beauty of Mall we headed towards the Jakhu Temple.

This temple is situated on Jakhu Hill which is Shimla’s highest peak at a height of 2,455 meters above sea level. The temple is dedicated to lord Hanuman which is believed to be in existence from the time of Ramayana. Though the Jakhu temple is famous for its religious significance but scores of tourists visit this place because of 2 km trek through dense pine forests. The trek was very tiring but we enjoyed it as we get excellent views of the ethereal Himalayan Mountains and the town below the valley. We stayed at this place till evening so that we can enjoy the panoramic sunset.

While returning to hotel from this place we took delectable food in our dinner at road side restaurant. The taste was so good that it still lingering on my taste buds. The whole day Shimla excursion was good but exhaustive which made us tired.

Next morning when we wake up we saw heavy rain outside which disappointed us because we cant go out. But after an hour the rain stops and atmosphere became cloudy. The beauty of cloud over the hill slopes enthralled us most and soon whole Shimla was covered with cloud blanket. Without giving any second thought we rushed out from hotel to feel and touch the cloud. It is for the first time in my life when I was surrounded by clouds. We enjoyed the nature’s panorama at our best for 2 hours and after that the cloudy blanket disappeared and we return to our hotel for check out.

Day 2: Golden Triangle Tour: Agra

Tajmahal - Golden Triangle Tour India

After basking in the royalty and luxury of Jaipur we moved to Agra, our next destination. No wonder we all know about Agra, the glorious city famous for Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world. This is the most famous attraction of India which has earned this incredible country international fame. Agra tour is an important part of the Golden Triangle Tour. Playing a great role in India Tourism, Agra is visited by scores of tourists throughout the year.

Agra, the city of the Mughals, was ruled by several great Mughal rulers in the past. They left behind the heritage in the form of outstanding monuments. In Agra, we were booked in Hotel Taj View, which is one of the finest five star hotels in India. It is located only 1 km from the Taj Mahal and from our rooms we could see the Taj Mahal. After relishing delicious breakfast we went to see the Taj Mahal. At the very first sight of the Taj Mahal from close quarter my Japanese friends said “wow! What an architectural wonder”.

I told my friends about the history of Taj Mahal. It was built in 1632 by the famous Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. And it took around 22 years and more than 20, 000 labors to construct this architectural marvel in white marble. The architectural design of this monument is based on the principle of the interlocking arabesque concept, where each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and a symmetry of architectural elements. The wonderful minarets are around 150 feet each. Everything about Taj Mahal is truly fascinating. It is truly an epitome of human creativity.

The entire monument is adorned with intricate pietra dura inlay work of floral designs and calligraphy which makes it awe-inspiring. At one point of time the interiors were studded with precious and semi-precious stones. The architectural style of Taj Mahal encompasses Mughal, Persian, Central Asian, and Islamic styles. This mausoleum is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My friends were delighted to know the history of Taj Mahal. They said that it was a great experience for them and they will remember it for long.

As we were pressed for time so after some shopping in the colorful bazaars of Agra we headed for Khajuraho, our last destination.