New year is synonymous with new beginnings, a mile stone of sorts from where you take new turns. It’s a celebration; a global celebration, which call for plans and plans call for places. The joy of going someplace with your family or/and friends is rejuvenating.  Usher the new year in with all its glory.

Digital Door has decided to put together a list of places. Places that are relatively on the unheard side of things, where you can plan your bashes at.

(P.S – We don’t intend to punish you but do not expect anything in terms of ATMs or mobile networks in the places mentioned. Makes things better.)

Vattakanal

It’s a small village of about 50-60 houses, geographically located in the Western Ghats. Vattakanal is located about 10 kilometers from Kodaikanal, right in the heart of dense forests and nothingness. The climbs are steep, the valleys deep, the startling sunrise scenes and evenings blanketed with fog and mist are breathtaking.

As far as the logistics are concerned, there are home stays and only home stays, but the people are great. Two cafes, selling European, Middle eastern, and Indian food and a few stalls selling Maggie and bhajiyas is what you have for food, but it is absolutely satisfying without, no doubt whatsoever.

The place is magical, the ones that you dream about, colors never this brighter, and you literally are walking through clouds. Plus, the cold makes it all the better. In the night, you have make your own fire, , all the houses come with their fireplaces, small and cozy, and if you don’t know how you, no amount of blankets would and can save you. It shall be a treat for your senses, perspective changer.

Also, it’s a part of the Hummas Trail that the Israelis go about in India on, mostly all of them who have packed their bags and left after the mandatory military training period.

Gokarna

It’s the geography that makes beaches in Maharasthra, Goa and Karnataka. The sight of waves crashing into small mountains and hills, is quite a sight. There’s a railway station, but the better option would be to go to either Madgaon or Bangalore and head their overnight.

There are a few known beaches, but try going farther from the main town. The further you go, the further you are from the civilization and closer to everything else. Om Beach is a good option. The best part about this place are the walks you take. You are walking through the wilderness and the hills, climbing up and down, at times right at the edge, and at times lost, stumbling upon a nice vantage point to view beaches from or be on beaches themselves.

Om beach is nice place to anchor at. It gets its name because the beach looks like the symbol of Om from a vista point. There are cafes here, where you can rent rooms at, Rs. 400 per person on an average. Cafes serve marvelous food and strangers are always ready to share a drink, and conversations.

Lie down on the beaches or float in the water all day long, go about like a child, playing games on the beaches during the evenings, overwhelming things happening to your head when you sit down to watch the sunset.

Trivia: The small village hosts an insane Mahashivaratri festival.

Pondicherry and Aurovillle

The most striking thing on the east coast is that you can see two most fascinating acts of nature; the sunrises and the moonrises. So you can be anywhere on any beach for these sights, try to find yourself a nice spot at both the times, dawn and the dusk. You’ll want to behold them forever.

Pondicherry richly projects its culture and architecture, amongst other things. As of late, the place has sprung up on the surfing list, and if learning surfing is some sort of New year resolution for you, then the place is apt. Stay at hotels, and the food everywhere is nice.

Auroville can be called a organized utopian existence. It’s a community of people, beyond the boundaries of religion and nationalities coming together and living at one point. The place has a powerful spiritual vibe. Find someone you know inside, and your stay is taken care of. Even if you don’t find a stay, stay in Pondi and ride down to Auroville.

Karuna Farms

Karuna farms is far, far away, hidden between high mountains of the Western Ghats, in Tamil Nadu. A small village called Prakashapuram is closest to it, and from there you have to call for a 4×4 from the farms, which will pick you up. It is a vast space. There are a few eco-friendly rooms to stay at, a bunch of organic vegetable gardens, a canteen where everybody gets their food from; the idea is to create a closely knit tribe and collective consciousness, over conversations and self experiences.

There are about 8 such small houses, each with its own scenic elegance, sights that shall take your breath away. The food for everybody is cooked at the common kitchen, and everybody has to go there to eat. The canteen is situated right next to a waterfall.

The place is all about coming together, away from whatever else exists out there. A chance to explore inside yourself, while walking through purple cabbage gardens and crossing water streams, step-fields, and watching the sun rise from the cliff and watching it getting lost amongst the clouds.

Hampi

Cradling in the ruins of the old temple town, Hampi on paper is a World Heritage site, but there’s much more to this place than just that. The river, the fields, perfectly poised over astounding mountain rocks will make you go awestruck over this all manifestation. Also, this is the perfect time to go head there.

Go over to the other side of the city, across the river. Its locally called Virpapur Gaddi but popularly goes by ‘The Island’. Small, cozy, inviting places to stay at, cafes over looking paddy fields serving you some great food, people who are there for the very reason you are, to take some time off things, hitting the refresh button in their lives. There’s a splendid lake nearby, open for swimming. The river Tungabadhra, into which also you can jump. For the sunsets, trek over to the top of mountain because the sights are overwhelming; also camp fire in the fields. Also, the place is filled with vantage points.

The idea of celebrating the new year is to get all the ones you love together and get positive energies going, right from the very beginning of the year.

Leave no stone unturned, go exploring about places.