Booked Qatar Airways’ flight tickets to India or USA via Doha for summer travel? You can now turn your transit into an exciting tour of Doha City if the layover/connection time is 8 hours or more at Hamad International Airport. Or, you can make the most of a Doha stopover in the event of a minimum 12-hour layover in transit. Qatar Airways’ Doha stopover is one of the best airline stopover programs for international transit travelers. Doha, the capital of Qatar, is much as beautiful as Dubai or Abu Dhabi. You can get to see an additional destination while in transit between USA and India at a very little cost, instead of spending a lump sum for a separate trip to Doha.

PC: Discoverqatar.qa/tours-excursions

Do I need a visa for a Doha stopover or a transit tour in Doha?

Usually, international transit travelers require a transit visa to enter Doha/Qatar. Nationals of both India and the United States are eligible for visa-free entry to Qatar. To be precise, Indian passport holders and US citizens can obtain visa waiver on arrival in Doha during their layover at Hamad Airport (DOH). They must have a passport valid for minimum 6 months and a confirmed onward/return air ticket. The visa waiver for them is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance.

Other transit passengers of Qatar Airways can apply for a pre-approved transit visa to enter Doha. The Qatar transit visa is available at no cost and for a layover of minimum 5 hours. It is valid for up to 96 hours or 4 days. In case a US or Indian citizen is barred from obtaining visa waiver on arrival in Doha, he/she can apply for a free transit visa to Qatar.

Doha City transit tours for Qatar Airways’ passengers

Qatar Airways’ Destination Management Company, Discover Qatar operates several Doha City tours for international transit passengers having a layover of 8 hours or more at Hamad Airport. You can choose either of the two paid Doha transit tours offered by Discover Qatar and pre-book online on the website of Discover Qatar. You can also reach out to the Discover Qatar Desk at Hamad International Airport.

“Discover Doha” is a 3-hour guided coach tour across the city. It takes travelers on a visit to the Museum of Islamic Art, Dhow Harbour, the Doha Corniche, the Katara Cultural Village, and Souq Waqif. The Doha Corniche is a scenic waterfront promenade stretching for 7 kms along the serene Doha Bay. Boat rides are available at the Corniche stop next to the Museum of Islamic Art. Dhow Harbour, one of the oldest tourist places in Doha, is where traditional sailing vessels are anchored. The place offers absolute serenity and scenic glimpses of beach life. The Katara Cultural Village is a must-visit place that offers a walk-through Qatar’s art, culture and cuisine.

Discover the Desert and Inland Sea is an exclusive 4-hour private tour for transit travelers with Qatar Airways tickets for business flights/economy. It is an exciting tour of the place where sand dunes of the Arabian Desert meet the pristine blue waters of the Arabian Sea and offer breath-taking views.

Hamad Int Airport tours for transit passengers

Neither Qatar Transit Visa nor the visa waiver on arrival in Doha is available for Indians and US citizens if their itinerary has less than 5 hours of connection/transit time at Hamad Airport. Without a visa permit or a visa waiver, they cannot step out of the airport for Doha City sightseeing. However, there are airport layover tours for them, and the tours are payable.

“Discover the Art of the Airport” and “Discover Squash at the Airport” are two Hamad International Airport tours for transit travelers. The former is a 2-hour tour exploring the remarkable art exhibits at Hamad Airport, DOH. Good for art connoisseurs among the transit travelers! The latter is also a two-hour tour that provides ample room to let you relax and enjoy a game of squash until boarding on to your next flight. It comes with access to the shower facility. The tour is available every two hours throughout the day.

Doha Stopover for Qatar Airways’ transit passengers 

Grabbing Indian Eagle’s best deals for Qatar Airways flights to USA or India, you can make the most of a Doha stopover for 12 hours or more. However, a Dubai stopover requires one-night accommodation at a 4-star or 5-star hotel. Discover Qatar offers cost-effective packages at bundle rates starting from $14 for standard 4-star accommodation and from $20 for premium 5-star accommodation per night. 

Hotel accommodation can be booked for up to 4 nights depending on the length of your Doha stopover. Your Qatar Airways boarding pass and stopover booking confirmation are the key requirements for hotel check-in on arrival in Doha. Your name on the boarding pass should match your name on the stopover booking document. In the event of flight schedule change or cancelation, you can contact Discover Qatar on +974-4144 5150 for a change to the stopover hotel booking.

What to do at Doha Hamad Int Airport other than paid airport tours?

You are in for a treat at Hamad International Airport. Among the things to do and see during a layover at Hamad Airport, the Orchard is a special mention. If you don’t wish to take a Doha sightseeing tour or spend on an airport tour, you can kill your wait time for the next connecting flight in the Orchard, a 10,000-sqm indoor tropical garden with spaces for relaxation, recreation, and shopping.

The Orchard with a 270-sqm water feature, among the key attractions of Doha Hamad Airport, resembles the Jewel Complex of Singapore Changi Airport. It offers lush greenery with tranquil ambience, so you can stroll or sit relaxed. Is shopping your favorite indulgence? You can go on a shopping spree in the sprawling retail area of the Orchard where there are more than 90 brands, including Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Burberry, and Louis Vuitton Boutique.

During a layover, Hamad International Airport offers plenty of things to do for family travelers with kids. There are Mac stations with lots of kids-friendly entertainment content. The play areas have various facilities to let kids channelize their energy. The passenger terminal has five activity nodes for family travelers with children: one in Concourse A, one in Concourse B, and 3 in Concourse C. Bronze sculptures in the concourses are worth clicking selfies with kids. Precisely, there is no scope for kids to get bored during a layover at Hamad International Airport, DOH.

