Travel: Planning a winter trip? Here’s all you need to know
Winter has set in, making it the perfect time of the year to get on your bike (or a car) and escape the city. Here’s a guide to where you can go, with three fun itineraries, each suited to a unique taste
Road trips can be spontaneous and fun, but they can also quickly get tiring if you don’t take at least a little time planning them. Making things easier for wanderlust-filled travellers is a new website called ScoutMyTrip, which aims to simplify road trip planning in India. All you have to do is enter your start point and destination, and the site takes care of the rest, giving you not only refuelling stops, but also washrooms and eateries along the way.
If you’re thinking about setting off on your very own road trip but are unclear about where to go, here are three itineraries we have created — based on what you might be looking for — to help you along.
FOR A CULINARY INDULGENCE
Destination: Udvada (190 km; 4 hrs)
A mere 200 km north of Mumbai lies Udvada, a sleepy coastal town in Gujarat that is home to a predominantly Zoroastrian population. Most visitors come here to marvel at the Iran Shah Atash Behram, a fire temple that bears the sacred flame that has been burning for over a thousand years. However, not being too far away from Mumbai makes Udvada perfect for a weekend getaway filled with delicious Parsi delicacies.
Begin your culinary pilgrimage right on the NH8 at Ahura, where you can indulge in a hearty breakfast. Here, you must try the akuri, a scrambled egg dish similar to yet runnier than a bhurji.
Once in Udvada, hop over to Globe Hotel, which claims to be the town’s oldest hotel, having been established in 1924. If you’re spending the night here, tuck into the mutton pulao dar at the hotel for dinner. The aromatic rice-and-meat preparation is served alongside a rich, creamy dhansak.
Early next morning, ask locals where you can try some freshly made doodh na puff — chilled milk froth with nutmeg and cardamom sprinkled on top.
When you’re heading back, stop by at Parsi da Dhaba and dig into their kaleji papeto (chicken liver with potatoes) or kheema ghotala (mince with eggs).
