Monsoon will be arriving soon and the stormy weather sets the plans for escape. Let’s find out the top 20 monsoon destinations in India that you must visit to enjoy rain.
Monsoon is not really a favorite season to many due to the constant raining and water-logged situation is many parts of India. However, in a country like India; rain is associated with love, romance, and traveling. In India, the monsoon season typically comes in mid-June or July and the rain offers the lush green beauty of nature with freshness and bliss. Whether it is the smell of the petrichor or the fierce waterfalls and rivers; monsoon is capable of changing the known landscapes into a surreal world. There are plenty of monsoon destinations in India that can offer an otherworldly taste of the rainy season. So, if you are a pluviophile and looking forward to exploring such places, here are the top 20 monsoon destinations In India.
- Cherrapunji
Cherrapunji is famous for having the most amount of rain in the country and often flash floods take place in this beautiful monsoon paradise. However, that cannot stop the travel freaks and monsoon lovers from visiting this place. The intensity of rain in monsoon and the natural beauty in Cherrapunji is truly unmatched. It is one of the most popular places in Meghalaya that offers lush green valleys, jungles, hills, and fearsome waterfalls. It is recommended to book your tickets priory and take ponchos along as the weather can get drastically wet. However, make sure to take some winter clothing as well since the temperature stays somewhere around 12-16℃.
Nearest airport: Guwahati Airport
- Lonavala
Lonavala is one of the famous tourist attractions in India which is often compared with Europe for its exotic beauty. During the monsoon, Lonavala becomes one of the best places in Maharashtra to visit which offers a romantic essence with a bit of magic. You can find an amazing view of the city from Tiger’s Point and the Tungarli Lake keeps overflowing at this time. The famous Tikona Fort also appears more charming with the water droplets on the marble. You can find plenty of aesthetic frames to click here. The weather stays comfortable at 22-26℃.
Nearest airport: Lohegaon Airport
- Mount Abu
It is the highest region in Rajasthan which can help you create the best monsoon memories. This hill station in a desert and hilly area gets its life back in the Monsoon and provides a quite soothing experience along with unparalleled beauty and charm. Mount Abu’s charm is globally famous and so many foreigners visit here every year, especially in the monsoon. The Dilwara Temples, Nakki Lake, Toad Rock, etc can be considered for sightseeing along with a few other places.
Nearest airport: Dabok Airport
- Wayanad
Kerala is known as God’s own country and Wayanad is one most beautiful places in the state. Monsson is well celebrated in the South where it stays hot throughout the year. During monsoons, the temperature can drop below 30℃. Here, you can also enjoy a three-day monsoon festival, called Splash. The district is full of tea gardens and beautiful hiking trails in the hilly paradise.
Nearest airport: Calicut International Airport
- Coorg
Coorg is one of the hidden gems in Karnataka which is filled with numerous waterfalls and tea gardens. Coorg or Kodagu can offer you both the rich history of the region as well as a rich diversity of flora and fauna. The captivating beauty of the place and cool temperature of around 21-24℃ make it perfectly enjoyable. During monsoon, Coorg is greener, cooler, and more charming. If you visit the place, make sure to get yourself a succulent as this place can offer many.
Nearest airport: Mangalore International Airport
- Darjeeling
West Bengal’s Darjeeling has become globally famous and the ‘Queen of the Himalayas’ has a separate fanbase. It is the best escape to the mountains for most Bengali people. With an elevation of 2,050 m, this spectacular hill station can offer you a captivating monsoon essence. Starting from its lush tea gardens, and timeless toy train, to Mall Road; there are plenty of interesting things to do here. It is also the corridor for the north-eastern region of India. So, you can plan your tour further from there. But, make sure to keep extra buffer days as landslide is a common incident in mountains.
Nearest airport: Bagdogra Airport
- Shillong
Shillong is one of the most beautiful hilly areas in the North-eastern region of India that is situated amidst the Khasi and Jayanti Hills. The place offers some of the best natural wonders including numerous waterfalls, caves, forests, as well as living footbridges. In the monsoon, the waterfalls start roaring with a huge amount of water such as the Bishop Falls, Elephant Falls, Crinoline Falls, etc to name some. However, you might not be able to enjoy the crystal water of Dawki Lake as the water surface does not stay calm during rain. The temperature stays somewhere around 12-16℃.
Nearest airport: Umroi Airport
- Spiti Valley
Himachal Pradesh is one of the most happening states in India where most travel lovers visit sometimes even twice a year. Spiti Valley is one of the most attractive places in Himachal which is also known as the little Tibet. It is recommended to not participate in rafting or trekking during heavy monsoons and the government will not approve of it either. However, you can enjoy the monsoon beauty as well as the snow-capped Himalayan ranges from this valley. You can also find some fascinating monasteries here.
Nearest airport: Kullu Airport
- Munnar
Kerala consists of many hidden gems in India and Munnar is one of the top of them. This hill town is famous for its rich natural beauty that includes, virgin forests, lush tea gardens, and big mountains like Anamudi. During monsoon, you can enjoy a silvery mist or fog covering the area while a calming atmosphere captivates you. The hill town receives a major portion of rain during monsoon which helps revitalize the flora and fauna of this region.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport
- Malshej Ghat
If you love the smell of petrichor then Malshej Ghat is the place you need to visit to enjoy the feeling of a heavy downpour. It is one of the best monsoon vacation places in Maharashtra that belongs to the western ghat region. It is one of the most fascinating destinations in the state which is also home to thousands of different species of animals, birds, and plants. You can also visit this place if you have a knack for bird photography.
