10 Epic Summer Holiday Destinations in India

Posted on 05/13/2020

There are so many places to visit in India in Summer, from all corners of this magical country. Summer holiday destinations in India offer visitors historical sights, amazing scenery, tasty food and stunning cities.

India is a big country that overloads the senses with its stridency of sounds, effervescent colours, and exciting cultures.

A trip to India is full of wonders, and you can never return home quite the same after the adventure. However, summers in India can be tremendously unforgiving; it is advisable to know the hottest locations month by month. Regardless of what you are looking for from your holiday, there are always enough choices to make sure that you won’t be frustrated.

From tropical islands to snow-capped mountains and lush plantations in the hills, India really has everything you could possible need for an amazing holiday in India.

Finding the best place for a summer holiday in India might be a challenge so to make things easier I have pulled together my list of the best summer holiday destinations in India, including the best place to visit in India in summer.

Are you ready to make travel plans for summer holiday destinations in India?

Photo by Aman Jakhar from Pexels

Contents

How to get to India

For all summer holiday destinations in India, you will fly into two of India’s main airports. India is easy to get to from my major destinations around the world. Most international visitors fly into India’s capital city New Delhi or fly into Mumbai. The flight time from the UK takes around10 hour and around 21 hours from the USA. A lot of international flights into India travel via the Middle East and the Arab states.

Weather in North India

India Weather in January: 10° – 25°
India Weather in February: 12° – 28°
India Weather in March: 17° – 33°
India Weather in April: 7° – 15°
India Weather in May: 23° – 38°
India Weather in June: 27° – 41°
India Weather in July: 27° – 36°
India Weather in August: 25° – 34°
India Weather in September: 24° – 35°
India Weather in October: 20° – 36°
India Weather in November: 15° – 32°
India Weather in December: 11° – 27°

Weather in South India

India Weather in January: 15° – 27°
India Weather in February: 17° – 30°
India Weather in March: 19° – 33°
India Weather in April: 21° – 34°
India Weather in May: 24° – 29°
India Weather in June: 22° – 27°
India Weather in July: 21° – 27°
India Weather in August: 20° – 25°
India Weather in September: 20° – 26°
India Weather in October: 19° – 25°
India Weather in November: 17° – 26°
India Weather in December: 15° – 24°

When to go to India

India can be visited any time of year, and the weather in India various throughout the country. The north has colder winters and hotter summers, whereas the south is milder, but is more open to rainfall and monsoons.

Summer begins in the month of April and continues until the end of June, so you are likely to get the best weather between those months. But I would also avoid peak summer as it can reach 40 degrees Celsius during the summer months, which is too hot to explore..

India is the perfect place to celebrate the summer holidays in India, and there is so much to in this wonderful country.

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Summer Holiday Destinations in India

1. Goa

This is a great tourist destination for not only the summertime but although the year. However, there is something special about visiting Goa during summer.

The coastal region of Goa is an ideal holiday destination offering tourists everything from clean beaches to a laidback culture, fun and exciting nightlife alongside history and foodie culture.

In summer, Goa is a beach paradise just like others, and best still, it is cheap during summer. Spending your summer in the superb beaches of Goa, relaxing in the sun and drinking a pina colada is the best experience. But beware the summer months in Goa can be very hot and humid, and therefore can be too hot for some visitors.

2. Munnar, Kerala

Munnar is a south Indian destination that houses the highest peak of south India, the Anamudi, which stands at 2,695m above sea level. Munnar is filled with hills, lakes, tea plantations, winding walks, and forests.

These features will all keep you engaged during your trip to this region. One of the best places to visit in India in summer, Munnar is part of God’s Own Country, Kerala which is known for being a popular summer holiday destination in India.

Munnar is a beautiful escape known for its Kundala Lake, tea plantations, unique flora and fauna, Echo Point, trekking to Anamudi Peak, a visit to the Tata Tea Museum and even heading on an elephant safari at the Carmelagiri Elephant Park.

Photo by rehan verma from Pexels

3. Andaman and Nicobar

You can sometimes get bored when visiting beaches during summer, but this feeling will immediately change when you get to Andaman and Nicobar in the Bay of Bengal.

In Andaman and Nicobar, you can relax and enjoy the perfect summer holiday in India by unwinding on the sandy beaches, exploring the tropical rainforest, cerulean waters, and the fantastic historical sites with escapade sports. You can also quench your thirst with the delicious taste of tropical coconut and fruit water on your trip to this place.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the perfect summer holiday in India, where you can spend your days relaxing at the beach, exploring the ocean, hiking through the tropical rainforests, and undertaking lots of adventure sports like swimming, scuba diving, snorkelling, sea-walking.

Other things to do in India in summer include a trip to Port Blair, Radhanagar Beach and India’s only active volcano in the Barren Island.

4. Manali, Himachal Pradesh

Located in the middle of the Dhauladhar range and Pirpanjal Mountains, Manali is a haven for lovers. Situated at the height of 2050m, it is a spot to play at the snow floorings of Manali. Visit Manali and discover the splendid beauty of the Himalayas, while hiking at the Hampta Pass. There are so many places to visit in India in summer.

In Manali, you can explore more by trying the white river rafting on the rough waters of River Beas or even shore high in the sky with paragliding and skiing on the frozen grounds of Rohtang Pass.

