Actress Neha Saxena finds Kerala charming but says Dehradun is dearest

Actress Neha Saxena hails from the northern part of the country but is familiar to Keralites as she has appeared in several Malayalam movies. Apart from acting, Neha is a shining star in the modelling field as well. The celebrity cites travelling as her favourite pastime and says she never gets weary enjoying the sights, learning about the culture and tasting the cuisine of a new place.

“I’ve been lucky to balance my career and love for travelling. For this, I can only thank the Almighty and my mother,” she says.

Neha spoke at length about her journeys to Onmanorama.

Punjabi girl in love with Kerala

Neha hails from Dehradun in Uttarakhand and has Punjabi roots. However, she holds Kerala close to her heart, having visited the state several times for cinema and photo shoots. “Most of the famous destinations in Kerala are familiar to me,” informs the actress.

While her mother lives in Dehradun, Neha is based in Bengaluru as part of her work. The celebrity says that she prefers trips with her mother and finds time even between busy shooting schedules to visit tourist spots. Incidentally, Neha and her mother ensure that they travel during October every year as both celebrate their birthdays during that month. “I travel to my mother’s place and we start for some scenic destination. We have never missed this trip, which makes us so happy,” says the star.

In Kerala, Wayanad, Kochi and Munnar have captivated Neha. “Wayanad is a great location and I’ve gone there for a shoot. The stay at Vythiri Resort and the scenery there would remain in my memory forever,” she says.

However, Neha could not spend much time in Munnar and Thekkady. “My dream is to stay in a tree house at Munnar,” adds the actress.

Temples give her positive energy

Whenever Neha travels to a new destination, she enquires about the major temples there. “A visit to a temple gives you positive energy, especially when the mind is restless,” reveals the celebrity.

She has visited almost all notable temples in Kerala, including the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple and Attukal Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, the temples In Thrissur and others. “Whenever I reach the state capital, I head to the Sree Padmanabha Temple and offer prayers at 3 am, when the shrine opens for the day,” informs the actress.

Hometown is special

Even though she admires the sights in Kerala, it is her hometown Dehradun that Neha holds closest to her heart. “As I live in a metro city and lead a hectic life, I choose to travel to a location that is blessed by nature,” she says.

“My own hometown Dehradun is a scenic place. It is a hill station where cold and snowfall are experienced. The peace experienced there cannot be found anywhere else,” she adds.

“I cherish all the sights in Dehradun and love places experiencing a similar weather. In fact, one should reach Dehradun to visit some of the most popular tourist spots in India. For instance, Mussoorie is a mere 45-minute drive from my hometown. The scenery in Mussoorie is indescribable and I often travel there with my mother,” explains Neha.

Foreign jaunts

The celebrity has travelled to several destinations abroad too. “Each country offers a unique experience and is special in its own way. I’ve been fortunate to visit Switzerland, Malaysia, Bangkok, the US, Gulf countries and Singapore. While New York charmed me, I felt Dubai was a mini-India,” explains Neha.

Unplanned trips

Though most of her journeys are planned in advance, Neha has travelled on the spur of the moment too. “Once during a shoot in Kochi, I suddenly fell ill and was rushed to the hospital. Examination revealed damage to the kidneys and I felt restless and totally alone. The day I was discharged from hospital, I booked a flight home. I flew to my mother carrying only my mobile phone and purse,” she reveals.

At home with her mother, Neha found peace and they started a journey. “That made me happy. In short, a trip was associated with every crucial phase in my life,” she says.

Neha has many more travel dreams. “My wish is to visit more countries and enjoy new sights and experiences,” she concludes.