Ask some of your friends where they would rather like to live and chances are a majority will sigh and dream about having a home in the hills, or living like a farmer in the countryside. A reality check, however, gives most of us only the second best option – to pack our bags for a holiday that we want to be “different”. Whether one has the luxury of time and chooses to travel long distances, or is looking for a quick break, a holiday is medicine for the mind – a preventive measure against that dreaded disease: brain rust! So check out these resorts across India, yet untouched by a commercial overdrive, that offer not only a peaceful getaway for the entire family but also add an extra zing to your holiday with activities we have discovered especially for you.

NORTH

1. Vishranti Resort & Spa, Dehradun

Theme-based Room @Vishranti

From this luxurious seven-suite resort nestled in twenty three acres of protected Sal forests, one can relish serene views of sprawling farms and surrounding hills. A quiet place that offers some interesting activities that a family with kids can enjoy – forest hiking, mountain biking, a guided tour in the aviary with exotic birds. Take a day out learning to bake eggless cakes, puddings and pastries at workshops organised by CAKES & BAKES (Address Raipur Road, Opposite Deal Office, Dehradun, Phone @ 9634274722).

Accessibility – Vishranti is 30 minutes drive from Jolly Grant airport and Dehradun Railway Station. It can be reached by road from Delhi (270 Km) as well.

Package – The cost of package for  a couple for two nights & three days ranges from Rs.14,999/- to Rs.17, 999/- (Including Breakfast & Dinner.)

Address-

Vishranti; A Doon Valley Resort & Spa

Madhyant Farm

Lower Kandoli Village

Dehradun

Tel:01353294211/9675814866

2. The Camp 5 Elements, Rishikesh

Camp 5 Elements

At the luxury tents of Camp 5 Elements, spread over 800 meters of sandy beaches, avail the opportunity to awaken the adventurer in you with hikes to nearby ancient caves and sulphur waterfalls. No trip to Rishikesh can be complete without an experience in rafting, for which proper classes are given by Surender Rana (phone@ 09760090816). For those who don’t want to risk getting wet in the rapids, try your hand at beach volleyball and rugby that the camp organises.

Accessibility: The Camp 5 Elements is 37 Kms upstream from Rishikesh. Most trains terminate at Haridwar from where Rishikesh is easily accessible by tourist taxis.

Package: The cost of package for 2 nights & 3 days per person on twin sharing basis is Rs 5600/-. (including all meals.)

Address:

The Camp 5 Elements, (Rishikesh)
Sinthali, Kaudiyala, Rishikesh
District Pauri-249192, Uttarakhand, India
Phone: (+91)-9411511218

EAST

1. Toshali Sands, Puri

Spread over an area of thirty acres of lush green lawns, Toshali Sands is best known for its ayurvedic massage therapies. The resort’s carefully planned health programme is directed towards strengthening the immune system in order to achieve ideal health and prevent seasonal diseases. And post the spa therapy, head for some sightseeing to Puri’s Jagannath Temple and Konark Sun Temple. For children, a visit to Chilika Lake, one of the largest brackish water lakes in India, is a must.

Accessibility: Connected by train with all major cities. The nearest airport is Biju Patnail Airport located 60 kms from Puri.

Package: The cost of package for a couple for one night/ two days ranges from Rs. 5,840/- to Rs. 8,340/- (inclusive of two meals)

Address:

Toshali Sands, Puri
Konark Marine Drive, Puri-752002, (India),

Ph: 91-6752-250571/72/73/74

2. The Elgin, Darjeeling

As you enter The Elgin – snug and cosy in an interior decked with etchings of G. Douglas, lithographs of Daniell, period Burma teak furniture and strains of music from the grand piano – you realize the meaning of ‘old world charm’. Take a guided walking tour through the town and out into the country side, through the tea plantations and local farming communities, the river valleys and their forests below, into the refugee centre, the monasteries and to points with great views of the peaks. (contact Kali Travels @ 033-25587980) .

