Summer has arrived, now its time to prepare list of best places to visit in summer in India. Before you start making list of best summer destinations, take a look on this list of 20 best places to visit in India in summer, here we cover some of the best summer destinations which help you beat up the heat of summer.
Best Places to visit in Summer in India
1. Manali, Himachal Pradesh
The list of best places to visit in summer in India is incomplete without the ancient valley of Manali.
Located at an elevation of 2050 M, Manali is one of the favorite tourist attractions in Kullu district of Northern Indian state Himachal Pradesh. The temperature of this beautiful ancient valley varies from 4 degree Celsius to 15 degree Celsius in summer and in winter in goes down to -15 degree.
There are various things to do in Manali such as river rafting, hiking, mountaineering, trekking and many more. Hadimba Devi temple is one the best thing to see in Manali which is dedicated to Hadimba Devi the wife of Bhima. This place is well connected via bus, train and flight.
Don’t leave Manali without visiting Rohtang Pass which connects Kullu valley with Lahaul and Spiti valley. It covered by snow throughout the year and famous for its unforeseen snowstorms and buzzards.
2. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal
Beautiful landscape, sunny skies, pleasant weather, golden beaches and turquoise water makes Andaman & Nicobar a perfect destination for summer holidays.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands famous for holding the number of islands with 572 islands those divided into 5 major categories – Great Andaman, little Andaman, Ritchie Archipelago, east volcano island and sentinel island. Each island is different from another and has an interesting story associated with.
This place is also known for Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Come here and enjoy the beauty of beaches, tropical rainforest, historical sites, and adventures sports.
Top Tourist attractions in Andaman:
- Visit havelock island, neil island, baratang island, ross island, digilipur and guitar island.
- Try out some adventurous activities such as scuba diving, surfing, kayaking, banana boat ride, sea walking, glass bottom ride and swimming.
- Explore world class beaches like Radhanagar beach, elephant beach, Laxampur beach, Ramnagar beach etc.
3. Ladakh – The Land of High Pass
Ladakh is one of the most famous tourist attraction in India, especially in summer. That’s why it is rated as one of the best places to visi in India.
Ladakh the land of high passes is a region administered by India as a union territory where the temperature is not only cold sometimes coldest in the world. If you love to have some adventurous time this summer then Ladakh is the best summer travel destination for you.
This place offers you some of the best adventurous activities, rugged landscape, weather that totally makes you forget summer, high altitude mountain, lakes, villages etc. means everything which you ask for the best summer trip.
This region is home of Khardunga La Pass which is one of the highest motorable roads in the world.
Top Tourist Attractions in Ladakh:
- Pangong Lake
- Thiksey Monastery
- Khardung-la Pass
- Nubra Valley
- Markha Valley
- Tso Moriri lake
- Diskit Monastery
- River Rafting in Indus river
- Explore Leh city such as local market, Leh palace etc.
How to reach: The road is the best way to reach Ladakh, either you can drive from Manali or Srinagar both route offers you scenic beauty. Also you can travel by air as well, the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is nearest airport located in Leh.
4. Shimla – The Queen to Hill Station
Shimla which is also known The Queen of Hill Station is a perfect place to visit in summer in India.
The capital of Northern Indian state Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is a perfect place to capture Indian beauty in British elegance. The cool temperature makes it a perfect place for summer holidays. Here you will find breathtaking mountain views, cool temperature, beautiful roads and captivating pine landscapes.
This city is also famous for the handicraft shops, a pedestrian avenue and the Lakkar bazaar which is known for wooden craft and toys. Once this city was the summer capital of British India.
Places to visit & Things to do in Shimla:
- Visit Jakhoo Hill temple, Himachal State museum, The ridge, mall road, Chadwick falls, Tara devi temple and Kufri.
- Take Kalka Shimal toy train ride.
- Do some shopping at Lakkar Bazaar.
- Take a walk into pine forest
- Witness amazing sunset at Scandal Point
5. Munnar, Kerala
A place with green landscape spotted with a rambling tea garden, spice plantation and endless treat of wonderful lakes and waterfalls. This type of fantasy land exists on this earth as Munnar.
Munnar is a hill station located in the Idukki district of Kerala. This place is famous for its beautiful green sights, tea plantation, beautiful weather, unique flora and fauna and many more. Here you can explore many things likes Tata tea Museum, tree house, Elephant Park, Kundala lake, echo point, mountain biking and others as well.
