| Discover,
Dream, Experience |
| India has myriad destinations, activities, experiences, colours and a vibrancy rarely experienced elsewhere in the world. In each newsletter we will focus on slightly more off beat destinations, experiences and hotels to showcase the best of off-beat India. |
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| Experience: Cycling Tour, Jaipur |
| Yes, it is possible to explore the Pink City of Jaipur by bike! This is an early morning (pre traffic) tour of the city which provides the opportunity to explore the streets of the Old City, sample some of the most famous street food, witness a puja at one of Jaipur’s most important and popular temples, bargain like a local at a vegetable market, stop for an obligatory photo stop of the Palace of Winds before enjoying a breakfast at the world famous LMB eatery. A fun way to see the city in a whole new light. |
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| Visit:
Sun Temple Konark, Odisha |
| Constructed towards the end of Odisha's temple building phase, this extraordinary structure is undoubtedly the grandest and best known sun temple in India. It has a distinctive chariot shape and its stone walls are engraved with thousands of images of deities, people, birds, animals, and mythological creatures. The sheer scale of the structure together with the quality of its carvings make this one of the must see monuments of India; to quote Earl of Ronaldshay it is "One of the most stupendous buildings in India which rears itself aloft, a pile of overwhelming grandeur even in its decay''. |
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| Festival: Durga Puja, Kolkata |
| Months of preparation lead up to the Durga Puja festival which starts with huge, elaborately crafted statutes of the Goddess Durga being installed in homes and beautifully decorated podiums all over the city. There then follows ten days of fast, feast and worship, though it is the last four days - Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami – which are the most vibrant, and are celebrated with much spectacle and drama especially in Bengal. The festival culminates with all of the extraordinarily built statues, which have been displayed, being paraded through the streets, accompanied by music and dancing, before being immersed in the river. Crazy, colourful and vibrant, this is one of India’s best loved festivals. |
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| Stay at: Ahilya by the Sea, Goa |
| Situated by the quiet Goan fishing village of Nerul, with breathtaking views of the sea entrance to Old Goa, is Ahliya by the Sea, an extension of the quality and style for which Ahilya Fort in Maheshwar is synonymous. The three independent cottages provide a total of eight spacious rooms; each cottage can be taken over exclusively, which make them ideal for families, or a group can take over the whole place for a private party. The food is an authentic fusion of South Indian and Portuguese cuisine and the owner’s passion for elegance and art make this one of the most chic, boutique, beachside hotels in Goa. |
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