Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (Rajasthan)

Those who are on the lookout for a colourful and exotic birding paradise in India need to plan a trip straight to the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, one of its kind for being developed by a maharaja rather than being a hunting preserve of a royal Indian family. Comprising marshes, scrubland and grassland, the sanctuary has been a regular haunt of travellers, researchers, naturalists and ornithologists, not only from India but from all over the world. The sanctuary, also known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, acquired the status of a national park on March 10, 1982.

Bharatpur Sanctuary Fast Facts
State : Rajasthan
Area : 29 sq km
Famous Wildlife Species : Migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia
Best Time to Visit : August to November/ October to February
Entry Fee : Rs 25 (Indians)/ Rs 200 (Foreigners)

Wildlife Attractions in Bharatpur Sanctuary
The area of 29 sq km is never to be underestimated when it comes to visiting the bird sanctuary of Bharatpur. There are more than 300 avian species that call the park home. Also popular as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, the sanctuary presents two different pictures to bird fanciers. One, when it is filled with the twitters and chirrups of a variety of domestic birds between August and November. The other being the grand display of migratory birds during winters. It's the time when avian species travel to the sanctuary from as far as Siberia and countries of Central Asia. Species that tourists can spot here include cranes, pelicans, geese, ducks, eagles, hawks, shanks, stints, wagtails, warblers, wheatears, pipits, flycatchers, buntings, larks etc. A number of others bird species is there to be found, photographed and remembered. And that is not all, as there are a few animal species to be spotted in the sanctuary as well. These include chital, wild boar, nilgai, sambar, deer etc.

Other Attractions in Bharatpur

Bharatpur Govt. Museum
Visitors can head straight to this government museum after they have enjoyed the wild sights and sounds inside the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The museum gives a significant insight into the royal opulence of the city.

Bharatpur Palace
Very close to the museum lies the Bharatpur Palace, another interesting sight to behold. The palatial building showcases a wonderful blend of the Rajput and Mughal architectural styles.

Lohargarh Fort
The rugged structure of this medieval fort is a must-see for travellers. It is interesting to note that the fort maintained its status of being unconquered even after several attacks by the British.

Bharatpur Sanctuary Travel (Air/Rail/Road) Information
The Kheria Airport of Agra, 56 km away, serves as the nearest airport from Bharatpur. Reaching Bharatpur by rail is also quite a convenient option, as the Bharatpur Railway Station is just 6 km from the sanctuary. There are frequent trains connecting Bharatpur with important destinations including Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Agra. By road too, Bharatpur is easily accessible from places like Delhi (176 km/5 hours), Agra (56 km/5 hours) and Jaipur (176 km/6 hours ).

Jungle Resorts/ Lodges in Bharatpur
During your tour to bird sanctuary of Bharatpur, you can find a number of wildlife lodges where you can have a wonderful time staying. Some popular lodges at the sanctuary are as follows.

Bharatpur Forest Lodge
Laxmi Vilas Palace
Chandra Mahal Haveli
Birder’s Inn

TBS to promote Lifestyle Tourism in India

You have might have experienced the joy of hot air ballooning in India. But this time hot the adventure sport is going to be more interesting for visitors to India. New Delhi based Tiger Balloon Safari (TBS) got approval from the Director General of India (DGCA) in February this year for conducting hot air ballooning safaris in India. The TBS is going to begin its operations from October this year. Initially, the ballooning safari would start from the Pench Jungle Camp in Madhya Pradesh. And very soon, TBS will also be conducting the thrilling sport in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Goa. The travel company has already submitted an application to acquire a license with DGCA and eagerly waiting to receive the approval.

Speaking about the purpose behind starting hot air ballooning in India , Vir Rawlley, Director Tiger Balloon Safari, said, “We are not going to promote hot-air ballooning under the adventure segment, instead we are introducing the concept of Lifestyle Tourism through this. Hot-air ballooning is no more an adventure, but it is a lifestyle in itself. In Lifestyle Tourism, the risk factor is zero per cent and thrill factor is 100 per cent, and hot-air ballooning is all about that.” TBS is also geared up to offer some exciting ballooning packages including HR, filming, advertisements and brand promotion packages. �

Rajdhani Express, India

Introduced back in the year 1969, the Rajdhani Express happens to be the fastest running train in India. The word 'Rajdhani' means 'capital' and the train is so named because it runs only between India's capital New Delhi and several other key destinations of the country. When the first Rajdhani Express was put on track, it ran between Howrah (located in the state of West Bengal ) and New Delhi.

But, now over 35 Rajdhani Express trains are running in the country. Chiefly meant for the elite, business and the high income class, the train today is also occasionally used by people of other backgrounds on important occasions.

Rajdhani Express' 40th birthday was recently (March 3, 2009) celebrated at Howrah Railway Station in West Bengal.

Accommodation/ Compartments in Rajdhani Express
Fully air-conditioned, the express train offers accommodation in three different classes – First class AC with 2 or 4 birth lockable bedrooms, Second class AC 2-tier with open system berths (with privacy curtains) and Second class AC 3-tier (without privacy curtains).

Meals Available in Rajdhani Express
The train fare also includes complimentary meals during the journey. Guests are provided with breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning tea, snacks etc. Both Indian and Continental dishes are available during your journey by the Rajdhani Express .

List of Rajdhani Express Trains in India

August Kranti Rajdhani Express
Bangalore-Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express
Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Bilaspur-New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Chennai-Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express
Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Guwahati-New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Jammu-New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Mumbai-New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Patna-New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Ranchi-New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Secunderabad-Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express
Swarna Jayanti Rajdhani Express
Thiruvananthapuram-Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express

If you are travelling from Howrah to New Delhi (via Gaya), the Rajdhani Express train fares are as follows :

1 AC - 4215 INR
2 AC - 2250 INR
3 AC - 1510 INR




See the Complete List of Rajadhani Express Train Fares Here.
See the List of Rajdhani Train Names with Details Here .

