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Wild Frontiers

There are still places available on the Wild Frontiers Rajasthan: Taj, Temples & Tigers group tour - 16 days £1985 starts 4th  February. wildfrontiers group tours 

These guys at Wild Frontiers know how to put a tour together and the company has a great back story you can read at wildfrontiers our-story

If 4th February is a bit short notice, have a think about a slow tour down the Ganges - 18th February or East India spring festival tour 30th March

2012 Holidays in India Start Here !!

Happy New Year!! 2012 will see the Chinese Rabbit move over for the Chinese Dragon on January 23rd, (india has many different New Year's Days) but forget all that, it's time to start thinking about the most important leisure activity of your year - your holidays. Mirandasbeach is here to help - and the assistance that sites like ours can give is often invaluable, with independent ideas, brimming with variety and so simple and easy to browse.
So whatever your 2012 holiday aspirations - adventure, luxury, family self catering, camping, indoor pool, beach or something completely different, have a good look round and hopefully you will find something that you cannot resist!
And if double dip doom and gloom are getting you and your pocket down then rest assured there is plenty here at Mirandasbeach that has been chosen for it competetive pricing - we are all feeling the pinch except the super rich - and in my business plan I do not have the super rich down as my key target audience - perhaps I'm doing something wrong!!?

Rath Yatra Chariot Festival - July 13th - 22nd

This is spectacular chariot festival that lasts a full ten days at the Jagannath Temple, Puri (Orissa). Around one million pilgrims and devotees of Lord Jaganath come to Puri for this festival hoping to catch a glimpse of Lord Jagnnath in his chariot as he goes on vacation, with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, to his Aunts Gundicha temple.

Lord Jagannath is the Lord of the Universe. Huge images of the Lord and his brother and sister are taken out in a procession in three immense chariots. The main chariot is fourteen meters high and ten meters square with sixteen wheels. The gods are moved from the Jagannath temple to their chariots by a rhythmic movement named Pahandi to the accompaniment of the beat of the drums and cymbals with the constant atmospheric chanting of prayers by the thousands of devotees.

There is quite a chaotic few hours getting Lord Jagannath is seated on his chariot. This seems to involve persuasion by the believers through gifts of delicacies to the Lord, but to an outsider all seems strangely heated and animated with pushing amd name calling. It is quite a sight and the singing, chanting and chanting is quite overpowering.

In the end, thousands of devotees pull the chariots to the Lord's Aunt's Gundicha Mandir a temple three kilomteres away. A week later the return trip is made.

This Rath Yatra festival is the only occasion when non-Hindu devotees, who are not allowed to go inside the temple, can see the deities. It really is an amazing festival, but the huge numbers of pilgrims that flock to the festival does pose a safety risk. Deaths do occur from time to time in the immense crowd, so please take extra care if you choose to visit.

Darjeeling - "Land of the Thunderbolt."

Darjeeling, in West Bengal, is high up, around 6,800 feet above sea level, and everywhere you look there are tea plantations. Not just any tea - but the " Champagne of Tea" believed by many to be the finest in the world. Darjeeling has a majestic landscape with many opportunities for adventure such as leisurely scenic walks, more serious trekking and river rafting. Darjeeling is also home to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a World Heritage Site - for a quick History of this amazing railway click here. This railway line passes hill slopes covered with tea estates up to the highest point at Ghoom (7407 ft) and then journeys down to the hill resort of Darjeeling. The train was constructed by Franklin Prestage in 1888. The train moves at a slow pace so passengers can even jump off the train to admire the view or have a pee, and then catch up and jump back on.

Darjeeling used to be the place for overheated British administrators to get relief from the intense summer sun in Calcutta and you can see why. It is such a stunning place, in the Himalayan foothills, with the world famous view of Kanchenjunga which is the third highest mountain in the world. Darjeeling is a great place to visit, and somewhere which should be included on any big trip around India.

Something different? What About a Buddhist tour?

