Sandy Retreat: An Indian Vacation

More and more tourists are discovering the wonders of having an Indian vacation and the wonder of Indian beaches.  India ranked 6th in the list in terms of price in  “The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report” released in 2007.  It is slowly becoming on of the top five hot spots in world.  

The beaches in India looked very irresistible with its fine, white sand, sea and the opportunity for water sports and other activities.  Aside from the pristine beaches, there are also some known locations that would offer different venues for recreation and other forms of entertainment that locals and foreign visitors would all like.

Nature has truly gifted India. Not only tourists would be able to experience fine, white sand but there are also backwaters ideal for romantic boat rides, crashing waves ideal for surfing, marine life which you can experience in diving and lava-rocked seas.   India, aside from its wonderful tourist spots, is also known for its top cuisine and this manifests on different kinds of cuisine that can be found in restaurants in Indian coasts.

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is a region in which eight of its twenty-three districts are close to the sea.  This region boasts its natural beauty pure and unspoiled by commercialism.  In this region, Beemunipatnam Beach can be found which is referred to as one of the safest and finest beaches in India.

Manginapudi Beach, also in this region, does not only offer scenic swimming coastline, but they would also include a port city which is very historical, a health resort and places great for picnics.  There are also beaches like the Mypad Beach which is ideal for romantic getaways and honeymoons.  If you are up for the adventure, Rishikonda Beach offers different activities like water skiing and wind surfing.

Karnataka

The beaches in Karnataka are very rewarding to visit, too.  The beach in Karnataka, just like Andhra Pradesh, is unspoilt which is part of its charm.  Most beaches in Karnataka are characterized by its peaceful waters and virgin shores just like Karwar Beach and  Malpe Beach.

There are also coastlines in Karnataka noted for its great views.  For example, the Bhatkal Beach is noted for its temples which can be seen on the top of the hills.  The Murudeshwar Beach has beautiful statues which adds to the beauty of the tourist attraction.

Kerala

Kerala beaches are an image of serenity with coconut palms lining the shores.  More and more tourists are being attracted with the clear blue waters and soft waves of the beaches in Kerala. There are small villages near the beach, these adds to the charm of the place making it a hospitable and warm recluse.   Aside from there are also other sights that can be seen, in Kumarakom Beach, there are migratory birds that frequent the coasts which are great for bird watching enthusiasts.

An add-on to Kerala beaches would be the fresh water rivers and lakes which make up the backwaters of Kerala.   There are also ports which can even give your beach vacation a historic touch.   The only drive-in beach in India can also be found in Kerala, the Muzhappilangad Beach.

Goa

No beach is more popular than the beaches in Goa.  Over the years, it has become the top beach destination in India.  The Anjuana beach is one of the international famous coastline which line with palm trees and popular for its full moon parties.   You can also experience shopping in Anjuana in its famous flea market. Bars and restaurants are also great attractions in Goa where they offer succulent dishes cooked out of fresh seafood.

The 70s and the 80s witnessed the popularity of the Calangute Beach.  Currently, it became the most commercial and busy resort in Goa.  If you prefer a quieter and less commercialized resort, there are smaller resorts in Bogmolo Beach, Pololem Beach and Vagator Beach.

In you are planning to have an beach escape for your Indian vacation, then there are numerous choices that would cater to your needs and your interests.  There are also family beaches in India which would be able t make your family busy and thoroughly happy. If it intends to be romantic or for your honeymoon, then looking for a romantic and secluded place in India is not impossible.

Regional Dishes You Can Try On Your Indian Vacation

Elusive to define, Indian food is consists of many regionally diverse dishes - all with their own way of cooking and ingredients. Indian food's sheer diversity promises your Indian vacation (India) deliciously rewarding. Pat Chapman, author of the book India: Food and Cooking describes India States and culinary regions:

1. Kashmir's extreme palate - Kashmiri food is typified by rich and aromatic meat and vegetable dishes. Meats are usually cooked in curd or milk which gives them a whitish colour and smooth texture.

2. Rajasthan - Rajasthani cuisine is least known in India. Because of limited fresh vegetables, fruits or fish, Rajasthanis make the most of cereals, pulses, spices and milk products.

