From the time immemorial, the Bhagavad Gita, the ultimate doctrine of universal truths, has been a source of inspiration, guidance and knowledge for saints, leaders, artists, philosophers and scientists across the world. Can travelers learn anything from this holy book? When we pondered over it, we recollected some travel quotes which seem to echo the seven best teachings from the Bhagavad Gita. We at Travel Beats, an Indian community portal by Indian Eagle Travel found a connection between the message of those Bhagavad Gita teachings and the following inspirational quotes for travelers: 

“Simply know that there is so much more, infinitely more, beyond what can be seen, felt, heard by your physical senses” –  the Bhagavad Gita

The travel quote, “The world is like a book. Those who do not travel read only one page,” seems to be a simpler version of the above quote from the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. Both highlight the knowledge of the world beyond the reach of our physical senses. To know the world, you need to travel. Standing still at a place or sitting within four walls won’t help.

“Wisdom becomes inaccessible due to selfish attitude” –  the Bhagavad Gita

Albert Einstein’s travel quote, “Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better,” is as meaningful as the above teaching from the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. A selfish mind is obsessed with thoughts of the self. It cannot look within itself, and thus it turns blind to wisdom. Traveling to some remote places is an opportunity to look deep into nature and gain wisdom. The selfish mind feels very little in the vastness of nature and gives up the selfish attitude when it is enriched with wisdom.

“For the senses wander, and when one lets the mind follow them, it carries wisdom away like a windblown ship on the waters” –  the Bhagavad Gita 

The travel quote, “We wander for distraction but travel for fulfillment,” seems to be born out of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita quote, “For the senses wander, and when one lets the mind follow them, it carries wisdom away like a windblown ship on the waters.” The mind is like a windblown ship which wanders if not driven towards a specific direction. Likewise, if you travel with or for a purpose, it will give you a sense of fulfillment. Purposeless travel results in wandering that causes distraction of the mind.

“Thoughts about big or small, your or mine should be kept out” –  the Bhagavad Gita

The travel quote, “If you wish to travel fast and fast, travel light, take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears,” seems to be inspired from the lesson, “Thoughts about big or small, your or mine should be kept out,” from the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. Both the holy book and travel teach the same thing that petty thoughts, narrow thinking and negative emotions limit the mind’s receptivity for knowledge during the life’s journey on earth.

“What is the greatest fear of humans? Death, we all know it. Fear not death” –  the Bhagavad Gita

The travel quote, “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore,” is as inspirational as the Srimad Bhagavad Gita’s teaching to not fear death. Both the travel quote and the holy lesson are reflective of the thought that you can do great work in life unless you are fearless of death. Similarly, traveling beyond the known frontiers and across the unknown geographies is an act of fearlessness.

“Our body is perishable. Whoever comes to this world surely has to go one day” –  the Bhagavad Gita

The travel quote, “Life is like an ice cream. Travel before it melts,” seems to be an echo of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita’s lesson on the mortality of human body, “Our body is perishable. Whoever comes to this world surely has to go one day.” One’s earthly life spans as long as one’s body lives. You should travel the world before your lifespan expires and the body is reduced to ashes.

“Do not abstain from action” – the Bhagavad Gita

The travel quote, “The world is always in motion. Why should we be stand still then?” seems to resonate with “Do not abstain from action,” a teaching from the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. Both the scriptural teaching and the travel quote advice to get out of inertia of the mind and the body. If work is the key to liveliness, traveling is the secret of happiness. Why should you spend the entire life in one place rather than traveling to different destinations when earth is never at rest?

The post 7 Best Lessons from Bhagavad Gita which Inspire Travelers to Become Globetrotting Celebrities appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Once, an NRI and an American were sitting side by side in the business class of a plane while traveling to India from the USA. The NRI was going on a business trip to India, and the US traveler was going to make his first India tour. The latter was curious about his destination. He was more in the know of ancient India than the 21st century India, and therefore, he was keen to see camels, snake charmers, rural belles carrying earthen pots on their heads, etc. He greeted the NRI with a broad smile and got into a conversation with him. The NRI’s sense of humor made the conversation funny.

