A sneak peek into SeniorWorld’s curated list of the top ten travel destinations voted by senior citizens for the year 2023! Travelling can be a transformative experience for seniors and can provide a valuable opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth. It is known that travelling to new places and experiencing new cultures canbe mentally stimulating, helping seniors stay active and engaged. The golden years of their lives are the perfect time for getting out and about and meeting new people to keep themselves socially involved. Trying new things helps them break out of their routine and rediscover themselves in a new context. VARANASI: Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh: A trip to this magical city, Varanasi is an experience in itself. One of the oldest cities in the world, this place boasts of bringing in life-changing perspectives. There are more than 100 ghats in Varanasi but some of the most visited ones include Manikarnika, Dashashwamedh and Assi Ghat.Strolling on the ghats, watching the sunrise on a boat ride in the Ganges or simply observing the rituals on the ghat in this city of lights, will mesmerise you.Sarnath is the place where Gautam Buddha preached his first sermon. This iconic destination is just ten kilometres away from Varanasi. Archaeological museums, stupas and monasteries are some of the major attractions in Sarnath. KUMARAKOM, KERALA: The island village of Kumarakom is situated on the banks of the largest lake in Kerala, Vembanad Lake. It is best known for its backwater cruises featuring lagoons, coves and a labyrinth of canals. A must-visit place for seniors as it will give them an opportunity to experience the beautiful flora and fauna apart from various water and air adventure sports such as water skiing, windsurfing, boating and parasailing. They can also just soak in the tranquillity of the place in the midst of the lake and a heritage houseboat. KASHMIR: Kashmir is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, which includes snow-capped mountains, shimmering lakes, and verdant valleys. There is plenty to admire in Kashmir – Srinagar’s Dal Lake, Pahalgam, the picturesque Sonmarg and Gulmarg. Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage is evident in its architecture, cuisine, and festivals. It is also known for its spiritual tourism, with many temples, shrines, and mosques located throughout the region like the Shankaracharya temple, Amarnath Cave and the Jama Masjid. The region’s rugged terrain and natural beauty make it an ideal destination for a range of adventure activities that seniors can enjoy, including trekking, skiing, and rafting. A peaceful atmosphere and hospitable people make Kashmir an ideal place to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

ANHA JUNGLE LODGE LOCATION: Dhanwar, Madhya Pradesh BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Built with minimum interference to the natural environment of its setting and managed on eco-friendly principles, Kanha Jungle Lodge provides an understated luxury experience that’s built on an acute awareness of the ecology while providing a warm and comfortable stay. The 18 rooms are modern but have a rustic charm about them. The cottages offer endless views of the greenery. The amenities provided are in keeping with the comfort of the discerning, global and eco-aware traveller. REASONS TO VISIT: Be a part of memorable safaris at Kanha National Park with our resident naturalist to view a variety of animals such as the royal Bengal tiger,leopard, barasingha, gaur, spotted deer etc, You could also go bird watching in and around the lodge, take nature walks, picnic near the Banjar river, star gaze and do a lot more at the property. BEST TIME TO VISIT: October to June NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: In the dense forests of Kanha Tiger Reserve, also known as Kanha-Kisli National Park, the mornings are magical. The largest national parkof Madhya Pradesh, Kanha, which inspired Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, is divided into two sanctuaries, Hallon and Banjar. Kanha National Park, created in 1955 and designated a tiger reserve in 1973, encompasses an area of 940 km in the two districts, Mandla and Balaghat. HOTEL SAHARA STAR LOCATION: Mumbai, Maharashtra BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Sahara Star is one of India’s most desirable destinations. The 5-star deluxe hotel strategically located near Mumbai’s domestic airport magnificently blends Indian mysticism and culture, while personifying the country’s progressive spirit blending peerless hospitality with ultra-modern technology. The property has 354 well-appointed luxurious guest rooms with 25 elegant suites, 5 speciality restaurants with unique concepts and 1 inimitable journey. Hotel Sahara Star brings together a sumptuous array of delicacies from across the Globe.Here, the culture, mystique & hospitality of India blend with modern facilities and services to create the finest business and leisure hotel in the country. REASONS TO VISIT: The dome-shaped luxurious designed hotel is a masterpiece in itself. One must visit to experience the city’s largest property, the multi-cuisine restaurants like Mabruk for Mediterranean, Namak for Indian speciality and East for pan-Asian food where our bespoke travellers can indulge in scrumptious meals.Experience the beauty of exotic species of fish while you gratify in the delicacies at the city’s Largest Ocean PDR (Private Dining Room) that will mesmerize you. The lagoon-facing room at night or the city view during sunrise makes it a marvellous sight to capture. BEST TIME TO VISIT: All year round NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Other tourist attractions consist of Juhu Beach, Iskon Temple, Shree Sidhivinayak Temple, Marine Drive, Gateway of India, Elephanta Caves,Palladium and Pheonix mall among others making it a perfect family destination for fun, leisure, spiritual getaway.

