7 travel tips

7 travel tips

Before we embark on a journey, we always wonder about the smaller things that we may not remember and we normally end up forgetting the more important things that we should actually keep a hold on to! The trick to getting this right is preparing a rough checklist of things that you should remember before travelling. Here are 7 last minute travel tips that we genuinely feel everyone should take account of:

1.       Do some research

Though being random and going where the road leads you, may seem like the best thing to do when travelling you should always have a rough itinerary ready for yourself. Not only does this help you sorting out a basic travel plan but also helps you work out your expenses.

2.       Travel light

Yes this is probably something you’ve heard over and over again. All for good reason! Travelling light is not just a smart thing to do but it also makes the most amount of sense for anyone who has a plan of travelling across states or countries. Basically anyone travelling across multiple locations over one trip should consider travelling light.

3.       Pack right

Pack right doesn’t mean you need to pack everything that comes in your hand but pack right has a lot to do with where you’re going and in what season. This of course means no swimming costumes for cold places and no sweaters if you’re going to a beach or a similar place.

4.       Carry a travel pouch

This is the best idea especially if you are taking a flight and have important official documents such as your tickets/boarding pass, passport, ID card, cash, etc. This could be like a fanny pack or just a small pouch that you could string along your waist.

5.       Choose cheaper places to stay

Whether you have done an advanced booking or are going to go and book once you reach your travel destination, stay in a cheaper place like a home-stay rather than a hotel or resort as the home-stays provide you with food and clean accommodation.

6.       Eat well

When most of us are travelling we often forget to get ourselves the right sort of food and just grab on whatever we get on the way. If you are a true traveller, stick to your proper eating habits and drink lots of water. This ensures that you stay healthy to travel more!

7.       Bond with the locals

Though language may act as a barrier, it’s always good to bond with the locals as much as you can. Whether they are signals or broken language, try to communicate with them especially if you are planning to stay in the particular location for a longer time. So get your Online Bus Booking done quickly.

Trip to Manipal

Manipal happens to be one of the best towns in Southern India to finish your college education from. It is essentially a small and tiny city that is situated in Karnataka and is host to one of the biggest universities in India. I finished my college from here and am really glad I decided to do so. During my three years in the city I visited a lot of places in and around Manipal.

Let me take your through a small verbal trip around town first. At the very heart of Manipal, basically just over two kilometers north of Manipal Lake, is Tiger Circle, popularly known as ‘TC’ by the local population. TC is nothing but a very small market with grocery and eateries forming the bulk of shops. Also, most of the buses leave from this very place. The BSNL office and the Government approved ration shop are also very close by. Manipal has a planetarium named after Dr T.M.A Pai most well known for building the university town of Manipal. On one end of Manipal stands End Point which is a miniature cliff overlooking the Swarna River. From this point, one can see the Arabian Sea in the Western horizon and the Western Ghats in the eastern horizon. It is the best place to catch the sunset. Apart from that you would find eateries. There are two beaches near Manipal - Malpe and Kapu. Malpe There is a lighthouse on Kapu beach. Agumbe on Western Ghats is around 55 kilometers from Manipal. Small towns Parkala, Hiriadka, Perdoor and Hebri are on the way to Agumbe from Manipal and make for amazing stopovers to get a tea or some snacks on the way. There are private buses running through this route as well. Apart from that, AC Volvo Buses run between Mangalore and Manipal every 15 minutes. The nearest airport is Mangalore Airport, which is located around 70 kilometers from Manipal. There are many national and international flight carriers operating from this airport. The nearest railway station is Udupi Railway station at Indrali (about 4 kilometers from Manipal) on Konkan railway route. Many buses both KSRTC and private are operational between Manipal and Bangalore every day and night. Needless to say, Manipal is a rather well connected town.

I can happily say that college was one of the best times of my life indeed. I loved every bit of it and am quite happy that I got to travel in and around what is one of the best known region around the South of India. so get your Online Bus Tickets done 

Mumbai to Goa

If you live in India and are a traveller at heart, then the trip from Mumbai to Goa would have been covered by you! Yes, I love travelling as well and have often found myself on the rather mysterious route to Goa from Mumbai. You can either book bus tickets or hop on a train, either way you’ll be in Goa before you know it.

