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Which Frequent Flyer Should One Choose For Domestic Travel In India

Traveling regularly by air can get expensive, but who doesn’t love how much faster they arrive at their destinations by doing so? That’s why all the smart flyers sign up for Frequent Flyer Program to keep the comfort of flight journeying while lowering the financial implications.

Signing up for a Frequent Flyer Program with an airline of your choice is a giant step in the right direction to spending a lot less on traveling by air and ensuring a much better flight & airline experience.

What is a Frequent Flyer Program?

A Frequent Flyer program (FFP) is a promotional loyalty and reward scheme orchestrated by airlines to win the loyalty of clients by encouraging them to accumulate frequent flier miles, often referred to as airline miles or travel points. This can later be redeemed for free flights, ticket upgrades, priority check-ins, lounge access and so many other rewards. These rewards apply to both domestic and international flights.

Registration for FFP’s are very easy and often doesn’t require you to go beyond creating an online account on the website of the airline. In the very early days of frequent flyer programs, airlines gave free miles to customers for the miles they flew. The miles given were roughly the same as the miles customers flew. In recent times, while the miles traveled don’t earn you as much as it used to, travel miles can now be earned in a lot more ways than just flying. Things like booking a ticket on the airline’s website, subscribing to magazines, partner cards and so much more can earn you miles.

Frequent flier miles accumulated by clients also earn them elite membership and ranks within the program. Every airline has its stipulated amount of miles to be accumulated before you can be invited to a higher rank. The higher ranks in any FFP are associated with some juicy perks like bonus miles apart from the miles earned, priority check-in and boarding, occasional free ticket upgrade, priority baggage handling and more.

Choosing a Frequent Flyer in India

Several airlines in India operate Frequent Flyer Program. However, this article is not considering low-cost airlines like Spice Jet, IndiGo, Air Asia and Go Air.

This leaves us with the three main Frequent Flyer Programs in India:

1. Flying Returns by Air India
2. Jet Privilege by Jet Airways
3. Club Vistara by Vistara

Flying Returns by Air India

Flying Returns boasts of being India’s first and oldest frequent flyer program, and one of the most rewarding FFP’s in the region.

Air India flies the most extensive domestic routes in India, but its main advantage, one that goes with choosing Flying Returns, is that the airline is part of Star Alliance – the largest airline alliance in the world. Thus, you can also redeem your miles on other Star Alliance airlines, this means, an elite ranking in Flying Returns guarantees superb flight experiences with other Star Alliance airlines. Sadly, Air India is not a favorite among clients.

Flying Returns has premium membership with some very amazing perks. The program has three tiers, the Maharaja Club – as the elite tier, The Golden Edge Club and the Silver Edge Club. While premium members have physical membership cards, base and new members of the program are issued a virtual card, which can be viewed and downloaded from their Flying Returns online account.

Jet Privilege by Jet Airways

Jet privilege is an internationally acclaimed award-winning loyalty and rewards program operated by Jet Airways.

Rewards are reasonably easier to redeem in this program and the airline is probably the best-operated airline in India, consistently delivering outstanding in-flight service. It would be the best program if choosing domestic travel. It also has a lot of code sharing partners internationally, so you can keep earning miles when flying internationally.

The Jet Privilege loyalty rewards & recognition program is a global 5 tier program. The rewarding journey begins as a Jet Privilege Blue member and progresses through Blue Plus, Silver, Gold and to the peak Jet Privilege Platinum member.

Club Vistara by Vistara

Vistara is relatively new airline with a very gorgeous website. Club Vistara claims to be the fastest rewarding Frequent Flyer Program in all of India and “tailored for the trendsetters and the high boardroom fliers” as stated in its official website.

Choosing Club Vistara would mean faster elite tier qualification, but they fly limited destinations in India and are currently code sharing with just Singapore Airlines & SilkAir.

