Independence Day August weekend: Destinations that Indians love to visit

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Long weekends energise everyone, whether you are a last-minute packer or a thorough planner. A common ambition among tourists is to visit a region that provides unique experiences while minimising the hassles associated with visa formalities, language hurdles, and long-haul flights.

Plan ahead of time for the two upcoming long weekends, August 12-16 and August 26-30. We’ve made the ultimate wish list for you, and it’s now up to you to complete your leave application. Whether you like alone travel, a journey with companions, a family holiday, or exhilarating activities, these conveniently placed nations provide it everything.

Sri Lanka

Flight Duration: 3-4 hours

Visa Process: Sri Lanka ETA

Sri Lankan tourism has grown significantly over the years, attracting a varied spectrum of visitors, including many Indian families. The island nation has a rich cultural legacy, magnificent scenery, and lovely beaches, making it an ideal destination for Indian travellers on a budget. Sri Lanka’s affordability, along with its proximity to India, makes it a perfect vacation destination for families looking for an affordable yet entertaining trip. Sri Lanka offers a range of experiences at affordable pricing, from seeing ancient ruins and lush tea plantations to enjoying water sports and wildlife safaris, making it a popular choice for Indian families looking for unforgettable trips.

Azerbaijan

Flight Duration: 3-4 hours

Visa Process: 3-4 days of processing (30 days)

Azerbaijan has a wide range of activities to offer, from experiencing the old walled city of Baku with its modern architectural marvels to exploring the picturesque landscapes of the Caucasus Mountains and the gorgeous Caspian Sea shoreline. Visitors may immerse themselves in Azerbaijan’s rich legacy by visiting old historical monuments, indulging in local cuisine, and enjoying thriving arts and music scenes. Azerbaijan is rising as an intriguing destination for global travellers looking for new and adventurous activities, thanks to its friendly hospitality and expanding infrastructure.

Seychelles

Flight duration: Average 4 hours

Visa process: No visa for Indians

Seychelles, located near the equator on the Indian Ocean, is a wonderful tourist location with nice weather all year. Indians may visit Seychelles without a visa by taking a 4.5-hour journey from Mumbai to Mahé on Air Seychelles, the country’s national airline. Other carriers, including Air India, IndiGo, Emirates, Ethiopian, and Qatar Airways, provide connecting flights from other Indian hubs. While Seychellois Creole is the official language in Seychelles, English is widely spoken and understood. 

As a result, Indian visitors may converse with locals and traverse the site without difficulty. Indian rupees may be exchanged for Seychellois rupees at approved currency exchange desks at airports, hotels, and banks. Carrying cash in small quantities is preferable because not all local businesses take credit cards. Seychelles, with its 115 islands, is an ideal location for island hopping. Each island, from the inner islands of Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue to the distant islands of Aldabra Atoll and Desroches Island, provides a unique escape to the world of tropical delights. You can discover world-class water-based sports such as diving, snorkelling, kayaking, surfing, and sailing anywhere you go in Seychelles.

Thailand

Flight duration: Average 3-4 hours

Visa process and duration: Visa-on-Arrival (15 days)

Thailand is one of the most accessible and cheap tourist destinations in the world, offering breathtaking scenery and gastronomic pleasures. There are several airline alternatives from India’s major cities to Bangkok and Phuket, both of which are only a 4-hour flight apart.

The Southeast Asian country has also implemented e-Visa-on-Arrival to make visa acquisition easier for Indians. The country also provides a variety of low-cost lodging, transportation, and dining choices, making it a budget-friendly vacation.

Because Thailand is a tourism-driven country, tour guides, hotels, hospitality personnel, and even local sellers can speak in English, making it much easier for Indian travellers to traverse the country. Most major Thai banks and money exchange outlets accept Indian rupees.

Vietnam

Flight duration: Average 4 hours

Visa process and duration: Visa-on-Arrival (30 days)

Vietnam Airlines and VietJet offer direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phu Quoc, making it one of the closer destinations to India. You may apply for an e-Visa on their official website, pay a little cost, and obtain your visa in four working days. Because Vietnam is a tourism-driven country, local tour guides and sellers are fluent in English.

