Tuesday 3 May 2016

Jaipur

Jaipur, the capital of India's desert state Rajasthan is known as the Pink City due to the warm terracotta colour of the buildings within the Old City walls.  When you first enter the old town through one of the entrance gates its like you are being transported back in time.  The gates themselves are very grand and the wide streets behind are lined by shops selling everything you could possibly imagine from souvenirs and spices to home-wares, padlocks and steel pans.

Old City
Old City Entrance Gate

The Hawa mahal is one of the most iconic sights of Jaipur with its 953 lattice screened windows looking out on the city life below.  It's hard to believe that a building with such impressive architecture is only a facade with no building behind it.  However it did have an important job being built to allow the ladies of the royal court to keep watch over the city whilst remaining hidden from public view.

Jantar Mantar is one of the best observatories in India and is well worth a visit even for those who are not very scientifically minded.  The many different instruments are fascinating and although it may be difficult to understand how they all work you can still admire the skill and craftsmanship used to make the instruments from marble and brass.  The largest sundial in the observatory has made it into the Guinness book of records and tells the time today with remarkable accuracy.

Hawa Mahal
Jantar Mantar
 No trip to Jaipur would be complete without a visit to the city palace with its magnificent architecture and detailed decoration.  The palace gives a glimpse into how the Jaipur royal family once lived with the opulent interiors and grand halls.  The family of the current maharaja still live in parts of the palace and it really grips the imagination. 

City Palace
City Palace

Amer fort is another must see sight situated just outside Jaipur in the mountains.  The fort is a glorious yellow colour and the winding pathway up to the entrance gate reminds you of a fairy tale castle.  From the fort you get a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains and countryside and also of the perfectly maintained palace gardens which look like they are floating in the lake below.  One of the best parts of the fort is the ladies quarters where although empty now you can easily imagine a time when it was full of life with the sounds of people talking, music playing and fabrics blowing gently in the breeze.

Amer Fort

Amer Fort

Amer Fort Garden

Jaipur is a beautiful friendly city with so many sights to offer visitors.  The warm terracotta of the old city make the place look as though it is always warm and sunny and the architecture palace and fort transport you back to another time.

Friday 26 February 2016

Exploring Orcha and Khajuraho

Having recently visited the towns of Orcha and Khajuraho I wanted to share this article exploring these fascinating destinations which both feature in our Ancient India in Style tour itinerary.

Both Orcha and Khajuraho are small towns with a wealth of stunning architecture to offer.  Situated in the Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh these two towns lie at the very heart of India.

On arrival in Orcha you can immediately see the palace and temples and due to the size of the town everything is easily accessible on foot.  The palace complex is split into three comprising Jehangir Mahal, Maharana Mahal and a third palace now converted into a hotel.  Jehangir Mahal is a beautiful palace offering stunning views of the Betwa river and surrounding countryside.  The building has a mix of Hindu and Mughal architecture which can still be seen by the green and blue tiles and painting.  In the centre of the main courtyard is a tub for bathing surrounded by four heated water tanks making it a very early example of a hot tub.



Jehangir Mahal

Maharana Mahal is situated slightly lower on the hill and one of its most impressive features is the Maharana chambers with a number of original fresco paintings which are surprisingly well preserved due to the lack of natural light in the room.  Built on the same level of ground as the Chaturbhuj temple it is possible to see straight into the temple from the maharanas bedroom window, allowing him to worship without ever leaving the Palace.

The temples of Orcha are also well worth a visit.  The Laxmi temple situated on a hill contains further fresco paintings as well as a number of etchings depicting scenes from the Ramayana.  The Chaturbhuj temple is a large building showing a fusion of Hindu, Mughal and Christian architecture.  The Rama temple at the centre of the town was originally the maharanis palace which can clearly be seen from the beautiful inner courtyard.  This is the only temple in India where lord Rama is worshipped as a king.  The best time to visit the temple is in time for the evening prayer ceremony where the inner doors are opened to reveal lord Rama inside.


Chaturbhuj Temple

Orcha is also famous for its cenotaphs built for the ruling maharanas.  In total there are 15 cenotaphs all of different sizes depending on the length of the maharanas reign.  The best place to view the cenotaphs is from a small garden where the green grass and the colourful flowers make a perfect picture with the stone buildings.


