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Pack your bags! 8 places to travel to this year

April 16, 2014 10:49 IST
The glorious Andamans.

Travel agents from around the country list the most popular destinations.

Earlier, Shalini Bajaj drew up this list of destinations popular with her clients.

Andrew Dharmaraj tells S Saraswathi where readers should be going this year to unwind.


Confused about where you should take a vacation this year?

Andrew Dharmaraj of Chennai's Pegasus Travels lists destinations he's recommended to clients.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The tropical islands are a great getaway from the hustle of big city life.

What you can do on the islands:

How to get there:

By Air: The capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair, is connected with Chennai and Kolkata by air.
Go Air, Jet Konnect and SpiceJet among others operate direct flights throughout the day from Chennai and Kolkata, while flights from Delhi go via Chennai or Kolkata.

By Sea: Passenger ship services are available to Port Blair regularly from Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam.

Kanyakumari

April 16, 2014 10:49 IST
Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari

Standing on the very edge of the Indian peninsula, and watching the three mighty seas -- the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal -- crashing into each other, producing a myriad of different hues of blue and green is an experience like no other.

Head to the shores of Kanyakumari to witness magnificent sunrises, spectacular sunsets or travel inland and soak in the quiet of the paddy fields and majestic hills.

What you must do in Kanyakumari:

Around Kanyakumari:

Vattakottai or the Circular Fort, St Mary's Orthodox Church, Muppandal Wind Farm, the Padmanabapuram Palace, Maramalai Hills, Thottipalam, Pechipparai Dam, Thirparappu Falls, Muttom beach and Suchindrum Sthanumalayan temple are some of the other important tourist attractions in and around Kanyakumari.

How to get there:

By Air: The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram, which is about 80 km away from Kanyakumari.

By Road: Wide network of public and private bus services are available from different towns and cities of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

By Rail: Travelers can get any number of trains to reach Kanyakumari including the Kanyakumari express, Himsagar express, Kanyakumari Howrah express, Tirrukural express, and Island express are some trains which operate from major cities connecting Kanyakumari.

Yercaud

April 16, 2014 10:49 IST
Kiliyur Falls, Yercaud

If beaches aren't your thing, visit the small hill station of Yercaud in the Servarayan Hills of Tamil Nadu.

Built around the naturally formed Yercaud Lake, which is also its biggest attraction, this resort town is not as commercially exploited as the more popular Ooty or Kodaikanal.

If peace and quiet is what you're looking for, Yeracud should be on your list this year because there are no ugly commercial complexes, entertainment arcades or multi-cuisine restaurants.

What's better, with just a handful of popular 'hot spots', there is no mad rush to complete an impossible itinerary!

What you must do in Yeracud:

How to get there:

By Air: The closest airports are Kamalapuram, Omalur (30 km) and Trichy (163 km).

By Rail: The closest rail head is Salem Junction 35 km away.

By Road: Yercaud is well-connected by road to several towns and cities, Salem (35 km), Chennai (358 km), Bangalore (222 km) and Coimbatore (190 km).

Manali

April 16, 2014 10:49 IST
The Beas river in Manali is among the popular destinations for river rafting in India.

Perfect for romance and adventure, Manali, a small hill station in the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh, is a hot favorite among nature lovers, honeymooners and adventure enthusiasts alike.

Popularly known as the Switzerland of India, Manali offers a rare combination of spectacular natural splendor and rich cultural heritage.

It is also a home to an incredible range of sports activities like rafting, paragliding, skiing, trekking and mountain biking.

What you must do in Manali:

How to get there:

Distance from nearby towns/cities: Shimla 270 km, Chandigarh 310 km, Ambala 365 km, Delhi 585 km

By Air: Closest airport is Bhuntar, 50 km (a 90 minute-drive) from Manali

By Rail: Closest rail stations are Pathankot, Chandigarh, and Ambala

By Road: Manali is well-connected by road with Delhi, Ambala, Chandigarh and Shimla

If you're travelling from Delhi, air conditioned bus services offered by Himachal Road Transport Corporation are also a good bet.

Sri Lanka

April 16, 2014 10:49 IST
An ancient stupa towers over the ruins of Anuradhapura

After the end of the 30-year civil war, which almost destroyed its tourist scene, Sri Lanka is slowly returning to its status as an important tourist destination.

