India - 15 places to go in 2013!

Badami, Karnataka

Towering sandstone cliffs glow in the evening light as the craggy hillocks surround you, dwarfing you to a tiny speck. Badami is strictly not just for heritage buffs, even though you go back in time in this ancient Chalukyan capital, Vatapi, where sculptors carved on rock-cut caves and created a montage of deities in stone. The emerald-hued Agasthya Teertham flows in the town and is bordered by several temples. Badami was fortified and a walk up to the Shivalaya is one of the best experiences as you trudge along the path of the ancient Chalukyans who built these temples atop the hills.

Chettinadu, Tamil Nadu

There is art in every corner of the sleepy villages of Chettinadu, where you get a peek into the life and culture of the community of Chettiyars. Palatial homes with ornate pillars of Burmese teak, expansive halls and courtyards with chandeliers, mirrors from Belgian glass, Italian marbles, Japanese tiles greet you as some of them open their doors to you. A colourful mosaic of arts, crafts, jewellery, culture, architecture and food, Chettinadu needs to be explored in leisure. Take a quick walk along the Karaikudi market and you will enjoy the vibrant assault on the senses.

Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

Visit Allahabad to see one of India’s biggest religious gatherings at the Kumbh Mela, held on the river banks of the city this January. It is all set to receive a barrage of pilgrims, seers and tourists even as the religious pilgrimage turns into one of the biggest tourism events in the country. The site of the Kumbh Mela is the Sangama (confluence) of the three rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati – as an entire town emerges on the river banks. Join the millions that arrive here and take a dip into the cultural ethos of India. The Kumbh Mela, which takes place every 12 years, starts January 27 in Allahabad.

Orchha , Madhya Pradesh

Set against the Betwa River are the Chhatris or the cenotaphs of the Bundelkhand kings, glowing in the rays of the morning sun. There is beauty in ruins, in temples, and in palaces and even in tombs. Beyond the terrace of the Raj Mahal is the towering Chaturbhuj temple with the Ram Raj Mandir adjacent to it. And on the distant horizon lies the Laxmi Narayan temple, hardly visible in the mist. Delve a bit into Orchha, where the walls speak stories, where paintings reveal a culture, where tales of friendship, romance, betrayal, mysticism and sacrifice echo from every monument. Intriguing, funny, unbelievable and irresistible, these stories breathe life into the ancient mahals and mandirs.

Valparai, Tamil Nadu

A plantation town, a hill station, a biodiversity hotspot and a tropical rainforest all rolled into one, Valparai is located in the Anamalai range of the Western Ghats. There are patches of tropical evergreen forests and then there are rolling tea estates. But it is here that endangered and endemic species like the Lion-Tailed Macaque and Nilgiri Tahr are found. If you are lucky, you can chance upon birds such as the Great Hornbill. And if you believe in legends, an old man called Velu claims to have “seen god” in the human form here. You should probably believe him, because in that rich dense canopy, there is a possibility that God does exist somewhere.

Bekal, Kerala

A silent town on the seashore, Bekal would have probably been forgotten from both historic and tourism maps if it had not been for a railway track that passes through it. As a passenger looks out of the window seat, he is suddenly greeted by a formidable fort that offers spectacular views of the sea. The largest fort in Kasaragod offers views of citadels stroked by the waves as you head to the virgin beach to enjoy a glorious sunset. If a quiet holiday is on your mind, Bekal is a must-see destination.

Mussoorie, Uttaranchal

Dense deodar forests, white snowy peaks of the Himalayas playing hide-and-seek, waterfalls and misty views – Mussoorie still retains a bit of the fairytale ambience and smacks of the colonial flavour as well. Head to Landour in Upper Mussoorie and walk along the cobbled paths and you may be lucky to run into the famous writer Ruskin Bond. If the locale doesn’t charm you, the locals definitely will. And while you are there, try some home- made jams at Sister Bazaar.

