• “Jammu & Kashmir” - An Extraordinary Destination Cocooned
  • In Celestial Beauty!!
  • Come and explore the crown of India - where the natural beauty is blest by the Gods... where the misty morning sprawls over the snow clad peaks... where the sunlight gives a gentle touch to the woods and waters, valleys and hillside... If there is heaven on earth, it is here in the divine lands of Jammu & Kashmir!!
  • Geography: Jammu & Kashmir lies to the northernmost part of India. It shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the Pakistan to the west respectively.
  • Jammu and Kashmir: consists of three regions: Jammu, the Kashmir valley and Ladakh. Srinagar is the summer capital, and Jammu is the winter capital. While the Kashmir valley is famous for its beautiful mountainous landscape, Jammu's numerous shrines attract tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims every year. Ladakh, also known as "Little Tibet", is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and Buddhist culture.
  • Weather: The climate of Jammu and Kashmir varies greatly owing to its rugged topography. For visiting Jammu, it is October to February, for Kashmir- May to October, November to February, and for Ladakh, it is Mid June to September.
  • Economy: Kashmir is a leading exporter in agricultural products such as apples, barley, cherries, corn, millet, oranges, rice, peaches, pears and saffron. The manufacturing industries for handicrafts, carpets, rugs and shawls contribute a major part in the state's economy. Tourism also contributes a lot towards the economy. Kashmiri saffron is also very famous and brings the state a handsome amount of foreign exchange.
  • Culture & Ethnicity: The state has been a prime centre for learning Sanskrit and Persian since time immemorial. Today, J&K comprises of Hindu, Islamic and Tibetan culture. The people of J&K speak Urdu, Kashmiri, Hindi, and Ladakhi languages.
  • Jammu and Kashmir has a Muslim majority population. Along with this the state has large communities of Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs.
  • Major Tourist Attractions in Jammu & Kashmir:
  • Dal Lake: Popular as the jewel in the crown of Kashmir, the Dal Lake is the most famous and most visited lake in the state. Lined with Mughal-era gardens, the lake is rich in lotus, water lillies and water chestnuts. One can have the pleasure of Shikara rides, kayaking, canoeing and other water activities in the Dal. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the lake gives a paradisiacal view when frozen in winter.
  • Amarnath Temple: Surrounded by fairly steep hills, the Amarnath temple is considered to be Kashmir's oldest existing temple, dating back to the 5th century. The 'Yatra' to Amarnath, one of the principal Hindu Dhams, starts from Chandanwari (2,895 m), 16 kms from Pahalgam, in the month of Sawan (July to August). The temple is famous for a 'Shiva-Lingam', (a natural formation of ice, in the month of July/August) believed to wax and wane according the moon's cycle.
  • Vaishno Devi Temple: Maa Vaishnodevi Temple is India's second most visited religious shrine, after Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. The shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is established in a cave of the Himalayan Mountains. The route to the shrine is a stretch of 13 km, where there is no provision for modern transport, except for a helipad at the top of the hill. Pilgrims take the help of horses when the journey gets tiring. It is believed that anybody who walks to the abode to ask for a boon rarely goes back disappointed.
  • Sonmarg: Known as the 'Meadow of Gold', Sonmarg is an ideal place for camping. Countless colourful flowers and the holy Sindh River form a perfect gateway to Ladakh. Nature lovers can spot dense forests of alpine flowers, silver birch, fir and pine, and various lakes.
  • Srinagar: The summer capital of Kashmir is situated on the banks of the Jhelum River. The famous Dal Lake and Nagin Lake are the assets and identity of Srinagar.
  • Gulmarg: Often called as the meadow of flowers- Gulmarg is quite close to Srinagar. This hill station is popular for its grassy slopes of flowers and the highest golf course in the world. It has abundant in flowers like Bluebells, Daisies, Forget Me Not and Buttercups. Apart from this, adventure seekers can enjoy various activities from skiing and horse riding to trekking
  • Shalimar Garden: Originally called the Farah Bakhsh or 'Delightful Garden', the Shalimar Bagh is known as one of the finest foundation by the Mughals. The Shalimar Bagh is located in Srinagar, by the Dal Lake. With its four terraces, the bagh includes a number of fountains, shaded trees and innumerable varieties of flowers that blossom in spring and autumn. The best views of the garden's beauty are afforded during Autumn and Spring seasons.
  • Other activities to do in Jammu & Srinagar:
  • » Winter Sports
  • » Trekking
  • » Wildlife
  • » Shopping
  • » Water Rafting
  • » Heritage
  • » Wetlands
  • Getting to Jammu & Kashmir: The travel to Jammu and Kashmir is made convenient by the air services to Leh and Srinagar from a number of Indian cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai, Bombay and many more by jet airways, jetlite and Air India. The railway station in Jammu is served by a number of trains from a few Indian cities.
  • Hotels: Jammu witnesses a huge inflow of the tourists throughout the year. Therefore, it offers a number of decent accommodation options. There are various hotels, resorts and guest houses that cater to the needs of tourists coming to explore Jammu or the scenic region around. The stay in houseboats is also a unique experience.
