Holiday destinations in India (month-wise)

Holiday destinations in India (month-wise)

Often in our busy life we think of taking a break and going on a holiday. But when it comes to deciding on where to go, we get confused. India, being a very large country does not have a “best time of the year to visit” for all of its holiday destinations. In this article I will put forth some of the great holiday destinations in India for each month of the year.

January:

This is the coldest month in India and so, the weather will be perfect for a winter holiday in Auli, Uttarakhand. In Auli, one can enjoy skiing along the snowy slopes and enjoy the beautiful Himalayan mountain ranges around. And yeah, don’t forget to get in here by the cable car! But be aware that temperatures can even drop up to 8 degrees below freezing and so one must be prepared to cope up with the cold. Nearest airport is Dehradun (273km) and railhead is Haridwar (299km).

February:

Andaman and Nicobar islands can be a very good holiday destination in India in the month of February. This group of islands is situated to the east of peninsular India. While Nicobar islands are out of bounds for all ordinary tourists, Andaman islands offer an amazing holiday experience with amazing beaches all around. Some beaches in here are uninhabited and tourists do camp in here with the island all for themselves! Non-Indians require special restricted area permit to be on this island which is available on your arrival at the Port Blair airport. Travel to this island can be by ship (3days) or by flight to Port Blair.

March:

India’s north-east are often ignored as a holiday destination by the general Indian population. But they offer an amazing holiday experience. The great places to be in this part of the country are the Kaziranga National Park, Tawang, Cherrapunjee, to name a few. The major airports in this area are Kolkata and Guwahati. Apart from these, there are other smaller airports in Bagdogra, Dibrugarh, etc. The region is also connected by the Indian Railways.

April:

April is a summer month in India and hence it makes sense to holiday in one of the many hill stations in the country. Known as “the queen of the hills” is Darjeeling, situated in the east of India. On a holiday in Darjeeling, one should take the Darjeeling hill train starting from New Jalpaiguri, watch the sunrise from Tiger hills, simply sip a hot, steaming cup of the famous Darjeeling tea in the cool atmosphere of Darjeeling. You may also travel a couple of hours north to Gangtok for white water rafting and other adventures. Nearest airport is Bagdogra (90kms) and the nearest railhead is New Jalpaiguri from where the hill train to Darjeeling starts.

May:

When the summer is at its peak, reach for higher hill stations to beat the heat. That is why Manali in Himachal is a good holiday option in the month of May. When in Manali, take a trip to the Rohtang Pass, shop for dry fruits, shawls and handicrafts, and rest in one of those hotel rooms facing the tall snow capped mountains around. Also check out the beautiful Beas river in Kullu. The nearest railhead to Manali is Ambala Cantt (200km). Easier option will be to take an overnight bus from Delhi (14hrs, 550Kms).

June:

Kashmir is revered as “the paradise on earth” and is situated in the North of India. On a holiday to Kashmir, you should try the shikara (small boat) ride in the Dal lake in Srinagar, check out the fruit market and don’t forget to stay in a houseboat. Apart from Srinagar, one can also visit the popular destinations around in Gulmarg and the picturesque Sonamarg. There is a domestic airport in Srinagar and Jammu. The nearest railhead is Jammu Tawi from where Srinagar is a 6-7hr drive on road.

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July:

July is the peak season of monsoon in most part of India. However, up in the North, there exists a beautiful pristine holiday destination in Ladakh. Ladakh is a high altitude desert surrounded by very tall mountains and passes. Because of the difficulty to reach this area, you will find only a few tourists enjoying the beautiful mountains, high altitude lakes and the Buddhist monasteries around. Indians as well as non-Indians require special inner-line permits to visit any place around ladakh. There is a domestic airport in Leh which has regular flights to and from Delhi, Jammu & Srinagar. Ladakh is also reachable by road from Srinagar (434km) and from Manali (474km) each taking around 19-20hrs along mountain roads.

August:

With the monsoon still battering most of India and the weather getting cooler, it’s time for a holiday to the drier regions of the country. And hence, it’s time for a holiday in Rajasthan to bring in the royalty to your holiday calendar. Pamper yourself in one of those exotic palaces (now turned hotels) in Udaipur, Jaipur and Jaisalmer. Take a ride on the camel back and enjoy the typical Rajasthani village lifestyle and cuisine in Choki Dhani. But be advised, that the temperatures here may still be high during daytime. Jaipur has an international airport and there are also domestic airports in Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Kota. Rajasthan is well connected by the Indian railways.

