5 Places to Visit in India in Summer

India is blessed with mountains, hills, beaches, exotic forest, and other places to visit in summer that provide some respite from the scorching heatwave. In India, summer begins in the month of April and continues until the end of June. For those looking to break free & gather some memories during these summer holidays in India, here are some amazing cold places in India.

1. Auli: Coolest Place in India

The best time to visit Auli is throughout the year. While Auli weather in summer is quite pleasant, the ideal time of visiting this paradise depends majorly on what you wish to experience at this ski resort. While this winter wonderland experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year, Auli summer temperature is absolutely perfect to enjoy the beautiful outdoors in Uttarakhand.

Auli is to India what Switzerland is to Europe. Being synonymous with skiing, this thrilling winter sport happens to be a must experience when in Auli. There is no dearth of snow in Auli hill station in summer or winter as the whole ski resort is bound by snow on all sides. With the astonishing Himalayan Range in the backdrop, Auli serves as a great destination to enjoy skiing for beginners, amateurs, and experienced skiers all alike. How to Reach: Auli is well-connected to the nearby cities in Uttarakhand, it is also easily accessible from prime metro cities like Delhi.

2. Shillong: Scotland of East

Located in one of the Seven Sisters of India (seven states), Shillong serves as the capital of Meghalaya state in the country’s northeast region. There are indeed many similarities between this place with Scotland, and this is why Shillong is called Scotland of the East.

Shillong’s landscape is beautified with rolling and sky soaring hills bestowed with lush greenery. Most times, you can browse through pictures of both Scotland and Shillong, and you will actually get your mind boggled wondering which photograph is of which destination! On a cloudy day, the mist-laden pastures look nothing less than a paradise. The rich, colourful culture of Shillong makes it stand out. Just like the Scottish people, the tribes feel pride presenting folk performances, and it’s intriguing to sit back and witness.

The best time to visit Shillong is between September and May as the weather remains pleasant during these months. It does occasionally rain, but it is relatively lesser than in the monsoons season, i.e. between June and August. How to Reach: Guwahati Railway Station is the nearest railhead to Shillong, which is about 135 km away. From outside the station, travellers can hire a taxi or cab or take a bus to reach Shillong.

3. Lonavala: For Lush Greenery

Just about an hour’s drive away from Mumbai, Lonavala is among the super-hit summer holiday destinations in India and cool places in India, especially for Mumbai-dwellers. You can choose to relax in the lovely properties or step out to explore the caves or click pictures with lush green backgrounds. Escaping the monotonous city life, Lonavala offers a myriad of activities to indulge in.

Several places of interest around Lonavala and Khandala attract tourists throughout the year. They include vivid and picturesque lakes, cliff-tops, eluding caves, and magnificent forts. Dams and waterfalls are a pioneer attraction during and immediately after the monsoon. Some of these places are Rajmachi Point, Lonavala Lake, and Shivaji Udyan, Valvan Dam, Ryewood Park, Della Adventure Park, Duke’s Nose, Tiger’s Leap and Lohagad and Visapur forts. The best time to visit Lonavala is between the months of October and May. It is advised not to visit Lonavala in the monsoon season between the months of June and September, as it experiences heavy rainfall during this time. How to Reach: Lonavala is 96 km away from the city of Mumbai and only 64 km from the modern city of Pune. It falls in between the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, thus making commute all the easier. And if you can’t find a rental car, then you have buses and trains to rely on.

4. Spiti: A Perfect Summer Retreat

Spiti Valley is a cold desert mountain valley located high in the Himalayas in the north-eastern part of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The name "Spiti" means "The middle land", i.e. the land between Tibet and India. The Spiti Valley Trek is a haven for adventure seekers and trekkers as it offers treks through some of the most unseen, dream-like landscapes, watched over by majestic sceneries. The mountain ropeway from Kibber to Chichum is also another popular tourist attraction that offers spectacular views of the gorge below, as well a bird’s eye view of the surrounding peaks. Spiti valley is famous for its natural beauty and cultural heritage. Tabo monastery is one of the most prominent attractions in Spiti. The monasteries in Spiti are renowned for spectacular murals, ancient temples, and several stupas. The best time to visit Spiti is from March to June. The ones who are into a relaxing vacation should visit Spiti during this season when the temperature ranges from 0 - 15-degree Celcius, which starts in March and lasts until June. How to Reach: Regular bus services ply to and fro the city of Spiti Valley. They operate on a daily basis, whether day or night, from places like New Delhi, Pathankot, Shimla etc. You can also take shared taxis or cabs for the same route.

5. Kalimpong: For Picturesque Vistas

Kalimpong is a virgin hill station in West Bengal renowned for its panoramic valley views, Buddhists monasteries and churches and Tibetan handicrafts etc. Known for its panoramic views of the valley, Kalimpong serves as the best place for summer vacations in India. Settled on the foothills of Shivalik ranges, it is located at the height of 1,250 m that overlooks the beautiful Teesta Valley. The place is dotted with Buddhist monasteries which is why you will witness several monks living a peaceful life.

There are many religious sites along with temples to explore in Kalimpong, which keeps the tourists busy. Kalimpong is a beautiful place of great attraction. This sleepy little town situated at an altitude of 1,200 meters, some 50 km to the east of Darjeeling. It once used to be the hub of the trans-Himalayan trade between India and Tibet when merchants used to ferry commerce by mule caravan over the Jelepla pass on the Sikkim-Tibet border.

The places to visit are Kalimpong Arts and Craft Center for handicraft goods; Tharpa Choling Monastery, a repository of old scriptures, and documents; Thongsa (Bhutan) Monastery, the oldest in the area; Dharmodaya Vihar, a Nepalese Buddhist Temple; Parnami Mandir and Mangal Dham; Durpin Danda from where the mountain ranges of Sikkim, including Jelepla, Tiger Hill and the confluence of the Relli, Riang and Tista rivers can be views Zong Dog Palri Fo Brang Monastery at Durpin Danda; Deolo View Point for magnificent views, and Kalimpong famous flower nurseries. Best time to visit Kalimpong is either March to May or September to November. How to reach: The nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport, located 67 km away. Closest Railhead is New Jalpaiguri Station, 72 km away.