Extended WeekendsThe year 2014 has just ushered in and travel-lovers are busy scanning the calendar and finding out how the holidays are placed this year, so that they can plan their trip efficiently and meticulously. Last year was indeed a disappointment for travellers as a large number of holidays like Independence Day, Dussehra, Diwali, etc. fell on Sundays which clearly meant no extra leaves from work. However, things look better, much better in 2014. There is the possibility of not one, two but a whopping 14 extended weekends this year!

Begin your Planning Today because with little bit of planning beforehand, you can avoid last minute confusion.

No-leave-needed long weekends:

March 15-17 with Holi on March 17, Monday

April 12-14 with Ambedkar Jayanti April 14, Monday

April 18-20 with Good Friday on April 18, Friday

August 15-18 with Independence Day on August 15 Friday and Janmashtami on August 18 Monday

August 29-31 with Ganesh Chaturthi on August 29, Friday

October 2-5 with Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, Thursday, and Dussehra on Friday, October 3,

Take a day off and get 4 days off:

Jan 11 – 14: 13 January (Monday, take leave) and 14 January off for either Pongal, Makar Sankranti or Id-e-Milad

Feb 27 – 2 March: 27 February Thursday off for Mahashivratri, 28 February (Friday, take leave)

April 5-8: 7 April (Monday, take leave) and 8 April (Tuesday off for Ram Navami)

July 26-29: 28 July (Monday, take leave) and 29 July (Tuesday off for Ramazan)

Oct 23- 26: 23 October (Thursday off for Diwali), 24 October (Friday)

Nov 1 – 4: 3 November (Monday, take leave) and 4 November (Tuesday off for Muharram)

Nov 6- 9: 6 November (Thursday off for Guru Nanak Jayanti), 7 November (Friday, take leave)

Dec 25- 28: 25 December (Thursday off for Christmas Day), 26 December (Friday take leave)

Extended Weekends 2Enjoy your weekend in Rajasthan at Mana Hotels, because a perfect getaway is not just about the destination but also a fabulous hotel. Mana hotels is spread over a generous 3.5 acres and has luxury villas apart from rooms and suites. With a separate dining area and charming outdoor seating, each villa is an experience in itself. The effort has been to marry cutting-edge contemporary interiors with traditional Rajasthan – so you come across typically Rajasthani statuettes, a camel cart, and even indigenous vibrant tablecloths. If you were to spend your weekend at Mana, this is what your itinerary could look like!

Reach Mana Hotels on a Friday Morning. Enjoy a delicious breakfast and start exploring Ranakpur. The charm and rural beauty of Ranakpur is best experienced in our extremely popular Village Safari. The Hotel has teamed up with the local villagers to bring you a tour of the rustic village life. Hitch a guided tour on a bullock cart through the narrow gullies and visit farms and workshops of local artisans.

Extended Weekends 3A five minute drive from the property is the historic Ranakpur Jain Temple. Built in the 14th century, this impressive four-faceted marble structure spread over 48,000 sq ft has a beautiful facade, with numerous carved domes surrounding the main one. Apart from its religious importance it is an architectural marvel. Don’t forget to take a look at the Sun Temple, which is just right next door to jain Temple.

Extended Weekends 4In the evening you can go to another scenic retreat in the area, the Ranakpur Dam. This location was a personal favorite getaway for Maharaja and Maharani of Jodhpur. We recreate the same magic and tranquility by organizing a picnic for our guests. Sip on a perfectly brewed cup of tea and snacks while watching some of the most amazing sunsets with the Aravallis in the background. Take a short walk uphill to one of the most scenic views of the river Magai. Calm and serene, it indeed is a rejuvenating sight.

Extended Weekends 5Another half an hour’s drive away, during which you’re sure to spot langurs, peacocks, mongooses and of course camels, is the Muchhala Mahavirji temple. Or you can go to ‘Thandi Beri‘, a forest lodge located 23 kms away from Mana Hotels, offering peace and tranquility of Ranakpur. Head back to Mana Hotels before dark and enjoy scrumptious dinner at Mana. Some of the dishes on the menu deserve special mention – the generous Rajasthani thali, the delicious laal maas, and the simple but flavourful dal tadka.

Extended Weekends 6The next morning enjoy breakfast at Mana and head for Kumbalgarh Fort via Sadri village. The village of Sadri sits 9 kilometres from the Ranakpur Jain Temple and offers a great insight into the simple yet vibrant village life of Rajasthan. The blue houses with the green doors, the colourful attire of locals in their traditional gear and ancient temples throw up a perfect picturesque photo-ops at you.

Extended Weekends 7Next you can head for Kumbalgarh Fort, the birth place of the great king of mewar Maharana Pratap. The perimeter walls of this 15th century fortress these walls are second largest in length to the Great Wall of China. Apart from its historical importance it is home to diverse variety of flora and fauna. Enjoy the sound & light show at the fort every evening while learning about the history of the Kings of Mewar. When there you should visit Kumbalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and come back to hotel for dinner.

Inside the hotel, guests are treated to some more unique experiences. Learn how to prepare finger licking local cuisine with the Master Chefs of Mana Ranakpur. Interact with local villagers who will bring in the traditional flavor and cooking techniques. If you are up for it, we will take you to the local vegetable market where you can hand pick vegetables of your choice as well.

The next morning enjoy breakfast and spa before you check out from Mana Hotels. And then you can head for Udaipur, one of the most naturally beautiful cities on the planet, to can catch your flight or train.

The weekend spent at Mana Hotels will surely be one of the most wonderful weekend of your life, with so many unforgettable memories. Plan your perfect getaway or corporate retreat and enjoy your long weekends with Mana Hotels.

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