Come January 4 and all the excitement that has led up to the New Year’s Eve comes crashing down. But don’t let the lack of parties discourage you from traveling the country. India with its varied cultures and religions has enough and more to do every month and January is no different. (ALSO READ January 2016 guide to festivals and events in India) So get rid of your January blues and head out to these ten places to experience something new.
1. Kochi
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Kochi Carnival may well be drawing to a close on January 1 but that doesn’t mean you don’t have reasons to visit Kochi. The Kochi Muziris Biennale that had its inaugural edition in 2012 is underway even as you read this and quite frankly is reason enough to visit the coastal town of Kerala. Witness groundbreaking work of art or take a walk in Kochi’s old Jewish Town or simply shop till you drop for gold and clothes, Kochi has a way of keeping you occupied in a way that will drive your blues away. And if you’ve just got married, we’ve even planned out this Kerala honeymoon package just for you!
Kochi- Muziriz Biennale was started in 2012 when the Government of Kerala approached artists like Bose Krishnamachari and Riyaz Komu to promote contemporary art in the state. Kochi- Muziriz Biennale 2016 will have an array of global artists who will be addressing the audiences at the third edition of the Biennale.
2. Goa
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You don’t need a reason to visit Goa really but India’s favorite beach state has a lot going for it even after the wild 31st parties have wound down. Take a walk along the beaches or simply detox yourself by participating in the India Yoga Festival (January 4 to January 8) where 25 renowned yoga teachers will teach you to be one with yourself.
ALSO SEE Top 5 beaches in Goa
3. Ahmedabad
Photograph courtesy: Cam Buff/Creative Commons
The city may not be on your list of places to visit in January (or really any other month of the year) but Ahmedabad throws a pretty awesome kite flying party each year around Makar Sankranti. The festival marks the end of winter and the city comes alive as do its skies that are dotted by kites of all shapes, sizes and colors. Salman Khan couldn’t resist the temptation of visiting it a few years ago, we don’t see how mere mortals such as us can! Visit it already!
ALSO SEE Top 4 non-veg restaurants in Ahmedabad you absolutely must visit
4. Kovalam
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The tiny town of Kovalam that is more a suburb of Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram has more than its share of five star hotels and should most definitely be on your list of places to visit in January for several reasons. For one the weather is great as are its beaches that are also surfing friendly. But come mid-January and Kovalam will host Gramam, an annual festival whose aim it is to revive the cultural traditions of Kerala. Partake in traditional Keralan cuisine and watch the locals who step out in their ethnic best during this time if the year.
ALSO SEE Kovalam travel guide
5. Jaipur
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There is something quite overwhelming to find a well-preserved historic monument at every turn or 19th century havelis dotting the landscape or a fort that stands on the outskirts of the city, almost as if guarding it against an impending invasion. Jaipur is one of our favorite destinations in India but January really is the best time to visit it since you will be in good company of authors — everyone from bestselling ones to Nobel Laureates and Man Booker Prize winners among others address the audience will be attending the Jaipur Literature Festival from January 21 to January 25.
ALSO SEE Top five places to visit in Rajasthan
6. Sirpur
Photograph courtesy: Chattisgarh Tourism
Chhattisgarh has only recently begun to open up to tourists and is becoming more and more savvy with the ways of the Internet. Sirpur in Chattisgarh is one such place that is embracing tourists more warmly than ever before. The archaeological remains of Sirpur are the state’s pride and its Buddha Viharas are older than those in Nalanda. If history doesn’t interest you, you also have the Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary that will keep your little ones interested. But the one big reason you should visit Sirpur is its National Dance and Music Festival that was started in 2013 as part of promotion for tourism in Chhattisgarh. The festival is expected to host several legends including Pt Birju Maharaj and Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia among several others.
7. Madurai
Photograph courtesy: Amit Rawat/ Creative Commons
You don’t necessarily have to be religious to visit Madurai. It is, of course, a center of pilgrimage but even the atheist in you would stop to admire the very impressive Meenakshi temple that lies at the heart of the towns’ economy. Madurai itself is some 4,000 years old and has several temples and buildings whose architecture reminds you that it has always been an important town for several millennia. Take a walk through the old city that offers a glimpse into life in another era but also time your visit so you can witness Teppothsavam, the festival during which Meenakshi, along with her consort, Sundareshwarar is taken out on a grand procession in the lake Teppakolam.
ALSO SEE 15 best places to visit in south India
8. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
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India’s latest sweethearts, Andaman and Nicobar islands are a must-visit especially in January. Most of the New Year’s Eve crowd would have dispersed by now and you will be free to witness the varied cultures of the archipelago. A part of this experience is the 10-day Island Tourism Festival that will start on January 5 and will feature exhibitions, dances and song performances as well as adventure sports like parasailing and surfing among others.
ALSO SEE Top places to visit in Andaman
9. Bhubaneshwar
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One of the first few planned cities of India along with Chandigarh and Jamshedpur, Bhubaneshwar is one of India’s most underrated travel destinations. Famous for its architecture and ancient temples, Bhubaneshwar forms an integral part of the Golden Triangle that includes the holy city of Puri (Jagannath Temple) and Konark (Sun temple). Bhubaneshwar is also hosting the Mukteshwar Dance Festival from January 14 to January 16 that promotes talented Odissi performers from around the country.
ALSO SEE 5 magnificent temples that will draw you to Odisha this January
10. Diu
Photograph courtesy: Diu Tourism
We have not listed Diu among the 16 places to visit in 2016 for nothing. The tiny union territory has been on our radar for some years now and we are quite thrilled to see it embracing tourism like few other states have. It is currently hosting Asia’s longest beach festival that will go on till February 15. But there’s a lot more to do in Diu besides the festival. Diu has some pretty outstanding beaches and forts that you must absolutely visit as well as churches that will keep you busy for a good few days. And if the video below doesn’t make you want to visit it, we really don’t know what will!
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