Discovering India through its Luxury Trains

For those planning a tour to India, there is no better way to discover the country other than taking a trip around the Indian countryside abroad one of the several luxury trains.  Aimed largely at travelers coming from abroad, these luxury trains will take you along some of the scenic routes of the country side and let you discover the centuries old cultural traditions and history of a country called India.

So, which are the trains that you should be taking when planning a trip to India with friends and family?

Palace on Wheels- The oldest luxury train in India that will take you across the entire princely state of Rajasthan and give you a glimpse of its royal palaces and wildlife is the Palace of Wheels. 

Covering the cities of New Delhi - Jaipur - Sawai Madhopur - Chittaurgarh - Udaipur - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Bharatpur – Agra and back to Delhi, the train departs from Safdarjung Railway Station at 18:30 hrs every Wednesday during the months of September to April

The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels – The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels just like the Palace of Wheels departs from the Safdarjung Railway station Delhi on every Sunday during the months from October to March. Apart from a few select destination of Rajasthan, it also covers the cities of Khajuraho , Varanasi – two small descript towns that are hugely popular with foreign tourist.

The Deccan Odyssey – Sun, surf and history combines when you take a ride abroad the Deccan Odyssey. Covering the western part of India namely Goa and Maharastra, this train departs from Mumbai during the months of December and January.

The Golden Chariot- If beaches, wildlife and architecture are what you seek then a journey abroad the Golden Chariot is just right for you. The train breezes through some of the architectural rich destinations of Karnataka to the beaches of Goa during the month of October.  To board this train you need to checkout from your holidayapartment in Bangalore on a Monday.

The Maharaja Express – The most expensive luxury train of India that departs from Delhi every Saturday and Sunday and covers Delhi, Agra and most of Rajasthan, a journey on board the Maharaja Express is sheer delight. You simply need to get on it to know what luxury is all about.

For when it comes to luxury most of these trains offer amenities that are almost at par with those of luxurious serviced apartments right from the rooms (twin bedded with huge windows through which you can get a panoramic view of the countryside), wi-fi, spa, business center, bar, ayurvedic massage center, tv , channel music, lounge and restaurants to name a few.

So , what are you thinking about. Book your tickets and holiday rental before going on a luxury trip across the length and breadth of India

Understanding F1 - The Tyres

For someone with barely any idea about sports and more so about Formula 1, one thing that struck me as remotely strange amongst other things,  was why the tyres used in the race were different from the ones used in our day to day vehicles and  why  Formula 1 drivers keep on changing their tyres during a race.  I had completely forgotten about it till the recent discussion among colleagues about the upcoming F1 races at Barcelona and Monte Carlo set me thinking once again. So, to set my curiosity to rest, I logged on the computer to find out the reason why and if you too like me are confused about it, here are the answers

Why the tyre changes in the race?

With the Formula One car considered as a technical masterpiece thanks to its aerodynamics, composite construction and engines, it is but obvious that its tyres too have to be different than the normal ones. In fact, tyres constitute an important part of the entire formula 1 race and are one the few key differentiators that go on to deciding the race winner.

During a race, each team is allowed to use two types of dry weather tyres (prime and option), both of which must be used by each driver at some point in the race unless the conditions are wet. Each of these tyres are then further graded in terms of durability into ‘super-soft' , 'soft' 'medium' and 'hard' and differentiated by the colouring of the sidewall lettering. Similarly during wet conditions - the green 'intermediate tyre' for damp conditions; and the blue 'extreme wet tyre' for heavy rain are used.

 Now, the decision to use which tyre and when then depends on the race circuit and the strategies employed by the team. Thus while the Circuit de Catalunya is favourable for  medium and hard tyres given its abrasive surface and series of long, demanding medium and high-speed corners that of Monte Carlo with its short, slow corners and lack of grip is best for soft and super-soft tyres. Similarly fast circuits like Spa, Silverstone and Suzuka are suitable for harder ones. And the decision as to when to change a tyre (pit stop) is generally decided by the team management depending on the wearing down of the rubber or by thermal degradation of the tyre.

During the race including the practice races and qualifying each driver is allowed 11 sets of dry-weather tyres (six of the harder ‘prime’ and five of the softer ‘option’ specification), four sets of intermediate tyres and three sets of wet tyres. At the start of the race the cars needs to be fitted with the tyres the driver used to set his grid time during the qualifying. All of these tyres come with a bar code so that their use can be monitored by the FIA.

