Indian Traveller

Sunday, April 21, 2019

April 21, 2019

Sai Teerth Theme Park

Sai Teerth Theme Park

This is a latest attraction opened in the religious land of Sai Baba SHIRDI. A unique theme park for kids and adults for all age groups. The theme park has four major attractions and each attraction explains different religious stories, introduces major temples in India and also stories of our own Shri Sai Baba which shows his kindness for everyone who come to him for help.

This also is a great idea to introduce our religious stories to the kids through the rides and attractions. Adults too enjoy the rides and attractions. The entry fees of the theme park is Rs. 470/- including taxes for adults and for kids between 3.3 inches to 4.6 inches of height is Rs. 390/- including taxes and kids below 3.3 inch height are free. They also have a combo ticket offer for the theme park and a water park wet n joy which is just opposite the theme park. The four major attractions are discussed in detail below

Boat ride: This artificial boat ride is a 20 minute ride where we are seated and the boat takes us to introduce the 12 major temples of

India

Lanka Dahan 5d experience: This attraction explains the story of Lanka dahan in 5D.

Sai Baba movie on big screen: The movie is about the stories of Shri Sai Baba which shows his kindness and generosity towards all his devotees.

Sai Baba story through Robotics and Animatronics: The story of a devotee of Shri Sai Baba is explained through robotics. It is like a robotic play.

The staff of the Theme Park is very helpful and courteous. The theme park is also very clean and maintained. They do have good and clean washrooms. They also have small stalls for snacks inside and lot of seating chairs outside every attraction for the visitors.

The Theme park also has a restaurant inside where they serve pure vegetarian food. They do have only lunch buffet in the afternoon for an extra cost which can be enquired in the ticket booking booth in the entrance of the theme park. They also have a separate baggage counter for our belongings. Overall you must visit this place at least once when you visit Shirdi for a unique experience.

Refer the below links for the resorts and other attractions in Shirdi

https://indiantravelsmart.blogspot.com/2019/03/keys-prima-temple-tree-resort-shirdi.html

https://indiantravelsmart.blogspot.com/2019/01/shirdi.html

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Saturday, March 23, 2019

March 23, 2019

Keys Prima Temple Tree Resort Shirdi

Keys Prima Temple Tree Resort (Shirdi)

This beautiful resort is nestled around the scenic lush green farms with lot of fresh air and only 10 mins drive from the Sai Baba temple. The Keys resort is a brand and they keep up to their name. They have excellent hospitality. The staff is very attentive, polite and helpful.

The rooms in the hotel are clean and have an excellent view of the farms surrounded by the hotel.

Amenities

Shuttle: The hotel has a free shuttle service for the temple visit.

Restaurant:

The hotel has a very good in house restaurant. The restaurant is pure vegetarian and they serve delicious food. The breakfast spread is absolutely delicious. They have both the options; a la carte as well as buffet for lunch and dinner. They also have a special room package which includes breakfast and one major meal of the day.

Store: There is a small souvenier shop inside the hotel.

Swimming Pool:

The hotel has lot of amenities for kids. They have two swimming pools (a small one for babies and a bigger one). They have a small play area outside in the lawn.

Sai Baba Temple: In the evening they place tables in the lawn for the guests to enjoy snacks and tea. They also have a small Sai Baba temple inside the premises where they conduct a small aarti every evening.

Play Area and Club Room:

There is an in-house play area for toddlers and a pool table and carom for adults.

Weekend Activities:

The hotel organises entertaining programmes in the weekends for kids like balloon play and magic show.

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Sunday, February 24, 2019

February 24, 2019

DAMAN

Daman is a city in the union territory of Diu and Daman and a famous tourist spot which is a short drive from Mumbai. There are many tourists visiting here all round the year. Daman is famous for its beaches and many beautiful resorts for relaxation. Let me jot down the points to be discussed:

Hotels to stay

Restaurants

Shopping

Sight Seeing Places

Hotels to stay

There are many options for stay in Daman. You can enjoy resort with water park, a garden resort and sea facing hotels.

Miramar Resort: This is a sea facing property with different types of rooms comfortable for couples and also families. Also the restaurant has lot of options for vegetarians too. The food is served in an open dining area facing the beach. The hotel has a direct access to the Devka Beach.

Mirasol Resort: This place is exclusively famous for its waterpark. People visit this place for the waterpark. They also have accommodation available. Mirasol resorts also have an artificial lake where there are several recreation activities like boating, gaming zone, mini toy train ride and discotheque. This is a good place to spend time with kids. It is also a popular place for destination weddings. They have a pure vegetarian restaurant inside the resort.

Gold Beach Resorts: This is also a good sea facing property with luxurious sea facing rooms. The restaurant has an open dining area with delicious food options. They also have the swimming pool facing the beach. The hotel has direct access to the Devka Beach.

