May's here! Plan a quick getaway to Guhagar in Maharashtra or Sattal in Uttarakhand

Upcoming Holidays in May 2015

- Friday, May 1, 2015 . Maharashtra Day

- Monday, May 4, 2015 . Buddh Purnima
From Mumbai: Guhagar, Maharashtra

Guhagar in Ratnagiri District is known for its virgin beach, coconuts, betel nuts and mangoes.

Guhagar beach: This six kilometre virgin beach is the main tourist attraction of the town. Also one of the cleanest beaches in the region, on the Guhagar Beach, tourists can swim but the adminstration is very strict about hygiene.

Temple town: Guhagar is famous for Durga Devi Temple, and Vyadeshwar Temple. The Durga Devi Temple is surrounded by lush greenery. It is considered to be the oldest temple in the region. Vyadeshwar Temple has four subordinate shrines. The main shrine at the centre is of Shri Vyadeshwar (Lord Shiva) and the other surrounding deities are: The Sun, Shri Ganesh, Shri Parvati and Shri Vishnu along with goddess Lakshmi. Visit Guhagar, for its pleasant sea-side temples during the summer season. And of course, buy organic mangoes from farmers.



By the sea: Visit the Guhagar Beach in the evening to witness the goregous sunset

From Delhi: Sattal, Uttarakhand

Sattal is located near Nainital and is also known as seven lakes. Tourists visit Sattal for its unspoiled and unpolluted freshwater bodies. Set amongst dense forests of oak and pine trees, the Sattal lakes are a paradise for migratory birds.

ET-Travel reader Swati Yadav was in awe of the destination. She says, “It was a college trip and we friends were camping by one of the lakes. I fell in love with the innocence and the discipline of the nature. The queue of cows grazing in the field explains the rural connect. Stop by the Bhimtal Lake, it is truly calm and tranquil."

Butterfly museum: There is a butterfly museum with over 2,500 butterflies and moth specimens and 1,100 species of insects that are found in this region. Go prepared with a butterfly encyclopaedia.



Natural beauty: It is a common sight to see cows grazing in the fields in Sattal, Uttarakhand

From Bangalore: Dandeli, Karnataka

Dandeli is a small town located in the western ghats of Karnataka. The town has a mix of activities for families and tourists seeking adventure.

For families: Take your kids to Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park located near River Kali. There are lots of activities for kids such as Coracle Rides (in water, would be able to spot crocodiles, hornbills and other birds), easy rock climbing day treks.

Adrenaline rush: Tourists can also indulge in mountain biking, rafting, kayaking, canoeing and camping. If you’re physical fit then trek the forests surrounding the town.

Places of interest: Ancient Kavala Caves is located 25 kms from Dandeli. Kulgi Nature Camp features a small museum, and nature interpretation centre. Syntheri Rocks is located on the road to Gund Village and Kaveri River rushes through canyon of huge granite formation.



Take your kids to the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary to spot migratory birds