“Ineedabreak”Weallhaveutteredthesewordstoourselvesatsomepointintime.Itisveryeasytoexperienceburnoutintheenvironmentweliveinnowadays.Aresetbuttonisnice,butwedon’thaveitinreallife.Theclosestthingwedohaveistakingabreak,andtakingthistimewehavetorelaxandunwindandrecoverfromtheexhaustiontheworldcangrindusinto.Therearemanywayswecantakethisbreak.Somegooutandvisitdifferentplacesintheworld,letthenewplacesandculturesandpeoplereinvigoratethembeforetheycanfacetheirdailylifeagain.Buttravellingmaynotalwaysbeanoptionforpeople,maybeduetofinancialconstraints,ormaybesomepeoplearenotahugefanoftravellingandareverysatisfiedintheplacetheyalreadyarein.Youdon’thavetotravelout,sometimesexploringthecityyouhavelivedinforyearscanalsosurpriseyou.Andifexplorationisnotyouraim,youcanstillvisitalotofplacesyourcityortownmighthavetoofferthatwillgiveyouapeacefulenvironmenttorelaxin.Butforthosewhocan,andlovetotravel,andneedsomepeaceaswell,hereassomeplacesyoucanvisit-1.SilentValleyNationalParkKnownforitsecologicaldiversity,theSilentValleynationalparkislocatedinKerala’sPalakkadregion.TheKuntiriverthatflowsthroughit,nestlingitselfamidstthegreenhillscape,addstothescenicbeautyofthespot,stunningthosewhotakeamomenttoviewit.Personalorprivatevehiclesarenotallowedinsidethereserve,discouragingclustersofcrowds.ThereforeitisabetteroptiontorentoutaminibusorjeepfromMukkali,whichisabout30kilometresawayfromthepointofentrytothepark.Keepinmindthatyouarenotallowedtostayinsidethevalley/park,soitisbettertoplanaheadandmakethisavisitingplaceandhaveaccommodationelsewhereclose.Youcanalsoentertheforestonlywithanassignedguardwithapermit,somakeprovisionsforthataswell.Onceallofthatissorted,though,youcanrelaxandletthebeautifulambienceandnatureembraceyou.2.PangongTsoLocatedinJammuandKashmir’sLadakhregion,PangongTsoisaspectacularlake.Atanelevationofnearly14,000ft,thisbeautifullakealsogarnersalotoftouristattentionduetobeingfeaturedintheBollywoodmovie“3idiots”.Facingthebeautifulazurebluewaterframedbysturdybrownmountainsasthewindsweepsyourfaceisanexperiencethatwillstaywithyouforaveryverylongtime.Thereareafewrestaurantsandcafe’sandstoresthatcatertotouristsandmightbeshroudedinahubbub,butonceyouarepastthatstretchitisyouandthesceneryyoucanloseyourselfto.Itisimportanttonotethatthelakeisfrozenduringwinter,whichmightgivepicturesquescenerybutwon’tbeascalming.ThebesttimetovisitPangongisbetweenJulyandSeptember,whichmeansyoucansitattheshoreandgazeintothehypnoticbackandforthofthewaterbodyaccompaniedbythegentlylullingsoundofwavescrashingagainstpebbles.3.ChampawatAquainttowninthehill-ladenstateofUttarakhand,Champawatpossessascenicbeautythatisreinforcedwithapristineandquietambiencemakesitago-todestinationforaholidaywiththesolepurposeofrelaxingandgettingawayfromthecacophonyofcitylife.Surroundedbywaterontwosidesandhillsonthethird,Champawatisanoff-beatlocationcomparedtoothertrendytouristspotsinthestate.ItissituatedintheKumaonRegion.Forthemorespirituallyinclined,itishometoafamousShanitemple,namedManokamnaPurnMandirKaula.Thequietambience,pleasantweatherandtheconnectionwithnatureitprovideswithgreenerymakesthetownanidealholidayspacetorelax.4.NongriatThelivingrootbridgesofNongriatareaspectacle,onceexperienced,youwillnotbeforgettinganytimesoon.CherrapunjeeinMeghalayaisapopulartouristattractionforplentyofreasons,butNongriatdrawsattentiontotheuniquebridgesthataremadefromthesprawlingrootsoftrees.Thesebridgestakeapproximatelyfifteenyearstocomplete,butoncemadegrowonlystronger.Theyaresturdyenoughtotakeontheweightofnearly50peopleonceready.Don’tbeafraid,theyaresturdy.Itisathree-hourtrekfromthebeginningpoint,takingyouacrossascenicrouteandshakybridges,butonceyougettothedouble-deckerlivingrootbridges,youarefreetoponderoverthenecessityofanyotherkindofbridgealtogether.Immerseyourselfinthisentirelyeco-friendlyinfrastructureandsootheyourselfwiththefloraandfaunaoftheplace.Thereareafewguesthousestooifyouwishtoprolongyourstay.5.OrchhaFortTheformercapitaloftheBundelaRajputkings,Orchhaishometomanyhistoricalmonumentsandlandmarksthattakeyoutoatimepassed.Itisahiddengemofsortsi.eitdoesnotfaceahordeoftouristseverytouristseason,makingtheplaceovercrowded.Henceitistheperfectplacetogoforaholidaywhenyoudon’twanttohavetodealwithmanypeople.ThepopularPhoolBaughisboundtograbyourattentionwithitssprayofcolourfulflowers,makingotherthoughtshardtosticktoyourbrain.TheOrchhafortcomplexpridesitselfwith14‘chhatris’thatserveasmemorialstotheformerOrchharulers.Thesemagnanimousmonumentsareboundtointerestthearchitecture-geekinyou.6.HampiAlmostallofushavestudiedHampiinourhistoryclasses.Thebeautifulruinsofthecapitalofaprosperouskingdom,HampiwasthecapitaloftheVijaynagaraEmpire.Beingthecapital,Hampiwasanimportantcentreofcommerce,itwasamarketforspices,cotton,gemstonesandlivestock.Initstime,preciousmetalslikegoldandsilverwereusedascurrency,anditisrumouredthatsemi-preciousandpreciousgemstonesweresoldonthestreets.TheVirupakshaTempleandLotusPalaceareessentialstoyourtripaswell.Theentireambienceofthecityandtheauratheseruinsandstructuresexudearestrongenoughtoblowoutthemodernworriesfromyourmindandreplacethemwithfantasiesofhowlifemusthavebeeninthepastandhowdailylifemusthavebeentiedtothestructureyoucanseeeventoday.Itisagoodplacetofindpeaceandknowledge.7.PondicherryMostlyknownforitsFrenchcolonialarchitectureandcity-planningandtheAurobindoAashram,Pondicherryalsohastheextracharmofbeingafriendly,andsleepytown.Thereareplacesyoumightfindcrowdedduetobeingpopulartouristattractions,butifyoutimeitrightyoucanstillmakeitinarelativelylesscrowdedtime.Butifnot,therearemanymoreplacesthecityhastoofferotherthanthecentresthatdrawpeoplefromoutside.ThelovelyPromenadebeachisbigenoughtofindyourownsecludedspaceofpeace,andatouroftheAurovillewillleaveyoufascinatedwiththeideologybehindit.Asabonus,thecityhaspleasantweatherthatdoesnotposeanychallengetoapeacefulvacation.8.DhanushkodiDhanushkodi,locatedinthesouthernhalfofIndia-TamilNadu,isadesertedplacecalledaghosttownbylocals,butdon’tletthatfoolyou.Thecombinationofthecalm,blueoftheIndianOceanandthegreen,ripplyBayofBengalpaintabeautifulhorizon.Thisabandonedtown,asspookyasitmayseemisnothauntedandisidealforthosewhowantanoffbeatandquiettimeaway.TheidealtimetovisitDhanushkodiisduringthewintermonthsi.eDecembertoFebruary.9.ToshNestledintheParvativalleyofHimachalPradesh,Toshisabeautifulvillagethatisnotonlyquiet-givingyouenoughspacetorelax-butalsohasbreathtakingviews.Ithasallthecomponentsyoumightfindinapaintingmeanttoromanticisethesceneryofaplace,fromthesnow-toppedhillpeakstothegreeneryandawaterfall.Theisalsoafairlyquiettown,withlittleelsetodo.Sowhileyoucantakeawalkalongthevillagetounderstandtheplacemore,takingaroomwithaviewthatyouspendtherestofthetimelookingoutofwillsuffice.Relax,andimmerseyourselfinthenaturearoundyouandabsorbthepeaceitoffersyou.10.KudleAlong-shorewithgoldensand,awalkdownthisshorewiththewindcaressingyourhair.Wearenotdescribingamoviescene,butanexperienceyoumayhaveattheKudlebeach.Itispristine,cleanandrelativelylesscrowdedasmostofthecrowdisgatheredatthenearbyOmbeach,leavingyoutohaveacalmandundisturbedviewofthesunsetandsunriseasyouplease.Thereisaresortnearbythatyoucanstayat.11.GoaEventhoughGoahasareputationamongsttheyouthasaplacetoparty,itmakesforaverypeacefultripdependingonthewayyouplanit.Withanabundanceofbeacheswhereyoucanspendthedaylettingyourthoughtsslowlydriftawayasyoustareatthebeautifulwavesinthewaterandsoundsofwavescrashingintoeachothersootheyou.Thereisalsoahostofchurchesthatyoucanvisitandspendthedaywithyourself,marvellingatthebeautifularchitectureandmakingaconnectionwithyourspirituality.TheabovewereplacesthatyoucanvisitwithinIndiatofindpeace.Theseplacesareanarm’slengthaway,veryaccessibleandworkevenifitisanimpromptutrip.Belowareafewforeignlocations,placesyoucanvisitifyouhaveabiggerbudgetandtimetoplanthetripaheadsoyoucangetyourdocumentsinorder!12.WategosBeach,ByronBay,AustraliaByronBayisamongstthemostlovedbeachesinAustralia,andthat’ssayingalotgiventhecountry’scoastline.WategosandLittleWategosaretheplacesyouwanttobeiftheMainBeachoverwhelmsyou.Itisladenwithbeautifulwhitesandandgivesyouamplesurfingandswimmingopportunities.Getyourbeachessentialsinago-tobagandspendadayonthebeachdoingandthinkingnothing,youroverworkedmindwillthankyou.13.Zermatt,SwitzerlandKnownforitsskiingandsnowsports,youwouldbepleasantlysurprisedtovisittheAlpineresortsifyouvisitinthesummer.Youwillfindtrailsheadingintothefoothillsofthepeaksaroundyouforabeautifulhikewithaview,withtheMatterhornfollowingyou.Thescenicnatureofferspathsleadingtothemountainwithbeautifulmeadows,adventuroustracksthattossandturnsandplentyoffreshairtofillyourlungsandmakeyoufeellighter.14.HoiAn,VietnamHoiAnliterallytranslatedto“peacefulmeetingplace”.ThecityisaUNESCO-protectedheritagesiteasitisawell-preservedancientcitythatusedtobeatradingportcityinthe15th-19thCentury.Withthesunadorningtheriverside,youmayfindithardtofindamoremagicalscene.Thecafésalongthewatersideallservealightlocalbeerthatisbreweddaily,calledBiaHoi.Stuffyourfeetinthesandandletyourselfrelaxasyousiponbeerandpeekintothepast.15Provence,FranceFranceisquitepossiblythemostromanticisedholidaydestination,rightfullyso.Withremotevineyardstospendlazyafternoonsin,andnarrowcountrylanesscatteredthroughout,ProvencealsogivesyoupeeksoftheAlps.Itistheidealplacetogotodistanceyourselffromyoureverydaystressfullifewithouthavingtocompromiseonurbanlife.Abikeride,winetastinginthevineyards,orlocalcheesetastingaccompaniedwithfreshly-bakedbread,planyouritineraryandsqueezeinthetimetowatchtheMediterraneanSealapinthedistancetoo.16.NayaraSprings,CostaRicaIftheOutdoorsdoesn’tholdmuchappealtoyou,andyourchosenmethodofunwindingistochillinaresort,NayaraSpringsistheplaceforyou.Luxuryresorts,withclustersofprivatevillasyoucanbook,offeringtheviewoflushrainforestandadistantactivevolcano.Thesevillasoftencomewithpoolswithheatingfromthenearbyhotsprings,covereddecksandconcealedwalkwaysthatgiveyoutheultimateprivaterelaxingexperience.17.CapeElizabeth,MaineIftheconceptoflighthousesfascinatedyouasachild,CapeElizabethinMainewillpositivelyexciteyou.HometothehistoriclighthouseCapeElizabethLights(akaTwoLights),isperfectforthoselookingforapeacefulspotalongthestatesotherwiserockycoast.Sandybeaches,unevencliffs,shackswithwoodentablesandaviewofthelighthouseagainstthecoastlinegiveanidyllicvibethatrelaxedyouassoonasyoureach.Thelocalseafoodwouldmakeallseafoodloversveryhappy,afterallonlyawell-fedstomachcanmakewayforapeacefulmind.18.StanleyPark,VancouverVancouver’sStanleyParkissituatedinthecentreofthecityandhastrailsthatconnectthemetropolistothemoregreensceneriesthatnaturecanprovide.Theviewofthemountainsacrossthebay,withabeach,allwhilenotlosingtheaccessibilityofthecitymakesithardtomissitseasycharmandthebeautifulforestviewsitprovidesandmorethannecessaryforyoutojumpintothelapofnatureleavingyourworriesbehind.19.IseJingu,JapanIseJinguishometoaseriesofShintoshrinesbuiltasanodetothesungoddessAmaterasu.Alsoknownas"thesoulofJapan,"thecityhasmuchtoofferintermsofbeingameanstoattainpeace.Despiteitshugepopularityandabilitytodrawtourists,theshrinecomplexishuge,whichtransformseachtourist’sexperiencetobepeacefulasitisbigenoughforeveryonetohavetheirdistanceandquiet.Theshrinesaresetagainstabeautifulbackdropofsunlightfilteringthroughagroveofcedartrees,andaclearrunningstream.Shintopriests,inthesetemplesthatarerebuiltevery20years,carryoutceremoniesintraditionaldress.Ithasacalmingandsoothingeffect,andyoufeelmoreinconnectionwithyourspiritualsidetoo.20.SaruniSamburuSafariCamp,KenyaKenyahasahugevarietyofremotewildernesscampsforyoutoexplorethebeautifulfloraandFaunatheplaceprovides.TheSaruniSamburuSafariCampboastsofaviewoverMountKenyaandKalamaConservancyfromitssixvillasontopofarockyterrainthatyoucanchoosetorelaxinaftertheSafariexploration.Withrooftoppoolsandoutdoorshowers,ithelpsyoucooldownandprepareyourselftobeawedbythebeautifulnightskyyoucanlookatfromthedecks.
“I need a break” We all have uttered these words to ourselves at some point in time. It is very easy to experience burnout in the environment we live in nowadays. A reset button is nice, but we don’t have it in real life. The closest thing we do have is taking a break, and taking this time we have to relax and unwind and recover from the exhaustion the world can grind us into.
