Rajasthan round up: Vacation in 10 days (Part 3 of 4)

Jaisalmer on the extreme edge was one of the fun places we went to. The hotel we stayed was also great - Fort Rajwada.

The main fort area was good - glad we went in December - I cant imagine how it would be in Summer.

The fortress has a full fledged bustling town inside.

 The hotel arranges a evening desert camp/safari where you can ride a camel or para glide. This includes a dinner with a camp fire and rajasthani folk dances

Jaisalmer, was once part of the silk route and hence, this was home to several wealthy merchants. Each of them had beautiful ornate homes built in the city. Each multi storey building is worth visiting - These are called the Havelis.

The roads from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer is quite good - but it is mostly through the desert, hence not much to see or stopover.

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Tall trees is a great place - review and photos

Where to stay in Munnar ?  I stayed at Tall trees and found it to be a great place



This is a very nice place. Nestled inside a near 70 acre forest greenery and a little away from the Munnar town (approx 4 km) 


They offer beautiful cottages that overlook a green forested hill side. The campus is tastefully done and the staff is helpful. Its very peaceful..... note that I did not say silent - the cicadas and birds and frogs go all day long but I am sure you dont mind it ;-). The cottages are well done and furnished / maintained well.

Reception

 They have a small shop that sells knick-knacks too - chips, ceigarettes et al.

 The  way to the restaurant

 Brooks inside the campus....

 Glass roof dining at the restraunt .... very nice ambience and very friendly staff

They have a restaurant "Hill spice" that served Buffet Dinner and Breakfast. Very unique setting with glass ceilings. The only downside is that you need to walk up a hill (by city people standards) about 300-600 m to reach the restaurant .... well it builds up an apetite

There are lots of things for the children to do too - TT/Carrom/Rock Climbing/Play area/Shuttle and for some grown up types too - Ayurveda , Fitness walk

They help you hire an auto or a car to to to town or sight seeing in Munnar respectively.

(PS: I even heard Edavapathi movie is being shot in Munnar when we were there. Wonder what the movie name means!)

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Places to stay in Vaitheeswaran Koil: Hotel Akshardham: A review

Sadhabhishekam is a very popular staying place (and only decent one) at Vaitheeswaran Koil - Until now. Recently, they have opened another hotel , Akshardham. We ourselves were quite surprised with this place and we stayed here in Apr 2011.

The hotel is new and the rooms are clean. They are also fitted up well and the staff is relatively helpful. They get coffee and tea to the room and you may have to walk across to the Sadhabhishekam hotels restraunt for breakfast, lunch or dinner or other places nearby - see my post

The place is still under construction as they plan new cottages for people intending to stay longer.

From 201104_VaitheeswaranKoil

Phone number: Contact persons Ayyappan or Senthil - 04364 - 279014

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Places to eat in Vaitheeswaran Koil: Thaiyalnayaki , Durga Bhavan and Sadhabhishekam : A review

Anyone starting from Chennai early morning will know that they will land up hungry by the time they arrive at Vaitheeswaran Koil. There are few eateries there that serve a decen vegetarian meal. I am listing 3 that do
1. Durga Mess - a recent find of ours. From the main entrance it is just 2 ~ 3 shops away on the main road opposite the temple entrance. They serve good south indian food on a plantain leaf, albeit a bit spicy. They also get you curd from a shop for curd rice if you want.
2. Thaiyalnayaki mess - Again a good place to eat whih serves south indian food on a plantain leaf. They are less spicy. We have been eating here for the last 10 + years but the standard of food has recently fallen.
3. Sadhabhishekam - A more upmarket place to eat. They serve north and south indian, chinese food!! The place is a little far off from the temple , especially if you try walking in the hot sun.

From Blogger Pictures

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Places to stay in Tiruvarur: Hotel Royal Park: Review

We have been staying at Hotel Royal Park on the outskirts of Tiruvarur (also Thiruvarur) for neaarly 3 times we have been there. Latest being Apr 2011. It is just after the flyover in Tiruvarur and you have to take a rickshaw to reach. It is a good place to stay if you have your own conveyance.

