Best Travel Destinations to visit in Summer in India

Summer is already here, most of the people plan to escape to their favourite destinations to escape from the burning sun. India still has a lot of places that are perfect for a summer vacation. Be it a weekend getaway with friends and family or a week-long solo trip, you will find the best spots to visit in summer. We have also included quite a few off the beaten path destinations in India for discerning travelers looking forward to planning their summer holiday at far away, hidden and crowd free destinations. Ideal to have that ‘me time’ or spend time in solitude to reflect and reclaim themselves.

1. Shimla

Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It is a well-known hill station in Northern India and is one of the most famous vacation places in summer that perfectly captures Indian magnificence with British elegance. The pleasing climate was in fact the reason that the British colonies settled here every summer. There are several accommodation options, and amazements. The weather is pleasant for most of the months with tourists flocking especially during the summer months. The winters are cold with some days of snow from mid-December till February end.

Visit the beautiful Christ Church on the Ridge near the mall. Jakhu Hill is a short and a beautiful drive from Shimla, where you can visit Lord Hanuman’s Temple. Explore British architecture. If you have a fetish for polo then stop over at Annandale which is 4kms from the Ridge. White water rafting at Tattapani. A visit to Kufri, Chail and Mashobra, beautiful hill getaways. 

Shimla is well connected with many cities and is just 4 hours from the nearby city of Chandigarh. The Himalayan Toy Train is one of the best ways to arrive in the hill town, Kalka-Shimla train route is one of the best routes. Frequent buses, cabs are available from major cities. The nearest airport is in Chandigarh. 

2. Cherrapunji

If you love rain, definitely it is one of the place to add to your bucket list. It is always covered in misty clouds even during the summer. It is located in the North Eastern part of India in Meghalaya state. The lush green surroundings of Cherrapunjee very well justify the tag ‘Scotland of the East’. You can see streams, cold water springs, and many gorgeous waterfalls in this lovely hill town.

Cherrapunjee sits neatly on the edge of the Himalayas towering the pancake low lying plains of Bangladesh. It is regarded as the wettest place on the earth given the massive monsoon rainfall that it sees. Nohkalikai Falls, the Double Decker Living Root Bridge, Khasi Monoliths, Seven Sister Waterfall and the Krem Mawmluh caves are the major attractions here. 

The nearest airport is in Shillong and the nearest railhead is in Guwahati. Road leading from Shillong to this miniscule village passes through the magnificent scenery that becomes sensational at the Dympep viewpoint. Here you’ll come across a photogenic V shaped valley that deeply slits into the plateau.

3.Tawang

Twang is one of the least populated towns in Arunachal Pradesh, Tawang is one of the most sought –after destinations in summer in India ideally visited in May and June before the arrival of Monsoon or after late September and in October. The reason behind Tawang’s popularity as a summer retreat is its positioning at the altitude of about 10,000 feet above sea level which accounts for its pleasant weather. The destination is dotted with splendid Buddhist monasteries and other mystical attractions on one end and a war memorial on another, the valley begins to work its magic on travellers the moment they start descending the hills. 

The Losar is the most celebrated festival of Tawang which took place in the months of February/March. This region is quite famous for the imposing 14th century Tawang Monastery. Tipi Orchid Sanctuary which houses thousands of varieties of orchids. Sela Top Pass, which remains covered with snow throughout the year, is the major route to get to Tawang. Hot water springs, Pankang Teng Tso Lake, Sangeshar Lake, Sela Pass, Tawang Galden Namgyal Lhatse

Nearest airport from Tawang is Salonibari Airport, at a distance of 315 kms. Nearest railhead is Tezpur Railway Station, 385 km away. Tawang is 1404 km away from Kolkata, the nearest major city from Tawang. Tawang is a restricted area. Foreign nationals need inner line permits to visit this hill station and permits are available from major cities such as Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata.

4. Ooty

Udhagamandalam commonly known as Ooty is a beautiful hill-station in Nilgiris district, on the western edge of the state, Tamil Nadu in Tamilnadu. It is located 86 kms north west of Coimbatore and 128 kms south of Mysore. Ooty is connected by the Nilgiri ghat roads and Nilgiri Mountain Railway. It is famous for its toy train which would enable the visitors to have a look at its beautiful surroundings. 

The nearest airport is at Coimbatore and the nearest railhead is Mettupalayam. Its natural environment attracts tourists and it is a popular summer destination. The best time to visit this place is from April to June. Ooty Lake, Emrald Lake, Deer Park, Tribal Today Huts, Doddabetta Peak, St Stephen’s Church, Kalhatty Waterfalls, Avalanche Lake are the main places to visit in ooty.

5. Wayanad

Wayanad is a heaven in ‘God’s Own Country’. Planning a Wayanad trip offers memorable experiences. Wayanad is one of the most captivating hill towns of Kerala that is also called the ‘Green Paradise’ as it shares borders with the greener patches of the state. The place gets its name from Vayal Nadu, where Vayal means paddy fields and Nadu meaning the land, which makes Wayanad a land of paddy fields.

Lush agriculture fields, thick forests and misty hills of Kerala add to its scenic charm. Undoubtedly Wayanad is one of the most attractive hill stations in Kerala, the place is worth exploring at least once in a lifetime. The wonderful sojourn includes exploring gushing waterfalls, ancient and historical caves, exciting wildlife and much more. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Ambukuthi Hills, Edakkal Caves, Nagarhole National Park, Tiger Reserve, the secluded Edakkal Caves, vistas of the cascading Soochipara Waterfalls, and enjoy the rafting at Kuruvadweep. 

