Handy Tips for Budget Travelers

There is so much to travel and see on this earth, that it amazes me when people say “But whats so great about traveling?”.  For those of us who love traveling around the world but are limited by their budget, here are a few tips to help you through.

Research about your destination well in advance, try Lonely Planet, Trip Advisor  and you’ll be surprised to finds new facts, tips and interesting pieces of information about your destination.

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Tags: Budget, Travel

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Slideshow of the trip to Binsar

Here is a slideshow/collection of the photographs taken during our trip to the Club Mahindra resort, Binsar. Photos include pictures en-route, the Naukuchiatal lake and the resort, Club Mahindra Binsar resort pictures, Binsar wildlife sanctuary, Nainital amongst others.

Tags: Binsar, Slideshow, Travel

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Trip to Binsar and the Kumaon region

I had published this blogpost earlier in Clay, the Club Mahindra travel blog. Slight modifications have been made to the post to suit the context of the audience.

As part of the travel blogger’s trip, we made the trip to Binsar(Uttarakhand), a beautiful, quiet and wild Himalayan destination with rich natural surroundings. The travelers to the Binsar trip included Kiruba Shankar (popular blogger and columnist), Arun Bhat (prolific travel blogger and photographer), Prashanth (another popular travel blogger), Ruchika Vyas (travel writer), Shrinidhi Hande (blogger and travel enthusiast) and yours truly.

After convening to the Delhi airport from Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai we had to rush to the Sarai Rohilla railway station and had an interesting twist (read Kiruba’s and my account) along the way. We departed at around 10 PM to Kathgodam via the Ranikhet express, and arrived early in the morning at around 5 AM.From Kathgodam we made a short detour to our newly opened resort in Naukuchiatal (lake of nine corners, is perenially sourced by an underground spring), which is set amidst lush green surroundings, and is tranquil. Unlike Nainital, this place is devoid of too many tourists and makes for an ideal location to vacation.

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Tags: Binsar, Bloggers Trip, Travel

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Trailing the Buddha - a wish trip

I’ve always had a special interest in archaelogy and ancient Indian history, which is now coupled by my new found interest in Buddhism. I’m planning of making a trip to some of the key locations trailed by Buddha, and also some other locations which are of Buddhist interest.

This will also include a visit to the Nalanda, the Ajanta caves.

Here is a rough itinerary of my trip which will be covered in a period of 7-10 days.

Sarnath - Here is where the Buddha preached his first sermon in the Deer Park, contains the most impressive remains.

Bodhgaya - As the place of the Buddha’s Enlightenment, Bodhgaya is the spiritual home of Buhddhists. Bodhgaya situated near the river Niranjana, is one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centres since it was here that Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

Rajgir - or Rajagriha as it was known in the past (literally, the abode of kings) is surrounded by the meandering river Banganga and 5 hills. During the lifetime of the Buddha this was the capital of the powerful Magadhan kingdom, ruled by the virtuous King Bimbisara. The hills and caves surrounding Rajagriha were home to spiritual teachers, ranging from the materialism of the early Charavaka school to the metaphysics of Upanishadic philosophers.

Nalanda - Nalanda was the most renowned university in ancient India. It derived its name from Na-alam-da, meaning Insatiable in Giving, one of the names by which the Lord Buddha was known.

Kushinagar - Kushinagar is where the Buddha finally attained Mahaparmirvana. Amongst the ruins are the Mukutbandhan Stupa and a beautiful statue of the reclining Buddha enroute visiting Vaishali.

Lumbini - the birthplace of the Buddha, was located in 1890 after being untraced for 1,500 years.

Sravasti - the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, has the honour for sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana Gardens. The city believed to be founded by the mythological king Sravast, has age-old stupas, majestic monasteries and several temples. Buddha is said to have performed some miracles here.

Ajanta Caves - Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, are rock-cut cave monuments dating from the 1st and 2nd centuries B.C. During the Gupta period (5th and 6th centuries A.D.), many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group. The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta are considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art.

If you plan on joining me for the trip, leave me a comment or mail me at arun.n.nair@gmail.com.

Tags: Buddha, Travel

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Travel tips for a Romantic Getaway

Deadlines, timelines, queue lines… our modern lifestyle appears to be filled with lines of all sorts, lines that can get between you and your special someone. So how do you manage to make time for your loved one and keep the romance alive? Taking off on a romantic getaway can be the ideal solution to relax, have fun and grow closer!

The first step is to find the right destination: if both of you are not happy with the setting for the getaway, you may not experience a lot of romance! Here’s a list of different options you and your special someone can consider, depending on your lifestyle and preferences. Have fun, travel safe, and keep your romance alive and kicking!

Wanderlust

If you guys both love getaways that take you far from the concrete jungle, you can jump onto your favourite mode of transport and burn some rubber. Checking out nature’s bounty on the move can be quite a romantic experience. Get online, check out interesting destinations, and get that motor started!

Trailbusters

Prefer a slower pace of life? Is fitness more than a fad for you? Then a leisurely hike may be just the romantic getaway you are looking for. You have almost unlimited choices, from jungle trails to mountainous paths. Long walks, beautiful nature, lazy evenings under the stars… this could be just the boost your romance requires!

Beachbums

Beaches remain one of the most romantic getaways you can think of - the warm sand, refreshing waters, and laid-back attitude can do wonders for you and your relationship. Spending long hours next to the gentle throbbing of the sea can sooth away those urban blues and put you both in the mood for romance! So find yourself the right seaside, slip into something oh-so-comfortable, grab a cool drink, and de-stress!

Daredevils

Some of us need that extra boost of adrenalin to enjoy life to the fullest. If you and your loved one are more at home dangling from a cliff than chilling on a bean bag, an adventure-sports theme getaway could be your choice. You have a wide choice of extreme getaway activities, from rappelling to bungee jumping to windsurfing. Just find the time, make a booking, and let your wild side show!

One final word of advice: remember that a romantic getaway is all about spending time with your loved one, so try not to cram your itinerary with sightseeing and other distractions!

Tags: Getaways, Travel

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