With winter holidays approaching and the city witnesses a nip of cold in the air, denizens of the Capital city have started planning their winter vacations. According to travel agencies and tourists, there are dozens of destinations where people from Ranchi go on vacations. However, some of the favourite tourist destinations of the Capital City residents include Munnar (Kerala), Thar Desert (Rajasthan), Goa and Port Blair.
“Munnar is a hill station located in Kerela where one may claim to get the finest tea. The beauty of this place is incomparable, with its wide stretches of tea plantation; the entire place is shrouded in greenery making it the ideal place to escape the city life,” said Manesh Mukherjee, director of Jai Travels.
The best way to get here is to take a flight from Ranchi to Cochin and then take the road to Munnar. The flight averages at 20,000, train on the other hand costs around 1,000 only taking 2 days.
“Some of my favorite places were the Mattupetty dam, where we had a picnic amidst nature, the Pothamedu view point 3 kms from there. We went trekking in the forest. An evening spent trekking in the forest should definitely be on the itinerary and I’d recommend a copy of Wordsworth too. Tea Museum is definitely a place tea lovers should not miss out on. The museum depicts tea through the years from the rudimentary tea roller to the fully automated tea factory. We stood in line for hours after the visit to buy the finest tea that Munnnar supposedly has,” Vrinda Shah, who went with her family of five for a trip of the South.
Rajasthan is another place in the country to visit exquisite monuments and castles to experience a wholesome history of the country.
“The recommended route would be, taking a flight from Ranchi to Jaipur which would average at 5,000 or a train that would cost 1,000 but take almost 1.5 days. From Jaipur which has the Amber Palace and Hawa Mahal as must visits, via road, Ajmer is only 2.5 hours away. In Ajmer, one encounters the Islamic culture, some places to witness Muslim architecture would be Ajmer Sharif Dragah, Taragarh Fort and Akbari fort. After the visit to Ajmer, Chittorgarh is just a 4 hours journey to visit the famous Kumbalgarh fort and Udaipur which only 2.5 hours away. Udaipur homes the largest palace of Rajasthan, City Palace. A stay of two days at each place will guarantee the best experience,” said, Vijay Kumar, Director of Trippers World Holidays.
Goa, the party capital is the ultimate place to relax and unwind. It is famous for its beaches, the popular ones being Calangute, Baga and Plaolem.
The flight from Ranchi costs around 8,000 and train is at 1,000 only but takes two days. Stay options around this time can be expensive but ensure that your hotel is near all the experiences you want from the trip.
“There is always the an option to visit Goa Velha instead which is good for sightseeing and has monuments like the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the domed Church of St. Cajtean. One can visit the beaches instead where you can enjoy here are spas and yoga retreats, in north. And in case you want both, opt for the package of three nights which includes sightseeing of both north and south Goa, the price starts at 15,000 due to the increased demand,” said, Vijay Kumar, Director of Trippers World Holidays.
“Port Blair is the Capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It becomes one of the best places to plan a vacation in, being the gateway to several beautiful islands like Havelock Island, the biggest island there. Also, Islands like Ross Island and Viper Island are must visits. Chidiya Tapu is where you go for the sunset.” said Muskan Khan, who had been to the place with her family of seven last year.
To reach Port Blair, a ship can be taken from Kolkata, Vishakapatnam or Chennai or a direct flight from Chennai. The flight price can rise up to 25,000 in season. The ships only set sail three or four times a month both to and fro. The voyage takes up to 3-4 days and fare ranges from 2,000 – 10,000.
Cellular jail (Kala Pani) is a must visit given its sorrowful history which used to be a colonial jail but has been converted into a museum is open for tourists. Combine with this the light and sound show for the full experience.