Wednesday 31 August 2016

5 must-visit destinations in Uttarakhand


Uttarakhand is one of the most beautiful northern states of India located on the southern slope of the Himalayan range.

Mighty Himalayan peaks and glaciers are on its north where it borders Tibet. Nepal is on its east, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is on south and Himachal Pradesh lies on its west and northwest. 65% of its area is covered by dense forests that are home to Royal Bengal tiger, leopards and many other endangered animal and plant species. The glaciers of two of the most important rivers—Ganga and Yamuna—are located here.

It has something to offer to every kind of traveller. For wildlife lovers, Jim Corbett National Park—the oldest national park of the Indian subcontinent is a must visit. Many rare Himalayan birds can also be spotted here besides Pangot and Sattal. For adventure seekers there are some of India's best trekking trails like Valley Of Flowers, Roopkund, and Chopta-Chandrashila. It also provides immense opportunities for adventure sports, such as skiing at Auli and white waterrafting at Shivpuri. Popularly known as the 'Land of Gods', it is home to numerous holy places like Gangotri, Yamnotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Rishkesh and Haridwar. Therefore, thousands of pilgrims throng the state every year. Amazing hill stations like Chakrata, Mukteshwar, Dhanaultiand Munsiyari make Uttarakhand a sought after tourist destination for leisure trips

Here's a list of destinations in Uttarakhand,Uttaranchal that every nature lover would love to visit.

1. Chakrata

Having breakfast with the view of snow-covered Himalayan peaks on a lazy morning while soft rays of winter sun embrace your body and soul while cool breeze kisses you is something city people always crave for. Chakrata located at a distance of 330 km from Delhi, is a tiny hamlet which is a perfect place to do so. There are two routes to drive from Delhi to Chakrata, one is via Panipat and Kurukshetra and the second one is via Loni and Saharanpur, which supposedly is more beautiful and has less traffic.

Chakrata is a small cantonment town in Dehradun district resting at an elevation of about 7500 ft. The town gets a magnificent view of the snow covered Himalayas and is covered in deodar, Himalayan oak and rhododendron forest. Many day trips to places like Deoban, Koti, Kanasar can be done with Chakrata as base. There are some easy treks also around Chakrata that your hotel guys can arrange for you. There are not many hotels in the area so make sure to book your accommodation in advance. Chakrata is a year round destination; the winter season is perfect to experience snow, greenery is at its best during the monsoon season and the summer season too is quite pleasant.


2. Auli

Auli is one of the most beautiful places of Uttarakhand. Bordered by snow-covered Himalayan peaks, Auli is enveloped in dense golden oak and pine forest with green meadows and slopes ranging from a height of 2519 m to 3049 m. It is considered to be a world-class spot for skiing. GMVN winter resort here provides skiing facility, besides ski training for aspirants. Almost from everywhere in Auli, you can enjoy stunning views of the lofty mountain ranges—Nanda Devi, Mana Paravat and Kamat.

The golden rays of sun on the snow-laden peaks fill the atmosphere with a divine glow. The 3rd highest peak of the world—Nanda Devi gleams like the crown of the region. There is an open cable-car to go up to the spot where skiing is done. Even if you do not want to ski, you have plenty of things to do. Climb up the slopes, play with snow, ride a sledge and who knows you might feel like trying skiing too. The best time to visit Auli is in between December and March.


3. Corbett

Spread across an area of 520.8 sq km, Jim Corbett National Park is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand. It is the oldest national park, and is named after Jim Corbett who was the main person behind this establishment. The park is divided in 5 zones—Bijrani, Jhirna, Durgadevi, Dhikala, Sitavani—and is inhabited by royal Bengal tiger, leopard, jungle cat, barking deer, hog deer, cheetal, sloth bears, otters, Himalayan goral, Indian pangolins, langur and many other wild animals. Many rare birds can also be spotted in the region.

