5 Places in India that are Ruins of Royal Palaces

Written by Himanshu Agarwal

It is no secret that India is a land of dense history with bottomless roots. From the very beginning, India has been a witness to the rules of kings and the show of their riches, their lavishness, their enviable lifestyle and their unbelievable creations.

A part of such creations, a big part, were palaces. Huge, magnificent, beautiful, grand and extremely royal. The grandeur of these palaces got their names inked in golden letters in the scriptures of Indian architectural history, with the names of their creators. They were a matter of pride amongst the royalty then. These forts stood through the highs and lows of the empires and have seen many wars and rules. And with the passage of time, they have withered and nothing but their ruins are left to be marvelled upon.

Here are some places in India which are ruins of those once splendid examples of architecture and design, definitely worth a visit!

1. Daulatabad Fort, Aurangabad

Photo by cool_spark, CC BY 2.0

Believed to have been built in 1857, by Yadav king Bhilan, Daulatabad Fort once stood tall in Daulatabad, the capital of Tughluq Dynasty since 1327. Muhammad Bin Tughluq, who shifted his capital here from Delhi because he was smitten by the beauty and the architecture, but later he shifted back to Delhi due to the scarcity of water. Tughluq was a far-sighted ruler, owner of the moniker "Mad King". He is known for shifting his capital from Daulatabad to Delhi and from Delhi to Daulatabad, quite a few times.

One Thing I Did Not Like on my First Trip to Malmö?

I have high regard about Sweden. I always thought of it as a very nice, beautiful environment and more importantly good people.

Oresund Bridge between Malmo SWEDEN and Copenhagen DENMARK
Photo Credit: hpgruesen

Just like Switzerland, It's been my dream to have a glimpse of Sweden. So, when I went on a trip to several cities in Switzerland, which I enjoyed every part of this peaceful country, I have decided to visit Sweden when I get the chance.

Now comes my trip to some European countries. The opportunity to be close to Sweden when in Denmark, I booked for a day tour of Malmo originating from Copenhagen.

5 Tips for a Successful Business Trip to India

Written by Himanshu Agarwal

Photo Credit : Keep Your Documents Handy, CC0 1.0

The New York Stock Exchange becomes the talking point for the whole world when it opens at 9:30 A.M. everyday, when the strength of world's most powerful economies is measured. But today, another name which can be heard amongst those is that of India.

With the massive work force and growing economy, India is emerging as one of the new advanced business hubs. So, sometime or the other, you might find yourself off to the country to attend a business meet. In that case, here are a few quick tips that would be useful.

1. Always Keep Your Documents Handy

You really don't want to imagine the terrible fix you would be in if you were to be lost in a foreign country, without any proof of your identity, or existence. So always keep your important documents, like your passport and visa in a separate folder, apart from your usual documents. By doing this, you can avoid misplacing them among other things. Also, make a separate folder for your business documents.

13 Airlines that Stand Out Through the Years

These days, it is not easy to find an airline that suits our taste, satisfaction ... and safety. 

Scandals in flight happens - - incidents that should not be happening! The United Airlines' brutal dragging is for real - - really unacceptable. And so with Delta, an airline who kicked off a passenger from the aircraft that is getting ready to take off. A situation that a male passenger can no longer control the call of nature - - and it just happened at the wrong time and at the wrong place.

The above happened in domestic flights in the United States, a journey that will take only few hours. If these scandals took place in short-haul flights, how can we expect that it won't happen in a long-haul?

Photo Credit: Thai Airways

Let's not focus on the bad experiences encountered on airlines though. Let's now go to its positive side. In most airlines, scandals never happen, on the ground and in-flight. I have used different airlines in my more than two decades of travelling. I will start with those that I did fly at least once or twice.

The 13 airlines that stand out - - with the best customer service are:  Drum rollllllllll . . .

An Overlooked Island Called Vieques

Written by JP Chartier

Join me for a short visit to an often overlooked island just off the coast of Puerto Rico called Vieques

Hidden seven miles off the coast of Puerto Rico, a tiny speck of an island silently exists today much like it has for millennia. Basking in the Caribbean sun and surrounded by the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean to its north, and the cerulean blue of the Caribbean Sea to its south, Vieques (Bee-ay-kus) is the perfect place to step back in time and get away from your hectic and chaotic life for a while.

It's a short 20-minute flight from San Juan International Airport on the mainland of Puerto Rico to the single runway airport on Vieques. If riding in one of the tiny, 6-seater, puddle jumping airplanes doesn't suit you, you can take a boat over. A passport isn't required to visit the island.

Shoreline of Vieques

The Visques of today is a much different place than it was only 15 years ago. Two-thirds of the small island was used as a bombing range by the United States Navy since WWII. They pulled out in 2003 and are in the process of making the whole island a safe place by removing all unexploded ordinances.