Kerala Travels

17/12/2016

Majuli, one of the most surreal places in India is also the World’s largest river island. Connected via boats with the city of Jorhat, Majuli is a beautiful exotic location, yet unknown to most of the tourists in India. Majuli has also been nominated for one of the places in UNESCO World’s Heritage List. The culture, mostly very locally defined due to high tribal population is quite unique and it has been referred as the cultural capital of Assam. The ideal time to visit Majuli is between October to March, however the monsoons are also quite beautiful in Majuli.

11/12/2016

11/12/2016

WE NEED CURRENCY NOT E- PAYMENTS

SAY NO TO E-PAYMENTS ITS A TRAP......
HERE IT IS WHY......READ IT AND SHARE IT.....

Higher Costs
One of the downsides to accepting electronic transactions is that you’ll have to pay fees for these services. Depending on how you process your transactions, you might be charged various processing fees, which can cut into your profits. Talk with your bank or whoever sets up your electronic transactions to learn if you will have a gateway fee, processing fees and transaction fees, and what they will be. Different vendors have different rates. Some require setup fees, a minimum number of transactions each month or a minimum payment. In addition to payment transactions, you will have costs to set up and operate online sales, either through your own website or through a third party. Factor these increased costs into your budget to determine if you need to raise your prices, and what impact this will have on your sales.
Delayed Access to Cash
When you take payment in cash, you immediately have that money to work with. With electronic payments, you might not have access to your money for several days to a week. Depending on how tight your cash flow is, you might need to arrange longer payment terms with your vendors and suppliers if you want to take electronic payments. If you can’t ship products or deliver services until you receive payments, you might lose customers if the lag time is more than a day or two.
Increased Security Risks
The more electronic information you send and receive, the higher your risk of fraud, computer hacking or credit card number theft. That's why many banks, card processors and online sales vendors provide secure payment systems. If you sell online, for example, you might have to undertake an annual verification of your credit card processing software and practices to retain your account. Talk to all of your transaction partners to learn what will happen in the event of a security breach, and what your liability might be in the event of one.
Additional Work
If you’re not comfortable using computers -- especially website-based programs -- using electronic transactions will require that you hire someone you can trust to help you set up and maintain your ordering and payment systems. This will increase your costs. If you try to do it yourself, you’ll need to frequently check your various accounts, which can cover online order-taking, credit card processing, credit card payments, e-checks, PayPal payments, shopping cart and bank accounts. The time you devote to these duties can take away from other important duties, such as growing your business.

11/12/2016

SAY NO TO E-PAYMENTS ITS A TRAP......
HERE IT IS WHY......READ IT AND SHARE IT.....

Higher Costs
One of the downsides to accepting electronic transactions is that you’ll have to pay fees for these services. Depending on how you process your transactions, you might be charged various processing fees, which can cut into your profits. Talk with your bank or whoever sets up your electronic transactions to learn if you will have a gateway fee, processing fees and transaction fees, and what they will be. Different vendors have different rates. Some require setup fees, a minimum number of transactions each month or a minimum payment. In addition to payment transactions, you will have costs to set up and operate online sales, either through your own website or through a third party. Factor these increased costs into your budget to determine if you need to raise your prices, and what impact this will have on your sales.

Delayed Access to Cash
When you take payment in cash, you immediately have that money to work with. With electronic payments, you might not have access to your money for several days to a week. Depending on how tight your cash flow is, you might need to arrange longer payment terms with your vendors and suppliers if you want to take electronic payments. If you can’t ship products or deliver services until you receive payments, you might lose customers if the lag time is more than a day or two.

Increased Security Risks
The more electronic information you send and receive, the higher your risk of fraud, computer hacking or credit card number theft. That's why many banks, card processors and online sales vendors provide secure payment systems. If you sell online, for example, you might have to undertake an annual verification of your credit card processing software and practices to retain your account. Talk to all of your transaction partners to learn what will happen in the event of a security breach, and what your liability might be in the event of one.

