Among the wandering monks of India, Swami Vivekananda is the first name that comes to the mind. The five years of his life on earth, from 1888 to 1893 was full of travels in search of truth, spirituality and a real India. He traveled as a Parivrajaka along the length and breadth of the country. He won the admiration of kings, felt for the suffering people, motivated the youth for a greater cause, studied many religious scriptures, visited many historic sites, gained knowledge, and visualized the future of India during his itinerary, which made a precious treasure of enlightenment for us. On the occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s birthday (January 12), we at Travel Beats, an overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle, offer a sneak peek into his historic and spiritual travels.

Varanasi, one of the holiest cities in India, was the first destination on his itinerary. In Varanasi, he came across the saints like Trailanga Swami, the authors like Bhudev Mukhopadhyay, and the Vedic scholars like Babu Pramadadas Mitra. From there, he made his way to Rishikesh through Ayodhya, Lucknow, Agra and Vrindavan. He interacted with and took favor from whoever came his way without caring their castes and creeds because he believed in non-duality of the soul. Some of those who were touched by his noble soul became his disciples and got initiated into service to the nation. Among them was Sharat Chandra Gupta, a railway station master in Haridwar, who came to be known as Swami Sadananda. Swamiji fondly called Sharat “the child of my spirit”.

Then, Swamiji spent days at Vaidyanath and Allahabad during his itinerary between 1889 and 1890. From Allahabad, he moved to Ghazipur where he got in touch with Pavhari Bana, a great sage. Pavhari Baba was known for his absolute knowledge of Advaita Vedanta. On meeting the sage, he felt blessed and referred to him as a great soul of bhakti and yoga in a letter to Pramadababu. In the first half of 1890, he took a break for the travel and returned to Baranagar Math in Kolkata (then Calcutta). After a short stay there, he left for a trip to the Himalayas in quest of truth. Swami Akhandananda accompanied him on the trip. After a visit to Nainital, Almora, Dehradun and Srinagar, Swamiji went to the Himalayas. Delhi was his destination by the end of January in 1891.

He visited the historical sites in and around Delhi. Then, his travel to Rajputana in west India began. This phase of the itinerary was so eventful that it constituted a big chapter of his biography. The first stopover in Rajputana was Alwar where he received a cordial welcome from both the Hindus and the Muslims. They were influenced by this wandering monk’s spiritual values and teachings. Swamiji was invited by Mangal Singh, the King of Alwar, who did not believe in the practice of idol worship because of his western outlook. A meeting with Swamiji changed his attitude towards the idol worship by the Hindus.

Swamiji’s Rajasthan travel was full of learning too. He studied Panini’s Ashtadhyayi under the tutelage of a Sanskrit Scholar in Jaipur. He visited the Dargah Sharif in Ajmer. His meeting with Ajit Singh, the King of Khetri in Mount Abu on June 4, 1891, is another important event. Out his interest in spirituality, the King became a follower of Swamiji and supported him in many ways. Swamiji studied Mahabhasya during his stay at Khetri and then, he went to Gujarat.

Limbdi, Ahmedabad, Junagadh, Kutch, Porbander, Dwaraka, Baroda, Palitana and Girnar were among his destinations in Gujarat. The Gujarat travel was full of enlightenment for him. He studied the Jain scriptures there. He got the idea of preaching Vedanta in the Western World from Thakur Saheb Jaswant Singh who he came across in Limbdi. Haridas Viharidas Desai, the Diwan of Junagadh, welcomed him as a respected guest. Impressed by his personality, the Diwan used to discuss on different topics with Swamiji till late at night. Swamiji immersed himself in philosophical studies during his nine-month long stay at Porbander. At Kathiawar in Gujarat, he got to know about the Parliament of the World’s Religions.

Then, he visited Mahabaleshwar and Pune. While traveling by train in Bombay in 1892, Swamiji happened to meet Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a Nationalist in the Freedom Movement of India. They spent a few days together in Pune. He moved to Panaji in Goa from Maharashtra, and studied the Christian theology at a convent in Goa.

In the second half of 1892, he journeyed to Bangalore, his first destination in South India. There, he met the Diwan of Mysore who described him as “a magnetic personality with a divine force”. Swamiji was introduced to Chamaraja Wodeyar, the then King of Mysore and welcomed cordially to the Palace. He was further introduced to the Diwan of Cochin. His travel continued till he reached the southernmost part of India, Kanyakumari, on foot through Trissur, Ernakulam, Trivandrum, and Nagercoil. The meditation on the future of India, at the Kanyakumari Rock, was the culmination of Swamiji’s spiritual journey at the end of 1892.

Having had the vision of an individual India, Swamiji traveled to Madurai, Rameswaram, Pondicherry and Madras (now Chennai) in the beginning of 1893. He met Ramnad Bhaskara Sethupathi, the then King of Madurai, who approached him with an urge to participate in the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Swamiji won the admiration of whoever came in touch with him during the itinerary across Tamil Nadu. Most of them became disciples and responded to his call for renunciation in service to the nation. One of his most ardent disciples in South India was Alasinga Perumal who collected funds for Swamiji’s voyage to Chicago by going from door to door. Swami Vivekananda embarked on the historic voyage to America on May 31, 1893.

