Holiday Travel India Tours

Rajasthan Tourism - Holiday Travel India

2009-03-18T22:57:00.000-07:00

Rajasthan, the land of the Kings, in India at its exotic and colourful best with its bettle-scarred forts, its palaces of breathtaking grandeur and whimsical charm, its riotous colours and even its romantic sense of pride and honour. The state is diagonally divided into the hilly and rugged south-eastern region and the barren north-western Thar desert, which extends across the border into Pakistan. There are also a number of centres which attract travellers from far and wide, such as Pushkar with its holy lake, and the desert city of Jaisalmer which resembles a fantasy from the The Thousand & One Nights. Rajasthan is one of India's prime tourist destinations. Nobody leaves here without priceless memories, a bundle of souvenirs, and an address book full of friends.

Jaipur
Prominently known as the Pink city, Jaipur was built by the sovereign of Amber, in the eighteenth century. Jai Singh search for a safe place for the increasing population of Amber resulted in Jaipur, India's first planned city....read more.

Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is one of the India's most precious jewels. Fortified in golden stone, it rises like a mirage from the barren Thar desert of Rajasthan. The unimaginable beauty and magic of dessert is still maintained because it is untouched by the outside influences....read more.

Jodhpur
In 1459 AD, Rao Jodha, chief of Rathore clan of Rajputs, laid the foundation of Jodhpur. A high stone wall protects the well-fortified city. The wall is nearly 10km in length and has eight gates facing various directions....read more

Bikaner
Founded in 1488, Bikaner is a desert built on an elevation and surrounded by a long embattled wall pierced by five gates. Lying at the northern tip of the famous triangle of the desert cities...read more..

Udaipur
An Oasis in the Desert, Udaipur is a lovely land around the azure water lakes, hemmed in by the lush hills of the Aravalis. Situated in the southern part of Rajasthan, India, it is known for enchanting historical places...read more..

Pushkar
Situated 14 km off Ajmer in the north Indian state of Rajasthan, Pushkar is surrounded by hills on three sides and sand dunes on the other one. With the population of around 14045...read more.

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Bharatpur was founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal in 1733 AD, as an impregnable well fortified city, carved out of the region formerly known as Mewat. The place was named as Bharatpur after the name of Bharat....read more

Ranthambore Ntional Park
Sawai Madhopur is the gateway to world renowned Ranthambore, famous for its national park. It has been a witness to the rise and fall of many rulers and a series of battle scenes. Today, it is famous for its tigers and is one of the best places in the country more...

Ranthambore Rajasthan|Bharatpur Rajasthan|Pushkar |Udaipur |Jodhpur |Jaipur| Jaisalmer|Bikaner|Pushkar| Ranthambore National Park | Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

Hotels In Shirdi India - Holiday Travel

2009-03-17T23:14:00.000-07:00

Shirdi is a charming little town located in Maharashtra, a western state of India, and is famous for Sai Baba, who lived and preached here. This town is a must-visit for the tourists looking to explore the spiritual aspects of this part of India. You will come across the Samadhi (memorial) of Sai Baba and a beautiful temple built in his memory. There are innumerable temples and sacred shrines that you can come across during your tour. To cater to the influx of the tourists that keeps on increasing each year, you will find a number of excellent lodging options that are dotted all over the town. You will not find any difficulty to find accommodations in Shirdi as you can opt from any category of hotel you like. There are many hotels in Shirdi including the five star and budget ones.

Sun n Sand Hotel is a leading five star hotel in Shirdi with an understated sophistication and offers luxuriously done up guestrooms that include the facilities for attached baths fitted with individual temperature control system. Dining in this hotel will be an exclusive experience as it has the facility of multi-cuisine restaurant offering Indian, Continental and Chinese fares. Besides, there is coffee shop and bar offering delicious snacks and signature drinks. This hotel occupies a reputed position among the other hotels in Shirdi since it also serves the corporate clientele with professional efficiency. The other facilities provided at this hotel are health club, gymnasium, Jacuzzi, basketball, badminton, cricket , jogging track, shopping arcade, travel desk and car rental facilities.

