Winter vacation in India is one of the most exciting holidays of the year. With the two big festivals waiting to unleash their magic, you can’t just spend your Christmas and New Year hiding under your blanket all winter. The Winter season in India lasts from early October to late February.
What better chance to explore the world around the sun being at bay for a couple of months to relieve us from the scorching heat? Thanks to the awesome weather, you can now explore the tourist places in India that you usually wouldn’t dare to go to. You can witness the captivating palaces, forts, lakes, caves, temples, beaches, and waterfalls for as long as you wish to without getting tired of walking and traveling.
Widely known for its diverse culture and religion, India has a diverse climate with varying topography. Whether you wish to build a snowman or bask in the warm sunlight, India has everything for you for winter vacation.
If you are planning for a winter vacation in India, here are the five ways you can make the most of it.
Sightseeing
Some of the top sightseeing places in India for winter vacation are given here:
Rajasthan
The land of Kings, Rajasthan, is famous for its ancient architecture. With its deserts, traditions, and creative art on building royal palaces and forts, Rajasthan is a beautiful place to visit in winter. The eye-capturing amalgamation of grandeur, transitions, and colors is what attracts the local and foreign tourists the most.
Important places to see in Rajasthan:
- Amer Fort: Inside Amer fort is also a beautiful mirror place where you can enjoy mild narcissism. The pieces of glasses skilfully engraved on the walls and pillars make the palaces exquisite.
- Hawa Mahal: Visit the ruins or taste royalty at the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur. This Mahal, built-in a unique honeycomb shape with five floors will give you the idea of how grandly these kings lived.
- Other palaces of interest in Jaipur are the Jal Mahal, Jantar Mantar, and the City Palace.
Things to do in Rajasthan:
- Enjoy a camel ride on the ceaseless sand of the Thar Desert.
- Plan a night camp.
- Visit the palaces and do local shopping for the exquisite Rajasthani handicrafts.
Kerala
The quiet and serene Kerala has the most amazing beaches, heritage sites, and backwaters. If you want to relax amid less crowded beaches, Kerala is the place for you.
Important Places to see in Kerala:
- Beaches: Kovalam, Shangumugam, and Varkala
- Temples: Guruvayoor, Anantha Padmanabha Swamy, Thrissur, and many more.
- Cities: Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi
- Nature places: Munnar, Alleppey, etc.,
Things to do in Kerala:
- Relax in the backwaters of Alleppey.
- Spend time with your dear ones in Munnar.
- Show the spice gardens in Kerala to your kids.
- Enjoy nature from up close in the night camps and treks.
- Relax in the houseboats and enjoy the serenity.
Maharashtra
Winter vacations are a good time to plan a trip to Maharashtra as the hot weather turns it into a soothing zephyr. Countless caves and with them their history meshed with art and traditions make Maharashtra the finest place to witness the remains of ancient culture, art, and heritage. Besides, Maharashtra is a state with beautiful waterfalls and hill stations.
Important Places to see in Maharashtra:
- Beaches: Mumbai
- Temples: Nasik, Triambakeshwar, Mahabaleswar, Shirdi.
- Cities: Mumbai, Pune
- Nature places: Mahablaeswar, Lonawala, Khandala.
- Heritage places: Gateway of India, Forts.
Things to do in Maharashtra:
- Explore the forts and heritage sites.
- Relish the street food including pav bhaji, samosa, and chai.
- Learn more about Indian heritage and history.
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Trekking
Trekking is sightseeing mixed with exercise. Hiking unto the mountain tops and lakesides is a winter vacation that doesn’t get any better!
Some of the popular trekking places in India as a part of winter vacation in India should include:
Kerala: Kerala, along with being peaceful and panoramic views, this God’s Own Country also has fun adventure activities in its store. And yes, this includes trekking. Munnar, the lover’s heaven, is also known for trekking camps, rappelling, and rock climbing. Wayanad, with its green fame, is a famous trekking spot too.
Uttarakhand: With a picturesque view of the snow-capped mountains, Uttarakhand is famous for many adventure camps including trekking. Auli, in Chamoli district, is a tourist hub for various adventure activities.
Himachal Pradesh: The Himalayas are home to Himachal Pradesh. It is your go-to spot for enjoying snowfall in winters and indulging in adventure sports. Kasol’s Chalal Trek Trail is a scenic trekking route along the Parvati river which goes through the local valley and small cafes on the way.
Dharamshala: Dharamshala is one splendid city with lively Tibetan culture, breathtaking scenery, and mountain trails. It is also a famous spot for trekking, hiking, etc. Manali, along with its fame for honeymoon destinations, is also equally rich in adventure sports.
West Bengal: Darjeeling in West Bengal is known for its “Toy Train” narrow gauge railway and plantation of various flavors of tea all along with the town. It makes up a getaway destination for hiking and trekking. The Observatory Hill View Point there is a sight for sore eyes while the climb is worth the view!
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Skiing
Who doesn’t love snow? And who wouldn’t love skiing, sliding on the snow with that control and speed? It feels ecstatic and is indeed one of the many memorable ways to immortalize your winter vacation memories. As a part of your winter vacation in India, make sure you include the popular skiing destinations in India as given below:
Kashmir
The paradise on earth, the breathtaking Kashmir would provide you a winter vacation to remember for years to come. Kashmir is already very dear to all snow lovers. However, the addition of experiencing and experimenting with adventure sports (skiing) makes it a pleasurable stay. Gulmarg in Kashmir is a hill station and a popular ski spot.
