The disease that first came to light in December from china has now spread to the whole world. Many lives have fallen prey to this deadly outbreak. None of us could have even imagined that the year 2020 would turn out to be so drastic. It is one of the most unforeseen circumstances that the world has ever faced. Amidst the chaos, some of us had to drop all our holiday plans. With gradual ease of lockdown restrictions, international holidays could be out of the picture for a while. Here are some lush green mountains and serene beaches back home that could cover up for your travel plans post-pandemic.

Gangtok, Sikkim

Gangtok the capital city of Sikkim is a cosmopolitan town located at a height of 5500ft. it consists of a mix of cultures and communities and offers a wide variety of amenities for tourists like cafes, nightclubs and shopping malls. Its mesmeric attraction is the khangchendzonga national park which harbours a wide range of rare species of plants and animals and is home to a diverse group of birds, wild trees and various flowering plants. A cable ride from Deorali to Tashiling offers an aerial perspective of the khangchendzonga range with an overview of the valley below and the Gangtok town which will not disappoint you.

Guwahati, Assam

Guwahati is an ideal place if you wish to have a peaceful vacation but still be present amongst civilization. You can visit the Lord Shiva temple and seek his blessings at the kamakhya temple. Keep your kids entertained by paying a visit to the clouded leopards, exotic llamas and ostriches at the hengrabari reserved forest which is a zoo cum botanical garden. In the evening, you can cruise along the Brahmaputra River and catch glimpses of the sunset. And end the night by treating yourself to a scrumptious meal involving the traditional barbeque called the khorika and payash, a sticky rice pudding that will leave you in awe.

Dimapur, Nagaland

The capital of Nagaland which is known to be the fastest-growing city shares its border with Assam. Dimapur consists of monuments of great archaeological value which are currently in a state of ruin. It used to be an ancient capital of the kachari tribe, you can find the remnants of this kingdom scattered across the town’s ruins. You can pay a visit to the expert weavers and craftsman in the diezephe craft village and witness the fine artwork in wood, bamboo and cane. Besides the fine arts, you can even visit the rangapahar reserve forest that houses a wide variety of birds and animals like squirrels, tigers, woodpecker, hornbill, robin etc.

Butterfly Beach, Goa

Butterfly beach is an ideal spot for couples who are looking for some peace and quiet. The semi-circular beach can only be accessed by a boat ride either from Agonda or Palolem. Travellers can even choose to hike from Palolem. Butterfly beach is a beautiful beach with clear waters which makes it great for spotting variety of exotic butterflies and not to mention its marine life involving sea urchins, goldfishes, crabs, dolphins and redfish. Its main attraction involves an amazing view of the beautiful sunset ever. Travellers can also enjoy sunbathing, rock climbing, boat riding to the nearby beaches and occasional rave parties.

Gahirmatha, Odisha

Tucked amidst the mangrove forests of Odisha and Bay of Bengal, Gahirmatha beach is part of the only marine wildlife sanctuary known for harbouring olive ridley sea turtles from October to May, which is their breeding period. The beach can be accessed through a boat ride along the mangroves. The stretched out the coastline and the sandy shores are perfect for beachside activities. Travellers can also pay a visit to the nearby Bhitarkanika national park. They can accommodate themselves in jungle resorts on the city side of the forest. The turtles are the main attraction for all the travellers from across the globe.

Guitar Island, Andaman

Amongst the Andaman and Nicobar group of islands, Guitar Island is one of rarest visited beaches with an average temperature of 22 degree Celsius. This island derived its name due to its guitar-shaped form. The island remains neat and clean due to its lack of inhabitation by the tribes and villagers. Tourists can experience a bird’s eye view of the island by taking a seaplane ride. The island remains dry from October to February which makes it ideal for visiting because the skies are clear and the seawater as well. Tourists can enjoy a variety of recreational activities like island hopping, snorkelling, swimming, fishing, and kayaking etc. a visit to this touristy island could make your trip memorable.

Rann of Kutch, Gujarat

Rann of Kutch located in the Thar Desert is one of the world’s largest salt deserts. It is ideal to visit the Rann of Kutch during winter months where the weather will be pleasant and good for sightseeing. If you plan on visiting the Rann of Kutch during the Rann festival that is held annually, you will have access to the best luxury accommodations very close to the white desert. For example, the white Rann resort offers mud bhungas and air-conditioned tents. The tourists can also go on sightseeing tours and visit nearby places such as the Mandhavi beach, Dhordo and Dholavira etc. In the case of shopping, the tourists can explore a wide variety of stalls set up by the local artisans and craftsman.