The post Traveling to India or USA via Doha? All You Should Know about Qatar Stopover, Doha City Tours, Visa-free Transit appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The Free Singapore Tour is back for international transit travelers after three years of the pandemic. Of all major airport layover tours, the Singapore Changi Airport transit tour is the most interesting one. A free city sightseeing tour or a walking tour across the airport is the best to kill a layover (minimum 5.5 hours) at Changi Airport while traveling on Singapore Airlines flights between India and USA. The Free Singapore Tour comprises two city sightseeing itineraries (City Sights Tour), one itinerary exploring the airport (Jewel Tour), and a newly added residential town & village beach tour (Changi Precinct Tour). You can pre-book either of the four tour itineraries.

What are the eligibility requirements for a free Singapore airport or city tour?

All international transit travelers are eligible for the Free Singapore Tour, regardless of their nationality. The first and foremost condition is the layover period or transit time that must be between 5.5 hours to 24 hours. Your transit schedule at Changi Airport should correspond with the tour timings.

How to register for a free Singapore transit tour?

You can register online for the Free Singapore Tour, a guided service. You can pre-book a tour itinerary of your choice under the ‘Airport Guide’ section of the website ChangiAirport.com. Do note that registration or booking is absolutely free.

Is an entry or transit visa required for the Free Singapore Tour?

US citizens do not need an entry or transit visa for a Changi Airport tour or a Singapore City sightseeing tour. Singapore offers 96-hour visa free transit facility (VFTF) to Indians in transit to or from any third country via Changi International Airport. Indian passport holders with a valid US/UK/Canada/Japan/Australia/NZ visa and valid onward flight tickets are eligible for 96-hour visa free transit in Singapore. An entry visa to Singapore is required for an airport layover/city transit tour, if Indian transit travelers do not meet the eligibility criteria for the visa-free transit facility.

PC: Wikipedia (left) | Caroandbram.com (right)

Changi Airport Precinct Tour 

Among free Singapore airport layover tours for transit travelers, the 2.5-hour Changi Precinct Tour will take you away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The tour will let you explore a “uniquely designed residential town and a quiet village.” the tour starts with a visit to Tampines, the residential town which was once a forested area with swamps.  The town won the UN World Habitat Award for being an exemplary model of local Singaporean life.

The Changi Precinct Tour goes through Tampines Hub, Singapore’s largest integrated community and lifestyle hub with environment-friendly space for food and leisure services. The next stop on the tour is Changi Chapel & Museum where the story of the prisoners of World War II is preserved.

Changi Village and Beach Park is the most beautiful part of Changi Precinct Tour for international transit travelers in Singapore. It is a recreational getaway with pristine white beaches immersed in tranquility, where you can breathe in fresh air, listen to your heartbeats, and drink to natural beauty. This is also a popular place for plane spotting.

Changi Airport Jewel Tour

A 2.5-km walking tour across Changi International Airport. Exploring the world’s best airport (in 2023), from the Control Tower to Canopy Park to the forest valley and indoor waterfall in the Jewel complex, is the best thing to do during transit in Singapore if your layover falls short of city sightseeing. Changi Airport’s Jewel tour starts from the Jewel complex where you can breathe in the calm of the lush green landscape inundated with natural light.

The world’s tallest indoor waterfall at Singapore Changi Airport is the prime attraction of the Jewel Tour. The cascading waterfall doubles up as a light-and-sound show in the evenings. Family travelers with kids can see the magic of aviation through interactive games and immersive projections in the Changi Experience Studio. The Jewel tour ends at Canopy Park on the topmost floor of the Jewel complex sprawling 14,000 sqm. The Canopy Park is a recreational wonderland with a number of attractions for children.

Singapore City Sights Tour

A City Sights Tour makes the Free Singapore Tour a lot interesting for international transit travelers. The 2.5-hour City Sights Tour showcases the modern landscape of Singapore as a most vibrant city. The tour starts from City Hall where there are the Parliament House and the Supreme Court within spitting distance from. It takes travelers through the Civic District where the old national monuments are juxtaposed with the modern skyscrapers.

The Jubilee Bridge is a significant landmark that commands vivid views of the Marina Bay and the city skyline during the City Sights Tour. The tour includes a 30-minute stopover at the Merlion Park, a major tourist attraction without any entry fee. There are many beautiful spots to take photos and selfies for Instagram. Another 30-minute stopover is at the Gardens by Marina Bay where more than 500,000 plants make a horticultural oasis. The Avatar-like Supertrees that add to the dazzles of the night sky are a must see during this tour.

Singapore Heritage Tour

A 2.5-hour Heritage Tour transports you back to the colonial past of Singapore. It includes stopovers at Chinatown and Kampong Gelam home to many architectural marvels. A heritage tour for international transit travelers in Singapore starts from Marina Bay and continues through Central Business District where the city’s iconic hawker center and a thriving night street food zone are located amid modern high-rises.

Integral to the colonial history of Singapore, Chinatown is a 30-minute stopover during the heritage tour. Street murals depicting the lives of locals in the bygone decades do not go unnoticed. This free Singapore tour for transit travelers includes a visit to the Singapore River and its quays, where the economy of the country is believed to have been cradled. Glimpses of the bustling life in this part of old Singapore are simply unmissable.

The next stopover is Bugis, the early settlement of Europeans in Singapore during the colonial era. Some of the country’s oldest churches with towering spires are situated here. This area is also known as Arts District. The heritage tour culminates at Kampong Gelam where the lifestyle of locals is an interface between the traditional and the trendy. This neighborhood is home to some of Singapore’s swanky cafes and ultramodern art galleries.

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October to April is the best time to visit Dubai. Booking Emirates flights to India or USA this holiday season or for the upcoming summer travel is a good opportunity to see Dubai during a layover and, that too within your budget. Additionally, Emirates Airlines’ flights with a long transit time cost lesser than itineraries with short layovers. If you are traveling alone or with a family, you can make the most of your connection time at Dubai Airport or in downtown Dubai. Hope this guide on what to do at Dubai DXB Airport or things to do in Dubai during a transit layover comes in handy to you.

