The famous Jaigarh Fort

Amidst the countless ways that Rajasthan captures the world's attention as a tourist's paradise of exotic dimensions, is the one related to architectural splendor; not all of them are exquisitely carved buy still they stand tall, like a victorious gladiator raising his radiant sword on the face of sky. These forts have served as excellent battlements in medieval years and now they love standing at barren hilltops, glistening with the nostalgic glory of a faithful servitor.

A winding road from Amber Palace leads to one such example; the Jaigarh Fort or the Victory Fort in Jaipur, which stands amidst the thorn-scrub hills that cast a sterner look to the already forbidding Fort. This placard of victory was built in 1726 by maharajah Jai Singh. This imposing fort once served as the treasury of the Kachhwahas, and some people are convinced that at least part of the royal treasure is still secreted somewhere among the corridors. The fort was sealed for seven years by the government to verify the realism, which however was never really been found despite all the search made by the government custodians and was hence opened to the public in mid-1983. A remarkable feat of military architecture in a fine state of preservation, the famous Jaigarh Fort in Jaipur indeed provides a top-of-the-world fiesta of the Spartan surroundings.

A perfect holiday destination – Jammu and Kashmir

The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir State, Srinagar is the most beautiful city located in the heart of Kashmir valley at an altitude of some 1730 meters above sea level. What makes this city more special is the abundance of nature's endowments in the form of Lakes, rivers, hills, mountains, monuments, gardens, pilgrimage, animal sanctuary, bird watching and every thing tourists fancy for. This place has not only been admired by the Mughal's but everyone who had visited this city remained spellbound by its charm. Make a tour to this place and you will cherish the memory whole life.

The alluring beauty of Kashmir gives you a reason to live and visit this place again and again. The famous Dal lake where you can stay in houseboats, a five star luxury beyond the hotels that offers you the options to choose your cuisine according to your own taste and enjoy your meals while looking at the hustle and bustle of the Dal. The shikars with the loads of vegetables, flowers and other daily necessity goods will be knocking your door whenever you will felt the need. Even you can experience the phone booths in shikaras pondering the service of tourists staying in the house boats and yes it will be surprising to know that you can shop for Kashmiri handicrafts like shawls, wood carving , paper machie, dried fruits, honey and saffron and many other things from these shikaras. Come and stay in the houseboat and you will see that how complete is the life in Dal lake.

Goan Beaches

Goan beaches offer a variety of places to stay. Luxury to budget lodgings fringe the beach, unfolding many a picturesque sight of the sun and sea, and where the serenity leaves one spell bound. If the great outdoors spells romance for you, the Leela Goa Beach Resort with its fairytale ambience offers the perfect honeymoon-with-a-difference. Tucked away in South Goa, this 5-star holiday beach resort nestles by the Arabian Sea along the River Sal. Enjoy a pleasant stay in the spacious and elegantly furnished alcoves furnished with all modern amenities an international traveller should ask for. As an add on, the Presidential Suite, Royal Villas and 6 Club Suites are endowed with a personal plunge pool as a royal salute.

If you're edgy, high on adrenaline, and don't find the rigours of a honeymoon enough, The Grand Intercontinental Beach Resort is indeed a bouquet for you. Nestling on the chaste white sands of the Calangute Beach in North Goa, the Grand Holiday Resort with its elegantly landscaped beachfront gardens on the western coast of the India, is a pleasure paradise for holidayers.

Agra – An ideal holiday destination.

For those looking for some quality time in Agra, there are some worth visiting places in & nearby city. Agra. Located about 204 km south of Delhi in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Agra is one of the most famous tourist destinations of India. The city, situated on the west bank of Yamuna River, is historical as it is ancient.

Agra has a rich historical background, which is amply evident from the numerous historical monuments in and around the city. Though the heritage of Agra city is linked with the Mughal dynasty, numerous other rulers also contributed to the rich past of this city. Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi (Lodhi dynasty; Delhi Sultanate) in the 16th century. Babur (founder of the Mughal dynasty) also stayed for sometime in Agra and introduced the concept of square Persian-styled gardens here. Emperor Akbar built the Agra Fort; Jahangir beautified it with palaces and gardens. Shahjahan marked the zenith of Mughal architecture, when he built the Taj Mahal. The post-Mughal era of Agra saw the rule of the Jats, Marathas and finally the British taking over the city.

Excursions in Agra
There are a number of important tourist spots and historical towns near the city of the Taj, Agra. One can visit Akbar's Tomb situated in the town of Sikandra, which is 4 km northwest of Agra. Forty km west of Agra lies Fatehpur Sikri, the perfectly preserved but deserted city of red sandstone built by Akbar. The Tomb of Saint Khwaja Salim Chisti is built within the Fatehpur Sikri complex. The ancient city of Mathura lies 47 km northwest of Agra. It is famous for its temples and is an important pilgrimage center in India, along with the town of Vrindavan, which is 10 km from Mathura.

Sightseeing in Agra
The main tourist attraction of Agra is the majestic Taj Mahal, a mausoleum in white by the banks of the River Yumana. Agra Fort is another tourist attraction of this historic city. The fort complex houses palaces, gardens and mosques within its large precincts. The Jami Masjid of Agra (Mosque) is an important tourist spot, as is Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, both of which are near the fort.

Shopping in Agra
Apart from the magnificent monuments, a delightful shopping experience awaits tourists when they travel to Agra. The city of the Taj has both traditional and modern shopping areas. It is known for leather products, jewelry, rug weaving and marble work. The Sadar Bazaar area, and the area south of Taj Ganj, boasts of many emporiums and shops. Shilpgram or crafts village is located 1 km from the eastern side of the Taj Mahal, from where one can buy good quality craft items. Of special importance is the miniature marble replica of the Taj Mahal.

