The Purple Passport

Seasoned advice for British Travellers

Asia

Discover the best of Goa in the rains

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Come monsoons and I am off to Goa again. It has always been one of “the destinations” I prefer to enjoy during the rains. The beauty of the beaches coupled with rains and lush greenery makes the place even more amazing. Though the best time to visit this tourist hot spot is sometime between October to March, I do not prefer it due to the tourist infestation. The ideal meaning of vacation to me is enjoying the beauty of a destination when it neither feels lonely nor overtly crowded. And a weekend in Goa is the answer.

I discovered that the monsoons are an ideal time for me to unwind and rejuvenate on the Goan beaches. I wanted this trip to be well-planned and executed as I was eagerly anticipating it and thus, I went about researching the places to visit and stay to enjoy this unwinding interlude. It was then I realized that I could bask in the glory of everything in Goa with three popular monsoon hot spots of the city, the Baga beach, Calangute, and Candolim.

Travel to Goa

As an inevitable tourist destination that nestles amidst the beautiful seas and hills, I have witnessed Goa enthralling a limited number of tourists during the monsoons. It was not just the amazing discounts I found online but also the promise of solace and tranquillity in the otherwise crowded city bustling with tourists during the ideal visiting seasons.

I prefer traveling to Goa by air as it saves a lot of time. The airport is 29 km off Panaji and I opted to get a car on rent with Savaari car rentals for a convenient and optimal experience.

Goa, an overview 

Goa is one of the coolest and serene destinations to visit during the monsoons. Green Ghats like the Chorla Ghat, Amboli Ghat are no less pristine and refreshing, washed up in the Goan torrents. Take a drive to the exotic valleys and marvelous waterfalls to be equally mesmerized.

I booked a taxi for my travel to the stunning Dudhsagar Falls, Tambdi Surla, Chorla, and the Netravali Waterfalls and was glad that I visited there during the monsoons. The cascading water with the increased flow of water, thanks to the rain, was an overwhelming sight. I took the adventurous trek to the falls and spotted some beautiful butterflies, exotic birds, and animals. The next morning, we headed to the Aguada and Chapora forts where the rains added on to the charms of these timeless classics. The car driver was aware of the roads and this made our life simpler.

I feasted on the Goanese, Konkan, and continental cuisine at some of the permanent restaurants and shacks. The next stop was suggested by our car driver – the Savoi spice plantation. The scenic drive through the tropical forests and the verdant valleys were simply perfect. I savored the aroma of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, cloves, cardamom, and vanilla. To top it all, Goan Saraswat meal was served for lunch and I couldn’t have asked for more.

I had saved the best for the last; the beaches. We visited the butterfly beach, Colva beach and the Palolem beach in South Goa. The little drops from the sky made these places worthwhile to visit.

It is recommended to book rooms in advance during the off-season and avail the discounts on some of the luxury hotels in the city for a comfortable stay. I had made my reservations and sought accommodation at a beach resort in Baga, North Goa. Since the Baga beach is one of the most happening beaches in Goa, I had a good taste of the nightlife as well.

Reaching Goa by cabs

A drive to Goa is quite an adventure. The versatile terrains, ghats with infinite twists and turns are a challenge. As a frequent traveler to Goa, I suggest you book a reliable and affordable taxi in Goa for a road trip during the weekend. The drivers are well versed with the roads and know the best places where you could stop to click amazing pictures. I particularly find cabs to be convenient when I am out on vacation. I believe that I can cover most of the places with the help of a local taxi driver who will make sure to cover all the places that I cannot afford to miss on my weekend getaway.

Distance and time taken

The Goa International Airport is in Dabolim. The nearest tourist destination I could visit first was the Candolim which was approximately 37 km. We were able to cover this distance in about an hour while driving on the NH 366 and NH 66. The distance from the airport to Baga beach depends on the route taken where the distance via NH 66 is approximately 47 km, and the distance via NH 366 is 52 km. It takes 40 km to reach the Calangute beach from the Dabolim Airport. There are innumerable beach resorts and luxury resorts in Goa for a comfy stay. You may book your place of stay accordingly.

If you are an adventure seeker like me, then Goa is the place to be during the monsoons. It is the perfect break with a whole bunch of offbeat things to do. I was pleased that my trip to one of the popular tourist destinations in India during the offseason indeed turned out to be one of the best to date.

