Have to take the wife/husband and kids on a holiday this summe? Hate leaving work behind? Or does the entrepreneur in you want a slightly different kind of holiday? One with that little business spin.

Well here at Business Today we have found four destinations for you that can consider travelling to this summer. It will keep the family happy, while you go off on your little business pilgrimage. And no, this correspondent was not sent on a cross-country holiday. Damn!

-Kushan Mitra

Shekhawati
Rajasthan

Why: All the major Marwari trading families can trace their lineage back to this region of Rajasthan. Several of the original havelis where some of the more prominent families began are still in good condition. Some, in fact, are tourist destinations in themselves.

Where: The Shekhawati region comprises the districts of Jhunjhunu and Sikar and is relatively close to Delhi. In fact, if you were in the college festival circuit-and remember 'Oasis' at the Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani-you know where to go. It's maximum of three hours driving at a leisurely pace from Delhi.

What to do: This is a fairly large region and there is a lot to see here. The adorned havelis of the towns of Lachhmangarh, Ajitgarh, Fatehpur, Mandawa and Navalgarh are amazing sights. The relatively recent motifs and wall paintings means that there are several modern influences to be seen on the painting including cars.

Where to stay: There are many good hotels in the region, but the best is the Mandawa heritage hotels. Other heritage hotels are in Nawalgarh, Baggar, Dundlod and Mukundgarh.

Food: If you are the adventurous sort, this is not the most exciting of destinations. All the standard tourist fare is there for the asking-vegetarianism rules-but the local cuisine is quite unexciting.

Kolkata
West Bengal

Yesterday's capital: Kolkata was once the hub of corporate India

Why: Not because this state boasts the longest-serving democratically elected communist government. The city was once a by-word for corporate headquarters, sadly, no longer. However, some of India's biggest business families began their success stories here, the Birlas being the most prominent. There are signs throughout the city of its corporate heritage. And it was once the greatest colonial city in the British empire. P.S: Three Nobel laureates called this city 'home'.

Where: On the banks of the river Hooghly on the Gangetic delta, Kolkata is extremely well connected by air and rail. However, in the summer, tickets can still be a bit difficult to come by.

What to do: A lot of the 'touristy' places in Kolkata have a cerebral bent to them. The Indian Museum is the oldest museum in the country and has one of the best collections of archeological and natural history artefacts this side of the planet. There is also the Victoria Memorial, built in honour of the empire-building queen, alongside several other examples of 19th century colonial architecture. The Fort William cantonment overlooking the maidan should also be visited. Of course, then there is 'that' bridge.

A couple of hours either side of the city will take you to lots of other interesting places.

Chandanagar, the other former French enclave in India.

Shantiniketan, still a nice place for a day trip, even though the medal has gone quietly missing.

The Sundarbans, one of the most spectacular nature parks in India.

Where to stay: Several top-end hotels have come up in the city in the recent past, but the original Oberoi Grand is still one of 'the' places to stay.

Food: Good, cheap and plentiful, and so is the alcohol. Some of the better Chinese food in the country can be found in Kolkata's Chinatown called Tangra. Finding good Bengali food can be a problem though.

Academic haunt: Ahmedabad (the Sabarmati Ashram is shown here) is the educational capital of India

Ahmedabad
Gujarat

Why: Some of India's finest owe their lineage to this city or have spent some time here studying. The city boasts several of the country's top professional educational institutes-IIM-A, NID and Centre for Environment Planning and Technology. The city is also the place from where the Sarabhai family spread its wings. Plus, there is also a lot to see.

Where: The city is located on the Sabarmati river basin, and is well connected by air, rail and road. As work on some stretches of nh-8 is complete, it might be a good idea for the driver in some of you to try out the new highway network.

What to do: 'Hot and Dusty' might be apt adjectives for the cynical to describe the city. However, from the fantastic Akshardham temple to the Adalej step well, there are aspects to the city that often surprise you. A must-see is the Calico museum located inside the Sarabhai family residence, detailing the rich and colourful history of Indian textiles. Another 'must-see' is the jaali of Siddi Siyad mosque, whose intricate carving is the signature for the city (and also for IIM-A). Once you're done with the city, one must go to the Sabarmati Ashram from where Mahatma Gandhi started his famous Dandi march. And there is also a lot of good shopping opportunities in this city.

Where to stay: This is a proper city after all, and there are several hotels in every price bracket. But, be warned that hotels do get fairly full. The best area to stay would be in the Navrangpura area bang in the middle of the city's commercial district.

Food: There are actually some good new eateries across the town that serve very good Gujarati cuisine. But, if you are a meat eater, there are few opportunities-unless you want to try 'Jain Chicken'. Be warned, this is a dry state-no alcohol to be found at eateries.

Chettinad
Tamil Nadu

Lure of Chettinad: This region, apart from boasting fine 19th century mansions is also dotted with old temples such as this one

Bill of fare: Chettinad is a culinary paradise for food lovers

Why: This is the southern equivalent of the Shekhawati region, in the sense that some of the biggest business houses of the south can trace their lineage back to this region. You get to see some of the finest houses of the south belonging to some of the top industrial clans, as well as enjoy pristine beaches. And the food is great.

Where: The area comprises the districts of Sivaganga and Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu, to be more precise it is the 76 villages that surround the town of Karaikudi. It is also the closest point on the Indian landmass to Sri Lanka. Getting there involves surface transport, there are several trains from Chennai and the closest airport is that of Madurai, two hours drive away.

What to do: The Nattukotai Chettiars built several mansions between the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. Even though several of them are in a state of disrepair, some have been very well-maintained and others painstakingly restored. The area also has several millennia-old temples, including the 1,500-plus year old Pillayarpatti temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh.

Where to stay: There are some fairly decent hotels in the town of Karaikudi. The hotels are nice and small, but don't expect five-star amenities. There is talk of converting some of the Chettiar mansions into heritage hotels, but as of now nothing has come of that.

Food: Genuine Chettinad food, uncorrupted by city influences. If you really want to taste the best, go down to the village of Nedungudi and eat in the eateries there. This has historically been a village of cooks and from where the culinary style originates.