Still skimming through the calendar for long weekends? Or toying with the thoughts of taking a day-off in between festival holidays to finally go on a trip that has long been on your bucket list? This year’s hottest travel trend of micro trips will intrigue your lust for travel. By Ritika Dixit
From the monotony of a nine to five desk job to the daily toils of looking after a home, we all need a break once in a while, don’t we? The breaks don’t necessarily have to be elaborate but they do have to be well-planned to reap the benefits. So, in order to manage travel despite lack of much-needed holidays, a new travel trend called micro trips has emerged, which includes well-planned, well-executed and well-budgeted weekend getaways that could make for some amazing Monday morning stories at your office.
Aimed at two days of exploring or holiday time on arrival, micro trips work best on weekends. Head off to one of the getaways either straight from your workplace or Saturday morning with a full day of exploration ahead of you. Remember, favourable time and price can be availed with making bookings well in advance. Pack as light as possible and keep space for some local home-wares or fabrics that you might want to take back from your trip. Most long-haul trips can be done with either one night stay or napping en route. With micro trips you can explore more nearby offbeat locations rather than wait for a bigger annual tour.
Micro trips are meant for city exploration or staying closer home for weekend getaways, read on for some bite-sized travel destinations in India.
1. Kamshet, Maharashtra
Kamshet is the perfect micro trip to take for the adventure junkie in you. Just a few hours drive from Mumbai, here you can enroll in one of the many flying schools, which offer two to four days of all-inclusive paragliding courses. Spend your weekend paragliding amidst the picturesque hills of the Western Ghats and return to work on Monday with your own tale of thrill.
2. Coonoor, Tamil Nadu
Head to the lesser-known hill station of Coonoor in the Nilgiris range for a quick refreshing breath of fresh air over the weekend. Witness nature at its best with viewpoints like Dolphin’s Nose and Lamb’s Rock. The wildflowers and the birds can be a much-needed respite from the monotony of your office desk.
3. Digha, West Bengal
The resort beach town of Digha awaits to be your weekend retreat. Largely unexplored, Digha will take your breath away with its untouched beaches and scenic views lined with Casuarina trees. Book a cycle-van and explore your weekend away in this city of underwater.
4. Jodhpur, Rajasthan
If you wish to delve into some richness of culture, history and architectural beauty over your weekend, Jodhpur is the answer. The picturesque town is popularly known as the Blue City due to the colour of majority of its houses. Engage in a Camel Tour Safari and watch the skies and the sand change colours for a sunset to remember.
5. Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
Nestled on the banks of river Betwa, Orchha is an ancient town frozen in time with its grandeur preserved to perfection. Take a micro trip to Orchha to revisit some majestic temples and palaces like the Raja Mahal or the Laxmi Narayan Temple to travel back to the times of the mighty Bundela kings.
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