Wednesday, 23 December 2015

Travel Calendar: Where to Travel - Month by Month!

New year, new beginning ... More travel, more memories ... Truly said by Ibn Battuta, the famous traveller: Travelling – it leaves you speechless and then turns you into a story teller.

2016 is just few days away; why not plan our months according to the best travel time of our favourite destination! The holiday calendar is out, plan your leaves well and start ticking your bucket list.

January:

Northern lights

Kerala: Perfect for winter sun
Andaman: For Diving
Gulmarg/Auli: For Skiing
Sri Lanka: South-western side will offer a pleasant weather but avoid North-eastern side as its monsoon time there
Dubai: Shopping time at the Shopping festival
South East Asia: The weather is dry and warm but not too hot.
Swden/Norway/Finland: The once in a lifetime experience gets completed here – The Northern Lights can be viewed at its full glory
Australia: It’s summer time there, when almost everywhere it’s cold and gloomy

February:

Penguins@Antarctica

Goa: Time for colourful carnival! Enjoy the city as its vibrant best
Jaisalmer: Ragasthan – India’s craziest music festival
Rann of Kutch: The Rann festival is on until end of this month, if you still haven’t experienced it, do visit the glittering white desert.
Europe: Peak rush over, plenty of snow for winter activities and options of going to milder coastal areas.
Antarctica: Warm with longer days, penguin & seals out on the ice and whales are at their most abundant.

March:

Tulips@Netherlands

Rishikesh: For Rafting and International Yoga Festival
Kasol: Experience the festival of Holi like never before
Mathura-Vrindavan: Known for its week-long celebration of Holi festival
Coorg: Watch the beautiful white coffee flower bloom
Mahabaleshwar: Mapro Strawberry festival
Morocco: One of the most sought destinations for 2016. The weather in Southern Morocco is perfect for travel during this time
Cuba: No summer storms, no winter chill. Enjoy the white sandy beaches
Netherlands: Beautiful multi-coloured tulips blossoming

April

Hot air ballooning@Cappadocia

Jim Corbett/Ranthambore: Best chances to spot the tiger
Shillong/Pahalgam: Best the summer heat
Srinagar: Tulips bloom and the weather is neither too hot nor too cold
Phuket: For bike lovers – Phuket Bike Week
Turkey: No summer rush and very pleasant weather. Try hot air ballooning at Cappadocia.
Tokyo: Gorgeous Cherry blossoms

May

Cheetah@Namibia

Gangtok: Beat the chill and enjoy the International Flower Festival
Leh-Ladakh: The snow can be found in the upper parts
Borneo: Best season to visit the rainforest and Mt.Kinabalu
Madagascar: – At its greenest best after the rains
Namibia: Though the nights are cold especially the deserts, wildlife can be found in abundance

June

Tea Estate@Munnar

Munnar: Enjoy the lush green landscapes during the monsoon
Tawang: Unexplored and beautiful, this is the place to go in 2016
Spiti: Adventurous treks, exquisite lake and rugged territories
Singapore: Explore with kids during their summer break
Italy/ Greece/Portugal: Great weather for cycling/hiking and water activities
Arctic Cruise: 24 hour daylight around the summer solstice

July

Great Wildebeest Migration@Kenya

Orchha: Walk around the rustic charm of the city
Dalhousie: Lesser rainfall, ideal weather and perfect time to beat the heat and summer rush
Mount Abu: Rich in history, diverse flora and majestic mountains never fails to pull the crowd
Kenya: Don’t miss the great wildebeest migration
Iceland: Virtually 24 hour daylight and best time to spot migrating whales
Bali: Lots of sun, no rainfall and warm sea water for a lot of water activities

August

Valley of flowers by Alosh Bennett

Kovalam: Monsoon about to get over, unwind yourself with ayurvedic massage
Valley of flowers: The hill station in Uttrakhand looks like a paradise with a variety of flowers at full blossom
Udaipur: Venice of East – no piercing heat of Rajasthan
Lonavala: The Sahyadri monsoon brings the place alive with greenery and it’s an enchanting experience
Seychelles: Excellent time for diving
Austria: Salzburg Festival
Rio: Golden beaches, lush mountains and samba night-life. Host for Olympics 2016
South Africa: Best time for safaris

September

Ganesh Chaturthi by Wikipedia

Coonoor: Cheese making at Acres Wild
Mumbai/Pune: Get immersed in the spirit of devotion during the grand celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi
Shillong: Fresh look post monsoon
Ziro: The music festival of Arunachal Pradesh is the most enjoyable outdoor festival. No better reason to visit the beautiful hidden gem of north-east India.
Oman: For Turtle spotting
Bhutan: For trekking
London: Open house London – visit 700+ landmarks for free
Botswana: Fantastic wildlife viewing

