Walking through the wilderness of Corbett, into the anachronously enormous wooden door of Fairmont Jaipur, I’ve had my calendar full with a journey of beautiful destinations, luxury, and leisure. Throughout this journey across India, as well outside it, I have had some very memorable experiences which I have shared with everyone through my travel diaries. The best part about 2017 was that I visited at least one new place every month! So just for a jog down of 2017 , the memory lane, here I present some of my favourite adventures, from the year gone by.
My first destination of 2017 was Jim Corbett.
Here, going beyond the local, I experienced an ethereal combination of Jungle Safari, Village visit or interaction and local festivity celebration to deepen our affiliation with nature and the locals. The villagers shared anecdotes of their encounters with Tigers and other wild animals. Despite the simplicity, they face hardships – like staying up all night to keep away animals from their crop fields.
Next, I headed to Jorasanko Thakurbari, Kolkata.
I have stayed almost all my life in Kolkata but never visited Jorasanko Thakurbari until one day when my mother forced me to accompany her, and God knows how glad I am for that. It is the very place where he was born, spent a major part of his childhood and breathed his last breath which is why It has now been restored and converted into a museum and is a store house of all the cherished memories of Rabindranath Tagore’s life.
Then I went to explore the French Town of Pondicherry.
This, once a French Colony, is built of houses that are symbolic of the Franco-Tamil or Creole architecture. The French left in the early 1950’s but the heritage that remains is beautiful. Also, this union territory is home to some of the most scenic beaches of the country. The Serenity beach with its enormous waves is another picturesque place that is meant for the adventure enthusiasts and is suitable for surfing.
Then on my birthday month, I was off to Dubai.
My trip to Dubai was nothing less than a luxury ride packed with sumptuous facilities and rejuvenation of the mind and the body owing to the stay at the Taj Dubai. The location, the facilities, the decor and the ambience, was quite a lavish treat. I can undoubtedly label it as my best hotel stay in a really long time.
Then, I travelled to Jaipur, for a Royal Indulgence.
Bringing the culture and history of Rajasthan to life with the utmost authenticity, is the Fairmont Jaipur. One of the flagship hotels of the Fairmont group in India, this one at Jaipur encloses a whole another world within it. Blending perfectly the intricate architecture of the erstwhile Rajputana and Mughal framework, the Fairmont is a blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture.
Have you ever visited Goa in Monsoon? If you haven’t, then you must.
Monsoon in goa is beautiful. Far from beaches, the forested hinterland of the state literally comes alive during the monsoon. Goa gets painted in shades of green in Monsoon, hills covering themselves in misty veils. The muddy smell, the blowy winds makes the season look beautiful. And the best part is that usually the rates of the luxury hotel rates fall and are perfect for a Monsoon break.
My next stay was at the Grand Mercure Vadodara Surya Palace.
With the range of guest rooms, Grand Mercure has 6 suites including 1 presidential suite which has an international interior. The all – day dining Azure restaurant at the hotel presents variety of culinary experiences with multiple selections of cuisines. Providing the basic royal amenities, Grand Mercure also provides with the luxuries like a fitness centre with well – equipped modern equipments, an open – air swimming pool to relax and refresh.
My travels then took me to the ruined city of Gaur.
Across the Indo-Bangla border lies one such grey soul, the ruined city of Gaur. With a sky full of history, the citadel now shines bright despite the cracks and wreckage. This can be credited to British archaeologists and administration who, under the guidance of Lord Curzon, helped restore many crumbling walls, forts, and frames, to their former glory.
For my next trip, I was off to Dubai, again.
With its sightseeing attractions, shopping malls and the sky rocketing buildings, Dubai is undoubtedly eclectic and the most sought after destination. But it was the stay in Dusitd2 Kenz hotel that made it altogether an enthralling experience. DusitD2 Kenz Hotel is no less in hospitality business, right from the moment you park up all the way through leaving the hotel, the staff members were so completely engaged and just couldn’t do enough for you.
My visit to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, simply left me wanting for more.
There were so many things to do, so many places to visit, that I just didn’t know where to begin. The Hello Kitty Park, The angry bird park, legoland, were most enjoyable to visit. I definitely enjoyeda scrumptious treat over at the Desaru Fruit Farm. I still cannot get over the beauty of Rawa Island.
Finally, overcome with bouts of nostalgia, I went for an impromptu trip to Nainital.
Nainital offers a variety of options such as going to the tiffin top, trek to Pangot, echo caves and ropeway. It seemed that the beauty of nature was at its peak. With a dense canopy of pine and fir trees, there were unique species of birds and monkeys. It is a lust green forest path and offers a splendid bird’s eye view. It is a wonderful opportunity for those who love to go on long walks and enjoy the scenic beauty.
If you have been following me on my social media forums, you will know I went to Pushkar twice in December! It was extremely beautiful both the times. I am yet to write a post about my trip to Pushkar.
Overall, my year was a rather eventful one, completely filled with magical adventures, to cherish and remember forever.
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