Picture Credit: Arabianbusiness.com

My Emirates Pass for passengers of Emirates flights

My Emirates Pass is a key to unlock the deals and offers at tourist attractions in Dubai and the UAE for international passengers of Emirates flights. You can use ‘My Emirates Pass’ to experience the best of Dubai Airport, Dubai City, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Palm Jumeirah, or All Emirates availing attractive discounts on dining, shopping, and leisure activities during your long connective time in Dubai. For instance, you will get 20% discount on general admission to Burj Khalifa.

My Emirates Pass is valid from November 1 until March 31, 2024, irrespective of your travel class on Emirates flights between India and USA. To be precise, your Emirates boarding pass will work as ‘My Emirates Pass’ at the restaurants, stores, brands, and tourist sites participating in the program during this period. Your photo ID may be required along with the boarding pass, printed or digital.

Dubai Connect Service for international transit passengers 

Emirate Airlines’ Dubai Connect Service is a complimentary package for international transit passengers with a stopover of 8 to 26 hours in itineraries booked on or after October 11, 2022. The Dubai Connect Service for Emirates flights between USA and India comes with complimentary hotel stay, meals, airport transfers, and a complimentary visa to Dubai. Travelers under 18 years are also eligible for Dubai Connect as long as they are accompanied by an adult traveler over 18. This complimentary transit service must be booked at least 24 hours prior to your flight to Dubai from India or the USA. A representative of Emirates Airlines will guide you at the Dubai Connect desk in Arrivals at the airport.

A complimentary visa that the Dubai Connect booking provides can be a visa on arrival or a prearranged visa prior to arrival. If you have a normal Indian passport with a US visitor visa or a Green Card valid for minimum 6 months, you are eligible for Dubai’s visa on arrival. If you are on a US student visa or H1B/H4/any other US visa, you need to apply for a transit visa to Dubai in advance. The UAE’s visa on arrival allows Indian passport holders to stay 14 days in or outside Dubai, whereas a prearranged transit visa can be used for up to 96 hours of a stopover in Dubai. The US passport holders traveling to/from India via Dubai or Abu Dhabi are eligible for the free UAE visa on arrival.

What to do at Dubai Airport during a layover

If the connection time in your itinerary via Dubai does not permit a city sightseeing tour, you can spend the layover exploring the airport. We must say Dubai International Airport itself is a very happening place sans the city center. Being one of the world’s busiest transit hubs, DXB has entertainment options and recreational facilities aplenty. There are fine-dining restaurants to duty-free shopping zones. Dubai Airport lounges including the Plaza Premium Lounge indulge travelers in a lagoon of luxuries.

Saddled with jet lag? You can take a refreshing shower during the layover. Terminals 1 and 3 have free shower facilities, according to the Dubai Airport layover guide. Since the connection between two Emirates flights takes place at T3, you can locate a complimentary shower facility between the gates B13 and B19 in T3. If you have doubts about the hygiene of free showers, there are paid facilities offering shower-only packages.

Dubai being a shoppers’ paradise, the airport has vibrant retail areas across its three terminals. Emirates Airlines’ T3 has tens of duty-free brand outlets that operate round the clock. You can buy a box of chocolates or dry fruits as a souvenir for your family in the US. Dubai Airport Duty Free is a dedicated area for international transit passengers to on a shopping spree. You can browse product categories and check prices on the Dubai Duty Free website before you actually travel to or transit through Dubai Airport.

Unwinding in a quality lounge is one of the best things to do at Dubai International Airport during a transit layover. Located on Level 4 Concourse A of Terminal 3, Plaza Premium Lounge Dubai offers free Wi-Fi, cozy seating, quality food, relaxing showers, and USB charging stations at hourly rates. There are private family suites, a kids’ play area, a prayer room, a bar, and a smoking zone in the lounge. A family suite is spacious enough for 6 guests including children who prefer to relax in privacy, and comes with butler service. You can grab economical deals for the Dubai Plaza Premium Lounge service while booking Emirates Airlines’ cheap business class flights or economy class travel through IndianEagle.com.

You can relax at Zen Gardens while in transit at Dubai Airport DXB. Located near gates B7 and B27 in T3, Zen Gardens offer an indoor retreat to lush greenery and tranquility. You can do meditation, read a book, take a leisurely walk, soak in the sun, or connect with the virtual world on your mobile device using free Wi-Fi available at the airport.

You can take a power nap while in transit at Dubai Airport Terminal 3. Among various facilities for quality sleeping at DXB, the Sleep n Fly Lounge in T3 has igloo-style pods and double-bed cabins which you can rent on hourly basis. This lounge offers showers too. You can check in at Dubai International Hotel, a world-class transit hotel in T3, and relax for up to 18 hours during a layover. The Dubai Airport layover guide includes other hotels with free shuttle service between the terminals.

Dubai Airport layover sightseeing: Things to do and see  

There is no dearth of things to do and see during a layover at Dubai International Airport. The longer the layover or connection time at DXB Airport, the more you get to explore the city. You can choose to buy one of the Dubai Airport transit layover tour packages from Emirates Airlines, according to your itinerary. The guided Dubai sightseeing tours are meticulously planned and organized by the airline for varying lengths of airport layover. You can spend the long connection time without worrying about your connecting international flight.

Having a layover of 5 to 8 hours in Dubai? With a little homework on how to commute between the airport and the city center, you can make the most of this time. DXB Airport Terminal 1 and 3 have Dubai Metro stations. The Metro provides seamless connection from the airport to the city center nearly every 10 minutes. Downtown Dubai where the most popular tourist attractions including the world’s tallest building – Burj Khalifa – is located is 3 miles from the airport.

Undoubtedly, you can tick Burj Khalifa and the nearby Dubai Fountain on your list of the best things to see during a transit layover in Dubai. It is an adrenalin-pumping thrill to ride the high-speed elevator to the 124^th, 125^th and 148^th floors where there are observation decks to give you breath-taking views of the city landscape sprawling from the desert to the ocean. A twilight view from that stupendous height of the world’s tallest building is more wonderful. A visit to Burj Khalifa takes 1.5 to 2 hours including the commute from and to the airport, according to our customers who recently travelled on Emirates flights booked by Indian Eagle, a most trusted air-ticketing partner of Indians in USA.

