“Jobs fill your pockets, adventures fill your soul”. Weekends come and go but we don’t take its advantage as we should. We think that binge-watching on shows and ordering pizza are the best things to do as we think there are limited places to visit in India- most famous of them being Goa, Jaipur, Lonavala, Manali. And most of you have already visited these places a number of times. With this list, we bring to you a host of places that you might not have explored in India and it’s high time you get up from your couch and plan a trip. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, here are the unique places you can plan to go on the long weekends in 2021
Gulmarg
Starting from Kashmir, Gulmarg, which is a really popular place to go to. If you are living in a tropical climate, Gulmarg offers you snowy weather, a beautiful waterfront, and a lot of adventurous things to do. Fun places to visit in Gulmarg are Alphater Lake, Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve, Saint Mary’s Church, The Maharani Shrine, Dal Lake, Awantipura Ruins and Gulmarg Gondola.
Triund
Triund is situated in Himachal Pradesh and is famous for trekking. It’s located ten km above McLoedganj. It’s comparatively an easy trek, that’s why it’s famous with a lot of amateur trekkers. On the trek, you get a spectacular view of the magnificent Dhauladhar mountains and of Kangra valley. Experienced trekkers can go further to Lahesh Cave and then to Indrahar pass also.
Chaktara
If you are a fan of mountain climbing and trekking, you can visit Chaktara in Dehradun district in Uttarakhand. There are really high altitudes in Chaktara and it is surrounded by hidden natural gems. It has the highest waterfall in Uttarakhand called Tiger Falls. Trekking from Tiger Falls to Budher is really famous with tourists. Budher has limestone caves and is also known as Miola caves.
Khimsar Village
Khimsar is one of the great places to visit in Rajasthan if you are looking for a variety of experiences. The city offers things like a fort, forest, palaces to famous temples. Khimsar is located 43 kms away from the Nagaur district. In Khimsar, you can visit the Panchala Black Buck reserve, Nagaur Fort, Dhawa Doli Wildlife Sanctuary and also catch a view of the sand dunes as it’s located near Thar desert.
Kanha
Kanha National Park is a must visit place in Madhya Pradesh which is the home to a plethora of exquisite animals. It’s most famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger and Barasingha (Swamp Deer). It’s located 160 kms away from Jabalpur. You can find resorts for all budgets ranging from Rs. 1000 per night to Rs. 15,000 per night. There are several gates to enter the National Park. Besides Tiger, you can also spot Leopard, Bear, Chital, Sambhar, Jackal, Fox and around 300 species of birds
Kas Plateau Reserved Forest
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Kas Plateau is located near Satara district in Maharashtra. Kas Plateau is famous for its wildflower bloom and some of the rare species of fauna. It’s a biodiversity hotspot and is also famously called Maharashtra Valley of Flowers. It has around 175 varieties of wildflowers. Other things to see around the area are Thoseghar waterfall and Kas Lake.
Dawki River
Also named, Umngot river, it’s situated in Meghalaya (Shillong). It’s one of the cleanest rivers in India and is a divide between Jhantia and Khasi hills. The river is so clear that you can feel the boat is floating in the air. There is also a small island in the river called Sindbad. The river is famous for boating and kayaking and also just relaxing at the shore. While in Shillong, you can also visit Elephant falls, Wah Kaba falls and Nohkalikai falls which are equally captivating.
Champai
An offbeat destination and known as the rice bowl of Mizoram, Champai is 192 km from Aizwal. A must-visit place in Champai is Murlen National Park which has very lush vegetation. The Murlen National Park is surrounded by six caves Lamsialpuk, Hnahalan, Tan Tlangis, Zokhawthar, and Thumkhuai Kham. It has a beautiful heart-shaped lake called Rih Dil. For trekkers, there is a plateau called Thasiama Seno Neihna. It’s an arduous climb but after you reach the top, you get an astonishing view of Champai. By the way, Champai is also known for its 200 varieties of orchids which you can see all around the town.
Gurudongmar Lake
Did you know that Gurudongmar lake is one of the highest lakes in the world? Located in Sikkim (approx. 190 km away from Gangtok), the lake is situated to the north of the Kanchendzonga range. The name Gurudongmar originates from the name of the Guru Padmasambhava who is thought to have visited Tibet through this area. The temple near the lake is also one of the main attractions in the area. The closest town is Lachen which is 3 hours away from the lake and is the only option available for accommodation. Despite all the difficulties, it’s worth a visit.
Araku Valley
Araku Valley is a lesser explored hill station in Andhra Pradesh. It’s 120 km away from Vishakhapatnam. You have the option of exploring multiple things here like going to a few tribal caves, doing adventure sports, and enjoying the stunning scenery of the waterfall.
And don’t forget to try its famous coffee. Some of the places to visit there are- Tribal museum, Chaparai Water Cascade, Sangda Waterfalls, Coffee Museum and Bheemunipatnam Beach.
Varkala
Varkala has climbed up the charts in its popularity over the years. Situated in Kerala, Varkala is a coastal town and a beach destination that is much quieter and tranquil than other beach destinations in India. Although there are a lot of places to go to- like a lighthouse, hills, lakes, etc. But when it’s a beach, just stay at the beach. If you want some change, you can visit Janardhanaswami Temple which is 2000 years old and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Dhanushkodi
If you want to explore something which has an immensely historic significance, then Dhanushkodi it is! This town is also called ‘Ghost Town’ or ‘Lost Land’ of Tamilnadu as it was devastated in 1962 after a hurricane hit it. But it is still a popular destination for travelers and the nearest station Rameshwaram is just 21 km away. From Rameshwaram, there are government vehicles available to drop you at the beach. Dhanushkodi is where Ram Setu exists, which is the same bridge that finds a mention in Ramayana (the bridge which was used by Lord Rama to get his wife Sita back from Sri Lanka). The tranquility of the lovely beach will get to you.
Kanyakumari
The confluence of three seas- Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea; India’s Land End, Triveni Sangam, Cape Comorin- these are some of the names used for Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula situated in the state of Tamil Nadu. Kanyakumari is known for its cultural heritage and most famous for Vivekanand Memorial Rock, a place where Swami Vivekanand attained enlightenment. Besides this, you can also pay a visit to the Kanyakumari beach which offers a hypnotizing view of the ocean. Simply sit on the shore and appreciate the exquisiteness of the natural beauty. Other places to see here are Thirparappu Falls, Thanumalayan Temple, Thiruvalluvar Statue, Our Lady of Ransom Church, Sothavilai Beach, and Olakaruvi Falls.
List Courtesy- Priti Rohira
Pics Courtesy- Internet
