Travel
Driving from Delhi to Bangkok? Here’s how!

Fancy a trip to Bangkok? Not by air, as most would imagine, but a road trip. Promising a strong punch of excitement, adventure and experience of a lifetime, a self-drive expedition company that has been organising some offbeat trips is now offering to take those interested from Delhi to Bangkok by road, via Nepal, China and Tibet.
An initiative of Tushar Agarwal – who has been cited by the Limca Book of Records for driving from London to Delhi through 15 countries in 51 days – and Sanjay Madan, another travel enthusiast, this particular expedition that is due in June 2013 is one of the many that their three-month old company has been organising.
While its selling point is the fact that it offers you the option of a self-drive expedition – in which you are provided with a car and are assisted by the staff through a personalised itinerary on flexible dates – Journeys by Road, as the company is called, also lets you go for an assisted expedition in which the staff members travel with you.
“We have got a great response ever since we started this venture. What sets us apart from the travel agents is that we have actually visited those places and can advise you on the little-known eating joints or places to see, and in case you get stuck midway in a self-drive expedition, we can actually guide you through the journey over the phone because we have been through all those roads,” Agarwal told us.
Admittedly, the company offers trips to a select few destinations with rich natural beauty – both in India and beyond the borders. So you have a tribal tour in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh; Ladakh; Leh-Srinagar; Lahul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh; Rajasthan; Uttarakhand; Bhutan and Tibet.
The experience of such a trip, Agarwal said, is unique since you can drive at your own pace, soaking up the beauty of a place, relaxing at will, exploring and witnessing the local culture. The other details, such as hotel bookings, food, and travel to the destination are taken care of by the company.
The cars are also equipped with GPS (for navigation), oxygen cylinders, medical kits and emergency food hampers.
“If one does not want to drive around, you can opt for a chauffeured car. The other option is a fixed departure, when an expedition is organised with us, and we have the itinerary drawn up – which is flexible – and one can join us,” Agarwal said.
The trip to Bangkok is a fixed departure one, albeit a self-drive tour.
“The road from India to Thailand, via Myanmar, will come up in 2016. But we will travel from Delhi to Bangkok through a different route that will take us through China and Tibet, which, I promise, will be once in a lifetime experience,” he said.
The 25-day, 7,000 km expedition which will be open to not more than 15-20 people, will take one through the majestic Kathmandu in Nepal to the Everest base camp, all the way to Lhasa inTibet and then driving past one of the deepest gorges in the world in China. The journey, which in its itinerary has also a jungle safari thrown in, will then continue to Laos, and finally to Bangkok.
“The process of obtaining vehicle permits from China takes long; so we will do that as soon as the participants are confirmed by the end of this year,” said Agarwal, who holds yet another record in the Limca Book for driving a Tata Nano from Delhi to Khardung La in Ladakh.
Another expedition that the travel duo is excited about is one to the Rann of Kutch this November. This is open for self-drive, although there will be a support vehicle, guiding the visitors through the salt deserts on a full moon night, a wildlife sanctuary, the Mandvi beach and a handicraft village.
The six-day trip will cost one Rs.30,000, including food, accommodation, sightseeing et al in an adventurous-cum-luxurious holiday itinerary. This however does not include travel to and from Bhuj.
“What more? If you would rather drive your own car, an SUV or any other, that too is possible – in fact that will cut down your expense. All that matters is an epic road trip with endless possibilities,” Agarwal said.
Travel
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Many trains will be terminated
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Travel
India Railway will help you visit Taj Mahal
India Railway will help you visit Taj Mahal
“All arrangements have been made and our systems are in place. The trial will begin December 25. It has taken us a long time to work on this project which will change the image of the ASI,” Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), N K Pathak said.
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will be the service provider of the e-ticketing facility, in collaboration with the National Institute of Smart Governance, he said.
After one month trial of the e-ticketing facility at the Taj Mahal, the ASI would extend the similar facility to other monuments, managed by it.
ASI officials said the e-tickets will have security features including bar code, and bar code scanners would be installed at the entry gates.
The ASI is training its staffs for effective and efficient use of the facility, which is likely to put an end to the long queues at the ticket counters.
Tourists had to stand for long hours in queues to buy entry tickets.
Tourism circles in Agra have welcomed ASI’s initiative saying the facility would help check resale of entry tickets and fake tickets by unscrupulous elements.
It is said that the ensuing online facility would also help the ASI in managing the number of visitors.