You can easily extend your Dubai Airport layover sightseeing tour to Dubai Fountain at a stone’s throw from Burj Khalifa. Among the world’s largest and most expensive choreographed fountains, this tourist site evokes awe with the vertical shooting of water up to 125 meters. 6600 lights and 25 color projectors make it a must-see extravaganza during a light and sound show that plays every five minutes during peak hours of the day.

If you are a shopping freak or brand connoisseur and wondering what to do during a Dubai Airport transit layover as short as 5 hours, you can visit the Dubai Mall located near the base of Burj Khalifa. Spread over 13 million square feet equal to the total area of 50 football grounds, the mall has 1200 shops, 22 multiplex screens, 120 restaurants and cafes. The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo housing over 300 species of marine animals, is a must see at the mall. There is an indoor amusement park with an array of thrill rides and games. With 84 million visitors in 2019, the Dubai Mall is one of the few most visited manmade wonders in the world. The best thing is that Dubai Metro connects the airport to the mall.

Is shopping not your cup of tea? You can spend time in Dubai Miracle Garden, among the tourist places to visit during a layover of 5 hours or more at Dubai International Airport. One of the options to travel to Dubai Miracle Garden from the airport is the Metro that halts at the Mall of Emirates; from there you can take a public or private transport to reach the garden in 15 minutes. Spread over 72,000 sqm, this is the world’s biggest natural garden featuring more than 250 million plants and 50 million flowers. Dubai Miracle Garden holds three Guinness World Records, including the one for an Airbus 380 flower structure. You can visit this place only from October to April.

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Hyderabad City looks as fresh after a shower of rains as we feel fresh after a bath. The green landscapes of the city look greener, the roads become cleaner, and the air feels cooler. The beauty of the rain-washed city appears as inviting as the crystal-clear water of sea on an exotic beach. Windy mornings, pleasant days, rainy evenings and cool nights during monsoons make Hyderabad a must visit in July and August. Here’s a walk through the things to do in Hyderabad during monsoon based on the inputs shared by NRIs of Hyderabad.

Paddling a racing bicycle along the wavy streets of Banjara Hills is one of the best things to do in Hyderabad during monsoon. Banjara Hills is the greenest part of the city, and KBR National Park spreading over an area of 400 acres is the oasis of greenery here. The sloping roads with swaying boughs of trees on both sides around outside the park deepen the thrill of bicycling on rainy mornings. The city is home to groups and clubs of bicyclers. You can join a group or club to have the company of passionate bicyclers during your stay on monsoon days.

The Hussain Sagar Lake is the pearl of Hyderabad. The beauty of the lake hangs over the surrounding Necklace Road too. Fed by the River Musi, it is an artificial lake with a maximum depth of 32 feet and sprawling over 5.7 square kilometers. The water level swells in the months of monsoon. The boundary of the lake is the most popular hangout for all age groups and in all seasons. Driving on the rain-washed Necklace Road is a pleasure to those who love going out and driving in the rains.

Then, there is Irani Tea to warm up your mornings and evenings in Hyderabad during monsoons. It is one of the things that the city is famous for and visitors must have. The typical Hyderabadi essence distinguishes the taste of Irani tea from that of regular tea. There are many popular Irani tea hangouts in the old part of the city. Though available round the year, Irani tea with a plate of Osmania biscuits is the best monsoon flavor of Hyderabad.

READ MORE Weekend Trips from Hyderabad

The Charminar is the most identifiable icon of Hyderabad. It is also one of the most famous historic monuments in India. The Charminar in the rains is an ideal subject for monsoon photography in the city. The area surrounding the monument is a bustling marketplace, one of the most crowded zones in the old city. When it rains, crowds disperse making it easier for the Charminar to breathe freely. So, go out on a photography spree and shoot the ways of life around the Charminar, in the monsoon season.

Hyderabadi snacks are among the best food to eat during monsoons. Apart from masala dosa, bonda and mirchi bhaji are favorites of the locals. These street side snacks are sold here and there in the city, two times a day – morning and evening. Bites of smoking hot, crispy onion bonda and mirchi bhaji make the joy of monsoon an overwhelming feeling on rainy mornings and evenings.

If you are from Hyderabad, you must fly to Rajiv Gandhi Airport and refresh your memory of the rainy days this monsoon. Discard your worries about current airfares because Indian Eagle is offering the most competitive deals from partner airlines for cheap flights to Hyderabad for a limited period.  

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Needless to say that the Charminar is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Hyderabad India! This historical monument is the first thing to see in the City of Pearls. Why the Charminar was built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 is one of the interesting facts of Hyderabad. The global icon of Hyderabad holding on to the stories of the bygone eras stands tall in the Old City of Nawabs. Though it stands silent, its eloquence is felt in the buzz of life all around. The life around the Charminar never ceases to throb as there are many things to see and do. Shopping for bangles, binging on biryani, sipping Irani Chai, grabbing bites of Osmania biscuits, visiting the Chowmahalla Palace, and clicking photographs are some of the things to do around the Charminar. Those who are scheduled to travel to Hyderabad from USA and other countries can take a cue from this infographic on how to make the most of a day trip to the Charminar this Ramadan. 

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With effect on May 4, 2021, the United States’ presidential proclamation restricted the arrival of non-immigrants who were in the pandemic-hit India during 14 days prior to their attempted entry to the US. Indians who were neither eligible for National Interest Exception nor belonged to any exempted category found a way to bypass the presidential proclamation. Many of them entered the US via Mexico. They travelled to Mexico, spent 14-15 days there, and then entered the US.

One more country has opened for Indians. Those affected by President Biden’s restriction on arrival of non-immigrants from the COVID-hit India can now travel to USA from India via Qatar. If your travel or return to the US is urgent, you can bypass the presidential proclamation by staying 15 days in Qatar before making onward travel to the United States. You can book a multi-city trip to USA from India with a 15-day stopover in Qatar.

