Indian tourism: How to beat the summer heat and rush by travelling to THESE less crowded destinations in India
The scorching heat is driving travel enthusiasts to explore India's northern belt for some respite, but it is leading to over-tourism. Be different and stay away from the rush by visiting destinations which may be less frequent, but offer panoramic views and exciting experiences. A slew of affordable international destinations are wooing Indian travelers, but within India, there are myriad options of summer havens that are perfect for a vacation. India has an abundance of green and exquisite locations, says Daniel D'souza, President and Country Head, Leisure, SOTC Travel.
Rashmi Chadha, Founder, Wovoyage, told IANS: "Over-tourism is currently happening in north India because most destinations have frequent visits by travellers and new destinations get left out due to their infrastructure which is not much developed for mass tourism."
Chadha, whose travel startup is aimed at women travellers, said people must explore offbeat locations, and the rise of homestays and small guesthouses which can be easily booked online, is only giving the option a push. "I"ll suggest Karnataka can be a good option to travel in June. There are places like Karwar and Agumbe, which is even called as Cherrapunji of South. As an alternative to overcrowded destinations in India, I would suggest exploring Khajjiar in Himachal Pradesh, Siliguri in West Bengal, Palani Hills on the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
"Instead of beaches in Goa, try to visit the region of Daman and Diu, and instead of Alleppey in Kerala, go to Munroe Island. Enjoy nature and peace in holidays," she suggested.
According to Rajeev Kale, President and Country Head - Holiday, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd, there is quite a demand for beach destinations.
"While hill stations continue to remain popular, this year we have also seen a 15 to 18 percent demand over the last year for beach destinations and amusement parks as well. Beaches such as Kovalam in Kerala, Goa, coastal Maharashtra, Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu have seen an increase in demand," Kale told IANS.
As for a quick getaway, families are also looking at adventure and amusement parks like Imagica in Maharashtra and the VGP Universal Kingdom and Wonderla parks in southern India across cities like Kochi, Chennai, and Bengaluru.
"Apart from these, pilgrim and high altitude destinations like Char Dham, coupled with adventure activities in Haridwar and Rishikesh have seen strong uptake," he added.
Also, the pressure of tourist rush in the Uttarakhand hills this season is already taking a toll as it is leading to crammed up roads and highways.
