Bucket List 2022: Where to Travel & Why

Each new year unfolds as a labyrinth of fresh hopes and dreams. It is mapped in planners and calendars, traversed with the desire to be better, and loved by most for its ability to consume us with its endless possibilities. We suddenly welcome the inevitability of time and the borders of space we intend to cross. It births questions about where to go, what to do, and how to live fuller than the we did in the days gone by. Because in every passing moment, it reminds you that you can never head back.

I am looking forward to getting lost in 2022.

While the rise and fall of COVID-19 has made much iffy, there are a few things that we can still hope to do to make the most of the coming year. One of them is travel. The walls of the maze could seem restrictive this year too, but my hope is that we can all find ways to surpass them into open spaces of discovery and enchantment.

To push myself into the arena, I put together a list of the best places in India that people can look forward to exploring this year while volatility of the Omicron variant douses possibilities of international travel. These are locations with the best views, atmospheres with the deepest quiet, and lands with the most colourful communities. I hope you will join me in meeting this list, and by the end of the year, we can share the new nooks we all discovered in this passage of life:

Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh

Visit the riverside fort of Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar in its grand majestic glory, and bring back the sought after maheshwar sarees. The handloom behind this fine textile turns at Rehwa Society, the enterprise of local weavers set up by Richard and Sally Holkar that is continuing the mercantile legacy of Ahilyabai.
Nearest airport: Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport
One can catch a bus or a taxi from the nearest air and railway links.

Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu

The lush greenery of southern India meets the quiet serenity of granite cliffs and untouched forests at Kodaikanal, which is situated 7,000ft above the seal level. Head here to discover secret trails of Fuchsia, chant by the lake, and breathe in the undulating landscapes of steep valleys.
Nearest airport: Madurai
One can catch a bus or a taxi from the nearest air and railway links.

Chumathang, Ladakh

There’s nothing more inviting that a hot dip in the cold dessert of India. Chumathang is a small village situated on the banks of river Indus that offers just that. Here, range upon range of sandy slopes stand tall around the placid river. On its bank sits a natural sulphur hot spring, the temperature of which hits up to a sizzling 50 degrees at its peak. The water is rich in sulphur and great for a morning dip to refresh yourself. The village itself is a quiet cluster of houses with a few small guest houses, should you choose to spend the night there.
Nearest airport: Leh
The region remains inaccessible during winter season due to heavy snowfall.

Puducherry, Tamil Nadu

After you’ve experienced the famed night life and seashore lifestyle of Puducherry, cycle to the architectural wonders constructed in the city and beyond by Anupama Kundoo. Volontariat Homes for Homeless Children is a cluster of mud houses fired after being constructed using mud and mud bricks. The kiln walls absorb 40 per cent of the heat during summer season. The cluster is meant to house 15 homeless children and five foster parents. Similar and more innovation design structures stand in Auroville as well.
Nearest Airport: Puducherry Airport
You can also disembark at Chennai International Airport

Gangtok, Sikkim

Before being declared the capital of Sikkim, Gangtok was established as a Buddhist pilgrimage site. Head to this Himalayan city and dive into the zen culture of its community. Explore food, lifestyle and scenic destinations in Gangtok like Nathu La Pass and Tsomgo Lake.
Nearest Airport: Pakyong Airport
Take a backpacking trip to Sikkim and explore the best of the state with a spirit of adventure.

Daman & Diu

Daman and Diu reminds most of us of pristine beaches and naughty waves splashing against the cool sand. But these islands are also home to Asia’s longest beach festival—Festa de Diu. The fiesta carries on for about three months at Nagoa beach with the best of music, heritage and food. Accommodation can be found in luxury tents situated near the festivities.
Nearest Airport: Diu
Air flights offer the best travel route to the festival.

Munsiyari, Uttarakhand

This quiet village sits away from the bustle of your daily ordinary. Munsiyari is known as one of the best view points for the five sister peaks of the Himalayas. It is also the base camp for many beginner level treks, including the one to Munsiyari Bugyal near Nanda Devi Mandir. Expect budget guesthouses and comely homestays here. Head here to explore the Kumaon hills in their raw, magnificent glory.
Nearest airport: Pantnagar
The best time to visit Munsiyari is March to June and September to October.