The Mumbai Goa Highway or the NH 17 is a great route that leads through some lovely sea shores and also some misty mountains. The mountainous terrain of the highway is what makes tours and trips on this road very memorable. So as you wind your way from Mumbai to Goa and remember to capture whatever you can as this is one cherishable experience filled with the ideal travel pleasures.

Normally it is ideal to start from Panvel near Mumbai for a biking experience here. So after getting all the gears checked and the bikes scrutinized is a good idea to set out on this road early in the morning. It is important that one knows all the riding techniques if he has to take this remarkable drive down this very important highway in India.

After reaching Khed on the NH17 one can then proceed towards Dipole which is the town on the coastal area here. This is where the highway takes a diversion off the NH 17. There is a small stretch of smooth road that leads to the Karde Beach. Here one can also check in the hotel which is on the shores of the sea. Here you can unwind for the night and enjoy the beach sights and just bask in the pleasures of a beautiful ambience. Normally people love to enjoy the pleasures of fishtailing and just drift in the sea atmosphere here and enjoy the entire environment here. Mother Nature seems to bless the tourists visiting the place.

Then the following morning you could refuel your gases and then reach the Dabhol jetty from Dapoli. Here normally people take a ferry and cross the creek and reach a place called Guhaghar. This is almost alike a ghost town and this is where the Enron project of India was started. Then after riding down to Guhaghar one can have the delicious Maharashtrian meal here. The Guhaghar beach is a popular place here and tourists and riders generally are seen enjoying here. It is a good idea to take a walk down the beach here. Then take the Hedavi Velneshwar route on the coastal region and see the Rai Bhatgaon Bridge which is a great structure in the Konkan region. This is a bridge which is really long so make sure you have your camera ready so that you can get the best pictures. Then you would have to head towards Ratnagiri which is the next destination.

The sight of the scenic splendour here leaves you open mouthed here as the beauty of this place is just irresistible. Come here and experience the pleasures of being in a great land of Maharashtra on this NH17 highway and get into a hotel here and enjoy the pleasures of this trip. Expect some drizzle in Ratnagiri as it is a place which normally sees a little bit of drizzle occasionally.

From Ratnagiri you reach Hathkhmba and then get on to the NH17 normal route and proceed on this highway till you reach Oni. From here you cand take a diversion and then go towards the Anuskara Ghats. As you reach the top of the Ghats at a height of around 600 m the cloud and the mist is sure to enchant you with the lovely sights.

Go to the village Kale from here and then take the Ghat road that goes through Gaganbawda and then get back to the NH17 and reach a place called Kankavli. Take a rest for the night at a local lodge or inn here, and then proceed the following morning and reach Kudal. Here you could move towareds the west and reach a place called Vengurla. From here go on the highway and reach Sawantwadi which is a natural paradise. With the lovely sights of waterfalls, and greenery you are sure to enjoy this lovely tour on the NH17.

Then from here you can reach Belgaum and then Karwar and then finally Goa. In this way the NH 17 Grand Ride comes to an end.

The Taj Mahal

Anyone would agree that this great love monument is one of the major attractions of Indian history. This majestic monument on the banks of the River Yamuna is a must see spot in Indian tourism in the city of Agra near the Indian capital Delhi. With a story of how the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built this monument for his lady love Mumtaz Mahal, this is an attraction worldwide and is famous for its color changing shades. History has it that this was built out of marble and the construction continued for around 22 years. There were 20,000 people employed for this and the exquisite carvings and architectural elegance are seen to be believed.

Temples at Khajuraho

India is a land of history and also the origin of sex and sexuality. Experience this at the Khajuraho temples where more than 20 temples showcase the sculptures on sex and sexuality. These erotic carvings are a worldwide attraction and provide the tourist a fair idea of Hinduism and the related tantric art. A must visit spot from Indian history. The temples here can be categorized into Eastern, Southern and Western temples. The Kandariya Mahadeo temple is the main temple and belongs to the Western group of temples.

Fatehpur Sikri

And then we have the esteemed Mughal capital which exists since the 16th century – Fatehpur Sikri. Lying near the city of Delhi, this is today a ghost town. Lack of water supply drew away the residents here and the architecture of red sandstone and beautiful palaces is today a world famous site from Indian history. One can feel the medieval touch here and it is an immensely popular tourist spot.

