India is all set to kiss the sky with another giant statue of 351 feet in height. Home to the world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity near Ahmedabad, India will publicly unveil the world’s tallest Lord Shiva statue this October 29. Named the Statue of Belief, the mammoth sculpture has been erected on a horizontally colossal base and is a brand new tourist attraction at a 50-km drive from Udaipur, the city of lakes in Rajasthan.

On completion of the construction, the Lord Shiva Statue of Belief emerges as the world’s fourth tallest statue with a commanding height of 351 feet and taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York. The statue is a marvelous sight even from a distance of 12 miles. The location of India’s Statue of Belief is Ganesh Tekri near Nathdwara, a scenic hilly town on the banks of Banas River flowing down the Aravalli Hills.

Interesting Details of India’s Statue of Belief: World’s Tallest Shiva Idol

The construction of Nathdwara Shiva idol in Rajasthan began in 2012, with 2500 tonnes of refined steel. The statue is glazed by high-quality copper, and the 110-feet-high pedestal is made of pure zinc. There are three viewing galleries at three different levels – 20 feet, 110 feet and 270 feet – of the world’s tallest Shiva statue. The Trishul (Trident) measures an astounding 315 feet in height. The inside of the statue has a grand exhibition hall that is accessible by elevator. The cost of making the Statue of Belief is still unknown.

A team of 750 workers tirelessly worked on the Statue of Belief in Nathdwara, Rajasthan. A statue of Nandi cow has also been constructed in the dimension of 25×37 feet, in front of the Shiva statue. Both statues have recently been painted. There is a beautiful garden sprawling over the 300 square feet area around the Shiva Statue of Belief in Nathdwara, a small temple town nestled in the Aravalli Hills. The 16-acre complex includes a food court, a laser fountain, a parking lot, a handicraft shop, and three herbal gardens.

Tourist Attractions near Statue of Belief, Nathdwara

The temple town of Nathdwara is famous for Shrinathji Temple built in the 17^th century by Maharana Raj Singh of Mewar. Shrinathji Temple is the abode of Shrinathji, another name of Lord Krishna, revered by the people of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The idol of Shrinathji was brought from Vrindavan to Nathdwara in order to save it from Mughal ruler Aurangzeb’s invasions on temples.

Though Shrinathji Temple is the center of attraction in Nathdwara, Charbhuja Temple and Dwarkadheesh Temple are worth a visit among the must-see places in and around Nathdwara.

Known for its mesmerizing mirror work, delicately carved door panels and golden shutters, Charbhuja Temple houses a 5,000-year-old idol of Lord Vishnu. Located in Kankroli near Nathdwara, Dwarkadheesh Temple is the most popular abode of Lord Krishna. This too was built by Maharana Raj Singh of Mewar in 1676. Among the places to visit in and around Nathdwara is Ganesh Tekri for its decades-old Ganesh Temple at the center of a lush garden steeped in the serenity of Aravalli Hills.

Best time to Visit Nathdwara

Holi, Diwali and Janmashtami are the biggest festivals of Nathdwara. When any of these festivities is around the corner, it makes the best time to visit to Nathdwara, Rajasthan.

Nathdwara near Udaipur is a 6-hour drive from Jaipur International Airport. It has equal distance from Ahmedabad International Airport. Both the airports have good connectivity with Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi.

The post Interesting Facts about Statue of Belief: India is all Set to Get World’s Tallest Shiva Statue of 351 Feet appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Gangaur is one of the few Rajasthani festivals which are celebrated as colorfully as Holi. Gangaur is not just a festival but a celebration of women’s immovable faith in the Divine for their husbands’ wellbeing and the household welfare. The women of Rajasthan worship Gauri, the goddess of power, abundance and marital bliss on the occasion of Gangaur, a most splendid spring festival in Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner. Unrestrained fervor of menfolk and boundless devotion of womenfolk make Gangaur festivity a must-see cultural ceremony. Here are some interesting tidbits to share with you.

Worship of Deities

The Gangaur Festival centers on the worship of the deities – Lord Shiva and Goddess Gauri or Parvati. The small effigies of the deities are made of clay or wood. The clay images are immersed into a water body on the last day of the festivity, while the wooden idols are preserved and worshiped every year. The wooden ones are meticulously painted afresh before the ceremony begins. The Gangaur idols are beautifully dressed and worshiped with roli, kumkum, mehendi, haldi, etc.

Rituals for Women

The Gangaur festivity spans for 18 days. The ceremony begins on the next day of Holi festival. The newly married girls are obliged to worship the deities for 18 days and keep fasting for half of the day till the festival is over, in the first year of their marriage. The rituals are the same for unmarried girls and would-be married girls who wish to observe the ceremonies. The other married women worship the deities only on the third day of the festival. They wear red saris or ghagras with golden zari boder along with gold & silver jewellery. They flaunt borla in the parting line of the hair and kumkum on the forehead.

