Whether you are travelling for a weekend trip or trip to Iceland, you should be prepared for the adventures of the journey. You may be travelling by plane to Goa or planned a thrilling road trip to Leh Ladakh, you need to plan for the journey. Here are few gadgets that will make your journey more comfortable, more interesting and memorable. The list has something for all types of travellers.
DSLR You may be a professional photographer or amateur like me but who doesn’t want to take home some beautiful memories of their journey. Don’t just buy a DSLR because your friend bought it. You should be comfortable carrying this bulky camera with you on the beaches of Andaman and in the chilling weather of North Sikkim.
They are the best when it comes to the quality of the pictures but you should have some basic knowledge about the settings of the DSLR cameras as they become more complex with the increasing price range.
They do have an auto mode in the settings for our help but I would suggest buying the basic one first so that you get used to them and then you can buy the professional one with the huge telescopic lens to capture the Tigers of Ranthambore and one-horned rhinos in Kaziranga. Canon and Nikon provide a large range of DSLRs with starting range of Rs 40000.
ACTION CAMERA If you are trying your luck in moto-vlogging or adventure travel, this gadget is for you. They are compact and waterproof. A new range of action cameras can shoot in 4K mode as well as time-lapse mode. You can mount them on the helmet, the handlebar of the bike or on the chest. DJI Osmo and Gopro are the best action camera in the market.
Drones This gadget is only for professional travel vloggers as they are very costly. It needs practice and time to handle them properly. DJI provides a wide range of drone cameras starting from Rs 35000. If you are just getting into drone photography for your blog and social media, DJI Mini 2 is a budget option for you with a 4K camera weighing just 249g and a battery life of 31 minutes.
POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA If you are not comfortable with the idea of carrying a DSLR on your trip then comes to your help, The Point and Shoot Cameras. They are light, compact, easy to use, and colourful. No need to worry about the settings and buttons. You just POINT AND SHOOT.
SMARTPHONE The most easy-to-use gadget for clicking pictures is our best friend – our smartphone. If you are carrying a high-end smartphone from Apple and Google, then you are good to go. They even offer you all the manual settings that once came only in DSLR cameras. These brands offer the best lens and software for high-quality pictures but they don’t come cheap. The Budget-friendly option can be the latest Oneplus smartphone.
TRIPODS Tripods are mostly used by professional photographers and vloggers but if anyone is trying to start his/her own vlog or youtube channel then they can start with very basic versions of tripods which are easy to carry and cheap. They are very useful when you are travelling alone or there is no one else to take your video or pictures. You can buy a gorilla tripod and mini tripod for your smartphones.
GIMBAL When you are comfortable with handling the tripods, Gimbal is the next step for your travel videography. This gadget provides stability and smoothness to your phone and camera while shooting the videos. Now capture moments with cinematic movement and incredible ease. Gimbal for smartphones are very handy and user friendly. DJI Osmo 3 is easy to use, intelligent design, very light, 3 axis gimbal which comes with a tripod.
POWERBANK All our gadgets are pretty much useless without the power backup. we have plenty of options to choose from but the best one for you will be that power bank which is easy to carry and with good power back up to charge all your gadgets. Mi powerbanks with 20000mah backup and fast charging is a good option to chose from.
It was our first marriage anniversary and our plan for celebration shifted from Bangalore to Jaisalmer at the last moment because of some issues with flight booking (We did the Bengaluru trip on our 3rd anniversary). Then I thought of a road trip to Jaisalmer and I can say it was one of our best road trips ever planned.
Days required – 5 days( if you are self-driving and want to visit Jodhpur too, otherwise 3-4 days are sufficient).
Nearby places to go – Jodhpur (it is on the way to Jaisalmer from Jaipur)
Best time to visit – Winter season (October to February). Jaisalmer is located in the heart of the Thar desert. Temperature cross 45 degrees in summer (March to June). Desert Festival is held in February every year.
How to reach –
By air – Jaisalmer has an airforce base that is used for civilian flights as well. There are direct flights from Jaipur, Surat, Ahmedabad, and Jodhpur.
By train – City is well connected to all major cities in the country by rail route.
By road – you can easily book buses from all major cities in North India especially Delhi, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
Self-drive – Jaisalmer is 550 km from Jaipur and the highway is pretty good. One can drive straight to Jaisalmer or take a break in Jodhpur.
How we traveled – We did a road trip and made a stop in the midway for a short Jodhpur tour and reached Jaisalmer the next day. On the way back home, we covered the whole 550 km in a single day.
Where to stay – you can stay at luxurious resorts and hotels in Jaisalmer. Many homestays and hostels(Zostel and Moustache) are also there to serve budget travelers. In Jaisalmer, book your stay around the Hanuman Circle area. You can easily find food, taxi/cabs and all the basic amenities here.
We recommend that you should spend at least one night in the dunes. That is an experience on its own. Sam dunes have campsites (permanent as well as temporary). You can easily find stay there according to your budget. Another lesser-known dune area is Khuri where you can book a stay at an affordable price and with less crowd around.
How to go around – Jaisalmer is a small city with all tourist spots nearby. To explore the city, you can take a rickshaw or auto. To visit the Indo-Pak border, Tanot Mata Temple, Longewala Post, and dunes, either you should have your vehicle or hire a taxi/cab for the day.
Places to visit-
Jaisalmer fort or Golden fort – Made of yellow sandstone, this massive fort is the largest living fort in the world. It has thousands of people living there. Inside the fort, you will find hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and cafes. Though this is the unique feature of the fort but also the reason that monuments, palaces, and temples inside are not maintained.
Golden Fort
Patwaon ki Haveli – These were the residence of the wealthy merchants of the princely state of Jaisalmer. You will be amazed to see the stone carvings and the wall paintings inside the Havelis. It is claimed that these merchants were wealthier than the King of the Jaisalmer.
Patwaon ki Haveli
Gadisar Lake – once a lifeline of the city, now it is a picnic spot for the locals as well as tourists. You can enjoy boating here. Sit along the stairs for the beautiful sunset.
Gadsisar Lake
Bada Bagh – A treat for the photographers, this garden served as the memorial for the rulers of the princely state. You must come here either at sunrise or sunset.
Kuldhara – Visit this abandoned ghost town on the way to Sam dunes.
Sam dunes – 30 km from the city, spend a night at the camps in dunes. Enjoy cultural activities in the evening. Ride a camel and take an adventurous ride on a jeep.
Tanot Mata Temple – A 2-hour ride from the city, this temple became famous after it survived the heavy bombing during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. It is very near to the border. One needs to have permission to go beyond this place to visit the Zero Point(Indo-Pak Border).
Longewala War Memorial – 1 hour from Tanot Mata Temple, is the war memorial where you can see abandoned Pakistani tanks. There are a small museum and canteen here.
Longewala Post
Jaisalmer War museum – A new war museum is built outside the city on the highway which is much larger than the old one.
Where to eat – We could not try many restaurants on this trip as our meals were included with our accommodation but I would recommend you to try street food at Hanuman circle.
If you are not from Rajasthan, then do try Rajasthani food when you are visiting Jodhpur and Jaisalmer as you will find some vegetables and flavors that are typical of this region.
Itinerary –
We started our journey from our home town Jaipur.
There are 2 routes to reach Jaisalmer. One is via Ajmer-Jodhpur National Highway and another is Nagaur-Kuchaman State Highway. We used both of these routes. Our route was Jaipur-Ajmer-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer-Nagaur-Kuchman-Jobner-Jaipur. I would recommend everyone to use the NH even though it is 50 km more but State highway is mostly single lane so it is risky and will take more time.
Day 1-Always start early is my goal. We reached Jodhpur at around 1 pm and went straight to Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada after lunch. It was Valentine’s Day and I had booked a dinner table at INDIQUE restaurant. It was a rooftop Candlelit dinner overlooking the majestic fort.
If you are driving here, don’t enter through the fort area which has very narrow lanes to reach the restaurant. Don’t trust Google here and ask the locals for the directions. My car got an ugly scratch while struggling to cross the narrow lanes of the old city.
Day 2- We got up early and headed for Jaisalmer after breakfast. The route is via Pokhran, a nuclear bomb testing site but what we all don’t know that it is also famous for clay art and pottery.
After Pokhran, the road was bumpy and took 2 hours to reach Jaisalmer. About 10 km before the city, there is the recently opened Jaisalmer War Museum. We decided to visit it on the last day of our trip. We checked into our hotel, had lunch, and then reached Patwaon ki Haveli. We were awestruck by the carvings and paintings inside the Haveli. Many of these Havelis are closed now but few are open for the general public. These were even more beautiful than the King’s residence.
In the evening, we went to Gadisar Lake. We stayed there till sunset. It was a hectic day so we went to bed early.
Day 3 – Today we were ready to see some real desert. We decided to visit the Tanot Mata Temple and the Longewala War Memorial. The road was single lane and very few vehicles crossed us. It is a 120 km journey. You should carry some water bottles and snacks with you for the journey. Inside Temple premises, there is a BSF canteen and toilets. Temple is wholly managed by BSF. You can see some bombshells there for display. Carry your Govt. Photo ID (usually no one asks for it).
