Experience the Deeper India

“People from my country, they come and visit the same old stuff. The Golden Triangle – Delhi-Agra-Jaipur, a couple of popular resorts in Kerala – and that’s all! They miss out on the real India” – said Daniel of Aventura/Chalo-Spain over breakfast when he was in Bangalore. He’d just done a motorbike ride to our locations at Gokarna, Balur Estate and in Chettimani (Coorg), and is trying to get folks to visit the deeper India.

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Made me think about how much of a disservice the travel industry inadvertently ends up doing to both the traveller as well as the beautiful places, cultures and people that represent the true India in all it’s variety, across geographies, seasons, the profusion of colours, terrain, customs, food, festivals – everything. And this India is outside of the major tourist locations, outside of the cities and off the bigger highways. It’s in the little towns and villages – with their unique stories. It’s when you stay in the homestays. It’s when you walk, take it slowly and interact with folks around. Coorg’s Pandhi Curry, the catch of the day along the coast, the quiet solitude of a large coffee estate, the profusion of flora and fauna deep inside a Himalayan forest – these are all small bits of that huge jigsaw puzzle that India is – and they’re best seen from outside the comfortable familiarity of a “resort”.

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This is the India that Daniel is trying to showcase to his clients, and that we at Linger would like our guests to experience. It’s not about the “points”, or checklists, but the experiences of a civilization that has been through more iterations, changes and adaptation than we can usually imagine. It boggles the mind and mesmerizes even those of us who have been born here and live here all our lives. I can only imagine how much of an amazing – indeed incredible – experience it will be from someone coming in from Europe etc. It can be experienced however you like – on a bike along with one of Daniel’s tour, on a slow bicycle ride, on bus and train journeys that let you interact with so many real people in real life situations, on a road trip that stays off the bigger towns and roads – the only thing to remember is to explore with an open mind, ready to embrace the myriad surprises that greet you at every turn. Sure, not all will be pleasant, but that’s what travel’s about!

So do yourself a favour – and don’t stop with that Golden Triangle 🙂

The Himalayas, Wildlife and Kerala! Linger grows

We’re now live at 3 very do-nothing, quiet locations across the country. And with this, we have our first properties in Kerala and the Himalayas now live.

Vanghat, Marchula, in the Corbett Buffer Zone

Forests all around Bridge across the Ramganga Setting

At the end of a 2 km journey on foot and a raft across the river is this seriously committed-to-forests property that respects its surroundings even while making it accessible to us. Run by a naturalist and a team that’s friendly – both with the guests as well as the forests. You’ll love the place, and learn a lot, we assure you!

Chestnut Grove, Vijaypur (Uttarakhand)

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6750ft high up in a very quiet, relatively unknown part of the Himalayas is Vijaypur (or Bijepur) a small little tea town with pine and oak forests, tea estates, and old temple or two and miles of opportunity for walks, hikes and treks. Or of course, do nothing but read a book, sip on tea and enjoy the stunning views of the snow clad mountains in the distance.

The Palathra Heritage, Mararikula, Allepey (Kerala)

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Amidst the very green, laidback Mararikulam village is an unassuming little space where a very passionate family has resettled old, traditional houses in a backwaters setting. Illam, Eatti, Chandanam, Maavu and Plaavu – the names themselves tell a story of a different time in a context that attempts to keep up with the same even as the world around changes rapidly. The beach is a short walk/ride away, as is the pretty Vembanad lake and the famed Kerala backwaters. What a trip!

We’re adding a few more places. Keep watching the action on our Facebook page. For reservations, as always – we’re at stay@linger.in and at +91-959-005-0001.