Top 7 travel destinations in India 2014

India is one of the Nations with diverse culture, numerous people, several languages and a wide variety of foods. It has something for everyone, whether you are a person who wants to visit this amazing country for adventure or peace. Here is our pick of the top 6 Indian destinations in 2014.

Bekal

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This place is discovered by filmmakers first and then tourists start visiting it. Bekal is situated between the northern towns of Kanhangad and Kasaragod. It is Kerala’s largest fort. It has some long white-sand beaches begging for DIY exploration. The laterite-brick Bekal Fort, built between 1645 and 1660, sits on Bekal’s rocky headland and houses a small Hindu temple and plenty of goats. Shivappa Nayaka of Bednore is believed to have built the 40-acre fort in the 17th century for strategic defense rather than administrative reasons. Tipu Sultan used the fort as a military station during his 1789 advance on Malabar. Best time to visit Bekal is during the months of October to January.

Getting there:

By Plane – The nearest airport is Mangalore (60 km). Bekal Fort is on the Mangalore-Kozhikode railway line, midway between Kasaragod (18 km) and Kanhangad (8 km).

Alternatively you can go to Kochi International Airport, or Thiruvananthapuram airport with direct flights from the Middle East, Singapore, Maldives and Sri Lanka, then catch train or bus to Kasargod. Or you can go to Chennai (Madras), Bangalore, Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi, or other Indian cities and then by train.

By train – Kasargod and Kanhangad are well connected and serviced by rail to all major cities in India like H.Nizamudeen, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Jammutawi, Gandhidam, Jaipur, Pune, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Mangalore, Kochi, Chennai, and Bangalore.

By bus – You can also reach Kasargod by bus from big cities like Kozhikode, Mangalore, Kochi, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Mysore, Goa as the KSRTC (Keral State Road Transport Corporation) and many other private bus operators are there to transport you.

By road – Kasaragod is well connected with the road networks, including NH17 (from Mumbai-Cochi), SH (Kasaragod-Kanhangad). Thus has access to major cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, Chennai, Bangaluru, Coimbatore, Mysore, Shimoga, Koorg, Goa.

Coonoor

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It is one of the most popular stations located only 17 km from Ooty in Tamil Nadu, India. Coonoor is also famous for tea gardens and tea factories. Coonoor remains the haunt of pensioners, expatriates or those fortunate enough to be early retirees. One can relish the fine taste of local teas, homemade chocolate and gourmet cheeses. This place offers the quaint homestays and boutique resorts to the visitors. The best time to visit this beautiful Coonoor is between October to June.

Getting there:

By plane – Coimbatore International Airport is the nearest one to reach Coonoor. On arrival, either you can catch the toy train or hire a car to drive up to the up hills.

By train – You can drive down to Mettupalayam (about 1 hour's distance) for the toy train or hire a car to drive up to the hills. Coonoor is roughly about two hours drive from Coimbatore and the views are breathtaking as the road takes 14 tortuous bends upwards through dense forest. If you are coming from within Tamil Nadu, you can take the train to Mettupalayam and then the cute little toy train up to Coonoor and Ooty. There are regular buses coming here as well.

By road – Route from Bangalore: SH17 to Mysore, NH 212 to Gundlupet; state highway to Coonoor via Bandipur National Park, Gudalur, Ooty, Aravankadu, and Wellington. There are many signboards along the way from Mysore directing you towards Ooty. Once in Ooty drive through the city, there are boards along the way showing you the way. Roads are very good from Bangalore uptil Bandipur, but very sad later on.

Tawang

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The beautiful town is located in the mountainous regions of the state of Arunachal Pradesh at 3,048 m (10,000 feet). Tawang is popularly known for the 400-year-old monastery of the Gelugpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhists. The picturesque place is the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama and the largest Buddhist monastery outside of Lhasa. The best time to visit this holy place is between June to October.

Getting there:

By plane – Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (Guwāhāti International Airport) is a major hub for flights to North-East India and limited international destinations. From Guwahati you can take buses for Bomdila and break your journey at Bomdila , then take buses for Tawang

By Bus – There are frequent buses from Bomdila . From Guwahati you can take buses for Bomdila and break your journey at Bomdila , then take buses for Tawang

By car – The town is about a 16 hour drive from Guwahati. However, it is best to hire a Tata Sumo from Tezpur in Assam. From Tezpur you go to Bhalukpong (border of Assam and Arunachal) where Indian and Non Indian tourists have to show in permit (easily obtainable at either Guwahati or Tezpur) and proceed to a beautiful and rough drive up the mountains. It can take 12-14 hrs if you go at a stretch to Tawang. It is advisable to break your journey at either Bomdila or better still - charming little valley town of Dirang. Sela pass is notoriously difficult and heavy snowfall (during season) could force you to stay on either side.