Hampi

The erstwhile Vijaynagar capital, this simple village  is a major feature of Indian history. With enthralling ruins and intriguing terrain, the ancientness of this place is from the 14th century. With around 500 monuments, there is an amazing energy felt here. Located in Central Karnataka,  in India, this lies around 350 km from the city of Bengalooru. Hospet is the railway station that lies nearby and is a half hour drive. Hampi is also reached by road and the nearest airport is Bengalooru.

Caves at Ajanta and Ellora

Existing since as early as the 6th and the 11th centuries these caves showcase Indian art and paintings as also the exquisite sculptures. These 34 caves are famous for their intriguing architecture. These hand crafted sculptures have the dubious achievement of having been created out of a single chisel and hammer.

With such historical destinations Indian history is a treasure chest of places to visit.

Sikkim is just around 7096 square kilometres and is located in the eastern part of the Himalayas and has the richest biodiversity and also the highest mountain ranges in this part of the world. Get to see the Mt. Khangchendzonga which is around 8586 meters high and see this third highest peak in the entire world, and enjoy the presence of the guardian deity of the locals here amongst whom it is really very popular.

There is a change in the altitude here and this ranges from 200 to around 8586 metres. This is the way the altitude differs here and all visitors just love to exprience the sheer thrill of crossing over from sub tropical zone to a temperate zone. Sikkim is a place where people normally go for treks. The trails run through a lot of biodiversity and also rich culture of the Sikkimese.

Sikkim has many trekking routes and these are very good during the spring season and also in autumn. The spring season is the time when there is a clear view of the mountain and it has the widest varieties of flowering plants. Autumn gives a dry and clear mountain view and most of these Sikkim Mountains have a very weak ecosystem. So all the trekkers coming here need special permission to trek. Trekking here in Sikkim is supposed to be done in a very organized manner.

Come and enjoy the Darjeeling Kanchengjunga trek.

This is a trek that normally 20 nights and 21 days. You would be crossing Tonglu, Faribas, Phalut, Pelling, Yuksom, Saimiti Lake and then Thangsing Labdang.

After you arrive at the Delhi airport on the first day you would be met by the representative and then he would take you around the city.

Then you can arrive at Bagdogra Airport and go up to Darjeeling which is another four hours journey. As you cross the Assam tea plantations the sights of the lovely villages here and also the greenery is something to remember.

Go to Tiger Hill to see the sunrise and then see the Ghoom Monastery which is where you would find the Maitreya Buddha kept as an image here. Then visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and also tea plantations.

Then the next day drive from Darjeeling to the manay Bhanjang. The trail looks resplendent with the simple natural beauty and the amazing organized schedule.

Then go on the mossy path and see how in between there is lot of hamlets and forests.

Climb up the ridge trail which is found heading towards Kapokhari and enjoy this steep climb up. Then go to the Singalila which is another ridge that takes you to Sandakphu.

You can also walk and see the best sunrise over the Kanchenjunga , Lhotse, jannu, Cho Oyo, Everest, Walk upto this place and see the lovely changes of the yak herds, and many other Himalayan animals.

Then come down the descent and you would reach the Gorkhey forests. This is at a height of around 2500 metres. Then you climb up towards Raman which is again a beautiful place filled with small villages and lovely bridges.

Come by car from Rimbik to Pelling and see how this beautiful hill town comes alive. There is another drive that you would take from Pelling to Yuksam via Pemayangse. Then visit the Pemayangtse Monastery here and see how this lovely paradise is the most impressive Gomps in the entire state of Sikkim.

Also go to the Rathong valley and climb up the Tshoka village. Then you would reach a place called Dzongri and from here you would go to Thangsiang and then to Samiti.

A perfect retreat for the businessman and the tourists, this is an ideal way a leisure traveller could up his ante in tours. With around 34 cottages and lovely and comfortable executive rooms, stays at Backwater Ripples are memorable. There are a variety of layouts which include cottages with a great view and also the best sights of the lake Vemabanadu. The bathrooms are spacious and roomy and they are connected very easily to the bedrooms. The king size beds in the bedrooms make stays here very exotic. The wood granite and marble are natural materials and so there is an air of luxury and warmth here in Backwater Ripples. So get the sights of the best kind of wooden furniture and also traditionally crafted furniture. See the exhibits of the paintings and also the way the handicrafts are showcased here. Thus the Backwater Ripples is a resort that is able to combine ancient traditions and modern technology.

