Exotic Travel Journey

Chitwan National Park is home to the endangered species of Royal Bengal Tigers and one horn Rhinoceros which have recently seen a rise in their population. Several other mammal and avian species also call Chitwan their home.

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge offers an ideal haven for travelers in Nepal. Tiger Mountain is among the best hotels in Pokhara for trekkers to unwind and relax. The lodge houses cozy rooms that are set up in groups of cottages mirroring a traditional Nepali village.

Dwarika’s Hotel is a unique retreat in the lap of Kathmandu, Nepal offering 83 diligently decorated luxury rooms and suites.

Amritsar, at the heart of Punjab, is a symbol of egalitarianism and compassion. Established by Sikh Guru Ram Das, home of the Sikh community of India, the city has evolved into an ethnical hub, with luscious food being the center of it. Food in the city has been broadly categorized into Galli Food, Dhaba Food, Langar food and the food that are served at restaurants.

McLeod Ganj is a picturesque hill station perched in the lap of Dhauladhar Range, in the Kangra district of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, at a height of 5,577 feet (1700 meters). It is commonly referred to as India’s Mini Tibet, with Tibetan culture, quaint streets, charming monasteries, olde worlde cafes`, along with an abundance of scenic natural beauty coupled with spiritual and tranquil vibes. The striking landscape, spirituality and serenity of McLeod Ganj has travellers visiting it from the world over. It is a seat of His Holiness the 14th Dali Lama and serves as an administrative centre of the Tibetan government in exile. The immense Tibetan Buddhist influence has gotten it a special name “Little Lhasa”.

Amritsar is identified with the brilliance of the Golden Temple, this ornate Gurudwara rises over a huge pool of holy water in the heart of the spirited Punjabi city. Although the Sri Harminder Sahib is a mandatory visit during a luxurious North India Tour, it isn’t the only place worth visiting. Here is a list of some intriguing things to do in Amritsar from culture to cuisine.

The Indian continent has one of the richest and most diverse topography in the world, with awe-inspiring heights combining excellent sights. While on your journey of exploring nature’s bounty, make sure to include these brilliant valleys, that also have in them an immersive culture of the mountains.

Madhya Pradesh, the heartland of India, is gifted with a vast forested area swarming with wildlife. From regal tigers to dancing peacocks to colossal crocodiles, the land embodies a variety of wild animals and birds. The state is home to numerous national parks such as Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Satpura and Panna. Each national park has an appeal of its own with diverse flora, fauna and landscapes. Madhya Pradesh is a paradise for nature and wildlife enthusiasts with thousands of travellers visiting each year for the thrilling game drives, walking safaris and breath-taking views.

The largest repository of prehistoric art in India (or possibly all of Asia) was lost to the world until 1957 when it was discovered accidentally by Dr V.S. Wakankar, the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters are an incredible site of ancient art! 

At the entrance of Chatori Galli, where half of Bhopali population arrives after 7 pm is your gateway to the gastronomical delights that this Nawali city offers for an Indian food connoisseur. 

I grew up in Kerala which is popularly known “God’s own country.” Many often wonder and have asked me this question – why is it called so? If you want the answer, I would like to invite you to experience a slow travel journey in a rice boat cruising through a paradise of backwaters, Alleppey, also known as the ‘Venice of the East’. It is in the Center of Kerala’s backwaters and home to an extensive network of waterways.

This teardrop island in the Laccadive Sea may be small, but it packs in some of the world’s most enchanting rail journeys. Take a Sri Lankan train rides and find yourself rattling past suburbs with a fellow passenger dozing on your shoulder or perhaps moving in and out of emerald-green tea plantations.and thickets of tropical rainforest while digging into a packed meal of rice and curry!

During the long civil war that took place at Sri Lanka, it was then that the rail line to the far north was severed by the fights between southern Buddhists and Hindu Tamils. When the last Yal Devi Express rolled into Jaffna on 13 June 1990, it was abandoned by bombing. Empty carriages were repurposed into military bunkers, tracks being ripped off for scrap metal and stations fell into ruins. The train travel to the Hindu north of Sri Lanka became a distant memory.

