From My Window Seat

Goa with its exotic natural vistas and seductive charm keeps mesmerising the visitors all the year round, but during the monsoons, its charm attains an epicness that is hard to resist. Rains washes everything up, turning the land into a quintessential tropical paradise, with lush greenery reining all corners, swaying palm trees, shiny paddy fields, sparkling colourful houses, and more than fifty shades of green all around! And icing on the 'tropical paradise' cake is the fact that Goa is less crowded this time of the year, thanks to the burgeoning seas and rolled up shacks. So if one is not too fond of the crowds and wishes to enjoy Goa at a leisurely pace, monsoons is the best time to be here.

If you are heading to Goa any time soon, make the most of the seasonal discounts running in most of the hotel properties. While Goa has no dearth of accommodations catering to all kinds of budget, many top rated Goa resorts offer a stay experience that defines luxury and indulgence. Here's a list top 5 best resorts in Goa that offer exclusive service and great amenities for a luxurious stay.

1. The Lalit Golf & Spa Resort

The Lalit Golf & Spa Resort is a gorgeous beach resort spread across 85 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens. Situated in Canacona in south Goa, this exquisite beach-front property is built on Portuguese architecture and offers stay in luxurious suites and lavish private villas.

Besides a kilometre long private beach, another USP of the Lalit Resort is the international standard golf course and Rejuve - its signature spa which is the second largest luxury spa in Goa.

2. Taj Exotica

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The Taj Exotica is considered one of the most lavish properties in Goa. Built with a Mediterranean architectural inspiration, this exotic resort is located in Benaulim in south-west Goa and is just 5 kilometres away from the popular Colva beach.

While the Taj Exotica boasts of all the modern luxuries and amenities that both leisure and business travellers can ask for, what wins the deal for guests is the spectacular sea view which most rooms offer to its guests.

3. The Leela Beach Resort

The Leela Beach Resort looks magical. Set amidst a particularly picturesque landscape of palm-fringed lagoons, every room of this property offers a spell binding view of nature's bounties. The resort is located on Mobor beach in south Goa, and has its own private beach and a 12 course golf course.

So if you are looking at taking a break from the travails of fast city life, the Leela Goa is the perfect place to unwind and rejuvenate. The pristine white-sand beach, the beautiful lagoons with lotus flowers in bloom and the serenity will cheer you up just fine.

4. Whispering Palms Beach Resort

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An elegant mix of contemporary design and traditional Goan aesthetic sense, The Whispering Palms Beach Resort is a posh property with a variety of stay options. Located just a few kilometres from the Candolim beach in south Goa, this resort offers a wide range of services and amenities to the guests.

Besides a wide range of entertainment and interactive activities for the guests, the resort also offers outdoor activities like water skiing, dolphin rides and fishing trips.

5. Goa Marriott Resort & Spa

The Goa Marriott Resort & Spa figures among the best premium resorts in Goa. Built on the Miramar beach in Panji, this expansive property boasts of rich, elegant décor and a wide range of amenities. Most part of this resort offers sweeping delightful views of the bay and can rejuvenate weary travellers in a jiffy!

Besides the mesmerising views, a range of refines and comfortable services offered with impeccable hospitality will ensure that you have an ultimate vacationing experience in Goa.

So contemplate no more and pack them bags for Goa. With these gorgeous resorts to pick from, I am sure you will have the time of your life there! And if you have already stayed at one of these resorts, do share your stay experience.

Happy travels!

Cloud gazing is as much fun from above as it is from down below. Now this sounds like a funny sentence - up-down, above-below! No, this post is not about how to use antonyms in a sentence, not at all. Rather it celebrates the beauty of clouds and the fun that cloud gazing is.

I love cloud gazing. The patterns cloud make in the sky fascinate me endlessly and my flight of imagination soars. During flights too my favourite past time is gazing down below from the window seat and admiring the clouds rolling by. During a recent flight from Mumbai to Goa, I had a lovely time seeing the clouds too headed for monsoon bound Goa! I had been taking photos from my phone all along, so it was interesting to note the skyscape changing from clear to cloudy. Here are some photos from the flight, hope you enjoy them!

Guess what, I made a video of the clouds too! Now that clouds are missing from the skies these days, you can watch this small video of them floating by and get some virtual respite from the humid weather!

Hope you enjoyed this cloudy post! Do share your thoughts in the comments box below! And a big high five if you are a cloud gazer too!

Goa, with its exotic natural vistas and seductive charm, keeps mesmerising the visitors all the year round. However, during the monsoons, its charm attains an epicness that is hard to resist. Rain washes everything up, turning the land into a quintessential tropical paradise - with lush greenery reining all corners, swaying palm trees, shiny paddy fields, sparkling colourful houses, and more than fifty shades of green all around. The icing on this 'tropical paradise' cake is the fact that Goa is less crowded this time of the year, thanks to the burgeoning seas and rolled up shacks. So if one is not too fond of the crowds and wishes to enjoy Goa at a leisurely pace, monsoons is the best time to be here.

If you are heading to Goa any time soon, make the most of the seasonal discounts available at most of the hotel properties. While Goa has no dearth of accommodations catering to all kinds of budget, many top rated Goa resorts offer a stay that defines luxury and indulgence. Here's a list top 5 best resorts in Goa that offer exclusive service and great amenities for a luxurious stay.

1. The Lalit Golf & Spa Resort

2. Taj Exotica

Photo courtesy

The Taj Exotica is considered one of the most lavish properties in Goa. Built with Mediterranean architectural inspiration, this exotic resort is located in Benaulim in south-west Goa and is just 5 kilometres away from the popular Colva beach.

While the Taj Exotica boasts of all the modern luxuries and amenities that both leisure and business travellers can ask for, what wins the deal for guests is the spectacular sea view which most rooms offer to its guests.

3. The Leela Beach Resort

The Leela Beach Resort looks magical. Set amidst a particularly picturesque landscape of palm-fringed lagoons, every room of this property offers a spell binding view of nature's bounties. The resort is located on Mobor beach in south Goa, and has its own private beach and a 12 course golf course.

So if you are looking forward to take a break from the travails of fast city life, the Leela Goa is the perfect place to unwind and rejuvenate. The pristine white-sand beach, the beautiful lagoons with lotus flowers in bloom, and the serenity will cheer you up just fine.

4. Whispering Palms Beach Resort

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5. Goa Marriott Resort & Spa

Photo courtesy

The Goa Marriott Resort & Spa figures among the best premium resorts in Goa. Built on the Miramar beach in Panji, this expansive property boasts of rich, elegant décor and a wide range of amenities. Most part of this resort offers sweeping delightful views of the bay and can rejuvenate weary travellers in a jiffy!

Besides the mesmerising views, a range of comfortable services offered with impeccable hospitality will ensure that you have an ultimate vacationing experience in Goa.

So contemplate no more and pack your bags for Goa. With these gorgeous resorts to pick from, I am sure you will have the best time of your life there! And if you have already stayed at one of these resorts, do share your stay experience.

Happy travels!

Dubai for many is the land of superlatives – largest, biggest, richest, and fanciest – as evident from the sprawling opulent constructions across the city. Its love for glitz and glamour defies description. While the glittery buildings fascinate the visitors to this fascinating emirate, the myriad touristy experiences it offers ups the thrill quotient to another level. Here are 5 quintessential Dubai experiences that all travellers to this desert wonderland must explore.

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1. Climb Up the Burj Khalifa– Standing 829.8m tall, this shimmering skyscraper is one of Dubai’s several man-made marvels. With the title of ‘World’s tallest building’ up its fancy sleeve, Burj Khalifa is a sight to behold, the way it dominates the Dubai skyline. While from the outside this building entrances the onlookers, from the inside it offers an electrifying experience – climb up its observation decks on the 124^th and 148^thfloor to get stunning (and jaw-dropping) views of the city below. You can top this experience with a meal at Atmosphere, the plush dining lounge on the 122^ndfloor of the tower.