Ganeshgudi Karnataka

A birding haven, Ganeshgudi is one of Karnataka’s best-kept secrets, nestled in the Western Ghats near the banks of the River Kali. The birds are everywhere, unabashed and loud, making their appearance on treetops gliding smoothly in the green canopy, creating a lovely picture in the verdant background. You can spot hornbills – the Indian grey, the Malabar grey and the Malabar pied hornbills creating a cacophony around the Kali river. But this biodiversity hotspot attracts several species of birds, including the multi-hued Indian Pitta and the Asian Fairy Bluebird, the Verditer Flycatcher, the Malabar Whistling Thrush, Tickell’s Blue flycatcher and the White-bellied Blue Flycatcher among others.

Kaziranga, Assam

There is a tinge of romance in the air in Kaziranga as we sit around the fireside and listen to a story which talks about a couple Kazi and Ranga who disappear into the forest to escape their parents’ wrath . However it is the sheer diversity of flora and fauna on the swampy marshlands of the Brahmaputra that makes it a World UNESCO site. Home to the one-horned rhinoceros the elephants, tigers, leopards, hoolock gibbons and some amazing varieties of birds, the park is bordered by tea plantations. While the tigers may be a bit difficult to spot due to the tall elephant grass in the region, rhinos and elephants are fairly common. Go on one of the early morning safaris when dawn just breaks. Kaziranga is also a birder’s paradise and make sure you try at least one of the birding safaris.

Dudhsagar Goa

One of the best views of the Dudhsagar Falls is from a train. However, I would recommend the journey across the wild Mollem National Park where you would need to cross two full-bodied rivers. This is where the Mandovi River plunges from a height of 600 metres, forming a milky cascade on the Karnataka-Goa border. The entire setting looks out of the world though. A dense forest hemmed in with rocks while little streams and rivulets flows around them. Tiny wooden bridges sprout in the middle of nowhere. The scene is a dramatic riot of colours with people swimming in a massive pool of blue-green waters rimmed with creamy white foam. Take a dip and refresh yourself in the milky waters that the give the falls its name.

Warangal, Andhra Pradesh

An entire settlement lives within the fortified walls of a dusty town that was once the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty. As you drive through the walls, the fort transforms into an open art gallery taking you to the glory of the Kakatiya kings. There are sculptures strewn all around and enclosing them are four massive stone pillars standing tall at 30 feet high, each facing a cardinal direction. A Shiva temple is surrounded by ornate pillars, shorter than the four main massive pillars. These tall gateways, symbolize “gateways of glory” and are called Kirti Thoranas, the seat of the Kakatiyas in Warangal. A couple of elephants, another Nandi, yalis, a few pillars, broken sculptures, a gaja kesari and even an old throne lies enclosed by the kirti toranas, open to the skies. Sit here and listen to tales of the dynasty or just walk along the old settlement.

Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu

One would wonder how a vast, empty seaside town washed away by a tsunami 50 years ago falls into a list of must-see destinations. There is nothing left in Dhanushkodi today. Located at the tip of Rameshwaram it is the only land border between Sri Lanka and India. Yet the ruins of this town tell a poignant tale as you see the remains of a railway line and a station that were engulfed by nature’s fury. Travellers speak of the railway connection to Sri Lanka, which today lies hidden in rubble. Go to the tip of Dhanuskodi if the weather holds, for here you can see the oceans meet.

Spiti, Himachal Pradesh

Tall bleak mountains caressed with snow, monasteries atop them glistening like colourful gemstones, lakes that interrupt the barrenness – Spiti is one of the most remote destinations in the Himalayas, a “middle land” between Tibet and India. The highest inhabited village is at Komik, about 4500 metres, with just a handful of households living there. Spiti literally takes your breath away, so ensure you are fit enough before you plan a hike in this mountain country.

Mangalajodi, Orissa

A small village in Odisha has made it to the tourist map as it has become one of the birding hotspots in India. Located at the fringe of the Chilka Lake, Mangalajodi is home to several wetland birds and offers opportunities for sustainable ecotourism. During the migratory season, more than a lakh of birds visit this wetland. While at Mangalojodi, visit the many temples that dot this village and participate in local festivals as it also offers a peek into the culture and heritage of the locals here.

Nagaland

The Hornbill Festival is not the only reason why you need to visit Nagaland. While the colourful pageantry allows you to get an experience of the tribal culture Nagaland is best explored at your own pace. However, if you do visit the state during the festival in December, you will get to see a melange of tribal traditions, folk dances, sports, arts and crafts among other sights and sounds.