India Travel Tourism

Nothing is more rejuvenating than spending time amidst gorgeous green surroundings in the lap of nature. Here we were at one of the most enchanting tourist destinations called Alleppy. It is a beautiful town in Kerala which was founded by Raja Kesavadasan in the year 1762. It is well know for its mesmerizing backwaters, arresting beaches, lush green paddy fields, houseboats and snake boat race. It is affectionately dubbed as the ‘Venice of the East’.

We reached Alleppy in the early morning and while walking through this town I felt that a feeling of being in rhythm with nature was flowing into me just like sunshine soaks trees into its life-giving rays. It was a wonderful feeling. No wonder it is a perfect place for holidays. I had heard a lot about the beach and backwaters of Alleppy from my friends. Now was the time to experience it for real.

After a little refreshment we embarked on Alleppy backwater tour. Cruising through the backwaters amidst gripping green surroundings was a great experience. We even sighted some colorful birds from close quarters. Lush greenery, swaying palm trees and salubrious climate, everything about Alleppy was mesmerizing. The view of the paddy fields was very soothing to the eyes. We were cruising in the houseboat of Kerala which is locally called Kettuvallam. It is also a perfect option for accommodation.

We gorged on South Indian dishes in our lunch on the backwater cruise tour. After the backwater cruise we took a short nap and then got ready for exploring the charm of the Alleppy beach. We reached the beach which is truly mesmerizing to the hilt. The lashing waves, swaying palm trees, limitless sky, and sun rays kissing the sand are the enchanting features of Alleppy beach. We strolled through the beach soaking in every bit of its beauty. We even went to the lighthouse on the beach which offers breathtaking views of the picturesque surroundings. As the day was drawing to a close the golden rays of sun were making the sea glitter like gold and the fluttering birds were flying high in the sky. It was a sight to behold.

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Last week after completing my official work in Ernakulam I headed towards Munnar to spend my weekend in the lap of pristine nature. Gripping greenery, mountain backdrop, calmness and cool refreshing surroundings make Munnar a breathtaking hill station of Kerala and a haven of peace and tranquility. Though this place is among the most favored tourist destinations round the year but during monsoon one can feel the magical and hypnotizing charm of this place at its best.

Scores of tourists seek Munnar Travel Packages so that they can explore the beauty of pristine nature at their best. The natural vistas also make it a most cherished destination among couples who come here to enjoy their honeymoon in the lap of nature. Number of newly married couples seek Munnar Honeymoon Tour Packages so that enjoy their solitude in the surrounding of immaculate nature.

I with my friend Rahul arrived in Munnar around 7.30 on the Friday night after a 4 hour hectic journey in a taxi from Ernakulam. It was dark so we couldn’t see much of the things but we felt the fragrance of tea and spices scattered in the atmosphere of this place. After reaching here we headed directly to Willow Hill hotel where our travel agent had booked a room for us.

The Pullivasal tea estate was a 5 minute walk from the hotel which provided us a chance to enjoy the sheer calmness of nature and aroma of fresh tea gardens. Big bang thunderstorm woke us up in the midnight which was later accompanied by heavy rain. I went to the balcony from where I saw heavy rainfall over the vast expanse of tea estate which was illuminated at intervals by heavy lightning.

I enjoyed this dramatic casting of nature which reminded me of several scenes of Hollywood movies. The natural condition of that time was so tempting that I wished to go out and enjoy but somehow I consoled myself and stayed in the hotel balcony as a spectator with a cup of tea.

After having typical Kerala food (Puttu and Vegetable Stew) in our breakfast we moved towards our destination i.e. Top Station. It is the highest point in Munnar at a distance of 41 km from the city center and is located at an altitude of 1700 meters above level. We reached here after 3 hours drive in a taxi. On the way to this place we saw layers of hills having tea garden here and there which looks like a green carpet covering the hills.

After reaching Top Station we saw valley on either side with wild flowers, shrubs and tall trees all over. While moving further we saw a small tea shop selling various types of tea. There we tasted hot green tea whose taste still lingers on my taste buds. Due to heavy rain most of the trekking routes were closed and only paved routes were opened. We took one of the routes and went into the woods. While we were trekking we enjoyed magnetic spell of nature in the form of cloud, and mist over the hill slopes and dense forest.

The euphoria of this place was maximized by the misty clouds which soon engulfed the entire surrounding. For the first time in my life I experienced the joy of clouds. This natural glory enthralled us so much that we started running, shouting, jumping like crazy guys. The drizzling cloud drenched us completely but the ecstasy kept us engaged for a long time. While returning we saw several small mountain streams which were the result of recent downpour.

After balancing over slippery pavement we returned to the place where we left our taxi. Due to heavy rain temperature suddenly dipped and we started shivering. We sipped the ginger tea at the same small tea shop and returned to our hotel in a taxi.

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There is no dearth of real life adventures when it comes to India tourism. If you are not extreme thrill lover, you can try out jeep safari in India. This is one such activity that I love to go for, especially in the popular wildlife sanctuaries in India and the classic hilly terrains. While going through the Indian travel guide a few days back, I observed a number of such places. Whether you want a closer look at wildlife or the dense greens or even the less accessible hills, jeep safari tours are incomparable.

There are many places to see in India that are popular for their varied and unique topography. And to explore them, a jeep safari offers an unforgettable experience. Some of the popular destinations to cover with this mode are:

• The Thar Desert
• Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary & Sariska National Park
• Manali to Leh route
• Kinnaur, Spiti, Kumaon and Garhwal
• Jim Corbett National Park
• Bijrani Range Forest, Jhirna & Lohachaur

But to enjoy these exciting rides, it is advised to hire a trained guide, especially for the wildlife region and the hilly terrains. A guide not only helps you move on the safe route but also suggests about the important things to carry.

