Here are three places you cannot afford to miss if you are planning on a tour to Rajasthan.

Jaipur:

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan is also the largest city in the state. It is also famously referred to as the ‘Pink City of India’ due to the distinctive pink colouring of all the houses and buildings in the city. With bustling and colourful streets and small shops selling intriguing artefacts, Jaipur is a must visit place while in Rajasthan. There are mnay places of interest here. The City Palace and the Hawa Mahal will stun you with exceptionally beautiful architecture. Both these palaces will give you a glimpse of the opulence and grandeur of the kings of yore and will also give you breath-taking panoramic views of the cityscape.

Another place you must visit while in Jaipur is the ‘Janta Mantar’ which is an UNESCO World Heritage site. The monument displays impressive astronomical instruments displaying the scientific advancement of Hindu texts on astrology and modern science.

A visit to a place is not complete if you haven’t gotten a taste of the region’s art and culture. And the perfect place to experience the rich and diverse artistic and cultural traditions of Rajasthan is the Albert Hall Museum. The museum itself is beautifully constructed with carved arches and domes made of sandstone. Staying is also a delightful experience as there are a number of luxury resorts in Jaipur offering a variety of amenities and a delightful experience in remodelled palaces or forts.

Udaipur:

Popularly called the ‘Venice of the East’, the city of Udaipur is a city of numerous lakes. With a number of beautiful palaces and forts being converted to hotels, Udaipur records rising number of tourist footfalls every year. The luxury resorts in Udaipur themselves have become destinations you cannot miss! These tastefully remodelled palaces and forts will let you experience royalty like never before!

This well planned city is ideal for a vacation offering a host of different experiences. You can visit the Bagore ki Haveli situated near the picturesque Pichola Lake. With over 100 rooms to explore, the Haveli will let you experience the grandeur and the mystery of a bygone era.

The Kumbhalgarh Fort,standing tall at an impressive 1180 m ridge is one of the most strongest of forts in the city. The fort also has the second longest wall stretch in the world, after the Great Wall of China. Lake Pichola, a man made wonder of Udaipur is another place that will delight you with its stunning views of palaces, temples and bathing ghats situated on its shoreline.This Lake City of Rajasthan is also known for its rich cultural heritage and performing arts and crafts. The Udaipur solar observatory is world famous and is built on an island in the Fateh Sagar Lake.

There are still many more places to visit in this magnificent city!

Ranthambore National Park

Located in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan, Ranthambhore National Park is the largest national park in northern India. The park is a tiger reserve and is home to a variety of flora and fauna. But the main attractions are the majestic tigers, the national animal of India, that can be spotted in its natural habitat. Other animals that can be found here are leopards, sambar, striped hyena and nilgai etc. The National Park offers safari rides and treks that make for an adventurous outing. Another attractive feature is the number of jungle resorts in Ranthambhore offering an experience of staying very close to the jungle and waking up to the lush greenery and birdsong!

While the park is known for its rare animal species and greenery, the Ranthambhore Fort is another major tourist attraction. These mysterious and majestic ruins offer a panoramic view of the entire park as it is situated more than 700 feet above the surrounding plain.

These places offer only a small sneak peak to the majesty of the state of Rajasthan. Don’t look any further for your holiday destination! Plan a visit to Rajasthan and get a taste of the true royal experience.

We’ve all been there. You return from a vacation sad, dejected and even less refreshed than you were before you left. Sure, you may have drunk your body weight in cocktails by the pool (or gluhwein by the fireplace, depending on where you were), danced the night away or caught up on some much-needed R n R, but now you’re feeling like none of that ever happened at all.

The post-holiday blues are a very real thing. While vacations do lift peoples' spirits, the effects unfortunately don't last long.

It’s not uncommon to crash at the end of your vacation – a heady mix of sadness that the good times are over, the adjustment of returning to work/everyday life and overindulging in food and alcohol.

Here are a few tips on how to kick the post-holiday blues after that amazing vacation:

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Start planning your next trip

I remember flying back from three weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia and planning my next break while on the plane home. It might be in six months’ time, a year’s time or even five years’ time, but planning where you want to go next will help dull the pain of saying goodbye to the great holiday you’re just been on. Even thinking about and planning things can give you as much pleasure as actually doing them.

