The invention of airplanes first fulfilled humanity’s dream to fly. Within a few decades, airplanes managed to reduce the distance between different parts of the planet from several days to a mere few hours. Another consequence was airports. Since airports are the first thing tourists traveling to a country are likely to see, governments around the world always make a special effort to make them beautiful. Often they are built at top travel destinations – particularly the international ones. These airports also tend to have state-of-the-art technology to ensure the maximum convenience and security of passengers. The following article will discuss some of the most popular airports in India.
Let’s get started:
Here is the list of 8 Most Popular Airports in India
1. Indira Gandhi International Airport of Delhi
It is only natural that the first and one of the most famous international airports in the country should be at the national capital of India – Delhi. Named after the third prime minister of Independent India and the daughter of the first Indian prime-minister and freedom fighter, Ms. Indira Gandhi, the airport is spread over 5106 acres of land making it the largest in the country. It can cater to up to 40 million passengers in a single day. The airport has three runaways. Its third terminal is the largest in the country and the sixth largest in the world. It is also the most user-friendly and busiest airport in the world. It has great interior decorations of the world.
2. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai
If the political capital of the country is at the top of the list, then the airport in the financial capital of the country – Mumbai is not much behind. Named after the great Maratha king, Chhatrapati Shivaji, the airport boosts scenic sights. It has five terminals in its 750 hectares and can serve up to 42 million passengers in a single day. It is also famous for being environmentally friendly.
3. Madras International Meenambakkam Airport (MAA), Chennai
Chennai was one of the first cities in the country to get an international airport along with Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkatta. The airport is also the regional headquarters of the National Airports Authority of India. It is the first airport in the country that boasts a satellite terminal (T6).
4. Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore
Bangalore has been called the Silicon Valley of India and is world famous for its BPO sector which attracts a lot of international tourists. It boasts of 4000 acres of land and has a new terminal Code F aerobridge which can contain an Airbus 1380 aircraft. It also has the unique distinction of being the very first airport in the country to completely run on solar power.
5. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata
The first four international airports the country were located on different sides of the country. The airport located in the Dum Dum area of Kolkata was initially called Dum Dum Airport but was later rechristened as the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in 1995, after the legendary freedom fighter who founded Indian National Army. It has the distinction of being one of the cleanest airports in the country.
6. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad
Another famous airport is located in Hyderabad and is named after another prime minister – Rajiv Gandhi. The airport is known for its picturesque location and is spread over 5400 acres of land though it currently has only one terminal.
7. Dabolim Airport, Goa
Goa can be called the travel capital and so it should hardly come as a surprise to anyone that it boosts one of the most beautiful airports in the country. Dabolim airport is situated in a military base roughly 30 kilometers distance from the state’s capital city Panjim or Panaji and is one of the most crowded airports in the country.
8. Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh
Some of the best airports in the country are those that connect the remote parts of the country. The airport of Leh is one such airport. Besides providing connectivity to Ladakh, the airport offers some of the panoramic sights one will ever counter and it is also the highest airport located at a height of 3256 meters above sea level.
The above list of beautiful airports is by no means exhaustive – most airports in the country have something beautiful about them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There are several questions people ask that relate to airports in India. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) on this subject:
Question: What are some of the airports located in relatively remote parts of the country?
Answer: the following are some of the airports located at and connected the remote parts of the country to the rest of it:
Lengpui Airport, Mizoram
Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair
Agatti Airport, Lakshadweep
Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh
Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati
The biggest perk is that each of these airports is also located at locations full of amazing tourist attractions.
Question: Where is the smallest airport in India?
Answer: The airport at Trichy in Tamil Nadu is the smallest in India.
Question: Name is the biggest airport in India?
Answer: The biggest airport in India is obviously in the National capital. The Indira Gandhi International Airport of Delhi spread over 5106 acres is one of the biggest airports in the world.
Question: Which airport has the biggest terminal in India?
Answer: The Indira Gandhi International Airport of Delhi’s Terminal 3 is the biggest in the country.
Question: Name the airport that has the longest runway in India.
Answer: The Indira Gandhi International Airport of Delhi. Its runway measures 4,430 meters.
Question: Which is the highest airport in India?
Answer: The Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (VILH) of Leh, Ladhak. It is located at a height of 3,256 meters above the mean sea level.
If the reader has any other questions, they should feel free to ask them in the comments below.
The Bottom Line
One can easily wrap up the above discussion by concluding that all these airports do a great job of showcasing India’s architectural genius and that one should visit at least one of them.
India is a land that stands for ‘Unity in diversity’ and one of the ways in which this diversity show is in its festivals. It’s being historically dependent on Agriculture makes monsoon season most important of all seasons – often it has proven to be a life-saver for farmers. From the smallest farmer to Amir Khan in Lagaan to the national bird of India, Peacock, we all lose ourselves to mirth at the sight of rain loaded clouds. Even the king of gods in Hinduism is Lord Indra, the god of rain. The monsoons are this a season filled with festivities throughout India. The monsoon season is generally considered to last between June to September or early October in Georgian calendar and in and around the month of Saavann in Indian traditional months.
India’s amazing diversity means that the monsoons are celebrated in different ways in different parts of the country and different sections of our community – though they are all marked with a lot of singing, dancing, and feasting.
To celebrate the season of rains and to indulge in the exhilarating festivals, take a look at 15 of the most important monsoon festivals in India that you must attend.
1. Teej
The first in our list of 15 monsoon festivals of India is Teej. Celebrated sometime in August or September, it is a festival centered around the married women and marks the mythologically important day when Goddess Parvati was reunited with Lord Shiva after over 100 years of separation.
