Planning to go trekking? Head to Uttarakhand – Here’s something new

 Go trekking is the new credo for Uttarakhand Tourism, as it aims to garner more footfalls to the hill state.

Faced with falling numbers and shaken confidence of its annual Chaar Dhaam Yatra to Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath after the devastating floods three years ago, the tourism department here has fixed its eyes on vast trekking areas which are drawing foreigners and Indians alike.

Officials privately admit that despite much improvement in infrastructure following flash floods in 2013 and subsequent weather turbulence, people from outside the state were vary of the annual pilgrimage owing to fear, forcing the mandarins in the government to think of "alternate plans".

With vast stretches of land and a challenging terrain to match up, the trekking route was considered a "safe and tempting bet."

The Khalia Munsyari route, which has been selected by the state government as the 'trek of the year' is all set to find favour with the trekkers "looking for some peace and lots of adventure. There is an unlimited potential to develop these trekking spots as tourism products," Secretary (Tourism) Shailesh Bagauli, told IANS.

And the gamble seems to be paying off. A large contingent of trekkers - 780 - who have enrolled themselves with the trek will be arriving in Munsyari on May 4. The Youth Hostel of India and Kumayun Mandal Vikas Nigam have been assigned the task of hosting the trekkers. To pep up the mood of trekkers, a photo competition has also been organized, officials told IANS.

Munsyari in Pithoragarh is located at a height of 7,200 feet and one can trek for another 4,000 feet, till 11,500 feet, giving it an edge over other areas in terms of altitude, adventure and thrills.

Uttarakhand Tourism Deputy Director Poonam Chand said that in winter, the entire area is snow-capped but during summer is covered with a pictureseque trail of flowers. The trek runs for seven days and the package comes at Rs.5,250 apiece.

"From the top of the trekking point, trekkers would be able to view the Nanda Devi, Raj Rambha, Nandakhat, Panchahuli, Suitala mountains in the Himalayas and Nampa and Mapi peaks of Nepal," Chand told IANS.

Bangladesh: A journey of shared history and common destiny with India

 In a quest to explore shared culture and history of all the territories that once formed part of an undivided Indian sub-continent, I chose the easiest one -- Bangladesh.

First, because a Pakistan visa was unlikely to come by, considering my family's history deeply steeped in Indian defence forces.

After fending off the questioning looks of friends and family, as I applied for the visa, I was confronted with a familiar question -- "Why Bangladesh?"

"Tourism," I replied. The official looked unconvinced but I was not denied the permission.

The Agartala-Dhaka bus, started in 2015 and which was supposed to be a daily service, has been reduced to thrice a week because it found few passengers.

I decided to enter Dhaka by land which also helped me to acclimatise to the sweltering heat there. I crossed the border on foot. The India-Bangladesh border is quite unlike the famous Wagah one between India and Pakistan. Here border guards discourage people from jingoistic sloganeering during the flag-lowering ceremony.

After entering the country, which appeared familiar for an Indian, I took a CNG (as Bangladeshis call their auto-rickshaws) to Akhoura and thereafter a bus to Dhaka.

The double whammy of heat and humidity sapped my energy reservoir in the "first class bus".

The next two days in Dhaka were nightmarish. And it seemed familiar too with huge traffic snarls.

I somehow managed to visit Sonargaon (the golden city), the administrative and commercial centre of pre-British rulers that finds mentions in the travel memoirs of Ibn-e-Batuta and Ralph Fitch.

It also has Panam City which houses a cluster of around 52 mansions inspired by European architecture, built in the 19th century. Hindu cloth merchants stayed there once upon a time.

But today an eerie silence wells up from the locked premises. World's Monument Fund has put it under the 100 most endangered sites.

The next on the list was the Liberation War Museum for a sneak peek into the 1971 Bangladesh liberation movement, where the Indian Army fought alongside the Bangladeshi Liberation Army named "Mukti Bahini". The museum doesn't seem to have fared too well. But apparently, a new one is under construction.

The next stop on the itinerary was Sylhet, in the northeast of the country, surrounded by beautiful tea estates and hills. The city is also a source of a staggering number of Bangladeshis abroad who contribute a major portion to the country's remittances.

