Lakshadeep-“The land of white beaches”

Lakshadweep, the land of white beaches and coral atolls is one of the most exotic island in the world. Gradually, this tiniest Union territory of India is gaining popularity due to its whitest sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise lagoons, spectacular underwater gardens, hundreds of breathtaking dive sites, marine flora and fauna. The exquisite sea surrounding the island, makes it an excellent scope for scuba diving, adventure tourism, water sports, tours and cruises.

According to Charles Darwin, an English environmentalist the base of the Lakshadweep below the reef was formed due to the volcanic formation over which corals settled and formed into fringing reefs. These turned into barrier reefs and later to atolls due to the geological submergence of the volcanic base.

Lakshadweep is an archipelago consisting of 12 atolls, three reefs and five submerged banks. It houses ten inhabited islands, 17 uninhabited islands attached to islets, four newly formed island and 5 submerged reefs. Some of the densely inhabited islands are Kavaratti, Agatti, Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat, Bitra, Andrott, Kalpeni and Minicoy. Kavaratti is the capital of this Union territory, located amidst the azure water of Arabian sea at a distance of 220-240kms from the Malabar coast. Lakshadweep is easily accessible by flights and ships. Agatti and Bangaram islands has two airports. And other islands are linked by ships from Kochi.

Ethnically the people of Lakshadweep are similar to the inhabitants of Kerala, due to its proximity to Kerala. Even the language is similar except in Minicoy where the main language is Mahl. Majority of people in these islands are Muslims. People here are very liberal and friendly in nature but strictly follow conservative customs and traditions. One unique thing about Lakshadweep is that this serene place is free from crimes. Even there are no boundaries between the individual plots. The houses are spread out throughout the islands. Each islands here are densely covered with the coconut palms, which are the major contributer to the economy of Lakshadweep.

Due to remoteness from the outer world, till date these islands have very little influence of urbanization. They have still very well maintains their aesthetic beauty. Lakshadweep has warm and pleasant climate due to which it is an ideal destination to enjoy a quiet holiday without the chaos of merrymakers at its sea shores. It is a perfect location for thrilling adventurous sports like scuba diving, beach games, swimming, snorkeling and deep sea fishing. It has two scuba diving schools at Agatti island and Bangaram island, so that before indulging yourself in Scuba diving you can have a proper and basic training about Scuba diving. After exploring the underneath of the turquoise blue lagoons, you can even enjoy the spirited folk dances of men folk. During your sojourn at these emerald islands, don't miss out the myriad delicacies comprises mostly of sea foods.

So, get ready to explore the turquoise blue water of these tiny emerald looking islands rich in marine wealth.

Jolly

Gwalior 'the land of great Scindias"

Beyond the marvelous beauty of Khajuraho, Mandu, Bandhavgarh and Kanha, Madhya Pradesh the “Heart of Incredible India” has some more fascinating places which would enthralled your thoughts for ever. It is a land of temples and tigers, holy towns and jungles, forts and palaces, hill stations and pretty flatlands, royal heritage and village tradition.

Gwalior one of the beautiful tourist destination of Madhya Pradesh is famous but not so well-known. The land of the warriors kings, poets, musicians and saints, is situated strategically at the Agra -Deccan route. Till date many dynasties including both Mughals and Marathas has tried to rule this land. Madho Rao Scindia, the last ruler of the Maratha dynasty has very well restored the erstwhile glory of Gwalior- a land of chivalry and valor.

Every where in Gwalior, one can still very well feel the presence of royalty. Scindias, the prolific builders and the last ruler of Gwalior still rule the hearts of the people. Gwalior has some outstanding historical edifices which proves the sway of Scindias over the city such as the Gwalior fort, Jai Vilas palace and museum, Gujari Mahal Archaeological Museum, Man Mandir palace, Gurdwara data Bandhi Chhod, Teli ka mandir, Saas Bahu ka mandir, Gopachal parvat, Sun temple, Sarod Ghar, the Kala Vithika and last but not the least Suraj Kund where the Chieftain named Suraj Sen was treated by the hermit – saint. The tomb of Tansen who was considered as one of nine jewel of Akbar's court and mausoleum of the Afghan prince, Ghous Mohammed, is also present in Gwalior.

Gwalior's history is also attached with the Indian Independence struggle. The earliest freedom fighters of India namely Tatya tope and Jhansi ki Rani Laxmibai were commemorated in the memorials of Gwalior. The newly added attractions of Gwalior is the Din Dayal City Mall and the Sun city which represents the transition of Gwalior into a modern city.

The innumerable educational institutions which are present in Gwalior enhances its glory across the globe such as Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Indian Institute of Travel and Tourism Management, Jiwaji University, Scindia School and Laxmibai National Institute of Physical Education. Thousands of aspiring students comes here to fulfill their dreams.

Every year in the month of November and December, Madhya Pradesh government organizes the Tansen Music festival in memory of Tansen, the father of the Hindustani classical music. It is a major cultural event where prominent classical artists of India performs in front of thousands of music lovers throng here from various parts of the country.

In this rapidly changing world, Gwalior along with its rich culture and traditional values has successfully transformed itself into a modern day city. So, plan out your Gwalior trip as soon as possible and enjoy the visual and aesthetic beauty of this place where the princely past of yesteryears still lives in the magnificent palaces and the museum.