The festival is celebrated in North, North-East and North-western parts of the country under different names – Hartalika Teej, Kajari Teej, Hariyali Teej, etc.
Rajasthan is the best place to be in to celebrate it – especially in Bundi and Jaipur. During the celebration, women would pray for happiness in their married life. They would get together, dress up in traditional bridal wear, decorate their hands with henna, sing folk songs earmarked for this festival, dance, swing on swings (traditionally decorated with flowers and tied to the branches of trees). In the Pink City, Jaipur you can watch a beautiful possession of Goddess Parvati held by the local women. Like with all festivals of India, it is marked with feasting on delicious food items like Ghewar, kheer,dal bati churma, etc.
2. Nag Panchami
The festival of snakes, Nag Panchami is second in our list of 15 Monsoon Festivals in India. The word ‘Nag’ means snake and ‘Panchami’ means the fifth day of a fortnight. Celebrated on the fifth day of the Shukla Paksha (the fortnight leading from new moon to full moon) of Saavan month, it is celebrated by worshiping snakes and snake god, Shesh Nag and offering milk to them.
The celebration is supposed to pray that snake god Shesha Nag should protect them from all evils.
3. Onam
A list of 15 Monsoon Festivals in India can’t be complete without a mention of Onam. The ten-day-long harvest festival is, for those who celebrate it, synonymous with the bliss of monsoon. It is also identifying marks of Kerala – God’s own country and often considered one of the paradises on Earth where you should be if you truly want to experience Onam in all its majesty. The festival falls either in August or September.
Onam is centered around farmers as they are in ecstasy overseeing the rain reward their hard work in the form of beautiful green fields. Kerala smiles in all its Glory during the festival as there are spectacular carnivals of elephants, religious rituals held in temples, traditional music, folk songs and of course, Kerala’s trademark Kathakali dance. People also wear traditional dresses, use flower patterns called ‘Pookalam’ to decorate their houses in beautiful ways and there is a feast of twenty-one homemade incredibly delicious curries and sweet payasam made and served in all traditional homes on plantain leaf on Thiruvonam, the second day of the festival.
Though what takes the cake in Onam celebrations is Vallam Kali – theSnake boat races, that are held on backwaters during this time. The participants sing songs as they race to keep up the spirit. The races area display of teamwork, strength, fitness, and cleverness. The Nehru Trophy Boat race which is held in Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, Kerala is the most famous of these races.
4. Raksha Bandhan
Probably one of most unique festivals for it’s being centered around the brother and sister relationship and a natural favorite to be included in our list of15 Monsoon Festivals in India is Rakhsha Bandhan. The words ‘Raksha’ means protection and ‘Bandhan’ means a tie. It is thus the day when sisters tie silk apply tilak on foreheads of their brothers, tie thread called ‘Rakhi’ on the wrist of their brothers to bless them with long life and, in return, seek protection from all possible dangers and often get protection. Sisters will prepare dishes for brothers and receive gifts from them in return. Held in the monsoon season, in the full moon night in the month of Shravan (July-August).
5. Nariyal Purnima
Next in our list of 15 Monsoon Festivals in India is Nariyal Purnima. The words ‘Nariyal’ means coconut and ‘Purnima’ means full moon. The place to be in to worship the coconut festival in Maharashtra and is a festival celebrated mostly by the local fishing community known as Koli. The festival falls on the same day as Rakhsha Bandhan. The festival is the occasion for the coastal community for showing their gratitude to the god of the sea, Varuna on whom the fishing community is dependent on their livelihood.
6. Adiperukku
Adiperukku is another waterbodies related festival that has found its place in our list of 15 Monsoon Festivals in India. Celebrated in Tamil Nadu during the mid-July-August 18th day of Tamil month of Aadi by the women, it pays tributes to waterbodies – rivers, water tanks, lakes, wells, etc to mark their importance in the sustenance of human life. In moderns times, when water scarcity has become a crisis, the festival has a lesson that can be learned from our rich culture.
7. Hemis Festival
The monsoon (July-August) season is also one of the best times to plan a trip to Ladakh. It is one of the driest months during the monsoon season and also the time when one of it’s most important festival Hermis takes place. The festival is named Hemis Gompa which is one of the oldest, largest, most important and culturally richest Buddhist monasteries of the world. This 2-day festival celebrates the birth of Lord Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche) that falls on the tenth day of Tibetan Lunar month Tse Chu which is around the middle of July every year. Lord Padmasambhava introduced the people of Tibet to the practice of Tantric Buddhism and is regarded as the founder of the Nyingma tradition which is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
It is also a celebration of the victory of good over evil. The most important feature of these five days long festival is Cham, a fundamental a part of Tantric tradition of Buddhism. Monks get dressed in colorful dresses with huge animals masks and elaborate jewelry and give a beautiful dramatic dance performance in the premises of the monastery creating an aesthetically brilliant atmosphere that reverberates with the sound of musical drums, longhorns, cymbals, etc. The festival is the best occasion to visit Ladakh in order to enjoy its unique local cuisine and rides on yaks and camels.
8. Minjar
The eighth festival in our list of 15 Monsoon Festivals in India is the Minjar Festival of Himachal Pradesh. It is celebrated during the July-August at Chamba and is another version of a thanksgiving ceremony to the god of rainVaruna and a prayer for a good harvest. This seven-day long harvest festival has Minjar Mela as one of its chief features.
9. Hareli
The ninth festival in our list of 15 Monsoon Festivals in India Hareli derives from Hindi word for greenery – Haryali. The festival is celebrated on the new moon day of the month or the Sravana Amavasya which falls during the monsoon months of July and August.