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2. Do the Desert Safari– Of the smorgasbord of experiences that Dubai offers, the desert safari is the stuff for all fun seekers and adrenaline junkies. The idea of desert safari has taken a new meaning in Dubai – it’s not just about riding a camel across the sand dunes anymore! Most of the desert safari packages in Dubai now include dune driving, sandboarding, quad biking, belly dance and other traditional folk dance shows, falcon photography, henna tattooing and a feast of delicious barbeque spread! See, it’s not just camel rides!

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3. Take the monorail to Palm Jumeirah– Palm Jumeirah is the stuff the headlines are made of. An artificial archipelago in the shape of a palm tree, this out-of-box attraction is another of the many man-made marvels Dubai boasts of. This island is home to uber expensive residential villas, many high-end hotels, restaurants, spas and stores. To get to this fantasyland, board the Palm Jumeirah monorail that connects the Palm Jumeirah to the mainland.

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4. Go mall hopping– You might be wondering what’s so special about mall hopping in Dubai. Well, the malls in Dubai are as much about experience as they are about actual shopping. As you go store trawling, there are displays, facilities, entertainment shows and installations galore to keep you hooked and entertained even if you find the price tags in the stores to fancy for your budget.

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5. Get dazzled at the Gold Souk– At Dubai’s Gold Souk, all that glitters is indeed gold. For those who are first-timers to Dubai, no trip, whether long or short, is complete without a visit to the striking and supremely opulent Gold Souk. Gold rates are cheapest in the world here and then you can bargain too! There are rows after rows of stores selling a remarkable variety of gold jewellery items. The local government controls the quality of merchandise here, so if you decide to but something, rest assured that your purchase will be genuine.

With the sunny summer season gradually nearing its end, the best time to visit Dubai is just around the corner. September-October onwards, the weather is more pleasant and the travellers get to see a variety of outdoor activities too. Major airlines such as Air India, Jet Airways and Indigo Airlines offer flight services to this glitzy wonderland. So if travelling to Dubai is on your mind, then all the above mentioned fun is just a flight away!

The iconic Burj Khalifa, the glittery shopping malls, the dazzling gold souks, the magnificent Palm Jumeirah – the list of Dubai’s extravagant architectural marvels can run into paragraphs. With so many splendid attractions dotting its landscape, this fascinating emirate is an attention magnet for tourists from across the world. While Dubai has no dearth of expensive luxury hotels and resorts catering to visitors with ultra-deep pockets, there are many alternatives to the uber-expensive hotels. So if you are under the perception that a holiday in Dubai means spending big money on luxury hotels, then this write-up is here to alter that perception.

There are many Dubai hotels that suit the budget and travel requirement of all kinds of travellers. These hotels also have many tailor-made packages and upgrade schemes on offer that makes it easier for guests to get more out of the money they spend on the hotel booking. Here are 5 budget Dubai hotels that offer best value for money, with great services and amenities.

1. Centro Barsha

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Winner of the 2015 TripAdvisor Travellers Award in the Bargain Hotel category, Centro Barsha is a stylish accommodation in Al Barsha district of Dubai. The hotel is just a stone's throw distance away from the Mall Emirates and business travellers get an added plus as the business districts of Media City, Internet City and the Dubai Financial Centre too are conveniently close. The hotel has a variety of rooms on offer, ranging from classic rooms to one-bedroom suites. The hotel also features a rooftop swimming pool and sunbathing deck.

2. Arabian Park Hotel

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Located very close to the Al Jadaf Metro Station, the Araabian Park Hotel offers an array of services for a comfortable stay. Some of the services include concierge, internet, beauty salon and doctor-on-call. For the corporate guests, business facilities such as well-equipped conference rooms and board rooms are also available. The hotel has the options of standard and superior rooms on offer and has four in-house restaurants specialising in world cuisine.

3. Citymax Al Barsha

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Citymax Al Barsha is located in the Al Barsha district of Dubai and offers easy accessibility to popular tourist attractions such as Burj Khalifa, Sunset Beach and Dubai Mall. This elegant hotel offers standard rooms for guests with facilities such as internet access, air conditioning, television and safe. The hotel is ideal for families, solo travellers and business executives alike.

4. Citymax Bur Dubai

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Another budget hotel with many positive reviews on traveller forums, Citymax Bur Dubai is located at Kuwait Street in Bur Dubai. The hotel offers standard rooms with nice view of Dubai city. The rooms are well furnished and include standard amenities like air-conditioning, internet access and television. The dining option at the hotel includes three themed restaurants - a Sports Bar and Grill restaurant named Huddle, Clay Pot, an Indian restaurant specialising in Asian-fusion cuisine and the City Cafe, an all-day dining restaurant.

5. Premier Inn Dubai International Airport

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Another winner of 2015 TripAdvisor Travellers Award in the Bargain Hotels category, Premier Inn Dubai International Airport is located in Dubai’s Deira neighbourhood and is close to popular tourist attractions such as Dubai creek and Wafi City Mall. This 3-star property offers well-furnished air-conditioned rooms with standard amenities and caters to leisure and business travellers.

So there you go! If you thought Dubai hotels were beyond your budget, it's time for a re-think. The hotel properties listed here are just the tip of the budget hotel iceberg and there are options galore in the bargain category. With your hotel worries taken care of, it's time to realise those Dubai dreams and book that long dreamt flight to this modern-day wonderland. Happy travels!

Tea makes everything better.

Tea is liquid wisdom.

Happiness is a cup of tea.

Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world.

Internet is full of all kinds of tea quotes, and every time I come across them it seems as if they have all been written keeping my passion for tea in mind. Of course they are not, but it still fills my heart with happiness that there are so many fellow tea lovers out there!

I love tea. This light brown concoction lifts my spirit like no other beverage. It fuels me up, soothes my nerves and makes me happy. It’s like a magical healer - a few sweet-and-strong sips, and all the stress and exhaustion fades away leaving me feeling fresh and energised.

So given my love for tea, an invitation from Le Meridien, Delhi to be a part of a tea trail across the city came as a wonderful opportunity to taste different teas in the company of other tea lovers. And the fact that this exotic tea trail was going to be spiced up with a dash of old Delhi tea history and a meeting with tea seller cum author Mr. Laxman Rao, I really looked forward to the experience. Tea plus heritage plus history plus meeting an author – I knew it was going to be one interesting trail.

Delhi 6 is every foodie’s paradise. From sumptuous non-vegetarian spreads to a whopping variety of vegetarian and street food, its many lanes and by-lanes offer hungry visitors a plethora of gastronomical delights to pick from. However the fact that the area also houses few very old tea shops is not common knowledge. Of course there are plenty of tea vendors in the area but there are few that enjoy the kind of popularity and regard that Kailash Chand Jain Chai Wale does. This hole-in-the-wall tea shop is located right on the main Chandni Chowk road and has been in business for more than 70 years now, and this was the first stop in our tea trail itinerary.

Run by the fourth generation of the Jain family that founded this shop, Kailash Chand Jain Chai Wale tea shop is one establishment that has survived the many quintessential tests of time and flourished to become the landmark that it is today. The shop is frequented by tea lovers from all strata of society and on offer are a variety of tea types to pick from.

I have tasted all sorts of fancy teas from across the country. Right from the station ki chai, garam chaaai to fancy connoisseur stuff in the tea garden guest-houses in Assam, I have enjoyed them all, but sipping a hot cup garnished with almonds and saffron at Kailash Chand Jain Chai Wale was a first. Yes, the heavy milky tea concoction was generously sprinkled with finely chopped almonds and a dash of saffron that gave the tea a unique flavour. Here's what it looked like.

All the guests had an engaging tea session here, interacting with one of the Jain brothers, while the senior one concentrated on the task at hand – brewing one pan after another of his famous chalu chai (masala chai). And as happens with all things exciting, the tea session was followed up with a photo session, with everyone posing with their kulhads of chai and saving the experience for posterity.

