“Do not go where the path may lead; go where there is no path and leave your trail…”
This quote perfectly encapsulates the journey of the human spirit to courageously venture out into the unknown and the unexplored, to embark upon a unique expedition creating a totally new possibility which amazes the heart to its very brim. Needless to say, that looking back would indeed bring a smile to one’s face as what would have just been experienced be life, at its fullest potential.
White Rann of Kutch
‘Kachchh’, an ancient land which intermittently becomes wet and dry. It possessed great antiquity taking its name from its geographical characteristics and topographical features resembling a tortoise (Kachchh).
Visit Kutch, see the Great Rann of Kutch, an arid expanse that is mostly made of up of salt desert, covering around 10,000 square kilometers and stretching close to the Pakistan border.
Watch the
magical sunset over a vast expanse of sand blanket, and especially under
the stars in a full moon night. Making it even more astonishing, the
salt is submerged underwater during the main monsoon season in India. A
treasure trove of arts & handicrafts, produced by some of the very
talented artisans in its villages scattered all over the area.
* Nearest city: Bhuj (80 km)
* Nearest airport: Bhuj (70 km)
* Nearest rail station: Bhuj junction (104 km)
* Best time to visit: October to February
Mandu in Madhya Pradesh
Mandu, a magical destination having an ethereal beauty that will make you fall in love with it. A city full of heritage sites is the reminiscence of love and romance between Prince Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati, who once ruled the region, is immortalized through marvelous structures, monuments, and palaces, built in their memories.
Rani Roopmati Pavilion, Hoshang Shah's tomb, Baz Bahadur Palace, Jahaz Mehal or Ship Palace that makes it one of the most popular tourist attractions. Rock cut cave paintings are other things that one can see in Mandu to explore the rich heritage of this magnificent town. Gift yourself the articulated handicraft and fabric. Visit some local shops that sell sarees in Chanderi, block print, silk chiffon hand woven sarees, zardosi, Maheshwari, Padana, and Mandsaur.
* Nearest city: Indore (63 km)
* Nearest airport: Indore (100 km)
* Nearest rail station: Indore junction (90 km)
* Best time to visit: October to March
Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
Orchha is the erstwhile capital city of the Bundela rulers. The town is steeped in history and is famous for its palaces and temples built in the 16th and 17th centuries. The architectural splendor of the monuments in Orchha reflects the glory of its rulers. The Betwa River, on whose banks Orchha lies, and the forests around it attract tourists to this place.
* Nearest city: Jhansi (15 km); Gwalior (124 km); Khajuraho (172 km)
* Nearest airport: Gwalior (132 km)
* Nearest rail station: Jhansi (15 km)
* Best time to visit: October to March
Ranakpur Jain Temple and Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan
The ornate Jain temple at Ranakpur, which is a 15th century temple, built in white marble exquisitely intricate carvings, is unique in its architectural elegance. The entire complex is built on over 40,000 sq. ft. and comprises 29 halls, 5 spires, 20 domes, and 420 pillars. The temple is enclosed on all four sides with a row of 86 chapels. All these architectural elements are covered with carvings that are so delicate that it looks like lacework. It is amazing to find that among hundreds of pillars, no two are alike.
Located 64 kms north of Udaipur in the wilderness, Kumbhalgarh is the second most important citadel after Chittorgarh in the Mewar region. Cradled in the Aravali Ranges, the fort was built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha. Because of its inaccessibility and hostile topography, the fort had remained un-conquered. The fort is self-contained and has within its amalgam almost everything to withstand a long siege. The fort has many magnificent palaces and an array of temples built by the Mauryas of which the most picturesque is the Badal Mahal or the palace of the clouds. The fort also offers a superb bird view of the surroundings. The fort's thick wall stretches some 36 kms and is wide enough to take eight horses abreast. Maharani Faith Singh renovated the fort in the 19th century.
* Nearest city: Udaipur (95 km); Jodhpur (155 km)
* Nearest airport: Udaipur (120 km)
* Nearest rail station: Jhansi (92 km)
* Best time to visit: October to March
Jawai, Rajasthan
Jawai is a fascinating tale of wildlife conservation. Famous for leopards, it is located about 130 kilometers south of Jodhpur. Through the efforts of the local community, the leopards of Jawai have not only increased in number, but are also being talked about. Jawai is not a protected wildlife sanctuary. In this particular area, the leopard cohabits with the villagers and other animals. But the interesting thing is that no major cases of man-animal conflict have been reported as yet. It seems that the Jawai leopards are living harmoniously in the midst of the people. The Jawai leopards reside in a stunning landscape surrounded by granite rocks. Jawai dam, the biggest dam in western Rajasthan and the colorful local people turned this landscape into a major tourist attraction.
* Nearest city: Jodhpur (145 km)
* Nearest airport: Jodhpur (155 km)
* Nearest rail station: Jodhpur (155 km)
* Best time to visit: October to early April
Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh
The Great Himalayan National Park, also known as Jawahar Lal Nehru National Park, located in the upper ranges of the Himalayas, is a kaleidoscope of alpine flora and fauna. The park is located in the Seraj Forest Division of Kullu District in Himachal Pradesh some 60 km southwest of the Kullu town. It is in the southeast bounded by the Rupi Bhaba Sanctuary in the Pin Valley National Park in the east, and Kanwar Wildlife Sanctuary in the North.
