Desert Safari, Dubai

Desert Safari is a great fun with adventure experience. We went with Falcon Oasis tour organizers, there driver picked us from the hotel around 3 PM. It is advisable to eat very light for the lunch on your day of desert safari.

Desert Safari, Dubai

Our driver was an amazing guy, he rode us to the desert in a 6 seat safari car. We fasten our seat belts before the bumpy ride of the desert started. We enjoyed the hilarious ride having lots of ups and downs in the sand dunes. Finally we reached at our desert camp, a place where we were going to spend our rest of the evening.

Sunset at Desert Safari, Dubai

We enjoyed hot coffee made from camel's milk. We went for camel ride while sunset. I had henna tattoo (Mehndi) done by the henna artist. 

Henna (Mehndi) at Desert Safari, Dubai

I wore traditional Arabic dress (Abaya) for the photographs. Everything in the camp was included in the package. The camp area had a center stage, surrounded by a lot of dinner tables arranged in traditional desert style. After the dinner, there was a cultural show of Tanoura dance and Belly Dance. 

Belly Dancing at Desert Safari, Dubai

The performers were really good and we had a great entertainment. After the show, our driver was back to drop us to the hotel.

Public Transport for tourists of Dubai

In Dubai, to travel by each means of public transport is very easy and comfortable even for the tourist. The reason behind that, the mobile application "Wojhati" - Journey planner, gives you real time travel options and easy to use for your source and destination. 

Wojhati - Journey planner at a metro station

The second reason is the people of Dubai are very helpful to the tourists and also there are many information centers available on metro and bus stations. 

Al Ghubaiba bus station, Bur Dubai

There are 4 types of Nol cards (Fare card) available to travel across Dubai by public transportation. Red, Silver, Gold and Blue. Among these Blue is not for tourists. 

The tourists would prefer either Red or Silver card, as the Gold card rates are high and will be as much as taxi rates.

If you are in Dubai for just 1 or 2 days and if you want to travel for fix destinations, Red ticket is better. The same Red ticket can be used for max 10 single journeys, but it can be used only in either of metro, bus, tram or water-bus.

The Red ticket can also be used as full day travel pass for max. 5 days.

The Silver card is better than Red ticket, if you have to travel by all metro, bus, tram and water-bus, the same card is valid in all of them.

The tram taking turn near Princess tower, Dubai Marina, Dubai

The Silver card has an e-purse value, which can be topped - up on any metro station, bus stations or tourist information centers.

The cheapest and fastest way to cross the dubai creek, Abra water-bus, Dubai creek 

You have to maintain a minimum e-purse value to start your travel, the money gets deducted at the end of your journey according to the zones you have traveled.

When you are leaving Dubai, you can return this silver card and en-cash your remaining e-purse value after deducting some service charge.

Bur juman metro station, Ranked world's 5th most beautiful metro station, Dubai

Bur juman metro station, Ranked world's 5th most beautiful metro station, Dubai  

There are 7 zones in Dubai for public transport travel. All major tourist places are in 4 zones near by the creek or sea.

To visit The Palm Jumeirah by monorail please check another blog-post at: The Palm Jumeirah

Useful links: 

Wojhati mobile app: wojhati.rta.ae

Roads and Transportation Authority, Dubai: www.rta.ae

Nol card information: www.nol.ae

Palm Monorail information: www.palm-monorail.com

Majestic Mysore

Mysore is a beautiful and cultured city of Karnataka state in south India. Mysore is well connected by road and rail transportation. It is located about 150 KM from Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka. Mysore is mostly famous for its heritage sights, the palaces and the Brindavan gardens, food specialties and silk sarees.

In our two days of stay in Mysore, on first day we visited Mysore Palace. Please read my post: Magnificent Mysore Palace to know everything about it. 

On the second day we opted for the day tour from a private bus operator. If you are here in vacation period, I would suggest to hire personal taxi for sight-seeing, as because of the rush, it becomes difficult to see each place in limited time.

The Jaganmohan palace, was formally the retreat of the Royal family of Mysore, when the Mysore palace was under construction. This palace is now Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery and open for public. The gallery exhibits many original paintings created by Raja Ravi Verma and other famous painters. Also there are weapons of war, musical instruments, sculptures, antique coins, paintings made on a grain of rice, and many more things.

The Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore

The Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens famous as Mysore Zoo is a must see place at Mysore. This is well maintained, well managed zoo and the home of a lot of wild animals, various big and small birds, Reptiles, and many other species. The entry fee is 25/- for adult and 10/- for children. It takes around 2 hours to see the whole zoo. Electric car is available to hire.

The Lion at Mysore Zoo, Mysore

The Giraffe at Mysore Zoo, Mysore 

Chamudi Hills are located at the east of the Mysore city, about 12 KM away and famous for Chamundeshwari devi temple. The top of the hills gives a magnificent panoramic view of the Mysore city and Karanji lake. The Chamundeshwari temple is really beautiful and there is also a statue of huge Nandi (bull) 5m tall and 7.5m length.

Statue of Mahishasura at Chamundi Hills, Mysore 

Chamundeshwari Temple, Mysore

Chamundeshwari Temple, Mysore

St. Philomena's Church is a beautiful catholic church, situated in the center of the city. Famous for its German architectural design, the church's basement consists a tomb of Martyr St. Philomena. The church was constructed in 1936, by the Maharaja of Mysore.

St. Philomena's Church, Mysore

The second most famous place at Mysore are the Brindavan Gardens. It is located about 22 KMs north from Mysore city on Krishnarajasagara dam of the river Kaveri. There is a north garden and a south garden, a walk way constructed over the river between the two gardens. Both the gardens are unique in design and have lots of colorful flower plants, trees, fountains, etc. This garden is also famous for musical fountains, show timing is 7 PM. 

