Every year begins with a list – a wishlist. We asked our writers what is that one place in 2009 they would list down as a recommendation or a destination for our readers and they shared their wishlist with us. Here are some of the milestones you could aim for in 2009 .
Mridula, a travel blogger from Delhi says mountains are alluring.
Spiti in Himachal Pradesh is a high altitude region with breathtaking views of chocolate colored mountains, curling Spiti river, stunning lakes (Chandratal, Dhankar) and ancient monasteries( Ki, Tabo, Dhankar). We did a home stay trek in the region but the same places can be visited by motorcycles and jeeps too. The only caution is to be aware of the altitude and how it may affect you (more photos here).
Pic : Mridula
From Manali it takes 12 hours to reach Kaza (the headquarters) by bus. But one can hire a jeep, self-drive or go by the shared jeeps. The passes open sometime in June. But Kaza can be reached via Shimla and Sangla almost the year round.
Vijay, a blogger from Singapore prefers heritage and suggests an international destination.
My dream destination would be Angkor. While the famous temples of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Banteay Kdei, Banteay Srei, Kbal Spean inspire many visitors with their myriad sculptures and religious architecture,my fascination for Angkor stems from the interaction that this famous land had with South India – call it the lure of my home soil, but the ultimate proof of the influence is seen on the inscriptions along the Angkorian pillars.
We can see similar script in Rajasimha Pallava’s Atiranchanda Mandabam in Mahabalipuram . These stylistic Pallava Granta script bear witness to the spread of Indian influence inscriptions in Cambodia. Spread across such a great physical distance they have stood the test of time and bear tesimony to the greatness of the great land we hail from.
Pic : Vijay
Deepak, a blogger from Mumbai says beaches are beckoning him.
On the vast coastline of Maharashtra there lies this little gem – Dive Agar. It has become famous for its ‘Suvarna Ganesha’. On 17Nov97, Draupadi Dharma Patil, while digging in her betel nut farm, found a copper box which contained a Gold mask of Ganesha. As per law a ‘panchanama’ was carried out and the Gold Ganesha mask was taken over by the local governing council and placed in the existing Ganesha temple in the village for worship and display.For me it was the beach and the food that lured, to spend a delicious weekend unwinding the urban lifestyle stress.
Pic : Deepak
The beach is virginal, clean and beautiful and the sunset is awesome. Long walks on this lonely beach are the ultimate in nature bonding and solitude for me. And of course the gastronomic pleasures of seafood fuels it all! The proverbial cherry on the cake is the ‘Ukdiche Modak’ – the steamed dumpling stuffed with grated coconut and jaggery! A delicious slice of heaven – that’s what Dive Agar is for me.
Arun Bhat, photographer and blogger from Bangalore looks up to the Himalayas
Bulk of my travel wish list for 2009 falls within Uttarakhand. Valley of Flowers and Kuari Pass are places I have been intending to visit for long, and hope to be there in summer of 2009. While I am heading to these parts, it would be an ideal time to spend a few days meditating on the bank of the Ganga, in the quiet wooded environs of Rishikesh. Time permits, a short detour from Valley of Flowers would take me to Tunganath and Chopta, said to be most beautiful locations in the state, and a stop at Corbett National Park on my way back.
Pic : Arun Bhat
Gopal , another photographer and blogger from Bangalore loves his own city and says Bangalore for Bangaloreans.
The new age Bangalorean is a whining creature who, when he or she looks a little beyond the nose, can’t see beyond the bonnet of the car or the wheel of his or her bike. They crib about traffic and can take off to a hundred places around India and the Malay Peninsula every time there is a long weekend. What they don’t know that their city is a treasure trove of places to see. Cuisines to taste. Smells to discover. People to see. There’s a world in this well – Bangalore.
Pic : Gopal MS
Vamsee, a blogger from Mumbai loves a little fairy tale in Austria.
