Sightseeing in Shimla

Once the summer capital of the British Raj, Shimla draws hordes of travellers. The cedars, peaks, greenery, colonial structures and religious places all ensure that the hill town has something to offer to everyone. Talk about shopping, and you have the famous Mall Road, one of the biggest shopping streets in the country. There is also the Lakkar Bazaar, adjoining the Ridge, where you can pick up wooden souvenirs. When a couple of friends and I visited Shimla, we realized that there were so many things to do on our bucketlist that we needed a rather long break to tick away all the boxes! If you love taking long walks, there are many trails you could take. One among the trails you could take is the forest trail in the Glen and routes near Summer Hill, where you can enjoy bird watching.

Colonial architecture and history

We love history and all things related to our colonial past, so during our visit to Shimla, we made it a point to just walk around and enjoy the splendid colonial architecture. Make a trip to the Viceregal Lodge which was built as the official home for British viceroys in 1888. Today, the lodge is home to the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. You can take a tour of the buildings in the vicinity. If you want to visit other examples of historic structures, there’s the Town Hall, the majestic neo-Gothic Gorton Castle, which now houses the Offices of the Accountant General. Then there is the Rothney Castle, which was the home of A O Hume, who was one of the founders of the Indian National Congress, at one point. If you are in Shimla, you can’t possibly miss an experience aboard the Kalka-Shimla Railway; the route has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s list.

Picnic spots

If you are a nature lover, you could picnic at the Annadale, which is near the Ridge. It was a playground for many games like cricket and polo for the British. Today, it is a beautiful spot to picnic. The Glen is another picnic spot near Shimla, just four km away. The Chadwick Falls, a very popular tourist attraction, is surrounded by forests and hills, and is an absolutely stunning place to visit.

Religious spots

If you get a sense of calm and peace by visiting the many religious places in Shimla, the Kamna Devi Temple, about six km away from Shimla, the Tara Devi Temple, which is 15 km away, and Jakhu Temple, which is 2.5 km away from the Ridge in Shimla are all spots you must visit. Also, there’s the Christ Church, St. Andrew’s Church, and Dorje Drag Monastery you could pay a visit to.

The Top 3 Hill Stations In North India

When you book North India tour packages, you invariably think of the hill stations; Shimla-Kullu-Manali, Srinagar-Gulmarg-Sonmarg, Leh-Ladakh, and more. So, it gets more and more interesting because as the destination; most of them have wide range of sightseeing, adventure activities and historic sites too. So, in a way, you can design a customized holiday packages with adventure activities around the hill station and spend the whole week in Manali region. Or, you can make the hill station part of the vacation as well. So, let’s see the best hill stations, which will be perfect for any tour package in North India.

Shimla; Himachal Pradesh:

The capital of Himachal Pradesh was the summer retreat for British. However, it has been the popular honeymoon destination and weekend getaway for the longest of times. Yet, it holds its appeal with the colonial vibe, scenic valleys and snow-clad mountains. Visit during summer to explore the white river rafting, paragliding and fishing. In winter, its winter sports time. So, suit up to enjoy skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering and more. The trekking trails are also great way to explore the true beauty of this city.

Ladakh; Jammu & Kashmir:

Nuzzled in the corner of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh is the snowy destination with sprinkle of culture. The monasteries or gompas in the region are extremely beautiful. Their historic importance and stunning locale is the perfect blend of beauty and faith. In addition, you can explore the picture-perfect lake, challenging trekking trails and delicious local cuisine. Though, it is not as easily accessible as Shimla, it is an unforgettable experience for travellers, trekkers and honeymooners.

Manali; Himachal Pradesh:

Just a perfect road trip destination for north Indians, Manali is a stunning queen of hill stations in its own right. The scenic location, snow-covered mountains and exciting adventures make it a great hill station in North India for summers and winters. As one of the most popular hill stations in India, it is part of several North India tour package itineraries. You may want to enjoy the white river rafting and paragliding in summer or skiing and ice-skating in winter. The beauty of these stunning hills is undeniable.

Northern India is blessed span of land. But, the hill stations like Dehradun, Pahalgam, Nainital, and more keep North India tour packages exciting and forever fresh for every kind of traveller. So, strap on your travel shoes and explore the holy and scenic hill stations to create memories of lifetime.

What Will You Do In Darjeeling?

A popular hill station in India; Darjeeling has so many fascinating and fun activities in and around Darjeeling that any holiday goer will be delighted to explore it again and again. Toy train is for families and children and the eco-friendly home-stays in Kalimpong are not for everyone. So, before you book your Darjeeling tour package, check out the itineraries and actual activities to ensure that it is up to your taste in travel. Here are some of the finest activity ideas in Darjeeling for your holiday package.

Check out Khangchendzonga.

Though, you can go a bit higher at Kalimpong or Pelling to take a close sneak peak at the true Himalayan glory, it is advisable to say that you mustn’t miss the view of sun rise from Tiger hill. In the clear sky the view of Mount event against the rising sun is breathtaking.

Enjoy the local culture.