From savouring interesting tea, it was now time to move on to a different part of the city to meet an interesting tea-maker and this tea-maker was none other than the now famous tea-maker cum author Mr. Laxman Rao, a gentleman I had read a lot about and was really curious to meet.

Mr. Rao owns a regular chai ki tapdi in one of ITO’s many by-lanes but more than the chai, it’s his pen that is his claim to fame. He has authored 24 books till now and has recently completed his masters in Hindi Literature. At his tapdi, he welcomed everyone with piping hot tea and biscuits, before getting into animated conversations about his humble beginnings and life journey. Besides him were neatly stacked sets of his published books which many guests bought and enthusiastically got them all autographed.

To say that Mr. Rao’s story is an inspiration would be like stating the obvious. From starting off as a labourer to overcoming all obstacles to follow his dream of being a writer, Mr. Rao’s story is every bit worth sharing and soon I am going back to meet him and learn more about his life story.

With two interesting tea sessions done, it was now time to head to Le Meridien, this time to learn more about tea from a connoisseur's perspective. At the hotel, another tea tasting session awaited the guests, curated by tea sommelier Mr. Vikram Mittal, who enlightened the tea enthusiasts about the fine art of tea tasting and appreciation.

Set amidst quirky tea props, the tea tasting session gave interesting insights about tea brewing and the various varieties of tea available. I really had a great time understanding the details about brewing and have been experimenting with my tea quite a lot post this session. There were exquisitely packed tea samples too on display and they seemed to be attracting everyone's attention.

In all tea-trailing was a lovely off-beat experience with a fine mix of history, heritage, inspiration and tea. I love how Le Meridien, Delhi's social team keeps curating such interesting programmes and activities to engage their guests and visitors and always put up an efficiently organized show.

Hope you enjoyed reading about my tea trail experience. Do you love tea? If you do, then I would love to read about your love for tea. :)

I love all aspects of travelling–from impromptu short trips to planning long breaks, from instant packing to lazy putting together of stuff, from airport check-in routine to getting around in a new city, nothing about travel overwhelms me. Of course, this love and assuredness only developed gradually, for when I started off, I was doing the same mistakes that I now observe many rookie travellers doing. Over packing, not planning itineraries and carelessness with travel documents are just some of the niggling issues that mar the excitement of travelling.

So here are some tips that cover planning, packing and health to help you get travelling like a pro.

1. Put Together a Travel Checklist

A checklist is a huge help in keeping your travel plans organised and sorted. From packing essentials and foreign currency to apps you need in your phone, note down everything in this checklist. Keep checking off the list items that you have packed or have taken care of, so you have an idea about how the trip planning is shaping up.

2. Pack Light, Pack Smart

One cannot emphasize enough the importance of packing light. There was a time when I used to pack double the stuff I actually needed during a trip. Yes, I did that. I would plan for all kind of contingencies, only to be bogged down by bags that were too heavy for me to lug around. Moreover, almost always I would return home with unused clothes and other stuff. So be a prudent packer, and pack smartly to avoid the hassle of being stuck with unnecessary luggage. Sort out your things in neat compartments and try to keep a set of designated area for certain items such as passport, house keys, chargers, etc.

Another packing tip that I have been experimenting a lot with is rolling up my clothes. Rolling up clothes, instead of folding them not only makes for an efficient use of space, but also saves them from creasing. Also, invest in travel-size toiletry items for it saves up a lot of space.

3. Always Research Your Destination

It always helps to arrive at a destination with some information about the place. Imagine going to Agra and not knowing what else to explore besides the Taj Mahal. But with a little research, you will know that there are plentiful of things to see in and around Agra. In today’s technology savvy era, there are apps galore to help your with your travel-related research. You can look up for best stay options, the sites to see, transportation options, eateries to nom at, and can also get helpful recommendations to make your trip more enjoyable.

4. Be Airport Ready

Now this is another tip that I am gradually becoming good at applying. First and foremost pointer if you are travelling by air is to check-in online – it not just saves time at the airport, but also gives you a chance to get lucky with your choice of seat. Also, while you wait for your turn at the security scan, make sure you have taken care of the objectionable items that can hold you up there longer than you want. Keep your laptop (if you are carrying one) and phone ready for the scan tray, and your boarding pass handy for inspection.

Another hassle and time saving tip is to opt for carry-on luggage instead of checking-in. This makes more sense as one can exit the airport immediately instead of waiting at the luggage belt and wondering if your bag will eventually show up at all. Though, of course, for this, you need to pack prudently!

5. Get Yourself Insured

We all hope and pray for happy trips. However, to be honest and practical, there are so many things that can go wrong while you are out of your comfort zone in a foreign land. Lost baggage, medical emergencies, and last minute cancellations—these are just a few circumstances that can cause you trauma. So to deal with such unexpected contingencies, buying a travel insurance plan always makes sense.

Earlier, I had a casual approach about travel insurance; however, with frequent travelling, I now understand how relevant travel insurance is and how it not just secures me against medical emergencies but also takes care of some travel inconveniences that I might encounter while ‘on the road’.

During my last trip, I compared a few policies online and eventually bought Royal Sundaram’s travel insurance policy because of its attractive premium rates and the many exclusive benefits it offered. Browsing through their website, I also came across the Royal Sundaram Lifeline Health Insurance Plan that offers comprehensive health insurance with flexible premium combinations.

Coming back to travelling like a pro, travels, I believe, cannot always be 100% fool proof. But yes, being organised and planning beforehand goes a long way in making a trip an enjoyable one. I hope the simple tips I have listed above help you in your future travels. And if you have any tried and tested travel tips to share, then head below to the comments sections! Happy travels!

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"...Our honeymoon will shine our life long:it beams will only fade over your grave or mine."

~Charlotte Bronte in Jane Eyre

Honeymoon period between a newly-married couple is supposed to be one of the best times in their marriage - spent exclusively in each other's company, away from friends and family, in a beautiful location. Every couple has their own take on the kind of honeymoon they have in mind and this is one of the reasons for diverse range of honeymoon tour offerings in the market. While many couples look for peace and privacy by opting for island or a beach location, many couples look for adventure and sightseeing trips. It is important to choose the right destination to keep the glow of the wedding alive. While many couples feel peer pressure influenced their honeymoon destination choice, it is important that you choose a destination keeping your tastes and personalities in mind. Here you can find some of the most popular honeymoon hotspots across the globe.

Paris, France

Eiffel Tower, Paris | Photo courtesy

Paris, known as the “City of Love” is considered one of the top most romantic destinations. The best time to visit Paris is during spring and fall. Honeymooners should book a hotel that should be in the centre of the city. Eiffel tower, Louvre museums are places that one should visit. Seine River cruise is another major attraction for honeymooners. There are several landmarks that you can go exploring - Notre Dame Cathedral, L’Arc de Troimphe, Palais Garnier and Sacre Coeur are just some the architectural marvels that will amaze you. Mon Hotel Lounge, Hotel Le Relais Saint Germain, Hotel De Niceare few options that you can look into for a memorable stay. If you are looking for discount on hotels booking can book the hotels from Makemytrip by using makemytrip coupons from CouponzGuru.com.

Cape Town, South Africa

Clifton Beach, Cape Town | Photo Courtesy

In recent times, Cape Town has come up as a popular honeymoon destination. From fun shopping to romantic candle light dinner to happening night life, Cape Town has it all. Victoria and Albert Waterfront is a bustling place that one should visit. If you are a beach lover, then you must visit Clifton and Muizenberg. They even offer you adventurous activities like paragliding off Lions Head onto the beach or diving with the sharks. Cape Town even has lots to offer for nature lovers. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, company garden and Table Mountain are few such places to admire nature's glory. Garden Route is another honeymoon destination in the Western Cape you can look up for.

