A tilt of an axis, a shift in the seasons and a drop in the temperature, come winters and India finds itself preparing for one of the enchanting seasons to travel across the peninsula. With a string of holidays and a list of festivals, winters in India are marked by vacations to plan the year around. To turn your regular trip into a new discovery that you’ve been longing for since long, here is a list of 6 places to visit this winter in India.
1. Solang Valley, Himachal Pradesh
The winter paradise of Manali also known as Solang Nala, high altitude valley that lies at the top of Kullu in the Himachal Pradesh. It features high mountain slopes that turn milky white when it snows. Solang valley has turned into a major ski destination in India being a snowfall prone area.
The cold season starts from October and continues till March, shadowing the entire hill station with mist and snow. The temperature then drops below the freezing point and the mountains get covered in a thick blanket of snow making the place a perfect destination for skiing.
2. Thajiwas Glacier, Jammu & Kashmir
The glacier is a striking silvery scene set against emerald meadows and a clear blue sky. A perfect place to witness the beginning of snowfall when you go for a glacial sighting in this winter wonderland.
The road will be long and the journey hard but the captivating views make it worthwhile. The place drops down to zero levels during this month. Visit the undiscovered Thajiwas glacier to experience sledge rides, snowboarding, and skiing with breathtaking hills on the backdrop.
3. Dawki, Meghalaya
Winter brings with it a mesmerizing beauty with a freezing cold. Dawki, in Shillong, has a pleasant temperature ranging from 12 to 20 degrees and is the only hill station in the country which is accessible from all sides. The water of Umngot River in Dawki is so clear and sparks optical illusion that one could be tricked into thinking that the boat is floating in midair.
The place has interesting and amazing festivals to be enjoyed. Festivals like Tysim, Baghmara, Pinjarra Festival, Williamnagar festival and Tura winter festival are some of the amazing and interesting festivals to be enjoyed this winter.
4. Nagoa Beach, Goa
Nagoa beach offers solitude and serenity to weary tourists. This beach is a 20 minutes drive from Diu city. The virgin beaches of Diu are so breathtaking in December that you’ve to see it to believe it. The temperature ranges from 16 degrees to 23 degree Celsius.
Bonfire on the pristine beaches adds beauty to the place and serves as a perfect honeymoon destination in India. The horse-shoe shaped beach is ideal for sailing, swimming and water skiing which are the adventurous things to be done there.
5. Binsar, Uttarakhand
Binsar is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular places to visit in winter in India is adorned with sky-kissing peaks. In the lap of statuesque and breathtakingly beautiful peaks of Nanda Devi, Pachachuli and Trishul, lies the sleepy hill town.
The serene and dense forests of Binsar wildlife sanctuary makes the place worth visiting. One can admire the panoramic view of the Himalayan peaks like Kedarnath and Nanda Devi from Zero Point in Binsar. Binsar is every photographer’s, poet’s, and writer’s dream.
6. Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
Tawang is a town in Arunachal Pradesh, profusely bestowed with pristine nature and a vibrant ethnicity. With a mesh of India and China and the popular Tawang Monastery plays a special role in attracting different travelers. Coupled with a natural and historical endowment, the beauty of Tawang serves as a visual treat.
Sela pass, Tawang monastery, Taktsang Gompa, Gorichean peak climbing, Shongaster Lake are some of the sightseeing places here. Nature is at its best at Nuranang waterfalls and one can see the hydel power station, go till the Indo-china border at Bumla pass, or enjoy swimming the Bap Teng Kang waterfalls, or honor the country at Jaswant Garh.