Long weekends to look forward to in 2013

2012 is over, buddies! And what makes 2013 special, is the fact that the much dreaded and discussed apocalypse in the end of December 2012 did not happen. We are very much alive and kicking, so we should make the best of the life we have been blessed with. There’s a lot to do – and not just routine activities, but recreational as well. Its an opportunity to make the best of the long weekends in 2013 to visit different destinations in our country and rediscover the beauty of India all over.

Fog at India Gate in New Delhi . (Source: PTI)

Clear Sky at Gateway of India in Mumbai (Source: Kristen)

Its barely a week into January and the mercury continues to dip in the northern hemisphere. There’s a cold wave over India – its snowing in the hills, freezing in rest of North and Central India, quite cool in Bangalore and a pleasant warm weather in the coastal areas around Mumbai and Chennai. Who needs a further excuse to utilize opportunities to take a break over the weekend, far away from the ringing cell phone, beeping inbox, chaotic traffic and stress of daily life.

The calendar of 2013 has a lot of long weekends to plan for. You may need to take a day or two off from work, but when it is a question of a two day week end becoming four or five days at a stretch, no one would complain. The options to spend this spell of freedom are many: A holiday to rejuvenate oneself, or charge your batteries by just taking rest at home.  The key is planning and management of related matters such as funds, work loads, social commitments, etc.

Goa is a popular destination during the winter season. (Photo: Suchir Bhatia)

In the first month itself, Republic Day, January 26^th is a Saturday. But those who work five days a week need not feel cheated. Id – E – Milad is on January 25^th (Friday), so you have three days at a stretch. If the winter chill is bothering you, target the coastal areas. You can enjoy water sports in Goa, but make your bookings beforehand as the peak tourist season would have set in.

In West Bengal, Holi is known as Basant Utsav. The tradition of Basant Utsav, meaning Spring Festival was started by poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan, the University he founded. (Photo: DBC World)

Opportunity of another 5-day getaway would knock at your doors in March – Holi is on 27^th, a Wednesday and Good Friday is on 29^th. So if you take a leave on 28^th, you’ll get a continuous break. If you can manage to obtain leave on the 25^th and 26^th as well, you can club it with the prior weekend and have nine days at a stretch. Now, isn’t that exciting? You can plan for a long trip to your dream destination. The weather would be suitable for going anywhere. But since it’s the time of Holi, you may visit Uttar Pradesh, where the festival is celebrated with much fervor. You may also visit Shantiniketan in West Bengal, where a week long festival is held.

Shimla was declared as the summer capital of British India. (Source: Neeraj Kaushik)

The holiday mood gets a new boost in April with Ram Navmi on 19^th, a Friday. There is another holiday coming up on 24^th, Wednesday on account of Mahavir Jayanti. So, all you have to do is obtain leave on Monday – Tuesday or Thursday – Friday (or both) and plan for a trip to someplace nearby?

Vrindavan hosts hundreds of temples dedicated to the worship of Radha and Krishna and is considered sacred by a number of religious traditions. (Source: SRK)

The first day of May is a holiday on account of Labour Day. After two months of serious attempts to get back to the working mode, you have a month long of festivities. Id – ul – Fitr on August 9^th, Friday would liberate you with a long weekend. Independence Day, August 15^th is on the next Thursday, and Raksha Bandhan is on 20^th, the following Tuesday. I can sense your eyes lighting up, as you read this. To add to your happiness, Janmashtami is on 28^th, a Wednesday. All you have to do is plug in the gaps between these holidays to have not just “long weekends” but a “super long holiday”.  You can visit Mathura or Vrindavan during this time, where celebrations of Lord Krishna’s birthday is an event to look out for.

Dusshara is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. (Source: PTI)

When you may have finally pressed the accelerator to work, October 2^nd, Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, falls on a Wednesday. This year, Dusshera is on a Sunday, but as a compensation for this loss, Ashtami is on 11^th, a Friday. Id – ul – Zoha is on 16^th, a Wednesday, so you may take two days before or after to club it with the weekend.

Festivities linger in the air till Diwali, on 4^th November, Monday followed by Bhai Duj, the very next day. So, you get four days by default, and you may just run away into the hills. Discover hill stations in Himachal and Uttarakhand – the weather would be romantic, with a nip in the air, but comfortable.

Merry Christmas!!

December 25^th to January 1^st is the festive time when everyone wishes to enjoy.  Christmas (25^th December) is on a Wednesday, and the first day of 2014 is also a Wednesday. You can easily take off on 23^rd, 24^th, and 30^th, 31^st to begin celebrating right from 21^st!

While so many long holidays in 2013, you may be wondering about what to do, where to go, relax and enjoy, get value for money and all related aspects. Come to us at The Other Home. Tell us the time you want to travel, and we shall work out solutions according to your needs. Browse our website, identify your options, and tell us what is in your mind. Share your budget, the type of experience you are looking for, the details of your companions on the trip, etc and relax. Let our team handle the rest. We have a bounty of properties and tie-ups all over India, with rich experience in the tourism sector to strengthen our ability to serve you the best.

Enjoy 2013!!