Imagine a sandy beach with blue umbrellas, the sun slowly setting on the horizon, spreading its warm orange glow, you lying on a hammock, feeling the gentle warmth of the breeze. This in my heart is what it feels like to be in Spain. The land of afternoon siestas, limited store hours, and a happy laid back life. Come here for some soul music, to find your lost taste in art, or just for lessons on taking life a little easy. A four-five days backpacking tour is ideal to experience the joy that Spain is. However, before we get into the finer details, let’s spend some time figuring out the logistics with the money saving tips: Major costs Flights and Transportation: The flight from India to Spain is one of the major expenses. If you are flying from New Delhi to Barcelona or Madrid, it costs approximately Rs. 50,000 per person for a round trip. When travelling locally in Spain, rates across different cities vary. On an average, city metro and bus lines cost Rs. 75- Rs. 200. High speed trains are on the expensive side with tickets costing Rs. 3000- Rs. 11,000. Slower regional trains cost between Rs. 1100- Rs. 3500 per trip. Overnight buses are the cheapest option for inter-city travel and cost around Rs. 1300- Rs. 1500. Money Saving Tip: While travelling by trains is faster, take the bus if you do have some extra time on your hands. Overnight buses will help you save like none other. Accommodation: Staying in Spain is cheaper than other European countries. Dorm rooms cost around Rs. 1500- Rs. 2300 for a night, whereas private hostel rooms on double sharing start around Rs. 3000. Mid-range hotels can cost around Rs. 5000- Rs. 10,000 per night depending on the location and season.
Imagine a sandy beach with blue umbrellas, the sun slowly setting on the horizon, spreading its warm orange glow, you lying on a hammock, feeling the gentle warmth of the breeze. This in my heart is what it feels like to be in Spain. The land of afternoon siestas, limited store hours, and a happy laid back life. Come here for some soul music, to find your lost taste in art, or just for lessons on taking life a little
In the silence of the teeth shivering winter morning, I listen to the Alaknanda River travelling its way to Devprayag where it meets Bhagirathi and form our holy Ganga. Last evening, soon after paying prayers at the renowned and to my surprise crowd-free Badrinath Temple, I left to visit Mana as my last destination of this trip in Uttarakhand. Mana Village, famous as India’s Last Village, is three kilometres to the north of Badrinath. Beyond is the Mana Pass and border to Tibet. I remember, one fine day a close friend advised me to experience the beautiful morning in Mana-The Last Indian Village. As promised, the view outside was breath-taking. Cowling over the holy town of Badrinath, Neelkanth, Bathing in the golden virgin rays of sun, sparkling beautifully in the clear blue skies. The view was exhilarating and mesmerising. Awe-struck by the glorious view, my body seemed to have been absorbed with new energies even after the tiring trek to the beautiful, Valley of Flowers. Every day in Mana, in the soothing arms of Himalayas, was pleasantly surprising. The beautiful and slightly arising road curling around the Alaknanda. The unbelievably strong and rugged mountains along with the murmuring Alaknanda keep a close watch on the tourists –they are the only witness who saw the Pandavas walking this exact path on their way to heaven. It was almost the end of the tourist season thus, it was not overly crowded. Occasionally, an army truck used to cross by me. The tiny wild flowers growing on the roadsides gave me company for quite a few days were vibrantly colourful and always cheering to keep me going. I could see the stress-free lives of the local women who happily carried firewood and fodder on their bent backs while, the horses were grazing on
In the silence of the teeth shivering winter morning, I listen to the Alaknanda River travelling its way to Devprayag where it meets Bhagirathi and form our holy Ganga. Last evening, soon after paying prayers at the renowned and to my surprise crowd-free Badrinath Temple, I left to visit Mana as my last destination of this trip in Uttarakhand. Mana Village, famous as India’s Last Village, is three kilometres to the north of Badrinath. Beyond is the Mana Pass and
Munnar, Kerala Mist-induced, flourishing tea gardens and the spectacular spice plantation with dewdrops falling from the leaves and branches, Munnar in Monsoon is a paradise for nature lovers. The beautiful mountains partially covered in clouds while the rain rejuvenates almost everything it can touch. It’s an ideal escape if you’re looking for some quiet time in the lap of the mountains. Not being a tourist season during monsoon, you can live all of this without any chaos and of course, the off-season prices! Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya Being the second wettest place on the planet, Cherrapunjee is known to the world as it receives rains throughout the year. If you love fierce rains, then you got to visit Cherrapunjee during monsoons, the beautiful looking hills and the heart quenching scenic beauties makes for a thrill-filled monsoon trekking trip. Once you are here, go and have a look on the unique orange flower honey here and if you are the Indian tourist with an un-explainable love for tea don’t forget to enjoy the aromatic Meghalaya tea which is different to the usual Assam or Darjeeling tea. The double-decker tree bridges are an amazing experience that one must have. These can be best enjoyed in the late monsoon when the greenery is at its peak. Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu One of the most loved hilly destination in Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal receives a moderate rainfall. Most of the time, you’ll find the clouds and the sun playing hide and seek with the mountains all day. The usual hard to bear hot climate turns quite pleasant during the monsoons with the rain-washed valleys and cloudy mountains. This is the time when this beautiful tourist destination of India is splashed with waterfalls. Coorg, Karnataka Coorg, a spectacular hill station adding to the various tourist destinations of India is
