Haveli

Haveli is just not a restaurant or Dhaba situated at the Jalandhar Phagwara highway at Grand Trunk Road but it is an emotion. No matter what time you visit the restaurant on what day in what weather, this place will always be buzzing with warm vibes from families across the world. Try out their Lassi in Kulhad, jalebi with Rabri and Chole kulcha.

Rang La Punjab

Rang la Punjab is not just another themed restaurant but it is a heritage. It represents the soul of Punjab. Built similarly to Choki Dhani restaurants reflecting the culture of Rajasthan this themed restaurant has something to offer to everyone. There are singing, dancing, music, camels, puppet shows, astrologers and what not. then once you take your coupans at the entrance of the dhaba you can visit their various stalls. They also have little shops inside to buy souvenirs. Try their makke ki roti with sarso da saag with makkhan for sure. It also offers great Instagram-worthy pictures at the backdrop of its many statues reflecting Punjabi village (pind) life and the ideal time to visit is at night.

Rainak Bajar

If you are a shopping freak and love to shop at nooks and corners and looking for a Sarojini nagar, or Chandani Chowk type of experience in Jalandhar Rainka Bajar is where you go. Punjabi Juttis and Phulkari Saree and Suits should be on your must-buy list from Rainak Bajar. Many people prefer to buy Phulkari from Jalandhar instead of Amritsar. There are several shops which also have beautiful purses, of cotton fabric. There is this entire chaat gali which I dont find hygienic and full of oil but those who dont mind eating junk food can visit.

Model Town

Your visit to Jalandhar is incomplete if you dont visit the heart of Jalandhar Model Town which is basically the primary shopping market in Jalandhar. There is no dearth of national and international brand outlets in Model Town. Be it Forever News, H&M, Marks and Spencer, Vero Moda, Adidas, Puma, Louie Phillipe, Hamleys, Archies and whatnot. You name a brand and it should be in this market. It also has amazing cafes, bakeries and chic restaurants to offer Starbucks, Nik Bakers, Greko, Coffee and Beans are some of the busy hanging out points. Also do visit Chunmum shopping mall for shopping filled with flavours of Punjab.

Gurdwara and Temple

Jalandhar also has some great Gurdwaras and temples to offer to people who are on pilgrim around the city. The Swaminarayan temple is especially worth visiting. It is a gigantic and impressive structure like the Gurdwaras that the city has

There is also a newly opened East Wood Village for an extended Uraban shopping experience. There are Corporate offices, Cafes, a Shopping Arena, a Sky-bar Area, Multiplex & Restaurants. Jalandhar city also boasts about its fine dining luxury hotels. your trip to Punjab is incomplete if you dont visit Jalandhar.

Delhi winters in India were always compared with that of London,No one remembers the Delhi winter nights snuggling inside a room, sipping coffee, playing a blockbuster but Delhi is lived and experienced during chilly winters nights and short days in the most remarkable way experiencing the best of Delhi. Step out fellas and dive into the chill. Whether you are with your homies or with your significant other make it a night to remember. Here are the list of things you can not do without in Delhi winters!

Lazing Around in Connaught Place

As you enjoy the winter sun lazing on one of the benches or laying on the grass, chatting or reading a book, a number of tea-sellers, papar-waalas and channa (gram) sellers around will take care of you. If there’s still time for lunch, a good walk to Hanuman Mandir or Bangla Sahib will make way for a hearty appetite. On the footpath in front of PVR Rivoli, a fleet of cheap jackets, stockings, gloves and kerchiefs are too attractive to ignore, even if you aren’t going to buy!

 Festive Decorations At The Malls

With themed installations, towering Christmas trees, twinkling lights and cheers and celebrations, the atmosphere in Delhi Malls in the winter is no less than a fairyland. There are range of options like Pacific, Subhash Nagar; Select CITYWALK, Saket; DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj; DLF Place, Saket & Other Locations.

