Weekend Getaways near Delhi

          Just back from organising a conference at a new 5 star hotel near Delhi-The Claridges Surajkund, a lovely Business cum leisure hotel. Very nicely located on the Shooting range road near the Surajkund lake, a very green and quiet area. The Claridges hotel has about 200+ rooms with most of them overlooking the Courtyard with a beautiful lawn and a spectacular Dancing fountain with burning fires making it a treat to watch. The staff was very professional and since we were handling the top 11 executives of a big telecom company I was a little nervous about the services. The check in was handed expertly and even all the arrangements were as required. We were using one of the smaller halls the 'Cilantro' and the place had an excellent pre function area for lunch, tea etc.           The rooms at Claridges Surajkund are just too good with even the base category rooms being about 400sq feet with ...

                Visited Chamba, Uttaranchal with a group of about 50 people for a leisure group. Started in the night on two 27 seaters and the driver was good but the roads not too good, still we were there in about 8 hours, which is good time. The Delhi-Haridwar Highway is being four laned and you have to constantly switch between single and double roads, but I think things will be much better shortly as construction is complete. The route is via Merrut, Muzzafarnagar, Haridwar , Rishikesh and Narendernagar. We were staying at the Classic Hilltop Chamba , which is literally at the top of a hill and at least 200m above in height from the Mussoorie-Chamba road. The first thing that strikes you as you hit the place is the wonderful view of the snow capped peaks of Himalayas giving you and almost 180 degree view of these wonderful natural precipices. You can see Yamunotri, Nanda Devi, Gangotri and more. The view...

                            Had a fantastic time last weekend at a 4 star hotel of Mussoorie Claridges Nabha, with family. I have never been too fond of Mussoorie because of too much commercialisation and concretisation of this hill  station. Lots of construction and deforestation had left the hill station, the Queen of Hills as a barren lot. The last few years has seen a sea change in this place with a bar on all new construction leading to a revival in greenery and better weather and rains to Mussoorie. This Monsoon the city had an excellent downpour and it had turned wonderfully green as we reached it in mid October of '09. Even the highway route to Mussoorie via Merrut, Khatauli, Muzzafarnagar, Roorkee and Dehradun is on improving as four laning is going on at most of the places along the highway. Once complete I think this will lead to dec...

Organized an all inclusive trip for rafting at Rishikesh end of October for 3N/3D. A group of 22 people enjoyed a wonderful rafting and camping adventure trip on the beautiful White sands of Rishikesh at the banks of the Ganges at Camp 5 Elements, Byasi,Rishikesh Run by the Leisure Hotels the camp the rafting camp in Rishikesh offers serene and rejuvenating environment. The Camp is indeed the most scenic, secluded & romantic beach camp on the Ganges. Sprawling over 500 meters of Silvery Sandy beach, the camp is surrounded by thick forests and mountains. The camp is located 27 kms from Rishikesh on the road to Deoprayag  between Shivpuri and Byasi Village. The tents are deluxe with a twin/double bed. There is an attached bathroom having running water (The only camps in Rishikesh with attached bathrooms) . Toilets, the typical dry pit ones are separately made.  Rafting Itinerary - Delhi-Rishikesh-Delhi Day 01 Friday 30th...