Category Archives: Tourism

Sri Lanka South Coast – where the sea sings its own song

South coast of Sri Lanka is undoubtedly beautiful and the most rewarding place to visit. The island is a small world in itself with gorgeous beaches, colonial townscapes, UNESCO heritage buildings, wildlife parks, fishing pyramids, Buddhist Shrines, temples, and lots of good cafes to munch on. There is a never-ending list to do and see things around the south coast Sri Lanka despite the piecemeal development in the area.

South Coast Sri Lanka

The place has maintained its charm and delicacy. There are several comatose villages nested in the shadow of the palm trees. Galle, a Dutch colonial town located on the south cost of Sri Lanka, offers you beautiful resorts and villas for slothful days and evenings.

How to reach?

From Colombo, Galle is about 120 kilometers. There are regular buses, trains and cabs to reach south coast of Sri Lanka.  Trains are bit crowded and buses are slow. Recently they have started with expressway service or you can hire a direct personal cab. There are two main ways to reach Galle by road – using the highway or riding through the small hidden villages. The former is faster and take almost 3 hours, while the latter will take a bit longer but the scenic views of this ride will be always memorable.

South Coast Sri Lanka

Where to stay?

If you want to take long strolls and explore Galle fort on foot then make a stay inside the Galle Fort. Because of the few accommodation spaces within the walled fort and high tourist demand, prices are doubled then outside.

South Coast Sri Lanka Apa Villa Illuketia

To experience bliss and essence, you can stay outside the fort. One of the historical and luxuries villas to stay is Apa Villa Illuketia. It offers you a mix of modernization while retaining the ancient flavor. They also have another beachside property Apa Villa Thalpe which too is a must visit.

Also, check Sri Lanka Travel Guide.

What to do on the south coast of Sri Lanka?

There is a lot to do and experience on the south coast of Sri Lanka.

    • Walk and admire the architectural beauty of colonial buildings, Church, Temples, and Mosque at Galle Fort. Also, check out the picturesque cricket stadium and lighthouse anchoring the Galle city. Read also, how to spend a complete day on the cobbled stone streets of Galle, Sri Lanka.

 

  • Hire a bike and ride it along the shores to feel the cool and earthy spicy smell of breeze.

South Coast Sri Lanka

    • Drive to the Japanese Peace Pagoda and get fascinated with 360-degree views – the town on one side and eternal ocean on the other

 

    • Explore the golden sandy beaches and party in the nearby sea towns at Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna

 

  • Watch corals and sun taking a dip in the sea

South Coast Sri Lanka

    • Do Scuba diving and snorkeling in the fresh turquoise water of the ocean

 

    • Snack on fresh seafood along with great cocktails and mocktails at shacks

 

    • Cycle till the nearby sleepy villages

 

    • Watch magnificent night fire shows at night at the beaches

 

  • Hop over to the nearby 300 yr old tea factory and delve into the traditional mechanism used for producing green and white tea

Sri Lanka is full of adventures. So, don’t forget to read what to expect on a Sri Lankan Safari.

Also check the Sri Lanka East Coast Itinerary.

5 Offbeat Monsoon Weekend Getaways from Delhi

As the sky pours some showers in Delhi, it becomes a nightmare. Humidity soars and roads get packed with traffic jams. But not to worry when the weekend getaways from Delhi are around only. The idyllic monsoons of Himachal invite you to get hypnotized by nature.

So, here are the top 5 monsoon weekend getaways from Delhi, that will make you fall in love with rain showers.

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  1. Garli Pragpur (Heritage Village), Himachal Pradesh

Distance form Delhi – 411 Kms

RouteDelhi- Panipat – Karnal – Kurkushetra – Ambala – Kharar –Rupnagar – Anandpur Sahib – Nangal – Amb – Pragpur

Garli Pragpur - weekend getaways from Delhi
Garli Pragpur, Himachal Pradesh (Source -www.oddroad.com)

In & Around – Pragpur Taal surrounded by heritage properties, Haripur Guler- The Kangra School of Painting, The Kangra Fort, Dada Siba Temple, The Judges Court,  pilgrimage places – Chintpurni, Jawalji, Chanunda Devi, Orchards of Lemon, Mango

 Not to miss – Narrow gauged train track; Village walk watching cobbled street, Rahat water tank and slate roofed houses; local craft, Kangra style paintings, treks, bird watching.