October

Kids@Halloween

Bir Billing: Paraglide in the splendid Himalayas
Mysore: Celebrate Dussehra like never before
Kabini: Spot the wildlife in the lesser explored terrain
Tarkarli: Dive in the sea or go dolphin spotting
Hampi: Good weather to explore one of the 32 UNESCO’s world heritage sites in India
Munich: Ocktoberfest is the time to be at this place
New York/Hongkong: Enjoy Halloween with the kids
Vietnam: Dry and warm but not too hot to explore the northern side

November

Aarti@Varanasi Bank of River Ganges

Varanasi: Do attend the festival of Indian Classical Music & Dance or the aarti on Dev Deepawali on the bank of River Ganges
Sundarbans: Most pleasing temperature to visit the richest and most balanced eco system of the country
Pushkar: Rajasthan’s most spectacular event – Pushkar fair
Kohima: The festivals of festival – Hornbill festival in Nagaland
Gir: The place is shut during monsoon hence better chances to spot Asiatic Lion
Canada/USA: The lovely autumn time
Antarctica: See the pristine snows capes and large icebergs before the summer kicks off
Taiwan: Stellar month for sports enthusiast as the place hosts number of outdoor events

December

Geminids Meteor Shower by whotalking

Kochi: For Biennale – an international exhibition of contemporary art
Konark: Annual dance festival in Orissa
Ranthambore: As the winter sets in, the tigers come out to bask in the sun.
Kaziranga: The national park is the habitat for one horn rhinoceros
Goa: The EDM party is at full throttle and it is one the best places in India to be on the New Year Eve
Auli: The largest skiing destination of India
Maldives: For a luxurious escape
Bangkok: Shopping sans the sweat
New Zealand: For the pretty much the first sunrise of the New Year
Chile: At the Atacama Desert, get spellbound witnessing the celestial storm in the skies – The Geminids Meteor Shower

Friday, 18 December 2015

Holiday Mode on: Bollywood Stars and their X-mas & New Year Plans

Image Source: tripzmate
Image Source: bollywoodpresents

It’s the time of year when people are planning to enjoy the last break of 2015. Bags are packed, tickets booked and now is the time to head to the beaches, mountains or just another city to welcome Santa Claus and ring in the New Year.

Our Bollywood celebrities are not too far behind ... While few have decided to spend it with friends or family, others are taking a break from their frenzied schedule to get soaked into the holiday spirit and get ready for the madness to continue in 2016.

Let’s look at some of the stars and their holiday sojourn.


Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif will be taking off to London for both Xmas and New Year. London has one of the biggest celebrations at midnight with host of festivities, fireworks and fun! Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra too will be in London from Xmas until New Year. London is one of the favourite destinations of the entrepreneur couple.

Image Source: mtvindia

Bipasha Basu’s will be flying away to Thailand with her love interest Karan Grover. Thailand is known for its incredible night life and exotic beaches. Neil Nitin Mukesh has grand plans to celebrate the holiday season. He will be in Dubai for Christmas and South Africa for New Year! Wow!! Now that's some travel plan.

Image Source: rediff

Hritik Roshan, who is a doting father to his two sons – Hrehaan and Hridhan, will be in Switzerland for Christmas. The gleaming snow-capped mountains will look stunning when the town will be painted red for Xmas. It’s family time for Deepika Padukone too but she will be away from Ranveer Singh as she will be celebrating it with her parents in Bengaluru while Ranveer will be looking for a shore to laze around.

Image Source: uthtime

The pristine beach of Maldives is Sonam Kapoor’s choice. Home to some of the most luxurious hotels in the world, Maldives is a perfect choice in any season and is a favourite choice of many Bollywood celebrities. Sidharth Malhotra, who is the brand ambassador for New Zealand, will be there only with his friends. Definitely a good time to boast about the country you are associated with. 

Image Source: itimes

Madhuri Dixit Nene will be flying off to her second home – the USA, with her husband and kids. And, guess who will be coming home for the New Year?? Priyanka Chopra who has been busy shuttling between the continents because of work commitments, will be in India to give a goodbye kiss to 2015!

Image Source: dainikbhaskar
Image Source: dailymail
Image Source: express.co.uk
Image Source: instabollywood
Image Source: santabanta



Source: HT


Wednesday, 16 December 2015

11 Countries where you can drive with your Indian Driving License


Image Source: delhionline.in

There is nothing like exploring the place on your own, no second thought about it and a road trip is the best way to discover a place and be one of its own. With brilliant infrastructure and easily available car rental services, if driving is your passion then, you are in for a treat as these 11 exotic destinations let you drive against your Indian driving license. All you need is a GPS or a map, money for fuel, driving license and zeal to explore!

Australia (Drives on the left)

With varied landscape, Australia ready to surprise you at every nook and corner. One of the most famous drives is the Great Ocean Road which starts from Melbourne. New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Canberra allow you to drive with an Indian Driving License where as in the Northern Territory grants permission with a caveat – a permit that allows you to drive for only three months.  In Australia, you can only drive the vehicles that are allowed on your license.

