The hills of Wayanad resonate with history. The salubrious air smells of spices-a whiff of coffee mixed with cardamom. You can follow your nose literally to the land of spicy hills. Nestled amid the lofty, majestic Western Ghats, Wayanad, besides being home to several of India's ancient indigenous tribes, has unique varieties of paddy, world-class spices, a stunning biodiversity, and thrills and adventures unlimited.
The adventure of Wayanad begins with the drive to the destination itself. Air travellers can opt to disembark at Kozhikode, 100 km from Wayanad, and do the last leg by road. For those travelling by train, Calicut, 110 km from Wayanad, is the nearest railhead. Reaching Wayanad via road is a breeze, with wide roadways connecting it to neighbouring states.
Wayanad offers such a wide variety of stay options that the visitor is spoilt for choice. Luxury resorts with all modern amenities, cottages, huts on stilts, tree houses or Ayurvedic centres providing the famed Kerala holistic treatment, yoga and meditaion-all are available amid the coffee, pepper, cardamom and vanilla plantations. From multi cuisine to traditional Kerala food, the menu is as varied as the stay options.
For the venturesome, Wayanad offers exciting opportunities for camping, trekking and offsites-a great chance to bond over real life situations and trade sedentary boardroom gaming for a few days of real life adrenalin pumping adventure.
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| India's French Coast! |
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The French Riviera of the East retains its flavour. There's a distinct yet mellow air that blows here gently, slowing life to a leisurely pace. Pondicherry, the capital city of Puducherry, strikes a different chord-but not a discordant note.
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| Invaluable Inheritance |
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Himachal Pradesh (HP), without doubt, is a "Dev Bhumi—Land of Gods". With its vast tracts of high-altitude trans-Himalayan desert, dense green deodar forests, apple orchards, cultivated terraces, snow-capped high Himalayan mountain ranges and snow-fed lakes that gush down in rivers, HP is a geographic marvel.
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| Window seat on heritage! |
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A trip on the famous Palace on Wheels is truly a journey of opulence and pageantry, through the cities and stories of Delhi, Agra and captivating Rajasthan.
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| Magical Mumbai! |
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Mumbai renamed from Bombay, pulsates with a rare and potent vibrancy. Numerous books, songs and movies have eulogised and romanticised this sea-side financial hub, which could be called as the 'New York of India'.
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| Stunning Kullu-Manali |
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Kullu is known for its lush forests, flower-carpeted hillsides and hovering butterflies. In Autumn, Kullu's famous, 10 day long Dussehra festival is a must watch. Various performances like dancing and singing happen during this period and the Gaddi shepherds participate in the same.
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| Bhangarh |
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Within Rajasthan is a quiet village en route to the well-known Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Bhangarh or locally referred to as the haunted city – a world so different and so nestled deep into the mountains and literally the sands of time that it almost seems a lost civilization.
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| Madhav National Park |
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The Madhav National Park in in Shivpuri, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, is situated on the gentle slopes of the upper Vindhyan hills. The terrain definitely sets the mood - of unhurried ease, such is the magic of the Park.
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| Romancing Rajasthan |
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Wherever you go in Rajasthan, you can't remain untouched by its vivaciousness. The deeper you drive into the desert, the softer the language will become. Rajasthan is easy to spot. Women and men dressed in the brightest of colours, in defiance of the desert's arid brown.
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| Sumptuous Goa |
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Goa conjures up images. It is a perfect holiday place by the beach. In addition is its hospitality, cuisine, heritage and adventure sports. Goan cuisine is a fine blend of Indian and Portuguese influences.
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| Sensory Spa |
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Kerala redefines the colour green, washes it and presses it till it shines. The state is as lush, as it is silent—soulfully so. In the plains there is the hegemony of coconut. Drink it, eat it, sleep on it or wear it—the tree and its fruit are an integral part of life in Kerala. A small state with a large heart – Kerala.
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| Savouring Darjeeling |
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Darjeeling is perched on the Himalayan foothills, at the northern tip of the West Bengal State, but you can easily call it the soul of Bengal. Darjeeling offers a handful of eateries and watering holes that down shutters early. Local cuisine is as tasty as
it is cheap at the tiny Bhutanese and Tibetan restaurants—try their unique pancakes and bread.
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This article has been taken from IBEF's bi-monthly magazine, India Now, Business and Economy.
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