Thursday, 22 May 2014

Take a look at must see places in Hong kong if you are planning a trip to the region!
Hong kong is a splendid holiday destination in Asia that has been constantly ranking high in the list of tourists. The city has plenty good number of spectacular attractions that have succeeded in winning the minds of the holidaymakers. Here is a list of must see places in Hong Kong for travelers boarding flights for the city. 

Victoria Peak
Image Credit - Wikipedia

Victoria Park is amongst the most popular tourist attractions and one of the must see places in Hong Kong for amazing number of reasons. Perched 396 meters above sea level, the Peak Tower is one of the trendiest architectural marvels that mesmerize the visitors from far and wide.  You can reach the Peak via Peak Tram that offers you an amazing ride to the top.

 Once you reach the top, the sky Terrace here provides you outstanding panorama of the surroundings. There’s enticing number of spectacular restaurants, shops and entertainment venues inside the Peak Tower, set against the beautiful backdrop of the city. 

Avenue of Stars
Image Credit - Wikipedia

With an aim to pay tribute to the spectacular professionals of the Hong Kong movie industry, to promote tourism, and to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s World City, the Avenue of stars was opened.  Located along the Victoria Harbour Waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui, 

Hong Kong, avenue of Stars is modeled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. To know about the Hong Kong film industry and its professionals, do visit this attraction, which forms a part of must see places in Hong Kong

Symphony of Lights
Image credit - wikipedia
The symphony of Lights in Hong Kong is world’s largest light and sound show. The show boasts of five major themes celebrating the energy, spirit and culture of Hong Kong. The first scene awakening symbolizes the genesis and powerful growth of Hong Kong. The second scene ‘Energy’ signifies the vibrant energy of Hong Kong. The third scene ‘Heritage’ signifies the colorful heritage and rich cultural traditions of Hong Kong. 

The fourth scene ‘Partnership’ symbolically connects the two sides of the harbor and represents an even brighter future for Asia’s world city, Hong Kong. This is a must see places in Hong Kong to get a peek into the culture of the region. 

Disneyland
Image credit - wikipedia

This is a definitely one of the must see places in Hong Kong, especially if there is family with you. The place features an array of exciting rides and attractions under six themed areas. Disneyland offers complete entertainment for the entire family.  

The various attractions of this exhilarating park include Mystic Point, Grizzly Gulch, Toy Story Land, Fantasy Land, Tomorrow Land, and adventure Land. Each of these offers plenty of fun and enjoyment. Apart from this, there are shopping opportunities too for the guests. Dining options and hotels are also located inside to facilitate the visitors and make their experience pleasurable one. 

Ocean Park
Image credit - wikipedia

This marine life theme park features animal exhibits, thrilling rides and shows. The theme park covers more than 870, 000 square meters of land. The waterfront and summit areas of Ocean Park are connected by the Cable Car and Ocean Express Funicular Train. 

Some of the popular attractions in the park include Waterfront Plaza, Arctic Fox Den, North Pole Encounter, South Pole Spectacular, Old Hong Kong, Hair Raiser, Whirly Bird, Bumper Blaster, the Flash, Expedition Trail and s on. The park also offers you a chance to get closer to the lovely animals. Apart from this Ocean Park has shopping and dining facilities as well. 





Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Spreading over 2-continents and with a vivid cultural scene, there is nowhere on Earth like Istanbul for a city break……and it now trendier than ever, with lots of captivating sights to explore.

 So, you are planning to go on a holiday in Istanbul, but have no idea what all places to see and things to do there. That is totally understandable, since the city is astronomic and has so much to offer in form of museums, mosques, foreign culinary delights and markets.  Istanbul has become a year-round holiday destination.  And every year, millions of tourists from backpackers to families take flights to Istanbul.

Istanbul in Turkey is extremely modern place; however, it traces its roots back in 660 B.C. It is the former seat of magnificent Ottoman and Byzantine empires and is bifurcated into Asian and European sides by the Bosporus Strait, providing a wealth of history and splendid scenery. 

