You’re forgiven for cursing the sun gods for the signature Delhi heat. But thanks to them, the long weekends of Dussehra & Diwali are beckoning you to ditch the sunscreen, lose the ice stock, drop your sun hat, and set out for a breath of fresh air.
Here are five travel ideas that are not your regular tourist haunts. If you’re looking to set off to discover a world that not many people have seen before you, these just might fill you with ideas for an adventurous October.
1. Daman, Gujarat.
Photo Credit: Ash Indiano.
Daman & Diu is the stuff of geography text books. Quietly tucked away in southern Gujarat, the small town of Daman will charm you with its Portuguese architecture, tropical weather and proximity to the Arabian Sea. Once a European colony, Daman’s secluded location in the union territory has preserved its ancient churches and small town culture, keeping away urban influences. The Daman Ganga River bank fills with fishing boats at sunset, etching one of those travel memories that are hard to erase.
2. Pranpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Open-air sorting of Chanderi silk threads.
I’m hopelessly in love with the rural, rustic side of India. A side that’s not for everyone to discover, and perhaps not everyone can appreciate it. Pranpur, a little town just south of Jhansi, is a shining example of this India. Its craft is much better known than its crafts-men and women; they spend their days intricately weaving colorful Chanderi Silk Sarees. Surrounded by raw greenery, Pranpur is a town of its people and their hospitality, and the culture that modern India has evolved from.
3. Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand.
Photo credit: Alosh Bennett
The name speaks for itself. The alpine wilderness of the Valley of Flowers, a national park in the Kumaon region of Uttrarakhand, is perhaps the most apt Delhi getaway for the summer. If the snow-capped peaks are not enough to tempt you, maybe the glacial waterfalls, the rare wildlife and the starry night skies will be. Post-monsoon and pre-winter, the forests surrounding the valley breathe a new life.
4. Lakshadweep Islands.
The blues at Bangaram island. Photo credit: Binu K S
Lakshadweep is an oasis of blue in our own backyard. A good 400km off the Indian coastline, the isolated location of its islands in the Arabian Sea make it one of the most unusual places to visit in India. Add to that the powdery white beaches and the cobalt blue waters of Kavaratti, Bangaram and Minicoy, and you have your own little island paradise. You might want to carry your sun hat along, for better reason than the sweltering Delhi heat.
5. Mcleodganj, Himachal Pradesh.
greetings from heaven.
There isn’t a better way of experiencing spirituality in India than through the life and people of Mcleodganj. And it will keep you coming back for a rare chance to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Being in the vicinity of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile and other Tibetan government offices will lose you into a long-drawn political battle. But if spirituality and politics is not your thing, the Himalayan connection with Dharamsala, its rocky terrain, its lush green slopes, and its closeness to Tibetan culture will take you far away from the India you’ve known and seen.
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Photo credits: Ash Indiano, Alosh Bennett, Binu K S
Also read: 4 offbeat ecotourism experiences in India.
Welcome to my blog, The Shooting Star. I’ve been called a storyteller, writer, photographer, digital nomad, “sustainability influencer,” social entrepreneur, solo traveller, vegan, sustainable tourism consultant and environmentalist. But in my heart, I’m just a girl who believes that travel – if done right – has the power to change us and the world we live in.
I need to go back to India to discover more.
Absolutely. Come soon!
beautiful.
🙂
As of now, its the Valley of Flowers that is calling me 😉
Follow your calling 😉
Nice compilation Shivya, however though the VOF may not be ideal for end summer due to heavy rains presence that lash the region but yeah alittle window post monsoon give you a breather of a chance to visit this carpet of flowers all round the region near VOF. + You have an advantage of visiting the Hemkunt Sahib which is not very far from VOF. Indeed a great place.
Thanks for the share anyways. I will try to put Lakshwadeep for the next year’s end-of-summer target 🙂
Thanks Dheeraj 🙂 Yeah, all these destinations would be good for the tail end of summer, post the monsoons, ie October – with its extended weekends. Happy planning Lakshadweep, it leaves you dreaming about the blue waters and white beaches all day!
Beautiful places, I would love to visit the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand.
I’m sure you’ll love it Angela 🙂
Lovely – Thanks for sharing. Valley of Flowers yet to visit. Maybe coming year.
Thanks Appu, glad you found a new destination to visit 🙂
The Valley of Flowers looks magical! Sometimes it is hard to believe these spots exist.
Agreed. That’s what makes their memory so special. Hope you visit the Valley someday!
Shivya, Rohit here from SMU/Dehradun. Amazing that you mentioned Valley of Flowers from our beloved state. Just went through the blog. Really excellent work and hope to see you regularly in travel magazines. Greetings from Sam and myself. Well done!
Thanks Rohit 😀 It’s quite sad that I’ve only discovered less than a quarter of our state. Must get to it soon!
I’m a sucker for beaches and turquoise water, so you know which getaway I would choose. Looks gorgeous!
I can take a guess 😉 Did I mention that the picture doesn’t do much justice? Yeap.
Seriously? Better than the picture? I didn’t get my usual beach vacation fix this summer, so now I really wanna go 😉
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Yeah feel like to move back to India. Hey shivya have to been to Palampur (HP) and triund, Naddi (near Mcledoganj).
can u post more information on valley of flowers – trekking trips ? any specific travel suggestions ‘cos i really wanted to be there since a few years- missed it when i toured uttaranchal 3 yrs back
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Valley of flowers is only open for 4-5 month a year..but yeah there are lot of nearby places to explore.
Thanks for your lovely blog, i found all the places mentioned by you are good to see but being summer in Delhi right now, i would love to go to valley of flower and planned Mcleodganj for the next summer. I hope it will be as beautiful as you mentioned.
This information is very useful to all the people and especially for women who are thinking of travelling to India.
Your Article is nice,really good information, it is really useful for travellers.thanks for sharing the information.