Faraway lands
1. Sun, sand and surfing — Sri lanka
For those looking for romance and adventure at
the same time, the pristine and solitary beaches of Sri Lanka are the places to head for. The
island country offers excellent adventure sport facilities such as wind surfing, diving,
snorkelling, rafting, canoeing and trekking along its
coastline. Hikkaduwa and Tangalla on the west coast,
Unawatuna on the south coast and Nilaveli on the east
coast are wonderful places for scuba diving and
snorkelling. Rivers such as Kelani in Kitulgala, southwest of Kandy, are
particularly popular among tourists for rafting. If relaxing, you could just
lounge around the sandy beaches. Nobody bothers you.
- Getting there Bandaranaike International Airport,
Sri Lanka’s only international airport located in
Katunayake, 35 km north of Colombo, connects the
island country to the world. Almost all international
carriers have a direct flight to this airport.
- Getting around
Taxis and buses are easily
available. There is good train connectivity
between all major towns and cities of Sri
Lanka.
- What to eat It’s a foodie’s
paradise. The Portuguese, Dutch, Malays, Arabs and Tamils, all of whom have
left their culinary impression, influence many regional foods.
- What to do Apart from adventure
activities you could indulge in some smart shopping as brand outfits are
tailor-made here.
- Climate There are no marked
seasons. Due to its proximity to the equator, Sri Lanka has a typically
tropical climate. The best time to visit is between November and April.
2.
Carefree in Caribbean- Turks and Caicos Islands
 One of the Caribbean’s best-
kept secret holiday destinations, the Turks and Caicos Islands located at the southeastern
tip of the Bahamas, 575 miles south east of Miami, Florida, are a vacation paradise famous
for their stunning water colour, endless wide beaches, world-renowned snorkelling and scuba
diving, humpback whale migration, deep-sea and bone fishing and other water sports.
Some major beaches on Providenciales are Grace Bay, Malcolm Beach and Long Bay. On
Caicos, there is Pine Cay, Parrot, Horsestable Beach and Bambarra
Beach. Grand Turks has Salt Cay and Governor’s Beach. Popular
with Hollywood celebrities, Bruce Willis and Keith Richards have
homes here.
- Getting there
International carriers
such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have direct and connecting flights
from India to Miami/Florida. A taxi or a connecting flight takes you to the
island destination.
- Getting around A rental car is
useful. If sticking to one area, you could even bicycle your way around.
- What to eat Must try the local
cuisine. It’s a mix of African, Amerindian, British, Spanish, French, Dutch
and Chinese.
- What to do Get yourself a lovely tan
on the beaches and enjoy water sports like humpback whale migration and bone
fishing.
- Climate Turks and Caicos benefit
from a tropical climate — tempered by trade winds and generally pleasant.
Nights can be cool with some rain in winter..
3. Island vacation-Hawaii
 The ultimate
paradise on earth, this group of six islands
on the west of the US offers a wonderful
range of sights, activities and accommodation in a
gorgeous setting. Maui (The Valley Island), Kauai
(The Green Island), Hawaii (The Big Island), O’ahu, Lanai and Molokai are six sister islands, of
which Maui, Kauai and O’ahu are more popular
with the tourists. While Maui’s Hookipa Beach is a
haven for windsurfers, Kauai is popular for its
breathtaking natural scenery and legendary
sunsets. This is also the island where Jurassic park
was shot. O’ahu is home to about three-quarters of
Hawaii’s population due to its position as the
centre of Hawaiian commerce. Most visitors
stay in the Waikiki Beach area just outside of
Honolulu.
- Getting there O’ahu’s main airport is
Honolulu International Airport. It also serves
as the entry point for most of Hawaii’s visitors.
- Getting around
You could rent a car at the
airport to explore the island. Other options
include buses, shuttles, trolleys and taxis.
- What to eat
There is a wide range to
choose from, starting with Japanese and
continental. Seafood is out of the world so
is fresh pineapple, Kona coffee and
macadamia nuts, the local specialty.
- What to do The islands are great for
water activities, volcano treks, visits to secluded waterfalls and beaches.
- Climate Hawaii has good weather round
the year. December to March are the high tourist months.
