Monsoons in India are truly blissful and relaxing. Though most of the travelers do not prefer this as a good time to travel. Don’t just hesitate planning a trip because there are some places where you can truly sense the cool gentle winds, raindrops and that smell of earth. Lined up for you are some very offbeat destinations to enjoy the monsoon season and take advantage of the off-season prices!
Here are a few places I have shortlisted which are perfect monsoon destinations in India:
- Wayanad, Kerala
Blessed with bountiful rains, Lakkidi and other areas of Wayanad experience one of the highest rainfalls in India. Thus, Wayanad is a popular monsoon destination in India. This hill station is blessed with alluring waterfalls, wildlife, adventure and more. Also, the place hosts a special monsoon tourism festival of 3 days filled with so much fun and memorable experience which makes Wayanad as the most popular place to visit in monsoons.
How to reach:
Wayanad does not have any train station. Kozhikode Railway Station is the closest train connection.
Wayanad is easily accessible by road. It has a good network of KSRTC buses to the nearby cities of Kerala.
The nearest airport is Calicut International Airport which is located around 65 km. Tourist can avail direct or stopover flights till Calicut (Kozhikode).
- Ranikhet, Uttarakhand
Situated at an altitude of 1869 meters above mean sea level, it is very close to the western peaks of Himalayas. The green meadows, the huge pine trees and the panoramic view of the Himalayan Range make this a sublime location. It is definitely worth visiting in monsoon season.
How to reach:
Located at a distance of 80km, Kathgodam is the nearest railway station from Ranikhet.
Ranikhet is well connected by roads from the nearby cities of the Uttrakhand.
Pantnagar airport is the nearest one that is located at a distance of 119 km. Pantnagar airport is well-connected from various cities.
- Coorg, Karnataka
Nicknamed as the Scotland of India, perched beautifully amid the hills and valleys of the Western Ghats, Coorg is famous for its breathtaking natural beauty and enchanting waterfalls, lakes, vast coffee plantations and many more. It also serves as a biodiversity hotspot showcasing a wide variety of flora and fauna.
How to reach:
The nearest airports are Mysore, which is 120 km, Mangalore which is 135 km far.
The nearest railway stations are Mysore, Mangalore and Hassan.
Coorg is well connected by road. If you are planning to go on a road trip, then Banglore is 270.4 km away only.
- Pushkar, Rajasthan
Plan a wonderful trip to Pushkar to explore the beautiful and soothing side of Rajasthan. What will be more romantic than an awakening peacock call, an early morning camel ride, and a stroll around the market? It’s a prominent Hindu pilgrimage town and devout Hindus should visit at least once in their life.
How to reach:
The nearest airport to Pushkar is in Jaipur, which is 140 kilometers away.
You can easily get regular buses to Pushkar from other major cities of the country.
You will need to take a train to Ajmer and then take a 30-minute drive to Pushkar.
- Lonavala, Maharashtra
Nicknamed as the Jewel of Sahyadri Mountains, this hill station is perfect destination away from hustle and bustle of city life. Blessed with nature in form of waterfalls, lakes, pristine woods and valleys and ancient caves make Lonavala mini paradise.
How to reach:
Lonavala has its own station. There are few direct trains from other cities of India up to Lonavala. Another option is you can board one of the regular trains from Mumbai or Pune to reach Lonavala.
There are two nearest airports; one is the Lohegaon Airport, Pune (70 km away) and Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai (90 km away). You can take a flight up to either of the cities and travel to Lonavala by road or rail.
Several state buses, private buses, cabs and cars are available from Mumbai and Pune up to Lonavala.
Tips:
Travelling during monsoons is fun but it can also be tiresome, due to the inconvenience caused by a bad weather and constant breakdown in public transport and bad roads. So make sure you check the weather conditions before heading. Also, you need to take necessary precautions while travelling in this season.
Keep travelling!
By Niha Parmanandani
