India – Page 2 – Travelogue90

Winter is coming: Places to add in your bucketlist

Published on October 21, 2019July 3, 2021 by travelogue90Leave a comment

Club Mahindra Derby Green, Ooty © Travelogue90

A shift in the seasons means travelling to a new place. Once summers and monsoons come to an end, almost every country across the globe preps for winters. Festive and holiday season calls for long weekends and more reasons to step out of the mundane task. You have numerous places to head to this winter – a romantic holiday at the beach, family time at the the hill station, and desserts welcoming the visitors, who were shying away due to humidity and soaring temperatures.

So, pack your bags, select your choice of place, and be ready for a joy ride:

Goa: While there are no specific months to visit Goa, the winter specifically casts a spell on us. It is the perfect beach destination and you are sure to return with some tan on your face. Goa, ideally, is the best time to visit between December to February. December is also when the Sunburn Festival takes place. You also have the Goa Carnival and Goa Film Festival for the non-party goers.

Udaipur: One of the fascinating destinations during winters in Rajasthan is Udaipur. The best part you need not carry anything extraordinary thick while staying at the place. You can tour the place between 10 AM to 9 PM. The tourist spots are boat ride at Lake Pichola, City Palace, Fateh Sagar Lake, and the Shilpgram Utsav which takes place in December. It is more like a flea market that includes an array of traditional wear and accessories. It is a 10-day long festival.

Ooty: If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, then nothing matches the calmness of Ooty. This famous South India hill station has several exciting elements to make the tourists journey a dramatic one. You will find a touch of British in Ooty. Right from the Stone House to Botanical Gardens to Ooty Lake to Nilgiri Mountain Railway to Tea Plantation, the vintage touch is still present. A weekend outing or a day’s break is what Ooty offers.

Coorg: It is one of those places that one should not miss while touring India, especially during the winters. The beauty of Coorg lies in its old edifices and the cool breeze makes the experience exhilarating. You can indulge in some adventure activities and enjoy the outdoors as well. The adventurous souls could trek to Pushpagiri and Tadiandamol, the highest points of Coorg. You could also take a stroll at the Abbey Falls or visit the coffee plantation for some quite outdoor activities. Visit the Kushalnagar Golden Temple Monastery in February and celebrate the New Year with the monks.

Kuala Lumpur: The best time to be in KL is between December to February. The humidity is low and the rains are generally a hit and miss. You could spend three days in this beautiful city right from visiting the KL observation deck to Sunway Lagoon to Genting Highland. If you love shopping, do visit the Petaling Street Flea Market. Chinatown is the place for all art lovers to explore some street art. You cannot, of course, miss the Merdeka Square and Batu Caves for some peaceful and adventure activities respectively.

Dubai: The dessert island welcomes you with open arms during the winters after dealing with scorching heat for 6 months. For adventure to romantic to family holiday, Dubai has activities for every type of traveller. The Fountain Show, Burj Kahlifa laser show, Desert Safari, Royal hotel treatment, it is the place to detox and rejuvenate during the festive season.

Abu Dhabi: No Dubai trip is complete without visiting its friend Abu Dhabi. It is the spot for the adventure lovers from Ferrari World to Warner Bros to Yas racing zone. If you want some quite time and immerse into yourself, then head to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Winters will not burn you out, I promise.

Kumbalgarh: From one dessert to the other, Kumbalgarh is an experience in the winters. A small hill station, the prominent tourist spot is the Kumbalgarh fort. It has the largest fort fence after Great Wall of China. If nothing, you could chill in a resort for a day. The route to Kumbalgarh is an interesting one as you can witness the Ranakpur Jain temple made of marble entirely.

Nashik: The cold season in Maharashtra are never harsh as they in North. But this does not stop the tourists to visit the small hill stations and cities in Maharashtra during winters. Nashik, a small city in the state, sees all kinds of visitors from millennials to religious people. Where there is Panchvati for the ardent believers of Ramayana, there is Sula Vineyards and York Wines for the wine connoisseurs.

Mahabaleshwar: It is the one of the oldest hill stations in Maharashtra and is popular for its scenic beauty. Mahabaleshwar and strawberries are synonymous during winters. You cannot miss out on strawberry and cream in this season. You, in fact, can visit the Mapro Garden and purchase some jams, creams, sauces, at discounted rates as well. Some of the other tourists spots are Arthur’s seat, Elphinstone Point, Old Mahabaleshwar temple, and so forth.

Ganpatipule: You will find the cleanest beaches in Ganpatipule, another small town in Maharashtra and ideal place to be in winters. The place is lined with resorts and they are attached or closer to the beaches. The humidity levels are lower during winters, which makes you enjoy the beaches all the more. There are also ample provisions for water sports enthusiasts. The Arey Ware beach, as you can see on the picture, is to the north of the town and less crowded during winters. Further north you will find Malgund beach.

