India Travel Guide

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How to Volunteer at an Elephant Sanctuary on Your Next Trip to India

Where: India
January 30, 2013 at 4:40 PM | by | Comments (0)

United Planet, an international non-profit offering short and long term volunteer abroad programs, has announced a new animal conservation program in India for international volunteers.

The organization is now offering participants in the Jaipur Elephant Quest the chance to work in an elephant village which houses over fifty Indian elephants.

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'An Idiot Abroad' Goes Bollywood

Where: India
January 28, 2013 at 2:39 PM | by | Comments (0)

Continuing their journey in the footsteps of Marco Polo, Karl and Warwick made their way to India on this week's episode of An Idiot Abroad 3.

They started out with a little Laughter Yoga, which Karl described as more of a "yelp." When asked what make him laugh in his everyday life, he told a story about seeing a baby fall out of a stroller that on;y he would find amusing.

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The First Women to Fly the Dreamliner Take Their Turn at the Controls

Where: India
December 13, 2012 at 10:02 AM | by | Comments (0)

It’s been well over a year since the very first Boeing 787 Dreamliner took to the skies, and since then it’s been mostly men having all the flying fun when it comes to sitting up front. Thankfully the ladies finally got their chance to take control in the cockpit, as it looks like a couple female pilots from India are the first women to fly the Dreamliner.

Just recently—October 12 to be exact—an Air India flight did its thing between Delhi and Kolkata, but in doing so it made history as the first flight with women seated in both the pilot and co-pilot seats. Captain Rashmi Miranda and Captain Sakshi Kumar said it felt like any other flight, but they did admit to stopping to snap a picture for the aviation scrapbook.

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Frappuccinos and Free WiFi Hit Mumbai with India's First Starbucks

Where: Mumbai, India
October 24, 2012 at 11:01 AM | by | Comments (0)

There are so many things to see and do in India, but now there’s one more tourist destination to add to your itinerary. The first Starbucks has opened up in the country, and now they’re ready to pump out overpriced lattes and coffee milkshakes to the masses—of course we mean that it the nicest possible way.

The caffeine invasion begins in Mumbai, as that’s coffee shop number one. There’s an ambitious expansion plan already in place, as Starbucks along with their local partner look to open a couple more places before the end of the year. Initially the plan was to eventually have more than 3,000 locations around the country, and we’re thinking that it’s doable once the locals get a taste of their very first pumpkin spice latte or peppermint mocha. Since those first projections back in January the company has kind of stepped back a little bit, but the New Delhi location is still set to do its thing early next year.

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Jet Airways' Little Brother Puts on His Big Boy Pants with Business Class

Where: India
October 17, 2012 at 11:36 AM | by | Comments (0)

If you're planning on flying all over India on your next adventure, Jet Airways' little brother, JetKonnect has made it a bit more comfy. The low-cost carrier has introduced a full-service cabin on their new 737s. This is a far cry from the Temple of Doom, since passengers will have plenty of legroom and be offered a multi-course meal.

Just like on its international big brother, the domestic Boeing aircraft will come equipped with a forward cabin strictly for those that like to be pampered. The Premiere experience will feature dedicated check-in and a higher baggage allowance (30 kgs), along with the normal bells and whistles of flying in business class.

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The 'Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' of India is a Real Place

Where: India
May 4, 2012 at 2:04 PM | by | Comments (0)

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel probably won't win this weekend's box office, but there's no doubt it's the most travel-inspiring movie of the week, maybe the entire year.

The movie's plot revolves around a group of British retirees who decide to spend their retirement in less expensive India, where it was also filmed.

Most of the Marigold is set in Jaipur, Rajasthan for its "rich color palette" and constant chaos on the roads, a perfect background for a story about culture shock. But The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in the film is actually Ravla Khempur, located in Khempur, about an hour outside of Udaipur.

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No Naan for You: Air India Ditches Some Free In-Flight Meals

Where: India
February 8, 2012 at 10:23 AM | by | Comments (0)

There’s bad news for those who enjoy the in-flight catering aboard Air India flights, and that’s because it’s going away. Just like many of the airlines in the United States, Air India has decided to ditch in-flight meals for some of its passengers on some of its flights. Of course the blame falls squarely on the cost, but at least they still might throw a granola bar or something your way.

As of February 1, short-haul domestic flights received this new revised in-flight menu, and that means no more freebie meals for those in the economy cabin. For flights less than 90 minutes the typical breakfast, lunch, or dinner selections are gone, but in their place the airline is promising “heavy snacks and soft drinks.” Honestly, for less than 90 minutes we’d be happy with some in-flight Naan and a Diet Coke, but still, clearly this is an overall bummer.

