Our very own Sun, a massive ball of fire, is at its strongest. Finding respite away from the plains is the best method to avoid the summer heat. India is fortunately filled with mountains, hills, beaches, exotic forests, and other summer vacation destinations that offer some relief from the oppressive heat.
The summer season in India starts in April and lasts until the end of June. There are some incredible chilly spots in India for people wishing to go away and create some memories with their friends and family during these summer vacations. There are several additional nice locations in India to visit in the summer in addition to these mountainous areas.
Here is a list of the top destinations in India to visit in the summer. Before making travel plans in India, have a look at the list and tick off the destinations for an unforgettable trip. What’s smashing is that they’re not simply spread over a specific area, but across India. It is a magnificent combination of hill stations, cities, and villages to which you may look forward in the sweltering summers without breaking a sweat.
1. Shillong – Shillong is a hill station in northeastern India and the capital of Meghalaya. It serves as the headquarters for the East Khasi Hills district. According to the 2011 census, Shillong is the 330th most populated city in India, with a population of 143,229 people. The town’s surrounding hills are believed to have given the British a Scottish impression. As a result, they would also call it as the “Scotland of the East”.
Shillong is located at 25.57°N 91.88°E. The city resides in the plateau’s midsection and surrounded by hills, three of which are considered sacred in Khasi tradition: Lum Sohpetbneng, Lum Diengiei, and Lum Shyllong.
Shillong’s weather is normally beautiful and pollution-free. Summer temperatures fluctuate between 23 °C (73 °F). The temperature in the winter ranges between 4 and 39 degrees Celsius.
The city is classified as having a subtropical highland climate (Cwb) by Köppen. While its winters are cold and dry, its summers are chilly yet very rainy. Shillong is susceptible to monsoon whims. The monsoon season begins in June, and rain continues virtually all the way until October.
Shillong, Meghalaya’s capital, is an excellent starting point for exploring the North East. The lovely hill station is well-known for its pleasant weather, lush greenery, glistening lakes, and waterfalls.
2. Coonoor – Coonoor, which is spelled Kunnur in its original language, is a Taluk and a municipality in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, India. The town had 45,494 residents as of 2011.
Spread over an area of 12 hectares, Sim’s Park features a collection of over 1,000 plant species. The botanical garden, which is partially constructed in the Japanese style, derived its name from J. D. Sim, the Madras Club secretary in 1874. The annual fruit exhibit, which takes place in May, is the park’s main attraction. Dolphin’s Nose Viewpoint is located 10 km from Coonoor.
From Lady Canning’s Seat, visitors may hike to Dolphin’s Nose. Another viewpoint is Lamb’s Rock, which is located around 512 km from Coonoor. Droog Fort is 13 km from Coonoor and was once utilised by Tipu Sultan in the 18th century. A waterfall called Law’s Falls is situated 5 km from Coonoor on the way to Mettupalayam.
The Bollywood film, Kapoor & Sons, was shot in this town.
Dolphin’s Nose Viewpoint
The Coonoor is situated at 11.345°N 76.795°E. It is 1,650 metres (6,070 ft.) above sea level on an average. Because of its high height, it has a subtropical highland climate (Koppen; Cfb).
Coonoor, an exquisite hill station nestled in the Nilgiris, is a haven. The hill stations of South India are ideal for a summer vacation in India.
3. Gangtok – Gangtok is the capital of the Indian state of Sikkim, as well as its most populated city. It is also the administrative centre for the Gangtok District. Gangtok lies in the eastern Himalayan range, at a height of 1,650 m (5,410 ft.).
The city’s 100,000 people come from several Sikkimese ethnicities, namely Indian Gorkhas, Bhutia, and Lepchas. Gangtok serves as the heart of Sikkim’s tourist sector and is located among the higher Himalayan ranges, where the temperature is warm and temperate all year round.
The exact meaning of the term “Gangtok” is unknown; however most believe that it means “hill cut.”
Two streams, Roro Chu and Ranikhola, surround the city to the east and west. These two rivers separate the natural drainage into eastern and western portions. Both streams join the Ranipul and travel south until entering the Teesta near Singtam. The majority of the roadways are steep, with buildings constructed on compacted soil alongside them.
