Travel Planner - SUMMER HIGH!
There's more to hill holidays than shopping on
the mall or posing at the lover's point. It could range from a monastery trail
to a rainforest trek or a hot spring shower. Here's our pick for this summer...
PITCH
A TENT
Camping in the midst of verdant hills of Chopta
in Uttarakhand can be magical.Driving down the picturesque road from Sari
village to Chopta is as good as navigating some European countryside, with at
least five different shades of trees dotting the drive. Even at an altitude of
over 3,000 metres, it is not easy to see a panorama of the imposing Chaukhamba
and the Kedarnath range as the leafy forest keeps its sweeping views and
secrets close to its heart. The sub-species of rho dodendrons change from red
to light pink as the altitude changes and you can feel the contrast of the
chill and the harsh sun. A few thatched hutments dot the land scape. Though the
Mayadeep Guest House is the most frequented place to stay at Chopta, you'd
rather drive further up to the Chauhan Guest House for clean accommodation,
great grub and yes, the espresso coffee! Also try and visit the Kanchula Korak
Musk Deer Sanctuary, 7 km from Chopta, noted for breeding the obscure musk
deer.
MONASTERY
HOPPING
A new trend in travelling to the mountains is to
break away from frequented destinations and explore the surrounding smaller
hamlets. One such hidden hill secret is Pedong. A picturesque hill town
surrounded by pine forests, it is situated 20 km from Kalimpong in West Bengal.
While there are many hill stations that offer
views of the Kanchenjunga, Pedong perhaps commands some of the most magnificent
glimpses of the snowcovered ranges. It is also one of the few places that gives
a peek into Tibet, since it falls on the ancient Silk Route that connected
Tibet with India.
When in Pedong, the best way to stay `hillocked'
is to navigate the monastery circuit. Sangchen Dorjee Monastery is one of the
oldest monasteries in the Pedong-Kalimpong region. It was built during the
Bhutanese rule. The walls of the monastery boast of fresco paintings inspired
by Tantric Buddhism.Another major attraction of the monastery is the mummified
body of a revered Bhutanese priest. The Cham or the mask dance is held here
annually between April and May.
The Brang Monastery at Durpin Dara, the highest
point in Kalimpong, is one point in Kalimpong, is one of its kind since it
houses a school of Tibetan medicine and also a religious debating society.
ROLLING
HILLS
Relive iconic Yash Chopra songs in the
flower-strewn meadows of Yusmarg, a two-hour drive from Srinagar.Known to charm
tourists with its undulating hills akin to the Alps, Yusmarg is a must visit
during the spring sea son (ending April) to soak in the sight of gorgeous
spring flowers. The region is also full of natural hot springs with curative
properties. A versatile hill station, Yusmarg offers a perfect combo of some of
the highest peaks in the Pir Panjal Range. No wonder, it is a great trekking
base for various trails, most leading to a famous spot called Tosa Maidan, a
large meadow used for cattle grazing by nomads. Rough routes also connect
Yusmarg to Gulmarg and Poonch and beckon the dedicated trekker. Besides that, a
trek to lake Sang-e-Safed, 10 km from Yusmarg, is quite amazing as most of it
is covered under a thick sheet of ice throughout the year.
WHAT'S
BREWING?
Unending stretches of tea and coffee plantations
meet the eye. Yes, you are in Kerala, but this isn't Munnar. Grampi, near
Peermedu in Idukki district of Kerala, is equally breathtaking with a mélange
of rocky plains, green hillsides and spice plantations. Shop lavishly for your
kitchen shelf in Idduki since spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamom are
grown in abundance here. That's not all. You get exot ic vanilla pods at half
the price here! In your spare time, try visiting some of the tea estates and
factories in and around Grampi and develop your understanding of the beverage,
its aroma, varieties and healing properties.
MISTY
MALGUDI
RK Narayan's classic tale Malgudi Days was
entirely shot here. Agumbe, 130 km from Mangaluru, is perched at a height of
826 metres in the Shimoga dis trict. Popularly referred to as the Cherrapunji
of the South, it receives the second highest rainfall in India. It is also home
to the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, the only permanent rainforest
research station in India.One of the highest peaks of the Western Ghats, Agumbe
offers views of glorious sunsets on the Arabian Sea. Travellers on the highway
from Shimoga to Udupi or Mangaluru, inevitably stop here to enjoy this
spectacle.
A piece of news for the not so faint-hearted
-this forest is also a great place to view the longest ven omous snake in the
world -the King Cobra.Listen to f experts on the insights they have gathered on
this elusive giant. It's worth visiting Agumbe during the months of October to
May for a memorable trekking experience.
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supriya sharma2
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TL5APR15
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