Of all the places we visited in 2008, if I had to pick one place that was the most beautiful of all, the one place that was so spectacular that it took my breath away at first sight, and the one place that makes me happy just by thinking about it, I have to pick Hallstatt. This tiny town in the lake district of Austria is a place you visit when you need a vacation from a vacation! At dawn, when the morning mist is just lifting from the snow peaked mountains and the golden rays of the sun hit the chalets in the village turning the still emerald green lake into a reflecting pool creating perfect mirror images of the beautiful scenery – you feel like you are in the most beautiful village in the whole world.
Pic : Vamsee
Hallstatt, is two hours by train from Salzburg and Linz. It was a rich and famous salt mining town in its hay days. If walking on the cobblestone streets admiring the lake and mountains and the ivy lined rustic cottages is not an attraction enough, then there are a number of activities to pass time. There are numerous hiking trails and one can also take excursions to the historic salt mine and the Dashstein ice caves.
Ravi Kumar, a blogger from Hyderabad refers to the ancient town of Kalinga.
This new year, if your feet starts itching and you are contemplating on places to explore, then I would recommend to have Bhubaneswar in your platter.Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa, also called the Temple City, is an ideal destination to get in touch with ancient India. The city, which attracts tourists from all across the globe, has scores of exquisite ancient sandstone temples scattered across the city, the most popular being the Lingaraj, the city’s presiding deity.
Pic : Ravi Kumar
Bhubaneswar also is home to several Buddhist and Jain sites of historical importance. Dhauli Giri in the outskirts dons the Shanti Stupa. It was here that the great Kalinga war was fought by Ashoka the Great, after which he embraced Budhism. The caves of Khandigiri and Udaygiri throw up deep secrets of our rich Jain heritage. One of the most intriguing temples here is the hypaethral (roofless) Chausath Yogini temple.
Other interesting places around Bhubaneswar are Puri, Konark, Chilika lake, and Bhitarkanika national park.
Priyank , a blogger from Toronto who is currently touring his home country is nostalgic about Israel.
A year ago I visited Israel on a touristic itinerary and in 2009 I wish to go back to the holy land and dive into the local life there. Primarily I intend to spend few weeks working in a Kibbutz – a collective farming community unique to Israel and then soak the natural extremes of the Dead Sea and the Negev desert on a desert safari. Since I will be in that region, it would be wise to travel along the Nile valley in neighboring Egypt and end the year by watching the sun rise from the legendary Mount Sinai.”
Pic : Priyank
Arun Nair, our blog editor from Chennai says Binsar gives him a high.
If you like the hills, a breath of fresh cool air, a view of the Himalayas in all its glory and without the crowd, head for Binsar.
For those who love wildlife, Binsar is rich in flora and fauna, and is native to many exotic breeds of birds and vegetation. Binsar also houses a wildlife sanctuary, at the peak (popularly referred to as the zero point) of which you get to see a magnificent, panoramic view of the Himalayas.
I did a trip to Binsar as part of the entourage that included bloggers, writers and photographers who had a common interest – traveling, and I must say, I yearn to go back again!
Pic : Arun Nair
As for me, a travel writer and blogger from Bangalore, I would like to float in Poovar.
A blue sky, an island, a sandy beach, a river ,an estuary , a stretch of coconut trees, a lone boat and the blue-green backwaters . And of course, birds, fish , the boatman and us . I am lost somewhere near the tip of South India, tucked in Gods own country , Kerala .
I was there for a few hours only and all that we could see was just the azure waters and the blue sky . The coconut trees stretched out, kissing the waters and we saw two horizons ..one separating the sky from the sea, the other – a sandy beach separating the sea from the backwaters . I looked at the vast expanse of waters called sea, river, backwaters , estuary and wondered if there was anything so simple and yet so beautiful in life ! I would love to come back here and float in the backwaters..who would’nt ?
Pic : Lakshmi Sharath
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