Lose yourself in Goa Carnival 2013

Make your way to Goa to immerse yourself in festivities as the Goan Carnival begins. Enjoy three days of merriment doing nothing except eat, drink and dance.

Every February, just before the beginning of Lent, the small and popular beach state of Goa in Western India wears a festive look as the three day Goan Carnival begins. Also known as 'Intruz', the festival which was introduced by the Portuguese (who ruled this small principality from the 15^th to 19^th century) is a time of fun and merrymaking. Once celebrated only by the Christian population, the festival is now open to all as a result people from all over the country and abroad irrespective of the religion and race make their way to Goa hoping to forget their worries and to enjoy themselves over food, drinks, music and dance.

Goa Carnival Dates

The Carnival at Goa usually lasts for three to four days. This year the carnival will be celebrated from 9th Feb to 12th Feb at Panaji- the capital of Goa. It is estimated that around a million odd tourists will be visiting Goa during this period, so if you are preparing to Goa for the carnival, then make sure to book your holiday apartment at Goa soon for accommodation during this period is hard to find.

What to expect at the Carnival

This three day celebrations which will start at Panaji will see the streets of Goa come alive with nonstop festivity and colours. Floats and parades are the hallmark of the Goa carnival and this year around 70 floats including one featuring Bollywood stars will pass through the cites of Panjim, Mapusa, Vasco and Margao amidst music and dances. Various events like rock shows and fashion shows are also being organised. While Wendell Rodricks will display his collection in the fashion show, bands like Parikrama, Indian Ocean Agnee along with the likes of Farhan Akhtar, Anushka Manchanda and Goa’s very own Remo Fernandes will set the stage alive with their scintillating musical performances.

Besides the floats, the carnival will also see a revival of the Food and Cultural festival. To be held at Caranzalem, Panaji, the Food and Cultural festival will last for five days and is set to start a day before the Goa Carnival. It will showcase authentic Goan cuisine alongwith some great music and dance.

So, be a part of these celebrations, book a holiday flat now and loose yourselves in the festivities

London Tallest Buildings: The city’s Newest Tourist Attractions

As one of the world’s most vibrant cities, the city of London is visited by thousands of people every year from all over the globe. Irrespective of the reason of visit-whether business or leisure, London fascinates all with its amazing range of offerings that encompasses apart from shopping centres and restaurants-historical monuments, art galleries, museums, parks and gardens and now the latest attraction, its tallest buildings. Though, built to accommodate global offices and to house its many employees, these buildings with some over 100 mts have now become a major attraction in London with many people either expressing a desire for tours that involve specifically a visit to these buildings or a stay in one of the many holiday apartments that are located within these buildings or nearby.

Some of the buildings that have caught the fancy of tourists in are:


The Shard- The current tallest building of London at 309.6 metres, the Shard made entirely of glass in the shape of an irregular pyramid has apartments spread over 5 floors, a 200 bed hotel,  restaurants spread across three floors besides ample office space and a viewing gallery and open-air observation deck at a height of 245 metre on the 27 floor.

One Canada Square, 8 Canada Square and 25 Canada Square- Located in Canary Wharf, these buildings are mostly office buildings housing several banks and other financial institutions. The area being an important financial centre also has several serviced apartments where not only the employees of these offices but many tourists visiting London for leisure and business purpose dwell in.

Besides the above buildings, Heron Tower, Tower 42, St George Wharf Tower, 30 St Mary Axe, BT Tower, London eye, Royal London Hospital Tower etc are some of the other tallest building above 100 mts that have caught the imagination of tourists visiting or planning to visit London.

An Overview of 2013 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup

The 10th edition of the 2013 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup is here. Catch all the action either from the venues or form the comforts of your holiday home.

Though not as popular as their men's counterpart the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup has been gathering a steady stream of followers for the past few years.  First held in 1973 two years before the first limited over’s World Cup for men, the Women Cricket World Cup owes its initiation to Sir Jack Hayward who contributed £40,000 for the event. The first event was held in England and saw participation from England, Australia, New Zealand, and the now defunct Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, International XI and a Young England in a round robin league. England emerged as the winners with Australia being the runner ups.  Till now, a total of nine women's cricket world cup has been organized with Australia emerging the winners four times.

This year the 10th ICC Women's Cricket World Cup is being held in India from 31st Jan-17th Feb. Around  8 teams- England, Australia, New Zealand,  South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and India will be participating in the event that is to be held at Mumbai and Cuttack.  If you are interested in watching these cricket matches in person, we suggest that you make your plans accordingly. Mumbai has some excellent serviced apartments located near to the match venues- the Middle Income Group Ground in Bandra, the Bandra Kurla Complex and the Barbourne Stadium at Church Gate.

