Little paradises
Over the years, the tried
and tested touristy destinations have remained popular but for
some years now avant-garde tourism has been picking up. Mukesh
Khosla lists 10 travel hotspots in India that promise an
out-of-the-ordinary experience
A different
view of the Taj
When you go to
Agra, visit the Taj Mahal and then hit the Mughal Heritage
Trail. This is one of the most unusual treks that has just been
developed. It has been catching the fancy of the discerning
tourists ever since it was developed. The trail on the backside
of the Taj Mahal is designed around a 4-km meandering pathway of
lesser-known monuments like the Chini Ka Rauza, Itmad-Ud-Daula
and Rambagh. Another trail leads to Humayun’s mosque, where
many of his kith and kin are buried, and the Jantar Mantar
carved out of a single stone. While the mosque still stands,
only a small part of Jantar Mantar remains and is known as Gyaraha
Sidi (eleven steps). Soak in history as you stand atop one
of the lighthouses from where you can get a stunning view of the
Taj from across the Yamuna.
Divine
experience at Lamayuru
The surreal gompa
(monastery) perched atop a mountain in Ladakh is hidden from
the world. Yet, twice a year on full moon nights, Lamayuru hosts
the coming together of lamas from other monasteries of
the region. They chant Buddhist shlokas and perform the
mask dance, a symbol of divinity that is believed to guard
against all evils. Tourists stay in Leh and take a taxi to
Lamayuru which is 200 km away and spend the night in small
resorts or camping sights along the way for a divine Buddhist
experience.
Golden sands
beckon
As you motor down
from Jodhpur cutting through unending sands, Jaisalmer seems to
rise out of the dunes. Nothing can really prepare you for the
sheer magic of this desert city of Rajasthan. The majestic
yellow fort is etched against the azure sky as if in a
fairyland. A camel safari from Jaisalmer is an exhilarating
experience. As you meander through sand dunes, you will go past
havelis, magnificent temples, Rajasthani women in colourful
attire and men in resplendent turbans sporting big moustaches.
There are also the stepwells, sandstorms, desert foxes and
chinkaras. A picture postcard exotica that’s held an enduring
fascination for the footloose traveller.
A date with
lions in Gir
Two centuries ago
the Asiatic lion ranged across a territory that spread from
Europe to Asia. Since then, the continual expansion of human
habitat has contributed to its extinction in all but one small
region, the Gir National Park and Sanctuary in the bowlshaped
Saurashtra region in Gujarat. The home territory of the last
surviving Asiatic lion, the Gir forest has been designated a
national park. A jeep safari in this 1,400 sq km sanctuary is a
wildlife lover’s dream come true. Besides the Asiatic lion,
the other residents include the spotted deer, chital, nilgai,
four-horned antelope, chinkara, wild boar, jackal and hyena.
Trekking time
A trek in the
Garhwal Himalayas offers such stunning sights that it will take
the breath away. Lush green forests on the one side and high
mountain ranges on the other, with waterfalls cascading down
from the skies. A trekking trip in the bugyals, extensive
pasture lands found at heights ranging between 3,000 and 4,500
metres above the sea level, is an experience of a lifetime. The
snowcapped mountains stand in bold relief against the lush
bugyals. The most popular are the Panwali Bugyals skirting the
Bhilling valley on the old pilgrim route from Gangotri to
Kedarnath. No hustlebustle, no rush, no cars. Just the rustling
of leaves, chirping of birds and the whistling of the wind.
Truly time spent in paradise.
Falling in
love with the falls
At first sight the
natural horseshoe waterfalls created by the Indravati river in
Chhattisgarh look startlingly similar to the Niagara Falls. And
that is the main attraction of the town of Chitrakote in Bastar
district, near Jagdalpur. This is the tribal heartland of India
and nature trails lead you to unknown temples, dancing peacocks,
stray cattle and happy locals in colourful attire. This is truly
God’s own country that has not just retained its unspoilt
charm but also its unique cultural and ecological identity. Don’t
also miss the picturesque Tirathgarh falls at the Kanger river
that cascade down from a height of 100 feet.
Auroville’s
sounds of silence
Legend associates
ancient Pondicherry or Puducherry with the great Hindu sage
Agastya. Today there are more than 350 churches, temples and
mosques, making it a virtual Mecca for the devout. One of the
most striking and now universally famous religious centres is
the Aurobindo Ashram founded by poetphilosopher Sri Aurobindo in
1926. Pay homage to the samadhis inside the premises of this
ashram and then head for Auroville—the City of Dawn—on the
Chennai-Puducherry highway. This is an abode of peace where
meditation and yoga are a way of life. Soak in the sounds of
silence as you commune with God.
