Mysore Dasara is a popular event in Karnataka State, South India, a world famous festival lasting all through 10 days. The city of Mysore will look at its best during the festival, with all the major roads in the city, heritage buildings, palaces, historical monuments, ancient temples and shops illuminated. Here the Dasara is an elaborate affair and attract a large audience including both local and foreign tourists.

Photo credits - antkriz

Photo credits - kkalyan

According to the legends, Dasara is celebrated as a victory of Goddess Chamundeswari over the demon Mahishasura. The 10th day of the festival – the most auspicious day of the Dasara – is Vijayadashami, which is symbolically celebrated as the victory of good over evil. This final event of the festival usually falls in the month of September or October.

This historical festival started during the period of Vijayanagar Kingdom in 15th century. Later, the Mysore Wodeyars carried over the tradition of Vijayanagara rulers. After the fall of Tipu Sulthan, the Wodeyars shifted to Mysore and continued the tradition. The Dasara festivities are held at the Mysore Palace, Jaganmohan Palace, Kalamandira and the Town hall. Renowned artists in classical music, dance and folk perform during this festival. Apart from cultural events, sports and wrestling events are also there to entertain the viewers. However, the main attractions of Dasara are the colourful procession of Goddess Chamundeshwari on the decorated royal elephant, torchlight parade and the exotic fireworks at Bannimantap and exhibition.

Photo credits - Distra

Photo credits - kkalyan

Dasara (Navaratri) starts on the first day of Ashwija month, and it ends with the world famous Jambu Savari on the last day. Colourful tableaux, folk dancers, music bands, decorated elephants, horses and camels form a part of the procession. Dolls are also arranged in the houses in an artistic way, and illuminated.

On Vijayadashami, the traditional Dasara procession is held on the streets of Mysore city. The main attraction of this procession is the idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari which is placed on a golden mantapa on the top of a decorated elephant. Colourful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, decorated elephants, horses and camels form a part of the procession which starts from the Mysore Palace and culminates at a place called Bannimantap where the banni tree is worshipped. The Dasara festivities would culminate on the night of Vijayadashami with an event held in the grounds at Bannimantap called as Panjina Kavayatthu (torch-light parade).

Another major attraction during the festival is the Dasara exhibition which is held in the exhibition grounds opposite to the Mysore Palace. This exhibition starts during Dasara and goes on till December. Various stalls which sell items like clothes, plastic items, kitchenware, cosmetics and eatables are set up and they attract a significant number of people. A play area containing attractions like Ferris wheel is also present to provide entertainment to the people. Various Governmental agencies setup stalls to signify the achievements and projects that they have undertaken.

Mahabaleshwar is an uncelebrated little hill town in western India, well off the foreign tourist trail. It doesn’t have great altitude or great glamour, but it is one of my favorite weekend getaways in the world. Blessed with a charming old-world aura that never fails to capture one’s imagination, it is a personal favorite of mine for a well-deserved weekend break. After maybe 50-odd visits there, I am still totally in love with the place.

Photo credits - Ankur P

My trips to Mahabaleshwar revolve around a 125-year-old red stone building called The Club. If you are curious about life during the British Raj era, come and stay here. There are guests suites in the main club building, as well as in three separate blocks of cottages. The property even comes with a residential ghost, who allegedly inhabits a room in the D Block.

As soon as you check in, you are assigned a table at the dining room and an aged, liveried bearer. The bearers are all old retainees with starched uniforms and stand-offish British manners. And they really add to the old-world charm of the place!

Impeccable four-course meals are served in this dining room and you get to sample forgotten recipes from the British era, like Chicken Captain Curry and Scotch Eggs. A hand-rung bell announces the lunch and dinner hour, and if you are late, you eat in your room in disgrace.

Photo credits - Restless mind

The Club sits in the midst of a beautifully laid out garden overflowing with hammocks and flowers. It has a splendid golf course, and a cavernous ballroom where I’m sure I’m not the only guest who’s ever held her hands up to an imaginary partner and danced a quick waltz when nobody was looking.

At the heart of Mahabaleshwar is a unique marketplace that deals only in the three local specialties: handmade shoes, fruit preserves and peanut brittle. Interspersed among these stalls are restaurants serving mostly vegetarian food and gaming dens where you win double or lose all by betting on the throw of ping-pong balls. The gambling’s cheap and addictive, and you can spend your entire evening trying your luck at different ping-pong tables.

Photo credits - Ankur P

Visiting dairy farms is another evening pastime in Mahabaleshwar. The town is dotted with dairy restaurants that make some of the best strawberry-and-cream shakes and fresh corn `patties’ in the world. And when you are done with eating, shopping and gambling, there is one of the oldest Hindu temples in India to visit and a clutch of scenic mountain spots, locally known as `points’. In a nutshell, that would be your average, two-day Mahabaleshwar experience.

