Jodhpur is my hometown; yes born and bought up in Jodhpur. Jodhpur has its charm and charisma to attract tourists without putting any extra effort into falsity.
I spent 23 years in Jodhpur, but whenever I enter the city, it always surprises me with its freshness and authenticity. Be it food or clothes, music or a tradition; Jodhpur will turn you spellbound.
Celebrities like Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar tied the knots in Jodhpur which gave a hint of Bollywood/Hollywood touch to this beautiful city.
Not only for the celebrity weddings, but Jodhpur is also famous for its various tourist attractions that will leave you aww with this city.
Let me take you through one by one the description of various places in Jodhpur
You can not leave Jodhpur without visiting strong and masculine Mehrangarh fort of Jodhpur. Mehrangarh fort is one of the most beautiful and spectacular fort in India. Mehrangarh is spread in an area of 1,200 acres in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. It was constructed around 1459 by Rajput ruler Rao Jodha on the rocky hills around 122 meters above the surrounding plain. The current royal family of Jodhpur still manages the fort. This fort has 7 Gigantic gates, including Jai Pol, Fattehpol, Gopal Pol, Dedh Kangra pol, Amruti pol, Loha Pol, and Suraj Pol.
View of the Mehrangarh Fort from the road
Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Mehrangarh Fort has been built and declared a National Geological Monument by the Geological Survey of India to encourage Geo Tourism in the country.
Timings: Sunday – Saturday (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM). The entry fee for Mehrangarh Fort is International Guests – 600 Rs. Including camera, Domestic Guests – 400 Rs.
What you all do during weekends? I generally prefer to explore a new place, food, or take my daughter to some new attraction where she will learn about its heritage and history. So, this month we visited Abu Dhabi. As it was not a long weekend and we don’t want to plane to go outstation visit, then we decided to explore a nearby place which will be suitable for Kids and family. So, a trip to Abu Dhabi is the perfect answer. We explored the options for beautiful and budget hotels and resorts and booked one friendly resort for a great family stay.
Let’s know a bit about Abu Dhabi:
The United Arab Emirates or UAE doesn’t need any introduction. It is a country of Gold, Real estate, Money, Oil, and glitz. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and after Dubai, it is the most populous city in the UAE. UAE has seven Emirates, and Abu Dhabi is the capital of the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, and it is the biggest amongst all the Emirates.
Various UAE’s Government offices are situated in Abu Dhabi, including the UAE Government, as the President of the UAE stays here. Abu Dhabi is the major contributor to the UAE’s economy with its industries, oil, and gas reserves.
View of Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi – UAE
Let’s begin with our FUNFILLED detailed Itinerary:
DAY 1: Most of the people either reach late in the evening or early morning at Abu Dhabi, so it will be great if we will keep the 1st daylight and happening. So, it will be great if we will start with the cultural and heritage understanding of this place.
SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE: (9:30 AM – 11:30 AM) The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the pride of Abu Dhabi because of its tranquility and beauty. This Mosque is an accurate picture of architectural development and the heritage inherited from the late President HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The Mosque is made from marble, gold, stone, semi-precious stones, ceramics and various crystals. The construction of the Mosque began on 5 November 1996, and it is operational since December 2007.
It is one of the most visited places in Abu Dhabi and highly managed. Parking is easily available. There is a mall on the ground floor of the Mosque. checking. You will be guided towards the last point where if you are wearing the clothes which are not appropriate as per Islam, they will ask you to wear Äbaya (for Ladies) and Kandura (For Male). Everything was so streamlined and managed that you will not even realize the crowd. The Grand Mosque was listed among the top global attractions by TripAdvisor (Source: TripAdvisor).
TIME NEEDS TO EXPLORE: Approx. 1.5 HOURS
TICKET: No ticket cost. Online registration is needed.
VISITING HOURS: For visitors from 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturday – Thursday. except for Friday, when the visit of the mosque. Fridays: (for non-worshipers) starts from 4:30 PM until 10:00 PM.
ADDRESS: Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street, 5th St, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
“Abu Dhabi – Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The mosque is large enough to accommodate more than 40000 people. The main prayer hall can accommodate over 7000 worshipers.
Perfect Night view from the Road outside the Mosque.
2. Al Jubail Mangrove Park: (12:00 Noon – 2:00 PM). Al Jubail Mangrove park is the first of its kind in Abu Dhabi, which was created for the education and botanical destination for nature lovers. In this mangrove sanctuary, you can explore various marine and bird species related to the UAE. A Zigzag boardwalk will help you to explore the mangroves and let you discover the species on your own. These mangroves help to balance the environment and reducing the effect of global warming.
