Among the wandering monks of India, Swami Vivekananda is the first name that comes to the mind. The five years of his life on earth, from 1888 to 1893 was full of travels in search of truth, spirituality and a real India. He traveled as a Parivrajaka along the length and breadth of the country. He won the admiration of kings, felt for the suffering people, motivated the youth for a greater cause, studied many religious scriptures, visited many historic sites, gained knowledge, and visualized the future of India during his itinerary, which made a precious treasure of enlightenment for us. On the occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s birthday (January 12), we at Travel Beats, an overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle, offer a sneak peek into his historic and spiritual travels.

Varanasi, one of the holiest cities in India, was the first destination on his itinerary. In Varanasi, he came across the saints like Trailanga Swami, the authors like Bhudev Mukhopadhyay, and the Vedic scholars like Babu Pramadadas Mitra. From there, he made his way to Rishikesh through Ayodhya, Lucknow, Agra and Vrindavan. He interacted with and took favor from whoever came his way without caring their castes and creeds because he believed in non-duality of the soul. Some of those who were touched by his noble soul became his disciples and got initiated into service to the nation. Among them was Sharat Chandra Gupta, a railway station master in Haridwar, who came to be known as Swami Sadananda. Swamiji fondly called Sharat “the child of my spirit”.

Then, Swamiji spent days at Vaidyanath and Allahabad during his itinerary between 1889 and 1890. From Allahabad, he moved to Ghazipur where he got in touch with Pavhari Bana, a great sage. Pavhari Baba was known for his absolute knowledge of Advaita Vedanta. On meeting the sage, he felt blessed and referred to him as a great soul of bhakti and yoga in a letter to Pramadababu. In the first half of 1890, he took a break for the travel and returned to Baranagar Math in Kolkata (then Calcutta). After a short stay there, he left for a trip to the Himalayas in quest of truth. Swami Akhandananda accompanied him on the trip. After a visit to Nainital, Almora, Dehradun and Srinagar, Swamiji went to the Himalayas. Delhi was his destination by the end of January in 1891.

He visited the historical sites in and around Delhi. Then, his travel to Rajputana in west India began. This phase of the itinerary was so eventful that it constituted a big chapter of his biography. The first stopover in Rajputana was Alwar where he received a cordial welcome from both the Hindus and the Muslims. They were influenced by this wandering monk’s spiritual values and teachings. Swamiji was invited by Mangal Singh, the King of Alwar, who did not believe in the practice of idol worship because of his western outlook. A meeting with Swamiji changed his attitude towards the idol worship by the Hindus.

Swamiji’s Rajasthan travel was full of learning too. He studied Panini’s Ashtadhyayi under the tutelage of a Sanskrit Scholar in Jaipur. He visited the Dargah Sharif in Ajmer. His meeting with Ajit Singh, the King of Khetri in Mount Abu on June 4, 1891, is another important event. Out his interest in spirituality, the King became a follower of Swamiji and supported him in many ways. Swamiji studied Mahabhasya during his stay at Khetri and then, he went to Gujarat.

Limbdi, Ahmedabad, Junagadh, Kutch, Porbander, Dwaraka, Baroda, Palitana and Girnar were among his destinations in Gujarat. The Gujarat travel was full of enlightenment for him. He studied the Jain scriptures there. He got the idea of preaching Vedanta in the Western World from Thakur Saheb Jaswant Singh who he came across in Limbdi. Haridas Viharidas Desai, the Diwan of Junagadh, welcomed him as a respected guest. Impressed by his personality, the Diwan used to discuss on different topics with Swamiji till late at night. Swamiji immersed himself in philosophical studies during his nine-month long stay at Porbander. At Kathiawar in Gujarat, he got to know about the Parliament of the World’s Religions.

Then, he visited Mahabaleshwar and Pune. While traveling by train in Bombay in 1892, Swamiji happened to meet Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a Nationalist in the Freedom Movement of India. They spent a few days together in Pune. He moved to Panaji in Goa from Maharashtra, and studied the Christian theology at a convent in Goa.

In the second half of 1892, he journeyed to Bangalore, his first destination in South India. There, he met the Diwan of Mysore who described him as “a magnetic personality with a divine force”. Swamiji was introduced to Chamaraja Wodeyar, the then King of Mysore and welcomed cordially to the Palace. He was further introduced to the Diwan of Cochin. His travel continued till he reached the southernmost part of India, Kanyakumari, on foot through Trissur, Ernakulam, Trivandrum, and Nagercoil. The meditation on the future of India, at the Kanyakumari Rock, was the culmination of Swamiji’s spiritual journey at the end of 1892.

Having had the vision of an individual India, Swamiji traveled to Madurai, Rameswaram, Pondicherry and Madras (now Chennai) in the beginning of 1893. He met Ramnad Bhaskara Sethupathi, the then King of Madurai, who approached him with an urge to participate in the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Swamiji won the admiration of whoever came in touch with him during the itinerary across Tamil Nadu. Most of them became disciples and responded to his call for renunciation in service to the nation. One of his most ardent disciples in South India was Alasinga Perumal who collected funds for Swamiji’s voyage to Chicago by going from door to door. Swami Vivekananda embarked on the historic voyage to America on May 31, 1893.

