Archive for October 2019

Home Archive for October 2019

Mumbai, known as commercial capital of India, has several facets to be explored. A reasonably good Mumbai tour itinerary must incorporate some of experiences rated among top things to do in Mumbai. If you’re planning a trip to Mumbai, it’s going to be fun round-the-clock for you because this is a city that never sleeps. It has everything to tickle your senses and, make your jaw drop—historic sites, ultramodern malls, crazy markets and lots of plays, movies and fun spots for kids and families. No doubt, the places to visit in Mumbai are a galore.

Whether your time in Mumbai is long or short, you must see the following four monuments that speak of different cultures and slices of history of Mumbai.

Afghan Church

Afghan Church or The Church of St. John the Evangelist was built by the British to remember the dead soldiers of the First Afghan War and the terrible pull-out from Kabul in 1842.

The church building was built using locally sourced biscuit-coloured basalt and limestone. Inside, it has beautiful Gothic arches and stained glass windows. It is located in Navy Nagar, Colaba, Mumbai.

Gateway of India

To commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Mumbai, this monument was built. It was from here that the last of the British soldiers in India left the country after centuries of colonialism.

It was designed by the architect George Wittet, who combined features from Indian, Islamic and Roman architecture and completed the structure in 1914.

Victoria Gardens

Formerly known as Victoria Gardens, it is now known as VeermataJijbaiBhonsleUdyan. Situated in Byculla, it was inaugurated in 1861 and is said to be among India’s oldest zoos.

The chief attraction of these gardens is the Victoria and Albert Museum, now known as the Bhau Daji Lad Museum. Set on the same grounds, its objective was to increase agricultural and industrial interests.

Other worth-seeing elements of these gardens are a huge statue of an elephant one can see at the Elephanta Caves, a clock towerbuilt in Renaissance and Italian architectural style and several rare plant species.

Elephanta Cave Temples

These ancient cave temples can be seen at the Mumbai Harbour, about 10 km away from the Gateway of India. This island is home to the historic and ancient Elephanta Cave Temples.

These temples were built in the 5^thcentury CE and comprise five Hindu caves and two Buddhist caves. It is highly visited by Indians and foreigners and is known for its amazing architecture, sculptures and heritage.

These are just some of the many fascinating must-see items on your agenda if your time in Mumbai is short. However, there’s a lot more to see and explore. So, book yourself on a week-long holiday to Mumbai with a highly experienced travel agency like Optima Travels.

This agency has the reputation for devising the most enjoyable itineraries so that you get the most out of your time spent in Mumbai. They go the extra mile for their customers, so customers keep going back to them to plan their annual holidays. Why don’t you too do the same?

If you plan to take a long vacation, you should perhaps take the Golden Triangle with Mumbai Tour, where you will see Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Mumbai. And if time is not a constraint, you could always extend it to do a Golden Triangle with Goa Mumbai Tour.

However, if you can’t spare that time, ask the travel agent to book you on one of his many Mumbai Tour Packages. This will take you all over the city and you can get to enjoy everything there.

A trip to Mumbai will always be memorable because of the kind of monuments and things to see and do here. To know more about this trip, get in touch with optimatravels.com and get your early bird discount today!

Depending on your interests, Delhi tourism has a different platter of things to offer a variety of people. So, if you love historical buildings and artefacts, you can spend days visiting all the monuments in Delhi. If you’re an adventure sports freak, there’s a lot for you to do—hiking, trekking, paragliding, hot air ballooning and much more. Thus, in addition to exploring several historical monuments, there are scores of attractions that find place in top things to do in Delhi repertoire.

If your time in Delhi is restricted but you want to see a few ancient monuments, we may suggest you major highlights and chalk out a customized itinerary incorporating salient tourist attractions in Delhi. You can also board a bus and take in one of the many Delhi Tour Packages which will include these monuments:

Red Fort: Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan when he decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi, the foundation stone for this magnificent monument was laid in 1618. It is built entirely in red stone. After Independence, the Indian tricolour is hoisted here on August 15, India’s Independence Day.

Humayun’s Tomb: This is the tomb of Emperor Humayun, commissioned by his first wife and designed by Persian architects. It was India’s first garden-tomb and is situated near the Purana Qila, built by Humayun. It is also the first Indian monument to use red sandstone in a big way.

Jama Masjid: One of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid was built by Emperor Shah Jahan between 1650 and 1656. It has three big gates and two minarets, each 40 metres high, made white marble and red sandstone strips. In its courtyard, 25,000 worshippers can be accommodated.

Qutub Minar: This 73-meter high tower build to mark Muslim dominance in Delhi after the last Hindu ruler in Delhi was defeated. It is the highest tower in India with its five storeys and beautiful balconies. The construction of this tower began with Qutub-ud-din Aibak and concluded with Firoz Shah Tughlak with different architectural styles clearly visible.

