How To Apply For Passport Online
The very thought of applying for a passport in India puts us off. Many are confused how to fill the form and which documents are needed. If you are one of these people, relax. To avoid such troubles, many people get the help of travel agents because no one wants to waste hours running from pillar to post to get things done.
You can now apply for a passport online. However, it is not an easy process. You’ll still have to go to the passport office. But a travel agent can help you by giving you the right guidance. They can arrange all types of domestic and international travel, and even provide assistance with passport and visa applications.
To apply for passport online, you have to go to the Passport Seva website. You will see an orange coloured box “New User? Register Now”. Click this box. You will now see a user registration form. Fill it up to create an account. While filling, be careful as you should not make any mistakes. Select the passport office of the city you’re living in now, not your native place. For instance, if you are currently living in Coimbatore select passport services in Coimbatore. Applying for passport online is not that hard a task. It is just like filling any other application form.
After filling in all the details, click Register. Your account has been created. Now you can go back to the Passport Seva website and login. You can just enter your email address and continue.
You will see many options like “Fresh passport or Re-issue”, “Tatkal passport” etc. Make your choice and then go to the next page.
Here you will be asked to fill your personal information. To fill the application form, you can either download the PDF form to fill it offline or you can use the form online and fill it instantly. It is better to use the PDF form. However, there is no harm in filling it online directly.
Click on the link — Click here to download the Soft Copy of the Form -to download the application form. Your form will be downloaded in a Zip folder. Unzip this folder to find the Passport Application Form in PDF format. You can open this file by double clicking.
After filling in all the details, read the Self Declaration and click on I Agree. Then mention the name of the place and date. Finally click on Validate and Save.
After submitting your passport online application, check for available slots and then make the payment. After payment, don’t forget to take a printout of the receipt of the application. You need to take it along with you on the appointment day. Also, check for the bar code on the application. Ensure that is clearly printed and whether the information regarding the payment confirmation is on it or not.
If all this is too confusing for you, get the help of a travel agent. They will clear your queries and will help you get the documents processed without any delay.
If you have already applied for a passport online, the next step is to go to the Passport Seva Kendra at the time mentioned in the receipt. Before that, make a passport checklist, so that you won’t forget any documents that you may need to submit while visiting the Passport Seva Kendra. If you have all the documents required, your job at the office will be over within two hours. And your passport will be send to the address given to you within a few weeks after police verification is complete.
5 Coolest towns in the Philippines
Tropical climate with sunny days and cool evenings with a constant flow of sea breeze, Philippines is a beautiful destination to live in Asia. Although ever inch of Philippines is full of culture and beauty, here are the top 5 cities we think are the coolest towns in this island country.
1. Tagaytay: Just over an hour away from Manila, Tagaytay is one of the best places to live in Philippines. Tagaytay hosts everything that the metro city of Manila has to offer, such as good transport system, shopping places and grocery stores and good restaurants without same level of traffic and congestion. Since it at a slightly higher elevation, Tagaytay has cooler and a more pleasant climate with cool flowing breeze along with its close proximity to beautiful beaches. The town also hosts an excellent view of the world’s smallest active volcano, the Taal volcano.
2. Baguio: Baguio is located at an elevation which keeps this town at comparatively lower temperatures than rest of the Philippines all year round. Located at the base of the Cordillera Mountains the town enjoys a very pleasant climate. This town is one of the fastest growing educational and economical hubs in Philippines and boasts several resorts, shopping malls, cinema houses, theatres, restaurants and picnic spots along with miniature golf courses, clubs, holiday cabins and nature trails making Baguio one of the coolest towns in Philippines.
3. Sagada: One of the most beautiful towns to live in Philippines is Sagada. Being at an altitude of approximately 5000 ft above sea level, Sagada boasts cool temperatures to an extent that the waters are teeth shattering cold and the weather become winter like after sun down. The town is famous for the variety of fruits that is grown there including lemons, good transport systems,delicious local cuisine and shopping centres.
4. Canlaon City: This beautiful place in the Philippines hosts numerous waterfalls, hot springs and lush green landscapes which makes Canlaon city one of the coolest places in Philippines. It is also fondly called as the summer capital and has beautiful agricultural estates, old trees, vintage houses and exotic wildlife which make it all the more beautiful.
