The monsoon in India is accompanied by the smell of wet soil, green plants and a desperately wanted relief against the infernal heat.
Whereas it might be hard to make long holidays, short weekend holidays during the wet season are the best in case of rejuvenation.
Are you in love with misty hills, or cascading waterfalls, or still lakes? The arrival of the rainy season brings out a magical world in most of the places near the metro cities of India.
Here is a list of some of the finest weekend destinations around Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata in the monsoons.
Near Mumbai: Lonavala and Malshej Ghat
Lonavala is 83 kilometers, and one of the most popular and easy monsoon destinations of Mumbai. The hill station which is situated in Sahyadri range and gets lush green in the rainy season.
Streams of water are falling inside the hills, fogs lie on the tops of the valleys, and every corner on the crooked roads provides postcard sceneries.
Trekking and to have a beautiful view, tourist then visits Bhushi Dam, Tiger Point, and the Rajmachi Fort.
Lonavala is also renowned in its Chikki a customary sweetmeat food that is best served with a hot cup of tea in the monsoon day.
Yet another fascinating getaway of Mumbai is the Malshej Ghat which is at a distance of approximately 130 kilometers.
Owing to the iconic cliffs, cloud-covered mountains and seasonal waterfall that drops during the monsoon season, this mountain pass in the western ghats is a splendid view.
This area transforms into a haven to the bird watchers because the migratory flamingos gracefully stop to pay a visit to the Pimpalgaon Joga Dam located nearby.
The historic Harishchandragad Fort which lies around is also visited by trekkers. The roads are scenic although during rainfall it may become slippery hence should be driven with caution.
Lansdowne and Nainital — Convenient Getaways from Delhi
Lansdowne in Uttarakhand is an ideal weekend getaway to Delhiites who want some solitude amidst pine forests drenched in rain.
It is a clean town, with a serene environment, located around 250 kilometers of Delhi, named Lansdowne, that is also a cantonment town. The scenery is clustered and lush during the monsoon season which is the right time to do nature walks.
One is the Bhulla Tal, a tiny lake where tourists may go boating, the Garhwal Rifles War Memorial, and a view-point called the Tip-n-Top, which provides foggy views of the Himalayan range.
More developed, still one of the most picturesque sites to visit during rains, Nainital is also situated at a height of almost 7000 feet above sea level.
Perched at a distance of roughly 300 kilometers away Delhi, the monsoon magic of Nainital is its camouflage of hills in mists, its glistening lake and its colonial appearance.
It is surrounded by the Naini Lake which is the highlight of the place and one of the common activities is boating, yachting and long walks along the shore.
The town is highly developed in terms of tourism but visitors are requested to be informed about the weather forecast periodically because when it rains heavily at times, landslides may occur in its surrounding environs.
Bengaluru: Chikmagalur and Coorg
Coorg, also known as Kodagu, is a popular holiday destination for Bengalureans, particularly during the rainy season.
Coorg, about 270 kilometers away, is well known in connection with its abundant coffee plantations, hilly, wooded hillsides, as well as monsoon-rounded flowing falls such as Abbey Falls and Iruppu Falls.
The rains add aroma of coffee and spices in the air and as such it is a place to visit as far as the slow pace of nature is preferred.
The romantic garden of Raja pinklawn seat is a beautiful park on top of the rock surrounded by rolling hills which is still more poetic when it rains.
The Dubare Elephant Camp is another place that will be able to experience the interactions with the elephant by the side of the river.
Chikmagalur is the other place which must be visited during rains, at about 245 kilometers in distance away. Also called Coffee Land of Karnataka, Chikmagalur is also surrounded by greenery during the monsoons.
The hills of the region such as, the Mullayanagiri (which is the highest peak of Karnataka) turn misty and magical. Falls like Jhari Falls and Hebbe falls make a fresh flow.
The guiding nature roads, beautiful plantations, showers every now and then, would be an ideal weekend of solitude and blissful nature.
Yercaud and Kolli Hills Chennai
Yercaud in Tamil Nadu is one place in Tamil Nadu that can be visited by people residing in Chennai during monsoon seasons and it is 360 kilometers away.
It is a hill station, which was nestled in the Shevaroy Hills and is famed because of the presence of a lake and coffee plantations as well as pepper groves.
The rainy season is also a cooler period in the town and mist is rampant bringing more romance in the place. Swimming in Yercaud Lake, going around the Pagoda Point and Lady Seat viewpoints are the common activities.
It is an under-estimated destination in the state located in Kolli Hills, about 370 kilometers away from Chennai to the northeast. Kolli Hills is an adventurous destination one can visit during the monsoons.
The drive is thrilling with its 70 hairpin bends. This is the least commercialised part and has clean forests, water falls such as Agaya Gangai and variety of routes to trek.
Kolli Hills are an unforgettable escape because of its misty valleys and the cool wind during the monsoon.
Near Kolkata: Kalimpong and Shantiniketan
Going about 630 kilometers towards Kolkata, there lies Kalimpong, a Rain-time flower of Eastern Himalayas.
It has fewer people as compared to Darjeeling, with an impressive view along the Teesta river and lush green mountains and a beautiful colonial feel.
Its monasteries, flower markets and vista points, such as Deolo Hill are imparted with a new lease of life by the rains.
The swings of the monsoon are frequented by nature walks through the mist-coated pine forests and the sightseeing of cactus nurseries are also some common past-times.
To have a cultural and intellectual getaway, Shantiniketan, which is just 160 kilometers away of Kolkata, presents a serene monsoon vacation. The town was established by Rabindranath Tagore and is full of cultural activity and silence.
The countryside of this place looks further improved by the rain; red laterite soil, open fields and Rabindra Bhavans museums are to be added to the rustic beauty.
Conclusion
There is a cool combination of adventure, tranquility and romance in monsoon escapes near major Indian cities.
These sites come up with a transformed defining nature during rainy season which cannot be seen any other time of the year; misty hills, roaring waterfalls among others.
You need to get away by yourself or just a beautiful drive through the countryside? Then there is a weekend getaway that awaits you as just a few hours outside of your city.
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