THE BACKWATERS OF
KERALA
Kerala is said to have
sprung from the ocean. All along its coast, these exotic  backwaters, canals, lagoons and inlets
create an intricate maze that stretches for 1900 km across the land. Begin your
journey at Alappuzha, floating slowly past coconut palms dipping down towards the
water and serence villages, as the moving landscape creates a living portrait
of Kerals's rural life. Other country crafts will go by, some carrying a load of fresh
bananas or coir, others filled with people travelling to nearby villages.
At Kumarakam, a 14 -
acre bird sanctuary, that is accessible from Alappuzha, by the vividly beautiful
Vembanand Lake, see the nesting storks and a variety of water fowl. Some of the most
unforgettable scenery is on another waterway from Alappuzha that leads up to the ancient
port of Kollam, winding up the Pampa river to the island hamlet of Chemakkulam and
then into the Karumadi canal. Here stands the status of Karumadi Kuttan,
believed to be the Buddha, beside the ruins of an ancient Buddhist settlement.
SHILLONG
Shillong, a hill resort with an
incomparable climate, is the capital of Meghalaya. Often likened to Scotland, it has
rolling hills, heather-covered slopes, beautiful waterfalls, moving mists, silent lakes
and a rich and unique variety of flora and fauna.
SASAN GIR
 The last surviving population of the Asiatic
lion can be seen at the Gir National Park, Located in the Saurashtra peninsula in
Gujarat, Gir is composed of terrain with steep rocky hills, deep ravines and occasional
stretches of grasslands. Irrigated by many rivers, the park supports mixed semi-arid
deciduous forest.
MUSSOORIE
In 1827, Capt. Young of the British
army chanced upon this  extraordinarily beautiful wooded ridge and
created the center around which the hill station grew. Just 38 Km
from Dehradun, Mussoorie offers views of both the Himalayan ranges to the north and
the Shivaliks and plains to the south. This erstwhile aristocratic resort is now a popular
hill station and promises a variety of entertainment throughout the year. Landour retains
much of the old-world charm of the place.
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