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Discovery of India
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Travel Check out the unexplored treasures of the country if you are planning a holiday
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SUN, SAND, SURF Digha beach in West Bengal
For the current travel year, India is in the top spot as a tourist destination. British magazine Conde Nest Traveller recently promoted the country of snake charmers, crowds and an incredible collection of monuments from fourth place to the first.
The magazine’s Readers Travel Award – the tourism industry Oscar – was given to Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni at a glittering ceremony in London. Why is India on every traveller’s itinerary? Here are the answers: accommodation, environmental friendliness, auto-rickshaw rides, the food (dosa, masala chicken and dahi bada), temples, dance, music, paintings, yoga, inexpensive travel, colourful weddings and of course, the Taj Mahal.
Whatever. The endorsement will now bring people in droves, which means bigger profits for those who live by tourist wallets. Will it mean improved infrastructure, without erasing what is uniquely Indian? “Poor infrastructure is true of almost every tourist destination in India,” says Rohini Mohan, who wears her ‘international tourist’ badge proudly. “Appalling restrooms, unhygienic food, unreliable transport, unsafe roads; yet at the end of the tunnel is beauty like you cannot believe.”
Agreed. In the absence of any sensible maintenance, isn’t lack of access, the rough ride that keeps the beauty alive? India is strewn with “unexplored treasures” that happily find no place in tourist brochures.
After extensive research and interviews Forbes.com recently came up with an “under-rated”-destinations-in-India list.
Pray they remain that way, but check out these recommendations. Will come in useful when you scout for an off-the-track hideaway.
The Brahmaputra River: The only “he” river in India. Starts in Bhutan. Planters transport bales of fresh tea down its large volumes. Do darshan before the waters are sucked away by the greedy economic giant in the north.
Hampi monuments: A Hindu kingdom’s partially visible city. Awesome structures and beautiful carvings. Was access so poor when it flourished? Sigh!
Kanha meadows: Only the terribly unlucky will miss a tiger in this reserve. There are about 300!
Elephanta caves: It’s six miles off the Gateway of India, try it for the thrill of motor-boating in the Arabian Sea. The ride takes you to temples and caves with decorative carvings from 450 AD, some of them 20 feet high.
Lakshadaweep: Ever been there? A group of islands that has reefs and clear waters.
Mysore: You can spend a wonderful week doing rounds of its palaces, temples and the Karanji lake. Charming and laid back, it’s ideal for a “holiday”.
Mountain railways: Try the one in Darjeeling for a scenic view of the Himalayas. It’s a soothing 88 km journey.
Digha beach: Did you know Digha has one of the flattest, whitest beaches in the country? Uttaranchal: This new state in the Himalayas keeps its hiking and trekking trails largely secret. The walk route from Gangotri to Badrinath crosses six glaciers (Gangotri, Chaturangi, Sundar, Suryalaya, Seta and Kalindi Glacier) and reaches 20,000 feet. Sanchi: The oldest Buddhist sanctuary in the world with monuments dating back to first century BC. Well preserved.
Orange County: Karnataka’s wilderness region with the largest concentration of Asiatic elephants in the world. Check out the eco-lodges and battery-operated vehicles.
Bandhavgarh Jungle Camp: Tigers still roam here. Even on an unlucky day, you would sight some. Keep your eyes peeled for the rare white tiger. This camp in Madhya Pradesh should be on your “to-go” list.
Chor Bazaar: Worth an entire afternoon. Shop for bargains till you drop. Before that stop to admire the beautiful Saidailla Mosque.
Glass House: A hotel in Rishikesh with six transparent glass villas. Has its own spring and sandy beach. Looking for some private time? This is it, in the middle of mango and litchi orchards.
Landour: Go to this place above Mussoorie for spectacular views of the Himalayas. It’s clean and is full of trees.
Swaswara Resort: Get a full yoga treatment in this Kerala resort, starting with a view of the beach shaped like “Om”.
Valley of the Flowers: Its acres of Alpine flowers and endangered animals like the musk deer, snow leopard and blue sheep survive because it’s 25,000 ft above sea level. You’ll walk a never-ending 25 km in the Garhwals, but do it if you can!
GEETA PADMANABHAN
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
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Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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