There are many ways we can take this break. Some go out and visit different places in the world, let the new places and cultures and people reinvigorate them before they can face their daily life again. But travelling may not always be an option for people, maybe due to financial constraints, or maybe some people are not a huge fan of travelling and are very satisfied in the place they already are in.
You don’t have to travel out, sometimes exploring the city you have lived in for years can also surprise you. And if exploration is not your aim, you can still visit a lot of places your city or town might have to offer that will give you a peaceful environment to relax in.
But for those who can, and love to travel, and need some peace as well, here as some places you can visit -
1. Silent Valley National Park
Known for its ecological diversity, the Silent Valley national park is located in Kerala’s Palakkad region. The Kunti river that flows through it, nestling itself amidst the green hillscape, adds to the scenic beauty of the spot, stunning those who take a moment to view it. Personal or private vehicles are not allowed inside the reserve, discouraging clusters of crowds. Therefore it is a better option to rent out a minibus or jeep from Mukkali, which is about 30 kilometres away from the point of entry to the park.
Keep in mind that you are not allowed to stay inside the valley/park, so it is better to plan ahead and make this a visiting place and have accommodation elsewhere close. You can also enter the forest only with an assigned guard with a permit, so make provisions for that as well. Once all of that is sorted, though, you can relax and let the beautiful ambience and nature embrace you.
2. Pangong Tso
Located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ladakh region, Pangong Tso is a spectacular lake. At an elevation of nearly 14,000 ft, this beautiful lake also garners a lot of tourist attention due to being featured in the Bollywood movie “3 idiots”. Facing the beautiful azure blue water framed by sturdy brown mountains as the wind sweeps your face is an experience that will stay with you for a very very long time. There are a few restaurants and cafe’s and stores that cater to tourists and might be shrouded in a hubbub, but once you are past that stretch it is you and the scenery you can lose yourself to. It is important to note that the lake is frozen during winter, which might give picturesque scenery but won’t be as calming. The best time to visit Pangong is between July and September, which means you can sit at the shore and gaze into the hypnotic back and forth of the water body accompanied by the gently lulling sound of waves crashing against pebbles.
3. Champawat
A quaint town in the hill-laden state of Uttarakhand, Champawat possess a scenic beauty that is reinforced with a pristine and quiet ambience makes it a go-to destination for a holiday with the sole purpose of relaxing and getting away from the cacophony of city life. Surrounded by water on two sides and hills on the third, Champawat is an off-beat location compared to other trendy tourist spots in the state. It is situated in the Kumaon Region. For the more spiritually inclined, it is home to a famous Shani temple, named Manokamna Purn Mandir Kaula. The quiet ambience, pleasant weather and the connection with nature it provides with greenery makes the town an ideal holiday space to relax.
4. Nongriat
The living root bridges of Nongriat are a spectacle, once experienced, you will not be forgetting anytime soon. Cherrapunjee in Meghalaya is a popular tourist attraction for plenty of reasons, but Nongriat draws attention to the unique bridges that are made from the sprawling roots of trees. These bridges take approximately fifteen years to complete, but once made grow only stronger. They are sturdy enough to take on the weight of nearly 50 people once ready. Don’t be afraid, they are sturdy. It is a three-hour trek from the beginning point, taking you across a scenic route and shaky bridges, but once you get to the double-decker living root bridges, you are free to ponder over the necessity of any other kind of bridge altogether. Immerse yourself in this entirely eco-friendly infrastructure and soothe yourself with the flora and fauna of the place. There are a few guesthouses too if you wish to prolong your stay.
5. Orchha Fort
The former capital of the Bundela Rajput kings, Orchha is home to many historical monuments and landmarks that take you to a time passed. It is a hidden gem of sorts i.e it does not face a horde of tourists every tourist season, making the place overcrowded. Hence it is the perfect place to go for a holiday when you don’t want to have to deal with many people. The popular Phool Baugh is bound to grab your attention with its spray of colourful flowers, making other thoughts hard to stick to your brain. The Orchha fort complex prides itself with 14 ‘chhatris’ that serve as memorials to the former Orchha rulers. These magnanimous monuments are bound to interest the architecture-geek in you.
