RED CARPET BY THE LORDS.

What a Day !!

In the beginning it was supposed to be a road trip between we friends. But then there was inclination to see the Lords for one glance before they go inside the temple.

Out of the 365 days, the lords are out of the temple for the chariot festival for only 12 days. Rest of the times who visit the lord Jaganath temple, he plays hide and seek. You have a glimpse only if you are lucky.

But sometimes you are just blessed. You bike to the chariots, there is only one spot for parking i.e just for you. You get to see the lords, make wishes, ask for blessings. Do the prayers. No one's sweets go up on the chariots to be touched by the idols but someone does it for you like a miracle. 

How happy you are in the end.

Today it really felt that the lords had put a red carpet for us to visit them.

Christmas = Church

It started in the year 2005 that I visited a small chapel on Christmas.

I was hanging out with my classmates at hostel is when my friend Rakesh said its Christmas lets go to Church. Although we could not find any church, we all went to a small Chapel in Mathikere, Bangalore and lit candles. We all wishpered a small prayer. 

Ever since then I always go to church on Christmas. It has because a tradition for me. 

No matter where I am I always find a church, chapel or like a little house in Goa with a cross to light a candle. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS HO HO HO !!

It seems that I am hooked on to the colour blue, where as its time for some of the colour Red.

It is Christmas. Lets jump, dance, dine and drink because its the favourite time of the year.
Wish you all a Merry Christmas!

HOLY COWS!!

This blog is my travel diary and I prefer to share my travel world here. However time to time I also share what happening in my personal life too. 

Currently am back in Bhubaneswar after my trip in Cambodia and Thailand. 

But thanks to the Holy cows I had two accidents in a week.

1st one :  Driving in narrow streets of Puri and helping my friend for his wedding. I took a turn and suddenly two girls had to cross the road. I tried to take right and escape but for cows. I applied sudden Breakkkkkk ... But however it was too late. I got wounded.

2nd one : Driving in Bhubaneswar at 10 kmph. I was really slow on a steepy path. A bull was interested in a cow. The cow was not interested in the bull. May be for the bad perfume. Then the cow comes straight to me .... BAMMM!!

I fell down and my bike on me. I opened my eyes and I see the cow still running and the bull was after her.

PS : In India cows must be allowed in streets only when they have Driving License. 

DONT GO CHASING THE WATERFALLS :)

I love to be on the move.

I sleep or not, it does not matter. 

I eat or not, it does not matter. 

I love to travel. 

I was in Calcutta and after two sleepless nights and party with friends, I took a train to Bhubaneswar. At 8 am my friends at Jajpur Town challenged me to get down at the Jajpur road station from where they can pick me to go see one waterfall. I was thrilled and yet very tired. 

So tired that I went to sleep after 5 mins of conversation with my friend. But 20 mins after I had a shock attack that I must go chase this waterfall. 

So I called my friends. Informed them that I will get down at Jajpur Road station at 11 am. We went to see the waterfalls and came back to Bhubaneswar by the evening train. 

HAPPY JOURNEY :)

HAPPY JOURNEY, I am off to my favourite city of Calcutta.

SUNSET TIME.

How cool is this sunset!!
Just driving by the road, the sun looses itself between the coconut trees.

HARVEST TIME :)

The beautiful countryside of Orissa :)

LIGHTHOUSE LOVE

My love for lighthouse is simply eternal.
I have no clue when, how and why I developed this affinity for a lighthouse.

I have travelled miles to see one, climbed one to see the entire city, seen one from the sea and from the land. I bought fridge magnets and souvenirs with Lighthouse. I take thousand pictures to them and with them.

I share my feeling of excitement with a sailor. Probably only a sailor would be as happy as me to see a lighthouse.

Here is the image of the first lighthouse I ever saw. The lighthouse in Puri, India.

HERE I GO AGAIN!! ANOTHER MARATHON!!

Every time I have fly out of my hometown to some international destination, its the same story.
Its always a combination of flights, trains and taxis.

