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

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You may have heard several stories of Indian summer. That summer is hot and scorching in most of the Indian states is an undeniable fact. At the same time, it is true that India has many summer holiday destinations in the lap of nature. Since the British Raj, these destinations have been the summer capitals where heat does not dare to touch anyone. Most of these places are hill stations where nature does not obey to the whims of summer. Indian Eagle points out on the map of north, northeast and west India the top 10 summer holiday tourist destinations for fun, romance, peace, adventure, photography….

Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

It won’t be unjust to call Srinagar the goddess of natural beauty in India. The capital of Jammu & Kashmir, it is a mirror to the wonderful artifices of nature. The summer ambience of Srinagar is cozy and charming. Adding to the lure of the landscape and the serenity of the surrounding is the Dal Lake where the floating vegetable and flower market is a photographers’ delight, in the morning. Sonmarg at a height of 2740 meters is an ideal visit for trekking and skiing which offer dollops of adventure. The snowy beauty of Sonmarg is really admirable.

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

The summer capital of the British Raj in the colonized India, Shimla is one of the best summer destinations in Himachal Pradesh. The face of Shimla dramatically changed when Charles Kennedy, a Scottish Civil servant, set up his summer abode here in 1822, and when the town became the official capital of the British for the summer season in 1864. After the capital of British India was shifted from Kolkata (then Calcutta) to Delhi, the officers of the East India Company and the British ladies took refuge in the cool & cozy atmosphere of Shimla in summers. October to June is the best tourist season of Shimla.

Darjeeling, West Bengal

The geography of Darjeeling is waved by green valleys of tea plantation and rocked by scenic mountains. Established by the British as a summer destination for their army, this hill station is the life and soul of West Bengal tourism. Darjeeling ticks all the boxes – wildlife, adventure, fun and romance. The panorama of this tourist destination spans across Kanchenjunga, Tiger Hill, Happy Valley Tea Gardens, Toy Train, Senchal Lake, and Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park. Photography is an irresistible pleasure during sunset and sunrise. To be precise, Darjeeling is nature’s darling!

Shillong, Meghalaya

Surrounded by rolling hills, landscaped by tall pine trees and beautified by picturesque waterfalls, Shillong is like a piece of cloud floating in the sky. Now the capital of Meghalaya, it used to be a major British settlement. The food habits of the locals are influenced by the British. One of the summer capitals of the British India, this northeastern hill station is full of tourist attractions such as Shillong Peak, Lady Hydari Park, Wards Lake, Don Bosco Museum, and Mawsynram. Shillong takes pride in its hills and waterfalls which keep summer away.

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Called “gateway to the heaven”, Rishikesh is a major destination in North India. Not only the beauty but also the spirituality of nature makes itself felt all over here. Home to hermits, sages and monks in the Himalayan region, Rishikesh is famous for the Gangotri. Besides being a spot of pilgrimage, a seat of meditation and a hub of yoga in India, it is a swing of adventure as well. It is equally popular with pilgrims and adventure buffs. It is a very short drive from Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand. Many foreign tourists visit Rishikesh to attend the International Yoga Festival in the first week of March every year.

Cherrapunji, Meghalaya

One of the best summer destinations in India, Cherrapunji is the right place for those who spring into adventure even in summer. In India, it is one of the few tourist destinations where there is no off season. It teems with tourists and buzzes with activities throughout the year. The beautiful natural setting of Cherrapunji promises a rejuvenating vacation to the tourists in search of relief from the heat of summer. Among the tourist attractions of Cherrapunji, Mawsmai Falls is an irresistible temptation in itself.

Nubra Valley, Ladakh

The abstract beauty of nature is sensuously manifested in each nook and each corner of Nubra Valley in Ladakh. Nicknamed Ldumra that means “valley of flowers”, Nubra Valley defines how pleasant, how beautiful, and how relaxing the world of nature is. The passage to Nubra Valley goes through Khardung La Pass, the highest motorable pass in the world. Popularly known as the Orchard of Ladakh, Nubra Valley boasts two natural rich places – Hunder and Panamik. Waved by sand dunes, Hunder is called “desert in the sky”. Monasteries add to the picturesqueness of the valley.

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

If you are looking to spend summer months in the solitude of peace and silence, Tawang is a must visit in Arunachal Pradesh. Tawang is a sparsely populated town inhabited by the Monpa people who belong to the Monyul or Lhomon Kingdom. Home to beautiful monasteries, this region is like a hidden jewel. The tourist attractions of Tawang include Gorichen Peak, Craft Center, Sela Pass, Gorsam Chorten, Tsachu Hot Spring, Nuranang Falls, Banga Jang Lake, etc. This small town in Arunachal Pradesh has all the makings of a summer capital.

Nainital, Uttarakhand

If Rishikesh is popular with the spirituality seekers, Nainital is a favorite of romantics. Among the best hill stations in Uttarakhand, Nainital is gifted with the romantic beauty of nature. Lavished with serenity and greenery all over, this hilly region inspires tourists to fall in love with the lakes and hills. A must visit in summers, Nainital is sure to make you feel young during a sightseeing tour. Boating and angling in the Lake Naini are among the joyous things to do. The authentic Tibetan cuisine is a must try here.

Gulmarg, Kashmir

Glorifying Kashmir as a summer holiday destination in India is Gulmarg in the Baramula District. Gulmarg is the place to be for those who drink to pleasure out of peace and those who find adrenalin rush in adventure. Do feel the soulfulness of the place during a Gondola ride, do catch an eyeful of the panorama from the cable car, and do experience the kicks of adventure while skiing on the snow. So, why not add Gulmarg to your list of Indian destinations to visit in summers?

IndianEagle.com is booking the cheapest flights to the summer capitals of India. Hope, you are no more in two minds about flying to India in summer months!

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