September:

Now that monsoons are on its retreat, it’s time to enjoy the greenery that it brought. And when you talk of greenery, there cannot be a better place to be in India than Kerala, also called the “God’s own country”. Take a trip to the hills in Munnar, Wagamon, enjoy an elephant safari in the Periyar forest. Stay in a houseboat in the backwaters in Alleppy and enjoy a traditional Ayurvedic massage in Kumarakom. Note that this is also the time of the harvest festival, Onam in Kerala and a holiday is incomplete without having the typical “Sadhya” (vegetarian meal). Note that of late, the monsoons extend and this month may not be ideal if you are planning to visit the beaches in Kerala. A holiday in Kerala will surely be a special one with your loved ones. There are three major airports in Kerala; Cochin, Trivandrum and Calicut. The state is also well connected by railways.

October:

South of Konkan near the west coast of India, there is a beautiful hill station called Coorg. Known for its coffee plantations, Coorg is an excellent place to spend a holiday with your family. There are many things you can do while on a holiday in Coorg. You can check out the many waterfalls around, visit the Tibetan settlement in Kushalnagar, stay in one of those beautiful resorts or homestays, etc. Nearest airport would be Mangalore (136km). Being a hill station, you need to depend on road transport to reach here.

November:

With the weather getting a lot cooler, it is time to spend some time in the beach. And when it comes to beaches, there is no other place as famous in India for beaches as Goa. Check out the numerous beaches around and also the beautiful churches here. For the adventure enthusiast, try one of the many adventure sports in the popular beaches. Enjoy a sumptuous dinner in one of those sea-side restaurants, not to forget the wonderful nightlife here. It must also be noted that Goa can be very crowded during season. So if you are looking forward to a calm holiday, head further south to the Kudle or Om beach in Gokarna(150km). Goa has a well connected airport and is also connected by the Indian railways.

December:

With the temperatures getting down and the rains dying out in India, Lakshadweep can be a very good holiday destination for this month. The place is a cluster of tiny islands and atolls situated to the west of peninsular India. Once in Lakshadweep, you can do the island hopping, explore the beautiful marine life and even learn a course in scuba diving. Whether you are an Indian or not, you need to get a special permit to visit these islands. So the easiest option will be to book as a package tour. You may choose to go either by ship or by flight to Agatti.

Comments are most welcome!! And if you’re asking for a holiday suggestion, don’t forget to mention your current location!!

If you want to plan a trip to South East Asia, check out my post on the same here: Countries to travel in South East Asia

Are you from India?

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93 responses to “Holiday destinations in India (month-wise)”

  1. Dude, Rajasthan can be good in Dec also, Its not as green as Aug/Sept, But Visiting Jaisalmer can be a good idea.

    • Agreed Sandeep!! This list is more like best place to go in a particular month rather than when to go to a particular holiday destination!! 🙂

    • Yes, even for me, traveling in off season is preferable because of the cost advantage.
      In this post, I have just given the best season to visit these places, not considering the costs… 🙂

    • It’s absolutely cool. You can find them in Kumarakom (Backwaters), Munnar (Hill station), etc. Apart from them, there are resorts in Kovalam, Varkala, etc. They come in all ranges too; super luxury and budget. Enjoy!!

    • Hmm… You can travel to Lakshwadeep from October to mid may. It may be a bit hot in April end I guess. Other than that, it should be great! 🙂
      Enjoy! 🙂

  2. Hey suggest some destination fr june except kashmir as I hv aleeady visited the place..thanxwaiting fr reply…

    • See, the list of places and the months that you should be there are the ideal scenario. It does not necessarily mean that you cannot go to these places on any other months. Personally, I have been to Manali and Ladakh during June and it was great too. So take your pick. Just ensure that if you plan for Ladakh, plan it for anytime after 1st week of June just to be on the safe side so that the snow will clear out of the passes. 🙂

  3. Please can u tell me which will be the best season to visit Andaman and Nicobar islands. Can i make a plan to visit it during Aug or Sept.

    • Best season would be Jan-Mar… It would be raining during Aug/Sep. So the beaches won’t be that good…

  4. Hey Thomas,
    loved the way your blog pans out !

    this time around, i am looking for a getaway in india in sept.
    typically – ‘A to do nothing holiday’
    which includes – lazying around, walks, trails, cycling, food, reading and writing and great weather.

    Do lemme know what comes to your mind.
    Cheers

    • Hmm… For the kind of activities that you are referring to, maybe Coorg would be great. I have been there before and I guess you will find all that you are asking for… 🙂 Also, if you want these extremely peaceful (away from the maddening crowd kind of) places, try a homestay which is like right inside the jungle or something… 🙂
      And yes, if you found something really amazing, do share it with us in a post or at least a comment so that it helps others too!! 😉
      Cheers!!

