Showing posts with label Travel & Leisure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel & Leisure. Show all posts

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Taj Mahal: A Pilgrimage Like No Other

No visit to the mystical land of India is ever complete without a tour to the Taj Mahal. Unquestionably the most extravagant and beautiful mausoleum in the world, the Taj Mahal, also called The Taj, was erected by the 5th Mughal emperor of India, Shah Jahan. It was built as a tribute to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who is renowned for her pure beauty.

Here at Taj Mahal, the remains of the emperor are laid to rest right beside his favorite spouse who died after giving birth to their 14th child.

Surrounded by the gray haze of the populous Agra, this marble structure is glorious and quite exceptional. In stark daytime, it sits like a lonely queen on its throne as its mysteriously stunning facade reflects on the clear pool. At sunset, it turns into a purplish wonder, as if dying with the fading light. Then it bursts into beauty once more with the clear light of the full moon, the wide violet sky as its royal cloak and the thousand stars as its celestial crown.

The Taj Mahal is for the weary traveler, for those who seek renewed inspiration from the boredom of everyday living. Stepping inside its hallowed grounds is like stepping back in time, of a time when a deposed king, heartbroken and lonely, spent his last days gazing at the beautiful structure that served as the memory of his favorite wife. There are intricate carvings on the walls and ancient calligraphy that reflects strict precision. It is reminiscent of a past when death commands luxury and beauty, of fine inlaid stones and immaculate marble walls.

The Taj has withstood time and elements, preserving history and architectural symmetry in one sweeping grandeur. Countless people have dreamed of treading on its grounds and feasting on its stirring sight. The building is a mystery, exuding beauty and grief, celebration and sadness, all in one breath.

The Taj Mahal is for the romantic at soul; extravagant...beautiful...built in the memory of love. Walking through its long gardens and along the pool that magnifies the splendor of the marble mausoleum, there is the unmistakable sense of other-worldliness, a far cry from the din and flurry of city life. For the awed tourist, it seems that time has remained suspended for a moment, knowing that such a long journey has proved worthwhile and that it will take a some time before one can repeat it.

There is also a place for rest and relaxation for the fatigued but inspired travelers. The Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra is the only first-class hotel that has a view of the Taj. If you want luxury coupled with a mere 600 meter view of the mausoleum right at your own bedroom, then staying at this hotel will satisfy your most luxurious fantasies. There is nothing more satisfying than a soft silken bed and a warm bath tub after a day of touring the white marbled wonder. Here you can watch the Taj Mahal at different times of the day. You can witness how the sunrise and the sunset reinforce its usual beauty. The prices are quite above average, but surely it will make every moment of your travel memorable.

The Taj Mahal is a living testament of undying love. A tour to this wonder is ideal for honeymooners, couples, history buffs, and for those who love art in one of its purest, oldest forms. This experience is for anyone who recognizes the glory brought about by years of dedicated work; because The Taj was built in a span of twenty-two years and fashioned by twenty-thousand masons, carvers and calligraphers. Moreover, it was completed with the help of thousands of elephants.

Indeed, a pilgrimage such as this is a pilgrimage like no other. You will be bringing with you a piece of history, idealism, art and symmetry. In addition to these, you'll also bring along with you the proof that love, no matter how underrated it is in our time, can fuel the rise of one of the loveliest and grandest edifices that man ever built.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Jamaica - A Place Like Home

Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean and a vacation mecca of the world. It’s the best place to visit with its breathtaking white sandy blue water beaches, all year round tropical climate, tropical fruits, exotic foods, famous for its magnificent and splendid houses and villas, mouth watering foods and not to mention the warm and friendly Jamaican people. Whether you are on a family vacation, honeymoon, or you just want to unwind and have a pleasant and restful weekend, there is no place like Jamaica, “a home away from home”.

A restful and stress-free vacation where you can find all the amenities and comfort of your own home, a place where you can relax and enjoy the view of the Caribbean Sea from your balcony, watching the sunset with a drink in your hand and listening to the sound of the crickets as they sing through the night, Jamaica has a lot of resorts to offer like Turtle Beach Towers, Hilltop Villa, Negril Beach Condo, Hellshire Beach, Fort Clarence Beach, Naggo Head Beach, Lime Cay Beach and many more.

Jamaica has many splendid beaches with breathtaking views where you wake up in the morning as the sun rises, you could feel the excitement of starting the day in a relaxing way on white sandy beaches with crystal-clear sparkling blue water under the tropical sun as you unwind and drowsily listen to the hypnotic sound of the waves and every muscle in your body starts to relax and all your worries and pains vanish. You can sunbath and swim in the clear-crystal water, jet-skiing, rafting, scuba diving and a lot more to do until sunset.