Gorgeous Corbett National Park is one of the favourite destinations equally for wildlife lovers and weekenders. It is just 235 km away from capital city and can be reached in couple of hours. It features splendid landscapes and offers a good amalgam of hills, rivers, forests, marshlands and grasslands. The park is open from the months of November through June. The park is kept closed in the monsoon season as the roads inside the park get washed away due to rain. After the monsoon season, repair work starts and ends only by November.


4. Tehri Dam

beautiful uphill drive through the hills covered in pines and small villages will take you to this dam. It is built on the Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand and is the tallest dam in India. It is counted amongst 5 highest dams in the world, with 855 ft high rock and earth-fill embankment that makes it an engineering marvel. Its length is 1886 ft, crest width is 66 ft and base width is 3701 ft and generates 2400 MW of power. There is a viewpoint near the Bhagirathipuram bus stop from where you can have a majestic view of the entire dam.

During the construction of the Tehri Dam, a huge water body was created. The tourism department has developed this 44 sq km artificial lake, as a tourist spot with arrangements of various water sports like jet-ski, kayaking, canoeing, boating, diving, snorkelling etc on the lake. You can also visit the botanical garden, located at New Tehri, that features a range of beautiful flowers.


5. Khirsu

t is a quiet hill station of Uttarakhand located at an altitude of 1700 m, around 330 km away from Delhi. If you are driving from Delhi follow this route: Rishikesh-Devprayag-Srinagar-Khirsu. The drive from Srinagar to Khirsu is beautiful; meandering roads run through the hills and offer a fascinating view of the mountains and deep valleys. At some stretches it passes through denseforest and if you are lucky enough you might see some wild animals.

The only sound you hear amid thick oak and deodar forests and apple orchards is chirping of birds. There are small treks that can be done from here to get the amazing views of some of the Himalayan peaks especially Trisul and Chaukhamba during sunrise and sunset. Do visit the ancient temple dedicated to Ghandiyal Devi as well. There are government as well as private forest camps and rest houses where you can stay and enjoy the serenity of the place. It can be visited throughout the year.



Crossworld Holidays gives the best Domestic Packages from mumbai 



Ground Floor, Ram Smruti,
Opp. to New English School,
Ram Maruti Road, Cross Road,

Thane (W) - 400602India
Tel:+91 - 22 - 4038 4747 
Fax:+91 - 22 - 2542 3427
E-mail: crossh@gmail.com

Wednesday 24 August 2016

5 Places to Eat Thai Street Food in Bangkok


Eating Thai street food is one of our favourite things to do in Bangkok, Thailand

It’s hard not to find a street corner with a row of carts lined up dishing up Thail meals like noodle soup, BBQ pork, fish cakes and delicious curries.

Is your mouth watering as much as mine?

The good news is that eating street food has many benefits to you as a traveller – it’s generally safe (you can see what’s being cooked and it’s fresh), you get to interact with the locals, it’s authentic, delicious and the best way to give back to the local economy.

How do you know where to eat the best street food in Bangkok, Thailand?

Craig and I really believe the best Thai street food is the street you are on. Go to the areas that are thriving with locals—always a sign that the food rocks.

Know a few of your fave dishes in Thai, so you can order the right thing. Have it written down in Thai language if you can. If all else fails use your eyes to choose and then point and smile.

1. Chinatown

OMG, if you love authentic Thai street food you will love visiting Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand. There are hundreds of street stalls, markets, carts and restaurants. Night time is when Yaowarat, as Chinatown is also known as, will rock your taste buds.

We can really understand why this comes in at Number 1. According to Jim Thompson, who took us on a walking tour of Yaowarat last year, Chinatown is the place where street food first began in Thailand over 200 years ago when Bangkok was the major trading hub of South East Asia.

Just look for the ad hoc stalls, the plastic tables and chairs, feast out on delicious food and wash it all down with a Singa beer.

We lived a short walk from the outskirts of Chinatown and loved wandering down for our evening meal of Thai noodles with gravy. At 20 baht how can you say no?