6. Hampi
Almost all of us have studied Hampi in our history classes. The beautiful ruins of the capital of a prosperous kingdom, Hampi was the capital of the Vijaynagara Empire. Being the capital, Hampi was an important centre of commerce, it was a market for spices, cotton, gemstones and livestock. In its time, precious metals like gold and silver were used as currency, and it is rumoured that semi-precious and precious gemstones were sold on the streets. The Virupaksha Temple and Lotus Palace are essentials to your trip as well. The entire ambience of the city and the aura these ruins and structures exude are strong enough to blow out the modern worries from your mind and replace them with fantasies of how life must have been in the past and how daily life must have been tied to the structure you can see even today. It is a good place to find peace and knowledge.
7. Pondicherry
Mostly known for its French colonial architecture and city-planning and the Aurobindo Aashram, Pondicherry also has the extra charm of being a friendly, and sleepy town. There are places you might find crowded due to being popular tourist attractions, but if you time it right you can still make it in a relatively less crowded time. But if not, there are many more places the city has to offer other than the centres that draw people from outside. The lovely Promenade beach is big enough to find your own secluded space of peace, and a tour of the Auroville will leave you fascinated with the ideology behind it. As a bonus, the city has pleasant weather that does not pose any challenge to a peaceful vacation.
8. Dhanushkodi
Dhanushkodi, located in the southern half of India -Tamil Nadu, is a deserted place called a ghost town by locals, but don’t let that fool you. The combination of the calm, blue of the Indian Ocean and the green, ripply Bay of Bengal paint a beautiful horizon. This abandoned town, as spooky as it may seem is not haunted and is ideal for those who want an offbeat and quiet time away. The ideal time to visit Dhanushkodi is during the winter months i.e December to February.
9. Tosh
Nestled in the Parvati valley of Himachal Pradesh, Tosh is a beautiful village that is not only quiet - giving you enough space to relax - but also has breathtaking views. It has all the components you might find in a painting meant to romanticise the scenery of a place, from the snow-topped hill peaks to the greenery and a waterfall. The is also a fairly quiet town, with little else to do. So while you can take a walk along the village to understand the place more, taking a room with a view that you spend the rest of the time looking out of will suffice. Relax, and immerse yourself in the nature around you and absorb the peace it offers you.
10. Kudle
A long-shore with golden sand, a walk down this shore with the wind caressing your hair. We are not describing a movie scene, but an experience you may have at the Kudle beach. It is pristine, clean and relatively less crowded as most of the crowd is gathered at the nearby Om beach, leaving you to have a calm and undisturbed view of the sunset and sunrise as you please. There is a resort nearby that you can stay at.
11. Goa
Even though Goa has a reputation amongst the youth as a place to party, it makes for a very peaceful trip depending on the way you plan it. With an abundance of beaches where you can spend the day letting your thoughts slowly drift away as you stare at the beautiful waves in the water and sounds of waves crashing into each other soothe you. There is also a host of churches that you can visit and spend the day with yourself, marvelling at the beautiful architecture and making a connection with your spirituality.
The above were places that you can visit within India to find peace. These places are an arm’s length away, very accessible and work even if it is an impromptu trip. Below are a few foreign locations, places you can visit if you have a bigger budget and time to plan the trip ahead so you can get your documents in order!
12. Wategos Beach, Byron Bay, Australia
Byron Bay is amongst the most loved beaches in Australia, and that’s saying a lot given the country’s coastline.
Wategos and Little Wategos are the places you want to be if the Main Beach overwhelms you. It is laden with beautiful white sand and gives you ample surfing and swimming opportunities. Get your beach essentials in a go-to bag and spend a day on the beach doing and thinking nothing, your overworked mind will thank you.
