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Over the Ganges, through the bustling streets, To the Victoria Memorial we shall go, Past the slums and the Howrah Bridge, For a joy ride with www.playcez.com , you shall go. The once stronghold of the left communists, Kolkata has more to it apart from all the ‘Politics’ and its new outspoken ‘Chief Minister’. Beneath the dirt and broken roads, there is warmth and a special something that is trapped among the citizens of 'The City of Joy'. December blows in with its cool and sharp winds, the hustle and bustle of the city quivers in the air and the temperature weighs it down. As I try to lay out a few of the many historic threads of the once capital of India, I shall start my voyage with the ‘Taj Mahal’ of West Bengal .Victoria Memorial, built in the period between 1906 to 1921 in the memory of Queen Victoria is nestled in the southern part of the 64 acres land near the Jawaharlal Nehru Road. The landscape is of timeless beauty, bathed in the lush green color and dotted with several park benches. The building with a mix of European and Mughal architecture has a royal gallery which has oil paintings depicting Queen Victoria receiving the sacrament at her coronation. There are hundreds of original important documents of historic importance. A place worth visiting once and let your passion for knowledge overcome everything else. Gently and smoothly rolling on to the 54 AJC Bose Road, a place of astonishing emotional power. The headquarters of the international congregation of the Missionaries of the Charity. The tomb of Mother Teresa is not an attraction but a place of pilgrimage for various people. The area will tell you the story of the holy Mother and her convent. As the day fades into a still evening, the stillness only to disturbed by the shouts of the vendors or the constant blasting from the yellow taxis that rise and fall like soft sighs. Make your way to Belur Math located on the banks of sanity near the Hooghly River and just you might just be in time for the evening ‘aarthi’. The international headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission is a place of sublime beauty. The tinking of the bells,the gentle breeze laden with devotion,the love and the temple seem to mirror lives of Ramakrishna Paramhansa ,Sw

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="469" caption="ekamra haat"][/caption] Are u a food junkie? Are you a resident of  BHUBANESWAR ? but still you want to enjoy some delicious food . Then this is the right place for all your questions. Bhubaneswar is a growing city with a lot of upcoming IT hubs n corporate houses and a lot of colleges opening. there is a lot of young crowd moving in,and with the young mass there comes the demand for nice hangouts eateries and a cool place to spend time with your pals. The city has many places which comes up with all such expectations . market building a best combination of shopping and street food is the first choice of foodies and shopaholics. the place is located at unit-I very near by to the railway station and at a very connecting place. apart from this there are various malls with their own food joints pal heights has its own bake shop serving some good delicacies forum mart has a lots of good option either. But if you are looking for some best traditional orissa food then i would suggest ekamra haat located besides the exhibition ground very near by from ram mandir . it serves some amazing mutton with a local dish name as chakuli, which has its own class a best place for the mutton lovers the momo cafe near by reliance fresh bhouma nagar unit iv it has the best momos of bhubaneswar i have ever had. the place is amazing for a small hangout with friends specially when you have to treat friends and you are broke. bob n harries the bakery shop near by the world ,shastri nagar is the best spot to hit for an early morning sandwich some chips and coffee they can give you anything you ask for a lite baked breakfast

Jaipur , the ‘Pink City’ of India , for many of you who don’t know ,the older part of the city is given a fresh coat of pink paint every year. Established in 1727 by Jai Singh , who eventually went on to name the city after himself , is the capital of India’s most visited place Rajasthan. If  you happen to saunter alone along the cobbled streets of this historic city, the murderous heat along with the evening breeze are sure to teleport you to the past. The people of Jaipur assuage the barren topography by wearing colorful ingenuous garments drawing magic of their aesthetics from the bygone era. Dive into one of the forts that still stand majestically to beckon the tourists, resounding the heroism of a warrior clan and it’s allegiance to the more powerful. Wide avenues lined with gigantic neem trees divide the old city into rectangles with food stalls being nestled in every corner of the city. Tired of the colorful chow mein or the  greasy burger ? Head for ‘Natraj’ , their speciality being the ‘Rajasthani Thali’. A ‘thali’ is a huge steel plate holding an array of tiny bowls  each carrying an amazingly good curry and as you weave your way through the dishes out of oblivion somebody whips out an extra helping of fluffy rice .I can assure you that you will be needing a lot water and cola to counter the deadly ambush. It has been rightly said that ‘Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you desire and let the food fight it out inside.’ Communities in Rajasthan have disparate diets , most of them low in fat. The dearth of fresh fruits and grains in the markets is made up by the gamut of dry fruits and spices. Looking for authentic Rajasthani food served in the traditional way ? One should head for ‘Chokhi Dhani’  , which showcases Rajasthan’s amazing cultural heritage. It’s famous for the authentic ‘Rajasthani Thali’ it churns out along with the mouth watering sweets. 'Moong dal halwa' is something you ought to try when you drop by this ‘ethnic village’ , for it's a far cry from what gets passed on as 'halwa' in many restaurants enveloping the city. The darkness of the night invades the city wildly , the cool breeze refreshes you and the twinkling stars embracing the pristine beauty of the sky. Want to cool down ? Make your way to ‘Jal Mahal’ they have the best variety of some of the yumcious ice-creams you can ever have. Devouring every molecule which melts down your throat like a beautified strawberry – heavenly . Picking what to eat is not just the difficult part but also the fun part. If you are to try continental food then you need to push yourself through the streets of the once walled city and head for ‘Chitra Cafeteria’ which churns out delicious delicacies. The dishes here are good , subtle and bursting with flavors. Time is a pesky thing and without a planned itinerary , you'l get lost in this city with a woozy head. So blend in with http://www.playcez.com/ or you shall fail to decipher this mysterious and quaint place.

