Welcome the New Year in Style! December 2017 Travel under 10k

Are you aching to get out of your city this December to party? Or is your budget holding you hostage this month? If money is playing a deal breaker, fret not! We point you towards 5 destinations to visit this December where you can welcome the New Year in style without feeling broke through the New Year.

1. McLeodganj​

Distance from Delhi: 483 kms
To get there: Take an overnight Bus from Delhi

If you are looking for a winter haven to celebrate Christmas, McLeodganj is the place to be. Home to a large Tibetan population, Mcleodganj is the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and offers a number of famous Buddhist temples and monasteries to visit. Walk around the city enjoying the beautiful cold weather, try Tibetan delicacies at Tibet Kitchen or Kailasha restaurant, or go for the freezing trek to Triund; McLeodanj will not disappoint!

Make it happen:

Hotel: Rs. 1,500- Rs. 2,000 per day (approx.)* for 2 days
Pick hotels like Imperial 9 or UNA Comfort Great Himalayan Adventure Resort.

Book Your Stay at Great Himalayan ResortBook Your Stay at Great Himalayan Resort

Food: Rs. 1,000 per day (approx.)* for 3 days
Pick restaurants like Nick’s Italian Kitchen for yummy pastas, Tibet Kitchen for delicious thupkas or McLlo Restaurant for sampling regional flavours.

Transport: Rs. 1600 return tickets for an overnight bus trip for one person

Total Cost for 2 nights 3 days: Rs. 3,000 (hotel) + Rs.3,000 (food) + Rs.3,200 (transport) + Rs.500 (shopping, miscellaneous) = Rs. 9,200

2. Mahabaleshwar

Distance from Mumbai: 230 kilometres
To get there: Takes 5 hours by road

Crisp mountain air, acres of strawberry fields, and views of the Sahyadri Hills await you at Mahabaleshwar. December is the time for a mild winter and a great opportunity to go strawberry picking in the many farms of the city. For an uninterrupted view of the hills, head to Arthur’s Seat Point or Echo Point; try the sinful Strawberry with Cream at the Cream Corner Restaurant; and shop for wooden handicrafts at the Mahabaleshwar Main Market. This trip will not be heavy on your pocket!

Make it happen:

Hotel: Rs. 1,500- Rs. 2,000 per day (approx.)* for 2 days
Pick hotels like Hill Top House, Cloud Green or Hotel Krishna Continental.

Book Your Stay at Hill Top HouseBook Your Stay at Hill Top House

Food: Rs. 1,000 per day (approx.)* for 3 days
Pick restaurants like the Cream Corner Restaurant for shakes and smoothies, Annapurna Garden Restaurant for the mutton thali, and Bagicha Corner for crunchy evening snacks

Transport: Rs. 800 return tickets for a Volvo bus trip for one person

Total Cost for 2 nights 3 days: Rs.3,000 (hotel) + Rs.3,000 (food) + Rs.1,600 (transport) + Rs.500 (shopping, miscellaneous) = Rs. 8,100

3. Mahabalipuram

Distance from Chennai: 56 kilometres
To get there: Takes 1 hr 40 mins by road

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Mahabalipuram packs a punch for any traveller with its historical monuments, mysterious caves, beach-side shopping, delicious seafood and Ayurveda massages. Arjuna’s Penance, Adhivarha Cave Temple, Mahishasurmardini Cave temple, Pancha Ratha, Tiger’s Cave, and Shore temple exhibit magnificent ancient stone carvings and monolithic stone structures that are a must-visit. If you are looking for a great photo-spot, do visit Krishna’s Butterball.

Make it happen:

Hotel: Rs. 600- Rs. 2,500 per day (approx.)* for 2 days
Pick hotels like Lakshmi Cottage, Varuna Inn or Joe Beach Resort.

Book Your Stay at Joe Beach ResortBook Your Stay at Joe Beach Resort

Food: Rs. 1,000 per day (approx.)* for 3 days
Pick restaurants like Le Yogi for western food choices, Moonrakers for ocean-fresh seafood and Freshly 'n' Hot Café for yummy coffee and pancakes.

Transport: Rs. 300 return tickets for a three hour bus trip for one person

Total Cost for 2 nights 3 days: Rs. 5,000 (hotel) + Rs. 3,000 (food) + Rs. 600 (transport) + Rs.500 (shopping, miscellaneous) = Rs. 9,100

4. Puri

Distance from Kolkata: 512 kilometres
To get there: Take an overnight journey by train

Puri is your chance to ring in the New Year with a religious fervour. The abode of Lord Jagannath, Puri is considered one of the four dhams or Hindu pilgrimage centres in India. On your trip here, make sure you visit the Jagannath Temple, which stands overlooking the city. Famous for its intricate filigree work on silver, the markets in Puri have plenty of shops to choose from. Also, make a stunning addition to your sari collection by choosing from the many exquisite cotton saris at the local market.

Make it happen:

Hotel: Rs. 1,300 Rs. 1,500 per day (approx.)* for 2 days
Pick hotels like Sonar Bangla, Balaji International, or Hotel Pushpa.

Book Your Stay at Balaji InternationalBook Your Stay at Balaji International

Food: Rs. 1,000 per day (approx.)* for 3 days
Pick restaurants like Chung Wah for good Chinese food,  Bhojohori manna for Bengali delicacies or Agarwal’s Pure Veg Restaurant for delightful north Indian warmth.

Transport: Rs. 600 return journey by train for one person

Total cost for 3 days: Rs. 3,000 (hotel) + Rs. 3,000 (food) + Rs. 1,200 (transport) + Rs. 500 (shopping, miscellaneous) = Rs. 7,700

5. Rann of Kutch

Distance from Ahmedabad: 272 kms
To get there: Takes 4 hours by road

December is a great time to venture to Rann of Kutch, the ethereal white salt desert of Gujarat, when it is celebrating Rann Utsav. Starting in November and continuing all the way till February, Rann Utsav is a celebration of culture, art, crafts and food of Gujarat. Visitors stay in over 400 tents that border the great White Rann during this time. Spending the night here to enjoy this startling white landscape, is an experience of a lifetime. You can also indulge in retail therapy with a number of stalls selling traditional Indian arts including rabari embroidery, rogan art and the distinctive mirror work that Kutch is known for. 

Make it happen:

Hotel: Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 3,000 per day (approx.)* for 2 days
Pick hotels like Hotel Tree Top Residency, Hotel Carnival or The Village Resort Mandvi in Bhuj. You can also stay at the White Rann Resort for Rs. 5,500 per person for 1 night and 2 days

Book Your Stay at Tree Top ResidencyBook Your Stay at Tree Top Residency

Food: Rs. 500 per day (approx.)* for 3 days
Indulge in local food from the stalls at the Rann Utsav during your stay there. Try food at Flavours Restaurant and Regenta Resort when in Bhuj.

Transport: Take a cab or bus from Bhuj to Rann of Kutch; Cab costs Rs. 3,500 for a return trip

Total cost for 3 days: Rs. 2,000 (hotel) + Rs. 1,500 (food) + Rs. 3,500 (transport) + Rs. 500 (shopping, miscellaneous) = Rs. 7,500