Western Group of Temples, Khajuraho

The Western Group of Temples in Khajuraho (State: Madhya Pradesh) are one of the most magnificent and architecturally marvelous temples of India. This is the largest of the three groups of temples in Khajuraho. Out of the 22 surviving temples 12 of them belong to this group. (Click on the image for bigger view)

Built in the 11th century by Chandela rulers, each of these temple stands on a raised platform, above which rises the main structure.

Some of the important temples are:

• Lakhmana Temple
• Kandariya Mahadeo Temple
• Devi Jagdamba Temple
• Chitragupta Temple
• Matanageswara Temple
• Vishwanath Temple
• Varaha Temple
• Nandi Temple

The tour of these temples can be done either by hiring an audio headset from the ticket counter or with the help of a guide. We shall attempt to cover these temples in some detail in the subsequent posts.

Frames of Freedom

This was taken at Mysore Zoo.

(Click on the images for bigger picture)

Am I really free?

Actually all of us are free like this only. What do you think?

For more visit Camera Critters

Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur

Built in 1659, the Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah of the Adil Shahi dynasty who ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur (State: Karnataka). (Click on the images for bigger picture)

This is a massive structure with a square chamber measuring nearly 50 m on each side and is covered by a huge dome 43.3 m in diameter and attains the height of 27.4 m from a circular platform. There are four octagonal towers one in each corner of the chamber. Each tower consists of seven storeys and the upper floor of each opens on to a round gallery which surrounds the dome. If I remember correctly there are 150 steps to climb. In the center of the chamber are the tombs of Muhammad Adil Shah II and his relations.

Apart from his sheer size another most interesting aspect of the enclosed place is acoustics. At the top inside the dome it is a whispering gallery where even the smallest sound is heard across the other side of the Gumbaz. At the periphery of the dome is a circular balcony where any whisper, clap or sound gets echoed around 7 times. Anything whispered from one corner of the gallery can be heard clearly on the diagonally opposite side.

This Dome is the second largest one in the world which is unsupported by any pillars.

Cathay Pacific's First Class Service to Asia

On Thursday we lift off for Bali via Hong Kong on one of Cathay Pacific's 777-300 ERs with three-class service. The aircraft seats 301 travelers with six in first class, 57 in business, and 238 in economy.

We decided to burn some of our frequent flyer miles and booked two first class seats. Here are some photos—courtesy of Cathay Pacific—of this cabin. The lie-flat bed will make it so much easier to get some rest and acclimate to the time change.

Cathay Pacific 777-300 ER first class cabin

Cathay Pacific 777-300 ER first class cabin

Roomy seating

Personal closet for carry-on luggage

Dining table

Lie-flat bed

If you've got any tips for making the 15-hour trip from the East Coast to Hong Kong a bit easier, please write a comment!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos courtesy of Cathay Pacific

Lalbagh Gardens, Bangalore

The Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore the Garden City is a lush green paradise with an area of 240 acres in the heart of the city.

It was started by King Hyder Ali, the ruler of old Mysore in 1760. It was further developed by his son Tipu Sultan and subsequently by the British and Indian doyens of horticulture. In 1856, it was given the status of a Government Botanical Garden. From then onwards, it has been an internationally renowned center for scientific study of plants and botanical artwork and also conservation of plants.

Lalbagh is home for tees, shtubs, plants from all over the world. The rarest variety of trees can be seen here. The main attractions here are:

• Floral Clock
• Tree Fossil
• Glass House
• Directorate Building
• Guard Room
• Lake
• Band Stand
• Pigeon House
• Bonsai Garden
• Topiary Garden
• Bombax Tree
• Kempegowda Tower
• Pigeon Colony
• Lecture Hall
• Trees and Flowers

For more visit Mosaic Monday

InterContinental Bali—A Preview

Later this week we'll arrive at the InterContinental Bali on Jimbaran Bay for a one-week stay. We'll be posting tons of photographs to this blog while we're in Southeast Asia. In the meantime, take a look at these images courtesy of the IC Bali.

One of the six pools at the InterContinental Bali.

A Resort Classic Room, one of the 418 accommodations at the InterContinental Bali.

Jimbaran Bay is located on the southern coastline of the island and is home to many beachfront resorts like the InterContinental Bali. The Rip Curl School of Surf offers sea kayaking and surfing right from the beach here.

InterContinental Bali.

InterContinental Bali pool area at dusk.