Allahabad… the land of Sadhus and Maulvis … the place where Hindus and Muslims have lived in harmony for centuries… the place where Akbar built his biggest fort… the place where Chandrashekhar Azad died fighting against British… and the place where India’s two of the topmost premier engineering institutes takes hundreds of topnotch students every year. So, what’s there for the youngsters of IIIT and MNIT in the land of Sangam? Come, let’s have a short walk around the streets of Allahabad and find which are some of the best eating places out there… Let’s start our journey from Subhash Chandra Bose Chauraha in Civil Lines. If you want anything in civil lines, this is the place to start with. Facing towards Softy Corner, which is one of the favorite spots of young couples of Allahabad, a few steps towards the left is our all-time-favorite McDonald’s (the Eco-Meal for Rs. 68 is quite a lunch for me! ) and towards the right is Elchico, the high-profile, classy restaurant, with an ideal ambience for the professional deals to be made.   In the direction opposite to that of Softy Corner, within a walk of just 300 meter, we would find Vinayak City Center, the most popular Mall of Allahabad. If you were in search of some really awesome place to eat at affordable prices, then you are at the right place. Now, if you want enjoy the luxury in the holy city, Kanha Shyam is the place, which would make you forget the Metros. Warm and friendly reception, very comfortable and cozy stay and excellent food are some of the characteristics of Kanha Shyam. Keep a note in mind though, the luxury at this four star restaurant may cost you a fortune. “Ab yarr UP aaye aur chat nahin khaye? Nahin banta boss” … whoever said this is very true for Allahabad. Phulkis, Aloo Tikkis and Bhelpuri are some of wide varieties of chat available at road side vendors which you just couldn’t afford to skip! These places make up some of the sweetest of my memories… I hope you enjoyed the journey… And hope we would meet back soon, to have a walk again!! Till then roam around the incredible India, with playcez.com! Have fun Friends!!

Big chill For those looking to beat the summer heat by cooling off with Delhi's best ice cream, go to this casual café that takes its name from the movie and its decor from Hollywood classics. The pizzas and pastas are really tasty, and Middle Eastern and Lebanese choices are usually a good bet. Almost all the desserts are great. The fact that it is almost always full is a testament to the quality of food they serve. The prices are a little hard on the pocket..other than that, it is great! Karim's The original being located opposite to the Jama Masjid is functional since 1913 and is famous for its finger licking non vegetarian delicacies. Now it has branches in Nizamuddin, Kailash Colony, Noida, Gurgaon and Kamla Nagar. Karim's claims that it was started by the descendants of cooks who fed the Mughal royalty. Non-vegetarians must visit Karim's at least once. Vegetarians are welcome at their own risk. You can try the badshahi badam pasanda curry, Karim’s renowned tandoori chicken and mutton burra kebabs. The Mutton Stew has a taste you would have never tasted before.

Looking for something different ? Head to ‘Khwaja Chowk’ and try out the really well cooked ‘Non-Veg’ or  ‘The Veg  platter.’The Non-Veg’  platter is my personal favorite ,  you are sure to feel dwarfed by the gigantic size of the ‘Tandoori Chicken’ they churn out. If I were to have any complains about the platter , its only the quantity. The entire restaurant has been renovated in the most aesthetic way. The paintings on the wall and the scrupulously clean floor appeals to the mind. Somebody has rightly said that the best way to understand a foreign land is to smell it. You could go to ‘Nakli Dhaba’ , it’s a theme restaurant resembling a roadside food joint. It’s the epicentre of the star ‘Mayfair Lagoon Resort’. The elegant furnishing and the food is sure to dazzle and rub you off. The ‘Lachcha  Paratha’ here is something you should try. Each layer is well cooked and they don’t fall apart as you rip through the different layers. If you want to sit outside with your snack and watch the world go by then ‘Café Coffee Day’ is the place for you. The coffee and the pastries are amazingly good and something that you cannot whip back at home. Bhubaneswar boasts of ten CCDs. You may call it a place of regular haunt.