The US traveler: Hello! Are you from India?
The NRI: Yup (taking the magazine down from in front of his face).
The US traveler: Were you born on the soil of India?
The NRI: On the soil and under the sky of India!
The US traveler: (felt amused) Very nice! Is India hot?
The NRI: Hmm! It is hot and cool just like American guys and gals.
The US traveler: I see! Where are snake charmers found in India?
The NRI: Are you on a mission to catch the snake charmers of India? Sorry! Recently, they have been rehabilitated on the moon.
The US traveler: On the moon! I will visit Rajasthan first. It is the land of camels.
The NRI: You’re absolutely right (with a suppressed lough). Don’t forget to have a camel ride.
The US traveler: I will ride on camel all around Rajasthan.
The NRI: Animal rights activists in India will award you for the ride.
The US traveler: Indians are known for their sweet tooth for desserts.
The NRI: We have a sweet tooth for salt too.
The US traveler: Which direction is South in India?
The NRI: You had better find it on Google map.
The US traveler: I will visit Rabindranath Tagore in Bengal.
The NRI: He is busy writing. Seek an appointment first.
The US traveler: I will, I will. Do you use perfume in India?
The NRI: No. Indians are too gentle to seduce ladies.
The US traveler: Is Taj Mahal visible at night?
The NRI: If you carry a lamp…
The US traveler: Where does Aishwarya Rai live in India? I have seen her on a TV show?
The NRI: She lives in the mind of every Indian.
The US traveler: Are there dance floors in Indian cities?
The NRI: Indians dance on the roof in cities (with a smile).

How did you enjoy the fun? We at Travel Beats, an Indian community portal by Indian Eagle Travel, celebrates International Joke Day with you. Happy Joke Day! Like us on Facebook and Twitter. Indian Eagle books the cheapest flights to India, even for last-minute travel. Hey, it is not a joke!

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This International Women’s Day, Indian Eagle brings you the stories of ambitious, independent, working women travelers from India. These urban women travelers of India not only travel but also blog about their experiences. Some are backpackers; some are solo travelers; some are road trippers; some are bikers. Though they define themselves differently, what they have in common is the purpose, that is breathe freely, taste the spirit of freedom, discover new places, meet new faces, experience new cultures, break loose from monotony, and explore the bounties of nature. On the occasion of Women’s Day, Indian Eagle shares with you how these women of today from different walks of life have carved a niche as independent travelers in India.

Vishakha Talreja

Vishakha Talreja, chief editor of digital hospitality magazine The Hotel Explorer, is much of a beach lover and an urban traveler. She loves exploring night-life spots, shopping destinations and spas. That is why traveling to cities with madding crowds is her favorite pursuit. Though, once in a while, she visits serene hill stations or farms in remote villages away from the hustle-bustle of city life.

The maxim, “Travel is the only way to see the world,” keeps her on her traveling toes. She loves exploring unknown territories, experiencing different cultures, and interacting with the locals. Vishakha shares with Indian Eagle what makes her standout as a traveler is her belief in packing smart. Traveling light like backpackers and road trippers is not her cup of tea.” [pullquote]I shudder at the idea of being only in my sports gear during a trip. Itineraries with lots of shopping and nightlife do always interest me.[/pullquote]

Vishakha Talreja has been to some of India’s tourist hotspots such as Kerala, Goa, Kashmir, and Khajuraho. She often visits Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru to review hotels in India. She has already explored many a weekend destination around Delhi, to say Mussoorie, Agra, Haridwar and Vaishno Devi. Being a hotel reviewer, she visits smaller towns in India as well.

Rajasthan for its warm hospitality, kaleidoscopic culture and royal cuisine is her favorite destination. She has already explored much of Rajasthan by visiting Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Ajmer. As per experience, the tourist attractions of Rajasthan never fail to mesmerize. As the sun glares over most of India during summer months, Vishakha would like to have hill stations like Darjeeling and the Himalayan valleys of Sikkim on her summer travel wishlist.

Sharmishta Chakravorty

Sharmishta Chakravorty is a biker for bikers. A Senior Manager with a corporate house during the week and Director of Musafirs Motorcycle Tours Pvt Ltd over the weekend, Sharmishta loves to explore the unexplored riding bikes. Inspired by a bike ride in 2010, she formed a biking club “The Musafirs” and reached out to likeminded biking enthusiasts. Biking enlivened her existence which had almost become stagnant due to a routine life.  [pullquote]When I am riding, I am with myself; I can dig deep within. It is a state of meditation. It provides a sense of HIGH! [/pullquote]

Sharmishta has led a gang of motorcyclists for over 50 biking expeditions in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Gujarat. She along with her gang has motorcycled all the way to Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. Ladakh and Spiti Valley are her targets in June this year. Her road trips in India are interspersed with pleasant experiences and memories. She reminisces, “During a ride to a small town about 350 km from Mumbai, we woke up a mechanic at midnight to fix one of the bikes. He not only fixed the bike but also offered us smoking hot tea and some food.”

Sharmishta connects with different places, different people and different cultures through biking. It bridges the gap between her inner world and the outer world. She is all set to explore Northeast India, Bhutan and Thailand on bikes this year.

