Picnic, Entertainment

Who would not like to spend their hot, balmy summer under the whispering palm trees looking up at the clear blue skies listening to the chirping of the birds and the ripple of the ocean waves! Spreading a blanket or a sheet on the grass to enjoy a picnic lunch is the most heavenly feeling one could experience on earth.

A picnic is often outings outdoors in the company of friends, family members or relatives. Picnics are usually daytime affairs which are held in a beautiful landscape like a park, near the beach, foothills etc. The word "picnic" first appeared around 1740 and was derived from two French words: "piquer" which meant "to pick at food" and "nique," meaning "something small of no value." In the western countries during the medieval era, picnics were included as an important part of hunting parties. People would eat grand picnic lunches consisting of cooked hams, roasted meat, poultry, pies and tarts.

Picnics became most popular during Queen Victoria's reign in England. Victorians made picnics quite fashionable and trendy.

In India there are innumerable places where people can go with their family and friends for picnics.

One should ideally go for picnics just before the onset of summer and before the onset of winters. In India these two seasons are conducive for going for picnic.

There are a couple of popular picnic spots in India. Some of the major picnic spots near Delhi are Camp Carnival, Fun Town, Damdama lake, Camp Wild at Dhauj, Golden Hut Resort, Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, Tilyar lake etc. All these places are close to the metropolitan city. In most of these places resorts are available where people could do prior bookings. At resorts people can ask for Individual Tariff plans or Group Packages. It is always better to go for a package deal.

Mumbai in Maharashtra is another hotspot for picnics. The enchanting Western Ghats, mesmerizing beaches form the perfect background for lazy picnics in the months of Jan – March. The weather at this time in Maharashtra is cool and pleasant.

One of the all time popular picnic spots in the heart of the financial capital Mumbai is the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The lush greenery at this park provides a safe heaven for those who would like to relax and unwind themselves. This park which is also a tiger reserve is located at Borivili.

Another picnicking spot is the picturesque Hanging Garden & Kamala Nehru Park. Hanging Garden is blessed with plenty of shady trees, and a lookout that provides a dramatic view of Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach. This park also has a number of spaces and toys which helps to keep children amused and busy. It is located on the Malabar hills.

Down south closer to Chennai there are numerous places for day long excursions and picnics. Marina Beach in Chennai is a very popular picnic spot. Make sure to go early in the evening to the beach as it can get very crowded especially during the hot summer months. There are horse rides, delicious sea- foods and lots more to enjoy. Mahabalipuram, Covelong, Kanchipuram are other nearby spots for having a good time.

Always make sure to carry good picnic lunches and snacks for the trip. Make sure that each one throws litter only in designated places. Ideally picnics can be arranged on weekends. So go ahead unwind and get relaxed and recharge yourself for next week's hectic schedule!