The rates for the hotel are inclusive of a welcome drink to the visitors. Then there is a complimentary cruise for an hour around the Vembanad Lake in a motorboat. There is a speed boat ride and this is also complimentary.  Enjoy fishing in the Vembanad Lake and go to Thattukada which is an ethnic Kerala sop for tea and evening munch.

Then there is a buffet breakfast which provides great culinary pleasures. The rooms with the CCTV and AC and also a tea coffee maker, a refrigerator, hair dryer, coffee maker and telephone is a perfect retreat for all those who visit this part of the world.

The hotel has tour organizers who take you around and help you to enjoy the place better. So experience the lovely pleasures of the backwater cruise here and enjoy the way you can live within the house boats. The stays are quiet convenient here and there are proper guides for ech place. With the fascinating plantation and trekking tours, travel to this part of the world is very adventurous and thrilling.

Go trekking here if you like to, as the place has a certain natural ambience to it thus making it a great trekking spot. Alas there are traditional art forms that are arranged here very well. Kerala is synonymous with ayurveda and so ayurvedic massages are very famous here.

Situated around 90 km from Kochi and 15 kms from Kottayam Vemabanadu Lake has Kottayam as the nearest rail head and Kochi as the nearest airport. Located in Kumarakom in Kerala this is a lovely spot spread over more than 7 acres of garden. It can accommodate almost the regular stream of visitors who come to this place.

You have the Centre Court Banquet Hall and the air conditioned conference halls here provide great facility for a formal occasion. There is a book shop here which sells curios and books.

Then you have facilities for international dialing and a health club to monitor your health. A gymnasium makes you feel fit and there is also a doctor on call in an emergency. There are currency exchange facilities and the travel desk is very helpful. A water sports centre ensures you have the maximum excitement and the lake front barbeque is an exotic way to spend a vacation here in Backwater Ripples.

With many other towns and cities like Thekkady, Ernakulam, Allepey, Munnar and Kovlam in and around this hotel, it is a very pleasurable way to spend holidays in Kerala.

It is believed that Easter gets its name from Eastre or Easter which is the name of a Teutonic Goddess of Dawn .There was a festival that was celebrated every year on the first day of the season of spring in the northern hemisphere. But there are many others who say that the word Easter comes from the word east which is the direction where the sun rises. The Germans call the Easter as Ostern.

Easter is normally celebrated on the first Sunday that comes after the first full moon of the vernal equinox. It is said in the gospels that the death of Christ and the resurrection took place during the time of the Passover and during the time of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. Passover is a festival that falls in the Hebrew month of Nisan on the fourteenth day. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is on 15 Nisan. This is normally observed for around seven days. Then it began to be held that Passover was the day of preparation and the Feast of Unleavened Bread was the High Day Sabbath. Passover thus fell in spring as this is the time you have mature lambs to slaughter. So Passover is always between March and April but on different time frames depending on the number of days that year. Since the date of Passover changes, the date of Easter also changes.

Easter is not for a single day. This is actually a kind of season that starts from the Easter Sunday and goes on for seven weeks. This is generally referred to as the great fifty days by the Christians. During this period, there is celebration in the Church over the resurrection of the Lord, his appearance after Easter, and then his teachings to the world, then his ascent to heaven and then the way the disciples eagerly wait for the Holy Spirit. The fortieth day is considered to be the day of ascension and is normally celebrated with an evening worship service as it always falls on a Thursday.

Easter is the most awaited and joyful festival of the Christian calendar. There are lot of praises of the lord and there is a general feeling of Excelsis or Glory in the highest and Alleluia or Praise the Lord. There are hymns and organ music that are sung and generally there is an air of celebration. An old custom of doing away with kneeling on the Easter Sunday is practised in many churches. Standing signifies rising and resurrection and is considered to be the standard posture for confession. There is lot of decoration everywhere and sanctuaries and chancels are decorated with flowers and banners. Easter lilies are seen everywhere. White symbolizes holy nature and happiness. The paschal candle is lit for the entire fifty days.

