Caper Travel India Blog

Delhi recorded a temperature at 47.8 degree Celsius. Scorching summers and rising temperature have always been a crucial factor for India tourism. But records indicate that the charm for incredible India is gaining high popularity throughout the world.

While going through the India travel guide, I came across various tourist places in India and noticed a wide array of India tour packages. Some of these are:

• Golden Triangle Tour (Delhi – Agra – Jaipur)
• Kerala Backwater Tour (Cochin – Alleppey – Kumarakom – Kovalam – Trivandrum)
• Rajasthan Forts & Palaces Tour (Jaipur – Udaipur – Bikaner – Jodhpur – Jaisalmer – Mount Abu – Kumbhalgarh – Pushkar)
• India Wildlife Tours (Periyar / Kumarakom / Ranthambore – Sariska – Bharatpur)
• India Adventure Tour (Srinagar – Gulmarg – Sonamarg – Pahalgam – Ladakh)
• India Pilgrimage Tour, and
• India Relaxing Tours

While travelling to India, one can choose from a number of such India tour packages, and admire the divine beauty here in India. Indian Government is also realizing the great potential of India tourism that is attractions countless of foreign tourists every season. Ranging from adventure tour to cultural exploration, pilgrimages, deep – blue beaches and snow capped Himalayan peaks – India has it all!

I, personally, have witnessed live examples of geographical richness of India in states like Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Delhi and Rajasthan. Blessed with the finest attractions of the nature, India welcomes every guest with full enthusiasm and zeal. So pack your bags now and leave for the most remarkable holidays of your lifetime. Welcome to a land of diversity that offers a perfect blend of contemporary as well as traditional style of living.

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Beaches are one of the marvels of natural wonders which are known for their perfect juxtaposition of dazzling white sands and azure blue sea. This romantic combination makes it a high flying destination where one can stimulate their sense of imagination. The amalgamated beauty of sun, sand and sea fringed by coconut trees make beaches a romantic destination where one can get relief from their weary thoughts and life.

Three day weekend holidays provided me an opportunity to spend a memorable holiday at beachside, as I was in Thiruvananthapuram Capital City of Kerala for my official work. This plan was in my mind so I wrapped up my work by Thursday and extended my guest house booking for two more days.

On early Friday morning I went to Kovalam Beach which is located around 13 km downtown from this place. The name of Kovalam Beach conjures up the images of boundless blue waters of the Arabian Sea and miles of white sands washed away by the surf along with stalwart palms trees and the rocky terrains. It is one of the most famous and most sought after Beach destinations of India which is visited by large number of tourists from various parts of the globe. The ambiance of blue sea, silvery sands and unending rows of palm makes it an enchanting destination and popular beach hangout in India.

When I reached near the beach I felt the magical charm of this place which I had only read in the magazines till now. The charming spell of this place is too overwhelming to be quoted in words. The bewitching feature of this place is enhanced by the rocky terrain that separates this crescent shaped beach into three parts. I took coconut water to quench my thirst and went atop the rock to have a bird’s eye view of the entire surroundings.

The views of entire beach at one go mesmerized me and helped me to identify the place where I can spend my maximum time in solitude, watching the natural panorama of rising and falling sea waves.

After enjoying my binocular vision from the cliff I went near the sea to enjoy its coming and going blue waves lapping the shore. For the first time in my life I stepped in the sea and the joy that I felt is beyond description. I was standing and sea waves lapped my feet which enthralled me and made me laugh as I felt as if someone is tickling me.

Every time I had to maintain my balance because of the thrust of sea waves and loose sand beneath my legs. Despite of being completely wet I enjoyed myself at my best. After spending an hour at this place I went to the nearby sea-restaurant to taste lip smacking Kerala Sea food for my lunch. The lunch was really good as it was made from the fresh sea fish and original spices from the backyard of the restaurant.

