What would be the ultimate leisure pursuit for urban dwellers? Probably a getaway far from the madding crowd, some place undiscovered, unexplored and not marked on the tourist radar. Preferred activities would be breathing in fresh mountain air, lazy walks, bonfires, and playing antakshari under starry skies.

Kotgarh, a charming little hamlet nestled in the hills of Shimla, is a dream destination for those who want to enjoy their time in the lap of nature. Just 16 km from the national highway that heads into the valley through Rampur and Kinnaur, Kotgarh offers magnificent views both of the snow-clad Himalayan peaks above and the mighty Sutlej 1,800 metres below.

Nestled in the wooden splendor of the Shivalik foothills at 6000 metres above sea level is the quaint and quiet town of Dagshai — untouched and unchanged as if in a colonial time wrap.

Beat the heat and get high on the mountain air amongst lush valleys, fruit orchards, brooks and streams as you step into a haven of tranquility in the laidback region of Sirmour.

Ritalli Dhillon

The notes of Lord Krishna’s flute and the hymns of devotees chanting his name resound in your audio, visual and neural sonics creating an aura of peace that remains within your being long after a visit to Mathura and Vrindavan.
Mathura is amongst the seven most holy cities in India and is mentioned in the epics. It was ruled by the Mauryas and later the Sunga dynasty and reached its cultural zenith under the Kushans.

Inhabited all through the year by a variety of resident birds and animals, and visited by hundreds of migratory birds, Sultanpur was declared a water-bird reserve in 1972. And it has only grown in popularity over the years.

To hear the song of the peacocks, and the calls of the sambhar deer, to watch the sun go down into the Aravallis as the lake waters shimmer like gold, drive 236 km south-west of Delhi.

In the Uttarkashi district, at an altitude of 3,048 metres, on the banks of the holy river Bhagirathi, neighbouring the Indo-Tibetan border, nestles the holy and pious city of Gangotri.

Haridwar — the gateway to the Hindu Gods and the holy abode of Lord Vishnu (Hari) — has been the centre of Hindu religion and mysticism for centuries.

This summer book yourself a train to Kathgodam or strap on your seat belt and get set for a six-hour drive from Delhi that will take you to the mesmerising tals (lakes) of India.