Lonavala: One of the quickest getaways for every tourist goers in India, especially if they visit Mumbai, is Lonavala. You will find range of resorts here and is crowded the most during winters. People head out with their family and friends to farm houses in Lonavala and Khandala for new year parties. Some also spend the festive season with families in these places.

Singapore: Lastly, you want to watch some solid firecracker during New Years, head to Singapore. Although the best time to visit Singapore is February to May, the city is always a good place to be all through the year. Apart from the Universal Studios and Merlion Park and Marina Bay Sands, watching firecrackers lit during New Years elevates your travel experience.

Whether it is a long or short vacation during the festive season, you know which places to head to. Hope your bags are packed 🙂

Pondicherry cafes: A throwback to the colonial era

Published on October 13, 2019July 3, 2021 by travelogue90Leave a comment

Over the past years I have heard, seen, and viewed videos on Pondicherry. It always made me inquisitive. What is so special about the territory? A month back, I finally had the opportunity to check it for myself. I realised all the hullabaloo over Pondicherry aka ‘Puducherry’ was worth it. All that colourful posts and neat roads I saw over posts and videos, was right in front of me. Any girl would go gaga over these colour pops.

Pondicherry is known for its colonial influence, thanks to France, Netherlands, England, and Portugal. One of the prime reasons it is called the ‘Little France of India.’ Apart from being famous for its architecture, churches, and extravagantly clean roads, the colonial influence is visible over the gourmet food as well. Before heading to Pondicherry, I was fortunate to sit in the cafes of Paris sipping a nice cuppa hot chocolate. Since, I have always dreamt of heading back and experiencing it all over again. Pondicherry made it happen.

If you are someone who dreams of sitting in a French cafe and sipping a nice coffee, then the following Pondy cafes should be on your checklist –

Oink Hummus at Coromandel Cafe © Travelogue90

Coromandel Cafe: Housed in the century old villa Le Maison Rose in White Town is the Coromandel Cafe. The same team that conceptulised Amethyst, established this cafe. The interiors act as your second abode and the cafe furniture has a Jodhpur touch to it. The cuisine is European with an Indian touch. What we loved the most here is the pink hummus and flat bread. You should also try out their signature Posh N’ Pink Tagliatelle that includes pink sauce, goats cheese, caramalised onions, sprouts, and red cabbage.

Le Cafe: Many businessmen are of the opinion that Le Cafe is a lovable place. It is more or less a meeting point for the locals. Le Cafe holds high regards for its top-notch bakery and several passing expatriates have spoken in length about the place. The ambiance is authentic and gives you a breathtaking view of the Bay of Bengal. The best part, the bakery items and wood stock pizza comes at a reasonable price. Make sure to try their chocolate brownie with ice cream.

Cafe Des Arts: It propounds a Bohemian charm and a vintage ambiance. The cafe mesmerises you with its French decor. Apart from the outdoor seating, the indoor seating offers a special place for book lovers. The menu does not fail to surprise the visitors. The must-try items are masala chai, Hibiscus flower syrup drink, nutella pancakes, and crepes. The cost for two would be INR 600-800.

Right Path Cafe: There are several eateries and cafes the moment you enter Auroville. But one of the places I will recommend you to head is the Right Path Cafe. They have spacious interiors as well as exteriors seating, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner available at affordable price. They serve authentic south Indian meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You get the mini and full meal here. Do not forget to end the meal with Auroville’s special syrup juice that is healthy and delicious.

Le Dupleix: We were fortunate to opt for Le Dupleix in White Town for our stay. The architecture and design mixed with modern touch took us back to the colonial era in the modern world. The dining space is ideal for friends and family under a prepossessing roof. The reason their cafe is cosy is because it is away from the main city’s hustle and bustle. Since Le Dupleix was our abode, the hotel staff provided us discount on the lunch.

PY Cafe Love: The MG Road in Pondicherry is known for the best French-styled cafes. One such must-visit is PY Cafe Love. Right from mirrors in the wall to stenciled quotes to broken clocks to amazing food, PY Cafe Love has everything in it. The idea of the cafe is to just engage in conversations with your loved ones. If you visit the cafe alone, they have solution for that as well. You will receive a colouring paper with some wacky quotes. You could colour them until the food arrives. How cool, right?

Meraki Eatery Teahouse: Although it was a last-minute plan, the Meraki Eatery Teahouse is just what you need for a good and sumptuous breakfast. Their English breakfast is pretty filling while their masala chai and masala omelette is sufficient for a quick brekkie.

Hope Cafe: Never got an opportunity to eat here but came across this neon-themed cafe while heading to Cafe Des Arts. Situated in White Town, they term the cafe as hope, joy, and happiness. It is newly opened and quite a peaceful one. It is also one of the place where you can enjoy a vegan dish.

