SJ Desk
he hot season is here - and how!
The best part of the summers is that they still bring a sense of holiday and vacation times, even though you may be working now.
With the vacation mode sliding in, the probability that you might want to visit a good hill station is the highest. Hill stations, or places, which are comparatively cooler, with no sign of any hustle and bustle of the city life, are the best options during summers to provide you respite from the scorching heat of the sunny weather – and why not!
So your search begins – and of course, the myriad options that are thrown at you on the Internet confuse you. As luck would have it, India is one of the blessed countries with a whole gamut of options available in its diverse land. Budget-friendly options, or perhaps a luxurious one, solo travels or family outings, cooler places with hills around or lakes and forests, and thus there are many other different kinds of packages that would suit your requirements.
Amidst all these myriad options, here is the list of the most soulful places that you would really want to enjoy to your heart’s content and add to your list of memories and cherish them forever.
Tawang
The town of Tawang is located in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. Known for its breathtaking landscapes overlooking the Himalayan peaks, traveling to Tawang would certainly be a good option this summer. This town borders China and is closest to Bhutan as well. Tawang Monastery is incredibly beautiful and popular in the entire town. And you can also opt to visit the Nuranang Waterfalls as well, which are equally scenic. It is kind of your offbeat locations to travel to, and truth be told, it will surely be one of your greatest travel experiences in life. You can reach this destination by road, railways and even via air (nearest airport being in Tezpur, located 330kms away from Tawang). |
Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar is a hill station located in the western state of Maharashtra amidst the Sahyadri mountain ranges. It is adorned with the beautiful Venna lake (a boat ride is a must here) and mountains overlooking the thick forests, making it all the more a scenic landscape, especially to beat the scorching heat of the cities. With Beautiful vantage points, restaurants, temples, lakes, this town should be on your weekend getaway options.
Oh! And please do not forget to taste the freshly made and mouth-watering strawberry and fresh cream (a local delicacy and dessert served chilled). The closest major city to Mahabaleshwar is Pune about 130kms away.
Mcleodganj
Situated amidst the Dhauladhar ranges, this place is the abode of His holiness, Dalai Lama. Bejeweled with the beautiful monasteries the town also is known for its salubrious surroundings. It is also famous for the cool Tibetan cafes and Tibetan shops selling local goods and souvenirs that one can ever find. This place is the perfect summer escape from the sweltering heat.
Once you enter this picturesque and gorgeous town of Mcleodganj, I’m pretty sure you would never want to leave the calm and peaceful environment.
You should definitely try the Momos, Thukpa (the noodle soup) and the Tibetan butter tea here. You can reach the town of Mcleodganj by air (nearest airport is Kangra – 30kms away), by railways (nearest station being Pathankot – 90kms away) and by road as well.
Andaman’s and Nicobar islands
Andaman’s can also be termed as the go-to summer destinations of India owing to its bright and pure environment, glazed beaches, clear oceans, vantage points, et al. All these things truly make it the perfect holiday location you could ever visit. You can surely make your “seeping the cocktail on a hammock” dream come true here with the cold and humid breeze blowing your hair and with only the sound of ocean waves in the background. Sounds like a perfect holiday, isn’t it?
If you are a traveler in search of adventure, then I must say, here you would really get to find a lot many adventure sports like Scuba diving, snorkeling, walking undersea, and many more. You can reach this place by air and ship (nearest airportVirSavarkar airport, and Haddo Port, both being in Port Blair).
Munnar
The state of Kerala is known as God’s own country and that too for obvious reasons – It has the most salubrious and purest environment one could ever find. Munnar is a town in Kerala and also popular as a hill station located at a perfect height surrounded by a myriad of tea plantations, and mountains covered with a blanket of lush green landscapes.
A pure Kerala Ayurvedic massage would just complete your trip to this place to provide you with the perfect blend of rejuvenation and relaxation. There are many more things to do in Munnar such as mountain biking, visiting the Elephant safari, etc. You can reach Munnar by Air (nearest airport being Cochin – 125kms) and by railways as well (nearest station being Aluva – 110kms).
I hope you find the aforementioned destinations perfect for your summer getaway, especially to save you from the heat waves and the hustle and bustle of the city life. I’m sure these destinations would certainly relieve you of all your stress levels and provide you with the much-needed rejuvenation getting away from your mundane routine life and also help you spend a little more quality time with your friends, family, or perhaps with your own self.
You definitely deserve a good break once in a while, and what better than summers to do it!