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

The post Swami Vivekananda: The Greatest Indian Traveler on a Mission from India to USA appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Most winter festivals of India are held in the month of December. The last month of the year is full of festivity in each state of the country. Pleasant weather, engaging festivity and joyous ambience make December an ideal time to fly to India. Indian Eagle has listed the most celebrated winter festivals of India below.

Hornbill Festival, Nagaland

Nagaland celebrates Hornbill Festival, one of the winter festivals of India, in the month of December. Agriculture being the chief means of sustenance for over 60% of the tribal population in Nagaland, the festivals are devoted to agriculture in this Indian state. Held in the first week of December, Hornbill Festival celebration is a cultural statement made by the tribes of Nagaland. Observed through folk dance and music performances, the fest gives a fair understanding of the land’s traditional custom and culture, art and craft. The capital city Kohima is the venue of Hornbill Festival.

Chumpha Festival, Manipur

The state of Manipur celebrates Chumpha Festival to herald the season of harvest in winter. Scheduled to continue from December 10 to 16, the festival is a grand cultural celebration by the Tanghul Nagas of Manipur. They spring into dance and music on the last three days of the festivity which culminates in a spectacular procession. The tribal culture of Manipur manifests itself through the celebration highlighted through the active participation of the women of the state.

Winter Festival, Rajasthan

Rajasthan celebrates Winter Festival at Mount Abu, the only hill station on the highest peak in the range of Aravali Mountains. With lakhs of foreign tourist arrivals apart from the domestic travelers, the Mount Abu Winter Festival has touched the heights of an international event. The three-day long celebration thrives on super hospitality, diverse culture, green beauty, hilly landscape and scenic location of Mouth Abu, one of the best tourist attractions in Rajasthan. The biggest draw of the festivity is the spectacular procession with folk dance and music performances.

Tansen Samaroh, Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh celebrates Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, a famous music festival, in winter. The Tansen Tomb in Gwalior is the venue of the festival which stages both vocal and instrumental performances by artists from all over the country. The festival is a tribute to the glory of Tansen, a great musician in the court of Akbar, a Mughal emperor. A legendary figure of the Hindustani Classical Music, Tansen had a musical voice which could ignite lamps, fascinate animals and make clouds shower spells of rain. Held on December 7 in the memory of this music maestro, the sangeet samaroh is an audio and visual extravaganza.

Lumbini Festival, Andhra Pradesh

Lumbini Festival is held to celebrate the age-old heritage of Buddhism in the state of Andhra Pradesh during winter. The venue of the festival is the Nagarjunasagar Dam, a tourist destination at a short drive from Hyderabad. It continues for three days in the third week of December and witnesses a huge gathering of Buddhist monks as well as pilgrims. The importance of Lumbini Festival is traced back to the times when Buddhism was the most popular festival 2,000 years ago. The fest highlights the cultural significance of Buddhism through the noble teachings of Lord Buddha.

Tarpa Festival, Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Tarpa Festival in Dadra & Nagar Haveli is named after Tarpa dance, a folk culture of the Varli, Kokna and Koli tribes. The tribes of this region are easily identifiable by means of their distinct appearance, apparels, dance forms and musical instruments. Tarpa Festival is celebrated through swimming competition, boat racing, rangoli drawing and tattoo painting, with lots of enthusiasm. The main attraction of the festivity is Tarpa Dance, performed by both men and women folks in a circle which represents their unity and harmony. It is held on December 26, every year.

Vaikathashtami Festival, Kerala

Vaikathashtami Festival is a religious occasion when Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Shivlinga, in Kerala. The venue of the celebration is the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple, one of the most popular temples in the state of Kerala. Lord Shiva is ceremoniously worshipped in three different forms – Dakshinamoorti in the morning, Kiratamurti at noon, and Sambhashivan in the evening. Several legends from the Indian mythology are associated with the temple and the festival. Though the festivity continues for as many as 12 days, the celebration on the Ashtami or eighth day is important in terms of religiosity. This year, the Ashtami celebration falls on December 26.

The festivals of India are the best times to explore the regional cultures, customs and traditions of the country. IndianEagle.com offers the lowest airfare to let you get the best of your trip to India during winter.

The post Most Popular Winter Festivals of India in December appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Once Diwali celebration is over, winter arrives in India. The season of winter comes with a coffee break, the most-awaited time of the year for Indians. Though, the present generation is fond of round-the-year coffee intake. India is full of tourist destinations where sipping of coffee is like drinking to the bliss and beauty of nature on wintry days. Indian Eagle shares some coffee travel ideas to let you get the best of your visit to India in winter.

Tea may still be the ruling flavor of dating in the countryside, but coffee is the choice of urban lovers on dating in India. If you are a romantic, sip into coffee and drink to romance with your spouse during a visit to India in the season of winter. Twilight is the most romantic time of the day. With the sunset in the backdrop, live the fleeting moments of twilight over a mug of coffee with your partner at such tourist destinations as Goa, Ooty and Coorg where nature makes itself felt overwhelmingly. Each sip of coffee is full of romance on the beaches of Goa, and the rolling fields of Ooty. It will be your best coffee dating in lifetime. Mount Abu is another romantic destination for coffee travel amidst hills in India.

