Best Luxury Ayurveda and‎ Spa Resorts in India

India's TOP 6 leading Ayurveda destinations

ANANDA IN THE HIMALAYAS

Swirled in the sacred mists of time, nestled in the Himalayas is Ananda, a world class Destination Spa. Once the residence of Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal, it is dedicated to today’s traveller, who is looking for innovative ways to restore and rejuvenate his energies. The preferred destination for the discerning traveller, Ananda offers 70 deluxe rooms and 5 suites and 3 villas, each with unparalleled views of the river Ganges, the town of Rishikesh or the palace. Adhering to the concept of holistic health and well-being, is the tempting cuisine at the restaurant, carefully prepared to rejuvenate, revitalise and renew you.

DEVI GARH

Nestled in the Aravalli hills, the 18th century Devi Garh palace in the village of Delwara, forms one of the three main passes into the valley of Udaipur. One of India’s few Boutique Hotels; Devigarh will come as a very pleasant surprise to anyone exploring Rajasthan. Devi Garh, away from the stress of the city, is a perfect place to optimize your well-being. Combined with the gymnasium, steam, sauna, jacuzzi, and beauty parlour, they offer something more profound: complete Spa wellness therapies. Therapists use medicated oils and herbal pastes for different therapies - ranging from relaxing massages to complex treatments.

KALARI KOVILAKOM

Kalari is a historic palace, restored and recreated into an Ayurveda - based place of healing. Kalari Kovilakom is the palace for Ayurveda, perhaps the first and only one of its kind. Its face is the face of the warrior-king, elegant and expansive. But its heart is that of a sage, offering a deep healing, a doorway to the union of the mind, body and spirit. It was in the 19th century that they built Kalari Kovilakom. Today, Kalari Kovilakom has been restored and recreated into a unique experience in wellness. Combining the healing experience of India’s ancient medicinal system, Ayurveda, with the sumptuousness of palace living.

THE LEELA KEMPINSKI KOVALAM BEACH

The Leela Kovalam Beach, built on a rock-face is cradled between two wide sweeping beaches and has a panoramic view of the famed Kovalam coastline. Spread over 44 acres Kerala’s largest cliff-top beach resort overlooks the Arabian Sea that curves around its feet. A luxury spa offers traditional Ayurveda and wellness reatments. Experience new levels of relaxation and rejuvenation at Divya the Luxurious Spa. Stroll onto a private beach after an Ayurveda massage, listen to the sound of waves and meditate at the Meditation and Yoga centre overlooking the Arabian Sea.

SWASWARA

SwaSwara is the inner voice of the Self, sounded on a fabled beach shaped like an Om. In spaces marked by timeless aesthetics and contemporary harmony, here is a new vision, designed to give the practices of yoga and meditation their fullest expression. There is little at SwaSwara, apart from the rhythm of rolling waves and the meditative hum of birdsong, to disturb your inner explorations. At SwaSwara, you can expect personalized attention from Yoga experts belonging to several major school. For more serious Yoga lovers, and people with specific ailments, SwaSwara offers a whole range of options.

MARARI BEACH RESORT

Marari Beach Resort is an authentic experience of the world of Kerala’s traditional fishing villages and recreation of an ancient harmonious way of life. Marari Beach Resort has a fully equipped Ayurvedic centre, so you can get all the benefits of this ancient system of medicine. There are also regular yoga classes on the beach. To an Ayurvedic masseur, giving a massage is a form of worship, and the centre at Marari reflects the spiritual nature of the treatments. Expert doctors guide the process, and the result is a powerful healing system, the results of which you can measure for yourself, even after two or three sessions.

Germany, US, Israel & Palestine among 43 countries to enjoy e-Visa in India from Today

Visitors from over 40 countries, including Germany, the US, Israel, and Palestine, will soon be able to avail of the much-awaited electronic Visa (e-Visa) facility, which is set to be launched on today November 27. The e-Visa facility for 43 countries would be rolled out by Rajnath Singh, Minister for Home Affairs, Government of India, along with Dr Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State with Independent Charge for Culture and Tourism, and Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Government of India, said a senior Tourism Ministry official.

