The iXiBlog

January 11th, 2012

The Year of Waves

The 12th year of the 3rd millennium and 21st century, 2012, the year of the predestined apocalypse has garnered attention from every possible segment of the world since the exploration of the idea based on the Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar. While on one hand, 2012 is the year of the ultimate collapse according to one mythology, on the other, it is the year of the emperor holding the supreme power and strength according to the Chinese mythology, 2012 can well be described as the year of paradox. The year that according to this mythology is going to start from January 23, 2012 (Gregorian date) ending on February 9, 2013 (Gregorian date), is the Year of the Water Dragon. Dragon is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which can be seen in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar, and is interestingly the only animal that is legendary. The Year of the Dragon according to the mythology is associated with the earthly branch symbol 辰, that is etymologically associated with a man with a hoe and is further exemplified as the early morning and as the fifth of the twelve earth branches seen in the Chinese tradition.

The dragon as a creature can be seen in the earliest of the folklore to the most recent ones in the Sung Dynasty that lasted from AD960 to 1279 and its predecessors. The Chinese mythology makes it imperative for the followers to worship the dragon as it is considered to be an emperor and the master of the ultimate power. Today, it is considered to be the most auspicious symbol of success and prosperity and is hence revered by everyone who has a faith in the Chinese Mythology. In Sung Dynasty texts, the dragon is often described as having the head of an ox, muzzle of a donkey, eyes of a shrimp, horns of a deer, body of a serpent covered with fish scales, and feet of a phoenix with the dragon usually clutching a pearl symbolic of its supernatural powers. It is accompanied by thunder and rain and is described with the movement like that of lightning and whirlwinds making him all powerful yet utterly unpredictable.

The Dragon being the symbol of strength and endurance, is the Yang energy which is the male energy according to the Feng Shui tradition. He is the signifier of vigilance, security and the spirit of change. In Chinese mythology, the Dragon is the predestined partner of the Phoenix, which is the Yin energy and it is often believed that Feng Shui endeavours to capture Chi’, the Dragon’s breath. The Chinese dragon, unlike the Western dragon, is said to be benevolent and commonly affiliated with wind and water hence worshipped by the traditionally agricultural society such as ancient China. The people of China sometimes identify themselves as a whole as descendants of the dragon which unlike the western dragon, has no wings.

With people like Colin Farrell, Courtney Love, Courtney Cox, Dinah Shore, Isabella Rossellini, Reese Witherspoon and Sandra Bullock on the list, people born in the Year of the Dragon come on a common platform being the sharer of certain characteristics like that of innovation, enterprising, self-assurance, courage, passion and quick-temper. The people who are born in the Year of the Dragon are the ones who should be freed of all the boundaries and restrictions as soon as possible as they have the power to unleash themselves and readily flame themselves into life. Being the progeny of this mighty year, these people are blessed with irrepressible energy, beauty, flamboyance and grand ideas. Being the master of extreme ambitions, the year of the Dragon borns do not hesitate in experimenting because it is in their fate to be almost inevitably successful giving some sleepless nights to their competitors.

However, that being said, people born in the Year of the Dragon should be aware that too much enthusiasm can leave them tired, stressed and unfulfilled. They are compassionate people and never hesitate in helping others with quite an abundant generosity up their sleeves.

According to the Chinese calendar, 2010 was the Year of White Tiger and was the beginning year of the Wood cycle, 2011 was the Year of White Rabbit, the middle year of the Wood cycle and the Dragon of 2012 is the last year of the cycle being the transition year to the Fire Cycle based on Chinese Astrology Five Elements (Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth) theory. The energy of Wood is in the East side with the energy of Fire in the South side and it is not known what will happen when turning from East to South, which is a sign of the unpredictable nature of the Dragon year. One can have either good luck or bad luck in 2012, and will have a chance to turn it into better or worse luck.

One has to know what Type of Element they are and what their Lucky Element is from the astrology birth chart. The Lucky Element is the major factor to determine people’s fortune. 2012 is the Year of Black Water Dragon, which contains Earth, Water and Wood. If a person’s Lucky Element is Earth, Water or Wood, then 2012 will bring some degree of luck. Since 2012 is Water Dragon, people whose lucky element is Water will benefit more in 2012. However, as Fire is the opposite element of Water, people whose lucky element is Fire will have more negative impact in 2012.

