Unwind at These Places in India to Enjoy the Monsoons

Monsoon brings a great respite form the scorching summer heat. Therefore, the season makes the perfect time to travel to amazing destinations and unwind. Luckily, there’s no shortage of such places in India.

Here’s a list of places that deserve a spot on your monsoon holiday bucket list:

1. Darjeeling

If you want to witness monsoon in its wildest, then head over to Darjeeling. The small quaint hill town is highly revered for its pristine natural beauty. Monsoons are wild in Darjeeling; heavy rain accompanied by roaring thunders and gushing wind bring out the true charm of the season.

But it’s after the rains that magic happen; the skies clear up and the weather becomes pleasant. One of the biggest perks you get to enjoy after the downpour of monsoon rains is the picture-perfect scenic views of the lush green surroundings. Make the most out of your visit to Darjeeling by booking your stay at the Windamere Hotel, the best Colonial hotel in India.

2. Goa

If the idea of watching waves swell up at the shorelines during monsoon rains excite you, then you should definitely visit Goa. Hailed as one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, Goa enjoys a typical monsoon respite.

There’s a lot you can do in Goa during the monsoon season. For example, you can attend one of the rain dance parties conducted at popular beaches. Simple activities, such as taking a long walk on the beach, get magical during monsoon.

3. Ooty

Home to rich greenery and diverse wildlife, Ooty is another important destination to visit during the monsoon season. The hill station enjoys a pleasant weather during monsoon. The picturesque views of the expansive lakes and lush greenery become more magical when the skies clear up after the monsoon rains.

Some of the attractions worth visiting in Ooty include Doddabetta, Stone House, Thunder World, St. Stephen’s Church, Government Rose Garden, Deer Park, and Toda Temple.

4. Shimla

Shimla is one of travel connoisseurs’ favourite. The place is favoured by nature lovers, history buffs, and honeymooners. Shimla Water Catchment Wildlife Sanctuary, Sidh Sri Baba Balak Nath Ji Mandir, Randi Jhansi Park, The Ridge, Chadwick Falls, and Mall Road are some of the highly popular tourist attractions in Shimla.

Top Things to Do During Monsoons in India

You don’t have to visit Europe or travel to other overseas destinations to enjoy monsoon to the fullest as some of the places in India await fun lovers with thrill and excitement.

Some of the places in India enjoy the best monsoons. So, pack your bags and get ready to unwind by doing these top things during the wild season:

Long drive

Long, unplanned, and never-ending drive becomes the most enjoyable during the monsoon months. If this idea ex cites you, then take a long drive with your friends and travel through the Mumbai Pune expressway.

When travelling through the concrete highway, you will get to enjoy picture-perfect sceneries filled with greenery. It’s a guarantee that the serenity and endlessness of the route will dazzle you to the fullest.

Make the most out of your journey through the Mumbai Pune Expressway by taking pit stops for warm tea and snack, or probably even breakfast or lunch.

Experience pristine monsoons in Darjeeling

Want to experience the monsoon season in its pristine form? Visit Darjeeling, a picturesque Hill Station in town. Darjeeling is popular for several quirks. First, Darjeeling tea is widely revered as one of the most exquisite flavours of tea; globe trotters visit the town to experience the unique charm and aroma of Darjeeling tea.

Darjeeling is also popular for its pristine greenery and pleasant climate. When in Darjeeling, you’ll enjoy exploring the town, especially during the monsoons as the weather gets soothing. You be dazzled by the stunning sceneries of mountainous skylines and sloping hilly landscapes envelopes by emerald green tea plantation.

It’s during the monsoons that you’ll get to enjoy a typical London-like climate in the town. To enjoy to the fullest in the town, make sure to make your stay at Windamere Hotel – one of the best hotels in Darjeeling near Mall Road.

Visit Shimla

Shimla is another beautiful places to be during the monsoons. Just like Darjeeling, Shimla is blessed with breath-taking views and greenery. During the monsoon months, the picturesque city enjoys a blend of cool winters and mild summer.

The pleasant weather calls of exploring the city’s attractions. The Ridge, Jakhoo, Mall Road, summer hill, Himalayan
Bird Park, and Gorton Castle are some of the best places to visit in Shimla.

Top 3 Things to Do to Enjoy Winters in India

Cool and refreshing winter months call for doing fun activities, travelling to and exploring new places, and most importantly, spending good time with your close ones.