It feels really exciting to introduce our new recommendation engine. It's a whole new concept in the world of local discovery, designed to help you find best places to eat, shop and hang out in your locality. The recommendation engine is live for four Indian cities as of now: Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Last 2 weeks have been pretty exciting for us. We have been covered by major technology blogs around Asia including Penn-Olson, YourStory and IITStories We are also working on some exciting products to be launched in coming weeks.

Bhubaneswar – the traditional temple city is slowly growing up as an IT hub of Eastern India. With a steep rise in the number of IT companies and engineering and management colleges settling down in the city, a lot of money is being invested in shopping malls and markets. The very unique Market Building in Unit-2 is a very popular shopping stop for people of all ages and economic backgrounds. Apart from having big garment chain shops like Baazar Kolkata, Vishal Mega Mart and Metro Bazaar, it also houses many large shops for special traditional Sarees and Salwar Suits. Along with these, a large number of retail shops and stalls provide a wide range of Ladies suits, kids wear, T-shirts. Also a large number of shops and juice points provide good snacks and beverages. On the whole, Market Building is a good shopping place for garments and other apparels. Next on the list is Forum Mart. Opened in 2004, this mall is one of the biggest and definitely most popular in the city. Housing the Pizza Hut, Planet M along with almost 50 national brands offering apparel, lifestyle and food products, it is extremely popular among the youth, specially college students who love to hang out here then and now. Pal Heights is also a very new mall in the city. A bit far from the heart of the city, this shopping experience near Jayadev Vihar, is pretty exciting and lavish. Housing a restaurant and a food court, it is pretty good for buying brands for clothes, books, lifestyle and food. Also in Patia, a suburb of Bhubaneswar, Maruti Mall is the house of Fututre Group’s Big Bazaar. Along with showroom of Samsung and many restaurants, this place is always buzzing with college students during evening and day time. Have you experienced the other city hotspots of Bhubaneswar on PlayCez?

Delicious food is very synonymous to Delhi. And considering the Punjabi influence due to its close geographical proximity, having a street solely for Punjabi Paranthas and Lassi is no wonder. Going to the Gali Paranthe Wali located in Chandni Chowk, very near to the mighty Red Fort can be an absolute taste-changing experience. Never and nowhere else will you find such authentic deep fried Paranthas with such a striking taste. Served with various chutneys, paneer and potato curry, curd, pickle these Paranthas are sure to tickle your taste-buds and give you the joy of a lifetime. This narrow street with shops on both sides is home to recipes coming directly from the roots of Punjab and with a taste that can blow your mind; the Paranthas here are simply unmatchable. With a few shops dating back to the late 1960s, this tradition of serving hot Paranthas with amazing grace and style is surely worth experiencing. Also, the jewels on the crown are the small Lassi stalls all along the street. With Paranthas of more than 15-20 different varieties and with immaculately prepared Lassi, this surely is a perfect Hotspot if you’re in a mood to please your belly and your wallet. So, if you are interested in eating the Best Paranthas in the World, and drinking large quantities of Lassi (due to sheer irresistibility) you know where to go. See more hotspots like Parathe Wali Gali in the amazing city of Delhi, on PlayCez.

Really, this museum is one of the best places to discover something historic and related to our glorious past.

And not to forget the open plaza, Sanskriti; which is the house of all kinds of fares and festivities, which gives a totally different taste to this place. Maybe words are not enough, but believe me, this place is worth visiting and one visit is what it takes to make you believe that this place is pure bliss... Come Playcez your views about Select City Walk, Saket today..!

