Budget Backapcking

www.economichostels.com

www.gomio.com

Travel Sites More

www.matchandgo.com

www.traveltogether.com

www.igougo.com

Offbeat Sites

www.luxuryexplorer.com Luxury Hotels Unlimited.

www.comebackalive.com/df/dplaces.html Dangerous Places

www.vijaydandapani.com Blog on Hotel Industry

www.biznettravel.blogs.com

108 Best Travle Sites

http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,20789-2155182_1,00.html

Packing Guides

www.onebag.com Useful for Budget Traveller and Backapackers

www.travelsmith.com/ts/packlist.jsp Catalogue in disguise

www.verber.com/mark/travel/packing.html Best page for tips to pack for business traveller

Travel Tools

Yahoo Trips

www.Flyspy.com Great for Cheap Airline Rates

www.tripconnect.com Great for Cheap Airline Fares

www.hotelchatter.com Dirt on the World's Biggest Hotel Chains- Drawbacks, Special Offers, Best Rooms

www.gridskipper.com Urban Travel Guide

www.bootsnall.com

World's Most Expensive Restaurants

ARAGAWA ,Tokyo
$277 / ¥1,672
British pound: 159
Indian rupee: 12,707
Australian dollar: 368
Canadian dollar: 326
Singapore dollar: 468
Euro: 231

Aragawa gets its famous, hand-fed Kobe beef from a single nearby farm, and it really does melt in your mouth. The restaurant is acknowledged as the best place in town to treat yourself to Kobe beef, and the meat is served with pepper and mustard only; any other relishes are considered blasphemous.
For more information, call 011 81 782 218 547
Prices for all restaurants are the estimated cost of dinner
$277 / ¥1,672 British pound: 159 Indian rupee: 12,707 Australian dollar: 368 Canadian dollar: 326 Singapore dollar: 468 Euro: 231
Aragawa gets its famous, hand-fed Kobe beef from a single nearby farm, and it really does melt in your mouth. The restaurant is acknowledged as the best place in town to treat yourself to Kobe beef, and the meat is served with pepper and mustard only; any other relishes are considered blasphemous.
For more information, call 011 81 782 218 547
Prices for all restaurants are the estimated cost of dinner

ARPEGE, Paris
$211
British pound: 121
Indian rupee: 9,450
Australian dollar: 281
Canadian dollar: 248
Singapore dollar: 357
Euro: 176

Chef and owner Alain Passard has made an art form of the vegetable at his über-expensive Paris restaurant, Arpège. Though loyal patrons have complained about the rising prices, out-of-towners will feel remiss in skipping the Paris restaurant everyone is talking about. The food is incredibly design-oriented, and vegetables dominate the menu, which will appeal to anyone looking to splurge in dollars but not calories.
For more information, call 011 33 147 05 09 06 or visit www.alain-passard.com

Eigensinn Farm,Toronto
$213
British pound: 122
Indian rupee: 9,539
Australian dollar: 283
Canadian dollar: 250
Singapore dollar: 360
Euro: 178

Two hours north of Toronto, the legendary Eigensinn Farm complex sits on its own swath of private acreage, where everything served in the restaurant is grown, slaughtered and prepared. The eight-course tasting menu costs about $213 a head, without wine, and the restaurant's location is hardly convenient from Toronto. Still, this is one of the most unusual dining experiences in North America and certainly one worth paying for.

