Indian summer can be unforgiving. The heat is unbearable and the climate can impact your health in many ways. However, if you are planning a vacation or a family trip during summer holidays you need to plan accordingly. There are many best places to visit in summer in India but you need to choose wisely.
With so much of heat and humidity it is obvious that you choose cool summer destinations in India. This can provide you with the great summer holiday in India experience. Hence, you have to decide which destination would be ideal for you based on your requirements and budget.
Here are 5 best places to visit in summer in India that can offer some respite from the heat.
Coorg, Karnataka
Coorg is definitely one of the best places to visit in summer in India. If you intend to get some relief from the scorching summer Coorg can offer so much more. Also locally known as Kodagu this summer holiday place is in southwest part of Karnataka.
Located in the Western Ghats it offers an altitude of 1580 meters making the temperature quite pleasant. It is also known as the Scotland of India. Although, the summer in Coorg begins in March the days are not as hot as in other parts of India.
The day temperature in summer is around 28 degrees Celsius while the temperature drops to 13 degrees Celsius at night. If you enjoy outdoor activities Coorg is among the best place to visit in summer in India. It offers plenty of options for trekking, hiking, boating and walking around the forest areas.
While Coorg has lot of waterfalls, they might dry up during the summer period, but you can still enjoy the nature around.Bird lovers can enjoy watching different birds here. Hence, Coorg offers you an adventure and peaceful summer holiday experience depending on what you prefer. You can also explore some spice and coffee plantations here in Coorg.
Gangtok, Sikkim
Voted as the Best Place to Travel in 2014 by Lonely Planet, Gangtok must be on your list. It is one of the best places to visit in summer in India mainly because of its weather. There are many places in Sikkim that you can enjoy, but Gangtok is the largest city in Sikkim.
If you are looking for summer holiday destination in India Gangtok can offer you some great options. You can enjoy the Tsomgo Lake, Deer Park and Ganesh Tok are among the popular attractions that you can find here.
You can visit various monasteries and lakes here that offer you best holiday experience. Temperature here in day is around 21 degree Celsius and drops to 6 degrees Celsius at night.
Gangtok is also one the best places to shop. This can add to your summer holiday experiences. Gangtok has wide range of hotels and resorts that can help you with your stay. You can also make use of public transport and taxis are available all the time.
Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
Kullu or Kulu Valley has consistently remained one of the best places to visit in summer in India. It is popular for its natural beauty and landscapes. This broad open valley has plenty of magnificent landscapes and temples that attract tourists throughout the year.
Located almost 1,220 meters high Kullu offers the best summer holiday experience you desire. The temperature here is around 25 degrees Celsius which is quite pleasant. If you want to enjoy a peaceful time you can do that in Kullu because it offers variety of options.
However, adventure junkies can have fun with trekking, camping, paragliding and even river rafting activities. You can pick some local markets for shopping local products.
Leh-Ladakh
Leh-Ladakh is almost on every best places to visit in summer in India list. However, I would not really recommend Ladakh for families with kids. This is because of the low oxygen levels that can make it hard for the kids to adjust.
However, if you have done the right planning it would be worth the effort. This place offers you landscape that no other can and it is still untouched by human population. You will find people around Leh market and few city roads, but Leh and Ladakh is sparsely populated.
The Leh Palace and Shanti Stupa are two major attractions that should be on your list. You need to ensure that you check the weather and carry proper medication for emergency purposes. You should also visit Tso Moriri Lake and Pangong Lake for some great landscape photography.
There are monasteries and museums here that you can visit if you are interested in history. Summer temperature here during the day is around 16 degrees so don’t even bother about the sweat factor.
Shillong, Meghalaya
Better known as the Scotland of the East, Shillong is the perfect destination to beat the heat. It is among the best places to visit in summer in India because of its natural environment. If you love to get away from heat, noise and pollution head to Shillong this summer.
Situated at an average altitude of 1496 meters Shillong offers cooler climate here than the rest of India. The temperature here is at 23 degree Celsius and drops to 15 degree Celsius as the sun goes down.
Shillong Peak and Lady Hydari Park are the most popular attractions here. Life here is relaxed and slow so you can just sit back and unwind. Shillong also offers Asia’s largest golf course so if you are interested in it, go ahead.
