Tired of sticking to home? Have your summer vacation plans drowned into lockdown vows? Don’t you worry! Today we are here to unfold 5 Covid-Safe Domestic Holiday Options in India.
With the Coronavirus cases witnessing a steep fall, state governments have relaxed travel restrictions and are ready to once again welcome tourists from across India.
There’s a catch, though! It’s for people who have taken both or at least one COVID vaccine. If you have taken the COVID jab and are excited to travel,
here’s the list of places in India that you can explore:
1.PONDICHERRY:
Puducherry, earlier known as Pondicherry, is the best destination for a laidback, lazy holiday, and in Covid times, among the safer and more affordable places.
This former French colony has a sprinkling of serene beaches, quaint colonial villas, boulevards and cafes, amazing food, churches and temples.
New covid cases: 56 (New Covid cases as on 12 Oct 2021)
The itineraries are tentative and you can alter them to suit your budget. So get ready to pack your bags!
How to get there–
• Delhi – Chennai: By air (return fare, 2 hrs 50 mts): Rs 10,000
• Chennai – Puducherry: By road (cab, 160 km, 3 hrs): Rs 4,500
Total cost: Rs 14,500
Itinerary–
• Day 1: Arrive and visit Auroville, Matri Mandir, White Town, and Promenade beach.
• Day 2: Visit Aurobindo Ashram, Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Botanical Garden, Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
• Day 3: Go to Chunnambar boat house, Paradise beach.
• Day 4: On the way back to Chennai, visit Mahabalipuram.
Stay (3 star): Total cost Rs 18,000
Food: Total cost Rs 7,000
Sightseeing: Total cost Rs 400-500
Things to do–
• Visit beaches, including the Promenade or Rock beach, Paradise (Chunnambar boat house), Auroville, Karaikal, Serenity and Quiet beaches, among others.
• Auroville, White Town, French Memorial.
• Aurobindo Ashram, Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Botanical Garden.
• Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Commute Cab (day trips): Rs 5,000
(Cost is lesser if you take separate cabs, bikes, autos, or even walk.)
Historical:
2.MADHYA PRADESH:
Rajasthan may be the favourite historical destination given its beautiful forts and palaces, but equally resplendent are Hindu and Jain temples as well as forts of Madhya Pradesh. Importantly, the state is low on new Covid cases.
Total cost: Rs 45,000 per couple, 3N/4D
Best time to visit: October – March
Itinerary–
• Day 1: Arrive in Gwalior.
• Day 2: Spend half a day in Gwalior before moving to Orchha.
• Day 3: Visit monuments in Orchha.
• Day 4: Move to Khajuraho after half a day in Orchha.
• Day 5 Spend the day in Khajuraho before taking the night train to Delhi.
Stay (3 star): Total cost Rs 16,000
Food: Total cost Rs 10,000
Sightseeing: Total cost Rs 3,000Total cost: Rs 45,920 per couple, 4N/5D
Best time to visit: October – March
New covid cases: 12
How to get there–
• Delhi – Gwalior: By train (2AC, 340 km, 3 hrs): Rs 1,560
• Gwalior – Orchha: By train (2 AC, 1 hr 30 mts): Rs 1,000, By road (120 km, 2 hrs): Rs 2,500
• Orchha – Khajuraho: By train (2 AC, 4 hrs 30 mts): Rs 1,500, By road (170 km, 2 hrs 30 mts): Rs 3,000
• Khajuraho – Delhi: By train (2 AC, 660 km, 14 hrs):Rs 2,860
Total cost: Rs 9,920Things to do
• Gwalior: Gwalior Fort, Jai Vilas Palace & Museum, Tansen Memorial, Chhatris, Man Mandir Palace, Bir Singh Palace (Daitia), Mitavli temples, Bateshwar temples, Padavli fort.
• Orchha: Orchha fort, Chhatris on Betwa river, Laxminarayan temple, Chaturbhuj temple, Ram Raja temple, boating/kayaking/rafting in Betwa river.
• Khajuraho: Khajuraho Group of Monuments (over 20 Hindu, Jain, Buddhist temples), Raneh Falls Canyon, Archaeological Museum.
Commute: Total cost Rs 7,000 (day tours, local cab)
Wildlife:
3.NAGARHOLE NATIONAL PARK, KABINI:
Karnataka is Also known as the Rajiv Gandhi National Park, this 640 sq km sanctuary has the beautiful Kabini river flowing through it.
Total cost: Rs 49,000 per couple, 3N/4D
Best time to visit: November – May
New covid cases: 332
How to get there–
• Delhi – Bengaluru: By train (3 AC, 2,160 km, 33 hrs): Rs 11,000, By air (return fare, 2 hrs 45 mts): Rs 27,000
• Bengaluru – Park By road (cab, 220 km, 6 hrs): Rs 6,000
Total cost: Rs 17,000
Itinerary–
• Day 1: Fly from Delhi to Bengaluru and then take a cab to Kabini. Take the evening safari.
• Day 2: Go for bus/jeep/boat safari in the morning and evening.
• Day 3 Take another safari in the morning if you want. Visit other sites or relax.
• Day 4: Fly back to Delhi.
