A group of birds flee across the flaming sky. The sun whispers a final, long kiss to a cooling earth. The lake glitters in the ensuing dusk. The persistent chatter of birds returning home for the final time that year; tomorrow will see the dawn of the New Year.

A sigh escapes the young man; he turns back with his friends as the sun sets for the last time that year. They begin the task of lighting a fire and setting up camp for a long night ahead.

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How many of us plan to welcome the New Year this way? You'd be surprised by the number of people spurning passes to popular venues to go on a nature trip.

Take for example, 18-year-old Mandar Joshi, a collegian from Pune. Mandar says, "We friends will be trekking up to Rajgad fort on December 31, 2006. We intend to stay the night in one of the shacks or houses there, spend the morning of January 1 and return home by evening. That way, we'll welcome the New Year doing what we like most."

The trek to Rajgad is not long, but it is slightly arduous and becomes tough towards the top. Yet, trekkers enjoy the view and absolute chill that envelopes the mountain in December. Rajgad is about 42 km from Pune, off Pune-Satara highway.

Many city denizens have started packing their bags to destinations away from the humdrum of city life. Balakrishna Pillai, communications consultant, says, "Our group is going to a place called Chaitanyawadi, at Jamrukh, 30 km from Karjat (near Mumbai). It is a private property spread over nine kilometres. This is the third New Year we'll be spending there."

The beauty of Chaitanyawadi lies in the fact that it is located in a valley, surrounded by thick green hills. The gurgling of the stream nearby is probably the only noise pollution that the place can boast of. "We look forward to going to the waterfall that is alive even during this month," says Bala. One can also go trekking, hiking or on long walks along the nature trails and tree plantations.

Asmita Shah, a 24 year old fashion designer, is headed for the treehouse at the Sajan Nature Club at Vikramgadh, about 100 km from Borivali (surburban Mumbai). This resort is spread over 20 acres and gives the impression of being built within a forest. Everywhere around you are huge trees, sounds of birds and animals, and even recreational facilities that keep you in touch with civilisation.

Says an excited Asmita, "I am doing this for the first time, but I think it would be a good change. I am frankly tired of the party scene."

Elsewhere in the country too, the wild mood has set in. Says Ganesh Shetty, an IT professional from Bangalore, "I am going with my family to the wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka. We are covering Bannerghatta, Dandeli and Nagarhole. We intend staying in tents and spending the time exploring the wild."

Ganesh says he owes this trip to his five-year-old son, Rakesh. "He has been telling me for a long time that he wants to see tigers and live in a tent. Well, this year, I decided work could take a backseat. I have planned this trip largely on my own, with some help from experienced friends," he says.

For most IT companies or BPOs that serve foreign clients, this is the best period to go for a trip. In the West, people are off from December 23, right up to January 2 or 3. "There's practically no work, so one does not feel guilty taking a holiday," says Ganesh.

People who tend to spend long hours in their office seem to be the willing victims of his 'wild' fever. The need to break away from the chair is so strong that they don't mind plunging into the first thicket they may find.

It's not just the IT professionals. Thirty-year-old businessman M Sreekumar from Chennai is planning a short trip on December 31 and January 1 -- driving out in his new SUV to the Vedanthangal bird sanctuary. Vedanthangal is located about 85 km from Chennai.

The lure is not just the drive, he says, but also the rustic pleasure of the sheer wilderness. "I normally do this trip once a year. This year, I plan to do it in my Scorpio. We friends will drive down and then camp for the night in the car itself. We plan to go well stocked with food and drink. We might even do some bird watching," he says with a laugh.

The Vedanthangal bird sanctuary is one of the oldest bird sanctuaries and boasts of myriad birds, especially during this time of the year. There are more than 100 species of birds and about 70,000-75,000 birds. "It is a good place for anyone who wants to spend some time away from the city," says Sreekumar, "It is also a good break from the usual party scene."

The need to break away from the usual forms of New Year entertainment is a major reason for people to shift gears and head for the wild. "I think it is the age. There is an age when you don't want to be driving around all night, fighting traffic jams to reach packed, happening places. Once you are beyond your teens, you want to take time off and contemplate on the year gone by. And, maybe, plan for the year ahead," says Ganesh.

Others feel it is the temperament. "We always spend special occasions in the wild," says Bala, "In fact, every weekend we try to go out for some trek or trip."

Nature trips are cheap and entertaining. The budgets extend anywhere from Rs 500-10,000, depending on the scalability of the trip. A two-day trek will not cost beyond Rs 1,000. But a trip like the one planned by the Shettys -- where they will explore the wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka -- could go into five figures.

Here are some things you can on a nature trip:

1. You can go for long walks along the country roads.
2. You can buy yourself a cheap hammock, tie it to two trees and take a relaxing nap in the middle of the day.
3. You can build campfires. Campfire building is an art, but there is always a first time.
4. Sit around the campfire and sing all through the night.
5. You can exchange anecdotes from the year that went by or talk about what the year ahead holds for you.
6. You could just lie on the ground, look up to the sky, and wish on a shooting star.
7. If you are a foodie, you could have a small barbecue on the fire you have built. Of course, again, expert guidance will help.

The possibilities are endless. You can do all this without the headache of some blaring music, the impatience on someone's incessant chatter, the hesitancy in answering unwanted calls on your cell phone or the irritation at bodies pressing against you on a packed dance floor.

Here's wishing you a Happy New Year!

Some useful links

For treks in Maharashtra

http://deepabhi.tripod.com/

http://sahyadri.himadventures.net/

For treks and tours in Karnataka

http://www.karnatakatourism.org/sites/trekking.html

http://www.karnatakatourism.com/index.htm

http://kstdc.nic.in/

For trips near Chennai

http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/

http://www.tamilnadu-tourism.com/

http://www.chennaihub.com/

For trips near Delhi

http://delhitourism.nic.in/index.aspx

General

http://www.trekkinginindia.com/

http://www.indiatrekkings.com/

http://magic.indiatourism.com/adventure-india/camping.html

http://www.indianadventureportal.com/camping-in-india/weekend-camping-tours.html

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