Coorg, Karnataka

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With its natural splendor and exotic scenic environment, Coorg has a special place among the hill stations in India. Stretching in every direction are rolling hills crowned by puffs of curling mist. The most affluent hill station in Karnataka is nestled among the lush greeneries of the Western Ghats. It offers unequal luxurious vacation period to its guests. Coorg is praised as the 'Scotland of India' and also renowned as 'Kashmir of the South' due to the majestic beauty and cool ambience of the hill station at an altitude in the range of 3500 ft above sea level. The best time to visit Coorg is between September to March.

Getting there:

By plane – The nearest airport is Mangalore (150 km) but Bangalore (240 km) has better connections. Coorg is well connected to Mysore (82 km) by road.

By train – The nearest railway station is Mysore, some 100 kms away. But buses are frequent and connect Kodagu to nearby Karnataka cities such as Mysore and Mangalore, among others.

By bus – Buses are frequent and connect Kodagu to nearby Karnataka cities such as Mysore and Mangalore, among others. The bus journey is about 4-5 hours away. Be prepared for a rough, winding and inexpensive ride. If you are coming from Bangalore/Mysore, it is better to rent a cab from either city.

Andamans

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Andaman, a group of 550 islands, is located in the Bay of Bengal. The most visited is Havelock, with reasonably decent hotels, beautiful beaches, and snorkeling and scuba diving. Port Blair is the sole entry and exit point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which number nearly 600. Wandoor, Neil Island and Rutland Island are equally popular, the last with eco-tourists. It is part of the Union Territory of India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. There are about 26 islands which are human inhabited. It is believed that the origin of the name Andaman is related to Hanuman, the monkey disciple of Lord Rama, the epic hero of the Ramayana. The best time to visit the place is between October to April.

Getting there:

By plane – Flights to Port Blair leave from Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi. Tourist ferries are cheaper and take about four to five days from Chennai to Port Blair, but facilities onboard leave a lot to be desired. Local transport between the islands is by ferry or chartered boat.

By sea – It is possible to take a ship from Kolkata, Chennai or Visakhapatnam which takes almost 4 days to arrive in Port Blair. Facilities are basic, though and many prefer to sleep on the deck rather than in the cramped bunks. The ferries can take up to five days to arrive depending on weather and various other variables... this can be quite frustrating for many.

Varkala, Kerala

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Varkala town lies in the coastal regions of Kerala in the Thiruvananthapuram district. It is quieter, safer and better managed than other Kerala beaches, and arguably the most scenic seafront in southern Kerala. It is a place where hills are located close to the sea. The town has many natural fishers and springs which makes it one of the favored tourist destinations. Varkala’s seaside cliff, an unusual geological feature for this part of the world, shelters the Papanasam Beach. It is also a pilgrimage site where Hindus immerse the ashes of their forbears. The best time to visit the place is between November to February.

Getting there:

By plane – The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram (50 km). Papanasam Beach is about 5 km from Varkala Railway Station on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam line, where many major trains halt. Buses and autorickshaws ply regularly and taxi services are available.

By bus – State Transport Buses are available from Trivandrum. Bus service available from Varkala to many parts of South Kerala and Kanyakumari

By train – Varkala is also connected by Rail Network. If coming from Trivandrum and Cochin, the better option will be coming by train. Almost all trains passing by stops at Varkala. From Varkala Railway Station, Taxis and Auto Rickshaws can be hired. Papanasam Beach is around 5km from Varkala Railway Station Rs 40/50 by Auto Rickshaw).

Kashmir

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The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir is the Valley of Paradise. One of the India’s wildest and most controversial tourist destinations boasts some of the highest and most rugged landscapes on earth in mountainous Ladakh, and one of the most sublime in serene Dal Lake. The best time to capture the beauty of Kashmir is between March to October.

Getting there:

By plane – Almost all the domestic airlines in India fly from Delhi to Srinagar which is now an international airport also.

By train – The nearest railway station is at Jammu. The rest of India is connected by rail with Jammu; however the construction of a rail link from Jammu to Srinagar is completed and tested but for public it will be started later.

By road – From Jammu, various places in Kashmir are 6-8 hours by road. You can also hire a taxi or take a bus from New Delhi. The travel time by road is about 20 hours from New Delhi. The landscape tends to get very interesting from Jammu and it is mainly because of this reason travellers prefer the road trip (especially from Jammu). Please bear in mind though that the Jammu-Srinagar highway is extremely treacherous in the winters and, for most part of the winter is blocked by landslides. On the way from Jammu to valley do not forget to relish the famous rajmah chawal in Peerah and Pattisa (sweet made in ghee) in Kudd. 

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