Stay: Total cost Rs 21,000
Food: Total cost Rs 5,000
Sightseeing: Total cost Rs 6,000-9,000 (3 safaris)
Things to do–
• Safaris are organised by the state’s Forest Department, with two safaris conducted on weekdays (6.30-9 am & 3.30-6 pm) and four on the weekends (6-7.30 am, 7.30-9 am, 3-4.30 pm, 4.30-6 pm).
• Entry fee to Nagarhole National Park: Rs 600 + Rs 250-1,500 (camera)
• Bus/van safari: Rs 1,200
• Safari in Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR) vehicles (jeep/boat): Rs 2,000-3,500
Religious:
4.GUJARAT:
Among the most Covid-safe states, Gujarat is also a well-regarded religious destination, with hundreds of Hindu and Jain temples.
You can visit temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna, which are sprinkled all over the state.
Total cost: Rs 48,820 per couple, 4N/5D
Best time to visit: November -February
New covid cases: 22
How to get there–
• Delhi – Ahmedabad: By air (one way, 1 hr 30 mts): Rs 9,663, By train (3AC, 935 km, 14 hrs): Rs 3,500
• Ahmedabad – Jamnagar: By train (2AC, 2 hrs): Rs 1,690, By cab (300 km, 6 hrs 30 mts): Rs 3,300
• Jamnagar – Dwarka: By train (2 AC, 2 hrs 15 mts): Rs 2,880, By cab (140 km, 2 hrs 45 mts): Rs 2,800
• Dwarka – Somnath: By train (2 AC, 8 hrs 45 mts): Rs 1,970, By cab (230 km, 4 hrs): Rs 4,000
• Somnath – Delhi (via Ahmedabad): By train (Over 24 hrs): Rs 5,330
Total cost: Rs 17,320
Itinerary–
• Day 1: Arrive in Ahmedabad. Visit the temples.
• Day 2: Move to Jamnagar.
• Day 3: Shift from Jamnagar to Dwarka.
• Day 4: Move to Somnath.
• Day 5: Travel back to Delhi.
Stay (3 star): Total cost Rs 14,000
Food: Total cost Rs 8,000
Sightseeing: Total cost Rs 500
Things to do–
• Ahmedabad: Akshardham temple, Swaminarayan temple, Hutheesingh, Modhera Sun, Shri Hanumanji, Devendrashwar Mahadev and Vaishno Devi temple.
• Jamnagar: Bala Hanuman temple, Siddhanath temple, Nagnath, Bhidbhanjan Mahadev, Khijda, Parsi Agiyari, Jama Masjid, Jain Derasar, Moksh Dham, and Swaminarayan Mandir.
• Dwarka: Dwarkadheesh temple, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga temple, Bhadkeshwar Mahadev temple, Beyt Dwarika, Nageshwar Shiva temple, Rukshamanee mandir, Sudama Setu, Swaminarayan temple.
• Somnath: Somnath & Somnath Mahadev temples, Bhalka Tirth, Triveni Sangam, Panch Pandav Gufa, Lakshminarayan temple.
Commute: Total cost Rs 9,000
Hills:
5.Uttarakhand:
Due to its proximity to Delhi, Uttarakhand is one of the cheapest options on our list, but the cost may rise for people travelling from other parts of the country.
Total Cost: Rs 31,300 per couple, 4N/5D
Best time to visit: October – February
New covid cases: 20
How to get there–
• Delhi – Kathgodam – Kausani: By train (CC, 5 hrs 25 mts) + cab (5 hrs): Rs 1,450 + Rs 3,500 = Rs 4,950, By road (cab, 432 km, 10 hrs): Rs 5,500
• Kausani – Chaukori: By road (cab, 87 km, 2hrs 45 mts): Rs 1,200
• Chaukori – Munsiyari: By road (cab, 98 km, 3 hrs 30 mts): Rs 1,400
• Munsiyari– Abbott Mount: By road (cab, 184 km, 6 hrs): Rs 2,300
• Abbott Mount – Kathgodam – Delhi By road (cab, 153 km, 5 hrs) + train (CC, 5 hrs 40 mts): Rs 2,000 + Rs 1,450 = Rs 3,450
Total cost: Rs 13,300
Itinerary–
• Day 1: Arrive in Kausani and indulge in trekking or visit nearby sites.
• Day 2: Drive to Chaukori, stay the night.
• Day 3: Move to Munsiyari. Visit tourist spots and stay the night.
• Day 4: Drive to Abbott Mount.
• Day 5: Back to Delhi.
Stay (2 star): Total cost Rs 7,000
Food: Total cost Rs 6,000
Commute: Total cost Rs 5,000
• Sightseeing: Total cost Nil
Things to do–
• Kausani: Visit the Baijnath temple, Rudradhari falls, Kausani tea estate, Sumitranandan Pant gallery, Stargate observatory and Anasakti Ashram. Go for trekking, biking, rock climbing and rappelling.
• Chaukori: Visit the Nag Devta temple, Haat Kalika temple, Musk Deer park, Berinag and Patal Bhuvaneshwar.
• Munsiyari: Explore Maheshwari kund, Nanda Devi temple, Tribal Heritage Museum, Birthi falls, Khaliya top, Thamari kund, Betulidhar and Panchachuli peaks. Indulge in trekking, skiing, rafting and bird watching.
• Abbott mount: Pick from among Pancheshwar Mahadev temple, Abbott Mount church, Lohaghat, Vanasur ka kila, Mayawati ashram and Chineshwar waterfall.
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