Club Vistara operates a four tier Frequent flyer program which are – CV Base, CV Silver, CV Gold and CV Platinum. Signing up for Club Vistara will get you started at the first and lowest tier of the program – CV Base, but continuous earning of airline miles will see you grow through CV Silver, CV Gold and eventually to CV Platinum – the highest and most exclusive tier of the program. As expected, higher up the tier a client gets, the greater the entitlements.

Conclusion

Despite the promise of fast growing airline miles, I would not choose Club Vistara because of its limited flight routes.

Air India or the other Star Alliance airlines on the other hand has never been my favorite airline, so I would also not be choosing Flying Returns.

I’ll choose Jet Privilege over any other FFP in India. The services provided by Jet Airways best suits my needs and code sharing with Etihad, I will be connected to any part of the world. This means my Jet privilege miles can get me free flights, lounge access and other rewards whether flying domestic in India or internationally.

PESHWA HERITAGE IN PUNE – A WALK THROUGH WADAS, TEMPLES AND MARKETS

Once upon a time, I lived in Narayan Peth in Pune. Last year I walked the roads around it as part of Pune Heritage Walk or rather a discovery of Pune of the Peshwa era. The place has obviously changed in all these years but there was an element that remained unchanged. The very Marathi character of the place is still intact – thankfully. Come with me to see some of the things you should not miss when going to the heart of Pune – especially the Peshwa Heritage scattered all around.

This walk begins at Shaniwar Wada – the medieval palace of the Peshwas who ruled from here.

Shaniwar Wada – the Peshwa Home

Shaniwar Wada stands next to Kasba Peth – the oldest part of Pune. It is a palace that looks like a fort, surrounded by the city. It has recently been made famous by the film Bajirao Mastani – that was based at Shaniwar Wada. Well, if you have seen the film and you come looking for the grandeur shown there, you are in for a huge disappointment. Shaniwar Wada is a rather simpler place. Add to this the fact that not much remains inside the façade and the boundary walls that look formidable.

Remains and lawns of Shaniwar Wada – Pune

We enter through a tall wooden door flanked by two bastions on either side. A small board on top confirms that you are entering Shaniwar Wada. As you buy tickets, stretch your neck and look upwards on the walls around you. You would see faint paintings of Ganesha – who was the pattern deity of Peshwa dynasty.

History of Shaniwar Wada

Shaniwar Wada – Main Gate

Shaniwar Wada was first built as a residence of Peshwas in the 1730s. It was but a mansion for the ruling family. The gates, bastions, and gardens were later added over time. A lot of wood was used for these palaces. There was a fire in 1828 and everything was gutted. What remains is the bare foundations of the rooms and skeletons of the fountains.

There is an ASI board that gives the description of the palaces, halls, and gardens as they would have been during the hay days of Shaniwar Wada. It talks about the wall murals that told the stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata, of the artists who came from around the world to do work here. It tells us about a seven storeyed structure that must have been the most magnificent part of Shaniwar Wada.

Walk around the lawns and you would see a few old trees, a lovely fountain called Hajari Karanje and lot of foundations. It is said that Hajari Karanje once was a fountain with thousand sprays. On the edges next to the wall, some structures have survived. There are 5 gates that are more or less intact – 2 each on east and north and one in the south. The main door is called Dilli Darwaja – I assume it is because it faced Delhi or towards the North.

Another board shows the Peshwa family tree.

Mastani Darwaja

Peshwa Family Tree

Mastani Darwaja is interesting as it is a small door at one end of the wall. The story goes that when Mastani was brought here by Peshwa BajiRao, she was not allowed in from the main gate so he got this door specially made for her. It is sometimes also known by her grandson’s name – Ali Bahadur. This door as per records used to be called Natakshala gate.

Ganapati Rang Mahal here has seen many political battles being fought within its walls.

Nagarkhana

Ganesh mural at the entrance of Shaniwar Wada

Best preserved part of Shaniwar Wada is the first story on top of the main gate called NagarKhana. It has a lovely wooden pillared hall that overlooks the Shaniwar Wada on one side and outside to the city on another side. It is here that you can see the marker of Peshwa architecture – the pillars with banana flower carved on them. I saw them here and then across all the old monuments of Pune that I visited.