For more information, call 519 922 3128

Sketch- The Lecture room and Library, London
$176 British pound: 101 Indian rupee: 7,882 Australian dollar: 234 Canadian dollar: 207 Singapore dollar: 298 Euro: 147
Chef Pierre Gagnaire and Mazouz, an Algerian restaurateur, have teamed up to create Sketch, one of the most impressive spaces in London. The restaurant's New French cuisine, which Gagnaire adapted from his three Michelin-starred Paris restaurant, has received rave reviews, as has the impeccable service, in-house D.J. and rotating art exhibit.
For more information, call 011 870 777 4488 or visit www.sketch.uk.com

Petermann's Kunststuben,Zurich
195 CHF
British pound: 85
Indian rupee: 6,763
Australian dollar: 201
Canadian dollar: 178
Singapore dollar: 255
Euro: 126

The six-course dinner menu (without wine) at Petermann's Kunststuben in Zurich begins with foie gras, zucchini with langoustine, coquilles St. Jacques, mushroom soup and pumpkin chutney. Dessert changes from week to week, but millefeuille with pineapple is a popular choice. Rico Zandonella, the executive chef, has made a name for himself and his International-French cuisine throughout Europe, but Petermann's Kunststuben is as famous for its service as its food.
For more information, call 011 41 1910 0715

Tetusya's Restaurant, Sydney
British pound: 77
Indian rupee: 6,047
Australian dollar: 180
Canadian dollar: 159
Singapore dollar: 228
Euro: 113

The waiting list at Tetsuya's Restaurant is well over a month. And the ten-course French and Japanese-influenced dégustation menu is pricey. The menu changes frequently so you can't be sure, in advance, what you are signing up for. But classics like gazpacho with spiced tomato sorbet, tuna tartare and confit of ocean trout (the signature dish of the restaurant) make frequent appearances, so book your plane ticket to Australia and call Tetsuya's for reservations now. This is one dinner worth planning in advance.
For more information, call 011 61 2 9267 2900 or visit www.tetsuyas.com

Vitrum,Berlin
$118
British pound: 68
Indian rupee: 5,285
Australian dollar: 157
Canadian dollar: 139
Singapore dollar: 200
Euro: 98

The décor in this 63-seat restaurant, featuring black marble columns and Murano glass chandeliers, resembles a Venetian villa. The menu is Italian-influenced and Chef Thomas Kellerman's fondness for fish is no secret: marinated tomato with mozzarella and sea bass is one of the many unusual seafood offerings. The comprehensive Menu Vitrum, the only way to experience Kellerman's range, costs $118 (or $200 with wine), including tax.
For more information, call 011 49 30 337 777 or visit http://www.ritzcarlton.com/
$118 British pound: 68 Indian rupee: 5,285 Australian dollar: 157 Canadian dollar: 139 Singapore dollar: 200 Euro: 98
The décor in this 63-seat restaurant, featuring black marble columns and Murano glass chandeliers, resembles a Venetian villa. The menu is Italian-influenced and Chef Thomas Kellerman's fondness for fish is no secret: marinated tomato with mozzarella and sea bass is one of the many unusual seafood offerings. The comprehensive Menu Vitrum, the only way to experience Kellerman's range, costs $118 (or $200 with wine), including tax.
For more information, call 011 49 30 337 777 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com

Steirereck,Vienna
$114
British pound: 65
Indian rupee: 5,106
Australian dollar: 152
Canadian dollar: 134
Singapore dollar: 193
Euro: 95

A 35,000-bottle wine cellar, cheese cellar, a bread cart famous throughout Europe and an enormous array of sorbets: all compelling reasons to visit Steirereck in Vienna. Ancient beams and archways from a castle in Styria were transplanted by the owners to add to the atmosphere. The six-course prix fixe menu at this Relais & Chateaux restaurant costs $114, while five courses is $102, without wine.
For more information, call 011 43 1 713 3168 or visit www.steirereck.at


Yamazato,Amsterdam
$108
British pound: 62
Indian rupee: 4,837
Australian dollar: 144
Canadian dollar: 127
Singapore dollar: 183
Euro: 90

Yamazato, the famous Japanese restaurant in the Hotel Okura Amsterdam, might be pricey, but at least they give you options. The superb seven-course seasonal menu costs $108 per person, but there are other set menus available, some of which you might even call inexpensive: prices range from $84 for the traditional Japanese fish menu to $30 for the assortment of sashimi on sushi rice served with miso soup and Nameko mushrooms.
For more information, call 011 31 20 678 8351 or visit www.okura.nl

