Posted on January 26, 2021January 27, 2021 by Singh Sisters — Leave a comment

Why is Jaisalmer Known as Golden City?

Rajasthan is full of breathtaking destinations, extravagant palaces, Aravali mountain range, lakes, temples and a lot more. It has a pink city called Jaipur, a blue city called Jodhpur. But did you know that it has an ethereal travel destination called Jaisalmer also known as Golden City. But why is Jaisalmer known as a golden city?

Well, well we will tell you everything about Jaiselmer that you need to plan a trip to the Golden City. We visited Jaiselmer in 2018 and it was one of our best trips together. You can also plan a vacation to the city of windmills, sand dunes and golden architecture and desert safari.

Jaisalmer The Golden City

Jaisalmer is a city on the western border of Rajasthan. The city is located on a ridge of yellowish sandstone and is crowned by the ancient Jaisalmer Fort. The fort has a royal palace and several ornate Jain temples. This is one of the rare forts which are still full of life, not a lifeless monument. The location of Jaiselmer is very interesting as it is located in the Thar desert. The yellowish sandstone gives the entire city a Golden feel.

In fact, all the structures in the entire city are made of yellow sandstone which gives this city a golden feel. Jaisalmer is named after Rawal Jaisal who founded the city in 1156 AD. Jaisalmer literally translates to Hill Fort of Jaisal.

The fort dominates the skyline and looks beautiful during all times of the day.

We stayed inside a beautiful airbnb inside the fort. And we recommend you try it, the place offers rooftop dining with an amazing view and lip-smacking cuisine.

How to Reach Jaisalmer?

Thanks to the super awesome roads of Rajasthan, you can easily drive to Jaisalmer from Delhi. Although the drive is 766 km long if you leave early morning then you can easily reach by the evening. You can also break the journey at Jaipur / Pushkar/Jodhpur. Then leave next morning for Jaiselmer. You can also reach Jaisalmer via flights or trains but these facilities are effected due to Corona outbreak.

Below is the route we took, we left Delhi at 11PM on a Friday night and reached Jodhpur at 9AM the next morning. We visited the Jodhpur fort followed by a nice lunch and then head on to Jaisalmer.

It was absolutely worth it!!

Places to Visit in Jaisalmer

There is a long list of the historical and architectural marvel that is found in Jaiselmer. For example Jaiselmer fort, Bada Bagh, Gadisar Lake, Nathmal-ki-Haveli, Salim Singh ki Haveli etc. And trust me all these places have their own beauty. We would recommend that you visit Bada Bagh, Gadisar Lake and the fort.

Other than these

Sam Sand Dunes: This is the place to experience the desert safari in the sand dunes of the Thar Desert in a classical JEEP. The beauty of this place, the expanse, the colours and vibes are just amazing.
Tanot Temple: It is another must-visit place. Tanot temple is located in a village close to the Pakistan border. It has a very interesting history. The temple was attacked by the Pakistan Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. They fired 3,000 bombs at the temple. However, as per local lore, none of them exploded. Tanot was attacked again during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. This time also they could not harm the temple instead the IAF destroyed the tanks. Hence this place is a must-visit for the local, spiritual and historical context.
Desert National Park: If flora fauna and biodiversity interests you then you should visit this one of a kind national park.

If you’re looking for more ideas to travel this winters then go through our blog on ideas for winter vacation.

How to Plan a Trip to Maldives

Clear bluish-green seawater, peace, serenity, awesome views, food and fun: if you seek all this together then the Maldives is the right place for you. But then you’re wondering how to plan a trip to the Maldives.

Well, Singh Sisters will tell you how!

Maldives: An Introduction

The Maldives is officially known as the Republic of Maldives, is a small archipelagic state situated in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. It is a south Asian country in the southwest of Sri Lanka and India. It’s a small country with an area of 300 sq km. The name Maldives is derived from Sanskrit mālā (garland) and dvīpa (island). The Maldives is made up of 1,192 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls.

Planning a Trip to Maldives

Before planning a trip to the Maldives there are few things you need to keep in mind. Generally, there is a perception that the Maldives is an expensive destination for super-rich couples and their honeymoon. There are cottages of ultra-luxurious resorts in the middle of clear seawater. But that’s only the half-truth.