This is just a sampling of the rich historical and architectural treasure trove that Delhi is. If you are interested in marvelling at them, you should make your arrangements to visit this city. A good travel agent like Optima Travels can help you plan a trip here, taking into account all the monuments into account.

You can take a Leisure Tour of Delhi to see all that it has to offer. Else, you can also opt for a Golden Triangle Tour, with a special focus on sightseeing in Delhi. From there, you can proceed to see various other places like Agra and Jaipur.

For this, it will be good if you extend your golden triangle tour so that you ultimately do a Delhi Agra Jaipur Tour. If you have a little more time to spend sightseeing, you can extend your trip to cover Udaipur also. This will mean that you will do a Delhi Agra Jaipur Udaipur Tour.

Conclusion

Delhi offers a lot by way of a glimpse of the past. But there’s much more to this fabulous city than just seeing its ancient monuments. A trip that encompasses all of its past glory and present fun would make a great holiday. To know more reach us at optimatravels.com today.

Whoever told you that Goa is all about beaches and nothing more? On the contrary, there’s so much here to see, explore and enjoy that you’ll run out of time and there’ll still be a lot to accomplish. Actually, Goa operates on various levels—it means different things to different people, depending on your interests.

However, it’s nice to know all the Top Things to Do in Goa so that you can plan your holiday well. But for everyone who’s going to Goa for the first time, may we suggest that you see at least the few sites mentioned here? Goa is, no doubt, a state replete with several historical and religious monuments and serene sea-beaches. A large number of tourist attractions in Goa play quite vital role in its reputation for a tourist destination. If you want to do more, sure why not? So, here goes.

ª Anjuna Beach

A very popular beach, it has a flea market that’s equally popular. It’s common to see foreigners, backpackers, people on long vacation, etc. This beach is 2km long and is lined with cafes, chic restaurants, beach bars, guesthouses, etc. You can indulge in water sports here and walks by the sea. You’ll also find people doing yoga here and getting Ayurvedic massages.

ª Baga Beach

Another popular beach in Goa, it is named after the Baga Creek. It’s perfect to get an idea of Goa’s nightlife. Here, the food shacks open in the evening and go on till late at night. It also has designer stores, restaurants, tattoo parlours, palmistry and tarot stores, sun decks and everything for a beach holiday.

ª Basilica of Bom Jesus

This church is a one-of-kind in India, particularly for its Baroque style architecture. It was built in 1594 and consecrated in 1605. It is situated in old Goa, 10 km from the capital city, Panjim. It is Goa’s oldest church and holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, who co-founded the Society of Jesus. It is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is more than 408 years old and is open to the public every day.

ª Reis Magos Church

In Portuguese, Reis Magosrefers to the Three Magi or the Three Wise Men. It is situated on the banks of the River Mandovi, near the Verem Bazaar. It was Bardez Taluka’s first church and has a multicoloured wood relief bearing the form of the three Magi.

Goa’s not just about beaches and churches, there’s much more to it. But if you see just the few sights mentioned here, it’s a beginning. You can always make a few trips more and explore all of Goa, little by little. To help you in this, may we suggest a good travel agency who can put together an enjoyable holiday itinerary—Optima Travels.

This agency has all the experience in planning holidays, so they will suggest some of their better Goa Tour Packages to you. Alternatively, you could choose to visit Goa on a Golden Triangle with Goa Tour, where again you will see a lot of Goa in a planned manner.

However, if you don’t want that but just want to chill by the beach, Optima Travels can also organize a Goa Beach Tour where you will spend a few days on each beach, soaking in the sun and sand and enjoying its beach fun.

Lastly, if it’s a honeymoon you’re planning, what better place to go to than Goa? A Goa Honeymoon Tour is a great idea. If you inform them, they will make all the arrangements for you, so you just take each day as it comes.

To know more, call and speak to optimatravels.com today. They will love to hear from you.

The jewel in the crown of royal Rajasthan is Jaisalmer. It has everything related to royalty and kingdoms. Fort that tells its own history, sand dunes, romantic honour and palaces. However, there’s more to Jaisalmer than these. There are various symbols of heritage, religion and culture that dot the cityscape and make it a stunning example of India’s glorious past. Among the main Tourist Attractions in Jaisalmer are its monuments and desert. Jaisalmer Fort, havelis, temples and ‘chhatris’ are popular places to visit in Jaisalmer. Historical lineage and cultural colours make Jaisalmer quite attractive to tourists and offer many things to do therein. Participating in Desert Festival, camping on sand dunes, camel safaris etc are Top Things To Do In Jaisalmer.

