Best places for honeymoon in India

If you are planning to get married, then you need to make your honeymoon as memorable as possible. The best way to do this is to choose an exotic honeymoon destination which you will never be able to forget. It just so happens that India has many beautiful locations which would make for great honeymoon spots. Some are peaceful and relaxing with picturesque views while others are adventurous and will keep your adrenaline pumping.

The Andaman Islands are located between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. They are a union territory of India, even though they are closer to Thailand and Malaysia. However, what makes these islands so great for a honeymoon is their sunny beaches and private secluded locations. Newlyweds can participate in water sports and activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving. They can also learn about the history of the islands by visiting the museums and historical locations that are there. To travel to the Andaman Islands, you can fly from Mumbai to Port Blair Airport in Port Blair on the islands.

The town of Munnar is the perfect honeymoon location for anyone who likes beautiful looking hills. The town itself is a hill station that is located in the Indian state of Kerala. A lot of the landscape is covered with tea plantations, tea gardens, hills, sculpted hedges, wildlife, and the Eravikulam National Park. If you’re looking for a more adventurous honeymoon where you and your partner can hike and explore new landscapes on foot, then Munnar will be perfect. You can travel to Munnar by flying into the airport at Cochin or by arriving on a train at nearby Aluva.           

The Indian state of Goa is where both tourists and Indian residents often go to honeymoon. There are just so many romantic things to see there such as Portuguese architecture, warm seashores, and a vibrant nightlife. You could first start your honeymoon day by visiting Fort Chapora and watching the sunrise. Later in the day, you can lie around on the white sandy beaches and drink some fine beer from the nearby beach shack. If you’re interested in clubbing, Goa has some fine dance nightclubs including Tito’s, LPK, and Mambo’s. When you stay the night, book your room at the Resort Rio because it is in close proximity to all the best beaches and spas.

If you want a honeymoon filled with sparkling lakes, museums, palaces, and lots of street lights, then come to the city of Udaipur in the state of Rajasthan for your next honeymoon. Anyone who has seen Bollywood films will certainly appreciate the romantic essence of Udaipur. Try getting your picture taken in front of one of the many palaces or take a cruise on the waters of Lake Pichola.

Best of all, enjoy the lights coming from above your head at nighttime as numerous rooftop restaurants illuminate themselves from above. If you want an eco-friendly resort then try staying at the Ramada Udaipur Resort. But if you prefer a luxurious room with scenic views, then the Purple Seas Heritage Resort is better.

It’s certainly worth considering India for your honeymoon. 

Best beaches in India for foreigners

India is a country with so many different kinds of sites to see. Most foreigners might not think of beaches when they think of India, but they should. India has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. In fact, the Indian people themselves love their beaches because they represent nature’s most beautiful creation. The beach is the place where the ocean and sun come together with the sand and celebrate their harmony and love. That is why beaches are so beautiful and adored by tourists and residents alike.

Here’s a few of the best beaches in India for foreigners

Of course, some beaches are more beautiful than others. The Indian state of Goa has its fair share of exotic beaches. Agonda Beach, for example, is a long and mostly empty beach which has lots of palm trees and casuarinas. On the southern end of the beach, you will find a big hill which only adds more beauty to this beach. You can get to the beach by driving from Palolem to Panaji. You will need a motorbike or scooter to get to the actual beach area from there.

Daniel in Goa

Three more beaches in Goa which are quiet and clean are Mobor Beach, Varca Beach, and Cavelossim Beach. If you get hungry, there are food shacks on these beaches which have lots of seafood dishes and cuisines. There is a very luxurious beach resort on Cavelossim Beach where you can lodge at. The city of Margao has bus and rental car options for traveling to this resort on the beach. The distance to travel is only about 18 kilometers.

In the Indian state of Kerala, any foreigner will love to visit Varkala Beach. Not only can you swim and surf in the beautiful Arabian Sea, but the backdrop of the beach contains a long stretch of rocky red cliffs. Other features along the stretch of the beach include coconut palm trees, guest houses, hotels, beach shacks, and old gift shops. There are steps found along the beach that will take you up to the top of the cliff and vice versa. If you go there around late March, you can witness the temple festival there.

Another beach in Kerala that is worth mentioning is the Lighthouse Beach. This is part of the beach town called Kovalam. Lighthouse Beach has fairly calm waters, thanks to its huge promontory that is quite rocky. Foreigners will also enjoy the nearby luxuries that exist, such as swimming pools, convention centers, health resorts, and affordable cottages for lodging. You will certainly recognize this beach once you see it because of its huge red and white lighthouse.       

On the opposite side of India, you may want to check out Rishikonda Beach located in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The beach is just 8 kilometers from the large city of Visakhapatnam so you should find plenty of public transportation options to get there. At the beach, you will find lots of hills and greenery which lie very close to the sand and shoreline. Water sports such as windsurfing and skiing are also very popular here too. If you’re looking to lodge, there are some cottages available for rent on top of the hill which overlooks the sea. 

If you have visited Indian and have your own list of best beaches of India then feel free to comment and tell us about them.    

Explore India’s offbeat destinations: Malvan

Ethnically and traditionally important town, Malvan is located in Sindhudurg which is the southernmost district of Maharashtra State. Malvan is renowned for its Malvani cuisine, mangoes, and the famous historical monument, the Sindhudurg Fort. The Malvani language (Marathi and Konkani mix) and regional food signify a very distinctive culture of Malvan. Malvani cuisine mainly comprises of fish curry, rice, and coconut. Malvani Dashavtar, a critical artistic component of this region showcases the legendary stories through plays.

