10 Best Holiday Destinations India 2018

10 Best Holiday Destinations in India 2018

1. Agra
The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World which is considered as the most photogenic destinations of India. It is one of the most exquisite structures ever built by any emperor. It was constructed by the fifth Mughal emperor in the fond memory of his favorite wife Mumtaj Mahal. The Taj Mahal in terms of architecture, is one of the most symmetrical structures in the world, constructed using pure white marble and adorned with precious and semi precious stones. The construction started in 1631 and got completed in 1653 AD; 20,000 workers worked day and night together for 22 years.
Apart from Taj Mahal, one can visit Agra Fort, Sikandra, Baby Taj, Dayalbagh and Fatehapur Sikri.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/same-day-taj-mahal-tour-package/

2. Rajasthan
Rajasthan is the Land of the Maharajas. It is home to the chivalrous Rajputs, and its battle-scarred heritage has legacies of pride and tradition. The upper echelons of this medieval society built magnificent palaces and forts, many of which are now glorious hotels and museums. In addition, stunning handicrafts and fine arts were developed and nurtured through patronage by the maharajas. Village life remains steeped in tradition but, just like the rest of India, the pace of change is accelerating. Turbaned men still barter for decorated camels.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/rajasthan-tour-package/

3. Savage Tiger Tour Package
Travel fans can now visit to any of the natural life goals in India to watch the tigers sprawling under the sun or the transitory flying creatures originating from different parts of the world. Select the impeccably hand-made Wildlife Tour Packages that we offer to outwit natural lifevisit in India. The sudden perspective of imperiled types of creatures and winged animals will add appeal to your untamed life visit. We guarantee you with a magnificent untamed life visit to be valued for the duration of your life.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/savage-tiger-tour-package/

4. Varanasi
Varanasi or Benaras, (also known as Kashi) is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Varanasi`s Prominence in Hindu mythology is virtually unrevealed. Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws pilgrims who bathe in the River Ganges’ sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Along its winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/golden-triangle-with-khajuraho-and-varanasi/

5. Haridwar
It is located on the foothills of Shivaliks of Himalayan Range. In ancient scriptures Haridwar was also known as Tapovan, Mayapuri, Gangadwar and Mokshadwar. It is one of the most sacred seven cities of India. Haridwar have enormous religious significance and a key pilgrimage town for the Hindus. During Kumbh Mela and Ardh Kumbh Mela at Haridwar, more than 10 millions devotees gathered at the site. Saints, priests, and yogis from all corners of India, gathered to participate in Kumbh.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/golden-triangle-tour-including-yoga-meditation/

6. Kanchipuram
It is known as the “city of a thousand temples”. The 192 feet high temple tower of Ekamabaranadhar temple and the 100-pillar mandabam (building) in Varadaraja Perumal temple in this town are famous, and are considered marvels of the architectural techniques of the Vijayanagara dynasty. Today, apart from its temples, this small town is also known for its thriving handloom industry. The city is quite famous for its silk saris, considered to be one of the best varieties of silk saris.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/south-india-religious-tour-package/

7. Delhi
It is a City of Djinns, and 25 million people. Like an eastern Rome, India’s capital is littered with the relics of lost empires. A succession of armies stormed across the Indo-Gangetic plain and imprinted their identity onto the vanquished city, before vanishing into rubble and ruin like the conquerors who preceded them. Modern Delhi is a chaotic tapestry of medieval fortifications, Mughal mausoleums, dusty bazaars, colonial-era town planning, and mega malls. Navigating Delhi’s seven cities (or 12, if you include British-built New Delhi and the satellite cities of Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gurgaon) is made infinitely easier by its gleaming, cheap and efficient metro.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/old-new-delhi-tour-package/

8. Badami
It is also known as Vatapi in ancient India, it was once the capital of the Chalukyas who rose to power in much of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the middle of the 6th century AD. Its claim to world fame lies in the magnificent rock-cut cave temples built by the Early Chalukyas who is great temple builders. The Badami temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and the Jain Tirthankaras, displaying the secular nature of the Chalukyas of Vatapi or modern Badami. These temples are known for profusion of symbolic and mystical carvings of the highest order.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/exotic-south-india-tour-package/