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Tom Cruise Takes the Taj Mahal for 'Mission Impossible 4,' Despite a Small Scandal

Where: Mumbai, India
December 5, 2011 at 2:24 PM | by | Comments (0)

Tom Cruise spent a whirlwind weekend in India, taking part in everything from a photo-op at the Taj Mahal to an all-night party in Mumbai, but it's his "fans" who are making headlines overseas.

According to the Hindustan Times, hundreds of the fans who were waiting for Cruise to arrive at the Mumbai Airport weren't fans at all, but rather "junior artists" being paid 150 INR ($3) for the day. One of the "fans" even admitted she never heard of Tom Cruise before arriving at the airport for her paid gig. That's a bit farfetched (who hasn't heard of Tom Cruise), but let's go with it.

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Air India Reconsiders Trying to Make Its Own Low-Cost Airline

Where: India
August 3, 2011 at 8:57 AM | by | Comments (0)

It’s time for another low cost carrier to hit the market, and this week it looks like Air India is going to try their best to get their brand of cheap fare into the air. Unfortunately, don’t expect the 787, as we’re pretty sure they’re going to save that for the more expensive routes.

At first it sounds like this will be just a domestic venture, so your dreams of cheap nonstop flights to New Delhi from JFK might have to wait a few years—or longer. Air India already has its own regional carrier known as Alliance Air, but it sounds like those at the top of the airline are looking to revamp things into a true LCC capable of cut-throat fares and little to no frills.

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Obama's Long, Busy Weekend in India Included the Gandhi Museum

Where: Mumbai, India
November 8, 2010 at 10:27 AM | by | Comments (0)

Despite that whole $200 million/day vacation trip myth clouding President Obama's visit to India this weekend, it looks as though the brief stop in Mumbai went off without a hitch. Mr. and Mrs. Obama arrived to India for a 3-day stop as part of an Asian tour to talk foreign economic relations.

Hopefully they caught some Zzzs onboard Air Force One, because over the weekend while in both New Delhi and Mumbai, they dropped by the Holy Name High School and another elementary and college for Diwali celebrations, Humayan's Tomb (pictured above) for some sightseeing, Mumbai's port for a speech, and Mani Bhawan Gandhi Museum (for Barack) and Kamathipura (for Michelle) for goodwill. On top of all this, the pair stayed at the Taj Mahal Hotel, where they visited the memorial to those killed in the terrorist attacks on hotels almost exactly two years ago.

Today, Barack will address Indian parliament before flying off to his next stop, Indonesia. The next week will also see the Obamas landing in South Korea and Japan.

[Photo: AFP/Getty]

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How Much Was Your Last Vacation? Obama's Mumbai Day Trip to Cost Millions

Where: Mumbai, India
November 4, 2010 at 2:26 PM | by | Comments (2)

[Update 10am November 5] It is finally coming out that the $200 million pricetag is "wildly inflated, " says the White House and that the original press release that communicated these numbers was based solely on an unverified statement by an Indian provincial official. Anderson Cooper on CNN delves into the report and states that the White House is not releasing numbers for security reasons, however, in the 90s, President Clinton's visited 6 African countries to the tune of $5 million per day (inflation adjusted), so one way to guesstimate the cost of this India trip is to extrapolate from the cost of Clinton's trip. Remember, at the end of the day, we are all still guessing at the number until it is officially released.
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We hope you aren't planning on traveling to Mumbai, India this weekend, as President Obama is planning to visit the city for a whopping 24 hours, during which time Mumbai air space will be shut down for periods and the city will be on heavy alert. In fact, with all the needed security, the accommodations and the full media and tactical teams that are accompanying the prez, the cost of Obama's little daytrip to india has the heart attack pricetag of $200 million dollars [new reports show that this figure is a guess made by an Indian official, see above].

That makes the Maldives 5-star bungalow vacations of celebs look like child's play and in effect, it is. $200 million is getting Obama a suite at the renowned Taj Hotel, plus his usual Air Force One flight and all of the greased palms that it requires to make the state visit go over without incident. Barack is heading to Mumbai to talk economic foreign relations.

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Katy Perry Covers Up As She Arrives to India for Her Wedding to Russell Brand

Where: Mumbai, India
October 20, 2010 at 3:05 PM | by | Comments (0)

Katy Perry tried to hide behind her coat yesterday as she, and fiance Russell Brand, wheeled their luggage through Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The couple seemed uncharacteristically dour as they arrived in India where their wedding will take place later this week. Cold feet perhaps?

Russell and Katy will be joined by 85 of their closest friends and family for a week long celebration, at the luxurious Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, the same venue where the couple was engaged earlier this year.

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