ANDAMAN – A heaven for all
The mesmerizing beach at Andaman Source: Deepak Kumar, Unsplash Andaman is one of the most beautiful places in the country. It is particularly known for its diverse and mesmerizing beauty of the beaches and marine life it holds. It certainly has the most stunning beaches and rich diversity of flora and fauna, but the thing which is lesser known is that the Andaman group of islands have various types of activities. These activities range from water sports, jungle trekking to museums, historical places to even some amazing nightlife activities. With its major focus on natural and retreat locations, with certain locations providing high adrenaline rush activities, Andaman also has a soft side for historic and cultural relevances, due to its past. Here are certain categories of things to do in Andaman, out of which one of them is certain to fit into your preferences and taste. THE ADRENALINE JUNKIE A woman moving over beautiful corals Source: Notto Suthipat, Unsplash Notto Suthipat on Unsplash Once in a while, we all like to push our boundaries. Here at Andaman, there are various such activities that allow you to push your limits and get out there and pump yourself with energy. A part of why this is so sought after is because the reward of these activities is truly mesmerizing and always leaves one awestruck. If you prefer underwater adrenaline activities, there’s plenty of them here. Starting from the top of the surface of the water, we have stand-up paddleboarding. Paddleboarding is Like surfing which allows you to explore the sea and its parts in a more unique way at your own individual pace. As we go deeper, there is snorkeling. This activity allows for so much insight into the ecosystem and the habitat of marine life. You can enjoy like almost as if you were a part of the water body itself. Now that is an experience that will leave you without any words in your mouth. Yes! That beautiful! Scuba Diving is an experience on a whole another level, as we dive into the depths of the sea and get closer to the habitat which stays under the deeper surfaces of the ocean. With proper gear on you, you are certain to have the time of your time, as long as you wish to experience the marine life in its totality. Similar to scuba diving, we have sea walking. Now we walk on land all the time but walking on land at the bed of the sea, that counts to be a part of your bucket list. This is an experience that makes you feel almost like a dream, with all the fishes swimming through you and you touching the corals and experiencing them alive. These are the underwater activities, the best part is, there are activities from above the land as well. The balloon rides are at various locations in Andaman. They allow you to float on air like a bird and in the serenity, grab a stunning view of the beauty below. The comfort of feeling the air on your face as the balloon moves is so soothing and relaxing, that you feel like you’re on clouds. Which you almost are! Take a trip from a helicopter and have a look at the stunning views of beaches and forests from the top of the islands. As we see the smaller islands in a whole circle, we get an urge to stay there. The views and the whole combination of nature in perfect harmony are what Andaman is all about. The mesmerizing blue waters and the stark contrast of the green forests are a treat for the eyes. You can also dive through the vast expanse of the atmosphere and land on earth. Yes! That is skydiving. You will get such a beautiful view from up the sky as you are rapidly getting attracted to the ground. Your heart is sure to go racing while you’re at it. But, totally worth it. Also read about some adventure getaways near Mumbai. THE NATURE LOVER Since this is an island, it is no surprise what kind of beautiful eye treats wait for us at this location. From a range of beautiful beaches and jungles, we can explore such a diversity of flora, fauna, and marine life thriving in these locations, that it is mind-blowing. There are so many ways in Andaman that make one feel close to nature and a part of it too. With these activities, one can become a part of an ecosystem and absolutely feel the beauty of it there. The limestone caves, to begin with, are a natural deposition of limestone in a flowing form. Nature is magnificent, isn’t it? Not yet. There are treks and jungle trails. There is a mount Harriett trek. These treks are so soothing, with the calm environment, the soothing noise of the birds, and a known peace. A lot of people prefer these trails for bird watching and photography. With such a huge variety of birds in the habitat, everyone has their eyes on the newer and rarer ones. Elephant beach trekking is one of the favorites among the visitors. There are tours like semi-submarine tours and whale and dolphin watching ones, which allow you to have a look at the beautiful marine life from a distance, so as to be a part of such an experience. Also read about another heavenly abode, Kashmir. THE ONE COMFORTABLY ALONE Andaman has so much beauty in its treasure that one would doubt there are hidden spaces here. But the truth is, there are way too many undiscovered and secluded places, which allow you to silently get away from the mess, to give yourself the break you need. If you are looking to isolate yourself, get kayaking and go your own way at the mangrove plantations and find some untouched places in the midst of nature. THE ONE READY TO LEARN There are so many activities here that one