Also Check: Rajasthan’s Gypsy Tribe – Kalbeliya Music and Dance

Departure of Deities

The Gangaur festival ends with the departure of the deities, a grand ceremony which is observed through a spectacular procession. It is the most colorful, joyful and magnificent ceremony to behold. The ethnically dressed married women walk down the street, carrying the deities on their heads during the procession to a garden with a pond or well. Some other women sing folk songs and perform folk dance moves adding to the grandeur of the procession.

Gangaur Festival Sweets

Kheer, choorma, halwa and puri are some of the traditional delicacies on the Gangaur festival menu in Rajasthan. Ghevar, an essential culinary part of the festivity, is one of the most famous Rajasthani sweets. It is made in households and sold in markets during the festivity. It is customary for the people to sweeten the mouths of relatives and friends with slices of ghevar.

Also Check: Rajasthan’s Gogamedi Fair – An Offbeat Celebration in Incredible India 

Mehendi on Hands

Mehendi is one of the traditional rituals of the Gangaur Festival. It is a custom for both married women and unmarried girls to beautify their hands with Mehendi designs. Mehendi signifies good luck and bliss to the married women of Rajasthan. They worship the goddess Gauri with their colorful hands and seek blessings for the wellbeing of their husbands. Even young girls decorate their little hands with Mehendi on this occasion.

Travel Beats is an overseas Indian community portal on culture, travel, and community news by Indian Eagle, a leading international travel organization making air travel to India cheaper and better. Indian Eagle issues cheap flight tickets to Jaipur and other cities for overseas Indians, in order to help them connect with their roots.

The post Know What Makes Gangaur Festival of Rajasthan a Cultural Extravaganza in Incredible India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The Indian food history is the history of invention in times of necessity and inheritance from diverse cultures. Some dishes were invented for the sake of masses, while some others were borrowed from across geographies. Many such interesting stories of Indian food are still unheard of. Travel Beats, a community portal for Indian Diaspora, takes a few picks from the grave of history to share with you.

Petha is as old as the Taj Mahal 

What to eat in Agra? Whoever has been to the city of the Taj Mahal says that Petha is the best thing to eat in Agra. The invention of Agra ka Petha is linked to the construction of the Taj Mahal in the Mughal Empire. When the colossal monument was under construction, some 21,000 workers were bored of the daily meal comprising only dal and roti. The then Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan shared his concern with master architect Ustad Isa Effendi, who requested Pir Naqshbandi Sahib for a solution to the Emperor’s worries. It is believed that the Pir went into a trance during prayers one day and received the recipe of Petha from the Almighty. Then, some 500 cooks made Petha for the workers.

CHECK Best Dishes of Agra

Dal Bati was a means of survival during wars 

What is the best food to eat in Rajasthan? It is Dal Bati Churma in Jaipur, Mewar, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Udaipur. How the recipe of Dal Bati Churma was invented is a story worth sharing. The origin of this Rajasthani food is the famous Chittorgarh Fort in Mewar. Bati is dough of wheat dipped in ghee, a long-lasting food which the Rajput kings of Mewar required for survival in adverse conditions during wars. Bati could be made with the few ingredients and the little water available in the barren lands of Rajasthan. This culinary invention evolved into a delight with two other items – Dal and Churma – over the years.

SHARE Inforgraphic of Chittorgarh Fort

Mysore Pak journeyed from palace to public  

What is the best taste of Mysore? It is the Mysore Pak, a signature sweetmeat of South India. The Mysore Pak history is traced to the kitchen of the Mysore Palace in the early 20^th century when Nalawadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was the king in power. Kakasura Madappa, the then royal cook in the Mysore Palace, used to please the King with different dishes. One day he made new sweet dish with the mix of chickpea flour, ghee and sugar. When the King tasted it, it melted at the tip of his tongue. On being asked the name of the dish, the cook invented the name ‘Mysore Paka’ in a split of second. ‘Paka’ is a Kannada word meaning a sweet concoction. Mysore is a weekend getaway from Bengaluru City.

KNOW Best Food of Mysore

Khaja is inherited from the Mauryan & Gupta empires 

What is the best sweet of Odisha? Undoubtedly, it is Khaja. Though the culinary art of making Khaja is a matter of pride for the people of Orissa, the recipe is believed to have been borrowed from the Gangetic plains of Bihar around 2000 years ago. The history of Khaja dates back to the Maurya and Gupta empires in ancient India. Today, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh are homes to this Indian dessert. Each of these states offers a different taste of Khaja. The Khaja of Rajgir in Bihar is famous for its puffiness, while the Khaja of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh is known for its dry outside and juicy inside.

