These volcanic islands and their waters are considered to be one of the last unexplored stretches on the planet. There’s no doubting the archipelago’s natural beauty, with its sandy bea

Mount Annapurna, with an elevation of approximately 8091 m above sea level, ranks at the 10^th position among the highest peaks in the world. Located in north-central Nepal, this mountain

Antarctica, the fifth largest continent in the world, has 98 per cent of its area covered in ice. Located in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, this ice desert does not have any plant

Arunachal Pradesh is India’s easternmost state, bordering Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west and China in the north. The largest of the north-eastern states, this “Land of the Dawn-l

One of the Seven Sister states of Northeast India, Assam is located to the south of the Eastern Himalayas. With an area, spanning around 78440 sq km, the state comprises the Brahmaputra and Barak V

Auli, a small town in the Garhwal Himalayas, is a skiing destination that’s under the radar yet holds much promise. Auli lies above Joshimath (13km away), a nondescript town but one that&rsqu

Located out in the Atlantic, the isolated Azores is 1564km directly west of Lisbon, Portugal, and 3900km off the North American coast. This chain of nine islands, all volcanic in origin, was coloni

Popularly known as the Island of Gods, Bali is an island and province in the Southeast Asian country of Indonesia. As a province, Bali includes the main island of Bali along with small surrounding

No other game reserve in India has a higher density of tigers than the impressive Bandhavgarh. Eager to spot this king of the jungle? Then head to Madhya Pradesh's second national park (behind

The beautiful kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked nation, located towards the eastern end of the mighty Himalayan Mountain Range in South Asia. Known as the Last Shangrila, its official religion is t

The paragliding in the twin destinations of Bir and Billing is regarded as the best in the world (next only to the site at Lake Como, Italy). Glide on the famous ‘thermals’ around here

Situated in the Indian state of Meghalaya, Cherrapunji is a sub-divisional town in the East Khasi Hills district. Regarded as one of the wettest places on the planet, the town observes rainfall rou

Avifauna-rich Chilika, on the east coast of India, is one of Asia’s largest lakes. The wonderfully lush wetlands here, along the shores of the lagoon, have been described as India’s finest, and, not s

The rolling hills of Coorg (locally known as Kodagu) are as tranquil and as picturesque as they’ve always been. Here, the mountains and the rivers, along with forests of rosewood, plantations

The picturesque hill station of Dalhousie is located in the district of Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. The Chamba district has its borders with Kangra in the southwest; Jammu and Kashmir in northwest; P

The charming if now tumbledown (and often polluted) hill town of Darjeeling is an important tea-cultivating centre. More obviously, it is a welcome retreat from the clammy heat of the plains.

The town of Dharamsala is the base for a number of treks that cross the rocky Dhauladhar range, into the valley of the Upper Ravi and Chamba district. This is prime hiking terrain, the place to be

Lying on the south-eastern coast of the Persian Gulf, Dubai is one of the seven emirates that form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This bustling city is a striking blend of time-honoured traditions

Despite the ascent losing much of its cachet – with every Tom, Dick and Hari eager and ready to attempt the daunting climb, ‘Everesting’ has become a massive industry, often bligh

An administrative division and western region of the state of Uttarakhand, Garhwal is a popular tourist destination among nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. Chamoli, Haridwar, Dehradun, Rudra

Tranquil and (mercifully) distinctly untouristy, this rugged and undulating park in the western corner of India, incorporating the picturesque Gir Forest, is known the world over for the Asiatic Li

Goa is the smallest state in India in terms of area. Situated along India’s western coastline, the state is bordered by Karnataka in the south and east, and Maharashtra in the north. The enti

Gokarna is a small, scenic temple town in the state of Karnataka. This place is considered among the Mukti Stalas (a place where Hindus perform last rites of their kin). The biggest attraction of t

Situated on a high plateau, pastoral Gulmarg, which translates as ‘meadow of roses’ in Kashmiri, is home to a hill station that has few parallels in India. It boasts a picture-perfect A

Hemis National Park is also known by the name Hemis High Altitude National Park. It lies in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, specifically in the north-eastern Ladakh region. The park is flanked by t

Know as the Pink City, Jaipur is the largest and capital city of the state of Rajasthan. Owing to its rich heritage, buzzing markets and magnificent architecture, this historical city draws thousan

Fondly called The Golden City of India, Jaisalmer is a historic city in the state of Rajasthan. Set amidst the Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, the city is a major tourist destin

Among national parks in India, Corbett is iconic. Though there’s wildlife in abundance here, it has always been associated with the tiger, thanks to the influence of the legendary hunter-turn

