Vacationing in a Winter Wonderland
There are two types of people — those who await the winter with an ominous background score (like the Game of Thrones fans), and those who are jumping with joy and singing carols as the temperatures begin to drop. If you’re one of the latter, we assume you certainly long for a White Christmas. And even if it is impossible for it to snow in this part of the country, you can always pack your bags, gather your loved ones, and set off on a magical vacation to experience a winter wonderland. Now before you dismiss this as an extravagant trip abroad that would break the bank, read on to find out about some cost-effective domestic destinations that will let you enjoy winter in all its glory.
DELIGHTFUL DESTINATIONS
In a tropical country like India, while temperatures may take a steep dip, only some regions allow you to experience snow. The Winter is fantastic for sightseeing, tours and adventure activities. Ramesh Ramanathan, chairman and managing director, Sterling Holidays, says, “India is blessed with breathtaking destinations that can be enjoyed seasonally. Iconic destinations in India to experience snowfall include Manali (December - March), Srinagar (December - March), Kufri (November - March), Nainital (November - February), Darjeeling (October - December), Shimla (January - February), Gangtok (December - March), and Gulmarg (December - March).”
Indian travellers have always shown an interest in holidays to experience snowfall, winter sports and spectacular winter vistas. Rajeev Kale, president and country head - holiday, MICE, visa, Thomas Cook India Limited, says, “We have witnessed an 18-20 per cent growth in demand for destinations such as Darjeeling, Gangtok, Manali, Mussoorie, Shimla, Auli among others. Hill stations in India do see an uptake even in the winter months, especially from Indians who have never experienced snowfall before.”
Daniel D’souza, president and country head, leisure, SOTC Travel, adds, “Rohtang Pass is also a popular destination where Indian travellers are looking to experience the magic of snow (October - December), Ladakh (January - February), Dalhousie (November - February), and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh (December - February).”
The winter experience amidst the beauty of snow-covered landscapes has been fuelling holidays to a number of off-beat destinations. Says D’souza, “Spiti is another hidden gem of Himachal Pradesh. Located at an altitude of 14,931 ft, it has a uniquely challenging but picturesque scenery. Also known as Little Lhasa, Mcleod Ganj is a charming town situated near upper Dharamsala that is extremely popular among trekkers for its serene magnificence. Its culture is a beautiful blend of Tibetan with hints of British influence. The other towns near Dharamsala, such as Bhagsu Nag and Kangra are all situated very close to each other, and hence, we recommend tourists to cover each of these destinations while travelling here.”
An interesting trend according to the SOTC India Holiday Report 2019, brought out by SOTC Travel after completing 70 years in India, is that the destination has now become the most important holiday influencer for travellers across all age groups. It mentions that 49 per cent of Gen Z (4-24 years), 44 per cent of Gen Y (25-39 years), 39 per cent of Gen X (40-54 years) and 33 per cent of senior citizen (55 years and above) travellers have stated that exploring new destinations is a major reason for them to go on a holiday.
The report also talks about the evolution of the Indian traveller across seven decades, segregated on the basis of their holiday preferences, research, booking and finance. It recognises six primary archetypes of travellers in India that have developed over the last five years — the budget-friendly traveller, who looks for a meticulously planned tour to cover as many sites as possible within the available time and budget with their family, the convenience-seeker, who opts for extensively planned and convenient, easy, and transparent travel planning, the family-memory-builder, who uses holidays to strengthen family bonds and so seeks a combination of sightseeing and flexibility, the explorer, who looks for a wide range of unique local experiences, the mellow vacationer, who are mostly couples looking for low-key experiences at a relaxing pace to unwind without their kids and all other stress, and senior citizens who have considerably more free time on their hands to feed their eagerness to discover new places or enjoy the company of their loved one. But no matter which category of traveller you belong to, you can head to one of these beautiful winter wonderlands to destress and soak in the crisp chill, make lots of memories with your friends and families or just escape to a snowy paradise all by yourself.
