Honeymoon On Goa Beaches: Simply The Best !!

Finally, my long awaited dream came true and I tied a knot with my childhood lover. I always had a wish to visit some exciting destinations with her. As we were planning for a romantic honeymoon trip, she insisted me to explore Goa beaches. She, being an adventure enthusiast, loves to go for water sports while I am a lazy spirit and love to spend days in seclusion. And we came to a conclusion that a trip to Goa is full of attractions for all kinds of tourists with varying moods. I contacted Monika, a friend of mine who works with Caper Travel Company Pvt. Ltd. (a reputed India tour operator company), and asked her to plan a honeymoon tour to Goa for me.

Honeymoon On Goa Beaches

On arriving Goa, both of us were amazed to see the perfect blend of sea, sand, sun, surf and sea-food. The land abounds with scenic beauty all around and this makes it one of the picture perfect destinations in India. Roaring sea waves in Goa ensure a special bond between couples. The best part with this hot and happening place is that its 105 km long coastline is endowed with lovely beaches. Moreover one can avail the best of luxury services and facilities at various hotels and beach resorts in Goa. I also booked a cozy room in a beach resort near the Anjuna Beach in north Goa.

We started our exploration with north Goa and its capital Panaji/Panjim. I spend one entire day visiting the ancient Portuguese churches, monuments, gardens and statues. The next day was dedicated to all kinds of water sports, for which we visited Anjuna, Baga, Arambol, Dona Paula and the Calangute Beach. My beautiful wife enjoyed parasailing, water-scootering, wind-surfing, scuba diving, water skiing & angling, and I accompanied her in almost all the sports. In the evening, we spent some quality time on the white sands feeling the touch of cool air with some lip-smacking sea-food delicacies.

Now was the turn to explore south Goa. We visited attractive Portuguese-style villages, the cultural city of Margao and the picturesque beaches like Bogmalo, Colva, Agonda and Palolem. We spent romantic evening there while strolling hand in hand down the beaches, dancing by the fireside at midnight, and singing old songs to the beautiful notes of strumming guitar. We celebrated our newly found companionship in the trance parties till the wee hours in the night. At the end, Goa is simply the best to enjoy a memorable honeymoon. Whether you want to spend relaxing vacations together or want to have fun as a couple – Goa beaches are incomparable !!

Varanasi: The Cultural Centre of India

Varanasi: Cultural Centre of India

Banarasi Silk Sarees and Banarasi Paan have always been fascinating elements in Bollywood movies. And luckily I got a chance to visit Varanasi – the city of Moksha for Hindus since centuries. In school, I had read that the holy city not only boasts of being the oldest city of the world but is also one of the Shakti Peethas and the twelve Jyotir Linga sites in India. After arriving in the city, I rushed towards my hotel. I could hear pleasant prayers and chantings as it was quite close to the popular Dasaswamedh ghat.

I enjoyed bathing in the holy river Ganges at the ghat and explored the nearby sites and famous temples while boating there. After enjoying the boat ride for an hour, I had awesome jalebis (a traditional sweet) and spicy kachoris at a roadside shop. Meanwhile, the shopkeeper told me that it is believed that those who die and are cremated here get an instant gateway to liberation from the cycle of births and re-births. I could see many people singing alongside the ghat. The abode of Lord Shiva is more than 3000 years old.

After that, I hired a taxi ad headed towards the Buddhism pilgrimage Sarnath. Located at a distance of 10 km, this is the place where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon 'Maha- Dharma-Chakra Pravartan' (in Buddhist terminology – 'turned the wheel of the law') after his enlightenment. The ruins of the brick temple representing the Mula – gandha kuti, ruins of stupas and monasteries are the major attractions here. I also paid short visit to the Dhamekh Stupa, which is adorned with delicate floral carvings in the lower part. My driver insisted me to visit the ancient Chaukhandi Stupa and Mahabodhi Society's Mulgandha Kuti Vihar Temple as well. But we were running short of time, therefore I decided to go back to Varanasi.

I stopped for a quick bite at a restaurant and then headed towards the other popular ghats. Someone told me that Varanasi has a rich collection of over 81 ghats, but I paid short visits to the prominent ones like the Assi, Manikarnika, Tulsi and Panch Ganga ghats. Another fascinating element in Varanasi is the 18th century Durga Temple. My last halt in Varanasi was the market area, which was loaded with good quality Banarasi Carpets, Silk Sarees and several other things. Although the trip was short but perfectly enjoyable. I could feel the positive spiritual vibes in the atmosphere.

Jim Corbett National Park: Unlimited Adventure & Thrill

Jim Corbett National Park

The roar of tigers is a fascinating element for almost all the wildlife lovers. Wildlife is one such factors that maintains an impressive collection of memories through years. The thrill, rarest of fauna, amazing creatures, colourful avifauna species and the best of divine nature – all the elements are simply incomparable. It was chilly cold in the first week of January in Delhi. I did my research on all the nearby wildlife destinations, and planned for a short weekend vacation to the Jim Corbett National Park. It was 0500 hrs of that foggy Saturday morning when I reached Ramnagar by train (240 km). I hired a taxi to Jim Corbett, and in next 20 minutes, I was at a cozy forest rent house situated amidst dense greens.

