Nirvana, when it rains

Sumitra Senapaty picks Gokarna in Karnataka For Senapaty who runs an all womenrsquos group called Women on Wanderlust or WOW monsoon is the best to head out for fun She organises trips to various places only for women and according to her one of the most beautiful places to visit in the monsoon is Gokarna Though it falls in Karnataka one can reach the place in about 13 to 14 hours by road Gokarna is primarily known as a pilgrimage centre but it has several beautiful beaches and landscapes which makes it a beautiful monsoon destination ldquoMonsoon is a time when many resorts offer good discounts So heading out in this season is a great ideardquo says 53yearold Senapaty According to her Om beach in Gokarna is beautiful and one could stay at the SwaSwara resort ldquoGokarna is an ideal place in the season as itrsquos beautiful You can opt from wellness meditation and plenty more making it a great place to switch offrdquo adds Senapaty u00a0 u00a0 How to reach Gokarna is about 690 kms from Mumbai Drive down or take any bus that goes via coastal Karnataka It may take you between 12 and 14 hours by road If you are pressed for time fly to Goa from where itrsquos a threehour drive Yogesh Kardile picks Koyna Sanctuary and Valley Yogesh Kardile started Amazing Sahyadri a website that is a treasure trove of information about the Sahyadris and itrsquos beauty After travelling across India he still feels that there can be no place as charming as the Sahyadris especially in the rains So when quizzed about his favourite monsoon destination Koyna came to his mind The Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and the Koyna Valley at large he feels is a mustvisit this season ldquoNot just the sanctuary but also the river and the greenery at Koyna is beautifulrdquo he adds ldquoIt is below Mahabaleshwar The forests are a haven for photographersrdquo he adds People can park their cars outside the sanctuary and walk in for a short distance ldquoThe end point of the valley is Tapola It is the tipend of Mahabaleshwar plateau from the southern point You descend from the forested Mahabaleshwar hill into the Koyana valley which is misty and magical The journey to Tapola is awesome but drive cautiouslyrdquo he warns The place is also good for boating and experiencing the heavy rain in the valley is a fantastic experience The huge Koyna River is a mustsee As regards the stay Kardile recommends the Sagar Lakeview Hotel which is 3 kms before Tapola How to reach The distance from Mumbai is about 250 kms You can head to Mahabaleshwar by bus and hire a taxi or a jeep to reach Koyana which is less than half an hour away Gautam Shewakramani picks Silvassa According to Shewakramani whose company Audio Compass creates audio guides for different tourist places in India Silvassa is a beautiful place to visit in the monsoon Silvassa is a small town near Gujarat and it is the capital of the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli ldquoI tend to visit it often Itrsquos a place to switch off It is very green and not crowdedrdquo says Shewakramani ldquoYou can also go on hikes around or just walk around in the greenery It is beautiful serene and calmrdquo he adds He adds that the many picturesque Portuguese churches can be visited during onersquos stay at Silvassa For a quick weekend getaway from Mumbai Silvassa makes for an ideal choice How to reach It is about 170 kms from Mumbai and would take just about three hours to reach Harsh Sonawala picks Panhala India Someday is a company that helps people plan their travel around the country and 28yearold Harsh Sonawala who runs the company has been actively travelling across the country since over the last 10 years He picks Panhala as his favourite prized monsoon getaway Panhala is famous for its forts which were built by Shivaji and since it is at a height it transforms into a spectacular retreat in the rains ldquoIt comes alive when the clouds descendrdquo adds Sonawala ldquoGo via Kolhapur and you will be able to binge on delicious and spicy Misal Pav before heading to the summitrdquo he says There are a couple of viewpoints atop the fort advantage is that it is not very crowded ldquoFurther ahead is Amboli a hill station popular for its gushing waterfallsrdquo he informs How to reach Panhala is about 375 kms from Mumbai Hit the MumbaiPune Expressway and NH4 to reach Panhala It is a sixhour drive Panhala is about 25 kms from Kolhapur You can also reach Kolhapur by bus and take a connecting bus to Panhalau00a0