Deltin: Deltin resort has gained a lot of popularity in the recent years. This is a new property in Daman. It is a good place to visit with family. This is the only 5 star hotel in Daman. It is known for its hospitality. The rooms here are family friendly; they have 2 queen beds which can easily accommodate a family of four. The property has a huge garden, a swimming pool and also a toddler room for kids. The restaurant in the hotel is known for its hospitality, the delicious food and great ambience.

Restaurants

The above resorts in Daman have fine dine restaurants serving delicious food. They also have good vegetarian food options.

Spice Galleon is the restaurant in Gold Beach Resort.

The restaurant in Miramar Hotel also serves amazing food.

The Pakwan restaurant in Mirasol resort serves pure vegetarian food.

The Vegas restaurant in Deltin hotel has a superb ambience and is luxurious. They also have Buffet options available.

Shopping

There is a market in Nani Daman which is popularly known as foreign market amongst the locals where you can get all imported products, chocolates, cosmetics, electronics etc.

Sight Seeing Places

Devka Beach: This is one of the most popular beaches in Daman. This beach has black sand. Also most of the popular hotels and resorts are situated near the beach and have a private access from their hotels to the beach.

Mirasol Water Park: Mirasol resort has a water park where you can enjoy for the whole day. They also have formed an artificial lake for boating, a mini train ride for kids and a gaming zone.

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Sunday, February 10, 2019

February 10, 2019

Nasik(The Grape Capital of India)

Nasik

Nasik is a city in Maharashtra. This place has recently gained lot of popularity as a tourist destination especially due to its famous vineyards. It is three and a half hour drive from Mumbai. Best period to visit this place is from October to June. Nasik is filled with lot of greenery which is very refreshing for our eyes. Let me further list down the points to discuss

· Hotels

· Restaurants

· Sight Seeing places

Luxurious Resort Hotels

· The Gateway by Taj (I personally recommend this place, as this hotel is a superb resort hotel with a lot of greenery and an affordable one. They also have a kids play area in their huge garden. Luxury at a reasonable price)

If you want to spend time amidst the lush green vineyards then these are the great resort options for a stay:

· Beyond by Sula

· The Source at Sula

· Soma Vine Village

Semi Luxurious Hotels

· IBIS

· Holiday Inn Express

· Express Inn

· Ginger

Restaurant

· Panchvati Gaurav (Gujarati Thali)

· Little

Italy

in Sula vineyard (great restaurant to enjoy Italian cuisines with a sip of wine)

There are many local places to enjoy missal pav which is a popular Maharashtrian dish

· Sadhana Chulivarchi Misal is one of the popular places

Sightseeing Places

Nasik is popular for its grapes. It is also known as the grape capital of

India

. Recently many vineyards have gained popularity here. Sula and Soma vineyards are the two most popular vineyards in Nasik.

Sula and Soma Vineyards: You can take a tour of the beautiful vineyards. They also have wine tasting. The tour includes visit to vineyards and wine tasting. Also, many hotels and resorts provide free vouchers and discount vouchers for the visit. You can enquire at the reception of the hotel about the vouchers before your visit.

River Godavari: The holy river Godavari has its source from Nasik. You can enjoy the beauty of this soothing river in the evenings. You can also visit many ancient temples around the source of the river.

Triambakeshwar Temple: This is an ancient temple where you can worship Lord Shiva. This temple is located near the source of River Godavari.

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Saturday, February 2, 2019

February 02, 2019

Lonavala and Khandala

Lonavala and Khandala

Lonavala is a famous hill station which is nearest to Mumbai. It is around 2 hours drive from Mumbai. The best season to visit this place is monsoon. There are small waterfalls everywhere on your way to lonavala, foggy and very scenic particularly in monsoons. Lonavala has developed since a few years and now the place is full of activities which can be enjoyed in other seasons as well apart from the waterfall. Let us first list down the topics to be discussed below

· Hotels

· Restaurants

· Shopping

· Sight Seeing

Hotels

Luxurious Hotels to stay

Hotel Dukes Retreat (Khandala) (rooms are with excellent valley view)

Hotel Fariyas (Khandala)

Some of the resorts have very unique themes which are listed below.

Della Resorts: Della resorts have now opened a new wing called DATA resorts wherein the concept is of military training and you can get a feel of the military ground.

Hilton Shillim Estate (villa resorts): This resort is situated somewhere in the hills and they have beautiful villas especially recommended for a romantic getaway.

Machaan: This resort again gives a feel of a jungle. They have treetop house like rooms. The resort is in a secluded area where there is not even a network for the mobile phones. There is a complete cut off from the outside world. Also it is too dark in the evening. So you can move out of the resort in the daytime only.

