December Destinations

If all-night parties aren’t your thing, head to historic sites or hills and dales for your winter break from the city and ring in the new year in solitude, with long walks in calm lanes or misty woods. 

- Anita Rao Kashi

With the year drawing to a close and the mercury heading southwards, the air inevitably becomes thick with the holiday spirit. There come to mind misty mornings, nippy evenings, crisp breezes, roaring fires, snuggling under quilts, hot tea and spicy snacks. The end of the year is also the time to head out for that one last vacation, especially to enjoy the cold weather. India’s vastness and topographical diversity mean that there’s something for every kind of soul to visit in winter. If you are racking your brains for inspiration, here are some options picked from the far corners of the country.

Mawlynnong Meghalaya In Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills, amidst the lush green hills and valleys is the little village of Mawlynnong, about 80 km south of the capital, Shillong. The village is rather surprising—as you enter, it is evident that it is spic and span. Mawlynnong takes cleanliness very seriously and as far back as 2003, earned the tag of being the cleanest village in not just India but Asia. Staying in the village and walking around the clean, narrow lanes and soaking up the ambience of the bamboo houses on stilts framed by lovely hills in the background is a beautiful experience. Just how seriously the villagers take their cleanliness is evident from the abundance of bamboo baskets to collect waste spread throughout the village. They take it upon themselves to collectively follow the rules. Do go outside the village and look at the living root bridges, one of the living heritages of Meghalaya. Made of intertwined rubber plant roots and branches, these are bridges made by the locals and are a natural means of crossing streams and rivulets that flow through the entire region. There are also plenty of trekking paths, waterfalls and picturesque scenery to keep visitors occupied.