One Of The Things Ashoka Holidays Is'nt Capable of Doing

An inquiry and the successive communication is worth sharing to highlight one of the many things Ashoka Holidays is not capable of doing. Here we admit,

enquiry:

...We also recently watched a documentary on Dharavi and found it very interesting and eye opening that tours are available (http://www.realitytoursandtravel.com/slumtours.html).Clearly we won’t be in Mumbai to be able to visit this area but is there somewhere else in India where we may be able to do something similar?

our response:

"Very honestly Ashoka Holidays do not operate such tours. Putting it in perspective of for or against, we are more towards the latter.Putting very briefly reasons we feel:

Do what we are good at and can do with comfort and pride.

Poverty Tourism/ Slum Tourism/Grief tourism/Death Tourism et al – are few things not our cup of tea (so why offer our guests one that we do not make good :))

Suchlike tours a little towards contemporary reality-tv-shows that run on talent, ads and emotions which contribute in more-or-less the same proportion.

Yes, there is a very thin line of intention and objective that makes the purpose, but problem is the line is too thin, or say the rope is too tight to walk and maintain a balance. If reality tours and travels are maintaining that balance, hats off. Best thing, they do not allow photography. One bad, one of the owners initiated with a ‘market and scope’ of such offerings. Good, they say 80% profit to go to the NGO that ‘Gives’. Ashoka holidays still has to check their tour execution from the perspective of ‘slum dwellers life’ and ‘image india’ before we suggest them to anyone.

Our advice

Get in direct touch with any organization that is into the real ground level work and do not offer voluntourism packages. And join them as a volunteer/member/student/a mute spectator. And keep tourism and tour-operators (including us) out of it.

Yes, there are small slums in and around many cities in India but they are too small compared to this Russia-sized Dharavi. However, no one in our suggestion as of now.Check these two organization/projects (not slum based though) which, this writer, has been and seen and certainly not from a business point

http://www.tarunbharatsangh.org – for natural resource conservation – get in touch and learn simple yet sustainable technologies of conservation. Based in Alwar, Rajasthan

http://shishyasociety.org/dyc.html - see this new side of India with motto of ‘youth empowerment’ and which too is very real and inspiring. Based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

No Ashoka Holidays is not a dull fellow. More on it later. As of now check www.ashokaholidays.com

http://issuu.com/ashokaholidays/docs/wedding-tour-india-ashokaholidays

http://issuu.com/ashokaholidays/docs/gourmet-tour-in-india or http://www.ashokaholidays.com/gourmet-tour-in-india.html

and much more!

Ranthambore – An adventurous stay in a jungle

This year had been an exciting year, not only I got to see two National parks in distinct parts of India, (Read:Bandipur) but also in two discrete terrains with different adventure altogether. I was never a person who would enjoy watching these wild beasts in their natural habitat, but these two trips certainly changed my perspective. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that I was in a land where the rules were different, where a day was marked with sunrise and sunset. Perhaps it came from the knowledge that the survival is only of the fittest. Whatever the reason, the very sight of an animal in its own territory, on its own terms, makes for a breathtaking moment and can change your perspective forever.

There is something so mystical and exciting about being in a forest that for many of us, a visit to the wilderness ranks as one of our best holiday experiences. For the wildlife adventure enthusiasts, Ranthambore National Park in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan is a perfect destination. Known to be one of the best parks to spot the majestic Indian Tigers, the park is also the home to several other endangered species. (Read: Rajasthan Wildlife Tour Package)

Birds: Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Common Kingfisher, Cormorant, Indian Pitta, Painted Stork, Rufous Treepie, Stork-billed Kingfisher, White-breasted Water hen, Sandpiper, Jacana, vultures, fowls and many more.

Animals: Crocodiles, Jungle Hare, Sambar Deer, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, leopards, hyenas, blue bulls or neel gais, jackals, civet cats etc.

