Get lost at these 10 hidden gems in India

This article is sponsored by VResorts.

That we all need, from time to time, to pack our bags and head for the hills – or the beach – is a given. The question is where. Everybody has been there and done that. If you’re at a loss over where to holiday or are trying to cobble together a half-decent itinerary for your next extended weekend, then V Resorts can provide the perfect break for you, with a multitude of options tailored to your tastes. The best part is that these are located at lesser-known places, where you can chill out over some serious me-time. V Resorts is a new age, travel solutions entity, providing standardised premium experiences in the leisure travel space.

Here is a list of choices of what works best for you. Take your pick, make your booking, and just leave the rest to V Resorts. Once you experience what it has to offer, you will be back to every one of these places.

Sattal Lake Cottages, Uttarakhand

A five-hour drive from Delhi, past the pretty hill station of Nainital, takes you to V Resorts Sattal Lake Cottages in Uttarakhand.

Nestled amongst the scented pines, on a peak overlooking the beautiful Sattal or seven lakes, the resort is as beautiful as the nature surrounding it. Close your eyes and breathe deep the pure air, listen to the birds chirping and lose yourself to the charm of the surroundings. Wander through the forests; or if bird-watching is your thing, grab a pair of binoculars. Or a bicycle. Or do nothing, and just be: the room balconies overlook some of the best views you haven’t seen in a long while. Tuck into the fresh food, get a massage and zone-out in the dreamy ambience.

Kotabagh Women’s Resort, Uttarakhand

Planning an all-girl holiday? Don’t want any man around? The Kotabagh Women’s Resort is just the thing for you.

A five-hour drive from Delhi or Dehradun skirting the rippling Kosi river, it is a short distance away from the famous Jim Corbett National Park. Just unwind amidst the spectacular views, bond with your girlfriends over endless cups of tea, laughter and juicy gossip. Get pampered with a head and shoulder massage, shop for spices and herbs in the nearby Haldwani or get a taste of village life at the Haveli in Sonjala. The more adventurous can trek or fish (bring your own gear) or do the wildlife safari.

Orchha Heritage Resort, Madhya Pradesh

A three-hour drive from the fort city of Gwalior brings you to Orchha, another fort town of singular beauty.

Situated on the banks of the Betwa, which is the site of V Resort’s Orchha Heritage, it draws upon the legacy of the mighty Bundelkand kings and boasts elegant interiors and lush landscaped gardens where you can spend many an hour basking in regal splendour. You can take a boat across the river which glides around the historical town or you could even raft right through. Get off at the Raja Mahal and the Ram Raja Temple and visit the quaint little town as well. Cycle around this laidback town and visit the market to pick up souvenirs of coloured pottery. And at the end of the day, relax at V Resorts’ in-house spa.

Sariska Wildlife Camp, Rajasthan

A couple of hours from Jaipur, neighbouring the Sariska National Park itself, is V Resorts’ Sariska Wildlife Camp, thoughtfully offering all the creature comforts in the middle of nowhere.

Want to do the wildlife safari to get a dekko at a tiger or sit right in the camp and take a leisurely swim in the plunge pool? And when was the last time you saw the stars in your urban sky marred by light pollution? Here you get a glorious view of the night sky through a telescope, taking you back to your childhood days when the stars sparked your imagination. Do an outdoors dinner listening to feral cats and nightbirds. A short morning walk will take you to Jahaj, a site where peacocks abound in shimmering splendour. Go shopping for sandstone artefacts in Sikandra, a couple of hours away, where the great Mughal emperor Akbar is buried.

Pench Wildlife Cottages, Madhya Pradesh

Kipling would approve of this one. Take a holiday here and you can picture Mowgli traipsing along with Baloo, Bhageera and Hathi.

V Resorts Pench Wildlife Cottages, in the very same place as where The Jungle Book was conceptualised, will definitely give you an opportunity to stare into the burning eyes of Shere Khan’s progeny. For, not only is this a tiger country but is also rich in birdlife, being home to no less than 800 species. Birders, come with your diaries and cameras!

