North & Central India Heritage tours

Delhi Agra Delhi return Day Trip – by Car

aryanindiatravelntours — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:36:38 +0000

Agra the zenith of art and an enshrined romance. It is a town that lives mainly in the past. Once the seat of the Mughal rulers.

Their passion for building endowed it with some of the loveliest buildings in the world – the Taj Mahal a poem in white marble which took 22 years to build by 20,000 skilled artisans who inlaid the white marble edifice with precious and semi precious stones.

The Agra Fort from where one can get the most moving view of the Taj from the little octagonal tower in the Agra Fort which lies across the river Jamuna.

This Tour is the Same Day tour to Agra. This is a independent car tours of Taj Mahal, with your private driver.This is the best way to go to Taj Mahal from Delhi.

Our car picks you up from anywhere in Delhi (except the airport)?and drops you back there.Tour starts with visit to Taj, Red Fort & Sikandara (tomb of the mighty Akbar). Guide meets you at Taj Mahal.

06.00 AM : Morning drive to Agra .( 210 Kms , 4 Hrs Drive )
10.00AM : Visit to Sikandra Fort

11.00AM : Visit to Red Fort

01.00PM : Time Free for Lunch

02.00PM : Visit To Taj Mahal

04.00PM : Drive back to Delhi? (for dinner in Delhi, you can take our recommendations for restaurants)

08.30PM : Drop at Hotel / Airport

Inclusions : Car cost, fuel cost, Driver cost. All taxes and parking charges.

Exclusion : Monuments Entry Fees, Meals, Drinks.

Charges : 4000 INR for small car like indica, Indigo. Which can seat upto 3 people.

6000 INR for large Suv like Innova, Qualis or Scorpio can seat upto 6 people.

Additional Costs, if it is required/necessary:

Guide in Agra : An additional Rs. 300/- (Guide in Agra recommended as more often than not, he will help you beat the queues and get you inside monuments quicker)

If Delhi airport pickup/drop is involved, then an additional Rs. 500.

Likewise, a pickup/drop from outside of South/Central Delhi i.e Gurgaon, Noida or Ghaziabad or Dwarka and similar areas is involved then an additional Rs. 500.

Fatehpur Sikri Visit:Rs. 500/- for small car. Rs. 750/- for the big car. (It takes about 4 to 5 hours including coming going. Can be too much in a single day)

Guide in Fatehpur Sikri: An additional Rs. 350/-

For same day tours by car, If one night’s stay is required at Agra, it will be an additional Rs. 500/- for small car and Rs. 750/- for large car. Hotel cost not included.

Leave at 6 – 6.30 AM approx. Returns: 8 PM approx. but if you desire, earlier as well.

The Palaces – Gondal

aryanindiatravelntours — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:56:12 +0000

The Riverside Palace was built in the 1880s as the residence of the Yuvraj
(crown prince) of Gondal and the Orchard Palace at the start of the 1900s as
the personal guesthouse for the Maharaja’s guests. Both these properties,
one km from each other, have been opened as heritage hotels while the
Naulakha Palace (in photo) is a museum open only for guests staying in one
of the two heritage hotels.

Accommodation: The two properties have large high-ceilinged rooms with
four-poster beds and old dressers. It is also possible to stay in the royal rail
saloon suite, which has dining room, drawing room and bedroom, beautifully
finished with inlaid wood and baths.

F & B : Home-cooked set menu Continental and Indian non-veg and veg
meals, including regional Kathiawadi dishes.

Other facilities: Jeep safaris of Rabari and Bharwad villages, bird-rich lakes
and grasslands. Folk dance performances can also be arranged.

Sightseeing: 1748 AD Naulakha Palace, Vintage and Classic Car Collection,
Ayurvedic Pharmacy, Bhuvaneshwari Ashwapalak & Gaushala (stud farm of
Kathiawadi horses and Gir cattle), Swaminarayan Temple, handicrafts like
beadwork, embroidery and weaving.

Excursions : Fort, Buddhist cave sites, royalmausoleum, palaces and museums of Junagadh, the temple complex atop Mt Girnar, the textile town of Jetpur, Watson Museum and other sights of Rajkot and the holy temple town of Virpur are in 80- km radius of the property. Day trips are also possible to Gir, Somnath or Porbandar.

The Palaces – Gondal
Palace Road, Gondal-360 311

Ph.: 91-2825-220002/224550 • Fax: 91-79-26300962
E-mai : ssibal@ad1.vsnl.netin

BhavaniVilla – Oanta

aryanindiatravelntours — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:52:04 +0000

This colonial-period palatial mansion of the princely state of Danta is located
on a hill with a good view of the surrounding countryside. The mansion is
attractively furnished with antiques and curios.

Accommodation: Four spacious rooms with attached baths. The rooms
have good hill views and open onto private or shared terraces.

F & B : Home-cooked set menu meals featuring Rajasthani and North
Gujarati specialties, both veg and non-veg served indoors or on a covered
terrace.

