Away We Go!: Delhi, India

Away We Go!: Delhi, India

Away We Go!: Delhi, India

Away We Go!: Delhi, India

Flights to Amritsar

Amritsar, literally meaning pool of nectar, has some of the hottest tourist attractions of India. The humongous Golden Temple immediately comes to mind as one thinks about this destination. Sitting in the middle of a peaceful lake and lavishly decked up in gold, this supposedly holiest Sikh shrine makes for a rare spectacle, especially on a full moon night.

A definite must have experience on your Amritsar holidays is a trip to the Wagah border, where India’s Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers burst into patriotic fervour. Every evening, during the change of guard ceremony, the troops try to intimidate and outdo each other in a magnificent display of gallant pomposity and just seem to fall short of coming to blows.

The fact that most of the major UK airports operate flights to Amritsar, makes the destination all the more popular. Almost every visitor pays homage at the Jalianwallah Bagh, a grim relic of India’s colonial past. This is the place were hundreds of unarmed native demonstrators were machine gunned in an enclosed space. To this day, the walls of the park bear bullet holes. There is a well in the park, into which over a hundred people jumped, preferring death by drowning rather than bullets.

Despite being a cheap holiday destination, Amritsar is nothing short of a treasure trove for visitors. The Baba Atal Rai tower treats one to mesmerising views of the city, while the Tarn Taran’s immense lake with its supposedly blessed healing waters enthral one and all.

What are Popular Festivals in Amritsar?

Festivals of Amritsar reflects to the vibrant cultural and the traditional extravaganza. The festivals of Amritsar are connected to the different religious and the mythical significance. The festivals of the Amritsar are renowned by the excited citizens of the city. It is a perfect place to celebrate a holiday. You will reveal your own inner spirit there after taking cheap Amritsar flights. Amritsar is not much popular for festivals but its festivals are worth attending. People love to attend these festivals and buy different local items. Among many a few popular festivals including as follow.

Ram Tirath Fair: This is considered as the significant religious event of the city. This fair is organized at place which is known as the Ram Tirath. It is held on full moon day in the month of November every year. It is a four to five day event.  From the city centre of the Amritsar this place is located at a distance of the 11 km. This place is considered as the pilgrimage site for the Punjab at which the fair took place. Visitors frequently take cheap flights to Amritsar from UK. During the event pilgrims take bath in the water of sacred tank which is believed to be dug by Hanuman. Pilgrims come in the morning to attend the fair. The most attractive feature of fair you would like to attend after taking cheap flights to Amritsar is the songs and hymns with lamps floating into tank by women, which is believed to wash off all the sins.

Basant Panchami: This is a festival which stands as the important one in the district. This festival is more famously celebrated at the Gurudwara of the Chheharta Sahib which hosts the festival with the suitable support by the local community. The major attraction of the event visitors taking flights to Amritsar like the most is the competition of kite flying. Which is very old tradition related with this festival. This fair starts early morning and continues till late night.  The Bhandara is also held during this festival where the visitor can have the lunch which is free.

Diwali at Golden Temple: It is the most popular Sikh tradition to celebrate Diwali. All people in general and Sikh particularly take flights to Amritsar India to join this festival. This event is also known as Bandhi Chod Diwas in Sikh History. It is celebrated in the second half of October or November at Golden Temple. It is a festival of lighting the temple and its surroundings are illuminated with a chain of colourful lights. Every year huge crowds of tourists take cheap flights to Amritsar India from UK.

Guru Purab: It is one of the important festivals of Amritsar. Every year two of the festival takes place. One is celebrated in the month of the November when it is the birthday of the Guru Nanak Devji and the other one is celebrated in the month of the January when it is the birthday of the Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Both the festivals are celebrated with the great enthusiasm and the energy. The langars are organized free of cost at the time of Guru Purab. Every year enormous crowds of tourists take cheap flights to Amritsar India from UK to join this festival.