Jolly Mazumdar

MAJULI: THE UNSUNG ETERNITY

You will adore your eyes for giving you a glimpse of this scenic island, nestled in the laps of the supreme Brahmaputra river. Just 20 km from Jorhat in Assam, the island boasts of being the largest river island of the world and the most populated fresh water island in South Asia. But once you step on its lands , you can't resist to believe that it is worth more such titles, as it simply seems to be an abode of the Almighty on Earth.

The ferry rides that that help you traverse across the river to the Majuli island are a wonderful experience, with the prime views of the stunning natural habitat, the cool whether, the azure waters and the vivid avian fauna. The bike or bus rides help you explore the places around as the island welcomes you with its open arms of natural freshness and greenery.

Majuli can be called a land of diversity. Be it people, flora and fauna, monasteries, you will find a variety of them spread around the place. Around 1.5 lakh people live in the villages on the island, most of them belong to Mishing tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, Deori Tribe and Sonowal Kacharis Tribe.

You can find 22 beautiful monasteries that remain today, out of the 85 satras or monasteries which were built in Majuli by Assamese saint Sankaradeva. Some of them possess precious items such as utensils, weapons, jewelery etc., mirroring the culture and traditions of Assam. Some still serve as centres of learning about the literature, art and culture.

The rich art and culture of the island can be seen in these satras where one can find people involved in making colorful masks, molding out pottery, handloom-making and practicing various dance forms unique to the culture of the place.

Majuli is known as the perfect place to spot rare species of migratory birds including Adjutant Storks, Pelicans and Cranes. A lot of birds are also caught and eaten by the tribal people.

Festivals and celebrations are an integral part of Majuli and for a traveler the festive season brings a rare chance to explore the Assamese culture, tribal living and food habits, the perfect handicraft and pottery souvenirs and the most important activity which is to observe the tribal celebrations. The Ali-ai-ligang festival in Feb-March and the Majuli Festival in November are the main festivals celebrated here.

It is said that the island is sinking by the floods of the adjoining rivers, and in a matter of 20 to 30 years, the beautiful paradise will be lost to natural phenomenons. So, its important to try to save these natural wonders with conscious eco-travel and to know more about these unexplored domains before they vanish.

- Shikha Priyadarshini

Assam-the land of tea and one horn rhino

Every day we begin our day with a sizzling cup of tea but do we ever thought about the valley from where this “elixir of life” comes to our living room.

Assam, the second largest producer of tea in the world after China is famously known as the gateway to the North-East of India. Recently, I got an awesome opportunity to explore Assam . And I must confess, my trip to Assam will always be memorable in my heart. The very moment when I stepped into this rich, green land of rolling plains and dense forests,I was touched by the warm and friendly behavior of the natives of this land.

This mystical and picturesque land of blue hills, vast green tea gardens and bamboo forest has many celestial and amazing things and places to offer to its visitors. The mighty river Brahmaputra whose origin is in Tibet, flows through the heart of Assam. It is the main reason behind the joy, happiness and sorrow of the people of Assam. This fertile land is enriched with wide variety of flora which comprises of Bamboo, Sal, Agar, Teak and various kind of fauna which includes Great Indian One horned rhino, Pigmy Hog, Elephant, Gangatic Dolphin, Golden Langur and many more. Great Indian one horn rhino are the pride of Assam. These are different from their African counter parts. Indian rhino is 1.7m to 2m tall and can be up to 4m long.

Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park are the two oldest national parks of Assam. And popular as the ideal abode of these wild and untamed animals.

Assam has several celestial and interesting places which will at once behold your eyes. Earlier it was a princely state of Ahom rulers from where it derive its present day name “Assam”. In every nook and corner of Assam, you will get to see some ruins of the Ahom kingdom and British rulers, which might have hide several interesting stories in their heart. One of the famous tourist spot is Rang Mahal, an amphitheater related to the Ahom kingdom. Guwahati is the state capital of Assam and some tourists spots of Guwahati are Kamakya temple, Nilachal hill, Srimanta Sankardeva Kalashetra.

Some other fantastic tourist attractive places nearby to Guwahati are Sualkuchi(32 km from Guwahati), which is famous for three variety of muga silk such as golden muga, white pat and warm eri. From here I had purchased some fine variety of Assam silk saris. Hajo is another famous tourist place of Assam, located 32 km away from Guwahati on the north bank of Brahmaputra river. It is revered by people of three communities- Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist.

Another treasure of Assam is Majuli, the world's largest river island and the seat of 15 Vaishnavite monasteries. After traveling 369 km from Guwahati, i have reached Shivsagar which is famous world wide for the highest Shiva temple in the world. In he rugged terrains of Upper Assam, situated the sole hill station of Assam known as Halflong. This is an amazing place where one can see the rainbow down below. After hearing so many stories about Jatinga, i have decided to visit the place. This place is famous for the unexplained phenomenon of migratory birds “committing mass suicide”. And if you want to witness this unusual thing than plan your visit in the month of August to April.

So, get ready to explore the incredible Assam, the land of tea and Great one-horned rhino.

Jolly Mazumdar