  • Food/Cuisin: Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, saffron, and other spices are the identity of tempting and aromatic cuisine of Kashmir. The native people are very fond of several rice dishes.
  • Lucerne
  • "The gateway to centre Switzerland."
  • Due to Lucerne location on the shore of Lake Lucerne, within sight of Mount Pilatus and Rigi in the Swiss Alps, Lucerne has been a great destination for tourists. One of the city's famous landmarks is the Chapel Bridge, a wooden bridge first erected in the 14th century. Lucerne was voted the fifth most popular tourism destination in the world in 2010
  • Geography: It lies in a mountainous setting on Lake Lucerne, 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Zürich, Switzerland's largest city.
  • Climate: Lucerne has a central European climate. May to September is the best time to be in Lucerne if you prefer the warmth, and July and August are naturally the hottest months, with average daytime temperatures of about 17°C and highs of 25°C. Temperatures remain below 0°C in December in the mountains and also in the town, making for ideal snow conditions up on the mountains.
  • Economy: Lucerne's economy is largely dominated by the Tourism sector, with prominent industries including retail, consulting and planning, healthcare and banking and financial services.
  • Major tourist attraction in Lucerne:
  • Chapel Bridge: An iconic structure, the Chapel Bridge is perhaps better known locally as the Kapellbrücke. This attraction really is a must-see for everyone and straddles the Reuss River, stretching for just over 200 metres / 656 feet and is built entirely from wood. The Chapel Bridge itself is covered with a small, characterful gabled roof and was built in 1333, making it Europe's most historic wooden bridge. The main attractions include an octagonal water tower, along with a number of paintings.
  • Lion Monument: The Lucerne Lion Monument is one of the most famous of the city's landmarks and acclaimed attractions, and is dedicated to the many soldiers of Switzerland who died during the tragic French revolution of 1792. This highly detailed carved lion is always surrounded by crowds and was once described as being the 'world's saddest and most moving piece of rock'.
  • Culture and Convention Centre of Lucerne (KKL): The KKL Luzern, Lucerne’s Culture and Convention Centre, ranks as one of the most spectacular modern buildings in Switzerland. The brainchild of renowned French architect Jean Nouvel, its cuttingedge design and aesthetic have helped it become the city’s new trademark. Its centerpiece is the Concert Hall, whose acoustics help bring out the fine detail of the music, inspiring leading conductors, orchestras and soloists to perform at their best.
  • Mount Pilatus / Cogwheel Railway/ Mount Rigi: To enjoy some spectacular views and an exciting ride, you need to head to the cogwheel railway at Alpnachstad, on the very outskirts of Lucerne, and enjoy the ride up Mount Pilatus. This is actually the steepest railway of its kind in existence, so expect some truly panoramic vistas across the Alps. Mt. Rigi is also a perfect destination for people practicing winter sports and other winter recreation activities
  • Getting to Lucerne: While the city of Lucerne itself does not have an airport this is not a problem because Zurich International Airport is just 42 miles away and travelling to and from Zurich airport to any part of Switzerland is very easy thanks to the comprehensive transport options on hand. There are boat and train connections to the city.
  • Hotels in Lucerne: Lucerne has some of the grandest, most sumptuous hotels you could find anywhere. The main ones are found on the promenade running along the north side of the lake between the city centre and the Transport Museum. Lucerne is a very safe place, safer even than most of the other cities of Switzerland. That said, it is a heavily touristed destination
  • Food: Lucerne has a host of good Swiss restaurants and even more Italian ones, There are plenty of hotels in Lucerne in all price categories. Many restaurants in Lucerne have beautiful settings in the Old Town and they serve both local and international food. What comes to the nightlife in Lucerne, there are several bars, clubs and discos in the city.
  • Paradise Isle Beach Resort,
  • Malpe
  • The Paradise Isle Beach Resort is the first and only Luxury resort located in the unspoilt beauty of Coastal Karnataka (Malpe). Paradise Isle is an aesthetically landscaped resort spread over 5 acres of land on the beach. This beach and resort provides ultimate ambience in 5 star hospitality. The ethnic designs of the resort blend with natural ambience of the beach and the swaying coconut groves.
  • Location: Paradise Isle Beach Resort is located in Malpe, 5 kms away from Udupi. Malpe is in the coastal district of Udupi, 55 kms from Mangalore Airport. The coastal district of Udupi with its palm fringed coastal line dotted with bays and estuaries, sheltered by the soaring Western Ghats, is studded with spots of great scenic beauty
  • Rooms: Paradise Isle has 70 rooms. The rooms are a beautiful blend of endearing simplicity and much needed conveniences and comforts of today’s hi-tech times. The rooms are nicely air conditioned complete with Satellite TV, Channel Music, Hot and Cold running waters, Telephone with STD/ISD facilities, 24 hours Room Service and even the Internet.
  • Restaurants - Food Court: An exquisite eatery, serving amazing range of multi-cuisine food Opt for authentic Mughlai, Chinese, Continental or you can decide to indulge in coastal delicacies from Goa, Malabar and Dakshin Kannada. Bon appetite!