Do You Know 10 Varieties of Dosa

Jalebi is not essentially Indian but Asian in identity 

Jalebi, one of the most popular Indian sweet dishes, owes its origin to West Asia. The Persian-speaking invaders introduced Jalebi to India in the medieval era. This sweetmeat was called ‘Kundalika’, and ‘Jalavallika’ in India in the 15^th century. The poor were offered platefuls of Jalebi during Ramadan in Iran. It is called ‘Zalabia’ in the Arabian countries, ‘Zilebi’ in the Maldives, ‘Zlebia’ in Tunisia, Libya and Algeria, and ‘Jeri’ in Nepal. References to the Indian version of Jalebi are found in “Priyamkarnrpakatha” by Jinasura, a Jain author of the mid-15^th century.

HAVE Best Sweets of Bengal

Dum Biryani was a meal for the poor in Awadh  

The origin of Biryani is the princely state of Hyderabad in the era of Nizams, according to several historic sources. The recipe of Biryani is as old as the Mughal history of India, according to some historians. Some debate that Biryani was introduced during Timur’s invasion of India in the early medieval era. Though the origin of Biryani is debated, Dum Biryani or Biryani of Awadh was originated in Lucknow. The Nawab of Awadh ordered to cook a meal in huge handis (round-shaped brass pots) for all the poor people of his region when there was scarcity of food. A huge amount of food was cooked with minimum resources in covered and sealed pots. This art of cooking became known as ‘dum’.

This article featuring lesser-known Indian food facts is brought to you as part of the campaign, “Explore India with Indian Eagle”, aiming to promote what is unheard about India through our overseas Indian community portal, Travel Beats. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of IndianEagle.com, a leading online air travel booking portal for overseas Indians.

Like Indian Eagle on Facebook and follow on Twitter for travel tips and ideas. Subscribe to our NEWSLETTER and do never miss interesting travel stories.

The post Interesting Facts about Origin of Some Popular Indian Dishes from Indian Food History appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Water is the elixir of life on earth. Water crisis is a looming threat to many countries including India. Water crisis in India manifests itself through severe drought during summer every year. Drought in India due to atmospheric whims of nature causes crop failure, a major reason why Indian farmers commit suicide. About 600 million people are facing acute water shortage in India, according to the Niti Aayog, an Indian government think-tank. Since necessity is the mother of invention, everyone from schoolchildren to social activists to self-motivated individuals is trying different ways of water conservation to fight water scarcity in India.

Just as every dark cloud has a silver lining, every drought-hit region has an inspirational story of water conservation. We at Travel Beats curated such stories of fight against water crisis from across India so that everyone is inspired to conserve water. 

Little Drops of Water Make a Mighty Ocean

A few thousands of schoolchildren in the state of Maharashtra, where severe water crisis has caused life-taking drought, have set an inspirational example of water conservation. Some 7000 schoolchildren in Pune are saving and conserving leftover water from their bottles in large drums at their schools. The collected leftover water is used instead of fresh water to clean school premises and water plants. Initiated by two Indian entrepreneurs Vedant Goel and Yusuf Soni, this water conservation campaign is one of the promising solutions to water crisis in India. Some Pune schools have kept buckets at their exit points, which students empty their bottles into while leaving for the day.

Where There is a Will There is a Way

Rural women are the most-affected victims of water scarcity in India. They spend 6 to 9 hours a day to transport 30 to 40 liters of water on their heads, ignoring its health consequences like back pain and neck injuries. But a group of 20 women in rural backwaters of Kerala is hell-bent on changing the picture. They have dug more than 100 bore well in a year to tide over water crisis in their villages. Similar is the story of the women in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh, who dug a well in just 40 days rather than blaming their fate or nature or god for water shortage in India. When some men came forward to help them, they chose to rewrite the destiny on their own.

Also Read Kerala’s First Gender Park for Gender Equality

Good Human Beings are Gods Incarnate

Image Credit: TheBetterIndia.com

While many people talk about water crisis and drought in India 2016, Ayyappa Masagi from Karnataka has practically found and tried a solution to it and that is water conservation. Born into a poor farmer’s family, he faced water problems in childhood and used to wake up at wee hours to fetch water, which inspired him to find ways of water conservation. A mechanical engineer having 23 years of experience at a multinational corporation, Ayyappa Masagi responded to the call of earth and constructed many lakes for water conservation. He studied and practiced non-irrigation agricultural methods as solutions to water crisis which causes drought, thereby leading to Indian farmer suicides every year. This Water Gandhi of India found a mention in the Limca Book of Records for having created over 600 lakes across rural India.