This 10 hour journey is worth every minute that you will spend in Goa. No doubt about that. My last trip, we took the Mumbai to Panvel route and it was a completely different experience at 6:30 am as Mumbai roads had a unique beauty to thm and we reached Panvel in less than an hour! We went to the the Panvel bridge where the junction three turnings. The middle road goes on ahead to the Mumbai Goa highway via Panvel City. The road from Panvel to Vadkhal Naka is a bit tedious, it is fraught with dumpers, ST buses, cyclists and Local Passenger Vehicles (LPV) which is mainly three wheelers. We then took the straight road ahead at Vadkhal Naka which goes straight to Alibaug and took the left which continues on to the Mumbai Goa Highway. Once we crossed Vadkhal Naka the difference was noticeable. The roads were absolutely wonderful, though with only one lane per side, the road was amazing to drive on and is actually quite good! We reached Goa in about nine and a half hours. It was a brilliant journey made by the four of us and was going to get even better in Goa!

You can even travel by a train or a flight to Goa or you can always book bus tickets too. It’s not a long journey at all, in fact it is a very small journey when one thinks of all the fun they are going towards! Mumbai to Goa online bus tickets are actually very cheap as well and it is literally a sleep over journey! Pretty awesome to be honest, what do you think?

Places to be at this December

Places to be at this December

December is the holiday season in most parts of the world. Everyone enjoys this month to the fullest and is celebrated like a month festival. With Christmas and New Year around it is the best month to plan trips and vacations. Consider online busbooking today to avoid last minute hurry.

Kufri - When a big stretch of a potato cultivated land turns completely white in winter with snow, then it is no good for cultivation anymore. It has one of the most popular skiing tracks of India. Located at just 13 kms from Shimla, it remained archaic until the Britishers discovered in the year 1819. Apart from skiing, Kufri has a wildlife Zoo which is home to some of the rare antelopes, Himalayan Monal (the state bird of Himachal) and many Himalayan animals. Trekking to Mahaasu Peak, which is the highest peak in Kufri, is an event for the adventurers.

Goa - Goa is India’s smallest City in terms of area. However it has a lot to offer in terms of scenery and beauty of beaches. It has the best beaches of India. Goa’s climate is pretty warm and little humid for a greater part of the year but the temperature drops drastically during December-February. This span of time is characterized by the warm days and cold nights. Winter season is the ideal time to visit Goa. The seas are calmer and the climate is too perfect.  Goa registers huge number of tourists every year. 

Kerala - Kerala is mostly called ‘God’s own country’. The state owns the Highest Human Development Index of India. Kerala also scores high in the tourism industry. Geographically Kerala is divided into western lowlands, Central midlands and eastern highlands. Such is the diversity of land forms. It is also the bio diversity hot spot regions. Kerala entertains many kinds of tourists every year round. But Kerala is famous for its Backwaters which are most popular destinations during this season. Backwaters are most unique in Kerala.

Nainital - Nainital is a popular summer treat and a visit to this picturesque is as good as heaven. This place is around a pear shaped lake called Naini. This place came into existence when Mr P. Barron a sugarcane trader from Shahjahanpur constructed his house in the year 1841. He called Nainital, “so far the best site in India,“ he has witnessed a course of a 1,500 miles (2,400 km) trek in the Himalayan Belt. Though the town changed a lot, but it retains its charm every now and then.

Hence these are the best places to visit in December. Consider booking tickets by online busbooking and avoid any congestion during the trip. 

Most Beautiful Chandratal Lake - Manali

Most Beautiful Chandratal Lake - Manali

Are you planning a vacation this monsoon? Have you been confused as what place to select? Well I have a better idea that northern region of India, The Himalayas is the best. This stretch has some of the beautiful forests, huge lakes and deep caves of the entire nation. Book your bus tickets by bus booking online today to get the best deals, since bus is considered to be the best mode of transport to plan a vacation.

