TREASURE CHEST

It’s not just a quiet beach destination. From the ‘smallest’ to the ‘biggest’ ‘oldest’ to the ‘rarest’, Seychelles adds a lot of superlatives to your travel journal

Think of turquoise water. Put a million corals as underwater

baubles. Sprinkle silver dust as sand on the shore. Imagine quintet. The shadow of a jellyfish tree, one of the rarest trees in the world. A heavy seed as an appetizer. Warning. Do not try cracking this one. The seed of the Coco de Mer, a coconut giant, is the world’s heaviest nut, Bring along Bond. James Bond. For it was here that Ian Fleming wrote for your Eyes Only after a swig of gin and tonic. If Bond is too beefy, get along a dainty, but insolent, Queen. Marie Antoinette shacked here before her death. There’s a moustachioed pirate-and his treasure chest – lending in – trigue. The booty of notorious pirate Oliver Levasseur worth $160,000,000 is still buried in Bel Ombre. So, while you do a quick 160,000,000 mathematics, let me sneak in a quick fact. All this and much more is true about Seychelles, a county comprising 115 coralline islands that are considered one of the oldest on earth. So, shed that clichéd notion of Seychelles merely as a beach destination. There are so many world’s largest, biggest, rarest things in the island that are considered one of the oldest on earth. So, shed that clichéd notion of Seychelles merely as a beach destination. There are so many world’s largest, biggest, rarest things in the island that you’ll probably lose breach counting superlatives.

Lost your breath? Want something for your parched throat? Perhaps coconut water from Coco de Mer, an endemic coconut that takes 6-7 years to mature and its seed weighs about 18 kg (the world’s largest). You sure cannot

Victoria is the world’s smallest capital. You can see it in 25 min

hold in the palm of your hand- the largest recorded Coco de Mer weighed 42 kg! One giant coconut this; its only natural habitat being the Vallee De Mai palm forest in Praslin island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Want to stick a straw and quaff the Coco de Mer water? Lossen purse stings, Please. One Coco de Mer costs roughly 50,000 Indian Rupees, One would rather chew gold than drink off this nut!

This coconut is not the only case of island gigantism. There is the big, fat, brown Aldabra tortoise, Their home: Aldabra island, the world’s largest raised coral atoll and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And the biggest, fattest amongst them all is Esmeralda (it weighs 304 kg). This big boy faces stiff competition from a 9ft-6-inch human giant that lies buried in Bet Air Cemetery, Seychelles’ first public burial ground. In the deserted cemetery is an elongated graveyard – lagend has it that the nearly 10-feet human giant died at age 14.

It might seem like an oxymoron but all these large, big things live and grow in a small country. Really small country. At the last count, Seychelles has 90,000 inhabitants of which 90 percent live in Mahe, the largest island. Of the 115 islands that string to make the archipelago, only four are inhabited – Mahe, Praslin, La Digue and silhouette.

However, nothing beats the tininess of Victoria, the capital. Walk into the world’s smallest capital and before you know where to start sightseeing, it ends. Rather abruptly. You could walk it in 10 minutes and been-there-seen-it-all in another 15, An old church stands like a relic of the colonial age. A Hindu temple shimmers in vibrant colours by the arcade. A cinema resembles a refurbished pigeon-hole. The monotony broken by Victoria market where the air is redolent with the whiff of fresh soursop, cassava, mangoes, vegetables, cinnamon, vanilla and a green leaf that carries the aroma of four spices in one. The crown jewel is the Big Ben. The Little Big Ben, actually. A tiny silver replica of London’s Vauxhall Clock Tower that was erected in the central round-about to mark Seychelles’ new status as the Crown Colony. You might smirk at how little this Big Ben is, but do spare a look for the nearby traffic light. It is only traffic light in Seychelles.

‘Paradise’ is the permanent suffix of this island. I am not sure which gods live in this paradise. Smallest. Largest. Biggest. Rarest. Oldest. These superlatives certainly live in Seychelles.

WELCOME TO KING’S LANDING

One of the wealthiest trading ports in Europe in the past , Dubrovnik in Croatia, has come alive again courtesy the cult series Game of Thrones being shot here.

My first, rather hazy,memory of Dubrovnik was from a travel show which showed young boys jumping into sapphire blue waters from what appeared to be the walls of an old castle; but it wasn’t till last year when the name came floating back into memory , courtesy the epic fantasy drama.

