Odigos Guides

Holi also called a Festival of Colours is quite a popular Hindi festival celebrated in India. It has even become popular with non-Hindus as well in other countries.  The festival means the arrival of spring, the finale of winter, and the beginning of many happy days. As per the Hindu calendar, it falls in the month of Phalguna which is around the middle of March. Why it is special in Mathura and Vrindavan Holi is particularly well known in Braj a historic region that covers the area of Mathura Vrindavan and a few other areas, while it is celebrated in almost every part of India. The festival here is known for its special customs and traditions, draws visitors and pilgrims from all over the world. Also, the Mathura is Lord Krishna's birth-place, and Vrindavan is where he grew up in his youth. Celebrations in Mathura In Mathura, there is a place naming Barsana which is famous for Lathmar Holi. It is a form of Holi which is played with sticks and shields. According to the le...

Known as the Oxford of the East, Pune was once the city for students and retirees. With the IT boom its demographic has changed to include people from all walks of life. A melting pot, the city has people from around the country that call it home. Pune has a rich history, it rose to prominence with Sivaji, the famous Maratha ruler who spent his childhood here. Whether you’re in Pune for a day or a week, there is always something to do here. Aga Khan Palace Commissioned in 1892 by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III to help neighbouring people during a famine, this beautiful monument stands on a 6.5-hectare plot. The palace became a site of national interest as Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba Gandhi and sectary Mahadeobhai Desai were interred here along with other freedom fighters from 1942. Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadeobhai Desai died here, the monument was donated to the Gandhi Smarak Samittee in 1972. The importance of this place in the freedom struggle will be best explained by ...

Gujarat has added a new must-visit-destination under its wing and that is Statue of Unity. The statue, dedicated to Indian Statesman and Independence activist Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is also the tallest statue in the world. The height of the statue is 182 metres and 600 feet approx. It was designed by Indian sculptor Ram V. Sutar and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31st October 2018 to mark Patel’s 143rd birth anniversary. The statue is located on the river island named Sandhu Bet facing Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada riverbed. It is twice the size of the iconic Statue of Liberty New York and five times taller than the Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. It surpasses the height of Buddha statue at the Spring Temple Buddha, China, which previously held the crown as the tallest statue in the world. It also made another record to build in shortest period of time as it took only 33 months to construct and used around 109 tonnes of iron.   The timing...

Known as the Garden City, Bengaluru is one of the most scenic cities in India. The capital of the state of Karnataka, Bengaluru is also an IT and start-up hub and you’ll find many busy young people there thinking about their next big ideas. While there are a number of things you can do while visiting Bengaluru, here are some of the most fun.  The Bangalore Palace:   Built in 1887 by King Chamaraja Wadiyar the Tudor style palace took about 4 years to complete. The land where the palace stands belonged to the principal of a cantonment school, Reverend J Garrett but was bought from him by the guardians of the King. There have been many changes and renovations made to the palace since then. You can book Eslavath Rajesh Kumar, a tour guide who is well versed about the history of the palace. Cubbon Park :  This beautiful 300 acre park is located at the heart of Bengaluru and is a favourite among dog walkers, joggers and couples too. The park was named fo...

India is famous for its rich and vivid history, heritage and hospitality where it still follows ‘atithi devo bhava' which means our guest is our god. There are a number of options, from scenic destinations to historic sites, from cities bustling with chaos to hideouts offering relaxed stay. But, to choose among them is a bit of dilemma. So here we are listing few places which are must visit destinations of Northern India. 1.    Delhi Delhi, the capital city of India, is one of the most visited tourist destinations. This beautiful place has a lot to offer, like the India Gate, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Humayun’s Tomb, and the most popular Qutub Minar. Not just monuments, Delhi is also known for its craft and speciality street food that can be explored at Delhi Haat and Chandni Chowk, where you will find shops that are several decades old.     2.    Agra  If you want to know learn about the history of the Mughal era, th...

At the border of Pakistan, this beautiful city is steeped in culture, tradition, food, and history. Founded by the fourth Guru of the Sikhs, Ram Das, Amritsar has modernity and history surviving side by side. There are many great sites to see in this lovely city and a good way to ensure you don’t miss out on any is by booking a tour on the Odigos app. Here are some of the top things to do in Amritsar. The Golden Temple or the Sri Harmandir Sahib The holiest shrine of Sikhism, this temple is famous around the world. The tank called the Amrit Sarovar, where Amritsar gets its name, was first excavated by Guru Ram Das in 1577. The architecture of this monument is in the Indo Islamic style. The lower floor of the temple has pietra dura marble work like in Taj Mahal and many animal and flower motifs. The second floor is covered in gold panels and has a 750 kg gold dome on top giving the temple its popular name. The temple also has a collection of relics that also provide an understandi...

