Iridescent Shimla: A Few Reasons Why Every Honeymooner Should Visit Shimla

Shimla, once the ‘summer capital of British India’ has turned in to a vacationer-satisfying paradise, located in the north of the country. The iridescent capital city of exquisite Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is rated as the best tourist place in the country. The place has seen both good and bad (from being the summer capital to British India, to most loved hill station to most polluted hill station and finally to have the most efficient government to control the pollution in the city) and is still by far the most visited hill station.

One advice you really want for your honeymoon is: The Place to visit and people from almost every part of India has just one place to recommend: The beautiful Shimla!! There is a huge variety in honeymoon packages for Shimla. People often ask what is so majestic about Shimla, it is its location, about 2 hours from city beautiful CHANDIGARH and 6 hours’ drive from the capital city NEW DELHI. People have their own reasons to visit the place again and again, but in this article, we will be focussing on our top 10 reasons for the newlyweds to visit this hill station:

1)     India-Pakistan happened here – Since Shimla was the summer capital of India prior to its independence, Shimla was the city where the then leaders of our country formally decided to divide India into India and Pakistan.

2)     The Mall – Widely known as “The Mall Road”, it is the central point or the main road of the city that has always succeeded to fascinate and attract visitors visiting the city.

3)     The City Temperature -Sitting at the knee of the Himalayas, Shimla has somehow managed to keep its area safe against the scorching heat of the rest of the country. The city is relatively cooler than the plains close by, which is the biggest reason why the north Indians find excuses to travel to Shimla every now and then.

4)     The Train ride between Kalka and Shimla – Holding hands of your beloved and traveling in between the stunning Shivalik mountains, connecting Shimla to Kalka, an isolated hill station, would engrave never-vanishing memories of your honeymoon to the place. The train ride covers 107 tunnels, is an experience where you will definitely be short of words to express the riding pleasure.

5)     The Food – The place is never short of lip-smacking food for its visitors. Indians are fond of their over-dosed heavy cuisines and Shimla knows how to fulfil the taste-buds of its guests, the place has everything to offer- from traditional Indian curries to continental delicacies. Shimla will never disappoint that big fat foodie in you.

6)     Shopper’s paradise – No trip can be complete without shopping and you have great options to buy from Shimla. Invest in the decorative wooden handicrafts, or snuggling woollens or the street clothes. The famous Lakkar Bazaar is loaded with must buy stuff, after you have purchased for almost every relative, just spare some time and dunk on the famous Sita Ram’s Chole Bhature.

7)     Day out – Spare a day from Shimla and you have two most beautiful villages Mashobra and Chail about 14 km and 60 km waiting for you to visit their quiet and peaceful hills.

8)     The Heritage Walks – Honeymoon is all about spending quality time together, so Shimla gives you the chance to explore the city on foot, holding hands and talking endlessly. The city makes sure you get enough space for your romantic walk and thus barred the entry of vehicles in its central part, making the city’s heritage sights even more amazing.

9)     Rashtrapati Niwas or the Viceregal Lodge – Another heritage site on the Observatory hills in Shimla, built in 1888, the place was the home to the British Viceroy in India. For anyone who is an architectural nerd, this is the best place to visit.

10)The snow experience – Nothing can beat the snowing experience on your honeymoon. Shimla becomes even more calm, cold and beautiful when it snows in Shimla. Missing this would be a great loss to your trip.

For more information on what places to visit and where to stay in Shimla, visit http://www.kotiresorts.com/offers/honeymoon-package/

Signs that the Resort You Picked is a Great One

If you want to relax and recreate during your impending vacation, try checking into a resort that offers all the luxuries you need to come back rejuvenated. Rather than just offering accommodation facilities to the guests, a resort also provides a wide array of entertainment and recreational options. Resorts are usually built amid natural surroundings unlike many hotels that are mostly in proximity to airports, railway stations or business centers. If you have decided to spend your next vacation in a hill station, try booking one of the luxury resorts in Himachal Pradesh. Booking a luxury resort will provide you the chance to relax and recreate at the same time.

Prior to booking a resort, you should have an idea about the characteristics of an ideal resort. Go through this article to learn about it.

Accessible Location:

Location pull up or bring down the popularity of a property. The resorts that are located in an easily accessible location attract more travelers than the ones that are not easy to access. Again, the presence of resort shuttle service to nearby train station or airport can convince people to book the resort.

Playing and Recreation for Children:

Keeping the kids engaged is important during vacation. When kids are occupied with some kind of game or recreational activities, you can rest and relax or enjoy some ‘me’ time. The resorts offering indoor games facilities are preferred by families with kids. Children parks and even some lawn space can attract families with super active children.

Home-Like Ambiance and Amenities:

Families prefer home-like ambiance. A resort that has a home-like environment mostly attract families. Spacious suites with separate playrooms for children are highly regarded. Again, presence of microwaves, dryers, washers, refrigerators turns staying in a resort comfortable and convenient.

