Munnar · Kerala
Munnar Tea Gardens
Best time: Sep – May · 2–3 days
Best places to visit in India in December
Winter holidays. Beaches, deserts, the Rann and the south are at their best, snow returns to the Kashmir and Himachal hills, and Nagaland's Hornbill Festival runs on 1–10 December.
How we chose these: Places whose recommended season includes December, ordered from best known to lesser-known.
Mountains and hills
Kodagu · Karnataka
Coorg
Best time: Oct – Mar · 2–3 days
Baramulla · Jammu & Kashmir
Gulmarg
Best time: Dec – Mar (snow), May – Jun (meadows) · Snow is common this month (not guaranteed) · 1–2 days
Aizawl · Mizoram
Aizawl
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1–2 days
Alluri Sitharama Raju · Andhra Pradesh
Araku Valley
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1–2 days
Chamoli · Uttarakhand
Auli
Best time: Dec – Mar, Apr – Jun · 2–3 days
Manali · Himachal Pradesh
Solang Valley
Best time: Dec – Feb (snow), May – Jun · Snow is common this month (not guaranteed) · 1–2 days
Darjeeling · West Bengal
Tiger Hill
Best time: Oct – Dec, Mar – May · 2–3 days
West Sikkim · Sikkim
Pelling
Best time: Oct – Dec · 2 days
Ramgarh · Jharkhand
Patratu Valley
Best time: Jul – Feb · 1 day
Beaches and islands
Puri · Odisha
Puri
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1–2 days
Rameswaram · Tamil Nadu
Pamban Bridge
Best time: Oct – Apr · 1–2 days
Uttara Kannada · Karnataka
Gokarna
Best time: Oct – Mar · 2–3 days
Mahabalipuram · Tamil Nadu
Shore Temple
Best time: Nov – Feb · 1 day
Varkala · Kerala
Varkala Cliff
Best time: Nov – Mar · 2–3 days
Agatti · Lakshadweep
Agatti Island
Best time: Oct – May · 2–3 days
Canacona · Goa
Palolem Beach
Best time: Nov – Feb · 2–4 days
Havelock · Andaman & Nicobar
Radhanagar Beach
Best time: Nov – Apr · 2–3 days
Puducherry · Puducherry
White Town
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1–2 days
Bangaram · Lakshadweep
Bangaram Atoll
Best time: Oct – May · 1–2 days
Diu · Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Diu Fort
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1–2 days
Shaheed Dweep · Andaman & Nicobar
Neil Island
Best time: Nov – Apr · 1–2 days
Heritage and culture
Agra · Uttar Pradesh
Taj Mahal
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Ekta Nagar · Gujarat
Statue of Unity
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Amritsar · Punjab
Golden Temple
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar · Maharashtra
Ajanta Caves
Best time: Jul – Mar · 1 day
New Delhi · Delhi
Qutub Minar
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Konark · Odisha
Konark Sun Temple
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Guwahati · Assam
Kamakhya Temple
Best time: Oct – Apr · 1 day
Khajuraho · Madhya Pradesh
Khajuraho Temples
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1–2 days
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar · Maharashtra
Ellora Caves
Best time: Jul – Mar · 1 day
Madurai · Tamil Nadu
Meenakshi Temple
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
New Delhi · Delhi
India Gate
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Mysuru · Karnataka
Mysore Palace
Best time: Oct – Feb · 1–2 days
Jaipur · Rajasthan
Hawa Mahal
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Mumbai · Maharashtra
Gateway of India
Best time: Nov – Feb · 1 day
New Delhi · Delhi
Lotus Temple
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Nalanda · Bihar
Nalanda Ruins
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Hyderabad · Telangana
Charminar
Best time: Oct – Feb · 1 day
Vijayanagara · Karnataka
Hampi
Best time: Oct – Feb · 2–3 days
Agra · Uttar Pradesh
Agra Fort
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Agra · Uttar Pradesh
Fatehpur Sikri
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Hyderabad · Telangana