This month we caught up with Rajasekar Pachai (a.k.a Kutti) who recently became the first person from Tamil Nadu to conquer the mighty Mount Everest Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be the first person from Tamil Nadu to raise a flag atop Mount Everest? Well, Kutti can tell you, as he recently returned from trekking the highest point on earth – 29,000 feet above sea level. This trek is considered one of the most magnificent on earth and has enchanted hundreds of mountaineers from all corners of the world, and Kutti was lucky enough to be one of them. Rajasekar Pachai, also known as Kutti, grew up in a small fishing village in Tamil Nadu. This year, at the age of 27, Kutti achieved his dream of climbing Mount Everest and planted his flag at the peak. He trained for a year, trekking six mountains and preparing himself both physically and mentally for the gruelling climb. To acclimatize himself to the harsh weather conditions, he spent months in Manali, Shillong, and Nepal. On April 13, 2023, Kutti left the base camp and finally reached the summit of the world’s highest peak at 5:30 am on May 19th by climbing 8850 meters. Doing this trek needs a lot of planning, preparation, equipment, and tough training. Kutti’s successful journey was supported by KYN Powered by PRO. So there’s this new platform called KYN that’s all about bringing people together in their local communities. It helps encourage everyone to have a voice and get involved in making their community better. There’s more info coming soon, so stay tuned! I first encountered Kutty in May 2022. Veera and Navi agreed to my proposal to coach him, so he could climb Everest in May 2023. We planned to hone his mountaineering and climbing skills, have him practice climbing, and finally, help him summit. I remember when I first met him, I told him that climbing to the summit would be both mentally and physically challenging. I encouraged him, telling him that he had the heart and determination to conquer it. Seeing how eager and fit he was gave him an advantage right from the start. First, I met with him to discuss training and continued to keep an eye on his progress. To improve his workouts for mountain climbing, I provided him with a high-altitude training mask. Working together, we were both highly motivated to help him achieve his goal even though he lacked mountaineering experience. Back in August, I sent him to Manali to learn some basic mountaineering skills. Surprisingly, he excelled in his training and jumped straight into the advancedskills training soon after. The initial training took around 15 days and following that, we took him on an 8-day expedition to climb Yunam Peak, which stands at 6122m. And the best part? He managed to conquer it with ease! It’s obvious that he was physically up for the challenge, but what really proved difficult was finding ways to pass the lonely hours waiting in the tent for the weather to improve or just to make it through the freezing nights. This was his first time being alone for such an extended period, and it was really starting to affect him mentally. We found a crucial point and Veera sought professional help to improve his mental state. This proved beneficial for him. Afterwards, Veera embarked on his toughest endeavour yet – climbing three peaks in Nepal’s Everest region to acclimate himself to the challenging terrain and conditions. He spent more than a month there in October and November, successfully completing his climbs which included Imja Tse (6,165m) and Kyajori Ri (6,200m) So, the first idea was to go up Chulu West – a 6400m mountain in the Annapurna Ranges. However, we realized that he needed more experience walking in his snow boots, so we decided to switch things up. Instead, we tackled Mera Peak – a 6500m peak in the Everest region with a tough, snowy climb. I was convinced he’d succeed in climbing Everest in Apr/May after he finished those 3 peaks in excellent time. In February, we sent him to Solang, Himachal for Ice climbing and winter training to improve his technical skills and help him acclimate to the freezing climate. This lasted for approximately 10 days. His attitude towardsthe mountains shifted, and his determination to reach the summit of Everest grew stronger. All we required was a bit of luck with his health and the weather to make certain he achieves his goal. We were fortunate enough to have him join the Elite Expeditions climbing team led by the legendary mountain climber, Nirmal Purja. His personal Sherpa for the climb is Lakpa, who has conquered Everest eight times himself. Lakpa has completed numerous rotations up Everest to Camps 1, 2, and 3, as well as climbed Lobuche peak – a 6119m climb that all Everest summiteers use as practice before attempting the big climb. Moreover, he is currently stationed at the base camp and is eagerly waiting for the final call-up when the climbing window opens up to finish his story!