Be it urban or rural India, women are making headlines for breaking stereotypes by crossing the frontiers to do what has been monopolized by their male counterparts till date. It’s not that Indian women never came to the fore for making ambitious choices, taking daring decisions, exploring forbidden places, touching new heights….in the bygone decades. However, fewer women were able to defy age-old customs, break loose from conventionality, rewrite societal norms and challenge the patriarchy system due to limited options or opportunities available then. With every tomorrow passing into a yesterday in the 21^st century, more and more Indian women are coming out of the cocoon. They no longer bottle their desires or bury their dreams.

Image credit: Facebook.com/agenobar2017/

The above statement is true about the three Indian women who, in their early 60s, are on a miles-long road trip across Rajasthan and Gujarat. Neeru Gandhi, Pratibha Sabharwal, and Monica Chanana are homemakers and grandmothers from Delhi. Smitten by the travel bug, they hit the highway for an all-women road trip in their 60s. Evidently, road trips in India are longer male bikers or male travelers’ monopoly.

Most of Indians are fond of pilgrimage in their 60s. As soon as they cross 55, they hit the pilgrimage trails from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. But, these three women of Delhi are chasing their travel dreams, defying the bounds of age and the age-related social norms. Currently they are on an adrenalin-driving road trip zipping across Gujarat and Rajasthan for a whopping distance of 4000kms. Interestingly, it’s not their first highway adventure.

In 2016, they took their first road trip covering a distance of 4400kms from Delhi to Rameshwaram through five Indian states: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Age is no bar to them!

It was their life-changing trip to reinvent themselves by exploring the unknown. The road trip from Delhi to Kanyakumari with 23 stopovers took them 29 days. Several obstacles came their way, but their passion for travel and adventure subdued the obstacles. In addition, they were prepared to face difficulties on the way, especially during an all-women road trip. They fixed the breaks and repaired the punctured tires by themselves.

These Indian women’s road trips are full of lessons on how to prepare for a solo trip or an all-women trip. They are digitally smart backpackers too. They pack in modern gadgets including dongles, cameras, hard disks, pen drives, tripods, power banks and selfies sticks. They carry a map of the route of their road trips and take all necessary notes from the Internet regarding where to stop over, where to eat and where to stay during the journey.

These elderly road trippers of India blog about their on-the-way experiences and events at womenonthehighway.wordpress.com in order to inspire other women to travel. The itinerary of their ongoing road trip to Rajasthan and Gujarat from Delhi includes Sikar, Bikaner, Johdpur, Jaisalmer, Palanpur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Neemrana, Jaipur, Udaipur, Rani Ki Vav, Modhera Sun Temple, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Dwarka, Somnath and Porbandar.

Indian Eagle is a USA based leading international travel organization inspiring tourists to travel India and booking their trips at the best prices. Indian Eagle celebrates the cultural richness, historic glory, natural beauty, and spiritual greatness of India through interesting stories on its digital magazine, Travel Beats.    

Like this story? Or, have you got something to share? Write to us: share@blogbox.indianeagle.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.  

The post These Elderly Women on Road Trips across India Defy Age and Break Stereotypes for Traveling appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

August to March is the best time for road trips on bikes in North India. Delhi, the national capital of India, is at crossroads of weekend getaways for bikers. Weekend road trips from Delhi are adrenalin-pumping adventure drives for biking enthusiasts. Some road trips from Delhi run along highways; some run through zigzags in valleys and mountains; some run by beautiful rivers or shimmering streams; some run crisscrossing barren landscapes, while some run through green corridors at escalating altitudes. Some roads for bike trips from Delhi are motorable, while some are precarious throwing challenge to road trippers. You can soak in the natural beauty of India hanging over concrete highways, sandy trails, and mountainous passes. Indian Eagle lists the best road trips from Delhi for bikers.

Road trip to Ladakh from Delhi

Driving to Ladakh at an altitude of 13,000 feet is one of the most coveted road trips from Delhi. Riding a Royal Enfield for a whopping 1800km of round trip is not for the fainthearted. A road trip to Ladakh is full of adventure making it an inspirational story of courage, passion and obsession for the aspiring road trippers. If you are not a seasoned biker, Ladakh road trip may end up being far from euphoria. Don’t let it disappoint you. There are not-so-adventurous weekend road trips from Delhi for you, too.

READ MORE Ladakh Road Trip: An Inspirational Story

Road trip to Dehradun from Delhi

The road from Delhi to Dehradun and Mussoorie is poor, but what makes this road trip a must have for bikers is the breathtaking sightseeing. Dehradun and Mussoorie are the nearest hill stations from Delhi, in the Himalayan region. It is a 6-hr drive from Delhi to Dehradun, and driving to the hilltop of Mussoorie takes another 1.5 hours. Do halt at Cheetal Grand, a roadside eatery, to fuel your body with Indian or western food during your road trip to Dehradun.

Road trip to Jaipur from Delhi

Jaipur is on every biker’s list of top 10 road trips from Delhi. India’s Pink City is an exciting 6-hr biking trip. It is worth a long drive from Delhi for several reasons including tourist attractions and Rajasthani food. The Delhi – Jaipur Highway is a part of the Golden Quadrilateral project. October to March is the best time for a road trip to Jaipur.

