Bon Voyage

Have you ever known that there are two Taj Mahals in India?

Bibi Ka Maqbara is well known as poor man’s Taj Mahal or mini Taj Mahal. This this a tomb of Aurangzeb’s wife, built by her son Azam Khan in 1679. Azam planned to built the entire mausoleum with white marble, however his thrifty father, Aurangzeb, banned his son from spending so much money for his idea. To resemble a marble, Bibi Ka Maqbara was mostly covered with a lime, that shanked off partially over time.

Bibi Ka Maqbara  

Towers and walls around Bibi Ka Maqbara  

Inside Bibi Ka Maqbara

However, the building is very impressive, not too much as Taj Mahal is but it is definitely worth visiting if you are in Aurangabad. This building has its own charm, surrounded by large green territory it is a great getaway from the bustling city. 

Difference between Bibi Ka Maqbara and Taj Mahal

We got there by tuk tuk, it costs 80 Rupee (1.2$) from central bus station one way. We spent several hours there, but you might need less. There are a lot of tuk tuks near the entrance to Bibi Ka Maqbara, so it won’t be the problem to return back home. 

Entrance fee is 200 Rupees (3$) for foreigners and 15 Rupees for locals.

Bibi Ka Maqbara  is located in Aurangabad. Aurangabad is a good starting point for visiting Ellora and Ajanta caves. 

How we got to Aurangabad

We reached Aurangabad by night sleeper bus from Indore (bus agency was Hans Travel and the bus quality was good, it was AC sleeper bus with blankets, TV and even toilet!)

If you are going to Aurangabad from Mumbai there are four daily trains connecting Mumbai with Aurangabad railway station. 

Where we lived in Aurangabad

It was hard to understand where it is better to live in Aurangabad when we booked the hotel in advance, but we had chosen very nice option – hotel Pearls. I really recommend this hotel to everyone (double room costs 26$ if booking through Agoda), as it was one of the best hotels we lived in during our 1,5 month traveling around India. 

Our room in hotel Pearls, Aurangabad

Each room has its balcony overlooking the street. There are AC, hot water, wifi, comfortable bed with clean linens, breakfast including (but be ready to indian breakfast such as sheera, upma, masala dosa, etc)

Hotel is very conveniently located, there are a lot of restaurants nearby (our favourite restaurant was Smile, opposite Domino`s Pizzeria). Central bus station is in 10 minutes walking that was also very nice. 

if you are still in doubt whether to go to Bijapur or not, I will definitely advise you to visit this town! Bijapur is a treasury full of architectural monuments, but two of them – Ibrahim Rouza and Golgumbaz are the “must see” if you are traveling in India. Please find my experience from traveling to this nicest city below. 

How to get to Bijapur

Railway station in Bijapur make it easy to get there by train, there are several express trains connecting Bijapur with Mumbai, Bangalore, etc. There is also a bus stand where you will find buses to even more destinations. 

We got there by night train from Pune (AC tier second class). 

Hotels in BIjapur

We have lived in Hotel Pearl. I didn’t visit other hotels but I think this option is good. First of all it is very near to Golgumbaz (5 minutes walking) and to railway station (10 minutes walking). There is good restaurant in the hotel, called “Qaswa Hills” with decent prices and very tasty food (we tried aloo paratha, paratha, kulcha, palak panner, malai kofta, paneer hyderabadi, cream of mushroom and everything was good). 

First night we lived in the room facing another building and it was bad, frankly speaking. There were no daylight, it was very noisy as it faces backyard of the kitchen and there is no fresh air as next building is very-very close. But for the next nights they gave us another room facing road with balcony and big window, it was a little bit noisy but I liked the room though.

Hot water is only in the morning and in the evening. Wifi was ok. Recommended.

Places to visit in Bijapur

Ibrahim Rouza

Ibrahim Rouza, tomb on the left, mosque on the right

If you asked me to describe this places of interest in one word it would be just “magnificent”. It was exactly that occasion when reality is much more better than photos. Located on the other side of the town, 4 km from our hotel, so we got tuk tuk (for 50 Rupee) to reach it. It was midday, it was very hot but it was almost nobody there, what a chance to explore this marvellous complex in silence and solitude! 