Value-Added Services:

Guests in a resort always prefer value-added services that enhance the experience of their vacation. “Exclusive” deals are offered more importance. If your resort price includes admission to a local water park, it would be considered as a value. There are other extra services like free parking, complimentary breakfast, early check-in and late check-out. These are the services that most of the vacationing families consider adding value to their holidays. Among the other complementary things, families appreciate wi-fi for multiple users, kids’ meals, cribs.

Optimum Cleanliness:

Cleanliness is valued by everyone who comes to a resort during a vacation. But the concern for cleanliness is more when you are traveling with kids. The floors should be spotless and clean to let babies crawl on and the bathtubs should be free of dirt to allow kids bathe in. The housekeeping team should be prompt enough to change the bed sheets, pillow covers and table covers every day.

Co-operative Staff:

The accommodation property and the standard of staying it offers is important, but more important is the friendliness of the staffs. The staffs should be co-operative and prompt enough to respond to your requirements and fulfill them. Travelers appreciate helpful front desk staff who speed up check-in when they step into the resort late. The travelers tend to remember the ill behavior of the staffs.

A world-class resort has all these basic characteristics and even more. In the top resorts, you can expect all-inclusive meals and activities as well. If you are planning a travel to Himachal Pradesh, try booking one of the resorts in mashobra, Himachal Pradesh that has all the facilities you need to come back happy and rejuvenated.

5 Reasons for Mashobra to be your Next Tourist Destination

Mashobra is a small town located in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It has turned out to be a popular tourist destination due to the quiet and clean atmosphere and lies very near to Shimla. It is due to this that it is the site of the official Presidential retreat of India. At least once a year the President visits Mashobra. So why not plan your stay in a luxurious Resorts in Mashobra and enjoy the luxuries. It offers a peaceful location to work, think and relax. It is due to these reasons that a number of painters, writers, poets, novelists, etc. stay here.

Apart from the numerous luxuries available, one can also enjoy a number of fun-filled activities here. There are a large number of activities a person can indulge in while their stay at Mashobra. Some of the most outstanding fun-filled activities that can be performed in Mashobra are mentioned below. Based on your interests, you can choose any of these and attain the peace of mind.

River Rafting

River Rafting in Tattapani River is one of the most fun-filled activity one can indulge in while enjoying their vacation in Mashobra. Rafting in the fast flowing river of Tattapani provides adrenaline rush to your brains and helps you to make your vacation memorable.

Quad biking

Another fun filled activity one can perform in and around the rugged terrains of Tattapani river is Quad Biking. One can bike in the waters and area around the river to test their driving skills. Mashobra is rapidly developing as a major tourist destination for Quad Biking.

Skiing in winters

In case you are planning a visit to Mashobra in winter, it is a good opportunity to enjoy at that time. At this period it is less crowded. In the time when it is laden with snow, the adventurous people can ski in the snow while others can indulge in snow fights and snowmen building.

Rock climbing

Mashobra provides an amazing opportunity for the rock adventurous people to push their limits in rock climbing. A number of adventure sports clubs organize this activity.

Bird Watching

Reserve Forest Sanctuary is home to Asia’s largest watersheds. It supplies water to Shimla. Birdwatchers can trek to the forest reserve, camp out with family or friends, and look for different kinds of birds like the Himalayan eagle, pheasants, partridges, and chikors.

10 Reasons Why You Should Travel Often

Streams flow into the river, the river into the sea and sea runs into continuous waves. Nothing stays still, be it earth or celestial world. Why should then a man lay stagnant at one place? The world is beautiful and the nature is just an ultimate gift of God. It therefore makes a sense to see what is around us, feel it, love it, enjoy it and thrive in it. It gives a feeling of fulfilment and satisfaction which rarely any other means offer so much more.

Here is a run-down on why we must venture out often and see places:

1.  Broadens your outlook: 

You meet people, understand them their nature, living styles, customs and their difficulties/challenges and develop a sense of responsibility, empathy, respect and love for them. It broadens your outlook. You become a better person.

2. Confidence earner: 

Travelling gives confidence to a person. Not only the person gets the confidence to travel alone, but also the confidence to explore new activities and do the extreme. The person feels the confidence to achieve much in life.

3. Go with the Flow:

A traveller learns to accept changes readily and go with the flow as life takes him/her. The person becomes capable of facing new and daring situations and accepts changes in plans, directions and journeys.

4. Adventurous boost:

The traveller gets more and more adventurous as the journey goes on. The person also gains the courage to indulge in adventurous activities and sports on the journey. The traveller can live in luxury resorts in Mashobra and enjoy the adventurous avenues there.

