Say goodbye to forceful vacations & plan your own itinerary!

By Rashmi Hemrajani

A superb range of special interest holidays and tours, are becoming the favourite of many corporate honchos. What's the reason you may ask? Well, there have been times when all your enthusiasm is dramatically puntucated when the group suggests activities that don't interest you. Remember those times, yes, now bid those horrific memories a goodbye and spend your days of glory, just like you want to.

Imagine spotting a Bengal Tiger in Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Exploring your photography skills in the fields of Punjab, vrooming up the Rohtang Pass on a roadtrip to Manali and more. Special Interest tours are a boon for those who love to combine travel with their passion. Here are several other tours trending:

- Voluntourism: There are several NGOs that plan two to three week long trips that aid Himalayan villages with solar energy, coaching football for young boys and girls.

- Tea and Coffee Trails: Visit beautiful cities like Mysore, Munnar and Coorg to understand the expanse of tea and coffee plantations.

- Yoga and Mediation: Haridwar, Rishikesh and Trivandrum are the popular choices for detox holidays.

The question is, which is your favourite itinerary?


CATCHING UP: Wake up early for jeep safaris to get a glimpse of tigers, lions and other animals on your next vacay

Flora And Fauna

Region: Madhya Pradesh

Rich in national parks, Madhya Pradesh is a must-visit for adventure enthusiasts. Kanha National Park has a significant population of the Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, foxes, swap deer, jackals, the sloth bear, Barasingha and Indian Wild Dog. It is said that lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha provided inspiration to Rudyard Kipling for his famous novel, The Jungle Book.

- Another famous national park in MP is Panna National Park, located in Panna and Chhatarpur districts. The park is home to approx 200 species of birds including the bar-headed goose, honey buzzard, king vulture and blossom-headed parakeet. There are also several animals found here such as tiger, chital, chinkara, Nilgai, sambhar and sloth bear.

- Pench National Park is famous for rafting. The best time to visit the park is between November and May. Tourists enjoy open jeep safaris and elephant safaris (which need to be booked in advance). Animals spotted in the national park are Bengal tiger, chital, sambar, nilgai, wild pig, and jackal. Also Indian leopard, sloth bear, wild dog, porcupine, monkey, jungle cat, fox, striped hyena, gaur, four-horned antelope and barking deer.

PLAY TIME: Spot elephants along with their calves enjoying themselves in Madhya Pradesh