Fall in love with one & Only Radisson Blu Guwahati!

Radisson Blu Guwahati stands true to its name and brand with massive designer building and entrance with sophisticated interiors.

As I reached the hotel which is at a spectacular location on NH 37, a grand entrance with fountains and greenery welcomed us.

Grand entrance

At the lobby, a big art work was the centre of attraction magnetizing the whole ambiance. Beautiful shades and seating arrangement with soothing colours camouflaged well with each other creating a luxurious ambiance.

Lobby with incredibly beautiful art work

Beyond the reception was Cafe B U offering Mediterranean, Indian and Asian cuisines. Furniture , buffet setting , salad and desserts counter created a fantabulous  ambiance. Food was not spicy at all and the lavish spread exceeded the needs of travellers be they expats, international or domestic guests. Cafe is excellent and needs a separate post.

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Nidhi KM

Interiors at Cafe B U

See Kanchenjunga from your room @ Cedar Inn, Darjeeling

View at the main gate of Cedar Inn

While I searched for hotels and resorts in Darjeeling via various websites, I realized Cedar Inn was the only hotel having the clear view of Kanchenjunga peaks right from the comfort of its rooms. And that was the deciding factor for me to choose Cedar Inn as one and only part of our stay in Darjeeling.

At the very first interaction with any of personnel of a hotel/resort, one can anticipate the kind of experience that can be expected.

Cedar Inn

As per our pre scheduled date , we reached Cedar Inn. Cedar Inn is located on Jalapahar Road. That is a beautiful location. Upon reaching there I realized that the view of Kanchenjunga peaks is actually their USP. Wow, we were elated to see the building and view before even we entered the property.

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Nidhi KM

Face of Cedar Inn

GM with a Golden Heart @The Royal Plaza, Sarovar Hotels- Gangtok

As we decided to stay at Sarovar Hotels in Gangtok amongst many other hotels, we got in touch with the Ms.Shatabdi , Marketing Manager of Sarovar Hotels who was instrimental in connecting us with the General Manager (GM) - Sourav Sengupta there.

We discussed our travel itinerary and our wish to stay at Sarovar Hotels in Gangtok. I was pleasantly surprised to talk to this GM on phone as he paid attention to fine details of our plan not only at Gangtok but also high level plan of other North Eastern States.

As he understood our reason and objective of our stay at Sarovar Hotels, he immediately guided us about the property and how best we could plan our itinerary.

When we reached the hotel finally, Mr. Sourav Sengupta personally attended us and went over and beyond to help us book tickets to Guwahati that were not confirmed two days before travel date.

Why I call him as a GM with a Golden Heart?

1. His team seemed very prompt and helpful. They pre empted our needs and without disturbing us ensured all our requirements were met before time. This can only be done if a staff is contented. Happy staff provides excellent service. This clearly showed how Sourav dealt with his team.

2. Staff at the restaurant was courteous and paid attention to fine details. They were very kids friendly. Be they Head Chef Mr. Satyam Sinha or serving staff Swarnima or Shereen and Dolma at Front Office. Even though I felt sometimes that my kids were really naughty being 7 and 5 and we used to spend 3 hours a day there, staff was patient enough to deal with my kids queries. I could see other guests as well appreciating staff members including Swarnima and Shereen.

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Nidhi KM

Showcase your innovative culinary ventures

Have you ever tried Jalebi with mint chutney? Or nutri nugget garlic pakoras or for that matter namkeen sandwich ?

Am I not sounding crazy? But I have been doing such crazy recipes. There is an altogether different feeling if you try something crazy and the result is fabulous!!

Well, my Mother keeps trying crazy stuff more than me. As per my mother, if you change one ingredient of the dish, the dish becomes new and gets a new flavour, colour and presentation. One should know basic ingredients of the taste and spices very well. Every spice has got its own importance and can make or break a dish.

One fine day while sitting at home in my balcony, I thought to experiment with aalu bhujia and flour. I thought to stuff flour dough with aalu bhujia and mango pickle.