In winters, the morning safari starts at 0730 hrs, so I had a couple of hours to get freshed. On my breakfast table, I met a Russian tourist named Brook. Despite of being a foreigner, he knew a lot about the place. Brook told me that Jim Corbett not only boasts of being the oldest National Park of India, which was established in 1936, but also being the First Tiger Reserve in India. Quite impressive !! We decided to share the Jeep Safari in the park together.

The driver told us that we had three hours to explore the thrilling dense greens. The Jim Corbett tourism guide says that it is a home to more than 575 Species of Birds, 25 Species of Reptiles, 50 Species of Mammals and 7 Species of Amphibians. I found the park quite rich in vegetation also. From tall sal trees to shisham, khair, bakli, chir, gurail and bamboo trees, the park is blessed with over 110 species of trees and 51 species of shrubs.

Jeep Safari is undoubtedly the best way to feel the intense jungle but unluckily I did not spot any tiger there. The driver told us that animals like chital, sambar, chinkara, pada, muntjac, monkeys, dholes (wild dogs), jackals and ghorals (mountain goats) also inhabit the Park. And I spotted a few of them alongside the Ramganga river. We also saw a huge herd of elephants comprising tuskers, females and calves. As we were trying to capture them in our cameras, the driver told us not to get out of the jeep as this could be the most dangerous encounter in the wild. The reason behind is that elephants are very possessive of their young and do not hesitate to charge at intruding human beings.

I was tempted to go swimming in the Ramganga river as well, but I dropped the idea because of the crocodiles that are always hungry for humans flesh. My short tour to Jim Corbett National Park was actually action packed. All the activities there were a delight for my memories.

Goa – A destination One Can Talk Endlessly About!

Golden Goa Beaches

The word 'beach' is inseparable from the adventure-filled destination 'Goa'. In fact, it would be apt to say that 'life is a beach' in Goa. Famed the world over, the beaches of this overwhelming destination offer everything one can ask for. Right from the pleasant environment to the scenic beauty, water sports, interesting cuisine, a variety of accommodation options and shopping opportunities, it offers all.

Drunk on beaches, s to choose I reached Goa to let myself loose in its charismatic aura. The most difficult part of my journey wafrom a host of beach options in Goa, where every beach has its own unique charm and beauty. To being with, I planned to visit North Goa first as I have heard that it is a paradise when it comes to beaches. It attracts maximum tourists from both India and abroad.

I flew down to the Dabolim Airport at Vasco da Gama with my heart brimming with joy. After resting for a while at the hotel, I was all set for my adventurous journey. My first halt was the arresting Arambol Beach. At this beach, the waves, the palm trees, the salubrious environment, the scenic beauty, all seem to be in perfect harmony with nature. I felt everything was 'embracing' there. The ambiance was peaceful and inviting and this is something we all crave for.

Exotic Goa Life

I enjoyed taking dips into the sea but I was very careful as I knew that this beach is not safe for swimming. I also opted for a dolphin-spotting trip and was rewarded with glimpses of dolphins. I captured the breathtaking views of the beach in my camera. Those moments were truly golden.

Arambol beach was lined with shacks and a few stalls selling sarong and a variety of other shopping items. I bought a few things and that too on a heavy discount. After this I climbed the Waghcolomb Hill, which offers fascinating views of the beach.

At night I went to the Loekie Cafe, located on the road to the beach, to experience the nightlife of Goa. After flaunting my pelvic and pectoral at the jam session, I came back to the hotel with wonderful thoughts of the beach bouncing around in my mind. Believe me they are still bouncing around in my mind.

Khajuraho: The Temple Town With Erotic Sculptures

Khajuraho Erotic Sculptures

Those who want proof that the 'Kama Sutra' originated in India, must visit the temple town of Khajuraho, India. Luckily I got a chance to visit the place in the last week of February. It was the time when the entire town was busy with the celebrations of an annual classical dance festival. Somebody told me that this week long festival is celebrated at the Chitragupta Temple complex and attracts performers and dance groups from all over India. It was certainly good or me as I was craving to enjoy all the popular classical dance forms of India under one roof.

As I arrived Khajuraho, about 620 km from Delhi, I first booked a room in a budget hotel where the hotel manager told me that Khajuraho is not just another temple city of India. Going back to the history of Khajuraho, he told me that once in a fit of passion and lust, the Moon God seduced and ravaged a beautiful Brahmin girl 'Hemvati', which resulted in the birth of Chandravarman (the founder of the Chandela dynasty). Later he made a temple with countless sculptures to reveal all aspects of the treasure of passion and erotic fantasy to the world. It is believed that the construction of this entire masterpiece (started in the 11th century) was completed over a period of about 200 years.