Did you know Shaniwar Wada is so called? Well, there used to be a Saturday markets just outside the big gate of the palace and that is what gave this area the name – Shaniwar Wada.

Heritage Map of Pune – near Shaniwar Wada

In fact, Pune has Wadas named after other days of the week too like Budhwar Peth, Shukrawar Peth.

What you need to notice is that Peshwas never called it a palace or a fort, they called it a Wada – which is a word used for a home. Though, at its peak, about 1000 people lived in this premises.

Kasba Ganapati

Kasba Ganapati Temple – Kasba Peth Pune

The Kasba Ganapati is gram devta or the village deity of Pune. I know it is no longer a village but still, Kasba Ganapati remains at the heart of Pune that was then known as Punawadi.

Legend is that way back in 1630, Maharani Jijabai lived with her young son Shivaji in Pune. She found an idol of Ganesha and taking it as an auspicious sign, she got the temple built for it. Since then Kasba Peth Ganapati is the presiding deity of Pune. It is said that Shaniwar Wada that is located quite close to this temple used to have great celebrations on Ganesh Chaturthi.

It is a small temple, still reflecting the village it was supposed to take care of. No photography is allowed inside the temple but you can see images at the temple website.

On the way to Kasba Peth temple notice the parapets of the old houses with their Victorian imagery.

Nana Wada

Banana flower endings at Nana Wada

Situated very close to Shaniwar Wada – Nana Wada was the home of Nana Fadnavis – the administrator of the Peshwas. Built in 1780, this structure in wood is also an example of Peshwa architecture. Its wooden pillars are in cypress shape and each has a banana flower adorning it.

The first floor of Nana Wada has a Diwan Khana. When I visited it in August 2016, massive restoration was going on. I had to jump around to take some pictures.

Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple

Offerings for the Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple

Narrow lane leading to the main door of Tambdi Jogeshwari temple greets you with the colorful blouse pieces that are offered to the deity – Shri Jogeshwari. Tambri refers to the red color of the main idol that is supposed to be Swayambhu – the one that appears on its own.

Tambdi Jogeshwari is the oldest temple of Pune and the deity is the presiding gram devi of Pune. The temple has small carvings in stone. I saw a lot of women praying to her.

Records of Peshwa rulers tell us that they used to seek the blessings of the Goddess before their military campaigns.

Read more on Temple Website

Dagdusheth Ganapati Temple

Dagdusheth Ganapati Temple Shikhara – Pune

The Dagdusheth temple was built by a Halwai named Dagdusheth in the 1800s. He lost his son and his Guru advised him to construct a Ganesh temple. Bal Gangadhar Tilak got the idea of celebrating Ganeshotsav from this temple that would play an important role in India’s freedom movement.

Today, this is one of the most revered temples of Maharashtra. During the Ganesh Utsav, it is visited by who’s who of the city and state. On a normal day, you can stop in front of the temple and see the proceedings. Only a glass wall separates you and the Ganesha. You would typically see many mobile phones pointing towards the deity.

To admire its Shikhara, you have to stand at a distance and she the bell-shaped superstructure with a lot of lattice work done on it. From across the road you can see two jharokhas on the walls of the temple. The ground story has marble work done on walls. However, the dominating figure is that of Ganesha himself – who stands tall and healthy with all his charm.

Shops outside this temple sell flower garlands, fruits arranged in small plates and all other Pooja material.

Mahatma Phule Mandai

Mahatma Phule Mandai – the vegetable market at Pune

This is the centralized vegetable market that was built by the British in 1885, as is evident from its neo-gothic architecture. So, all the vegetable markets that existed outside various Wadas shifted here. It has an interesting octagonal structure with a central tower.