You can also find a good number of budget hotels in Shirdi that are meant for those who are traveling on a budget. Some of the major names in this category are Hotel Sai Leela, Hotel Sai Sahavas and Pilgrim’s Inn. These hotels are acknowledged for their customer centric services and modern range of facilities extended towards the guests seeking a relaxed and contented stay.

If you want to enjoy your trip to Shirdi by staying in the state capital Mumbai, then you can choose from a large number of hotels in Mumbai covering all categories. Some of the hotels in the five star category are Centaur Hotel, Hotel Tulip Star, Grand Maratha Shereton Hotel, The Oberoi Hotel, JW Marriot Hotel and Hotel Holiday Inn. Whether you are traveling with friends or family, you can enjoy your stay to the fullest at these hotels.
Tourist Attractions In Shirdi India | Shirdi | Kanipakam | Tour Packages In Shirdi India |

Tour Packages In Shirdi India - Holiday Travel Tours

2009-03-17T23:09:00.000-07:00

Shirdi is a charming and holy town situated near Nasik in the western state of Maharashtra and is of immense religious significance as it was the abode of the greatly revered Saint Sai Baba. Each year, it is visited by a number of pilgrims flocking in to Shirdi to seek the blessings of this spiritual sage at his memorial. For enjoying your trip when you travel to Shirdi, the Shirdi tour packages are the ideal options. These packages will give you the scope to experience the true joy of holidays; whether you are with family or with friends.

The span of a tour package is determined by the number of tourist places that it covers. While some of the tour packages for Shirdi take 1-2 days, there are some that can also take a fortnight. The packages are designed taking the individual choice and preferences of the tourists into consideration.

Shirdi is dotted with several attractions that are embraced by the tour packages and some of the prime ones being Samadhi Mandir, Dwarkamai, Gurusthan, Lendi Baug, Maruti Temple and Samadhi of Abdulbaba. Besides, the other important destinations are also covered by certain tour packages such as Lonavala, Matheran, Nasik, Aurangabad, Pune, Mahabaleshwar and Mumbai. Some of the famous tour packages to mention are Magical Maharashtra Tour (14 Nights/15 Days) and Maharashtra Travel Package (11 Nights/12 Days). The delight of exploring Shirdi doubles if you happen to travel during the festivals of Guru Poornima, Dussehra, and Ram Navami, when the entire ambiance radiates with fervor and excitement.

By availing the holiday packages for Shirdi, you will get the best of accommodation facilities that will further enrich your travel experience. Shirdi has a number of lodging options that include a five star accommodation in the form of the Sun n Sand Hotel and many other accommodations such as Shraddha Park Inn, Hotel Sai Leela, Sai Baba International and Hotel Sai Mahal.

As far as transportation is concerned, Shirdi is well-linked by air, rail and road transport, the nearest airports being in Mumbai, Pune and Aurangabad. From these towns you can get further connections to other towns of India. The nearest railhead is in Kopargaon from where Shirdi is easily accessible. The motorable network of state and national Highways makes road transport unproblematic and you can reach Shirdi since the state transport buses and private coaches operate from here to other towns on a regular basis.

The all-inclusive Shirdi tour packages have been designed by the professionals from the travel and tourism industry to make them of utmost satisfaction by also guaranteeing the value for money.
Tourist Attractions In Shirdi India | Shirdi | Kanipakam |

Tourist Attractions In Shirdi India

2009-03-17T23:03:00.000-07:00

Shirdi is a quaint little town located in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra in western India, and is one of the most revered religious spots in India. Known for the eminent sage Sai Baba, who possessed spiritual powers, this town rose to prominence after the death of the saint in the year 1918. The entire town is dotted with a number of pilgrim spots. Some of the major tourist attractions in Shirdi include:
Samadhi Mandir:
A wealthy devotee of Sai Baba, Shreemant Gopalrao Buti from Nagpur built this temple in 1917-1918. He wished to install the idol of Muralidhar (a Hindu deity) here, but Sai Baba himself became the deity and after he passed away, his Samadhi (memorial) was built here using white marble. This temple is also known as Sai Baba Temple and features exquisite silver pillars ornamented with elaborate designs. In front of this temple is an assembly hall that can accommodate 600 devotees and a part of the hall showcases different things used by Sai Baba during his lifetime. It is one of the prime tourist attractions in Shirdi and is frequented by numerous tourists all the year round.