A few other things to do in Manali include a visit to the Hadimba Temple, Van Vihar Himalayan Nyingmapa Gompa monastery, sports at Solang Valley, snow at Rohtang Pass, river rafting in the River Beas and Vashisht Hot-Water Springs. Manali is one of the best summer holiday destinations in India.

Photo by Nandhu Kumar from Pexels

5. Ooty, Tamil Nadu

Ooty is another famous summer vacation in India. Ooty is no less than a heaven on earth with attractive cottages, hedged flower gardens, terraced vegetable gardens, and thatched roof churches. Make a summer vacation in Ooty and enjoy the relaxing, refreshing site, and create a memorable experience.

The hill town has been a favourite with locals and tourists for decades and was part of the British Raj back in the day. It’s one of the best places to visit in India in summer.

And some of the best things to do in Ooty is the Toy Train ride in the Nilgiri Mountain Railways, as well as exploring tea estates, colonial attractions, trekking at Avalanche Lake and stunning waterfalls close to Emerald Lake. All of this makes it one of the best holiday destinations in India.

6. Darjeeling, West Bengal

A wonderful summer holiday destination in India is the beautiful city of Darjeeling in West Bengal. During summer, this place is a sight to see and is superlatively gorgeous. The area is surrounded by bright green tea plantations and set beside a background of spikey Himalayan Alps. Planning a trip to this beautiful hill town in the middle of the year because Darjeeling’s weather becomes perky and pretty chilly.

Darjeeling, West Bengal is one of the most popular summer holiday destinations in North India and has been made famous due to its beautiful tea plantations at Happy Valley Tea Estate, sunrise at Tiger Hill and wildlife at Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park.

Other things to do in Darjeeling include the Gorkha War Memorial, the Peace Pagoda at Charlemont Hill and shopping at Mall Road. Darjeeling is one of the best places to visit in India in summer.

Photo by Richi choraria from Pexels

7. Coonoor

A lot of this list seems to be hillside villages, because of the fact India gets so hot during the summer months. Coonoor is located in the Nilgiris, located beside beautiful tea plantations, the Blue Mountains, and stunning waterfalls.

Due to its the mild climate and stunning scenery, Coonoor is 100% on my favourite places for a summer holiday in India. There are so many things to do in Coonoor including Sim’s Park, Hidden Valley, the Doorg Fort and the Highfield Tea Factory. Coonoor really is one of the best summer holiday destinations in India.

8. Rishikesh

Another amazing summer holiday destinations in India is Rishikesh. It is is one of the best places for summer holidays in India, located in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand, in the Himalayan foothills beside the Ganges River.

The Ganges River is considered holy, and the city is renowned as a centre for studying yoga and meditation. The city is also overrun with temples and ashrams (centres for spiritual studies) along the eastern bank around Swarg Ashram, a traffic-free, alcohol-free and vegetarian enclave upstream from Rishikesh town.

Other things you can do in Rishikesh include river rafting, camping, body–surfing, yoga, cliff jumping, India highest bungee jump and other adventures.

Photo by Wouter de Jong from Pexels

9. Nandi Hills

One of the most off the beaten track summer holiday destinations in India is the Nandi Hills. And if you love being outdoors and in the mountains, this is the perfect place for a summer vacation in India.

Located just outside of Bangalore, Nandi Hills offers visitors pleasant weather all year round and some of the most astounding views of the valleys and waterfalls. The best things to do in Nandi Hills is a visit to Tipu’s Drop, known for its panoramic views, with a bloody past, Amrita sarovar and Yoga Nandeeshwara Temple, guarded by a huge statue of a bull. Nandi Hills is one of the best summer holiday destinations in India.

10. Lakshadweep Islands

Another amazing place to visit in India in summer is Lakshadweep Islands. The islands are one of the world’s most spectacular tropical islands, located in the Laccadive Sea. Summer holiday destinations in India are not generally like these islands, they are something special.

They are the perfect summer vacation in India, offering tourists clear waters, remote locations, beautiful scenery and paradise-esque hotels.

Some of the best things to do in Lakshadweep Islands including beautiful coral reefs, adventure sports such as windsurfing and kayaking, and beautiful beach resorts where you can sunbathe all day.

Regardless of the place you want to visit in India, you should know that you will have fun and a memorable adventure. India is one of the best beach holiday destinations and is a remarkably stunning and architecturally varied country filled with fortresses.

Photo by Fahad Hussain from Pexels

My Travel Tips and Recommendations

Flights

To book flights, I always use flight search engine, Skyscanner, I regularly use the Everywhere tool to find the cheapest places to travel. It’s how I get to travel so much all around the world. I find it the easiest way to compare flight prices across airlines and get the best deals.

Accommodation

For accommodation, I usually book most of my hotels or hostels through Booking.com. I love using this platform as it provides me with some amazing deals for accommodation all around the world. Or if you prefer, I also recommend using Airbnb. If you haven’t signed up with Airbnb already, you can use this link to get £25 off your first visit!

Photography and Technology

Here is a list of the technology I always travel with:

Travel Insurance

Picking travel insurance that covers you in all eventualities is an essential part of planning a trip for every single person. If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. You never know what’s around the corner. World Nomads is an affordable option that I personally recommend. BOOK HERE

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Thank you for reading and as always happy adventuring! If you have any questions about the destination please leave these in the comments below.

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Sophie X

Asia India