Bali, Indonesia

Tanah Lot Temple, Bali | Photo courtesy

If you are looking for an exotic honeymoon location, then Bali is the perfect destination for you. It is a land of exotic beauty. To enjoy beloved's company on the white sand beaches of Bali, you can look for those resorts that offer you beach-front view. Intercontinental Bali Resort, Melia Bali Villas & Spa, the Samaya are few such resorts. Bali museum, Art Veranda, Randelli gallery are few places that you can visit. They have a lot to offer for someone who loves water sports.

Seychelles

Anse Source d'Argent Beach | Photo courtesy

If you are looking for a romantic private time to just relax and enjoy, then you can consider Seychelles. They offer stunning beaches where you can sun bath and explore the coral reefs. You can charter a yatch to a deserted island. Snorkel, dive and windsurf are few things that you can do. Four seasons resort is highly recommended here.

Italy

Egadi Islands, Sicily | Photo courtesy

Italy offers you a variety of landscapes, wonderful museums and fabulous food and culture to enjoy with your partner. Night life in Milan is highly recommended. For all the water babies, they have Capri, Lake Como and Venice. They have numerous historic and religious places that you can visit. You can consider booking your stay at J.W Marriot for there are several worth visiting sights near this property.

Honeymoon is no ordinary holiday. It's a vacation full of love and passion, a time that is remembered forever with fondness. So choose a location that not only offers you a beautiful experience but also gives you ample time to enjoy with your loved one's company.

Note: This post is sponsored by couponzguru.com

I am getting forgetful.

Just recalled that I absolutely forgot to write other incredible stories from my Fatehgarh Sahib visit. The stories about this historical little town are super fascinating, to say the least. The two posts I wrote about about this place last month got great response from everyone - the first one Fatehgarh Sahib - Celebrating Valour and Sacrifice (Part 1) was about the legendary Diwan Todar Mal and his place in Sikh history, the second post - Celebrating Valour and Sacrifice (Part 2) was about the grand Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib, which holds in its bosom the holy room where the young saahibzaadas of Guru Gobind Singh were bricked alive.

But before meeting this gruesome fate, the young sahibzaadas Baba Zorawar Singh ji (aged 9 years) and Baba Fateh Singh ji (aged 7 years) and their grandmother Mata Gujri had to endure bone-chilling cruelties at the hands of Wazir Khan, the then Governor or Fauzdar of Sirhind.

Gurudwara Thanda Burj Mata Gujri

The Story of Thanda Burj

One a fateful day of December 1704, Mata Gujri and the two younger saahibzaadas of Guru Gobind Singh ji were arrested by the Mughal police officers at Saheri, a village in present day Ropar district. The family was on its way to Ropar, but was betrayed mid-way by one of their trusted servants, and was thus captured by the Mughal police. Post the arrest, Mata Gujri and her grandsons were confined at Wazir Khan's Thanda Burj (Cold Tower).

The Thanda Burj was designed to capture the cool night breezes of air drawn over water channels in the hot summer months. In the dead of winter, the unheated tower offered no comfort to the prisoners inside. While the biting cold pierced them at nights, the days were spent facing trials at Wazir Khan's court. Despite the freezing cold and other atrocities at the hands of the Mughal police, the young saahibzaadas and their grandmother refused to give up on their faith. After three days of farcical trial, on 26th December 1704, Fateh Singh and his elder brother Zorawar Singh were martyred at Sirhind. On hearing the news of the execution of her young grandsons, Mata Gujri collapsed inside the Thanda Burj and died there. Much later, Gurudwara Thanda Burj Mata Gujri was constructed at this spot to commemorate her brave sacrifice.

Plaque explaining the importance of this gurudwara

Gurudwara hall at Thanda Burj

The bodies of the martyred saahibzaadas and their grandmother were later cremated by Diwan Todar Mal, about whom I wrote in the first post of this series. The spot where they were cremated has another gurudwara built in their memory, called Gurudwara Jyoti Swaroop.

Renovation of Gurudwara Thanda Burj Mata Gujri

Renovation on at Thanda Burj

When I visited Fatehgarh Sahib last month, Gurudwara Thanda Burj Mata Gujri was under renovation. The white-washed plaster façade is now giving way to a brick-wall look, which is not only pleasant to the eyes, but also seems to be adding more character to the construction. Hope the next time I am there, the make-over is complete and I get to capture pretty photos of this historic monument.

Hope you enjoyed this post. Please do share your feedback in the comments section below and stay tuned, for the next post would be about some more renovation photos and stories from the Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib complex.

Happy travelling!

Dussehra revelry has wrapped up, leaving many of us exhausted from all the pandal hopping and binge eating. If like me, you too are looking at rejuvenating your body and mind for the Diwali extravaganza that's just around the corner, a quick and easy weekend retreat is just the thing you need. And people in Delhi or anywhere around the region, you need not look far for your much needed break, for Neemrana Fort Palace is just the place for you.

Neemrana Fort-Palace, built around 1460s, is one of India's oldest heritage resort hotels. Located in Alwar district of Rajasthan, this beautiful resort on the Delhi–Jaipur highway is around 130 kms from Delhi, a distance covered in roughly two and a half hours if you drive down keeping highway speed limits in mind.

Neemrana Fort-Palace is a photographer's delight. Every nook and corner of this attractive heritage property is packed with artefacts from the era gone by. From little trinkets to big heirlooms, every single thing has been taken care of with delicate care. This 11-tiered fort-palace has a lot to offer to the guests, keeping them busy exploring the charm of the fort. While the antiques inside the palace attract heritage lovers, the view of the Neemrana town and the Aravalli rage from the fort-palace is no less fascinating.

Most of the rooms at Neemrana Fort-Palace are mahals,which are theme based, giving the guests a unique stay experience. For example, the Francisi Mahal is a French suite with a pillared verandah and offers a flavour of colonial France. The furnishing inside this mahal includes a tapestry of Joan of Arc. Likewise, the Hara Mahal, named after Lord Shiva, has an Indian seating behind its peacock arches and is adorned with early 20th century oloegraphs produced by Raja Ravi Varma. Now who wouldn't want to spend some relaxing time in such romantic settings?

So if a quiet, rejuvenating getaway is on your mind, then Neemrana Fort-Palace would make a perfect choice. Pack your bags and head to this exquisite resort for a quick detox break and rest assured the experience will make you want to go back over and over again.

I wanted to start this piece with flowery prose about Uttar Pradesh and its exhaustive tourist delights. I wanted to play around with fancy adjectives and write how Uttar Pradesh is a treasure trove for travellers and tourists alike, how there’s much to explore and experience in this fourth largest Indian state in terms of area, and how there’s more to Uttar Pradesh than the much exalted Taj Mahal.

I wrote sentences that sounded like paeans on state’s tourism potential, only to realise that I was missing out on the prologue to my Uttar Pradesh story. The prologue that (I am assuming) might ring true for many other fellow travellers and wanderers as well, the prologue that in a way is a little confession too.

So here I start this piece with a confession rather.
Uttar Pradesh never actively figured in my travel plans before the 2015 Uttar Pradesh Travel Writers Conclave.

The opulent Taj Mahal had been struck off the must-see list long ago, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri had been admired too, Sikandara and Baby Taj was appraised during a trip last year, and the thrill of the drive on Taj Expressway appreciated and relegated to travel memories. Honestly, with Agra, Uttar Pradesh had been ‘done’ with.

Before you point out, of course there was Varanasi and Lucknow too.

Varanasi - the much revered ‘Kashi’ of our scriptures, the greatest pilgrimage, the gateway of moksha – appeared intimidating. The images of intense crowd jostling its many ghats and tricky lanes and bylanes overwhelmed my puny frame.
And Lucknow – every heritage lover’s bumper lottery, the land of nawabi splendour and impeccable manners, where every nook and cranny brims with intriguing stories of yore and where striking monuments stand vying for your attention - wanted time. And for now I had none to give. Later for sure, I promised myself. Occasionally, Mathura and Vrindavan too made casual appearances in my Uttar Pradesh map, during random conversations about grand Holi and Janmashtami celebrations in these towns, but then the conversations generally wrapped up with a fence-sitting - let’s do it next year.

