This historical city of Punjab located on the bank of river Sutlej is not a well-known tourist destination. This city is the witness of the Anglo-Sikh war. Firozpur was the largest British Garrison in India. It is only 13 km from the Indo-Pak border where every evening there is a retreat ceremony just like the Wagah Border.
Days required– 1 day trip from major cities of Punjab.
Nearby places to go – Amritsar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh
Best time to visit – from October to February and also during monsoon.
How to reach
By air- City doesn’t have an airport. The nearest airport is Amritsar airport.
By train- It has Ferozpur Cantt. Railway Station and is well connected to Delhi and other cities of Punjab.
By road – Most common and convenient way is by road. Buses are available from major cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar and Ludhiana.
How we travelled – We did a road trip from Ludhiana. It was a 2-hour journey.
Where to stay – We didn’t stay at Firozpur. There are no 4 or 5-star accommodations for a stay but few decent hotel options if you want to spend a night there.
How to go around – You can hire an auto-rickshaw to explore the city and also book it for the day for a complete tour.
Places to visit –
Hussainiwala Border – Less popular and less crowded version of Wagah Border Ceremony. Retreat ceremony takes place here before sunset daily by BSF soldiers and Pak Rangers. Timings differ in different seasons.
National Martyr’s Memorial – Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru’s dead bodies were cremated here secretly at night after being executed in Lahore. Every year on 23rd March, a fair is held here in the memory of these freedom fighters. It is adjacent to Parking area of Hussainiwala Border.
Saragarhi Memorial Gurudwara – It was built to commemorate the martyrdom of 21 Sikh soldiers of 36 Sikh regiment during the battle of Saragarhi. It is considered as one of the greatest last stands in war history. On 12th September, every year, people gather here to pay tribute to the heroic soldiers and celebrate Saragarhi Day.
Where to eat – You can try at Sher-E-Punjab and Chawla restaurant. As we didn’t stay there so we only had lunch at Chawla’s.
Itinerary –
It was raining on Sunday and I decided to go for a road trip to this place as it was just 2-hour journey from our home and we could come back the same day after attending the Retreat ceremony. We reached Firozpur by 3 pm and first searched for a restaurant for lunch. Luckily we found Chawla’s(I didn’t expect it here but now I know that Chawla’s is everywhere in Punjab). After a delicious vegetarian lunch, we asked directions for Saragarhi Gurudwara. It was just 5min away from the restaurant. We offered prayer there, clicked a few photographs and headed for Hussainiwala which was 13 km from the city. On the way, we also found a board stating –“End of the Northern Railway”
End of the Northern Railway
We reached the border check post by 4 pm and parked our car. There was an unexpectedly huge crowd there. It may be because of Sunday and very pleasant weather. Our mistake was that we didn’t take the token and went to see the memorial first. There we saw an old Railway track that was remnant of the first railway line introduced in Ferozpur.
When we went back to get the entry token, we were shocked to see a long queue there. There were approx. 1000 people waiting to enter the premises. Luckily, there was a separate line for women and my wife got tokens for both of us.
We entered the amphitheatre and saw Pakistani people sitting at a distance of 50metres. This was the major difference between Wagah and Hussainiwala. Here we could easily see the Pakistani side. Within 30minutes, both sides of amphitheatres were fully packed and many people were standing. People from both sides were dancing and singing patriotic songs. Retreat Ceremony started at 6 pm and finished at 6:30 pm with the lowering of national flags of both countries. It was a wonderful experience to witness this kind of exercise between the armies of both nations.
We reached Ludhiana at 9:45 pm.
Quick tips for fellow travellers –
Reach here 1-2 hours before the ceremony so that you can park your vehicle and take entry token for the ceremony. Parking is available nearby. Carry your Govt. approved photo ID card.
Border entry point and National Martyr’s museum is just a walk away. Collect the entry token for ceremony first as later there will be a long queue and then visit the memorial.
There are canteen, washrooms and water cooler for the visitors near the ceremony amphitheatre.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 7.5/10 – I liked Hussainiwala ceremony more as it was a smaller gathering than Wagah and you can have a better look at Pakistani side of the ceremony.
Travel Expense 1/10 – other than lunch and parking, we didn’t pay for anything else.
Travel ease 8/10 – Very easily reachable for people from Punjab and Delhi by road.
Food 8/10 – I didn’t try a lot there but the food served at Chawla’s was tasty as always.
Amritsar – City near to the Indo-Pak border, home to one of the holiest place for Sikhism and popular for Wagah Border ceremony and delicious Punjabi food.
Days required – It is a weekend trip for visitors from Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. 2 days are sufficient to explore the place.
Nearby places to go – Chandigarh
Best time to visit – during winter (October to February). Summer in North India is intolerable and should be avoided.
How to reach
By air – Amritsar has an airport with good connectivity and there are direct flights from Delhi, Jaipur, and Mumbai. Many international flights also run from here to Canada and Gulf countries.
By train – Amritsar Railway Station connects the city to all the major cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Mumbai, and Ahmadabad.
By road – There is govt. and private run bus services connecting Amritsar to all major cities in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi.
One can also self-drive or hire a car to reach here from Chandigarh and Delhi.
How we traveled – We booked a bus from Jaipur which took 14 hours to reach Amritsar but I recommend other travelers to take the train or flight as the journey was long tiring one and not comfortable at all.
Where to stay – Book your stay near Golden temple as it will be easy to roam around the city and most of the hotels are located around this area.
How to go around – Amritsar is a small city and can be easily covered by auto-rickshaws which are available everywhere around the city.
There is a HOHO(Hop On Hop Off) Bus service for tourists which covers all tourist spots of the city including Wagah border. Book the ticket online( http://amritsardekho.com) through the website or their counter near Maharaja Ranjit Singh statue on the spot.
For Wagah border, you will find many vendors around Jallianwala Bagh shouting to book the tour. You can book the whole cab (Rs.1000) or take a shared one for Rs.150-200.
Places to visit –
Golden temple complex- One of the holiest places for Sikh people, Harmandir Sahib is visited by thousands of visitors daily. Here runs the largest free kitchen serving 80000-100000 people daily. Visit here in the evening to witness the beautiful reflection of the temple in the Sarovar. Golden Temple is open 24 hours but the best time to visit is early morning(less crowd) or late evening (illumination at Temple Complex).
Jallianwala Bagh is walking distance from Golden Temple Complex. It is memorial infamous for 1919 massacre. You can see the bullet marks and the well where people jumped to save themselves from the firing.
Jallianwala Bagh
Durgiana mandir – Dedicated to goddess Durga, the temple is modeled on the Golden Temple.
Govindgarh fort- For almost a century it was hidden within a surrounding compound wall and concealed by trees and vegetation. Gobindgarh Fort is the symbol of the dramatic rise of Punjab, its golden days and then the collapse of the Sikh Kingdom when faced with the relentlessly expanding British Empire, till it’s independence. It is now open for public but is still under renovation. There is not much to see inside for now. Authorities are developing the museum, 7D shows, kid’s rides and other things to make it attractive.
War Memorial – This newly built Memorial/Museum consists of 45 meters high Sword and 8 galleries depicting the sacrifices and heroic deeds from the times of the Sikh Kingdom till Kargil operations.
Wagah border- A must visit place for every visitor in Amritsar. Every evening before sunset, the soldiers from India and Pakistan lower the flags at this international border in a perfectly coordinated way. The ceremony starts at evening just before the sunset (timings differ in different seasons). Entry is free. Reach here 1-2 hour early to get good seats (near to Indo-Pak Border gates).
Retreat Ceremony
Amritsar is not just the Golden Temple and Wagah border. There is so much more to do here. You will love the Amritsari food and local bazaar for shopping.
Where to shop – Explore the streets of Hall Bazaar, Lahori Gate Bazaar, and Guru ka Bazaar and get a variety of things like Phulkari suits and Dupattas, Punjabi Jutti(footwear) and lip-smacking Amritsari Papad. Don’t hesitate to bargain here.
Where to eat – Amritsari food is 3rd major attraction for travelers after the Golden Temple and Wagah Border.
Langar/Kara Prasad – After offering your prayers at Golden Temple have a simple meal of dal, roti, sabzi, and chawal at the largest free kitchen of the world. Don’t miss the Kara Prasad on your way out.
Amritsari Kulcha – what can be more satisfying than eating legendary Amritsari Kulcha for breakfast at All India Famous Amritsari Kulcha and Kulcha Land.
Lassi – No meal in Punjab is complete without Lassi. Try the best one at Ahuja Milk Bhandar.
Desi Punjabi khana- Eat at these 100-year-old Dhabas the delicious Punjabi thali – Bharawan Da Dhaba and Kesar Da Dhaba.
Chicken/Mutton – Non-vegetarian don’t get hopeless – Tandoori chicken at Beera and Paya of Pal Da Dhaba and mutton of Mohan Singh Dhaba is waiting for you.
Itinerary
Day 1 –
We reached Amritsar in the morning and took a cab for our hotel. We took some rest as we were tired of the bus journey. Later, we took an auto-rickshaw for Hall Bazaar for shopping. We bought some Phulkari Dupattas and reached Bharawan Da Dhaba for lunch. After eating amazing food there, we both decided to come again the next day here for lunch(though that didn’t happen). Jallianwala Bagh is 10min walk from there. Golden Temple Complex is very nearby. You don’t need any auto/cab for these places.