The walled city of Dubrovnik once the capital of the wealthy seafaring Republic of Ragusa (1358-1808), ‘plays’ King’s Landing, the capital of Westeros and the seven kingdoms, as imagined by George RR Martin in his series of high fantasy novels, A song of ice and fire in the TV adaptation. For Go T fans, Dubrovnik quickly become an important scenes were shot here, in cluding the mountain and prince oberyn. And along with that came hordes of curious Thronies’.

Dubrovnik as a destination doesn’t need the additional pull that GoT brings with it. with its pristine beaches, the blust water you’ve ever laid your eyes on, stunning sunsets, medieval architecture, fresh-off-the-boat seafood and a UNESCO world Heritage tag to boot Dubrovnik is one of the most visited cities in Croatia.

One of the best preserved walled cities in the world, Dubrovnik has a charm in the that’s as old worldly as they come. With a rich shipping past that rivalled that of Venice-the Adriatic sea Separates Italy and Croatia- Dubrovnik was a city known for its wealth and thalassocracy.

Game of Thrones has given the walled city, known for its red-tiled rooftops, a new buzz and its economy a fillip. Several GoT-themed walking toures have come up, and can cost up to 240 kuna-the local currency –in the season. Such is the interest in the series’ locations that the tourist board has recently put a Game of Thrones map on its website. The show adds $10 million to Dubrovnik’s tourism revenue and is attracting new visitors. Like me. But what’s most interesting is that it’s an affordable destination. A much weaker currency –one kuna is currently equivalent to Rs. 9.50 as against the euro which is a whopping Rs.72- means you can have European holiday at a discount. Over my eight days in Croatia, I chose to cover Zagreb-that’s where most international carriers are likely to drop you- Spilt , Hvar and finally ended my travels in Dubrovnik. The best way to travel there is on a bus, and you can easily get one from the Split harbour. A stunning drive -that takes you through a nine- Killometre stretch in Bosnisa complete with a border security check- primes you for what awaits you in the walled city.

Most visitors enter the old Town through Pile Gates. The outer gate of Pile Gate , stone bride gate, a stone bridge with a wooden drawbridge built in 1537 is what grets most visitors –the main city tourist information centre, bus and texi stop is right opposite it. 1460 opens into Dubrovnik’s main promenade, or Stradun as it’s called.

It’s easy to see why the production crew thought Dubrovnik could become King’s Landing. Its fortified battlements, great gates, draw-brides, cobbled pathways. baroque buildings and medieval monuments look straight out of the pages of novels.
This historic Croatian city is no stranger to spilt blood. The city has been under attack numerous times, last in 1991, during the Croatian War of 824 building there, almost 70 per centwere struck by shells.
Dubrovnik’s walls sustained 111 direct hits and there were 314 more on its baroque buildings and marble streets.

Enamoured by the Old Town’s medieval charm, I chose to stay within the walled city, with one of the locals. Sadly, today less than 500 locals stay in the historic centre, as most have moved to more comfortable, modern apartments in Lapad.

While staying in the walled city means climbing lots of stairs that can leave even the fittest breathless, it is an experience worth investing in , especially if that means a bedroom with the view of Minceta Tower , the highest point on the two-kilometre city walls. A home cooked Croatian meal of chicken pasta and zucchini seared in olive oil and orange liqueur for dessert was compensation enough for the punishment that my calves suffered.

One of the best things to do in Dubrovnik is to take a walking tour of the wall. The two-hour walk will reward you with Instagram-worthy view-the blue sea on one side and the trademark red-tiled roof of the town on the other. Make sure to do this before the sun gets too strong.

After you, ve got your breath back, treat yourself to a gelato. The Croats love their gelato, just as much as their Italian neighbours.

Eating in Croatia doesn’t require you to wrack your brains as most streets sell burgers, pizzas and hot dogs. But if you’re willing to spend some time, and a little money at a restaurant, then you could treat yourself to some rarely –seen dishes in India like a grilled octopus salad. Or try one of the traditional Balkan pastries like burek (filled with minced meat or cheese) or Krumpirusa (with potato).