The place to be in for the celebration of this festival is the tribal state of Chattisgarh. The harvest season marks the occasion for worship of Goddess Kuki, farming equipment, bullocks, and cows, in hope for a good harvest. The most striking feature of the festival is bull races.
Hareli is also celebrated in some parts for Madhya Pradesh while Raja Parva is a monsoon festival celebrated by women in the state of Orissa
10. Behdienkhlam
The tenth member of our list of 15 Monsoon Festivals in India takes us to Middle East India. There are several monsoon festivals celebrated in northeast India such as Nongkrem Dance, Reh Festival, Cheiraoba festival, Moatsu, and Ambubasi Mela; however, the festival that makes it to the list is Behdienkhlam.
Behdienkhlam is celebrated in North-western state Meghalaya where, like so many other monsoons festivals, it marks the victory of good over evil. The word‘Behdienkhlam’ means ‘chasing away the Demon of Cholera’in the local language. Every year the annual festival marks the day of cleaning. This Jaintia tribes’ festival has become a great occasion for local people for dancing, singing, and feasting. Communities come together to make delicious food, and events for dancing, music, and sports are held. This festival is also an invocation to God, seeking His blessings for a richer harvest.
How could a state named Meghalaya (figuratively ‘abode of clouds) fail to celebrate the arrival of monsoons? It is, in fact, the best time to visit Meghalaya. The festival that falls in the month of July is best experienced at Jaintia hills where the Pnar tribal people celebrate it with young men make symbolic gestures of driving away of the evil spirit and dance in the muddy pool of water.
11. Janmashtami
One of most loved deities of Hinduism Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, has his birth celebrated during the monsoon season as Janmashtami, the eleventh member in our list of 15 Monsoon Festivals in India. The word Janmashtami is made by merging two words – Janam (birth) and Ashtami (eighth day of the fortnight) as the festival falls on the 8th day of Krishna paksha (the fortnight from full moon to new moon) in the month of Shravan (that is, August-September). The festival marks the worship of Lord Krishna as an infant child.
The places to be in for best enjoying the festivity of these occasions are his birthplace Mathura and the town where he lived till he was adolescent – Vrindavan. In both these cities, as with much of northern India, the festival is celebrated by the decoration of temples, singing holy songs, prayers, etc.
Another equally best place to be in is Maharashtra where the tradition is to dramatically recreate the lord’s favorite pastime, stealing butter from pots set too high beyond his reach by making human pyramids amidst many festivities marked by food, drinks, music, and dance.
In a number of parts, little children are dressed like Krishna and Radha and some temples recreate different scenes from Lord Krishna’s life.
12. Puri Rath Yatra
Next in our list of 15 Monsoon Festivals in India is Puri Rath Yatra. Celebrated in 900-year-old Jagannath temple which is one of four dhams of Hindus (the other three being Dwaraka, Rameshwaram, and Badrinath).
Jagannath is another name for Lord Vishnu only and figuratively means ‘the owner for the universe’. The festival is celebrated on the second day of the Ashadha month, which falls between June-July months. The Jagannath shrine is located in Puri on the Nilchala Mountains, which is just 60 kilometers from the state capital Bhubaneshwar.
On the day of the yatra, the idol of Lord Jagannath is carried in massive chariots that are as tall as 45.6 feet and have 18 wheels. These chariots are pulled by thousands of devotees. Lod’s sisters, Balbhadrd and Subhadra and his brother, Balarama’s chariots accompany this procession. They are taken through the streets of Puri to the Gundicha Temple, where they remain there for nine days. The chariots are pulled by the devotees during the yatra. The festivity, utter devotion, and bliss experienced, lure devotees from far ends of the world.
13. Ganesh Chaturthi
Thirteenth in our list of 15 Monsoon Festivals in India is Ganesh Chaturthi, a festival much loved by Bollywood. Also known as Vinayak Chaturthi (Vinayak being another name of Ganesha), the festival marks the birth of elephant headers Lord Ganesha. The god whose name must be taken at the beginning of all prayers and religious ceremonies as well as all enterprises for the success of endeavor undertaken.
Every year during the season of monsoon, Lord Ganesha’s huge idols are worshipped for nine days. They are raised on huge podiums, while devotees might also worship the Lord in their homes. On the tenth day of the festival, the idols are given a majestic farewell when they are taken on a grand procession at the end of which they are immersed in the water bodies.
The place to be in for this festival is hands down Maharashtra in general and Mumbai in particular. Despite Mumbai’s excessive rain problems, It is the best time to see Mumbai. Lots of sweets, savory foods items, music, dance, colors, festivities, etc add to the colors of the festival. Modak, a sweet prepared from condensed milk is considered to be Lord Ganesha’s, favorite sweet.
14. Sao Joao
Sao Joao a characteristically Goan festival in penultimate festival in our list of 15 Monsoon Festivals in India. It is much like Goa – exciting, fun and full of cuisine, dance and music celebration, and honors St. John the Baptist. Celebrated on the 24th of June every year, it dates back to the Portuguese colonial days. Gifts such as delicious fruits, drinks, etc are exchanged,people dress up in colorful outfits, sing songs, greet each other, exchange gifts like fruits or drinks and sing hymns. Also, one can find carnival-themed boats floating on the streams in a number of villages. Goa, in short, is a lot more Goa on Sao Joao and it is the perfect time to visit the state.
15. Ganga Dussehra
Last but not the least in our list of15 Monsoon Festivals in India is Ganga Dushera. It is celebrated at the very start of monsoon season, that is, the end of June and is usually celebrated by worshiping holy river Ganga and Lord Shiva and taking a dip in Ganga.