Munnar, Kerala Mist-induced, flourishing tea gardens and the spectacular spice plantation with dewdrops falling from the leaves and branches, Munnar in Monsoon is a paradise for nature lovers. The beautiful mountains partially covered in clouds while the rain rejuvenates almost everything it can touch. It’s an ideal escape if you’re looking for some quiet time in the lap of the mountains. Not being a tourist season during monsoon, you can live all of this without any chaos and of course,
Iceland, A land created for the extreme experience. Blessed with abundance of Mountains, Volcanoes, Rivers, Lakes, Caves and picturesque rough terrains that waits for you to be tackled. If you are an outdoor ninja, it’s your paradise! If you are an indoor-snuggly snail, get ready for a never fading warm and welcoming experience of your life. Iceland is perfect for your inner adventure ninja. It is rugged and beautiful and perfect on eyes for all year around. The landscapes serve as a lovely backdrop for whatever activity that you have in your mind. Most of us make a mistake by going to Iceland for nature. The treasure for this beautiful panorama is the people, who are warm and friendly and embellished with a smile. So, once you are here; enjoy long walks on local streets, a refreshing dip in the community swimming pool, purchasing local produce. The creative juices flow here in Iceland just like the geothermal water. So, keep a day reserved to experience its music, arts, literature and designs that are available around the country. Food, another factor which makes the Icelandic by-lanes more flavourful. The slow produce, local grown food of Iceland is always waiting for you to come and discover it. One basic advice for the travellers that I would suggest is to try fishes as much as you can. Iceland has a huge industry for fishing making it obvious that the fish that you just ate was caught just a few minutes ago. Where to Stay in Iceland? Inevitably, you’ll get your first taste of Iceland in the city of Reykjavík where you’ll find yourself rubbing your shoulders with over half of the Icelandic population. The city offers you some happy high restaurants, shops, stylish bars and a nightlife that is wild beyond one’s imagination.
Iceland, A land created for the extreme experience. Blessed with abundance of Mountains, Volcanoes, Rivers, Lakes, Caves and picturesque rough terrains that waits for you to be tackled. If you are an outdoor ninja, it’s your paradise! If you are an indoor-snuggly snail, get ready for a never fading warm and welcoming experience of your life. Iceland is perfect for your inner adventure ninja. It is rugged and beautiful and perfect on eyes for all year around. The landscapes serve
It’s a shopper’s paradise, owing to its relaxed taxation on goods. Besides, it is home to a multitude of business opportunities, with many Indian businesses on the forefront too. Such is Hong Kong, the city of towering skyscrapers studded with a ceaseless chain of noodle stands. Contributing a whopping eight million to the world population, the eventful city also has one of the biggest hub airports in the world. To a visitor who is not used to being in crowded places, Hong Kong can prove to be too overwhelming. But if you’re still determined to have it on your bucket list, this travel guide will give you a perfect shot at making your Hong Kong experience a memorable one. Visa details Indian nationals must apply for and successfully complete online pre-arrival registration before they can continue to enjoy the current 14-day visa-free visit or enter Hong Kong during transit (except in direct transit by air and not leaving the airport transit area), unless they belong to one of the categories of persons who may continue to come to Hong Kong visa-free without pre-arrival registration. Read more on: http://www.discoverhongkong.com/in/plan-your-trip/traveller-info/immigration-and-customs/visa-information.jsp The Octopus Card When I entered Hong Kong, little did I know that the city is so well connected By MRT Trains that you can go anywhere in a matter of minutes with amazing service to accompany you. Here’s what it is like: they have a card that you can purchase and credit with a certain amount during your visit. It’s called the Octopus Card. So after you’ve bought and credited the Octopus with the desired amount, there’s nothing much left for you to worry about! Anywhere you go, the Octopus will serve the task of facilitating your transactions and expenses. It’s completely functional at MRT (Local Metros), shopping spots, food chains,
It’s a shopper’s paradise, owing to its relaxed taxation on goods. Besides, it is home to a multitude of business opportunities, with many Indian businesses on the forefront too. Such is Hong Kong, the city of towering skyscrapers studded with a ceaseless chain of noodle stands. Contributing a whopping eight million to the world population, the eventful city also has one of the biggest hub airports in the world. To a visitor who is not used to being in crowded