Dubrovnik has enough charms up its streets to keep the seeker in you satiated. You can catch a rectital at the St Saviour Church, which withstood the earthquake of 1667 and is today a fine example of the Old Town’s Renaissance architecture. Or quench Onofrio‘s Fountain, one of Dubrovnik ‘s most famous landmarks. Right next to it is the world’s third-oldest monastery. Franciscan Monastery has been in operation for over 700 years and anyone an ailment can still walk in to buy medicine. The Stradun, with its polished-and at times slippery – limestone pathway and the clock tower on one end, is the Vantage point to people watch, especially when the sun sets.

Another must–do on the list is a visit to the peacock-inhabited island of Lokrum. Known for its Botanical Garden and a deserted Benedictine monastery, founded in 1023, Lokrum offers magnificent views of the Adriatic Sea and is a quick boat ride away. Enjoy a quick dip in the Dead Sea a small salt water lake, take a walk among the olive groves and then enjoy a crispy cold beer and pizza at the island’s only restaurant. And a peacock may just decide to give you company.

While 48 hours may be enough to cover all the sights and attractions of Dubrovnik, the walled city hold secrets and treasures that deserve more time.

THE East Coast beckons

The tranquil beaches on the Bay of Bengal are no longer poor cousins of Goa. The thirst travel to lands – and seas – unknown has sent Indian flocking to pristine coasts, untouched yet by commerce

Awise man once said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” With proven results of the anecdote from our past experiences, and an unambiguous urge to deal with the modern-day phenomena called quarter life crists, two friends along with your’s truly decided to quit our jobs/take sabbaticals to travel, a few months back. Not the usual type of travel though; but a two-month-long backpacking trip.

Inspired by a backpacker, who had nor too long ago travelled around the coast of Madagascar, we decided to explore the entire coastline of mainland India and experience life on the waterfronts for ourselves – starting from the Bay of Bengal in the east, then descending south along the Eastern Ghats, before meeting the Indian ocean and moving up the Western Ghats along the Arabian Sea. The fact that such a trip had hardly ever been accomplished in the country made it all the more exciting.

On the one hand, we did all of what the glamorous side of travel speaks of – discuss life with people who didn’t speak our native tongues, listen to music not found on the internet and gorge on rustic Indian food. On the other, we also accepted to live through what they don’t often tell you about travel – to be tired and sweaty and dirty without having a place to sleep at night, to get lost and struggle to find our way back, to appreciate the struggles and hardships as much we wanted to admire the beauty of the wilderness.

Given the spontaneous and eccentric nature of the trip, the outcomes too were nothing short of compelling. One of them was the pleasant surprise that the East Coast proved to be. It was a conscious effort to start from this side of the peninsula, since not much had been documented about it as compared to its western counterpart. And it definitely did not disappoint. While a cluster of small islands in the southern parts of West Bengal made for adventurous destinations, the shores of odisha flaunted the vivid colours of daily fisherman life and their sumptuous local meals. Andhra Pradesh’s coast felt like an exciting roller coaster with its undulating terrains and Tamil Nadu’s beaches and historic towns summed up the beauty its terra firma.

Here, we share with you the most interesting destinations from India’s eastern seashores, so that you don’t have to think too much while packing your bags for the coast when you finalise your plans.

STOPOVERS ON THE BAY OF BENGAL PERIPHERY

THE SACRED COLOURS OF GANGASAGAR (WEST BENGAL)

Sagar Island or Gangasagar lies on the continental shelf of the Bay of Bangal, about 100 km (54 nautical miles) south of Kolkata. A pilgrimage destination for locals, the place has a myriad of mythological stories and exotic varieties of fish meals to offer. The approach includes a ride on an fascinating scooter van from Harwood Point and a unique ferry ride from Kachuberia amid the intersection of the Ganges with the Bay of Bangal.

Best time visit: Gangasagar hosts a colourful festival at the Kapil Muni temple on Mahavir Jayanti, where you can witness vibrant colours at their best.

THE CRAB CARPETED BALASORE (ORISSA)

On the northern coast of Odisha falls a unique beach which rests against the tall magnificence of rising palm trees. The exclusivity of this beach lies in the fact that it is home to Red Ghost Crabs species, which is only found in the Christmas island of Australla elsewhere.

BIRD FANCIES AT CHILIKA LAKE (ODISHA)

The southern tip of Odisha catches the fancy of bird watchers, with the second largest lagoon in the world and the largest wintering ground for migratory birds in the Indian sub-continent Chilika Lake. Though there are touristy boats and steamers which show you around the popular spots in the lake, a public ferry, which costs hardly 10 per head, manoeuvres through the waters where only locals traverse.

