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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The only South Indian festival to match the glitters of Diwali in North India, Navratri in Gujarat, Durga Puja in Bengal and Ganesh Puja in Maharashtra is Madurai’s Float Festival. The festive vibe of Madurai, a temple town in Tamil Nadu, remains high during this religious ceremony on the full moon night between mid-January and mid-February. Unlike other religious occasions in South India, the rituals of the Float Festival are performed on waters of the Mariamman Teppakulam Lake in the backdrop of Meenakshi Amman Temple.

The Float Festival was initiated by Thirumalai Nayak, the King of Madurai, in the 17th century. The principal ceremony of taking the idols on a boat ride across the lake on the occasion of the King’s birth anniversary came into existence after the King commissioned the construction of the lake over an area of 5 kilometers, with a grand palace on an island in the middle. Fed with water from the Vaigai River, the lake is to the east of the Meenakshi Temple.

The Float Festival of Madurai begins with a spectacular procession of the embellished idols – Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwarar – during the wee hours of the day. The deities are transported from the Meenakshi Temple to the Mariamman Teppakulam Lake in golden palanquins accompanied by musicians and devotees. Then, the deities are placed and worshipped in a makeshift mandap on the bank. The idols are prepared for boat ride on a raft-like structure lavishly decorated with garlands, flowers, lights, lamps and silken buntings.

Tied to the float, two ropes are pulled by the cheering crowds of devotees. One rope is pulled by men on the island, and the other is by men on the bank, to draw the float for rounds in the lake. After some time, the float is drawn back to the island where the idols are kept till the evening. The devotees reach the island by boats and spend some time in worship of the deities. In the evening, the island temple is ostentatiously lit with colorful lamps and lights making the sight a mesmerizing one.

The return of the raft with the idols from the island temple to the shore is marked by dazzling fireworks in the evening. The reflection of fireworks and lamps on the water makes the lake sparkle with splendors. Once the float reaches the shore amidst cheers and ceremonies, the idols are placed on an adorned horse for a procession back to the Meenakshi Temple. Unique to the celebration of the age-old custom initiated by the King and the celebration of his birthday, the Float Festival of Madurai is a spectacle of glitters and gleams.

A frame of the Academy Award winning movie Life of Pie, directed by Ang Lee, captured the Float Festival of Madurai on screen. This year, the festival is to be held on Magh Purnima that is February 14. The holy bathing ceremony is observed on Magh Purnima in other parts of the country.

Madurai is a few hours’ drive from Chennai International Airport in Tamil Nadu. Check IndianEagle.com for the cheapest flight to Chennai or any other capital city of India.

The post Madurai’s Float Festival: Kaleidoscope of Lights, Lamps & Fireworks appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Many Indian Americans have already circled the dates of important festivals and business events on the calendar to fly to India on, in 2014. Indian Eagle got in touch with some of them in the USA and Canada to know their New Year wishlists of travel in India. Karthik Naidu, one of our NRI customers in Miami, shares his wishlist with us.

Shopping for pearls in Hyderabad

Hyderabad is popularly nicknamed the “City of Pearls” in India and abroad. If Biriyani is a must taste, pearl is a must buy in the capital of the bygone Sultani era. Pearl is an integral part of the semi-precious jewellery that steals the show with travelers in the city. The Hyderabadi pearl is the purest find in the whole country. “I can’t afford to miss buying a pair of pearl earrings or pearl bangles in the City of Nawabs.”

Playing Holi in Shantiniketan

The Holi Festival is a colorful extravaganza celebrated with unlimited fun and frenzy the country over. Holi festival celebration is a distinct cultural statement in Shantiniketan, home to Visva Bharati University that the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore had established in West Bengal. Girls dressed in yellow saris with green border, and boys dressed in yellow or white kurtas celebrate the festival of colors through folk music (mainly Rabindrasangeet, the songs composed by the Bard of Bengal) and dance. Mr. Naidu wishes to make Holi 2014 in India an experience to be cherished forever.

Having parathas & lassi in Amritsar

“Relishing the flavors of Punjab through bites of delectable parathas and sips of lip-smacking lassi in Amritsar is on my India travel wishlist 2014,” shares Mr. Naidu uninhibitedly. The mouthwatering taste of makki di roti (flat breads made from popcorn flour), aloo parathas (pan-fried flat breads stuffed with spiced potato mash), and lassi with cream (a curd special drink) makes travel to Amritsar a foodie’s delight.

