Hearts, roses, red balloons…It’s that time of the year again, when starry-eyed couples go all out to make the most of Valentine’s Day. Hearts, roses, red balloons….yes, the over-the-top display of affection could make some of us cringe, but admit it, deep within our hearts many of us like a bit of mush.
Candlelit dinners, couple spas, champagne by the bay…these are passé. For those willing to unabashedly take the mush route, here are a few far-from-the- usual holiday options to set out on with the one you love.
Locks of love
Too much love can kill you. We hate to sound morbid but that’s what the locks on Pont Des Arts almost did. A section of the railing collapsed under the weight of the locks that locals and tourists have, over the years, literally locked onto the bridge. A love lock is a padlock that couples often affix on to a bridge, fence or tree as a mark of their love. It’s often considered to be a symbol of fidelity. Want to try your luck with it? We suggest you head to Ponte Milvio (Rome), Hohenzollernbrücke Bridge (Cologne), Bridge of Love (Helsinki), Luzhkov Bridge (Moscow), Butcher’s Bridge (Ljubljana) or Leshan (China).
A common practise is to throw the key away after locking, which is symbolic of you and your partner being in a bond together forever.
Though quite a few cities are gunning for the locks to be removed as they take away from the picturesque beauty of the place, lovers continue to live in hope.
Love statues
In a convulsive, tight embrace; in the midst of a passionate kiss or just an innocent peck on the forehead…numerous artistes have created sculptures that depict love and relationships in various stages. Ever thought of planning a holiday around exploring these intense, beautiful and sometimes risqué works? The world over, there are quite a few venues that draw visitors thanks to these sculptures. Moreover, you don’t have to be a connoisseur of art to admire these works. The Vigeland Park in Oslo has around 212 statues in granite and bronze. Of these, quite a few portray amorous emotions. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in New York, ‘The Kiss’ in white marble housed at the Musee Rodin in Paris, ‘LOVE’ by Robert Indiana that has numerous versions of it across the globe, and ‘EL Beso’ (A kiss) in Lima that has a couple doing what the title suggests. And then there is the ‘Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain’ where Eros, the Greek God of love, stands with a bow and arrow, probably all set to shoot his arrow of hearts at unsuspecting singles. Bet that skipped your eye amidst all the billboards, bright lights and clubs in Piccadilly Circus, London.
And if you want to have a laugh, ‘Jeju Love Land’ in South Korea has an assortment of large statues that vary from romantic to raunchy.
Closer home there are temples such as Khajuraho and Padawali in Madhya Pradesh, Markandeshwar Temple in Maharastra, and Sun Temple in Gujarat, all of which have various figures in erotic poses.
Under-the-sky resorts
Star gazing…there’s something romantic about it, right? Well, what if you could drift off to sleep within the comforts of your cosy room while doing that? Say hello to roofless hotel and resort rooms. Lie in your beds, cuddle and gaze at the sky or soak up the wilderness of the deserts at the Tswalu Kalahari, a luxurious game reserve in South Africa, or delight yourself with the retractable roof at the Albereta’s suite room in Italy, or sprawl on the king-szied beds atop your private terrace at Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Mexico.
The Elqui Domos may not exactly be roofless but it’s got dome-like rooms with a large, glass ceiling. And here’s a personal favourite…the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort glass igloos in Saariselka, Finland. Set in the wilderness, these igloos have glass ceilings that let you relax by the fireplace in your cabin while admiring the mystical northern lights, the towering pine trees or even just a spell of snowfall.
Palace / castle hotels
Right from when we were kids, castles have evoked romance in us, thanks to fairy tales and prince and princesses falling in love. Your turn now to be royalty and experience a luxurious vacation in a palace. Such hotels have played host to many honeymooners. Baroque, Gothic, Romanesque or Moorish architecture, these magnificent, sprawling structures, come replete with imposing towers and stone and oak-panelled walls, plush upholstery, grand chandeliers, stained-glass windows and all that opulence.
A popular wedding destination, Udaipur has quite a few heritage hotels around its Lake Pichola. The Taj, The Leela, The Oberoi, The Sheraton.. all have their palace hotels here. From the sands of Rajasthan to the snow-covered Fairmont Lake Chateau on Lake Louise in Canada, to the modern Castle Hotel and Spa in New York, and the hauntingly beautiful Amberley Castle in Sussex, nestled amidst lush greenery, and the Inverlochy castle in Scotland…the options are aplenty. The European continent too has a host of such majestic accommodations across Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Austria, some dating back to hundreds of centuries. Before you book, be prepared to dig a little deep into your pockets.