Religiously, it seems more diverse. The city is dotted with many temples with idols of Goddess Kali and her consort Shiva being commonly sold on pavements.

I entered a temple which looked more like an armoured bunker. I was immediately identifiable as a stranger. After a few queries, I was ushered into the room of the head priest.

"When the Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992, our temples were razed to the ground here," a priest said.

"This temple was demolished completely and lots of Hindus were killed. We collected funds and have rebuilt it. And the strong grills around the temple are for protection," he said, requesting not to be named.

"Both the communities (Hindu and Muslim) love Hindi serials and movies. But whenever something happens in India, reverberations are felt here in Bangladesh," he said.

This simple statement coming from a temple priest in Sylhet underlines the intertwined fate of the people of the two countries that were part of the same history and political geography once upon a time.

Modernising India and Bangladesh too have to move forward together.

A young man Bacchu, who didn't give his second name, said whenever a riot or conflict between Hindus and Muslims happen in India "we are targeted here".

Sylhet, apart from being a major tourist attraction, was a part of the 1971 war theatre. It was the scene of the first heliborne operation of the Indian Air Force (IAF). It was here too that Gorkha Rifles won the day for the Indian Army in the Battle of Sylhet.

My travel to Bangladesh turned into a walk down the lanes of history and I felt as if the two countries continue to be linked through an umbilical cord. They continue to define themselves on the basis of the other.

After celebrating the Bengali New Year in Dhaka with delectable Hilsa I bade goodbye to the country. I will be back some day.

Article by Ritu Sharma

Visit Mahabalipuram to admire monolithic structures and ancient rock works

Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram is home to a group of incredibly beautiful monolithic structures that find a mention in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Famous for its rock-cut caves, stone carvings and temples, Mahabalipuram is located in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu and lies approximately 60 kilometers south of capital city Chennai.

These structures reflect the ancient Dravidian style of architecture with traces of Buddhist influence. The monuments display the matchless skills of the craftsmen of those times.

 In this photo-feature, we will take you through a few pictures that will inspire you to pay a visit to this land of marvels.

VARAHA CAVE

PANCHA RATHA

BALANCING ROCK

ARJUNA'S PENANCE

TIGER CAVE

Head to Rajasthan to witness the beauty of the Camel Festival

Rajasthan – the land of the Royals – is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. People from across the globe visit this state to witness Indian Royalty and splendour. Among the many spectacles that Rajasthan has to its credit, the Camel Festival finds a special mention.

Scheduled to be held on 14-15 January, the Camel Festival will be a visual delight for the tourists. Set the red backdrop of the Junagarh Fort in Bikaner, the colourful festival pays tribute to the ship of the desert.

The official Twitter handle of Rajasthan Tourism tweeted the following:

A colourful sight of decorated camels against the red backdrop of Junagarh Fort, Bikaner awaits you at the #CamelFestival on 14-15th Jan.

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A colourful sight of decorated camels against the red backdrop of Junagarh Fort, Bikaner awaits you at the #CamelFestival on 14-15th Jan.

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World famous for its majestic forts, mesmerising palaces, mouth-watering cuisine, colourful attire and rustic music - Rajasthan is home to a huge population of camels. The Festival will display bejewelled camels that reflect innate Rajasthani style and elegance. Their charismatic moves and innocence will win your heart.

So are you ready to head to Bikaner for a rendezvous with the camels?

Dambuk in Arunachal: Reaching this land of oranges is an adventure in itself

They say getting to Dambuk in the Lower Dibang Valley, which is said to be India's 10th-least populous district, is an adventure itself. I couldn't agree more as I had to ride through water and forests to reach the north-eastern border state's land of oranges.

After taking a flight from Delhi to Guwahati, I, along with a few other journalists, boarded a mini bus to reach Arunachal Pradesh's capital Itanagar. The festive season seemed to be in full swing as some of the trees were lit up by star lampshades.