So this was Uttar Pradesh for me, a faraway land to be thought about and explored 'some other time'.The Uttar Pradesh Travel Writers FAM and Conclave was an eye opener.

The invite for the 2015 Uttar Pradesh Travel Writers FAM and Conclave, with its focus on promoting the heritage arc comprising Agra-Lucknow-Varanasi, seemed an interesting opportunity to experience first-hand the landscape, culture and heritage of these three historical cities. But then there was a catch too - participants had the choice of picking one city from Agra, Varanasi and Lucknow. While Agra was struck off the options right away on account of the fact that I had explored much of this city already, picking up between Lucknow and Varanasi was tricky. The heritage and street food junkie in me wanted to pick both these charmers but then I had to play by the rule and pick one. In between the to and fro from Varanasi to Lucknow, the intriguing aura of Varanasi edged over and the decision was made. And honestly, the idea of getting introduced to Varanasi and accessing its tough-to-navigate bylanes chaperoned by officials and guides from the state tourism department appeared too appealing to resist.

Of course I had to go.

The Varanasi Itinerary

Varanasi was a delight to experience. The early morning boat ride on the holy Ganges, the spectacular morning and evening aartis, spending sombre moments at the Manikarnika ghat, manoeuvring city's tricky bylanes, relishing its traditional food and drinks and shopping for Banarasi silk - the Varanasi itinerary made sure that the travellers sampled the best of all that this antique city has to offer.

Of course there's more to Varanasi than these experiences, but given the packed schedule, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism officials made sure that the travel writers got to sample the best of the city in this short visit. In fact it would be apt to call this tour a tempting teaser, for it left me curious to explore Varanasi's many historical sites, and monuments at leisure. The FAM tour also acquainted me with Uttar Pradesh's tremendous tourism potential - its forts and palaces, its rivers and pilgrim centres, its traditional arts and culture , it's wildlife parks and sanctuaries and last but not the least its full-flavoured food.

In the next post I will share in detail about the tour, taking you through my 3-day-long Varanasi excursion and the impeccably executed Uttar Pradesh Travel Writers Conclave in Lucknow. I am sure you will stay tuned.

For more travel stories and travel trivia, you can also connect with me on facebook, twitter and instagram. Looking forward to seeing you there!

2015 was a Goa year for me. For reasons both personal and professional, I got opportunities to visit Goa all through the year. And just as I was thanking my travel stars for the many Goa sojourns, there landed in my lap, another wonderful opportunity to spend an exciting weekend in this beautiful state - this one was from Indiblogger, a leading bloggers network, inviting select bloggers to Goa to test drive and experience first-hand Tata Motors' new, yet-to-be-launched car, the Tata Zica. The invite hinted about a weekend of long drives, beach fun and lots of revelry with top bloggers from across the country. Now who would say no to an invite as tantalizing as this!

After half a day of connecting flights, I landed in pleasantly warm Goa (a relief from north India's bone-chilling cold), looking forward to getting introduced to Zica, the latest offering from Tata Motors. Many of the fellow bloggers who had already landed from different corners of the country had got on with the introductions and soon there was a big happy group of bloggers outside the airport, busy chatting, making new friends and going click-click with their cameras. About a half-an-hour long drive from the Dabolim airport and the bloggers checked into our home for the weekend - the gorgeous Alila Diwa, an elegantly designed resort located in Majorda in south Goa. Set amidst a serene landscape, this property is striking to say the least. The ambience at the entrance lobby was beautiful, with delightful surroundings and the vivaciously welcoming Indiblogger and Tata Motors' marketing team.

The gorgeous Alila Diwa Resort | Photo courtesy: Vaisakhi Mishra

Post a warm welcome and registrations at the Tata Motors' reception desk, it was time for lunch, where besides sampling the delicious buffet spread, many virtual blogger friends finally got to meet and greet each other. The sense of camaraderie was heart-warming and soon everyone was chatting as if they had known each other forever. And it was here that I got to meet my room-mate for the weekend - the pretty Maitreni Mishra, a popular fashion and lifestyle blogger.

Lunch done, it was time to head to our respective rooms for some much needed rest, before gathering back in our beach attire for some fun activities at the Majorda beach which was just 5 minutes' drive from the resort. At the beach, football and photography frenzy took over everyone, and if one could not spot any particular blogger at the makeshift footfall field they were sure to find them by the crashing waves, capturing the scenery as well as fellow bloggers in their cameras.

Fun on the beach | Photo courtesy: Sid Balachandran

After almost an hour of frolicking on the beach, we were back at the resort to freshen up and head for the high tea hosted by the Tata Motors' team. While the high tea was fun and entertaining, what took the entertainment quotient several notches higher was the players' locker room session with the 'coach' and host Cyrus Sahukar, the immensely popular and affable VJ and actor. But before Cyrus made an appearance, all the bloggers were pleasantly surprised to find personalised Tata Motors hampers displayed in make-shift lockers with their respective names. Once everyone picked up their kits, it was time for coach Cyrus to take over and regale the audience with his wisecracks about all things football.

Host and 'coach' Cyrus Sahukar | Photo courtesy: Sid Balachandran

The mock warm up exercises and basics of coaching were done with, it was time to get formally introduced to Tata Motors' newest offering in the hatchback segment - the Tata Zica, which is all set to be launched in January 2016. And for the introduction, it was the marketing and technical team from Tata Motors who took over. It was an interesting session where Tata Motors' representatives acquainted the audience to Zica's features and also explained about the new hatchback's many USPs.

The highlight of this session was Ms Delna Avari, Head of Marketing and Services at Tata Motors sharing the background story about signing up football icon Lionel Messi as Tata Motors' global ambassador. The many anecdotes she shared about Tata Motors' marketing team's interaction with Messi kept everyone hooked to her every word. And soon it was time to come face to face with the evening's centre of attraction - Zica. With its compact and sleek design and attractive burst orange colour, this newest Tata product immediately evoked many a loud WOWs and #FANTASTICOs from the audience. Here's the first look of the car, dazzling to say the least!

The evening was also about networking and photo-ops, with bloggers reaching out to each other to know about the kind of blogging niche the other specialised in, and learning and taking inspiration from each other. Upping the entertainment quotient of the evening was the fabulous karaoke session, where many bloggers showcased their superb singing skills. Some fun activities too followed, one of which involved picking up team mates for the Zica test drive scheduled for the next day. And here's my happy team, comprising the very popular and multi-talented Dr. Roshan Radhakrishnan and the very gorgeous and super creative Ankita Singhal.

While the activities wrapped up around dinner time, the karaoke session continued through the dinner, which again was a sumptuous affair. The fun conversation continued post dinner till late into the night and post a little stroll around the vast resort property, it was time to hit the bed so as to be up early for the Zica Drive. Needless to say, every one of us was excited about the day and looked forward to having a great time driving the new Tata Zica!

This is all for now, hope you enjoyed the post. Stay tuned for my Zica test drive experience and the car review which is coming up next on the blog. Thanks and happy travels!

While the first day of my fantastico Goa weekend with Tata Zica was all about fun and camaraderie amongst bloggers and a grand introduction to the weekend's centre of attraction - the Tata Zica, day 2 centred around test driving the Zica on Goa roads and taking on fun challenges from blogger buddies from across the country!

We started early in the morning and it was an exciting sight to find 20 Zicas glimmering under the morning sun, all prim and polished for the day ahead. Delna Avari, Head of Marketing and Services at Tata Motors flagged off the drive and we were off, zipping across the Goa roads towards the Verna Industrial Estate, an area with striking rugged landscape showcasing a very different face of Goa than what we are accustomed to seeing.

As Team D3, Dr Roshan Radhakrishan, Ankita Singhal and I were assigned a sky grey Zica of the diesel variant, through frankly all three of us were hoping to zip around the state in the more peppy looking sun burst orange coloured car instead. Nevertheless, we right away fell in love with our stylish looking sky grey Zica too and were raring to go. In no time the mandatory photo-ops were done with and off the bloggers went, cruising down Goa roads.

