Places to visit in India in summer months

India, among the 195 countries in the world, is one of the most blessed naturally. It thrives in a varied climate. It has places to visit for every reason and for every season. In summer temperature rises up to 40^o C and above, in various places. Thankfully this place gifts you the relief as well and hill stations in all direction like Darjeeling in the east, Shimla Srinagar, Manali in the north Mahabaleshwar in the west and Munnar Ooty in the south to name a few are pleasant between 20-30 degree Celsius.

So during summer months of April May and  June, India offers a wide range of places to get away. From Darjeeling to Ooty, there are places of vast expanse to unwind your senses. The following are few hill stations from a long list to enjoy your summer months

1. Darjeeling

Darjeeling, in India owes’ its grandeur to its natural beauty, its clean fresh mountain air and above all, the smiling resilient people for whom it is a ‘home’. A walk up a steep incline, leads sun worshippers to Tiger Hill. The air is chilly with darkness and damp. To the east, a dull orange sun emerged painting the sky with brilliant strokes of magenta, gold, orange and fuchsia. The snow capped Everest, Kabru, Kanchenjunga, Jannu and other peaks slowly emerge from slumber to start a new day. As the fog lifts in the slowly penetrating sun, the town gradually comes alive. Amidst brewing of tea, the sing-song Gorkhali which is the local dialect, rises and falls like music.

2. Khandala

Fascinating panoramic beauty adorns this place. It is blessed with natural beauty and bounty. Deep valley on one side and high hills on the other side divide Khandala and Lonavala. Whenever a tourist visits Lonavala he also wishes to visit Khandala. While traveling on Mumbai Bangalore National Highway, one has to cross the arduous Khopoli – Khandala Ghat. In a short distance of 8 Kms one has to climb a height of 369 meters. Lonavala and Khandala are full of tourist practically for the whole year. A main reason for this is the fact that it is very close to Mumbai.

3. Kodai or Kodaikanal

It is surrounded by wooded slopes, waterfalls and precipitous rocky outcrops. Founded by American missionaries in 1845, Kodaikanal is steeped in history. Kodaikanal is on the southern crest of the Palani hills, about 120 km from Madurai, at an altitude of 2100 mt. Relics and artifacts of the Paliyans who once lived in these hills can still be seen in the Shenbaganur Museum. Kodaikanal Hills is an idyllic getaway for regular tourists, trekker and honeymooners. Blessed with nature’s breath-taking beauty, the star-shaped lake dominates this sleepy hill-station.

4. Manali

Once called the “end of the habitable world,” Manali is an important hill station of northern India and is the destination of thousands of tourists every year. Its cool atmosphere provides a perfect haven for the ones afflicted by the hot Indian summers. Besides offering quite a few places for sightseeing, Manali is also famous for adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking. In brief, Manali-the veritable “valley of the Gods”-is an ideal place for the ones in search of both adventure and comfort. The Kulluis in brightly patterned puttoos, Tibetan women wearing ankle-length rainbow-striped pinafores, Nepali porters, Buddhist monks, and even the odd party of Zanskaris, swathed in fusty woolen gonchas, muddled together with souvenir-hunting Indian and Western tourists-all add up to the welcoming hubbub of Manali.

5. Mount Abu

Mount Abu is a picturesque hill-station which green oasis in the barren desertscape thats Rajasthan. Situated at the southern tip of the Aravali range the hill retreat owes its cool climate to its rich flora covering the entire hillside that includes coniferous trees and flowering shrubs. The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is more than just a summer retreat. Its stunning array of exquisite Dilwara Jain Temples, dating back 11th- 13th centuries, make it a popular pilgrimage centre. ‘Abu’ according to a legend.stands for the son of Himalayan, deriving its name from Arbuada,the powerful serpent who rescued Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva, from a chasm.

6. Mussoorie

Popularly known as the Queen of Hills, this charming hill station, 34 kms from Dehradun is situated at an altitude of 2003 mts in the Garhwal hills. above sea-level. Mussoorie is one the beautiful hill stations in India and the most frequently visited. It provides excellent respite to people who want relief from the hot sultry conditions of the plains, especially since it is close enough to the capital to make just weekend trip. Also, major Hindu pilgrimage sites like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Haridwar, Rishikesh are not far from this place. In 1820, Captain Young of the British army was influenced by the beauty of this place and made it his residence. The name, Mussoorie is derived from plants of ‘Mussoorie’ which were found in abundance here. After its discovery, this hill station gradually developed as a centre of education, business, tourism and beauty.