The town shuts down completely during the monsoon months, but if you ask me, that’s the most exciting time to visit. Every single house, hut and building in Mahabaleshwar is covered with protective straw mats, and there’s not a living soul to be seen anywhere. It’s a proper ghost town then, shrouded in silence, mist and cloud.

There will probably be a small residential guesthouse somewhere that will still be open. And a tea-stall where you can get something to eat. Walking around the deserted town during the monsoon is a spine-chilling, 28 Days Later sort of an experience. You’re constantly looking over your shoulder, expecting blood-thirsty crazies to jump out of the shadows at any moment.

I’m no braveheart, and I only make day-visits to Mahabaleshwar during the monsoon. If you’d like to stay overnight, make sure that you have some leads on which guesthouse might be open before you get there. If the atmosphere gets too unnerving, just hop onto a bus from Panchgani (5 kms, downhill) and return to civilization. The metro city of Pune is just 2 hours away.

About the Author. Nabanita Dutt. Nabanita, a 30-year-old journalist, is Consultant Editor with `Hindustan Times’, the largest-selling newspaper in India. Her job takes her to countries around the world. Nabanista has a special interest in Far East Asian countries and likes to write about India, Thailand and Nepal. She lives in Calcutta, India.

India is a land of many wonders, blessed with a amazing geography and cultural diversity that is unmatched throughout the region. Naturally, one of its main attraction is the Himalayas in the North East. Travelers are able to trek through to the Deccan Plateau and the smaller hills and waterfalls of the South, passing by regions each clad with their own charm of Indian history and culture. Here’s my list of 10 stunning high-altitude destinations in India, ranging from the popular and famous to the unknown, tranquil and serene.

Photo credits – Shikhar Sethi

Auli

State: Uttarakhand / Region – Garwal Himalayas
This popular ski resort is approximately 492km from Delhi, nestled at an altitude of around 3km above sea level. To reach the snow clad slopes, you treat yourself to a 4km long gondola ride, the longest in Asia. Apart from skiing, Auli also offers other attractions such as the highest man-made lake in the world and a stunning 180 degree view of the Himalayan Peaks.

Munsiyari

State: Uttarakhand / Region – Kumaon Himalayas
Munsiyari offers breathtaking views of the Himalayas, trekking routes into a never ending horizon, high altitude glacier walks and the whispering of the wind in the God’s own natural amphitheater. Situated approximately 588km from Delhi, Munsiyari, meaning “place with snow”, stands at an altitude of 2,200m high. It gives you the chance to view some of the most beautiful snow-capped landscape in the region, with the road towards it filled with scintillating scenery.

Photo credits - thaddeus

Sangla

State: Himachal Pradesh
This is popularly considered as the most beautiful Himalayan valleys in India. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery, Sangla is situated on the historically famouse Hindustan-Tibet highway, a charming experience often dubbed, the Swiss Countryside of India. Visitors can enjoy a day out angling on the Baspa River, trekking to Kinner Kailash or pay a visit to the monastery at Rekong Peo.

Gangtok

State: Sikkim
Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is a popular haven for tourists, trekkers and mountaineers looking to explore the scenery of Sikkim. There is much to see within a day’s drive from Gangtok, such as the Tsomgo or Changu Lake, the famed Nathu La Pass which connects India to China’s Tibet autonomous region, as well as the valley of Yumthang. There are also numerous trekking routes starting from Gangtok, including the famed Mount Kanchenjunga (third highest in the world) trek and the Dzongri trek.

Photo credits - appaji

Tawang

State: Arunachal Pradesh
Located between the border of India and Bhutan, Tawang is yet another station boasting stunning views of the Eastern Himalayas. At the heart of this small hill station lies the Tawang Gompa, a Buddhist monastery home to not more than 40 monks. Nearby is the beautiful Sela Lake, pristine and untouched, while trekkers would enjoy a hike to the Sela Top Pass.

Igatpuri

State: Maharastra
Igatpuri is a small slepey town in the Western Ghats not far from Mumbai, approximately 138km. During the Monsoons, the landscape transforms into a riot of colors and waterfalls dot every nook and cranny of this valley. It is also home to the Vipasana center, where believers flock to meditate and renew their spirituality. The Tringalwadi Fort is a popular picturesque spot, offering one a wide angle view of the entire valley and the Talegaon Lake.

Photo credits - abeerarts

Araku Valley

State: Andhra Pradesh
For some of the coolest summer in Southern India, head straight to Araku Valley. Enjoy a picturesque train ride passing through numerous tunnels enroute, before finally reaching the rolling hills and waterfalls of the Araku Valley. The Borra Caves, 35km from Araku Valley, dates back to a million years back and are pure stalactite and stalagmite formations that tells a story from a different era.

