Pilgrimage Tour Guide to Sravasti

Sravasti is an antiquated city of India being one of the six biggest urban areas in India throughout Gautama Buddha's lifetime. The city is placed in the fruitful Gangetic fields in the Gonda District of Uttar Pradesh. Sravasti, the capital of the antiquated kingdom of Kosala, has the honor for shielding Buddha for 24 stormy seasons in the Jetvana Gardens. Jetavana cloister was a celebrated religious community near Savatthi.

The city accepted to be established by the fanciful ruler Sravast, and has various age-old stupas, grand cloisters and a few sanctuaries. Buddha is said to have performed a few supernatural occurrences here. This heavenly place additionally has the acclaimed Anand Bodhi tree, a posterity of the one, said to have been planted by Buddha's primary devotee.
As per the Mahabharata, the inception of Sravasti lies with the fabulous lord Shravasta. As per Buddhist custom, the city was called Savatthi on the grounds that the sage Savattha existed there. An alternate convention says there was a caravanserai there, and individuals meeting there asked one another what they had ("Kim bhandam atthi?"), then answered 'Sabbam atthi' (signifying "we have all things", as in everything).

Saheth and Maheth are the two towns of Sravasti. Maheth is considered as the origination of the Jain Tirthankar Sambhanath which is home to Sobhanath Temple. There is a mud fortress in Maheth, which is something to pay special mind to, as this old structure still holds its five entryways and dividers. Maheth blankets a territory of in excess of 400 sections of land of area.

Saheth is renowned for its various vestiges. Stupas, sanctuaries and religious communities are found in bounty in Saheth.

Major Tour Attractions:

1. Maheth
2. Sobhanath Temple
3. Saheth
4. Jetavana Monastery
5. Swetambara Temple
6. Ananthapindika Stupa
7. Agulimala Stupa
8. The Devi Patan Temple
9. Sankissa

While planning for a pilgrimage tour always book your hotels in advance. There are several tour agents available online who offers a custom holiday package that includes flight booking, bus tickets and hotel booking online. Research well before you takes any final decision.

Budget Travel Tips for 2014

Here is the low down on taking the sting out of high airfare prices and bagging the perfect deals for your vacation in 2014.

Higher airfares: - Probably the most restrictive factor for travelers this year will be the sky rocketing air ticket prices. Apart from rising prices of crude oil, the other major factor pushing up the prices is the consolidation of airliners. As of today, only four major airliners fly in the United States; lesser players mean less pressure on them to lower the prices and consequently fewer deals for the customers. Sadly, there is no solid strategy to evade the situation. Travelers will have to forgo luxury accommodation, fancy restaurants and expensive sightseeing to offset the cost and travel within their budgets.

Skip the hotels: - Take advantage of vacation rental sites like airbnb, FlipKey, HomeAway and Rentalo which allows you to stay in an apartment at a fraction of the cost of a fancy hotel.  The sector is in its nascent stage and is plagued by few issues, however, the massive amount of savings more than compensates for the minor discomforts. Hotels in India are increasingly suiting up to counter the trend by lowering the prices. Hotel booking in India has also become significantly easier thanks to numerous online portals competing for the traveler’s attention.

Watch your currency: - While hunting for an overseas vacation, consider how far your currency will go. Last year, the Indonesian Rupiah took a whopping 7% plunge against the dollar, rendering Bali one of the best value vacation spot for the Yanks.  Even the Japanese Yen fell significantly against the dollar making the once expensive island an affordable travel option.

Chasing India's Hippie Trail

While India's best known hippie spots like Goa and Varanasi are getting choked by the tentacles of commercial tourism, travelers are migrating to smaller, quieter towns in their quest to self discovery, relaxation and the ever elusive 'shanti'. Here are the top spots for those who enjoy a laid back vibe flavored with a splash of alternate consciousness.

Hampi :- Monuments like Virupaksha temple has earned Hampi a spot in UNESCO's World Heritage Site list. However, unlike other destinations steeped in history, Hampi has managed to carry off a hammock swinging, motorcycle riding, laid back vibe. A 26 sq.km village located on the banks of Tungabhadra River, Hampi was once the capital of the medieval kingdom of Vijayanagar. Though primarily visited by architectural geeks and pilgrims, the town has seen a steady rise in the number of hippies who have settled in shacks across the river.  Most hotels in Hampi accept online hotel booking so you won't have a hard time finding an accommodation here.

Tosh :- Located in the far reaches of Himalayas, the village is a secluded settlement where modern influence is  yet to creep in. The village comprises of a group of houses built into the mountains and overlooks the serene Paravati River.  The region is inhabited by a close knit farming community who tend to their fruit orchards, sheep and marijuana plantation.  Tosh is accessible from Barshaini town (two hour trek or half an hour taxi ride). While Tosh may not have some of the best hotels in India, rest assured you will find a clean, comfortable place to retire for the day. 

