Depending on your city of residence, summers can get extremely hot and unbearable. They are also the perfect time to take a vacation and visit places where the weather is far more forgiving. So, here are the best places to visit in India during the summer.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The sun, white sand beaches, snorkelling, and scuba diving, what else could be perfect? The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in India. For a rich history lesson, visit Port Blair where you can learn about the freedom struggle and visit the Cellular Jail. To simply relax on the beach, visit the Havelock Islands, and to visit caves and learn about the Jarawa tribe, visit the Baratang Island.
Rishikesh
Situated in the Himalayan foothills, this city in Uttarakhand is a popular holiday destination and weekend getaway for people living in the north. Due to its increasing popularity, it has become a hub for adventure sports in India offering bungee jumping, white water rafting, mountain biking, and more. It is also rich in culture with temples and the convergence of the holy river Ganga with Chandrabhaga River.
Gangtok
Gangtok is one of the coolest places in India, even during the summer. The Nathu La Pass is a must-see attraction. This pass connects Sikkim to Tibet and is open on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. However, tourists in India can only see the Indian side of the pass. Apart from this, you could visit the Tashi View Point for breath taking and Instagram worthy pictures of surrounding mountains, take a cable ride for a quick view of the city, and take a Yak Safari.
Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and very easy to get to from anywhere if you live in south India. It just a small road trip from Chennai (around 56 km away) or around 352 km from Bangalore, a little less than 7 hours of travel by car. It is steeped in culture with temple ruins reflecting the Dravidian culture. You can take back hand-carved sculptures by local craftsman. It also has a beach to relax after a long day of exploring through a bike ride.
Madikeri
Madikeri is a small hill town in the southern part of India. There is plenty to do in this town. You could start with visiting Talacauvery which is the origin of the Cauvery river. Abbey Falls was created by the Cauvery river and cascades 70 feet down to rocks and is a popular tourist attraction for picnics. Visit Raja’s Seat to watch the sunset, it was earlier the relaxing spot for the Kings of Kodagu. Namdroling Monastery is a golden temple housing a gold-plated Buddha statue.
There are many ways to beat the summer heat, traveling is definitely one of them! If you’re going to the beach, don’t forget to pack sunscreen, and if you’re going to a hill station don’t forget your layers of sweaters and jackets.