It was around 5 pm when we walked into Harmandir Sahib and we were awestruck and it was a different world and atmosphere there. We sat near the Lake for hours and didn’t take our eyes off the calming water of the lake with the reflection of the temple in it. Later, after offering prayer, we went to the Langar Hall. Everyone is invited here with no discrimination at all. People from all religions and culture visit this place every day. They serve a simple meal to everyone sitting the hall and you can eat as much as you want but no wastage of food is allowed.
Day 2 – HOHO bus tour
We had booked a HOHO bus tour in advance as it was covering all of Amritsar. We covered all of the major tourist destinations by noon and then after having lunch, we started our Wagah border journey.
There is a big parking facility where all the vehicles are parked. Only VIP or Army vehicles can go further than that. It is quite a distance to cover. Rickshaws were available which will drop you near the entry gate. There was a huge crowd there waiting in a long queue for the security check. There was a different queue for men and women and we had to pass through a double security check to reach the theatre area built for the ceremony.
There was construction work going on to increase the seating capacity of the area. From here, we could easily see the Pakistani people sitting at their side waving their flags and singing and shouting songs.
Just before the ceremony, an army officer with mike in hand came near the crowd and started chanting – Vande Matram, Bharat Mata ki Jai and people went mad and started dancing on the patriotic songs. It was an experience of a kind.
The ceremony starts with a parade by the soldiers from both the sides and ends up in the perfectly coordinated lowering of the two nations’ flags. It lasts for 30 minutes.
The bus dropped us near the Town Hall from where we went to visit the Durgiana Mandir to finish our Amritsar trip.
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
Make arrangements for Wagah border tour in advance as most of the cabs/taxis are booked by 3 pm and it will cost you more for a last-minute booking. You may not get a shared taxi/cab.
Even if you have your vehicle, don’t drive it around the main market area as it is very congested and you will not get a parking spot. Just take an auto-rickshaw to explore the market.
During Wagah visit, keep your bags and other things safe in cab/taxi. Take the camera, water, sunglasses, umbrella, Sunscreen lotion, wallet and any valuable items with you. You can take a camera, mobile phones, wallets and water bottles but bags of any kind are not allowed.
Govt. approved photo ID may be asked during checking at Wagah border, so better to carry one.
Be respectful at Golden Temple Complex. Cover your head all the time. Don’t take photographs at Prayer area.
You can volunteer yourself for any work at Golden Temple like serving or making food or cleaning the utensil or serving water to other visitors.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 8/10 – You get to shop, eat Punjabi delicacies and visit Golden Temple and Wagah Border in a 2-day trip.
Travel Expense 1/10 –my one of the cheapest trip.
Travel ease 8/10 – easily reachable place and easy to explore. A variety of options available according to everyone’s budget.
This trip served us two purposes – My state conference and family visit. My in-laws live in this desert town of Rajasthan. Bikaner is very famous for its Bhujiya, Rasgulle, Rat Temple(Karni Mata Temple) and Camels.
Days required – 2 days
Nearby places to go – Deshnok (Karni Mata Temple)
Best time to visit – October to February (Summer in this region can be very harsh)
How to reach
By bus – Bikaner is well connected to all the neighboring cities by state-run bus services and private bus services. It is the most convenient and fastest way to reach Bikaner.
By Train – Bikaner has a well-linked rail system which connects it to all major Indian cities.
By Road/Self drive – You can hire a cab or self-drive there. Roads connecting cities in Rajasthan are very good.
By air – Bikaner has an airport with limited connectivity but there is a direct flight from Delhi and Jaipur. Other nearest airports are 250km (Jodhpur) and 330km (Jaipur) away.
How we traveled – we traveled by bus from Jaipur. People from Jaipur and Jodhpur can plan a road trip also.
Where to stay – We stayed with our family but there are many budget hotels around the railway station area. You can easily find a place to live and eat and easily get a taxi/cab to explore the city. If you want to taste the royalty, stay at Lalgarh Palace or Laxmi Niwas Palace.
How to go around – Bikaner can easily be covered by cab/taxi/auto-rickshaw. Deshnok visit can be done by state-run buses which are cheap but not comfortable or you can hire a taxi for the complete trip.
Places to visit
Junagarh Fort – One of the few forts in Rajasthan that is not built on a hilltop and only one that was never captured. Constructed in red stone, this fort is a must-visit place in Bikaner.
Inside Junagarh Fort
National Research Centre on Camel – One of its kind in whole Asia, this is research and breeding center for camels.
Lalgarh Palace – Once the residence of the royal family, now most of the Palace is converted to a heritage hotel and is inaccessible for the general public. Tourist can visit the Sadul museum inside the Palace.
Rampuriya Havelis – Once the home of the influential merchant family of Bikaner, Rampuriyas, these Havelis were known for their grandeur and beautiful architecture.
Jain Temple Bhandasar- Located in Old City, this beautiful three-storeyed Jain temple is built with white marble and red stone.
Karni Mata Temple – 30km from Bikaner, Deshnok is well known among devotees for the Karni Mata Temple which is home to thousands of rats which roam freely in the premises. No one can kill or even hurt these rats. Sighting of a white rat is considered good luck here.
a common sight inside Karni Mata Temple
Where to eat–
Bikaner serves you sweetest Rasgullas to spiciest Laal Maans. Here are some of the legendary outlets of Bikaner loved by locals and tourists alike.
Bhikharam Chandmal Bhujiyawala – This is the place where famous Bikaneri Bhujiya was created.
Chhapan bhog – a very old outlet serving the tasty Bikaneri Rasgullas, Laddoo, and kachori.
Itinerary –
We boarded the bus to Bikaner at night to reach there early morning. My brother-in-law was waiting for us there at the bus stop to pick us up. We reached home and took the rest. After breakfast, we took their car and reach the Conference venue. It was boring so we headed back home and spent time with family. In the evening, we went to see the Fort which was walking distance from our home. We took all our nephews and niece with us and enjoyed the fun trip.
One from the previous trip
Next day, we visited the old city on a bike. My brother-in-law suggested taking the bike there as lanes are very narrow at some places. Traffic was just terrible in the city. We first visited Shri Laxminath temple but it was closed at that time. Jain Temple Bhandasar is walking distance from the Laxminath Temple. After that, we asked the locals about the Rampuriya Havelis and reached the area. We were amazed to see these beautiful lanes with Havelis on both the sides and equally disappointed to see the deserted ruined ones because of lack of maintenance. All these Havelis are closed and locked. You can’t visit them from inside. One is restored and converted to the Heritage Hotel. We got to see this one from inside on requesting the manager.
Rampuriya Havelis
In the evening, all family members decided to pay a visit to Karni Mata Temple in Deshnok which is a 50-minute drive from Bikaner. I had visited this temple once before a few years back. Karni Mata Memorial has been developed nearby which is a new attraction for the visitors. It was dark when we reached Bikaner and had dinner at home.
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
Rampuriya Havelis and Jain Temple are located in the old city so it is better to avoid driving car there. Take a bike or hire an auto to visit the place.
Ask the locals to locate the Rampuriya Havelis. Don’t trust Google in the old city.
Thousands of devotees come to Karni Mata Temple on some special occasion like Navratri so avoid these dates or you will have to spend hours in a long queue.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 7/10 Not much to explore in the city but Bikaner is a whole package when it comes to food, History, travel, and adventure.
Travel Expense 1/10 – my trip was extremely inexpensive as I didn’t spend any money on accommodation and travel.
Travel ease 8/10 – Bikaner is well-connected city via rail and road network.
Food 8/10 – You will love the Rajasthan food here and don’t forget to pick Bhujiya and Rasgullas for your family back home.
Famous as Kalaa Pani wali Jail in childhood and now best known as an exotic honeymoon destination, Andaman is archipelago (an extensive group of islands) in the Bay of Bengal with many of the islands uninhabited, few islands are restricted for entry (because of the hostile local tribes) and very few islands are tourist-friendly.
We booked our tour through a tour agency but you can manage your tour if you book your stays, transfers and ferry tickets in advance. I will explain to you everything so that you can plan your trip.
Days required– 7-8 days (Don’t try to cut short your trip, I bet you will not regret to spend one extra day at these beautiful islands.)
Nearby places to go – I will list down islands where you can enjoy your beach holidays. Choose accordingly.
Other than Port Blair (Capital City of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and only Airport to enter the island)
We have:
Havelock Island
Neil Island
Baratang Island
Long Island
Ross Island
Diglipur
Best time to visit – Here you can learn from our experience. October to February is the peak season for Andaman trip. Package prices go very high during this time. We tried saving a few bucks by booking in the shoulder season of September. We got a good deal with our travel agency but September gets unexpected rainfall and we missed our Sea Walk activity (and we regret it every time we see someone going to Andaman)
How to reach –
By air – The most common and convenient way to reach Andaman is by flight. Port Blair is the International and Domestic Airport. There are direct flights from Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata.
By sea – not a common way for the tourist to use the ship as the way of transport but it is an option which is much cheaper but takes a lot of time.
How we traveled – We booked a direct Air India flight from Delhi to Port Blair that was the fastest with only 30 min layover at Vishakhapatnam. After reaching Port Blair, our transfers and stay were booked by our tour agency.