4. Indulge in style- Bali
It may be small in size but its prominence as a destination is
huge. This is the place to shop and indulge. Here you could pamper your body with a
massage on the beach or a hedonistic interlude in a sybaritic spa. Then, there is shopping
that will put carrying an extra bag at the top of your list. Of its notable locations, Kuta is Bali-on-
a-budget, a raucous, infamous holiday enclave dedicated to fun and sun.
Ubud’s focus remains on the remarkable Balinese culture in its myriad
forms. Here you could visit temples, ancient sites and whole villages
producing handicrafts.
- Getting there There are a number of direct flights to Bali from other
parts of the world. From Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia,
flight to Bali is about one-and-a-half hours.
- Getting around Bemo or miniature vans, buses, taxis, rental cars,
motor cycles and bicycles are easily available. A traditional horse
and cart transportation still can be found in many different versions. To
travel to some sister islands of Bali famous for their marine activities,
local cruises are most convenient.
- What to eat Kuta is a gastronomic haven for travellers. When in
Bali, eat seafood Indonesian style and don’t forget to drink the
special local Bintang beer.
- What to do Visit the picturesque beaches, rice terraces, the famous Besakih Temple on the
slopes of holy Mount Agung, Lake Batur and its active volcano, Ubud, Legian, Kuta and
Nusa Dua. A helicopter trip over the temples of Tanah Lot and Ulu Watu makes for
a special experience. And you must indulge in a good Balinese massage.
- Climate Bali has a tropical monsoon
climate with pleasant day temperatures.
5. Ride the loveboat- Italy
 For a perfect mixture of culture
and relaxation, Italy is the best bet. Cruise down the Grand
Canal in Venice or check out its famous museums (Gallerie
dell’Accademia, Ca’ Rezzonico — Museum of the 18th century and
Peggy Guggenheim Collection a modern art in an unfinished Grand
Canal palazzo).
But if you are looking to relax, head to The Isle of Capri. It’s a
rocky island off the shores of the southern Italian region of
Campania at the southern edge of the Bay of Naples. Be it art or
literature or stunning views across the Marina Grande, everybody
finds his muse here.
- Getting there Venice has one official international airport on
the shores of the lagoon called Venice Marco Polo Airport
which has direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai. To reach Capri,
an internal flight to Naples is recommended, where you can catch a
ferry to the dream island.
- Getting around Venice: Grand Canal, lagoon shores and
surrounding islands are well-served by waterbuses. Major travel
is on foot though, so be prepared to do plenty of walking when
exploring the smaller alleys and canals.
Capri: Bus service connects Capri, Anacapri and Marina Grande.
The island, however, is highly walkable so you may not require
public transport.
- What to eat Home-made pizzas and pastas, period.
- What to do Visit St Mark’s Basilica, St Mark’s Square and
Doge’s Palace besides art galleries and churches. Ride a
gondola on the Grand Canal and take the elevator to the top
of the Campanile to get a magnificent view of the city. Capri is good
for deep water swimming, boat cruise and a hike to Mount Solaro.
- Climate Venice’s quietest season is
winter and there is rarely a bad time to travel to Capri.
6. Temple city — Khajuraho
Khajuraho, the temple city of
central India, is famous
throughout the world for its exquisitely
carved temples in stones. And if you
want to see more than temples, then
club your trip with excursions to Panna
National Park, Raneh Fall, Ken Nature
Trail, Ken Garial Sanctuary, Banisagar
Lake, Ranguan Lake, Gangau Dam,
Pandav Falls, Dhubela Museum,
Ajaygarh Fort, Kalinjar Fort, Orchha, Jhansi and Gwalior.
- Getting there Khajuraho is 595
km south-east of Delhi and well connected by air, rail or road.
- Getting around Local taxis and buses.
- Climate Extreme, with a drastic shift
in day and night temperatures and minimal rainfall.
7. Tea haven — Darjeeling
This Raj era retreat in
eastern India continues to be a charming
honeymoon spot. There’s plenty to do in
Darjeeling — catch a spectacular view of the
Kanchenjunga from the Tiger Hills early in the morning,
visit the mystic monasteries, take a leisurely walk amid tea
bushes observing tea pickers at work or simply chug
around in the hill train. River rafting and canoeing on
Teesta river is recommended apart from mountaineering
and trekking.