  5. Hi Berty

    I also love travelling but due to time constraints and timings not matched with husband (don’t confuse with my name as it is Vinod ), we never able to go . Also my child is 2.5 years old so we want to go not too far.
    I am planning for 3-4 days visit to some nice place to remember. It will be around 11-14th October .

    Please advise

    • Hmm… 11-14 October, my wife and myself will be in Goa/Gokarna!! 🙂

      While it would have helped if I knew which city you were from, let me give you some suggestions. Goa/Gokarna for the beaches, Coorg/Munnar for the hill station. Alleppy, Kerala for the backwaters. Again, the distance depends on where you are from? 🙂

  6. I want to travel to four major places of this list in respective quaters of the year.Let me know which ones are best suited for a 7 day trip and a a budget or around 20K.

    • Andamans is suited for a 7day holiday but it may overshoot your budget. I would suggest you to monitor the price of air tickets to Port Blair constantly to get the best deal. (book early!)
      North-east trip can be of 7days and yes, it would suit your budget too!
      Ladakh can be a 7day holiday and it would suit your budget it you avoid the flight. (Remember that its a hell ride by road) Chk here: http://travelograph.com/2009/06/day-14-taking-the-high-road-to-leh-ladakh/
      Goa+Gokarna can be a 7day holiday too and would fit in your budget!
      Hope this helps!

  7. I am planning for my two- three days romantic tour in first week of Feb with my wife, but i have no idea of it. Please help in planning with lowest possible budget.

    • Hmm… Your location? 🙂
      Anyways, let me suggest something romantic, this Feb 14 (Valentine’s day), Taj Mahal is open for night viewing! (http://www.up-tourism.com/taj_mahal.htm) And this happens very very rarely!
      And since you are looking for a very short vacation, I wouldn’t suggest you to go to Andamans as it needs more time. But again, the question remains, location? 🙂

    • Well, personally, I did not find Ooty quite impressive. But still, its good to go there. Don’t forget to experience the mountain train at Coonoor, botanical garden, etc. Summer months are when Ooty is most crowded as people go there to escape from the sweltering heat in the nearby areas. Ooty is doable almost anytime of the year. And yes, during winter, it gets really cold (based on south indian standards!) 🙂

  8. We are planning trip for 15 members in may…our plan is to go to shirdi first and then further 1 or 2 nearby holidayndestinations…..what are the options available to us…??

  9. Yr post is although sufficient informative. But still can u suggest some good place worth go in with 2 yr old n 8 yr old baby… in month of June.. thanks

    • A holiday in June is tricky. Remember that the monsoons arrive in the south and north-east in early June and move to other parts gradually. Since you haven’t mentioned your location, I can’t give you an outright suggestion. But as I said, take the monsoon into account when you plan. 🙂

      • Hi Berty,
        We plan to visit Kashmir / Ladakh starting say 20th June. We live in Pune. What itinerary would you suggest?
        Thanks.
        Ravi

        • Ravi, you didn’t tell me how many days you have, the composition of your group, etc. 🙂 And am assuming that you are planning to do both Ladakh and Kashmir in the trip?
          So lets see. If you have a good number of days for the trip (say, 1-2weeks), I would suggest you to fly to Delhi, take a bus to Manali, from there take a shared jeep/ tempo traveller to Leh (19hr road journey that you will never forget in your lifetime!! 😀 Read my story here: Leh road trip)
          Once you are in leh, the first day, relax, walk around the town. then plan your trip to pangong lake, tso moriri lake, nubra, khardung la, etc. And once you’re done with Leh, take a bus to Srinagar (Again, you won’t forget this either!! 😀 ). Depending on how many days you have, roam around Kashmir, gulmarg, sonamarg, etc and take a bus/shared jeep back to jammu.
          Too long a comment?? Let me know if you have further questions. 🙂
          Read the blogs related to leh/ kashmir travel here: http://travelograph.com/india/

          • Thanks Berty. I plan to do it with my wife and son (20). We plan to do leh Ladakh and Kashmir in say 8-9 days. Can we take a flight to Leh from Delhi and then do the rest of the journey as you suggested? Also, how do I locate hotel or place to stay at Leh and Kashmir? Many thanks. Ravi

          • Yes, you can take a flight from Delhi. Regarding hotels, I stayed in a very small home-stay (wouldnt recommend that for a family). But I would suggest searching in makemytrip/cleartrip/etc… 🙂

  10. Hi..I’m from Lucknow and have been planning a holiday with my family for a very long time,but for some reasons we cant figure out where to go,we went to McLeodganj last may.
    So from July to October this year,where can you suggest for us to go? Anywhere except North India.
    Things we are looking forward to do on this holiday..away from the crowd,visit spas (have heard some nice ones down south),good food,scenic beauty,good architecture,relaxation places and any other activities.

