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.

Travel - make it slow & take it easy!

Did you just return from your vacation and feel like you need another vacation from that vacation?

Were you subject to ‘Army-drill-tourism’ with someone else ringing your alarm-clock every dawn?

Did you just visit all the favourite tourist-spots of your Raju-guide’s?

Did your tour drive you breathless with the non-stop shuttle from one spot to the other?

Has your camera done more sight-seeing than you?

Did you just spend your money on a tour that you do not remember?

Well….you’ve subjected yourself to ‘power-tourism’ – not ‘power’ in ‘power-games’…..it implies ‘power’ in ‘power-yoga’ – action-packed solid workout! With any luck you might’ve burnt some calories too!

It’s time you remedy this.

Travel and tour at your pace – for your own pleasure!

Don’t know how? Here are a few options to get you started:

1.    Take a River-Cruise on a ship for a few days– skiff up a river and laze around on the deck all day and all night. Choose to keep your eyes open or not. Wake up in a new place each day without moving a muscle. Have food & drinks of your choice served to you wherever you are on the ship. Pay to get pampered!

2.    Get wild in the wilderness – pick a jungle-themed Eco-camp in any Wildlife Sanctuary or National Park to stay at and hop on to an elephant or a jeep and visit your favourite wildlife – One-horned Rhino, Asian Elephant, Royal Bengal Tiger, Snow Leopard or even the Great Indian Hornbill and Dolphins. You want to stretch your legs, go nature-trekking in the wilderness.

3.    Moped around in those British or Portuguese Colonies along the beach or on top of mountains wearing comfortable clothes and no makeup. Make random stops at beach-shacks for cocktails or mocktails or just juices. Drive to feel the fresh cool breeze in your face or chase the sunset.

4.    Check-in to a log-cabin and explore the gorgeous and scenic lush green Mountain-meadows swaying with millions of wild-flowers. Park yourself there with your favourite book and music or go mountain-trekking.

5.    Tired of the tropics? How about you chill in the snow? Most mountain-resorts are easy to reach with well-developed flights network and bus-connectivity. You just need 5 days for a trip to Leh and back. Explore the mountains on Yaks, Donkeys or Ponies.

6.    You’re neither fond of beaches nor crazy about mountains? Then pick a quiet but enchanting hill-station and stroll around Tea Gardens, Orange Orchards and Orchid Farms.

7.    You want to explore your spiritual-side? Check-in to an Ashram or a Buddhist Monastery and get in touch with your inner-self. You don’t have to be or become a Buddhist to visit a Stupa.

8. And if you're looking for an even slower paced holiday then check-in to a Spa. Get a full massage in ayuvedic oils or dip into a mud-bath daily. Get a back-rub or a foot-massage twice daily.

Now imagine all this.

Dindi

 Andhra Pradesh Backwater- Dindi

Everyone heard about the beautiful picturesque of ‘God’s own country’ Kerala. But hardly any tourist has heard about another picturesque location tucked away among the swaying coconut groves on the banks of the river Godavari in Andhra Pradesh, which should also get similar title like Kerala.

On the banks of mighty river Godavari, the second largest in the country after Ganges, lies this small village called Dindi, in Malkipuram Mandal of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. 

This pristine land of beauty with swaying coconut groves on a vast piece of land with water all around with waves lashing the shore, welcomes the tourists with lovely earthy fragrance. Thanks to computer technology, that the people are slowly coming to know about this place and visiting this place. No doubt this place is gaining popularity day by day amongst the tourists.

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation is introducing many facilities for the tourists, to promote this place as a prominent tourist attraction.

For the comfortable stay, good food and for recreation, APTDC has started with Haritha Coconut Resort, which caters with all the needs and wants of the tourists. It has introduced Houseboat Cruises, which is becoming the main point of attraction for the tourists to visit this place along with the scenic beauty all around. 

This place is perfect for a relaxing weekend, away from the hustle-bustle of the city. Sailing down the stream and absorbing the beauty around makes you forget your tensions to a certain extent. This cruise will certainly give you the feeling of Kerala Backwaters.

There are Houseboats with fully air-conditioned 2 and 3 double bedrooms, which have attached bath and a sit out along with dining space on the deck. These boats can house a maximum of 12 people, where each bedroom accommodates 4 adults, if the number of members in the group is more than 4 then some surcharge amount will be charged. APTDC is very nicely taking care of these houseboats and the surroundings. The hospitality in the houseboats by the well trained attendants is given prime importance.

The cruise usually starts at 10 am, and sails along the winding tributaries of Godavari-Vynateyam and Vasista. It sails upstream to Rajolu and downstream to Narsapur town. The vegetarian breakfast and lunch are served on the boat, whereas dinner (veg or Non veg) is served on the island in a very ethnic style having a lingering taste of Andhra.

The tourists can stay in the boats anchored near the resort. After a daylong cruise on the boat, a pleasant scene of sun setting down over the western horizon and later gazing the stars coming out relaxes you completely.

So now pack your baggage and head for your destination Dindi in Andhra Pradesh for a relaxing weekend.

Accommodation:

For booking your stay in Dindi contact APTDC offices in your city. You can even book your stay in the private resorts, which are located close by to Haritha resort.