What I found interesting in Mahatma Phule Mandai is that each of the 8 arms of the Mandai serves a particular sub-section of the market. I roamed around in the coconut market, where there are coconut sellers everywhere.

Technically, Mahatma Phule Mandai is located in Shukrawar Peth.

Vishrambaug Wada

Vishram Baug Wada – Pune

My walk came to end at the lovely Vishrambaug Wada – a lovely mansion in wood with courtyards that now tell the story of the city of Pune.

Peth Map of Pune

Vishram Baug Wada was the residence of Peshwa Bajirao II built in early 19th CE. The loveliest part of it is – its wooden façade with finely carved brackets and a hanging balcony overlooking an extremely busy road.

Brackets of Vishrambaug Wada – Pune

There is an exhibition on the city of Pune that says – Punawadi to Punyanagari. The exhibition traces the history of Pune city through the development of its various Peths, through its water management system and through its people.

Peth history of Pune

The rear part of the building is not open to the public. Parts of it are occupied by some organizations including a post office. However, I did manage to see the rear courtyard and it definitely looks majestic. A bit of restoration and this can be a heritage jewel of Pune.

Tulasi Baug Ram Mandir

Tulasi Baug Ram Mandir – Pune

You cannot miss the tall spire of the Ram Mandir that is almost like an inverted cone with a lot of stucco work on it. It almost seems to be cropping out of a bustling market. Yes, the temple is surrounding by Tulasi Baug market. It is a market that sells everyday things – mostly comprising of smalls shops.

The temple has a wooden base to the which the tall shikhara was added at a later date. The wood carvings are worth seeing as are some of the paintings that depict the scenes from Ramayana. No photography is allowed inside the temple.

The temple shikhara reminded me of the similar temples that I saw in Ayodhya and Orchha. Most of them also dedicated to Lord Ram.

Read More:

Ayodhya – the city of Ram & Ramayana
Orccha – the Hidden Gem of India

Shivalinga on the banks of Mula River – Pune

My walk ended at this unnamed shrine on the banks of Mula River that has a Shivalinga with verses of Gita written on the marble slab.

I did this walk with Jayesh Paranjape of The Western Routes. They conduct many such walks across Pune.

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5 Reasons to Visit Jaipur

Jaipur can disappoint at first glance. The obligatory first stop on tours of North India's so-called Golden Triangle — and the entry point to Rajasthan's legendary desert — is swathed in dust and modernization's haphazard sprawl. It's easy to lose sight of an Old City created by farsighted 18th century maharajas as the country's first urban grid. And the facades of this so-called Pink City (it was painted as such for a British royal visit) are less reminiscent of cupcake frosting than of baked salmon.

Yet even the laziest of explorers will soon discover enough curiosities to last a lifetime, let alone three days, two nights. One brand-new attraction is well worth the trip all on its own. Lovingly restored over six years by a local investment group, after two centuries in ruins, the Jal Mahal (Water Palace) is now open for boat trips to its romantic gardens. These are set atop a vision in marble amid a revived lake studded with islets for migratory birds. Master craftsmen, with skills passed down since the time of the first maharajas, were given free rein to paint, carve and gild the palace's viewing walkways — hopefully a harbinger of future preservation projects harkening back to Jaipur's enlightened origins. Here are five other Jaipur essentials.

1. The Forts
Even the Jal Mahal's perfect love pavilion is only a pit stop on the way to the Amber Fort, a massive set of fortifications best reached by elephant ride. Not enough thrilling battlements for you? Nearby Nahagarh and Jaigarh Forts are mini — Great Walls in waiting. See rajasthan-tourism.org.

2. Palace Architecture
In Jaipur, gilded former palaces and the floral-painted mansions known as havelis are not to gawk at — but to check into. The Rambagh Palace hotel, tajhotels.com, will make you feel like a raja for a day at a price, as will the newly restored Samode Palace (pictured above right) outside town, samode.com. Charming heritage hotels like Shahpura House, shahpurahouse.com, and the Kandwa Haveli, khandwahaveli.com, abound at more affordable prices. If that's not enough, the City Palace museum, msmsmuseum.com, boasts plenty of atmosphere.

