5 things to do in Goa in the month of December

Oh, Goa! Such an exciting, laidback, serene yet heady place. We are nearing the end of 2016, and if you are itching for a holiday to send off this year with a bang, you could do no better than Goa!

Book a December vacation to Goa for these reasons:

1. The beaches beckon. Goa has a little over 70 km of wondrous coastline, and scores of magnificent beaches. Book yourself into a luxurious beach side resort for an excellent start to your holiday. You will find your beach sojourns infused with new life if you stay at some of the best hotels in Goa. From there, you can take a walk on the beach, or enjoy some thrilling water sports or take a speedboat ride to go look at dolphins.
   
   
2. Spend Christmas in Old Goa. Goa is the place to be during Christmas – the State celebrates the festival with gusto and endless rounds of delicious food. Old Goa celebrates Christmas like no other place in India – there are revels all night long, from raves to family-oriented Carol singing and nativity scenes. Plus, beaches, houses and street fronts are decorated with pretty lights and five-pointed stars, thus adding to the cheer.
   
   
3. Saturday night live! Goa has a Saturday Night market at Arpora, which starts in November and tapers off by end of January. December is peak shopping activity at this market, that opens at 6 pm and closes in the early morning hours. You can shop for some amazing clothes, shoes and trinkets, while listening to live music, sampling some delicious food and strolling through the market with a beer bottle in hand.
   
   
4. Go camping on the beach. Camping is a major tourist puller in Goa, and you can set up base at one of the licensed camping sites on many of Goa’s beaches. The weather in December is perfect for camping, sleeping under the stars and a midnight bonfire. You can pitch your own tent, have a barbecue and fall asleep in blissful quiet and cool breezes.
   
   
5. Gorge on fantastic seafood. Goa is known for its wide range of seafood, and the best hotels in Goa serve up fresh catch every other day. The seafood in this part of the country is plump and succulent, and when seasoned with local spices and eaten fresh, it transports you to food heaven. You can actually take a seafood eating trip and sample such goodies as tuna, pomfret, squid, crabs and mackerel. You can even buy special Goan marinades and spices here to recreate the taste back home!

4 places for lip-smacking food in Gurgaon

We’re sure your visit to Gurgaon is always memorable, and we’re also sure that you go there on business, finish your job and head back home. If you stayed back for a bit, you would realise that there is much more to Gurgaon than just well-planned infrastructure and large office complexes.

For Gurgaon hides a secret – it is a haven for the famished! The city houses many excellent dining joints, but if you must have a list, here are our top 4 recommendations:

1 Zanotta, The Leela Ambience Gurgaon Hotel & Residences. Drop by at one of the best 5 star hotels in Gurgaon, The Leela for a wide array of dining options. We recommend this restaurant for many reasons, chief among them the soothing ambience, chefs preparing your food at interactive counters and semi-private dining sections for intimate celebrations. You cannot leave until you try the salt-crusted fish of the day, the chocolate pastry with sweet cream, smoked duck salad, and homemade burrata, among many other dishes.

2 Mamagoto. With its warm vibe, a stunning array of dishes and some great company, your trip to Mamagoto in Gurgaon is completely worth your while. The menu is quite inventive – try their water chestnut spring roll, Korean imported pork chops, raw papaya salad and glass noodles in hot broth. This restaurant is also good for a family meal.

3 Farzi Café. This café has been drawing hipsters and middle-aged daddies in equal measure with its palate cleansing food and fresh take on traditional favourites. Savour the Galouti burger or butter chicken bun, or go for roti/paratha with Malabari pyajo. Regulars also swear by its creative touches (the bill is presented inside a typewriter!) and friendly service.

4 Walking Street – Soi 7 Go to this place if you want to drink a home brewed Ko Samui Red – trust us, you will want to have more. But this place is a good visit when you’re out with friends and have a lot of time to kill – the vibe is relaxed, nobody is going to hustle you, and you can roll your drink around your tongue as much as you want. The food is good too – try their smoked mushrooms, pizzas and their famous chicken bomb. Plus, they play great music, too.

The three most amazing restaurants in Mumbai

Mumbai is full of a pulsating, vibrating rhythm that leaves you spellbound and wanting more. It is said that the person who spends a few days in Mumbai ends up staying a lifetime. But even if you don’t make Mumbai your home, you should know that there are umpteen options for shopping, entertainment and food.

The city also features some of the country’s best fine dining eateries. So on your next visit, make sure you check out one – or all – of the following best restaurants in Mumbai for the most profound dining experience this side of the country:

1. Olive Bar and Kitchen: If you’re in Mumbai on a Sunday, be sure to have your brunch at Olive Bar and Kitchen. Not that this wonderful restaurant is any less wonderful on other days, but it really outdoes itself during its Sunday brunches. You can choose from their famed Mediterranean spread, which features soups, salads, mains, and the most delectable desserts. We recommend their signature dishes, Wild Mushroom Bisque, fish and prawn salad and tomato tart.
   
