Great Places In India For Long Weekend Getaways

Long weekends are the perfect excuse to spend lots of time with your close friends and family. Sometimes it’s healthy to just relax and take a break from all the hustle-bustle. Taking time out from our hectic lifestyles can be a really good way to reconnect with ourselves 

India has a great deal to offer in terms its history, culture, wildlife, and aesthetics. With another long weekend approaching, all we can think about is getting away from our daily routines and traveling somewhere close by. Here is a list of few places to do so.  

Mukteshwar: Offbeat Hill Station

Mukteshwar is a pleasing destination, situated in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. It has a grand view of the Himalayan range, its beauty is unpolluted and unaffected till date. From waking up to the sound of chirping birds to sleeping amidst majestic mountains, this rather gorgeous town has a lot to offer. Apart from its drop-dead beauty, rock climbing at ‘Chauli-Ki-Jali’ and visiting ancient temples is mainly the reason why people come here. 

Jim Corbett: Wildlife

The Corbett National Park offers numerous staying options, these are one of the best resorts in Uttarakhand. Some luxury places are The Ramganga resort and The Manu Maharani resort.

There is an extraordinary variety of animals and reptiles present here. Jim Corbett is most famous for its tigers and people from all around the world come to see our majestic national animal.  

Bishnupur: History and Culture

Bishnupur is the ‘temple town’ of West Bengal. It has many famous temples such as The Lalji temple, The Madan Mohan temple, The Jorebangla temple, The Radha Shyam temple and many more. Apart from its temples, Bishnupur is also famous for Rasmancha, a stunning architectural structure built in ancient times. This small city has a lot to offer in terms of its extensive history and culture.

Gokarna: Serene Beaches

If you’re just looking to renew, reflect and rejuvenate, Gokarna is the best place to visit. Its picturesque scenery, attractive beaches, sprawling green landscapes and peaceful long roads, are the perfect way to spend a relaxing weekend.  You could just sit on and enjoy the sunset or go for romantic long drives with your significant other. 

Agra: Monuments

While most people from around the world visit Agra to see the grand ‘Taj Mahal’, that isn’t the only monument is famous for. Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, and Itmad-Ud-Daulah are some of the other spots you could go view as well. Agra is one of the most visited cities in India and this amazing place has numerous great sites.    

What To Pack For Your Next Vacation In The Hills

Summers are here and so is the sun and heat. In no time will the city turn into a kiln and we wouldn't want to get out of the comfort of our air-conditioned confines. That's exactly the time when we should escape to the hills and stay till we can. But going to the hills requires a lot of things to be packed in your suitcase. Read on to know the must haves and don't forget to take them along.

Leather jacket 

Instead of piling multiple layers of woolen clothes, it's better that you carry a leather jacket for you. A single leather jacket will protect you from low temperatures and will also make you look extremely stylish and chic. 

Windcheaters 

When you go up the high mountains, it can get severely cold. The best way to enjoy high altitudes is to carry windcheaters with you. Ensure that it has a hoodie so that it protects from any downpour. 

Mufflers 

A muffler has the quality to not just keep your neck area warm but also glam up otherwise boring sweaters and cardigans. They are available in multiple colors and cloth material adding the much-required pop to your dull woolens. 

Woolen socks 

The more you have them the better it is. Pack at least 2 for each day. It'll help to keep you cost and warm. 

Umbrella 

Nothing's more unpredictable than the weather in the hills. This is mainly due to the proximity of the clouds to the hills. It suddenly starts raining at any moment. But rains should not spoil your fun. An umbrella will not only make sure that your enjoyment doesn't experience a rainy hiccup but also will keep you from getting drenched and consequently falling sick. 

Camera and extra batteries 

Mountains provide for the most beautiful landscapes. It would be a shame to go this far and not click wonderful pictures. So make sure you carry your camera extra batteries and keep charging them at your Nainital Homestay Cottage. 

Also, many times the scenic locations are more than your memory card can hold. So, carry extra storage cards so that there's nothing left uncaptured.

Treks To Take This Season Of Late Winter

The Himalayas have become much more accessible than they were 60 years ago. Their beauty is longer confined to being a figment of their imagination. People, not just from India but all over the world travel long distances to witness the Himalayan magnificence for themselves. But there are multiple treks that must be undertaken at a specific time of the year. The season right now is late winter and the long weekend is just around the corner. Going trekking at the most suitable location sounds like a deal. Let’s find out about the 2 best places to trek during this time.   

Deoriatal from March until mid-April or Kedarkantha in April

Though people who’ve seen both these places often argue that it is at its best during snow time, but there’s a big group of trekkers who refute. According to them when the first wave of spring touches the mountains and the green sprouts, the contrast created by the green of the vegetation and the white of the snow looks like a spectacle itself.  

  

Deotrial 

Timing is especially crucial when you are trekking Deoriatal. It should be exactly when the Rhododendrons are in full bloom during and between last week of March and the third week of April. When you’ll lay your eyes down from the Chopta slope or around the lake at Deoriatal, you’ll be mesmerized by the shades of fire the flowers will collectively create. One can see hues of scarlet, vermillion, red and pink and be lost. 

Kedarkantha

If you were fond of fairy tales as a kid and always wanted to witness fairyland, then your search finally ends at Kedarkantha. The trek is especially famous because of its clearings. It is hard to find a similar number of beautiful clearings as they are in Kedarkantha. The clearings are under snow during late winter but grasses around sprout and make for a surreal view.   

One thing to consider is that a trek requires a balance between all faculties and a lot of strength. Don't immediately go on a trek from your busy life. Take a day or two to replenish yourself at a Nainital Cottage and Resort if you are undertaking any of the above-mentioned treks.  

Places to eat at in Nainital

 Most of us travel to Nainital for vacations or a short weekend getaway. A bare minimum of the tourist population is interested in Himalaica homestay in Nainital. As much as we like to explore the entire city to try out some of the most popular dishes, we often miss out on the well known places.

There are plentiful of brilliant eating joints one can explore to find some of the most cherished local dishes. However, we often forget about the Himalaica Nainital Cottage and Resorts. Some of most renowned cottages and resorts in Nainital provide great food which is cooked by great chefs. These include some of the popular specialties of Nainital, which were hardly ever known to many people.

Rice and roti make an integral part of Nainital’s cuisine. The locals here specialize in making some of the best and most versatile chutneys.

Stuffed rotis, both black and white, prepared with wheat and mandua flour are savoured with butter by all residents.

Bhatt ki Churkani is a delicacy which is prepared on special occasions, along with Aloo ke

Gutke which is a spicy dish forming a major part of the snacks menu.

The local inhabitants of the Kumaon region frequency engage themselves in preparing Baadi which is prepared from a mix of various dals in different proportions.

If you’re looking into eating something which comes with high nutritive value, Ras is the dish which is extremely healthy and delicious. It can be easily prepared on low heat on an iron pan and cooked slowly, a great way to retain all the nutritive contents.

Such delicacies which is prepared by the local inhabitants, form the core food of Nainital. It is highly enjoyed by the tourists, who come from different places from all over India and abroad constantly searching for food to satisfy their taste buds.