We halted there for a night. The next day, packed in an SUV, we crossed a few tea estates in Assam, which border Arunachal Pradesh. Then we entered Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh. What followed was an off-roading adventure as we drove on anything but surfaced roads.

Once the tough terrain was over, we landed in the orange orchards in Dambuk, which remains cut off from the rest of the world during the monsoon. That's the time when the residents opt for elephant rides.

So, it was interesting to see a few off-roaders -- modified Gypsies and Jeeps -- engaged in challenging tasks to try and win the JK Tyre Orange 4x4 Fury championship, which was a part of the Orange Festival of Adventure & Music.

It wasn't just the participants who got the rugged vehicles. I was given an ATV to reach our accommodation -- a humble hut.

As I lay on my bed with three blankets on, I could see the clear sky, the gleaming stars and the white moon. Then came the actual challenge -- to apply make-up or shave without a mirror. But it seemed most people had mastered the art of using a razor or make-up tools without seeing their reflection as no one stepped out with cuts on their face or looking like a raccoon.

Then we headed out to watch the participating teams race on a river-bed. As the drivers did their thing, I sat down on the rocks and ate hot samosas, oranges and, of course, drank juice . With bountiful nature, it was the perfect spot to enjoy a holiday.

Later that day, the participants had to race down a 45 degree hillside and then make a rough 75 degree climb to complete the stage. I stood there with my mouth wide open in the middle of the road along with the locals, including school children and women.

Thank god the festival had music too as I had enough of an adrenaline rush. I was looking forward to some good food as well. While we were being mostly served rice, lentils and cabbage and potato dish at the huts, the fest offered much more. My favourite was the hot dog with fried chicken from a food truck that had come all the way from Itanagar.

The next day was for river rafting. I was initially nervous as I am a non-swimmer. But with the life-jacket and helmet on, I felt immortal.

I didn't paddle when we started off. Since we had to cover a distance of 12 km, I thought of trying it. Everyone said that the rapids weren't as strong as the ones in Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, but I enjoyed it till the time I got all drenched.

After drying up, we left for the headline act -- the Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. I am not a fan of heavy metal music, still I felt pumped up. I also played an air guitar.

Soon it was time to head back to the city. Once the chopper started, I wondered whether to use my hands to shut my ears to avoid the loud noise of the engine or close my nose as there was a strong smell of fuel.

Within 30 minutes, we reached Dibrugarh in Assam. Five hours later I was back in Delhi.

It felt good to return to my family in a well-built house and not a cold hut. But I will miss waking up to the sound of chirping birds and the roar of modified vehicles.

Plan to visit the village in winter? Arm yourself with a tent, woollens, torch, raincoat, salt or lighter as blood-sucking leeches come out during rainfall.

By Natalia Ningthoujam

Arunachal Pradesh seeks to become adventure tourism hotspot

 Encouraged by a 50 percent growth in tourist arrivals over the past few years, Arunachal Pradesh is seeking to promote the strategic border state as an adventure tourism hotspot to draw the young and the daring.

The state, abutting China, is already known for its natural beauty -- picturesque hills and valleys, landscapes snowed white in winter, famous monasteries, unexplored passes and tranquil, high-altitude lakes -- and registered about five percent growth in tourist footfalls in 2015. What was missing were adventure hotspots.

"With the focus on adventure tourism and showcasing exotic tourist spots, the state has been organising many theme-based events like the Tawang festival, Ziro festival of music, Arunachal spring carnival, adventure at Mechuka as also the Kameng river festival. The objective is to create a buzz among local youth and tourists outside the state," state Tourism Department Director K. Lekhi told IANS.

A project has been sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan scheme for integrated development of new adventure tourism with central assistance of around Rs 97 crore ($14 million).

According to Tourism Department data, arrivals in 2015 stood at 3,57,933 against 3,41,178 in 2014. In the last decade, arrivals jumped manifold from 3,255 in 2000 to 2,31,252 in 2010. Between 2011 and 2015, inflows surged by 50 percent from 2,37,980 in 2011.

Being a sensitive state, foreign tourists visiting in groups of two or more require the Protected Area Permit for a period 30 days. Domestic tourists also require an Inner Line Permit.