The flag off

All set for the long drive

The Zica Drive

So with the affable Dr Roshan on the wheel Team D3 set out of the resort, comfortably ensconced inside their zippy car. The next 3 hours that followed were all about fun. But oh wait - to sum our 3-hour-long Tata Zica test drive in just one word would be a big understatement! The test drive was actually 3 hours of smooth driving, fun banter, good music - thanks to the Juke Car app - and a lot of entertainment thanks to the challenges that kept coming our way through tweeple following the drive online.

Here's one such challenge, where we ask passers-by about their opinion about the Tata Zica.

Upping the fun quotient during the drive was my pretty and super creative team-mate Ankita, and thanks to her alertness and enthusiasm, we were able to complete many a twitter challenges that came our way! From making dubsmash videos to taking beautiful photos of us, she was an amazing team-mate to have! And despite being on the steering wheel and concentrating on the road ahead, Dr Roshan too never let a moment go without his laughter-inducing wisecracks, and was a willing partner in all our entertaining shenanigans.

Here are some photos of the fun photo-ops we stopped for!

Mid-way halt for some fun shoot

The Tata Zica is loaded with some really interesting features. Though I will be writing about them all in my detailed review of the car, one feature that I now recall added a lot of musical fun to our drive experience was the first-in-segment Juke-Car app. This app utilizes mobile hotpot to create a virtual network and host a service for sharing list of available songs in the device. Here are all three of us talking about the Juke Car app.

The drive was so smooth and the discussion about the features of the car so engaging that we did not even realise that we had reached out destination quite ahead of many fellow bloggers. Of course the time in hand gave us another opportunity to take photos for posterity. The more, the better!

The lovely drive to the Verna Industrial Estate wrapped up with this memorable photo shoot of the bloggers posing in their Tata Motors' sponsored Messi jerseys and what a sight we made - an excited lot, taking time out to decipher the latest Tata Motors product. Here we are - 20 Messi-s too many!

The drive back to the resort turned out to be even more fun, what with all three of us imagining ourselves to be the next international band in the making, practising (and some more practising) our vocal chords for our big imaginary debut! Too bad there was no music agent or mentor around to identify our talent and push our case. Sigh.

Once back at the resort, a lovely surprise awaited us - in fact, the icing on our awesome drive experience cake rather! VJ and host of the event Cyrus Sahukar was there, all ready to interview us all about our drive experience.

As expected, the conversation with him was a laugh riot, what with the witty banter we all indulged in. And this was the perfect moment to wrap up the fun 2-day event - with our hearty smiles giving away our state of mind.

Hope you enjoyed the post. Stay tuned for a detailed review of Tata Zica in the next post. Happy travels!

After going in for a massive design and technology overhaul with Zest and then upping the smart design quotient with their mid-range hatchback - Bolt, Indian auto giant Tata Motors is now all set to launch its latest offering in the entry-level hatchback segment - the stylish Tata Zica. The car's name has been inspired by its zippy drive experience, and is the short form for 'zippy car'. I got an opportunity to test drive the car recently and cutting straight to the chase, the first impression of Tata Zica is winsome.

Assembled with the latest in design language and backed by segment leading drive and connect features, Tata Zica justifies the taglines it has been introduced with - #fantastico and #madeofgreat. Let's look at the car through the features it has incorporated.

Designext - The looks

With Zica, Tata Motors has definitely upped its design and style quotient. This features-laden car is swanky to look at, thanks to the global design inputs from Pune, UK and Italy studios, which reflects in its fresh exterior and inviting interiors. The car exterior looks young and fresh, in line with the 'Zippy car' idea it promotes. In addition, the new Tata emblem and the signature hexagon grill too make the car stand out.

Zica's interior gives a very upmarket feel with its stylish dual tone colour scheme and quality upholstery. The dashboard has been designed elegantly with all controls within easy reach and comes with the ConnectNext Infotainment System by Harman. Another smart design feature of the car's interior is the intelligent use of space - the interior has been cleverly designed to provide 22 utility spaces and a versatile boot space of 240 litres which has a separate partition for the tool kit and shopping bag hooks with weight markings.

Drivenext - Ride quality

Launched in both, diesel and petrol variants, Zica gives a refined driving experience. While test driving the Zica in Goa, the drive was super smooth and we reached the destination a little before time! A lot of credit for this goes to the engines - new Revotron 1.2L petrol engine and Revotorq 1.05L diesel engine which has been developed in-house. Besides this, first-in-segment multi-drive modes - City and Eco - too go a long way in delivering both - fuel economy and peppy driving experience.

Safety is an important factor to keep in mind when buying a vehicle, and Tata Zica fares fairly well in this department. The car is equipped with advanced dual path suspension and 9th generation ABS (Antilock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) and Corner Stability Control for a safe and smooth ride.

ConnectNext - Information & Entertainment

Recognising the dynamic consumer world where connectivity is an increasing need for all, Zica comes equipped with an infotainment and audio acoustics system designed exclusively by HARMAN. Taking the ConnectNext experience to the next level, Zica has introduced new segment-first applications like Turn-by-Turn Navi app and the Juke-Car app. Turn-by-Turn Navi is a first-in-segment application that displays turn-by-turn navigation when connected to a smartphone via bluetooth. The app also provides guidance on ETA and next maneuver, which helps simplifying navigation while driving.

The Juke-Car app, another first-in-segment feature, utilizes mobile hotspot to create a virtual network and host a service for sharing a list of available songs in the device. All connected devices can view the song list on the hotspot and can queue their requested song in the playlist.

Zica: A #Fantastico Car

With Zica, Tata Motors' design and engineering teams have brought out a product that is going to be a tough competitor to its rivals. Of course mileage and pricing will play a significant part in how the market takes to the car. The brand is yet to reveal the price bracket it is looking at for both the variants. For now the icing on the peppy Zica cake is Tata Motors' new global ambassador - football icon Lionel Messi who is endorsing the brand's #madeofgreat campaign. Surely Messi's association and design and technology aces will go a long way in altering and boosting Tata Motors' brand image in public.

Tata Zica will hit the market sometime in February. You can learn more about the car here.

Hope you enjoyed the post. A detailed account of my Tata Zica drive is shared here -
The #Fantastico Tata Zica Test Drive in Goa

You can also read about my Goa weekend with Tata Motors - A #Fantastico Goa Weekend with Tata Zica. Thank you for your time. :)

'Saanp saanp!' came the startled cry from someone standing not too far away from where I stood.

'Arre...cobra hai, cobra hai...!' another voice chipped in, almost immediately.

Wandering around the grounds of Orchha Fort complex, my attention was promptly diverted from the fading murals on the fort walls to the rocky ground under my feet. Nothing there. No saanp, no cobra.

A quick scanning of the ground around and I spotted it - just 15-20 steps away from where I stood, there slithered a shiny grey snake specimen.

Ah it was cobra, alright. The Indian Cobra, to be precise.

By the time I got near this puzzled looking specie, a small crowd had already gathered around, ready with tips and advice on how to deal with the venomous menace.

Given my penchant for video recording trivial (and inconsequential) details while travelling, I promptly got occupied in capturing this small clip, while the local hanger-ons carried on with their contemplation about the snake's fate.

In the time it took me to record this little clip, the fate of the snake was sealed - it was to live! After much to and fro, the 'mighty' crowd had ultimately decided to spare the cobra's life and had allowed it to slither away into a nook in one of the fort walls. Wise decision!

Post this little adventurous distraction, as I got back to the walking tour of the fort complex, the guide accompanying me too had his share of snake anecdotes ready. The one story that I recall right away is how during a light and sound show inside the fort complex, a tourist found a snake coiled around the leg of his plastic chair. While this story was goosebumps inducing enough to convince me to pull out of the light and sound show scheduled for that evening, I eventually stayed put. It's a different matter however that throughout the two-hour-long show, I sat cross-legged on the plastic chair and intermittently kept distracting others with flashes of my torch light scanning the dark ground for hint of suspicious movement.