For further Information:

Telephone Numbers:

APTDC:  040-66746370

                  040-66745986

                  09848540371

Konaseema Tourism:  91-40-69998111, 91- 8008727111, 91-8008727222

Dindi Resorts:  08862-226662, 91- 9951355005

Getting There:

Dindi by train:

There are daily trains from Hyderabad, Chennai, Bhimavaram and Visakhapatnam to the nearest station to Dindi--Palakollu. From Palakollu you can go to Dindi by road.

Nearest stations are Palakollu and Narsapur.There are daily trains even for Narsapur from Hyderabad, Bhimavaram and Visakhapatnam.

Hyderabad to Dindi by road:

Hyderabad - Suryapet - Khammam - Ashwarapet - Kovvur - Rajahmundry - Amalapuram - Razole - Dindi.

This place is 30 to 35 Km from Bhimavaram, travelling from Bhimavaram to Dindi by private vehicle is preferable.

The Distance from
Hyderabad to Dindi:    373 Km
Rajahmundary to Dindi: 80 Km

Kakinada to Dindi: 74 Km

Dindi by air:

The nearest airport to Dindi is Rajahmundry airport.

Tshangu Lake

Tshangu Lake

I had visited Gangtok the capital city of Sikkim, in the year 1998. This city is situated at an height of 4,700 feet and the memories of the place which is still fresh in my mind is the Tshangu Lake, which is located at the Indo-China border at an height of 12,400 feet.  

On the day of our visit to Tshangu Lake, we all got up early and got ready by 8’ o’ clock. After having breakfast we all boarded the taxi, which was waiting patiently for us outside the hotel. The driver started immediately, and the taxi zoomed towards Tamand Gompa Road, crossing the busy streets of Gangtok.

 It was the month of May and to my surprise the streets were busy with school going children with their heavy bags on their back and the school buses plying on the road, when most of the schools of India have Summer Vacation. To clarify my doubt, I asked the driver “how come these children are having school in the month of May”? Driver answered me that there the schools run in full swing in the summer months, as the weather is very pleasant in these months, but the schools have winter vacation in the peak winter months, which is unbearable there.

Coming out of the city, we headed for Tshangu Lake through the winding roads of Ghat. A journey through this road is really an unforgettable experience, with natural beauty all around. Initially everyone in the group were very energetic and happy, but slowly the energy level became feeble as we moved higher and higher as some of the members from our group started feeling sick, due to continuous twist and turns of the vehicle.  I carried some Domstal tablets with me to prevent vomiting, so the sick ones gulped the tablets to be alright at least when they reach Tshangu Lake. But by the grace of God, all throughout the journey, I was very energetic and enthusiastic, so I went on clicking photographs of the picturesque surroundings through the window pane or sometimes getting down at certain points. As we were ascending the heights, the clouds started ushering us with open arms. Opening the window panes we could even touch and feel the clouds. I would have certainly gone out and got wet by these clouds in any other place but the temperature being very low there, I could not dare to get wet by the clouds.

While getting up the Ghat Road we could only see some tourist cars and more of army Shaktiman trucks going up and down the hill road. The roads were bordered with many army camps with army jawans moving on the roads. Halfway to the lake, we came across Kyongnosla Waterfall, the view of which was so appealing that we told our driver to stop the vehicle there. We all got down to get closer view of the waterfall and my brother-in-law went towards the fall with two pet bottles to grab this clean and clear water in them, as it was told by our elders that water from waterfall coming through the rocks is very good for digestion and tasty. But this water was used less for drinking and more for washing as three members from our group started vomiting while going up. After moving up for some distance, our driver stopped the vehicle for the astonishing view of famous snow-clad mountains known as Kanchanjangha, seemed to be very close from there.

 Kyongnosla Waterfall

Kanchanjangha Mountain

 After short stops at different points the vehicle stopped at small shopping spot at a height of 10,400 feet, where most of the tourists were sipping hot cup of tea or coffee as the temperature fell down drastically, with two sweaters on, I was feeling very cold. There were some shops selling woolen garments and some traditional dresses of Sikkim with some handicrafts too. To keep the body warm there were some wine shops too.

After sipping a cup of coffee we all started for the final lap of the journey to Tshangu Lake, which was still 2000 feet above. Finally at around 12.30 pm we reached our destination the Tshangu Lake, after travelling for about 40 Km. We all hurriedly got down the taxi with lots of enthusiasm. We all were mesmerized by the view of the lake and the mountain covered with snow in some pockets standing just in front of us.

Tshangu Lake

Seeing us, the small boys from 2 to 3 shops came to us, for marketing their stuffs. With the help of one of these boys we all headed for the shop where they were hiring gum boots to climb the snow laden mountain easily. Putting on gum boots we all moved towards the mountain. After climbing few yards my husband and co-sister felt tired and were scared to move up more. I, my two year old daughter and brother-in-law continued moving up and we reached the peak where we played with ice lying beneath us, we threw ice balls on each other. Just beneath this mountain there is a lake named Tshangu lake, which is deep blue colored water body of nearly 1 Km long. It was so thrilling and exciting that we spent around an hour there. Here we took many photographs. We climbed down after being called down by my husband and co-sister who were waiting for us down there.

Getting down the hill my daughter took a ride on Yak. After this we headed for some snacks or food from the stalls put up there. We had some light snacks as we had to descend down by about 8000 feet through the same winding roads around the mountains. But then also some of our group members started vomiting on the way which was cleaned by Bisleri drinking water and waterfall water. 

Yak Ride

On the whole the trip was very exciting which can never be forgotten.