This charming, island state, located at the southern-most tip of Continental Asia and the Malay Peninsula, holds the appeal and legend of Koh Samui but without the sleaze and smut of Bangkok. Home to two of the world’s three most expensive buildings, a concert hall shaped like a durian and a museum shaped like a robotic hand, Singapore is neither light on the senses nor the pocket. Simply put; Singapore is currently the most expensive city on earth. But is it justifiably so? Though physically small, Singapore is an economic powerhouse. It has been South East Asia’s most modern city for over a century, replete with a level of sophistication and automation that would make most first world countries look like the Flintstones. The country includes the island of Singapore and 58 or so smaller islands. Because of its efficient and largely motivated and corruption free government, Singapore has become a flourishing economy that excels in trade and tourism and is a model for developing nations. The eponymous capital city (the diminutive size doesn’t warrant a different name), covers about a third of the area of the main island which is uniformly well constructed. In fact, Singapore boasts some of the best infrastructures in the world and is quite simply, one of the best-planned cities on Earth. Chocolate wrappers and potato bags are consistently relegated to green dustbins carefully positioned equidistantly throughout the country. Etymology The English name “Singapore” is the Anglicized version of the word “Singapur” which is derived from Sanskrit: Singh (lion) + pur (village/city), hence the customary reference to the nation as the Lion City. However, it is unlikely that lions ever lived on the island; Sang Nila Utama, the Srivijayan prince said to have founded and named the island Singapura, perhaps saw a Malayan tiger. Social
This charming, island state, located at the southern-most tip of Continental Asia and the Malay Peninsula, holds the appeal and legend of Koh Samui but without the sleaze and smut of Bangkok. Home to two of the world’s three most expensive buildings, a concert hall shaped like a durian and a museum shaped like a robotic hand, Singapore is neither light on the senses nor the pocket. Simply put; Singapore is currently the most expensive city on earth. But is
One word that strikes the mind when one hears the name Paris is magical. The City of Light, as it is popularly known worldwide, unique city is home to around 10 million people. With its beautiful city plan, exquisite architecture, museums, bridges, cathedrals, parks, shopping, flea markets, sidewalk cafes, wide and luxurious boulevards, elegant cuisine and numerous monuments, Paris never ceases to enthrall you with all that it has in store. If the hint of a plan wandering around a visit to Paris is on your mind, here a few tips that could come in handy before and during your visit: TIP 1: You don’t necessarily have to buy tickets for the Eiffel tower or for any other monument online, which will just cost you much more than it would if you purchase tickets at the location or at your hotel. Almost every hotel provides tickets. TIP 2: When you visit the destination, you’ll encounter locals who will offer to rescue you from the queue in exchange for money. Avoid them, keep your patience, and in a matter of 10 to 15 minutes you’ll make it through. It’s best to leave the crowd management schemes to the authorities. VISA Details Indian Visa applications are submitted to the Embassy through M/s VFS, which is the only company authorized by Embassy of India, Paris to collect Indian Visa applications and requisite fee on its behalf. The schedule of the Visa fee for all categories of Visas is mentioned in VFS website. The Visa application can be filled in and downloaded from the VFS website or https://indianvisaonline.gov.in. The Visa applications filled from any other source or website are not acceptable at the Embassy. Also, there is no provision for online payment of Visa fees in respect of Indian Visa applications submitted in France. Best
One word that strikes the mind when one hears the name Paris is magical. The City of Light, as it is popularly known worldwide, unique city is home to around 10 million people. With its beautiful city plan, exquisite architecture, museums, bridges, cathedrals, parks, shopping, flea markets, sidewalk cafes, wide and luxurious boulevards, elegant cuisine and numerous monuments, Paris never ceases to enthrall you with all that it has in store. If the hint of a plan wandering around a