Fairs & Festivals in Agra
Agra city is known for its Taj Mahotsav (Taj Festival). This cultural festival is held every year in the month of February. The Taj Mahotsav brings traditional Indian music and dance on a single platform for the tourist to relish.

The famous lake palace

Travel to Udaipur and take a close look at the darbar miniatures; you will find the king seated, enjoying festive moments leisurely, surrounded by ambrosial maharanis. In another miniature you will see a robust prince listening to the classical musicians, beside a lake with shimmering blue waters. In yet others, you will see heads of state engaged in merrymaking. These are all instances from the past, of the awareness of the importance of leisure amidst the regular humdrums of life.

No wonder today, even after hundreds of centuries, the princely state of Rajasthan is able to preserve its colourful palace as a holiday vacation center par excellence. Jag Nivas island, now the famous Lake Palace Heritage Hotel, one of the most picturesque palaces of Rajasthan, displaying the exquisite Mughal architecture which inspired the Taj Mahal, is famous for its presence in the James Bond film Octopussy. Located at 3 km from the city railway station, and set amid awe-inspiring fairytale gardens, the Lake Palace is subtly managed by the eminent Taj Group of Hotels. Being the original iconic palace-hotel of Rajasthan, the Udaipur Lake Palace is undoubtedly luxurious, combining traditional opulence with every modern amenity a five star traveller might desire. See the famous Lake palace Heritage Hotel in Udaipur.

Famous holiday destination

Looking for a cool place to spend holidays, the beautiful country of India is blessed with numerous beaches. The beautiful beaches are a major tourist attraction in India. Amongst the best-known beaches of India are the Beaches of Goa or Beaches of Orissa, Beaches of Tamil Nadu or Beaches of Kerala, Beaches of Andaman or Beaches of Lakshadweep. Each one of these beach destinations offers the best of beaches tours to India.

7500 km long Indian coastline offers the opportunities for the best of beach tours of India. Dona Paula Beach, Anjuna Beach and Colva Beach in Goa; Gopalpur-on-Sea and Puri Beach in Orissa; Kovalam Beach in Kerala; Beaches of Lakshadweep and Beaches in Andaman and Nicobar are amongst the most popular beach tours of India.

Beach Tours in India are not limited to Goa. In Karnataka Ullal, Suratkal and Malpe are the lovely tourist destinations for those seeking holiday by the sea. In Kerala Kovalam Beach, Varkala Beach, Thanagasseri Beach, Cheria Beach et al are the perfect options to consider for the beach tours in Kerala India. Pulicat, Chennai, Dakhinachitra, Muttukkadu, Mammallapuram, Velankanni, Kodikkarai and Rameswaram are the must check out beaches on the beach tours of Tamil Nadu in India.

The beaches at Puri, Konark, Gopalpur-on-Sea and Chandipur for the beach tour destinations for tours in Orissa. In Maharashtra are Marve - Manori - Gorai, Bassein, Dahanu Bordi, Murud Janjira, Mandwa Kihim, Shriwardhan Harihareshwar, Valneshwar and Ganpatipule that form the beautiful destinations for beach tours in India. The pristine beaches of Andaman are calm and ideal for anyone to unwind himself. Similarly, Andort, Amini, Agatti, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadamat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti and Minicoy are inhabited islands and are well known tourism spots of Lakshadweep that often form the itinerary for the beach tours of India.

Sun, sand, sea and surf make the beach tours of India unforgettable. Water sports and marine life add to the tourist attractions of the beach tours of India. The salubrious climate and the stunning scenery make the beach tours of India picture perfect. For the fun lovers windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, yachting, scuba diving and a host of other water sports are a must try while enjoying the beach tours in India.

If you are at the beginners level of scuba diving and other water sports facilities then you may head towards Goa. To experience the thrill of tougher levels try visiting Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

Chill out in Shimla

Looking for a place to chill out in this summer ? What can be abetter place than Shimla. The place is first choice of visitors from across the world. Nestled amidst north western Himalayas, Shimla is the capital city of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Dotted with oak, pine and rhododendron tress, Shimla was originally called Simla and served as the summer capital, during the British times. Owing to its natural and scenic beauty, it is even termed as the 'Queen of Hills' in India, a term coined by the British. This attributes to the fact that it is a popular tourist destination, adding a feather in the cap of the state, which is anyways a travel and tourism hub.

Shimla is named after the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Kali. There is even a temple dedicated to her in the city. The pleasant climate of the city is surely a respite from the otherwise scorching heat of the sun in summers. It experiences cool summers and snowy winters, which is a delight for the visitors here. Apart from the climate and natural surroundings, Shimla is even famous for its colonial architecture, wooden crafts and juicy apples.

The neo-gothic style of architecture takes you down the memory lane, reminding about the splendor of the by-gone era. Another fascinating fact about Shimla is that it is connected to the city of Kalkaji by one of the longest narrow gauge railway routes in India. It is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records as it experiences the steepest rise in altitude, in a distance of merely 96 km. Moreover, the ride in the toy train is considered one of the most beautiful and enjoyably ones, as it takes you across meandering pathways amidst lush green woods of the hills.

This is also one of the most preferred ways of reaching Shimla by the tourists, as it gives ample opportunities to cherish the unbound beauty of the terrain. The fresh mountain air and the spectacular views of the mountains are a treat for the senses. Besides, the Summer Festival held every year, is a huge hit amongst tourists. It is a 3 to 4 day event which is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal. The highlights of the festival include live performances by singers from across the country.