Places to travel in India Month wise
Places to travel in India Month wise
January to March - Ooty / Kodaikanal / Coorg because they are fantastic in off season without the crowds and with huge off season discounts. April (before school holidays begin) - Himalayan hill stations - again because of no crowds and off season discount May - peak season everywhere - stay at home under the fan / AC - all hillstations will be crowded and filthy. Cool off at a water park resort near your own city. If you can get bookings, this is the best time to spot a multitude of wildlife in Periyar WLS, Thekkady, Kerala - it is also pleasant there at 1600m elevation.
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 - August: Monsoons - head to Goa / Kerala for off season monsoon packages - Mahabaleshwar, Igatpuri, Bhandardara, Munnar or any other hill station for waterfalls, but you will need a 4 wheel drive to negotiate the bad roads
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.
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. 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 - December:
Hit the beaches - Goa / Kerala / Maharashtra / Orissa (avoid Divali-Xmas vacations) It also depends on where you are starting your holiday from, how far you wish to go, how much you want to spend, group type and size etc.
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.