A major part of the national park is permanently under glaciers and ice. A large part of the park's green cover is composed of three varieties of oak – ban, more, and chose. It is one of the last undisturbed Western Himalayan ecosystems, giving shelter to a diverse variety of wildlife and forests.
The park is home to rare "Western Tragopan" and 200 species of birds and over 30 species of mammals. This park offers an ideal opportunity to experience camping and trekking through serene alpine pastures. The best time to visit the park is during summer and autumn.
* Nearest city: Kullu (60 km)
* Nearest airport: Bhuntar, Kullu (60 km)
* Nearest rail station: Joginder Nagar, near Mandi (145 km)
* Best time to visit: March, April, May, June; Mid-September, October and November
Ziro and Basar, Arunachal Pradesh
Ziro a beautiful hill station located 1500 meters above sea level. The place has an imposing landscape of beautiful lush green forests, rivulets, and elevated patches. It is one of the oldest towns in Arunachal Pradesh. The area is renowned for the terrace paddy fields having a unique system of poly-culture and water management. Besides an unmatched scenic and wildlife grandeur, Ziro is also famous for its unique tribal heritage, home to “Apatanis”, as fondly referred to the people belonging to the oldest tribe of the North East. They are acknowledged worldwide especially for their women adorning massive nose rings and huge dark facial tattoos that cover their forehead, nose and chin.
Basar is a town in West Siang District in Arunachal Pradesh. It is popular, as it is the abode of the Galo people. Basar is a paradise for trekkers and nature lovers, which makes it a perfect destination for an itinerary of Arunachal Pradesh focused on outdoor activities. The pristine scenery of this beautiful place dotted with verdant forests, lush paddy fields, gorgeous orange, kiwi, and pineapple orchards, and breath-taking waterfalls, makes it an ideal place for all nature lovers and photographers. Basar is peppered with plenty of hiking trails, mysterious caves, and fascinating jungles and rivulets that leaves travelers with a variety of adventure options.
* Nearest city: Itanagar (115 km)
* Nearest airport: Jorhat, Assam (98 km)
* Nearest rail station: Naharalagun, Arunachal Pradesh (100 km)
* Best time to visit: Throughout the year
Manas National Park, Assam
Manas National Park or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, at the base of the foothills of the Bhutan-Himalayas in the state of Assam, with unique biodiversity and landscape is one of the first reserves included in the network of tiger reserves under Project Tiger in 1973. Manas acquired the status of a Biosphere reserve in 1989. Manas National Park has a unique identity that makes it very different from other wildlife sanctuaries of the world. It is home to some of the highly rare and endangered wildlife species such as the Red Panda, Pygmy Hog, Golden Langur, the Hispid Hare, and the Assam Roofed Top Turtle. Indian tigers and Asiatic Water Buffalo are also found here.
* Nearest city: Barpeta Road, Assam (20 km)
* Nearest airport: Guwahati, Assam (140 km)
* Nearest rail station: Barpeta Road Railway Station (20 km)
* Best time to visit: November to April
Desert National Park, Jaisalmer
Sitting in the sand dunes of the Thar Desert, the Desert National Park is regarded as one of the largest national parks in India, and is widely considered to be a must visit as part of the Jaisalmer trip. Established in 1980, it depicts the ecosystem of the Thar Desert. Spread over an area of 3162 sq. km, the park is extensively covered by sand dunes over large extents. There are many lakes inside the national park including Rajbaugh Lake, Milak Lake, and Padam Talao Lake.
The park is a birders paradise, over 120 resident and migratory birds can be found in the park. The most commonly spotted birds include various species of eagles, vultures, falcons, harriers, kestrels, larks, shrikes, buzzards, etc. Desert national park is home to some of the rarest species of birds like the Great Indian Bustard. It migrates locally in different seasons.
Chinkara, desert fox, Bengal fox, desert cat, Blackbuck, hedgehog, etc. are some of the most commonly seen species of animals in the park. It is home to a great variety of reptiles such as the Russell viper, saw-scaled viper, monitor lizard, Krait, etc.
There are over 40 species of reptiles in the park. The fauna cover is limited to thorny shrubs, cacti, grasses, and a few other plants and trees. The Desert National Park has a collection of fossils of animals and plants about 180 million years old. Some fossils of Dinosaurs being 6 million years old have been found in the area.
The best way to explore the Desert National Park is by taking a Jeep safari. The most suitable time to visit the area is between November and January. This is the time when the maximum number of migratory birds visit this area.
* Nearest city: Jaisalmer (10 km)
* Nearest airport: Jodhpur (295 km)
* Nearest rail station: Jaisalmer (13 km)
* Best time to visit: October to March
Loktak Lake, Manipur
Loktak Lake is not only the largest freshwater lake in northeast India, it is also home to the unique floating islands called “Phumdis”. These circular landmasses are made of vegetation, soil, and organic matter (at different stages of decomposition) that have been thickened into a solid form. The islands have a spongy surface that feels like a trampoline. Like an iceberg, most of the mass of phumdis lies below the water surface. During the dry season, when water levels drop, the living roots of the islands can reach the lake bed and absorb nutrients.