Bengaluru Girl’s Study on City Lake Pollution is Incredibly Awarded

Nothing is Useless on Earth

Two final year students of IIT-Bombay have proven it by collecting plastic waste and giving clean drinking water in return. They have built a revolutionary machine which accepts used cans or bottles and dispenses 300 milliliters of drinking water in exchange. Developed by Anurag Meena and Satyendra Meena at IIT-Bombay, this environment-friendly project will not only encourage people to recycle waste but also relieve them of drinking water crisis during summer. Trestor, a Chandigarh based startup, has funded the project to help manufacture these ‘swachh’ machines.

Charity Begins at Home

Like farmers, women are also affected by drought and water crisis in rural India. They walk miles to fetch water from remote sources. A 17-year-old boy in Settisara village of Karnataka has dug a 55-foot-deep well in the backyard of his home for his mother. Since his family couldn’t afford to hire laborers for such an arduous work, Pavan Kumar took advice from a local hydrology expert and dug the well where water could be found. It took him 45 days to make this impossible possible, including a brief period of preparation for his pre-university exams. While clean drinking water is a luxury for millions of rural people, he put an end to water problem for his family.

Humanity is the Best Religion

A church in Delhi came forward to serve free drinking water to those who cannot afford bottles of chilled water this steaming summer. The Mar Gregorious Orthodox Church in Janakpuri has put a food and water vending machine in the neighborhood to save the needy from furious heat. Named Share N Care and stocked with water packets as well as fruits, the machine will be functional throughout this season.

Also Read Indian Chef from Delhi Feeds the Poor in Canada

Service to the Needy is the Best Virtue

Latur in the state of Maharashtra, one of the most-affected regions of drought in India, has one silver lining amidst rainless clouds over its people. Sheikh Mateen Musa, a mathematics teacher, has been giving away free water to the people hit by severe water crisis in Latur for three months. He distributes nearly 10,000 liters of water from his bore well without any condition or compensation every day. His generosity is the elixir of life for around 300 households during water shortage in Latur.

Believe in Actions not Words

Mumbai-based social activist Amla Ruia belongs to this category. She helped the farmers of 100 drought-hit villages in Rajasthan with traditional water harvesting techniques. Her NGO Aakar Charitable Trust got 200 check dams built to save thousands of lives in those Indian villages. Instead of just pondering over why Indian farmers commit suicide, Amla Ruia is practically more inclined towards solving water crisis in India with a sustainable solution for water conservation.

A Little Thought Makes a Big Difference

The thought “How to save extra water that goes waste in the process of watering plants” moved Dr. Anumakonda Jagadeesh from Vellore in Tamil Nadu to find a solution to conserve water. He began using tubes from discarded car or bike tyres instead of pots to prevent evaporation of water from soil. He cut three or four holes into the tube on one side and filled those holes with soil. Used tyre tubes cost cheaper and do not get affected in sunlight. Water is not evaporated from the soil in tubes. Dr. Jagadeesh, a renewable energy expert, has executed many water conservation projects in India.

Sharing is Caring

It’s absolutely true about Abdul Gafarasab Mulla in Yadgir district of Karnataka. Unlike those who store water as the most precious commodity in times of water crisis, he generously distributes water from his bore well to help farmers save their farmlands and livestock from scorching heat. He has left the trench in his farm, which is filled with water from the bore well, open to all. Those grappling with water shortage in neighboring villages as far off as 3 km fetch water from Abdul’s farm to survive this sizzling summer.

Inspiration is not bound to geographic or demographic barriers. Travel Beats, an Indian community portal by Indian Eagle Travel, publishes inspirational stories, interesting articles, and latest visa, immigration and aviation news. 

Have you got an inspirational story to share? Write to us at share@indianeagle.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

The post 10 Inspirational Stories of Fight against Water Crisis in India will Inspire You to Conserve Water appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The music of sand dunes, the rainbow of colors, the opulence of architecture , the golden beauty of desert, the gleams of silver jewellery, the richness of history, the shine of zardozi jutis, and the flavor of baati choorma – what do they remind you of? Jaisalmer, one of the three cities filmed in the movie Meenakshi: A Tale of Three Cities by the renowned painter Maqbool Fida Husain. Jaisalmer Desert Festival in February is a popular international event that  many tourists from the US, Canada and other parts of the world fly to India for. Travel Beats, a portal for Indian Diaspora, presents a quick Jaisalmer travel guide in response to their query, “What to see in Jaisalmer?”

