Activity – Feet Beyond Roads https://feetbeyondroads.com Mon, 09 May 2022 06:28:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7 https://feetbeyondroads.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/fav-100x100.png Activity – Feet Beyond Roads https://feetbeyondroads.com 32 32 THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE: BHUTAN https://feetbeyondroads.com/the-ultimate-travel-guide-bhutan/ Tue, 15 Dec 2020 14:26:23 +0000 http://fbr.godparticles.in/?p=6220 Bhutan is a charming little country located in south- Asia right in between India and China. The entire country is covered in pristine pine forests and dotted by picturesque Buddhist monasteries, temples, Dzong fortresses and mystical mountains.

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Bhutan is a charming little country located in south- Asia right in between India and China. The entire country is covered in pristine pine forests and dotted by picturesque Buddhist monasteries, temples, Dzong fortresses and mystical mountains. The rich Buddhist culture is evident in their serene way of life and alluring environment that still remains untouched by technology and globalisation. 

Every year for my birthday, I end up going on a trip to Bhutan. Last year for my birthday trip, I decided to travel to Bhutan from India and checked off one more destination on my bucket list.

My Journey

I took a flight from Mumbai to Bagdogra in Darjeeling and drove all the way to Bhutan (Yes! A 12-hour journey). The journey can get a little tiring if you don’t halt for the night, but the scenic view along the way really makes up for the long journey.

Pointers for Travellers

There are two ways to reach the place – Air and Road. If travelling by road, you would require the following documents:

  • Entry Permit Copy
  • Passport
  • Duly filed authorized letter application form

Best Places to Stay in Bhutan 

My stay comprised of 2 days at Paro and 2 days at Thimpu. Paro and Thimpu do have some amazing places to stay in Bhutan. My personal recommendation would be the following.

Paro

I stayed at the beautiful Namgays Homestay booked through Airbnb which was absolutely serene and lovely. It is located about 10 minutes from Paro City and completely surrounded by nature.

Thimpu

I booked this amazing property called Thimpu 180 view through Booking.com which has a picturesque view of the Thimpu Valley.

Eat

The cuisine of Bhutan is a wonderful mix of traditional Bhutanese places and trendy cafes.

Paro

My Kind of Place located in Main Street is run by a wonderful lady who is also a great chef. Mountain Cafe located in the city is popular for its pizzas and freshly brewed coffee.

Thimpu

If you are a burger lover, this is the place to be. Head out to Cloud9 café & bar, located next to Druk Hotel. Bhutan Kitchen located at Gatoen Lam serves the best Authentic Bhutanese food.

Shop

There is a weekend market which takes place on the main street in Paro and Thimpu every Saturday. From Bhutanese clothes to handicrafts to Bhutanese goods, you can find everything in this bustling market space.

Do Not Miss

Tiger’s Nest  Trek

Height:  Perched at a height of 10,000 ft above the sea level

Time Taken: 5 Hours 

Level: Difficult

USP:  This was definitely one of the highlights of the Bhutan trip. Taktsang or Tigers Nest is a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site located on the cliffside of Upper Paro valley. No matter how many times you see the images of Tigers Nest monastery online, you will be spellbound by the tranquillity and scenic beauty of the place. 

Party Animal Alert

Paro is known for its groovy nightlife. Head to club K for a rocking night out.  At Thimpu, check out Mojo Park and Vivacity located in the hearty of the city.

Best Time To Visit Bhutan from India

October – December is the best time to visit Bhutan because of the pleasant climate and clear skies.

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]]> MY SOLO TRIP TO AMSTERDAM https://feetbeyondroads.com/my-solo-trip-to-amsterdam/ Tue, 15 Dec 2020 06:43:50 +0000 http://fbr.godparticles.in/?p=6186 Solo trips are empowering. As a woman, I’ve always wanted to travel and explore countries alone.

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Solo trips are empowering. As a woman, I’ve always wanted to travel and explore countries alone. Both my wishes came true on this solo trip to Amsterdam. Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The historic buildings, beautiful museums, canals and shopping districts draws visitors from all age groups, across the world. After a thorough research on Netherlands, I booked my tickets and packed my bags to the Venice of the North, Amsterdam!

