Know Your India: Meaningful Getaways To Mark The Republic Day Weekend

Every January, as the Republic Day parades remind us of India’s vibrant diversity, there’s a quieter way to celebrate the same spirit by stepping out to experience it yourself. This long weekend, ditch quick cold staycations and let slow travel become a small act of connection: with craft, culture, community, and the landscapes that root our everyday identity.

Head to the airport or take the road, and plan a getaway that helps you know your India, a reminder that the country’s soul often lives far from its skylines.

SOUTH INDIA

Tilar Siro Andamans, CGH Earth

On Havelock Island, Tilar Siro by CGH Earth folds luxury into nature’s rhythm, sunlight over turquoise shallows and sea breezes through coconut palms. Think barefoot walks on powdery beaches, diving into clear

lagoons, and evenings spent watching the sky ripple with impossible blues. The Great Andamanese Tribe, who referred to the islands as Thi-Lar-Siro – which means land emerging from the sea perfectly captures the resort’s essence. Meals celebrate coastal flavours and fresh catches, your rooms stand on stilts with sea and garden views, and every experience honours the Andamans’ fragile ecosystem.

Marli Hill Bungalow, Ooty

In the Nilgiris, Marli Hill Bungalow sits tucked amid tea estates and green peaks, its stone-and-wood architecture echoing a colonial past now reimagined for conscious travellers. What makes this stay even more special is its bridge to one of India’s oldest indigenous communities, the Toda tribe. Guided walks with Toda community reveal their semi-barrel houses, embroidery traditions, and deep respect for the montane grasslands they call sacred.

NORTH INDIA

Cheetahgarh Resort & Spa, Jawai
A scenic three-hour drive from Udaipur and Jodhpur, unfolds into the leopard lands of Jawai, where Cheetahgarh Resort & Spa brings luxury to the wilderness without losing its earthiness. Morning safaris trace elusive leopards along the granite hills along with conversations with the Rabari herders, while evenings turn meditative around the campfire and brilliant food, local, Indian and international. You can also have a go at Stargazing in the nights! If keen, look to book the villa with private heated pools. January’s crisp air, desert light, and stars overhead with the resort’s 5-star offerings make this escape pure Rajasthan magic, equal parts soul and spectacle.

ELIVAAS Prive The Royce

Designed as a collection of private villas rather than a conventional hotel, The Royce in Kasauli Himachal Pradesh offers 28 rooms with a base occupancy of 56 guests, extendable up to 70, making it suitable for exclusive group stays and extended celebrations. The property is structured across multiple levels, with each villa featuring private balconies, terraces, and in several cases, private pools, jacuzzis, or saunas. Social spaces include a sky lounge with panoramic hill views, indoor lounges, landscaped gardens, and a club with a heated pool and DJ setup. Alpine-inspired architecture, exposed wooden beams, and floor-to-ceiling windows allow the surroundings to shape the experience. The layout encourages movement between indoor and outdoor spaces, making stays feel communal yet private, and particularly well-suited for slow, immersive hill retreats.

WEST INDIA

Mansão Curtoirm, South Goa

Let Goa surprise you. At Mansão Côrôtirm, a lovingly restored 236-year-old Portuguese mansion in a quiet South Goan village, you trade beach bars for green bougainvillea-speckled courtyards and sheer bliss. Wake up to lake views and cycle through paddy fields, join a poi bread-making session, or trace feni trails that explain how generations have distilled Goan spirit, literally and culturally. Visits to the Goa Chitra museum – India’s largest museum of tribal art, Chandor village, local churches and nearby markets reveal an older, gentler rhythm of life. It’s where time slows, stories lengthen, and the real Goa greets you. Did you know of the Buddhism connection to Goa?

Evoke Dholavira

Evoke Dholavira is located near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dholavira, one of the most significant Harappan civilisation settlements in India. The property offers a desert retreat experience that combines comfort with guided exploration of archaeological and cultural sites. January temperatures range from 10°C to 25°C, making desert travel comfortable. Unlike conventional luxury desert stays, Evoke Dholavira focuses on education, landscape, and heritage. It appeals to travellers interested in history, archaeology, and offbeat destinations with strong storytelling potential.

So this Republic Day weekend, travel deeper. Let your journey be your celebration.