“We travel not to escape life, but for life NOT to escape us.”-Anonymous.
Republic Day in India calls for a celebration of secular, sovereignty and most flourishing and the largest democracy in the world on 26 January. This day marks the adoption of the Indian Constitution on January 26, 1950. Therefore, this makes it one of the most vital national and patriotic occasions and is close to the hearts of all Indians. All across the country, the Republic Day is celebrated in its own way. There is flag hoisting in colleges, schools, and offices, and almost everyone watches the live telecast of Republic Day Parade on Doordarshan.
This year the Indian Republic Day comes with a long weekend, which will compel the travellers to ditch the television, pack their bags, and travel to various destinations across the country to celebrate Republic Day 2017.
Here are a few destinations to aid you to plan your trip accordingly.
Goa-Karwar-Gokarna:
You can start-off your journey with Gokarna (Uttar Kannada). Gokarna is a small pilgrimage town situated on the coast of Karnataka. The town witnesses pilgrims visit throughout the year and tourists including Indians, Russians and Europeans coming from December to February for the picturesque beaches that include the famous Om Beach, Gokarna Beach, Kudle Beach, Half-moon Beach and Paradise Beach among many other.
From Gokarna, you can move to Karwar (Uttar Kannada). The road distance from Gokarna to Karwar is approximately 59 km. There also you will find numerous beaches on the shore of the Arabian Sea. You can also try water-sport activities on a few beaches. Apart from beaches, you can also see islands-mangrove on River Kali, the warship museum that houses war memorabilia, the Aquarium (consisting of piranha and whales) and Sadashigarh Fort.
Moreover, this is not the closing stage of the spree. The coup de grace is yet, to begin with moving towards Goa and undergoes the pristine and sterile beaches, incredible Goan culture and the staple diet in Goa, i.e., Rice with fish curry and of course the eminent drink of Goa, Feni. Goan cuisine is usually famed for its rich variety of fish dishes braised with intricate recipes. Here you can go around and explore the most famous beaches like Dona Paula, Anjuna and Vagator, Calangute, Candolim, Sinquierem and the list is endless.
Chennai-Mahabalipuram-Pondicherry:
The second choice to make use of Republic Day holiday is a tri-destination trip to Chennai-Mahabalipuram-Pondicherry. Start-off your trip from the capital city of Tamil Nadu, Chennai that has a unique charm and numerous places to explore. There are places like Marina Beach, Elliot’s Beach, Sri Parthasarathy Temple, Fort St. George, Thousand Lights Mosque, Vandalur Zoo etc. You can plan a heritage tour to Chennai for the 4-day long weekend on Republic Day. Because of the blossoming automobile industry, Chennai is known as Detroit of India.
After covering Chennai, you can move ahead to Mahabalipuram, which is one of the best weekend getaways from Chennai. In the ancient India, Mahabalipuram was a vital seaport. The exotic destinations in Mahabalipuram include Pancha Rathas, Mahabalipuram Beach, The Shore Temple, Crocodile Park, India Seashell Museum, Mamallapuram Lighthouse etc. You will spot different varieties of crocodiles and other reptiles in Crocodile Park.
After exploring the bizarre Mahabalipuram, you must move to Pondicherry to have French feel and enjoy boozing at a lower cost since no taxes are levied on the liquor. Pondicherry was popularly known as ‘Pondy’ is a blend of native and colonial cultures, creating a symphony that will compel you to fall in love with the serene coastal line. You can go to places like Paradise Beach, Bascillia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Promenade Beach, French Colony etc.
Chittorgarh-Udaipur-Mount Abu:
In West India, you can plan a road trip to Chittorgarh-Udaipur-Mount Abu for Republic Day 2017 long weekend. You can start off the journey from Chittorgarh and explore the wreckage of the foregone, as Chittorgarh is the depository of an ancient building, an evergreen folklore boasting of its royal glory and rich heritage. The antiquated walls of the town narrate the glorious battles fought. The places to visit in Chittorgarh include Chittorgarh Fort, Rana Kumbha Palace, Padmini Palace, Fateh Prakash Palace, Meera Temple, Gaumukh Reservoir, Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary etc.
Once you have done with exploring the picturesque forts, you can visit the city of Udaipur, which is also known as the ‘Venice of the East’. Udaipur is a city of soothing and serene lakes, opulently decorated palaces and intricately laid out gardens. It is also referred to as ‘The City of Lakes’. The main attractions of Udaipur include The City Palace, Lake Pichola, Jagdish Temple, Bagore ki Haweli, Saheliyon-ki-Bari, Fateh Sagar Lake and Nehru Garden.
With a day to spare, you can take-off from Udaipur and drive down to Mount Abu. The drive to Mount Abu will be great as the roads are top-notch and through small mountains. To the delight of the kids, there are a few tunnels en route. The enthralling places to visit in Mount Abu include Dilwara Temple, Nakki Lake, Peace Park, Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, Guru Shikhar Peak, Sunset Point, Abu Road, Toad Rock, Trevor’s Tank etc.
This article intended to give right and needful information to plan a fascinating road trip for the Republic Day long weekend. Hope this write-up will help you strategise in preparing an alluring itinerary.
Happy Travelling!
travelpoppers 