Kerala in the Monsoons

Kerala is the first state to receive the monsoon. It is observed that most of the people avoid travelling to the state in the monsoons. But by traveling there in the monsoons, one can experience the most fascinating weather and view some of the most beautiful sights. You truly get the answer why Kerala is called as God’s Own Country.

Find below some of the reasons why to visit Kerala in the Monsoons :

Romancing the Rains

Romance does not sound more poetic than the pitter patter sound of rains coming down along with the cool breeze that flows with it. Here the monsoon is more in form of several short downpours than a continuous all day rains. This climate is one of the best for Couples seeking a nice Romantic Getaway in midst of nature.

Backwater Delight

Kerala is also famous for its beautiful backwaters. The tranquil atmosphere in the monsoons makes them one of the most visited spots in the season. Views of Lush Green Palms and a fantastic waterbody of the Lake Vembanad backed up by various canals can be experienced either through a houseboat or a stay property on the backwaters. Alleppey, Kumarakom, Kollam, Kochi, etc are some of the spots that can be explored for the backwaters.

Exploring the Hills

A monsoon visit to Kerala remains incomplete without a rendezvous with the hills. Places like Munnar, Thekkaady, Wayanad, Vagamon, etc explode with the green carpet. The Tea Estates, the Spice Gardens, The Cultivations add up to the natural greenery of the forest reserves of Attapadi, Silent Valley, Thattekad, Periyar and many more. Whatever remains is fulfilled by the waterfalls like Attukad, Athirapalli, Cheeyaparya, etc in and around these hills.

Festive Mood

Monsoons also add up to the festivities of the state. Onam is arguably the most important festival of Kerala and is celebrated statewide. The festival is in accordance of the homecoming of the benevolent Asura King Lord Mahabali, the grandson of Bhakt Prahlad and the festivities go on for 10 days. Adding to it, monsoons are also the time for the world famous Snake Boat Races known as Vallam Kalli in Local Language. Races like Champakulam Moolam, Nehru Trophy and Aranamula attract a lot of people, both from India and Abroad.

Last but not the least : Discounts

During vacation seasons, Kerala is considered as one of the most expensive states to travel. Monsoon Months, on the other hand are considered as an off season. So its pouring discounts during the period of June to September. Stay facilities cost upto 50% less than a normal season rate. Plus less crowd makes the visit kind of exclusive and peaceful.

In short, Kerala is a must visit place during the monsoons. To experience and explore some of the most mesmerizing views offered by some of the fantastic destinations and also to be a part of some of the festive celebrations, you can join the Boat Race Special and Backpacking Trips to Kerala by :

GLOBAL NOMADS

Boat RaceTrips :

Champakkulam Moolam Boat Race Trip Date : 19/06/2016

Nehru Trophy Boat Race Trip Date : 12/08/2016

Aranamula Boat Race Trip Date : 16/09/2016

Duration for the above Trips : 05 Days Ex – Cochin

Participation Costs for the above Trips : Rs 11,111/- Per Person

Backpacking Trips :

Trip Batch 01 : 14/06/2016

Trip Batch 02 : 13/07/2016

Trip Batch 03 : 17/09/2016

Duration for Backpacking Trip : 08 Days Ex – Kozhikode

Participation Cost for Backpacking Trips Starts @ Rs 12900/- Per Person

For More Info and Participation Call :

8446382362/9867761900

globalnomadsco@gmail.com

Monasteries of Ladakh – The Land of the Lamas

Since Historical times Ladakh has been a part of many kingdoms and been ruled by various dynasties. These dynasties followed their respective culture, tradition and religion. But no religion has had a biggest impact on the region other than Buddhism. The main preachers of the religion, the Buddhist monks traveled extensively through the rugged terrain and the almost in accessible remote areas in the region and built a lot of monasteries. Some of which are in ruins and some still stand strong. Popularly referred to as Gompas, these monasteries are architectural marvels and have served as centers of religion and learning since times, past and present.