Find things to look forward to

Not everyone has the luxury of being able to travel, whether that’s for health, financial or other reasons. So if you’re coming down hard from a holiday, it’s important to plan things to look forward to, both short and long term. In other words, shift the focus to everyday things that give you pleasure. Think about weekends away at the beach or in the wilds, planning a dinner with your friends, treating yourself to a massage or date night with your partner.

Look after yourself

Holidays often involve a lot of socialising and partying, which means a lot of eating and probably way too much drinking. Having a hangover from eating the wrong types of foods and alcohol doesn’t help with those post-holiday blues. It’s time to start looking after yourself by eating right, drinking less and moving more. Add a walk at least once a day and a more regular bedtime. Regular self-care routines may have disappeared during your break but you can reclaim them.

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Phone a friend

If you’re feeling a bit down in the dumps, a great way to lift your spirits is to share a laugh or two with friends. Steer away from conversations about how you’d rather be back on that beach in Barbados and instead share a lively conversation about what’s going on in your life right now. Just chatting to a mate is a great way to lift your spirits.

Make some real changes

Did you absolutely love those arepas you ate in Colombia? Or maybe you’re a little obsessed with flamenco music after that trip to Spain? Your holiday doesn’t have to completely end. Take what you enjoyed from your break and incorporate it into your life. If you ate foods you adored on your holidays, make them at home or find a restaurant that serves them. If you loved hearing and speaking a foreign language, start to learn it. Listen to the same music you danced to in the club in Madrid and meditate like you did on that retreat in Bali. Take a little bit of your trip home with you.

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Take a meditative few minutes

Speaking of meditation, why not take a few minutes during your day to reflect on the great times you had? It’s a bit of a clichéd, old-fashioned idea but “counting your blessings” can be an antidote to the blues.

If you’re jetlagged...

Being jetlagged on top of a little depressed at the end of your holidays doesn’t help. Jetlag affects your ability to sleep on a normal schedule, and that lack of sleep can contribute to feeling depressed that your vacation is over. Get yourself back in sync with your home time zone by trying to stick to your usual sleep schedule. Also avoid alcohol and caffeine for a few hours before you go to bed.

Give yourself an attitude transplant

If you’re still trudging around depressed that your break is over, it’s time to change your thoughts. Looking at the world through mud-covered glasses won’t help you. In many cases, changing the way you think about something can alter the way you feel about it. As that great Cat in the Hat, Dr Seuss, once said, “Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened!”

Prioritise

You’ll probably come home to mountains of work emails, meetings to go to, doctor’s appointments which need to be kept, a messy garden, the cat needing its vaccination, piles of dirty clothes… the list goes on. It’s enough to send you into a panic. Stop, breathe, prioritise - the key word being prioritise. It might be tempting to try to do everything at once, but you will get completely overwhelmed and stressed out. Figure out what is most important and work down the list from there.

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Reminisce

If you are anything like me, you’ll come home with thousands of photos, or most certainly more than you know what to do with. Go through your photos, delete what you don’t need, upload them into online albums and label them – don’t just leave them sitting on an SD card. Reminisce about your vacation by displaying those photos. Set them as backgrounds on your work or home computer, phone or tablet. You can also print out a few pictures to pin up around your home or office to remind you of those relaxed days.

Remember, the blues won’t last

It might feel raw, but take comfort in the knowledge that nothing lasts forever, including the post-holiday blues. Time will pass, soon that trip will be a distant memory (which isn’t such a bad thing, holding on to the past is never healthy) and you’ll eventually get back into the swing of things!

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The travel industry is an important part of the American economic engine. From lodging to air to car rental to food and entertainment.
As we learned during the recession, this industry is a weather vane of the country's economic climate. When down all sectors are headed down IF they are not there yet. When up, it is a solid, conservative forecast of consumer sentiment.
This industry is vitally important to America not just for economic forecasting but also for economics. This sector continues to provide a number of work opportunities for millions of Americans. What is great is the fact this industry is labor intensive and cannot be imported from overseas. So just how big is this industry to our nation? What portion of the GDP does the travel industry contribute? Let's us explore these terms and the impact that these terms have on our economy and the lives our family and our community.

