Sunday, 1 July 2012

Ladakh

Honeymoon in the monsoon months
Are you recently married or planning to get married in these monsoon months? After marriage you certainly would like to go out with your newlywed partner for a sweet honeymoon in some corner of India? 

The answer from your side is certainly yes! But you are little confused and puzzled about your destination,  right! As most of the places in India are blessed with rain in these months of monsoon, you cannot go out freely. I believe, regular travelers too do not like these months of monsoon as it creates lots of inconvenience while traveling.

But do not worry there are many places in the northern India which do not get affected by this south-west monsoon. So plan for your trip to those places of India where you will not get caught up with rain.

In the valleys of Kashmir there is a place named Ladakh. Not much explored, but a place where the pristine beauty of nature will endear you. Here is a place where you can commune with God Himself.

Ladakh is wedged between Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas in the south. Ladakh or Kashmir as a whole can be your best destination for touring or honeymooning in between the months of June to September in India. That is if you do not like rains.
 
 
  Ladakh, situated at an altitude of around 3500 m and shadowed by the world’s highest peaks, is really a land of pristine beauty. The presence of white crowned high mountains all around makes the flowing river look tiny, along with glistening glaciers making their way through this picturesque land of Ladakh.  

Being sparsely populated area and not much ventured by the tourists, this place is still maintaining its natural beauty.

 Ladakh hardly receives any water from the rain; the main source of water in this place is the snow-melted water.  The same water is used for irrigation through small streams, which is preferred by the farmers than rain water.

 
 This land of many passes has Buddhist monasteries all around, which are really worth visiting. Other than the mesmerizing surroundings, the serene and peaceful atmosphere of the monasteries is so relaxing that it makes you forget all your worries.After this meditation hour of the morning, you can go for different outdoor activities like white water rafting, trekking, jeep safaris and mountaineering.


 
Shopaholics and foodies don’t worry.There are lots of things in your store too. The place is well known for the Ladhaki artifacts. 

So you can shop Ladhaki artifacts such as Buddhist relics, Pashmina and Cashmere shawls and stoles. Foodies can savour the varieties of Ladhaki, Kashmiri, Tibetan and European dishes, which the place is well known for.

While visiting Ladakh, the nearby places that you can include in your itinerary are Leh, Khardung-La ,Zanskar, Nubra valley and Panamik.

So I think I have given one solution to your problem of choosing the destination. So what are you waiting for? Plan for your trip and make the arrangements right now.

One moment, sorry! I have forgotten to tell you of how to reach the place and the precautions to be taken while travelling.

There is an airport in Ladakh’s capital Leh, in which services are provided by Indian Airlines. From the airport there are regular buses and shared jeep- taxies to take you to your destination.

There is no rail facility in Ladakh, you can go there only by flight or buses. Now hurry up!  Book your stay and flight as soon as possible, as the flights and hotels are usually full in the summer months.

Some Precautionary Measures:
  • As Ladakh is situated at a great height you may feel sick on the first day, as body takes time to acclimatize with the surroundings, so you can consult your doctor before starting the tour for the remedy.
  • Though you are visiting in summer, you need to carry woolen garments, as the atmosphere is quite cool there.
  • Do not eat much before travelling by road to Ladakh, as you may get nausea while travelling through the hilly roads.

Saturday, 30 June 2012

Naga Panchami.


Naga Panchami is a unique festival of India. It is the festival of Snakes. This festival of Snakes is celebrated on the fifth day (hence the name Naga Panchami, Naga = Snakes, Panchami = Fifth) after the Amavasya (new moon) in the Hindu calendar month of Shravan; which falls in the months of July / August.
The festival has its origins most probably in the increased human/snake conflict that happens during the Indian monsoon, which starts in June. The monsoon rains flood the Snake nests, forcing them to seek dry ground and hence into human habitation.
Myth and Folklore have added their own color to the festival. According to lore, Naga Panchami is the day that Lord Krishna had conquered Naga Kālia and put an end to his evil deeds.
Though not as popular as the major Indian festivals of Diwali or Dassehra, It is celebrated across country by offerings of milk and oblation to the Snake deities. The most popular places to visit for this festival are:
 * Adiesha Temple - Andhra Pradesh
 * Nagaraja Temple - Kerala
 * Nagathamman Temple - Chennai
 * Hardevja Temple - Jaipur
 * Nagvasuki Temple - Daragunj
 * Nagasthala, Subramanya temple, Kukke about 120 kilometers from Mangalore
 However *the* place to be during the festival of Naga Panchami is the village of Baltis Shirale, which is situated approximately 400 kilometers (approximately 250 miles) from Mumbai, the most outstanding of all the celebrations happens here. Reportedly, the largest collection of snakes in the world can be found in Baltis Shirale.
 By the way, Did I say Naga Panchami is unique to India? Well, not exactly. Check out the "Processione dei Serpari" in Italy. Also, did you know, Thiruananthapuram, the capital of Kerala is derived from the legendary snake ‘Anantha’ - one of the eight great Nagas of Puranic literature!
Pix courtesy: 4to40.