Monkfoot Travels Pvt Ltd

29/03/2024

Mr. Predheep Nair & family from USA, recently did a family trip of ‘Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Jodhpur’.

He has beautifuly compiled some moments from part of their trip in this video. While watching, you can feel the vibes of the Pink City and the Blue City.

Filmed and photographed the beautiful Jaipur (Pink City) and Jodhpur (Blue City) of Rajasthan during my Trip to India Jan 2024. Glimpses from those shots pre...

21/02/2024

Kolkata - Mullik ghat flower market
Hardly any ritual, function, puja, birthday, funeral or wedding in Kolkata is complete without flowers from Mullick Ghat — the vibrant and bustling flower market on the banks of the Hooghly.
It was built by Rammohan Mullick in 1855, in memory of his father Nimai Charan Mullick.
The market wakes with the first rays of the sun. Not just flowers, but the many other sorts of decorations with flowers are sold here. The business here comprises not only of the countless farmers and middlemen who sell their products, but also the many shop-keepers who offer decoration services and more. The chaos is governed by an undiscernible order, which remains invisible but palpable. And that is how the things have been getting done here, not only presently, but for well over a century.
(The Telegraph)

19/01/2024

Varanasi: The ancient city of Varansi or Kashi, where time stands still, epitomizes the core of Indian civilization, culture, philosophy and spirituality. The holy river Ganges lined with ancient “ghats” (= steps) and temples has a unique charm of its own.
Sarnath is one of the four most revered Buddhist pilgrimage destinations. It is here that Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon referred to as Dharmachakra – Turning the Wheel of the Law, after attaining enlightenment.
Pic Courtsey : Biswajit Chauodhury and Srabani Majumdar

08/12/2023

The unique step wells of India
A millennium ago, stepwells were fundamental to life in the driest parts of India. During the sixth and seventh centuries, the inhabitants of the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in North-western India developed a method of gaining access to clean, fresh groundwater during the dry season. Most stepwells are found dotted around the desert areas of Gujarat (where they are called vav) and Rajasthan (where they are known as baori), while a few also survive in Delhi. As their name suggests, stepwells comprise a series of stone steps descending from ground level to the water source (normally an underground aquifer) as it recedes following the rains. When the water level is high, the villagers needed only to descend a few steps to reach it and in the summer, when it was low, several levels would have to be negotiated. They also included pavilions that sheltered visitors from the relentless heat.
They could be as simple as a spiraling staircase down to a round pool of water in the center, or a complex maze of stairs and columns. But perhaps the most impressive features are the intricate decorative sculptures that embellish many step wells. While Hindu in origin, the value of stepwells was quickly grasped by Muslim rulers of the Mughal empire beginning in the early 1500′s and they even built their own wherever they went.

12/11/2023

Dear Friends
May the festival of lights illuminate your home with health, happiness and joy and brighten up the lives of your near and dear ones.
Wish you a happy Diwali!
Warm Regards
Team Monkfoot

04/08/2023

Can’t make it to Barbie’s DreamHouse in Malibu? Fret not, we’ve got a Pink City right here.

Can’t make it to Barbie’s DreamHouse in Malibu? Fret not, we’ve got a Pink City right here

21/03/2023

Frozen Ladakh - February 2023
Winter is the best time to visit Ladakh for the adventurous . Visiting Ladakh in winters is a chance to see this magic land with all of its stunning barrenness to yourself.

06/03/2023

Sidhpur : The empty “European town” of Gujarat, where time has stopped moving….

The Dawoodi Bohras are a Shia Muslim trading community from Gujarat with a distinct history and identity. They fanned out across India (and to East Africa) in the 19th and early 20th centuries. A close knit trading community, the Bohras (like, the Chettiars of Chettinad in Tamil Nadu, and the merchants of Shekhawati in Rajasthan), built distinctive and grand residences in their ‘native’ towns that have come to be known as “Bohrawads"—a legacy now threatened by neglect.
Walking the streets of Sidhpur you will be struck by a sense of surrealist .. Not only the “European” architecture, which seems out of place in an Indian town, but because all the houses are empty.
The older generation the Bohra community have passed away while their descendants have migrated to other countries or moved to live in big cities, visiting only during the holidays.

Some houses have peeling paint while others are getting a new coat of paint. The Vohrawad is coming down, bit by bit. People have been leaving for years. And the houses left behind have been coming down gradually.

