The Country's Southern Trip

The southern-most tip of the Indian subcontinent is known for the Virgin Goddess who presides over it, with her gaze upon the ocean and beyond. While it’s been known mainly as a pilgrimage spot, there is much else to see and do here. Begin, of course, with the graceful oceanside temple—believed to be over 3,000 years old, mentioned in the Puranas and the epics. It’s also revered as one of the powerful Shakti Peeths established by the sage, Parashurama.

Given Kanyakumari’s scenic location, it’s a great place for catching both spectacular sunrises and sunsets. For a few hours of tranquility, head to the Vivekananda Memorial that sits on a rock mid-sea. The meditation hall here is a secular space, where you should spend some quiet time. Its stillness and spiritual vibe are bound to create a sense of calm.

There are several monuments to see here— the Gandhi Memorial, dedicated to the Father of the Nation, the mammoth statue of Thiruvalluvar, the Tamil poet-sage, and a more recent construction, the Tsunami Memorial Park built in the memory of those who lost their lives in the natural disaster. Not far from Kanyakumari is the scenic, unspoiled Muttom beach, which has featured in several films. It makes for an excellent getaway for enjoying some surf and sand.

Kanyakumari is also a good base from which to explore the Kerala border. The Pechiparai dam, Thirparappu Falls and ancient Suchindram temple are all in the region and well worth making day trips to. The state tourism department runs circular bus services to these popular spots.

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The Divine Re - Birth

Be at Pun for NabakaIebar—a distinctive festival of Lord Shree Jagannath, which sees millions of devotees come together to mark the occasion.

Majority of the ten million plus domestic tourists and close to hundred thousand foreigners visit Odisha every year to enjoy its amazing tourism destinations. The state offers temples and monuments, art and architecture, music and dance, handloom and handicrafts fairs and festivals and a host of other tourism products. However, the holy town of Puri on the coast of Bay of Bengal attracts maximum number of tourists. ShreeKhetra—as the town is religiously cited—is one of the four cardinal centres (Chaar Dhaams) for devout Hindus. It is believed that a Hindu must visit this sacred place at least once in his/her lifetime to attain moksha.

It is in Puri that you find the magnificent 12th century shrine of Shree Jagannath Temple, where the idols of deities, namely, Shree Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Sudarsana are dragged on huge chariots by millions of devotees during the Ratha Yatra (Car Festival). In fact, amongst all the fairs and festivals associated with the Lord, devotees and visitors wait for this ten days long celebration to have a glimpse of the Lord of the Universe in the Bada-danda (Grand road) outside the shrine.

This year’s Ratha Yatra in July is going to be a spectacular event, because the Chaturdha Murti (four idols) in the Jagannath Temple at Puri will take on new bodies in a very unique ritual called Nabakalebara. The term Nabakalebara is derived from the Sanskrit words, naba meaning new and kalebara meaning body. Unlike many other Hindu shrines, the idols in Puri temple are made of the holy neem (Azadirachta indica) wood. The deities are also known as ‘DaruBrahma’, meaning Brahma (Divine life force) contained in Daru (holy tree/wood).

As per an elaborate religious practice, they are changed at periodic intervals (usually once in 12-19 years). Nabakalebara in 2015 will be the first in the 21st century, while it has been celebrated in 1912,1931, 1950, 1969, 1977 & 1996 in the last century. Nabakalebara takes place when two lunar months of Asadha (with an adhikamasa or intercalary month of Asadha) fall in a year of the Hindu almanac. In an age with hyped media and over-circulating digital content, this year’s ceremony has generated lot of interest amongst the devotees and enthusiasts alike.

The state government is expecting a footfall of 5 million during this Nabakalebara festival and leaving no stone unturned to make it the grandest of all to draw attention of the whole world.

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Lava - West Bengal

Sitting at the entrance to the Neora Valley National Park, Lava is a tiny hamlet located to the east of Kalimpong in Darjeeling district. But what makes Lava unusual is the fact that it is not only unspoilt but is among the very few places that receive snowfall in West Bengal.

Located at an altitude of 7,016 ft, predictably, the route to Lava is scenic with a gradual change in vegetation. As the plains give way to the hills, the vegetation changes from tropical deciduous to alpine trees such as pine, fir and birch. The change is quite dramatic and the beautiful forested areas are ideal for picnics or long, leisurely walks. For more strenuous adventure, try trekking as well. The thick forests are also home to an incredible number of winged creatures, so be sure to pack your binoculars and go birdwatching at dawn to see such birds as the common hill partridge, tragopan and peacock-pheasants. For the most fantastic views of the peaks, walk along a pretty pathway to Rishyap, about four km away, from where the mighty Himalaya are visible in all their glory or head to Changey to gaze at a scenic waterfall.

For nature and wildlife enthusiasts, there are plenty of animals in the forests, including endemic species such as the Himalayan black bear and barking deer.

In town, don’t miss the quaint watch tower. For a change of scene, head to the beautiful and serene Jamgyond Kongtul Buddhist monastery which is set against breathtaking scenery and induces a sense of peace and calm. 

Lava is not all that popular but there are many small guesthouses and lodges where guests can experience local hospitality and food.  These include rustic log houses and small huts built in the midst of the forest which can be rented. Some of these are located at strategic points and offer spectacular views of sunrise.