Swamiji’s travel continued from America to the rest of the world till the demise of his mortal body on July 4, 1902. However, the journey of this greatest Indian traveler is as ceaseless as the eternal flow of time. It is still on the go through the spread of his message, teachings, values and vision

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With Mother India gearing up to celebrate the 70^th Independence Day, two teen students – one from Hyderabad and the other from Bangalore – made her proud by making it among the 2016 Google Science Fair finalists. 16-year-old Shriyank from Bangalore and 15-year-old Mansha Fatima from Hyderabad are among the 16 finalists out of thousands of young minds from across the world.

In July 2016, 14-year-old Advay Ramesh from Chennai catapulted India to international headlines when his innovative GPS system for fishermen won the Google Community Impact Award in the entire Asia.

Now these two wonder teens – Mansha and Shriyank – from the cyber hubs of India will travel to Google Headquarters at Mountain View in California and compete for a grand scholarship worth $50,000. Google will announce the winner of the competition on September 27 this year.

Mansha Fatima, a 15-year-old resident of Hyderabad, has developed an automated water management monitoring system for farmers who immensely contribute to the domestic GDP of India. Farming is a major source of living in rural India where farmers do still follow age-old practices to grow crops. Using Mansha Fatima’s automated system to monitor water levels in rice paddy fields, farmers can prevent overuse of water whenever needed. At the same time, the optimum water level can be maintained for growth of a crop at different phases.

The Bangalore boy has developed a wearable technology to help those having ailing memory with deep learning algorithms. Named KeepTab, it is a wearable device equipped with a cloud-based deep-learning framework to help users recall the things which are out of their sight and the whereabouts of day-to-day objects. Shriyank’s KeepTab seems to be a feasible solution to memory-related ailments like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

These projects by two talented Indians are the works of innovation among the brightest solutions to make lives better and safer through science as well as technology. Google Science Fair is a world-class competition to explore the potential of science and engineering.

Also Check Inspirational Stories of Young Indians

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Coffee is our favorite source of ideas and stories. Coffee itself is a theme of few books including ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ by senior journalist P. T. Bopanna from Bengaluru. This book on Indian coffee has won ‘the World’s Best Coffee Book’ title at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards held in China.

Published in 2011, the book ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ is a mirror to the history and evolution of Indian coffee. It takes a close look at many fascinating aspects and walks through many interesting facts of coffee culture in India. The book offers a 360 degree view of Indian coffee’s uniqueness and popularity in the global market.

In ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee,’ author P T Bopanna has chronicled the landmark events in the history of the Indian coffee industry, including how the British planter Ivor Bull from Coorg ideated the ‘pooling system’ to save Indian coffee during the Second World War.

The book has a dedicated chapter sharing the author’s secrets of making a good cup of coffee and highlighting different ways of preparing different types of coffee including South Indian filter coffee. It also shares some rare recipes of popular coffee concoctions including coffee liquor from the author’s collection.

One of the chapters is about the day-to-day life of the early British coffee planters in coffee estates across South India in 1880s. The book also focuses on the contemporary scenario of coffee cultivation and delves into how current issues like deforestation, climate change, etc. threaten it.

‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ contains a number of amazing anecdotes about coffee from high-profile personalities in the industry. It is also an interesting read on what makes coffee a charming brew.

Journalist and author P T Bopanna beat other entries from across the world to win the coveted award for his book on Indian coffee. Even the entries from Brazil and the United States took a backseat in competition with ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards which recognize the best food and wine books in both print and digital mediums. It hosts renowned cookbook writers and eminent chefs every year.

P T Bopanna, who got into journalism as a Coorg correspondent of The Hindu newspaper in 1981, has penned five books with focus on his hometown Coorg. Each of the books – ‘Discover Coorg,’ ‘The Rise and Fall of the Coorg State,’ ‘Dateline Coorg,’ and ‘Coorg: Land of Beauty and Valor’ – is a different take on Coorg, one of the weekend getaways from Bengaluru in the Indian state of Karnataka.

Also Read Starbucks to Sell Indian Coffee of Coorg in United States

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Dosa is one of the few unique Indian snacks which unify people from different food cultures across the country. It had its magic on Prince William and Kate Middleton too, yesterday. The Royal Couple from Cambridge, who had a grand Indian dinner at Mumbai’s iconic Taj Mahal hotel, tried their hands at making dosa.

It was their first ever tryst with the most popular South Indian snack which is available in more than 10 varieties across Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore and other South Indian cities. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge successfully made a dosa-making attempt using DosaMatic. Prince William poured the battered rice paste into the automated machine and Kate Middleton pressed the buttons.

DosaMatic is the world’s first automatic dosa maker, invented by Mukunda Foods based in Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India. Dosa is primarily a manual preparation which DosaMatic has made a lot easier. It works at the touch of a few buttons to make dosas of varying thickness levels from 1 mm to 6 mm.

The Royal Couple was happy to get a crispy dosa in just one minute after they operated the machine. Prince William had a bite and exclaimed “Namaste Mumbai” out of joy. The Duchess shared his joy and gave a brief thanking note for the dosa experience.