Rooms: They have both AC and Non-AC and cost around Rs.1250 per double room. The toilets and bed are clean and thats about it. Dont expect Luxury or running hot water throughout the day. You need to book in advance as it often gets filled out. The best part of the hotel is its sorroundings - its got place for walking around in the front and sides. It is located outside the city , so relatively calm and in the middle of some fields.

Food: They do serve coffee and tea in the room and have recently got a veg restraunt too. Earlier it was Non-Veg and did not have too much of a crowd, now it is veg and still does not have too much of a crowd - probably because it is a little outside the city and not in the bus stand. The food is at best ok and the restraunt gets its crowd in weekends and festive holidays.

Tip: If you want hot water in the morning, please ensure you tell the reception the night before and also mention the number of buckets. They usually deliver it in the room in the morning.

From 201104_VaitheeswaranKoil

Typically, if you want to visit Vaitheeswaran koil and do not get a room in Hotel Sathabishekam, this is a good alternative place to stay and visit the temple.

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Review of Hotel Dasaprakash Paradise Mysore, Yadavagiri

Visited: 11-14 Oct 2010 during Mysore Dasara Festival. I had booked in advance as I felt it is safer. Mysore city gets very crowded with tourists during the Dasara festival

Location: This is located in Yadavagiri. Please be sure that you are not getting confused with Hotel Dasaprakash. When asking for local directions it is better to say" Hotel Paradise, Dasaprakash , Yadavagiri" together so no one gets confused and misdirects you to the other hotel

Its situated in a nice quiet residential area with hardly any shops or transport closeby. If you wanted to do shopping and stay in the heart of the city , it may be a good idea to choose their budget hotel Hotel Dasaprakash Mysore

Rooms: We chose the ac rooms and was around 2700 per day. Rooms were clean and neat and the house keeping and room service was quite good. The room was smaller than what I imagined it. The reception lounge is huge

Parking: Ample parking is available in an open lot. I parked my car there for 3 days and took a rented car to roam around with ease.

Food: They have one restraunt below. Pure Veg and I think it is called Vishala. The food I felt was a little spicy for my taste especially since I travelled with small children. However, they can customise and the service staff are very accomodative. For example, I got plain dhall for my kids even though it wasn't on their menu.

A few photos at the hotel reception lounge

From 201010_Bangalore_Mysore_Vacation_Public

From 201010_Bangalore_Mysore_Vacation_Public

Review and pics of Hotel Woodlands Bangalore

We stayed at Woodlands for 3 days on 9-11 and 14 Oct 2010.

Location: The place is right in the middle of Bangalore , thought for first timers, when coming from Hosur road to Richmond circle, there is an acute turn next to a hidden name board for woodlands

Parking: Ample parking space is available.

Room size: Large (Actually this is a very old and conservative hotel and you will enjoy the large albeit old  but clean rooms)

Food: There is a Sunheri restraunt for breakfast and lunch and Woodys for Dinner.

Breakfast:
I liked the buffet south indian breakfasts which were complimentary. Especcially their super small handkerchief sized dosas and masala dosas.

Lunch:
Lunch is "Sappad" on a Banana Leaf - man what a 5 course meal - starts with puri sambar, rasam, mixed rice, curd, sweets and more....

Dinner:
Dinner is in Woodys inside the campus but outside the building.

Service:
Room service is ok but the service in the restaurant is quite poor. Its not equipped to handle the crowd. Price of food is high and not quite commensurate with service or helpings

Tariff: around 2.5K + Taxes for Non-ac rooms.

Looks: Nice conservative old place
A picture of the entrance

From 201010_Bangalore_Mysore_Vacation_Public

An old car parked at the entrance

From 201010_Bangalore_Mysore_Vacation_Public

Old building housing the entrance and some reception

From 201010_Bangalore_Mysore_Vacation_Public

From 201010_Bangalore_Mysore_Vacation_Public

2 views from the room on 6th floor

From 201010_Bangalore_Mysore_Vacation_Public

From 201010_Bangalore_Mysore_Vacation_Public