Zalacain,Madrid

$108
British pound: 62
Indian rupee: 4,837
Australian dollar: 144
Canadian dollar: 127
Singapore dollar: 183
Euro: 90

The three-course menu at Zalacaín costs $108 per person, but experiencing service this precise is worth every euro. When the restaurant opened in 1973, it was the first outpost of nouvelle Basque cuisine in Spain. The menu is just as innovative today, featuring unusual seafood and a variety of Spanish game. The well-stocked humidor is offered to both male and female guests upon arrival. Jackets and ties are required.
For more information, call 011 34 91 561 4840

Bruneau,Brussels
$90
British pound: 51
Indian rupee: 4,030
Australian dollar: 120
Canadian dollar: 106
Singapore dollar: 152
Euro: 75

The snooty staff at Bruneau, which is commonly acknowledged to be the best restaurant in Belgium, serves guests in an outdoor garden during the summer and a tastefully decorated townhouse during the colder months. It's worth the trip despite the staff's reputation: the most famous dish is coucou de malines, or chicken stuffed with truffles. The four-course prix fixe costs $90 without wine and $162 with.
For more information, call 011 32 2 427 6978


Il Teatro,Madrid

$86
British pound: 49
Indian rupee: 3,851
Australian dollar: 114
Canadian dollar: 101
Singapore dollar: 145
Euro: 72

The Four Seasons Hotel Milan is housed in a 15th century convent, a dramatic setting that does justice to the restaurant Il Teatro's dishes, such as whole-wheat pizzella pasta with sea urchins, clams and Neapolitan wild asparagus or stewed grouper fish with fennel, watercress and reserve provolone cheese. The four-course dégustation menu costs $86 per person without wine. There is also a vegetarian carte, truffle menu and cheese trolley.
For more information, call 011 39 02 7708 1435 or visit www.fourseasons.com

Vivendo,Rome

$85
British pound: 49
Indian rupee: 3,806
Australian dollar: 113
Canadian dollar: 100
Singapore dollar: 144
Euro: 70

When in Rome, do as the fashionable Romans do and dine at Vivendo in the St. Regis Hotel. The five-course tasting menu, priced at $85 per person, doesn't include wine, but an additional $36 will get a wine pairing for every course but the last--dessert. To truly appreciate the Italian delicacies here at their heavy and aromatic best, save Vivendo for the end of a very long day in which very little other food has been consumed.
For more information, call 011 39 06 4709 2736 or visit www.stregis.com


Pierchic, Dubai

$80
294 AED
BrInd: 46 Indian rupee: 3,582 Australian dollar: 106 Canadian dollar: 94 Singapore dollar: 135 Euro: 67
This Mediterranean-style seafood restaurant in the fabulous Jumierah resort has no prix fixe menu, but specialties of the house include an Arabian chilled-seafood platter served with Iranian caviar, poached sea bass fillet and poached Atlantic lobster with broad beans. A wooden deck connects the restaurant to the resort, and a post-prandial stroll along the ocean makes for a very pleasant digestif and vantage point for observing the glittering city of Dubai.
For more information, call 971 4 366 8888 or visit http://www.madinatjumeirah.com/

Restaurant Savoy, Moscow

$80 / 2,285 RUB
British pound: 46
Indian rupee: 3,582
Australian dollar: 106
Canadian dollar: 94
Singapore dollar: 135
Euro: 67

Inside the elegant Hotel Savoy in Moscow is the historic Restaurant Savoy, previously known as Alpen Rose and home to a private artists' club populated by members of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet and Mali Drama Theatre in the early 20th century. Currently closed for renovations, the restaurant will re-open in November with a new French chef and Russian/European cuisine.
For more information, call 011 7 095 929 8600 or visit www.savoy.ru

Cipriani, Rio De Janerio


$67 / 150 BRL
British pound: 38
Indian rupee: 3,000
Australian dollar: 89
Canadian dollar: 79
Singapore dollar: 113
Euro: 56