Recipe

Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup flour

2. 1 slice of mango pickle

3. 3 tea spoons of aalu bhujia

4. 1 green chilly

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Mixture of Aalu Bhujia, Chopped green chillies and mango pickle one slice

How toto select travel destinations in a state

Once you have decided a state to travel, it becomes really tough to finalize an itinerary unless you have a trustworthy guide. These days specially one needs to plan a smart travel while spending minimal and enjoying maximum.

White Rann- one of Travel Destinations in Gujarat

As I had earlier provided tips on how to save money during travel, this article tells how best to decide travel destinations in a state.

Here are top 5 tips to select travel destinations in a state

1. Search on various sites like TripAdvisor, blogs like Viharin.com, websites like ibibo.com, ixigo.com, Lonely Planet etc to check out what to see and do in a chosen state
2. Tally these with packages provided by various travel sites like make my trip , Yatra.com, Cox and Kings etc.
3. Read reviews and search photographs of destinations of your interest across various blogs and Travel sites like Holiday IQ and TripAdvisor.

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Nidhi KM

Top 5 tips to travel with kids to high altitudes

Being travel parents of young kids , sometimes we become apprehensive about our future experience specially to high altitudes. Young kids however are a big support and encouraging till the time they are well. Moment they fall ill, whole experience goes for a toss. So, it is very important to ensure we take all precautions specially at high altitudes to ensure our kids are fine.

High altitude

So, here are top 5 tips to travel with kids to high altitudes

1.Plan in advance and meticulously as weather can surprise you.  Carry clothes according to estimated temperature of the destiation before reaching there so that you take ample woollen clothing and layers of clothes, ear muffs, mufflars, mouth covers, gloves, caps and dry fruits, chewing gums, popcorns, sweets, vicks, camphor tablets, anti vomiting tablets or syrups, acidity or painkillers for kids to combat side effects of extremely low temperatures and dirth of oxygen

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Nidhi KM

Hotel of your choice

When we are travelling, we want to ensure our accommodation where we stay should be good as per our requirement so that we are rest assured. How do we ensure we select a good propertry. Here are 5 tips to select a decent property for ourselves as per our requirement.

Top 5 tips to select a hotel of your choice

1. Depending on the type of budget you want to spend on your stay, search with similar keywords like for luxurious properties, type keywords like luxurious, 5*,7* or premium accommodation; for budget stay, type in keywords like guest house, 1* ; for middle level, you can type in 3* property or 3* hotels and resorts. You will get many websites showing results by the level of properties

2. Check these websites and make a list of those properties. Visit individual websites of those properties and check for their tarrifs, services and specially gallery. Gallery gives a fair idea of the look and feel of the property. Services too indicate the standard of a property and well tallys with tarrifs charged by the property. Select properties based on your criteria

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Nidhi KM

Toy-Train-view-from-its-compartment-window

Upon reaching a destination, if you miss crucial things in luggage, then if not full but initial somepart of trip goes in working around alternatives rather than enjoying. No one would like to do that. Right?

I came across few things which I thought were crucial for my bag packing. So decided to share with you …

5 Things you must check before packing travel luggage

1. Check temperature or weather conditions of the destination. Accordingly you can keep extra woolens or rain coats, umbrellas or extra pair of shoes for kids.

2. Check if there are restaurants or road side eateries on the way so that you can take eatables for long drives accordingly

3. If there are certain things that you are not sure whether to carry along but can easily buy from the destination in case required. Check if there are enough markets at the destination so that you have an option to buy in case required

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Nidhi KM

Celebrate Valentines Day @ Radisson Blu MBD Noida

Radisson Blu MBD Hotel Noida

With Valentines Day around the corner and specially, this time being on Sunday, many  ouoles would get a chance to celebrate it with full fun and frolic. Many people like me may even have thought to spend weekend somewhere. Things are nice when one plans to celebrate and they become excellent if the plan is about staying at a luxurious property and spending time with the loved one.

Radisson Blu MBD Hotel Noida is celebrating Valentine's Day by offering enticing deals and packages at different restaurants and even spa and room packages. 