Cenotaphs

A short distance from Orcha is Khajuraho a UNESCO world heritage sight featuring a collection of temples built during the Chandella dynasty.  Temple building was a tradition of Chandella rulers and the ornate temples were designed to bring spiritual peace through eroticism.  Originally there were 84 temples surrounded by dense jungle.  Each temple sits on a base of granite with the upper made from sandstone allowing the many intricate carvings.


South Group of Temples

There are thousands of carvings on the upper parts of the temple buildings showing women in many different poses dancing, singing and playing and also of some of the many Hindu gods.  The Khajuraho temples are most well known for the erotic carvings depicting scenes from the Kama sutra.  These carvings are mixed in with the women and the gods and it can take a minute before you realise what you are looking at.  It is said that the carvings were intended to discourage the bachelor lifestyle and encourage a family life.


Carving Examples


South Group of Temples

In the evening time there is a light and sound show at the southern group of temples which is very interesting if you want to know the story of the temples.  It's tells how the temples were built then fell in to disrepair and were rediscovered in the thick jungle to become the beautiful sight they are today.

Visit www.worldtravellia.com for a closer look at our Ancient India in Style itinerary.

Monday 29 June 2015

Golden Triangle Tour


Take a closer look at the amazing destinations visited on our golden triangle tour!


India is a place full of adventure and excitement with its vast and colourful history. If you are planning to explore India for the first time then you should consider the GOLDEN TRIANGLE TOUR as it is a fantastic inroduction to all that India has to offer.  The Golden Triangle circuit includes three of India’s top cities - Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.



Humayun's Tomb


Delhi is the capital of India and the nation’s heart. It is a Historical city with a World Class modern Infrastructure. Delhi is famous for its culture, historical sites, street food and metro network. Delhi has many world class monuments including India Gate, the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, the Lotus Temple and Humayun’s  Tomb.  Most of the Heritage sites were built during the Mughal Peroid.  Delhi Tourism Development Corporation, is responsible for attracting visitors to Delhi and promotes tourism by organising various cultural programmes and shows throughout the year.



Taj Mahal


Agra, situated in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state, is one of the most Ancient cities in India.  The Taj Mahal, indias best known historical monument, is the main attraction in Agra. It is located on the banks of the Yamuna river. Everyone should experience the beauty of the Taj Mahal at least once in their lifetime. The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as the final resting place for his favourite Queen, Mumtaz. When in Agra it is worth visiting some of its other historical sites including Agra Fort and the deserted town of Fatehpur Sikri. As with Delhi many of the monuments in Agra were built during the Mughal period. Agra is not only known for its heritage but also for its hospitality, cuisine and friendly people. Agra is famous for its sweets and no visit would be complete without taking time out to sample some of the local delicacies.



Hawa Mahal


Jaipur is the Capital of India’s largest state Rajasthan. You only need to take a look at the glorious stucco buildings lining Jaipur's wide streets to understand why this is nicknamed "The Pink City." Jaipur was founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and is a Royal City so there are many forts to be found in the surrounding countryside. Visitor attractions include the Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, City Palace, Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort and the Sri kali Temple. As well as its many monuments Jaipur is famous for its shopping and of course its local cuisine. The city offers the perfect place to buy antiques, jewelery, handicrafts, gems, bangles, pottery, carpets, textiles, leather work and metalwork. Some of the famous cuisine includes Dal Baati Churma and Missi Roti.


The best time to visit the cities included in the Golden Triangle tour is from October to March when the weather is at its most pleasant.

Monday 25 May 2015

India Tour Package - World Travellia

At World Travellia we are passionate about travel and we want to help you explore the world. We offer small group tours to some exciting destinations throughout IndiaNepal and Sri Lanka. A small group helps keep things personal while at the same time allowing you to meet other like minded people. All tours include a guide for the duration meaning that you do not need to worry about a thing, just relax and enjoy your holiday. All our guides are experienced and have a vast knowledge of our destinations which they are keen to share with you so questions are always welcome. They are also all very friendly and approachable and can help with any aspect of the trip.

Responsible tourism is one of our guiding principles and for this reason we make every effort to help support the local communities we visit. Wherever possible we use locally owned hotels, local transport companies and we eat in local restaurants. We also allow plenty of opportunities for shopping whether for something special or for souvenirs and handicrafts usually at local shops and bazaars strengthening the local economy.

All of our trips have been carefully chosen so that you get the most from your time off showing you some of the most famous sights the world has to offer. There is a careful balance between cultural visits, activities and free time so that you can discover new places while also taking time out to relax.

We want you to enjoy your trip and do everything we can to make sure you make memories that will last a lifetime.

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