Destination
Bhutan
The world’s last, lost kingdom, Bhutan is only just opening its doors to tourism. What better stage for your next summer than in a long-forgotten land, unspoilt by civilization, steeped in mythology, mysticism and magic, enraptured by the pristine beauty of an untrammeled country!
Best Place to Visit
- Bumthang
- Paro
- Phobjikha
- Punakha
- Thimphu
- And More Place…..
Jammu & Kashmir
Once a princely state, Jammu and Kashmir is located at the northern-most stretch of India, sharing a border with China, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Straddling the Himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir offers sweeping panoramas of crystal clear lakes and snow-capped mountains, of glacier-carved valleys and wood-log hamlets. Its history as a Hindu kingdom, with a Muslim population, with Tibetan and Chinese influences along the border makes it an intriguing cultural destination.
Ladakh
Ladakh’s high passes render the region inaccessible for most of the year. Yet after the snow melts in May, the landscape of turquoise lakes, stark river valleys and mountaintop monastries opens its doors to travellers. Nubra Valley, once known in local parlance as the ‘valley of flowers’, is a high altitude cold desert and the region’s capital, Diskit is the site of a dramatically perched monastery built in 1420 AD. Nubra’s orchards blossom with apples, walnuts, apricots, almonds, and wheat, barley and mustard is widely cultivated. The nearby village of Hunder is home to the two-humped Bactrian camels, and Turtuk village hosts an ethnic population of Balti-speaking folk who hadn’t come into contact with the tourists before 2010. This region offers a unique cultural experience of tribes and monasteries, and whispers tales of Jesus’s life after crucifixion.
Nepal
Touted as the world’s last Hindu kingdom, one would expect Nepal’s temples and traditions to be similar to those of India. However, you’d be in for a surprise – Nepal’s socio-religious facets have been influenced heavily by the different mountain tribes’ traditions and has evolved into a distinct, inimical culture. With a monarchy presiding until 2006, Nepal’s history has been one of conflict and strife, with its economy today, largely dependent on tourism. From the bustling capital of Kathmandu with its rich architecture to the forested Terai belt where the one-horned rhino roam, from the terraced farmlands to the river-carved valleys, from the scenic mountain-towns in the mid-Himalayas to the Mt. Everest Base Camp – Nepal offers a wide range of options for every traveller.
Best Place to Visit
- Annapurna Base Camp / Trek
- Chitwan
- Kathmandu
- Lumbini
- Nagarkot
- Pokhara
- And More Place…..
Rajasthan
Most people visit the desert state of Rajasthan for its imperial heritage; beautiful palaces, historic forts, regal havelis or mansions. Rajasthan’s desert tribes tell another story; of the people who built the grand, regal structures, who immortalized battle stories in song and dance, who told stories of the ancient feudal lords, and who sustained the fiefdoms of old. Listen to the narratives of Rajasthan’s folk, both regal and rustic in their songs, dances and dramas, to understand their ways of life and the traditions that they have carried into the present.
Best Place to Visit
- Ajmer
- Alwar
- Bhainsrorgarh
- Bharatpur
- Bikaner
- Jaipur
- Jaisalmer
- Jodhpur
- Pushkar
- Ranthambore
- Udaipur
- And More Place…..
Sikkim
For the adventurers, Sikkim’s peak-ringed valleys, icy-cold lakes and rhododendron-rich forests offer a range of trails and treks. Explore a countryside of gushing rivers and forested stretches interspersed with charming Tibetan monasteries, against a backdrop of the breathtaking Kanchendzonga mountains. Sikkim falls within the lower Himalayas, one of 3 ecoregions in the world and hosts astonishing biodiversity; rare orchids and numerous rhododendron species, over 500 species of birds, a plethora of still-unstudied insects, and several rare mammals like snow leopard, Himalayan tahr, red panda, Himalayan goral, Tibetan wolf, among others. Sikkim’s towns are also bustling centres of trade, with marketplaces sourced from the far-flung reaches of the state and sometimes, from across the borders.
Best Place to Visit
- Gangtok
- Pelling
- And More Place…..
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand’s numerous temples and pilgrimage sites along the holy Ganges have earned it the epithet ‘the Land of Gods’. With its lofty location atop the mid-Himalayas and its sweeping panoramic views of peaks, notably Mt. Nandadevi, the epithet is rather apt – and Uttaranchal is thronged each year with pilgrims seeking that divine connection. Hidden away in the fold of the mountains, numerous rock paintings and shelters, and megalithic structures give evidence of human habitation since the pre-historic times. Uttarakhand’s Vedic history is etched in stone, in the numerous temples or mountaintop shrines, and still lives on through religious rituals and festive traditions. Its medieval is less easy to trace, yet the ethnic diversity implies that many narratives of history are lost to time. Its colonial history can be traced through the research, educational and legal institutions set up across the state – the ancient buildings still performing similar duties in the current political context.
Best Place to Visit
- Almora
- Binsar
- Corbett
- Dehradun
- Haridwar
- Nainital
- Rishikesh
- And More Place…..
Himachal Pradesh
As a state with a name that means ‘the abode of snow’, Himachal Pradesh nestles at the foothills of the Dhauladhar range in the Himalayas. Its written history can be dated back to the Indus Valley civilization, yet the many tribes that inhabit these snow-clad ranges may have done so since the pre-historic times. With 30 wildlife sanctuaries and 3 conservation reserves, Himachal Pradesh’s biodiversity is a draw for wildlife-lovers, yet the state sees more footfalls for its colonial hillstations, ancient temples and adventure activities. Adventure tourism has become a mainstay in Himachal Pradesh in recent years, with the Paragliding World Cup being hosted annually in Bir Billing.
Best Place to Visit
- Dharamshala
- Kullu
- Palampur
- Shimla
- And More Place…..