  1. Chindi, Himachal Pradesh

 Distance form Delhi – 419 Kms

RouteDelhi – Panipat – Karnal – Kurkushetra – Ambala – Zirakpur – Pinjore– Dharampur – Arki – Tatapani – Alsindi – Chindi

Chindi - Weekend getaways from Delhi
Chindi, Karsog Valley (Source –devilonwheels.com)

In & Around – Bhima rock, Churag temple, Mamleshwara Mahadev, Kamakshya Mata, Sulphur springs at Tattapani

Not to miss– Eat, sleep, and relax, orchards of apples, dense woods of deodar and pine

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  1. Matiana, Himachal Pradesh

 Distance form Delhi – 387 Kms

RouteDelhi – Panipat – Karnal – Kurkushetra – Ambala – Zirakpur –Kasauli – Solan – Shimla– Kufri – Matiana

Matiana- Weekend getaways from Delhi
Matiana, Himachal Pradesh (Source: www.youtube.com)

In & Around – Shiva Temple, Apple Orchards, Flower fields, Day trip to Narkanda, Hatu Peak

Not to miss– Nature walks, trekking, bird watching, from the hill top winding Hindustan Tibet Road

  1. Thanedar, (Birthplace of Himachali Apple) Himachal Pradesh

Distance form Delhi – 418 Kms

RouteDelhi – Panipat – Karnal – Kurkushetra – Ambala – Zirakpur – Dharampur – Solan – Shimla – Matiana – Narkand – Thanedar

Thanedar - Weekend Getaway from Delhi
Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh (Source -www.tripzuki.com)

In & Around – Nag Devta Temple, Tani – Jubbar Lake, Hattu Peak, St. Mary’s Church, Parmjyotir Temple

 Not to miss – Sweet smell of apple orchards, Saroga forest walk, Himalayan walk, treks and adventures

  1. Kangojodi, Himachal Pradesh

 Distance form Delhi – 387 Kms

RouteDelhi – Panipat – Karnal – Kurkushetra – Shahbaad –Mullana –Nahan –Camp-Roxx Adventure Camp (Kangojodi)

Kangojodi - Weekend getaways from Delhi
Kangojodi, Himachal Pradesh (Source: www.vicinito.com)

In & AroundThick canopy of pine & Deodar trees, Natural Water Spring, River,  day activities like rope balancing, rappelling, flying fox, river crossing organised by Roxx Adventure Camp, Nahan, Renuka Lake, Suketi Fossil Park

Not to miss – Camping, trekking, relaxing, rejuvenating, bird watching and water splashing

So, which one are you choosing for the coming weekend getaways. Comment and let us know!

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5 places not to miss for Monsoon Road trip

If you are a rain lover and a tough soul, who enjoys water puddles, umbrellas, damp roads and aroma of wet soil, then monsoons is the best time for you to invade the offbeat areas of India by road trip. These places will gives you the real feel of Incredible India with cool winds, floating clouds and raindrops.

Here is the list of five places shortlisted by us for a monsoon road trip. For detailed information of the route before or during your road trip, you can check with one of the leading travel and highway enthusiast forum – HV Kumar.

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  1. Rann of Kutch, Gujarat

Distance from Mumbai – 933 Kms

Route Mumbai – Surat – Vadodra   – Ahmedabad –Bhuj – Kutch

Kutch during monsoon road trip
Kutch during Monsoon (Source: goindia.about.com)

In & Around- Enormous stretch of white salt marshes, appearing as white desert whereas in monsoons becomes a shallow fishing ground for fishermen. Not to missMoon light camel safari, the highest point Kala Dunger , Dattatreya Temple and hours glazing at stars in the clear sky both at night if you are lucky.

  1. Kausani , Uttrakhand

Distance from Delhi – 427 kms Route – Delhi – Noida –Rampur- Nainital-Almora- Kausani

Himalayas view from Kausani on road trip
Himalayas view from Kausani, Uttrakhand (Source- www.trodly.com)

In & Around- Baijnath group of temples, Bageshwar, Anashakti Ashram, Lakshmi Ashram and Pant Museum Not to missBreathtaking beauty, Panaromic View of Himalayan peaks like Trishul, Nanda Devi, Tea gardens and factory, Rudradhari Caves and Waterfalls %CODE1%

  1. Pachmarhi, Madhya Pardesh

Distance from Bhopal – 191kms Route – Bhopal-Hoshangabad-Sohagpur-Pipriya-Pachmarhi

Pachmarhi road during monsoon road trip
Pachmarhi road during monsoon (Source –betterphotography.in)

In & Around- Caves, Rock paintings, Waterfalls, Lake, Valleys, Narrow gorges, Mountain peaks and ancient temples  Not to miss Apsara Vihar, Bee Falls, Pandav caves, Duchess Falls, Jata Shankar, Handhi Khoh, Bison lodge, Reech garh, Dhoopgarh, Irene Pool and Rajat Pratap.

