Archive for the ‘Festivals and Holidays’ Category
Last post, I was excited to announce our newest women-only tour: Colors of India. Just a few days ago, we also added a new Featured Tour: Legacy of Leh/Ladakh. Ladakh is a remote region in Northern India, located between the Himalayan and Kunlin mountain ranges. Historically a Buddhist kingdom, Ladakh was strategically placed at the crossroads of major trading routes. The region is commonly called “Little Tibet” and many travelers have discovered this destination as an alternative to visiting the disputed territory of Tibet.
Lamayuru Monastery
Start your 8-day journey in Delhi, visiting the Red Fort, Raj Ghat, and Humayun’s Tomb . Then, fly to Leh and experience one of the few remaining abodes of Buddhism in South Asia. Here are just a few highlights:
- Hemis, the largest monastery in Ladakh
- Leh Palace, modeled after the Potala Palace in Lhasa
- Thiksey, an 800 year old gompa with panoramic views of the Indus Valley
- Lamayuru Monastery, currently housing 150 resident monks
To spotlight this spectacular region, reserve Legacy of Leh/Ladakh during the month of February and receive $50 off registration. For more information on Leh, check out our February edition of The Sodha Traveler.
Tibetan Prayer Flags in Leh
The Sodha Travel team wishes you much love, joy and peace this holiday season!
In recognition of the holidays, our office will be closed on Monday, December 26 and Monday, January 2. We look forward to an exciting and memorable 2012, as we explore our world and connect with our community. Cheers!
Every March/April, we start receiving daily phone calls from travelers who wish to experience the Pushkar Festival. Located in Rajasthan, Pushkar is a small town that houses over 400 temples, including the only Brahma temple in all of India. Every November, over 50,000 camels are decorated, raced, and sold during the Camel Fair – one of the largest livestock fairs in the world.
The 5-day festival occurs on the banks of Lake Pushkar. In addition to camel races and livestock sales, there is also music, dancing, and exhibitions. Locals construct temporary bazaars to sell textiles, jewelry, clothes, and handicrafts. The desert landscape is transformed with vibrant color, energy, and festive tourists. The population of Pushkar is approximately 15,000, but during the festival, it exceeds 200,000.
Interior of Luxury Tent
In addition to hotels and inns, there is also the option to stay in tented accommodations. But this is not your everyday camping! The tents feature attached bathrooms with running water, furniture, carpet, and even heat and A/C. Many of our travelers appreciate the opportunity to camp under the stars in luxurious cottages like the royals of the past.
For more information on the Pushkar Fair, there is a great article by Shilpa Shukla in Little India, World’s Largest Cattle Fair. Please contact a Sodha Travel representative and we will be happy to answer your questions.
Many travelers are aware that the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is considered the busiest travel day of the year. However, this year there is the strong possibility of an even longer delay at airports. Several groups have announced plans to encourage travelers on Nov. 24 to opt-out of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) full body scanner machines and opt-in for TSA’s enhanced pat-downs. As a result, security check-point delays may occur at some airports.
The following information has been prepared by Sodha Travel and the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) to help ease your passage through airport security:
Background
TSA has recently expedited the deployment of new Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) machines, also known as body scanners, to help detect concealed metallic and non-metallic threats on passengers. In addition, TSA has recently enhanced its pat-down procedures for passengers that require secondary screening. In response, some consumer groups and bloggers have voiced privacy and health concerns. Yet Janet Napolitano, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has assured the public in an op-ed article in USA Today that these “machines are safe, efficient, and protect passenger privacy.” She has further noted that these machines “have been independently evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, who have all affirmed their safety.”
Download Airport Security Holiday Travel Tips [PDF]
Airport Security Holiday Travel Tips
Before Arriving:
- Prepare your 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag of liquids before arriving at the airport
- Monitor local broadcasts for announcements of security checkpoint delays at local airports
- Pack all your coats and jackets in your checked baggage when possible
- Do not wrap gifts
- Check-in online
- Check your flight status online
- Review TSA’s Security Procedures for “Getting through the Line Faster“
- Wear easy to remove and replace shoes
- Plan to arrive to the airport earlier than normal
Airport Arrival:
- Approach the initial security check-point with your drivers’ license/passport and paper boarding pass or electronic boarding pass in hand.
- While waiting for the next available security screener / metal detector, remove and place in bins:
- all metal (i.e. belt buckle, coins, eye glasses, etc.)
- plastic, zip-top bag of liquids
- items from your pockets, including mobile phone
- shoes
- laptops from bag and place in separate bin
- coat
- Do not engage in trash talk about security or do anything else to call attention to yourself – this will only make it worse.
- Remember, if you are selected for an enhanced pat-down, you have the right to request it be done in private
Travel safely, enjoy the feast with family and friends, and Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Sodha Travel!
Sodha Travel wishes all of you a Happy Diwali! Diwali is a national holiday in India and a significant festival in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Although it is commonly referred to as the Festival of Lights, its spiritual interpretation is the “awareness of the inner light.” Happy Diwali and a prosperous New Year to all!
Diwali Lamps