So it is July & August, courtesy Covid-19 travelling outside India is not feasible as most of the countries are not really welcoming Indians yet; Himachal & Uttarakhand are facing bad weather forecasts with warning of flood, landslides and cloudbursts! So should you completely cancel or postpone your plans?
Hell NO!
Keep reading...
So, we at Wander Womaniya have made a list of places you can explore during peak monsoon time. You will thank us after you take our advice.
Here are the destinations in India where you should plan your holidays safely in the months of July & August:
1) Kerala
Kerala is not just about beaches, and we urge you to stay away from the beachside, but hill side of Kerala is heavenly in monsoon. This is the best time to visit the tea estates & multiple waterfalls which Kerala offers. Munnar, Wayanad & Vagamon should be on your monsoon travel plans.
2) Karnataka
Karnataka has to be an underdog when it comes to travel plans, it has so many options around Karwar & Shivamogga district itself in addition to Mysore, Coorg (Madikeri), Nandi Hills and others. The state is one of the safest destinations to explore during monsoon time. Jog falls which is also referred to as India's Niagara fall is in full glory.
3) Tamil Nadu
Ooty & Coonoor are the hill stations you should be excited about during monsoon, as there are numerous lakes and sightseeing points which are completely safe to visit. Local chocolates, markets, sleepy town all make Tamil Nadu a must-visit during July & August for families and solo travelers alike.
4) Rajasthan
We tend to think that Rajasthan is only good to travel during winter months, but have you ever experienced rains in Rajasthan? Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Bikaner & Mount Abu are blissful during the rainy season. Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan which you can visit despite the monsoon rains.
5) Jammu & Kashmir
So anybody who has been to Kashmir would know that it is not your typical hill station, Kashmir is situated in a valley which is mostly plain area. You can easily take a flight from any part of India to Srinagar and enjoy the views and rains during Monsoon. Kashmir has numerous lakes, rivers and tributaries which are all a delight to watch during monsoon time. Try staying at a houseboat while it's raining outside, it is an experience like no other!
6) Ladakh
Many of us don't know, but Ladakh is a cold desert, which means it does not receive very heavy rainfall. Hence, July & August is a good time to visit Leh - Ladakh. You however are advised to keep a tab on weather forecast when you are planning to cross the high passes like Chang la & Khardung la. If you are in the plains, there is absolutely noting to worry about.
7) Goa
Yes Goa is mostly about beaches and parties, but Goa is much more than that, we urge you to experience Goa beyond the beaches. Monsoons are the best time to visit Dudhsagar and a hundred of other natural waterfalls in Mahavira National Park situated in Pollem district.
P.S. There are some rain themed parties too in case you are interested, but be prepared to get wet.
Destinations you must strictly avoid, irrespective of how tempted you may be:
Spiti Valley
Himachal Pradesh
Uttaranchal / Uttarakhand
Sikkim
Darjeeling
Meghalaya
Assam
One might argue that like Ladakh even Spiti is a cold desert, then why are we suggesting against traveling to Lahaul & Spiti Valley during monsoon? It is because the only way you can reach Spiti is by road network which crosses through Himachal areas like Kullu Valley & Kinnaur Valley which receive a lot of rainfall during monsoon, hence are not safe to travel.
Tag your friends who are still confused about their travel options, help them decide on a safe & fun location to enjoy the beautiful monsoon in India.
Keep travelling & Stay Safe