Russia, Brazil, Germany, Thailand, UAE, Ukraine, Jordan, Norway, and Mauritius, among others, would be getting the e-Visa facility in the first phase. The official said that Mexico, Kenya, and Fiji are also being considered for being given the e-Visa facility.

"It would be a historic occasion for the tourism sector as we were demanding this facility for long. The launching of e-Visa system for so many countries would boost the industry," said Subhash Goyal, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO).

All arrangements, including the software for the system, are now ready and would become operational at nine international airports -- Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Goa.

In order to get an e-Visa, one would need to apply on the designated website along with the required fees. They would be granted an electronic version of the visa within 96 hours.

As per the government decision, all countries, except a few in the "prior list", would be brought into the e-Visa regime over the next two years. Barring a few like Pakistan, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Somalia, all the countries will be covered under the e-Visa regime in phases, the official said.

The e-Visa is expected to give a big boost to foreign tourist arrivals in the country. About 51.79 lakh foreign tourists visited India during January-September this year. Thirteen countries currently enjoy the Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) facility, including South Korea, Japan, Finland, Singapore, New Zealand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Complete Information About Tourist Visa on Arrival 

WHO ARE ELIGIBLE: 

Nationals of the following countries- and the list will update and notified by the government from time to time.

Australia	Jordan	New Zealand	Singapore
Brazil	Kenya	Niue Island	Solomon Islands
Cambodia	Kiribati	Norway	Thailand
Cook Islands	Laos	Oman	Tonga
Djibouti	Luxembourg	Palau	Tuvalu
Fiji	Marshall Islands	Palestine	UAE
Finland	Mauritius	Papua New Guinea	Ukraine
Germany	Mexico	Philippines	USA
Indonesia	Micronesia	Republic of Korea	Vanuatu
Israel	Myanmar	Russia	Vietnam
Japan	Nauru	Samoa

VALID FOR: 

• ORDINARY PASSPORT HOLDERS WITH MINIMUM SIX MONTHS VALIDITY.
• ENTRY INTO INDIA WITHIN 30 DAYS FOR THE DATE OF APPROVAL OF ETA.
• VALID FOR 30 DAYS STAY IN INDIA FROM THE DATE OF ARRIVAL.
• CANNOT BE AVAILED FOR THAN TWICE IN A CALENDAR YEAR.
• FOREIGNERS WHO ARE VISITING INDIA FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF RECREATION, SHORT DURATION MEDICAL TREATMENT,CASUAL BUSINESS VISIT,CASUAL VISIT TO FRIENDS AND FAMILIES.

NOT VALID FOR:

• FOREIGNERS TRAVELLING ON PASSPORTS OTHER THAN ORDINARY PASSPORT SUCH AS DIPLOMATIC, OFFICIALS, SPECIAL AND SERVICE PASSPORT.
• SHOULD NOT HAVE A RESIDENCE OR OCCUPATION IN INDIA.
• INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS HAVING PAKISTANI PASSPORT OR PAKISTANI ORIGIN.

PROCEDURE TO APPLY ONLINE:

• Go to Website http://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
• TVoA LINKS CAN BE FOUND IN WEBSITE OF MINISTRY OF TOURISM, MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS & THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION.
• ONLINE APPLICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED MINIMUM 4 DAYS IN ADVANCE AND A MAXIMUM OF 30 DAYS OF PROPOSED DATE OF TRAVEL.
• RECENT FRONT FACING PHOTOGRAPH WITH THE WHITE BACKGROUND.
• PHOTO PAGE OF THE PASSPORT TO BE UPLOADED WHILE APPLYING.

FEES:

• USD 60/- ALONG WITH BANK TRANSACTION CHARGES PER PERSON WHICH IS TO BE PAID ONLINE, ONLY AFTER PAYMENT OF THIS FEE,  ONLINE APPLICATION WILL BE PROCESSED.
• ONCE PAID THIS IS NON-REFUNDABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. 

