Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Bali is the latest god's own country for city's spa junkies


, ET Bureau|
Updated: Sep 04, 2017, 06.25 PM IST
Bali's cultural connect with India has made it a hotspot.
BENGALURU: It is a wellness destination with spas, luxury hotels, food, sightseeing. What's more, it is not far either
Natasha Bhandari took her first solo trip last weekend. She was looking for an escape from stress and found solace in a three-day wellness holiday in Bali, Indonesia. Perhaps, a cue from actress Julia Roberts in `Eat Pray Love' did the trick.

“Every day, I went running on the beach, did cycling and yoga besides spa visits in the quiet Nusa Dua region. Bali has an extensive food and cultural landscape. It's the new Kerala,“ says the 30-something director of admissions at an international school in Bengaluru. She is already planning her next trip to the same destination in October. The travel industry agrees that Bali is the new Kerala for Bengalureans. It is a wellness destination with spas, luxury hotels, food, sightseeing. What's more, it is not far either.

Mismi Lala (30), a marketing professional at an IT firm, went on an all-girls trip to Bali in July.The six-day holiday had temple visits, art markets in Ubud, partying in Kuta and dinners in Seminyak. “Destinations like Bali and Sri Lanka are better options than Kerala or Goa. The trip costs pretty much the same,“ says Lala, who has Bali on her itinerary again next year.

Tanveer Chandok, the 26-yearold founder of lifestyle startup WonUpit, took a six-day holiday to Bali three weeks ago. He visit ed the Komodo Island known for unique pink, white and black sandy beaches, scuba diving, hiking, not to speak of Komodo dragons. “Each trip to Bali can be designed differently. I will explore it as a backpacker in my next trip,“ says Chandok. Seema Jaising of Che Experiences, who curated the trip for Chandok, says she receives two bookings for Bali every month.

Tripexploria's Sagar Parida says, “Three out of five enquiries in a month are for Bali.

Bali's cultural connect with India has made it a hotspot.“ Vikram Ahuja of community-based travel company Byond Travel, who even organises a trek to a live volcano, has seen a 100% increase in bookings for Bali in the past one year.

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