Travel Industry

travel industry clip art symbol in black and white of a person asleep in bed with a roof | Source

Travel Industry Economics

2009 showcased the travel industry as a weather vane for American economics. Dipping 1.8% from the prior year, gross domestic product for the United States was $14.003 trillion. The closest competitor for the United States was Japan at $4.993 trillion.
Remember, the size of the number does matter, a trillion has 12 zeros after it:
Trillion = 1,000,000,000,000........12 zeros (aka one million million; 10^12[1]
Billion = ____1,000,000,000........ 9 zeros
Million = _______1,000,000........ 6 zeros
For more number information: http://www.jimloy.com/math/billion.htm

The question mark is the explosive growth of China. Many predict that in 2010, Japan will outpace the US's gross domestic product. Of course, much of this stems not just from the growth of Japan and China but from the decrease in the US.
The cost of contraction of 2.8 % of $14 trillion sounds small overall doesn't it? Yet, this is billions of dollars. In fact, 3% of 10 trillion is 3 billion. The real cost of this drop in GDP is not dollars or the percentage of the GDP, the real cost is the loss of jobs within the American economy.
The travel industry provides jobs. Many of these jobs are basic service jobs often representing only 80-90% of the economic value because this industry is built upon the foundation of gratuities and trips to motivate and maintain a high level of service.
So what is the real value of the travel industry's GDP? If is listed as $186 billion, so the range would be 10-20% more or in essence $200 billion.
As a percentage of the overall US GDP it is small - $200 billion/$14 trillion = under 2%. Yet the actual workers amount to 7.5 million people.
Answers.com shares with us the "population of the U.S.A is 305,529,237!" ^[2]So 7.5 million workers out of 305 million residents, gives us an outstanding 24% of the population is working and depending upon the travel industry.

Robin Feeding Chick Weather Vane

Source

Automobile Weather Vane

Source

Economic Power of the Travel Industry

Travel Powers Wisconsin View Economic Impact Summary

Spending: $9.7 Billion |Tax Receipts: $1.5 Billion |
Employment: 115,600 Jobs|Payroll: $2.2 Billion(Includes both domestic and international travel impact)

Travel Powers Illinois View Economic Impact Summary

Spending: $30.7 Billion |Tax Receipts: $5.5 Billion |
Employment: 305,100 Jobs|Payroll: $8.6 Billion(Includes both domestic and international travel impact)

Travel Industry National Figures

Travel Powers America
Spending: $704 Billion |Tax Receipts: $113 Billion |
Employment: 7.4 Million|Payroll: $186 Billion

2009 Global GDP

Top 10 Richest Countries by Estimated 2009 GDP

By 2010, it is predicted that China will its explosive growth will be the second largest country in the world in regards to gross domestic product. Why is this important? Because it showcases who is buying - who the target market of the world is becoming. China will out pace Japan and be second only to the United States.
Here are the 2009 global statistics on GDP:"
1. United States … US $14.003 trillion (down 1.8% from 2008)
2. Japan … $4.993 trillion (up 1.4%)
3. China … $4.833 trillion (up 9.8%)
4. Germany … $3.060 trillion (down 16.6%)
5. France … $2.499 trillion (down 12.8%)
6. United Kingdom … $2.007 trillion (down 24.9%)
7. Italy … $1.988 trillion (down 14.1%)
8. Spain … $1.397 trillion (down 13.3%)
9. Brazil … $1.269 trillion (down 19.3%)
10. Canada … $1.229 trillion (down 18.6%)"

Read more at Suite101: GDP Estimates for Richest Countries in 2009: Latest International Monetary Fund Wealth Predictions by Country

2009 National Economic Impact of the Travel Industry

Travel Powers AmericaSpending: $704 Billion | Tax Receipts: $113 Billion | Employment: 7.4 Million | Payroll: $186 Billion

With the travel industry reporting $186 billion annually and the United States GDP at $14 trillion, the percentage that industry contributes is under 20% but still a significant number of jobs at 7.4 million.
Please keep in mind the $186 does not include tips and gratuities which are a large part of this industry actual payroll. So the real figure is 10-15% higher.