3. Gujarat - Largely vegetarian and a major culinary region with a unique and abundant indigenous cuisine.  Guijarat food is the least spicy in India. The major ingredients in savoury dishes are yogurt and gram flour.

4. Maharashtra - The comercial capital Mumbai has some interesting dishes, including Parsee ones. Marashantran food was developed over the centuries as minor cuisine. Mild and delicately spiced, it uses tamarind and coconut sparingly in many of their dishes. The Parsee is a religious sect which has evolved in South-west central of India over the last 800 years.
Traditional Parsee food is marked by Persian origins. Parsee can eat pork, beef, lamb and shellfish.

5. Tiny Goa - Has unique cuisine influenced by the Portuguese which colonized this tiny state for 450 years. Modern Guan curries are characterized by a uniquely sour taste made by palm todi vinegar. Goans are mostly vegetarians and meat is confined on Sundays. They are required to have at least one meal with fish. Majority of dishes have two names: Goan and Portuguese. Majority of Goans are Catholic and some are Goans Hindu which use leass pepper, tamarind for souring and jaggery for sweetening. There are some Goan Muslim in the area and some dishes found in their home are Kashmiri.  

6. India’s Islands -  Remote and still tribal with a high reliance on fish.

7. Tamil Nadu - A major cuisine and India's oldest. Tamil Nadu's cuisine is largely rice-based and exclusively vegetarian.

8. Andhra Pradesh - Rich and delicious, Hyderabad has a prolific cuisine to match as it is used to be home to India's richest royal.

9. Orissa - Very industrialized state and not a culinary area. However, three recipes are known in this island: Charu or tamarind consomme, Bhoona Murgh or mild, dryish chicken curry and Baigan Burtha or smoky aubergine puree.

10. Uttaranchal - Savoury and robust, Delhi is the home to the rich dishes of the royal /moghuls and Lucknow to the Nawabs.

11. Bengal - This second oldest established cuisine is the only major culinary region here.

12. Assam - India's poorest states, home to many tribes, few recipes and the celebrated Assam tea.

13. Punjab - Many of its staple dishes have come to represent Indian food internationally. The main meals of Punjabi cuisine usually have hot rotis which will truly fire your palate while you’re in your Indian vacation (India). It also has dollops of unsalted butter, a bowl of dhal and a vegetable dish such as the favourite saas or aloo gobi, baigan bharta (roasted eggplant fried with onions and tomatoes) or aloo mattar ( a curry made with potatoes and green peas). Common ingredients of Punjab cuisine are paste of onions, garlic, ginger, chillies, tomatoes, cumin, garam masala, dried fenugreek leaves and kalonji.

Sources:

1. India: Food and Cooking by Pat Chapman

2. India by Joe Bindloss, Sarina Singh, James Bainbridge, Lindsay Brown, Mark Elliott, Stuart Butler

Places To Visit On Your Indian Vacation

We want to make the best out of any vacation.  Having an Indian vacation would mean that you would have numerous places to visit. Planning is essential to make sure that all members of the vacationing crowd would have fun.  This would also save you time from wasting any time of figuring out where you would have to go.  Therefore, to make sure that you would be able to have the best experience, it would be important for you to consider what place to go.

There are many places to go to in India, wide variety of places to visit can help you entertain.  It is important to factor the length of time you will be spending in India, if you will be staying in India for a long time, then you can visit different regions, since each region in India seems to offer great sights.  It you would be spending just a short time in the country, then it would be best to pick just the wonderful sights first.

Breezy Beaches and Waterways

Goa is one of the most popular beaches in India.  It started to become a tourist spot in 1970s and continued to be until now.  There are already commercialized Goa beaches that you could chose from, depending on the vacation you are having.  Other great beaches can be found in Karnataka and in Kerala, although they are less developed but their beauty can equal that of Goa beaches.   Andaman beaches also have great white, sandy shores and sparkling blue waters.

Aside from beaches, there are also backwaters which are great places to have a romantic boat rides.  Aside from that, there are also forts which can be visited in the Sindhudurg region.    There are different activities that can be done like windsurfing, dinghy sailing, scuba diving and water skiing.