2. Silom Road, Bangkok, Thailand

Simlom Road is the only area on the list we have not experienced recently, although we did venture to this area of Bangkok whilst living in the city in 2002.

Being the central business district of Bangkok there are a lot of people, hungry people wanting a quick meal in between office hours. That means you’ll find a lot of Bangkok street food options.

Soi Convent and Soi 20 is where you probably most want to go to gorge on cheap Thai food.

3. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

This is one of our favourite streets in Bangkok. Soi Rambuttri is one of the few places you can escape the madness of Bangkok.

When we lived in Bangkok this street was known as Dog Shit Alley, because of the number of dogs that paraded up and down the rat-infested street. We loved eating Thai food and drinking here. It was cool before it was the hipster-cool it is now. It has had a major uplift and is now a pretty Bangkok oasis.

We were surprised Soi Rambuttri made the list as it seems such a small area, but Tim assures us the food there is known to be first class. It’s also really cheap.

We didn’t eat there this time, except for Kalyra who gorged herself on a cheap banana pancakes with chocolate – one of our fave 2am treats after a night in the Alley.

4. Banglamphu

When we explained why we didn’t understand how Soi Rambutri and Banglamphu were both on the list – as Dog Shit Alley is in Banglampoo – Tim explained that the street food is a little different.

Banglamphu is the area around the river, near the Golden Palace that comprises the backpacking travel area of Khao San Road and So Rambutrri.

If you want the really great Bangkok street food, then walk to the end of Khao San Road, turn right past the police station opposite the Wat and Soi Rambuttri and lining the streets will be many many street stalls and carts. Also the streets adjacent to Khao San.

We can absolutely affirm that this is a great place to eat the best street food in Bangkok. This was where we ate dinner most nights when we lived in Bangkok, we loved to feast on fish cakes and noodle soup.

5. Soi 38 Sukumvhit

We don’t feel we had the normal Soi 38 street food experience. We were excited to feast on this street as we had heard so much about it, but only felt disappointed upon arrival.

There were only a few carts lining the street, we envisioned much more, and the selection didn’t seem all that great. Mind you, we did have a very whiny 5-year-old at the time so probably were not really focused. We ended up jumping in a small stall just to have some peace.

The Tom Yum Goong we ordered was one of the worst we have ever had. Maybe because we are so used to Bangkok street food, we weren’t that wowed by Soi 38. Many people are though, so I would go and see for yourself.



Crossworld Holidays gives the best Thailand Group Tour Pacakges Tour from Mumbai 



Ground Floor, Ram Smruti,
Opp. to New English School,
Ram Maruti Road, Cross Road,

Thane (W) - 400602India
Tel:+91 - 22 - 4038 4747 
Fax:+91 - 22 - 2542 3427
E-mail: crossh@gmail.com

Wednesday 17 August 2016

10 Places That Look Imaginary, But Are Actually Real


Here is a list of most amazing magical places. The top 10 Places That Look Imaginary around the world, that look not normal, but are actually real.

1. Mount Roraima, Venezuela

It might look like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie, but this natural wonder is completely real, and fully awe inspiring Mount Roraima is the highest of the Pakaraima chain of tepui plateau in South America. The mountain includes the triple border point of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana. Mount Roraima lies on the Guiana Shield in the southeastern corner of Venezuela’s 30000 km2 Canaima National Park forming the highest peak of Guyana’s Highland Range. The tabletop mountains of the park are considered some of the oldest geological formations on Earth.



2. Tunnel of Love – Kleven, Ukraine

An unused railway track in the small Ukrainian town of Kleven (which lies some 350km from Kiev) has naturally transformed itself into a romantic paradise for couples. The track, which is known locally as The Tunnel of Love, is becoming an increasingly common spot for couples, particularly during spring, when a huge canopy of trees along the track grows over either side to form an arch. This arch stretches for up to three kilometers and looks like a green tunnel of trees and couples wishful of a few moments of romantic solitude are often seen strolling around.



3. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni, one of the most breathtaking sights in the world, is the world’s largest salt flat at 10,582 square kilometers. It is located in the Potosí and Oruro departments in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, and is at an elevation of 3,656 meters above mean sea level. The Salar was formed as a result of transformations between several prehistoric lakes. It is covered by a few meters of salt crust, which has an extraordinary flatness with the average altitude variations within one meter over the entire area of the Salar. The crust serves as a source of salt and covers a pool of brine, which is exceptionally rich in lithium.



4. Mount Grinnell – Glacier National Park, Montana

Mount Grinnell is a peak located in the heart of Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana near Mount Gould and Mount Wilbur. It is named after George Bird Grinnell. From the Many Glacier Hotel on Swiftcurrent Lake the “false peak” of Grinnell Point can be seen.



5. The Stone Forest – Yunnan, China

The Stone Forest or Shilin is a notable set of limestone formations located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, People’s Republic of China, near Shilin approximately 120 kilometres from the provincial capital Kunming. The tall rocks seem to emanate from the ground in the manner of stalagmites, with many looking like petrified trees thereby creating the illusion of a forest made of stone.



6. Zhangye, China

The incredibly coloured rocky landscape that looks as though it’s been painted. Danxia Landform at Nantaizi village of Nijiaying town, in Linzhe county of Zhangye, Gansu province of China. This incredible landscape look as if it have been painted in the sweeping pastel brush strokes of an impressionistic artwork. But in fact this remarkable picture show the actual scenery of Danxia Landform at Nantaizi village of Nijiaying town, in Linzhe county of Zhangye, Gansu province of China.



7. Lake Retba – Senegal

Looks Like A Giant Strawberry Milkshake, Lake Retba or Lac Rose lies north of the Cap Vert peninsula of Senegal, north east of Dakar. It is so named for its pink waters, caused by Dunaliella salina algae in the water. The color is particularly visible during the dry season.



8. Tulip fields – Lisse, Holland

If you love flowers you won’t believe the colorful display of tulips and other springtime bulbs in bloom at the magnificent Keukenhof Gardens! The unforgettable seasonal display is created by more than seven million tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, spring bulbs and gorgeous trees. Keukenhof is one of Holland’s top attractions. The flower-growing area just south of Amsterdam is where millions of tulips come into bloom and the fields are striped with gold, fuchsia, scarlet and violet. The most popular attractions in Lisse is Keukenhof, open only during spring when the tulips are flowering. Also each spring a flower parade called the Bollenstreek Bloemencorso is held through the main streets of Lisse.



9. Lapland, Finland

Riisitunturi National Park in southern Lapland is renowned for its crown snow trees. Lapland is the largest and northernmost of the regions of Finland. It borders the Region of North Ostrobothnia in the south. It also borders the Gulf of Bothnia, Norrbotten County in Sweden, Finnmark County and Troms County in Norway as well as Murmansk Oblast in Russia. In Lapland you will experience winter twilight, Northern Lights and the nightless night of summer. Along with unique nature, become revitalised with a huge range of activities.



10. Socotra, Yemen

Socotra is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean. Socotra is part of the Republic of Yemen and is considered the jewel of biodiversity in the Arabian Sea. One of the most striking of Socotra’s plants is the dragon’s blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari), which is a strange-looking, umbrella-shaped tree. Its red sap was thought to be the dragon’s blood of the ancients, sought after as a medicine and a dye, and today used as paint and varnish. The Dragon’s Blood tree is one of Socotra’s iconic natural features. These trees grows in droves high up on Diskum plateau in the center of the island




Crossworld Holidays gives the best International Group Pacakges Tour from Mumbai



Ground Floor, Ram Smruti,
Opp. to New English School,
Ram Maruti Road, Cross Road,

Thane (W) - 400602India
Tel:+91 - 22 - 4038 4747 
Fax:+91 - 22 - 2542 3427
E-mail: crossh@gmail.com

Wednesday 10 August 2016

5 things you should buy before leaving Ooty



Gourmands and food connoisseurs will find much to appreciate in Ooty. Its mild and pleasant climate is ideal for growing tea, spices and oil and even cheese-making. Don't forget to stock up on these fresh, organic products during your Ooty Holiday visit.