Some of these monasteries are renowned tourist attractions and offer people a perfect opportunity to experience the grandeur and excellence of the Buddhist culture. Find below the brief info of some such places in Ladakh – The Land of Lamas.

Hemis Monastery :

Situated around 45 km from the town of Leh, this monastery is believed to have existed even before the 11^th Century. The Gompa was re established in 1672 by the then ruler of Ladakh, King Sengge Namgyal. This gompa is of Tibetian Buddhism following the Drukpa liniage. The state department of Tourism organizes the Hemis Festival to commemorate the birth of Guru Padmasambhava(Guru Rinpoche) every year. Guru Padmasambhava was the main propagator of Vajrayana Buddhism and was born on the 10^th day of the fifth month of the Monkey year. The main attraction of the festival is the masked dances referred as the Chams performances and are only performed by the lamas/monks who follow the tantric Vajrayana teachings of Buddhism.

Alchi Monastary :

This monastery is located in Alchi Village near Leh, is a group of 4 temples in the same complex. According to some it was built by the great translator, Guru Richen Zangpo over a period of time in the 10^th & 11^th Century. Some records also suggest that it was built in the 11^th Century by a Tibetan Noble Kal-Dan Shesh-rab. This monastery follows the Tibetan Vajrayana teachings of Buddhism also known as Lamaism. The Gompa has beautiful artistic paintings depicting details both, Buddhism and the then Hindu Kings of Kashmir. It is one of the most famous monasteries/gompas in the Ladakh region.

Thiksey Gompa :

Located around 19 km from Leh, Thiksey is said to be the largest Gompa in Central Ladakh. It is built on a hill top of Thiksey Village in the mid 15^th Century and is quite similar to the Potala Palace of Lasha in Tibet. The gompa follows the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. This is a 12 storied gompa with the main attraction of the Maitreya Buddha Statue. The 49 feet statue covers around 2 stories and was installed inside the monastery to commemorate the visit of His Holiness, The 14^th Dalai Lama.

Lamayuru Monastery :

Located around 15 km from the Fotu La, this monastery is one of the oldest in Ladakh and is said to have built around the same time as the Alchi Monastary. According to legend an Indian Buddhist Mahasiddha viz. Naropa (Naropada) caused a lake in this valley to dry up in order to build this monastery. This Gompa belongs to the Drikung Kagyu school of Buddhism also commonly known as the Red Hat Sect of Buddhism. Layuru is one of the largest Gompas in Ladakh region and is host to 2 masked dance festivals in the 2^nd and the 5^th month of the Tibetan Calender.

Shey Monastary :

The monastery was built by the then King of Ladakh, Deldon Namgyal in the memory of his father Singay Namgyal inside the Shey Palace Complex. The monastery is famous for its gold gilded copper statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. The statue with the Shakyamuni Buddha in the sitting position is 39 feet tall and is the second largest such statue in Ladakh. The Gompa is located around 15 km from Leh and was abandoned by the Namgyals during the Dogra Invasion of Ladakh. In this gompa there is also a belief that woman without children can beget them with the blessings of the Buddha.

Along with the above mentioned, there a lot of gompas like Likir, Stok, Spituk and many more in the Ladakh Region. To explore some of the above mentioned holy shrines you can join on a Trans Himalayan Safari to Ladakh – The Land of the Lamas along with

GLOBAL NOMADS

Departure Dates Ex Srinagar : June – 25 | July – 09 & 23 | August – 06 & 20 | September – 03.

Departure Dates Ex Delhi : July – 02, 16 & 30 | August – 13 & 27 | September – 10.

Trip Cost @ Rs 35,000/- per person.

For more Info Contact :-

8446382362 / 9867761900

globalnomadsco@gmail.com

Offbeat Goa : Culture, Nature and Symphony of the Sea

Sun, Sand & Sea, relaxing place, freak out place, are some of the descriptions used for one of the most famous tourist destinations in India – Goa. Becoming a part of the Indian Union in 1961, Goa has emerged as one of the most visited destination in India. Beaches like Calamgute, Baga, Candolim, Vagator, Colva, Miramar, the Temples of Shanta Durga and Mangueshi, and the old Goa Churches (Saint Xavier’s Cathedral & Basilica of Bom Jesus) are flocked by lacs of tourists every year.