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Walking with the Bishnois

The love that the Bishnois have for other forms of life is the stuff legends are made of. So if you would like to be woken up early in the morning by the call of peafowl or open your eyes to find a chinkara staring right back, the Bishnoi villages near Jodhpur are a haven for you. A Bishnoi treats these animals as family. It is said that if you are a hunter, then the worst thing that could happen to you is to be caught hunting by a Bishnoi. It is because of their protection that, in Bishnoi-dominated areas, deer, bluebull, blackbuck, chinkara and chousingha are seen grazing peacefully in the fields.


A 40-minute drive from Jodhpur will take you to Khejarli village— where one actually comes to realise the true meaning of ‘loving wildlife.’ Khejarli is also where the Chipko movement originated as early as 1730. It is said that the ruler, Maharaja Abhay Singh, sent men to fell the khejri trees surrounding the village. Amrita Devi and her three daughters hugged the trees, saying, “Sir, santhe runkh raheb, toh bhi sastojaan (it is a small price to pay if, at the cost of my head, a tree can be saved).” By the time the news reached the king, 363 Bishnois had sacrificed their lives.

The village women are often seen cradling blackbuck fawns alongside their own children. Apart from the variety of deer and peafowl, many birds such as white-eared bulbuls, ibises, partridges, quails, demoiselle cranes and other migratory birds can be seen. Though Khejarli is a day trip from Jodhpur, do try and have a meal with the Bishnois—their warmth knows no bounds. The best time to be there is between October and March, summer is really hot.

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Odisha’s World of Wonders

The Diversity and Richness of the Flora and Fauna of the State Attracts Eco-Tourists From Around the World.

Olive ridley turtles in millions, travelling thousands of miles to nest on its beaches...tigers that roam through the autumnal splendour of luxuriant and old sal forests...saw-toothed crocodiles and gharials whose home is the splenditerous Satkosia Gorge...dancing dolphins cavorting near Asia’s biggest brackish water lake...a fabulous mangrove eco-system waiting to be discovered afresh...horseshoe crabs, 480 km coastline and also a famous picnic spot at Chandipur beach, where one can witness an unforgettable feat of nature and can literally walk into the sea when the sea disappears for almost 5 kilometers two times a day as the tide ebbs and then slowly returns during high tide. Odisha has all this and many other allurements for intrepid eco-tourists looking for meaningful encounters with new worlds, the people and animals who inhabit them.

 The geographic narratives of Odisha’s coastal region and luxuriant forestlands are richly involved in the dissemination of the state’s cultural delights and wilderness heritage. Visitors come here to enjoy enriching experiences of its marine heritage and forest culture and in the process are exposed to the local economic activities, lifestyles, beliefs and customs of the villages shaped by their richly accoutred environs, be it waterfront or forest enclave living. Encounters with the land and the people make for a richer understanding of the dependences and emotional ties that bind the two, and in some small measure, through correct eco-tourism practices, visitors add their shared experiences to enhance the world of these communities.

Odisha’s Protected Area expanses (about 4.25 percent of its total geographical area) are best experienced by the ecotourist looking for a unique and learning-giving holiday. Its topography, a rich amalgam of sea and land, is delineated by the verdant Eastern Ghats and the floodplains of its roiling rivers and astonishing marine expanses. 

Bhitarkanika Sanctuary

Tikarpara Gharial Sanctuary (Satkosia Tiger Reserve) 

Chilika Lagoon 

Simlipal Tiger Reserve 

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Ajanta & Ellora Caves - Maharashtra

Located 100 km apart, the Ajanta Caves, containing Buddhist monasteries, and Ellora, famous for its Hindu and Jain temples, are a great way to give schoolgoing kids a practical history lesson. Now declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area was discovered accidentally by a British hunting party in 1819. Since then magnificent sculptures and cave paintings dating back to 100 BC have been revealed.

At Ajanta, caves for teaching and learning were ornamented by intricate sculptures and exquisite art work. Square dormitory cells are cut into the walls. Ellora’s monumental caves represent the zenith of Indian rock cut architecture. 

Aurangabad is well-connected by rail and air to most parts of the country and taxi tours covering both sights are on offer from there. Quality lodging is easy to come by at Ajanta and Ellora.

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Madikeri

Covered by coffee plantations all over its rolling hills, Madikeri greets the traveler with a heady fragrance of coffee blossoms. Madikeri is located more than 1,500 above sea levels and is the district head quarters of Kadagu (or Coorg ), 250 kms from Bangalore. Also known as the Scotland of the East, Kodagu in home to the martial race, the Kodavas.
The 19th century fort here was the scene of many battles. Today it houses a temple, a chapel, a prison and a small museum.
Raja’s Seat gives a beautiful mountain view. Built in 1820, the Omkareshvara temple here is a mix of Islamic and Gothic styles in architecture.

Head for Kudremukh , the second highest peak in the western ghats , and enjoy a combination of trekking and camping lasting 3-4 days.
Tadiyendamol in Kodagu, is also excellent for trekking, and so is the Kodachadri Range in Shimoga District, Kumaraparvath in Dakshina Kannada, Mullayangiri near Sakleshpur BR Hills, Nandi Hills and Male Mahadeshwar Hills. Apart from this, Yana, 60 kms from Karwar is rocky region and is very popular with rock-climbers. 

If you are looking for some cool, refreshing moments, reach out to the Gurupur river, 8 kms from Mangalore, for windsurfing. River rafting can be enjoyed in the rapids of the Couvery River. 

Kamataka offers you nature, adventure, fresh air, leaving behind a fresh you, in the bargain.

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