5. Subic Bay: This place in the Philippines can be described as a quiet, calm and an extremely safe town. It has an excellent transport system and has a lower cost of living than other larger towns. Beautiful houses, excellent medical and transport facilities, grocery stores and shopping centres make Subic Bay a cool place to live.
Best places to explore in East Asia
Travelling around the world not only relaxes but also opens up new realms of thought and bounties of experiences to cherish for the rest of the lifetime. One life may be too short to explore all places in the world. While most of us love to travel and visit places it also gives tremendous avenues to understand culture, people, places, faith and food to know life like never before.
Mount Fuji, Tokyo
Lush green rice paddies on one side and the rapid economic development on the other reveals the power of Japan to enthrall everyone. The towers and other architectural magnificence in Tokyo to the serenity of the sacred beauties of Mount Fuji give any traveler a perfect blend of fascination. Setting out on planned excursions in the gardens of Kyoto and embarking on an adventure travel in the Shinkasen bullet train you are free to explore the places around at your own pace. Mount Fuji stands admirably tall at 3776 meters. Cruising on Lake Ashi to ride the Komagatake Ropeway is a popular sightseeing trip. Take some breathtaking views of the Hakone National Park to know more about this interesting place. You can also take an aerial tram to have a astounding view of the Izu peninsula and the Izu islands.
Shanghai, China
China boasts of a splendidly diverse geographical, ethnic and social Nation that is progressively advancing at a rate that is matchless in the history of world civilization. With cutting edge architecture getting added almost every day in the modern cities that are all efficiently interlinked with high speed rail networks; it would be a traveler’s fancy to visit this twenty first century dreamland. Apart from seeing the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta army, the Yellow river; China has it all to keep the tourist entertained to the hilt.
One of the best places for an avid travller’s would be Shanghai the leading business city of China. From watching the high rise skyline, the snaky subways, the prestigious art centers and the gleaming malls and luxurious hotels; Shanghai is indeed a destination worth to splurge on material pleasures. Some of the contemporary attractions in this place are the Shanghai Museum, the Huangpu river and the gardens of Yu Yuan.
Macau, Hongkong
One of the oldest European settlements Macau is one place which you would love to relax as you sail across the sea. You can easily explore the UNESCO World Heritage listed ruins of St Paul and A-Ma temple. Start your Macau trip with the scenic Guia circuit which hosts the annual Macau Grand Prix. Visit the Kun-Lam temple and watch the enchanting bronze statue of the Goddess of Mercy. Then proceed to see the Macau Tower standing at an astonishing height of 1108 feet. If History fascinates you then do not miss to remnants of the historical church, the stone carvings and sculptures.
Taiwan
Taiwan is relatively less trotted destination by western travellers. The island has become an ecstatic mix of Chinese, western and Japanese influences. Taiwan offers some sensational food and exuberant temples that is sure to give you the perfect treat. It has some great National parks, hot springs and towering mountains to usher both adventure and excitement. The Taiwan Strait separates Taiwan from the People’s Republic of China. From Enjoying the golden sand beaches to doing some snorkeling and other water sport activities that are meant to pamper you in fun. Penghu and Kinmen islands are truly photogenic with enormous geographical significance.
Places to Visit in Dambulla
Sri lanka the land with strong Mythological and political connections reminds us of a country that has almost everything to its credit for a nature lover and adventure to cherish for in the travel diary. It is an island in the Indian ocean situated in the south east tip of the Indian peninsula. The country therefore enjoys a warm, tropical and warm climate. From being a host to ravishing beaches, high mountains and tropical forests this land definitely looks as though God simply loved art while creating this country.
Let us travel through Dambulla to get a feel of this beautiful cultural hub of the island Nation. Dambulla in Sri Lanka is located in Matale district about 148 km north of Colombo.