Whether Buddhism is an interest of yours or something far more important and central to your life, you can experience something different and inspiring by taking one of the many Buddhist tours on offer in India. Organised tours are an extremely popular way of seeing India in all her guises, not only because of the complexity of getting around this vast bustling country, but also they often give you the chance to get to places you just would not manage to get to if left to your own devices. So if you feel the urge to take an Indian Buddhist tour to destinations such as Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Sankasya, Vaishali, Rajgir, Sravasti, Ajanta, Amravati, Barabar Hills, Champanagar, Don, Ellora, Gaya and Ghosrawan then have a browse through our extensive directory of Buddhist Tours and see what pleasure you can conjure for yourself !

The Joys of india

Having just spent six weeks in Southern India I can safely say that this country is as exciting, busy, strange and enticing as people kept telling me. There is always something new to see, from the famous holy cows wandering with such freedom in streets where you have to learn to be calm amongst the crazy whirlwind of auto-rickshaws, buses of all descriptions and whole families on motor bikes. You have to experience it to believe it. Of course there are the relaxing sides of this multi dimensional land - sucha as the houseboat experience in Kerala which is truly dreamy, slow and delightful, still with plenty to see on the shores of the backwaters.

I was there to do some IT in Bangalore, so I got a full dose of full on city action, and the infrastructure of Bangalore is only just coping with the rapid expansion brought on by its boom time. But everyone is friendly, even the wild dogs leave you alone in the day, but at night I am told you have to be careful.

So, if you get the chance to visit India - snap it up, it is great fun - and I didn't get Delhi Belly ! but I was careful not to eat from street vendors, but then your Pounds, Euros or Dollars buys a lot of fine curry in Rupees.

Bangalore Bustle

Bangalore is not really a tourist town, it is a really busy world IT centre with a population heading towards 9 million. There are 500,000 auto rickshaws so if you get lost in this bustling Southern Indian metropolis you are never far from someone to take you to a familiar place. I think this city is worth a visit - even if it's only for a day or two - and you can get luxury at reasonable prices. The Taj Hotel or the Leila Palace Hotel are central and offer oases fo calm in the middle of the crazy Bangalore bustle. You can then explore the shopping areas and visitt he temples and palaces knowing that you can escape back to the joys of fine Indian Cuisine and perhaps a Gin and Tonic. There is even a Hard Rock Cafe in Bangalore - one of the few places you'll find beefburgers and a good place to unwind Western Style if the Indian culture is proving a little too relentless.

Once you have had enough of this exciting but tiring place, you can then tour Southern India, going to places like Mysore with the beautiful palace, Kerala with the houseboats and Hill stations.

India - an Extraordinary Holiday Destination

The evocative smell of incense and the sacred cow, teeming streets and seering heat. India is no ordinary holiday destiantion. There is immense choice on the sub-continent, from the Himalayas and Kashmir in the North, the popular tourist regions of Goa and Kerala, the tiger reserves, sacred monument tours, the Ganges and hot hot hot curries ! Whatever you are looking for - beach, meditaton, once in a lifetime experience, amazing wildlife, or you are not even sure, thentake an online trip around one of more established independent India Holiday sites: Holidays In India - where you will find great variety, choice inspiration and value from a site thats been aroun for the best part of five years and has no axe to grind - its just there for good Indian holiday Ideas and it wont try to sell you anything - all links go off to other sites where the holidays are offered. Bookmark it and enjoy !

Focus on Chennai

Chennai, also known as Madras, is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Southeast India, and one of the largest cities on the subcontinent with a population of nearly 6 million.

Chennai is by the sea and is a major port. Its coastline was altered drastically by the Tsunami of 2004. It has the second largest beach in the world. It has many monuments and temples exemplyfying the contributions of the Chola and Pallava Dynasties to the ancient Dravidian civilization. Chennai is also full of churches and Cathedrals from the British era that spanned some 200 years.

Quote from About Chennai

"Particularly charming features of Chennai are its allegiance to ancient traditions, no matter how modernised it has become, and its willingness to spread out further rather than develop into a multi-storey concrete jungle. The result is a widespread city still open to skies; a green, airy city with several vestiges of its rural past; a city that adheres to the leisurely tempo of life of a world of yesterday; a city whose values of another day still survive midst of the humdrum bustle of today; a city that still retains the charm, culture and courtesies of the ages."

