How To Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) This Winter 

Are you feeling the winter blues?

Have you always been one of those people who complain of feeling low for no reason during the winter?

This feeling of sadness, loathness, nothingness and lack of joy and enthusiasm can be attributed to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which affects a lot of people because of the scarcity of sunlight during winters. 

There's a similar disorder which affects people during summer too, but a lot more people experience SAD during the cold months. It's not made up. Science says the lack of sunshine results into decreased serotonin levels in the body – a chemical compound responsible for our mood.

How to beat SAD?

Easy enough. Find the sunrays and follow them. If you have been feeling lethargic and lost this winter, it's time to get your sunscreens ready and sneak off to these places to let the sun shine on you.

1. Churu

300 km from Delhi, Churu is known for its sunny days. Expect the temperature to be about 30 degrees during the day with very low humidity.

Places of Interest: Churu Fort, Sethani Ka Johra, Mansa Devi Mandir

How to reach:

By Air: The nearest airport is at Jaipur at a distance of 200 km.

By Rail: There are direct trains from Delhi & Jaipur to Churu.

By Road: RSRTC buses connect Churu to different parts of Rajasthan as well as Delhi.

2. Pondicherry 

Did you say sun? You won't have to worry about sunlight in the bright & beautiful colonial town of Pondicherry.

Places of Interest: French alleys of Pondicherry, Rock beach, Auroville & cafes

How to reach:

By Air: You can fly to Pondicherry from any major city in the country.

By Rail: Nearest railhead Villupuram is 40 km from Pondicherry

By Road: You can rent an Uber or Zoomcar from nearby cities like Chennai or Bengaluru or take a bus through the scenic East Coast Road.

3. Hampi- Another place to enjoy the sun is Hampi. You can rent a bike to go around or take a hike. No matter what you choose to do, Hampi's exotic landscapes and historical sites will warm your soul.

Places of interest: Virupaksha temple, Anjani Temple, Matang Hill, Hampi Island, Vijay Vittala Temple

How to reach:

By Air: The nearest airport Hubli is 160 km away. However it is better to take a flight to Hyderabad (370 km) or Bangalore (350 km) due to better connectivity.

By Rail: Nearest railhead Hospet (13 km) is connected to Bangalore, Goa and Mumbai.

By Road: Hampi is well connected to Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Goa by premium overnight buses.

4. Thanni

60 km from Trivandrum and next to Varkala, Thanni is a great place to enjoy the deep blue sea and sparkling sun.

Places of interest: Varkala, Munroe Island, Thenmala

How to reach:

By Air: The nearest airport is at Trivandrum (60 km), Kochi International Airport is 170 km away.

By Rail: The nearest railhead, Mayyanad is connected to all major cities.

By Road: The place is well connected to the neighbouring cities and rail-heads through public transport.

5. Gir 

A sunkissed wildlife safari at Gir is all you need to set your heart racing and feel the thrill of life.

Places of interest: Gir National Park

How to reach:

By Air: The nearest airport is at Diu (70 km), and Rajkot airport is at a distance of 160 km.

By Rail: The nearest railhead is Rajkot which is well connected to all major cities.

By Road: There are regular buses and cabs available for Gir from major cities in Gujarat.

6. Vishakhapatnam

A city full of adventure sports shining with sunlight to lift up your mood.

Places of interest: Yarada Beach, Rishikonda Beach, Dolphin's Nose, Borra Caves, Araku Valley

How to reach: 

Vishakhapatnam is a major city, well-connected to every part of India via land, air and water routes.

7. Goa

"Felt sad in Goa", said no one ever! Do we even need to say anything more about the most popular beach destination of India?

So, get out of that blanket now and start packing your bags, sunny days are just a ticket away!

Have you encountered SAD? Tell us your happy story of beating SAD in the comments below!

Need travel inspiration for the new year? Click here to go around the world in 2020!