Additional Work
If you’re not comfortable using computers -- especially website-based programs -- using electronic transactions will require that you hire someone you can trust to help you set up and maintain your ordering and payment systems. This will increase your costs. If you try to do it yourself, you’ll need to frequently check your various accounts, which can cover online order-taking, credit card processing, credit card payments, e-checks, PayPal payments, shopping cart and bank accounts. The time you devote to these duties can take away from other important duties, such as growing your business.

26/08/2016

A cave at Waitomo on the north island of New Zealand, it is known for the population of glowworms that are around the size of an average mosquito. It is part of the Waitomo Cave system along with the Ruakuri Cave and the Aranui Cave. Unique only to New Zealand, this is a must-see for any traveler who can enjoy a boat ride amidst thousands of glowworms illuminating the cave and be a part of over 120 years of cultural and natural history.

16/08/2016

A naked sun terrace has opened in London and the views are incredible.
The pop up terrace, which can be found in Westminster, 60ft up, has views of Big Ben, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament.
It also boasts an open-air cocktail bar, relaxing sun-bathing areas, mini trampolines and swing-ball (which sounds like an accident waiting to happen but whatever).
Visitors are encouraged to dispense with their clothes and their worries at the door.

The pop-up had a soft launch earlier this week and people can now register their interest online for further dates throughout the summer.
Trampolining

It is the brainchild of Now TV. Of course.
terrace 2

Here’s their managing director attempting to explain what naked trampolining has to do with contract-free TV: ‘As a nation, it seems we’re increasingly avoiding being ‘tied down’ in life – which is exactly what NOW TV is all about.
naked 4

‘We’re going to keep breaking away from traditional conventions; firstly contracts, and now clothes, with the NOW TV nudist terrace. We think the naked sun deck is a great way to promote our new “package”!’

There's also a trampoline.

06/08/2016

Animals that got extinct:

The Baiji population declined drastically in recent decades as China industrialized and made heavy use of the river for fishing, transportation, and hydroelectricity. As China developed economically, pressure on the river dolphin grew significantly. Industrial and residential waste flowed into the Yangtze. The riverbed was dredged and reinforced with concrete in many locations. Ship traffic multiplied, boats grew in size, and fishermen employed wider and more lethal nets. Noise pollution caused the nearly blind animal to collide with propellers. In the 1970s and 1980s, an estimated half of Baiji deaths were attributed to entanglement in fishing gear. Only a few hundred were left by 1970. Then the number dropped down to 400 by the 1980s and then to 13 in 1997 when a full-fledged search was conducted. The dolphin was declared functionally extinct after an expedition late in 2006 failed to record a single individual after an extensive search of the animal’s entire range.

01/08/2016

THIS BIRD IS IN EXTINCT NOW....CAN YOU BELIEVE

An extinct flightless bird that inhabited the island of Mauritius, the Dodo was about one metre tall and may have weighed 10–18 kg. The Dodo's appearance is evidenced only by illustrations and written accounts from the 17th century but because these vary considerably, its exact appearance in life remains unresolved. It is presumed that the Dodo became flightless because of the ready availability of abundant food sources (seeds, bulbs, nuts, roots and fallen fruits) and a relative absence of predators on Mauritius. The first recorded mention of the dodo was by Dutch sailors in 1598. In the following years, the bird was hunted to extinction by sailors, their domesticated animals, and invasive species introduced during that time. The last widely accepted sighting of a Dodo was in 1662.

29/07/2016

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS.......

Most people are familiar with the story of Atlantis, the legendary sunken city as described by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. Till this day, opinion is still divided as to whether this story should be understood literally or taken merely as a morality tale. Further east in the subcontinent of India is a similar tale, though it probably is less well known compared to that of Atlantis. This is the ‘lost continent’ of Lemuria, frequently connected to the legend of Kumari Kandam by speakers of the Tamil language.
The term Lemuria has its origins in the latter part of the 19 th century. The English geologist Philip Sclater was puzzled by the presence of lemur fossils in Madagascar and India but not in mainland Africa and the Middle East. Thus, in his 1864 article entitled ‘The Mammals of Madagascar’, Sclater proposed that Madagascar and India were once part of a larger continent, and named this missing landmass ‘Lemuria’. Sclater’s theory was accepted by the scientific community of that period as the explanation of the way lemurs could have migrated from Madagascar to India or vice versa in ancient times. With the emergence of the modern concepts of continental drift and plate tectonics, however, Sclater’s proposition of a submerged continent was no longer tenable. Yet, the idea of a lost continent refused to die, and some still believe that Lemuria was an actual continent that existed in the past.
One such group is the Tamil nationalists. The term Kumari Kandam first appeared in the 15 th century Kanda Puranam, the Tamil version of the Skanda Puranam. Yet, stories about an ancient land submerged by the Indian Ocean have been recorded in many earlier Tamil literary works. According to the stories, there was a portion of land that was once ruled by the Pandiyan kings and was swallowed by the sea. When narratives about Lemuria arrived in colonial India, the country was going through a period when folklore was beginning to permeate historic knowledge as facts. As a result, Lemuria was quickly equated with Kumari Kandam.
Bhagavata-Purana, 10th Skanda
Bhagavata-Purana, 10th Skanda. Image source .
The story of Kumari Kandam is not regarded as just a story, but seems to be laden with nationalistic sentiments. It has been claimed that the Pandiyan kings of Kumari Kandam were the rulers of the whole Indian continent, and that Tamil civilisation is the oldest civilisation in the world. When Kumari Kandam was submerged, its people spread across the world and founded various civilisations, hence the claim that the lost continent was also the cradle of human civilisation.
Discover
Continental driftLemurFossilSkanda Purana
So, how much truth is there in the story of Kumari Kandam? According to researchers at India’s National Institute of Oceanography, the sea level was lower by 100 m about 14,500 years ago and by 60 m about 10,000 years ago. Hence, it is entirely possible that there was once a land bridge connecting the island of Sri Lanka to mainland India. As the rate of global warming increased between 12,000 and 10,000 years ago, the rising sea levels resulted in periodic flooding. This would have submerged prehistoric settlements that were located around the low-lying coastal areas of India and Sri Lanka. Stories of these catastrophic events may have been transmitted orally from one generation to another and finally written down as the story of Kumari Kandam.
One piece of evidence used to support the existence of Kumari Kandam is Adam’s Bridge (also called Rama’s Bridge), a chain of limestone shoals made up of sand, silt and small pebbles located in the Palk Strait extending 18 miles from mainland India to Sri Lanka. This strip of land was once believed to be a natural formation, however, others argue that images taken by a NASA satellite depict this land formation to be a long broken bridge under the ocean's surface.

The location of Adam's Bridge between India and Sri Lanka
The existence of a bridge in this location is also supported by another ancient legend. The Ramayana tells the tale of Sita, Rama’s wife, being held captive on the island of Lanka. Rama commissions a massive building project to construct a bridge to transport his army of Vanara (ape men) across the ocean to Lanka.

27/07/2016

Places to Visit before they get extinct

Reason: Increased human activity, demand and deforestation is causing the destruction of natural habitat of Madagascar’s flora and fauna. 80% of the island’s flora and fauna is endemic to the island and is not found anywhere else in the world. Poaching, logging and farming is disturbing the ecological balance. Madagascar is home to 20 species of Lemurs (shown in picture).

Fact: Only 17% of the original forest area remains today.Threat: Deforestation
Expected Time Remaining: Less than 35 years

26/07/2016

Places to Visit before they get extinct

The Dead Sea
Israel’s ancient salt sea could be the site of a looming environmental catastrophe. Within the last 40 years, the Dead Sea has shrunk by a third and sunk 80 feet, resulting in seaside resorts stranded nearly a mile from shore. The increasing use of the Jordan River, its sole water source, may result in the Dead Sea’s disappearance within 50 years.

23/07/2016

3. Places to Visit before they get extinct

People visit Egypt to see one of the world’s oldest surviving pyramids and be mesmerized by the watchful catlike Sphinx. It is one of man’s greatest triumphs over nature. The vast ever-changing desert is interrupted by this fixed Pharaohnic necropolis. There are 3 main pyramids, including the largest pyramid (in the world) which is the Great Pyramid of Khufu. The two others are the pyramids built for Khafre and Menkaure. The Pyramids of Giza have been around for over 4,000 years and will most unlikely see another century. These pompous tombs are not protected or preserved. With age and heavy tourist and animal (camels and horses) traffic, the pyramids may be entombed only in our memories and in history books. So visit the last surviving Seven Wonders of the World now.

