This Trip was Planned to See the Magnificent Northern Lights 

To see these lights we have to travel closer to the northern pole so you can choose between north Sweden, Norway, Iceland or Northern Finland even Canada is an option but i had selected Northern Finland!

So my Journey Begins from Mumbai ...

About Destination

Saariselkä is a village located in a mountainous area in northern Finland. And it is about 250 kms north of the Arctic Circle. If you are from Asian Sub Continent or countries where you do not see Snow very often you will find this part a completely different world! It is Surely is once in a lifetime experience!

So how do we go Mumbai - Ivalo - Saariselka

Travelling from Mumbai there is no direct flights to Ivalo but you will find 1 or 2 stop  flights from Mumbai to Ivalo which will have a stop over in one of the European Cities and prices could vary depending on when you travel and when you book prices could be in the range of 25000 - 35000 Rs 1 way fare

Once you reach Ivalo Airport they have a bus which leaves at periodic time slots you can check there timings and use this service to reach your hotel. You can also opt for taxi ride but it would be costly affair.

Ivalo to Saariselka is a half an hour Drive and depending on your wait time for bus you could reach your hotel one and one and half hour from the time you arrive at airport.

Local Sight Seeing Lapland Activities in Saariselka

Husky Ride

i would recommend everyone to try this activity where 6 - 8 huskies pull your sledge in snow and you experience the scenic nature all around while your huskies pull you around.

Before you Start they brief you how do handle the sledge and it can be a challenge to handle the sledge in slopes for example if you are going up the sledge you have to get down and start pushing the sledge to support the husky climb the hill and if you go downhill you need to apply the brakes else it may hurt the huskies but only rule is never to leave the Sledge else your huskies will leave you

For  more details about the service provider visit :  http://www.huskyco.fi/  

Snow Shoeing

Snow Shoeing you get to walk on the fresh snow wearing a racket (snow shoe) it is a different experience of its kind and i am glad i could try it! We did it at saariselka national park and was organised by Lapland Safaris. A Group of 10 - 15 people trek in the dark in the national park and follow our instructor in wilderness it can be really tough at few points in the trek especially when you fall down it is almost impossible to get up on your own in the soft snow but everything was worth it and it was once in a lifetime experience for me. If you are lucky you can also find the northern lights!

For  more details about the service provider visit : https://www.laplandsafaris.com

Skiing in Saariselka

If you want to try Skiing in Saariselka then saariselka ski resort is a place which accommodates everyone from beginners to expert they have hourly daily and weekly pass available and for beginners like me they have packages with gear and instructor also where they teach you basic techniques of skiing and you get to try it on the slopes for beginners and if you do well you get to try steeper slopes but unfortunately i could not make it to the next level!

For  more details about the service provider visit : http://skisaariselka.com

Visiting Santa Village

saariselka - rovaniemi

Visiting Santa village in Rovaniemi to plan this you need to spend one full day here as travelling from Saariselka to Rovaniemi takes 3 ½ to 4 hours one way but you have bus from morning 8 o'clock and we can book bus online. Santa’s office is right at the coordinates of the Artic Cicle and you get to meet and greet him in his office for about 5 to 7 mins. They Do not charge you for meeting him but if you need to take a pic with him then it is charged at 20 Euros and a pack of 2 pics and video of our interaction is 40 euros. But felt like a child again to meet him and also talk to him about my trip details. Spent half a day there roaming around. They also have reindeer rides there and ice restaurant but did not try it as was going to visit ice bar in Sweden. Had booked my return bus at 5 in th evening so visited Arktikum Science Centre from there which was like half an hour drive from there. You get to learn more about the local history and culture there also the huge glass ceiling structure lets you enjoy the northern lights in the night but unfortunately i had left before that.

Hunting the northern lights

Northern Lights - there are tours organized by lots of local operators where they take you to spot the northern lights but i would recommend you can do this on your own if you are lucky and the solar activity is high you will be able to spot the lights from anywhere in saariselka but best place to spot is where the light pollution is less so you can walk to the Saariselka national park where it is dark and spot the lights easily and capture them . It gets really cold there at night and the brightness of the lights really depends on the intensity of the solar activity happening at that time so you may see really bright colours or grey pacthes in sky depending on the the solar activity. To plan this on your own you can check the predictor online which is not very accurate but can give you some idea of whats happening.

