Well well well, the much-awaited long weekend is almost here. August 15 lands on a Monday this time and we couldn't be happier about it. And you all know what that means! It's time to plan a trip! The rains ease up a bit compared to July, and the coastal regions like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Goa have a cool, sometimes humid temperature. To help sort your plan of where to go, here's a well-curated list where you're sure to find something you'll like.
Long Weekend Coming Up! Here Are The Best Places To Visit In August
Munnar
Often nicknamed as the Kashmir of South India, Munnar is the place for you if you're looking to take a break from the fast-paced life, and connect with nature. It's famous for its tea plantations so you'll find extremely scenic lush green hills. Witness the magnificence of Atukkad waterfalls. You can trek, camp and even paraglide here. Go to Echo Point where you can shout your hearts out and experience the mountains echoing back your voice.
How To Reach: The best way to reach Munnar is by flight, the nearest airport is Cochin International Airport which is about 3.5 hour drive
Where To Stay: Flower Valley Airbnb, Wilderness Experience Airbnb, Windemere Estate and The Tall Trees Resort
Kodaikanal
This is the place you go to for that pleasant, not too cold and not too hot weather, this time of the year. Go to Mannavanur Lake, on your way you'll find yourself in a pine forest where you can stop and take a walk, it's supposed to be extremely quiet and peaceful. Another thing to do is a trek to Dolphin's nose (a rock formation shaped like a dolphin's nose) which is only about 3kms!
How To Reach: To reach Kodaikanal you can either take a train, the duration of which will depend on the city you're from or take a flight and reach Madurai Airport which is a 3-hour car ride to Kodaikanal.
Where To Stay: Villa Retreat, Zostel, Green Pastures Hill Resort and Whispering Waters - Mountain Farm Cottage Airbnb.
Spiti
Spiti, a cold desert mountain valley, is a love of many travellers, and it's beautiful to visit in August. The temperature ranges from 4°C to 15°C, which means it's moderately cold. When travelling by road, ensure you're careful as there may be slush and water crossings. Besides that, the place is sure to captivate your heart, with a beautiful sky full of stars, treks connecting you to nature, and rivers that remind you of the flow of life.
How To Reach: The nearest airport to Spiti is Kullu Airport and the nearest railway station is Joginder Nagar Railway Station (360 km away). Thereafter the best way would be to rent a bike and reach by road.
Where To Stay: Zostel, Hotel Kunphen (pet-friendly) and Hotel Spiti Heritage
Kumarakom
Only about 15 km from Kottayam, you'll find Kumarakom which is a cluster of islands on the Vembanad lake. If you're a water baby then you ought to visit this place at least once. In August, the weather will be pleasant ranging between 24°C to 27°C degrees, so you can enjoy the place in all its glory.
How To Reach: The best way to reach this place for major cities would be to take a flight to Kochi (Cochin) airport which is about 77 km away (1.5-hour car ride).
Where To Stay: Houseboats, Lakeside Cottage Airbnb and Coconut Lagoon.
Mawlynnong
Mawlynnong is also referred to as the cleanest village in India and often goes by the name 'God's Own Garden'. It's located in Meghalaya. You can visit this place all around the year, but it's especially beautiful during and just after monsoons. You'll witness rushing streams, evergreen surroundings and a sense of calm. About one hour away, you can boat in the Umngot River which is said to have crystal clear water and beautiful landscapes.
HowTo Reach: Shillong Airport is the nearest one which is about 3 hour's drive from Mawlynnong.
Where To Stay: Roberts homestay Airbnb and Marvels Camps
Jodhpur
Jodhpur is known as the Blue City of Rajasthan and monsoons are pretty short-lived here. The rains bring down the temperature a little bit but humidity becomes a rigid part of the weather this time around. Visit the many forts here like Mehrangarh Fort and Khejarla Fort, zipline across forts or take Bishnoi Village Safari to know the rich cultural life of the state of Marwa, there's lots to do here.
How To Reach: Jodhpur is easily accessible with trains, buses and flights as it has its own railway stations and airports. So, you can choose what best suits you.
Where To Stay: Umaid Bhawan Palace, RAAS Hotel and Bijolai Palace.
Varanasi
With a total of about 88 ghats out of which Dashashwamedh Ghat is one of the most famous. It can get a little hot and humid at this time of the year, but nothing a dip in river Ganga can't solve. Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple is a famous temple that you must visit to connect with your spiritual self. Ramnagar Fort is a Mughal-style sandstone structure that houses a museum with vintage automobiles and antique weapons.
How To Reach: You could opt to take a bus, train travel by your own car, or take a flight to Varanasi. The nearest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
Where To Stay: Taj Ganges, Wander Station Hostel and Ram Bhawan Residency
Cherrapunji
Cherrapunji is synonymous with rain, also known as the wettest place on planet earth! You can visit the Nohkalikai Falls — the tallest plunge waterfall in India. You can trek to one of the most loved attractions, the Living Root Bridge which has been documented as far back as 1844! If that's not all, you can let your explorer out in the many caves that exist here.
HowTo Reach: Shillong airport is the nearest to Cherrapunji (about 80kms which is roughly a 2-hour drive). The nearest railway station would be Guwahati Railways Station (180 km away)
Where To Stay: Hesed House Airbnb and Polo Orchid Resort
Panchgani
All the Mumbaikars, if you're looking for a weekend getaway then this hill station south-east of Bombay is probably the place to go! The major attractions here are Rajpuri Caves, Sydney Point, Lingmala Falls, Table Land, Rajpuri Caves, and Dhom Dam where you can find picturesque views. You can even opt for activities like paragliding and trekking here.
How To Reach: Pune's airport is the nearest, only about a 100 km away from Panchgani. If you choose to travel by train, it's suggested to reach Pune only as it is well connected with most cities. Mumbaikars can take this as a road trip opportunity as it'll be only a 5 hour ride by var for them!
Where To Stay: Hill-top Treehouse Airbnb, Devrai Home Stay Airbnb and Mount View Heritage Hotel.
Khajuraho
Located in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is the country's largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples. It's famous for its erotic sculptures, but you'll be shocked to know that that only accounts for 10% of the total sculptures. Initially, this place had about 85 temples, of which only 20 have survived through the years.
HowTo Reach: Easily reach Khajuraho by air as it has its own domestic airport. There's also a railway station but few trains halt here. You can easily find buses that regularly go here, if you choose to go by road.
Where To Stay: The Lalit, Tigers & Temples Airbnb and Syna Heritage Hotel
Mount Abu
Mount Abu is a hill station located in the Aravali range in Rajasthan. The skies are usually clear and the weather is quite pleasant this time of the year, with a maximum temperature of 28°C. There might be some rainfall but nothing beats the lush green you'll be able to experience in the monsoon season.
How To Reach: The nearest airport is Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur, from there the drive to Mount Abu is about three hours. If you're planning to do a 100% road trip, it'll take about 13 hours from Delhi, 13.5 hours. The nearest train station is Abu Road Railway station.
Where To Stay: WelcomHeritage and Hotel Hilltone