One important thing, you can visit “Zero point” (Indo-Pak border) from here after taking permission from BSF headquarters in Jaisalmer.
Longewala battle was one of the first major engagements in the 1971 war. There is a 15-minute short film about that. Refreshments are also available there. There are many abandoned Pak tanks there. You can click pictures standing on them, no one will stop you (but don’t do this at War Museum).
After reaching the city, we had our lunch and reached the Fort parking area. Golden fort or Sonar Quila is one of the largest forts in the country. It is named so because of the famous yellow stone that is found in this region. We were shocked to know that fossils were found here a few years back which indicates that there was an ocean here millions of years ago.
We booked a guide for the tour here. Always ask for their govt. ID. We were surprised to see the fort as it was very different from all the other forts we have seen so far. There were people everywhere, houses converted into shops and cafes. Guide took us to show the Palaces inside the fort and the Jain temples.
After the fort, you can spend your evening in Bada Bagh (Royal Cenotaphs or Chhatris).
Day 4 – It was our anniversary today. We had a lazy start of the day as check-in timing in our luxury tent resort was noon. You can book your stay in dunes online or after reaching Jaisalmer. In peak season ( December), you may have to pay much more for the stay as they are in high demand so it is always better to book them in advance.
It was a 4-star property and our luxury tent had AC, an attached bathroom, and all other facilities. After lunch and a short nap, we booked our Jeep safari (Rs.1000-1500 depending on the season) and had a great adventurous dune bashing. The driver was very skilled. We stopped on the dunes and took hundreds of photographs there. We came back to the resort for Camel Safari. It was perfect timing as the sun was about to set in a few minutes. We enjoyed the sunset on the dunes.
After sunset, we were invited to cultural performances at the resort which was more entertaining than we thought. The host/anchor/main artist Queen Harish (He died in a car accident a few months back) made our day extra special.
Cultural Program @Resort
Day 5
After an early breakfast, we reached the Jaisalmer War Museum which was on the highway. You will need 2 hours to explore the museum. You will need to show your govt. photo ID here.
With a single lunch break, we headed back for Jaipur.
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
Book a guide or walking tour for Golden fort as you will be lost on the way. It is really difficult to explore this fort on your own.
Carry sunscreen, sunglasses, and water bottle with you.
You will need permission from CO BSF HQ, Jaisalmer to go beyond Tanot Mata Temple.
Every tourist spot closes by 5 pm so plan your itinerary accordingly.
If you are planning to spend your Christmas or new year evening in dunes, then book your stay at least 1-2 months in advance as prices go high at that time of the year. Before booking the tents in dunes, always confirm the inclusions in the package. (accommodation/meals/safari/cultural event).
Always carry your Govt. photo ID with you.
Rating (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Overall rating 9/10 – Truly a golden city with every other structure made of yellow stone, this desert city has everything for you – Fort, palace, dunes, ghostly town, war stories, lake, a beautiful sunset, and desert safari.
Travel Expense 2/10 – Major expense will be booking a stay in dunes but that is worth it.
Travel ease 9/10 – City is well connected by rail route and road. Even roads to Longewala and Tanot Mata Temple are very good.
The city of Nizams, founded in the 16th century and ruled by the QutubShahi dynasty before the Mughal invasion, is an enticer for historians to delve into its rich heritage. The famous Charminar, Hyderabadi Biryani, Ramoji film city, keeps attracting tourists, including food bloggers and artists alike. Well, these are probably just the icings of the cake, and this city will not leave you any reason not to visit it. If your partner loves natural pearls, or you may wish to visit the original home of the Kohinoor diamond in a city having the presence of over 20 lakes, Hyderabad cannot be missed.
Chowmahala Palace
Days required- 3 days
Nearby places to go – Ramoji film city
Best time to visit – right after the monsoon and during winter. Usual weather is hot and humid for the rest of the year and is thus, not so favorable.
How to reach –
By air – the most convenient and easy way to reach as there are direct flights from many big cities in India.
By train – This city has three main junctions-Hyderabad Railway Station(Nampally), Secunderabad Railway Station, and Kachiguda Railway Station connecting to different locations, including Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Pune.
By Road – Roads are well linked with important cities and states. You can book the govt. Or private run buses from nearby cities. You can also hire rented cars or taxis to your desired destination.
How we traveled – We took a flight from Jaipur. The airport cabs were expensive as compared to the Ola/Uber or local cab services. The state-run Airport bus service is the best and least expensive mode of to and fro transport to the airport and has both pickup and drop services to all major locations in Hyderabad.
Where to stay – Not a single location can be completely ideal to stay for a city as big as Hyderabad. Most of the tourist spots are located in the old city where it is difficult to find good hotels. We suggest finding a place near Nampally Railway station, which is only 5km from the Charminar area.
How to go around – Hyderabad has a metro line and intracity bus services which connect major areas in the city. Ola/Uber and taxis are also easily available. Keep track of office hours to avoid the horrific traffic during travel.
Places to visit
Charminar – The iconic Charminar was built as a mosque after a ravaging plague could be controlled in the city. As the legend goes, it even has secret tunnels connecting with the Golconda fort meant as the escape routes. Situated in the center of the Old city, it is free to visit the Charminar but entering the Minaret is charged and is time-bound. For a building of such historical importance and great tourist admiration, we found it low maintained and slightly tarnished by the over-excited tourists and locals. The area was quite polluted, busy, and congested, and one may find it difficult to maintain social distancing on regular days. There is a famous market area and many famous eateries nearby.
Chowmahalla palace – the residence of the nizam of Hyderabad, constructed in the 1860s and belongs to their heirs now. The castle has big courtyards, a 250-year old clock tower that still ticks with time, Meeting halls, and numerous historical articles of furniture, cutleries, chandeliers, vintage cars like Rolls Royce, fountain, weapons, Chariots, dresses, and paintings. This palace is well maintained and has been opened to the public since 2005.
Inside Chowmahala Palace
Lumbini park/Buddha statue – 58 feet tall and weighing about 350 tons, it is said to be the world’s tallest monolithic statue of Lord Buddha. During the first attempt of its erection at the site in 1990, the statue fell into the lake, and it took 2years to pull it out and re-erect at its current site. Located on Hussain Sagar near the necklace road, this park is a picnic spot for locals. The ferry ride is serene and takes you to the peaceful place around this Buddha statue.
Buddha Statue in Lumbini Park
Golconda fort – Built on a hill surrounded by battlefields, this fort has been owned by several ruling dynasties in this region rich in natural diamonds. One of the earliest epicenters of diamond and gem trading, this fort has housed many famous diamonds, including the Kohinoor. The entire fort area containing four distinct forts is surrounded by a 10km long wall and is impossible to be explored in a day. This fort has a unique acoustic system because of which the sounds made in one part of this fort can be heard on its other side.
Golconda Fort
QutubShahi tombs – Tombs of various rulers of the QutubShahi dynasty and some mosques, near to the Golconda fort. Visit this place to get some beautiful photographs with amazing domes and arches in the background.
Ramoji film city – 1666 acres of world’s largest integrated film studio complexes, built in 1996. Sets of Baahubali movies are still intact inside this with all the other monuments. A must visit place if you are visiting Hyderabad and one of its kind experience in India. Save one day out of your time to explore this landmark.
Ramoji City
Salarjung museum – Ever wondered what an art collection of a king would include? Visit the private art collection of the Salar Jung family, which now has been endowed to the nation in one of the largest museums of India.
Mekkah Masjid – very near to Charminar, is one of the largest and oldest mosques of India, having a capacity of 20000 built between the 16-17th century. The holy soil from Mecca was commissioned to prepare the bricks for one of the central arches in this mosque; hence it had been named accordingly.
Where to eat
Hyderabadi Biryani- Of course, the first name in the list is the world-famous Hyderabadi Biryani. Available in Veg and Non-veg variants, we tried it at the Paradise outlet which indeed is a paradise for biryani lovers. They serve mutton, chicken, and veg. Biryani. Take out is possible too, but we advise you to enjoy the flavors at the moment it is served and savor it for a lifetime.
Some biryani restaurants – Paradise, Bawarchi, Hotel Shadab, Shah Ghouse
Pista house – do try their haleem (non-veg delicacy usually made during the month of Ramzan), but their multiple outlets supply it all over Hyderabad and India.
Nimrah Cafe and bakery – Try their extra milky and sweet Irani chai with famous Osmania biscuits.
Hotel Shadab –biryani, paya, nihari, and magaz(brain) – come here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You will get a full range of non-veg delicacies at reasonable prices.
Karachi bakeries – Taste and carry their delicious biscuits back to your home for friends and family. They have an outlet at the airport and sell online as well.
Where to shop –
Begum Bazaar – This place is one of the largest commercial markets in Hyderabad and retailers from all across the country deal with products from here. Closed on Sundays, bargain to your heart to get the best deals from here.
Laad bazaar – one of the oldest markets in Hyderabad, famous for artificial jewelry. Best place to buy bangles. Apart from this, silverware, antique items, silk sarees, fabrics, spices, and perfumes are readily available.
Itinerary – it is very simple.
