Always wanted to visit Bikaner in Rajasthan and recently had an opportunity to make my dream come true. Thanks to the new airport operations in Bikaner airport, there are direct flights now from Delhi and Jaipur daily and they are pretty reasonably priced too. I would say around Rs.2000 per ticket if you book a little in advance. Once we arrived in Bikaner, we arrived at the “Jewel in the desert” which is the Gaj Kesri hotel on the outskirts of the town.

Built in the palace style of Rajputana in the Bikaneri vernacular, Gaj Kesri is a tribute to the skills and meticulous craftsmanship of the artisans and masons of Bikaner and nearby villages. Surrounded by verdant grounds and lawns, the hotel offers traditional grandeur with arty and chic interiors. The hotel is built by architect Mr. Sunil Rampuria who is also the 5th generation of the Rampuria’s who own the famous Rampuria Havelis.

Gaj Kesri is home to a superb and unparalleled collection of contemporary Usta Work – the glorious art form of Bikaner all created in their own workshop. That makes the hotel a museum of sorts. Mr. Sunil Rampuria, the owner has been passionately involved for the last 35 years in keeping this lovely art form alive and it was great pleasure seeing the masterpieces created by the brothers Asghar, Iqbal, Ayyub and Ameen adorning the spaces inside the main building.

Rooms are designed aesthetically well and give you a royal feeling of staying in a palace. All the amenities like mini bar with cold drinks, electric kettle for coffee and some locally made desserts welcome you into the room after a long journey. Room rates are just Rs.6000 plus taxes, which is a really affordable for the amazing royal stay.

I liked the way artifacts were displayed across the room showcasing to us how the royals live. The lighting was sufficient and provided a warm feel to the room. The walk in wardrobe and the palatial bathrooms were a perfect fit to this regal room.

We enjoyed swimming in the open air pool in the Gaj Kesri grounds. You can have a nice cold beer with some amazing veg spring rolls as you take a dip in this beautiful swimming pool. It is also a nice place to have a romantic dinner in the evening enjoying the cool breeze in the air.

The owners Mr. Sunil Rampuria and his charming wife Mrs. Anju Rampuria played perfect hosts to us as they regaled us with their royal stories and how they built this beautiful jewel in the middle of the desert. Mr. Sunil created the blueprint for this resort on his own after leaving his job in Vizag and coming back here. Mrs. Anju had a wonderful jewelry collection which she showed us which tell countless tales of the royal families.

The multi cuisine restaurant serves only vegetarian food but you won’t be disappointed even if you are a non-vegetarian as the food is very healthy and prepared very fresh. The restaurant itself is very aesthetically decorated which reminds you of royal dining.

My 6 year old son Reyansh had a wonderful time at Gaj Kesri as he had so many activities to do. His favorite activity was swimming in the pool and enjoying some delicious vegetarian spring rolls along with some hot milk. He was pampered by the entire staff and he enjoyed being in the open air with less screen time.

The lawns are great to arrange big marriage functions or family celebrations. It is also great for kids to enjoy playing some outdoor games or just lazing around on a beautiful winter morning or evening. 

Reyansh loved the decor of Gaj Kesri which looked to him like a palace. He enjoyed learning about the different artifacts and the meaning behind them from the owners of Gaj Kesri itself. Children of all ages can have a wonderful time at Gaj Kesri without feeling bored. 

Gaj Kesri offers traditional grandeur with arty and chic interiors which definitely makes us feel royal. The Rajasthani thali served by Gaj Kesri is really exceptional but they also serve some mouth watering dishes from Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisines.

It was great to have dinner with Mr. Sunil Rampuria and other travel bloggers from across India. We also enjoyed some live band performance by Raja and his team who sang wonderful Bollywood and Indi pop numbers. Wine and liquor was flowing nicely as we enjoyed the music with some delectable vegetable starters.