  • Facilities and activities at The Paradise Isle:
  • » 25 Luxurious Rooms
  • » Banquet
  • » Beach Side Cafe
  • » Conference Room
  • » Swimming Pool
  • » Indoor & Outdoor Games
  • Getting to the Resort:
  • » From Mangalore Airport: 60 km- 1 hour.
  • » From Udupi Railway Station: 7 km- 10 Min.
  • » From Udupi bus stand: 5 Km- 10 Min.
  • » Air: Kingfisher, Indian Airlines and Jet Airways operate flights to Mangalore, which is the nearest airport.
  • » Bus: Various private luxury buses operate from Bangalore and Mumbai to Udupi. The Resort is 5 kms away from Udupi and 6 ½    hrs drive or 350 kms from Bangalore.
  • » Train:There is direct service from Bangalore, Mumbai and all major metros to either Mangalore or Udupi Railways station.
  • Outside the Resort:
  • About 6 kms from Udupi, in South Canara is Malpe, an ideal picnic spot with its virgin beach. The endless stretch of golden sand, graciously swaying palm trees, the clear blue sky and the gurgle of the sea all set a perfect mood for an unforgettable holiday here. Malpe beach is characterized by Silver white Sand beach which is still quite secluded and not visited by a lot of tourists. At the mouth of Malpe river, about 6 kms, from Udupi is the natural harbor of Malpe, an important fishing centre that enriches Karnataka’s coastline with its fabulous beach.
  • Places to Visit:
  • » St. Mary's Island, Malpe: is an delightful get away is only a boat-ride away across Malpe, here one can find a unique formation of    volcanic rocks which are vertical hexagonal rocks.
  • » Udupi Krishna Mutt.
  • » Mookambika Temple, Kollur.
  • » Shringri Mutt.
  • » Annapoorneshwari Temple, Horanadu.
  • Taj Falaknuma Palace,
  • Hyderabad
  • Taj Falaknuma Palace is one of the finest palaces in Hyderabad, India belonging to the Paigah (Hyderabad) State but later owned by the Nizams. Falaknuma Palace is also known as the ‘mirror of the sky’ because at 2000 feet, it was built in the clouds and reflects the ever-changing moods of the sky.It is located on a 32 acre, 19400 square meters area. It is located in Falaknuma, 5 km from Charminar .
  • Hotel Highlights: One of the highlight's of the palace is the state reception room, whose ceiling is decorated with frescoes and gilded relief's. The ballroom contains a two-ton manually operated organ said to be the only one of its kind in the world. The palace has as many as 220 lavishly decorated rooms and 22 spacious halls. It has some of the finest treasures collections of the Nizams. Falaknuma houses a large collection of rare treasures including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books. The Jade collection of the Palace is considered to be unique in the world.
  • The palace has a library with a walnut carved roof, a replica of the one at Windsor Castle. The library had one of the finest collections of the Quran in India. The ground floor of the palace housed the living quarters. A marbled staircase leads to the upper floor. It has carved balustrades, which supports marble figurines with candelabra at intervals.
  • The famed dining hall of the palace could seat 100 guests on its dining table. The furniture was very aesthetic. The chairs were made of carved rosewood with green leather upholstery. The tableware was made of gold and crystal to which fluted music was added.
  • Hotels Has To Offer:
  • Inside The Hotel:
  • Capture the heart of a Palace built for the soul of a Nizam as we take you on a journey woven by the threads of time.
  • » Heritage Walk.
  • » Palace Library.
  • » The Billiards Room.
  • » The Smoking Room.
  • » Champagne Palace.
  • » Bespoke Tailoring.
  • » Spa & Recreation.
  • Note: In 2000 Taj Hotels started renovating and restoring it. The new renovated hotel was opened in November, 2010. The rooms and halls were decorated with ornate furniture, rich handcrafted tapestries and brocade from France. The interiors are a splendid interplay of Venetian chandeliers and intricate frescos, and have charming outdoor terraces, and a treasure of rare artifacts, including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books. The palace also has a 101-seat dining hall, considered the largest in the world, and the Durbar Hall, embellished with intricately carved wooden ceilings, parquet flooring, regal walnut wood furniture and handcrafted mirrors.
  • Outside the Hotel:
  • Hyderabad is also about doing as the Hyderabadis do, which means getting an equal dose of shopping and glamour interspersed with the culture and the art. While it is a celebrated destination for pearls, you can also shop for attars (Indian perfumes), jewellery, bangles of lac and glass as well as traditional Pochampalli sarees. You can explore the meandering streets dotted with seller's kiosks in motorized tuk tuks, perhaps the best way to get under the skin of this ancient 400-year-old-city. The best time to travel to Hyderabad would be from June to February. Also, enjoy the most spicy food from the Kitchen’s of Hyderabad.
  • » The Charminar.
  • » The Mecca Masjid.
  • » Golconda Fort.
  • » Chowmahalla Palace.
  • » Salar Jung Museum.
  • » Ramoji Film City.