Istanbul is magical and a treat to the beholder’s eyes. Just wandering around the Grand Bazaar, with its vibrant colors, aromas and bustle, is an astonishing marvel for the tourists. At luxurious Four Season Hotel Istanbul located at the Bosphorus, you will feel like a Prince of the palace. If you are going along with your family including kids, do take out time for a traditional Hammam (or Turkish bath”, at the hotel, a ritual local immensely relish with their families. 


Image credit - whereis-istanbul.com/
Here we are presenting the sweet 16 -must do things on your Istanbul Holiday, which will actually make your trip worth it.


Watch out a Whirling Dervish Show

Istanbul is native place of the Mevlevi Order of Sufi whirling dervishes. The Sufi dervishes whirl themselves into a trance- like state, which is believed that this brings them closer to the Lord, and it is an unusual religious ceremony to check out.
Image credit - .travelshopturkey.com
Go to the Spice Market

Spice market is the second largest after the Grand Bazaar. In the spice market, you can buy spices (of course), Turkish coffee, dried fruit, nuts, Turkish delight and loose leaf tea.

Ride and Drive the Beauty “Red Street Car”

Another must do thing on Istanbul Holiday is ride a Red Street Car. One excellent method to explore Istiklal Avenue without having to pass through the crowds is to ride on the street car from one end of the lane to another. The street car provides a vintage feel and it makes for a pleasant journey via Istanbul’s shopping hub. 

Image Credit - reportinglivefromistanbul.wordpress.com
Listen to the Divinely Call to Prayer between the Majestic Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque

One of the most beautiful ‘Call to prayer’ you will ever listen takes place between the Hagia Sophia (no longer a mosque; however, it still has a prayer room) and Blue Mosque. One muezzin would hum a part of the prayer and then the other muezzin would respond from other turret. 

It is certainly a magical thing to experience; therefore, if you find yourself wandering in the place during the prayer session, we recommend you to take a seat at one of the park benches and simply listen. 
Image credit - secondglobe.com

Enjoy a Boat Tour down the Bosphorus

In case, you have are on a holiday to Istanbul only for a few days and you know you would not be able to see all the main attractions, taking a cruise to Bosphorus is a brilliant way to have a glimpse of Istanbul’s main attractions. You will ride past the Rumeli Ruins, numerous gardens, mosques and museums, the Maiden’s Tower and Dolmabahçe Palace.

Image Credit - gallipoli-tours.com

Walk across the Famous Galata Bridge

Yes, you can of course ride the light rail across; however, if you choose to walk, you will be able to catch up the locals fishing out from the bridge, boats carrying passengers down the Bosphorus and vendors selling sesame covered pretzels. 

Image Credit - istanbul.for91days.com

Eat a Yummy Kumpir

When on a holiday to Istanbul, do take a bite of the Kumpir, a loaded baked potato. The vendor will mix the baked potato with butter and cheese till it is fluffy and light, and then you can select from an array of toppings including hot dogs, bulgur, olives, peas, corn and more. It is a perfect snack to have in the evening. 



Sip the Tasty Turkish Tea

In Istanbul, you will have to drink tea out of a tulip-shaped cup. Turkish tea is made in a rather inimitable manner utilizing a teapot that has 2-levels: one to boil the water and other one to brew the tea. You pour the tea into the cup and then dilute it with hot water so it is made as per your taste. 

Relish a Glass of Ayran
This is one of those drinks that you will either desperately love or hate. Aryan is cold yoghurt mixed with salt and it is the National drink of Turkey. It is excessively consumed during the summer months.


Go Underground at Basilica Water Cistern

The next on our list must do things on Istanbul Holiday is to explore the humungous Basilica Water Cistern. The Basilica Cistern is the largest of the ancient underground cisterns found across the massive Istanbul.

Most of the columns in the water cistern look to have been recycled from the ruins and remains of other buildings, and among them you will see 2-carvings of Medusa’s head utilized as column bases and column with tear-shaped engravings deemed to have the power to make all wishes come true.

Haggling at the Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is an ultimate place for shoppers. With over 3,000 shops and spanning across 61 streets, the market is dizzying yet so definitely worth a visit. You will see that some streets specialize in certain products like leather, carpets, spices, silverware and ceramics.
There will be loads of shimmery items to appeal your eye, so come prepared to spend money.