13/01/2023

Jaisalmer - The Golden City
To experience the desert and its life in true colours, visit Jaisalmer the land of the Golden Fort, the Golden Desert and elegant Havelis. The name Jaisalmer (Jaisal and Meru) literally means ‘Fort of King Jaisa on the hill’. Jaisalmer is known as the “Golden City” because of its impressive yellow fort and many yellow sandstone buildings.
Jaisalmer is on the western boundary of India separated from Pakistan by the Thar Desert. The city was built when the warrior clans or Rajputs were pushed out from Punjab towards the south and Rawal Jaisal founded the fort and city of Jaisalmer in the 11th Century.
Read More : https://www.monkfoot.com/destination-rajasthan-jaisalmer

15/11/2022

The "Festival of Festivals," i.e. the Hornbill Festival, was disrupted for two years (2020 and 2021) due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This December it is all set to be back in Kohima with preparations in full swing, to make it a grand affair.
Read More https://www.monkfoot.com/hornbill-festival-of-nagaland

30/09/2022

Durga Puja - Kolkata (UNESCO Heritage)
To be in Calcutta for the Durga Puja festival is an amazing experience and a photographer’s delight. Durga Puja in Kolkata is not merely an expression of faith. It is an expression of social fervor and artistic excellence.
UNESCO has inscribed Durga Puja in Kolkata on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.Few years back, Vir Sanghvi, Editor of Hindustan Times, wrote a lovely article titled – “What 'Pujo' means to a Bengali”. I quote two lines from the same “It is nothing like Christmas; and certainly nothing like Diwali in North India. Nothing, in fact, can prepare you for the magic of Puja in Calcutta. To understand what it means, you have to be here.”
Read More : https://www.monkfoot.com/durga-puja-in-kolkata

23/09/2022

Kettuvallam – Houseboats of Kerala Backwaters
Backwater houseboat trips are one of the highlights of the visiting Kerala . A cruise along the mirror-still lagoons, picture-book lakeside, palm-fringed canals and shimmering rivulets of `God's Own Country' is the most enchanting holidaying experience in the country.
Cruise on a houseboat to float through the intricate canals and rivers obesrving the village life of Kerala's backwater.
Read More : https://www.monkfoot.com/kearla-houseboat

15/09/2022

India is Incredible!
A country astonishingly unique in its amalgamation of natural, historical, architectural, natural and geographical richness.
While most of us know about the Majestic Himalayas, the magnificent Taj Mahal, the colorful history of Rajasthan or the beautiful beaches of Goa and backwaters of Kerala, what we do not realize is, India is probably more diverse than any other country in the world.
India will never disappoint.............
https://www.monkfoot.com/besttimetovisitindia

India is Incredible! A country astonishingly unique in its amalgamation of natural, historical, architectural, natural and geographical richness.  While...

28/08/2022

The Palace on Wheels has been running for the last 40 years, except for the last two years of Covid. It started in 1982 with the concept of the first luxury heritage train in the country. It is derived from the royal background of the coaches, which were originally meant to be the personal railway coaches of the erstwhile rulers of the princely states of Rajputana and others.

The interiors of the train have been designed to highlight the cultural and heritage ethos of Rajasthan.

The train starts from Delhi and during a week-long journey, covers the destinations like Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur etc.

https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/luxury-train-palace-on-wheels-will-be-back-on-track-this-tourist-season-after-two-years

The train starts from Delhi and during a week-long journey, covers the destinations like Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur etc.

13/08/2022

Like the extraordinarily diverse country it is, the climate and geographical aspects are also equally complex here. .
Here is our brief guide to the best times to visit India.
https://www.monkfoot.com/besttimetovisitindia

India an enigma India is an enigma, a puzzle, a maze of contradictions and assimilation of Nature, History, Architecture, Art, Cuisine, Spirituality, Langua...

29/07/2022

Wake up to bird songs, fresh air and breathtaking sights of the mountains, observe the simple life of the mountain villages, spend days hiking and birdwatching and in the evenings curl up with a mug of tea or coffee. There is no better way to re-charge your batteries.
I have highlighted here a few amazing mountain lodges from different regions in India. These are not the usual lodges / resorts dotting the popular mountain destinations. Each of these are situated in gorgeous locations and offer beautiful mountain views. Some are rustic & earthy while some offer luxurious comfort, each distinct in its own character & style.
I hope you will find something interesting & please feel free to get in touch for more options. 😊
https://ratnabhb-wildinsoul.blogspot.com/2021/04/offbeat-mountain-lodges-in-india.html

Offbeat Mountain Lodges in India Get link Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Other Apps - April 10, 2021 Very few trips can rival a vacation amidst the mountains. The Himalayas in the North and North-East and the Niligiris in the south are ideal places to relax and unwind or enjoy an activity filled h...