Top Tourist Attractions in Munnar:
- Click picture at Echo Point, Photo Point, Tata Tea Museum, Elephant Arival Spot, and Top Station.
- Visit Kundala Dam Lake, Munnar Tea Plantations, Rose Garden, Marayoor and Atukkad waterfall
6. Rishikesh – Yoga Capital of the World
Rishikesh world capital of yoga and hub of adventure is one the best place for summer holidays in India.
Situated on the bank of the Ganga river at the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, Rishikesh is one of the best places to visit in summer in India where you can spend time on the banks of Ganga River. This city has a rich source of Indian religion and patrimony. Here you can see lots of people on the streets and fewer cars on road and that makes this city pollution free.
Here you’ll find lots of yoga center, ashrams, ancient temple, river banks and find people enjoy camping on the river banks, river rafting, fox flying, bungee jump and trekking.
Tourist Attractions in Rishikesh:
- Visit famous Ram-Lakshman Jhula, Neelkhanth Mahadev Temple, Bharat Temple, Shivpuri and Triveni Ghat.
- Learn about Yoga.
- Visit ancient Ashrams.
How to reach: Rishikesh is well connected via motorable roads to all other major cities of Uttarakhand. You can easily get all types of buses from Delhi ISBT, Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri etc. Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun is the nearest airport to Rishikesh located at a distance of 21 KM. Haridwar has the nearest train station to Rishikesh which is about 25 KM away.
7. Darjeeling, West Bengal
Darjeeling is always on top when we are talking about the best place to visit in summer in India. It is one of the best hill stations in India which is surrounded by a magical green tree garden. Darjeeling is best for family travel, nature lover, honeymoon couple and adventure enthusiasts.
Come and explore this beautiful sight of nature, ride toys train, watch magical sunrise & sunset from Tiger hill, explore their wildlife, Gorkha war memorial and many more.
Top Tourist Attractions in Darjeeling:
- Enjoy the ride of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Darjeeling ropeway.
- Explore places like Tiger Hill, Batasia Loop, Happy valley tea estate, and Himalayan mountaineering institue
- If you’re going with family and kids then visit places like rock garden, singalia national park, pace pagoda, mahakal temple, yogi choeling monastery and Dali monestory
How to reach: Darjeeling is well connected to its nearby cities such Gangtok (100 KM) and Kalimpong (51 KM). So if you’re traveling by road then you cas easily drive or take buses from these cities. Also for air travel Bagdogra is the nearest airport to Darjeeling that is located at distance of just 68 KM. And for train journey the New Jalpaiguri is the nearest railway station to Darjeeling that is well connected to other major cities of India.
8. Shillong, Meghalaya
The capital of Meghalaya is well-known hill station of North India which is famous for its beautiful landscape, pleasant environment, lakes and magical waterfalls.
This city is also known as Scotland of the east because of its landscape and pleasant weather. Come here and enjoy the boating in Uniam Lake, explore elephant falls, Shillong peak, horse riding and many more.
Top Tourist Attractions in Shillong:
Elephant falls, Shillong Peak, Umiam lake, Ward’s lake, sweet falls, mary help for chiristian cathedral and don bosco musuem are some of the best places to visit in Shillong.
How to reach: The best way to reach Shillong is by road. The city is well connected via national highway to most of the North-eastern states such Guhwati that is located 99 KM away from it. Also, Guhwati has the nearest railway station to Shillong that is just 100 Km away.
9. Kashmir
Who can forget about Switzerland of India, Kashmir, one of the most beautiful places of India? When we talk about summer vacation in India than Kashmir always on top of the list because of its nature, famous Dal Lake, tulip garden etc. Kashmir valley has everything which you will ask as a tourist.
Kashmir will give you everything which you think like lakes, garden, pleasant nature, hills, greenery and many more. You can take a gondola ride in Gulmarg and explore many destinations like Pahalgam, snow-capped mountain, tulip fields and valleys.
Top Tourist Attractions in Kashmir:
Kashmir is rated as heaven on earth. There are number of hill stations in Kahsmir such as Gulmarg, Srinagar, Doodhpathri, Sonamarg, Pahalgam and Patnitop. Apart from it there various thrilling activities to do like trekking, skiing, hiking, camping, boat ride, horse ride and river rafting.
