BackLong drives and adventure guides
Long drives and adventure guides
PremiumCheap treats: Plan a vacation to Istanbul now while airfares are low.
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
Remember those international holiday plans put into the deep freeze in the face of the economic slowdown?
Most online booking sites, including MakeMyTrip.com, Yatra.com and Cleartrip.com, are offering special deals on international flights. Trips to South-East Asia are looking especially attractive, with Chennai to Singapore on Jet Airways or Air India now costing Rs16,628, while Delhi-Bangkok is Rs18,463 on Jet Airways. Bangalore to Kuala Lumpur will set you back a (relatively) light Rs18,611 on Thai Airways.
Carriers are also capitalizing on the Dubai Shopping Festival (on till 15 February), offering special fares to the UAE. Mumbai to Dubai is Rs12,155 on Air India.
European destinations also look within reach: Tickets from Mumbai to London on Air India are up for grabs at Rs24,505, while Delhi to London is similarly priced at Rs25,084. Mumbai to Paris is Rs29,383 on Turkish Airlines.
Other potential holiday destinations include Istanbul at Rs28,402, Cairo at Rs24,525—both on Egyptair, and Johannesburg at Rs30,862 on Ethiopian—all ex-Mumbai.
For the more adventurous, the far ends of the earth are also accessible: Mumbai to New York on Etihad via Dubai is Rs42,357 and Kolkata to Tokyo is Rs41,136, while a trip from Chennai to Sydney is Rs49,739 on Thai Airways.
All fares are per-person return trips inclusive of taxes, checked at the time of writing, for flights on 12 February.
Krish Raghav
*********
THE SONG OF THE ROAD
So, while she can, Panag hits the road regularly in her customized 4x4 Mahindra Scorpio. “Though I have no issues repairing punctures or changing tyres, I make sure the vehicle is fully serviced before I leave. Also, I make it a point to have company always—solitary road trips in India can be highly unsafe—and ensure I’m travelling with at least one more car. With four-five people, we can explore off-roading options and can camp where we want to," she says.
Panag lists her favourite drives:
Delhi-Leh
I drive from Mumbai to Leh once every year, but the Delhi-Leh stretch is particularly dear to me. I love the dramatic changes in scenery, from the urban sprawl of the plains to the greenery of the Himalayan foothills right into Himachal Pradesh, and then the absolute barrenness post-Rohtang Pass. The desolate Keylong-Upshi valley stretch, right till you enter Nubra valley is, to me, the most beautiful drive in the world.
Jammu-Srinagar
This is a 300km drive that most people don’t do now for pleasure, but as an army kid I remember being blown away by the untouched beauty of the road and its surroundings. Once you leave Udhampur, the countryside becomes much more rugged. And you emerge from the 3km-long Jawahar tunnel into the completely “English" kind of landscape of the Kashmir Valley—it takes my breath away even to think about it.
Jodhpur-Jaisalmer via Barmer
The history and architecture of this very atmospheric part of the world never fail to stir me. I did this route around the Dussehra-Diwali time three-four years ago and I remember it for the most stunning sunsets I’ve ever seen. Going via Barmer basically makes a triangle of the trip; otherwise, Jodhpur is directly connected to Jaisalmer via the NH-14 and NH-15. I have good memories, too, of off-roading in the sand dunes beyond Sam, also in Rajasthan.
*********
SHOOT AT SIGHT
With about 20% of incoming tourists signing up for adventure activities and a growing section of domestic tourists experimenting with white-water rafting and eco-holidays, the recognition can only translate into positive mojo for the industry. Way to go!
*********
SINGAPORE SWING
If the stomach isn’t really where you’d rather test your fortitude, the TreeTop Walk may be your thing: It calls for at least 3 hours of walking. A 250m-long, 25m-high (at the highest point), free-standing suspension walkway connects the two highest points in MacRitchie and offers a bird’s-eye view, literally, of treetops and animal life (www.nparks.gov.sg). Alternatively, cut out the rest of the world in a canoeing trip in the ocean or in a reservoir: Rent your two-seater kayak from a sports operator at Changi Point, East Coast Park, MacRitchie Reservoir or Kallang Sea Sports Club. Or learn wakeboarding, which involves riding a wakeboard over water, towed by an overhead cable.
And if you need to scream your lungs out, go for the G-MAX Reverse Bungee (www.gmax.co.nz, from S$45), which sends you down a short freefall, flies you out over the Singapore river and swings you back and forth over the Clarke Quay before yanking you back into starting position. No, you can’t do it together, but imagine the post-jump hug.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