Road trip to Agra from Delhi    

Needless to say why driving to Agra is one of the best weekend road trips from Delhi. Driving a bike or car on the newly built Yamuna Expressway to the city of Taj Mahal is an inexplicable experience, which India’s fastest train from Delhi to Agra falls short of. The mouthwatering taste of Agra’s street food and the mind-blowing beauty of the Taj Mahal add to the joy of road trips to Agra.

Road trip to Bharatpur from Delhi  

Bharatpur is a small town on the Agra-Jaipur Highway and famous for the Bharatpur bird sanctuary. Driving to Bharatpur is a fancy ride across vast sandy landscape. The entrance of the sanctuary looks abandoned, but the interior will mesmerize you the more you will explore. October to February is the best time for a road trip to Bharatpur because the sanctuary welcomes beautiful migratory birds during this period.

Road trip to Rishikesh from Delhi 

Rishikesh is a must visit for not only pilgrimage, yoga and meditation but also adventure. One of the holiest places in India, Rishikesh offers toast of adventure in form of river rafting, trekking and hiking. Evidently, adventure-loving bikers must hit the road to Rishikesh from Delhi at any time of the year and that is because of pleasant weather.

Road trip to Dharamsala from Delhi  

Dharamsala in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh is a scenic drive from the hustle-bustle of Delhi. One of the best getaways for summer vacation in India, Dharamsala is a beautiful canvas crisscrossed by hilly streams flowing through deodar and pine forests. This Himalayan hill station is the headquarters of Dalai Lama, too. Road trip to Dharamsala is a must for biking enthusiasts.

Road trip to Chittorgarh from Delhi 

[pullquote]Check our infographic on the unforgettable story of Chittorgarh Fort.[/pullquote] Chittorgarh in Rajasthan is one of the best destinations for weekend road trips from Delhi. Though a large portion of the Chittorgarh Fort is in ruins, the story of the fort will not fail to haunt you once you step into the fort complex. The timeless tales of Rajput rulers’ valor and Rajput women’s spirit of sacrifice in Mewar are worth 7-hr driving from Delhi to Chittorgarh.

Road trip to Chandigarh from Delhi 

Driving to Chandigarh from Delhi is an adrenalin drive for bikers. The Grand Trunk Road is the main route to Chandigarh from Delhi, giving access to Shimla and Kasauli, two most popular hill stations in Himachal Pradesh. Both Shimla and Kasauli are 2-3 hour pleasant drive from Chandigarh. It is safe not to venture out for a bike trip to Chandigarh or Shimla in the thick of winter.

Road trip to Alwar from Delhi

Biking or driving to Alwar from Delhi is an adventurous experience. Alwar is one of the princely states in Rajasthan. Visit to Sariska, one of the most famous tiger reserves in India, is worth a road trip from Delhi to Alwar. The month of February / March is the best time to visit Sariska because tigers are the likeliest to be sighted this time. You can halt to see the haunted Bhangarh Fort on the way.

READ MORE  Haunting Stories of Bhangarh

Road trip to Nainital from Delhi

Driving to Nainital is an escalating ride across high altitudes in Uttarakhand. No provision for air travel or train travel between Delhi and Nainital has made road trip to Nainital a must for bikers. Nainital Lake and Jim Corbett National Park are the best tourist attractions of this hill station at a drive of 285 km via roadway from Delhi. Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest park in India.

Road trip to Ranthambore from Delhi

Ranthambore is a paradise of natural beauty in Rajasthan and home to one of the most famous national parks in India. Located in Sawai Madhopur, the Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve used to be a favorite haunt of the Rajput kings of Jaipur. The park is wildlife photographers’ delight, too, because of its scenic landscape and rich wildlife. Evidently, bikers brim with enthusiasm for road trip to Ranthambore from Delhi.

Road trip to Ajmer from Delhi   

Of the historic cities in Rajasthan, Ajmer is worth several road trips from Delhi. A 5-hr ride on bike, Ajmer is nearer than other cities to Delhi. Nestled amidst the Aravalli Mountains and founded by Ajayraj Singh Chauhan, Ajmer still carries palpable influences of the Chauhan Era in Rajasthan. The city is famous for its age-old artistry and the Ajmer Dargah.

Road trip to Almora from Delhi 

Almora is a gateway to adventure and sports tourism in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. One of the summer capitals in the Himalayas, Almora offers a springboard of outdoor activities including trekking and rock climbing. Many bikers, adventure lovers and sports enthusiasts from Delhi make road trips to Almora. Driving to Almora is much of an obsession with seasoned bikers and young road trippers.

Road trip to Mathura from Delhi

The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has many destinations for bikers from Delhi. Road trip to Mathura from Delhi is not just an adventuresome drive but a way to seek solace in spirituality since Mathura being birthplace of Lord Krishna is a glorious destination for pilgrimage. Mathura is a must visit on the occasion of Janmastami in August or September. Attend the magnificent pooja ceremony and get blessed with delicious Prasad during Janmastami in Mathura.

Indian Eagle, a leading USA-based travel booking organization, books cheap flight tickets to India and helps tourists fly to India at the lowest airfare throughout the year.

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Northeast India is full of offbeat attractions and incredible wonders, most of which are unseen, unknown, and unexplored till date. This mystic part of India spans from Darjeeling in North Bengal to the Indo-Tibet, Indo-China, and Indo-Burma borders through geographically diverse forested landscapes penetrated by rivers and streams in hilly terrains and green valleys. Many are flattered by illusions of making trips to Northeast India, but a few dare to drive or travel all the precarious way. One such road trip to Northeast India by Jatin Kapoor and Karan Jung at Alternate Atlas makes a fulfilling story for aspiring road trippers and adventure enthusiasts at Travel Beats.