Nearest airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
- Kodaikanal
The ‘Princess of Hill stations’, or Kodaikanal is another monsoon gem to visit in the South and is located in the lap of Palani Hills. Although the place stays hot over the year, monsoon brings a cool and moist breeze that cools down the place and makes it look greener, fresher, and more tantalizing. Photographers often come here to capture natural rainbows in the monsoon as a spectacular and vivid view can be found here.
Nearest airport: Madurai Airport
- Alleppey
Alleppey, officially known as Alappuzha is best known for its huge and luxurious houseboats, back waters, meandering rivers, and a lush green vibe. This place in Kerala can offer you a mix of both summer and monsoon as often shows clouds and the sun playing hide and seek in the sky. It is like, nature wants to communicate through rain. You can find plenty of tourist attractions as well, such as Marari Beach, Revi Karunakaran Museum, Alappuzha Beach, and so on. The temperature stays around 25-30℃.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport
- Mahabaleshwar
It is one of the famous hill stations that is situated south of Mumbai, in Maharashtra. It is a charismatic monsoon destination which is located 622 m higher from the sea level. It is situated in the Sahyadri ranges which allows getting a magnificent view of the mighty peaks. Surrounded by the Forest, this place can offer the enjoyment of trekking and backpacking. You can visit the mist-covered Wilson’s Point to get a magical view. Similarly, there is also Lingamala Falls with its fierce water flow and last but not least, the Venna Lake. Mahabaleshwar is a dream destination in Monsoon with a temperature of only 18-22℃.
Nearest airport: Pune Airport
- Udaipur
If you are looking for a place where you can enjoy the monsoon yet not have to face a tremendous amount of rainfall, visit Udaipur in Rajasthan which offers a blend of history, heritage, and natural beauty. Also known as the ‘City of Lakes’, this city consists of colorful bazaars, forts, lakes, and many others where you can enjoy the luxurious aura of the Maharajas of India. Some of the most beautiful lakes from this region would be Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar Lake, and many others.
Nearest airport: Maharana Pratap Airport
- Goa
Goa is one of the dream destinations that stays on the top of the list for many, whether Indian people or foreigners. Known as the ‘Party capital of India’, Goa is often compared with Las Vegas in the USA. The beautiful beaches in Goa can offer you picturesque sceneries in the monsoon that attract many photographers. However, it is recommended to not participate in any water adventure activities since the sea can stay fierce during monsoon. Make sure to explore the Dudhsagar Falls as well as the charm of Aguada Fort.
Nearest airport: Goa International Airport
- Orchha
Orchhais dry town in Madhya Pradesh which can offer a greater deal of greenery in the monsoon. This town was built by Raja Rudra Pratap back in 1501. It is situated on the river bank of Betwa. One can find numerous temples and forts in the same region which are the historical ruins from the past. The ruins look especially beautiful in and after Monsoon as they are cleaned and freshly washed. The temperature during monsoon stays somewhere near 23-30℃.
Nearest airport: Gwalior Airport
- Chikmagalur
Are you a coffee-loving pluviophile who likes to enjoy a hot cup of coffee on a rainy day? Then Chikmagalur can be the dream destination for you which is also revered as the ‘Coffee land of Karnataka’. This place is situated at the lap of the Mullayanagiri ranges and consists of the most coffee plants in the country. Rain here helps to bring the aroma of coffee beans and makes it even more tasty. It is also the place for a vast tropical rainforest which is a favorite destination for bird and wildlife photographers.
Nearest airport: Mangalore Airport
- Ranikhet
Uttarakhand is known as ‘Dev Bhumi’ or the land of God where numerous peaks can be found. Every year, thousands of trekkers visit this state to climb mountains. Ranikhet is one of the most beautiful hill stations in Uttarakhand which captures more attention from the tourists during monsoon when it is clean, green, and serene. It is perfect for people who are looking for peace and solace in their lives.
Nearest airport: Pantnagar Airport
- Pahalgam
Pahalgam is one of the most beautiful places in Jammu and Kashmir. The natural beauty of this place is beyond imagination and capable of attracting travel enthusiasts from every country. This place can offer you a spiritual feeling, offering an essence of retreat. Some of the most visited places from Pahalgam are Aru Valley, Betaab Valley, Liddle River, Chandawari and the list goes on.
Nearest airport: Srinagar Airport
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands
If you want to enjoy your monsoon on sea and islands; Andaman & Nicobar is the best choice for you. There are plenty of attractive beaches as well as the natural beauty of sea life and forests which makes this more attractive. The islands usually stay very hot and humid during summer but in monsoon, it can get much cooler and enjoyable as well.
Nearest airport: Port Blair Airport
So, if you are not afraid to get a little wet, perhaps this is the best time to embark on an enthralling travel journey in the monsoon.