Anjali Kirpalani 

A published author and cofounder of PR agency Epic Communications, Anjali Kirpalani defines herself as a flexible traveler. What makes her travel is to have new experiences for enriching life, which is not possible indoors. She travels whenever she feels sick of her routine life. It is an overwhelming feeling of excitement about discovering a new place that nurtures the traveler in her.

Anjali has visited Lonavala, Panchgani, Matheran, Nasik, Manori, Alibag, Delhi, Agra, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Manali, Coimbatore, Ooty, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. She has been to Goa several times. Her list of travels feels very short when she compares it to the tourism map of India. However, Goa does always enjoy a favor with Anjali as her favorite destination. She thumbs up the beaches, food and ambience of Goa for a relaxed vacation.

According to Anjali, India has huge potential for road trips and biking tours. But the dirty public loos hold women back from making biking holidays in India. Ubiquitous access to clean public toilets is the need of the hour to encourage women travelers like me for road trips as it is in the USA.

Anjali has authored two books – “Never Say Never” and “Written in the Stars”. Her global travel map displays her international trips to Greece, Sri Lanka, U.S., Hong Kong, and Singapore. In India, Ladakh, Kashmir, Kerala and Pondicherry are some of the dream destinations on her mind.

Prachi Garg,

Prachi Garg, a self-employed traveler and online entrepreneur at Ghoomophiro.com, is a complete backpacker. Her sister is the best companion during her weekend travels. She has been traveling whimsically on weekends for 5 years. She has already backpacked to the beaches of Goa, the valleys of Himachal Pradesh, the forests of Madhya Pradesh, the backwaters of Kerala, tourist spots of Gujarat, and Pondicherry. An obsession with offbeat tourist destinations in India fires up her zeal for nomadic life at times.

Prachi’s first impromptu trip to Shimla reveals how much of a nomad she is. She shares, “One Friday evening, I came back from work and was little tensed. I decided to leave for some hills immediately and took my sister along with me. We put some clothes and basics in a laptop bag, took an auto and reached Delhi ISBT. We thought we would sit in the first bus no matter wherever it was going. The bus was going to Shimla. That is how we did backpacking alone the first time.”

According to Prachi, women do still have a long way to go for solo travel in India because security is a concern. Srinagar, the capital of Jammu & Kashmir, is one of her best trips till date. She recommends a stay on houseboat and visit to the floating marketing in the morning in Srinagar. The tourist attractions of Northeast India are on her travel wishlist.

Megha Jamb

Megha Jamb, a communication consultant and one of the emerging women travelers in India, describes herself as backpacker and road tripper. She loves to experience the details of a particular place on road rather than waiting in queues to get boarding passes checked. Being a backpacker she feels free to travel at her own pace.

[pullquote]The saying, “It is better to see something than to hear about it a thousand times,” is my source of inspiration.[/pullquote] She is a nomad with innate curiosity to explore more and more about different tribes, cuisines, cultures, customs, and languages. Lessons from traveling teach her solid life skills and make her feel more humble. Besides, her overwhelming desire to see the beauty of the world fuels Megha for travels.

Megha has already traveled to Ladakh, Haridwar, Varanasi, Nainital, Dalhousie, Delhi, Agra, Mathura, Goa, Pune, Lucknow, Indore, Nasik, and Hampi, one of the weekend getaways from Bengaluru. Her favorite destination is Ladakh because of the picture-perfect landscapes, crisp air, simple local food, and virgin spots. The trip to Ladakh has influenced her so much that she believes, “You can take me out of Ladakh but you cannot take Ladakh out of me.”

It is a challenge to find proper sanitation facilities, especially for women, on the road to Ladakh. She faced this problem as there was no restroom within miles.

Being a traveler she does have a long bucket list with Kashmir on top. The beauty of Kashmir is an irresistible call to her. Megha blogs about her travels at Travellingisblog.wordpress.com.

Nidhi Thakur

Nidhi Thakur is a solo traveler and a travel blogger at Untravel.in. Every new trip she takes has a different purpose. It may be thirst for knowledge, need to unwind, relief from monotony, desire to know the unknown, etc. Her solo travel started off as a desperate break from the monotony of her daily life in Mumbai. The fascination of meeting new people, collecting new experiences and treasuring memories is why she travels a lot.

Nidhi’s travel diary is a heart-warming account of Dharamsala, Manali, Gawahati, Cherrapunji, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kolkata, Varanasi, Jaipur, and Goa. But, it is the beautiful Gurudongmar Lake in North Sikkim that she holds close to her heart. She recalls, “We left the guesthouse at 3 am. Though we were wrapped in multiple blankets inside the car, we were unable to speak to each other due to freezing temperature. Everything was forgotten the moment we set our eyes on the lake.”

Once she was walking with a Dutch guy in McLeod Ganj during her solo trip. A married lady from Chandigarh walked up to her and asked her if her parents knew that she was out with the guy. This shamelessly upfront encounter still sticks to Nidhi’s mind. She wonders if Indians would ever be okay with female solo travel.

Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh is one of her dream destinations. She is eagerly looking to visit this Himalayan valley this year.

Divya Rai

A solo backpacker, Divya Rai is one of the emerging women travelers and bloggers in India. The thought of a stagnant life sends a shiver down her spine. She wholeheartedly believes in the adage, “If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.” It is what motivates and inspires her to travel India.

On being asked which tourist getaways in India she has already been to, she points at the beaches of Goa, the valleys of Himachal Pradesh, the historic attractions of Uttar Pradesh, the heritage of Rajasthan, Kutch in Gujarat, some temples of South India, the hill stations of Maharashtra, Punjab, and Uttarakhand on her travel map. However, her favorite destinations are Auroville in Pondicherry and Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh.

What Divya Rai finds the most challenging about traveling in India, is the lack of information about tourist attractions in rural India. There is a whole new world in the interiors of India. Her curiosity about Northeast India knows no bound. It is at the top of her travel list for this year. Divya is equally eager to explore Northeast India and share her experiences at her blog Aborrowedbackpack.com.

Aditi Dhar

Aditi Dhar, an NID graduate and an entrepreneur, loves not only designing premium leather bags but also backpacking in search of new places, news inspirations, new faces, new ideas…Road tripping is her another pursuit of discovery. On completion of every trip, she feels empowered as an individual woman, an ambitious entrepreneur and a creative designer.

Her quest for new ideas and thoughts for designs has made Aditi travel Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Karnataka. Her pursuit of discovery has gone international too. She has been to London, France, Italy, Spain, Hong Kong, Holland and the USA. But it is Kashmir that she loves the most as she was born and brought up there.

When Aditi was in college, she along with a friend of hers traveled by 8 trains from Ahmedabad to Quilon in Kerala via Mumbai in order to attend a friend’s wedding. When the Konkan Railway train from Mumbai was unfortunately missed, they ended up taking a long journey through Karnataka. Though all the travel was tiring, it is a pleasant memory today. However, Aditi’s dream destinations include Iceland and Patagonia.

About Indian Eagle

Indian Eagle is a USA based leading international travel organization inspiring tourists to travel India and booking their trips at the best prices. Indian Eagle celebrates the cultural richness, historic glory, natural beauty, and spiritual greatness of India.   

Like this story? Or, have you got something to share? Write to us: share@blogbox.indianeagle.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.  

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“Child is the father of mankind.” To put this proverb in simpler words, child is the builder of nation, the architect of civilization, and the driver of future. But, only enrichment of the mind, enlightenment of the soul, enhancement of knowledge, and tryst with the ways of life make children grow into pioneers of innovation, invention, creation, reformation and revolution. Travel is a great source of nourishment in different forms for children’s holistic mental growth. On the occasion of Children’s Day, IndianEagle elaborates how TRAVEL helps to build a child’s life. 

Travel teaches to be happy

A happy child is a happy prince to its parents and in its family. Traveling teaches children to nurture happy inner selves. The views of floating clouds through windows in a plane, the sun setting beyond the horizon, the sun rising above the sea level, the stars twinkling over mountains, boats sailing across waves, etc. make children beam in happiness which no material things can provide. 

Travel provides food for thought

It is said that we learn a lot more from life than books. Life itself is a travel, a journey, a voyage…And travel knowledge is equal to that of several books. How Buddhist monk live in secluded monasteries of Ladakh, why some of the Indian monuments are among the UNESCO world heritage sites, what Hampi was in the past, what the world thinks of India, etc. provide food for thought to the small brains and young minds.

Travel takes back to history 

There is no single place without history on earth. History is omnipresent. There is a lot more to know beyond the micro world of history books in a library. Children can learn the history of Pratapgarh Fort from classroom lessons but cannot feel the glory of the fort visiting it. Everyone knows about the Fatehpur Sikri, but the rare historical facts are revealed during a visit.

Travel broadens the mind 

Human mind has its limits. If the limits are not crossed by means of curiosity, enrichment and enlightenment of the mind remains unachieved. It affects the mental growth of children. Curiosity is aroused more by what we see than what we read or hear. Only the curious mind gets to know that Mysore has connection with the First World War, and that Tipu Sultan is believed to have used flying rockets in his time, during travels.

Travel discovers new ways of life 

Life is stranger than fiction, so its ways are unpredictable than known stories. It is only travel that mirrors and magnifies the different aspects of human life. How life in the solitude of Spiti Valley is, what the stories of rural India are, how Kolkata was in the 1960s, what the enigma of life in the Himalayas is, how diverse everything is in India, etc. Travel introduces children to multiple ways of human life, which no books cover in the world.

