Most of the people want to enjoy holidays in winters because India is a country which faces hot weather in most of the parts round the year excepting winter season which generally falls in between months December to February, so people want to enjoy snow and cool weather etc. So before going to your winter vacations you should be familiar of these “holiday destinations in India” which you should visit- let’s see which destinations are included in this segment-
Shimla
Shimla is one of the most popular hill stations in Himachal Pradesh (HP), this hill station attracts lots of tourists to itself just because of mighty snow capped mountains, lush green fields, surrounded by lake these all beauty enhance your holiday experience.
- Tourist Attraction: Mall Road, Summer Hill, Prospect Hill, Shimla Ridge, Glenn
- Temperature in winters: The average temperature stays between 1°C to 11°C in winter season.
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Nearest Airport is Chandigarh (IXC), 115 KMs / 4 hours journey (approx) from Chandigarh Airport.
- By Train: Kalka is the nearest railway station, from Kalka you may enjoy boarding to Toy trains to Shimla which is approx 94 KMs / 5 hours route.
- By Bus: Shimla has its own bus stand run by HRTC (Himachal Road Transport Corporation).
Manali
Blessed with snowy mountains, pine grooves, river and lakes, Manali presents the aesthetic splendor of Mom Nature. It is actually located at an altitude of 6260 ft over the sea degree and is one of the favorite spot for tourist in India. The mesmerizing hill-station is sandwiched in between the sky-scraping peaks of Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar. For that reason, nature lovers and journey freaks, usually visit here to satisfy their type of quest.
- Tourist Attractions: Rohtang Pass, Solang Valley, Hidimba Temple, Great Himalayan National Park, Bhrigu Lake etc.
- Temperature in winters: Manali temperature falls between 1°C to 14°C in winter season.
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Kullu Manali Airport (Bhuntar) [KUU] is the nearest Airport; Manali is 50 KMs from Bhuntar Airport.
- By Train: There is no direct train to Manali, Chandigarh (distance- 295 KMs) & Kalka (distance- 270 KMs) are the nearest railway stations, from Kalka you may enjoy boarding to Toy trains to Shimla or take a taxi from Chandigarh Railway station.
- By Bus: Regular bus services available from HRTC from all major cities like- Chandigarh, Delhi, Shimla, and Dalhousie etc.
Dalhousie
Dalhousie is a popular hill station in Northern India’s state Himachal Pradesh, it was named on British Governor “Lord Dalhousie” in 1854. Dalhousie is situated at an altitude of 2700 Meters above from sea level. Dalhousie plays an important role in the economical development of the state because tourism is one of the prime categories of HP for revenue generation.
- Tourist Attractions: Khajjiar Lake, Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary, Satdhara Falls, Rang Mahal, Chamunda Devi Temple, Jandri Ghat, Dainkund Peak etc.
- Temperature in winters: 1°C to 12°C
- How to reach:
- By Air: Gaggal Airport (Dharamshala) is 46 KMs away from Dalhousie.
- By Train: Nearest railway station is Pathankot Junction which is 45 kilometres away from Dalhousie.
- By Bus: Buses are available by state transport and some private transporters.
Dharamshala
Dharamsala is a hill station in the state of Himachal Pradesh located at about 520km from Delhi. Dharamsala is renowned as Buddhist town where some people come to study Buddhism while others come to enjoy the clean air of the hill station.
- Tourist Attractions: Dal Lake, Kangra Valley, Triund Hills, Bhagsunag Falls, Kareri Lake, Dharamshala Cricket Stadium, Tibet World, War Memorial etc.
- Temperature in winters: 1°C to 12°C
- How to reach:
- By Air: Gaggal in Kangra City- Which is only 14 KMs from Dharamshala.
- By Train: Pathankot is the nearest railway station and its 85 KMs from Manali.
- By Bus: Dharamshala is nicely connected through roadways & buses are easily available from all prime cities like Pathankot (88 KMs) Shimla (245 KMs), Amritsar (198 KMs), and Delhi (490 KMs).
Mussoorie
Mussoorie is an amazing hill station situated at just 35 KMs away from Uttarakhand at an altitude of 2005 Meters above sea level. This hill station is also known as popularly “Queen of the hills” in India. Lush green fields, Doon Valley, Shivalik mountain add extra stunning views to its beauty.
