Top picks for your 2019 getaway plans—one for each week of the year!
Text & Photos | SATARUPA PAUL
With the New Year comes a new set of resolutions, new hopes, and of course, a new calendar. What stays the same is the need to escape the routine to experience something fresh, something more. The list can be endless, but here are our top picks for your 2019 getaway plans—one for each week!
Sail to the river island of Majuli in Assam
An almost seven-hour long drive from state capital Guwahati brings you to Nimati Ghat in Upper Assam. At the ghat, ferry boats queue up in wait to take you across the mighty Brahmaputra. And then begins an hour-long mesmerising cruise on the river that lies vast like a sea, to one of the largest river islands in the world—Majuli. Open fields, sparse forests, bamboo groves, and the occasional beel (lake-like wetland) are peppered across the approximately 800 sq km area of the island. The natural beauty of Majuli is enchanting, quite overwhelmingly so. But it’s the rich cultural offerings of its delightful mix of people that make a trip here worth it.
The island houses 64 Neo–Vaishnavite monasteries called sattras. Dakhinapat Sattra is one of the oldest, and features a museum of precious relics. Chamoguri Sattra is home to the famous mask makers of Majuli. Watch them at work, turning bamboo and clay into masks of various mythological characters. Pottery, fishing, cycling and boating are other must-have experiences here.
Feel the goosebumps in ghost towns of Rajasthan
One of the most enchanting states, Rajasthan is also perhaps the spookiest—courtesy
the several places here that are considered to be haunted. Occupying the top spot for
being the most haunted place, not only in the state but in the whole of India, is Bhangarh. Situated on the edge of the Sariska Tiger Reserve between Jaipur and Alwar, Bhangarh was founded by Rajput ruler Madho Singh but was abandoned following the famine of 1770. The town in ruins now stands around the Bhangarh Fort. Protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, Bhangarh has become a tourist spot, although entry is strictly forbidden before sunrise and after sunset, for they say that ominous presences, strange apparitions, and alarming noises can be witnessed during these periods.
Another such ‘ghost town’ is the abandoned village of Kuldhara that stands in the middle of the desert near Jaisalmer, enticing paranormal-enthusiasts with its eerie presence. Once a prosperous township inhabited by Paliwal Brahmins, Kuldhara is believed to have been abandoned overnight by the villagers to stop the state minister from forcibly marrying the daughter of the village head. The villagers cursed it on their way out for good measure, and Kuldhara has since remained deserted for over 200 years. Tourists are allowed to visit during the day, but the entry at night is a strict no-no.
Go brewpub hopping in Bengaluru
After a long day’s work, Bengaluru loves to wind down in the evenings with a glass in hand at its dozen or so microbreweries. Pubbing is a culture in this city of young professionals and the best way for a traveller to experience the fun of it is to hit the best brewpubs here. At the top of the list is everybody’s favourite, Toit that stays packed
every night, thanks to its fresh brews, warm wooden interiors, and mouthwatering nibbles. Hoppipola is a laid-back option, more popular among couples. One of the pioneers of the microbrewery scene in the city, Biere Club has three outlets in Bengaluru now. Asia’s largest brewpub, Byg Brewski seats 2,800 people and its 140-feet kitchen (India’s longest-ever) is managed by celebrity chef Sabyasachi Gorai.
Marvel at astonishing architecture in Vadodara
Highly regarded in the art world as a great centre for learning, Vadodara in Gujarat is also an architectural paradise. Barring the concrete and glass of the newer areas, much of the city features buildings that are centuries-old grand structures. These architectural masterpieces house everything, from courts, offices, museums to shopping complexes and sabzi mandis.
The MS University, whose fine arts department had first put Vadodara on the art map, is housed in a beautiful building built in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style. The grandest of all is the Laxmi Vilas Palace, where descendants of the Gaekwad royal family still live, with parts of it having been turned into a museum for the public. Fascinatingly, this home that was meant for just two people features over a hundred rooms and is the largest private residence in the world—almost four times the size of Buckingham Palace.
Trek the Great Lakes in Jammu & Kashmir
For adventure enthusiasts, there’s nothing quite like hitting the great outdoors on a trek. This is the Kashmir Great Lakes trek, and only a handful of other mountain hikes come even close to the beauty of this one. Beginning at Sonamarg, a popular destination for tourists visiting the paradise that Kashmir is, the trek takes you through completely uninhabited territories, and finally ends in the village of Naranag. Over the roughly 65 km-long trek, broken over seven days, you’ll witness five high altitude alpine lakes, each of which compete with the other to win you over with their charms.
