Rafting in Shivpuri

Camps beside the river

Laxmanjhula at Rishikesh

Adventure all the way

Rafting on the Ganga

Shivpuri is the base for rafting trips on the Ganga River Above Rishikesh. It is 16 km from Rishikesh and 240 km from Delhi. During the monsoon months between June and August  rafting on the Ganga pauses and the camps close during this time. The rest of the year, be sure to book in advance, specially on weekend and holidays.

The landscape the Ganga has carved above Rishikesh is a perfect arena for adventure. The low, forested hills are made for an introduction to hiking, rappelling and rock climbing. The river below, descending in a series of rapids, is a playful companion on your first taste of real adventure sport----water rafting. Whether sailing over the gentle bubbling pools around on challenging stretches where she rages as she leaves her beloved mountains, the Ganga offers a ride you will never forget. Spend a weekend rediscovering the child within you, with your family on a raft on Indias most beloved river.

Shibpuri village, the epicentre of the Rishikesh  rafting experience, is no more than a marker falling in the middle of most camp, which are strung  along the Badrinath Highway, north of Rishikesh. Rafters set off downstream from one of these upriver camps and descend to journey's end --- the holy town below. Some of the camps take rafters further upriver by road to Kaudiyala, and this makes for a longer rafting sortie to Rishikesh.

Getting there :

The nearest airport  Dehra Dun's Jolly Grant is connected by flight from Delhi. Taxi fare to Shivpuri is approx Rs 1,000.

The nearest railstation is Haridwar. Taxi fare is Rs 1,100; camps arrange transfers.

The train is the most convenient option for weekend rafting trips.

Accommodation:

1. Leopard Beach Tented Camp (Delhi Tel: 011-26122775, 26891473; Tariff: Rs 4,400)

2. Camp Panther (delhi Tel: 26852602; Tariff: Rs 5,300)

3. Himalayan River Runners Camp (Delhi Tel: 26852602/4643; Tariff: Rs 4,400)

4.Garwal Mandal Vikas Nigam's Camp (Dehra Dun Tel: 0135-2431793/83; Tariff 1,150).

Website: gmvnl.com

Skiing in Auli

skiing in Auli

snow desert

view of Himalaya from Auli

The slopes of Auli lie between 9,500 and 10,500 ft in the Great Himalayan Range, near the border of Nanda Devi in Upper Garhwal. Auli is surrounded by many snow peaks such as Nanda Devi, Trishul, Kamet, Neelkanth etc. It is 16 km South-East of Joshimath, 286 km North-East of Rishikesh, 492 km North-east of Delhi. The ideal time for skiing in Auli is between December and March, when Auli is covered with snow and temperature can fall below zero.

Auli is not large,the entire skiing area is about 5-7 km, but it has its advantages. It commands  excellent views of the surrounding peaks. The air is cold,fresh and scented with pine, the skies are blue. A cable car ropeway traverses 4km up the hill from Joshimath ,transporting you over the tops of oak and fir trees  to Auli.  When you swoop down the slopes, don’t have to worry about the trudge back up, the baby slopes have a 1,600 foot high ski lift, and the advanced slopes have a 2,620 foot high chair lift to haul you to the top.

There are other magical moments like watching the dawn break behind Nanda Devi, watching the sky open up its bounty at night and the snowflakes floating gently , soundlessly to earth.

Getting there:

The nearest rail station is Haridwar. Taxi to Joshimath costs Rs 4000 approx. During  snowfall, the ropeway from Joshimath to Auli is the only option pay Rs 500, in other seasons the 16 km stretch to Auli should be done only by a 4-wheel drive.

Accommodation:

1. GMVN Skiing and Tourist Resort (Tel: 223208, 223305; Tariff: Rs 1,500-2,000).

2. Hotel Kamet (Tel: 01389-222155; Tariff Rs 700-1,150).

3. Hotel Snow Crest  (Mobile: 09012226130, 09917581346; Tariff: Rs 1,750-2,520).

4. Hotel Dronagiri (Tel: 222221/54; Tariff: Rs 800-4,000). 

Raichak on Ganga river

view of Ganga Kutir

Night view of the resort

Beauty of the river

A panoramic view of the resort

GANGA KUTIR  is located right by  the Ganga  River at Raichak in 24 Parganas district.  It is 50 km from Kolkata. The weather in Raichak is pleasant throughout the year.This  resort’s best features are its ambience and setting, two things produced by intelligence and taste. The distance of this resort from Kolkata makes it an ideal weekend retreat for the busy couple looking for some private time together or one or two night family outing. The resort is a good base sorties extreme south  to the Sundarbans including  Bakkhali, Henry island and Jambudwipa.

The rooms are spacious and comfortable. Big bay windows with day-beds, or balconies with deckchairs, overlook the Ganga from every room. Walk by the river at night and count the stars with the aid of a glass, and you are in heaven.

