There’s no dearth of options when it comes to planning a long weekend escape from Pune, one of the most flourishing commercial hubs near Mumbai, India: all thanks to its ideal location and the excellent roads which lead to numerous stunning destinations. Whether it’s about sunbathing on the beautiful beaches of Gokarna and Tarkali or getting introduced with the spiritual side of Ganpatipule – there is a pool of experiences to take your pick from when and if you need a quick refreshing tour during your work trip to the city.

Gokarna

Gokarna by Jo Kent/ CC BY

For beach lovers scramming around for flight tickets to Pune, this small, beautiful Karnataka town is a great incentive. The destination is home to India’s most beautiful beaches which make Gokarna a popular hit among global beach combers. Paradise Beach, the southern-most beach of the town is a small, protected bay, brimming with abundant natural beauty. Om Beach is a popular attraction in the town and is an all time favourite with party-lovers. On the either sides of Om Beach lies Kudle Beach and Half-Moon Beach which are quite popular with the vacationers for an array of water activities that include banana boat rides, hiking, and parasailing.

Tarkali

Nestling on the Konkan coast, Tarkali attracts hordes of vacationers from Pune as well as Mumbai during the long weekends. Star attraction of the town is Tarkali beach, which, with its white sands and azure waters, makes for a perfect place to relax and rejuvenate. This long, narrow beach is a prominent stop for adventure seekers who wish to partake in some exciting water activities and experience a fun-filled holiday. The town is also known for its locally-available, fresh seafood which can be best enjoyed through the region’s spicy Malvani cuisine. The 17th century, Sindhudurg Fort is another celebrated attraction of Tarkali which can be easily reached by ferry.

Ganpatipule

Ganpatipule by abhi9736/ CC BY

Studded with mangroves and coconut palms, Ganpatipule is a small town in Ratnagiri. The district prides itself with an assortment of spectacular beaches that lie along the Konkan coast. These beaches are no doubt an ideal getaway for beach lovers seeking their own piece of heaven. Ganpatipule is equally popular with spirituality seekers as the town features a very famous Ganesha temple. Further, nature lovers, with a desire to explore the Indian charm, may head towards the famous lighthouse that promises excellent panoramic views.

The much awaited Indian festival, Surajkund Mela 2015 is just around the corner. If you are planning to participate, then quickly look up for tickets with different flights serving the country.

To be held from 1st – 15th February, 2015, this delightful handicraft and handloom fair is held annually at Surajkund, located on the outskirts of Delhi. Enjoying global popularity, Surajkund Mela is a great celebration of folk theatre and an undying spirit that reflects India’s rich culture. Enthusiastic shopkeepers haggling with bargain hunters, fun-filled activities, numerous cultural events and mouth-watering local cuisines are some of the images that best illustrate the true magnificence of this carnival.

Marvellous Spectacle

The Surajkund Mela showcases some of the nation’s most exceptional and exquisite talent spanning various genres. Just a handful of the treasures here include beautiful accessories, stylish furniture, fine handlooms and handicrafts, ayurvedic herbs and fragrances, local spices and condiments, and magnificent statues and paintings.

No wonder, the festival offers a perfect glimpse into India’s rich heritage and culture. The fair is definitely much more than a celebration of crafts. For instance, at ‘Natyashala’, the fan shaped open-air-theatre, visitors can enjoy rich folk dances and spellbinding musical evenings held throughout the fortnight.

The Pottery Stall is also a big hit among visitors as they can personally make their own earthen pots and take home the same as souvenirs. All you need to do here is relax, enjoy and experience the ‘Little Incredible India’.

Gastronomical Experience

Vacationers who happen to choose this time for booking tickets aboard flights arriving in India have another reason to visit the fare. Yes, the food is irresistible and nothing short of a culinary adventure. Celebrated food traditions arrive from all parts of India, which tantalise the taste buds and leave one spoilt for choice. Chinese and fast food also make it to the list. Make sure that you don’t miss the special stall where guests are introduced to the traditional cuisines and offerings of the theme state. Goa is the theme state for ‘29th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2015’.

There are already scores of reasons to buy tickets for winter holidays in India – from the snow-white scenery of the Himalayas to unrivalled festivity in Goa; but if you want to experience something truly strange, yet thoroughly delightful during this season, plan attending the famous Rann Utsav (festival) in Gujarat – for basking in amazing cultural extravaganza and for participating in various exhilarating activities.

Underway from the 1st week of December, Rann Festival will go on till 1st week of March and is scheduled to showcase the wonderful arts and crafts of the western Indian province, along with the state’s fascinating natural beauty.Rann Utsav by Kaushik Patel/ CC BY

What to Expect?

People who spend on flights and holiday deals for partaking in this spectacular annual event will be able to enjoy a wide range of activities and experiences at the white sands of the Rann. They can witness traditional dance performances and displays of exquisite arts and crafts from Gujarat and various other parts of India. Besides, there are several adventure activities, ranging from helicopter joy rides to paragliding and rifle shooting to sumo wrestling, that visitors can enjoy in the Rann Utsav, 2015. A separate ‘Kids Entertainment Zone’ packs in an array of enchantments for little explorers. World-class spa facilities and opportunities to savour delicious Gujarati cuisines are other things that make the experience worth your money spent on travel tickets and other expenses to attend this one of India’s most unique cultural festivals.

Where to Stay?

From luxurious tents to economical bhungas (the rustic mud houses) and a range of hotels and resorts, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to lodging facilities at and around the fairground. However, the luxury tents set up in the semi-arid landscape are the preferred choices for international travellers who wish enjoy modern facilities, along with traditional Gujarati hospitality during their stay. Many resorts in this part of Gujarat have multi-cuisines restaurants, swimming pool and even conference rooms. Book your accommodation online along with flights tickets for the destination to avoid last-minute hassles.

