Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Taj Mahal

4:08 AM Yasser Ferhat 1 comment

Taj Mahal world heritage site in Agra, India. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Taj Mahal, Agra, India. Deutsch: Taj Mahal im indischen Agra. Español: Vista del Taj Mahal, Agra, India. Français : Le Taj Mahal, à Âgrâ, en Inde. Русский: Мавзолей Тадж-Махал, Агра, Индия. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is just a three hours journey from New Delhi, the capital of India. It has been one of the most attractive tourist spots in India for foreigners for years. Taj Mahal, the “best-ever symbol of eternal love” stands on the bank of river Jamuna at Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Taj Mahal, one of India's best architectural wonders was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in 1631 in the memory of his second wife, Arjumand Banu who was later known as Mumtaz Mahal, (The meaning of the word Mumtaz Mahal is the Distinguished of the Palace).

Taj, the famous dome rests on a huge white marble terrace rising from a high red sandstone base (186x186 feet ) is flanked by four tapering minarets. Shahjahan consulted experts from the Middle East and Europe as he planned his legacy, which took Twenty Thousand people over Twenty-Two years to build. Cheap Travel modes are available to reach Taj Mahal, which used to serve as a wide moat defense of the Great Red Fort of Agra, the capital of the Mughal empire in those days.

Three names pop up as the designer of Taj Mahal, Geronimo Veroneo an Italian, Silversmith Austin de Bordeaux – French and Ustad Ahmad - the Persian Engineer cum Astrologer. It is heard that materials were collected from various corners of the world, like hills of Markana, Chinese Turkestan, Tibet, Burma, Afghanistan, Egypt and the Himalayas.

Cheap Travel Packages are available to intrude into the thrilling interior of this magnificent Mughal architecture, which comprises a domed ceiling, lofty central chamber, four octagonal corner rooms, the cenotaphs of Sha Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal in the center, an ever-glowing Cairene lamp.

Despite the controversy, whether it’s a tomb or a Shiva Temple, known as Tejo Mahalaya (acquired by Shah Jahan from the then Maharaja of Jaipur), Taj sparkles when the white marble basks in the moonlight. One may stay at cheap travel hotels to witness this mesmerizing beauty especially on a full moon night.

Plan your journey through cheap travel to visit one of the world's most famous monuments, Taj Mahal, which has just celebrated its 350th birthday.

Taj Mahal is said to express the different moods of a woman. It looks pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines. So, the travel freaks and romantic couples planning their trip to India through cheap travel should not give the Taj a miss!

Gold Restaurant by Dolce & Gabbana

5:46 AM Yasser Ferhat No comments

Milan, Italy has one special restaurant called Gold by Dolce & Gabbana. As the name suggests, the restaurant glitters with warm amber hues of gold. Gold staircases, gold walls, gold chairs, gold lights – anything, you name it, is golden. Perhaps not real gold, but gold colored. Italian lifestyle would be awaiting you to enjoy the best cuisine of the highest quality, even for just breakfast or a drink.

Seemingly delicious dishes

The Amazing Retreat W Hotel, Koh Samui – Thailand

8:50 AM YasserPro

Clear off your mind, and forget anything about work or its stress. It’s time to take a vacation and relax away from everything. W Hotel in Koh Samui, which is located in Thailand, is definitely the perfect retreat to go when you really want to relax and have some quality time. The place is unbelievably amazing, and as soon as you check its pictures, you’ll make sure that it’s the place you want to go. The hotel is so romantic and cheerful; nature is all around you. The first eye catching unique thing that you will find is the round lounge area placed inside a magnificent pool, I don’t think there’s anything that can be more relaxing than spending some time inside one of those; even the colors are bright and cheerful. Everything is made of wood, whether in the rooms or in the different parts of the hotel itself. Rooms are beautifully designed, and cheerful touches of colors are found making the whole design very decorative. Bathrooms are amazing, and you can see a bathtub placed overlooking a pool which is great and relieving. A great service presented at this Hotel is called “Whatever, Whenever” and this service is based on getting any customer whatever he needs whenever he needs it. W hotel also offers programs for your pets so that they can enjoy too! This is a place that will definitely revive your heart and will be unforgettable.

The Amazing Retreat W Hotel, Koh Samui – Thailand

The Hideaway Soneva Fushi Resort, Maldives

8:44 AM YasserPro

Just let go of everything, forget about all your problems, stresses, calls, or schedules. It’s time to renovate your soul and relax in one of the best sports on the whole world. Soneva Fushi resort is a desert island hideaway that gives you the best vacation ever away from everything; just you, nature, and the splendid view of the beach! Soneva Fushi is one of the best resorts in Maldives on Kunfunadhoo Island that offers you the best experience and unique natural views along with maximum comfort. Soneva Fushi resorts offer luxurious villas that give you the best accommodation ever. Soneva Fushi Villas are divided into different types that can have different numbers of bedrooms, and can come with pools and spa suites. Choose the type of villa that suits your needs and is affordable to you. Families will also get to enjoy their stay at Soneva Fushi resorts where it offers amazing accommodation units; Soneva Fushi Family. Soneva Fushi Family accommodation unit has its own amenities, activities, sports, and more. Kids get to enjoy their stay and have a lot of fun as much as adults; it’s a great vacation for everyone.