This internationally renowned bow shaped beach is made up of three beaches which are separated from each other by a rocky terrain. The largest beach is known as Light House Beach because of its 35 meter high lighthouse, situated on Kurumkal hillock. The second one is Hawah Beach. It was the first topless beach in India but now topless bathing has been banned here. And the third is Samudra Beach which is famous among the local fishermen of Kovalam as it is a center for fishing.

After satisfying my appetite I felt lazy and decided to rest for sometime in the shadow of palm tress. I purchased a plastic mat from a nearby hawker and climbed the cliff. In the shadow of palm trees I lied down facing sea. The cool sea breeze lapped me and its sound was like a lullaby which made me sleep.

The birds chirping woke me from my sleep, I saw the time it was 5 p.m. I slept for more than 4 hours, but it was one of the pleasant experiences of sleeping in the lap of nature. Even after I was awake I stayed here for more than an hour watching sea. I was captivated by the beauty of scenic ambiances which prompted several thoughts in my mind based on various subjects. I analyzed some of my thoughts which calmed down my mental anxiety because I pressed down the right issue with reasonable arguments. It is because of some issues related to my personal life I stayed here for two more days even after completing my official work. I got the answers of those issues which I was looking for a long time.

After unleashing my mental burden I walked down to enjoy the evening beauty of this place. The taste of lunch was so tempting that I headed to the same restaurant to fill my stomach. This time I took fried Crab with chilled beer and enjoyed the delighted evening from the rooftop of the restaurant.

As the night fell the beauty of darkness had its own romantic panorama to reveal. I strolled around the beach watching star studded sky flanked over the vastness of Arabian Sea. The whimsical sound of sea waves molded with sea breeze hypnotized me like a black magic. I rested on the seaside till midnight and then I headed for my guest house.

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It was a heartwarming experience to visit multi-cultural city Delhi and princely city Jaipur. My excitement level was increasing as now I was heading towards the world famous Taj Mahal. Located in the Mughal city Agra, Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world.
Agra is one of the most favored tourist destinations of India. Occupying a pride place in the hearts of tourists, both national and international, Agra was at one point of time the glorious kingdom of the Mughals. It earned international fame because of Taj Mahal, symbolizing love, which was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

After reaching Agra in the early morning we freshened up and had a delicious breakfast. Next we headed towards the epitome of architectural beauty ‘Taj Mahal‘. Its very first sight captured my heart. Built in white marble, this stunning structure has breathtaking architecture. My guide told me that at one point of time this structure was studded with precious and semi-precious stones. The interiors are amazing-the carvings and inlay work of floral designs and calligraphy. The guide showed us the place where the queen Mumtaz Mahal and later Shah Jahan were buried after their death.

Taj Mahal,the World Heritage Site reflects the perfect combination of Mughal, Persian and Central Asian architectural styles. It is steeped in rich history. I think if you have not seen Taj Mahal, you have not seen India. Well I had earlier read about this fascinating monument and I remembered that the great Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore affectionately dubbed Taj Mahal as ‘a teardrop on the cheek of eternity’. And the British Author and poet Rudyard Kipling called Taj Mahal as ‘the embodiment of all things pure’. I also wanted to say something- ‘Far from one’s imagination, a majestic creation enveloped in love’.

Post lunch we enjoyed a tonga ride to Agra Fort which is located around 2 km from Taj Mahal. It is a huge majestic structure which is also a World Heritage Site. Popularly known as the Red Fort of Agra, this structure was once the abode of the great Mughal emperors Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. Some of its attractions which I liked very much are Diwan-i-Aam (hall of public audience), the Diwan-i-Khas (hall of private audience), the octagonal tower known as Musamman Burj, Sheesh Mahal (the mirror palace) Khas Mahal and the Anguri Bagh (the Grape Garden).

After exploring this mesmerizing structure we went to Fatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone historic city founded by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1564 AD. There we visited the famous tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisthi, Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, Jodha Bai’s Palace and Birbal Bhavan. It was such an overwhelming experience. In the evening we shopped for some marble handicrafts and this marked the end of my Golden Triangle Tour.