   
2. Citrus, The Leela Mumbai: Be refreshed with the cosy, elegant interiors of Citrus and the warmth of the food and service. Head to Citrus for a casual lunch with friends, or an intimate dinner with your significant other, or even a hearty breakfast after your morning run. You can stare at the waterfalls outside the restaurant’s windows as you gorge on the tastiest Japanese fare at the Japan counter, or wade through several international cuisines during your Sunday brunch. If it’s a buffet dinner in Mumbai that you seek, you could do no better than Citrus.
   
   
3. The Dome, Hotel Intercontinental: Eating some gorgeous food while enjoying the best ever views of the city? You can do both at The Dome, which overlooks the city’s fabled skyline and pairs the sights with an excellent array of food and drinks. You can only have evening snacks and dinner here – it doesn’t open before 5 pm – but the wait is worth it. Sample their cocktails and salads, as also their grilled treats and soups. This is one of the best restaurants in Mumbai for a romantic date.

5 Amazing Fun Things to do when in Chennai

Did you know that Chennai’s Vandalur Zoo was India’s first zoo? Established in 1955, this is also the largest zoo in South Asia. The capital of Tamil Nadu is famous for its scenic beaches and beautiful temple architecture. While you plan out all the fun things to do here, be sure to book a comfortable room in a luxurious hotel like The Leela. Choose a hotel near the Chennai airport if you’re looking for spacious rooms overlooking the sea. The Leela offers Deluxe and Premier rooms and suites, various dining options with Pan-Asian and authentic Chennai cuisines and rejuvenating spa treatments, among other luxuries.

1.  Take Selfies at the Marina Beach

This is the largest beach in India and the second largest in the world. Extending 6.5kms from Fort St. George to Besant Nagar, the Marina Beach offers breathtaking views of the ocean. There are a number of landmarks located along the beach, including an old lighthouse, Victoria War Memorial, Mahatma Gandhi Statue and several other buildings from the time of the British rule. The Marina Beach is a photographer’s delight; and even if you aren’t one, be sure to take many selfies.

2.  Surf at the Covelong Beach

This location is known for beach activities, and is frequented by adventure enthusiasts. For the less brave-hearted, the beach still offers mesmerizing views of tides breaking on the sands. People love swimming and surfing here. Located nearby are various forts, churches and mosques.

3.  Get Amazed at the Guindy National Park & Snake Park

This national park and wildlife conservation area is a must visit for animal lovers. Here you can spot the blackbuck, spotted deer, jackals, snakes, tortoises and over 130 species of birds. Located close to the park is the Madras Crocodile Bank, a reptile zoo and herpetology research center. It is the biggest captive crocodile breeding center in India. It also breeds turtles and tortoises.

4.  Visit the Cholamandal Artist Village

This is India’s largest artists' commune and is home to more than 20 painters and sculptors. The resident artists showcase their best works to visiting guests, while sending some to be displayed at galleries across the globe.

5.  Tour the Royal Enfield Factory

Established in 1955, it is the oldest motorcycle factory in India where bikes can still be seen assembled by hand. Visit to see the different stages in manufacturing of a living legend like Royal Enfield.

Book early to get great offers at the most luxurious hotels near the Chennai airport. Choose one that offers spa treatments, which will help you relax after all the excitement of exploring the various landmarks of Chennai.

The Easiest Way to Buy Movie Tickets Online

We Indians are simply crazy about movies, aren't we? Sultan had already crossed the Rs. 500 crore mark at the box office before the end of July 2016.

In 2015, India had total box office collections of US$1.6 billion, which is expected to rise to US$3 billion by the end of 2016. The global movie tickets booking market is estimated to grow by US$13.72 billion by 2017. The current value in India is US$50 million and nearly 3.6 billion online movie ticket bookings are done every year. With the penetration of smartphones and the internet among the youth, this number is expected to continue to rise in future.

The Easiest Ways to Buy Tickets Online

• Websites: The whole idea of online movie ticketing started with the introduction of websites for just his purpose. You can use these sites to book tickets for almost any event in the city of your choice, from movies to concerts, plays and more. The online ticketing portal, BookMyShow alone, aims at selling 100 million tickets in the financial year of 2016-17. “The size of the total addressable market in India is 500 million tickets and we are looking to tap (the remaining) 80% of the market (as well),” said Ashish Hemrajani, co-founder of the company. The reason for this growth is the exclusive offers that people get by booking tickets online. For example, if you buy tickets using a DBS digibank debit card, you get 30% off. So, if 2 tickets cost Rs. 400, the buyer actually needs to pay only Rs. 280. Not a bad deal, right?