Lush palms and turquoise waters along with white sand surround all accommodations giving you the maximum relaxation and the best view that’s very rare to find elsewhere. Wellness is one of the guaranteed things to enjoy while staying at Soneva Fushi, the resort offers its Six Senses Spa that lies in the beachfront jungle; it’s the best place for rejuvenation. You can enjoy healing, beauty, and pampering treatments. Now food is one the things that you get to enjoy at Soneva Fushi because they have a marvelous cuisine that serves the best. Fresh fruits, juices, buffets and more are available for you. Lots of activities can be done at Soneva Fushi, if you love water sports, then it’s the perfect place. Sailing, windsurfing, kayaks, diving, and kite surfing are all available for you, and you can also take a sunset cruise for the best view that you’ll never forget. You will also get to watch dolphins and stars.

Best waterfalls in the world

2:17 AM YasserPro

Best Waterfalls for Your World Travel Bucket List

In the North Georgia city of Dawsonville, there’s a relaxing lil’ haven called Amicalola Falls State Park. While it offers no “World’s Biggest…” superlatives, it does pride itself on being an extremely popular place for hikers. But even with its wonderful 175-foot drop, we know of at least 10 other waterfalls around the world that far surpass it in beauty. (Sorry, Niagara, but you’re not one of them.) These natural wonders may not all be the tallest or the widest; they’re simply the 10 Best Waterfalls you should have on your world travel bucket list.

VICTORIA FALLS (Zambia & Zimbabwe)

Victoria Falls

If you calculate quality by height and width, this African marvel is the greatest single sheet of flowing water in the world. The spectacular drop, which hits 344 feet at its center, is so massive that it’s actually surrounded by two national parks, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia and Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe.

YOSEMITE FALLS (California)

Yosemite Falls

Though debate over where Yosemite sits on the list of North America’s grandest waterfalls continues, there’s little to squabble over when it comes to sheer beauty of appearance. The 2,425 feet of falling water (including several smaller cascades between Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls) is absolutely breathtaking. The scenic Sierra Nevada mountain range surrounds it all, adding even more sprinkles to the tasty rock candy.

JIM JIM FALLS (Australia)

Rainfall plays a role in virtually every waterfall’s volume, but its effects on Jim Jim might be even more significant than elsewhere. Visit the Kakadu National Park attraction in the dry season and the natural faucet will appear to be nothing more than a trickle. Come during the temperamental wet season (December-March) and you’ll find amazing views, but the roads will be impossibly drenched. Thankfully, a scenic flight over Jim Jim during either season will quench visitors’ thirsts for Instagram-worthy snaps.

ANGEL FALLS (Venezuela)

Angel Falls

One of the most lasting images from the animated gem Up was the beautiful tepui (table top mountains) and waterfalls that elderly Carl Fredricksen so desperately wanted to get to after his beloved wife passed away. This magical stop in Venezuela was the film’s inspiration. Natives call it Kerepakupai Vena (“waterfall of the deepest place”). Geographers refer to it as the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall (3,212 feet). Everyone else can simply say that it’s the magical place from the Pixar movie.

SHOSHONE FALLS (Idaho)

They call this one the “Niagara of the West,” but, honestly, that might be shortchanging the experience. Whereas the real Niagara Falls has turned into a tourist-crowded cesspool of commercialism, this treasure of Twin Falls has retained most of the same natural splendor it’s had since the last ice age. It’s 212 feet high, 900 feet wide and, as far as we can tell, relatively free of any cheesy souvenir t-shirt stands.

GULLFOSS FALLS (Iceland)

Though it wasn’t named a UNESCO World Heritage Site until 2004, Gullfoss (“Golden Falls” in English) was considered a treasure long before that by those who witnessed the powerful chute with their own eyes. The waterfall might come off as a bit shy initially because the crevice actually disappears from view as you approach it. But Gullfoss is hardly modest, showing up in pop culture (Echo & the Bunnymen’s Porcupinealbum cover), literature (The Gullfoss Legends), and atop must-see lists for any Iceland ecotourism visit.

KAIETEUR FALLS (Guyana)

Gullfoss Falls

Though the world’s tallest single drop honor goes to Angel Falls, the world’s most powerful one probably rests with this Guyanian gem. With a flow rate of around 23,500 cubic feet per second, Kaieteur’s strength is hard to put into words. As for the raw magnificence of it all, we’re pretty sure the heavenly mist, vibrant rainbows and bountiful wildlife surrounding the Falls more than tell the story.

PLITVICE WATERFALL (Croatia)

Plitvice Waterfall

It’s not enough that this enchanting place made our feature on the 10 Best Lakes for Your World Travel Bucket List. Any tally of the planet’s most breathtaking waterfalls has to include the Croatian paradise as well. The configuration of limestone, the vibrancy of green hues and the almost perfect flow of water create images so divine, they almost look Photoshopped. But they’re not, and photographer Jack Brauer has the jaw-dropping images to prove it!

CUMMINS FALLS (Tennessee)

There’s a more well-known cataract of the same name in British Colombia, but this is the one that truly caught our eye. And from the looks of it, we aren’t the only ones fascinated by Cummins’ unique stair-stepped layout either. Tennessee’s state government officially named Cummins Falls a state park back in May and, in June,Travel + Leisure recognized Tennessee’s well-kept secret as one of the 10 best swimming holes in America.

GUAZU FALLS (Brazil and Argentina)

Iguazu Falls

We’ve saved the best for last. Taller than Niagara (269 feet) and 3,000 feet wider than Victoria, Iguazu also happens to be more handsome than them both. The melding of ferocity, grandeur and drama simply can’t be matched by another waterfall on the planet. Famed photographer Yoshikazu Shirakawa dedicated nearly one-third of his book The World’s Hundred Greatest Waterfalls, Vol. II to this South American icon. We completely understand why, and it’s #1 on our bucket list as a result.