Day 1
It is best to venture out on the first day of the trip in the evening after relaxing from the previous tiresome journey. Start with the Birla temple which is built on a hilltop and presents a great view of the lake and necklace road which is a local favorite city spot. If you love crowds, visit on holiday. The regular temple timings are (7 am to-12noon and 3-9 pm). To keep the selfie frenzy at bay, no electronics/cameras are allowed inside the temple premises.
Later in the evening, head to the Lumbini park and enjoy the laser show. It is fantastic to watch neon lights forming amazing shapes. Do not miss the ferry ride to the Buddha statue, which is worth watching. PS: do not take the ferry before the LASER show unless you wish to skip it for the Buddha statue.
Day 2
Start early to visit the Golconda Fort(open: 9 am-5 pm). It is a large, ruined fort which is worth a visit and takes about 2 hours to explore. Walking to the top of the fort is highly encouraged for the view if you are enthusiastic about it. And if you could not google the historical information of this fort before visiting, then prefer hiring a guide for a better experience. A sound/light show is conducted every evening which you may skip if time is a constraint.QutubShahi tombs nearby are worth spending time for the photography lovers and some Instagram ready pictures.
From there, take a cab to Chowmahalla Palace, which can be explored on your own and takes 2-3 hours. The premise is distributed into different sections/palaces based on their functionality within which various types of artifacts can be found on display. The vintage car/bike collection is amazing, and one may only wish for a ride.
Day 3
Visit Ramoji film city. It takes the whole day to cover the main attractions, still leaving some parts unexplored. All the places/rides close by 5:30 pm, so manage your time accordingly. We have a special blog on Ramoji’s experience with complete details.
Day 4
Start with the Salarjung museum if history interests you. Visit the Charminar, Mekkah Masjid, and shop for some souvenirs in the nearby markets (Laad bazaar). A lot of famous eateries are located near Charminar which will never allow your stomach to rumble empty.
Few tips for fellow travelers –
Pre-book your airport transfer if you want to use a cab/taxi, though the Airport bus service is better and cheaper.
If you are visiting Ramoji city on holiday/weekends, it is better to buy their Star Experience Ticket (double the price of a general ticket) – which provides privileged entry to many attractions inside the complex. With a general ticket, you may have to wait for at least 1hour at each attraction which may sometimes kill the excitement, however, buffet lunch, water bottles, and souvenirs are included in the price.
Go to Charminar in the evening. Though it will be more crowded, you will beat the day heat, and the whole area will light up to boost up the charm of the Minar and the market.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 7/10 – an average tourist destination. 2 extra points just for delicious biryani and Ramoji Film city for which one may even re-visit Hyderabad.
Travel Expense 3/10 – nothing is overly expensive if you are not shopping for precious metals and staying at Falaknuma. One may save more by traveling in Metro and eating at local eateries, which would probably be risky post COVID.
Travel ease 8/10– Travel is easy but very tiring because of the traffic.
Food 9/10 – you will just love the place if you are non-vegetarian.
Best time to visit – winter season(October to February). As the name suggests, the city burns like the sun in summers so it is better to avoid March to June.
Lake near Jaswant Thada
How to reach–
By air – Jodhpur has a domestic airport with direct flights from Delhi, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad.
By train – Jodhpur is well connected to all major cities in India by rail route.
By road – you can easily find state-run and private buses from all major cities in North India.
Self-drive – roads in Rajasthan are perfect for road trips.
How we traveled – We did a road trip to Jodhpur twice. One was with family and another was for the conference. The route to Jaisalmer is via Jodhpur so anyone with few more days to spare can extend their trip to Jaisalmer.
Where to stay – You have plenty of options to stay in Jodhpur. From Heritage Hotels like Umed Bhawan and Ajit Bhawan to hostels like Zostel and Moustache. Paota circle area and Ratanada have most of the accommodation options(Here it is easy to get accommodation, transportation, and all attraction are only a few km away).
How to go around – Jodhpur is a small city. You can easily get a shared auto or rickshaw here. Ola/Uber is also there.
Places to visit
Mehrangarh Fort – One of the major tourist attractions in Jodhpur. Built over the hilltop, it gives a panoramic view of the city. 2-3 hours are needed to explore it. There are a museum and restaurant inside the premises. It is advisable to come here early morning(less crowded and good weather).
Jaswant Thada- Visit to Mehrangarh fort is incomplete without coming here. These beautiful Cenotaphs are built with white marble. Fort looks majestic from here.
Jaswant thada
Umed Bhawan palace- one of the most beautiful and largest private residences in the world. You will be amazed to see the place. The royal family of Jodhpur still resides here. Most of the Palace is converted to Hotel and closed for the general public. They have a small museum and vintage car collection for display. It is said that it was built during the drought period by the king to employ his people.
Umed Bhawan Palace
Osian is 90 min road trip from the main city and is home to many Hindu and Jain temples. Most of them are ruined.
There are two lakes in the desert city – Balsamand and Kailana. Balsamand is an artificial lake with a heritage hotel(once a summer resort of the king) built over it. Kailana lake is more popular among the general public and is a favorite picnic spot for the locals.
Kaylana Lake
One can also visit Mandore Gardens and Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park if time allows.
Things to do
Zipline – must-do activity if you are not afraid of heights. It is managed by Flying Fox inside the Mehrangarh fort. Charges are Rs.2000 per person for 6 ziplines. It can be booked online through the flying fox website. Wear sports shoes and jeans. Book morning or evening slots. Bring your camera for videos and photos. The crew is very friendly. Ask them to make videos of yours.
Dinner with a view – There are numerous restaurants in the old city where you can dine and enjoy the view of the Mehrangarh Fort in the backdrop. The Fort is illuminated till 10 pm(just guessing). Have a Candlelight dinner at a famous Indique restaurant at Pal Haveli with the breathtaking view of the Fort.
Tour of the old city – You must have seen the pictures of Jodhpur Old city on Instagram- Houses painted in blue. It is not so much blue now as people have started to paint their houses in different colors but still view from Mehrangarh is stunning.
Where to eat
You get to try authentic Rajasthani cuisine in Jodhpur. There are many fine-dining restaurants like Jharokha, Baradari, and Darikhana.
Try Rajasthani thali at Gypsy.
Visit Shandar sweet home and Janta sweet home for the Mirchi vada and Kachori and traditional Rajasthani food at very reasonable prices.
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
It is always better to ask the locals for directions if you are exploring the old city. Google will not help here.
Be hydrated. Take water with you everywhere.
Wear comfortable clothes. The weather is usually hot and humid there. Carry sunglasses, cap, and sunscreen with you.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 8/10 – The people, food, and the culture make this place a must-visit destination during the Rajasthan trip.
Travel Expense 1/10 – Nothing is expensive here. There is everything for everyone here.
Travel ease 9/10 – It is very easy to travel to the city and travel within the city.
Food 9/10 – You will love the food here. Be it the royal delicacy or the Mirchi vada at the street corner.
We have visited Ranthambore Tiger Reserve several times. To be exact, I have been to Tiger safari here 7 times during 4 different trips , and I was fortunate to see the Big Cat up close. Here in Ranthambore, you have a good chance of spotting these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.
our stay in Ranthambore
Days required– 1-2 days
Nearby places to go – Kota, Bundi, Tonk
Best time to visit – Tiger safari can be done throughout the year except for monsoon. Park is closed from July to September.
How to reach –
Ranthambore National Park is situated in Sawai Madhopur District which is also the nearest Railway station. The nearest airport is Sanganer Airport in Jaipur which is 190 km away. One can self-drive or hire a car from Delhi or Jaipur.
The best and cheapest way to reach is by train as there are several trains from Jaipur, Delhi, and Kota.
How we traveled – We have done a road trip from Kota as well as Jaipur. Also, we have used the rail route to reach here.
Where to stay – Because of being a popular tourist destination, Ranthambore has a wide variety of accommodations for everyone. You can stay at budget hotels, Oyo rooms, and 3-4 star resorts. There are few 5-star properties like Oberoi Vanyavilas, Vivanta By Taj, etc.
How to go around – Sawai Madhopur is a small town. After reaching here, you can take an auto-rickshaw to your accommodation. Most of the hotels are situated on the main road to the National Park. Also, there is a facility of free pickup and drop by Safari vehicle to the guest’s hotel on the day of the safari.
Places to visit –
Ranthambore fort and Ganesh Temple are situated near the entry of the National Park. One can go there by personal vehicle. No personal vehicles are allowed beyond that point.
Itinerary –
We drove to Sawai Madhopur on Saturday afternoon to celebrate Paaro’s birthday and reached there by evening. We first went to the booking counter to get our boarding passes for the morning safari. We had booked a resort which was close to the National Park gate but far from the railway station/Town. The resort was good with greenery all around and two pools for adults and kids. We had our dinner in rooms. We called the hotel reception to arrange for the cake and celebrated her birthday and slept after that as morning safari starts at 6 am.