3. Local Crafts
Jaipur has long been a center for gem cutting and the Old City's Johari (meaning jewel) Bazaar is a place to compare glittering rocks right on the street. For those who don't want to risk such purchases, the industrial suburb of Sanganer and the store of the leading local Anokhi clothes company as well as its Museum of Hand Printing are the best spots to obtain a safer and equally dazzling specialty: fabrics hand-stamped in a wonderful array of wood-carved patterns. See anokhi.com.

4 Festival Calendar
Each summer, Jaipur explodes with red-capped turbans, painted elephants, tattooed brides and twirling mustaches in its celebration of Teej, a festival dedicated to the Hindu deity Parvati and her union with Shiva. Of more international flavor, winter's DSC Jaipur Literature Festival has grown into Asia's most prestigious celebration of local and international writing, with gatherings held over five nights beneath rainbow-streamed tents. Look out too for the growing Jaipur International Film Festival held in January.

5. Heritage
Start your explorations of the Old City with a walking tour arranged through the Jaipur Virasat heritage foundation, jaipurvirasatfoundation.org, which offers special access to temples and craftsmen's workshops. Don't miss the Palace of the Winds, Jaipur's multiwindowed ex-harem turned civic emblem. Or, skirting cows and camels and their droppings, you can get lost in bejeweled bangle bazaars or back alleys still organized by occupation in open-air guilds of brass workers, marble masons and plenty of confectioners. Few other spots provide such a concentrated blast of India in the pink.

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THE WORLD THROUGH ITS BURGERS

For many travellers, a visit to the Hard Rock Cafe in any new city is a thing to definitely tick off their list. Have a drink, feel the vibe and buy a T shirt: that’s me. Despite the fact that HRC runs as a family-friendly cafe / restaurant in many places, I have never paid much attention to the food there.

Till recently, when I was invited for a burger tasting event at my friendly neighbourhood Hard Rock Cafe. The occasion was a preview of their World Burger Tour (from June 1 – July 31), which, as you have guessed right, is an offering of the most delectable tastes from all over the world, enfolded in a bun.

The late afternoon session started with a dazzling array of special cocktails (a bad idea for me, given that I had eaten nothing since breakfast and it was already past 3 pm then).And oh, every one of them had a surprise twist – they were all topped with beer, in keeping with the mood of the festival.

We started with an El Matador (luckily, the serving sizes were small shot glasses), with fresh strawberry, basil leaves, Bacardi rum and fresh lime juice topped with beer. And in rapid succession, we went through others with whiskey, rum, gin, liqueur and much more. At the end of this tasting session, it was all I could do to wait for the burgers.

And then they arrived at the table – and what an array! Chef Niranjan came to our table to talk about each of these burgers and the inspiration behind them.

The burger options did live up to its promise of world food – with tastes ranging from Mediterranean to Mexican, Lebanese, Italian and even Indian. And to my pleasant surprise, four of the eight burger options were vegetarian, a nod to the eating culture of this country. The chef also explained how each of the burgers had been designed keeping in mind local tastes and expectations.

I did try a bite (or more) of the vegetarian burgers – and my favourite was the Mexican Quesedilla Veg Burger – with the flavours of polenta, sweet corns, beans and vegetables, avocado and nacho straws, all flavoured with a tangy enchilada salsa. You tell me, what is not to like?!

At the end of this burger marathon, there was one more waiting for us – the Burgerthon organised by the HRC guys. And as the sole woman in the group, I was batting (eating) for all womankind as I competed with guys who clearly knew their burgers and beer. To my credit, I finished half the burger and got rewarded with a huge Jagerbomb for my efforts!

The World Burger Tour is on at all Hard Rock Cafes in India till July 31st – go bite into that juicy burger now and come back to tell me about it here!