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The experience of Khajuraho tour always remains close to my heart because it is among the best places, which offers overwhelming glimpses of best of Indian arts and architecture. I love to travel and every month along with some of my friends I usually visit nearby tourist destinations. These short weekend breaks rejuvenate us by breaking the monotony of our life and provide us an opportunity to spend some quality time with our dear ones.

Inspired by the Discovery Channel special program on ‘Temples in Asia’ ,which we saw on Thursday night we decided to go on Khajuraho tour. According to the program the temples of this place are some of the most significant and most stunning of all Indian temples which symbolize the apex of Indian arts and architectures. This approval from the Discovery Channel was enough for us to spend our weekend in Khajuraho.

On Saturday morning I with my two friends boarded the Bhopal Shatabdi Express Train at 6:15 am from Delhi and reached Jhansi at 10:50 am and from there we hired a taxi and reached Kahjuraho around 5 pm. The distance between Jhansi and Khajuraho is 180 km and our taxi took 6 hours to reach this temple city of central India. After such a hectic journey we were completely exhausted and planned to rest the whole night in a hotel itself.

Next day early in the morning we reached the Western Group of Temples. The air was refreshing, the sun was about to rise, chirping of birds mesmerized us and rest of the spell was casted by the magnificent architecture of the Lakhmana Temple. This is a beautiful stone temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is among the best known and well preserved attraction of this place which was built by King Yasovarman in the 10th century A.D.

This temple is a five-shrined or panchayatana complex which stands in the centre of a raised platform along with its four subsidiary shrines positioned in the corners. Throughout the platform intricate sculptures depicting scenes of a war, battle, hunting, dances, religious preaching and elixir preparation amidst an orgy mesmerized us the most.

We were completely fascinated by the intricate rock carvings and at some places of this temple we stood still for a long time in order to decipher the hidden meanings behind the sculptures. Some passing by visitors praised these man made wonders while some appreciated their erotic features. But for me it was the best of human creations based on deep insight and complex life philosophy.

This was the supreme place where fantasies of sculptor’s artistic vision are showcased with profound profusion. Every inch of the outer wall of this temple was intricately carved touching various themes. The temple wall is divided into two zones, one zone depicting attractive celestial nymph, apsaras, snake goddesses and griffins, while the other portrays images of the different incarnations of Lord Vishnu. For me the most remarkable sculptures are on the southeast side, one of which depicts two males beatifically dancing with finger cymbals in their hands. This sculpture captivated our attention for long and after that we got involved in a long discussion trying to interpret the meaning behind it.

We stopped for a quick bite and then hurriedly explored Devi Jagdamba Temple, Chitragupta Temple, Chaunsat Yogini and Matanageswara Temple and Kandariya Mahadeo Temple. All these temples are equally impressive and are known for their astonishing beauty and delicate stone carvings.

After spending our evening at the backdrop of Western Group of Khajuraho Temples we returned to our hotel. After having dinner we hired a taxi and headed towards Jhansi.

While returning I was lost in the thoughts of this mystic place. I wish I could stay here for a longer duration. It’s a note for every Khajuraho tourist that at least two days are required in order to explore this land of exquisitely carved temples.

Truly, most of us come here to see eroticism of these temples but when you see the fantastic display of fantasies this feeling of eroticism disappears and you get lost in finding the hidden meaning behind each sculpture. Everyone who visited this land has his/her own interpretations and inspirations which remain in their heart and mind forever.

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“Don’t let your cares stop you from smiling now, today and forever”. This wonderful thought sank deep into my heart, comforting it to the hilt. Actually I was getting bogged down by the work pressure in my office. My worries were robbing me of my smile. After reading this quote I decided to keep smiling and not to be defeated by problems. And I felt that when my focus changed from worries to smile my environment started supporting me. Well my company organized a short trip to Kanyakumari,Tamil Nadu a South Indian state which is famous the world over for its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. Well for me it was the power of positive thinking.

