The Cultural Wonders That Create A Beautiful Journey

RAJASTHAN

JAIPUR – Timeless wonders drenched in salmon, Jaipur stands tall in its magnificence. The splendour of the City Palace, the intricate designs of the Hawa Mahal and the history attached to the Amer Fort Palace; the architectural finesse of the buildings of Jaipur stand testament to the great city. The elephant safari, the Jal Mahal, the Jantar Mantar—the city of Jaipur leaves you spoilt for choices with its multiple forts, gardens, wells and temples. Make a trip to Chokhi Dhani to get a taste of an authentic Rajasthani feast complete with food items such as sangri and dal-bati. Jaipur is a 230kms drive from Delhi.

LOHAGARH FORT – Among the numerous forts and palaces of Bharatpur, the Lohagarh Fort, or Iron Fort, is perhaps the most iconic. The fort is believed to be virtually impregnable with deep moats on each side; it stood its ground against the British when they laid a six-week siege on it. Along with the various palaces like the Mahal Khas and the Kamra Palace, the fort also holds a museum, the imposing towers of Jawahar and Fateh Burj, Ganga and Laxman Temples, an art gallery and the Nehru Park. The Bharatpur railway junction is the closest to Lohagarh fort. The nearest airport is Kheria Airport in Agra, 49kms away.

THAR DESERT – Colourful costumes, music, desert culture and sand as far as the eye can see, the Thar Desert vibrates with its beauty and traditions. Surrounded by the golden (Jaisalmer), pink (Jaipur) and blue (Jodhpur) cities and the city of lakes (Udaipur), the Thar Desert is bustling with activities for all travellers. From desert safaris to dune bashing, parasailing, quad biking to staying at royal palaces and experiencing the desert festivals, the grandeur of the Thar Desert can never fail to amaze. Jaisalmer airport, closest to the desert, has domestic flights coming in from cities like Delhi and Mumbai.

SHEKHAWATI – Nestled in northeast Rajasthan, the historical region of Shekhawati is a favourite for travellers. Visit Sikar to find multiple havelis such as those of Bansidhar Rathi, Kedia and Sawant Ram Chokhani.

The Khatu Shyamji village is known for its temple and the Khatu Shyamji fair. Places like Churu and Dundlod are known for their iconic forts and Fatehpur revels in its 15th century glory. Try the horse safaris or the Heritage on Wheels luxury train and attend some of the vibrant fairs and festivals in the area. The nearest railway station is Jhunjhunu which is connected to cities such as Jaipur, Delhi, Indore and Pune.

ODISHA

CHILIKA LAKE – This is the largest brackish water lake not only in India, but also in all of Asia. Such lakes are more saline than their freshwater counterparts, but a tad less salty than the water out at sea. Chilika is known for its abundant bird life that is sure to excite not just any birder but even the nonbirder. In fact, the Mangalajodi corner of the lake is host to over 160 species during the peak season, some from as far away as Russia. The lake supports a vast ecosystem and provides livelihood to thousands of fisherfolk living in 132 villages on the shore and islands in the lake. The lake can be visited from many places—Rambha is relatively peaceful, Satapada and Barkul, which are the best known among these. Chilika was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport, 95kms away.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE – Call it the ‘other Golden Triangle’: The three Odishi towns of Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark, which are known for their temples and their popularity in terms of pilgrimage and travel. Throughout the triangle, Jainism and Buddhism have left prominent imprints which that have been set in stone by various Buddhist stupas and Jain temples. Those looking to cover all three vertices should begin with Bhubaneswar, which has the Lingaraj, Parashuramesvara and Mukteswar temples that you ought to visit. At Puri, the Jagannath Temple is world famous and is visited by large crowds every day. The Sun Temple of Konark is a 13th-century structure in the shape of a gigantic chariot, built by king Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. The Sun Temple is just 65kms from state capital Bhubaneswar, from where Puri is 60km away.

