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10 destinations you must
visit in September
Indians travel only
during the two big holidays summer and winter –and
festivals. But for all those who feel that
September is an odd month to plan
a holiday , think again. It's the ideal
month to indulge your inner wanderlust
as it is neither too hot
nor too cold; travel and stay are also inexpensive as it is
considered `off season'. We list 10
destinations -five local and five
international -where you
should pack your bags and head out to this month...
TOP FIVE INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS
WHERE: Munich, Germany
WHY: Oktoberfest
(September 19-October 4)
It may be called
Oktoberfest, but Germany's popular annual guzzler festival
begins in September. The Bavarian capital
comes alive as people from across
the world descend on Munich to drink, eat,
celebrate, and drink some more.
There's also a
fairground, parades, music and an agricultural show.
WHERE: Shanghai, China
WHY: Mid-Autumn Festival
The festival celebrates
the brightest moon of the year on September 27.
Head to the Shanghai
World Financial Center, which has the highest observation
deck in the world and you can gaze at the
moon and watch lanterns twinkle
in the night sky.You can even take a stroll
along the Bund and watch the
reflection of the moon
in the Huangpu River.
Where: Okavango Delta,
Botswana
Why: Wildlife-spotting
In September, the
Okavango River in Botswana vanishes into the Kalahari
Desert after flowing for over 1,600 kms from
the Angolan highlands.
The Moremi Game Reserve
is on the eastern side of the delta.
Since water levels at
this time of year are low, it's the best time to spot
African wildlife.
WHERE: La Rioja, Spain
WHY: Annual grape
harvest (third week of September)
La Rioja is Spain's wine
country and is home to several vineyards. Although
one can visit any time of the year,
September is when they have the annual
grape harvest. Logroño town's Fiesta de San
Mateo is a week-long celebration
that begins on September 21. During this
time, all of La Rioja assembles in the
town to watch the grape-crushing ceremonies
and, of course, drink plenty of
wine directly from traditional leather sacks
called botas. La Rioja is also home
to many mountain trails.
WHERE: Michigan, USA
WHY: Festivals
Early autumn is the best
time to visit the US as the weather is just right.
There are a number of
festivals in Michigan through the month, including
the Troy month, including the Troy Family
Daze, Boating and Outdoor Festival,
Made in Michigan Festival, Harvest Moon
Celebration, Oktoberfest Sterling
Heights, Victorian Festival, Romulus Pumpkin
Festival, Fall Fair, Davisburg
Heritage Festival, Russian Festival, Common
Ground Art Fair, DIY Street Fair,
Funky Ferndale Art Fair and Great Lakes Bat
Festival. Michigan borders four
lakes and has more beaches than the entire
east coast of the USA, so you can
also try your hand at lake surfing.
TOP FIVE DESTINATIONS IN INDIA
WHERE: Kaas Plateau,
Maharashtra
WHY: To watch the
flowers bloom
The Switzerland of
India, or Kaas Plateau in Satara, Maharashtra, transforms
into a flower carpet this time of the year.
The flowers are in full bloom in
September, after the
monsoon, making it the best time to make a trip there.
The plateau is home to
endemic, endangered plants; there are over 850
species of flowering
plants found here.
WHERE: Ziro, Arunachal
Pradesh
WHY: Ziro Music Festival
The Northeast is popular
for many music festivals, and one that cannot be
missed is the Ziro Music Festival, held in
Arunachal Pradesh's Ziro.
The four-day event begins on September 24
and will see 35 top bands from
the country like Thermal and a Quarter,
Dualist Inquiry, The Pilgrim, Neel &
The Lightbulbs and Digital Suicide performing.
There is also a camping area
with a host of activities. Visitors are also
treated to folk acts from across the
Northeast.
WHERE: Jaipur
WHY: Shopping festival
The Jaipur Shopping
Festival is a haven for shopaholics. Touted as India's
biggest shopping festival, it also has a
range of other activities such as
Hasya Kavi Samela, a
theatre fest, Ravan Dahan, Ghazal Night, international
music and dance performances, a polo cup, a
golf cup and a Diwali carnival.
The month-long festival is on now, making it
the perfect time to plan a visit
to the desert state.
WHERE: Kovalam
WHY: Surfing
Kerala has some of the
most pristine beaches in the country that attract
hordes of surfers. September is the best
time to catch waves at Kovalam,
with waves getting as high as eight feet.
Novices can get basic training at the
surf club there, where an introduction class
begins at `1,000.
The internationally
renowned beach has three adjacent crescent beaches,
so once you are done
surfing, you can pamper yourself with a herbal massages
or soak in the culture with special cultural
programmes and catamaran cruising.
WHERE: Valley of Flowers
WHY: To watch the
flowers bloom
The Valley of Flowers
National Park in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, is a sight
to behold. The national park is open only
till the end of September, and it is
the best time to visit
as all the flowers are in full bloom now.Situated in West
Himalaya, it is known for its meadows of
endemic alpine flowers.
The national park is also home to rare and
endangered animals such as the
Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, musk deer,
red fox and blue sheep
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Dhwani Desai
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BT17SEP15
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