Conclusion
India has an incredible diversity of cultures and different parts do county celebrate different religious events in different ways. We have talked about some of the most important of the monsoon season festivals. All these festivals are unique and charming in their own way. We recommend planning your trip to different parts of the country according to festivals that are best celebrated there to get the best of your tourist destination. 🙂
The best way to enjoy the beauty of a place – whether it is natural beauty or the people and culture of the place we are talking about, is hiking. India offers some of the most beautiful Hiking tracks in the world. Some of these are:
1. Doon Valley Trek
Located inside a cradle shape valley, this 50 m long Har ki Doon trek offers you the sight of beautiful forests, Tamsa river, and amazing Himalayan fauna.
2. Clouds End Trek
The trek or, rather, treks get their name from Mussoorie resort, Clouds End. The Oak and Deodar forests surrounding the resort are the treasure for hikers. The place offers opportunities for several other adventures including horse riding and camping.
3. Tiger Hill
The West Bengal trek is best seen during early dawn when mountains are painted in beautiful colors the way only nature is capable of doing. The trek offers a chance to walk through tea plantations of Darjeeling.
4. Darjeeling to Kurseoung trail
The one-day Hiking trail in West Bengal via old Military road is popular for Buddhist monastery and coffee plantation.
5. Nagalapuram Trek
The trek located in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh is popular among trekkers for proving with clean water pools and hiker friendly climate. You will always be walking along streams and be able to enjoy amazing sights.
6. Araku Valley Trek
Located between Vishakhapatnam and Hyderabad; this valley spread over 36 kilometers of Eastern Ghats, offers a chance to enjoy pristine waterfalls, forests, and hills. You will come across tribes who still inhabit the valley and be able to observe their culture.
7. Manali
The Himachal Pradesh city is full of several treks of varying difficulties, all offering nature’s parallel beauty to behold.
8. Seven Sister Trek
This Himachal Pradesh trek is one of the easy ones and offers a chance to see beautiful apple orchids and ancient Hindu temples.
9. Chembra Peak
One of Kerala’s most popular hill station, Chembra offers an easy 9-kilometer hike and a chance to enjoy the pristine beauty of Western Ghats.
10. David Scott Trail
The best way to enjoy Meghalaya’s spectacular beauty is this Shillong trail. Initially set up as a route for trade between Cheerrapunjee and, what is now, Bangladesh, this trail has long since been a great attraction for hikers.
11. Rajmachi Ford
The twin fords created by Marathas attracts those interested in history while the trail to the ford itself attracts the nature lovers. The best time to go hiking is June to August when temporary waterfalls and fresh greenery adds to the beauty of the trail.
12. Chidya Tapu to Munda Pahar trail
Port Blair’s Chidya Tapu is best known for its beautiful birds and beaches. At the other end of this half-a-day trail is Munda Pahar lighthouse which is now closed. Passing this lighthouse, you are welcomed by cliff known for beautiful Pacific Ocean view and Sunsets.
Nature is kind in spreading its beauty throughout our country, it is time to go bag packing and be her much-deserved audience.
India is one of the 17 megadiverse countries of the world with more than 120 national parks, 18 Bio-reserves and more than 500 wildlife sanctuaries across the country. It contains four of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots – the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas, Indo-Burma and Sunda Land. We are home to rare species like Bengal and Indochinese tigers, Asiatic lions, snow leopards, Indian and Indochinese leopards, clouded leopards, numerous species of Deer, including Chital, Hangul, Barasingha; the Great Indian Rhinoceros, the Indian Elephant and, believe me, this list can go on and on.
Naturally, such diversity of wildlife attracts tourists from around the world looking for exotic adventures. Wildlife tourism means a chance to go on a jungle safari, jeep safari, bird watching, boat safari, elephant ride etc.
The following are some of the beautiful wildlife spots to be found in India:
1. Corbett National Park
Created by hunter-turned-conservationist, the first National Park of India is in Uttarakhand and is popular for Tigers and Great Indian elephants. On your lucky day, you may also spot a white tiger.
2. Ranthambore National Park
Once a hunting ground for the Maharajas, the National Park situated in Rajasthan is now a wildlife conservation park, this park is most its Tigers and birds.
3. Bandhavgarh National Park
The National Park located in Madhya Pradesh has the highest diversity of Bengal Tigers.
4. Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
Spread over 54 islands located at Delta of two great rivers – Ganga and Brahmaputra, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its Royal Bengal Tigers. The place gets its name from elegant Sundari trees.
5. The Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh
This National Park starting from Kullu is famous for the musk deer, snow leopard, primates, Himalayan pit viper.
6. Nanda Devi, Uttarakhand
Adjoining the equally beautiful Valley of Flowers, the National Park is famous for Asiatic black bear, blue sheep, Himalayan musk deer.
7. Hemis National Park, Jammu Kashmir
The highest National Park in the country is famous for being home to several endangered species the Asiatic Ibex, the snow leopard, the Tibetian wolf, the red fox.
8. Gir National Park, Gujrat
The chance to spot Asiatic lions and other exotic animals aside, Gir National Park also offers you a chance to go boating in many of its lakes.
9. Bannerghatta Biological Park, Karnataka
This National Park located in Banglore has an elephant sanctuary and, hear! Hear!!, a butterfly park.
10. Kaziranga National Park, Assam
The UNESCO World Heritage Site situated is famous for its Great One-horned Rhinoceroses.
11. Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Rajasthan
AKA Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for the diversity of the birds. The safari options here do not include jeep but you can have the option of seafaring on foot, cycle or rickshaw.
