However I must admit we never got a chance to experience the darkness during our stay in Alaska. Night was short in the summer. Short to an extent one can expect a sunset by 2 am and the sunrise by 3 am. 

The pink light after the sunset and a golden light before sunrise vanishes the darkness of the shortest nights during summer. The night is a nightmare in summer and visa-versa for sunlight during the winter. Thanks to the Arctic circle for creating such extreme weather in the region. 

We hiked mountains until 1 AM, climbed glaciers, kayaked lakes, went on a cruise trip in the Pacific ocean, watched dancing dolphins, sea lions resting on the shores, said “Hi” to the MOSES, BROWN BEAR, BLACK BEAR in the wilderness. Alaska was a dream come true trip.

Icy mountains, calving glaciers, light blue ocean, dark green transparent lakes, lush green forests, and wilderness is what Alaska stands among the best to experience. 

An encounter with black bears

We were driving from Seward to Anchorage. We stopped at the random place to check for kayaking. It was bear lake. We rented kayaks for an hour and went into the lake for Kayaking. 

Blue crystal clear water surrounded with mountains one side and think green forest on the other end. We were happily kayaking in those picturesque landscape. After returning the kayaks, we decided to explore the place a little more. 

My companions decided to run around the lake and I stopped for photography. The Bank of the lake was rich with various wildflowers. During the course of my photography, I exited the trail and unknowingly I separated from the group in the middle of the jungle. When I realized I left alone, I went in on roaming around the lake searching for my friends.

Think forest leaving no clue. At one point the path split into two walkways, one goes deep inside the jungle and another around the lake. I was confused, which possible way they might have chosen to run?

I decided to go further a bit in case if they are still waiting for me. I stopped by the scratching noise from the distance. A big black bear and two babies bear eating lunch. I smelled the danger, recalled the safety measures. I absolutely had no safety gear. I decided to turn back and started walking back slowly. 

Meantime it was almost 2 hours I got lost. Before realizing the presence of Bears, I was even chilling and happily enjoying me-time. Sat on the shores of the lake midways to enjoy the serenity with the lovely site. It was so peaceful that I forgot the absence of other people and never sensed any danger. 

Meanwhile two of my friends started searching for me. By the time I went back, they were on the way back to give another attempt before approaching to cops for filing a missing complaint. 

It was hilariously scary after I learned more about how dangerous to get inside these jungles without a preparation and a bear spray. Even experts suggests to go with the group. I was unconsciously adventurous enough to enter into the Alaskan jungle alone. And spent almost two hours roaming inside, yet I am glad to be safe and alive.

How to plan a trip to Alaska

Alaska is huge. It holds 8 huge national parks. Which makes Alaska as the 2nd highest in United States. Many national parks are easily accessible from Anchorage. However few national parks near Juneau are richest in wilderness. 

Alaska offers different tours in various seasons. People visit in winters mainly to watch northern lights. Traveling by road to most of the destinations in winter is merely impossible. But one can explore Alaska in winter by its train routes. 

Aurora Hunting

Aurora winter train over the weekends from Anchorage to Fairbanks is the best to witness the northern lights. Fairbanks is so ideal to watch northern lights. 

Aurora hunters and photographers often chose the northern part of the Fairbanks as the Auroral oval zone is concentrated in the location makes aurora activity rich in winter. Low storms and far away from coastal makes it exemplary to watch the dance of colorful lights during winters.

Road trips

Anchorage is an adequate airport to land for a road trip. We stayed in a campground in Denali. We chose to stay in a traveler’s hostel for the rest of the places. Few of these places are must-visit during the road trip.

Denali National Park & Preserve – North to Anchorage, almost four hours drive to reach beautiful and popular Denali national park. Mount McKinley, North America’s tallest mountain in the park is a must-visit destination.

The Park office conducts tours for several places inside the park and a tour bus leaves at certain timings. Better to book the campground well in advance. Check the places to hike, guided tours & timings, and campground info on the national park website.

Kenai Peninsula – South of Anchorage there are beautiful glaciers, ice fields, lakes, ocean, and picturesque landscapes. Some popular destinations in Kenai Peninsula are Portage Glacier, Matanuska Glacier, Kenai Fjords national park, Homer, and many more. Matanuska is best for ice climbing.

People often visit Valdez for Kayaking and many different adventurous activities.

