India travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises spa and resorts

 

It is a luxury tented wilderness camp near Ranthambhore National Park, India. Its name means peace (“aman” in Sanskrit) and special (“khas” in Hindi).  Set in an incredible natural setting, remote and secluded, Aman-i-Khas is a true haven of tranquility, offering its guests exceptional comfort in a pristine wilderness setting. The camp is open between October and April, which is the best time to visit the park.

 

There are luxurious and comfortable 13 tents, of which10 are for guests. The remaining 3 are a tent each for lounging, spa treatments and dining, which serves Indian and Western cuisine made from ingredients grown in the resort’s organic gardens. Each tent is huge covering a 108 sq m area. They are the genuine articles, made with thick, water-proof canvas and divided into three separate sections for eating, bathing and dressing. Laundry, doctor on call, foreign exchange, and travel desk are some of the other services that are provided by the resort.

  

The Aman-I-Khas camp offers morning and afternoon safaris in open top jeeps within Ranthambhore as well as camel treks and nature walks in the surrounding villages and countryside. For more info: www.amanresorts.com/amanikhas/

Hotel Taj West End is Bangalore’s unique 5 star deluxe category hotel, situated near the city center. Set amongst 20 acres of blooming colorful gardens creating a relaxing, peaceful atmosphere. The hotel is centrally located – just 36 km from the domestic and international airports and close to the city’s prime commercial.

The Taj West End Hotel offers a total of 122 rooms. These include superior rooms, luxury rooms, Taj club rooms and Taj club premium rooms. Sleek and stylish, all guestrooms at Taj West End offer luxurious comfort and excellent amenities.

Room Facilities: Alarm Clock, Hairdryers Available, Room Service, Mini Bar, Safe Deposit Box, Television with Cable, DVD Players.

The hotel offers excellent business amenities to the corporate travelers. There are 5 meeting rooms which can accommodate 30 to 450 guests.

Dining options include the Blue Bar, situated amidst water gardens, and the Vietnamese Blue Ginger restaurant.

You can workout at the state-of-the-art gymnasium, have a bracing dip in the swimming pool, relax at the sauna or indulge in the game of tennis at your leisure. Spa services may be requested.

Taj Residency Hotel is one of the best 5 star hotels in Bangalore, India. The hotel is a one hour drive from the international and domestic airports. Quite close to the  Ulsoor Lake in the heart of the city is the Taj Residency Bangalore hotel. Strategically located, Taj Residency Bangalore is equipped to handle the needs of business travelers.

The hotel offers 166 well appointed rooms, including 5 Executive suites. Use of Residency Lounge offering complimentary Continental breakfast, Cocktail Hour and coffee throughout the day.

All rooms are elegantly appointed and offer guest amenities like international direct dial facility, mini-bar, channel music and a color television with satellite programs.

The hotel offers an array of business facilities including a fully equipped Business Centre, offering 24-hour Internet connectivity.

The restaurants and bars in the hotel include Cafe Mozaic, Graze, Memories Of China and The Jockey Club. Exclusive fine dining restaurant-cum-bar, serving Continental specialties.

FACILITIES: Swimming pool, fitness centre, beauty parlour, barber shop, car rental, currency exchange and safe.

Wildflower Hall Hotel, Mashobra, sprawls over 23 acres of land and is the most sought after heritage hotel near Shimla. The building occupies only 5% of the property allowing guests ample space for privacy and tranquility.

The hotel has 87 rooms and suites viewing to the cedar forests and mountain ranges. All rooms-are furnished in colonial British style with open fireplaces. Amenities including broadband internet, satellite TV and 24 hour butler service are available for all guests.
Services: Internet services, Interpreter, PC rental, courier services, secretarial services, fax, photocopier and audiovisuals rental.

The Cavalry Bar stocks a large range of fine spirits, wines and cigars. The two restaurants offer the choice of fine international cuisine and traditional Indian cooking or simply relax with a quiet drink in the timeless elegance.

The spa at the hotel has a number of exotic spa therapies that promise to perk you up. The other facilities that you can enjoy include horse riding, nature walks, mountain bicycling and river rafting.