                              

But Goa, as a destination has much more to offer other than the above mentioned general tourist spots. These places are a bit off-beat but give us a larger picture of the Cultural and Natural importance of the state. Here we try to explore some of these places.

Tambdi Surla :

Built in the 12 Century, this is Lord Mahadev Temple is said to be the oldest temple in Goa. This temple is located around 13 km from Bolcornem village inside the Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary and Mollem National Park. Built from the basalt stone, it was commissioned by the Yadava King Ramchandra and constructed by his minister Hemadri. As the Kadambas ruled Goa during that time, the temple is the only specimen of the Kadamba-Yadava architecture in basalt stone. The architecture is similar to the temples located at Aihole in Karnataka and can be of a major interest for a person having inclination in monument / architectural photography.  Due to its remote location deep inside the forest it survived several invasions and the Inquisition of Goa by the Portuguese. As mentioned earlier, the area around the temple is a forest reserve and is rich in flora and fauna. According to a legend, a king cobra is a permanent resident of this temple.

Dudhsagar Waterfall :

Considered among one of the tallest waterfalls in India, the Dudhsagar waterfall is located around 46 km from Madgaon on the Belgum Highway. This four tiered waterfall is located on the river Mandovi is also a part of the Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary and Mollem National Park. Accessible by walking from the Castle Rock Station, the area around the waterfall is rich in bio diversity. The waterfall is spectacular during the monsoon season and is popular among the trekkers and nature photographers.

Chapora Fort :

The current fort structure built in the year 1717 was once a part of the Portuguese Empire, the Maratha Empire and the Kingdom of the Maharaja of Sawantwadi. The supremacy over this fort changed hands several times before finally becoming the part of the New conquests of the Portuguese. The fort has views of all the directions with Chapora river in the north, Vagator Beach in the south and the Arabian Sea in the west. Owing to its tranquility it has a few visitors. The fort was also used a film location in the bollywood movie Dil Chahata Hai.

Aguada Fort :

Overlooking the Arabian Sea on the Sinquerim Beach, Fort Aguada was built in 1612 as a defence guard, firstly against the Dutch and then later on, against the Marathas. Located on the mouth of the Mandovi river, this fort served as the reference point for the ships coming from Europe. The fort was once a grand stand of 79 Cannons. The word Aguada means water and the fort has a capacity of storing 23,76,000 gallons of water, which was one of the biggest fresh water storages at that time in whole asia. The Light house next to the fort was built in 1864 and was up and running till it was abandoned in 1976. This fort is one of the popular tourist spots in Goa.

Saturday Night Market :

Sprawling over a hill near Arpora, is the Saturday Night Market. It has developed as a good alternative to the Wednesday flee market. From handmade leather belts to Pashmina Shawls, from embroidered cushions to ethnic carpets, traditional bags, jewellery, apparels and much more. This market also houses food stalls featuring cuisines from across the globe, and the centre stage that hosts live concerts featuring Rock to Indian Classical.

You can experience all of the above with

GLOBAL NOMADS

Offbeat Goa Trip Date : 19 May 2016  – 22 May 2016

Trip Cost @ Just Rs 6999/- Per Person

For info and reservations call :

8446382362 / 9867761900

globalnomadsco@gmail.com

Ladakh – The Land of the Lamas

Comprising of the mesmerizing Indus and the Zanskar Valleys is the heavenly human abode called as Ladakh. The name literally means the “The Land of High Passes”. It extends from the Kunlun Mountain Range to the Himalayas and was the part of the ancient trade routes. Historically the region comprised the Baltistan Valley, Indus & Zanskar Valleys, the region of Lahul & Spiti, Aksai Chin and Ngari. The main inhabitants of this region are of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent. Most of the people here follow Tibetan Buddhism and Shia Islam.