Travel
Take a break: top 7 places for bird watching in India
Summer is setting in, sure. But, what about taking a break from Delhi and head to Maharashtra, for there are places there that are still playing host to winged visitors. Plus, the Flamingo Festival, starting on March 29, will be an added bonus. “The peak birding season started around October and is coming to a close by May,” says Rahul Jauhari, who runs the website nopincode.com. Atul Sathe of the BNHS adds, “Mangroves in Vikhroli, wetlands in Nhava-Sheva region are good spots.” Here are some other places that the duo highly recommend.
1 Ulwe and Uran
What: Both places are renowned when it comes to bird watching. However, the numbers are rapidly dropping, thanks to rampant construction in the region.
Often spotted: The list of birds seen here is endless — from Marsh Harriers, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters and Green Bee-eaters to Black-shouldered Kites and Red Wattled Lapwings. Uran is the older haunt for bird watchers, but, according to the experts, is now a shadow of its original self. However, Red-vented Bulbuls, Ashy Prinias, Asian Pied Starlings, Moorhens, Scaly Breasted Munias, Red Avadavats and Spot Billed Ducks, among others, can still be seen in these parts.
1 Nagla Forest
What: One of the lesser-known spots inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), in Borivali East, Mumbai.
Often spotted: Situated to the north of Bassein Creek, this is thought to be one of the most highly rewarding walks at the SGNP. Nature lovers are in for a treat as well. Birds like the Grey Junglefowl, Indian Grey Hornbill and Rufous Woodpecker can be spotted while on the trail.
2 Tungareshwar sanctuary
What: Home to three types of forest — dry deciduous, moist deciduous and semi evergreen — it forms a corridor between SGNP and Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary.
Often spotted: Species like the Rufous Treepie, Shikra, Black-hooded Oriole, Brown-headed Barbet, Red-whiskered and Red-vented Bulbul can be seen in the area.
3 Thane Creek and Padale Gaon
What: These spots are frequented by birders in the area.
Often spotted: While Thane Creek is known to attract Flamingos and Waders this time of the year, Black Kites seem to favour Padale Gaon. Apart from the Raptors, Munias, Woolly-necked Storks, Drongos, Egrets, Marsh Harriers and Sandpipers are also seen the region.
4 Kanheri Upper Trail
What: The route involves a gradual climb through the wooded forest of the SGNP.
Often spotted: One of the few places to offer the perfect mix of nature and adventure, catch a glimpse of the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Shikra, Grey Jungle Fowl, and Indian Peafowl. Or head to the plateau near Kanheri Caves, which is excellent for viewing raptors, like the Crested Serpent Eagle. You could also visit the ancient Kanheri Caves.
5 Sewri
What: The mudflats here turn into a bird watcher’s paradise as they play host to millions to pink visitors.
Often spotted: One of the best places in the city to spot Flamingos, this is a good time to head there. It is also a good place to see migratory birds such as the Broad-billed Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, and Eurasian Curlew. On a good day, one will also catch a glimpse of the Common Redshank, Little Herons, Little Egret, Brown-headed Gull, Grey Plover, Sand Plovers and Avocet, among others. The annual Flamingo Festival is also scheduled to take place on March 29.
6 Maharashtra Nature Park
What: Once a treeless garbage dump, this park located in the heart of the Mumbai (Dharavi) now acts as its green lung.
Often spotted: It is home to several migratory and resident species like the Black Kite, Shikra, Eurasian Wryneck, Little Green Bee-eater, Barn Swallow, Bluethroat, Purple Sunbird, Great Egret, Greater Coucal and Laughing Dove.
7 Bhandup Pumping Station
What: A well-kept secret, the lake near the pumping station attracts water birds. Signs put up also say that one can spot mongoose and snakes here.
Often spotted: The area is known to host water and land birds, and often, Flamingos can be seen here as well. That apart, the Clamorous Reed Warbler, Common Kingfisher, Red Avadavat, Pond Heron, Woolly-necked Stork, Eurasian Marsh Harrier, Black Kite, Asian Pied Starling, Painted Stork, Little Cormorant, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Laughing Dove, Red-wattled Lapwing, Green Bee-eaters and Blue-tailed Bee-eaters, among others, are common visitors.
Also Head to Airoli Creek and vashi bridge: These spots are frequented by birders looking for Flamingos and Waders.
talawe: This area on Palm Beach Road is yet another hotspot. The water body behind the NRI Complex, Seawood Estates, is a great place to observe birds.
Dombivli: Well-known birding sites here include Nilje Lake, the Bhopar area, Dombivli Creek and Khoni.
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