So, travel to India and around the world with your kids. We would like to conclude with the following extract from the poem “It’s a Hard Road” by Liam Hughes:

I jumped on the train
I left this old town
I escaped the rain
I’m no longer down
The wheels start to turn
My worries are gone
I have lots to learn
About the trail that I’m on
As I look around
I see my new friend
I know I am bound
To travel till the end.

Like this story? Or, have you got something to share? Write to us: share@blogbox.indianeagle.com. Connect with us onFacebook and Twitter.  

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The world celebrated International Joke Day yesterday. The day is celebrated to make people laugh and spread bubbles of laughter. Indian Eagle shares with you a funny conversation between an NRI and a foreigner which happens during a flight to India. Hope, it will amuse you with ripples of laughter on the stomach.

The foreigner: Where can I see Royal Bengal tigers in India?
The NRI: In a forest (surprisingly). Do you expect to find tigers in someone’s house?

The foreigner: How is the new government of India doing?
The NRI: It is just one month old. Let it grow, man.

The foreigner: Was Narendra Modi a tea seller before he became a politician?
The NRI: Yes. That is why tea is more expensive than wine in India. It sells like a hot cake.

The foreigner: Why do Indians like to be called foodies?
The NRI: Because they are not dudes unlike you.

The foreigner: Are women safe in India?
The NRI: If you don’t roam around carrying a camera and clicking whatever you come across…

The foreigner: Why do rural Indians defecate in the open?
The NRI: Why do you visit nude beaches?

The foreigner: Aishwarya Rai is the face of Cannes Film Festival. She visits it every year.
The NRI: Why not? She gets the cheapest flight every year (playfully).

The foreigner: Don’t houseboats sink in the backwaters of Kerala?
The NRI: The boats are equipped with safety tubes at the bottom.

The foreigner: Why is Andhra Pradesh split into two states?
The NRI: Simply because a small family is a happy family (with a smile).

The foreigner: What is the best adventure destination in India?
The NRI: The top of Himalaya Mountains.

So, how was your Joke Day? It is a pleasure to laugh and make others laugh. May everyday be full of fun for you! Our offer to book cheap flights to India is a fun, not a joke.

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Buddha Purnima is one of the 13 great festivals that Indians celebrate in twelve months. Today’s generation celebrates every festival with lots of enthusiasm, but without knowing a little about it. They are more interested in celebration than in festivity. Today is Buddha Purnima which is celebrated in India and the rest of Asia. Indian Eagle shares some interesting facts about Lord Buddha, Buddhism and the Buddhist festival on this occasion.

Worshiping of Baby Buddha

Many followers of Buddhism worship Lord Buddha in his babyhood. The statue of Baby Buddha presides over the altar in many temples in different parts of the world. The statues of Baby Buddha are placed in tubs of water with flowers floating on the surface. The place is flamboyantly lit with lamps. The ceremony of worshiping the Baby Buddha statue on the day of Buddha Purnima marks a new beginning, which makes devotees feel blessed with rejuvenation.

Significance of the Bodhi Tree

The Bodhi Tree still stands tall on the premise of the Bodh Gaya temple. The area around the tree is glorified as a sacred spot as Gautama Buddha was endowed with enlightenment here. The tree is decorated with garlands and colorful flags on this day every year. The fringe around the tree is illuminated with lamps. Devotees sprinkle fragrant water and milk at the root of the Bodhi Tree while offering prayers to it.

Buddha idols are not worshiped everywhere

The Buddhists are divided into several different sects. The idols or effigies of Lord Buddha are not worshipped by all sects. Those who are averse to idol worshiping offer their regards to the Vesak form of Buddha. The Dharma Chakra (wheel), a wooden wheel with eight spokes is the symbol of Vesak. The sacred wheel represents enlightenment and the eight spokes stand for Buddha’s noble eight-fold teaching, the key to salvation of the soul, freedom from life cycle and happiness in life on earth.

Peacefulness characterizes the ceremony

Buddha Purnima is the most important day and biggest festival for the followers of Buddhism in the world. Though the celebration is accompanied by pomp and grandeur, the air of the festivity remains peaceful. The monasteries, houses and temples are flamboyantly decorated ahead of the festival. The atmosphere of the day is filled with holy chanting.

Different interpretations of Buddhist calendar

The Buddhists Calendar is a lunar one, and this kind of calendar is interpreted in different ways. If there are two full moon days in the month of May any year, the Buddha Purnima is celebrated on any of the full moon days, in different parts of the world. It also happens that the people of one country celebrate the festival on two different dates.

Lord Buddha is incarnation of Lord Vishnu

Lord Buddha introduced a new religion, Buddhism that is different from Hinduism. Despite this, he is regarded as the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu who is the preserver of the universe in the Hindu religion. He is worshiped in sense of Lord Vishnu at some places in India.