One of the most colourful and chaotic cities in India, Jaipur is popular with foreigners and Indians alike. The Pink City, as it is also called, is a beautiful holiday destination with no shortage of things to see. The Jantar Mantar, the City Palace, the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur showcase some of the most stunning examples of Rajasthani architecture. The city is also home to delicious delicacies from local cuisine as well as excellent options for those that prefer international fare. Perhaps one of the reasons that make this city such an attractive destination are the local arts and crafts.  An excellent way to enjoy these creations is to take a guided tour of the arts and crafts bazaar of the city. Bilal Hussain , a local guide is knowledgeable and friendly, both ideal to enhance your experience. Walks are also advisable so you don’t miss any of these lovely designs. Jaipur’s arts and crafts are unique, the artisans have retained the secrets of their crafts for ce...

Delhi is perhaps the most interesting place to visit in all of India. A city as diverse as it is large, Delhi has been the capital of India for centuries beginning under the Mughals. The history of this Indian gem makes it an important destination for anyone interested in history. Though there are over a hundred monuments and an undetermined number of ruins, Delhi is a city of rich historical and cultural value and an important tourist destination. The marvels of Delhi can be intimidating, Odigos has numerous guided tours suited to every need. As a capital city, Delhi has always been a melting pot with people from around the country making it their home. The thriving Mughal dynasty brought travellers and artisans from around the world too. As people came to make this city their own, they brought with them many of their own cultures and habits. These blended with those of other people and the locals to make the unique heritage of Delhi. This is also why Delhi’s food is so ...

Mumbai a cosmopolitan metropolis, earlier known as Bombay is largest city of India and one of the most populated cities in the world. The city of Mumbai is situated on the central west coast of India along the Arabian Sea. Apart from this, it also has some major universities, museums, theaters, galleries.  Mumbai is a good entry point for traveler in India because you can find both Western standards and discover something new. Day 1:  Start your day in the most touristic neighborhood Colaba. First landmark to visit is Gateway of India, built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and his wife Maria von Teck to Mumbai Its dome shaped structure and magnificent architecture makes it is one of the popular landmarks of the city. Facing this, there is Taj Hotel, which is one among the majestically built hotels in India. On moving further you can find one of the popular museums, The Prince of Wales Museum where you can see objects from field of art archelog...

Jaipur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. It is also known as pink city because of the dominant color scheme of its buildings. Rich in its historical heritage, every corner of Jaipur holds an interesting culture and touch of old-world charm. 1.     Hawa Mahal You would not have thought about visiting Jaipur if it was not for the beautiful Hawa Mahal or Palace of Wind, constructed on red and pink sandstones and has 953 small windows called Jharokhas by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh.   The best part is windows of this palace which have been designed in such a way that irrespective of the time or season of the year, cool breeze always persists inside the palace, making it a popular summer holiday destinations. 2.    Amber Fort Next to visit is Amber Fort, located high on Aravalli Hills is not to miss place in Jaipur. The palace owns four levels and Sheesh Mahal or the ‘Palace of Mirror’ is also one of the c...

Taj Mahal “Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones.”- Sir Edwin Arnold, English Poet You would not have thought about visiting Agra if it was not for the beautiful white-marble mausoleum, Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan constructed Taj Mahal in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz and it nearly took 21 years, 32 million rupees and 20000 artisans to build the ivory white beauty. Now that’s called Love! The place gets quite crowded by the day so the best time to visit would be around sunrise and you wouldn’t even have to go through the frustration of standing in a long queue. Night visits happen just 5 days a month that is on a full moon night and 2 days before and after the full moon night. Agra Fort Next up is the Agra Fort. It is probably the second most popular place in Agra after the Taj Mahal. So, before the Mughal emperors shifted their capital to Delhi, Agra is where they stayed and this was t...

Travelling means exploring new places trying out local food and experiencing different cultures. However, if you stick to the beaten-tracks you may end up missing out on the best that a place has to offer. And so here are 6 best reasons why choosing an experienced and knowledgeable private local tour guide may prove to be the best decision you make during your vacation.     Extensive knowledge of the city Your guide book and planned itinerary may be handy but it’ll probably not match the insider info that your local tour guide has. A private local tour guide will not only have extensive knowledge on the history and culture but will also have real time info of where to expect the least crowd, best time to visit a place, recent news about different locations, road and terrain conditions, safety guidelines etc.   Discover Lesser Known Places If you love searching beyond the obvious and finding out about places that aren’t on the popular tourist rou...