My Travel

[Perfection]

Shankar's International dolls museum : Boasting almost 6500 dolls from around 85 countries. Rs 10, Timing : 1000 to 1800 h, Monday closed, no photography.

Lakshmi Narayan temple (Birla Mandir) : The Orissan style temple was erected in 1938 by the rich industrialist BD Birla. The main temple is dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

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Qutb Minar : The imposing buildings in the Qutb Minar complex (Rs 10, Monday closed) date from the onset of Islamic rule in India and are fine examples of early Afghan architecture. The Qutb Minar itself is a soaring tower of victory that was started in 1193, immediately after the defeat of the last Hindu Kingdom in Delhi. It's 72.6 m high and tapers from a 15 m diameter base to just 2.5 m at the top.

Bus No 505 from Ajmeri gate of New Delhi station will take you to Qutb Minar at Rs 10.

The tower has five distinct stories, each marked by a projecting balcony. The first three stories are made of red sandstone, the 4 th and 5 th stories are of marble and sandstone. Although Qutb ud din began construction of the tower, he only got to the 1 st storey. His successors completed it and, in 1368, Firoz Shah rebuilt the top storeys and added a cupola. An earthquake brought the cupola down in 1803 and an Englishman replaced it with another in 1829. However, that dome was deemed inappropriate and was removed later.

Today, this impressively ornate tower has a slight tilt, but otherwise has worn the centuries remarkably well. It's no longer possible to climb the tower.

Quwwat ul Islam Masjid : At the foot of the Qutb Minar stands the first mosque to be built in India, the Might of Islam mosque. Qutb ud din began construction of the mosque in 1193, but it has had various additions and extensions over the centuries. The original mosque was built on the foundation of a Hindu temple, and an inscription over the west gate states that it was built with materials obtained from demolishing 27 idolatrous temples. Many of the elements in the mosque's construction indicate their Hindu or Jain origins.

Altamish, Qutb ud din's son in law, surrounded the original mosque with a cloistered court between 1210 and 1220. Ala ud din added a court to the east and the magnificent Alai Darwaza gateway in 1300.

Iron Pillar : The 7 m high pillar stands in the courtyard of the mosque and it has been here long before the mosque's construction. A six line Sanskrit inscription indicated that it was initially erected outside a Vishnu temple, possible in Bihar, and was raised in memory of Chadragupta II, who ruled from AD 375 to 413.

What the inscription does not tell is how it was made, for the iron in the pillar is of quite exceptional purity. Scientists have never discovered how the Iron, which has not rusted after 2000 years, could be cast using the technology of time.

It was said that if you can stand with your back to the pillar and encircle it with your arms your wish will be granted; however, the pillar is now protected by a fence.

Alai Minar : When Ala ud din made his additions to the mosque, he also conceived a far more ambitious construction programme. He would build a second tower of victory, exactly like the Qutb Minar, except of would be twice as high!. By the time of his death the tower has reached 27 m and no one was willing to continue the project. The incomplete tower stands to the north of the Qutb Minar and the mosque.

Ala ud din's Alai darwaza gateway is the main entrance to the whole complex. It waa built of red sandstone in 1310 and stands just southwest of the Qutb Minar. The tomb of Imam Zamin is beside the gateway, while the tomb of Altamish, who died in 1235, is by the northwestern corner of the mosque. The largely ruined madrasa of Ala ud din stands at the rear of the complex.

[baffled]

Hey, i'm going hong kong next weekend. anyone been there? Never been there so would do with some intro of where I could go to get cheap stuff and preferably very good food ;)
Oh and I love singapore, the ffod and the shopping. simply heaven.

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Air travel

International return fares (Rates Ex Mumbai, India in INR, 1 INR = US$46 approx., taxes extra).

New York - 29500
San Francisco/Los Angeles/Chicago - 31750
London/Paris/Frankfurt/Amsterdam/Cairo - 17750
Kaula Lumpur - 8950
Bangkok - 12500
Singapore/Muscat - 13500
Hong Kong - 19000
Dubai - 11500
Kuwait/Bahrain - 14500
Sydney/Melbourne - 26250
Auckland - 33250

www.rubytours.net

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Cheap domestic tickets from Air Deccan, Goair, Spicejet, Kingfisher, Jet Airways, Air India Express etc. You can book the ticket using credit cards or purchase directly from Airport counters.

www.cathaypacific.com
www.airdeccan.net
www.airindia.in
www.flykingfisher.com
www.goindigo.in
www.jetairways.com
www.spicejet.com

Delhi : 2561
Bangalore : 2666
Chennai : 3415
Kolkata : 4333
Ahmedabad : 2220
Udaipur : 2645
Cochin : 2250
Goa : 2205

AirDeccan flies daily from Mumbai to Cochin. Dep time : 1925 h, Fare : Rs 2250. Luggage 15 kg + 10 kg handbag permitted. Flying time : 1 hour 20 minutes. Only Rs 225 for infant flying with aparent.

In European mode of travel, meals is not included. In American plan has both accomodation and meals are included.

[coolinfo]

Lol you realy travel alot.