In the morning, Canter was there on time to pick us up and after that, we went to the entry gate. There were several jeeps and canters with hundreds of visitors waiting there. We had zone 4 for the morning safari and zone 3 for the evening safari. The safari time is 3 hours. We entered our zone after a few minutes and everyone was excited to get a sight of the tiger. The guide was telling stories of the tiger reserve and the last few sightings. I was hopeful but not so excited as I knew chances of sightings are usually very less as I had not spotted any tiger in my last 2 visits to the park before. The third time is the charm as just after 30 minutes into the jungle, we spotted a tiger, big and lazy one resting near a small water body. Everyone took their mobile phones, DSLRs out, and started filming. I could not believe my eyes as the tiger was just a few meters away from us ignoring the screams of the human beings as if he didn’t care what was happening around him. My adrenaline shot to another level when he started walking towards our vehicle. The guide asked everyone to shut up and stop shooting photographs. There was a pin drop silence as he was walking past the vehicle. I was on the window side and it was an open vehicle, I could hear the sound of his tail touching the vehicle. It was the moment filled with excitement as well as terror. When he was at the safe distance, the guide told us that we can now take the photographs. He told us that usually they don’t attack humans but clicks and flashes of Camera irritates them and no one can take chances with this big cat.
We were in the company of this majestic creature for almost an hour before he disappeared in the bushes. For the rest of the safari, everyone was busy discussing the tigers and showing their photographs. They dropped us at our resort at around 9:30 am. We had our breakfast and took some rest. We checked out from our room and asked the hotel reception to take care of our luggage and we went for the evening safari. We were again lucky to see two tigers again there.
I think it was the best birthday celebration for Paaro. We drove back in the evening to reach home late at night where we again celebrated her birthday with our friends.
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
Book your safari well in advance(at least 1 month or you will have to choose from zones that don’t have a Tiger population) through Govt. Operated site. They will give the option of choosing dates, shifts as well as zones. Canter(capacity of 30 persons) is easily available but the Jeep(capacity of 6 persons) safari is costly and difficult to get.
Reach a day before your safari. Book a nice hotel/resort for the night. Get a boarding pass in advance for your safari(Yes, boarding pass need to pick up from the booking counter even after online booking of tickets).
Canter/Jeep will pick you from your hotel if you inform them while getting the boarding pass. Leave your contact no. with them.
Safari is closed during monsoon. In winter, it is greener and scenic for a jungle safari. In summer, you get a better chance of spotting tigers near water bodies.
Have your Govt. photo ID and photocopy of the online ticket with you for boarding pass.
There are 10 zones in Ranthambore, but Zones 1-5 have a maximum population of tigers. The tourists always prefer Zone 3 because of high probability of spotting a Tiger as there are many water bodies inside it.
Few new information –
The booking center/ boarding pass counter is shifted to Shilpgram.
Better to go for boarding pass collection 2 hours before the safari as this has to be passed on to the driver of your canter/gypsy which will be there near the counter before the safari.
Collecting boarding pass is a very tiring job and highly mismanaged so better to ask for help from the hotel manager who will either do it for a small tip or for free. Your vehicle will come to your hotel to pick you up for the safari.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Overall rating 9/10 – Ranthambore is one of the best places for tourists as well as photographers for a Tiger Safari.
Travel Expense 2/10 Travelling to Ranthambore and Tiger safari is not so expensive. If you book a luxury stay and Jeep for a safari only then you have to spend extra bucks for the trip.
Travel ease 9/10 – Despite a small town, there are many trains from Jaipur, Kota, and Delhi for Sawai Madhopur. From there, you will easily get autos to your hotel.
A small town in Punjab and one of the holiest Sikh sites was founded by Guru Tegh Bahadur. It was here around 300 years back where Guru Gobind Singh Ji formed the Khalsa Panth.
Days required– Day trip from Chandigarh
Nearby places to go – Naina Devi Temple
Best time to visit – From October to February. Hola Mohalla is celebrated every year in March around Holi
How to reach – 90 Km from Chandigarh, this place can easily be reached by road and rail route. The bus stand and railway station are situated nearby the Kesh Garh Gurudwara.
How we traveled – We self drove to Anandpur Sahib as we covered Naina Devi Temple on the same trip.
Where to stay – If you are traveling from Chandigarh, there is no need to stay here and you can reach Chandigarh by night, otherwise there are plenty of budget options here to stay for a night.
How to go around – Anandpur Sahib is a small town with all tourist destinations nearby. If you are boarding a bus, the main gurudwara is just a walk away. You can also use the local taxis or auto-rickshaws for roaming around.
Places to visit
Gurudwara Keshgarh Sahib – It is the most sacred place for Sikhism in the town. It is the place where Guru Gobind Singh Ji formed the Khalsa Panth. Anandpur Sahib Fort – this town was once fortified by majestic five forts. Of these, the main fort built in red brick is still standing.
Virasat-e-Khalsa – this museum was built to commemorate the 300 years of the Khalsa Panth. It has two complexes- western and eastern complex connected by a footbridge and large pool and cafeteria. Galleries inside the complex tell the history of Punjab and Sikhism.
Where to eat – we didn’t try any local eateries here but you should eat at the Langar(Community Kitchen at Gurudwara). You can also offer your service in the kitchen if you have time.
Itinerary – we first headed for Naina Devi temple, one of the 52 Shaktipeeths. You can reach the temple by bus or your vehicle. Also, there is a cable car service to reach the temple. Enjoy the beautiful views on the way to the temple.
From there, we reached Anandpur Sahib in an hour. We rushed to Virasat-e-Khalsa as it is the only place with a time limit and closes by 5 pm. Entry is free but you have to pay for the parking. It is spread over the large area and takes 2-3 hours to cover. There are large water pools with gardens all around it. Inside the complex, there are so many beautiful galleries explaining Sikh history and culture. You can also get a free audio guide(machine) if you are interested in knowing all about the Sikhism. The only disappointing thing about the place is that photography is not allowed inside the galleries.
From there, we reached Keshgarh Gurudwara. It is a large complex with a main gurudwara in the center and sacred pool and ground on the one side and large parking space and langar hall. You get to see the personal belongings and weapons of the Guruji inside the Gurudwara. Visiting this place in the evening has its perks as you get to see the sunset and the illuminations and eat at the langar.
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
Naina Devi Temple – Avoid coming here on weekends and festivals otherwise you have to wait to hours for the Darshan.
Virasat-e-Khalsa is closed on Mondays.
If you are visiting Anandpur Sahib in March for Hola Mohalla Festival, you will find a huge amount of crowd( lakhs of people visit during that time).
Overall rating (it is subjective and my personal opinion) 7.5/10
Travel Expense 1/10 – there is no expense here other than traveling and meals.
Travel ease 8/10 – it is easily reachable from Chandigarh and trains and buses are connecting this town to many cities in Punjab and Himachal.
This one was the ‘cherry on the cake’ of all the trips I made in 2019. And just a slight exaggeration to add to its worthiness, we canceled our trip to Singapore, or rather I should say that we postponed it, to have a lovely excursion with 2 of my best mates and their wives and one kid. A family vacation in Goa. Subtle right!! And we do not regret it at all. (PS: this was not sarcastically said if you might be thinking so).There is so much more to explore in Goa than only Beaches and cheap liquor. However, one thing that we missed because of it being a family trip was Goa’s Nightlife.
Let’s get into the details…
Days required– 4-5 days(more the merrier)
Nearby places to go – Goa although is the smallest state in India but still, everything can’t be covered in a single trip. Don’t miss the Dudhsagar trip.
Best time to visit –November to February is the peak tourist season here. Prices hike up during Christmas and new year.
Summers here are really hot plus humid to explore the region but early morning and late evening one may be able to sit and relax at the beaches.
Monsoon paints Goa in a completely different color, especially South Goa but beach activities become highly restricted and shacks around them are closed. But this offseason makes Goa lighter on the pocket and very picturesque.
Dudhsagar is also closed during heavy rainfall.
How to reach –
By Air – Panjim has Dabolim airport which has very good connectivity to all major cities in the country.
By Rail – Margao in South Goa and Vasco in the central region are the two main railway stations that connect to all major cities in the country.
By road – many buses (govt. As well as private) runs from nearby states.
Self-drive – people from Maharashtra and Karnataka prefer a road trip to Goa because of the terrain around the roads which is highly soothing.
How we traveled – All three of us couples were at three different cities – Jaipur, Ludhiana, and Mumbai. We reached Delhi by train and then took a direct flight to Goa. The other two met in Mumbai and reached Goa by train.
Where to stay – Like most of us, much of our planning time was wasted in deciding that we should book accommodation in North or South Goa and finally we fixed on an Airbnb in Colva, South Goa.
You can stay in North Goa, Panjim or South Goa. Each one has its pros and cons.
A complete review of the Airbnb stay and South/North Goa dilemma will be published separately so that you can decide for yourself.
our stay in south goa
How to go around – Use GOAMILES for airport pick up and drop facility (available on play store). They are the Uber/Ola of Goa(these services are not available in Goa). Taxi union rates are quite high in Goa. It is fairly easy to roam in and around Goa. Rent a 2/4-wheeler for your own and the rental shops can be found almost everywhere where they provide rental scooters, bikes, and cars. Another option is booking a whole day taxi for yourself but it will cost you around Rs.3000-4000 depending on the distance and time.-
Places to visit – The list will be long if I start mentioning the beaches to visit in Goa. Here are a few beaches popular among visitors.
