Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and if you’re celebrating it with someone special, you must be looking for travel destinations to spend the weekend in peace.
However, if you wish to ditch the usual popular places, here are offbeat Valentine’s Day destinations. Make sure you mark them on your go-to list and get packing your bags!
7 Offbeat Travel Destinations For Valentine’s Day
1. Hampi, Karnataka
Hampi is known mostly for its historic temples and ruins that attract a lot of travelers and history geeks. However, it can turn out to be an amazing offbeat destination for Valentine’s Day.
Hampi, with its old world charm, beautiful temples, and laidback cafes offers a perfect retreat away from the city life.
There are plenty of hills like the Matanga Hills and Anjanadri Hills where you can enjoy a romantic sunset or sunrise. You can also go temple-hopping, explore the plenty of beautiful cafes offering a plethora of delicious food, and even go cliff-jumping or take a hot balloon ride.
So, when are you visiting Hampi?
2. Kochi, Kerala
If Pondicherry seems too overrated for your Valentine’s Day, you can experience similar vibes at Kochi in Kerala. The old port city has not only been an important city in the past, but has maintained its old-world charm.
This city, known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, is perfect to explore over the weekend.
Begin your day by exploring Fort Kochi, characterized by its old world charm and Dutch and Portuguese architecture. There are plenty of churches, markets, and museums that you can visit here.
Also, don’t forget to observe the traditional bamboo nets used in the expansive Arabian Sea. Overall, if you’re willing to have a romantic beach getaway, Kochi must be on your list!
3. Poombarai, Tamil Nadu
You must’ve heard of Kodaikanal, but have you heard of this beautiful, offbeat village in the Kodai Hills. The village is about 50 km from the Kodaikanal Lake, so even if you’re visiting Kodaikanal, you can stop by at Poombarai.
This village’s main attraction is the Kuzhanthai Velappar temple or the Murugan Temple. It is believed that the original temple was built by the Chera dynasty, and some legends say that the temple is about 3,000 years old. You can explore the vibrant garlic markets in the village and savor authentic cuisine of the region.
4. Shillong, Meghalaya
Next on our list of offbeat travel destinations for Valentine’s Day is none other than Shillong. There are plenty of waterfalls and peaks that will mesmerize you with stunning views.
You must visit the seven-floor Don Bosco Museum here which showcases the socio-cultural life of North Eastern people. Also, do not miss out on visiting The Mary Help of Christians Cathedral characterized by its tastefully built blue facade.
Shillong is also incredibly stunning to explore at night. Be it the local markets bustling with food stalls, souvenir shops, or trendy bars that make its nightlife truly unique, Shillong has something for everyone.
Also, did we mention that you must absolutely not miss out on the famous Ward Lake. The artificial lake is well-known among locals for its lush green landscapes and boating in the lake.
Ward’s Lake becomes especially popular during the cherry blossom season during November and December.
5. Wari Chora, Meghalaya
If there’s one location that is truly offbeat in India for a laidback romantic getaway, it has to be Wari Chora. In the heart of Garo Hills in Meghalaya, Wari Chora stands as a lesser-known tourist destination.
In the local Garo language, Wari translates to ‘river’ while Chora translates to ‘deep’ or ‘long’.
Here, you can try river canyoning in the Rongdik River where you can rappel down waterfalls and navigate through crystal clear waters.
You can also try out other activities like rafting, kayaking, and hiking with your partner. Plus, there are plenty of unexplored places in and around Wari Chora that are best explored on your own!
6. Pushkar, Rajasthan
If you and your partner are more into spirituality and temple-hopping is what you really enjoy, Pushkar is the best place to visit this Valentine’s Day.
The ancient town is one of the holiest places in the country and is home to hundreds of temples. It is also home to the only Brahma Temple in the world.
This temple town also has about 52 small ‘ghats’ that descend into the Pushkar Lake and they are especially known for their evening ‘aartis’.
Also, you won’t get non-vegetarian food or alcohol here, but there are plenty of unique cafes serving delicious Indian and global food. Pushkar is close to Ajmer, so on your way back home, you can also visit the famous Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
7. Tarkarli, Maharashtra
The last spot on our list of offbeat travel destinations for Valentine’s Day is the quaint coastal town of Tarkarli. This town is one of the most underrated coastal towns in Maharashtra and is known for its white sand beaches and laidback life.
While you’re in Tarkarli, you can try plenty of exciting watersports like kayaking, parasailing, speedboating, and scuba diving. In fact, the Maharashtra Government has drastically improved the watersports infrastructure here.
Not just that, but you can also try beach camping, explore the vibrant markets, or try authentic Malvani cuisine. Overall, if you’re looking for a romantic weekend by the beach, Tarkarli is the place for you!
Summing Up
We’re sure that these offbeat Valentine’s Day travel destinations will mesmerize you with their laidback charm and plenty of tourist attractions.
Be it the coastal charm of Tarkarli or the rustic feels in Fort Kochi, each of these Valentine’s Day destinations has something unique to offer.
So, now that you’ve packed your bags, it’s time to pick one of these 7 destinations and get going. Happy Valentine’s Day!
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1. What Is The Best Time To Visit Kochi?
Kochi is best explored in the months of October to February, when the weather is quite pleasant and not too hot or humid.
Q2. What Is Tarkarli Famous For?
Tarkarli is famous for its pristine beaches, Malvani cuisine, and adrenaline pumping watersports.
Q3. Is 1 Day Enough For Pushkar?
While it is technically possible to explore Pushkar in 1 day, we recommend that you at least spend a minimum of 2 to 3 days to explore the temple town.
