Hey folks !!
Bored during the lockdown??? Want a change?
Travel Hippo is the catalyst for this change!
During the lockdown period, we discovered a lot of things from within ourselves and we surely missed doing a lot of things like TRAVELLING. We all are aware of the current scenario and we all have an urge to travel, to explore new destinations, to move out, feel & breathe fresh air.
But we are travellers and nothing can stop us from travelling; but keeping in mind the guidelines issued by the Govt. of India.
Wondering where to go and which destination to explore without any risks?
No worries!! Travel Hippo is here for all travel related queries and doubts.
Here’s the list of destinations where you can travel with least risk [but that doesn't mean you don’t have to follow the COVID guidelines]
Jaipur : Also known as the Pink City is the capital of the Royal state Rajasthan. Founded by the Rajput ruler Jai Singh II, after whom the city was named as Jaipur. In 2019, UNESCO inscribed Jaipur as a World Heritage Site. Places such as Nahargarh Fort, Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall Museum, City Palace, Amer Fort, Galtaji, Jantar Mantar, Jal Mahal, Jaisingh Fort etc are going to have a part of your heart forever.
Jaipur is also known for its culture, performing arts like Jaipur Gharana Kathak. Visit the beautiful city to experience what a perfect blend of royalty and simplicity feels like.
Jodhpur : Also known as the Blue City ; the former capital of Marwar is famous for its fort, temples and majorly food. The locals call Jodhpur as Jodhana culturally.
Jodhpur is famous for its Mirchi Bada and Mawa Kachori.
Major attraction of the city is the Mehrangarh Fort. Apart from the fort, Umaid Bhawan, Jaswant Thada and Ghanta Ghar [ Clock tower] are also prominent tourist places of the city.
Jaisalmer : The Golden city of India was founded by Rawal Jaisal in 1156 AD. The term Jaisalmer means the Hill Fort of Jaisal. The city seems golden from the fort due to the use of sandstone in construction.
Jaisalmer fort is the center of attraction of Jaisalmer. Few other places which tourists love visiting are Patwon ki Haveli, Jain Temples, museums and most importantly Sam Sand Dunes.
Classical Rajasthani dance “Kalbeliya” is famous in this part of Rajasthan.
Udaipur : How we prefer to portray Rajasthan to be a dry state, where women walk for miles in search of water!
But to our amusement, Rajasthan has a city known as The City of Lakes; Udaipur which was founded by Maharana Udai Singh II of the Sisodia Clan in 1558 AD.
Udaipur’s main points of attraction are Fatehsagar Lake, Lake Badi, Lake Pichola, Ayad River, City Palace, Bagore ki Haveli and a number of Ghats.
This place is famous for its handicrafts and Shilpgram Fair.
Pushkar : Pushkar is a Sanskrit word meaning “Blue Lotus”. Pushkar is famous for its fair and camel race. It is situated around Pushkar Lake. Pushkar is also known for its temples and ghats though many of the temples were destroyed during The Mughal Period. One of the prominent ghats is known as Guru Govind Ghat named in the memory of Guru Gobind Singh Ji by Sikhs. Pushkar Fair, Pushkar Holi,Sikh Gurdwaras and Brahma Temples are major attractions of Pushkar.
Ranthambore : Ranthambore is known for its Tigers all over India. Ranthambore National Park has the largest number of tigers in India. Ranthambore Fort is also one of the attractions of this place. This fort has three temples dedicated to Shiva,Ganeshji and Ramlalaji. There are also several picnic spots near the fort.
Kerala: Kerala is situated on the southwestern Malabar Coast. This place has a maritime climate. It’s culture is what attracts people the most. One of the major attractions is the Boat Race which is held during Onam every year. Kerala is also known for its spice market. Each city in Kerala has its own attractions. Major attractions of this place are the beaches and backwaters which are located in all parts of Kerala.
