Club Mahindra White Meadows Manali, nature greeted us with a snow fall
Himalayas from Manali

so where will you go when normal situation happens? the usual tourist spot will be full and tracks will overflow, here we will tell you today that there are hidden gems in this world where many don’t go or they are unexplored. there are geographical mysteries which are away from normal eyes but which are amazing to look at like the place called Manali and the mystical Himalayan ranges. a portion from African continent drifted away to Asia and banged with the Asian plates that is how the ranges called Himalaya were formed and the snow capped mountains has so much to offer that you have to keep coming back for more.

The mysterious Prashar Lake formed in & around 2500 BC

well the place I would like to highlight today is the Prashar Lake named after a sage (Rishi) called Maharshi Prashar who wrote many ancient Indian texts the famous Vishnu Purana was authored by him. The lake is around 100 Km from Manali and 50 Km east of the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. There is a three storey pagoda temple which the legends say is more than 5000 years old and a lake besides the temple.

come explore the history
The gaudians of the Temple since 5000 years & many generations
The lake which never dries and island which keeps floating
In the lake there is a small floating island which keeps floating from one place to another how it floats is a super mystical aspect legend says that if the island in the lake stops floating the world will end.
where even the animals come to pray

The Dare part is to ride the horse
Manali is a beautiful Hill Station and when one take the scenic route from Chandigarh or Shimla this will be the best thing that will happen to you. personally i would prefer to travel by road from Chandigarh to Manali its approx 300Km and a 9 hour journey along the mesmerizing Beas River, you come across picturesque valley and beautiful small towns along the route, and one would never want the journey to end. As you leave Chandigarh for the Manali along comes some historical places of Punjab and Himachal don’t forget to stop over at one of the numerous Dhabas or you can call them open restaurants for a sumptuous authentic north Indian food, then as you enter Himachal you come across granite mountains and Blue Beas river with beautiful towns like Srinagar, Mandi and Kullu, finally after a enthralling journey comes the valley of Manali. the beautiful pine trees will greet you with pure air. one should go to Himalayas to repair the lungs.

Travel: Chandigarh airport is well connected with the rest of the world, from Chandigarh to Manali its road trip one can hire car from the airport itself. A tip always book a SUV from Chandigarh Airport as roads in Himachal mountains are hard in patches.

Stay: We stayed at Club Mahindra White meadows. they have a beutiful duplex cottages.
Food you should the Balaji restaurant in the mall road for good north Indian & fast food.
other places to see: Hamta point, solang valley (don’t miss the ropeway) , Atal tunnel, Manikaran, Hidamba Temple( the only temple in the world where a Demon is worshipped), Kullu & Mandi town.

Kyiv (KIEV) is a city with 1500 years of history & it reminds you of the numerous kingdoms that came & went by, Kyiv stood silent to the passing time. once upon a time Kyiv & Ukraine were part of USSR. who can forget Chernobyl tragedy back then it was read as Russian tragedy today its in Ukraine.

The design of the city still reflects the erstwhile era when USSR ruled and dominated the psychic of the people when communist tried to make every body equal, that’s when the seed of violence was inserted in the grounds of KYIV. But for a traveller it was mesmerizing. one could take a walk along the Dnieper River without the worry of being hit by a missile or a bullet. the People of Kyiv are one of the most beautiful people in the world. It is very difficult to make out whether a person is Russian or Ukrainian unless for the language, Kyiv until now was an important Industrial, scientific, educational and cultural centre of Eastern Europe. The soul of the city is European & Russian together. People in the city were very peaceful and there was zero sense of violence towards fellow humans, in world war II this city was completely ruined but it came back again & its for sure that it will come back again from the ruins of war.

Today nobody can go to Kyiv or Russia but one can pray as travellers will always want to explore and governments will earn from this explorers.