After walking for 14 kilo meters or so, I was very happy to get into my tent which most of the others had kindly pitched. Dileep and I shared the tent. What I did not like was the rain, it rained vigorously. It had been falling relentlessly since we started trekking. If only rain in spiti meant little tip top drops. You would not get wet but it can be mostly annoying. It’s annoying because most of the clouds cover the entire view of the mountains. I meant, I was so close to Chandratal Lake but I was not running down to it due to the weather! I had told Vishaal, “Chandratal Lake is a myth!”

After walking for a long time, I did not take much time to sleep off. I snugged in my sleeping bag, I was done with the rain and the wind was so cool that I was so tired. Thankfully my ankle and knee weren’t giving any trouble after the fall in the slope. This time I woke up when it was dark. Vishaal gave me soup and some pop corns to eat. I swear to god they were the best pop corns I have ever had. I and Dileep were on a cribbing spree about the entire weather. I meant after walking 14 kilo meters, just to get cooped in my tent and listen to rain drops, aarghh!!! Rain and some more rain! I was telling Dileep that I had spent more time looking at the roof top of the tent than I did staring at the Chandratal Lake!

Before the pop corns could arrived I was also telling Dileep that the only thing that remained for us to now was to spill over the little quantity of tea that was left at the bottom of the glass inside the tent. Dileep offered to take the glasses out and he stumbled near the flap of the tent but thank god he spilled the leftover tea on the green grass. Well if you want to enjoy some of the best times with your best friends and loved ones, then you should book your tickets through online busbooking and plan a trip to Manali.

A Trip to Batal

Planning a vacation this monsoon? Are you confused so as what location to select? Well what better that northern region of India, The Himalayas? This stretch has some of the best forests, lakes and caves in the entire nation. Book your bus tickets online today to get the best deals, since bus is the best mode of transport to plan a trip.

I started my journey to Batal, as the sky was a bit overcast. It left me a little quite heartbroken. Since last June this has always been my fate of all the trips to the Himalayas, be it in India or in Nepal. I was cribbing about it to everyone who would even care to listen to me.

And then as and so the day progressed, Batal suddenly started to show its majesty for few hours. Just above to my campsite was a tiny hillock. I picked it up to my perch to indulge in my evening’s photography. I had a big valley all to add myself. There were a group of British trekkers camping just nearby but due to some obvious reasons none of them were out clicking the pictures.

I am usually a happy person in these mountains. But I suspect it is because of my much simpler lifestyle that I follow for few days. Bathing is not available unless you want to take a dip in icy cold water. You have to brush your teeth using the stream water. In fact, finding a good water source is a challenge and not polluting it much more difficult and essential to camping. Food is to be carried from the lower regions and is cooked on a stove.

So, it seemed to be very happy to me sitting on the top of a tiny hillock in a wide open valley and clicking pictures. The Dhauladhar Ranges hardly showed their face to me, as if I was grudging the fact that clouds are the reasons. Batal is at an altitude of 3950 meters high and was treating me kindly. I hardly had any symptoms of any altitude discomfort. Soon I saw three dots moving on the road. I could figure out them from that distance because of their colour of clothes. They were my nephew Dileep, Vishaal and Bobby, all of them 6+ feet tall. And today in the larger scheme dots is all they resemble to me. I assure you that you will have to strain your eyes in order to see them at that height. So why wait for December or monsoons to come and go. Book your bus tickets online today and receive discounts on your round trip journeys.

Best Places to Travel to in winter

Are you planning a trip or a vacation this year? Well winters are considered to be the best time to plan a vacation. Well if you are confused to select a destination, I have the best possible destinations to be at in this winter. But before that consider online bus ticket booking to avoid last minute congestion. So here’s the list -  

Goa - If you are attracted to sun basking, then you should consider Goa, is the best place in India for endless enjoyment. The romantic environment accompanied with best drinks would make your vacation a memorable one. Also you can have a wonderful cruise in the river, Mandovi. Lip smacking sea foods seating on any beach under a swaying palm will add an incredible taste to your trip.

Manali – It is the heaven on earth which is located in Himachal Pradesh and November to March is the best time to visit. Be it the snow-capped mountains or the roads are marvellous here. Kids enjoy the dream of playing with some snow here. Hadimba Devi temple, Jogini Waterfalls, Beas Kund, Solang Valley etc. are some attractions for the tourists.

