From the buzzing beaches of Goa to the quiet backwaters of Kerala, from the stunning engineering of contemporary Dubai to the vestibules of history in ancient Egypt, Ranchiites are eager to explore an assorted world of leisure and learning this New Year.

Travel agencies in the capital said they were being swamped with booking requests for the week leading to 2012 and beyond, with Goa, Kerala, Dubai and Egypt topping the hotspot list for the first time instead of erstwhile favourites Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Sony Mehta of Skyline Travel Agency said they had already made 20 reservations for Egypt alone. “And more are expected by December 31. Our package for Egypt starts from Rs 65,000 per person for eight nights. It includes economy class airfare and is affordable going by international standards. Besides, people seem very willing to loosen purse strings to revel in style this New Year,” Mehta said.

She added that though travel junkies were not so hot on South East Asia this time, they still had 46 bookings for Malaysia and Singapore so far.

If Egypt offers you a rich cultural experience that spans thousands of years of history safeguarded in coins, ceramic art, busts, mosaics, sarcophagi and mummies, Dubai — the land of golden sand — is an adventurer’s paradise with challenging skyscrapers, desert safaris and amusement parks.

Pankaj Choudhary, owner of Sai Tours & Travel, claimed it was indeed destination Dubai for his clients. “All roads lead to the scintillating UAE city this New Year because the party there has always been jaw-dropping. Bookings are going north,” Choudhary said, adding that four nights and three days in Dubai was a budget tourist’s dream at Rs 35,000 per person.

If international destinations are a rage, so are domestic ones. For a handful of sojourners, who love to romance the pristine snow, Sai Tours is also booking packages for Srinagar and Gulmarg. The others are jet set for God’s own country (Kerala) and India’s most famous beach paradise (Goa). City travel agencies have already made 200 bookings for these two destinations.

The maximum demand is for Kerala though, given the timeless beauty of the palm-fringed beaches of Kovalam and Varkala, the magnificence of the undulating hills of Munnar and Vagamon, the serenity of the pristine backwaters of Kumarakom and Kuttanad and the enchanting woods of Thekkady and Silent Valley.

“We have already done 60 bookings for Kerala. The eight-nights-nine-days package costs Rs 40,000 per person. More reservations are expected. For Goa, 16 bookings have been done. It is a four-nights-five-days package worth Rs 30,000,” Skyline owner Mehta said.

Choudhary said their Kerala figure had crossed 150, while 100 parties were set for Goa. “The numbers are tell-tale signs of how big people are preparing to celebrate New Year. The bookings are being made over a month in advance,” he said. Namrata Prasad, an official of Samridhi Travels, added that more and more people were picking Goa’s golden beaches because flood-hit Thailand was off the map this time.

Raman Sinha, a private employee, wishes to usher in 2012 in the backwaters of Kerala. “We have booked 15 days ago to avoid last-minute rush. The idea is to spend some quality time with family members away from the din and commotion of city life,” he said.

Homemaker Mihika Sharan is as excited about Goa. “It is one of the most happening places on earth as far as New Year celebrations are concerned. The weather is pleasant and surprises are never-ending. You can never get bored of Goa,” she said.