Other facilities : Horseback riding, horse safaris, safaris.

Sightseeing: The 108 acre private of the Maharana of Danta has a stud farm
of Marwari horses. The nearby sanctuary has panther, blue bull antelope and
a variety of birds.

Excursions: The 12th century Adinath Temple ofTaranga, 11 th century Jain
temple complex of Kumbhariyaji, the holy town of Ambaji, 11 th -17th century
monuments of Vadnagar are the main attractions in 100 km radius of Danta.
A day trip to Patan and Modhera is also possible. Visits to Garasiya and
Rabari tribal villages.

Danta, Bhavangadh-385 120, Dist. Banaskantha

Ph. : 91-2749-278705· Fax: 91-2749-278759

E-mail: bhavanivilladanta@yahoo.co.

Mobile: 94265 67166

Kali-Niketan – Chhota Udepur

aryanindiatravelntours — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:47:57 +0000

Originally called Nahar Mahal, this palatial mansion was built about 100
years ago as the summer residence of the royal family of Chhota Udepur in
60 acres of ground along River Orsang. Attractively set in fruit orchards, the
mansion has fountains in the forecourt and in the courtyard. The palatial
mansion has terraces with good views of the gardens.

Accommodation: Six alc rooms with attached baths.

F & B : Indian and Continental meals cooked by the. household staff.
Sightseeing: Rathwa and other tribal villages of Chhota Udepur Taluka,
bordering Madhya Pradesh. There are colourful tribal haats (weekly markets)
in town and at nearby villages. Chhota Udepur has interesting old buildings
and a tribal museum.

Excursions: Medieval monuments of Champaner, the only Gujarat site on
the World Heritage List; interesting sites on the River Narmada.

Kali-Niketan – Chhota Udepur
Fatehpura, Chhota Udepur-391165

Ph.: 91-2669-233577

91-79-26465250
Mob.: 9825556413

E-mail: udayraj7@hotmail.com

Nilambag Palace Hotel – the royal residence

aryanindiatravelntours — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:42:39 +0000

Nilambag Palace was built in1859 AD as a country-house of the Maharaja of Bhavnagar and later became the royal residence. The palace is set in 10 acres of gardens. Interesting features of the palace are the carved teakwood doorway, a lobby spanned with life-size ancestral portraits, the courtyard with a pleasure pool as the centerpiece, a sweeping marble staircase lined with old photographs, oils and prints, a European chandelier-lit dining hall and a Roman-bath style colonnaded swimming pool. Accommodation: Spacious alc rooms in the main building and in the royal cottage with long baths, TV and phone. Most of the rooms in the palace are furnished with original period pieces.

F & B : Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisine, veg and non-veg, is served in the dining hall and lawn of the Nilambag Palace. There is also a vegetarian garden restaurant. Kathiawadi dinners can be catered for groups.

Other facilities: Swimming pool, tennis courts, health club, conference and banquet halls, executive lounge, wide-ranging modern facilities for business and leisure travellers.

Sightseeing: Bhavnagar’s main sights are the Barton Museum & Gandhi Smriti, TakhteshwarTemple, Old Port, Victoria Park, bird-rich Gaurishankar Lake.

Nilambag Palace Hotel
Bhavnagar-364 002 (India)

Ph.: 91-278-2424241/2429323/2515854
Fax: 91-278-2428072

E-mail: nilambag@bsnl.in

Garden Palace- Balasinor

aryanindiatravelntours — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:33:59 +0000

The Garden Palace at Balasinor was the orchard house of the Nawab of Balasinor.lt is the present residence of the last official Nawab of Balasinor, M Salabat Khan Babi, and is run as a heritage hotel by his family. The drawing and dining rooms of the Garden Palace are decorated with royal portraits, historic photographs, antiques, carved wooden furniture, trophies and Luis the XIV style gilt settees.

Accommodation: The Garden Palace has four spacious alc and four non alc rooms with attached baths.

F & B : One of the highlights of staying in Garden Palace is savouring the favourite recipes of the Nawabs of Balasinor, Palanpur, Junagadh and Radhanpur.

Other facilities : Jeep safaris, tribal dances. Special cooking classes on request.

Sightseeing: The prehistoric fossil site of Balasinor is one of the largest dinosaur sites in the world and is believed to have been the largest hatchery of dinosaurs. A remarkable discovery was the fossils of a new prehistoric animal, a stocky, 30-foot-long carnivore named Rajasaurus Narmadensis. Balasinor also has mausoleum complexes and other monuments.

Excursions: The holy temple of Dakore, the hot- springs of Tuwa & Timba, riverside Galteshwar temples, Champaner.