Magnificent tomb of Ibrahim Rouza

Ibrahim Rouza consists of two buildings, tomb and mosque. Once I saw the tomb I was impressed with the beauty of this building, carved with arabic ligature, with wooden doors and shutters, with arches… Everything was so much amazing that I just stood for a while trying to capture all this beauty, to keep in my mind the every small detail… But I know that ruthless time will erase all this beauty from my memory in a while.

Doors in Ibrahim Rouza tomb

It is said that Ibrahim Rouza prefigured the grand Taj Mahal. And I could easily believe this.

Carved walls of Ibrahim Rouza tomb

Mosque is also very nice, but its beauty fades in comparison to tomb. 

Mosque

Entrance fee is 200 Rupee (3$) for foreigner. 

Gol Gumbaz

Golgumbaz

Gol Gumbaz is another must visit place in Bijapur. First of all it will impress you with its size, it is really so big! Its dome is the largest in the world after St Peters Cathedral in Vatican. It is not so much beautiful as Ibrahim Rouza but it has some very interesting secrets inside! 

We got there before sunrise and for a while we were the only visitors. Soon some groups of hindu people come, but there were a few. 

Once you ascend to the very top by staircases in one of the tower, you will find yourself near the dome. There are several entrances that leads inside. 

Path around the dome of Gol Gumbaz

So what are the secrets? First of all it is echo. I haven’t heard such echo never before, it so clear there and repeat many times. Just try to cry something or just clap your hands. 

Inside Gol Gumbaz

To realise another secret you and your friend should stand (or you can sit on the benches that are located properly for this secret) precisely opposite each other and try to say something. Your friend on the other end of the dome will hear you very clearly despite there is 38m between you (38 meters is a diameter of the dome)!

Bara Kaman

Bara Kaman during sunset

Bara Kaman are arches of the ruined mausouleum surrounded by nice green area. It is located not far from the Main Bazaar that is also a good place to visit. 

Malik-e-Maidan

Malik-e-Maidan gun

A big gun located one of the numerous towers of the walls surrounding town, it has 1.5 meters and diameter and 4 meters in length. 

Jod Gumbad

One of two tomb

These are twin tombs, located in not very friendly surroundings. So we hurried to leave this place as it didn’t seem to be nice.

Jama Masjid

Unfortunately, we didn’t visit this place, as a lack of time, but it seems to be very beautiful when we passed it by. 

Must visit temple caves, added to the World Heritage list, located just in 30 km from Aurangabad. Below you will find my own experience of our one day trip to Ellora Caves. I am sorry for my photos, they are not as impressive as this place is, but believe me you won’t regret if visit it. 

We spent 5 hours in Elllora caves, it is big and impressive complex. The most impressive is cave number 16 called Kailasa Temple, that stands in the middle of the complex. I can hardly imagine how people in 8th century, using only hammer and chisel created such a masterpiece from the solid rock.

Elephants of Kailasa Temple

Gallery carved from solid rock around Kailasa Temple

Finest carvings of Kailasa Temple

Inside Kailasa Temple

The uniqueness of Ellora complex is that it houses three types of caves –  hindu caves, buddhist caves and jain caves. Jain caves were closed during our visit. 

Hindu caves (on the left of Kailasa Temple, caves from 13 to 29) are decorated with columns and different carved pictures of Hindu Gods. Some caves are really big with second and even third floors!

Hindu Cave with carvings

View over hindu temple with sacred cow in the center

Buddhist caves seemed more elegant with more fine carvings. They are on the right from Kailasa Temple (caves from 1 to 12). Some caves are decorated from the outside, cave number 10 is most impressive with big statue of Buddha.  

Buddhist Cave

There is a restaurant near entrance to Ellora caves and a lot of stalls with street food in case you come hungry. There is no food available once you enter the caves, but the water is still available inside the complex. 

Entrance fee is 500 Rupees(8$) for foreigners and 30 Rupees for Indians. 

Timings: 6AM to 5:30PM, closed every Tuesday.

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Malshej Ghat as the name suggest is a mountain pass situated  2250 feet above sea level, Mountain ranges of the western ghat are biological Hotspot. Malshej ghat is more or less the same distance from Mumbai and Pune. This region is blessed with rich flora and fauna, with a wide variety of birds also sighted. It’s natures gift for those who want to explore natural beauty and get close to the heavenly adobe. Malshej near Mumbai is a photographers’ delight especially during the monsoon.