Jaisalmer Fort – The Sonar Qilla

One of the largest historical forts in the world, Jaisalmer Fort stands tall defying the blows of all-conquering time. Built by the Rajput King Rawal Jaisal in the 11th century, the fort is a stronghold amidst the vast expanse of golden sands. The backdrop of Jaisalmer’s desert beauty, it had witnessed many battles since the inception of its foundation. Made of yellow sandstones, the fort experiences a change in its color from bright gold to soft gold with the passing of the day from sunrise to sunset. That is why it is nicknamed “Golden Fort” or “Sonar Qilla”. The Academy Award winning Satyajit Ray had shot one of his famous detective films here. Another highlight of Jaisalmer Fort is the blend of Rajput and Islamic architectural styles in the construction.

Manak Chowk – the beehive of trade

Take a walk through Manak Chowk, the chief marketplace in the town. It was a bustling trade hub during the royal times of Rajasthan. Traders from the Middle East countries used to trade here. There are delicately sculpted beautiful havelis (palatial buildings) around Manak Chowk. Turbaned men with twisted mustaches, and colorful ghaghara clad women from the outskirts of Jaisalmer make the market look resplendent in the glories of the past. The women adorn themselves with ivory and silver ornaments. On visit to the market, you will feel the ancient charm of the places that you have heard about in fables.

Gadi Sagar Lake – the elixir of life

Gadi Sagar Lake used to be the savior of lives in the bygone eras when Jaisalmer was grappling with water scarcity. The lake was built as a reservoir to store rainwater which was supplied across the city in times of water crisis during summer. What makes Gadi Sagar Lake a must-see tourist attraction is the majestic landscape dotted with temples, shrines, gardens and ghats. Surrounded by shrines and temples, the lake has been consecrated as part of pilgrimage in the city. For the idyllic setting with space for boating, it has come alive as a suitable picnic spot.

Sam Sand Dunes – waves on desertscape

Jaisalmer is as much known for its desert beauty as for its royal history. The picturesque desertscape is dotted with sand dunes running miles. The wavy dunes make the desert a scenic landscape. A camel ride across the sand dunes gives the thrilling feel of a roller coaster. When a whirling wind blows over the dunes in the backdrop of the twilight sky, the ambience feels magical, musical and mirthful. The joy of sleeping on the dunes, under the starry sky and in the open is no less than a divine experience.

Patwon Ki Haveli – the magic of mirror

Jaisalmer is a city of richly decorated mansions or havelis. Most of the mansions were constructed in the 18th and 19th centuries. The most famous mansion is Patwon ki Haveli, built by a wealthy silver merchant Guman Chand Patwon, in 1805. The mansion consists of five houses with sixty balconies and sprawling courtyards. The ceilings and walls are lavishly embellished with delicate mirror work, the beauty of which is inexplicable.

Jaisalmer Desert Festival 2019 is scheduled to run from February 17 until February 19. Do respond to the call of sand dunes, the Golden Fort, and the centuries-old mansions in Jaisalmer by booking your air travel to Rajasthan on IndianEagle.com. Jaisalmer is an overnight train journey from New Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur.

The post Your Guide to Jaisalmer: Best Tourist Attractions to See in Golden City of India and Why appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

While global netizens have not yet stopped drooling over the pictures of Deepika-Ranveer wedding, the Internet is all set to break down over the most-awaited Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas wedding next week. Everything from the engagement diamond ring worth INR 2.1 crore to the invitation card to the wedding venue makes it a big fat Indian wedding. Nick Jonas, along with his parents and siblings landed in India yesterday. Then they had a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner in Delhi where would-be-bride Priyanka is busy shooting for acclaimed filmmaker Shonali Bose’s The Sky is Pink. Though the total cost of the #nickyanka wedding extravaganza is not known, everything about the event is so regal and exclusive that our readers are waiting for the D-day with a bated breath.

We at Travel Beats, a leading overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle Travel, curated the details of the upcoming Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas wedding much to your pleasure.

Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas Wedding Schedule

Since Quantico actress Priyanka will tie the knot with Nick in an Indian Hindu wedding, the D-Day will be preceded and accompanied by a myriad of traditional rituals as well as ceremonies. The Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas wedding schedule is chock-a-block with pre-wedding celebrations which will commence with the mehendi and sangeet ceremony on November 29. The next day is reserved for a cocktail party for guests from Hollywood and Bollywood. The Haldi ceremony will take place on December 1. The wedding will be solemnized through Hindu rituals on December 2. The couple will exchange wedding vows in the Christian fashion too, the next day. Reportedly, the post-wedding celebrations include two receptions: one in Mumbai and the other in Delhi.