A few of the places you could visit in Chennai:

Kapaleeswarar
Kapaleeswarar is an ancient Shiva temple and is in fact the largest temple in Chennai.

Sri Parthasarathy Temple
Sri Parthasarathy Temple is devoted to Lord Krishna. It is home to the 5 avatars of Lord Vishnu, and has a small temple shrine dedicated to Vishnu's consort, Vedavalli Ammai.

The Santhome Cathedral Church
The Roman Catholic Santhome Cathedral Church was originally built over 500 years ago, but it was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style in 1893.

St. Thomas Mount
This is where St.Thomas is said to have lived back nearly 2000 years ago. It is a tiny cave known as Chinnamalai and is accessed through the Portuguese Church that was built in 1551.

Fort St.George
A British Fort much altered since being built in 1640.

St.Mary's Church
The first English Church in Chennai and the oldest surviving British Church in the whole of India.

The Fort Museum
There are letters from Clive here, lots of good paintings and memorabilia of the East India Company.

The Snake park
There are lizards, crocodiles, turtles and plenty of other reptiles here. There is also a Children's park next door.

Kalakshetra
More peaceful and typically thoughtful Indian surroundings dedicated to the revival of classical arts. it was set up by Rukmini Devi Arundale in 1936. Lessons in Classical dance, Classical music, traditional textile designs and weaving are all taught here in a beautiful natural setting.

Camel Safaris in India ?!

Yes, you can ride camels in the desert belt of India Rajasthan. The Camel Safari bases are the former kingdoms of Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Bikaner, all in Rajasthan. There are great things to see in these regions, with palaces, mansions and beautiful temples. And a great way to see the desert and visit archeological sites, villages, sand dunes and oases is on the back of a camel.

For more information try:
adventure-tours.indianholiday.com/camel-safari-in-india.html
fabuloustravel.com/adventures/camel/camel.html

India Calling !

Go visit the land where they can sell back to us the time of our next train to East Croydon and make sure an engineer comes round to a first floor flat in Putney to re-install Windows. Yes it is the magical land of contradictions and intoxicating difference - yes it is glorious India calling !
At Holidays in India we have laid out plentiful holiday ideas to whet your appetite including, Goa and Kerala Holidays, Wildlife and for the more spiritual there are the temple tours and Buddhist tours.

There is much more than just the the call centres that are based in Bangalore, and this metropolis is worth considering a visit - it is apparently the fastest growing city in Asia. As you will read at www.discoverbangalore.com/ Bangalore is considered by many to be a "cool" city, and not just for the pleasant climate it is famous for, but also because of its friendly cosmopolitan multilingual people and its hi-tech business edge.

Bangalore sites to peruse:
Bangalore Hub
World66 - Bangalore
Real Travel - Bangalore
Bangalore-Mysore-Hassan - Hotels in Bangalore

and Bangalore can be a base for great adventure holidays in the Karnataka region, have a look at www.indiatourism.com/karnataka-adventure/ to see why.

Get a taste of the Wild Life in India

India is a fascinating place to go and study, view, or just be surrounded by Wildlife. From tigers tracking to bird watching there are some hugely exciting holidays to be had on the sub-continent. You can immerse yourself miles away from civilisation in specially built and maintained wildlife retreats - and even go on camel treks across the desert. To give yourself the best idea of exactly how to take the plunge into a truly exhilarating experience you should browse through our directory and take a look at the myriad of holiday ideas within.