Auli: This beauty in the heart of Uttarakhand is going to take your breath away. This is a hill station laden with wildflowers, pines, oaks and deodars with the hills surrounding it to give you the splendid landscape view. The winter is the busiest, inviting a lot of enthusiasts to have the greatest thrilling experiences with camping, trekking etc and the pleasant environment and weather being a cherry on the cake. So, make some time to enjoy the magnificent beauty at Garhwal.
Rishikesh: You would lie saying you don’t dream of living the life of rishikesh for at least a day. Known as the “Yoga capital of the country”, Rishikesh is going to take all your stress away and provide you with an exotic combination of adventure,peace, and holy vibes. A small serene town at the elevation of 356 meters above the sea level, is a destination on everyone’s bucket list with activities such as trekking, rafting, hiking, rappelling and bungee jumping to leave you awestruck. Pay a visit to the holy land of Rishikesh to lose and find yourself in the holiness and fun of the place.
Tehri: A holy place situated in the Himalayan ranges, Tehri is one of the most visited spots of Uttarakhand. It is a place rich in mythology with temples dedicated to Lord Rama built over 1000 years ago. Apart from the holy vibes of the beautiful place, Tehri is renowned as a trekking destination. The distinctive fair hosted by the city such as Lakhawar Mela, Surkanda Devi Fair etc makes it a peculiar destination to explore art, craft, music and culture.
Char Dham: The Char Dham of Uttarakhand is a four-destination packed pilgrim tour having Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath. Each of these four locations is devoted to a specific deity. As every pilgrimage begins from the West and ends to the East, the Char Dham also begins from Yamunotri, then to Gangotri, finally ends on Kedarnath and Badrinath. The Yatra route is full of activities and bustlings in summers with the beautiful views of hills and lakes to make your journey full of astonishing beauty of nature.
Goa: Let’s admit, we all had plans! Nevermind, let’s replan it now and this time actually execute it. It’s time to give yourself a beachy break and nothing compares to Goa. Situated on the western coast of the country, Goa is the smallest state packed with maximum fun. The endless beaches, starry nightlife, diverse seafood, and the mind blowing architecture. The Goa plan is going to take all your stress away and bless you with the wonderful break you need.
Manali: Hey! Want to Bag-pack and land on to some fun and electrifying experiences but don't know where to go? A small resort town at the top of Kullu Valley in Himachal is all set to feed your soul with so much thrill to offer. Also, a little side valley, known as Solang Valley in Manali, located at a right height of 8,600 ft above sea level is a hub for Zorbing, Skating, Paragliding, Parachuting, and Trekking to delight you. Manali is undoubtedly hard to forget.
Shimla: The beautiful city at an altitude of 2,205 meters, declared as the summer capital of British India has left us with no words to describe how perfectly beautiful it is. With Mall Road, Viceregal Lodge,
Rothney Castle, Christ church being the main point of attraction throughout the year, it’s a perfect blend of the colonial architecture and the beauty of pine and oak forest to make your vacations simply the best.
Ladak: To explore the white beauty of the planet, the glorious and stark ladakh is the best you can choose. The glaciers, the sand dunes, and the freezing wind would make you wonderstruck. The barren land at an average elevation of 5500 meters becomes fertile with the love, kindness, and joyous people of the beautiful place.
Spiti: Imagine a destination laden with snow with the least crowd. Yes, that’s Spiti. And if you wonder where it might be, the name Spiti itself says ‘ the middle land’. It is thus nestled between Tibet and Ladakh, located in the upper Himalayas. The cold desert is one of the top destinations for travellers in India and abroad, and especially for the ones looking for adventures.
Valley of flowers: Isn’t everything beautiful with the flowers added to it? Whether it’s your favourite sketch, dress print, a date, or your favourite destination, flowers make everything amazing! The Valley of flowers national park in Uttarakhand is going to take your breath away with just their existence. The unique size, colour,pattern of every different variety of flower would make you wonder. Apart from the flowers, the national park also houses many endemic birds and plants and is truly the heaven on earth.