Jaisalmer can be explored by opting for some of the fascinating tour itineraries incorporated in Rajasthan Tour Packages. Here are some of the jewels of Jaisalmer that you can see in a Golden Triangle with Jaisalmer Tour and Jaisalmer Tour Packages.

Jaisalmer Fort

This is Jaisalmer’s most popular historical landmark. Also called the Golden Fort, it was built in 1156 by the founder of Jaisalmer, Rawal Jaiswal. It is one of the few “living forts” in the world as a quarter of the city’s population resides within the fort. It is also called Sonar Qila or Golden Fort.

The fort was built entirely with yellow sandstone in typical Rajasthani architectural style.

Jain Temples

The Jain Temple complex comprises some of Jaisalmer’s oldest temples. They are situated within the Jaisalmer Fort grounds. There are seven temples built between the 12^th and 15^th centuries AD. The largest among them is the Parsvanath Temple. All the temples are dedicated to various Jain tirthankars. They are famous for their architectural style and for the Dilwara style of paintings.

Like the Jaisalmer Fort, these temples too are built in yellow sandstone. All the temples are connected by a large chain of corridors bearing several stone sculptures. You can see this in detail when you take one of the Jaisalmer Tour Packages.

Patwonki Haveli

A beautiful hue of yellow marks this structure and makes it eye-catching to every tourist here. It comprises five havelis built by a wealthy trader or Patwa, each on one floor, dedicated to each of his five sons. It has several wall paintings, balconies or jharokhas, gateways and archways.

Desert Festival Jaisalmer

This is the most highly awaited festival in the desert land of Jaisalmer. Through this festival, tourists get a feel of the royal Rajasthani culture. At the festival, people can participate in camel races, Mr. Desert contest, turban tying competitions, etc.

These are the Top Things to Do in Jaisalmer, but there are more too. If you want to visit them, you should let a professional and highly experienced travel agency, one like Optima Travels to organize it. They are so reputed in this field that they will be able to anticipate your needs. In fact, they go the extra mile for all their customers. You can also extend your trip so that you have a Golden Triangle with Jodhpur Jaisalmer Tour.

They will offer you a few itineraries to choose from, such as a Golden Triangle Tour . If you have any special needs, such as a wheelchair, Optima Travels will provide for it.

Of course, there are many more services you can expect from this travel agency. All you need to do is to ask for them. But for that, at least one initial meeting is necessary. So, get in touch with them today and discuss your upcoming holiday to Jaisalmer.

Once you firm up your plans with them, you stand to get hefty discounts from them. So, quickly get in touch with optimatravels.com today.

One of the world’s oldest living cities, Varanasi is an important tourist centre for many reasons. First, it is important to the Hindus as it is mentioned in Hindu mythology and is also seen as they considered as a mini version of Hindu culture and ongoing trends. Varanasi finds mention in Hindu religious scriptures as one of the most sacred cities (‘Saptpuris’).

Even today, people in search of peace and salvation or ‘moksh’ search for it in Varanasi’s narrow lanes and mesmerizing ambience. Visiting ghats of Varanasi and temples in Varanasi are among Top Things to Do in Varanasi. Varanasi has so many facets to enthral a visitor. There are innumerable tourist attractions in Varanasi . Depending upon time availability, variety and number of monuments and experiences can be accommodated in a Varanasi tour. While in Varanasi, one should not miss Ganga Aarti, morning boat ride in Ganga, Subah-e-Banaras and celebrating at least one of the festivals in Varanasi.

If you have very little time in Varanasi, ensure that you stop by at following spots and take in their beauty and culture:

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

This is one of India’s most famous Hindu temples where the reigning deity is Lord Shiva. It stands on the western bank of the holy River Ganga. It is one of the holiest Shiva temples, the 12 Jyotirlingas.The chief deity here is Shri Vishwanath or Vishweshwara. The temple is known as Kashi Vishwanath Temple as Kashi was the olden name of Varanasi.

Tulsi Manas Mandir

Among the Varanasi’s more famous temples, the Tulsi Manas Mandir is of great cultural and historical significance to the Hindus. The epic Ramcharitmanas, written by the poet-saint Tulsidas was penned here in the 16^th century.

Mir Ghat

Near the Vishalakshi Temple you will find Mir Ghat, named after Mir Rustam Ali, a Muslim commander. This ghat leads to the River Ganga. While passing along this ghat, you will see several temples on the left, each decorated in vibrant colours. A Radha-Krishna temple here is a delight to all devotees and must not be missed.

Raj Ghat

Raj Ghat, A famous ghat of Varanasi, it houses the famous RavidasTemple. It is easily accessible by road and is the abode of famous priests here. Even disabled people will be able to access this ghat through the city’s narrow lanes.