North Goa – Most loved and famous beaches in Goa and hence are crowded too. Nightlife, water activities, from cozy relaxing beds to a candlelight dinner by the beach…You name it and it would be there. With permanent and temporary shacks along the whole stretch of the beach which offer good music, beer and the happening vibe one just cannot get bored here. From morning sunbath to late-night chills everything is possible.
Candolim, Baga, and Calangute beaches are the most famous ones. Another one worth mentioning is the Sinquerim beach near Aguada fort for its quiet and peaceful vibes.
South Goa – Down south, it is the complete opposite of the North Goa. Beaches here are much cleaner, greener, and less crowded than North Goa. Colva, Agonda, Palolem, Butterfly beach are some of the famous names in South Goa. These have become popular because of their good mix of quietness and liveliness at the same with strings of shops, eateries, and resorts. These are located 30-50km from the Goa airport.
Water Activities – parasailing, boat rides, banana rides, jet ski, and other activities are common at Baga and Calangute beach.
Casino – Big Daddy, Casino Pride, Casino Pride 2 are some on-shore casinos at River Mandovi. There are cover charges which include entry and dinner at Casino. Goa is the only place in India where you can have this experience.
Arpora Saturday night market – close to Bagabeach., starts after 7 pm and only on Saturdays. This is kind of a flea market where one can enjoy live music with shopping for Goa souvenirs, itsy bitsy stuff, and food stalls. Variety of hippy clothes, decorative items, artificial jewelry, face masks, and much more to make you Goa party-ready would be available here.
Chapora fort – more commonly known as Dil Chahta hai Fort is an old ruined fort in North Goa. The best time to visit the fort is early morning or evening as it is exhausting to cover this fort in the noon. But it offers good scenic backgrounds of the Vagator beach.
Dudhsagar waterfalls – 70km from the airport, this majestic waterfall is a part of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary. Falling from a height of 1000ft, this waterfall can be reached by a jeep or one may trek(10km). For a comfortable trip, reach the booking counter in time, pay for the jeep and life jacket and you are good to go. Also, there are few trek routes to reach the waterfalls which are around 10-14 km long and give you some of the amazing views of the waterfall.
Sahakari spice plantation – On the way back to Goa from Dudhsagar falls, usually, there is a stop at this spice plantation that provides an informative tour of the spice garden and Goan meal for the entry fee of Rs.400 per person.
Fountainhas – Reminder of Portuguese culture and history in India, this place is usually missed by the visitors in Goa. Best explored on foot, these colorful narrow streets have monuments and houses dated back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
Churches of Goa – Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral, and Church of St. Francis of Assisi are located in Panjim just opposite to each other. There is also an archeological museum nearby.
Se Cathedral houses the Golden Bell which is the largest in Goa and among the best in the world.
Basilica of Bom Jesus is one of the oldest churches in India and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There is one beautiful church in Panjim – Immaculate Conception Church which reminds of the Portuguese influence in Goa.
Where to eat – You are in Goa – Land of fish and feni. Do try their Goanthali and beer. They have a wide variety of seafood – crabs, prawns, fish, lobster. Also, you can find eateries serving other local and international cuisines as well-.
Itinerary –
Day 1 – we took an early flight for Goa and reached there at 8 am. We booked a cab through Goamiles(which is much cheaper than local taxi union rates) to our Airbnb accommodation in Colva, South Goa. Just after crossing the highway, we felt that our decision of staying in south goa was correct. It was a single road with greenery all around with a few vibrantly colored houses scattered on the stretches around.
It took roughly 30min to reach and check-in, and after unpacking some stuff we ordered our breakfast through Swiggy(yes, both Zomato and Swiggy are available there). Our friends arrived around 12 Noon and a little later, the first thing we did was to get rental bikes. They provide free pick up and drop facility. Rent the vehicle acc. To your need. You can take a bike, scooter, or car. Usual timing is 9 am to 6 pm but you can bargain with the owner for time and rent fee. Refuel according to your need as they don’t refund/return fuel and you will not find fuel station easily in South Goa. For emergencies, every other shop around, sell fuel for some extra charge.
We first had lunch at a restaurant nearby. It was really hot outside around 2 pm even in November so we waited there till 4 pm and then headed for our stop – the MOBOR Beach which was 15 km from Colva. The way to the beach was very scenic with some villages in between, paddy fields, a few swamps, and churches. Not completely desolate but you will find very few vehicles and very few tourists there and the same was the case when we reached the beach. Other than a dozen of foreigners, there was no one on the beach. Clear water with shades of green&blue was so tempting that we could not stop ourselves from getting into it. After spending an hour for the blissful photo session here, we headed for another beach nearby – VARCA Beach. This one was too so pleasant to stay and we just relaxed here and witnessed the sunset.
We came back to our resort in the evening and enjoyed the lazy night with pizza and beer.
Day 2
We had booked an Innova for the North Goa tour as it was 50 km from Colvawhich made the day convenient for us as a group with a kid. This is a major and probably the only disadvantage of staying in South Goa. As a first time visitor, we did not want to miss the north goa experience too. Our first stop was Chapora Fort(aka DIL CHAHTA HAI Fort). It was my strong desire to get to this fort with my dearest friends and get clicked there. The cherry on the cake was that we found a small trek near to fort which had the clear blue ocean at its end which was kind of a cliff(but not exactly as one would assume). Almost a deserted walkway, full of nature and an oceanic breeze to welcome you, one may spend a complete day here itself. The view from the fort was mesmerizing with the endless ocean till the horizon in the front and a beach with a large green patch covered with palm trees on its sides. However, it was again very hot and humid that day but, the water bottles, hats, and the sunscreens kept us going and exploring the landscape even in the scorching heat.
We had lunch as we left Chapora fort and again waited for 2 hours to get past the bright sunshine. We reached the Baga beach around 4 pm. There are sufficiently big parking spaces and a tourist information center and the bathing facility near the beach. On the beach, many shacks were serving cold beer and seafood. We rented beds in front of the beach(Rs.100 per hour) to relax there. Few of us went for parasailing there which took an hour. If you had tried water activities anywhere else then there is no need to repeat it here as it is very crowded here at Baga. Also, one has to be careful while booking these water activities. For example, they charge Rs 900 for 1min of para-sailing at the booking counter by the beach. Now, once you are in the actual boat, the person-in-charge there will tell you that for Rs1400 we will increase the time to 5min. Now, one may think that he has to pay the difference amount which is Rs500 but no, they usually mean Rs 1400 above Rs 900 already paid. So, they may scam you by overcharging. So, keep it clear that what will be the amount before getting on the parachute to avoid an unnecessary argument.
After sunset, the beach got all sparkling with the lights around the shacks and the relaxing beds were replaced by the dinner tables decorated with candles on them. Later we left for Arpora Night Market (it opens only on Saturdays). This is a flea market where local and international artists and sellers had their products such as clothing items, decorative, jewelry, perfumes, etc on sale. After the tour, I can say that we should have stayed at the beach for a few more hours to enjoy the illumination, music, food at the beach. Also, we had a time restriction on our taxi booking and hence we had to leave early as we were 50 km away from our stay. So for everyone who doesn’t want to miss the lively nights of Goa, I recommended them to book their accommodation in North Goa.
Day 3
We had it reserved for the Old Goa trip and again hired Innova as we found it to be a more economical and comfortable option. We reached Old Goa and visited the Basilica of Bom Jesus, St. Cathedral, and Church of St. Francis of Assisi. They all are situated just across the road. Basilica of Bom Jesus has the St Francis Xavier’s tomb preserved carefully for the devotees. After lunch, we visited another beautiful Church – Immaculate Conception Church in Panaji. Most of us would have watched it Bollywood movies shot in Goa. It has very intriguing geometrical symmetries when seen from the outside. We had planned to visit Dauna Paula beach as well but it was closed for some reason so, we decided to return to our resort in the evening. We had the whole evening available and the pool in the resort was kind of inviting us. We arranged some music in the background and it was fun partying and relaxing with friends after 2 days of sightseeing.
Day 4
We woke up at 4 am for the Dudhsagar trip. We started at 5 am in our Innovaand reached there by 6:30 am. A few cars were already there. Local shops started opening and we had tea and Maggi for breakfast. The booking counter opens at 8 am which books a jeep for you. Then life jackets are rented compulsorily. We were the first one in the queue for the entry and it has its benefit as we were in the first batch to reach the waterfalls and afterward, it became so much crowded. A 4×4 Jeep takes you through the rough bumpy 45 min ride to the parking near the falls and then you have to walk for 10-15 min to reach the actual site. A gigantic waterfall coming through big rocks in its glory and collecting at the ground in an area of roughly 100 yards which makes itself a natural swimming pool is a treat to watch. Although none of us knew swimming, the life jackets on us gave the confidence to jump in that deep chilling water with stones beneath and fishes swimming along with us. It was frightening initially because we were literally floating on the water just with the help of the life jackets, but later it was fun only. An operational bridge with railway tracks on it halfway up on the waterfall with the occasional passage of train reminds of the scene from the movie Chennai Express.
