Muse the Place Drass Valley

Drass Velly

Ladakh, the far flung Eastern corner of Jammu and Kashmir is India’s most remote place, a high altitude snow desert cradled by the Karakoram and Great Himalaya ranges. There is no other land like Ladakh. It is rich in natural beauty, sightseeing destinations and calm weather.   The valleys of Ladakh are the perfect destinations for the adventure activities and the best way to explore the beauty of the ranges. Most of the valleys give you a break to explore monasteries and Gompas. To enjoy the pristine and calmness of the valley, I decided to explore the valleys personally. My journey included the beautiful Drass valley.

Nurtured by the Drass River which rises in the Machoi glacier near the Zojila Pass, the enchanting Drass valley is situated at an altitude of 3230 m. this cold valley starts from the Zojila Pass, the Himalayan gateway to Ladakh. As I stepped into the valley, I noticed the carvings of a king and 2 women on the pillar. The pillars bore some inscriptions in the old Brahmi script. The valley is inhabited by Dard Stock which is an Aryan race. Drass experiences the lowest temperatures in the valley, it is said to be the 2^nd coldest inhabited place in Asia. Drass is famous for the Kargil war which was fought in 1999. Rugged landscapes, adventure buffs and trekking cliffs are some of the main attractions in Drass valley tour.

Drass Valley Trek

This valley is the world famous trekking site; it offers a number of small and long trek routes to the tourists. The 3 day long trek to Suru valley across the sub range separating the two valleys is the popular Drass valley trek. The trekking tour passes through some of the most splendid upland villages and crosses Umbala pass offering a scenic view of meadows and flower valleys. Some of the must visit attractions in Drass valley travel are Tiger Hill- The highest peak in this area known as Point 5353.  

It was subject to the 1999 Kargil war; it is a strategic route way and connects Srinagar to Leh in Ladakh. I also visited the Kargil war memorial- a memorial built in pink sandstone and has an epitaph commemorating the sacrifice of the soldiers. A war gallery known as the Manoj Pandey art gallery showcases weapons and artillery recovered from Pakistani forces. With not much to explore further, my tour had ended. Overall my trip to Drass valley was snow bound and quite chilly but has left a scintillating experience with its grace.

Crystallizing chaos Khajuraho Temples

Adinath Temple Khajuraho

A historic city widely acclaimed for its lovely temples, Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh is located in the woody plains of Bundelkhand region. The city has been rightly called as the symbol of medieval heritage. The appealing temples of Khajuraho present a wonderful blend of architectural and sculptural sheerness, representing one of the preeminent examples of Indian Art.  I also had always wanted to witness the grandeur and delicacy of the temples and planned for a Khajuraho tourism.

The temples at Khajuraho are a brilliant example of medieval architecture built under the later Chandela Kings between AD 950 and AD 1050.  The temples are divided into various categories namely Western group of temples, Eastern group and Southern group of temples. My temple tour started with visit to Adinath temple; richly ornamented with frail and pretty sculptures, this temple is dedicated to the 1^st Jain tirthankars, Adinath. The temple is constructed in the form of lime plastered masonry, showing arched doorways. Constructed in the form of ‘sapta rath’ with the passage of time only the sanctum and the corridor roofs of the temple have survived. The walls are decorated with beautifully carved images and postures of court musicians.

The next temple was Parsvanath temple. It is the largest Jain temple in the Eastern group; the temple features intricate stone carvings and sculptures enshrining a throne facing a bull emblem that represents the 1^st tirthankar. Next on the itinerary was Chitragupta temple; dedicated to the Sun god, it is one of the venues for the Khajuraho dance festival. The temple features a massive 5 feet tall deity in the inner sanctum driving a horse drawn chariot. The Chaturbhuj temple located in the southern side of the complex is the only important temple that faces west.

Parsvanath Temple Khajuraho

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the temple is so named because of idol of the presiding deity Vishnu has 4 arms. The temple has a huge cross shaped congregation hall that caters to devotees of Krishna Bhakti cult. Lotus emblem and other symbols provide the delicate exterior ornamentation. Indeed the Khajuraho tour of sacred temples is one of the most illustrious symbols of native Indian structure signifying religiosity, patronage and creative professional and visual feelings.

