Combining the urge to travel, with the need to spend some quality time with your sibling this Raksha Bandhan, Team Viva has shortlisted some places, close to the metros, that are less-visited to ensure safety against the backdrop of the pandemic
We are certain that you are having a hard time figuring out a destination for your weekend getaway with your sister/brother this Raksha Bandhan, assuming that you are willing to let go of the monotony of the home-rituals of Rakhi. In addition, if you are a sibling duo who loves to travel and explore but cannot find the perfect place to journey to, we are here to help!
Here’s a straightforward guide to lesser-known scenic places, close to the metro cities, that will help you beat the heat and, odds are, won’t feature on the itinerary of most people... unless they have read this article, of course.
Delhi
As our team is based in Delhi, we have explored most conventional spots across Himachal Pradesh one too many times, and we assume so have you. We believe you and your brother/sister might want to visit Uttarakhand.
Chakrata: Chakrata is about 325 km away from Delhi, and if you’re up for it, the place is a great destination for a motorcycle trip. Built as a summer retreat for high-ranking officials of the East India Company, presently, Chakrata serves as the base for the Special Frontier Force (SFF), an Indian special operations unit, that serves under the direct supervision of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). So, we’re afraid you won’t witness any rave parties here.
If you and/or your sibling love a good hike or bird-watching, you could visit Deoban Forest, which is located about 13 km from Main Chakrata Market. Hire a 4x4 vehicle and a guide as normal four-wheelers are known to get stuck along the secluded stretch leading to Deoban. The motorable road is only built till the Forest Rest House and after a brisk 15-minute walk, one can reach Vyas Shikhar. As per local belief, this is where sage Vyas wrote the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. If you are lucky, the weather will permit you to catch a glimpse of numerous peaks of the Himalayan range including Nanda Devi.
You could undertake the somewhat easy, five-km-long trek from the taxi stand near the cantonment area at Chakrata to Tiger Falls. Your exertion will be rewarded with the breathtaking view of the waterfall cascading down the hill to form a small pond at the bottom. Enjoy the serenity of the falls and the surroundings by having a small picnic beside the pond, and perhaps, if luck is by your side, you’d get to rappel down the face of the waterfall.
We saved the best for the last though. We highly recommend a visit to Chilmiri neck, which is just 20-30 minutes away from Chakrata main town. A sunset point set atop a plateau, Chilmiri is the highest peak in the town, offering National Geographic-worthy views of the mountains surrounding Chakrata.
Kolkata
If you reside in Kolkata, we are sure you have visited Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Siliguri. Since we were spoilt for choice, we consulted a little birdie, a modern day-nomad, who provided some valuable input. Bearing in mind that we were looking for someplace offbeat, she highly recommended that we visit Simultala (about 360 km from Kolkata) and Ayodhya Hills (280 km from Kolkata). We sought more information on the latter as it is closer.
Ayodhya Hills: Ayodhya (or Ajodhya) Hills, in Purulia District of West Bengal, is a part of the lowest step of the Chota Nagpur Plateau and are popular among young mountaineers who wish to take the basic course in rock climbing. The name might be somewhat misleading as it is a small plateau, surrounded by hills.
Ajodhya Hills is known for its temperate environment and pleasant weather, which lasts through the year. While it was one of the most remote areas of the state, it is now slowly gaining popularity.
Chennai
We can’t imagine your eyes ever tiring of the panoramic views at Yercaud, Ooty, Kodaikanal and Munnar. However, if you and your brother/sister are on the lookout for a place much closer to Chennai, a place where you could spend the weekend and get back before Monday, we have something worth your while.
Kolli Hills: Kolli Hills or Kolli Malai, which means ‘Mountains of Death’, is a small mountain range located just 358 km from Chennai and is apt for a perfect bike trip. The Kollimalai Ghat Road, leading to the Kolli Hills, is an extremely adventurous undertaking with more than 70 hairpin bends spread across a length of nearly 47 km.
Apart from the scenic journey to Kolli Hills, there are numerous places you could visit, in and around the area, to satiate the tourist within you.
The Arapaleeswar Temple is a crucial part of Kolli Hills sightseeing with a rich culture and historical significance that dates as far back as the 1st century CE when it was built by the then-ruler Valvil Ori. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple stands as a witness to the great Dravidian style of architecture till today.
Don’t forget to visit the Botanical Garden which comprises a beautiful rose garden, a majestic sightseeing point, eco-friendly cottages, and a fun-filled children’s park.
If hiking is your passion, do visit Puliancholai, a haven for the quiet and adventurous alike. Puliancholai is a dense forest range on the foothills of Kollimalai. There is a lot of scope in converting this place into a trekking base, as the forest has nearly 24 discernible, well-set trails.
Mumbai
Being the third-largest state in India, Maharashtra has no dearth of scenic locations with pleasant weather throughout the year. We are sure you have heard of several (somewhat) commercialised places that would serve as the ideal weekend getaway with your sibling, from the prickly summer heat, such as Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Matheran, Lonavala and Khandala. A source, who prefers camping out by himself or with his cousins, somewhere in the Sahyadri mountain ranges (Western Ghats) shared with us that camping out always seems like the best way when travelling, provided you have the necessary equipment, know how to cook and clean up after yourself.
Thinking hard, as a cursory remark, he mentions that if one fancies the notion of heading out on a long drive, one could visit Amboli, Maharashtra’s last hill station on the way to the plains of Goa. He says that since it is relatively unexplored, there’s no need to worry about running into many tourists here. While we recommend you take all necessary precautions every time you step outside the safety of your home, we look up his claims and it turns out he is right. At a little less than 500 km from Mumbai via NH 48, Amboli Ghat looks pristine and has one of the lowest positivity rates in Maharashtra with between 1,100 and 1,500 residents, as per the latest data.
Bhandardara: Knowing that we might like embarking on a momentous trek leading to some breathtaking views, he recommends we visit Bhandardara. A short while later, he shares an elaborate itinerary. Turns out a large reason why he singled out Bhandardara is because of Kalsubai Peak, the highest peak of the Sahyadri Ranges, and Maharashtra, with its summit situated at an elevation of 1,646 metres.
The trek is a very tricky one and, usually, the experienced trekkers find their way to the top with some difficulty, he said about the climb, and also added that there are now man-made stairs to access the peak if you don’t wish to trek.
While there are several quaint hotels in or around the city centre at Bhandardara, we were told that camping at the Mt Kalsubai base or close to the Wilson Dam would be a good idea. For a weekend getaway, there is plenty to look forward to here.
So, what are you waiting for? Have fun on Raksha Bandhan with your family, but travel safe and smart.