I look forward to arriving at the InterContinental Bali and will be sharing more photos and videos of the public areas, accommodations, beach and pool, special "resort within a resort" Club lounge and pool, and restaurants.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos courtesy of InterContinental Bali

The Countdown to Bali

It's been a busy summer packed with projects for magazine and book publishers and movie studios. I just finished another guidebook project for Thomas Cook Publishing and Leonard has been recording music for a major motion picture. We're ready for a break!

So as the season winds down, we find ourselves gearing up for our next adventure. This week we head to Bali, Indonesia in Southeast Asia with a (very) short stopover in Hong Kong.

Over 17,000 islands comprise Indonesia with Bali being one of the best-known. You'll find stunning vistas as diverse as terraced rice paddies, white sand beaches, ornate temples, volcanoes (some active), and tropical rain forests. The culture is equally enticing and visitors often attend traditional Balinese ceremonies and dance performances.

For more information about Bali, visit these resources:
Bali Tourism Board
Indonesia—CIA World Factbook
Bali Forum at TripAdvisor.com
Bali Guide
Bali Eats

We're celebrating a special occasion and wanted to go somewhere to both explore and relax. Bali certainly fits the bill. While sailing aboard Silversea's Silver Spirit earlier this summer we met many crew members from Indonesia and they all told us that Bali should be on our "must visit soon" list. Call us convinced!

The Game Plan

• First class flight from the East Coast to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific
  
  
• Connecting business class flight on Cathay to Bali
  
  
• A week at the InterContinental Bali in Jimbaran Bay on Bali's southern coast
  
  
• A one-night stay at the InterContinental Hong Kong on our way home

Flying Cathay Pacific
I'm particularly looking forward to flying first class on Cathay Pacific. The gourmet meals, lie-flat bed, and excellent entertainment system will certainly make the 15-hour flight more bearable. (Read Tuesday's blog post for more information about Cathay Pacific's first class product.)

What's even better is that I was able to book these flights using my American Airlines AAdvantage frequent flyer miles (135k per ticket). It took two phone calls but the second agent was able to book me on the exact flights I wanted on my preferred travel dates. Of course, I spent quite a bit of time searching availability on Cathay's AsiaMiles website and British Airways partner award availability calendar before calling the AAdvantage desk. I booked these tickets about two months ago.

Jimbaran Bay
I spent far too much time reviewing hotel possibilities for Bali. There are some amazing properties to consider on the luxury end of the market. There are three Aman resorts—Amanusa in Nusa Dua, Amandari in Ubud, and Amankila in East Bali. There are also two Four Seasons (one in Jimbaran Bay and another in Ubud). All of those resorts look gorgeous and we plan to visit them to get a reference point for future stays.

In the end though, we decided to book the InterContinental Bali in Jimbaran Bay for several reasons. We're InterContinental/Priority Club fans and enjoy the upgrade perks we generally enjoy at IC properties. Also, Club level accommodations were priced right and we just felt it would be an ideal home base for our first trip to Bali. (Read Monday's blog post for more information about the InterContinental Bali.)

Putu Sudiana, Private Driver
To get the most out of our days on the island, we've hired private driver/guide Putu Sudiana of YourBaliDriver.com. His rates are incredibly reasonable (400,000 rupiah, or $40USD, for a 10-hour day). He came highly recommended by travelers who frequent TripAdvisor.com's Bali forum.

A Few Hours in Hong Kong
Finally, at the end of our trip we'll spend just one night at the InterContinental Hong Kong at Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon. We booked a junior suite with harbor views. I wish we could stay at this hotel for a few additional nights! It looks beautiful!

Stay tuned as we blog from Asia starting later this week.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Flowering Trees - Indian Cork Tree

Bangalore (State: Karnataka) is slowly changing from the Garden City to concrete jungle. However, some of the trees that helped it to earned its name, still adorned the streets of Bangalore. One such tree that can be seen around is Indian Cork Tree or popularly known in local language as "Aakash Mallige". In other words it is known as "Jasmine in the Sky" (Click on the images for bigger view)

This tree grows tall and straight, with the branches covered with whitish flowers. Though the flowers of this tree are not like any other bright ornamental, they have a very nice fragrance.

The trumpet-shaped flowers are white and borne in clusters. They form a carpet on the ground during the flowering season.

The bark of the tree has deep fissures and is used as cork, hence the name. This tree can be still seen in Bangalore a lot on either sides of the road.

Adinath Temple, Khajuraho

The Adinath Temple built in 950 - 1150 A.D belongs to the Eastern Group of Khajuraho Temples (State: Madhya Pradesh). This is one of the three Jain temples built by rulers of Chandel Dynasty inside the compound wall. (Click on the image for bigger view)

As the name suggests, it is dedicated to to the Jain Tirthankara Adinath. The temple is constructed in the form of 'sapta-ratha' with a single towered 'shikhara'.