Uttarakhand
It is the adventure capital of the country. Auli in Uttarakhand is a prominent skiing place and is also famous for many other adventure sports. Auli gives tight competition to many international ski places. No wonder it is the Ski Paradise of India. You can also get training for skiing if you are a newbie.
Shimla
Build a snowman and have a snow fight with your friends in the beautiful town of Kullu and Manali. You can even enjoy fun ski rides and snowboarding in the endless white valleys. Hit the local shops on the Mall road and be charmed by the white snow-capped mountain tops. The capital of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is also known as a spot for skiing along with its rich colonial architecture and shopping on the mall road.
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North East India
This heaven on earth is magically undiscovered due to the irregular terrains. It has countless waterfalls, lakes, and mountain peaks. Lachung and Tawang are the major northeast locations renowned for skiing. Besides, you can also visit Cherapunji, the home for captivating waterfalls and caves. Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh is the perfect spot to click your picture.
Night Camping
Who wouldn’t love a night among the stars in the wild? With no mosquitoes to bother in a tropical country like India and the sweet musing of the crickets, it would be a dream come true. Sitting at the bonfire all night, warming yourself in your little tent would be the loveliest winter vacation in India ever!
Some of the popular places for a night camping in winter are:
Maharashtra
Situated between the two cities of Mumbai and Pune lies Lonavala. This place is the nearest weekend spot for local people. It offers the most surreal weekend getaway for the working class of these cities.
With its waterfalls and fascinating greenery, Maharashtra can be a stress buster for people trying to find peace and tranquility. The Pawana lake is one of the most popular places in Maharashtra for an overnight camping experience below the starry sky and the scenic and historic beauty of the nearby places. Bhandardara camping is another known camping site to take all your worries away. These places can rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul.
Himachal Pradesh
Wouldn’t it be thrilling to camp by the snowy mountains of Solang valley? Enraptured by the soft snow and warm valleys, Solang valley is known for the various adventure activities they conduct.
You can enjoy a clear blue sky at night that most people don’t often witness in big cities. These camps provide a varied arena of activities, many among which are parachuting, trekking, and night camping. So, it’s a complete package.
Camping in Mussoorie is also an elegant way to savor your winter vacations. You can go camping with your friends and family. Kanatal, which is only 38kms from the town of Mussoorie is also a quiet village. It is surrounded by nothing but forest to make your camp stay a memorable and spooky one!
Karnataka
Coorg is also called Scotland of India. It is a delightful little hilly region located in Karnataka. It offers lots of activities like bonfire nights, playing games, river rafting, bird watching, etc. You can go cycling. Watch nature from close. Lose yourself into nature by going for nature walks.
Or stay close to the wildlife in Coorg. Winters are a more inviting time to camp at Coorg
India has a rich cultural heritage. What better time to witness all these fascinating festivals than the winter vacation?
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Themed vacation
Besides a normal vacation with family, if you are a couple or a solo traveler, you can embark on a theme vacation to India. Here are some ideas for the same.
Festivity
Winter is a time when the world-renowned Rann Utsav happens in India. To experience the rich cultural heritage and art of Rajasthan, you should visit the Rann Utsav during winter vacation. Among the cold white desert, an interim city dazzles with life with its carnival celebrating Indian culture. And this includes dance, music, puppet shows, drama, food, and much more.
It is also in winter that another major festival in India, Sankranti happens. You can explore the beauty of kite flying and rangolis along with the local traditions if you plan to a state like Tamilnadu or Andhra for your winter vacation in India.
The Bikaner Camel Festival is another one of the many festivals celebrated in Rajasthan. Here a two-day fair is set up, and camel contests and shows are conducted with pomp.
The hornbill festival of Nagaland is a tribute to the rich culture, lifestyle, food, and heritage of the tribal people. The local rice beer they serve here is exquisite in taste and also keeps you warm. Many events like the National rock concert, War dance, headhunting, etc are organized here during the winter season.
Yoga and meditation
Plan your winter vacation in India with a theme of yoga. Spend time to relax from within to welcome the new year with fresh energy. You can look no further than Kerala for this. Just like how peaceful the land is, it also has the potential to take all your worries away with Ayurvedic spas and meditational massages. Alleppey, which also has houseboat stays, also offers Ayurvedic spa treatments and yoga. They will make you love the place and rejuvenate the life inside you.
Partying
If you love partying and do not want to miss it on your winter vacation to India, plan a trip to Goa. Goa is a beach party destination where the winter festivals happen in full swing. The Goa film festival, sunburn concerts, etc. are conducted every year in the winter season to spice up your winter vacations. Parties take place in full swing with colorful flashy lights and loud music. Witness the crowd and yourself go crazy in the party spirit of Goa.
Whichever spot you choose, India won’t disappoint you by presenting a lively winter vacation memory. Get set to go on a winter vacation with your family and friends or a solo adventurous trip. Let travel rejuvenate the spark hidden in you.