Offbeat Honeymoon destination in Rajasthan - Ranthambore

If you and your partner are inclined towards the nature or the fascinating wildlife, you must plan your honeymoon in Ranthambore National Park. The enthralling wildlife safaris, tracing the beasts and moments in the luxury camps will surely make it for an amazing honeymoon trip.

Just the bare necessities

Travelling in the wilderness requires a special sensitivity. The laws of the jungle are different but there are several ways to get the best out of your trip without disturbing the natural habitats that you visit. Some tips that you can use from those who’ve been there:

Dress in muted forest colours like greens, browns, beige and dull browns. Avoid orange, red, pink and bright prints.
Wear comfortable walking shoes and don’t forget hat and sunglasses. High boots with socks are a sensible option for jungle walks. Always check your shoes before you wear them for creepy crawlies like scorpions.
Try not to talk too much or make loud sounds while journeying into the jungle.
Do not get too close to the animals and do not ever attempt to feed them.
It is important to have your own survival kit, such as a torch with extra batteries, basic medicines, salt for leeches and other toiletries.
Dress according to the season. An outdoor jacket is necessary in winters. While it can be quite warm in the day, evenings can get cold.
Take some nuts/biscuits to nibble (especially for the early morning safari) and water.

How to book your Ranthambore Trip

You can either plan your own trip or leave it to wildlife experts. Booking through a travel agent or a wildlife expert may cost you more but then you have the comfort of being in the hands of professionals who personally travel to Ranthambore (and other such places) several times a year, can assign you guides knowledgeable about the region’s flora and fauna, and know the local and administrative people and processes very well. Click here to book this tour

Wildlife Safari in Ranthambore National Park

There are two types of vehicles permitted in Ranthambhore National Park, the Jeep and the Canter. The Jeep is a six seater open-top vehicle, and the first choice for many. Demand for Jeeps is very high, and so we recommend that you book at least 60 days in advance to guarantee a Jeep safari. The Canter is a 16 seat open-top bus - its elevated seats mean that you can see far into the jungle ahead, further than a Jeep would allow. While the canter is a lot cheaper, I recommend a jeep as it gives more flexibility to pause-stop-go.

Luxury Stay : Oberoi Vanya Vilas

Stork

One glimpse of the big cat gives an adrenal rush to its spectators

Canter Safari

Wood pecker

Tiger spotting in Ranthambore National Park

Tiger in its hunt

There are loads of things to do in Ranthambhore besides the safari park. In particular, I would highly recommend a guided tour of Ranthambhore Fort. The locals visit the fort to worship at the famous Ganesh Temple, which lies within. The fort will enhance and complete any visit to Ranthambhore National Park.

Note: The Ranthambore safari timings change depending on the season

S. No.	Month	Morning Trip	Evening Trip
1	1st October to 31st October	7.00 A.M. to 10.30 A.M.	2.30 P.M. to 6.00 P.M.
2	1st November to 31st January	7.00 A.M. to 10.30 A.M.	2.00 P.M. to 5.30 P.M.
3	1st February to 31st March	6.30 A.M. to 10.00 A.M.	2.30 P.M. to 6.00 P.M.
4	1st April to 15th May	6.00 A.M. to 9.30 A.M.	3.00 P.M. to 6.30 P.M.
5	15th May to 30th June	6.00 A.M. to 9.30 A.M.	3.30 P.M. to 7.00 P.M

Ranthambore Safari Park Booking Tips

Visitors would now have the option to take Safari for full day in the National Park. Maximum 5 jeeps are allowed to stay inside the park from sunrise to sunset and are provided zone free access across Entire Park. This safari will give you the best opportunity to see the variety of wildlife animals in the park.

*Breakfast and Lunch will be provided to Visitors who take Full day Safari.

Fact file :

State : Rajasthan

Location : Ranthambore lies at the junction of the Aravallis and the Vindhyas in the south eastern quarter of Rajasthan.

Distance by road: Delhi - 480 km (via Dausa), Jaipur - 180 km (via Tonk)

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