If bungy jumping is done in an urban setting; will it give the same thrill as when done from a cliff? Or, consider this… Will winning a jackpot in Las Vegas be the same as winning a lottery at home?
A trip, whether it is a getaway, or a holiday is an adventure; a travel taken for experiencing something new. Hence we go to a destination like Las Vegas to escape from monotony and not actually to win a jackpot; and the reason why bungy jumping is done in a picturesque destination is because the location adds to the thrill we are seeking. If the destination was breeding familiarity, or the destination could not add to the adventure, how good would the holiday be from our daily life? Travel and experiences of the destinations are meant to challenge and provoke; or, at least refresh and recharge. And so, the aim is to get the right experience at the cultural Heritage destination, so that the time away from home can add new meaning to our life.
To maximize the best out of a destination, and to avoid the hectic, hurried schedules of a
packaged tour, the new buzz in the travel industry is cultural tourism.
What is Cultural tourism?
The most easily imitable and replicable aspects of culture are the food, the language and the clothes. But, if I stayed in India, and wore torn jeans and t-shirt, ate a burger and spoke English with an American accent, would that be equal to experiencing New York or Los Angeles? Hope this demonstrates that there is more to culture than food and fashion.
Culture is the fabric of any destination. Each destination is unique because their landscape breathes differently. The air lends a distinct fragrance to the soil, that also gives taste for the water in that region, nourishing the rich flora and fauna, defining occupation and shaping culture. Also, the changing times of the day and night, and changing times of the year adds character and mood to the destination. The culture is also the native residents, their traditions and customs that beats and pulsates. As travellers, if we are able to tap into these cultural elements of the destination, then the trip will be an immersive experience.
India, a cultural destination
India is known for cultural diversity and cultural tolerance. Also, India has many heritage monuments declared by UNESCO. These heritage monuments are intangible cultures, carrying a lot of hidden symbols that can be unlocked only by an expert who is not only passionate but knowledgeable enough to articulate it for others. For eg. India’s temple structures display a lot of eroticism. Even if one hired a guide to enhance their experience, the one thing that will never be explained in guided tours is the esoteric and metaphysical aspects of Indian culture explaining why temples which are sacred, display eroticism.
Keeping all the needs of the travelers visiting India, Jvala was conceived as culture retreats focusing on sublime experiences at each destination. Sublime experiences are a new experience travel concept; and Jvala are pioneers for combining the uniqueness of Indian aesthetics and the Emotionalism theory of experiencing beauty and introducing it into cultural tourism. Hence, each destination of Jvala is an experience path that is curated carefully around a theme suiting a destination. Most of the paths will have:
- Talks, discussions and interactions with an expert
- An orientation session in Indian cultural elements revolving around the theme
- A masterclass that will introduce a skill
- Yoga sessions on everyday during the trip
- Interacting with regional mastercraftsman
- Guided tours at heritage sites
- Preparation before visiting a heritage site
- Traditional games and food
- Recommendations for shopping
India’s cultural diversity is based on the nature of the soil. Hence, the language, the dialect, the food, and its taste changes to the fragrance of the soil in the ecosystem. Based on different ecological systems, here are 10+ Best Cultural destinations curated by Jvala for various age groups.
Thanjavur – River Plains Landscape
Rising in the Brahmagiri range in the Western Ghats, Cauvery is the heart and soul around which the Tamil land, and the art and culture pulsate around the Cauvery delta. The soil is rich for paddy cultivation; other vegetation and produce from this soil add layers of texture to South Indian cuisine. Besides UNESCO’s Living Chola Temples (Big Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram temples), Grand Anicut, the first dam built on an Indian river in 150 BCE is functional even today and an engineering marvel to witness. Thanjavur, being the capital city of the Imperial Cholas, has been the seat of culture during the times. Interact with traditional Chola bronze sculptors and immerse into the architectural contributions made by the Chola dynasty and those that followed them.
Khajuraho – Arid Landscape
Located on the banks of Khuddar Nala, a tributary of the ancient river Karnavati, Khajuraho is a small village town in the Central of Cultural heritage India. It is surrounded by scenic waterfalls, low-lying plateaus, and still water bodies which act as a canvas for the staggering mediaeval temple complexes. The first impression of Sculpture of Khajuraho is curiosity, especially due to the brazen display of eroticism. But with closer reading, the space can transport curious visitors to connect with a class of people belonging to a lost period, who knew true love and meaning of life. Discover the various expressions of love used by: Gods, humans, humans towards God and engage with a classical dancer on how to differentiate beauty in sensuality, sexuality and fantasy that are within the scope of eroticism.
Mahabalipuram – Eastern Coastal Landscape
The Tamil saint poet Thirumangai Alvar has described Mahabalipuram as Thirukadalmallai, a sea mountain ‘where the ships rode at anchor bent to the point of breaking laden as they were with wealth, big trunked elephants and gems of nine varieties in heaps’. Similarly, Chinese traveller Huien Tsang visited Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram, the celebrated twin cities of the Pallava dynasty and glorified them in his travelogue. Not only has it been popular among the Chineses during mediaeval times, recently in 2019, PM Modi hosted the Chinese President Xi Jiping at Mahabalipuram. Explore the UNESCO Group of monuments at Mahabalipuram, and behold the rural agricultural sights on the drive between the port city and the capital city of the Pallava-s and chase the waves of Coromandel coast during sunrise to sunset. Meet traditional weavers of Tamil Nadu and adorn yourself or your homes with the finest Kanchipuram silk drapes.