Cruise trips

Kenai Fjords offers many activities like one-day cruise trips, kayaking in the sea, ice climbing, etc. The day cruise trips take us all the way to the edge of Harding Icefield where we can witness beautiful glacier calving. Harding Icefield is a huge ice field that feeds many glaciers. Kenai Fjords offers various cruise trips so that one can choose the best up to their expectation.

Ice climbing

I hiked to Harding ice-field trail to ice climb on Exit Glacier. Walking on glaciers is an experience of traveling back in time. The hard ice underneath our feet may be clotted thousands of years ago.

Such ice calve into the sea in bits and pieces every day. We can witness huge icebergs in the ocean near the ice field and glaciers. That was an exciting phenomenon to watch during our cruise trip. Ice climbing needs the preparation and the help of an expert. The climbing gears can be rented in adventure camps from Seward.

Tips to travel Alaska

Alaska is really vast. Make sure to prioritize your do’s and don’ts before visiting Alaska. The best season to visit Alaska is summer. The hotels are quite expensive in the season. We preferred to book travelers hostels and campgrounds during our visit.

1. To avail of national park tour services, cruise trips, and any adventure activities, it’s best to make reservations well in advance before your arrival.
2. It takes a long time to reach Alaska and travel to different destinations in Alaska. As there aren’t many routes to choose from. If you are planning to use the train, make sure to confirm the schedule.
3. Book your stay well in advance if you are traveling in Summer. Even campgrounds are crowded during busy long weekends in summer. Many places close during winters, hence contact them well in advance and confirm your stay before reaching the destination.
4. Travelers hostels are best for budget travel. Anchorage, Seward, Talkeetna, and many other towns offer good travelers hostels. Even remote places in Alaska provide shared cottages for budget travelers.
5. Buying an Alaska Toursaver book is the best way to save money on tours and attractions. The book offers many deals for two people. Hence it is ideal for a couple. The $100 book saves half the price in public transport, cruise trips and many activities for 2 people.
6. It rains during the summer. Be prepared to face the rain and cold on top of mountains and in the evening.
7. If you are planning to hike, expect to encounter wildlife and be prepared with safety gear. Carry bear spray when hiking. Better to hike with a group.

The meticulously planned Cheap North Indian tour package covers all the must-go places in the Himalayan Ranges. It’s exclusively for the mountain lovers.

It includes the most iconic places like Nainital, Himachal Pradesh, Kinnaur-Spiti and Haridwar and Rishikesh. It would be a perfect vacay to escape the scorching heat in summer.

Everyone might have heard of the magnificent Himalayan mountains but only a few would have genuinely experienced its grandeur and elegance. The towering peaks, crystal clear river waters, squiggly valleys and blankets of snow all around are fascinating to look at. One can easily get captivated by the beautiful landscapes on this land of snow.

Adventure camping in Manali, the crown of Northern India

Camping on the foothills of the Himalayas in Manali is one of the most fabulous activities to be done. Moreover, Himalayan frontiers have their private camping site that offers a wide view of the splendid mountains.

Numerous adventure activities are arranged to spend a merry time. One can team up with friends or have a family vacation at this spot.

Bhrigu Lake: the pool of God

Situated in the famed district of Kullu, Himachal Pradesh Bhrigu lake is one of the most visited alpine lakes. It’s believed that many Gods dipped into its waters making it holy.

The lake is located at an elevation of about 43,000 m. A three day trip from Manali can take to the Bhrigu lake. The Bhrigu lake trek in Manali would be a thrilling and exciting adventure.

Traversing the Hampta pass

Hampta pass is a crossway that lies between Manali and Spiti. One can be astonished by the breathtaking views of the enormous snow-clad mountains plodding on the way. Hampta pass rests in the Pir-Panjal Range of the great Himalayas.

 While crossing over, a sudden transition from green and grassy lands to semi-arid regions can be remarked. It is very much renowned for its scenic beauty. Hampta pass trek in Manali is a must go for the admirers of nature.

The ravishing Markha valley

Located in the heavenly region of Ladakh, Markha valley provides diverse landscapes to glance at. Scattered villages and cut-off oasis could be encountered along the valley sides.

The localities continue to preserve the rich culture and welcome the passersby. The Markha valley trek Ladakh is one of the most desirable treks in the Himalayan region.

Yoga in the Himalayas

Practicing yoga in the pure atmosphere of the Himalayas energizes the body like never before. Therefore doing yoga and meditation in the calm environment of the Himalayas can revitalize the mind and soul completely.

