12 Best Places to Visit in Winter in India (Detailed Guide & Cost Saving Tips)

Imagine this…the Autumn season has ended and the next thing you feel as you wake up from your bed in the morning is that the weather has grown colder. Outside of your window, you see the trees and plants have started to shed their leaves, animals are collecting food months ahead and in the blink of an eye, the day has ended and that makes you realize the daylight has grown shorter too, expressing the onset of the beautiful winter.

Well, winter feels magical, isn’t it?

The winter month of December is around the corner and if you are someone who loves winter and traveling then visiting beautiful places in winter in India is a must. The cold mild breeze that rushes through your face, the mild warmth of the sun, and the end of Autumn, all call for a cozy, unforgettable, winter vacation to the best places in India that would leave you wanting to come back again and again. So, let's begin our journey through the snowfall and chilled winds towards some of the best places in India you can visit in winter.

1. Gulaba, Manali: A Scenic Winter Village

Image Credits - The Himalayan Diary

Gulaba, Manali is easily one of the best places to visit in North India during winter. You will find a mention of this place on almost every other blog. This popular North India winter destination is situated in Himachal Pradesh which in itself is a treasure of beauty. Gulaba in Manali is a village located 27 km away from Manali where you can witness breathtaking snowy sceneries, and mountains and have an adventurous experience. One of the famous Bollywood movies, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani was shot here.

Distance from popular landmarks: 27 km Away from Manali, 25 km from Rohtang Pass, and just 4 km away from the Solang Valley

Best Time to Travel: The best time to visit Gulaba, Manali is between November to February

Nearest Railway Station: There are no trains available from Manali to Gulaba so the best way to reach Gulaba is by private cab via road or by bus service if you are on a budget

Nearest Airport: There are no flights from Manali to Gulaba

Hotels & Resorts Around: The Mountain Glory, Solang Valley Resort, The Orchard Greens, The Tranquil Inn & others

Things to Do: Stargazing, Trekking, Hiking, Camping, Paragliding, riding a horse or yark, Skiing, Zorbing.

Nearby Popular Winter Attractions: Rohtang Pass, Solang Valley, Kothi

Image Credits: Magicpin

“Kutch Nahi Dekha, Toh Kuch Nahi Dekha” - Amitabh Bachchan

Kutch is a vast district in Gujarat that has an area larger than the entire area of states like Haryana. With its surreal beauty of large salt marshes, extremely cold weather, historic attractions, cultural festivals like Rann Utsav & magical full-moon nights, Kutch of Gujarat is easily one of the best places to visit in winter with family and friends. Gujarat Tourism also hosts a popular festival during these times called Rann festival or Official Rann Utsav. It is a 100-day carnival of music, dance & natural beauty that you can find bustling during the winter season in Dhordo village near Rann of Kutch.

Distance from popular landmarks: 45 km from the Great Rann of Kutch, 48 km from Dhordo village, 72.2 km from Bhuj

Best Time to Travel: The best time to visit Kutch, Gujarat is between October to February

Nearest Railway Station: Bhuj Railway Station

Nearest Airport: Bhuj

Hotels & Resorts Around: The Neemaya Hotel, Ramada, Holiday Village Resort & Spa

Things to Do: Enjoy cultural festivals, attend the Rann Utsav Carnival, camping, camel safaris, visiting natural sanctuaries & historical places

Nearby Popular Winter Attractions: Bhuj, Mandvi, Little Rann, Kutch Desert, Kalo Dunger

Image Credits - Thrillophilia

The Ridge of Shimla is located in the heart of Shimla and is a hub for many famous government functions, celebrations, and fairs. Tourists coming to Shimla do not miss visiting this Ridge due to its picturesque surroundings & mountains engulfed in the beauty of nature and being one of the most popular winter destinations in India. When witnessing a winter season in the Shimla Ridge amidst the vividly vanishing mountains, you are sure to have a lifetime of a winter vacation experience.

Distance from popular landmarks: 2-5 Minutes travel from Shimla to Shimla Ridge, 2 minutes distance to Christ Church

Best Time to Travel: December to January

Nearest Railway Station: Shimla Railway Station

Nearest Airport: Chandigarh Airport

Hotels & Resorts Around: Clarkes Hotel, Aarika Homestay, Kalawati Homes Vacation Rentals

Things to Do: The Indian Safari, The Mall, The Himachal State Museum, enjoy snowfall

Nearby Popular Winter Attractions: Shri Hanuman Mandir Jakhoo, Christ Church, Green Valley

Image Credits: MakeMyTrip

Would you love to see a seemingly unending chain of mountains full of pine forests and deodar trees under a warm blue sky amidst the chilly breeze of Shimla? If that sounds like an interesting place to visit, let us reassure you that it is. Green Valley of Shimla is one of the best places to visit in winter in India as, during the winter season, the forest gets covered with snowfall which makes it a spectacular view to witness. It has been featured in many Bollywood movies too.