Fondly known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, this beautiful island with its tropical forest and diverse landscape is the home of several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Golden beaches, aquamarine waves and eternal sunshine, Sri Lanka is the ideal destination for beach lovers; be it windsurfing, kayaking, yachting, water skiing, scuba diving or just lazing around for the perfect tan.

From the ruins of the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, which bear witness to the great Sinhalese civilisation to the colonial hill stations, the extensive tea plantations, the wildlife sanctuaries that are the home to innumerable species of wild plants and animals and the beautiful Buddhist monasteries scattered throughout the island, Sri Lanka offers a wealth of destinations to its tourists.

What you must do in Sri Lanka

In and around Colombo

In and around Kandy

The ancient Sinhalese cities

How to get there:

By Air: Mihin Lanka offers direct flights from Chennai and Delhi to Colombo. While Air India, SpiceJet and Jet Airways have flights which depart from New Delhi via
Chennai or Mumbai. Sri Lankan Airlines too operates direct flights from Chennai to Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo.

Sri Lanka's railroads offer limited access to the country’s interiors and the (largely) diesel-run trains rarely ever go faster than 60kph

Unless you can afford a car, state transport buses are the best way to travel within Sri Lanka.

ALSO SEE Postcards from Sri Lanka

Hong Kong

April 16, 2014 10:49 IST
A lonely vessel passing the skyline of Hong Kong Island

Branded as Asia's World City, the vibrant and cosmopolitan Hong Kong is one of the most happening places in the continent.

Blessed with a stunning natural beauty, the island's iconic Harbour offers magnificent views of the surrounding mountains.

Hong Kong's impressive skyline is its major attraction.

Looking glorious by the day, it simply dazzles the eye by night.

Through interactive lighting and sensational music, the Symphony of Lights laser show that integrates 44 skyscrapers and landmarks that lie on the sides of the Victoria Harbor, is an extravagant phenomenon you should not miss.

What you must do in Hong Kong:

How to get there:

By Air: Air India, Jet Airways and Cathay Pacific have a direct flight each from New Delhi to Hong Kong, while Cathay Pacific operates one form Mumbai too. Travellers from Chennai and Kolkata can take Thai Airways, Air India or Cathay Pacific, but have to travel via Mumbai, New Delhi or Bangkok (depending on where you're travelling from to reach Hong Kong.

ALSO READ Top five reasons to visit Hong Kong and Macau

Istanbul

April 16, 2014 10:49 IST
Tourists, with the Hagia Sophia museum (L) and Blue Mosque (R) in the background, look at the old city from the historical Galata Tower in Istanbul

Istanbul is one of the few cities in the world that span across two continents -- Europe and Asia.

(Others include Atyrau, a city in western Kazakhstan and the Russian city of Orenburg that spans that also span the same continents)

While Western influences are very in evident in this cosmopolitan city with its many nightclubs, pubs and restaurants, Istanbul still retains its traditional Islamic flavor.

The long natural coastline against the heavily forested mountainous backdrop offer stunning visuals of turquoise seas, the scenic waterside walkways, the Roman ruins, the Byzantine and Ottoman masterpieces and the innumerable unique historical and archaeological sites bring in tourist from all over the world.

What you must do in Istanbul

How to get there:

By Air: Turkish Airlines offers direct flights from New Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport, while Air India operates direct from only Delhi. 

ALSO READ Falling in love with Istanbul

Singapore

April 16, 2014 10:49 IST
A part of the illuminated Marina Bay street circuit of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix around the Singapore Flyer.

Singapore undoubtedly is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.

The tourism landscape of this island-city has changed dramatically over the years, becoming even more vibrant and exciting.

Singapore has continuously been reinventing itself to stay competitive and attractive to visitors ensuring that even the most frequent travelers find something new and fascinating each time they visit the city.

The extremely low airfares and the foreign destination tag make Singapore one of the most sought-after international tourist destinations among Indians.
With a long list of must-see attractions, Singapore promises many hours of fun and excitement for the entire family. Eating, shopping or entertainment, Singapore has it all.

What you must do in Singapore

How to get there:

By Air: Singapore Airlines, Jet Airways and IndiGo among others offer daily direct flights to Singapore departing from New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

ALSO READ Eat, play, see: What you must NOT miss in Singapore!