India at rice harvest time , and it was a perfect time to get great pictures , enjoy a freshly cooked bowl of scented rice and feel the essence of rural Indian life .
Kaziranga National Park
With full stomachs and light hearts , we proceeded to our destination - the Kaziranga National Park . I love safaris , and India offers many locals to view the country ’ s spectacular and unique flora and fauna . Well maintained and organized , the roads are open from November to mid-May , and visitors who want to can drive through the park in their own vehicles or go on guided tours . A special treat is that travel within the park can be done by riding elephants !
Regardless of mode , the tours inevitably offer a glimpse into the wild side of India . There are three tourist routes under the jurisdiction of three Ranges — Kohora , Bagori and Agaratoli – each offering a magnificent cross-section of the native vegetation and the many favourite hunting and foraging spots of the animals who call the park home .
As no visitor is allowed to enter the park without an accompanying representative , our group was entertained and informed by a great guide who woke us up the morning at 5am for a wonderful elephant trek . It was still dark as we left , but the sun quickly rose on the horizon . This was my second elephant ride in the wild and it was a real treat . Along the route we got to see some of the big mammals starting their day , including wild elephants , buffalo and one horned Rhinos … but my dream to see an ever-elusive tiger was not meant to be . Even during the second outing , this time in Jeeps , the tigers were not interested in human encounters . The park is also a wonderful location for bird watching , as it is home to vast array of exotic birds ,
including storks , multi-hued parrots and many others .
British influence , part 1
They may not be India ’ s rulers anymore , but the British left many traditions and features that India has adopted . One such item is Tea , and India has become masters of the art ! A visit to a tea plantation started by the British more than a century ago was a lesson in history and agriculture , as this region is very well known for its tea production and produces some of the world ’ s finest leaves . We were also shown the vital peppercorn plant , growing in vines on the plantation trees , something that I had never known before ! The visit also afforded us the opportunity to stock up on our gifts for back home and we bought loads of fresh and flavourful tea . Sadly we were denied the local pepper , as they were sold out of last year ’ s harvest – very disappointing !
Further in the day we were blessed with a visit to a small farming village that has been living the same way since antiquity . The farm-folk lived in unison with the land and were very welcoming to strangers . Gentle and open people , life moves very slowly here , and really makes you wonder about the rat race .
Guwahati , state of Assam
I will always envision Guwahati as a city of temples , as we visited 3 beautiful Hindu temples while there and could have easily visited many more .
Basistha Temple
The first one we visited , Basistha Temple , is nestled by a river and is well known , and is considered as one of the most powerful temples for most Hindus . Considered blessed by Lord Rama himself , the
Basistha Temple ’ s ashram is like a gem in the picturesque hills . Within the temple grounds is the Garbhanga forest and butterfly reserve with an exotic blend rich flora and fauna and a very rare butterfly reserve . There is also a lovely sacred cave and waterfall where it is said that rishi Basistha used to meditate by this splendidly serene area .
The temple ’ s popularity was evident , as there were two different marriages on the day we were visiting , and we were invited to celebrate their special day . The weddings are wonderfully colourful , and although the brides looked a little tense , they did smile once it was over !
Kamakhya Temple
There are many ways to worship in Hinduism , 100s of gods and goddesses and most of them might be a little obscure , but one well known is Tantric worship . Although the Kamakhya Temple is a notable pilgrimage destination for all Hindus , it is especially important for for Tantric worshipers as it is dedicated to the mother goddess Kamakhya . As it is considered the centre for Tantra worship , it attracts many devotees for several annual festivals , including the Ambubachi Mela ( celebration of the yearly menstruation of goddess Kamakhya ) and the Durga Puja ( a five-day festival that attracts several thousand visitors ). Our visit here was a real treat , as it is one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Pithas ( place of worship consecrated to the goddess Shakti ) but be warned , you must take of your shoes . I left my socks on and , needless to say , they were destroyed at the end of the tour .
Umananda temple
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Almost the complete opposite is the Umananda temple . Dedicated to Shiva , it is located on the “ smallest inhabited river-
American World Traveler / Fall 2016