Himalayan frontiers provide an exclusive package to experience this serenity along with the discovery of the authentic culture of the Kullu Manali region.

However, if one prefers to reach Rishikesh by yourself, An easy and cheap journey to Rishikesh provides lot of tips to travel solo.

Kinnaur and Spiti valley

Known for their picturesque views, the seemingly isolated Kinnaur and Spiti are the places surprised by high top mountains. Being on the Indo Tibetan border it is a semi-deserted region.

The ethnic groups are very warmhearted and cheerful. Buddhist culture is followed and many temples, stupas, and monasteries can be found in the valley. Kinnaur Spiti tour package is very much suitable for middle-aged folks.

In today’s fast-moving it is much needed to take a break from our hectic working schedules and spend some time in nature’s lap to get refreshed.

The Himalayan Ranges can be one of the best places to be visited to have blissful times of adventure and peacefulness both together. A tour to the great Himalayas would be a great delight, especially in summers.

Bhrigu Lake Trek Manali

 It is one of the most famous and prettiest treks in Manali. It is located at 14,000 ft. above the sea level, around meandering grasslands where Maharishi Bhrigu sat in deep meditation. The entire trek trail is lined with grassy meadows, and you can see the Dhauladhar and the Pir Panjal mountains in the distance. The trail starts from Gulaba and moves through Rola Kholi with increasing scenic beauty as you go higher. You can cover the entire trek of 22 km in 4 days.

Season: Spring-summer

Duration: 4 days

Level: Easy to moderate

Hampta Pass Trek Manali

Hampta Pass is an area of dramatic changes in natural scenery from the forests and meadows in the valley to the fjord-like Balu Ka Gera and the desert oasis of Shea Goru in Ladakh. From the Hampta Pass, you can see the Lahaul valley in  Ladakh in one panoramic view. It starts from the base camp at Jobra, which you can reach from Manali via a road drive consisting of 42 hairpin bends! You can trek through the campsites at Jobra, Jwara, and Shea Goru, and finally Hampta Pass. You can also visit the beautiful Chandrataal. The entire trail is about 20 km, and you can cover it in 5-6 days.

Season: June to September

Duration: 6 days

Level: Moderate

Markha Valley Trek Ladakh

The Markha Valley Trek is all set in the cold desert regions of Ladakh. Markha is a picturesque river valley in Hemis National Park. The trek follows a trail through many waist-deep river crossings and dry, rocky canyons with mountain wildlife and Tibetan style mud houses. Your trek starts from Chilling through Skiu and Markha, Hankar, Nimaling, Chokdo, and finally, Leh. You get to see and cross over the 17,060 ft high Kongmaru La Pass as well. You can also have a stunning view of Mt Kang Yatse (21,300 ft).

Season: June to September

Duration: 6 days

Level: Moderate to Difficult

Trekking in India in the Himalayan regions around Manali, are Beas Kund, Malana-Chanderkhani Pass, Patalsu Peak,  Pin Parvati Pass, Bhubu Pass, Deo Tibba Base Trek, and Chandratal Lake Trek.

Camping in Manali

Camping in Manali is an adventurous experience of an escapade from the humdrum of life. The months from May to June happens to be the best time to visit Manali for camping as you get to see the most stunning sunrises along with a magical snowfall. Beas River, Solang Valley, and Kothi are the top 3 camping sites around Manali where you can get a soul-stirring camping experience.

Beas River

This is the best site for riverside camping along the majestic Beas River. Trekking clubbed with overnight camping and bonfire, and a quick mountain stroll will provide valuable memories.

Solang Valley

Located 13 km from Manali, the Solang Valley offers a majestic view of the glaciers and snow-capped mountains. You can also enjoy thrilling adventure activities like Parachuting, skiing, paragliding, and horse riding.

Kothi Village

Located 15 km from Manali at the foothills of Rohtang pass, Kothi is a beautiful village and the perfect camping destination for nature lovers.

2020 has started off with a quite a sombre note. While the world is waiting to recover, many are making plans for the rest of the year. One of the best ways to end the remainder of the year is to head off to a trek. Above are the numbers of popular trekking destinations in India that are popular and attract many tourists. Contact us for our pick of the best trekking destinations for the year 2020-2021

We were bowled over by this achievement and decided to witness the same in Didupe, a small hamlet nestled in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.

A little bit about Kambala and its origins before that.

