Archive for October 2018

One of the oldest Indian cities, Varanasi is India's spiritual centre. To see the city in its entirety, it's best to take a walking tour where you come face to face with its many ghats, temples, cultural activities and events. It is believed that this city is the oldest city in the world and it has still managed to retain its original culture and tradition.

How to explore Varanasi: The state Tourism Department of Varanasi came up with the unique idea of taking visitors on heritage walks through Varanasi. They called this the ‘Circle of life’ walk, since this brought visitors up close and personal with the Varanasi way of life. This Varanasi Heritage Walk Tour spans about four to five hours and covers the 16 key attractions of this city. It begins at Assi Ghat and ends at Dal Mandi. By exploring Varanasi in this manner, tourists will get to experience the city's culture, history and rituals.

Yet another heritage walk in Varanasi begins at Adikeshaw Ghat in the heart of Varanasi and ends at the historic Lord Kaal Bhairon temple. Between these two ends, you will come across an old akhara, an ancient sari market, narrow lanes and several quaint but interesting spots. This tour lasts for two to three hours and usually starts very early in the morning.

Often, these heritage walks end up by the tour operator taking the group of visitors to a renowned restaurant to have an experience of eating authentic Varanasi food. This kind of a walk--a Varanasi Heritage Walk with Food Tour--is catching on here, since people also want to experience local cuisine. Morning tours end up with tourists being given lunch. Similarly, a Varanasi Heritage Walk withDinner Tour is also becoming as popular, with people wanting to rest their weary legs and delight in the regional fare.

If you want to explore Varanasi for Buddhism, then take the Buddhist Trail that goes up to Sarnath Temple. The place where Buddha received enlightenment, Sarnath is an important spot on this trail. On this heritage walk, you will come across many Buddhist structures that were built between the third century BC and the 11th century AD.

This trail will take you 30 minutes away from Varanasi to Sarnath, and you will also explore Buddhist architecture in the Chaukhandi Stupa, Mugandha Kunti Vihara and Dhamek Stupa complex. Also check out the Archaeological Museum which includes facts about the Ashoka pillar. This walk goes on for about five to six hours and is taken by Buddhists from all over the world.

There's also a walk to the cremation grounds and ashrams of Varanasi. The cremation grounds here are the largest in the world, so it's worth a visit. People believe that anyone who is cremated here will be free from the cycle of rebirth.

Alternatively, if you have a week to spare, you can take a leisurely Allahabad Kumbh Mela withVaranasi Tour where you can explore both these amazing cities and imbibe their spectacular history and culture. This seven-day tour will be not just soul-enriching but enjoyable too. To know more details about any of the heritage walks of Varanasi, get in touch with reputed tour operators like optimatravels.com. Not only will we, at optimatravels, customize your walk with a good and knowledgeable guide, but we will ensure that you see all the spots well and are fully satisfied with it.

Book with us today, so that you get hefty discounts that will make a big difference to you. Trust us, we are in the business for decades, so we know the need for quality services to tourists, and we assure you of our best services while on this walking tour. To speak to us soon, call us on +00-91-9810222172 or email us at tours@optimatravels.com.

Celebrated with the utmost devotion and great pomp, the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad is the world’s most pious and largest religious assembly. This festival is a tribute to Hindu culture and customs along with the belief in the Divine power of the mela celebrations.

To support the grandeur of this festival and to make it possible for the maximum number of devotees to come and worship here, several companies have sprung up to offer accommodation of all grades, beginning from dormitory type accommodation to premium and super deluxe level.

To give it a more contemporary feel so that international tourists also drop by to experience our spiritual side, luxury tents or glamourous camping (a.k.a. glamping). Local travel agencies also organize a Allahabad Kumbh Mela Tour for their customers and set up accommodation for them at the tents of their choice.

History: This festival is significant for the “Amrit Kumbh” or “Amrit Kalash” for which there was a fight between the gods and demons for 12 days and 12 nights. In the course of the war, a few drops fell on four different places--Allahabad, Nashik, Haridwar and Ujjain. In terms of calculating time, the 12 warring days are equal to our present-day 12 years. For this reason, every 12 years, this day is celebrated with great fanfare as the “Kumbh Mela”.

Types of Accommodation Available: A few categories of tent accommodation are available here, such as dormitory, deluxe and super deluxe and luxury.

Dormitory: As the name suggests, here 10 beds are placed under one tent with common washroom facilities. Free Wi-Fi, laundry and use of blankets form part of the offerings here.

Deluxe: An upgrade from the dormitory style, here, you can have an attached bathroom and toilet and housekeeping services every alternate day. Two people per tent will be accommodated.

Super Deluxe: These tents come equipped with well-appointed and comfortable rooms that give a luxurious feel. The room covers an area of 220 sq feet and has an attached toilet and exclusive veranda. Guests can enjoy a lot of privacy, apart from standard amenities like laundry, free Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping, 24 hours room service, complimentary pick-up and drop to and from the railway station and airport. Two people per tent can be accommodated.

Luxury: A Luxury Tent in Kumbh Mela Allahabad comprises aesthetically designed tent accommodation with the smallest details taken care of. Typically, Luxury Accommodation in Kumbh Mela Allahabad has all the modern amenities, including washroom facilities. It is in the midst of beautiful surroundings and is at walkable distance to the ghat.

The interiors are elegantly appointed and have beds in the centre of the tent, and easy chairs for relaxing. They are safe to live in, eco-friendly, fully secure, lockable and waterproof. You can enjoy high speed Internet connection, ornate furniture and an exclusive veranda. Its capacity is four members.

Swiss Cottages: Apart from the above-mentioned types of accommodation, there's one more type that falls in the luxury bracket, the Luxury Cottages in Kumbh MelaAllahabad. Claimed to be one of the best types of luxury camping tents available at the Kumbh Mela, these rooms have cosy interiors and attached toilet and bathroom. There is a wide range of conveniences you can enjoy here, including complimentary pick up and drop facilities from and to the station and airport. This accommodation is for two people.

Visiting the Kumbh Mela is a once in 12 years' opportunity, so why not take this chance to visit the mela in 2019? Only reputed and experienced tour operators can make the best arrangements for you, so get in touch with us, at Optima Travels. We are in the business for the past three decades and know the expectations and requirements of visitors here, so we can give you the best service. Also, we offer huge discounts to early bird customers, so avail of it by getting in touch with us now.

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