Goa a-go-go

I bet you have thought at some time or other of flying to Goa. Or maybe you’ve been and you know all about its allure already. If you are looking to book a Goa Holiday then you should definitley have a browse through our Holidays in Goa and Kerala section. Just look at the scene above at Dona Paula Beach in Goa, and you'll understand why Goa is known as the "Pearl of the East". Goa is famous for many things and that is one of its key strengths, variety - including:

Beautiful palm-fringed beaches

Goa has many beautiful beaches, some secluded and isolated, where you can get away from it all and wander where your heart desires. Other Beaches are rave meccas with full moon parties or bars and restaurants brimming with excellent seafood. Whatever your fancy, Goa has the paradise beach for you, it is a world worth discovering. Beautiful, idyllic Goa.
Beach Directory

Goa’s Churches and Temples
The Churches are one of Goa's most important institutions. They are often magnificent , and are largely a legacy of Portuguese colonization which has spanned the last five hundred years.
However, as with the rest of India, the Goan population is predominantly Hindu. Temples in Goa are an important part of the culture. However, the long time spent under Portuguese rule has meant many temples have been destroyed or moved. The majority of Hindu Temples are in Ponda Taluka nowadays

Melody's Blog - Personal Guide to Goa's Churches
Goacentral.com - temples
Goacentral.com - churches

Romantic old ruins
Old Goa is full of monuments, some of which are in very good condition and others are sadly in ruins,although this can add to the romance. You can soak up the atmosphere of Old Goa when it was the "Lisbon of the East".

Some famous monuments and ruins:

Ruins of the Colegio de Populo
Viceroy's Arch
Ruins of the Arsenals
Fort Naroa
Site of The Temple of Saptakoteshwar
Ruins of the Temple of Brahmapur at Ela village, Old Goa.
Archaeological museum and portrait gallery

read more at:
Goacentral.com - monuments

Coconut groves

Many people's first image of Goa are the palm trees, and they do not disappoint

watersports

It's not a myth, Goa really is a paradise for water sports lovers. The long coastal area offers many oppurtunites to itake part in in all sorts of water-sports. The Goan coast has always appealed to beach lovers and sports lovers to try on some new water based excitement. Surf the seas on your boards or paraglide across the skies, the options of sport enjoyment are open ended in Goa.
Click here for watersports and other activity holidays in Goa and the rest of India

Hippies and all-night beach parties

Parties are a part of life in Goa . The Goa Parties can be the most fun filled and addictive things. And there are many people who have come for a short holiday and ended up enjoying the Goa party life for a year or more. The rave parties or the trance parties of Goa are world famous, which are enjoyed by people from all the parts of the world. Tourist come to Goa to be part of these parties which are more than any get together.

Rave (Trance) Parties in Goa

Rave parties in Goa are now a major tourist attraction. Goa rave parties are famous parties throughout the world. The origin of rave parties in Goa can be traced back to the 1960's, which began with an inflow of hippies. Earlier, thousands of foreigners and hippies crowded Goa's beaches in drugged and drunken state, who thronged the beaches and partied the night away.

But, today the nature of these rave parties has changed and has generated a new king of music called Goa Trance, which is played through the nights. "Trance Parties" that spawned the music called Goa-Trance since the mid-nineties, if not earlier, have become a big fashion among young foreign tourists in regions of the North Goa coastal belt. Now elite kids from Mumbai and Delhi or elsewhere are joining the bee-line to these beach events. Goa is an outgrowth of techno that is characterised by multi-layered fused lines and sub-bass rhythms. Rave parties are held every night around the time of New Year and Christmas, and have been under control ever since Goa Tourism decided to promote up market tourism over backpackers in Goa. Rave parties are full of dance, music and fun, and can be engaging pass times for tourists. So if you want some fun and entertainment of your own, get on a bike and ride off into the night in Goa. But, don't forget to stay away from drugs.

Folk music.

Goan folk music has a lively rhythm and the folk-dances a rugged vitality. The musical accompaniment for both folk songs and the folk dances is provided by a diversity of musical instruments – Ghumats, Dhols, Cymbals (Drums), Flutes, Harmonium, Violins and Guitars. The favorite, however, seems to be the Ghumat. No description in writing can ever do full justice to these dynamic folk art forms. Watching a live performance can elicit to a certain degree its emotional content, rhythmic charm, the colorful variety and vitality.

With its 131-km-long coastline, Goa is a destination that rivals any other in the world. Sun, sand and sea being in abundant supply, Goa is a perfect haven for the ones who need and want relaxation. Goa is one of India's special places, a State blessed with great weather, even more fabulous beaches, wonderful friendly people, top cuisine, hill-top forts, little white-washed churches, big Portuguese cathedrals.