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH APPLICATION:

• SCANNED PAGES OF THE PASSPORT CONTAINING PHOTO AND PERSONAL DETAILS.
• DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPH TO BE UPLOADED- PHOTO SHOULD PRESENT FULL FACE, FRONT VIEW, EYES OPEN. BACKGROUND OF THE PHOTO SHOULD BE PLAIN LIGHT COLOR OR WHITE. NO SHADOWS ON THE FACE OR ON THE BACKGROUND. 

SHOULD CARRY IN PERSON:

• COPY OF THE ETA IN PERSON AT THE TIME OF ARRIVAL.
• BIOMETRIC DETAILS OF THE APPLICANT WILL BE MANDATORILY CAPTURED AT THE TVoA COUNTER AT THE AIRPORT ON ARRIVAL IN INDIA.
• RETURN TICKET OR ONWARD JOURNEY TICKETS WITH SUFFICIENT MONEY TO SPEND DURING THE STAY.

UPDATE/STATUS OF THE VISA:

• APPLICANTS CAN TRACK THE STATUS ONLINE ON THE TVoA WEBSITE UNDER VISA STATUS BY ENTERING THEIR APPLICATION ID NUMBER AND PASSPORT NUMBER.
• ONCE THE VISA IS ISSUED IT IS NON-EXTENDABLE, NON-CONVERTIBLE &  NOT VALID FOR VISITING PROTECTED/RESTRICTED AND CANTONMENT AREAS.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE AIRPORTS:

9 AIRPORTS - BENGALURU, CHENNAI, KOCHI, DELHI, GOA, HYDERABAD, KOLKATA, MUMBAI AND THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

VERIFICATION AT THE COUNTERS OF AIRLINE:

ONCE THE ETA HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY THE AIRLINE PERSONAL THEY WILL ISSUE THE BOARDING PASS.

TVoA HELP DESK DETAILS:

• 24X7 ASSISTANCE  PHONE - +91--11-24300666
• EMAIL- indiatvoa@gov.in

Visa-on-Arrival by Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to be launched on November 27 in New Delhi

Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) enabled by electronic travel authorization (ETA), is to be launched on November 27, in New Delhi. The Chief Guest on this occasion will be Raj Nath Singh, Union Minister of Home Affairs, Govt. of India and the Guest of Honor will be Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Tourism & Culture (IC) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Govt. of India.

===============================================

Shri Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister to be the Chief Guest at “Launching of Tourist Visa on Arrival enabled by Electronic Travel Authorization(ETA)”

Date	:	November 27,  2014 ( Thursday)
Time	:	1100 Hours
Venue	:	Convention Hall, the Ashok Hotel, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

=========================================================================

Celebrate the Festival of Colors: Holi Festival Tour India

Colorful Holi Festival of India

Holi, the festival of colors is one of the most popular, vibrant and boisterous festivals of India. Celebrated every year on the days of the full moon in the month of March, with extreme gaiety and joy this festival heralds the end of winter and marks the advent of spring. Also known as the spring festival, it is a time of unity, happiness and “joie de vivre” as the streets are transformed into a kaleidoscope of all the colors of the rainbow.

People from the World Enjoying Holi Festival

There are many stories, myths and legends with the festival’s origins but most intertwined with Holi is the tradition of “Holika Dahan, a bonfire the night before Holi. It is the metaphoric burning of Holika –an evil mythological character symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. The magic of playing with color begins early in the morning, and the revelry continues through the day. Traditional delicacies are prepared in advance and served while playing Holi. Families, friends, and neighbors get together to enjoy this festival of colors with gay abandon.

Holika Dahan

This festival is an integral part of Indian tradition and culture and visiting India during Holi is the best way to get the feel of real India where thousands of people dazzle the streets with unified enthusiasm to celebrate this riot of colors, splashing colored water and smearing powdered color over each other. 

Even though this festival is celebrated all over India but the fervor and jubilance in North India is unmatched.

Holi Colours

Arrangements are made for the guests to mingle and play Holi with an Indian family and white kurtas/Indian attire is provided for especially for the occasion.