Where to stay – Choose according to your budget. Andaman offers you a variety of accommodations from budget hotels to sea view resorts. For those who want to travel on their own, book hotels near airport/harbor so that you can save on transfers and can easily book your day tour/transfers.
How to go around – Port Blair has local transportation facility. Locals use buses to travel around but it is better to use taxi/ autos for local sightseeing. You can also hire them for the whole day for a hassle-free trip.
To travel between islands, ferries are the only way there. There are large ferries which are used by local people for the day to day transport. They are large vessels with very cheap rates. Also, there are luxury ferries usually used by tourists and tour agencies for transfers. They have an AC seating and onboard meal option and live band performances. The tickets can be booked online.
In Havelock and Neil islands, you can hire 2 wheelers just like Goa and explore the island on our own or you can always hire a cab/taxi for the whole day for Rs.2000-3000.
Places to visit –
Cellular jail – This infamous colonial-era prison is the most visited place in Port Blair now. It closes around 5 pm and after sunset, there is a light and sound show on the premises which everyone should watch to know the history of Cellular jail.
Cellular Jail
Corbyn Beach – Before visiting Cellular Jail, go to this beach. There are water activities to do but save it for Neil Island.
Samudrika (marine museum)
Anthropological museum
Baratang Island tour – now this is one day tour and that too requires a lot of energy, patience and time.
Baratang is 110 km from Port Blair and roads are in a very bad state. Also, you need to wake up at 3 am for the tour. There is a check post at the entry gate where everyone needs a permit to enter that restricted area. There is a convoy system there and 1st convoy starts at 6 am. You need to be there at the earliest.
Paddy field on the way to Baratang caves
A little detail about the place so that you can understand why we booked this tour.
Baratang is very far away from Port Blair. It has limestone caves and mud volcano that is some rare things to see in India but these are not the things that you will remember at the end of the journey. The journey to this island is more amazing than the destination themselves.
Why the convoy system- There is a native tribe there – Jarawa tribe(Negroid). We need to cross their region to reach Baratang and they were very hostile at some point in time. They used to attack people and vehicles but that is not the case now. The system continues for the safety point of view. You need to have your photo IDs and need to fill the form at the check post. There is car parking from where you need to take a large vessel to BaratangIsland(Rs.10 per person). From there, there are small boats (9 seaters) which take you to Parrot Island(Rs700 per person). This boat will cross through mangrove forests. From there a guide/local person will guide you through jungle and paddy fields to reach Limestone Caves. Now after reaching back to Baratang, another vehicle will take you to mud volcano which is 15 min ride. Though it is rare geothermal phenomena, I was not so impressed.
Mud Volcano
All this will be done in a great hurry because of the convoy system. There is a fixed time for the convoy system to leave the island. Take pictures whenever you get time. If you get time, have lunch there and reach the car parking for the return journey.
The hotel will pack your breakfast for the morning but take snacks, water, biscuits for the journey.
All this will be a little tiring but you will love the journey. Now, this tour needs to be booked through a tour agency as all these things cannot be managed individually.
Ross island tour
Havelock Island has Radhanagar beach which is known for its white sand and turquoise blue water.
Neil Island is famous for water activities, coral reef, and white sand beaches.
Where to eat – If you love seafood, this is the place for you. From roadside eateries to fine dining restaurants, all serve a wide variety of seafood. If you are a vegetarian, you will not starve there. Now because of heavy tourist inflow, they serve you everything but the meals are usually costlier. If you want to save money, don’t eat at your hotel/resort, just roam around and you will find a local eatery that will serve you tasty and cheap meal.
Itinerary –
Day 1
Reach Port Blair by air till noon. Book a cab to reach your hotel. Take rest in your hotel room after check-in and hire a cab for city sightseeing in the evening. Visit Corbyn beach and Cellular Jail.
Corbyn beach is not so famous as other beaches of Andaman but it is clean and beautiful. Also, there are Jet Ski and a few other water activities to do but avoid the activities here. From there, leave around 3:30 pm to reach Cellular Jail on time as they deny entry after 4 pm and closing time is 5 pm. You will see a huge crowd outside the entry gate. You will need at least 1 hour to explore the place. Now buy tickets for light and sound show which will be of 1 hour and starts after 5:30 pm. Don’t miss the show.
Day 2
Baratang Tour – Book this tour in advance. Ask your hotel or local tour services to arrange this tour for you. If you don’t want to visit this island then you can opt for Ross Island and North Bay tour.
Lime Stone Caves in Baratang
Day 3-
Check out from the hotel and take your cruise for Havelock Island. Just like airports, you need to reach harbor 1 hour before the departure time and need to check in first. You will need a hard copy of the tickets. Taxi/cabs/autos are available at the harbor to drop you at your hotel. After taking rest, reach the most beautiful beach of India – Radha Nagar beach.
Radhanagar Beach
Carry swimwear, sunglasses and sunscreen lotion with you as you will love to swim in this blue water and get tanned lying on the white sand. Water is so clean that you can see the ocean bed. Spend a whole evening there till sunset.
Day 4 – Book the Elephant beach tour famous for Sea Walk and other water activities. Charges for Sea walk including photos/videos is around Rs.3500. This tour was washed out because of heavy rainfall and high tides. Instead, we did scuba diving on the recommendation of our driver and felt cheated at the end of the day. Don’t blindly follow what the drivers are saying. Their commission is fixed. Don’t go for scuba at Havelock Island. Other than the sea walk, Havelock is not good for any activities.
Scuba diving
In the evening, we visited Kalapatthar Beach there.
Kala Patthar Beach
Day 5
Check out and leave for Neil Island through Makruzz. There are many beaches to explore at Neil Island.
Bharatpur beach – visit for all water activities. Go for Scuba Diving and Glass boat ride here.
Sitapur beach- Visit this beach for the beautiful sunrise.
Laxmanpur beach is the most beautiful of all beaches at Neil Island. Explore this beach in the evening and stay there till sunset. We witnessed the amazing view of sun disappearing in the ocean and sky painted with orange and blue color. Here you can find local guides that will help you explore the marine species there at a very nominal price. We saw Corals, Fishes, Sea Urchin, Sea Cucumber, Starfish, White and Black crab, Spider crab.
Nature’s Bridge
Day 6- Check out from the hotel to reach for harbor and ferry will take you back to Port Blair.
If you have time on the last day, there are museums like Samudrika (Marine Museum) and Anthropological museum.
Day 7 – Leave for the airport with memories of the lifetime.
Beach behind our resort
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
If you are planning to visit Andaman on your own, just manage ferry transfers. Other things can be managed easily.
Travel with light summer clothing that is comfortable at beaches and islands. Carry sunglasses, sunscreen and umbrella.
Most locals speak Bengali but English and Hindi are commonly spoken language because of tourism.
The sun rises there at 5 am and sets at 5 pm. Everything closes there by 9 pm. All trips will end at 4-5 pm daily. After that, either you can rest or explore the place on your own.
Book your flight in advance (2-3 months)
Internet is very weak in Andaman. There is no 3G or 4G network. Other than Port Blair, there is poor network coverage.
International tourists need a special permit to enter Andaman which can be obtained from the airport on arrival.
There is private cruise service MAKRUZZ running between these islands. They have their website www.makruzz.com. Either book through the site or their office or local agents.
Be aware of the ferry timings as they change from time to time due to weather conditions. Also, in the offseason, there is less number of ferries.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 9/10 – who will not love the white sand beaches, Scuba diving, blue water and adventurous trip of Baratang.
Expanse 7/10- no doubt an expensive trip. Costly flights, accommodation, transfers, and meals.
Travel ease 5/10 – neither reaching Andaman is easy nor transfers to other islands. You are dependent on weather and local tour agencies.
Food 6/10 – This rating is low as I don’t like seafood but the case may be different for you.
Ladakh is the land of monasteries, gorgeous panoramic views,135km long Pangong lake and highest motorable road in the world. Well, it is as dreamy as it is shown in movies and photographs. This land has lots of surprises for you at every turn of the road.
I might have not traveled everywhere in India but Ladakh is certainly the most amazing places among all I have visited yet. Ladakh once an inaccessible region is now one of the most desired places for Indians as well as international tourists.
As tourism grows in Ladakh and Pangong Lake, the region is getting swamped with trash. Tourists often dump disposable water bottles and food packets right at the periphery of the lake and even inside. This is posing a big threat to this region. We, as travelers have some responsibility toward nature. Let’s not make Ladakh another victim of plastic pollution.
Days required– Road trip requires 10-15 days and if you take a flight to Leh, then you will need 5-7 days.
Nearby places to go – Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley
Best time to visit – This need to be planned well.
October to march – The coldest season of the region and winters here are not like rest of the country. The temperature drops to -20 degrees in January. Everything shuts down and the roads are closed. Famous Chaadar Trek on frozen Zanskar river is done in this season. It is not advisable to visit the region in this season.
April to June– beginning of the tourist season. Ice starts to melt and hotels, camps, and guesthouses start to function on well-discounted prices. However, Roads/Highway to the region are still closed. You will need to take a flight to reach Leh.
June to September – this marks the peak tourist season of Leh-Ladakh. Roads start to open in the last week of June with ongoing maintenance process, so good condition roads should not be expected initially. July-August is the month best for self-drive trips. Also, the Hemis Festival is usually around this time of the year.
*Rainfall in Ladakh region is usually scanty and unpredictable. Many regions come under the shadow of the mountain ranges. August is mainly the monsoon month but we didn’t observe any rainfall anywhere during our trip.