My face was radiant with a warm smile because we were going to Kanyakumari, a destination I can visit a thousand times. Kanyakumari is truly a fairy-tale like destination located at the confluence of the three great oceans: the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is a paradise when it comes to natural beauty.

We were booked in the Sparsa Resort which is at a walking distance from the breathtaking Kanyakumari Beach. In the early morning I, with a heart waiting to absorb the beauty of Kanyakumari, and my colleagues walked up to the beach. I was completely engrossed in the cool, fresh breeze, swaying palms, multi-colored sand and the unfathomable waves hitting the rocks. Finally we treated our senses with the breathtaking sunrise.

I felt a different aura about this place. It is soaked in peace and beauty as if telling us to pause for sometime and enjoy everything about the nature. We sat there chatting about different things in life. This beach experience was such an antidote to the monotony of daily routine. While we were going back to the hotel for breakfast I bought some beautiful shells from a stall at the beach.

In the evening we again came back to the beach to see its other attractions. We visited the beautiful Kanyakumari Temple located on the shore. It is dedicated to a manifestation of Parvati, the virgin goddess who did penance to get married to Lord Shiva. We also saw the two rocks, near the temple, jutting out of the sea. One of the rocks is named Sri Padaparai as it has the footprints of the virgin goddess. The other one is the famous Vivekananda rock Memorial where the great spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda attained enlightenment. We also visited the Gandhi Memorial.

Now was the time to get bowled by the sunset. It was the most awaited moment and finally it was there. It was simply overwhelming! The reddish glow of the sun was cloaking the waters. The view was more than perfect and the feeling was more than breathtaking. The joy I felt here was truly beyond words. With that joy and a fresh attitude towards life I came back to Delhi.

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Love is a strong positive emotion of regard and affection which holds two souls together forever. It is the most fascinating feeling of a human heart which is expressed in various forms. Some express it with poems, some with songs, and some with gifts or surprises. But none have ever dared to immortalize their love, as the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan did by constructing Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal is the immortal tribute to love which was built in the 17th century by Shahjahan – the fifth Mughal emperor, as the mausoleum of his beloved Queen Mumtaz Mahal. The romantic aura of this 350 year old white marble edifice is still felt which makes it a romantic destination of the world. The everlasting charm of  Taj makes it  a popular world heritage  on the earth.

Last weekend I visited this symbol of Love with my Uncle and Aunty who came to India from New York. It was their wish that I accompany them during their Agra Visit. It was my third visit to this place and in each visit I learnt something new. Along with my uncle, aunty and their two friends I boarded Shatabdi Express from New Delhi in the morning and reached Agra by 08:15 am.

Taj Mahal is a synonymous of love and romance which is located on the bank of River Yamuna. It is set among the serene ambiance of a well-laid-out garden with the backdrop of Yamuna River flowing silently. The beauty of this monument is heart throbbing which makes it incomparable with any other monument in the world.

This incredible manmade construction is known for its architectural supremacy. Recognized for its symmetrical construction,it is raised on platform and surrounded by four minarets. Inside the Taj, the delicate mosaic work and intricate decoration with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy engrossed me completely.

For me this is the finest example of Mughal architecture which is known for its construction and decoration pattern of Turkish, Persian, Indian, and Islamic styles. I was highly impressed by the mosaic design which covers the entire surface of this building.

Another most captivating aspect of this place is a pool that reflects the image of Taj Mahal. The inverted reflection of Taj in the pool is beyond description. Sometimes this stillness was disturbed by the ripples but its calmness was soon restored. As it happened during the Mughal Reign, when their empire  lost its stability for sometime but soon their legacy was restored and flourished for centuries.