This specially crafted tour begins in the Capital city New Delhi, a city of contrasts and paradoxes, the remnants of the Moghul reign and the Colonial past still visible in the many majestic monuments and impressive buildings throughout the city.

Experience a rickshaw ride in Old Delhi to the Grand mosque Jamal Masjid through narrow lanes and colorful souk –like bazaars to the seat of the Mughal Empire, the massive Red fort. Drive past the Presidents palace and India Gate, Humayun’s tomb and Qutub Minar, the highest sandstone minaret in the world.

Head to Royal Rajasthan, the land of resplendent palaces and grandiose forts .Enjoy a boat ride in the placid waters of Lake Pichola in Udaipur, a city of fairytale palaces, lakes, temples and gardens. Experience the vivid hues of the “Blue City” Jodhpur set on the edge of Thar Desert en-route to Jaipur.

Hawa Mahal, Pink City Jaipur

Jaipur or the “Pink City” as it is often called is a labyrinth of fascinating bazaars, opulent palaces, majestic forts and historic sights. Post sightseeing of this bustling city proceed to watch The Elephant festival at the Chaaugan Ground on Holi eve. The noisy and exciting fanfare begins with a colorful procession of all the elephants; that are superbly decorated, towards the stadium. Highlights of this grand celebration are elephant polo matches, elephant parades, elephant beauty contests with some folk dance performances by local artisans.

The sojourn further takes you to Agra to witness the ethereal beauty of Taj Mahal, a must see on everyone’s list. Watch the splendorous Taj Mahal transform with the changing hues of the sky Taj Mahal – a truly spellbinding sight. Experience a breathtaking live show on Taj by performing artisans depicting the era in time.

The Holi festival tour ends but the memories linger on forever leaving an unquenched thirst to return for more. Explore the vast heritage, the festivals, the rituals and the traditions and enjoy the cultural palimpsest that is India.

For more just send your query by filling right side form-----

India, Australia sign MoU to cooperate on enhancing tourism

India and Australia on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to use the field of tourism to enhance bilateral cooperation and to further strengthen people-to-people contacts between the two nations.

The MoU was signed between Ministry of External Affairs, Secretary (East), Anil Wadhwa and Minister of Trade and Investment Andrew Robb.

It will encourage cooperation in tourism policy, information exchange, interaction between tourism stakeholders, training and investments in hospitality sector and promote the importance of the tourism sector in economic development and employment generation.

The idea is to use the field of tourism to enhance bilateral cooperation and to further strengthen people-to-people contacts between the two nations.

Recently, IATO President Subhash Goyal voiced the sentiments of Indian travel trade when he called for visa-on-arrival facility to be extended to Indian tourists. Requesting the Australian Government he told Business Insider, “A lot of Indians visit Australia every year and hence, we should be extended visa-on-arrival facility by the Australian government.”

India is the 10th largest source market for Australian tourism and the official board has initiated a number of promotional and educative programs in recent times to increase the number of Indian tourists visiting the country. 

Prime Minister Modi, who was in Canberra today, has now left for Melbourne after which he will depart for Fiji for the third leg of his three-nation, 10 day trip.

Most Famous Indian Folk and Tribal Dances

Ghoomar: Rajasthani Folk Dance

Folk dance in India is a term broadly used to describe all forms of folk and tribal dances in regions across India. WhileIndian classical dance is considered a higher form of art and was practiced in courts, temples and on special occasions, folk dance forms are practiced in groups in rural areas as an expression of their daily work and rituals. They are performed on religious or seasonal festivals. Some of the popular folk dances that are performed across villages and cities are Bhangra,Garba and Lavani.

Punjab Folk Dance

Bhangra

Bhangra: World famous Punjabi Folk Dance

Bhangra is a traditional and lively form of folk dance which originated from Punjab. People in Punjab traditionally perform Bhangra while celebrating the harvest. During Bhangra, people sing Punjabi Boliyaan lyrics, at least one person plays the the dhol drum, and other people may play the flute, dholak drum, or other musical instruments. While Bhangra began as a part of harvest festival celebrations, it eventually became a part of such diverse occasions as weddings and New Year celebrations.