Bound to the norms that the members of the British royal family do abide by, the Duke and Duchess usually avoid taking food in the public. But they could not help tasting the hot crispy dosa in India. Such is the irresistible temptation of Indian food!

Kate Middleton found DosaMatic an interesting device that helps to make dosa similar to crepe pancakes in Britain. She was much curious about the story behind the invention of DosaMatic and the device’s role in the Indian society. In response to the Duchess’ queries, the CEO of DosaMatic said that hotels and restaurants across India are using 500 bigger versions of the device. The plan of launching a mini residential version of DosaMatic is underway.

India is a major destination for diversified culinary tourism in Asia. The Union Ministry of India Tourism is looking to fetch in foreign tourists for food tours in heritage cities of India such as Agra, Lucknow, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mysore and likes. The best way to explore the culinary culture and heritage of India is tasting local cuisines across the country. – IndianEagle

Read More Duke and Duchess’ Royal Indian Dinner in Mumbai

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India is a rolling stone that never gathers moss! To say precisely, India is on the wheels of development in all spheres including travel & tourism. Since the discovery of the first sea route to India by Vasco da Gama in 1498, India had been a prime target of the colonists including the Portuguese, the French and the British mainly for its abundant wealth till the end of the Second World War. In the post-independence era, the heritage of India has been a pull to the world. Since independence, India has come a long way in travel and tourism, which is a thriving industry with lots of untapped potential and employment opportunity, today. Though the annual number of foreign tourist arrivals to India is much lower in comparison with other Asian countries, India’s inbound tourism is on a roll. Being a good player in international politics, India has witnessed consistent development in tourism over 68 years of independence. Today, the 69^th Independence Day of India, we at Indian Eagle take a sneak peek at the colossal picture of ongoing and upcoming developments in India travel & tourism.

India’s first Wax Museum in Kolkata

Kolkata is the first Indian city to have got a wax museum like Madame Tussauds in London. The museum has been named after Mother Teresa. Located in the city’s IT hub, the museum exhibits lively statues of eminent leaders, celebrities and freedom fighters of India. Kolkata is about to get a Ferris Wheel on the Ganges like the London Eye on the Thames.

Indian Railways on a ride for the better

Train travel in India is an altogether different experience these days. Thanks to the evolution of locomotive engineering and technology for Gatimaan Express, Indian’s fastest train from Delhi to Agra! Running at a speed of 160km/hr, it is faster than Shatabdi Express by 5 minutes. Ac double-decker train between New Delhi and Lucknow is another new feather in the cap of Indian Railways. India has eagerly been awaiting its first high-speed bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, which is under construction.

Easier Ways of pilgrimage in India

Pilgrimage is no exception to developments in India on the travel and tourism front. The newly laid Katra-Udhampur railway track has made pilgrimage to the hilltop Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu & Kashmir easier than before. Being a democratic country, India is keen on developing Buddhist tourism. The state government of Maharashtra has shown interest in the ambitious project, which is currently limited to identifying the Buddhist spots to be developed across the country.

India offers e-tourist visa to 75 countries

With e-tourist visa to India available for the nationals of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and China, the inbound tourism of India has taken a great leap for the better. Currently, tourists from 75 countries across the world are eligible for e-tourist on arrival in India. Recently, seven tier-II Indian airports including Jaipur, Amritsar, Gaya, Lucknow, Trichy, and Varanasi have been added to the e-tourist visa on arrival scheme.

Domestic air connectivity on a high

India has seen developments in aviation too. In 2014, the Airport Authority of India announced a plan to develop 200 low-cost, energy-efficient airports in tier II and tier III cities across the country over the next 20 years. A few days back, Indian aviation gave approval to a project for developing 5 regional airports including two in Karnataka, one in Rajasthan, one in Arunachal Pradesh and one in Odisha in order to leverage the tourism potential of remote regions through extension of domestic air connectivity.

Wi-Fi and online ticketing for heritage monuments

Image Credit: TheQuint.com

Tourism development in India has taken to heritage properties as well. Online ticketing has been implemented to facilitate hassle-free visit to India’s most popular heritage monuments including the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort, the Qutb Minar Complex and likes. Besides, visitors can access Wi-Fi connection and upload their selfies to social media instantly at those heritage sites. This tourist-friendly facility has gained huge response. The Khajuraho Temple Complex and Varanasi are among the latest among the Wi-Fi tourist spots in India.

Indian railway stations under Wi-Fi coverage

Wi-Fi at public places is a new cool in India. More and more travelers’ reach to Wi-Fi Internet facility is being extended across Indian railway stations. Bangalore City Railway Station is the first to have been equipped with Wi-Fi connection in India. Recently, New Delhi Railway Station has brought under the purview of this project. Use of Wi-Fi is free for the first 30 minutes. Commuters can buy scratch cards at i-Fi help desks at those stations.

Airport-like hospitality at railway stations

16 Indian railway stations are to get premium lounges with airport lounge-like facilities at affordable rates. Hospitality at these railway stations is about to reach the next level. Jaipur, Sealdah, Howrah, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Secunderabad, Vishakhapatnam, Nagpur, Puri, Ahmedabad, Bilaspur, Dhanbad, Vijayawada and Ajmer are the stations to get executive lounges at the first phase of hospitality development by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.