Trekking Options

Malshej Ghat has also witnessed numerous historical events as many Forts are located nearby. We find lush green forests, deep drop waterfalls, cold weather, beautifully located resorts, wildlife sanctuaries, Buddhist caves dating back to 3rd century.

Many popular trekking routes are available Kalu Waterfall, Bhairavgad Moroshi, Naneghat Trek, Sindola Fort Trek, Jivdhan and Naneghat Fort Trek, Harishchandragad Fort Trek.

Best time to Visit 

Best Time to visit is during monsoon and winter, Ghat can be closed or blocked by authorities during monsoon as the ghats are prone to landslide or heavy traffic during monsoon as many people visit the many waterfalls that flow around the ghats. During summer it is ideal for Astro Photography it is on of the darkest places around in Maharashtra.

Ghat roads are in good condition but heavy rains can cause landslides and roads are blocked by authorities please book MTDC Malshej Ghat after checking weather.

Camping options

Camping is possible around Malshej Ghat there are many spots available, you can also camp near Pimpalgaon Joga Dam please carry your own food and tents for camping.

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

*Shimla offers much more than charming colonial buildings against a backdrop of the magnificent snow-capped Himalayas. Much more than the dozens of Bollywood songs set on Mall Road or its oldest boarding schools. The upper reaches around the Shimla region offer skating on natural ice as well as hosts the MTB Himalaya (South East Asia’s biggest mountain biking race). *Shimla offers much more than charming colonial buildings against a backdrop of the magnificent snow-capped Himalayas. Much more than the dozens of Bollywood songs set on Mall Road or its oldest boarding schools. The upper reaches around the Shimla region offer skating on natural ice as well as hosts the MTB Himalaya (South East Asia’s biggest mountain biking race).

*Shimla also boasts ownership of the 16th century “Arya Astha Sahasrikas Prajna Paramita” Tibetan script (at the quaint Maria Brothers antique booksellers) and the Jakhu Temple Shrine with Lord Hanuman’s footprints.

Legendary ghost stories (Chudail Baudi, for single men whose cars slow down for the lady in the white sari) and fantastic cultural heritage make this visit all the more memorable. un[travel] your way up that UNESCO heritage railway route to Shimla for sights and sounds like never before.

Places to visit in Shimla

1. Heritage Walk through Shimla

*Shimla has a lot of stories to tell, some legends and more heritage, but all equally exciting. Begins at the appropriately named ‘Scandal Point’ where legend has it that the Maharajah of Patiala was exiled from Shimla after a fierce argument with the Viceroy (some stories say he eloped with the Viceroy’s daughter) and was eventually exiled from Shimla –giving this spot its name in 1892. Send yourself a postcard from the timber-structured ‘wild west Swiss’-styled 133-year-old Shimla General Post Office as a souvenir.

2. Kufri and Chail

*Lush green hills mark summer in Kufri– a stark contrast to the fantastic snow slopes that make tobogganing ‘the’ thing to do at the end of the year. If you’re visiting in January, try your hand at the ‘National Snow Statue Competition’ here in Kufri. A short walk around would take you past colonial-esque statues at Chini Bungalow to the Himalayan nature park.

3. Kipling’s home and Viceregal Lodge

*What makes Shimla more alluring is its glorious past, the days when it was summer capital during the British Raj. Beneath the Kali Bari temple, at the North Bank, lays an ordinary house where there once lived an extraordinary writer, Rudyard Kipling. This Nobel laureate spent most of his summer vacations here where memories of Jungle Book still linger on. Move on to the Viceregal Lodge. This was originally built as a home and summer residence of subsequent viceroys and governor-generals of India. Leave history behind, for a peaceful walk through dense forests for a quiet moment of solitude with a quaint picnic basket for the company.

5. Toy Train Ride

*103 tunnels, 864 bridges, 919 curves and a ride of a lifetime: Welcome aboard the Shimla-Kalka ‘toy train’. This UNESCO heritage train chugs slowly up the mountains, seemingly playing an interesting game of hide and seek with tunnels. Gradual ascents on winding tracks, flanked by age-old trees on either side, seem straight out of a storybook. Over a century old, the ‘toy train’ still chugs into the hearts of the hundreds who travel in it every day. Made more memorable with numerous Bollywood songs, there’s nothing like a ride up to Shimla with the tune of ‘gaadi bula rahi hai, seeti baja rahi hai’ probably playing on in your head.

