Unwind & Explore: Deep Dive India’s Handpicked New Year's Getaways
- Madhukar Jha
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 49 minutes ago
Hello Fellow Traveller,
Over the last couple of weeks, a lot of people have been asking us for recommendations about the best places to be on New Year's eve.
And while many folks have already finalised plans for their winter breaks, there are also plenty who have still not made bookings and are worried that it may already be too late. If you happen to be one of them then read on, for we have some good news for you.
With questions coming in from families, large and small groups of friends, and even solo travellers, Deep Dive India's founder Samir Kher - a storyteller and a traveller, and I (Madhukar Jha - a naturalist and bird photographer) decided to have a chat about the places and activities that we have been recommending as responses to those queries.
Is this your ideal New Year's getaway too?
There are of course, many ways to bring in a New Year. There are those who love the fireworks and the parties with glitzy lights and DJ music. As this excerpt from our discussion shows, our idea of a New Year's eve is different.
To summarise, our ideal getaway is:
✅ In the Himalayan foothills
✅ Warm, sunny winter days and cold nights
✅ A place where a bonfire feels natural
✅ Access to greenery, water bodies and settings suitable for fire and barbecues
✅ If there’s music and dancing, let it be acoustic, informal, and around a campfire
❌ A place that does not attract large crowds
❌ No sounds of distant parties with DJs and loud music
If this is the New Year's vibe that works for you as well, we have some good news. There are plenty of places where you can bring in 2026 in style.
In the remainder of this post, we talk about some great options across two different regions. And in more good news - all of these are still available for booking, even as you read this.
Region One: Kumaon Himalayas
Winter in the Himalayas? Are you sure?
I have been fortunate to vacation once in the December chill (welcome 2015!) in Kumaon. Samir on the other hand, has spent many a winters in the Himalayas.
He believes that some may perceive the Himalayas as unsuitable for winter travel, but this is misleading - after all people live there year-round. The Himalayas are definitely cold, but comfortable if you are prepared.
Winter days in the mountains are bright, sunny, and very comfortable - warm enough to move around in light clothing. The temperature drops quickly in the evenings, but that’s part of the winter charm.
With proper warm clothing and a good bonfire, the evenings become cozy and enjoyable. This setting enhances the experience - food, conversations, and drinks feel better around a fire, which is exactly what many travellers seek in a winter mountain getaway.
Recommended Destination - Handpicked New Year's Getaways
Syat - Where the Plains meet the Hills
This village feels suspended between the Himalayas and the grounds below.
⭐ What makes Syat special: A foothill village perched above the Corbett landscape - an agrarian clearing surrounded by sal forests, tomato farms, the Baur River, and a unique blend of Kumaoni culture of the plains and hills.
🏕️ What the property at Syat is like: A spacious 2.5-acre orchard-side camp with cottages, forest-edge tents, elevated machaans, private bonfire spots, and dining under an ancient banyan tree.
✅ Activities in and around the property: River walks and cycling to the Baur, birdwatching across varied habitats, exploring elephant corridors, long river treks, and unwinding with good food and campfire evenings.
🌲 Nearby places and explorations: Visits to dense Corbett streams, remote hill villages, Jim Corbett’s village, historic iron-foundry and mining sites, local museums, and safari options in the core Corbett zones.
Recommended Destination
Saat-taal: Kumaon’s Hidden Lake Paradise
When you look at the lakes, they seem to change color. Clouds moving into the valley and getting trapped for hours trying to find their way out.
⭐ What makes Saat-taal special: A tranquil cluster of seven crystal-clear lakes surrounded by lush forests, exceptional birdlife, hidden waterfalls and ashrams, and dramatic light and color that shift across the landscape.
🏕️ What the property is like: A hilltop camp and cottage setup overlooking the lakes. Choose between immersive, close-to-nature tents or comfortable stone cottages with attached baths, managed with the warmth of a local family.
✅ Activities in and around the property: Birding with expert naturalists, kayaking and swimming in pristine lakes, rock climbing and rappelling on hidden cliffs, forest hikes (including night walks), and unique nature moments like deer grazing near the tents.
🌲 Nearby places and explorations: The interconnected seven lakes, surrounding coniferous and deciduous forests, waterfalls, secluded ashrams, and easy access to nature trails, all just 22 km away from the crowds of Nainital.
Recommended Destination
Mukteshwar: An apple orchard with stunning views
In December the air, it crackles - it's that clear. And at sunrise and sunset you see the sunlight hitting the snow peaks - the twenty thousanders.