Swamiji’s travel continued from America to the rest of the world till the demise of his mortal body on July 4, 1902. However, the journey of this greatest Indian traveler is as ceaseless as the eternal flow of time. It is still on the go through the spread of his message, teachings, values and vision

The post Swami Vivekananda: The Greatest Indian Traveler on a Mission from India to USA appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

You have visited India for family occasions, festive holidays, romantic vacations, and pilgrimages. Why not give a twist to your travel taste, with road trips in India during the next visit? The road trips in India tick all the boxes – adventure, photography, nature and beauty – to rank at the top on your personal travel index. The geography of the country is crisscrossed by routes, short and long, for road trips in the coastal areas, mountainous regions, hilly terrains and the desert zone. IndianEagle handpicks the following road trips for your travel plan in 2014. Each of these is a rollercoaster ride of fun and joy.

Mumbai to Goa Road Trip

The road trip from Mumbai to Goa is a favorite of bikers on weekends. This getaway to the beaches of Goa has been riding the waves of popularity since the Bollywood movie Dil Chahta Hai, a story about three friends, became a hit with the youth of India. The route down the NH 17 through Maharashtra’s hinterland is very smooth and fit for vehicles – cars as well as bikes. The Karnala Bird Sanctuary, the Sindhudurg of Shivaji’s times, the Mahabaleshwar Hill Station, and the scenic Vashisti River and Kolhapur are the traps of attraction on the road trip from Mumbai to Goa.

Bangalore to Goa Road Trip

A road trip along the Bangalore-Goa route is full of thrills and spills. It is a craze with the Gen Y. The drive from Bangalore to Goa is as pleasant as swing, in any season of the year, because of the scenic natural artifices hanging over both sides of the route. The route is divided into two – one via Belgaum, and the other via Shimoga. The Belgaum route is preferred to the Shimoga route which may be disrupted due to landslides at any time. The famous Jog Falls, some forts and Murdeshwara on the Bangalore to Goa route bring the itinerary alive.

Manali to Leh Road Trip

If adventure is your cup of tea, get going for the Manali-Leh road trip in the Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh. The Manali-Leh route is a precarious yet beautiful one. Snowfall keeps the route blocked round the year except the month of June when the snow is cleared. Driving along this route in the Himalayas is thrilling and challenging at the same time. August-September is the ideal time for bikers to hit the road from Manali to Leh. Somewhere rough while somewhere smooth, the route passes by beautiful Buddhist monasteries and through mountains.

Dehradun to Nainital Road Trip

The road trip from Dehradun to Nainital in Uttarakhand is one of the getaways with feast for the eyes on the way. The route through hills makes the drive a rollercoaster ride for bikers. It is landscaped with hills and rocks for most of the distance. Those in quest of adventure for adrenalin rush will cherish this road trip as an evergreen memory. The natural beauty of Kumaon Hills is irresistible bait on the way. Including shrines and wildlife parks, there are many things to see and do on the 355-km long route from Dehradun to Nainital.

Chennai to Kanyakumari Road Trip

The Coromandel Coast of India from Chennai to Kanyakumari is dotted with heritage sites, pristine beaches and spectacular waterfalls. The Chennai-Kanyakumari road trip is so full of joy that it can outshine your travel memories in any other part of India. Pondicherry is a must stop on the route. Steeped in tranquility and lavished with natural beauty, it is a seaside town of the Portuguese era. Kanyakumari is just an eight-hour drive from here. This road trip promises a sporty experience.

Jaipur to Ranthambore Road Trip

Among the road trips in Rajasthan, the Jaipur-Ranthambore is a most adventurous one. The route from Jaipur to Ranthambore passes through the major tourist destinations – Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. The glamor of palaces, the wonder of desert and the variety of wildlife on the way endear the road trip to riders. Both architecture and nature exist side by side on the Jaipur-Ranthambore route. It provides riders with many opportunities to photograph the beauty of Rajasthan that manifests itself in architecture, desert and wildlife.

Shillong to Cherrapunjee Road Trip

Rajasthan offers road trips through rough and rigid terrains. Road trips in the Himalayan region are made through corridors of hills. The Shillong-Cherrapunjee road trip is a drive in the greenery. The route from Shillong to Cherrapunjee is dominated by lush green landscape on both sides. It makes the drive a breath of fresh air for the mind and the soul. The slippery road makes driving a risky affair in the rainy season. The road is smooth and safe in other times of the year.

Mumbai to Lonavala Road Trip

Looking for a change in the monotonous way of daily life? Do ride a bike from Mumbai to Lonavala. The Mumbai-Lonavala road trip is too short to make whenever you wish. Besides, it offers a refreshing break from the traffic of Mumbai to the tranquility of Lonavala, one of the hill stations at a short drive from Pune too. Lonavala falls on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Catching glimpses of green landscapes hang over the route.

The first step towards making these road trips is booking a flight to India. IndianEagle.com is offering a good range of cheap flight deals for your travel plans in 2014.

The post Drink to Adventure on These Best Road Trips in India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.