Picture Credit: The Times of India (representative image)

The government of Qatar welcomes fully vaccinated travelers from India on certain conditions. They are subject to certain rules and regulations for entry into Qatar. Qatar’s guidelines for fully vaccinated Indians require them to undergo a 10-day hotel quarantine upon arrival.

If you’re inoculated with both doses of the vaccine approved by the government of Qatar, you should produce an original vaccination certificate on arrival. The certificate must include the following information:

• Name of the passenger and it must match the passport
• Type/name of the vaccine taken
• Lot number of the vaccine (if any)
• Official logo or seal of the vaccination authority
• Dose dates according to type of the vaccine (one dose for Jansen/Johnson & Johnson and two doses for other vaccines)

You will not be considered fully vaccinated if you travel to Qatar within 14 days of taking your second dose of an approved vaccine. Please note vaccinated Indians must take an RT-PCR test within 72 hours prior to traveling to Qatar and undergo an antibody test on arrival. Unvaccinated children aged 0-11 traveling with their fully vaccinated parents from the red listed countries including India are subject to minimum 7 days of quarantine in Qatar. The vaccines approved by Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health are listed below:

• Pfizer / BioNTech (Comirnaty)
• Moderna (Spikefax)
• AstraZeneca (Covishied/Oxford/Vaxepheria)
• Jansen/Johnson & Johnson (only one dose)

Pre-arrival travel authorization is mandatory, in addition to your vaccination status.  Qatar requires you to apply for travel authorization, free of charge, on the Ehteraz website by submitting an application and uploading the required documentation, at least 12 hours before undertaking travel to Qatar from India. Airlines are directed to onboard travelers with a valid travel authorization from the Ehteraz website. Moreover, you need to install and activate the Ehteraz mobile app with the help of a domestic Qatari SIM card. You can avail of a local SIM card on arrival at Hamad International Airport, Doha. Only upon activation of the SIM card, you can access public facilities, including local transportation in Qatar.

Indians who are restricted from travel to the US can find Qatar a most feasible country for a stopover for 15 days or more. It is all because of Qatar’s ‘visa waiver on arrival’ policy for Indians. Indians’ visa-free entry to Qatar is valid for 30 days, which can be extended for another 30 days. You should have a copy of passport with minimum 6-month validity and provide details of your return/onward travel to apply for Qatar’s visa waiver. Indians on B1/B2 visa, who are otherwise restricted from travel to the US, can benefit from Qatar’s visa waiver policy.

Qatar Airways’ air bubble flights to and from India have been flying Indians, irrespective of their US visa type, for months amid the pandemic. The reopening of Qatar has made it a lot easier for B2, H1B, H4, L1, L2, and other US visa holders from India, who are currently kept away from the US borders, to bypass the US entry restrictions. Please note if you take a 14/15-day stopover in Doha, you must take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of your onward travel to the US.

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Hyderabad reached a milestone in infrastructural development, with the spectacular inauguration of the much-awaited Hyderabad Metro Rail today (November 28, 2017). Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Telangana CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao inaugurated the 30km stretch of the total 72km Hyderabad Metro Rail network. The 30km stretch from Nagole to Miyapur via Secunderabad, Ameerpet and Begumpet will be open for public use from November 29 onwards.

The inauguration of Hyderabad Metro Rail is a heartening sigh of relief from traffic trails which choke the city life during peak hours of the day. 57 trains having three coaches each will be running along the 30km stretch from 6 am to 10 pm for initial days. The Hyderabad Metro Rail schedule would be changed to 5.30am-11pm following an increase in traffic and demand. Each of the metro train coaches can accommodate 330 passengers. More coaches would be added to each of the 57 trains if daily traffic increases.

If you are a visitor or a daily commuter in the city, you should know certain rules and regulations before riding the metro. The following Hyderabad Metro Rail rules and regulations are to be strictly followed:

The permissible weight of luggage is up to 40 kg per passenger, but charges will apply if one passenger’s luggage weight exceeds 10 kg. The allowance is one rupee per kg beyond 10kg of luggage. Gunny bags of rice or wheat are strictly not allowed at Hyderabad Metro Rail. Metro riders can carry proper travel bags measuring up to 65cm in length, 45cm in breadth and 25cm in height.

Hyderabad Metro Rail tokens (tickets) are valid for only 30 minutes from the time of purchase. If a passenger takes more than 30 minutes to be on the platform from the time he purchases a token, the token will be automatically cancelled without any refund. Entry to the metro train will be denied to the passenger without a new token. The premises including platforms are under surveillance 24 hours.

Only smart card users or token holders can stay up to 2 hours within the premises of Hyderabad Metro Rail (excluding the platform). Once a smartcard is swiped, the system will automatically detect how long the smartcard holder has been within the premises.  Non-passengers or mere visitors will not be allowed to hang out there. One having no smart card or token will be asked to leave the premises immediately or pay a fine.

Those who are not daily commuters can avoid long queues to the ticket counters during peak hours. A metro staff member with a Portable Ticket Analyzer (PTA) machine will be there to issue tokens in hours of rush.

There are three areas – Platform, Private and Public – at each metro station. Public areas are accessible to all, but only Hyderabad Metro Rail smartcard users and token holders are allowed in private areas and on platforms.

Passengers can sit in the metro train compartments depending on seat availability during their journey. Or else, they have to stand while traveling. Those who do not get seats and are not eligible for the seats reserved for women, senior citizens and the handicapped must not sit on the floor of the compartment. Otherwise, the Hyderabad Metro Rail authority may levy a hefty fine on them.

Matchboxes, lighters, petrol, kerosene, gas cylinders, stoves, any kind of inflammable or explosives, knives, scissors, and any kind of objects with sharp edges are among the prohibited items at Hyderabad Metro Rail.

Some Interesting Facts about Hyderabad Metro Rail

The inaugural ride on Hyderabad Metro Rail for PM Narendra Modi, Telangana CM KCR and other delegates was operated by a woman loco pilot today. Over 35 women loco pilots have been employed to operate the metro trains, according to KT Rama Rao, Telangana’s IT minister.