Sri Lanka is the cynosure among all of the island countries and rightly called the Pearl of Indian Ocean. Travellers from across the globe fly into this teardrop-shaped emerald paradise by the hundred thousand. Tropical evergreen forests and white sandy beaches, cultural richness and diversity – tangible and experiential, surprisingly multifarious wildlife, be it the elephants, sloth bears, monkeys, leopards or the fishing cats of Colombo on land, with dolphins and whales off-land, act like magnets pulling an ever-larger number of travellers.

Mysore, now known as Mysuru, is an important part of Indian History with an interesting past. It is remembered for its brilliant royal heritage and impressive monuments. The Mysore Palace has been listed as a World Heritage Site, a towering and overwhelming palace, it is grand and humbling at the same time. Mysore is known to be rich in tradition, having beautiful bazaars replete with spices and incense stalls. Ashtanga yoga is taught at several accredited schools, which attracts plenty of serious yogis from all over the world.

Karnataka is endowed with a rich cultural heritage, unique to its land. The handicrafts and textiles are as diverse as the geography of Karnataka. Some of these traditions have evolved through the ages and some have even withstood, undaunted and faced the challenge of time. If one happens to visit a handicraft village in Karnataka, the vivid, striking colours are the first to strike the eye. The villagers always form a group whilst working and their passion exudes in their skilful hands. 

The celebration of Durga Puja in Kolkata can be traced back to the 1700s, when the zamindars displayed their power, wealth and influence by making it pompous and the grandeur continues to remain the same even today. The festival is the most important celebration of the Bengali people, as Goddess Durga is held in high regard as the form of Shakti (power). The common belief is that Goddess Durga in the form of a warrior defeated the mighty demon Mahishasura, hence the festival epitomises the victory of good over evil.

Shantiniketan (meaning “abode of peace”) is one of the marvellous creations of Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), the great writer, artist, songwriter and educationalist.

Being one of the finest pieces of Mughal architecture, Fatehpur Sikri is known as the crown of Agra. This site was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar and named after sacred saint Shaik Salim Chisti. This mausoleum clearly depicts the intense character of Akbar, alongside describing the intricacies of the Mughal Empire.

While recent archaeological evidence shows that is origins could go back two millennia, Calcutta’s recorded history began with the arrival of its founder, Job Charnock and the East India Company in 1690. Subduing local military powers, consolidating trading opportunities and assimilating with local culture, the British imprint magnified in shape and size to make Calcutta an imperial city and capital of the British Raj until 1911. The administrative, civil, military and religious architecture make the aura of the past visibly evident today, as much as the city has declined and decayed from its position of pre-eminence after several decades of a communist government. However, its population – 15 million and growing – persists with their attachment to the city which was renamed Kolkata in 2001.

An extremely large notch on the earth hemmed by spectacular mountains sprinkled with gold and white gompas (Tibetan and Buddhist ecclesiastical fortifications of learning, lineage and sadhana, monasteries), the Shangri La, the Tawang Valley is ready to be discovered at the end of a long picturesque route up from the Brahmaputra plains. Getting to this beautiful valley itself is an experience as you go meandering up and down the mountainsides where one can catch a view of colourful prayer flags and stupas increase rapidly, while the exuberant jungle gradually gives way to icy passes and peaks. Most of the inhabitants in and along the journey to Tawang are Monpa, a Buddhist community who had their closest links with Tibet according to History.

Agra Fort is a man-made marvel built by the Lodhi Dynasty, later this heritage was passed on to the Mughals. This fort is on the top of the list of heritage tourist places in India and is the most sought after as it foretells the richness and grandeur of architectural finesse. It goes back to the period of Mughal ruler Shah Jahan, who replaced red sandstone with white marble. The legendary ruler Aurangazeb, who was the son of Shah Jahan, imprisoned his own father in order to get the throne, come see for yourself the place where he was imprisoned, and from where he used to view the Taj Mahal, which is at a distance of 5 km from the Agra Fort. The fort is built like a mosque with a public hall, private hall, towers and beautiful courtyards with a garden. The pristine architecture is a marvellous piece of art and a must-visit for the discerning traveller.