Relish in Galli parathey wali

A few steps into the lane and the smoke emitting from the huge woks indicate that one is at the right place. one of the must dos is Galli parathey wali. Located in the busy Chandni Chowk area of old Delhi, this is one of the by lanes after Gurudwara Sheesh Ganj (8 to 10 minutes walk from the Chandni Chowk metro station). This lane boasts of a cluster of vegetarian food joints that have been selling parathas (Indian fried bread) since generations. The parathas are stuffed with a variety of strictly vegetarian ingredients so much so that onions and garlic are also not used.

Picnic In The Sun at Lodhi Gardens

Lazing around in the winter sun, eating salads & sandwiches, playing games and having silly conversations with the family – what better thing to do on a Sunday afternoon? Revel in the chilly winters of the city in one of the most scenic spots – Lodhi Gardens.

Hoard Cool Stuff at The German Christmas Market

Undoubtedly one of the most sought-after carnival in the capital city, the German Christmas market is organised annually by the Indo German Chamber of Commerce. the market will comprise a wide variety of products including furniture, designer home accessories, high-end fashion wear, handicrafts, decorations, candles, souvenirs and garden accessories besides live food counters, live music, fun activities for the kids – et al

Stroll in Japanese Park

Located in Rohini sec 11 the park is home to immaculately manicured gardens, a jogger’s circle, children’s play area, skating arena, walking trails and is watered by two serene lakes. As you stroll through the verdant meadows of the park, listen to the hum of the peacocks, go swan-feeding or just lounge by the lakeside for some quiet time away from the trappings of your daily routine. It is huge and provides everything to all ages. Long walking track, exercise equipment, three water bodies (though very less water), birds watching and most importantly picnic with whole family, particularly in winter.

Afternoons at Chandni Chowk

We talk winters and dont mention Chandani Chowk? Just not fair! It’s time to visit the brightest feather in Delhi’s cultural hat. While Chandni Chowk is visited across the year, the pleasant winter afternoons make walking easier and more enjoyable. A lesser known secret of Chandni Chowk is that it has Asia’s biggest camera market on Esplanade Road with over 100 small shops selling a range of cameras and their accessories.

Go Window-Shopping In The Lit-Up Champa Gali

Spend a winter afternoon exploring one of the most interesting, hidden lanes in the city, drinking warm coffee and browsing through beautiful products. Complete with handicrafts shops offering gorgeous, unique items to coffee shops for enjoying the holiday season, this market is a wholesome recipe for a wonderful day out

Dance in Delhi Weddings

Chilly winters and Delhi weddings has an eternal bond which you must experience. Pretty women all clad in best of Delhi clothes and accesories,warm food and snack,hot choclates, Delhi ki Chaat and grooms baraat word fall sort of describing the magic of a Delhi wedding. Big fat Indian wedding come alive in Delhi Weddings.

Head To The Dastkari Mela

Dastakari Mela has lots of Shopping options, good music and food, checking all our boxes for a fun day out. You’ll find products like paper mache goodies, embroidered textiles, Pinguli art, patchwork, paper cutwork and other forms of art forms that speak about their parent state’s unique traditions. 

Also a perfect winter read would be hit military romance of the year Soldier’s Girl: Love Story of a Para Commando  Try if you have not read it early,costs less than your coffee but would stay forever in your heart

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You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough!

There are so many things we wish to do or try, but keep saving for later, “I’ll do it when I’m 35, I’ll do it when my kids are old enough, I’ll do that when I retire”, but what we conveniently forget is that Life is short, do what you want to do and Do it now coz you never know “Kal ho na ho”. Here’s a list of 10 things you must do before you die!

Visit the Wonders of the World

They aren’t called Wonders just like that! From Taj Mahal, to Christ The Redeemer statue, from The Great Wall of China to the Colosseum, the man-made marvels are indeed unforgettable sights. Lucky are the ones who get to see them all in one Life , go on, tick a few at least!