The location of this hotel is unparalleled. Only 600 m from the Taj Mahal stands the Oberoi Group’s new luxury resort. Influenced by Moorish and Mughal architecture the majestic mansion encircles an impressive colonnade filled with fountains and reflection pools.

105 elegantly furnished rooms.They are equipped with all the world-class facilities.You can take your pick from deluxe rooms with/without terrace, and executive and luxury suites.

The colours of the decor were most unusual with a very vivid turquoise tamed by white. All rooms feature Burmese .Teakwood flooring, a seating area, writing desk with chair, and en-suite marble bathrooms.

The hotel offers 2 meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 150 people.

Spa includes beauty and body treatments with exotic oils and creams used by royalty five hundred years ago, in addition to a steam room or sauna to rekindle the body and spirit.

Some of the best Indian tea pickers are situated in Darjeeling region in India. Darjeeling is a small town in Indian state of West Bengal, sprawls across several regions in the Himalayas.

 

Women are sorting different kind of teas. The name Darjeeling is synonymous with high quality black tea.

 

This picture displays a daily sampling, which is ready for tasting at the Makaibari Tea Estate.

 

Flying to India and drive into the Himalayas may seem like an awful effort for a good cup of tea, but Darjeeling tea isn’t just simply good – it’s about the best tea in the world.

New Delhi is the capital of India. The city is a mixture of ruins and an example of Maghal architecture. The new flourishing has brought to the city a thriving contemporary art scene. Several glleries are within a 15-minute ride into South Delhi and new exhibitions usually open on Fridays.

For people who don’t prefer walking, there’re many others ways to sightseeing around Delhi. There’re an-auto rickshaw maneuvers through the evening rush hour.

One of the best attractions in Delhi is the Red Fort located in old Delhi, which was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan as his royal palace. It’s best to visit the fort in the early morning, when the light is the most glorious and the crowds smaller.

If you get hungry you can walk into the Kinari Bazaar in old Delhi. This Bazaar is a crafters paradise with shops which offers everything from haberdashery to beads to weeding turbans. The streets around the Kinari Bazaar are an oasis of calm, with colorfully painted mansions and temples belonging to the Jain faith.

Two of India’s most innovative designers are located at the Lodhi Colony Main Market. Another high end boutique at the Lodhi Colony Main Market is Manish Arora where the styles are cheeky and loud. The city’s pièce de résistance is the quiet sanctuary of the Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi. Here an early morning walker passes Muhammad Shah’s tomb which dates to the mid 15th century.

The Claris Hotel is absolutely luxury five star hotel situated in the very heart of Barcelona. Its good location gives the opportunity to visit the Pasco de Gracia, the Plaza Catalunya and Avenida Diagonal. As well as the location is perfect for business assignments.

The hotel is really extraordinary place with its style of old Egypt and India. The exterior is a mixture of design and exhibited pieces of art. The hotel has a museum where part of the private collection of the Egyptian Museum of Barcelona is on display and to which visitors have free access.

The rooms of the hotel are spacious, large and decorated with one-off art pieces, indian sculptures, antique Napoleonic furniture and engravings. On the top floor terraces there is a fantastic swimming pool with great views and a gym.

For the gourmets the “East 47“, which is a very exclusive restaurant offers delicious cuisine.The restaurant connects the art and the brilliance of Andy Warhol with gastronomy and music, to the flavours of sushi, fresh caviar…

Once the residence of Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal, Ananda is undoubtedly one of the best hotels in India and ranked in the Top 10 spa hotels of the world. The calming integration of lush greenery, fresh mountain air, Himalayan spring water, the luxurious therapy rooms overlooking the holy River Ganges and the mystifying Himalayas, together with unbeatable spa facilities provides the ideal environment for rejuvenation of the body, mind and soul. It is, however, not only for those who want to spend time doing little but being pampered – it is also the perfect base from which to go walking, bird watching, star-gazing, rafting, fishing or game viewing.
The 21,000 square foot spa offers an extensive menu of over 79 body and beauty treatments, integrating the traditional Indian systems of Ayurveda with the more contemporary Western spa approach. The spa experience strives to achieve the ultimate harmony between the physical and the mental realms of the individual.