Security developments for female tourists

Developments in India are taking place to ensure security of women travellers. Women-only cab service for women is one of the developments that Goa and Kerala have witnessed to in last few months. The female drivers of the cabs under this initiative in interest of female tourists’ safety are trained in self-defense techniques soft skills, customer relations and first aid. Kerala and Goa’s women-only cab service is equipped with GPS system and panic alert system.

Incredible India Helplines for women travelers

The launch of “Incredible India Helplines” for domestic and international women tourists is one of the remarkable developments in India travel & tourism niche. 1800111363 and 1363 are the helplines for domestic and international female tourists respectively. Currently available in two languages: English and Hindi, the “Incredible India Helplines” will be rolled out in 12 international languages soon.

Innovations in India travel and tourism

The state tourism of Tamil Nadu has planned to introduce helicopter services for foreign tourists in the state. Madurai will be the primary hub of operations for helicopter tours to Kanyakumari, Mandapam and Kodaikanal. Tamil Nadu is globally famous as a state of temples of the Dravidian architecture. The God’s Own Country, Kerala has launched water taxis and AC boats on backwaters in a bid to fetch more luxury tourists. Kerala has teamed up with UNESCO to restore the faded glory of the ancient Spice Route, which connected 31 countries in the bygone eras. Odisha, a coastal state of India on the Bay of Bengal, is supposed to get India’s second Rock Garden. The sculptural exhibits in the garden will be made of rock and stone. Odisha’ Rock Garden will have amusement facilities too.

New tourist attractions across India

Tourism developments in India include innovations being implemented across the country. Gwalior, a historical city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, is to set up a museum on Rani Laxmibai, whose name is remembered for her bravery in the Revolt of 1857. Udaipur, a heritage city in the Rajput region of Rajasthan, has got a new tourist attraction and that is India’s biggest telescope – the Multi Appplication Solar Telescope. An environment-friendly plan to build ropeway for tourists in Shimla and Rohtang Pass has recently been proposed. Mumbai is the first Indian city to be proposed for a floating hotel. Goa has proposed to transform the 85-m tall lighthouse on the Aguada Plateau into a tourist attraction like Dolphin Nose in Andhra Pradesh and False Point in Odisha.

Upcoming museums for literature lovers

Indian government has decided to convert the houses of George Orwell and Rudyard Kipling, two eminent authors in English literature, into museums for literature lovers. George Orwell, A British novelist who is famous for “Animal Firm” and “1984”, was born in the Indian state of Bihar. Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel Prize awardee in Literature who is famous for “The Jungle Book,” was born in Mumbai (then Bombay).

India travel on wings of global popularity

The growing recognition of Indian heritage and the increasing number of foreign tourist arrivals (though much lower compared to the numbers of FTPs to other countries) are among the leading reasons of ongoing and upcoming developments in India travel and tourism. In the end of 2014, the National Geographic listed Hyderabad as the world’s second best place to see in 2015 and incorporated Goa as the 6^th best nightlife destination to its guide for the year 2015. The Victoria Memorial Hall, which is often referred to Kolkata’s Taj Mahal, has recently entered TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame, which is an international recognition. According to a report based on the analysis of Google search trends in the beginning of 2015, the Charminar of Hyderabad is the most searched Indian monument. It is followed by the Golconda Fort and the Salar Jung Museum.

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Book Cafes are emerging destinations for urbane readers, foodies and travelers in India, replacing the age-old habit of reading books in silent libraries on weekends with the trend of reading over cups of coffee or platefuls of snacks in homely environment at any time. These are the places where both food for the stomach and food for the mind are enjoyed peacefully in company of like-minded folks and in seclusion from outer hustle-bustle. The popularity of book cafes in India has recently paced up from metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bangalore to small cities like Lucknow, Gangtok, Chandigarh and Shimla. Indian Eagle penetrates through the changing socio-cultural fabric of India to list 10 best book cafes where you can enjoy yourself over reading, writing, drinking, munching and eating.

Café Story in Kolkata 

Of the few Indian cities where reading is a favorite pastime, Kolkata is known for its traditional “reading and writing” culture. Needless to say, the city houses several book cafes. Among the hangouts for coffee and book aficionados in Kolkata, Café Story is a special mention for its graphic novel and comic theme. Café Story boasts a huge collection of books of different genres and serves a fair spread of snacks to readers. The beauty of the place may inspire you to pen a story. You never know!

Coffee Cup in Hyderabad   

If the area around the Charminar in Old City is an ideal destination for foodies and those looking to sip the best Irani Chai on summer evenings, wintry nights and monsoon days, Hyderabad has a few hangouts like the Coffee Cup for not only foodies but also bookworms, art lovers and coffee addicts. Both the sheesham wood interiors and the sit-out terrace with potted plants are cozy places to indulge in reading. With posters of cartoon characters and cinema stars on inner walls, the atmosphere of this book café in Hyderabad is high on the fun quotient.