Travel Alone

To travel is to live, and to travel alone is to live for yourself. When you travel solo, you are totally responsible for yourself, you will discover how capable you are. It provides you confidence, wisdom and an insight.

Try an Adventure Sport

What fun are you going to have in life if you don’t take a little risk? And in your heart, you know that the ‘risk’ is only in the mind! River-rafting, para-sailing, mountaineering, scuba-diving are just a few names you need to add to your list for an adrenaline rush.

Eat at your Favourite (Unaffordable) Restaurant

Many of us have that one exquisite restaurant or hotel that we have been wanting to go to since time immemorial, but have never been able to draw the funds! Now is the time to turn your Lottery Fantasies into reality! Grab your money, your debit cards, your credit cards and just go. Order what you like. Eat, as if its going to be your last meal!

Random Acts of Kindness

Many a times, in the hustle-bustle of our daily lives, we simply ignore that RAKs can go a long way in giving someone what they needed the most. Donate blood, meet people at an old age home, adopt a pet, teach a child, go to your old school and thank the Teachers, just anything. Remember, Karma exists!

Leave a message for your Family & Friends

It often becomes difficult to express what we feel for our loved ones. And then often it becomes too late. Record your feelings, write them a message, an e-mail or just call and say, “I love you, and you mean a lot to me”, you’ll feel so much better and lighter.

Forgive

Life becomes easier when you learn to forgive. There’s actually no point in holding a grudge, just let it go. It takes a strong person to say sorry, but a stronger person to show forgiveness. And while we’re at it, let’s also ask for forgiveness, an unconditional apology to everyone and anyone who has been hurt by you, be it intentionally and unintentionally.

Go on a road trip

Alone or with friends , Hit the Road! Go to a place you’ve never been before. An open road and your favourite song can be an experience of a lifetime. The greatest part of a road trip is not ‘reaching the destination’, its all the crazy stuff that happens along the way.

Go on a Blind Date

Blind Date can be more dangerous than trying an adventure sport, but then Why Not!! You never know, it just might be IT! Or else it can be a great way to reassure yourself that dying alone won’t be so bad.

Take a break

Really, its okay to take a break. Sometimes, you need to step outside, get some air and remind yourself of who you are who you want to be. Take a break from work, from family commitments, and of course from your phone. You need some ‘me-time’ to appreciate and love yourself.

The reason so many of us have a bucket-list is that we wish to fill our hearts with abundant memories before we say our final Goodbyes! The urge to live life to the fullest is very strong. Let’s not waste anymore time and start ticking things off the list.

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Phuentsholing is the border city of Southern Bhutan and adjoins Jaigaon West Bengal which is the border city of India. Infact there is only one very ornate gate separating these two border cities and adjoining two countries India and Bhutan. This post is loaded with latest informations as I just visited it a few days back and here is the top 10 things to do in Phuentsholing Bhutan.

Bhutan Gate

Well, the difference of Indian culture and Bhutani culture is huge. The chaotic life at Indian city Jaigaon take a back step once you take just one step inside the Bhutan gate into Bhutan. Suddenly things stop moving in slow motion. Smiling faces and alert cops would replace everything messy and chaotic at the other side of the gate towards Jaigaon, India. There is a huge petrol pump with a huge poster of the royal couple and their newly born child just near the gates where you can easily refill the tanks and yes honking is a punishable offense in Bhutan. So all the vehicles crawl at fixed pace and without honking.

There are not much of touristy things to do at Bhutan gates except the must have clicks. So don’t forget to click two three quick pictures there until you are gestured by the Bhutanese police not to do so.

Bhutan Commercial Hub

Bhutan commercial hub is the area where most of the commercial and touristy activities are centered. But it is so unlike Indian cities markets ! Somehow it reminded me of Chandigarh. Very organised and there is even one huge garden where people do come sit and kids play around at the middle of the markets. But this commercial hub provides the city with everything it requires. There are electronics shop,shoe shops,beauty parlours,hotel,cafe and many thing more. You can take a break here if you wish before heading ahead with your journey.