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Ponmudi (600 m): The small hill resort of Ponmudi is 62 km from Thiruvananthapuram. It is a scenic drive through forest, tea estates and tiny villages. If you want to stay overnight, there is KTDC guest house (Double room Rs 450, cottage Rs 550). There are seven daily buses from Thiruvananthapuram (Rs 24, 2.5 h). The last bus leaves Ponmudi at 6 pm. Ponmudi top is 2.5 km from the bus stop (Ticket Rs 5). Those interested in trekking can walk down to Kallar (16 km). Pine trees are grown in and around Ponmudi.

The route to Ponmudi goes via rubber estates of Nedumangad and Vithura. The high range cultivates spices like pepper, clove, cardamom etc.

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Kovalam : It is Kerala's most popular beach side resort, 13 km from Thiruvananthapuram. Kovalam retains certain charm, with good beaches, a lush and peaceful palm and paddy setting, decent restaurants and a plethora of places to stay in all price ranges.

Kovalam consists of two coves (Lighthouse beach and Hawah beach) separated from less populated beaches north and south by rocky headlands.

Women are likely to grow tired of the parade of male Indian day trippers who stroll along the beach in the hope of glimpsing female flesh. Swim only between the flags, in the area patrolled by the lifeguards.

The Vizhinjam lighthouse can be visited (Ticket Rs 10). A one km walk on road takes one to the Vizhinjam beach.

KSRTC operates local buses between Thiruvananthapuram and Kovalam in every 20 minutes between 0530 to 2130 h (Rs 7, 30 minutes).

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Elephanta caves : The island is 9 km north east of the Gateway of India and is known as Gharapuri (Place of caves). The Portuguese renamed the island as Elephanta, because of a large stone elephant near the shore. This statue collapsed in 1814 and the British moved and reassembled the remaining pieces at Victoria Gardens, where it stands today. The Elephanta caves (Passenger tax : Rs 5, Admission Rs 10, closed on Mondays), are supposed to created between AD 450 and 750. The caves are a World Heritage monument by UNESCO.

The main cave has a number of sculpted panels, all relating to Lord Shiva. The most famous of the panels is the Trimurti - Brahma - Where the god is depicted as destroyer, preserver and creator.

There are also figures of Shiva dancing the Tandava, the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, Ravana Shaking Kailasha, Shiva killing the demon Andhaka, and one in which Shiva appears as Ardhanari, uniting both sexes in one body.

The small ASI museum has some informative pictorial panels on the origin of the caves and the Maharashtrian rock cut architecture.

Cave No 1 is a collection of 3 caves, each has a Shiv lingam. The main cave is spacious and has huge stone carved statues in partially damaged condition. The cave has a good array of carved square pillars. On the right side, there is a big water tank and a cave with a Shiv linga. On the left of the main cave, there is a medium size cave, in which a Shiv linga is enshrined. No puja is conducted here now a days inside the caves.

Four more caves are located on left side of the main cave. A 10 minute hill walk takes one to a huge Naval cannon (obsolete) at cannon hills (150 m ASL). Another cannon is nearby. There is a safe underground escape route from the both cannons.

How to reach : Launches are available to Elephanta caves from Gateway of India at Rs 100 return.

Spacious deluxe launches with roof top seats cost Rs 120 return (English speaking guide's service free). Boats depart from Apollo Bunder at every half an hour and takes one hour to reach the island. When the boat leaves the jetty, it gives a picturesque view of the Gateway of India and the Taj hotel.

On the left side is the Mumbai dockyard and the naval warship's area. Photography is prohibited around this area due to security reasons. The whitewashed fortress like Butcher island comes into view (a prison, now under navy). The cruise near the Ship channel gives one a chance to view
ships in close quarters. The route crosses a small island with ship refueling / fuel storage facility. The island with hills is the Elephanta. From the jetty, a 3 minute walk (mini train at Rs 10) takes one to the stairway leading upto the caves. The route is lined with handicraft stalls and patrolled by pesky monkeys. Palanquins are available for those who feel the need to be carried (Rs 150, oneway).

The island has two small villages, restaurants and a MTDC hotel for staying. The last boat to Mumbai is at 0530 pm (caves closes).

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Goa has beautiful beaches of international repute. The foreigners sunbathing and laying at beach beds in bikinis proclaims the truth. Colva beach near Madgaon and Calangute beach (14 km) near Panaji has bus service. Calangute is known as the Queen of Goa's beaches because of its scenic beauty.

Some Hindu temples in Madgaon, people conduct prayers by offering alcoholic drinks to deity. Goa has lots of Wine shops from where one can enjoy variety of drinks at cheap rates. Goa is popular for it's Feny, an alcoholic drink prepared from coconut and Cashew fruit brewing. It comes at Rs 30 per bottle. Evenings are time for drinking, dancing and partying. Streets are of drunkards, few will be lying on roadsides. With permit (Rs 10) one can carry up to 3 bottles to out of Goa. Cashew nuts are the other best buy item from Goa. Goa is famous for its cuisine (Fish curry).