So this was my little snake story that I recalled while browsing through my travel diary today. Have you ever had any snake encounter while travelling or even otherwise? If yes, then do share your story in the comment box below!

Bye for now. Happy travels!

The Kila Raipur Sports Festival – the annual four-day-long sports jamboree held in Kila Raipur on the outskirts of Ludhiana city– is a crazy celebration of not just sportsman spirit but also Punjab’s rural culture. This year marked the 80^th edition of the festival, which started in 1933 as a recreational event where farmers from the neighbourhood could congregate and test their rural skills and corporal endurance. Over the following decades, the festival evolved, and what we see now is a rural carnival of sorts – with cultural shows and exhibitions upping the entertainment quotient of the event.

Every year thousands of sports and ‘Punjabi culture’ enthusiasts from across the country and abroad travel to Kila Raipur to witness this yearly spectacle. While the sporting feats on the stadium ground are such that they leave the audience agape, anyone who has witnessed this festival would agree that the stunts and antics around the stadium are no less entertaining. Here are some photos from the festival to give you an idea about what Kila Raipur's Rural Olympics is all about.

Septuagenarian Sardar Hardam Singh ji.

At the Kila Raipur Games last year, he earned accolades galore for completing 100 push-ups in front of a stadium packed with cheering audience. And this year he further upped his game with 150 push-ups at one go.

This decked up mare was an absolute entertainer at the stadium ground, enthralling the audience with her dance moves. It was amazing how she moved in rhythm with the beats of the dhol.

Village folk participating in the tractor tyre racing event sponsored by the festival's title sponsor - MRF. The winner got to take home a brand new tractor tyre.

Besides being a platform to showcase sporting talent, the Kila Raipur Sports Festival also serves as a window to Punjab's heritage and culture. Here a group of men perform the traditional bhangra dance for the audience.

Stuntman Gurmeet Singh plays with fire. Besides fire stunts, he also demonstrated his daredevilry in stunts that involved a show of physical strength.

Another stuntman showcasing his skills at the bizarre.

A kabaddi match in progress in one section of the stadium. In rural Punjab, they still take their kabaddi seriously. While the players inside the field applied sundry tactics to deal with their opponents, the audience too cheered them up with much vigour.

Hockey - another game that attracted the largest of crowds, of course I state the obvious. The enthusiasm but on and off the field was crazy!

Hunter dogs being readied for their race. These are specially trained dogs and their owners spend big amounts to get them race-ready.

Nihangs dressed in traditional attire taking in the proceedings around the stadium. Nihangs are a much revered armed Sikh order renowned for their military valour.

And with this photo, I wrap this post up. Hope you enjoyed the photos from the 2016 Kila Raipur Sports Festival. There are more posts from the festival coming up next. For more travel stories, trivia and photos, you are welcome to shareMY WINDOW SEAT on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! :)

'Madam ji, which newspaper are you from?' the voice that belonged to this query seemed just inches away from my left ear.

I turned around, ever-so-slightly irked at having been disturbed. The kabaddi final was on and I was part of the tight crowd that stood transfixed watching the players flex their muscles for the coveted trophy. Abhinav Singh, from Abhinav’s Soul Window, who stood next to me turned around too, distracted by the question.

The man who had asked the question looked like one of the many hangers-on who were hovering around the Grewal Sports Stadium in Punjab's Kila Raipur, looking for an opportunity to be captured by a camera - ANY camera. We were at the Rural Olympics, and on the stadium ground were many such fame seekers loafing about, looking for their 2-minutes of fame.

'Hanji?' I asked half-heartedly, knowing all too well what the question was in the first place and why it it had been asked.

'Madam ji, which newspaper are you from?' up came the question again, this time laced with a smile that was disarming enough to warrant a polite reply.

'We write for travel websites,' I answered dismissively, pointing towards Abhinav. The man acknowledged my reply somewhat indifferently, and I can say for sure he had no inkling what the answer meant.

‘Oh, I thought you are from a newspaper. Many newspapers have written about me.
You see I am Punjab’s Govinda,’ his little smile had become more buoyant now.

'You are…what!?' I mumbled, amused at the man’s audacity. Punjab's Govinda, really?
Abhinav too did not seem convinced.

'Yes ji, I am Punjab’s Govinda,' the man insisted, unfazed by the incredulous looks we shot back at him.

‘You mean Raja Babu wala Govinda? Film star Govinda?’ we contended, tickled by the man’s seemingly juvenile claims that he was a Govinda look-alike.

And it was only then that I noticed his clothes. Yellow sweater, red pants. GOVINDA!!

But the likeness seemed to end there.

'So that's why you are wearing such clothes! Red pants and yellow sweater…to look like Govinda?'
My curiosity was piqued, finally.

The man must have heaved a sigh of relief.

'Yes ji!! I copy Govinda’s style! When I put googles and do action like him, people call me duplicate Govinda,’ saying this he pulled out his goggles with a flourish and putting them on the bridge of his nose, twisted his face into a Raja Babu-esque expression.

Okay. Though the transformation was not very in-your-face, but one could notice the resemblance, a faint Govinda had indeed morphed out of the timid looking man.

‘So you do mimicry as well?’ I asked, almost sure that he'll start spouting Govinda's quirky dialogues right away.

The question went ignored. He was now busy narrating his Mumbai adventures to Abhinav.

'Oh you see I invested a lot of money in Mumbai,' he seemed to have gone into the monologue mode. This was the third time he had repeated the sentence.

‘Invested? You made films there?’

'No, No. I would go and live in Mumbai for months on end. Living in hotels and renting rooms costs money. I invested a lot. But I did not want to do small roles. So I came back to concentrate on business.' He went on and on, in an upbeat tone, about his time in Mumbai and how he tried getting into films but could not get good roles and was wary of acting out inconsequential parts.

We try to wrap up the conversation, but Punjab's Govinda was not giving up yet.

'See, many newspapers have written about me. Here...see...' he pulled out a bunch of newspaper clippings from his pocket, of stories about Titu Mahajan’s outings as Govinda’s lookalike.

'So your name is Titu Mahajan,' I observed, giving a quick, half-hearted run-through to all the clippings he earnestly held out for us to see.

'Yes ji, Titu Mahajan - Punjab da Govinda. See, you can also write like this...,' he was pitching his story already – '...write how you met Punjab’s Govinda at the Kila Raipur Games. Or you can also write how Punjab’s Govinda had also come to see the Games. Write anything...’

Oh sure, I grinned inwardly, amused at this man's naivety. How conveniently he had assumed that we were actually going to write about him and his Govinda-obsession.

But writing about him I am, for strange are the ways of the mind. And as I muse about this droll encounter with Titu Mahajan, I cannot help but marvel at the man's upbeat spirit. I cannot help but smile at his naivety, his unpretentious assumptions and his ingenious ways of advertising himself. He may or may not look like film star Govinda, but then audacity has made kings, and his audacity qualifies him as Punjab's Govinda!

Photo credit: Abhinav Singh

As a frequent female solo traveller there are very few things I find more intimidating than asking strangers to click my photo. While travelling alone, it's a daunting task to muster enough courage to request random people to capture my photo with a background or monument I like and want to preserve the memory of. Of course, there are fancy smartphones with selfie modes to help taking pictures of self easier, but if you are not a selfie expert then you will agree that clicking selfies from a phone's front camera is cumbersome and requires a lot of skill and precision.

So my inhibitions about asking unknown people to capture my travel memories and my dismal selfie-clicking skills have now convinced and compelled me to invest in a good selfie stick and here it is - the StuffCool's Shutter Bluetooth Selfie Stick, which is not just very convenient to use but also very lightweight to carry around during outings.