This is the year of the Water dragon and hence it becomes interesting to note that water has a calming effect on the Dragon’s fearless temperament and allows the Dragon to re-direct its enthusiasm, and makes him more perceptive of others. These Dragons are better equipped to take a step back to re-evaluate a situation because they understand the art of patience and do not desire the spotlight like other Dragons. Therefore, they make smart decisions and are able to see eye-to-eye with other people. However, their actions can go wrong if they do not research or if they do not finish one project before starting another.

Keeping everything aforesaid in perspective, the year can be well summarised as the year of prosperity, wellness, wealth, strength and development if sprinkled with caution and patience quite opposite to what has been predicted according to some other mythologies. Thus, it will be interesting to see which of the symbols win, the humanly power of astrology or the fiery roars of the mighty dragon. Be whatever the case, everybody should aim for a better future and with that in mind, I wish everyone a very Happy New Year (of whichever mythology you believe in..)

– Kshitiz Ahuja

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December 13th, 2011

iXiGO.com launches India’s first travel search app on Android

iXiGO.com, India’s leading travel search engine, today announced the launch of India’s first full-featured flights & hotels search application for Android devices. The iXiGO app is available globally on the Android market and can be downloaded and installed for free on any smartphone running the Android Operating System.

iXiGO’s Android App ( available at https://market.android.com/details?id=com.ixigo ) allows Android smartphone users to instantly search for flights & hotels & compares fares across multiple airlines, hotels and online travel agency websites. The app also allow users to track flight status and delays, view hotel maps, see hotel information & pictures, view airport information & locations and even complete the booking by redirecting to the booking provider’s website or by making a call to the relevant booking provider’s phone number.

Rajnish Kumar, CTO, iXiGO.com, said – “We are proud to announce the first Indian travel search app on the Android app market. With the growing market-share of Android phones and the availability of cheap smartphone devices, we’re committed to delivering the same richness of user experience and depth of flight and hotel information as our website, on Android phones and tablets.”

“Our mobile strategy is gaining more prominence since over 5% of our website now come from a mobile device. In addition to our Android and iPhone apps, we also have a full-feature mobile website coming soon!”, added Aloke Bajpai, CEO, iXiGO.com.

iXiGO.com has won several awards in the past for being one of the most innovative internet companies from India, and with this launch, the travel search engine has established itself as a leader in the travel mobile apps space. iXiGO.com has earned a reputation among travelers as the most trustworthy, comprehensive, transparent & accurate travel site in India for flights, hotels, buses, trains and deals. Its meta-search business model compares travel deals from 100+ travel sites and has helped millions of travelers save time and money on their travel.

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November 28th, 2011

Cinema Weds Tourism

Cinema is a phenomenon that has been an enigma since the time of its inception. An enigma that has not only shown what happens around us but has been a greater source of what we want to watch, experience, see through, and by what means we basically want to nurture the escapist in all of us. It is no hidden fact how Cinema through ages has been a successful reflection on what society has gone through, whatever changes that it has demanded, what people have admired and listed the things that were needed to be mended. Similarly, it has undoubtedly been futuristic in its essence showing us the larger picture and what happens when everything has an ideal solution. Through ages, it has always caressed the emotional selves and the crude people that we are; not only that, it has led to the realizations which no other medium has ever been that successfully able to do. But you know what, all these hard core insights for some other time. For now, I want you to focus on something really interesting. I am sure, many of you have always wondered what would our ever favourite films have been like without the jhatka matkas, the glamour and most importantly the exotic locations, the places that we have never ever dreamt of visiting ourselves, the corners of the mother Earth that were unexplored, unreachable till the time the wide stretches of our very own Cinema became the platter and we started relishing these visual treats. Cinema has not only introduced us to various aspects of life that was deeply hidden somewhere around us but has also tried to make us take shelter in the wraps of places that were never even existent for us. For many of us who have not been that lucky to travel to places, for the people who only has access to different places through other people’s adventure tales or some travel magazine, Cinema has brought every destination so close. The spots world over that were only a mystery for us is now a reality, a reality that the characters share with us, the reality that the cinema shares with us. With films, the world has become such a small place that we are just a movie ticket away from traveling to any place, be it our very own Kashmir or Goa, or some international wonders like pyramids of Egypt in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham or the busy streets of New York city in Kal Ho Na Ho.

