Travel guide to visit in India

There are hundreds of choices of travel destinations in India. From Kashmir to Kanyakumarika – you will get snow peaks, green valleys, beautiful “Thar” desert of Rajasthan, dense forests with diverse wildlife and various types of birds, wonderful historical monuments, beautiful beaches, amazing archipelagoes and lot more exciting places. Every place is different from each other and worth to be visited again and again. Among the long list of travel destinations, there exists always a dilemma to select a perfect travel destination to cherish your holidays the best.

Kashmir: a fascinating of natural beauty

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Kashmir – the heaven of Earth is known for its captivating natural beauty. The picturesque landscapes, amazing lakes, wonderful fruit orchards, green meadows enclosed with dense woods of deodars and pines, verdant gardens full of bright colorful flowers and green valleys surrounded by Himalayan snow peaks – Kashmir is all about breathtaking nature no less than a picture postcard. Here you can enjoy the “Shikara boat ride” on Dal Lake and stay on the houseboats there. Don’t forget to visit the beautiful “Mughal Gardens”. Visiting through the apple gardens and walnut orchards and plucking the fresh walnuts and apples will make you feel refreshed amidst nature. If you are an adventure junkie, river rafting in the strong current of Sind River in “Sonmarg” is simply awesome. Also, you can experience the highest “Goldola ride” of the world at Gulmarg.

Don’t forget to buy the local traditional handcrafted items before leaving from Kashmir and make your holiday more memorable.

Leh - Ladakh: the ultimate trekking destination

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People who love serenity and peace miles away from the madding city crowd – Ladakh is simply the best holiday destination. You will get the chance to visit numerous glacial lakes and a few worlds’ most beautiful and highest mountain passes. Do you love to trek? Then this is the perfect place for you. The high-altitude trekking trails will definitely make you cherish the experience for your lifetime. Don’t forget to visit the “Hemis Monastery” to feel the tranquility and spirituality and listen to the divine chants of the lamas there. Who can forget the amazing Pangong Lake – the perfect place to feel the extreme solitude? The frozen Zanskar River offers the adventurous experience of snow trekking whereas the Nubra Valley safari offers the chances to discover the rugged landscape sitting back on the Bactrian camel. What about spotting out a snow leopard in the “Hemis National park”? So, Ladakh has stored something exclusively for every tourist here.

Agra: for the wonderful Taj Mahal

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Agra is mostly known for its magnificent Mughal creation – Taj Mahal – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The best way to visit here is via Delhi. Delhi offers lots of Indian historical Mughal architectures that worth exploring. Agra is the extension of Delhi. The city definitely needs no introduction. Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri – are the three most popular sites that every tourist should visit once. Thousands of tourists across the world visit here to explore these three wonderful creations of the Mughals. Shopping of the local marble handicrafts and leather items can be a good experience for the tourists here.

Jaisalmer: explore the magnificent Rajputana

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Explore the amazing grandeur of Rajasthan by visiting Jaisalmer. Here you will get the chances to explore the “Thar Desert” sitting back on the camels. Ride through the rugged desert to observe the beautiful sunset. Definitely, you are going to cherish the memory afterward.

Getting tensed regarding your valuable belongings to leave at the home while traveling out? You will feel relieved to hear that hundreds of public storage units like storage units Fort Myers are here to help you by offering the chances to store your valuable belongings store there safely. Once you return, you will get all your valuables back.

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An Enthralling Bike Ride to The Land of Blue Dragons

“We will have to take the bikes on our shoulders, and cross the stream”-

announced one of our biking-tour coordinators, as we reached a shallow river canal which is actually a branch of the mighty Mekong River. We had only scraps of perceptions about how our biking trip in Vietnam was going to be, however, nowhere in our wildest of dreams did we ever imagine that after crossing the canal, we had to ride for almost 7 to 8 Kilometres being half drenched almost up to our waists. This might seem to be quite challenging for the ones who seek luxury, but, several instances like these, work as catalysts that spice up a biking trip and make it enthralling in a true sense.

