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Holidays under the sun

Last Updated 12 January 2018, 20:22 IST

As far as new years go, 2018 has been quite kind so far. Netizens have fewer things to be outraged about, world powers have not yet gone to war, retail sales and discounts are still going on and we have two long weekends coming up!

Long weekends are the holy grail of travellers. Trips are planned much in advance and provide a much needed break from the city and the daily grind.

Sanghamitra Gupta and her husband are planning to travel to Tharangambadi, formerly Tranquebar. Says the Accenture resource manager, "Even before the year begins, we mark the long weekends and plan our trips. This time we are planning to go to Tharangambadi, which is a Danish colony. I don't expect much activity there though. The places was destroyed by the tsunami and many things are still being rebuilt."

"Only a handful of hotels remain. One of them is the Neemrana property
'The Bungalow on the Beach'. We are going to stay there, walk around, explore the heritage of the place, go to the beach, read and generally relax. We might even drive to Karaikal," she says, adding that Puducherry is another preferred destination for such trips.

IT consultant Sneha Kerkar is planning to head to Gokarna but will steer clear of the usual touristy spots. "I will be focussing on the less-explored beaches. There is two-day trek from Gokarna to Honnavar Beach that passes around 8-9 beaches. I won't be doing the trek but aim to get to one of these beaches in between. They are less commercialised and more secluded."

When asked about other such unexplored places that make for a adventurous weekend getaway, she says, "Arambol is the one of the most serene and offbeat destinations in northern Goa. It has two beaches, one of which is only accessible by foot. Bohemian vibes, a tranquil lake and paragliding courses are some of the attractions of this place."

Speaking of vibes, the hippie culture of Hampi has long fascinated Anish Singh and the long weekend is turning a long-cherished desire into a reality.
"Hampi has many sides to it and I haven't explored the place fully. There are the historic and archaeological aspects that have made the place famous and there is also a lesser-known hippie lifestyle. I am quite curious to explore both these sides of the place."

"The place is only about some 380 km from here and January is one of the best seasons to visit Hampi," he says and adds, "There are quite a few other options for long weekend trips. I was in Kodaikanal a couple of weeks back and that is a good choice. A few of my friends have ridden down to Muzhappilangad Beach in Kerala, one of the few drive-in beaches in India. Chikmagalur is another ideal alternative. All these places are not more than an overnight journey making them ideal for a long weekend."

So what are you waiting for? Don't call it a dream, call it a plan.

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(Published 12 January 2018, 12:16 IST)

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