The place where cinema has reached in this context is not a matter of a few years. The marriage between cinema and tourism has been existent since the early 60’s and 70’s when great filmmakers like Raj Kapoor dared to shoot a larger chunk of his movie in Europe. A thing which was next to impossible was done in that time and the film industry never looked back. The films like An Evening in Paris, Around the World, and Night in London followed in that same era. However, it would not be fair to say that cinema always aimed at including something which was international, films like Kashmir ki Kali and Daag explored what was hidden in the realms of our own country. As time passed, the need for eye candy factor increased and hence the entire spree of Yash Raj films came in with their trend setting Switzerland-Alps song sequences from Silsila, Chandni to Darr, Dil to Pagal hai and…and? there is no ‘and’..it is still going on.

Gradually the locations that were only seen and visited through the silver screen became accessible to common people. People got acquainted with destinations and a large number of people started moving to these international places. With that turn in the entire scenario, in response to a massive increase in middle-class and non-resident Indian audiences, especially in the UK and North America, film-makers began addressing the desires and anxieties of the Indian diaspora. Films started including the different locations not just for a song or some dream sequence but as an integral part of the story that wove the backdrop of the characters and their stories. No one can possibly imagine Dil Wale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge without the Europe trip because that trip becomes the factor that brings the two pivotal characters together. No body can imagine films like Provoked and Videsh without the Canadian Backdrop because the movement of the space becomes the basis for the plot. Films like Namastey London and the classic cinema like Purab aur Paschim often allow for an exploration of the encounters between Eastern and Western cultures through the different locations.

Cinema has undoubtedly grown in how films are made. The grandeur of films has been nourished and caressed by the filmmakers in such a way that cinema has today become one of the biggest business across the world. In the last couple of decades, Bollywood’s footprint has grown considerably beyond borders of the country. Sometimes the reason is the above mentioned but at almost all the other times, it is only because overseas shoots enhance a movie’s glamour quotient. With the increasing globalization of cinema in its entirety, the need for the international look of the films has increased. To satisfy those instincts in the audience, film makers have always tried to explore the locations that are rare and even the ones that were always considered hard to survive. Classic examples for such cinema is Lucky shot in Russia and Gangster shot in South Korea with the successful Dhoom 2 shot in Brazil, Namibia. With time, film-makers have started exploring more offbeat locations that give movies an exotic edge and where the choice of locations also indicates new or potential viewership for Hindi cinema.

This is not a concept which is specific to Bollywood but is stretched out to Hollywood in equal vigour. Hollywood also has with time tried to explore different rare locations and has even headed to the Middle Eastern Countries and Asian Subcontinent for doing so. There have been stories like Holy Smoke! and The Darjeeling Limited that have been set in India completely even after being Hollywood productions. The crossover of such a kind has since ages proved beneficial for the tourism industry of both the worlds. The emergence of the new era of tourism inter wined with Cinema has led not only to its growth but has also made audiences more tolerant towards different things, has led to an exploration of stories, nuances, experiences and most importantly people. Cinema has brought the world closer and we no longer think find ourselves alien to some of the most exotic places that the Mother Nature has in store for us. We are not afraid of exploring the world because of the second hand experience that we get through cinema which is liked by everyone. It would not be fair to say that Cinema has selfishly used tourism for its own needs and growth. We all know how tourism industry has grown through the process of film making. We know that because ministries of different places have asked Bollywood to shoot movies at their locations time and again and that is no hidden fact. World over, it is a well settled fact that the amount of exposure that Cinema can provide to anything is unbeatable and incomparable and smart ones understand and execute on same grounds. The soulful relation that Films and Tourism has, has grown into this mature giving and taking and sharing business with no signs of any inhibitions in the near future.

