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Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025
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Long Weekend
Weekend Planner 2025
January
1 Long Weekend
Makar Sankranti/Pongal
- Sat11 Jan
- Sun12 Jan
- Mon13 Jan
- Tue14 Jan
4-day trip to Rann Utsav
- Visit Dholavira, one of the largest excavation sites of Indus Valley Civilisation.
- Shop directly from artisans who gather in Dhordo and Dholavira during the Rann Utsav.
- Drive on the scenic 30-km long Road to Heaven that connects Khavda to Dholavira.
Tip:Apply online for Entry Permit for White Rann. Stay in White Rann Tent City.March
2 Long Weekends
Holika Dahan/ Holi
- Thu13 Mar
- Fri14 Mar
- Sat15 Mar
- Sun16 Mar
4-day trip to Sri Lanka
- Take the iconic 7-8 hour train from Kandy to Badulla passing through scenic tea country.
- Climb the 5th century 1,144 ft high rock fortress Sigiriya, a UNESCO World.
- Spend a day in Kandy, must visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Tip: Eat crab in cricketer Kumar Sangakara's Ministry of Crab in Colombo's Dutch Hospital Complex.
Eid-UI-Fitr
- Sat29 Mar
- Sun30 Mar
- Mon31 Mar
3-day trip to Lucknow
- Visit Rumi Darwaza, Bara Imambara, Chota Imambara, Lucknow Residency, Husainabad Clock Tower & Jama Masjid.
- Shop in Aminabad, Hazratganj, Chowk Lucknow, Nakhas Market. Best chikankari in Hazratganj's Janpath Market.
- Must eat Tunday & Galouti Kebab, Raj Kachori, Kulcha Nihari, Biryani, Makhan Malai, Shahi Tukda.
Tip:Must have Malai Paan (Malai Gilori) in Ram Asrey that was founded in 1805.April
2 Long Weekends
Mahavir Jayanti
- Thu10 Apr
- Fri11 Apr
- Sat12 Apr
- Sun13 Apr
4-day trip to Amritsar
- Attend the Beating Retreat ceremony at Wagah border; go to Jallianwala Bagh & the Partition Museum.
- Sign up for a Food Walking Tour (prices start at Rs 2,200 per person).
- Have Sunday langar at the Golden Temple. Shop at Hall Bazaar, Katra Jaimal Singh Bazaar.
Tip: Old shopping streets are narrow, take a rickshaw. Bargain as much as you can.
Good Friday
- Fri18 Apr
- Sat19 Apr
- Sun20 Apr
3-day trip to Coorg
- River crossing & rappelling near Keemalekad; kayaking & canoeing in Kabbe river.
- Trek to Thadiyandamol, Coorg's tallest peak (easily accessible from Kakkabe)
- Must eat Pandi (pork) curry, Bamboo shoot fry, Kodava chicken curry, and Nool Puttu.
Tip:Do the Ama Plantation Trails & stay at Cottabetta Bungalow, a IHCL heritage property.May
1 Long Weekend
Budh Purnima
- Sat10 May
- Sun11 May
- Mon12 May
3-day trip to Gangtok
- River rafting on Teesta, go paragliding, do Goeche La trek, cycle through Silk Route.
- Must see/do: A cable car ride. Nathula Pass, Phodong monastery, Tsomgo Lake, Ganesh Tok.
- Must eat Momos, Thukpa, Phagshapa, Gundruk, Kinema, Churrpi Soup.
Tip:Do the unusual guided Yak safari at Tsomgo Lake (40 kms from Gangtok).August
1 Long Weekend
Janmashtmi/ Independence Day
- Fri15 Aug
- Sat16 Aug
- Sun17 Aug
3-day trip to Ooty
- Visit Ooty Lake, Pine Forest, Avalanche Lake, Doddabetta, Government Botanical Garden, St Stephen's Church.
- Take the Blue Toy Train that winds at 46-kms through Ooty's enchanting landscape.
- Eat Avial, Kaima idli, Kozhi Varutharachathu, Chicken Chettinad, Neer Dosa, Varkey Biscuits. Nilgiri Tea.
Tip:Trivia: Ooty's real name is Udhagamandalam stemmingfrom the Toda word 'othakal-mund (house in mountains)September
1 Long Weekend
Onam
- Fri5 Sep
- Sat6 Sep
- Sun7 Sep
3-day trip to Ladakh
- Go to Pangong Tso (Lake), one of the prettiest saline lakes in the world.
- Visit Zanskar Valley, perched 12,000ft above sea level. Be careful if you’ve respiratory issues.
- Go stargazing at Cosmohub (30 kms from Leh), an astro-tourism initiative by local women.
Tip:Pre-paid phones do not work in J&K and wi-fi is mostly unreliable.October
3 Long Weekends
Maha Navami
- Wed1 Oct
- Thu2 Oct
- Fri3 Oct
- Sat4 Oct
- Sun5 Oct
5-day trip to Baku
- Must-see the Old City, Museum of Miniature Books, Bibi Heybat Mosque, Flame Towers, Bilgah Beach.
- Plov (pulao), the country's national dish comes in 30 variations. Tea is served with jam.
- Street shop in Russian Flea Market, Quba Bazaar, Yashii Bazaar, Nizami Street. Buy Sheki halva.
Tip:Sitting 28 metres (92 ft) below sea level, Baku is the world’s lowest capital city.
Diwali
- Sat18 Oct
- Sun19 Oct
- Mon20 Oct
3-day trip to Dharamshala
- Visit Tsuglagkhang that houses the residence of the Dalai Lama and Tsuglagkhang Temple.
- Have salty yak butter tea in one of the restaurants in Bhagsu Road (McLeodganj).
- Set half-day aside for paragliding in Bir Billing (72 kms from Mcleodganj). Book in advance.
Tip:Due to snowfall, temperature in December-February can range from 0 to 10 degree Celsius.
Bhai dooj
- Thu23 Oct
- Fri24 Oct
- Sat25 Oct
- Sun26 Oct
4 days trip to Bhutan
- Trek up to the Tiger's Nest (Paro Taktsang) perched 3,120 metres above sea level.
- Eat Bhutanese national dish Ema Datshi, buy yak cheese, quaff Ara, the national drink.
- Go to Punakha Dzong, the country's second oldest and second-largest dzong (112 kms from Paro).
Tip:Indians have to pay Sustainable Development Fund of Rs 1,200 per night (per adult).December
1 Long Weekend
Christmas
- Thu25 Dec
- Fri26 Dec
- Sat27 Dec
- Sun28 Dec
4-day trip to Rovaneimi
- Rovaniemi is the 'official' hometown of Santa Claus, meet him in his den.
- The Arctic Circle is the perfect place to see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).
- Snooze in Snow Hotel & Glass Igloos, the bed is made of ice and snow.
Tip:The temperature can dip to -20 degree Celsius, rent snow jackets and boots.Author : Preeti Verma Lal
News Weekend Planner