How to reach – Thanks to the Border Roads Organization (BRO) now we have multiple options to reach Ladakh. You can start your trip from Delhi, Srinagar, Chandigarh or Manali.
By Air – Delhi to Leh and then back to Delhi for short trips (5-7 days). Take a direct flight from Delhi to Leh for the astounding aerial view.
By road – There are two routes to reach Leh. One is via Manali and other is via Srinagar. We completed the circuit reaching Leh via Manali Highway and returning via Srinagar route.
Of course, It takes longer by road but one can cut it short by taking flight one side.
If you have 10 days then do the road trip from Delhi-Manali-Leh-Srinagar and then take a flight from Srinagar to Delhi.
How we traveled – We booked a 12-day group trip to Ladakh from Delhi managed by Alifetimetrip (I highly recommend this tour agency for Ladakh trip. Gaurav and Nidhi did great in planning the trip and booked very comfortable stays.).
We avoid the self-drive trip because of safety concerns and avoided air route because we didn’t want to miss the beautiful landscape on the way to Leh.
The route we used –Delhi-Manali-Jispa-Leh-Nubra-Pangong-Kargil-Srinagar-Delhi(from Srinagar we took a flight to Delhi to complete our journey). This route has many advantages over all other routes as the complete circuit would be more time consuming and more tiring.
Also, we didn’t miss the beautiful landscape of Manali-Jispa-Keylong-Sarchu on the way.
Where to stay – you can easily book your stays in Delhi and Manali according to your budget. I will mention Hotels/camps in and around Leh.
Leh – Luxury stay options – Grand Dragon is the only luxury hotel in Leh. You can book the Royal Family palace Stok Palace for an unforgettable experience.
Budget stays- you can get a variety of guest houses, homestays, hostel and budget hotels in Leh. Changspa Road has everything you need – money exchange, departmental store, medical store, roadside eateries, restaurants, and hotels.
Jispa- Gemur Holiday Camps – With mountains in the background and river in the front, these camps are located on the main highway. They have very comfortable camps with all basic amenities.
Nubra – Cold Desert Camp – my favorite stay during my Leh trip. Have a look at this campsite online. They are off-road with the mountains on the backside and river in the front.
Pangong – Redstart camps – walking distance from Pangong Lake.
How to go around – If you have your bike or car, then you can roam around at your own pace otherwise renting a car or bike in Leh is very common and easy. You just need to have a driving license and deposit money.
Chauffer driven car are also easily available. When you will explore the Leh market, you will see colorful boards outside every other shop displaying packages for Pangong or Nubra or sometimes even an extra seat along with the other groups. Search for a good deal around the market and you are good to go.
Places to visit –
Leh Palace – a splendid example of Tibetan architecture, this structure is almost a ruin now.
Shanti Stupa- This white structure is easily recognizable from a distance in Leh. It was built by Japanese and ladakhis to promote world peace. Go around the evening time to witness the beautiful sunset.
Hall of Fame – This museum was built in the memory of Martyrs of Kargil war. There are a Flag retreat ceremony and a sound and light show in the evening.
3 Idiots School
Khardung-La – famously known as the highest motorable pass in the world. Though a nightmare for drivers, still it is every biker’s dream to drive on this road.
Chang-La – This pass lies on the way to Pangong from Leh. At an altitude of about 17500ft, this pass will test your driving skills.
Diskit Monastery – the oldest and the largest monastery of the Leh-Ladakh region. It has a 100ft high statue of Lord Buddha which was inaugurated by HH Dalai Lama.
Spituk Monastery – An almost 900yrs old building with a giant statue of Maa Kaali. This can be covered in Leh sightseeing tour as it is very near to the main city.
Hemis Monastery – a trip to Leh is incomplete without visiting this one. This is the most popular Monastery in the region and is very famous for the Hemis Festival organized in June-July every year.
Thiksey Monastery – located on the top of a hill from where you can enjoy the panoramic view of Indus valley.
Moonland(Lamayuru) – Situated on Srinagar-Leh Highway, this region has moon-like topography and is very famous among shutterbugs. It is also home to one of the oldest monastery in Ladakh.
Magnetic Hill- This road is named so because it defies the gravity and the vehicle moves uphill when parked at a particular spot.
Nubra Valley – another must-visit place during Ladakh trip. This valley has everything you would ask for – vast dunes, orchards, colorful mountains, panoramic views, and rivers.
Double hump camel ride in Nubra
Pangong Lake (Pangong Tso) – well, everyone knows this place. The crystal clear blue water lake was shown in movie 3 IDIOTS which caused the real boom in the tourism industry of Ladakh. This lake is partially located in India (40%) and China(60%). It gets frozen in winter and starts to melt in April-May.
Pangong Lake
Moriri Lake (Tso Moriri) – this is the less commercialized and lesser-known version of Pangong lake.
Where to eat – On the way to Leh, you will get Lemon honey tea, Maggi, Rajma chawal and Parantha on the roadside dhabas. Now you can find eateries everywhere on the way to Leh. Locals have opened small restaurants along the highway as tourism is flourishing in this region.
In Leh, do try Thupka (noodles soup served with vegetables or meat), Momos, Mokthuk (a superb blend of momos and soup).
Itinerary –
We had booked our tour 2 months before our journey with 8 people in the group – one couple from Bengaluru and one couple from Mumbai. Alifetimetrip made a WhatsApp group(we are still in contact with each other through that group) for us a week before the trip to address our queries and for providing any important information. We all reached Delhi a couple of days before the trip and explored Delhi at our own pace. You can read about Delhi travel blog from the website.
Day 1 – Delhi to Manali
Seats in an evening Volvo bus were booked between Delhi and Manali. Alternatively, one can conveniently hire a bike/SUV from Manali, Chandigarh or Delhi.
Day 2
We reached Manali in the morning and were transferred to our Hotel. We took some rest, had breakfast and got ready to explore the city. We had 1 day for Manali and we covered all the famous tourist destinations – Hadimba Temple, Vashishth Temple, Solang valley (you can enjoy paragliding here but because of rainfall all activities were canceled that day). We had our lunch at one of the famous cafes in Old Manali named Johnson’s Cafe and returned to the hotel by evening. Our fellow travelers, Vinit and Monali went out to explore more of the city but we chose to eat at the Hotel’s restaurant as we were exhausted.
Day 3 Manali to Jispa
Next morning after breakfast, we started our journey to Jispa via Rohtang Pass (it usually opens at the end of June) in a 12-seater Tempo Traveller. Leh- Manali road trip is approx. 500 km and cannot be covered in a day-light time. So a night stay either at Jispa, Keylong or Sarchu is required. On the way, we understood why our tour operator Nidhi said – If you sleep during the journey, you will regret it. It was a 6-hour journey and we reached our riverside campsite by 3-4 pm. It is a tiny village on the Manali-Leh highway popular among travelers for the night stay. We enjoyed our tea sitting around with the view of the beautiful mountain and river.
Day 4 Jispa to Leh
We covered this long and tiring journey in a day, it usually takes 12 hours to reach Leh from Jispa. The road starts getting worse from here but the terrain is so gorgeous which will compel you to make multiple stops on the way. Take proper sleep and start your journey early in the morning. It is advised to drive 4×4 or SUV or mountain bikes here. Don’t be overconfident on roads with overlooking steep cliffs. There are few places on the route for food and stay which are pretty basic but will do the job. Toilets are a rare luxury here in Leh and that too, clean ones, you will have to pay Rs.5-10 to use these toilets. We reached Leh in the evening and were feeling exhausted already while walking to our room (Leh is at an altitude of 11000 ft) and thus were told to take rest. We had our buffet dinner at the Hotel.
Day 5 Leh sightseeing
After breakfast, we left for the Leh city tour. Don’t overburden yourself on the first day in Leh. Give your body time to acclimatize. We explored the Rancho School, Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa and Hall of fame that day.
Day 6 Nubra valley
Then came the day, we all were waiting for- a 6-7 hour journey from Leh to reach Nubra via Khardung-la. Do wear multiple layers of woolen clothes as chilling weather is almost always expected because of high altitude. Unexpectedly, we found a traffic jam on Khardung-La. We had Maggi and soup at the canteen maintained by the army and had ourselves clicked with the Khardung-La Signboard. You can enjoy the snow-clad mountains and play with snow here as snow doesn’t melt here completely even during summer. The landscape in Nubra is breathtaking and surreal. Here you will come across vast sand dunes of the cold desert where you can ride Bactrian (Double Hump) Camels. There are apple orchids, colorful mountain ranges, and an oasis as well which are quite suitable for a fairly nice Instagram ready picture. Nubra has all variety of accommodations- homestays, hotels, cottages but I recommend to book riverside camp. We reached our camp and took some rest. The network coverage here was poor so, hotel staff landed their phones so that we could call home. They cooked delicious meals for us and told us stories about the valley.
Day 7 Nubra to Leh
On the way back to Leh, we visited the famous Diskit Monastery. From the top, you will get a panoramic view of the region. There lies the gigantic 100 ft statue of Maitreya Buddha. You can explore the Leh Main Market in the evening and buy souvenirs for your family.
