Best Places to Visit in Winter in India : Short trips and holidays

A shift in the seasons, a tilt of an axis and a drop in the temperature. Come winters, and India finds itself preparing for one of the best seasons to travel across the peninsula. With a string of holidays and a list of festivals and fairs, winters in India are marked by vacations to plan your year around, a dreamy beach holiday, hill stations resembling postcard sceneries and its southern tips and desserts welcoming all its visitors that had been shying away till now given their generous humidity and temperatures. Here is a list of 12 places to visit in winter in India.

1. Jaipur Circuit: Jaipur - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer

With the most staple and obvious number of places to visit in winter in India, this circuit finds itself gathering quite some hustle bustle from all the tourist rush its temperature and deserts were keeping away till now. Dotted by countless Havelis, Palaces and Forts, winters are an ideal time to enjoy strolls through its specimens of history. While history and architecture keep you busy through the day, Desert Safaris and lakes make their way to your itineraries by evening. These pink, blue and golden cities of India, are one of the top destinations for winters, not only for all their landmarks but also their rich cultural and shopping experiences. Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Udaipur, Jaipur - the count of best places in Rajasthan in winter is too long, but these places are at their best in winters and cannot be missed.

2. Manali Circuit: Manali - Kullu - Kasol – Rohtang – Solang

If there is one hill station in North India you must visit in winters, it is Manali. A family holiday, an adventure trail, a honeymoon, or a winter vacation amongst its white, snow covered expanses- there are one too many routes that will lead your travel plans here, this winter. If you find yourself here on Dusshera, don’t miss the celebration in Kullu’s temples.

3. Goa Circuit: North Goa – Panjim – South Goa

While there is no month, not ideal to let Goa spoil you a little, this beach winter destination in India have a tendency to cast a spell. A perfect beach holiday, afternoons by the sea and a tan to show off, this one comes with its Decembers marked with the SUNBURN FESTIVAL, making it one of the best places to visit in winter in India!

4. North East Circuit: Shillong - Mokokchung - Imphal - Kaziranga National Park

Countless waterfalls, sprawling views, one of best national parks, pristine lakes, caves, peaks and acquaintance with Naga tribes. If this sounds like your idea of a winter vacation, the choice is pretty clear. Visit capitals and cultural hubs of the north east these winters and the habitat to two thirds of the world’s one horned rhinoceros. While the weather is rarely a bother in the North East, the winters tend to be one the most pleasant and enjoyable times to be here.

5. Chennai Circuit: Chennai - Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram - Thanjevur - Madumalai - Yercaud

While you’d probably pass Chennai for most parts of the summers and the monsoons that follow, winters leave this metropolitan a favorite if you want to travel south. One of the places to visit in winter in India, Chennai is the fourth largest city of India, and finds its itineraries dotted by temples, churches and beaches. Landmarks in Mahabalipuram include rock sculptures and caves and a crocodile farm while Thanjevur keeps you busy with its temples and handicrafts and Madumalai with a national park that boasts of exotic species of flora and fauna.

6. Uttarakhand Circuit: Nainital - Mussoorie - Auli - Corbett National Park

If you want to keep this winter for the likes of a Jungle Safari, elephant rides and tiger spotting tigers at the oldest national park of the country lakes, boating, river rafting and sceneries, Uttarakhand is almost obvious. While summer won’t be a bother either, the weather only get more enjoyable towards winters and one can can also enjoy snowfall in places like Nainital, Auli and Mussoorie.

7. Rajasthan Wildlife Circuit: Alwar - Ranthambore - Bharatpur

Dotted by one of the best tiger reserves and bird sanctuaries of the country, put this trail on your list for some of the richest and most enjoyable wildlife experience. With birds migrating all the way from Siberia for the colder months, Bharatpur is one of the places to visit in winter in India for an amazing bird watching experience. Your jungle safaris and tiger spotting expeditions through Ranthambore and Sariska Tiger Reserve will only be more convenient by winters. While reserves and national parks tend to be the generic highlight here, don’t miss the forts and temples at Alwar.

8. Delhi Circuit: Delhi - Mathura - Agra

As summers that kept the mercury from falling below 40 in Delhi leave the capital, its calenders are turned to its favorite months. There is no better time than winters to visit the capital of India, indulge in its heritage walks, street food and shopping experiences. About Agra, while this one gets the limelight pretty much all year round, the temperatures aren’t as friendly in summers. Hence if you have the choice, add Delhi to your list of places to visit in winter in India, for a much cooler and pleasant weather.

9. Gujarat Circuit: Ahmedabad - Kutch - Gir

You might not find too many reasons to be here in summers, but its winters have one too many things on its itineraries to tempt you. Winters in Kutch are planned around its much celebrated and grand Rann Utsav, which is one of the most unique experiences of the state. Gir, the only remaining home to the Asiatic lion, is also avoided in summers and welcoming and pleasant during winters, while Ahmedabad, under the cover of an industrial and commercial hub, tend to surprise one with its heritage and architectural marvels with the Sabarmati ashram, forts, temples, mosques lake and a swaying minaret. These best places to visit in winter in Gujarat are surely going to make your winters different and memorable.

10. Dharamsala Circuit: Dharamsala - Mcleodganj

Marked by a strong Tibetan influence, Buddhism and spirituality, these sister hill stations are though pleasant throughout the year, they tend to be all the more charming in winters. While monasteries are the obvious highlights here, the area is also loved for it falls, hills, lakes and trekking trails.

11. Kerala Circuit: Munnar - Kovalam - Trivandrum - Alleppey - Thekkady

Its hot and humid summers, leave Kerala, quite a favorite for the winters. Famous for its backwaters, beaches, sparkling lush greenery, temples, Ayurveda spas, a hill station and the largest tiger reserve in the country all wrapped in one of the richest and most colorful instances of culture and arts, this one is definitely one of the most sought after and popular winter destinations in India.

12. Jammu Circuit: Amritsar - Jammu - Vaishno Devi

If this winters you you want to be on a religious and spiritual trail and make the most of the cooler temperature and pleasant winds, take a trail through the Golden temple, to the the city of temple and all the way to some sacred caves high up at Vaishno Devi. While here, don’t miss the Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations at the Golden temple, which falls in the month of November.