Tatkal reservation in the Indian railway is a very convenient system for those who could not make reservation in the normal procedure.  ‘Tatkal’ means ‘immediate’ and this facility is available in most of the trains and train routes.  In the past, the trains on which tatkal journey was allowed were indicated with a ‘T’ at the end of the train number.  But now that system has come to an end.  If you want to avail the tatkal scheme, you need to apply at least 2 days in advance.  The 2 days prior date is exclusive of the day of journey.  This is in effect 3 days prior booking.  Tatkal trains are not exclusive for tatkal passengers only.   As a matter of fact, this facility is arranged on regular express trains. A few special coaches are attached to express trains for tatkal arrangements.

Those who are going to avail the tatkal reservation facility of the Indian railway need to know that this sort of reservation is available for the full length of the journey of the rain.  For instance, suppose the train starts from Chennai and its final stop is New Delhi, but you want to board the train at Hyderabad and detrain at Bhopal, you will have to book a ticket for the entire length of the journey of the train and not of your journey.  That is, you have to book a ticket from Chennai to Delhi, not from Hyderabad to Bhopal.   However, in some cases there are exceptions to this rule.

While you book your seat under tatkal scheme in the Indian railways, you will have to remit additional amount than the ordinary charges.  This additional charge may be Rs.50 or Rs.200 or sometimes it can be as high as Rs.200 depending on the class and distance of the journey.  In order to book ticket under the tatkal scheme, you need to produce a photo affixed Identity Document. This identification document can be your Passport, PAN Card, Credit Card, Driving License, etc.   Photo identification card is essential for the tatkal passenger on the train also when the Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE) asks for it.  Your ID number is noted on the ticket by the TTE to ensure that the ticket is not sold in the black market.  You can book for up to a group of 6 passengers under one ticket and for that only one ID is sufficient.  Cancellation provision for tickets is not available for tatkal ticket.  You cannot cancel a tatkal ticket.  Even then, this scheme is a boon for those who are in an emergency.

Pondicherry has a gorgeous and fine-looking uncontaminated beach that is extends nearly1.5km long. The beach here is the main attraction for the tourists who visit this place.

Some additional places of traveler interest in Pondicherry are: – French Institute , Manacle Vinayanagar , Mansion Anandha, Mailam Murugan Temple , Jawahar Toy Museum , Mandagupettu , Ousteri Lake .

Even though Pondicherry is extremely small in size, it pulls a good number of travelers coming to India. The exceptional saintly attraction of the destination is enhanced by the fact that it was a dwelling to the famous poet Sri Aurobindo and the Mother Mirra Alfassa and she belonged to Paris. A talented and a skillful pianist and a painter, she happens to be a follower of Shri Aurobindo . Pondicherry in the recent times is a union territory with its region spread over three dissimilar states in the nation. The capital city of the union territory of Pondicherry is also famous as ‘Pondicherry’ and is to be found on the Coromandel Coast on the Bay of Bengal, at a space of nearly 165 Kms from the famous city Chennai. Karaikal is an additional part of Pondicherry, which is also positioned in the state of Tamil Nadu. The additional two parts are Yanam in Andhra Pradesh and Mahe placed on the southern bank of river Mahe on the western coast of Kerala.

Once upon a time a French settlement, Pondicherry still has a small number of French families existing there and French is an important language which is spoken by most of the residents here. The French force can be seen in the very outline of the town. The wonderful  and outstanding statues of Joseph Francois Dupleix and Joan of Arc, the fighter saint of France informs of a noteworthy French power on the part of the destination. The French Institute of Ideology and Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient are the existing heritage of the previous French profession of the region.

Languages-Local residents are usually speaking French but there are quite a few other languages which are spoken here. The other Languages frequently spoken in Pondicherry are Tamil, Telugu, Malayam, Hindi, French and English.

Climate

The state takes pleasure in a tropical climate that is it is generally hot and humidity is immense and the monsoon commences from October and lasts till December. On the whole because of the beautiful attractions present here it is fast picking up as a great tourist destination.

Family holidays to Chania Town are a great way to take a walk through the history of Crete and really explore the best that Greek island holidays have to offer. If your ideal holiday is one that is authentic and a good indicator of the culture of the region rather than a holiday that is designed to give the look and feel of home with a beach nearby then you will definitely appreciate package holidays to Chania town. You can find many great cheap holiday deals to Chania Town right now and your family will be delighted to share the experience with you.

This particular resort has a long and varied history. As a result the cultural offerings of a holiday to Chania Town are many. The active nightlife, the cultural attractions, and the amazing shopping opportunities in Chania Town make this a favorite with many different types of families that are looking for something more from their holidays than sunburns and empty wallets.

This isn’t to say that there aren’t opportunities to enjoy your fair share of fun in the sun with family holidays to Chania Town only that there is so much more to this resort than a beach or two. If you really want to explore the local beaches there are beaches available in nearby Kilimbari, Akoriti, and Stavros.

If you are fortunate, you will find package holidays to Chania Town that include tours to some of the villages that can be found throughout the mountains or further inland than the beach resorts. Therissos is one of those villages that would be a shame to miss and the entire family can enjoy exploring these great treasures that dot the landscape of Greek island holidays to Crete. It is possible to find excursions to many exciting and captivating locations throughout the island so plan carefully or you will find there simply isn’t enough time to take it all in.