13. Zermatt, Switzerland
Known for its skiing and snow sports, you would be pleasantly surprised to visit the Alpine resorts if you visit in the summer.
You will find trails heading into the foothills of the peaks around you for a beautiful hike with a view, with the Matterhorn following you.
The scenic nature offers paths leading to the mountain with beautiful meadows, adventurous tracks that toss and turns and plenty of fresh air to fill your lungs and make you feel lighter.
14. Hoi An, Vietnam
Hoi An literally translated to “peaceful meeting place”. The city is a UNESCO-protected heritage site as it is a well-preserved ancient city that used to be a trading port city in the 15th - 19th Century. With the sun adorning the riverside, you may find it hard to find a more magical scene. The cafés along the waterside all serve a light local beer that is brewed daily, called Bia Hoi. Stuff your feet in the sand and let yourself relax as you sip on beer and peek into the past.
15 Provence, France
France is quite possibly the most romanticised holiday destination, rightfully so. With remote vineyards to spend lazy afternoons in, and narrow country lanes scattered throughout, Provence also gives you peeks of the Alps. It is the ideal place to go to distance yourself from your everyday stressful life without having to compromise on urban life. A bike ride, wine tasting in the vineyards, or local cheese tasting accompanied with freshly-baked bread, plan your itinerary and squeeze in the time to watch the Mediterranean Sea lap in the distance too.
16. Nayara Springs, Costa Rica
If the Outdoors doesn’t hold much appeal to you, and your chosen method of unwinding is to chill in a resort, Nayara Springs is the place for you. Luxury resorts, with clusters of private villas you can book, offering the view of lush rainforest and a distant active volcano. These villas often come with pools with heating from the nearby hot springs, covered decks and concealed walkways that give you the ultimate private relaxing experience.
17. Cape Elizabeth, Maine
If the concept of lighthouses fascinated you as a child, Cape Elizabeth in Maine will positively excite you. Home to the historic lighthouse Cape Elizabeth Lights (aka Two Lights), is perfect for those looking for a peaceful spot along the state's otherwise rocky coast. Sandy beaches, uneven cliffs, shacks with wooden tables and a view of the lighthouse against the coastline give an idyllic vibe that relaxed you as soon as you reach. The local seafood would make all seafood lovers very happy, after all only a well-fed stomach can make way for a peaceful mind.
18. Stanley Park, Vancouver
Vancouver’s Stanley Park is situated in the centre of the city and has trails that connect the metropolis to the more green sceneries that nature can provide. The view of the mountains across the bay, with a beach, all while not losing the accessibility of the city makes it hard to miss its easy charm and the beautiful forest views it provides and more than necessary for you to jump into the lap of nature leaving your worries behind.
19. Ise Jingu, Japan
Ise Jingu is home to a series of Shinto shrines built as an ode to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Also known as "the soul of Japan," the city has much to offer in terms of being a means to attain peace.
Despite its huge popularity and ability to draw tourists, the shrine complex is huge, which transforms each tourist’s experience to be peaceful as it is big enough for everyone to have their distance and quiet.
The shrines are set against a beautiful backdrop of sunlight filtering through a grove of cedar trees, and a clear running stream. Shinto priests, in these temples that are rebuilt every 20 years, carry out ceremonies in traditional dress. It has a calming and soothing effect, and you feel more in connection with your spiritual side too.
20. Saruni Samburu Safari Camp, Kenya
Kenya has a huge variety of remote wilderness camps for you to explore the beautiful flora and Fauna the place provides. The Saruni Samburu Safari Camp boasts of a view over Mount Kenya and Kalama Conservancy from its six villas on top of a rocky terrain that you can choose to relax in after the Safari exploration. With rooftop pools and outdoor showers, it helps you cool down and prepare yourself to be awed by the beautiful night sky you can look at from the decks.