The beaches in Goa, are long, and straight, and all fringed with palm trees. Goa has an impressive range of hotels and beach resorts, restaurants and bars, which cater to all from top-notch 5-star luxury, to hippy flop-shops. Local fishermen haul in their nets in the evenings. Aging hippies do their thing. Children swim, paddle, scream and build sand-castles. Happy locals and Indians from the mainland enjoy the beach and sea and everyone feels chilled out and relaxed: what more could you ask for !

OutlookTraveller.com

OutlookTraveller.com is an online travel hub and vacation planner, packed with insights into India and holidaying all over this fascinating country. Full of maps, travel news, online air reservations, hotels, restaurants and essential facilities enabling you to sort out your Indian holiday right from your home, be it among the the peaks and verdant valleys of the Himalayas, the busy ports and villages along the coastline or the wilder Central and East India.

You will find at the site The Outlook Traveller, a very good online monthly magazine. The July 2007 issue has features including:
Alchi: The New Leh, Give the overrun Ladakhi capital a miss—there’s a quieter alternative peeking over the horizon.
North Bengal, a birder’s tour of North Bengal.
Visalam, Hari Menon on why Chettinad’s days of obscurity are numbered
Spiti, In search of the Himalayan wolf
Arts Reverie, Deepali Nandwani visits a restored haveli in Ahmedabad that plays both host and muse to creative persons
The List, The most exciting new travel initiatives—from luxury cruises to rice farming holidays.
Brinda Suri takes the new and wonderful train from Jammu to Udhampur

There is an archive of past issues back to September 2006 - so there is a lot of great ideas for travel in India for you to get into.

http://www.outlooktraveller.com

Eco Tours

For luxury diving holidays and Eco tours:
http://www.barefootindia.com/contents/fe/home.aspx

Goa's Northern most Beach

Arambol, Goa's northernmost beach. 'The spectacular sweeping stretch of sand is so beautiful it wins over even the most jaded and cynical of travellers.'

Escape to Goa for two weeks from £499 per person, including flights and accommodation in a three-star resort in Calangute in the north of the region with Goa Way (0870 890 7800) Departures on 2, 9 and 23 March.

Dreaming of India ?

For a tailor made holiday to a beautiful part of Southern India :
http://www.keralaconnect.co.uk/home.html

Transindus offer journeys through Asia and were Tour Operator of the year 2006, voted for by AITO specialist agents:
http://www.transindus.co.uk/

If it’s cheapness you’re after…Goa, 2* b&b for 7nights (including flight and transfers) from £265 per person.
http://www.olympicholidays.com/

India is more than just a holiday, it is an amazing amd exhilarating experience, that will leave a lasting imprint on many a mind and soul - some more so than others - beware you could come back dressed in Orange and filling your room with Jos stick smoke !. India is very unique and obviously will not be confused with anywhere else in the world, but it may confuse you: there are so many paradoxes and opposites fighting for your attention - wealth and crippling poverty, colour and light, the caste system, chaotic trains and teeming markets. This is part of its charm and appeal. There are a kaleidoscope of attractions, multi-diverse landscapes and numerous different cultures. A tour of India is a good idea and becomes a never-ending spectacle of costumes, languages, beliefs, customs, crafts, music and dance. From the spiritual retreats to the North of the Himalayas back down to the calm waters of Kerala in the Southern India, rounds to the the lakes and mountains of Udaipur, and back again to the relaxing shores of Goa with its golden sands and famous hospitality, over to the incredible stone monuments in the Eastern India - it goes on and on and on - what a place !