- Getting there The nearest airport is Bagdogra, there
are direct flights connecting it to Delhi, Kolkata
and Guwahati. Then drive to Darjeeling or take the heritage hill train.
- Getting around Darjeeling is
beautiful on foot as it is a very small town, else use the local toy train.
Cabs and taxis are the other best options.
- Climate Darjeeling has a moderate
climate with all five distinct seasons in a year.
8. Idyllic beach holiday — Goa
 This is perhaps the most favoured honeymoon
destination in India. Multi-cuisine restaurants, clean and secluded beaches, global
feel and an open-spiritedness make Goa an ideal setting for romance and
relaxation.You could visit Anjuna for its lively flea market, Palolem for water sports and
Calangute and Dona Paula for shopping, nightlife, food and drink. Head to Vagator,
where dramatic red cliffs look down on the shore.
- Getting there The Dabolim Airport of Goa is located 30 km from Panaji,
the capital city of the state. Various chartered flights from England and
other European countries are operated from Goa. All major domestic carriers
have daily flights. Well- connected network of roads and railhead is also
available for budget travel.
- Getting around Self-driven car
rentals, rented motorcycles and scooters are available at a very nominal
tariff. Otherwise, there is a local bus service, which runs throughout the
day. Besides, ferries, generally painted in blue give a very frequent service.
- Climate Best time to visit Goa is from
October to March.
9. Switzerland of India — Auli
If you love the feel of chilly
mountain air ripping through your hair and the gush of
adrenaline in your blood, then you must visit Auli. Situated
amid the Himalayan mountain peaks of Nanda Devi and Mana
Parvat, this snow-covered mountainous region, is well-known for
its winter sports, especially skiing, which draws ace skiers from
around the world. Its reputation as the best equipped ski resort
has been established with the addition of the 4.15 km-long
ropeway, linking the slopes to Joshimath (the basetown), an 800
m-long chairlift, connecting the resort and the upper slopes with a
500 m-long ski lift. Professionally trained guides and coaches give
you lessons.
- Getting there The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun,
which is connected by flights to Delhi. The nearest railheads
are Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun.
- Getting around
From Joshimath onwards, both bus and taxi
services are available for Auli.
- Climate Summers are bitterly cold
while winters are snowbound. So before you head towards these mighty peaks,
check with the weatherman.
10. God’s own country — Kumarakom
Make your
honeymoon unforgettable by
undertaking the backwater cruise beginning at
Alleppey and concluding at Kumarakom. The
houseboat experience is a must. Other
attractions include fishing, swimming, canoeing
and pampering yourself with the world famous
Ayurvedic massages and therapeutic treatments
- Getting there The nearest airport is Cochin
International Airport, about 70 km away
from the Muhamma boat jetty. The second
nearest airport is at Thiruvananthapuram,
171 km away. The railway station is at Kottayam,
16 km away.
- Getting around For travelling around
Kumarakom, a taxi or motorised rickshaw is the best way to go.
- Climate Best time to visit is
September to February. During monsoon, backwater cruising is not allowed.
11.Offtrack — Kanger Valley National
Park, Chhattisgarh
The hilly terrain and
forests of the virgin Kanger Valley National
Park in the tribal Bastar district is a storehouse of ancient
caves. Exploring them can make you feel quite the
pioneer, adding a dash of adventure and thrill to your
honeymoon. There are three major places to visit,
namely Kailash Gufa (it has the most spectacular
formations of stalactites and stalagmites), Kutumsar
Caves (look for a special variety of genetically blind fish
here) and Dandak Caves (stalactites hang down in giant halls, much like
chandeliers).
- Getting there
Kanger Valley is well approachable from
Jagdalpur, district headquarter of Bastar. It is 27 km from
Jagdalpur on the Jagdalpur-Konta road. You can also approach
the park via the Jagdalpur-Sargipal-Jatam-Nianar-Bodal road.
Raipur (330 km) is the nearest airport and Jagdalpur (27 km)
is the nearest railhead and bus stand from the Kanger Valley
National Park.
- Getting around Guided tours are available along with
transport to the caves.
- Climate The best season to visit the Kanger Valley is
between November and June.
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Caribbean, Hawaii, Bali, Venice, Khajuraho, Darjeeling, Goa, Auli, Kumarakom, Kanger Valley
Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Chhattisgarh
Sri lanka, Italy, India
