There’s something timeless a couple of picnic with easy meals, a comfortable blanket and the light heat of the solar. However what in case your subsequent picnic was not only a temporary pause however the very coronary heart of your journey? All throughout India, there are locations the place a picnic isn’t simply in regards to the meals. It’s about the place you’re, what you do, and who you’re with.
Think about sitting by a wild river as a substitute of a metropolis park, or choosing your personal lunch earlier than spreading out your mat. Perhaps you’re floating on a ship by way of the backwaters, or taking within the breeze on a hilltop blooming with flowers; it’s these little particulars that flip a easy picnic right into a sluggish, stunning journey.
And when you’re travelling with youngsters? Even higher. These spots aren’t simply scenic, they’re filled with tales, house to run, and moments that join meals, nature, and tradition in methods screens by no means can.
So when you’re able to swap soggy sandwiches and crowded parks for one thing a bit of extra memorable, listed here are eight picnic spots throughout India the place the expertise is the vacation spot.
1. Trout fishing in Barot, Himachal
Situated in a peaceable nook of Himachal Pradesh, the village of Barot sits alongside the Uhl River, a glassy stretch of water that’s as calming as it’s picturesque. That is trout nation, and your picnic begins with a fishing rod.
You possibly can hire primary gear and take a look at your hand at angling within the clear river, or go to the trout farm when you want your catch with out the wait. After you have obtained your fish, native cooks will grill it for you proper there on the riverbank. Pair it with sidu (a Himachali steamed bread), rhododendron juice, and jams created from wild berries.
For kids, it’s a probability to grasp the place meals comes from, and for folks, a second of uncommon peace beneath the pine bushes.
2. Pineapple choosing in Thayong Village, Manipur
Within the dense hills of Manipur lies Thayong village, the place pineapples develop in abundance throughout neat and inexperienced ridges. Throughout harvest season, particularly in August and September, the village bursts right into a candy and tropical rhythm.
Right here, you possibly can stroll among the many fields, decide your personal pineapples, and revel in them sliced and spiced with salt and chilli, the native method. If you happen to go to through the Pineapple Competition, all the village turns right into a celebration of flavour and neighborhood, with performances, meals stalls and conventional music.
Youngsters will love the interactive nature of the expertise and the joy of tasting fruit recent from the plant.
3. Cave trek and forest picnic in Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh
If your loved ones craves a little bit of journey together with your afternoon snack, Araku Valley delivers. Start your day on the Borra Caves, that are majestic limestone chambers stuffed with pure rock formations that really feel like scenes from a fantasy novel.
After the underground journey, make your strategy to the forested slopes close by and arrange your picnic in a clearing with sweeping valley views. Decide up native bamboo hen, roasted corn, or tribal espresso from small distributors alongside the best way.
For youths, it’s a pulse-racing mixture of exploration and nature, and for adults, it’s a retreat into calm, recent air and earthy meals.
4. Cherry blossom picnic in Shillong, Meghalaya
When the cherry blossoms bloom in Shillong, all the panorama takes on a dreamlike glow. By November, Wards Lake and its surrounding gardens change into a wonderland of soppy pink petals and crisp mountain air.
It’s the excellent spot for a household picnic, there are paddle boats for kids, shady walkways for a mild stroll, and benches beneath bushes simply ready for somebody to unpack a tiffin.
Make it a memorable childhood expertise together with your youngster and go to through the Cherry Blossom Competition, the place you will discover cultural performances, road meals, and native artwork including color to the already scenic view.
5. Beachside picnic at Mandarmani, West Bengal
Nearly 4 hours from Kolkata, Mandarmani is a relaxed and uncrowded seaside escape — a seashore that also seems like a secret. The large, clear shoreline is good for a no-fuss picnic with the ocean breeze for firm.
Unfold out your mat on the tender sand and tuck into recent prawns, fried fish, or home made snacks. Small beachside stalls serve up easy coastal fare that’s massive on flavour and lightweight on the pockets. Because the day winds down, the sky places on a present, with peach and lavender hues portray the horizon because the solar dips into the ocean.
One of the best time to go to is October to March, when the climate is nice and the humidity is low.
For youths, it’s a pure playground. They will construct sandcastles, accumulate shells, fly kites, or spot tiny crabs skittering throughout the shore whereas the grown-ups burn off power.
6. Hilltop picnic at Kaas Plateau, Maharashtra
From late August to October, the Kaas Plateau in Maharashtra turns right into a riot of color, with over 850 species of wildflowers carpeting the hilltop. Referred to as the ‘Valley of Flowers of the Western Ghats’, this UNESCO World Heritage Website is a botanical paradise.
Households can stroll alongside marked trails, studying about uncommon crops and recognizing butterflies. Pack a lightweight picnic and settle in among the many blooms, however be aware to remain off the fragile patches.
With its cool breeze and kaleidoscope of colors, Kaas makes for an unforgettable nature-themed outing with loads to fascinate curious younger minds.
7. Stargazing and riverside picnic in Nainital, Uttarakhand
A picnic doesn’t want to finish when the solar goes down, particularly not in Nainital’s Maheskhan Hills. Begin your day with a peaceable riverside lunch beneath oak and deodar bushes, then keep again as night falls.
Owing to low mild air pollution, the evening sky right here is brilliantly clear. Deliver a telescope or be part of an area stargazing tour and you’ll spot constellations, planets and even the Milky Manner.
Wrap your youngsters in blankets, hand them a mug of heat cocoa, and watch their eyes mild up as they hint the celebs.
8. Shikara trip picnic in Alleppey, Kerala
Within the backwaters of Kerala, your picnic mat isn’t on the bottom; it floats. Hop onto a vibrant shikara in Alleppey, as you boat by way of the maze of palm-lined canals, sleepy villages, and emerald-green paddy fields.
Decide up crispy banana chips, jackfruit fritters, spicy fried prawns, and tender coconut sweets wrapped in leaves, native snacks, earlier than you board. Once in a while, you’ll spot a kingfisher diving into the water, a fisherman casting his web, or a boatman singing a quiet tune.
One of the best time to go to is from November to February, when the skies are clear, the air is cool, and the water glistens beneath the winter solar.
The boat trip is pure pleasure for youths, stuffed with actions like recognizing birds, waving to different boats, and even steering for a bit beneath supervision!
A picnic doesn’t should be elaborate to be memorable. However in the fitting place, with a bit of thought and an open thoughts, it may well change into an expertise of a lifetime. Whether or not you’re fishing for trout in Himachal, strolling by way of a discipline of flowers in Maharashtra, or watching stars fall over Uttarakhand, these moments stick with you lengthy after the basket is packed away.
Edited by Saumya Singh
