Winter tourism in India.

Missed vacationing this summer? Never heard of winter-vacationing in India? Read on and prepare to be amazed.

·         The great ‘ChadarTrek’ is the high point of winter-tourism in India. Much-awaited all year long, Indian youngsters take off to Zanskar in December when the temperature plunges to -40 degrees Celsius, in order to trek-up and camp-out on the frozen River Zanskar. Ice and snow is all you see there and sunlight is purely ornamental.

Best Time: December.

·         Get outrageously adventurous this winter and go Helicopter-skiing on the Pir Panjal Mountains at 13,000 feet altitude in Gulmarg. Rated as one of the finest powder-snow ski-descents in the world, Gulmarg offers 66 mountain peaks for professional and amateur skiers. Training and skiing equipment is provided at the GulmargSki Village - now all you need is guts.

Best Time: 25 December - end of February.

·         Seek Snow-Leopards in Hemis National Park at 20,000 feet and in Dachigam National Park at 14,000 feet altitude wrapped in -40 degrees Celsius. This needs patience, determination and a good Snow-Leopard guide. The mere journey of searching for the snow-leopards is out of this world!

Best Time: December & January.

·         Pay respects to this Great prehistoric animal that’s been on this planet for 50 million years – the Great One-horned Rhino whose largest population in India is in Kaziranga National Park which is also two-thirds of world population of Rhinos. Jaldapara WildlifeSanctuary, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Gorumara National Park are the next biggest Rhino-joints. You would also get to see other wildlife in their lush green natural habitat.

Best Time: January & February.

·         Go birding with binoculars and a camera to the country’s Bird-Hotspots between 4000-7000 feet altitude such as Neora Valley National Park, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, BuxaNational Park among others.

Best Time: January & February.

·         Ask no more. Just head out to Goa this winter if you’ve not already been there. Goa’s beaches in winter are something else like no other in this country. Beach parties, beach shacks, beach flea-markets and the New Year’s Eve Parties are a rage here.

Best Time: December & January.

·         And this one – you’ll get sold on easily. Indulge in luxurious and romantic ‘Desert Camp Suites’ of large canvas tents lit-up with beautiful lanterns in the middle of Rajasthan Deserts of Jaisalmer and the Great Indian Thar Desert. Desert Safaris, Jeep-rides, Camel-treks – will give you fascinating desert experiences that will completely woo you and make you want to go back for more. Staying in a desert-camp is one of the best things that you could do with your money!

      Best Time: November, December, January, February.

So clear your calendar, block your dates and pack up for an amazing Winter Holiday!

Pix courtesy: Hindubusinessline, Serai, Goabeachhuts, mytourideas, valuemytrip, exoticasiatravels, travelandleisure.

Birthday of Blue-eyed Buddha !

Did you know that before he became a spiritual leader on whose teachings ‘Buddhism’ was founded, Lord Buddha was originally called Siddhartha Gautama who was born to a Kshatriya King of the ‘Sakhya’ Kingdom? 

Did you know that Lord Buddha was a trained Military Warrior since birth?

Did you know that Lord Buddha was a very strong man who was said to have possessed the ‘32 Signs of a Great Man’?

Did you know that Lord Buddha was a blue-eyed handsome man with a very attractive face?

Well…..now you do.

But the most sacred Buddhist Festival – the 'Buddha Purnima' or the 'Buddha Jayanti' marks and celebrates the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha and his Spiritual achievements each year on May 6^th.

Buddha Purnima commemorates 4 significant events in the life of Lord Buddha:

1.    His birth in 623 BC at Lumbini.

2.    His Enlightment in 588 BC in Bodh Gaya.

3.    His attainment of ‘Nirvana’ at age 80 in Kushinagar.

4.    His very first sermon preached at Sarnath.

Each year, the followers of Buddhism – though not necessarily all Buddhists, embark upon ‘Buddha Pilgrimage’ spanning across Nepal and India.

The 4 places to visit on Buddha Purnima are:

1. Lumbini in Rupandehi District, Nepal.
2. Bodh Gaya in Gaya District, Bihar State, India.
3. Kushinagar in Kushinagar District, Uttar Pradesh State, India.
4. Sarnath near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh State, India.

Typically, on Buddha Purnima, the Teachings of Lord Buddha on Peace, Compassion and Universal Brotherhood are preached at the various Buddhist Gompas; Stupas and Monasteries all over the world. Buddhists also engage in feeding and clothing the underprivileged on Buddha Purnima.

Other major places where Buddha Purnima is celebrated in a large scale in India are:

1.    Shey Buddhist Monastery in Leh, Jammu and Kashmir.

2.   Namgyal Monastery near Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh.

3.    Japanese Peace Pagoda in Darjeeling, West Bengal.

4.   Sanchi Stupa in Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh.

5.    The Great Stupa of Nalanda, Bihar.

You may not be a Buddhist but you certainly believe in Buddhism if you believe in the following quotes which were preached by Lord Buddha and date back to 588 BC.

·         We are shaped by our thoughts - we become what we think.

·         There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.

·         You will not be punished for your anger. You will be punished by your anger.

·         Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

·         It is better to travel well than to arrive!

Cheers to that !!