GETAWAY AFTER LOCKDOWN

The year 2020 hasn’t turned out the way people were expecting. In fact, it was accompanied by the most unforeseen times ever with the world grappling with the novel Corona virus.

While we wait for the pandemic to pass and lockdown to end, we can’t help but dream of the holiday destinations we’ll be ready to visit when it’s safe to jet off. While international travels might be out of the picture for some time now, there are some places back home that you can visit without any worry as they remain untouched by the grip of the deadly pandemic so far.

While we wait for the pandemic to pass and lockdown to end, we can’t help but dream of the holiday destinations we’ll be ready to visit when it’s safe to jet off. While international travels might be out of the picture for some time now, there are some places back home that you can visit without any worry as they remain untouched by the grip of the deadly pandemic so far.
Our holiday Wish-list for the first half of 2020 might have gone out the window but we’re looking ahead to the end of the year and 2021 at the once-in-a-lifetime trips we’ll be taking to celebrate our freedom
To help you make your first getaway after this pandemic, one you’ll remember forever, we’ve brought you the places on our radar for when holidays resume. These are some post-lockdown escapes to consider while you wait out the crisis.

1 – Sikkim

*The state has zero case.

Sikkim is the second smallest state in India, and is wedged between Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and West Bengal, but it is surrounded by an astounding range of pristine natural beauty of the Himalayas.

Colorful valleys, misty hills, hot springs, semi-frozen lakes, stunning Buddhist shrines, smiling faces, and enormous snow-clad peaks of the Himalayas guarding these dreamy landscapes makes this place worth to visit.

From cable car rides, paragliding, challenging treks, river rafting, shopping, sightseeing, to bird watching, there is a lot of activities you can do in the breath-taking realms of Sikkim. You’ve probably heard of the endangered animal Red Panda, but I’m sure you have no idea that they can be found in India as well. This state is a perfect destination to explore with your family.

Gangtok
*The city has zero cases.

Gangtok, for obvious reasons tops the list of things to do in Sikkim. Gangtok the capital city of Sikkim is a paradise that will surely delight you sight. It is isolated from the rest of the country and is adorned with colourful valleys, pristine rivers, snow-capped mountains and lush greenery. The city attracts tourists from across the world with its wonderful beauty and majestic views.

From sightseeing to adventure, there are plenty of activities for visitors to enjoy in Gangtok.
You can even go to Hanuman Tok, 11km from Gangtok. It offers a breath-taking view of Kanchenjunga range. It is sais that Lord Hanuman took rest for a moment at this place when he was on his way to Lanka from the Himalayas.

Many flower festivals take place here, so make sure you attend at least one because it’s an experience for a lifetime that should not be missed.

Where to stay: Mayfair Resort
Best Time To Visit:  October to mid-December.

Things To Do In Gangtok:Cable car rides, paragliding, challenging treks, river rafting.

How To Reach:

By Air: The airport nearest to Gangtok is about 124 kilometres away in Bagdogra, West Bengal. From the airport, you can hire a shared taxi or a private vehicle that will get you to Gangtok in a matter of two hours. The drive from Bagdogra to Gangtok is absolutely stunning with gorgeous mountains and River Teesta as your backdrop.

By Train: The nearest railway station to Gangtok is about 148 kilometres away in New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri. The station is well-connected to major cities like Kolkata and New Delhi. From Siliguri it is 5-6hours drive to Gangtok

By Road: Tourists rolling in from nearby places like Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kolkata prefer to drive to Gangtok. The roads are well-maintained, except in a few places.

2 – Andaman And Nicobar:

*The city has total 33 cases out of which 33 are recovered. No active cases.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the remote islands in Indian subcontinent, have some of the most exotic and Pristine beaches, rich marine biodiversity, some of the best coral reefs and some mesmerising sunsets, which makes it a perfect holiday destination. These extensive group of island is a wonder of nature and provides a lot of attraction for the tourist and backpackers.

It is known as India’s best kept secret. Andaman is surely one of the most popular beach destinations in India that boasts a stunning marine life and a magical underwater world waiting to be explored.

The turquoise sea kissing white sand beaches will leave you bewitched. Whether you are looking for happening nightlife, hustle bustle of tourist places or some time alone in peace and tranquillity surrounded by a serene seascape, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has it all.

Experience the magic unfold and witness the surreal aquatic creatures with your loved ones. Be it for a family vacation, a solo trip or a honeymoon trip, Andaman is a one stop destination that caters to all kinds of travelers. The beach life awaits you!

Where to Stay: Taj Exotic Resort and Spa

Best Time To Visit: November to May.

