Good friends love to hear your travel stories but best friends make them with you. Few experiences in life are better than travelling with your besties. This summer, take your camaraderie to a whole new level and make memories you’ll hold onto for a lifetime. We’ve got summer trip recommendations for you and your BFFs. By Karan Kaushik
Strengthen your bond with your besties on these summer trips
Malana
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If you and your party-loving besties have already been to Kasol, plan a trip to Malana this time. With its outlandish customs and peculiar residents, the ancient village tickles the fancy of every inquisitive traveller. It is said that Malana is one of the oldest democratic systems in the world. Nestled in the Parvati Valley, Malana lies isolated from the rest of the country, in the shadow of Chanderkhani and Deo Tibba. Famous the world over for Malana Cream, a high-quality breed of cannabis, Malana will impress you with its untrammelled landscapes and warm people. Visit the Jamlu Devta Temple, which stands in the heart of the quaint village. Appreciate the scenic beauty and go camping at the serene Magic Valley. Take a walk around the village and meet the locals, who believe that they are the descendants of Alexandar The Great. Malana is all about sweet little pleasures.
Lachen-Lachung
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Undoubtedly the most stunning part of Sikkim, North Sikkim’s Lachen and Lachung will leave you smitten with their otherworldly beauty and Japanesque landscapes. From the magnificent Gurudongmar Lake to the beautiful Yumthang Valley to Zero Point, North Sikkim offers incredible experiences. The alpine villages of Lachen and Lachung have become plastic-free under the traditional autonomous system of self-governance or Dzumsa. Most inhabitants belong to Bhutia, a community of Sikkimese people of Tibetan ancestry. An outsider has to obtain a permit from Gangtok to visit these villages. Do visit the Chungthang gurudwara on your way to Lachen from the North Sikkim headquarters at Mangan.
Mount Abu
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Visiting Rajasthan in the scorching heat may not sound appealing, but Mount Abu is different. Considered the ‘Oasis of the desert’, the only hill station of the royal state is situated in the Aravalli Hills. Unlike every other city in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is away from the heat and dunes. Besides its exceptional natural charm, Mount Abu is known for its lakes and Jain and Hindu temples from the time between the 11th to 13th centuries. Popular attractions include Nakki Lake, Dilwara Jain Temples, Guru Shikhar Point, Shiva Temple, Mira Temple, and Chamundi Temple. If you have a few days extra, you may also fancy adding Udaipur to the itinerary.
Sandakphu Trek
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A trek to the highest peak in West Bengal, Sandakphu, rewards you with incredible views of Mount Everest and oodles of adventure. Located in Darjeeling, it is the highest point of the Singalila Ridge on the West Bengal-Nepal Border. The trek begins at an altitude of 2,286 metres and ascends to a staggering 3,636 metres at Sandakphu, taking you through several beautiful landscapes along the way. The word Sandakphu translates to ‘height of the poison plants’, after the poisonous aconite plants here. The Sandakphu trek starts from Manebhanjan, a quaint village near Darjeeling, and is considered a moderate trek in terms of difficulty. The route takes you through the scenic Singalila National Park, home to extensive rhododendron forests and breathtaking views of the eastern Himalayas.
Srinagar
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Give Manali and Shimla a break and head to Srinagar for one of your summer trips. Home to the spectacular Dal Lake and gorgeous Mughal gardens, Srinagar will make you fall in love with the mountains all over again. Enjoy a shikara ride in the Dal, go shopping at Lal Chauk, seek blessings at the Hazrat Bal mosque, and plan a photo session at Badaamwari Park. To collect souvenirs and buy the famous saffron of Kashmir, head to the vibrant Meena Bazar. If you and your besties are architecture enthusiasts, do visit Makhdoom Sahib, Naqshband Sahib, Jamia Masjid, and Khanqah-e-Moula. Serene yet bustling, these places will introduce you to the pulsating beat of the city.
Kaziranga
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Picture yourself and your friends sitting atop an elephant and soaking in the serenity of nature during a morning safari. Sounds fun, right? Make it happen at Kaziranga. Home to the largest population of one-horned rhinoceros, Kaziranga National Park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s regarded as one of the finest wildlife refuges in the world and is home to several mammals, including tigers, elephants, wild water buffalo, bears, and aquatic species such as the Ganges River Dolphin. Apart from that, the park has been contributing to saving the Indian one-horned rhinoceros from the brink of extinction. Including Guwahati and its famous Kamakhya Temple in your itinerary could be fun, too.
Valley of Flowers
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If quietude is what you seek this summer, head to the stunning Valley of Flowers. Trekking this valley, you and your friends will be cherishing Himalaya’s most mesmerising panorama of carpets of flowers woven in a riot of tints, shielded by the sturdy snow-capped Nanda Devi Parbat with the gushing Pushpawati River flowing from the middle. A UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the Valley of Flowers National Park usually remains open for visitors from June through October. The rich diversity of the area translates to the rare and endangered animals, including the ever-evading snow leopard, blue sheep and black bear, that call this place home. Club your trip with Hemkund Sahib and Nanda Devi National Park.
Roopkund Trek
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Looking forward to a thrilling experience in the mountains? Go for the Roopkund Trek in Uttarakhand. The trek is famous for its glacier lake, locally known as ‘Mystery and Skeleton Lake’. It gets its name from the human skeletons from the Paleolithic age that can be seen at the bottom of the lake when the snow melts. At an altitude of 5,029 metres, this trek begins and ends at Lohajung and has challenging terrain that runs along with the Bedni Bugyal grasslands and offers stunning views of snow-capped Himalayan peaks. Other highlights of this trail include large expanses of alpine meadows, experiencing the rich Pahari culture of the villages in the area, and visiting Bhagwabasa and Bedni Kund.
Kamshet
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Are you and your BFFs always up for an adventure? Visit Kamshet. The quaint hill station in Maharashtra is a haven for paragliding enthusiasts. Just a few hours from Mumbai, you can enrol in one of the many flying schools, which offer two to four days of all-inclusive paragliding courses. Spend your trip paragliding amidst the picturesque hills of the Western Ghats and return with your tale of thrill. You can indulge in some relaxing kayaking too. If paragliding isn’t your cup of tea, Kamshet has other notable spots, like Dhak Bahiri Caves, Bedse Caves, Pawna Lake, and Shinde Wadi hills.
Chikmagalur
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If you and your besties share a mutual love and admiration for coffee, Chikmagalur is nothing short of a paradise. The rolling hills of Chikmagalur and the rains make for the perfect setting for growing coffee. This picturesque hilly landscape is home to charming waterfalls and sylvan hills. Beat the heat in the plunge pool beneath the frothy Jhari Falls. Drive to Mullayanagiri Peak, the highest peak of the Chandra Drona Range. Visit Panduranga Coffee Works on MG Road to stock up on the mandatory supply of Chikmagalur coffee. And don’t forget to pay homage to Baba Budan, who is credited to bring coffee to India. His tomb is at Baba Budan Giri. Manikyadhare Falls is also popular among the locals.