12. Khangchendzonga
The National Park of Sikkim is famous for being home to red Pandas.
A rising health consciousness and wish for adventure in the people of India have meant that the number of trekkers is increasing by the day. Moreover, travelers are growing wise – they are realizing that it is no longer enough to just look at beautiful sights from the safety of vehicles.
The best way to enjoy the beauty of places is often to walk through them. One gets to enjoy nature’s beautiful works and sights of rare birds or animals. One gets a chance to talk to locals, learn about their culture, to appreciate their art, but above all, the very aesthetic experience of walking in nature is what makes trekking so amazing.
India has some rather amazing treks in the world. And one can easily find treks in all four corners of the country offering different degrees of challenge – from easy to moderate to difficult and as well as at different budgets.
The following are some of most amazing treks of India offering unparalleled beauty and exquisite experience:
1. Chadar
The trekker’s dream, this trek that runs along the Frozen Zanskar River Trek in Ladhak offers a glimpse into the beautiful Ladhaki culture. The ice route in cold climate (best time to see it January or February) is rather difficult and only experienced trekkers should try it.
2. Gangotri Gomukh trek
This trek takes you to Gomukh – the glacier that is a source of the Ganges and one gets the chance to see Nature’s work at its best along the way.
3. Ladakh – Markha Valley trek
Dry mountains, streams, wildlife, small villages with their farms, Buddhist monasteries; Markha Valley trek of Ladhak offers them all.
4. Valley of Flowers
The Uttaranchal valley is as beautiful as its name makes it sound. The countless variety of flowers naturally growing in the region are a delight to eyes and the aroma with which they fill the region is a bliss on its own. Please note that the Valley of Flowers is open only in rainy season.
5. Roopkund trek
The Uttarakhand trek will give you a chance to enjoy the sight of beautiful forests, numerous species of birds and animals and the pristine rivers
6. Dodital trek
This Uttarakhand trek runs along small, beautiful, freshwater lake Dodital. Considered holy, the lake holds a great cultural value and is a beauty to behold.
7. The Hampta Pass trek
Surrounded by grass laden land to snow-covered peaks, you will beauty all around on this Himachal Pradesh trek.
8. Tadiyandamol Peak
Enough from the Himalayas, this trek, located about 275 km from Banglore, offers scenic beauty of the Western Ghats with greenery from Shola forests,
9. Chembra Peak Trek
Located in God’s own land, Kerala, this trek offers you a chance to enjoys the scenic beauty of Western Ghats.
10. The Sandakphu trek
The beautiful West Bengal Trek lets you test your trekking skills while enjoying the spectacular beauty of Darjeeling.
Besides providing a chance to escape into nature, trekking is a character building activity – providing both psychological and physical exercise. It should be a bucket list item.
With 1.2 billion people living in a country, India is the most diverse and multicultural country in the world. Catering to its large population, India also feeds the needs of hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists as well. Even with the worldwide rank of tourism of #52, it still remains one of the most visited countries of the world.
Festivals lure tourists the most and every tourist who comes from a different origin than India seems to love the idea of visiting our country during festive times to garner the most cultural experience from it. Being the most cultural-diversified country, India celebrates more than 100 festivals in a year. Today I’m here to talk about the top five festivals that attract tourists:
Holi:
One of the most famous and sought out festivals in India is Holi. Though it is an ancient Hindu religious festival, it is widely accepted all over India and everyone loves it. There is something special about visual attractions and Holi is the festival of color. What could be better? With colours flying everywhere drowning the city in various shades and hues, there is so much love among the people that you can go ahead and paint a stranger’s face with no repercussions. Even though it is celebrated widely all over the country, the best place for a tourist to celebrate this would be in Mathura in North India.
Diwali:
After the festival of colours comes the festival of lights. Another visually pleasing festival and since fireworks are banned in many countries, tourists can take full joy in watching crackers and fireworks light up in the sky all night. There are candles, fairy lights and Earthen lamps decorating every door and house. The whole country lights up with joy. Originally, the festival has its origin from Hindu mythology. It signifies the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Moreover, people celebrate the return of Lord Ram (Hindu God) after he killed Rawan.
Rath Yatra at Puri:
Puri is the house of Lord Jagannath and his two siblings Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. It is believed that these deities are Kalyug form of Lord Krishna. Crores of devotees come to Puri to visit the serene temple and the beaches. However, due to historical reasons, people from religions other than Hinduism are not allowed inside the temple. To end this kind of discrimination, an annual Rath Yatra is celebrated in Puri where the three deities come out of the main temple and give darshan to everyone irrespective of their religion. So this is a good chance for tourists from around the world to get a glimpse of these Hindu deities. Moreover, the Rath yatra brings around a large crowd and it is a sight to behold.
Kumbh Mela:
Kumbh Mela is a grand and phenomenal festival in India which is celebrated only once every 12 years. It is so humongous in the location that it is observed in four different cities at once. It is another Hindu festival and is celebrated prominently in Haridwar. The mela is observed for two months and it consists of many rituals and holy ceremonies. The last Kumbh Mela was observed with a headcount of 120 million people in a span of two months. This is also a time when people see the Aghori Sadhus in public. For tourists that are fascinated with the religion as well as Aghoris, it is a rare treat.
Ganesh Chaturthi
This festival is a visual delight. With music, dancing, and feasting of large crowds, it is not only a Holy ceremony of worshipping Lord Ganesha but also a festival of showing one’s happiness and love through performance arts. This festival fills up the streets with huge crowds and Ganesh statues are displayed everywhere. The best play to experience this festival would be in the heart of Mumbai. Here is a spectacular display of Visarjan where Ganesh idols are taken to the sea for immersion.
