North India Will Delight You No Matter What You’re Looking for: 10 Best Places to Go for Holidays in North India (2019)

North India encompasses a big and major part of India and it includes the states of Uttar Pradesh (state with the highest population in India), Uttarakhand (state with a mix of plateau and mountainous region), Himachal Pradesh (state with mostly hilly areas), Punjab (also known as the land of five rivers) and Haryana (one of the most wealthiest states of India), Rajasthan (state of forts, camels and deserts), the capital of India – Delhi which is a Union Territory, UT of Chandigarh and two newly created UT’s – Jammu & Kashmir and Laddakh. The north zone is spread in an area of 1.421 million km sq or roughly 43% of the total area of India. Be prepared to experience different languages, people, food, culture and weather at different places before you start your journey to North India.

Various places may have different temperatures and weather across the North Zone in India. If you are planning to visit anywhere in the planes, then the months of October and April are the most appropriate as the temperature is moderate and hotels and tour operators would also provide good deals as these are not the peak season months. However, if you are planning for some mountainous adventure, then do know in advance about the weather and average temperature of the particular destination and get all decked up as you may have to brave extreme temperatures which may go well below zero degrees.

Gossiping, storytelling, chitchatting, yes! Most of the people in North India like conversations, so if you are someone who likes socializing; then you are going to enjoy the company of fellow travellers or the debates at the local tea stalls. Also, do taste the local cuisines at the street shops to complete your experience of the city where you are visiting. Don’t forget to ride the local tuk tuk’s available in different cities and keep cash and change always handy. Do take good care of your belongings and always keep your wallet in the front pocket or your handbag instead of the back pocket. Do use local public transport which is cheap and easily available in most of the places. Don’t take food from strangers, especially while travelling in trains and always carry your own drinking water and hand sanitizer along. A lot of public toilets have been constructed and geotagged in the last few years, hence you can always Google for nearby facilities.

Places in North India like Leh, Ladakh, Himanchal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have some very beautiful hill stations and mountains to explore. Let’s check few of these gems from several such serene mountainous wonders.

The new Union Territory of India, Ladakh is truly a mesmerizing place with snow-clad mountains, fabulous landscapes and friendly people. Ladakh is blessed to be bounded by two of the famous mountain ranges, the Great Himalayas and the Karakoram. Ladakh is further divided into two regions: Leh and Kargil district. Kargil is mostly army protected area and hence Leh makes for a popular tourist place well known for its picturesque locations, beautiful monasteries and attractive markets.

The capital of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is one of the most popular and exotic hill stations in North India. This place was developed as a Hill Station by Britishers and hence the influence of British culture is still evident in few buildings, schools and churches. The snow-covered mountains of Shimla are a delight to watch and adventure sports during winters for the tourists. The main attraction; however, is the toy train which runs between Kalka and Shimla and one can enjoy the serene views while travelling on this train.

Kullu and Manali are two neighbouring districts that are an hour distant from each other. Kullu valley presents a picture-perfect view with the river Beas flowing alongside the valley. Kullu is famous for its temples, apple orchards and scenic pine and deodar forests. Manali is covered with white soft snow during winters and makes for a popular skiing destination. You can enjoy rafting in Beas River during the summers and also get soaked in the scented floras amid the emerald forest.

Gulmarg is considered as one of the popular Honeymoon destinations of North India as it’s comparatively less crowded than places like Manali and Shimla. Gulmarg has been developed as a hub for adventure lovers, especially due to the presence of the Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering, which was founded in 1969. One can learn skiing, snowboarding and trekking by booking in advance in this institute. Gulmarg has been a favourite shooting spot for cinematographers and many Bollywood films have been shot here.

The capital of Uttarakhand, Dehradun is situated in Doon Valley and is a popular hill station in the scenic backdrop of the Garhwal Himalayas. Dehradun is located 1400 feet above the sea level and the weather is mostly pleasant with year-round moderate temperature. Dehradun is a city surrounded by waterfalls, caves and natural springs and visitors can enjoy at various picnic spots or try adventure activities. Mussorie is another hill station about 35 kilometres from Dehradun and is located above Dehradun at an elevation of about 1880 meters. Mussorie has beauty abound across it and visitors can enjoy every bit of serenity and natural beauty with a clear view of Dehradun on the foothills and mountains encircling the cities.

Although there are dozens of popular and scenic lakes in North India, we have picked the most popular two of them. These Lakes are a dream destination for any traveller who enjoys nature’s beauty.

Nainital is another hill station located in the Kumaon region of Uttrakhand and is famous for its Lakes. Apart from the main Lake Nainital, there are seven lakes in and around district Nainital. This place also has the famous Hindu temple of Naina Devi, which is an attraction for the devotees. Tourists can also enjoy the panoramic view of the mountains by taking the cable car and shop and dine at the various shops and restaurants respectively which are lined up across The Mall.

