India

Narkanda being the destination of a much-awaited outing didn’t really got me excited. Reasons being first, I had never heard about the place and, second, I had wanted to venture somewhere near the sea. But constant persuasion from my friends, forced me to go along, and we set off to our destination, which I didn’t regret going, later on.

A Small town, steeped in interesting history is Kushinagar. It was here that Lord Buddha breathe his last in 486 BC. Kushinagar is a simplicity personified. Even after being given a certain international status, it remains a simple town, both in look and spirit. One would be surprised to see the flocking together of Sinhalese, Japanese, Burmese, and Vietnamese under this traditionally Indian roof. Its Lord Buddha's power which binds them all and this can be easily felt in this dusty town.

Come September and Leh opens its gates to a rollicking Ladakh Festival, which takes center stage. This is an effort to revive and showcase the richness of Ladakh's centuries old culture. The festival begins with a pageantry in which various cultural troops and village contingents participate in ceremonial regalia, singing, and dancing. Some of the regular programs during this festival are Lama dances, mock marriages, re-living the silk route, archery, and polo events.

Mother nature has been extra generous in her bounty creating a paradise on earth. I am talking about Manipur also known as the, " Switzerland of the east". It is an oval shaped valley surrounded by blue green hills. For nature lovers Manipur would turnout to be a great discovery promising tourist attraction of the 21st century. It cascades large carpets of flowers with exotic blooms, tripling rivers and lazy lakes.

Assam, situated in the easternmost sentinel of India is endowed with exquisite fauna and flora. The lush green forest, blue mountains, rippling water bodies, and wild animals and birds are the highlight features of this region. Adding to the green serenity, are the age-old tea plantations. The British, they came, conquered and left, leaving behind in this region, a green legacy, i.e., the tea estates. These tea gardens are the integral part of the most flourishing industry of Assam providing sustenance to a huge population in the state.

Brahmaputra flows high and mighty through the heart of Assam. Cruising through the serene waters of this historical river it transports its travellers to a different world, to say the least. You can enjoy a cruise vacation during the dry seasons between October to April. One of the vessels, RV Sukafa, a small cruise ship named after the founder of the glorious Ahom dynasty of Assam, takes you on a trip to Sibsagar and beyond.

Last spring we made a plan to visit some places around Northeastern parts of India and finally zeroed on Barsey sanctuary in Sikkim. The actual adventure began (see the post Sikkim: A plethora of natural beauty) after reaching Hiley, a small, quiet, sleepy town in south Sikkim. We strode into the sanctuary through foot trail. The sanctuary engulfs an area of 104 sq kilometers and endowed with alpine vegetation housing silver firs, hemlocks, magnolias, and pines.

Hearing so much about Sikkim, there was a desperate urge within me to visit this enchanting abode. But this could be realized only last spring, and this I'll cherish as one of the most pleasant experiences ever!

Arunachal Pradesh situated on the easternmost sentinel of India is endowed with picturesque townships, remote helmets, sleeping villages, serene lakes and Gompas radiating a heavenly fervor with nature. From time immemorial, this land of the rising sun has been an amalgamation of religion, nature, and history. Buddhist pilgrimage finds a major center here, which also makes its monasteries a prime attraction of the place.

When you are in Shillong (you may read Getaway To Meghalaya - The Abode Of The Clouds for your reference) you must visit Cherrapunji, which is just 56 km from Shillong. A meandering road would take you to Sohora. The highest rainfall of the world is recorded in a called Maushinrum. There is a Ram Krishna Mission set up by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime minister of independent India, in 1952. You would constantly hear the roaring waters of Nohkali falls while you are in an around Cherrapunji.