The Only List That Matters: The Long Weekend List Of 2020 And Where To Go On Holiday

Forget staying in the crowded city for New Year’s Eve. Going by the drama of traffic and excessive drinking, fiasco, you’re better off being elsewhere! We’re thinking that it’s time for some peace and quiet in the jungles so our money is on enjoying in Kabini. From stargazing and romantic dinners on a river island, Kabini is the ideal place to rejuvenate. Check out our pick of things to do when there. Oh, and we’ve also got you covered when it comes to stay. Luxury to camping, here’s where to stay in Kabini. Since it's a Tuesday and Wednesday, you can exit the city on Friday, and take Monday off get a solid five days to relax and unwind! 

Get the first word in with HR and take Monday and Tuesday off the instant you get into work in 2020. Because then woohoo, you get a whole four days off! If you haven’t been to Hampi, this is the perfect time to go. It can get unbearably hot in the summer, so hitting up the temple ruins in January is ideal. We think you should hop onto a bicycle for Day 1 of exploring the heritage site or check out the list of places you can visit. Then, take it easy with these five things you must do when there. And you've got to stay at this adorable place. It's a slice of Goa in Hampi. Or this heritage home. Go on, don’t say no!

We get that you’re likely to need to stay home for Shivratri celebrations, so head off somewhere close. So make it a quick two-day trip and pack in some adventure at the Galibore Nature Camp. Just 100kms from town, you can soak up nature on a hammock, eat fish fresh from the river, go rafting, drink a few beers, and then be ready to come back late on Sunday evening, or super early on Monday, right in time for work (leave Friday post the puja). We also recommend chilling at this lovely home near Bangalore airport. And take the gang with you for some endless game nights! Check it out here.

You can always count on Easter weekend. There’s no way that you won’t get three days off, and we recommend you take one extra day — Thursday or Monday, and skip the country. Not too far, but we’re thinking perhaps Sri Lanka. If you want to live in luxury in the wilderness, check into the Gal Oya Lodge, for something quirky then head off to Helga’s Folly in Kandy or maybe you want to just stay in Colombo. In that case, the Bunkyard Sri Lanka, a cool hostel in the middle of the capital.

Just as your kids' summer holidays are almost coming to an end or if you are planning that annual family reunion or just meeting up with your cousins and friends, make use of the Labour Day holiday, the best part being that it falls on a Friday. So, you can either take a Thursday or Monday off and head to Gokarna for a summer beach trip or if you want to go a place that is offbeat and quiet, then head to Tranquebar, a dutch beach village close to Pondicherry. Stay at this colonial bungalow, unwind and soak in some sun and history while you are there.

Bakrid falls on a Friday in 2020 which automatically means a long weekend! You get a whole three days off! It’ll start getting warmer in Bangalore and that means you can’t really hit up Goa or Pondicherry. Which is amazing, because when in doubt, we say…run for the hills. Ooty, Coorg, Kodaikanal or Yercaud, we’ve got a whole list of hill stations you can escape to. Check it out here.

If you haven't had the chance to visit the waterfalls in its glory during peak monsoons, make full use of Ganesh Chaturthi in 2020 and head to Jog Falls. Talk to your HR and take the Friday off and plan a trip with your squad or family (if you don't really celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi). If you aren't really convinced about Jog Falls, check out the other waterfalls you can visit near Bangalore.

Who doesn’t love a long weekend? Yes, we all do. So, cash in on the holiday for Gandhi Jayanthi which is on a Friday, and head to Wayanad. It just 6 hours away, with its lush greenery, mountains and waterfalls, it is a break you deserve to take. You could even stay in one of the hostels there, like Hibernest Chembra, at just INR 800 per head, for the lush greenery and peace. Hop in the car and drive down to Karwar and soak in the sun, 8 hours away. You could even browse our road trip suggestions, and take some from here.

Good luck trying to convince your parents, or worse, grandparents, to let you get away from the festivities of this! Should you be lucky enough to though, Chikmagalur might be a nice option for you to head off to. Here’s our pick of homestays across budgets, or check into a hostel or a fancy resort. In addition to the coffee museum, here are a few offbeat things to do at Coffee County. Maybe you can even leave on Friday morning (take the day off), get in early to Chikmagalur, and then get back on Sunday, and be around for the final day of Dussera. Win-win situation!

Rajyotsava falls on a Sunday in 2020, so you can either take a Friday or Monday off and head out for a mini-vacation on the hills. If you pick Coorg, nothing like just trekking up hills, drinking fresh coffee, or learning how your morning cuppa is created with plantation tours. There’s no dearth of places to stay from the Taj to swanky resorts, or eat, which is why, any time you get off, Go Coorg! 

If you pick Ooty, from gorgeous lakes, quaint train rides and heritage hotels to romantic mansions, igloo tents under the starry sky and visiting nearby Coonoor, you won't regret your decision! 

If you aren't planning on going back home to celebrate Diwali for a  fam-jam, or for some reason you aren't celebrating Diwali, then plan a vacation, take Friday off (as Diwali is on Saturday), and head to Munnar. Live the Tarzan life with these treehouses in Munnar. Visit the tea plantations, go bird watching or just relax and unwind as 2020 is nearly coming to an end by then. Check out the list of things you can do while in Munnar.

Officially the last long weekend of the year is in December as Christmas falls on December 25. So plan a holiday and head to the hills be it Ooty, Kodaikanal, Chickmaglaur, Coorg or even Coonoor for that matter. December 31, New Year's Eve falls on a Thursday and New Year falls on a Friday, which means an extra-long weekend (walking into the new year with a long weekend), so plan a holiday with bae or squad and head to Wyanad or Munnar.