United States Employment Provided by the Travel Industry

Source

Travel Industry Employment 2009 - 2008 Change

2008 - 7719.4 thousand
2009 - 7393.6 thousand
Difference: 325.8 thousand or 325,800 jobs lost
Population of the United States in 2009 305 million

Source

American Hotel and Lodging Association

Serving the hospitality industry for nearly a century, AH&LA is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, student and faculty members, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other value-added services to provide bottom line savings and ensure a positive business climate for the lodging industry. 
ource: http://www.ahla.com/content.aspx?id=30945

The travel industry is an important sector of the American economy. It employs close to 24% of the population and it is the weather vane of the economy. What happens to the travel industry is a good indicator of what is about to happen to the economy overall. Stay tune as we track this vital component of American life and see where this weather vane is pointing.

South Indian cuisine is popular all over the world with Indians and non-Indians alike. South Indian restaurants are always buzzing with people who enjoy the distinct flavors enriched with spices. Opening up a South Indian restaurant requires a lot of hard work and careful planning.

Things You'll Need

• Business plan
• Tables
• Chairs
• Kitchen equipment
• Light fixtures

• Centerpieces for the tables
• Menu covers
• Signs and fixtures for the restrooms
• Chefs
• Waiters

• Find an ideal location that is available to open up a South Indian restaurant. The area must be easily accessible to customers and convenient. Choose an area that has a high population of Indians, especially South Indians.
  
• Write a business plan that includes information on demographics of the area and how your restaurant will benefit from this market. Create pro forma financial statements that outline expected revenues, expenses, and profits. Other important content includes the operational plan in terms of staffing, business days and hours. This will come in handy when meeting with a bank loan officer.
  
• Choose a name for the restaurant that is related to South India such as Mysore Palace, Madras Mahal or Dosai House. The name should be appealing and indicate that South Indian food will be served.
  

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• Develop the menu for the restaurant with appetizers, main dishes and desserts. Some essential South Indian food items include idli, dosai, medhu vada, uthappam, sambhar, rasam, rice, pongal, coconut chutney, upma and biryani.
  
• Purchase the appropriate equipment for your restaurant. You will need kitchen equipment, tables, chairs, centerpieces, lighting, menu covers and restroom fixtures (see Resources).
  
• Hire a staff of cooks and waiters that are efficient and reliable. Review each candidate's credentials and background to ensure that he is fit for the job. Choose candidates that are familiar with South Indian food so that they can accurately answer customer inquiries regarding the food and what it's made of. Having a good staff is the key to customer service and will result in your customers coming back for more.
  

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 RCI has 82 affiliated resorts in India, in locations ranging from mountain slopes to coastal plains. The world’s most multidimensional subcontinent is home to more than one billion people with interests as diverse as visiting sacred temples and watching Bollywood musicals. According to Dimitris Manikis, senior Vice President of RCI Europe, India is emerging as a top timeshare destination, with synergies between the Indian way of life and the family-orientated nature of timeshare. Timeshare is available for purchase, sale, exchange or rent through RCI in India.

This hotel is located close to Mumbai International Airport and the commercial hub of Mumbai. RCI members will find a luxury property with a 24-hour health club featuring steam, sauna, jacuzzis and an outdoor pool. The rooms and suites are elegantly decorated in wood tones. Live Jazz music is available nightly at The Crystal Lounge.
The Luxury Club at Le Royal Meridien Ascot Center Sahar Airport Road, Andheri (East) Mumbai, MH 400 099 India 011-22-28380000 starwoodhotels.com
 

The Solluna Resort in Uttarakhand is one of the latest additions to the list of RCI affiliated resorts in India. Located in India’s largest wildlife sanctuary, the resort has 47 cottages situated on 25 acres of forest bordering the Ramganga River and the Himalayas. The Solluna offers a wide range of activities including elephant safaris, river rafting and horseback rides.
The Solluna Resort Jim Corbett National Park Merchula, Nainital District Ramnagar, UC 244715 India 011-59-66-218071

sollunaresort.com 

 