The exterior walls of the temple is decorated with the lavishly carved figures of court musicians, gods and goddess.

Eastern Group of Temples, Khajuraho

The Eastern Group of temples lies on the outskirts of Khajuraho (State: Madhya Pradesh) at a short distance. This group of temples are known for the sculptural refinement and architecture of these temples is marvelous. These were constructed by the rulers of Chandela dynasty between 950 - 1150 A.D. (Click on the image for bigger view)

In this group the temples can be sub-divided into two groups.
The temples belonging to Jainism are:

• Adinath Temple
• Parsvantah Temple
• Gahanti Temple
  

The other group of temples belonging to Hinduism are:

• Brahma Temple
• Vamana Temple
• Javeri Temple

We shall attempt to cover these temples in some detail in the subsequent posts.

For more visit Mosaic Monday

JetSetter Deal for Paul Gauguin French Polynesia Cruise in September

Paul Gauguin Cruises—specializing in French Polynesian itineraries—is one of the best values in luxury cruising today and JetSetter.com is sweetening the pot by offering discounted fares for a limited time.

The current deal features a seven-night itinerary calling upon Tahiti, Raiatea, Taha'a (Motu Mahana), Bora Bora, and Moorea. This is the same fantastic Paul Gauguin cruise I experienced in May 2010.

JetSetter.com Rates
Category F Porthole Stateroom for 1 Guest = $3,150
Category F Porthole Stateroom for 2 Guests = $4,200
Category C Balcony Stateroom for 2 Guests = $5,470
Category A Veranda Suite for 2 Guests = $8,995

Rates include all food and beverages (non-alcoholic and select wines and spirits.) Category A also includes butler service.

Getting to Papeete, Tahiti
Of course even if you get a good deal on the cruise, you'll need to find a good deal on the airfare. Economy fares on Air Tahiti Nui and Air France are running approximately $1,200–$1,400 per person in economy for flights at the end of September. There is also some frequent flyer award tickets available on Air Tahiti Nui.

Air Tahiti Nui Frequent Flyer Award Availability from LAX to PPT
September 22: Flight TN1 = 4 economy award tickets
September 23: Flight TN 7 = 1 first class award ticket
September 24: Flight TN 1 = 1 business class & 4 economy; TN7 = 2 business class & 4 economy

Note: There is also availability on September 25 but I don't recommend flying in on the same day the cruise ship embarks.

Air Tahiti Nui Frequent Flyer Award Availability from PPT to LAX
October 2: Flight TN102 = 1 economy award ticket
October 4: Flight TN2 = 1 economy award ticket

The timing of this deal won't be right for everyone, but if you've been waiting for a good rate on a seven-night Society Island cruise, this is it. Book at JetSetter.com by Friday, August 21, 2010.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo of Bora Bora © Leonard Hospidor

Badal Mahal, Kumbalgarh

In the 15th century King Rana Kumbh built a massive fort whose walls stretched for 36 kms in the Aravali ranges in a place by name Kumbalgarh (State: Rajasthan). The Kumbalgarh Fort is surrounded by 13 mountain peaks, and guarded by seven great gates, strengthened by rounded bastions and immense watchtowers. (Click on the images for bigger view)

There are many palaces, temples and gardens inside this huge fort complex. At the top most point in the fort is the palace known as Badal Mahal or the Palace of Cloud.

The palace was rebuilt by Rana Fateh Singh in the late 19th century. The legendary ruler Maharana Pratap was born here. The palace has colorful rooms. Unfortunately we could not see them as it was closed when we were there. This palace is very different, when compared to rest of the raw and grim fortress.

The entrance of the palace has beautiful carvings. Even the wooden door of the palace is also carved beautifully.

Dulhadeo Temple, Khajuraho

The Dulhadeo Temple built in 1100 - 1150 A.D belongs to the Southern Group of Khajuraho Temples (State: Madhya Pradesh). This temple is the most recent among all the temples of Khajuraho built by rulers of Chandel Dynasty. This temple stands on a platform, which is approached by a flight of ten steps. (Click on the image for bigger view)

There are several subsidiary towers clustering around the central tower. In this temple all the sections like a shikhara (tower), sanctum, the mahamandapa and an ardhmandapa are in fully developed stage and measures 21 m by 12 m.

The outer walls of the temple are decorated with three bands of sculptures. The highest band has images, which are shown either flying singly, and flying in pairs. They are seen carrying either weapons or garlands or musical instruments. The iconography of this temple also shows some distinctive traits. The facades of this temple carry the images of standing Shiva and Shiva-Parvati.