Kambala and its origins

Kambala is an annual festival celebrated in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. The festival involves the traditional buffalo race, a popular and unique sport among the farming community of the state.

According to one belief, it is a festival that originated in the farming community of Karnataka. The festival is dedicated to Lord Kadri Manjunatha, an incarnation of Lord Shiva.

It was celebrated to please the Gods for a good harvest. It was also a form of entertainment or recreational sport for the farming community. The winner of the buffalo race was rewarded with coconut and such other things.

Kambala in Didupe | What we saw

We at Treks Unlimited took a hiking trip to Didupe a small and quaint town to witness Kambala. It was a day-long event with jockeys from all over Karnataka fighting it out on the track.

There were two tracks in this particular Kambala one called Surya(Sun) and the other Chandra(Moon) and the jockeys battling it out on the field. Usually, the length of these tracks is 120-160metres each.

We decided to head to the event post-dinner to get a glimpse of the jockeys, even at 10 PM it was bustling with the crowd and anxious people who wanted to get a glimpse of their favorite, the joy of the kids likewise the adults was unparalleled and a sight to behold. The villagers all gathered to cheer on their star. Whenever a new race began everyone stood up from their seats to gauge at the tracks.

Everyone tried to get in front of the stands to witness this sport, I was totally mesmerized by the unique traditions and culture that I had never experienced before. Stood there for good 1 hr looking at riders fight it out.

The event was pretty advanced technically since they had timers to track the speed of the jockeys. Each team had many villagers who took care of the bulls before and after the race. It was a sight in itself.

We also got to meet and take pictures with the Kambala jockeys and their teams it was beautiful to experience.

We also had local fruits, delicacies in the home where we were staying, all local Dakshina Kannada food was yummy and mouth-watering

All and all it was an amazing weekend with glimpses of culture, Kambala and a lot of beauty of Dakshina Kannada.

More stories to come from our hikes and travel in Didupe. Stay tuned.

To be part of such experiences join us on our next adventure, catch me on Treks Unlimited

Sebastian is a young student from South America who accompanied me in Rajasthan. He took a break from grad school to travel the world. He is interested to experience the vital aspects of different cultures, art, dance, and music. He revealed his secrets to pleasurably survive in India as a tourist. He experimented with various ways to make his travel easy while experiencing the culture at its best. He tried Workaway in various parts of India, and he was happy to disclose his experience for Sanchaari.

An Interview with Seb – A Workaway experience in India

Me: What is Workaway? How to use it while Traveling?

Seb: Well, for what I know it is is a volunteering network. Travelers can stay for free and work for a certain duration.

To experience the culture and different things of interest, travelers find a host through the Workaway website. They can use it to find free accommodation with food in exchange for skills, energy, with the attitude of offering help to the host with their daily chores like cooking, farming, painting, etc.

Me: How Workaway is budget-friendly and help solo travelers?

Seb: Well, what I experienced Workaway is really worthy. I stayed in India for the past 3 months. I would have to spend almost €5000 for staying in decent hotels and eating healthy, which is quite a lot of money. Workasway allows one to stay for free along with home-cooked free food for weeks and months. That is a lot more comfortable with cultural exchange while traveling.

Me: Could you please share your experience as a guest through Workaway in India?

Seb: I stayed on a farm in Andra Pradesh which was incredible. After getting out of the big cities and experienced the village culture, I discovered for the first time how beautiful the countryside of India is. People in rural areas and their culture are very pure. It was the right time for farming around India and I helped them in fields.

I did the same with family in Wayanad, Kerala. I spent 2 weeks with the family in the middle of a lush green rainforest. Working with cows on the farm was a great experience. The family treated me with a lot of facilities that were comfortable enough.

To another extreme, working in the desert of Jaisalmer-Rajasthan was hard. Working 7-8 hours a day was quite unusual, we used to sleep under the sky without a roof outside of the house. But it helped me to understand how difficult the life of a farmer in such areas.

Me: Is India has good Workaway community?

Seb: Well, In my own experience I did it only in India. I tried in Nepal, but they charged me for it, hence it was not a good experience there. My experience in India was really nice because one could find a lot of farming stuff, schools that need teachers for some time, hosts also are hotels need help for painting and building websites. These are very common hosts in India, but there are also families who are hosting travelers just for cultural exchange. I am really impressed with the communities in India which are amazingly open for the cultural exchange.