The Cambay Golf Resort is in Jaipur, Rajasthan, the former royal capital of India. The Cambay Golf Academy is a golf school with an environmentally sound 9-hole golf course open for night golf, as well as a club house and fully stocked pro shop. The resort has 44 rooms and a fully equipped health club and tennis courts. For relaxation, guests can take advantage of the wide range of spa services or linger in the library.
Cambay Golf Resort Jaipur Agra Highway Jamdoli, Jaipur 380054 India 011-41-5144111 thecambay.com 

 

In 2010, this 205-room resort on India’s world-renowned Goan coastline received the RCI Gold Crown designation for the 10th consecutive year. The award recognizes superior guest services, based on guest reviews. At Club Mahindra Beach guests can choose from a variety of activities such as jeep rides, beach camping, aqua-cycling, banana boat rides, and catamaran cruises. Family entertainment includes mini-shows and contests.
Club Mahindra Varca Beach Resort Survey No 176/1, Varca Village Salcete Taluka Goa 403721 India 011-91-832-2744555 clubmahindra.com 

The city that's full of beaches and divine history, also has some awesome dining places on the busiest beach of Goa, after all fun ends at meal and delicious cuisines. Here we're are going to sort some best restaurants in Goa so that you don't shuffle each dining spot on Internet as we're going to provide you some of the best restaurants in Goa, that will surely freshen-up your taste-buds.

Let's have a look at some best restaurants in Goa near Calangute Beach in North Goa:

1. A Reverie

A Reverie situated near the Calangute beach is beautifully designed and as the name suggests it creates a world of fantasy around you for you to relax and enjoy delicious cuisine offered at this attractive dining. The multi-cuisine restaurant set in a tropical contemporary chic environment impeccably serves you an exquisite food menu. After spending time enjoying on beaches or site-seeing, here you get an environment, to freshen up your taste buds.

2. The Park Hotel Calangute

Park Calangute gives you an experience of its kind. A candlelit dinner, quite closer to Arabian Sea will definitely let you create loved cherished memories with your dear ones, Isn't it? Wish to have more? The place has a n exotic-bar under the stars at the deck of the restaurant that shall add on the fun and multiply your enjoyment.

It's restaurant Love and beachfront beauty will surely make you fall in love with this place, its food and turn your Goa trip to one memorable one.

3. Escapade

A new and promising entry that gets added on to the list of best restaurants in Goa is Escapade. An upcoming fine dining restaurant serving the best experience with a team of amazing chefs like Sabyasachi Gorai in their kitty. On-beach location, that brings cool breeze and relaxing sound of waves, shall make you experience the true essence of Goa. An apt dining to set the ambiance just right to make any moment memorable and cherished one.

4. Presa Di Goa

Presa Di Goa, just the name makes you a captive of Goa. This colonial-style hotel serves an international class service. The multi-cuisine restaurant accompanied with a typical traditional style design. The combination of delicious cuisines and top class service gives its guests an inexplicable delightful experience that wants them to stay there forever.

5. Neo Majestic Hotel Calangute Goa

Whether you are on a business trip or want to spend some leisure time with family or dear ones, Neo majestic hotels has it all for both. The best part of this restaurant is it has the largest casino in Goa.

If you love to enjoy and want to end-up your day with delicious food, this place is just the one that you always wished for. As the hotel has three different restaurants on it's platter a cafe, a Chinese restaurant and an Indian & Goan one. Do visit this place to experience traditional Goan delicacies here.

Choose the one from the list of top restaurants in Goa, that suits your requirements. As the essence of Goa lies closer to beaches, I would love to visit Escapade and Park Calangute to enjoy the food near the sea-shores.