Surprisingly, Lord Buddha himself, his wife Yashodhara, his first disciple Ananda, his charioteer Channa, and his horse Kantaka were born on the same day which is celebrated as Buddha Purnima. According to legends, the Bodhi Tree itself is believed to be born on the same day. Moreover, Lord Buddha began preaching on this day.

Indian Eagle wishes you Happy Buddha Purnima! Flights to India for pilgrimage tours to Buddhist destinations are booked at the lowest prices on IndianEagle.com.

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Etihad Airways is all set to take the aviation industry by storm when the dream project “The Residence”, a premium cabin with exclusive amenities and facilities, will be launched. Indian Eagle shares an insight into the new aircraft, infrastructure, cabins, interior decor, and flight plans of Etihad Airways.

First & Business Class

The First and Business Class flyers will have a boutique hotel stay experience on flights with Etihad Airways soon. As per the latest plan to make air travel more exclusive and cozy for the First Class travelers, Etihad Airways’ A380s will have a three-room cabin, “The Residence”, comprising a living room, a double bedroom and an en-suite shower room on the front of the upper deck of the aircraft. The Residence cabin can be booked for single or double occupancy. Free butler service will make it a double bonanza.

Nine First Class Apartments including private suites will occupy the rest of the space on the upper deck of A380s in the fleet of Etihad Airways. The apartments will be furnished with reclining lounge seats and full-length beds. Each of the apartments will be accessorized with a mini bar and a wardrobe. There will be a common lounge and bar area for the First and Business Class flyers, too.

Other Development Plans

Etihad Airways has infrastructural plans to upgrade the Economy Class on the agenda too. The A380s have been upgraded with Business Studio and Economy Smart Seat. The Business Studio seats are more spacious by 20%, and headrest space has been added to the Economy Class seats. Provision of 11-in monitor screens with the seats is an added advantage of flying in the Economy Class of Etihad Airways. A plan to upgrade the inflight entertainment system is on the agenda too.

Interior Décor

Etihad Airways will do up the interior décor of premium cabins to enliven the space for flyers. The interior will be refurbished with Arabic screens and blinds covering all equipment. Exclusive artifacts will add zing to the look and feel of the interior. Wood-finish doors of superlative quality will be fitted to the cabins. Moreover, special space with curtains for prayers will be there too. The premium flyers will have an enhanced dining experience. Click here to watch the video of The Residence”.

Flight Plans

Etihad Airways will operate the first A380 from London to Abu Dhabi in December 2014, at the first phase. The same route will see another A380 in the first quarter of 2015. Etihad may fly an A380 to Sydney and New York as well. Washington DC, Dusseldorf and Mumbai are the destinations of Etihad’s first Dreamliner.

CEO speaks

A380s and B787s in the fleet of Etihad Airways will be remodeled to deliver a more thrilling flight experience to premium flyers in the global aviation industry. “The flight cannot be matched in style and quality. We want our customers to experience flying in the new aircraft as a stay in a world-class hotel,” says James Hogan, President and CEO of Etihad Airways.

Etihad Airways is one of the major international airlines that Indian Eagle books the cheapest flights with. IndianEagle.com offers air tickets from Etihad Airways at the best prices.

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Are you gasping for air? Has the tempo of life become slow? Are you idling away time? Many such signs and symptoms of monotony, frustration and inactivity surface in day-to-day life, which result from our indifference to the pressing need for a holiday. That is why it is rightly said, “The wheel of life has many spokes yet so few people ever leave the hub.” We have listed possible reasons why you need a holiday.

How long will your keep your favorite authors confined in the shelf? They are feeling out of breath. If your hectic schedule does not let you spend time with them in day-to-day life, take them out on a vacation. If you don’t, dust will be dating your books. Besides, reading books while taking the morning tea in Assam or Darjeeling, or sipping the afternoon coffee at a hillside café is an absolutely new experience.

Think about your camera which used to click its eye at almost everything. Now it feels lonely in the dark of the locked drawer. If it remains inactive, it will refuse to obey your photography commands. Take it out into light and lend it a lease of life on a trip.

Don’t you wish to be greeted by a rosy smile on your child’s face, when you return from work at the day end? He/she keeps sitting with a long face as you have not fulfilled your promise to take them on a holiday trip. Now is the time to let your child jump off the feet, with flight tickets for a family trip to India.

You are lagging behind the deadlines of project delivery at workplace. Something is pulling your mind out of order. It is nothing but an overwhelming feel of monotony. The only remedy is a holiday break from the circle which you have been running in for weeks and months. Go on a vacation to breathe out monotony and breathe in freshness.