Kasol :-  Located below Tosh, on the banks of the Parvati River is the quaint little town that serves as the base for trekkers to Pin Parvati Pass. The Hebrew signboards and numerous dreadlocks that navigate its street is a dead giveaway of its reputation as a hippie paradise. Cheap accommodation and delicious food has lured many a traveler to Kasol into becoming permanent residents. Evergreen and Little Italy are the two popular cafes where you can have some freewheeling spirituality discussions while sipping cappuccinos and munching on an apple crumble.

Vashisht :- Located about 3 km from Manali, Vashisht is popular amongst families who come here to take a dip in its hot springs. But a cursory glance around and you will see the Rastafarian colours in the rooftop cafes and groups of didgeridoo wielding backpackers. For a change in scenery, head out to the Jogini waterfall, accessible via a trek through a village, this serene spot rewards you with stunning views.

Gokarna :- The three beaches of Gokharna – Om, Kudle and Paradise with their Rastafarian cafes and dreadlocked backpackers is a picture perfect hippie beach town. Om beach is named after the Sanskrit symbol it resembles and is home to the most popular shack in town, the Namaste Cafe. Paradise beach is home to long term settlers and is quieter than the other two.

6 Budget Destinations to Experience in 2014

2014 is coming around the corner and travel enthusiasts everywhere are already chalking out their travel plans for the year. Here is a list of budget friendly travel destinations to consider in the coming year.

Nicaragua: - Not the place for the casual traveler, but for those who love a splash of adventure and even danger to their travel escapades, Nicaragua is sure to impress. When done right, Nicaragua is one of the most beautiful countries in Central America, also the cheapest. You can easily spend two weeks here for the price of what you would spend on a two days in a European city. Head to San Juan del Sur, the upcoming surf town where the parties stretches to noon the next day.

Cambodia: - For a country still nursing its wounds from a rough past, Cambodia is one of the friendliest country in South East Asia. An added bonus is that their language is one of the easiest to pick up for English speakers. Base your itinerary around the Siem Reap, Phenom Penh and Sihanoukville.  It is rare to find cheap air tickets directly to the country, best bet is to fly to Bangkok and then take a bus to cross the border.

India: - Probably the country that is most talked amongst travelers and not without a reason. Visiting India is akin to visiting 4-6 countries all at once. The country can be overwhelming but those ready to brave the challenge will be rewarded with a unique and unforgettable experience. Hotels in India tend to stretch across all budgets so you will find a place to stay regardless of your wallet power.  The best way to hotel booking India is through the official website of the property.

US Virgin Islands: - Long a favored haunt for Americans without passport and those who can't afford a European trip. The Virgin Islands give you that remote and exotic feeling that you have gotten away but can be gotten to in a bearable flight duration. The recommended islands are Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix. Most of the hotels in the island accept online booking which makes it easier to find an accommodation online.

Portugal: - Easily one of the best budget travel destination in Western Europe, despite its diminutive size, Portugal is home to a diverse range of landscapes. From the pristine beaches in the south, to the sprawling metropolis of Lisbon in the center to the rugged mountains in the north – Portugal has enough to keep you coming back.  Whats more? You can order a bottle of wine in most of the restaurants for fewer than 3 Euros!!

Lithuania: - Eastern Europe has been witnessing a steady upslope in tourism and Lithuania is one of the destinations leading the way. Most tourists to the country head to the capital city of Vilnius, home to some spectacular architecture in the form of churches, town halls a medieval towns. Lithuania was one of the last countries to adopt Christianity and has several interesting Pagan remnants apart from World War II sites.

Expert Tips on How to Avoid Hidden Travel Fees

You have booked your flight tickets, reserved a hotel room, booked the cabs and even figured out where you will be eating. Having created an air tight itinerary, you assume that you have the entire budget figured out and nothing can surprise you, right? Maybe not.

As many people are finding out these days, the cost of trip does not equal the cost of the trip. During the trip a hundred different miscellaneous surcharges sneak its way into your itinerary.  And in some cases, it happens so frequently that you are pushing you budget even before you reach your destination.  The internet is your friend so before you make the bookings, check options for Cheap air tickets, hotel booking, cab agencies and online travel portals.

The human fee :- Booking your flight? Resist the urge to pick up the phone and make a telephonic booking. Many airlines charge a miscellaneous booking fee for talking to their representative and making a telephonic booking. The best way to evade it? Make your flight booking through one of the travel portals. Follow the same with online hotel reservation, booking through the web is a better option.

The rental car fee :- All over the world, many airports are using the cab rental counter as an easy way to dip their hands in to your wallet to fund construction projects. How to evade this? In most airports, you will find that tax is lighter when you book a cab away from the airport. If the destination you are headed to has a reasonably good public transport, you might be able to pick up a car near city center thereby saving on airport taxes.

Overpriced hotel parking :- Hotels in congested cities are starting to see overnight parking as a lucrative way to earn some extra bucks on the side. To avoid this situation, read the fineprint before you do your booking in cramped cities. Also, rent a car for single day from any service and return it when you retire for the night. Or if you are on a really tight budget, pick up a room in the suburbs and use public transportation. Make your online hotel booking, at least a week before your travel date.