Winter is here, and this one is going to be better than the last few. Most people plan to spend their vacations and days off under a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate. Others, like me, love to go to new places and enjoy the cold weather (while sipping hot chocolate, of course). From magical Himachal Pradesh to relaxing Kerala, there are many places to visit in India in the winter that will make you want to get out of your warm bed and see the best of the season.

Gulmarg

Gulmarg is the first place on our list. This hill town in India’s most northern state is magical all year long, but its charm is even stronger when winter comes. This place is great for snow sports like skiing and snowboarding because the landscape is covered in snow and the lakes are frozen. Adventure-seekers can get their adrenaline fix by trekking on one of the many trails, which get harder as the seasons change.

Shimla-Kufri

Shimla-Kufri is one of the most popular places in North India for people who want to see it snow. Himachal’s capital city is surrounded by rolling hills and snow-covered forests, which make it possible to do a lot of exciting things. Many restaurants line the Mall road, which is a great place to sit with a cup of hot tea and take in the view of the Himalayas.

Manali

Manali is a popular winter vacation spot in India. It is known for its tall mountains, deodar trees, winding roads, and heavy snowfall. This hill station in Himachal Pradesh is a great place for people who love snow, getting married, and going on adventures. Manali will give you a memorable experience, whether you go biking to Rohtang Pass, paragliding in Solang Valley, or hiking up to Jogini Waterfalls.

Auli

Want to learn how to ski while the beautiful Nanda Devi, Neelkanth, and Mana Parbat peaks watch over you? Then you should go to Auli, which is the best place in India to ski. It has green valleys almost all year long, but if you come here in the middle of winter, you’ll see it in a completely different way. The landscape is covered in a thick layer of snow, there are a lot of ski resorts in the area, and thrill-seekers are on their way to conquer the snow-covered slopes.

Binsar

Binsar is a less well-known hill station in India that people go to in the winter. But trust us when we say it’s one of the most amazing places you’ll ever see. It is a cute little hill station in Uttarakhand with amazing views of Kedarnath, Trishul, and Nanda Devi peaks that reach up into the clouds, making it a photographer’s dream. The Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can see a wide range of plant and animal species, makes this hill resort even more interesting.

Dalhousie

Dalhousie is another hill station in Himachal Pradesh, but it is different from the others. It is a great place to go if you like colonial charm. When the temperature drops below freezing and a cool breeze blows, this place is at its best. Come out and have the best time of your life. In December, Dalhousie hosts the National Himalayan Winter Trekking Expedition, which brings together a lot of people who like to hike.

Rann of Kutch

Want to sleep outside in sub-zero temperatures on the largest salt sand desert? Then, during the winter, go to Rann of Kutch. This place is known for the two-month-long cultural festival Rann Utsav. It looks like something out of a dream. Traditional food, real handicrafts, a desert safari, stargazing, and a large stretch of white land—what a sight! A lot of people from all over the world come to the Kutch Festival, so you should make your plans well in advance.

Goa

When winter comes, people all over the world start to have parties. And Goa, the party capital of India, is a great place to start your New Year’s celebrations. This place is great for a winter vacation because it has a nice climate, quiet beaches, a variety of water sports, pulsing nightclubs, and parties that go on until dawn. Aside from this, travellers love the place for the Goa Carnival, the Goa Film Festival, and the Christmas parties.

Wayanad

Want to spend the winter at a hill station but can’t stand the cold? Wayanad is a great place to spend a dream vacation in the Western Ghats. This beautiful town is in Kerala, which is known as “God’s Own Country.” It has great food, culture, history, and friendly people. Wayanad has a lot of places to watch birds and go trekking, which makes things even more interesting. These places draw tourists from all over the country.

Udaipur

Udaipur has the kind of charm that brings in hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. It is called the “Venice of the East” for a reason. This is because of the beautiful Lake Palace, Fateh Sagar Lake, Jag Mandir, Lake Pichola, and other marvels from the Middle Ages. In the winter, when the Aravali hills and lakes work together to keep the temperature just right for sightseeing, there are more tourists than usual. And if you like art, plan your trip during the Shilpgram Arts and Crafts Festival to see traditional performances.

Jaisalmer

Even though Jaisalmer is usually hot and humid for most of the year, the best time to visit this desert city is in December and January. Adventure junkies can do things like desert camping, camel rides, quad biking, dune bashing, parasailing, and more. The Desert Festival, Nerasi Music School, Kuldhara Village, and Sonar Quila will take you on a cultural journey.