In a nutshell, Gaj Kesri provides an amazing stay in Bikaner as you discover the city and various attractions it has to offer. Builton 25 acres of land, Gaj Kesri is a sprawling property with 41 rooms–31 Art Guest Rooms and 10 Standard Rooms.

India continues to be one of the world’s top destinations for travellers, many of whom return time and again. But, while it’s a welcoming and open country, it also possesses a very distinctive culture. Too often, first-time visitors neglect to look into these differences, and it can easily negatively impact their experience.

If you’re planning on heading there in the near future, we’d always recommend doing some research. The good news is, it will make for good reading – the story of India is one of the richest in world history. But to whet your appetite, here are five things you may not (yet) be clear on:

1. Regions

The first mistake would be to treat a country of over a billion people – with the seventh-largest land area in the world – as a place in which the same norms apply everywhere. And, India is so vast that any one trip is only likely to take in a few of its many regions at a time.

It’s also a federation of 29 states, meaning these regions are partly self-governing – and so the rules imposed can vary somewhat across the country. So when you do your research, make sure you’re focusing on the particular area or areas you’ll be staying.

2. Etiquette

For all the regional differences, though, there are certain behaviours your hosts will likely appreciate – and others you should know to avoid.

First of all – regardless of whether you’re left or right-handed, Indians shake hands with the right. This is because the left is associated with toilet usage. It’s also considered impolite to touch someone else with your feet – indeed, try not to angle the soles at others. And you’ll be expected to remove your shoes before entering a home or sacred space.

3. Religion

As you’ll probably be aware, the majority of Indians are Hindus, but there are also a sizeable proportion of Muslims. How you’re greeted will give you an idea – ‘namaste’ is the traditional Hindu greeting, while Muslims will tend to begin with ‘salaam alaikum’.

India was the cradle of many of the world’s most successful religions, and you may well also meet Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains on your travels – so it’s worth knowing a little about each (even though there are actually more Christians in the country than any one of these minorities these days).

4. Seasonal

Just as knowing the difference between regions may guide your decision where to go, so having an idea of India’s seasons – and many great seasonal festivals – may influence when in the year you prefer to be there.

For instance, the colourful celebration of Holi takes place in February or March, while Diwali’s illuminated nights arrive in October or November. And, if you want to see some of the best public pageantry the country has to show, December is Wedding Season, when you’ll witness parades of horses and drummers, the lighting of symbolic flames and family parties that last for days.

5. LGBT+

India is a modern country and has progressed somewhat toward equality in the last decade. But it can also be a conservative culture in which public displays of romantic affection are not particularly encouraged whatever your orientation.

Due to the indigenous hijira population, there’s been a legal recognition of a third gender for some time but, again, trans visitors are encouraged to be careful. Thankfully, there are at least an increasing number of resources to consult before travelling or while in-country.

As we are the top family travel bloggers in India, Dhempe’s Travel Blog was recently invited for a staycation at one of India’s best hotels, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre, which was recently refurbished entirely. This is a dual property in Hitech City which is spread over 15 acres.

We had a comfortable ride from the airport to the hotel which took around 45 minutes on a Friday afternoon. Best part is that due to the outer ring road, you can reach the hotel within 45 minutes to 1 hour anytime of the day.

Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre was one of the original pioneers of five-star hospitality in Hyderabad having opened more than 15 years back. The hotel now has new and contemporary designed rooms, vibrant restaurant upgrades, an elegant lobby and a spirited bar. We were welcomed very sweetly by the hotel tea with a wet towel, traditional teekha and some cool refreshing drink. 

We checked into our suite room which had a lot of wonderful surprises waiting for us. They were done in a contemporary fashion with lot of modern elements. The rooms are spacious and give out good vibes to relax and recoup.

The bed was really comfortable and had the best of the linen which was perfect for a good night of sleep!

I personally loved the eatable Instagram frame made for our welcome – a delicious almond sponge layered chocolate and coffee flavored french pastry!

I met the executive chef Gaurav Malhotra who treated us to some of the best savories of Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh along with Irani Chai! It was a really much required break after traveling from Bangalore.

