Diwali is just round the corner. Long weekend, autumn nip in the air, delicious food spreads, card parties& cosy get togethers. And then come the party spoilers – traffic choked roads, smoke enveloping the city & incessant noise of fire crackers way past the stipulated time. We bring you interesting peaceful Diwali getaways that let you celebrate the festival & enjoy the extended weekend!
Jungle Safari at Ranthambore, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan: A lot has changed from the last Diwali to now. Almost all of us have braved the Omicron virus& emerged victorious. We are still nursing our lungs & body back to health though. Diwali smoke, as we all know, does not help matters. While one of the best ways to celebrate the true spirit of Diwali is to stay away from fire crackers, you could also choose to stay away from your city this Diwali. Welcome to Ranthambore Tiger Reserve! In what is seen as the closest weekend getaway from Delhi NCR, Ramthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan attracts tourists from the world over. Get away from the city & book yourself in the numerous resorts available in the range of a few kilometres of the reserve. As they say, ‘the more the merrier’, pack in your whole gang and head to Ranthambore. Let Diwali be a private affair this year, spending time with close family & friends. More importantly spending time in nature & connecting with yourself. October is one of the best months to visit Ranthambore, with exciting sightings of the famed Tigers. Do look out for Zone 3 in the reserve – most famous for the maximum number of sightings – you are often bound to get lucky &spot a tiger right in front of your jeep. Sightings of mother Tigers with her cubs or Tigers drinking water in the beautiful lakes in this region are reasonably common. Your resort may make your Diwali special by organising Rajasthani folk dances& extending lavish Rajasthani food to make your Diwali truly special.
Tippy Stays at Wigwam, North Goa: Nothing spells peace like staying at Wigwam does! Nestled in the pristine jungle environment of Mandrem in North Goa, Wigwam is the perfect extended weekend destination close to Mumbai & Bengaluru. While you get to enjoy the cool Goa temperatures, you also get to be away from the noise & pollution of Diwali in metros, yet in the middle of festivities. An overnight journey from Bengaluru & Mumbai lands you right at the perfect peaceful Diwali destination. Plan thisextended weekend trip to Goa and organise a stay with your family at Wigwam. They offer apartments & interesting tippy stays. The inhouse café & bar serves the most innovative cocktails & an impressive spread of salads and smoothies & the best hand tossed pizzas in Goa. Make use of the Diwali weekend to nourish your soul – indulge in forest bathing, morning yoga classes or simply sit in the middle of greenery and enjoy a good read. Goa offers something for everyone – go the less touristy beaches of Ashwem/Morjim, head to Arambol to buy Tibetan artefacts, dig into world cuisine at the cafes in Morjim – and come back to your nature retreat right in the heart of Goa at Wigwam.Rejuvenate yourself this Diwali and return to your nests, ready to face the world again!
Brentwood Resort, Mussoorie:The sleepy hamlet which Mussoorie is reminds one of all things quaint – Ruskin Bond, misty hills, the famous Dehradun lights, clouds end, quaint book stores, small wooden cafes serving the best Thukpa in the country and what not! There is no way Mussoorie could miss a mention when talking about peaceful Diwali getaways near Delhi NCR & UP. Stuff your tuck bags with all the goodies possible (it’s Diwali, all guilty pleasures allowed!) and drive straight to Mussoorie this Diwali! The famous Brentwood Resort promises to be your perfect weekend getaway this Diwali. Away from the noise & smoke, yet very much a part of the town, Brentwood Resort offers luxury, peace & the true mountain experience all in one. With ample open areas, you get to enjoy with in the premises of the resort, the kids get to run around and you can relax in peace as the famous kitchen of Brentwood doles out delicious hot food – perfect to counter the chill outside! Sit down with friends & family for endless rounds of card games, dig into piping hot snacks and do not forget to click the mandatory Diwali selfies at this picturesque weekend destination!
This is a humble effort towards making your Diwali fun & peaceful – the crackers we burn pollute the very air our children breathe – let us celebrate this beautiful festival responsibly. Happy Diwali to all!
— Shibani Varma