In a state blessed by national parks, Kanha is not only Madhya Pradesh’s but India’s grandest game reserve. It was the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’<

This lush avifauna park, not too far out of Mumbai, is a birdwatcher’s dream. The dense forest cover here hides a plethora of birdlife, and is resplendent with colourful plantlife.
Wit

There are tigers here but this World Heritage Site (1985) is famous for its one-horned rhinos, among Mother Nature’s most awe-inspiring creations. The official rhino count here is around 2000

There are very few richer avifauna areas anywhere in the world than the Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Rajasthan (earlier the Ghana Bird Sanctuary – and a reserve for duck shoots). To the so

An ice -topped mountain near the Equator? Yes! At 5895m (19341ft), Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest peak besides being an iconic African image. Emerging from the scrub-carpeted coastal plains,

Sheltered Kinnaur offers beauty and stunning mountain panoramas. It’s famous for its pretty slate-roof houses, woods of pine, towering peaks – and acres of apple orchards (Himachal’s most famous expor

This national park’s website describes Kruger as the “real Africa”. While those who are associated with Africa’s other wildlife sanctuaries might disagree, there’s no doubt that Kruger – one of eight

One of the two regions and administrative divisions of the North Indian state of Uttarakhand, Kumaon is set in the Himalayas. Six districts of the state that lie in this division include Nainital,

Ladakh is a high-altitude cold desert-plateau, located in the northernmost part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Geographically, the region also includes Lahaul and Spiti, Baltistan and Aksai Chi

Cross the Rohtang La Pass and the landscape undergoes a vivid transformation, from valleys of lush green to mountains of different shades of brown, blending into high desert, suspended glaciers and

Located, in splendid isolation, off the coast of Kerala, the tropical coral islands of Lakshadweep, generously speckled with coconut palms and gorgeous beaches, make for a locale that’s picturesque an

Leh, with its moon-like topography and desolate beauty, offers a sight of lucid-blue skies and the sound of Buddhist monks chanting in gompas (monasteries). It’s a place unlike any other, wit

Two famous hill stations in the state of Maharashtra, Lonavala and Khandala are located in Pune district. These hill stations are about 64 km from Pune and 80 km from Mumbai. Nestled in the Sahyadr

The Maasai Mara National Reserve (also known locally as “Masai Mara”, or “The Mara”) is a spot as synonymous with wildlife as any on Earth, in a region that’s blessed with wildlife. Especially famous

Located in the Beas Valley, towards the north of Kullu Valley, the scenic hill station of Manali was once the starting point of an ancient trade route to Ladakh, and onwards over the Karakoram Pass

Occupying a tranquil location in the north-eastern state of Assam, Manas National Park is set in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. Also known as Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, the park is home to

Manipur, meaning the Land of Jems, lies in the north-eastern part of India, bordered by the states of Mizoram, Assam and Nagaland in south, northwest and north, respectively. The state of Manipur s

One among the Seven Sister States of Northeast India, Meghalaya is the wettest place in the country. The name of the state means the abode of clouds in Sanskrit that aptly characterises it. A land

Mizoram, located in the north-eastern part of India, has its borders with the states of Assam, Manipur and Tripura along with nations, namely Bangladesh and Myanmar. The state capital of Mizoram is

Set in the stunning and serene environs of the Nilgiri Hills (Mudumalai translates as ‘old hills’ in Tamil), this wildlife sanctuary, one of India’s first, has the largest population of elephants in a

Mumbai is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city lies on the west coast of the country and is home to a deep natural harbour. Named as an alpha world city in 2009, Mumbai is also

The Mustang Valley consists of Lower Mustang and Upper Mustang, which was once the formed kingdom of Lo. It is an isolated and remote region in the Nepalese Himalayas. Ethnically, the people of Mus

Nagaland is a state located in the extreme north-eastern region of India. It is surrounded by Arunachal Pradesh in the north, Assam in the west and Manipur in the south. To the east, it is bounded

Gorgeously verdant Nagarhole, falling in the Coorg and Mysore districts of Karnataka, is home to elephants, tigers and leopards (the two big-cat species can be elusive around here). In this national p

Nainital, which lies in the Kumaon region of the state of Uttarakhand, is among the top hill stations of India. Located in the Shivalik mountain range of the Himalayas, this hill resort is quite po

Wedged between the Himalayan nations of Nepal and Bhutan, serene Sikkim lies at the foot of the immense Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak. Thundering rivers, forests of magnolia and cardamo

