Explore Trip, Siliguri (2026)

22/11/2023

Located in the heart of old Jaipur, the City Palace is a spectacular example of the amalgamation of Rajput and Mughal architecture. Commissioned to be built by the founder of Jaipur, Maharaja Jai Singh II, during the years 1729 to 1732, this lavish palace includes the living quarters of the erstwhile royal family, some of whom still reside in a private wing. The vast complex of the palace occupied one-seventh of the walled city. In fact, it was once the seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur. The palace is divided into a series of courtyards, buildings and gardens including the Chandra Mahal and the Mubarak Mahal. The museum showcases various unique handcrafted products and other things that belong to the royal heritage of the City Palace.

At Diwan-e-Khas stands two gigantic silver vessels, each 1.6 m tall, which are said to be the largest silver objects in the world. They were supposedly used to transport holy water from River Ganges for the royal family. The outer wall was built by Jai Singh II, however, the palace itself has been subjected to various changes over the course of time, with some of them even belonging to the early 20th century. The entire palace is structured in ‘Grid Style’ having four gates to enter and exit, namely ‘Tripolia Gate’, ‘Udai Pol’, ‘Virendra Pol’, and ‘Jaleb Chowk’.

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21/11/2023

An ancient town located on a hilltop bordered by the western ghats on the east and the thrilling Vembanad Lake on the west, Kottayam is a culturally rich and naturally enchanting destination. Cradled by the backwaters and the Western Ghats, it is epitomised by its stretches of vast greenery, paddy fields and sprawling rubber plantations.Apart from nature's bounty, the town has many laurels to its name. It is a proud town to achieve 100% literacy in India for the first time. It is also the birthplace of the publishing industry in Kerala and thus known as the 'land of letters' or 'Akshara Nagari'.

The city is also a significant commercial hub for spices and crops especially rubber. One will see acres of a well-kept plantation of rubber all across the town. Other than its commercial importance, Kottayam is also dotted with a plethora of ancient and fascinating shrines all narrating a story of their own.Kottayam is also splendid with hill stations such as Ilaveezhapoonchira, IllikkalKallu etc. Other popular tourist attractions in Kottayam are Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Vembanad Backwaters, Nadukanu Hills, Kottathavalam etc. With mesmerizing landscape and verdant fields are sure to lure you back to this place.

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21/11/2023

Noted for its awe-inspiring silvery landscapes, Rann of Kutch - India’s largest salt marsh sprawled over an area of 7,500 sq km - annually plays host to the glorious Rann Utsav,an initiative by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited.A vibrant display of culture, cuisine, art, craft, music and dance, the festival puts forward the best face of Gujarat. Through November to February, the striking white desert of Kutch brims with colour and culture, transporting visitors to a world of merriment.

The festival celebrates the spellbound beauty and natural heritage of Kutch. It provides an exclusive opportunity to acquaint oneself with the exquisite handicraft and extensive art of our country's artisans. One can witness the cultural superfluity and mind-blowing performances of dance and music in the festival. People can engage themselves in an array of indoor games, savour the lip-smacking delicacies and enjoy the relishing traditional recipes of Kuch. Besides, people can also take a ride over the picturesque desert of Kutch with its seemingly boundless white sand.

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20/11/2023

A picturesque destination in Kasaragod and 10 km south of Nileswaram Valiyaparamba backwaters near the Bekal Fort transports us to a serene environment away from the hustle and bustle. The mesmerizing view from a kettuvallam (houseboat) is probably the one thing that you need to just lay back and relax. Valiyaparamba is the third-largest backwaters in Kerala which provides a picturesque view of the local flora and fauna.Around 90 varieties of bird species have been identified from this place.Besides its quaint beauty, Valiyaparamba is also known as one of the important fishing centres of Kerala.

The boat ride through the backwaters takes you to Valiyaparamba island, the largest island in Kavvayi backwaters. One can relax in the houseboat and enjoy the rustic charm of the unspoiled backwaters, catch fish or enjoy a nice meal in the houseboat.The Valiyaparamba beach is not very far away and remains untouched by tourists.The calm and secluded Valiyaparamba Island is a perfect getaway from the city. Although Valiyaparamba backwaters is a favourable spot all throughout the year, November to May is the best time and it will help you escape the summer.

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19/11/2023

Sasthamkotta Lake or Sasthamcotta Lake is a wetland and the largest freshwater lake in Kerala. Gifted with abundant natural beauty and extensive flora and fauna,it offers plenty of opportunities to the travellers to explore its exotic beauty. Surrounded by the lush green valleys of Sasthamkotta, this lake is known to be one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kollam, situated about 29 km from the Kollam town. The locals call it as 'Queen of Lakes,' mainly because of the refreshing beauty.