Getting to Ganga Kutir:

Ganga Kutir resort arranges pick-ups from Dum Dum  Airport at Kolkata. For pick-up charges call the resort.

Sealdah Railway station is the nearest rail station.

Accommodation:

15 rooms: 10 deluxe and 5 premium; 1 suite.

Tariff Rs 12,000 (deluxe), Rs 15,000(premium), Rs 18,000(suite).

Contact:

Raichak on Ganges

Post Bag 1, Sarisa

South 24 Parganas, West Bengal

Tel: 03174-275632-33

Website: gangakutir.com

Royal retreat

Room in the fort

Night view of the fort 

Sunrise

Panoromic view

Neemrana Fort-Palace is located on a small hill in the Aravallis, midway between Delhi and Jaipur. It is a15th century fort, 2hours drive from Delhi. Lovely terrace, courtyards and poolside. Spread across a hill, it requires some walking and climbing. The Neemrana Fort-Palace began its life in 1464, built by the famous Rajput  warrior-king  Prithviraj  Chauhan. Restoration began in 1986, and in 1991  it became a heritage hotel.There’s an open air amphitheatre where concert or plays are held. You can climb up the rooftop to soak in the starlight and marvel at the views of the surrounding countryside.

There are some beautiful activities such the 2-hour Zipline Package involves 20-minutes walkup from the fort, a bit of training and safety instruction, and the actual zipping for a distance of up to 400m.

The other activities include a 1-km walk to an 18^th-century stepwell that descends nine storeys below the ground. You can also do the trip in a camel cart. There is a gym (free of cost) and a spa that offers  Ayurvedic massages and therapies like reflexology.

Winter is the best season when you can soak in the sun. During the monsoon, the countryside becomes lush green. Summers are very hot.

Getting there:

The  resort charges Rs 3,913 for pick-up/drop from  Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi and from New Delhi Railway Station.

Accommodation:

9 deluxe  suites, 7 suites, 7 grand rooms and 32 rooms.

Tariff: Rs 2,500-21,500; off-season (May 1 to August 31) discount of 20 percent on AC rooms, 40 percent on others.

Contact:

The Neemrana Fort-Palace

Village Neemrana, Dist Alwar, Rajasthan,Tel: 01494-246006-08

Mobile: 09414050068, 09414050044

Website: neemranahotels.com

Delhi Reservation: A-20, Froze Gandhi Marg, Lajpat Nagar-II,Cntact for booking

New Delhi, Tel: 011-46661666

The Golden Mile

Kovalam beach - view from lighthouse

Kovalam beach

Sunrise

Panoramic view of the beach

Kovalam is close to the capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, at the southern extremity of the Kerala coast. Once you are there, you can’t remain unmoved by the magic that is Kovalam. It’s in the evening that Kovalam is at its vibrant best. As shadows engulf the beach, only the circling beam of light from a nearby lighthouse signals the end of the sky.On the other hand, in kovalam  you can also spend blissful hours doing absolutely nothing in a deckchair by the sea.Kovalam is spread along three crescent beaches separated by rocky promontories. From north to south, these are the Samudra Beach, the Hawah Beach and the Lighthouse Beach.Samudra Beach is the quietest of kovalam’s  three beaches.The bustling Hawah and Lighthouse beaches are more or less a continuous stretch lined with eateries, hotels and shops. The Lighthouse Beach has a lighthouse, perched atop the Kurumkkal rock on the southern tip of the beach.It offers a spectacular view of the sea and the Vizhinzam Harbour.

Ayurveda is a craze in Kerala, and in Kovalam it is ubiquitous with every hotel and resort  offering a variety  of Ayurveda  packages  as an added attraction.

Getting There :

Air: The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. Taxi fare to Kovalam Rs 400-650.

Rail: The nearest rail station is Thiruvananthapuram Central. Taxi charges Rs.400-650 to Kovalam.

Accomodation :

1.The Leela Kempinski Resort (Tel: 0471-2480101; Tariff: Rs 11,000-1,20,000)

2. Hotel Samudra (Tel: 2480089; Tariff: Rs 3,900-9,900)

3. Swagath Holiday Resort ( Tel: 2481148-49; Tariff  Rs 1,400-6,500)

4. Seaface (Tel: 2481835-36; Tariff : Rs 3,750-8000)

Misty Tales

Kempty Falls

Sunset in Mussoorie

Mysterious Mussoorie

Panoramic view of Mussoorie

Mussoorie  is a long, narrow stretch of ridge on a hill at an altitude of 6,580 ft , at the head of the Doon Valley in north-west Uttarakhand. It is 34 km N of Dehra Dun, 269 km NE of Delhi. The entire ridge is about 19 km long ; however, the shopping-eating-strolling stretch of Mall Road is about 3 km long. Landour is a steep, almost 1000 ft higher level than the Mall. The mall is the very heart of the town,and crossing it once twice every day is inevitable. There are many benches by the road so you can sit and rest and people-watch, admire the pine tree, poplars and chinars which only grow high up at this altitude. The view of the setting sun from the Mall is excellent. As dusk descends, the lights in the Doon Valley  start twinkling, as if in a fairyland.