The Maldives can be a fancy, luxurious destination at the same time it can be a budget-friendly destination for backpackers staying at budget hotels. You can go for either as per your budget.

If you’re going for budget travel then your flight tickets to the capital of Maldives, Male is going to be one of the biggest expense you make on your trip.

A few Budget Hotels that you can try:

Best Luxury Resorts in Maldives

Kuramathi Maldives Resort
Naladhu Private Island Resort
Soneva Fushi
JOALI Maldives
Komandoo Island Resort & Spa

Things to Keep in Mind Before Planning Your Trip

If you are going to stay just inside a luxury hotel then keep your trip short. It’s not a location for longer trips unless you explore the whole country.
Making all bookings in advance online.
Food is expensive and you have limited choices.
Water Bottles cost a hefty 2 dollars per litre on islands. So buy it from Male at one-third of the rate.
Ferry and Speed Boat Operators: Icom Tours & Atoll Transfer. For ferry and speed boat schedules, routes, fee etc check their website.
Carry Maldivian Rupaiya currency. It would help you save a lot of money, especially in taxis and speed boat.
Don’t Carry Alcohol In The Country.
Carry Your Sunscreen.
Buy Sim Cards At The Airport.
Best time to visit is from Nov to April.
Be cautious while booking your flight tickets.
Wear decent clothes
Go for all-inclusive hotels.
Be cautious of hidden costs

Yes, the list might seem long but still the beauty of Maldives makes it totally worth it. This is the best time for you to plan a romantic gateway with the love of your life.

If you need more ideas for this winter vacation read our blog. You can also check out our blog on Rann of Kutch in case you’re looking for a destination beyond beaches and mountains for a vacation during winters.

Posted on January 17, 2021January 19, 2021 by Singh Sisters — 4 Comments

Rann of Kutch: A Destination For Winter Vacation

Here's what we did in Rann of Kutch

Since winters are here everyone seems to be going to beaches. But we some little birdie told us that you wanted to try something different from the cliched beach and mountain holidays. Well, Singh Sisters got your covered. In 2018 we travelled to the beautiful, exotic and different destination called Rann of Kutch. Rann of Kutch: A destination for a winter vacation that you would love to explore.

Rann of Kutch: An Introduction

Rann of Kutch is a white dessert. A sort of expanse of cracked earth, inland from the sea flat, deserted, white yet colourful and culturally rich in its own ways.

It is surrounded by a serene nothingness for miles. This nothingness is accompanied by a small oasis of water bodies and shrub forests which are homes for pink flamingoes and wild asses.

Geographically it is located in Kutch district of Gujarat. Some parts of it are in Sind, Pakistan.

Kutch is famous for Tribal hamlets with cylindrical mud bhungas (huts) which are the epicentre for Kutchi embroidery. People from this area do fabulous work with tie and dye, leatherwork, pottery, bell metal craft and the famous Rogan painting by the only surviving expert family. There is a Great Rann of Kutch and Little Rann of Kutch. Little Rann of Kutch is located approx. 200 km east of the Rann which houses the 4953-sq-km Wild Ass Sanctuary. It is home to the only remaining population of the chestnut-coloured Indian wild ass (khur), as well as blue-bulls, blackbuck and chinkara.

Our Itinerary

Day 1: So we left from Delhi at around 4 am in the morning and drove across Jaipur, Udaipur and almost after driving for 12 hours, we reached Ahmedabad. We stayed at Four Point Sheraton in Ahemdabad. We ate to hour heart’s content at Gordhan Thal in Ahmedabad and then rested.

2nd Day: Next morning we roamed around on the banks of Sabarmati River. The river is super clean and offers such breathtaking views. It is very fulfilling to see a full-fledged river flowing through a city. At around 10 am we left for Bhuj which is five hours drive from Ahemdabad. We stayed at the Regenta Hotel at Bhuj.

3rd Day: We went to see Bhuj city, the handicraft market, Lakhpat Fort and Aaina Mahal Palace. Had lots of food, fun and then came back to rest at the Hotel.

4rth Day: On the fourth day, we left for Kutch. What a beautiful experience it was for us. We got immersed in the nothingness of the white dessert. It was a void filled with joy. The camel rides, colourful cultural heritage of the place was just mesmerising. The location is super romantic as well.

5th Day: We left for Delhi at 7 am and reached Delhi after 18 hours of Drive at 1 am.