Golden monastary Kyiv Square
Normally I like to mention how to reach the particular destinations, where to stay & what to eat, what to see etc but in this article I would say just stay safe and avoid to go any where near Russia & some parts of eastern Europe. Its all hell loose there Don’t know what will happen tomorrow but would surely pray for people of Kyiv and Ukraine. hope peace will prevail again. If god comes to Earth again I would pray please take away all the weapons of destructions human don’t need them.

Salzburg is full of surprises the town is one of the beautiful corner of the world the river, the castle, the palace and of course the rock salt at Hallstatt this place has it all, Salzburg is one of the most beautiful town and hallstatt is so beautiful that China has made a replica of the town in there country.
How to reach:

By train from Vienna is just 2 hours and the route is also very picturesque, when in western Europe this is a place which can be easily reached from Munich a 2 hours train ride and also very close from Zurich too it takes around 5.30 hrs . we reached Salzburg from Vienna by train.

Innsbruck
The city of Innsbruck is a Jewel in the crown of Europe this City is old and modern together the market are very vibrant for shopping and the Alps are very inviting , there is an area called Nordkette Hungerburg which is 8 minutes away from city centre by train this is a recreation area. There is a ski area seegrube, Hafelekar from here you can reach the corresponding Gondola in 5 minutes walking distance. The bus of J line comes here from the city centre and takes upto the city centre between 15 to 20 mins, the train station is Nordkettenbahn and this train takes about 8 mins to city centre (congress) please note the operating hours of train is from morning 7.15 am to evening 19.15 pm. This is unique train and is worth the experience. To go up on the ski area you should buy a comprehensive ticket to ski and train and bus this will save you some euros and time too. Go to the ski area in the morning time then come down and then visit the city centre from noon to evening. Ski area make you feel like you have reached between the clouds and then the city make you feel very awed, then there is this Swarovski crystal world you should not miss, roam around the factory and then buy some crystal to take home some memories. This place is gorgeous, fairytale theme park. This park has different working hours in winter, spring and summer please check online and book the tickets in advance to avoid lines. There is shuttle bus which travels five times from Innsbrug congress and return check the timings on www.kristallwelten.swarovski.com.

Where to stay? Well the best area to stay in is Norkette Hungerberg ski area and city centre all close by also there are many options of Hotels and rental Apartments

Reaching to Innsbruck is easy by train from Salzburg, Munich and Zurich. Munich is an international airport and many flights has their destinations in Munich and also Zurich.

Switzerland: Mount Rigis, Mt Titlis and Jungfrau
Well the Alps are at their best in Switzerland and the most places visited is Mt Titlis and Jungfrau but less visited tops are Mt Rigis or Rigi Kulm as it is called and Mt. Pilatus, this both mount is easily accessible by train from Zurich to a town called Lucerne which is some 40km from the Zurich, Lucerne is a very beautiful place with lakes and a modern city and the mount Rigi the 100 years old cog wheel train will take you to the Mt. Rigis but before the train you have to take a cruise to reach the train station called Vitznau so the whole journey itself is worth the holidays you will spend in Europe. Rigi kulm is a destination you will never forget in your life.

Mt.Titlis :
This place doesn’t require an introduction because you have this included in all the itineraries if one is visiting Switzerland but let’s see this place, the ski areas the snow boards the snow fights and the beautiful surroundings is a pleasure to see, when in Switzerland you should Mt Titlis no doubt it, you will love each and every inch about this place from the Gandola rides to the skiing lifts everything, this place is a must see before you die, Mt Titlis is easily assessable via Zurich or Interlaken the central part of Switzerland one should take a train to reach here and the journey will leave you awed,
Jungfrau:

The highest mountain tip of Switzerland, this place has a Bollywood connection for Indians to the extent that there is café here which serves Indian Food, the most interesting part is the observatory and the ice hotel, or you ice museum, on the tip of the mountain the air is thin and so walk slow if you have respiratory issues, never run here, the train journey to Jungfrau is mind boggling and unique, All trains to Jungfrauc depart from Kleien Scheidegg and Kleien can be reached via Interlaken, Interlaken- zweilutschinen-lauterbrunnen-wengen or via Interlaken- Zweilutschinen-Grindelwald. Most people start their trip to jungfrauh in Interlaken but you can board the train at any station along way. We recommend to go up via one route and go down via the other, that way you see the most stunning alpine area.
A small tip sit on the right side of the train from Interlaken you will have an awesome view.
Other places worth visiting in Switzerland is montreax, Lausanne, Chateau d ex (for air ballon) and ofcourse the beautiful city of Geneva and Bern.

