Indian Summer Tourism revolves around hill stations and misty valleys. Your perception of summer in India as a scorching season will be converted into an impression of luxury in nature if you ever happen to visit any of the top 10 Indian summer holiday destinations listed below. These coolest places will hide you from the fury of the sun, pamper you amidst the beauties of nature, make you feel poetic with a treasure of lyrics, trap you in a labyrinth of holiday mood with no escape, and…. We are sure; our summer travel wishlist will make you redefine Indian summer as a soothing season of vacation.      

Rishikesh in Uttarakhand  

Popularly known as “Yoga Capital of the World”, Rishikesh is a mirror to Divine India with hilly beauty. Crowned with the blue sky where pearl-white clouds hang out, and bathed by the soothing waters of the Ganga River, Rishikesh is a haven of spirituality, an abode of hermits, and a seat of meditation amidst forested hills. This yoga & meditation retreat in Uttarakhand is also popular for white-water rafting and backpacking.

Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh

One of the lesser-known summer destinations in India! Blessed as s summer retreat for its high-altitude location (10,000 feet above sea level), Tawang is a Himalayan beauty. The 14^th century Tawang Monastery, Pankang Teng Tso Lake, and Tipi Orchid Sanctuary are the tourist attractions of Tawang. The way to this region passes through the snow-covered Sela Top Pass. If you are in love with hills, Tawan should be on your India travel wishlist for summer 2015.

Ghoom Valley in West Bengal    

[pullquote]A visit to Ghoom Valley deserves to be scripted as a travel memoir of summer in India.[/pullquote] The highest railway station in India, Ghum Valley is a must stop during a journey by the Darjeeling Toy Train. Visit Tiger Hill at a distance of 5 km from Ghoom, and admire the majesty of Kanchenjunga on a clear day. A glimpse of the sunrise above hilltops is a divine blessing of Mother Nature, which the lucky few are favored with! Dotted with forests and streams all around, Ghoom Valley is the crown of Darjeeling at an altitude of 7,407 feet. 

Zanskar Valley in Jammu & Kashmir 

Zanskar Valley is an adrenalin-pumped road trip from Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. One of the least explored tourist places in India, Zanskar Valley sprawls over an area of 7,000 square kilometers at a height of 11,500–23,000 feet. The Zanskar River, which remains frozen for a greater part of the year, is the most picturesque artifice of nature in the Great Himalayan Region. The existence of life in Zanskar Valley is traced back to the Bronze Age.

Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh

Home to perennial streams and green landscape from Dhauladhar Range to the River Beas! Kangra Valley is famous for the Kangra-Shimla Railway, UNESCO World Heritage Site in Himachal Pradesh. One of the best summer holiday destinations in India, this Himachal valley is also known for Himalayan pyramids, which are Masroor Rock Cut Temples. Kangra Valley owes its mesmeric hilly beauty to the lofty peaks on the Dhauladhar range.

Wayanad in Kerala

One of the coolest places in India during summer, Wayanad in Kerala is the ‘Green Paradise’. The sensuous beauty of nature is felt across the dense forests, misty hills, and lush green fields of Wayanad. Home to rich flora and fauna, the valley is a favorite of bird lovers. Take a leisurely walk through tea & coffee plantations and breathe in the aroma-filled air. Nestled amidst Western Ghats, Wayanad will surely make you write a story “My Summer Holiday in India away from the Sun.”

Coonoor in Tamil Nadu

[pullquote]Visit Coonoor to hear the buzz of bees, the chirps of birds and the music of waterfalls. Here is our Coonoor Travel Guide.[/pullquote]  Sightseeing in Coonoor is a kaleidoscopic magic of nature! The queen of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, Coonoor has been a summer holiday retreat since the British Raj in the 19^th century. It has many geographical features in common with Darjeeling. A journey by the Nilgiri Mountain Railways between Coonoor and Ooty will lavish your mind with lyrics for a soulful poem. Sublimity, solitude and serenity are the facets of Coonoor at a height of 1850 meters above sea level.

Yumthang Valley in Sikkim

One of the best Himalayan valleys for summer vacation in the Indian state of Sikkim, Yumthang Valley will surely enchant you to become a travel escapist. It is a valley of flowers at an elevation of 11, 800 feet above sea level. The valley hibernates during heavy snowfall between December and March. Adding to scenic beauty of Yumthang Valley is a tributary of the Teesta River flowing past Lachung Town. The valley blooms with 24 species of rhododendrons and other hilly flowers in spring.