Also known as ‘Heaven on Earth’, Srinagar is the capital of Jammu and Kashmir UT and one of the most serene and picturesque places on this planet. The Dal Lake and the small boats called Shikaras are a delight for the tourists as well as the photographers alike. Not only the lake, but few beautiful gardens like Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh and Chashm-E-Shahi gardens are worth visiting. Do taste the local cuisines made from local spices and shop for shawls and scarves. Pari Mahal and Shankaracharya Temple are other famous places to visit.

North India has many religious places and temples which attract millions of devotees every year. Let’s take a sneak peek into some of the most famous of these sacred places.

Varanasi is considered to be the world’s oldest living city and is also known as Kashi or Banaras, which are its ancient names. Varanasi, located in Uttar Pradesh is known for its enchanting culture and famous temples like Kashi Vishwanath temple, which is the centre of attraction for visitors from all over the world. This city has many surprise elements and stories if you are a first time visitor. Located on the western banks of the holy river of Ganga, it is believed by Hindus that a person, who dies here, gets Moksha (freedom from the cycle of birth and death).

Previously known as Allahabad, this famous city of Uttar Pradesh is well known for its spiritual and religious importance. The name Prayagraj has been taken from Pra meaning “first” and Yag means “devotion” and also signifies the meeting point of the three sacred rivers – Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. Maha Kumbh Mela is a grand event conducted once every 12 years and Ardh Kumbh every 6 years, millions of devotees throng the Triveni Sangam (joining a place of the three rivers) to worship the sacred rivers.

Take a dip in Holy Ganga River in Haridwar to wash your sins and step forward on the spiritual path; this is the belief of thousands of visitors who throng the ghats of Haridwar every day. Located in the state of Uttarakhand, Haridwar is among the top seven holiest cities for Hindus. Do visit the famous “Har ki Pauri” on the banks of The Ganga and witness the evening “Ganga Arti”.

The birthplace of Lord Krishna, Mathura is a favourite travel destination for the Hindu devout and has many iconic temples and sacred places. Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi is the most famous destination in Mathura as this is the exact location of the prison where Lord Krishna was born and is on display for the general public. Vrindavan is just 40 km from Mathura and is an old city on the banks of Yamuna River and is considered sacred as Lord Krishna spent his childhood in Vrindavan. Banke Bihari temple and ISKCON temple are the two most famous temples along with numerous other temples where idols of Radha and Krishna are on display for worship.

Gangotri is a town in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand and is considered very sacred as it is one of the “Char Dhams” of Hindus. It is the origin of river Ganga and located at a height of 3100 meters on the Greater Himalayan Range. The famous Gangotri Temple, Ganges Glacier, Dodi Tal and Kedar Tal are few of the beautiful places to visit in Gangotri.

Wildlife and Natural beauty are found in abundance in North India and govt. has protected few wildlife parks which are appreciated both by the tourists and wildlife lovers.

Located on the foothills of Himalayas, this National Park is spread in an area of more than 500 sq. km. Corbett National Park is home to varieties of flora and fauna including few rare species. Also, it is home to the endangered species of the Royal Bengal Tiger. A Jungle Safari is a must-do activity in this park and you can also plan a small stay in one of the many resorts inside the park.

Rajaji National Park is located on the foothills of the Shivalik Mountain Ranges and spreads across 3 districts of Uttarakhand including Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal. This park has been designated the status of Tiger Reserve by the Govt. of India. A Jeep Safari or Elephant Safari is the best way to explore the wilderness and serenity of this National park and have an encounter with Tiger, Elephant, Panther, Bear and Pythons etc.

Valley of Flowers, located in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand is a picturesque national park close to Western Himalayas, it was discovered in 1931 and has been declared the World Heritage Site. Visit here to witness the snow-clad mountains encircling the flora and fauna of this park. Nearby Nanda Devi National Park is also one of the places worth visiting.

The majority of Kaziranga National Park in Assam is made of swamp and grasslands, thus making it a perfect natural habitat for the Rhinos. This park is the abode of the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceros and also has more than 40 different wild species living here. Kaziranga National Park has Brahmaputra River on its one side, thus completing the look of this beautiful park.

One more National Park in Assam which is a river island park and one of the few protected sites in the Endemic Bird Area of the Assamese Plains is the Dibru National Park. This National Park is located just 12 km North of Tinsukia District and includes wild animals like hoolock gibbons, leopards and Royal Bengal Tiger and many beautiful species of protected birds. There are no roads inside the park and hence the serenity can be experienced only by trekking or through boats.

Few cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Ayodhya and Amritsar are places of significant historical importance and the North India trip would be incomplete without exploring these areas.