Experience the Colours of Fall in India

THE EXPERIENCE OF INDIAN AUTUMN

Fall foliage streaks through a swish of earthy and warm hues in brown, orange, yellow…as the leaves swirl and twirl like little ballerinas and land gracefully on the ground. Thinking of maple land? Wing in closer home to the following October travel destinations in India and enjoy the awesome autumn as it sprints quickly through our tropical climes. Discover India through the colours of autumn.

Call Of Kashmir

Crisp weather, stunning scenery composed of richly forested areas, and slopes ablaze with the reddish-brown chinar leaves: Kashmir is a slice of heaven on earth with its brilliant sunrise and sunset, breathing splendor into the stunning colors of autumn. Chart a trip to Srinagar, drift quietly along the lull of the Dal Lake as it mirrors the panoramic landscape around. There is magic in the air and you can revel in it as the nip in the air begins to settle in during October.

The golden qahwa poured into mugs and sipped gently keeps you warm as you walk along in the resplendent Mughal Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, wearing the hues of fall. Click picture perfect frames as the ground turns red with the dry leaves gathering and swirling. The old natural retreats in Kashmir make the experience of fall even more special, making you feel like a movie star as you bask in the glow of the bonfires with loved ones, or saunter into the frame in a video, soaking up the orange and yellow all around with a satisfied sigh.

Where to Stay – Kashmir Houseboat and RK Sarovar Portico

Drive Into Dharamshala

Colours of autumn cup the beautiful location of Dharamshala as the year draws to a close. Burnt orange, golden yellow, misty greys and shades of terracotta pour themselves into the landscape, wherever your gaze runs. As if God’s overturned the cosmic palette. The tranquillity of the place makes an autumn halo rest on the brows of the Dalai Lama temple in McLeodganj. The cup of joy runs over for nature enthusiasts: as the golden sun runs its warm course across the azure blue skies.

You can trek your way to the Bhagsunag waterfall breathing in the crisp, fresh air, or even choose to meditate, sit and stare, in a chosen slice of quiet and drink in the view of the rambling mountains while sipping hot Tibetan soup. Remember to take your sketchpad for tracing the special contours and let the colours fill into your Instagrammable pictures as you make your way across the expanse of the Dhauladhar range in Himachal Pradesh.

Where to Stay – Club Mahindra Dharamshala

Go Up To Uttarakhand

Landour in Mussoorie bursts with birdsong and bright sunshine as it cloaks the Garhwal range of the Himalayas. It is a scenic drive here, to author Ruskin Bond’s home territory. If you can’t bite the wintry breath of hill stations, then autumn is the season for you to hit these spots. Gobble hot momos, slurp coffee and tuck in the freshly baked buns with molten butter.

Go to Mussoorie, Nainital, Rishikesh as autumn sets in, as all these locations can be wreathed in a single trip by virtue of their proximity. Make the most of the cool breeze as it rustles through your tresses, and feast your eyes on the orangish- red landscape. Even the braids of sunshine in the evening set the scenes on fire, visually, rocketing the hues to their maximum power.

The fragrance in the air, the woodsy tones, and the sparkling skies make the visit worth it. You can go on a safari at Jim Corbett National Park, take to paragliding and enjoy white water rafting on the rapids in Rishikesh, or boat in the lake – one of the best offerings of Nainital tourism. Call it a slice of slow travel.

Where to Stay – Club Mahindra Corbett, Club Mahindra Naukuchiatal, Club Mahindra Mussoorie and Club Mahindra Kanatal

Lure Of Ladakh

Spectacular and picturesque, filled with unending glorious blues, bright oranges and blinding yellows. Leh Ladakh wears its best during the fall, with the grandeur of orange and yellow colouring the landscape. This is when the monsoon has ebbed, doing away with the frequent landslides. Winter can be tough in the trans Himalayan region, for most. Make the most of your trip during autumn here. Think the pure waters of the Pangong lake, and the mystical beckoning of the Nubra Valley.

The rugged Karakoram range watches you silently during the breathtaking treks, as you move along the meandering sparkling rivers. Visit Khardung La, the world's highest motorable mountain pass – the view here is fantastic. Work up a voracious appetite as you lock in the colours of autumn into your camera and gorge on hot dumplings, pava, thukpa, khambish.

Make It To Mysore

If perching high up in the mountains isn’t really up your alley, move towards Mysore for a glug of post-monsoon in heritage urban climes. Mysore got its name after the evil demon king Mahishasura, who was slayed by Goddess Durga. This makes Duessehra and the 10-day- long colorful festivities it brings along a mega affair in the city, as the year draws to a close. The Mysore Duessehra, also popularly known as Nada Habba (meaning festival of the land or state), is celebrated with unbeatable enthusiasm.

Soak up the grandeur of the magnificently illuminated Mysore Palace at night, the plod of the caparisoned elephants, the riot of colours in the dance troupes, folk dances and live bands. The air is ringing with excitement and the perfect weather is an allure. Revel in the opulence of traditional palaces, and soak up the beauty of the sprawling, manicured gardens dotting the city of royals. It forms a vital part of Mysore sightseeing during October. The Brindavan Gardens merit a special visit, as inspired by the majestic Shalimar Gardens of Kashmir, they bring alive the grandeur in their gorgeous horticultural landscape of gurgling fountains, rose beds, lawns and more in God’s own palette.

Where to Stay – Golden Landmark, Mysore

India truly looks incredible in the autumn season and this list above is the proof. We look forward for you to plan your holiday in the fall season to discover India the way it should!

About Mahindra Holidays

Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited (MHRIL), India’s leading player in the leisure hospitality industry, offers quality family holidays as also stated by Club Mahindra Resort Reviews, primarily through vacation ownership memberships. While Club Mahindra Membership Fees gives you opportunity to explore your holidays across world, the other brands offered by the company are – Club Mahindra Resorts Fundays and Svaastha Spa. As on Mar 31, 2019, MHRIL has 61+ resorts across India and abroad and its subsidiary, Holiday Club Resorts Oy, Finland, a leading vacation ownership company in Europe has 33 resorts across Finland, Sweden and Spain. Visit us at www.clubmahindra.com