“Oh my god!”; “Awesome!”; “Amazing!”; “Wow!”; “When have you been there?” You often make these comments on the photos of your friends’ holiday trips on Facebook. Why not give them a chance to like and comment on your holiday photos? A bit of envy with your friends is good, at times.

You have got bored of pubs and nightclubs. Your legs are tired of shaking themselves at discs. There is nothing new to see or do. Visit to shopping malls and restaurants, has become a habit that is draining your hard-earned money. Listen to the screams of your inner self for a change, a break and a fresh breath.

You keep checking IndianEagle.com for cheap air tickets to India and dreaming of a flight whenever you remember the last trip and miss all the excitement. You need to take a flight from this imaginary world and come to terms with reality. Otherwise, the dream of a virtual trip will keep haunting you.

Having late nights, waking up late in the morning, feeling drowsy, relying on caffeine, avoiding workout, skipping breakfast – nothing is going well. You badly need a holiday to reorder your routine and reorganize yourself. It is the only right button to press to reset the way the life is going on.

Unlike the Shakespearean character Hamlet, say a big ‘NO’ to the procrastination about a trip for refreshment. Log on to IndianEagle.com and get the cheapest flight for holiday in India. So, no second thought!

The post Tips on How to Know You Badly Need a Holiday Trip appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

So… you are traveling to India in monsoon. You are lucky to experience the natural best of India during monsoons. Where to capture the monsoon beauty of the country – waterfalls, hill stations or heritage sites? We would say, flower markets. Whichever capital city you are in, visit the flower market where the bounty of nature is merchandise for sale, early in the morning. You may have several options to spend nights out. A visit to the flower markets in India is the best thing to do on monsoon mornings. Indian Eagle shares some tidbits of seven flower markets in India to make you understand “Why”.

Kashmir Flower market

The floating flower market on Dal Lake in Kashmir is an eye-catching picture of beauty in bloom. The boats with heaps of flowers sailing on the lake make it a photographic site. In the morning, Dal Lake remains calm only to have its silence broken by the movement of boats. When the soft rays of the morning sun fall on the lake, the flowers gleam with bright hues.

READ MORE Romantic Stories of Kashmir

Kolkata Flower Market

Mullik Ghat under the iconic Howrah Bridge is a bustling flower market on the Ganga River in Kolkata. Because of its riverside location, it is a photographers’ delight for tourists in the city. Of the flower varieties for sale, orange and yellow marigolds add to the colorfulness of Mullik Ghat. This Kolkata flower market supplies flowers to the city, the suburban areas and the districts of the state. On the festive days of Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Laxmi Puja and Saraswati Puja, the market is at work for 24 hours. It springs into activity during the wee hours of the morning.

READ MORE Things to Know about Kolkata Tram

Delhi Flower Market

Visit to the flower market or phool mandi, as popularly known as, is one of the things to do in Delhi. If you derive sensual pleasure from fragrance and color, visit the Delhi flower market at Ghazipur to please your senses, early in the morning. Connaught Place, Mehrauli and Fateh Puri were the locations of the flower market before it is shifted to Ghazipur. Close to the metro station – Ashok Nagar – the phool mandi is a wholesaler of flowers like rose, orchid, lotus, lily, helconia and others.

READ MORE Best Street Food of Delhi

Mumbai Flower Market

One of the busiest and most colorful parts of Mumbai, Dadra flower market blooms like buds at dawn. The market is a labyrinth of 600 stalls selling multiple varieties of flowers in cane baskets. The beauty of roses and the fragrance of jasmine are what is the most fascinating about Dadra flower market. The hours from 4am to 9am is the prime time to see heaps of flowers, feel the intensity of fragrance and catch the fast tempo of life here. In monsoon, the flower market of Dadra is a must visit for photographers.

READ MORE Weekend Getaways from Mumbai

Madurai Flower Market

What comes to your mind when you think of Madurai? Of course, it is temples. Madurai is popularly known as a temple town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Meenakshi Temple is one of the best tourist attractions of Madurai. Often ignored by tourists, the flower market is a less-known place in this South Indian city. If the Meenakshi Temple is an amazing architecture, the flower market is a wonderful collage of colors. The huge variety of flowers in the flower market is an eye-catching visual. In Madurai flower market, rose and jasmine sell like hotcake. Jasmine is known as Madurai Malli here.

READ MORE Float Festival of Madurai

Hyderabad Flower Markets

Gudimalkapur and Jambagh are wholesale flower markets in the city of Hyderabad. The markets are as wonderful as the beauty of the city itself. Hyderabad has been in love with bright hues of flowers since the era of Nizams. It is a pleasure to catch a smile on the rosy cheeks of flower sellers in the morning. The markets supply flowers to retailers and local bazaars. White and red flowers are prominent colors in the palette of Gudimalkapur and Jambagh markets.