Package options at Radisson Blu MBD Noida

Content and photographs credit Radisson Blu MBD Noida

Bold and beautiful, The Taj Mahal- India

This time I was there to see The Taj Mahal for the fourth time I guess. I had fond memories of The Taj Mahal. Have been fascinated always by the reason of being of The Taj Mahal. As part of IRCTC FAM trip. This time we reached The Taj around 3 pm. As we moved across the gate , lush green gardens welcomed us.

Lush green garden

The whole area was full of smog that let us have a very dim and hazy view of The Taj. I wondered how this wonder monument is facing atrocities of the smog. Yet it a stood bold and beautiful. What I saw next was unbelievable to my eyes. The Taj Mahal was getting repaired. Two of its minarets were getting repaired by Archaeological Society of India. 

Taj Mahal

I couldn't believe the sight, The Taj that I have been visiting since my childhood, needs attention, but suddenly wisdom struck and I recalled the practical reasons of the needs to protect The Taj from the pollution, weather and more. Thank God someone is there to protect my Taj, the Pride of India I thought.

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Nidhi KM

Minaret of The Taj Mahal getting repaired

Restaurant review- Flluid Mosaic Hotels, Noida

Ambiance at Flluid Mosaic Hotels

Since long, I have been planning to review Thai restaurant Flluid at Mosaic Hotels. Finally, got the right time to do so.

Ambiance

Reception of Mosaic hotels had a nice entrance with well lit decor and excellent interiors. The restaurant behind the reception area had a combination of steal grey , black and brown colours. Roof was decorated with shades overall giving a nice ambiance.

Food at Flluid Mosaic Hotels

First of all we were served with Porpia Chase (Vermicelli and Vegetable wrapped in wafer thin spring roll pastry and deep fried till crispy). It was OK as I found the roll a bit thick.

Porpia Chae

Next was  Thai High Satay (Grilled Chicken with black pepper lemon grass). I liked it as it had a right blend of spices and chicken pieces were tender.

Thai High Satay

Post this Tom Kha Phak soup (A spicy clear vegetable soup with coconut milk, flavoured with galangal) arrived. This was a nice and tingy hot soup.

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Nidhi KM

Wonderful Indonesia lures Indian Tourists

Cultural performance by artists

Indonesia has been on my list of destinations to visit in the near future. When I came to know about the destination update happening in Le Meridien, I was excited to attend the same. I wanted to hear to Mr. Taufik Nurhidayat, Deputy Director of Familiarization Trip for Asia Pacific Promotion from the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) Indonesia.

When I reached, there were booth tables laid down to provide destination updates, DMCs and hospitality businesses like Accor Hotels, Sun lake hotels etc. Mr. Taufik shared the updates on destination. He mentioned , India is a holds strong potential for Indonesia Tourism.

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Nidhi KM

SATTE 2016 where the world converged

Madhya Pradesh area at SATTE 2016

After attending an interesting SATTE 2015, I was eagerly waiting for SATTE 2016. So, when I was invited for SATTE 2016, I decided to attend the event on the second day of exhibition. As I entered the gate 12, there were big and beautifully decorated stalls of various states of India starting from Madhya Pradesh in the beginning. There were many states like Punjab, Kerala, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Goa, Manipur, Meghalya, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and many more.

Srilanka and Gujarat Tourism

There were also many International and domestic hotels chains in India that had participated like Radisson Blu, ITDC, Accor Hotels, Sarovar Hotels, Sun Resorts, Orchha Resorts and many more.

Performance by artists in Maharashtra Tourism

This was a massive huge area. It took me minimum two and a half hours to only visit this section.

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Nidhi KM

Imagica

A visit to Eastern Group of temples, Khajuraho

Eastern group of temples

Eastern group if Temples in Khajuraho are very different from Western group of temples. Unlike Western group of temples, Eastern group of temples reflect Jainism. Parsvanath. temple is the largest and best preserved temples of Khajuraho. There are not many temples in Eastern group.

Beautiful view

It will not take more than an hour to visit the whole place. Outside the temple group, there is a market from where you can buy souvenirs, clothes and eatables.

Temples complex is nice and clean. Some temples were getting repaired to provide them longevity and durability and also protect from natural erosion.

I was happy to see the site and also the famous Parsvanath Temple. 

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Nidhi KM