India has incredible destinations—from the Himalayas to the backwaters of Kerala. But getting there is often half the battle. Flights get delayed, roads are unpredictable, and popular spots are overcrowded. For an extended weekend, I’ve started looking at places outside India that are just a short flight away (under four hours from Delhi) but offer something entirely different. Almaty, for instance, feels like a hidden gem with its alpine scenery and Central Asian flavors. Nepal, though close, has a distinct culture and trekking routes that don’t feel like a repeat of Indian hill stations. The novelty isn’t just in the place but in how effortless it is to get there and immerse in something unfamiliar.
The problem with domestic travel isn’t the lack of options—it’s the predictability. Goa is great, but after a dozen visits, the charm wears thin. The same beaches, the same crowds, the same menus. Meanwhile, a three-hour flight to Tbilisi or Bishkek drops you into a world where the architecture, food, and even the air feel different. These places aren’t necessarily better, just less familiar. There’s a thrill in navigating a new city where Google Maps struggles, where you order food by pointing at a menu, and where no one assumes you’re a local. India has this too, but the logistics often kill the spontaneity.
Another advantage is the lack of commercialization in some of these destinations. Places like Sri Lanka’s east coast or Uzbekistan’s Silk Road cities haven’t been overrun by Instagram tourism yet. You can explore without a checklist, stumble into local eateries, and not feel like you’re part of a conveyor belt of tourists. In India, even lesser-known spots are quickly commercialized—homestays turn into resorts, quiet villages become “eco-tourism hubs” with inflated prices. The charm fades fast when every experience feels staged.
I’m not dismissing India—it’s home, and nothing compares to its diversity. But for a quick break, the convenience of a direct flight to a place with a different rhythm is hard to ignore. Maybe it’s the appeal of the unknown, or maybe it’s just the relief of not having to plan around bad roads or overbooked trains. Either way, until domestic travel becomes more seamless, I’ll keep sneaking off to these short-haul escapes.