16/07/2016

Timbuktu

Founded on the edge of the imposing Sahara Desert, the fabled city of Timbuktu with its ancient artefacts, burial grounds, and monuments is under serious threat of destruction due to a recent war between Islamic militants and Malian forces. Added in 2012 to UNESCO’s list of world heritage in danger, Timbuktu and its legacy as a mystical destination rich in spiritual, cultural and historical significance is on the verge of being wiped out. Irreplaceable shrines, mausoleums, and manuscripts have been desecrated in widespread attacks.

16/07/2016

Places to Visit before they get extinct

1. Venice

It’s no joke! Venice is sinking. A study published in the journal of the American Geophysical Union in early 2013 found that the picturesque Italian city is sinking one to two millimetres each year – a much larger measurement than was previously reported. Adding to the City of Water’s woes, the level of its lagoon is rising too, causing an additional one to two millimetres of Venice to plunge underwater each year. With four millimetres of Venice disappearing annually, the study calculated that by 2032 the romantic destination could slip below the surface by 80 mm (3.2 inches).

06/07/2016

The Kabini, also called Kapila, is a river in southern India. It originates in the Wayanad District of Kerala state as a result of the confluence of the Panamaram River and the Mananthavady River. It flows eastward to join the Kaveri River at Tirumakudalu Narasipura in Karnataka. The Kaveri river then empties into the Bay of Bengal.

Close to the town of Sargur it forms the huge Kabini ReservoirThe backwaters of the Kabini reservoir are very rich in wildlife especially in summer when the water level recedes to form rich grassy meadows. The Kabini dam is 2,284 ft (696 m) in length with an original gross storage of 19.52 tmcft, but that has been reduced considerably due to silt accumulation. The Kabini Dam is situated between villages Bichanahalli and Bidarahalli having distance of 17 km (11 mi) 6 km away from Sargur town in Heggadadevana kote taluk, Mysore district.

11/06/2016

Pakshipathalam is situated in the Brahmagiri Hills, at an altitude of 1740 m above sea level. Located at a distance of 7 km from Thirunelli, as the name itself suggests the affluence of birdlife, Pakshipathalam is a home to several species of birds. Its awe-inspiring features of untouched forests, streams and steep hills together offer a challenging as well as adventurous venue for trekking. One of its major tourist attractions is a cave which is believed to have been used for medical purpose by the saints in the ancient times. Bats seem to be the main inhabitants of this cave and one other species of birds known as ‘Edible Nest Swift’ which built their nest with their saliva is found in this cave. The adventurous part of this cave is that you will have to trek through the dense forest for about 8 km which is about 3 hrs, to reach this cave.

How to Reach:
By Road: As there is no proper road to this place, you will have to trek through the wild forest for about 16 km. Pakshipathalam is about 7 km from Thirunelli and Thirunelli is about 32 km from Mananthavady.

By Rail: The nearest railway station to this place is Kozhikode which is about 106 km from Mananthavady.

By Air: The nearest airport to this place is Karipur International Airport which is about 23 km from Kozhikode town.

Special permission must be taken from the forest department in order to reach Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary.

Major Attractions:

As the name of this place itself refers to the huge inhabitants of birds, one of the major attractions of this place is the huge cave that was used by the saints for medical purposes. . Though bats are considered as the main inhabitants of this cave, it is a home to several species of birds like babbler, cuckoo, owl, woodpecker, peacock and jungle fowl. The cave is also famous for the endangered species of bird known as ‘Edible Nest Swift’ which makes its nest with the help of its saliva. This cave is a favored place by Ornithologist because of the variety of birds living over here. Endangered animals like elephant, tiger, leopards, jungle cat, civet and bison are also found to be inhabitant of this sanctuary. There is also a watch tower in this place which can be used for watching birds and animals.

