Travel Places

Disneyland is one of those magical places, where children watch their dreams being transformed into reality and adults are transported into a world where the child is supreme, and where no one ever seems to grow up.

The Disney resorts can be found in varied places such as Orlando, Florida, Hong Kong, Paris and Tokyo, but as the original fantasyland, there are few that can match the splendour of Disneyland in California.

The resort is divided into various theme parks and also has shopping and entertainment sections. You can choose between themes such as Fantasyland and Mickey’s Toontown, or be really adventurous and go to all of them. But do remember that even though everything can be accessed by foot, you need a few days to see all of it.

Once you are inside the resort, everything is easily available. There are great places to eat and shop, some amazing rides (be prepared to stand in line) and also fabulous entertainment shows. You can purchase a ticket which permits entry to all shows and rides or buy them individually.

There are some really great restaurants inside, but some of upscale ones require a reservation, sometimes weeks in advance.

Check out the specials that may be a part of the entertainment of the day. There may be parades during the day, or fireworks in the evening.

If you are a parent accompanying your children, be prepared to spend hours with their favourite cartoon characters. Return to your childhood and join them as they relish meeting their storybook heroes, or as they squeal on the rides. After all, this is their Fantasyland.

For many years, Shimla was the queen of all hill stations in India. During the British rule, for 75 years, every summer, the entire government moved to Shimla to escape Delhi’s sweltering heat. Since then, it has been one of the most popular hill stations in Northern India, and due to its proximity to Delhi, it is always full of vacationers.

When to go:

You can go there at any time of the year. Summer is nice and cool, in winter the snow gives you ample opportunities to frolic around, and during the rainy season it has a charm of its own.

How to go there:

There are trains that go up to Kalka near Chandigarh, and from there you can take a cab for the 2.5 hours journey up the mountainside. But by far the best way to go there is to take the narrow gauge toy train which meanders through 103 tunnels, at a leisurely pace through some very scenic areas.

Where to stay:

There are hotels and resorts in and around Shimla. You must make your bookings in advance, since during the holiday season, it is packed to the brim.

What should we do there:

Walk around on the Mall road and watch the world go by. Drive up to Kufri and Mashobra, two charming areas near Shimla. Play golf at one of the trickiest golf courses in the world at Narkanda.

Kerala can easily be called the jewel of India. It has everything that a holiday should include – beautiful beaches, backwater retreats and hills covered with vistas of tea plantations. It has some of the best food in India, and also offers an array of lodging options ranging from the very luxurious to the reasonably priced.

Kumarakom, located on Lake Vembanad, is one of the most popular tourist destination is Kerala. The beauty of this small village lies in its backwater regions and in the picturesque resorts sprinkled all around the lake.

Where to stay:

There are resorts and hotels of all types and ranges. You can also opt to stay in one of the houseboats that throng this lake. They are very comfortable and elegant, and all of them have a cook on board, who will cook great meals for you.

When to go:

Summers are very hot, and mosquitoes abound in those months. Go there from October till March as winters are the best months to visit Kerala.

What should we do there:

Take a houseboat ride on the lake, they will take you around even for a couple of hours. Get an ayurvedic massage done, you will come out feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. And do not forget to partake of some authentic Kerala food.

Delhi is an amazing city, within its ramparts it carries the history of centuries, and it has amalgamated many cultures and religions within its folds. Ancient monuments exist side by side with modern structures throughout the city. You can play golf among old tombs and mosques and you can walk in parks without realising that you are traversing a path that was laid down centuries ago.

If you are visiting Delhi, do try to go off the beaten path and visit some of its hidden gems. The Nizammuddin Dargah is one of them. It is a place of worship, and as you enter its precincts there is sense of peace and serenity that envelops. For centuries, saints and kings have worshipped here, and every building or tomb here, has a story to tell.

In Chandni Chowk, hidden in one of its myriad lanes, is the very beautiful Jain Swetambra Temple. It is built with a profusion of color and ornate coverings, and has some fabulous rare manuscripts and images within it. The amazing black statue inside seems at variance with the brocade and gold filigree all around, and with the fact that the followers of this sect wear only white clothes and believe in simplicity.

One of the most peaceful hill stations in Himachal Pradesh, Dalhousie has a unique charm of it’s own. It is a very small hill station, has breathtaking scenic vistas, and is easily accessible from most of North India.

How do we get there:

You can take the train or the plane up to Pathankot and then drive up for 2.5 hours. Or you can also drive from Amritsar or Ludhiana.

Where do we stay:

There are many hotels in Dalhousie, ranging from the better ones like Alps and less inexpensive ones also. There are many homes which provide you well furnished cottages with all the amenities.

What do we do there:

Do not look for hectic activity and busy schedules here. Life moves at an easy pace and relaxation is one of the main activities. You can drive down to Khajjiar, a very lovely valley just 30 kms away, or you can climb up to the Dainkund temple. The main town has some excellent level walking paths. through great wooded hills.

When should we go:

Summer months are great, cool and bright and sunny. During winter it snows for some time and if you enjoy the crispness of the air, winter months can be a lot of fun.

For many years, Shimla was the queen of all hill stations in India. During the British rule, for 75 years, every summer, the entire government moved to Shimla to escape Delhi’s sweltering heat. Since then, it has been one of the most popular hill stations in Northern India, and due to its proximity to Delhi, it is always full of vacationers.

When to go:

You can go there at any time of the year. Summer is nice and cool, in winter the snow gives you ample opportunities to frolic around, and during the rainy season it has a charm of its own.