Relish an Excellent View from Galata Tower
Situated in Beyoglu, the tower appears like it would be best suited as Rapunzel’s home in the “Tangled” fairy tale. There is something mysterious about the piked cylindrical roof and the views from the outer terrace are breathtaking.

Enjoy a Belly-Dance Show
This one is one of our favorite among all the must do things on your Istanbul Holiday. In case, you want to see a performance with high amounts of entertainment factor, then you are in loads of luck, as Hodjapasha Dance Theater shows belly-dancing and folkloric performances. Be prepared to be whisked back into the popular 1001 Arabian Nights.

Pay a Visit to Chora Church
The Church of Chora might not be the largest of the Byzantine churches; however, it is widely known for being one of the most charming. The highlight of the church is the several mosaic panels that recreate biblical scenes and still shine centuries later.

Explore Istanbul Archaeological Museums

This is the must do things on your Istanbul Holiday when your kids are along with you. The museum consists of three different museums that are located near the Topkapi Palace. The 3 museums are the Museum of the Ancient Orient, the Museum of Islamic Art and the Archaeological Museum. If you relish getting up close with the ancient history, you will certainly enjoy a visit here.

Explore the Valens Aqueducts
When the Romans passed via Istanbul, they commenced construction of the water system that will supply to the growing needs for the fresh water of the city. The water that moves down these aqueducts was stored in underground cisterns and open reservoirs across the city. Presently, the surviving portion of the Valens Aqueduct is 921- meters long.

Amazing contrasts are all a vital part of Istanbul’s magnetic appeal. Enchanting Byzantine frescoes and impressive architecture blends with shinning skyscrapers and state-of-art museums. Relish Turkish delicacies and wander around bustling historic markets at Istanbul.

At Hoodaki.com you can take advantage of booking flights to Istanbul, with an agency that is known within the industry for enterprise quality service to holiday seekers. To book your flights contact Hoodaki.com.

  

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

We get reminded often that life is too short and time flies by so fast and of the waning days we have left on the planet earth. Sooner or later, we become too busy with work, too married to live the kind of life we always desired or too old to do the things that we should have done years ago. 
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Yes, definitely, now is the time to start living and stop dreaming. To help you accomplish this, we have compiled a list of unbelievable places around the world to see before you die. Yes, so many other-worldly places are there right on the earth, and we never even knew about it. Here we are providing you 20-landmarks that appear like scenes and paintings from Sci-fi movies and you must take time to visit them once in your lifetime.

We know that life is short and funds are limited; therefore, we have narrowed down are selection. We have picked 20- landmarks, but as you know “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.”
Now without any further ado, we bring to you 20 places to see before you die – the global bucket list


Skaftafell Ice Cave, Iceland

The ice-cave nestles on the frozen lagoon of the Svinafellsjokun glacier in Skaftafell in Iceland. The ice caves are known to fall easily; therefore, the safest time for you to explore this incredible place is winters when it has hardened. Well, duh…yes it is an ice cave.



The glacier ice soaks almost all the visible light except from the blue fraction, which you will see. It looks amazing from inside, we cannot literarily wait to get there with our tripods and spoil someone else’s photos. 

Antelope Canyon, USA

Another place on our list of 20 places to see before you die is Antelope Canyon, USA. It is one of the most visited and most-photographed slot canyons in USA. It is situated on Navajo land close to Page, Arizona. The place includes 2-separate, absolutely photogenic slot canyon segments; individually referred to as the Upper Antelope Canyon/ The Crack, and the Lower Antelope Canyon/The Corkscrew.

The Canyon was created by erosion of Navajo Sandstone, mainly because of flash flooding and other sub-aerial processes. Rainwater, particularly during monsoon season, flows in the extensive basin over the slot canyon sections, picking up sand and speed as it runs into the narrow passageways.



Over time, the narrow passageways have eroded away, smoothing the hard edges and making the corridors deeper in such a manner as to create characteristic “flowing” shapes in the rock. 