Shillong – It is located in the North Eastern part of the India. Shillong offers a beautiful weather and a charming scenario. The picturesque view is portrayed by Pine and Cider along the road and is sometimes incomparable. Even during summer, the city keeps calm and cool without much hustle or bustle of heat and the city life. Raging waterfalls and beautiful lakes are awesome here.

Agra – It is located in the Uttar Pradesh. Agra is famous for its most famous monuments of the Moghul era. Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is the main attraction. Other than the Akbar Fort, the Moti Masjid and the Sheesh Mahal are the amazing architectural art of the great Mughal period.

Jodhpur - The beautiful and a historical city Jodhpur is supposed to be enjoyed the most in winter. If you are interested in adventurous activities like desert safari on the camels, then chilling winter ride at night is the charm. People come from across the world just to visit the place such as the famous Mehrangarh Fort and the Umaid Bhawan Palace. For most Shopaholics, Jodhpur has large variety of Antiques and Foot wears that are made of camel’s skin.

Well these are the best places according to me which can be planned to tour in winters. All these places have a distinct quality that comes up only in winters and are really beautiful to be missed. Also the best way to enjoy it is by bus. So consider onlinebus ticket booking for tickets. 

Tso Moriri : A spontaneous Visit!

When we reached Tso Moriri, it felt eerily quiet and desolate. There were no tourists, no locals. We wondered if our bus tickets had got us to the right place after all. And then we heard a feeble sound at a distance, a group of children were playing cricket on the banks of the lake. We started walking towards them. There they were, engrossed in their game, each wearing just a thin sweater on top of a cotton shirt and drainpipe pants. And here i was loaded with god knows how many clothes one on another.

It was still very early in the season and it appeared that the camp was not yet set up at Tso Moriri. We drove for seven long hours from Leh through a dry brown road. The Indus had given us company for most of the way, snaking along the road like a shiny green ribbon. But I couldn’t bear the thought of driving back to Leh now that we were already here. It was a journey of 250 kilometres back. That apart, this place obviously deserved more than just a fleeting visit.

Tso Moriri is at an altitude of more than 15000 feet, and the only word to describe it is stunning. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the lake stretches on for more 28 kilometres and its broadest span is almost eight kilometres. I stood on the shore and watching the water change colour with the sun every minute. From a pale grey, to suddenly shifting to a deep cobalt blue and then aquamarine. Shades I had only heard of were playing themselves out in front of my eyes!

Suddenly, there is some bustle behind us, as some trucks pull up with tents and supplies. It turned out that the camp – the only one allowed here – was about to open in a couple of days. I sent our driver, to negotiate and soon we had a deal. They pitched one tent for us and got the kitchen going. This was a good thing, since breakfast was long forgotten and it was already way past lunchtime.

We went for a stroll while lunch was getting ready. High altitude makes it tough to even breathe deep or walk steady. Some portions of the lake were still frozen, although the native Brahmni ducked to make his way placidly through the water.

By early evening, it got so cold that I began to question our decision to stay on. But at dusk, the snow peaks gleamed golden, whilst catching the last rays of the sun. The lake was perfectly still, reflecting the thick white clouds like tiny fluffy pillows and candyfloss. The silence seemed absolute as I sipped on my hot chai. And I think I could get used to this after all.

My random spontaneous bus tickets had never gotten me to a place more beautiful and serene than this ever!!

How to plan a vacation

Planning a vacation can be a daunting task. If you have a checklist of vacation destinations already made up, then the absolute daze deciding the destination is not your prime concern. But for the less “pre-planned” ones deciding the destination is the first step of planning a vacation. Spontaneous trips are exciting and meant for adventure none the less but a vacation is also meant for relaxation and enjoyment, for one going on a hassle-free trip feels much better than the one that where you face booking issues on every single thing possible. On a safer side opt for online bus booking before hand or online booking of any mode of transport that you choose.

In order to make the effort to get out of the door and go on that vacation that you’ve been craving to go on for a long time, I’ve created a step by step guide for planning a trip which breaks down the entire process of planning and making it a lot easier and less overwhelming.