  1. Munnar, Kerala

Distance from Bangalore– 476 kms Route –Bangalore- Hosur- Dharmapuri-Salem-Erode-Trippur-Munnar

Munnar views during monsoon road trip
Munnar during Monsoon (Source: www.munnar.com)

In & Around- Lush green foliage, Matupetty Dam, Sita Devi Lake, Kolukkumalai tea estate, The Dolmens of Marayoor Not to missTea estates, Attukad falls, Athirapally falls, trek to Anamudi highest peak in South India and Bird watching

  1. Mount Abu, Rajasthan

Distance from Delhi– 767 kms Route – Delhi – Neemrana- Jaipur-Ajmer- Beawar- Pali- Sirohi- MountAbu

Road to Mount Abu during monsoon roadtrip
Road to Mount Abu, Rajasthan (Source – www.gluebomb.com)

In & Around- Dilwara Jain Temple, Nakki Lake, Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, Trek to Guru Shikhar, Trevors Tank, Achalgarh, Sunset point Not to missScenic strolls, Mouth watering Rabri and local market at Abu road Caution: Though road trips are thrilling which rush your adrenaline, but you need to be cautious too at the same time. You never know when rain drops turns into cloud burst. So be careful and take some precautions while driving.

  • Before leaving, ensure your vehicle is in a healthy condition. Check your lights, tyres, brake and windshield
  • Preferably use wet weather tyres during monsoon road trip to avoid slippage
  • Roads especially fly-over’s can be slippery during rain, so be careful
  • Be considerate to two wheeler’s and pedestrians. During rainy season pedestrians are hard to spot whereas two wheeler’s don’t have enough control over their brakes
  • Avoid driving when there is heavy rain and zero visibility
  • Don’t leave your vehicles on the road. Park them in a clean safe parking lot away from rodents
  • Make sure you have spare Tyre, tool kit, jack etc in good condition
  • Carry first aid kit, umbrella and keep a torch handy

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Place which calls me again & again – Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

The turquoise blue water, limestone cliffs, bleached golden beaches and coral reefs beautify this island no less than a paradise. Yes, I am talking about the Island Koh Phi Phi in Thailand, which is at number one in every traveler’s list. Moreover “The Beach” movie and star Leonardo Di Caprio brought this beautiful, bluish green water island to the limelight and fame.

Koh Phi Phi Thailand
Koh Phi Phi Thailand

Island Koh Phi Phi archipelago consists of two islands –Phi Phi Lee/Leh/Ley an uninhabited island 1.5 km away from Phi Phi Don. Phi Phi Don is a permanently habituated island made of limestones.

Recent History of Koh Phi Phi Island

The Koh Phi Phi islands were completely devastated by the Indian Ocean 2004 tsunami. Ton Sai village on Koh Phi Phi Don was nearly wiped out. With new building codes to preserve views, Koh Phi Phi’s infrastructure has been rebuilt.

How to reach?

The Phi Phi Island lies around 45 kilometers from the mainland coast of Krabi and 48 kilometers from the island of Phuket. They are accessible by ferry and speedboat on daily basis. From both Krabi and Phuket province, there are fixed timetables for ferry take off and it usually takes around 90 minutes whereas speedboat takes around 30 -45 minutes.

Koh Phi Phi Thailand

Where to Stay in Koh Phi Phi?

Ton Sai Village is the place to stay if you want fun, party, nightlife and more action. Most of the hotels, budgeted accommodation, party places and restaurants are located here. If you are looking for a relaxing stay with much fewer crowds, then Long Beach is the ideal location with picturesque beaches, tall island cliffs, and good food. The proper signage will lead you to the long beach through uphill- downhill and forest paths. There are no night parties at the long beach. You can walk down or go by boat to Ton Sai Village for the same.

What to do?

  • Relax and get mesmerized by the beauty of this secluded place
  • Give yourself a treat with sunbath
  • Munch over seafood and Thai food
  • Go for day trip to the nearby islands
  • Do swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving in the clear water
  • Dip in the beauty of coral reefs
  • Party whole night on the beach with the bucket of drinks
  • Dance on sand without shoes
  • Watch enchanting crazy fire shows and observe people who jump and walk on fire
  • Get lost in the neon colors of beach at night
  • Watch sunset before and sunrise after party
  • Stroll around the local market
  • Color yourself with the pretty prints of beach dresses
  • Get yourself inked if you have been thinking about it for a long time
  • At the end of the day, go for Thai massage and fish spas. They are actually relaxing

Do also read the complete Phi Phi Tour Guide, before heading to Island.Activities at Koh Phi Phi Thailand

Must Carry Essentials

  • Swim Suit, Beachwear & Towel
  • Shorts
  • Sunscreen lotion
  • Sunshades
  • Hat
  • Comfortable flip flops
  • Underwater Camera
  • Anti-mosquito lotion or cream
  • Water bottle and some handy eatables

Don’t forget to check detailed post on Beach Packing list.