Santorini, Greece

The place is perhaps the most charming and most adored island of Greece in the Aegean. The name of the island is more than enough to unleash in mind volcanic landscape, dazzling white houses, heart-melting sunsets, red and gray beaches, pleasurable connotations, wild fun and terraces with phenomenal sea views.
Image Courtesy - Wikipedia

All this, tagged with remnants of lost civilizations explored in the volcanic ash clearly justify the epithets with which most visitors identify Santorini and is rightly called – indescribable, magical and incredible. 

Bora Bora Island, France

The next place on our list of 20 places to see before you die is Bora Bora Island, France. Wow, Bora Bora, the most renowned of all French Polynesia Leeward Islands. It is so pretty that they has to name it twice (Bora-Bora). 

The tropical paradise offers a plethora of activities like snorkeling and scuba-diving for a fun-filled time with a family, and it is one of the most loved romantic getaways as well.
Bora Bora island
image courtesy -tahiti-tourisme.com

With a spectacular view of the ocean, you would not mind spending moths unleashing here. 

The Great Wall of China

One of the greatest wonder of worlds, the Great Wall of China, became the World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987. Just like the colossal monster, the Great Wall of China winds up and down across the mountains, plateaus, desserts and grasslands, spanning around 8,851.8 kilometers from east to west of China.

 With a history of over 2,000 years, some of the parts of the wonder are now in ruins or have disappeared. Nevertheless, it is still one of the most impressive attractions all around the world because of its historical significance and architectural grandeur. 

image courtesy - wikipedia



Mount Fuji, Japan

The tallest mountain of Japan, which though dormant since 1707, remains an active volcano, finally became listed in UNESCO’s illustrious World Heritage list in 2013 after years mysteriously absent. Home to eight Shinto shrines, five prominent lakes and Shiraito Shrine, reverence of this towering icon appears only in some of the earliest recorded literature of Japan when Fuji-san, as it is known locally, was stated to puff clouds of smoke across Honshu.

Today, it is one of the most visited attractions of Japan, with thousands of tourists enduring the tough climb to the apex each year for a moment of tranquility and peace as they look back over the most populous island of Japan. 
Image courtesy - wikipedia

Fields of Lavender, Provence, France

Another place to see before you die is Fields of Lavender, Provence, France. The beauty of Provence is well- encapsulated by the texture, fragrance and color of lavender. Lavenders bloom at full swing in early July, thus, if you wish to capture an amazing panorama of lavender fields in Provence, France than come here at that time. Je t’adore!


Image Courtesy - wikipedia
The Caves of Crystal in Naica Mine, Mexico

The Naica Mine of Chihuahua in Mexico is a working mine that is widely known for its outstanding selenite crystals. The astonishing Cave of Crystals is a cave around 1,000 feet underneath the surface in the limestone host rock of the Naica mine.

The chamber includes huge selenite crystals – some of the largest natural crystals found ever. The giant selenite crystals were formed by hydrothermal liquids discharged from the magma chambers underneath the surface. 

Image courtesy - revue-technique.lu
Berlin Wall, Germany

The Berlin Wall was the establishment for one of the most defining times of living memory, when on November 9, 1989, it fell off after around 3-decades dividing Germany into 2 parts –West and East. At least 136-people died when trying to cross it between 1961 and 1989, and the fence is remembered today more for what it was than what it is today.

Currently, only 2-sizeable sections remain as memorials: The East Side Gallery – loaded with vivid murals, including the popular “Fraternal Kiss”, showing Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev smooching his East German Counterpart Erich Honecker, and the Bernauer Strasse division in the city’s north, which acts like an exhibition about the city’s life during the times of Berlin Wall. 


Image Courtesy - soggiornilinguistici.wordpress.com

The Wave in Arizona, USA

Another place on our list of 20 places to see before you die is the Wave in Arizona, USA. The Wave is a sandstone hard rock formation situated in the US near the Arizona and Utah border on the Coyote Buttes’ slopes located in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness situated on the Colorado Plateau.