The Copacabana Palace in Brazil is an Orient-Express hotel, an elegant Brazilian landmark with one of the nation's most famous restaurants. The Northern Italian cuisine at Cipriani includes dishes such as ravioli with black truffle, and equally rich fish and meat entrées. Diners have a view over the hotel pool and the frolicking Brazilians working up an appetite within. The dégustation menu starts at $67 without wine.
For more information, call 011 55 21 2548 7070 or visit http://www.copacabanapalace.com.br/


Whampoa Club, Hong Kong


$61 / 493 CNY
British pound: 35
Indian rupee: 2,732
Australian dollar: 81
Canadian dollar: 72
Singapore dollar: 103
Euro: 51

Shanghai's futuristic Three on the Bund complex of designer boutiques, restaurants, galleries and an Evian spa is home to Jean Georges Vongerichten's latest eponymous venture. But the most expensive restaurant in the complex--and in all of Shanghai--is the Whampoa Club. Young chef Jereme Leung's traditional Shanghainese dishes with a twist have been received with glee by locals and critics alike. Just go before China catches up to the West in terms of prices--$61 here gets you the royal treatment, and a meal at the nearby Jean Georges is only about $58.
For more information, call 011 86 21 6323 3355 or visit www.threeonthebund.com


Milos Athens, Athens

$60

British pound: 34

Indian rupee: 2,687

Australian dollar: 80

Canadian dollar: 71

Singapore dollar: 102

Euro: 50

This newly opened restaurant in the Athens Hilton has sister properties in Montreal and New

York. While the Montreal property opened first, there's nothing like experiencing Milos' classic Greek cuisine in its country of origin. Grilled fish and brined hyacinth bulbs are a winter specialty, and there is an oyster bar and chef's table as well.
For more information, call 011 30 210 724 4400 or visit www.hilton.com

Vadroza, Budapest

$60

British pound: 34

Indian rupee: 2,687

Australian dollar: 80

Canadian dollar: 71

Singapore dollar: 102

Euro: 50

The most expensive prix fixe menu among the three offered at Vadrózsa (there is also an extensive à la carte menu) is the Menü Katalin. Beluga caviar, grilled gooseliver, and bacon-dressed pheasant breast constitute the first three courses. Dessert is decidedly lighter, and alcohol is not included. For an even better deal, visit Vadrózsa, which is located in a Baroque villa, at noon, when there is a 15% discount on the entire menu.
For more information, call 011 36 1 326 5817 or visit www.vadrozsa.hu

Seasons, Istanbul

$58 / 79 TRY

British pound: 33

Indian rupee: 2,591

Australian dollar: 77

Canadian dollar: 68

Singapore dollar: 98

Euro: 48

During the summer months, guests of the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul can choose to sit in Seasons' glass-enclosed courtyard, landscaped garden or outdoor terrace. The menu, which consists mainly of international dishes, even includes a children's section with spaghetti, hamburgers, hot chocolate and milkshakes. During the month-long celebration of Ramadan, a buffet is on offer, consisting entirely of traditional Turkish specialties.
For more information, call 011 90 212 638 8200 or visit www.fourseasons.com

Travertinos, New Delhi

$50

British pound: 29

Indian rupee: 2,200

Australian dollar: 66

Canadian dollar: 59

Singapore dollar: 85

Euro: 42

It may seem strange to venture all the way to India for an Italian meal, but after dining at Travertino, the new Italian restaurant at the Oberoi Hotel, it all makes sense. With dishes such as braised zucchini-stuffed squid in a saffron sauce and roasted guinea fowl crépine on the menu, eating Italian food in the Indian capital seems like the obvious choice. A four-course meal costs $50 without wine.
For more information, call 011 91 11 2436 3030 or visit www.oberoihotels.com