TIME NEEDS TO EXPLORE: 2 HOURS
ENTRY FEE: Free Entry
VISITING HOURS:Daily: 8 am to 6:30 pm
ADDRESS: Al Jubail Island
3. THE LOVRE ABU DHABI (3:30 PM – 5:00 PM). The exemplary Louvre Abu Dhabi is heaven for the art lovers in Abu Dhabi. It was designed by Pritzker-prize winning architect Jean Nouvel. The Lovre museum was inaugurated on 8 November 2017 by French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit and United Arab Emirates Vice President Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
TIME NEEDS TO EXPLORE: 2 HOURS
ENTRY FEE: Regular tickets cost Dh60, while visitors between the ages of 13 and 22 can enter for Dh30
VISITING HOURS:Daily: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Closed on Mondays.
ADDRESS: Saadiyat – Abu Dhabi
4. The Corniche: (5:30 PM – until your wish 🙂 ) It is also known as Corniche road. The Corniche is about 8 km long stretch of road, which includes the kid’s play areas, restaurants, cafes, and the magnificent and attractive Corniche Beach. It is the best place to unwind or distressed yourself with your loved ones. They have a dedicated cycle track, and kids play areas for the kids. It is a perfect place for the long beach walk. There are more than 1200 free parking spaces with a five-minute walk to the beach, which cost you AED 10 (the US $2.7) entry per family. Admission to the public beach is free. Enjoy the various cuisines at the beachside or the walkway restaurants. Enjoy the lovely breeze and the ambiance and unwind for the day.
TIME NEEDS TO EXPLORE: Unlimited
ENTRY FEE: Free Entry
VISITING HOURS:Daily: No Restrictions
ADDRESS: Saadiyat – Abu Dhabi
Corniche in Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesNight aerial view of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
DAY 2: After all the heritage and traditional sojourn. We will spend the 2nd day with full swing and Enthusiasm
FERRARI WORLD, WARNER BROS, YAS WATER WORLD:(10:00 AM – 6:00 PM). Ferrari World, Warner Bros Abu Dhabi, both are indoor amusement parks on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Yas Water World is one of the fantastic water parks with more than 45 rides.
ENTRY FEE: Warner Bros. AED 295; Ferrari World. AED 295; Yas Waterpark. AED 250
VISITING HOURS: Daily from 10AM – 8PM
Warner Bros., Abu DhabiYAS Water World, Abu Dhabi.
YAS ISLAND: (6:00 PM – Till you drop 🙂 ). After enjoying the whole day at various Parks and Rides, it a time to relax with a portion of good food and drink. Head towards the beachside of YAS Island and unwind your self from all the exertion.
Panorama of Abu Dhabi at night, capital of United Arab Emirates
I recently got a chance to explore the beauty and tradition of CAIRO during my official tour. I did not miss the opportunity to complete my work and life balance without visiting this city. So, I extended my trip for two more days and explored it thoroughly.
Cairois an ancient and traditional city, and it is the capital of Egypt. It is one of the largest cities in the Arab world, fronting the Nile bank. Cairo is a city of a combination of Modernization and Ancient aromas.
The Pyramids of Giza, who are one of the Seven Wonders of the World, are high headed placed in the lap of Cairo. But Pyramids of Giza are not the only reason to visit Cairo; there are more related to its heritage and culture.
Cairo City
It is effortless to roam around in Egypt, but it will be advantageous to carry maps and keep looking to get around Cairo on your own. Before you all start wondering how it looks like, let’s start exploring it with me.
Cairo has Africa’s first and most expansive metro Network System. Along with it has a vast network of Taxis, which include Uber, White, and black and white taxis. This extensive road transport system consists of large red, white, and blue public buses as well; those are cheaper and crowded.
Day 1: Heritage stopover
9:00 AM.Grand Egyptian Museum:After gorging into some freshly baked pancakes and sandwiches, start your trip with some heritage strolling. It is also known as Giza Museum. It is one of its kind and said to be the largest Archaeological Museum, which is under construction and proposed to be open in 2020. It opens from 9 AM to 5 PM, located at Alexandria desert road. It includes an incredible collection of antiques, artifacts related to ancient Egypt’s history. The museum opens on all every day except Monday and Friday.
12:30 PM. The Hanging Church: After having your lunch at some famous old Cairo restaurant, it’s time to move towards your next stop. The hanging Church’s actual name is the Church of the Virgin Mary. It is the oldest Church in Egypt and gets its name because of its location, which is the gateway of Babylon Fortress, which was the most former fortress in the Nile delta. Hanging Church is the most famous Coptic Church in Egypt. The entrance of this holy Church is through the iron gates into a patio draped with biblical mosaics. The main hallway of the Church divided into three main passageways, from right to left; these sanctuaries are devoted to St. John, the Virgin Mary, and St. Gorge. The ceiling of the Hanging Church is made up of arched timber, and the podium is made up of marble, supported by 13 marble columns meant to represent Jesus and his 12 disciples. The Church opens every day from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, while the Mass happens from 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM on Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM on Sundays. Entry to the Church is free of cost.