Another major attraction of this place is that it is also renowned for the trekking activities as the sanctuary itself has to be reached through trekking trails. But you have to take permissions from the forest authorities in order to gain a pass for trekking to this place. Other tourist destinations neighboring Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary includes Kuruvadweep Island which is renowned for its extraordinary ecosystem. Near to Pakshipathalam is a 950 acre stretch of evergreen forests located close to the banks of Kabani River. This evergreen forest is home to rare species of orchids, birds, and herbs.

04/06/2016

Like and Share if you like this pic... Piravom Rocks

04/06/2016

Keralatraveltoursgo.com
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31/05/2016

1. Thottada Village, Kannur.

On the confluence of the backwaters and the Arabian Sea, across a sandy beach, lies the sleepy hamlet of Thottada. On one side, a narrow stretch of backwaters meanders in the shade of tall coconut trees, and on the other, the waves of the Arabian Sea caress the golden sands of the Thottada beach. One minute, you could be spotting otters, darters, terns & kingfishers along a backwater lagoon, the other you could be strolling barefoot on the beach & playing in the waves; such is the pace of life in this tiny corner of Kannur, reached through a narrow python road from the main town.

North Kerala, Kannur, Kerala beaches, beach beaches in Kerala, Kerala backwaters beach
The backwaters meet the sea across a sandy beach.
The monsoon rains awaken Thottada from its slumber, whipping the backwaters & the sea in full flow, and after, transforming the village with soulful festivities. The Theyyam dance festival has acquired a cult status in the region with traditions dating back a thousand years, and is a colourful melange of ethnic costumes, face paintings, antique weapons, gaudy masks, folk music, ancient rituals and theatrical art, best experienced in traditional village homes.

27/05/2016

Gavi Gavi Eco-Tourism a project of the Kerala Forest Development Corporation has caught the attention of tourists, mostly from European countries. The project is exclusive in many respects and the majority who visited was nature lovers and adventure tourists. Over a short period of time visitors to Gavi gradually increased, especially after 'Alistair International' the world acclaimed tourism major listed it among the leading eco-tourism centres and one of the must-see places in India. A highlight of the Gavi eco project is the involvement of the local populace in its activities as guides, gardeners and cooks. This will provide livelihood for the locals and also will help to create awareness on conservation of nature. Gavi, located in Pathanamthitta district offers its visitors activities like trekking, wildlife watching, outdoor camping in specially built tents, and night safaris. The place is rich in flora and fauna. There are hills and valleys, tropical forests, sprawling grasslands, sholas, cascading waterfalls and cardamom plantations. Endangered species including the Nilgiri Tahr and Lion-tailed macaque are often sighted at the outskirts of Gavi. With more than 260 species of birds including the great pied hornbill, woodpecker, and kingfishers, Gavi is a heaven for birdwatchers. Another unique feature of Gavi is camping in the forests. One can pitch a tent in the camping site, which is a rarity in many Indian forests. As the dusk stretches into the silence of the night, one can feel the presence of wildlife in the middle of nowhere, an experience that cannot be explained in words. There are also tree top houses where one can enjoy the avian life to the fullest. Active involvement of tribals in Gavi makes it a unique venture of its kind in the country. Traditional knowledge of the forest and its way of life helps Gavi to sustain its surroundings in its original state. Travel Info: Gavi is located about 28 km from Vandiperiyar, which is 18 km from Thekkady. Nearest railway station, Kottayam is about 114 km away. Nearest airports, Madurai Airport (Tamil Nadu) is about 140 km away; Cochin International Airport is about 190 km awa

27/05/2016

RamakalmeduRolling green hills and the fresh mountain air make Ramakalmedu an enchanting retreat. The hilltop also offers a panoramic view of the picturesque villages of Bodi and Kambam on the eastern slope of the Western Ghats. Now the huge statues of Kuravan & Kurathi (who spotted the location for Idikki arch dam) adore the hills. Travel Info: Ramakkalmedu is 16 km from Nedumkandam on Thekkady – Munnar route. Nearest railway station Aluva is 150 km away. Nearest airport, Cochin International airport is 170 km away.

