Beautiful winter and holiday season makes a perfect setting for a long nice vacation. Celebrating Christmas with loved ones at home, dining together, relishing the supper, sitting around born fire, singing carols, baking cookies and cakes, etc. have always been a special part of Christmas celebration.

If you are looking for doing something different this Christmas, then you must read on and if you have planned this year’s celebration then you can consider this for the next year.

The favourite party place in India for majority of people during the Christmas holiday is Goa. Indians, Europeans and Russians can be seen partying and enjoying the pleasant weather but there are places which will make you ditch the mainstream and explore more.

Three days prior to Christmas, here are three Christmas destinations in India to choose from.

About 135 km south to Goa is the place called Gokarna. Some portion of this place lies in Karnataka and the rest in Goa. This explains the name Go (Goa) and Karna (Karnataka).

The serene, untouched and calm beaches of Gokarna will give you all the time to relax and chill. The tranquil waters and jade green vegetation pleases the eyes, mind and heart.

Gokarna is a lesser known version of Goa but once you step on the golden sand of its beaches like Om beach, Kudle beach, Gokarna beach, Half moon beach and Paradise beach, you will surely know how it feels to be in paradise. The local cuisines, sea food and multi-cuisine cafes are worth giving a shot.

The pleasant weather and scarce population gives you a quality time with yourself (if you are going solo) or with your dear ones.

Gokarna is one of those few places in India which has the hint of foreign land and essence of homeliness.

Another option near the foot of Indian sub-continent, with cool breeze and picturesque views is Pondicherry also known as Puducherry. It is a little French town in the state of Tamil Nadu.

It houses the most peaceful tribe of people who believe in living a simple and modest life.

They celebrate Christmas in French style with home-made breads and desserts. The city lights up during the holiday season and old churches make it worth a visit.

The architecture and signboards will take you to the past and into the French colony.

Auroville is a little township amidst the French town of Pondicherry which is known to be currency-less town in the world. People here contribute or volunteer and live a peaceful life full of meditation. There is no dominant race, caste or language. You will find people from all across the world living a symbiotic kind of life.

The meditation hall of Auroville is one of the most mesmerizing architecture in the world and anybody can utilize this hall to meditate free of cost.

If you wish to enjoy the winter season while celebrating Christmas then you must travel to Shillong. Meghalaya’s capital, Shillong is a fantasy land with mesmerizing waterfalls and lush green meadows. It is a perfect setting for celebrating Christmas with natives. Beautiful churches and mouthwatering northeastern dishes will make your holiday happy and memorable.

So, utilise the low flight fares and plan a trip to celebrate Christmas in a different way this time.