Things to Do in India in Summer 2024

With the conclusion of Holi in India, the summer season starts to slowly but surely catch up. By the month of April, it is summer already and most of the plains as well as western and southern part of India start to get hot and humid. But this time of year is also the time for holidays in India.

For most of the part, schools and colleges shut down for summer breaks and families look for places to visit in India in summer for a relaxing holidays that also offer them respite from the scorching sun. For visitors from overseas too, summer offers the best bargains to make the most of India.

Prime destinations such as Goa and Rajasthan have lesser crowds and the deals offered on hotels and accommodations are just tempting. So from welcoming the summer in India with Holi to reclaiming oneself by availing an array of rejuvenating Ayurveda therapies in Himalayas or in the embrace of soothing Western Ghats in Kerala, we bring to you our collection of experiences to have a wonderful summer holidays in India.

From mind boggling festivals, adventure sports activities, rendezvous with tigers and the soothing embrace of Himalayas to spoiling yourself in tree houses, luxury camps of heritage hotel and then reclaiming yourself with health and rejuvenation activities, there’s no dearth of experiences to choose from.

And it matters not whether you be traveling with your spouse, family, kids or for that matter traveling solo, our collection of summer vacation ideas in India takes care of it all so that you get the best of Indian summer. So read on and take your pick

Welcome it with Holi!

When in India, you really can’t afford to miss the grand celebration of its colorful festivals, especially, if you are visiting India during summers. As the summer season hits the calendar, it is time for the most popular festival, Holi. Festival of Colors, Holi brings forward a carnival of colors and the spree to color anyone you see.

It is the time to get drenched with tons of water and get colored in every shade from the color palette. Holi is to celebrate the victory of good over evil with plenty of colors, dance, music and bhang.

Barsana: Celebrate it with sticks

Lathmar Holi in Barsana is favorite when it comes to international media coverage

Birthplace of Radha, Barsana is set at a distance of 42 km from Mathura. During the festival, men from Mathura, the land of Krishna come to play Holi with the girls of Barsana. They try hard to raise their flag over Shri Radhikaji’s temple.

They are welcomed with sticks instead of colors. This is how the festival gets a new name, Lathmaar Holi. Men remain fully padded and they keep trying to save themselves from the stick battle. The unlucky one’s, who get good thrashing from the sticks, are made to wear female attire and dance in public.

Vrindavan: Go traditional

Vrindavan is where Lord Krishna spent his childhood. It is the main venue for Holi celebrations in India. The celebration starts with plenty of colors and music. The best place to enjoy the festival in Vrindavan is Banke Bihari Temple where Lord Krishna is brought closer to his devotees for playing Holi. Colored water, flowers and colors are thrown on everyone to make them enjoy the festivity. Spiritual songs add more liveliness to the celebrations.

And Go Wild with Wildlife Safaris

Tiger, Ranthambore National Park — Behold the elusive big cats at one of the tiger reserves in India

Housing more than 450 wildlife sanctuaries, 99 national parks and 40 tiger reserves, India is surely a great wildlife destination. Set amid those snow-capped mountains, green forests and deserts, these wildlife sanctuaries and national parks make every visitor explore enthralling species of flora and fauna.

From the deserts of Rajasthan to the peaks of Uttarakhand, every corner of India holds rich wildlife. With such high numbers, it is impossible to rank any sanctuary or park as the best. However, here is a list of Wildlife Safaris In India, which should be visited on your tour to India:

Best Places to go for Wildlife Safaris In India:

[Browse through wildlife tour packages to plan your summer holidays in India]

Definitely Eat Mangoes!

The only way to beat the heat in India during summers is to binge on some sweet mangoes. You really can’t miss treating your taste buds with fresh and juicy mangoes. India, the land of mangoes, offers a wide variety to all the mango lovers. With more than 1000 cultivators of mangoes in the country, one gets to taste mangoes in different shapes, sizes, taste and colors.

