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RARE NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY, 2021 |
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Testing my travel feet and wings!
by Shoba Mohan |
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With a few boarding cards, train tickets, boat tickets and hundreds of photos collected as souvenirs, this was a January well spent.
Traversing Tezpur, Guwahati, Kolkata, Ajimganj, Murshidabad, Visakhapatnam, Rajmundry, Amalapuram, Yanam, Bhubaneshwar; and three rivers - Brahmaputra, Ganges and Godavari; it surprisingly was an easy, safe and mindful journey. 4 Flights, 2 trains, 1 river boat and a cruise ship, over 1500 kms on the road and you will agree, it is not enough after the year of hibernation that 2020 was.
Here is my journey in moments. To begin with safety precautions, almost to the point of obsession – plenty of handwashing, hot showers, copious amounts of hot beverages, double face masks and safe distancing with RTPCR tests before and after travel. Some may ask if it's worth the trouble....if travelling is not to bust the ROI argument, then what is? |
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| Wild Mahseer, Balipara, Assam |
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Nature bound and in tune with the community, Wild Mahseer is transformational and pathbreaking. Plantation Bungalows tucked into private gardens of their own have been refurbished with great style and luxury. To stay here is to have private conversations with nature as park drives to Nameri and Khaziranga, meeting the community - primarily the Mishing who live a life guided by the principles of Donyi and Polo, the sun and the moon.
My RARE Moments: Walking through Wild Mahseer's Nature Trail actually having a conversation with nature, nudged on by quotes and quips, standing under mammoth dragon bamboo trees and generous rain trees. Read more
Book with RARE @ INR 14,400++ |
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| Assam Bengal Navigation, On the Brahmaputra and the Hooghly |
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On the Brahmaputra: Someone said there are two ways to see a river, I experienced the many ways - more than a few through the eyes of Nemuda (Nirmalaya Choudhury), Ashish and Jahanbi Phookan. Our brief stay on the Charaidew II just showed the many moods of the river and the stories he (Brahmaputra is India’s only male river) has woven around the towns and villages he has passed over on his quest to join the sea. The ABN cruise boats are a reflection of the culture that touches the edges of the river as you pass by, aptly reflected in its decor, crafts, cuisine and their reverent attitude.
My RARE Moments: Watching the city of Guwahati waking up from the deck of the Charaidew II , through the stubborn mist......magic ! Listen to Nirmalya Choudhury, your host on the Cruise as he talks passionately about the river – his respect and awe intact even after many journeys and adventures. An easy afternoon and late night conversations on the river is the perfect ‘lahe-lahe’ moment. Read more
Book with RARE @ INR 45,000++ |
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| Bari Kothi, Ajimganj, West Bengal |
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Bari Kothi in Ajimganj, Murshidabad District stands on one side of the Ganges (curiously called Bhagirathi in these parts) to twin with Jiaganj across. Bari Kothi is an erstwhile palatial mansion of the Dudhorias - a community of Jains who migrated from Rajasthan over three hundred years ago. Popular as ‘Sheherwalis’ (the city people), they clung to their culture of being vegetarian while welcoming other influences – Mughal, European, Bengali, British to add flavour, colour and style to their cuisine, architecture, dressing and living. Bari Kothi weaves many riveting experiences with cuisine, art, craft, music and traditions to create immersions of the region. Every moment spent here is to awe at a region that adds significantly to the image of India. And for Indian travellers there can be no better romance than to discover these gems, otherwise clouded over by our need to ‘fly out and away’.
My RARE Moments: Being warmly tucked in to a ‘balakosh’ – a silk blanket lined with cotton wool with my chosen fragrance (Rajnigandha or tube roses this time) as we slowly floated down the river. And dancing with the Bauls as they sang plaintive songs about life and living. Read more
Book with RARE @ INR 15,000++ |
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| Belgadia Palace, Mayurbhanj, Odisha |
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Literally a state within a state, Mayurbhanj District as the two Princesses of Belgadia have curated frame by frame for the explorer and the itinerant traveller, stands as a splendid example of excellent narration, passion and relentless learning. Going back in a span of about 16 months is to see The Belgadia Palace flourish and the confidence of the team in executing the dream of Akshita and Mrinalika was joy itself. Their dream to place Mayurbhanj on the world map of culture, craft and community based tourism is visible and resplendent.
My RARE Moments: Most definitely to sit under the trees and have Mrinalika articulate their journey in the last year and the almost flawless execution of a heritage experience. The walk in the mango orchard while watching prayer rituals and spotting birds at the same time is akin to 'morning ragas' - a prayerful moment. Read more
Book with RARE @ INR 11,700++ |
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Needless to say each one is RARE! And everywhere the 'Human Touch', that essential attribute of every member of the community to take their community along on thier journey. Here is the power of consciously promoting mindful and meaningful travel that transform and create value – for you the traveller, the consultant and promoter, the hotelier, the community and the destination.
For the inspired, the curious and the skeptic, do make time for a detailed discussion on the experiences and itineraries. Write to me at shoba@rareindia.com |
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