The resort has married earthy ambience with well-appointed rooms for your comfort. To enhance your experience, enjoy a performance by the local Gond tribe; visit the local rural school and do your bit by making a small (or big!) donation. A trip to Pachdar village will teach you the simple but profound joys of working with clay. But if you’re looking for something different, you can spend a lazy afternoon fishing or trekking on any of the beautiful nature trails.

Queen’s Meadows, Ranikhet, Uttarakhand

Even as the world heads for the Himalayas, all it takes is a daylong drive from Delhi to reach the cantonment town of Ranikhet, home to the Kumaon and Naga Regiments. The resort, which takes its name from the town itself, is accessible only through a brisk 600-metre trek through the pine and Deodhar forest, making it truly exclusive.

Queen’s Meadows provides the best views from your wood-and-stone villa, which is actually a remodelled barrack from the Raj days. Start your day with Yoga and go on to rappelling, paragliding or trekking. Or simply relax by the bubbling brook and take in the Himalayan beauty of the snow-capped peaks. Fancy a picnic on the Kosi’s banks? You don’t even have to plan it, it will be done for you. And lazy evenings can be jazzed up with karaoke in harmony with local talent.

Nashik Vineyard Resort, Maharashtra

A short drive through the wine country of Nashik brings you to V Resorts Nashik Vineyard, a dream destination for wannabe oenophiles.

Beautifully appointed villas here, in the scenic Triambakeshwar belt, come with their own private garden, private kitchen and a living room, overlooking the hilly terrain that is a great trekking and cycling route. Raise a toast to the heady vineyard tours, sample the finest wines of the country and return to lounge by the pool at the end of the day. Or go for a picnic at a nearby farm. Apart from wines, don’t forget to shop for the local specials: kondajichivda and stunning Maharashtrian handloom saris.

Mashobra Adventure Camp, Himachal Pradesh

This one is for adrenaline junkies. If your brand of excitement requires you to rough it out in the mountains, then V Resorts Mashobra Adventure Camp is just your thing.

Motor it from Shimla through the beautiful pine forest and apple orchards to reach there. The adventurous spirit in you can take you rock climbing and waterfall rappelling under the expert guidance of certified instructors. Fancy the obstacle course or a Burma bridge to test your sinews? And top it with a course in jungle survival? Pack your backpacks already! But it’s not all muscle and sweat here. Folk performances and barbecue nights will relax you while a stretch of yoga by the brook adjoining the Sipur temple is guaranteed to rejuvenate you.

Saam’s Houseboat, Aleppey, Kerala

Who doesn’t want to holiday in style in God’s Own Country? And nobody does it quite like V Resorts Saam’s Houseboat in the calm backwaters of Alleppey. Floating down the network of rivers and canals, the surrounding scenery is sheer poetry and melody. Coconut palms sway to the music of birds and the percussive lapping of the water.

Seafood has never tasted better than on a houseboat, paired with toddy, the local brew. Stop at one of the breathtaking bird sanctuaries or try your hand at fishing. Learn a few tips from Phillip Kutty Fish Farm. Be a guest at one of the ancient tharavad homes and savour the wonderful cuisine. And, best of all, get off at any point en route for an authentic Ayurvedic massage before lying down to let the world float by in a canvas of greens and blues.

Sundarbans Mangrove, West Bengal

Head east to the magic of the Sundarbans, a mere two hours from Kolkata. V Resorts Sundarbans Mangrove nestles on the edge of a mangrove in the heart of the forest, where a beautiful ecosystem of flora and fauna flourishes. Though the tiger is king here, you can watch estuarine crocodiles, water monitor lizards and multiple crab species thriving in their environment during a daylong wildlife safari on a boat. Take a closer look at the crocs at the Bhagabatpur hatchery nearby.

Birders can check out the Sajnakhali or Jyotirampur sanctuaries for a range of winged visitors.

Let the delicate flavours of the local Bengali food titillate your taste buds. Enjoy a theatrical performance by the locals to propitiate the Goddess Banbibi who watches over them and the forest. Listen to the passionate songs of the Bauls and watch the joyous Tusu dance by the local tribal community. And take home the pure Sundarbans honey harvested right before your eyes as well as handlooms and local artefacts made of beeswax, shell and bamboo.