Day 8 Pangong lake trip – a 6-7 hour journey via Chang-La will bring you to The Poster Boy of Ladakh tourism. Just before the campsite, you will reach the place where the last scenes of movie 3 idiots were shot. This large saline water lake extends to China. The lake looks like a perfectly painted picture. The beauty of this place will instill your belief in magic. The beds in the camp had a few layers of quilts laid over them and, we wondered why someone would need four layers of them!! But we happily just slid under those quilts at 8 pm after getting our brains frozen by the chilling winds from the lake despite the huge Bonfire.
Day 9 – We headed back to Leh after breakfast next morning but before that, we stared at the blue water for an hour. On the way, you can visit the Hemis Monastery.
Day 10 – Start your journey to Kargil. Here you have the option of ending the trip by taking a flight back to Delhi. On the way, we visited Gurudwara Patharsahib, Magnetic hill and Sangam (water of river Indus and Zanskar meet at this place making an incredible sight). We reached Kargil by evening and went to see the Indo-Pak border village (last village near Indo Pak border- Hunderman). The cab driver was our guide here. He showed us Indian and Pak army bunkers and posts that were used in Kargil war and the last village on our side and their side. Binoculars are available there at a small shop for rent. There we met the lovely cheery red-cheeked kids from the village who got excited to the visitors. We shared food and clicked pictures with them as a memory of this beautiful tiny village.
Sangam at Zanskar
Day 11 – We checked out early or we would not be able to cross Drass Army Post after a certain time of the day (after 9-10 am). Ask your hotel manager or locals for the exact timing. You will reach Zozilla Memorial after a few hours. Here we had breakfast at Army canteen and visit Zozilla Memorial built in the memory of martyrs of 1st Indo-Pak war. The army officers were very polite and kind to host us. They sat down with us and told us the stories of 1st Indo-Pak war and Kargil war. We reached Srinagar early in the evening and wished goodbye to our guide Tenzin after he helped us in checking in our Houseboat on Dal Lake(you can read my houseboat experience in Kerala and Srinagar in a different blog). In the evening, we enjoyed the famous Shikara ride and shopping at floating Meena Bazaar.
Day 12 – After breakfast, we drove for Srinagar Airport for our Delhi flight. Leave 3 hours before your flight time as there are multiple security checks at Srinagar Airport. Also, carry a photocopy of your tickets with you.
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
Roads to and around Leh-Ladakh are not in very good conditions, at least to what we are used to. They are very risky and dangerous. People who want to plan a road trip must not only be good bikers but also physically sound enough to survive the harsh climate of Ladakh.
Anyone below 10 years of age and above 60 years should avoid this trip.
Anyone with respiratory, heart or backache problem should avoid this trip.
If you are planning a self-drive trip, don’t go solo. You will need help there.
Prepare a medicine kit with all necessary medicines (Diamox – Acetazolamide 250mg is helpful in case of altitude sickness. We carried it but didn’t require)
Carry good quality woolen clothes, gloves, socks, head cap, and shoes.
Rather than wearing one heavy woolen jacket, wear clothing in multiple layers as it provides better insulation.
Tourists going by flight need to spend a day acclimatizing themselves for the high altitude (Leh and most of the places in Ladakh are located above 10,000 feet which commonly leads to the dizziness, headaches, vomiting or AMS among the travelers. Hence it is necessary to accustom yourself with lesser availability of oxygen by spending more time and this process is known as Acclimatization.). Take proper rest and keep yourself hydrated on Day 1.
Tandi is the last petrol pump after Manali. It is approximately 110 km from Manali. Do not forget to tank up here as you have roughly 345 km to cover without a single petrol pump. Next petrol pump is in Karu, 30 km before Leh. Take a 10-20 liter can with you for extra fuel.
Don’t use Google for direction and time reference. Also, there will no 3G/4G connectivity in Leh (poor network connectivity is an issue. Use BSNL postpaid connection. Prepaid connections don’t work in J&K).
Use sunscreen lotion (at least 50 SPF) otherwise you will get severe sunburn.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 10/10 – I find no reason to give this place rating less than 10.
Expanse 5/10 – a bit expensive if you book flights or do a personalized tour. Expenses reduce if you are planning a self-drive or group trip.
Travel ease 6/10 – The terrain is no doubt is difficult than any other place in India. Most of the tourist will not prefer the self-drive way to reach Leh. They have the option of group tours, customized tours. You can reach by flights. You can easily book trips to Nubra and Pangong from Leh.
Food 6/10 – I tried Tibetan cuisine but it is too bland for my Indian palate.
Alwar, one of the oldest city of Rajasthan lies in the lap of Aravali ranges and is very near to my home city Jaipur. Since childhood, we had known Alwar for “Kalakand/milk cake” and “Bhangarh” the most haunted place in India.
Here I will be telling some more details of the place which I have visited several times.
Days required – 2 days. One can plan a weekend trip from Delhi and Jaipur.
Nearby places to go – Sariska, Bhangarh, Abhaneri
Best time to visit – During monsoon and winter (October to February)
How to reach – Alwar is 185km from Delhi and 165 km from Jaipur.
By train – It is the fastest way to reach Alwar from Jaipur and Delhi.
By air – Alwar doesn’t have an airport. Delhi Airport and Jaipur Airport are the nearest ones.
By road – usually preferred by visitors from Delhi and Jaipur. One can easily hire a cab/taxi or self-drive as the road to Alwar is in very good condition.
Buses are available but they are not comfortable.
How we traveled – We have been to Alwar several times. Once we took a train from Jaipur (available every 2-3 hours from Jaipur) and the other time, we did a road trip to Bhangarh.
Where to stay – Alwar city has many budget hotels in and around the city. You also have the option of staying at luxurious resorts and Heritage hotels. You need to have your vehicle/taxi as these hotels are far from the city.
Neemrana fort Palace, Tijara Fort Palace and Hill Fort at Kesroli are few examples. There is an RDTC hotel on Siliserh Lake. Once a hunting Lodge, this heritage hotel gives an amazing view of Lake.
How to go around – If you have your vehicle then you can roam around the city easily otherwise hire a cab/taxi.
Places to visit
Sariska Tiger Reserve – One of the most visited place in Alwar, Sariska is home to Bengal Tigers, Indian leopard, jackal, sambhar and many other wildlife. It is a 1-hour drive from Alwar.
Sariska
Siliserh Lake – 15 km from Alwar on the way to Sariska was the main water source in Alwar. Siliserh Palace built by Maharaja Vinay Singh is now converted to a heritage hotel.
Siliserh Lake
Bhangarh Fort – Fort and town of Bhangarh are one of the most haunted places in India.
Moosi Maharani Ki Chhatriyan – This cenotaph was built in the memory of Maharani Moosi of Alwar. The monument looks splendid with white marble dome and red stone pillars.
Moosi Maharani ki Chhatriyan
Bala Qila- Also known as Alwar fort, this is the oldest structure in Alwar. Built on a hill, this fort gives the amazing view of the city from above.
Bala Qila
City Palace Museum – Once the residence of the royal family, most of the area is now converted into Government offices. There is a museum inside the premises which has a rare collection of Arabian, Persian and Sanskrit manuscripts.
Where to eat – There is not much to describe here but you can still have some Indian delicacies in Alwar.
Alwar ka Kalakand/milk cake – Though you can find milk cake anywhere in Alwar but buy the original tasty Alwar mawa from Baba Thakurdas and sons.
Have a delicious Indian food at Prem Pavitra Bhojnalaya and Inderlok.
Itinerary –
We stayed at our friend Kailash’s house in Alwar and he was the one who picked us up from the railway station. We used the weekend for the trip. On Friday, after my duty hours, we took the train to Alwar and reached his house by late evening. In dinner, we ate delicious home-cooked chicken (Only dish that I can make other than Maggi).
Next day after breakfast, we took his car visited Siliserh Lake in the morning. There is Siliserh Lake Palace built on it and any other person not staying there need to pay Rs.100 as an entry fee. We parked our car and reached their restaurant from where you can enjoy the panoramic view of the valley and the lake. We decided to have some tea and sandwiches there. Food was just average but we stayed there for an hour just because of the amazing view. You can also go for water activities like speed boat and boating.
After that, we went for Sariska Tiger Reserve for Jungle Safari. I had already booked tickets online in advance. Booking evening safari is more convenient as you have to reach one hour early to get the boarding pass which has to be collected through the ticketing counter. The only relief for people like us was that queue for collecting boarding pass was much shorter than that for the ticket. All this was poorly managed as counter opened late and safari started almost 60-90 minute late than the scheduled time. There were a canteen, souvenir shop and toilets at the booking center and a big parking area. Few kilometers before the booking center, we visited the Bharthari Temple. We could not see the Tigers that day as expected. I had visited Ranthambore National Park seven times to spot the tiger ( Read my blog on Ranthambore to get all the details).
Day 2
We decided to go for the city tour. First, we went to Bala Quila. You need to have your car or you can hire a taxi/cab/auto. There is Rs.50 entry fee for vehicle and Rs.10 per person. I was excited after driving on the route as we could see the green valley while ascending for the fort but after reaching there, we were disappointed as there is nothing to explore there. It was poorly maintained and was under renovation when we visited. Hope it will worth watching in future. We then visited the City palace complex. Now this place confused us. It was in the heart of the city. Most of the complex is converted to Govt. Offices, Secretariat and the Court. We confirmed twice before parking our car that we were in the right place. Still, there is the City Palace Museum and Cenotaph (Moosi Maharani ki Chhatri). Cenotaph is behind the City Palace.