⭐ What makes Mukteshwar special: Clear, crackling Himalayan air and panoramic snow-peak views at 20,000 ft, along with a distinct cultural shift into true mountain villages, terrace farms, and alpine life.
🏕️ What the property is like: A secluded 2–3 acre apple orchard on a ridge, with tents tucked among trees and a forest buffer that hides all nearby resorts while offering breathtaking, long-distance Himalayan vistas.
✅ Activities in and around the property: Sunrise and sunset peak-watching, walking through orchard paths, exploring local farming life, and engaging with the rhythms and culture of mountain villages.
🌲 Nearby places and explorations: Traditional villages with snow-ready architecture, terraced fields, fresh produce, and access to the wider Jim Corbett–linked travel circuit for extended exploration.
Region Two: Bundelkhand
You can spend three days in the area, have nine meals and have a different bread with every meal. It's a metaphor for what is possible there
While the charm of the Himalayas is difficult to surpass, we are blessed here in India, to have blissful travel destinations in every nook and corner of our country. But instead of overwhelming you with too many choices, we thought of picking one other region as our recommended winter destination option. The following is a quick summary of why we believe Bundelkhand should be on every compulsive traveller's list.
🧭 A destination for evolved travellers who seek to understand new places, cultures, and cuisines rather than tick off tourist “shoulds.”
🛣️ Strong new infrastructure, especially excellent roads, making travel smooth and accessible without losing the region’s raw charm.
🌿 A still-wild landscape that retains a sense of remoteness and ruggedness, offering an authentic, unpolished travel experience.
🍽️ One of India’s most underrated cuisines, seldom talked about despite its richness and depth.
🔀 A cultural and culinary crossroads, drawing influences from the north, south, east, and west due to its geographic position.
Recommended Destination
A British-era Indigo Planter's Bungalow
A bungalow of a British indigo planter which was acquired by the royal family of Pratapgarh - at the centre of a hundred acre private estate.
⭐ What makes this place special: A historic bungalow built by a British indigo planter and later owned by the royal family of Pratapgarh, offering an authentic blend of colonial charm and royal heritage.
🏕️ What the property is like: A four-room hilltop bungalow inside a 100-acre private estate, featuring massive high-ceilinged rooms, century-old monogrammed pottery, vintage furniture, a swimming pool, and a unique fusion of British and royal cuisines.
✅ Activities in and around the property: Guests can explore the estate, enjoy horseback rides, relax by the pool, and take short excursions to cultural and archaeological sites nearby.
🌲 Nearby places and explorations: Easily accessible trips to Prayagraj/Allahabad - known for its colonial architecture, museums, churches, street food, riverboat rides at the Ganga–Yamuna confluence, Mughal tombs, and Akbar’s grand fort. Another must visit is to the site of excavated Mahabharata-era ruins of Kosambi.
Recommended Destination
The Hidden Fort of Rampura: Remote, Wild, and Beautiful
You feel as if the countryside is yours - there is no other property for a hundred miles in any direction.
⭐ What makes this place special: An 800-year-old talukedar fort set in the wild, sparsely populated Chambal–Beihar ravines. Remote, atmospheric, and steeped in history, with a sense of vast open country and living cultural traditions.
🏕️ What the property is like: A sprawling stone-and-mud fort with a grand palace inside, massive courtyards, and more than 20 old-world rooms, run personally and warmly by the heirs of the Rampura royal family with dedicated staff.
✅ Activities in and around the property: Guided drives through the countryside, interactions with local communities, walks or rides into the Chambal ravines, crocodile-spotting areas, and immersive experiences curated by the hosts.
🌲 Nearby places and activities: Visits to the historic Panchnadi - the confluence of five rivers within a 10 km range - and a two-hour trip to Kannauj, India’s ancient itra (perfume) capital, where you can tour a 100-room palace distillery and learn about traditional scent-making. Khajuraho and Kalinjar are other nearby destinations that you can combine with your trip to Rampura.
Ready to experience an unforgettable New Year's getaway?
If any of these Handpicked New Year's Getaways excite you, we’d love to help you plan the perfect winter retreat—whether you’re travelling solo, with family, or a group of friends.
Click on any of the links above, or send us a message on WhatsApp at +91 95326 91802 to check availability, ask questions, and get personalized recommendations.
Wishing you a very happy December and best wishes for the holidays!
Madhukar
(Deep Dive India)