*Its a nice walk if you wish to explore Shimla on foot and experience its heritage and history. Takes you through all the landmarks that have had their say in the making of Shimla that is today.

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

*Rishikesh, the home of Yoga in India. The Place where the Ganges River runs through brighter than you could ever imagine. A Spiritual Town made famous with foreigners by The Beatles back in the ’60s & ’70s.

*I loved my week there, I met the most amazing group of people, enjoyed the sunshine, the cafes, the river, the yoga classes and seeing and listening to like-minded travellers live out their dream there too. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful places in India!

THINGS TO DO IN RISHIKESH

Yoga in Rishikesh

Let’s start with the obvious, shall we? Yoga in Rishikesh is a big thing and there is so much on offer! In fact, I’ll be awkward and say that there’s actually too much choice! Every other hotel has a sign outside it offering 3-4 Yoga classes a day and so do all of the Ashrams in town too. Hatha Yoga is the most popular yoga type in Rishikesh it seems but there are Kundalini and Vinyasa on offer too.

Sound Healing in Rishikesh

I went to a Sound Healing Session on Sunday at Devi Music Ashram by Yoga Svarupe which was soo good! It’s on from 5:00-7:00 pm but get there at 4:30 to get a good place, take some layers, cover-up and lie down and listen to the most incredible Sound Healing! It’s by donation basis too!

Camping in Rishikesh

It seems that Camping in Rishikesh and near Rishikesh is a popular thing to do! Again, if you have time, I would say it is best to wait until you are in Rishikesh and have a look at the posters around the town as companies will advertise when they are holding camping trips

Bungee Jumping in Rishikesh

Who is brave enough?? Jumping Heights, India’s first highest Bungee Jumping platform at a height of 83 metres is located just outside Rishikesh increasing Rishikesh Tourism even more! This must be one of the most unique and fun things to do in Rishikesh if you’re brave enough!

White Water Rafting in Rishikesh

Well, except for Rishikesh Rafting that is! All-day people are rafting down the Ganga River right through the town of Rishikesh, it was so much fun! The water may be a bit dirty in reality but it looks so nice and blue and great to swim in from afar!

Jungle Safari in Rajaji National Park in Rishikesh

If you fancy trying to spot some wildlife including Tigers whilst in Rishikesh then get booked onto a Jungle Safari! Rajaji National Park is a popular place to visit in Rishikesh and is surprisingly near by! Jump into a Jeep and look out for Elephants, Tigers, Panthers, Spotted Deer, Sambhar, Wild Boar, Barking deer, Goral, Himalayan Black Bear and Sloth Bear! If you want a full day experience including sunrise and a nice air-conditioned car I’d recommend this full tour. If you just want to be out for a few hours and go in a jeep at a cheaper price, this 3-hour tour is for you!

Ganga Evening Aarti Ceremony in Rishikesh

Aarti happens at Parmarth Niketan Ashram after the Ram Jhula Bridge, aka about a 20-30 minute walk away from the Laxman Jhula Bridge. It was mesmerising.

Neer Garh Waterfall, Rishikesh.

*Rishikesh might be known for being the yoga capital of the world, but a hike to the nearby Neer Garh Waterfalls offers a display of the real peacefulness of the region.

*About a mile and a half NE from the Laxman Julla Bridge in Rishikesh lies one of the best natural escapes around.  A series of three stunning waterfalls make up the Neer Garh falls. Although Rishikesh is a city that is driven by a booming tourist economy, you will find that these waterfalls are more of a “off the beaten path” type of spot, where mostly locals go to take a dip in the cool pools beneath the falls.

*You can get to the Neer Garh waterfalls by either walking, driving, or taking a taxi up to the first waterfall.  From the Topovan area of Rishikesh, you will travel along 7 highway (or Karprayag-Haridwar Rd.) for about a mile until you see signs for Neergarh Waterfall Rd. on the left.  You will follow the steep mountain road up to a parking lot just below the first waterfall. Here, you can pay the small entrance fee of 30 Rs. (~$0.50).

*Once you are by the stream, there is a small pool at the bottom that you can dip your feet in or even sit at a table in and drink some chai.  From here you will follow the stairs up the mountain and along the stream to cross the first bridge. The trail keeps going up and gets gradually steeper, but when you see the two lower tiers of waterfalls from the trail, you can veer off of the trail to get a closer look and also a more intimate photographic opportunity. 