There are many fascinating beaches here in Jamaica were you can luxuriate like Cornwall Beach that offers a variety of water-sports activity, Boston Bay Beach, perfect for small fishing trips and surfing, Blue Lagoon Beach where the water is a gorgeous shade of cobalt blue and is excellent for swimming, Dunn's River Beach where the visitors can swim in the whirlpool and do falls climbing and many more beaches to visit. Just take the time to do some research and you will find the perfect vacation getaway that suits your needs.

Jamaican dishes have a lot to offer from gourmet cuisine to home cook food, something very hard to resist and mouth watering, and different dishes that taste so good and healthy. Most Jamaican food is seasoned with healthy herbs and spices locally grown and made without frying and prepared creatively and flavorfully. Fruits and vegetables are also abundant in Jamaica. Jamaican National dish, Ackee is made from Jamaican National fruit Ackee which can only be found in Jamaica.

Trees and flowering plants are abundant in the island with its many water falls and rivers that earned the title “land of wood and water”. The high mountains have misty pine trees with rain forests.

With its many sights, cultures, beaches and resorts, Jamaica offers various endless arrays of activities aside from sunbathing, many water activities, mountain climbing; top Jamaican stores sell souvenirs, duty-free items, and clothing.

Jamaica has a variety of underground caves and offshore reefs, and safe, naturally filtered drinking water.

Looking for a place to spend your vacation in a relaxed and pleasurable way? Just open your PC and type Jamaica! Come and visit Jamaica, a perfect paradise to spend your vacation and experience the comfort of your home away from home escapade in a relaxed and stress-free setting with breathtaking beaches, resorts, hotels, villas, mountains, night life activities, lots and lots of adventures, landscapes and souvenir shops together with the fun loving and warm welcome from Jamaican People.

Jamaica Adventure Getaway

Want to have a vacation made in heaven? Why don't you try Jamaica, a place with a unique blend of nature and modern facilities that boast the island’s grand beauty which includes mountains, rain forests, beaches and rivers. It is a splendid place to visit and explore with lively music, vibrant cultures, excellent hotels and villas, food and a lot of water adventures.

There are valleys surrounded with greenery and magnificent rivers all over the island. From enclosed coves, you will find sea birds nesting on the cliff, magnificent sparkling beaches and mangroves. There are various species of birds, reptiles and wildlife in the island. Jamaica has also thousands of flowering plants.

Because it is relatively a very large place, there are many places to visit and many adventures to explore.

Have a taste of the world’s famous Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee which is being cultivated at The Blue Mountains.

Be ready for a breathtaking adventure at Dunn’s River Falls. It is a spectacular Jamaican tourist spot that looks like a wedding cake and is a great place for honeymooners to explore.

Witness water falling out of the limestone and going towards the Black River at YS Falls.

Swim and interact with dolphins at Dolphin Cove. You can frolic with these lovable animals. Touch and kiss them. That should be fun.

Take a flying tour via a Canopy adventure within the lush rain forest.

Take a tour to the Green Grotto Caves, which is a complex of limestone caves with huge rock formation and overhead ceiling pockets and holes where the light shines through.

Get involved in a rafting expedition at Rio Grande — the longest river in Jamaica.

Experience a Mayfield Falls Adventure in Jamaica, which features 22 waterfalls, natural whirlpools and several swimming holes for cooling off.

Visit the Alligator Hole Nature Park as it is the only place there where you can see manatees and crocodiles. The best time to see the shy manatee is in the afternoon.

Enjoy the beautiful view at Hope Botanical Gardens which showcases a lot of tropical plants. This is suitable for people who loves quiet places. There is a small zoo at the end of the garden that both kids and adults will appreciate.

Snorkeling and scuba diving at Montego Bay Marine Park is worth a try. It is a marine reserve that aims to protect the coral reefs, sea grasses and mangroves.

Feed the native stingray at Stingray City and swim in the Caribbean Sea.

Take a boat to tour Black Rover Boat Safari and overlook crocodiles and various species of birds.

Swim in the warm waters of Blue Lagoon, and witness how it spectacularly changes colors from deep blue to luminescent green throughout the day.

Enjoy a golfing adventure at White Witch Golf Course. Many golfers consider it as the best for its spectacular view of the whole Caribbean.