With public holidays coming up - Independence Day on August 15 and Eid on August 20 - you have the perfect excuse to pack up and take a break. Our pick of destinations, including Mathura and Gangtok, will help you choose wisely:
Portuguese influence
Not many are aware of the Portuguese heritage town of Silvassa, located in the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. A favourite with trekkers, it has Roman-Catholic churches, celebrating the distinct Indo-Portuguese culture. The constant influx of people from different cultures makes up a floating population. Reportedly, Silvassa is the home of Warli art, the geometric stick-like form of painting. Cox & Kings has a 3D/2N package, priced from `4,399 onwards.
Details: coxandkings.com
Mathura stop
For the religious traveller, Goibibo.com offers a 3D/2N trip to Mathura, the birthplace of Krishna, priced from `2,310 onwards. The Akhilesh Yadav government has promised to develop the city’s tourism potential with ‘improved infrastructure, uninterrupted power supply and keep the Yamuna free from pollution’. The Kridha Residency hotel offers a complimentary breakfast (till August 20). Other destinations include Landsdowne, Rishikesh and Visakhapatnam, with suitable packages.
Details: goibibo.com
Into the wild
For something closer home, Ezeego1.com presents a 7D/6N package to Kerala, with stops at Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom and Kovalam. Travellers can check out the Periyar sanctuary, which is the only conservation area in India where one can view wildlife from a boat on the lake.
Priced at `16,934. Details: ezeego1.com
Rolling in the deep
Kids will love a visit to the only submarine museum in India, the INS Kursura, located on the Rama Krishna beach in Visakhapatnam. For those of you who like to get your facts right, the INS Kursura is a Russian-made submarine which embarked on its maiden journey in 1970. After 31 years, it was decommissioned by the Indian Navy in 2001 and turned into a submarine museum. Cox & Kings offers a 3D/2N package, priced from `10,563. Includes visits to Rishikonda and Bhimlee beach, and the Simhachalam temple, a famous pilgrimage spot.
Details: coxandkings.com
Flower power
The Orchid Sanctuary, which houses over 200 varieties of the flower, is a big draw in Gangtok. The town is also famous for the Rumtek monastery, which has Tibetan monastic art. It is known for its traditional architecture, carved and painted woodwork and murals. Cox & Kings has a 4D/3N package, for `11,781.
Details: coxandkings.com
Head in the clouds
Although this is not the ideal time to visit Chail, in Himachal Pradesh (April-June), the reasonable fares offered by Cox & Kings (`2,799 onwards) give cricket fans an excuse to air their woollens. The site of the world’s highest cricket pitch (2,444m above sea level), which was built in 1893, is closed to tourists but is used by the students of the Chail Military School. With a few sightseeing spots, Chail is an ideal place to unwind.
Details: coxandkings.com
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