Must see Historical places in Bangalore

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Bengaluru, or more popularly referred as Bangalore, is known as the garden city, and techies love to call it by the Silicon Valley of India. Full of lavishly laid gardens all over the city, you’ll find clean and smooth roads, corporate offices of all major tech MNCs and high-rises. And what you’d expect least in this city is historical places, as Bengaluru is not very commonly mentioned for historical monuments, correct? However, you’ll be surprised to know that there are lots of places where you’ll witness some of the most important events from the pages of history which helped to shape India what it is today. There are lots of resorts near Bangalore like Discovery Village with all modern amenities where you can stay for a couple of days to visit these places. Let’s have a brief journey over those places and monuments to know our root and culture deeper.

  1. Fort of Tipu Sultan: Imagine walking back in the history when the great emperor Tipu Sultan administered the Mysore, in his own summer palace. This fort and palace are located at the heart of the Bengaluru; you’d have no problem finding the place even if you’re a first timer in the city. Hyder Ali, the father of Tipu Sultan, started building this fort and later was completed by his son. The construction of the palace reflects the architectural prowess of the Indo-Islamic style. Every pillar, every balcony, every wall and every part of the fort and palace neatly describes the royalty once dominated a significant portion of India back then. If you’re a keen student of history, there’s no better place to learn more about Tipu Sultan and his reign than the museum of the palace, where you’ll see lots of things with immense historical importance. The place opens at 8.30 am and remains open till 5.30 pm, including holidays. Entry fee for a single person is 15 rupees only.
  2. Bangalore Fort: The great Kempe Gowda, known as the founder of Bengaluru, built this fort using mud. Later the father of Tipu Sultan, Hyder Ali fortified the fort with stones and made it like how it looks today. Once it had nine gates, but most of the structure got destroyed over the beating of time. The famous Delhi gate is still there and preserved well for the tourists to see. You can go there anytime between 8.30am to 5.30 pm every day for an entry fee of 5 rupees only.
  3. Bangalore Palace: This place would make its spot among the top contenders of any list of top historical attractions in Bengaluru, and for good reasons. In a city like Bengaluru which is the fourth most populated and one of the busiest cities of India, it adds as a surprise element to come across such a gorgeous historical place spread around 454 acres of area. This place is breathtakingly beautiful, thanks to the Tudor Revival architecture which sets it apart from other historical monuments in the city. This palace was built in the impression of the famous Windsor palace of England, one of the homes of Royal British family, and it reflects that same British architectural finesse of that time. King Chamaraja Wadiyar built this palace in 1887 and it still standing there as the epitome of British historical architecture in India. The place opens for the public every day at 10 am and closes at 5.30 pm.
  4. Government Museum: Museums are the places where historical and archaeological elements are being preserved for the keen souls, but the government museum of Bengaluru itself is a building of prominent historical importance. It is among the oldest museums of India and was founded in 1865 by the surgeon Balfour (who also established the Madras Museum). The architecture of the building followed the neo-classical style in the exterior, and the interior comprises eighteen galleries total with rarest artifacts, paintings, coins and scriptures from the centuries of Indian history. The museum remains closed every Monday; you can go there to have a glimpse of history at any other days of the week within 10 am to 5m.

If you’re in Bengaluru or somewhere near it, it will be one of your best weekend road trips; If you come to visit some of these finest references of Indian history.

A Local’s Guide to Gangtok

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Gangtok is the capital of the mountainous state of Sikkim that shares its borders with Nepal and Bhutan. This dreamy and laid back town is the perfect travel destination for adventure lovers, trekkers and nature lovers who can catch the spectacular view of the Khangchendzonga. Its unique culture is well-represented by its serene Buddhist monasteries, colourful local festivals and a homogeneous blend of various religion, tradition and custom of ethnic groups of people living here. Gangtok March to May and October to December are the busiest tourist seasons of Gangtok.

After landing in the Bagdogra airport, tourists have the option of hiring Siliguri to Gangtok Cabs to travel a distance of 114 km over 4 hours to reach Gangtok. Taxi service in Siliguri is available to take travellers through a scenic journey through the winding hills in a hassle-free manner.

