Greatest historical journeys

Charles Darwin: Voyage of the Beagle

British naturalist Charles Darwin set sail in 1831 on a five-year odyssey aboard the HMS Beagle to observe and document the natural environment. His Journal and Remarks was published in 1839 and is popularly known as ‘the Voyage of the Beagle’. He travelled to South America, the Galápagos Islands, Tahiti and Australia before heading home again via the Keeling Islands. His notes on biology, geology and anthropology were, in hindsight, the precursors to his world-changing ideas on evolution.
Get involved with the Beagle Project, which aims to build a replica of HMS Beagle and repeat Darwin’s epic journey.

Alexander the Great

Deemed ‘Great’ by some and ‘Grotesque’ by others, Alexander III was probably the most successful military commander of the ancient world (and modern times to boot). His conquests took him and his armies across 16 countries from Greece to India. Alexander’s period of conquests spanned almost a decade and included the defeat of the Persian Empire and the invasion of India. And he did so on a magic horse, between untangling mythical puzzles, losing friends and lovers, and variously being declared a god and a destroyer.
Start at Pella, where Alexander was born; mosaics from the palace are still intact. The Pella museum has artefacts from local archaeological sites.

Marco Polo

Travel was in the blood for Marco Polo (1254-1324), whose father was also a well-known explorer. Born in Venice, Marco sailed along the west coast of Greece to Turkey, and followed the Silk Road through the Middle East and Central Asia to China. There is some speculation as to the extent of Marco’s travels (which he put at over 39,000km), with sceptics accusing him of being something of a fibber. Were they just jealous?

Moving with the wildlife at the Silent Valley in Kerala

The dense rainforests of the Silent Valley is one of the few preserves that have been left practically untouched by man and modernization. Surrounded by hills, the inaccessible nature of the Silent valley has proved to be its blessing.

The brooding forests of the Silent Valley are located in the Nilgiri Hills in Kerala and are said to date back to 50 million years. The 236.74 square kilometer national park is a part of the Palakkad district in Kerala. The diverse ecosystem of the Silent Valley includes montane grasslands, deciduous, semi evergreen as well as evergreen forests. The Valley is an important part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and lies adjacent to the Mukkurthi national park and the Attappady forests.

Legends of the Silent Valley

The Silent Valley has an interesting role to play vis-à-vis Hindu mythology. The locals call the Valley Sairandhrivanam. Sairandhri refers to Draupadi, the wife of the five Pandavas. According to local legend, the Pandavas along with Draupadi stumbled upon the beautiful, isolated valley in the course of their travels during a period of exile. So enamored were they by the green, rolling forests bursting with life that they stayed here for some time.

Exploring the wildlife at Silent Valley

The Silent Valley is home to an amazing number of mammals, birds and reptiles. Isolated due to the ring of hills around it, the forest has been able to retain the Indo-Malaysian nature of the flora and fauna that has characterized the area over the ages. 

A trip to Silent Valley will give you some stunning glimpses of wildcats like tiger, panther, jungle cats, civets and fishing cat. The graceful sambar and spotted deer, the large gaur and smaller animals like mongooses, otters, flying squirrel and the scaly anteater are other wildlife that makes the Silent Valley an absolute delight for wildlife enthusiasts.

Among the more significant inhabitants of the forests are the lion tailed macaque and the Nilgiri langur; both of these are on list of endangered animals and the Silent Valley is one of their habitats on earth. The forests also have a large number of endangered birds. These include the Wayanad Laughing Thrush, Broad tailed Grassbird, the Malabar parakeet and the Great Indian Hornbill.

A survey conducted in 2006 reported that there were 138 species of birds in the Silent Valley. The forests also have 35 species of reptiles and 19 species of amphibians. In fact, there are two species of frogs that have been discovered in the Silent Valley. There are also several rare plants and herbs in the valley.

Reaching the Silent Valley

Given the heavy rainfall the area experiences, traveling here during the monsoon months might not be practical. The summers are warm while winters are pleasant. There are plenty of buses running from Palakkad to Mukkali. Palakkad is at a distance of 80 km, while Mukkali is 23 kilometers away. 

The distance between Mukkali and Silent Valley will have to be covered either by hiring a jeep or van. You could also trek part of the distance. As far as accommodation is concerned, there are a few guest houses within the national park. You could also stay at one of the many hotels in Palakkad town.

The Silent Valley is quite simply an unforgettable experience. It takes us back to an age when nature reigned supreme. The preserve with its pristine and untouched character is truly a unique spot in a world where else where man has left his rather heavy imprint.

 

Rafting in Arunachal 

White water rafting adventure along the majestic Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh is truly vitalizing and an exhilarating experience. There are a number of lodging options along the river, mostly in the form of spacious tents creating a wonderful setting.

 

Arunachal Pradesh is located in the northeastern part of India and is an ideal rafting destination due to its remote and serene location. This transcendent land is filled with magical jungles and tribal villages which create a scenic view for rafters due to the varied topography. 

The river is lined with both sub-tropical and alpine forests. Ninnguin and Marmong are two picturesque valleys surrounded by greenery, which you must visit while rafting. The Kameng River is also an excellent rafting stretch. There are two major reasons as to why Arunachal Pradesh is a preferred rafting destination for adventure lovers: 

• The river’s perennial high water content. This is maintained because five rivers join with the Brahmaputra.
• The unpredictable rapids and rocks which make it a challenge for trained rafters.

