+91 9820822253 info@realitytoursandtravel.com

By

Chris Way

Exploring Rajasthan’s Ranakpur Temple

Between the intricate carvings, jungle views and visiting monkeys, Chaumukha Mandir, the Jain Temple at Ranakpur, will transport you to another world.

Built in the 15th century, this enormous complex has 1,400 pillars, each one hand-carved with its own unique patterns, icons and elements from nature – no two pillars are alike.

Wander around the different chambers and marvel at the craftsmanship that took around 65 years to complete.  Don’t forget to stop for a photo of the lush jungle through the temple windows, or to get a glimpse of the families of monkeys that leap between the columns and domes.

Guides aren’t allowed in the temple, so make sure to grab an audio guide before you head in so that you can make the most of your experience and learn a bit more about the Jain religion if you’re not families with its traditions and beliefs.

Practical Tips for Ranakpur Temple

  1. Cover up your arms and legs.
  2. Leave your shoes and any leather goods you have outside.
  3. You will need on photo ID to leave as a deposit for the audioguide.
  4. Be aware that anyone offering to say a prayer on your behalf will probably be expecting money in return.
  5. Women are asked not to enter if they are menstruating.
  6. The earlier you can visit, the better – tourists are allowed to enter from midday.
  7. Stay away from the monkeys!  They look cute but they can be aggressive when provoked.  The last thing you want on your Indian vacation is to have to get a rabies vaccination.

Perfectly placed on the road between Jodhpur and Udaipur, this amazing site is not to be missed – and provides a nice way of breaking up the drive.  Be warned that the road is windy and bumpy through the countryside, so if you get car sick, think about taking a couple of tablets before you leave…..

If you’d like to visit on of the most beautiful temples in India, you are in luck!  It is one of the many amazing sites on our 14 day Rajasthan tour or you can customize your own holiday using our trip planning service!

Tips for Visiting the Taj Mahal

Show almost anyone a picture of the Taj Mahal and they’ll recognise it instantly. Imposing yet graceful, its true beauty can’t be appreciated in a photo alone – this is a site that has to be seen in real life to be believed. 

A romantic idea… But let’s face it – you won’t be the only person making the pilgrimage. The most visited site in India, tourist numbers for the Taj topped a gigantic 6.5 million in 2018. 

So how can you get the best out of your trip? Here are our top tips for planning your visit to the Taj Mahal:

  • Check it’s open

We know, we know – you’d never show up when it was shut, right? Just remember that opening hours will depend on sunrise and sunset, and that the whole monument is closed to the general public on a Friday. 

  • Wear what you like

There are no strict rules when it comes to clothing, and you’ll see plenty of people dressed to the nines for a romantic photo shoot. Wear what’s comfortable for you, but don’t forget to put on shoe covers before you enter the monument – these are available on-site. 

  • Pick your time carefully

Tourists visit all day, but we’d recommend the dawn session. If you’re lucky enough to get a good sunrise, the colours of the sky really transform the Taj. It’s also the quietest time to visit, with the majority of tourists arriving later in the day.  You can experience the Taj during sunrise on both a private tour by car or an overnight tour. 

  • Remember your mosquito spray

The palace is serenely positioned in front of a river, which creates an aura of peace and tranquillity… it also means that visiting at dawn makes you a part of the mozzies’ breakfast buffet. Don’t forget to wear your bug repellent. 

  • Go to Mehtab Bagh

Mehtab Bagh is a garden that was built across the river from the Taj Mahal and provides a stunning view of the back of the palace (which, thanks to its symmetrical shape is exactly the same as the front). Visit at sunset for the full effect – the peace and quiet make the view all the better.

  • Get a guide

The experience of arriving at the Taj Mahal can be a little overwhelming. A great guide will not only help you navigate the ticket queues, but they can also make sure you get the best out of your visit. There is plenty to learn about the rich history and craftsmanship behind the monument, so it’s worth getting an expert to tell you the whole story.

If you’d like to find out more about organising a tour to the Taj Mahal, we can help. Reality Tours offers private and group tours of Agra for all price ranges.  Find out more here!

mumbai sight seeing tour

Top Things to Do on a Mumbai Sightseeing Tour

Mumbai is known as one of the most popular tourist destinations of India. Because of the unique seaside location, this city has expanded to fill the surrounding seven islands. It has also become one of the biggest trading hubs of this world. Traveling in this city can help people to understand modern Indian culture. Full of festivals, entertainment, historically-significant places, and authentic cuisine, Mumbai offers something for everyone!

So, if you are planning to visit Mumbai soon, then here are the top things that you can do on the Mumbai sightseeing tour.

  1. Sunset at Bandstand: Bandstand is a long rocky walkway in Bandra beside the Arabian Sea. And this is known as one of the most popular hangout places and one of the most popular romantic hotspots. Visiting this place while being in Mumbai is a must to enjoy the photogenic sunset and to stroll hand in hand.