If you are enthused by this and want to see these and every part of Varanasi, why don’t you book yourself on one of the Varanasi Tour Packages? A guided tour, organized by a professional travel company like Optima Travels. It will be able to bring you face to face with the history, culture, cuisine, outdoor sports and all that this fascinating city has to offer.

There may be many tourist companies operating in this city because of the wealth of opportunity it offers to make good money from visiting tourists, so it is essential that you choose the right travel company to make your reservations at the best price and honestly showing you all the tourist destinations here. For these reasons, Optima Travels is the best candidate for the job.

If you wish, you can take a Varanasi Tour from Delhi and enjoy the sightseeing here. If you also want to see neighbouring small towns on day trips, you could mention that to these travel agents and they will fix up those too for you. There’s also an option of starting your holiday in Delhi with a Golden Triangle with Varanasi Tour. If you decide to go in the next fortnight or so, you can enjoy a Dev Dipawali Varanasi Tour.

Whatever you may have in mind for a splendid holiday you must mention to these professionals so that they can put together a great itinerary for you. At least one or more meetings will be necessary for this, so get in touch with them today. And remember, apart from a wonderful holiday, they will also give you a good discount. So, call them today.

If you’ve got a weekend to spare and want to spend it away from your regular routine, why not take an India Golden Triangle Tour to Jaipur? If you’ve already seen Delhi, you can save time by driving down straight to Agra and move on from there to Jaipur. It sounds like a great idea, right? Jaipur is certainly a tourist’s paradise. Things to do in Jaipur are many, ranging from getting involved in various activities to exploring several markets. There is large number of places to visit in Jaipur. If you agree, your itinerary could comprise a visit to the historic and other places to see in Jaipur. They are:

Amber Fort

Located about 13 kms from Jaipur city centre, Amber was the previous capital of Kachhwaha Rajput clan which lorded over Jaipur region for several centuries. Amber Fort is one of the most visited gargantuan and beautiful fortress on the hills of Aravali. It is famous for its size, finesse, ruggedness and sturdiness. The palces and buildings within the fort are quite enchanting.

Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal, known to world as Palace of Winds, is an iconic monument of Jaipur. Built of red sandstone, Hawa Mahal is in the heart of the city. It is basically fortified facade equipped with several windows facilitating royal ladies to see activities on the road, without to be seen themselves.

Royal Gaitor

Close to the city centre of Jaipur is the funerary complex of Royal Gaitor. Here’s where the mausoleums of Jaipur’s ruling family lie. There are two main courtyards here, each filled with stately memorials. One has the mausoleum of King Madho Singh II, while the second has the tomb of King Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur.

Galtaji

This is an ancient Hindu pilgrim town, about 10 km outside Jaipur. You’ll find several temples here built in a narrow crack in the hills that skirt Jaipur. On the hill there’s a natural spring that flows downwards and fills up the sacred water tanks where pilgrims bathe. According to legend, a saint by the name of Galav lived here, who meditated here and did penance too. Due to large number of monkeys in the temple, Galta Ji is known as ‘monkey temple’ among the foreign tourists.

Johari Bazar

Jaipur is a shopper’s paradise where you will see the finest in textiles, footwear and Kundan jewellery. Pottery, handicrafts, quilts and tie and dye saris. Here, the oldest market is called the Johari Bazaar, where a majority of the shops are painted pink. In this market, you can find gold and silver jewellery and stones like diamonds and emeralds. One visit to this market is an absolute must-do even if you have only a few hours in Jaipur.

Sun Temple, Amer

The Sun Temple, Amer, Jaipur, is small and is situated high on the edge of the Aravalli Hills from where you can get panoramic views of the city. It is part of the Galta ji temple complex, about two kilometres away. Though lesser known, you must visit this temple, preferably at sunset when there’s a golden glow all over the city.

Hot Air Balloon Safari

Apart from all the historic sites that draw tourists to Jaipur, there’s another side to it—that of adventure sports. Apart from trekking, hiking and paragliding, Jaipur also boasts of hot air ballooning. Today, it is a renowned destination for Hot Air Ballooning. People specially come here to enjoy this sport.

You can enjoy this sport from various locations in the city—Amber Fort, Shiv Vilas, Jal Mahal and Delhi-Jaipur Road. Depending on the direction of the wind, the location changes.

Does this itinerary grab you? If you do feel enthused to go on this trip, you should have it managed for you by a good travel agency. One that stands out for its professionalism is Optima Travels. Over the years, it has built a reputation of being highly professional, gives attention to details and goes the extra mile for its clients.

So, why not get in touch with them and fix up 2-Days Jaipur Tour. You can then see the whole of Jaipur and all its historical and other sightseeing spots. Travel with Optima travels and you won’t regret it.

If you do decide to go with them, do it quickly as only early bird customers get hefty discounts. So, don’t waste time, speak to them today and book yourself on one of the better Jaipur Tour Packages.

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