1. Acres Wild

Acres Wild, a family-run farm-stay in Coonoor, produces vegetarian and organic cheese with milk from Jersey and Holstein cows. Their entire range is hand-made and includes an array of soft and hard cheeses: herb-infused varieties, feta, ricotta, halloumi, parmesan and even blue cheese. These are available at several shops including Bakers Junction and Tulsi Mall in Coonoor.


2. The Green Shop

Epicures can also get fresh spices like cloves, nutmeg, pepper and cardamom from The Green Shop in Ooty. Part of a chain of stores, this is an initiative of the Keystone Foundation, a fair trade organisation that works with indigenous communities in the Nilgiris. The shop also stocks organic products like honey, and shawls and bags made by tribals.


3. Handmade chocolates

Ooty has a sizeable handmade chocolate industry. Indulge your sweet tooth with the truffles, fudges and marshmallows available at King Star Confectioners on Commercial Road or The Modern Store on Botanical Gardens Road.


4. Aromatic Oils

Ooty's plantations also produce aromatic essential oils such as camphor, eucalyptus and citronella, which can be used for medicinal purposes.


5. Tea

Ooty is most famous for its tea plantations. Connoisseurs will find plenty to choose from: dust and leaf; black, green, black and white varieties; and flavours such as masala, jasmine, cardamom and even chocolate. The Modern Store on Botanical Gardens Road has a large variety of teas from the surrounding plantations.

                       


Crossworld Holidays gives the best Ooty Group Tour Pacakges from Mumbai 

Crossworld Holidays Tours & Travels (IATA approved)
 
Ground Floor, Ram Smruti,
Opp. to New English School,
Ram Maruti Road, Cross Road,

Thane (W) - 400602India
Tel:+91 - 22 - 4038 4747
Fax:+91 - 22 - 2542 3427
E-mail: crossh@gmail.com

Wednesday 3 August 2016

Top 10 places to visit in August in India

Crossworld Holidays Tours & Travels


For Nature Lovers August is the Best time to explore nature. If you were waiting for the rains to be in their prime to plan a trip; it’s time. But if you want to go to places with lesser rainfalls, we have those as well. Don’t just hesitate planning a trip because you couldn’t finalize places to visit in August in India. Lined up for you are some very offbeat destinations to enjoy the mid-monsoon August and take advantage of the off-season prices!

If you are a nature lover and planning for Mid- August vacations then plan for following Places.

1. Munnar, Kerala

Mist induced rolling tea gardens and spice plantation with dewdrops rolling from the leaves and branches, Munnar in August is a nothing short of a nature lover’s paradise. The high mountains half covered in mist while the rain revitalizes everything it can touch. It’s an ideal escape if you’re looking for some quiet time amidst the mountains. Not being a tourist season in August, you can enjoy all of this without any rush and the off season Kerala Packages


2. Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya

Second wettest place on the planet, Cherrapunjee practically receives rains throughout the year. If you love the ferocity of the rains, then you have to visit Cherrapunjee during monsoons, covered with vast landscape and hills, it makes for an exciting monsoon trekking trip. You can also find the unique orange flower honey here and don’t forget to try the Meghalaya tea which is quite different to the Assam or Darjeeling tea. The double decker tree bridges are one of its kind experience that one can have the best in the late monsoon when the greenery is in full bloom.



3. Agumbe, Karnataka

Agumbe is one of the most popular treks in South India especially in August. The mountains and valleys are filled with numerous waterfalls which are a prime attraction; there are also ruins of temples dating back to the Hoysala Empire which is worth a visit. There is a gallery erected on a high point of the hills to view the sunset and you can see as far as the Arabian Sea. A nice trek could be followed by some hot tea only here you get a Vanilla flavoured tea which is just so much better. If the scenes in Agumbe seem much too familiar to you; it’s because it served as a setting to the famous TV adaption of the book Malgudi Days.