Distance from popular landmarks: 3.4 km from Kufri Amusement Park, 14.3 km from Shimla Ridge, 20.3 km from Chadwick Falls

Best Time to Travel: December to February

Nearest Railway Station: Kalka Railway Station

Nearest Airport: Shimla Airport

Hotels & Resorts Around: Sterling Kufri, Club Mahindra Mashobra

Things to Do: Enjoy the spectacular views of the Green Valley Shimla, explore the local markets around, go on an adventurous drive

Nearby Popular Winter Attractions: Shimla Ridge, Kufri Amusement Park, Chadwick Falls, Shri Hanuman Mandir Jakhoo, Christ Church

Image Credits: Goibibo

Moving through the chilly destinations of India, we have stumbled upon the glacial lake of Sikkim, Tsomgo Lake also known as Changu Lake. This serene, peaceful winter destination of Sikkim gets covered with Alpine vegetation during the summer and autumn months and in the winter season, you get to see abstract reflections of the hills and mountains in this lake.

Just a few kilometers away from Tsomgo Lake is the Baba Mandir, another popular destination of Sikkim. An exalted temple was built in the memory of a Punjab Regiment, Harbhajan Singh. Though the temple is a restricted area so you will need to consult an agency. Also, you are required to consult a doctor before visiting places with high altitudes like Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir.

Distance from popular landmarks: 8.5 km from Nathula Pass, 16.3 km distance between Tsomgo Lake & Baba Mandir

Best Time to Travel: December to January

Nearest Railway Station: New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP)

Nearest Airport: Pakyong Airport

Hotels & Resorts Around: Mayfair Spa Resort & Casino, Ashraya Boutique Homestay

Things to Do: Visit a nearby Alpine sanctuary, soak in the beauty of the Alpine flowers, Yak Ride, visit local shops and cafes

Nearby Popular Winter Attractions: Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary, Nathula Pass

Image Credits: Tour My India

If this winter season, you are looking for a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city, amidst the deep valleys and mountains, lakes and ghats, rivers and an unwavering breath of fresh air, this town situated in the Western Ghats of Kerala can be your next best winter trip destination in India. The Munnar town of Kerala is famous for large tea plantations and in the month of December, the temperature drops to upto 10-15 degrees celsius! There are many sanctuaries, waterfalls in Munnar that are a must-visit in December winter.

Distance from popular landmarks: 110 km from Cochin International Airport, 110 km from Aluva railway station, 11.1 km from Mattupetty Dam, 1.3 km from Tea Museum

Best Time to Travel: December to February

Nearest Railway Station: Aluva Railway Station

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport

Hotels & Resorts Around: Blanket Hotel & Spa 5-star Luxury Hotel, Sea Grace Cottage, Fragrant Nature Munnar

Things to Do: Camping, trekking, visit museums, parks, waterfalls, view points, mount biking

Nearby Popular Winter Attractions: Mattupetty Dam, Tea Museum, Pothamedu View Point, Anamudi, Attukad Waterfalls

Auli is a skiing resort and hill station nestled in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand surrounded by the Nanda Devi and Nar Parvat Mountains. In the winter months, Auli turns into a fairytale spot for tourists and travelers as they get to see majestic Himalayan mountain views from its serene snow skiing resort. Apart from that, there are many interesting things to do in Auli such as camping, skiing, sightseeing, trekking, enjoying ropeway rides & many more which easily makes it one of the best places to visit in winters in India.

Distance from popular landmarks: 294.5 km from Dehradun Railway Station, 286 km from Jolly Grant Airport, 282 km from Pangarchulla Trek

Best Time to Travel: November to March

Nearest Railway Station: Dehradun Train Railway Station

Nearest Airport: The Jolly Grant Airport

Hotels & Resorts Around: Panchavati Inn, The Tattva - A Boutique Resort & others

Things to Do: Enjoy driving to the nearby Pangarchulla trek while passing through river Ganga, camping, trekking, sightseeing, snow skiing, enjoy the Himalayan mountain views

Nearby Popular Winter Attractions: Pangarchulla trek, Auli Ropeway, Auli Artificial Lake, Joshimath, Narsingh Temple

Image Credit: Tour My India

Gulmarg, Kashmir is quite a land of art that is located in a cup-shaped valley of Jammu and Kashmir. If you are a sports-lover or are looking for a fun winter destination to visit with your family and friends or for a honeymoon, this adventurous place is for you. Gulmarg is located in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir and is a popular winter attraction in India that offers some exciting winter sports activities like Gulmarg skiing, Gondola cable car ride and other activities like trekking & trout fishing.