Dambulla Caves
The cave temple in Dambulla is the highlight of this place. Dambulla sports the huge rock which sizes more than 160 meters above the land area. The walls of the cave reflects the rich Sinhalese culture and Buddha life history. It is a sight worth watching to see the Buddha statue and the plastic monks at the base of the Cave temple. Some captivating places in Dambulla for travellers are the Iron wood forest and Rose Quartz Mountain. The mountains are believed to be more than 500 million years old. Therefore it is rich in quartz mineral deposits. The quartz stone comes of magnificent colours of red, white and violet. The temple complex alone has 80 caves. The largest cave measures 23 meters in the entrance and stands 7 meters tall at the highest point. The Buddha statue is the main source of attraction here. The second cave is the most impressive as it houses almost 150 statues reflecting the Mahayana tradition on Buddhism.
Golden Cave temple
The main attraction here is the high seated golden Buddha statue that looks huge to fill up the environment with serenity and astonishment.
Iron wood forest
This forest was supposedly created in the 10th century. The Iron Wood forest is a perfect fascination for adventurers as they can get lot of fascinating trek through the thick forests. The forest has rich ecological significance.
Sigiriya
Sigiriya is close to Dambulla and is paradise for walkers. People can take a pleasant stroll through the rock gardens. As you trek through, you can see the mirrored walls that are not mirrors but polished plaster that reflects light. Then comes the enchanting Lion staircase which has lion claws carved at its foot. Sigiriya and Dambulla re nominated as the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The topography of this place is completely flat with a huge rock near the fortress. The special feature of this rock is that it has a flat top and reminds us of an ancient connection in which it was used as King Kashyapa‘s fortess. The ruins that are found today take us back to history.
You can also enjoy an elephant ride during the Dambulla trip. This is something people of all ages love to do.
A Camel Ride in Jaisalmer
Welcome to the famous Thar Desert where exotism meets the golden sand. The shining golden crests and troughs provide a sparkling glow to this golden city of Jaisalmer which is located 575 kilometers away from the pink city capital of Jaipur. It is apt to call Rajasthan as the Land of the Kings which is the reason it is referred Royal Rajasthan. The state is a perfect amalgamation of ancient architecture in the form of majestic forts and loads of modern attractions. Jaisalmer is the slice of this royal heritage that is host to the world famous Jaisalmer Fort which is renowned for its incredible yellow stone architecture.
In Jaisalmer you are sure to get even more addicted to the golden colour that is so much an integral part of this beautiful city. Let us know more about the Camel Safari which is one of the main highlights of Jaisalmer tourism.
While sitting on an elephant can fill in pride; sitting on a camel depicts an exercise of character. This is because it is not just about sitting on the animal it is about finding the correct balance to enjoy the true essence of this desert magic. It is great to see the long legs of the camel pulling through the sands as to make the person seated on it feel the dance of its body. And as we embark on the animal the hot desert wind wraps around our face as the ride sets out slowly on the sandy path leading to the horizon. During the safari it is charming to see the drifting sand dunes, the far stretched Havelis, explore isolated places that are all tucked in to the desert. Just seated on the saddle and the animal being guided by a person you are sure to love the bumpy ride and the desert tranquility. The sweeping stretches and the breathtaking crimson horizon during sunset can leave you in an ambience which probably no materialistic luxury could ever provide.
There are short day long Safaris too. These Safaris give you a glimpse of the desert on the whole. Most of the camels Safaris start from the Fort town of Jaisalmer. The camel cart joins the entourage backed up with food, utensils and other essential supplies so that the entertainment of the tourists is not compromised on any end. Long camel safaris spread for a few days and during the trip camps are set at night near the vicinity of villages. The camel safaris open up limitless excitement and thrill that are unlikely to feel if you decide on an SUV trip to this place. It is one of the enchanting experiences to sit on the camel back and ride through by watching the traditional lifestyle of the villagers revealing the rustic desert life which most of us might have only read in books. This is a chance to actually see them all right in front of our eyes. For diehard adventure enthusiasts there are longer duration of safaris that come in options of 14 days, 21 days and 30 days. The entire travel itineraries are all exclusively tailor made according to the customer preferences. The best time to visit Jaislamer is during the cooler months starting from September to March to avoid the grueling desert heat
Top Caves to Visit in India
The ancient caves of India stand as a representation of the wonders of the past ages. Our country is home to some of the most prominent sculptures carved out of solid rocks. The caves of India are one of the best examples of rock cut architecture that depict the heart of diverse religions that have been in existence in the country.

Ajanta and Ellora Caves
