India Travel Tourism

No matter which destination you explore in India, your excitement level will always remain at its peak. India tourism not only ensures a remarkable trip but also refreshes your mind, body and soul. After all, India is known for the best of theme based tours. When I planned for a religious tour in India, I found Puri as a key destination. This seat of Lord Jagannatha (Lord Vishnu) is unbeatable for resting, relaxing and recalling. As I arrived this coastal district of Orissa, a guide told me that every bit of this ancient land fascinates tourists from all over the globe – ranging from historic antiquities to religious shrines, architectural grandeur, seascape beauty, moderate climate and so on.

The city welcomed me with open arms, offering splendid beaches, and a rich historic heritage dating back to 3rd century. The first thing I came across on my way to the hotel was ‘Rath Yatra‘ – the biggest festival in Orissa in July. Roads were completely jammed. I could see a huge idol of Lord Jagannatha placed on a chariot and people performing Odissi dance in the procession. The driver told me that this 3 km long procession extends from Jagannatha Temple to Gundicha Mandir. I spend that entire day at leisure.

The very next morning, after breakfast, I headed towards the Jagannatha Temple, one of the most impressive monuments of Orissa. Constructed in the 12th century, this superb Vaishnava temple enshrines Lord Jagannatha, Devi Subhadra and Balabhadra. Today, Archaeological Survey of India takes care of its preservation and maintenance. After enjoying a cup of coffee at a restaurant, I visited Chilka Lake, the largest freshwater inland lake in Asia (1165 sq. km.). Located along side the Bay of Bengal, the lake is home to around 225 species of fish. Apart from that, more than 150 species of migratory as well as resident birds inhabit the Chilla Wildlife Sanctuary. Capturing a number of colorful and enchanting species in camera was actually a fun.

Post lunch, my next destination was the Konark Sun Temple (magnificent Sun Temple built in 1278). Its architectural beauty lies in spectacular carvings, 24 wheels around the temple, 7 horses pulling the temple, and two lions guarding the entrance. I also paid short visits to the Ganesha Temple, Lakshmi Temple, Mausi Ma Temple and the Loknath Temple. My driver asked me if I wanted to visit the Museum & Sudarshan Workshop, which is a favorite of all the art lovers. It displays a number of artistic works of contemporary artists, handicraft items, paintings and sculptures in stone, wood and fiberglass etc. But I

preferred going to the market to buy some souvenirs.

The shops were loaded with traditional crafts, bead and bamboo works, Pattachitras (miniature religious paintings on silk and cotton fabric), wooden combs, pitchers, glasses, lamps, masks and metal crafts. But I found them a bit costly. My last destination in Puri was the picturesque beach, where I enjoyed my dinner along with a few classical dance performances that turn out to be the perfect mirror of Orissa culture.

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Being a fitness freak I have always had an inclination towards Ayurveda. And

undoubtedly Kerala, God’s own country, is the best bet for people interested in pampering body and mind. So I thought of spending blissful time by the sea while enjoying Ayurvedic massage. Well, the very thought pushed my adrenalin level into high gear. With ‘great expectations’ in my heart, I flew down to Kerala for refreshing and rejuvenating holidays.

I was booked in Travancore Heritage resort in Kovalam, which is located

at a close distance from the mesmerizing Kovalam beaches. I wake up early morning as I did not want to miss the pristine beauty of the sun climbing up the sky and the scenic beauty of the beach. Kovalam is famous for its three beaches – the Light House beach, Hawa beach and Samudra beach. I had planned to visit all the three beaches and my first spot was the Lighthouse beach. The views of swirling palm trees, indomitable sea waves, rising sun, blue sky and local fishermen dragging nets were overwhelming.

The Ayurvedic massage I took at one of the Ayurveda heath centres at the beach truly rejuvenated me to the hilt. I felt as if all my fatigue which had accumulated over the years was slowly leaving my body and mind. In fact, I felt at peace with my own self. I refrained from talking during the massage session as I wanted to savour every moment. My massage session went on for an hour. Believe me you can never have enough of magical Ayurvedic massage.

Known as the Rasayana Chiitsa or rejuvenation therapy, my massage session was unhurried and carefully administered. The masseur did his job amazingly well and his skills were evident from the way with which he controlled the pressure to find and dissolve knots of tension in the neck, shoulders and back. After the massage with the herbal oil, an aromatic sandalwood pack was applied to my body. Then I was asked to rest for an hour before pampering myself with a hot steam bath. The entire experience was great.

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My friends laughed at me when I made a plan to visit the green paradise

‘Kerala‘ in July. They called it ‘off season’ because of monsoon. But believe me, Kerala is lovely anytime of the year. Because of some of the finest beaches, hill stations and backwaters in the world, it serves as a picture perfect honeymoon destination. After my research, I planned to go for a backwater trip in Kerala.

I started with the serene backwaters of Kumarakom, where I hired a houseboat with single bedroom. That luxuriously decorated houseboat (traditional Kettuvallom) took me to a journey of the enchanting beaches, dreamy hill stations, aromatic tea & spice plantations and dense greens. The backwaters were full of various other houseboats and I could see numerous couples enjoying their honeymoon vacations to start their blissful marital life. I could imagine that enjoying a luxury houseboat ride and sailing along the serene backwaters of Kerala along your companion would surely be an unforgettable experience.

During my three day trip on the modern and luxurious houseboat, the cook served me a huge variety of delectable freshly cooked dishes. I could see the couples floating along serene backwaters with no one to interfere in their privacy. While passing through lush green forests, I could feel the exotic fragrance of lilies and invigorating lotuses. Colourful water birds trailing the houseboat and flying in azure sky were another fascinating attraction. I spent many hours in night while lazing on the deck of my houseboat and enjoying the breathtaking view of sparkling stars.
I woke up to the chirping of birds and enjoyed the fascinating glimpses of beautiful countryside. My backwater trip offered me a wonderful opportunity to see the amazing Chinese Fishing Nets and Fort Cochin at Cochin, 140 year old Pier and Snake Boat Races at Alappuzha, Shri Padhmanabhaswamy Temple and the 19^th century Napier Museum at Thiruvananthapuram, and few other exciting attractions of Kumarakom, Kovalam etc. Stretching up to 1500 km, these shimmering backwaters of Kerala are best mediums to explore the verdant green hill stations and secluded beaches while on a honeymoon trip.

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