    • Hmm.. So between July to October, it rains pretty heavily in the South, but am assuming you are still fine with the rains. There are two places which I feel would fit into the list of “expectations”.
      1. Coorg: It’s away from the crowd, there are good resorts where you will find good Spas, very scenic(being a hill station), for architecture, there is a Tibetan settlement nearby which would interest you. However, keep in mind that it will rain pretty heavily in that area(once you reach here, probably you can enjoy watching the rains from the comforts of your resort!). Also, reaching Coorg will take a long journey by road.
      2. Alleppy/Munnar: Again, these are pretty heavy rainy season in Kerala(Some respite towards September). But these places are really away from the crowd types. There are some really good resorts in the Backwaters near Alleppy(search for ones in Kumarakom). Beaches won’t be good in this season due to the rains. Get an authentic Ayurvedic massage/treatment to soothe your senses!
      Hope that helps! 🙂

  11. Hi Berty

    Thank u for this very useful post.
    Iam planning for a holiday trip in the last week of august with my husband. Can you please suggest an exciting place best suited for that month , other than Rajasthan?

    Thank you

  12. Iam from bangalore. Iam looking for picturesque places, hill stations, something exotic even…… but i am not keen on beaches and adventure trips.we have covered kerala, ooty and kodaikanal and munnar. so Iam quite clueless as to which place to go in the late august.

    • How about Coorg? It’s a beautiful hill station and in late August, there shouldn’t be much rainfall and it would be all misty and green around. 🙂 Since you have covered most of the other hill stations in the south, I guess you may have to travel North to explore the other ones… 😀
      Or maybe check out Wayanad in north Kerala (but honestly, I don’t think there is much to see there apart from a few waterfalls and the fact that it is a hill station… But I did a road trip to Wayanad from Bangalore and the route to Wayanad was simply awesome!! 🙂 )

    • We have planed to go 3 day trip on coming august 15th from chennai! I know it’s monsoon season, But Please advice which place is moderate for weather condition. We are consider to go Coorg or Munnar!
      Thanks for your response…

      • Hmm. A tough question for sure. Both places will have moderate to heavy rains. But personally, I have loved Coorg more than Munnar. So, I would say, go to Coorg 🙂
        P.S: It’s just a personal opinion. Can’t really choose one over another!

  13. I have also covered coorg aswell 🙂 What would you suggest about going for a himachal pradesh trip or a kashmir- ladak trip in the late august?

    Thank you

    • Ahh, if you are open to traveling to the north, yes, all the three that you mentioned are ideal. Between them, I would suggest first choice as Kashmir, then Ladakh(second preference only because it is a bit adventurous) and then Himachal. Hope that helps! 🙂

  14. Hey Thomas…
    How are you doing?
    I read your article. You must have researched a lot to conclude the list month wise tourist places in India. Actually I am from Kolkata and I am residing in Bangalore right now. I am planning to go to Kolkata in June. And I am also thinking of small vacation trip which must be near by Kolkata. And for that I have checked on many site like Trip Advisior, Wiki Travel, HolidayIQ.com for tourist places in in West Bengal. I shortlisted some places as Darjeeling, Digha, Santiniketan.
    Can you suggest me which place I should I should go?

    • Hmm. Pranav, give me a few more details. If you are looking for a romantic trip, go ahead with Darjeeling, enjoy the toy train, etc. If you looking for adventure, try Gangtok(go for white water rafting, trekking, etc.). If you have more number of days, say, 4-5days min, why don’t you even try Bhutan? (I loved Bhutan). Remember, if you are planning for the later half of June, the monsoons are going to hit your holiday! Hope that helps! 🙂

      • I will be going there with my wife. So I am locking Darjeeling in that case as per your advice. And thank you so much for clearing my doubts. Thanks a lot.

  15. Hi,

    I am looking for a 6-7 days vacation in comming july with my wife and 3 year old kid. Please suggest where to go in July in India. I am from Varanasi U.P., I would prefer North, Central and Western part of India, but nevermind suggestion for places in other part of Inida too in July.

    Regards
    Ravi

    • Ravi, the only issue with the month of July is the rains that prevails in most part of the country. The only place that won’t be affected by the monsoons are Kashmir and Ladakh. So probably, you can think of the same.