- Tourist Attractions: Gun Hill, Mussoorie Lake, Kempty Falls, Municipal Garden, Lake Mist, Mossy Fall, Bhatta Falls, Jharipani Fall etc.
- Temperature in winters: 5°C to 18°C
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Mussoorie, which is approx 54 KMs away.
- By Train: Mussoorie doesn’t have its own railway station but Dehradun Railway Station is the nearest railway station, its just 35 KMs away from here.
- By Bus: Mussoorie is well connected by road transport and has excellent connectivity with all major cities, state transport / private transport can be used to reach here.
Rishikesh
Rishikesh is one of the religious places and also known as the “Yoga capital of the World” which is surrounded by Haridwar, Tehri Garhwal & Pauri. Rishikesh is considered as one of the most holy places in India, as this place holds the holy “Ghats” of river Ganga, and many other temples, Jhulas, & other spiritual places.
- Tourist Attractions: Triveni Ghat, Ram Jhula, Laxman Jhula, Neelkanth Mahadev, Bharat Mandir, Parmarth Niketan, Vashista Goofa, Rajaji National Park etc.
- Temperature in winters: 6°C to 19°C
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun is the nearest airport to Rishikesh, which is approx 35 KMs away.
- By Train: Haridwar is the closest Railway Station from Rishikesh, its just 25 KMs away from here. Trains are available from all major cities like- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow etc.
- By Bus: Rishikesh is well connected by road transport and has excellent connectivity.
Srinagar
Srinagar is the capital of Jammu & Kashmir and a popular city for Gardens, Lakes, & Shikara (Houseboat) rides. Srinagar is surrounded by the Himalaya, Jhelum River, Dal Lake which add extra beauty to it.
- Tourist Attractions: Dal Lake, Chashm-e-shahi, Shalimar Bagh, Nishant Bagh, Shankaracharya Temple, Hazratbal Shrine, Gulab Bhawan etc.
- Temperature in winters: -3°C to 16°C
- How to Reach:
- By Air: There are regular flights available to Srinagar Airport.
- By Train: There is no any direct train route to Srinagar, Udhampur (235KMs) & Jammu Tawi (298KMs) are the nearest railway stations.
- By Bus: You can reach Srinagar via bus also; Srinagar is well connected by roadways from major cities of North India.
Gulmarg
Gulmarg is a hill station in Jammu & Kashmir state, located at 51 Kms from Srinagar. This destination is popular for skiing & snow activities. Gulmarg Gondola is one of the highest cable cars in not only India but also in the world. It is also a favourite destination for shooting Bollywood movies.
- Tourist Attractions: Gulmarg Gondola, Alpather Lake, Khilanmarg, Outer Circle Walk etc.
- Temperature in winters: -4°C to 18°C
- How to reach:
- By Air: Srinagar Airport is the nearest airport to Gulmarg which is located at the distance of 56 KMs.
- By Train: No direct train route to Gulmarg, 295 KMs away from Jammu railway station.
- By Bus: Buses are available from Srinagar & Sonamarg.
Pahalgam
Pahalgam is a popular tourist destination in Jammu – Kashmir it is a beautiful hill station which is located at an altitude of 7200 ft. from the sea level. This destination is also associated with the “holy yatra of Amarnath ji” (Chandanwari) which is 16 KMs away from here, after the “Yatra of Amarnath” people enjoy this place and love to spend holidays here. Pahalgam is also famous for shooting of Bollywood films.
- Tourist Attractions: Betaab Valley, Lidder River, Chandanwari, Sheshnag Lake, Panchtarni, Aru Valley, Kolahoi Glacier etc.
- Temperature in winters: -4°C to 12°C
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Srinagar Airport is the nearest airport to Pahalgam which is located at the distance of 95 KMs.
- By Train: No direct train route to Pahalgam, 125 KMs away from Udhampur railway station.
- By Bus: Pahalgam has its own bus stand so you can also opt for bus.
Nainital
Nainital is one of the popular hill stations in India which is situated at an altitude of 6837 ft. from sea level. It is an area of Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas. This place is also favourite honeymoon spot for newlywed couples in India.
- Tourist Attractions: Nainital Lake, Naina Devi Temple, Zoo, Tiffin Top, Ghorakhal, Gurney House etc.