After having lip smacking lunch I took my Uncle, Aunty  and their friends for shopping. During shopping they purchased several things as a souvenir of this place. After shopping we returned to the railway station, where we boarded Shatabdi Express and reached Delhi around 10:30 pm.

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Delhi, the wonderful city impressed me to the hilt with its striking attractions. There was a combination of both, modern and traditional. With a heart filled with joy and contentment I drove to Jaipur, my next destination. I started early morning at 6 and reached Jaipur at 10:30 am. Now I was all set for delving into the glories, history and culture of Rajasthan.

Rajasthan is a land of raja-maharajas and I always had a wish to experience their lifestyle so I decided to stay in a heritage hotel. Caper Travels Pvt Ltd had booked me in Alsisar Haveli hotel in Jaipur. It is a heritage hotel where once lived the raja-maharajas. Its royal ambiance and world class facilities transported me back in time to the royal era.

As it was already afternoon so we decided to go to Chokhi Dhani first. I was elated to see this unique and beautiful Village Resort which makes you feel as if you are in a traditional village. Its typical rural ambiance, peaceful environment, beautiful surroundings and delicious traditional food served in a traditional style captured my heart. I also saw traditional Rajasthani dance. It was fabulous and lively.

My guide Umaid Singh gave me some information on the city while on our way to the attractions. Jaipur is a tourist destination which pulsates with royalty and rich cultural heritage. Popularly known as the ‘Pink City’, Jaipur, the princely city, boasts of a rich cultural heritage which majestically reflects in its palaces, forts and monuments. It was established by the king Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727. One interesting feature about this city is that it was planned in accord with the Hindu architectural principles of Vaastu. Quite interesting!

I first visited the famous ‘City Palace’. The jewel of Jaipur, this palace is a huge structure which encompasses refreshing gardens, great museums, magnificent halls, huge courtyards and stunning apartments. It was great to explore this place which speaks volumes about the kings who lived here.

My next halt was the Jaigarh Fort which is famous for housing the largest canon in the world. It was built for defense purposes and is also known as the ‘Victory Fort’.

Next, enjoying an elephant ride I reached the most famous attraction of Jaipur, Amber Fort. It is huge, majestic and stunning. Built beautifully in Rajput and Mughal style of architecture, the fort has a history that dates back to 1592. I was overwhelmed by its size, cravings, mirror work, mosaic work and architectural design.

After treating my senses with the beauty and royalty of Jaipur forts and palaces, now was the time to pamper my stomach with some delicious Rajasthani food. I gorged on dal bati churma with a big glass of lassi. I loved it. Then I went on a shopping spree and bought some wonderful handicrafts from the bazaars.

Next day I was slated to explore Agra and again I was excited to know something fascinating about India.

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Staying as a bachelor & working in a firm that provides offs on every Saturday & Sunday certainly has amazing benefits. The best among those is you can plan a short weekend trip with your friends, without having any prior notice! I enjoyed such a trip last week with two of my friends. On Friday morning, we made a plan to visit Shimla and surprisingly, we left for it the same evening! Shimla is about 370 km from Delhi and after a relaxing overnight journey we reached there Saturday morning comfortably.

A guide there told us that this beautiful hill station derives its name from ‘Goddess Shyamla’, who is supposed to be an incarnation of Goddess Kali. Like most of the hill stations in India, Shimla was also discovered by the British and it used to serve as their summer resort. I was completely amazed to see that the city still retains its age old colonial glory in its buildings.

Our exploration started with the Jakhu Hill that is located at 2 km from the town. Serving as the highest peak of Shimla, Jakhu Hill offers panoramic views of the town and the nearby mountains. The holy temple of Lord Hanuman is established on the same hill. Summer Hill is again a picturesque suburb of Shimla, located at a distance of 5 km from the heart of the city. It houses the esteemed Himachal Pradesh University.

We stopped for a quick bite at the Coffee House in Shimla, which is now run under a cooperative society. With simple decors and a few framed pictures, the Coffee House serves original flavours of coffee picked from the plantations. Our next halt was the State Museum at Shimla, which showcases various miniature paintings, costumes, textiles and jewellery of the region.