ENCHANTING EXPERIENCES
Kale observes a strong demand from the company’s clientele to indulge in adventure activities. “Nature lovers want to soak in the snow-clad sights while outdoor-adventure seekers want to indulge in activities such as skiing, sleighing and snowboarding among others,” he says.
“For skiing in India, Auli in Uttarakhand is the perfect destination to experience winter and the beautiful snow. Despite being lesser known than Shimla, Gulmarg, or Manali, Auli is rapidly becoming one of the best ski resorts in the country. On the other hand, Gulmarg is also the winter adventure sports capital in Kashmir. Here, a variety of adventurous activities such as skiing, ice hockey, ice skating, snowboarding and so on, are available. Furthermore, the cable-car ride is another attraction that lets you experience the panoramic view of majestic snow-capped mountains. Hot air balloons and heli-skiing, which is off-trail, downhill skiing or snowboarding reached by helicopter instead of a ski lift, are other activities that are majorly recommended for travellers, to enjoy the grandeur of the snowy landscape,” says D’souza, continuing, “Sar Pass in Himachal Pradesh is absolutely breathtaking with its quaint little villages, lush meadows and the wide spread of Himalayan vegetation. Most groups arrange trekking expeditions along the Rohtang Pass, Solang valley, Kunzum Pass, Hampta Pass, and Bhrigu Lake.”
Coming to Sikkim, D’Souza tells us about some exciting winter festivals. “The Mangan Music Festival is a three-day musical extravaganza held from December 12 to 14 every year. Losoong, the Sikkimese New Year, is celebrated inside the Phodong and Rumtek monasteries on December 19. Losar, the Tibetan New Year, which is a three-day celebration with prayers, chanting, folk music, dance drama, and many diverse performances, will be on from February 24-26, 2020. And the Kayged Festival, which is celebrated in early December, is an excellent opportunity to witness the famous Cham dance of the masked monks in the monasteries,” says he.
Ramanathan points out that millennials are currently delving into the segment of experiential and exploratory travel. “Breaking from the monotony of a generic tour plan, young Indian travellers are now looking for something more personalised to satiate their wanderlust. They also wish to explore destinations like a local to get an authentic feel of the place. With an increasing appetite to avail cultural experiences of a particular destination, the home-away-from-home feeling has become an important trend amongst experiential and exploratory travellers. This type of travel essentially involves wanderlust seekers immersing themselves into local experiences by interacting with local crowds, gorging on local delicacies as well as street food, and partaking in known local activities, thereby creating personal memoirs,” says he.
“Tourism in and around these destinations (the North and the North East) is actually booming during the winters too. This active tourist influx during these months is majorly observed as most families prefer to optimise the holiday season to opt for a getaway and unwind. Moreover, a large number of Indian weddings take place around winters, making these destinations ideal honeymoon getaways for newly married couples. Their misty mornings and snow-veiled landscapes enhance their appeal as picturesque destinations for romantic winter getaways, along with hubs for family and friends to create eternal holiday memories,” adds Ramanathan.
EXPLORING ABROAD
In addition to all the places you can go to within India, you can also explore some breathtakingly beautiful international destinations. Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway are also top favourites among international destinations.
“Indian travellers are increasingly opting for holiday plans that let them discover and explore unique offbeat destinations, and soak in the culture and traditions. Japan, Norway, Iceland, Slovenia and Croatia, and Helsinki and Rovaniemi, are some of the experiential destinations recommended by us. Visitors can enjoy the autumn foliage with scenic cities and parks that are painted in crimson and gold, and take in the spectacular winter illuminations in Japan. For a breathtaking, unique experience, travellers can plan a holiday to witness the Northern Lights in Norway (September - December), and for a magical Christmas experience, they can opt to visit the famed Santa Claus village in Rovaniemi. Christmas markets are the reason many travellers visit Europe in winter,” says D’Souza.