We started our road trip to Northeast India from Siliguri in West Bengal with cups of Darjeeling and Lopchu tea adding to our gusto for the adventure ahead. Our first stopover was Darjeeling where we spent a night in a planter’s bungalow. Tea plantation is the backbone of economy in North Bengal and most of Northeast India as it seemed from a huge number of men and women working in sprawling tea gardens there. Corporates like Tata own some of the tea estates in Darjeeling and Assam. We caught an eyeful of the lush green landscape dotted with tea plantations across highs and lows of the valleys where pluckers (most of whom are women) work meditatively like the Solitary Reaper in a poem of the same name by William Wordsworth.

We drove the car from Darjeeling to Shillong, one of the best road trips in India. The beauty of nature in different concrete forms on both sides of the winding road overpowered our senses. Known as the Scotland of the East, Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya. It is a springboard of entertainment and a hotbed of activities through the atmosphere feels laidback there. [pullquote]Located in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, Mawlynnong Village is also known as ‘God’s own garden’. For its unmatched cleanliness, the village is featured among the Inspirational Stories of Rural India.[/pullquote] We explored caves, visited Mawlynnong (the cleanest village in Asia), and trekked a little. Cherrapunji where the highest rainfall occurs in the world welcomed us too. What is the most surprising about the villages of Meghalaya is the way the living roots of trees form natural bridges. Such bridges last for centuries. We took a walk across one such bridge and had a nice time over great food at the night bazaar in Shillong.

Meghalaya’s living root bridges are among the most offbeat attractions in India. Huge thick roots naturally get intermingled to form bridges which are so strong that around fifty people can walk on them at a time. Such natural wonders are common sights to behold across the banks of streams in Meghalaya. The Living Root Bridge in Cherrapunji is a UNESCO heritage site. – Indian Eagle

Then, we drove from Meghalaya to Nagaland, the land of head hunters. It is a customary practice for the people of the Naga tribe to severe the heads of their enemies and put them as trophies on display in their homes. Even such trophies are preserved and exhibited in Nagaland’s State Museum. Hornbill Festival of Nagaland is a major festival when all the 16 tribes of the state get together to celebrate their unity. Hornbill Festival was the main reason that this road trip to Northeast India was planned.

We were overwhelmed with warm welcome in Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. A group of natives took care of our needs, served us with platefuls of mouth-watering dishes from their local cuisine, and treated us to the best of hospitality. The locals are decent, humble and warm. The influence of mother figures in the society of Northeast India did not elude our attention. Little did we know that the Second World War actually concluded on the soil of Kohima. The corpses of hundreds of American, English and Indian soldiers lay buried at DC’s Tennis Court.

The next destination was Assam where we stopped by the Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World heritage site. Watching one-horned rhinoceroses and wild elephants was as exciting as walking on the Living Root Bridge. Inside the park, we took a boat ride on the Brahmaputra River and caught glimpses of the Gangetic dolphins. On the way back from the park, we came across a few local boys playing soccer. We went into a game with them and lost miserably only to realize that Northeast India has the best soccer talent in the country.

Our untamable lust for road tripping took us to Pangsau Pass at a height of 3727 feet on the India-Burma border. It is close to the famous Still Will Road built during the Second World War. This could connect with the much talked about road from India to Thailand. Carpet making is a means of sustenance for the natives of this seemingly uninhabited place. They weave beautiful carpets out of the raw materials imported from New Zealand through their awesome craftsmanship.

Named after a Burmese village, Pangsau Pass was the route that led to the invasion of Assam by the Ahoms, a Shan tribe, in the 13^th century. It was nicknamed “Hell Pass” during the Second World War as its fierce gradients formed a mammoth obstacle for the American soldiers on their way to China. The Pangsau Pass Winter Festival is a famous event in Nampong, Arunachal Pradesh. – Indian Eagle     

Debang Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh was the next episode of adventure during our road trip to Northeast India. Also known as the Nampada National Park, the sanctuary is home to tigers, leopards, snow leopards and clouded leopards. The only way to explore the park is on foot. Trekking is full of blood-chilling thrills in the park. Generally, tour guides carry weapons for protection from animals. An expanse of dense forests with marshy land on the river bed creates a supernatural environment. Dr. Salim Ali, a most reputed ornithologist, described Debang Wildlife Sanctuary as the most beautiful national park sans the human intervention.

There are many things to see and do in Darjeeling, Shillong, Kohima and Khonsa. The unseen and unexplored part of this road trip will surely get us back on another drive.

Indian Eagle, a leading international travel agency booking the best USA to India flights at the lowest airfare, brings this exclusive road tripping story with inputs from Jatin Kapoor and Karan Jung.

About the Contributors 

Jatin Kapoor and Karana Jung are young road trippers & dynamic travel professionals at Alternate Atlas. They are on a mission to help travelers explore the natural and cultural uniqueness of India. At Alternate Atlas, they organize village walks, road trips, birding trips, jungle safaris, home stays, and trips to offbeat destinations across India.

Are you a traveler or travel photographer? We would like to share your travel story and experience with our readers. Pitch to us at share@indianeagle.com and get published.  