Things To Do In Andaman and Nicobar: Glass Bottom Boat Ride, Snorkeling and Scuba Diving, Swim With Elephants, Trekking, Island Hopping, Mangrove Kayaking, fishing and Sea Walking.

How To Reach:

By Air: One of the easiest ways to travel to Andaman is by flight. This tourist destination houses its own airport at Port Blair which has good connectivity with all the major cities in India.

3 – Puducherry :

*The city has total 16 cases out of which 9 are recovered.

Pondicherry is one of a kind place in India which is known for the surreal beaches, beautiful streets and magnificent architectures. There are only a few places in India where history comes in contact with the modernity and geography playing a significant backdrop. The Union territory of Pondicherry is one such place. It is also known as Puducherry or Pondy. It is called as a Paradise because of the blue waters and Golden sands. Pondicherry is also called as The French Riviera of the East’. The architecture is weaved around the reminiscence of the French colonial rule and culture.

Where to stay: Promenade Hotel.

Best Time To Visit: October to March

Things To Do In Pondicherry:  Explore the French Colony on two wheels, Enjoy the sunset at Ousteri Lake, Go scuba diving, visit beautiful temples and churches, Boating at Chunnambar Backwater, Get spiritual at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Explore Auroville.

How To Reach:

By Air: The airport at Pondicherry can accommodate landing of a small aircraft only, you can get a connecting flight if you are coming from Delhi, Kochi, Kolkata and Mumbai. Chennai is the second nearest domestic as well as international airport which is approximately 135 kilometres away from Pondicherry. The Chennai airport is well connected to all major cities across the globe. Once you reach at the airport, you can hire a private taxi to reach Pondicherry.

By Train:  The nearest rail station from Pondicherry is Villupuram, which is about 35 kilometres away from the town. The railhead is well-connected to cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, and Trivandrum. Two of the most popular trains are New Delhi Pondicherry Express and Nagarcoli Express. Once you reach at the station, you can hire a taxi that will drive you to the city.

By Road: Pondicherry falls on the National Highway 45, which connects it to major cities of South India. You can hire a taxi or get behind the wheel to drive to Pondicherry from these nearby cities. Note that the drive from Chennai to Pondicherry.

4 – Goa :

*The state has total 8 active cases.

As soon as you hear the name Goa, swaying palms trees, golden sands, dread-locked-beer-swilling-hippies, dance parties and yoga retreats probably come to mind. This beachside jewel of India was established as a favourite on the Hippy Trail of the ’70s, and the rest as they say… is history.

Goa is the perfect mix of natural beauty, tropical environs and lively nightlife.
It is the smallest state in India also the most popular with tourists, both from India and all over the world. There really no place in world quite like Goa.

Goa caters all types of tourist from luxury hotels and world class fine dining restaurants to mellow yoga retreats, to adventure sports to wild all night beach parties, to cheap and cheerful beach huts and hippie markets. There is something for everyone and there really is no place in world quite like Goa.

Where to stay: W Hotel, Taj Village.

Best Time To Visit: Mid-October to Mid-March.

Things To Do In Goa:Water sports, Kayaking, Snorkelling and Scuba Diving, Spice Plantation

How To Reach:

By Air: If you are coming to Goa by airways then the nearest international airport is located at Dabolim. Dabolim main airport is situated at a distance of almost 29 kilometers away from Panaji. This international airport is well connected with the major domestic cities as well as international major cities in U.K. and Germany as well.

By Train: Via railways, it is quite easy to reach Goa as the major railway stations in Goa are located in Margao. The main railway station is known as Madgaon and Vasco-da-gama. These railway stations are well linked with Mumbai and then other major parts of the country as well.

By Road: Travelers can also reach Goa through roadways as there are n numbers of buses offer their services to travelers. The nearest bus stand is Kadamba bus stand of Panaji which is considered as the main bus station. Even Goa has its own bus service that connects major cities in and out of the state.

Suggested Tour : 1 Day – Goa Beaches Tour

5 – Leh & Ladhak

*The state has total 19 active cases.

Ladakh is a Union territory located in North India. Most of Ladakh is at an altitude above 3000 meters, which makes it the highest plateau in India. Surrounded by the high Himalayan mountains it falls in the rain shadow region, making it a high altitude cold desert and one of the most remote and sparsely populated regions of India.
As they say – Ladakh is truly about the journey, not the destination. It’s got the vibe – there is music there for sure, we just ain’t tapped into the right frequency.