Public Transport

From trams to public transport to metros, the city is extremely well connected. Also there are trains which connect Amsterdam to Schiphol Airport and rest of Netherlands. There are different public transport passes that are available for the tourists. I went in for the Amsterdam city card which gave me access to city’s tourist attractions plus unlimited use of public transport for 24 Hours. It will cost you around 65 Euros.

Where to Stay

Amsterdam has some of the best hostels to stay. I booked Flying Pig Downtown from hostel world after looking at the reviews and ratings of the hostel. It turned out to be a great decision. The hostel is located right in the heart of the city. The central station is just a 5 minute walk. They have free walking tours that start from the hostel every day. Rooms will cost you around 40 Euros/day.

Places to Shop

Amsterdam has some of the best places to shop by bargaining. After all who doesn’t like to go have something great at a cheap price. If you are book lover, head to Oudemanhuispoort Book Market which offer wide variety of books at a low price. For highest quality garments at the lowest prices, do check out Wini Vintage, located at Haarlemmerstraat.

Places to Eat

When in Amsterdam, you cannot miss the absolutely lip smacking Dutch fries. Stop by Manneken Pis Amsterdam, which is located at Damrak and try out the fried with the amazing sauce at a price of 2 euros! Also, head out to Pizzeria Rimini, located at Leidsedwarsstraat where, you could grab a pizza or a pasta under Euro 5.

Night Life

When it comes to nightlife in Amsterdam, there are clubs to suit every taste. This place is specially known for its amazing nightlife. Checkout the Waterhole Live Music Bar, which offers fantastic live music which a large choice of Local Beer. You could indulge in pub hopping, explore various bars and get free shots too.

Cycling in Amsterdam

The best way to discover Amsterdam is by bike. It is the quintessential Amsterdam experience. Renting a bike or taking a guided cycle tour is a great way to discover the city and can be quite an adventure too. You can rent a bike on yellowbike.in as per your requirement. A 24 hour bike would cost you around 12 Euros.

ZAANSE SCHANS

DO NOT MISS

After interacting with the locals there, I learnt about Zaanse Schans – a unique part of the Netherlands, full of wooden houses, mills, and workshop. The nearest railway station is Zaandijk. This station can be reached by local train from Amsterdam Central Station in just 15 minutes.

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]]> THE MALDIVES TRIP EXPERIENCE https://feetbeyondroads.com/the-maldives-experience/ Tue, 15 Dec 2020 02:06:03 +0000 http://fbr.godparticles.in/?p=6162 Maldives is nothing short of a paradise. The sparkling white sandy beaches, the pristine blue waters and luxury resorts make it a haven for travellers across the world.

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Maldives is nothing short of a paradise.  The sparkling white sandy beaches, the pristine blue waters and luxury resorts make it a haven for travellers across the world. From adventure water sports to having a relaxing, laid back stay, Maldives offers an assortment of experiences to everyone. The deep blue waters and beautiful beaches had been on my bucket list too. On my birthday, I decided to a trip to the Maldives with my childhood friends. We stayed at the beautiful Meeru Island Resort & Spa. This resort offers a number of tourist activities that includes water sports & excursions.

How I booked a trip to Maldives from India

Since I was an employee with MakeMyTrip that time, I got an amazing Friends and family offer for me and my friends. You can always find some great deals for this property online.

Average Flight Expenses

  • A return flight would cost roughly around INR 25,000. During off-season, flight rates can be  less than 18,000.

Types of Rooms

  • Meeru Island Resort & Spa have 5 room types :  Garden Rooms, Beach Villas, Jacuzzi Beach Villas, Water Front Villas and Jacuzzi Water Villas.
  • The Jacuzzi Water Villas with a jacuzzi under the stars and a private sundeck into the sea.

Best Time to Visit Maldives

The best time to travel to Maldives is from November – April.

Places to eat

  • They offer sports facilities ranging from tennis courts to renting a cycle, infinite pools and golfing grounds. You can also play a game of volleyball by the beach.
  • Meeru offers some of the best water activities. From snorkelling to scuba diving and swimming alongside beautiful tropical fish. There is free snorkelling boat excursion to the house reef.
  • At night you can enjoy variety of programs including cultural dance performances to dancing away at the DJ night.