About Punjab

Punjab the land of five rivers and integrated cultural history is a treasure trove for an avid tourist. For this land of the great Gurus not only boasts old ancient monuments but throbs with historical embodiments. It is no secret that whoever comes to this land of yellow fields with blue mountains providing the romantic and picturesque backdrops has never gone back without imbibing the essences of Punjab. There is no dearth of breathtaking palaces. Since this state borders Pakistan, there are two main posts from which you can peep into the land that was once an integral part of Punjab and experience the feelings of the people separated by a line.

The much truncated India’s portion of present Punjab is divided into three natural regions: the Majha, the Doaba and the Malwa.

MALWA REGION
Malwa is a region of Punjab and parts of Haryana between the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers. This Malwa should not be confused with the Malwa Plateau region of Madhya Pradesh, Central India. Sikhs of Malwa are known for being great fighters and warriors during the era of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Malwa area makes up majority of the Punjab region consisting 11 districts, and has the most fertile land. Cities such as Ludhiana, and Mohali located in the Malwa region are the richest cities, and are the most expensive places to live in the Punjab State. Ludhiana is the business centre of Punjab and is also referred as the Manchester of Punjab. Also the city is home to Punjab Agricultural University the best in all of Asia. Malwa is also home to many NRI residents mostly from the Ludhiana, Sangrur, Moga, Barnala, and Bathinda districts. Ferozepur, which was the biggest district and a metro city before the division of India and Pakistan, also comes in Malwa region which is famous for its Patriotism as well as Martyrdom and also for the yield of best quality of wheat and paddy in the world. The Malwa region has been controlling the political power in Punjab for decades.

Malwa comprises 10(parts of some) of the twenty districts of Punjab. Districts in Malwa include:
 Bathinda, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ferozepur, Ludhiana, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar, Patiala, Ropar, and Sangrur.

The people of the region are known as Malwais. The dialect of Punjabi spoken in Malwa is called Malwais. During the Mughal era, Malwa was known as Sirhind, since it consisted of the city by that name. Sirhind was the headquarters or the Mughal administration in Eastern Punjab. The city was also the headquarters of the Mujaddidiya branch of the Naqshbandiyya Order of Sufism. Malwa, like the rest of the province, was also the scene of many clashes between the Mughals, the Sikhs, the Afghans, the Marathas and the British.

DOABA REGION
Doaba is the region of Indian Punjab surrounded by the rivers Beas and Sutlej. The name "Doaba" literally translates to "land of two rivers" ("Do" two, "Ab" river; Punjabi). It is one of the most fertile regions of the world, and was the centre of the Green Revolution in India.

Scheduled castes form more than 35% of the population in Doaba. This area is also called the NRI (Non Resident Indians) Hub of the Punjab as many people from this region reside outside India.

Historically Doaba has been the residence of 'Sanadh' and 'Sodhi' communities. Guru [Govind Singh] Ji during his visit to Sanadh region got favorable adds by Sanadh community.

The biggest cities in Doaba are Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr, Desha, Phagwara, Banga and Nakodar.

MAJHA REGION

Majha is a historical region of the Punjab comprising the modern districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran in the Indian State of Punjab and the districts of Lahore and Kasur in the Pakistani Province of Pakistan. Historically, Majha comprised the older settled parts of the Bari Doab (in particular Sheikhupura) and the Rechna Doab (in particular, Gujranwala), the newer settled parts belonging to the canal colonies. Major towns in the region include Amritsar, Batala, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Kasur, Sheikhupura and Tarn Taran Sahib. The largest part of Majha called the Bari Doab. It lies between two of the five great rivers of the Punjab: the Ravi and the Sutlej. As such, Majha lies in the heart of the ancient Punjab region. No wonder then, that one meaning of Majha is 'the central plains' or 'the central country'. The people of Majha are known as 'Majhis' or 'Majhis'. The Majhi dialect of Punjabi is the basis of standard Punjabi.