The ceiling of the maha mandap is made of a series of diminishing circles of overlapping stones like a flower. There is an image of Shiva on the lintel of the ornately carved entrance of garbh griha. The sanctum today enshrines a Shivlingam.

My Wish List: Top 10 Rock Concerts on Luxury Cruise Ships

I admit that I've got a few obsessions in life... two of which are rock concerts and cruise vacations. In my younger days I worked for Musician magazine and spent more time at concerts than in the office. These days I'm more selective about the shows I see, but still love being in the middle of the crush as a band plays to fans who know every word of every song on the set list.

On the cruise front, I love trying new ships and have a checklist that keeps track of which ships and ports of call I still need to visit. It's little wonder then that I was daydreaming earlier today and came up with a wish list of rock concert that would be amazing if they were staged aboard luxury cruise ships.

My Wish List: Top 10 Rock Concerts on Luxury Cruise Ships

1. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers aboard Paul Gauguin Cruises' m/s Paul Gauguin in French Polynesia
   
   
2. U2 aboard the Yachts of Seabourn's Seabourn Sojourn in the Norwegian Fjords
   
   
3. Jackson Browne aboard Silversea's Silver Spirit in the Mediterranean
   
   
4. Martin Sexton aboard American Safari Cruises' Safari Explorer in Hawaii
   
   
5. Daniel Lanois aboard Windstar Cruises' Wind Star in Costa Rica
   
   
6. Brian Setzer Orchestra aboard Cunard's Queen Elizabeth for a transatlantic crossing
   
   
7. John Mayer aboard Oceania Cruises' Marina in the Caribbean
   
   
8. Jimmy Buffett aboard SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream II in the Caribbean
   
   
9. James Taylor aboard Regent Seven Seas' Voyager in New Zealand and Australia
   
   
10. Nora Jones aboard Crystal Cruises' Crystal Symphony in New England and Canada

Note: THIS IS JUST A DREAM LIST; these concerts (sadly) will never happen. It's just something fun to think about. Which bands would be on your cruise wish list?

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Chaturbhuj Temple, Khajuraho

The Chaturbhuj Temple built in 1100 A.D belongs to the Southern Group of Khajuraho Temples (State: Madhya Pradesh). This temple is west faceing and stands on a platform, which is approached by a flight of ten steps. (Click on the image for bigger view)

In this temple all the sections like a shikhara (tower), sanctum, the mahamandapa and an ardhmandapa are in fully developed stage and are interconnected, located on the same axis.

The tower of this temple is plain when compared to other temples in the region. Below the tower there are three bands of sculptures with the images of dikhpalas, ashtavasus, nymphs and the recesses of mythical lions.

Over the lintel of the doorway are carved exquisite figures of Brahama, Vishnu and Mahesh. Inside the sanctum there is a idol of massive 9ft high, carved image of four armed Lord Vishnu.

Trusted Adventures Consortium Presents Extraordinary Active Vacations

If active travel is your thing, it's time to get acquainted with Trusted Adventures. This alliance, headed up by executive director Brad Moss, is made up of like-minded travel providers that focus on cruise and yacht vacations, eco trips, biking and hiking getaways, rafting adventures, and more.

Read about the group and explore each member's website. I guarantee they'll be a few trips you bookmark for future reference.

American Safari Cruises—focus is on active and luxurious yacht cruises in Alaska, Mexico's Sea of Cortez, the Columbia and Snake Rivers, and Hawaii.

Austin-Lehman Adventures—specializes in adult and family vacations around the world, including Yellowstone, Bryce/Zion, Grand Canyon, Costa Rica, the Canadian Rockies, the Galapagos, South Africa, and several western European countries.

Ciclismo Classico—offers expertly designed biking expeditions in many locations, including Croatia, Norway, Italy, Vietnam, and New Zealand.

Great Alaska—this is the place to find sport fishing and wildlife adventure trips to Alas.ka, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

InnerSea Discoveries—this is the sister company to American Safari Cruises (mentioned above); InnerSea offers active cruise adventures at a more affordable price in Alaska.

Myths & Mountains—unusual excursions to Asia (Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Tibet), Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam), and South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, and Peru).

ROW Adventures—from Idaho rafting adventures to the Galapagos Islands and everything in between...ROW offers whitewater rafting, kayaking and canoeing, fly fishing, barge and yacht cruising, biking and hiking trips, and much more.

The Wayfarers—unique walking tours in the British Isles, South Africa, New Zealand, India, and Alaska.

Western River Expeditions—looking for a rafting adventure? Western River Expeditions offers trips in the Grand Canyon, Utah, and Idaho.