Northern Light Predictor : http://www.aurora-service.eu/aurora-forecast/  If the Kp number is high then the chances of seeing the light is high but it does not mean if it is high you will definitely see it as it depends on lot of factors but i guess keep looking up in the sky and keep asking people if there is activity you will definitely hear the buzz. Also if you need to capture the northern lights in your standard phone camera settings you might not be able to capture good images but you need to set it in pro mode or use a DSLR to get good images captured Saariselka for me was magical and was really in love with the place’s serene surroundings and and its untouched beauty would definitely love to go here again!

So the trip is not over yet after 5 Wonderful Days in Saariselka i move to my Next Destination Helsinki!

Helsinki 

Helsinki is not only the capital city of Finland in fact, it is the largest city in the country too. The city is located in the southern part of the country blending with the Baltic Sea. The city is very famous for it’s beautiful and gorgeous building with Finnish accents. As the places are located close to each other one can easily stroll to the top tourist attractions of the city.  

Day 1

Saariselka - Helsinki

After my magical trip of Saariselka i had already planned a 3 day trip to Helsinki. Firstly i travelled from Saariselka to Ivalo and took a flight from there to Helsinki.

My travel blog covers 12 various places which i visited during my trip in Helsinki:- 

Helsinki Cathedral

The Helsinki Cathedral is one of the most popular tourist spot in the city. The was made to dedicated the Grand Duke of Finland, Tsar Nicholas I. The church is made in Neoclassical-style  architecture which is very remarkable. The Cathedral was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel and Ernst Lohrmann. The church is a part of Helsinki Empire and also a landmark for those who arrive from sea. 

Kamppi Chapel 

The Kamppi Chapel is located in Simonkatu of Helsinki. The place is also known as the “Chapel of Silence” as the chapel provides us an opportunity to calm down and relax. I was amazed when i was entered the chapel because when i was outside the chapel i was hearing so many voices and people moving around me but when i entered the chapel suddenly, there was pin drop silence. The architecture of the chapel is very unique and one of it’s kind. The chapel is designed by Mikko Summanen, Kimmo Lintula, and Niko Sirola and has won International Architecture Awards in 2010.

Uspenski Cathedral

The Uspenski Cathedral is the largest orthodox church in Helsinki. The cathedral was designed by Aleksey Gornostaev who was a Russian architect. The Cathedral was built during 1862–1868 period after the death of the architect. The cathedral has one of the most impressive interior and exterior design. The Golden cupolas and facade made with red bricks are the symbols of Russian impact on the Finnish history. 

Day 2

Temppeliaukio church

The Temppeliaukio church is a Lutheran Church designed by two bother Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen. The church is entirely made into a rock due to which it also known as the “Rock Church” or “The church of rock”. This church is situated in the heart of the city near the end of Fredrikinkatu. The assembly hall of the church is with the help of a dome which is lined with copper and supported by the walls of rock. Many events and concerts are organized here as the place has got one of the best acoustics. There are fixed timing in order to view the church from inside so make sure you are visiting this place on correct time if you want see it’s impressive architecture from inside. 

Senate Square

The Senate Square is becoming more and more popular among the tourist as a huddle of gorgeous structures are located around it. The major contributors for the square are influenced by the Holy Cathedral of Helsinki, The Government palace, University of Helsinki and the National Library of Finland. The oldest stone building of the city known as Sederholm is located to the southeast corner of the square and In the middle of the square, there is a statue of Emperor Alexander II which is very ironic. The place is said to the Meeting point for walking tours as almost all the major tourist spots are located nearby. Even the Esplanade park and the Market Square are just a block away from this spot.

