It’s not just about love after all

Saniya Pasricha

This is India and weddings in India are a very serious affair. From getting the best of venues to the loudest of DJs, a lot of planning goes into it all. So once the knot is tied and your drunk uncles have embarrassed you enough with their intrinsic dance moves after downing their whiskeys, you need some time off. And what better than a luxurious getaway as a honeymoon, and not just a trip pre-decided by your family, but something that you have chosen as a couple. Where is it that you would like to head to?

A new survey has zeroed in on seven types of honeymoon couples from India: nature lovers, crazy adventure junkies, hopeless romantics, luxurious and exotic types, White Mountain types, beachy babies and lastly who prefer fairy tale destinations. Sanchit Garg, co-founder TravelTriangle that conducted the survey, says, “For majority of Indians, honeymoon is a momentous occasion when they plan for their first international trip. They see it as ‘once in a lifetime experience’, which they will cherish for eternity! We carried out this survey with our Tier I and Tier II customers to find out what kind of places Indians prefer visiting when planning a honeymoon. We found a whopping 72 per cent of Indians favoured going to an international destination for their honeymoon.”

Lazying around on the beach, sipping on exotic cocktails, absolutely immersed in the magic of love, a honeymoon cannot get any better, say newlyweds Shagun and Mehul Sharma from Kullu, who had an experience of a lifetime in the ever-so-romantic Maldives. “The beauty and serenity of the place escalated the experience. Vast deserted beaches, turquoise ocean… we couldn’t have asked for more,” they say.

Now, not everyone can be a “beach person” to just chill or get tanned or to simply shop around. Some couples like to explore and what better than exploring things with your beloved. “We were fortunate enough to live our European honeymoon,” say Richa and Rohit Bhagat from Sonepat, who chose Austria over the more famous destinations. “From the long pedestrian downtown area to the architectural wonders and the astounding charm of the place delighted us. But the best pick has to be the Makartsteg Bridge aka The Love Lock Bridge. Here, not only did we ‘lock’ our love for eternity, this place gives a breathtaking view of Salzburg. You just can’t miss it,” gushes Richa.

They are not the only ones floored by Europe. The continent makes it to the top favourite lists of many. “Italy is one fine example of a country thoroughly embedded in old world traditions yet it knows well how to cater to the modern tourist,” say Sumeet and Sahil Sandhu from Chandigarh. “There were times when we would totally engross ourselves in sightseeing across this culturally rich country and at times we would just laze around in cafes and watch the world go by,” adds the couple.

If you thought only beaches and mountains could make for a ‘perfect’ honeymoon, think again! Bani Gulati and Saiby Gulati from Ludhiana made it to the extremely gorgeous and desert blanketed city of Dubai. “From the magical fountains to thrilling ski sessions at the Ski Dubai in Mall of the Emirates, everything just blew us off,” chips the couple. However, for the two, the most sublime experience has to be that of the desert safari in Arabian Desert. “Camel rides, riding over dunes, romantic dinners in the middle of the desert… it felt like one of those enchanting stories straight out of Arabian Nights,” they smile.

Are you too getting hitched? Plan your trip as you would like it to be. Some place where you hold hands, watch the sun sink into the ocean, swirl and savour some nicely aged wine and unwind…

Are you a beach baby?

• Here is what an online survey on trends in honeymooning by Travel Triangle found out:
• ‘Beachy babies’ outnumber any of their other counterparts and they are followed by the ‘hopelessly romantic’
• Most favoured international beach destination is Mauritius with an average stay period of 5 nights
• For the ‘hopelessly romantic’, Paris is the most favoured destination