Gaurav Malhotra, Executive Chef, said that the new restaurant Food Exchange will act as a hub for the coming together of conversations, specializations, food innovations and the celebration of multi cuisines. The venue offers a casually elegant dining experience with a progressive approach to food creation and beverage innovations. The outlet will also feature artisanal desserts, familiar comfort food and other treats, all curated for the modern diner’s palate.

We were part of the Seafood wave weekends which happens at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Center from Friday to Sunday, only for dinners, by the poolside. 

I was pleasantly surprised to see the variety of seafood which was there considering that Hyderabad is not close to the sea. I was told by the chefs that the fresh catch is flown in daily from Godavari belt and coastal Andhra.

Some of the seafood on display was king prawn, pink perch, tuna fish, red snapper, white pomfret, lady fish, mackerel, squid, baby octopus, mud crab, sea crab and Indian salmon. The ambiance created was like that of a seafood market, where you could choose the seafood you like and then it would be grilled according to the type of spices you like.

Some of the best dishes were sea crab, pomfret and prawns. Such world class sea food in Hyderabad was really a dream come true and kudos to Novotel chefs for the same!

We then went to The Bar for some cocktails while watching IPL matches. The bar has been given a more chic and contemporary feel, making for a cheerful ambiance. It has been transformed to target and attract the young crowd over weekends. Guests can look forward to innovative concepts and more interactive offerings.

Best part is that the bar has got license to officially be open till 3am every night! That’s much better than the night life of entire Bangalore! So it’s a great place to let you hair down after a long day and enjoy with friends and colleagues!

We had a great swim the next day and basically relaxed by the pool while enjoying some sumptuous breakfast from The Food Exchange. The outlet is characterized by a social and interactive atmosphere with flexible seating options offering indoor casual and poolside outdoor seating. Live kitchens and conversations with the chef make this venue interactive and flamboyant, with an emphasis on freshness, local ingredients and organic produce.

Food Exchange is bringing together food, culture and traditions from across the world and making your breakfast, lunch and dinner exciting! The bright colors on the walls are really welcoming and the seating space are also very well done. With regards to the food, you of course have all the best cuisines in the world like Italian, Oriental, etc but also local flavors from South India, specially Andhra Pradesh. The cold cuts section is really exhaustive and so is the desserts section. There are a lot of live stations which are present to create your customized food in buffets.

Food Exchange is an all-day dining and social hub for discerning palates. Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre seeks to further deepen its impact in Hyderabad with the newly curated gastronomy offerings at Food Exchange, strengthening its decade long positioning in the market. With both western and Pan Asian cuisine on the menu, Food Exchange is a modern interpretation of food markets found across the globe and is reminiscent of places where local people in-the-know go to dine.

Travelling with kids can be hard work, but the rewards of seeing their little faces light up and knowing they have made memories that will stay with them the rest of their lives makes it all worthwhile.

1. Paris, France

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We often think of Paris as a romantic getaway location, and not suitable for families and children. This couldn’t be further from the truth. France has something to offer everyone, food, fashion, history, and sports.

Take your kids for a walk along the river or take them to see the Eiffel Tower. If you’re looking for something a little more out of the ordinary, try the Catacombs of Paris – an exciting adventure for children of all ages, but do book ahead as some bloggers describe waiting for up to two hours. Not ideal with small children.

2. Toronto, Canada

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Toronto is an amazing city full of activities that your kids will love and so will you. Visit the Royal Ontario Museum to learn all about Canada’s history, while your kids marvel at Dinosaur skeletons and colourful Native Canadian Headdresses.

You can journey south of the city to see Niagara Falls, a breath-taking site that your kids will surely remember. If you do take your kids to Canada, make sure they are reasonably well behaved as Ben Groundwater says that the one thing not to do in Canada is to be rude.

