• Mahabalipuram
  • "The Shore temple"
  • Mahabalipram : Derived from 'Mamallapuram' is a town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It has an average elevation of 12 metres (39 feet). It has various historic monuments built largely between the 7th and the 9th centuries, and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • This is an elegant place to watch which a well established sea port was during the 7th and 10th centuries of the Pallava dynasty. The former name of this place ‘Mahabalipuram’ has a history. A very rude cruel king Mahabali reined this place and in a fierce battle king Mahabali was killed by Lord Vishnu and the place was named after the dead, arrogant kind Mahabali.
  • Mamallapuram is referred as an ‘open-air museum’. The beauty of the place is not only due to these architecture but the vast casuarinas trees, the silvery sandy beach the classical hand male crafts around have made them all to form what is a collective splendor. Any visitor who visits mahabalipuram will remain startled and intoxicated with the grandeur. They feel hand hearted and more out from this historical and fascinating tourist spot.
  • Location: Mahabalipuram lies on the Coromandel Coast which faces the Bay of Bengal. This wonderful city is just 60 km away from Chennai and forms an integral part of the golden triangle of the southern India.
  • Climate: Mahabalipuram, being a coastal area experiences a tropical climate. The weather is usually hot and humid throughout the year. Hence, light weight clothes are suitable most of the time. The summers start in the month of April, followed by the monsoon season in mid June and winters from November.
  • Tourist attractions in mahabalipuram:
  • Thirukadalmallai: the temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It was also built by Pallava King in order to safeguard the sculptures from the ocean. It is told that after building this temple, the remaining architecture was preserved and was not corroded by sea.
  • Arjuna's Penance: relief sculpture on a massive scale extolling an episode from the Hindu epic, The Mahabharata.
  • The Shore Temple: a structural temple along the Bay of Bengal with the entrance from the western side away from the sea. Recent excavations have revealed new structures here. The temple was reconstructed stone by stone from the sea after being washed away in a cyclone.
  • Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots): five monolithic pyramidal structures named after the Pandavas (Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishtra, Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi. An interesting aspect of the rathas is that, despite their sizes they are not assembled - each of these is carved from one single large piece of stone.
  • Varaha Cave Temple: a small rock-cut temple dating back to the 7th century.
  • Getting To Mahalipuram:
  • Air: The nearest airport is the Chennai International airport, which is located about 60 km away from Mahabalipuram.
  • Rail: The nearest railway stations are Chengalpattu (29 km) and Chennai (60 km). Chennai being a metropolitan city is well connected by railways to all the major and minor cities in India.
  • Bus: Mahabalipuram is well connected by daily buses to Chennai, Tirukkalikundram (also known as Pakshithirtham), Kanchipuram and Pondicherry.
  • Hotels: Mahabalipuram offers a fabulous range of hotels and resorts. All of them have a distinct class and cater to the needs of both domestic and international tourists. The most popular hotels include GRT Temple Bay, Chariot Beach Resort and Quality Inn MGM Beach Resort. Other good accommodation options are Golden Sun hotel, Highland Shoreline, Blue Bay and Mamalla Beach Resort.
  • Dambulla
  • "The cave temple of Srilanka."
  • The place forms a part of the site of the Cultural Triangle declared as the World Heritage Site. The name Dumbulla owes its name from the word 'Damba' which means rocks and 'Ulla'- the fountain. You can see the drops of water falling incessantly from the fountains to the main image house in Dambulla. The ensemble of Dambulla is an outstanding example of the religious art and expression of Sri Lanka and South and South-East Asia. The excavated shrine-caves, their painted surfaces and statuary are unique in scale and degree of preservation. The monastery includes significant masterpieces of 18th century art, in the Sri Lankan school of Kandy.
  • Location: The city of Dambulla is situated in the Matale District in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, situated 148 km north-east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy.
  • Climate: Due to its proximity to equator Sri Lanka has typically tropical climate. There are no marked seasons. The weather in plains and the coastal areas is hot and humid with an average mean temperature of 27° C. Relative Humidity varies from 70% during the day to 90% at night. The cooling sea breeze moderates the temperature. The hills are cool and pleasant with an average mean temperature of around 20° C.
