Top winter destinations of India

There are many winter destinations even in a tropical place. The scene is so true for a country like India. Come the summer and everybody has plans for one or the other hill station or snow adventure. The cool high altitude places puts the unbearable heat of the plains on somewhere forgotten and absolute bliss of the welcoming winter is on. It feels like somebody is constantly humming lines like these on back of his mind:

Guide to Understanding Hinduism

“”The rest is where 
“I” is either satiated
Or suffocated
Here, I avow
My “I” is merged
In the Pristine of Nature
I am at rest now
Even if it is
Just for a while!””

Such places, kind of which the poet is talking about, might include the following:

Auli

Lying on the way to Badrinath, Auli is a popular winter destination in Uttarakhand, more popular for its adventure of Ski. Bugyal is the local name for the place by which locals will brag about it. The meadow is also a part of popular trekking trips. Apart from Ski and Trekking, tourists can also enjoy views and boating in the artificial lake. Being surrounded by pilgrimages like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Joshimath, Nandaprayag, Rudraprayag; Auli is a must visit for tourists and pilgrims alike. April is best season to visit but skiing is good in November.

Trekking in Auli
Trekking in Auli. Source: Flikr Shikhar Sethi’s photostream

Gulmarg

Another popular Ski (winter) destination, Gulmarg is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Known for having the highest Ski lift (Gondola) in the world, the place has more than 1300 metres of vertical panoramic views of the Himalayas. To make best use of the snow for skiing, choose the month of January and February to travel up this point and have fun. Do not get startled by occasional sights of soldiers as the place is very near to the India-Pakistan border.

Gulmarg Gondola
Gulmarg Gondola

Diu

One of the 8 Union territories of India, Diu is gaining more popularity for its tourism than ever before. Very near to the southern coast of Gujarat, the place had a long association with the Portuguese culture. The town of Diu houses Diu Fort and an Old Portuguese cathedral that are popular attraction for tourists. Enjoy the beach and island fun here.

Mount Abu

More popular as the only hill station of the state of Rajasthan, this place is well known for its scenic appeal and some old temples. A centre for spiritual activities, Mount Abu is a place where people find peace of mind. A part of Aravalli Hills, the place holds natural attraction for tourists coming to Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, etc.

Mount Abu
Model of the Eiffel tower at a roundabout in Mount Abu. Source: Flikr auldhippo’s photostream

Haflong

North-eastern region of India is very popular for many tourist places and adventure activities loved by thrill seekers. For a winter destination, Haflong in Assam is a nice place to try. Located in the Dima Hasao District, it is known for Haflong Lake and Jatinga Bird Watching. Photography becomes a passion of travellers just by instincts.

Kerala

A part of southern India, Kerala does not need any kind of introduction due to its huge popularity as “God’s Own Country”. Backwaters, popular beaches, spa and spiritual healing and many tourist destinations like Munnar, Kochi, etc are integral tour of any Kerala tour. You can also opt to choose to visit in a particular time during “The Elephant Festival”, Thissur Pooram is on the show. Culture insights of Kerala are a major pull for tourists from abroad along with exciting the domestic tourists.

Shimla

Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, is a well known amongst popular winter places of India. Tourists’ spots that are visited here include The Mall, Christ Church, Jakhu Hill, Shimla State Museum, Summer Hill, Tara Devi Temple, Junga, Mashobra, and many others. Reached by Air, Railways and Roads, Shimla remains crowded for all of the summers and most of the winters.

Shimla snow
Shimla snow

Manali

In Himachal Pradesh, this place is closely tours along with Kullu for tourism in this area. Among many winter destinations, Manali is visited more for its religious value. Located in the Beas river valley, it is well enjoyed by the people of India as well as abroad for tourist attractions like Hadimba Temple, Vashishta Temple, Rohtang Pass, Solang Valley, Van Vihar and more.