Mind you, all these cafes are in and around White Town. So, consider this list if you are visiting Pondy anytime soon.

Why airports are so lovable?

Published on October 13, 2019July 3, 2021 by travelogue90Leave a comment

Emirates installation in Dubai Garden © Travelogue90

Whenever I visit the airport, I witness family dropping off their child or a friend bidding goodbye to another or joyful reunions. It evokes various emotions within – sadness, happiness, excitement, and thrill. There is something about airports that excites me – my family and I carrying luggage in hand and walking around the vast airport.

I can sense the wheels carry my baggage smoothly gliding across the linoleum floor as I pull it along. There are some quite humming voices and a lady making announcements in a monotone voice to the passengers concerning the status of the flights. Then there are those who frantically run around, gathering their belongings, to the check-in counter and security point.

Apart from witnessing so many emotions, one thing that still makes me love airports is the excitement of travelling somewhere unknown. Away from my mundane life back home, it is going to a new place that races my heart. Airports are also an escape route. A change of environment. It was always about change of setting and discovering something I had not before.

I have been to a few domestic and international destinations, and the following airports is what I would recommend for a short or long layovers. P.S. The layovers in these airports are nothing less than an experience, I assure you –

Chennai Airport (MAA): When I visited Chennai around 10-12 years ago, the airport was not worth staying even for a second. The smell and clustered designs suffocated me. Four years back when I arrived at the airport, it took me by surprise. The domestic and international airports are adjacent and provide breathtaking connectivity. It is the fourth busiest Indian airport regarding international passengers. The future looks promising as the airport plans to connect the metro subway to passenger terminals by a connecting tube.

Changi Airport, Singapore: If you have a layover of a good seven to 10 hours, Changi Airport will entertain you with their leisure amenities. There is need to step out from the comfort zone, literally. Changi was awarded World’s best airport in 2019, which is a sort of record as it bagged the title for the seventh consecutive time. Apart from the splendid garden display which I got to witness back in 2015, there is a theater, vivid dining options, numerous shopping attractions, and new one added to the list is the Jewel Changi Airport. It is a nature themed entertainment that connects three passenger terminals. The center piece is the largest indoor waterfall called Rain Vortex.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport © Google

CSIA, Mumbai: Although many complain of the long arrival walk after landing, the T2 airport is the best place for layover. From varied brands for shopping to mouth-watering deals on duty free to fine-dining to lounge experiences to cafes, everything is available at the drop of your hat in Mumbai International airport. Not to forget, the domestic airport as well have upped their amenities. The moment you step out from the domestic airport, you have eateries and pick up and drop services lined-up. For long layovers, you could chill in any of the eateries for hours and enjoy a movie in one of the cafes.

Zurich Airport: One of the airports that tops my list after Singapore is Zurich. The arrival was such at ease thanks to the tube connectivity. Apart from the duty free, the business class area is peaceful and you could enjoy the lounge experience for long layovers. In fact, they operate nine lounges and no jokes, all offer champagne and whiskey. In summers, which I personally got to experience, was the outdoor observation deck where you could see the runways. At offset, the flyover connects you directly to the departure section. No wonder, it always stays ahead in the list of world’s best airports repeatedly.

Abu Dhabi Airport: Honestly, it reminded me of home. Apart from finding my own peeps around, the airport is homely indeed. A cosy space is ideal for a short layover. The outside view I promise is worth it when the sunrises. Abu Dhabi welcomed me in style.

Dubai Airport: One of the world’s busiest airport is Dubai. Divided into three terminals, each one has a duty free shop, and other such leisure amenities. The duty free brands are available at jaw-dropping prices. Precisely why, people spend hours into shopping. If you have a long layover, look no where and head straight to the duty free shops. You even get gold for attractive rates. And yes, do not get surprised if you find yourself lost amidst the crowd.

Charles de Gaulle, Paris: Although when I landed I found the airport pretty clustered and crowded, but I realised I am at Paris after all. The footfall is going to be large. In summers, you will see the sun shining bright even at 10 in the night. This image was taken then. It is perfect if you have few hours layover. I would not really recommend you to spend hours in the airport. Rather, you could head out at the streets and soak in the French architecture.

KL International Airport: If there is one place you can shop till you drop is KL Airport. One of the first international airports I have been to. Awesome transit through shuttle service from one terminal to the other, an entire floor of dining experience, and hands on passenger guide for baggage claims, security, etc. In case of long layovers and you have a small child, they have special kids play room at level five main terminal building.

Airports can be fun and filled with life. The next time you visit one, make sure to consume it all. There is so much you can learn by just sitting idle, en the way to your next place.