The Himalayan Mountains, which are covered in snow, tower over the town in the distance, while the hills are tucked between higher peaks. To the west of the city, Mount Kanchenjunga, the third-highest mountain in the world (8,598 m or 28,209 ft.), can be seen. The existence of steep slopes, sensitivity to landslides, an extensive amount of forest cover, and poor access to most places have all significantly impeded the city’s capacity to expand in a healthy and natural way.
Around Gangtok, there are densely wooded areas with evergreen coniferous trees from the moist alpine zone as well as temperate deciduous forests of poplar, birch, oak, and elm. Both popular and uncommon orchid kinds can be seen in the city’s flower shows. There is a lot of bamboo. The vegetation progressively shifts from alpine to temperate deciduous and subtropical in the lower parts of the town. Sunflower, marigold, poinsettia, and other flowers blossom, especially in the months of November and December.
Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is one of the most stunning and well-liked vacation destinations in the North East.
4. Mahabaleshwar – Mahabaleshwar is a small town and a municipal council which lies in Satara district, Maharashtra, India. It is a Hindu pilgrimage site since the Krishna River originates here. The town was turned into a hill station by the British colonial authorities, who also used it as the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency during the British Raj.
On the steep Sahyadri range of the Western Ghats, which extend from north to south along India’s western coast, is where Mahabaleshwar may be situated. The town is located 285 kilometres (177 mi) from Mumbai and 122 km (76 mi) southwest of Pune.
The Krishna River, which runs through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, originates in the Mahabaleshwar area. The mouth of a cow statue at the historic Mahadev temple in Old Mahabaleshwar is said to be the river’s mythical source. According to legend, Krishna is Lord Vishnu himself as a result of Savitri’s curse on the Trimurti.
Additionally, its tributaries Koyna and Venna are believed to be Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva respectively. Apart from Krishna, three additional rivers emerge from the cow’s mouth and all of them travel a fair distance before joining Krishna, which flows eastward towards the Bay of Bengal.
The region’s climate is ideal for strawberry growing, and Mahabaleshwar strawberries account for around 85% of the nation’s entire strawberry output. In 2010, it was also given the geographical indicator (GI) label.
Mahabaleshwar is a hill station in the Western Ghats known for
interesting trekking paths and great weather. It is one of the best destinations to visit during the summer.
5. Auli – Auli is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand’s Himalayan Alps. Auli, also known as Auli Bugyal in Garhwali, meaning “meadow” and is located 2,800 metres (9,200 feet) above sea level. The valley contains one of the largest concentrations of flower species found anywhere in the world between June and October, with 520 species of high altitude plants, 498 of which are blooming plants with considerable populations of endangered species.
This place came to light when in the 8th century, Adiguru Shri Shankaracharya formed a Matha (Jyotir Math or Shri Shankaracharya Math) in Joshimath, about 6.6 km from Auli, which still exists today. This area became renowned as the “Gateway to the Himalayas” following the establishment of the monastery.
The popular Trishul peak (23,490 feet) was the site of an exceptional expedition in 1958. It took the climbers about four days and around 90 minutes to ski down to the base. Auli and Joshimath are located in the high Himalayas, near the Chinese border. The Auli ropeway was built in September 1993 to help boost tourism in the area. This ropeway, located at an elevation of around 10,000 feet, connects Joshimath with Auli.
Auli is a hiking and skiing destination, and it was marketed as a tourist destination following the founding of the state of Uttarakhand, which was previously part of Uttar Pradesh. It is bordered by coniferous and oak trees and has a panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges. The slopes are designed for both experienced and inexperienced skiers.
The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited (GMVNL), a state government body that manages this resort, and the Uttarakhand Tourism Department host winter sports competitions in Auli to foster skiing in India. It contains a 4 km (2.5 mi) cable car, a chairlift, and a ski lift, as well as a well-maintained walk path. There is also a modest Hindu temple here that is related to the Ramayana, a Hindu epic.
Auli, commonly known as Auli Bugyal, is a lovely hill station at an elevation of 3000 metres, primarily known as a ski resort.