Forts

Shergarh – Sixth City of Delhi

By Nirdesh Singh

Before entering the main gate, get off at Mathura Road and enter the lake area. You can take the kids out boating. But you have more serious things to do. You walk towards the looming Talaaqi Gate. This gate like the others is also capped with chattris and protected with bastions. Walk along the ramparts on the right with the rim of the lake on your right. Once the moat probably ran around the fort but now is limited to the western flank. Just make some noise walking so that you do not startle love birds cooing in the bushes.
Shergarh is a sprawling compound bound by walls on all sides. There are three gates: The Western Gate for entering is called Bada Darwaza flanked with mighty bastions, Northern Gate is called the Talaaqi Darwaza or the Forbidden Gate and the Southern Gate is called Humayun Gate. Humayun Gate is the signature symbol of Purana Qila with the two ubiquitous pavilions on top. At the foot is an amphitheatre where the Light and Sound show about Seven Cities of Delhi is played out in the evenings.

Cochin – Sightseeing by cruise and Cherai Beach

By Abhee K

As weather was hot, this ride was giving us good relief from heat. For first 15-20 minutes it was just like a normal cruise experience similar to Mumbai Gateway of India cruise ride or cruise ride at Rameswaram. But we were happy as kids were enjoying this ride with lots of space to sit as well as to run inside the boat and to see sparkling water.On our way we got to see many boats like country type, Russian yacht etc.

Although, it was a pleasant journey but I didn’t find it worth or it’s not value for money. Boat sailor but surely took us at the midst of sea and we saw numbers of Dolphin fish. Watching Kochi Harbour, Bolgatty island resort and Dolphin were good experience. Chinese Fishing net is an icon for Kochi but I didn’t find anything interesting watching that. The total time we spent here was 02 hours and we found it tiring. We came back to Marine Drive. Marine drive is a nice hangout place with many eatery joints.We had some light lunch and icecreams and came back to our friends place at 1730 hrs.

Firozabad – Fifth City of Delhi

By Nirdesh Singh

Nothing beats the romance and magic of visiting a monument in Delhi on a wintry Sunday afternoon. The light December breeze has cleared the smog. The air seems almost crisp. Kotla Firoz Shah is an oasis in the middle of the city. It is hard to imagine that exactly 614 years ago on an equally beautiful December day this fortress was being plundered. Soak in the atmosphere sprawled on the green grass under the flitting sun. You can see Delhi’s first skyscraper Vikas Minar in the south, the IG Stadium in the east, floodlights of Firoz Shah Kotla Stadium just yards away, and for company you have crows, mynahs, eagles, dogs and even cats. Chat up the security guard for nuggets of information.

Apparently, this is the only place in Delhi supposed to be the abode of Djinns or spirits. Believers come and light up diyas and incense sticks. Some people even leave written requests. The steady stream of believers assures that wishes are being granted by the Djinns. Thursday is the day when most people come with their petitions and leave offerings. It is believed that the Djinns love Delhi so much that they cannot bear to see it deserted. The day beliefs die, city dies and you die.

A trip to Mewar – Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur

By Rakesh

The drive looked like very good till I encountered a steep slope drrive as in hills. Though I had driven the car a few times in hilly area but God knows what happened I just lost the confidence here when I saw that it was down and down and down. Oh God what to do now. I was trembling with fear and had put my car on to first gear . My wife and Bhakti just motivated me to carry on slowwly and remember our sojourn in the hills. I saw Mahindra scorpio coming uphill. I just stopped him and asked him about how long it would continue like this. It was about 5 kms like this, according to him. and the situation became hilarious when he also asked how it would be like this uphill .

hahahahhaha……….. Any way the ordeal became less and plain road was there . We were passing through the forest area now and after a few minutes we entered the temple complex. So serene was the atmosphere there and about 30-35 vehicles parked inside the complex. Main reason that I found for heavy rush was that people from Jaina community revered the place and comee there just as they have Dilwara temples at Mount Abu. So a mixed crowd of foreigners and Indians there. And there stood the vast sprawling temple structure in white marble, so clean and so serene and so pious.

Walking The Royal Mile

By Shubham

Each floor had a different theme of illusions. I liked the floor with 3D illusions the best. There were a lot of interactive illusions as well. And the best part? They encouraged you to touch everything! The Mirror Maze was also fun. My mom kept walking into the mirrors, and I finally had to go in and help her get out.

The Spell of Bundi, Rajasthan : Reaching Bundi

By Nandan Jha

Hence, our first stop was at at ‘Salim Paper’ at Sanganer. From what we had learnt, this would be a cottage industry like place where one could see paper making and block printing. So we reached after going circles in the village, and ultimately realising that the place was right at the beginning. If you tell them that you are from ‘Arya Niwas’, they take you through a guided tour of ‘Paper Making’. This was our first visit to a ‘Paper Making’ factory and it was an extremely educative experience. The place was large, expansive and had sections where different jobs took place. The lady took us through the entire process with a lot of patience. The first step is to make the pulp by mashing waste cloth-cuttings that they procure from all the factories around. So essentially the raw material was waste organics being recycled and that was heartening to know. The cloth is shredded to very tiny pieces that are kept submerged in water for a few days. After that the whole cloth-water solution is rolled over and over again to form a thick pulp. This pulp is then further rolled to form a smoother paste. Color and condiments like rose/marigold petals, leaves are added now. Then the paste is spread on metal sheets and left to dry in the sun. Each sheet individually! Hence the paper is born. The dried paper sheet is taken off the metal based and pressed through machines. And thereafter, different actions are taken to make use of this paper. So we saw techniques of cutting, printing, pasting and finishing.