How to go there:

There are trains that go up to Kalka near Chandigarh, and from there you can take a cab for the 2.5 hours journey up the mountainside. But by far the best way to go there is to take the narrow gauge toy train which meanders through 103 tunnels, at a leisurely pace through some very scenic areas.

Where to stay:

There are hotels and resorts in and around Shimla. You must make your bookings in advance, since during the holiday season, it is packed to the brim.

What should we do there:

Walk around on the Mall road and watch the world go by. Drive up to Kufri and Mashobra, two charming areas near Shimla. Play golf at one of the trickiest golf courses in the world at Narkanda. In winter, Kufri offers some great places to go skiing or indulge in winter sports.

Kerala can easily be called the jewel of India. It has everything that a holiday should include – beautiful beaches, backwater retreats and hills covered with vistas of tea plantations. It has some of the best food in India, and also offers an array of lodging options ranging from the very luxurious to the reasonably priced.

Kumarakom, located on Lake Vembanad, is one of the most popular tourist destination is Kerala. The beauty of this small village lies in its backwater regions and in the picturesque resorts sprinkled all around the lake.

Where to stay:

There are resorts and hotels of all types and ranges. You can also opt to stay in one of the houseboats that throng this lake. They are very comfortable and elegant, and all of them have a cook on board, who will cook great meals for you.

When to go:

Summers are very hot, and mosquitoes abound in those months. Go there from October till March. Winters are the best months there. The houseboats and resorts are all air-conditioned, so the stay there is very comfortable.

What should we do there:

Take a houseboat ride on the lake; they will take you around even for a couple of hours. Kerala’s backwaters are famous for their scenic beauty, and most resorts are situated on them.

Get an ayurvedic massage done, you will come out feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

And do not forget to partake of some authentic Kerala food. Fish made in the Kerala style is delicious style, just tell them to put fewer chillies!

Lanzarote is a fascinating place declared as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO with a landscape that has been scarred by over 300 volcanoes. The terrain here gives you out of the world experience with a feel of a tide of molten lava and ashes frozen in time. With a low level of rainfall, Lanzarote, the fourth largest and most eastern of the Canaries group of islands enjoys a wonderful warm weather all-year round. The number of tourists visiting the island, either holiday-maker or sports enthusiasts is over a million every year. Many people have found that a cheap holiday to Lanzarote is an excellent way of recharging their batteries without straining the finances.

Despite the heavy numbers of tourists arriving and a wide array of hotels, restaurants and shops sprouting in the island to cater for them, surprisingly Lanzarote has been able to maintain their nonchalant and relaxed atmosphere you might be looking for your holiday at cheap price. The laid back non tourist trap feel is mainly attributed to the strict implementation of its building and infrastructures plan, restricting the bulk of the tourists to the three main resort areas in one part of the island while keeping the other part as a rural exclusion. This proper infrastructural planning ensures that finding a relaxing but cheap holiday to Lanzarote is easy.

The exceptionally warm and dry weather of Lanzarote contributes largely to the incredibly fast growing popularity of the island among the tourists. Aside from being a peaceful paradise, there are actually a vast number of activities you will enjoy while in Lanzarote. There are the numerous water sport activities that Lanzarote is known for and you can enjoy from your range of hobbies from activities like biking, horse riding, play golf or tennis, or love for history and culture, there are lots of excellent places worth visiting.

Delhi is an amazing city, within its ramparts it carries the history of centuries, and it has amalgamated many cultures and religions within its folds. Ancient monuments exist side by side with modern structures throughout the city. You can play golf among old tombs and mosques and you can walk in parks without realising that you are traversing a path that was laid down centuries ago.

If you are visiting Delhi, do try to go off the beaten path and visit some of its hidden gems. The Nizammuddin Dargah is one of them. It is a place of worship, and as you enter its precincts there is sense of peace and serenity that envelops. For centuries, saints and kings have worshipped here, and every building or tomb here, has a story to tell.

In Chandni Chowk, hidden in one of its myriad lanes, is the very beautiful Jain Swetambra Temple. It is built with a profusion of color and ornate coverings, and has some fabulous rare manuscripts and images within it. The amazing black statue inside seems at variance with the brocade and gold filigree all around, and with the fact that the followers of this sect wear only white clothes and believe in simplicity.

Purana Qila or the old fort traces its lineage to 1000 BC and many dynasties have left their marks here. Beautifully laid out gardens among monuments such as Bara Darwaza and the Qila-i-Kuhna mosque, make this one of the most beautiful parts of Delhi. Spend some time looking at the intricate carvings and the huge gateways which have withstood the ravages of time.

One of the most peaceful hill stations in Himachal Pradesh, Dalhousie has a unique charm of it’s own. It is a very small hill station, has breathtaking scenic vistas, and is easily accessible from most of North India.

How do we get there:

You can take the train or the plane up to Pathankot and then drive up for 2.5 hours. The roads are good and clear and after Dunera, they wind their way through wooded mountain areas. Or you can also drive from Amritsar or Ludhiana.

Where do we stay:

There are many hotels in Dalhousie, ranging from the better ones like Alps and less inexpensive ones also. There are many homes which provide you well furnished cottages with all the amenities. If you do not like crowds, then look for hotel accommodation away from the centre of town.

What do we do there:

Do not look for hectic activity and busy schedules here. Life moves at an easy pace and relaxation is one of the main activities. You can drive down to Khajjiar, a very lovely valley just 30 kms away, or you can climb up to the Dainkund temple. You can also walk from Vijay Chowk to Subhash Chowk, excellent level walks, and stop enroute to buy traditional Himachal handicrafts.

When should we go:

Summer months are great, cool and bright and sunny. During winter it snows for some time and if you enjoy the crispness of the air, winter months can be a lot of fun.