Gangtok: View the entire Kanchenjunga range from the town

All good things in life come in small packets and Gangtok is a good illustration. Be it the rich flora, the beautiful people, or the serene Buddhist monasteries, this small town, occupies an important position in the itinerary of tourists in search of tranquility from the humdrum of modern life.

The eastern state of Sikkim lies couched between the borders of Nepal and Bhutan. Gangtok became the capital of the state in the 19th century and lies to the south of the district of East Sikkim. It is a hilly town and spreads down the western side of a long ridge flanking the Ranipul River. The entire Kanchenjunga range can be viewed from the town and, in fact, it is worshipped as a local deity. It is at a distance of 721 km from Calcutta, 584 km from Patna, 140 km from Darjeeling and 589 km from Guwahati. The town experiences a lot of rainfall throughout the year and temperatures are mild.

Tourist attractions: One of the oft-visited sites of Gangtok is the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology. It was built in 1958 and is a research center for Mahayana Buddhism and Tibetan culture. Besides being a museum of traditional and old artifacts, one can also buy Buddhist religious books and other objects of craft. Nearby is a gompa for young lamas. The Tsuk-La-Khang or Royal Chapel is the main place of worship and assembly for the Buddhists and is huge repertoire of religious relics. It is open during the Losar festival. Another important monastery is the Enchey Gompa and is worth a visit during the festival season of January to February.

Adjacent to the Namgyal Institute is the Orchid Sanctuary, which is the home of some 500 varieties of orchids. There is a larger orchid sanctuary called Orchidarium, off the main road to Rangpo. Near White Hall, there is a Flower Exhibition Center and seasonal flowers, bonsai and orchids are a delight to the eyes. From April to June and September to November, one can come here.

Places around: Located at a distance of 24 km from Gangtok is Rumtek Gompa, which is a rich monastery and abode of the head of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism. It is a very famous site and devotees often flock to it throughout the year. Located at a distance of 35 km towards the northeast of Gangtok is the Tsongo or Changu Lake. Special permits are required to visit this picturesque locale.

Fairs & festivals: Several festivals are celebrated in Gangtok and its adjoining areas.

The Buddhist festival of Bumchu is held in the Tashiding Gompa during January.

The festival of Chaam is held in Enchey Gompa during January-February and is marked by dancing.

Kagyat Dance is a mask dance held every month at Gangtok, Pemayangtse and Phodong.

Losar marks the Tibetan New Year and is celebrated during February-March at Pemayangtse and Rumtek.

Tse Chu is a Buddhist dance held in May at Rumtek.

Saga Dawa, held in Gangtok during May, and Drukpa Teshi, celebrated statewide during July, mark Buddha's first teaching.

Phang Lhabsol is a mask dance celebrated statewide during August.

Dasain, celebrated statewide during September-October, is marked by gift swapping and animal sacrifice.

How to reach
Road - The busiest route in and out of Sikkim is the road between Gangtok and Siliguri, also the nearest airport and railway station.

Dudh Sagar: Unrivalled beauty, amazing scenery in Goa

The Dudh Sagar waterfall is situated in the Indian state of Goa around 60 km off Panaji, the capital of the state. It is connected to the other places in the state like Panaji and Margao with a road and railway network.
Legend has it that in the days gone by, there lived a powerful and rich king on the top of a mountain in the Western Ghats along the Goan frontier. He lived in a lavish palace made of pure ivory and embedded by precious stones. And around this palace, there were luxuriant gardens abounding in a vast variety of flowers.
At one end of the forest, which fringed the king's palace, there was a picturesque lake. In the panoramic setting of this lake, the king's daughter, accompanied by her ladies-in-waiting, went to bathe and to sip sugared milk which one of her maids served to her in a pure gold jug.
One day, while she was sipping at the milk, a prince, who was passing by, stopped on hearing the sound of people nearby. Immediately, the princess poured the milk in the pond to shield her body from the glances of the stranger. It is believed that the sugared milk that was poured by the virtuous and modest princess still comes flowing down in torrents along that side of the mountain.
Tourist attractions: Perched on the lofty peaks of the Western Ghats, the Dudh Sagar waterfalls offer unrivalled beauty and amazing scenery full of exquisite charms when in full flux after the monsoon showers. Like an idyllic Eden cradled luxuriously in the mountains, the Dudh Sagar waterfalls, which from a distance appear like milky streams, gradually climax into a gushing cascade as they come into full view of the onlookers.
Undoubtedly there are other wonderful waterfalls in the rest of this wide world, but the Dudh Sagar waterfalls with their strange, mystical fascination are a dream come true. The uneclipsed vision, furnished by this native waterfall as it plunges over crag-covered precipes and stupendous steeps, belies description.
How to reach: Dudh Sagar is situated around 60 km off Panaji. Buses and taxis are available from Panaji to reach Dudh Sagar.