The post Northeast India Road Trip: Many Dream but Few Dare appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

This International Women’s Day, Indian Eagle brings you the stories of ambitious, independent, working women travelers from India. These urban women travelers of India not only travel but also blog about their experiences. Some are backpackers; some are solo travelers; some are road trippers; some are bikers. Though they define themselves differently, what they have in common is the purpose, that is breathe freely, taste the spirit of freedom, discover new places, meet new faces, experience new cultures, break loose from monotony, and explore the bounties of nature. On the occasion of Women’s Day, Indian Eagle shares with you how these women of today from different walks of life have carved a niche as independent travelers in India.

Vishakha Talreja

Vishakha Talreja, chief editor of digital hospitality magazine The Hotel Explorer, is much of a beach lover and an urban traveler. She loves exploring night-life spots, shopping destinations and spas. That is why traveling to cities with madding crowds is her favorite pursuit. Though, once in a while, she visits serene hill stations or farms in remote villages away from the hustle-bustle of city life.

The maxim, “Travel is the only way to see the world,” keeps her on her traveling toes. She loves exploring unknown territories, experiencing different cultures, and interacting with the locals. Vishakha shares with Indian Eagle what makes her standout as a traveler is her belief in packing smart. Traveling light like backpackers and road trippers is not her cup of tea.” [pullquote]I shudder at the idea of being only in my sports gear during a trip. Itineraries with lots of shopping and nightlife do always interest me.[/pullquote]

Vishakha Talreja has been to some of India’s tourist hotspots such as Kerala, Goa, Kashmir, and Khajuraho. She often visits Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru to review hotels in India. She has already explored many a weekend destination around Delhi, to say Mussoorie, Agra, Haridwar and Vaishno Devi. Being a hotel reviewer, she visits smaller towns in India as well.

Rajasthan for its warm hospitality, kaleidoscopic culture and royal cuisine is her favorite destination. She has already explored much of Rajasthan by visiting Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Ajmer. As per experience, the tourist attractions of Rajasthan never fail to mesmerize. As the sun glares over most of India during summer months, Vishakha would like to have hill stations like Darjeeling and the Himalayan valleys of Sikkim on her summer travel wishlist.

Sharmishta Chakravorty

Sharmishta Chakravorty is a biker for bikers. A Senior Manager with a corporate house during the week and Director of Musafirs Motorcycle Tours Pvt Ltd over the weekend, Sharmishta loves to explore the unexplored riding bikes. Inspired by a bike ride in 2010, she formed a biking club “The Musafirs” and reached out to likeminded biking enthusiasts. Biking enlivened her existence which had almost become stagnant due to a routine life.  [pullquote]When I am riding, I am with myself; I can dig deep within. It is a state of meditation. It provides a sense of HIGH! [/pullquote]

Sharmishta has led a gang of motorcyclists for over 50 biking expeditions in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Gujarat. She along with her gang has motorcycled all the way to Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. Ladakh and Spiti Valley are her targets in June this year. Her road trips in India are interspersed with pleasant experiences and memories. She reminisces, “During a ride to a small town about 350 km from Mumbai, we woke up a mechanic at midnight to fix one of the bikes. He not only fixed the bike but also offered us smoking hot tea and some food.”

Sharmishta connects with different places, different people and different cultures through biking. It bridges the gap between her inner world and the outer world. She is all set to explore Northeast India, Bhutan and Thailand on bikes this year.

Anjali Kirpalani 

A published author and cofounder of PR agency Epic Communications, Anjali Kirpalani defines herself as a flexible traveler. What makes her travel is to have new experiences for enriching life, which is not possible indoors. She travels whenever she feels sick of her routine life. It is an overwhelming feeling of excitement about discovering a new place that nurtures the traveler in her.

Anjali has visited Lonavala, Panchgani, Matheran, Nasik, Manori, Alibag, Delhi, Agra, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Manali, Coimbatore, Ooty, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. She has been to Goa several times. Her list of travels feels very short when she compares it to the tourism map of India. However, Goa does always enjoy a favor with Anjali as her favorite destination. She thumbs up the beaches, food and ambience of Goa for a relaxed vacation.

According to Anjali, India has huge potential for road trips and biking tours. But the dirty public loos hold women back from making biking holidays in India. Ubiquitous access to clean public toilets is the need of the hour to encourage women travelers like me for road trips as it is in the USA.

Anjali has authored two books – “Never Say Never” and “Written in the Stars”. Her global travel map displays her international trips to Greece, Sri Lanka, U.S., Hong Kong, and Singapore. In India, Ladakh, Kashmir, Kerala and Pondicherry are some of the dream destinations on her mind.

Prachi Garg,

Prachi Garg, a self-employed traveler and online entrepreneur at Ghoomophiro.com, is a complete backpacker. Her sister is the best companion during her weekend travels. She has been traveling whimsically on weekends for 5 years. She has already backpacked to the beaches of Goa, the valleys of Himachal Pradesh, the forests of Madhya Pradesh, the backwaters of Kerala, tourist spots of Gujarat, and Pondicherry. An obsession with offbeat tourist destinations in India fires up her zeal for nomadic life at times.