Lakshadweep Islands

[pullquote]October to April is the best time to visit Lakshadweep. Go through our complete story of Lakshadweep Islands.[/pullquote] One of the best imaginary places on earth, Lakshadweep is a never-never land in the Arabian Sea on the west coast of Kerala. Lakshadweep is a group of 36 coral islands; each is the flat peak of a submerged mountain. The gateway to this wonderland is the airport on Agatti Island. One of the top 10 tourist destinations in India in summer, Lakshadweep is a swing of sun-kissed pristine beaches with greenish-blue waters.

Kudremukh in Karnataka

Karnataka has its share of Indian summer tourism. One of the tourist destinations in Western Ghats close to the Arabian Sea, Kudremukh is a valley of vistas. The origin of three rivers – the Tunga, the Bhadra, and the Nethravathi, Kudremukh Valley is famous for trekking and photography. Kudremukh National Park, one of the hotspots of biodiversity in India, is a tourist attraction of this summer retreat. The park is home to endangered mammals.

About Indian Eagle

Indian Eagle is a leading online travel booking organization offering the cheapest airline tickets to international airports of India and sharing exclusive ideas for India travel. Indian Eagle offers cheap flight tickets to India round the year!  

The post Indian Summer Travel Wishlist 2015 appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

“Kashmir in Bollywood and Bollywood in Kashmir”. Yes, Bollywood romance and beauty of Kashmir were synonymous in the 1960s and 70s. Kashmir, the northernmost Himalayan state of India, is not just a tourist destination but a shooting location too. Most of the evergreen romantic numbers in the Bollywood albums of the golden era of Indian Cinema were picturized on the blissful moments of love in the snow-clad and lush green locales of Jammu & Kashmir, in different seasons of the year. Indian Eagle sets the clock back to retell the romantic stories of Kashmir on celluloid.

Kashmir was the prime shooting location of the Bollywood films starring Shammi Kapoor in the 1960s. The first half of the movie Junglee, released in 1961, was shot in the snow-clad mountainous locales of Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir where Shammi Kapoor’s humorless character fell in love and became crazy. Kashmir became a popular tourist destination with the popularity of the song “Yahoo! Chahe mujhe koi junglee kahe”.

“Yeh chaand sa roshan chehra”, an eternal romantic song which has been wooing hearts for generations, still endears the quintessential picturesqueness of Kashmir to lovers. The song from the music album of Kashmir ki Kali released in 1964 was filmed on the shimmering waters of Dal Lake in the background. The heroine clad in the ethnic outfit of a Kashmiri girl is sitting in a boat, and the hero is wooing her from another boat.

It is Kashmir where the love story of a pretty girl and a skiing champion begins rolling in Arzoo, a 1965 Bollywood classic. The first half of the film was shot in the snow-clad hilly landscape of Kashmir. The romantic number “Ae Nargise Mastana” from the music album of Arzoo was picturized in rhyme with the natural bliss of Kashmir.

The sensuous beauty of Kashmir makes two strangers fall in love irrespective of their different socio-economic backgrounds. This is the love story of a young boatman who owns a houseboat on Dal Lake and a city-bred, fashion-conscious girl in Jab Jab Phool Khile, a 1965 Bollywood blockbuster. The Himalayan landscape of Kashmir served as the backdrop of the popular song “Pardesiyon se na akhiyaan milana.”

Kashmir in its glory was enticingly shot in Mere Sanam, another Bollywood blockbuster in 1965. “Pukaarta chala hoon main”, one of the most romantic melodies of the 1960s in Rafi’s soulful voice, was picturized on the lead pair in the picturesque locales of Kashmir. The hero is seen wooing his ladylove, while the other girls around them are cycling along the slender, sloping zigzags.

The autumnal beauty of Kashmir was best captured in many frames of the movie Jaanwar starring Shammi Kapoor and Rajshree in the lead. The hilly being of Kashmir seemed to echo the eloquence of the song “Tumse achha kon hain” in praise of the heroine’s beauty in the movie. The landscape with golden brown chinar leaves strewn here and there is a visual attraction of the song.