READ MORE Things You Should Do in Hyderabad during Monsoon

Bangalore Flower Market

If you take a walk across Bengaluru city for a breath of fresh air in the morning, make sure to visit the flower market. Located in the area between Jama Masjid and Avenue Road, the market is a regular happening with a very short time that is from 4am to 7am. The flower sellers of all age groups sit or stand with their colorful merchandise on one side of the road from Jama Masjid to Avenue Road. The fragrance of flowers lies heavy in the air of the market.

READ MORE Weekend Getaways from Bengaluru

Indian Eagle Travel celebrates the season of monsoon by booking trips to India at the guaranteed lowest airfare. To check the cheapest flight deals, CLICK HERE:

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The post Visit 7 Flower Markets in India where Beauty of Nature is Merchandise for Sale appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

“The plane gained speed, left the ground, took a leap and began to fly high making its way through clouds in the blue domain. Some loving faces, left behind at the airport, became invisible. The things on ground appeared to be tiny specs. The earth seemed to be the surface of a grand football. I was looking out of the window, with teary eyes and the mind full of hopes. I was carrying luggage and the memories of my childhood, school days, bicycle, the banyan tree in the courtyard, the riverside playground, the festival food and….the best friend in the neighborhood.” Such slices of real life are the stories of many NRIs who were born and brought up in India. They left their childhood friends, caring and loving, while going abroad. The moments of playing, flying kites and prancing around with them are now haunting memories in the album of the mind.

Let’s recount the tale of an NRI and his best friend in India, on the eve of Friendship Day this August 4. The story of Veeru and Jai who are very close friends is traced back to a village in India. Veeru is the youngest son of a farmer, and Jai is the only child of a well-heeled land owner in the same village.

They read in the same village school. They go to school and come back holding each other’s hand. Jai brings delicious tiffin which he shares with Veeru. On the way back from school, they stop at the riverside, for some time, sit with their legs playing with the flowing water of the stream and sing together, “Yeh dosti hum nahi torenge, torenge dam magar teraa sath na chhorenge”. They go back their homes by sunset.

Veeru skips school off and on as he needs to assist his father in the field. Jai feels lonely and gets bored on those days. Jai helps Veeru with his books, notes and study materials. Jai stands first in the class every year but Veeru lags behind in performance. Thus, time wheels on day by day. They reach the stage of youth and complete their higher secondary (10+2) education. They plan to go to a nearby town and get admitted to a college together.

But, the fate has something else in store for them and their friendship. Jai’s father wants Jai to leave for the US with his uncle and pursue higher studies at a good college there. But Jai is not happy at this prospect and does not want to leave Veeru behind. Jai’s father requests Veeru to get Jai ready for the US. Veeru keeps the request.

On his birthday, Veeru asks Jai to promise that he will go to the US and make it big in life. Jai reluctantly promises him this birthday gift and says, “Teri dosti ke lie main jaan tak de sakta hu”. Jai leaves for the airport with a picture of his friend standing helplessly and bidding goodbye, on his mind. He promises to come back and take Veeru with him one day.

A stream of time flows between them. Jai joins a prestigious college and studies Economics in the University of Texas. Then, he qualifies MBA in banking and becomes an investment banker. He makes new friends and builds a new world there. His well-paying job, luxurious lifestyle and the glitz & glam around blur the image of the village and Veeru. He strives to achieve more in life.

But, time stands still for his friend in India. Veeru cannot make much of his life with little means after his father’s untimely demise. On completion of graduation in Arts, he cannot manage a decent job in town. So, he takes to working in the field. He hardly spends a day without remembering his childhood friend. At times, he feels a strong urge to reach out to Jai but he is not sure if Jai feels the same for him.

One evening, Jai passes through downtown. Two little boys sharing one ice cream catch his attention and remind him of the school days when he used to share his tiffin with Veeru. His heart misses a beat. He feels lonely despite the crowd around him and finds something lost despite many achievements. He remembers his promise to Veeru and feels restless to get in touch with him. His conscience bites him.

He flies back to India and reaches the native village. When he passes by the school and the riverside, the memories of childhood resurface on his mind. Veeru notices him from a distance and runs breathlessly towards him. They hug each other. Both stand still and speechless for a while. Jai is overjoyed, and tears begin to twinkle in Veeru’s eyes.

Jai takes two flight tickets out of his pocket – one for himself and another for Veeru. He says to him, “Tu mere sath chal” (Come along with me).

They take flight to the US.

This is the story of Jai and Veeru – an NRI and an Indian. Indian Eagle wishes you very Happy Friendship Day.

The post Heart-touching Friendship Story of an Indian American & his Friend in India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.