04/06/2022

"India has an incredible intensity of colours, and of variety. But there's no country in the world which has such a variety and such a density of impressions," Lindner told ANI.

New Delhi [India], June 2 (ANI): Just a few weeks before the end of his tenure, outgoing German ambassador to India Walter J Lindner has lauded India and said that the country has a variety of colours and density of impressions.

26/05/2022

The celebrated Mughal gardens of Kashmir owe their grandeur primarily to Emperor Jahangir who deeply loved Kashmir, and his son Shah Jahan. Jahangir was responsible for the careful selection of the sites and manoeuvring it to suit the requirements of the gardens.
The sites selected were invariably at the foot of a mountain, wherever there was a source of water either in the form of streams or springs. This feature eventually evolved in terraced garden layouts.
The highly advanced engineering skills of the Mughal empire helped in creation of the timeless beauty of the exquisite gardens.
The major gardens are - Pari Mahal, Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh & Chashma Shahi in Srinagar, Achabal Bagh near Anant Nag and Verinag.
Read more : https://www.monkfoot.com/kashmir-mughal-gardens

01/04/2022

Glorious Sunset at Kausani – Uttarakhand
Kausani is famous for its scenic splendour and its spectacular 300 km-wide panoramic view of Himalayan peaks - Trishul, Nanda Devi, Panchachulli, Chaukhambha, Miraghunti, Nandaghunti, Nand kot and many more are visible.
While in Kausani, you have to just sit back and gaze at the Himalayas until the sun decides to set orange fire to the Himalayan peaks creating a jaw dropping spectacle.
Read more : https://www.monkfoot.com/destination-uttarakhand-kausani

02/02/2022

Gulmarg -- the winter wonderland !
Take a winter break in Gulmarg. Put on your snowshoes and explore this stunning Himalayan wonderland.
Read more https://www.monkfoot.com/destination-kashmir-gulmarg

10/12/2021

Hampi - Karnataka
Saying – “Hampi is a fascinating destination”, would be an understatement.
An extraordinary amalgamation of history and nature spread across an area of 26sq/km;
Read More : https://www.monkfoot.com/destination-karnataka-hampi

02/12/2021

Mehrangahrh Fort – Jodhpur
A tour of Jodhpur is incomplete without a visit to the stunning Mehrangarh Fort. The Fort lies on the outskirts of Jodhpur city and is located atop a 125m high hill.
The Rathore dynasty, worshipped the Sun God. Hence, they named the fort 'Mehrangarh', derived from two words: 'Mihir', that stands for Sun and 'Garh' means Fort. The locals gradually began to call Mehar-garh as Mehrangarh in their local accent.
Read more : https://www.monkfoot.com/destination-rajasthan-jodhpur

16/10/2021

The Majestic Bramhaputra river

The majestic Bramhaputra river originates in the Chemayungdung Glacier, in Tibet where it is known as Yarlung Tsangpo and flows across southern Tibet . Out of its total length of 2,880 km the Brahmaputra covers a major part of its journey in Tibet as Tsangpo. Tsangpo or the BrahmaputraRiver flows 1625 km in Tibet parallel to the Himalayas before breaking through the Himalayas into Arunachal Pradesh (India) where it is known as Dihang or Siang. Then It flows southwest through the Assam Valley as Brahmaputra and through Bangladesh as the Jamuna (not to be mistaken with Yamuna of India). In the vast Ganges Delta it merges with the Padma, the main distributary of the Ganges, then the Meghna, before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

In Assam the river is mighty, even in the dry season, and during the rains its banks are more than 6-8 km apart at some places. In Upper Assam near Dibrugarh the river is nearly 16 km wide.
In Assam also has the distinction of having the largest (Majuli) and smallest ( Umananda) inhabited riverine islands in the world.

If you are planning to visit Assam, make sure you enjoy the splendor of one of the greatest rivers in the world & consider including Bramhaputra crossing and a visit to Majuli and Umananda islands in your itinerary.

09/04/2021

The Dal Lake
The distant mountains surrounding the valley of Srinagar get perfectly mirrored in the still waters of the lake.
The lake’s uniqueness lies in the fact that people live on the lake in settlements and also cultivate floating gardens within it where they farm crops such as melons, cucumbers and tomatoes.
Read more : https://www.monkfoot.com/destination-kashmir-dal-lake