Safest destinations in the face of terror

As Mumbai—the corporate and commercial nerve centre of India—has been terror-stricken and left consternated, tourism in Western India is seen sloping down. The density of foreign visitors, including the domestic visitors, to these destinations is experiencing de-escalation in the recent times. Well, in the cataclysmic or traumatic terror time as today, which India is passing through, there are several destinations where entrants and tourists can visit and enjoy. My post aims to enlist the major southern destinations in India that are in season, currently.

Tamil Nadu
One of the most prominent South Indian state and heartland of Dravidian culture and tradition, Tamil Nadu is a land with divergent beauty. Sharing boundaries with states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala, Tamil Nadu has an unbroken coastline, edging the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. There are more than 30,000 temples here, henceforth, begetting Tamil Nadu the sobriquet “land of temples”. Popular Temple town in the state are: Madurai, Trichy, Tanjore, Kanchipuram, Palani, Tiruvallur and Mahabalipuram. Most of the Tamil Nadu is hilly. To the north lies the Nilgiri Hills, to the west lies the Eastern Ghats and in the South, the Anamalai Hills. Other crucial cities include Kodaikanal, Kannyakumari, Udhagamandalam, Madurai, Rameshwaram, Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli, Chidambaram, Yelagiri, Yeracaud, and Mamallapuram.

Crime Rating: 4/5
Terror Strike: None so far.
Single Women Traveller: Tamil Nadu is low on crime on women. There are women forums and women helpline member for women.

Kerala
God’s Own Country, the attractive epithet to Kerala well-befits the greenest state of India. A huge southern state of India, Kerala is blessed with abundance of greenery, backwaters, beaches and hills. Kerala is the most popular tourist belt that sees huge of foreign tourists round the year. Gastronomically, Kerala is long sought for its coconut-flavoured-mouth-watering dishes such as idli, sambhar, dosa, uttappam, upma, pohe and so on. Some of the enchanting tourism places in Kerala are: Munnar, Kerala, Thiruvananthpuram, Kasargod, Varkala, Wayanad, Periyar National Park, Kumarakom, Kovalam, Kollam and Alleppey/Allapuzzha. Best take of Kerala lies in its houseboats and beaches.

My Rating: 5/5
Terror Strike: Kerala has not expericned any terrorist attack and is the safest zone in India.
Single Women Traveller: Keralans are polite, non confrontational, respectful and hospitable people. Proper dressing is a must at Kerala because the state belongs to hard-core tradition buffs. Kerala is the cleanest city for girls.

Karnataka

A large state of India, Karnataka is the jewelled with many wildlife sanctuaries, beaches, hill stations and temples and numerous destinations over all. Bordering the neighbour states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Karnataka is most commercial state of the nation. It has 3 main regions categorised as the coastal plains abutting the sea; Western Ghats running parallel to the coastline; and the inland plains of the Deccan Plateau. Tourism zones incorporates of Mysore, Hampi, Belgaum,
Mysore, Aihole, Coorg, Hampi, Badami, Chikmagalur, Pattadakal, Mangalore, Shravanabelagola, Belgaum,Belur,Bijapur, Halebid and Bidar. Best buys are sandalwoods, silk sarees and handicrafts and so on.

My Rating: 3/5
Terror Strike: Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka has experienced first time blast on 9/7/08.
Single Women Traveller: Karnataka is not too safe for women in some places. Buses and public transports are still safer option for women. Moving in mass is advisable for girls.

Andhra Pradesh

Largest state of southern India, Andhra Pradesh is “rice bowl of India”. Alongside, the state is home to one of the most prominent pilgrimages, the Tirumala Tirupati Devsthanam. Andhra Pradesh shelters some of the most celebrated from of arts and crafts evident in the dress materials show items, jewelleries and so on. Key destinations points in Hyderabad are Secunderabad, Vishakhapatnam, Vijaywada, Rajamundhry, Puttaparthi and Tirupati. Adorned with natural riches in the form of beach, wildlife, natural forests etc, the bright and diverse state of Andhra Pradesh has double distinctions of being a tourist zone and Information Technology hub of India.
My Rating: 3/5
Terror Strike: Like Bangalore, Hyderabad too has fallen in the trap of terrorists on 26/08/07. So far, it has been a single and only blast in Hyderabad.
Single Women Traveller: Single Women travelling is not-so-uncommon and except some parts of capital are not very safe for women. Overall, the city has less crime records and can be considered safe for women.

A Scoop of North East!

Marwar was so absorbing that it left no time to pen down oh-so-romantic Lachung. I know missing out on pristine North East against Marwar is criminal. Well, out of that Marwar couch, I am back with a fanciful utopian head trip to Lachung. Tiring it was, but I can’t keep my mind and penning-urge off it. Back to work station, I try stuffing my BLOG with what I had engulfed in Lachung. Read between all that awe-inspiring lines the shreds of Lachung beatification.

Delhi to Lachung to Gangtok… the endless

The nighest airport lies at Bagdogra and further zipping and shuttling to Gangtok is done cars or taxi. Train journey takes 24-30 hrs from New Delhi (NDLS) to Jalpaiguri (NJP). Alas, I had to miss on that being hard-pressed for time. It took almost 3 hrs in flight to land on Bagdogra Airport. Expecting first glimpse of Lachung before 6 hours is prohibited, by rule. The exact destination takes 7-8 hrs of tiring journey, past gompas, colourful monasteries and arid air, in short strikingly expressive landscapes. Lachung lies at 9,600 fts above the sea level and 120 km from Gangtok.

