Best places to visit in India during Monsoon

After two hot months when sun bakes most of the cities of India, comes Monsoon, the season of rains and gives a new lease of life to flora and fauna.

The rains also fill some more passion and energy into the tourism industry. Gone are the days when July-September were considered off-season. Monsoon tourism is the new trend of Indian tourism industry, which is also becoming a don’t-miss thing among the tourists, both local and foreigners.

Romancing the rains in hills, rainforests, temple towns and beaches is the new idea of spending some memorable holidays with loved ones.

Here we have made a list of the best places to visit in Monsoon, where going for a vacay is the perfect idea. Explore –

A view of Netravali waterfall during monsoon in Goa. Photo IANS

Goa

Watching the dark clouds making elephants in the sky while lying on the white sand…this is not a dream but a reality during rainy season in Goa. The lush green landscape of Goa become all the more attractive and fresh during rains. The entire environment becomes so relaxing that you will feel rejuvenated within moments while being away from work and routined life. From taking a lazy stroll at Miramar beach to enjoying some adventure sports designed especially for rains to digging in steamy seafood sizzlers in the beach shack – options are unlimited when you are in Goa.

A number of adventure sports professionals are offering special Monsoon packages which include exciting activities, such as fly-boarding (Hrithik Roshan style), river rafting, trekking, Kayaking, bumper ride and more. Spending some cosy time with the special someone a cruise is also a great idea!

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Kerala

God’s own country becomes all the more adorable when rains beautify its lush landscape with various shades of green and make it a treat to heal the mind, body and soul. From Kochi to Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala’s spice plantations, palm trees and tea gardens are a sight to behold in Monsoon season. The best thing about rains in Kerala is that they are not incessant ones that stall all daily activities of life. It rains for brief intervals and sunshine mostly doesn’t lose sight in most parts of Kerala.

Water cascading down in torrents at the famed waterfalls of Athirappilly and Vazhachal, the sight of rain-heavy clouds dotting the hills of Parambikulam reserve forest and going along a trek at the scenic rainforest with myriads of waterfalls glistening like silver hold the tourists spell-bound with their pristine beauty.

Rainy season is also the best time to stay in a resort and enjoy the Ayurveda treatments along with rains. The mix of hot and cold weather adds more benefits to these programs. Kerala Tourism Board also organises several festivals in Monsoon around food, music and culture of Kerala, which are also a must visit.

Sonmarg: Srinagar Leh highway. Photo IANS

Leh

This one is a surprise! Yes, Leh. Nestling deep in the lap of Himalayas, Leh is an exciting visit any time of the year. But during Monsoon particularly, Leh retains its true character with bright blue skies and crisp air, temperature ranging between 10 and 20 degree celsius.

Leh actually falls in a rain shadow area. There are no heavy rains here but brief intervals of downpour. This time is best to experience white water rafting in Zanskar and Indus River as water level remains on all-time high. Trekking, which is the way of life for the locals here, is also popular with tourists. One can go for some of the most challenging treks, such as Spituk to Stok, the Kang Yatse trek and also Markha Valley trek. Just get a pair of hiking boots and waterproof gear and get set go to experience the incredible view of the deep gorges and snow-clad mountains.

What can be more exciting than festivals! Monsoon is also the season of festivals celebrating Karsha Gustor in July at Karsha, largest monastery in Zanskar Valley; Pheyang Tsedup in July/August, the annual festival at Pheyang monastery and Korzok Gustor in July/August at Korzok monastery, near Tso Moriri Lake.

Coorg

Imagine lush green forests, scenic waterfalls and abundance of acres of coffee and spice plantations, where you can take the fresh aroma of coffee and spices and pamper your senses while enjoying the picturesque views of pastoral hills take your breath away. During rains, the beauty of Coorg reaches another level! Coorg is rightly called the Scotland of India.

One can enjoy white water rafting on the Cauvery, trekking on Mt. Tadiyendamol is for those who love to enjoy some adrenaline rush, Tibetan settlement in Bylakuppe having Buddha sculptures and paintings is a must-visit in this region.

Trekking is a popular activity in Coorg as it has so many famous treks, such as Malethirke temple at Karada-Palangala village, Mandalpatti and more. Coorg has a lot to offer – rich historical past, mouth-watering cuisine and some days away from stress and hustle bustle of life.

Coorg is easily accessible from Bengaluru, through a 6-hour long journey via Mysore road. It is also well accessible from Mangaluru, Hassan and even from Kerala.

MANDU: Roopmati Pavilion

Mandu

Located in Madhya Pradesh is around 283 km away from Bhopal, Mandu is an ancient fort city in Madhya Pradesh. Mandu is popular for its unique architecture inspired by Afghan heritage. It is surrounded by stone walls with several darwazas (gateways). When in Mandu, you can visit the landmark buildings of the city, such as Hoshang Shah’s Tomb, a marble mausoleum and Jami Masjid mosque, an old mosque made in Mughal architectural style, dating to 1405.

Mandu gets a decent amount of rainfall in Monsoon season and its lush green beauty gets enhanced to the maximum during this time. This is why Monsoon is one of the best times to visit Mandu. During rains, your visit to the imposing Jahaz Mahal palace will be memorable. The palace stands between 2 lakes and when the rains fill the lakes to the brim, it indeed feels like sailing a big ship.

So pick up an umbrella and some waterproof gear and embark your journey to romance the rains this season.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author’s own.