Flanked by magnificent hills on three sides, this area is also home to one among Kerala’s most important pilgrimage sites, the ancient Sastha Temple. One can find friendly monkeys on its premises that are considered divine entities by the locals. Dedicated to both Lord Ganesha and Lord Ayyappa, the monkeys are believed to be the faithful entourage of the ruling deity, the Dharmasastha. People love coming and feeding the beautiful animals, along with soaking in the spiritual ambience of the entire place.

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18/11/2023

At about 7km from Thalassery in Kannur,Muzhappilangad Beach is famous for being Kerala's only drive-in beach. The whole concept of drive-in beaches is that you can drive right on the sandy shores of the beach- it is not very often that you get to drive along a 4 km long shoreline that offers an open road with no traffic and a stunning viewf of the beautiful Malabar Coast.Along the way, one gets to munch on delicacies from a number of shacks that offer authentic Malabar cuisine.

It is often considered a swimmers paradise as the black rocks protect the beach from deep currents. This is a perfect way to relax and soak in this clean and well maintained beach. One can also partake in adventure sports like paragliding, parasailing and micro light flights along with water sports, power boating or a simple catamaran ride. The Muzzhapilangad Drive-In Beach is the perfect weekend getaway to blow off some steam and spend quality time with your loved ones.

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06/11/2023

With 2024 just around the corner, travel publications are releasing list after list on where to travel next year.National Geographic Traveller (UK) announced a list of thirty locations which span five continents that were chosen by editors as the “top places and spaces around the world where tourism benefits communities and the environment as much as the visitors and locals themselves.”“The 30 entries reflect an incredible range, featuring everything from exciting immersive journeys to inspirational visits that could take just a few hours,” the statement says. “Whether it’s culinary excellence, solar eclipses, night trains, new national parks, rewilding initiatives, ancient wonders revisited or cultural landmarks, we’ve curated some of the best travel destinations for the next 12 months,” Pat Riddell, editor of National Geographic Traveller (UK), was quoted as saying in the statement. “From Canada, the US and Argentina to Sierra Leone, Sikkim (!!), Australia and beyond, the world is represented in all its full glory.”

Yes, you have seen it right. Among 30 destinations featured on the list, Sikkim proudly represents India as the sole entry. As travelers worldwide gear up for the upcoming year, this curated list offers valuable insights for planning their 2024 journeys. Notably, Sikkim stands out as one of just three Asian destinations, alongside Tainan in Taiwan and Xi-an in China, underscoring its growing allure on the international travel map. The Indian state is known for its ethereal beauty and lush greenery. It is home to the highest Himalayan peak in India, the Kangchenjunga mountain! It is also the third-highest mountain in the entire world! Sikkim is also blessed with immense biodiversity. Its Blood Pheasant is especially well-known.The state is also dotted with quaint Buddhist monasteries that transport you to a different world entirely! So if you’re looking to get in touch with your higher self, there couldn’t be a better place than Sikkim!

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06/11/2023

Kerala, a land with a culture and tradition that have many interesting facets, has over the years become a fascination for visitors from around the world. Its cultural fabric is woven by the captivating threads of traditional practices and beliefs. Among them, the ritual arts deserve special mention.Tholpavakoothu or shadow puppetry using leather puppets is a ritual art popular in the northern districts of Kerala, viz. Palakkad and Malappuram. In Malayalam, Thol means leather, pava means doll and koothu the play.An ancient ritualistic art form, very little is known about the period of origin of Tholpavakoothu. Finding a place among the ancient art forms of Kerala, typically Tholpavakoothu is presented for 7, 14 or 41 days as an offering at temples dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali. The lead puppeteer is called pulavar.

This entertainment art is performed on a special stage called koothumadam in the temple courtyard. Puppets (pavakal), usually representing four characters from the Ramayana, are arranged behind a long white screen, in front of bright wick lamps. Tholpavakoothu puppets are made of deerskin.The puppets are held by a thin stick in one hand while the limbs are manipulated by a thinner stick held in another hand of the puppeteer. Movement of the play will be controlled according to the circumstances. There must be above 150 puppets made in different positions standing, fighting, sitting and lying, etc to conduct this play based on “Kamba Ramayana”.