  • Tourist Attractions in Dambulla:
  • Dambulla Rock temple: Dating back to the 1st Century BC, this is the most impressive cave temple in Sri Lanka. It has five caves under a vast overhanging rock, carved with a drip line to keep the interiors dry. The temple is composed of five caves, which have been converted into shrine rooms. The caves, built at the base of a 150m high rock during the Anuradhapura are by far the most impressive of the many cave temples found in Sri Lanka. Access is along the gentle slope of the Dambulla Rock, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding flat lands which includes the rock fortress of Sirigiya.
  • Rose Quartz Mountain: Close to Dambulla deep inside the jungle is perhaps the oldest garden in Sri Lanka is the Iron Wood Forest and the largest Rose Quartz Mountain Range in South Asia. The site had been declared as a human sanctuary by King Dappula in 10 century AD as shown in an inscription at the entrance to Namal Uyana. Trees believed to have been planted by those who sought sanctuary here and subsequently turned in to a vast plantation of Iron wood forest.
  • Gal Vihara: Also known as Gal Viharaya, is a rock temple of the Buddha situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in north-central Sri Lanka. It was constructed in the 12th century by Parakramabahu I. The central feature of the shrine are four images of the Buddha, which have been carved into the face of a large granite rock. The images consist of a large seated figure, another, smaller seated figure inside an artificial cavern, and standing figure and a reclining figure.
  • Getting to Dambulla: The nearest airport to Dambulla is the Colombo International Airport in Srilanka.Since Dambulla is relatively close to Colombo, Sri Lanka, you are best advised to hire a private car in Colombo for safe travel to Dambulla. There are ample drivers available for hire in Colombo and most are very knowledgeable of the cultural sites and local history of Sri Lanka, making for an informative, guided tour on the road from Colombo to Dambulla.
  • Hotels in Dambulla: Choosing a hotel in dambulla that perfectly lives up to your expectations is the easiest thing in the world. There are all categories of Hotels in this historical place ranging from budget to super luxurious stays.
  • Orange County
  • "Spirit of Land"
  • Orange County welcomes you to the enchanting world of Orange County Resorts - a world of luxury holiday experiences, so steeped in the lore of the land, in the culture of its people and in the untainted natural beauty of the region, that it enjoins you to be one with the Spirit of the Land. At Orange County, we leave no stone unturned to give you the most luxurious holiday. Yet, no stone is turned unnecessarily, and the natural balance of man and his environment is preserved and protected.
  • Holidays which take you away from the familiarity of one world, whilst drawing you into the bosom of another. An experience that helps you discover that the mind, body, and soul are in perfect harmony when you are at one with the spirit of the land.
  • Suites & rooms:
  • No effort, nor expense, has been spared to make your dwelling an absolute haven of luxury, while highlighting the romance of ethnic style.
  • From the architecture to the interiors, from the fittings to the bric-a-brac, every little detail has been seamlessly integrated within a vernacular vision, to ensure that your body and soul are infused. Whether it's the sumptuously appointed Kodava manors at Coorg, or the Kuruba huts with private pools at Kabini, you will be the Lord of all you survey.
  • Dining: While the sheer natural beauty of our resorts titillates the senses, bodily sustenance isn't far behind. The kitchens of Orange County are famed for the originality and sumptuousness of their platters, and our guests are pampered with a spread of culinary concoctions.
  • Made from the freshest and finest produce, and served in some of the most spectacular settings, the Orange County repast offers an extensive selection of the finest in Continental, North and South Indian cuisines.
  • Activities: While the luxuries of your villa might make you consider inactivity the perfect form of activity, Orange County offers enough temptations to step out of your comfort zone.
  • Our activities are designed around the philosophy that you should go back enriched by the Orange County Experience. So, whether it be interactive story telling sessions or the evening tribal dance; visit to the local tribal village or exploring the countryside on a bicycle; an early morning wildlife safari or cruise on the Cauvery on a Coracle; sharing make-up secrets with a local Kodava beauty or an interaction with the resort elephant. The platter of activities is designed to draw you out, and help you become part of the rich and varied nature and culture of the land.
