1. Jaisalmer
This far-flung town in western Rajasthan sees a dramatic spike in tourism during the much-awaited Desert Festival in February. Named for Maharawal Jaisal Singh, who founded the princely state, Jaisalmer is known for its stunning fort, Trikoot Garh. Better known as Sonar Kella (Golden Fort) after a Satyajit Ray film of that name, it is a living structure and shelters a quarter of the town’s population. The Thar begins a short distance from the city. Enjoy a desert night safari, hiking across the dunes on camels. If your wallet allows, view the desert from a hot air balloon.
Though winter is the preferred season to visit Rajasthan, a monsoon trip unveils the desert in a different character. As pregnant monsoon clouds descend over the dun landscape, seasonal rivers swell and flash floods transform roads into runnels. The Gadisar Lake fills to capacity and brims with catfish.
Getting there: Jodhpur (300 km) is the nearest airport. There are trains from Delhi (800 km) or Jaipur (570 km). The Palace on Wheels arrives in Jaisalmer on Sundays.
When to go: October to March
Also read:
10 things to do in Jaisalmer
Jewel of the Thar
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2. Bekal
Filmmakers discovered Bekal before tourists did. Who can forget the song-sequence Uyire from Mani Ratnam’s Bombay, set against its picturesque ramparts? Located between the northern towns of Kanhangad and Kasaragod, Bekal is Kerala’s largest fort. Shivappa Nayaka of Bednore is believed to have built the 40-acre fort in the 17th century for strategic defense rather than administrative reasons. Tipu Sultan used the fort as a military station during his 1789 advance on Malabar. Bekal Fort appears to rise from dark, moss-encrusted rocks fringing the Arabian Sea. During the monsoon, licked by salt spray and backlit by rolling sea clouds, it is a surreal presence. Tourism facilities were either absent or apologetic until recently, but that has changed with the opening of The Lalit Resort and Spa and the Vivanta by Taj at Bekal. An estuary and a beach nearby are added attractions.
Getting there: The nearest airport is Mangalore (60 km). Bekal Fort is on the Mangalore-Kozhikode railway line, midway between Kasaragod (18 km) and Kanhangad (8 km).
Best time to go: October-January
Also read: Bekal – Kerala’s new tourism treasure house
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3. Wayanad
Wayanad, a spice hub well known for coffee and tea plantations, exudes a bucolic charm with verdant countryside, mist-ringed peaks, paddy fields and forest. Tourism here is hospitable but still on the rustic side. Besides tree houses and Ayurvedic spas, Wayanad draws trekkers to Chembra, wildlife buffs to Tholpetty and Muthanga, and birdwatchers to Pakshipathalam in the Brahmagiri-Tirunelly elephant corridor. Soochipara waterfalls and Edakkal Caves are on every tourist’s radar. Even if you’re not adventurous, Wayanad has enough to pamper you with – a leisurely boat-ride in Pookkot Lake or a lazy walk beside Banasura Sagar. Even better, put your feet up and chill on Kuruva Island in the swirling waters of the Kabini. Getting there: The nearest airport is Kozhikode (72 km) but better connections are available from Bangalore (250 km). Wayanad is well connected by roads from Mysore, Kozhikode, Kannur, Coorg and Ooty.
Best time to go: September to March
Best time to go: September to March
Also read:
Rain tourism takes off in Wayanad
A misty morning in Tholpetty
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4. Coonoor
An hour’s drive from Ooty, Coonoor is buffered by the military base at Wellington and the cordite factory at Aruvankadu, which have ensured that prime real estate has not fallen in the hands of indiscriminate builders. Coonoor remains the haunt of pensioners, expatriates or those fortunate enough to be early retirees. Some estates have quaint homestays and boutique resorts while others offer a taste of fine local teas, gourmet cheeses and homemade chocolate. The viewpoints, which have names like Lamb’s Rock and Dolphin Nose, overlook misty valleys and tea plantations.
Sims Park offers escape if you want to spend the day with a book, a thermos of tea, or a special someone. Kotagiri, another sylvan borough of the Nilgiris, is only an hour’s drive.
Downhill, the scenery gives way to fragrant spice plantations bisected by streams and waterfalls. You can also enjoy Coonoor is by train. Drive down to Mettupalayam and hop on the historic Nilgiri Mountain Railway to chug up the slopes in style.
Best time to go: October to June
Also read:
Riding the historic Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Kotagiri – where blue mountains turn green
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5. Tranquebar
At Tharangambadi, Tamil for ‘where the waves sing’, a Danish contingent led by Admiral Ove Gjedde established a trading outpost and built an imposing and stately fort, the Dansborg, in the 17th century. While the British, Dutch and French grew in military and naval strength, the Danish mostly remained traders in cotton and pepper. Their small settlement of orderly streets and colonnaded buildings, Tranquebar, inked the pages of history. Lutheran missionaries established a printing press to spread the faith. Yet, the Danes could not sustain their trade and eventually yielded their province to the British in 1845. Today’s Tranquebar is of restored buildings and heritage hotels operated by Neemrana Hotels, including the charming Bungalow on the Beach and the Gate House. Besides the Danish Zion Church and the New Jerusalem Church established by Lutheran missionary Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg, there are the 500-year-old mosque and the 700-year-old Masilamani Nathar Temple. History buffs will enjoy the walking tours of Goldsmith Street and the makeshift Maritime Museum. Else, just tuck into seafood, sun and sand.
Getting there: Chennai (290 km) and Trichy (128 km) are the nearest airports. Railheads are at Nagapattinam (35 km) and Chidambaram (50 km). A bus service from Chennai touches Tharangambadi en route to Nagapattinam.
Best time to go: November to February
Also read: Tranquebar: A slice of Denmark in India | Coromandel Trail: Following the Danish
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6. Tawang
Tawang, at 3,048 m (10,000 feet) in northwestern Arunachal Pradesh, is known for the 400-year-old monastery of the Gelugpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhists. The largest Buddhist monastery outside of Lhasa, it is the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama. Visit Sela Pass at 13,700 feet and the beautiful Nuranang Falls. Sangetsar Lake offered a backdrop to some of Bollywood’s most glamorous. Tawang abounds in trekking trails of various levels of difficulty. Foodies will enjoy the Tibetan delicacies on offer. Accommodation is very basic at most hotels. Indians require a special Inner Line permit available at Kolkata, Guwahati, Tezpur and New Delhi. Foreign tourists must get a Restricted Area Permit, which takes about three weeks to process.
Getting there: The nearest airport and railway station are at Guwahati (553 km). Buses ply on a long, tiring journey of 11 hours via Bomdila (236 km).
Best time to go: June to October
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