The same driver dropped us back at the starting point. We witnessed a mild traffic jam inside the jungle on our way back to the booking counter because of the people coming later. Such conditions arise due to the fact that every vehicle gets 1.5hr to spend at the waterfall after which they should return. But because this time seems to be so less, usually people end up spending at least an hour more (for which they pay an extra amount)- which creates overcrowding at the location.
On the way back to Colva, we made a stop at a spice plantation. Though it was my idea to visit this place I regretted it when I tasted the food there. This place is nothing less than a scam as they charge Rs.400 per person for a tour and buffet meal which sounds good but after taking the first bite, you will know that you wasted your money here. Tour was good and informative. They also let you try their FENI but the food was awful.
In the evening, we decided to check out the famous Casinos in Panaji, our friends had a train to Mumbai and we had an extra night and day to us in Goa. I rented the scooter(Bike and car were not available at that time) and reached Panjim which took 2 hours(35 km)as there was heavy traffic on the way. We had to go back 35 km on a 2-wheeler so, we decided to cut short our trip to Casino. We went to Casino Pride 2 which is a newer version of their old onshore casino at Mandovi river. After paying for the cover charge, a speedboat takes you to Casino on the river. It was a 3-floor casino with 1st and 2nd floor comprising of all game tables and slot machines and the 3rd floor was the dining area with a dance floor where there was a dance group performing. We tried our hand at a few tables and slot machine games won a few bucks and headed back home.
Day 5
We had an evening flight so we decided to go to Colva beach which was a 5min ride from our stay. Beach was very different in the morning with very people there. Few foreign tourists swimming and locals going for catching fishes. We spent 3 hours there doing nothing but I think it was the best time of our trip.
We went back to our resort, got ready, and paid for the rental vehicle, and booked a cab through GOAMILES to the airport.
Expenses (2 people) for the entire trip – Rs.50000
Flights – Rs.19000
Airbnb – Rs.6100(our share for 4 nights)
Train(Ludhiana to Delhi and back) – Rs.4350(3AC)
Uber/Ola/Metro(Delhi/Ludhiana)- Rs.600
Taxi (Innova) for a day trip in Goa -3300(our share). Taxi cost around Rs3000-4000 for a day
Water activity – Rs.1300(parasailing at Baga Beach)
Dudhsagar trip – taxi to Dudhsagar –Rs.3000(Innova) + Rs500(Jeep safari per person fees) + 40(lifejacket charges) + Rs.50(per person Forest dept. fees) + Rs.300(each extra hour). Our share was Rs.2450.
Spice plantation visit – Rs.400 per person(tour and food included in fees)
Liquor – Rs.1250(my share. Liquor is very cheap there)
Goamiles/Uber(Pickup and drop from Dabolim Airport and Delhi Airport) – 1500
Bike rental and petrol-500+500+350 =1350
Food- Rs.4200
Shopping- Rs.350
Casino-Rs.3000(cover charges for a couple inclusive of entry and dinner and Rs.1000 coupon for playing)
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
Choose your accommodation wisely. If you are in Goa for nightlife, stay in North Goa or Panjim. If you are looking for some peacetime and secluded clean beaches, stay in South Goa.
Before renting any vehicle, check out its condition properly. Best is to make a video in front of the owner or shop before renting to avoid any dispute later. Confirm fuel status and pick up/drop facility and timings. Always ask for a new vehicle.
Try Goamiles App if you are not a fan of a self-driving vehicle. It is very cheap when compared to taxi rates there.
It is very costly to visit Goa in December especially in the last week of the year so if you are planning for a new year celebration in Goa, then plan and book accommodation and flights well in advance.
Casinos in Goa are open 24*7 but they become lively after sunset. Most of them are on the Mandovi river. Casino pride 2 and Big Daddy are the most preferred choices. They have cover charges usually ranging from Rs.1500-3000 per person and dress code. Do check out their website or call them before visiting.
Booking for Dudhsagar opens at 8 am. Reach there in advance for early safari. It gets crowded afterward. Carry swimwear and towels and water bottles with you. It is closed in monsoon and treks to falls are risky too.
Ratings(it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Overall rating 9/10 The beaches of south Goa, a beach party in north goa, and casinos and churches in Panjim make Goa equally popular among domestic and international visitors.
Expense 5/10 – Costly as compared to other big cities or tourist destinations. Flights cost around Rs4000-5000 and taxis are costly there. No Ola/Uber. Public transportation is not so popular among tourists. The only cheaper option is rental vehicles.
Travel ease 9/10 – Travelling in and around Goa is fairly easy as you can get rental vehicles everywhere. The only issue will be when you want to go North goa from south Goa or vice versa as they are 40-50 km apart and it is very tiring and time-consuming.
Food– I will not rate the food in Goa as I was not able to try any of the local cuisine or seafood as all other members were vegetarian including my wife. I hope to get another chance to taste the seafood of Goa.
A place which homes intellectuals, musicians, and Durga Puja, Kolkata is the second largest city of India and used to be its first capital. With architecture highly influenced by the British, it also happens to be one of the oldest and most populated cities of the country. A city so lively where people celebrate cricket and football as enthusiastically as they are devoted towards the Durga and Saraswati Pooja festivities. Their Rosogullas are as sweet as their language “Bengali”. And this is just the start of the introduction to this city rightly called to be the ‘City of Joy’. Visit Kolkata for the delicacies that will refresh your taste buds forever impregnated with their unique taste. And the peace of Ganges you will feel over the chaos of Howrah bridge will be one of your forever memories.
Please do visit the gallery section of the website for the photo gallery of the trip.
Days required– 4-5 days(Add 1 day extra If you are interested in Sundarbans Tour)
Nearby places to go – Sundarbans National Park
Best time to visit – from October to February
How to reach – Kolkata is one of the 4 metro cities of India and has an extensive network of railways and roadways and an International/Domestic Airport connected to all major cities in India.
How we traveled– We took a flight from New Delhi toNetajiSubashchandra Bose Airport, Kolkata.
Where to stay – We booked an Oyo room in the Park Street area. Park Street is one of the tourist attractions and most of the other visit-worthy places are within its 5-10 km radius. Also, the availability of many food options and super easy transportation are other add-ons.
How to go around – Kolkata has local buses, autos, yellow taxis, Ola/Uber, trams as well as a Metro line. Anything can be chosen as per the convenience and commute requirement.
Places to visit
Victoria Memorial
Howrah Bridge
Park Street
Sundarbans National Park
South Park Cemetery
Dakshineshwar Temple
Belur Math
Fort William
Prinsep Ghat
Old Chinatown
Kumartuli
Mother Teresa House
National Library
Alipore Zoo
Science City
Indian Museum
Eden Gardens
Marble Palace Mansion
Amitabh Bachchan Temple
Places like Eden Gardens, Old Chinatown, Science city, Birla Planetarium, zoo, National Library, Fort Williams can be missed.
Where to eat –Kolkata is a food Paradise for the foodies as well as for the food bloggers. You need to have many extra days and a big appetite to cover all the famous food joints in the city. We tried many and missed many.
famous puchkas of Kolkata
Kosha Mangsho at Golbari(Shyam bazaar) – A small food joint offering delicious non-vegetarian cuisine of Kolkata. The place is so small that barely 10 people can sit and eat there.
Indian Coffee House – Go here for the breakfast coffee and absorb the century-old memories this place offers you. The food here may not be “wow” but the prices certainly are.
Balwant Singh Eating House is another Legendary food outlet that remains open for almost 24 hours.
Kolkata Biryani at Arsalan – has many franchise outlets all over the city. We tried at the outlet on Park Street.
Chicken Kabiraji at Mitra Cafe
Mishti Doi at Balram Mullick
Kathi Rolls – Try at Nizam’s(the one who invented them) and Kusum’s(I liked it here more)
Puchkas – King of the Street Food and much better version of North Indian Golgappas- Try them at Vivekanand park, Vardaan Market, or at Dalipda’s.
Rossagullas – There are so many shops selling so delicious rossagullas that I may forget a few names to mention here. Just like Puchkas, Bengali Rossagullas are very different from the Rasgullas available in other parts of the country. Try them at K.C. Das, Balaram Mullick, Nobin Chandra Das, G C Dey, or at B.C. Nag.
Itinerary –
Day 1
We stayed in an Oyo Hotel in Park street. Arsalan and South Park Cemetery were within walking distance from our Hotel. We were happy to see one of the tram lines crossing from the front of our hotel but unfortunately, the operations were closed for some time as told by the hoteliers. Many travelers imagine Kolkata as a very congested city but we found it to be similar to any other metro city in that respect from the airport till Park Street.
