TRAVEL SPECIAL........................ 4 off beat summer get aways

 4 off beat summer get aways





Watch pink flamingos, ride a horse, paraglide or seek a sanctuary in one of the oldest monasteries in the world.
This summer, head to these less-frequented destinations that are an ideal foil to the sweltering heat

Come summer, and the mountains beckon with crisp air, breathtaking views and a gentler pace of life. This vision of bucolic bliss is rudely decimated by the reality of traffic snarls and throngs of similar-minded visitors who flock to the hills every year. This year, avoid the tourist juggernaut and escape to less-frequented locales that are not yet under the radar of summer vacationers.
Whether you're an adrenaline junkie or a gastronome, a culture buff or an ardent bird-watcher, these four unspoilt destinations are an ideal foil to the summer heat, and the madding crowd.

PARAGLIDING AT BIR BILLING The rolling hills and valley meadows surrounding the villages of Bir and Billing paint a picture of pastoral idyll. The view is enticing but what's likely to hold your attention far more are the countless paragliders soaring on the thermals. This region in Himachal Pradesh is considered to be one of the finest paragliding destinations in the world ­ a claim buttressed by a 2,290-metre-high take-off point facing a vast plain. Wide-eyed flyers can soak in 360-degree views of snow-kissed Himalayas and picture perfect tea estates below. The best months for paragliding are March to the first week of June, October and Novem ber. You don't need to know how to fly: just hop on to a tandem glider along with an expert and enjoy the flight. If you're keen to learn the sport, enrol in the week-long course for beginners. Bir has adequate accommodation for visitors. There are fascinat ing monasteries and meditation centres to explore.
How to get there: The hamlet is a little over 500 km away from Delhi and around 80 km from Dharamsala.

FA R M S TAY IN COONOOR Like riding horses and listening to country mu sic? This is for all those cowboys-and-cow girls-at-heart who want a slice of the rustic, laidback life ensconced in a genuine tea estate in Coonoor. Sequestered amid the lush Nilgiris, these estates offer guests the chance to pick tea leaves (or oranges!), sip local blends like a connoisseur, go on horse rides, and then re treat into plush heritage cottages for a sundowner or two. Epicures can take short courses in organic cheese making. And when you've had your fill of the isolation, there's always an option of making a beeline for Ooty, which is a hop-skip-and-jump away from Coonoor.
How to get there: Coonoor is 71 km from Coimbatore (the closest airport) and connected by the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.

M ONASTERY CIRCUIT IN TAWANG Tucked away in the north-western edge of Arunachal Pradesh, near the Bhutanese and Tibetan border, Tawang is a heady brew of scenic beauty, Buddhist heritage and vibrant culture. Perched on a mountain, the town is encircled by peaks and a river gorge. The crowning glory is the citadellike Tawang Monastery, built in the mid-17th century, and considered to be one of the largest in the world. Lavishly embellished with murals, the monastery houses an eightmetre-high golden statue of the Buddha in the prayer hall, and ancient manuscripts in its library. Other monasteries to put on your itinerary include the Urgelling, Khinmey and Taktsang Gompas. Couple the monastery visits with an outdoor jaunt to the picturesque Sangetser Tso (lake), which was re-named Madhuri Lake after Hindi film actress Madhuri Dixit shot a song for the film Koyla there.
How to get there: The nearest airport at Tezpur is a beautiful drive of 360 km, while the closest railway station at Guwahati is 532 km away. To visit, domestic tourists require an Inner Line Permit and foreign visitors need a Protected Area Permit.

BIRD W ATCHING AT MALSHEJ GHAT Nestled in the Western Ghats, this mountain pass transforms into a verdant green paradise after the onset of the rains. Its misty hills are home to nu the rains. Its misty hills are home to nu merous waterfalls and offer picture-perfect trails for trekking and hiking. During the monsoon, the Ghat becomes a seasonal home for pink European flamingos, which flock to the Pimplagaon-Joga Dam every year. It is also a biodiversity hotspot, so watch out for various kinds of flora and fauna. The only accommodation here is the government-run guest house that may not offer much in terms of amenities, but makes up with its stunning views from its spectacular location on top of the hill.
How to get there: Malshej Ghat is 154 km away from Mumbai and 86 km away from Kalyan (the nearest railway station). By road, you can travel via Thane-Kalyan-SaralgaonVaishakhare.
Caution: The area is notorious for landslides. So, get an update on the road conditions before you leave.

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