Ben Kay, Mexico City

$37 / 402 P

British pound: 21

Indian rupee: 1,657

Australian dollar: 49

Canadian dollar: 44

Singapore dollar: 63

Euro: 31

Mexico City's best Japanese restaurant is also one of the best, and most expensive, restaurants in the entire city. Ben Kay even has a sake sommelier on hand to ensure your sake selection is an appropriate match for your meal. When it comes to your food, order the Kaiseki, several small specialty dishes served in sequence, to get a sense of the restaurant's depth.
For more information, call 011 52 55 5280 1111 or visit www.mikko.com.mx

Atlantic Grill room, Cape Town

$30 / 196 ZAR

British pound: 17

Indian rupee: 1,343

Australian dollar: 40

Canadian dollar: 35

Singapore dollar: 51

Euro: 25

True to its name, the Table Bay Hotel offers views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, but a stay here isn't complete without visiting the Atlantic Grill Room. The restaurant is popular among the businessmen who constitute the majority of the hotel's clientele. But the views over the nearby docks and harbor from the terrace seating will charm any diner, as will the Asian/European menu, which features local ingredients such as crayfish and entrées like tournedos of venison with wild-mushroom duxelles, juniper-berry sauce, and tempura vegetables. The seven-course tasting menu costs $30 without wine, or $41 with.
For more information, call 011 27 21 406 5688 or visit http://www.tablebayhotel.com/

Milos, Montreal

$30

British pound: 17

Indian rupee: 1,343

Australian dollar: 40

Canadian dollar: 35

Singapore dollar: 51

Euro: 25

With locations in Montreal, New York and Athens, Milos is one of the finest Greek restaurants anywhere outside of Greece, almost totally reliant on organic farms throughout the U.S. and Canada for its produce and meat. Even the honey at Milos is imported from the tiny Greek island of Kythira in the Aegean Sea.
For more information, call 514 272 3522 or visit www.milos.ca

Hotels Making Waves 2006

1.
AMANGALLA

GALLE, SRI LANKA
2.
AMANWELLA

TANGALLE, SRI LANKA
3.
BAIRRO ALTO HOTEL

LISBON, PORTUGAL
4.
BASICO

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO
5.
BEIT AL MAMLOUKA

SYRIA, SYRIA
6.
BROWNS HOTEL

LONDON, ENGLAND
7.
BYBLOS ART HOTEL VILLA AMISTA

VERONA, ITALY
8.
CAVAS WINE LODGE

MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
9.
CONVENTO DO ESPINHEIRO HERITAGE HOTEL & SPA

EVORA, PORTUGAL
10.
COSMOPOLITAN

TORONTO, CANADA
11.
FOUR SEASONS RESORT LANGKAWI

LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA
12.
FOUR SEASONS TENTED CAMP GOLDEN TRIANGLE

CHIANG RAI, THAILAND
13.
GRANDE PROVENCE

FRANSCHHOEK, SOUTH AFRICA
14.
GREAT JOHN STREET

ENGLAND
15.
GROSVENOR HOUSE

DUBAI, UAE
16.
HEMINGWAY LODGE

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
17.
HESPERIA TOWER HOTEL

BARCELONA , SPAIN
18.
HOME HOTEL

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
19.
HOSPES PALACIO DE LOS PATOS