On the
lakefront
Though Nainital
maybe the preferred destination for holiday-makers, many
discerning tourists are skipping the crowded hill station and
discovering the joys of nature walks in Bhimtal. Just 22 km from
Nainital, this resort is a source of pleasure for those who
enjoy nature’s pristine bliss. The lake that has an island in
the centre is larger than Naini Lake and there are many ancient
temples dotting the numerous hilly trails, one of which leads to
the famous Bhimeshwar temple complex said to have been built by
Bhima of the Mahabharata fame. Another trail leads to the
Nal-Damyanti Tal, named after the mythological King Nal. Many
historians are of the view that Bhimtal was a part of the
ancient Silk Route.
Cruising the
backwaters
A boatride in a kettuvalam
on the backwaters of Kerala, starting from the Kumarakom jetty,
is an exhilarating experience. It is a journey across several
canals snaking through Kavalamand Pulinkunnu villages.
The journey is in picturesque settings and these are wonderful
waterways unknown to city dwellers. These waterways efficiently
connect islands and villages in the interiors. The sight of
coconut palms swaying in the breeze amidst a vast expanse of
paddy fields, children bathing in the canals is an experience
only Kerala can give. And don’t miss the canal of hyacinths on
Punnamada Lake at Alleppey, the most befitting finale to a
journey of a lifetime.
Nature trail
at Binsar
Just a half-hour
drive from Almora in Uttaranchal, Binsar, the capital of the
eighth-century Chand Rajas, is an experience of a lifetime.
Spread on top of the Jhandi Dhar hills, the small town offers a
panoramic view of Greater Himalayas. The peaks of Nanda Devi,
Kedarnath, Chaukhamba, Trishul, Panchchuli and Nanda Kot are
visible on a clear day from Binsar. The resort town is lush with
oak, rhododendron, pine and deodars. There is a wildlife
sanctuary for those who like the wild side.
When you go to
Agra, visit the Taj Mahal and then hit the Mughal Heritage
Trail. This is one of the most unusual treks that has just been
developed. It has been catching the fancy of the discerning
tourists ever since it was developed. The trail on the backside
of the Taj Mahal is designed around a 4-km meandering pathway of
lesser-known monuments like the Chini Ka Rauza, Itmad-Ud-Daula
and Rambagh. Another trail leads to Humayun’s mosque, where
many of his kith and kin are buried, and the Jantar Mantar
carved out of a single stone. While the mosque still stands,
only a small part of Jantar Mantar remains and is known as Gyaraha
Sidi (eleven steps). Soak in history as you stand atop one
of the lighthouses from where you can get a stunning view of the
Taj from across the Yamuna.
The surreal gompa
(monastery) perched atop a mountain in Ladakh is hidden from
the world. Yet, twice a year on full moon nights, Lamayuru hosts
the coming together of lamas from other monasteries of
the region. They chant Buddhist shlokas and perform the
mask dance, a symbol of divinity that is believed to guard
against all evils. Tourists stay in Leh and take a taxi to
Lamayuru which is 200 km away and spend the night in small
resorts or camping sights along the way for a divine Buddhist
experience.
As you motor down
from Jodhpur cutting through unending sands, Jaisalmer seems to
rise out of the dunes. Nothing can really prepare you for the
sheer magic of this desert city of Rajasthan. The majestic
yellow fort is etched against the azure sky as if in a
fairyland. A camel safari from Jaisalmer is an exhilarating
experience. As you meander through sand dunes, you will go past
havelis, magnificent temples, Rajasthani women in colourful
attire and men in resplendent turbans sporting big moustaches.
There are also the stepwells, sandstorms, desert foxes and
chinkaras. A picture postcard exotica that’s held an enduring
fascination for the footloose traveller.
A trek in the
Garhwal Himalayas offers such stunning sights that it will take
the breath away. Lush green forests on the one side and high
mountain ranges on the other, with waterfalls cascading down
from the skies. A trekking trip in the bugyals, extensive
pasture lands found at heights ranging between 3,000 and 4,500
metres above the sea level, is an experience of a lifetime. The
snowcapped mountains stand in bold relief against the lush
bugyals. The most popular are the Panwali Bugyals skirting the
Bhilling valley on the old pilgrim route from Gangotri to
Kedarnath. No hustlebustle, no rush, no cars. Just the rustling
of leaves, chirping of birds and the whistling of the wind.
Truly time spent in paradise.
Auroville’s
sounds of silence
A boatride in a kettuvalam
on the backwaters of Kerala, starting from the Kumarakom jetty,
is an exhilarating experience. It is a journey across several
canals snaking through Kavalam and Pulinkunnu villages.
The journey is in picturesque settings and these are wonderful
waterways unknown to city dwellers. These waterways efficiently
connect islands and villages in the interiors. The sight of
coconut palms swaying in the breeze amidst a vast expanse of
paddy fields, children bathing in the canals is an experience
only Kerala can give. And don’t miss the canal of hyacinths on
Punnamada Lake at Alleppey, the most befitting finale to a
journey of a lifetime.