Great winter travel destinations in India
As we come out of our shells from the lockdown, our minds turn to travel to get us through the winter doldrums. The gray skies might bring us down, but daydreaming about holidays away is one way to make the gray a bit easier to handle. When we think of winter holidays, most of the time, two types of holidays come to mind; a beach getaway or a ski holiday.
Luckily, there are some spots in the world where this is possible in one country. A holiday to India is so intriguing because it is such a vast and culturally rich land, that anything is literally possible. The Indian visa can be easily applied for online, and only takes a matter of minutes.
If your whole family, or good friends are going to be experiencing this with you, then you can apply for multiple Indian visas on one application to make it easier. By applying for multiple visas at once, you save a lot of time filling in the information for the visa for each and every person.
As you wait for your Indian visa to be processed, you can find out more about different places throughout India that are considered essential places to visit in the winter months.
Some of these destinations are obvious, such as the beach-side, hippie havens such as Goa and Kovalam, these spots have earned their hot spot destination status due to their marvellous beaches and laid back lifestyle. Many also insist that winter is the idea time to just city hop through busy, bustling cities that might be much warmer in the summer months. Cities like Udaipur and Jaipur experience sunny skies and beautiful weather that is perfect for spending the day sightseeing.
Gulmarg
For those who want to get away, but actually make use of the cold, winter months, then there are many spots in northern India that fill that need just perfectly. There are many towns in the Indian part of the Himalayas that offer lovely ski possibilities, and the most famous is Gulmarg. Gulmarg is considered by many avid skiing enthusiasts as a world-class ski resort. It is about 90 minutes from Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport (also known as Srirangar Airport) by car. This airport has direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai. When applying for your Indian visa, it is important to check the Indian visa requirements regarding which airports you are allowed to fly into with your visa.
There are slopes for every type of skier, including six bunny slopes with different gradients and levels for beginners, and quite a few higher slops that will make the professional skiers quite happy. Luckily, this area also has ski rental stores in case you don’t want to have to travel with your own equipment.
It also boasts one of the highest cable cars in the world, the Gulmarg Gondola. This gondola goes up a distance of 2.7 km, once atop, you’re 3,980 metres high, almost to the peak of Mt. Apharwat. The snow is also considered to be a great powder consistency, perfect for picky ski enthusiasts. And there is quite a good focus on safety and protection from avalanches. There is a ski patrol, including snow scientists and avalanche specialists who are trained for many type of emergency scenarios.
As for staying in this area, the most coveted is the high-end Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa, a 5-star luxury hotel just a few steps from the gondola. There are also many places to rent cottages in the snow-clad mountains in the surrounding pine forests, adding to the winter wonderland feeling.
Rann of Kutch Utsav (festival)
Kutch is a district in the Gujarat state in the west of India. What is special about travelling to Kutch in the winter is the Rann of Kutch, which is wetlands for a large part of the year. In the winter, the water recedes, and the white sands become visible, and many gather to celebrate the very special festival Rann of Kutch Utsav.
A tent city is formed on the now dry white sands, and many gather to celebrate the nature, the culture and the hospitality of this area. The most special nights are the full moon. It is said that witnessing Rann of Kutch during the full moon is something you will never forget. The moon lights up the night sky and the white sand glows radiantly under the moonlight. Guests enjoy all of this while staying in the lavish tents put up every year for this occasion.
During the Rann of Kutch there are many group activities such meditation, yoga, and things like parasailing and biking. There are camel safaris across the vast salt deserts as well. One of the biggest highlights is the cultural arts and crafts on display, visitors can engage with the artisans while they make embroideries, tie-dye, pottery, henna tattoos and countless other artistic trades.
This is a shopper’s paradise, and it is even more rewarding because the people making these items are true artisans there to enjoy as well. There is also a culinary aspect to the festival. Food and hospitality are a main theme, and a lot of traditional Kutch dishes are available to try, especially winter time dishes. There will also be performances and dancing well into the night.
Any of these holiday ideas will help fight off those winter blues, whether it's by leaning into the winter with a snow filled ski holiday, or by embracing the colour and warmth of a desert festival, travelling through a bustling city or basking on a beach. India certainly has it all, and getting there can be made a lot easier by applying for your visa online. You can see if you qualify for the Indian visa, in which case you can skip quite a few steps. Some qualifications for the Indian visa include stating your reason for your trip, and having a passport that is valid for six months upon arrival in India.
Find out more here.