10 Best Places to Visit in India in December, the final month of the Gregorian calendar, is one of the most beautiful months in nearly all of India. This month sees the most tourist influx in many of the desirable cities in the subcontinental region, with a quiet cold, suffused with warm sunshine and plenty of festive cheer ripe in the air. While skiing in mountains such as Auli is for snow lovers and ski lovers, for New Year’s, luxury seekers can attack Goa ‘s beaches; Rajasthan is for a royal holiday steeped in lots of forts and palaces. Kolkata lights up Christmas with a colonial-style charm, giving you dense waves of holiday cheer. During this time, there is the white desert of Kutch celebrating the ‘Rann Utsav,’ as well as the backwaters of Kerala, giving you an idyllic break from all the holiday noise elsewhere. A full list of the best places to visit in India during December is given below. Take your pick, because the mood for the holiday is upon us already!
1. Delhi
Location – Bordered by Haryana and Uttar Pradesh
Nearest Airport – Delhi international airport
Climate – 9 degrees C to 22 degrees C
The Indian Capital-Delhi, with a history of over 2,000 years of settlement, is a vibrant metropolitan city, the political, educational, cultural and heritage hub of India. For almost five centuries, it has witnessed political chaos invaded and conquered by some of the important and powerful emperors of its period.
It is home to some of the best examples of modern and ancient architecture, showcasing the rich history and prosperous present of the region. It is a place where the new and the ancient merge together seamlessly.
By living here in Delhi, the Mughal Emperors ruled the city for over three centuries, before the British arrived. In 1911, the British moved their capital from Calcutta to Delhi, which was continued by post-Independence Indian counterparts. By completing 100 years as a capital, it has reached a landmark.
Tourist Attractions: Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Akshardham Temple, Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate, Jama Masjid, Lotus Temple, Laxminarayan Temple, Lal Mandir, Connaught Place, Sarojini Nagar, Chandni Chowk, Khan market and Dilli Haat.
2. Agra
Location – Uttar Pradesh
Nearest Airport – Kheria Airport
Climate – 8 degrees C to 23 degrees C
Situated at the edge of the Yamuna River, Agra once served at the height of its power as the glorious capital of the famed Mughal Empire. Today, the Taj Mahal, one of the New Wonders of the World and a Unesco World Heritage Site, is best known for its architectural love note. Although this is the main attraction for many Agra tourists, it is by no means the city’s only amazing attraction. Palaces, gardens, temples, mosques, tombs, parks, lakes and forts are packed with Agra, including the massive Agra Fort, which once served as the Mughal capital’s fortress. This city is also an ideal destination for foodies and shopping enthusiasts.
3. Jaipur
Location – Rajasthan
Nearest Airport – Jaipur airport
Climate – 9 degrees C to 24 degrees C
Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, is also known for its pink tinged walls as ‘The Pink City’; originally painted pink in 1876, by Maharaja Ram Singh, who was then on a tour to India, in the hospitality of the Prince of Wales.
Jaipur, India’s first royal capital, has hill-top forts and splendid palaces. With its architecture, culture, tradition and history, it is a great combination of the old and the new. This metropolitan city of Jaipur, with numerous tourist sites such as ancient monuments spread throughout the city, is enrapturing and a chaotic affair.
Tourist Attractions: City Palace, Amber Fort and Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jaigarh Fort, Jal Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh Fort, Albert Hall Museum (Central Museum), Birla temple, Johri Bazaar.
4. Ladakh
Location – Jammu and Kashmir
Nearest Airport – Srinagar International Airport or Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi
Climate in December – 20 Degree C to 4 Degree C
Ladakh is one of the finest destinations to visit, particularly during summers, in the northern parts of India, wrapped with the Karakoram Range, for the range of activities and adventures you get to enjoy here.
Ladakh is wedged between the snow-capped mountains with mystifying views of the Himalayas, popularly known as “Little Tibet”. It opens up the place for ice adventure activities with numerous frozen lakes (especially during the winters).
Tourist Attractions: Numbra Valley, Markha Valley, Khardung-la Pass, Pangong Tso Lake, Zanskar Valley, Spituk Gompa, Hemis National Park, Shanti Stupa, Royal Leh Palace, Diskit Monastery, Moonland.
5. Jaisalmer
Location – Rajasthan
Nearest Airport – Jodhpur International airport (275 km away)
Climate in December – 20 degree C to 24 degree C
Jaisalmer is a major tourist destination situated in India ‘s northwestern state of Rajasthan. Due to its bounteous golden dunes and castles clad in golden honey sandstone, it is known as the ‘golden town.’ Lakes, ornate Jain temples and havelis are decorated with Jaisalmer. For an unforgettable experience, climb on to the camel saddle and make your way across this desert or camp under the night sky in this golden country.
