BEST OF INDIA

For the season of cheer, India Today brings you the ultimate guide to India's finest experiences for the mind, body and soul. Be it body surfing down the Ganga, the most exciting rail journey, the best honeymoon suite, the tastiest dhaba meal, the most adventurous long drive-here's enough infotainment to light up your life.

The first time anyone saw Nanda Devi-which at 7,816 m is the highest mountain in the Indian Himalaya outside of Sikkim-from close up was in 1934 when two British explorers, Eric Shipton and H.W. Tilman, accompanied by three sherpas, found a way to its base. They inched their way through the precipitous gorge of the Rishi Ganga, a tributary of the Dhauli Ganga in Uttaranchal's Chamoli district. And at the end of their arduous journey, they were astonished to find themselves in a vast amphitheatre of grassland, its gentle slopes a stark contrast to the vertical cliffs that had hindered their way at every step. Their exploration still ranks as one of the finest ever. It takes eight to nine days of strenuous walk to reach the sanctuary-the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. Everything that goes with trekking must be carried and although there is a rudimentary trail, traversing the Rishi Ganga gorge is still a Herculean task. The route appears to defy logic as it ascends cliffs, cuts across pastures, skirts birch forests and alternates between steep ascents and abrupt descents. All around the way lie the summits of a protective ring of mountains with glacial rivers tumbling into the Rishi Ganga, and finally an inner gorge which can be brutal and spectacular. The sanctuary has been closed to regular trekking since 1982; however, organised treks are permitted up to Dibrughetta.

-By Suman Dubey
The author is the Chief Representative of Dow Jones in India

OUT OF THE BODY EXPERIENCE: FLOATING DOWN THE GANGA
On a Float and a Prayer

The trouble with out-of-body experiences is that everyone thinks they've had one. Truth is, only five in every 100 people actually experience one, usually those with strong spiritual beliefs, while under the influence of psychedelic drugs or an obsession with the paranormal. I qualify for none of the above, so I'll attribute mine to a near-death experience while indulging in an extreme sport where the spirit was willing but the body certainly not. Body surfing down the Ganga is not for the faint-hearted though it looks deceptively easy. Shivpuri, above Rishikesh, is where it happens, with rafting down the river as an initiation rite. After some hairy moments while negotiating a series of rapids, the body surfing routine seems like a cakewalk, placid and inviting. But that can be dangerously misleading. Your lifejacket is meant to keep you afloat when you slide off the raft but the shock of encountering the freezing water is the first warning that this is going to be one rocky ride, literally. The second warning arrives when you realise that the placid surface conceals a powerful undertow, not to mention any number of hidden rocks and whirlpools. Even with your feet pointing downstream and the lifejacket keeping your head above water, it's pretty much of a lottery since the current can suddenly drag you off course and you quickly find yourself on the rocks. That isn't as bad as getting sucked into a whirlpool which can be the most frightening experience of your life, or what's left of it. The rush of adrenaline and naked terror is a potent mixture, and there are moments when body and soul seem detached from each other. Your life rests in the hands of one man: the expedition leader on the raft. I am not a religious man but I learnt the power of prayerthat day since I lived to write the tale. PS: Don't try this at home

-By Dilip Bobb

ANIMAL ENCOUNTER: LAKSHADWEEP
Shark Tales

After the crazy chaos of the fashion week in April, I wanted to go to a place where I could get some relief and rejuvenation but with a little bit of adventure thrown in. I had been snorkeling in Andamans be-fore but wanted to try the peace and quiet of Lakshadweep this time around. Needless to say, it was simply spectacular and unlike anything I had ever experienced. The pristine blue colour of the ocean just overwhelms you as you circle over Lakshadweep. We took intense scuba diving lessons for three days to prepare ourselves for our deep sea diving. Imagine going mid-ocean and being dropped 60 feet under water with hysterical fishes floating around you, it was no joke. But I must say that we could only do it because the safety standard at the scuba diving institute was just impeccable. Since we went just a little before the monsoon, the water was a little rough. I got a chance to swim with sharks circling around me. It can't really get more thrilling than that. Other water bodies like lobsters, eels and crabs also floated around me. As the Lakshadweep islands are the only atolls in the Indian waters, it's oceanic location keeps it unperturbed by tourists. This is why the unique coral reefs remain pristine without much interference from civilisation. Lakshadweep's raw charm was just so intoxicating that I cannot wait to back their again.

-By Tarun Tahiliani
The author is a fashion designer

HONEYMOON SUITE: THE DUNE, PUDUCHERRY
On Cloud Nine

It's a little secret tucked away 14 km en route to Puducherry. A private, very private, a stand-alone elevated honeymoon house perched atop a 50 feet tower, is perhaps the place you can count on for the most intimate experience of your life. And that's how they wanted it to be. Located at The Dune, a 30-acre ecologically-sensitive haven, the Tower House, as it is called, opens up to some of the most breathtaking sights of the Coromandel Coast. The two-level silver-coloured enclosure combines ancient wisdom-complete with vintage decor showcasing traditional art and architecture-and the comforts of modern living amidst the fragrance of oils and rare flowers. There's no TV or AC, just a DVD player with choicest movies and an in-house mobile phone that keeps you connected with the other facilities on offer-suspended swimming pool, yoga, massages, not to mention 700 meters of sandy beach and lots more.

That's just one part of the story. The labour of love of Frenchman Dimitri, The Dune was created to offer luxury while celebrating nature and giving organic living a new lease of life. Built by artists from Tamil Nadu Arts & Crafts in two years, The Dune also has a unique Food U Need (FUN) restaurant that is truly a gastronomic delight. Based on hypo-toxic diet (food without toxins) of French biologist Jean Seignalet, the menu is a fusion of many cuisines. A night at the Tower House would cost Rs 7,200, but the memories will be etched in your heart forever.

-By S.S. Jeevan

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