It is a well known fact that travel makes you better as a person, opens up your mind and enriches you like nothing else. Seeing every corner of the world you live in is probably the biggest gift you can give yourself. And it’s not without reason that literary genius Mark Twain said ‘Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness’.
But travelling abroad is not the only option, especially if you haven’t seen much of the beautiful country we live in. Here is a list of 7 culturally distinct destinations in India, handpicked for the young and the free:
- Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh: This beautiful hill station in Himachal Pradesh tops the list because of several reasons. It is a landmark destination for foreigners due to its free policies, liberal approach to living and a diverse cultural amalgamation. It is easy to reach, has varied accommodation choices and perfect for solo, small and large groups who are on a journey to ‘find themselves’!
- Jaipur, Rajasthan – Even though it is more of a city and less of tourist station, the influx of history seekers and literary figures have made Jaipur a top spot for Indian tourism. Capital and the largest city of Rajasthan, the Pink City offers hues of multidiversity, relics from a rich cultural history and the distinction of being India’s first planned city. The only obvious hint would be to visit during the winter months, unless sweltering dry heat is your thing.
- Rishikesh, Uttarakhand – Dubbed as the adventure capital of India, this holy city is much more than a religious extravaganza (for that, Haridwar is perfect). Rishikesh offers unlimited avenues to bring out the adventurer in you. From river rafting in the mighty Ganges, to bungee jumping fall in India, your hearts will thump harder as you explore it more. To calm that down, some delicious avenues for mindfulness seekers are readily provided by way of yoga centers, mediation workshops and much more.
- Leh, Ladakh – It’s impossible to miss this no matter where in the world you live. Especially for Indians, it is a blessing to have it near us. The famous Chadar Trek is an outstanding experience which challenges you and provides you with life long memories, and is surely unmissable. Young age provides you with vigour and there’s no better way to expend that than travelling through Ladhakh.
- Coorg, Karnataka – If Nature exploration and wild living is your thing, look no further than Coorg, the Scotland of India. Indeed, there are other places called by the same name too, but that doesn’t take away from Coorg’s immense greenery and wayward pastures of open land. Its proximity to Bangalore makes it all the more viable and the invigorating aroma of coffee plantations is enough to convince caffeine addicts to jump of the metaphorical hill train.
- Goa – If you still haven’t visited Goa, maybe living under a rock has affected you. Goa is replete with surprises that don’t ordinarily happen to people and there is nothing Goa says no to. Nature, partying, adventure, food and friends come free with this beach beauty, so don’t hesitate to pack your bags for this insane ride.
- Mumbai, Maharashtra – This is not a joke. Seriously, visit Mumbai. It’s an amalgamation of innumerable experiences and quite a mind blowing experience to see how a port city with around 2 crore people and India’s largest financial hub survives. Experience the best of the best and see the worst of the worst, maybe even catch a celebrity sighting. All in all, what Mumbai gives, only this city can give you and you have to see it to believe it. No wonder the call it the city of dreams.
