This post is part of a series on ‘Walks in India‘.

Place: Periyar Tiger Reserve

Highlights: Forest Walks, possible sightings from anything mundane to even the big cat, boat ride at the end of the walk.

Season: October to May, when it is not raining.

Time of the day: Morning – 6.30am to 8am

Distance: Approximately 3kms

Difficulty: Easy

Map. This is an interactive map of the walk. Zoom in to get a closer look. The walk begins near the intersection of four roads in the map and ends at the boat jetty.

The Walk.

Photos by Himanshu Sarpotdar and diametrik

Start from the gates of Periyar Tiger Reserve at Kumily. You need to pay a small entry fee to get in. Thick jungle begins the moment you enter through the gate.

It is almost an hour’s walk from the gate to Thekkady, where all the tourist facilities of the reserve are located. Stroll slowly in the thick forest that surrounds you. Occasionally, you will get teasing glimpses of the big lake in the reserve, but not a full view till you reach Thekkady.

What you can sight on the way completely depends on your luck. It could be some interesting birds like White Bellied Treepie or Malabar Grey Hornbill, or some mammals like Wild Boars and Sambar deer. Lucky ones might even spot the tiger, but since you are on foot, you might be better off giving the big cat a miss.

Once you reach the place where all the tourist facilities are, you can have breakfast in the restaurant, take a boat ride, or sign up for jungle walks. You can hire a rickshaw for your way back, or walk back again if you prefer.

Tweet

Share

Subscribe to India Travel Blog |  Email This Post | 6 Comments

Related Posts

• Walks in India: Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
• Walks in India: Along, Arunachal Pradesh
• Walks in India: Hampi
• Walks in India: Gokarna
• Walks in India: Pondicherry

This post is part of a series on ‘Walks in India‘.

Place: Orchha

Highlights: Cenautaphs, Riverside Walk, ancient palaces and temples

Season: November to February, when it is not hot.

Time of the day: Evening – 3pm to 6pm

Distance: Approximately 3kms

Difficulty: Easy

Map. This is an interactive map of the walk. Zoom in to get a closer look. Click on the blue markers to identify of each location.

View Walks in India – Orchha in a larger map

Places to see and walking map of Orchha

The Walk.
With inputs and photographs from Celine.

Orchha is a small town in Madhya Pradesh near Jhansi. It is full of history and ancient structures, but has still not been part of any major tourist itinerary.

Begin the walk from the southern edge of the town at the Chhatris, cenotaphs of Orchha’s rulers. The Chhatris are located close to Betwa River; pay a visit to the river before walking northwards into the town. You can also cross the river using a bridge near the chhatris.

Walk north to the town, which is full of ancient temples and palaces. Visit the 17th century Chaturbhuj Temple, where you can walk up to the roof for panoramic views of Orchha town and the meandering river. Turn right here, cross the arched bridge and enter the enclosure of the Orchha Fort Complex that houses Jehangir Mahal and Raj Mahal. Visit Jehangir Mahal for its impressive Bundelkhand architecture and Raj Mahal for its beautiful painted ceilings, both are major attractions of Orchha. Nearby is the Rai Parveen Mahal, built in early 17th century for the lady of Raja Indramani.

Return to the center of the town and walk past Phool Bagh, near which
are the wind-catching tall towers popularly called Sawan Bhadon. Walk beyond the town for a kilometer to get to Laxminarayan Temple, which was built in 17th century.

The walk ends at Laxminarayan Temple.

You may need to find a way to get to Chhatris to begin the walk, and to get back from Laxminarayan Temple to your hotel. If you are planning a round trip from your hotel, add another 1.5km to your itinerary. A few well known hotels in Orchha are located to the south of the town, not very far from the Chhatris.

Tweet

Share

Subscribe to India Travel Blog |  Email This Post | 2 Comments

Related Posts

• Walks in India: Periyar Tiger Reserve
• Walks in India: Along, Arunachal Pradesh
• Walks in India: Hampi
• Walks in India: Gokarna
• Walks in India: Pondicherry

This post is part of a series on ‘Walks in India‘.

Place: Along

Highlights: Riverside Walk, Tribal Villages, green countryside

Season: October to April, when it is not raining.

Time of the day: Morning – 6.30pm to 11.30pm

Distance: Approximately 9kms

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Map. This is an interactive map of the walk. Zoom in to get a closer look. Click on the blue markers to identify of each location.

View Walks in India – Along in a larger map

Place to see and walking map of Along, Arunachal Pradesh

The Walk.
With photographs and inputs from Lavanya.

This walk is from one of the remotest regions of India, in Arunachal Predesh. It is also the longest of the walks in the series. But the weather is pleasant, and you can walk at your own pace besides the river and amidst lot of greenery, because of which it is not likely to be very tiring.

