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Divine Devbagh
Most of us dream of escaping to a private island, but presume it’s a luxury for the super-rich. Not so as life could be a bargain sometimes, as can be a holiday at Devbagh. Located 100 km away from Goa, Devbagh is a tiny island off Karwar in Karnataka. As a seaside town, Karwar does offer many opportunities for the tourist, but this tiny little island near the confluence of the Kali river with the sea, is a jewel off the usual path. Devbagh, which literally means God’s own garden, is a 20-minute boat ride from Karwar. Apart from Devbagh, Karwar’s other claim to fame is the Seabird project, the biggest naval base in the whole of Asia. At Devbagh, the log huts and tents are well equipped with all modern facilities. Right across the huts is a km-long picturesque beach, for exclusive use of guests at Devbagh. Other options include boating into the sea or frolicking in banana boats. The beach resort arranges for regular boat trips deep into the sea to look for dolphins. For more information, contact www.junglelodges.com Glacial Alaska The best way to see glaciers is by ship and a cruise inside passages of Alaska is an unforgettable experience. To be greeted with views of huge icebergs floating by can be awesome
Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier in North America. This giant, 6-mile wide, 300-foot tall slab of ice at the edge of Yakutat Bay, is 75 miles long. Most cruise ships visit Hubbard Glacier on the seven-day sailings between Anchorage and Vancouver. Along Hubbard’s looming mass, there are deep ice caves that glow with a lovely blue light. Some cruise tours can take you deep into the land of the midnight sun, from Anchorage to as far north as Fairbanks. The tourists travel onboard glass-dome train cars through the wild Alaska interior. The journey takes one to Denali, travelling deep into the natural habitat of bears, moose, caribou and wolves. One can feel the frontier spirit of the gold rush town of Skagway, where the adventurous may still pan for gold. Spend a day in Ketchikan, the gateway to the stunning Misty Fjords, with its crystalline lakes and plunging waterfalls. Sitka and Juneau are other stunning ports of call. For more information, contact Royal Caribbean International at gchadha@tirun.com Kiwi adventure New Zealand is a heaven for adventure lovers. From bungee jumping to sky diving, white water rafting to rock climbing, heli-skiing to caving, one can explore New Zealand from the top of mountain peaks to the doldrums of the underworld, and everywhere in-between.
Nothing prepares you for the excitement of Queenstown’s Shotover Jet ride – speeding past rocky outcrops with only inches to spare, twisting through narrow canyons. A major highlight is the famous ‘Shotover Jet’ turn, where your boat spins through a full 360 degrees in its own length. More info at: www.shotoverjet.com The adventure centre of the North Island is Lake Taupo, which has the largest skydiving operation in the world. Exiting the plane between 6,000 feet and 15,000 feet, skydivers have the opportunity to experience the exhilaration of freefalling with a spectacular parachute ride over the stunning lake and snow-capped volcanoes. More info at: www.tts.net.nz Waitomo means the place where water (wa) disappears into a hole in the ground (tomo). Waitomo offers a range of real-time adventures for people wanting safe but quality fun in some of New Zealand’s most wild places. Tumu Tumu Toobing is a trip that combines the best elements of cave rafting with walking, swimming, climbing through distinctive and spectacular cave sections. More info at: www.waitomo.co.nz Wild Kabini The Kabini River Lodge is a picturesque estate full of cashew and gulmohar trees. Originally owned by the maharajas of Mysore, today the colonial structures stand restored, enhanced by two contemporary replicas of the original architecture where the rooms are located. A safari is supposed to be rugged and close to nature, but this one offers great ambiance, with a caliber of service comparable to any five-star hotel. At dawn one can experience the coracle ride on the river. The coracle, a circular bamboo boat lined with buffalo hide, is the common means of transport on the Kabini and Kaveri rivers. Naturalist can thrive on the unique water birds and the wildlife nearby. Entire herds of large Indian bison (gaur) can be spotted. More info at www.junglelodges.com/ An English holiday
The best way to explore Britain is driving on its backroads and the countryside with its sun-dappled byways and hedgerows. These cute lanes thread through many picturesque counties of England, with cottages still having roses round the door. There is no disturbing traffic as it is mostly on the motorways. On the map it’s a kind of no-man’s land where the borders of Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire are knotted together, but on the ground it’s a succession of quiet delights: old manor houses, ancient churches, beautiful views, changing weather and a variety of pubs. Cotswolds is the heart of England providing a golden triangle of countryside enclosed by the M4, M5 and M40. Cotswolds also offers many self-catering cottages dating back to the early 1800s, equipped with all modern facilities an much more, like central heating, a fully equipped kitchen, a heated indoor swimming pool, even complete works of Shakespeare or a grand piano. London is expensive, so it is best to hire a car, stay in the Cotswolds and occasionally drive up to catch a show or two. The British motorways
offer a totally different experience; something inconceivable on
Indian roads. A driving holiday in England offers traffic-free
highways, gorgeous countryside, pretty villages, and room to roam and
relax, in places where they clock 50 cars a day rather than 50,000.
More info at www.visitbritain.com
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