Desert Heat

India is known for its vast Thar Desert or the Great Indian Desert where tourists will get to see forts, palaces and mansions.  This could be a great place for heritage and culture tours, there are many old mansions called havelis which are converted into palace hotels where you could stay in.  

In the desert, you can also experience camel safaris and camel fairs which has become popular not only with the foreigners but with the Indian middle and upper class.  Camel treks in the Thar desert would help you have an opportunity to experience the beautiful ecosystem of the desert.  The forts and cities in the middle of the desert are also great places for romantic vacations and shopping for traditional items.  The Rajasthan region, where the Thar desert is, can also be viewed through a hot air balloon flight.

Ecotourism

India has diverse geography, there are numerous places to visit.  Different eco activities would include mountaineering, rock climbing, trekking, mountain biking, nature walking, wildlife viewing and river rafting.  If you visit Kerala, aside fro the beautiful backwaters and beaches, you would also see great hill locations.  If you go to the Northern part of India then you will be able to see the placid lakes, forests and stunning snow-capped mountains.

Travel Back in Time

Aside from its diverse geographical sites, India also has distinct and rich history, and this is manifested in its culture, architecture, monuments, buildings and other historical sites in India.

Tops historical sites in India would of course, include the magnificent Taj Mahal in the banks of the Yamuna River.  Another top historical site would be in Hampi where one would experience the ruins that dates back as early as 14th century.   The Ajanta and Ellora caves are rich with paintings and sculpture which are created between 6th and 11th century.

The Fatehpur Sikri was just like Hampi, it used to be capital of the an Indian Empire.  But the Fatehpur Sikri was abandoned and is now a ghost town. But  one can surely appreciate the capital and its medieval feel.  The Khajuraho Temples in India is among the most popular temples.  There are 20 temples in here dedicated to sex and sexuality.  The temples are intricately designed with the carvings.

There are too many places to visit in your Indian vacation.   You could realize that time is so short that you would have to make the best out of each minute.  Some tourists would say they could never get everything out from India in just one visit, which is why they return for more.

Outdoor Activities For Your Indian Vacation (India)

Life is one big adventure and India is a perfect playground for fans of action and adrenalin suggests the book India by Joe Bindloss, Sarina Singh, James Bainbridge, Lindsay Brown, Mark Elliot and Stuart Butler. The opportunities for wild adventure for your Indian Vacation (India) ranges from trekking, rafting, paragliding, mountaineering, jungle safaris, scuba diving, elephant rides, river boats, yoga courses, meditation and the lists goes on and on.

If you want to experience trekking challenge in style, you can try the high altitudes of Zanskar, a tri-armed valley system found between the Great Himalayan Range and the Zanskar mountains. The best time to wander in Zanskar is from June to September. Zanskar can be reached by an arduous week-long trek or a 14-hour drive along a pitted and potholed track of the Suru River. The people in Zanskar are predominantly Buddhist; the valley even has its own king. There are no fuel stations in Zanskar, so you should bring the fuel you will need in the trek stored in spare cans.

If you opt for inspirational treeking, Ladakh might be the perfect place for you. The mountains of Ladakh encourages trekking in summertime. Independent trekking is not advisable as trails are not marked, food and water can be hard to find, and there are few helpful people to rescue you in case of trouble.

Manali is a popular starting point for organized mountain treks. Majority of Manali travel agencies offer multiday treks for around US$60 per day, all inclusive. If you opt for shorter walks, you can trek 6km to the snowline above Lama Dugh meadow along the Manalsu Nala Stream.

For hang gliding and paragliding, the best seasons for flying are October to June in Goa and Maharashtra and March to June, and September to December in Himachal Pradesh. In Manali, adventure operators that can be contacted to arrange for treks and tours are: Antrek Tours and Travel, Himalayan Adventurers, Himalayan Extreme Center, Himalayan Journeys and North Face Adventure Tours. The peak season for tourism in Manali are April to June, September to November, and Christmas.

India is filled with captivating national parks and is home of some of the wildest and exotic creatures on earth. The best times to spot wildlife are on the early morning or late in the afternoon. These are plenty of sanctuaries and reserve that you can choose from like Corbett Tiger Reserve, Jaipur, Ranthambhore National Park, Little Rann Sanctuary, Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Pench Tiger Reserve, Kanha National Park, Similipal National Park and the list goes on.

