Taj Bengal, Calcutta offers a monsoon package for weekends only valid till September 30.

The package is priced at Rs 12,000 per couple for two nights and three days for a double room.

The package includes accommodation in a standard air conditioned double room, a welcome drink on arrival, buffet breakfast, free use of the fitness centre.

Located in Alipore, the hotel is four kms from the city centre, 26 kms from the airport and 10 kms from the railway station.

Its facilities: a restaurant, a bar, a swimming pool, a health club, a beauty parlour, a business centre, conference facilities, a shopping arcade, travel desk service and foreign exchange counter.

Taj Bengal, 34 B, Belvedere road, Alipore. Phone: 033-2233939. Fax: 033-2231766.
New Delhi: 011-3322333, 3322256.
Bombay: 022-2023366, 2022626.
Madras: 044-8222827.
Bangalore: 080-2255055.
Ahmedabad: 079-6560304.
Jaipur: 0141-223636.

Its facilities: a restaurant, a bar, a swimming pool, a health club, a foreign exchange desk, a travel desk, conference facilities and indoor and outdoor games.

The Ffort Radisson, Raichak, PS Diamond Harbour, 24 Parganas South. Phone: 03174-75444, 75445. Fax: 75455.
Calcutta: 033-2800043, 2800044. Fax : 033-2800046.

Asia's largest brackish water lake, Chilika, is located about 100 kms from Bhubaneswar. Spread over an area of 1,100 sq kms it was declared a sanctuary in 1987. Dotted with a number of islands, the area is home to hundreds of migratory birds during November to March. The surrounding hills and sandy stretches abound in cheetals, blackbucks, monkeys, fishing cats, mongoose, and porcupines. Along with the Nalbana Island, with its large variety of flora and fauna and the Kalijai Island, home to the Goddess Kalijai where the annual Makar Sankranti fair is held, the Parikud, Narayani, Banpur and Nirmala Jhar are also beautiful places to visit.

The closest airport is Bhubaneshwar with regular air connections from Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, Hyderabad and Bombay. The Calcutta-Madras rail route touches Chilika Lake at Balugaon, Chilika and Rambha. Regular trains connect Bombay, New Delhi, Calcutta and Madras to Bhubaneshwar.

The Howrah-Madras Coromandel Express and the Howrah-Madras Mail connects Calcutta/Madras to Bhubaneshwar. The one way second AC fare to Bhubaneshwar will be about Rs 713 per person from Calcutta and Rs 1,440 from Madras.
The New Delhi Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani Express and the Bhubaneshwar Nizamuddin Express connect New Delhi to Bhubaneshwar. The one way second AC fare is Rs 1,913 per person on the express. The second AC fare on Rajdhani is Rs 2,980 per person. The Konark Express connects Bombay to Bhubaneshwar.

Regular buses and taxis are available from Bhubaneshwar, Puri, Cuttak and Behrampur to Balugaon, Rambha and Barkul.

Government of Orissa Tourist Offices: New Delhi, Utkalika, B/4 Baba Kharak Singh Marg. Phone: 011-3364580.
Calcutta, Utkal Bhawan, 55 Lenin Sarani. Phone: 033-2443653.
Madras, 42/18 Mount Road, (2nd Floor), Gee Gee Complex. Phone: 044-8534090.
Bhubaneshwar, Jayadev Marg. Phone: 0674-431299.
Puri, V.l.P Chhak, Station Road, At/P.O. Puri. Phone: 06752-22664.
Barkul, Tourist Complex, At -Barkul, P.O. Balugaon.

Hotel Sinclairs, Darjeeling offers a package valid till September 30:

The package is priced at Rs 5,100 per couple, for three nights and four days for an air conditioned double room. The fourth day will be complimentary. This includes a welcome drink, breakfast for three days, room and taxes. There will be a 20 per cent discount on meals also.

Children below 12, not requiring an extra bed, will not be charged. Children above 12 will be charged Rs 594 per child, per night. An extra person will be charged Rs 594 per night.

It offers its tariffs:

• The tariff for an air conditioned double room with breakfast only, is Rs 2,430 plus taxes, per night.

• The tariff for an air conditioned single room with breakfast only, is Rs 1,850 plus taxes per night.

• The tariff for an air conditioned double room with breakfast and dinner only, is Rs 3,010, plus taxes, per night.

• The tariff for an air conditioned single room with breakfast and dinner only, is Rs 2,140 plus taxes per night.

Its facilities: a restaurant, a bar, a foreign exchange desk, a travel desk, conference facilities and indoor games.

Hotel Sinclairs Darjeeling, 18/1 Gandhi road. Phone: 0354-56431, 56432.
Bombay: 022-2001953, 2006355.

Regular Indian Airlines flights connect Bhubaneshwar to Bombay, New Delhi, Calcutta and Madras.

The one way economy class fare between Bhubaneshwar and Bombay is Rs 7,285.
The one way economy class fare between Bhubaneshwar and New Delhi is Rs 6,455.
The one way economy class fare between Bhubaneshwar and Madras is Rs 5,950.
The one way economy class fare between Bhubaneshwar and Calcutta is Rs 2,510.

Puri is connected by train to Calcutta, New Delhi, Madras and Ahmedabad.
The Puri Express and the Jagannath Express connect Calcutta to Puri. The New Delhi-Puri Super Fast Express connects Puri to New Delhi. The Tirupati Express connects Madras to Puri and the Puri Dwarka Express connects Ahmedabad to Puri.

Regular buses are available from Bhubaneshwar for the 60 kms journey to Puri. Taxis can also be hired.