Image Source: Wikipedia


Great Britain (Drives on the left)

The awesome British countryside can be best explored while you drive. Great Britain – (England, Scotland and Wales) allows you to drive on Indian license upto a period of one year but only certain class of vehicles are permitted. Do visit the Isle of Man where there are no set speed limits.

Image Source: driving.co.in


USA (Drives on the right)

The United States of America boasts of some most amazing driving routes in the world. Just land in the country, rent a car and hit the road - No agenda required!! Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica (across the width of the nation), Highway 12, Utah and Pacific Coast Highway through California are few routes that should be in your checklist. You can drive against Indian driving license for a year but it should be in English language. If not, then you need to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) with translation and I-94 form which shows the date of arrival in the country.

Image Source: thody.net


Germany (Drives on the right)

Indians can drive in Germany for a period of 6 months on their valid Indian driving license. Though not a must, but it is advisable to carry German translated version of your license (that can be obtained from the embassy there) and an International Driving Permit (IDP). The stretches of Autobahns have no speed limit & the German Castle Road has about 70 castles and postcards worthy views, making the route of approx 400kms drive through Bavaria one of the most sought after routes.

Image Source: Wikipedia


France (Drives on the right)

France allows self drive on a valid Indian driving license for a period of one year provided you also carry the French translated version of the license, obtainable from the embassy. France is known for its diverse scenic locales that range from French Alps to mountain roads of Corsica with sea on one side & challenging hills on the other side and mesmerizing wineries especially the drive from Santé nay to Dijon for some vintage wine.

Image Source: france2wheels


Switzerland (Drives on the right)

Bollywood Director Yash Chopra made Switzerland a dream country for many Indians and what is more amazing than driving through the snow capped Alps overlooking the turquoise lakes in a Bollywood movie DDLJ (Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge) style! So miss your train and get behind the wheels for a memorable drive. St.Gotthard Pass joins north and south of the country and should be in the list of routes taken when in Switzerland along with St.Bernard Pass that is 56kms long. A valid Indian Driving license is required in English language for a drive in this captivating country for a year.

Image Source: nytimes


New Zealand (Drives on the left)

The picturesque New Zealand is blessed with charismatic natural beauty which can be best explored by road. The following conditions are must when you want to drive with an Indian driving license.

A) Indian Driving License is valid upto a year
B) You need to be atleast 21 years of age to rent a car
C) If license is not in English, you need to have an official translation of your license by the New Zealand Transport Agency or one of the approved translator
D) You can drive only a type of vehicle according to your licence

Drive on Thames to Coromandel Road, Te Anau to Milford Sound and Christchurch to Marlborough Wine country is a magical experience.

Image Source: newzealand.com


South Africa (Drives on the left)

Dramatic cliffs, unique flora and fauna and beautiful wineries defines the beauty of South Africa which allows you to drive against an Indian driving license provided it is entirely in English and has your photograph and signature on it. Few car rental companies may ask for International Driving Permit, hence it is advisable to carry it with you. Zip down the famous Garden route or drive down the scenic route of Cape Town to Grabouw via Villiersdorp or from Camp’s Bay to Chapman’s Peak, Cape Town which are very sought after routes.

Image Source: southafrica.net


Norway (Drives on the right)

The land of midnight sun, Norway, allows you to drive against your valid Indian driving license and let you explore the amazing fjords for three months provided your license is in English. Take a drive from Oslo to Bergen to experience the most unforgettable drive which will take you through splendid villages, waterfall and fjords.

Image Source: cyclingtips


Mauritius (Drives on the left)

Make sure you carry your Indian driving license (which is in English) when you travel to the gorgeous volcanic island of Mauritius to be able to drive across the country for upto 4 weeks. Drive along the pristine beaches or the mountain side for a wonderful road trip that you will cherish for years to come. You can only drive certain class of cars according to your home license and carry International Driving Permit for a hassle free car rental process. The drive from Pamplemousses to Pieter is an absolute delight.

Image Source: skyscrapercity


Canada (Drives on the right)

Not only Canada is a lovely host but is also home to some of the most beautiful snow covered landscapes in the world. An Indian driving licence is valid for 60 days and it should be in English. The top three drives on the Canadian surface are: Bow Valley Parkway, Kicking Horse Trail and Viking Trail. So put on your shades, load the music, charge the camera and be ready for the experience of a lifetime.

Image Source: Wikipedia


 Few tips to remember while planning a road trip abroad.

1.       Obtain a valid visa for the country to wish to travel to.
2.      Carry your original driving license and passport.
3.      Always carry an IDP (International Drive Permit) even if it is not mandatory, to avoid any hassles while car renting or driving. It is valid for one year and can be obtained from your local RTO on submitting required documents.
4.      Carry extra copies of your documents along with originals.
5.      Research in advance about car rental providers and their requirements to get the best rate.
6.      Try to rent a car that is GPS enabled or have GPS on your phone.
7.      Like India, some countries drive on the left side while others on the right, it takes a little time to adjust.

8.      Select a car as per your comfort – manual gear or automatic. Mostly all the cars abroad have automatic gears.