Kedarkantha: To fulfill your trekking hunger, here’s a beautiful destination. Kedarkantha is every trekker’s delight with its majestic Himalayan peaks. The magnificent views of the charming villages, snow laden paths, mountains, meadows and the tranquil river would make you skip a heartbeat.
Har ki dun: This cradle shaped valley elevated at a height of 3566 kms is located in the heart of Garhwal. It is one of the most popular travelling destinations surrounded with the snow-covered peaks and alpine vegetation. The valley has one of the most spectacular views of the untouched valleys in the far off land of Himalayas.
Kerala: The land of culture,crafts, and different cuisine, Kerala is an excellent destination to spend your vacations. It is a place full of surprises. The peaceful experience of Houseboats, Ayurveda, food and spices on the southern ghats of the country is something you would not want to miss. Just landing and setting foot on this land is so soul-filling, Imagine what travelling it might feel like?
Andaman and Nicobar: The cluster of islands lying on Bay of Bengal is the major attraction of tourists. This place is known from before the time of Independence. The world famous Cellular Jail is located here where our great freedom fighters were brought and kept. Andaman is also known for its beaches. The major attractions of this place are the water sport activities.
Pithoragarh: Located at a great height of 1,514 meters in the Almora district of Uttarakhand, Pithoragarh is a treat to the eyes with the magnificent beauty of hills, forests, fort, and wildlife sanctuary. There are 11 beautiful tourist spots to spend your leisure time and enjoy your perfect weekend. Some of the most popular sites to visit in Pithoragarh are: Nakuleshwar Temple, Pithoragarh Fort, Ralam Glacier, Thal Kedar Temple, Gangolihat and many more to go on.
Jammu and Kashmir: I don’t think you need to find reasons to pay a visit to the glorious “Heaven on earth”. The breathtaking beauty of the amazing valleys would just take your heart away. Even if I attempt to write a perfect description for the beauty of J&K, believe me, like zillions before, I would fail too. It is a place packed with all the fun and excitement in one. Whether it’s adventure, romance, peace, or wandering, you would find a perfect fit here. With the boat romance in Srinagar to the beautiful mountains of Leh and the snow laden landscape of Gulmarg, you would end up falling in love with the beauty.
Bikaner: When you talk about exploring traditions and cultures via travelling, it is impossible to not include the rich heritage of Rajasthan and of course Bikaner. The Red city of the country is so rich in beautiful interiors, architects and you can explore it all in the famous Junagarh fort. The famous red, green, blue theme areas of the fort would be far beyond what you expect from a fort till now. And to never forget the camel safari when in a land of desert. Simply exploring the beautiful streets of Bikaner, you would drop your jaws!
Coorg: The enchanting beauty of Madikeri, the capital of Coorg, is known as “ the Scotland of India” and “Kashmir of the South”. The extremely beautiful place is located in the Western Ghats of the country and is a sight to behold. The beautiful waterfalls, reservoir, Dubare Elephant Camp, Lakes and Temples would convince you to stick your eyes to the beautiful views and fall in love with them. The place is a perfect combination of hills, falls, lakes, treks along with the brilliant architect on the ancient temples and forts.
Pondicherry: If you want to experience what a cultural blend at its best looks like, Pondicherry is undoubtedly the answer. With the French culture still being at its peak, you would be surprised to see how locals have preserved it along with keeping their roots strong and uptight. Pondicherry is what love at first sight feels like. With the beautiful cafes, ashrams, beaches, and beautiful modern architecture, activities like scuba diving are going to take your breath away. Pondicherry is truly one-in-a-lifetime experience.
Dalhousie: The epic beauty and scenery of Himachal needs no further introduction. Dalhousie is located at the top of this majestic beauty. “A town living in the past” is probably the best way to define it. It’s a treasure house of ancient Hindu temples, handicrafts, art and culture. Plan a small trip to rejuvenate yourself and give your weekends the best energy they need. The striking beauty of Chamba along with Spiti valley will leave you with lots of wonder and amusement.
