Recommend May 2012 - (Page 29)

Jaw-dropping temples scattered throughout the area accent the region, while Puri Konark Marine Drive is a natural miracle where travelers can roam deserted beaches and watch waterfalls empty into the sea. It’s kind of an Indian version of California’s Big Sur, where visitors have the rare chance to sample delicious food prepared by Hindu holy men in the handful of temples allowing entrance to non-Hindus. Not far from Puri, a number of tribal settlements always enthrall. These include the Bonda, Gadaba, Maria, and Bhattra tribe people who can be seen in their distinctive native dress. Those wanting a closer look at primitive tribal cultures should cross the border to the seldom-visited Chhattisgarh region, a living anthropology museum where visitors can join the ceremonies and dances. In addition, here one can opt to stay in a jungle palace while learning to cook from a maharajah/chef. Nearby, the 11th century lakeside capital of Bhopal was transformed into a city of artists and musicians by the Moguls three centuries after its founding. It’s a destination with superb atmosphere, friendly people and ﬁrst-rate accommodations. A massive hilltop “Museum of Man” showcases India’s indigenous minorities and a short drive will take you to Sanchi, site of the oldest Buddhist stupa. Then there is Kerala, a sliver of real estate running up the Arabian Sea coast. It’s one of the most up-and-coming tourist destinations in Asia, with its four dozen rivers forming a watery web across fertile lands along the Western ghats rising to incredible heights. Here, the wonders of India are unmatched: hill stations, deserted beaches, plantations, rice paddies and forests where strange wildlife lives. Kerala has more than 500 miles of waterways in its backwaters. It’s a spectacular landscape with a number of towns and cities serving as the embarkation points for backwater cruises. Kerala rice boats (slow-moving barges with thatched roofs and wooden hulls used to ship rice and now used for leisure trips) ply the waterways giving visitors a taste of colorful adventure. Kochi (Cochin), Kerala’s most important seaport and affectionately known as “The Queen of the Arabian Sea” because of its charm, is a bustling city where shopping seems to be the most popular pastime. Meghalaya, roughly translated to “Home Above the Clouds,” beﬁts this characterization due to the breathtaking panoramas afforded from its hilly terrain. Rivers dotted with dramatic waterfalls crisscross the region. As with most of the northeastern states, Meghalaya is a mixture of traditional and modern lifestyles. Nature seems to have found a home in Shillong, Meghalaya’s provincial capital, a city favored by outdoor enthusiasts who come for the excellent hiking, ﬁshing and camping nearby. Assam is the Indian state most synonymous with tea. Golf courses carved within tea plantations offer a fascinating touch to the region. This culturally rich area is considered the gateway to the northeastern zone and notable for the astonishing number of national parks and preserves. Mizoram, meanwhile, is a state rich in pristine destinations where peaceful activities are the norm. A multitude of splendid gardens accent Aizawl, a city of 300,000. A hiking trail carved through expansive orchid and rhododendron ﬁelds leads to nearby Phawngpui (Blue Mountain), the highest peak in Mizoram, exposing visitors to gasp-inducing panoramas. Nagaland, bordering Myanmar, has always evoked wonder and awe. It’s home to the Nagas, an ethnic and extremely hospitable people. Nagaland is bathed with pleasant weather and as a bonus is also dotted with outstanding ancient ruins that reﬂect its past glory. Sikkim presents an India beyond the norm. It’s an attractive nook where Tibetan-style Buddhist monasteries tower over rice terraces. Here one can walk up the steep terrain to the monasteries along stretches of bright prayer ﬂags ﬂapping from bamboo poles in the gentle breezes. Pelling, one of its principal cities, is worth a visit if only to witness the astounding sunrises that paint Khangchendzonga, the spectacular mountain that serves as the backdrop to the national park of the same name, in unreal colors. Arunachal Pradesh, the northernmost point in India, offers rolling foothills, valleys and indigenous residents who charm with their magniﬁcent art works. This state is ranked as one of the world’s great natural treasures and famous for the wild orchids found within. In addition, ancient monasteries, sacred lakes and wonderful remnants of forts and palaces give the state a sense of serenity within an exotic locale. Nearby Manipur is traditionally known as the land of Lord Krishna and home to India’s classical dance, Ras Leela, as well as the birthplace of polo. Tripura, meanwhile, is a magical, misty place full of man-made wonders amid stirring natural scenery. It’s home to enormous images of gods carved on granite cliffs and peeking into a magical riverside panorama from emerald green undergrowth. About 30 miles from Agartala—Tripura’s capital—Neermahal is Tripura’s most visited tourist destination. This is a former royal retreat built in the middle of a lake where one ﬁnds the most impressive blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture. In Assam, Kaziranga National Park is one of the world’s consummate wildlife treasures— a 260-sq.-mile feral ﬂatland of marshes, rivers and ponds that serves as home to the Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros. This is an area untouched by humans, with a lone highway traversing it and visitors generally take in the sights on elephant back. For more on India’s varied destinations, visit incredibleindia.org. Natural Treasure Northeastern India is an alluring and colorful district that because of its vast ethnic and cultural differences from the rest of India often gives the impression of being a separate country. Its distinctiveness is reﬂected in the varied cultures of the states within the region. Performers of the Sri Devi Nrithyalaya classical Indian dance school in Chennai. recommend.com I-7 Sarah Muñoz http://www.incredibleindia.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend May 2012

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Salamander Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Worldwide Traveler
Viking Longships Invade European Waters
In Chile: Going to Extremes
India Travel Planner 2012
Devon & Cornwall: England's Peerless Destinations
Israel & Jordan: The Wellspring of Spirituality
Top Golf Resorts: North America
Top Golf Resorts: Caribbean & Bermuda
Top Golf Resorts: Mexico

Recommend May 2012