Me: Do travelers need to adjust the schedule based on volunteering programs?

Seb: It depends on how the person is planning and how they want to travel. I was traveling without any plan. But I had the pressure to leave the country within 90 days as I got 90 days visa. Hence I could not do any long term Workaway for months together at the same place. If one does not have visa limitations and no specific plans and open to cultural exchange, one should not have to adjust their schedule. There are people who are traveling for years who do not have any pressure to leave the county upon visa expiry. Such travelers thoroughly enjoy such volunteering programs.

Me: The places you stayed belongs to an organization or an individual?

Seb: The first place I stayed belonged to an organization that was helping farmers on biowaste management. They placed volunteers in a few villages to help farmers. Workaway has many such registered organizations who entertain international volunteers. There are also individual families that host travelers.

Me: Do you need to sign any agreement or commit for a certain duration while signing up to work for the owner?

Seb: First of all you are not working for anyone, hence there is no agreement. You are a volunteer. If you do not like the place/you felt uncomfortable/you encounter any problems, you may leave anytime. Of course, while requesting the host, you request with certain duration. But there is no harm if you leave before completing the requested duration.

Me: How to verify whether the host is authentic?

Seb: Technically all the profiles should be authentic. Workaway verifies and makes sure hosting communities are worthy to be displayed. You need to filter the hosts based on your interest, what you want to help or learn, what kind of place you prefer to stay etc.

Me: I heard a few complaints like hosts harassed/discriminated guests based on culture/race. How do you make sure you have a hassle-free stay??

Seb: I didn’t face it in India as I am a foreigner with a white skin tone :-). Rather hosts were very respectful and cool.

Me: Do you get to travel while volunteering on Workaway?

Seb: That depends, I had various experiences in different places. The farm in Jaisalmer, I was working 7-8 hours did not entertain to travel much. However, in other places, I did get a chance to visit places and check around.

Me: Share some of your unique learning.

Seb: I would tell you one experience in Jaisalmer. That was a very short stay, I was volunteering for 5 days on a farm in Jaisalmer. That was really interesting how people live in that part of India. They were living almost without anything. We were sleeping outside the building because we had no place inside to sleep. We were showering without the buckets. If we had to go to a toilet, we had to go to a tree.

This is how they live. It is interesting to do it for a week. But they do it throughout their life. The culture is very deep there. Caste discrimination is still alive and dominant. They don’t have a good relationship with people from another caste. I observed them saying: Oh, Be careful with this lower caste people, don’t even drink a chai with him, etc.

Religion is still being a problem in the country. It is not easy to see caste discrimination in bigger cities. If you go to Wayanad or Andrapradesh or Goa or Rajasthan, the culture is totally different and unique. Language is unique to the state. I am amazed by the diversity.

If you are still finding easy/cheap ways to travel to India without volunteering, CouchSurfing is another option. If you are still skeptical about why to travel India, my article 7 reasons to travel across India might answer your questions.

1. The state has got historic cities, forts, and palaces built from different dynasties.
2. Kumbhalgarh fort on Aravali mountain ranges near Udaipur is 2nd largest wall in the world after the Great wall of China.
3. Jaipur has an ancient observatory Jantar Mantar built by Jai Singh. Jantar Mantar is the 18th Century observatory which is still functioning and has been tested thoroughly.
4. Sawai Jai Singh was king of Mewar in the 18th century who was also the founder of Jaipur. King was highly learned and known for his unique Nobel qualities among his peers. He conducted research in Astronomy and astrology, built observatories in his time. He was also a great photographer.
5. Sawai Jai Singh’s grandson, Sawai Pratap Singh built the Hawa Mahal, which is one of the popular tourist attractions in Pink city. Hawa Mahal is also known as Wind Palace. The exterior designed with 953 small windows in the structure of bee-hive, which maintains the wind keeps the palace cool in extreme summer.
6. There is Krishna-Meera Temple in Amer, which is one and the only temple for Lord Krishna and his devotee Meera. Meerabai was a poet and mystic who was born in a Rajasthani royal family.
7. There is one and only Brahma temple in the world located in Pushkar, Rajasthan.
8. Rajasthan is most famous for handmade art and Craft. You could see traditional art made using natural colors without using chemicals. Descendants of royal artists still continue the lineage of family art and craft. I am glad to interview some of them during my visit. Rajasthani miniature paintings, wood inlay or Takashi craft, a wooden craft in miniature art, Pichwai paintings, a devotional painting based on the stories of Lord Krishna.
9. Rajasthani hand-carved pieces of jewelry are famous in the world.
10. Hand-blocked prints on cloths from Sanganer near Jaipur has got its unique perspective to reveal the culture. I was delighted to shoot the Block printing process in Bhagat Fabrics, Sanganer-Rajasthan.
11. Rajasthani buttermilk with Dal-Baati-Choorma and Roti with Aloo-Pyaz are the popular meals in most of the local restaurants.

