From the moment your airplane lands in India, you’ll find that there are so many things to do and see that you probably have not done before. There are too many experiences to be had- all playing to every single one of your different emotions.
Moreover, Camping near a remote lake, visiting and staying with a local tribe, drinking mango lassi or playing cricket in an old temple with the locals, experiences like such are many to found and had.
This happens naturally when you come to India; you become one with the people and culture. And while it can never describe it when you actually experience it in person, here are a few lesser known but unforgettable things you can do in India.
1) Track India’s ‘big five’.
Although India is known for its voluptuous variety of wildlife, a dangerously attractive feature that garners the most attention is that the country is home to five big cats- Bengal tigers, Asiatic lions, snow leopards, clouded leopards and Indian leopards.
The chances of spotting them are pretty high if you’re going to the right places.
The top national parks for sightseeing tigers are Bandhavgarh, Ranthambore, Kanha, Pench, Satpura and Corbett. Sundarbans have many tigers, but they’re hard to spot because of thick mangrove canopies.
The only surviving Asiatic lions in the world are found in Gujarat state in Sasan Gir National Park. They are smaller and less shaggy than the other lions, with their ears always visible.
Now, they are facing the risk of genetic inbreeding. Because of breeding being done from the single population in one place.
Snow leopards can be found in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern Himalayas.
Visiting in the winter would be better since they descend from the mountains in search of food- usually preferring the local bharal and blue sheep.
Leopards are widely spread across India, with the most being found in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
Clouded leopards are wild cats populating in the dense forests at the foothills of the Himalayas. The best place to see them would be Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim.
2) Explore the temples.
Being a multi- mix of traditions, cultures and religions, it is no surprise that India is also known as the country of temples.
Temples of India have always been the blank pages decorated with beliefs, carvings of statues, art and structural design.
However, Buzzing with the spiritual and tranquil energy, they come carved in mountains, caves or waterfalls, or have a dominating presence over a vast area of land and water.
Travel around the Golden Temple in Amritsar to experience spiritual freedom and religious tolerance. Look at the erotic carvings in Khajuraho Temple of Madhya Pradesh.
Taste the Prasad made in the vicinity of Goddess Mahalakshmi in Lord Jagannath Temple in Orissa.
Or look around through the colorful exotic gods, demons and animals adorning the Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple in Tamil Nadu.
Every temple, from the tiny lone shrine to encompassing complexes of temples, display something about the country.
Take your time to browse through them.
3) Seek out an earthly paradise.
The tropical coastline between Mumbai and Goa stretches out over 400 km and is one of the lesser known places in the country.
Few hotels line these palm-fringed shores, connecting a series of uninterrupted beaches, and a train, the Konkan Railway, can take you to quieter spots.
Most of the beaches are completely isolated, only being overlooked by 17th and 18th century citadels. In addition, You can visit the Andaman Islands while you’re there.
The Nicobar Islands are off limits and only a handful of Andaman Islands are open to visiting tourists.
Since the 2004 tsunami, Andaman has built itself back up and become available to the few tourists that go there.
You can sail or fly into Port Blair. Next, visit Havelock Islands for beach relaxation and bird watching. Further, check out Neil Islands for activities like cycling through paddy fields and snorkeling above the reefs.
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