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]]> SRI LANKA – TROPICAL PARADISE BECKONS https://feetbeyondroads.com/sri-lanka-tropical-paradise-beckons/ Wed, 16 Jan 2019 11:41:24 +0000 http://gutenberg.wpmasters.org/wilco/the-great-excavation-lay-far-from-the-plaza The beautiful tear drop shaped country of Sri Lanka is a favourite travel destination for Indians because of its sandy beaches, scenic landscapes, flavourful food, exotic wildlife and heritage structures.

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The beautiful tear drop shaped country of Sri Lanka is a favourite travel destination for Indians because of its sandy beaches, scenic landscapes, flavourful food, exotic wildlife and heritage structures. Travellers come in for the never-ending beaches and fall in love with this infinite paradise that offers something for everyone in terms of fun, relaxation and adventure. I spent 7 blissful days holidaying in Sri Lanka, exploring Ella, a hill station and Mirissa, a beach town.

Destination 1: Ella, SriLanka

Upon Arriving, I straight away headed to Ella. It’s a small town located 200 Kms east of Colombo. It is surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations.

How to reach

  • If you wish to enjoy the beautiful landscape of tea plantations, train is the best option. One can take a train from the Colombo Train Station. It takes to about 2 – 3 Hours to reach the destination.
  • Second option is to take a cab which you directly hire from the Airport. It takes about 3 hours to reach Ella and would cost around INR 5000-6000.

Where to stay in Ella, SriLanka

If on a budget trip, stay at Ella Hide View which has amazing views and delicious food. The sunrises are not to be missed here.

Places to Stay

  • Café Chill: An absolute must restaurant to go to. As the name implies, it’s a perfect chill place to hang out. The burgers, rice and curry are absolutely lip smacking. Apart from the delicious food, it’s the vibe of the place that really makes the difference.
  • Kitchen Garden: Head to this amazing restaurant if you want to have delicious authentic Sri Lankan food. They offer a wide variety of curries and other local dishes.
  • Café One Love: You could spend your entire day at this café. They have amazing bean bag chairs and swings. Pick up your favourite drink and enjoy the view.

Things to do in Ella

  • Little Adams Peak: It’s a beautiful scenic peak and a fairly easy hike. It offers picturesque sunrise views.
  • Nine Arch Bridge: It is also known as the Bridge in the sky. The beautiful nine arches makes it a very beautiful spot since it is located in a dense jungle and agricultural setting. The bridge is very close to the main Ella town.
  • Ella Town: Roam around Ella Town and shop till you drop.

MIRISSA

From Ella, my next stop was Mirissa, a quaint little town on the south coast of Sri Lanka.

How to reach

  • The best and fastest way to reach Mirissa from Ella is by taxi which takes approximately 3-4 Hours.
  • There are other alternatives to reach the place as well. You could either a train or a bus however it takes around 10 hours to reach.

Best Places to Stay in Mirissa

  • If on a budget trip with your friends or travelling solo, stay at Lavender Mirissa which is situated within 400 m of the Mirissa beach. You could hire a bike or cycle (available at the property) to explore the city. This property would cost you roughly around INR 1500/ night.
  • For a luxury stay, stay at Saltasia Villas. It is located 750 m from the Mirissa Beach. You can book a sea view villa which will cost around INR 6000/ night.

Places to eat

Zephyr Restaurant & Bar:

  • Right on the Mirissa beach front, this restaurant offers a great ambience and delicious food. Do not miss the seafood here.

Papa Mango:

  • Get to know the social scene of Sri Lanka at this perfect party and date location.  If you are a die hard party lover, you will definitely want to come back to this place.

Things to do in Mirissa, SriLanka

  • Parrot Rock: It’s a small rock on the Mirissa beach, where you can climb up and see a bit of the Mirissa area.
  • Coconut Tree Spot: 15 minutes from the Mirissa Beach is a coconut farm on a hilltop. The sunset view from here is worth seeing.
  • Whale Watching: Popular for its marine life, Mirissa offers whale watching tours where they take you out into the Indian ocean for a few hours spotting whales, turtles and dolphins
  • Day trip to Galle Fort: Built by the Portuguese, Galle Fort is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is famous for its majestic Dutch fort and clock tower.