The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) announced to introduce feeder services for Hyderabad Metro Rail. The Hyderabad Metro smartcard for daily passengers, which was launched last week, would be allowed in different modes of transport in the near future. People would also be equipped with a mobile app named “T Savari” to facilitate transportation for them.

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport may be brought within the Hyderabad Metro Rail network. The feasibility of linking the metro rail to the RGI airport is currently under review.

The second phase of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project includes construction of sky-walks between the metro stations and key public facilities like shopping malls, commercial complexes, government buildings and stadiums. The project may be completed by the end of 2018.

The Hyderabad Metro Rail authority has deployed as many as 546 security personnel from private agencies to man the metro stations along the inaugurated 30-km stretch.

Interesting Hyderabad News: 

• Hyderabad Embraces Wall of Kindness to Help the Poor
• Tirupati-like Temple Town near Hyderabad City 
• Hyderabad to Get New US Consulate General Complex in 2020

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If Monisha Rajesh, an Indo-British journalist, had traveled by trains across India in 2016, her book “Around India in 80 Trains” would have had a few more pages about the transformation of train travel in India. Undeniably, her train journeys from Kashmir to Kanyakumari would have not been full of offbeat experiences due to current new coaches with passenger-friendly amenities, free Wi-Fi facility on railway stations and e-catering food service on trains. She would have traveled to Agra from Delhi in 1 hour 45 minutes, sipped different 25 flavors of tea and tasted home-cooked local meals during journeys. IndianEagle lists several new reasons to travel by train in India for tourists like Monisha Rajesh.

25 Varieties of Tea to Enhance Joy of Train Rides  

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Tea is one of the new reasons to travel by train in India. Is it a new beverage to drink while traveling by trains? A big NO! Since the inception of Indian Railways, tea has been available on trains. Now train travelers will be provided with a list of 25 tea varieties to pick their favorite flavors from. Interestingly, the 25 varieties of tea can further be customized in as many as 1200 ways. Read more about the new flavors of tea to be served on Indian trains.

Train Hostesses Serve Travelers in Compartments     

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Of all Indian trains, the Gatimaan Express from Delhi to Agra offers the sophistication of air travel. Launched on April 5, 2016, the Delhi to Agra semi high speed train has a team of 15 hostesses, dressed in blue jackets and black trousers, to welcome passengers on board and ensure their convenience. Trained in behavioral etiquettes and fluent in English communication, the Gatimaan Express’ hostesses can give a competition to air hostesses. Know why you should travel on Gatimaan Express.

Home-cooked Food Supply to Passengers on Trains

There is no alternative to fresh home-cooked food, which is one of the new reasons for traveling by train in India. Indian Railways, in collaboration with self-help groups of farmers, has launched a pilot project to supply onboard passengers with home-cooked food from local cuisines during their train journeys in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. A similar initiative has been launched on some trains in Kerala. Travelers can place orders online by logging on to the website of Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor to Design New Menu for Passengers  

If the above three reasons are not compelling enough to make you travel by train in India, a new menu to be crafted by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor for passengers will be an irresistible attraction of train travel across the country. Reportedly, Indian Railways has approached Chef Sanjeev Kapoor to design a tasty yet pocket-friendly menu for travelers.

Advance Meals Booking through e-Catering Service   

Image Credit: Financialexpress.com

Again, foodies have more reasons to travel by train in India than others. Indian Railways’ e-catering service for online food order on trains and at stations has been gaining momentum since its launch in 2014. Station-based e-catering facility, which is currently available at 45 railway stations, will be gradually extended to 410 major stations. Leading ready-to-eat food brands including Haldiram’s, Bikanerwala, KFC, Domino’s Pizza, Chaayos and likes have joined the e-catering scheme. Travellers can book their meals online or via SMSs or over phone or through apps like Travelkhana.

Trains and Railway Stations to Get Bio Toilets

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Indian trains and railway stations are often sneered for lack of cleanliness. Indian Railways has undertaken several initiatives including installation of bio toilets and dustbins in train coaches to improve the picture of train travel in India. Besides, travelers can send an SMS using the newly launched ‘clean my coach’ app to get their compartments cleaned. Such a passenger-friendly service is an unavoidable reason for traveling by trains in India.

Free Wi-Fi Access at Major Indian Railways Stations 

Free Wi-Fi access at major Indian railway stations is one of the new reasons to travel by train in India. Indian Railways, in partnership with Google, has brought 10 major city railway stations including Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Kochi, Vishakhapatnam, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Ranchi and Vijayawada under the purview of free Wi-Fi facility, which will be extended to other railway stations across India in the next phases.

Modern Amenities at Railway Stations of Pilgrim Centers   

Indian Railways is all set to revolutionize train travel for pilgrimage across the country. The railway stations of popular Indian pilgrim centers such as Ajmer, Tirupati, Haridwar, Dwarka, Varanasi and Amritsar will soon be beautified and equipped with passenger-friendly amenities. Even plans to make train coaches more disabled friendly for the old and the differently abled are underway.

Also Read New Luxury Trains for Affordable Travel in India

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Are you bored of the Taj Mahal, the Victoria Memorial, the Charminar, the India Gate, the Red Fort, the Gateway of India and other historic tourist attractions in India? If yes, a whole new lot of things to see in India are awaiting you in 2016 and 2017. The upcoming tourist attractions in India include the world’s highest golf course, tallest rail bridge and tallest clock tower, an Eiffel Tower replica, a river gallery, a Madame Tussauds museum, a war memorial, etc. Each of these is a new reason to visit India in 2016 and 2017. IndianEagle shares tidbits about the upcoming tourist attractions in India.

World’s Highest Golf Course in Sikkim

Have you ever imagined of playing golf at a height of 14,140 feet? If yes, the imagination is not far from reality. The northeast Indian state of Sikkim is going to have the world’s highest golf course near Nathula Pass, a mountainous route serving as a trade link between India and China. Named ‘Yak Golf Course’, it would be not only the world’s highest golf course but also one of the most interesting places to visit in India in 2016.

