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Offbeat destinations for you to explore this new year
India offers the most expansive buffet of destinations for years worth of holidays. While local and foreign travellers flock to popular tourist hubs, I prefer to see the lesser-known, veiled hot spots. Here are India's best offbeat destinations I have explored over the years. Hold on to your bags, and away we go!
I backpacked to Gokarna years ago with my school friends. It is a small temple town with two personalities: a divine, spiritual side and a breezy, uber-cool side. We went for the latter! Our group of 22-year-olds were all eager to party by the beach.
First, we booked our stay through spot bookings. Our options were a beachside shack, a Zostel, and a small hotel/lodge. Since it was the long weekend, only one room was available for us. Skip Gokarna if you’re looking for five-star properties or fancy BnBs.
Each morning, we started with breakfast at a nearby restaurant with idli, vada, dosa, and poori in piping hot sambar and chutney. Then, we were off to the beaches! Gokarna has five beautiful beaches tucked between lush green hills: the Gokarna, Om, Kudle, Half Moon, and Paradise. The first three are known for their excellent food.
The trip's highlight was an intense trek from Gokarna Beach to Paradise Beach. We felt adventurous, trekking through the hills with dense forests on our right and the coast on our left.
Visit Gokarna if you’re a beach baby or need a relaxing holiday.
Your Kerala wishlist can include Munnar for its tea estates, Alleppy for its backwaters, and Poovar for its houseboats.
Wayanad, on the other hand, is a hill station amid misty mountains, dense woods, vast plantations, and spice gardens. I had the pleasure of visiting a friend’s private villa in Wayanad last year, and it was one of the most exotic places I have ever seen.
We four girls took an overnight train from Chennai to Vythiri – about 1.5 hours from Wayanad. The villa was on top of a hill surrounded by a dense forest with tall palm and coconut trees. It was the perfect escape.
A Nepali cook made delicious meals, and a friendly dog kept us company through our three-day leisure stay. The view from the villa was spectacular – we even spotted a rainbow! Being winter, heavy mist enveloped us every morning; our balcony felt like Cloud 9.
If you like relaxed, secluded holidays, add Wayanad to your wishlist. Wayanad has you covered if you find adventure in trekking, rock climbing, and camping.
The former Portuguese town of Silvassa has many natural attractions and is perfect for a short vacation, especially from Mumbai. Silvassa is famous for its lush greenery, wildlife, beaches, and tax-free booze!
I visited Silvassa a few years ago for a short leisure trip. My family and I took the early-morning train from Dadar to Vapi (~2.5 hours) and then an auto to our resort (~45 minutes).
We visited the shops first, as my mother was keen on handicrafts such as warli paintings. Her love for the craft blew our shopping budget out of proportion. The Lion Safari Wildlife Park was our next stop. We spotted monkeys, deer, and birds. We were spellbound when we came across the majestic Asiatic lion lounging on the grass without care. We forgot everything else, except my camera!
We ended our trip by visiting Vanganga Lake, a reserve surrounded by flowers and gardens. We hired a boat that gently sliced through serene waters to Island Gardens, one of the prettiest places in Silvassa.
Visit Silvassa for a weekend trip. Its scenic beauty will rejuvenate you from weekday fatigue!
What wouldn't I give to be back at the Surf-Turf, Bob Marley, or Flip-Flop beach shacks, or the beautiful café called Second Home that served delicious pasta, pizza, and other finger food? As waves crashed on the beach, I pitched an umbrella with my friends, devouring lip-smacking seafood with a chilled beer. That was life!
If you're a history buff, you'd love to explore the UNESCO World Heritage monuments such as Krishna’s Butter Ball, Mahabalipuram Shore temple, and Ganesh Ratha temple. And although we never visited it, check out the famous Crocodile Bank – home to magnificent crocodiles and alligators – besides Kovalam Beach.
You should visit Kovalam in August, when it hosts the Covelong surfing festival, to marvel at the dexterity of surfers from all over the world! The festival becomes the best sundowner beach party when the sun hits the horizon! I had once seen a photo of a small boat seemingly floating on a clear river surrounded by green hills, and I felt an intense desire to be a part of that scene.
This place was the Dawki River in Meghalaya. Finally, last December, I had the chance to cross it off my bucket list. Dawki River flows through the Mawlynnong village at the foot of Jaintia Hills. It is 100 kilometres from Shillong, close to the India-Bangladesh border. Upon reaching, we booked a government boat that charged INR 800 for an hour's ride. Each boat accommodated three people.
In the middle of the Dawki River, the only sound was chirping birds, butterflies, and white pebbles. The water was crystal clear, like glass. We could see colourful fish and snakes swimming on the river bed. We were in boats, suspended in the air! This secluded place will make you feel like you're in heaven. Step away from the world and float on the Dawki River for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
PS: Remember to try the Bangladeshi pani puri at the nearby stalls for a unique twist on the puchka!
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