The lake houses the only floating national park in the world, the Keibul Lamjao National Park, which is the last refuge of the endangered brow-antlered deer or sangai, Manipur's state animal. In addition, the lake shelters about 230 species of aquatic plants, 100 types of birds and 400 species of fauna like barking deer, sambar, and the Indian python. Loktak is a visual treat for birdwatchers, who can find species like black kite, East Himalayan pied kingfisher, northern hill myna, lesser eastern jungle crow, Burmese pied myna, and lesser skylark.
* Nearest city: Imphal, Manipur (40 km)
* Nearest airport: Imphal, Manipur (30 km)
* Nearest rail station: Jiribam, Manipur (180 km)
* Best time to visit: Throughout the year
Lachung, Sikkim
Lachung, about 118 kms from Gangtok in North Sikkim, is situated at an altitude of 8,858 ft. Also known as the 'Small Pass', Lachung is embraced by snowcapped mountain peaks, breathtaking waterfalls, sparkling streams, and apple orchards, also peaches and apricots. The market of this city is filled with handicrafts such as exquisitely woven rugs and blankets that make this town ideal for shopping sprees. The residents of Lachung who are mostly Bhutias call themselves Lachungpas. Lachung finds its place on holiday itineraries of almost every traveler visiting Sikkim, especially those who are en route to ‘Yumthang Valley’ or ‘Zero Point’.
* Nearest city: Gangtok, Sikkim (110 km)
* Nearest airport: Bagdogra, West Bengal (195 km)
* Nearest rail station: New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal (190 km)
* Best time to visit: October to June
Chopta, Uttarakhand
Chopta a small region of meadows and evergreen forest area, is a picturesque hamlet which is still unexplored by travelers. Famously known as "Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand", Chopta is a superb trekking destination in Uttarakhand. Surrounded by meadows and evergreen forests with the spectacular views of the mighty Himalayan ranges. The flora of the abode is enclosed by the dwindling pines, deodars, rhododendrons, and other conifers that can be found in this region.
Chopta is a birding paradise and you can see over 240 species of birds here, including native and migratory species like Himalayan monal, Himalayan swiftlet, Himalayan griffon, scarlet finch, hill partridge, and so on.
Nearby places like Dugalbitta, Mandal village, Makkumath, and the Tungnath trek route are the best sites for watching our feathered friends. Chopta has been declared as an important birdwatching site by national and international conservation and biodiversity organizations.
* Nearest city: Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand (25 km)
* Nearest airport: Jolly Grant, Dehradun (175 km)
* Nearest rail station: Haridwar (185 km)
* Best time to visit: October to May
Binsar, Uttarakhand
Binsar, the erstwhile summer capital of the Chand Dynasty rulers, situated at the height of 2,420 meters, the sleepy and picturesque hamlet are one of the most scenic locations in the Kumaon hills. Due to its location, it offers spellbinding views of the majestic Himalayan peaks such as Chaukhamba, Trishul, Nanda Devi, Shivling, and Panchachuli. Locals say Binsar was named after the Bineshwar Mahadev temple, a 16th century temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Binsar is a place to unwind and relax. The town is fringed by the beautiful Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, always inviting the bird watchers into its majestic lap.
* Nearest city: Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand (25 km)
* Nearest airport: Jolly Grant, Dehradun (175 km)
* Nearest rail station: Haridwar (185 km)
* Best time to visit: Throughout the year
National Chambal Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
National Chambal Sanctuary, also called the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, is a 5,400 sq. km Tristate protected area in northern India. The National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS) is a 400 km stretch of the river Chambal and a 1 to 6 km wide swathe of the ravines on both sides of the river, covering an area of 1235 sq. km. Home to the critically endangered gharial (small crocodiles), the red-crowned roof turtle, the endangered Ganges river dolphin, eight species of Turtles, and the Smooth-coated Otters, the Sanctuary boasts of a rapidly increasing and impressive bird list of over 330 species of resident and migratory birds, and is gaining a reputation as one of the most reliable places to spot the Indian Skimmer.
* Nearest city: Agra (65 km)
* Nearest airport: Delhi (285 km)
* Nearest rail station: Agra (65 km)
* Best time to visit: October to April
Kalna, West Bengal
Kalna or Ambika Kalna, known as the ‘City of Temples’ is named after the goddess Kali, Maa Ambika. It has numerous historical monuments, such as the Rajbari (the palace) and Nava Kailash, 108 Shiva temples. The city of Kalna is situated 60 kilometers from Bardhaman. It is famous for its terracotta temples that date back to the 18th century. The shrine complex matches the splendor and artistic excellence of the terracotta temples at Bishnupur.
* Nearest city: Kolkata (95 km)
* Nearest airport: Kolkata (92 km)
* Nearest rail station: Ambika Kalna railway station
* Best time to visit: October to March
