Top 10 Hippie Destinations in India
The world can become a little too much for all of us at some point. At such times it’s a very good idea to just chill the hell out, pick up your bare essentials and head off to a place that holds the promise of good times, laid back vibes and great scenery.
With a distinct 60s vibe to boast of, these beautiful places will make you believe that headline, deadlines, client deals, assignments… Everything can wait, just like the time here which follows its own speed!
Follow the trail to travel to these destinations that will refresh and recharge you!
Refreshing Varkala
What better place to start your trippy vacation than the Varkala’s beautiful beaches in Kerala? A famous hangout of backpackers, the golden sand beaches graze the shores of the cliffs that this dreamy destination proudly boasts of. A long stretch of shops sell cotton Kurtas and chunky silver jewellery and further down the beach you can hear the hypnotizing sounds of trance and EDM music that just fills up the void of noise in your heart. Flight Tickets: Catch a flight to the nearest airport at Trivandrum from Bangalore at fares starting at just INR 1,881!
Green and Serene Kodaikanal
‘Princess of Hill Stations ‘ Kodaikanal is a misty destination surrounded by trees and hills that are full of every kind imaginable. Translating to mean ‘The Gift of The Forest’ it lives up to its reputation. The green hills attract a lot of tourists and travellers of all ages, it is equally popular with backpackers and well ‘suitcasers’! The charming knolls are the most perfect respite that you can take away from the maddening crowds. Flit your sight around a little bit and we are sure you will see the calmness that this place is famous for.
How to Get Here: Drive down the Kollam- Theni Highway from Allepey to Kodai
Distance: 286Km
Duration: 8 Hours
Air Tickets: Catch a flight to the nearest airport of Coimbatore from Chennai at unbelievable prices of just INR 949!
Calming Hampi
Head out from the greens of Kodai top to the mystical brown sandstone environs of Hampi. The surroundings echo a tale of the city that was once left in ruins, but has since resurrected itself to a destination of choice for many foreign and domestic travellers. The beautiful rocky outcrops and stunning temple architecture engulfs you in its charms as you begin to feel one with this city frozen in an unmistakably 60s vibe.
How to get Here: Kodai to Hampi trip can be made by hiring your own car or a driver.
Distance: 814km
Duration: 13 Hours
Gorgeous Gokarna
The unexpectedly calm beaches of Gokarna beckon us next. A temple town, Gokarna has a wealth of legends associated with it. The most popular one being that it was here that Lord Shiva appeared out of a cow’s ear to bless the devotees, hence the shape of the this beachside retreat. Whatever the legends may be fact remains that the stretch of beaches that include the gorgeous Om Beach, Rocky Kudle Beach, pristine Paradise and Half-moon beach are a sight that will take away your worries.
Plop down on the sand and watch the waves crashing on the ocean floor as time itself slows down for you. Dreadlocks, beads, airy Kurtas and of course a beach jam or two… You are sorted!
How to get Here: Drive down the gorgeous NH63 to Gokarna Cross
Distance: 325Km
Duration: 6 Hours (Approx.)
Picturesque Palolem
If there is anywhere in Goa that you can find the charm of white sand beaches, it has to be at Palolem. A long stretch of coastline, shaded by tall Coconut trees and a few beach shacks, its just heavenly! Plop yourself with a cold beer and a trusted friend and be prepared to see how the beach changes colours with the passing time. What was once a laidback sleepy coast in the day transforms into a nightlife hub in the night. The surrounding bunch of backpackers just make up for an equally interesting and chilled out vibe.
How to get Here: Gokarna to Palolem is a distance that can be covered within a few hours. Take a taxi, or hire a car and drive down yourself.
Distance: 97km
Duration: 2 Hours
Air Tickets: Catch a flight to Goa from Bangalore at just INR 1,758.
The Mesmerising Rann of Kutch
Continue onward to the next leg of your journey to the Rann of Kutch. If anything defines ‘Dramatic’, it is this! A vast Salt plain formed by saline deposits of the ocean, the Rann of Kutch is a jaw dropping surreal sight in summers.
The scenery runs right into the horizon making up for inescapable hold over your senses. Mesmerising and charming, it is THE place to experience the fact that the earth is not flat!
How to get Here: Take a flight down from Goa to Ahmedabad and a taxi from Ahmedabad to Rann of Kutch
Distance: 90km from Ahmedabad
Duration: 2 Hours
Air tickets: Catch a flight to the nearest airport of Ahmedabad from Mumbai at prices starting at just INR 1,342 only!
Royal Trip to Jaisalmer
Head out from the salt plain wilderness of Kutch to get a taste of royalty at Jaisalmer. Right in the middle of the vast and arid sand dunes stands the historic Jaisalmer Fort. Feel a distinct vibe of history and fantasy envelop you as the air carries with it a mystique of years of tales, heritage and legends.
Lie down on the sandy slopes of the dunes and watch the intense play of stars and moonlight. In the desert the life has its own pace that is beautifully placid, let yourself be sucked into this fascinating tale!
How to Get Here: Take a bus from Ahmedabad to Jaisalmer
Distance: 607Km
Duration: 11 Hours
Air Tickets: Catch a flight to the nearest airport of Jodhpur from Mumbai at INR 5,677.
Captivating Valleys of Kasol
What would offer a better respite from the sweltering heat than the green slopes of Kasol? This veritable paradise of a destination is a mecca for travellers with a penchant for offbeat and backpack travel.
Nestled in the vibrantly colorful valleys of Himachal Pradesh, this destination is replete with hippie hideouts and the most amazing places, peaceful music and yummy cuisine that reflects its side of world travel and gathered heritage. Travelers can do a lot of things here, which makes this place a Must go!. Visitors can also go for trekking in Kasol, being a major trekking attraction for its unreal spectacles
How to Get Here: Take a beautiful train ride from Jaisalmer to New Delhi and a bus from New Delhi to Kasol
Duration: 13 Hours (Train) 11 Hours (Bus)
Distance: 528Km
Mysterious Valleys of Malana
With a culture, civilization, and ways of life, Malana is surely a destination that is welcoming and at the same time reclusive towards outsiders. Oldest democracy in the world, Malana is the place that thrives on the cultivation of Hashish and it has become a part of life for the villagers there. However, hold your horses before you take off because special permits have to be obtained to enter the village boundaries.
How to Get Here: Drive down from Kasol to Malana via Manikaran Valley Road
Duration: 40 Mins
Distance: 22Km
The Magical Nubra Valley
That’s it! There’s no other way to give a thundering end to this beautifully blissful expedition, you must take a bike ride from the valleys of Malana to the stunning environs of Nubra Valley in Leh. Cotton candy clouds, azure blue skies are contrasted stunningly with brown mountains and a sapphire blue lake right in the middle.
Nubra Valley is a stunning canvas of light and colors! Plop down a tent at Sarchu or in the valley itself and give in to the hypnotising magic of nature as it plays its best cards all around you.
Your trip has thus come to an end, congratulations! You Made it, now get back at the world with a happier mind and a content heart!
How to Get Here: Rent a bike from any of the local transport vendors in Manali and head off to Nubra Valley via the Manali-Leh Highway
Duration: 19 Hours (Approx.)
Distance: 646Km
Air Tickets: Catch a flight to Leh Airport from New Delhi at rock bottom prices starting at just INR 2,863!
Written By – AMRUTA GHATE.