Wellbeing Experience

# 1 Ayurvedic and Wellness consultation
# 1 wild rose salt glow
# 1 Reflexology treatment
# 1 Ananda royal facial
# 1 stress release treatment (hot and cold stones)
# 1 Ananda touch
# 2 private yoga sessions
# 2 private meditation sessions
# 1 aromatherapy massage
# 1 Swedish massage
# 3 Ananda Rejuvenation Spa Cuisine meals per day
# Morning wake up signature tea
# Daily fresh fruit bowl
# Introductory Spa and Fitness Orientation sessions with an initial spa consultation
# Daily use of the Hydrotherapy facilities
# Opportunity to participate in scheduled Spa Lifestyle and Wellness activities: Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation, fitness classes, cooking demonstrations, lectures, workshops and excursions
# 7 nights accommodation in a Palace View Deluxe Room
# Return flights to Delhi
# Two way transfer by train from Delhi to Ananda (air transfer at extra cost)

Insider Tips
- Himalayan pure spring water is served at the Ananda, an important element of their Spa therapies
-The climate throughout the year is pleasant, except for the periods between December and January where it can often drop to 6 degrees centigrade at nights so remember to take a jumper or two!
- Should you wish to arrive in style, the Ananda has its own private air pad. Just let us know if you are interested.
- Children below the age of 14 are not allowed to stay at the Ananda, so expect a quiet stay!

Amanbagh sits in isolation amidst the arid Aravalli Hills near Alwar in northern India. The region is rich in early Hindu history, dating to the dawn of Hindu civilization. The resort comprises a main building that rises over three levels. A team of highly-skilled therapists provides a range of healing therapies as well as more traditional treatments such as facials, massages and scrubs. These are available in the resorts spa treatment rooms. Yoga and meditation are offered in the resort as well as the nearby scenic surroundings.
On the first level is the arrival area that leads to the reception hall and onto a shaded court, bordered on one side by the Dining Room and on the other. Rising from the reception area is a sweeping staircase that leads to the Library and an outdoor terrace. Two external staircases lead to the Roof Terrace that is elevated above a canopy of trees and provides sweeping views over the surrounding landscape. Courtyard Haveli Rooms are located on the ground level of two, two-storey structures on either side of the swimming pool. Each Courtyard Haveli Room features a king bed, separate living area, bathrooms filled with natural light, sound system and personal bar. Garden Haveli Rooms, located on the ground level, are distinguished by private balconies that overlooks a garden. The entrance to each is by courtyard with an outdoor dining area. Inside, there is a living area with a large banquette, two chairs, an armchair and writing desk.Eight Terrace Haveli Suites are located on the upper level of the two, two-storey structures. Access to each is by staircase that leads to private terraced courtyards, each with an outdoor dining area, daybed and two sun loungers. Each Terrace Haveli Suite is fitted with a sound system and personal bar. The Roof Terrace is ideal for informal dining beneath a starlit sky, particularly during the hotter months when there is a cool breeze.

Sixteen Pool Pavilions are located on the perimeter of the resort and offer their own private swimming pool and spacious garden. Entry to each Pavilion is by garden courtyard that leads to two rooms linked by a glass reception hall. The hall provides access to the shared living area and bedroom on one side and to the bathroom on the other. The living area contains a king size bed, writing desk, daybed for lounging, sound system and personal bar. The private swimming pool measures three m. by nine m. and is cool throughout the summer months and heated during the winter months.

Amanbagh Resort is built in an oasis fed by a nearby lake in the Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan. The structure is of pink sandstone and the garden has palm, eucalyptus and fruit trees. Outdoor activities around the resort include cycling, trekking, horse-riding, donkey, camel and elephant rides. The best season is between October and April.

