Where should you plan your next travel this Summer In India?

Introduction

• Come summers and everyone will be looking for a long getaway, away from the scorching high temperatures and hustle-bustle of the inland-city life.

• With mercury rising to unprecedented heights in India, everyone will be looking for destinations to beat the heat.

• From the lofty peaks in the Himalayas to the Blue Mountains and the Andaman Islands in the south, and from the Western Ghats to the eastern extents of Himalayas in the north eastern states;

• India has a lot of options to help you chill out.

The 20 perfect destinations to spend your summer holidays in India.

• Ladak-A thrilling holiday destination• Srinagar – Heaven on earthh – A thrilling holiday

destination• Manali – Backpacker’s paradise• Nainital – The land of tals and devis• Dharamshala – Abode of Dalai Lama• Mussoorie – The undoubted queen of hills• Pachmarhi – The gorgeous Satpura ki Rani• Munnar – Home to breathtaking spice plantations• Kodaikanal – Popularly known as the Princess of Hill

Stations.• Ooty – One of few toy-train cities in India

The 20 perfect destinations to spend your summer holidays in India.

• Coorg – Scotland of India• Horsley Hills – A popular summer holiday destination in Andhra

Pradesh• Andaman Islands – The newfound popular honeymoon

destination of India• Mount Abu – A picturesque ‘oasis in the desert’• Mahabaleshwar – An ideal summer retreat near Mumbai & Pune• Shillong – A quaint town surrounded by rolling hills• Tawang – A surreal and rather unexplored town in Arunachal

Pradesh• Gangtok – The shimmering capital city of Sikkim• Kalimpong – The legacy of the colonial era• Darjeeling – Home to Kangchenjunga, the world’s third-highest

mountain

Ladakh – A thrilling holiday destination

• Places to visit: Zanskar Valley, Pangong TsoLake, Khardung-La Pass, Spituk Gompa, and Hemis National Park

• Things to do: Watch the Llamas perform colorful Chhams, spot a snow leopard at the Hemis National Park, ride a double-humped Bactrian camel, and ride a bike up to the Khardung-La Pass

Srinagar – Heaven on earth

• Places to visit: Dal Lake, Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh, Tomb of Zin-ul-Abidin, Jama Masjid, Hazratbal Mosque, and Shankaracharya Hill

• Things to do: Shikara rides in Dal Lake, bird watching at Hokersar, wildlife seeing at Dachigam National Park, and shopping from the floating markets of vegetables & flowers in Dal Lake

Manali – Backpacker’s paradise

• Places to visit: Hadimba Temple, Himalayan Nyingmapa Gompa monastery, Club House, Solang Valley, Jogini Falls, Arjuna Gufa, and Vashisht Hot-Water Springs

• Things to do: Paragliding at Solang & RohtangValleys, yoga at Shri Hari Yoga Ashram, yak-riding at the wildlife sanctuary and dipping in hot-water springs at Vashisht

Nainital – The land of tals and devis

• Places to visit: Raj Bhavan, Naini Lake, Bhimtal, Tiffin Top, Nainital Zoo, and NainaDevi Temple

• Things to do: Boating in Naini Lake, view sunrise from Tippin Top, view sunset at Hanuman Garhi, shopping at Tibetan market, and enjoy a ropeway ride

Dharamshala – Abode of Dalai Lama

• Places to visit: Kangra Fort, BhagsunathTemple, Bhagsu Falls, Namgyal Monastery, Dalai Lama Temple complex, HPCA Stadium, and tea plantations of Kangra valley

• Things to do: Meditation & stay in NamgyalMonastery, boat ride in Dal Lake, and walks through the tea plantations

Mussoorie – The undoubted queen of hills

• Places to visit: Kempty Falls, Landour Clock Tower, Jwalaji Temple, Rajaji National Park, Gun Hill, Library Point, Sir George Everest House, and Cloud’s End

• Things to do: Boating in Lake Mist, cable car ride to Gun Hill, roller skating in Kulri Bazaar, and paragliding around Mussoorie Lake

Pachmarhi – The gorgeous Satpura ki Rani

• Places to visit: Apsara Vihar waterfall & pond, Pandava Caves, Jata Shankar Caves, Pachmarhi Lake, Bee Fall, Draupadi Kund, and Handi Khohgorge

• Things to do: Boating at Pachmarhi Lake, bathing in the Apsara Vihar pond, and exploring the Pandava Caves

Munnar – Home to breathtaking spice plantations

• Places to visit: Kundala Lake, Echo Point, Elephant Lake, Anamudi Peak, Tata Tea Museum, Chithirapuram, Devikulam, and Chinnakanal

• Things to do: Stay in a tree house, trekking to the echo point, mountain biking, Shikara ride in Kundala Lake, and elephant safari at the Carmelagiri Elephant Park

Kodaikanal – Popularly known as the Princess of Hill Stations.