Dare to Adventure Into India

Open your eyes to beautiful India. Experience a completely different culture to your own amongst some of the warmest, friendliest and most elegant people in the world. Choose a tailormade adventure, a luxurious hotel or a back packing route.
If you ever doubted that India was the place to travel read some of these honest reviews from all over the country:
www.myholidayreport.com/country/India

I am very tempted to go on this with my family!:
www.responsibletravel.com/Trip/Trip101282.htm

Cox and Kings Travel specialises in high-quality escorted group tours, private journeys and tailor-made holidays to the Indian subcontinent. For further details, call 020 7873 5000 or visit http://www.coxandkings.co.uk/

Add a touch of Indian flair to your next Christmas celebration. Follow these instructions at home, if you can’t afford the airfare:
www.ehow.com/how_11720_celebrate-indian-christmas.html



Comprehensive advice and complete service for your Indian adventures...
www.indiabeat.co.uk/newyear2006.htm


Brief outline of a traditional Indian Christmas;
www.santas.net/indianchristmas.htm
More in depth explanation of a traditional Indian Christmas;
www.buzzle.com/editorials/12-25-2004-63424.asp


A perfect way to spend Christmas would be to go pony trekking. This tour lasts two weeks and starts at New Delhi:
www.ridingtours.com/horseback-riding/india-christmas-ride.cfm

Readers Offers from the Guardian:
travel.guardian.co.uk/readeroffers/india

An overview of India:

www.guardian.co.uk/travel/india

Holiday in India - you will not regret it !

India is really worth the trip ! it is where culture echoes, tradition speaks, beauty enthrals and diversity delights. Capped by the mighty Himalayan ranges in the north and edged by an endless stretch of beautiful golden beaches, India is a vital kaleidoscope of a myriad of landscapes, important and magnificent historical sites and royal cities, misty mountain retreats, colourful people, rich cultures and festivities.

India is a wonderful, mysterious but magical world in which the tourist will often feel alien whilst curious and often just plain amazed. As soon as your plane lands a range of differences immediately appear: the first thing you must get used to is climate ! with its very high humidity. If you do not adjust then your holiday could be almost unbearable. Take it easy and remember to not over exert in the high heat. After facing this unusual climate, hopefully with a determined enthusiasm, then one of your next tasks may be easier, that is to accustom oneself to the unusual Indian fashions. Their clothes like salwar, sari, lehenga, kurta, or scarve are made of silk, cotton and muslin, additionally they are usually embroidered, handmade and colorfully painted with vegetable dyes, though chemical dyes are becoming popular nowadays. By the end of your Indian holiday you will be more familiar with these garments and wearing a few as well no doubt ! Because that is all part of the fun, surely you did not choose India so as to mope around in your grey trousers !. One of the most important cloths of the Indian fashion are scarves, which are not only beautiful but also practical as women usually must cover their faces with scarves or kerchief. People, who are not barefooted, wear different kind of slips from the simple flip-flops up to the traditional footwears made of camel leather and hand-embroidered velvet, called Jooties.

Many of you will be dreaming of stepping off your plane onto Goan soil for your Indian holiday and this has become much more accessible in recent years following reductions in the air fares. Part of Goa's attraction is that it is not perceived as the stereotypical India of crazy, chaotic, dusty streets, limpet like beggars, deep poverty and hot arid landscapes. The culture and architecture of Goa give it a sense of familiarity for Europeans, partly due to the heavy Portuguese influence. Not like the rest of India, Goa is big on football instead of cricket and the Goan league is extensively covered in the many local papers. Attitudes seem more liberal, and women are more often seen in knee length skirts or pattern dresses than a sari or shalwar kameez.The cow is considered sacred in most of India, and beef is taboo, but it is a common dish on Goan menus, served either as steak or shredded in "beef chilli fry."
Another Goan speciality is the fiery hot Vindaloo, the name coming from the Portuguese for "wine and garlic." Drinking is cheap, which goes down well with tourists, this is because of Goa's low taxes on alcohol. Hard liquor in particular is far less expensive than the rest of India. So you will get a more recognizably European holiday in Goa, but with the exotic beauty of this beautiful part of India.

Enjoy browsing through hundreds of Indian holiday ideas at Holidays-In-India where the section categories include Indian Adventure, Indian Cottages, Indian Eco holidays, Family holidays in India, Golfing in India, Temple and Buddhist tours, Indian Wildlife vacations and lots more.