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| Travel with a difference |
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Here come the Durga Pujas and with it the holiday season.This is a jolly time to meet friends, chill out and generally have a wonderful time. Some of us wouldn't dream of leaving the city now. Others will grab the chance to get away from it all. Where should they go? Why, there are no lack of places to run away to! and it need not be a foreign tour. There are places right here in India that can compete with any vacation abroad, not of course, in the glitter, but in their historic and romantic charm, in the bounties of nature. We take you to some of these places during Pujas. These are not just touristy places, but places where eco-tourism flourishes. |
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| Travelling is almost a compulsive habit with people the world over. People travel for all kinds of reasons: to enjoy nature, to take a look at artistic and historical sites or merely to find peace. People in large numbers flock to tourist spots with different motives. But what becomes of the spots themselves? The growing pressure of crowds slowly but surely spoils them. They are crushed under the weight of the crowd. This is where eco-tourism steps in. The idea is to run your travel/ tourist business and at the same time keep the social, economic and natural identity of the area unchanged. |
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| Some points to keep in mind when you undertake eco-tourism: |
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Never use plastic or polythene |
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Dont throw waste material all around. Put them in a bin. Where there are no bins, pack them up and dispose of them properly |
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It is always better to carry water purifier as opposed to bottled water |
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Deserts and jungles have there own set of rules. Make sure you are familiar with them and follow them in toto |
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If you have to go, any place at least 200 feet away from a waterbody may be used as a toilet |
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Try gathering information about your destination. A map would be ideal. Knowledge of local customs and norms will come in handy |
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A smattering of the local language will get you a long way |
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| Arunachal Pradesh |
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Tucked in the Northeast of India, Arunachal Pradesh reigns supreme in natural diversity and beauty. The snow capped mountains vie with the deep primeval forests; the rugged mountains stand aloof over deep jungles, home to perhaps the largest number of tribes in the whole country. Tribal culture flourishes along with Buddhism finding expression on one hand in the number of festivals and fair, on the other, in the large number of Buddhist monasteries that dot the state. As for wildlife, Arunachal Pradesh is special.
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| This is perhaps the only state where one can see the clouded leopard. The eco diversity of the state is impressive making it the inevitable destination of all eco tourists. |
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| Konark |
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Orissa is a second home to most Bengalis. At the slightest pretext they rush off to Orissa, be it Puri, Gopalpur or Chilka. But, no matter where they go, Konark is a must see. Built by King Narasinghdev, this 13th century templet was designed in the shape of a colossal chariot with seven horses and twelve wheels, carrying the sun god, Surya, across the heavens. Surya has been a popular deity in India since the Vedic period. Today, the temple is in a state of disrepair, although the ASI is carrying out massive reconstruction on sight.
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| The mystery of the temple lies elsewhere. Although it was built only in the 13th century, it is said to have fallen into disrepair, sometime between then and now. No one is sure of that. Nor is it clear, why the temple fell in the first place. This has led to a stream of speculations, most of which are shrouded in romance and superstition. This gives Konark a flavour quite different from contemporary temples in other parts of the country. Like Khajuraho, the Sun Temple of Konark, too, has erotic carvings well worth looking at. |
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| We will be visiting different spots during the 5 days of Pujas. The videos will be available each day from Shashti onwards. |
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