Where to stay?
Well we would say 2 nights in Zurich 1 night in lucerne and 7 nights in chateaud ex at sollandel a beautiful holiday home with your departure control swimming and spa in the middle of the Alps,
Reaching Switzerland is easy via Zurich or Geneva or Bern we prefer Zurich.

Following activities you can indulge in Manali:
Snow skiing best time from Jan to June you will find lot snow and you will be able to indulge in the skiing and other winter sports

Kite flying well this is a activity you will never forget you go on top of the solang valley on a horse back and come down on a kite and that you are 10000ft above sea level and what you see down? Snow, valley, river and natures wonder.

Rohtang Pass or Rohtang La at 3978mtrs this place is only accessible in summer time but it is breath taking, beyond rohtang pass is the Lahual and Spiti valley called Switzerland of India.
The ice walls on both sides of Rohtang pass will take away your breath. From Manali you have to take a 4 wheeler jeep which has special permissions from Army to go till Rohtang la. If you wish to go beyond then this road reaches to Leh Ladakh. Rohtang La is the best road route to Leh ladakh very scenic and full of adventures.

River Rafting: white water river Rafting this is a must do activity for all except small kids don’t miss it for your life.

Stay in Manali:
We had stayed in Club Mahindra but then there are many options to stay in Manali economy as well as luxury

Reaching Manali:
There is direct flight to Kulu from New Delhi or one can take by road route from Shimla, I prefer the by road route as it gives you the opportunity to see the scenic Beas River and the granite mountains.

One place I liked in manali the most was the Hidimba Temple, this is an ancient Temple which will take you back in time to 2000Bc when Pandavs and Mahabharata happened. Hidimba was Bhims demon wife.

Come enjoys the majestic Himalaya

Auli: Uttarakhand India
Auli is a Himalayan Ski Resort and hill Station in the north indian state of Uttarakhand surrounded by coniferous and oak forests plus the Nanda Devi Ranges, beyond Auli in the north are the colourful Badrinath Temple and the valley of flowers National park and the alpine flora and snow leopards and the rare red foxes.

What will you find in Auli? At 2800M what can you find? Beautiful nature, Snow everywhere and Purest form of air. When we reached Auli it was night already and what we saw took our breath away the sky was clear, no clouds that day and the moon looked so much reachable as if it is night bulb just turned on shining and showing off all its glory. After seeing this we knew the trip is going to change our ideas of mountain and the Himalayas.

If you know skiing come here with your skiing gears or simply hire them.

If you are in best of your health then do the hiking to Nanda Devi Ranges one you will find the china border across and the dare devil ITBP soldiers.

Best time to come here is between November to March.

How to reach here very simple from Delhi you can hire a car to your trip this is best option although little expensive but an experienced driver and dedicated car is what you need to enjoy the Himalayas, alternatively you can take a bus till Rishikesh and then hire a car till Joshimath, from Joshimath take the cable car to Auli, be careful about the timing though because cable car does not operate in the late evenings.

Where should you stay the best option to stay is Cliff Top resort Auli , although there are cheaper options but Cliff Top Auli is a very beautiful place.

Can’t describe the beauty any more you have to come here to see it.

Sonmarg & Gulmarg Kashmir:
Well here is the heaven don’t wait to die come to Kashmir first visit Srinagar stay in a House boat or any Good hotels you should stay for atleast one week In Kashmir Srinagar, Gulmarg Sonmarg, Pahalgam and the Heaven itself,

The city of Srinagar is surrounded by the Himalayas and the Dal Lake in-between then there are beautiful gardens, if you come to Srinagar in April you can visit the beautiful Tulip Gardens and the Mughal Gardens with all it flora and Fiona and of course the Snow to top it.