On the off chance that you suspected that 2017 was the time of explorers, then look at the long weekends of 2018 that are set to fill your year with travel.
To allow you to plan travels ahead of time, we have proposed the best destinations to visit in each weekend of 2018. From going to the Rann Utsav in January and celebrating in Goa in the main seven day stretch of February to spending summers in the crisp grasp of the Himalayas; 2018 is the time of travel!
Starting with January
1) From January 20 to 22 (Weekend + Basant Panchami)
Visit: Rann of Kutch for the Rann Utsav which is a four-month long festival of Kutch’s way of life, music and dynamic quality. Beginning in November, and ending in February, the Rann Utsav gives explorers enough time to enjoy the beautiful salt panes. The airplane terminal closest to the Rann of Kutch is Bhuj Airport.
2)January 26 to 28 (Weekend + Republic Day)
Visit: Diu is the beach destination of India known for its gorgeous beaches. Since the best time to visit Diu is from October to April, the Republic Day weekend is the ideal time to plan a beach getaway here. The town is arranged on a little island off the southern coast of Gujarat and is set apart by its Portuguese architecture, making it the perfect hideaway for people with an artistic outlook as well as writers.
Moving on to February
3) February 10 to 13 ( Weekend+ Mahashivratri+ 1 day leave)
Visit: While Goa may be flocked up during winter for tourists seeking solace in its warm beaches, this party destination is perfect for the February getaway. And there is more to Goa than just the beaches and parties. Make the most of the vacation by trying offbeat things in Goa.
4) February 16 to 18 (Weekend + Losar) Only for Dharamshala, Ladakh, and Sikkim.
Visit: The Tibetan New Year or Losar is celebrated with much festivity and intensity by Buddhists in Ladakh. Monasteries which take after the Tibetan school of Buddhism are decked with customary celebratory props and ornaments, and individuals from Tibetan settlements meet up for the beginning of another new year. There will, in any case, be snow in Ladakh during Losar, so check the climate before booking flight tickets.
Then there’s March
5)March 2 to 4 (Holi + Weekend)
Visit: Try exciting underwater life on Andaman’s Havelock Island. It is a backpacker’s paradise and one of the popular destinations of Andamans. The main attraction is that it is one of the best diving destinations in all of South Asia.
6)March 29 to April 1 (Mahavir Jayanti+ Good Friday+ Weekend)
Visit: Cherish the beauty of the marvelous Dal lake in Srinagar. The place is filled with popular tourist attractions from the floating gardens to buildings with historical importance like Hari Parbat, Hazratbal Dargah, Chashme Shahi and Shankaracharya Mandir. Then there is the already mentioned Dal lake which is the life-blood of Jhelum river that flows through Kashmir Valley. What’s even more beautiful is that during winters, its surface freezes and people play ice hockey on the lake.
Following with April to May
7)April 27 to May 1 (One day leave+Weekend+Buddha Purnima+ Maharashtra day) The last one only for Maharashtra.
Visit: This long weekend of 2018 is ideal for a climb to the Khuppar top in Pabbar Valley of Himachal. Start by taking an overnight bus to Shimla, from that point take another local bus to Khara Pathar or Giri Ganga. The trek begins from Giri Ganga and can take 4-5 hours relying on your speed. The trail to Kuppar Bugyal begins from Giri Ganga. For reaching Giri Ganga you can either trek from Kharapthar or drive straightforwardly from Shimla. Just go on the road till you find a trail of the thick forest at Giri Ganga. Then start walking towards the top where the Kuppar Bugyal meadow is.
June
8) June 15 to 17 (Idul’ Fitr+ Weekend)
Visit: Travel to Tirthan Valley located near Aut. It is a getaway village to the Green Himalayan National Park. If you are traveling from Delhi to Tirthan, take a bus going to Manali and get off at Aut. From there on, normal buses are available between bus stands of Tirthan region, Banjar bein the biggest one.. Then after that, you can get buses for Gushaini, Jalori, and Jibhi.
There are many things to do once you have reached like going hiking or staying at the apple orchard. You can also begin a multi-day trek in Great Himalayan National park or fish in Tirthan river.
August
9) August 15 to 17 (Independence day + one day leave+ Parsi New Year) The last one only for Gujarat and Mumbai
Visit: This destination is mainly for all the nature lovers out there. Located just 10 km away from the beautiful town of Munnar is Anamudi Shola National Park. It is an adventurous and picturesque place to visit and you can visit the Thoovanan Waterfall or the banks of Pamba River. Another trek from Karimutti Forest station can take you to Chinnar river with many other beautiful waterfalls. That forest walk is the perfect opportunity to view rare flora as well as wildlife.
10)August 22 to 26 (Idul’Zuha +One day leave+ Onam+ Weekend) Onam for Kerala only.
Visit: Shillong is loaded with remnants of its British heritage, that can be found in its architecture and the cuisines found on generally menus. Known as the ‘Scotland of the East’, it is one of the must-visit places. The spectacular Umiam is a man-made lake with Barapani as its local name. It’s one of Shillong’s most famous spots to visit. The Wards Lake is another man-made creation and sightseers run to this destination for the most part for the boat rides. The huge number of waterfalls swarming the city – Sweet, Bishop and Beadon, and Elephant falls assume a critical part of Shillong’s tourism. To witness a brilliant view of the whole city, the Shillong Peak at 1695 msl is the perfect spot. While visiting Shillong, remember to explore the excellent Golf Course, that is roosted at a height of 5200ft.