There’s so much you can do during winters in India. From experiencing super chilly weather to exploring various tourist attractions, India offers winter fascinations beyond your wildest imaginations.

Here is a list of some of the top things to do during winters in India:

Head up to Darjeeling

Are you and your friends adventure freaks who prefer doing activities filled with adrenaline? If yes, then you should definitely visit Darjeeling, one of the most beautiful hill towns in India. The town enjoys super cold winter months. When visiting the town during winters, you cam enjoy stunning views of snow-clad mountains. Christmas in Darjeeling is specially beautiful.

You’ll enjoy a gala time during winters in Darjeeling even if it doesn’t snow as you can get outdoors and make the most out of chilly days by visiting popular tourist attractions in the town, including Peace Pagoda, Chowrasta, Shrubbery Gardens, Happy Valley, Rock Garden, 20 Tibetan Monasteries and Mahakali Mandir (temple). You can even take hikes, rent mountain bikes, or even experience a daring ropeway ride. When booking a hotel in Darjeeling, make your stay at the Windamere Hotel to enjoy the English charm of the town.

Chill out in Shimla

If you think winter months are no fun without snowfall, the you should definitely visit Shimla as the city enjoys beautiful snowfalls during the winter season. The heavy snowfall enhance the scenic beauty of the hill station.

Given the chilly weather, even the simplest of the activities, such as sipping on tea, becomes fun and memorable.Some of the best places to explore in Shimla include Mall Road, Jakhoo, The Ridge, Scandal Point, state museum, Himalayan Bird Park, and Summer Hill.

Enjoy in Delhi

Winter months are a great respite in Delhi from the scorching summer days. Winter is the best time to visit Delhi as it is the perfect season of the year to fully explore the city. Delhi is popular all over India for its quirky charm; the city blends glitters of modernness with confluences of old Mughal traditions.

When in the city, make sure to visit Red Fort, Raj Ghat, India Gate, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Old Delhi, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Lotus Temple, JantarMantar, and Tughlaqabad Fort.

Stay in These Hotels and Take a Walk Back to The Raj Days

Colonial hotels are the perfect abode for travellers who prefer revelling in vintage architectures, soaking history and charm of the by-gone era. Luckily, there’s no shortage of vintage hotels that let you travel back in time.

Stay in these hotels and take a walk back to the Raj days:

1. Windamere Hotel – India

Located within the picturesque hill station, Darjeeling, Windamere Hotel is unmistakably the quintessential Colonial abode. It is one of those rare vintage hotels that has been restored and not renovated in order to preserve the pristine Colonial charm.

The architectural work of the Windamere Hotel is a blast from the Colonial past, from the Raj days. But that’s not just where the treat ends; guests get to enjoy stunning vistas of the grand Himalayas and sloping hilly landscapes enveloped by emerald green tea plantation.  Learn more at http://windamerehotel.com.

2. Galle Face Hotel Colombo - Sri Lanka

Galle Face Hotel Colombo is undoubtedly a timeless grandeur. Facing the popular Galle Face Green and situated along the seafront, Galle Face Hotel Colombo is no less than an institution in Colombo.

The vintage hotel is rich in its traditional charm and allures visitors with its magnificent, by-gone architecture. Although the hotel was built in 1864, it has stayed true to its Colonial charm. When travelling to Sri Lanka, a visit to Galle Face Hotel Colombo is a must.

3. The Victoria Falls Hotel, Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe

Pristine Edwardian architecture and jaw-dropping views of the Victoria Falls, these are the two priceless gifts The Victoria Falls Hotel confers to every visitor. Built for accommodating workers on the Cape-to-Cairo railway in 1904, the British Colonial architecture has stood the test of time.

Apart from fascinating visitors with its age-old pristine architecture, the hotel offers all the modern sophistication for ensuring unparalleled convenience. From fooding options to rooms, every visitor leaves the hotel exhilarated.

4. Eastern & Oriental Hotel – Malaysia

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Eastern & Oriental Hotel is more than 100 years old. The Colonial hotel received major renovations during 1996 and 2001. As such, it offers best of both worlds; age-old Colonial charm as well as modern sophistication.

Also, the Eastern & Oriental Hotel is one of the Sarkies brothers’ creation. The Sarkies brothers established a number of luxury hotels across Asia back in the Colonial days.

Amazing Honeymoon Retreats Around the World

Romantic holidays don’t always have to be about candlelight dinners and pampering accommodations. There are a handful of honeymoon destinations around the world that have their own charm.

