Autumn and winter months are ideal for heritage travel. This gives you an opportunity to visit places and soak into them with a better view of things. In summer, most places face high tourist activities and therefore a chance to have an idyllic look at heritage places and spots can be dashed.
India being a culturally rich country has all aspects of heritage infused within it. When we talk about heritage it means –
- Architectural heritage
- Living Heritage
- Arts and Artifacts
- Customs and Culture
- Social Ways of Living
What are the heritage places in India that you can visit?
- Jammu and Kashmir is an ideal visit if you can tolerate the cold. Soak into the Kashmiri way of life, the rare architecture that you might come across and the traditional Kashmiri cuisine (Kahva tea is overrated now! But in Kashmir, it tastes definitely different)
- Goa is magical at Christmas, and it marks a peak season for a visit to Goa. Go only if you have the conveyance matters sorted since it is very crowded this time of the year (the other time is the summer on beaches). The festive spirit floats in the Churches and streets with Carnivals giving you a glimpse into Goan life.
- Kerala is another fine place to visit especially when you can have the offseason time to be at leisure here. Summers see Kerala in a crowded state. Check out the temples and natural wildlife, especially Periyar. Shop for traditional clothes and jewellery.
- Odisha is another place to visit. Not many people know about this state except for the Jagannath Puri festival. Odisha summers are hot but winters are the best time for checking out their marvellous temples, beaches and idyllic living. Do shop for traditional clothes and Patta Chitra paintings.
Coming to Gujarat the places to visit are –
- Kutch is a winter destination because summer temperatures are extreme though nights are cool. Check out the ports like Mundra and Adani ports and soak into shipping tales. Immerse in the White desert ie. Dhordo – named because of white sand. The Rann Utsav runs in the winter months till February so you can approach them for a unique experience.
- The Statue of Unity is a huge area and winter is the time to get all warmed up by visiting the whole area better. Catch a train or bus from Ahmedabad or Gandhinagar to Kevadiya Colony. There are many homestays and hotels here to stay.
- While you are at The Statue of Unity, you can also visit Chapaner – a UNESCO UNESCO-recognised World Heritage site. The majestic forts and architectural buildings within this amazing Chapaner city of the past are so breathtaking!
- While at Chapaner one can also visit Pavagadh for religious purposes. The Goddess Mahakali blesses everyone who visits her. It is deemed one of the oldest temples in the area. Machali Haveli can be your resting place here.
- Winter is about migratory birds too. While it is not an architectural heritage but a living delight to see them. Places like The Great Rann where you can watch flamingos in a profusion of whites and pinks. Nalsarovar and Thol Lake (in Ahmedabad) are ideal for a visit especially if you want to go for picnics.
So you see, winter has lots of delights to hold us in thrall. Gujarat and India both have so much to see and I have just mentioned a few to begin with.
