Latest news with #SpitiValley
The Independent
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Independent
William pays tribute to rangers protecting snow leopards in wildlife series
The Prince of Wales has praised a wildlife ranger protecting snow leopards coming into conflict with humans for helping 'turn fear into understanding'. William's comments are made in an on-screen introduction for the latest episode of his new wildlife documentary series, Guardians, highlighting the work of rangers across the globe. The future king says: 'Snow leopards are such beautiful creatures, known as the Ghosts of the Himalayas, and just having sight of one is so rare that it feels incredibly special. 'These elusive, big cats may be rarely seen, but they share a deep connection with local people, and as the snow leopards' natural food sources have become scarce, they have ventured closer to human settlements in search of prey, killing livestock and leading to conflicts with local communities. 'In this episode, we meet Kalzang — a ranger bridging the space between tradition and progress. 'His work protects these animals, powers scientific discovery, and helps turn fear into understanding – while guiding a new generation towards sustainable coexistence.' Veteran broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough is William's 'inspiration' for the six-part series he hopes will help nature's wardens be 'valued, respected, seen' and promote the 'wonderful' regions they protect. Ranger Kalzang Gurmet and his team working in the Indian Himalayas are featured in the episode called the Guardians of the Spiti Valley and seen trekking in the mountains. Mr Gurmet, field manager for Nature Conservation Foundation, said: 'In the context of conserving wild animals, it's said in our stories that wild animals are the jewel of the forest. 'So, for this reason, conservationists are essential. Ultimately, it will benefit us and our region.'
Telegraph
25-05-2025
- Telegraph
10 spectacular corners of India overlooked by Britons
Once, I watched a full moon rise over an empty salt desert. The air was still. The earth glowed silver. There were no selfie-taking tourists, no tour groups, no ticket booths, no glossy brochures. Just silence, and space, and something ancient I couldn't name. Moments like this are why it puzzles me when foreign travellers come all this way only to stick to the well-trodden path. The India they're shown – the Taj, the tiger safaris, the luxury retreats, and the backwaters – is real, yes. But it's just one register in a country that plays in dozens of octaves. For every bustling tourist hub, there's a quieter spot with just as much history, culture, natural beauty, and fewer crowds. Step beyond the obvious, and India reveals a side of itself you will never find in a guidebook. Trust me, you won't regret it. Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh At over 4,000m, Spiti Valley is one of India's most remote and otherworldly corners, accessible only via precarious mountain passes from Manali or Shimla, and snowbound for much of the year. Its stark, dramatic landscape – browned, spired peaks, icy glaciers, and snow-dressed waterfalls like Lingti – is a natural playground for adventurers, hikers, and bikers. In winter, the elusive snow leopard – or 'grey ghost' – prowls its frozen slopes, with sightings near Kibber and Chicham villages a rare but thrilling possibility. Ancient monasteries like hilltop Key and Tabo, home to some of the oldest Buddhist art, add a spiritual depth to this wild wilderness, while the pristine skies above Komic village – perched at 4,587m – present an ideal setting for stargazing. Tip Foreign nationals require an Inner Line Permit (aka Protected Area Permit), which can be obtained online. Stay Ecotourism organisation Spiti Ecosphere offers eight- to nine-day packages ranging from £220 to £485 per person, with nights spent in traditional homestays, hotels, and family-run guest houses. Kachchh (Kutch), Gujarat On the edge of western India, Kutch is the country's largest district – an astonishing patchwork of salt flats, desert plains, and seasonal wetlands. The big lure here is the Great Rann of Kutch, a vast white desert that transforms into a shallow saltwater marsh during the monsoon, before drying into a shimmering salt crust in winter – best seen under the moonlight during Rann Utsav, a cultural festival held annually