As selfish and ever desiring viewers, we wish them all the luck. May they have a long and beautiful life together!!!

-Kshitiz Ahuja

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November 21st, 2011

We have MOVED to a new office!

Big day today! We have moved into a new office in Gurgaon, which is about a kilometre away from our old location where we had spent last 3 years and have made great memories but we couldn’t be more excited about our new spacious office with lots of natural light flowing in.

We’re excited about the hustle and bustle happening outside our windows and all of the great restaurants & the metro station within an easy walking distance of the new location.

It has been a great four years journey for iXiGO and we look at our new office as the start of another chapter in the history.

So, if you’re in Gurgaon, why not drop in and say Hi. We’d love to see you!

New address: 3rd floor Bestech Center Point, A Block Sushant Lok Phase 1 Gurgaon, Pin Code – 122002.

– Deepali Pareek

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August 12th, 2011

Destination of the month

With the summer season over, it’s time to pack your bags and get ready for a mountain trip. So, our pick of the month is Malshej Ghat.

Known as Kulu Manali of Maharastra, Malshej Ghat is sheer paradise to visit during the Monsoon. Nestled in the lofty rugged hills of the Western Ghats, it is situated at a distance of 154 km from south Mumbai and 130 km north of Pune.

The best time to visit is during the tail-end of monsoons between August & September. The place comes alive in monsoon with cascading waterfalls, dew dripped greenery, mist-covered valleys, floating clouds and intermittent rainfall.

It’s unending rolling hills, beautiful haven of towering peaks and bottomless valleys makes it an ideal place for trekkers, hikers and for solitude seekers. The forest surrounding the hill is very famous for its different kinds of flora and fauna such as quails, rails, crakes, etc. In addition to its spectacular flora and fauna, it is also an abode for the famous migratory flamingoes during the monsoon.

The major attractions of Malshej Ghat are the Shivenri- birthplace of the legendary Shivaji, Buddhist caves dated 3rd century, Harishchandragadh, Ozar and Lenyadri, Ganesh and Shiva temples and Bhima River.

Check out few pics taken by an iXiGem on a weekend trip:

Can’t seem to get enough of this beautiful place with just a few pictures? There isn’t a better time than now to head there, so make your plans and embrace nature this weekend!

– Deepali Pareek

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August 11th, 2011

Friends Unlimited Contest Winners

Thank you iXiGOers for the overwhelming response in the “Friends Unlimited” contest. Your wonderful entries really made it difficult for our judges to decide only one winner from so many amazing photographs. So after reviewing all the entries, judges have decided to announce THREE winners instead of one!

And the winners are:

1. Alisha Chhabra

Caption- The 3D effect of our Dazzling, Dauntless and Dhinka-Chika Friendship!! )))))

2. Deepankar Banerjee

Caption- Friendship.. The strongest bond..

3. Sammyá Bratá

Caption- Life moves in circles, yet it has a common centre- The centre of Friendship

Congratulations guys! You have won gift vouchers worth Rs. 1000, which you can redeem against purchase of any product on Flipkart.

To everyone else who didn’t win, thank you so much for your participation. You can be sure that we’ll be back with more contests to challenge you in new ways very soon.

Till then stay tuned & keep participating!

– Deepali Pareek

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August 10th, 2011

iXiGO.com receives investment from SAIF Partners & MakeMyTrip

New Delhi, August 10, 2011 – iXiGO.com, India’s leading travel search engine, has announced an equity infusion from SAIF Partners, a leading Asian private equity & venture capital fund, and MakeMyTrip Limited, India’s leading online travel company, for a total cash consideration of $18.5 million across investment into the company and purchase of shares from existing shareholders. Immediately post this transaction, SAIF Partners and MakeMyTrip Limited would own 56.7% and 19.9% respectively of the company, Le Travenues Technology Private Limited.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Aloke Bajpai, Founder-CEO of iXiGO.com said – “We are excited about this development. We believe that with the backing of SAIF Partners & MakeMyTrip, we will be able to further enhance our product offering and expand our market penetration among internet & mobile users, both in India and abroad.“

Mr. Ravi Adusumalli, Managing Partner & Head of India Operations for SAIF Partners said – “Online travel remains the leading growth driver of e-commerce & online advertising in India. We’re glad to be backing a passionate team with a proven track record of innovation & product-led growth in this space.” Mr. Deep Kalra, Group Chairman & CEO, MakeMyTrip Limited added – “We believe there are synergies in the two business models and both the consumers and the travel industry in India have a lot to benefit from this partnership.”