Planning for an amazing honeymoon trip? Here are some of the destinations that deserve a spot on your bucket list:

1. Darjeeling – India

If the idea of spending a honeymoon in a quaint and picturesque hill town excites you, then Darjeeling is the right honeymoon destination for you. Perched on the foothills of the Himalayas, Darjeeling is a town stuck in time.

The town attracts tourists from all over the world with its natural beauty and breath-taking views of the hilly landscapes. There are a number of fascinating tourist attractions you can visit when in town. Some of the popular ones include Peace Pagoda, Shrubbery Nightingale Park, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Rock Garden, etc.

To enjoy your honeymoon to the fullest, book your stay at Windamere Hotel, one of the finest honeymoon hotels in Darjeeling. Learn more at http://windamerehotel.com.

2. Bali – Indonesia

There’s no denying to the fact that Bali gets a spot in every travel connoisseur’s list of amazing destinations. But the Indonesian island fully deserves the fame as it is home to some of the pristine beaches that are blessed with surreal natural beauty.  Some of the beaches in Bali worth visiting include Jimbaran, Balangan Beach, Nusa Dua, Canggu, Seminyak, and Kuta.

3. Paris – France

Paris is the quintessential romantic destination visited by honeymooners, backpackers, and history buffs throughout the year.  Fine dining, classical music, city commuting – these are experiences worth enjoying in Paris.

Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame de Paris, The Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Palace of Versailles, Centre Georges Pompidou, Île de la Cité, and La Défense are some of the popular tourist attractions in the city.

4. Istanbul – Turkey

Up for experiencing a one-of-a-kind yet magical honeymoon? Head over to Istanbul where you’ll be mesmerised by stunning mosaics, narrow winding streets, and towering minarets.

There’s no shortage of ancient markets and palaces in the city. Some of the most popular attractions in the city include Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Taksim Square, Hippodrome of Constantinople, Spice Bazaar, and Maiden’s Tower.

5. Charleston – South Carolina U.S.

Home to laid-back Southern charm, historic ambience, and pristine gardens, Charleston is an ideal romantic destination. There’s a lot to see and do in the city. Some of the best places in Charleston to visit include City Market, Patriots Point, Charleston Harbour, Johns Island, Middleton Place, Johns Island.

World-Famous British Colonial Hotels

If there are perfect reminiscences of the by-gone era, then they are Colonial hotels. Colonial hotels have a quirky intrigue as they have remained as pristine as they were in the past; they can be the most appealing to history buffs.

Here’s a list of some of the world-famous British Colonial hotels that have stood the test of time:

1. Windamere Hotel, India

Windamere Hotel, located in the picturesque town, Darjeeling, is the finest British Colonial hotel in Indiahttp://www.windamerehotel.com/ and across the globe. Windamere Hotel is one of the few Colonial hotels that has remained true to its heritage. The Colonial hotel, once a summer boarding house for English and Scottish tea planters, was restored (not renovated) to maintain the vintage English charm in pristine condition.

A visit to the hotel and you’ll surely get awe-inspired by the vintage English exterior/interior decor and conduct. Windamere Hotel is also popular for its warm hospitality; guests get to enjoy both continental and local cuisines of Darjeeling. Another factor that sets Windamere Hotel apart from other Colonial hotels is the spectacular view of the mountainous skyline- the third highest snow capped mountain of Kanchenjunga. Book your stay at Windamere Hotel and experience Colonial charm at its best. To know more, visit http://windamerehotel.com.

2. The Eastern & Oriental, Malaysia

The Eastern & Oriental best highlights the Colonial charm of Malaysia with its quintessential Colonial architecture.  The Eastern & Oriental is not just a hotel but a historical building in the city.
The Eastern & Oriental is popular for its Victorian-era essence. A step inside the Colonial hotel and you’ll be amazed by the interior works.

3. The Fullerton, Singapore

The Fullerton, apart from being quintessential Victorian-era architecture, is also an iconic building in Singapore. If you want to spend a fairytale-like honeymoon and still prefer to be connected to the world, then The Fullerton hotel is the right choice for you.

Apart from the pristine architectural work of The Fullerton, guest get to enjoy modern facilities. In a nutshell, The Fullerton is a combination of vintage charm and modern convenience.

4. Raffles, Singapore

Raffles is the connoisseurs’ choice when it comes to picking out the best Colonial hotels. The Colonial hotel welcomes tourists of all likes, including honeymooners and history buffs. Raffles offers some of the best suites and dining options.