from late November to February. South-east lies the Little Rann of Kutch, a saline desert that's home to the only remaining population of the Indian wild ass (khur). In between are flamingo-filled wetlands like Chhari Dhand and a 5,000-year-old Indus Valley Civilization site called Dholavira; magnificent 18th and 19th-century palaces like the Prag Mahal in the historic walled city of Bhuj, and centuries-old craft villages such as Bhujodi, Ajrakhpur, and Nirona – where ancient traditions of weaving, block printing, and rock art are kept alive. Stay Gateway to Rann Resort in Dhordo village has rooms from £49 per night, including breakfast. The Bhuj House has rooms from £66 per night, including breakfast. Lakshadweep This remote cluster of islands 300 miles off Kerala's coast is a challenge to reach – accessible only by air or sea from Kochi. Of 36 islands, only 10 are inhabited, and only a handful welcome tourists. But once you arrive, it's pure bliss: think white-sand beaches, coconut palms, and a pace that feels suspended in time. The real headline act, though, is the underwater world – stunning coral reefs and lagoons, especially around Kavaratti and Bangaram, perfect for divers and snorkelers. Permits are mandatory and can be applied for online. Stay Bangaram Island Resort has rooms from £168 for doubles, room only. Majuli, Assam Cradled by the mighty Brahmaputra, Majuli is a mesmerising river island reached by a short ferry from Jorhat – about six hours by road or rail from Guwahati, Assam's largest city. This sacred patch of land hums with the spirit of old Assam, home to dozens of Vaishnavite satras – part monastery, part arts centre – where devotional music, mask-making, and classical dance-drama thrive. Birdlife is abundant too, making it a twitcher's delight. But each year, the river nibbles away at its edges, making Majuli a place to see while you still can. Pair your visit with a safari at Kaziranga, the Unesco-listed park – sprawled across the southern floodplains – where elephant grass and monsoon-fed marshes shelter two-thirds of the planet's one-horned rhinos. Tip The top time to visit is October to March, when the island thrives post-monsoon and before the summer heat. Stay La Maison de Ananda Bamboo Cottage in Majuli (0091 99571 86356) has rooms from £29 per night, excluding breakfast. On the fringes of Kaziranga, just a 10-minute drive from the park, the Diphlu River Lodge has rooms from £184 per night, including three meals per day. Chettinad, Tamil Nadu Down in India's steamy south, between the temple towns of Madurai and Trichy, Chettinad – spanning 75 villages in Tamil Nadu – is home to the larger-than-life mansions of the affluent 19th-century Chettiar traders. Known locally as nattukottai (country forts), these grand houses boast Belgian mirrors, Japan tiles, Burmese teak, Italian marble, and intricate facades of arches and pillars. Many are abandoned, others remain guarded by caretakers, while a few have been turned into heritage hotels. Yet, despite the ravages of time, these relics still carry a rare, poetic charm. It is possible to visit some for a modest fee or with the owners' permission – particularly in Karaikudi, Kanadukathan, and Athangudi, the latter of which is known for its handmade tiles that adorn most of the region's mansions. Detour Keeladi Museum, just outside Madurai, makes a worthwhile detour on the way to Chettinad – ideal for context on Tamil civilisation. Stay CGH Earth-Visalam in Kanadukathan has rooms from £125 per night, including breakfast and lunch or dinner. The Bangala in Karaikudi has rooms £84 per night, including breakfast. Do savour a spice-laden Chettinad feast at these properties. Meghalaya Perched high in India's north-east, Meghalaya – 'the abode of the clouds' – is a dreamscape of velvet hills, plunging waterfalls and whispering forests. In Cherrapunji and Mawsynram – two of the wettest places on Earth – the monsoon reigns, feeding spectacular cascades and carving out some of the world's deepest and longest cave systems. Days here are made for wild swims in jade-green pools, river paddles beneath glassy skies, and treks to centuries-old living bridges sculpted from rubber tree roots, like Nongriat's 'double-decker', which takes serious legwork but rewards in spades. For slower moments, there's sun-drenched riverside 'beaches' in Shnongpdeng Village or Mawlynnong, a spotless village where