2:30 PM Madrassa of Sultan Hassan Mosque: It is a historical monument in the form of a mosque and a madrassa (school) built in the ancient 14th century. Sultan Hassan constructed the mosque, but unfortunately, he dies before the construction competes. It has four schools within itself—Shafi’i, Maliki, Hanafi, and Hanbali. Sultan gave Egypt one of its magnificent mosques, still among the largest in the world. Its incredible architecture has Chinese and traditional works of art on the walls and the entrance. It opens from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan. Cairo. Egipt.
4:00 PM Cairo Clock Tower:From Hanging Church, you can take a 20 min ride for Cairo cock tower as it is approx. 6 km away. If you do not want to miss the bird’s eyes view of the whole city. You will find it a bit crowded, but it is worth it all. Enjoy some breathtaking views of the Nile and the tiny architect. You will feel the breeze and enjoy the feeling of at the height. Enjoy the quiet afternoon, and it will be a bit of a relief from the flow of tourists, who often come in the evening to see Cairo Tower bejeweled with colorful lights. Relish into some snacks and coffee from the cafes located under the terrace. Sit and relax and dive into the changing panorama of Cairo as the sun sets slowly.
Day 2: Wonder of the World
7:30 A.M. Pyramids of Giza: Your trip will be incomplete if you will miss the Pyramids of Giza. Recharge yourself with the favorite breakfast from one of the famous restaurants in the Coptic, Cairo area. I am sure Today, you will be found yourself more energized as you will be going to witness one out of the seven wonders in the world. Morning or evening time is best for a visit. The Pyramids of Giza also called the Giza Necropolis, consist of three Pyramids called the Great Giza Pyramid (Very 1st Pyramid), Khafre Pyramid (Middle Pyramid), and Menkaure Pyramid (Southernmost or the last Pyramid) along with their related pyramid centers, and the Great Sphinx of Giza. The moment you entered the premises, you can feel the denseness and will understand on its own why they are amongst the wonders. The entrance of the Pyramids is on the north side. You can enjoy the camel ride on the desert area as the place is wide open with the sand all around. These monuments are the remains of ancient Egypt’s Kingdom, were constructed approx. 4600 years ago. You can visit the pyramids every day from 8 AM to 4 PM in the wintertime (October to March) and from 7 AM to 7 PM in the summer (April-September).
The pyramids Of giza near the city of Cairo the capital of Egypt
10:30 AM. Cairo opera House: It will take approx. an hour to reach the Opera house from Pyramids of Giza. It is the central place for the arts and cultural engagement in Cairo, Egypt. It was opened in 1988 by the gifted funds from Japan. This place can accommodate up to 1200 people at a time. It has seven theaters, a music library, and an art gallery. It opens for all seven days a week.
The new Cairo Opera House against cloudy sky.
01:30 PM. Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar: If you are an ardent shopper and have a taste for the antiques and traditional stuff, then it is tough to resist this place, and you can’t miss it. Khan El-Khalili is Cairo’s most vibrant and attractive tourist shopping destination. It has a vibrant collection of various exotic spices, ornaments, Rugs, and artifacts. You can buy loads of souvenirs for the back home for your friends and family. Whenever you get tired of spending money, take a much-needed break, and explore the cafes and restaurants in the souk and relish the food.
Khan el-Khalili is a major market in the Islamic district of Cairo. The bazaar district is one of Cairo’s main attractions for tourists and Egyptians
6:00 P.M. Zamalek: Zamalek is a prosperous region of Cairo surrounded by the Nile River. It is very glitzy and affluent. It has posh townhouses which attract the delegates from all over the world. Although the whole day is perfect for visiting Zamalek the morning or the evening is an amazing time to explore the beauty of Cairo. Start your day with the beautiful sunrise and take a ride in the Nile. After the peaceful boat ride, look for a riverside café for the amazing traditional Cairene breakfast. Relax and enjoy the coffee with the backdrop of the Nile.
Cairo city center at twilight, the Kasr El Nile Bridge and the island of Zamalek with its colorful boats on the Nile river.
Cairo is very serene and has its own beauty. I am sure you will definitely visit it once in your life time. Its architecture, souks, antique artifacts will surely mesmerize you. Every place has its own pros and cons and Cairo, as it is struggling with its transportation facility due to its increasing population. But its beauty can not be neglected over these pity issues.