Malvan by Aditya Singh

Several places in Malvan are worth visiting during your trip. Sindhudurg fort built by the great Maratha warrior King Shivaji is a sight to behold. It is surrounded by water on all sides, and the only way to reach the fort is by boat. Apart from the splendid structure, Sindhudurg Fort is one of the best places in the country to try scuba diving and snorkelling.  The best way to get to Malvan is to book taxi to drive down the Konkan coast.

The rock garden is a place recommended for tourists who like to spend their evenings watching waves hit the rocks and enjoy the cool breeze. It is situated barely half a kilometre away from the Malvan jetty near Arase Mahal. Another interesting place to visit is the Jai Ganesha temple that has been transformed into its present structure by renovating an old house. This temple has a golden idol of Lord Ganesha and is very popular amongst the tourists.

Finally, let’s talk about beaches that have transformed Malvan into a tourist destination. The most famous beach of the region is the Tarkali beach which attracts visitors from around the world. Tarkarli Beach has everything that nature and sports enthusiast can dream. White sand, water sports, sea food, clear water that will make your visit memorable. When in Tarkarli do not forget to try the fantastic range of water sports such as scuba diving, Bumper boats, Banana boat ride, Parasailing, and Snorkelling that are available at very reasonable prices.

Malvan Fort by Manoj Patra

Other beaches that you can visit include the Devbaug beach, Chivla beach, and Kolamb beach. Chivala Beach is uncluttered and sparsely crowded making it perfect for tourists to relax amidst the cool breeze. If you want to spend time at a beach with no one around, head to Kolamb beach. There are hardly any tourists or locals in the vicinity.

Malvan Wild life Sanctuary, Rameshwar Temple, and Tsunami Islands are a few other places that should be visited provided you have time. The Malvan food is a bit on the spicier side, so please be careful before ordering. Some of the must try dishes include Murgh Malvani, Mori Masala, Kaju chi Aamti, and Solkadhi.

The best time to visit Malvan and Tarkali is from October to April which is primarily winter and early summer.  Malvan is 510 km away from Mumbai and at a distance of 200 km from Ratnagiri. The nearest airport is Dabolim airport in Goa, and the closest railway station is Kudal. State transport buses and Volvos are available from Pune and Mumbai. It is recommended that you hire a private taxi with Savaari Car Rentals from Pune or Mumbai to enjoy the pleasant roads en-route Malvan and Tarkali. Walking or hiring a bicycle is also suggested to explore Malvan. Happy Vacationing!

Best places to visit in Rajasthan during Diwali

Rajasthan is an Indian state that is known for its many big celebratory festivals and events that take place there each year. Although people are spread out over the state in small numbers, they all come together and forget about their troubled lives in order to celebrate the occasion. Out of all the festivals that take place in Rajasthan, the most popular one is the Diwali festival. The purpose of this festival is to celebrate light in every sense of the word. That is why it is nicknamed the Festival of Light.

Diwali fireworks

The creation of the Diwali festival can be linked to the ancient Hindu poem entitled “Ramayana.” In this poem, Lord Ram was in exile for 14 years and then finally returned to his kingdom called Ayodhya. As he arrived, there were lamps called diyas that were set up all throughout the kingdom to welcome him back. So, the tradition continued where the people in Rajasthan would set up as many illuminating objects as they could. When you go to Rajasthan on Diwali day, you will see electric lights, candles, diyas, fireworks and anything else that could possibly illuminate at night.

Johari Bazar Jaipur: Photo by Olga

Of course, Rajasthan is a big state so you might be wondering which towns and cities have the most exciting celebratory events to witness. There is no better city than the capital of Rajasthan, which is Jaipur. There you can visit the Johari Bazar at nighttime and just take a walk through this jewelry marketplace that is lit up like Broadway. Every single shop and dwelling along this marketplace will have decorative lights all over it. And if you see a piece of jewelry that catches your eye, you can purchase that too.

The Nahargarh Fort will give you a beautiful view of the entire city of Jaipur as it is lit up at nighttime during Diwali. You will see yellow lights, purple lights, and red lights spread out everywhere. The yellow lights, of course, dominate the city which is why it looks like a gold city from the point at Nahargarh Fort. Also, if you happen to travel near the Jal Mahal palace which lies in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake, then you will see the entire palace lit up out in the water too.

As a tourist, you can fly into Jaipur International Airport to land right in the middle of the festivities. You can also try Rajasthan tour package and let them find you the best places in Rajasthan. There are plenty of buses and taxis that can take you around the city and bring you to these locations where Diwali can be experienced at its best. Two roads in particular that you should travel on are Tonk Road and Mirza Ismail Road. There are so many different colored lights on these roads that it will make you feel like you’re driving down Las Vegas Blvd. The only difference is you’ll see people celebrating in the streets with live music and dancing. You’ll truly get a sense of the culture and historical significance of Diwali as you move throughout Jaipur at nighttime.

10 books to read before travelling to India

If you are visiting India this year and you want to learn a few things about the country then it is always a good idea to read something about the place. These books will give you an idea of what India is all about and prepare you for your trip to India. I have compiled some of the best books to read before travelling to India. I don’t recommended you carry all the books listed here so why not get yourself a kindle fire and buy the kindle edition of these books.

India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

Nine Lives by William Dalrymple

Around India in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh

2 States: The Story of My Marriage by Chetan Bhagat

Eat Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo

Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found by

An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India by Shashi Tharoor

I hope you liked the list of some of the best books to read before travelling to India. If you have your favourite then feel free to list them below in the comments.