Prachi’s first impromptu trip to Shimla reveals how much of a nomad she is. She shares, “One Friday evening, I came back from work and was little tensed. I decided to leave for some hills immediately and took my sister along with me. We put some clothes and basics in a laptop bag, took an auto and reached Delhi ISBT. We thought we would sit in the first bus no matter wherever it was going. The bus was going to Shimla. That is how we did backpacking alone the first time.”

According to Prachi, women do still have a long way to go for solo travel in India because security is a concern. Srinagar, the capital of Jammu & Kashmir, is one of her best trips till date. She recommends a stay on houseboat and visit to the floating marketing in the morning in Srinagar. The tourist attractions of Northeast India are on her travel wishlist.

Megha Jamb

Megha Jamb, a communication consultant and one of the emerging women travelers in India, describes herself as backpacker and road tripper. She loves to experience the details of a particular place on road rather than waiting in queues to get boarding passes checked. Being a backpacker she feels free to travel at her own pace.

[pullquote]The saying, “It is better to see something than to hear about it a thousand times,” is my source of inspiration.[/pullquote] She is a nomad with innate curiosity to explore more and more about different tribes, cuisines, cultures, customs, and languages. Lessons from traveling teach her solid life skills and make her feel more humble. Besides, her overwhelming desire to see the beauty of the world fuels Megha for travels.

Megha has already traveled to Ladakh, Haridwar, Varanasi, Nainital, Dalhousie, Delhi, Agra, Mathura, Goa, Pune, Lucknow, Indore, Nasik, and Hampi, one of the weekend getaways from Bengaluru. Her favorite destination is Ladakh because of the picture-perfect landscapes, crisp air, simple local food, and virgin spots. The trip to Ladakh has influenced her so much that she believes, “You can take me out of Ladakh but you cannot take Ladakh out of me.”

It is a challenge to find proper sanitation facilities, especially for women, on the road to Ladakh. She faced this problem as there was no restroom within miles.

Being a traveler she does have a long bucket list with Kashmir on top. The beauty of Kashmir is an irresistible call to her. Megha blogs about her travels at Travellingisblog.wordpress.com.

Nidhi Thakur

Nidhi Thakur is a solo traveler and a travel blogger at Untravel.in. Every new trip she takes has a different purpose. It may be thirst for knowledge, need to unwind, relief from monotony, desire to know the unknown, etc. Her solo travel started off as a desperate break from the monotony of her daily life in Mumbai. The fascination of meeting new people, collecting new experiences and treasuring memories is why she travels a lot.

Nidhi’s travel diary is a heart-warming account of Dharamsala, Manali, Gawahati, Cherrapunji, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kolkata, Varanasi, Jaipur, and Goa. But, it is the beautiful Gurudongmar Lake in North Sikkim that she holds close to her heart. She recalls, “We left the guesthouse at 3 am. Though we were wrapped in multiple blankets inside the car, we were unable to speak to each other due to freezing temperature. Everything was forgotten the moment we set our eyes on the lake.”

Once she was walking with a Dutch guy in McLeod Ganj during her solo trip. A married lady from Chandigarh walked up to her and asked her if her parents knew that she was out with the guy. This shamelessly upfront encounter still sticks to Nidhi’s mind. She wonders if Indians would ever be okay with female solo travel.

Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh is one of her dream destinations. She is eagerly looking to visit this Himalayan valley this year.

Divya Rai

A solo backpacker, Divya Rai is one of the emerging women travelers and bloggers in India. The thought of a stagnant life sends a shiver down her spine. She wholeheartedly believes in the adage, “If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.” It is what motivates and inspires her to travel India.

On being asked which tourist getaways in India she has already been to, she points at the beaches of Goa, the valleys of Himachal Pradesh, the historic attractions of Uttar Pradesh, the heritage of Rajasthan, Kutch in Gujarat, some temples of South India, the hill stations of Maharashtra, Punjab, and Uttarakhand on her travel map. However, her favorite destinations are Auroville in Pondicherry and Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh.

What Divya Rai finds the most challenging about traveling in India, is the lack of information about tourist attractions in rural India. There is a whole new world in the interiors of India. Her curiosity about Northeast India knows no bound. It is at the top of her travel list for this year. Divya is equally eager to explore Northeast India and share her experiences at her blog Aborrowedbackpack.com.

Aditi Dhar

Aditi Dhar, an NID graduate and an entrepreneur, loves not only designing premium leather bags but also backpacking in search of new places, news inspirations, new faces, new ideas…Road tripping is her another pursuit of discovery. On completion of every trip, she feels empowered as an individual woman, an ambitious entrepreneur and a creative designer.

Her quest for new ideas and thoughts for designs has made Aditi travel Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Karnataka. Her pursuit of discovery has gone international too. She has been to London, France, Italy, Spain, Hong Kong, Holland and the USA. But it is Kashmir that she loves the most as she was born and brought up there.

When Aditi was in college, she along with a friend of hers traveled by 8 trains from Ahmedabad to Quilon in Kerala via Mumbai in order to attend a friend’s wedding. When the Konkan Railway train from Mumbai was unfortunately missed, they ended up taking a long journey through Karnataka. Though all the travel was tiring, it is a pleasant memory today. However, Aditi’s dream destinations include Iceland and Patagonia.

About Indian Eagle

Indian Eagle is a USA based leading international travel organization inspiring tourists to travel India and booking their trips at the best prices. Indian Eagle celebrates the cultural richness, historic glory, natural beauty, and spiritual greatness of India.   