TRIBAL CIRCUIT – Much of India’s diversity owes to its colourful tribes, which possess their own innate cultures and traditions. This makes the tribal circuit of Odisha particularly unique. A trip to the circuit includes a number of smaller towns such as Gopalpur and Sambalpur, in addition to larger cities such as Bhubaneswar. Participate in Gopalpur’s enthralling beach festival, which makes it an exciting tourist spot. At Sambalpur, there are numerous festivals based around agriculture such as the Nuakhai that takes place in the months of August and September. In Bhubaneswar, a week-long tribal fair begins on 26th January, while the Chhau Festival in Baripada, a classical dance festival, takes place in April. Also, do not miss the Puri Beach Festival in November. Gopalpur and Sambalpur are 16Skms and 293kms from Bhubaneswar by road, respectively.

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR – One of India’s most visited tourist destinations, Amritsar is home to the Golden Temple, or Harmandir Sahib, which is Sikhism’s most important shrine. The grand shrine is known for its round-the-clock langar or ‘free kitchen’. Visitors to the religious centre also visit the Jallianwala Bagh, the site of the horrific Jallianwala massacre of 1919, where bullet marks are still visible; hauntingly prominent. At the Wagah Border separating India and Pakistan, located 28kms from Amritsar, a ceremonial show happens every evening. Amritsar has an international airport located just 13km from the Golden Temple.

HARIKE WETLAND – A wetland is defined as a terrain knee-deep in water, and in India, the Harike Wetland located in Punjab is the largest. It is manmade, and serves the purpose of providing enough water to the visiting animals and birds. Imagine this—a vast stretch of water with scattered patches of verdant flora seeming like a miniature version of our planet itself. Visit the Harike Bird Sanctuary that is accessed from Ferozepur. While it is a sanctum for numerous endangered bird species, the wetlands also support animals such as the mongoose, the Indian wild boar and the jackal. Ferozepur Cantonment is the nearest railway station to Harike.

VIRASAT-E-KHALSA – A monumental embodiment of the Sikh religion and its underlying culture and traditions, the Virasat-e-Khalsa Museum is a treat for anyone who wishes to learn anything about the religion. Located in Anandpur Sahib, the Museum has an auditorium that can support 400 people, art galleries, a well-equipped library, exhibition spaces, digital and interactive spaces. And then there’s the spellbinding architecture, complete with arches, walkways, bridges and even pools. Here, you learn everything from the origins of the Khalsa sect to the many gurus who have shaped its history. Anandpur Sahib is best accessed from Chandigarh (90kms).

SIKKIM

GURUDONGMAR LAKE – One of the highest lakes in the world, located at an altitude of 17,800ft on an extension of the Tibetan Plateau, this lake holds great religious significance for the Buddhists of Sikkim. The lake remains frozen during the winter and foreign tourists require a special permit to visit it. Located a mere five kilometres away from the Tibetan border, the magnificent lake stands under the shadow of the sacred peak of Khangchen Gyao. Fed by glaciers and snow-melt from the plateau, it is renowned for its stark ruggedness and unparalleled beauty. The lake region also has an abundance of high-altitude wildlife such as yaks and blue sheep. The best time to visit is between March and June. Gurdongmar Lake is a 4-5 hour drive from Sikkim’s capital, Gangtok.

BOTANICAL GARDEN – The Jawaharlal Nehru Botanical Garden near Gangtok is a paradise for those with a bug for flora. With its different species of rare flowers, plants and trees, ‘pretty’ would be an understatement for this park. A perfect destination for travellers looking for Sikkim’s endemic trees and plants like orchids, the garden also attracts tourists from around the country for its picturesque layout and its proximity to the Rumtek Monastery. The garden houses numerous species of orchids and over 50 different species of trees including a number of oaks. Foreigners need a permit to enter, which can be taken from Siliguri. The Botanical Garden is located 24km from Gangtok and you can hire a taxi for a day-trip that also includes a visit to the Rumtek Monastery.

LACHUNG & YUMTHANG – While travelling around North Sikkim, stopping for a few days at Yumthang and Lachung is an absolute no-brainer. Lachung is an exquisite little riverside town often described as the ‘most picturesque village in Sikkim’, while the Yumthang Valley is renowned for its stunning variety of wildflowers, located on meadows beyond the treeline. Picturesque valleys, waterfalls, rivers, authentic little villages and a breathtaking view of the snowcapped Himalaya make Yumthang and Lachung unique destinations in Sikkim, perfect for travellers looking for a short getaway from civilisation. Bagdogra airport in West Bengal is about 128km away from Lachung while the nearest major railway station is New Jalpaiguri, about 127km away.