#LeMillRecommends: Last Minute Roadtripping

We all love the feeling of a long weekend. All we want to do is sit by the pool with a cocktail (or two) in hand and kick back and relax. But if you’re anything like us, you probably haven’t realised that most places need bookings in advance. Thankfully, we have rounded up five destinations that will be short road trips from your metro city – good enough to get away and soak in the upcoming long weekend.

Don’t worry about going on the hunt, just scroll to find your perfect getaway destination.

If you’re in Mumbai, consider a drive to the Paashaan Villa

An unparalleled architectural marvel, Paashaan is perched on a cliff overlooking serene landscapes and verdant hills that make for a spectacular view in the monsoons (with the season slowing drifting away, now is the time to make the most of monsoon’s remnants). Living up to its feature on Netflix’s ‘The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes’, this home in Khopoli comes with an open-to-sky courtyard where you’ll find yourself in the afternoons and an in-house spa which we’re sure you’ll start your day with.

Make your bookings here.

Getaway from Delhi? Your answer is Amaya Kasauli

Set on 25 acres of mountainside near Chandigarh, this private sanctuary pays homage to the hills, its food and its people. In Amaya Kasauli, nature is allowed to take over and wildflowers peek out of the paved stone pathways. Designed by multiple award-winning architect Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai who has set new standards for sustainable earth-based design, these are structures with poetry in their build. If you stand at the highest point in this property, you can hear the wind rustling in the trees, the mountain ranges all around, an occasional goat, and minimal construction – a great set-up for your relaxing getaway.

Bask in the vast undulation of hill and valley, book here.

Bengali heritage brought to life via The Rajbari Bawali, just off Kolkata

The 350-year-old property was in ruins as recently as 2008. However, its four acres now boasts a fully restored mansion with 30 rooms and suites, each of which is unique. The Rajbari has been carefully redone in the original style using teak wood and vintage family heirlooms to add authenticity to the palatial structure. The vintage postcard exhibiting opulence, style, and grace of the Zamindars of Bengal will come to life the moment you step in. Located just an hour and half from main city Kolkata, experience opulence at its truest form right here.

Immerse yourself in a lifestyle of the past and book here.

From Hyderabad to Hampi, Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace is a must-visit

It’s hard to believe that Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace is not a heritage property. The pointed arches, vaults, domes and floral plasterwork of this palatial hotel in Hampi take you back to the heyday of the Vijayanagara empire. With stunning rugged forests and boulders forming its backdrop, this property was designed by Earthitects, a Bangalore based firm to create a fully immersive sensory experience. Built on a small part of the plot, the rest is left untouched making all the rooms and spaces on the property look out into the empty wilderness and help provide a sense of calm, making it easy to relax and unwind.

Relax, rejuvenate and book here.

A serene escape from Bangalore means The Serai Chikmagalur

Get away from tech city and bask in all that nature has to offer in this picturesque town situated in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. In the vast wilderness of shrubs, a flamboyance of winding pepper leaves, beneath tall trees, in the alchemy of rain and rainforests, in a profusion of a plantation, is The Serai Chikmagalur. The resort, known to be a sanctuary of calm and resplendence, lets you enjoy the gift of nature in your own privacy.

Be one with nature and make your bookings here.