Best time to visit: Spot birds like the sanderling, terek sandpiper, Kentish plover, and black-tailed godwit best waterways.

THE ARTISTIC CAVES OF BORRA (ANDHRA)

One of the largest of its kind in India, the Borra Caves in the northern coastal region of Tamil Nadu come into sight around the Araku Valley at a remarkable 800-1,300m above sea level. The excavation spreads across one square km and is also the origin of the river Gosthani which flows through the district.

Best time to visit: Enjoy the limestone formations dripping and rising as artsy stalagmites and stalactites amid the hilly terrains, beautiful landscapes and the semi-evergreen moist deciduous forests during the monsoon and winter.

THE GHOSTS OF DHANUSHKODI (TAMIL NADU)

A Train journey literally over the sea, followed by an enchanting bus trip along the southern coast of Tamil Nadu, beyond Rameswaram, leads to the ghost town of Dhanushkodi. Though the shutdown of the entire city, after the cyclone of 1964, has isolated it from travel itineraries, the ruins still stand ironically in all their tragic glory.

Best time to visit: A deserted railway platform, post office, church and boulders of a formet city greet you in the white sands during the winter months.

 

 

 

NEW BEGINNING

Soak in the ‘once in a decade’ occurrence of saintly souls donning new avatars at Naba Kalebara, in Puri

It’s that time of the year when Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath, buzzes with activity. Pilgrims from across the world throng to the eastern part of the country to be a part of the world famous Rath Yatra. However, there is something different about this year’s Rath Yatra or Car Festival. Devotees of Lord Jagannath will have the unique opportunity to watch new deities, courtesy Naba Kalebara (the reincarnation) of the Lord, which usually takes place three days before the Rath Yatra, starting on July 18.

UNIQUE RITUAL

An ancient ritual that has been in practice since ages, Naba Kalebara means new body. According to tradition, the wooden statues of the deities – Lord Jagnnath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra – are replaced by new idols and their souls transferred. It’s not an annual ritual. It takes place once in 12-18 years, depending on the Hindu almanac.

GRAND PREPARATIONS

The preparations for this grandiose ceremony start with the search of neem trees, out of which the idols of the deities are carved out. These are no ordinary neem trees. The darus (neem tree) of three deities have different specifications and features. While the log of the neem tree, to be used for Lord Jagannath, has to be dark in colour (since he has a dark complexion), the other two logs for Lord Balabhadra and Devi Shubadra (who have fair complexion) should be of a wheatish hue. There are other stipulations too. The tree to be used for the idol of Lord Jagannath should have four principal branches symbolizing the arms of Lord Vishnu; there should be no nest of birds in that tree; a water body such as a river or a pond should exist nearby and much more. identifying these trees is anardous task. it is believed that the trees are located only after divine intervention by a goddess Mangala, who appears in the head priest’s dream and revels the locational.

CARVING THE IDOL

Once the trees are locted, the entire trunks along with the branches are placed in a wooden cart, dragged by the priests to the temple premises and kept in a secret place. The carvings of the deities which are spread over 21 days are done by the three oldest sculptors of the temple, is allowed to visit the spot where the sculptors are at work.

TRANSFERING SOULS

Following the completion of these idols, the deities are carried inside the inner sanctum of the temple and placed in front of the old idols. This is again a very private affair. The worshippers who conduct this ritual are blindfolded, their palms covered with cloth, so that they even don’t know what they are carrying. This ritual, which is conducted after midnight, usually takes place three days before the Rath Yatra. The whole process of transformation culminates with the burial of the old deities. It is believed that if anybody tries to watch any part of this ceremony, he/she will surely die. It is only after the new deities are seated in the Ratna Singhasan that the gates of the temple are thrown open to the public for the grand darshan.

6 CREEP TRIPS

THE CITY THAT SAW THE APOCALYPSE

Home to the families of the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, none of its approximately 50,000 residents have ever returned after the devastating explosion on April 26, 1986. Those who have visited this city as tourists, claim that the clock has stopped running in Pripyat. The cars are still parked as they were on that fateful day, the hospital boards still mention the names of the patients, the rides in the park and the discarded shoes at the playground add to the horror. If you plan to tour the city, you’ll have to get a special permit and get scanned for radiation on return.