Golconda Fort
Best time: Oct – Feb · 1 day
Kolkata · West Bengal
Howrah Bridge
Best time: Oct – Feb · 1 day
Port Blair · Andaman & Nicobar
Cellular Jail
Best time: Nov – Apr · 1 day
New Delhi · Delhi
Humayun's Tomb
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Kolkata · West Bengal
Victoria Memorial
Best time: Oct – Feb · 1 day
Kadapa · Andhra Pradesh
Gandikota Canyon
Best time: Oct – Feb · 1–2 days
Old Goa · Goa
Basilica of Bom Jesus
Best time: Nov – Feb · 1 day
Jodhpur · Rajasthan
Mehrangarh Fort
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1–2 days
Bodh Gaya · Bihar
Mahabodhi Temple
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1–2 days
Niwari · Madhya Pradesh
Orchha
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1–2 days
Varanasi · Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi Ghats
Best time: Oct – Mar · 2–3 days
Sri Sathya Sai · Andhra Pradesh
Lepakshi
Best time: Oct – Feb · 1 day
Jaisalmer · Rajasthan
Sam Sand Dunes
Best time: Nov – Feb · 2–3 days
Amritsar · Punjab
Attari–Wagah Border
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Mulugu · Telangana
Ramappa Temple
Best time: Oct – Feb · 1 day
Majuli · Assam
Majuli Island
Best time: Oct – Mar · 2 days
Chandigarh · Chandigarh
Rock Garden
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Kisama · Nagaland
Hornbill Festival
Best time: Dec 1 – 10 · 2–3 days
Udaipur · Rajasthan
Lake Pichola
Best time: Sep – Mar · 2–3 days
Kailashahar · Tripura
Unakoti
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Auroville · Puducherry
Auroville Matrimandir
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Agartala · Tripura
Ujjayanta Palace
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Gangtok · Sikkim
Rumtek Monastery
Best time: Mar – May, Oct – Dec · 1 day
Kurukshetra · Haryana
Brahma Sarovar
Best time: Nov – Mar · 1 day
Panaji · Goa
Fontainhas
Best time: Nov – Mar · 1 day
Patan · Gujarat
Rani ki Vav
Best time: Nov – Feb · 1 day
Jaipur · Rajasthan
Amer Fort
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Melaghar · Tripura
Neermahal
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Panchkula · Haryana
Pinjore Gardens
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Imphal · Manipur
Kangla Fort
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Port Blair · Andaman & Nicobar
Ross Island
Best time: Nov – Apr · 1 day
Nature, lakes and wildlife
Golaghat · Assam
Kaziranga National Park
Best time: Nov – Apr · 2–3 days
Satapada · Odisha
Chilika Lake
Best time: Nov – Feb · 1–2 days
Sasan Gir · Gujarat
Gir National Park
Best time: Dec – Apr · 2 days
Thrissur · Kerala
Athirappilly Falls
Best time: Jun – Jan · 1 day
Sonaulim · Goa
Dudhsagar Falls
Best time: Jun – Dec · 1 day
Kutch · Gujarat
White Rann
Best time: Nov – Feb · 1–2 days
Alappuzha · Kerala
Alappuzha Backwaters
Best time: Sep – Mar · 1–2 days
South 24 Parganas · West Bengal
Sundarbans
Best time: Nov – Mar · 2–3 days
Nongriat · Meghalaya
Living Root Bridges
Best time: Oct – May · 1–2 days
Bishnupur · Manipur
Loktak Lake
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1–2 days
Bastar · Chhattisgarh
Chitrakote Falls
Best time: Jul – Jan · 1–2 days
East Khasi Hills · Meghalaya
Mawlynnong
Best time: Oct – May · 1 day
Umaria · Madhya Pradesh
Bandhavgarh National Park
Best time: Oct – Jun · 2–3 days
Jabalpur · Madhya Pradesh
Bhedaghat Marble Rocks
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Chandigarh · Chandigarh
Sukhna Lake
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Dawki · Meghalaya
Umngot River
Best time: Nov – Apr · 1 day
Serchhip · Mizoram
Vantawng Falls
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day
Bastar · Chhattisgarh
Tirathgarh Falls
Best time: Jul – Jan · 1 day
Diu · Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Naida Caves
Best time: Oct – Mar · 1 day