A morning without a cup of coffee feels dull to many a traveler. If you are in the habit of welcoming the morning sun with sips of coffee, visit Darjeeling in West Bengal, or the hill stations of Maharashtra. The morning sun penetrating the veils of mist will greet you and add to the warmth of your hot coffee on wintry days at these hill stations. Just feel the moment when the snow-capped Kanchenjunga peak glitters like a huge piece of gold in the rays of the morning sun, and you warm up yourself with sips of coffee while catching an eyeful of the beauty through the window of the room. Matheran, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Lonavala, Khandala, Dapoli and Amboli – the hill stations around Mumbai – offer the same ambience on the days of winter.

The warmth of coffee during snowfall is like a thrilling sensation that runs like a shudder throughout the body. If you are looking to spend your winter holiday at such tourist destinations where snowfall is a common natural phenomenon at this time of the year, visit Shimla, Kulu and Manali in Himachal Pradesh. The snowy beauty of these hill stations in the Himalayan regions of India will make your coffee more stimulating in winter. Lie back on an easy chair, hold a mug of warm coffee, take gentle sips, and look through the window glass how nature plays with ice balls when snow falls. These Himalayan hill stations are among the best coffee travel destinations in India.

Coffee can also be best enjoyed as a taste of adventure on the backwaters of Kerala, the Dal Lake of Kashmir, or the sands of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner are close to Thar Desert in Rajasthan where winter feels like an icy sting. Coffee is better than the best means to evade the biting winter wind at these destinations of Rajasthan. The joy of drinking coffee in the comfort of a houseboat on the Dal Lake of Kashmir or the backwaters of Kerala is an inexplicable feeling that you will surely preserve as a souvenir of your visit to India for lifetime. Travel to these destinations in winter and have the best coffee of your life.

When did you have the last coffee in India? Grab the opportunity of flying to India at the lowest airfare from IndianEagle.com.

The post Best Places to Visit for Best Coffee in India during Winter appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

If Darjeeling is the paradise of Bengal in East India and Kashmir is the paradise of North India, Mount Abu is the paradise of Rajasthan in West India. Some US and Canada travelers having little knowledge of Indian tourism are under the impression that Rajasthan is all about forts, temples, sands, camels, fairs and festivals. They are partly right because Rajasthan has a beautiful hill station to their surprise. Nature makes itself felt through lush greenery, peaceful lakes and scenic sunset in Mount Abu, a far cry from aridity and scorching heat of the desert. We would like to quote Mr. Vivek Agarwal (an NRI from America and one of our valued customers) in this context. In his words, “Mount Abu is one of the best hill stations in India for romance with nature and praise of its beauty”.

You might wonder why we are so eloquent about this tourist attraction of Rajasthan. Let’s explore Mount Abu and check if Mr. Agarwal is right.

What to see in and around Mount Abu

Achalgarh Fort: The only fort at a short drive from Mount Abu Town. Rajasthan tourism means visit to forts. Built by Rana Kumbha of Mewar, Achalgarh Fort is a mammoth medieval monument enclosing several temples within the boundary. The Achaleswar Mahadev Temple and the Kantinath Temple are the oldest ones. Standing tall in the countryside, the fort is a must see for its rural charm.

Nakki Lake: Part of the sightseeing around Mount Abu, Nakki Lake is a photographic spot surrounded by various rock formations and green landscape at an altitude of 1200 meters above the sea level. Boating on the lake, under the evening sky and with the setting sun as backdrop, promises moments of romance adding to the pleasure of Rajasthan travel.

Sunset Point: The spot to experience the natural best of Mount Abu. Travelers start their days with views of the rising sun at seaside destinations. The picture is just opposite in Mount Abu. At this Indian hill station, travelers breathe in joys from the enchanting views of sun setting behind the mountains. The beautiful sunset has made Mount Abut a favorite of travelers from the US and Canada.

Guru Sikhar: The topmost point of Mount Abu in the Aravali range of mountains. Breathtaking views of the panorama sweeping around the Aravali range from Guru Sikhar are sure to make your Mount Abu travel a memorable one. The divinity of nature is overwhelmingly felt here. Moreover, Guru Sikhar is associated with references to the Hindu mythology of India.

Wildlife Sanctuary: The region of wilderness with many sightseeing points in the Aravali mountain range. Rich in the flora and fauna of deserts, the Mount Abut Wildlife Sanctuary is part of eco-tourism of Rajasthan. Spreading over 7 kilometers, the sanctuary is known for its floral beauty and a wide range of birds as well as animals. This part of Mount Abu is full of interests for bird-loving travelers. The list of Mount Abu attractions is endless.

Shopping for souvenirs in Mount Abu

Mount Abu has markets in the surrounding areas other than temples and adventure spots. The local market around Nakki Lake is the most famous shopping destination. Shop for souvenirs, gemstones, metal pots, Rajasthan textiles, handcrafted jewellery and various other items made by local artisans, here. Mount Abut is a shopper’s paradise for those seeking to buy Rajasthani handicrafts.

Things to do in Mount Abu

Mount Abut lets you do many things and pursue various activities to enjoy yourself. Boating, trekking, horse safari, shopping, camping, bird watching, sunset watching and likes are the pleasurable activities for travelers to indulge in. These things to do in Mount Abu offer a miasma of peace, joy and thrill.

We are not sure if this abstract picture of Mount Abu tourism appeals to the nature-loving traveler in you. However, we assure that you will find the real picture of the hill station appealing to your senses, on a tour to Rajasthan. IndianEagle.com offers the opportunity for the cheapest air travel to Rajasthan in India. And, you will have to agree with Mr. Agarwal.

The post Mount Abu: Only Hill Station for Romance with Nature in Sands of Rajasthan appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.