Forests & Wildlife

STAY Mostly tents, homestays on some days

GETTING THERE The only way to get to Leh in January is a flight from New Delhi. Drive from Leh to Sumdo, the starting point of the trek.

Punjab’s rural Olympics Held near Ludhiana, these feature horse racing, acrobatics, athletics, martial arts and feats of strength.

River rafting While Rishikesh in Uttarakhand is known for its rapids, other places where you can do it are Ladakh (J and K), Kullu (Himachal Pradesh) and Kolad (Maharashtra).

Bungee jumping Rishikesh has the highest bungee jumping spot in India, but you can also experience the extreme thrill at Goa, Bangalore, Delhi and even Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh state.

Air show at Bengaluru Aero India is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition and the second largest air show in the world after the Paris Air Show. The next edition is in 2019.

Mahalaxmi race course Built in 1883 and modelled on the Caul eld Racecourse in Melbourne, take in the Indian Derby on the rst Sunday of February.

Comprising Ladakh’s Lake Moriri and its surrounding environment that includes the Changthang plateau region, this is a paradise for eco-tourists. The district is home to some endemic alpine animals and bird species including the Tibetan Wolf, the Himalayan Blue Sheep and the Snow Leopard. You can also catch the Korzok Gustor festival, which takes place in the 6th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar and attracts many Changpa nomads and tourists.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: June to September

STAY: There are some hotels and several homestays at Korzok village, close to the lake

GETTING THERE: Leh has direct flights from Delhi. Leh to Lake Moriri by road is about 220 km.

Trek, hike and camp to explore the rich biodiversity in this park in Sikkim. The Green Lake Trek and Dzongri Goechala Trek are some of the best alpine treks in Sikkim that pass through here. Also in north-east India are other wildlife parks such as Manas National Park and Kaziranga National Park, both in Assam.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: April-May

STAY: There are some private hotels in close range and a government rest house as well

GETTING THERE: Nearest airport is Bagdogra (222 km away), nearest railhead is New Jalpaiguri (221 km away). Well connected by road.

This is India’s first planned ecotourism destination. Literally meaning ‘honey hill,’ it shares its resources with the renowned Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary at the foothills of the Western Ghats. Indulge in Kerala’s local food, see the open air musical dancing fountain and the beautiful sculpture garden. Feeling adventurous? Stay at tree top huts, go for mountain biking, rock climbing and riverside treks. A visit to the Deer Rehabilitation Centre is a must.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Through the year

STAY: Basic rooms and tents

GETTING THERE: 72 km away from state capital Thiruvananthapuram that is well connected to all major cities