SPAIN
20.
HOTEL CARUSO RAVELLO

RAVELLO, ITALY
21.
HOTEL DE LA PAIX

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
22.
HOTEL ENDSLEIGH

DEVON, ENGLAND
23.
HOTEL PUERTA AMERICA

MADRID, SPAIN
24.
HOTEL SARATOGA

HAVANA, CUBA
25.
HOTEL SEZZ

PARIS, FRANCE
26.
IMARET

KAVALA, GREECE
27.
INTERCONTINENTAL APHRODITE HILLS RESORT HOTEL

PAPHOS, CYPRUS
28.
ISLINGTON HOTEL

TASMANIA , AUSTRALIA
29.
KASBAH TAMADOT

MARRAKECH, MOROCCO
30.
KLAUS K

HELSINKI, FINLAND
31.
KRUISHERENHOTEL

MAASTRICHT, NETHERLANDS
32.
KUANGUILLA

ANGUILLA
33.
KUBE ROOMS AND BARS

PARIS, FRANCE
34.
LE MERIDIEN HOTEL DES INDES

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS
35.
LE SERENO

ST BARTS
36.
LUNUGANGA

BENTOTA, SRI LANKA
37.
LUX 11

BERLIN, GERMANY
38.
MALMAISON OXFORD

OXFORD, ENGLAND
39.
MANDARIN ORIENTAL DHARA DHEVI

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND
40.
MONTE CARLO BAY HOTEL & RESORT

CÔTE D'AZUR, FRANCE
41.
NEW MAJESTIC HOTEL

SINGAPORE
42.
ONE AND ONLY MALDIVES AT REETHI RAH

MALDIVES
43.
PERISCOPE

ATHENS, GREECE
44.
PHINDA GETTY HOUSE

SOUTH AFRICA
45.
SAMARA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

SOUTH AFRICA
46.
SEXTANTIO ALBERGO DIFFUSO

ABRUZZO, ITALY
47.
ST REGIS HOTEL SAN FRANCISCO

SAN FRANCISCO, USA
48.
SUMAHAN ON THE WATER

ISTANBUL, TURKEY
49.
SUNSET TOWER HOTEL

LOS ANGELES, USA
50.
THE COLLEGE HOTEL

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
51.
THE G

GALWAY, IRELAND
52.
THE LANDMARK MANDARIN ORIENTAL

HONG KONG, CHINA
53.
THE PURE

FRANKFURT, GERMANY
54.
THE SETAI

MIAMI, USA
55.
THE SPIRE

NEW ZEALAND, NEW ZEALAND
56.
THE STANDARD HOTEL MIAMI

MIAMI, USA
57.
UBUD HANGING GARDENS

INDONESIA
58.
VILLA BORDONI

TUSCANY, ITALY
59.
VUMBURA PLAINS

OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA
60.
ZEAVOLA

PHI PHI DON, THAILAND

Madhya Pradesh Options

Panchamarhi is a a beutiful hill station with churches,waterfalls, cave temples and the Satpura National Park nearby.

Amaltas(07578 252098) and Hilltop Bungalow(252846) are reasonalbe places to stay in the range of Rs 1200 per night.

For a Homestay option, try out Evelyn's Own( 07578 252056 94253 10503).Rates start from Rs 1500.

Amarknatak is the source of two rivers The Narmada and Sone and there is a hot spring nearby as well.

Holiday Homes ( 07629 269 416) run by MPTDC is the best option for staying.

Bhedaghat is known for its Marble Rocks and the Spectacular Dhuadhar Falls.

MPTDC Run Motel Marble Rocks is a good budget Option.

Biryanis Across India

Lucknow

Best Places are in Markets of the Chowk and Aminabad.

Sakhawat(0522- 2621857/22308440) is an institution. Opened in 1911, it is still run from a Garage behind the Gymkhana Club in Hazratganj..Biryani cooked in Kashmiri Style is generally sold out by 8 p.m

Tundey : Has Branches in Aminabad and Hazratganj. More famous for Galawat Kabab rather than Biryani.

Chote Nawab ( Hotel Sagar International): Famous enough to cater to Aamir Khan's Wedding Reception.

Looking for something more Basic ?

Idris Biryani Centre in Chowk

Zubair Hotel in Akbari Gate

Lalla ki Biryani : Owned by a Hindu in Chaupatiyan in Kashmiri Mohalla


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bangalore

Biryani Merchant : Located at 32 Castle Street, serves 38 types of Biryanis.