Sikkim the Land of Mystic Splendor

Himalayan environment, gurgling streams, Snowcapped Mountains, Richness of culture and Monasteries; the most alluring features of Sikkim makes you want to visit this energetic and refreshing place. I also made up my mind to enjoy the untouched natural beauty and freshness and headed for Sikkim holidays. On arrival at the Bagdogra airport, I was driven to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim state. The first place was the beautiful Tsomgo Lake, which is literally known as source of the lake.

Rumtek Monastery Sikkim

It is situated at a height of 12000 ft on Gangtok Nathu La highway and falls in the restricted area for which a permit is required. A small temple of Lord Shiva is forged on the lakeside. Going upwards the hills, the next destination is Nathu La Pass. Also known as the Silk Route, Nathu La is situated on the borders of India and China. It is at an elevation of 14450 ft and one of the highest motor able routes. One needs special permit to visit this Pass. The place is extremely cold and temperature drops below freezing point.

After this Sikkim attraction, coming down the Pass way lays the legendary Baba Mandir. It was built in memory of a soldier in the 23rd Punjab regiment. The temple is believed to have wish- fulfilling powers and the water kept in the shrine gains healing property. It is believed that he is still doing his duty on borders even after his death some 3 decades back!! The whole roadway has a picturesque backdrop of Kanchenjunga range. After this tour, my next on itinerary was Sikkim monasteries; the 1st being Rumtek monastery.

It is one of the largest monasteries in Sikkim built in the 16th century. The main temple is 4 storied with a golden sculpture and is decorated with traditional colorful murals. The shrine hall stands on strong red pillars with silk banners and ancient thankas suspended from them. Next in Sikkim tour was Bakthang Waterfalls- the most beautiful falls in Sikkim. It is along the national highway 31A. It is a completely crowd free place to enjoy the scenic views; ideal for picnicking and photography.

Ganesh Tok Gangtok

Then next place to visit was Ganesh Tok. It is a very small temple located on the Gangtok- Nathu La road. The temple is devoted to Lord Ganesha. It is so small that it can just accommodate only one person at a time; one must crawl to get into the temple. Being situated at a height, one can get a clear view of the whole town.

My trip concluded with a shopping spree in M G road, which is the most famous in Sikkim. Lined with bustling shops and colorful activities, one can find a wide range of items here to choose from. With this my Sikkim tour came to an end. Though small but beautiful, Sikkim is a prominent destination for every travel enthusiast. Steep heights and plunging gorges, stretches covered in snow- this is what sums up Sikkim.

Dare to take an arduous Zanskar Trekking Tour

Trekking high mountains have been occupying a place in my mind when I was a teenager. I, Richard got so excited to read about trekking in Ladakh that I planned an India adventure tour last vacation. The motto was to experience the Frozen Zanskar trek in the rugged terrain of Ladakh.

Zanskar Trekking Tour

While deciding for that expedition, I was overjoyed to try such exciting opportunities. Losing in the thoughts of the adventure, I along with Neil and John, my two adventure mates reached Leh airport that lies about 230 km away. We took rest for rest of the day. After discussing for a couple of hours, we were ready to embark on the challenging trek and I became overjoyed.

Soon, my joy was replaced by a mix feeling of thrill, nervousness and anxiety. The Zanskar region was located at a jaw-dropping elevation of 3850 m.

The temperature around the trekking area further added to my perplexity. It was at 15 degree Celsius. But my two pals, Neil and John boosted me by denoting at our backpackers, which was no where lacking of heavy winter clothes.

Heaving a sigh of relief, I was back to take this opportunity of lifetime. The Frozen Zanskar River trek stands apart for being one of the most arduous trails. In the beginning, it was more of simple trek but as we moved on to escalate a frozen camp at Tipkyeak Bawo, it became strenuous. We had to traverse the lofty rocks because of the melting ice. Then we rested ourselves a camp, which was set up to rest for the night.

Next day morning, we started our day with a brave smile and the next part of our Zanskar trekking adventure began. It took us through the ice-laden landscapes marked with frozen waterfalls that appeared like ice cliffs.

Our Zanskar trekking continued on the third day as well and we aimed to reach Markala. After facing a bit difficulty, we were able to complete that arduous expedition.

Next day, we waited with baited breath to explore the entire frozen Chadar River. At last, we felt delighted while witnessing the most fragile land. Though we had to push ourselves to reach the end point yet we did it.

Our joy knew no bounds on the successful completion of our Zanskar trek tour. Engrossed in nostalgic feeling of being the victorious trekkers, we bid adieu to Ladakh. 

Drift away in the Romance and History with Agra Tourism

"Did you ever build a castle in the Air? Here is one, brought down to earth and fixed for the wonder of ages".

The words said by a famous American novelist, Bayard Taylor aroused my curiosity to see the Taj Mahal.

Itmad ud daula Tomb

While traveling to the world of wonders, I was not aware that the experience would surpass my expectations. Recalling my Agra trip brings me back to my journey to the fabulous city. I along with my three friends, Jessica, Terence and Levy, started off from Delhi by car. Though my friends wanted to book an Agra tour package, yet I insisted to go by car as I had already been to Agra. It took us more than four hours to reach the city. As Agra tourism boasts of its numerous architectural marvels so one after another, there were various historic monuments to see on our list.  

But rest of the attractions took a backseat when it came to visit Taj Mahal in Agra. Built by Shah Jahan in the memory of his adorable wife Mumtaz, the mausoleum is among the few important sites around the world that meets with the hype it has been given.

That stunning marble architecture at once holds your attention with its breathtaking appeal that captured our eyes for few good seconds. The intricate design, the marvelous architecture and the fascinating appeal did not allow us to leave the place too soon. We stayed back there until evening and then headed on to see other monuments of the city. The splendor and the charm of the monument were just beyond description. Visiting one of the Seven Wonders of the World brings you a proud feeling.

Jama Masjid Agra

Enchanted by the forbidding exteriors of the Agra Fort, we moved on to the fort on our travel to Agra. With its imposing white marble mosque, it encompasses a little world of marvels. These included Moti Masjid, Diwan-i-Khaas, Diwan-i-Aam, Sheesh Mahal, Jahangir’s Palace and lots more. A series of other buildings we visited in Agra were Chini ka Rauza and Itmad-ud-daula’s Tomb exemplifying the Mughal architecture. Jama Masjid in Agra was another enjoyable experience on our trip to Agra.

Our Agra sightseeing was rewarding with the amazing gardens like Ram Bagh, Soami Bagh and Mehtab Bagh. Those popular gardens in Agra have enchanting history to captivate you. We approached Fatehpur Sikri at the end of our Agra travel, lying around 40 kms from the city. Established by Emperor Akbar, the site was a tribute to famous Sufi Saint, Sheikh Salim Chisti.

The trip to Agra was exciting as it gave us a wonderful opportunity to peep into Mughal history.

Hunt another Wildlife Wonder at Periyar National Park

We were in the search of a distant place, away from the humdrum of city life. I along with my wife and children decided to head on to Periyar National Park that has been long pending in our list of must visit destinations in India. We had to fly Kerala to visit this spectacular wildlife destination. Soon we were at our destination and settled for a hotel to shed off the fatigue. 

Periyar National Park

Lying in the Idukki district of Kerala, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is a zestfully protected wildlife destination in India. It houses 40 good numbers of tigers. Snuggled between the Cardamom hills and the Pandalam hills in the Southern Western Ghats, the park enticed us at very first sight. We felt like being in a destination where all you could see was the panorama of nature in its full bloom.

Kumily is the nearest town centre that lies at a distance of 4 km away. The hills were enveloped by dense evergreen and moist deciduous forests that provide a thick cover. Though we could not sight the tigers yet we came across various animals. The animals we saw there were leopards, elephants, deer, bison and numerous birds. My children enjoyed the sights of playful Nilgiri Langur, hanging around that kept them entertained for few minutes.

The time was to return and our stomachs were pleading for dinner. We went to restaurant and ordered fish curry and local cuisine with the well-known flavour of Kerala.

Leopards in Periyar

Next day we delighted ourselves with a full day trek through terrain that encompasses dense valleys, swamps, open grasslands and woodlands. My wife Ketthy could not stop herself taking a boat ride across the lake and I had to accompany her. Unlike others we could not see many wildlife species but we enjoyed spotting few of them.

Ketthy loved nature walk which she enjoyed while I was taking pictures of rare animals. Moreover, we also visited the nearby tribal village to learn about their culture. As it was our Kerala tour so how could we miss out the much talked about Ayurveda massage. Various therapies and treatments offered at the finest Ayurveda resorts in Kerala are worth to experience. We selected a rejuvenation package of Ayurveda and that was the best part of our wildlife tour to Kerala.