10 Best holiday destinations in India during Monsoon

Coorg is fused with an element of beauty and tranquility. It is Karnataka’s very own paradise and between July to September, the mountains and valleys douse themselves in various shades of green and little portions of vibrant colors of the flowers helps soothe the eyes from the rather harsh summer. One can embark on a stroll in the rain through the valleys or just see the misty mountains. Coorg also hosts a wide range of flora and fauna in the form of its mesmerising waterfalls, lakes, aromatic coffee plantations.

Coorg is also known as the Scotland of India, owing to its picturesque hilly setting. The weather becomes quite pleasant and cool because of the heavy rains. August is the best time to visit the splendor of the seasonal waterfalls of Coorg. It provides the tourist to indulge in adventure sports like river rafting, etc.

The historic town of Kumbhalgarh is located about 85 km from Udaipur in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan. This beautiful place is famous for its magnificent monuments, royal chhatris and glorious palaces. It houses the well known Kumbhalgarh Fort which has  intricately carved temples and superb artistry which makes it one of the strongest fortresses in the country.

During the monsoons, this place is spectacle to witness as it has many tourist destinations that are quite appealing to the visitors such as the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, this is popular with wildlife aficionados and birdwatchers. Located at the foothills of pebbly mountains, the city is filled tales of valor and heroism of the legendary Rana Kumbha. One of the most breathtaking views that a visitor can witness is the presence of a fort itself within the Kumbhalgarh Fort. Kumbhalgarh receives moderate to heavy rainfall. Irregular rainfalls make Kumbhalgarh look very beautiful during this season.

Aurangabad resides in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. Its name originates after the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, Aurangabad is a tourist hub of Maharashtra and is quite famous due to the marvelous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves that lie on its outskirts. This city resembles heaven itself during monsoons as it brings out it’s illustrious and lush scenery with the onset of the rains, making it appealing to the visitor’s eye.

This city is the administrative headquarters of the Marathwada region and is also known as the ‘City of Gates’. Some of the best places to visit in this city are Ajanta caves, Bibi ka Maqbara, Kailasa temple and Ghrishneshwar Shiva Temple in Ellora.

Famously known as the “Scotland of the East” because of the rolling hills and peaks around the town, Shillong during monsoons is quite a tourist attraction with it’s lush foggy hills, thundering waterfalls and crystal clear lakes. It’s a great getaway from the city life as it is situated amongst nature which is pure bliss. These picturesque views make it a heaven for mountain lovers and peace seekers.

One can unwind amid nature and revive your tired body and mind. The hill station is surrounded by many walking trails where you can enjoy long nature walks. Sites like the Nohkalikai Falls, Don Bosco Museum, Air Force Museum, Capt. Williamson Sangma State Museum, Wankhar Entomology Museum, and Rhino Heritage Museum should be a must visit if you visit Shillong.

The bright green fields and hilly terrains of Pondicherry enable the tourist to relax in this cool place during the monsoons. With the coffee plantations being one of the major tourist attractions of Pondicherry as it not only fills the air with its fresh coffee aroma but produces the feeling of liveliness amongst the people visiting this place.

The most famous tourist attractions of Pondicherry that one must visit are the French War Memorial, Pondicherry Museum and Jawahar Toy Museum, the Paradise Beach, Botanical gardens and the Pondicherry beach.

Classically known as the Place of Ripples, Udaipur which belongs to Rajasthan is one beautiful city. Rajasthan receives one of the lowest rainfalls in the country, making it an ideal destination to visit during monsoons with just enough rains for a pleasant climate and easy travel. Udaipur, the city of lakes, has been regarded as one of the most romantic destinations in India. It gets better with places like Sajjan Garh, a palace situated 1100 ft. high above the surrounding and 3100 ft. from sea level, that offer a panoramic view of the city and its lakes. Interestingly, it is also called as the Monsoon Palace. Udaipur, has a royal history attached to it as the place truly reflects its glorious past of the maharajas with a number of palaces and bazaars and splendid lakes. During monsoons, this place revives with a hint of greenery around its pristine lakes and palaces to give you a mesmerising view.

Situated at the northern part of India, Ladakh is arguably the best place to visit in July in India. Its high rising mountain peaks, stunning lakes, pleasant weather, and breathtaking scenery add to the charm of this North Indian destination. With little rainfalls, splendid Pangong Lake, rugged mountain ranges and picturesque Nubra valley and a motorcycle and you’re set for enriching ride. June – September is a peak season here in Ladakh. Since, the rainfall is not very heavy in July, trekking trails will be open.

The Zanskar Valley, Pangong Tso Lake, Khardung-La Pass, Spituk Gompa, and Hemis National Park are the most popular places to visit in Ladakh. Apart from that one could indulge in recreational activities like watching the Llamas perform colorful Chhams, or spot a snow leopard at the Hemis National Park, ride a double-humped Bactrian camel, or a visit to Lake Pangong during the rain, or ride a bike up to the Khardung-La Pass.

Kerala is a paradise in the monsoons. Munnar is a prime example to that statement with it’s mist induced rolling tea gardens and spice plantation, Munnar in August is nothing short of a nature lover’s paradise. The high mountains half covered in mist while the rain re energizes everything it can touch. It’s the ideal escape from your buzzling life as it provides you with the solitude time amidst the mountains. Not being a tourist season in August, you can enjoy all of this without any rush and the off season prices. The undulating hills of Munnar, South India’s prime tea-growing regions, are carpeted in emerald-green tea plantations.
Encased with lush green foliage, monsoons in Munnar have a charm of their own. This is also a great time to enjoy discounts on hotel tariffs and enjoy Munnar without the presence large number of tourists. The ambiance makes the rains look more beautiful and your holiday more surreal than ever.

Wayanad is just 76 km from the Kozhikode ocean shores, making it the best mound station in India. Monsoon tourism is picking it’s pace in Wayanad, as it experiences good rains. Monsoon in Wayanad makes it good place to visit in August in India. The monsoons bring people  to Wayanad just to enjoy the rains here as some of the areas of wayanad get one of the highest rain in India. Rains, rocks, lush plantations, breezy weather, adventures activities like trekking through a rainforest area are some of the reasons for one to visit this place during monsoons in India.

Rightfully known as the Land of Magical Vistas and the “princess of hill stations” this is one of the best monsoon destinations in India. In its true nature, Kodaikanal symbolizes its name “The Gift of Forest”. Nature does seem to steal the breath of the viewer in Kodaikanal with its surreal beauty.Situated in the Palani hills of western ghat it offers the most breathtaking waterfalls, lakes, vibrant greenery and spectacular views of the ghats and hills.

Fascinate yourself with a walk around the Berijam lake and visit the Kodai lake which is the man-made lake surrounded by rocks and trees and enjoy the scenic view of the hills at Palni hills.