Have You Been to These Top Five Romantic Getaways in India?

Abhishek Mishra

Last updated: Apr 3, 2017

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Some places are best explored with a hand in your own! If you’ve been wanting to get away from the hectic dealings of an everyday life,there is no better way to do it than with your significant other. Check out these holiday options, where the romance quotient is supreme!

1. Kashmir

kashmir

Watch any Bollywood oldie and you’ll know why the Valley of Kashmir is virtually synonymous with sweet romance. Politics changed that, but the Valley is back in the business of love.

For sheer sensuality, few experiences beat a shikara ride on the silken Dal Lake. Walk hand-in-hand through the flower-filled Mughal Gardens, starring in your own song-and-dance sequence. Sip a steaming hot glass of kahwa (spiced tea); savour the rich delights of Kashmiri cuisine. Camp under the stars in Lidder Valley, catch trout from glittering streams and breathe lungfuls of pine-scented air!

2. Jaisalmer

jaisalmer

Mustachioed warriors, dusky princesses and tales of love and war…relive the romance of the desert in Jaisalmer.

Jaisalmer Fort resonates with nine centuries of history – watch the sun sinking from the ramparts or lose yourselves happily in the fort’s small, bustling lanes (no cars, so no hassles!). Pay your respects at the exquisitely carved Jain temples.

Sigh over the glory of Jaisalmer’s lacy, sandstone havelis; when you’re done, head to Bhatia Market for a glass of makhania lassi. When darkness descends, declare your love under a starry, desert sky – memories are made of this!

3. Andaman & Nicobar Islands

andaman and nicobar

Geography, history and a dash of tribal culture conspire to make the Andamans the right choice for that quiet, just-for-two getaway.

For some serious mooning, head to Havelock Island, a calm paradise of blue and white – there’s nothing to disturb you but birdsong from the nearby forest. Snorkel at Radhanagar Beach or lie around listening to the music of the waves.

For lunch with a view, savour freshly-cooked seafood at Port Blair’s beachside restaurants. Picnic at Corbyn’s Cove, visit Port Blair’s Cellular Jail and explore Barren Island Volcano, 130 km from Port Blair.

4. Pondicherry (Puducherry)

pondicherry

Year round sunshine and a quaint, laid back ambience make Pondy, southern India’s tiny French colonial enclave, so right for l’amour.

Cosy up on a rickshaw ride through white-walled streets embellished with huge cascades of bougainvillea. Auroville’s Matri Mandir is a deeply spiritual experience.

Browse through the French Quarter’s trendy boutiques for hand worked leather and funky threads. In the evenings, the breezy promenade is a great place for an arm-in-arm stroll; stop off for a refreshing drink of tender coconut water. Drown in each other’s eyes over a candlelight dinner, complete with wine and French cuisine.

Puducherry is a walker’s delight. Spotless, smooth streets invite you to stroll past gracious cathedrals, lovingly restored heritage buildings, antique stores, a tiny museum and more. When you tire of exotic cuisines, hit the crowded, colourful “Indian” side of town and crunch down a masala dosa!

On your way back to reality, stop off to frolic in the waves at historic Mamallapuram. Drop in at Dakshina Chitra – this palm-dotted, charming complex features traditional architecture from the four southern states (check out the mouth-watering buffet at lunchtime).

5. Coorg

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How many shades does green have? Count them in the hills of Coorg, a comfy, 6-hour drive from Bangalore (Karnataka).

Morning mist wraps itself delicately around the emerald Western Ghats – what better view for a romantic start to your day? Take long, leisurely walks through plantations redolent with the aroma of coffee plants and orange groves.

The sun filters down through towering teaks and silver oaks. Tucked along quiet mountain roads are Coorgi homes, their porches and fences bursting with flowering creepers. Trek to Tadiandamol or Pushpagiri, Coorg’s highest peaks. Catch a mahaseer at Valnur, an angler’s paradise in the backwaters of the Cauvery River. Want more thrills? Pump up the adrenalin with white water rafting on the Cauvery!

Want to play me Tarzan, you Jane? Coorg offers three wildlife sanctuaries – Pushpagiri, Talacauvery and Brahmagiri – where you can spot leopards, jackals, wild boars and a rich bird population. Tote a bird book along and compete to identify Pacific Swallows, Grasshopper Warblers, Yellow Billed Babblers and more.

Confused? Let the season decide for you – Kashmir is perfect for summer, but glorious in autumn (less crowded, too). If you’re looking at winter, golden Jaisalmer is best. Coorg in the monsoons is a sparkling, green corner of paradise. Anytime between the monsoons is just right for the Andamans, while Pondicherry welcomes visitors all through the year.

Abhishek Mishra

Reader, writer, office goer, dreamer, rum lover, dog hater, searcher.

Comments

ashu | on 15 February 2011

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