Three Properties Where You Can Celebrate Christmas and New Year in the Lap of Nature 

Even if you know Santa is not climbing down that chimney, there is something magical that connects Christmas and New Year with fireplaces. Or, for that matter, a cozy bonfire. I don’t know about you but I am usually torn between staying at home amongst loved ones and going for a holiday in the last week of December. Well, here are some options where you can have your Christmas cake, eat it, and keep some in the fridge for tomorrow.

Here are three properties that will allow you to spend the last week of December in the lap of nature, away from the loud New Year celebrations and city parties. The first two are homestays- in completely opposite directions – which will allow you to revel in the togetherness of loved ones. They also offer you a fresh new way to start the new year – engulfed by nature. The third one is a luxury hotel that offers the best of wilderness.

Bringing in New Year at a homestay is a great idea. Most hosts add great value to your vacation by going that extra mile. Some of the hosts are professionals in the fields of bird-watching, wildlife and trekking and can conduct some great trips for you. There are others who are great cooks and conduct live cooking sessions for guests on request. At the very least, hosts are a treasure trove of the history and culture of the location and take immense pride in sharing stories of their home state and culture. So make the most of this.

The White Peaks, Nainital

The mountains have an unparalleled charm in winters. At The White Peaks, you could even get lucky if nature treats you to a white christmas. Wake up to a spectacular sunrise on the snow-capped Himalayas as you sip the in-house speciality – adrak chai. Feast on a sumptuous breakfast and go for a mountain trek. Go shopping for hand-knitted goodies with a lunch basket in tow – or feast on pakoras at a local stall. Spend the evening by the fireplace or barbecue succulent mouthfuls. Round up your day cuddled up in bed with a book from the within-reach bookshelf and wake up anew.

On New Years Eve you have the option of enjoying a live barbecue with friends or family in an open courtyard soaking in the crisp mountain air or the uninterrupted view of the Himalayas. What’s more? You can even bring in the New Year with your four legged baby. Yes this is a pet-friendly homestay. The White Peaks can accommodate a maximum of four guests and one staff member.

Christmas & New Year Package Details:
Valid from 24th Dec 2014 to 4th Jan 2015
Price: Rs 4500 per person per night
Inclusions: Morning/ Evening Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with stay; One Round of Snacks/ Kebabs on 31st Dec or any one evening during the stay, Live Barbecue session on 31st Dec or any one evening during the stay, Minimum stay 2 nights.
For Reservations: Call 09810050514/ 09810053380 or Email at [email protected].

Halli Berri, Chikmaglur

An amalgamation of ‘Halli’, meaning village in Kannada and ‘berri’, a quirky twist on the coffee berry, Halli Berri, one of the many coffee plantations in India’s coffee country, Chikmaglur, is the closest you can come to coffee nirvana. And it has all ingredients of a fairytale and idyllic winter getaway – homemade cakes, fireplace, long walking trails and perhaps an opportunity to participate in the coffee harvesting that takes place from November through January. A good idea is to rise early and just sit in the veranda outside – if you are perfectly silent, you might just see a wild boar shyly negotiating the undergrowth. You will find perfect serenity here – away from the hustle and bustle of city life. So committed are the owners to giving their guests the perfect coffee plantation experience that you will not find TVs in the cottages and a very limited BSNL signal, aside from no wi-fi or internet. Do savour the outdoor shower experience – it is divine.

Christmas & New Year Package Details:

Halli Berri believes in customised packages. Depending on what all you want to be included in your itinerary, this homestay will tailor-make your Christmas or New Year package.

The Serai Bandipur

While the city’s adrenalin rush might have us hooked, the lure of an escapade into the tranquil lap of nature is inescapable. The Serai Bandipur luxury resort from Coffee Day Hotels and Resorts, crafts the perfect holiday for you, blending luxury with a chance to experience unadulterated and pristine ways of nature and wildlife.. Delicately balancing tranquility and luxury, this 35 acres property is set amidst the verdant forests adjoining Bandipur National Park. The Serai Bandipur transports you into the wild. Here you get a chance to behold the majestic Indian Tiger and other species of exotic wildlife, all in the lap of rustic but undeniable luxury.

The Serai offers special packages that bring merry this holiday season to create a lifetime of memories –beneath the starry night in the wildlife reserve of Bandipur.

Christmas & New Year Package Details:
Valid from 20th December 2014 to 31st Dec 2014
Price: Starts from Rs. 21,500
Inclusions: All meals and stay for a couple for a night. Unlimited spread with live cooking stations, Complimentary mini bar, Caricature and pottery artists, Live instrumental music (light music) on New Years eve.