Dwarkamai:
This mosque was used as a residence when Sai Baba came to Shirdi for the second time. It is located on the right side of the entry point of Sai Mandir. This mosque occupies an indispensable position among the sacred spots of Shirdi and those visiting the temple inevitably pay a visit to this mosque. In the mosque you will come across the shila (stone), once used by Baba to sit. It is quite fascinating to note that the holy fire that Sai Baba used to light is still burning.

Gurusthan: This place holds immense significance among the things to watch in Shirdi since it is this place where Sai Baba came as a child ascetic and sat in deep contemplation under a Neem tree. Subsequently, this place came to be recognized as Gurusthan and was also once renovated. Located at this place is a small shrine, featuring a huge portrait of Sai Baba on an elevated platform.
Chavadi:
It is this place where Sai Baba used to sleep after returning from a procession from Dwarkamai to Chawadi. Every Thursday, a procession is carried out to Chavadi carrying the possessions of Sai Baba such as Baba's Photo, Holy Padukas (footwear) and Satka.

Lendi Baug:
It is a famous garden that Sai Baba used to visit daily, for watering the plants. The garden also houses a Neem tree under which he used to take rest. Adjacent to this tree is Nandadeep, a diya (lamp) that used to be lit by Baba each day in the pit dug by him. Nowadays, this pit has been transformed into a marble deepgriha (lighthouse), having a glass box where the lamp is still burning. Several other highlights of this garden are Datta Mandir (samadhi of Sai Baba's horse, Sham Sundar) and Baba's Shivdi.

Samadhi of Abdulbaba:
Abdulbaba was one of the most ardent followers of Sai Baba, who used to read out the Quran to him. Nearby Shri Sai Baba Temple, his Samadhi (memorial) is located. It is one of the prime tourist attractions in Shirdi that houses photos and various items that were once handled by Sai Baba and him.

Maruti Mandir Maruti Temple:
This temple was of special significance to Sai Baba and he used to come here religiously on a regular basis. Several satsangs (religious sermons) were also conducted here with the assistance of Devidas, who happened to be a bal yogi (young devout).

Make sure that you have sufficient time in hand for exploring all the attractions when you travel to Shirdi.

Shirdi | Kanipakam |

Shirdi - Holiday Travel India

2009-03-17T22:59:00.000-07:00

Shirdi is the abode of the famous Indian saint Shri Saibaba, and is a small town fragrant with the devotional strength that ropes in devotees from the world over. Shirdi is one of the most revered among the spiritual destinations of India and is situated in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra near the sacred city of Nasik. Both Hindu and Muslim pilgrims visit this town from far corners of India and tourism in Shirdi is gaining huge popularity, drawing considerable number of foreign tourists as well. The key attractions of Shirdi are Sai Baba mandir (temple) and his samadhi (memorial), Dwarkamai (mosque), Gurusthan, Chavadi, Lendi Baug, Maruti Mandir, Chawadi and Samadhi of Abdulbaba.Find more information about Shirdi that will prove to be of useful help to the travelers planning to visit this place. Touristplacesinindia.com offers online information about Shirdi including fast facts, history and the ideal time to visit.

Kanipakam |

Kanipakam - Holiday Travel India

2009-03-17T21:33:00.000-07:00

Andhra Pradesh is rich in historical monuments. It posseses many holy temples with architectural beauty, which attract large numbers of pilgrims and tourists from inside and outside the country.