9. Kerala
Kerala, a state on India’s tropical Malabar Coast, has nearly 600 km of Arabian Sea shoreline. It’s known for its palm-lined beaches and backwaters, a network of canals. Inland are the Western Ghats, mountains whose slopes support tea, coffee and spice plantations as well as wildlife. National parks like Eravikulam and Periyar, plus Wayanad and other sanctuaries, are home to elephants, langur monkeys and tigers.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/kerala-backwater-tour-package/

10. North East of India
If you want to see nature’s real beauty then a visit to North East India is a must. Consisting of 7 states also called ‘Seven Sisters’ North East India has some real surprises for the travelers coming here. Not so much established on the travelers map, yet the North Eastern India, has its own charm that will sweep you off your feet. Come here for once and lose yourself in its charismatic magic. North East India Tourism holds various tourist attractions and famous places to visit that you are going to know in this North East India Travel.
https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/north-east-india-tour-package/

UNESCO Recognizes Kumbh Mela “Intangible Cultural Heritage”

UNESCO Recognizes Kumbh Mela “Intangible Cultural Heritage“
Kumbh Mela, considered the world’s largest congregation of religious pilgrims, joins new elements from Botswana, Colombia, Venezuela, Mongolia, Morocco, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates on the list.
The Kumbh Mela has been recognized by UNESCO as an “intangible cultural heritage of humanity“, a tweet by the international organization said.

The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage under the UN body inscribed Kumbh Mela on the “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” at its 12th session in Jeju, South Korea. The meeting, which opened on December 4, will end on December 9, 2017.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday tweeted that it is “a matter of immense joy and pride for India”.
The list describes Kumbh Mela as “the festival of the sacred Pitcher” where pilgrims bathe or take a dip in a sacred river. “The congregation includes ascetics, saints, sadhus, aspirants-kalpavasis and visitors. The tradition plays a central spiritual role in the country, encapsulating a diverse range of cultural customs. Knowledge and skills relating to Kumbh Mela are mainly imparted through the teacher-student relationship, but transmission and safeguarding are also ensured through oral traditions and religious and historical texts,” the statement reads.

The inscription of elements on the list helps countries which are a part of UNESCO’s convention for safeguarding cultural heritage to mobilize international cooperation and assistance for ensuring that communities continue to practice and transmit such aspects of their heritage.

The Kumbh Mela, held in Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik, represents a synergistic set of rituals related to worship and cleansing in holy rivers.

At any given place, the Kumbh Mela is held once in 12 years. There is a difference of around 3 years between the Kumbh Melas at Haridwar and Nashik; the fairs at Nashik and Ujjain are celebrated in the same year or one year apart. The exact date is determined, as per Vikram Samvat calendar and the principles of Jyotisha, according to a combination of zodiac positions of the Jupiter, the Sun and the Moon. At Nashik and Ujjain, the Mela may be held while a planet is in Leo ; in this case, it is also known as Simhastha. At Haridwar and Allahabad, an Ardha (“Half”) Kumbh Mela is held every sixth year; a Maha (“Great”) Kumbh Mela occurs after 144 years.

Taj Mahal Second Best UNESCO World Heritage Travel Destination

Taj Mahal Second Best UNESCO World Heritage Travel Destination

The Taj Mahal, a mausoleum made up of pure white marble, located in Agra, is the second best UNESCO world heritage site in the world, according to a new survey by a travel portal. Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the ‘monument of love’ is rated after Cambodia’s Angkor Vat. Other popular heritage sites on the survey include the Great Wall of China built by Xu Da of Northern Qi Dynasty in 1368 AD and South America’s Incan citadel Machu Picchu in Peru.

The survey, conducted by online travel portal TripAdvisor, lists the UNESCO Cultural and Natural heritage sites which are best rated by travelers around the globe.