Like most hill stations, Darjeeling is known for its scenic landscapes. The miles and miles of tea plantations make it a delightfully scenic Darjeeling tour package. The cultural part is the surprise element of sort. You can rest assured that it is a great experience indeed. The historical buildings are converted into comfortable colonial hotels. The local cuisine; similar to the north eastern cuisine is a real delight. The momos have always been the cute little feasts. There are several Indian and Chinese restaurants you can visit. But, the Sikkimese and Nepalese food is the real culinary delight. You might have to be brave enough; if you are not accustomed to their style of cooking. But, it is worth it for sure.

Explore the scenic natural bliss.

This is a rather typical and scenic experience; Darjeeling tour packages are known for. Skip it if you want to avoid clichés, obviously. But, one thing is for sure; the pickers picking up the leaves in the plantation as you stroll across is a vision you will remember. You can check out the rock garden, the Ganga Maya Park, Darjeeling zoo just as much. Though, if you are visit the second time, you might need to take a bit more unusual travel attractions like Tiesta tea and tourism festival or a trekking route in the hilly regions.

So, get into your traveller spirit and head out to this North Eastern glory and luxuriate into its unique flavour and experience. If you want a week long holiday package, you can add Sikkim and Kalimpong to the list; otherwise short and sweet Darjeeling weekend is also fun and exciting.

4 Tips for the Most Fun Group Tour Packages

If you have ever enjoyed group tour packages, you know that some holiday packages are super-fun and rocking, while others drag you as you try to focus on the sightseeing and activities. There are few smart and estimable ways that can make your vacations entertaining and memorable.

No democracy please.

Group tour packages are challenging to finalize. If every traveller is contributing, it will be really difficult to finalize the hotel accommodation booking, sightseeing itinerary and group activities. You need a leader – experienced and dependable one. But, everyone must surrender the responsibility of booking travel agency and travel package, negotiating the price with the travel agency or confirming the details to the leader. Everyone must listen to the leader in times of need, problem or emergency. Frankly, everyone wants to pose an opinion. But, the one willing to take the responsibility should become the leader. It is the least volatile and most people-friendly way.

Plan for all

Whether you are booking the group tour package for single destination or multi-destination holiday, you need to book the resort that has multiple leisure activities like game room, golf, spa & wellness, gym, swimming pools and optional activities. If you plan it well, if there are people in the group, who do not want to go for trek can head out to sauna and steam session. There are people, who hate shopping, can check out the golf course. There are people, who do not want to take the day off to relax, can pick up the additional sightseeing, adventure sports activities and more. If you don’t, people will get bored, tired and lazy on the trip. That will affect the entire vibe of the group.

Plan in advance

The financial advantage of group tour package is in booking at the lowest rate possible. You cannot do it if you are booking just few weeks ahead of the travel season. Most of the FIT tourists and tours and travels package organizers are booking at the same time. There is sufficient demand for the resort, sightseeing and activities to reject a single client. Book your holiday package in advance. Everyone will have to make their payments by the said date to get the seat. It will allow you to enjoy the lowest rates possible.

Choose the group well.

Last and the most important tip is to ensure that you are taking the right group of people. Don’t select everyone willing to pay. Select the group of people that will gel well together. It is important that everyone has a fun company on the way. It is extremely vital to the group morale and the holiday experience.

How to Travel In India Guide for Domestic Travellers?

As Indians, we love to travel in India and explore its enriching glory, delightful cuisine and entertaining activities. But, it can be difficult. It can be expensive. So, you need to be smart and choose well. From itinerary to travel agency, you need to make smart choices. So, as a step-by-step guide to domestic holiday packages, you must know few ground rules.

Basic tips:

Know the local language a bit. It always comes in handy.
Know cuisine. It will help you eat well.
Hydrate. You are in travelling under the hot sun, regardless of the season.
Carry your technology with you. Have apps for direction, Google translators, Google maps, weather apps and more on your smartphone.
Book smart. Don’t go booking right in middle of the travel season. Book in advance. Book with reputed travel agency; who can support you throughout the travel; if anything goes wrong. As you know, it can.
Plan your transport in advance. It might be totally worth your money to book a taxi for the day or week than getting cheated by the local taxi, cab or rickshaw drivers; who may make you spend double the amounts.
Off-season travel is not for everybody. You may not be able to enjoy the true beauty of the local sightseeing if you are stuck in because of the rain, landslides, snow & heat blasts. So, don’t fall prey to the lowest hotel accommodation rates.
Choose your holiday package details well.

So, when you are planning to enjoy domestic holiday packages, you need to prioritize. You cannot book the regular tours and travel package and explore the city, state of town wholesomely. You need to choose. Can you afford to book a customised travel package? Great! That is the best way to explore this vast and beautiful country. But, if not, there are multiple options available. You can travel in India by dividing it into the sections of vacations you truly want to enjoy.

Choose the destination details carefully.

You can enjoy Himachal adventure travel package and skip all the holy shrines and get high on adrenaline. You can visit Rajasthan purely with the intention of exploring their history and culture. You will exclude Mount. Abu and Ranthambore National Park from your itinerary as you add Jaisalmer, Ajmer, Bikaner, Pushkar, etc. The best way to enjoy North East India is to go backpacking. But, you need sufficient local guidance. So, it is smart to book either a proper vacation package or a home-stay in one of the destinations.