Escaping from the humdrum

Holidays are here. It’s time to pack up your bags and head straight out to the hills, beaches, backwaters or just about any place that beckons you to escape the maddening pace of an urban setting.

Travel freaks in the City wait for summer to head out into the wild. Most save up just for their travel. Metrolife spoke to a few young people who travel out of the City to their favourite destinations across the country whenever they can afford to take off.
Goa, Pondicherry, Mumbai and the backwaters of Kerala are popular holiday spots. The coasts, ghats and beaches... excite them. Short trek is another something that the young indulge in. They venture out in bunches of six or seven, depending on the location.
Dhruva Pathak, an artist with Dreamworks, says he never saves up for his trips, “because they’re all low budget and short trips. We travel for the experience and the interesting stories these places have to offer,” he says. Armed with a route map, Dhruva and his bunch of friends head out into the wild. 
   
Sahil Maggu, co-founder of Dotted i says he takes off every alternate weekend to nearby places such as Hampi, Mysore and Coorg. Sahil’s longer trips are once in four months and he takes shorter trips on most weekends. There’s no extravagance in his vacations and he makes sure he saves up for his travel. “I set apart 25 per cent from my income every month, towards my travel plans. Most of my getaways are budgeted trips unless it is at a friend's guest

house or resort,” says Sahil. 

While Goa remains the most preferred destination, Sahil explores parts of Southern India as well. “I would love to settle down in a small Tibetan colony ‘Mcleodganj’. It’s undoubtedly the most gorgeous place I’ve ever been to. It has the most amazing mix of food, weather and people from across the globe,” says Sahil. 

This travel freak confesses that his travelling obsession has taught him how to save money and literally adjust in any situation. “Frequent travelling has made me a much more humble being because when you travel, you actually get to see the real India and just can’t thank God enough for being so much more fortunate and blessed,” says Sahil.
Manisha Vinod, a professional travels within the country at least twice a month. She and her husband make sure they save up for their travel plans. Manisha heads out to Goa, Kochi, Pondicherry, Coorg, Munnar, Meghamalai, Kodaikanal, Ooty and Chikmagalur and the couple extend their travel to Rajasthan and Uttaranchal whenever they go on longer trips. “We love Goa for its good connectivity, beaches and the laidback atmosphere,” says Manisha.

She and her husband drown themselves in one night of mad partying, awesome food and beverages. “And all this is done without burning too big a hole in our pockets,” says Manisha and adds, “the break is a much-awaited one in this fast-paced life of ours. You forget about deadlines and and relax completely,” reasons Manisha.