- Temperature in winters: -2°C to 14°C
- How to Reach:
- By Air: New Delhi Airport is the nearest airport to Nainital which is located at the distance of 310 KMs.
- By Train: Kathgodam is the nearest railway station and located at just 35KMs away from Nainital.
- By Bus: Buses are easily available to Nainital with A.C. / Non- A.C. / Volvo options on daily basis as well.
Darjeeling
Darjeeling, located in the State of West Bengal in Northeast India at an altitude of 2042 meters. Darjeeling is one of the most beautiful Hill Stations in the country. It is called as the Queen of Hills and is a part of Mahabharata Range or Lesser Himalayas.
- Tourist Attractions: Tiger Hill, Himalayan Railway, Himalayan Zoological Park, Mirik Lake, Batasia Loop, Peace Pagoda etc.
- Temperature in winters: 2°C to 12°C
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Bagdogra Airport is the nearest airport to Darjeeling which is located at the distance of 95 KMs.
- By Train: New Jalpaiguri is the nearest railway station and located at just 63 KMs away from Darjeeling.
- By Bus: Buses can be taken from Siliguri, Gangtok, Kalimpong etc.
Munnar
Munnar is a pretty beautiful hill station in Kerala and famous for Tea Garden & Spice plantation in India. It is situated at an altitude of 5200 ft. from sea level. Weather of Munnar remains almost same round the year, there are so many places to enjoy with scenic beauty.
- Tourist Attractions: Tea Gardens, Spice Plantations, Attukal Waterfall, Devikulam, Mattupetty Dam, Anamudi, Eravikulam National Park etc.
- Temperature in winters: 2°C to 12°C
- How to Reach:
- By Air: The nearest airport to Munnar is Cochin International Airport, which is approx 106 KMs away.
- By Train: The Ernakulam (Cochin) Railway Station is 135 KMs from Munnar.
- By Bus: Kerala state transport buses & Tamil Nadu state transport buses can be found here from all major cities of Kerala.
Thekkady
Thekkady is a popular wildlife destination in Indian state Kerala. It is situated near to Tamil Nadu state. Thekkady is famous for Periyar National Park- which offers you a chance to interact with wildlife, here you can see all kind of animals like- tigers, deers, elephants etc. with a closer view by Jeep safari, Boating or even by trekking.
- Tourist Attractions: Periyar National Park, Elephant Junction, Periyar Lake, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Mangala Devi Temple etc.
- Temperature in winters: 2°C to 12°C
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Cochin International Airport (145KMs) & Madurai Airport is 136 KMs away from Thekkady.
- By Train: Kottayam Railway Station is nearest to Thekkady which is located 114 kilometres away.
- By Bus: Kerala state transport buses and private buses are available from all major cities of Kerala.
Ooty
Ooty is a hills station located in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu state with an altitude of 2240 meters from the sea level. Ooty is an abbreviated form of Udhagamandalam / Udhagai. The hill station is surrounded by Nilgiri Hills. There are lots of attractions near Ooty which can be experienced specially in winter season.
- Tourist Attractions: Ooty Lake, Rose Garden, Govt. Botanical Garden, Stone House, Mountain Railway, Deer Park etc.
- Temperature in winters: 4°C to 16°C
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Coimbatore Airport is 90 KMs away from Ooty.
- By Train: Nearest railway station is Mettupalayam which is 40 kilometres away from Ooty.
- By Bus: Buses are available from all major cities like Bangalore, Mysore Chennai etc.
Kodaikanal
“Kodaikanal” as its name refers in Tamil language “princess of hill stations”, Kodaikanal has several places of interest like- Kodai Lake, Bryant Park, Coaker’s Walk etc. that’s why it is one of the popular tourist destinations in Tamil Nadu. It is situated at an altitude of 6854 feet from sea level.
- Tourist Attractions: Kodai Lake, Palani Hills, Bryant Park, Coaker’s Walk, Berijam Lake, Golf Club etc.
- Temperature in winters: 6°C to 18°C
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Madurai Airport is 120 KMs away from Kodaikanal.
- By Train: Nearest railway station is Kodai Road which is 100 kilometres away from Kodaikanal.
- By Bus: Buses are available from all major cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai etc.