Finally, I headed for the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, the key attraction of Khajuraho tourism. A large arts and crafts fair was also organized during that period, which added some more beauty to the place. A guide told me that originally there were over 80 Hindu temples, of which only 25 now stand in a state of preservation. The temples of Khajuraho, scattered over an area of about 21 sq. km., are famous for the eroticism etched on its walls in the form of sculptures.
After visiting Khajuraho temples, I enjoyed various classical styles of Indian dance like Kathak, Bharat Natyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri and Kathakali. A short visit to the ASI Museum (Archaeological Survey of India), Jain Museum and State Museum of Tribal and Folk is also quite fascinating about Khajuraho. These museums exhibit hundreds of statutes and a rarest of collection of tribal artifacts in terracotta, metal craft, wood craft, painting, jewelery etc. My last activity during Khajuraho tour was to explore the market area, which is loaded with wonderful sculptures made of iron, brass and stones.

Exploring the Handicrafts and Fine Arts in Agra

Handicrafts of Agra

Rows of roadside stalls, glittering with cheap and sparkly clothing, marble items, various fine handicrafts, good quality leather shoes & chappals and arrays of the other hot selling items – that is what I saw in my dreams last night. The real deal in Agra bazaars is still the tiny crammed shops selling the latest styles.

I asked an autowala to take me to the major market areas of the city. He told me that during the Mughal reign, several sculptors, painters, artisans, jewelers, weavers, embroiderers, carpet makers, musicians and metal workers came here to offer their talents to the royal families. The Empress Noor Jahan also had a keen interest in embroidery and textiles. Therefore she employed a large number of women seamstresses to work on the grand robes of the Emperor and his courtiers.

All these arts are continued till date in Agra

Fine Arts In Agra

by their descendants. We first visited the Sadar Bazar. The shops there were loaded with a huge variety in marble items, leather items (shoes, bags, belts and more), rugs and carpets, and brassware (including hookah bases). I found a few items quite costly but good quality leather items were available at reasonable prices. Next we headed for the Kinari Bazar, where I enjoyed authentic Mughlai cuisine at a restaurant. I also bought sweets like 'Petha' & 'Gazak' and a snack called 'Dalmoth' for my brothers.

There are a few handicraft emporiums as well that offer a variety of sandalwood and rosewood items. I also visited the U.P. State Emporium called 'Gangotri' at the Taj Mahal Complex, and the Shilpagram crafts village. Both the places offer a choice of handicrafts under one roof at reasonable prices. While returning to my hotel, I also brought a small but beautiful marble replica of the Taj. One thing that marks an authentic street shopping experience in Agra, is the deliciousness of the bargain.

Agra Tour: Experience The Rich Heritage

Set alongside the breathtaking Yamuna River, the historical town of Agra gives you a chance to reconnect with the glorious past of the Mughals and experience the architectural magnificence. I had already visited the wonder monument Taj Mahal last day. Therefore, I planned to devote one entire day to explore all other prominent attractions in the city and the nearby regions. After a heavy breakfast, I hired a guide and headed towards the renowned Agra Fort.

We entered the fort through the Amar Singh Gate, which lies to the South and is defended by a square bastion flanked by round towers. Dara, my guide, told me that the fort had originally four gates, two of which were later walled up. Delhi gate in the west is fortified by massive octagonal towers and faces the bazaar and leads to the Jama Masjid in the city. Initiated by Emperor Akbar in 1565, the fort was completed by Shah Jahan. This crescent shaped monument is flattened on the east with a long wall facing the river Yamuna. The most fascinating features of the Agra Fort are Jahangir Mahal (built by Akbar as women's quarters), Jodha Bai's Palace (offering marvellous views of the Taj) and Anguri Bagh (85 m square geometric gardens lying to the left of the fort).

I also visited the tomb of the Itmad-ud-Daula. This impressive structure was laid by the empress Noor Jahan as a memorial to her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg. As written in the history text books, the structure is actually, ornamented with pietra dura inlay and lattice work marble screens. This white marble tomb also houses the cenotaph of Noor Jahan's mother Asmat Begum. Refereed to as 'the Baby Taj', this stunning tomb rests in a walled garden with a view of the river Yamuna. Dara told me that Mirza Ghiyas himself laid out the char bagh style of architecture six years before his death that has been used in the construction of the tomb.

At a nice restaurant, we enjoyed the best of Tandoori and Mughlai cuisine. Then we moved towards Sikandra – the last resting place of the Mughal emperor Akbar. Lying 13 km from the city, this pyramidal tomb was completed by Akbar's son Jahangir in 1613. Dara guided me to the beautiful garden, gateway and the five storeyed mausoleum, which are still maintained in a superb manner. I also paid a short visit to the 'Chini ka Rauza' – the mausoleum of Mulla Shukrullah Shirazi, the Prime Minister of Shahjahan.

Fatehpur Sikri

The last halt of my excursion trip was Fatehpur Sikri – the political capital of India's Mughal Empire under Akbar's reign. An inscription there says that the place flourished at its best from 1571 to 1585. Dara told me that the region witnessed innovations in land revenue, coinage, military organization and provincial administration. The major attractions of this World Heritage Site are the Buland Darwaza, Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) etc. After enjoying the fulfilling experience of visiting these wonderful monuments, I was all set to go on a shopping spree the next day !!