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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Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

The sight of a tiger in the Periyar National Park had already crowned our tour with golden memories. Cherishing these memories and to add more golden memories 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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After enjoying and experiencing the rich cultural heritage of Tanjore we headed towards Madurai city in Tamil Nadu. This small culturally rich destination of South India is one of the oldest cities in Asia. It is internationally known for the incredibly beautiful Meenakshi Amman Temple.

We reached Madurai in the early morning and after a brief rest we headed towards the Meenakshi Amman Temple. On the way to the temple our guide Shravan told us about this famous city and its temple. This ancient city is ideally located on the banks of river Vaigai. Popularly known as the temple city, it is the third largest city in Tamil Nadu. The history of this city spans over 2,500 years and it was also an important trade center in the past.

As we reached the world famous Meenakshi Amman Temple, I was left spell bound by its architectural beauty. It clearly reflects the glory of this region in the past. Its beauty attracts many a tourist from across the globe. Built in honor of Goddess Menakshi( Parvati) and his consort Lord Shiva in the 12th century by Kulasekara Pandyan, the temple has nine stories which are lavishly decorated with exquisite carvings and sculptures. I wondered how creative the artists and craftsmen of that era must have been!

Our guide Shravan said that this Hindu temple has an interesting legend attached to it. The legend goes that Lord Shiva poured nectar or Madhu on this city and hence it was named Madhu. Later after the 14th century the name was distorted to Madurai. I could really feel the positive vibes while we were exploring the temple.

Showcasing the beauty of the Dravidian architecture, the temple is extravagantly decorated. I was amazed at the beauty of the wonderful gopurams which were adorned with stucco figures of heavenly deities, mythical animals and monsters painted in vibrant colors. The use of different colors to paint the temple is one of the most striking features of the temple.

Before visiting the main shrine of the temple complex we took a bath in the Golden Lotus Tank located inside the temple premises. It is believed that this pond is much older than the temple and was created by Lord Shiva. Taking a dip in this pond is considered auspicious.

After taking blessing of the goddess and lord, we visited the thousand pillared hall. There are 985 pillars inside the hall and all the pillars are beautifully carved. And the interesting fact is that no two pillars look alike. Also the musical pillars inside the temple are the other main attractions. There are five musical pillars carved out of a single stone. They are named musical pillars as when they are tapped they produce sound. We also saw the Kalyana Mandap, the hall inside the temple where the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is solemnized every year in April during the festival of Meenakshi Thirukalayanam.

It was such a pleasant experience to visit the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Tamil Nadu.

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This is the second time I was visiting Pondicherry and I was really excited about it. Pondicherry is a whimsical destination where you can enjoy natural beauty at its best. We reached Auroville town 10 km north of Pondicherry in the afternoon. I call this unique town as ‘the town of humanity’ as it is a home to several Indian and International residents who live here in harmony. There we met a family from France. They have been living here for the last 20 years and were speaking fluent Hindi with great ease. I was amazed! It is a beautiful destination founded with an aim to make it a Universal town where people from different nationalities could live together peacefully.

Next we visited the Matri Mandir which is an important religious place of the town. This town is affectionately dubbed as the ‘City of Dawn’. Our guide told us that there are 1000 varieties of trees in this small town. The gorgeous greenery, peaceful ambiance and natural beauty of this town really makes it a great destination to visit.

Next day we drove to Tanjore, the culturally rich city of the state of Tamil Nadu. The most famous attraction of this city is its paintings. And the South Indian temples of this city are simply marvelous. Here we visited the Brihadeshwara temple dating back to the 10th century. Its incredible architectural beauty earned it the title of ‘World Heritage Site’. Reflecting perfect example of Dravidian style of architecture, this temple is surrounded by fortified walls which were added back in the 16th century. The temple tower (called Vimana in south India) is 216 ft high and is one of the tallest of its kind in the world. The interior walls of the temple are festooned with Chola Fresco paintings which were completely mesmerizing. Being a dance lover I made sure to see all the 108 dance poses of Lord Nataraja beautifully depicted on the walls of the temple.

In the evening we browsed the colorful bazaars of Tanjore and bought beautiful paintings at ‘bargained price’. Wow I was so happy at this achievement! We had our dinner at one of the restaurants and enjoyed traditional dishes of South India. We gorged on Thavala Adai( a kind of vada) with rasam. It is one of the popular dishes of this city. We also had dosa, and Uttapam. In the end we rounded off our hearty meal with sweet dishes Surul Poli, Pal Payasam and Kozhakottai. This marked the end of our tour to Tanjore. The next day we were scheduled to travel to Madurai city of Tamil Nadu.