Skiing in Manali
Skiing in Manali

Corbett national Park

Located near Nainital, Jim Corbett National Park is a popular spot for enjoying wildlife tourism. Tigers are obviously the main attraction and icing on the cake is the elephant safari. Jeep rides are also there but one can imagine what will be more fun to do. The vast diversity of the oldest national park of India allows scope for birding as well if you are also engaged in bird watching. Not good to visit in Monsoon, the summers and winters are quite enjoyable here. You can add this to your list of winter destinations if you planning for winter holidays!

Author bio: This post is written by Kuldeep. He is writing about travel & tourism stuffs like wildlife in India since 3 years. He has visited few places from above and planning for more.

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64 thoughts on “Top winter destinations of India”

  1. I like winter because there are no need of fan or rest place. Take a blanket and sleep anywhere in house and as you mentioned here about some place then i would say that there will be more fun with a bucket a ICE CREAM.

  2. Shimla looks beautiful, if I ever get the chance to head to India it would definitely be my place of choice to visit. The others look great as well, but the mountainous scenery is my favorite.

  9. Wow, I never knew India also has a winter season! If I were there, I’d certainly try skiing though I’ve never done that before. I’m going to northern India in March, from Kolkata I will go northeast. So excited!

  12. Hi Shalu,

    This post is really nostalgic. We have been to a couple of these destinations and enjoyed ourselves a lot. There are many more beautiful winter destinations in India. They are Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Panjim, Horsely Hills and many more.

    Regards,
    Vijay

  16. Hey nice stuff on India tourism in winter. India offers various exotic places like wildlife tourism, heritage tourism,hill stations, desert, beaches, religious places where you can spend your holidays and get a marvellous experience that will remember fondly for many years.
    Here I found one more source topindiaplaces.com that can help you during India travel.

  18. Tourism, like any product sitting on a shelf, needs to be marketed in order to sell. In an effort to boost awareness, the Office of Tourism for the State of Connecticut recently took on the task of developing a new branding campaign for the state

  21. I never knew India had that much snow during the winter. It looks amazing. I was in Mumbai for a summer and that was boiling but India in the winter must be much better

  22. I normally had the first impression that India is any other tropical country that does not experience snow during the “ber” months. I sure would love to try skiing in Manali and go to Shimla and Corbett National Park. Thanks for sharing!

  26. Hi
    Just had to read this post when I was researching about summer bucket list ideas. Made me smile glad I stopped here now some of these places look amazing and I will be honest the thought of going to India in the winter would of never of crossed my mind.

    So for great heads up thanks lee

  30. Winter is my favorite season as there is no tension of warm. In hot season, it is tough to work or visit any place. But Winter is the best season in India to visit any place comfortably. I love to visit Kerala & Shimla as I have not visited yet.

  32. Hi shalu,

    Thanks for sharing this list with us. Apart from this article i want your little help. I created a travel blog which include all places of world which are famous for traveling. I have just started this blog before 3-4days ago. Can you help me that how my blog become popular in various search engine.
    Thanks in advance…

  33. Wow! I really don’t know theirs a snow in India. Thank for the info. I want to visit now in India and experience the India winter, like skating. But try summer in Philippines.

  37. been a kashmiri one loves too much of snow nd snow nd wans to habe great time on fresh powder u get def killong peaks to lok for …love kashmitr nd sikong.being 30 at present donr it grm my vjild hood i can net no other place on whole world got sucj muth watring nd sensantial peaks nd pwder yo ski nd peole eld love the oyhrr tjong that is i better giss..WfEED..pot om snow oops

  39. My favourite destination in India is Kerala, Manali, Auli and Shimla. I had visited these places many times. You have done great work over here. Lovely pieces of information you shared. Thank you.

  40. shalu i want to know that manali is best place for family tour if this so thn tell me the full package of tour for four persons

  51. Hi Shalu,This is a great article,useful information shared with us,I like Winter season very much and my dream is going to many palaces in the world so, definitely going to this places one day.

  52. Hey there your article is really nice. Now i am sure that people are really loving to promote the tourism all over the world. We are waiting to see more stuff like this.

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