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06/11/2023

Located at an equal distance both from Lodhruva and Jaisalmer and one of the relics of Rajasthan's illustrious past, Bada Bagh in Jaisalmer is primarily a series of cenotaphs set amidst a garden.Featuring a series of cenotaphs, Bada Bagh (translated literally as 'Big Garden') portrays illustrious past of Rajasthan. Gleaming through the desert regions of Jaisalmer, Bada Bagh once was wrapped within a coat of lush green gardens. The famous golden cenotaphs at Bada Bagh are located at a distance of 6 km from the northern region of Jaisalmer.This is a popular site because it is a garden that has the cenotaphs of all the Maharajas and other prestigious family members of Jaisalmer; all royal Rajputs kings of 6 centuries!

Bada Bagh is actually located on a small hillock and the entrance to the cenotaphs is set at the bottom of the hill. These cenotaphs are nothing but tomb shaped structures which are locally referred to as Chhatris. The art of constructing Chhatris began somewhere around the 17th century and lasted until the 20th century. The chhatris are the same colour as the landscape around them, a dull brown of the sand, and hence, appear like a mirage in the desert. The towering windmills in the distance only add up to the beauty this site has to offer. The bases of the various chhatris at Bada Bagh are square or hexagonal. The domes, however, can be found in a variety of shapes, ranging from a simple circular, to squarish to a slight pyramid shape. These are free from any kind of artwork, and only depict some information about the Raja they depict in particular.

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05/11/2023

A very important monument,Dakhil Darwaza literally an entrance gate, is the largest structure of its kind in the architectural history of Sultanate Bengal. It was the main entrance to the citadel of lakhnauti, the Muslim name of gaur. The gateway was the most solid and most elegant entrance portal ever erected in Bengal. Built with small red bricks portraying terracotta work, Dakhil Darwaza located in Malda looks imposingly striking and one of its kind.The architecture of the gateway is an impressive one, and such an impressing structure could be built only when architecture has attained its full fruition. On this ground, it may be suggested that the Dakhil Darwaza was built in the Husain Shahi period in 1425 A.D. by Barbak Shah.

The gateway built of bricks except the piers between the doorways, which are faced with stone up to the springing of the arches, measures 102.5m by 22.5m and consists of a passage 4.5m wide through the middle of the structure. On both sides of the corridor are two guardrooms entered from the former through subsidiary entrances numbering four on each side. The guardrooms measure 22.70m by 2.90m and have also two exits leading outside. The height of the gateway, measured by Cunningham, was about 14.95m of which the entrance arch rises to a height of 10.35m. Behind the wider arch is a smaller archway through which the entrance is made to the vaulted passage. The gateway arch projected in the form of an iwan portal, which is flanked on either side by massive twelve-sided towers at the corners, which are in perfect harmony with the design, and speaks of a gateway commensurable to the dignity and prestige of a great ruler.

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04/11/2023

From the silence of the early morning shoreline to the beauty of the remains of an era gone by, Puducherry boasts of quaint sites and a gorgeous skyline. Among all the beautiful architectural delight, colorful lanes and small cafes, Puducherry presents yet another archeological site that holds essential significance between India and the rest of the world--- Arikamedu. On the bank of Ariyankuppam river and 7 km South of Puducherry, it is the only surviving historical places in South India with a cultural continuity from 300 BC to 1800 AD which was acquired by the Archeological Survey of India since 2004.

This port town was occupied by the people of rome, cholas and French serving as a very famous maritime centre from first century BC to second century AD. The first dig in Arikamedu took place in 1940 and since then these excavation are continuously carried out. At present does not have much to it other than two perpendicular walls which were laid open and the French jesuit mission house which was constructed in the 18 th century. More so, one can come across mango trees and coconut trees in this region. The glass beads manufacturing factory of this place is called the mother of bead centres in the world.

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19/10/2023

Formerly known as ‘Madathumala’ Ranipuram, stands at a height of 750 m above sea level and about 85 kms from Kasaragod town and about 43 kms away from Kanhangad is a paradise for trekkers and Nature lovers who are drawn by the evergreen shola forests, wildflowers, moors and the sprawling meadows.The whole place is proposed inside the Ranipuram Wildlife Sanctuary which merges with Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary of Karnataka.It is said that the breeze here has medicinal properties, as the meadows here are full of lemongrass which has antioxidant properties. Surrounded by hills on all sides, the hill station is fondly called as “ Queen of Grasslands’.

The sublime beauty of this region is comparable to that of Ooty, and is a must-visit for all nature enthusiasts. A visit to Ranipuram promises thrilling and a wonderful experience. For those souls who seek adventure in everything they do, this charming place has amazing places to go on hikes, treks and camping.The innocent life of the village and gentle nature make a perfect blend of delight and enjoyment. The entire trek route of Ranipuram is very scenic and a delight for nature photographers. The trek lasts for about two and a half kilometres, and the summit has a cave, and reaching it is quite an adventurous experience.

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