This time it was to Cambodia. Forget my hometown, Cambodia does not have any direct flights to any of the metros in India.

So I took a train from my hometown Bhubaneswar to Howrah -> then a ferry to cross the river and reach Esplanade in Calcutta -> then took a taxi to Netaji Bose International airport -> then I took a flight to Bangkok -> a taxi to my hotel -> flight to Siem Reap international airport.

But its all worth it once I am in Siem Reap.

A SPECIAL FULL MOON DAY

Agijala Poornima is a full moon day as per lunar calender. The full moon decides the end of the month and on this auspicious day in Orissa the entire neighbourhood gathers to make a fire.

Every family heaps hay around an AGI( A tall bamboo) fixed in the soil. Everyone throws potatoes, sweet potatoes, eggplants, mustard seeds, coconuts, rice and all kinds of pulses into it as an offering. Then the priest would offer a prayer to set JALA(Fire) to the heap.

The importance of this festival are believed to be many : 

1. The direction of the fire decides how will be the crop in the next season e.g if the fire is in upward direction then the yield from the harvest will be in abundance.

2. The ashes from this fire is very auspicious and kept in the granary in between the storage of food grains. It is for a healthy year of the family.

3. A pinch of the ash is kept at the house to keep the evil spirits and bad energies away.

4. It's a blessing to spot a burnt vegetable and eat a piece of it.

But for me it was very simple :The last Bonfire with my cousins and friends in this winter.

MY FLYING MARATHON :)

It is my new flying Marathon and it is always like this that i have to travel many cities to reach my destination because my city is not linked to any international cities yet. 

This time the tiresome flights does not matter as I am traveling after 11 months. I just want to travel :)

So, here I go again :) 

Bhubaneswar ✈️Calcutta ✈️Dhaka✈️Kathmandu✈️Dhaka✈️Singapore✈️Bali✈️Bangkok✈️Calcutta✈️Bhubaneswar

So while I am taking my flights, I wish you all Merry Christmas 

MY BEAUTIFUL LAND!!

It is very surprising that just 20 Kms drive from the city and everything changes. From the landscape to the air, the roads, the people. Really everything.

I feel very proud of my country and its colours.

What a view! Really!

WHY I MISS ..... SO MUCH

 Where is this place, I miss so much?

This is where the sun is at its best. This is where the roads are narrow. This is where I drive around with no destination to go. It is here that the churches are whitewashed and are beautiful. This is where I stop by every chapel to take a picture of it.

Here I start my Lazy day with English breakfast. It is here I go crazy with friends.This is where I could drive around in search of a new place. The bikes could be rented very cheap. This is where we are invited by strangers to a private party. This is where there is no limit to gastronomical events. Where the party is on till you want. Where the shacks play Techno to House to Lounge.

Where the massage boards are in Russian. Where the sign boards are in Portuguese.

Where every sunset is better than the other. Where every beach is different than the other. Here you could stand next to no smoking zone and smell of marijuana in the air. This is where the beer is cheaper than water. This is where you go and every one ask you for a port wine.

Where if Baga is very crowded then Tirakol is very secluded. Where I go from North to South and from new to Old Goa in my bike. Where we make beautiful pictures by the Agoda fort. Where Calangute has the best markets to shop. This is where you still spot the hippies. This is where the night market is so much fun. This is where you eat Pork Vindaloo, Bebinca etc

Yes, it is Goa and I miss this place so much. It is different from the rest of the country and thats what makes it very special.

I wish I am in Goa now :)

MY TRAVEL MAP !!

Today my friend Laurent Floch shared his travel map in Facebook. I was very curious to see how my travel map looks like. So I immediately started ticking boxes against the countries to get my travel map.

Now I have a travel map and the count of countries I have been is 30.
Oh yes, it is beautiful.

SHARING IS CARING # 13

Last day of the Sharing is Caring week. It was good practice for I read a lot, wrote a lot, got to know about many destinations etc. I realised I have so much to travel. Its a cliche for my blog but it is true that one life is not enough to travel this world.

I have so much more to share here in my blog and of course I will time and again. Now, this Sharing is Caring is about some of the beautiful villages of India. Yes Villages are always beautiful than the cities. Cities are polluted and always dirty. Villages are small, organised and clean.

The list from www.holidayiq.com is about 8 such villages as follows :

1. Kasol, Himachal Pradesh

source:travel.india.com

This pristine village is an ideal place to just be and let go. Walk through and chill around with sceneries and landscapes borrowed from paradise and a distinct culture from its frequent Israeli visitors. Its glittering markets and breathtaking views will leave you asking for more.

2. Mokokchung, Nagaland

source:holidify.com

HolidayIQ Traveller Kalpesh Morekar says, “Visit Mokokchung and you can see the different cultures of India. The place is ideal for nature lovers. Avoid travelling in the rainy season. Start your travel from Dimapur (chopper facilities are available). You could also drive to Mokokchung.”

3. Malvan, Tarkali

source:wikimedia.org

HolidayIQ Traveller Mandar Joshi says, “Malvan has good offerings of typical Konkani food and cashewnuts. The village is beautiful with good people. The marine sanctuary with variety of corals and other sea life is a must-visit,” says HolidayIQ Traveller Faiz.

4. Kumaon, Uttarakhand

source:trekearth.com

HolidayIQ Traveller MD Faizi says, “Kumaon is a good place for a holiday with friends. You can trek in the jungles, feel nature in the most pure form and spot various wildlife. We took an elephant ride. Because there were not many options with food, we cooked our own meals, which was fun.”

5. Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh

source:holidify.com

A fish farm, hills with a view, pine trees and paddy fields all over. This place in Arunachal Pradesh comes with absolutely nothing on its list of ‘must -do’ things and makes up for an ideal place to chill.

6. Kandaghat, Shoghi

source:blogspot.com

A small little hill side town tucked away in the Himalayas, Kandaghat is cut away from the tourist circuit. It is located on the Chandigarh-Shimla Road and it nonchalantly springs up on you just before the capital town.

7. Chitkul, Sangla

source:bcmtouring.com

HolidayIQ Traveler Sudhir Kalra says, “Last village on Indian side of border, which is accessible by road. Nothing but pure nature in its glory! It is a very small village with hardly any people around, and their livelihood depends on tourism. There are also patches of lands for cultivation. There are good streams of water all around.”

8. Malana, Manali

source:nativeplanet.com

HolidayIQ Traveller A.S. says, “This is a lovely little village in middle of dense mountain forest. The approach is not scenic but after reaching it is worth every penny. The place is very refreshing with hospitable villagers. We played a cricket match with local boys and had a great time.”

SHARING IS CARING # 12

 It is always exciting to see little bit of India in another part of the world.
Why not, It is normal to see Indian restaurants, the incense sticks, the Indian cosmetics, or Indian motorbikes, the pashmina Shawls, the gems stones, the Indian jewellery etc. I saw myself around the world from flea market, to restaurants, to street shops, to supermarkets.

But sometimes the Indian thing is so much that there is no limit to the happiness. The heart beat raises, the ear releases hot air and the skin has goosebumps. It is the happiness to something of your country abroad. It is the little influence India has everywhere. A little bit of your country or a little bit of you.


This Sharing is Caring is probably very special as it is about India in Lisbon. It is about the changing Lisbon and the influence of Goa. This article is from www.cntraveller.in.

Finding Goa in Europe

Midsummer in Lisbon couldn’t be more picturesque: elegant locals and delighted tourists criss-crossing plazas and parks dappled with the city’s characteristic white light, young families sitting in the sun outside one of the innumerable Moorish-style kiosks that have gone from selling tobacco and newspapers to artisanal limonadas and homemade snacks. It seems like much of the best of what the world has to offer is available at a price that can’t be beaten anywhere else in Europe. The greenest big city on this continent is also statistically the safest, and is quietly transforming into one of its most liveable. Its diverse blend of people from all over the world are enjoying an impressive city-wide renaissance that spills right down to the formerly grimy Tagus riverfront. The latter is now a series of wonderfully conceived esplanades and cycle tracks, boatyards, museums, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. There are even brightly coloured tuk-tuks that do the rounds.

Just a couple of decades ago, Lisbon had felt uncomfortably stuffy and conservative to me. Even postcard-perfect Alfama (the labyrinthine oldest neighbourhood in the city) was unwelcoming and more than a little seedy. But this was a newly young, unmistakably hipster, entirely different city. So why did I feel so instantly at home, like I belonged here?

Back to Top

The thought nagged me until one particularly glorious afternoon spent adrift in the Brooklynesque neighbourhood of Príncipe Real. Here, I found boutiques selling bespoke shirts, custom-roasted coffee beans and exquisite porcelain all nestled together in a crumbling old theatre. A rooftop lounge, Park, was perched atop a parking lot. Everywhere, acute-angled city streets threw up panoramic views of the city. In another terrace café, called LOSTIn—Esplanada Bar, I found at least half the clientele sporting kurtas and desi cotton shawls, mostly bought from the in-house store that sources entirely from North India. A weathered Rajasthani door faced the back wall, which was painted with a huge mural of Bal Krishna. The menu welcomed me with “Namaste! Sit back, relax and enjoy! Shanti. Shanti.” And it came to me in a flash, that the pinching sense of recognition I had been feeling for days was because this gorgeous, charming city is undeniably the Goa of Europe.

Irony abounds here, because even Goans born long after Nehru’s conquest of the Portuguese Estado da India, in 1961, have often heard the saying “Quem viu Goa excusa de ver Lisboa” (He who has seen Goa need not see Lisbon). It is a boast borne out of the longest colonial episodes in history: Vasco da Gama arrived in India before the Mughals and soon, what is now India’s smallest state became the glittering centrepiece of a maritime empire stretching from Mozambique to Malacca to Manaus. From 1510 on, Portugal’s self-image was inextricably linked with Goa’s grand architecture (including the largest church and convent in Asia) and pioneering institutions (the first public library, medical college and printing press in Asia).

Panjim native chef Jesus of the Jesus é Goês restaurant. Photo: Michel Figuet

Fast-forward to 2014, and it seems the opposite scenario is unfolding. Long-standing ties between Lisbon and Goa have profoundly redoubled and unexpectedly deepened in the post-colonial era. A new, self-confident generation of Goans in Portugal is steadily blazing a historic, unique track record for Indians abroad. The three-term mayor of Lisbon (and quite likely Portugal’s next prime minister) is António Luís dos Santos da Costa, son of ferociously anti-colonial Goan writer Orlando da Costa. The popular secretary of state for culture is Margao-born Jorge Barreto Xavier.

The country’s universally acclaimed contemporary architectural masterpiece is the moody, spectacular part-medical research facility, part-clinic, part-auditorium Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, located on the Tagus waterfront. It was designed by ace Indian architect, Goa’s very own Charles Correa.

Reading the headlines from afar, the overwhelming impression you get of Portugal is of an economic collapse. But very little of that is visible in Lisbon, which has led Portugal out of a recession, and where the streets are buoyantly crowded with young people enjoying themselves. “A lot of the credit for this city’s success is due to António Costa”, I was told by Rosa Maria Perez, one of Portugal’s foremost scholars on India (and a visiting professor at IIT Gandhinagar). She is an old friend and strong supporter of the charismatic politician who was first elected mayor in 2007. “Nobody can deny that Costa has changed Lisbon in many good ways,” she said.

Sitting in his very grand office in the ornate, neo-classical Sitio de Camara (City Hall), with portraits of his predecessors dating back to the 17th century grandly looking down their noses at us, the mayor charmed me by first asking the appropriate Goan question about which village my family comes from. Then, gesturing emphatically with his hands, he explained his roadmap for Lisbon to weather the ongoing economic storm. “Precisely because we are in a severe crisis, we focused on increasing the visibility of the city,” said Costa, “so we invested in public spaces and culture.” Lisbon has become a major hub for travellers from Brazil and South America, and the regional base for budget airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair. Simultaneously, the city government dramatically expanded its higher-education programmes to draw thousands of new students from around the world, and is now working to improving the quality of life here to get graduates to stay.

Costa is particularly keen on fostering what he hails as “a new generation of entrepreneurs behind a new generation of tourist products”. So Lisbon actively supports low-risk business ventures, such as those kiosk-turned-cafés and zippy tuk-tuks, as well as flexible, innovative public-private partnerships that continue to renovate old buildings across the city into new cultural spaces. This is an unusually open-minded mayor who even encourages graffiti. I was impressed to see him tour an exhibition by New York-based ‘tagger’, André Saraiva, at the Museu do Design e da Moda (MUDE), without raising an eyebrow at an installation of Mickey Mouse showing off a huge erection.

Like almost everywhere in Lisbon, the new industrial-chic MUDE features a web of connections to Goa and India’s long-shared history with Portugal. Its light-filled galleries occupy the former headquarters of the Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU), once the sole official bank for all Portuguese overseas territories. Generations of my—and every other Goan—family deposited their savings and valuables with BNU. That original hoard is the source of one of Portugal’s most-visited museum’s highlights of 2014. ‘Esplendores do Oriente’ (‘Splendours of the Orient’) at the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga is a magnificent display of gold- and gem-encrusted precious jewellery, all shipped to Lisbon from the bank’s vaults in Goa, a few days before Indian troops stormed the Estado da India. While half a ton of these treasures were returned to its rightful owners as per a bilateral treaty signed in 1991, the items that remain unclaimed are showcased in Lisbon.

The intricately worked necklaces, anklets, combs, brooches and pendants displayed at Arte Antiga are three-dimensional examples of the creative dialogue between Eastern and Western tastes and traditions that centred in Goa over 450 years, and continues today. In the exhibition catalogue, Nuno Vassallo e Silva, chief executive of Patrimonio Cultural, the government agency with broad overreach over all cultural institutions, proudly notes these beautiful pieces of jewellery “display unique characteristics in the history of civilisation”, which had “important repercussions” not just for India and Europe, but all of global cultural history.

Vassallo e Silva himself has indelible ties to India. His grandfather, Manuel António Vassalo e Silva (the last Governor-General of Portuguese India) defied orders from dictator Salazar to destroy Goa’s infrastructure and fight to the last man, rather than surrender to Indian troops.

While his grandfather left India in disgrace—only to be rehabilitated after Salazar’s death, when he returned to be honoured in Panjim—Vassalo e Silva is one of the leading scholars of the Estado da India’s art history and retains considerable affection for Goa. “Of course, I am not surprised you feel so comfortable and at home in Lisbon,” he told me, giving me a warm welcome at his office in the former royal residence, the neo-classical Palácio Nacional da Ajuda. “This city was completely shaped by overseas adventures, especially those in India.” He pointed out that every family in Portugal cooks Lusitanian versions of classic Goan curries, and that textiles, furniture and decorative objects from India can be found in almost every household. He helped me understand that Goa and India are not just another example of European multiculturalism; instead, they still lie at the heart of Lisbon and Portugal’s contemporary identity.

Luís Vaz de Camões is Portugal’s most celebrated writer. His writing is often compared to the works of Shakespeare, Dante and Virgil, and he wrote most of his epic masterpiece, Os Lusíadas, in 1572, while in Goa. As I ambled down the gorgeous Gothic carved-stone corridors of Mosteiro dos Jerónimos with Landeg White, who is responsible for translating Camões’s iconic works, White tells me:  “If India can embrace Kipling, Camões should pose no problems.” He continues that “it was the experience of being in India that changed him into one of the most original poets of the period.”

Even Jerónimos, where the Portugese royal family lies buried, has indications of how integral India was to the kingdom—starting with the fact that the building was funded by taxes on the pepper trade along the Malabar and Konkan coasts. The entranceway is dominated by massive marble sarcophagi of the twin Portuguese icons—Vasco da Gama and Camões—both of whom made their names in India. And the caskets of the royal family, arrayed behind the altar, are ceremoniously borne by stone elephants with real ivory tusks.

On another evening of impossibly pleasant weather, I met my friend Constantino Xavier—a bright, young Goan-Portuguese academic—and headed into the streets of the trendy Chiado district to have dinner with Barreto Xavier. Here, Hermès and Hugo Boss, as well as some of Portugal’s most beloved traditional shops, were selling delicate porcelain, hand-made gloves and butter cookies. Tucked around the corner are both the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos and the Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea do Chiado. 

This district also boasts outstanding restaurants and cafés, marked by five separate concepts from Portugal’s most celebrated chef, José Avillez. He serves Michelin-starred haute cuisine at Belcanto and rather spiffed-up versions of Portuguese home-cooking at the intimate Cantinho do Avillez, which is where we joined the youthful (he showed up in a leather jacket) minister of culture for a superb Asian-inflected meal—tuna wraps with a kimchi emulsion and meatballs in green curry.

Barreto Xavier told me Portugal is now home to the fourth-largest Indian community in Europe, and catalogued the affordable luxury that makes the country a tremendous opportunity for businessmen and travellers from the subcontinent. He seemed perplexed that the vast majority of Indian tourists to Europe bypass Portugal, despite our long and complex shared history, and Lisbon’s world-class offerings. I confess I hadn’t an answer for him. Why would you skip the Goa of Europe?

On one of my last evenings in Lisbon, I ascended to the very highest point in the city, Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte, and spent half an hour contemplating its phenomenal vantage above the 11th-century fort, Castelo de São Jorge and the oldest parts of the city. Suddenly inspired, I did a very Goan thing and took a sunset cruise along the Tagus. On board the curvaceous skiff, Whatever, I headed upriver towards the city centre. High, cloudless skies tapered to amber, the city’s cascading tiled roofs glowed in the setting rays of the sun. The captain gestured towards new promenades built by António Costa, with fishermen lined up just like at the Mandovi riverfront near my home in Goa’s Miramar. He told me how (unlike in Goa) Lisbon’s clean-up has included the river, which has even caused dolphins to return.

Then we turned back towards the unworldly, ethereal Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown. Viewed from the Tagus, as a steely dusk fell over the city, the centre throbbed and shone from within, almost like an extra-terrestrial installation. I realised with a start that Charles Correa’s design incorporates elements of an ancient architectural vocabulary—cut-out windows, stand-alone pillars—directly quoting Indian traditions that have evolved over millennia. Then I looked over to the Torre de Belém, one of the most potent symbols of the Age of Discovery, the time when Europe first came into prolonged contact with India. From that exact spot, caravelas and crusaders had once set off downriver, to sail around Africa, brave the Capes and cross the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, only to cruise up the river that flows in sight of my balcony back home. The Tagus and the Mandovi, Lisbon and Goa, are twin points on the compass that remain inextricably, irresistibly linked. Perhaps it’s time to say, “Quem viu Lisboa, excusa de ver Goa!” (He who has seen Lisbon need not see Goa.)

GETTING THERE

Fly to Lisbon with Air France (stopover in Paris) or Lufthansa (stopover in Munich) from Mumbai or New Delhi. Indian passport-holders can apply for a Schengen visa through VFS Global. It takes up to 10 working days to process and costs €60 or Rs4,830.

WINTER IS COMING!!

So cold so cold!! 

Suddenly it is getting very cold in Bhubaneswar. I am driving back home from the gym and have layers of clothes on. Yes, it is so cold. 
   

I wish I am by a beach in Goa just like this picture which I took in March 2012. Now is the peak season and flooded with tourists. It has been more than 2 years and I wish to go back.

I miss Goa so much. 

SHARING IS CARING # 6

India is huge country. There is something for every traveller and sometimes there is nothing for some to escape to other asian destinations. But the later is very rare and it is mostly for the Kiosk which is another name of my country.

However, in most of times India is a dream country for every one. My friends abroad ask me where to start and what to do as a beginner. I always suggest them to start with a Big city like Delhi or Mumbai and then to go places which are less touristy.  Another thing a foreign traveller should take care is to go easy with Indian food ;)

But now in my this post of Sharing is Caring, I have  found an article which explains 20 stunning ways to experience India. Of course to do all of them is not possible as the India is not only a country but also a subcontinent. Making it one by one would be full of experiences.

Here is the list below from www.cntraveller.in

1. Bike the Manali-Leh highway

For bikers, this is a rite of passage. The 476-km Manali-Leh highway stays open for just about four and a half months each year. The tiny window pulls in riding enthusiasts from all over the world to make this daring, but stunning journey. The route takes you through five high-altitude passes, which guarantee some jaw-droppingly beautiful views. At its highest, the Manali-Leh highway reaches an altitude of 16,000ft. Disorientation, altitude sickness and mechanical failure is routine. Weather can be fickle and road conditions can change within hours.

2. Gape in awe at the Taj Mahal on a moonlit night

You may have made that mandatory school trip to the Taj many years ago. This time, pay a visit at night, when the crowds have left and this Wonder of the World takes on a surreal form. On full moon nights, bathed in moonlight, the marble mausoleum is a sight to behold. It sparkles, shimmers and glows unlike anything you have ever seen.

3. Spot the tiger (if you’re lucky) in one of the many national parks

India offers some stunning wildlife experiences, but the top draw remains the elusive (and endangered) Royal Bengal Tiger. Its muted ferocity coupled with a notorious reluctance to show up make it the most prized sighting. And when you do see one saunter across the road or hide in the under-bush, it’s a moment to cherish (and Instagram).

4. Take a ride on a luxury train

A bit pricey, perhaps, but this is undoubtedly a fantastic way of experiencing the romance of a train journey. At one point, these royal trains were used to ferry maharajas and their entourages across the length and breadth of India. Today, they let you explore the country in the same regal style.

5. Trek to the Valley of Flowers

Between June and October, go on a six-day trek to Uttarakhand’s famous Valley of Flowers, located in the Nanda Devi Biosphere. What you will be rewarded with is the most stunning carpet of wildflowers you have ever seen. Home to 300 species of wild flowers including 45 medicinal plants, the valley is becoming more and more popular with each passing year, so make this trip now. The journey is equally interesting—you’ll pass quiet villages, brooks, lakes, and forests. With luck, you may even spot some endemic wildlife like the tahr or even the much-less seen Himalayan black bear.

6. Walk over a frozen river

If the name of this trek gets you curious, you’re not alone. Chadar means blanket in Hindi, which is exactly what this trek is—a journey over the frozen Zanskar River. Though the ice is thick, you can see the river raging underfoot, and those who have trekked through this famous gorge with towering rock on all sides describe the experience as surreal, even life-changing. Keep in mind, though, that it’s not only difficult in terms of the trek itself, but it’s also the small things—like your boots freezing solid overnight and you having to thaw them by the campfire before you can put them on. If you enjoy trekking, this is the big daddy of them all. Suit up!

7. Float over a fort, a camel fair and a national park in a hot-air-balloon

Hot air-ballooning has finally taken off in India and is currently available in Jaipur, Ranthambore, Kamshet, Pushkar and NCR. Whether you want to soar over the ramparts of Jaipur’s sprawling Amer Fort, the colourful Pushkar camel fair, the wilderness of Ranthambore or the countryside of Kamshet, it’s a thrilling experience.

8. Dine in the middle of Lake Pichola, Udaipur

If you’re wondering why dining at the Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, has made it on to this list of 20 amazing Indian experiences, it’s because this luxury hotel—which sits in the middle of Udaipur’s serene Lake Pichola—has not one, but five dining experiences you won’t find anywhere else. Out of these, however, the Gangaur Cruise stands out. This former royal barge of the House of Mewar can now be chartered by guests of the hotel, upon prior booking, to ferry you out onto the lake for a dining experience like no other. With a live grill and live musicians on board, your oarsmen will take you however far out on to the lake you wish to go.

9. Visit the Kumbh Mela

Hindu mythology says there was once an epic battle between the gods and the demons. During this cosmic jostle, four precious drops of Amrit (the nectar of immortality) fell on Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. These places became the locations for the Kumbh Mela which is held every three years, alternating between these four cities. Those who have attended the Kumbh say its a life-altering experience. And if you wonder why 2013's Maha Kumbh was called the world's largest religious gathering, get this: last year, over eight million people took a dip in the Ganga on day one itself.

10. Fish for the prized golden mahseer in Arunachal Pradesh

The golden mahseer, one of the great game fishes of the world, can be found in the Upper Siang, between Yingkiong and Boleng in Arunachal Pradesh. The fastest way to get from one place to the other is by riding the white-water rapids. The best time to visit Arunachal Pradesh is between October and March, as the weather is less humid, the rivers are full and the fish are biting.

11. Pamper yourself at a Himalayan spa

This wellness resort is one of the most famous in the world and has played hosts to innumerable public figures. Ananda in the Himalayas frequently ranks amongst the top spas in the world, and its treatments cover everything from Ayurveda to stress management. People who have been, swear by it. And those who haven’t, swear to go. Each of their programs is customised, so whether you’re tackling weight management or you just want to let go and relax, their programs (ranging from five to 21 days) are ideal to leave behind the stress and worry of modern-day life.

12. Ride the World Heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Fondly known as the Toy Train, this narrow gauge railway runs from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. The most popular route, however, remains from Ghum to Darjeeling.

13. Soar over Bir-Billing, Himachal Pradesh

In May and October each year, Bir-Billing in Himachal Pradesh is abuzz with paragliding enthusiasts. Though still relatively unknown in India itself, Bir-Billing is a world-famous paragliding destination and paragliders flock here from all over the world.

14. Scuba-dive off the Andamans

The remote volcanic island of Narcondam is the easternmost point of the Andaman islands. The area—both, above and under water—is rich in life, and you can expect to spot the Narcondam hornbill and schools of parrotfish darting about.

15. Explore Kerala’s gold-filled temple vaults

While most people go on temple tours in south India, we bet you’ve never heard of anyone embarking on a gold trail through said temple vaults. It’s a little-known secret, but you absolutely can.

16. Stay at a farm

A relatively new concept (for urban India at least) is an organic farm stay. Many are eschewing the frills of five-star holidays and opting instead for simpler, more rustic holidays. Some do it to get back to their roots, while others simply want to try something new, something different.

17. Brave the rapids at Rishikesh

The Alaknanda River joins the Ganga near Rishikesh and offers grade III and IV rapids. The best time to go is between October and May. The river is also a hub for other acqua-adventures. Cliff-jumping, body-surfing and kayaking are just some of the many sports on offer.

18. Watch the airshow at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

Keoladeo National Park, also known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is home to over 230 species of birds. Each summer, thousands descend upon the marshes and grasslands of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Keep your eyes peeled and you could see herons, storks, oriental ibises and even sarus cranes.

19. Ski in Gulmarg

There’s no question about it. Gulmarg is India’s premier ski destination. And it’s seen a huge upswing in footfalls over the past few years. Everyone from amateurs and professionals to some of India’s big names like industrialist Adi Godrej hit the slopes each season. Its gondola is one of the highest in the world and the ski-town now offers world-class facilities.

20. Surf the waves off Puducherry

Serenity Beach, 10km north of Puducherry, draws surf addicts from across India. After the devastating 2004 tsunami, the Tamil Nadu government built two long piers to protect the beach, which created a surf break that provides great conditions for learners and professional alike.