Discovering Pelling
A stunning view of the snow clad mountains. Credits- srushti Pelling is a beautiful land among the snow-clad mountains and its unexplored nature makes it even more exquisite. The mesmerizing beauty of the unknown is rewarding. Every turn is unpredictable, but as we move on ahead, we realize that it has its own beauty. The serenity of the region is gorgeous. One could just sit at one location for days on end, without being bored of the view. Let me take you on a mental trip, down the thoughts that make up a very beautiful part of my journey. Let’s go on from the tiring two-day journey to the days of experiencing Pelling in its very essence. Travelling After two days of train traveling, who wouldn’t be tired. The train journeys are certainly tedious ones, but who knew what stood for us at the end of the journey. The train was so tiring that the sound of the moving train still echoed in my ears. A literary journey into the undiscovered roads and experiences of the town of Pelling was how I would describe it. The destination was very beautiful, to say the least, but the duration of the journey, a little bit tiring. We entered the city on the brink of sunrise. It is a thing not worth missing. The route goes from New Jalpaiguri to Pelling. We can take a train to Jalpaiguri or a flight to Kolkata and then carry on by road. For me, it was a train journey for two days, before reaching New Jalpaiguri in the middle of the night. I stepped into the AC train from a warm humid Mumbai and got out to the spine-chilling cold of New Jalpaiguri. The cold was expected, but the chill which ran in the body on stepping off the train was a little more than expected. The bus took us from Jalpaiguri to Pelling. As we entered the hill region. The reduced pollution allowed for a beautiful night sky vision, with the twinkling stars above the head. The stars were at an arm’s reach, closer than ever. Spotting the constellations would be fun if the train trip hadn’t tired us so much. As the bus went on to the hills, the roads got narrower than any road previously seen. This is the moment of the most adrenaline rush in anyone’s life. Literally, a cliff at the side and a bus could hardly ever fit on the uneven road. Not exaggerating, but one centimeter on the side and the bus was sure to be off-trail. Fortunately, my eyes were too tired to see in the middle of the night, so it all dawned upon when the next day we took the same route to a sightseeing visit. Pelling- here I come! Nothing like a morning of breakfast beginning your day overlooking the lush green mountains backed by snow-clad peaks. I could never understand if the view was more relishing than the food, or I simply could not absorb so much beauty at once. When the first rays of the sun hit us, the beauty of the rising sun and the snow-clad mountains made it feel unbelievable. Not even in the slightest of imagination was it expected to have such a stunning discovery in the city of Pelling. It was our first day of discovering Pelling and we were all ready to see everything that waited for us. Outside the hotel, the view from the helipad with a feeling like we’re on top of the world, literally, among the highest ranges I stood gaping at the beauty I couldn’t absorb in. The orange-yellow hue of the rising sun hit the snow-clad mountains in such a beautiful way that it mesmerized everyone. The sky above a pure hue of blue and below lush green forest-covered hills, with the scarcest human population I had observed. Such peaceful lives the people led as they traveled through those tangled beautiful lush green trees every day. Shanghak choeling monastery The intricate design detailing of the Monastery Architecture. Credits- srushti As we walked 12km on this road to the Shanghak choeling Monastery, I felt a different kind of serenity which was never felt in the normal chaos of city life. This place was a haven and a place where one could live all their lives. Each and every curve of the road was a hairpin bend and so smooth, as we ascended the hill, the feeling of being such a tiny part of the whole of nature struck me as the tall coniferous trees surrounded the tiny roads. At the end of walking a huge twisted road, we reached the monastery. We entered the gates and moved forward into the monastery. As we moved ahead, we observed the monastery was surrounded by a beautiful place, which had flowers and certain beautiful plants encircling the monastery on the periphery. The time we reached there was prayer time, so we heard the relaxing sounds of the large bells. The monks had gone for prayers. The monks which prayed ranged from very young kids to very old men. There was no age limit as to who could pursue this peaceful life of a monk. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to visit the monk kitchen, but it is said that the monks have very good kitchens and there is always a little contribution from some monks in the form of any assistance needed for cooking. The beautiful architecture of the monastery was mesmerizing. I was stunned looking at the ancient architecture and design of the place which was made so many years ago and still held the same impact for which it was created. The interior allowed for an ideal space for meditation and self-reflection. Also learn about monasteries of the North-east here. Changey waterfall The gushing water of Changey Waterfall. Credits- srushti On the way to the Khecheopalri Lake, was a beautiful waterfall that flowed from the