How to plan a solo trip to Rajasthan?

Rajasthan is huge, it has got various landscapes, culture, art, and architecture. Planning a trip to Rajasthan is not everyone’s cup of cake. Many just think that the whole Rajasthan is dessert. In fact, it is not. The countryside of Rajasthan is not yet developed. But important tourist destinations are partially well maintained.

Jaipur, Pushkar, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaiselmer, Bikaner, Barmer, Jhunjhunu are the most popular destinations. Before planning for a visit, you may have to list out your priorities. Each part of Rajasthan offers various things to visitors. You may need to stay at least 4-5 days in one place to visit decent cites. If you prefer to visit all the possible attractions around the area, you may need at least 10 days in one place.

Traveling from one place to another is time-consuming in Rajasthan. Places like Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Bikaner does not have direct public transportation from major tourist spots like Jaipur/Udaypur. That makes your travel either pricy or time-consuming.

You will get travelers hostels in popular destinations for a decent price. I stayed in a hostel in Udaypur Eltravo which was in the center of the city and walkable to City Palace, Lake Palace, Lake Pichola, Gangaur Ghat and many more. This is the Eltravo Facebook page. It was a blast staying in this beautiful hostel Hostelavie in Pushkar. Just behind the lake and very near to the market, they offer yummy meals in the restaurant. CouchSurfing community across Rajasthan offers a travel-friendly environment.

Check my articles: 13 Best Ways to Travel Like Local in India to use CouchSurfing in India. How to Travel Solo as a Woman in India for tips and tricks to travel India alone.

1. Rich history and architecture

India’s rich history begins with the Indus valley civilization, which is one of the oldest civilizations. Since then various generations contributed literature, architecture, art and many more including Vedas that sets aside India in must travel list.

What you could expect in terms of History

Ancient temples

India’s immense ancient temples which built 1000’s of years ago demonstrate beautiful yet astonishing architecture. Some of them are UNESCO heritage sites. Few temples got ruined because of Greek and Islamic attacks over the centuries. But yet beautiful ruins one could visit and feel the ambiance and travel back in history. Many are still in good condition and some of them are wonders in terms of the way they built.

Buddhist monasteries

Buddhist monasteries mostly concentrated in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh that reveal Buddhist culture, art, and architecture. I visited a few popular ones during my trip to Leh-Ladakh.

Indo Islamic architecture

India was ruled by Sulthan’s, Mughals and many other dynasties who inherited from Persia. They bought Persian artists who later built many monuments in Indo-Islamic architecture. Taj Mahal is such contributions including many on the list.

Forts and palaces

India was ruled by various kings in different regions. They built beautiful palaces that show their pride. They also built forts to secure their kingdom, those are well preserved and open for tourists.

2. Experience a diverse culture

The unique aspect of India is “Unity in Diversity”. When you travel 50 miles in diameter, you could sense the difference in the behavioral pattern of people, food, languages or slangs, local ethnic wear(except in the modern world), festivals, rituals, etc. There are 22 major languages and many more regional languages and slangs across India. If you have fun with finding the difference in dialects, India is the best destination and you must book your tickets now.

3. Taste a variety of food

Who doesn’t want to eat yummy meals during the travel?? Each and every corner of India cooks a variety of food every day. Mouthwatering spicy cuisines most people crave for around the world are available everywhere in India. Ethnic food differs in different regions of India. Pack your bags to taste it and let me know your favorite.

4. Feel the monsoon

Most parts of India flourishes with lush green mountains in Monsoon from June to September. Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya are some of the best places to savor monsoon if you like to travel by train or hike in heavy rainfall. This is also the time when many seasonal plants and flowers bloom based on the area. This is the season when farmers are busy in the fields. One could watch and experience natural farming with folk music they sing on the field.