On the way to Bala Qila
We had lunch in the city and then boarded the train for Jaipur.
*We had visited Bhangarh Fort in a different trip but you can go there after the city tour.
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
Book Sariska Tiger Safari online from an official government site in advance otherwise you have to stand in a long queue at the booking center and there are chances that you may not get a seat.
Even after booking online, you have to take boarding pass from the ticketing counter. For morning safari, it can be taken one day before and for evening safari, it can be taken the same day one hour before safari time.
There are 2 gates in Sariska Tiger Reserve- Sariska gate (gate 1) and Tehla(gate 2) gate. Prefer Sariska gate as it is the older one and with more facilities. Tehla gate is newer gate and less preferred by tourists and tour agencies.
Inside the Tiger Reserve, there is a famous Pandupol Temple which can be visited by private vehicles on every Tuesday and Saturday.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 7/10 – Siliserh, Sariska, and Bhangarh are must-see places here.
Travel Expense 1/10 – one of my least expansive trip as I didn’t pay for any accommodation or food here.
Travel ease 7.5/10 – You need to have a vehicle to explore the place as Siliserh, Bala Qila and Sariska all are at distant places.
Food 7/10 – Do buy milk cake for your friends and family.
Ajmer gets its name from Ajay Meru meaning “invincible hill” and is a major pilgrimage in Rajasthan. I somehow managed to convince my whole family for Sunday road trip.
Days required – 1-2 days
Nearby places to go – Pushkar
Best time to visit – monsoon and winter season (October to February). Pushkar Fair (very famous cattle fair) usually happens in November.
How to reach –
By Air – Kishangarh Airport is 30 KM from the Ajmer city but has limited connectivity. A direct flight from Delhi is available.
By Train – Ajmer is well connected to all major cities in India by rail route.
By Road – Ajmer is joined to all cities in North India by road. Delhi is connected to Ajmer by expressway.
How we traveled – We did a Sunday road trip with the family. It was a 2-hour drive from Jaipur.
Where to stay – Though we didn’t stay in Ajmer, I can suggest you some of the best options available there. Don’t stay in Ajmer. Pushkar has wide astonishing options of luxurious resorts to stay. Westin Resort is a 5-star property and best among all resorts in Pushkar. Other options are Ananta, Aaram Bagh, and Dera Masuda.
How to go around – Ajmer is a small city and can easily be covered by auto-rickshaws which are easily available around the city. You can also hire cabs/taxi for the whole day.
Places to visit:
Ajmer Sharif Dargah – Very famous shrine of Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti visited by Muslims and Non-Muslims alike is in the old city. You must park your vehicle and then walk some distance through the narrow lanes of the old city to reach the shrine.
Ana Sagar – Built by the Chauhan rulers and later improvised by Mughal Emperors, this is the major tourist attraction for people visiting Ajmer.
Nasiya Jain Temple – This astounding example of architecture dedicated to Lord Adinath is made of red stones. One section of the temple is dedicated for prayers and another section has a museum and a hall decorated with gold plated figures and glasswork.
Nareli Jain Temple – Situated on the Ajmer-Jaipur highway, this is the main point of pilgrimage for Digambar Jains.
Adhai Din ka Jhopda – Originally a Sanskrit college and later converted to a mosque, this is the elderly structure of the Ajmer is the perfect blend of Indo-Islamic architecture.
Taragarh Fort was built to guard the Ajmer city and home of the Chauhan rulers, this is one of the oldest forts of India.
Mayo College – One of the oldest and prestigious boarding schools in India is the perfect example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. It started with an ambition to provide education to Indian Princes that matches the standard of England.
Foy Sagar Lake – Built to remove the water scarcity in Ajmer region, this man-made lake was designed by architect Mr. Foy. It imparts a very beautiful view of the Aravali Range.
Pushkar – 13 km from the Ajmer city, it attracts thousands of devotees from all over the country. It is said that Pushkar is the ultimate pilgrimage that must be undertaken to attain salvation. There are hundreds of temples in Pushkar. One should not miss visiting Pushkar Lake, Brahma Temple, Savitri Temple, and Varaha Temple. Brahma temple, Savitri Temple and Varaha Temple are one of its kind dedicated to Lord Brahma, Goddess Savitri and Varaha incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Pushkar Lake
Where to eat–
Pushkar is food heaven for vegetarians. Yes, you heard it right. You will not find meat serving outlets here, not even eggs but that doesn’t mean you will not have many options. Pushkar has a blend of Indian and Hippie culture, thanks to many international tourists visiting here mainly Israelis. They roam around the town as if they belong to this place (and maybe some are). You will find falafel as easily as Kachori in Pushkar.
Desi Khana
Poha Pizza Pakwan is the fusion dish of Pushkar Breakfast corner and If you are late to reach here, then you might not get a chance to taste it.
Malpua of Sarvadia Sweet House is a must-try sweet dish.
Shree Karni Maa Restaurant – a small restaurant serves the tasty Desi Rajasthani thali.
Videshi Khana
La Pizzaeria Garden Restaurant makes the best pizza in the town.
Ganga Restaurant serves the Falafel in a desi style.
Do try juices or better to say the fusion of juices at Sonu Juice centre.
Itinerary – Jaipur is our home town, so we have visited almost every other city in Rajasthan multiple times. This was our family Road trip to offer prayers at Pushkar. I suggest you make a 2 day trip to Ajmer and spend one day each at Ajmer and Pushkar. They are just 30 minutes apart.
Day 1 – Visit all point of your interest in Ajmer by the evening and spend your evening at Anasagar. Stay in Ajmer in any budget hotel.
Day 2 – Reach Pushkar in the morning and visit Lake and temple by noon and check-in your Luxury Resort and enjoy the evening around the pool with Aravali ranges in the background.
We started our trip early in the morning as we had to cover Ajmer and Pushkar and come back home on the same day. We were 10 members in 2 cars. Highway to Ajmer is 6-lane but there is a traffic of heavy vehicles, so it took us two and a half hours to reach Ajmer and we headed straight for Ajmer Sharif Dargah. We had to park way ahead because it is a very congested area. There is private parking charging Rs.50-100 for a vehicle. We crossed the narrow lane to Dargah’s main gate, washed our face and hands and went to offer prayers inside Dargah. Beware of frauds, pickpocketers and touts there.
Nasiyan Jain Temple is very close to Dargah. Here some areas are not open for the general public. You can still visit the Museum inside. Our next stop was Anasagar. Lake and garden inside are well maintained. You will see a huge crowd there on weekends enjoying Sunday picnic there.
Our last stop was Pushkar Dham which was a 30-minute drive from Ajmer. On the way, we stop by to see the recently built monument of Maharana Pratap with his horse Chetak. Many people were stopping there to enjoy the panoramic view of the valley.
4 wheelers are to be parked outside the main market and then we had to walk through the market to reach the Lake and the temple. The market was full of food outlets serving Indian, Italian and Lebanese cuisines. It is amazing to see so many Firangis among the crowd, I had no idea that Pushkar was so popular among them. They were many doing Yog and performing Pujas around Lake and riding the bike on the market road. We visited Brahma Mandir and Pushkar lake and performed Puja there as a couple (it was our first visit here after marriage).
There are hundreds of temples nearby, but we couldn’t visit them as we had to reach home by night. It was a short road trip to Pushkar, but I have tried to give all relevant information to plan for your trip here.
Outside Brahma Temple
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
Avoid visiting Ajmer-Pushkar from March to July as the weather is quite hot and the temperature may even cross 48 degrees.
Avoid touts and beggars at Pushkar and Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
Ratings (it is subjective and based on personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 7/10 – You get to see everything on this trip – Lakes, Temples, Shrine, historical monuments, desert safari and luxury at Resort stay.
Travel Expense 1/10 – if you don’t stay in any of the resorts in Pushkar, this trip will cost you almost nothing.
Travel ease 8/10 – Ajmer is easily accessible and can comfortably be explored by auto-rickshaw or taxis.
Food 8/10 – Pushkar provides you the fusion of Indian, Italian and Lebanese cuisines. You can get Malpua and Falafel on the same lane.
Sambhar lake is India’s Largest inland salt lake. I used to see this lake from our train journey to Jodhpur. I decided to plan a day trip to our own mini “Rann Of Kutch” with my family.
Days required– Day trip (If you planning for night camping or star gazing then plan accordingly)
Nearby places to go – Shakambari Mata Temple
Best time to visit – October to February. It is better to avoid summer (temperature rising to 45 degrees) and monsoon season (you will not be able to enjoy driving on white sand and camping is also not possible at that time).
How to reach – Sambhar is 80 km from Jaipur city. You can self-drive or hire a taxi/cab from the city. Follow the Google map. There are two routes to reach there – one is Jaipur-Jobner-Phulera-Sambhar and another one is Jaipur-Ajmer Highway to Sambhar. You can choose any of them.
Nearest airport is Sanganer Airport, Jaipur.
Sambhar town has a railway station which is on the Jaipur-Jodhpur Rail route.
Where to stay – We didn’t stay there as Jaipur is just 2-hour drive from here. If you are planning for camping here, you have to bring your camping equipment. I don’t think you will need permission for night stay there but surely there is a safety concern as, after dark, this place becomes scary.
There are few guesthouses on highway and Phulera for night stay. There is Sambhar Heritage Resort in the town for your comfortable stay.