This magical remote high altitude region of the Himalayas mesmerised us with its awe-inspiring deep blue lakes, barren mountains and the warmest people we have ever met. It’s often called the little Tibet. Ladakh is all in all a very different place which differs from all these stereotypes. Here you find peace and silence, which combined with the stunning Himalayan landscape and the Tibetian Culture visible in every corner, sometimes you may even forget that you are actually in India.

Where to stay: The Grand Dragon

Best Time To Visit: Mid-May to September.

Things To Do In Leh & Ladhak : Jeep Safari, Cycling on the Uneven Terrain, Trekking, Camel Safari, Camping, Skiing on the White Snow Mountains, River Rafting.

How To Reach:

By Air: The airport in Ladakh is in the town of Leh. There are regular flights to Leh including direct flights to cities like Srinagar, Delhi. During the winter months, when the high altitude mountain passes are closed, flying into Leh is the only option to reach Ladakh.

By Train: A railway line to Leh is an ambitious project that has been announced. When done, it will be an engineering marvel. We are several years away from seeing this happen.

By Road: There are 2 routes to reach Leh, Ladakh by road.
1. The Srinagar Leh highway, NH-1D
2. The Leh Manali highway, NH-22  

Suggested Tour : 09 Days Magical Leh & Ladhakh

6 – Dharamshala & McLeodganj

*The state Himachal Pradesh has total 35 active cases.

McLeod Ganj is situated ten kilometres uphill from the main Dharamsala city and is also known as Upper Dharamsala. It is perhaps every backpacker’s rite of passage to India. The city nearly hosts nearly 10,000 people, including Indians, exile Tibetans and foreign travellers. Many tourists from all over the world come to McLeod Ganj to learn more about Buddhism and experience a peaceful atmosphere. It is also known as the residence of 14 Dalai Lama and is a great place to understand Tibetan culture and history.. This town is called ‘Little Lhasa’ because of the large population of Tibetans.

Over the years, Dharamshala & McLeodganj have steadily become a most favoured destination for backpackers and travellers. It is one of the hill station where spirituality, culture and history come together, giving you a retreat for both your mind and soul.

Dharamshala is famous for Tibetan Buddhism not only in India, but in the entire world and hence a monastery tour is to be definitely experienced while in Dharamshala.

Where to stay: The Grand Dragon

Best Time To Visit: February to June.

Things To Do In Dharamshala & McLeodganj: Trek to Triund, boat ride on Dal Lake, Visit Bhagsu falls, visit Dharamkot village, visit the Tibetan monastery, Shop at the local market .

How To Reach:

By Air: Gaggal Airport or Kangra Airport at Dharamshala is about 20 km away from McLeod Ganj and is well connected to Delhi, Kullu and Chandigarh.

By Train: Pathankot Railway Station, situated approximately 90 km away, is the closest broad gauge railhead serving those headed to McLeod Ganj.

By Road: A number of state owned and private buses connect McLeod Ganj with other cities like Delhi (500 km), Chandigarh (250 km) and Dharamshala (20 km). In New Delhi, most of the buses leave from the Kashmiri Gate ISBT and Majnu-ka-Tilla (a Tibetian camp). Deluxe buses of Himachal Pradesh Tourism are also available from Himachal Bhawan. One can also drive to McLeod Ganj from Delhi via NH 1, a journey of about 10 hours.

7 – Shimla – Himachal Pradesh

*The state Himachal Pradesh has total 35 active cases.

Shimla, the most sought after hill station, needs no introduction. It is the scenic capital and the largest city of the Indian state Himachal Pradesh. Located at the foothills of the Himalayan mountains in the northern part of India, the city of Shimla is surrounded by breath-taking nature, lush greenery, pleasant climate, snow-clad hills and stunning views all around and is dubbed as the Queen of Hills. Both the summer and winter months provide the best times to visit this beautiful city with the different types of activities can lead you to a myriad of adventure, snow- filled fun, long walks with your better half, and great shopping options One of the major attraction would be the Toy Train journey which will leave you spell bounded. There is this magic in Shimla’s air that makes everyone fall in love with it. With such wide range of attractions, activities and famous places, Shimla is definitely one of the most visited tourist destinations in India.

Where to stay: Wildflower – Oberoi, Taj Theog.

The best time to visit Shimla 

Summers: March – June are pleasant and perfect for trekking, camping, and rafting. 

Winter: December – February, especially for those who wish to enjoy the snow. One can go skiing and ice-skating during this period.

How To Reach Shimla

By Air: The nearest airport, Jubbarhatti, is located 23 km from the main city. The other nearby airports are Chandigarh and New Delhi.