Kovalam: Catamaran cruises and Ayurvedic massage

Kovalam, meaning "a grove of coconut trees," is just 14 km from the state capital of Kerala –Thiruvananthapuram. Kovalam is actually a combination of three small beaches. Among these, the southernmost beach, named Lighthouse Beach, is the most frequented. Earlier the beach of Kovalam was an anglers' paradise. It still has some small villages, just a few kilometers away, which belong to the fishing community. Gradually, this beach has been transformed to a tourist spot of great interest. Kovalam is an ideal place for a sunbathing during winter. Tourists to Kovalam can also experience the typical Kerala massage from the parlors available a few kilometers away along the Kovalam beaches.
September to March is the best time to visit Kovalam. In winter the average temperature of Kovalam is 30 - 32 degree Celsius whereas the summer temperature is 30- 35 degree Celsius. The monsoons in Kovalam start at the beginning of June and last till the beginning of August. The second turn of monsoons in Kovalam start at the end of October and lasts for the next two weeks.
Festivals: The village temples of Kovalam hold festivals during the months of January, February and March.
Shopping: Shopping in Kovalam is fun. You may pick up handicraft items and spices from Kovalam besides sunglasses.
Tourist Attractions: Apart from the usual sunbath and surfing, many marine activities are possible at Kovalam. The local fishermen provide sunrise and sun set cruises in fishing boats.
Catamaran cruises: The Catamaran cruises, on country rafts are very popular here. An innovative tour operating company of Trivandrum has introduced a new package for marine angling for deep-sea fishing. This new project is concentrated near Vizhinjam fishing harbor, just four km away east of Kovalam beach. Surfboards and boogie boards can also be hired on the beach.
Ayurvedic Massage: At Kovalam many hotels and resorts offers the Ayurvedic massage and treatment. Yoga (Indian way of meditation) centers are also in plenty. Some theatres perform the traditional Kerala art form, Kathakali and ethnic martial art, Kalarippayattu.
Private Beaches: Among innumerable beach holiday resorts Kovalam Ashok Beach Resort, Surya Samudra Beach Garden, Somatheeram, Niki's Nest, Coconut Bay Beach Resort, Uday Samudra Beach Resort, Hotel Samudra etc own private beaches famous for their cleanliness and secluded location. Most of these private beaches are located near Vizhinjam at least 8 km far from Kovalam
Excursions Around: The holy city of Anantha, Thiruvananthapuram City is located just sixteen kilometers north of Kovalam. Sri Padmnabhaswamy Temple is the major landmark of the city. Though non-Hindus are not entitled to enter inside the temple one can visit the premises, which is an architectural marvel. Puthan Malika or Horse Palace is a wooden palace, situated very near to the Temple. The belongings of the Royal Family and the very construction of the palace leave the visitors amazed. The Chalai Market just meters away from the temple is a fine example of the typical large market of Kerala. The Napier Museum is a building in Indo-Saracenic Style, situated just 3 km away.
The hill resort, Ponmudi is located 60 km away from Thiruvananthapurm city. The resort is famous for its tea plantations and jungle streams.
Another important site to be visited is Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin), the Southern most tip of Indian subcontinent. Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu state is 90 km east of Kovalam. It is the place where three oceans meet. A visit to Vivekananda Rock located exactly on the sea is a great privilege. Kanyakumari is famous for sunrise and sun set watching. Padmnabhapuram palace, the second largest wooden palace in Asia is on the way to Kanyakumari, which is a major center of tourist attraction.
Accommodation: Kovalam beach resorts offer picture perfect accommodation to holidaymakers on the Kovalam beach. Kovalam beach resorts are so romantic that honeymoons and weddings here are popular. For the tourists the Kovalam beach resorts offer the best of facilities. The luxurious and exotic Kovalam beach resorts are picture perfect for memorable holidays in Kerala.
You may savor multi-cuisines in Kovalam beach resorts. The Kovalam beach resorts also offer several Ayurvedic rejuvenation packages especially during the monsoons. There are conferencing and banqueting facilities too. It is recreation that dominates the Kovalam beach resorts. Volleyball courts and hammocks are popular spots at the resorts.
How to Reach

Kovalam is easily accessible by air, and rail.

Reaching Kovalam by Air: The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is just 14 km away from Kovalam. Indian Airlines and Jet airways link Kovalam with New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Banglore.

Reaching Kovalam by Rail: Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station is the nearest to Kovalam. From here trains are available to all major parts of India.