In Chittoor district are two sacred places not only for Andhra Pradesh but also for India. Tirupati and Tirumala here is Lord Venkateswara, who is also worshipped as `Balaji' by the north Indians. Tirumala lies in the midst of the Seshachalam hills, which are 2,000 feet above the sea level. It has also worldwide importance as a major tourist centre.

Srikalahasti is also a famous pilgrim centre and the temple here is dedicated to Lord Siva known as Vayulingam and considered as Dakshina Kasi.Apart from those two temples there is another famous temple in chittoor district that is Sri Vara sidhi Vinayaka Temple which is significant for its purity and rich heritage.

This historic temple is in Kanipaakam in Irala Mandal, Chittoor District. It is about 11kms from Chittoor town.

Kanipakam is a small village on the bank of Bahuda River.

"Kani" means wetland and "Pakam" means flow of water into wetland. According to the legend of the temple there were three brothers and each one had a handicap. Viz., Dumb, Deaf and Blind. They were earning out their livelihood by cultivating a small piece of land.

In olden days water was drawn from the well by way of 'Piccota System'. As one of them used to irrigate the field through the channels, the other two used to ply on the Piccota. On one such operation they found that the water in the well got dried up and they could no longer continue their job. One of them got into the well and started digging it up. He was taken aback to see the iron implement hitting a stone like formation.

Later, he was shocked to see blood oozing out from it. Within in a few seconds the entire water in the well, turned blood red in colour. Thus, startled by this divine sight, all the three became normal getting rid of their deformities. As soon as the villagers came to know about this miracle, they thronged to the well and tried to deepen the well further. But their attempt proved futile because the 'swayambhu' idol (the self-manifested) of Lord Vinayaka emerged from the swirling waters.

Ultimately they offered many number of coconuts with all prayers- modesty kneeling before the new idol afford “MAGALHARATHI” etc. They declared the ideal of “SWAYAMBHU” and tendered number of coconuts. The coconuts water flowed into the channel to a distance of more than one and a quarter acres. The indication of this led to the modification in the usage of the Tamil word “KANIPARAKAM” and later pronounced as KANIPAKAM. Even today the idol is in the original well and the springs of the well are perennial and the eternal. During the rainy season, the holy water from the well overflows even today.

Another striking and strange feature of the idol is that it is still growing in size. At present, we can see the knees and the abdomen of the idol. Smt. Lakshmamma, an ardent devotee had offered a 'Kavacham' (Armour) to the Lord, fifty years ago but today it is out of size and doesn't fit the idol. The holy water from the well is offered to the devotees as theertham.

The legend behind Bahuda River
Long ago there lived two brothers Sankha and Likhita. They were on a pilgrimage to Kanipakam. As the journey was tiring, the younger brother Likhita felt hungry. Disregarding the advice of the elder brother he plucked a mango from the mango grove. Sankha felt bad and reported this to the ruler of that area and pleaded for punishment for the sin committed during the pilgrimage. Thus Likhita was punished severely being deprived of both arms.

Later they took bath in the river near Kanipakam temple. Lo Behold! The chopped arms were restored to Likhita as soon as he had a dip in the sacred waters of the river. These incidents lead the ruler to rename the river as 'Bahuda' (Bahu means human arm). Thus the river beside Kanipakam temple is now known as 'Bahuda River'.

Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka as up-holder of 'Truth'
The swayambhu idol of Kanipakam is the up-holder of truth. Day to day disputes between people is resolved by taking a 'special oath'. The people in the dispute take a holy dip in the temple tank and swear before the lord. It is taken as gospel truth.

There are instances when the person who committed that sin voluntarily agrees as soon as he had the dip and much before entering the temple itself. It seems the Lord lawns invisibly on the sinner and makes him repent & feel guilty for his sinful deeds.

Thus the glory of Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka spread far and wide and the honorable courts uphold the 'special oath' in their judicial pronouncements.