Eat, sleep, work; lather, rinse, repeat—this is the motto of our daily race with life. Anything wrong with it, you ask? Nothing, we say. It’s perfectly fine to walk the loop of monotony. It’s predictable, wise and safe. Trouble spells itself when this innocuous little race sneakily turns into an endless rat race. And with nary a warning.
What follows is a series of socially accepted excuses we find ourselves making every time there is an opportunity to take a break from the rat race. Sorry, I can’t make it; No time to breathe; A holiday? No bandwidth to relax; I’ve got kids; Way too much work. In our blissful, sometimes wilful ignorance of the hidden repercussions, we leave a lot at stake. And while we tend to be happy with a few visits to the local watering hole, the fact remains that alcohol and people can only help so much. Getting down to brass tacks, it’s Mother Nature to our rescue from drudgery. In the wilderness, amid silence is when we can have an inner dialogue. Being in the right place, unaccompanied by tweets, posts and chats can make all the difference.
Ladakh
While Ladakh taps into the adventurer in you, there is much more to it than adrenaline-pumping activities. With its serene skies, snow-clad mountains and roads that seem to stretch on forever—Ladakh takes your breath away. There are not enough words to describe the memories that Ladakh leaves you with.
Hidden in the snow-capped hills of Arunachal Pradesh, Tawang is a relatively lesser-known town.
Munnar, Kerala
Green blankets of tea plantations rolling over hills and valleys, numerous waterfalls, and a pleasant weather is what one is welcomed by in Munnar, meaning three rivers. A place mirroring tranquillity and peace, it also offers a dose of adrenaline with trekking and mountain bike riding. The pictures don’t do justice to this green haven.
Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
The great Rann of Kutch is often described as a white canvas. The largest salt desert in the world stretches on as far as the eye can see, overpowering you with its sheer spread. With no hills and no water bodies, everything is white. The only sound one can hear is of the wind howling. The desert turns surreal on a full moon night as the sand glitters like diamonds.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Andaman and Nicobar Islands are known for their gorgeous coral reefs. With dense tropical forests—surrounded by water and cut off from the main land—the islands are home to numerous species of animals. The moderate weather makes it a perfect getaway all year round.
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
Hidden in the snow-capped hills of Arunachal Pradesh, Tawang is a relatively lesser-known town. Home to the largest Buddhist monastery in India, Tawang promises an experience that will soothe and enthral at the same time.
Switch off those monsters in your pockets (cell phones, if you will) and deactivate your accounts on social networking websites. It’s time for inner peace.