by Anurag Mallick & Priya Ganapathy
GARAMUR, MAJULI, ASSAM
In one line: Visit now, before the Majuli gains world heritage status and the tourists arrive.
At Garamur satra, a gigantic yellow sculpture of Garuda broods in solitude as the still air is broken by the sound of adolescent storks clattering their beaks in the trees above. One of the largest riverine islands in the world, Majuli’s geographic isolation and serene atmosphere drew Vaishnava saint Srimant Shankardev (1449-1568), who set up Majuli’s first satra (monastic centre) at Belguri. Patronised by Ahom kings, music, dance, theatre and the arts prospered at the various satras. Over the years the Brahmaputra river has shrunk the 1,200sq km island to its present size of 460sq km. Its fragile environment and unique cultural landscape make Majuli an aspirant for the UNESCO World Heritage tag.
Stay in bamboo cottages like La Maison D’Ananda (House of Joy), Me:Po Okum (House of Happiness) and Do:Ni Polo (named after Sun-Moon, the Mishing gods) modelled after a Chang ghar, an ethnic hut of the Mishing tribe. Feast on Mishing cuisine like fish, duck and bamboo shoot and catch blazing sunsets at Luit Ghat. On riverside walks to tribal settlements watch young girls catch fish in swamps as women clatter away on looms to weave mirizim (ethnic shawl) and homespun textiles. The raas festival in October-November is a great time to visit.
Make it happen: La Maison D’Ananda: +91 995 718 6356 (Manjeet); danny002in@yahoo.com. Me:Po Okum: +91 943 520 3165
POPPALWADI, GOA
With no electricity, phones or roads, Off The Grid is a unique homestay experience in the Western Ghats run by white-water specialist John Pollard and his wife Sylvia Kerkar, a pottery artist. Eco-friendly, small, organic, rustic and ultra-low impact, the camp has adapted well to its remote environment. Located 600m above sea level on the Goa Karnataka border, it has a wonderful climate all year round. Solar-powered LED lights provide lighting and the use of cool materials and maximized ventilation offsets the lack of fans. Water is tapped from a waterfall above the property. Stay in teepee tents with attached bathrooms or airy rooftop rooms with sit-outs. In the absence of nearby shops, the camp grows as much food as they can. Oven-fired pizzas, homemade breads, barbecues with a smattering of Japanese, Indian and Italian dishes provide enough culinary variety. Go on guided walks to a private waterfall, nature treks, night safaris and off-road drives to Dudhsagar waterfall. Being a remote property, guests are brought from the pick-up point at Castle Rock.
Make it happen: Ph +91 832 325 8928, +91 962 345 1758; info@kalirafting.com, sylviakerkar@yahoo.com; www.farmoffthegrid.com
JAWAI, RAJASTHAN
Jawai Leopard Camp, Rajasthan
Equidistant from Udaipur and Jodhpur, and an hour’s drive away from the Jain temple at Ranakpur and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kumbhalgarh Fort, is Jawai Leopard Camp. It is located upstream of Jawai Bandh, one of western Rajasthan’s largest reservoirs, which is abuzz with flamingos, geese, cranes and other migratory birds. However, leopards are Jawai’s main attraction and the camp is virtually enclosed by leopard country.
Stay in luxurious tents with a private deck offering an uninterrupted view of the wilderness and the dramatic landscape of granite formations, scrub and sandy riverbeds. Experienced guides help you track the elusive big cats in customized 4x4 safari jeeps. Wildlife trails may also reveal the Indian wolf, sloth bear, antelope and smaller game which all coexist with vibrant Rabari herdsmen.
Make it happen: +91 11 4617 2700; reservations@sujanluxury.com www.sujanluxury.com
MAINPAT, CHHATTISGARH
In one line: Because not many have yet heard of a Tibetan settlement in the hills of central India.
You may have visited the gompas of Dharamsala, Sikkim or Ladakh and even the gilded monasteries of Bylakuppe in Karnataka, but a Tibetan settlement in the hills of central India? Now that’s a find! After the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1960s, one group of Tibetan refugees working in road construction at Sitapur arrived at Mainpat (now in central Chhattisgarh). Amazed by its cool climes, the Tibetan delegation surveyed the land and nearly 3,000 acres of wild tract was allocated to them with the consent of the Home Ministry.
Today, the group of 62 plateaus perched at 3,200ft wears a different look with prayer flags fluttering in the breeze. A 30km ascent from the base of the hill through forests of sal and bauxite mines leads to Mainpat. Divided into seven camps that support a 2,000-strong population, the key attraction is the Thakpo Shedupling Monastery. Built in 1970, it houses old thangkas, wall murals and a solar heater that boils water and cooks rice in just 30 minutes. Stay in Swiss tents at Mercury Resort & Restaurant with Tibetan food and bamboo décor. Head to scenic viewpoints like Mehta Point, Tiger Point and Jaljali or visit farms of potato and tau (buckwheat)—good for controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.
Make it happen: Chhattisgarh Tourism Board: +91 771 402 8635/6 www.chhattisgarhtourism.net
URAKAM, KERALA
Thrissur is the undisputed centre of Keralan art and culture. But there’s more to it than Guruvayoor School of art, Kerala Kalamandalam, and Pooram, the majestic festival of caparisoned elephants. A 10-km drive from town takes you to Urakam where Clayfingers Pottery teaches you to shape earth into things of beauty. Set in peaceful rustic surroundings by a river, this multi-disciplinary 15,000sq ft pottery studio is a resurrected brick and tile factory that was built in the 1950s. Offering artist in residence programmes and internship courses, Clayfingers allows you to discover or hone your skills at clay modelling and glazing from national and international experts. Visit the pottery village Kumbhara gramam at Cheruthuruthy to watch traditional potters practising a craft that has withstood the onslaught of time for generations.
Make it happen: +91-480 2792234; info@clayfingerspottery.com; www.clayfingerspottery.com
- See more at: http://www.cntraveller.in/story/10-hot-new-indian-destinations-you-ve-not-heard#sthash.czBFhw32.dpuf
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