By Train: The world heritage narrow gauge railways connect Shimla to Kalka. This toy train route is quite popular with kids. Further, Kalka is abundantly connected to all the major cities of India.

By Road: Shimla is approximately 350 km from New Delhi, and 118 km from Chandigarh. Regular buses, both private and state-run, ply from Delhi en-route Chandigarh.

Suggested Tour : 12 Days Majestic Himachal

8 – Darjelling – West Bengal

*The state West Bengal has total 1407 active cases.

Located in the northeastern section of India, Darjeeling is in the rolling hills of the Himalayas. It was originally just a small village, but because it’s such a lovely place it became a popular hill-station and it has now grown into a town. Many travelers love that Darjeeling offers a peaceful landscape.

Darjeeling is peaceful, located in a beautiful area, and a breath of fresh air from other dusty and hectic parts of North India. It is particularly famous throughout the world for its production of tea.

Darjeeling have beautiful tea gardens on the slopes of rolling hills, pines & rhododendrons, the orchids,  the cute Himalayan toy train moving its way through the mountains combined with great sightseeing tours, shopping,  food and other exciting activities, there’s so much that this cute little town has to offer.

Where to stay: Ging Tea House

Best Time To Visit

Summers: April to June

Winters: October to December

Things To Do In Darjeeling: Explore The Tea Gardens, Go River Rafting, Trek The Peak, Learn Mountaineering, Explore Wildlife, Visit The Monastery and take a Toy Train Ride.

How To Reach:

By Air: The nearest Airport to Darjeeling is Bagdogra; about 94 km away. Flights from all major cities connect to Bagdogra on a daily basis. You will have to hire a private taxi once you land at the airport since shared taxis and buses are not available at the airport. It takes approximately 3 hours to reach Darjeeling from Bagdogra airport.

By Train: There are two railway stations near Darjeeling. Both these stations have wide gauge connections with various cities around India.  New Jalpaiguri  and Siliguri Junction, Both are approximately 80lm away from Darjeeling. From these two locations, you could take a taxi or the narrow gauge toy train run by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways to reach your destination.

By Road: Almost all major cities have interstate bus services that connect to Siliguri. Besides state run services, you will find many private transportation companies that provide fairly comfortable rides.

9 – Kashmir

The state had total 489 active cases.

It was the Mughals who first called Kashmir a ‘Paradise on Earth’. The northernmost Indian state is definitely the most picturesque part of India. And although Kashmir is beautiful throughout the year, as soon as winter comes, it transforms into an even more heavenly a sight. The mighty Himalayan peaks, covered in thick snow are a treat to all the eyes that are lucky enough to see them. It is often referred as India’s Switzerland, as the place is blessed with the most scenic views which are worth a visit.

Best places to visit in Kashmir are Srinagar and Gulmarg.

Srinagar:

Srinagar is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and place to visit in Kashmir as well as in India. It is the largest city of Kashmir, this place is enclosed by the green mountains and the main highlight being the Dal Lake which is the gem of the city. From trekking to boating, water skiing to bird watching, Srinagar place has it all. Locally this place is known as the mirror to the mountains, Srinagar is a first stopover for every traveller. Srinagar gives a close outlook to the Kashmiri cuisine and the state’s culture.

Where to stay: Taj Srinagar and Lalit Srinagar

Gulmarg:

Gulmarg is known as the ‘Meadow of Flowers’, it is a treat to the eyes with its vast green meadows blanketed with beautiful daisies, buttercups and lush greenery against snow-capped mountains as backgrounds. The local  people call it the crown of Jammu & Kashmir. It is also famous as the adventurer’s paradise because of its vast options of skiing in the snow while enjoying the views around.

A Gondola ride along the beautiful and picturesque location of Gulmarg makes it one of the worthy. Along with the Gondola the Alpather Lake is worth visiting and exploring. Gulmarg is every nature enthusiast’s dream. Snowfall in Gulmarg is something that absolutely should not be missed.

Where to Stay: Khyber

Best Time To Visit: June to October, and for snow you must visit Kashmir in December or January.

Things To Do In Srinagar: Stay in the boat house, Visit the Mughal gardens, Take the shikara ride

Things To Do In Gulmarg: Mountain Biking, trekking, Skiing if you visit in winters and Gondola rides for a panoramic view of the valley.

How To Reach:

By Air: Srinagar Domestic Airport is well-connected to all the major cities in India and you can easily board a flight and read Srinagar.

By Bus: Board a government or private bus to Srinagar.

By Train: Jammu is the nearest railway station.

Suggested Tour : 6 Days Kashmir Tour

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