In the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, there is a hill station called Tawang Tawang. It is definitely the hardest place on this list to get to in the winter, but the views of the snow-covered Himalayas, valleys filled with colourful prayer flags, and old monasteries would make it all worth it. If you want to see cultural events, go to Tawang in January or February for the Torgya Festival or Losar.

Gangtok

Gangtok is a unique hill station that has something for everyone. It is on the old Indo-China Silk Route. Every kind of traveller, from Buddhist pilgrims to tourists to people on their honeymoon, can find something to do. Rich plant and animal life, calm high-altitude lakes, colourful monasteries, and views of the surreal Himalayas make you want to stay there longer than anywhere else. Even though it doesn’t snow in Gangtok, the temperature rises by about 4 degrees, so be careful what you pack for the trip.

Dharamshala

Dharamshala is a small town in Himachal Pradesh that is often called “Little Lhasa.” It is in the Kangra district. This quiet town is a classic Indian hill station because it is surrounded by the Dhauladhar Range and has thick alpine plants, narrow streets, and Colonial buildings. There is also a large group of Tibetans who follow His Holiness the Dalai Lama and live there. This is another reason why it is so popular. The food, music, and atmosphere of Dharamshala have changed a lot because of them. Even though the weather is nice enough to visit this popular tourist spot any time of year, you must go in the winter.

Mussoorie

Mussoorie is called “The Queen of the Hills,” and in the winter, when it snows a lot, it turns into a white paradise. This hill station has a more romantic feel because of the snowy pine, oak, and cedar trees, buildings, roads, and mountains. Enjoy the winter scenery from the Lal Tibba Scenic View Point, walk along the snowy Mall Road, or sit at the Le Llama Café and drink hazelnut coffee.

Jodhpur

The best time to visit the “Blue City” of Rajasthan, Jodhpur, is in the winter. With temperatures between 7 and 27 degrees Celsius, you can freely and comfortably visit all of Jodhpur’s famous sites. Some of these are the big Mehrangarh Fort, the beautiful Umaid Bhawan Palace, and the peaceful Mahamandir Temple.

Shillong

The best time to visit Meghalaya’s capital city, Shillong, and look around is in the winter. It’s called “The Scotland of the East” because of its colonial history, beautiful nature, and nice weather. Lady Hydari Park, Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures, Ward’s Lake, and Elephant Falls are all places to see in the city.

Varanasi

Varanasi is one of the most important places to visit for Hindus. The holy ghats, religious songs, and ashrams give the city a peaceful and heavenly feel. The best things about going to this holy city in the winter are watching the sunrise and sunset, taking a boat ride on the misty Ganges, and sitting by the ghats to watch religious ceremonies.

Nashik

The best vineyards in India are in Nashik, which is a paradise for wine lovers. The city has a lot more to offer tourists than just a beautiful view. This includes things like white water rafting, trekking, wine, music, and food festivals that are fun and exciting. So, the best time to visit the city is in the winter.

Puducherry

Puducherry is one of the most romantic places to visit in the winter, especially if you come from a colder place like the north. It looks like a French town. This beach city is a great place to relax because the weather is warm and not too hot. You can try French food or try your hand at water sports, among other things.

Ooty

Ooty is a popular hill station in Tamil Nadu. The Nilgiris, which are always green, are all around it. During the summer, Ooty was a vacation spot for British people, so you can still see a lot of things from the colonial era, like St. Stephen’s Church. In the winter, mist covers the town’s famous coffee plantations and dense plant life, giving it a dreamy and romantic feel.

Coorg

Coorg is another place on this list that is known as the “Scotland of India” because of how beautiful its landscape is. This town in the Western Ghats is a popular place for tourists to go when they want peace and quiet. This natural paradise is a great place to visit in the winter because of its coffee plantations, beautiful waterfalls, and misty atmosphere.

Munnar

People call Munnar the “Kashmir of the South” because of its beautiful scenery. It is in the Idukki District of Kerala. Munnar’s mild winters are also a great time to do adventurous things like trekking, hiking, rappelling, etc. You can have a picnic at Echo Point, climb the strange Anamudi Peak, and try different kinds of tea at the TATA Tea Museum.