As a true adventure lover, I have always considered biking as a major reason of my happiness. For me, nothing can be comparable with the joy of seeing the world from the saddle because it not only gives me an opportunity to perceive the nature from a different viewpoint, but it also makes me feel energized and liberated. This is what has persuaded me to go on cycling expeditions around several popular biking trails of the world.

 With serene countryside and spectacular riverside landscapes, Vietnam has always worked as an ideal destination for bikers. Thus, when one of my friends came up with a suggestion to head off to Vietnam, I did not think twice and started packing for the trip which later turned out to be a valuable chapter in my bicycle diary.

Owing to the language barriers, we decided to opt for Vietnam Bike Tours offered by a renowned tour operator of the country. Our journey was about to start from Hanoi and nothing could have been better than pedalling through the busy streets of the Capital city.

Hanoi

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We wanted to travel as much as we could on the first day and this is why we started off early. As we went past the busy streets of the city, we came across several three wheel cabs which are popularly known as “cyclos”. The streets were full of French mansions and restaurants where people were busy cooking in their courtyards. The hustle of the streets was one of a kind and the best thing about Hanoi was that it never wanted to take rest.

Hue

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Unlike Hanoi, Hue is comparatively quite and it provides the bikers entire scope to free their arms and enjoy the breeze. As we rode past the countryside, we took a stop near a school where all the kids were dancing to some popular native tune. Later, we came to know that it was a part of the local festival and the thing that caught our attention at the first go was the smiling faces of the small kids. Travelling along the serene rice fields of the region was a jaw dropping experience for all of us.

Saigon and Can Tho

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The best part of the entire trip was the time that we spent while biking from Saigon to Can Tho. Along the way, we came across picturesque landscapes which were worth witnessing. And as far as Can Tho is concerned, it is undoubtedly one of the best locations where a bikers dream is sure to come true. Amazing riverside lifestyle, beautiful floating markets on the Mekong River and diverse cultures are few things that make Can Tho, a biker’s paradise.

My entire biking experience of Vietnam was largely different from the ones I gained in other parts of the world. With unmatched simplicity and colourful customs, it managed to portray the true Asian charm in front of eyes. I hope to return to this nation again someday, with a desire to fulfil my lust for adventure, yet again. 

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A Journey to the Exquisite Halong Bay Revived the Spirit

When the spree of young age madness started haunting my nerves, I started alone a journey to feel the real thrill of life by getting a luxury tour to Halong bay. Though my main concern of traveling alone was to subdue the lust for traveling around the world but when I reached the land of descending dragon, I realized that life has a greater meaning than just to breathe. The emerald water of this place has helped me understand a better meaning of living.

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The vision of breathtaking beauty of the islands of Halong Bay draws thousands of travelers every year. The meaning of the term Halong is ‘where the dragon descends into the sea’. I had a few research done on this cruise trip and contacted with an expert operator to have a Halong bay luxury cruise. My trip lasted only a two days. I was highly excited about this trip and carried my travel apparatus which are my camera, tab, and diary.

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Day 1:

When the cruise finally plunged into the sea that time was early in the morning. It was an alluring scene from the cruise. Only the peaks of islands visible. It was a pleasurable start for my voyage. It was a perfect day full of innumerable landscape views. The mystical landscapes of limestone islets were like a view of heavenly beauty. The sunset scene from cruise was the most eye soothing panoramic view to me. Finally, a sleep at night within the mildly swaying yacht reminded me of my childhood days where I spent numerous such nights swinging in my mother’s lap.

Day 2:

It was a day to cherish the real world in a cruise with full of entertainment and exotic cuisine of Vietnam. As I have chosen the luxury tour, it was rightly as grand as a perfect luxury tour should be. Several kinds of folk dance and orchestra party were organized by the tour operating agency for us. We had enjoyed our fullest. Vietnam cuisines are a mixture of entire Indochina delicacy. So the entire itinerary was full with delicious cuisines. I have made immense connection with my co-tourists and tried to know much about this place.

