Exploring Gujarat’s Wild Side with Gujarat Wildlife Tours

Gujarat has been doing really well of late. The past decade or so has seen the  westernmost Indian state find favor among one and all – either from a commercial, non-commercial or political perspective. But that’s not my point, actually. Far from it, rather this post is about exploring Gujarat from a wildlife perspective.

An exciting place for wildlife enthusiasts of Gujarat

Tourism in Gujarat was never much to write home about. Gujarat always had the resources to market tourism as a viable revenue stream.

But amidst, promoting it as the haven for investors and industrialists, the “touristy” Gujarat was somewhere lost. Sure, people visited the Gir jungles every now and then, but that was pretty much it. Thankfully, that has changed. Initiatives like Gujarat Travel Mart will do a world of good for promotion of tourism in the richest Indian state.

Your options for Wildlife Tours to Gujarat.

Gujarat is home to some of world's rarest Fauna & Flora. While the Fauna includes Wild Asses, Blackbucks, Asiatic Lions, Bears, Nilgai, Monkeys, Chinkara, Paradise Flycatcher, Whale Shark, Dolphins.

Gujarat wilds welcome a fair share of migratory Birds like Pelican, Flamingos and Storks. The state is blessed with diverse flora which includes species of Sadad, Khair, Babul, Timru, Khakro, Salai, Asundro, Ber and Bordi.

Gujarat has plenty of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries such as the Gir National Park, Gulf of Kutch, Marine National Park, Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, Vansda National Park and Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar.

ILT’s Luxury Tour Section

The newly added luxury tours’ section at Indian Luxury Trains offers Gujarat wildlife tours at remarkable rates. The new section also has other luxury tours for all nooks and corners of India and will offer the perfect side-tour to compliment your luxury train journey in India.

And by the way, Gujarat tourism is alive and kicking!

[ Looking for adventure? Check-out Gujarat Tour Packages ]

Read More

India Luxury Tours: Here’s the List of options to Choose and Experience to Savor

One of the most exotic tourist destinations on the world tourism map, India is visited by millions of tourists every year to see and explore the colorful culture and picturesque beauty of this  country. The country is apt for both backpackers and family vacations. Some of the destinations have a cosmopolitan ambience to offer to the guests. While most overseas travelers show interest in the history, art and culture of India, others are attracted by the breathtaking beauty of sandy beaches and palm-fringed backwaters. Of late, India luxury tours are gaining drive among the foreign travelers.

The word luxury in itself defines as traveling with comforts. Mentioned below are the options which offer all the comforts of a luxury travel.

Heritage Hotels

Heritage Hotels in India

In India, the concept of heritage hotels originated after independence. Post independence, many kings converted their ancestral property into heritage hotels as it was quite difficult to for them to conserve the legacy  of their forefathers. For overseas travelers looking forward to staying in a heritage hotel, Rajasthan is indeed a perfect option. The state was home to several princely states before independence and offers a chance to experience the royal  lifestyle of the kings.

Indian Luxury Trains

Luxury Train Travel in India

Unlike the west, the concept of luxury train traveling started quite late in India. But today it is a major driver of growth in the Indian tourism sector.At present, there are six luxury trains running in India- Palace on Wheels, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, Indian Maharaja, Golden Chariot, Deccan Odyssey and Maharajas’ Express. The most prominent name in the list is Palace on Wheels. Launched  in 1982, the train is a joint venture of Rajasthan Tourism and Development Corporation (RTDC) and the Indian Railways. Maharajas’ Express, launched in 2010, marks the crescendo of this luxury tourist train in India.

Luxury River Cruises 

Luxury River Cruises in india

Luxury river cruises in India offer a spectacular opportunity to witness the exquisite marine life and astounding geography of India in an ambience packed with modern comforts. There are three popular cruise trips offered in India- Heritage Ganga River Cruise, Brahmaputra River Cruise, Sunderbans Luxury Cruise and Vrinda Luxury Backwater Cruise. Goa is a popular destination for river cruises, mostly done on the Mandovi river. You can  either relish a sunrise cruise or enjoy the golden beauty of the sunset cruise. There is also a full moon cruise which is ideal for honeymooners.

Some Experiences That You Can Savor 

• While staying at a heritage hotel, you can relish delicacies straightaway drawn from the royal kitchens of erstwhile Indian monarchs. A royal Thali usually consists of five dishes in a small bowl, which are served on a big steel Thali with salads & pickles. 

• The itineraries of a luxury train have various exclusive insider experiences store for each day. For example, the Indian Splendor itinerary of Maharajas’ Express train includes a lunch meeting with the royal family of Balasinor. 

• In river cruises such as Vrinda Luxury Backwater Cruise, you can take delight in Classical “Kathakali” and  “Mohiniattam” dance performances.