Sonmarg: is named so because the tips of the mountains here shine like gold in the day time as the reflection of the sun fall on the tips of the mountain then you have beautiful glaciers around also Sonmarg is route to reach Leh Ladakh by road via Kashmir, what you will get at Sonmarg it’s the snow claded mountains and the fun of snow sports. It’s a day trip from Srinagar leave early from Srinagar to Sonmarg enroute you will see a beautiful garden called Betaab Garden because a Bollywood movie called Betaab was filmed here, the mountains surrounded the sonmarg are snow cladded for most of the year and the glaciers are full of snow which when melts goes to the zhelum River, the picture you can see here is breath-taking beautiful the nature is at its best, you can indulge snow sport snow sledged etc.

Gulmarg: The Horse rides, the Gondola rides the snow mountains and the snow skiing you can keep taking about it one can go on and on but one needs to come here stay for at least 2 days and just experience the beautiful nature have Kawa the famous Kashmiri Tea which will take care of all the toxins in the body, and of course the pure air, the air around will give the oxygen your lungs requires if you come from a big Metro city. Take the Gandola for skiing you can hire the ski equipment’s the first timers can learn skiing from a local guide, but more important is the beauty of the mountains here I promise it will blow your mind off, between the snow one feels like we have already reached Heaven. Come to Gulmarg and experience the love of life.

Places to stay:
In Srinagar we stayed at Grand Mumtaz and for one in a beautiful house boat on Dal Lake, but there are many options here the best hotel is the Lalit Palace of Srinagar the erstwhile kings seat, then there are many economy options too.
In Gulmarg also we stayed at Grand Mumtaz but the better option is the Heevan Retreat and the best is the Khyber Himalayan Resort.
In Pahalgam the best option is welcome hotel Pine and peak.

I had gone for a business trip but was there on a Thursday to enjoy the night clubs, Manama has got various Eating joints and is heaven for vegetarians & Non vegetarians alike. I am a Veg so first day we went to eat good Indian food at Mithas Restaurant They serve excellent Gujarati veg food and sweets.

Spicy Restaurant in Juffar Mall is a very good restaurant for Non Veg food they serve authentic Indian And Arabic food my Partner had is dinner there. You even get good veg fast food here next to the restaurant you have a counter for Indian veg Chat and fast food. I had a nice Gol Gappas here.

Coming to the of Saudi Bridge well that is the most beautiful part of the trip this Sea bridge is 20 Km on Bahrain side then a small stopover at the watch tower you can go till here without a Saudi Visa beyond this part you will need a Visa to enter Saudi Arabia. You have a nice stop over here and also there is Mac Donald outlet here for refreshments, this is a perfect spot for Photo ops then there is a similar sea bridge in Saudi side with is exactly identical and as long a bridge as it was on Bahrain side. The sea here is very Tranquil and calm as it is part of the Arabian Gulf.

Another good eating joint in Manama for veg food lovers is Vrindavan Veg Restaurant here you get Authentic North Indian Food. This place was shown to us by a local there i.e our Taxi Driver Mr. Mansoor, he is guy who is being in Manama since last 20 years and knows everything about the city. Please DM me for his Ph.nos in case you wish to visit Manama.
Warm Regards.

History: Kiel history began in 13th century when it was a Danish Village, in 1871 it became part of Germany it is has long history from a Danish village to present German Town. It’s a interesting read.

Location: Kiel is located in Baltic where it is a major port today for cruise Ships travelling from Denmark right up to ST Petersburg Russia. Kiel has also been one of the traditional homes of the German Navy’s Baltic fleet, and continues to be a major high tech Shipbuilding centre. Kiel Canal is the busiest artificial waterway in the world, the Kiel Canal. From Kiel Passengers ferries to Sweden, Norway, Lithuania and other countries. Moreover, today Kiel is an important port of call for cruise Ships touring Baltic Sea.