  16. Hi,u doing awesome
    I m from mumbai I m planning to give surprise holiday to my husband at mid of july can u suggest good place

    • Poonam, its July, so that means its going to rain 🙂 Also, since you have only 3days, it doesn’t make sense to go far to the north to escape the rains. Assuming that you have already considered and checked off the weekend getaway options around Pune, let me give another wild option. 😀
      Fly down to Kochi. And get to Alleppy. Spend couple of days in a houseboat or a good resort. It will be raining pretty heavily in Kerala, but you can still enjoy your holiday in a good resort or in the houseboat. Pamper yourself with an authentic Ayurvedic massage and the spicy local food! Hope that helps! 🙂

  17. Hi,
    M planning to go somewhere in mid August for 4 days.
    Please suggest me the best place this time.

  18. Hello!
    Can you tell me if it’s a good idea to visit Udaipur and Mount Abu in mid July…
    Also, how about Manali… will it be a good option in Mid july…

    • I would not recommend Manali because that is the monsoon season which can also trigger landslides enroute which may get you stuck somewhere. Both Udaipur and Mount Abu might be monsoon affected during that time. So, bottom line is, its not the best time to visit these places. 🙂

  19. Hi,

    I am from lucknow and planning to go 3-4 days trip in 3rd week of july
    so which are the places so that i can save my time and enjoy .how will be nainitaal during this period ?

    • Nainital is a really nice place but it may rain during that time. But still, I guess it would be fine. Personally, I loved the lake when I travelled in June 2009… 🙂

  20. Hi berT

    Your page and responses have beeb an awesome read.
    I am planning for a 5-6 days trip in mid of august with my parents and sister. We are from chandigarh, looking for a scenic, close to nature, away from crowd types trip, not planning to spend the trip in resort or hotel room sitting and watching rain, but not looking for adventure as parents won’t find that convinient. When I checked the options I found following issues
    Andaman : rainy season, not sure of weather conditions and how much it will offer at this point of time.
    Goa : not sure if parents would enjoy much there.
    Leh n ladakh : hard to cover in 5-6 days even if we go by flight.
    Srinagar: not sure on security and safety.
    Rajasthan: it would be quite hot in august I think.

    Plz correct ne if my observations are incorrect.
    Also please suggest any other alternatives.
    Budget is around 1 lakh for the trip.

    • Hi Harry, sorry for the late reply. Andaman, Goa will be raining cats and dogs in August. So avoid them. Rajasthan would be hot. Leh would be ok if 5-6days is excluding the journey days(yes, only if by flights). Srinagar, would be the best option, but this place is ALWAYS risky. Not in terms of safety or security but in terms of unpredictability. You can never say when there would be a shutdown or strike in the valley. I would suggest going to places a lil bit far from Srinagar(shutdowns generally happen in Srinagar only) like Gulmarg or Sonamarg which are absolutely beautiful and ideal for a family trip. If you don’t want to take a chance, just enjoy the Rohtang Pass and Manali. 🙂

  21. Hi Berty,

    I loved your blogs and your presentation.

    How about we meet in nov 2014?, Do you get chance to come to delhi?, else I will plan to see you around. I am big travel fan and planning my business too..

    Please reply at :edited:@gmail.com with your details and we will plan then.

    Tanvi

  22. Hi Berty , I want to go for family holiday with wife and two kids ,suggest me where to go for 5-6 days in sept with minimum expenditure,(around 20000-25000 INR)

        • Hmm. I would have suggested Kashmir, but the flights alone will be min 4k return per person. Most of the other common tourist destinations would be affected by rain. Long story short, consider a holiday to Rajasthan. It may be humid and may also be rain affected but that depends on your luck 🙂 But given your budget, location and the time of the year, I would suggest Rajasthan.

  23. hi, i am lucknow and planning trip in 1st week of april with friend could you suggest some places we have around 5 days…
    thanks in advance

    • It would be quite hot in April. Apart from that, it would be fine. Late October till early February would be best. 🙂

  24. Hi !!
    I am from Mumbai and willing to go out in early June somewhere for a week period with my betterhalf. will you suggest me economy places where we can enjoy the nature as well as pilgrimmes ? Kindly suggest as time is less for bookings or advice tour operators.

  25. Hi Berty , I am from KATNI (M.P.)I want to go for family holiday with wife and two kids ,suggest me where to go for 5-6 days in June ist or 2nd week.

  26. Hi,

    can you pl suggest in july/august which places can we visit with family and kids. but don’t want to spoil my trip due to rainfall. also it should not be hot.
    we are from new delhi and want to plan a 3-4 days trip.

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