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The monotonous routine of daily life had left us jaded and we were longing for a rejuvenating break. And needless to say traveling is the most rejuvenating activity for us. Here us includes me and my friends Monika, Tahir and Sanjog. We with great difficulty took leave for a week from our respective offices and embarked on our journey to South India. Well we had a holiday dilemma and we browsed several sites on travel and tours. Finally we decided to go on a temple and spice tour of South India. South India Temples are famous for their glorious legends and breathtaking architectural beauty. Some of the temples are also the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We started from Delhi and reached Chennai, our first halt. This wonderful city is famous for its cultural heritage and history. Post breakfast we headed for our first destination, Fort St. George. Our guide told us that this fort was built by the British East India Company in 1640. We visited the museum inside the fort which houses ten galleries displaying armory, old uniforms, crockery & silverware, coins, palanquins, paintings, letters and several other rare articles belonging to the Britishers.

Next we headed for the National Art Gallery which was founded in 1857. We visited its various sections based on archeology, botany, geology, anthropology, zoology, numismatics and sculpture. Next we visited the beautiful Kapileshwar temple dating back to the 8th century. Our guide told us that the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva who used to be worshiped as a peacock in the temple. And according to the legend, desirous to get married to Lord Shiva, goddess Parvati took the form of a peacock. The Dravidian style of architecture of the temple is truly mesmerizing.

The next day we drove to Kanchipuram, the religious capital of South India which is ideally located on the banks of river Vegavati. Most of the temples in this city are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Ramesh our guide said, ‘ At one point of time this city had over 1,000 temples, but over the years now only around hundred are left’. He took us to the Kailasanatha temple, a beautiful temple built in the 8th century. We were left spell bound with its intricate carvings and fresco style paintings. Then we visited Kamakshi Amma Temple and were awe-inspired by its golden gopuram and exquisite carvings. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi( goddess Parvati) and is one of the three main sacred sites of Shakti worship in the country.

After seeing some more beautiful temples we went to the bazaar for shopping as this city is famous for silk saris. Beautiful and fine silk saris are produced here. We bought several shopping items including the silk saris which had brought a big smile on my face.

Next we headed towards Mahabalipuram and reached there at night. Mahabalipuram is a World Heritage Site famous for its rock-cut and monolithic monuments. The next morning we visited the famous Shore Temple which was built in the 7th century in Dravidian style of architecture. The presiding deities of the temple are Lord Shiva and Vishnu. Located on the shores of Bay of Bengal ocean, this five-storied structure is majestically carved and sculpted. We also saw Arjuna’s Penance, another famous attraction of Mahabalipuram. It is the world’s largest bas-relief. The next attraction we visited was Five Rathas, the monolithic cave temples which are incredibly beautiful.

A visit to these wonderful places and attractions was a great delight and now we were eagerly waiting for some more destinations. The rich cultural heritage of South India beautifully reflects in its temples and monuments. Next we were slated to reach Pondicherry and several other destinations which I will cover in my next blog.

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Come summers and I start planning a trip to hill station to escape the heat for some time. I was going through ‘Srishti’, a nature based magazine and came across an article on Mount Abu, a hill station in Rajasthan. After reading the article featuring amazing pictures of this hill station I decided to explore Mount Abu this time. I immediately called up my friend Monika and Pallavi and soon we finalized Mount Abu as our destination for this summer.

Mount Abu is the only hill station of Rajasthan which attracts many a tourist from far and wide. Located at an elevation of 1,220 m above sea level, this hill station is famous for its scenic beauty, pleasant climate and several other amazing attractions. We reached Mount Abu at 6 in the morning and were booked at the heritage hotel, Kesar Bhawan Palace. It is a wonderful place to stay at as it is located on a hillock offering breathtaking views of the surroundings. Also the famous Lake of Mount Abu and bazaars are located at a walking distance from the hotel.

After refreshment we began our Mount Abu tour with our guide Ravinder Singh. Chatting with him we headed towards the Nakki Lake by car.  It is the most enchanting attraction of this hill station. Ravinder told us that the legend goes that this lake was dug by the Gods with their nails. Highly picturesque, this lake is hemmed in by majestic Aravalli mountains which adds more beauty to it. Beautiful gardens and rock formations are the other attractions near the lake. The climate was very pleasant here which was a great relief from the sultry heat of Delhi. We sat here for some time and captured the natural beauty in our camera. The Toad rock near the lake was an interesting feature of this place. Lying overhanging the lake, this rock is in the form of a toad. Ravinder told that it would be great if we come here in the evening also to enjoy breathtaking sunset views.

From here we went back to our hotel for lunch. After relishing delicious lunch we set out for Dilwara Jain Temple, which are well known throughout the world for their stunning architectural beauty. As we reached there I was completely bowled over by their architectural beauty. The exquisitely carved walls, ceilings and pillars of the temples are simply awe-inspiring. Dilwara Jain Temples is a World Heritage Site where people come from across the globe. These temples were built during the 11^th to 13^th century AD. They are majestically carved out of white marble.

After exploring the Dilwara Jain Temples we headed towards Gurushikhar, which is the highest point in the Aravalli mountain range. Here we greeted our senses with picture-perfect views of the surroundings and breathtaking sunset views. This marked the end of our memorable and pleasurable Mount Abu Tour.

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