Read More

Palace on Wheels Train will initiate from September 2012

India’s premier luxury train, Palace on Wheels, is scheduled to run its first course of the season on September 5, 2012. The train is the flagship luxury sojourn of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) and takes its guests on a scenic 8 day tour of the kingly Indian state of Rajasthan, with 1 day excursions to the wonderful Taj Mahal and Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary scheduled. The train is quite popular with both international and local guests and gets sold out a couple of months prior to the beginning of the season. The destinations of the tour include Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Udaipur, Jaywalker, Jodhpur, Bharatpur and Agra.

Palace on Wheels Train : Best Rail Journeys in the World

The train is a true ambassador of luxury travel and offers quality services and luxury facilities such as personal services of a butler, electronic safes, separate spa cars, souvenir shops, a separate lounge car and on-train entertainment. A salient feature of the train is varying ranges in tariffs to accommodate high and mid-range budgets. It is advisable for would-be guests to make prior booking on this luxury sojourn to avoid any last minute disappointments.

How to book it:
Indian Luxury Trains
http://www.indianluxurytrains.com/journeys/palace-on-wheels.html
Indian Luxury Trains is India's first and only luxury train travel portal. Details of upcoming schedule and booking of the Palace on Wheels train tour packages along with post and pre tour arrangement, air ticket booking could be done at the Indian Luxury Trains website.

Read More

Golden Chariot Train Pride of the South : Discover Myriad Facets of Karnataka

“Water changes at every mile and language changes at every three miles”. The varied topography, cultural mix, religious tolerance and multi-lingual populace of India certainly mount up to the aforementioned statement. When it comes to southern region of India, there could be no way better than Golden Chariot train to unearth the natural and cultural treasures of this region.

The Golden Chariot Train Ariel View

Fondly referred to as South India’s very own Palace on Wheels, this Indian luxury train was launched to showcase the rich heritage of Karnataka in an opulent manner. On 10th March, 2008, Golden Chariot embarked on its maiden voyage from Bangalore to Goa. During the course of its 8 days and 7 nights’ journey, this Indian luxury train encompasses various historically prominent and naturally rich destinations which include Mysore, Kabini, Hassan, Hospet, Badami and Goa. From ancient temples to stunning palaces and from wildlife treasure troves to colonial edifices, this tastefully crafted itinerary aboard the Golden Chariot train offer different strokes to different folks.

Each day of Pride of the South journey lets you discover a different aspect of tourism in this state. The 2nd day marks the entry of Golden Chariot into the rustic hinterland of Kabini. A delectable lunch in jungle lodge enveloped with luxuriant greens followed by a game safari to enjoy the call of the wild is what scheduled for the 2nd day.

Moving on the 3rd day of this itinerary, the train will chug into the erstwhile realm of Tipu Sultan - Mysore. Beautiful gardens, stunning temples, magnificent palaces and local markets of this south Indian princely state will surely leave you spellbound. The sightseeing excursion will reach its crescendo in the cultural program organized at Lalitha Mahal Palace.

Apart from exploring wildlife treasures and imperial heritage of Mysore, this Indian luxury train brings you face to face with the rich Dravidian heritage of south India. The 4th, 5th and 6th day on board Pride of the South journey will take you to Hassan, Hospet and Badami, each of which is sprinkled with scores of religious edifices and monuments built during medieval age.

On the penultimate day of this rail tour, the luxury train enters the beach paradise ‘Goa’. The sightseeing tour of the day includes exploration of churches and Sola Souto Manor, a Portuguese house dating back to 16th century, in Old Goa.

Some points to be remembered while making reservations for Golden Chariot train:

• If reservation is made for individual travelling, you have to pay 20% of the ticket value at the time of booking confirmation. Rest 80% is to be paid 60 days prior to departure.
•  If reservation is made for a group tour, you are required to pay 50% of the ticket value at the time of booking confirmation. Rest 80% is to be paid 60 days prior to departure.

The destinations covered by Golden Chariot during the course of Pride of the South journey offers peak into the rich history and cultural heritage of Karnataka. Right from exploring rich Dravidian heritage to wildlife rendezvous in Bandipur National Park, the journey explores many worlds of Karnataka.

Read More

Luxury Train in India - The Buzzword for Luxury Travel

Indian luxury trains are the most sought after by connoisseurs of luxury travel around the world. Unlike Blue train and Orient Express that dominate the luxury rail segment in west, much of the contribution has come from India with 6 luxury trains operating in current scenario.  Luxury train tours are a booming travel trend for those who are not afraid of shelling out moolah for attaining the experience of royal pampering and elegant living.

The history of luxury train travelling traces its roots to the era of erstwhile Indian maharajas who were believed to have travelled in overtly luxurious rail carriages. Taking cue from the personal rail carriages of erstwhile Indian monarchs, Rajasthan Tourism and Development Corporation in association with Indian railways launched Palace on Wheels train in 1982. The train has been designed with replica carriages of erstwhile Rajput princes, Nizams of Hyderabad and Viceroys of India and traverses the course of former princely states of Rajasthan during the course of its 8 days and 7 nights journey.

The seamless fusion of Rajputana décor, state of the art amenities and traditional India hospitality is apparent in every aspect of the train. The weeklong journey on board Palace on Wheels train whisks you into the Rajputana heartland and let you discover the royal and cultural facet of Rajasthan along with the exploration of wildlife treasure troves.