Like this story? Or, have you got something to share? Write to us: share@blogbox.indianeagle.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.  

The post These Women Travelers of India Inspire to Travel Solo appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

A trip to Ladakh is the ultimate relief from the scorching heat of summer in India. Bikers and road trippers eagerly wait for the right time to hit the road to Ladakh in the thick of summer, while the rest of India keeps the fingers crossed in prayer to the god of rains for showers. Evidently, Ladakh road trip is an endless story. Previously, Jatin Kapoor, MD of Alternate Atlas, shared his Ladakh trip story with Indian Eagle. Now, Radhika Sharma from India has her own story to tell on Travel Beats.

I am always fond of traveling though I am unlike travel junkies who are driven by wanderlust. But I am a petrol head cum road tripper with the passion for driving anything that has an engine in it. In June, 2010, my innate desire for driving took me on a trip to the valley of Ladakh in the Himalayas only to discover the pristine beauty that India is. [pullquote]Not all trips make good stories! But my trip will surely make an inspirational story for the readers of Indian Eagle.[/pullquote]

My Ladakh road trip is all about 8 friends, 5 bikes, lots of riding and Ladakh itself. The carrier of choice was Royal Enfield for the life-long journey from Mumbai to Leh via Delhi and Manali. We rode the Royal Enfield bikes for a whopping distance of 5200 kms. Despite being an avid petrol head, I did not drive the bike on that trip. Rather, I preferred being a pillion all the way. We friends got together in Delhi, and then set out for a 520km long ride to Manali when the night began getting darker.

The roads – NH1 and NH3 – were pretty decent and safe much to our surprise. The weather was as pleasant as the ride. It added to the joy of the journey. The erratic spells of rain accompanied us too. Anyway, it took us a full day to reach Manali where we lodged at a quaint Drifter’s Inn. The very first thing that blew our minds away is the scenic beauty of Manali. We breathed in the serene air of the place whose old world charm serenaded our souls.

The bikes were serviced in Manali for hassle-free, efficient riding. We picked a first aid kit, some medicines, some snickers and new helmets too. We took an off road to Rohtang and got closer to our destination. June is a month of the rainy season in India. Rohtang, the lord of all passes on the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas, too receives spells of rain off and on. It was a massive hurdle during the trip.

The rainfall caused a landslide which resulted in huge sludge. We got stuck on the way for over 10 hours. One of the bikes broke down adding to our misery. I could not keep up sitting on the back for long; I fell off the bike, and the bike then fell on me injuring one of my feet when the bike was pushing hard to drag itself through the smudge. However, we had a nice time awaiting us ahead just as every cloud has a silver lining.

Once Rohtang was crossed, we were treated to the mesmeric beauty of Khoksar, Beas River, Keylong, Jingspa, ZingZing Bar, Sarchu, Baralachla, and Pang on the way to Leh. Along the way, the lofty mountains kept our company. The roadside (dhaba) street food added some gastronomic joy to the ride across the rough terrains. We got the wonderful company of other bikers too.

It took us 5 days to reach Leh. We took shelter at the roadside hotels along the way (most of them were basically decent tents with blankets and beds at cheap rates). We survived on Maggi for a few days. But the thrill of the trip was worth it. Though neither smooth nor plain like city roads, the roads to Leh are drivable and therefore, worth a mention.

More Inspiration 10 Best Road Trips for Biking in India

We had a nice time over cups of chai (tea) on the roadside camps where we chatted with good-hearted people. The warmth of hospitality is still left with me. The pleasure of having Maggi at high altitudes is many times more than that on plains. The same is true about the taste of food at the roadside dhabas. After an eventful ride for 5 days and nights, Leh was our home for the next three days.

[pullquote]Leh is a perfect holiday destination for different people with different tastes.[/pullquote] There are cafes, adventure spots, and spots for leisure. Leh offers day trips to nearby lakes and hills. The place has a bit of antique charm that makes me feel relaxed with a desire to lay back turning my back on all worries. However, my posterior was relieved only when we checked into a hotel where we got read beds.

Then, we rode our bikes up to Khardungla, the world’s highest motorable pass at 17, 582 ft. What a great feeling! The next couple of days were spent taking trips to the beautiful Pangong Lake and the Shanti Stupa (the temple). Pangong Lake is the most scenic lake that I have ever seen in my life. The shimmering reflections of the surrounding mountains on the pristine blue waters of the lake do still take me on an imaginary trip. Then was the time to hit the road back home.

Leh, the ultimate destination of our biking trip, was worth riding all the distance. Our Ladakh road trip that lasted 10 days gave me a wealth of memories for lifetime. Finally, the road to Ladakh is neither a path of roses nor a bed of thorns. It is altogether a new experience, a pleasant memory, an inexplicable thrill, and an overwhelming joy!

Make sure to visit Ladakh, be with nature, wonder at the daring height of mountains, admire the beauty of lakes, and drink to absolute serenity, at least, once in your life. – Radhika Sharma

About the Author

Radhika Sharma is a media professional with 10 years of collective experience with some of the biggest media networks in India. She has conducted premier technology shows. Though personal technology and TV programming are her fields of work at daytime, she is a diehard EDM music junkie and a writer at night. She loves being a petrol head and secretly a Jedi as well. Radhika does not only take pride in being a traveler but also listen to the foodie in her by spending time with forks and knifes.