If golf does not interest you, get down to Police Bazar for some shopping in Shillong before you head back home. You can enjoy some local food and cuisine that can help you to make the most of your summer holidays.
Summer holidays are always special and therefore you need to look for the best places to visit in summer in India. There are plenty of options in India that can offer you a great time with your loved ones. In other words, you can have some great time with your family in India.
If you are planning a summer vacation with your family do share which destinations you prefer and why.
17 comments
Shillong is beautiful. I imagine sitting in those shades in the cool of the day. So green, so cool, so serene. Kulu Valley–the river looks rich, and I imagine the sound of its flow. And driving at the edge of those rocks? Tense, suspenseful, delightful. For Coorg, camping in that prolific forest would be wonderful.
Sharukh, these are beautiful pictures. Do you wonder that after we have destroyed a place to set up cities and industries we wish to run away and search for a natural environment, either in the city’s suburbs or just too far away from it? Isn’t it ironic? Wealthy industrialists and businessmen are usually the first to escape the mess they create! This matter of creating things and afterwards running away from them is such a common motif in human life. Like God creating Adam and then cursing him almost immediately, a bitter, cruel curse that was to last forever. I think that’s where it all began. And that character Victor Frankenstein!!
To be honest, I love being close to the nature. Although, I love Bombay because it is the city I know since childhood, I still decided to move away towards the northern suburbs where I can see greenery, mountains and birds around. Today, many people move away from the city because overpopulation has killed the city inside out. It is true that we make cities and then find peace in hills and mountains. It is like a battle between your mind and your heart. You apply all your logic and ideas and create the best possible cities, but ultimately you follow your heart right into the world of nature.
You are right. Heart and mind. I wish we wouldn’t destroy so many places. If we did there would be nowhere left to run.
So, have you ever visited India? Where are you located? At least you know I am in Mumbai, not exactly in the heart of the city, but western suburbs of Mumbai.
Nairobi, Kenya. But no, I’ve never been to India. There are millions of Indians around here, though. My company does contracts with some of them from time to time. And you, have you been to Kenya? Or anywhere in Africa?
Indians are all over the globe I know that. Well, I would love to travel the world someday, but no never been to Africa. In fact, sadly never got a chance to step outside India.
You will someday. Where there is a will there is a way. I’m not much of a travelling man myself. My job grounds me here. When I take leave, I stay home and concentrate on writing a novel. Or lecture Mathematics at the university part time. I would love to see the ancient buildings across the globe. Their architecture intrigues. Same architecture throughout. And how those extremely heavy blocks of rocks were raised so high in those days. And how the alignment of celestial bodies can be observed and applied to put up such structures. I feel as if my knowledge of history is exceedingly shallow. What I studied in school feels like a lie, a part of a stratagem designed to misguide me.
Hi, what a wonderful tour. Your photos and descriptions are so complete. I wish I could visit! Your appreciation for your country is evident in your words.
Another beautiful post. You really do manage to conjure up all the mystery, excitement, and hidden surprises that India has to offer. The intermittent photographs really bring the piece to life, allowing the reader to pause for breath and just absorb the magnificence that defines the sub continent. Well done on a superb post…
Thanks 🙂 I try my best not to bore readers to the death.
I’m hoping to get to India and Nepal very soon. Lovely blog and photos!!
@Shahrukh, thanks for sharing this beautiful travel related blog giving out the best of diverse travel destinations in India. I really like the photographs you have shared here. I am planning an all-India tour soon. I may then be able to add to the information you have already shared.
Hi Varun, I am glad that you really liked the information and pictures on the blog. I wanted to make this travel blog more like a magazine to make it interesting. All-India tour sounds really exciting to me, there is so much to see around India. I am sure you will have some great experiences and knowledge that you can then share on your travel blog. Do let me know when you come down to Mumbai?
Really india is a great place to travel.
Yup, I agree.
These places look like wonderful areas to visit. That trail through the thick woods looks like it would feel cool even on a steamy day. Your enthusiasm shows in the way you describe these places. Very well done!
All of these places are high altitude ones and therefore the temperature here is pleasant. Both I and Sarah love walking in the woods and hiking up the mountains.