Summer holiday destinations in India
In this blog, Let’s talk about the 20 best summer holiday destinations in India.
As the mercury rises and roasting summer approaches, everybody will be looking to escape from it and spend their summer holidays in a cool and a quiet place. All the teachers and students will definitely have holidays during this time and waiting for the day to start and spend their summer vacation. Usually, during this summer vacation, the whole family will go out and spend their summer holidays together.
When we plan our summer holiday and think of any destination, first thing comes in mind is lofty peak of Himalayas, pristine North East, quite Western Ghats, Blue mountains and tea plantations of Nilgiri Hills. There are lots of choices for a summer holiday destination in India.
Be prepared with your travel plans for this summer holidays.
1. Shimla :
This is a very famous tourist location during this season.
The capital city of Himachal Pradesh will be a so comfortable place with temperature varying from 15°C and 28°C. With lots of scope for many adventure activities like paragliding, trekking, camping and rafting and also easy reach, Shimla is in the top list of best summer holiday destinations in India. This place was also the summer capital city since the time of the British people
Best places to visit in Shimla :
Annandale, Summer Hills, Trek to Jakhoo Hill, The Scandal Point, Chadwick Falls, Kufri.
How to reach Shimla:
By Air: The nearest airport, Shimla Airport, in Jubbarhatti. It is located 23 km from the main city
By Rail: The world heritage narrow gauge railways connect Shimla to Kalka.
By road: Regular buses, both private and government-run, ply from Delhi en-route Chandigarh. Shimla is approximately 360 km from New Delhi, and 118 km from Chandigarh
2. Manali :
pic courtesy: Siddharth
Manali is the next ideal and best summer holiday destinations in India and a popular honeymoon destination too. Manali has a great combination of adventure, abundant scenic beauty, and the best weather, everything you need for a memorable summer vacation. The snow-covered mountains and the picture perfect Rohtang Pass of this beautiful town will surely make you come back very soon.
Best places to visit in Manali :
Rohtang Pass, Hadimba Temple, Solang Valley, Jogini Falls, Vashisht Hot-Water Springs
How to reach Manali :
By Air: Bhuntar Airport 50 km from Manali)
By Rail: Una (245 km from Manali) on a broad gauge or Chandigarh, 312 Kms away
By road: 540 Kms away from Delhi
3. Ladakh :
pic courtesy: Manish Raut
Summer is considered the best time to visit Ladakh, making it one of the best summer holiday destinations in India. Ladakh is very unique and incredible! It is something that many have not seen. In Ladakh, You can drive on some of the highest motorable passes in the world. The mighty mountain peaks, rugged landscape and the breath-taking views, Tibetan monasteries and villages, lakes with crystal clear water throughout the year, will truly make you forget the heat of the summer. If you are with the family, Leh and nearby regions are the best places to visit in Ladakh.
Best places to visit in Ladakh :
Leh Palace, Zanskar Valley, Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso Lake, Tso Moriri Lake, Khardung-La Pass, Spituk Gompa, 800-year-old Kali Mandir, Hemis National Park
How to reach:
By Air: Leh Airport in Ladakh, this is well-connected to cities like Delhi.
By Rail: Jammu Tawi Railway Station (700 km from Leh, Ladakh); hire a cab or board a JKSRTC bus to Ladakh
By road: The closest major city from Ladakh is Delhi, 1300 km away. The best way to reach Ladakh is by road, but take enough stoppages enroute
4. Kashmir :
pic courtesy: Manish Raut
Nobody will miss out Kashmir when they are thinking of best summer holiday destinations in India. The friendly people with heartwarming hospitality add to the charm of the valley.
Best places to visit in Kashmir :
Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Srinagar
When in Pahalgam and with family don’t miss river rafting in Lidder River or skiing in Aru Valley. You will definitely enjoy all these.
Gulmarg Set in the middle of the lofty snow-clad mountains offers you the time of your life. A major attraction here is the cable car ride to and from Kongdoori and Apparwath Peak. You can also enjoy nature walks amidst colorful flower-filled meadows & lush greenery.
Sonmarg is a beautiful location too. Because it is an offbeat place, it is not suggested for the family. Camping, tent-stays, trekking to Thajiwas Glacier, fishing, and wandering along the lakeside are some of the things you can do in Sonmarg.
Srinagar is the capital city and also the cash cow of Jammu & Kashmir tourism. Shikara ride, houseboat stay a, d water-skiing all these activities are famous here and best suited for families.
How to Reach:
By Air: Srinagar Airport (15 km away)
By Rail: Jammu Tawi Railway Station, – 330 km away
By road: National Highway 1-A connects Srinagar with Jammu. These buses are extremely comfortable and economical
5. Nainital :
pic courtesy: Siddharth
Nainital a small town in Uttarakhand is our next best summer holiday destinations in India.