People all over the world flock to India every year in search of the same thing: fulfillment. These seekers often hope to find themselves, find God, find enlightenment. There are many paths to gratification, and we touch on a few below:

Spiritual:

India is rife with Ashrams open to foreigners hoping to get their Zen on. While they range in style from luxurious retreat to centers requiring a commitment to ample hard work and humility, it shouldn’t be difficult to find one that suits your needs. We’ve listed three ashrams to consider. It is advised, however, if you are seeking an authentic spiritual experience, to consult with a guru to find a location that isn’t in it for the monetary gain.

The famous Osho Meditation Resort in Pune includes a pool, luscious gardens, marble pathways and comfortable guesthouses. You can sample meditation classes, many of which focus on personal healing from deep emotional wounds.

Another great option for foreign travelers is the Art of Living International Center in the Panchagiri Hill. Its mountainous setting, serene lake, and hiking trails offer a rich natural experience along with the organic farms lining the outskirts. As with many ashrams, participants are encouraged to partake in Karma Yoga, in which they volunteer to help with the upkeep like cooking, cleaning, and gardening.

The Isha Foundation in Tamil Nadu describes itself as dedicated to raising human consciousness and foster[ing] global harmony through individual transformation (source: isha.sadhguru.org). Their offerings include a guided meditation program called Inner Engineering, which aims to encourage a profound internal shift in perspective. If you are truly dedicated to making a dynamic change in your life and committing to practice, Isha may be the place for you.

Gastric:

The Indian culinary scene is vastly diverse and specific to region. India is home to the world’s largest population of vegetarians, so prepare yourself to sample some fabulous vegetarian cuisine. With Hinduism being a common religion, you will be hard-pressed to find any beef, excepting some restaurants in southern India where you will find higher numbers of Christians and Muslims. The cow is considered a holy animal in Hinduism. Pork is also a rarity.

We recommend:

Indian street food: Thali, Chaat, and Tandoori, to name a few of many delicacies available from vendors on the streets of India. Many travelers avoid street food, fearing foodborne illness, but abundant rewards await those willing to take the risk.

Mutton: Most mutton in India comes from a goat, as they are more common than sheep. Try mutton in a burger form, as a savory galouti kebab in Lucknow, a city famous for its culinary scene, or in mutton masala, a delicious mild curry.

Tea: India is world-renowned for its tea. Try sipping a tasty masala chai or tulsi basil chai, both traditionally brewed with steamed milk and soul-warming spices.

Buffalo milk: Milk from buffalo is higher in fat and thicker than cow’s milk, but lower in cholesterol. It contains significantly more calcium, iron, and protein than its bovine counterpart. Cheese made from buffalo milk boasts a better consistency than that made from cow’s milk, ideal for traditional Indian dishes such as paneer.

Adventure:

Those on the lookout for an adrenaline rush in India won’t be disappointed. The continent boasts a broad range of offerings, from killer white water rapids to excellent rock climbing.

Head to the beach: The word surf originated in India, so you can expect to find some excellent waves here. Check out the famous Kovalam Beach for easy accommodations or venture to nearby Varkara for rapid surf. Or venture to Pondicherry to join the community of local and expat surfers in the water.

Rock climbing: India boasts a unique opportunity to boulder among ancient ruins in Hampi in southern India from November through February. Pick up the guidebook Golden Boulders to learn about the 1400 developed routes, with many more waiting to be developed.

Take on the rapids:  The River Ganga is a world-class whitewater destination. With rapids ranging from class I to IV, the wild river has something to offer everyone. Or for those looking for a truly extreme challenge, the river to explore would be the Barapole River, with rapids ranging from class IV to VII.

Trekking in the Himilayas: The Indian region of the Himalayas offers a multitude of vast natural beauty to partake. Experienced mountaineers can plan their trip, but those with limited experience can benefit from the broad availability of guides available to those wishing to venture to new heights.

Romance:

Indian culture is steeped in tradition, and love is no exception. The majority of Indian romance entails arranged marriages, and gender roles, dowries, and the caste system all play into the complexities of romance in India. So unless you are an incredibly persistent individual willing to jump through many, many hoops, it may be a better bet to stick with foreigners such as yourself. If you do fall into the former category, your best bet is to check out an Indian chat room or meet an eligible bachelor/bachelorette through an acquaintance.