Manali - Rohtang, Himachal Pradesh - Travel Guide

As soon as I noticed an extended weekend sneaking up on the calendar, my inner wanderlust did a happy dance. I quickly applied for an extra day off (because why not extend an already extended weekend?) and finally zeroed in on Manali, Himachal Pradesh. I'd always wanted to go, but connectivity issues had held me back. The nearest railway station is Chandigarh—about 350 km away—and the closest airport is Kullu, 40 km from Manali. So, road trip it was!

After some deliberation - to self drive or book a taxi - I finalized on bus ride - Himachal Tourism Volvo to cover the 550 km stretch from Delhi to Manali, which promised a 14-hour roller-coaster ride through mountains, valleys, and my patience.

Jaipur Rajasthan (India) - The land of Maharajas

Jaipur

Most of the places I’ve traveled to were master-planned by me, but this trip? Oh no, this one had my wife’s fingerprints all over it. And let me confess—when your wife plans a trip, you don’t ask questions; you just pack your bags and pray Google Maps is kind.

We both desperately needed a Kit-Kat break (that’s what I call short getaways, because much like the chocolate, they’re short-lived but very satisfying). August monsoon was in full swing in North India, and the plan was simple: hit the highway, roll down the windows, and let the rains make Bollywood-level slow-motion moments happen. Destination? Jaipur—the Pink City, the city of palaces, forts, royal food, and bargaining battles.

Goa – The Land of Sun, Sand and beaches (India)

Goa - Land of Sun, sand and beaches

If weddings are Bollywood blockbusters, then honeymoons are the sequels everyone secretly waits for. After months of shopping, dancing, and nodding at distant relatives I didn’t recognize, it was finally time to live my own “Dil Chahta Hai” moment. Destination? None other than Goa – the land of sun, sand, and beaches.

But before we dive into the Goa honeymoon travel guide part, let me confess: choosing the destination wasn’t easy. I spent so many nights scrolling travel blogs and honeymoon packages that my face started carrying permanent keyboard imprints (as I slept on it). Maldives was too expensive, Manali felt too obvious, and then… Goa called me. Loud and clear.

Chopta - Mini switzerland of Uttrakhand (India)

                           

Chopta

If there’s one love story that never ends in my life, it’s me and the mountains. Every time I think I’ve seen it all, the Himalayas smirk and say, “Beta, abhi toh party shuru hui hai.” So, one fine midnight, me and three of my long-lost friends decided to embark on a road trip to a mysterious, not-so-touristy place called Chopta.

Google had whispered that Chopta is also called the Mini Switzerland of India, and honestly, that was enough to get us packing. Located about 450 km from Delhi via Rishikesh, Chopta is the base point for the famous Tungnath Temple (the highest Shiva temple in the world) and the Chandrashila trek. Basically, this was going to be part road trip, part spiritual cleanse, and part “let’s test our car tires against Himalayan roads.”

Alwar - The Gateway to Rajasthan, India

Most people plan roses, gifts, and candlelight dinners for Valentine’s Day. Me? I looked at the calendar, realized the 14th was around the corner, and thought, *“Well, love might not be in the air for me, but diesel fumes surely are!”* 🚗💨

So, instead of sulking, I called up my equally single friends (our WhatsApp group is literally used to be called “Forever Aloners”) and within hours we had a plan — a road trip from Delhi to Alwar, one of the quirkiest yet charming weekend getaways from Delhi.

Shimla - The Queen of Hills

One of North India’s most famous hill stations, and I—shamefully—had never been there. Shimla, the “Queen of Hills,” once the summer capital of the British Raj, just 370 km from Delhi, had been dodging me for too long. That January, five of us—friends and colleagues—finally decided to tick it off the list.

And of course, our chosen mode of travel was everyone’s favorite budget-friendly adventure: road trip! A road trip to Shimla - Kufri - Chail.

Rafting in Rishikesh: A Weekend Getaway Near Delhi (Rapids Nearly Threw Me Off the Raft, Literally)

They say, “Work hard, play harder.” Well, I was working so hard I realized I wasn’t playing at all—I was just 'the ass' in the “work like an ass” proverb. My life had become a GPS with only two destinations: Home ↔ Office. Yawn.

So, my colleagues and I decided we needed a kickass weekend adventure. After weighing a hundred options (and listening to 200 opinions), we settled on the obvious choice—Rishikesh, the holy land of Lord Shiva, yoga retreats, and, most importantly, adrenaline-pumping river rafting on the Ganges.

👉 Pro tip: March to October is the best time for rafting in Rishikesh. Bookmark that, thrill-seekers.

Gushaini - Himachal Pradesh (India)

                             

They say, “Not all those who wander are lost.” I didn’t really understand this until the summer of 2008, when I found myself wandering not just in the mountains, but also in my office corridors with zero clue about where our long-awaited vacation would take us.

Picture this: a group of colleagues desperate for a break from Delhi’s chaos, endless office chai breaks spent “planning,” and still… no destination. Slowly, people began dropping out. Out of 15, only five warriors (including my boss!) were left standing. With no plan, no bookings, and no clue – just backpacks, chips, and enthusiasm – we were determined to go somewhere.

And that’s how Gushaini, Himachal Pradesh happened – a place none of us had ever heard of, but would later call one of the best accidental decisions of our lives.