Enchanting experiences
Five amazing places for spectacular Indian sights and experiences.
INDIA is truly an incredible land. From colourful culture and lush landscapes to religious history and grand architecture, the country certainly enthralls visitors with her majestic spell.
For Malaysians planning to visit, AirAsia recently introduced Vidi Deals and BigPay to make your journey even more enjoyable.
The online booking platform Vidi Deals lets travellers book tickets to on-ground activities such as local tours, theme parks, main attractions and more. Meanwhile, BigPay is a cashless mobile money app with an accompanying card that saves travellers money.
Pay the real exchange rate with no fees when you spend abroad and enjoy discounts on pre-booked meals and baggage on airasia.com. Of course, you can also earn BIG points along the way.
Here are five amazing destinations in India where you can try out these new features.
Bhubaneswar
Perfect as a pit stop for a day or two, this ancient city offers a treasure trove of medieval temples. Guide books will direct you to Lingaraj Mandir – and for very good reasons. Dedicated to Tribhuvaneswar (also known as the Lord Of Three Worlds), the venue is surrounded by many other smaller temples and shrines. Although it’s only open to Hindu devotees, travellers can still take in the sights from a viewing platform.
Other notable temples include the Mukteswar Mandir, Vaital Mandir, Rajarani Mandir and Parsurameswar Mandir. The 10th-century Mukteswar Mandir is probably one of the most ornate temples in Bhubaneswar.
For a polished perspective on history, check out the Museum of Tribal Arts & Artefacts and State Museum that house impressive anthropological finds and manuscripts.
Travel about 6km out of the city and you will find the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves. These sites offer an even more splendid showcase of Bhubaneswar’s past.
Visakhapatnam
Andhra Pradesh’s biggest city is perhaps best known for its port and industrial trading. But Visakhapatnam also doubles as a beach resort – especially during the holiday season from December to February. The Yarada beach is a great place to watch the waves and enjoy food from an array of restaurants nearby.
Other notable beaches are Rushikonda and Ramakrishna. The latter has a promenade that’s great for taking in sights of the huge ships and colourful fishing boats at the Bay of Bengal.
Talking about ships, the Submarine Museum is a fascinating venue towards the north of Ramakrishna beach. Also nearby is the VUDA Park to take in some green landscapes.
But if it’s great panorama you seek, then check out Kailasagiri Hill.
Kochi
It’s easy to tag this city in coastal Kerala state as a “melting pot”. With elements across the city that vary from Chinese to Portugese to English, the major port city exudes an international vibe. Cosy homestays and historic accommodations beckon travellers to rest their heads, but don’t forget about the plethora of cultural sights.
The Pardesi Synagogue houses delicate floor tiles from China. If that’s not beguiling enough, the place also features chandeliers from Belgium.
For something more inherently local, the Hindu murals at Mattancherry Palace are not to be missed. Of course, one can’t visit Kochi without seeing the Chinese fishing nets on Fort Cochin’s shore.
Other notable sights worth checking out are the Hill Palace Museum, St Francis Church and Kerala Folklore Museum.
Kolkata
Don’t be mistaken, you’re not in England – although, the second biggest city in India might make you think otherwise. The British left footprints in the form of splendid heritage architecture. Today, thousands of buildings still stand tall from when Britain ruled India.
Victoria Memorial, a tribute to Queen Victoria, features the Calcutta Gallery that tracks the city’s colonial-era history amid gorgeous architecture. Meanwhile, the Marble Palace is one of the country’s best preserved royal homes. Statues adorn its marble halls and lavish flooring grace its music room.
For a religious touch, the Belur Math is a curious structure that resembles a cathedral, palace and mosque – all in one place! While you’re here, don’t forget about the Botanical Gardens and Tagore’s House.
Tiruchirappalli
If it’s mouthful official name disorients you for a bit, don’t worry. Tiruchirappalli is also commonly known as Trichy or Tiruchi. The crowded city is home to many great temples as well as bazaars.
The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is a mammoth temple that has 49 separate Vishnu shrines. Meanwhile, the Rock Fort Temple is exactly as its name suggests – a marvelous rocky structure. Getting to the top here requires visitors to climb over 400 stone-cut steps.
Elsewhere, the museums here with their many great displays also warrant a visit. Some places worth visiting are the Railway Museum, Art Museum and St Joseph’s College Museum.