Fun things couples are doing this V-day

27-year-old Radhika Sahastrabudhe along with her partner will be spending Wednesday listening to poetry over endless cups of chai somewhere in west Delhi. Meanwhile, 31-year-old Siddhartha Parashar has curated a heritage walk in Mandawa, Rajasthan for his wife as a Valentine's Day gift.

Roses, chocolates, candlelit dinner- these staples to celebrate the day of love, are passé. It is all about experiential gifting ---- from learning a new skill to hitting the gym together to taking lessons in history, this season.

Thinking out of the box, with eyes firmly focused on bonding, couples are gift wrapping tangible memories in the form of experiences, and there is no dearth of options lovebirds have in and around the city. For example, a luxury hotel in Gurgaon is offering scootering in the air. At a price tag of Rs 6,000, one can get his/her and partner's adrenaline pumping with an aerial view of the city. Similarly, couples are flying high (literally), complete with flowers and cake. Costing Rs 12,500 per couple, Go Choppers has introduced an exclusive experience of a helicopter ride that has been booked by people cutting across age bars- from 20 50 years.

"Clothes, watches, perfumes, jewellery are the only limited options one has as gifts. We decided to spend on something that adds value to our relationship. For example, my wife is a history buff. So I will take her to Alwar on a heritage tour, and explore the city on foot, learn about its past," said Piyush Kanan, a corporate professional.

As a thoughtful gesture, partners are also encouraging their other halves to take that long pending calligraphy lesson or hone their gardening skills, of course together. Nurturing Green Studio is organising Couple Kokedema Workshop for those with a green thumb. After learning about this Japanese method of gardening, a candlelight dinner amid lush greens awaits the lovers. "These are great ways to do things together. Our lives are so chaotic that there is limited opportunity to give quality time to each other. If we are spending on Valentine's Day gifts, might as well make them useful for both of us," Alok Jariwal, a chef says.