If you love bird watching, the major bird-watching sites are: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where you can spot rare drongos and golden orioles; Gujarat, where November to April twitchers can choose from Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, the Little Rann
Sanctuary and Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary; Himachal Pradesh, where you can catch glimpses of 180 bird species at Great Himalayan National Park; and Karnataka, where you can see storks, egrets, ibises and spoonbill.

You must observe official regulations in areas you visit and seek permission from landowners if you intend to enter private property. Practice cultural sensitivity when interacting locales, be modest. It is best to trek with a local guide.

Other outdoor activities that you can do while on Indian vacation includes canyoning (in Meghalaya); caving (in Krem Um Im-Liat Prah/Krem Labbit system, India's longest cave); and, zorbing or rolling down mountain meadows in a giant plastic ball.

Must-See Architectural Structures in Delhi for Your Indian Vacation

Delhi encapsulates two very distinct worlds - the old and the new. The spacious New Delhi was built as the imperial capital of India by the British while the rambunctious Old Delhi served as the capital of Islamic India. There are 24 must-see architectural sites in Delhi that you can wander around while you are on your Indian vacation. Sunday is the best day to shuttle between attractions. Observe proper dress code when visiting places of worship. Hungry travelers can indulge from meaty curries, rice cakes, to crispy pizzas and sashimi.

1. Rashtrapati Bhawan is the official residence of the president of India. To its west side is the Mughal gardens which occupies an area of 130 hectares. The garden is open for public viewing on some days of February/March.

2. India Gate and Rajpath. The India Gate is a 42-m high stone memorial arch built in memory of about 90,000 Indian army soldiers who offered their lives during WWI, the Northwest Frontier operations and 1919 Afghan fiasco. Broad Rajpath hosts the spectacular Republic Day parade every 26 January and the Beating of the Retreat on 29 January.

3. Laxminarayan Temple. This temple is located west of Connaught Place. The main temple dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and her consort, Narayan the preserver is known for its soaring domes and Orissan style.

4. Akshardham Temple. Located on Delhi's outskirts, Akshardham temple is recently built structure made of pink sandstone and white marble. This extraordinary temple reflects traditional Orissan, Gujarati, Mughla, and Rajasthani architectural elements and has exquisite domes and pillars.

5. Gurdwara Bangla Sahib is known for its gold domes and healing powers.

6. Humayun's Tomb is must seel tomb for your Indian vacation located at the Mathura Road. This brilliant early Mughal architecture was built in the mid-16th century.

7. Qutub Minar is the most attractive monument in the Qutub Complex.

8. Red Fort is a massive fort comleted in 1648.

9. Salimgarh Fort

10. Chandni Chowk is Old Delhi's famous shopping street. Some shops open from around 10 am to 7 pm.

11. Jama Masjid is spectacular with its finely proportioned structure with graceful arches. This was constructed by Ali Adil Shah, the same person responsible for erecting the fortified city walls and the Gagan Mahal.

12. Raj Ghat. Another focus of the Raj-appointed English architect Edwin Lutyens, this structure hosts the spectacular Republic Day and Beating of rh Retreat.

13. Lotus Temple is an eye-catching temple, poetically shaped completed in 1986.

14. Purana Quila is the largest Muslim Camp in Delhi.

15. Tughlaqabad is a walled city and fort built by Ghiyas-ud-in and the saint Nizam-ud-din

16. Yantra Mandir

17. Safdarjung's Tomb

18. Lodhi Gardens is a well-tended garden popular for its crumbling tombs of the Sayyid and Lodi rulers including the 15th century Bara Gumbad.

19. Nizamuddin Dargah is the shrine of the Muslim Sufi saint, Nizam-uddin- Chishti who died in 1325.

20. Sansad Bhavan is a circular building with colonnaded structure of 171 m diameter.

21. National Museum, New Delhi showcases thousands of historic artefacts from the Harappan Civilization, Central Asian antiquities, Indian textiles, tribal masks, sculptures, musical instruments, old coins, miniature paintings and weapons.

22. St. James Church

23. Karim's Restaurant

24. Connaught Place. Your Indian vacation wouldn't be completed without seeing Connaught Place. The structure often creates confusion because of its' outer and inner circle.