Needless to say, the sangeet ceremony of Priyanka Chopra’s big fat Indian wedding is expected to set fire to the stage over electrifying performances by both the groom and the bride. While Priyanka will perform to some of the most popular numbers in her films, Nick Jonas will dance to a medley of his fiancée’s favorite songs. If the grapevines are to be believed, the sangeet ceremony will be held at the historical Mehrangarh Fort of Jodhpur.

Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas Wedding Venue

The Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas wedding is a 5-day grand affair at the Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. One of the most luxurious wedding venues in Asia, the Umaid Bhawan Palace is home to the former royal family of Jodhpur, a heritage 5-star hotel and a museum. Sprawling across 26 acres of land, the colossal sandstone edifice is perched on Chittar Hill, the highest vantage point of the city.

A short flight away from New Delhi IGI Airport, the Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas wedding venue in Jodhpur has 22 rooms, 42 suites, grand banquet halls, ballrooms, a massive library, an indoor swimming pool, a throne chamber, four tennis courts, and helipads. Built to create employment for the poor working class during a one-year famine in the pre-independence era, the palace exudes oodles of magnificence in its every nook and corner.

The Priyanka Chopra wedding venue costs per day are not yet revealed. But, it’s not difficult to guess the expenses since one night in any of the 22 rooms at the palace hotel costs INR 34,000. The presidential one-bedroom suite costs a whopping INR 500,000 in the thick of tourism season from the beginning of December to the end of January. Reportedly, INR 43 lakhs ($60,000) are being charged for each day of the Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas wedding at the Umaid Bhawan Palace.

Jodhpur is a most popular tourist destination in India. The Blue City is well-connected with the capital city, Jaipur by air and road.

Brand Deals for Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas Wedding

The #nickyanka wedding is being speculated as a study on influencer marketing and branding. The couple has struck endorsement deals with some premium luxury brands ahead of their D-day. She has picked up her wedding shoes from Jimmy Choo in Paris. Though the names behind Priyanka’s wedding wardrobe are not yet revealed. Her headlines-making appearance at the Oscars, the Emmy Awards, the bridal shower in New York and the bachelorette party in Amsterdam makes her fans be sure that Priyanka’s wedding outfits will turn heads on far and near. Notably, she has a penchant for white shades, feathery dresses, slim-fit gowns and fur accessories. Ralph Lauren who the Quantico actress put on for her ‘Met Gala’ look is a shout out on the A-list of designers for the couple’s Christian wedding.

Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas Wedding Guests

The #nickyanka wedding night and receptions won’t be as intimate as their engagement ceremonies and bachelor parties. As per sources, only 200 invites from among their close friends and family members are on the wedding guest list. The extended family members may turn up at the receptions in Delhi or Mumbai. However, who will add stars to the galaxy of the Priyanka-Nick wedding in Jodhpur, is being speculated. The couple’s close friends from the United States, including Game of Thorne’s Sophie Turner will be taking flights to India for the D-day. Lupita Nyong’o and Kelly Ripa, who were among the invitees at Priyanka’s bridal shower in New York, are on the wedding guest list. Elizabeth Chambers, who joined Priyanka in the latter’s bachelorette party, and her husband Armie Hammer will grace the wedding with their presence. The Duke and the Duchess of Sussex are among the crème de la crème on the guest list, but their attendance is unlikely.

We’re wondering where Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas will be heading to for their honeymoon. Indian Eagle would like to book their flights from the USA to the honeymoon destination. 

The post All You Need to Know about Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas Wedding: Schedule, Venue, Guests, Fashion appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

“Indian festivals are the festivals of colors.” Bearing evidence to this statement is the Elephant Festival of Jaipur in Rajasthan. An annual event in the calendar of Jaipur, the Elephant Festival reflects the colorful beauty of Rajasthan. The embellishment of elephants is the prime attraction of the event. The celebration takes place at Jaipur Polo Ground near Sawai Man Singh Stadium, on the eve of Holi festival. Jaipur Elephant Festival will be held on March 21 in 2019.

This Indian festival, celebrated with much of pomp, gives a glimpse into the royalty of Rajasthan. Tourists from across the globe visit the city of Jaipur to witness this ceremonious carnival. The celebration begins with a grand parade of elephants with decorated backs, trunks and tusks. The beauty of colorfully decorated elephants on this festive day is a spectacular show to catch on. One of the highlights of the carnival is that only female elephants are selected for the parade.

The participating elephants are adorned with chunky jewelry like anklets, bracelets, rings, ear danglers and head plates. The jewelry is made of silver and gold. Their backs are embellished with intricately embroidered velvet rugs, and their ears are embellished with brightly colored scarfs. Various motifs from Indian culture and tradition are painted on their bodies. Even the mahouts look their best in splendidly embroidered jackets and colorful turbans. The most beautifully decorated elephant is given a prize, in the festival.