3. Kerala, India

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Visiting India is on many people’s bucket list, but it can seem like an impossible destination if you have a young family. The major cities are probably far too manic to take your kids to, but Kerala moves at a slower pace and is ideal for families. The national parks are recommended for families, as it’s incredible to see the looks on your kids’ faces when they first spot an elephant will provide a special moment.

4. London, England

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Visiting London will allow you and your family to explore hundreds of years of history and culture. The museums and monuments aren’t all stuffy and boring they are often fully immersive and tailored towards kids.

The Science Museum has a special section for children that contains interactive games and puzzles relating to its current exhibitions. Actors playing various historical characters bring to life The London Dungeon and immerse your kids in its history. Might be too scary for young kids.

5. Florida, USA

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Orlando, Florida may just be the place your kids want to visit the most. It is home to the world’s greatest theme parks, including Universal Studios, and Legoworld.

If theme parks aren’t for you, then Florida still has plenty to offer. Take them on an educational trip to the Kennedy Space Centre where they can experience the shuttle simulator. You could also take them to see the alligators at Everglades National Park.

6. Melbourne, Australia

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Australia is a fantastic place to visit and once your kids are old enough to handle the long flight it’s well worth taking them. If your kids love animals then Melbourne is the perfect location.

There are over 300 different animal species at Melbourne Zoo, particular highlights include the gorillas and the butterfly house. Head down to the Phillip Island Nature Park and witness the March of the Penguins, it will delight your kids.

Continuing its work with the feedback from Indian consumers, Asus has become aggressive with the price and specifications with Zenfone Max Pro M2 that feels bigger with thinner bezels, a notch and a chin at the bottom.

First Impressions

Design & Display

The 15.9 cm (6.26) FHD+ Full View display of this smartphone is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6. Its rear panel is 3D glass-like with a wave design giving it a premium feel. The compact Notch panel makes the most of the space by accommodating an LED Proximity Sensor, an Ambient Light Sensor, a surprise Soft LED Flash, an Earpiece, a Notification LED and a front camera.

Asus is offering Zenfone Max Pro M2 with a shiny exterior with distinguishing colors of blue and Titanium that is easy to hold thanks to its curved sides. A laminated back and glossy finish quickly picks up smudges during daily use.

I had to stretch a bit to access the power and volume buttons located on the right side. , Adding an extra bit to the convenience, Max Pro M2 can accommodate 2 SIM cards and a microSD card. Each of the SIM slots support 4G VoLTE for fast connectivity.

Security

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 offers Facial Recognition and a Fingerprint Sensor for unlocking the phone. Both these options turn on the phone is seconds which is very convenient.

Camera

The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 houses two cameras in the back, a 12-megapixel primary lens and a 5-megapixel depth-sensor. The aperture of the primary lens is f/1.8 providing a pixel size of 1.25 microns. The Depth, set through the 5-megapixel secondary lens allows enough light for great daylight shoots. However, it suffers under low light as photos are grainy with enough noise levels. Quick settings provide a dedicated night mode but with no improvement to the overall quality of the images or videos.

A manual intervention is required to adjust the quality and not meant for Insta Shutterbugs like me. I prefer the automatic settings to adjust depth blur. The selfie flashlight is a welcome addition for capturing some great photos. Camera is perhaps the achilles heel for the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2.

Performance

Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 system-on-chip (SoC) and Android Oreo 8.1 out of the box, the mobile phone is free from bloatware. With the Android Pie update expected any day, the phone’s performance will receive an additional boost.I love the UI, smooth with no lag or slowdowns. I could open multiple apps in the background without a need to close any one of them thanks to its RAM optimisation at software levels. All of my day-to-day activities like browsing the internet, video binge watching, Social media updates, messaging and calling were seamless. The phone is kind to Google Maps, gaming apps, video editing tools, video recording and playback. 5,000 mAh battery lasted for two days and Charging time is two hours.

Dhempe’s recommendation 

Priced between 9,999 to 13,999 Asus Zenphone Max M2 is powerful and competitive. The 5-magnet NXP speaker and Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection makes the mobile experience seamless and secure.