Since the 1970’s when Ladakh opened its borders for tourism, it has been one of the most sought after tourist destination. It is considered as one of the few exotic locations which offer a varied geographical topography. The raw and rugged terrain is the main attraction for off-road adventure enthusiasts. The scenic locations, exotic landscapes and clear skies have also attracted a lot of travel photographers to this region. The development of tourism was welcome call for the local Ladakhis as it became one of the main sources of their Income. Its remote location and lack of easy accessibility has helped in preserving its natural and rustic splendor.

Ladakh predominantly follows the Tibetan culture. They celebrate a lot of festivals, both Traditional and Organized. The main organized festivals are Sindhu Darshan Festival held in May-June on the occasion of Guru Poornima and The Ladakh Festival held in September. These festivals are organized by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and the State Tourism Department respectively. The Traditional Hemis Festival is one of the most popular and the biggest festival in Ladakh. It is celebrated in June to commemorate the birth of Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche in Tibetan), the main masters of the Vajrayana Buddhism.

Ladakh is accessed by two land routes, one from Srinagar and the second from Manali. The Route from Srinagar goes via many scenic places like Sonmarg, over the Zoji La Pass via Drass, Kargil and passing through the Namik La and Fatu La. This is the Historical route and is also considered as the main Gateway to Ladakh. The second route through Manali is called as the Manali-Leh Highway and goes via four passes, Rohtang La, Baralacha La, Lungalacha La and Taglang La. Both the routes are open between May and November.

As said that tourism is the most important aspect of the region, it has a lot of must visit places. The palaces of Leh, Shey and Stock are worth a see. The monasteries of Thiksey, Alchi, Spituk, Lamayuru, Hemis, Diskit to name a few are major tourist attractions. Lakes like Tso Moriri and Pangong have mesmerizing sights and offer camping facilities on their banks. Khardung La and Taglang La, the highest and the second highest motorable roads in the world are a part of Ladakh. The scenic valleys of the Nubra, Indus and the Zanskar also form a part of this region.

Arguably, no other single destination in the world such kind of diversified landscapes with green grass, sand dunes, rugged terrains, blue rivers, snow clapped peaks and scenic valleys. To conclude, Ladakh is a must visit place on earth at least for once in a persons’ lifetime.

To experience the above, come join us, on a Trans Himalayan Safari to Ladakh - The Land of Lamas with 

GLOBAL NOMADS

Departure Dates Ex Srinagar : June – 25 | July – 09 & 23 | August – 06 & 20 | September – 03.

Departure Dates Ex Delhi : July – 02, 16 & 30 | August – 13 & 27 | September – 10.

Trip Cost @ Rs 35,000/- per person.

For more Info Contact :-

8446382362 / 9867761900

globalnomadsco@gmail.com

Kerala Boat Races

Champakkulam Moolam Vallam Kali

Venue: Champakkulam, Alappuzha district, Kerala.

The boat races of Kerala, the largest team sport in the world, impart experience beyond words. In Kerala, the season of boat races starts with the renowned Champakkulam Moolam Vallam Kali (vallam kali means boat race). The festival takes place at Champakkulam, a serene village in Alappuzha district, on the moolam asterism in the Malayalam month of mithunam (roughly June/July).

On the day of the race, people, both locals and travellers from far off places, flock the river bank to enjoy the race. Venturous spirits will ensure a better vantage point by climbing the nearby trees. As the sun comes straight on top of all gathered, boats in various categories like the chundan (snake boat), veppu, iruttu kuthi, churulan and others from nearby regions assemble at the starting point of the race. Among these boats, the snake boats with its fascinating design catch the attention of all.

Being the largest sporting event in the world, snake boat race is often considered as the ultimate test of endurance, speed and skill. As the oarsmen set the pace of their boats with oars striking the placid waters of River Pamba, it becomes a track on fire.

Experience the above with

GLOBAL NOMADS

Date of Trip : 19 June 2016   |   Duration : 5 Days (Ex Cochin)

@ Just Rs 11,111/- per person.

For more Info Contact :-
8446382362 / 9867761900
globalnomadsco@gmail.com