Image by Todd Kay from Pixabay

In a nutshell, it was a jaw-dropping experience for me. From adventure to relaxation, I have enjoyed all on this trip. This trip has made me crave for having a grand trip to entire Vietnam. All the Halong bay cruises are crafted with all the unforgettable experiences. All I can say is this old or young, a cruise trip can make you feel the real meaning of life.

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In a Food Expedition in and Around Cambodia

Around six months from now, I stepped in Cambodia with an aim to complete my internship. I accomplished my goal, and along with that, I came in acquaintance with a person who is highly passionate about food. Fortunately or unfortunately cannot specify, but this person was none other than my boss.

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Quite lucky to have a boss like him because it was he for whom I got the opportunity to experience the varied dishes of Cambodian cuisine. For me, Cambodia is like land of Love, Pray and Eat. Last week, I went to a meeting with my foodie boss with a solo aim and that is food. I could feel my face getting fuller and trousers getting tighter as the day passed. In that short time span, I have tasted numerous dishes and could not say which one I loved the most and which I didn’t.

Mouthwatering smell of the fiery wood fills the air of Cambodia. The smell will definitely remind you the coziest bonfire and barbecues you have ever participated in. The smell comes from the charcoal, which smolders and flames all day long in clay stoves.

Salmon machu Trey:

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Our first dish in one of the most luxurious Cambodian restaurant was salmon macho trey. To most Cambodian people, Salmon machu trey is one of the most popular dishes. It is very light, but works as a great appetizer. Its taste was so lovely that I couldn’t stop myself and went to the chef to know its ingredients. To my surprise, the soup had no special ingredient in it.  It had simple fish sauce, bean sprouts, tamarind juice, celery, lemongrass and garlic.

Char KroeungSachKo:

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To keep it simple, you can also call it “Stir-fried lemongrass beef”. This is also a common dish found all over the country but works as a great starter, when you are out for a grand dinner along with your boss. The golden color beef are sure to take away you heart.

The sweet and sour sauce made with lemongrass works as icing on the cake. You can also add some red peppers with the sauce to tickle your taste buds.

Fish Amok:

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It was steamed fish in coconut leaves. In all these six months; I never had such a delicious dish. Amok is one of the most traditional dishes and is cooked in a banana leaf by mixing fish, coconut milk, and curry. Hot rice along with this dish is a terrific combination.

These three dishes were enough to make my tummy full. I couldn’t wait any more for a sweet desert. But will surely have one in my next food expedition. My travel to Cambodiawas for the internship, but the delicious and tasty dishes of the country forced me to fall in love with it. 

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Exploring Myanmar with My Parents: The Sacred Land Of Buddhist Monks

The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes 'sight-seeing.'

Daniel J. Boorstin

As I am a travel freak, I love to explore new countries. During my childhood, my father used to organize family tours in holidays. Three years ago, my parents celebrated their 30 years of marriage. At that time, I felt that taking my parents to a religious country like Myanmar can be the best gift from me in their 30th anniversary. My parents like the Buddhist culture; thus my choice for taking them to Myanmar was the best decision.

An Outline of Myanmar

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Myanmar, previously known as Burma, is the sacred place of the Buddhist with golden temples, monks wearing orange robes, ancient monasteries and also it has wonderful natural landscapes. This country is not only a pilgrimage land, but it also hides a lot of adventurous things for backpackers and family tourists.

 As soon as we reached the Yangon airport, we smelled the real essence of Buddhist culture. We did not spend much time in unpacking our luggage in the hotel. We decided to explore Yangon from the very the first day.

Yangon: Garden of the East

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This city is the former capital of the country. It is the most attractive place of Myanmar. My parents were completely impressed by the beautiful lakes, shady green parks, and temples. We had our lunch in a restaurant. The food was delicious. Our first visit was to the Shwedagon pagoda. It is one of the sacred sites of Yangon. This pagoda stands on the Singuttara Hill, northern side of the city. It is the golden symbol of the country and is 2500 years old. We took many pictures of the pagoda.

 My parents enjoyed visiting this pagoda. We explored the surrounding place of this shrine. During our stay in Yangon, we also visited other religious sites like Sule Pagoda, Botataung Pagoda, Shri Kali Hindu Temple and St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, the largest church in the country. Our next visit was to Bagan.