• Places to visit: Kodaikanal Lake, Bryant Park, Coaker’s Walk, Pillar Rocks, Dolphin’s Nose rock, Shembaganur Museum of Natural History, and Bear Shola Falls

• Things to do: Experience Brocken Spectre at Coakers’ Walk, ride a rowboat or pedalo at Kodaikanal Boat Club, cycle around the KodaiLake, take a trek to Kukkal Caves, and practice yoga at the Kodaikanal Yoga Centre

Ooty – One of few toy-train cities in India

• Places to visit: Doddabetta Peak, Ooty Lake, Emerald Lake, tribal Toda huts, Deer Park, Upper Bhawani Lake, Avalanche Lake, St Stephen’s Church, and Kalhatty Waterfalls

• Things to do: Ride the Nilgiri Toy Train, horse riding, boating in Ooty Lake, mountain biking in the Blue Mountains, and hang gliding at Kalahatti (20 km from Ooty)

Coorg – Scotland of India

• Places to visit: Abbey Falls, Nalknad Palace, Barapole River, Brahmagiri Peak, Iruppu Falls, Namdroling Monastery, and NagarholeNational Park

• Things to do: Camping near Nalknad Palace, River Rafting in Barapole River, Jeep Safari to Kabbe Hills, Trekking to Nishani Hills, taking a Microlight flight at Chelavara, ziplining, and angling in River Kaveri

Horsley Hills – A popular summer holiday destination in Andhra Pradesh

• Places to visit: Viewpoint for sunset, GaliBandalu (Wind Rocks), Mallamma Temple, Chennakesava Temple, Kaigal Falls, and Talakona Waterfalls

Andaman Islands – The newfound popular honeymoon destination of India

• Places to visit: Cellular Jail National Memorial, Radhanagar Beach, Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex in Port Blair, Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, and Chidiya Tapu

• Things to do: Banana Boat riding, snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, undersea walking, glass-bottom boating, riding the seaplane, swimming with the elephant, and attending the light & sound show at the Cellular Jail

Mount Abu – A picturesque ‘oasis in the desert’

• Places to visit: Dilwara Jain Temples, NakkiLake, Achalgarh Fort, Toad Rock, Guru Shikhar, Trevor’s Crocodile Park, Peace Park, and Sunset Point

• Things to do: Witnessing sunset at Sunset Point, boating at Nakki Lake, and riding a pony near Nakki Lake

Mahabaleshwar – An ideal summer retreat near Mumbai & Pune

• Places to visit: Venna Lake, Pratapgarh Fort, Parsi Point, Lingmala Falls, and Lord Mahabaleshwar Temple

• Things to do: Horse riding, boating at VennaLake, and trekking up to the Pratapgarh Fort

Shillong – A quaint town surrounded by rolling hills

• Places to visit: Ward’s Lake, Sweet Falls, Shillong Peak, Khasi Hills, Umiam Lake, Elephant Falls, Laitlum Canyons, and Mawjymbuin Caves

• Things to do: Waterfall rappelling at Elephant Falls, cave exploration, shopping at Bara Bazaar, boating in Umiam Lake, and yacht riding at Umiam Lake Water Sports Complex

Tawang – A surreal and rather unexplored town in Arunachal Pradesh

• Places to visit: Paradise Lake at Sea Pass, Tawang Monastery, Gorichen Peak, Taktsang Gompa, Nuranang Waterfall, and PankangTeng Tso Lake

Gangtok – The shimmering capital city of Sikkim

• Places to visit: Nathu La, Hanuman Tok, Rumtek Monastery, Khecheopalri Lake, and Phodong Monastery

• Things to do: River Rafting in Teesta, riding a yak at Tsomgo Lake, paragliding, and ropeway cable-ride from Deorali

Kalimpong – The legacy of the colonial era

• Places to visit: Zang Dhok Palri Phodang, Mac Farlen Church, Tsonga Gompa, Morgan House, Dr. Graham’s Homes, Hanuman Tok, and Science City

• Things to do: Paragliding, bird watching, and fishing

Darjeeling – Home to Kangchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain

• Places to visit: Tea Gardens of Dooars, Tiger Hill, Peace Pagoda at Charlemont Hill, and Gorkha War Memorial