The Booking, stay et al.

My friend had booked the Sonam Palgey Hotel at Lachung for me. It was through some indiahotelreview site. The hotel was located in the neck of mighty, majestic, scenic (go on adding more) Himalayas and so close that I could dig my hands in ice. Thanks to IndiaHotelReview for the itinerary they had sent me on mail. I was able to traverse the hinterland of Sikkim and more. Warnings and advice came along with the bookings; I was informed about the basic type hotels and rooms and to forget those luxurious cocoons. For God sake, the baths were clean and water was icy cold (stink Vs cleanliness; I was overtaken by cleanliness and asked god to grow furs on me!). At one of the Dhabas, unbelievably, I spotted Dal and Roti (new shape) and gorged on seamlessly.

Lachung—The Last Post on Indo-Chinese Border

Experience the sublime and sheer splendour of this magical village and last post on Indo-China border. The beautiful village of Lachung is a visual delight with two rivers, Lachen and Lachung Chu—the tributaries of Teesta, inundating the beauty quotient of Lachung. Spring bathes the valley in rainbow like hues of flowers—unseen, beautiful and unheard elsewhere. Come winters, and the valley dressed white with snow. Be it any season, never miss out Rhodondendrons and Orchids flushed inclines and gorges. I still have the dry Orchids in my travel diary as a memento from Lachung. During my evening stroll near the hotel, I deciphered the meaning of Lachung, which means ‘Small Mountain’ in their language, from a hotel guy. Lachung people speak Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha.

Next morning, I began it from Hanuman Mandir and made it to Lachung Monastery/Gompa, Singba Rhododendron Sanctuary (24 km) and Jadong, all in one and half days.

It was pouring tips and advises.

It took me long many tips and advises to sustain a safe and beautiful journey as a visitant to Lachung. Sunglasses must be on where ever you go as I did it. Two sweaters, scarf, gloves and all woollen garments were given a try by me. It was nail-biting cold, the waves making it worst during winters.

Best Scoop

My romance with Lachung started even before I could lay my eyes on it. The whole stretch from Gangtok to Lachung enroute Kanchendzonga at Mangan, Seven Sister Fall and many smaller falls is breath-stopping. My heart almost skipped the beat on seeing Lachung as it was so immensely beautiful. Well, it is difficult to choose best of all but Lachung Monastery is the most colourful celebration of inhabitants here. The Monastery is the axis of all religious activities and celebrations in the state. Besides the prayer wheels and original murals, the best is the view of Mt Katao/Katua for which you need to have army permission to visit.

Lachung is Lovely.

Marwar Festival

Marwar Festival
Come October end and Jodhpur razzle-dazzles up with hues of seven colours. The whole of the Jodhpur is sprayed with vibrant riot of colours. Hues of red and many vibrant colours, parade of brave warriors, impressive forts that come on to you, terrains of sand as far as your eyes can gauge the horizon are just few of the basal parts of the Marwar Festival. Who could say that that passé could appeal so much. I walked past camel silhouetted desert-scape, and the sun dusked quiet philosophically on me!


Day I
I was really delighted to be part of Kaleidoscopic ‘Rajasthan Maand festival’, held on Oct 13, 14, 2008. Well, when I was invited for the popular Maand Festival, I had the subconscious for ‘dewy’ and not ‘dry’ pictures. Condemn my consciousness of the psychedelic of Rajasthan (camels, sand, jootis, turbans and moustaches) so on. The vividness and the heat could be felt from the first of day, the inauguration day, at the Mandore Gardens. Get greeted by the monkeys and Hi5! them with visiting gift of peanuts, which you are supposed to throw at them. After squandering some time here and there and eyeing up the whole milieu, camels, setting and stage dressing and groups of foreigners, I threw myself to the soft music and mascot song padhro maro desh … The evening passed on listening music , local to Rajasthan, and especially centred on romantic life of Rajasthan stalwarts and rulers. Known as Maand Festival too, the festival is exclusively dedicated to music and dance of the state. As a first-timer, the festival engaged my attention with dances: ghoomar, sapera and gairal. Folklore artists presentations and colloquially sung rhythms of Marwar and Jodhpur is equally attractive for many, and moreover for the foreigners.
Day II
The second day of the ‘Maand’ was equally charming. Parade marked the beginning of the second day. Early morning shows the colossal ground with people and countless camels’ cuddling their dosage and getting ready for the ride and race. Horses too follow the parade and poise for the Polo. Even when my all five senses were employed the subconscious could not escape sweet and warm smiles of girls dressed up in Rajasthan Lehengas. As people filled the festival ground like smoke, the whole resplendence resumed gradually. Artist robe in purplish theme and Pied Piper of Jodhpur picks up his tune. The camel tattoo show and camel polo are some of the other attractions at the Marwar Festival of Rajasthan. I booked Rajaputana Hotel through www.indiahotelreview.com and had an excellent stay there sans complaint.