This holiday season, plan a quick getaway to Bandipur, Karnataka or Dudhwa National Park in UP

ET-Travel suggests you take a casual day off at work to make the most of an extended weekend in the coming month. Here's where you can head to.

Upcoming Holidays In December 2015

- Milad-un-Nabi — Thursday, Dec 24
- Christmas — Fri, Dec 25

From Mumbai: King Thebaw's Palace, Ratnagiri

A lesson in history is awaiting for you in Ratnagiri as you make your way to King Thibaw's Palace. This Burmese king had spent his last years in exile here. The palace has been in news as the State Government planned a major makeover for the palace. The historic palace is situated in the heart of Ratnagiri. The palace was set up by the British to house King Thebaw and his family, who were exiled after the British conquered Burma (now Myanmar). The department of archaeology and museums has decided to transform the palace, which was declared a stateprotected monument in June 2000, into a museum.

A visit to Ratnagiri is not over without savouring the coastal cuisine. Later, go ahead and shop artifacts made of seashells. The konkan region is blessed with finest horticulture fruits. You can take some local preparations of Ambapoli (thin pancakes of dried and crushed mangoes), Phanaspoli (thin pancakes of dried and crushed jackfruit), cashewnuts and mangoes.

From Delhi: Dudhwa National Park, Uttar Pradesh

The famous Dudhwa National Park (DNP), situated on Indo-Nepal border has opened its doors for enthusiasts. Uttar Pradesh Forest Corporation has been assigned to look after the booking of huts, guest houses and other tourism arrangements. You can get in touch with the Eco development committees who are operating in Dudhwa to provide guided tours on jeeps to tourists at prescribed rates. When you are here, we suggest you step into the Suheli Nature Interpretation Center to get an insight into Dudhwa. You can purchase handicrafts and spices prepared by local Tharus as souvenirs. The national park is famous for royal Bengal tigers, unihorned rhinoceros, swamp deer. Dudhwa is known for its successful relocation programme of rhinos in which unihorned rhinos were brought to Dudhwa after a gap of over a century. Starting with just five rhinos in 1984, the park today enjoys a population of 32 rhinos. The authorities have now finalised to develop another rhino area near Bhadi Tal.

From Bangalore: Bandipur, Karnataka

Bandipur National Park is a beautiful and well-managed national park in Karnataka. Located amidst the picturesque surroundings of the towering Western Ghat Mountains on the Mysore-Ooty highway in Karnataka, Bandipur National Park covers an area of about 874.2 sq km. Together with Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala and Nagarhole National Park in the North, it creates India's biggest biosphere reserve popularly known as the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Bandipur National Park occupies a special place in India's efforts towards Ecoconservation.



THE SAFARI: Bandipur also has a sizable number of tigers. Other natural inhabitants of this lovely forest are gaur (a type of bull), sambhar, chital, mouse deer, four-horned antelope, wild dogs, wild boar, jackal, sloth bear, panther, malabar squirrel, porcupines and the black-knapped hare. Birds like jungle fowl and green pigeon are also found here.