Indian summers are extremely hot, particularly in urban areas. But hold on! North and Northeast India are simply full of excellent places with pleasant weather, clean air, and fairy-tale settings. Even if your friends are your family members or even you yourself alone, the destination offers your lifetime experiences, peaceful landscapes, and plenty of fun!
Some of India’s top great wonderful summer vacation places are here-
Manali, Himachal Pradesh – Snow Peaks & Adventure
Manali is a classic hill station all in picture-book beauty: snow-covered peaks, forested woods, and raging rivers. Just the thing for a shot of adventure and of lounging around.
How to Get There:
Nearest airport: Bhuntar (50 Kms away)
By taxi/bus from Delhi/Chandigarh (around 12 to 14 hours’ drive)
What is There to Visit?
- Solang Valley, Rohtang Pass & Hampta pass (winter sports)
- Paragliding, rafting, ziplining, Hot air balloon for the thrill seekers
- Hadimba Devi Temple & Manu Temple in Old Manali
What to Eat?
Himachali Siddu (steamed local bread) is found being served in local restaurants, accompanied by Trout fish and sizzling-hot momos. Thupka could be another option as a comfort meal.
Where to Shop:
Old Manali Market is complete with souvenirs, handicrafts, and woolens.
Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh – Culture & Peace Mix
It is a blend of nature, spirituality, and Tibetan culture for these hill resorts. McLeod Ganj has a mainly Buddhist town and home to the dwelling of the Dalai Lama too.
How to Get There:
Nearest airport: Kangra Airport (13 km)
Or by road from Delhi (approx. 10–11 hours)
Famous For:
- Triund Trek (short & scenic)
- Dalai Lama Temple & Tibetan Monastery
- Waterfalls and pine forests
Local Food:
Delicious Thukpa, Tingmo, and Butter Tea at Tibetan restaurants.
Tip: Practice some yoga or meditation to relax.
Nainital, Uttarakhand – City of Lakes
Hill lake is so trendy in Nainital. Boat ride, viewpoints, sniff the breeze – perfect way to spend summer holidays with family.
How to Reach:
Nearest railway station: Kathgodam (34 km)
By road from Delhi, 7–8 hours approx.
Known For:
- Naini Lake (boating), Snow Viewpoint (rope way)
- Naina Devi Temple, Eco Cave Gardens
- Tiffin Top (sun set point)
Local Cuisine:
Aloo Ke Gutke, Bhatt ki Churdkani, and Bun Tikki Street food has to be tried.
Shopping Tip: Purchase candles, woolens, and woodcrafts of the region from Mall Road.
Kashmir – The Crown of India
Kashmir is “heaven on earth” due to its picturesque location. Summer is the flower season, and rivers flow lazily with cold weather.
How to Reach:
Nearest airport: Srinagar
Well road and air-linked from big cities
Famous For:
- Dal Lake (shikara ride), Mughal Gardens, and houseboats
- Gulmarg (gondola ride, golf course), Pahalgam (green valleys)
Local Food
Enjoy Rogan Josh, Gushtaba, Kahwa (Kashmiri tea), and Sheermal bread.
Tip: Spend a night on a houseboat and soak in memories along with seeing floating morning markets in the morning.
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh – Secret of Northeast
Tawang is serene, spick, and peaceful – the kind of place if you don’t want too much crowd. It is full of Buddhist heritage and some of India’s most stunning landscapes.
How to Get There
Nearest airport: Guwahati or Tezpur (both driveable)
You require a permit to see (referred to as ILP – Inner Line Permit)
Famous For:
- Tawang Monastery (2nd largest monastery in the world)
- Sela Pass, Pankang Teng Tso (lake)
- Indo-China border excursion (advance permit needed)
Cuisine:
Relish Munch Thenthuk, Momos, and local fermented foods such as Zan.
Good For:
Scenic photography, snow, and peaceful atmosphere.
Shillong, Meghalaya – India’s Music Capital
Nature blessed, happy people, music cafes, sunny days, and Shillong. It’s also known as the “Scotland of the East.”
How to Reach:
Nearest airport: Shillong or Guwahati (3–4-hour drive)
Famous For:
- Umiam Lake, Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak
- Living Root Bridges (just a few km from here in Mawlynnong)
Local Food
Enjoy Jadoh (rice & meat), Tungtap (fish chutney), and Dohneiiong (pork).
Tip:
Visit local band live concerts in music cafés.
Gangtok, Sikkim – Sanitary and Peaceful
Sanitary planned hill resort with good cafés, nature, and culture. The sight of Kanchenjunga peak is indefinable.
How to Reach:
Nearest airport: Bagdogra (then 4–5-hour drive) Or share taxi from Siliguri
Famous For:
- MG Marg (shopper’s pedestrian street)
- Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir, Nathula Pass (on permit)
- Rumtek Monastery
Local Food
Relish Phagshapa, Sel Roti, and street momos with hot chutney.