Accessibility: The major access to Darjeeling is via Siliguri which is connected to all the major cities. The closest Railway Station is New Jalpaiguri (NJP) and the nearest airport is Bagdogra, about 94-96 kms away from Darjeeling

Package: The cost of package for a couple for one night/two days is Rs. 6,300/- (including all meals)

Address:
The Elgin, Darjeeling

18, H.D. Lama Road,Darjeeling

West Bengal,734101,
Telephone : +91-354-2254082/2257226/27

SOUTH

1. Pooppallys Heritage Homestay, Alleppey

The resort offers visitors many leisurely options like snake boat rides, houseboat trips and fishing, its most unique feature being a guided tour of the resort’s eco-herbal garden by Dr. Joseph Pooppally himself. Kids can also take a day’s course in bird watching as the resort is home to around thirty varieties of birds during season. Designers who can tailor traditional costumes just for you are also available.

Accessibility: Trains go up to Alleppey railway station on the Cochin – Trivandrum route, or at Changanacherry Railway station which is 17 kms away.

Package: The cost of package for a couple for three nights and four days ranges from Rs 12,000/- to Rs. 14,000/- (including breakfast)

Address:

POOPPALLYS HERITAGE HOMESTAY
Ponga P.O., Pooppally Jn., Nedumudy,
Alleppey, Kerala, India
Phone: 0477 2762034/ 0477 3290800

2. Woodway Estates & Homestay, Chikmagalur

An ancestral plantation home, Woodway Estates is a thirty-minute drive from the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, a Project Tiger reserve and home to a wide variety of flora and fauna including the elusive big cat, ‘The Tiger’. An ideal resort for the family which can indulge in several activities like a coffee plantation tour, visiting Karnataka’s highest range of hills called Mullayanagiri and the famous Sringeri matth. Want to venture out of your resort? Take your kids fishing for a day at the nearby Bheemeshwari Fishing Camp!

(http://www.thekarnatakatourism.com)

Accessibility: Frequent buses ply to and from Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore and Hassan. The nearest railway station is Hassan and the nearest airport is Bangalore.

Package: The cost of package per person for one night/two days on twin sharing basis is Rs. 2,500/- (including all meals)

Address:

Woodway Estates & Homestay.

Jakkanahalli post

Chikamagalur – 577 130

Tel: 94482 45201/96630 71775

WEST

1. The Byke Resort, Matheran

If you are the boisterous kind, this is the resort for you, which has a lovely discotheque and live DJ nights to give you company. If you do manage to look beyond the dance floor, there’s Mount Berry, Luisa Point, Echo Point, One Tree Hill, and more. Kids can have their own special moment with a ride up to the top of the hill in the world’s smallest gauge commercial train. For aqua-enthusiasts, the resort offers a full-fledged swimming pool with a giant waterfall. Happen to be in Matheran on Sunday? Pack your kids off to the drawing class at Neral (contact Rajeev @ 09833565787)

Accessibility: The most convenient and quickest way of reaching Matheran is by road. A 24-hour taxi service operates between Neral and Matheran.

Package: The cost of package for a couple for two nights and three days ranges from Rs. 4,900/- to Rs. 7,100/- (including all meals)

Address:

The Byke Resort,
M.G.Road, Matheran,
District Raigad, 410 102,
Maharashtra.

Contact: +91 22 4015 0010 /+91 22 4015 0100

2. The Light House, Goa

The Light House is a villa style luxury cottage overlooking the stunning and azure Indian Ocean and ideally situated on the Sinquerim beach, barely five minutes walk from the sea line. The private plunge pool and a beautiful landscaped garden that surround the cottage make it just apt for a family that wants privacy. Major tourist attractions are the ever-popular sandy beaches, the historical Fort Aguada and Dolphin point, which is about 15 minutes away from the cottage. While in Goa, a must-do is a yoga therapy with Dr Siddharth Sawaikar (phone@ 09822164139)

Accessebility: The resort is 45 km from Dabolim Airport, 48 km from Madgaon Railway Station and 15 km from Thivim Railway Station

Package: The package for a couple for 3 nights and 4 days is Rs 67, 000/- (including all meals.)

Address:

Villa No: B-27,

AGUADA ANCHORAGE,

Sinquerim, Candolim

Phone: +919730922391