Devikulam

Gorgeous green slopes as if touching sky

The hill resort of Devikulam in Kerala has gorgeous green slopes that are as high as if to touch the sky. It is sixteen kilometers southwest of Munnar at an amazing altitude of 1800 m above sea level.
Lovely large lawns, rare fauna and flora and the cool breezes in Devikulam are not just refreshing but rejuvenating to the souls. Devikulam literally means "the pond or lake of the Devi". As per the beliefs of the people Goddess Sita had bathed in the waters of the lake in Devikulam.

Tourist attractions:
Devikulam boasts of a breathtakingly beautiful Sita Devi Lake veiled in the hills. As the name indicates the lake is associated with goddess Sita. Tourists flock to the Lake owing to the splendid surroundings. Many believe in the curative powers of the mineral water of the lake. It is believed that goddess Sita had bathed in the waters of this lake making it sacred for the pilgrims that visit Devikulam. Even the adventure seekers throng the waters of the Lake, as they are ideal for trout fishing. The scenic beauty, adventure sports, beliefs and religion come together to make the Sita Devi Lake a major tourist attraction in Devikulam. Prior permission from Tata Tea is required to visit the lake or catch the fresh water fish.

The nature lovers can experience heaven on earth at Devikulam with the wild flowers and rare herbs that grow in bounty on the Devikulam Hills. In close proximity to the Devikulam Lake is the Pallivasal Waterfalls that make excellent site for picnics owing to the beauty of nature in the spectacular sights, sounds and smells in the surroundings.


There are several tea plantations in and around Devikulam that add to the charm of the hill resort. The gum trees in red and blue are the other major highlights of the natural vegetation at Devikulam. For tourists interested in visiting the tea estates, tea plantations or the factories, conducted tours are available.


Places around:
There is the famous Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary at a distance of 50 km from Devikulam. In the sanctuary you may spot elephants, leopards, gaurs, sambars besides the highly endangered species of the Grizzled Giant Squirrel and the Star Tortoise. You may even climb up the watchtower and enjoy the wondrous vistas of the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. The Thoovanam Falls on the river Chinnar are the other must checkout in the sanctuary.


Wrapped in the tea estates is the Mattupetty. The views of the mist clad mountains and the hillocks from the Mattupetty Lake are breathtakingly beautiful. The rains add to the charm of the already captivating Mattupetty Lake.

Best time to visit: You may enjoy the crisp and cool mountain air throughout the year at Devikulam.

How to reach: The ascent to Devikulam from Kochi of 149 km takes 4 and ½ hours whereas from Kottayam you are there at Devikulam that is 132 km away in 4 hrs.

Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary

The name Sunderbans is perhaps derived from the term meaning 'the forest of sundari', a reference to the large mangrove tree that provides valuable fuel. Along the coast, the southern part of the forest passes into a mangrove swamp, which has numerous wild animals and crocodile-infested estuaries. It is one of the last preserves of the Royal Bengal tiger and the site of a tiger conservation project.

Situated south of Calcutta, Sunderbans is one of the most unique ecosystems in this part of the world and is dominated by mangrove forests. Situated at the mouth of the Ganges, Sunderbans spreads over 54 islands and two countries (the West Bengal state in India and Bangladesh) and is a part of the world's largest delta region.

A UNESCO world heritage site, Sunderbans is home to the largest number of wild tigers in the world.

Best time to visit: The region has a tropical climate with hot summers and cold winters. Maximum and minimum temperatures during the summer are 42°C and 37°C respectively. In winters, the maximum and minimum temperatures are 29°C and 9.2°C respectively.

Tourist attractions:

Tigers: Sunderbans is the largest estuarine delta in the world and the biggest colony of the Royal Bengal Tigers. These evergreen mangrove forests pulsate with myriad forms of life, which hide during high tide and the ebbing tide reveals them on the glistening mud flats. The land is split by numerous rivers and water channels all emptying into the Bay of Bengal. It is believed that Bonbibi, the goddess of the forest, protects the woodcutters, honey-collectors and fishermen on their hazardous missions through the forest. For, as the local saying goes, `here the tiger is always watching you'.

Project Tiger was implemented here in 1973 and later the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve was demarcated over an area of 2,585-sq km. The core area of 1,330 sq km has been declared a Wildlife Sanctuary and a world heritage site. The reserve has a tiger population of 287(1984 census). The only mangrove species, the tiger here has adapted well to its habitat.

Reptiles: The Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project is a crocodile-breeding farm. Tours are organized by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC). This place is accessible through Namkhana. Both the West Bengal Tourism Department and the WBTDC organize conducted tours to the Sunderbans by their motor launches. Bhagabatpur is a hatchery of the largest estuarine crocodile in the world.

The Sunderbans provide important habitat for a variety of reptiles including river terrapin, Olive Ridley, estuarine crocodile, monitor lizard, water monitor and Indian python.

The only species of turtle known to nest in the Sunderbans is the Olive Ridley but hawksbill has also been caught in fishermen's nets. The creeks are spawning grounds for some 90 species of fish, 48 species of crabs and a large variety of molluscs.

Birds: Sajnekhali has a bird sanctuary and is the only place to have a hotel in this area. There is a Mangrove Interpretation Centre here. There are watchtowers at Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali, Netidhopan, Haldi and a number of other places.

The Sajnekhali area contains a wealth of water birds, noteworthy residents including Asian openbill stork, black-necked stork, greater adjutant stork, white ibis, swamp francolin, white-collared kingfisher, black-capped kingfisher and brown-winged kingfisher.

This area is also important for waders, including the Asian dowitcher, a rare winter migrant. Interesting marsh birds found in the reclaimed areas include egrets, purple heron, which is a rare vagrant from Africa, and green-backed heron.

Birds of prey include osprey, Pallas's fish eagle, white-bellied sea eagle, grey-headed fishing eagle, peregrine falcon, Oriential hobby, northern eagle owl and brown fish owl.

Other interesting places in the area include Netidhopan, which has the ruins of a 400-year-old temple, Holiday Island, which is a retreat of the barking deer and Kanak, which is the nesting place of Olive Ridley Turtles. Piyali is 72 km from Calcutta and is a gateway to the Sunderbans. It is being developed as a tourist complex.

How to reach

Air: Dum Dum (166kms), is the nearest airport at Calcutta.

Rail: The nearest railhead is at Canning, 48 km away. The nearest town is Gosaba, 50 km away.

Sunderbans is accessible only by riverine waterways. From Calcutta there are suburban trains to Canning and buses to Namkhana, Raidighi, Sonakhali and Najat from where motor launch services are available for Sunderbans.

Road: Means of road transport are available from Calcutta for the places like Namkhana (105 km), Sonakhali (100 km), Raidighi (76 km), Canning (64 km), and Najat (92 km), which are all near the Sunderbans and have access to the riverine waterways leading to it.

Water - The approximate time taken between various points is - From Namkhana - Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project (2.5 hours) Sagar Island (2.5 hours) Jambudwip (3.5 hours), From Sajnekhali - Sudhanyakhali (40 minutes) Buridabri (Tiger Project Area) (5 hours) Netidhopan (3.5 hours) Holiday Island (3 hours), From Sonakhali - Gosaba (1 hour), From Raidighi - Kalas (5 hours)

Best time to visit September to March

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.