Finnair Skywheel 

The Finnair Skywheel Helsinki is a popular ferris wheel in Katajanokka in Finland. The ferris wheel is very huge in size and provides spectacular 360° panoramic view of the city. When i was on the top of the ferris wheel i was able to view Baltic Sea on one side and a majestic view of Helsinki on the other side. They were even offering VIP Gondola or Sauna Gondola but was a bit expensive !

Market Square

The Market Square is the most famous market of the city. The place is very well known for national as well as International trades. This place has become quite popular among the tourists as there are many booths available here which sell traditional market food, Handicrafts materials and Souvenirs items which you can buy to gift your loved ones. The thing which i liked the most about this place was the heated Cafe tents where i enjoyed a steaming cup of hot coffee in such extreme cold weather. From this place one can took a ferry to a two hundred years old fort known as Suomenlinna.  

The places for day has been finished now it was time for going back to the hotel to get refreshed and getting ready for tomorrow's trip to one of the oldest sea fort Suomenlinna.

Day 3

Suomenlinna

Suomenlinna is a very popular 200 years old sea fortress in Finland and is declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. To reach this sea fortress i took a ferry from Market square. As i was travelling in Winter it was certainly very cold in the ferry however it was kind a like fun as i was able to view some broken chunks of ice floating into the sea. Once i reached there i visited a few museums and enjoyed the scenery over there. The Fortress has a number of restaurants, museums and private houses. Suomenlinna provides a very unique and mesmerizing experience to visitors of all ages and would recommend it as a must visit in Finland.

Okay! So it was the last day which i spend in Helsinki but wait my trip is not over yet as i have planned to add Stockholm to my itinerary . And travelling from Helsinki to Stockholm will be interesting as will be taking a Cruise from here. Took Viking line Cruise which Departs from Helsinki at 5.30 pm and arrives in Stockholm at 10.00 am. If you have time and can plan this option as it is a perfect way to leave the beautiful City of Finland!

Coorg

Kodagu or Coorg is one of the most popular city in India, which was said to be “Scotland of India” by Britishers. The city is very famous for it’s coffee and their coffee plantations as it provides very simplistic view of nature. Kodava language is the official language in Kodagu. 

Day 1 

I had planned a 5 Day trip to Coorg. To reach Coorg, i took flight from Mumbai to Mangalore, from here it took me around 4 hours of drive to reach Coorg. I highly recommend to reach Mangalore as early as possible as the roads here are quite narrow and you may get stuck in traffic jam which can take much longer time than 4 hours to reach there. The best time to visit this place is in September as many locals told me that one can view many different types of butterfly which migrate here in the month of September. 

As first and last day were only Airport to Resort transit days i had 3 days to explore the place and the places covered are as follows

Day 2

Dubare Elephant Camp

The Dubare Elephant Camp is a forest camp located on the banks of river Kaveri here you can enjoy many activities like riding elephants, elephant bath, or feeding them. If you are visiting this place just make sure that you reach here on time as all the activities here are timely based. It is one of the best place if you want to see elephants closely.   

Golden Temple 

The Golden Temple of Coorg also known as Namdroling Monastery, is a Tibetan monastery dedicated to Gautam Buddha. The monastery was built by Penor Rinpoche in the year in 1963. Penor Rinpoche was considered as “The master of Dzogchen”. The temple is located approximately 34 km from Madikeri and is a must visit ! 

Nisargadhama - Cauvery Island 

Nisargadhama - Cauvery Island is a 64 acre island formed by river Kaveri and approximately 3.2 km away from Kushalanagar. One of the major attraction of this spot are the Boating, Elephant ride, and a bunch of animals in cage. This place is visited by many tourists as a one day picnic spot. Here you can even buy some wooden made wall clocks, kitchen items, and kids toys from the shops located in the nearby area. Visiting here is highly recommended. 

Day 3 

Talacauvery Temple

Talacauvery is also written as Tala Kaveri, this place is considered as the main origin of river Kaveri and is situated 1200m above the sea level on Brahmagiri hill. 

You will love this place if you like trekking as to reach this place you need to climb a few hundred steps which is pretty easily. As the place is located on the top of the hill the climate here is very cool. 