22/05/2016

Start with a two-night stay in the capital city of Colombo, the closest experience you'll find in Sri Lanka to big-city hustle and bustle. Take a full day to wander through the sprawling collection of ancient artifacts and colonial-era relics at the must-see National Museum, take a quiet walk through nearby Viharamahadevi Park (be careful not to disturb the hordes of giant fruit bats hiding in the tree tops), and make your way through the mazes of Pettah Market. At sunset, topple a cold bottle of Three Coins lager at the Galle Face Hotel's vintage seaside patio.
Next stop - Kandy
Next it's three nights and two days in Kandy. (Take the Intercity Express train from Colombo via the central highlands - this spectacular journey will be one of the highlights of your trip.) Spend the first day exploring Kandy proper: make a requisite stop at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (which purportedly contains a tooth from the Buddha), take a stroll around languid Kandy Lake, and tour the British Garrison Cemetery (perhaps meeting its stately caretaker, Mr. Charles Carmichael).

On the second day, ask your guesthouse to arrange for a driver to take you to the ancient Royal Rock Temple at Dambulla, and then on to imposing Sigiriya, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Kandy Cottage, located in the hills just outside town, is a highly recommended and affordable place to rest.
From Tea Country to Tissamaharama

On to Nuwara Eliya
Hire a driver in Kandy to take you to Nuwara Eliya, the heart of Sri Lanka's tea country. The town itself is unremarkable, but the landscape of the surrounding region, lined with rows upon rows of verdant tea bushes, is stunning (as is the ride up to the city). Though somewhat touristy, the secluded Heritance Tea Factory offers well-appointed rooms and a quiet place to relax high amidst the tea plantations.

Currently the drive down from Nuwara Eliya to Tissamaharama is a slow, winding one marked by bad roads and construction, but the reward is a safari at Yala National Park, where, if you're lucky, you'll spot elephants, tropical birds, lizards - and, maybe, spotted leopards. Spend two nights here in Tissa; most guesthouses can arrange the safari for you. Book it for the following morning upon arrival.
Relaxation on the Southern Coast

After bumpy roads and a dusty safari, it's time to kick back and relax for four days on the southern coast, which is lined with postcard-perfect, empty beaches that rival the best in South Asia. Head for serene Goyambokka Beach in Tangalla; or you could head further west is tiny Mirissa, the young backpacker's choice, or Unawatuna, which is the most developed beach resort in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka travel guide
$24.99
Endless beaches, timeless ruins, welcoming people, oodles of elephants, rolling surf, cheap prices, fun trains, famous tea and flavourful food describe Sri Lanka.

VISIT SHOP
It'll be tempting to never leave the beach, but give yourself enough time for two nights in atmospheric Galle. Reserve your days for wandering through the Old Fort, where locals teeter around on vintage bicycles, goats and cows roam freely past modern art galleries, and the morning call to prayer from the Muslim mosque reverberates around the fort's southern walls. Mama's Guest House serves the best food in town, and also offers spacious, clean, and affordable lodging.
Finally, finish your time in Sri Lanka with an exhilarating ride along the coast of the Indian Ocean on the express train from Galle to Colombo (the same route Paul Theroux detailed in his Great Railway Bazaar). After two weeks of adventure you'll be exhausted - but already plotting your return.