green living is more than a motto. And in Shillong, the state's capital, colonial echoes hum through hilltop chapels and cafés spinning soft-rock classics. Tip Time your visit to coincide with Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival in November. Stay Vivanta Meghalaya, Shillonghas rooms from £115 per night, including buffet breakfast. Mandu and Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh Long abandoned as the capital of a medieval dynasty, Mandu – roughly 40 miles south-west of Indore, India's cleanest city – survives as a ruin-strewn village. It has pleasure pavilions featuring rooftop terraces ringed by baobab trees, multi-level palaces like Jahaz Palace (Ship Palace) poised between two lakes and the hilltop Rani Roopmati Palace, and mausoleums like the white marble tomb of Hoshang Shah, said to have inspired the architects of the majestic Taj Mahal. Winding country lanes and a lively marketplace lend a hum of life to this otherwise spectral outpost of history. If you want the spiritual pull of Varanasi without the clamour, Maheshwar – around 25 miles from Mandu – offers a gentler alternative. Temple spires rise above the Narmada ghats (river banks), where evening aartis (ritual prayers) echo in a peaceful, reflective atmosphere. Stay In Mandu, MPT Malwa Resort has rooms from £53 per night, including breakfast. In Maheshwar, Ahilya Fort has rooms from £185 per night, and arranges river cruises, temple visits, and tours of the NGO Rehwa Society, where Maheswara saris – unique to this riverside town – are still handwoven on traditional looms. Kumaon, Uttarakhand Tucked into the eastern Himalayas, Kumaon is Uttarakhand's quieter, more contemplative corner – less showy than Himachal, but richer in atmosphere. Here, pine-fringed ridges yield uninterrupted views of snow-cloaked giants like Nanda Devi and Trishul, best admired from Kausani's lofty perches. Birdsong threads through Binsar's forest sanctuary, while Jageshwar's mossy temple complex – its medieval shrines hemmed in by deodar groves – offers a spiritual hush. For serious trekking, the village of Munsiyari is a proper mountain outpost, while nearby Sarmoli offers community-led stays. This region is the Himalayas at their most understated – and most rewarding. Stay Imperial Heights Binsar has rooms from £70, including breakfast. In Sarmoli, community-run Himalayan Ark offers homestays from £20 per night. Hampi, Karnataka In the ochre-hued landscape of northern Karnataka, Hampi unfolds like a forgotten dream – its boulder-strewn landscape punctuated by the silent grandeur of ancient temples and monuments. Once the mighty capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, this Unesco site reveals remnants of its once-glorious past: vast elephant stables, pillared pavilions, gigantic stone statues of Hindu gods, and the awe-inspiring Virupaksha Temple. Beyond the ruins, the surrounding hills beckon adventurers for a climb, offering a unique vantage of this surreal historical landscape. Tip Architecture lovers should take a day trip to the nearby sites of Aihole, Badami, and Pattadakal to explore the evolution of early Indian temple architecture. The trio has a remarkable collection of rock-cut, structural and cave temples, all in scarlet. Stay Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace has rooms from £290 per night, including breakfast. Shekhawati, Rajasthan Tucked away in northeastern Rajasthan, Shekhawati is often overshadowed by its more famous colour-coded counterparts, like Jaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. Yet, this lesser-known region offers a quieter, equally captivating glimpse into Rajasthan's grand architectural legacy. Its once-prosperous trading towns – Nawalgarh, Mandawa, Dundlod and Fatehpur – conceal hundreds of frescoed havelis, built by 18th-century Marwari merchants. These palatial mansions bristle with cupolas, jharokhas, arcaded courtyards, and murals – half devotional, half whimsical – think scenes of royal processions, mythological figures, early modes of transport, and more. Though many lie padlocked and peeling, their patina adds atmosphere. Base yourself in Nawalgarh or Mandawa, where a handful of restored havelis like Kamal Morarka Haveli, Ramnath Podar Haveli, and Jhunjhunwala haveli offer access to the finest interiors and an evocative sense of a mercantile era long eclipsed by migration and modernity. Stay