Bagan: The Temple City

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This city is the heart of ancient architecture. It is located in the upper regions of Myanmar. I was mesmerized by the beautiful ancient temples of this place. There are more than 2000 temples in Bagan, and we wanted to see each of them, but we decided to visit some of the important ones like Shwezigon Temple, Ananda Temple, and Mahabodhi Temple. We spent more than two days in Bagan and explored the entire place in the hot air balloons. Viewing the temples was thrilling. Our next destination was Mandalay.

Mandalay: The Economic Hub

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We reached this town by plane from Bagan. It took only 30 minutes. Though, this city is full of chaos, dust, people and smoke everywhere but the natural scenic beauty of this place attracted us. We visited the Ubein Bridge in Amarapura village; it is the largest teak bridge of the world. We also visited the Maha Muni Buddha Temple and offered our prayers.

Puta-O: The Gateway to Himalayas

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Though this place is famous for climbing, the travelers can experience the natural beauty also. We spend last two days of our tour in this peaceful town. We explored the forests and enjoyed the delicious food and cocktail in the restaurants. As my father love adventures, he enjoyed this place. We again went back to Yangon from where we started our journey and took flight to our homeland.

I am thankful to the Myanmar travel agency for the custom tour plan they made for us. We enjoyed Myanmar in our way, and I had made my parents happy. A big smile on their face is a great satisfaction for me. This journey will always remain in our mind forever.

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Holiday in Laos-An Essence That Lasts Really Long

Exploring a new country, having fun, enjoying the nightlife and discovering the delicious food is the definition of traveling for most people. But for me, traveling is like meditation. I travel not to enjoy with family and friends, but to spend some time solitary in the breast of nature.

Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

I travel only to those places that can bring me close to the nature, and this is the only reason Laos attracted me so much. I had heard a lot about Laos and its stunning natural beauty and finally last month I decided to make my next trip here in the “land of million elephants”.

Neither did I do any research about the country nor did I carry a map along with me. Hence, it was the local people on whom I had to depend on. After my arrival to this land, I first took out my language translator and started communicating with the local people who would help me know the place better.

The Mekong River:

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Mekong River was the first name that I first came across after landing on this county. The owner of a tea stall near the airport region told me about this river when I asked him about some of the worth visiting destinations of the country. Along with the owner, his son was also working in the tea stall, and I found him quite interested to tell me about the country. Thus, I decided to take him along with me as a guide for my holiday in Laos. 

The river was huge, and he told me that it was the greatest river of Southeast Asia. This river has passed many neighboring countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, but the major part of it lies in Laos. Since the land has very few mountain terrain and well-maintained roads, most people of this land use the river as their primary medium of transportation. I took a small boat ride on this river for exploring all the nearby places and you won’t believe that the beauty made me spellbound.

Si Phan Don:

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After exploring the adventurous boat ride on the Mekong River, I headed towards a lovely set of islands that was also close to this river. Here the river becomes a little harsh because of the Khone falls, which is a chain of rapids that expanses up to 9.7 kilometers. The best part of this place to me was the dolphins that I found just below the fall. Although, the population of them was little less but was successful to make me excited.

Other attraction of this place was Don Det, Don Khon, and Done Kong, this are the three principal islands that I visited in this place.

The Plain Of Jars:

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The name itself excited me a lot; I became very curious to know as to why the place named so unique and thus, I decided to pay a visit in this land. The land looked more like a dry grassland with plenty of huge jar-shaped stone. The first glance of this place gave me the answer of my curiosity. The land was filled with these huge jars, and there are hundreds of them. People would not see these with their own eyes wouldn’t realize how beautiful and huge they look. The largest jar has a diameter of about one to three meter. Local people of the place told me that these jars are associated with the “prehistoric burial practice”.

With this, I came at the end of my trip in the southern part of Laos. Though, the country is not so big, but it has lots and lots to discover. My holiday in Laos ends here, but will surely return to this country again and this time to the northern part. 

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