Because I've always wanted to...
Greetings from the Islington bunker where we're all getting
itchy feet after the incessant rains of January. Our first
newsletter of 2014 showcases some lateral highlights from Steve's
trip to India in September last year during which he visited the
Northern regions of Ladakh and Kashmir (which are beautiful to
visit during the summer months), the temples and hill stations in
Tamil Nadu and ended with a brief stop in Pondicherry before
heading to the Andaman Islands which are still very much in their
infancy for visitors. For travels this year and beyond, please do
remember to contact us in good time of high season travel
periods.
Yours laterally,
Nick Mathews, Laterallife London, UK.
Ladakh, North India
Bordering Tibet to the East it is easy to question if you are still
travelling in India.
The landscape is described as mountain desert with splashes of
green from the small oases that border the major Zanskar and Indus
rivers.
Stay in villagers' homes where rooms have been converted to receive
visitors looking for authenticity and to learn about the Tibetan
culture be it in their work, their food or their religion.
Visits to Buddhist monasteries for a palm reading or to see the
morning prayers, river rafting, village walks, biking and cookery
lessons are just some of the interactive highlights.
Chettinad District, Tamil Nadu
Few visitors to India have even heard of the Chettinad District
but we are certain this will change over the next few years.
The area used to be, and still is, home to some of India's
wealthiest families but the heyday was in the 18th & 19th
centuries when wealthy merchants and traders built enormous
mansions to house their luxury possessions.
Many of these incredible mansions and palaces still exist, albeit
most in a far more faded state but still maintaining giant teak
pillars, the occasional cricket-ball sized gemstone and enough
rooms to house extended families.
The cuisine here is subtly different with spices such as kalpasi
(also known as black stone flower) dominating the various dishes. A
highlight is a cooking class with the chef from the Bangala. Stay
at Visalam Mansion in the heart of Kanadukathan and experience the
traditions of the Chettiars.
Kashmir
A stay in Kashmir isn't complete without a visit to Dal &
Nigeen Lake and a night or two on a traditional houseboat.
Some of these have been upgraded with modern comforts but
maintaining the elegant Kashmiri influences and offering visitors
the chance to enjoy those paradisiacal views of the evening mist
over the lake and its canals which run through the ancient city of
Srinagar.
Srinagar itself is a testament to a city which has hardly
changed for hundreds of years. Float past vegetable markets in your
private Shikara boat, walk through the botanical gardens, visit
ancient mosques, dine on courses of fragrant lamb and wander among
ancient streets where traditions of local crafts, medicine and
manufacturing are all very much alive.
Rajakkad Estate, Palani Hill, Tamil Nadu
The Palani Hills are accessed from Madurai where a must-see
spectacle is the morning or evening ritual at Meenakshi Temple
whose 14 gateway towers (gopurams) dominate the city's skyline.
Meenakshi represents one of the most important Hindu temples in
India with festivals attended by thousands of devotees.
Escape the chaos and drive into the hill station territory in Tamil
Nadu with a calming stay at Rajakkad Estate, owned by the Fry
family (of Fry's chocolate fame). Rajakkad was literally moved teak
pillar by pillar from Kerala up into the hills where the grounds
border coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations.
Chettinad District, Tamil Nadu
Few visitors to India have even heard of the Chettinad District
but we are certain this will change over the next few years.
The area used to be, and still is, home to some of India's
wealthiest families but the heyday was in the 18th & 19th
centuries when wealthy merchants and traders built enormous
mansions to house their luxury possessions.
Many of these incredible mansions and palaces still exist, albeit
most in a far more faded state but still maintaining giant teak
pillars, the occasional cricket-ball sized gemstone and enough
rooms to house extended families.
The cuisine here is subtly different with spices such as kalpasi
(also known as black stone flower) dominating the various dishes. A
highlight is a cooking class with the chef from the Bangala. Stay
at Visalam Mansion in the heart of Kanadukathan and experience the
traditions of the Chettiars.
Pondicherry
This tiny French-influenced enclave on the East coast around 2
hours south of Chennai (formerly Madras) contains some fine French
architecture, the ability to purchase some acceptable European (and
Indian) wine, dine on a good steak and have pain au chocolat for
breakfast.
This is a town for wandering around in a less hurried fashion
compared to much of India. Stop by the main temple for a blessing
by the resident elephant and visit Auroville which is the most
famous ashram in the country. Palais de Mahe is a reconstructed
colonial style mansion just one block from the promenade.