How to go around – You will need a car to explore and enjoy the place. Use Google maps until you reach near Sambhar. Don’t enter the town. Follow the signboard for Shakambari Mata Temple. On the way, you will see heaps of salt, a small train, and track solely for the salt production purpose. From the temple, you will see vast plain covered with white sand with no animal or any vegetation. Near the temple, turn your car into this white sparkling land where you will find no road but you can follow tyre marks or make your own.
Activities to do–
Visit Shakambari Mata Mandir – Visit the temple built on a hilltop by the Chauhan Rulers of this region centuries ago. It is devoted to Shakambari Devi.
Driving on the Salt Lake – Enjoy driving on the long stretches of white sand with no one to interrupt you.
Night Camping- Away from all the chaos and pollution of the city, enjoy camping with your friends.
Photography and star gazing – Don’t forget to bring your tripod, lenses, and telescope to enjoy the unobscured view of the night sky with zillions of sparkling stars. This is an unexplored paradise for photography enthusiasts and stargazers with almost zero pollution and clear sky.
Bird Watching – Sambhar is a Ramsar site( wetlands where thousands of pink flamingo and other birds migrate from northern Asia)
Where to eat– Arrange for your meals before reaching Sambhar. You may find some small Dhabas on the way. Carry food and water along with you. You will have to go to Sambhar town for the supplies. Better to purchase them beforehand. We took home-cooked food with us and had Aloo-puri-pakoda picnic somewhere near the Sambhar.
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
No restaurants/dhabas are there around Sambhar Lake. You may find something to eat in Sambhar town or on the highway so make arrangements accordingly.
If you are planning a night out in camps there, then you are on your own. This concept is new at least in this part of the country. Bring your supplies for the night.
Plan your camping around new moon night for star gazing and night photography.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 7/10 – This place is still unexplored and under-rated but that is the reason why this area is saved from being converted into piles of garbage.
Travel Expense 1/10 – You just need a car, a camera, and food.
Travel ease 8/10 – Public transport is available but not preferred by visitors. You can easily reach this place by car.
Food 1/10 – Carry your food supplies from the city and as no restaurants are available near the Lake.
This trip was spontaneous and one of the disastrous one. Read the itinerary and learn from our mistakes. I had no time to research and blindly followed what taxi driver suggested us and wasted time and money.
Days required– 4 days
Nearby places to go – Manali/Kullu, Chail, Kufri, Naldehra/Tatapani
Best time to visit – anytime whatever suits you but please avoid summer vacation time (June) as there is a heavy inflow of tourists that may spoil your schedule and mood. People who want to relish snowfall might visit in January-February.
How to reach –
By road – Direct buses are available from Delhi (8hours) and Chandigarh (4 hours). Route from Chandigarh is very scenic, and roads are in good condition. This is the most common, convenient and cheap way to reach Shimla.
By train – Take narrow gauge train from Kalka railway station to enjoy the toy train ride to Shimla (UNESCO World Heritage site). It’s a once in lifetime journey which will ride through tunnels, bridges and spectacular views of Himalayas.
By air –The Shimla Airport has limited connectivity. A direct flight from Delhi is available. Shimla airport is 20km away from the city.
How we traveled – We reached Shimla by Volvo bus from Jaipur-very long tiring journey of 20hours. Here from the new bus stand, there is taxi service to reach the city. Rates are fixed by the taxi union.
Where to stay – Taxi drops you at Court parking area near mall road. From there, you walk to your hotel so book your hotel accordingly. Most preferred location is Mall Road.
How to go around – You have book a cab which will take Rs.1500-2500 depending on the tour and your bargaining skills.
Activities to do
Kalka Shimla train journey -This historic toy train crosses 105 tunnels and many beautiful rail & road stations.
Ice skating /Skiing- Shimla has the only natural ice-skating rink in South Asia. Visit in January and February for ice skating. Kufri also has fun parks where you can enjoy skiing.
Shopping on Mall Road – Shimla has the most happening Mall road, which comprises several restaurants, clubs, bars, shops, bakeries, etc.
Places to visit –
Mall road – Take a stroll on Mall road. Enjoy food, shopping and view from here. It lies below the Ridge.
Mall Road
The ridge – At the centre of the city, is the Ridge which is a large open space expanding along the Mall road. There is an amazing view of Snow-clad mountains. On the extreme west, lies the Scandal Point.
The Ridge and the Church
Christ Church – Located on the Ridge, this Church, and the Ridge are part of many Bollywood scenes.
Jakhoo hill/temple – 2km from town, lies the Jakhoo hill which is home to 100 feet Hanuman Ji Statue. Beware of bunches of fearless monkeys present there, they will snatch anything from your hand. Do carry stick along with you.
Jakhoo Temple
Johnnie’s Wax Museum – This one is new in the list. This wax museum is now among must-visit spot in Shimla. It is located near the lift on Mall road.
Iron Man with Iron Lady
Indian Institute of Advance study – Pay a visit to this colonial-era building.
Now I am listing day trips from Shimla. These are located at a distance from the town but worth visiting. Pick your tour accordingly.
Chail – Here lies the world’s biggest Cricket Stadium and Maharaja Bhupinder Singh’s Palace hotel.
Kufri – A must-visit place if you are visiting Shimla during the winter season. You can enjoy skiing there. It also has a fun park and a zoo.
Go-karting in Kufri
Naldehra/Tatapani – Tatapani has hot spring water emerging near river Sutlej. People enjoy taking a bath in this water, containing sulfur. Although this place is polluted and overcrowded. Also, there is river rafting activity. On the way, you will cross Naldehra, one of the oldest Golf course ground. This tour can be missed as rafting is not worth it and overpriced.
Where to eat –
Sitaram and sons: Chhola Bhatura
Golgappa stall, Navbhar Chowk: Pani puri
Bihari Lal Sharma Stall, Takka Bench, above the Ridge – fruit chat
Aunty’s Dhaba – Chinese food
Itinerary
Day 1
After check-in the hotel and having some rest, we could not stop ourselves from walking across the famous Mall road. It was peak season and some kind of festival/carnival was going on there on mall road which brought a huge crowd there. We were following the crowd, watching roadside shops-old one and new brand stores. We reached the RIDGE, took some astonishing photographs near Church and Ridge. We enjoyed the street food at various stalls and when we decided to head back to the hotel at 8 pm. We booked a taxi in advance from the hotel for the next day tour. Taxi usually charge Rs.1500 to 2500 depending on season and sightseeing.
Day 2
We checked out from the hotel and started our trip by visiting Jakhoo temple on the top of the hill. It was worth going there but be aware of monkeys there.
We earlier decided to go to Kufri sightseeing but the driver suggested us to go Tatapani and Naldehra. After horse riding in Naldehra, we reached Tatapani for river rafting, the only reason to deviate from our plan but it was just a waste of money and time. They charged Rs.5000/couple but it was more like boating. In the evening, we headed to our resort- Kufri holiday resort which was the best thing happened to us on the whole day. Kufri was much cooler than Shimla and we realized it more because we didn’t pack for it but we enjoyed the weather and went for a short walk nearby.
Our room in Kufri
Day 3
It was a beautiful morning with a cool breeze. We had our buffet breakfast and checked out. Kufri is a small place with all sightseeing nearby so better you check out late and enjoy your morning at the resort. Later we visited a fun park and a zoo. The mini zoo was a waste of time and can be missed.
From there, we headed for our next stay on Kufri-Chail road. The idea was to cover Chail next day. Better you stay in Kufri. There are no good hotels on this road. Our hotel was in a small village where we couldn’t find the ATM and we were out of cash. We rested in our room the whole evening and night because there was nothing to do there, that’s another reason to stay in Kufri.
Day 4
We drive to Chail only to find more disappointment. There was nothing else to see other than Kali ka Tibaa and Chail Palace. The stadium was closed.
Chail Palace
Temple was very far away from Chail but was worth visiting as it has very beautiful surrounding but Palace was not worth for entry charges of Rs100.
near Kali Tibaa Mandir
After sightseeing, we returned to Shimla to conclude our journey, but we found a new place-Johnnie’s Wax Museum. It was on the mall road near our hotel.
I hope to visit Shimla again in winter to enjoy the winter activities and enjoy the Toy Train ride.
Few tips for fellow travelers –
Plan the trip in January/February. You can enjoy snow activities like skating and skiing.
Skip Naldehra/Tatapani trip. Better go Kufri.
Book Kalka-Shimla train in advance.
Book only 1-night accommodation in Shimla (near or on Mall Road) and rest of the stay in Kufri (away from the crowd).
Bargain for everything- hotel, taxi, shopping, horse riding, sports adventures.
Don’t do river rafting in Shimla and save your money for Rishikesh.
Ratings (it is subjective and based on personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 8/10 – Queen of hills has most happening Mall road, British era buildings, winter activities, famous street food, and amazing mountain view.
Expense 4/10 – Accommodation and transportation are costly as Shimla is very overpopulated, overcrowded and commercialized now.
Travel ease 7/10 – You can easily reach Shimla from Delhi/Chandigarh and taxi/cabs are easily available there for sightseeing.
Food 7/10 – It has some very famous cafes/restaurants and street foods.
It was monsoon time and I was craving for a long road trip. We had covered almost all of the Rajasthan so I decided to plan a family trip to Madhya Pradesh. Though roads in MP are not great and three of us knew driving, I alone drove 1500 km over these 6 days.