7. Nainital

Nainital , Uttaranchal is famous not just for its green hills or many lakes. It is also famous for it’s many legends and stories. Hundreds of ancient temples and peaks with astounding views of the mountains in the background add to Nainital’s magical appeal.The history of this dainty town sails over the surface of the Naini Lake, where oarsmen narrate the stories of the rishis who brought the waters of the sacred Mansarovar River to formSuffocating at times with thousands of tourists, Nainital is also home to Sherwood, one of India’s most prestigious schools.

8.  Shillong in Meghalaya

Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, is a hill town, situated in the north eastern part of India. Shillong in Meghalaya is situated at an altitude of 1496 m above sea level. Shillong remained the capital of Assam, before the formation of Meghalaya in the 1974. The place, the people and the climate all combined together to create an amiable atmosphere, to make Shillong ..

Meghalaya an ideal holiday destination throughout the year. Cherrapunjee, the wettest place on earth is only 56 kms away from Shillong. Shillong has beautiful lakes and waterfalls, and is set in pine forests and green mountains. It is a popular hill-station which the British used to call the Scotland of the East. 

9. Shimla

Shimla one of India’s most famous hill stations, derives its name from Goddess Shyamala, an incarnation of Goddess Kali, the deity of power and wrath. However, unlike its name, Shimla is a perfect heaven for the ones in search of tranquility. Nature has blessed this capital city with innumerable gifts and man has used them to make Shimla one of India’s best locales. The temperature range is not very high and the maximum temperature rarely crosses 25°C during summers. Winters are cold due to the chilly winds from the upper Himalayas. Around Christmas, Shimla experiences snowfall.

10. Ooty

Nestled in the brilliant green hills of the Nilgiris, Ooty or Udhagamandalam, is one of the favorite summer retreats of people in South India. Orchards of peaches and plums, terraced tea plantations, and eucalyptus, pine and wattle lining the landscape. a typical hill station in many ways. It was founded by the British in the early part of the 19th century. The British influence is visible in the handrolled cigars, chocolate and cheese one enjoys here. You also have the popular derby, and ‘hunt’ held annually. A hill station with a landscape perpetually enveloped in mist, Ooty’s beauty has a timeless appeal.

11. Scotland OF India…..!!! Or Coorg

It is a nature lover’s paradise. This district in Madikeri, Karnataka is located 1525m above sea level. It is 4, 102 sq km of wilderness and adventure. From calm waters to water rafting Coorg has it all for you. River rafting down the Kaveri River, Barapole River to the south of Coorg in Brahmagiri.will give you a fast paced time. The best time for rafting is from mid-June to mid-September. The view from ‘Rajas Seat’ is a picture that will lay forever in your mind. Omkeshwara temple, Talakaveri temple and the vast landscape of coffee plantations are not just destinations but are pleasant experiences that you will witness. Iruppu waterfalls, the Buddhist statues at Bylekuppe, Abbey water falls are among the various places of tranquil that Coorg gives you. At the Nagarahole national park, you can spot majestic Asiatic elephants and graceful spotted deer. Nisargadhama is a breathtakingingly beautiful island off the state highway, two km from Kushalanagar town and 28 km from Madikeri.

12. Munnar

Munnar is a small hill station set amongst the Kannan Devan hills. In Gods own country, Kerala. It is famous for its lush green surroundings, lakes, reservoirs, forests, and tea estates. The quiet environs of Munnar attract the traveler to relax in the lap of Mother Nature. Munnar also beacons the adventure-seeking traveler, who is interested in paragliding. It has some of the highest tea estates in the world. Located in the eastern part of the state of Kerala, in the southern region of India it is amongst the craggy hills of the Western Ghats at an altitude of 1524 m above sea level. The weather in Munnar is pleasant and unhampered. You can have panoramic view of the verdant surroundings and forested hills from Munnar. Long walks and hiking around this small town offer an exhilarating experience. You can also enjoy walking amongst the numerous tea estates of Munnar and view the entire process of making tea, right from plucking of tealeaves to their processing at the Kundale tea plantation.

Content updated in January 2023