V-Day date in under Rs 500 for Raipurites

Whoever said Valentine’s Day has to be an expensive affair? Be it gifts or gestures, one can proclaim love in ways that do not cost a fortune. We take a peek into some innovative, exciting and very affordable ideas to celebrate V-Day this year by people in Raipur.
Re-live a memory
Couples who have been together for a long time can try recreating a date from their college days.Shruti and Kanak Sharma, who are engaged to each other, share, “We have been together since our second year of college and now being in jobs, we end up hanging out at fancy restaurants or coffee shops. So this year, our plan is to visit our college canteen and have a date just like we used to back in our college days.”
A romantic escape
While some decide to stay home, other couples choose to explore nearby places like Sirpur, Champaran and Dongargarh. The long weekend this year allows couples to make enough time for each other even after hectic schedules. “Since it’s a weekend, we have an itinerary that includes historical and fun places to visit nearby. We have decided to take an early morning train or bus and be back on the last train of the day. It’s like a getaway from the city,” says Jaydeep Roy, a 24-year-old entrepreneur from Bhilai.
Go experimental
There’s no one rule when it comes to celebrating Valentine’s Day and college couples do not hesitate to experiment on new ideas for dates. Double dates and working for charity are just a couple of the options you have. Engineering student Vishal Kaushik shares, “My girlfriend and I are going to spend the day playing games like ludo, snakes and ladders and Chinese checkers. She’s making a fort using bed sheets and we will spend our day playing inside it. Some of our friends are participating in a fund raising event.”
Till the sun rises
There is nothing more serene than watching the sunrise on the side of a lake or the outskirts of the city. A romantic stroll along Raipur’s Marine Drive or sitting back and enjoying a cup a coffee in the cold weather can be a relaxing date for some. Kriti Pandey, a blogger, says, “We once watched the sunrise after an early morning bike ride to Naya Raipur. On our way back we had breakfast at a small hotel. It was the most inexpensive and the best date I have ever been on.”
Visiting parents & grandparents
This year, some youngsters have come up with the idea of celebrating Valentine’s Day with their first love — their parents and grandparents. “It’s our second Valentine’s together after our wedding, so we plan to visit out parents and surprise them. The idea of sharing a day with them and celebrating valentine’s together is both exciting and new for us. We always heard stories about how they used to date during their younger days. So this year it’s all about them,” says Ashima Mittal, resident of Raipur.
Take to the street
If you love eating out as a couple, try exploring the best street food that the city has to offer. The streets of Raipur can surprise you with dishes ranging from Kashmiri Kulfi to Hyderabadi biryani and everything in between. “We plan to start our day at a poha stall in Pandri, which is the best I know. Later, we will visit my girlfriend’s favourite gol gappa stall and then hit a dhaba on the highway. For dessert we are going to a kulfi stall,” says Aayush Soni, a student.