North India Travel

India has a rich cultural heritage and is famous for its divine beauty and charisma. It is world wide famous for its monuments and thus provides the tourists a wide range of options to choose from during their India Travel. Though cold winters, hot summers and moderate monsoons are the general pattern, North India is one of the most climatically diverse regions on Earth. Northern part of India provides great opportunity to explore some of superb tourist destinations during your India Travel.
Famous as the symbol of love is one of the most famous tourist spot in India, Taj Mahal in Agra, built by Shah Jahan in the loving memory of his wife Mumtaz. Built of white marble with beautiful Persian designing on the walls and is one of the major tourist attractions in India provided for visit by the India Travel Agents.
Delhi, the capital of India is diverse in its culture and heritage and has many mesmerizing places to visit like Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate (an imposing war memorial monument), Old Fort, Jama Masjid (the largest mosque in India), Rajghat (the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi),Lotus Temple (one of seven wonders of India), Akshardham Temple (the largest Hindu Temple Complex in the world), Birla Temple (Laxmi Narayan Temple) and much more during your India Travel.There are a number of artificial adventure spots in Delhi making your trip an adventurous one.Contact U Like Tours and Travel about our Delhi packages.Kashmir is a must visit for every tourist during their India Travel. The beauty of Kashmir makes it a perfect tourist destination. The summer capital - Srinagar is very popular among tourists for its ethnic beauty. Houseboats on Dal Lake, locally called as Shikaras are the most preferred accommodation option providing you a serene environment. The houseboats are elegantly furnished and it’s an absolute luxury to stay in there and enjoy your India Travel.
The Queen of Hill Stations, Shimla is the most desirable tourist destination. Must to visit are the temples Kaali Bari, Jakhoo,Sankat Mochan .If you are a shopaholic don’t forget the Mall Road and Lakkar Bazaar.Kufri is the favourite of all just to enjoy the peaceful beauty of Shimla.The best part of Shimla  is its snow covered hills during the winters and the sparkling soothing weather during the summers.
 So to take a break from your daily life chores what you need to do is nothing but pack your bags and go for a mesmerizing North India Tour. Contact us for our cheap holiday packages to Inida and Mauritius. http://www.uliketoursandtravel.co.za/

Travel with U Like Tours and Travel

Days India Insight North & South

Depart 25th February to 20th MARCH 2012

Place you will visit are:

Delhi, Lotus Temple,Agra, Taj mahal, jaipur

Amber Fort, Rishikesh,Shiva Nandas Ashram,
Haridawar, (ganga aarthi) Mathura (Krishna's Birthplace) Vrindavan, Mumbai, Goa,Sunset Cruise on the River Mandovi, Bangalore,lal Bagh ,& Chennai,Mysore, Chamundi Hills,Maharajas Palace,Putthapathy,Thirupathy& Thirumala.

$2,319
GBP1,500
EUR1,739R18,500.For more info and the t's &C's about our great specials about affordable India holiday packages please visit us on www.uliketoursandtravel.co.za

The Taj Mahal

It’s impossible to visit India and not see the Taj Mahal, unforgivable even. There is something about seeing it in person that makes it so different than the thousands of times that you've probably seen its image reproduced on television, in books, and on tacky souvenirs.

It possesses a charm that is at the same time romantic and indescribably beautiful. Movie directors have long identified it as having that something special. And Princess Diana would have most certainly agreed when she visited in 1992. It’s a famous icon of India but not just because it’s appeared on many lists naming it as a wonder of the world, but because it also encapsulates India’s enduring grace and dignity.

The History of the Taj Mahal in a Nutshell

The Taj Mahal is one of the world’s most recognizable buildings. It is a mausoleum, a memorial built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 whilst giving birth to their fourteenth child. Built of semi-translucent white marble, it took 22 years to complete and is believed to have cost approximately three million rupees, or the equivalent of USD70 million today.

Romance at the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of the most romantic places on earth, despite the fact that it is a mausoleum. Emperor Shah Jahan built it as a memorial for his much beloved wife, and as far as memorials go, most people would agree that he must have loved her a lot.

You’ll notice straight away that many visitors to the Taj Mahal, are couples, both young and old, both Indian and foreign. The long straight watercourse in front of the Taj Mahal makes for perfect arm in arm strolling. If you are not part of couple, it certainly makes you wish you were, or that your partner was with you.

The Beauty of the Taj Mahal

No matter how many times you’ve seen the Taj Mahal in books, magazines, or the movies, you can’t fail to be overawed by its beauty. No description will ever do it justice. But many have tried. Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore, described it as ‘a teardrop on the face of eternity’, whilst Rudyard Kipling called it ‘the embodiment of all things pure’.

Thankfully, there are plenty of marble benches on which to sit and contemplate the beauty of the Taj Mahal. It won’t matter that there are a couple of thousand tourists there. The Taj Mahal is so big that all the tourists at the base will look no bigger than ants. No matter how much time you spend, you’ll find that it’s hard to tear yourself away from the magic of this place.

The Taj Mahal as one of the Wonders of the World

It’s not every day that one gets to see one of the wonders of the world. The Taj Mahal has appeared on various lists of world wonders. It is sometimes included in the list of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages and has been suggested as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. One might also imagine that it’s appeared on a list somewhere as one of the Architectural Wonders of the world.