10. Coorg, Karnataka – Scotland of India
If lush greenery and misty landscape excite you then you should visit Coorg. It is also known as Kodagu. It is a famous hill station in Karnataka that is surrounded by the beautiful western ghat range. The foggy environment that stays throughout the year makes it one of the best places to visit in summer in India.
The beautiful trekking trails, stunning waterfalls, picturesque western ghats and eye-catching flora fauna make it a perfect holiday destination. It is one of the place in India which get the highest rainfall and also it is one of the largest coffee producers in India.
Tourist attractions in Coorg:
Iruppu waterfall, Omkareshwara temple, Abbey fall, Nagarahole national park, Bhagamandala, the Raja seat and Madikeri fort are some of the best places to visit in Coorg.
How to reach: To reach Coorg is not a difficult task as it is well connected to other major cities such as Bangalore (267 KM), Mysore (118 KM), and Mangalore (140 KM). And if you’re traveling from Delhi then you can take a flight from Delhi to Mysore. And from there you can use a bus or taxi to reach Coorg.
11. Auli – The Ski Resort
Situated in the Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand, Auli is famous for its breathtaking views and snowy slopes. As it is situated on a high elevation so from there you can have an amazing view of Himalayan peaks such as Nanda Devi, Kamat, Dunagiri and Mana Parvat.
Auli has the longest cable car ropeway in Asia with a range of 4 KM that offers stunning views of surrounding snow-capped peaks. Apart from it, Auli is also known as the ski capital of India.
It is a place where nature comes alive with apple orchards, old oaks, pine forests and forest of deodars trees.
Things to do & Famous Tourist Attractions in Auli:
Trekking, skiing, cable car ropeway ride, camping, visiting Nanda Devi National Park, Joshimath, hiking and Trishul peak.
How to reach: Auli is well connected to other major cities of Uttarakhand like Haridwar, Dehradun or Rishikesh. As railway station and airport is located far from Auli then the road is the best to way reach here. You can easily get a bus or cab from these cities to reach Auli. It is located 14 Km from Joshimath.
And if you’re traveling from other parts of India then Jolly Grant Aiport (279 KM) of Dehradun is the nearest airport to Auli that is well connected to other major cities of India.
12. Mana – Last Village of India
Mana is a beautiful offbeat destination located at a height of 3200 M on the bank of the Saraswati river in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is a great place to beat up the summer as it’s surrounded by the mighty Himalayan peaks with a river floating right to the next and lush greenery. It is a great place to visit for nature lovers especially during the monsoon.
Mana is home to some of the highest trekking trails therefore a lot of people come here to explore some hidden trails that are full of the incredible beauty of nature.
Mana doesn’t have too many tourists, luxury hotels and a big market but this place does have beautiful surroundings, lush greenery, adventurous treks and decent houses to spend a peaceful time.
It is located near to some popular tourist attractions like Joshimath, Badrinath and Valley of Flowers.
Things to do & Places to Visit in Mana:
Visit Bheem Pul, Veda Vyasa caves, Badri to Mata murti road, Tapt kund, Vasudhara Falls, Mana Pass and trekking.
How to reach: Mana is well connected to Haridwar and Rishikesh directly via NH-58 with Joshimath and Badrinath. The road is the best way to reach Mana. You can take a direct bus from Haridwar / Rishikesh to Mana Village.
13. Chikmagalur, Karnataka
Chikmagalur is another beautiful offbeat destination located at a height of 3400 feet on the western part of Karnataka. The meaning of Chikmagalur is “Land of the Younger Daughter”. This beautiful summer destination is famous for its surrounding peaks, coffee plantation, pleasant weather and Bababudan Giri ranges. The locals here believe that coffee was first made here. And if you ask them they will tell the history it.
The waterfalls of Chikmagalur attract travelers as it is home to various beautiful waterfalls such as Hebbe falls, Shanti falls, Jhari waterfalls, Hanuman Gundi waterfalls, Shankar falls and Kadami falls. The view of floating water through the rugged terrain will give you the memory of a lifetime. Apart from waterfalls, the land of Chikmagalur is home to numerous temples that attracts pilgrims from all over India.
