Daily Archives for May 19, 2015

Step into the Most Popular Tourist Destination

Asia - Ross French - May 19, 2015

India has become a popular tourist destination with thousands of people visiting different parts of India each year. It has much to offer to travelers and tourists. It is a land of hills, rivers, plateaus, plains, beaches, deltas and deserts. It also houses many luxurious hotels and resorts to cater to its booming travel and tourism industry. India offers luxury travel to its travelers and tourists. Cruise from the picturesque natural sites to the architectural wealth in this beautiful land. Almost all the cities in India have something to interest tourists. Jaipur is one among those offering outstanding attractions and keep you busy throughout the trip.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Best Time to Visit Jaipur

Its proximity to India’s lone desert in Rajasthan –Thar, makes the temperature in Jaipur hot in summer and moderate in winter. Weather is best between October and March. In winter the temperature ranges between 21°C and 8°C, making it a pleasant time to travel. Summer is the off season as it is intensely hot with temperature frequently touching 45°C, but one can get good deals on hotel accommodations.

Amer Fort

Popularly known as Amber Fort, this beautiful fort built by Maharaja Man Singh depicts the artistic Hindu architecture through its cobbled pathways and large entrances. This four-level fort, built with red marbles and sandstone, consists of the royal legacy of Diwan-e-Aam, Diwan-e-Khas, Sheesh Mahal, Sukh Niwas  and a temple of Sila Devi. For generations, the royal families used to stay here, and it was secretly connected to the Jaigarh fort for emergency escapes during attacks.

Jaigarh fort

This beautiful creation by Maharaja Jai Singh, located at Amber, Jaipur stands on the Cheel Ka Teela (Hill of Eagles), a promontory of the Aravalli Hills. Located 400 metres above and similar in structure with the famous Amber Fort, it was meant to protect the latter. One can reach the Amber Fort through the secret subterranean passage from Jaigarh Fort. This fort is 3 km long and 1 km wide. It has the world’s largest cannon on wheels, called Jaivana; a few palace complexes which served as the residences of the royal families; a well maintained garden; and a museum.

City Palace

This gigantic fort includes two more forts inside, and is located on the north-east part of Jaipur. City Palace was the seat of the kings. It has a huge array of buildings, courtyards, temples and gardens. Its construction was started by Jai Singh following a perfect blend of Indian and European styles of architecture. The magnificent grid pattern encloses Mubarak Mahal, Chandra Mahal, Mukut Mahal, Palace of Maharani, Govind Temple and City Palace Museum. Chandra Mahal, one of the inner forts of City Palace, has a museum of its own and is still a residence of the royal family members.

nahargarh-fort-jaipur-1

Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of Winds, built by Maharaja Pratap Singh, is located on the southern part of Jaipur. This beautiful five-storeyed building, designed to replicate the crown of Lord Krishna, looks like a honeycomb having about 1,000 small windows. These have latticework that encouraged cool air or doctor breeze to enter the palace, air-conditioning the whole area during the summers. The pink and red sandstone on the exterior gives it a magnificent look in the morning. The palace is part of the royal City Palace extending till the Zenana or the chambers of women.

Continue Reading

What to look for in a Luxury Hotel

Destinations - Ross French - May 19, 2015

If you travel a lot and frequently stay in hotels, it can be frustrating when you try to find the perfect accommodation experience. Sometimes it seems that even if you’re paying top dollar for a quality establishment, you can still end up with something that is, in one respect or another, substandard. Here are a few key features to look out for in your quest for perfection when it comes to finding that exclusive, luxury hotel.

 

Comfort

Let’s take it as read that your luxury hotel room has a comfortable and sizable bed, and consider what other amenities you might think essential – a desk with a chair (at a suitable height), for instance, plus some cozy armchairs and a coffee table in a separate, less formal seating area, preferably in a room with an outstanding view so that you can entertain and be entertained in comfort and style. An accessible ice-making machine for cocktails and other drinks is an imperative, as is quality room service for those occasions when you might just want to take a break from the formal dining areas.

Light and noise

A wonderful bedroom is only as good as its environment, and you need to be able to control light and noise in order to get a good night’s sleep. Ask about (and avoid) rooms that are close to noisy generators or kitchen extractor fans, and instead choose those that have amazing interior plantation shutters. Shutters will help you control precisely how much light enters your room as well as the level of noise that can penetrate it.

Technology

Very few hostels, small hotels and guesthouses charge for internet access these days, and there’s no excuse for upscale hotels that are still trying to do so. Fast, high-speed Wi-Fi access should be standard in an establishment that claims to offer a luxury experience. This is not because you want to work on vacation, necessarily, but because you might want to keep in touch with friends and family. Add to this a sufficient number of conveniently placed power outlets for charging your devices, a TV that has the kind of channels you want, plus a decent hairdryer next to a mirror and a chair, and you will know that the hotel has got the technology right.

All things bathroom

If you’re happy with the provisions for technology, comfort, light and noise control, how is your bathroom measuring up? While the wet room has been fashionable lately, it must be said that the traditional bath – and particularly the spa version – remains at the pinnacle of many people’s visions of luxury bathrooms. Of course, with this comes the obligatory great quality complimentary bathrobes and as many huge, fluffy towels as you can imagine.

Some luxury hotels trade on the reputation of their classic architectural designs, plus amenities such as fitness rooms and pools, which are attractive to some people. Above all, however, impeccable cleanliness and exquisite levels of service are the hallmarks of a great luxury hotel experience.

Continue Reading