Dark stony mountains rise around these lakes, with patches of snow hugging their sides and melting off slowly to feed the lakes below. The inky blue surfaces of the lakes are often punctuated by stark white icebergs that float about aimlessly until melting. The shores here are lush and grassy, and eventually roll off into great meadows of a million hues of green. Traversing the landscape on this trek is a treat really—from maple and pine groves to manicured grassy plains where horses and sheep graze to meadows where wildflowers grow with wild abandon. Categorised as ‘moderate’ level of difficulty, the Kashmir Great Lakes trek is truly the experience of a lifetime for everyone with a passion for discovering the joys of nature.
Drool over Lucknowi delights in the capital of Uttar Pradesh
A mouthwatering smell wafts in even before you step in. Outside the restaurant, an old man shallow fries a gigantic pan full of melt-in-mouth galawti kebabs. This is the famous Tunday Kebabi of Lucknow, and a visit to the ‘city of Nawabs’ is incomplete without a taste of their heavenly Tunday kebabs. The recipe uses over a hundred different spices, and is closely-guarded by this family of restaurants only. Lucknowi biryani is another famous dish the city lends its name to, and the options where you can sample some are, quite literally, endless! However, Idris Biryani and Lalla Biryani in Chowk, and Wahid Biryani in Aminabad are top places to try this Awadhi delicacy. Lucknow also does
great chaats. For those with a sweet tooth, malai makkhan sold by street vendors in Chowk is a must-try. But the most famous dessert here is the shahi tukda— an intricate recipe from the kitchens of the nawabs, which has now been simplified with deep-fried bread slices, dipped in sugar syrup and topped with thick rabdi. Dastarkhwan in Lalbagh is the best place to dig into this sinful delight.
Take a slow ride on a toy train in Darjeeling
From old superhits such as Aradhana to newer blockbusters such as Barfi!, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, or more famously the Darjeeling Toy Train, has featured as a prominent character in many movies. Little wonder then that it remains one of the biggest attractions in the picturesque mountains of north Bengal. Operating on narrow gauge tracks since the 1880s, it is now a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. The railway line runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. Once aboard the Toy Train, there are stunning panoramic views of the mountains and forests all around, as it gradually gains elevation from 328 feet to 7,218 feet. The charms of riding on a Toy Train, slowly chugging its way through the winding trails, is truly unparalleled.
Experience the quintessential mountain life in Palampur
Away from the din and clutter of its more famous and awfully crowded cousins—Shimla, Manali and Dharamsala—lies the blissfully offbeat hill station of Palampur in Himachal Pradesh. Surrounded by the Dhauladhar ranges, this sleepy little town is cocooned by pine forests, and features undulating acres of tea plantations. Spend your days here taking lazy strolls, birdwatching, hiking through forested trails to hilltop temples or waterfalls, and lounging around with picnic baskets in nature parks. A visit to the family-run tea plantations is a must to understand the teamaking process. For those with a passion for art, the nearby village of Andretta—a quaint colony of artists, potters and actors—provides the perfect option for a day trip. For adventure seekers, Palampur is conveniently located just an hour away from Bir—the paragliding capital of India.
Ride in the sand dunes of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan
In the far western reaches of Rajasthan, deep in the heart of the great Thar Desert, lies the ‘golden city’ of Jaisalmer, famous for its majestic fort. With palaces, temples, residence quarters and markets, the Jaisalmer Fort is the only ‘living fort’ in India, whose beauty had inspired Satyajit Ray’s Sonar Kella (or the Golden Fortress). Jaisalmer also draws in wanderlust-filled feet as the gateway to the Thar Desert. And the best way to experience its haunting beauty is to drive half an hour west of Jaisalmer, through smooth straight roads into the Sam sand dunes. Here, the desert lies sprawled as far as the eye can see—its golden sand sifting in the wind, and occasionally casting mystical mirages in the light of the sun. The sand dunes of Sam are known for playing tricks to your mind, and the chances of losing direction here is high. So, perch atop a camel’s humped back instead, and set forth on a desert safari with a local guide.
Excerpted from cover story first published in January 2019 issue of Discover India (www.magzter.com/IN/Burda-Media-India-Pvt.-Ltd./Discover-India/Travel/)
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