Staying in Phuentsholing hotels

The Bhutanese are farming based people and so the food,liquor and bakery goods are amazingly nice. The hotels and restaurants are quite cheap and nice too. It is one of a kind experience to stay in one of these hotels and exploring the city daily life which is everything but noisy. It is surely going to refresh you to the core. You can stay there and come out for food to any of the restaurants or coffee shops around.  Especially Kizom Coffee Shop is hugely popular. It is a bit expensive to other restaurants in the nearby area but worth every penny. Sipping over their aromatic coffee and nibbling over their exotic bakes while looking down at the beautiful city surrounded by mountains is a must.

Visiting Zangto Pelri Lhakhang

You can head straight to the Bhutan Monasteries or take a break,sip some coffee before heading to the sightseeing in Bhutan. Most people prefer taking a break at commercial hub before Phuentsholing sightseeing. Especially those coming from India by road from Bagdogra or Jaigaon or West bengal area. The Bhutanese people follow Buddhism and offer prayer to Guru Rinpoche among others. It has exact replica of Guru Rinpoche and eight life size different manifestation of the revered Guru.

Exploring Crocodile Breeding park

Frankly I was tad disappointed once I went there. There ticket costs Rs 20 for people from Saarc countries but it is an extremely small compact crocodile park. It is basically two three ponds where you can see a few crocodiles sleeping without any movements for hours. It is very stinky, But yes if you have kids it is the must visit.

Visiting Karbandi Monastery

It is winter residence of ROyal grandmother and one of the best places in Phuentsholing to visit. Situated at a height of 400mt. it provides a panoramic view of the entire city. The gardens and lawns are exquisite and there is even one small cafe. There are eight Tibetan buddha stups aid to the aesthetic appeal of the ambience and the temple consist of large impressive statues of Guru Rinpoche and other Gods. The prayers are regularly offered where many Tibetans can be seen attending it and offering their prayer. It is also popular among childless couples based on the legends.

Shopping

Phuentsholing is called as commercial hub of Bhutan or trade centre of Bhutan. But if you are coming from any big city of India or world then you would be disappointed to see the stuffs here in the Phuentsholing markets. Most of the grocery things are usual Indian things only more expensive. Most of the things are imported from India,Korea,China etc.The Shopping Haul  is still the fun if you stick to buy traditional Bhutanese things like the shoes and sneakers are extremely durable and cheap. Then the Bhutanese traditional clothes Kira for women is a must buy. The other things to be picked up from here are beautiful bone china crockeries with oriental carvings, oriental carpets, rugs and decorative items.

Wander Around

Wandering around the Phuentsholing is absolutely not a bad idea. You can park your vehicle around the commercial hub area and roam around in the city on foot. The kings of Bhutan are very popular among Bhutanese People and they are called as ‘people’s king’ I could see the king and queen pictures everywhere,even at the small sweet and vegetable shops. There were huge poster size cut outs at petrol pumps and big shopping complexes. The natural beauty and greenery is scattered here and there.

Tasting the Bhutanese cuisines

One of the things to do in the city would be to eat and taste everything that it has to offer. It is a paradise for non vegetarians and Bengali and thai cuisines are quite popular. But I could easily find two pure vegetarian restaurants offering good food too. Then there are one or two coffee shops offering a very rich variety of bakery items and coffee. Kizom Cafe is specially mentionable.

Buying liquor

Bhutanese people are very fond of drinking so among all the expensive things here liquor is generously available and cheap too. The drinks,cold drinks and juices are also available in many flavours and Druk juices are especially mentionable. You can buy these beer,whisky or other varieties quite easily for your friends,family or even for yourself.

The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is exactly the kind of country you anticipate out of the history books and Phuentsholing offers you the glimpse of the laid back tranquil life of a country in Himalayan lap. The kings, queens and fairies all seem real just out of those fictions you have read in your childhood….. Don’t wait explore!