Lastly, we paid short visits to the Kamna Devi Temple, Tara Devi Temple, Kali Bari Temple, Christ Church etc. that are some of the highly revered pilgrimage centres in Shimla. I was not aware of the fact that this superb hill station could offer such beautiful theme based tours until I visited the same.

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Personally, I affectionately consider Jaipur as a royal affair. It conjures visions of things which are classy, royal and beautiful. And its royalty is epitomized by its majestic structures which were once the abodes of raja-maharajas of the bygone era.

Again I was in Rajasthan waiting for another ‘time-stopping’ experience. And my royal journey started with an elephant ride to the majestic Amber Fort. Elated, I was attentively listening to the guide about this classic structure which is majestically fashioned out of white marble and red-sandstone. Overlooking the beautiful Maotha Lake, the fort is ideally perched on a hill and it seems as if the exteriors of this structure are budding out of the hill itself. Raja Mansingh started the construction of the fort in 1592 and later more and more structures were added to it by the subsequent rulers.

The fort clearly reflects the lavish, capricious, classy and adventurous lifestyle of the then raja-maharajas. I was completely bowled over by the incredible architectural brilliance of this stunning structure. The interiors of the fort are adorned with paintings, mirror and semi-precious stone work. The must-see apartment is the stunning Sheesh Mahal. Its walls and ceilings are decorated with colorful mirror work. The arresting carvings are equally enchanting.

The other structure I visited inside the fort were Kali Temple famous for its silver doors and silver lions; Diwan-I-aam, the Hall of Public audience with double row of columns; Ganesh Pol which is beautifully painted with vegetable colors; Zenana (women’s apartment) which was made to facilitate the royal ladies to watch the proceedings of the royal court without themselves been seen. It is decorated with mesmerizing paintings of Krishna Leela scenes; the Hall of Victory, Jai Mandir boasting of mirror studded ceiling. There is so much to see and enjoy in the fort.

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After getting spell bound by the enchanting beauty of Taj Mahal, we set out to

explore the Agra Fort. Being a World Heritage Site the fort was a must-visit destination on our itinerary. Popularly known as the Red Fort of Agra, this fort is undoubtedly a great attraction here. The very first sight of the fort left me with the words, “how majestic, how huge”. Situated on the banks of river Yamuna, the fort offers an opportunity to peep into the glorious past. There are two entrance gates to the fort- the Delhi gate and the Amar Singh Gate. We entered from the Delhi gate.

We had hired a guide so that we don’t miss out on the history of the fort. His name was Ramesh and he seemed to be quite knowledgeable. As we were exploring the fort Ramesh told us that the great Mughal rulers such as Babar, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb once lived in this fort and ruled the country from here. The foundation of the fort was laid by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1556 and the construction continued till the reign of his grand son Shah Jahan. The fort is also the place where Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his own son Aurangzeb.

The fort complex encompasses several mosques and palaces, most of which are made of white marble and red sandstone. Some of the apartments which I liked the most are:

Jehangiri Mahal:
This stunning palace was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar for his beloved son Jahangir. It reflects a perfect blend of Central Asian and Hindu architecture.

Khas Mahal:
Carved in white marble, this palace was built by Shah Jahan in 1637. The beautiful paintings on white marble is one of the striking features of this palace. Overlooking Angoori Bagh, this palace was especially built for Shah Jahan.

Musamman Burj:
This apartment was built for the beautiful Mumtaz Mahal. It offers picturesque views of the majestic Taj Mahal.

Ramesh told us that it is in Musamman Burj where Shah Jahan spent the last days of his life gazing at the Taj Mahal.

Well, don’t give a miss to the fascinating Sheesh Mahal, the dressing room of the royal ladies. Its walls are beautifully adorned with tiny mirrors.

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