ALCAPONE’S PRISON

The American gangster was lodged here for a year in 1929. The inmates in this penitentiary, which started operating in 1829, were confined to solitary, dark and independent cells and not even allowed to interact with others; if the prisoners broke any law, they were severely punished. The 142-year-old history of this facility was marred with numerous cases of murder, suicide and diseases; and its ghost stories are all over the internet. You can take an online tour on the following link and plan a visit.

THE WEAPON CASTLE THAT EXPLODED

This crumbling structure is no castle, but a historic weapon depot of war surplus dealer Francis Bannerman VI. After the Scot acquired more than 90 per cent of the American-Spanish war surplus, he moved the ammunition from New York City to a secluded and safer place – Pollepel Island. The work on the Scottish structure started in 1901 but was stopped in 1981, with the sudden death of Bannerman. Everything ended in 1920 when 90 kilos of ammunition exploded and destroyed most of the structure. The castle has been completely abandoned since 1950. Now , historical tours, weddings and get-togethers are organized here.

INKET WRECK AT DUNCAN ISLAND

If you are into wreck diving, try it out at Dun-can Island in the Andamans, where a coal-carrying Japanese ship, Inket, has been lying on the sea bed since World War ll. Though the ship is now a coral reef and home to various forms of aquatic animals, you can still the cargo that it was then carrying, the massive propellers, boilers and engine room, which are still intact. Some say that the 2004 tsunami straightened out the 70 m wreck that was lying on its side.

THE OPULENT ISLAND WHERE NETAJI STAYED

It used to be the capital of Andaman Island from 1858 to 1941, till an earthquake disbursed its inhabitants. The island, now abandoned, still has clubs, fitness centres, amphitheatres, pools, mail offices, worship places, retail shops, a printing press, hospitals and barracks that were once synonymous with the opulence with which the British led their lives. Fearing a Japanese invasion in 1942, they left. The Japanese did land there and started living in the commissioner’s bungalow. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose stayed here when he visited port Blair in 1943

THE HELICOPTER SUCKING DIAMOND PIT

The now inactive diamond pit is the second largest man-made hole in the world after Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah, US. Closed since 2004, this pit is 525 m deep and has a diameter of 1.2 km. Its construction started in 1957 after Soviet geologists Yuri Khabardin, Ekaterina Elagina and Viktor Avdeenko, in 1957, claimed that there were good chances of discovering diamonds here. The downward airflow of this pit – pulled aircraft that flew over it. Also, the harsh Siberian cold would flatten tyres and freeze the machinery in the mine. The downward air flow into this mine had sucked in a few companies continued to mine here post the fall of the USSR, in the 1990s, curtains were called on the mine in 2004.

7 SCENIC ROAD TRIPS

You’ve heard the phrase ‘the journey is more important than the destination’. Now hit the road to know what it really means. Whether it’s dramatic coastlines or high-altitude Landscapes, these picturesque stretches are best experienced on the road

MANALI-LEH HIGHWAY

With spectacular views of snow-clad Himalayas, glaciers, streams and high-altitude plains, this winding 490-km-long highway epitomizes adventure at every step. It’s covered in snow for most of the year, and only opens during the summer months, between June and October. Keep your camera ready for some hairpin bends as well! The two-day drive will take you through five mountain passes, including favourites like Rohtang La and Taglang La, the highest point in the journey.

YAMUNA EXPRSSWAY

If you’re looking for a high-speed blitz, there’s no better stretch than the 165-Km Yamuna Expressway. A ride on India’s longest six-lane highway will take you from Greater Noida in the National Capital Region to tourist mecca Agra, in just over two hours. There are open spaces, green fields, and sundry villages on either side, but the countryside is little more than a backdrop to the smooth tarmac in front. With a speed limit of 100km per hour, the only interruptions on the straight-as-an-arrow road are the five toll plazas.

EAST COAST ROAD

Lined with rice fields, swaying coconut palms, fishing villages and glimpses of the Bay of Bengal, this stats highway in Tamil Nadu runs along the Bay of Bengal, connecting Chennal with Cuddalore. Starting with the quaint Cholamandal Artists’ Village, the Kalakshetra music and dance school and Dakshinachitra crafts centre on the outskirts of Chennai, it has enough to delight both nature lovers and culture vultures. Travel back in time at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mamallapuram, soak in Puducherry’s unique French ambience, stroll on the pristine beaches of Tharangambadi, or go boating through Pichavaram’s mangrove forests and backwaters.