Kasol-Tosh: A small hamlet in the Kullu district in Himachal is set to leave your eyes wide open and the biggest smile on your face. Situated at the height of 5,180ft is the hotspot for backpackers. Kasol is well known for its trekking trails with treks at Kheerganga, Tosh, Yanger pass, and many more. The apple orchards, Mantalai Glaciers, and the green sheet on land give it the title of "Little Greece". Also, Kasol is home to a large number of people from Israel, which makes it the best place to introduce yourself to Israeli food, cuisine, and culture.
McLeodganj-Triund: If you are a mountain person and willing to explore the magnificent beauty of hills, then Triund Hills is going to be the best destination for you. Apart from the peculiar view, the fun of camping and trekking is going to make you go high on life! A small hill station at the Kangra district of Himachal elevated 9,350ft above sea level is an aspiring beauty to be seen. Triund Trek is one of the most popular treks to go on a weekend. An ideal destination for those seeking a hassle-free taste of trekking in the Himalayas, the snow-covered Dhauladhar Ranges is going to take your breath away! So, put your shoes on and rush to fall in love with the hills.
Rishikesh-Auli-Tehri: This trip is going to be the best you have experienced. Rishikesh is going to take all your stress away and provide you with an exotic combination of adventure,peace, and holy vibes. A small serene town at the elevation of 356 meters above the sea level, is a destination on everyone’s bucket list with activities such as trekking, rafting, hiking, rappelling and bungee jumping to leave you awestruck. Auli is a hill station laden with wildflowers, pines, oaks and deodars with the hills surrounding it to give you the splendid landscape view. Apart from the holy vibes of the beautiful place, Tehri is renowned as a trekking destination. The distinctive fair hosted by the city such as Lakhawar Mela, Surkanda Devi Fair etc makes it a peculiar destination to explore art, craft, music and culture. These places would take all your stress away and charge you up like never before.
Deoriatal chopta chandrashila: If you're a wildlife lover, Deoriatal chandrashila trek is a treat for you! Also, if you are a beginner at trekking, this great summit climb at a height of 12,083ft is going to be a place to begin all fun with. Chandrashila is a small window to nature's heart, blooming with beautiful red and pink rhododendrons making it a well-loved trek for all the mountain goers. The persistent beauty and the excitement of being at the top of chandrashila would never let your motivation go down. The 5km long track is filled with beauty and eye-pleasing views with Tungnath Temple on its way. The trek is filled with holistic, spiritual, and thrilling vibes.
Rishikesh-Mussoorie: You would lie saying you don’t dream of living the life of rishikesh for at least a day. Known as the “Yoga capital of the country”, Rishikesh is going to take all your stress away and provide you with an exotic combination of adventure,peace, and holy vibes combined with the beauty of Mussoorie ,”The Queen of hills” and a beautiful romantic destination to unwind your love for yourself and others. Mussoorie is a captivating paradise for travel and honeymoon. The supreme beauty of these places will leave your heart and mind in complete astonishment and you would come back a hundred times to revisit yourself. Pay a visit to the holy lands to lose and find yourself in the holiness and fun of the place.
McLeodganj-Bir:Ever realized how small little things could bring happiness, peace, and joy in life? Bir is one such small place with a bundle of joy, happiness, thrill, and peace wrapped around it. A small village in the western valleys of Himachal would genuinely own a piece of your heart. To start with the beautiful views of waterfalls, pine forests with the virtuous weather to calm up your mind and let you feel the subtle gift of being alive to the thrill of paragliding, giving wings to your wildest adventure dreams adds up with the relaxing camp nights, and numerous serene Buddhist monasteries to bind you with the strings of spirituality. Truly this small heaven is going to be your "escape" for life.