Days required – 6-7 days
Nearby places to go – Panna National Park (closed in monsoon)
Best time to visit – after the monsoon or during winter (October to February)
How to reach
Make Gwalior entry and exit point for your trip as it is the major city with maximum connectivity.
By air – Gwalior and Khajuraho have airports but Khajuraho airport has very limited connectivity. Gwalior has direct flights from Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.
By train – Gwalior is well connected to all major cities.
By road – Gwalior is well connected by road. Roads are not as good as in other states. There are frequent bus services (govt. as well as private) to all nearby cities.
How we traveled – we did a road trip to Gwalior from Jaipur. It was 350 km journey.
If you don’t want to drive then you can always hire a cab. Reach Gwalior by flight or train then go further by cab or taxi.
Cheaper options will be using state transport to reach Jhansi and Khajuraho which will not be so comfortable but a budget option.
Where to stay
Gwalior – you have two options to stay there – one is the railway station area and the other is Lashkar area. If you don’t have a car, stay in Lashkar area. It is a little congested but near to everything.
If you have a car, stay away from the market area to avoid parking issues. You can cover distances easily with a car. No need to stay at the congested place. First, confirm with the hotel reception about parking before booking the hotel.
Jhansi – limited options for accommodation here. Book your stay near Civil lines. You can opt to stay in Orchha which is 30 minutes away from Jhansi and have many resorts.
Khajuraho – Surprisingly, this last stop of the journey had the numerous type of accommodations varying from backpackers’ hostels(Zostel) to luxurious stays like Clarks, Ramada, Radisson and The Lalit.
How to go around – If you have your vehicle then there is no worry else it is very easy to roam around Gwalior, Jhansi, and Khajuraho. You can easily find rickshaw, taxi, and cabs everywhere.
Places to visit
Gwalior
Gwalior fort- Just like Chittorgarh fort, it is a very large fort located on a hill and it is advisable if you have a vehicle (own or hired) to explore it.
Gwalior Fort
Gujari Mahal Museum- This museum is near Qila gate. It can be avoided if you are exhausted by Fort tour.
Tansen and Mohammad Ghaus Tomb- they are near Qila gate/Gujari mahal- better to take auto-rickshaw there or you will be stuck in the traffic(old city area)- a must-visit place for photographers otherwise can be missed if there is a shortage of time.
Sun temple- Dedicated to the Sun God as the name suggests, the Sun Temple in Gwalior has close similarities to the legendary Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha. The temple adorns a breathtaking architecture and thus attracts tourists and devotees from all over the country in large numbers.
Jai Vilas Palace-must visit place in Gwalior- this is the residence of the descendants of the royal Maratha Scindia family. The palace also serves as a museum stretched over 35 rooms, houses the Chitrangada Raje Art Gallery and a library. However, it is most popular for its enormous Darbar Hall that is beautified with gilded carvings. It is closed on Wednesday. Ask locals for directions for entry gate.
Jai Vilas Palace
Jhansi
Jhansi fort – situated in the heart of the city, this fort is the witness of the 1857 mutiny. Fort is not well maintained and there is renovation going on.
Inside the Jhansi Fort
Rani mahal – very near to the fort, it was the residence of Queen Laxmibai and was heavily damaged during the mutiny. This place is very poorly maintained by the government and can be missed.
Rani Mahal
Orchha
Orchha fort complex has three palaces – most magnificent is the Jahangir Mahal. This three-storeyed structure even today, retains its original grandeur. Raja Mahal is another flawless piece of art. Rai Parveen Mahal now ruins, once was a beautiful palace with the lush green garden surrounding it.
Ram Raja Mandir – It is the only temple in India where Lord Rama is worshipped as a king, hence so named.
Cenotaphs – these beautiful structures are built on Betwa riverside.
Chaturbhuj Temple – this architectural marvel is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is walking distance away from the Ram Raja Temple.
Chaturbhuj Temple
Khajuraho
Here are three groups of temples –
Most famous and nearest one are Western groups of the temples which are Hindu temples and they are most talked and most well-preserved temples of the region. You will need 2-3 hours here. No person is allowed to do puja here.
Western Group of Temples
Then comes the eastern group which are the Jain temples. They appear the same as the western group of temples but are worship place for Jain people. Some of them are preserved but many are damaged and some are being renovated.
Last is the southern group of temples- Duladeo and Charbhuja (only temple without erotic sculpture) temple which are Shiv and Vishnu temples. The 3rd one is still under excavation (maybe we get to visit more temples in the future after excavation work is completed).
Temple complex opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. Ask for timings. It is at 7 pm in the summers.
There is a sound and light show at Western group of temple premises after 7 pm. Ticket charges are Rs.250 per person but the show is not worthy of it and can be missed.
You will need a vehicle to cover all these places as they are far from other (few km only but not a walkable distance). Bargain well from local taxi/auto drivers.
Raneh and Pandav waterfalls
Raneh, a must-visit place is 30 min drive from Khajuraho. On entrance, they charge you according to vehicle type(Rs.600 for a car) and there is guide fee-Rs.75. A guide will take you to falls, tell you the history and geography of the place. Raneh falls are natural. They are canyon formation which you will not find anywhere else in India. It is said that these canyons would have formed because of volcanic eruptions thousands and thousands of years ago.
Raneh Falls
Pandav fall is located in Panna National Park. If you have one more day then you should visit Panna National Park. It is closed in monsoon.
Where to eat
Gwalior – Try kachori at SS Kachoriwala and Bahadura’s Ladoo for breakfast and Lunch at Kwality Restaurant.
Jhansi – Dine at Navbharat or Haveli restaurant. Try snacks at Hot bites/ Narayan chaat bhandar
Khajuraho – Pizza at Raja cafe and Bella Italia.
Itinerary
Day 1 –
Reach Gwalior and check-in your hotel. Visit Jai Vilas Palace. In the evening, take a stroll around Sarafa Bazaar.
Inside Jai Vilas Palace
Day 2 –start your day early to reach Gwalior fort via Urvai Gate. It will take whole of your morning to explore the fort complex. On the way to the fort, you will find large Jain statues carved out of rocks(some are well preserved but most of them are ruined). After reaching the fort(uphill), a path to the right side lead to Scindia school(where entry is not allowed), Teli Mandir(oldest temple there but not well maintained( very beautiful from outside but reeks from inside) and Gurudwara. All these places have no entry fee. After strolling around these places, park your vehicle near Man Mandir Palace and main fort area. You have to pay for parking and entry here. On entry, you can take a guide here if you are interested in knowing the history of Gwalior and the royal family. Man Mandir Palace is the most beautiful and well-maintained palace here. Next, to it, there is Vikram Palace, Jahangir Palace, and Johar Kund, Chhatriyaas(cenotaphs) which are almost ruins. There is a different fee counter to enter this area. Pay the nominal fee to get a panoramic view of the city. After exploring the Palace area, visit Shahstrabhuja Temple better known as Saas Bahu temple (same entry ticket to be shown here for entry).
Saas Bahu Temple
Have your lunch at Kwality Restaurant. Visit Tansen and Mohammad Ghaus Tomb and Sun temple. Head for Jhansi in the evening. Jhansi is a 4-hour drive from Gwalior. Check-in your Jhansi stay and get rest.
Day 3
Reach Orchha early in the morning. It is 30min away from Jhansi. Park your vehicle and start your trip by paying a visit to Ram Raja Temple. Near to it, is magnificent Chaturbhuj temple. Orchha is photographers delight as it has many ruins and buildings. Most of them are not well preserved. Explore the fort complex. It takes 1-2 hours here. Have lunch and head back to Jhansi. Take rest if you have time or go to Jhansi fort as it closes at 5 pm. There is no need for a guide here.
Day 4 – Khajuraho is 4-hour drive from Jhansi. This small town has an airport, bus stand, and railway station but all are located far away from the main tourist attractions. You should start your tour with the western group of temples and end it with the southern group of temples. Skip the light and sound show.
Day 5 – visit Raneh waterfall in the morning and head back to Gwalior by noon. Rest for the day.
Day 6 – take flight/train or drive back to your city.
Few tips for fellow travelers –
Don’t trust Google to reach a tourist spot. It will fail you again and again. Almost every place has two routes and Google will always tell you the short but wrong one. Ask locals for directions.
There are two entry gates for Gwalior fort- one is Quila gate in the old city which is very congested. Go there if you don’t have your vehicle but you have to walk uphill to reach the ticket counter. Other is Urvai gate from where vehicles are allowed and is preferred by most of the tourists. Ask locals for directions as Google may not be helpful here.
Go sightseeing in the early morning to avoid crowd and afternoon heat.
It is better to first cover Orchha in the morning and after having lunch, go for Jhansi tour as there is not much to see other than fort which can be covered in evening.
Take a water bottle with you. You will be exhausted exploring these large forts and temple complexes.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 7/10 – Orchha fort complex and Khajuraho temples are the star of the trip other than that most of the historic monuments were not properly maintained.
Travel Expense 2/10 – neither accommodation nor transportation is costly. You can easily manage this trip in your limited budget.
Travel ease 6/10 – Other than Gwalior, connectivity is an issue so you have to make Gwalior as an entry and exit point.
Food 7/10 – other than some lip-smacking street food in Gwalior, there was nothing special worth mentioning about food on this trip.