Heritage zip tour at Neemrana Palace in Rajasthan

The northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan is known for its ornate buildings and camel safari. The state boasts numerous forts and palaces where travellers can really experience how the maharajas of yore lived their life. Because, many of these palaces and forts have been converted into heritage hotels. And while you stay at these heritage hotels, you can also meet with the royal families residing there. While you stay, you can gain an insight into the lifestyle that the maharajas and kings of Rajasthan once led.

One of the first palace-turned-hotels in Rajasthan is the Neemrana Fort Palace. Though the heritage hotel doesn't have women handing you the towel at the bathroom and there are no televisions in the rooms, you can still experience a lot when it comes to the knowing the traditions and heritage of Rajasthan.

Today, Neemrana Fort Palace offers you south Asia's first zipwire – Flying Fox. Yes, history really gets interesting as you reach the palace and choose to enjoy the five zip runs here. You can zip along the wire and soak up the sight of the Neemrana Fort Palace, set amidst Mexican acacia covered mountains ranges of the Aravalli. The heritage zip-tour at the Neemrana Palace is a recent addition, introduced in Rajasthan by a British duo Jono Walter and Dickie McCallum. The Flying Fox concept has begun to attract more and more tourists to Neemrana Fort Palace in Rajasthan.

The aerial view of the Neemrana Palace is a feast for all eyes. The palace was built in 1464. Royal families used to live at the palace till 1940s, but they had to leave as it was too expensive to keep the palace as home. The structure of the Neemrana Palace comprises of a maze of ramps, staircases, corridors and balconies.

Zip-wire run at Neemrana Fort Palace can be enjoyed by anyone who is above 5 years and below 75 years of age. Apart from backpackers, the zip run is equally liked by families and kids from all across India and the world.

The zip-wire run along all the five wires takes around 5 hours. The cost of one night's B&B at the Neemrana Fort Palace including the Flying Fox session comes around £75 per person on twin sharing basis.

Watch Flying Fox Video

Travel to Dalhousie (Himachal Pradesh)

The hill stations remains tucked away at the foot of the Dhauladhar range in the Himalayas. A number of picnic spots, picturesque valleys, pretty villas and churches, waterfalls and the bracing climate makes Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh one of the most fascinating hill stations in India and a favourite of travellers from all over. Located at an altitude of 2,000 m, the hill station affords some heart stirring views of the Chamba Valley in Himachal Pradesh and the Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalayas.

Founded by and named after Governor-Gneral Lord Dalhousie, the hill station even today retains much of its colonial charm. In addition, Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh also features a slice of the Tibetan culture. The hill station has the eminence of being travelled by such great personalities of India as Rabinda Nath Tagore, Subhash Chandra Bose and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru during the pre-Independence era. Travel to Dalhousie to see all this and much more.

Travel Attractions in Dalhousie
There are a number of other places to visit in and around Dalhousie. While you travel to Dalhousie, do remember to visit some of the most popular tourist attractions, given below.

Dainkund (10 km from Dalhousie)
The famous peak scales a height of 2,745 m above sea level. Travellers can soak up the views of the hills, valleys as well as of river Beas and Chenab as they advance crisscrossing down to the plains.

Subhash Baoli
The tourist spot lies at 1.6 km from GPO Square in Dalhousie. During your holidays in Dalhousie, travellers can have impressive views of the snow-laden mountains from here.

Churches in Dalhousie
The hill station of Dalhousie has a number of worth seeing churches. Most popular ones include St Andrews Church (built in 1903), St Patricks Church (built in 1909), St Francis Church (built in 1894) and St John Church (built in 1863).

Khajjiar (27 km from Dalhousie)
The wonderful retreat is perched at an elevation of 6,430 ft above sea level. Here, tourists can visit a lake (with a floating island), a temple and a scenic golf course. Impressed by the beauty that Khajjiar endows, tourists often refer to it as 'Mini Switzerland of India'.

Kalatope Wildlife Sanctuary
During your Dalhousie travel, you can also visit the Kalatope Wildlife Sanctuary. The wildlife sanctuary shelters animal species including Himalayan Black Bear, Bear and Ghoral among others. Wonderful options of trekking are also available for tourists here.

Chamba City
The city of Chamba is located in the Chamba Valley of Himachal Pradesh . For travel freaks, Chamba features ancient cultural heritage and exciting sightseeing options. Travellers can also visit a number of temples located in Chamba. These include Laxminarayan Temple, Hari Rai Temple, Chamunda Devi Temple and Mani Mahesh Temple.

Pangi Valley
It is located between the Pir Pangal range and Zanskar range of the Greater Himalayas. The headquarters of the Pangi valley is located at Kilar in Himachal Pradesh. A number of treks begin from here via the Rohtang Pass.

Dalhousie Travel Information
Closest Airport : Gaggal (Kangra), at 135 km & Amritsar at 191 km
Closest Rail Connection : Pathankot (broad gauge railway station), at 120 km
Road Link : Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses

Staying Options for Travellers in Dalhousie
While you travel to Dalhousie, you can choose to stay at hotels, tourist bungalows or youth hostel. Lalji Resorts, Hotel Dalhousie Heights, Hotel Deodar, Oak Valley Residency, Sylvan Resort and Alps Holiday Resorts are popular stay options in Himachal Pradesh.

Best time to Travel
March-July and September-November

Things to buy during Dalhousie Travel
Don't miss the specialities of the Chamba region. While travelling, you can lay your hands on some really wonderful items of art and craft. Popular things to buy in Dalhousie include shawls, cane baskets, chappals, woollens, dolls etc. �