Foreign currencies may be easily converted into Vietnamese Dong at airports, banks, and other approved currency exchange jewelery stores around the nation. Beyond the tourist traps, Vietnam has a lot to offer, particularly the beach cities of Mui Ne and Nha Trang.

If you stay at an all-inclusive hotel like The Anam Vietnam, which is easily accessible from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, you can not only enjoy world-class culinary experiences, but you can also visit historical relics of the former Champa Kingdom, which ruled south-central Vietnam and has an ancient Indian connection. You may go to the centuries-old city of Phan Thiet and its Hamu Lithit hamlet. It was named by the Cham people and first appeared on the world radar in 1995 as a result of a unique solar eclipse observation. Adventurers may go on a desert safari over white and red dunes, view the fairy stream, and even visit a fish sauce museum. 

Oman

Flight duration: Average 3 hours

Visa process and duration: e-Visa application (30 days)

Oman is an exotic destination replete with incredible attractions and unique experiences. Its capital Muscat is a gem for travellers seeking a culturally immersive vacation.

The port city is famous for its vibrant souq and seafood. It is also a great place to trek, spot dolphins, and indulge in Omani hospitality at clifftop resorts like Shangri-La Muscat. This resort’s private beach happens to be one of the top five turtle nesting sites in Oman.

If you visit between February and September, you can witness more than 100 turtles from the endangered hawksbill and green turtle species and their hatchlings returning to the sea. You can join hands with the hotel’s Turtle Ranger to protect their nests.

The Oman Electronic Visa (eVisa) allows Indian citizens to apply for an Omani visa online in minutes by paying the fee and getting it via email within five business days. Oman Air, Air India, Vistara, and IndiGo offer direct flights. English is widely spoken and the Indian rupee can be exchanged for Omani Rial at airports, money exchange companies, banks, and hotels at a standardised rate.

Qatar

Flight duration: Average 3-5 hours

Visa process and duration: Visa-on-Arrival (30 days)

Qatar is a dynamic desert peninsula bordered by a stunning coastline, full of natural and cultural attractions, and has been named the safest country five times in a row by the Numbeo Crime Index 2023. Qatar Airways, the national carrier, links Doha to more than 160 destinations on six continents. Qatar is easily accessible due to its free visa-on-arrival policy for nationals of over 95 countries, including India, and an average travel distance of 3-5 hours from everywhere on the planet.

With the updated Hayya platform, the visa application process for all other nationalities is straightforward. Qatar provides the finest of the Middle East in one secure and accessible location, with world-class hotels, restaurants, beaches, and a vibrant environment. Qatar, as a country, offers the ideal blend of indoor and outdoor sun, sea, and sand activities, making it a fantastic match for all types of tourists and budgets.

Doha’s Hamad International Airport has been named the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ and the ‘Third Best Airport in the World’ by Skytrax World Airport Awards. Because Bollywood has such a huge cultural effect, meetings with Hindi-speaking people are regular. In airports, malls, and souqs, Indian cash may be exchanged at standardised rates. Qatar is blessed with year-round excellent weather for a variety of activities, and its strategic position makes it an ideal stop-over destination. Qatar is a top-tier destination for everyone since it combines modernity and history.

Mauritius

Flight duration: Average 6-7 hours

Visa process and duration: Visa-on-Arrival (60 days)

Mauritius, a tropical paradise recognised for its cultural variety and enthralling natural wonders, provides a simple Visa-on-Arrival process for Indian visitors with modest documentation needs. Airlines like as Vistara, IndiGo, Air Mauritius, Air Seychelles, and Emirates fly from India to this enthralling island nation.

The Residence Mauritius is a superb hotel choice that offers a balanced combination of modernism and history. This coastal property’s architectural design is inspired by ancient plantation mansions. There are other significant spots to visit in addition to water-based activities, including Sancho Island, Riviere des Galets Beach, Black River Gorges, Gris Gris, and Vanilla Nature Park.

A trip to Chamarel is strongly advised if you want to marvel at the multicoloured dunes. Mauritian rupees are the local currency in Mauritius, and may be easily obtained by converting Indian rupees at the airport, money exchange facilities, travel agents such as Thomas Cook, or banks. English is spoken fluently by certified tour guides, hotel personnel, and local hosts. Hindi, one of the languages brought to Mauritius by Indian migrants in the early 1800s, is widely spoken, making it handy for Indian tourists.

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