  2. The night view of Marine Drive: Your Mumbai sightseeing tour will be incomplete without visiting Marine Drive. In fact, it is a great experience to see the Mumbai skyline while sitting beside the Arabian Sea. While the lights lit up along the road in the evening, Marine Drive converts into the “Queen’s Necklace”-pretty, sparkling and curvy. Another thing that you can do in Marine Drive while enjoying the night view is to taste the amazing food for different budgets.

  3. Visit the Haji Ali Dargah: Situated in the backdrop of Arabian Sea, the Haji Ali Dargah is known as one of the most popular religious places in Mumbai. This Dargah is developed in 1431 by Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. This beautifully designed Dargah includes Indo-Islamic architectural details. The main shrine of this Dargah is placed in a beautiful looking marble courtyard. Millions of people visit this Dargah on a regular basis. So, visiting this Dargah is a must during your Mumbai darshan.

  4. Check out the Parsi Cafes: In case you are planning to try out the authentic delicacies of Mumbai, then visiting different Parsi and Irani cafes and restaurants is a must. Some of the most popular examples where you can pamper the taste buds include Café Military, Britannia and Co, and Parsi Youth Assembly’s Snack Centre.

  5. Take part in the Bombay heritage walks: If you want to be familiarized with the past of Mumbai during the Mumbai sightseeing tour, then you can opt for the Bombay heritage walks. This walk begins from the ‘Fort’ area. And during this tour, you will cover the areas like the Town Hall, Ballard Estate business district, Asiatic Society Library of Mumbai, the Flora Fountain Circle, the Horniman Circle Garden, the Gateway of India, Indian Naval Dockyard, and the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel. Besides, this tour also includes some of the most iconic and oldest buildings of Mumbai including Bombay Stock Exchange, Bombay House, CST or the former Victoria Terminus.

Conclusion:

These are just a few things that you can do while visiting in Mumbai. There are many more things on the list that you can give a try.

Mumbai – A Visit to the City Which Never Sleeps

Dear readers,

Mumbai is one of the leading metros in India if not the leading one already. It was earlier referred to as Bombay. It happens to be the biggest city in India and is also the capital of the western Indian state of Maharashtra. To begin with, Mumbai was a collection of 7 islands on the Konkan coastline. They were joined together to form the city that we see today. The island was later joined with Salsette, a neighboring island, to form what is known as Greater Bombay. In 2005 it was estimated that the city had a population of 21 million people.

This makes it one of the most populated cities in the world.

The enigma that is Mumbai

Mumbai is, without a shadow of a doubt, the commercial capital of India. It also has one of the biggest ports in the country as well. By virtue of being a metro city, it has an eclectic population that gives it its cosmopolitan nature in the first place. This is further borne out by the presence of Bollywood. Bollywood is basically the Hindi film industry that wields a global influence of sorts. This is because of the presence of the Indian Diaspora in all parts of the world.

At the same time, Dharavi in Mumbai also has the biggest slum population of the whole country. Incidentally, both these contrasting entities form an integral part of a Mumbai city tour.

What to see here in Mumbai?

There are plenty of things to see while you are on a Mumbai tour. The tourist attractions can be categorized into the following and examples may be mentioned as below:

  • Rock cut caves – Elephanta, Kanheri, Mahakali
  • colonial buildings – Fort St. George, Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya, Taj Mahal hotel, Mumbai University, High Court
  • museums and galleries – National Gallery of Modern Art, Jehangir Art Gallery, Nehru Centre Art Gallery, Nehru Science Centre
  • beaches – Girgaon Chowpatty, Juhu beach, Aksa beach
  • zoos, parks, and gardens – Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Bhavans Nature Adventure Centre, Veermata Jijabai Udyan, Hanging Gardens, Kamla Nehru Park, Mumbai Port Trust Garden, Five Gardens

religious places – Portuguese church at Dadar, Haji Ali Dargah, Global Vipassana Pagoda, Siddhivinayak temple, ISKCON temples at Juhu beach and Chowpatty beach

What to eat here in Mumbai?

You can be sure that no matter which part of the world you are from you would get something to eat in this city.

However, there are some dishes that you should definitely have when you are here in Mumbai. They may be enumerated as below:

  • Gujarati Thali
  • Kebab rolls, Keema, and Pattis
  • Maharashtrian Thali
  • Indian sweets such as Kulfi Falooda
  • Kerala Thali
  • Vada Pav
  • Indian Chinese
  • South Indian food at a Udupi restaurant
  • Goan seafood
  • Bread Maska
  • Chaats such as Bhelpuri and Paani Puri
  • Alfonso mangoes at the summer time
  • Pav Bhaji

Visiting Mumbai is an experience of a lifetime – one that you would always cherish.