KodaiKanal

Kodai ( as  few lovingly call it) or Kodaikanal is situated at a height of 7200 ft above sea level, in the state of Tamil Nadu. The place present’s a awesome combination of water bodies and altitudes in the form of lake’s and mid-range mountains which makes it  a perfect place to visit on or off a budget.

Apart from breath taking landscapes the place offers a slew of adventure activities , treks and trips to high altitudes. If you  are a keen observer you could get lucky and be a part of the frequent  get-together’s of like minded folk and experience the zen you love!

The local stay is accessible at  reasonable price ranges from (INR 800- INR-2200/-) per night which includes break fast at most places. Home stays is the way to stay for a close cultural encounter and lip smacking local cuisine. Kodai always welcomes you a warm hug.

Munnar

Munnar  is a town and hill station located in the Idukki district  of the southwestern Indian state of Kerala . Munnar is situated at around 1,600 mts (5,200 ft) above MSL ( Mean Sea level)  in the  western range of mountains. Munnar also has one of the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, which towers over 2,695 m.

The lush green tea gardens on the valleys with nicely drawn slithering roads will take your breath away. Tea plantations, picture-book towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities make this a popular resort town.

Visit Eravikulam National Park to catch a glimpse of rare flora and fauna including birds and butterflies.  Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji. This flower which bathes the hills in blue once in every twelve years, will bloom next in 2018.

Goa

Goa is  the paradise for budget travellers. Apart from outstanding beaches, cheap booze and excellent night life, there are many off beat things to experience. Explore them next time you are in Goa if you haven’t already

Ponda Butterfly Conservatory 

Visit the conservatory and observe the colourful wings flutter. Feed the beautiful butterflies  with fruits and observe them collecting nectar.

Spice plantation and elephant                                    

The aroma of Savoi and Sahakar plantation coupled with playtime with the mighty elephants  is sure to make your trip memorable. They say Elephants have the most affectionate eyes in the animal kingdom. Let us know

Crab trap fun

Enjoy catching crabs with ‘Kobblem’ traps in the backwaters of Goa with the locals.

Mandovi Sunset cruise

Organized by Goa Tourism Development Corporation, this is a river cruise that can be explored night and day everyday

Stay in the beach huts for Rs. 500 per night, ride bikes at Rs. 250 and enjoy the spread of seafood platter at Rs. 150.

If you are interested in pampering yourself, Ecohunters have a good collection of luxury villas and bungalows in Goa. Take a look at them.

Darjeeling

Darjeeling  is a town in the state of West Bengal.  It is located in the lesser Himalaya at an elevation of 6,700 ft or (2,042.2 m). It is noted for its tea, the spectacular views of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain,  the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO world heritage site.

Needless to mention, Darjeeling is considered as the ‘Queen of hills’ - walking down the hills through the tea estates and absorbing the serene beauty of the panoramic views will make your day.

Relish the finest quality  tea with a variety of  dishes such as  momo, thukpa, churpee while soaking the picture postcard views. The tiger hill sunrise along with the magnificent views of the Kanchenjunga ranges are breathtaking.

The fauna found in Darjeeling includes several species of  ducks, teals,plovers and gulls  that pass Darjeeling while migrating to and from Tibet.Small mammals found in the region include civets, mongooses and badgers. There is a  conservation center for Red Pandas opened at Darjeeling Zoo in 2014, as a part of a captive breeding program.Wildlife in the district is protected by the wildlife wing of the West Bengal Forest Department.

Lonavla and Khandala 

Lonavla and the adjacent Khandala are twin hill stations 622 metres (2,041 ft) above sea level, in the Sahyadri ranges that demarcate the Deccan Plateau and the Konkan coast. The hill stations sprawl over an approximate area of 38 square kms (15 sq mi).

The name Lonavla  refers to the many caves like Karla Caves , Bhaja  and Bedsa caves that are close to Lonavla. A trip to Lonavla and Khandala can be combined with sight-seeing visits of Karla, Bhaja and Bedsa caves and also the two fortresses, Lohgad  and Visapur .Another place of interest is the Tungi fort,  near the village of Karjat  and was known for its natural strength.

Also explore the   Andharban trek which begins from village Pimpri, passses through dense forests, valleys and waterfalls and ends in Bhira. The trek is 13 kms (approx) and starts at a altitude of 2300 ft.

The entire trip for 3 days can be completed after reaching Mumbai within a budget of INR  3000/- (approx) per person.

McLeodganj and Dharamsala (Little Lhasa)

It has an average elevation of 2,082 mts (6,831 feet). It is situated on the Dhauladhar Range ,whose highest peak, “Hanuman Ka Tibba”, at about 5,639 mts (18,500 feet), lies just behind it.

The ideal time span to spend here is 3 days. The hill station is also considered as ‘Mini Tibet’as it houses a large Tibetan population along side many temples , monasteries and other spiritual places of historical heritage.  This is also the seat of Dalai Lama and has been frequented by many popular individuals from the all over the world.

Pack your backpacks and enjoy a mesmerizing trek in the valleys of the Triund. Stay is affordable at  INR 200 to 700/- per night.

So that brings us to the end of this journey. We hope you enjoyed reading the lines as much as we enjoyed writing them. As always so write to us for any comments or feedback at contact@ecohunters.in. We look forward to hear from you.