As the plains give way to mountain ranges of Coorg and the road begins to curve upwards, the wide vistas of hills and mountains not only bring a breath of fresh air for the body but also for the mind. The thick forested hills and valleys are generously dotted with coffee plantations, dating back to the British and have sprouted exquisite bolt holes that pamper and cocoon. Blending in with its surroundings, The Tamara effortlessly combines charm and warm hospitality set against luxury and comfort. Be sure to taste local fare such as pandi curry with akki rotti, kadambattu, chicken curry, bamboo shoot curry, mushroom curry and mango curry. Relax, experience the place and soak up the atmosphere and ambience, or take a break and go for long walks amidst the rows of coffee plantations and towering tall trees that protect the delicate plants, accompanied by the aroma of pepper and cardamom which usually grow amidst the coffee. If you wish for more vigorous activity, go on plantation walks, jungle treks and white water rafting.
At over 2 lakh sq km, the Thar desert is one of those natural phenomena that the mind struggles to grapple with. Golden yellow sands, sometimes flat, sometimes ranged in dunes, greet the eye and stretch to the horizon, but the best place to head to is near Jaisalmer. At once invoking fascination and a bit of fear, it does disorient the head at first but the sheer beauty overrides all. The best way to experience and enjoy this expanse of sand is through desert safaris on camels which are very popular. Lasting anywhere from a day to several days, it is possible to ride out on camels and camp in the desert under a star-studded sky and soak up the wild atmosphere. There are traditional Rajasthani village style huts as well as plush Arabian night style campsites replete with banquets and cultural performances. Go trekking or kick up the adrenaline a few notches by riding on quad bikes and dune bashing on desert vehicles.
Good to know: Jaisalmer is in west Rajasthan, about 570 km west of Jaipur. Jaisalmer has limited air connectivity, but it well connected by trains and buses from cities in the region as well as Delhi.
Nearly five centuries after the time of the legendary musician Tansen, much of Indian classical Hindustani music still revolves around him and musicians aspire for his brilliance. So it's not without reason that he was counted as one among Emperor's 'navaratnas' (nine gems) who graced his palace. Legend goes that he could bring down the rains and send up flames, caress wild animals and talk to them with his music. In fact, the story goes that he died in a raging fire caused by his singing the raga Deepak. In a befitting tribute, the Tansen Utsav in Gwalior (near his birthplace) is a 5-day classical music extravaganza drawing musicians from various gharanas who pay tribute to his musical genius as well as exhibit their own. The musical extravaganza is not only a cultural showcase but a spiritual one for musicians and music lovers. While here, don't miss the serene stone edifice of Tansen's tomb, an apt place to visit.
Good to know: Gwalior is in north Madhya Pradesh. It is well connected by flights, trains and buses. The festival is held for five days in December.
Life in Tanjore, also called Thanjavur, revolves around the spectacular and sprawling Brihadeeshwara temple, what can only be called an ancient sky scraper. Built by Rajaraja Chola I more than 1,000 years ago, it is evident that constructing the temple was a mammoth exercise, and is arguably the greatest temple complex with the most imposing gopuram in the South. The initial structure was built in the early 11th century, but many other features were added in stages. During the Rajarajeshwara period, the main enclosures were integrated with a moat, a typical defence feature. The temple is approached by a five story gopura, and the axis continues to a multi story structure which is a hollow pyramid of over 63m divided across sixteen storeys. The entire assembly is crowned by a monolithic circular cupola. Together it is a jaw-dropping sight.
Good to know: Tanjore is in south Tamil Nadu, about 350 km southwest of Chennai. The nearest airport is Trichy (50 km). Tanjore is well connected by train and bus services.
It's a strange sight that greets visitors as they enter The Biere Club. At the far end, behind the bar counter are massive gleaming tanks, quite unlike the usual bar. Then again, this is hardly like your average bar. It is a microbrewery and thinks nothing of flaunting its pedigree. Among the city's earliest microbreweries, it has elegant wooden furniture with an entire wall done as a mural and is eye catching in the warm lighting. On one wall is the blackboard menu listing the current brews on offer and they are usually at least half a dozen that you can choose from at any given time. If you are unable to make up your mind, get help from the staff with a set of samplers that should do the trick and help you decide.
Located about an hour's drive from the capital city of Agartala, Tepania Eco Park is a charming place set up by the Tepania Gram Panchayat. Spread over an area of 155 hectares inside the Radhakrishorepur reserve forest. The natural ambience and charm of the place, with lush and thick greenery, has been retained to a large extent, with manicured lawns and hedges demarcating the paths. Lovely suspended wooden bridges lead into the park which boasts of a rare orchid house with unusual coloured flowers, cactus house, unique tree houses, tented accommodation and watch towers. This park also has a super amazing range of bio-diversity.
Good to know: Tepania is about 45 km from Agartala, which is the nearest airport and railhead. There are buses from Agartala to Udaipur, which is about 5 km from Tepania. Local transport is available to reach the park.
This is no ordinary tram ride on any old tram. Trams are a part of Kolkata's rich heritage and date back 140 years, when they began as horse-drawn carriages. Even today, it is the only Indian city with a functioning tram system and wants to keep the tradition going. So, in order to give tourists a true tram experience, a few coaches have been designed elegantly and equipped with air conditioning. A carefully selected route has been evolved which passes through Kolkata's historic monuments and sections, giving tourists a ride through local history and heritage in the comfort of a lovely coach. Tourists are also provided snacks and beverages while the tram winds its way across Government House, St Andrews Church, Nakhoda Mosque, Marble Palace and Rabrindra Bharati, with commentators regaling passengers with history and interesting trivia.
The rhythmic dancing and beating of drums quickly pulsates through the body and the staccato sounds are hypnotic. Lasting several hours, sometimes through the night and into the next day, Theyyam is a mysterious, enigmatic and essentially a north Kerala tradition. It revolves around the myth, legend and often fanciful exaggeration of events related to the main deity. In many instances, the dancers are drawn from only one community, sometimes even just one sub-sect or family. The gear and make up are colourful and elaborate but with not as much finesse as Kathakali. But they have received much patronage over the centuries and continue to thrive.
Held in the beautiful town of Jorhat, with its expansive tea gardens, the annual Tea Festival is of course about tasting the many teas as well as getting the first taste of experimental teas developed by research centres.
Good to know: Jorhat is in east Assam, about 300 km to the East of Guwahati. It is connected by daily flights from Guwahati and a handful of flights from Kolkata.
Considered to be the most spectacular Buddhist monastery belonging to Mahayana Buddhism, Tawang monastery, takes its name after the town in Northwestern Arunachal Pradesh.
Good to know: Tawang is in northwestern Arunachal Pradesh, about 11 hours from Guwahati, which is also the nearest airport. All visitors including Indians require an Inner Line Permit, easily available in Delhi and Guwahati.