There are a pretty  Victorian-style Library at the end of Library Bazar which was built in the mid-19th century. Gun Hill is the next big attraction on the Mall, situated about 400 ft above it. It can be reached by a path or via a ropeway ride, which gives you a great  view of the Doon Valley. Kulri Bazar, at the eastern end of the Mall, is the place where you can have lots of fun. There are many hotels and also the usual restsurents. The Cambridge  Bookstore offers a lot of Ruskin Bond’s books. Ruskin Bond meets his readers and signs books at this shop every Saturday between 4 and 6 pm.

Landour is a silent, beautiful cantonment area that’s a 10-min drive  up from Kurli Bazar. Building regulations are strict here, so there aren’t any hotels and shops to disturb the natural beauty of the place.

The central point is called Char Duknan because there are four dhaba-com-provision shops here. A pleasant stroll away  is Sisters’ Bazar, named for the sisters who looked after those British soldiers.It has old cottages, a few shops and retains its silent beauty. Lal Tibba represents the highest point in Mossoorie.There is a creaky old telescope, and they charge Rs 20 for a quick sight of the snow-clad  Garhwal peaks from here. Jharipani Falls is located a short distance downhill from mussoorie and can be reached by road. The 40-foot perennial Kempty Falls is the highest of five  cascades that branch from a mountain stream, cutting its way through boulders  and down rock faces.

Mussoorie is at its best from March to June and in October-November.December-January is cold.

Getting There :

Air : The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehra Dun which is connected to Delhi. Taxi costs Rs 1000.

Rail : Nearest rail station is Dehra doon.Taxi charges Rs 450 for a drop.

Accomodation : There are more than a hundred hotels in Mussoorie, ranging across all budgets

1.Jaypee Residency Manor (Tel: 2631800, Tariff: Rs 11,000-22,000)

2.Country Inn (Tel: 2631190, Tariff: Rs 4,00-5,000)

3.Hotel Padmini Niwas (Tel: 2631093; Tariff: Rs 1,300-6,500)

4.Hotel Nand Residency (Tel:2631442; Tariff: Rs 1,500-4,200)

Mountain Masala

Mall road

Shimla mall in winter

Christchurch

Shimla in winter

The seven picturesque hills of Shimla are in southern Himachal, in the Shivalik Range, at an altitude of 6,890 ft. It is 115 km NE of Chandigarh, 342 km N of Delhi. Shimla is built on a longish mountain ridge, along which seven small peaks just out into the sky. The easternmost is the Elysium Hill near Lakkar Bazar. Jakhoo Hill, the highest point in Shimla, rears behind The Ridge and is famous  for its Hanuman temple. On the other side of the Ridge, Bantony Hill is better known for the Kali Bari Temple. After about a km comes the Inveram Hill which hosts the state museum. Nearby, the Viceregal lodge occupies Observatory Hill. Then comes Summer Hill, with the HP University. The Westernmost Prospect Hill is crowned by the Kamana Devi Temple.

Shimla is India's only hill station that combines the beauty of the Himalayas, the slow charms of an Indian hill station, and the energy of a city, making it very good at accommodating the diverse tastes of a family. Shimla's unique personality, temperament and place in history owe much to its position as the British Raj's summer capital in the 19th century. The mall meanders its way for almost 4 km along. The Ridge, between old and even older buildings. The smallish area just above The Mall, between the Christ Church and the imposing Municipality building is called The Ridge. The Mall is also one of the longest stretches of pedestrian open air strolling and shopping possible. The best tourist season is from March to June, for those who love snow, winter is the time to be here.

Getting there :

Air : Shimla's Jubbarhatti Airport is connected to Delhi by Kingfisher Red. Taxi into Shimla costs Rs 1,200.

Rail : Nearest metre gauge railhead:Shimla.Even though the Kalka Shimla train seems very slow, it's a journey your family will enjoy and never forget. The Shivalik Express offers a comfortable journey, and serves food on board. Plan and book in advance. The nearest broad gauge railhead Kalka , well connected to Delhi by the Kalka Shatabdi and Himachal Queen, to kolkata by the Howrah-Delhi-Kalka mail.Taxi from Kalka costs approx Rs 1,500 -2,000 .

Accomodation :

Shimla offers plenty of hotels across all budgets.

1.Woodville Palace (Tel: 0177-2622516,2624038), Tariff Rs 4700-11000.

2.Hotel Springfields (Tel:2621297-98), Tariff Rs 4000-6500

3.Hotel White (Tel:2656136) Tariff Rs 1000-2200

4.Hotel Le Royale (Tel:2651002-03) Tariff Rs 1,700-3,700