There are a variety of selfie sticks available in the market, in different price range and build quality. I liked this one from StuffCoolfor its superior camera control and connectivity. The stick uses a free app called BT Shutter which is available for both iOS and android devices. Once a connection between the app and the camera is established through bluetooth, a light push on the handle's button fires the camera. Some features that make this selfie stick really easy to manoeuvre and worth the money spent are -

- grips the phone securely
- the phone holder can be adjusted upto 180 degrees for wider angle
- fits phone size up to 5.7 inch
- the stick rod is expandable up to 90cm (extension from 24cm to 90cm)
- has a secure locking system for the expansion/contraction of the selfie stick
- has a remote photo button
- zoom in/zoom out option
-switch button to move from front camera to back camera

The StuffCool Shutter Bluetooth Selfie Stick is a sturdy device of quality build. The stick has a micro-USB port located on the handle base for charging and comes with a charging cable. The pack also includes a carabiner hook that makes it easy to carry around. If one is tired of holding the stick by the handstrap, just hook it to the trousers' loop and your hands are free. Adjustable and expandable in design, the stick also has a secure locking mechanism to ensure steady positioning.

So if like me, you too find the idea of asking strangers to help with photos intimidating and at the same time lack in selfie skills as well, then investing in a good selfie stick is just the right option for you. Now that I have mine, I am glad I no longer have to ask a stranger to help me take a photo!

Note: The StuffCool's Shutter Bluetooth Selfie Stick was sponsored by the brand.

Summer has officially kicked off in many parts of the country and when summer is here, can summer be far behind? New classes in schools have started and I can see my Facebook timeline dotted with status updates from parents looking forward to the summer break and planning family holidays. And I see that most of them have their eyes set on Kerala, and why not, with holiday season just round the corner, Kerala Tourism is ready with myriad range of tour packages to engage all kinds of tourists.

Rolling hills of Munnar

When it comes to vacations, few other places match the wholesomeness that Kerala has to offer. From rolling hills and tea plantations to stunning beaches and the famous backwaters, Kerala's diverse landscape never ceases to amaze the young and the old alike. It is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful places on earth, and it's no wonder that it has earned the sobriquet - 'God's Own Country'! While the incredible landscape of this state is alluring enough, there's also a myriad range of tourist places in Kerala to keep the visitors hooked.

As I plan my Kerala sojourn, I have already put together a list of must-dos that I intend to execute once I am there. From wandering around the mesmerising tea-estates of Munnar to experiencing the serenity of backwater boat-rides, from watching the sun rise and set over its glorious beaches to marvelling at the treasure trove of architectural and historical delights that this state takes pride in - I have to do it all. Last but in no way the least, rejuvenating my body and soul with special ayurvedic massages that Kerala is so famous for!

And how can I not mention food? Kerala is every food lover's paradise. One can go on and on about Kerala's delectable cuisines ranging from the traditional sadya to exotic seafood delicacies, but I am particularly looking forward to sampling authentic everyday fare like Puttu Kadala ( rice and coconut roll, eaten for breakfast), Thattu Dosa, Appam Motta Curry (Egg curry with appam) and of course Idiappam. If you too are a foodie at heart, rest assured that the tempting dishes from Kerala will not disappoint your taste buds.

Puttu with kadala curry

Now all this food talk has got me hungry so it's time to hit the kitchen and try my amateur version of appam for lunch! And if my Kerala travel plans have got you tempted too, go ahead and book a Kerala holiday right away. You already know there are reasons galore to do it! :)

Photo courtesy:
Munnar: Wikipedia
Puttu with kadala curry - Wikipedia commons

The sun is beating down ferociously, compelling me to pull my scarf closer around my head every few minutes.
The metal rim of the sunglasses perched on my nose has started to irk the skin, giving that ever so slight burning sensation.
I can feel the steady trickle of sweat snaking down the back, the dampness of my shirt giving away the moisture it had been soaking.

The folly of wearing flip-flops in scorching sun is showing repercussions already - a pair of dirty, anguished and almost burnt feet are giving me reproachful looks, as if saying - we thought you knew better.

In between all this, the stillness around is strangely striking. There's miles and miles of nothing but arid terrain - colourless and empty. The sky too is devoid of clouds, being reigned supreme by its sole inhabitant - the savage sun. It's a surreal feel and I am caught oscillating between two extremes - exhilaration and exhaustion.

I am in the Thar Desert, a few kilometres from Jaisalmer, getting an up, close and personal feel of the 2016 Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm Rally for my blog, on invitation from Maruti Suzuki.

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One of the premium perks of being a blogger is the myriad experiences one gets to be a part of. One day you'd be a rallyist in an all-women's car rally, the same week you'd be flying to a different city to cover a product launch. Some day you'd watch a top chef present a new dish to a select gathering and some other day you'd be covering a top notch motor rally as a media representative. Besides the sui generis experiences, the learning that comes with the territory is immensely inspiring. There's always some new knowledge to absorb, new skills to learn and new stories to share - and covering the 2016 Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm Rally has been one such experience. I not only got the cover an riveting part of the rally, but also got a good peek into the thrilling world of Motorsports in India.

Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm Rally

Rallying as a sport is gradually gaining ground in India and to a large extent, the credit of its growing popularity goes to Maruti Suzuki, India's largest and undoubtedly the most popular auto-mobile manufacturer. The car-maker has pioneered a number of motor sports events across the country, and the Desert Storm is one such event from their kitty.

Initiated by Maruti Suzuki in 2003, the Desert Storm Rally puts the rallyists and their machines through extreme weather conditions of the Thar Desert. The endurance level of both the man and the machine is put to test at the competitors navigate across the mostly barren expanse of Rajasthan.

The rally broadly has 4 popular categories - Xtreme, Ndure, Xplore and Moto-Quad (bikes and quads).

In the Xtreme and Moto-Quad category, the emphasis is on speed, whereas Ndure and Xplore categories run on the TSD (Time-Speed-Distance) format.

In its 14th edition this year, the rally was flagged off from Noida on 3rd April, from where the competitors drove to Rajasthan's Hanumangarh from where the race began, finally culminating in Jodhpur after 6 strenuous days of rallying.

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I am in the Thar Desert, a few kilometres from Jaisalmer, getting an up, close and personal feel of the 2016 Desert Storm Rally.

This is the last leg of the rally, leg 6 - the final run for the finish. With curious anticipation, I focus on the almost invisible track a few metres from me, my ears strained to catch the distant rumble of the racing machines. A few more minutes of wait and the dare-devils part of the final leg of the Xtreme category start zooming by.

Desert Storm is an annual affair and every year, the rally route takes the rallyists across Rajasthan's varying topography, ranging from river-drained green plains to barren stretches of land dotted with thorny scrubs and of course the rolling sand dunes. And this year too is no exception. In this last leg, the competitors are tackling a treacherous terrain, a mix of gravelly tracks and tricky sand pits.

After all the competing cars roar by, blasting sand in all directions, it's the turn of the Moto categoty competitors to take to the tracks. Decked up in their racing gears and kits, they look formidable, traversing the track with utmost single-mindedness.

As the last of the racers aggressively dash past, one cannot help but applaud every single one of them for the sheer passion that drives them to be a part of a sports that is not just a test of their driving and navigation skills, but also a test of their grit and determination, a test of their perseverance to drive their vehicle across one of the most inhospitable terrains.

The racers have a long stretch of track ahead of them and as they roar their way towards the finish line, I begin my slow trudge towards the start line where the media vehicles are parked.
The sun's relentless show of strength is on, trying to pin down the rare desert denizens with its savagery. Suddenly in the distant horizon, a train appears, snaking across the landscape, slithering towards civilisation. The sight is beautiful enough to add a hint of spring to my steps.

Adios Jaisalmer, it's time for Jodhpur now.

Dear reader, hope you enjoyed the post. In the next post, I will take you to the Desert Storm award ceremony that was organised in Jodhpur and will also give you a little peek into the Sam Dune Party I attended while covering the rally in Jaisalmer. Also there's lots more on Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm Rally, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer coming up on the blog. Stay tuned. :)

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