Ok, so as per my calculations, yesterday was the 15th day of India’s Coronavirus triggered lock-down. The days seem to be rolling past and into one another. Anyway, here’s my fifth installment of my India Travel List.

Goa: India’s smallest state and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. There’s just something in the air of that state that makes it a truly wonderful and unique destination. I have made numerous visits to the state. But anytime is a good time to visit Goa. On my next visit, I would like to visit the beaches in the far north of the state, such as Querim and Ashvem.

Karnataka: The state that I am presently staying in must be one of the most under-rated states when it comes to tourism. Heritage, wildlife, scenic beauty, the state has it all. I was delighted at ticking Hampi off my bucket-list a few years back and it exceeded expectations. I am curious to visit the far north of the state with rich architectural heritage such as Bijapur and Bidar.

Telengana: India’s newest state. It’s capital, Hyderabad, is justifiably popular. I am keen to visit Warangal, which was the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty from the 12th to the 14th Century.

Andhra Pradesh: Even though this state borders Karnataka and is not too far from where I live, the only place that I have visited in this vast state is the temple of Tirupati. Vishakhapatnam in the far north of the state has always been high up on my list of places to visit. Another, closer home is the so-called ‘Grand Canyon of India’ – Gandikota.

Tamil Nadu: An utterly fascinating state, the temples of this state are wonders of the World. Here again, I might break my rule of not considering places that I have been to previously to visit Rameswaram. Not too far from here is Chettinad that I would love to visit as well and see the famous mansions.

Kerala: The state where I am originally from. I have made innumerable visits to the state. Sure, there are still places that I have never been to previously. One of them is the region of Idukki, up in the Western Ghats.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: India’s first Union Territory, this group of islands is closer to South-East Asia than mainland India. It has a strong historical connection with India’s independence struggle, in addition to beautiful beaches. Havelock is possibly the highest ranking beach on my India bucket-list.

Puducherry: A small place with a fascinating mix of French and Indian (Tamil) cultures.

Lakshadweep: Truly stunning. We had visited this place on our honeymoon and it was jaw-droppingly beautiful. It was here that I first went snorkeling and was exposed to the beauty of the underwater world.