Kashmir retains the same beguiling beauty and bucolic bliss as in the 1960s. Visit the Paradise on earth and live the love moments of Bollywood’s “old is gold” romantic songs. IndianEagle.com will book cheap flights to India for you.

The post Romantic Stories of Kashmir on Celluloid in 1960s appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

A lot has been said and written about the beauty & bliss of Kashmir. It is such an inexplicably beautiful part of the vast Himalayan region that it deserves to be shining like a gem in the crown of Mother India. In this context, we would like to quote the Mughal Emperor Jahangir’s exclaiming words, “If there is a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here.” Inarguably, Kashmir is the paradise for poets, painters, photographers, bird watchers, peace lovers, romantics and adventurers. With tourists stopping by Indian Eagle to book cheap flights to India in the thick of summer, we are rolling out the list of things to do in Jammu and Kashmir for the adventurers among them.

Shikara ride

What is the very first thing to do in Kashmir? It is shikara ride on Dal Lake. Though a most common fact, it tops the list of activities for every tourist. The shikara ride on Dal Lake brings in both romance and adventure in rare mélange. The beauty of the landscape, the views of colorful houseboats, the slow movement of shikaras and the hues of life on the lake create a joyous sensation that can only be felt, not shared or explained.

Trekking

If lying back in the swing of romance is not your cup of tea, you can take a plunge into the pool of adventure that Kashmir is. Trekking is one of the most adventuresome activities in this part of India. Being a mountainous region, Kashmir offers trekking as a challenge that only professional or experience trekkers can dare to take up. The snowy trekking routes of Ladakh are popular with seasoned trekkers.

Mountain biking

Kashmir is a valley of valleys with rolling meadows and snow-covered mountain slopes which make biking a pursuit of adrenalin rush. Whether it is the lakeside zigzags or rough mountainous terrains, mountain biking in Jammu and Kashmir is an exciting holidaymaking activity. Ladakh has several mountain biking treks which will fulfill your craving for some doses of adventure.

Mountaineering

Kashmir is the topmost Himalayan region of India. Landscaped by mountains of varying heights on all sides, Jammu & Kashmir offers a lot of opportunities for mountaineering of all levels, low and high, easy and difficult. Some of the most popular and mountaineering-friendly Himalayan peaks such as Harmukh, Sunset, Kolahoi, Gulpa Kangri, Kun of Zanskar, Kang Yatsey and Bobab are in Kashmir.

Bird watching

If bird watching is your favorite sightseeing activity, Jammu and Kashmir travel is worth a flight to India. Sightseeing ranges from lakes to wetlands across the state. Kashmir has about 24 wetlands which are home to as many as 500 species of birds making it a paradise for bird watchers. Migratory birds can be seen only at specific times of the year though bird watching is an all-season activity in Kashmir.

Paragliding

Adventure tourism in Jammu and Kashmir thrives on the popularity of paragliding. Gliding in the air is the best way to catch a 360 degree panorama of the majestic valleys. Catching an eyeful of the lush green meadows below from high on is an experience to be cherished for lifetime. Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Sanasar and Harwan are the best places to indulge in this sporty adventure.

Skiing

Adventure knows no limit in Jammu and Kashmir when it comes to skiing. Having snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas in the backdrop, the state is blessed with popular skiing destinations. Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam offer ample room for skiing with lots of thrill. The tourism ministry of Jammu and Kashmir provides accommodation to skiers in Gulmarg.

Rafting

You can drink to thrills from your visit to Kashmir in different forms of adventure. Rafting is one of them. The landscape around the mountains is crisscrossed by such roaring rivers as the Indus, the Lidder and the Zanskar which make rafting a challenging indulgence for those in quest of high adrenalin rush.

Camping

Camping is one of the must things to in Kashmir for those seeking natural bliss in India. Kashmir offers several campsites where natural beauty of the mountains and soothing greenery of the valleys can best be enjoyed. Aru Valley, Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley, Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam are some of the best summer camping destinations in Kashmir. Click Best Himalayan Campsites to know more about camping in India.

The opportunity to buy cheap air tickets to India is as exciting as adventure itself! IndianEagle.com offers this opportunity in all seasons of the year.   