 Around 200-million years ago, the area was a sandy dessert, where giant dunes migrated across the landscape moved by the seasonal winds. Prevailing winds of the ancient Jurassic times can be ascertained by identifying the layers (cross-bedding) in the sandstone rock.
image credit - tp-photoart.com

What we see now are some of the original layered dunes shaped into impressive landforms and disclosed by erosion from eons of runoff. The stunning ribbons of various hues known as Liesegang Bands were created by precipitation and movement of oxidizing materials like manganese and iron by ground water. The fins/veins of calcite cut across the rock sandstone, adding another element to the landscape. 

The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City

Full four years in the making, Michelangelo’s translation of some of the Old Testament’s most influential tales – the tale of Noah, three each from the creation and the fall of Adam and Eve – has turned out to be one of the iconic images in the Western art.

While it was surely the talk of the town in 1512, around 501 years later – the Sistine Chapel is so popular that it allures as many as 20,000 tourists daily, who line up to explore the world’s most visited room. 

Image Courtesy - famouswonders.com/sistine-chapel
Taj Mahal, India

 If ever there was a more enchanting monument of love than Taj Mahal in India, it has long since vanished to dust. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built this amazing marble- white mausoleum in the memory of his beautiful third wife, Mumtaz Mahal in the year 1632.

The resulting structure, conceptualized by Afgan Ustad Ahmed Lahori has been titled as the jewel of Muslin Art in India, and architectural masterpiece and one of the incredibly romantic buildings in the world. 

Image Credit - Wikipedia
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Another place on our list of 20 places to see before you die is Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Charles Darwin called this island “a small world within itself.” The renowned naturalist developed his theory of evolution via the natural selection not long post his visit to the quixotic Isles in the year 1835, and now almost 2-centuries later it is still possible to get a glimpse of the extremely oddball creatures that startled him.

The island is the melting pot of enticing marine life, thanks to its location at the conflux of 3-ocean currents. Atop the crystalline waters, this astonishing 19-island archipelago is home to a plethora of colorful species, many endemic, like blue-footed booby, giant green tortoise (can live for more than 170-years, meaning some of the tortoise roaming in the island today may have been born at the time of Darwin’s visit) and pink iguana. 

Image courtesy - getty images

Canals of Venice, Italy

If there was a more romantic place on the face of earth than Venice Canals, definitely we would see that place simulated in every casino worldwide. However, since there are arguably more Roman statues and fake canals in casinos worldwide than anything else, it is absolutely true to say that the real Venice is the Romantic Winner.

 And hey why would not it be?  Who on earth does not wish to transport themselves into a gondola for a lethargic ride around the “beautiful floating city” past its popular Byzantine and Gothic palazzos, enticing cafes and bohemian shops?

 The astounding city is a marble masterpiece, the engineering marvel and a sight tha would not be around forever. 
Image courtesy - hoodaki.com
Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu stands tall at 2,430 meters above the sea-level in the heart of the tropical mountain forest, in an outstandingly charming setting. It was likely the most astonishing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its giant walls, height, ramps and terraces appear as if there have been naturally cut in the persistent rock escarpments.

The natural setting, especially on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encircles the upper Amazon basin with its wide diversity of flora and fauna. 


Image courtesy - hoodaki.com


Sydney Opera House, Australia

Another place on our list of 20 places to see before you die is Sydney Opera House, Australia. The Sydney Opera house is a world-famous landmark of the city skyline, a projection screen for Sydney’s numerous festivals, barometer of international talent and a lighthouse for ferries entering the harbor. It is an architectural wonder that was constructed well ahead of time, one that changes the picture of the whole country and far ahead of the available technology. 


image courtesy - wikipedia

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Spent your whole life just by looking and fantasizing at the pictures of Great Pyramids of Egypt and figured them to be in the nitty-gritty of the desert? 

The proximity to contemporary Cairo may startle you; however, somewhat modern setting does not take away from the core reality that these giant limestone beacons, the Great Sphinx and their guard cats are more than 4,500 years old and still standing solid as the sole surviving marvels of the ancient civilization.

For modern, high-tech day time travel, it definitely does not become much better than this. 

Image courtesy - famouswonders.com
Stonehenge, UK

Stonehenge symbolizes one of the most remarkable prehistoric megalithic monuments worldwide on account of sheer sophistication of its concentric plan and size of its megaliths. Constructed between 3,000 BC and 2,000 BC, this impeccable complex is now a spiritual site of pilgrimage in Neo-druidry, as well as one of the most iconic attractions of UK.  Just what precisely Britons built it for; however, Stonehenge remains one of the great mysteries of archeology.