You can also stay in Kutch during the Rann Utsav. During this four-month festival, a grand Tent City of approx 400 tents is built. The festival started on 12 Nov 2020 and it will go on till 28 Feb 2020. You can have a great time with your family, partner and friends as well.

Have a colourful vacation in Kutch.

Read our blog on Travel Destinations for Your New Year Vacation 2020-21. And plan your trip to one of these destinations during the winters.

Posted on January 6, 2021January 20, 2021 by Singh Sisters — Leave a comment

Highest Temple of Lord Shiva: Tungnath Trek

Tungnath Trak

Trekking on mountains during the harsh winters is not everyone’s cup of tea! Except you! You baddass nomadic traveller. Singh sisters know how you love to explore the snow-capped white mountains and challenge yourself by going for a trek during the super harsh winters of North India. For badass like you, we are writing about one of the most sought after trekking destinations in India which also boasts of having the highest temple of Lord Shiva in India, Tungnath.

The trek is basically Chopta, Tungnath, and Chandrshila and if you don’t get tired due to travelling or trekking then you can easily do this trip in three days during an extended weekend

How To Reach Chopta?

Chopta is a small hill station at an altitude of 2600 m in Garhwal region of Uttrakhand. It is filled with meadows and evergreen forest area which is a part of Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary. This town is the base for trekking to Tungnath. Deli to Chopta is a beautiful 11 to 12 hours drive. You would drive along with tributaries of Ganga, Alaknanda and Bhagirathi. Beautiful unspoilt scenery of the drive will absorb you. If you don’t have your own vehicle, then you can take a bus to Haridwar from ISBT Kashmiri Gate and reaching Haridwar in the morning at around 4-5 am.

There is a GMOU (Garhwal Mandal (Bus) Operators’ Association) bus stand (Read geemu) almost 500m walk away from main Haridwar bus stand. You can ask anyone where is Geemu Bus Stand. You won’t get direct buses

So take a bus to Joshimath (Get down at Rudraprayag)

Change bus to Badrinath (Get down at Rudraprayag)

Change bus Gaurikund or Kedarnath (Get down at Kund)

Take the shared cab/sumo or Bolero to reach Chopta. Following this, you’re likely to reach Chopta before the end of the day.

Trekking And Stay in Chopta

You would find lots of camps in Chopta and nearby areas. You can stay in any of the camps for the night and start your trek early morning.

The trek to Chopta to Tungnath (4 km) is an easy trek. An average person might take 2.5 to 3 hours in completing the trek. Tungnath has the highest temple of Lord Shiva located at an altitude of 3680 m. There is Chandrashila above Tungnath which takes almost 40 mins to an hour. Start early in the morning at the dawn say at 6to 6:30 pm. You would reach Tungnath by 9:30 am. You can spend some time there, enjoy the beauty of the mountains, visit the temple if you wish and then move ahead to Chandrashila.

If you follow this itinerary then you’re likely to be back by 1 or 1:30 pm. You can have your lunch at the small Dhabas on the trail. It would take you almost half the time to go back than going up. So can be back latest by 3 pm even if you spend some time on the trek observing and absorbing the beauty of nature.

Come back to your camp, relax and then tomorrow start your journey back to Delhi.

Top Five Hidden Gems of Goa

Hidden Gems of Goa

Some things never go out of trend like a pair of blue denims and a trip to Goa. I am sure most of us have memories of the Goa trip in college, which never happened but we all kept planning it until we lost hope or it finally happened.

Goa is “The Destination” for beach lovers, travel lovers, nomads, love birds, families, college friends, office colleagues, nature lovers and for solo backpackers as well.

It is a destination that all travelers in India have on their bucket list. And we have had the good fortune of visiting this place guys!! And we have some hidden gems of Goa to share with you. So that you can plan a beachy cosy vacation during this winter.

1. Bamanbudo Waterfalls:

Yes I know Goa is mostly known for beaches but there are breathtaking waterfalls in Goa including Bamanbudo waterfall. This is one of the rare known locations. And perfect for some chill time absorbing the natures beauty and enjoy the melodious sound of waterfall. It’s a great location to have some peaceful time with your loved ones.