“You can find hundreds of tours and experiences to visit this mesmerizing site, from a private tour with guide and visit at sunset or sunrise, to a visit including a home-cooked meal at a local home in Agra,” the travel portal was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World which is considered as the most photogenic destinations of India. It is one of the most exquisite structures ever built by any emperor. It was constructed by the fifth Mughal emperor in the fond memory of his favorite wife Mumtaj Mahal. The Taj Mahal in terms of architecture, is one of the most symmetrical structures in the world, constructed using pure white marble and adorned with precious and semi precious stones. The construction started in 1631 and got completed in 1653 AD; 20,000 workers worked day and night together for 22 years.

Government statistics however show that every fourth foreign visitor to the country visits the Taj but there has been a decline in the number foreign tourists to the white marble mausoleum, widely considered one of the world’s seven wonders. The monument receives 8 million visitors per year.https://www.thetajtours.com/taj-mahal-second-best-unesco-world-heritage-travel-destination/

Direct Flights connecting Agra – Jaipur Soon

Direct flights between Agra and Jaipur are proposed to start on December 15 this year, an Uttar Pradesh government official said on Wednesday.

The information was given to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during a review meeting of the new Civil Aviation promotion Policy-2017, which was rolled out in September this year.

Reviewing the progress made so far under the new policy, Adityanath said that under this policy, priority has been accorded to air-linking go the state capital with other state capitals and divisional headquarters.

On regional connectivity, the Chief Minister also requested the Central government to ensure time-bound action on expanding airports in the state’s major cities. The Modi government has undertaken the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) to connect small towns and cities by air.

Adityanath also directed officials to expedite work on the Jewar International Airport Project and named the Yamuna Expressway Authority as its nodal agency. He stressed on the need of quickly initiating the land acquisition work for the project and said that selection process for picking up a consultant for preparing a DPR should be expeditiously done.

The Chief Minister also said that his government was giving priority to both road and air connectivity, noting that this will lead to development of various regions, development of the tourism sector and also create new job opportunities.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister was informed that under the RCS for the state, five air routes have been approved under which bids have been successfully received for Agra, Kanpur, and Allahabad.

To minimize travel time, at its own level, the state government has succeeded in linking Lucknow to Dehradun, Bhopal, Patna and Jaipur. In the same way, direct flights between Varanasi-Jaipur have started and air service between Agra-Jaipur is proposed to start on December 15, officials said.

Officials also told the Chief Minister that seeing the presence of people from eastern Uttar Pradesh in Arab countries, the flight between Varanasi and Sharjah, initially operating on weekly basis has now been changed to a daily flight.

Air service has also been started between Varanasi and Colombo, a flight has been added on the Varanasi-Delhi sector and that the state government was making efforts to strengthen and expand 10 existing air strips.

Of these eight are under the control of the state government and the remaining two – Jhansi and Saharanpur are under the control of the Defence Ministry. In most places like Agra, Kanpur Chakeri, Bareilly, Lalitpur, Jhansi, Meerut, Faizabad, Moradabad, Aligarh and Chitrakoot, most part of the land required has been provided already.

https://www.thetajtours.com/direct-flights-connecting-agra-jaipur-soon/

Delhi – Agra Tour Package

Itinerary

Day 1Exploring Delhi!