Kanyakumari – Forests Landscape
Kanyakumari, which literally translates as the ‘virgin princess’, is also known as the Cape Comorin. Being the southernmost tip of India, it is also referred to as ‘the Land’s end’, geographically exacting the fact that beyond Kanyakumari there is no socio-cultural activity. Legend has it, the iconic character Hanuman of Ramayana, dropped some earth of the life-saving herb, Sanjeevani in and around Kanyakumari, on his way to Lanka. This led to the ancient Vedic seer, Sage Agastya to move here. Since time immemorial, the land has been rich in biodiversity and medicinal herbs, authenticating the folklore, making it an apt destination for destressing. This wellness nature retreat will be most suitable for working professionals to pamper themselves over a weekend. It is a wellness program that is meant to relax, refresh and rejuvenate.
Ahmedabad – Desert Landscape
A fun retreat exclusively curated for young adults ( >15, <20 years) interested in Indian culture, mythology and stories at Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Ahmedabad is a cultural heritage city that has the beautiful Sabarmati river flowing down, dividing the city into east and west, old and new. The Rann of Kutch being not too far away, the outskirts of the city contain many step wells that attract tourists and history buffs. The city comes alive most during the kite festival, filling the dull and lazy January sky with colorful kites soaring high. Located in the suburbs, is also Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram. These elements give the city the right blend of culture and modernity making it the natural choice for children to experience curiosity. Join us! Make kites, learn to fly them, and enjoy the fun and frolic of the International Kite Festival of Gujarat.
Chennai – Urban Landscape
Chennai is a metropolitan cultural heritage city in Southern India. Though it was initially developed by the British East India Company as Madras, it gained identity as the cultural capital of India post-independence. Much of it can be attributed when in 1882, the headquarters of the Theosophical Society and its movement was moved to Madras. The city has the right blend of old and new. During the month of December, the city is a global sensation, it hosts the Madras Margazhi Festival, the longest Music and Dance Festival in the world. Mahabalipuram, the UNESCO heritage destination is not too far away. While banking and engineering studies ensure social stability; art appreciation is important for holistic grooming and cultural progress. The Beauty Path is also a culture camp for young adults.
Chidambaram – Coastal Landscape
India is known for wisdom texts, commentaries on enlightenment and yoga. Chidambaram is a sacred ford in the coastal region of Tamil Nadu, South India that celebrates the cosmic element ākāśa, or Space. Chidambaram is also called as pundarikapuram : which means ‘in the lotus heart of the seekers’. Sage Patanjali travelled all the way to Chidambaram to witness Lord Siva perform the Cosmic Dance. The mediaeval temple space is full of mystical secrets that can be unveiled by any seeker, practitioner of yoga. Ākāśa, being a mystical element, can be awakened only by yoking the body and mind together; hence this destination is most suitable for yoga practitioners to open their chakra -s and let the lotuses to blossom.
Thiruvannamalai – Mountain Landscape
Thiruvannamalai is a sacred geography cultural heritage of Tamilnadu which celebrates the qualities of Fire, another cosmic element in Nature. In Tamil, the word arunam means red or fire, and asalam means hill – hence Lord Siva is believed to reside here as Lord Arunachalesvara, taking the form of Light, keeping the destructive volcanic elements dormant. The contemporary seer, Maharishi Ramana, travelled to Thiruvannamalai and made it his home. An important local festival celebrated in the Tamil month of Karthigai is Deepam, when the volcanic pit of the Annamalai hill top acts as a huge earthen lamp that is lit with tons of ghee. Personalizing this festival, the locals celebrate the entire month by burning lamps in the thresholds of their homes. This sacred ford is the ideal destination for cultural experience yoga practitioners to practice chitta shuddhi.
Gokarna – Western Coastal Landscape
Gokarna is a temple town in the western coast of Karnataka. The rustic nature of the Western Ghats and the unspoilt strips of beach near the estuary of the river Aghanashini, makes it a postcard destination. As legend goes, Lord Siva is said to have emerged from the ears of Goddess Earth, disguised in the form of a cow, hence the name Gokarna literally means ‘cow’s ears’. This destination is ideal for Cultural tour by helping deep-thinking seekers the much needed seclusion a vipassana practice offers; at the same time, scholars of yoga will guide interested intellectuals who have shown a keen interest for gaining clarity on the Indic abstract: dharma. After deliberations and discussions during the trip on dharma, a customized path suitable in relevance to their lifestyle and social environment will be churned out.
Hyderabad – Plateau Landscape
Centrally located, Hyderabad is a city in the Northern path of South India. It lies in the sloping terrain of the Deccan Plateau giving the city a hilly topography. Hyderabad was established by the Qutub Shahi dynasty on the Southern banks of the Musi river and they have contributed much to the city’s landmarks like the Hussain Sagar lake and Golconda fort. The striking feature of any city is the flavor: mellifluous Telugu and poetic Urdu being the pinnacle of Dravidian and Islamic cultures are spoken here, making it the destination for the Discovery Path. This is an advanced level culture camp for young adults for developing their personality by learning to see differently and precisely. Public speaking and theatre workshops will be part of the Cultural heritage trip.