Keep on climbing up the trail, resting on the many benches as needed.  Soon you will find the second bridge and the main Neer Garh Waterfall. This is the tallest of the three falls, standing at roughly 25 feet.  This waterfall also feeds into the largest swimming hole and even a concrete platform to get in from. The water here is pretty chilly year-round, but definitely refreshing. 

If you go to the waterfalls before about 9am or after 5pm, you will likely find yourself to be one of the only people enjoying these falls.  This can be one of the most relaxing experiences to be had in all of Rishikesh, despite the insane amounts of yoga that goes down in the city.  Sitting next to the rushing water after a chilly swim with a hot cup of chai in hand was by far the most peaceful thing I was able to do in my time in India.

Lal Tibba, Mussoorie (Uttarakhand)

*Untouched by commercialisation, Lal Tibba is located on the top of Depot Hill in Landour, approximately 6 kilometres from Mussoorie. Being the highest point in the area, Lal Tibba is one of the most stunning viewpoints in the region. The name literally translates to ‘red hill’. Rising to a height of 2,275 meters (7,164 feet), Lal Tibba is the picture-perfect place to fulfil your sightseeing desires.

*The telescopes installed here are priceless, and aid in cherishing the beautiful unfettering panoramas of the Nilkantha peak (6,596 meters) in Badrinath, Kedarnath peak (6,940 meters), Banderpoonch range of three peaks with the highest rising to 6,316 meters can all be viewed on a cloudless day. 

*The site was also referred to as a Depot Hill, due to the presence of depot in the region.

*The hill houses a camp of The Indian Military services and Broadcasting stations or towers of All India Radio and Doordarshan. The beautiful views of sunrise and sunset from this vantage point can also be seen while visiting Lal Tibba.

*The Lal Tibba region has long been occupied, serving as a summer getaway during the British-Raj and a recovering station for the military, hence gaining popularity as a cantonment cum hill station. It is now occupied by the Indian Military Services. In the form of a small terrace, Lal Tibba has mesmerising views of the Tibet border.

*The place is relaxing and has remains of British Architecture. There are only a handful of places that offer such exhilarating views and being in Mussoorie, it is somewhat necessary to tick this off your must-visit list.

*There are few things better than being surrounded by a thick verdant forest cover, a tiny little picturesque hill station within eyeshot and the horizon studded with snow-clad mountains!

Cloud’s End, Mussoorie (Uttarakhand)

 *6 km west off the Library, the Cloud’s End marks the geographical end of the beautiful hill town of Mussoorie.

*Surrounded by thick oak and deodar forests, it tracks 2 km up to the Benog Wildlife Sanctuary offering a lovely walking track, taking in the soothing mountain air. Cloud’s End is visited for the breathtaking views it offers, especially of the Aglar River Valley.

*Another major attraction at Cloud’s End is a heritage building set up by a Britisher in 1838, which is one of the oldest buildings in Mussoorie. Retaining the original architecture and other relics, it has now been converted into a heritage hotel (Clouds End Forest Resort). 

*Tourists spend some tranquil time during their stay, along with partaking in activities like hiking, hill climbing and nature walks arranged by the hotel on request. People often club the visit to Cloud’s End with the famous attractions nearby – Jwala Devi Temple and Benong Wildlife Sanctuary.

Company Garden, Mussoorie (Uttarakhand)

The Company Garden is a popular tourist attraction in the mountain city of Mussoorie, located around 3 km from the main Mall Road. Nestled amidst the high Himalayas, it is a patch of green maintained by the Garden Welfare Association of Mussoorie and was laid down by Dr. H. Fackner in the early years of this millennium. The vibrant garden is a lovely place to spend an entire day out with your family and friends within the lush greenery and the beautiful blossoms. You can find people enjoying their time sitting or strolling or taking photographs in the eclectic lawn of the garden.

There is an artificial pond for boating with manmade waterfalls at the Company garden, also known as Municipal Garden, that makes a lovely scene to behold. If you have kids with you, they will also have a gala time in the park with all the exciting rides and so much space to run around. You can even satisfy the nature lover in you in this delightful place and also take back a part with you – buy any small potted plant at the nursery or any souvenir from one of the shops inside the garden. 

Amidst beautiful flowers, a waterfall, boating, photography and a picture perfect backdrop lies this colorful place..