Start walking westwards from from Along, on the south bank of Siang River. The walk goes along the edge of the forest to its left, and fields and river to the right. First stop is Kabu Village, where, if you wish to, you can take a deviation to the river and walk across a flaky hanging bridge, and get back to the main road.

Continue walking westward from Kabu on the main road. The next stop is Pobdi village. Pobdi has a small tea shop where you can rest for tea and some snacks, but do not expect much from the place. Cross the bridge across Siang at Pobdi, and walk a little further to get to Paia Village.

The villages on the way – Kabu, Pobdi and Paia are inhabited by people of Gallong Adi tribes. In these villages you can see people making of rice beer(apong), old men weaving baskets, children wrapped in a cloth and being carried on the backs of women, women weaving, and life of tribals in general. You can also see a few mithuns(a kind of buffalo) grazing around the village.

The walk ends at Paia village. Do keep in mind that Pobdi is the last point of the walk connected with a tarmac road. Paia is not accessible to vehicles.

Tweet

Share

Subscribe to India Travel Blog |  Email This Post | 7 Comments

Related Posts

• Walks in India: Periyar Tiger Reserve
• Walks in India: Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
• Walks in India: Hampi
• Walks in India: Gokarna
• Walks in India: Pondicherry

This post is part of a series on ‘Walks in India‘.

Place: Hampi

Highlights: Sunrise from Matanga Parvatha, Vithala Temple, Coracle Ride, Ancient City of Vijayanagara and Virupaksha Temple.

Season: November to February, when the sunrise it most colourful.

Map. This is an interactive map of the walk. Zoom in to get a closer look.

The Walk.

Hampi is split into two walks, one in the morning hours and one in the evening.

Morning Walk.

Distance: Approximately 3km

Time of the day: Morning – 5.30am to 10am

Difficulty: Moderate

The walk starts early in the morning to include watching sunrise in the itinerary. Begin the walk by climbing the hill – Mathanga Parvata. The climb can take some effort, but is rewarding. Rough Guide calls it the most beautiful sunrise in the world, and Lonely Planet does not make any effort to hold back praises. The view of sun coming out from behind the rocky hills seems almost surreal, it is something to die for.

Matanga Parvata is probably the tallest hill in Hampi and has a 360 degree view. There is the charming river to north flowing amidst neatly arranged boulders. To the south is Viroopaksha temple standing tall. Look anywhere and you will see rocky hills covered with loosely held boulders or vast vistas of plantain farms.

Take your time on Mathanga Parvatha and enjoy the views. When you get down, head to the Bazaar and into the Viroopaksha temple. This is the only temple where a deity is worshiped, though Hampi is a town where you are sure to knock into a temple before you walk for five minutes in any direction. Don’t forget to buy Bananas at the entrance and feed it to the temple elephant Laxmi with your own hands.

Come out of the temple and head to Mango Tree Restaurant for a breakfast. The walk to the restaurant takes you along the river where you can watch boats taking people to the other side, and people bathing or washing clothes. The restaurant itself is right on the bank of the river, inside a plantain orchard.

Get to the other end of the Bazaar after breakfast and walk towards the river. Take a coracle ride from the river to Vithala temple. Boatmen claim the water here to be 50 feet deep. Flow of the river has made some interesting carvings on the rocks that are worth seeing. A small Mantapa on the opposite bank can only be reached by coracles.

Get down from the Coracle and walk to Vithala temple. The temple is a UNESCO world heritage monument, and is known for a stone chariot in its courtyard and musical pillars. You will have to be happy to see the pillars though, as touching them is not permitted.

From Vithala temple, take the bridle path that runs through the King’s Balance and return to Bazaar to end the walk.

Evening Walk.

Distance: Approximately 4km

Time of the day: Evening – 3.30pm to 6.30pm

Difficulty: Easy

This walk takes you through ancient ruins and temples of of Hampi.

Start from The Queen’s Bath, which is at one end of a series of monuments. Follow the signs put up by Archeological Department, and walk though the series of ancient structures comprising Hazaara Rama Temple, Underground Shiva Temple(Patalalinga Temple), Mahanavami Dibba, Elephant’s Stables and Lotus Mahal. Come back to the main road from here, and walk towards the Bazaar. Before reaching Hemakoota Parvata, a small deviation from the main road will take you to Laxminarasimha statue and Badavi linga. Walk further and visit Krishna temple, your last temple visit for the day. A short climb from here will take you to Hemakoota Parvatha. Sit and relax here and watch the sunset.

++More about Hampi on paintedstork.com

* Hampi Trip Report
* Hampi Utsava
* Spending time leisurely in Hampi
* An encounter with a hermit
* Hampi Images

Tweet

Share

Subscribe to India Travel Blog |  Email This Post | 1 Comment

Related Posts

• Walks in India: Periyar Tiger Reserve
• Walks in India: Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
• Walks in India: Along, Arunachal Pradesh
• Walks in India: Gokarna
• Walks in India: Pondicherry