25 Summer Getaways

Start planning for your summer travel with this list of offbeat sustainable destinations

- Antara Chatterjee, Kartikeya Shankar, Shreya Cheema, Anuradha Sengupta, Priyanka Kapoor

As the heat of an Indian summer crescendos to a high, leaving the last of spring's chill behind, it's time to plan a holiday to escape the unforgiving weather. Whether it's finding a reclusive spot to unwind in the hills or foraging in the green wilderness of the Northeast, there are so many places you could explore, some new and some old.

This time we have curated a list of underrated, beautiful summer locales, which would not only highlight your travels in preserved picture postcard images but also save you from the guilt of increasing the pressures on our environment that usually comes with travel. While some destinations are green villages scattered about the country, others have stylish, sustainable models in place to keep the charm along with the planet's health. Make this summer all about exploration and nurturing nature.

1 KHONOMA, Nagaland

Picture this: You enter an idyllic village with winding roads and lush paddy terraces; you are in Khonoma, where people are warm, and the air is clean. Known as the first green village of Asia, Khonoma lies some 20 km away from Nagaland's capital, Kohima. Predominantly populated by the Angami Naga tribe, it is known as the "warrior village" for its fierce resistance during the British colonial period. Plan a visit here and take your pick from multiple hospitable homestays while learning the nature-dependent lifestyle of the locals. Go birdwatching and on nature trails to the Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS), where hunting is banned. This village is an exceptional example of just relaxing without set itineraries.

GETTING THERE: Dimapur is the nearest airport to the village and is well-connected to all major cities. You can take a cab from Dimapur to Kohima and then another to Khonoma.