And yes don’t forget to take this wonderful beautiful book Soldier’s Girl : Love story of a para commando which is the story of warriors and their women to the royal kingdom of Bhutan. The first prints are all sold and it is being loved all across the nation. Here is the link if you wanna buy.

Soldier’s Girl: Love Story of a Para-Commando (First)

Jabalpur Airport

jabalpur has a small domestic airport where Indian airlines and Spicejet flights regularly fly to connect it to few other major cities. The flight to Jabalpur from New Delhi takes around 1.5 hr and you can also reach Jabalpur through roads and trains.

Click to view slideshow.

Bhedaghat

Do you remember the raunchy Kareena Kapoor swirling and swinging to the sexy number ‘Raat ka Nasha’ from movie Ashoka? Well it was shot here on the Marble rock formations of Bhedaghat. It’s breathtakingly beautiful and a very precious gem in mother nature’s earth. The boating,the trekking on the rocks or reaching at the banks of narmada river or just watching the soaring Marble rocks in glittering splendour  which rise to around 100 feet on either side of Narmada river and admiring the sunlight soaked marble pinnacles which cast a dappling shadow to the water at Bhedaghat is a very thrilling experience. Bhedaghat is a village and nagar panchayat of jabalpur city which is approximately 23 km away from the jabalpur town.

There are three tourist attractions in this area to be visited by a tourist first is Bhedaghat itself then Chausat Yogini Mandir and the Dhuandhar falls. All three spots can be easily covered within 4-5 hrs if you don’t plan to stay at one of the resorts in Bhedaghat. But I will suggest you to stay at ‘Motel Marble rocks’ which is the initiative of MP tourism department

Click to view slideshow.

Chausat Yogini Temple

It is at a distance of 2 minutes from the hotel and a must visit.Though the never ending 150 plus stairs to the hilltop discourages you at first if you are not a fitness freak and it gets really tough to decide that whether to visit it immediately after Bhedaghat or after visiting The Dhuandhar Fall but once you reach the top the view,the ambience, the architectural marvel, the history,the mystery and everything else that this ancient temple has to offer to you would overwhelm you and you will thank yourself that you visited it.

The structure

It is said to be 1200 year old and included in one of the oldest heritage site of India. it is made up of granite stone and complex of the temple is divided into the main temple at the centre and the idols of sixty four yoginis of Devi Durga in circular motion which surround the main temple. The idols of Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati on the sacred bull Nandi aids to the entire divinity and ancientism. The rest of the idols of yoginis are exquisitely carved but many of the idols are damaged too. The temple had been severely damaged by the Mughal rulers but somehow I found it aiding to the entire mystery of the temple though it ‘s really sad to see such timeless marvels of history damaged.

Click to view slideshow.

Dhuandhar Waterfalls

I have already dedicated two entire post to these lovely falls and here are the links.

Dhuandhar Waterfalls Jabalpur

Narmada Aarti

I will urge you to witness ‘Narmada aarti’ which is very much similar like ‘Ganga aarti’ at varanasi. There was quite a lot of gathering when I attended it. Watching the hindu priests worshipping the river, lighting the diya lately and everything else about this aarti makes you feel very spiritual. Even if you are an atheist and not much into spirituality then too I found it totally justified to worship the river narmada which provides Jabalpur and Madhya Pradesh an identity. I don’t think Jabalpur would have been same if the river would have decided to set its path through another course. We should all be very much thankful to this great grand lovely river.

Click to view slideshow.

There are other famous tourist spots like Bargi Dam and Dumna Nature Reserve which are just inside the city. You can easily go there and spend a relaxed day out their with your friends and family. the next part in this MP Tourism is going to showcase the shopping delights and artifacts of madhya Pradesh. Hope you enjoyed the post and it proves to be useful if you are planning to visit to go an animal safari or explore Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh.

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