September
11)September 1 to 3 (Weekend + Janamashtami)
Visit: Go for a trek at Kalsubai near Mumbai which is the highest peak of the Sahyadri ranges at the height of 5400 feet. Situated at Ahmednagar and Nashik District border in Bhanardara region, the peak is named after Kalsubai Temple. The temple itself attracts many pilgrims along with several hikers to this spot throughout the whole year. It has an easy route as well as stairs for better access. It takes 4 hours to reach the peak from Mumbai and around the same time to wrap up the trek.
12)September 13 to 16 (Ganesh Chaturthi +One day off+ Weekend)
Visit: A two-hour long road trip through mountain roads of Ravi Valley would take you to Bharmour which is situated at the edge of Budil Valley. It is 60 km away from Chamba in Himachal Pradesh. Along with ancient temples dating back to 626 AD, the place also paves way for the adventurous treks of Shivalik and Dhauladhar ranges. There are also trails to Bara bhangal, Manimahesh Lake, Thamsar Pass and Keylong via Kalicho pass. But in case you aren’t a trekker, you can explore the nearby villages of Bharmour which house the semi-nomadic Gaddi community
October
13)September 29 to October 2 (Weekend+1 day leave+ Gandhi Jayanti)
Visit: Travel away from the influences of capitalism in a small temple town in Karnataka called Gokarna. Though it was originally popular because of the Mahabaleshwar temple which is believed to be the house of original image of Lord Shiva’s Lingam, it has recently gotten more attention because of its unadulterated beach.
14)October 18 to 21 (Ram Navami + Dussera + Weekend)
Visit: Madhya Pradesh is known for its alluring temples dating back to 10th century. The heritage trail starts from Khajuraho temples and passes through Orissa while ending up at Jhansi. All of these spots give off a unique experience about Central India’s history, telling the stories of Rani Lakshmibai from warrior kingdom of Jhansi and the temple dedicated to Shiva and Matanga who is the Hindu ‘god of love’.
November
15)November 3 to 11 (Weekend + Dhanteras & Diwali + Bhai Duj + 3 days off + Weekend)
Visit: On the borders of Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (Burma), the beautiful nation of Bhutan (otherwise known as Kingdom of Druk Yul) is dabbed with prayer flags fluttering in the wind, multicolored monasteries, apple plantations and candyfloss clouds. Despite the fact that Bhutan offers a variety of activities for travelers, sitting for a quite long time, listening to devout songs and hymns over the diverse monasteries is the approach to truly absorb the tranquillity that surrounds the air of this Himalayan kingdom. Visit this land of happiness for this long weekend of 2018.
December
16)December 22 to 25 (Weekend+ one-day leave+ Christmas)
Visit: Touted as the sublime city that has never been vanquished, Bundi, is a shrouded pearl of Rajasthan. Located near Kota, travelers frequently go through Bundi without paying regard to more than 50 preserved baoris (step-wells) that are spread across the city. With multiple havelis, cave paintings and a lovely waterfall (Bhimlat), Bundi has something each traveller. Bundi is a place with surprises at every corner and places such as the Bundi Palace, Chitrashala, Taragarh Fort, Rani ji ki Baori, Dabhai ka Kund, Nawal Sagar, Sukh Mahal and Shikhar Burj, will particularly take your breath away.
Chittorgarh Fort popularly known as Chittor Fort is the Pride of Rajasthan. It is one of the largest forts in India and counts as a World Heritage site. It is spread over an area of 691.9 acres over a hill that is 180m in height. The fort is of great historical importance as it was ruled by the Mewar Kingdom since the 7th century. During the rule, there have been three prominent attacks on the fort by Muslim rulers such as Allauddin Khilji, Bahadur Shah and Akbar. The entry of the Chittorgarh Fort is by crossing four gates called ‘Pol’. The main gate is known as ‘Ram Pol’.
What makes Chittorgarh Fort so different from the rest of the forts in Rajasthan is that the build of the fort is pure Rajputana and there is no Mughal Art mixed with it. The architecture and even the stones tell the story of the great Mewar. Unlike Jaigarh Fort or Ajmer Fort, the palace is not in pristine conditions. In fact, most of it seems like nothing but a glorified ruin but those ruins tell the stories of great war and bloodshed. During those times of attacks, firstly by Allauddin Khilji when he defeated Rana Ratan Singh, the fort suffered great destruction and the soldiers lay down their lives trying to protect their kingdom. It is believed that Khilji led the attack in order to make Rani Padmini (wife of Rana Ratan Singh who is believed to be the most beautiful queen of Rajasthan) and make her join his Harem. When it was clear that there was no way to victory, the queen along with other royal women and some commoners decided to accept death as their fate instead of bowing down to some other ruler and facing the dishonour of defeat. They preferred to die in the Rajputana way of Jauhar (dying on a pyre by jumping into the fire). Again with the other two attacks, the walls of the fort heard war cries of soldiers and the echoes of women folk were heard as they took their own lives. Well, ultimately no matter how many times they were defeated, the fort was won again by Mewar rulers.
There is also another Mythological importance of this fort related to a popular figure ‘Meera’ who was a saint in love with Lord Krishna and who spent her life devoted to the same. She believed Lord Krishna to be her husband and there is a temple called ‘Meera Temple’ within the grounds of the fort where she used to chant hymns, dance and worship Lord Krishna. It is said that this is the same temple where she totally submerged herself into holy matrimony with God.