In Nainital, You can find activities like Boating, cable car rides, horse riding, wildlife sightseeing, roller skating, etc. So this is one of the best places to spend your holidays with your family. This picturesque and charming hill station is a favorite destination of many people because of its beautiful lakes, high peaks covered with snow, and most important very peaceful
Best places to visit in Nainital:
Naini Lake, Bhimtal, Tiffin Top, Nainital Zoo, Naina Devi Temple, Raj Bhavan, Hanuman Garhi, Tibetan market
How to reach:
By Air: Pantnagar Airport – 65 km from Nainital
By Rail: Kathgodam Railway Station – 34 km from Nainital
By Road: Nainital has excellent road connectivity North India. bus service to Nainital is available from Delhi and Kathgodam, daily. The most convenient way to reach Nainital is by Boarding an overnight bus from Delhi
6. Mussoorie :
Mussoorie is a highly popular destination and will be definitely in many tourists list of best summer holiday destinations in India. So often it is crowded during summers. Mussoorie is also known as “Queen of Hills”,
This beautiful hill town is famous for its lush green hills, and varied flora and fauna, which attracts a lot of tourists to this little beautiful town. When in Mussoorie, you can also enjoy various adventurous activities like trekking, rappelling, rock climbing. etc.
The famous Hindu pilgrimage places like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are very close to Mussoorie. You can also add this to your travel plan
Best places to visit in Mussoorie:
Gun Hill, Rajaji National Park, Kempty Falls , Jwalaji Temple, Cloud’s End, Landour Clock Tower, paragliding around Mussoorie Lake
How to reach:
By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun – 54 km from Mussoorie
By Rail: Dehradun Railway Station – 33 km from Mussoorie
By Road: Mussoorie makes a great road trip. Follow the state highway known as the New Mussoorie Road to Mussoorie. Its 279 km away from Delhi
7. Auli :
pic courtesy: Keshav Lakhotia
If you have decided that you want to spend your summer vacation in a place which is covered with snow, Then Auli is the best place. Auli is a very popular skiing destination in India, because of the clean atmosphere and sparkling snow slopes. You can find lots of apple orchards, oak trees and pine trees all over Auli. Many believe that Auli is blessed by Great Shankracharya, when he visited Auli. Auli is truly a snow covered paradise, you can also view the mighty Himalayan ranges all over. So what are you thinking of, pack up this summer and get ready to explore Auli.
Best places to visit in Auli:
Nanda Devi, Joshimath, Choukhamba, Mana Parvat , Kamat Kamet., Gorson and Kuari Pass., Panch Chuli, Doonagiri, Trishul Peak, Bhavishya Badri, Nandaprayag, Saildhar Tapovan.
How to reach:
By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun – 280 km from Auli
By Rail: Haridwar railway station 273 km from Auli
By Road: Nearest major city from Auli is Delhi, located 500 km away.
8. Shillong :
pic courtesy: Siddharth
Shillong, The capital city of the North-Eastern state of Meghalaya is also called ‘The Abode of Clouds.’
Shillong is surrounded by the most beautiful natural beauty. With equally splendid weather conditions, this is the best option to spend the summer vacation.
Shillong has an added advantage, this is the only hill station in India that is accessible from all sides. There are lots of similarities between the panorama of Shillong and the landscape of Scotland. So This is also famously known as Scotland of East.
Best Places to visit in Shillong :
Ward’s Lake, Sweet Falls, Shillong Peak, Khasi Hills, Umiam Lake, Elephant Falls, Sohpetbneng Peak, Laitlum Canyons, and Mawjymbuin Caves
How to reach:
By Air: Shillong has its own airport, named Shillong Airport.
By Rail: Guwahati Railway Station (1005 km from Shillong)
By Road: Kolkata is the nearest big city from Shillong, 1100 km away.
9. Dharamshala :
Those who are looking forward to their summer holidays and still thinking of a good place for it, Then Dharamshala is yet another best summer holiday destinations in India. This is also the best holiday destination for families.
Recently this city has been listed n the smart city development and is the first smart-city of Himachal Pradesh. Main attractions of Dharamshala are temples and monasteries. For those who seek to spend the summers in India among the picturesque hills, Dharamshala is another great destination. Its temples and monasteries make it stand out among the places to visit in Himachal Pradesh. The town is best known internationally as the home of Dalai Lama of Tibet.
Best Places to visit in Dharamshala :
Kangra Fort, Bhagsunath Temple, Bhagsu Falls, Triund, Namgyal Monastery, Dal Lake, Dalai Lama Temple complex, Kangra valley.
How to reach:
By Air: Gaggal Airport – 13 km from Dharamshala
By Rail: Pathankot Railway Station – 85 km from Dharamshala
By Road: Nearest major city from Auli is Delhi, located 475 km and 12 hours journey.