Raja Seat. 

The Raja Seat is a garden situated in Madikeri, the garden offers majestic views of sunrise and sunset. This place was visited by the local king to experience and feel beauty of nature. The Raja Seat is present exactly in the center of garden from this seat the king use view sunset. This garden has provided me of the splendid view of sunrise in my life. 

Omkareshwara temple. 

The Omkareshwara Temple is ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiv. The design of temple is made in Muhammadan styled arch. The temple was made by Linga Rajendra II in the year 1820. The temple provided me delightful sensations and vibrations which made feel very positive. 

Day 4 

Nagarhole National Park 

The Nagarhole National park is located between Coorg and Mysore. Here one can see a lot of birds. If you are lucky enough then you may be able to see many deers, monkey’s and snake around here. I really enjoyed this as i was able to spot 4 young tigers who were relaxing in their den. This is one of the best place in Coorg and i would highly recommend you to visit this place. 

Iruppu Falls 

Iruppu fall is located near Rameshwar temple which is around 85 km from Madikeri. In order to reach waterfall you approximately need to walk 750 m. Here you can hear and enjoy the chirping of birds with sound of the waterfall.

I had a very tranquil experience and had fallen in love with the place. From here i headed towards the Abbey falls which is in proximity from here. 

Abbey Falls

Abbey Falls is a very small waterfall when compared to Iruppu fall. The waterfall is located very close to Iruppu Falls you just need to walk a few 100 steps more. Visiting this place in Monsoon is highly recommended as during other seasons the flow level of water is quite low. Visiting the Abbey falls was an amazing experience from here i headed towards Coffee Beans & Coffee Plantation Fields. 

Coffee Beans & Coffee Plantation

Coorg Coffee plantation is a must place to visit in the city as here one can understand the whole manufacturing process of coffee. The place looks great if you visit this place in right season you will small white flowers on this plants which looks like a small shower of snow was fallen here. One of the interesting facts which i learned about coffee here is that The Kopi Luwak which is the most expensive coffee in the world costs around $700 per kg! Which is approximately 50,000rs for 1kg. 

Day 5 

Returning back to my sweet home in Mumbai. I took a direct flight from Mangalore to Mumbai. 

I loved natural beauty and enjoyed my trip to Coorg! And would like to recommend you try out local Cuisine on Banana leafs in Coorg.

Sri Lanka
I had planned a short 4 day trip to Nuwara Eliya and Kandy. For this trip I did not cover any beaches due to lack of time. Sri Lanka is a country island located to the south of India. This place plays an important role in Hindu Mythology, as this is the place were Lord Ram killed Ravan who was the king of Sri Lanka. In India every year on Dussehra, they burn statue of Ravana displaying the victory of Good over Evil. But now perspective have changed a bit in Sri Lanka as the palace of the King Ravan is transformed into a temple and many people here worship him as a God. They say that king had kidnapped Lord Ram’s Wife as revenge for hurting his sister Shurpanakha who wanted to marry Ram. This feels quite strange and interesting that two there are two completely different perspective of a same person is portrayed, one society thinks of him as evil and celebrates his death and other treats him as a God and justify his actions.

Day 1
To explore the natural beauty of Nuwara Eliya, i took a flight from Mumbai to Colombo. I highly recommend you to stay nearby airport and start your wonderful journey next morning towards Nuwara Eliya. It took me around 6-7  hours drive to reach Nuwara Eliya from Colombo Airport. After which i was pretty much tired so decided to rest at hotel.

Day 2
To Experience the natural breeze and the cold climate i started my journey from Horton plains.

Horton Plains:-
The Horton Plains is a central highland with an altitude of 2000 meters. This place is located approximately 35 kms away from Nuwara Eliya. The drive is full of sceneries and if you are lucky then you may be able to find some Elks around here. The main attraction of this place is trekking which can be really be enjoyed if you are with a bunch of people. The place is totally worth your time it took me around 4 hours so if you wish to visit this place make sure you have planned for it.