MUMBAI- GOA HIGHWAY

The journey to everyone’s favourite beach getaway is both smoth and picturesque, though at 600 km, it can get a bit tiring. NH17 runs from Mumbai to Thiruvanan-thapuram, winding its way through the Western Ghats and caressing the Konkan coastline. On the way, there are numerous attractions: On the way, there are trekking at the Karnala Bird Sanctuary, panoramas of Vashishti River meandering through the Western Ghats, and the pristine beaches of Ganpatipule, Diveagar and Tarkarli. The surrounding cloud-kissed hills are at their greenest during the monsoon. The steep turns only add to the thrill.

INTERNATIONAL

ATLANTIC ROAD, NORWAY

This 8-km long zigzag road on the Norwegian coastline passes through seven bridges, connecting the i s l a n d s between the towns of Kristiansund and Molde. The most famous of t h e s e S t o r s e I s u n d e t Bridge, is known for its thrilling turn that gives incoming visitors the illusion of the road ending in mid-at The ride comes with breathtaking views of the Westfjords, and the surprising glimpses of seals, whales and exotic birds along the way are an added attraction. Daredevils head here during autumn to experience the spectacular storms, but the seaside is equally in calmer weather, thanks to its numerous fishing spots.

INTEROCEANIC HIGHWAY PERU-BRAZIL

Completed in 2011, this 2,600-k m – l o n g transcontinental highway links the south American countries of Peru and Brazil, and passes through several dramatically contrasting landscapes. It runs along the Peruvian coast, through remote stretches of the Andes and dense Amazonian rainforests. Stop at the lncan and Spanish colonial capital of Cusco for a slice of history- from here, you can take a diversion to the famous ruins of Machu Picchu.

THE AMALFI COAST, ITALY

The Amalfi coast in Southern Italy’s Sorrento Peninsula is home to one of the most legenday drives in the world. It is, in UNESCO’s words, ”An outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape.” Expect stunning sights all along its 50-km sweep, with cliffs, towns and historic terraced villages on one side and mesmerising vistas of the Mediterranean Sea on the other. Stop en route to a d m i r e Positano’s stack of pastel houses, Amalfi’s grand cathedral and town square and Ravello’s hilltop gardens. Don’t forget to taste the local citrus liqueur, limoncello, at the lemon groves in between.

5 TREETOP HIDEAWAYS

How about living like a bird in a ‘nest’ made out of bamboo and wood? Get close to nature by living in these serene tree houses in India.

Imagine resting in a resort perched amidst tree branches, waking up to the chirping of birds and walking into the lush forests as you step out of your room. If the whole idea of planning a travel is to escape your routine and have a change of landscape, there’s really nothing quite like spending a weekend in a tree house. And you don’t even have to venture too far into the forested hinterland to find one.

1 RAINFOREST BOUTIQUE RESORT,

ATHIRAPALLY, KERALA

An hour’s drive away from the Cochin International Airport, Rainforest Boutique Resort-lies within the verdant environs of the Sholayar forest near the popular Athirapally Falls in Kerala. The resort of-fers a range of lodgings- luxury rooms, premium rooms, celestial rooms, drongo and hornbill suites among others- but the highlight by far is the tree house. The tree house accommodates two adults easily and offers residents spectacular views of the thundering Athirapally waterfall and the surrounding forest. Guests can dine at the in-house restaurant, which serves some unusual local dishes, as well as standard continental fare.

2 TREE HOUDE HIDEAWAY,

BANDHAVGARH, MP

The resort houses five tree houses that offer spectacular views of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and the Bandhavgarh fort in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Hand-built entirely by the resort’s local staff, all the tree houses are built of wood, and include spacious bedrooms and a living area. The resort overlooks a watering hole, which is frequented by birds and animals, Overall, it is an ideal experience of living in the wild.

3 VANYA TREE HOUSE,

THEKKADY, TAMIL NADU

The three-hour windy road journey from the Cochin International Airport to Thekkady, along the Periyar River, offers spectacular views of the hills of Idukki. Guests heading to Vanya Tree House need to trudge the final 700 metres on foot, Located at an altitude of 3,000 feet, it lies in splendid isolation with magnificent views of the surrounding hills.

