A Break in Western India – Relax in Kolhapur and Goa

Beaches, the sun, the sand, a cocktail, a little sightseeing, some shopping, club hopping, sun bathing etc. is how fun begins in Goa. When you set your foot in this ‘laid back’ state, you’d mostly not want to leave. The peak season for tourism in Goa is around Christmas and  New Year’s time. It is then, when the whole state is in its high festive spirit and people from all over the country pour here around this time. And if you’re planning a vacation around the New Year’s, then you must be prepared that it would be an expensive affair than the usual. North Goa is popular with the youngsters while the South side is a little quainter. When in town, hire a bike or a scooty and you’re good to take a quick tour of Goa and can explore the state on your own.

The city of Kolhapur is a small place located in Maharashtra. It’s a religious little town, thanks to many temples scattered all over the town. Apart from the various lakes here, the River Panchganga adds to the charm of Kolhapur. For all the adventure seekers, forests and hills nearby are perfect to set out on a trek, or to enjoy nature walks and bicycling. Panhalgad, Mahalaxmi temple, Bahubali Jain temple and the Irwin Agricultural Museum are popular attractions in the city. Misal Pav, Batata Vada Pav, Golyachi Biryani, Tambasa Rassa, Bhakari, Kolhapuri Bhel etc. are the local favorite dishes. A foodie would love Kolhapur for the range and variety of cuisine and spices. And when in Kolhapur how can one ignore or not shop for the famous Kolhapuri chappals. Most of the Kolhapur hotels are mid range and budget ones as this is a small town, but nonetheless, they provide you all the basic services and facilities.

Enjoying a Vacation in Kasauli and Leh

Located in the Himalayas, in the city of Jammu & Kashmir is Leh, which is culturally, historically and geographically linked to Kashmir and Tibet by trading routes. This town successfully manages to retain its multicultural flavor and medieval charm. A strong influence of Buddhism is seen everywhere. Its strong Tibetan ties, and rugged, undulating mountains make it getting to Leh  quite a challenge, however it’s worth the effort. For the thrill seekers, there are various trekking routes that you can take up and enjoy exploring here. Camping and white-water rafting is another plus and equally very popular. A few places worth checking out here include the Leh Palace, monasteries, the war museum, the Buddhist complex of the Shanti Stupa, Namgyal Tsemo Gompa as well as the main city bazaar. The Leh hotels are pretty decent and will offer you most of the basic facilities and services at nominal rates.

Moving down about 739.1 kms below from Leh, is another beautiful hill station named Kasauli. Beautiful chestnut trees, houses with fabulous frontage, little gardens around everywhere and cobbled streets make Kasauli a paradise of a hill station. For the people who love peace and solitude, Kasauli should definitely be on their ‘to-visit’ list. Long walks, treks, lazing around and soaking up some sun are some small experiences that you can enjoy here. Located in Himachal Pradesh, there are a few Kasauli hotels and a lot of them have undergone renovation. Thus it’s important to pre-book a hotel here even if you’re heading here during the off season. Activities like camping and paragliding can also be enjoyed in Kasauli.

A break to Kasauli and Leh would be a well deserved holiday !