To give the viewers an experience to take home, and of course as a model for this tour fee, they also have a small shop/display counter. The only way we could have reciprocated the gesture was to buy some stuff so we bought quite a lot. Most of that was exciting and relatable as we were purchasing exactly what we saw being made right then. All of it was for European and American markets and were indeed of supreme quality. So we made a good collection of fancy paper bags, craft kits, various kinds of papers etc. that my daughter is waiting to rob off her mother for her school projects.

A Trip to Mewar – Udaipur Sightseeing

By Rakesh

JAGDISH TEMPLE: The temple was an historical one in grey stone. Lord Krishna, we bow to you. Had a PRIKRAMA around the main garbha griha. clicked some photographs for yaadein and came downstairs. We had planned to walk through this market to our car parked on the other side of the palace. The bazaar was known as Bhatiyani chohatta. It was full of shops selling handicraft items, Rajasthani clothes and souvenirs. It seemed paradise to Bhakti and Savita, my wife. So t one shop after hard bargaining a dress for Pavani was bought. And at one corner shops some souvenirs were bought to gift to dear and near ones. After that we reached at the parking place. and there it was our trusted maruti. Our next stop was fatehsagar lake and shilpagram.

A Trip to Mewar – Jalandhar to Jaipur to Udaipur

By Rakesh

When I touched the Ajmer road on my way to Udaipur, I was just mesmerized by the highway. I had read a lot about this highway that this one is one of the best in India , on 31st of December I became witness to that. Till Udaipur I got four toll barriers on the way but it was worth. Normally I am slow traveler rarely peaking at 100 km/hour. but this highway tempted me. About 30 km before Ajmer there was a diversion towards left and I just took that following my gut feeling and I was on national highway 76 . I must mention here that on this way Chittorgarh and Bhilwara comes but remain on side so not quite a hurdle to travelers who want to reach Udaipur directly.

Kids were happy on this travel as we had experimented a long drive. Just before Chittorgarh felt hungry and stopped at a roadside dhaba offering garmagaram khana. A lot of trucks had been halting there bearing number plate mostly of Gujarat and Rajasthan. We had ordered saadi chapatis (tawe wali) and Karhi. The food was just delicious, to say. I had found in this trip that chapatis are brown in color not like Punjab where dhabas normally offer white chapatis indicating the use of maida instead of atta. After filling our tummies we proceeded further on our dream destination and it was at about 2.30 P. M we encountered a hoarding welcoming us to the city of lakes.

Scotland – Touring Edinburgh Castle

By Shubham

We were told that the Queen was coming to Edinburgh the next day, and the Palace was being spruced up. Since this was our last day in Edinburgh, we would be missing that (not that she was inviting us to tea or anything like that). We would, at best, have got to see her motorcade.

The Seige & Tragedy of Lucknow’s Residency – A History Lesson

By Nirdesh Singh

As you enter the main gate of Residency, the din of Lucknow city recedes until just the distant hum of traffic remains. It is a quite green oasis in the middle of cacophany that Lucknow is today. The pervading hush makes it hard to believe that this eerily quite place was witness to one of the bloodiest fights of Indian Mutiny of 1857. This is nature’s way of soothing the Residency with eternal balm and tranquility to anesthetize the tumultous past. The dewy green grass absorbs the shock of looking at the cannon scarred red brick walls. Most of the buildings are heavily damaged with few having roofs.

Barring the green grass, it seems that the siege ended just yesterday. The shattered walls carry the echoes of tragedy, doom, valour, disease and gore. Walk the grounds and you are immediately transported to those turbulent days. Residency is a sprawling compound with neat manicured gardens. Signs indicate the names of various buildings. During the rains, the green moss covering the red brick broken walls lends an exquisite charm to the place. Spend some time in the museum. The church’s cemetry has the graves of about 2000 people including Lawrence. Visit Nawab Saadat Ali Khan’s Tomb. Stay back for the light and sound show in the evening.

Exploring Udaipur City Palace

By Sushant Singhal

आगे बढ़े तो छत से झांकने पर एक और प्रांगण दिखाई दिया। बताया गया कि यहां रवीना टंडन की शादी हुई थी। जरूर हुई होगी, हमें तो निमंत्रण मिला नहीं था शादी का, हमारी बला से! सच पूछो तो रवीना शादीशुदा है या कुंवारी है – हमें इसमें भी कोई रुचि नहीं है। हमारे लिये तो हमारी अपनी श्रीमती जी ही रवीना, ऐश्वर्या, माधुरी, सीता, सावित्री, गार्गी, विद्योत्तमा, तिलोत्तमा सब कुछ हैं। (यह लाइन मैने उनको पढ़वाने के लिये ही लिखी है!)

