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9 Lesser Known Destinations For The Long Weekends Ahead

9 Lesser Known Destinations For The Long Weekends Ahead

Rohit for letting me borrow his memory card.View On BlackExplored !! Thanks a lot friends !!!!" data-caption="I was in Kokan for long weekend of 24 - 26 Jan. This beach is @ Ladghar. Ladghar is situated at about 8 Kms from Dapoli. This beach is known as "Tamas Teertha" as some part of the sea appears to be red in colour. This beach has religious value and the bathing here is a big attraction. Also, it's a great spot for swimming, either in the sea or in the adjacent area where a river empties into the sea. Some part of beach is covered with coloured pebbles and boulders, creating a beach-rock collector's paradise. For those wanting a more strenuous walk this is a spectacular piece of coastline. Special thanks to Rohit for letting me borrow his memory card.View On BlackExplored !! Thanks a lot friends !!!!" data-credit="soumitra911/Flickr">

With two long weekends coming up consecutively, it's time to take off for a well-deserved mini vacation. This Friday, September 25 is Bakr Id/Eid ul-Adha, followed by the weekend. And, the Friday after that is Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.

So start the planning and book ahead.

Here's a list of off-beat (translation: Indiana Jones would approve) vacationing spots across the country, that you can hit for under Rs 15,000.

(You're welcome.)

Dapoli, Maharashtra
Bhushan Patil Photography via Getty Images
Dapoli is a charming town with plenty of coconut trees, unclogged beaches, and beautiful forts. Situated in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra state, it is widely known as Mini Mahabaleshwar. At approximately 215km from Mumbai, it is one of the peaceful getaways from the city.

Where to stay: If you go to Dapoli, you may want to try staying in one of the log houses. It is frequented by the Marathi film fraternity. The host also arranges for outdoor recreational activities like rope-climbing, Burma-bridge and archery.More here.

Budget: Rs 10,000- Rs 15,000
Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh
Rita Willaert/Flickr
This is the perfect time to visit Ziro, as one of the biggest outdoor music festivals in the country will be held between 24-27 September. Ziro is one of those places that boasts of amicable climate throughout the year, replete with beautiful green peaks, and lush rice fields. The Apa Tani tribe will you make you feel completely at home.

Where to stay: There are some great home-stays in Zero. Find out more, here.

Budget: Rs 8,000—Rs 10,000
Taboda National Park, Maharashtra
Hira Punjabi via Getty Images
It is Maharashtra's oldest and largest National Park, but not too many tourists visit this spot. It lies in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra state. It is about 150 km from Nagpur city which is the nearest airport for visiting Tadoba national park.

Where to stay: Hotels are a little expensive here. You can find out more here.

Budget: Rs 12,000- Rs15,000
Hogenakkal Falls, Tamil Nadu
www.beontheroad.com/Flickr
Hogenakkal is home to what is fondly known as the Niagara Falls of India. The Kaveri river spews several waterfalls circling the rocks in this little village in Tamil Nadu, making it one of the most beautiful waterfalls in India.

Where to stay: There aren't too many luxury hotels here. Check here for more details.

Budget: Rs 5,000- Rs 7,000
Naukuchiatal, Uttarakhand
Global Environment Facility (GEF)/Flickr
If you have been to Nainital, and fell in love with it--then this weekend travel to this beautiful getaway, located very close to Nainital. There's a nine-cornered lake set at some distance. This one is a beautiful hill retreat. The lake stretches for 1 kilometre and is home to a picturesque village.

Where to stay: There are some lovely resorts with cottages in and around the area. Find out more here.

Budget: Rs 15,000- Rs 20,000
Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh
Education Images via Getty Images
Adventure sports, trout fishing, or doing absolutely nothing--this is one of the many villages in Himachal that has not yet been a tourist attraction. The pine-studded landscape are just perfect for no filter pictures on Instagram.

What's best? It's just an overnight journey from Delhi.

Where to stay: If you want a luxurious stay, Himalayan Trout House, is a good option. There are homes-stay options too.
Budget: Rs 7,000- Rs 10,000
Lonar Meteorite Crater, Maharashtra
Tony Waltham/Robert Harding via Getty Images
Lonar is one of Maharashtra’s best-kept secrets. Home to the Earth’s only hyper-velocity impact crater in basaltic rock, Lonar is named after the demon, Lonasura, and is ringed by fascinating temples, including one with erotic sculptures reminiscent of Khajuraho. Surprisingly, only few have heard of Lonar Lake apart from locals and occasional trekkers.

This place is just 4 hours away from Aurangabad.

Where to stay: The MDTC Holiday Resort is one of the few options in the area, and is decently located 1km from Lonar town centre. More here.
Budget: Rs 5,000- Rs 7,000
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Karnataka
Paul Williams www.IronAmmonitePhotography.com/Flickr
If you love animals, and stay in Bangalore, this is a place you should visit.

Situated only 15 kilometres from Hampi, Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary is the only sanctuary in North Karnataka. It is estimated that about 120 sloth bears live in this sanctuary. If you're lucky, you may also get to spot partridges, painted spur hen and quails.

Where to stay: Besides the regular tourist homes, there are also a few forest guest houses. Forest Guest House, Kamalapur and Gunda Forest Guest House, Vyasanakere near Hospet are the two best places to stay. More details here.

Budget: Rs 5,000- Rs 7,000
Binsar, Uttaranchal
Education Images via Getty Images
An ideal vacation spot for bird watching, photography, or simply revelling in nature, Binsar also hosts a wildlife sanctuary.

Where to stay: There are luxury estates, hotels, and resorts in the area priced at approximately Rs 2,000-- Rs 5,000.

Budget: Rs 7,000- Rs 10,000

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.