Things to do & Famous Tourist Attractions in Chikmagalur:
- Mullayanagiri Peak
- Chikmagalur Gandhi Park
- Baba Budangiri
- Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kudremukh National Park
- Mahatma Gandhi Park
- Kodana Ramaswamy Temple
- Sharada temple
- Bhadra Dam
- Hebbe, Kallathigri, and Kadambi falls
How to reach: Chikmagalur is well connected to major cities of Karnataka like Mysore (171KM) , Banglore (243KM) and Mangalore (150 KM). You can easily get a direct bus or cab to Chikmagalur from these cities.
Mangalore airport is the nearest airport that lies 110 KM away from Chikmagalur. This airport is well connected to the major cities of India like Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, and Kolkata.
14. Gangtok, Sikkim
The Capital of Sikkim, Gangtok is home to the highest peak of India and the third highest peak of the world, Mountain Kangchenjunga. It is surrounded by Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet and West Bengal on its four sides. Gangtok is the base of the popular treks of Himalayan therefore it attracts trekkers from all over the world.
During the monsoon blooming of Rhododendrons (red trees or flowers) makes it surrounding like a field of colorful carpets. Apart from the natural beauty, Gangtok is also famous for Tibetan culture and monasteries. Nepali is the widely spoken Language here along with other local languages such as Tibetan, Bhutia and Sikkimese. Local do understand Hindi as well and English is the state language.
Overall Gangtok is a city of great food, beautiful surrounding, unique fashion sense and Buddhist monasteries.
Places to Visit in Gangtok:
- Tsomgo Lake
- Nathula Pass
- MG Road
- Rumtek Monastery
- Ganesh Tok
- Hanuman Tok
- Himalayan Zoological Park
How to reach: Reaching Gangtok is not a big deal as it is well connected to other major parts of India. Bagdogra is the nearest airport to Gangtok which is about 120 KM away. Also, Gangtok is well connected via road with cities like Darjeeling (99 KM), Siliguri (118 KM) and Kalimpong (78 KM). You can easily get buses to Gangtok from nearby major cities like Darjeeling, Siliguri and Kurseong.
For train, New Jalpaiguri is the nearest railway station to Gangtok about 140 KM away. The station is well connected to other major cities of India like Delhi, Kolkata.
15. Gokarna, Karnataka
Located in the Uttara Kanada district of Karnataka, Gokarna is a small holy village with amazing beaches and beautiful views. The beaches here are not too fancy or crowded therefore it’s a perfect place for a relaxing and peaceful vacation to beat up the heat of summer.
This place is also famous for its mythological stories – According to legends this the place where Lord Shiva incarnated in the form of a Cow from mother earth. This small village is full of beaches, waterfalls and pilgrimage sights. Therefore it is a great place for both adventure seekers and pilgrimage.
Tourist Attractions in Gokarna:
- Nirvana Beach
- Half Moon Beach
- Full Moon beach
- Mahabaleshwara Temple
- Gokarna Beach
- Koti Tirtha
- Yana Caves
How to reach: Getting there is not a big deal as it is well connected by roads to the major cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Goa etc. If you’re traveling by flight then Dabolim (140 KM) is the nearest airport in Goa. For train, Ankola is the nearest railway station to Gokarna that is 20 KM away.
16. Coonoor, Tamil Nadu
Located in the western part of Tamil Nadu, Coonoor is the second largest hill station of Nilgiri hills. Coonoor is famous for its picturesque surroundings, tea plantation, cultural festivals and wide range of flora fauna. Coonoor is blessed with pleasant weather throughout the year as it is situated at an altitude of 1930 meters and surrounded by the Nilgiris hills. Therefore it is a perfect place to beat up the heat of summer and emerged yourself in activities like hiking and trekking.
You can also enjoy the ride of toy train that connects Coonoor with the other two hill stations of Nilgiri hills. All over Coonoor is a dreamy destination blessed with rich greenery, beautiful surrounding hills, and historical culture.
Things to do & Places to visit in Coonoor:
- Enjoy Bird Watching
- Trekking
- Visit Dolphin’s Nose
- Highfield tea fectory
- Lamb’s Rock
- Sim’s Park
- Ketti Valley
- Hidden Valley
How to reach: Coonoor is well connected with Kochi (257 KM), Bangalore (285 KM), Ooty (20 KM), Kotagiri (20 KM) and Coimbatore (68 KM). You can easily get a taxi or bus from these cities to reach Coonoor. The toy train in Ooty is another option to reach there. The Coimbatore is the nearest airport to Coonoor that is just 100 KM away.
17. Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra – The Land of Strawberry
Located in the Satara district of Maharashtra, Mahablasheswar is one of the best places to visit in summer in India that is known for its beautiful surrounding of western ghats, strawberries, old pilgrims sights, legendary rivers and pleasant weather. This beautiful hill station is also known as Queen of Hills in Maharashtra. It is a perfect place for a weekend trip from Pune (120 KM), Kolhapur (188 KM) and Mumbai (263 KM).
Apart from natural beauty, Mahabaleshwar is famous for its pilgrimage sights such as Old Mahabaleshwar Temple. Also, it is the source of the legendary Krishna river that flows across Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Top Tourist Attractions in Mahabaleshwar:
- Visit Mahabaleshwar Temple, Rajpuri Caves, Pratapgad Fort, Venna Lake and Wilson Point.
- Do trekking to enjoy sloppy surroundings.
- Enjoy the strawberry festival.
How to reach: Satara (60 KM) has the nearest railway station that connects Mahabaleshwar to Goa, Mumbai, Pune, Kochi, Kolhapur, Mysore and other major cities of India. For air travel, Pune International Airport (132 KM) is the nearest airport to Mahabaleshwar. And if you want to travel by road then it is well connected to Pune, Mumbai, Satara, Kolhapur and Goa.
18. Kasol, Himachal Pradesh
Located in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, Kasol is a small village that is famous for its scenic beauty and trekking trails. It is home to many famous trekking trails including Kheerganga, Sar Pass, Pin Parbati Pass and Yanker Pass. Kasol is blessed with pleasant weather throughout the year but summer is bit crowded due to the sunny days and clear skies that make the surroundings more beautiful & clear to watch. Therefore summer season is the best time to visit Kasol.
From 4 KM of Kasol, there is a small religious town called Manikaran situated on the bank of the Parvati river. This small village is famous for its snow-clad mountain, pine tree and gurgling Parvati river.
There are number of Israeli people who made their home in Kasol, therefore, it is also known as Mini Israel. So don’t be surprised to see Israeli people walking on the street and having Israeli food in restaurants. Overall Kasol is a great off-beat destination for backpackers.
Top Tourist attractions in Kasol:
- Trekking, camping, hiking are some of the most sought activities to do in Kasol.
- Visit Malana, Rasol, Tosh, Manikaran and Chalal to make your trip memorable.
How to reach: Kasol is located just 30 KM away from Bhuntar therefore getting there is not a big deal. You can easily get the bus from Delhi to Bhuntar then you can hire a cab or taxi to Kasol that takes around 40 to 50 minutes to reach there.
19. Wayanad, Kerala
Located in the the Northern Hills of Kerala, Wayanad is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Kerala. This place offers you wide range of natural beauty including beautiful trekking trails, camping, cascading waterfall, rich flora & fauna, lush greenery and surroundings of Western Ghats.
Wayanad enjoy pleasant climate throughout the year but summer is the best time to explore when the temperature lies around 20 to 30 deg Celsius.
The vast range of range of green misty landscape and wild forest express the beauty of this place.
Top Tourist attraction in Wayanad:
- Don’t forget to visit Kanthanpara Waterfalls.
- Enjoy the beauty of Karapuzha Dam, Edakkal caves, Pookode & Karlad lake.
- Trek to Chembra peak, Banasura hills, Brahmagiri, Kalladi forest and Thusharagiri.
- Do camping around waterfalls and forest
How to reach: Getting Wayanad by road is not a big task as it is well connected with most of cities of South India. One can opt the local buses or private vehicle to reach there. And Calicut international airport is the nearest airport to Wayanad situated at a distance of 61 KM.
20. Alibag, Maharashtra
Alibag is a coastal town of western India which is located in the south of Mumbai, Maharashtra. This place is famous for its beach, sea forts and temple-like Alibag beach, Varsoli beach and others. Alibag beach is one the most visited beach in Maharashtra and it’s known for its black sand.
Alibag is a perfect place for the beach lover, here you will witness one of the best sunrise and sunset view in India and that makes this place best for summer holidays. The best thing about this place is that there are number of beaches and all are a few minutes away from each other. Here you can spend some quality time beach, enjoy water sports, visit Kolaba fort, Vrindavan farm and many more.
So here is the list of top 10 best summer destination in India. I hope you enjoyed it. If I missed your favorite summer destination than let me know in the comment box and share your best summer experience with us. Cheers until next post!!!