Jatayu Nature Park in Kerala

Kerala’s Jatayu Nature Park is inspired by the story of Jatayu, a mythical character in the Ramayana, one of the Indian epics. Chatatayamangalam in Kollam district, where Jatayu is said to have fallen from the skies during a faceoff with Ravana, is the scenic location of this upcoming park in Kerala. The park will feature an amazing blend of art, adventure and technology. The world’s largest bird sculpture of Jatayu on the top of a hill, measuring 70 feet in height, 200 feet in length and 150 feet in breadth is supposed to be the center of attraction in Kerala’s Jatayu Nature Park. The Jatayu sculpture will house a digital museum and 6D theatre. The park will house a dedicated adventure zone with several adventure games. A high-tech cable car offering a bird’s eye view of the scenic area will be set up over the park. Evidently, Kerala’s Jatayu Nature Park is among the upcoming Indian tourist attractions to watch out for in 2016.

Replica of Eiffel Tower in Kolkata  

The first replica of the Eiffel Tower in Kolkata is surely among the upcoming Indian tourist attractions which are worth a visit in 2016. Kolkata has already laid the foundation of a replica of the Eiffel Tower in solidarity with the victims of terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13, 2015. Part of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ at Eco Park, the tower will have an observation deck at a height of 25 meters to offer sweeping views of Kolkata. It will have a coffee shop as well as a souvenir shop. Read on to know the facts about Kolkata’s Eiffel Tower replica.

World’s Tallest Rail Bridge in India

The Chenab Bridge under construction between Bakkal and Kauri in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is a seemingly impossible technological challenge. Once completed, the 1,315m long bridge will be the world’s highest arch bridge with railway lines at a height of 359m over the River Chenab.

Statue of Unity in Gujarat

The upcoming Statue of Unity in Gujarat is among the new interesting things to see in India. Dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, an eminent leader of the Indian Independence Movement, the statue will boast a height of 182 meters or 597 feet on a river island near Vadodara. Expected to be the world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity will be surrounded by a lake sprawling over an area of 12 km.

Madame Tussauds Museum in Delhi

The list of new tourist attractions to see in India includes an upcoming Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New Delhi. India’s first Madame Tussauds Wax Museum will house life-size wax statues of not only Indian legends and celebs but also eminent figures from the rest of the world. This initiative is part of the India-UK Year of Culture Celebrations in 2017. Read more about Delhi’s Madame Tussauds Museum.

Rock Garden in Odisha

Odisha’s Rock Garden is also on the list of upcoming tourist attractions in India. Being built in Berhampur, it would be India’s second rock garden after the first Rock Garden in Chandigarh, Punjab. The garden will feature several creative structures and artifacts sculpted out of rock to take your breath away. Known for their rock-carving skills, the artisans of Odisha are expected to make the upcoming rock garden a major tourist attraction in the state. To be powered by solar energy, Odisha’s Rock Garden would be among the eco-friendly tourist places across India.

War Memorial & Museum in Delhi

India has proposed to get the first war museum near the iconic Indian Gate in New Delhi. The museum will be a memorial in honor of the martyrs who laid down their lives in the post-independence era of India. Said to be India’s national war memorial and museum, it had been pending since 1960 due to the lack of approval from the central government. Among the tourist places to visit in Delhi, it will stand as a symbol for the Indian soldiers’ sacrifice in service to the nation. The estimated cost of the project is INR 500 crores. Once completed, the National War Memorial and Museum in Delhi will be among the best things to see in India.

World’s Tallest Clock Tower in Mysore

If Sikkim is to get the world’s highest golf course, Karnataka is to get the world’s tallest clock tower in Mysore. Infosys has proposed to build the 135-m high clock tower in its Mysore campus, a 2-hour drive from Bengaluru. Comprising 19 floors with a boardroom, the tower will reportedly cost a whopping $8.83 million. It will display a digital timepiece on the top. Read more about this wonderful initiative by Infosys among the tourist attractions in India.

River Gallery in Karnataka

Mysore of Mysuru, a historic city in Karnataka, is mostly famous for the Mysore Palace. An upcoming gallery on the River Cauvery would be another tourist attraction in Mysore. Believed to be India’s first river gallery, it will showcase the culture, life and biodiversity supported by the River Cauvery, the main source of water in Karnataka. The gallery will also exhibit how important role the River Cauvery plays in the lives of farmers across the state and highlight environmental threats to the river.

Travel Beats is a culture & entertainment portal for Indian diaspora by IndianEagle, a leading US-India travel booking organization. It publishes interesting stories about USA, Canada, NRIs, aviation and India tourism.

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August to March is the best time for road trips on bikes in North India. Delhi, the national capital of India, is at crossroads of weekend getaways for bikers. Weekend road trips from Delhi are adrenalin-pumping adventure drives for biking enthusiasts. Some road trips from Delhi run along highways; some run through zigzags in valleys and mountains; some run by beautiful rivers or shimmering streams; some run crisscrossing barren landscapes, while some run through green corridors at escalating altitudes. Some roads for bike trips from Delhi are motorable, while some are precarious throwing challenge to road trippers. You can soak in the natural beauty of India hanging over concrete highways, sandy trails, and mountainous passes. Indian Eagle lists the best road trips from Delhi for bikers.

Road trip to Ladakh from Delhi

Driving to Ladakh at an altitude of 13,000 feet is one of the most coveted road trips from Delhi. Riding a Royal Enfield for a whopping 1800km of round trip is not for the fainthearted. A road trip to Ladakh is full of adventure making it an inspirational story of courage, passion and obsession for the aspiring road trippers. If you are not a seasoned biker, Ladakh road trip may end up being far from euphoria. Don’t let it disappoint you. There are not-so-adventurous weekend road trips from Delhi for you, too.