We started late in the evening and took a yellow taxi for Princep Ghat. Already excited from the amazing pictures of this place on Instagram we reached there to witness a greek-gothic style monument with a backdrop of Vidyasagar Setu. It is a favorite recreational place among the people of Kolkata. They bask in its serenity strolling along the bank of river Hugli and enjoy boating. From here, we took a cab to Howrah Bridge where we wanted to feel the historic bridge bouncing below our feet while walking across it. This connecting bridge between Howrah and Kolkata is estimated to carry around 100000 vehicles and several lakhs of pedestrians daily. And, we were overwhelmed and amazed at the same time looking at this life-sized canvas of Kolkata lifestyle.However, many among the crowd were also amazed to see us taking photographs of the place and their daily routine. Ferries on the river and wind blowing over the bridge floating through our hair gave us some moments to cherish for a long time. We came back to Park Street for dinner at Arsalan. I had waited to try the Kolkata Biryani for so long after eating the Lucknowi and Hyderabadi biryani. Aloo in Kolkata Biryani was the most confusing ingredient for me. However, now after having tried these three, I can say that the Hyderabadi version tops the list.
Day 2
After breakfast, we left for the“Indian Museum” founded in 1814 which is claimed to be the oldest and largest museum in India. It showcases a rare array of antiques, fossils, Mummies, Mughal era paintings, and many other things.It takes 2-3 hours to cover all the galleries and even more if you are a history lover.
From here, we boarded the Metro to reach Victoria Memorial which was the most convenient way to reach here given the vicinity of the Metro stations. Victoria Memorial is a majestic white marble building made in the memory of Queen Victoria, then Empress of India. It is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent places in the country which leaves the visitors awestruck with its gigantic structure. Inside, it has a beautiful gallery and a museum while outside there is a large garden sprawling a few acres with a pool and a fountain. Do try Jhalmuri, Dahi papdi, or fruit chat at stalls around the Victoria Memorial. This place can’t be missed if you are in Kolkata.
Adjacent to the memorial is the St. Paul’s Cathedral Church for which we made a quick stop. For lunch, we took a cab to the Balwant Singh Eating House which is a legendary food outlet that serves delicious multi-cuisines for almost 24 hours. Post lunch, we reached AliporeZoo by 2 pm and found it to be quite overcrowded and mismanaged. Visitors may carry food items inside the zoo area and littering was common. It felt more like a public park plus garbage all around. Although, we could see the Giraffe, Zebra, white tiger, etc. which are not commonly present in ordinary Indian zoos. This is one of the oldest zoos in the country. Its counterpart Mysore zoo is much better management by the Govt.
Next on our list was the “National Library” where we reached on foot. Only students bearing pass are allowed to enter the premises and visitors are issued a day pass before 4 pm to have a look around.This library is one of the oldest and largest in the country. One can stroll around the premises and main hall but without disturbing the students. We ended the tour with the famous puchkas of Kolkata near Woodland building and Kathi rolls at Nizams.It is said that the owner was the first one who made Kathi rolls which later became famous all over the country. We later tried rolls at Kusum’s(Park Street) which we found to be much better than those of Nizam’s.
Day 3
We started the day with breakfast at the Indian Coffee House. A place with almost a century-old rich heritage used to be frequented by many great visionaries including Satyajit ray, AmartyaSen, Mrinal Sen. Then we went to“Marble Palace” which is a privately owned mansion and residence of RajendraMullick’sdescendents. Built in neoclassical style, the mansion has a museum, a private zoo, and a beautiful garden. Photography is not allowed inside the premises.
We also visited “Thakurbari”, the residence of Rabindranath Tagore which is just a short walk away from the marble palace. Thakurbari has been converted into a museum with items belonging to the triumphant writer and poet on display and remains open for the public. We savored delicious Rossogullas at B.C. NAG’s and Nobin Chandra’s and lunch at a very old eatery Golbari, Shyam bazaar. The dish of Mutton Kosha they serve is so delicious.
FromShyam bazaar, we left for Kumartuli, the potter’s quarter. This area is near the river ghats and is famous for making large hand-made Durga Idols. These idols are made all round the year for all the festivals in the country and are also exported abroad. It is a photographer’s paradise and one can take a stroll around these small lanes filled up with craftsmen busy making Durga Idols.
Day 4
We reserved this day for the Sundarbans. There are a few tour agencies in Kolkata that organiseSundarbans Tour with options of a day tour, 1-night, or 2-night packages. They provide pick-up and drop facilities from the hotel. We got ready by 5 am and after 2.5 hours of a bumpy ride, we arrived at the booking center of Sundarbans National Park. From this point onwards, a boat takes you further for the rest of the Journey through the creeks surrounded by mangrove forests. There are 3 watchtowers in this national park but in a day tour, you may cover two of them however for very short durations lasting only 15-20 minutes each. The whole day is spent in the boat awaiting a glimpse of the Bengal Tiger. We were not so lucky that day in sighting and had to satisfy our desire with water birds and some other animals only. Very basic breakfast and lunch are provided on the boat. The tour guide tried to make the trip interesting and engaging by telling the facts about animal life in the national park but usually very few paid attention to him as the purpose of the tour was not fulfilled. We got exhausted after a long day spent on the boat ride and road journey and reached Kolkata by 9 pm. At last, the juicy and tasty Kusum’s Kathi rolls only saved the day.
Day 5
The final day in this city, and we had little time to cover some more of the city before our flight scheduled at 1630 hrs. South Park Cemetery which has quite an interesting history was just a walk away from our hotel. It might sound unusual, but it is a listed heritage site with almost 250-year-old tombstones inside. However, it is not used as a cemetery anymore and is open for tourists. We spent a good one hour there.
Balram Mullick sweet shop sells some relishing MishtiDoi nearby and we got to understand only after tasting it here that how this variety of curd has become so famous.
We finally visited a less known place and it is plausible that even locals may not be familiar with this place – the “Amitabh Bachchan Temple” at Shridhar Roy road. It is maintained by Amitabh Bachchan Fans Association. Though it was closed for renovation and all the photos and collections had been removed, but we got to meet the superfan and the owner of the place, Mr. Sanjay. He briefed us about the place, its history, his devotion to Amitabh Ji and all the charity work done by the organization. He invited us to see this place in all its glory on Bachchanji’s Birthday.
We then left for the airport and boarded our flight for Delhi carrying all the sweet memories of this wonderful and humongous city.
Expenses(for two-person) –Rs 38000
Train to Delhi and back – Rs 5500
Return flights(Delhi to Kolkata)- Rs14000
Accommodation(Oyo Townhouse) Rs. 6000
SundarbansTour(Day tour) – Rs.5600
Taxi/Ola/Uber- Rs.2600
Meals- Rs3200
Entry fees/ticket –Rs500
Shopping – Rs750
Quick tips for fellow travelers–
Travel like locals and use public transport. No need to spend on Ola/Uberevrytime. There are plenty of easily accessible options in Kolkata.
Plan a one night trip for Sundarbans otherwise you will be just wasting your whole day.
Stay near Park street. It will save you time and money.
Many tourist attractions remain close on Monday. Check before making your itinerary.
A permit is needed for entry in Marble Palace which needs to be taken from Tourist Information Bureau at BBD bag.
Book Sundarbans Tour a week before and confirm pick up and drop from your hotel.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Overall rating 9/10 – This city has so much to offer. You will love the food and the people here. Kolkata has over century-old buildings, shops, trams.
Travel Expense 2/10 – Nothing is costly here. Kolkata is expensive only when you want to eat fancy and stay at a luxury hotel.
Travel ease 10/10– We traveled in the metro, autos, yellow taxis, Uber/Ola as well as local buses. It is very easy to roam around the city.
Food 10/10 – If I haven’t said enough then I am again saying that you will need to extend your stay here just to try all the tasty food the city offers.
Manali has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in India and remains full of tourists throughout the year. Apart from the usual hill station tourist attractions, Manali now has a relatively new concept to offer which we explored and enjoyed celebrating our 4thwedding anniversary. What if we told that you don’t have to go to a Scandinavian country to experience an Igloo anymore?? That’s right… You may experience it well in Manali. Read on….
Days required– 2 days(1 more if you have not visited Manali-Kullu before)
Nearby places to go – Kullu, Solang Valley, Rohtang Pass( depending on the season)
Best time to visit – Jan-Feb (Igloos need good snowfall to be prepared. Snowfall usually starts in January. In March, these igloos starts to melt and we have to wait for the next winter)
How to reach – Manali can be easily reached by road. Plenty of state-run and private buses are available for Manali from Delhi and Chandigarh.
There is no rail network or airport in Manali.
From Manali, it is about an hour’s drive to these Igloos. Transfers to Igloo is provided in 4×4 vehicle by the tour agency/igloo owner on a sharing basis.
Our Experience of Igloo Stay
We reached Manali early morning by HimsutaVolvo(HRTC) and took a taxi to the hotel to get some rest. The Igloo owners provided us a room in the hotel for a nominal price. By 11 am, we were ready for the transfer. They provided us a snow dress and snow boots. It took us 45min to reach the Village “Sethan”. It was an uphill ride with very rough roads. As we were ascending, the terrain kept changed quickly. Snow clad roadsides and beautiful Deodar and spruce covering the valley made the view highly picturesque. We stepped out of the vehicle and were amazed to see the beauty of Sethan village covered in the snow. We were in the awe of this place only till we were asked to step downhill for about 100m to reach the Igloo. It was unexpectedly hard for people like us who are not used to anything beyond a moderate level of trekking. However, after a few minutes, we started getting amused by the adventure walking down along the snowy paths falling and sliding towards the Igloos for about 30 minutes.