Gangtok has some interesting tourist places that should be a part of your travel itinerary.

Monasteries

Sikkim is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site. Hence one can find ancient monasteries which are Tibetan centres of learning and worship for lamas.

The Rumtek Monastery or the Dharma Chakra Centre is the largest monastery where one can find the golden stupa bearing the relic of the 16th leader.

The protecting deities of Khangchendzonga and Yabdean reside in the famous Enchey monastery that has been aesthetically built with elaborate carvings and architectural style to resemble a Chinese Pagoda.

The other monasteries like the Lingdum, Do Drul Chorten, Ranka and Gonjang Monastery are set in beautiful locations where you can rest, meditate and rotate the prayer wheels.

Nature

Gangtok has some exotic locations for sightseeing. Hidden away from the urban sprawl, The Bakthang Waterfall is a gorgeous natural spring that is a delightful place for photography.

Take a trip to the several viewpoints with your binoculars to catch the sunrise or sunset with the backdrop of the mighty Himalayas. Tashi View Point and Hindu Temples of Hanuman Tok and Ganesh Tok are strategic points from where you can watch the panoramic views of the surrounding hills.

The Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park is a recreational centre. The park’s display document Shamanic traditions of the people of Sikkim. Your kids will love playing around the artificial lake with dragon, gazebos, footbridges and museum hall.

The Flower Exhibition centre is another notable attraction where tourists flock to see rare orchids and flowers. The Himalayan Zoological Park is a wildlife lover’s paradise where a wide variety of animals and fauna species are nurtured in natural conditions.

Heritage

The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is a museum and a research centre that is worth a visit to see rare photographers of old Sikkim.

Leisure Activities

Take a ropeway ride to get a bird’s eye view of the Gangtok city.

Casino Deltin Denzong is a gaming centre where tourists can spend their evenings playing poker, money wheel, roulette and other exciting games.

Visit the Nathula Pass of East Sikkim to see the China border that is an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road. The Changu Lake and Baba Temple lie on its way. You need to have a government pass to travel to the international border.

Adventure enthusiasts can indulge in outdoor activities like camping, whitewater rafting and rock climbing that are arranged by tour operators.

Food and Shopping

Gangtok has some delightful shopping hubs like the Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lal Bazaar and Kanchenjunga Shopping complex where you can pick souvenirs like Tibetan carpets, Sikkim tea, wooden dragon sets, Alpine cheese, black cardamom and handwoven jackets. Thangka paintings, semi-precious stone and silver jewellery items, handcrafted ‘Choksee’ are some of the indigenous products that can be purchased from Gangtok.

Exclusive treats of Sikkim are readily available at the roadside stalls and posh malls of Gangtok. Tibetan style momos with veg and chicken fillings and Thukpas are commonly available and must be tried if your visit the Denzong Inn, Cafe Tibet and Potala restaurant.

Colombo: The Sea City

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The commercial capital of Sri Lanka is also its largest city with a population of around 5 million. A popular tourist destination, Colombo is situated on the western side coast of the island and is also adjacent to the Greater Colombo area. This city is also the financial center of the island along with being the administrative capital of the whole of Western province. This vibrant city showcases some fascinating colonial ruins and buildings, especially its large harbor, which was located at the prime strategic position for East West trade routes and even till now it is one of the major exporters of cinnamon.

You can get into the city through its Bandaranaike International Airport, which invites both national and international flights. You can even book Dubai to Colombo flights, LA to Colombo flights, Singapore to Colombo flights and more so easily as well from trusted services.

Upon reaching here you would like to have a handy guided of the must visit place and the must-do things in here, like:

Ministry of the Crab: Being in a coastal city and not enjoying seafood and especially crabs will be a mistake. This posh restaurant is all about crabs and aims to celebrate the fresh produce. Do try out their spiced crab curry and Singaporean chili crab if here.

Galle Face Green: This is a long open space which faces a narrow beach. Originally cleared off by the Dutch so as to give the cannons on top of the fort a clear line of fire. Now, it has long shed its original aspirations and is a popular spot for rendezvous by the seaside. You will find people just enjoying themselves there as vendors bring their supplies of deep fried treats. Do try a shrimp fritter, isso Wade and a lime juice. The space here is just so expansive it feels freeing to be here.