5. Read People: 

The traveller doesn’t get worried about not knowing the language of the region. Travelling in various places gives the ability to the traveller to be able to read people and understand the message the locals want to convey. By reading the body language or facial expressions, the traveller can understand the natives well.  

6.  Expand Horizons: 

The traveller gains a broader outlook to life. He/she meets new people, gets to know about their life and living style, the customs and their challenges in  a given region.

7. Ability to adapt to a given situation: 

Travelling gives the ability to the person to adapt to any situation. Be it living in luxury, sleeping the pavements, or going through sleepless night altogether, travelling makes a person accept and face tough situations. This makes the person ready to accept any situation, life throws at him/her.

8.  Cool Stories: 

Travelling lends to experiences and memories. As the person travels from one place to another meeting new people, he/she gets new stories to share with family and friends later on. The person can enliven and share all the lovely memories made on the travelling route.

9.  Employable quality: 

 A traveller gains more experience in worldly-life and develops an ability to handle varied types of situations. This makes the person a prospective employable, capable of handling most difficult challenges.

10.  Multitude of Friends:

The traveller earns lots of friends from the places he/she visits. Going new places means meeting locals and getting to know them which mean making new friends throughout the journey.

India has some of the most beautiful places in the world for travelling. If you are fond of snow-clad hills and mountains, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal are the two most loved destinations by tourist across countries. As for Himachal, Shimla, Manali, Maclaudganj and Mashobra are some of the most beautiful tourist spots. If you wish to stay in luxury settings, there are host of luxury hotels in Shimla. There are some very attractive luxury resorts in Mashobra as well, that provide be-in-class facilities for a memorable stay. You can visit http://kotiresorts.com and check out this amazing resort.

8 Romantic Places To Visit On Your Honeymoon To Shimla

Redefine the concept of romance with honeymoon packages for Shimla that brings you right to the lap of nature’s beauty at the foothills of the Himalayas. There is a lot to see, and a lot more to do, if you know where to go. Here are some of the most romantic destinations in Shimla that is just perfect for you and your lover.

The ridge

One of the most famous places in Shimla that highlights its real beauty, the ridge presents one of the most romantic views of the hills. It runs across the length of the city, and ideal for taking romantic walks while basking in the majestic views of the Himalayas.

Summer hill

Part of the seven hill cluster, summer hill is a small romantic hamlet tucked away amidst rolling green hills overlooking a valley that is carpeted with lush greenery. It is ideal for romantic nature walks and presents some of the most photogenic backdrops for your honeymoon album.

Chadwick Falls

About 45 minutes from summer hill, this magnificent waterfall which is at its most beautiful during the monsoon is ideal for spending a romantic afternoon in the lap of nature. Surrounded by exotic birds, lush pine forests, and scenic mountain landscapes, the Chadwick falls is a popular tourist destination for all visitors to Shimla.

Shoghi

Camping is a great way to connect with your loved one, and the serene landscape of Shoghi gives the perfect ambience for just that. With photogenic views exclusive only to the foothills of the Himalayas, camping at Shoghi is the ideal for spending a romantic weekend.

Ice Skating and skiing

Shimla is famous for its adventure winter sports, and it is also a great way to enjoy a romantic holiday. For adventurers in love, skiing on the slopes of Kufri is as romantic as it gets. You can rent out ski gear as well as find instructors at the ski camps in the region. Shimla also has a fully equipped ice skating club on mall road which is worth a visit and can promise a romantic day out.

Quad biking and Rafting at Tattapani

Adventuring with your lover doesn’t get more exciting than navigating the rapids of Tattapani river on a raft. Shimla has been the go-to destination for most adventure honeymoons for this very reason. You can also rent out quad bikes and go on rides together while indulging in the scenic landscape of the region.

Himalayan Nature Park

Rediscover nature like never before in the scenic Himalayan Nature Park located in Kufri. The park is home to a wide variety of Himalayan wildlife and the preserved ecosystem is just perfect for a romantic day trip. You get to see a variety of deer and other animals in their natural glory that can trump most cat videos on the internet.

Refining the palate

Most of the romance is in the company and food! You’re arm in arm with your lover and the whole street food menu of Shimla spread invitingly before you. From traditional to modern delicacies, you can expect a beautifully romantic setting everywhere you go.

Most tourists are busy with the local sights to care about what’s beautiful and romantic, and that is exclusively reserved for honeymoon packages for Shimla. They can have you holed up in luxury hotels and will suggest the most romantic day trips to make your holiday romantic and exciting.

8 Outdoor Activities For Adventure Lovers In Mashobra, Himachal Pradesh

Mashobra is the next hot and happening place to be cool, and if the scenic mountain views don’t cut it for you, be prepared for a host of adventures waiting to be had. You can easily find hotels in Mashobra Himachal Pradesh that can organize these adventure day trips for you.