• Mobile Apps: The second most popular and probably even easier way of buying tickets is through mobile apps. Buyers can get many lucrative cashback offers here too. For example, if you book tickets through the BookMyShow app on weekdays, you get 50% off. Similarly, one of the best offers on movie tickets right now is the 10% cashback that you get by booking tickets through digisavings account of digibank.

• Mobile Wallets: The third way of buying tickets online is by using mobile wallets. You can add money in these wallets and book tickets with a simple touch. Again, the buyers get many exclusive offers on these wallets.

Butter Chicken in Mumbai v/s Butter Chicken in Delhi

Ask any Indian foodie what their favorite desi dish is, and most would exclaim, “Butter chicken, of course!” You would agree that there is something sinfully decadent and satisfying about eating a plate of well-made butter chicken. It satiates you like nothing else does – though most people also agree that it does no favors to their waistlines!

The butter chicken dish was said to be invented in Delhi in the early 1920s, by a clever tandoori chicken seller who improvised a dish out of his leftover chicken pieces. The story goes that he prepared a curry for the leftover chicken pieces to soak up, so that the food could be sold and he would not make a loss. Another theory goes that the butter chicken was first prepared in the kitchens of Moti Mahal in Daryagunj. It was said to be an experiment with existing Indian curries, using tomato chunks and butter instead of oil.

Delhi is thus known as the birthplace of butter chicken, but the dish is now found all over the country to lip smacking results. Still, the two main food centers of the country – Delhi and Mumbai – arguably serve the best butter chicken dishes in India.

Delhi butter chicken: The fundamental difference between the butter chicken found in Mumbai and that in Delhi is the treatment of the chicken itself. In Delhi, chefs roast or char grill the chicken after marinating it in herbs and salt. The curry, too, may be prepared using local tomatoes for a deeper color and more zing. Though butter forms the major base for the curry, it is perfectly balanced with a host of spices. The chicken is cooked slowly to ensure that its juices remain intact, and is served in succulent pieces doused in fiery red curry.

Mumbai butter chicken: The butter chicken found in India’s busiest city is milder and sweeter than its fuller-bodied Delhi counterpart. The chicken is often cooked raw with the curry instead of being pre-roasted. The curry is often sweeter and not spicy to the palate. While Delhi eats kebabs and tandoor roti with its butter chicken, Mumbai prefers the fattier butter naan or roomali roti.

Take a culinary trip to explore the many tastes of butter chicken in Delhi and Mumbai. Book a Mumbai to Delhi flight to embark on your tasting sojourn. Once your flight tickets are booked, start by sampling the best varieties of butter chicken in Mumbai and then move on to do the same in Delhi. So whether you find the clear winner in each city, your taste buds and tummy will sing with happiness!

Kovalam - The Perfect Getaway This Fall

Life had been long and monotonous for a while, so I finally decided to take a break from everything related to city life. Tired of the hustle-hustle of a fast moving metro city, I wanted a silent getaway where I could relax and maybe enjoy a cool sea breeze, while watching the sun disappear below the horizon. Where better to do that than in our very own southern heaven, Kerala. Kerala is known as God’s Own Country for a reason. It has beautiful scenic locales, great beaches and amazing backwaters, which makes it the perfect getaway from our congested city life. However, this is also one state that offers a huge variety of destinations to choose from, making it quite difficult to pick just one. After some research, I finally settled on Kovalam for its calm and serene beaches, as well as the popularity of Ayurvedic spas in Kovalam, which are famous around the world. Being in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, Kovalam is well connected to the outside world as well.

Once the place was decided, the dilemma was to choose the best possible place to make the most of my time there. This also took some research on Kovalam hotels and I finally chose The Leela, India's only cliff-top beach resort, and I can say without any doubt that it was one of the best decisions of my life.

Location

The location of the resort was among its best features, since it was just a 15-minute walk from both Kovalam Beach and Hawah Beach, so I could go down to the beach any time I wanted to. The famous Lighthouse Beach was also at an easily accessible distance from the resort.

Accommodation

The room that I stayed in was tastefully done, offering a perfect blend of a great view of the Arabian Sea and the luxurious comfort of modern amenities.

Dining

I chose to dine in at The Tides, which was a sea side restaurant at The Leela. Apart from offering amazing Pan-Asian cuisine, this restaurant also has music by live bands and a great dance floor to lose yourself on. Even the bar offers a stunning view of the coastline, apart from offering best the quality wines.

Spa

The Ayurvedic spa treatment with natural oils and herbs was so rejuvenating that it gave me the feeling of my body being much closer to nature. The spa sessions seemed to detoxify my body and soul alike.

The whole experience of the trip was so memorable and amazing thanks to the great hospitality of the staff and the entire ambience of the whole place. I will surely come back to Kovalam and would definitely staying once again at one of the best Kovalam hotels, The Leela.