Commenting on what this means for the future of iXiGO, Aloke said, “Our core purpose of simplifying the lives of travelers through comprehensive and unbiased information remains unchanged. We are looking forward to grow our team and innovate further in expanding our product offerings for online travel research & trip-planning. We also aim to strengthen our existing relationships with suppliers, online travel agencies, hotel aggregators, advertisers and content partners, and remain committed to maintaining win-win partnerships with our ecosystem.“

About iXiGO.com

iXiGO.com (Le Travenues Technology Pvt Ltd), is a leading online & mobile travel search engine based out of Gurgaon, India. iXiGO.com searches across multiple airlines, hotels, trains, bus booking sites & online travel portals to find the best travel deals. Launched in June 2007 by IIT, INSEAD and Amadeus alumni Aloke Bajpai, Rajnish Kumar and Dharmendra Yashovardhan, the company raised seed investment from BAF Spectrum, Singapore in 2008. iXiGO.com has been recognized by NASSCOM as a Top-100 Innovator & India’s Top-10 Emerging Company and also won the TiE-Lumis Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards, 2010.

About SAIF Partners

SAIF Partners is a venture capital firm that is sector and stage agnostic. SAIF is extremely active in early stage technology-enabled businesses. SAIF was the first institutional investor in companies such as MakeMyTrip (Consumer Internet), One97 (Mobile VAS), JustDial (Local Search), and HomeShop18 (eCommerce). The fund has strong experience of investing in companies at an early stage and helping them through multiple rounds of financings and eventually an IPO. In addition, SAIF is an active growth investor in companies like Catmoss (Apparel Retail), Speciality Restaurants (Restaurants), Network18 (Media & Broadcasting), TV9 (Media & Broadcasting), SIFY (Consumer Internet) IL&FS Investmart (Financial Services) and the National Stock Exchange (Financial Services). SAIF currently manages $4.0 billion across funds and is actively seeking investment opportunities in early stage and growth stage businesses.

About MakeMyTrip

MakeMyTrip Limited is the parent company of MakeMyTrip (India) Private Limited, India’s largest online travel company, MakeMyTrip.com Inc. and Luxury Tours & Travel Pte Ltd, Singapore. The Company’s services and products include air tickets, customized holiday packages, hotel bookings, railway tickets, bus tickets, car hire and facilitating access to travel insurance. Through its primary website, www.makemytrip.com, and other technology-enhanced platforms, the company provides access to all major domestic full-service and low-cost airlines operating in India, all major airlines operating to and from India, over 4,700 hotels in India and a wide selection of hotels outside India, Indian Railways and several major Indian bus operators.

Media Contact

Dharmendra Yashovardhan
dharmendra @ixigo .com
+91 124 4045281

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August 2nd, 2011

Music – it’s the joy of the journey!

“Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong…” melodious tune from John Denver soothing my ears from my car stereo as I was heading through the countryside on my way to the interiors of Kerala. Just then a thought struck me that a journey would be so incomplete if we didn’t have good music as a companion! A song can take you back to a time or place, motivate you to travel, or foster the desire to pack up your bags and keep moving on.

Photo credit

Travelling to another country or unknown land where language and customs are different becomes easy as music helps us connect to other travelers & locals who might not speak our language but carry the same love for music.