Wildland Adventures—Wildland has a varied list of itineraries that feature the best of wildlife viewing and active pursuits in the United States, Africa, Central and South America, the Antarctica, and the Far East.

For more information about these travel companies, visit their websites, call your travel agent, or do some research at Trusted Adventures.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Try Crystal Cruises' New Priority Check-In & Planning Center

While not every traveler feels the need to digitize their cruise plans, more and more luxury lines are offering online planners and reservation mechanisms. Crystal Cruises just announced a serious upgrade to its pre-cruise planning functionality by introducing its Priority Check-In and Planning Center.



The Priority Check-in Checklist takes care of all the basics like...

• immigration forms
• credit card information for onboard charges
• preferences, such as bed configuration
• air itineraries for transfer arrangements

The Planning Center can assist with...

• spa and salon appointments
• Crystal Dining Room reservations (through Open Dining by Reservation, beginning in 2011)
• specialty restaurant and Vintage Room winemakers' dinner reservations
• Crystal Adventures shore excursions
• tuxedo rental
• Creative Learning Institute and Computer University@Sea classes

The Cruise Calendar function keeps track of all your reservations and preferences and provides a day-by-day snapshot of your cruise. Helpful information includes dress codes, docking times, and port locations for each day of your voyage.

The great thing about Crystal's new online planner is that you can choose to use it yourself or designate that duty to your travel agent. Give this new online planner a try once you put down a deposit on your next Crystal cruise.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Celebrity Cruises Opens Bookings for Australia & New Zealand

I don't blog about Celebrity Cruises often enough. Yes, it's a tier down from the luxury cruise lines I generally write about. However, Celebrity is one of my favorite cruise lines in the premium category. Its new ships—Solstice, Equinox, and Eclipse—are beautifully designed and the food aboard Celebrity always hits the mark.

That's why I was really excited to learn that Celebrity Century will sail Australia and New Zealand in 2011 and 2012. The line is also offering four- and five-night escorted cruisetours in Australia, which combine a cruise with land adventures. Travelers can choose from 10 itineraries and six different embarkation ports.


Here's one itinerary that looks especially enticing...

12-Night Sydney, Australia–Auckland, New Zealand
November 30, 2011: Sydney, Australia
December 1, 2011: at sea
December 2, 2011: Hobart, Tasmania
December 3–4, 2011: at sea
December 5, 2011: Milford Sound, New Zealand and Doubful Sound
December 6, 2011: Dunedin, New Zealand
December 7, 2011: Christchurch, New Zealand
December 8, 2011: Wellington, New Zealand
December 9, 2011: Napier, New Zealand
December 10, 2011: Tauranga, New Zealand
December 11, 2011: Bay of Islands, New Zealand
December 12, 2011: Auckland, New Zealand

Reservations are now open for Celebrity Century's Australia/New Zealand cruises. Book by December 31, 2010, for special onboard credit and savings on back-to-back sailings. Call your travel agent or Celebrity Cruises at 1-(800) 437-3111.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Southern Group of Temples, Khajuraho

The southern groups of temples lies on the outskirts of Khajuraho (State: Madhya Pradesh) at a distance of 4 kms. Compared to the other two groups, the western and the eastern groups of temples, this group lacks the sculptural refinement. These were constructed on the later part of Chandela dynasty between 1110 - 1150 A.D. (Click on the image for bigger view)

In this group only two temples are still reasonably intact. They are

• Dhuladeo Temple
• Chaturbhuj Temple

We shall attempt to cover these temples in some detail in the subsequent posts.

August Issue of Wow Travel Magazine Available Now

I'm always looking for travel magazines that focus on the destinations that are on my "must visit" list. Lately I've been enjoying the relatively new Wow Travel magazine, which is edited by Jim Tobler and published by the Kiwi Collection (a curated hotel collection with the tagline "Hotels for People Who Care Where They Stay").

It's always fun to page through the magazine to see which of Wow's favorite places are your favorites too.

This month, Wow Travel tells readers about...

• Secret island hideaways from Fregate Island in the Seychelles to Faafu Atoll in the Maldives and Madagascar's Tsarabanjina Island.
  
  
• The temples, lake, and tea house at Amanfayun in Hangzhou, China, just outside of Shanghai.
  
  
• The beautiful Portuguese Riviera.
  
  
• Istanbul Fashion Week 2010.
  
  
• Two orphanages that were recently "adopted" by the St. Regis Bali.
  
  

The writing in Wow Travel is topnotch and every article is accompanied by beautiful photographs. Bookmark Wow Travel magazine and check in often to see what's new.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com