Location: Gaodongrem, Canacona district, South Goa

Accomodation: Turiya Villa & Spa, Mangaal Farmstay Goa, The Earthen Nest, and Drishti yoga international riverside

Betul Beach:

It is a typical coastal fishing village and one of the top hidden beaches in Goa. The beach has a 17th century fort, a small lagoon. You would need a Cavelossim-Assolna ferry across the Sal River in order to get here.

Location: Salcette district, South Goa

Accomodation: Casa Filipinha, The Leela Goa Beach Resort, Mayfair Resort, Holiday Inn Resort, Indy Waterfront Resort , River Castle

Bogmalo Beach:

This is a perfect place for the people who love peace and some water sports as well. Other than the natural beauty of crystal clear water, there is a beautiful village nearby. There are sea-facing accommodations as well. You can swim in the shallow water or scuba diving through the Goa Institute of Diving.

Location: Vasco de Gama near Dabolim Airport, South Goa

Accomodation: Bogmallo Beach Resort, Athi Resorts, Komforts Stay, and Joets Guesthouse are some accommodations that you can explore.

Butterfly Beach:

Ohh yeah the name gets you going. This is one of the most beautiful yet hidden places in Goa. You can spot dolphins, crabs and a wide variety of butterflies here. The beach has powdery white sand. One can get here via a boat from Palolem or Agonda beach, or trek to it through the lush jungles surrounding it.

Location: Palolem, South Goa

Accomodation: The Nest, Crystal Goa Emerald Edition, Art Prive, Bamboo Yoga, Laguna Vista Beach Huts, Patnem Garden Resort

Cumbarjua Backwater Canal:

Let’s take you through another unexplored beauty of Goa, Cumbarjua canal. You would have to take a Backwater Cruise ride through a thick mangrove forest and marshes of this canal and spot crocodiles sunbathing lazily on the banks. This narrow creek and fascinating village of Cumbarjua should definitely be on your list during your goa trip.

Location: On the banks of Mandovi river, Cumbarjua, North Goa

Netravali (A Bubbling Lake):

Hidden from the commercial travel experiences of Goa, this small muddy pond is a must visit for you, especially when you want a natural fish spa!! Natural gases like Methane below the lake make continuous bubbles emerging from the surface of the . Other than the bubbles, one can also dip their feet in the clean water and delight themselves with a free Fish Spa!

Location: Sanguem district, South Goa

Accomodation: Mangaal Farmstay Goa, The Earthen Nest, FOUR SEASONS FARM, Drishti yoga international riverside, Turiya Villa & Spa

Romantic Weekend Getaways Close to Delhi

Most Romantic Weekend Getaways Close to Delhi

A week full of calls, meetings, project reports, cooking, washing dishes and so much other work, we seek a few movements of peace with the love of our life.

A couple of quiet days with our partners away from the hustle bustle of city life is enough to recharge our batteries. That’s why we are bringing the most romantic weekend getaways close to Delhi.

Lansdowne:

It is a small and unspoilt hill station which is just five hours drive from Delhi. The place is filled with lush green forests, rivers and beautiful properties located amidst the greenery. There are many locations close to the hill station where you can stay and spend some quality time your #bae. Do visit the Tarkeshwar temple. It’s nestled in a valley surrounded by a thick cedar and pine forest. The location is extremely beautiful.

Distance from Delhi: 261 kms

Location: 45 kms from Kotdwar, Uttrakhand

Neemrana:

If you don’t have a lot of time for a long drive to reach the destination but need a hideout with your love then Neemrana can suit you well. It’s an industrial cum historical town in Rajasthan and not far off from Delhi. Neemrana fort Palace is the biggest attraction of the town. The palace has been turned into a hotel and is one exotic experience to witness. The palace is an ideal site for a magical weekend.

Distance from Delhi: 122 kms

Location: Alwar District of Rajasthan on Delhi – Jaipur Highway

Pushkar:

If you can manage to drive for eight hours and steal three to four days from your hectic schedule then Pushkar can be a perfect weekend getaway with plenty of romantic dining and stay options. The small town is nestled in the green hills of Aravali and adjacent to another beautiful town that you can explore and that is Ajmer. There are properties like The Westin, Ananta and Taj for romantic dinners and many beautiful cafes.

