Monsoon Tourism in India.

Rains pouring on all your holiday plans? Well…. show them who’s boss! Step outside and brave a little wetness this monsoon. And discover wonder in the wetlands of India.

Pondicherry

Pondicherry is Tamil Nadu’s answer to Goa – only quieter, serene and French! Facing the Bay of Bengal on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu State is the lovely 17^th Century French Colony with French Colonial bungalows, Gothic Churches and 45 kms of coastline and beaches. With turquoise-blue waters which are game for sailing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and fishing, Pondicherry is a fantastic place for sunbathing and beach-treks. Of course that would be a challenge in the monsoons but when it rains, Pondicherry transforms into a gorgeous honeymoon resort - seeming secluded and cozy.

Cuddle up with delicious local sea-food, wine and music on the beach or in one of the numerous beach-resorts and watch the tides and the rains slashing down on endless waves of water. Take off your shoes and drop that umbrella and feel the wet sand slip away from under your feet as you try to leave your footprints on the wet sands of the beach.

Monsoon months: November to January.

Get There: Pondicherry has excellent roads and road-network with National Highways 332, 32 & 66 passing through. It’s a great drive to Pondicherry from anywhere. Chennai Airport is the nearest to Pondicherry and Villupuram is the nearest Railway Junction to Pondicherry.

Wayanad

Where better to see the rain than in a rainforest! And which better rainforest than the Wayanad’s! Climb the Western Ghats to 6890 feet to Lakkidi to experience one of India’s highest degrees of rainfall – it’s overwhelming, incessant and borderline fearful. And this is what rain-buffs rush to Wayanad for during the monsoons -to watch the rain in all its fury!

This is not where you take off your shoes and prance about in the rain. You check-in to a forest-resort and sit on the balcony and watch the rain transform the dense forests into a maze of streams and waterfalls. And when the clouds take a break, quickly hop into a jeep and go explore the aftermath in the breathtakingly picturesque green mountains, valleys, lakes, and meadows on long and winding scenic roads in moist and cool weather. IF the skies clear up, put on your walking shoes and trek through the luxuriant forests of Wayanad to see just how the hill wilderness responds to rain. Don’t jump out of your skin if you feel a trickle of droplets down your spine now and then coz that’s how the tall and wet trees respond to rain-buffs! Take a guide and he’ll ensure you return in one piece as abundance of wildlife is another forte of Wayanad - apart from spices.

Monsoon months: June to September.

Get there: 270 kms from Bangalore by road, Wayanad is easily accessible from Ooty and Mysore. Kozhikode has the nearest international Airport and Railway Station at 100kms from Wayanad.

Udaipur

Not so much an outdoorsy person? Love life’s indulgences? Like to be treated like Royalty in the rain? Check-in to Udaipur’s 17^th Century Lake Palace in the middle of the Pichola Lake – hailed as the Venice of the East. Only accessible through royal ferries and boats, the Palace occupies the entire island of 4 acres in the lake and holds mini-ponds and water fountains within. This all-marble Palace has rich, extravagant and Kingly rooms; with ornate and plush interiors; wide arched-balconies; pillared terraces; and the service of the Royal Butlers that will spoil you. Order-in some Rajasthani delicacies and drinks; put your feet up on the velvety futon, and do what Queen Elizabeth, America’s former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy; Viceroy of India – Lord Curzon and Gone with the Wind lead actress – Vivien Leigh did - enjoy. And when it rains, be sure to live in the moment and watch the rain envelope the Palace and shower on the lake. Rated as one of the most romantic destinations of the world, the Udaipur Lake Palace hotel is bound to spice things up for you even in the drenching rain. Feel brave? Step into a royal boat and cruise the lake in the rain and soak up the monsoon ambience of the Lake.

Monsoon months: June to September.

Get there: Within 25 kms radius of the Lake Palace hotel, are the Udaipur Maharana Pratap Airport and Udaipur Railway Station.

ArunachalPradesh

Tired of fluttering with the same kind of ‘birds’? Want to hang out with different kind of ‘animals’ for a change? Want to get out this monsoon? Want to push your limits? Want to go where no one’s been? Five problems – one solution - the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. Perched on the Himalayan foothills at 10, 663 feet, is the home of the flagship wildlife – the rare bird – Laughing-thrush and the Asian Elephant, plus more than 454 species of birds; 15 species of animals and 165 species of butterflies. But what makes Eaglenest unique is that unlike the other Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks in India which are closed during the monsoons, Eaglenest can be visited during the Monsoons as well. Camp in the wilderness or homestay with the Tibetic tribespeople on the Mountain slopes and play hide and seek with the wildlife in the rain. Else just stay in Tezpur (160 kms) in Assam and visit Eaglenest during the day. Mountain and nature-treks are must-do here even in the rain. At this altitude you’d be wining and dining with source of the rains.

Monsoon months: July to September.

Get there: Arunachal Pradesh may be the tip of the country but is fairly easy to get to. Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh is the nearest town which connects to Tezpur in Assam.

·         Guwahati > Tezpur > Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary – 4 hours (flight between Guwahati & Tezpur and jeep-ride between Tezpur and Eaglenest).

·         Guwahati > Tezpur > Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary – 5 hours (bus + jeep)

Pix courtesy: thinkingparticle, indiatravelblog, hammockholidays, greengates, kerala.gov, adventurediva, mattconsidine, brummieandwurzel.blogspot, S karthik, vinchel.

Safety Measures

Enjoy- But Not at the Risk of Your Life

Most of you must have heard about Manipal, in relation with higher education. Yes, the place is renowned for the university called Manipal University. This place is located at a distance of about 65 Km from Mangalore and close to the temple city of Udipi in Kartnataka. Manipal is just 8 Km away from the Arabian Sea.

This town of Manipal was initially a barren hill with few trees, which was transformed into a University town by Dr. T.M.A. Pai in the year 1950. Now this city has two universities which impart higher education to nearly 70,000 students every year.

Manipal University

Manipal has got its name from MannuPalla Lake, in Tullu language Mannu means mud and Palla means lake. This beautiful lake near the university campus is often visited by the students of the universities and by the tourists too, as it offers boating facilities to the visitors.

Unfortunately, the people especially the youngsters forget the safety rules completely, when they go out with their friends for outings. They give prime importance to fun forgetting their surroundings, which may lead to untoward incidences.

The same thing happened with the three students of Manipal University in the early hours of Saturday that is on 16^th June 2012, when they went for boating in the MannuPalla Lake after dinner at around 1.45 am.

MannuPalla Lake

One amongst the three students was my friend’s daughter who used to live in the university hostel away from her parents. She along with her two friends went for a boat ride in a celebratory mood at around 1.45 am, on a boat which was lying on the bank of the lake. Unfortunately, the boat had a hole, which was not noticed by them. Water gushed in, but they could notice this, only when they reached the mid of the lake. Realizing this they all panicked and the boat capsized. Only one of them could swim back and the other two got drowned.

As a parent of a daughter, I would like to request all the youngsters to take care of your lives, as your life is very precious to you as well as to your parents. We all must enjoy and have fun, but we should always know what we are doing and what will be its impact, because some mistakes done can never be corrected. The important safety measures for our young generation are:

• Keep check on your emotions. For example in the fit of rage do not cause any harm to anyone, while driving vehicle do not cross the speed limit etc.
  
• Late night outings should be avoided as most of the places are not at all safe in the night.
  
• Abide by the rules and regulations of the place.
  
• Avoid being in the lonely places and always try to be in the crowd.

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.