A little more then 25 km from Aurangabad in Maharashtra state in India is the place of pilgrimage for Hindu, Buddhists and Jains. It is ranked amongst the most magnificent of Indian sculptural sites. They are placed in a horseshoe shape about 3.5 m away from the village. The river Wagura, a mountain stream flows along the bottom of the ravine.The beautiful caves of Ellora symbolize three of the major religions of the world, namely Buddhism. There are around 1200 cave temples still in existence, most of which are Buddhist. There are a total of 34 monasteries and temples inside these caves, dated to 7th to 9th century c.e. Discovery the enchanting Ajanta caves were discovered accidentally by a company of British soldiers in the 19th century. Before the excavation of these caves they were hidden under the thick vegetation for a long time. Today hold the distinction of being declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Tourists come from far and wide to visit this amazing cave temple.

The importance of the work may be judged by its size. The hill has been cut into as far back as 400 feet; the temples itself is 300 feet long. The width of the space between the scarps on each side is 185 feet; the highest part of the temples is about 100 feet high. This temples is an exception among the rock excavations of Western India. The intriguing Ajanta Caves are carved out of large rocks and are 30 in number. The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the center dedicated to Hinduism, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain.

The Kailasa temple in Cave 16 is an architectural wonder, the entire structure having been carved out of a monolith, the process taking over a century to finish. This mountain – abode of Lord Shiva, is in all probability, the world’s largest monolith, the gateway, pavilion, assembly hall, sanctum and tower, all hewn out of a single rock. The Jain caves are about a mile away from the Kailasa temple, amongst which Cave 32, houses a beautiful shrine adorned with fine carvings of a lotus flower on the roof, and a yakshi on a lion under a mango – tree, while Caves 32 and 34 contain grand statues of Parasnath.

These caves have exotic paintings illustrating the life and incarnations of Buddha. The carvings and the paintings of the Ajanta caves tell us about the imagination and creativity of the artist. Compared to the Ajanta paintings and sculptures, the Ellora representations are more earthly, drawing elements from the Vajrayana school of Buddhism which was permeated with primitive ideas of magic and mysticism. In fact, it is architectural skill rather than sculptural aesthetics that Ellora is no founded. The murals on the walls of these caves are still in a good condition, maintaining the Ellora,a freshness of the color and spreading vibrancy in the atmosphere. Visitors will definitely enjoy watching these great historical pieces of art.

The Harimandir, now called the Golden Temple is a living symbol of spiritual and historical traditions of the Sikhs. The Golden Temple is witness to the high skill of the traditional craftsmen. Its location in the center of the pool would symbolize the synthesis of nirgun and sargun: the spiritual and temporal realms of human existence. Its architecture represents a unique harmony between the Muslims and the Hindus way of construction work and this is considered the best architectural specimens of the world. It is often quoted that this architecture has created an independent Sikh school of architecture in the history of art in India. The body of water is framed on all four sides by a backdrop of bright-white buildings. The bridge is connected with the 13 feet wide “Pardakshna“. It runs round the main shrine and it leads to the “Har ki Paure” (steps of God). On the first floor of “Har ki Paure“, there is continuous reading of Guru Granth Sahib.

The door frame of the arch is about 10ft in height and 8ft 6inches in breath. The door panes are decorated with artistic style. It opens on to the causeway or bridge that leads to the main building of Sri Harmandir Sahib. It is 202 feet in length and 21 feet in width.
At the top of the first floor 4 feet high parapet rises on all the sides which has also four “Mamtees” on the four corners and exactly on the top of the central hall of the main sanctuary rises the third story. It is a small square room and have three gates .
A visit to the Golden Temple is incomplete without a visit to the following among others – Akal Takhat, Baba Atall, Guru Ka Langar, Sri Guru Ram das Niwas and The Sgpc officcers.
The Golden Temple, and the city of Amritsar itself, are best visited in the winter. The months between November and March are pleasant (even cold), although the summer can get blisteringly hot. About Golden Temple offers you holiday packages, leisure tour packages, business tour packages and pilgrimage tour packages at best available prices. Travel to Amritsar with about Golden Temple and have a memorable experience of staying in best hotels in Amritsar along with a visit to nearby religious places including Golden Temple. You must visit historical landmarks like Jallianwala Bagh and Ram Bagh.

The construction of Golden Temple at a lower level was a break away from the Hindu tradition of constructing a temple at a higher level. It was done to make the visitors go down the steps in order to pay homage to the holy shrine.