You will arrive at the Delhi Airport. Delhi is India’s national capital and the second largest metropolis after Mumbai. Delhi has been continuously inhabited since the 6th century BC. Through most of its history, Delhi has served as a capital of various kingdoms and empires. It has been captured, ransacked and rebuilt several times, particularly during the medieval period, and modern Delhi is a cluster of a number of cities spread across the metropolitan region.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel and after a quick break you will start your sightseeing.
On your first day, you will explore the old and new city of Delhi. You’ll be mesmerized by the 100-feet, red-stone boundary walls of Red Fort built during the 17th century. Opposite to this ancient structure is Jama Masjid (Mosque), built in 1656 AD, construction of red sandstone and white marble. It is the largest mosque in India where 20,000 people can pray together at a time. You will also tour the city in a Rickshaw. Along the streets of old Delhi you will see the Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi (Father of the Nation) Memorial, which is close to the river Yamuna. Next, you will visit Humayun’s Tomb, tomb of the second Mughal emperor, which was built by his wife during the 16th century, and then you will visit Qutub Minar, a 220-feet tower made by one of the first Muslim leaders in India, built between 1199 and 1368 AD. It runs counter to Rashtrapati Bhawan, the residence of the President of India. There you’ll also see the Government Buildings, Parliament. An overnight stay at Delhi.

Day 2Exploring Delhi Once more! (Religious Side of India)

India is the land of many religions so to explore e religious side of our mystic country, after an early breakfast; today you will visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib which is the most prominent Sikh Gurdwara, or Sikh house of worship, in Delhi, known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan, and the pond inside its complex, known as the “Sarovar”, whose water is considered holy by Sikhs and is known as “Amrit”. It was first built as a small temple by Sikh General, Sardar Bhagel Singh in 1783, who supervised the construction of nine Sikh shrines in Delhi in the same year, during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. This is followed by visit to The India Gate is the national monument of India. Situated in the heart of New Delhi, the India Gate was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. It is inspired by the Arc de Triumph in Paris. It was built in 1931. Originally known as the All India War Memorial, it is a prominent landmark in Delhi and commemorates the 90,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who lost their lives while fighting for the Indian Empire, or more correctly the British Raj, in World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. It is composed of red and pale sandstone and granite.
The next place that you’ll visit is The Lotus temple (a.k.a Bahá’í Temple) which is open to all, regardless of any religion, or any other distinction, as emphasized in Bahá’í texts. The Bahá’í laws emphasize that the spirit of the House of Worship be that it is a gathering place where people of all religions may worship God without denominational restrictions. The Bahá’í laws also stipulate that only the holy scriptures of the Bahá’í Faith and other religions can be read or chanted inside in any language; while readings and prayers can be set to music by choirs, no musical instruments can be played inside. Furthermore no sermons can be delivered, and there can be no ritualistic ceremonies practiced. An overnight stay in Delhi.

Day 3Drive from Delhi - Agra (200 Km /2-3 Hrs)

After breakfast, you will visit Akshardham is a Hindu temple complex in Delhi, India. It is also called Delhi Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham, the complex displays millennia of traditional Indian and Hindu culture, spirituality and architecture. The building was inspired and moderated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, whose 3,000 volunteers helped 7,000 artisans construct Akshardham.
Then you will drive to Agra, the “City of Taj” you will visit Sikandra The Tomb of Akbar the Great is an important Mughal architectural masterpiece, built 1605-1613, set in 48 Ha (119 acres) of grounds in Sikandra, a suburb of Agra. Upon your arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel.
In the evening you will visit to the Mehtab Bagh (Taj Mahal from the other side of the river) and the tomb of Itmad-ud-daula Often described as ‘jewel box’, sometimes called the ‘Baby Tāj’, the tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah is often regarded as a draft of the Tāj Mahal. The mausoleum was commissioned by Nūr Jahān, the wife of Jahangir, for her father Mirzā Ghiyās Beg, originally a Persian Amir in exile. An overnight stay at Agra.

Day 4Full day sightseeing of Agra

Early morning you will visit the world-famous Taj Mahal (1631-1653). This amazing piece of architecture made of white-colored marble, was built by Mughal ruler Shah Jahan for his departed wife Mumtaz Mahal. Its architecture reveals why it’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World. For 22 years, 20,000 expert workers from Italy, France, Iran and Asia worked on the memorial. Return to hotel for breakfast.
After the breakfast, you will visit Agra Fort at the west bank of the Yamuna River. The Agra fort was built in the 16th century by Akbar and was completed by his grandsons.
Note: The Taj Mahal is closed on Friday.