Reaching Kiel: we had gone to Kiel on a Msc Cruise Ship from Copenhagen to ST Petersburg Russia, Kiel is 90 kilometres from Hamburg which is second largest city in Germany after Berlin, there are regular trains from Hamburg and Berlin which comes to Kiel if you would want to travel by land also you will get Flix buses option which fast and cost effective. This city is very beautiful for its garden and History alike.

Places to see: the best way to do sightseeing in Kiel is to do a Hopon Hofoff bus which covers all the places worth seeing in the city. Kiel opera house and the tower gives you glimpse of action that had happened during world War 2 you can actually see the bullet marks on the walls around the tower.

The city has a market around the train station or Kiel hbf as is called in the German language, you can greet the people as Guten Morgen (good Morning in German) it’s always good to learn few words in local language when you travel it helps to connect.

Estonia was always a Pagan believer then when Christianity came people changed their beliefs but today this country has only 15% believers rest are all non-believer. 

Although it’s a small country it has beautiful landscape and Tallinn is a beautiful city with excellent connectivity and a port to bolster about. The other side has St peters-berg city and the Russian landmass. Estonia has a total population of 13.2 lacks people & Talinn has around 5 lacs people with a per capita of $34000. 

Coming to the beautiful city of Talinn, there shopping malls are called VIRU, beer is called Saku, If you are Indian this names will start ringing bells in your head, Viru Means a brother in India and Saku is a girl’s name in north India, though the meaning of the names are different but otherwise if you see the city it resembles typical ancient Indian towns which surprised us,

The language spoken by them is Estonian which is related to Finnish & not Russian or Latvian languages which are Indo European; Estonian is more specifically connected to East Slavic and Baltic area.

there is a museum called Maritime Museum which takes you to the world of Vikings this museum is worth spending a day it is very beautiful & have preserved the times of Vikings,

you can find English speaking guides and even the locals speak English very fluently, we reached Tallinn in MSC Cruises and then did a local guide who made us roam around the city, we walked in the city to see around, the guide then took us to the president’s office & house, the premises was awesome very beautiful and it’s very easy to meet the president too. After spending an entire day we went to the market square of Tallinn, this market takes you back in time and one feels like we are doing treasure hunt as the square reminds you of past times, we did shopping here and then headed back to the Ship. 

Tallinn can be reached easily if you do a Scandinavian Europe tour or a tour to St Peters-berg there are regular ferries from Finland and other close by countries. This part of the Baltic ocean is very beautiful & one should visit this country for its beautiful landscape and for the beautiful city and beautiful people. 

Next we will post on a city called Kiel in Germany and its world war connection. 

Now the most important things to know is the history Geography and present conditions of the place you will visit, Google the crime rate in that location also, try to find out what is the precautions one needs to take like the no go areas in the city you will visit, this is very important always travel to places which are tourist spots specially in some cities like Paris, Paris is well known for pick picketers also there are some trouble areas which you should avoid, very important part is to know the local transport system and the procedure to use them as some times ticketing etc. has different system in different cities for example in Budapest we purchased the metro tickets and didn’t know the procedure to punch in the tickets so we had to face the ticket checker and pay the fine. Always at the station ask the procedure so that you don’t get into embracing position.

But apart from that it is real fun to travel in local transports in many countries, if it is well maintained you will really love it. Because the route you will take to reach the destination will itself show you many things the tour operators will never show also the opportunity to meet locals and experience there culture etc. is very exciting, most important is the cost effectiveness it is literally 1/3rd cost of a private travel an 50% less then what tour operators charge you to show around and that too they will not cover all the places worth seeing and experiencing. Walking in the market square if a city and seeing their local culture then eating the local food, eating local food will help you develop taste buds of course for people who are vegetarians the choice is limited but still you get lot of options in Veg category also.

Another important part is the timing of the tourist spots you will visit, at many places they are very strict on time so start early and calculate properly how much time you will take to cover each attraction. Sometimes you will experience or see things you couldn’t find in your research so be flexible.