5 Top Summer Holiday Ideas

Here are some ideas where you can enjoy a mix of history and heritage while quietly savouring the charms of nature

Sign Up For A Heritage River Cruise

Enjoy a captivating seven-day river journey along the Ganga on a trip outfitted with everything you need. Spread across three levels, this spacious high-ceilinged floating hotel has 28 state-of-the-art cabins with excellent river views, cosy sitting areas, a lounge and bar, a sun deck, a spa and gym, and French balconies with floor-to-ceiling glass doors. All the rooms contain works of art, including hand stencils on walls, copies of famous old Calcutta paintings, and murals in traditional style. Boarding from Kolkata, you will cruise along a route lined with historical, architectural or spiritual attractions, a village market, a weavers’ colony, or a crafts village. A feeder boat ensures smooth transfer between the main ship and the landing points along the shores.

Get more info here: https://www.antaracruises.com/ganges-voyager/

Take A Break In A Restored Dutch Tavern On The Hooghly

In 1786, the British innkeeper James Parr opened the Denmark Tavern & Hotel in Serampore, which soon became a famous hangout for the European population in this riverside town close to Kolkata. The heritage building has been recently restored and thrown open to the public. Operated by The Park Hotels group, there is a restaurant and bakery on the ground floor. Although little is known about the founding of the tavern, a March 1786 advertisement in the Calcutta Gazette says that a certain Mr Parr, formerly owner of London Tavern, opened the Denmark Tavern and Hotel in Serampore. Being located on the riverfront, right opposite the British cantonment of Barrackpore, the advertisement said that “Gentlemen passing up and down the river may be accommodated with breakfast, dinner, supper, and lodging, and may depend on the charges being very reasonable.” Book a stay in this atmospheric tavern by the Hooghly, and explore this former Dutch colony known for its association with the advent of printing and publishing in Bengal.

Read more about river retreats in Kolkata here: https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/70610/have-you-been-to-these-river-retreats-near-kolkata

Get more info here: https://www.theparkhotels.com/the-denmark-tavern/

Explore The Heart Of India’s Tea Territory

About an hour’s drive from Darjeeling town, the Glenburn Tea Estate and Boutique Hotel will transport you to life on the slow lane. The Burra Bungalow is a restored planter’s home with sweeping views of the magnificent Kanchenjunga. Sip some GI-tagged Darjeeling tea on the pretty verandah. Indulge in massage therapy with Darjeeling Green Tea Oil, followed by a Green Tea bath soak or a steam treatment. Go hiking around the surrounding hills and get a reflexology session with a foot soak. And take advantage of the tea tour, where you will be taken through tea gardens and the factory, collecting nuggets of tea trivia from your guide along the way. If you are not up for walking, you can opt for a vehicle with brief halts at several points of interest on the tea trail.

Read more about Darjeeling tea estates here: https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/73321/weekend-breaks-5-tea-garden-stays

Get more info here: https://www.glenburnteaestate.com/

Back To Nature At A Forest Farm

A mere 100 km from Mumbai, Van Vadi is a regenerated, natural “forest-farm.” With a pristine environment, it is the ideal place to learn about biodiversity and sustainable living. It is a three-hour drive from Mumbai, located in the foothills of the Sahyadri range in the Western Ghats. The sprawling 65-acre land with over 90 per cent tree cover hosts an organic farm and several water bodies. Once a barren stretch of land, it is a lesson in forest regeneration and rainwater harvesting. It is home to over 120 traditionally useful plant species, including 52 varieties of forest foods. You can check their Facebook page for updates on workshops and forest walks where experienced Adivasi elders highlight traditional plant species and forest foods.

Get more info here: https://www.instagram.com/vanvadiforest/?hl=en