Ideas for the 12 long weekends in 2016

Posted on Jan 25, 2016, 12:52 IST
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Hallelujah! No one is going to be able to stop you from travelling this year. With not less than 12 long weekends—yes, 12—to tempt you away from your humdrum existence, it’s time to take a look at the list that we have drawn up for you and start making your travel plans today. By Anindita Ghosh

FEMINA

1. Republic Day Weekend
Jan 23 –26 (Saturday-Tuesday including a CL on Monday)

Diu: You’ve seen all those lovely ads that the Diu Tourism Board has been putting up all over the country, now it’s time to check it out this tranquil beach paradise for yourself. And there’s no better time than this because this is when Asia’s longest beach festival, the Festa de Diu or the Festival of Diu is on in this picturesque little union territory. Check out the fashion show at the Diu Fort on Jan 23; a symphony orchestra at the beach on Jan 24; jive to the Lambada Group on the Jan 25 and wrap it up some Raaga Trippin on the beach on Jan 26.

2. Shivratri Weekend
March 5-7 (Saturday-Monday)
Early March is a good time to visit the Ranthambore national Park in Rajasthan. There’s no chance of you catching a deathly chill while you take an open car or bus Safari around the park in the early morning or getting burnt to a crisp in the torrid summer sun. The park is one of India’s largest at 1,334 square kilometers and a high concentration of tigers, which increases your chances of spotting one. The park also has a fair number of leopards, jungle cats, sloth bears, hyenas, Indian foxes, jackals and crocodiles and is dotted with ancient ruins that add plenty of character. The park is closed from June to October.

3. Holi/Easter Weekend
March 24-27 (Thursday-Sunday)
If you haven’t visited Kashmir, this perfectly-timed long weekend is just what you need to explore this heaven on earth. With the bitter winter over, March is when the Kashmir Valley is bathed in the colours of spring. Visit the Tulip Garden in Siraj Bagh on the outskirts of Srinagar, Asia’s largest Tulip fields. The tulips remain in full bloom till April. This is also when the mustard fields are a rich golden and the pretty almond trees are covered with tiny white flowers.

4. Gudi Padwa Weekend
April 8-10 April (Friday-Sunday)
Sneak away to Darjeeling in early April before the summer crowds from the plains asscend. Always a tourism hub, Darjeeling has lost some of its shine due to rampant construction and commercialization; however, there is still a unique charm about this colonial getaway that makes it a must-visit. Explore the town, hob-nob with the locals and fill up on excellent momos at Penangs and amazing Continental fare at Glenary’s. Take a tour to the surrounding tea-gardens and see how the world’s best tea is produced. Travel on the heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway toy train to Ghoom. All in all, there’s plenty to do and see.

5. Ambedkar Jayanti/Ram Navami Weekend
April 14-17 (Thursday-Sunday)
Mid-April is when it starts getting really hot in the North Indian plains and one aches to escape to cooler climes. Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh is just about a couple of hours away from Chandigarh (55 km), and is a beautiful colonial-era hill station. There are blue skies and pine covered hills and endless mountains as far as the eyes can see. You could also stay in Sanawar on the outskirts of Kasauli if you want to be in even more virgin territory. 

6. Independence Day Weekend

August 13-15 (Saturday-Monday)
August is terribly wet in most of the country and if you are sick of the rain and the damp weather, head to Ladakh, and enjoy the last of the sunny days before summer comes to a close in this region in September.Take in a bit of culture with the Dakthok Festival that is held in the monastery of the same name on August 13 and 14th. The festival is attended by the devout from all across Ladakh as well as plenty of tourists and photographers.

7. Janamashthami Weekend
August 25-28 (Thursday-Sunday with a CL on Friday)
If you haven’t been to the Valley of Flowers, plan on doing so on this long weekend. The valley in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand remains snowbound for much of the year, however, in the months from July to September, thousands of wildflowers in the park burst into bloom. The Valley is only accessible by foot and you have to trek from a point called Govindghat to reach this World Heritage Site. You cannot spend the night in the valley and every visitor must leave by 5 pm.

8. Ganesh Chaturthi Weekend
3rd-5th September, (Saturday-Monday)
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with equal fervour across Maharashtra, but it is in Mumbai where the all the drama and excitement is. The city is dotted with a Ganpati pandals in almost every neighbourhood and the big ones like the Lalbaugcha Raja are visited by lakhs of people, Bollywood celebs included. The Idol at this pandal is over 12-feet tall. The pandals and idols are modelled on different themes every year. When in Mumbai, don’t forget to have your fill modak, Nivagrya, the Naivedya thali and other Ganesh Chaturthi delicacies.

9. Bakri Id Weekend: 10th-12th September, (Saturday-Monday)
September in Coorg could be a little wet, but that’s nothing that an umbrella can’t cure. Besides, it’s in these monsoons months that Coorg’s verdant hills are lusher than any other time of the year. And with abundant rainfall, this is when the area’s many waterfalls are gushing with water. Take a coffee trail through the many plantations, walk through the forests and enjoy the wonder of cool misty mornings.

10. Dussehra/Durga Puja Weekend
October 8-12 (Saturday-Wednesday, with a CL on Monday)
If you haven’t experienced the pomp and fervor of Durga Puja in Kolkata, then this is the year to do it. There is nothing that compares to the experience of visiting the city of joy when it is as its festive best. Neighbourhoods are festooned with a myriad lights, innovative and artistic pandals dot the city and streets are filled with enthusiastic Kolkatans decked in their “pujo” best as they “pandal hop” from one breathtaking pandal to another. Join them in their revelry and imbibe the spirit of Durga Puja.

11. Diwali Weekend
October 28-30 (Friday-Sunday)
Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya and is known as the Scotland of the East because of its landscape comprising rolling hills, moors and lakes. The hill-station retains some of its colonial charm and is a great getaway for a few days. There famous spots of Shillong include Umiam Lake, north of Shillong. The man-made water reservoir is also called Barapani. The Don Bosco Centre on Indigenous Cultures is a must-visit if you are interested in the culture and traditions of the North eastern region.

12. Guru Nanak Jayanti Weekend: 12th-14th November, (Saturday-Monday)
This the last long weekend of the year and you can celebrate it in style by heading off to Jaisalmer, that most romantic of Rajasthan’s towns. Explore the golden-hued Jaisalmer Fort that reigns from its perch on top of a hillock. IF you want a truly authentic experience, you could check into one of the hotels inside the 12th century fort. Drive down to the Sam dunes to experience the Thar Desert in all its glory and plan a trip to the Desert National Park as much for its dramatic landscape as to spot some black bucks, desert foxes and chinkaras.

 

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