"We have eased the procedures for providing permits and one can carry out the process from Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati," Lekhi said.

"Over the years, the number of tourist arrivals has been increasing. Theme-based festivals and events around the year helped to achieve sustained growth," Arunachal Pradesh Tourist Information Officer Takom Kena told IANS.

The land of dawn-lit mountains is endowed with green forests covering over 80 per cent of its 83,743 sq km area, besides rivers like Kameng, Subansiri, Siang and Tirap. Such resources make Arunachal an ideal place for adventure sports like trekking, angling, boating and rafting.

Gauging the potential for adventure sports, the Centre has set up the country's first adventure sports institute -- the National Institute for Mountaineering and Allied Sports (NIMAS) -- at Dirang in West Kameng district to provide structured training in mountaineering as well as aero and aqua sports.

"Arunachal is the most suitable place for conducting air, water and land-based adventure sports. For example, Mechukha is best for paragliding and trekking, and Tawang for parasailing and river rafting. Apart from Mechukha, we are giving a thrust in Anini, Rupa and Tawang to adventure tourism," state Directorate of Youth Affairs' Adventure Cell In-charge K. Romeo Meetei told IANS.

With a thin population density of 17 persons per sq km, the state is trying to provide adequate employment opportunities through adventure tourism, which is currently conducted only during the festival season.

"The state is trying to train local youths so that they can organise adventure sports and serve the tourists round the year. It will create employment opportunities for local youth. At present, facilitators are being brought from outside to conduct such events," Meetei said on the sidelines of the 4th edition of Adventure@Mechukha festival.

However, communication and transportation bottlenecks have been a major impediment in attracting more tourists.

"At present, the condition of roads are not that good. Maintenance is by the Border Roads Organisation. The state government does not have much say. A trans-Arunachal road project has been taken up and once this fructifies, the problem will ease out to a large extent," Lekhi said.

Apart from improved road connectivity, tourist arrivals are expected to increase with better rail and and air connectivity.

Currently, Naharlagun, 15 km from Itanagar, is linked to New Delhi via Guwahati by an air-conditioned superfast express. There are also plans to connect Pasighat in East Siang district and Bhalukpong in West Kameng by rail. This is in the domain of the Railway Ministry, Lekhi said.

"The state government has approached the Centre to open up the advanced landing ground (ALG) at Mechukha (29 km from the Sino-Indian border) for civilian purposes to strengthen connectivity in the Aalo-Mechukha circuit in West Siang district. The landing ground is currently used only by the Indian Air Force," Mechukha's MLA and Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism P.D. Sona told IANS.

Over time, the IAF plans to activate nine ALGs in Arunachal Pradesh and there are indications that some of these could also be put to civilian use.

Bappaditya Chatterjee

Incredible Beaches In India You Shouldn't Miss To Visit

This article is dedicated to the beach life – tan skin, messy hair, sandy toes, shorter clothes, sun chills and sugary memories. Beaches are the best escape one can ever have!

Here are some beautiful beaches in India. Go through the list and add them in your bucket list.

Palolem beach (Goa) is very famous for its nightlife, the beach turns into this beautiful place after sundown. 

Radhanagar beach is considered to be one of Andman's best possessions. The beach has lush green trees and crystal clear water. One might just take a walk on the beach and feel so content and peaceful. 

Varkala beach is the beach where cliffs of Western ghats are found adjacent to the great Arabian Sea. It is one of the black sand beachs of Kerala and the most popular tourist destination in Kerala.

Tarkali is one of the cleanest beaches with pristine white sands, and has all sorts of water sports - Parasailing, banana ride and even camel rides.

Varca is one the most beautiful and crowd free beaches in Goa. 

Bangaram beach is said to be one of the last paradises on Earth. 

Marari beach is considered to be the best destination for a casual swim. 

Arambol is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Goa because of low hills and jungle valley and huge banyan trees. It is basically famous for its bohemian feel.

Baga beach is one of the very famous beaches in Goa.

SORCE: www.wittyfeed.com/story/23209/travel-poster-series-beaches-in-india