After the sightseeing, you will drive back to Delhi

https://www.thetajtours.com/tour/delhi-agra-tour-package/

Visit Taj Mahal during full Moonlight Night

https://www.thetajtours.com/visit-taj-mahal-during-full-moonlight-night/

In the month of December 2017, the Taj Mahal will be open for the night viewing for tourists from 1st December to 5th December 2017. It is open two days before and two days after the full moon. The tickets are booked 24 hours in advance. The visitor is required to fill up a detailed form along with the copy of their passport.
Altogether, 400 tourists are permitted per night for the visit. The 400 tourists are divided into a batch of 50. There are only eight batches. The timings for the night view commences from 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM according to the Indian Standard Time.

WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE TAJ MAHAL
There are certain things which are not permitted inside the Taj Mahal. Any electronic gadget apart from your camera and mobile phone, eatables, wires, any sharp article like swiss knife, nail cutter, no religious books except travel guide books, match box, lighter, cigarette, liquor, and any promotional material.

HOW TO CLICK PHOTOGRAPHS DURING NIGHT VIEWING
The night viewing is one of the most breath taking, life time experience. The Taj is not lit up by artificial lights. It is the moonlight that lit up the entire structure. The time duration per batch is only 30 minutes, so normal photography will not be possible. In order to capture the moment, first change your camera or mobile to night vision mode. And then click the photographs. Another thing is that you will not be able to take selfie.
The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World which is considered as the most photogenic destinations of India. It is one of the most exquisite structures ever built by any emperor. It was constructed by the fifth Mughal emperor in the fond memory of his favorite wife Mumtaj Mahal. The Taj Mahal in terms of architecture, is one of the most symmetrical structures in the world, constructed using pure white marble and adorned with precious and semi precious stones. The construction started in 1631 and got completed in 1653 AD; 20,000 workers worked day and night together for 22 years.

Coming Soon Kolkata’s First Floating Market

West Bengal’s first floating market in Kolkata will be set up on a water body near Patuli at a cost of nearly Rs. 9 crore.

The upcoming floating market in Kolkata is inspired by the floating markets in Thailand. The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) will be setting up the first floating marketof the state in southern fringes of the city to rehabilitate vendors displaced during widening of the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass or the EM Bypass.
The market, which will be set up on a water body near Patuli at a cost of nearly Rs. 9 crore, will have 114 boats with stalls selling vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, cereals, rice, edible oils and tea. According to a KMDA official, the market will be open for 24 hours.
“There are many sellers who have been displaced because of the widening program of the EM Bypass taken up at Patuli area near Garia. Our principal idea is to rehabilitate those who were having their business at the Baishnabghata-Patuli market on the EM Bypass to the floating market,” a senior official of the KMDA told PTI today.
The decision to shift the market on the EM Bypass was taken by the KMDA three years back so that the portion of the road could be widened.
“We have such markets floating on the Dal Lake of Srinagar. Such markets are there in Bangkok and in Singapore,” he said.
Of the 114 boats, the KMDA has already bought 32 and the remaining boat will arrive by this month end, the official said.
Each boat measuring over 10 ft in length will be specially designed and brightly painted, similar to those in Pattaya’s floating markets, with the capacity and space for two stalls.
The KMDA, which is planning to have a foot over bridge across the EM Bypass to the market, has created manicured lawns and gardens on the banks of the water body where grocery shops as well as Sulabh toilets would be situated, he said.
Over 200 hawkers would be rehabilitated in the market, the officer said.
“Once, during my visit to Thailand I had seen such floating markets there. Seeing them we had planned to come up with one in the city. This market will not be like those in Thailand and Indonesia,” Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Mr Firhad Hakim said.
“This will like the ordinary markets we have. The only difference will be that the shops will be on floating boats. I am hopeful that this market will bring tourists to the city,” he said.
Such markets will come up in other places in the state as well, the minister added.https://www.thetajtours.com/coming-soon-kolkatas-first-floating-market/