Distance from Delhi: 425 Kms

Location: 15 Kms from Ajmer and 200 kms from Jaipur in Rajasthan

Manesar:

Manesar is a small town with a very large number of resorts in different ranges. Few of the best properties in that area are ITC Grand Bharat, Lemon tree Premier and Heritage Village resort many more. If you want to have a relaxing and romantic weekend away from city life but without having to drive a lot then this is the place for you. Just book the property of your choice and be in your zone for two days.

Distance from Delhi: 60 kms

Location: Gurugram District, Haryana

Shoghi:

Shoghi is a small suburb town in Solan at the height of 1790 m. It is an ideal destination of nature lovers and couples seeking some solitude in the mountains but not too far from Delhi. It is almost 13 kms from Shimla. You would have plenty of options to roam around and have fun if you wish or else you can just choose to have romantic walks in the woods. Aamod at Shoghi is one of the best properties in that area.

Distance from Delhi: 329 kms

Location: Shoghi, Solan District, Himachal Pradesh

Have a cosy, romantic and super joyous weekend guys!! Lots of love from Singh Sisters.

Travel Destinations for Your New Year Vacation 2020-21

Travel Destinations for Your New Year Vacation

New year is coming and we can’t keep calm. (We are secretly hoping that 2021 would be better for travel than 2020, sigh!!)

We know that you guys have not travelled much in 2021 and you desperately need a vacation. But trying to find a location, booking, planning an itinerary, huh so much work.

Well, Singh sisters are here to make life easier for you. We have made a short list of five locations which are perfect for a cosy vacation during this chilling winter, away from the hustle of daily life with your loved ones. Let’s get going

1. Hampi

Hampi is the only place of its kind with rich cultural history from different eras, breathtakingly beautiful terrain and spiritual contentment. It is located on the bank of river Tungbhadra, in east Karnataka. Group of Monuments at Hampi have been declared as UNESCO world heritage sites. This place is mentioned in Ramayana as Kiskindha and in Puranas as Pampa Teerth Kshetra. It was the capital of the Vijaynagar Empire in the 14th century. It was the most prosperous, developed and wealthy city of its times. Its ruins speak of its rich cultural heritage and history. You can reach here from Bangalore and Goa by overnight buses or trains. If you have not already visited this place then you must for a fulfilling vacation.

HAMPI, KARNATAKA ON A BYCYCLE

What did we do on our 2nd day in Hampi

2. Pushkar

Pushkar is a small town 15 kms from Ajmer and almost 425 kms from Delhi. From the rest of India you can reach Jaipur via flight or train and then from there you can reach Pushkar by road. Pushkar is a highly popular destination among foreigners and that’s why it has hundreds of cafes with all kinds of cuisine, so many high profile resorts like The Westin and stays for all budgets and categories. The main attraction is the Brahma Sarovar around which the entire town is established. The ghats of the sarovar are extremely serene, beautiful and peaceful. And even more so during the sunrise and sunset. There is a big market around the sarovar. There are sand dunes, and desert safari too. Terrain of Pushkar is very beautiful with hills and sand dunes. You should also visit Ajmer which has a big lake called Anasagar, and looks extremely beautiful during sunset and sunrise.

3. Alleppey

It has now been renamed as Alappuzha. It is a small beautiful town in Kerala. If you’re a water baby and love being surrounded by it then this is the place for you. It is a hub of backwaters. The city boasts of a vast network of waterways. It is referred to as Venice of the East but I feel it does not do justice to the unique natural beauty of this place. It is one of the oldest planned towns in India and also the cleanest as well. Experience the breathtaking beauty, thousands of houseboats, rich cultural vibe of Kerala, delicious food and peace. What else do you need for a vacation?

4. Andman and Nicobar

If you wish to go for a ultra romantic location that has soul satisfying beaches without having to go abroad then Andman and Nicobar islands is the place for you. It is a union territory of India, and a group of 572 islands at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Of these 37 are inhabited. The islands have beautiful beaches, ultra exotic locations and resorts. It is an ideal destination to spend quality time with your partner.

VISIT HAVELOCK ISLAND IN ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR IN JUST INR 50,000

5. Orchcha, Madhya Pradesh

Orchcha is a small hidden gem located on the border of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It is only eight hours drive away from Delhi and 18 kms from Jhansi. This town has a unique combination of historical, scenic, cultural and spiritual ecosystem. It is a small island of sorts located between the tributaries of River Betwa boasting of beautiful views, monuments, palace, fort complex, temples, and resorts as well. In fact, this location is ideal for a pre wedding photoshoot, bird watching, or spending quality time in nature with your loved ones. There is a huge forest around the town through which Betwa flows. I can bet you, you will fall in love with this beautiful town. The best property to stay here is Bundelkhand Riverside Hotel. It has got the views which you won’t get from anywhere in Orchha.