Book a holiday Rental

This generally sums up the reason behind the tyre changing scenario during the F1 race, though there are a few other technicalities as to the type of rubber used, dimensions etc which should be deal later until then you can catch all the live action by booking a holiday apartment or a service apartment near the race circuits.

The Six F1 tyre compounds, as supplied by Pirelli for the 2013 season (source Wikipedia)

Compound name	Colour		Tread	Driving conditions	Dry Type*
Hard	Orange**		Slick	Dry	Prime
Medium	White		Slick	Dry	Prime/Option
Soft	Yellow		Slick	Dry	Prime/Option
Super-soft	Red		Slick	Dry	Option
Intermediate	Green		Treaded	Wet (no standing water)	x
Full wet	Blue		Treaded	Wet (standing water)	x

(21 May -25 May) - Get mesmerized by the Chelsea Flower Show | Rated Apartments

Described as the greatest flower show in the world, the Chelsea Flower Show is an annual event that has kept the entire city of London redolent with the scents, sounds and sights of spring since 1862. Held on the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea since 1913, the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show marks the end of a centennial of the event at the hospital grounds. Held for a period of five days in late May, the show finds the hospital grounds get transformed into a tapestry of colours under a thousand blooms of different shapes and size.  

Attended by the members of the British royalty and televised every year by the BBC, the show has over the years has become a must-see event for garden enthusiasts from all over the world with some people actually planning their summer holidays around this time. And while there are some people who may opt for tour packages that take care of their accommodation and ticketing needs for the flower show, there are still many who prefer to make their own arrangements. Such people usually prefer to book the show tickets online and seek accommodations in one of the many serviced apartments that abound in London. The preference for such holiday apartments is largely due to their proximity to the venue and the homely feeling that they offer.

This year Chelsea Flower Show will be held from 21 May - 25 May with the show being opened to the general public from Thursday – the 23rd of May.

Catch the Finals live -Book your IPL match ticket and Service Apartment today !

The IPL T20 frenzy is still on with hardly any signs of abating down and now with the news that the sale of playoffs tickets had already begin has further led to a rush among cricket fans to get hold of the match tickets before they are sold out. Though currently the sales of tickets is only limited to the Qualifier 2 and Final to be held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on 24 May 2013 and 26 May 2013, this hasn’t in any way dampen the enthusiasm of the IPL fans with many even making plans for applying leaves and seeking to book holiday apartments in the city of joy.

With 25 more matches to go including the qualifiers, eliminators and final and with the game still wide open, speculations are rife as to who will make it to the final four and ultimately lift the cup. Though many content that two time winners Chennai Super Kings will be third time lucky going by their current form; the recent resurgence of Rajasthan Royals led by Rahul Dravid and of Royal Challengers Bangalore could change the tide of the game. To know which way the tide will turn, make sure that you are there at the games and what better way to catch all the live action other than renting a holiday rental that is located near the match venues.

Past IPL Winners

Year	IPL Winners
2012	Kolkata Knight Riders
2011	Chennai Super Kings
2010	Chennai Super Kings
2009	Deccan Chargers
2008	Rajasthan Royals

And while tickets for the IPL 2013 Qualifier 1 and Eliminator, to be played at the Ferozeshah Kotla Ground, Delhi, on 21 - 22 May 2013 are yet to be announced you can nonetheless book a Holiday Apartment in Delhi or a Service Apartments in Gurgaon in advance while waiting for the tickets of these matches to go on sale. Sale of tickets for the Qualifier 2 and Final has already started and can be brought on the event’s official site - www.iplt20.com with the minimum price of the tickets set at Rs. 300. So Hurry book your holiday apartment and match tickets today!

(15th To 26th May ) Star Spotting at the Festival de Cannes | Rated Apartments

Every year during the month of May, the quaint Mediterranean town of Cannes off the coast of the Côte d’Azur wears a frenetic and starry Look as stars from all over the world descend to participate in what has been Considered as one of the most prestigious events of world cinema- The Cannes Film Festival.  A glittering film event, The festival showcases and awards movies that are deemed to be of cinematic Merit from all over the globe.  The The Cannes film festival is the only event in the world where you will find actors, Directors from all over the world including those of Hollywood congregating at One place and for those wanting to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars; This is the right place and the right time to do so.

This year the festival is Due to be held from 15^th To 26^th May at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. And If you want to get your photo clicked or get an autograph from your favorite Star, this is your best chance. We do hope that you have booked your tickets And service apartment already, if Not then do hurry up.  With Cannes being One of the favorite beach destinations, chances of holiday apartment being rented out quickly is more. And who knows Maybe the person staying next to your home Could be a movie star!