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]]> MUST-VISIT PLACES ON YOUR GUJARAT TRIP https://feetbeyondroads.com/must-visit-places-on-your-gujarat-trip/ Tue, 15 Jan 2019 02:07:48 +0000 http://fbr.godparticles.in/?p=6164 Gujarat is one of the most vibrant states of India, known for its bustling commercial activities, natural splendour and historic significance.

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Gujarat is one of the most vibrant states of India, known for its bustling commercial activities, natural splendour and historic significance. Located on the western coast, Gujarat is truly a traveller’s delight with its rich arts & crafts culture, colourful festivals and of course mouth-watering Gujarati food. I had always wanted to visit Gujarat and luckily in 2019, I had the opportunity to travel and explore the state.

Rann of Kutch Gujarat

One of the largest salt deserts in the world, The Great Rann of Kutch is a salt marsh in the Thar Desert, located in the Kutch district of Gujarat.

How to reach Rann of Kutch

  • The nearest airport to Kutch is in the city of Bhuj, which is around 80 km from the desert. Alternatively, one can also take a flight from Ahmedabad and drive down to Bhuj.

Places to stay in Rann of Kutch

When travelling to Kutch, the experience of staying in a tent is the best. They have luxury tents to budget tents. Head to White Rann Resort to have a great luxury experience. If on a budget trip, check out the budget rooms at Rann Utsav tent city.

 Best Time to Visit Rann of Kutch

The best time to visit Kutch is during the Rann of Kutch festival.  It takes place from October to February. The weather is superb during this time and perfect for sightseeing.

Statue of Unity Gujarat

This magnificent statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel also knows as Iron Man of India is worth seeing. It has become one of India’s significant tourist attraction. It is the tallest statue in India at a height of 182 metres.

How to reach Statue of Unity

The nearest airport to Statue of Unity is Vadodara airport which is 90 km from the site. From the airport, one can hire a cab or take the state transport bus to reach the statue.

Place to stay at Statue of Unity

Since day trip gets hectic, you could book yourself a comfortable tent inside the site. The tent city Narmada offers beautiful accommodation to the tourists to spot the best views of the Sarovar Dam, Statue of Unity and surrounding natural environment.

Visiting Time

The monument is closed every Monday. It is open from 8pm – 6am from Tuesday to Sunday.
It takes about 2 Hours to have a complete tour of the statue. You can go up via lift to have a complete view. Visit the valley of flowers, Sardar Sarovar Dam during the day time.

Tickets

There are 4 types of tickets available at the counter.

  • Basic Ticket: This would give access to the Museum, Gallery, Valley of Flowers, Sardar Sarovar view points and bus service ( INR 150 )
  • Gallery Ticket: This would give all the basic entry ticket benefits as well as access to Statue of Unity viewing Gallery which offers a full view of the Panoramic view of the Dam and located 500 feet above ground ( INR 380 )
  • Express Entry Ticket: it offers the above ticket benefits with priority/no wait time ( INR 1000 )
  • Foreigner Express Entry Ticket: This ticket is only for non-Indian guest from abroad and includes all the benefits from the Express Entry Ticket ( INR 1530 )
  • You can also get an aerial view of the Statue of Unity with a 10 min helicopter ride priced at INR 2900/person. They also accommodate wheelchair requests.

DWARKA – SOMNATH TOUR

The Dwarka – Somnath Tour is a must when you visit Gujarat.  The Somnath temple is believed to be the first among the twelve shrines of Shiva whereas the Dwarkadhish Temple is dedicated to God Krishna.

How to Reach

You could hire a cab/take an overnight train or bus from Ahmedabad and reach Somanth. The distance is around 400 Km. You can stay for the night at Somnath and head for Dwarka the next morning.

Best Time to Visit

September – March are the best months to travel since the weather is pleasant. However if you wish to avoid the crowd, you may visit the Temple during the summer season.

Places to Stay

One of the best hotel to stay at Dwarka is the VITS Devbhumi Hotel, located near Ravla Lake. It offers great accommodation with a terrace. Price would range between INR 3000 – 4000. At Somnath, stay at the beautiful Sarovar Portico, located at Tadla Road. Book a superior room which offers a garden view at a price of INR 3000.

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