Contact:

Balasinor-388255 (Dist. Kheda)

Ph.: 91-02690-266786,267786,268786
Fax:02690-267786

E-mail: palacebalasinor@gmailcom

The House of Mangaldas Girdhardas – An Urban Heritage Hotel

aryanindiatravelntours — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:22:08 +0000

The House of Mangaldas Girdhardas is an Indo – European style residential mansion built by a textile baron in1924.lt is now converted into boutique category hotel with state -of-the art facilities.

Accommodation: 12 large air-conditioned rooms/suites with beautiful interiors, elegant four poster beds and deepsofas, large bathrooms, WIFI connectivity, Cable TV and extensive in-house DVD and book library

Food & Beverage: Agashiye, the terrace restaurant atThe House of Mangaldas, is renowned for its contemporary Gujarati thalis. The Green House cafe in the courtyard offers Gujarati and South Indian snacks with fresh juices,Indian desserts and hand-churned ice-creams. The Lotus Pool comprises of an indoor pool and Health Club with poolside menu of Continental dishes

Other facilities: The fountained courtyard and the adjoining HBM Lounge is available for conferences and banquets. Mangaldas Haveli Annexe in the Walled city, within 10 minutes drive with its unique Phoenix cafe and gift shop.

Sightseeing: Ahmedabad is the home of the Gandhi Ashram. It is also known for its 15′h and 16′h century Indo Saracenic monuments, excellent museums like the Calico Museum of Textiles, traditional wood carved havelis, world class educational institutions, and architectural works of Le Corbusier and Luis Khan.

There is also a wonderful selection of hand woven and block printed textilesavailable in the old bazaars. With in two hours drive arespectacular bird and Wild Ass sanctuaries as well as the World Heritage Monument of Champaner.

Excursions: Adalaj Step Wells, Sun Temple, Gandhi Ashram, Sarkhej Roza, Nal Sarovar, the Little Desert of Rann, The Historic Walled City.

Opp. Sidi Saiyed Mosque, Lal Darwaja, Ahmedabad-1
Phone: 91- 79-25506946. Fax: 91-79-25506535.
E-mail: customercare@houseofmg.com

India Train Travel between Delhi-Agra-Jaipur

aryanindiatravelntours — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:30:36 +0000

Shatabdi trains and Rajdhani Trains are the best trains to travel with. Train Tickets needs to be booked in Advance at least a one month in Advance. For foreign tourist Indian Government has a special quota if you forgot to book the ticket before arrival in India. You can go to New Delhi Railways station Foreign Tourist office to book the ticket you get the tickets in Special quota not guaranteed so book ticket in Advance during peak months from October till march.

To check availability of trains see this link.

http://tinyurl.com/nwlpjp

Enter your departure station, and arrival station, enter your date of travel, choose a train, then click on AV, in the class you wish to travel in.

You will then see if there are available berths on that date.

For a look at the different classes see here, there are links at the top of the page to all the classes of travel.

www.goneindia.com/1stAccarriagediagram.html

For booking trains online see these links

http://www.irctc.co.in/

http://www.cleartrip.com/trains

http://www.yatra.com/trains.html

Here are some train Suggestions

Delhi – Jaipur

2015 AJMER SHTBDI P NDLS 06.05 JP 10.45 travel time 04.40hrs

Jaipur – Agra

4853 MARUDHAR EXPRES AF 06.15 JP 11.30 travel time 05.15hrs

Agra – Delhi

2001 NDLS SHATABDI E P AGC 20.30 NDLS 22.30 travel time 02.00hrs

Car and Driver can also be better option too.

Pepper

aryanindiatravelntours — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:56:40 +0000

It is said Vasco da Gama risked everything and started on an endless sea voiage primarily in search of 1 thing pepper. And was he sucessful in his great quest! It’s called the ‘king of spices’ and accounts for the loin’s share of spice exports from India.

Green Peppercorns in brine

Pepper tastes just spicy hot. Its penetrating and tantalising aroma is good enough to get your gastric juices flowing and rustle up a healthy appetite. the most common pepper is round,black,shrivelled and hard. White peppercorns are sharper and less pungent but they are smooth and creamy. fresh peppercorns look like garlands of plump, green berries. In India pepper is used in eery type of cookery.Meat in North. lentils in the south. Fish in East. And vegitables in West. It’s also used as herbal ea. Green pepper is pickled.

Medicinal Values: Black pepper is stimulant, digestive and diuretic. It is said to relieve cold, amnesia and even impotency.

Asafoetida powder /asafetida powder/asafetida/hing

aryanindiatravelntours — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:19:53 +0000

Asafoetida powder, also known as Hing, is a crucial ingredient in Indian vegetarian cooking.

Derived from a species of giant fennel, asafoetida has a unique smell and flavor. It is called for often in Indian cooking, primarily with legumes and dishes featuring vegetables such as cauliflower. While on its own, the smell may strike you as overpowering and somewhat unpleasant, in cooking it mellows out and produces a flavor similar to onion and garlic. In India this ingredient is crucial for the Jains, who do not eat root crops. Contains asafoetida microfine powder, wheat and rice flour, gum arabic.