Nowhere near as irredeemably bleak as Zanskar out west, Nubra Valley, to the north of Leh, nonetheless has a stark beauty about it, and is also generously blessed with comfortingly verdant vistas. Ent

Formed by the Okavango River (“the river which never finds the sea”), the Okavango Delta is the biggest inland delta on the planet [a delta is a geographical feature, usually in the shape of a triangl

The bucolic town of Orchha, snugly embraced by the River Betwa, boasts history, splendid architecture and a scenic setting. Meaning ‘hidden place’, Orchha’s patchwork of palaces, chhatris, havelis, sh

Pretty and popular PAHALGAM (“village of shepherds”) is the starting point for treks in Kashmir. From here you can embark on round trips, lasting a couple of days, in the Lidder Valley. Besides being

Panna, once home to a decent population of tigers, endured a black mark against its reputation when every tiger within the park fell victim to poaching towards the end of the 2000s. Three tigers were

Located in the state of Himachal Pradesh, the Parvati Valley is a lesser-known destination. For a long time, the valley has acted as a gateway to the remote Lahaul and Spiti region via Chanderkhani

Pench suffers the disadvantage of having to compete with Kanha and Bandhavgarh among Madhya Pradesh’s tiger reserves, but it does offer a more than pleasant experience for the wildlife enthusiast.

The second largest city of Nepal, Pokhara lies in the district of Kaski. It is approximately 200 km away from the national capital, Kathmandu. This popular tourist city serves as the base for trekk

A curious mix of the old, the new and the new-age, prosperous and cosmopolitan Pune epitomizes the face of modern India, with its 21st-century industry (IT), trappings of modern consumer culture, s

Rajaji is Corbett in miniature, and doesn’t at all pale in comparison to its great (and touristy) neighbour. Spread out in three districts of Garhwal (Dehradun, Haridwar and Pauri), this national park

Mostly a part of Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, Rann of Kutch is an expansive area of salt marshes. A small chunk of this area also occupies the southern tip of Pakistan’s Sindh prov

The tiger is one of most elusive beasts alive but if there’s anywhere in India you’re likely to spot this magnificent animal, it is here at Ranthambore. Yet the setting of this iconic of national park

Rishikesh presents a trip that’s high on adrenaline and enlightenment – a unique blend of adventure, spirituality and yoga. Located in the foothills of the Lower Himalayas, in the Tehri

Though officially known as a tiger sanctuary, Sariska Reserve and National Park has seen few sightings of this predator, thanks to rampant poaching (even though it has, since 1979, been under the care

The Serengeti National Park, a World Heritage Site (1981), offers perhaps the most classic of African game-reserve experiences. A safari in this iconic wildlife sanctuary should be on every nature lov

Occupying a scenic location in northern India, Shimla is the capital city of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Bestowed with natural bounties, this city once served as the summer capital of British In

Shoghi is a small suburban town in the district of Solan in Himachal Pradesh. This scenic hill station, located at an approximate altitude of 1790 m above sea level, is an ideal destination for sol

Located 14km from Manali in Himachal Pradesh, Solang Valley (8500ft) lies on the western bank of the River Beas. It has a number of hotels and other accommodation options available nearby – and also t

This bird park, a tranquil spot not too far off from the bedlam of Delhi, has been associated with two of the most noted ornithologists – Peter Jackson and Dr Salim Ali. Jackson saw that here was a pl

Located in the vast estuarine region of West Bengal and spanning the Hooghly in the west and Teulia River in the east, Sunderbans is the world's largest estuarine forest. With an intricate pattern of

Tirthan Valley is counted among the most scenic places in the state of Himachal Pradesh. An ideal getaway destination, this valley is known for its beautiful lakes, rivers and lush greenery. The va

Wales is a part of the United Kingdom (along with England, Scotland and Northern Ireland), and is regarded as one of the modern Celtic nations. It shares a close social and political history with the

For variety and beauty of scenery, there’s little to beat Wayanad, astonishingly lush even by Kerala standards. The storied peak of Chembra looms out of the mist to stand watch over this pleasantly co

Squeezed between Bhutan to the east and Nepal to the west, the mountain state of Sikkim lies at the base of the mighty Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world. Rumbling rivers, verdant v

Often called the Great Escarpment of India, the Western Ghats are a chain of hills, running parallel to the West Indian coast. One among the eight hottest biodiversity hotspots, the region is recog

There are few places on earth as secluded as Zanskar. Hemmed in by the high Himalayas on all sides, Zanskar’s inaccessibility, its extreme cold and back-of-beyond location has, across centuries, left