Ranges from Sri Lankan String Hopper Biryani to Bangladeshi Hilsa Biryani to Karchi's Beef Biryani. Not to Forget the Gamut of Indian Biryanis from Avadhi to Kashmiri to Hyderabadi to Lakhnavi and Kozhikode.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hyderabad

Hyderabad House : Famous for Kachhi Gosht using Dum Method. Located at Bnajara Hills, Opp Green Mosque, Opp JNTU, Masab Tank and Hi Tec City Madhapur.

Paradise:Famous for its Chicken Biryani and Iranian Chaat. Located in Secunderabad. Persis Gold Rooftop Restaurant is always Full despite 700 covers. !!!

Cafe Bahar : In Basheerbagh, near Commisioner's Office. Service is ready always and one of the best kept secrets of the city.

Blue Fox : Located in Secunderabad. Go here for an authentic Hyderabadi Biryani along with new innovations like Mushroom Biryani.!!
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Kolkatta

Rehmania: Located at Park Street- Mallika Bazaar Crossing. Serves excellent Mutton Biryani.

Shiraz Golden Restaurant: Closest rival of Rehmania in terms of food. Biryani is good. rice can be flavourless at times.

Royal : At Rabindra Sarani. Biryanis have travelled unchanged from Lucknow to Kolkata.

Alia : In Chandni Chowk. Still dispenses Chicken and mutton Biryani to genrations of Office Goers.

Mumbai

Mohamad Ali Road and its Bylanes are lined with Restaurants and Carts dishing out Mounds of Fragrant Biryanis.

Nooranis : Off Haji Ali. Loved for tastiness,resonable prices and liberal meat quantities.

Olympia Coffee House : In Colaba Opp Leopold's.

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Kochi

Kadolaram Restaurant at Abad Plaza Hotel : Located in Ernakulam known for its yummy Fish Biryani. Service is not exactly what you would expect but the food makes up for it.

Kayeekas : Established in Mattancherry more than 50 years ago. People flock here for the Prawn Biryani which is to die for.

Cochin Sights and Eats

What to See
Mattancherry Palace where royal family held coronations built in 1555 by Portugese. Taken over by Duthc in 1663. Lovely museum with cornotaion robes, sensual murals

St Francis Church the first church to be built in Indian in the 16th Century.

Cantilevered Chinese Nets where fishermen still sell morning catch if live carbs,red snappers,shark , prawns besides others.

Where to Eat

Kashi Art Cafe for Cakes and Coffee

Malabar Junction is a nice Seafood Fusion Restaurant

Rahmatullah Hotel/ Kaikkas serves the best Biryani in Town. Located in Mattancherry


Where to Stay

Taj Malabar( Tel :0484 2666811) and Malabar House( Tel : 2216666) for Luxury Stays.

Kimansion for HomeStays on Napier Street( Tel : 2216730)

Military Hotel Chennai

known for spartan style. Located at Egmore in Chennai .

Food served on banana laves. Known for its Chettinad Cuisine.

www.ponnusamyhotels.com

More Alternative Destinations Websites

www.gonomad.com Focusses on Participatory Travels.

Idea is to get people involved with the places that they visit. This includes volunteering, home stays,educational tours. The emphasis is on Sustainable and Responsible Tourism.

Surf through the site for info about budgets,places to stay, transport and lots more. There is also a section for Special Intrest Options such as Travel for Women, Lesbian and Gay Friendly Travel, Bicycle Tours and even Writers Workshops.

Websites Listings

www.mapmyindia.com Really helpful for driving around in India

www.desiya.com Indian hotels Bookings Real Time Website

www.irctc.co.in Indian Rail Online bookings site

www.world66.com Global Travel Website with loads of Information

www.couchsurfing.com A Novel Site to find free places to stay.

For Cheap Air travel in India look for Air Deccan and Spice Jet.

For online Airfares Auctions Centrally log onto www.indiatimes.com both domestic and international airfares.

www.ndtvtravels.com offers a good option of travel related quereis

www.indianresortsurvey.com offfers a good set of links for resorts in india

www.outlooktraveller.com one of the better sites dedicated to travel in india.