The magic city Mumbai always has something new to offer and explore. This fact makes Mumbai really special. Our next hot spot is Mount Mary Church, Bandra and the best thing about it is, the church stands on a hillock, and oversees the beautiful sea side. It is also called The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount. The church is one of the most popular churches in the city. It is a hotbed of pilgrim activity all through the year. The shrine draws people from all faiths. The church is huge and beautifully decorated with flowers and photo frames over the walls. At the front is the huge statue of Our Lady with the altar where people light candles and pray to her. Beside the church there are few stalls having various worshiping items like rosaries, candles, neck chain, bracelets, rings, etc. The best time to visit is during the Bandra Fair which is the celebration of Mother Mary’s birthday on the first Sunday after 8th September and at that time this place truly comes alive. During this Fair, the entire area is decorated with festoons. This holy place is a must visit in Mumbai. Do give it a go when in Mumbai, and don't forget to cast your footprint on PlayCez

Though Mumbai is one of the busiest cities in the world, people never forget their creed and religion. They stick to it just like their daily work. This bustling city comprises of various people with different religions. Haji Ali is a shrine which heeds Muslims and helps them keep up with their faith. It is a mosque and tomb located on an islet near Worli in South Mumbai. This tomb is one of the most recognizable landmarks of the city. The place always brims with devotees and tourists from all over the globe. An exquisite example of Indo-Islamic architecture, , the dargah contains the tomb of Sayed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. It is usually believed that any wish sought here is fulfilled for sure. As per the Muslim traditions separate praying rooms for ladies and gents are available. There is a marble courtyard which contains the central shrine. The tomb within the mosque is covered by a red and green tomb cover sheet. It is supported by an exquisite silver frame, held by marble pillars. The accessibility to the dargah is very much dependent on the tides. Therefore, the dargah is accessible only during low tide. This walk on the causeway, with the sea on both sides, is one of the highlights of a trip to this amazing place. During the high tide, the dargah seems completely isolated with no access. On Thursdays and Fridays, the shrine is visited by many pilgrims and visitors. Sometimes, especially on Fridays, one may witness sufi music and Qawwali at the Dargah. This place is truly a must visit while you are in Mumbai!

The best thing about Christchurch is; with much of the city being flat and only a few metres above sea level, one can enjoy great city views from high buildings. Christchurch truly is the city that offers the world the best of New Zealand.

[This a post by Sanya Ralhan, a student of Manipal University, covering the sights and campus life of Manipal] Manipal, is a small rocky hinterland on the Western coastal strip of India. (Yes not in north east). It is a suburb within Udupi district and the nearest city would be Mangalore which is around and hour and a half on road. Basically this town was a barren land before it was transformed as a University Town by Dr. T M Pai. Honestly I have not known many(except my college mates , off course) , who know much about this place because indeed it’s an isolated area where out of the 10 people you see, probably 7 are students of the various institutions of Manipal University (more like the Harvard of India)=p. It was an initial August day when I first arrived here, and the first reaction was like what a place. For a person living in a metropolitan like Delhi for nothing but 17 years of their life , the change was going to be difficult. Plus the monsoon, killer rains. Its shining bright and suddenly it starts to pour HEAVY and while you think of settling underneath some shelter its gone, and there’s sun again. =D And the humid March heat, it can almost get to your nerves. Overall except a few bad months the climate is pleasant (especially at night) and for rain lovers it’s a delight. Manipal is a small town(doesn’t give me a tough time writing about it).=P As you enter Manipal , coming from Udupi you see a line of small almost shop sized showrooms of brands like Adidas, Benetton, Fast Track , Nike. (Yes this is the first and last time you will see branded stuff in Manipal). As you go up comes the road to Dominoes ,while there’s nothing really to tell you about Dominoes , there indeed is. In Manipal, we don’t have no Mc Donalds or Kfc or Pizza Hut so if its your birthday and you are kind enough to splurge this is the place to treat , henceforth its always full .=P Having said that food at Manipal is definitely NOT a disappointment. We may not have the best Chinese , Italian or north Indian food, but we can always surprise you and the best part is the fact that it is never a burden on your purse. Some of our very own eating places are China Valley, Basil, Tasty Bites, Snack shack(speciality: potato lovers), Planet Café , Café 7 bees(best known for it’s yummy burgers), Saiba . (it is never difficult to find these or infact any place in Manipal, because the auto walla’s just always know everything and anything you name). Coming back to the road, we go ahead to the heart of Manipal, Tiger Circle better known as TC is basically where 4 roads from different parts of the town meet, this place is never out of life.Be it awesome juice parlours, travel agents , Manipal’s biggest grocery (MANIPAL STORE) , you get it all. Move forward through the line of shops, local dhabas on one side and THE Kasturba Medical College and Hospital on the other side, till you reach the turn to Manipal Insititute of Technology (MIT), or move forward to reach End point . Yes this is the place where you can have an enriching, panoramic view of the Suarna river and lush green landscape overlooking the Arabian Sea. The trek to the river downhill is one of its kind as it adds the perfect element of adventure =D. So going to the other side of our campus, the lake side, Yes Manipal derives its name from this lake also called as Manupala Lake. In peak season it is a great place to go in the evening/early morning, sit by the side and enjoy the beauty of nature .Scenically this is the best place in Manipal. And nearby is the Venugopal temple where the both localites go for their prayers. (Yes this is the most IN place around the time of end sems=P). Being a coastal area, it would be unfair on my part to not talk about the beautiful beaches near Manipal. Malpe and Kaup are the two most nearby beaches. Unlike other commercial beaches of Mumbai and Goa, these beaches are not so adulterated in the sense of commercialisation. Malpe being very popular amongst the locals for fishing and port, St. Mary’s Island is a tourist destination having its own historical importance. While Kaupe is a more “dangerous “ beach and has a lighthouse perfectly located and a photographer’s delight. For those looking for some fun we have places like the railway bridge which is basically a bridge with a twist, Yes you can climb down below the bridge, while the train passes over it (: Now about the life of people at Manipal , despite being far away from being a major city we manage to have our share of fun . Yes there is no dearth of pubs, bars, discos and restaurants in Manipal. A place to mention here is Deetee( patronised by the students).After every exam or generally on Saturdays you will see this place crowded, with people getting high on the heavy music if nothing else :P. Besides you have Blue waters , edge , enigma, Cox and Mox and many more. This may not be the best place to live , but definitely an awesome place to visit . Having tried to describe all dimensions of this place, there are still many places near Manipal, worth visiting and knowing, but let’s keep that for the next time And below are some photos which will only help you believe me more (: [gallery link="file" orderby="title"]