Rhythm (All suite Resort)

Resorts inside Amby valley city are now open for general public. Amby valley city is a township which was built by Sahara Group by aiming to have only VIP members in the city. But now they have opened the township resorts for everyone. Though the room rates of the resorts are too high. The city has its own Lake, Adventure Zone, Restaurants, Amphi Theatre etc.It is also located in the hills where the roads are too steep and curvy.

Economy Hotels to stay

The Lagoona Resort

Kailash Parbat (small water park and lawn in the hotel)

Chandralok(Gujarati Thali Restaurant in the hotel)

Piccadle Resort by Meritas (small water park in the hotel)

Kumar Resort (known for its water park)

Restaurants

Kinara Dhaba (Dhaba style North Indian Food)

An Ideal place to enjoy with family. There is a garden to play for kids. They also have camel ride and Horsecart ride as it is village concept Dhaba.

Chadaralok (Delicious Gujarati Thali)

Kailash Parbat Restaurant (North Indian and Chinese)

Rama Krishna (Fast Food)

Ashok vada Pav (popular street snack)

Buachi Misal (popular for missal pav)

Shopping

Lonavala is known for its chikki. You must try the variety of chikkis here. There are many shops selling chikkis in the lonavala market. They also have many sharbat bottles which are mostly from Mapro or Mala company. Mainly you get only these popular food items in the market. You can also check out the local market.

Sight Seeing Places

Magic Mountain:

This is a newest attraction in Lonavala. This is a theme park with 31 thrilling rides built by the famous Malpani group who also own Wet n Joy water park. They always promise quality stuff to their visitors.

Wet N Joy Water Park:

This Water Park is also built by the Malpani Group. You can also enjoy combo offers for the Magic Mountain Theme park and Water Park.

Narayani Dham temple:

This temple is of goddess Narayani. It is a very beautiful temple and a huge property. They have beautiful water fountains in the entrance of the temple.

There is a small gaushala for the cows.

They also have a children's park outside the temple. The temple also provides rooms with ac and non ac. The rooms here are decent and clean.

You can enquire about this by contacting the temple. The room rates are subsidized. The food provided here is also cheaper compared to restaurants.

Mapro:

This is a famous company known for its sharbat bottles, jams and ketchup.

This is also an attraction as they have decorative gardens and water fountains inside their property.They have started selling fresh khakhras recently which are made live in front of us.

They also serve delicious food in their canteen. The menu has the delicious grill sandwich, Pizza and the famous strawberry with cream.

Della Adventure: This is an adventure park with lot of adventure activities such as ATV rides, zorbing, archery etc.

Adlabs Imagica and Aqua Imagica: Indias best water park and theme park.
https://indiantravelsmart.blogspot.com/2019/01/adlabs-imagica-khopoli.html
https://indiantravelsmart.blogspot.com/2019/01/hotel-novotel-imagica-khopoli.html

Bushi Dam: This is a popular place for enjoying the waterfall during the monsoons. People come here in huge numbers during monsoon.

Tiger Hill: The way up to this place is through a steep hill. This point is for enjoying the scenic mountain beauty and the valley view.

Wax Museum: This is a small wax museum with the statues of Bollywood celebrities.

Aquarium: There is a small fish Aquarium just opposite the Celebrity Wax Mueseum.

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Saturday, January 26, 2019

January 26, 2019

THEWALK THANE (Hiranandani Estate)

THEWALK (Thane Hiranandani Estate)

This is a cool place to hangout near Mumbai and Thane for people of all age groups. If you are planning for a short drive and a decent place to spend an evening then this is a perfect location. There are a lot of things to do here on THE Walk. You can visit this place especially during some festival or event. You can follow them on facebook for the upcoming events.

We had visited this place during Diwali.

It was a great experience. There was a carnival arranged by the Adlabs Imagica here. It was a grand Carnival with lot of cartoon characters and dancers.Kids had lot of fun.

They were also distributing some discount vouchers for the theme park during this event. The whole lane near The Walk was decorated with lights. A real good treat for the eyes.

Also there are some water fountains where you can click some pictures and kids also enjoy seeing the dancing fountains. There are all the famous food chains inside The Walk like Pizza Hut, Chaayos etc.

They had lot of rides for kids like the Jumping Jacks, Panda Train and many other for younger kids. They had also held some music program and games for kids in the event.

Hakone

Hakone is exactly next to The Walk. They have lot of kiddie rides for younger kids and a video game arcade for older kids.

There is a small food joint adjoining Hakone where you can get some snacks which are reasonably priced. Then there is a mini train ride for younger kids and jumping jacks.

They have go-karting inside their campus.They also have a cricket ground.

Shopping

All the shops are located on The Walk

Westside

This is a great store of clothing for all age groups.They also have women accessories, shoes and bags.

Haiko Supermarket

This is a popular supermarket and it is located in both Powai and Thane Hiranandani. You can get all the daily essentials in this supermarket.