India Travel » Rajasthan

Luxury Train Journeys in India

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:49:21 +0000

Let us travel all across India on the wheels of luxury. Sounds hyperbolic? True, the luxury trains have redefined traveling. Indian royal hospitality is world known and now even traveling offers the comfort and luxury of the five star hotels. Originally meant for the royalists of the Indian states but now these trains have become an integral part of luxury tourism. The royal destinations in India have always drawn tourists from all across the world but now traveling to these destinations is no less royal.

These trains have an aura of themselves. Presently the number of these trains is three namely Palace on Wheels, Heritage on Wheels and the Deccan Odyssey. The feel within the train is soaked with royal luxury and one finds himself in the robe of the majestic kings and queens. The staff displays a zealous will to serve with high etiquette. Air-conditioning saves one from the roughness of the weather and only adds to the comforts of the journey. Luxury is incomplete without the cuisine and these luxury trains leave no stones unturned to provide with the best of the world cuisine. Along with Indian delicacies one has too many choices, which include the best of Chinese and Continental.

Rajasthan is the other name of royal luxury and it is needless to say that the most popular luxury train is the Palace on Wheels, which wheels the sands of Rajasthan. Luxurious cabins, wall to wall carpeting, a rich bar, two dining cars and a very personalized service all are characteristic to the Palace on Wheels. The overall ambience is so authentic that it transforms one to the bygone era of the majestic kings and their beautiful queens as the train traverses through the heritage cities of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Chittorgarh in Rajasthan.

No less is the Deccan Odyssey, which traverses though the land of Marathas and only suits the majesty of Maharastra.The state boats of many forts and palaces and if you want to relive their glory, the Deccan Odyssey is the perfect retreat for you. If this is not enough the wonderful beaches of Goa are there to revive your senses. While Goa offers a riot of scenic beauty places like Ajanta, Ellora and Aurangabad make history alive. Mumbai deserves the special mention as this maximum city is famous for it’s vibrant life and sparks energy even the most dull moments. Well within the train one experiences the splendor of ayruveda as it offers exclusive spas and other health activities, which inject comfort with a different touch.

While rich history and royal touch is common to all the destinations still they are all unique in their own way.On the one hand they have distinct historical importance and on the other they are all different and very interesting culture. But they are all conservative of the rich heritage of India.

By: George Lucy

India – Unity in Diversity

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:04:20 +0000

India is land of variety. There is great variety in variety of aspects. The languages, lifestyles, religions, habits, geography, climates, cultures might be different but still they unite us into an invisible frame, the frame of Indianism. Diversity is there in every aspect of India, a land that encloses 1,222,559 sq. meters of land and is home to more than one billion people. As such stats imply, there ought to be diversity, but this does not always imply that there are differences. Rather, India is a land where in spite of so much of diversity, there is still unity. Be it the joining of hands for a mission or against it, Indians have always shows great unity.

There have also been instances where people have fought against each other for some reason or the other but such cases do break out in all countries, so India being a niche of such diversity can be excused for once!

India won’t be India if not for this diversity. If India means Kanchivaram sadi then India also means Pashmina shawl. If India means extreme hot climate of the south India, then India also means the snow covered mountains of the north India. If India means the desert of Rajasthan then India also means the highest rainfall grounds of Assam!

Such diversity is also found in the school of minds, where one stands for the motion, another stands against it. This means an added advantage, because while one is looking at the positive aspects of a side, other is hunting for the counterpart negatives.

The diversity of India has a great edge over the plain unanimously joint countries! It might be speculated that is just another starry eyed optimist opinion, but then if we didn’t differ wouldn’t we be non-Indians?!

By: Tarang Bhargava

Pushkar Travel Gives You a Glimpse of Indian Hospitality

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:53:02 +0000

India is a country that thrives on diversity and her unity lies in coexisting harmoniously with people of different faiths and beliefs. Among the many pilgrimage destinations that India can boost of, it holds a special place in the heart of every Hindu. Located about 11 kilometers from Ajmer in the colorful land of Rajasthan, this is home to more than 400 temples. Not only a Hindu, but tourists from all over the country and the globe have found a peace and tranquility that is unique to Pushkar. Many stories from ancient Hindu mythology come to life in front of one’s eyes once he sets his foot on the holy land of Pushkar. A travel is guaranteed to make your trip worthwhile and present you with memories that are bound to last a lifetime.

If you have made Pushkar travel plans, it is best to seek the advice and guidance of a local or a person who frequents the place, as it would make your trip around the place much more comfortable and convenient. Starting from an arrangement of vehicles to a place of boarding, a travel itinerary should be well planned in advance. Just a single day visit will not do justice to the beauty of Pushkar and you must travel with sufficient time in your hands. The temples to be included in your planned this travel should definitely contain a visit to the Brahma temple. It is considered to be the only place in the entire country that has a temple dedicated to Lord Brahma, who is believed to be the sole creator according to Hinduism. Mythology speaks of a story wherein the lord Brahma had dropped lotus petals from his hand on a piece of land that we now know as Pushkar. The name is derived from this incident literally wherein ‘pushp’ means a flower in the Sanskrit language and ‘kar’ means a hand.

When you embark on a planned Pushkar travel be sure to include this famous Brahma temple which boosts of unique architecture and was built around the 14th century. Beautiful marble steps lead up to the temple where a silver turtle has been embossed on the floor facing the sanctorum. Hundreds of silver coins are also embedded in the floor which adds to the majestic beauty of this holy place. Images of the Indian national bird peacock and the Goddess Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of learning and music, adorn the walls of the temple. Saraswati was also believed to be the consort of Lord Brahma and hence she has been featured prominently in the design of the temple. The idol of Brahma is portrayed in a lifelike manner with four heads and four hands, facing the four different directions.

Besides the above mentioned decorations and architecture, there is much more to see and be awed in the temples that should definitely be included in your travel. The famous lakes of it also deserve a visit by anyone who decides to visit Pushkar. So when you draw up your plans to visit Rajasthan, ensure that you check into any of the magnificent resorts in Pushkar and pay a true tribute to this holy pilgrimage site of every Hindu.

By: Rajendra Sharma