Famous mango varieties in India:

Alphonso
Chaunsa
Dasehri
Langra
Kesar
Sindoora

And go on to Get to know the Ancients – Tibetan Buddhism

Thiksey Monastery in Ladakh is one of the finest Tibetan Monasteries in India

Flip back the pages of the olden times and explore monasteries which withstood the test of time. Monasteries are considered to be one of the most holy and sacred places. To seek eternal peace, people from all over visit these monasteries. Of all the monasteries, Buddhist monasteries are considered the most revered ones.

These monasteries are located in the northern and eastern part of India. Buddhist monasteries not only speak about the Buddhist heritage of the country, they also depict the life and teachings of Buddha. The architecture of all these monasteries is spectacular and it makes your visit more interesting. The stunning sites amid which these monasteries are located add to their aesthetic appeal.

Some of the best places to acquaint yourself with Tibetan Buddhism are:

Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh
Tabo Monastery, Himachal Pradesh
Ghoom Monastery, West Bengal
Hemis Monastery, Ladakh
Mindrolling Monastery, Dehradun
Kye Monastery, Himachal Pradesh
Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim
Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh

Go Footloose in Himalayas – Trekking in India

If you wish to explore the untouched beauty of the nature while crossing those lofty mountains and walking through those rugged paths, then India is the trekking destination for you. Trekking is one of the popular adventure sports in India. The high- ranged Himalayas undoubtedly make India a great trekking destination. The beauty of Indian Himalayas offers great trekking opportunities which you are going to remember for a lifetime.

Tungnath Chandrashila Trek — Trek to Chandrashila Summit from Chopta or Deoriya Tal is one of the popular winter treks in Uttarakhand to experience snow

With those spectacular mountain ranges of India, you can assure yourself with a great trekking trip to beautiful trekking destinations. As India offers numerous treks, you have an option of choosing your trek trip on a scale of easy to moderate to difficult as per your experience and capability. There are a number of trekking options available in different regions of the country, right from Ladakh to Uttarakhand to the North East India.

[Explore trekking tour packages in India]

Here are some of the best treks in Indian Himalayas:

Dodital Trek, Uttarakhand
Hampta Pass, Himachal Pradesh
Stok Kangri Summit, Ladakh
Roopkund, Uttarakhand
Sandakphu, Darjeeling
Great Lakes Trek, Jammu and Kashmir
Valley of Flower, Uttarakhand
Goecha La, Sikkim
Kedar Kantha, Uttarakhand
Markha Valley Trek, Ladakh

Or dare yourself – Trans Himalayan Biking (Cycling as we call it) from Manali to Ladakh

Love mountain biking? India is the destination to be. The country boasts of having one of the best mountain terrains in the world. The Great Indian Himalayas possess some of the most amazing cycling escapades which offer complete adventure to every cyclist. India promises with a great adventure experience to all with its unexplored paths and tracks.

Challenge yourself with a ride through the different trails of Himalayas. Enjoy the breathtaking sights of the snow-capped mountains while biking through oak forests and mountain villages. Of all the biking tours, Trans Himalayan Biking Expedition is the most challenging and adventurous tour. It involves biking through the highest and the most spectacular roads of Manali and Leh.

If in India, you really can’t miss embarking on this expedition which promises to bring out the explorer in you.

Ride the Chariot – Puri Rath Yatra

One of the major Hindu festivals associated with Lord Jagannath, the Puri Rath Yatra is celebrated every year in the month of June/July. The Puri Rath Yatra is a famous festival and people from all over visit India to attend this festival. The festival is celebrated in the famous Jagannath temple in Puri. The Jagannath Temple is one of the four most sacred destinations of Char Dham Yatra in India. The other three temples are in Rameshwaram, Dwarka and Badrinath.

The festival attracts more than a million pilgrims every year. Also known as the chariot festival, Puri Rath Yatra involves carrying the deities of the Jagannath temple in beautifully decorated chariots through the streets of Puri. Lord Jagannath, his elder brother- Lord Balabhadra and their sister- Subhadra are worshipped within the temple and then taken to the streets of Puri. The 3 deities make an annual journey to their aunt’s temple, Gundicha Temple which is set at a distance of 2 km from Lord Jagannath temple. The festival begins in the morning and the chariots are taken through the streets. Devotional songs are sung with drums and trumpets.

[Read more about Puri Rath Yatra]

Or Better Ride the Winds – Paragliding

If you wish to soar in the clear blue skies like a bird and explore the breathtaking sights of the mountains, then India is the place to be. Known for its adventure sports, India opens arms to adventure enthusiasts from all over the world. Out of all the adventure sports and activities, paragliding is the most popular adventure sport. India offers a variety of paragliding destinations which promise to make you experience paragliding at its best. India becomes the perfect paragliding destination with that natural paragliding-friendly terrain and favorable climatic conditions. Defy gravity and fly high with strong winds caressing your face, feel free and exhilarated while you glide through the never ending sky.
So, get, set, fly!

Some of the best destinations for paragliding in India are:

Conquer the Rapids – White Water Rafting

If you are looking for something which adds a touch of thrill to your tour to India, then it is time to turn towards white water rafting. Emerging as one of the most popular adventure activities in India, White Water Rafting or river rafting is a great water activity, which makes you raft through a river while that gushing water and strong breeze caresses your face. India offers some of the toughest and most exciting river runs in the world. This is why, people from all over visit India to experience river rafting at its best. There are various grades for river rafting which decide the scale of adventure. You can choose your grade as per your experience and capability.

[Explore some rafting tour packages in India]

Here is a list of the best river rafting locations in India:

Ganges near Shivpuri & Rishikesh in Uttarakhand
Teesta river in Sikkim & West Bengal
Indus and Zanskar Rivers in Ladakh
Lidder River in Pahalgam
Tons River in Uttarakhand

[Also check out top places for adventure sport activities in India]

Or better lay down in languid stupor – Best Tropical Beaches in India

What would be better than treading through golden sand beaches in that pleasing weather? India is home to the most incredible and unexplored beaches. A visit to any of its beaches promises you with a great and memorable time amid scenic beauty and tranquility. However, Indian beaches are not only about natural beauty, there is so much more to them. They offer a great ambience where people can enjoy water sports and lip smacking dishes from the coastal cuisine.

Beaches of Goa and Andaman are considered the best beaches of India. You really can’t miss visiting these exotic beaches. Enjoy sun-bathing, munch some sea food and relax in the soothing environment of the beach.

We list here, the most beautiful beaches of India which deserve a must-visit:

Baga Beach, Goa
Vagator Beach, Goa
Radha Nagar Beach, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Ramnagar Beach, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Calangute Beach, Goa
Anjuna Beach, Goa
Gokarna Beach, Karnataka
Lighthouse Beach, Kovalam

[Also explore some beach tour packages in India]

Walk the Raj – British Hill Towns

Long back, the British officers and their families escaped to summer retreats like Ooty, Shimla, Nainital and Mussoorie. Today, these summer retreats hold the essence of the colonial era and take every visitor back to those times. Walk across the field of beautiful flowers, feel the serenity of the snow-capped mountains and witness the rushing streams. India is dotted with these British hill towns which feature immense beauty and tranquility.

These hill towns are home to beautiful tourist attractions which allure people from all over. Also, they have resorts which date back to the British era, where tourists can enjoy a luxurious and comfortable stay.

Along with natural beauty, these hill stations also offer tons of adventure to every tourist, right from camping, mountaineering, trekking to paragliding. This unique blend of nature and adventure promises with a holiday of a lifetime.

Some of the best hill stations in India to enjoy your summer holidays with family are:

[Browse through our hill station tour packages to plan your trip]

Sleep under canopy of stars – Luxury Camping in India

Catching on all the travel charts these days is luxury camping, which is also known as glamping. India offers glamping in every nook, be it the desert, beach or mountains. Take a break from that busy schedule and set out to discover new memories which will be celebrated close to nature. Pamper yourself with luxurious and comfortable living in the lap of nature. Enjoy some quality time with your friends and family away from the daily hustle-bustle of life. These luxury camps spread throughout the country, offer a great and memorable stay to all. Relax and rejuvenate yourself in a relaxing ambiance.

Here are the best luxury camping sites in India which offer camping experience of a lifetime:

The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Sawai Madhopur
Taj Mahua Kothi, Bandhavgarh National Park
Aman-i-Khas, Sawai Madhopur
The Ultimate Travelling Camp, Ladakh
Ummaid Bagh, Rajasthan
Otter Creek Tents, Goa

[Also check out top 10 places for camping in India]

Or Better Sleep on a Tree – Tree Houses

Nature lover? Don’t miss to treat yourself with a stay at a tree house hotel in India. Tree house hotels offer an amazing and thrilling experience of living amidst valleys and wildlife. Wake up with the chirping of birds and explore nature at its best. India is dotted with beautiful tree house hotels, which not only offer a unique stay but also promise to treat you with the true beauty of nature. There are a variety of tree house hotels in the country, which range from luxurious to rustic styles. Tree house hotels and resorts are perfect for a stay if you wish to relax and rejuvenate amid peaceful surroundings.

Here are the best tree house hotels in India:

The Machan, Maharashtra
Tree House Hideaway, Bandhavgarh
Tree House Resort, Jaipur
Tree House Cottages, Manali
Vanya Tree House, Thekkady
Nature Zone Resort, Munnar

[Read our post on top 10 tree house resorts in India]

Spoil yourself – Luxury Heritage Hotels

The rich historical past of India can be witnessed through the forts and palaces which are present across the country. Many of those historical palaces have now been converted into luxurious hotels. These luxury hotels retain the old charms of the ancient times and offer a luxurious stay with all modern amenities. The star attraction of these hotels is the architecture which takes you back to the glorious past of the country.

If you want to enjoy a stay which offers you with complete lavishness, then you must pamper yourself with luxury heritage hotels of India. Treat your taste buds with the authentic food served by the expert chefs of these heritage hotels. Experience royalty at its best with heritage hotels which make you turn back the pages of India’s rich past.

Here is a list of the best heritage hotels in India which define luxury at its best:

Or better reclaim yourself – Spa & Ayurveda

With its ancient Ayurvedic roots and growing spa industry, India has become a hot destination for spa and Ayurveda. India is home to a number of Ayurvedic resorts and spa centers, where people can indulge in a rejuvenating and healthy holiday. Set amid a green and tranquil environment, these resorts and centers offer a peaceful and great experience.

When it comes to spa and Ayurveda, India leaves no one disappointed. India serves everything at its best with a sparkling layer of luxury. It offers a wide variety to choose from, which involves different aspects of spa and Ayurveda including meditation, aromatherapy, Yoga and more. Lie back and pamper yourself with the most exotic and rejuvenating treatments. With Rishikesh considered the Yoga capital of the world and Kerala with its authentic Ayurveda centers, no wonder visitors from across the world head to India to reclaim the harmony of body, mind and soul.

Here is a list of the leading spa and Ayurveda centers in India:

Ananda in the Himalayas Spa, Rishikesh
Kaya Kalp- The Royal Spa, ITC Mughal Agra
Devaaya, The Ayurveda and Nature Cure Center, Goa
Kairali Health Ayurvedic Village, Palakkad
The Leela, Udaipur
Maya Spa, Kumarakom
Amatraa Spa, New Delhi

[Also see the top spa & Ayurveda resorts in India]

So you see, the choice is yours! By the way, what will you choose?

[Also explore our collection of summer tour packages in India to plan your holidays in 2024]

Tanya Malik

Thinking this world is a gold mine, Tanya Malik believes, the more you travel, the more you discover. Travel Writer one day, shutterbug the other, author in making, she lives for love, food and travel. Expect tons about scenic beauty and food from the write-ups of this nature lover and foodie.