Kitab Khana in Mumbai

Kitab Khana is one of the few places in Mumbai City where the tempo of life becomes slow for readers. With readers flipping the pages of books, toying with story ideas, and sipping coffee, Kitab Khana may seem offbeat to those on the run around the clock. It is not just a book café but also a boutique bookshop. You can try a number of desserts besides sipping coffee in peace here.

Literati in Goa

Reading books while sipping coffee at a quaint bungalow of the Portuguese style in Goa may sound offbeat to those who travel to Goa for beaches and water sports. Housed in a 100-year-old bungalow, Literati Bookshop & Café is one of the places to visit in Goa for the pleasure of reading, which is accompanied by sipping of Karnataka coffee and munching of homemade sandwiches. If you feel like spending some time with your favorite authors, there is no other place as cozy as Literati Bookshop & Café in Goa.

Café Turtle in Delhi

Delhi is next to Kolkata when it comes to claiming the title “the city of book lovers.” Among the book cafes across the cityscape, Café Turtle in Delhi is an ideal place for reading in solitude.  The book café boasts cheerful atmosphere and serves gastronomical delights. There is such a huge collection of books that you may feel spoilt for choice. No matter which book you read, make sure to have a slice of the date cake with toffee sauce.

Atta Galatta in Bangalore 

In Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India, where everyone lives, breaths and dreams technology, a place like Atta Galatta for creative activities including reading, writing, painting and playing music is a surprising bliss. One of the best book cafes in India, Atta Galatta in Bangalore is a meticulously designed cultural space with vibrant ambience, where there is a treasure of bestselling titles in English and popular Indian languages as well. The café owns an in-house bakery and serves yummy cookies during book launches and art workshops.

Café Fiction in Gangtok

Reading books and writing stories over cups of smoking hot Sikkimese tea is a pure bliss at Café Fiction in Gangtok. Scenic surrounding, serene atmosphere and availability of books on the Tibetan history make Café Fiction a must visit among the places to see in Gangtok. This book café serves a few authentic Sikkimese dishes as well. Both the reader and the foodie in you will be flattered at the treatment here.

Café Bookworm in Lucknow

Lucknow is a city of biryani and kebab for foodies. A place like Café Bookworm is a new-age hangout for creative and gastronomic recreation on the cityscape of Lucknow. Café Bookworm offers good books and great dishes with equal care. Visit the book café to enjoy the company of books and catch up with other book lovers and have fresh snacks or sweets when you need fuel to get charged.

Cafe Illiterati McLeod Ganj    

Even a hill station like Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh has a book café for book-loving urban travelers. Cafe Illiterati McLeod Ganj at Dharamsala commands breathtaking views of the Dhauladhar Mountains, which makes readers bury themselves in books with indifference to worries and cares of the outer world. You can warm up yourself with sips of masala chai whenever the blows of icy wind disturb your pace of reading.

Book Café Ssong in Pune      

Visit Book Café Ssong in Pune if you feel like breathing in some air of relaxation over reading after a road trip from Mumbai to Pune. Book Café Ssong is a cozy place having reading-friendly ambience where you can quietly spend some time leafing through the pages of your favorite books. Decorated with tasteful Korean artifacts and eased with soft music, this Pune based book café is the right place for pursuing the passion of reading books over sips of creamy coffee.

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India has been the cradle of yoga and meditation for ages. People from across the world travel to India in quest of peace as well as spirituality that connection with the inner self, the soul and the universe ensures through yoga and meditation. From the Himalayas region to Kanyakumari, India is home to several yoga and meditation retreats which have cured many weary minds, calmed many agitated minds, and set many distracted minds in the right direction. Indian Eagle lists some of the best yoga and meditation centers where you seek rejuvenation of the mind, peace of the soul, knowledge of the self, and discovery of the inner strength.       

Ramana Maharshi Ashram, Tiruvannamalai 

One of the best destinations for yoga in the solitude of mountains is Ramana Maharshi Ashram in Tiruvannamalai. Situated at the foothills of the sacred Mountain Arunachala, the ashram is blessed with the spiritual power of nature. The sage Ramana Maharshi, founder of the ashram, recommends yoga and meditation as paths to the freedom of the body and the mind from physical bounds as well as mental blocks. Sprawling over a large area, the ashram has got suitable ambiance for dedicated practice of yoga and meditation. The chanting of slokas in the background adds sonority to the atmosphere that helps visitors meditate deeply on their inner selves.

Website: Sriramanamaharshi.org

Yogoda Satsanga Sakha Ashram, Uttarakhand

This ashram in Dwarahat is the ultimate destination for the followers of Kriya Yoga. Its location amidst picturesque landscapes in the surrounding has made Yogoda Satsanga Sakha Ashram an ideal venue for the pursuit of yoga. Yoga is taught as a method of self-realization here. Founded by Sri Daya Mata, the ashram is associated with the Self Realization Fellowship foundation, set up by Paramahansa Yogananda who has authored the classic book “Autobiography of a Yogi”. Those who are members of Yogoda Satsanga Society and Self Realization Fellowship are provided with accommodation.