The paschal candle is a symbol of the risen Jesus and is normally used in the liturgical parishes. This large white candle is the tallest sanctuary candle and has the Holy Cross inscribed on it.

Easter is a time of celebration and forgetting past grudges.

It is called the worlds’ biggest advertising festival and this yearly event attracts many representatives from across the world and become a part of the festival to experience the short listed work, the workshops, and also attend the seminars related to this. There are many reasons why a person would love to experience this event, the main reason being fun and entertaining activities. This week long activity is inclusive of four kinds of ceremonies and this has an opening ceremony and a closing ceremony.

Experience at least thousands of ads which are featured from across the world and see how they are judged and also displayed. In the year 2011, there was a record entry of around 28, 282 and this was a major achievement after the recession period experienced in the world.

This festival is a take off from the likes of the International Film Festival at Cannes which has been held since the year 1940. There was a certain group of cinema screen advertising contractors who belong to the Screen Advertising World Association who felt that the advertising films should also be recognized. So they founded the International Advertising Film Festival and the first of such festivals was held in the year 1954 with more than 187 entries in the film category and these came from more than 14 countries. The Lion trophy started due to the lion of Piazza San Marco in the city of Venice.

The second festival had Monte Carlo as the venue and then the third one was held in Cannes. After this year when it was held in Cannes, the event was always held either in Venice or in Cannes. Then from 1984, Cannes became the permanent venue. There have been new categories which have been awards in the past few years. So you have the Press & Outdoor Lions Competition which started in the year 1992, and Cyber Lions in the year 1998, and Direct Lions in the year 2002, Media Lions in the year 1999, Radio and Titanium Lions in the year 2005, Design Lions in the year 2008, Promo Lions in the year 2006 and also Creative Effectiveness in the year 2011. But in recent years there are calls from the industry for the Festival to make an entry into the categories that reflect the state of communications in the world. In the year 1990, the festival added a lot of learning programme in workshops and seminars. The Festival also added a lot of programme and featured more than 90 sessions in seven days. there have been talks from the likes of Patti Smith, Carolyn Everson of Facebook, James Murdoch, Aaron Sorkin, Piers Morgan, Eric Schmidt, David Simon etc.

Cannes is the only discipline that would show you how advertising, digital media, global design and effective communication could mean a lot to people. If you are number one in the Cannes Lion festival then you have achieved everything.

There are many places to see this festival and the best ones are the River Mi Lo along the River Yangstze. Come here and see the lovely procession of drums as all the locals gather with a lot of drum beating and also with many boats which are decorated well and are seen floating here. With lot of food and zongzi dumplings, aka hsiung huang the local wine is very common here. The Dragon Boat Race is a very exciting experience with the winning team hanging from the Dragon Head on their boat and grabbing the victory flag. The celebrations go on till late into the night with a lot of fireworks and great traditional Chinese dancing as entertainment.

It is said that in the year 278 BC Qu Yuan who was a local of the Chu State flung himself into the river as he wanted to protest against the inavasion of the states by the Qin state. The villagers were very disappointed and they took their fishing boats to save him from the evil spirits with a lot of drum beating. Qin had plans to conquer all the Chinese states.

Dragon Boat Festival is also known as the Duanwu Festival and is a great occasion in this part of the world. It is in fact a traditional holiday. It is linked with a lot of South East Asian societies and East Asian societies. This is called Duanwuin in Mandarin, Tuen Ng festival in Cantonese, it was recognized as a public holiday in the year 1940 and this festival is also celebrated in the countries of Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan. There are many related festivals in the continent of Asia which are inclusive of the Kodomo no hi in Japan. Tet Doan Ngo in Vietnam, Dano in Korea.

The festival occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar and this is what the Chinese calendar is based on. So the other name of the festival is also Double Fifth. Duanwu or the fifth day changes from year to year as the lunar calendar has either 29 or 30 days. The moon is said to be the strongest during this time of the summer solstice and is called mid summer in traditional areas of Japan. The sun is considered as the yang and the dragon the long. It represents masculine energy and the moon or the yue represents feminine energy like the phoenix, fenghuang, and firebird. Summer solstice is said to be the time when the male energy is maximum. Winter solstice is the time when the feminine energy is maximum. So Duanwu is linked to the masculine dragon image.