Nandan Kanan National Park  is 400 hectare zoo and botanical garden in Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Also know as the "Garden of Pleasure" , it is famous for India's largest Tiger safari.  The park is situated 20km away from the capital city Bhubaneswar  as a part of the Chandaka forests , which is a complete escape destination from the hustle- bustle of the city. Interestingly, the idea of the park was given by National Geographic magazine. National Geographic pointed out that there should be constructed a sophisticated zoo for tigers and Nandan Kanan came into existence.  As of now the park is home to 34 white tigers. The main attractions here are:  the Reptile Park, the White Tiger breeding , the Gharial breeding and the wildlife sanctuary. Several endangered species like the three Indian crocodilians, mouse deer and the majestic Asiatic lions to name a few can be successfully found breeding here. Nandan Kanan is bird watcher's paradise with over 50 species of birds to look out for. Don't miss out on catching the sight of Peafowl and White necked stork. The new facilities available in the zoo include boating services and a toy train for children.  Safari tours are a must if you visit the park as it gives a splendid view of the rare majestic Asiatic Lions and the White Tigers roaming freely in their natural habitat. The best time to visit the park is in March. It is a must visit place for all visitors to Orissa as well as the locals, with its zoo,the beautiful botanical gardens, its amusement facilities and the nature trails. How To Get There Air: The nearest airport is situated at Bhubaneswar. Rail: Bhubaneswar is the nearest railhead. Road : Bhubaneswar is 25-kms from the zoo, on the way to Cuttack. The best option by road would be to go by the city bus no. 207 fleeting between Airport and Nandan Kanan which has a halt at the railway station  too. Image courtesy : Flickr

Mumbai, ‘the city of dreams and hopes‘, has never witnessed nights as it’s said ‘people out here work hard to party hard’. Once upon a time this city was named as ‘Boon Bay’ and it serves true as it has several places which are boon to these hard working people. One of them is the scintillating ‘Marine Drive’. Also known as ‘Queen’s Necklace’ because if viewed at night from an elevated point, the street lights resemble a string of pearls looking like a necklace. It is a 3km boulevard in South Mumbai.This road connects Nariman Point to Babulnath and Malabar Hill. At the Northern end of Marine Drive is Chowpatty Beach popular for Bhel Puri and some other local dishes like Pani Puri, Vada Pao etc. which are really delicious. The art deco buildings out here were built by rich Parsi businessmen, where a lot of celebrities and film stars live, making it one of India's premier residential communities. So to check out their idol's heavenly abodes, people throng this area. Along the way, few prominent hotels are present on the drive like The Oberoi, The Intercontinental and The Hotel Marine Plaza. So the road sizzles with huge and brand new cars. Further down this road lies the famous Walkeshwar which is home to Governor of Maharashtra. Therefore, it forms an important business arena also. Overall the place is pretty versatile, so people irrespective of any differences relish the weather and luxuries around. This place is very refreshing as it is ever-alive in every season. Especially during monsoon, it is the best place one can ever have to enjoy those falling drops. Life never stops nor time but a recess is mandatory in this busy human life. And Marine Drive is one of the best examples of recess and recreation for Mumbaikars.