Another part of the fort is the Vijay Stambha (Victory Tower) which has nine-storeys and is 122 ft tall. It was used to keep an eye on the enemy’s army. It ensured their victory in many attacks and therefore was named Victory tower. Among the premises of the fort, there is also a Jain temple and a Peepal tree has been planted. The tree itself is of great importance as it is said to give relief to the many wandering souls in the fort. With such atrocious deaths that occurred between those walls, it brings a sense of calm to the place.
Located nearby is Fateh Prakash palace that was built by Rana Fateh Singh. From there, The Gaumukh Reservoir is visible which offers a picturesque view.
In the end, I would like to add that Chittorgarh Fort is an important part of the History of Rajasthan and anyone visiting there should absolutely walk among those walls.
The diversity of India gives it a unique identity. It is so well absorbed in every aspect that we can feel it developing on the surface of our souls. One such exotic aspect of Indian diversity is the Galo Tribe from Arunachal Pradesh that exudes a variety of colors in different shades and textures.
A large chunk of tribes in the majestic Arunachal Pradesh is occupied by Galo Tribe. In some areas of the state, they are also known as Duba, Doba, Dobah Abors, Galloing Abors, and Galong. Galo tribe has been listed in the Indian constitution as a separate tribe or scheduled tribe by the name of Galong. The efforts are being made to change the name to Galo by the community.
Demographics
According to the census of 2001, the total population of Galo community is 80,597. They are found in West Siang, southwestern side of East Siang, southwestern side of upper Subansiri, lower Dibang Valley, and Changiang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Shifting cultivation was primarily practiced by the tribe before 1960. However, the government introduced Wet Rice cultivation and terrace cultivation soon as a part of a development program in hilly areas of the state. Wet Rice cultivation is the main cultivation style in the state besides Jhumming Cultivation, which is still practiced by the tribe.
Galo is the first language of more than 95% of the population of the Galo community. Most people from the community are bilingual with proficiency in languages such as English and Hindi.
Christianity has seen a major rise in the past few years. However, Donyi-Polo religion is mostly practiced by people here.
Language
Galo is the first language of the community, which is often referred to as Tibeto-Burman language derived from Western Tani-Branch. Genetically, the language is closest to Nyishi, Tagin, and Bokar language of Tibet China. Galo and Minyong languages have converged structurally so much so that people have started believing that Galo is a dialect of Adi language.
Festival
Galo tribe has a distinct culture. It celebrates a number of festivals throughout a year with joy. One such religiously important festival for the tribe is Mopin that is celebrated by the community only. The festival is celebrated every year to ward off evil spirits that bring bad luck to the community. People of the Galo community pray during this festival so that natural calamity of any type does not hit them. They believe that doing this allows them to live their lives peacefully.
Rituals
Mopin festival is celebrated in the month of April (Lumi, in Galo language) every year. The main objective of celebrating this festival is to attain prosperity, gaiety, wealth, and universal happiness. People smear rice power at each other’s faces during the festival. Animal sacrifices are considered sacred and are important rituals of the festival. Mithun is an auspicious animal in the community. Hence, they are preferred for sacrifices.
One of the most iconic rituals of the festival is its folk dance. All the dancers wear their traditional costumes with multicolored beaded ornaments. People celebrate the festival with good food and rice wine.
Being the financial capital of the country, Mumbai works day and night. The people sitting in those tall buildings are some of the hardest working people and they work day and night in order to make their company grow. But there are times when the going gets tough and everyone needs a break. So here are some places that we are about to mention which are perfect spots for the office groups to spend some quality times at. So, it’s our try to let everyone know where the corporate sector of Mumbai can go in order to spend a day outdoors.
Adlabs Imagica- If the team is looking for a place full of excitement and nerdy action, this theme park is a must visit. Also known as the Disneyland of Mumbai, it consists of a snow park, a water park and a theme park. One of the very few places for corporate outings near Mumbai is always full of life with all the college groups, school children and families. Enjoy the watersports, the heart stopping roller coaster rides among many other things and have great day out at a corporate outing.
Lonavala- This beautiful hill station can be seen all covered with camps set up by the business corporate employees and the families almost all the time. For the history lovers, there are very ancient caves that they can see, for the more adventurous ones; there are more than enough places to do some trekking. The adventure lovers can visit the Della Adventure in Kunegaonndia’s largest adventure park and indulge in exciting sessions of paintball and dirt biking. The thrill is right there at this place and it is a great spot for the team outings.
Panchgani- A few kilometers away from all the hustle bustle of the city, the place is having an odd old worldly charm about it and is known to be one of the very few all natural places around. The place seems untouched by the forces of industrialization and makes for a perfect spot for spending some quality time alone or in a group, whatever you are looking for. Visiting Tableland, paragliding, group games, team building activities, sightseeing and trekking around the place is a must do along with a host of other activities and fun games.
Matheran– The best thing about this beautiful and soulful hill station is that, in order to maintain its all natural beauty and essence and to keep it pollution free, it has been termed as a non-vehicle zone. There are several places where trekking can take place and also the camping sites located in here also serve as great attractions to enjoy in the groups along with the adventure camps set up and some other good team building activities. The place is as calm and peaceful as it can get and all natural down through to its core.
Karjat- Also known as one of the very prime locations for the shoots of most Hindi films, Karjat also serves as a great hangout spot for the lovers of nature. There are many resorts at the place along with the sightseeing tourist attractions. Bike riding track is also there where one can ride their bikes down the valley while witnessing some beautiful sites. Bicycle ride, camping among other team building activities can be performed here in the arms of nature.
These above-mentioned places are most visited not only by the corporate sector teams and groups but individual families and friend groups as well. Hard work seems lovely if such lovely refreshments keep coming from time to time.