Gregory Lake   
The Gregory Lake is located in the center of the city. This place is perfect for relaxing or walking in leisure and many water activities are also going on here. The place was built by Sir William Gregory in the year 1873. Sir William Gregory was a British Governor and an Anglo-Irish writer. I would highly recommend you to try out Jet Ski rides and Swan Boats which were really awesome.

Sita Ammani   
As per Hindu Mythology the Sita Ammani is the place where Ravan had kept Sita when he kidnapped her. The place is located approximately 4.5 kms away from Nuwara Eliya. There is one place around here were you watch the footprints of Lord Hanuman when he came Sri Lanka to save Sita. Visit this place and get known to the ancient Hindu mythology.

Ambewela Farms
The Ambewela Farms is one of largest dairy product producer and also the top leading local brand in Sri Lanka. The Ambewela farm also has another branch open around here which is known as “New Zealand farm” this farm is approximately 2 km away from Ambewela Farm. Make sure to visit this place while your way to Horton Plains.

Kande Ela Reservoir
Kande Ela Reservoir is also known as Meepilimana Reservoir. This lake is located approximately 10 km away from Nuwara Eliya. The reservoir was built by D. S. Senanayake in the year 1947. He was the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and considered to “Father of the Nation”. Best time to visit this place is in Monsoon as the reservoir has more water and surrounding area is major covered with lushy grass.

Day 3
Nuwara Eliya Golf Club:-  
The Golf Club of Nuwara Eliya is a 18 hole golf course and is one of the oldest Golf Club’s in Sri Lanka. As I love to play golf ! i visited this place early in the morning but unfortunately, i did not get a chance to play golf  here. Anyways the place was looking very beautiful and gorgeous as it was covered in fog.   

Hanuman Temple
The Hanuman Temple is situated on the top of  a hill on Nuwara Eliya - Colombo Highway. The temple is very famous for it’s remarkable architecture and one of the best scenic location. If you are visiting this temple then please make sure that you are not wearing shorts or else you will not be allowed into the premises of the temple. You can either visit this place on your way to Kandy or before reaching Nuwara Eliya.

Tea Factory
The Tea Factory is one of the well known tea and coffee manufacturing company in the city. Here they process and manufacture freshly made hand picked coffees. At this place you will find many different types of teas and coffees like the white tea, green tea, black tea and some others. The tea field of this factory looks very lushy green and provides a splendid view of natural beauty.

Day 4
Victoria Park
Victoria park is a very famous public park in Sri Lanka and is also known as Viharamahadevi Park. This park has covers an estimated area of 27 acres and is located next to the National museum. The place is has very pleasant atmosphere and is one of the best place to do some exercise and yoga. If you don’t have much time you can skip this place.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is a nursery raising spot for wild Asian Elephants and is situated in Pinnawala town. The town is very well known for nurturing the growth of the Asian Elephants. At this place one can enjoy  a Elephant ride or can do some activities like Bathing the elephant and then feeding them. Just make sure that you reach here on time or else you may miss all the fun.

Tooth Relic Temple
The Tooth Relic Temple is a Buddhist sanctuary and a World Heritage site by UNESCO in Sri Lanka.The temple has been under attack several times by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.Despite the fact that the site was able to recover completely. One of the major attraction of this place are Golden Canopy of the Temple of the Tooth, Tooth Building Complex, and International Buddhist Museum. Visiting here helped me to understand the  Buddhist religion and some of their traditions. Make sure that this place is on your checklist.

Kandyan dance
The Kandyan dance comprises of many different types of dance forms. According to the masters of this field this dance was originated from a ritual dance known as “Kohomba kankariya”. Originally this dance was only allowed to male dancers but now a days, it is even performed by both males and females. It is one of the most popular dance form in Sri lanka. The dance was very authentic and magnificent.

I enjoyed my trip to Nuwara eliya and Kandy. But due to lack of time i did not cover some place around Kandy but would like to recommend you those places. If you love nature i would recommend you to add Galle for Whale watching and if you like to shopping then Colombo is a must place, or you even add the beautiful beach Bentota for those beach parties !