Come summers and everyone will be looking for a long getaway, away from the scorching high temperatures and hustle-bustle of the inland-city life. With mercury rising to unprecedented heights in India, everyone will be looking for destinations to beat the heat. For those who haven’t narrowed down on the options to consider, choose from the 10 perfect destinations to spend your summer holidays in India.
Munnar
A perfect destination to spend your summer holidays in India, Munnar is famous for its salubrious climate, lush hills, and vast expanse of tea plantations. With a myriad of things to do in Munnar, the hill station from God’s Own Country – Kerala – is sure to make your vacations an ultimate peaceful and rejuvenating affair.
Places to visit: Kundala Lake, Echo Point, Elephant Lake, Anamudi Peak, Tata Tea Museum, Chithirapuram, Devikulam, and Chinnakanal
What to do: Stay in a tree house, trekking to the echo point, mountain biking, Shikara ride in Kundala Lake, and elephant safari at the Carmelagiri Elephant Park.
Ooty
Udhagamandalam, or Ooty, is another prime destination in Tamil Nadu to spend your summer holidays in India. Located in the Nilgiri Blue Mountains hills, the hill station is often called the Queen of Hills. The famous toy train takes you through the nearby lush hills. The little hill station also offers a lot of places to visit and adventure activities to its visitors.
Places to visit: Doddabetta Peak, Ooty Lake, Emerald Lake, tribal Toda huts, Deer Park, Upper Bhawani Lake, Avalanche Lake, St Stephen’s Church, and Kalhatty Waterfalls
What to do: Ride the Nilgiri Toy Train, horse riding, boating in Ooty Lake, mountain biking in the Blue Mountains, and hang gliding at Kalahatti (20 km from Ooty).
Coorg
Nestled amidst the lush valleys of the Western Ghats, Coorg is one of the most affluent summer holiday destinations in India. It offers a lot to the tourists in form of the various places to visit in Coorg.Thanks to its verdant beauty and pleasant weather conditions, the hill station is often referred as the Scotland of India.
Places to visit: Abbey Falls, Nalknad Palace, Barapole River, Brahmagiri Peak, Iruppu Falls, Namdroling Monastery, and Nagarhole National Park
What to do: Camping near Nalknad Palace, River Rafting in Barapole River, Jeep Safari to Kabbe Hills, Trekking to Nishani Hills, taking a Microlight flight at Chelavara, ziplining, and angling in River Kaveri
Shillong
For those considering the north-eastern states to spend summer holidays in India, Shillong is arguably the best option. The lush hills with pine trees, shimmering lakes, mystical waterfalls, and adventure activities offered make Shillong a major tourist attraction. As an added advantage, Shillong is the only hill station in India that is accessible from all sides.
Places to visit: Ward’s Lake, Sweet Falls, Shillong Peak, Khasi Hills, Umiam Lake, Elephant Falls, Laitlum Canyons, and Mawjymbuin Caves
Things to do: Waterfall rappelling at Elephant Falls, cave exploration, shopping at Bara Bazaar, boating in Umiam Lake, and yacht riding at Umiam Lake Water Sports Complex.
Tawang
Tawang is one of the most sought after destinations to spend your summers in India. The imposing 14th century Tawang Monastery has been a major pilgrimage center and tourist attraction. With Buddhist monasteries and mystical gompas on one end and war memorial on the other, the quaint hill station from Arunachal Pradesh has magic imbued in every nook and corner.
Places to visit: Paradise Lake at Sea Pass, Tawang Monastery, Gorichen Peak, Taktsang Gompa, Nuranang Waterfall, and Pankang Teng Tso Lake
Mussoorie
Mussoorie, an extremely popular destination to spend your summer vacations in India, becomes quite crowded in summers. The varied flora and the lush green hilly lands attract a lot of tourists to the little fairyland. From shopping on Mall Road to ropeway cable car to Gun Hill, and from Kempty Falls to the Jwalaji Temple; the summer destination has a lot to offer to its visitors.
Places to visit: Kempty Falls, Landour Clock Tower, Jwalaji Temple, Rajaji National Park, Gun Hill, Library Point, Sir George Everest House, and Cloud’s End
What to do: Boating in Lake Mist, cable car ride to Gun Hill, roller skating in Kulri Bazaar, and paragliding around Mussoorie Lake.
Ladakh
For those who need a thrilling destination for their summer holidays in India, Ladakh is the ultimate getaway. With a myriad of interesting best places to visit in Ladakh, you can be sure of an amazing vacation. The mighty mountain peaks, the breath-taking views, the stunning lakes, and the perfect weather makes it a perfect vacation destination.
Places to visit: Zanskar Valley, Pangong Tso Lake, Khardung-La Pass, Spituk Gompa, and Hemis National Park
What to do: Watch the Llamas perform colorful Chhams, spot a snow leopard at the Hemis National Park, ride a double-humped Bactrian camel, and ride a bike up to the Khardung-La Pass
Manali
Manali is a popular backpacking and honeymoon destination in Himachal Pradesh. With the numerous popular places to visit in Manali, it has been one of the most popular summer holiday destinations in India. Nestled idyllically amidst the Pir Panjal & Dhauladhar Range of the Himalayas, Manali remains to be a popular honeymoon destination in north India. But it holds an equally important position among those who are looking for adventure activities or holy places.
Places to visit: Hadimba Temple, Himalayan Nyingmapa Gompa monastery, Club House, Solang Valley, Jogini Falls, Arjuna Gufa, and Vashisht Hot-Water Springs
What to do: Paragliding at Solang & Rohtang Valleys, yoga at Shri Hari Yoga Ashram, yak-riding at the wildlife sanctuary and dipping in hot-water springs at Vashisht
Darjeeling
Towered by the majestic Kanchenjunga (8,586 meters above sea level) and surrounded by the emerald-green tea plantations, Darjeeling is among the best hill stations in India. Ride in the cute toy train through the Himalayas, walk through the tea gardens of Dooars, watch the sun setting behind the Tiger Hill or simply relax in the Revolver Hotel of West Bengal; there is a lot to do on your trip to Darjeeling.
Places to visit: Tea Gardens of Dooars, Tiger Hill, Peace Pagoda at Charlemont Hill, and Gorkha War Memorial
Shimla
Probably the most popular hill station in northern India, Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh famous for its Mall road, the Ridge, toy train etc. among honeymooners and families alike.
Situated at a height of 2200 m, Shimla is one of the most eminent tourist destination in the country. Set amidst beautiful hills and mystical woods, Shimla is one of most aesthetically planned cities in India. An erstwhile summer capital of British India, this town’s captivating natural beauty, and the atmosphere are bound to leave any tourist overwhelmed. The well-knit roads, impeccable cleanliness, and an efficient administration make for a perfect combination for any tourist destination in the world. This town has colonial-style buildings alongside the historic temples and the amalgamation of the worlds leaves everyone visiting this region spellbound. Within this city one must visit the Mall Road, The Ridge, Institute of Advanced Studies and Jakhu Temple. Shimla is also used as a base to cover other nearby places likeChail, Kufri, Naldehra, Mashobra, Tattapani and Narkanda. The toy train to Shimla from Kalka passes through beautiful hills and valleys and is one of the most beautiful experience u can have.
Places to visit: Jakhoo Temple,Christ Church, Kufri, Mashobra
What to do: shopping at Mall Road, Walk through the ridge, Toy Train to Kalka, hot water bath in Tattapani