READ MORE Ladakh Road Trip: An Inspirational Story

Road trip to Dehradun from Delhi

The road from Delhi to Dehradun and Mussoorie is poor, but what makes this road trip a must have for bikers is the breathtaking sightseeing. Dehradun and Mussoorie are the nearest hill stations from Delhi, in the Himalayan region. It is a 6-hr drive from Delhi to Dehradun, and driving to the hilltop of Mussoorie takes another 1.5 hours. Do halt at Cheetal Grand, a roadside eatery, to fuel your body with Indian or western food during your road trip to Dehradun.

Road trip to Jaipur from Delhi

Jaipur is on every biker’s list of top 10 road trips from Delhi. India’s Pink City is an exciting 6-hr biking trip. It is worth a long drive from Delhi for several reasons including tourist attractions and Rajasthani food. The Delhi – Jaipur Highway is a part of the Golden Quadrilateral project. October to March is the best time for a road trip to Jaipur.

Road trip to Agra from Delhi    

Needless to say why driving to Agra is one of the best weekend road trips from Delhi. Driving a bike or car on the newly built Yamuna Expressway to the city of Taj Mahal is an inexplicable experience, which India’s fastest train from Delhi to Agra falls short of. The mouthwatering taste of Agra’s street food and the mind-blowing beauty of the Taj Mahal add to the joy of road trips to Agra.

Road trip to Bharatpur from Delhi  

Bharatpur is a small town on the Agra-Jaipur Highway and famous for the Bharatpur bird sanctuary. Driving to Bharatpur is a fancy ride across vast sandy landscape. The entrance of the sanctuary looks abandoned, but the interior will mesmerize you the more you will explore. October to February is the best time for a road trip to Bharatpur because the sanctuary welcomes beautiful migratory birds during this period.

Road trip to Rishikesh from Delhi 

Rishikesh is a must visit for not only pilgrimage, yoga and meditation but also adventure. One of the holiest places in India, Rishikesh offers toast of adventure in form of river rafting, trekking and hiking. Evidently, adventure-loving bikers must hit the road to Rishikesh from Delhi at any time of the year and that is because of pleasant weather.

Road trip to Dharamsala from Delhi  

Dharamsala in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh is a scenic drive from the hustle-bustle of Delhi. One of the best getaways for summer vacation in India, Dharamsala is a beautiful canvas crisscrossed by hilly streams flowing through deodar and pine forests. This Himalayan hill station is the headquarters of Dalai Lama, too. Road trip to Dharamsala is a must for biking enthusiasts.

Road trip to Chittorgarh from Delhi 

[pullquote]Check our infographic on the unforgettable story of Chittorgarh Fort.[/pullquote] Chittorgarh in Rajasthan is one of the best destinations for weekend road trips from Delhi. Though a large portion of the Chittorgarh Fort is in ruins, the story of the fort will not fail to haunt you once you step into the fort complex. The timeless tales of Rajput rulers’ valor and Rajput women’s spirit of sacrifice in Mewar are worth 7-hr driving from Delhi to Chittorgarh.

Road trip to Chandigarh from Delhi 

Driving to Chandigarh from Delhi is an adrenalin drive for bikers. The Grand Trunk Road is the main route to Chandigarh from Delhi, giving access to Shimla and Kasauli, two most popular hill stations in Himachal Pradesh. Both Shimla and Kasauli are 2-3 hour pleasant drive from Chandigarh. It is safe not to venture out for a bike trip to Chandigarh or Shimla in the thick of winter.

Road trip to Alwar from Delhi

Biking or driving to Alwar from Delhi is an adventurous experience. Alwar is one of the princely states in Rajasthan. Visit to Sariska, one of the most famous tiger reserves in India, is worth a road trip from Delhi to Alwar. The month of February / March is the best time to visit Sariska because tigers are the likeliest to be sighted this time. You can halt to see the haunted Bhangarh Fort on the way.

READ MORE  Haunting Stories of Bhangarh

Road trip to Nainital from Delhi

Driving to Nainital is an escalating ride across high altitudes in Uttarakhand. No provision for air travel or train travel between Delhi and Nainital has made road trip to Nainital a must for bikers. Nainital Lake and Jim Corbett National Park are the best tourist attractions of this hill station at a drive of 285 km via roadway from Delhi. Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest park in India.

Road trip to Ranthambore from Delhi

Ranthambore is a paradise of natural beauty in Rajasthan and home to one of the most famous national parks in India. Located in Sawai Madhopur, the Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve used to be a favorite haunt of the Rajput kings of Jaipur. The park is wildlife photographers’ delight, too, because of its scenic landscape and rich wildlife. Evidently, bikers brim with enthusiasm for road trip to Ranthambore from Delhi.

Road trip to Ajmer from Delhi   

Of the historic cities in Rajasthan, Ajmer is worth several road trips from Delhi. A 5-hr ride on bike, Ajmer is nearer than other cities to Delhi. Nestled amidst the Aravalli Mountains and founded by Ajayraj Singh Chauhan, Ajmer still carries palpable influences of the Chauhan Era in Rajasthan. The city is famous for its age-old artistry and the Ajmer Dargah.

Road trip to Almora from Delhi 

Almora is a gateway to adventure and sports tourism in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. One of the summer capitals in the Himalayas, Almora offers a springboard of outdoor activities including trekking and rock climbing. Many bikers, adventure lovers and sports enthusiasts from Delhi make road trips to Almora. Driving to Almora is much of an obsession with seasoned bikers and young road trippers.

Road trip to Mathura from Delhi

The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has many destinations for bikers from Delhi. Road trip to Mathura from Delhi is not just an adventuresome drive but a way to seek solace in spirituality since Mathura being birthplace of Lord Krishna is a glorious destination for pilgrimage. Mathura is a must visit on the occasion of Janmastami in August or September. Attend the magnificent pooja ceremony and get blessed with delicious Prasad during Janmastami in Mathura.

Indian Eagle, a leading USA-based travel booking organization, books cheap flight tickets to India and helps tourists fly to India at the lowest airfare throughout the year.

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