Shopping in Mumbai (Maharashtra)

Shopping in Mumbai is a memorable experience as you wander through its Bazaars with striking names like Chor Bazar, Crawford Market, The Mangaldas Market, Fashion Street, Flora Fountain, Mutton Street and Zaveri Bazar. At Chor Bazar you'll find a phenomenal collection of antiques, jewellery, wooden articles, leatherware and general bric-a-brac.

Crawford Market
Also known as Mahatma Jyothiba Phule Market named after a local patriot, the old Victorian building is located north of the Victoria Terminus station. Built in 1869, it used to be the city's wholesale produce market. Just above the main entrance there is a bas-relief designed by Lockyard Kipling, father of Rudyard Kipling depicting workers in a wheat field. The market has interesting varieties of fresh produce at wholesale rates- fruits and vegetables, a meat section, imported cheese, chocolate etc. There is a bazaar area Lohar chawl across the street with an extensive range of goods. Nearby is Kiplings' cottage where Rudyard was born.

The Mangaldas Market
The Mangaldas Market is the largest indoor cloth and dress material market in Mumbai. There are hundreds of stalls where you can buy beautiful material from the finest silk saris to raw cotton.

Chor Bazar (Thieves Market)
Chor Bazar is a paradise for the antique hunter. It is arguably one of Mumbai's best shopping centers. This much talked about market in Mumbai occupied by an odd collection of shops deals with goods from second hand car parts to handmade furniture. One can buy good painting, jewellery, wooden articles, statues, leather ware and general bric-a-brac, silver coins and lots of other things from here. There are a number of shops where bargain is possible. The main avenue is Mutton Street, flanked by rows of little antique shops.

Zaveri Bazar (Jewellery Market)Zaveri Bazar offers a range of jewellery in diamond, gold and silver. The market is crowded and bursting at the seams. Napkin rings, picture frames, snuff boxes, bangles and necklaces in old silver can be purchased for reasonable prices. This is where the Mumbai's bullion exchange and diamond market used to be, though it is now primarily a retail centre. Mumbadevi temple is nearby.

Fashion Street
Fashion Street, also knows as FS is very famous for its readymade garments. It has at least 130 to 140 shops. You can see the latest fashion trends here, and casual wear is probably the cheapest anywhere in the world. It is a very popular area with college students and teenagers. The clothes are usually surplus exports and therefore are of very good quality and make. There are also several shoe and jewellery shops and anything else you can think of.

Flora FountainAll around the square sit Mumbai's infamous vendors selling just about everything from cheap nylon saris and ballpoint pens to herbal remedies.

The World Trade Center
The World Trade Center at Cuffe Parade is one of the main shopping centers in Mumbai. It has a huge number of state government emporiums, textile and carpet shops.

Central Cottage Industries Emporium
Central Cottage Industries Emporium where you can buy everything, ranging from the latest fashion in Bombay, handicrafts, consumer or electronic equipments, paintings, engineering innovations etc.

Mumbai Tourist Attractions (Maharashtra)

Gateway of India
The Gateway of India is the main attraction of Mumbai city. It was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar in 1911. Situated at the Apollo Bunder, the gateway holds greater historical significance as the last of the British troops that left India by sea, marched through its portals. The monument is complete with four turrets and intricate latticework carved into the yellow basalt stone. You can also go for a short cruise through Mumbai's natural harbour in one of the little motor launches that are stationed here.

Mani Bhawan
Mani Bhawan is one of the important places to visit in Mumbai. Presently functioning as a Gandhi memorial, it used to be the Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi. It is from this famous house No. 19, called Mani Bhawan, that Gandhiji was arrested in 1932. This two storied building houses a reference library with over 2000 books, a photo feature on the Mahatma's life, some memorabilia, an old Gandhiji's charkha and a film and recording archive. A minimum entry fee is required to get into the Mani Bhawan.
 