Wayanad is well connected with road ways from nearest towns, Karipur international airport (100 km) is the nearest airbase, Nearest Railhead is Kozhikode railway station 110 km.

6. Spiti Valley

When you are planning for an adventurous trip the spiti is a must and should one. Spiti valley is a desert mountain valley in the north-eastern part of the state Himachal Pradesh, which can be termed as a sister concern of the remote Ladakh. It is largely linked to ladakh so it will also experience the same amount of snowfall just like ladakh in winter. Not only adventurous sports it is also well known for its sporadic vegetation and continuous flow of mountain streams in a most natural setting. Spiti is indulged with Tibetan buddhism, Ki monastery and Tabo monastery are the two oldest monasteries in the world. 

Mountain biking, camping, trekking, river rafting, monastery visits, trekking are the things you have to explore in spiti. Kaza, Nako, Tabo, Ki Kibber, Chandratal, Losar are the nearest tourist attractions. 

Spiti valley is one of the  top places for road trips in India and a popular route that 1000s of bikers look to conquer each year. In summer it can be reached via Manali through the Atal tunnel and Kunzum Pass. Manali is 201 km from Kaza. Kullu Airport at Kullu is the nearest airport, Shimla is the nearest railway station.

To know more about spiti valley

7. Gokarna

Gokarna is a small town in Karnataka, on the shores of Arabian Sea. Gokarna is not only a holiday destination, it is also famous for its temples and is one of the best pilgrim towns.  A lot of festivals are observed in Gokarna with great gusto, among them Shivaratri is something which attracts a lot of pilgrims. Om Beach, Mahabaleshwara Temple, Kudle Beach, Yana, Gokarna Beach are the major places to visit. Beach hopping and enjoy beach sports, Boating, trekking, camping, shopping at flea markets, banana boat rides, and visiting various temples will make you want to revisit this beautiful place. 

The nearest airport is Dabolim, Goa, from there you can either hire a cab or catch a train from Maragoa. Kumta (35 km) and Ankola (20 km) are the nearest major railway stations to reach Gokarna. The trains run from major stations including Mangalore and Hubli in Karnataka, Margao and Karwar in Goa. Gokarna is well connected on road from Udupi and Bangalore, Goa. Buses are available from Bangalore and Goa.

8 Dalhousie

Dalhousie is a popular hill station in Himachal Pradesh. The valley is named after Lord Dalhousie, and was one of the favourite summer destinations of the Britishers during the colonial era. Dalhousie offers an old-world charm, mesmerising natural landscapes, pine-clad valleys and magnificent misty mountains. The Scottish and Victorian-era architecture of churches reminds of its colonial heritage.  Dalhousie is famous for its meadows, dense jungles, and waterfalls.

While planning for Dalhousie you must include Kajjar which is 21 kms from Dalhousie which is called Switzerland of India and Chamba which is 51 Kms from Dalhousie. Trekking, Camping and River rafting are the main things to do. Panch Pulla Waterfalls, Boat ride in Chamera Lake, Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary, Satdhara Falls are the main places to visit in Dalhousie. 

Gaggal Airport is the nearest airport, Pathankot railway station is the nearest railway station. Both these means of transport provide good connectivity between Dalhousie and major parts of India. It is also well connected by road ways.

9. Pelling

Pelling is one of the best places to visit in India in summer. If you are seeking quiet and non crowded holiday spots then Pelling is the one to add to your list. This place is a little-known North Eastern town in Sikkim.  Pelling has a peaceful atmosphere surrounded by greenery, lakes, monasteries, hamlets, glittery waterfalls and remnants of erstwhile rulers. This is one of the best places to spend a relaxing summer vacation with family. 

Rabdentse Ruins, Kanchenjunga National Park, Singshore Bridge, Pelling Helipad, Sangachoeling Monastery, Pemayangtse Monastery, Darap Village, Rimbi River and Rimbi Waterfalls are some of the tourist attractions of peeling, there is many more to explore. 

The nearest airport is at Bagdogra, Darjeeling which is at a distance of 145 kms and the nearest railway station is at Jalpaiguri at 140 kms. 

10. Ladakh

Ladakh is a union territory in the Kashmir region of India. It is the ‘Land of High Passes’, is a region in Jammu and Kashmir, it is every biker’s dream vacation. Every summer, motorcyclists from India and the world gather in and around Delhi, Srinagar or Manali to embark on an adventurous trip to Ladakh by road. Manali – Leh Highway is the favourite among the thrill seekers. You can experience adventures, rugged landscape, high-altitude mountain passes, crystal-clear lakes, serene Tibetan monasteries, quaint villages and weather that totally makes you forget summers. 

Along with trekking you can indulge in a series of adventure sports such as biking, water rafting, safaris etc. It is home to rare wildlife including the Tibetan antelope, ibex and yak. Explore Leh city, attractions like Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa and markets, Zanskar Valley, Pangong Tso Lake, Tso Moriri, Hemis National Park, monasteries of Ladakh including Hemis, Diksit, among so many, Khardung-La Pass, Magnetic hill, River rafting on the River Indus, Watch the Llamas perform colourful Chhams during monastery festivals, Double-humped Bactrian camel ride  in the Nubra Valley are the some of the to do things in Ladakh.

Leh Airport in Ladakh is the nearest Airport. The closest railway station from Ladakh is Jammu Tawi Railway Station is located about 700 km from Leh city in Ladakh. While coming to the road ways it is always one of the best options to explore Ladakh.