It’s that time of the year again when India in its entirety is gearing up for a long week of festivities. Diwali is fast approaching and schools have begun their annual break, while the multitude of preparations leading up to grand celebrations are already underway. However with a short-lived festive break that slips away all too fast, we’re back to the daily grind even before we know it.

Amidst a hectic festive schedule, squeezing in a short family trip is a great way to bring in the spirit of togetherness and spend some quality time with your loved ones. Whether you seek a quick getaway from the city’s crowds and chaos or wish to take the celebratory madness with you to a different city – we have a list of 5 great local destinations for a sparkling four-day weekend!

Goa

Driving distance from Mumbai: 609 km | Flight to Goa from Mumbai: 1hr 10m+

Spend an entire day at the beach, drive around the beautiful tropical locales or simply feast on this region’s endless seafood delicacies – you can never go wrong with Goa as a holiday option! The people of Goa celebrate Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) with much aplomb – several towns organize fairs, firecrackers light up the night sky and Goa’s culinary scene is lively as ever. During Diwali, Goa offers you a glimpse into its roots, which despite the dominant Portuguese culture, has still held on to the influence of its Hindu heritage through decades.

Alibaug

Driving distance from Mumbai: 100 km | Ferry from Gateway of India (Mumbai): 45-50 mins

Celebrate a peaceful Diwali break with your family lounging around your holiday home, building sandcastles on Alibaug’s picturesque beaches or going on an nature trail with your kids. Additionally, the Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary located here attracts birdwatchers, wildlife photographers and nature enthusiasts throughout the year. This quite Maharashtrian coastal town is a perfect destination for a lazy holiday away from the jazzy city celebrations.

Panchgani

Driving distance from Mumbai: 268 km

This quaint hill station truly comes alive during the Diwali week – a multitude of lanterns and diyas adorn homes and shops, while Panchgani’s streets are lit up with decorative lights. Local markets come alive with festive offerings and sweetmeats. Large families often drive down to Panchgani and rent holiday homes, taking the celebration with them away from the city.

Gokarna

Driving distance from Bangalore: 500 km | Driving distance from Goa: km

A popular destination for Hindu pilgrims and tourists alike, Gokarna makes it to the list of ideal vacation destinations for couples and groups of friends this Diwali. Preferred by people who enjoy long drives, this little town is located down-south in Karnataka, and is easily accessible from both Mumbai and Bangalore. Gokarna is a home to some of India’s most pristine beaches that are beautifully framed by the majestic Western Ghats. With water sports during the day and bonfires by the beach at night, it has a vibe of a laid-back, quieter Goa.

Aamby Valley

Driving distance from Mumbai: 110 km

Blessed with a great weather, Aamby Valley is made for the quintessential city-dweller who seeks a plush holiday. The best way to Aamby Valley is with the company of family and friends – the more, the merrier! Luxurious accommodation options of chalets, cottages, villas and cabanas – coupled with an array of adrenaline-pumping sporting activities – make India’s first planned hill city an exciting holiday destination.

So, have we triggered your wanderlust yet?

Goa, Alibaug and Panchgani are exclusive JenJon Holiday Home destinations. Make your enquiries here.

Written by Lynn Verghese for JenJon Retail & Services Pvt. Ltd. Images used in this post are taken under the Creative Commons Licenses. 

For city folk, the fascination with hill stations never cease to diminish. The sudden burst of green around you is happily welcomed when one isn’t too busy navigating his way to work and back – where the red taillights of hundreds of cars and rickshaws on the road almost always trigger a comment about the city’s pitiful state of affairs. For the average upper middle class Mumbaikar, the organised chaos of the city is reason enough to want to get away from Mumbai every once a while – and the calm of a hill station makes a strong case for it.

Tucked away in the expanse of the Western Ghats, Igatpuri is a quaint hill town located in the Nasik district of Maharashtra. For Mumbaikars who battle the combined forces of heat and humidity for most part of the year, they breathe a sigh of relief in lieu of the climatic perks of a higher altitude. This charming hill station may not see a quantum of visitors like Lonavala or Matheran do, but it is a verdant destination for those who seek a break from the pseudo-civilization.

Perhaps the most striking feature of the town is the dense green hills and valleys   surrounding it – Mother Nature is in all her glory here. Igatpuri stands proud as a hotspot for hikers, river rafters and adventure seekers. Bollywood filmmakers,   who love an exotic locale or two, often flock to Igatpuri to capture a stunning backdrop for the silver screen

While the best time to visit Igatpuri is between October and March. However, in   the months of June through August, when the unpredictable monsoons are in full force, this hill town witnesses a significant influx of travellers and pluviophiles who drive up to enjoy the abundance of pristine waterfalls and lakes around the Thal Ghat and Bhatsa River Valley.

If you happen to be a lover of history and architecture, the Tringalwadi Fort, now in ruins, sits at a height of 3000 ft. and is surroundedby the Sahyadri hill range, housing a small temple of Lord Hanuman. Similarly, the rusty Trimbakeshwar and Amruteshwar Temples and the Ghantadevi Mandir, each with their own old-world charm, are not to be missed. Devotees and photographers often throng to these sites for its scenic splendour.

Exotic locations, tranquility, mediation and soul-searching are all synonymous with each other – and Igatpuri rightly bears witness to it. The Vipassana International Academy, a.k.a., the Dharmagiri Meditation Centre, has taken Igatpuri as its home and draws in visitors from all over the world who enrol themselves in rigorous short and long term courses to learn the ancient Indian art of meditation. The backdrop of the Sahyadri hills against the stunning architecture of the Vipassana centre brings with it a certain oriental, mystical charm. The Academy is one of the world’s largest centers for the practice of Vipassana, very   aptly making use of the restfulness of this little town.

Sometimes, just breathing in some salutary air can alter your mind and body – and a hill station is a great destination for a gadget-free, family-friendly hiatus from the routines of the daily city life. Regardless of what your travel style or preferences are, the experience of a simple nature trail, a long drive to and fro, or even watching the sunset from the comfort of your hotel room, villa or private holiday home is multiplied two fold with nature’s exuberance surrounding you.

Igatpuri is in no means a developed tourist spot, although it does have a potential to be one. However, when you’re away from the mindless construction and commercial shadows of the city-sphere, you hope that the town’s simplicity is preserved the way it is.

Written by Lynn Verghese for JenJon Retail & Services Pvt. Ltd. All images are the property of JenJon Retail & Services Pvt. Ltd. 

JenJon Holiday Homes, a leader in the Managed Holiday Home sector, is here to provide travelers with options to stay in some of the best vacation destinations across the country’s west coast.

JenJon Holiday homes are located in beautiful, peaceful and natural surroundings. They are ideal breaks away from the noise, stress and pollution of city life. Whether you enjoy long walks and mountain drives, or prefer to swim in the ocean and bask on a quiet beach, JenJon has an ideal destination for you. We can provide the perfect place for you to experience and understand the true meaning of quiet – to read, meditate, or just gather your thoughts, or spend that long-needed quality time with family and friends.Your stay in a JenJon Holiday Home will give you an opportunity to bond with nature, immerse yourself in tranquility and return to your daily routine fully rejuvenated.

JenJon helps owners convert their beautiful second homes to income generating properties by allowing us to manage them as quality vacation homes.  While owners enjoy the privilege of using their second home at their discretion, JenJon ensures that their prized assets are safe with us.

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