Only going places that spark joy.
The Easter long weekend is just around the corner, and you fret that you have not yet planned your weekend getaway? Don’t worry, the time is still not lost. Choose your nearest city, pack your bags and enjoy your Easter break.
Weekend getaways from Mumbai - Goa
If you want to witness Easter celebrations, then head to Panjim, Goa’s capital city. Witness hundreds of people clad in formal clothes participate in the mass and post-mass festivities. When all that’s done with, you may chill at a beach, indulge in water sports, try your luck at a casino or party all night. Going to Goa is definitely like hitting two birds in one stone.
Distance between Mumbai and Goa: Approximately 588kms
Time by road: 12-15hrs
Time by air (without stopover): Approximately 1hr 15mins to reach Goa International Airport
Hampi
Easy-to-go backpacker attitude, budget accommodation and enchanting landscapes formed of huge boulders make Hampi a favourite travel destination among foreigners and Indians alike. When you are in Hampi, you will experience a flashback of the past, peak into the erstwhile Vijaynagara kingdom and witness a whole lot of Hindu mythology through laboriously carved sculptures.
Distance between Mumbai and Hampi: Approximately 710kms
Time by road: 15-16hrs
Time by air: No airport in the vicinity.
Panchgani-Mahabaleshwar
Summers are a perfect time to hit a hill station, breathe some fresh air, embrace the mountains and appreciate nature, but what makes Mahabaleshwar a must-visit spot this weekend is the Strawberry Festival happening from April 3, 2015 to April 5, 2015. When you are done with the sweet indulgence, you may trek around or just loosen up!
Distance between Mumbai and Mahabaleshwar: Approximately 264kms
Time by road: 6-8hrs
Time by air: No airport in the vicinity.
Plan your trip to Mahabaleshwar now.
Weekend getaways from Delhi - Himachal Pradesh
As the heat starts hovering over your head, Northern India saves you from the sweltering summer pain. The upside of this vacation is that you may enjoy a number of activities like skiing, rafting, paragliding and zorbing. Dalhousie, Dharamshala, McLoedganj, Spiti, Khajjiar, Shimla, Kullu, Manali... the list could just go on! Just one piece of advice - go wherever you like, because you will never go wrong with it.
Distance between Delhi and Shimla: Approximately 353kms
Time by road: 9-10hrs
Time by air: No airport in the vicinity.
Plan your trip to Himachal Pradesh.
Uttarakhand
Abode of the Gods and home of the Ganges, Uttarakhand is one cool destination to beat the heat. Adventure junkies may set up camps at Rishikesh and tickle their adrenaline by indulging in activities like bungee jumping, river rafting, camping, rappelling, rock climbing, cliff jumping, kayaking and what-not! But, what if you have just got one-weekend break from the office and decide to chill? We perfectly understand that; you may just go and take in the surreal views at Nainital, Auli (how about some skiing?), Ranikhet, Mussoorie, Sattal, Kausani and many more. Frankly speaking, anywhere in Uttarakhand!
Distance between Delhi and Dehradun: Approximately 248kms
Time by road: 6-7hrs
Time by air (without stopover): Approximately 1hr 05mins to reach Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun
Plan your trip to Uttarakhand.
Weekend getaways from Chennai - Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry
Welled up in heritage, culture and history, Mahabalipuram was an erstwhile port city off the Coromandel coast. Outstanding relics and carvings sculpted between the 7th and 8th century manifest the legacy of the Pallava dynasty that ruled here. Two hours drive from Chennai, Mahabalipuram is often a stopover for tourists travelling to Pondicherry. The group monuments of Mahabalipuram are part of UNESCO World Heritage Site. A further 100kms away, Pondicherry bespeaks the colonisation by the French. Pondicherry is all about French colonial buildings, churches with tall spires and magnificent promenades. One cannot miss Auroville, an experimental town that encourages holistic lifestyle overlooking caste, creed, religions, nationalities, social norms and politics. You will see many foreigners in Pondicherry. It’s best known for its happy-go-lucky nonchalance.
Distance between Chennai and Pondicherry: Approximately 170kms
Time by road: 4-5hrs
Time by air: No airport in the vicinity.
Plan your trip to Pondicherry.
Nilgiris
The ‘Blue Mountains’ or ‘Nilgiris’ stretch across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Situated among the hills, Nilgiris provide you with a much-needed respite from the scorching summer sun. You may take a summer break in hill stations like Mysore, Ooty and Kodaikanal.
Distance between Chennai and Mysore: Approximately 482kms
Time by road: 10-11hrs
Time by air (without stopover): Approximately 1hr 00mins to reach Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore, which is 185kms from Mysore.
Weekend getaways from Bangalore - Coorg
With sprawling coffee plantations, aromatic sandalwood trees, picturesque villages and cascading waterfalls, it would be fair to call Coorg a paradise. Coorg (or Kodagu) offers excellent hill stations like Madikeri, Nagarhole and Somwarpet. You could visit the Abbey Falls, Iruppu Falls, Dubare Elephant Campa and Raja’s Seat. Eternally romantic and evergreen, Coorg is also a popular honeymoon destination.
Distance between Bangalore and Coorg: Approximately 272kms
Time by road: 6-7hrs
Time by air (without stopover): Approximately 1hr 10mins to reach Mangalore Airport in Bangalore, which is 138kms from Mysore.
Kerala
For some Easter celebrations, head to Kerala, God’s own country. Across the state, you will be a witness to traditional rituals performed on Easter Sunday. Apart from that, Kerala also serves as an excellent vacation spot. From a backwater stay in Alleppey, churches in Cochin to nature trails in Munnar and Thekkady, Kerala offers a perfect break from the daily humdrum. Kerala is also home to many wildlife reserves and sanctuaries. If you ask us, you cannot cover the whole of Kerala over the weekend, but you can definitely extend your holiday and enjoy it to the fullest. Well, if there’s a hiccup in that plan, just repose in luxury for a day or two in a houseboat or sip an organically brewed cuppa at any hill station.
Distance between Bangalore and Cochin: Approximately 548kms
Time by road: 10-12hrs
Time by air (without stopover): Approximately 1hr 10mins to reach Cochin International Airport.
For folks staying in Bangalore, Hampi is also a good option for your weekend getaway. It is about 342kms away and takes around 6 hours to reach.