Website: Yssofindia.org

Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh 

Rishikesh in the Himalayan region is the cradle of yoga and meditation in India. Thousands from across the world visit Rishikesh to learn the art and science of yoga every year. Parmarth Niketan Ashram which hosts International Yoga Week in March is one of the best places for yoga and meditation in Rishikesh. Situated near the holy Ganga River, the ashram is a complete hub of professional yoga and meditation practices in sync with the age-old traditions maintained by saints and monks. Parmarth Niketan Ashram is a haven of peace because of its scenic and serene location.

CLICK International Yoga Week 2015 for details

Website: Parmarth.com

Santosh Puri Yoga Ashram, Haridwar

Some of the foreigners on visit to India in quest of spirituality stay back in Rishikesh for the rest of their lives. The founder of Santosh Puri Yoga Ashram in Haridwar is originally a national from Germany. She is fondly called Mataji by the locals and visitors in Haridwar. Vibrant with sacred chanting and holy hymns in mornings and evenings, the atmosphere of the ashram is full of positive vibes for yoga practitioners. Santosh Puri Yoga Ashram is recommended for hatha yoga and yoga philosophy.

Website: Sanatansociety.org

Atma Darshan Yogashram, Bangalore

If you ever fly to Bangalore, make sure to visit Atma Darshan Yogashram. A center of the Bihar School of Yoga, the ashram works to spread the holy teachings of Swami Satyananda. Small but beautiful, the ashram offers non-residential yoga courses from Monday to Saturday. Residential yoga courses are also available, but there are limited seats.

Website: Atmadarshan.org      

The Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore 

An international center of yoga and meditation, the Art of Living in Bangalore is one of the most popular destinations for spiritual seekers. A favorite of foreigners in search of peace and spirituality, the ashram runs several philanthropic activities besides yoga and meditation in India. Sprawling over 65-acre areas on top of the Panchagiri Hills, the ashram campus consists of gardens and organic farms. People from different religions and cultures are welcome here.

Website: Artofliving.org

Isha Yoga Center, Tamil Nadu

An ideal retreat for rejuvenation of the mind and the body, Isha Yoga Center in Tamil Nadu has been offering yoga programs for two decades. Located at the foot of the Velliangiri Mountains in Coimbatore, the center is a popular seat of Isha yoga in India. The yoga-intensive programs, conducted by this non-profit organization, are focused on physical health and mental wellness.

Website: Ishafoundation.org

Tushita Meditation Center, Himachal Pradesh 

Tushita Meditation Center in Dharamsala is the place to reconnect with your inner being in the solitude of peace. The way of learning yoga and meditation in India is very simple here. This small organization is blessed with peace and spirituality for its serene location in the Himalayan region. The atmosphere of the place is powerful enough to calm the mind and free it from negative thoughts or worries that take a toll on mental health.

Website: Tushita.info

March 1 to 7 is the schedule of International Yoga Week 2015 in Rishikesh, India. Book your AIR TRAVEL to INDIA at the lowest prices on IndianEagle.com. The earlier you book, the cheaper flight you get.  

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How to make the most of your trip to India during monsoon? No need to think hard! Book the cheapest flight to Bangalore or Chennai or Coimbatore, and set out for a journey by the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. The journey across the Nilgiri Mountains offers a rare mélange of adrenalin rush, adventuresome vibe and romantic feel. It is one of the most wonderful mountain rail journeys in India. Indian Eagle explains why you should travel by the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, at least, once in lifetime.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway journey is accessible from two states of South India – Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. If you are flying to Bangalore International Airport, you can set out for a downward journey from Ooty, which is a short drive from Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. Or, you can take an uphill journey from Mettupalayam in Coimbatore which is a 4-5 hour long drive from Madurai, one of the most famous temple cities of Tamil Nadu. Those on a traveling spree in South India can make a trip from Bangalore to Madurai or from Madurai to Bangalore via Coonoor on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.

READ MORE  Weekend Getaways from Bengaluru

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is popularly known as the Nilgiri Toy Train which runs between Udhagamandalam (Ooty) and Mettupalayam in Tamil Nadu. Ooty, the Queen of South Indian hill stations, is at the height of 7,228 feet near the top of the Nilgiri Hills, while Mettupalayam stands at the height of 1,069 feet near the foot of the Nilgiri Hills. The uphill or downhill journey between these two stations spans over a distance of 41.8 km. The uphill journey is longer than the downhill journey in terms of timespan. The former takes nearly 5 hours, while the latter takes 3.5 hours.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway has 7 main stopovers – Kallar, Adderly, Hillgrove, Runneymede, Kateri Road, Coonoor and Lovedale – on its route between Mettupalayam and Ooty. The route features different geographic forms making it an unforgettable journey. Wavy paddy fields cover a 7-km long stretch from Mettupulayam to Kallar. The next part of the route spanning for a distance of 21 km from Kallar to Coonoor is dotted with rocky terrains. This rocky track has many twists and turns through 13 tunnels. Then, there is a steep rise from Coonoor to Fern Hill, the highest point on the route. The track runs downwards a little till Ooty.

Coonoor is the 2nd largest hill station in the Nilgiri Mountains. Located in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu, this hill station is famous for its beautiful tea estates. The Nilgiri tea is the mainstay of Coonoor whose tourist attractions include Sim’s Park, Dolphin’s Nose, Law’s Falls, Lamb’s Rock and Droog Fort. The part of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway track running through Coonoor is landscaped by tea plantations on both sides, making is a most picturesque phase of the journey. Coimbatore International Airport is a 56-km drive, and Ooty is 18 km away from Coonoor town. You can stop by Coonoor for one-day stay during the journey.