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[pullquote]“Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn’t mean to take.” – Angela N. Blount.[/pullquote] If you are looking for life-changing detours in the labyrinth of mountains, hills, meadows or valleys, travel to India and hit the mountainous or hilly or beachfront or landscaped roads with bikes. India’s best road trips are suitable for biking holidays in the Himalayan region, the desert trails, the Deccan plateau, the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats, and coastal reaches. Some road trips in India are surreal stories, while some are adrenalin-pumping adventures. Indian Eagle shares 10 best road trip ideas for bikers.

Coorg to Munnar Road Trip 

The road trip from Coorg to Munnar is one of the short road trips in India. Both Coorg in Karnataka and Munnar in Kerala are blessed with greenery in abundance. The Coorg to Munnar road trip is a ride through the corridor of lush green landscapes dotted with tea plantations rolling across forested hills.

ALSO CHECK Munnar Sightseeing Guide

Chennai to Pondicherry Road Trip 

The Chennai to Pondicherry road trip in the Eastern Ghats is like a dream swing in the cradle of panoramic sightseeing. The East Coast Road from Chennai in Tamil Nadu to Pondicherry runs along the Bay of Bengal. The miles-long coastline holds scenic views for riders on the way.

Kalimpong to Siliguri Road Trip 

The road trip from Kalimpong to Siliguri in West Bengal is one of the most challenging trips for bikers because of the precarious Zuluk loops. But the beauty of the landscape on both sides of the road takes away the fear of threats to life. Known as the Old Silk route, the Kalimpong to Siliguri road is steeped in history.

Udaipur to Jaipur Road Trip 

The Udaipur to Jaipur road is one of the biking-friendly desert trails in Rajasthan. Biking along this trail through sand dunes from Udaipur to Jaipur is a poetic experience for those who can drink to beauty in the aridity of desert. The rugged landscape on both sides will make you feel like a rough & tough biker.

Manali to Spiti Valley Road Trip 

The road from Manali to Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh is ideal for biking and photography. It is one of the high-altitude routes in the Himalayan region, which remains covered in snow for a longer time of the year. Manali is one of the most beautiful summer destinations in India. Spiti Valley is a pure bliss of nature in the solitude of mountains.

ALSO CHECK A Trip to Spiti Valley

Zanskar to Leh Road Trip 

If you love riding at high altitudes for adrenalin rush, the Zanskar to Leh road trip is awaiting you this summer. Biking from Zanskar to Leh is no fun! It is a strenuous activity that puts bikers to a test of endurance. Scenic views of lofty mountains across rocky terrains will leave you with a fulfilling experience.

Road Trip to Rann of Kutch 

The Rann of Kutch in Gujarat is a vast expanse of salty sands beyond horizon. The flat and plain field rolling beyond measure, that is exactly the Rann of Kutch, offers the ultimate thrills of biking. The ethereal beauty of the moonlit night or the twinkling of the stars in the open sky makes biking a surreal experience in the Rann of Kutch.

Manali to Rohtang Pass Road Trip 

You cannot imagine how spectacular sightseeing can be without taking the Manali to Rohtang Pass road trip. The walls of snow on both sides of the road give the visual high that will remain fresh in your memory for years. Biking from Manali to Rohtang Pass is such an inexplicable experience!

Mumbai to Trivandrum Road Trip 

If you are an adventurer in search of panoramic vibes, ride your bike from Mumbai to Trivandrum via Mangalore. This road trip promises to be a celebration of the senses due to pristine beaches and verdant forests on the way. The Mumbai to Trivandrum road trip is part of the Udupi trail for biking.

Bhalukpong to Tawang Road Trip 

The Arunachal trail from Bhalukpong to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is the call to those strong hearts which beat for excitement out of adrenalin rush. Be careful to avoid the traps of danger on the way. Landslides cause roadblocks in the seasons when extreme weather is experienced. If you believe in the maxim “All is well if the end is well,” the Bhalukpong to Tawang road trip is a story to be retold several times.

Travel Beats, a digital content portal by IndianEagle, publishes interesting travel stories, useful travel tips and latest aviation news from India and United States.

The post 10 Best Road Trip Ideas for Crazy Biking Holidays in India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Summer is the season of road trips in the Himalayan region of North India. Among the destinations for road trippers, Ladakh is the first to ring the bell when summer begins to feel hot. Inhabited by the people of the Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent, Ladakh spans from the Karakoram Mountain range in the north to the Great Himalayas in the south. Full of natural wonders, Ladakh is home to scenic lakes, hilltop Buddhist monasteries, and the world’s highest motorable pass. The road to Ladakh has been a pull to many road trippers like Jatin Kapoor, Managing Director of Alternate Atlas Travels. Jatin shares his story of Ladakh road trip with Indian Eagle.

In June 2014, our road trip to Ladakh took us through some of the less travelled and toughest roads on earth. I had no idea that the most magical lakes exist in this part of the Himalayan region. The trip was full of uphill driving, adventure, excitement, fun and thrill! [pullquote]To say precisely, the Ladakh road trip is a lifetime experience which will not fade until we drink to ultimate adventure.[/pullquote]

Usually, adventure begins its course from the moment the idea of a road trip to such high-altitude destinations like Ladakh comes to the mind. The idea of driving to Leh, the capital of Ladakh in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, at an altitude of 11,562 feet, is an adventure itself. In fact, we were so driven by unquenchable thirst for thrill that we drove to Zanskar Valley beyond Leh. One fine day, we, a group of twelve friends, hit the road with a Porche, a Merc and a Pajero.

Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire in India, stated, “In India everything is done differently from the rest of the world. Nothing will ever change this,” according to historians. The culture & tradition of the forbidden kingdom of Tibet is on the verge to extinction due to the modernization spree of the Chinese Government, but you can still find the same thriving in the Buddhist Gompas of Zanskar. – Alternate Atlas

We started from Delhi and drove to Srinagar via Chandigarh and Pathankot. We took the Mughal Road, which was used for trading in the Mughal Empire. Driving past the chicken’s neck of the Mughal Road, we reached Pir Ki Gali in the Pil Pamjal Mountain range in Kashmir Valley.

The 84–km long Mughal Road passes over the Pir Panjal Mountain range, at height of 11,500 feet. It is higher than Banihal Pass. The Mughal Road to Kashmir Valley is a relief from the over-crowded Jammu-Srinagar Highway. The road has historical association with the Mughal era of India. The Mughal emperors used to travel to Kashmir via this road in the 16^th century. Akbar trod the road to conquer Kashmir region in 1586. Akbar’s son Janangir breathed his last on the way back from Kashmir via this road. – Indian Eagle

We felt an influx of adrenalin in our veins while navigating through the electrifying waters of the Zanskar River on the way to Zanskar. Another spot of awe-inspiring adventure was Hunder, an oasis in the desert of Nubra Valley in Jammu & Kashmir. Nubra Valley is a cold desert dotted with sand dunes. Driving through Hunder after sunset is a risk to get stuck in the giant sand dunes. I would like to suggest using a face mask to prevent sand grains getting into the eyes and mouth during a drive through Hunder in Nubra Valley.

Nubra Valley whose natural beauty stuns the senses is 7 km away from Diskit Town, which is known for Diskit Gompa, one of the famous Ladakh monasteries. A 160-km long scenic drive from Leh, Hunder Village is close to the Siachen glaciers and the Pakistan border. The area is beyond Hunder Village is prohibited. Khardung La, the highest motorable road in the world, falls on the way to Hunder. – Indian Eagle

We were fortunate enough to see double-humped Bactrian camels lying back on sprawling white sand dunes at Hunder. As far as I know, Bactrian camels are not of Indian origin. This particular species of camel came to India when a group of caravans used to tread this route for trading between India and the Central Asian region of Bukhara, Kokand, Turkestan, and Xinjiang region of China. [pullquote]The double-humped camels are the most beautiful beings in the Nubra Valley.[/pullquote]

Then, we rode bikes on the National Highway 1. We indulged in some fun over free-style stunts while riding bikes to the Magnetic Hill, which is also known as Gravity Hill. Then we visited the most famous Pangong Lake that changes its color several times a day. It is an unusual natural phenomenon that I have ever seen. We did photography and posed for the camera at Pangong just as every tourist does.

Then we drove to Shyok Valley, close to Nubra Valley. Khardung La is the gateway to both of the valleys in Ladakh. The beauty of Shyok Valley is the Shyok River where we enjoyed ourselves over fishing. The Shyok River, a tributary of the Indus River, flows through Ladakh in India and crosses to Pakistan. The river has maximum width at its point of confluence with the Nubra River.

We came back to Delhi via the Leh-Manali route. When we returned, we felt heavy with a collection of digital photographs and a treasure of moments fresh on our minds. Adventuresome but successful driving for 4,000 kilometers certified us as road-trippers. We boast of this experience as a matter of pride, which we are sure, inspires others to hit the road to Ladakh.

My tips for upcoming road trippers 

• If you are a foodie, you must visit Chopsticks in Leh. The Honey Chilly Potatoes is one of the most delicious dishes to try at Chopsticks Noodle Bar & Café in Leh.
• There is hardly anything to eat and to do at the altitude of 15,500 feet. Make sure to have wai wai noodles and a few movies / videos on your tablet or smartphone for entertainment as well as time pass.
• Driving in Ladakh is full of kicking. But nonstop driving is exhausting. It dehydrates the body and dries the throat. It is better to halt at regular intervals and hydrate yourself with a plenty of water.
• Such a long drive takes a toll on the body. If you unfortunately get stuck in traffic jam, try to get some sleep for a fresh feel. We have mastered this art out of our experience during this road trip.

The last note for aspiring road trippers 

The native people of Ladakh are as innocent as the place itself. The smile on their faces reflects their inner beauty which harmonizes with the beauty of this Himalayan region. It is one of the experiences to cherish for years! Camping under the starry sky, picturesque landscape, warm hospitality, soulful nature and peaceful vibe of the place are some of the reasons to visit Ladakh.

READ more Best Road Trips in India

This story is brought by Indian Eagle with inputs & photographs from Jatin Kapoor. Indian Eagle is a leading international travel agency booking the best USA to India flights at the lowest airfare. 

About the Author

Jatin Kapoor is one of the young & dynamic travel professionals at Alternate Atlas. He is on a mission to help travelers explore the natural and cultural uniqueness of India. At Alternate Atlas, his team organizes village walks, road trips, birding trips, jungle safaris, home stays, and trips to offbeat destinations across India.

The post This Real Story of Ladakh Road Trip Inspires to Hit the Road to Ladakh appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.