10. Rishikesh :
pic courtesy: Siddharth
Rishikesh is also one of the best summer holiday destinations in India. This place is famous amongst the adventure enthusiasts. Most of the tourists come here for white water rafting, India’s highest bungee jumping, kayaking, trekking and jungle walk. When the day ends travelers are found camping under the starlit sky on the banks of holy river Ganga. Rishikesh also has the reputation of the World Capital of Yoga.
Best Places to visit in Rishikesh :
Lakshman Jhula, Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh River Rafting, Beatles Ashram, Triveni Ghat, Trayambakeshwar Temple.
How to reach:
By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun – 35 km away
By Rail: Haridwar which is approximately 25 km away
By Road: Rishikesh has a good network of buses connecting from Haridwar, Dehradun and New Delhi.
Driving up to Rishikesh is worth considering
11. Cherrapunji :
pic courtesy: Siddharth
Cherrapunji is the wettest place on earth which receives maximum rainfall on earth. This is in your list of best summer holiday destinations in India because of its uniqueness and natural beauty. Cherrapunji is famous for its root bridges which are unique and can only be found here. The living bridges are made from the roots of the Ficus elastica tree and some are even 100 feet long.
Most of the time this place will be clouds and thick mist. There are lots of natural marvels like cold water springs, waterfalls, caves, which will make your summer vacation a memorable.
Best Places to visit in Cherrapunji :
Living Root Bridge. It’s a UNESCO Heritage Site
Nohkalikai Falls., Mawsmai Cave, The Dain Thlen Falls.
How to Reach:
By Air: Umroi Airport in Shillong is the closest airport to Cherrapunji
By Rail: Guwahati Railway Station, this well connected to major parts of the country, 181 km from Cherrapunji
By Road: reach Cherrapunji by road is to board an inter-city bus stand from Shillong,
12. Majuli :
Majuli is a famous river island in the Brahmaputra River, Assam. This is also the biggest river island in the world. Because of its unique mixture of culture and heritage, this is also one the best summer destination. This is indeed a natural paradise in the middle of the Brahmaputra river. This is less known to mass tourism and also you can’t find or read more about this place. The only way to reach this beautiful Island is to catch the ferry, which is 20 km out of the main nearby city of Jorhat.
How to Reach:
By Air: Rowriah airport is the nearest one at a distance of 28 km.
By Rail: Jorhat Town railway station is the nearest one at a distance of 25 km.
By Road: the only option is to rely on a nearby city, specifically Jorhat, to reach this beautiful island.
13. Munnar :
pic courtesy: Krishna Varun M
When you think of your summer holidays in South India, Then am sure that the first place in your mind will be Munnar. This is a perfect destination to spend your summer holidays in South India with your family. With good climate all through the year and many places to see, Munnar is truly the best place for summer holidays. Long walks and trekking are two good option to explore Munnar better. Munnar is also a paradise for trekkers and wildlife photographers.
Best Places to visit in Munnar:
Kundala Lake, Echo Point, Pothamadu, Elephant Lake, Top Station, Anamudi Peak, Attukkad Waterfalls, Athirapally Waterfall, Chithirapuram, Devikulam.
How to reach:
By Air: Cochin International Airport (115 km from Munnar)
By Rail: Aluva Railway Station (100 km from Munnar)
By Road: Munnar is 131 Km from Kochi
14. Wayanad :
Why not spend this summer vacation in Wayanad, when it offers you enchanting waterfalls, historical caves, beautiful resorts and homestays, trekking, and wildlife. Wayanad is heaven in ‘God’s Own Country’. Wayanad is also a great place to spot wild elephants. Wayanad is a soothing and relaxing vacation place for you with your family.
Best Places to visit in Wayanad:
Pookot Lake, Thirunelly Temple, Edakkal Caves, Pakshipathalam, Pazhassi Raja Tomb, Sentinel Rocks Waterfalls, Kanthanpara Waterfalls, Soochippara Waterfalls, Banasura Sagar Dam, Kuruva Island, Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary.
Best Places to visit in Wayanad:
Pookot Lake, Thirunelly Temple, Edakkal Caves, Pakshipathalam, Pazhassi Raja Tomb, Sentinel Rocks Waterfalls, Kanthanpara Waterfalls, Soochippara Waterfalls, Banasura Sagar Dam, Kuruva Island, Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary.
15. Kodaikanal :
This is one more best place for summer holidays with family in south India. Relax in the lap of nature and enjoy the beauty of Kodaikanal. A walk through the woods, a gentle boat ride in the lake, cycle ride around the lake, yoga, the splashing waterfalls, all these can be experienced and enjoyed in Kodaikanal.