4. Pondicherry
The temperature cools down in monsoons, enabling to enjoy the lush green fields and hilly terrains of Pondicherry. One of the major attractions of this place is the sprawling vast land of coffee plantations which leaves a distinct fragrance of coffee in the air. The French War Memorial, Pondicherry Museum and Jawahar Toy Museum are some places to visit here apart from this, the Paradise Beach, Botanical gardens and the Pondicherry beach are worth visit.



5. Coorg, Karnataka

Coorg, a popular hill station located in the Kodagu district of Karnataka is widely known as the Scotland of India, owing to its picturesque hilly setting. During the monsoon season, especially in July and August, the entire town transforms into a lush green paradise. The weather becomes quite pleasant and cool because of the heavy rains. August is the best time to visit the splendor of the seasonal waterfalls of Coorg. For the adventure sports enthusiasts, it’s the perfect time to indulge in sports like river rafting. Various Monsoon Coorg Packages are available to explore Coorg in monsoon season.


6. Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand

A World Heritage site, the Valley of Flowers is situated at the meeting point of the Zanskar and Western and Eastern Himalayan ranges. The high, tranquil Himalayan peaks nestle this virtual paradise on Earth. While it is mainly known for it sprawling meadows of numerous species of flowers, the fauna here is also rich including rare and endangered animals like the snow leopard, musk deer and the brown bear. This place is one of the most beautiful places to visit in August in India as it’s the time when new flowers and plants start germinating and burst into full bloom.



7. Udaipur, Rajasthan

Udaipur is considered to be one of the most romantic cities of the world and has rightly received the tag of the Venice of the East. Also known as the City of Lakes, this is also a historically significant place as it remained the capital of Mewar for several centuries. The main attractions of the city are the City palace and the Udaipur Lake Palace located in the middle of the Pichola Lake. One of the best times to visit Udaipur would be in the monsoon season as you get respite from the piercing heat Rajasthan.


8. Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

The southern most tip of the Indian subcontinent, Kanyakumari forms an essential part of almost every trip to South India. Surrounded by water on all three sides, the weather here is usually cool and pleasant, the usual seaside climate. It is the first place in the country to receive the monsoon showers. If you’re a fan of rain, then experiencing the monsoon at this place in August in India should be a part of your to-do list. Also, being a lean season, one might avail some good discounts on hotels and restaurants at this time.


9. Athirapally falls, Kerala
Athirapally falls are the largest water falls in Kerela, which makes this place to be one of the best places to visit in august in India. In monsoon these waterfalls are amazingly beautiful. These water falls are located 5km from Vazhachal. Athirapally waterfalls open at 9.30 am and closes at 5.30pm. Apart from water falls there are many tourist places likeKauthukapark, Thumboormuzhy Dam & Riverview Garden, Butterfly garden, Botanical Garden,Chapra Falls, Vazhachal Falls, Dream World Amusement Park, Silverstorm water theme park.



10. Panchgani, Maharastra

Like all pretty places situated at high altitudes in Maharashtra, Panchgani too is a Queen of Love and Beauty during the monsoons. Blessed with a great relief system and amazing sights and sounds all around, Panchgani is a blissful monsoon experience. If the visual treat is insufficient to persuade you for a trip, Panchgani is also a Strawberry godown in every sense of the word. C’mon, go on and plan that road trip!





Crossworld Holidays gives the best Domestic Tour Pacakges from Mumbai


 Crossworld Holidays Tours & Travels (IATA approved)
 
Ground Floor, Ram Smruti,
Opp. to New English School,
Ram Maruti Road, Cross Road,

Thane (W) - 400602, India
Tel:+91 - 22 - 4038 4747
Fax:+91 - 22 - 2542 3427
E-mail: crossh@gmail.com