Prince of Wales Museum
The Prince of Wales museum is another major attraction of Mumbai. Built in the year 1914, it is surrounded by a beautiful landscape forming an ideal getaway for the people of Mumbai. The museum houses art, sculpture, rare coins, and old firearms and a priceless collection of miniature paintings. The Prince of Wales museum is regarded as one of the best museums in the country.

Marine Drive
A stroll down the Marine Drive is the best way to discover Mumbai. This winding stretch of road with tall buildings on one side and sea on the other extends from Nariman Point to Malabar Hills. Due to its curved shape and many street lights, it was once called the Queen's Necklace. A popular sea front, Marine Drive is also the main thoroughfare linking for the Malabar Hills to the southernmost points of Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Nariman Point, and the Fort.

Juhu

Nicknamed as the uptown bourgeois paradise, Juhu Beach is a place that attracts a large number of visitors throughout the year. Characterised by walkers, screaming children and courting couples, the beach covers an area of about 5 kilometres. Juhu beach is attractively studded with many five star hotels offering the customers a splendid view of the coast. The beach remains noticeably crowded on weekends. Moreover, the beach activities like camel rides, pony rides, acrobats, performing monkeys and entertainers will keep you enthralled all the time. Keep away from hawkers.

Hanging Gardens

The Hanging Gardens makes another must see site in Mumbai. The park was built during the early 1880s over Mumbai's main reservoir at the top of the Malabar Hills. The reason of its location being to cover the water from the potentially contaminating activity of the nearby Towers of Silence. Located just opposite the Kamala Nehru Park, this terraced garden, also known as Ferozeshah Mehta Garden, is famous among the locals as well as tourists. The garden provides lovely sunset views over the Arabian Sea.

Kamla Nehru Park

Kamla Nehru park, located at the top of Malabar Hills is another site to visit in Mumbai. Overlooking the Marine Drive, the park houses "Old Woman's Shoe", wonderfully cut hazes and roomy walkaways. Moreover, the park also provides you a spectacular view of the city and the sunset. The Kamla Nehru park also makes a favourite gateway for the locals here.

Chowpatty

Another sandy gateway of Mumbai is the Chowpatty beach in the suburbs of the city. Chowpatty is perhaps the most famous beach of Mumbai, characterised by the usual hustle and bustle of stallwalahs, people snoozing under the shade of its stunted trees, screaming kids, Ferris wheels, pony rides, wayside astrologers, monkey shows, and even the odd self-styled gymnast demonstrating their skill for a fee. Moreover, the bhelpuri shops and sometimes the film shoot or a street play also adds to the festive atmosphere of the beach. A beach of action, Chowpatty makes a must visit in Mumbai.

Aarey Milk Colony

One of the most modern milk colonies in the world is Aarey Milk colony of Mumbai. Located at a distance of 32 kilometres from main Mumbai city, it falls on the main Ghodbunder Road. Aarey makes a must visit in Mumbai not only for its sophisticated dairy and the many well fed cows but also for its surrounding natural beauty. A visit to the observation pavilion here on a hill near the colony's entrance also gives you an enchanting view of the surrounding areas. But the main feature of the colony is the 4000 acres of parkland with fine gardens. You can also try the fresh milk and snacks in the colony's canteen here.

Tower of Silence

A peculiar site to visit in Mumbai is the Tower of Silence. Mumbai has a large number of Parsi population. The Parsis have the custom of leaving their dead in the open. These particular places are called "Towers of Silence", where the vultures come to eat the dead. For the Parsis, this is regarded as the final act of charity. Mumbai's Towers of Silence, have virtually disappeared today. Only a handful remain that attract a considerable number of tourists every year.

Jain Temple

Jain temple of Mumbai also makes the interesting place to visit in the city. Located on the Malabar Hill, the Jain temple houses frescoes depicting various events in the lives of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras.