Beauty of doing nothing!

Had read somewhere in the bestseller novel (also now being made into a movie starring Julia Roberts) ‘Eat Pray and Love’ by Elizabeth Gilbert that Italians very well understand and appreciate the beauty of doing nothing. Rather, they are adept in the art of doing nothing. Interestingly, I was off to Kerala while I came across this intriguing piece of information. The thought was appealing. And the realization was more so, in my case, in the wake of a schedule packed with sightseeing. Poor me couldn’t forsake sightseeing for I was on an official trip and it was my job to develop an itinerary for the world wanting to holiday in Kerala.

Was weighing the idea of designing a holiday that would ensure total relaxation(??) Providentially could easily spot the prospects for it in the God’s own country. However, to play safe and to counter the arguments of many who would better relax at home and conserve their currency, I chose a run-of-the-mill itinerary and added a dragée to this hot cake like tour program.

And christened the tour plan as ‘A Different Stay Everyday’

houseboat on backwaters

tree-house @ Wayanad

homestay @ Alappuzha

Ayurveda resort @ Kovalam

Following this route gets you a rare opportunity to tour around Kerala, the God’s own country, with a very interesting experience. The destinations remain the most popular ones only but, as the name suggests, the experience comes from the accommodations that would be offered to you at each of these destinations.

This would be an absolute leisure tour with minimum sightseeing so that you can enjoy your stay to the core, for where else would you find the luxury of staying in such an assortment of accommodation units.

The high point of the tour is that the destinations chosen have pretty much for sightseeing also. So, the program is suitable even for those traveling in groups comprising of people with varied interests. While those who wish to go for sightseeing can explore the place, the others can laze back pampering their body and soul.

If this tour plan is extended by a few days (3-4) only, it is possible to do complete sightseeing of these places that would include the wild life sanctuary of Wayanad, heritage monuments at Kochi, temples and palaces around Alappuzha and Kovalam.

Destinations covered

Wayanad (tree house) - Kochi (heritage hotel) - Alappuzha (homestay and houseboat) - Kovalam (ayurveda resort) - Neyyar Dam (ashram)

Best time to visit

October to March as it is comfortable weather-wise.
N.B As Ayurveda forms a part of this travel program, monsoon (June-September) is ideal for Ayurvedic treatment. However, rainfall may play a spoilsport for any of your sightseeing plan

So, try this itinerary, explore a place in different style, live the art of living and feel the beauty of doing nothing!

Ranthambore – An adventurous stay in a jungle

This year had been an exciting year, not only I got to see two National parks in distinct parts of India, (Read:Bandipur) but also in two discrete terrains with different adventure altogether. I was never a person who would enjoy watching these wild beasts in their natural habitat, but these two trips certainly changed my perspective. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that I was in a land where the rules were different, where a day was marked with sunrise and sunset. Perhaps it came from the knowledge that the survival is only of the fittest. Whatever the reason, the very sight of an animal in its own territory, on its own terms, makes for a breathtaking moment and can change your perspective forever.

There is something so mystical and exciting about being in a forest that for many of us, a visit to the wilderness ranks as one of our best holiday experiences. For the wildlife adventure enthusiasts, Ranthambore National Park in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan is a perfect destination. Known to be one of the best parks to spot the majestic Indian Tigers, the park is also the home to several other endangered species. (Read: Rajasthan Wildlife Tour Package)

Birds: Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Common Kingfisher, Cormorant, Indian Pitta, Painted Stork, Rufous Treepie, Stork-billed Kingfisher, White-breasted Water hen, Sandpiper, Jacana, vultures, fowls and many more.

Animals: Crocodiles, Jungle Hare, Sambar Deer, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, leopards, hyenas, blue bulls or neel gais, jackals, civet cats etc.

Offbeat Honeymoon destination in Rajasthan - Ranthambore

If you and your partner are inclined towards the nature or the fascinating wildlife, you must plan your honeymoon in Ranthambore National Park. The enthralling wildlife safaris, tracing the beasts and moments in the luxury camps will surely make it for an amazing honeymoon trip.

Just the bare necessities

Travelling in the wilderness requires a special sensitivity. The laws of the jungle are different but there are several ways to get the best out of your trip without disturbing the natural habitats that you visit. Some tips that you can use from those who’ve been there:

Dress in muted forest colours like greens, browns, beige and dull browns. Avoid orange, red, pink and bright prints.
Wear comfortable walking shoes and don’t forget hat and sunglasses. High boots with socks are a sensible option for jungle walks. Always check your shoes before you wear them for creepy crawlies like scorpions.
Try not to talk too much or make loud sounds while journeying into the jungle.
Do not get too close to the animals and do not ever attempt to feed them.
It is important to have your own survival kit, such as a torch with extra batteries, basic medicines, salt for leeches and other toiletries.
Dress according to the season. An outdoor jacket is necessary in winters. While it can be quite warm in the day, evenings can get cold.
Take some nuts/biscuits to nibble (especially for the early morning safari) and water.

How to book your Ranthambore Trip

You can either plan your own trip or leave it to wildlife experts. Booking through a travel agent or a wildlife expert may cost you more but then you have the comfort of being in the hands of professionals who personally travel to Ranthambore (and other such places) several times a year, can assign you guides knowledgeable about the region’s flora and fauna, and know the local and administrative people and processes very well. Click here to book this tour

Wildlife Safari in Ranthambore National Park

There are two types of vehicles permitted in Ranthambhore National Park, the Jeep and the Canter. The Jeep is a six seater open-top vehicle, and the first choice for many. Demand for Jeeps is very high, and so we recommend that you book at least 60 days in advance to guarantee a Jeep safari. The Canter is a 16 seat open-top bus - its elevated seats mean that you can see far into the jungle ahead, further than a Jeep would allow. While the canter is a lot cheaper, I recommend a jeep as it gives more flexibility to pause-stop-go.

Luxury Stay : Oberoi Vanya Vilas

Stork

One glimpse of the big cat gives an adrenal rush to its spectators

Canter Safari

Wood pecker

Tiger spotting in Ranthambore National Park

Tiger in its hunt

There are loads of things to do in Ranthambhore besides the safari park. In particular, I would highly recommend a guided tour of Ranthambhore Fort. The locals visit the fort to worship at the famous Ganesh Temple, which lies within. The fort will enhance and complete any visit to Ranthambhore National Park.

Note: The Ranthambore safari timings change depending on the season

S. No.	Month	Morning Trip	Evening Trip
1	1st October to 31st October	7.00 A.M. to 10.30 A.M.	2.30 P.M. to 6.00 P.M.
2	1st November to 31st January	7.00 A.M. to 10.30 A.M.	2.00 P.M. to 5.30 P.M.
3	1st February to 31st March	6.30 A.M. to 10.00 A.M.	2.30 P.M. to 6.00 P.M.
4	1st April to 15th May	6.00 A.M. to 9.30 A.M.	3.00 P.M. to 6.30 P.M.
5	15th May to 30th June	6.00 A.M. to 9.30 A.M.	3.30 P.M. to 7.00 P.M

Ranthambore Safari Park Booking Tips

Visitors would now have the option to take Safari for full day in the National Park. Maximum 5 jeeps are allowed to stay inside the park from sunrise to sunset and are provided zone free access across Entire Park. This safari will give you the best opportunity to see the variety of wildlife animals in the park.

*Breakfast and Lunch will be provided to Visitors who take Full day Safari.

Fact file :

State : Rajasthan

Location : Ranthambore lies at the junction of the Aravallis and the Vindhyas in the south eastern quarter of Rajasthan.

Distance by road: Delhi - 480 km (via Dausa), Jaipur - 180 km (via Tonk)

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