1992 Visit to the Taj Mahal by Princess Diana

The Taj Mahal should be high up on the list of places to visit for die hard Princess Diana fans. She visited the Taj Mahal in 1992 on a state visit. The famous photo of her seated alone on a marble bench in front of the Taj Mahal, is one that every second visitor to the Taj wants to replicate.

Whilst it will be impossible to get a photo of yourself with nobody else in it, it will be fun trying. At the very least, you can line up and have a photo of yourself taken on the very same marble bench as she had hers taken.

The Taj Mahal in Movies

With such a famous face, it’s no wonder that the Taj Mahal has appeared as a backdrop on numerous movies. Add Emperor Shah Jahan’s love story to the mix, and it’s understandable that there are at least two movies that had been made about the famous love story. The most recent version will be Ben Kingsley’s epic, Taj, due for release in 2011.

Amongst the most popular movies that have featured the Taj Mahal are James Bond’s Octopussy in 1983, Armageddon in 1998, and Slumdog Millionaire in 2009.

The Taj Mahal as an Emblem of India

The Taj Mahal is representative of the Indian way of life. First time visitors will quickly notice that India is a land of opposites and extremes. The most beautiful saris are worn by poor women working in the fields. Strangers on the street will walk for blocks with you when you ask them for directions, and ask nothing in return. Similarly, the Taj Mahal is an over-the-top monument to love built by a loving husband for a dead wife.

The Taj Mahal also presents a unique opportunity to really feel what it’s like to be in India. If you want to walk up onto the main part of the Taj Mahal, you must either take off your shoes, or wear a protective sheath around your shoes.

I’m not a big fan of walking barefoot. However, I recommend it here since it’s clean. The cool marble beneath your feet will remind you that India has a calm and graceful demeanor that hides a remarkable passion for life and for love.

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal will take your breath away and leave you lost for words. It’s a wonder of the world in so many ways. It’s definitely not to be missed. For more cheap affordable holidays packages to India, Mauritius, South Africa pleae visit http://www.uliketoursandtravel.co.za/

Copyright Esma Holden.

Motorcylce trip in India.

A motorcycle ride on the Himalayan terrain will test your grit and surprise you with breathtaking nature.

An ideal road trip includes adventure, challenge, breathtaking views and a 1600 km motorcycle ride from Delhi to Leh. As eight bikers storm through Leh over 11 days, we trace their journey. For adventure seekers, here's an account of the expedition. When strangers are about to set on an expedition, it is mandatory to be acquainted. The participants of the Kingfisher Blue Mile contest, the organisers and the TV crew, who capture their journey, break some ice. However, the thinning air on ascending altitude will ensure that some chill lingers on.

Weather woes morphed into adrenaline pumping adventure on reaching the freezing waters of Zanskar River, near a town named Chilling. The group rafted for 17km on the rapids.

We zoomed off to cross the highest motorable pass on earth -- Khardung La, where you'll meet some teething issues with the thinning air. Arunesh Moudgil, the winner of the contest, had a bike that kept stalling. To avoid such situations, make sure a mechanic accompanies you. We made it across 18,380 feet with one.

After a long ride over the Himalayas into the Karakoram Range, a little rest is must. The Nubra Valley may be the most beautiful cold desert on earth, but you have to take a camel ride on the white dunes to have a complete experience.

If you want to see the best of the azure Pangong Tso, visit it on a sunny day. Rain played a spoiler in our case. The 134 km long brackish lake has no sign of life inside, but on looking around you see brown-headed gulls, bar-headed geese, horses and yaks grazing, and rare marmots posing for pictures.

We dealt with sleet and then snowfall at Chang La. However, on reaching Tangste, the sun was back. Over the next four days we cover 1000 km. Regular tea breaks make the ride relaxed. We halt in Sarchu, Jispa and then ride toward Manali. It was not the lack of oxygen but a 24-hour-long traffic jam that tested our grit at the Rohtang Pass. However the feeling of accomplishment on completing an expedition surpasses everything. The 25 strangers at last bid adieu as friends and sojourners.

For more information on cheap holiday India Packages visit, www.uliketoursandtravel.co.za

(By Neha Dixit, on her Dream  Ride from Leh to Delhi,  NDTV Good Times Travel Shows Producer)

Lost African Tribe in India!

Did you know that India has a tribe of African People?
 At U Like Tours and Travel offer numerous holiday destinations. A few years a client  insisted that he had to see the "Lost African Tribe" in India.
After further research we were totally taken aback, Did you know that India has a tribe of African people?
In the Gujarat state of Western India, deep in the Jungle's is where you will find them. It is beleived that they have lived there for over 1,000 years. They are self sufficent and independant however still a very poor community.

"Siddis", as they are reffered to, say that they don't know very much about their arrival into India.

Their village is called Jambur and they hope like their developed counterparts, Ahmedabad to have Hospitals and schools to educate the future of their tribe. They have totally integrated themselves in the culture.  Their strict rule of not allowing their children to marry outside the community further closes them off from the very counterparts of which they seek to emulate! for our great affordable tours visit us at http://www.uliketoursandtravel.co.za/