 Was it a sacrificial burial ground or a celestial timepiece? The answers can be found any day now. 

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Another place on our list of 20 places to see before you die is Plitvice Lakes National Park, CroatiaThe sizzling Plitvice National Park is situated in the Lika region of Croatia. The beautiful park is surrounded by the mountains Mala Kapela, Medvedak and Pijesevica, which are parts of the famous Dinaric Alps.

The 16-blue-green Plitvice lakes that were separated by the natural dams of travertine are located on the Plitvice Plateau. The lakes are famous for their unique colors, ranging from azure to gray and green. The colors change regularly based on the angle of sunlight and quantity of organisms and minerals in the water. 


We humans have transformed and exploited the Planet Earth beyond recovery; however, fortunately not everything gifted to us by the Lord is lost yet. Blue water lakes, stunning mountains, opulent oceans with sizzling islands – our planet has innumerable breathtaking vistas and amazing places, just waiting for you to visit and explore them.

We hope you will visit the above-mentioned 20 incredible places in at least once in your lifetime and see the beauty the Lord has bestowed us humans with….yes there is a Paradise on every nook and cranny the Earth.

We would recommend you to book flights to these stunning places at Hoodaki.com, an agency that is known within the industry for enterprise quality service to holiday seekers. To book your flights and plan your holidays contact Hoodaki.com. 

Friday, 2 May 2014

A colorful- crowded city full of great contrasts and diversities, Chennai, India, and has remarkable temples, fine dining, pompous festivals and shining beaches that add gusto to the city’s attractions…..

Madras to some and Chennai to some, this is a rugged city that will take a toll on you.  Crowded, dusty and polluted, Chennai is definitely not the city that will allure many at the first sight; however, with a little sweat one can find the city’s numerous treasures characterized in delicious cuisine, astonishing historical monuments and popular shopping places.

Chennai is a city where modernity and traditions co-exist in the light of wealthy heritage and culture. Chennai is fast evolving as one of the most sophisticated and advanced metropolitans. With its glut of ancient temples, art forms and historical features, the city is widely known as the Gateway to South India.

Perched on the Coromandel Coast, Chennai is an interesting fusion of the modern and ancient. With a riveting past, it is a window to incredible art forms and culture of South India. From Bharatnatyaman to Carnatic music, from beautiful churches to ancient temples, this city is a delight for tourists.

Chennai is a marvelous tourist attraction and every year hundreds of thousands of European visitors take flights to this city. Chennai tour-packages are always in huge demand and along the key British airlines, many India-based carriers provide convenient and affordable London to Chennai flights. 

Places to See on your Chennai Holiday
Image courtesy - globalpackways.com



By the Bay – Explore Beaches

Beaches are the top attractions in the magnificent city Chennai. Chennai is a coastal city offering myriad beaches to choose from. You could explore Marine beach, the world’s 2nd largest beach and the most famous beach in the city.

The beach boasts of 14-galleries, a high-tech lighting system that attracts visitors during night and an internal walkway along the sands. Or you can choose Elliot’s beach in Besant Nagar, a nice young sibling of the revered Marine Beach.

Explore the Golden Sand, Shimmering Blue Marine Beach in Chennai 



Spend an Evening at the Magnificent Elliot’s Beach in Chennai


Image Courtesy - chennai-directory.com

There are serene and quaint beaches along the coastline including Covelong beach or Thiruvanmiyur beach, as well as Rameswaram, Muttukkadu and Kurusadai islands. 

Sacred Tales – Pay a Visit to the Temples

Chennai is a place with immense spirituality and spiritual faith, which is clearly reflected by means of medley of temples in the city. Temples in the city range from giant monumental structures to small stone edifices, each embracing some sort of significance in the lives of people.

A charming temple, Kapaleeswarar Temple is over 2,000 years old and is dedicated to the Great God, Lord Shiva. The temple observes special prayers and hosts festivals almost daily.