Tip:
Book local cabs for touring. Some permit-holding.
West Bengal – FlowerTown of the Hills
Quiet and garden-hilly, monasteries and beautiful mountainscapes. Less crowded than Darjeeling and very home-like.
How to Travel:
Nearest airport: Bagdogra
2–3 hours’ drive from Siliguri
Known For:
- Deolo Hill, Zang Dhok Palri Monastery
- Pine View Nursery, flower gardens
Local Cuisine
Have Thukpa, Alu Dum, Lollipops, and Kalimpong cheese.
Tip
Good spot to read, write, or simply hang out with tea and watch.
Conclusion
Summer need not be sweat and heat alone – not when there are so many cool, green, and breezy destinations to see in the North and Northeast of India. Snow, waterfalls, spiritual calm, or a laid-back holiday – whatever your idea of the ideal holiday is, these destinations have something to offer all of you.
So, this summer, beat the din and mayhem of urban living and visit these off-the-beaten-path jewels and make memories to cherish a lifetime.
FAQs – Summer Tourist Travel in North & Northeast India
Use India’s hill stations to escape Indian summer heat. Hill stations like Manali, Munnar, and Shillong offer cool weather, greenery and vistas, and sightseeing – all that represent an attitude away from city madness in the cities.
Shimla, Mussoorie, and Kalimpong are extremely in-vogue summer tour spots with colonial features and breathtaking scenery, readily accessible proximity to nature treks and open-air local bazaars.
Himachal’s Kasol and Meghalaya’s Shillong are two shoestring budget friendly destinations to sleep in hostels and homestays and Indian local cheap food – the best bet for most students and backpackers.
Nainital, Darjeeling, and Mount Abu are good for families. They have secure places, boating, toy train, and sightseeing for people of all ages.
Yes! Kashmir is converted into a tulip flower world, shikara ride in Dal Lake, and snowland at Gulmarg and Pahalgam.
Sikkim can be visited in April to June when the weather is fine, Himalayan scenery is beautiful, and Nathula passes are not well covered with snow.
Couples would adore the intimacy of Coorg, Gulmarg, or Kasauli where warm welcomes, misty dawns, and nature walks constitute the ideal retreat.
Begin with the easy ones like Triund (Dharamshala), Chopta-Chandrashila, or Dzongri (Sikkim). Easy to start and most picturesque mountain views they offer.
Dal Lake of Srinagar, Umiam Lake of Meghalaya, and Naini Lake of Uttarakhand have nothing less to offer — boating, sunset, and serenity.
Yes! Summers in Shillong, Cherrapunji, and Tawang are simply ideal. Not cloudless are the clouds, and not green are the greens.
Yes. You may have to take an Inner Line Permit (ILP) or Protected Area Permit (PAP), which is easily procurable online or through holiday organizers.
Light woollens, trekking shoes, windcheater or umbrella, and sun lotion. Morning is fine but nights are very cold in the hills.
No or close to zero new fresh snow, but Rohtang Pass, Zoji La, and Sela Pass still get snow around early June, ideal for snowball fights or snaps.
Yes. Especially in hill stations. Jain food is also readily available at Rishikesh, Shimla, and Gangtok, and can be pre-booked.
Ziro Valley (Arunachal), Kalpa (Himachal), and Chakrata (Uttarakhand) — serene, scenic, and culturally rich.
Fly to the nearest airport (Bagdogra to Gangtok, Bhuntar to Manali) and take a taxi or shared cab. Scenic drive-through routes also available.
Rishikesh, Auroville, and Dharamshala are ideal for yoga, meditation, and spiritual retreats.
Momos and thukpa, Himachal’s siddu, bamboo shoot curry of the Northeast, and filter coffee from Coorg.
Paragliding at Bir Billing, rafting at Rishikesh, and cycling in Ladakh.
Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand offer temples, ecotourism, local cuisine, and folk art.
Yes! Hill stations and monsoon destinations are ideal in June for fresh greenery and cool weather.
Lowland areas may be hot, but Munnar, Coorg, or Tawang will stay cool and comfortable.
Light clothes for day, warm layers for evening, rain jacket, walking shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, and basic medicines.
Yes, but check weather reports and hotel reviews before planning.
Yes, especially for popular tourist destinations during school holidays in June.
Yes. Jain, vegetarian, South Indian, and even international cuisines are widely available.
April–June, when the weather is clear and tourist sites are fully open.
Yes. ILPs or PAPs are needed and can be obtained online or from local tourism offices.
Yes. They are family-friendly with decent infrastructure and food. Carry warm clothes and basic medicines.
Manali (rafting, paragliding), Gulmarg (trekking, gondola), and Triund (trekking) are great for adventure seekers.
Yes. In towns like Gangtok, Shillong, and Kalimpong, vegetarian and Jain food can be requested and prepared as per dietary needs.