Viharamahadevi Park: Originally known as Victoria Park, this is Colombo’s biggest park. The most notable feature it has are its flowering trees which bloom in the moths of March, April and then till early May. You might also be able to see elephants who were used ceremonies and then left in the park to rest and have some of the palm branches. The park is well maintained and features, landscaping, walkways and benches.

Vesak Poya: This festival is conducted to celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. Lots of crackers are burst and a lot of competing groups put up smaller displays. It is just food and fun everywhere. If you do attend this festival then attend it in the area surrounding the Gangaramaya Temple and South Beira Lake.

Dutch Period Museum: The museum was actually the residence of a Dutch governor in the 17th century and has since then been used for various purposes like that of a military hospital, Catholic seminary, post office and police station. There’s a garden courtyard on the outside and the exhibits include various types of Dutch colonial artifacts and furniture. Moreover, it was actually in this place that the king of Kandy, Rajasinghe II signed a 1638 treaty that opened up in Sri Lanka to the Dutch.

Colombo is a city which has successfully preserved its own heritage while also assimilating the best features of the various cultures which had entered the land. That balance alone makes it such a delight to visit.

Kid Friendly attractions in South East Asia

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Southeast Asia is indeed a wonderland for families with kids. There are endless attractions in the region for the whole family. There are, of course, the typical must-see cities, attractions, and resort islands. Some of the most visited places are Bali, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Bangkok. Children love to explore nature, beaches and have loads of fun-filled activities. Along with planning where to go and what to do, one should be careful about their accommodations. Sabah hotels make for an excellent choice for families traveling with children as they have special deals and discounts along with top-notch amenities and facilities for the whole family. You will love the great food and a relaxed vibe at these hotels.

Bali, simply-great for families

Families how love beaches should visit Bali. The cultural destination of Southeast Asia works really well with children. There are bright and energetic outdoor activities such as dancing, singing and the theatre that is simply loved by the children. Explore local walks and hikes in and out of the rice paddies. Moreover, there is fantastic and delicious food to be enjoyed at those great bakeries.

The jungles and temples of Indonesia

It is truly a wonderland for the children who arrive in Indonesia. They enjoy the energetic pulse of the cities, the hustle, and bustle as well as the quiet and peace of the villages and outskirts. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is a must visit. The protected reserve and a temple complex shelters the Balinese macaques. Children love to watch the forest staff feeding sweet potatoes to the monkeys. Explore the temples within the jungle sanctuary, and those sacred temples were built in the 14th century.

Loads of fun in Singapore

Singapore is the ultimate destination for families.  With a boggling array of food and entertainment options, children love to explore its colorful neighborhoods. It is very it is easy to get around thanks to the well-established transport system. Visit the Sentosa Island and the Night Safari as well as the Science Centre. Singapore Zoo boasts of exotic and endangered animals and has the most extensive collection of orangutans. It is indeed a great experience to explore the modern and immaculately clean Singapore with plenty of family-friendly destinations and spacious hotels.

The wonderful country of Malaysia

Malaysia is a lot smaller and friendlier than Singapore but somewhat similar. One can easily spend a couple of weeks here with their children. It is indeed fun and exciting to explore Penang with so many spots to explorer and different cuisines. Sabah Oriental Hotel is trendy among families with kids as it has air-conditioned rooms and excellent dining options. Moreover, it is just minutes away from the IMAGO Shopping Mall.

Thailand, a perfect destination for kids

Thailand, located in Southeast Asia is world famous for its beaches. So families who love beaches and beach activities should arrive here. Railay and Ao Nang are both fantastic and very kid-friendly beaches. Kids love it here and enjoy walking on the sandy paths leading from one beach to another. You can rent a kayak or go for rock climbing and explore some caves. There are several good quality restaurants nearby on the beach where one can enjoy fresh seafood and other local delicacies.

Get off the beaten track in Vietnam

It is a fun and a unique experience for the whole family as they explore Vietnam. Do not miss the chance to experience Vietnamese life and travel like the locals and eat like them. You could travel by bus, rent a car or even a bike to reach a popular destination. It is a joy to explore the stunningly beautiful Phu Quoc islands of Vietnam. It is only in  Vietnam where you can experience dunes, white sand beaches, rice paddies, canyons as well as the busy cities, and quiet villages.