Boasting of picturesque beaches, sumptuous lagoons, and spectacular reefs, the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius is considered as one of the best honeymoon destinations in the world. About 2,000 kilometers off the southeast coast of Africa, the island of Mauritius is surrounded by more than 150 km of white sandy beaches and lagoons that are protected from the open sea by the world’s third largest coral reef, which surrounds the island. The Beaches of Mauritius Belle Mare: The beautiful beach of Belle Mare is the favourite haunt of locals who come here to spend their free days, and for fishermen who can usually be seen setting off out to the sea for the day’s catch. The beach is mostly quiet, with tourists walking along its bright white sand and the nearby resorts offering entertainment to their guests. Ile aux Cerfs: Known as the deer island in English, the Ile aux Cerfs is a privately owned island near the east coast of Mauritius. Best known for its sandy beaches, this island is also home to beautiful lagoons and offers a selection of activities and facilities including various tours near the island and snorkeling in the lagoons. Besides, water sports like banana rides, parasailing, speed boat tours are available too. Pereybere: Located in the village of Pereybere, in the northwest part of Mauritius, the Pereybere beach is not for those seeking peace and quiet. Even during the low season, this lively beach is abuzz with enthusiastic visitors. If you’re willing to endure the crowd, the beach does have a lot to offer with all its variety of restaurants and dolphin cruises and fishing trips. Flic en Flac: On the western part of the island of Mauritius is the tiny seaside town of Flic- en- Flac. Its public white sandy beach is
Boasting of picturesque beaches, sumptuous lagoons, and spectacular reefs, the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius is considered as one of the best honeymoon destinations in the world. About 2,000 kilometers off the southeast coast of Africa, the island of Mauritius is surrounded by more than 150 km of white sandy beaches and lagoons that are protected from the open sea by the world’s third largest coral reef, which surrounds the island. The Beaches of Mauritius Belle Mare: The beautiful
As an experienced Traveller When I go to any place I do all necessary things in my backpack to ensure that I must have all the important things during my whole trip. Here I will share My personnel Checklist of the things which I take with me on Local OR international Trip. 1.Kill Boredom When I plan to Travel anywhere I make sure that I pack my entertainment Tools (Gadgets) like iPad, Ipod (For Songs) , Books, Laptop , Make sure you have all your favourite songs in your iPod So that you can enjoy and you can beat boredom during your long Journey and also during your Transit waiting time It will always help you If you Read good books and If you listen good music of your Choice . 2.Personnel Hygienic Things Mostly Hotels offers you these things But I suggest That you should carry these things with you like Soap,Oil,Hair Gel, Shaving Kit , Perfume, Face wash, Deo, Comb, Sunscreen, Body Lotion , Bands, etc as per your choice and needs. 3.Always get Connected You should get your Devices y help of which you will be connected with your friends and family like mobile phones and Laptops. These days you can get Free Wi-Fi on almost every hotel if it’s not located in a remote area. So, it’s better if you take your Device and get connected all the time. 4.Related Clothes Only It seems so easy that it just clothes but trust me it’s not that easy. Many Novice travelers pack so many clothes or very less clothes and then they have problem during their Stay. Also 1 more thing which is very important and you should keep in mind before Packing of your Clothes is that the place is also very important
As an experienced Traveller When I go to any place I do all necessary things in my backpack to ensure that I must have all the important things during my whole trip. Here I will share My personnel Checklist of the things which I take with me on Local OR international Trip. 1.Kill Boredom When I plan to Travel anywhere I make sure that I pack my entertainment Tools (Gadgets) like iPad, Ipod (For Songs) , Books, Laptop , Make
When people live away from their homes they feel homesickness, It’s pretty much normal thing for most of the individuals especially when people do solo tours. Coz there are many days to do things you miss in your life. Also, your friends Family etc. Whenever I started My Solo Tours I also Suffered this Homesickness a bit but I find out the solution. Below are few of my suggestions which I already tested and all are very good. 1. Listening to Your favorite songs Every human love music. Music is a thing in the world which helps us to recover from a very bad mood in very less time. Whenever I feel alone or I feel homesick I listen My Favourite songs on my Mobile. I love old Classical Bollywood Songs (Lataji, Mukesh, Mohd Rafi, Kishor Kumar ). I have a long playlist of my favorite songs. Whenever I get time I listen songs. You can also do the same to avoid homesickness. 2. Read The stuff you love Friends As we all know that Reading is a very good and useful hobby. You can read the good books you love, whenever you get time in your tour. You can select a book on your interest based topic like Travel, Food, About the place you are going, Any good leader Biography, Motivational books etc.Also, you can read on your Mobile or Laptop. When we read we learn things. The more we read the more we learn. if you make reading your habit you will not feel alone anytime. 3. Write anything Many people write Blogs and share their Experiences about the places they visit so that they can help the other persons who are planning to visit the same place. You can also start writing any blog, Book, Text to
When people live away from their homes they feel homesickness, It’s pretty much normal thing for most of the individuals especially when people do solo tours. Coz there are many days to do things you miss in your life. Also, your friends Family etc. Whenever I started My Solo Tours I also Suffered this Homesickness a bit but I find out the solution. Below are few of my suggestions which I already tested and all are very good. 1. Listening