The post Adventure is Best of All Things to Do in Jammu and Kashmir appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

You may have heard several stories of Indian summer. That summer is hot and scorching in most of the Indian states is an undeniable fact. At the same time, it is true that India has many summer holiday destinations in the lap of nature. Since the British Raj, these destinations have been the summer capitals where heat does not dare to touch anyone. Most of these places are hill stations where nature does not obey to the whims of summer. Indian Eagle points out on the map of north, northeast and west India the top 10 summer holiday tourist destinations for fun, romance, peace, adventure, photography….

Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

It won’t be unjust to call Srinagar the goddess of natural beauty in India. The capital of Jammu & Kashmir, it is a mirror to the wonderful artifices of nature. The summer ambience of Srinagar is cozy and charming. Adding to the lure of the landscape and the serenity of the surrounding is the Dal Lake where the floating vegetable and flower market is a photographers’ delight, in the morning. Sonmarg at a height of 2740 meters is an ideal visit for trekking and skiing which offer dollops of adventure. The snowy beauty of Sonmarg is really admirable.

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

The summer capital of the British Raj in the colonized India, Shimla is one of the best summer destinations in Himachal Pradesh. The face of Shimla dramatically changed when Charles Kennedy, a Scottish Civil servant, set up his summer abode here in 1822, and when the town became the official capital of the British for the summer season in 1864. After the capital of British India was shifted from Kolkata (then Calcutta) to Delhi, the officers of the East India Company and the British ladies took refuge in the cool & cozy atmosphere of Shimla in summers. October to June is the best tourist season of Shimla.

Darjeeling, West Bengal

The geography of Darjeeling is waved by green valleys of tea plantation and rocked by scenic mountains. Established by the British as a summer destination for their army, this hill station is the life and soul of West Bengal tourism. Darjeeling ticks all the boxes – wildlife, adventure, fun and romance. The panorama of this tourist destination spans across Kanchenjunga, Tiger Hill, Happy Valley Tea Gardens, Toy Train, Senchal Lake, and Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park. Photography is an irresistible pleasure during sunset and sunrise. To be precise, Darjeeling is nature’s darling!

Shillong, Meghalaya

Surrounded by rolling hills, landscaped by tall pine trees and beautified by picturesque waterfalls, Shillong is like a piece of cloud floating in the sky. Now the capital of Meghalaya, it used to be a major British settlement. The food habits of the locals are influenced by the British. One of the summer capitals of the British India, this northeastern hill station is full of tourist attractions such as Shillong Peak, Lady Hydari Park, Wards Lake, Don Bosco Museum, and Mawsynram. Shillong takes pride in its hills and waterfalls which keep summer away.

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Called “gateway to the heaven”, Rishikesh is a major destination in North India. Not only the beauty but also the spirituality of nature makes itself felt all over here. Home to hermits, sages and monks in the Himalayan region, Rishikesh is famous for the Gangotri. Besides being a spot of pilgrimage, a seat of meditation and a hub of yoga in India, it is a swing of adventure as well. It is equally popular with pilgrims and adventure buffs. It is a very short drive from Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand. Many foreign tourists visit Rishikesh to attend the International Yoga Festival in the first week of March every year.

Cherrapunji, Meghalaya

One of the best summer destinations in India, Cherrapunji is the right place for those who spring into adventure even in summer. In India, it is one of the few tourist destinations where there is no off season. It teems with tourists and buzzes with activities throughout the year. The beautiful natural setting of Cherrapunji promises a rejuvenating vacation to the tourists in search of relief from the heat of summer. Among the tourist attractions of Cherrapunji, Mawsmai Falls is an irresistible temptation in itself.

Nubra Valley, Ladakh

The abstract beauty of nature is sensuously manifested in each nook and each corner of Nubra Valley in Ladakh. Nicknamed Ldumra that means “valley of flowers”, Nubra Valley defines how pleasant, how beautiful, and how relaxing the world of nature is. The passage to Nubra Valley goes through Khardung La Pass, the highest motorable pass in the world. Popularly known as the Orchard of Ladakh, Nubra Valley boasts two natural rich places – Hunder and Panamik. Waved by sand dunes, Hunder is called “desert in the sky”. Monasteries add to the picturesqueness of the valley.

