TRAVEL SPECIAL........... Desi Delights

 Desi Delights 

Discover some popular travel destinations in India 

    All eyes are on the Rupee. After plummeting at the market, it’s going to take a while for it to rise back up. What does this spell out for the traveller? Primarily, international travel — especially to Europe and the Americas has become more costly as is evident from the little selling that currency exchanges are doing. Visas applications too are garnering their own set of speed bumps.
    However, on the bright side, domestic travel is seeing a lot of traffic, with more and more tourists opting for a desi vacay over an international one. This, clubbed with the variety of monsoon packages on offer is turning out to be a hot choice. So if you’ve had that dream Indian destination on your mind for a while, this is when you ought to start packing and start travelling.
    Want the royal treatment? Udaipur turns green this season and the heritage stay options are plentiful.
    Kerala on the other hand is setting up for the festive season with boat races and Onam celebrations.
    Hear the call of nature in Ooty in Tamil Nadu when you visit with family. Let India be the focus of your travel dreams.

WHERE: KUMARAKOM

WHAT TO DO: Ayurveda at its best; boat races; temple visits It is said that Ayurvedic treatments are most effective during the monsoon, so why not make the best of the season and head to Kumarakom in Kerala. This backwaters tourist destination has a host of hotels and resorts that offer special ayurvedic holidays replete with massages, steam baths and other natural treatments. A detox/rejuvenation package will also include specially prepared meals that suit the treatments selected. Enjoy a relaxing time by the Vembanad Lake, take boat cruises to the villages nearby or simply check into a boat house for the period of your stay. DON’T MISS: The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is Kerala’s biggest and most attended three-day traditional boat racing competition. The event is held on Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha and has chandan vallams (wooden canoes also known as snake boats) manned by sets of strong armed rowers competing to reach the finish line. Aside from the race, various floats and ceremonial water processions are also held. On September 16, Kerala celebrates Onam with elephant processions held to the sound of drums. Festive delicacies are a must try during this time.
www.keralatourism.org 

WHERE: OOTY
WHAT TO DO: Natural escape
    Home-made chocolates, good quality tea and fresh sweet honey is what every visitor to Ooty takes back. But what truly marks a vacation here is the romance infused by nature. Also called Udhagamandalam, Ooty boasts of its rightful laurel — Queen of hill stations. It is undeniably a popular, clean and oft opted tourist destination in India. Nestled in the lap of Nilgiris, which means ‘Blue Mountains’, eucalyptus oil is locally grown here, and the air around gives out a faint hint of this healing oil.
    DON’T MISS: Board the Toy Train or the Nilgiri Mountain Railway that chugs along the mountains and winds its way through many tunnels and small bridges. The scenery keeps changing from thick forests and gurgling streams to brightly coloured hamlets amidst lush tea gardens. In the monsoons, the clouds add to the misty romantic feel all around. Visit Doddabetta Peak, where the locals of Ooty live. Their traditional craft is up for sale at many shops. Next, at the Government Botanical Garden, revel in the fact that you are standing in the shade of rare trees that were brought from different countries and planted here centuries ago.
    A quick tour of the Ooty Golf Course reveals its far-flung woods. Visit the Rose Garden and take a boating trip on the popular man-made Ooty Lake as it sets the mood for a pleasant evening. Later, plan a trip to Pykara Lake as part of your itinerary. Of course, don’t miss a chance to shop for some Mysore silk and Kanjeevaram sarees at the notified shops and strike a bargain.
    www.ooty.com 

 WHERE: UDAIPUR
 WHAT TO DO: Cultural bonanza
    Travelling through the capital of the erstwhile Mewar kingdom, the first thing you are bound to notice is the mix of old world charm and new world industrialisation. Udaipur is one of India’s favourite heritage/royal travel destinations where marble and limestone palaces and temples are a common sight.
    With the onset of the scant monsoons here, the dry heat makes way for a humid clime and the landscape blooms with new flora.
    Kickstart your cultural experience by checking into one of the many heritage hotels — preferably one close to Lake Pichola where sunsets and sunrises reflect off the water beautifully and highlight the
Lake Palace built on Jag Niwas Island.
    The City Palace Complex, on the banks of Lake Pichola are a series of white royal apartments and havelis at which a stay offers full-fledged royal treatment reminiscent of the Mewar era. For a more thorough education in the local history visit the City Palace Museum with its unique collection of armoury.
    Their love for exclusive cars rendered Udiapur’s royalty a collection that can now be viewed at the Vintage Collection of Classic Car Museum.
    Venture out into the Aravali Hills and visit Kumbhalgarh Fort, one of Udaipur’s iconic structures. Exploring the area can take a couple of hours, so why not carry a dry lunch and turn the trip into a day picnic if possible. The rains not only wash away the summer grime off the fort but also render a stunning grassy cover on the surrounding hills — a view that can be enjoyed from the fort top.
    Like the monuments that have stood the test of time, the locals too, are rooted to the land and its history. Shilpgram Museum is the best place to come face-to-face with the local culture. This ethnographic museum showcases Udaipur’s arts, crafts and traditions.
    DON’T MISS: Rajasthani food is a reflection of its rich past. Khad khargosh, a preparation of wild hare, that is cooked under the earth with the help of hot coals is a delicacy worth trying.
    www.udaipurtourism.com

Compiled by Lara Rebello ETTR130725