  • How to get there:
  • All Orange County properties are easily approachable, and yet incredibly secluded.
  • Air: Mysore Mandakalli Airport has direct flights operating to Bangalore and Chennai and is the nearest airport to Ornage County.
  • Bus: Volvo buses travel to-and-fro from Coorg to Mysore every 10 minutes.
  • Places of Visit around Orange County:
  • Abey Falls or Abbi Falls: Abbey Falls also called as Abbi Falls is located 1 km from the town of Madikeri. The waterfall is located between coffee plantations with coffee bushes and spice estates with dense bushes and green trees where the Kaveri river cascades down a rockface.
  • Madikeri Fort: Madikeri fort was first built by Mudduraja in the last quarter of the 17th century. He also built a palace inside the fort. It was eventually rebuilt in granite by Tipu Sultan who named the site as Jaffarabad. In 1790, Doddavira Rajendra took control of the fort.
  • Omkareshwara temple: Omkareshwara temple was built by Lingarajendra in 1820. It is located just 1 km away from the heart of the Madikeri. The temple has both Islamic and Gothic style of architecture.
  • Dubare Elephant Camp: Dubare Elephant Camp is located on the banks of Kauveri river in the Kodagu District of Karnataka. It is located on the other side of the river and accessible by a small boat ride.
  • Golden temple, Bylakuppe: The main attraction of the town is the Namrodoling Monastery (Golden Temple.On the way to the lake, the green forest makes your mind cool. Near the lake, there is a old stone sculpture in which beautiful carvings is present.There are many Buddhist monasteries and schools which give quality education for buddhist monks.
  • Radisson blu
  • "In the heart of Chennai"
  • The Radisson Blu Chennai features ideal accommodations for your business or leisure trip to Chennai.
  • Rooms: Hotel rooms at the hotel provide a quiet, comfortable atmosphere in the heart of the city. Our 101 guest rooms include 7 elegantly designed suites, 17 Club PLUS rooms, 46 Club Rooms and 31 Business Rooms. Smoking and non-smoking rooms are available.
  • Deluxe Room: These ultra modern rooms feature wooden floors and offer you a choice of a queen bed or two twin beds.
  • Business Class Room: This luxury business class room features wood toned flooring, mood lighting, a laptop safe and enhanced entertainment facilities, including an iPod dock. The room also features a personalized massage chair...
  • Restaurant - Dining: Superb Dining among Hotels in Chennai, India. The Radisson Blu Hotel Chennai provides guests with the convenience of several on-site dining options. During your stay, sample succulent kababs at the Great Kabab Factory, enjoy the extensive breakfast buffet at our poolside Garden Cafe and relax with a cocktail in the English polo club-themed Gallop. Our delicious on-site dining truly sets us apart from hotels in Chennai, India.
  • Garden Cafe: The all day, poolside restaurant at the Radisson Blu Hotel Chennai serves a multi-cuisine breakfast and lunch buffet. The Super Breakfast Buffet offers an array of dishes, including Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisine. There is a special counter for fresh pancakes, eggs and waffles. The lunch buffet consists of six enticing meal choices, with a counter for chats and tava items selected by the chef.
  • Other Activities: The Radisson Blu Hotel Chennai provides guests with convenient services to ensure an enjoyable, relaxing stay. Work off stress in our state-of-the-art health club, browse the on-site book store or catch up on office work in our Business Centre. A wide array of services can be accessed via our guest communication service, a convenient amenity not found at other Chennai, India hotels.
  • Wellness: Our health club has a fully equipped fitness studio, swimming pool, steam room and Jacuzzi. Gym machines include treadmill, cross trainer, exercise cycle, rowing machine, manual bench, lat pull down, shoulder press, leg curl, leg extension, chest press, abdomen bench, cycle, stepper and stretching machine.
  • Enjoy these extra services and amenities:
  • » 24-hour hospitality desk and foreign currency exchange
  • » Airport transfers - complimentary
  • » Babysitting available on request
  • » Central air conditioning
  • » Doctor on call and distress kits
  • » Express laundry service
  • » Laundry and valet service
  • » Outdoor parking - complimentary
  • » Special amenities for female travelers
  • » VCR/DVD on request