Distance from popular landmarks: 4 minutes distance from Gulmarg Gondola Ropeway, 2 minutes distance from Khilan Marg, 6 km from Babareshi Rd

Best Time to Travel: January to February

Nearest Railway Station: Jammu Railway Station

Nearest Airport: Srinagar Airport

Hotels & Resorts Around: The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, Kolahoi Green Heights Gulmarg

Things to Do: Trekking, Camping, Visiting nearby attractions like Mary’s Church, Baba Rezi’s Shrine, Skiing, Gondola Car Cable rides, trout fishing

Nearby Popular Winter Attractions: Mary’s Church, Baba Rezi’s Shrine, Apharwat Peak, Gulmarg Gondola

Image Credits: Aapka Rajasthan

Mount Abu, Rajasthan is a hill station that is situated in the Aravali Range and is famous for its numerous Jain temples, historic heritage, natural scenic beauty, and for being the only hill station in the plain, hot deserts of Rajasthan. In the winter season, the hill station experiences a cold temperature being located at a high altitude. There are many things to do in Mount Abu in the month of December such as enjoying the winter festival, trekking, cultural activities, and hiking to Guru Shikhar.

Distance from popular landmarks: 70.09 km from Shree Pavapuri Tirth, 2.6 km from Dilwara Temples, 1.5 km from Toad Rock

Best Time to Travel: November to March

Nearest Railway Station: Abu Road located in Sihori District

Nearest Airport: Udaipur Airport

Hotels & Resorts Around: Sterling Mount Abu, Chacha Inn The Garden Retreat

Things to Do: Rock Climbing, sightseeing, boating, caving, hiking, camping, visiting Toad Rock, spotting crocodiles, visiting temples, enjoying at sunset point

Nearby Popular Winter Attractions: Dilwara Temples, Nakki Lake, Toad Rock, Trevor’s Tank

Image Credits: Holidify

Nainital is a hill station in Uttarakhand that is popular all year long for its beautiful boat rides, pristine lakes, pleasant weather, snowfall in December, cable car rides & prestigious temples and educational institutions from the British era. Towards the end of December, Nainital transforms into a snowy, winter wonderland which is ideal for a honeymoon. However, it is also a popular winter destination in India visited by friends and family. Being a homeland to several lakes, Nainital much deserves the title of being a misty resort town in Uttarakhand.

Distance from popular landmarks: 1.3 km from Snow Point, 4.6 km from Naina Peak, 2.5 km from Tiffin Top

Best Time to Travel: December to January

Nearest Railway Station: Kathgodam Railhead

Nearest Airport: Pantnagar Airport

Hotels & Resorts Around: Sterling Nainital, Shervani Hilltop Nainital

Things to Do: Cable car rides, boating, visit temples and bird sanctuary, sightseeing, shopping, rock climbing, wildlife viewing

Nearby Popular Winter Attractions: Tiffin Top, Snow Point, Hanuman Garhi, Corbett National Park, Naina Peak

Image Credit: Travel Triangle

Darjeeling is a beautiful town to visit in winter in West Bengal located in the magnificent Eastern Himalayas with historical roots from the British era. The town is the Queen of the Himalayas having unique beauty of its own such as Himalayan Wolves, scenic views of the mountains, British-era architecture, toy train rides, snowfall, and a temperature that goes up to 4 degrees Celsius in the winter season. Around Darjeeling, you can also expect to find a rare breed of Orchids.

Distance from popular landmarks: 100 km from Gangtok, 21.7 km from Tiger Hill, 4.2 km from Darjeeling Rangeet Valley

Best Time to Travel: October to March

Nearest Railway Station: New Jalpaiguri

Nearest Airport: Bagdogra Airport

Hotels & Resorts Around: Sinclairs Darjeeling, Udaan Dekeling Resort

Things to Do: Train toy ride, sightseeing, river rafting, visit tea gardens, camping, local shopping, wildlife

Nearby Popular Winter Attractions: Tiger Hill, Gangtok, Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park, Himalayan Mountaineering, Darjeeling Ropeway

Image Credit: EUttaranchal

The last one on our list of the top 12 places to visit in winter in India is Binsar, a beautiful winter destination located in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. Binsar may not be the most popular winter destination in India. However, it is a small town that has many beautiful things to offer such as splendid views of Jhandi Hills, diverse wildlife sanctuaries, scenic experience of camping among the lush pine forests, cultural and architectural temples & more. In the winter season, Binsar also receives snowfall and the trees get covered with pure white snow.