If you are looking for cheap holiday deals to Chania Town, chances are that you’ve heard how wonderful this resort is for family holidays. You should also note that it is an excellent holiday spot for couples and 18 – 30s holidays that are looking for holidays with an active nightlife that doesn’t overwhelm the entire holiday adventure. Book your Greek island holidays today and get busy preparing your best beach body.

You can do this by matching your needs to the motorhome with the best or closest match. Firstly, consider how many passengers you’d have or berths that you would need. In this case, the beds that you would be needing with the people travelling. This is the first thing to consider and must be right the first time. This will decide and help you narrow your motorhome choices. Berths range from 2 berths, 3 berths, 4, 5 and even 6 berths. Note that double beds count as 2 berths in some motorhomes, so take care in choosing.

Next, what facilities would you need? Determine how self-sufficient you’d want to be. Possibilities include toilet, heating, shower, kitchen, storage, batteries or power and gas heating. Note that even a small motorhome has all the facilities and probably would have smaller water tanks and fridge, too. Which means, you’d have to “service” your vehicle more often that with a larger version. If you are arranging for camping away from campsites, then you’d want to be self-sufficient as possible and take note of the facilities you would need. But in case you’d be planning to stay in campsites during most of your time, you may take the opportunity to avail of the modern campsite facilities such as a shower and toilet. Which also means you wouldn’t be constantly refilling your water tank. Small campervans may meet all the self-sufficiency requirements, but they can be limited when it comes to comfort and space. Consider the lay-out and access in this case.

When you’ve got that covered, how long will you be on your trip? How long you will be away is a deciding factor with creature comforts. Consider the living space you’d want to have for a week’s trip, and so forth. The limited space is often a big factor for children. Fresh water and waste water tanks mean frequent refilling and emptying of cassettes and tanks.

Would you be driving most of the time? Or would you rather spend it most of the time on campsites? Whatever your travel plans are, just be cautious that some areas and roads have restrictions when it comes to motorhomes. Driving a motorhome is entirely different than driving a family van. Consider the width restrictions on the area you would be visiting. Motorhomes oftentimes could be too wide in some roads. Consider the flexibility of your motorhome, the maneuverability and dimensions, especially with high tops. Rental operators can help you with this one.

Finally, the budget! Obviously motorhomes aren’t cheap. This is because of the age of the vehicle, the amenities, and the design of the motorhome. Which is good news, because this means that this can be a good initial investment. Rent the newest vehicle that they would have, aging from 0 – 3 years.

Renting a motorhome can be of great value, as it is cheaper in some ways. Give it a try on your next vacation.

After a very long flight, we arrived safely home last week. It then took a few days to get settled and to adjust to being in a very different world once again.

The trip was absolutely wonderful and, despite the haze and the dust on the new roads-that-were-once-paths, I enjoyed every step.

So this note is to thank you & your company Nepal Vision (www.nepalvisiontreks.com Phone: 977-1-4424762, 977-1-4423297) most sincerely for all that you did to make the trip run as smoothly and efficiently as it did. We really enjoyed in trekking with yours friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere. We enjoyed the ease with which you and we sorted out the payments for the trip, enjoyed the tour of Bhaktapur, Patan.

I also want to thank you for the lovely cultural evening and delicious meal you took us to “just up the road”. It was a great way to round off the tour. I was also very pleased to have those delicious momos they.

Yes, Keshav, all in all it was a wonderful trip: very different to the Everest Trek, but equally fascinating and culturally far more diverse and thus offering a wider experience.

Thank you! Thank you for another fabulous time in your fabulous country. I really hope that politically the situation improves for you all in the near future and that some of the problems, such as irregular electricity and roads and the like, can also be sorted out fairly soon.

With kindest greetings!

Keith Roberts

South Africa

2009 May

So you’re planning a sojourn to the gorgeous city of Cape Town and pondering what to take to the world’s most beautiful place?

The answers are simple.

Packing your suitcase should be easy if you follow these tips.

Cape Town is renowned for its “Cape Doctor” wind so you should take along a warm jacket and some fluffy socks. On that note, don’t be afraid to be yourself so, yes, you can take those plaid pants your partner does not like – Cape Town’s going to love you for them anyway.

Get your bikini or your brightest baggies out, for when you visit the cosmopolitan beachfront of Camps Bay. A favourite destination for tourists and the elite, Camps Bay boasts a magnificent palm-fringed sandy beach.

Don’t forget your sunglasses for your Cape Town trip, to help shade your eyes on sunny days, whilst meandering on Clifton Beach. With its white sands and glistening water, it’s no wonder the trendy spot has acquired Blue Flag status.

When venturing to the brightest star on the tip of the African continent, don’t forget to pack your very finest. Cape Town’s nightlife is diverse and buzzing with variety. A plethora of restaurants, cocktail bars, clubs and lounges abound, to tempt your tastebuds and get your feet tapping on the dancefloor.

Choosing where to set your luggage down and resting your weary head at the end of a funfilled day in Cape Town is a difficult choice considering the abundance of beautiful accommodation, resorts and hotels in the region. Why not rest your weary feet at a Cape Town Villa and relax in luxury? Cape Town’s accommodation industry prides itself on offering its clientele only the best in choice and comfort.

Enjoy that all Cape Town has to offer but don’t forget the essential items to make your holiday unforgettable.