Gujrat Folk Dance

Garba

Garbha: Gujarati Folk Dance

Garba is the popular dance from Gujarat and is being performed not only all over India but all over the world by the Gujaratis. Garba is an Indian form which has originated in the Gujarat region. It is more similar to the classical Indian dances such as Bharatanatyam and Odissi. The name garba comes from the Sanskrit term Garba which means "belly" and Deep which means "a small earthen lamp" while many traditional sheaves are performed around a central lighted lamp. Garbha is a circular form of dance performed by ladies on the Navaratri days which are auspicious days of Goddess Durga in the Winter Months, during Sharad Purnima, Vasant Panchami, Holi and other festive occasions.

Maharashtra Folk Dance

Lavani

Lavani: Marathi Folk Dance

Lavani Originating from the state of Maharashtra the word Lavanya meaning Beauty which tries to put the various social aspects in an entertaining form. The Lavani Dance form is a combination of traditional songs and dances. It worked as a morale booster for the war soldiers in the 18th century.

Usually Lavani Dance form is performed by Dhangars or shepherds of Sholapur district of Maharashtra. Lavani is the poetry written by Dhangras who gets the inspiration by nature. The Lavani dance from contains the tales of Birth of their Diety called Biruba. In general in the Lavani Songs there are meaningless chants which are used to fill the gaps within the musical sounds. Lavani the musical drama goes on for the entire night and at the end of the Lavani performance, a replica of Manmathas mount is burnt.

Explore Nepal and Its Spectacular Beauty

Wedged between the two titans India and China, Nepal is a relatively small country with geographic icons, breathtaking mountain landscape and myriad treasures. With its ancient culture and the mighty Himalayas as a backdrop, this birth place of Lord Buddha has truly earned the title as the roof of the world.

It comes as no surprise that Nepal has been voted as travellers' first choice in Asia for upcoming destinations and third choice globally. This enchanting land has always promised an exhilarating experience for all adventure lovers and legions of trekkers and spiritual seekers are drawn to the Himalaya’s most iconic and rugged trails of the world’s highest mountain, the colossal Mount Everest.

There are diverse options for the non –trekkers or those who prefer to see a different facet of Nepal on a gentler pace. He further elaborated that the itinerary of all the tours as well as the India with Nepal Tour is completely focused and specially designed according to the personal style ,pace and interests of the clients ensuring security, comfort and luxury at all times.

A sample itinerary of 15 days that begins in India ,for instance could include a captivating and invigorating tour of the bustling bazaars of Old Delhi,admiring the Red Fort, a red stone wonder which truly exemplifies the prowess of the Mughal architects, continuing on route to visit the India Gate and the Qutub Minar.

No tour of North India would be complete without a visit to the royal cities of Jaipur, Udaipur and the spectacular white marble marvel, the awe-inspiring Taj Mahal, further moving on to the UNESCO world heritage site Khajuraho to witness the exquisitely carved temples with its distinctive sculptures.

The tour then ventures to the exotic Nepalese capital of Kathmandu exploring its buzzing streets ,strolling through the famous temple-lined medieval city squares of Bhaktapur and Patan.From there moving on to Pokhara valley, the “Jewel of the mid-west” beneath the soaring snow-capped peaks and picturesque monasteries, soaking in the rural beauty around the villages and hiking through the wilderness of Chitwan National park tracking the endangered one –horned rhinoceros with the journey finally culminating with a view of the majestic Sagarmatha – or the Mount Everest leaving everyone mesmerized and asking for more.

Discover some of the most magnificent scenic routes, ancient shrines, fascinating historical sites, forts, grandiose palaces, vibrant colorful bazaars, and the legend of eternal love Taj Mahal with a tailor made India Nepal Tour package.

“Once you have travelled the voyage never ends the mind can never truly break away from the journey” And this India – Nepal tour promises to leave unbeatable memories and experiences that truly rejuvenate the mind body and soul.