Photo credit

So here’s a playlist of my personal favourites which add rhythm to my otherwise nomadic travel sojourns. So next time you are on the road or thinking about travel, here are some great songs to tune in:

Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude by Jimmy Buffett
As Jimmy sings, “Reading departure signs in some big airport, reminds me of the places I’ve been”. It truly captures the moment of traveling and exploring new land.
Country Roads by John Denver
It will remind you of your homeland while you collect all the memories of the new place.
Tahna Dil by Shaan
Setting foot on a journey into the less explored…you would always find this Shaan melody as your companion! I would personally love to tune into this track on any trip!
On the Beach by Chris Rea
This song will transport you back to the time when you met your loved one for the first time. Indeed Romantic!
What a Wonderful World by Keane
All time favourite! You just can’t leave this one off, can you?
On the Road Again by Willie Nelson
Run around all the continents, making friends, seeing things which you’ve never seen.. Isn’t it what we mean by travel?
A Good Day to Run by Darryl Worley
Suits all who want to run away from the daily routine but are still stuck to one question: Is this a good day to run?
Breakdown by Jack Johnson
It reminds us to slow down and enjoy each passing moment, whether it’s rolling down our windows to get view of a busy street or enjoying the moment when the train breaks down in the middle of nowhere.
Gypsy by Shakira
Perfect song for nomads, who embodies the spirit of being carefree. And who likes walking when you can learn to fly?
Dil Chahta Hai by Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani & Loy Mendonsa
Out exploring the world with your friends, this track would set the perfect mood!
Kokomo by The Beach Boys
Takes you to the beach with white sands, swaying palms, crystal-clear turquoise waters and lots of Pina Colada!
Love Me Do by The Beatles
Classic! You just can’t skip singing together with your mates on a road trip!
Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
Who would let this go! A perfect call to see the world with your perfect companion!
Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz
If you could fly, where would you go? Over the sea or to see the stars or the Milky Way or even to Mars!
Musaafir Hoon Yaaro by Kishore Kumar
For the traveller inside each one of us. An amazing compilation from the Golden trio of Kishore Da, Pancham Da (RD Burman) and Gulzar Saab. It can give enough impetus to any traveller to take that first foot forward.
Jungle Drum by Emiliana Torrini
Not a travel song but a perfect number to pep up the atmosphere and to race your car against the wind. Hold on, look at your speedometer and people sitting in your car might say it, “my heart is beating like a jungle drum!”

Photo Credit

Other favourites:

Free Fallin by Tom Petty
Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day
Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane
Sweet Home Alabama by Lynward Skynyard
Yuhi Chala Chal Rahi by Udit Narayan
Highway to Hell by AC/DC
Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver
Upside Down by Jack Johnson
Jungle Song by Savage Garden
Aate Jaate Khubsurat by Kishore Kumar
Carolina in my Mind by James Taylor

…the list continues and so does the journey!

We would love to hear your favourite travel songs so please feel free to drop in your playlist in the comments section.

- Deepali Pareek

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June 22nd, 2011

A trek to India’s most popular hill stations!

“India- The one land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for all the shows of all the rest of the globe combined”~ Mark Twain

Monsoon is around the corner, and who could miss the astonishing beauty of hill stations in rains!
Last week we asked a question to our Facebook fans: “What’s the most beautiful hill station they have been to?” Quite a few answers came back. Based on those responses, below is a list (in no particular order) of the most popular hill stations:

Patnitop, Jammu: 112 kms from Jammu, Patnitop is a beautiful picturesque spot surrounded by beautiful mountains & Dedor trees. Enveloped with thick wooded forests, it offers peaceful walks and breathtaking views of the mountainscape of the Chenab basin.
Major Attractions: Chinar Garden, Skating Garden, Nag Temple, Three Springs.

(Photo Credit: Vinay Tiwari)

Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh: Home of his Holiness Dalai Lama, Dharamshala is a small beautiful town of Himachal Pradesh surrounded by snow capped mountains, mysticism and divine energy.
Major Attractions: Kangra Art Museum, Bhagsunag Fall, Dharamkot, War Memorial, Dharamkot, Triund, Dal Lake, Naddi.

(Photo credit: Partha C)

Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh: 45 mis from Kullu, Manikaran is a well known pilgrimage site for Hindus and Sikhs. The area is well-known for its hot springs and its beautiful landscape.
Major Attractions: Lord Ramchandra Temple, Sri Guru Nanak Devji Gurudwara, Hot spring in the Parvati river.

