CONTEST ALERT: Win a FREE trip to Kerala, sponsored by Kerala Tourism

               

Hi guys,

Hope your week is going well. Here is something that will make it even better!

The Kerala Tourism department has launched an online bidding game offering holiday packages to the state at virtually no cost.The bid, aimed at domestic travellers, is organised as part of the 'Visit Kerala 2015' campaign. 

The details of the game are as follows:

1. Tour packages provided by accredited service providers of Kerala Tourism will be uploaded on a dedicated Facebook app. 

2. Facebook fans of Kerala Tourism can bid for the package.

3. The bid is open only for a certain amount of time

4. The person with the lowest unique bid will be awarded the package

For example:

A person 'X' bids for a package worth Rs. 20,000 with Rs. 10. The package will be awarded to him if no other bid is made which is less than or equal to Rs. 10.

5. The person who won the package will be directly paying the bid amount to the service provider who gave that package.

An Android based application has also being developed which will allow the Kerala Tourism Facebook fans to bid for packages right from their mobile devices. 

Here are the links for you to check out:

Kerala BidWars Facebook app

Kerala BidWars Android app

Get cracking! This gorgeous state is waiting to be explored.

Contest ends December. 

Eleven Months Hence :)

Chasing stars

Lying on the wet grass

Underneath a blanket of stars

Stories unfolding

Sharing a laugh

Nip in the air

Wild boars scare

Warm beers by our side

At Twilight

Searching for Ursa Major

In the night sky

Not wanting to move

But time cries.

- Saachi Dhillon

A Weekend in Agra

Wah Taj!

As cliche as it may sound, the above title seemed the most appropriate for this post. After twenty some years of having lived in India, I had never seen the Taj Mahal in person.

Earlier last month, I finally made a trip down to go and see one of the most photographed and talked about wonders of the world. The epitome of love. Mar(b)elous beauty. Her whiteness shone bright in the rays of the rising sun. We braved the soaring June heat to have a tour of the much talked about wonder.

I was awestruck at first. It looked exactly like I had seen it in movies, making me feel like a part of the 35 mm screen. 7 am and it was over flowing with tourists like myself. I managed to click a few shots without people getting in my way. We took a tour ourselves as advised by our friendly taxi guy.What really stood out to me was the empty space marked off for the Black Taj Mahal on the other side of the river Yamuna, where Shah Jehan had wanted to be laid to rest, right across from his lady love - Mumtaz Mahal. Of course, it never was built once his son, Aurangzeb came to power.

I could see quite a few love stories blooming there. Young couples walking hand in hand, taking selfies. Of course, it was tough for us (i.e. me) to resist taking pictures as well. As grand as the Taj Mahal is from the outside, it is equally humble inside. Stark white walls, minimal stone work and small prayer rooms is what you encounter inside.

The beautiful Mughal gardens must be a delight to walk around in, on a cool winter evening. 

Till next time!