Travel these Low Budget Indian Places this Summer
From Spiti Valley up north to Shillong and Cherapunji in the north-east, West Bengal, Gujarat and way down to Coorg valley and Chilkmagalur in the southern state of Karnataka, these regions are the perfect place to spend your summer.
Summer in India brings with it the lure of the hills and plenty of hill stations in India offer a refreshing stay and memories to last a lifetime. Stretching from up north to down south, there are places that will take your breath away with their sheer beauty. If backpacking across valleys and mountain terrain sounds appealing, here’s a look at a few places where you could set about on an ideal backpacking journey in India.
So, when temperatures soar and the heat becomes unbearable, head on to these destinations which give you an excuse to be there and a reason to come back again.
- Travel to see rising sun in Twang
The geographical position of Tawang at the northeastern edge of the country makes it a truly offbeat travel destination. This picturesque town lies 10,000 ft. above sea level, bound by Tibet on the north, Bhutan on the south-west and the cultural uniqueness sets it apart from any other destination in India. A heavenly paradise is very sparsely populated, may be because of its altitude. The locals are the Monpa tribe, who inhabit the entire region. The state is inhabited by 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes. The major tribes are Adi, Galo, Aka, Apatani, Nyishi, Tagins, Bori, Monpa, and Bokar. If you haven’t ever traveled to this part of India, I must tell you that you are missing out something which is worth visiting at least once in your life. Explore Tawang Monastery, Taktshang Gompa and Urgeling Gompa are the chief religious attractions in Tawang. Beautiful lakes surrounding Tawang include Shonga-tser, Pangateng Tso and Nagula Lake. Gorichen Peak and Nuranang Falls in the vicinity.
- Spiti Valley
Ladakh’s lesser-known neighbor, the cold mountain desert of Spiti, is for travellers who dare to drift from the tourist trails. Spiti’s postcard villages remain remotely tucked away in the lap of the mighty, barren Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh, and it is here that you can hike along Snow Leopard and Himalayan Wolf habitats, visit monasteries dating back over a 1000 years, sample a fascinating culture and cuisine different from the rest of India, and meet the kindest of people who live the harshest of lives. This is a world within a world, as Rudyard Kipling once described it. Spiti Valley is one of the most stunning and untouched valleys in India.
Spiti remains practically cut off from the rest of India for 6 months of the year. Thick Himalayan snow blocks the mountain passes, making it almost impossible for road transport to pass through, even on the Shimla-Kinnaur route. The summer months from late May to late September are therefore the best time to visit Spiti. As the weather warms up, the snow slowly melts and gets cleared away to open up road travel to the valley.
With only 250 days of sunshine in a year, winter in Spiti is a harsh affair. Temperatures on average drop to -30 degrees Celsius, and the lack of any modern form of heating means most families cuddle together in a single room in the house and keep warm around wood fire. To survive the harsh conditions, the Spitian people celebrate festivals and most family affairs (birthdays, weddings) in the winter months, stocking up on food and local alcohol; the winter months are privy to Spiti’s unique and introspective culture, though survivable only by extreme adventurers!
3. Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal, a hill station in Tamil Nadu, is known for its wooded hills, lakes, hiking trails and of course delicious home-made chocolates. Kodaikanal and the nearby village of Vattakanal lie at the very end of the historical hippie trail in India. The dense forest gives you a chance to come a step closer to nature. Kodaikanal is a perfect retreat to find the calm away from the city and to also explore a completely new side of South India.Cycle around the Kodaikanal Lake, walk to the suicide point and witness the famous Pillar Rocks of Kodai. Take a detour to Vattakanal, an offbeat hippy village where you can spend the night at one of the numerous village homestays.
4. Pondicherry
They call it the French Riviera of the East because of the incredible French influences in the Union Territory even today. Pondicherry has it all: beauty, tranquility, great food, excellent wine, pristine beaches, peerless French infrastructure, wonderful Ashrams and a pleasing culture, all at affordable prices. Stay at the Auroville Ashram for a highly reasonable accommodation expense and a fulfilling Pondicherry experience.Pondicherry will bowl you over with its cobbled lanes, blue waters and the sheer abundance of natural beauty. Pondicherry is interestingly has its areas marked out using the colour of the buildings. If the colour of the building is yellow, it’s a part of the French quarter {where he lived}, if it’s grey, it is owned by the Aurobindo Ashram and if it’s white, it’s a part of the Tamil Quarter. Easily explorable on foot or cycles, Pondicherry is every history buff’s delight. What makes the space stand out is the very fact of how modern element such as graffiti takes over walls of the colonial French quarter.
5. Mcleod Ganj
This picturesque city is a suburb of Dharamshala and is extremely popular with travelers who look forward to some out-of-the-world experiences. You just need to take a train to Dharamshala and then move on to McLeod Ganj through a looping bus route or a private car. This place offers you with some of most reasonably priced and outstanding places to stay, marvelous eating joints and cafes, wonderful museums, temples and galleries, and cheap guided treks. McLeod attracts thousands of international visitors each year to volunteer with the Tibetan community, take courses in Buddhism, meditation or yoga, trek in the Dhauladhar mountains, shop for Tibetan crafts, or just hang out and enjoy the low-budget spiritual/alternative vibe and the many good cafes and restaurants dishing up Indo-Italo-Israeli-Tibetan food.
6. Hampi
If you love architecture and take pleasure in marveling over the magnificence of palaces, temples, and incredible royal buildings, then, I am sure Hampi will take your heart away. People spend days and weeks in this wonderful city in Karnataka where traveling finds an altogether different manifestation. You can stay at any of the affordable cottages or hotels, rent a bicycle or a bike, eat out at amazing eateries and experience a kind of survival that doesn’t exist in most other places. The magnificent ruins of Hampi dot an unearthly landscape that has captivated travellers for centuries. Heaps of giant boulders perch precariously over miles of undulating terrain, their rusty hues offset by jade-green palm groves, banana plantations and paddy fields. While it’s possible to see this World Heritage Site in a day or two, plan on lingering for a while. The main travellers’ ghetto has traditionally been Hampi Bazaar, a village crammed with budget lodges, shops and restaurants, and towered over by the majestic Virupaksha Temple. Tranquil Virupapur Gaddi across the river has become a new popular hang out. However, recent demolitions in both areas have seen businesses closed, with the future of Hampi bitterly contested between locals and authorities.
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