16/05/2016

5 tips for India first-timers
TIPS & ARTICLES
DANIEL MCCROHAN
Lonely Planet Writer
Chaotic, bamboozling, intoxicating, crazy, exasperating, wonderful, squalid, beautiful, daunting, overwhelming, and fantastic.
India is all these things, and more. How can you possibly prepare yourself? Start with our tips for taking the ultimate travel plunge: going to India for the first time!
Early morning at the Taj Mahal, Agra. © Peter Adams / Getty Images
Early morning at the Taj Mahal, Agra. © Peter Adams / Getty Images
1. Pick the perfect route
India packs a lot into a massive space, and you'll never have time to see it all on one trip. Think about what interests you, what you like doing and how much time you have, and tailor your trip accordingly. Be realistic about how much you can fit in. Rather than trying to see the whole country, you may get more out of your trip if you concentrate on the south of the country, or on the north. However, internal flights are plentiful and inexpensive so you can hop from north to south if you want a taste of both worlds. The itineraries section at the front of Lonely Planet's guidebooks to India can be a great help, but here are some possible itineraries to get the ball rolling.
The classics: The most popular India tour is the all-time classic Golden Triangle. If time is short this is a fantastic introduction to three of India's top destinations, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, and you can squeeze it into a week if you don't mind moving every couple of days. Start in Delhi, with sights such as Humayun's Tomb and the Red Fort, before hitting Agra and touring the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. Then it's on to Jaipur to explore the Pink City and the fort at Amber, before returning to Delhi's wonderful bazaars for a final shopping spree before you fly home.
The towering gopuram of the Virupaksha Temple, Hampi. © Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC BY 2.0
The towering gopuram of the Virupaksha Temple, Hampi. © Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC BY 2.0
Religious sites: If it’s temples you’re after, you’ll find them everywhere, but in north and central India, you'll be truly spoiled for choice. There’s the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the erotically carved edifices of Khajuraho, Konark's rock-carved Sun Temple, and cohorts of exquisitely hewn milk-white-marble Jain temples in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Temples in the south are something else again, with towering, statue-covered gopuram towers; there are stunning examples at Hampi, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Tiruvannamalai, and exquisitely decorated temple caves at Ajanta and Ellora, and Elephanta Island near Mumbai.
Mughal magic: Fans of Islamic architecture will find some spectacular monuments in Delhi, home to the Red Fort, the mosques and minarets of the Qutb Minar complex and Humuyan’s Tomb. Nearby you can revel in more graceful Mughal splendour at Fatehpur Sikri and Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, before exploring Rajasthan's captivating collection of Mughal forts, including Jaisalmer, the very vision of an Arabian Nights desert fortress.
Sun, sea and sand at Vagator, Kerala. © Amit Chacko Thomas / CC BY 2.0
Sun, sea and sand at Vagator, Goa. ©
Amit Chacko Thomas
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CC BY 2.0
Beaches & waterways: Head south to enjoy India’s finest beaches. Munch bhelpuri (puffed rice, noodles, green mango and a tangy sauce) on Mumbai’s Girgaum Chowpatty beach before drifting south to the sand and sun in Goa. Take your pick of the Goan beaches – Arambol, Vagator, and Palolem are top spots – or try the black sand beaches of Kovalam and Varkala in Kerala, as well as lesser-known, golden sand in the north of the state. Kerala is also famous for its meandering backwaters, where you can hire a houseboat or a canoe and let the world glide gently by. Similarly serene is beautiful Dal lake in Srinagar in Kashmir, where – depending on the security situation –you can watch the mountains rise out of the mist from the walnut windowframe of a traditional wooden houseboat.
Wildlife encounters: Your best chances of spotting a tiger are in the national parks of Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan, but there are national reserves all over India where you can track down wildlife as exotic as lions (Sasan Gir, Gujarat), wild asses (Little Rann, Gujarat), one-horned rhinos (Assam) and wild elephants (Wayanad, Kerala), as well as abundant birdlife (Bharatpur, Rajasthan). Not quite wildlife, but certainly wild, are camel treks through the desert from Jaisalmer or Bikaner in Rajasthan.
Royal Bengal tiger in repose, Rajasthan. © Christopher Kray / CC BY 2.0
Royal Bengal tiger in repose, Rajasthan. © Christopher Kray / CC BY 2.0
Trekking & mountains: The north is a playground for adrenaline seekers, with pretty much every outdoor activity imaginable on offer in the Kullu Valley and the high reaches of Uttarkhand and Himachal Pradesh, from treks to skiing and white-water rafting. Shimla, the classic hill station, is a great place to start, as is Manali, still further north. Ideal trekking season is in September/October, after the monsoon. To take adventure up a notch, set off from Manali for the epic two-day journey (possible from mid-June to mid-September) to Leh in Ladakh, whose towering mountain peaks are criss-crossed by epic hiking trails. Rishikesh is another top spot for rafting and trekking, with a famous pilgrimage trail to four sacred mountain temples, and more treks await in mountainous Sikkim.