The spectacular parade of elephants is accompanied by the playing of traditional instruments such as Nagaras and Bankiyas. Decorated horses, chariots and camels follow the marching elephants. Adding to the splendor of the carnival are beautiful palanquins, carried by porters with colorful turbans on their heads. Folk dance performance during the parade makes the Elephant Festival of Jaipur a cultural extravaganza.

You might wonder why only elephants are the center of attraction in the Jaipur Elephant Festival. Elephant is considered a divine being, in the Hindu Mythology of India. It is a symbol of royalty and majesty in the traditional Indian culture as well. There are mythical legends about the importance of elephants in India.

Book the cheapest air tickets to Jaipur on IndianEagle.com and explore the most interesting legends of Jaipur Elephant Festival. The lowest airfare is guaranteed for your travel to the Pink City of India.

The post Jaipur Elephant Festival: Amazing Facts about Celebration of Royalty in Rajasthan appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The Jodhpur Flamenco and Gypsy Festival is held at the Mehrangarh Fort in Rajasthan every year. The festival celebrates the music culture of the gypsy of Rajasthan by bringing alive their folk songs and dance on stage. This 3-day musical extravaganza in collaboration with the gypsy men and women of Rajasthan will commence on April 3 in 2019. It has lent a new lease of life to the gypsy culture of the desert. On Travel Beats, Indian Eagle explores the most interesting facts about the gypsy culture of Rajasthan in this article.

The gypsy tribe of Rajasthan is one of the nomad or vagabond communities in India. The origin of the tribe dates several centuries back. The people of this Rajasthani tribe belong to the lowest step of the socio-cultural and socio-economic ladder. They live a nomadic life and travel like a caravan from place to place. There is no permanent residence for them. They sleep under the open sky some times and in the shade of trees at times.

The Bopa and the Kalbeliya are two surviving groups of the gypsy tribe. The Bopa is a group of musicians and singers, whereas the Kalbeliya is a group of dancers and snake charmers. In the royal era of India, the kings of Rajasthan used to admire and patronize the people of the Bopa and the Kalbeliya for their performing arts. The musicians, singers and dancers of these two gypsy groups were often hired for entertainment on festive occasions in the royal families.

With the disappearance of royalty from Rajasthan, these tribal people have stooped to utter poverty. They have lost patronage and consequently, their traditional and decent livelihood that is live performance for entertainment at majestic palaces as well as forts. Today, they are street performers on the move. They perform to entertain a common lot, not a royal audience, in the fairs and festivals of Rajasthan. That is why the gypsy men and women of the Bopa and the Kalbeliya have become a common face of Pushkar Camel Fair in the sands of Rajasthan.

INFOGRAPHIC  The Story of Chittorgarh Fort

The Kalbeliya has many female dancers who perform and entertain on any occasion of joy in their community. Dancing is unique to their socio-cultural identity. Once a matter of cultural pride and recognition of the communal identity, dancing helps the Kalbeliya women make their ends meet. The Kalbeliya men became snake charmers for the sake of survival in the changing socio-economic scenario.

The swirling moves that gypsy women make while dancing resemble to the movements of snakes. The serpentine style of their dance is sensuous at times. They gracefully spin around themselves putting the entire body weight on their ankles. The way the gypsy women of Rajasthan are dressed is a kaleidoscopic magic of embroidery in different hues. Their red, black, yellow and orange outfits camouflage with the colorful milieu of Rajasthan. They are often referred to as queens of the desert.

READ  The Haunting Stories of the Haunted Fort

The gypsy men are accomplished masters of folk music. They have genetically inherited the art of playing different musical instruments including dholak, been, khanjari, pungi, morchang, and khuralio. The been is played to enchant and tame snacks. The khanjari is a percussion instrument, and the pungi is a woodwind instrument. The women perform in rhythm of the music produced by the men. The harmony of their performances is amazing!

The gypsy men are no less wonderful than their counterparts in look and appearance. They cover their heads with colorful turbans, which steal the show even from a distance. The piece of the garment that they wear on the upper part of the body is richly embroidered and embellished with delicate mirror work. Both men and women of the gypsy tribe wear plain silver jewellery.

The theme of the Kalbelia songs is inspired by the stories from the folklore of Rajasthan. Some in the gypsy tribe are blessed with the rare talent of composing lyrics for songs. The gypsy music passes through generations like an art of inheritance. In 2010, the UNESCO incorporated the folk songs and dance forms of Rajasthan from the Bopa and the Kalbeliya into its Intangible Heritage List.