Best Places to visit in Kodaikanal:
Kodaikanal Lake, Bryant Park, Coaker’s Walk, Pillar Rocks, Dolphin’s Nose rock, Kukkal Caves
How to reach:
By Air: Madurai Airport (120 km from Kodaikanal)
By Rail: Palani Railway Station (66 km from Kodaikanal)
By Road: Regular bus services are available from Chennai, Coimbatore.
16. Ooty :
Ooty or Udhagamandalam, is another best Summer holiday destinations in India located in Tamil Nadu. This beautiful hill station is also called as the Queen of Hills. One who visits Kodaikanal will also have Ooty in their list and vice versa. Located in the Nilgiri Blue Mountains hills, This little hill station offers a lot of places to visit and has lots of adventure activities too. Try the famous toy train which takes you through the Nilgiri hills. Ooty is one of the most popular and probably the best hill station in South India.
Best Places to visit in Ooty :
Botanical Garden, Doddabetta Peak, Ooty Lake, Emerald Lake, Avalanche Lake, Pykara Lake, St Stephen’s Church, Kalhatty Waterfalls.
How to reach:
By Air: Coimbatore (85 km from Ooty)
By Rail: Ooty has its own railway station named Udhagamandalam Railway Station.
Mettupalayam (47 km from Ooty); from here toy train connects to Ooty
By Road: Nearest major city from Ooty is Bangalore, at a distance of 280 km.
17. Coorg :
Coorg is called ‘Scotland of India’, because of its pleasant weather throughout the year. This is a best summer vacation destination in Karnataka and is famous for its exotic natural beauty and tasty cuisine. Coorg also offers a lot to all types of tourists, From camping to river rafting, jeep safari to trekking, Angling to mountain views.
Best Places to visit in Coorg:
abbey Falls, Mandalpatti, Talakaveri , Nalknad Palace, Brahmagiri Peak, Iruppu Falls, Namdroling Monastery,, Nagarhole National Park
How to reach:
By Air: Nearest airport is Mangalore, 160 Km away from Coorg
By Rail: Mysore (120 km from Coorg)
By Road: Coorg is a beautiful drive from Bangalore, Mangalore & Mysore
Read my experience in Coorg : Coorg – The Scotland of India
18. Mahabaleshwar :
pic courtesy: Rashmi M N
Mahabaleshwar is another awesome place to spend your summer vacation. This small and beautiful hill station will provide you relief from the summer heat and the noise of the city life. With many waterfalls, forts, temples, valleys, colonial buildings, you will surely forget your city life and would surely extend your summer holidays. Mahabaleshwar is situated in the Sahyadri mountain range, with a good climate all through the year this place attracts lots of tourists. Mahabaleshwar is also known for mouthwatering mulberries, raspberries, gooseberries.
Best Places to visit in Mahabaleshwar :
Venna Lake, Pratapgarh Fort, Lingmala Falls, Lord Mahabaleshwar Temple, Wilson Point
How to reach:
By Air: Pune Airport (120 km from Mahabaleshwar)
By Rail: Wathar Railway Station (60 km from Mahabaleshwar)
By Road: from Mumbai – 230km and Pune – 12okm
19. Matheran :
pic courtesy: Annika Albuquerque
Matheran is also a good place to be visited during the summer.
This is situated on the Western Ghat mountain range in Maharashtra and not too far from Mumbai. This place always has pleasant weather and is a very good place to spend and enjoy your summer holidays. Matheran is a quiet peaceful place, even the vehicles are not allowed to enter Matheran.
Best Places to visit in Matheran :
Charlotte Lake, King George Point, Panorama Point, Shivaji’s Ladder, Echo Point.
How to reach:
By Air: Nearest airport is Mumbai, at a distance of 90 km.
By Rail: Matheran has its own narrow gauge station with the name Matheran Hill Railway.
By Road: Mumbai is the nearest major city from Matheran, distance is merely 80 km
20. Gangtok :
Gangtok is also called as Solo Traveler’s Paradise. Gangtok is one of the most beautiful places to visit in India especially in the summer. With lots of monasteries, and more scope for leisure activities, and adventure activities, Gangtok has every reason to be a good summer getaway.
Best Places to visit in Gangtok:
Nathu La, Hanuman Tok, Rumtek Monastery, Khecheopalri Lake, Phodong Monastery, Tashi View Point.
Best Places to visit in Gangtok:
Nathu La, Hanuman Tok, Rumtek Monastery, Khecheopalri Lake, Phodong Monastery, Tashi View Point
How to reach:
By Air: Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal (124 km from Gangtok); 20 minutes’ helicopter ride from Bagdogra
By Rail: New Jalpaiguri Railway Station in Silguri (148 km from Gangtok)
By Road: most of the Tourists coming from nearby places like Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kolkata prefer to drive to Gangtok