4 TREE HOUSE COTTAGES,

MANALI

Surrounded by apple, walnut and plum orchards, Tree House Cottages in Manali are ideal for a quick getaway from Chandigarh, or even Delhi. Whether you choose the tree house or a Swiss tent, you can enjoy the cosy lodgings and types can choose to go paragliding, zorbing and mountain biking, all within a few kilometres of the resort.

5 THE TREE HOUSE RESORT, 

JAIPUR

An hour’s drive from Jaipur, the Tree House Resort offers deluxe nests, luxury nests and private suites, all equipped with modern amenities like air conditioners, wi-fi connectivity, and inexplicably even a television. Guests have a lot to do in their free time- they can opt for a jungle safari, bird-watching tour and a lot more. Those who don’t want to stray too far from the resort can play badminton, volleyball, tennis, billiards, try their hand at archery or just lounger in the pool. The multi-cuisine Tree House Restaurant serves food made out of organic produce grown locally while the Peacock Bar is where you’ll find guests tipping sundowners every evening! You’ll also find a Nature Shop that paintings and handicraft.

IN SEARCH OF THE COOL CAT

A Week spent seeking the Himalayan phantom in the harsh wilderness of Ladakh, adventurer and explorer Ajeet Bajaj recounts the Times Passion Trails Winter Trek

Snow fell in thick flurries as we watched spellbound, nature’s grand

spectacle unfold right in front of us. Sitting on a high ridge in the Tarbung valley, Ladakh, the smooth brown rolling hills, reminiscent of moonscape, slowly turned stark white. We scanned the mountainside intensely through our binoculars and spotting scopes, looking for the Himalayan Blue Sheep (Bharal) and the main prey of snow leopard. It was like searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack – surely the elusive snow leopard, ‘the phantom of the Himalaya’, had seen us. “This is  a natural high,” remarked Roopika Saran, one of our team members, “definitely a high point of my existence.”

As the ‘Experience Architect’ for The Times Passion Trails Winter Trek To Ladakh (Feb 14-22, 2015), in search of the snow leopard, I was overwhelmed with the tremendous response. Selecting 13 passionate adventurers out of 1,400 applicants, on an expedition to an extreme environment, with temperatures plummeting to as low as -25 degrees Celsius, turned out to be a humongous job.

Ladakh is a mountain desert and its stark barrenness is hauntingly beautiful. On landing in Leh, adventurers suffer not only from the effects of high altitude but also willingly suffer from SOS-‘scenic overdose syndrome’. After spending three nights acclimatizing to the altitude and cold in Leh, we headed up to the Rumbak Valley in the Hemis National Park.  No mention of Ladakh  can be made without saluting the brave sentinels of our borders- the Indian Armed Forces. It is one thing to spend a few days in Ladakh on an adventure trip and quite another to spend years in such harsh conditions, being eternally vigilant. While in Leh, we were fortunate to have spent a delightful afternoon with Ladakh Scouts. Meeting Siachen and Kargil war heroes was the icing on the cake.

The rewarding aspect of this trip other than trekking in the Ladakh wilderness, was undoubtedly an opportunity to see some rare species such as the red fox, golden eagle, Lammergeier (bearded vulture) and many other kinds of birds. We camped at a picturesque spot called Husing and since our treks depended upon the movement and signs and symptoms of this great elusive cat, we followed the principal of Nitwit travel, ‘no itinerary travel, wing it tours’. We learnt techniques to maximise the chances of spotting a snow leopard and made excursions to Tarbung and Khardung Valleys to study the natural habitat of the cat. As a team, we decided to ‘tread lightly’ and follow the tenets of the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria and a strict ‘leave to trace’ policy.

One of the highlights was the homestay in Rumbak, giving us an opportunity to get a glimpse of the lives of people in harsh conditions at one of the most remote comers of our country. Given the warmth, hospitality and cheerful demeanour of our Ladakhi hosts, we all wished that we had budgeted for more time in this Shangrila-like village. While at Rumbak we did a delightful hike towards Ganda Lapass (4,370 metres) to look for the Tibetan Argali, the largest wild sheep in the world.

As Chander Lall, a senior intellectual property lawyer from Delhi remarked. “People spend a lifetime searching for the snow leopard. There can be no instant gratification out to be a journey of self-discovery in the cold, harsh, barren winter wilderness of Ladakh. We returned as close snow leopard’ and a strong commitment to preserve our high altitude natural heritage.

-from Sunday Times, dated on May, 03, 2015