Step One: Decide Where You Want To Go

By now we’ve established how important defining your destination is for your own good. It reduces the confusion in your head helping you think and map out your rest of the trip. This way you mentally prepare yourselfmaking your trip more concrete and easier to commit.

Step Two: Decide the length of your vacation

Speculate the days you’d get to spend vacationing. Most of our vacations are based on the days we get off from work, but without knowing the duration of your trip you can’t figure out how much you need to save for your vacation.  You would have to create a budget depending on the days you plan to spend on vacation.

Step Three: Make A Budget

Research your costs and start saving accordingly. If you plan ahead you can save on ticket prices. Researching your costs also include you estimating the amount you might spend on your lodging and boarding expenses. That would help you do the math and determine your preferable transport, whether you’d go for online bus booking or an air travel.

Step Four: Travel Light

Pack only the needed essentials. Do not over indulge and travel with lots of luggage. More the luggage carried, more the restrictions on your movements caused leading to discomfort.

Step Five: Get Your Travel Docs in Place

Keep your travel documents, insurance, visa, passport and other travel documents that might be necessary to carry in one place. Keep them in a safe pouch and see to it that you don’t lose these essentials, on a safer side carry copies of the following items.

Step Six: Plan Your Activities

Map out the activities that you want to enjoy and speculate their cost before.  This would also help you figure out if you need to make reservation at your chosen activity destination.

Step Seven: Enjoy your trip

Once you’ve struck off all the above steps and followed the steps , the only next step left is GO ON YOUR TRIP AND HAVE FUN!!

Head to for that online bus booking you made for your bus, or go forth and board your plane and enjoy the fruits of hard holiday research labour!

Wonders of India

Taking short trips has always been my thing. I might as well call myself a nomad sticking to our ancestral origins but that wouldn’t it completely true. I often opt for online bus booking to get me to destinations i want to visit. Since it’s quick and easy and helps me from not standing in menial queues. From all the places i have been too these are a few that have stuck to me and made me feel more connected to my own country.

THE Taj Maha; is considered the world’s most beautiful building and most certainly the number 1 tourist attraction in India. “A teardrop on the face of eternity.” as truly described. No matter how many times you see it in photos and videos, no matter how often and extravagantly it is praised, nothing prepares you for the first time when you walk through the red sandstone gates and behold it in real life as it’s true self. Seeing the Taj Mahal for the first time restored my faith in man’s ability to create something this divine. I went on a very hot day in late March 2006, and for some reason there weren’t many people there that day. I walked into the mausoleum almost alone

THE HIMALAYAS, the world’s greatest mountain range at about 2,400 kilometres long with most of the planet’s highest peaks. From the Sivalik foothills to the mighty Kangchenjunga in Sikkim, I had many incredible experiences and sights in the Himalayas. But my first Himalayan experiences will forever be imprinted on my mind as it chanced upon the spiritual home at the Aurovalley Ashram near Rishikesh, which at the edge of the Shivaliks. I arrived tired after an early morning train journey from Delhi and immediately chose to take a nap in my airy white room. I woke up half-an-hour later feeling ever so more refreshed than I have before from a short sleep.

RAJASTHAN, the biggest state in India, and home to one of the world’s largest deserts and a vibrant, traditional culture, is also one of the touristy states in the country. There is a reason, imagine majestic forts and palaces, enthusiastic festivals, time-honoured rituals and scenes of incredible beauty featuring camels, peacocks, bright saris and huge colourful turbans. It’s the picture-postcard version of India and I can never get enough of it.

KERALA is on the South Indian state along the Arabian Sea coastline and a mountainous interior. Like Rajasthan and Goa, it is also one of the most popular tourist regions of India. Tropical beaches and a relaxed vibe are its main attractions. But Kerala has much more to offer in terms of culture and geography, including the extremely famous Backwaters, the port town of Kochi, the green scapes of tea plantations of Munnar, the Ayurvedic resorts scattered all long the state and the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, to name a few.  

Such travels bring more life to you than you expect and you always happen to carry experiences with you that go with you a long way. There’s a reason why i tend to opt for onlinebus booking, travelling by bus makes me see that side of India which i would miss, the people , the interiors, the culture so close and so alive than ever.