Camping

Mashobra is surrounded by wild lands that can be perfect for camping out. Geographical landscapes are varied, ranging from mountains to rivers, and forests that make camping seem like a grand adventure. You can rent out tents or carry one yourself, but make sure to stock up on supplies as surviving out there without the right tools is as hard as Bear Grylls made it easy.

Biking

The wavy landscape is perfect for riding out into the sunset. Biking over the mountain roads with grand views of the valleys on either side is an adventure in itself. Make sure you have a map memorized so you don’t get lost in the wilderness as some settlements are too far apart with too many forks in the road. Frequent bikers love to come out here to indulge in the wild thrills Mashobra has to offer.

Rappelling

Mountain climbing has always been an attraction and now it is safe for the family too. Rappelling involves clambering up and down sheer cliffs with a safety rope fixed around your waist. However, the safety feature doesn’t totally disregard the thrill of navigating tiny footholds with a sheer drop looming every time you look down.

River rafting

The Tattapani is a freshwater stream that has enough cascades to make rafting possible and exciting. Fighting the fast flowing rapids is a great way to sate your thirst for adventure. There are several camps that can rent out rafts and instructors for day trips.

Paragliding

Mashobra has recently become very popular with paragliding which has been a great help in developing their tourism. Due to its very snowy winters, paragliding is most popular in the summer and spring seasons. However, its picture perfect valleys make it one of the best places for paragliding in the northern hills.

Skiing

The winters in Mashobra drape the entire landscape in a few feet of snow which makes it perfect for a ski trip. The sparsely populated area scores extra points in the adventure section and you can rent out skis and snowboards with instructors and training programs. Compared to the many ski destinations in the northern hills, Mashobra is actually a better destination for skiing than some of the more popular areas.

Quad biking

One of the most enjoyable summertime activities, you can rent quad bikes in Mashobra and ride them over wild landscapes which make for a grand adventure. The Tattapani river is the best place to go quad biking in Mashobra.

Trekking

The beautiful mountains of Mashobra have several short day treks leading into the wild. These treks usually end at some scenic viewpoints which overlook some breathtaking views of the valley. You can head to Shali Tibba, which is the highest trek at Mashobra at 9423 feet. The wild surroundings are great spots for bird watching and present some excellent photogenic backdrops.

Most of the hotels in Mashobra Himachal Pradesh are comfortably equipped with modern amenities so you don’t get caught out without resources. They are also available at great prices with special discounts for honeymooners.

5 interesting things to buy at Himachal Pradesh

Every tourist destination offers you some exotic eatables and authentic local stuff to shop. Tourists make sure that they buy something or the other from the place they visit. However, if it is non-perishable, you can cherish the memories for ever. I make sure I buy some exotic stuff from the places I visit for myself and some gifts to my immediate family members and close friends if they are not on the trip. However, I am confused this time as the land of nature Himachal Pradesh has many things to offer but I have only few things to purchase. Hotels in Shimla and other places may brief you about the locally available stuff and their details.

Handicrafts: The colourful handicrafts made of threads and jute is the vibrant stuff alluring the tourists from many of the shops selling tourist stuff. Tibetan market, Handloom of Shimla, Tibetan and Dalhousie centres of handicrafts are the ideal places to buy this stuff. Jute footwear, flower vases, candle stands, book marks, wall hangings are among these stuff. You can find this stuff decorated at Shimla luxury hotels.

Woolen clothes: Since it is a hill station and is cold throughout the year, woolen fabrics are very famous there. Every shopping area hosts the woolen stuff. Sweaters, shawls, mufflers, woolen caps, gloves, socks and shoes are in attractive designs and patterns. However, the prices are to be negotiated in every tourist destination no matter how honest the seller seems to be.

Wooden items: Petty items such as key stands, pen holders, letter stands etc. are made of pine wood and are available in unique collections. These are good pieces to gift to family members and friends. However, the same rule applies to bargain extensively. Wall hangings are also in splendid designs and shapes.

Handmade tables: Small tables and Modas as they are fondly called made with wood and bamboo canes are very famous in Himachal Pradesh. The wood species is unknown but we have been using one table at home bought from Himachal before 7 years when we went to Shimla for our honeymoon. It is better to get small items as larger ones have the threat of getting damaged in between. I still can’t forget the Modas and the way they are decorated in resorts of Mashobra.

Carpets: Carpets are the cheap stuff you can ever buy from a hill station. Although they are cheap, they are huge to carry and it is a tedious task to carry the carpets which are heavy. However, if you are travelling by air, it may be easier as cargo can manage the transport of the good. If you really can manage, carpets can be the best stuff to buy from Shimla. As we were staying in a hotel in Mashobra, the staff gave us information about the best prices and models.

Hope this list entices you to buy your stuff! The Koti Resorts we were staying in gave us the above information and it has been very helpful to us and I hope it helps you too!!