The hills beckon holidaymakers

GUWAHATI: While there is one section of people who can't imagine being away from the city during Durga Puja and love soaking in the festive spirit to the hilt, there is another that dislikes crazy crowds, blocked roads and the general madness that accompanies the year's most awaited festival.
The second lot, often, tries to make good use of the Puja holidays by going on short as well as long trips to various near and far-off places.With the Pujas just about two weeks away, most of these holidaymakers are in the process of finalizing their travel itineraries and some of the super-enthused ones have even started packing their bags or at least making a list of what they need to pack for their Puja vacation.
TOI spoke to some people who have planned getaways this Puja and found most of them are looking to avoid crowds and are going to quiet tourist destinations that they hope will be relatively less crowded. Hills seem to be the preferred destination, with remote Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, Gangtok in Sikkim and even Kalimpong in West Bengal topping the list of favourites.
Pijush Kanti Banerjee, who is heading for Tawang during the Puja holidays, says he'd rather avoid going to a popular place that would be hugely crowded and where finding accommodation would also be a problem. He has chosen Tawang because he wants to vacation at a place that is quiet and peaceful so he can spend some days away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It goes without saying that the natural beauty of Tawang is a major attraction.
"When it comes to Puja vacations, Puri seems to have become Guwahatians' favourite destination. But Puri and other popular beach towns and hill stations tend to get very crowded during the festive season and I don't think one would be able to have a peaceful stay there. So, I prefer to steer clear of popular tourist spots and head for a quiet, peaceful place instead," he said. He has already booked his tickets and hotel to avoid last-minute rush.
Archana Das, who is planning to visit Gangtok, said it is always better to plan ahead so that last-minute hassle can be avoided. "I am planning to go to Gangtok and as of now things are going as per plan. We booked our tickets and fixed the accommodation almost two months ago as there is a major rush during festival time and we did not want to take a chance," she said.
She further said, "The trend of going for a holiday has become quite popular in Guwahati these days and rather than going for popular tourist spots, I think people prefer to go to small unexplored places where they can relax and enjoy themselves."