There were five Igloos the same as seen in the movies and as I had imagined them to be. On arrival, we were provided some hot water and tea/coffee while the lunch preparations started. Our excitement knew no bounds amidst a lot of snow and made it a highly unanticipated kind of the first experience. After having coffee, we started running here and there like rabbits taking photographs from all the possible angles. The management had snow skating gears available for anyone willing to try it. Also, they had prepared a snow slide and swing for fun activities. Interestingly, they also had a warm house made with plastic sheets and a chimney kept inside for those who wanted to stay warm. We played with snowballs and made a snowman while we lived our unfulfilled childhood aspirations. By the time we were exhausted, lunch was ready and we had some scrumptious rice, rajma, and kadhi. As the day passed, we ordered tea/coffee/Maggi several times to overcome the cold. The temperature dipped further with the sunset. In the evening, they started Bonfire for us and we played music on their speakers. We could not have expected a day to be better than this. For the night, the place was decorated with fancy LED lights complimented with music in the background, everything was so magical. We enjoyed the evening with Chicken and paneer for dinner. After staying around the Bonfire till 9 pm we went inside our Igloo thereafter as the temperature fell to -15 degrees in the night.
The igloos here have been prepared with hard snow blocks and their floor, ceiling, and walls are ice. It’s a sturdy round dome-like structure with a narrow entrance having a snow bed in the center. The height is enough to allow us to stand comfortably but not spacious to roam freely inside similar to a camping tent suitable for 2 persons. You can just sit or sleep inside the Igloo. A plastic carton was provided to keep the backpacks and other stuff to prevent it from getting wet from the icy surroundings. A small bulb lights up the igloo and is the only electric connection inside which means no mobile charging point is available. Additionally, portable emergency light for the night is provided by the management. A very basic toilet facility was set up nearby with no bathing option(pretty obvious though). With water so chilling that even washing hands was no less than a dire dare, we didn’t give bathing any thoughts. Changing the clothes was a task in itself because of the cold which was making the hands numb if gloves were taken off even for a few seconds. But hey, isn’t that what one would expect from a stay in the Igloos???
The management staff was really friendly and helpful. They prepared each igloo for the night and equipped us to face the chilling night ahead. We were provided a hot water bag for keeping our legs warm. Then there were two layers of warm cover and a sleeping bag. Over it, there was a warm blanket to maintain the warmth for a comfortable night. The Temperature inside was 8-9 degrees more than that of the outside. We slept like babies the whole night. I woke up early in the morning and enjoyed walking around the place. We sipped the morning tea/coffee on a snow table and had parantha and omelet for the breakfast. By then, it was time to say goodbye to the camp as our transfer vehicle was waiting for us on the road. Climbing up the snowy path seemed even more difficult than the descend as Paaro, and one more guest almost slipped on one of the narrow paths. After 20min of the trek, we were back on our way to Manali.
We reached their hotel and rested for an hour and had some snacks in the restaurant. Our bus was departure was scheduled in the evening that day, and we spent the remaining time exploring Manali. The hotel staff helped us book a cab and we enjoyed the trip to Hidimba Temple, Vashishtha Temple, Clubhouse and Mall Road. We paid the driver and spent the last 2 hours on the Mall road, had dinner later and reached the bus stand to board our bus to Chandigarh.
Expenses for two people –Approx. Rs 18000
Volvo bus from Chandigarh – Rs 1200 per person each side
Igloo stay(inclusive of meals) Rs 5000 per person
Transfer to Igloo, Both side –Rs 3500(on sharing basis)
Taxi to hotel and Local Manali tour- Rs200 + Rs 700
Meals –Rs 1000
Quick tips for fellow travelers–
Book your visit in January(preferably late January). You can witness fresh snowfall.
Bargain well with Taxi drivers in Manali for local tours.
Be ready for harsh weather conditions.
This stay is not advisable for children and the elderly.
Things to carry for Igloo stay- Thermal Innerwear, waterproof gloves, woolen socks(3-4 pairs), Jacket, woolen cap, sunscreen, general medicines/prescribed medicines.
There is no mobile connectivity around the Igloo site so be prepared for some internet detoxification.
There are two bus stands in Manali – one old one(for Govt.operated local buses) is near Mall road and another new one for Volvo and private buses is just a 5 min ride from Mall road.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
overall rating 10/10 – loved the idea of Igloo stays. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, that too so perfectly managed so that guests are very comfortable even in extremely cold weather conditions.
Expense 4/10 – Both getting to Manali and reaching the Igloo is expensive.
Travel ease 7/10– Reaching Manali is easy but till Sethan, the route is very tiring and rough. An only experienced and trained driver can drive through that road and that too, in 4×4 vehicles only. And lastly, the last 100 meters road to the igloo is very tough.
Food -7/10 – Food at Igloo was average but I am not complaining as it is very difficult to provide meals there. They provide you unlimited Hot beverages and Maggi at any time you demand. The menu is limited. Veg, as well as non-veg food, was average in taste.
Located at the foothills of Shivalik range of Himalaya, Chandigarh is the first planned city of India after independence designed by Le Corbusier. Chandigarh, itself home to many gardens and is the gateway to many hill stations in Himachal.
Days required– 1-2 days
Nearby places to go – Patiala, Amritsar
Best time to visit – October to February and during monsoon
How to reach –
By air – Chandigarh has an airport with very good connectivity to all major cities in India.
By train – Chandigarh railway station is connected to all major cities.
By road – You can book the govt. or private run buses to Chandigarh from all major cities in North India.
How we traveled – We did a road trip to Chandigarh from Ludhiana. It is a 3-hour drive from Ludhiana.
Where to stay – It is a small city and you can stay anywhere in the city but if you don’t have your vehicle then don’t book stay around Zirakpur/Dariya/Industrial area. There are many hotels in Sec.22, 42 and 45.
How to go around – We had our car to roam around the city. Auto-rickshaws, taxis, Ola/Uber are easily available everywhere in the city.
Places to visit
Rock Garden – Prime attraction of Chandigarh built from complete waste, it was built by Govt. Officer Nek Chand as a hobby. Now it is spread over 25 acres of land and visited by hundreds of visitors every day.
Doll Museum inside Rock Garden
Rose Garden – Named after former Indian President Zakir Hussain, it is the home of more than 30000 varieties of trees and plants and some of the rare and exotic rose varieties. Best time to visit is around February-March when Rose festival is held here annually.
Sukhna Lake – Beautiful manmade lake is the hotspot for locals as well as visitors in the evening time. You can walk around the lake and enjoy boating.
Capitol Complex – Declared UNESCO Heritage site in 2016, it was designed by Le Corbusier. Spread over 100 acres, this place has many monuments including the Palace of Assembly or Legislative Assembly, Secretariat, High Court, Open Hand Monument, Geometric Hill and Tower of Shadows.
Pinjore Gardens- Located in Panchkula district, these magnificent garden spread over 100 acres of land.
There is Bougainvillea Garden, Cactus Garden, Japanese Garden, Hibiscus Garden, Topiary Park, and Leisure Valley. If you have time, then you can explore these gardens also.
Where to eat –
Pal Dhaba(Sec.28D) – Butter Chicken, Mutton curry, Keema Kaleji, and Lassi
Swarn Dhaba(Sec 30C) – Mutton curry and Chicken curry. This place is very small, nothing fancy and pretty basic with limited seating capacity. Also, outlet closes early.
Katani Dhaba- Vegetarian Punjabi food
Garg Chat(Sec23) – Gol Gappa, Dahi papdi, aaloo Tikki
Kulcha Land – Amritsari Kulcha
Itinerary – We have been to Chandigarh a couple of times and covered different tourist spots described above in different trips so I will help you with an itinerary which will cover most of the Chandigarh.
Day 1 – Reach Chandigarh by noon. Have lunch at Pal Dhaba then visit Rock Garden. It will take 2-3 hours to explore this place. In the evening, stroll along the Sukhna Lake. Avoid eating at stalls around the lake and go to Katani(veg)/Swarn Dhaba(non-veg) for dinner.
Day 2 – Start your day early and reach Panchkula to explore the Pinjore gardens. It will take 2-3 hours and come back to the city for Lunch. Go to Leisure Valley or Rose Garden to relax or you can visit Capitol Complex.
Try street food near Punjab University at night.
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
If you are driving here, you need to extra cautious of traffic rules as traffic police are very strict. You will be penalized for parking at the wrong spot or any other traffic rule violation.
There is not much to see at Rose garden or bougainvillea garden if you are not visiting Chandigarh in Blooming season.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 7/10 – Chandigarh is usually a gateway for all the hill stations and not a popular tourist destination in itself.
Travel Expense 2/10 – not expensive at all(depends on your choice of accommodation and meals).
Travel ease 8/10 – Chandigarh is easily reachable and you can easily roam around the city.
Food 8/10 – A few good old eateries and a wide variety of restaurants/cafe/pubs and lip-smacking street food.