There are many theories which govern the festival and there are innumerable explanatory myths and folk traditions which are linked to the observation. The most popular myth is that that connects to the suicide of the 278 BCE statesman Qu Yuan during the Warring States period.

There is another traditional story that is linked to the festival and this is that the festival is held in reverence of the poet Qu Yuan of the ancient state of Chu. Qu used to serve in the high offices and belonged to the Chu royal house. It is said that Qu was banished for cheating and wrote a lot of poetry during that time. Then he committed suicide in the Milo River on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Till today local people admire him. It is said that in those days the people dropped sticky rice triangles wrapped in leaves of bamboo into the river to give to Qu Yuan in his afterlife. So that is the reason people in China eat the zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival. It is also said that the locals used boats to retrieve his body or to scare the fish away. Thus the origin of boat racing began.

The Arattupuzha temple has a history that dates back to around 3000years and is mainly dedicated to Lord Ayappa. The most important festival of this lovely temple is the Arattupuzha Pooram which is a great festival of the Kerala Tourism. This is a seven day function and has many special festivals, rituals and also colourfully laden processions with the perfect ambience of tradition percussion instruments. Thousands of people come here just to see this mesmerizing spectacle and many come just to be a part of this unique festival.

This is one festival that is very special and features the largest kind of elephant pageantry and is one of the most popular temple festivals of the country. The divine gathering or the devamela is another attraction for the tourists coming here. The procession normally has around 23 deities and all of them look resplendent in the celebrations.

Ghee is offered by all the Ayappa devotees and this is used for lighting the lamps here. There are around five thousand lamps in the temple that are lighted. The purity of the ghee and the entire brightness of the lamps lends a lot of positive energy to the place. It is said that participating in this beautiful festival is in itself a blessing.

Then the next day the carpenter from the nearby village offers equipments to the head priest and then the Tantri has a lot of special and unique rituals that are done to purify the surroundings and the sanctum. The purification process continues the next day.

Then the following day the Lord is taken out of the temple in a procession filled with a lot of percussion instruments and also a greatly grand procession. There are five elephants which lead the procession. The rituals normally start early morning and end by sunrise.

Then the next day the Lord enters the Peruvanam temple by around 6 in the morning and the procession normally is taken out of the southern gate and is accompanied by around seven elephants. There are around 150 artists who participate in this procession. The Lord then moves through the entrance in the east and is taken out for special rituals. Then the Lord takes rest in the Thantri Illam which is the head priest’s home.

Then the Lord reaches the temple at Piddikaparambu and then stands there facing the northern side. The Chathakkudam Saastha is seen facing west. There are elephant races that are held and then the temple rituals involve a farewell to the Chattakkudam Saastha and He comes back to Arattupuzha.

The Arattupuzha Pooram is thus a grand and very special festival in this part of the world. This year it was held in the month of April on the fourth of the month. It was a grand and unique affair and signals the ascent of prosperity and happiness in the word.

With the best sights of historical places and the most fascinating pleasures of the most beautiful monuments, feel the freshness of the green and flowery gardens, and enjoy relaxing and rejuvenating in this beautiful land filled with a lot of things to do in travels.

With many delicious dishes and traditional fare, there are many foods of great culinary delight here in this land of beautiful tours. So have the el chorizo chquisaqueno and the la saltena which are very popular dishes here. The La saltena is an empanada which is made out of a sweet pastry and is filled with the mat of chicken or cow and has a lot of vegetables, chilli pepper and is a spicy hot favourite here. The El chorizo chuquisaqueno is a spicy sausage and is served with lettuce, bread and tomato.

Visit the Tarabuco’s market in Sucre and get to see the best display of textiles and many kinds of handicrafts in this part of the world. Or else try the picante de pollo which is a dish made of cheese, pasta and vegetables. It is called picante as it has a lot of chilli pepper and is a spicy dish.

Sucre is called the white city as it has many colonial buildings all coloured white. The constructions here date back to around 500 years. Sucre is the beginning point of many tour expeditions in Bolivia and is also a shopper’s paradise and gives the ideal fare for those in search of rugs and textiles. These two are incidentally the major exports of the country of Bolivia.