Fountains at Brindavan Gardens

The Royal Orchid Hotel at Brindavan Gardens

Krishnarajsagara Dam View, Brindavan Gardens

Shrirangpatna the historic and cultural town, is a great half day excursion and can be arranged with Brindavan gardens as they are on the same direction from Mysore.

Tipu Sultan Monument, Shrirangpatna

Mysore is famous for Silk sarees, there are many nice show rooms for that. Also do not miss to try famous Mysore Dosa and sweet Mysore pak. 

Magnificent Mysore Palace

The Mysore Palace, Mysore

The Amba Vilas Palace well-known as Mysore Palace is the topmost attraction of the Mysore city. The palace is really huge, located at the center of the city. The Palace timings are 10AM to 5PM IST, and there is an entry ticket of 40/- per adult. The palace has three entrances - East, West and South, the south is open for the public.

Mysore Palace Gate, Mysore

East Gate Mysore Palace, Mysore 

The palace complex is spread across acres and is the magnificent display of Mysore kingdom's culture, art and history. There are guides available but I would suggest to take audio guide for the main complex. The photography is not allowed in here.

Main Complex Mysore Palace, Mysore

The main complex walls are full of colorful paintings of the kings, the stories of Mysore kingdom and festivals of Mysore, especially there is a huge painting of famous Dasara procession. 

It has many unique rooms: The Ambavilas - The decorated big hall for private assembly, The Kalyan Mantapa - A huge octagonal hall for the royal wedding ceremonies, The Diwan-e-aam - The common assembly hall. All these rooms have unique designs, huge decorated pillars, glossy mosaic flooring, floral chandeliers, which gives them a royal look.

 

The Architectural beauty of  Mysore Palace, Mysore

The palace showcases a lot of antique items. One of them is precious Elephant Howdah (Ambadi) made of 84 Kg gold. There is a Doll's gallery of traditional ancient dolls. The armory displaying ancient weapons used by the royal family. There are many European antique items too. 

Children enjoying elephant ride in Palace complex, Mysore

There are 12 Hindu temples surrounding the main complex, Someshvara and Lakshmiramana are the famous among them. The temples are having fabulous architecture and stone carving.

Temple inside the palace complex, Mysore

On the Nilgiris - Ooty

Ooty or Udhagamandalam is a beautiful hill station located in Tamilnadu state of south India. It is well connected by state transportation buses and railway. Nearest Airport is Coimbatore situated about 80KM away. We took a cab from Coimbatore airport to bus station from where we got govt. bus to reach Ooty, it took around 5 hours. 

On the way to Ooty

On our first day at evening, we visited the Ooty lake house and enjoyed boat ride. The lake is beautiful, and the lake house has many fun activities like mirror maze, haunted house, toy train, food stalls, etc. 

Ooty Lake

Just opposite to Lake house there is special garden, called Thread Garden. It is an art museum of beautiful artificial flowers made by silk thread. They also demonstrates the process of making these colorful handcrafted flowers.

Colorful flowers created by silk thread, Thread garden, Ooty

Colorful flowers created by silk thread, Thread garden, Ooty

The second day started with the most amazing and scenic experience of Nilgiri mountain railway - The mini train. The train runs between Ooty and Mettupalayam station, and gives the amazing joyride of Nilgiri mountains and tea gardens in its way. We descended to Coonoor town by the Nilgiri railway in an hour. 

Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Ooty

There are cabs available out side of the station for Coonoor sight seeing. They charge around 500/- to 600/- including guide to show all the famous points of the town. We visited Tea gardens and tasted pure green tea. Then visited Lamb's rock point, Dolphin's nose point, Sleeping lady view point, Coonoor town view, etc. 

Sleeping lady view point, Coonoor

View from Lamb's Rock Point, Coonoor

Tea Gardens, Coonoor

Coonoor town view point

The main attraction of Coonoor town is Sim's park, a well maintained botanical garden, having lots of plant species and tall trees. We visited the park in May, so fortunately we could enjoy the fruit show and a cultural show here. 

Fruit show, Sim's Park, Coonoor

Fruit show, Sim's Park, Coonoor

A century old tree, Sim's Park, Coonoor

Sim's Park, Coonoor

Sim's Park, Coonoor

Our third day we spent visiting scenic mountain peaks and colorful gardens of Ooty. The Doddabetta peak is the highest point of south India and has fabulous multiple view points over here. It's well maintained and photography lover's place.

Telescope house, Doddabetta peak, Ooty

View from Doddabetta peak, Ooty

The Botanical garden of ooty is one of the oldest botanical gardens of India. The climate is so enjoyable in this garden even in the summer. The Garden is so large that it is divided into several sections like Italian garden, upper garden, main garden, nurseries, etc. The garden has around a thousand species of plants and trees. In the centre of the Gardens lie a fossilized tree trunk estimated to be 20 million years old.

Botanical Garden, Ooty

Botanical Garden, Ooty

Botanical Garden, Ooty

The Rose garden of Ooty is the biggest rose garden of India, having more than 20,000 varieties of roses in various sizes and colors. It is maintained by the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department and is one of the must see places of Ooty.

Sitar of roses, Rose Garden, Ooty

Rose Garden, Ooty

A Pink rose, Rose Garden, Ooty

Rose Garden, Ooty

Rose Garden, Ooty

Rose Garden, Ooty

The Ooty is famous to buy homemade chocolates available in almost all the shops. Also enjoy buying juicy fresh fruits and green tea.