A majority of the gypsy population in Ajmer, Chittorgarh and Udaipur belongs to the untouchable caste, which keeps them off from the mainstream society. The Satiyaa group of the gypsy men and women from Rajasthan celebrates death and mourns birth, contrary to the normal system of society. The death of any family member calls for celebration among these gypsies of Rajasthan. A procession of dancers, singers and drummers is organized to take the dead to the funeral ground for crematorium.

About Indian Eagle

Indian Eagle is a USA based leading international travel organization inspiring tourists to explore India and booking their flights at the lowest airfare. Book cheap air tickets to India to explore India’s cultural diversity and offbeat attractions.    

The post Rajasthan’s Gypsy Tribe: Interesting Facts about Kalbeliya Music and Dance appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The story of Chittorgarh Fort is one of the timeless stories of Royal India, spanning from the 7^th century till the British Raj. The eventful chronicle of the fort is an unforgettable episode in the Rajput history of Rajasthan. It has been immortalized in the memory of mankind by not only Rajput rulers’ valor but also Rajput women’s spirit of sacrifice. The tales of Rani Padmavati and Rani Karnavati embracing death on a pyre in order to save their dignity from the lecherous invaders like Allauddin Khilji are eternally associated with the bygone days of Chittorgarh Fort.

Inside the timeworn fort complex, one of the largest in India, are some structures including Kirti Stambha and Vijay Stambha that still stand tall. Then an impregnable edifice on a hilltop, Chittorgarh Fort suffered blows of invasion by Allauddin Khilji in 1303, Bahadur Shah of Gujarat in 1534, and Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1567. But the Rajput rulers of the fort neither stooped nor gave in to the sultans of Delhi. Indian Eagle shares some interesting facts of Chittorgarh Fort through the infographic below:

How to reach Chittorgarh Fort 

Chittorgarh can be reached via roadway and air travel from Jaipur and Udaipur in Rajasthan. Both Jaipur and Udaipur are a short domestic flight away from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. Indian Eagle books the cheapest flights to IGI Airport from the USA. Log on to IndianEagle.com and find the best itinerary from any major US city to New Delhi according to your travel dates. September to March is the best time to visit Chittorgarh.

The post Infographic: The Story of Chittorgarh Fort is a Timeless Tale of Brave Rajput Women appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

India is a land of eternal love stories defying the blows of Time for ages. One such timeless story is that of Meera Bai’s love for Lord Krishna. Born a Rajput princess of Merta in Rajasthan, Meera Bai ended up being a saint in love with her lord. The life of Meera Bai from the magnificence of a palace to the austerity of a hermitage is a manifestation of transcendental love between the Divine and the human, the heaven and the earth, the universe and the soul, the immortal and the mortal as well. Her unconditional, immeasurable, incomparable love for Krishna, who others worship as the Almighty, was honeyed with devotion and spirituality.

She used to spend her time in writing and humming devotional songs in praise of her lord out of ecstasy, which knew no religious bounds and social barriers. Like Rani Padmini and Rani Karnavati, Meera Bai was a bride of Chittor in Mewar province of Rajasthan. If Rani Padmini and Rani Karnavati are emblems of bravery that the Rajputs are known for, she is an embodiment of divine love. Today her devotional songs which evoke numinous feelings are popularly known as ‘Meerabai Poems’ or ‘Meerabai Bhajans’.

Being the greatest devotee of Lord Krishna, Meera Bai deserves a tribute on the occasion of Krishna Janmastami. IndianEagle shares interesting facts from “Meerabai biography” and depicts her life story through the following infographic:

About Merta City

Once upon a kingdom of the Rathore Rajputs, Merta City is a tourist destination in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Both Merta and Mewar were tied in a nuptial knot of Meera Bai and Bhoj Raj. Being the birthplace of Lord Krishna’s devotee, Merta is a holy place for Hindus. It has historical significance too as it was ruled by the Rajputs, the Marathas and the Mughals. Among the tourist attractions of Merta, the museum and the Charbhuja Temple are worth a visit. Pushkar where India’s largest camel fair is held in winter is only 60 km away from Merta.

How to Reach Merta City

Jaipur to Merta distance is only 206 km via road. Merta is an 8-hour drive from Delhi. Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is a short flight away from IGI Airport New Delhi. IndianEagle books cheap flights to Delhi from USA cities including New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Newark, Washington, Atlanta, Houston, Seattle and Detroit. You can also buy the cheapest air ticket to Jaipur from Delhi while booking your flight to New Delhi International Airport at Indian Eagle.

The post Infographic on the Life of Meera Bai: A Divine Love Story appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.