Following the overwhelming success of Palace on Wheels, many state tourism boards followed in the footsteps of Rajasthan Tourism and Development Corporation and came up with their own version of Palace on Wheels train. The popularity of this luxury tourist train reached the corridors of private players too which resulted in chartering of Deccan Odyssey train by Travel Corporation of India (TCI).

Besides Rajasthan, luxury trains in India allow guests to explore the natural and cultural treasure troves of western and southern region of India. While Deccan Odyssey offers jaunt into Maratha heartland with two days halt in Goa, Golden Chariot with its two journeys- Pride of the South and Splendor of the South- offers whirlwind tour across historically significant and naturally rich destinations in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The two itineraries of Indian Maharaja train- Delhi to Mumbai and Mumbai to Delhi- are a medley of vibrant colors of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. 

Although the six luxury trains operating in India differ in terms of destinations but all of them strive hard towards meeting a similar goal. The goal is to provide elegant stay with sightseeing of some of the best tourist destinations in India. Hence it would not be an overstatement to say that a new age of opulent and elegant train travelling has arrived in India with the rise of luxury rail tour segment.

Read More

The Indian Splendor Maharajas Express Train Tour Itinerary

One of the 5 brand new itineraries which will commence from the forthcoming season of Maharajas train tours in India happens to be the Indian Splendor itinerary.Tastefully crafted to unfold before the guest’s eye, the splendors of India’s cultural and architectural heritage as well as her immense topographical and wildlife diversity, this luxury train tour from Delhi to Mumbai offers 8 days and 7 nights of luxury ride across some of the most fascinating landscapes and attractions in India.

Maharajas Express Train  is one of the most luxurious trains of the world

Maharajas Express Indian Splendor itinerary will embark on its maiden voyage on October 12, 2013 from Delhi to Mumbai. The destinations covered during 168 hours of luxury rail ride include Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Balasinor. The Indian Splendor itinerary aboard Maharajas Express is a tasteful brew of heritage, culture, wildlife and insider experiences.

The saga of romance, adventure and opulence aboard Maharajas Express is also about the refined interiors and stylish décor using contemporary style and motifs. The interior décor of this luxury train in India is a hot topic among who’s who of the interior designing world. Then comes the state of the art amenities offered aboard the train during the span of various itineraries. From elegantly appointed restaurants with cutlery marked with gold to the pampering yet refined lounge cum observation car and the bar offering perfect nonchalance for tête-à-tête or silent reflection.

Rajah Club is the lounge cum Observation car of the Maharajas Express

For plush peaceful accommodation, Maharajas Express train come equipped with pneumatic suspension to offer restful sleep on board. Accommodation is available in 4 categories namely Deluxe, Junior Suite, Suite and a Presidential Suite. Each cabin of the train comes equipped with amenities such as electronic safe, live television, direct dial phones, Wi-Fi internet and attached bathrooms.

Junior Suite of the Maharajas Express

Maharajas Express is the distinction of being voted one of the most luxurious trains in the world. This Indian luxury train also happens to be the latest in the fleet of luxury trains in India. Regarded as one of the most luxurious trains in the world, Maharajas Express has generated a significant buzz among connoisseurs of luxury traveling as the next big thing in luxury tour segment in India. Maharajas Express was flagged of in 2010 and since then has become an international brand to reckon with.

How to Book it:
Maharajas' Express
Offering booking for 3 itineraries spanning over 8 days & 7 nights and 2 golden triangle train tour spanning over 4 days & 3 nights in Maharajas Express, with all-inclusive the Maharajas Express Indian Splendor journey starting from US $5980 per person per journey.

Read More

Orchha: Destinations in India

The charm of Orchha lies in it being a nondescript destination as compared to the nearby Khajuraho Temples. Whereas the erotic sculptures at Khajuraho are world famous and subject to various research and studies, when it comes to popular destinations in India Orchha is a sleepy little town with small population attracting limited number of tourists,or I'd say mostly travelers. Orchha has it fair share of sculpted temples, palaces and other landmarks but none compares to the exquisite craftsmanship displayed at the 'love temples' of Khajuraho. However where Orchha scores over its more popular counterpart is the natural landscape, convivial inhabitants and relatively pristine ambience.

There's nothing like the sight of the mist covered forests as the sun casts its first shadow on earth. The moment is too ethereal, too sublime to describe in words, it can only be experienced first hand. Take a jaunt by the forest feeling nature brush past your senses, let the silence takeover; its transcendental.

Sitting by the bank of meandering Betwa River during the sunset and beholding the silhouette of the Chhatris, or the sight of Laksmi Temple and the Orchha Palace was simply mesmerizing. One thing that sets apart Orchha is the friendly locals and mouth watering street food.
All that can be said is that Orchha is an enchanting as well as rejuvenating destination, a veritable oasis far from the hullabaloo of other popular destinations and the din of city.

Lush Orchha

Read More