Here are some other places you can visit:

Pondicherry in less than INR 20,000
Neemrana Fort Palace
Top 10 Instagrammable Spots in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Posted on December 4, 2020January 20, 2021 by Singh Sisters — 2 Comments

Plan a Five Day Trip to Auroville and Pondicherry

Planning a Trip to Auroville & Pondicherry?

2020 hasn’t been the best of year for travels but hey better late than never. Since, the toughest year of our lives is about to end, let’s close the year in style.

But how exactly to do that? Well, by planning a trip with your loved ones to the super cosy beaches of Pondicherry (Puducherry) and peaceful trails of the only city of its kind Auroville.

When life gives you a lemon, make a lemonade and in a situation like that last year we planned a girls time out from our hectic full time jobs. Amrit and I along with my best friend for the last 30 years planned a five day trip to Pondicherry and Auroville.

Guess what? It was a loooooott of fun!!

We took two flights to reach Chennai airport and then from there we drove to reach our hotel (Shenbaga Hotel, Pondicherry) and obviously we were too tired to do anything. We just took our beauty sleep and woke up to explore the new world.

We headed to Auroville.

Auroville is an experimental township and only one of its kind in the entire world ( You bet! ).

In the words of founder Mirra Alfassa “Auroville wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity.”

The highlight of the town is the Matrimandir which is an architectural marvel of its kind. There are beautiful trails, forest, organic cafes, organic farms and canteens and residential space for the residents. This town accommodates thousands of people from over 50 countries.

How amazing is that?

We also spent some time at Solitude Cafe, Sauce n toss also and La Boutique d’ Auroville. Auroville will leave a mark on your soul with its serenity.

Well, Day 3 and 4 were reserved for Pondicherry. We went for exploring White Town in Pondicherry. We had some delicious breakfast at Hot Breads and they made me a vegan burger as well. Yaaaay!!!

White Town is a calm place with friendly people. The entire place has a serene vibe. This place is best explored over foot. Cafe de Arts is a beautiful cafe with visually appealing ambience and a boutique as well. White Town has lots of amazing places to eat and hang out.

Paradise Beach

If you love to see nature in all its glory then you should make it a point to see this beach. The beach is untouched in a way since one has to hop on a boat, travel through backwaters to reach the beach.

Well, a heavenly ride to reach the paradise I would say. You should make it a point to visit this beach when you’re in Pondicherry.

Roaming around on trails of Auroville and streets of Pondicherry with our girl gang recharged our batteries for fighting the world. Next day we packed our bags with lots of memories and headed home!

Here are some other trips we have taken in the past:

Posted on October 25, 2019July 7, 2020 by Singh Sisters — 3 Comments

The ultimate Travel guide to Montenegro

On our 2 week trip to Eastern Europe, our 2nd country on the itinerary was Montenegro where we spent a little over 72 hours and visited about 4-5 cities. Montenegro is a really small country that was formed in 2006 and no currency of its own so they run on Euros!!

And please note that it is a tad bit expensive, some would say almost equal to visiting any country in Western Europe!

But nonetheless, it is an absolutely gorgeous country with multiple terrains and something or the other to do for everyone!

How did we spend 72 hrs in Montenegro

Day by Day Summary

Day 1 was Lake Skadar and Ostrog Monastry, you can do both in a day if you plan well and have your own transportation. You don’t even need a tour if you read our blog for all the details.

Day 2 was pretty laid back and started in the afternoon with a trip to Perast and Our Lady of the rocks followed by San Giovanni’s Castle and a visit to the Old town of Kotor

Day 3 was started with a trip to a small town called Tivat which looked like a town of the billionaires, with so many yatchs and boats, followed by a visit to the Old Town of Budva in the evening.

Skader Lake

Lake Skadar was first on the list, which is also the largest lake in Southern Europe. It is also known for its dolphin shape. The best place to be when you visit the lake for some really awesome views and pictures, is the Virpazar View point. It is about a 45mins drive from Budva, Montengro and the roads are pretty decent.