Satisfy your Spiritual Side, Visit Kapaleeswarar Temple in Chennai 


Parthasarathy Temple is one of the chief tourist attractions in the city. Dedicated to Lord Krishna, the temple is situated in the heart of the city and offers peaceful refuge in the hustle-bustle of the city.

Parthasarathy Temple in Chennai


Other marvelous temples in Chennai are Mangadu Kamakshi Temple, Thiruverkadu Mariammam Temple, Kalikambal Temple and Vadapalani Dandayudhapani Temple.


Southern Talkies…….. Explore Dakshinachitra

Other must visit place on Chennai Holiday is Dakshinachitra. Situated in Muttukkadu, a 25km ride from the centre of the city, along the East Coast Road is this living museum and heritage centre. Established in 1996, Dakshinachitra is truly a showcase of South India along with elaborative models of the performing arts, architecture and crafts of the Deccan region.

Carnatic music concerts and exquisite performances of southern dance styles like Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam are hosted at the spacious open air theatre.  Weavers, traders and potters can be seen at work here and some of their wares are offered for sale.

The craftsmen are always willing to show and teach, so you can try your hand at any or all these activities. The heart of the museum has life-sized models of conventional Southern homes to take you back to older days.

Dakshinachitra in Chennai

Shopping Spree

With innumerable shopping opportunities, Chennai is rightly a shopper’s delight, popular especially for its silk; the city has a wide range of hip malls and high-street designer boutiques off late. Traditional and modern artworks, paintings, jewelry and antiques items are also fairly sought-after in the area.

The great place for street shopping in the city, you must not-dare-to-miss Chennai being jostled in the rush of famous Ranganathan Street. Narrow roads full of shops and wide assortment of goods for sale make this street the busiest stretch of Chennai.

These artifacts are generally pretty affordable and ideally complement the cheap flights to India.

Ranganathan Street in Chennai


Speak Philosophy…… Vivekananda House

Nestles opposite to Marina, this is a remarkable landmark everyone passes by, but only a few walk into. The great Philosopher Swami Vivekananda resided here for a small duration in 1897 after which the building was transformed into a museum.

It houses a wide collection of Swami Vivekananda’s pictures, plaques engraved with his famous quotes and paintings showing the cultural evolution of India.

The bedroom of Vivekananda has been transformed into a place for meditation; however, the dining room, parlor and kitchen are open for visitors to see how the legend lived.

Vivekananda House in Chennai

Fauna and Flora……..Rendezvous with the Wildlife

Apart from the holy temples and magnificent beaches, wildlife is one of the most significant places to visit on Chennai Holiday. The wildlife in Chennai attracts travelers worldwide to its stunning shores.

Guindy National Park is a splendid attraction that irresistibly appeals to the nature buffs. It is relatively a small national park, but is among the very few situated inside the city. Having tropical dry evergreen vegetation, the Park is home to black bucks, jackals, snakes, spotted deer, and numerous differed invertebrates and over 100-species of birds.

 Guindy National Park in Chennai






The Arignar Anna Zoological Park is a not-to-miss for animal lovers. Frequented by around 700,000 people every year, the park has a wide variety species of wild life. The zoological park is a home to different species of amphibians, mammals, birds and reptiles.


Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai





Picturesque Landscape….. Alamparai Fort

Get ready in the morning and pack up a picnic basket to head to Alamparai Fort for a serene picnic away from the hustle-bustle of the city. The fort is based near Kadapakkam, a simple village 50km away from Mamallapuram and is one of the lesser known intriguing places near the city.

Built in the 17th century during the Mughal era, Alamparai Fort was captured and destructed by the British in 1760AD and even recently the structure was further harmed in 2004 tsunami. Only the battered ruins of the Fort now remain; nevertheless it is a picture-perfect spot by the beautiful sea by the waves resting at its base.


Alamparai Fort in Chennai


image credit - chennaionnet.com

These were some of the sumptuous attractions of the city that allures tourists from all over the world to take flights to Chennai. Lots of stunning sights to explore is what make Chennai Holidays adventurous. Hoodaki.com has a great array of flights to Krabi, Thailand from all key London and UK airports.