5. Numerous festivities

Festivities in India differs based on the region. Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated intensely in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Holi is celebrated in the Northern part of India. Dussera and Vijayadashami celebrated in different ways based on the culture and region. Diwali is widely celebrated in the various cultural backgrounds across the country. Refer to this blog to plan for your next cultural trip to India. Must attend Indian festivals

6. Yoga is one such salient reasons to travel across India

India is a land of spiritualism since Vedic ages. Yoga was developed and practiced by Indus valley civilization, more than 5000 years ago in the Northern part of India. Later on, many saints in different generations experimented and introduced varied techniques in daily practice. Learning yoga in its birthplace is more predominant to understand the deep yogic philosophy, comprehend and implement it in daily practice.

7. Travel is cheaper and easier

Well developed infrastructure for public transportation made travel easier and cheaper for this generation. Most regions of India connected by train and bus that operate frequently. However one must know how to use it efficiently. This article how to travel solo in India as a woman refers to a few tips and tricks to use public transport in India.

Ganga Arti in Rishikesh

Before watching such a dazzling ceremony, one should perceive the spiritual and cultural significance of rivers in Hindu philosophy. Mythology describes the essence of each river and named it based on its intrinsic nature. Ganga is the personification for the goddess of salvation. Mythos presents beautiful stories to symbolize such an epitome. Whether these stories are great epics or pure literature/folk is not worthy of debate. But the aphorism and solution they dispense with great memorandum make it predominant till today.

Ganga Arti is a devotional offering to the river goddess, performed every day in Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Varanasi. Arti in general performed to show respect, being thankful and blissful and hence to remove the pain. According to Vedas, there are 5 basic elements in nature. They are called “Pancha Mahabhuta” :

• Earth (Bhumi),
• Water (Jala),
• Fire (Agni),
• Air(Vaayu)
• Space (Aakaash)

No doubt! the melody of flowing water, fresh cool breeze, enchanting music in an evening with flame (light) enhances one’s mood and hence personality and quality of life. Vedic civilization introduced and adopted such practice as a routine to be performed on the bank of the river to intensify the spiritual journey of a whole civilization.

Places to watch Ganga Arti in Rishikesh on the bank of the river Ganges

Paramarth Niketan Ashram

Situated near Ram Jhula on the bank of river Ganga, ashram commences the ritual from 6 pm every day. A unique aspect of the ceremony is children who are learning Vedas, performs the early ritual by chanting mantras offering to the fire. Few students play instruments and sing a devotional song while performing Arti. Visitors involved in waving lighted wicks. After the Arti devotees lit diya’s along with flowers in leaf bowls, and release in the Ganga water to fulfill the wishes.

Triveni Ghat

Situated in the heart of Rishikesh market, this is one of the popular and biggest ghats in Rishikesh. Before the Arti, I could see men and women gathered to offer Diya with flowers to Ganga. Aarti commences at 6 pm and performed by priests. Almost 20 priests come together to perform Arti makes the ghat illuminating with flames on the bank of the smokey river. Even visitors get a chance to wave flamed wicks along with priests. Which creates a beautiful view just after the sunset. I could see people traveled from different parts of the world to witness the show. Few were even shedding tears with devotion and happiness.

Shatrughna Ghat

Situated near Ram Jhula with a lush green hilly background, Arti performed in Varanasi style. However, the one I attended was special on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami.

Ritual started around 6 pm with worshiping river Ganga. Then they went on with different prayers. The 5 steps Arti took place rigorously.

5 priests performed:

• Dheep Aarti: Offered light to the river
• Dhoop Aarti: Offered fragrance to the river
• Dhuna Aarti: Offered flowers to the river
• Nag Aarti: With Shiv Tandav prayer
• Jal Aarti: Praying Ganga by offering light

After the ceremony, many visitors on the crowd went ahead and offered flowers to the river.

Trayambakeshwar temple, Tapovan

Located next to Laxman Jhula, this 13 story temple is famous tourist destinations. Ritual started with performing Hawan with a visitor. Evening sky turned pink and Laxman Jhula Glew with colorful light. Smokey Ganga as usual burbling and flowing fast. The ceremony commenced at 6 pm, performed by priests. Not much crowded for Gangarati, unlike other places. One can watch the ritual blissfully and closely.

You can refer my article easy and cheap travel to Rishikesh to plan an easy and cheap trip to Rishikesh. If you are looking for yoga or meditation courses or teacher’s training contact RealHappiness. A reputed teacher from the RealHappiness organization conducts free meditation training through WebEx.