Quick getaways from Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore

From Delhi: Spiti, Himachal Pradesh
Get set for some hilly views and tranquil surroundings as you make way to Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. The ideal way to travel to Spiti is by car, preferably a sturdy, high ground clearance SUV or MUV. One can hire them in Manali also. You can travel through the Rohtang Pass and Kunzum Pass but check the weather conditions before you start travelling in this season. Manali is 201 km away from Kaza town. Try to carry some food packets along with you as the food is basic in most places found here. Noodles, parathas, rice and dal is what you may be offered by the locals during transit and in villages/camp sites. There are few road side dhabas and one can have lamb curry in such places, if lucky, it’s advisable to have your full as you never know when you might reach the next dhaba during transit.

But In Kaza town one can find many restaurants and eateries. Momos are a specialty and one can try out different varieties of it in the small restaurants.

WHERE TO STAY: Himachal Pradesh tourist lodge: You will find it right at the entrance of the Kaza town and it has decent rooms and friendly staff. Camping sites at Chandratal Lake: offering basic facilities but extends an opportunity to admire starry skies as one sleeps right under the stars. Langza: Home stays with the locals.

From Mumbai: Uran
Uran is part of the Navi Mumbai city township lying in the Raigad district near Panvel and Karjat. You can spot various birds here as it is situated across the Dharamtar Creek. Try the seafood preparations as Uran is primarily a fishing village, which has developed into a special economy zone. Home stays are popular apart from some resorts that are operating near the beaches. Uran functions as a container terminal thus roadways are busy with trucks carrying cargo to and from the mainland of Mumbai. Take a boat ride from Gateway of India to Uran and enjoy the sunset scenery.

From Bangalore: Western Rain Forests Of Karnataka
Not many of us knew that Karnataka has a forest cover so vast that it is home to one quarter of the elephant population in India. That's precisely why the Western Ghats have been acknowledged as a Mega Biodiversity Hotspot and UNESCO World Heritage Site, as the region boasts of over 25 endemic bird species. We suggest you visit the Agumbe Village. It is located at 560 m above mean sea level in the Western Ghats and is aptly called the Cherrapunjee of South India. It receives an average rainfall of 7,000-8,000 mm annually. Agumbe is famed for the elusive King Cobra. Renowned herpetologist Romulus Whitaker called Agumbe the capital of the King Cobra. Besides reptiles and the endangered Lion-tailed Macaque, Agumbe harbours a host of endemic bird species like Great Pied Hornbill, Malabar Trogon, and Malabar Whistling Thrush. Make a plan to visit the Agumbe Village, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, and Nagarhole National Park during your Dussera-Diwali holidays. In order to explore this locale, you can join expert groups that organise trails. One such group is BNHS. You can e-mail participation enquiries at bnhs.programmes@gmail.com.