(Photo credit: Munish Chandel)

Lansdowne, Uttaranchal: Far from the crowded, overdeveloped and noisy places, Lansdowne is a quiet place to relax and rejuvenate yourself away from the hustle & bustle of city. Surrounded with dense oak, bamboo and pine trees, Lansdowne welcomes you with breathtaking views & amazing sceneries.
Major Attractions: Tip-in-Top, Garhwali Mess, war memorial, St. Mary’s church, St. John’s Church, Bhulla Tal, Hawaghar.

(Photo credit: euttaranchal.com)

Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh: Named after the British governor General of the 19th century, Lord Dalhousie, the hill station is full of old world charm and an ultimate place for rejuvenation. Dalhousie has charming colonial architecture, including some beautiful churches
Major Attractions: Panch Pulla, Dainkund Peak, Central Park, Church of Scotland, Satdhara Falls.

(Photo Credit: hotelkhoj.com)

Ooty, Tamil Nadu: Widely known as “Queen of Hills”, Ooty is located in the verdant hills of Niligiri range of mountains amidst the serene beauty of nature. Lofty mountains, dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles of tea gardens is all you will find here.
Major Attractions: Botanical Garden, Ooty Lake, Centenary Rose Garden, Doddabetta Peak, Pykara Lake & Falls, Wax World, Pine forest, Dolphin’s Nose.

(Photo credit: Shachi Sitaram)

Gulmarg, Kashmir: A beautiful hill station that lies at a distance of 56 kilometers from Srinagar. Nestled with stunning peaks in the Himalayan ranges, Gulmarg is an eye catching place with picturesque surroundings, serene lakes & beautiful gardens with mind blowing flowers and fragrance. If you’re looking for some adventure, this is one of the best ski resorts in India.
Major Attractions: Gondola Lift, Alapathar Lake, Maharaja Palace, Rani Temple, St. Mary’s Church, Ziarat of Baba Rishi

(Photo credit: Jibran Bhasir)

Darjeeling, West Bengal: Adventure, romance, serenity, inspiration – whatever it is that you seek, you will find it at Darjeeling. This is the land of the most favored Darjeeling tea revered by connoisseurs across the globe.
Major Attractions: Chowrastha, Natural History Museum, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Observatory Hill, Shrubbery Park, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Toy train, Tiger Hill

(Photo credit: darjeelingtours.wordpress.com)

Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu: Often known as the Princess of Hill Stations, Kodaikanal is a favorite place for honeymooners. With her wooded slopes, mighty rocks, enchanting waterfalls and a beautiful lake, Kodaikanal is a charming hill station which mesmerizes any visitor.
Major Attractions: Coaker’s Walk, Bear Shola Falls, Green Valley View Point, Pillar Rocks, Guna Caves, Silver Cascade, Dolphin’s Nose, the Kurunji Andavar Murugan Temple

(Photo Credit: Java Cafe)

– Deepali Pareek

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May 20th, 2011

Our Latest Avatars!

We are excited to share that we have launched four new websites to cater to the growing demand from the four European countries viz. United Kingdom, Italy, Spain & Germany and have tailor made ‘iXiGO’ for them. These new websites will provide travelers with the best in class – airlines and hotels search experience in Germany (www.iXiGO.de), Spain (www.iXiGO.es), United Kingdom (www.iXiGO.co.uk) and Italy (www.iXiGO.it) while providing the much acclaimed searching capabilities of the flagship website www.iXiGO.com.

As per the IPK Survey, last year the number of Europeans booking travel on the internet rose by 17% and is now approaching 50% level. Also, as per World Tourism Organization, Germany, Italy & UK are among the top ten biggest spenders on International Tourism. And hence, we foresee a huge potential in the European markets and have already started witnessing a substantial increase in traffic and revenues from these markets.

So what’s different in these new websites? Good question we say .. These website are fully translated and will enable the local iXiGOers to search and find information in their local language i.e., German, Spanish, Italian and English. Not only this, we have also tied up with over 150 local partners in all the four countries to make the best deals & attractive offers available to our iXiGOers. For our local partners, iXiGO offers the option to integrate their travel content into our search results; they can also advertise their travel offering via display ads that appear on relevant search result pages.