How to Reach?

The nearest airport is in Bhuj (about 260kms) that is well-connected with all major airports in India. From Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, you can book tickets for Bhuj with any of the local carriers including Air India, Spice Jet and Go Air. From Bhuj, catch a bus or hire a taxi to get to the Rann!

To explore the serene magnificence of India, the nation’s spiritual sites are perhaps the bets for numerous travellers disembarking flights here. Topping the charts are Buddhist monasteries which are best known for their tranquil aura. Most of these monasteries are located at popular hill stations of India; visit these monasteries to immerse into the spiritual richness amidst captivating, picturesque beauty. Below are the two most popular choices!

Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh

Situated approximately 20 kilometres south east of Leh, Thiksey Monastery is the largest monastery in central Ladakh and a popular attraction among global tourists. Spreading over an entire hill side, this popular monastery is renowned for its amazing architecture, which displays a spectacular scene of the region’s rich past. Thiksey Monastery is build over 12 floors in hierarchal order and features 10 small temples, an assembly hall, and a giant residence where over 120 monks and nunnery pass their day preaching the teachings of Buddha. The star attraction of this monastery remains a 15-metre statue of the Maitreya Buddha at the Maitreya Temple which enjoys immense popularity among the Buddhist visitors. The monastery even boasts a wide assortment of artefacts including valuable statues, wall paintings, thangkas, stupas and swords.

Pemayangtse Monastery, Sikkim

One of the oldest monasteries in India, Pemayangtse, meaning ‘perfectly sublime lotus’, is a significant religious site of Sikkim and a potent reason why flights’ tickets to the Indian province sell like hot cakes. The entrance of the monastery is fenced in brilliant yellow which contrasts with its dark red walls. Inside the building, visitors can find beautiful paintings in shades of green, blue and yellow which explain the history and culture of the region in a better way. Carvings from as early as the 17th century decorate the walls, portraying the true story of this serene monastery. The monastery features several sacred items and relics which have been collectively relocated from the Karmapa’s seat in Tibet.

The Golden City of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan is a star holiday destination of India and entices millions to grab air tickets for the nation. The city is further vying for attention with yet another irresistible offering of a vibrant and exciting feast, ‘Jaisalmer Desert Festival’ (1st – 3rd February, 2015). This three day long gala event is sure to take merrymakers into the colourful world of Rajasthani festivities. With sparkling decorations, grooving live performances by tribal and spicy food amidst the golden sands and perfect weather, the festival ought to be your perfect jaunt during winters in India!

Cultural Activities

During the three days of celebrations, a plethora of fascinating competitions and unique performances are to be held, which promise typical Mela (carnival) style fun and frolic. Holidaymakers may catch a glimpse of artistic performances like snake charming and acrobatic shows by popular gymnasts belonging to the nomadic tribes of Rajasthan. Jugglery, puppet shows, turban tying and longest-moustache competitions, and camel races are some popular features that depict a distinct yet entertaining facet of ‘nautanki’ world. Indeed, there is no doubt that Jaisalmer Desert Festival is one of the most popular cultural festivals of India.

Camel Performances

Camels play an integral part of this extravagant festival as an entire day is dedicated to camel related activities. The Dedansar Stadium of Jaisalmer is flooded with hundreds of camels where competitions like camel decorating, camel fur cutting, and camel polo are organised to keep the visitors amused for several hours. After a short interval, the action turns to Shahid Poonam Singh Stadium where the Border Security Force Camel Tattoo, world’s only camel mounted band, gives a spellbinding gymnastic performance over on camel backs!

Shopping Scene

Shopping is yet another alluring aspect of the Jaisalmer Desert Festival which makes flights tickets to India sell like hot cakes. The intricate patterns and designs, vivacious colours, and the extensive assortment of objects for home décor undoubtedly set shopaholics on a mad quest to buy everything! And the list just not ends here. Visitors may further shop for the daintiest pieces of apparel which are on sale and are available on discounts. Luckily, currency exchange is not a problem for tourists as there are dozens of mobile currency exchangers available. Also, several stalls accept credit cards thus making shopping a memorable experience here at Jaisalmer.

India is a wonderful place. The country’s cultural and historical lineage is overwhelming and has ound many suitors all across the globe. India’s spiritual aura is remarkable and appeals to people from all corners of the globe. Further, the country’s famous wildlife offers yet another reason for people to get hold of tickets on flights to India. With such a wide entourage of beguilers in its kitty, it is not surprising India is such a popular holiday destination. But there is another aspect of India that seems to have grabbing the attention of air travellers. India is almost a perfect transit hub. The geographical location of the country, right in between the Far East and Western Asia, has allowed it to mushroom as a choice stopover destination. With better infrastructure and more and more airlines offering flights to the country, the deal is getting even better for travellers.

Especially among European flyers travelling to Fareast and Indian Ocean destinations like Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Singapore, India remains the most popular transit point. Even those who are headed to Australia will find Indian cities viable stopover choices. Considering the availability of number of flights to India from top European airports like London Heathrow, the proposition of availing cheap tickets on the route isn’t discounted either.

Few Important Tips for transiting Flyers

Make sure you address the issue of transit visa before planning your travel via India.

India is a large country with several major airports. If you wish to create your own flight itinerary, make sure you opt for the route that’s most convenient to you.

From London, a host of airlines offer flight services to India. Delhi and Mumbai airports are perhaps most preferred as transit hubs in India.

India is a colourful country and it would be a wasted opportunity if none of it is explored on your trip to the nation, even though it is a fleeting one. Plan your travel in such a way that you have at least a few hours, if you have the time, in India.