READ MORE  Coonoor Sightseeing Guide

The uphill journey ends in Ooty, the largest hill station in the Nilgiri Mountains and the state of Tamil Nadu. Ooty is one of the most popular summer retreats and monsoon holiday destinations in South India. It is a famous film shooting location too. Ooty Lake, Rose Garden, Botanical Garden, Stone House, Tribal Museum, St. Stephen’s Church, and Wax World are the must-visit tourist attractions of Ooty. If you drive from Ooty to catch your flight at Bangalore International Airport, make sure to halt at Mysore, a historic city in Karnataka, on the way. A 3-hour long journey by buses and trains from Ooty, Mysore is famous for Mysore Palace, Chamundeshwari Temple, Kannada Literature, Mysore silk, Mysore painting, and the history of Wodeyar Dynasty.

Constructed in 1908, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. The mountainous terrains had made the construction a massive challenge which was however converted into a marvel of engineering and technology. Painted in blue and cream, the train has wooden coaches with large windows which offer gripping views of the outer world. The train consists of first class and general class compartments. The first-class compartment offers a more comfortable journey than the general class. You can book a ticket or tickets within 2 months prior to the date of your journey, on IRCTC website.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway has been filmed in several travel documentaries and feature films. A few sequences in A Passage to India, a Hollywood film by David Lean, were shot at Coonoor Station. If you are a Bollywood buff, you should watch Shah Rukh Khan’s journey on the rooftop of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway passing meanderingly through the green landscapes of Coonoor, in the popular song Chaiyya Chaiyya from Mani Ratnam’s Dil Se. Moreover, Ooty has been filmed in several movies of different South Indian languages.

It is said that live in the present as there is no tomorrow. So, don’t give a second thought to the opportunity of flying to India at the lowest fare. Book your flight to Bengaluru today on IndianEagle.com.

The post Nilgiri Mountain Railway Travel from Ooty is Simply Unforgettable appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

You have visited India for family occasions, festive holidays, romantic vacations, and pilgrimages. Why not give a twist to your travel taste, with road trips in India during the next visit? The road trips in India tick all the boxes – adventure, photography, nature and beauty – to rank at the top on your personal travel index. The geography of the country is crisscrossed by routes, short and long, for road trips in the coastal areas, mountainous regions, hilly terrains and the desert zone. IndianEagle handpicks the following road trips for your travel plan in 2014. Each of these is a rollercoaster ride of fun and joy.

Mumbai to Goa Road Trip

The road trip from Mumbai to Goa is a favorite of bikers on weekends. This getaway to the beaches of Goa has been riding the waves of popularity since the Bollywood movie Dil Chahta Hai, a story about three friends, became a hit with the youth of India. The route down the NH 17 through Maharashtra’s hinterland is very smooth and fit for vehicles – cars as well as bikes. The Karnala Bird Sanctuary, the Sindhudurg of Shivaji’s times, the Mahabaleshwar Hill Station, and the scenic Vashisti River and Kolhapur are the traps of attraction on the road trip from Mumbai to Goa.

Bangalore to Goa Road Trip

A road trip along the Bangalore-Goa route is full of thrills and spills. It is a craze with the Gen Y. The drive from Bangalore to Goa is as pleasant as swing, in any season of the year, because of the scenic natural artifices hanging over both sides of the route. The route is divided into two – one via Belgaum, and the other via Shimoga. The Belgaum route is preferred to the Shimoga route which may be disrupted due to landslides at any time. The famous Jog Falls, some forts and Murdeshwara on the Bangalore to Goa route bring the itinerary alive.

Manali to Leh Road Trip

If adventure is your cup of tea, get going for the Manali-Leh road trip in the Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh. The Manali-Leh route is a precarious yet beautiful one. Snowfall keeps the route blocked round the year except the month of June when the snow is cleared. Driving along this route in the Himalayas is thrilling and challenging at the same time. August-September is the ideal time for bikers to hit the road from Manali to Leh. Somewhere rough while somewhere smooth, the route passes by beautiful Buddhist monasteries and through mountains.

Dehradun to Nainital Road Trip

The road trip from Dehradun to Nainital in Uttarakhand is one of the getaways with feast for the eyes on the way. The route through hills makes the drive a rollercoaster ride for bikers. It is landscaped with hills and rocks for most of the distance. Those in quest of adventure for adrenalin rush will cherish this road trip as an evergreen memory. The natural beauty of Kumaon Hills is irresistible bait on the way. Including shrines and wildlife parks, there are many things to see and do on the 355-km long route from Dehradun to Nainital.

Chennai to Kanyakumari Road Trip

The Coromandel Coast of India from Chennai to Kanyakumari is dotted with heritage sites, pristine beaches and spectacular waterfalls. The Chennai-Kanyakumari road trip is so full of joy that it can outshine your travel memories in any other part of India. Pondicherry is a must stop on the route. Steeped in tranquility and lavished with natural beauty, it is a seaside town of the Portuguese era. Kanyakumari is just an eight-hour drive from here. This road trip promises a sporty experience.