As a citadel, the Jaisalmer Fort stands and is surrounded by narrow alleys inhabited for centuries by individuals residing there. Jaisalmer is an amalgam of exotic Indian desert culture , heritage and adventure, with shops selling colourful handicrafts and havelis that will make you travel back in time.
Things to do: Visit the Jaisalmer Fort, Camel Safari in the Sand Dunes, Camping in the Dunes, Bonfire and Stargazing, Photography
6. Dalhousie
Location – Himachal Pradesh
Nearest Airport – New Delhi International Airport and Pathankot Domestic Airport (75 km away)
Climate in December – 4 degree C to 13 degree C
Dalhousie is one of the most popular hill stations in Himachal Pradesh, offering an abundance of natural beauty and a cool climate. Dalhousie is situated in the Chamba District, nestled at the western end of the Dhauladhar Mountain Range, with an elevation of over 6,550 feet. Visitors to this snow-capped mountain station can feel as if, due to the Scottish architecture, Victorian-style mansions, quaint churches, and charming colonial houses, they have been transported back in time. Dalhousie is framed by the Ravi River and consists of five hills, Tehra, Kathlog, Patreyn, Bakrota, and Balun, covering an area of over 8 square miles. Among its top tourist spots are Dainkund Peak, Lohali village, Kalatop, and the Tibetan Market.
7. Srinagar
Location – Jammu and Kashmir
Nearest Airport – Sheikh ulAlam Airport (Srinagar Airport)
Climate – 2 degree C to 10 degree C
It has nine old bridges on both sides of the Jhelum River (a tributary of the Indus River), linking the two sides of the city. There are quite a few lakes and swamps in and around the town in this Indian summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. In the centre of the Himalayas, the green pastures, tall mountains, oozing energy and dancing rivers make it a sight to see. The footprints of the Mughal Period, popular in the gardens and mosques here, can be found.
Tourist Places: Chatpal, Aru Valley, Mughal Gardens, Betaab Valley, Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Shankaracharya Temple, Jama Masjid, Dachigam National Park, Hazratbal Mosque, Char Chinar.
8. Mumbai
Location – Maharashtra
Nearest Airport – Mumbai international airport
Climate in December – 18 degree C – 32 degree C
The “City of Dreams,” Mumbai is India’s largest city, known for its fast-paced lifestyle, extreme living standards, and the making or breaking of dreams. It’s the financial hub of the country as well as the birthplace of the Bollywood movie industry. This cosmopolitan city is incredibly diverse, giving everyone a little bit of something to enjoy. Thanks to its large malls and eclectic markets, such as the intriguing Chor Bazaar Thieves Market, Mumbai has an exciting nightlife with many live music venues, unforgettable bars, and low-key traveller hangouts as well as a bustling shopping scene. The Elephanta Caves, Haji Ali, Banganga Tank, Heritage Buildings, and the Gateway of India are popular attractions.
9. Andaman
Location – Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands (in the Bay of Bengal)
Nearest Airport – Port Blair
Climate – 22 degrees C to 30 degrees C
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands form a group of islands that belong to India in the Bay of Bengal. They make for a perfect December holiday destination , especially for beach babies, with their white sandy beaches, blemish-free sunrises and sunsets, untouched coral reefs and endless rolls of palm trees. The temperature varies between 18-32 ° C and by this time the rains have mostly gone, leaving the islands all dry and prepared for big water sports and undisturbed sightseeing activities. Unique parties and trips are also held around this time with New Year’s in mind.
Tourist Attractions: Havelock Island, Ross Island, Radhanagar Beach, Cellular Jail and the light and sound show that takes place there, Scuba Diving in Andaman, Visit some of the Nicobar Islands and witness the tribes living there, Viper Island, Forest Museum, Samudrika Museum
10. Goa
Location – South India
Nearest Airport – Dabolim Airport, Goa
Climate in December– 21 degree C to 28 degree C
‘The Goa is ON!! ‘has been one of the latest war cries of party-mongers coveting a spot to celebrate the eve of the new year. Goa throbs with a young vibe with its line of beaches, luxurious shacks, neighbourhood clubs and bars, attracting people , particularly during the end of December. Goa ‘s New Year’s parties are popular, not only with mere mortals, but also with stars. From Anjuna to Calungute, from Panaji to Candolim, you’ll find that the vibe is sizzled in Goa during the last week of December, almost charged. Naturally, the temperatures are at their most good, in the 18-20 ° C range. One downside for budget travellers is that during December, the prices are still inflated in Goa.
Tourist Attractions: Baga beach, Arjuna Beach, attend the Goa Carnival, Calangute Beach, Bogmalo Beach, Chapora Beach, Colva Beach, Candolim Beach, Vagator Beach.