By Vaishnavi Mishra
Saint Augustine once said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page” and for the past one and half of the year most of us are stuck on the very first page. Amidst the rising number of Covid-19 cases, many traveling restrictions were imposed across nations to curb the spread of this deadly virus. These restrictions included partial or complete lockdown, canceling of flights, and mandatory vaccination.
But with a lowering in the number of cases and easing of restrictions, Indian travel and tourism is bouncing back and opening gates for tourists to explore.
With this, the season of blissful rain, Monsoon has already arrived in many states across India. It’s not acknowledged by many, that there are some of the places in India during the monsoon that offers ecstasy, beauty, and heavenly pleasure when you are vacationing. These places look spectacular during the rain and offer a romantic yet adventurous experience.
The lush greenery in the mountains, the lakes getting overflowed with sparkling water, driving around the waterfall, create a heavenly scenery that is too hard to resist. It is one of the best times of year to set foot out and explore Incredible India. Why to wait, dust out your passports and id cards and hop in for this venturesome journey.
But before doing so, you must maintain the standard protocols implemented by government officials like vaccinating yourself, avoiding the crowd, proper use of masks and sanitizer, and so on.
After you have carefully followed all the standard protocols, it’s time to check out five exotic places in India to travel this Monsoon.
5 best places in India to travel during Monsoon
Ranikhet, Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is definitely an ideal place where one can find an abundance of flora and fauna. Ranikhet which is famous as “Queen’s of Meadows” is a place that becomes a blessing in disguise during Monsoon season. Encompassed by hills, the scenic beauty during rain is spectacular to witness.
In the era of advancement, the place still offers you the essence of natural beauty. The view is mesmerizing with the lush green forests along with the majestic view of the great Himalayan Ranges. Ranikhet experiences alpine weather with south-western monsoon rains in July-September. Trekking, temple hopping, and relaxing in the lap of nature are some ideal activities you can do. Chaubatia Garden, Upat Golf Course, Bhalu Dam, KRC Museum are some places you can visit while your stay in Ranikhet. You can easily book luxurious hotels as well as hotels that are pocket-friendly.
Shillong, Meghalaya
“Scotland of the East”, Shillong in Meghalaya is one of the top destinations to travel in India during monsoon. Mostly unexplored by many, the place offers captivating beauty which becomes mesmerizing when the entire hill town gets drenched in rains. Steamy clouds, profuse green everywhere with reverberating waterfalls are definitely top reasons to visit this place during monsoon season.
You can take a stay in the nearby cozy hotels and remain close to the scenic beauty of nature during rain. Road-tripping, Elephant falls, and Spread Eagle Falls are some of the ideal activities you must try, traveling to this exotic destination. Jadoh, Doh Jem, Doh Khleh, and Doh Snam are some of the traditional and local food of Shillong you can try during your visit.
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh
You can see things small from peaks while you will explore great things from the valley. With this view, the next destination on the list is Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the most unusual places in India to visit during the monsoon. It will be surely a wonderland for those who like the calm and mystical vibe of the “Little Tibet”. The name “Spiti” means “The middle land”, i.e. the land between Tibet and India.
Spiti valley is famous for its natural beauty and cultural heritage. Tabo monastery is one of the most prominent attractions in Spiti. Lhalung monastery will give you a calming effect if you are looking for it. Campaigning and wildlife viewing become more magical with the spell of rain. Tsampa, Thukpa, churpe, buckwheat chiltas are some of the local delicacies you can enjoy. Momos or steamed dumplings are incredibly delicious everywhere in Spiti. You can easily book or make reservations in some of the best and pocket-friendly hotels and restaurants.
Coorg, Karnataka
Waking up to the smell of tranquilizing coffee and the scenic beauty of the misty land of hills and streams is still a dream for many. The enchanting waterfalls, lakes, and vast coffee plantations are the reasons to consider traveling to Coorg in Karnataka. The place is far-flung from the busy and occupied city.
The whole place is covered with dense forest with a wide variety of flora and fauna which makes it an even more romantic destination during the Monsoon. Trekking, bird watching, horse ride, coffee plantation are some best activities you can indulge in during your stay in Coorg. Mostly unexplored, the place is home to some of the delicious cuisines to treat your taste buds. Kummu curry (mushroom curry), Bumble curry (tender bamboo shoot curry), and kuru curry (bean curry) are a few cuisines you can try coming here. The place hosts a good number of luxurious hotels, resorts, bars, and restaurants.
Alleppey
Often termed as “Venice of the Earth”, Alleppey is home to some of the exotic backwater canals, beaches, paddy fields, and lagoons. Every year, the place attracts thousands of visitors because of its scenic beauty and houseboats cruises in the backwaters. With the Laccadive Sea on its west Alleppey is blessed with an abundance of natural flora and fauna and the backwaters and the wetlands make it rich in marine life and resident and migratory avifauna.
One may take a ride through lakes and rivers in the perfectly moist, refreshing, and dust-free weather. The monsoon adds ice on the cake, making the Alleppey nature hub spot. From canoeing and kayaking to witnessing a magical sunset or taking a refreshing spa there is a lot to do in Alleppey. You can get varieties of food options while exploring Alleppey including traditional South Indian cuisines. One can easily find cozy hotels and restaurants anywhere.
Monsoon makes every place more beautiful, highlighting the actual essence of nature. These mentioned five destinations look heavenly when the rain pours here. These places can act as a stress buster and an escape from regular exhausting work. The monsoon will help you enjoy the experience of a refreshing road trip in rain, scenic beauty around these places, and also an adventure of a lifetime. One can visit this place with their family, friends, a group, or even solo. The trip will definitely give a refreshing start to your work and life. So why hold back, pack your bags, wear your mask, and get vaccinated to explore incredible India amidst the season of Monsoon.