Vividly-coloured statues at Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Trivandrum, Kerala. © Thejas Panarkandy / CC BY 2.0
Vividly-coloured statues at Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Trivandrum, Kerala. © Thejas Panarkandy / CC BY 2.0
Spiritual India: For religious fervour, Varanasi reigns supreme, with its ancient funeral ghats where Hindus pay their last respects to the dead beside the sacred River Ganges. But you’ll encounter India’s spiritual side all over the country, particularly at pilgrimage towns such as Ajmer and Pushkar in Rajasthan, or the Sikh holy city of Amritsar in the Punjab. If you want to get more involved, you'll find classes in meditation and yoga almost everywhere, from the Delhi suburbs to the ashrams of Rishikesh. For Buddhist encounters, aim for Tibetan-Buddhist centres such as Leh in Ladakh and McLeod Ganj (Dharamsala), home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile.
2. Slow down
Many people try to cram too much into a visit to India. To get the best out your trip, concentrate on a few places rather than trying to tick off as many as possible. Seeing one place slowly can be much more rewarding than seeing loads of places, but not having time to appreciate any of them. Spend a few days in a place and you'll be less stressed, gain a deeper understanding of where you are, and have more time to get to know the people you meet.
Contemplating the desert in Zanskar. © Kiran Jonnalagadda / CC BY-SA 2.0
Contemplating the desert in Zanskar. © Kiran Jonnalagadda / CC BY-SA 2.0
3. Escape the crowds
With over a billion locals, many parts of India are certainly crowded. The bustle and mayhem can be fun, particularly if there's a festival in town, but it's easy to reach the point of saturation. Fortunately, India has plenty of quiet retreats, so plan some relaxing escapes into your journey. To keep your batteries charged, spend some days or weeks in a city, followed by some days or weeks in the countryside or in a small town. For inner (and outer) peace, head south to the backwaters and beaches of Kerala, or north to India's captivating hill stations or the Tibetan-influenced valleys of the Himalaya in Ladakh, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.
4. Stay healthy
No one wants to get ill, particularly if you’re on a shorter trip, so it pays to take steps to avoid a dodgy tum. Never drink tap water, and steer clear of any food that may have been washed in it. As a precaution, avoid ice, ice cream, and salads and fruit you haven't just peeled yourself. Let your stomach acclimatise for a few days before launching into a street food feast, and whenever buying street food, do a mental assessment of standards of cleanliness. Are the owners freshly cooking the food or has it been standing there for a while? Is the stall busy with lots of customers or only attracting hoards of flies?
The classic Indian thali, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. © Tomas Belcik / CC BY 2.0
The classic Indian thali, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. © Tomas Belcik / CC BY 2.0
Many travellers go veggie whilst in India, and it's not a bad idea, as a dodgy bit of meat will do you a lot more harm than undercooked vegetables. Plus, many Indians are vegetarian, so the country offers perhaps the world's most fabulous choice of vegetarian food. If you do eat meat, make sure it's well cooked, and stick to stalls and restaurants that are packed with locals (the best barometer for hygiene standards).
When you’re on the road, you may well find you have to use some less than sanitary toilet stops, but these don't have to be health hazards. Toilet paper is rarely provided, but the left-hand-and-water-jug method preferred by many locals can be fine if you carry soap with you so you can wash your hands properly afterwards. Anti-bacterial wipes and anti-bacterial gel are also handy to keep in your day bag for a last minute clean up before eating with your fingers.
Old Delhi's colourful, chaotic sprawl. © José Antonio Morcillo Valenciano / CC BY 2.0
Old Delhi's colourful, chaotic sprawl. © José Antonio Morcillo Valenciano / CC BY 2.0
5. Keep your cool
As well as its beauty and wonder, India has an often deserved reputation for touts, scams, and other hassles. There are ways you can reduce the chances of being overcharged or cheated, but you will have a few encounters with scammers on your trip, so keep your wits about you and remember that deals that sound too good to be true usually are. In particular, be wary of taxi and rickshaw drivers who insist on taking you to specific hotels, shops or travel agencies – the cost of their commission will added to your bill.
The single most important piece of advice for any India first-timer is to try to remain calm, no matter what. Frustrations boil over easily in India, and being able to control them, take a deep breath and move on, is key to enjoying your time here. If you’re getting stressed about losing some money or being scammed, take a moment to consider how much you’ve really lost and whether it’s worth getting that fussed about.

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