Distance from popular landmarks: 24.7 km from Chitai Golu Devta Mandir, 24.4 km from Almora, 51.9 km from Kuber Temple (Jageshwar Dham)

Best Time to Travel: October to March

Nearest Railway Station: Kathgodam Railway Station

Nearest Airport: Pantnagar Airport

Hotels & Resorts Around: Binsar Oak Paradise, Rudra Himalayan Retreat

Things to Do: Tekking, paragliding, wildlife viewing, forest walk, skiing

Nearby Popular Winter Attractions: Almora, Kuber Temple, Binsar Zero Point

So this was our list of the 12 best places to visit in winters in India. When it comes to finding the most exotic locations, many of us tend to think about going to places like Bali or Thailand. However, our own country, India, is filled with some of the best and most beautiful places on Earth and when we travel within India, we do not only get to learn more about our country, culture and people but also support local tourists and tourism.

While traveling abroad can be an expensive matter, traveling within India can be expensive too depending upon factors such as accommodation, location, number of people, number of trips you take & many more.

So, how do you travel to these beautiful places while on a budget? Or maybe just save some extra money on your traveling? Let’s quickly have a look at a few tips to save on your travel in India.

Before we begin, please note these suggestions are only valid if you are planning to travel in the winter season in India.

1. Research and compare all the months of a season

Though planning a winter trip in the off-season is not practical for many reasons, you can try to visit these places on certain days of October, November or February months to save a couple of bucks on your booking. Please note that the charges you pay depend also on the day you are choosing to travel. For example, weekends usually cost more than Mondays. 

Generally, most people choose to travel on festival holidays or in the festive season, and due to the high demand these days, flights and hotels are generally expensive. For example, if you choose to stay in the popular Cafe Chalte Chalte of Manali on dates like 15th-16th December, your per night cost comes around Rs.1395 while the same costs around Rs.1860 on dates like 25th-26th December as 25th December is Christmas day.

One of the best ways to save your money on travel in India is to book advance flight tickets. By booking flight tickets in advance you can avail yourself of your journey ticket at a lesser price as compared to booking the same ticket at the last minute. Also, booking flight tickets in advance can help you find the best deals.

Another useful travel tip to save money on traveling in India is to book flight tickets at off-peak times like early mornings or late nights. Since these times are generally off-peak, airlines tend to sell tickets at a lesser price. It is also said that people who book their tickets at midnight on Tuesday save about 6%.

Flights and private transport can be more expensive and can quickly increase your travel expenses. It is best to opt for trains and bus travel if you are budget traveling as these cost less. Many of the winter destinations we have mentioned above like Darjeeling, Shimla, Gulmarg, Nainital, and Rajasthan can be reached via trains. However, you might need to book a car ride or take a bus to reach the final destination. But, this still can be a less costly affair as compared to flights though it also means you would have to compromise on your time.

Every year thousands of people travel to winter destinations in India. Winter seasons are one of the on-peak seasons for hotels and resorts. This means, generally you would find the per night cost of your accommodation at the higher end if you are traveling in winter. But, if you can compromise on your comfort, space and amenities then you can consider staying in a Hostel, PG, or Dharamshala to save money on your travel in India

7. Use Online Coupons & Deals to Book Flights, Hotels and Shop for Your Travel Trip on a Discount Price

Booking a hotel and flight may be a necessary expense of your next winter trip. However, you can save a couple of bucks on such of your necessary travel expenses including your travel shopping expenses such as travel backpacks, itineraries, toiletries, travel aids, etc by using coupons, deals and Promo Codes whenever applicable.

At Desidime, we and our active community of users keep posting about the latest deals, discounts, coupons, & promo codes on all categories including travel.

While choosing accommodation for your travel trip, be sure to also check if the hotel or resort provides complimentary breakfast along with your accommodation package. This would help you save a good amount of money on your travel and food. If you are unable to find one of such suitable packages for you, you can also consider having your lunch meal or dinner meal at Gurudwara or similar nearby religious places or local food corners.

The travel package you choose highly impacts the total cost of your travel package so it is crucial that you choose a comprehensive package. By choosing holiday packages, you can generally save a decent amount of money on your travel in India. Sites like MakeMyTrip and Yatra can help you save up to 32%!

Lastly, if you are budget traveling and yet you wish to visit the above best winter destinations in India, you can also check and compare your flight prices with Google flight results. Generally, search engines tend to show a slightly higher price for flights as compared to booking a ticket from the original airlines. However, it can be otherwise too. Hence it is best to cross-check the prices of flights on different travel agencies like MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Booking.com, or others.

Additionally, you can read our blog on the top 10 websites in India for flight booking to compare your flight prices

So this was all about sharing the best places to visit in winter in India and also saving on the travel cost. Do you have any other suggestions on the best places one can visit in winter in India? Or how can one save on the travel cost? 

Do share with us your thoughts or any questions you may have.