This Republic Day, urban travellers can experience a rare gift, the joy of the long weekend, and an extended holiday before the busy season. Republic Day is the perfect time to take a break from your regular
schedule, slow down, and experience new places that provide space for personal growth, individuality, and a feeling of adventure. The best way to make use of this holiday time is by choosing to stay in locations that offer a combination of comfort and culture, as well as natural beauty, with moderation and travel with intention.
1. Guwahati, Assam: A Quiet Gateway to the Northeast
Many people assume Guwahati is just a pitstop due to its location on their way to another destination. However, Guwahati has so much more to offer than just being a quick layover. To experience the essence of Guwahati, one has to take time to unwind in a place where the tranquil atmosphere, the landscapes, and the food are the embodiment of its true beauty.
The city is nestled between the banks of the graceful Brahmaputra River and the green hilltops of the Kamakhya Hills in Assam and has many attractions, including temples, riverside restaurants, sunset boat rides, and authentic Assamese food. The mild January weather makes visiting these attractions even better.
Eco-conscious stays are beginning to shape Guwahati’s hospitality landscape, and various properties like Mayfair Spring Valley Resort are reflecting this shift, combining open green spaces, low-impact design, focusing on local ecology, offering private pool cottages and luxury spas. The resort is spread across 35 acres, a perfect location for travellers who want to experience and stay amid nature, featuring 260 keys, which is the largest and most premium in the Eastern Region. The beauty of such eco-stays makes Guwahati an ideal introduction to the Northeast’s largely unexplored beauty, a region that rewards travellers who arrive curious rather than rushed.
2. Jawai, Rajasthan: Where Wilderness Meets Stillness
Jawai is a notable destination in Rajasthan for its natural, rugged granite hills or scrubland. While it’s popularly known for the interaction between local people and leopards, Jawai focuses on experiencing nature through such means as taking your time to quietly observe or travel.
The Republic Day holiday is a great opportunity to get to know Jawai. Luxury camps like Suján Jawai’s have re-created the concept of staying at a Safari by employing low-density design and adhering to conservation-oriented experiences. The stay ensures that the experience revolves around nature through well-designed safaris, dinner in the bushes, nature walks, and spend your evening under the stars.
The camps here have been designed thoughtfully and tend to focus on conservation, the employment of the local population, and avoiding environmental disturbance to ensure this experience is both responsible and unforgettable.
The Republic Day weekend can be best enjoyed at Jawai as it allows one to move at one’s own pace.
3. Hampi, Karnataka: History at a Human Pace
Walking through Hampi feels like stepping into a living museum. The ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire stretch across a dramatic landscape of boulders, temples, and riverbanks, best explored slowly and on foot.
Hampi’s climate in January is an advantage to explorers, with mild temperatures allowing for long, uninterrupted days of walking. You can cycle between monuments, watch the sun rise over Hemakuta Hill, or just sit by the river, and all of these experiences will provide you with unique perspectives on the land.
Hotels such as Evolve Back Hampi take you back on time reflecting the architecture of the Vijayanagara period, along with providing modern amenities. The resort’s concept of villas, cultural experiences, and heritage experiences provides guests with ample opportunities to experience the history of Hampi without rushing through it, perfect for a full-fledged long weekend.
4. Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh: A Winter Pause in the Hills
The quietness of Ziro Valley and its deep cultural heritage make it inviting to travellers who appreciate these two aspects. The valley is home to the Apatani Tribe and consists of rice fields, pine forests, and many other traditional aspects of life.
The crispness of the winter months provides a wonderful opportunity for outdoor hiking and visiting the villages. The emphasis of the homestays located around Ziro Valley is on the sustainability and the development of community relationships so that visitors can live a more authentic experience when they are travelling in Ziro.
Stays like Ziro Eco Camp are more focused on being sustainable, locally sourced, and engaging the community. Activities revolve around village walks, slow eating, and appreciating the land. It is not a package tour location, but rather provides the ideal environment for people who want to take a respite from fast-paced travel, have quality time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and develop deep bonds with other people in a relaxed, comfortable, and authentic manner.
5. Alibaug, Maharashtra: Coastal Calm Close to Home
Just a short journey from Mumbai, Alibaug remains a favourite for good reason. Beyond its popular beaches lie quiet villages, coastal roads, and heritage forts that reveal the town’s slower side.
The month of January is an excellent time of year to take a walk on the beach, cycle along the coastal roads, and indulge in the abundant seafood found in many of the local seafood restaurants. There are many luxurious hotels and resorts, such as the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Alibaug, which offers amenities such as large property space, sea-view rooms, and health clubs that are ideal for a stay of this duration. In addition to the local charm, there are many boutique villas and eco-sensitive resorts that provide a retreat that will allow you to enjoy your weekend without the excessive distractions of the city.
A Long Weekend Well Spent
The Republic Day break is less about ticking destinations off a list and more about choosing places that allow breathing room, both physically and mentally. From Guwahati’s green hills to Ziro’s cultural quiet, from Jawai’s wilderness to Hampi’s history and Alibaug’s shores, these getaways share one quality: they invite travellers to slow down. In a year that often begins at full speed, that pause can be the most rewarding journey of all.