Directions to get to the viewing point – You can drive up from here further along from all the eating places and tourist joints. The trail leads up the mountain, take the left road, not the right one and a few kms up the road you will be able to get some amazing views of the Skadar Lake.

The food at the restaurant is amazing, and they have some vegetarian and Vegan options too. Yay!

There are also boats that sail up and down the canals and out onto this impressive large body of freshwater ferrying hundreds of people. The waterways are almost choked with water lilys which must create the most colourful sight when they are in flower.

Ostrog Monestary

It is one of the oldest religious sites and is visited by million tourists every year. It is a marvel of human engineering and dedication. It’s built right into a sheer cliff face way above the plains below. You can see the white of the building shinning from a distance.

After our little trip to Skadar lake we drove to Ostrog Monastry, which took us about 2 hours.

Our Lady of the rocks & Perast Old Town

The next day we had a lazy morning after which we headed to Perast.

We took the boat to go check out Our Lady of the rocks, from Perast which costed us 5 Euros per person. The church stands tall on a small island, next to another small island where all the monks live. Theres a joke that the locals have -” The monks live a better life than us”. I say the best time to go there is for golden hour, so reach Perast about 45mins to an hour before golden hour and you should be good.

After the short trip to Our lady of the rocks, we strolled around in Perats for the rest of the evening before heading to the Old town of Kotor for Dinner

Old Town of Kotor

The old town of Kotor where we spent a nice evening on the streets and on our way stopped for some street music. We saw a crowd from the far and heard good music. We took our bottles of beer and sat with everyone else to enjoy some music and also had some really nice Pizza for dinner.

The old town of Kotor has small streets that go in deep into the castle and have some really nice local shops to get goodies from that are open till about 10PM at night

Castle of San Giovanni

While this rigorous walk up to Kotor’s Castle of San Giovanni, or the Castle of St John as English-speaking tourists call it, is not strictly-speaking a climb, a “huff ’n’ puff” hike – because you will be ascending approximately 1,350 stairs to a height of 1,200 metres. Phew!

These formidable fortress walls date back to medieval times.

The walls are long, around 4.5 kilometres, and wide, between two and 16 meters in different places, while the height reaches up to 20 metres in parts.

There are two entrances, although the best to take is the main entrance near the River Gate, where you purchase your ticket and will be given a handy descriptive brochure identifying the various gates, bastions, and other significant sites along the way, such as the Church of Our Lady of Health.

Tivat

We spent a an afternoon, relaxing and eating in Tivat. It was a gorgeous view with such good looking white coloured yachts parked at the dock and nice breeze along the dock.

We ate lunch at a restauranr in Porto Montenegro which cost us about 100 euros for 3 people and yes it had Vegan options too.

The walk up to the yacht with the blue water and the clear skies was the best thing.

Visit the Budva Old town

Budva’s old town is one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic Sea. At around 2,500 years old it’s a beautiful and historical site. A wander through the town reveals ancient churches and palaces, all crafted from local grey stone

Budva old town is a hive of activity day and night. There are some excellent restaurants, like Stari Grad, which serves traditional Montenegrin cuisine.

So that was pretty much what we did in Montenegro before we headed to Croatia.

Check out some of our Vegan Recipes as well like Pizza Dough and Pizza

We will be posting one recipe every week! check out this space for more and do let us know in the comments below if you liked it.

You can also check out our other Travel Blogs here

Posted on September 11, 2019April 15, 2020 by Singh Sisters — 2 Comments

Visit Pondicherry for four days in less than INR 20000

We reached Pondicherry after two flights and one road trip. We flew from Delhi to Bangalore to Chennai where a car was waiting for us at the airport. Our flight tickets were INR 8000 return and the car costed us INR 8000 for three people (Tata Nixon Semi Automatic)

We booked the Shenbaga Hotel in Pondicherry for 3 nights. It costed us INR 3000 per night for two people including breakfast

The best places to visit in Pondicherry are

White Town
Auroville

White Town

White town is the most beautiful, peaceful, people-friendly place in Pondicherry. The place is surrounded by cute looking doors, street lights and colourful street art on every corner.

There is a place called paradise beach here but this place literally is a paradise for people like us who love nature.

If you love walking, White town in Pondicherry is the place for you. You can spend an entire day walking and still have a few places left to visit.