Visit the Museo Textil Etnografico which is a great museum with around seven rooms for exhibits, and also a hall for weaving. Here you get to see the workers creating a lot of designs and these items are then sold in the gift shop of the museum. These exhibits showcase a lot of tapestries, costumes and also embroidery works. The dance costumes of the Carnival are also available here. There is a room which solely showcases male weavings, rugs and tapestries. Weaving is a form of female craft and is found in this part of Bolivia.

Go to Downtown Sucre which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historical structures and most of these date back to the times of a colonial past. The actual significance of the place is felt as you walk down the streets of this lovely area. Your walk would begin at the Plaza de Mayo and would then take you around the buildings around it, like the Sucre Metropolitana Cathedral, the Freedom House where there were many heroes who had congregated during their struggle for independence. Then there are many cafes and shops here alongwith restaurants which give you the pleasures of cuisine and other such delights.

Then of course there is the dinosaur wall which is a series of footprints that was left by the dinosaurs of the past on a quarry wall made of cement. These prints are believed to be about 68 million years and it is said that this area was a lake then. There are many public buses that take you to Cal Okco. Visitors put hard hats before going to the park headquarters and get a short introduction to this place. The feeling of roaming in the outdoors and enjoying the sight of the tacks is a great experience. These prints are large and have a lot of variety and thus are considered the best collection of dinosaur tracks in the entire world.

Then there is La Recoleta which was a convent earlier and today is a museum. It is a construction of the 16th century and is the place where you would find a great collection of religious artifacts and colonial arts. The most interesting things are found here and the court here has a 1000 year old tree and the place also offers a great panoramic view of the entire city.

Thus Sucre is a place which has some of the best locales to visit and offers ideal travel delights.

Also the sight of the Kangra Valley is filled with the best panoramic views and offers great opportunities for the high altitude up and down cross flying for around 200 km. the Dhauladhar range extends from Dalhousie and curves to the south east of Mandi. Billing is somewhere in between Mandi and Dharamsala and is to the south west of Kulu and Manali valley. The range runs all the way to Dharamsala and separates the Champa region from the Kangra Valley. There are high peaks to the north of the meadow and plains to the south.

There are cross country distance flights that are had in this region and normally these flights are between Billing to Manali or between Billing to Dharamsala. The flying is normally one that gets lifts from the cliff edges or the ridges. It then goes down from the main range. The ridge lifts are a result of the wind hitting hillside and there are columns of hot air or thermals that are normally used to go a little higher.

Thus Himachal Pradesh tourism offers such fascinating places like Billing which is today one of the best gliding sites in the entire world. This is truly a place that is blessed by Mother nature and is the best launching pad in this part of India. The locale and the surroundings provide the best launching pad for paragliding and hang gliding So all the adventure enthusiasts normally come here in large numbers just to enjoy the pleasures of being in a great adventure destination. so come the months of September to November and you would certainly get the best of sports pleasures and adventurous pleasures. So come here to Himachal Pradesh and explore the beauty of the Billing region and get the best travel ecstasies.

Visit the temple of Baijnath which attracts a lot of visitors from across the world. This was a temple that was built by Ahuka and Manyuka sometime in 804 AD. There is the lingam of Lord Shiva inside the temple and many people visit the temple so that the Lord of Physicians would cure them of all the ailments they have. there is another very intriguing thing about his place and that is the purity of water here. It is said that this water has great digestive properties and it is also said that the rulers in the Kangra valley drink water that is brought from Baijnath.

Bir is a village that is around 14 kms from Baijnath and is very popular for the annual fair which is celebrated during the time of the festival of Holi. During this festival there are many locals who came here dressed very well and it is a great sight to see them singing and dancing happily. The Gods here are carried here in full finery and the colorful palanquins add to the beautiful revelry. People drink a lot of rice beer here and this is called lugri here.

Billing is the place where people love to come for adventure sports. There are many other Indian places which offer the best parasailing delights but Billing almost tops all the places in this part of the world. this place also has the unique distinction of having the first ever paragliding competition.

With Guggal as the nearest airport and Pathankot as the nearest railhead, Billing is also accessed by road from any part of Himachal Pradesh. Billing also has comfortable accommodation facilities giving the best of travel delights.