Jaipur to Ranthambore Road Trip

Among the road trips in Rajasthan, the Jaipur-Ranthambore is a most adventurous one. The route from Jaipur to Ranthambore passes through the major tourist destinations – Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. The glamor of palaces, the wonder of desert and the variety of wildlife on the way endear the road trip to riders. Both architecture and nature exist side by side on the Jaipur-Ranthambore route. It provides riders with many opportunities to photograph the beauty of Rajasthan that manifests itself in architecture, desert and wildlife.

Shillong to Cherrapunjee Road Trip

Rajasthan offers road trips through rough and rigid terrains. Road trips in the Himalayan region are made through corridors of hills. The Shillong-Cherrapunjee road trip is a drive in the greenery. The route from Shillong to Cherrapunjee is dominated by lush green landscape on both sides. It makes the drive a breath of fresh air for the mind and the soul. The slippery road makes driving a risky affair in the rainy season. The road is smooth and safe in other times of the year.

Mumbai to Lonavala Road Trip

Looking for a change in the monotonous way of daily life? Do ride a bike from Mumbai to Lonavala. The Mumbai-Lonavala road trip is too short to make whenever you wish. Besides, it offers a refreshing break from the traffic of Mumbai to the tranquility of Lonavala, one of the hill stations at a short drive from Pune too. Lonavala falls on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Catching glimpses of green landscapes hang over the route.

The first step towards making these road trips is booking a flight to India. IndianEagle.com is offering a good range of cheap flight deals for your travel plans in 2014.

The post Drink to Adventure on These Best Road Trips in India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Many foreign tourists are more familiar with the hill stations in the Himalayan region of North India than the hill stations in South India. They think that Himalayan hill stations are suitable for not only sightseeing but also meditation as well as yoga. However, the remedial and meditative power of nature manifests itself in the beauty, solitude, peace and greenery of the following South Indian hill stations. Indian Eagle recommends these five of the best South Indian hill stations for any seasonal vacation in India.

Ooty

Ooty is as charming as a child’s imagination of a toy train making its way through mountains amidst picturesque settings where a lake lies in peace and greenery exudes freshness. This picture of Ooty is not a piece of mere imagination. It exists as a concrete creation of nature with many visual attractions that catch the eyes of a traveler in us. Mother Nature makes her artistry felt in every nook and corner of this hill station at a short drive from Mysore and Bangalore or Bengaluru in Karnataka. Pykara Waterfalls, Doddabetta Peak, Kamaraj Sagar Lake, and Catherine Waterfalls make Ooty a must visit at a height of 7350 feet above ground.

Coorg

Ask an Indian painter to create a picture of Scotland on the canvas, he will paint Coorg. Yes, among the hill stations of South India, Coorg is titled the ‘Scotland of India’. Lavished with greenery and landscaped with coffee plantations, Coorg lets you drink to the beauty of nature through sensory visuals of the Western Ghats. For its soothing and sedating atmosphere, Coorg seems to be a land of lotus eaters on in India. The itinerary of this South Indian hill station in Karnataka is full of tourist spots including waterfalls, temples, national parks and the Kaveri River. Abbey Falls is a favorite of tourists there.

Kodaikanal

If the hill stations of Tamil Nadu compete with each other in terms of height, Kodaikanal is sure to win the competition. Kodaikanal boasts of a height of 7,000 feet above ground. This South Indian hill station is a thing to all catering to the likes of lovers, honeymooners, poets, romantics and peace seekers. The sprawling lake dominates the landscape of Kodaikanal which is further beautified by Bryant Park, Pine forests, Silver Cascade Waterfalls, and Dolphin’s Nose. Sightseeing in and round Kodaikanal is an elixir of warmth for the mind and that of joy for the eyes.

Munnar

According to John Milton, celebrated author of Paradise Lost, hell and heaven exist in our minds. If there is heaven in the world outside the mind, it is Munnar in Kerala. With tea plantations rolling around hills, Munnar is an escape to ecstasy in the solitude of nature. Still, many of the treks are unexplored there. Unlike Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu, Munnar is a hotbed of joyous activities including Sightseeing, cycling and trekking for the fun-loving tourists. Do visit Photo Point, Attukal Waterfalls, Mattupetty Dam, Eravikulam National Park and the hill town of Devikulam at the height of 6,000 feet where Munnar is located.

Yercaud

One of the most beautiful jewels in the crown of Tamil Nadu, Yercaud is blessed with virgin beauty of nature. Located in Salem District near the Eastern Ghats, this hill station takes pride in Big Lake with a floating island. The surrounding of the lake is steeped in green beauty of the place. Besides the lake, it is the cave temple of Servaroyan where the idols of river deities are preserved with mysticism. Yercaud at a height of 4970 feet above the ground is the location of the famous Killiyur Falls. Whiffs of aroma from tea plantations and sandalwood trees make the air pleasant to the olfactory sense.

Have you ever explored the bounty of nature at these superior destinations of South India? IndianEagle.com books the cheapest flights to Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu – the key for you to explore these heavens.

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