So whenever you plan out for a jeep safari tour in India, just go through the Indian tourism guide book. It will help you find out the unique aspects of India that you have read in the books or just seen on television. Once you opt for this mode of exploring tourist places in India, you will surely surrender your soul to incredible India tourism.

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The sight of a tiger in the Periyar National Park had already crowned our tour with golden memories. Cherishing these memories and to add some more to our record we drove to Kumarakom to let loose ourselves in natural beauty. Kumarakom is an enchanting destination of Kerala which is famous for its mesmerizing greenery, rolling hills, aromatic spice, coffee and tea gardens, rejuvenating Ayurvedic massage and the fascinating Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.

Kumarakom, a small village is a wonderful backwater destination which is a cluster of small islands on the Vembanad Lake. Our guide happily told us that he hails from Kumarakom. We were booked in a houseboat for our accommodation in this village. After refreshment I went to the terrace of our houseboat to capture the arresting views of coconut groves, emerald paddy fields and backwaters. While I was enjoying all this I noticed a small bird (black and grey in color) resting on the wooden chair on the terrace. With quiet steps I tried reaching her but the moment she felt my presence she flew away. Anyway it was such a good beginning in Kumarakom.

After getting ready all of us set out for a backwater cruise on a houseboat, a much-awaited experience. We sailed through the backwaters enjoying the captivating views of the surroundings. It was such a mesmerizing experience. We saw paddy fields, several species of birds, fishermen catching fishes and colorful flowers. It was an opportunity for us to stay close to nature.

While enjoying our breakfast on the houseboat our guide told us that the Vembanad Lake is among the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. It also acts as a balancing tank against floods. After enjoying the cruise we went to the village and interacted with the local people there to know their culture. They were warm-hearted and friendly. I noticed that the surrounding of the houses here were clean and full of greenery which is quite a rare sight in urban cities.

Our next destination was the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. It is a paradise for bird lovers where we were greeted by sweet melodies and views of the colorful birds. Located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake, the sanctuary is a home to a variety of bird species including the migratory ones. As we explored this gorgeous green sanctuary we saw parrots, flycatchers, wood beetle, teal, larks, owl, egret, heron, darter, Brahminy kite and waterfowl. We were completely overwhelmed with the sights of these wonderful birds. Later we even enjoyed a boat ride in the sanctuary which added more charm to our experience. I thought to myself what an enchanting destination Kumarakom is! The next destination on our itinerary was Alleppy, another wonder of Kerala.

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Wildlife is something which sets my pulse racing and pushes my adrenaline level into high gear. Natural world has always fascinated me and even during my childhood I had great inclination towards wildlife. So here we(Monika, Tahir, Sanjog and I) were at our next South Indian destination: Periyar National Park, which is a famous Tiger Reserve of India.

Located in the wonderful state of Kerala, Periyar Tiger Reserve is well known for its tigers, elephants and a variety of other wildlife species, including colorful birds. On our way to Periyar from Madurai I told my colleague Tahir that this national park is also a great place for wildlife photography. He is very passionate about photography and this news brought a big smile on his face. He is an IT professional but pursues photography as his passion.

We reached Periyar at night and after having a good night’s sleep, the next morning at 5 am we were all ready for wild encounters. Our jeep safari started at 5:30 am and we were all excited to see wildlife. Our guide Rananujam told us that the park has a beautiful lake, temples and other wonderful spots. And at the lake visitors can enjoy boating. He said it is a well managed wildlife sanctuary which is also a national park and a tiger reserve, which makes it a favored destination of wildlife lovers.

We entered the Park with great expectations to see tiger and other wildlife. But we didn’t know that by a stroke of good luck we would be greeted by the sight of a tiger and that too so soon. Yes! After covering a short distance inside the park we encountered a tiger and got a golden opportunity to sight it from close quarters. There was pin-drop-silence and we were engrossed in watching an enchanting creature of nature. For a few seconds the tigers gazed at us, and then moved into the deep jungle. The sight was simply breathtaking! It was unbelievable! Our happiness knew no bound and with big smiles on our faces we moved ahead.

After covering around 100 m distance our guide spotted something behind the bushes. He asked the driver to stop the jeep and we silently waited to see the creature. It moved and we could catch a glimpse of it. It was barking deer. Next we drove to the artificial lake inside the park where we spotted wild elephants enjoying themselves at ease. Ramanujam told us that this lake is 100 year old. The view of the lake along with its surroundings was very picturesque. We decided to go for a boat ride in the beautiful lake and the experience was too good.

As we moved further into the jungle we were greeted with the sights of colorful birds: darters, cormorants, blue-winged parakeets and kingfisher. Further we spotted two monitor lizards basking in the sun. We even saw colorful butterflies. The other attractions we saw in the Park were Wild Pigs, Sambar, Gaur, Indian Wild Dog and Mouse Deer.

Driving back we were more than happy and thanked God for giving us a great and rare opportunity of sighting a tiger. Well this experience was enough to leave us with a desire to come to Periyar National Park again.

After coming back to our hotel we refreshed ourselves and had evening tea. Now we were ready for another exciting experience- Spice Plantation Tour. Periyar, also known as Thekkady is also famous for its tea, coffee, spice, rubber and vanilla plantation.

We went on a spice plantation tour where we enjoyed pleasant weather, gorgeous green surroundings and aroma of spices. Our guide even told us about the spices, their medicinal value and how we can combine different spices to get different flavors. It was such a wonderful experience. With a refreshed mind we came back to our hotel and had a delicious South Indian dinner. Full, we retired to bed early as the next day we had to leave for Kumarokom early morning. Earlier we had decided to go for wildlife safari the following morning but as we had already saw the tiger, so we changed our schedule.

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