Traveling by train in Konkan Region

The Konkan Railway is the lifeline of travel and transport in Konkan Region spreading over Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra states in India. The Konkan is a coastal stretch of land with the Arabian Sea to the west and the Sahyadri Hills to the east. The railway track, an engineering excellence in the face of geographical odds, runs through rolling valleys and soaring mountains of the region. A train journey in the Konkan region is like a flight to the Paradise. “Traveling on the Konkan Railway is a long-cherished wish of mine on the list of things to do in India.”

Listening to the Rajput stories in Rajasthan

“Since childhood I have been wishing to leaf through the history of Rajputs in Rajasthan. I am looking to fulfill this wish of mine in 2014,” says Mr. Naidu to Indian Eagle. Dotted with historic forts and palaces, the state of Rajasthan is a book of stories related to the Rajput kings of Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Mewar, Amer, Bikaner and Chittorgarh. The history of Rajasthan is a compilation of Rajput stories of bravery and chivalry, royalty and gallantry.

Strolling on the beaches of the Andamans

The Andaman and Nicobar, an archipelago of islands with pristine beaches, coral reefs, dense rainforests and mirror like waters, is the best of all seaside destinations in India. To be precise, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a paradise of natural beauty in the Bay of Bengal. Unlike the crowded beaches of India, the beaches of the Andamans retain purity and virginity. Of the things to do in the Andamans, strolling on the beaches in the solitude of peace during sunrise and sunset is a soulful delight. “I want to feel the warmth of sands and waters beneath my feet in the Andamans,” expresses Mr. Naidu eloquently.

Visiting the temples of Tamil Nadu

The history of Tamil Nadu ranging from the royal era to the Sultani age to the British period is treasured in the temples of the state. Dotted with temples of different times across Madurai, Mahabalipuram, Kanchi, Tanjore, Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu is righty nicknamed the state of temples in India. Built in such different empires as the Chola, the Chera, the Pallav, the Pandya and the Vijaynagar, the Shore Temple, the Meenakshi Temple, and the Brihadishwara Temple are a few eminent names. “I wish to visit the temples of Tamil Nadu and write a travelogue based on it,” Mr. Naidu brims with delight.

Exploring the Himalayan region of Leh

Leh is the largest town in Ladakh, a Himalayan region of mystic wonders including flora and fauna, folk music and dance, fairs and festivals in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh is the highest plateau in this northernmost state of India, spanning from the Karakoram Range of mountains to the Himalayas. The Pangong Lake in the solitude of snow is a beautiful manifestation of nature in Leh. Another attraction of this place at the altitude of around 6,000 meters is the Ladakh Festival. “The thrill of exploring the unexplored always fascinates me. Therefore, my travel wishlist 2014 includes a visit to Leh in India,” says Mr. Naidu with exuberance.

Wandering in the tea estates of Assam

“I have watched the videos of a few Bollywood songs filmed in the sprawling tea estates and gardens of Assam at the Himalayan foothills in east India. Hope, 2014 will come with an opportunity for me to take a tea tour of Assam,” Mr. Naidu bares his mind to Indian Eagle. With most of the tea estates and gardens in the Brahmaputra Valley, Assam is the largest producer of tea in India. The flavor of Assam tea has traveled far away outside of India.

Booking the cheapest flight to India

“My New Year travel wishlist will meet with reality if IndianEagle.com offers me the lowest airfare to India. Booking the cheapest flight for my India tour is the first wish of mine that Indian Eagle fulfills every year. I am looking forward to having the same favor in 2014 too.”

We wish all the best to Karthik Naidu and our other NRI customers for their New Year travel wishlists.

The post Travel Wishlist for First-time Travelers to India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

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

Kashmir Flower market

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

READ MORE Romantic Stories of Kashmir

Kolkata Flower Market

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

READ MORE Things to Know about Kolkata Tram

Delhi Flower Market

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

READ MORE Best Street Food of Delhi

Mumbai Flower Market

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

READ MORE Weekend Getaways from Mumbai

Madurai Flower Market

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

READ MORE Float Festival of Madurai

Hyderabad Flower Markets

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

READ MORE Things You Should Do in Hyderabad during Monsoon

Bangalore Flower Market

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

READ MORE Weekend Getaways from Bengaluru

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

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