India, the varied kaleidoscope is a riot of colours. Starting from the cyan waters against a cerulean sky, you need a hawk eye to distinguish between the azure horizons to determine which part of India is the most beautiful. A blessed land, India has the highest and longest mountain ranges, the wettest Mawsynram and Cherrapunji in the Northeast to the hot arid Thar desert in the northwest, the lush green Indo-Gangetic plains to semi-arid Deccan plateau, the bone-chilling frigid Ladakh terrains in the north to the cool cusp of South Indian highlands flanked by a long turquoise coastline. Moreover, there are a plethora of holiday destinations in India to choose from.
India is a tropical land with the Tropic of Cancer passing through the middle. The plethora of destinations in all far flung pockets and remote hidden gems give the aura that beholds the charmed traveller. Even the royalty of the Rajasthan desert can enjoy the cool climes of Mount Abu within the geography of the political state! So you have every excuse to land in India and get pampered by hospitable sites. We have drawn a vivid sketch of places that can be visited in India during the summer without compromising the holiday quotient and money value. Movements in India are better during the dry summer months of April to June. Read our list of the top 10 holiday destinations in India that you must explore as a traveller:
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh means land of snow. The pristine white is always soothing, and the whiteness belongs to snow. The favourite destination among national and international tourists, it leads the pack among Indian destinations. Himachal Pradesh has managed to preserve its art and culture to date. So apart from the scenic beauty, this state is known for its art, craft and nature-oriented adventure activities. It is not without any reason that the British retreated to this summer capital of British India that they had founded- Shimla. Well connected by air, road and rail, it is a popular summer stop with resorts and hill stations. Other places of tourist interest include Kufri, Himalayan Bird Park, Gorton Castle, Shimla Reserve Forest, Rani Jhansi Park, Annandale, Summer Hill, the Ridge, Mashobra, etc.
Manali
Manali in the Kullu is known for its natural beauty and adventure sports. Activities like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, rafting in river Beas, rappelling, snowboarding, etc. It serves as a base for Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley tours. The Hidimba Devi temple, Raghunath temple, Manikaran Gurudwara and Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa lend a spiritual angle to this land.
Darjeeling
The Himalayan crown over the Bengali land. It is blessed with beautiful summer haunts like Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Gangtok against the backdrop of Kanchenjunga, the third-highest peak in the world. The region is famed for tea plantations and breathtaking greenery and scenery, making it an ideal summer destination in India. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a UNESCO World Heritage enlistment. It runs between New Jalpaiguri and Ghum in Darjeeling and then Red Panda service from Darjeeling to Kurseong. Moreover, Ghum is the highest railway station in India. Similarly, Gangtok is another such place, the capital of Sikkim, seated in the lap of the Himalayas. These are some of the most popular holiday destinations in India to escape the scorching heat.
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is called Devbhoomi (the holy land). Abode of sacred Hindu sites like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, and a thousand other temples, this state is a soulful choice for the spiritually inclined, nature enthusiasts and adrenaline guzzlers. There are hundreds of activities like river rafting, bungee jumping, skiing, paragliding, hiking, trekking, kayaking, mountain biking, abseiling, camping, zip-lining, bodysurfing, hot air ballooning, canoeing and extreme sports.
Well-connected with the national capital, it makes for an ideal weekend family getaway with at least a hundred resorts and offerings. You may visit these destinations all year round, but July and August rains can lead to landslides. However, some prominent hill stations include Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Nainital, Auli, Char Dham, Hemkund Sahib, Jim Corbett National Park, Dehradun, Haridwar, Kailash Mansarovar, and Rajaji National Park.
Munnar
Munnar is a beautiful Western Ghat hill station in the Idukki district of Kerala. Often called Kashmir of South India, it is known for its evergreen tea plantations, mesmerising waterfalls and lush vegetation of misty peaks. Eravikulam National Park, Lakkam Waterfalls and Anamudi Peak hiking trails are the top tourist attractions of Munnar. The national park is a habitat for Nilgiri Tahr, the endangered mountain goat. Besides, the most convenient way to reach Munnar is via Kochi Airport.
Andaman & Nicobar
Andaman & Nicobar Islands is an archipelago of around 300 islands in the Bay of Bengal. It is known for its white sands, palm-fringed beaches, mangroves and dense tropical rainforests. The capital is Port Blair, and its airport is the only point to connect by air with mainland India, apart from sea connectivity with the Coromandel coast. Indiaʼs southernmost point, Indira Point, is on an island in the south. The sun, sand and sea of Andaman & Nicobar Islands have a salubrious climate during the Indian summers. It has many diving and snorkelling sites to wander at the spectacular coral reefs, supporting the marine life of sharks and rays.
Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep is the small tropical archipelago of India in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Kerala. It consists of 36 atolls and coral reefs. Kavaratti is the capital and airport connecting with the Indian mainland. It is mainly known for its exotic sun-kissed beaches and lush green landscape. This is one of the most scenic holiday destinations in India with a unique charm all year round.
Ladakh
Ladakh, The Land of High Passes, is a popular travel destination in India. High mountain ranges like Kunlun, Zanskar, and more encapsulate Ladakh. India is encouraging tourism here to rediscover its former glory. LEH is the largest town with an airport, and the Leh-Manali highway is the highest motorable road in the world. Some notable places of tourist interest are high passes like Khardung La, Marsimik La and Chang La, Nubra and Zanskar valleys with meadows and alpine lakes like Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri. In addition to nature adornments are hormonal upsurging adventure activities like trekking, mountaineering, motor biking, mountain biking, white water rafting and much more to enjoy. Trekking along the Frozen River or Chadar Trek is an unbeatable experience. The Khardung La Marathon is the ultimate challenge to the human spirit.
South India
Ooty, Kodaikanal, Coorg, and Coonoor are the Tamil highlands of South India. They stand out as the amalgamation of Eastern and Western Ghats, creating breathtakingly beautiful rugged topography with shades of soothing green. Lying near Bengaluru, it is better to reach these places via Bengaluru and Mysore in Karnataka rather than the state capital of Chennai. Similarly, Coorg is a small quaint hill town in the Madikeri district of Karnataka, bordering Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
It has Madikeri Fort, a Gothic church and museum, Omkareshwara temple, Nagarhole National Park, etc. Coonoor is also a nearby Nilgiri town known for tea estates. Kodaikanal is in the Dindigul district, around 250 km from Ooty, near Palani town. Meaning Gift of the Forests, it is centred around the Kodaikanal Lake on a plateau of Palani Hills. Bryant Park, Cumbum Valley, Indira Gandhi National Park and Anamalai Hills are other tourist magnets.
Lonavala
Lonavala is an exotic and peripheral India with a modern and modest summer resort. The beauty of Western Ghats is just mesmerising, and along the Ghats, there lay many quaint getaways like Matheran, Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala. There are forts, caves, dams, and languid lakes for people to discover history afresh. Moreover, Lonavala also offers– Tigerʼs Leap, Bhaja Caves, Karla Caves, Bhushi Dam, Dukeʼs Nose, Tikona Fort, Pawna Lake, Lohagad Fort, Ryewood Park, Valvan Dam, Rajmachi Fort. Enjoy the serpentine roads for that ultimate thrill of a long drive.
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