Learning the Tricks

A number of agencies conduct rafting camps and expeditions for novices. It is necessary to be in a good health and discard your fear for water. Here are a few important tips to remember while embarking on a rafting holiday:

• Ensure that you keep all your electronic equipment or another set of clothes in a dry box in the raft.
• Carry all the prescribed medication. Insect repellent and sunscreen is a must.
• Cotton clothing must be avoided as it does not keep you warm during the winters, which is the ideal rafting season and also takes a longer time to dry.
• Most rafting organizations allow you to hire wetsuits which serve as ideal attire for rafting.

When to visit

The best time to visit Arunachal Pradesh for rafting is between the months of November and March, right after the end of Monsoon. During this time, you can experience the best rapids and a pleasant climate. It might be unsafe to embark on a rafting expedition during the monsoon season because of the unpredictable currents.

Getting There

Although Arunachal Pradesh is considered inaccessible, it is becoming more connected as time progresses. The white water rafting adventure usually begins at Tuting. Arunachal Pradesh does not have its own airport. 

However, you can access this region by disembarking at the nearest airport which is the Lilabari Airport, located in Assam; it is located at a distance of 64 kilometers from Itanagar. Apart from this, helicopter services are also offered from Guwahati (in Assam) to Tawang.

The nearest railway station is Harmuty which is situated at a distance of around 33 kilometers from the capital. However, when it comes to convenience, the North Lakhimpur railway station in Assam is a preferred choice.

Tourist Ban in the MP Tiger Reserve

Many Indian states draw a large number of tourists to their tiger reserves to achieve a huge impetus in the tourism sector. But alarming reports of a steady decline in the number of tigers has raised a question, should tourism in this sector be banned? 

 

News has surfaced that tourists might be banned from visiting the tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the country, as efforts are being made to preserve the last few of this once dominant species.

Madhya Pradesh has some of the largest and most visited tiger reserves in the country. The state witnesses numerous tourists who visit its tiger reserves in the winter season. Apart from providing a huge impetus to tourism in the state, this has become a major issue of concern for the tigers residing in its wilderness.

The Key Issue

Prayatna, a Bhopal based NGO, has filed a “Special Leave Petition” to ban tourism in tiger reserves, raising concerns over the travel operators trespassing through the core areas that are prohibited for the public. This has triggered panic in the State Tourism Department and the travel operators association, as it could be a huge blow to them.

A move from the Supreme Court can also affect thousands of livelihoods that solely depend on tourism in and around the jungles. Analysts predict that, if this law comes into effect; it could encourage other activists to carry out similar approaches in other portions of the country.

However, this could come as a huge relief to the black striped wild yellow cats as their population is shrinking day by day since the last 100 years. The numbers of tigers were 40,000 in the early years of the last century compared to a meager 1706 now.

Reactions From Different Communities

The alarming decrease in the number of tigers recently has raised a huge concern among activists, ecologists and the government. However, TOTF (Tigers India Wildlife Association) and hoteliers who provide tourism packages have come out in major protest against this ban and have labeled it as “frivolous without any sound scientific evidence and highly irrational”. They say that nearly 20,000 to 30,000 people who earn their livelihoods due to this project will be jobless and would cut down the revenue earned by the hotels and the state tourism department.

The Other Side of the Argument

It is also a proven fact that tourism in these areas brings about vigil and helps in maintaining tight security in the area, preventing poachers and other miscreants from disrupting the wildlife. The hoteliers and travel package owners are usually the first ones to know about any such activities going on and inform the authorities. 

The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s principal bench had earlier rejected this PIL after which the NGO took it to the Supreme Court. Many officials also say that the consequences of implementing this law might be grave, as it would alienate the local community from the government.

The “Save the Tiger” project has kicked off in other states such as Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh as well.

Monsoon Travel India

This quote beautifully sums up what it can be like to Monsoon Travel India.'The sheer sight of cascading streams, tumbling waterfalls and ferocious torrents carving their way through jagged cliffs and rocky gorges is simply breathtaking.'

What exactly is the monsoon?

For most of the year India is a fairly dry place to be but for one short season during the summer months - Mainly between June and September. In this season, rain clouds are carried in from the Indian Ocean by a seasonal wind called ‘monsoon’. The wind is in turn dependent on oceanic currents and more scientific aspects of climatology.

The prevalent winds in India general travel Northwards through India from the South-West direction, thus the wet season is known by the locals as the 'Southwest Rains'.

Best places to Monsoon Travel India

The cool monsoon air redolent with the smell of wet earth, murmur of squeaking frogs and chirping of insects is something that just needs to be experienced firsthand. Eagerly awaited each year, the Southwest monsoon lashes most parts of north, west and eastern India from June to September offering the much needed respite from the scorching summer heat of the plains. The Retreating Monsoon season, on the other hand, brings rainfall to the southern regions from October to December.

Even beautiful Goa is an awesome place to be during the monsoon, despite the fact that everything is closed and most of everything else has blown away, the monsoon here is pretty exciting.

How much does it actually rain during the monsoon in India?

Well the answer to this question is almost impossible to answer due to the spontaneous nature of the Indian rainy season. The coast always gets a lot more rain, for example Karnataka (in the south) gets a huge amount of rain but as soon as you start travel inland you may find that it won't rain at all!
Flooding is nearly always expected in places such as these:
Kerala, coastal Karnataka, Goa mountain ranges, Maharashtra. The rains in states are highly unpredictable – Some years there are floods and other years huge droughts.