List of things to do in Pondicherry

We started with Domus Street. It is full of cafes, street art and a lot of walking by the beach. Our first stop was

Cafe de Arts

Known for its ambience and the boutique look to it. Cafe de arts is surrounded by street art and is best for book lovers and shopaholics. It is a mix of cafe, shopping and book reading which adds character to the cafe. A must visit but pre-book your table and go as we had to wait 40 minutes for a table.

Cuisines: Continental, Indian, and Seafood
Cost: INR 2000 for 3 people
Location: White Town Pondicherry

Le Dupleix

A villa of sorts where you can even choose to stay as it was super clean and had an earthy feel to it.

We had lunch here. The service was superb and the food was heavenly. One of us is a vegan so they even helped us out by respecting our choices and giving us what we wanted.

Cuisines: Continental, Indian, and Seafood
Cost: INR 2200 for 3 people
Location: White Town Pondicherry

Also read: BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN JAIPUR IN TWO DAYS

Paradise beach in Pondicherry

As the name suggests, it is a paradise that one must explore. The best part is you will hop on a boat go through the Pondicherry backwaters to enter the paradise. The backwater experience is an experience one must not miss.

To visit the beach, you would need to go to Chunnambar Boat House where you will see a counter to buy tickets just to the enter boat house. Once you enter the boat house, you will see a long line for the boat, go past it to the ticket counter and buy your boat tickets.
Cost of entry into the Boat House: INR 10 per person.

Ferry ride: INR 300 per person

Speed Boat: INR 2400 for 3 people.

Closing time : 6:30 pm

Then you go in and stand in another line to buy a ticket for a boat ride to the beach.

Cost of Backwater ride: INR 240 per person
Cost of speed boat for 3: INR 2400

We took the speed boat as we reached at 4 pm and wanted to be back by 6 pm

Honestly, the speed boat was a much better experience as it was faster and our speed boat driver made sure we had fun. He was creative in water by giving us a circle with the speed boat in the water and even asked us to stand in front to have a good experience. It also helped us skip the queue and saved us a lot of time.

You can also refer to Lonely Planet India to gain more information about Pondicherry.

Things to do in Auroville in one day

The beauty of Auroville is mostly captured in its greenery. The tall trees that surround the roads are its best part. We did not realise it until we visited Auroville’s best places that we could in one day.

Solitude farm

The first place we visited was the SOLITUDE FARM. Auroville is famous for its organic, outdoor farming.

Put on Google Maps for Solitude farm and you will reach a gate where the guard will ask you to call the farm and confirm to let you in.

Don’t forget to call them in advance.

It’s a beautiful walk from the parking lot to the farm with beautiful trees all around and nature giving you its best. On entering the farm, you’ll see some awesome quotes/messages written on stones. Don’t forget to read.

You’ll also notice a lot of treehouses inside where you can get some pictures clicked or climb up maybe. You may take a look at our Vlog for Auroville on the right

When you reach the actual farm, you will see some ladies in the kitchen with a menu displayed. Go on and order some delicious organic food freshly made from farmed vegetables. Everything about the place is organic. It is so healthy and light, unlike all the other food we eat. The thali of the day costed Rs 250 and the Salad Rs 150.

After eating, don’t forget to wash your plates with the organic soaps made from farmed goods. One of the best experiences we had. Check out our pictures below.

Timings: 9 am – 3 :30pm

La Boutique d’ Auroville

The best boutique in town with everything handmade and original. The boutique houses a vast range of products from home decor, women accessories, music equipment to candles, essence, fragrances, wall art and many more.

Note – If you’re at solitude farm, the boutique is just walking distance from here. We bought a couple of things like bags, essence, ear rings, table coasters and much more. There are a couple of more Boutiques around this one but this boutique is one of the best in town.

Sauce n toss

We were looking for some delicious food while roaming around in the city. Fortunately, we spotted this cafe in the centre of the city. We went up the lift to the second floor and to our surprise it was a very pretty place.

As the name suggests, it is a cricket themed cafe that specialises in Pizza’s. we ordered the veg master blaster, potato wedges and two drinks.

Cost for three : Rs 781

Cuisine: Fast Food

We wanted to visit the cheese farm as well but we were not aware of pre bookings. You have to write an email to them before going and once approved you may visit the cheese farm.

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