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

If you are looking to spend summer months in the solitude of peace and silence, Tawang is a must visit in Arunachal Pradesh. Tawang is a sparsely populated town inhabited by the Monpa people who belong to the Monyul or Lhomon Kingdom. Home to beautiful monasteries, this region is like a hidden jewel. The tourist attractions of Tawang include Gorichen Peak, Craft Center, Sela Pass, Gorsam Chorten, Tsachu Hot Spring, Nuranang Falls, Banga Jang Lake, etc. This small town in Arunachal Pradesh has all the makings of a summer capital.

Nainital, Uttarakhand

If Rishikesh is popular with the spirituality seekers, Nainital is a favorite of romantics. Among the best hill stations in Uttarakhand, Nainital is gifted with the romantic beauty of nature. Lavished with serenity and greenery all over, this hilly region inspires tourists to fall in love with the lakes and hills. A must visit in summers, Nainital is sure to make you feel young during a sightseeing tour. Boating and angling in the Lake Naini are among the joyous things to do. The authentic Tibetan cuisine is a must try here.

Gulmarg, Kashmir

Glorifying Kashmir as a summer holiday destination in India is Gulmarg in the Baramula District. Gulmarg is the place to be for those who drink to pleasure out of peace and those who find adrenalin rush in adventure. Do feel the soulfulness of the place during a Gondola ride, do catch an eyeful of the panorama from the cable car, and do experience the kicks of adventure while skiing on the snow. So, why not add Gulmarg to your list of Indian destinations to visit in summers?

IndianEagle.com is booking the cheapest flights to the summer capitals of India. Hope, you are no more in two minds about flying to India in summer months!

The post Best summer holiday destinations in India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The Union Ministry of India Tourism held the most awaited event, National Tourism Awards 2012-2013, in New Delhi today. The event is organized to felicitate the Indian states, cities, airports, hotel groups and tour operators with awards on the basis of their contributions to the growth of Indian travel & tourism in different categories. Indian Eagle shares with you who won the best award and in which category.

The first prize for the Best State in the category “Comprehensive Development of Tourism” has been awarded to Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Kerala and Gujarat are at the second and the third place in the same category, respectively. Moreover, Andhra Pradesh has been titled the Best Film Promotion Friendly State.

Tirupati, the largest pilgrimage spot and the fourth largest city in Andhra Pradesh, bagged the Best Heritage City Award. Tirupati is known for its scenic hilly beauty and the Lord Venkateswara Temple. The 2000-year old temple is the apex of pilgrimage which fetches around 2 crore visitors from the world over and generates an annual income of approximately 2,250 crores.

Among the Indian capital cities, Hyderabad is in the spotlight of the National Tourism Award this year. The award for the Best Airport in India has gone to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. Hyderabad International Airport won the prestigious title for the second time. Golkonda Fort, a jewel in the crown of Hyderabad tourism, stole the limelight as the Best Maintained and Disabled-friendly Monument in the country. Leonia International Centre for Exhibition & Conventions in Hyderabad is the best standalone convention center.

Among the states of north and north-east India, Jammu & Kashmir is conferred on the award in the category the “Best State for Comprehensive Development of Tourism”. It is the second time that Jammu & Kashmir won the title. The Kerala Tourism is shining with the “Most Innovative Information Technology Website” award. The Kochi Muziris Biennale Project, an initiative by Kerala Tourism, is declared the Most Innovative Tourism Project in India, at the National Tourism Awards function today.

The Best Responsible Tourism Award, one of the most coveted recognitions in the tourism sector, has gone to Ladakh, the land of high passes in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Several eco-tourism projects are underway in the Leh District. Ladakh is one of the sustainable tourism centers in India.

The state to have won the award for implementation of rural tourism projects is Sikkim in northeast India. Bhim Dhungel, Tourism Minister of Sikkim, received the award. An ambitious project worth a whopping 140 crore has been launched to develop infrastructural facilities including view points, conference centers, halting points, retiring units and likes for the convenience of tourists in Sikkim.

In the absence of Dr K. Chiranjeevi, the Minister of Union Tourism; and Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India, Dr Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for Human Resource Development, played the host and addressed the attendees at the Indian Tourism Awards event. Dr. Tharoor sounded eloquent about the need of a strict policy to ensure absolute security of tourists, which is one of the bottleneck issues to be dealt with in the travel & tourism industry of India.

We at IndianEagle.com convey our hearty congratulations to the winners of Indian Tourism Awards.

The post Hyderabad Steals Limelight at 2014 National Tourism Awards of India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.