4 ways to do a budget trip to Kerala

Kerala is truly God’s own country. The never ending swathes of palm trees greeting you as far as your vision can behold,  the large open tea estates, the astonishing beauty of a sunset on the beach, and oh, the delicious cuisine! Everything about Kerala spells beauty and wonder, and you would be remiss to not plan a trip there soon.

But how about planning a budget holiday in Kerala? The thing about a Kerala trip is that many destinations are really far from each other, so either you need a really long trip or you need to dash from one spot to another. If you choose the latter option, you must hire a succession of flights and cars to get you from one spot to another. 

Plan your vacation this way: pick a zone, such as the North of Kerala, and stick to exploring it for three days. Then pick another zone, and devote a few more days to it. You may not see all of Kerala, but at least you will see the best tourist places in Kerala this way!

And now, on to your budget planning:

1. Book a budget Kerala tour package - The simplest route is to get a good travel operator to book you on a budget Kerala tour package. Specify which tourist places in Kerala you would like to see and discuss accommodation options, then let them customise the package for you.
   
   
2. Book a train ticket instead of a flight - A train journey to Kerala is scenic but really slow. If you’re prepared to spend a couple of days journeying in a train, you will save a lot of money that you would otherwise spend on flights. You can easily book train tickets online.
   
   
3. Flag down KSRTC buses - Intra-city travel in Kerala is all about hiring private cabs or getting your hotel to send you a car. Though both are not expensive, they can be if you are travelling solo. Save the money on travelling within Kerala by taking KSRTC buses wherever you can. They have a standard, non-negotiable rate and you can book tickets in advance, based on where you are located. The bus frequency is quite good, too.
   
   
4. Try home stays -  You can pick accommodation at one of the many excellent homestays in Kerala. These are little cottages by the beach, and you can also get meals included in your package. The food is cooked at home in traditional fashion, so you can have a variety of lip-smacking eats to try every day.

Relaxing in Mumbai…Yes, it’s possible!

Mumbai sets a fast and furious pace of life, and those who like it slow can be bewildered by life in the city. Though it is an exciting lifestyle, it can sometimes leave you tired and anxious. After all, chasing after yourself all day can hardly be easy! So if you’re looking to relax despite the chaos around you, you could try these five activities in Mumbai:

1. Relax and detox. Every Mumbaikar needs massage and detox more than anyone else in the country. High stress, constant pollution and long commutes take the freshness out of Mumbaikars’ lives. If you feel jaded, just book yourself into an exclusive spa session at the best spa in Mumbai, at The Leela Mumbai. This luxury hotel in Mumbai is the city’s only resort style business hotel and houses the most select spa with a range of services aimed to remove the exhaustion and toxins from your system. Enter a wreck, leave a champion.
   
   
2. Take a Bollywood tour. The one thing that sets Mumbai apart from other places in the country is its bustling film industry. You can spot celebrities at certain areas, as also in famous cafes and restaurants. But the true film buff heads to Chitranagari, or the Film City in Goregaon, to actually witness shooting and rehearsals. You can book a Bollywood tour and head to Film City to watch both TV and film stars in action. You can also get a limited view of editing and VFX studios.
   
   
3. Indulge in retail therapy. Mumbai is known for its street shopping stalls, and you can get the nicest stuff at really great prices. But be prepared to haggle and go with an experienced bargain hunter if you want some good deals. It is more fun shopping on the streets than inside generic malls and stores. Head to Colaba causeway to get the best trinkets, shoes and clothes, while Bandra Hill Road offers many household items as well. If you’re scouting for new clothes, just head to Fashion Street near CST.
   
   
4. Head to the biggest urban park in Asia. You can be one with nature, spot some lions and leopards, and go trail walking at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). SGNP is possibly the only natural wildlife park inside a city in all of Asia, possibly the world. You can go hiking, animal spotting, bird watching or simply take a refreshing morning walk here.
   
   
5. Gorge the famous street food. Street shopping and street eating – these are two activities that define Mumbai. You’ve done the shopping, now fill your tummy with some delicious eats. The city’s street food is so famous that there are regular food tours happening here to acquaint visitors with what’s on offer. From the famous Bombay sandwich to yummy pani puri, and from spicy ragada patties to tasty bhel puri, just have at it! 

5 things you didn’t know about Udaipur

Udaipur is every tourist’s perennial paradise. Beautiful, friendly and historically rich Udaipur draws the tourist like a magnet. It also helps that there is so much to explore and do here. Why not start with learning some fun facts you did not know, such as:

1. 400 years of construction. Talk about ‘work in progress’. The enormous City Palace of Udaipur was built over a staggering 400 years, with successive kings adding wings, cupolas, new roofs and other elements to it. It was started by Rana Uday Singh II in 1559, and kings to take the throne after him continued to expand the complex located near Lake Pichola. On the inside, it is a series of structures integrated to look like one whole edifice.
   
   
2. Saas-bahu temples of Nagda. These temples are simply stunning in concept and execution. They are two temples, one smaller than the other, laid out such that the larger one encircles the other. They have different architectural styles, and are said to be dedicated to Lord Vishnu. You will love to see the intricate details of the ceilings and the columns in the prayer hall, as well as the wide archway and female figurines on the walls.
   
   
3. Asia’s second largest artificial lake. The kings of Rajasthan were true artists and visionaries, and their foresight in planning was seen mostly in their architecture and town planning. Take, for instance, the Dhebar Lake (or Jaisamand Lake) which was built as a large artificial lake to supply water to the town. It was the largest such lake in Asia till Egypt’s Aswan Dam took the top honours. Dhebar Lake was built in 1685 while the huge dam on the Gomati River was being constructed. It is about 14 km long and 102 feet deep!
   
   
4. The City of Lakes. While on the subject of lakes, it is pertinent to note that Udaipur has lots of them. In fact, it is the lake capital of Rajasthan, and many of them are man-made, built to facilitate the drinking water reserves and agro-based activities. These lakes were built in historic times by enterprising Mewari kings. Some of the prominent ones are Fateh Sagar, Pichola, Uday Sagar, Jaisamand, Raj Samand and Jiyan Sagar.
   
   
5. The Great Wall of Udaipur. China can keep its Great Wall, we’ve got one of our own. The wall of the famous Kumbhalgarh Fort was built to protect the structure inside – a complex of 300 temples and a huge fort – and is over 36 km long in perimeter. It is thus, the second largest continuous wall in the world after the Great Wall of China.

You can complete your historical experience by staying at the best palace hotels in Udaipur. Book yourself into royal rooms with every luxury you can think of, to make your holiday even more special.