सिटी पैलेस को समझना हो तो आप कुछ कुछ यूं समझें कि ये एक लंबाई में बनाया हुआ महल-कम-दुर्ग-कम-होटल-कम-संग्रहालय है। अगर आप 49,999 रुपये तथा उस पर विलासिता कर यानि luxury tax और VAT दे सकते हैं तो आप फतेह प्रकाश पैलेस या शिव सागर पैलेस होटल में से किसी एक होटल में एक रात रुक भी सकते हैं। अगर आप सोनिया गांधी के दामाद हैं और रातोंरात अरबपति बन चुके हैं तो आप अपने बच्चों का विवाह भी इन HRH Heritage hotels में से किसी एक में आयोजित कर सकते हैं। पर अगर आप 30 रुपये में सिटी पैलेस म्यूज़ियम देखने आये हैं तो आप शानदार हवेलियां देखिये, कमरों में सजाये हुए पंखे, बिस्तरे, मूढ़े आदि देखिये, अद्‍भुत वास्तुकला देखिये, अंग्रेज़ पर्यटकों को निहारिये, 200 रुपये कैमरे के लिये देकर फोटो वगैरा खींचिये और संकरी गली से बाहर निकल लीजिये।

???? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ????? - ??????

Back to Udaipur-LokKala Mandal and Shilpgram

By Sushant Singhal

शिल्पग्राम से हम बाहर निकले तो बाबू ने पास में ही, न जाने किस पार्क में गाड़ी ले जाकर खड़ी कर दी। बीच में एक फव्वारा, अच्छा हरा – भरा लॉन, अच्छे – अच्छे चेहरे थकान मिटाने के लिये काफी उपयुक्त सिद्ध हुए। घास पर लेटे रहे, कोल्ड-ड्रिंक पीते हुए चिप्स खाते खाते घंटा भर वहीं बिताया। जब सूर्यास्त हो गया तो महिलाओं को फिर हुड़क उठी कि बाज़ार चलते हैं। बाबू कुछ एंपोरियम में ले कर गया पर हम हर जगह यही शक करते रहे कि पता नहीं, कैसा सामान होगा, पता नहीं कितना महंगा बता रहे होंगे। मैने एक बार भी श्रीमती जी को जिद नहीं की कि ये सामान अच्छा है, खरीद लो! हम लोगों ने पहले ही तय कर रखा था कि यदि हम में से कोई कुछ खरीदना चाहेगा और दूसरा मना कर देगा तो वह चीज़ नहीं खरीदी जायेगी। इसके बाद पुनः हाथी पोल आये और श्रीमती जी ने दो जयपुरी रजाइयां खरीद ही डालीं जो वज़न में बहुत हल्की थीं और पैक होने के बाद उनका आकार भी बहुत कम रह गया था !

खाना पुनः बावर्ची में ही खा कर हम वापिस होटल वंडरव्यू पैलेस में पहुंच गये जहां हमारे नाम के दोनों कमरे बुक थे। अगला दिन हमने तय कर रखा था – सिटी पैलेस, बागौर की हवेली, नेहरू पार्क, और नाथद्वारा मंदिर देखने के लिये।

1 laura woodfield Voyage to London from Bombay, via Sea and Road in 1958

This is far more than a travelogue; it's a precious historical document. It vividly captures the spirit and risks of an era when emigrating was a true leap of faith.…
2 laura woodfield Voyage to London from Bombay, via Sea and Road in 1958

What an absolutely gripping tale of adventure and love! I was on the edge of my seat reading about the wrong train and the half-shirts in Egypt. The way you…
3 Vish. Ladakh Calling… (Part 2) – Manali to Sarchu

Even after 16 years... the memories of this ride still feel fresh.
4 Harsh Goyenka सिद्धबली धाम, लैंसडौन और तारकेश्वर धाम की अप्रतिम यात्रा

Nice blogs sir ji ! Aap ki story se mera bhi ghoomne ka maan ho gaya hai.
5 CurtisCar Baha’i House of Worship – The Lotus Temple

Производство и поставка - С‚СЂРѕСЃ РєСЂР°РЅРѕРІС‹Р№ производства Северсталь метиз, Мечел, ММК Метиз, Силур со склада в г.Орел. Продажа С‚СЂРѕСЃ РґР»СЏ РїРѕРґРІРµСЃР° РєР°Р±РµР»СЏ оптом и в розницу по низким ценам. Полный…
6 gt The Puri Trip

nice blogs! you can visit our website https://gangasagaryatra.co.in/puri-tour-packages/
7 Jugraj Our Trip to Munsiyari: The land of Gauri Ganga and Panchachuli-Part1

Amazing place. Visited here in Jan 2026. Witnessed the best snowfall of my life. Loved the place. No words for the majestic Himalayan view from here. Documented my experience on…
8 Saniya Delhi – Goa – Delhi Road Trip : A quick guide

Very interesting informative and 100% nice article