Nagarhole National Park: Irpu Falls

State: Karnataka
Spread over 640 square km of virgin forests, streams and cascading waterfalls, the Nagarhole National Park is home to the mystical Irupu Falls (also known as Lakshmana Tirtha Falls). This stunning waterfall cascades down and takes a plunge of 170ft! The park is a haven of flora and fauna, and you can find wild elephants, leopards, spotted dear and Gaur, among others. It is also an excellent place for bird-watching.

Photo credits - likenew

Lakkidi

State: Kerala
When you travel to the land of Gods, what would you expect? Naturally, stunning scenic beauty fit for the Gods, exactly the type Kerala offers. Lakkidi, often referred to as the Tarzan territory, is the highest point in the Wayanad region of Kerala. It’s a forest canopy so dense that you can barely see the sky, where you can truly walk through the wilderness. Here, you can experience treetop living and walking 100 feet above the ground to get from one tree to another.

Bellikal

State: Tamil Nadu
Bellikal is a picturesque village situated on the Nilgiri Montains, with the famed Mudumalai forest on one end and the Sigur Plateau on the other. It is a place of isolation and tranquility, 5,500 ft above sea level. A trekker’s paradise, there are various trails here leading to various attractions such as the Kalhatti Falls, as well as the Bison valley, where you can spy on these amazing beasts. The biggest attraction here however, is the Kurinji Bush, which blooms only once every 12 years!

Cape Comorin is popularly known as Kanyakumari and it is situated at the southernmost tip of India. This is a place of high religious importance but from a travel perspective, you’ll be surprised to find much more than you expected. The Cape is the meeting point between the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal, and is separated from Sri Lanka by the Gulf of Mannar.

Getting there

Photo credits - localsurfer

There are mainly two ways to reach Kanyakumari or Cape Comorin, which is situated in the state of Tamil Nadu: you can take a flight from Delhi or Mumbai or you can travel by train through the green landscape and rolling hills of the Western Ghats and then cross through Tamil Nadu to reach the place that Indians call their “lands end”. But be forewarned that the train journey could scratch to as long as 51 hours compared to a much shorter 3 hours flight.

The top tourist attractions in and around Kanyakumari is varied and will suit all tastes. The adventurous trekkers would enjoy a trip to the Tirparappu Waterfalls and the Mathoor Hanging Bridge. Those looking for a day of relaxation can head to Muttom Beach, a mere 32km away. There are also various temples, churches and museums bound to captivate your imagination.

Suchindram Temple

Photo credits - Skip The Budgie

The Suchindram Temple is one of its kinds, a beautiful Hindu temple dating way back to the 17th century. The three main deities of Hindu religion (Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma) are represented through just one image placed in the inner sanctum called Sthanumalayan. It is situated 11km from Cape and the priest of the temple would gladly give you a tour. The temple boasts exquisite architecture and sculpture, a perfect place to discover your inner spirituality.

Vattakottai Fort

Photo credits - santhosh_trans

Vattakottai Fort, around 7km away from the Cape, is a beautiful picnic spot popular with the locals. There is an elevated level on the Fort with well-manicured gardens from where I could see the blue waters of the sea merging into the deep blue sky. Sitting there was a pleasant experience as the cool wind kissed my face and I enjoyed a hearty lunch. There is a natural beach nearby where you can relax and have a tan or even go for a swim.

Vivekananda Rock Memorial

Photo credits - Skip The Budgie

The Vivekananda Rock Memorial, one of the most famous monument in Kanyakumari, is a popular tourist destination. This memorial rock is dedicated to Swami Vivekananda, one of the greatest spiritual teachers of India in the 20th century. According to legend, this was where he had gone into deep meditation and saw the past, present, and future of India. It was also the place where he achieved salvation and his soul left his body at the age of 39 while he was deep in meditation. From the Cape, you can hire a boat to get to the Memorial Rock. During sunset, the Memorial Rock is always jam-packed with tourists trying to get the best vantage point form which to enjoy and capture the sunset.

The best time to visit Kanyakumari is from November to March, the time of the returning monsoons. The weather will neither be hot or humid and most of the days will be partly cloudy with cool wind. Cape Comorin is a popular destination for local domestic tourists on a one day trip, but I urge you to spend a little more time here and enjoy the serene beauty of India’s southern-most tip!

About the Author. Lauren Smith. Lauren writes for HostelBloggers, the Insider’s Guide to Budget Travel. She wants to travel the world on a shoestring, and tries to cram in as much backpacking as possible when she’s not at work!