Photo of the Week - Ellora Caves Kailasa Temple
Monday July 13, 2009
This large stone elephant is one of two in the Kailasa Temple, at the Ellora Caves in Maharastra.
The Ellora and Ajanta caves are a deservedly popular India tourist attraction. As well as being one of India's top historical places, they're a remarkable architectural feat. All of them have been hand carved out of stone! The detail and amount of work is incredible.
Want to know more about what to see and do in Maharastra? Check out this guide to the Top 5 Tourist Destinations in Maharastra.
Do you have a photo of India that you'd like to share? Submit your photo here along with a brief description and it may be featured as Photo of the Week.
Photo copyright www.cepolina.com.
Delicious Dining at the Taj Land's End Hotel Mumbai
Sunday July 12, 2009
Vista, Taj Land's End Mumbai.
Leonardo Media
I had dinner with a friend last night at the Taj Land's End Hotel in Bandra. This luxury hotel is located on a hill, overlooking the ocean at Bandra Bandstand. It offers a fabulous view of the new Bandra-Worli Sea Link too (not to mention, it's right near Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan's house).
If you have a bit of spare cash, there's some delicious dining to be had at the Land's End. We ate in Vista, the hotel's bistro, which is known for its pizzas and extensive buffet. My friend had a pizza (650 rupees/$15), while I chose the buffet (1,500 rupees/$30, including a small beer). It offered an interesting mix of both Indian and continental food. The Sunday brunch buffet at Vista is especially popular, and is one of the best Sunday brunch buffets in Mumbai.
If you're not concerned about budget at all, the hotel's organic restaurant, Pure, is a real treat. A meal for two can easily add up to 4,000 rupees ($80), excluding drinks, though.
More About Eating and Drinking in Mumbai:
Cheap Luxury Accommodations in Bangalore?
Friday July 10, 2009
Vivanta by Taj, Bangalore.
Taj Hotels & Palaces
I recently read an article in the Times of India about hotel prices in Bangalore. It said that room rates for premium and luxury hotels in Bangalore have dropped to 2000 levels.
Apparently, people have been checking into 5 star hotes in Bangalore for between 6,500 and 7,000 rupees ($130-140) per night. Shockingly, these rates were supposedly as high as 20,000 rupees 2-3 years ago because there was such a shortage of rooms in Bangalore. The slump in corporate travel has sent these rates crashing.
I did a quick search of hotels on the Internet but didn't find any 5 star rooms as cheap as 6,500 rupees, for non corporate travel, in Bangalore. The best rate on offer was the early bird rate of 8,200 rupees ($165) at the Taj West End. Rooms at the ITC Windsor were going for around 9,000 rupees ($180), while the early bird rate at The Leela and The Oberoi was 9,500 rupees. However, the Taj Vivanta, whilst not a 5 star hotel, had single rooms on offer for 6,400 rupees ($130) a night.
As always in Bangalore, the centrally located St Marks Hotel remains the most popular, and best value for money. Rooms there start from 6,500 rupees a night.
More About Bangalore Travel:
Where to Enjoy an Eco Friendly Stay in India
Thursday July 9, 2009
Bungalow at Coconut Lagoon.
www.flickr.com user albany_tim
Want to stay somewhere with a difference in India, and be assured that you're helping the environment at the same time? These 10 top eco friendly hotels in India are the prefect choice. Not only do they offer a refreshing nature based approach to tourism, they're located in some of the most beautiful and picturesque parts of India.
As a result of the growth in eco friendly tourism in India, there are plenty of different types of accommodations on offer too -- including luxury tents, homestays, eco villages, and nature resorts. Something for everyone really!
More About Where to Stay in India:
