Winters, like Santa Claus, brings a bag of goodies with itself every year: late mornings, envelopes of mist, the momentary relief from chilling cold over sips of piping hot chai (tea) served over a plate of pakoras (fritters) & holidays.

Holidays are the best part about winters and of course, the tea. Most would like to bury themselves under the layers of wool, hide themselves under thick, cosy blankets and would spend the holidays sipping tea, devouring delicacies like gazar ka halwa & binge watching Netflix & Hotstar. Some (like yours truly) would love to sip tea, devour gazar ka halwa & spend every single moment of our holidays on travel to the most gorgeous places of this country. 

Every single one of 29 states of India has a lot to offer that one can’t get enough of. For a winter special, however, you could pack your bags, leave all your woes behind and plan your holidays in any of these glorious states/ places:

1. Colorful Rajasthan:

Winters is the best time to experience the colors of Rajasthan and indulge in the calorie laden food of the state: pyaaj kachoris (fried onion bread), daal baati choorma & piping hot jalebis. Be it the pink of Jaipur, the white of Udaipur, the blue of Jodhpur or the golden of Jaisalmer, the state radiates all colors of the rainbow. Pick your favorite!

Average temperature in December: 15-20 degrees during the day and 2-4 degrees at night

Also read: Revel in the colors of Dharohar Dance Show in Udaipur

Also read: Majestic Thar of Jaisalmer 

2. Gleeful Goa:

If you are all for merry-making and gatecrashing parties, take a flight (or hire a cab) and fly/ drive to Goa. Over a chilled beer (or the drink of your choice), spend the nights at the lively pubs and bars and while away the days on the gleeful beaches of Goa. Every year, the whole Goa does nothing but party for four days in the music festival of Sunburn. This year, the Sunburn is from 27th December to 30th December.

Caution: the expenses shoot to 5x (easily) around Christmas and New Year in Goa. So, if you don’t mind burning a hole in your pocket, by all means, choose the gleeful Goa.

Average temperature in December: 25 – 27 degrees.

Also read: Beyond the beaches, the forts of Goa

3. Exceptional Karnataka 

If I have to pick one state our of all 29 in India for travel, it will be Karnataka always. Karnataka has all that one can imagine and ask. And then, Karnataka has some more: hill stations, beaches, waterfalls, monuments, heritage, temples, spiritualism, festivals and finger-licking food.

Take a dip along the beaches of Gokarna, enjoy the mystical waterfalls of Shimoga, visit the ancient ruins of Hampi, and relax in the Scotland of India (Coorg).

Average temperature in December: 10 – 12 degrees in hill stations & 22 – 24 degrees in plains.

Also read: Sparkling hidden gem of Karnataka: Kapu beach 

Also read: the tales of a bygone era: Hampi 

Also read: Mystical Jog falls of Shimoga 

4. God’s own country, Kerala 

Kerala is the melting pot of Aryan and Dravidian cultures. Situated on the Malabar coast, Kerala has the most beautiful beaches and backwaters of India. If you have to pick top three places of Kerala, they got to be: Munnar, Kovalam and Allepey backwaters (in that order).

Average temperature in December: 26 – 27 degrees

Also read: Paradise in South: Kovalam

5. Splendid Tamil Nadu 

At the border of Kerala and Karnataka, exists the hot Tamil Nadu (mostly). While Tamil Nadu is home to the wonders like Meenakshi temple of Madurai, one would also discover the most beautiful hill stations like Kodai Kanal and Ooty in the state. The tip of the nation, the farthest corner of the country, the much talked about – Kanyakumari is also a belonging of the proud Tamil Nadu.

Average temperature in December: 5-10 degrees in hill stations and 22 -2 8 degrees in plains

Also read: the queen of hill stations: Ooty

Also read: Picture yourself in the pine forests of Kodai Kanal

Also read: Discover yourself at the farthest corner of India: KanyaKumari 

6. Pondicherry

Just next to Tamil Nadu, is the beautiful union territory – Pondicherry. If you wish to enjoy like French do, eat baked goods full of cheese and run on a beach like no one is watching, visit Pondicherry.

Average temperature in December: 23 – 25 degrees

Also read: the beaches of Pondicherry

7. Underrated Madhya Pradesh:

Madhya Pradesh is one of the most underrated stated of India even though the state is home to the world famous Khajuraho temples (famous for illustrations of KamaSutra carved on temple walls) & Kanha national park (the inspiration behind ‘The Jungle Book’ of Rudyard Kipling).

You could of course visit the popular Khajuraho or the hidden gems like Orchha and Gwalior.

Average temperature in December: 18 – 20 degrees

This list is suggestive. Of course, you could visit other states like Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand to enjoy snow clad mountains and skiing. If you like to meditate and want to connect with your spiritual self, visit Uttar Pradesh.

Tell us – which places you would like to see in this list. Happy winters!

If you need any help in planning your itinerary to above listed places, drop me a message to guptaa.yamini@gmail.com.