Caper Travel India Blog

After exploring a number of beautiful places in India, I have started

considering every bit of rejuvenating nature as the source of my inspiration. I watch and admire crystal clear waterways, chirping of birds, pleasing greenery with dew drops and the divine morning prayers. As I made a wish to seek God in nature, luckily I got an opportunity to visit Gangtok on an official tour. This city of beauty, adventure, spirituality and relaxation has always been a favourite of all the travellers.

As I arrived Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, I was welcomed by snow capped Himalayas, dense greens, aromatic air filled with Buddhist chantings and the true sense of relaxation. Kush, my guide, told me that this bewitching hill-station located amidst the multiple-hued mountains of Sikkim, is perched at an altitude of 1,870 m. Being an impeccable tourist destination, it has ample of places to see and appreciate.

I started my exploration with the monasteries. I could see Buddhist Lamas, wearing red chogas, and brightly painted pagoda roofed houses in every street of the city. My first halt was the famous Labrang Monastery, which belongs to the Nyingmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The best part with the monastery is that it showcases a wide range of ancient Buddhist artifacts and manuscripts. The Thanka paintings

were simply spell-binding. Similarly the Enchey, Rumtek and Phodong monasteries are the excellent examples of Buddhist architecture.

Next I visited the picturesque Kangchendzonga National Park that lies over the green forest floor and covers a few treetops. The snow line on the higher altitude offers splendid views. It is a wonderful place to explore the superb flora and fauna of the place. Besides, the Deer Park (adjacent to the new secretariat; also called the Rustomji Park) is also a nice place to spend some quality time with family or friends.

In the evening, I headed towards the crystal clear Kechopari Lake. The entire region is surrounded by dense forests and green hills. A few species of colorful birds add some more beauty to the place. Kush insisted me to pay a short visit to Lachung as well, which is the last habitation on the road to Yumthang monastery. But we were running short of time and I asked him to take me to the market.

Kush told me that the main markets for shopping in Gangtok are Old market, New Market and Lal market. These market areas are loaded with good quality carved furniture, Lepcha weave bags, wooden clothes, bamboo artifacts etc. My last halt in Gangtok was the handicraft and handloom directorate office in New market, where I found a huge variety in carpets, masks, bright Choktse tables and Thanka hangings.

I found the natural splendor of this beautiful city quite enchanting and mesmerizing. Steep mountain slopes along with lush rice terraces, encircled by graceful, babbling & foaming rivers add to the beauty of Gangtok.

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I do have a few friends who talk about ‘exotic holidays’. When I planned for a

Kovlam Beaches

Kerala trip, they asked me to visit Kovalam, located 15 km from the capital city Thiruvananthapuram. Again they told me that the small town of Kovalam is simply perfect for exotic holidays. Now I was very excited to explore the divine beauty of the place. I was confused why my friends were promoting the place so eagerly. But all my curiosities came to an end when I arrived at Kerala’s beautiful Kovalam beach. A superb blend of sun, sand, surf and sea, lush green coconut groves, wonderful opportunities for adventure sports and marvellous sightseeing – the place was spellbinding. I call it the paradise of south India.

While I was walking on the shimmering silver sands, the palm fringed beach was giving me a sense of well-being. I could see various tourists busy in surfing, rejuvenating themselves with oil baths and Ayurvedic massages, and many such activities alongside the beautiful beach on the Malabar Coast. While enjoying a drink at a beach side shake, the waiter told me that Kovalam means ‘a grove of coconut trees’. The place is quite popular amongst sea surfers from India as well as abroad. People come here for lazing around, sun bathing, or swimming in the cool waters if the sun gets too much for them.

Kovalam beach, basically, comprises of three small beaches – the Lighthouse beach, Samudra beach and the Hawah beach. I also found a few health centers there, which promote both yoga and meditation to clean the mind as well as soul. In the evening, I treated my taste buds with the authentic sea food dishes including lobsters, and enjoyed a few cultural performances of the famous dance form ‘Kathakali’ and martial art form ‘Kalaripayattu’.

The next morning, I started with shopping. The markets were loaded with the rarest of handicraft items and I could feel the aroma of fresh spices everywhere. While enjoying the catamaran cruise on country rafts, I explored some of the rural ares near the village and observed the lifestyle of those villagers also. The trip was unforgettable. I called up my friends, and told them that it was actually an ‘exotic holiday’ !

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Being a human, I was always fascinated by the unexplored. Trekking in

India is undoubtedly one of the famous adventure sports awaiting the trekking enthusiasts. I am sharing the best of my experiences what I have enjoyed in the mountain ranges of India offer breathtaking, enthralling trekking routes. Out of all the trekking routes, I found the Himalayas the best that have attracted geologists, geographers, trekkers and nature lovers.

Another superb destination was the entire Ladakh – the snow desert. The isolated mountain expanses here generate the mystery of the Central Asian Silk Route. It is simply the most rugged region of the entire Himalayan range. While trekking on this Trans Himalayan Zone, I enjoyed the incomparable views of the Great Himalayan Range and the vast Tibetan plateau. Alpine trees and beautiful flower meadows are the prominent features of trekking routes in Jammu and Kashmir. Zanskar is again one of the most sought after regions for trekking in India. The trekking routes in Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal were again a jackpot for me. I guess these passes are the most enchanting gifts of nature to the north India.

Coming to the north-east belt, Darjeeling and Sikkim are blessed

with well-defined forest trails. What I enjoyed most were the superb views of Kanchenjunga and glimpses of Everest, Lhotsa and Makalu.

If you are seeking for the best of adventure tour in India, I would suggest you to visit trekking sites like Ladakh-Zanskar Via Lahaul, Manali to Beas Kund, Garhwal, Himachal-Manikaran to Spiti, Gangotri Nandvan Trek, Kinner-Kailash Parikrama, Adi Kailash Trek, Hemkund Trek etc. Some of the other popular and long trek routes in India are Bukki to Dokriani Glacier, Bukki to Kheratal, Bukki to Uttarkashi, Uttarkashi to Rishikesh and so on.

Indian high altitude passes offer limitless possibilities for trekking tours,

mountaineering, skiing, and river rafting tours. But trekking is not an adventure activity that anyone can try out. If you are doing it first time then you must take some precautions and guidance of the experts. I will recommend to go for a physical and dental examination before undertaking a trek. Moreover, one should also carry things like UV proof glasses, sunscreen lotion, water bottle etc. during the entire activity.

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