A few matches will be held at the Barabati Stadium and the DRIEMS Ground, Cuttack. Though Cuttack has some good hotels, short term rentals are few. Though you can book some holiday apartments at Bhubaneswar –Cuttack‘s twin City. Bhubaneswar is around 30-40 drive by car and is easily reachable by train and car.

So, if you planning to catch some live action, we suggest that you book your accommodation and match tickets quickly.

A Spectacle Called the Maha Kumbh 2013

A mega pilgrimage event that has caught the imagination of the devotees and layman alike, the 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela is truly a sight to behold. Only a visit to the Allahabad will explain what makes the event special in the eyes of both locals and tourists alike.

If you are in India or planning to be in India for a vacation during the months from Jan-March and are looking towards exploring some of the little wonders that makes the country one of and the truly exotic destinations of the world, we suggest that you leave the cosy confines of your serviced apartments, So Few festival ideas for Explore India for and Enjoy your holidays during  Feb and March 

February: 

· Surajkund Crafts Mela (Haryana, near Delhi) – Showcases handicrafts from all over the country.

· Ganga Water Rally (Allahabad)- for the daredevils

· International  Yoga Week (Allahbad & Varanasi )

· Desert Festival (Jaisalmer, Rajasthan)

· Taj Mahostav (Agra)- Event showcasing the incredible cultural and heritage of India

· Goa Carnival (Goa)-fun and frolic galore before lent

·  Khajuraho Dance Festival (Khajuraho) – Classical Indian dance at its best

March:

·Holi  - All over India

·Dhrupad Festival (Varanasi)- A five days music festival  where renowned artistes create magic on  Dhrupad. Very popular among music aficionados

January 

The many labyrinths of small towns and villages in Allahabad where the 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela is taking place. Billed as one of the grandest gathering of humanity on earth, the event which has been taking place since the beginning of the century has caught the imagination of people far and wide with the result that even scholars and researchers from foreign universities have made it a point to come down to the this year Maha Kumbh Mela to study the many dynamics that went to make what the mela is today. Rest few festival idea during february and march

Of all the Maha Kumbh Melas that has been held till date, the 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela is the biggest of all resulting in what has been described as an organizational challenge. Such is the magnitude of the event that a temporary mini pop up city with 40 hospitals and 40000 toilets has been set up by the authorities and over 30000 police personnel and 85 CCTV cameras have been deployed to preside over (what have been roughly estimated) 9 million devotees who have been told to come to Allahabad for a holy dip. 

 Despite its many religious connotations, the Maha Kumbh Mela from an economic perspective is said to have given the tourism industry a much needed boost especially in the Uttar Pradesh tourism department- the organizers of the event.  For an 11.5bn rupees (£130m) spent, the 55 day event is said to garner business worth at least 120bn rupees and is expected to draw over a million foreign tourists.

So, if you want to be a part of the mega event but haven’t booked your tickets and holiday apartments for the said event, we suggest that you do it now until unless want to wait another three years.   For the record, this year's spectacle will last till 10 March

Where to Stay in London for Your Holiday Vacations

Here's a hop on hop off personal guide for a London Tour from booking a holiday apartment to all the amazing places one can visit. Located on the banks of the Thames River, This leading global city highlights its strengths in the form of modern art, historic culture, fast development, strong economy, efficient transport, flourishing commerce and much more to welcome travellers from around the world.

Where To Stay

London offers an An array of agreeable choices for accommodating both its elite guests as well as Those on a shoestring budget. Holiday apartments in London make for the Perfect stay as they offer privacy, space and facilities to make you feel Completely at home. Chelsea is an elite neighborhood where numerous short-term Lets await you. At the end of a long haul flight, when one is dizzy with jet Lag, London's short term lets invite you into a cozy ambience in which you Can curl up to sleep all your blues away.

What all to see           

Once refreshed, Your holiday can begin with a tour of some the many wonders of London. London Offers a cocktail of attractions are it the British Museum, Tate Modern, National Gallery, Madame Tussauds, London Eye or the Science Museum. London's Iconic Big Ben and Albert Hall need no mention while a visit to the Shakespeare's Globe, Trafalgar Square and various London Parks are something one Cannot miss.

So while booking Your trip, plan meticulously, so that you have a comfortable apartment to stay As long as you need to visit all the exotic places in London.
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London Eve