RISHIKESH TO AULI

Many tourists fly down to Rishikesh in the quest for yoga and meditation retreats, and often go back without exploring the hinterland. If you take the road to Auli, you pass through Paonta Sahib, Chakrata, and Dehradun. The Garhwali hill station of Auli, endowed with a three-kilometre slope that includes a 500-metre heart-stopping drop, is counted as one of the best ski destinations in India. Take a cable car ride up to the top to see Nanda Devi (India’s second highest peak), and soak up the spellbinding views of pines and oaks dressed in snow. If you seek more adventure, embark on a moderate snow trek to Gorson Bugyal.

When you set off from a place as dreamy as Puducherry, it’s difficult to imagine arriving at a destination that is more alluring. But the fishing village of Tharangambadi (an erstwhile Danish colony) in Tamil Nadu will leave you speechless. Stop at Pichavaram on the way to discover hidden creeks in its mangrove forests on a country boat. Formerly and more popularly known as Tranquebar, Tharangambadi is a one-hour drive from Pichavaram, and its tonguetwisting name translates to ‘the land of singing waves’. Visit the tiny coastal town for simple indulgences like curling up on a hammock on a beach, visiting the peach-hued 17th-century Dansborg Fort, and strolling through lanes lined with Danish ruins, colourful villas, and bougainvillaea gardens. The Bungalow on the Beach is a few steps away from Dansborg Fort. Starts from 5,600/USD75; neemranahotels.com