20 Best Places to Visit in December in India: Snow, Beaches, Festivals and Christmas Getaways

Searching for places to visit in December in India? You are in good company, because December is the country's favourite month to travel. The monsoon is long gone, the air is crisp and clear, the mountains are dusted with fresh snow, the beaches are at their sunniest, and the calendar is packed with festivals, Christmas lights and New Year celebrations. Picture it: a snowball fight in Gulmarg on Christmas morning, a desert campfire under the stars in Jaisalmer, or a New Year's Eve sunset on a white sand beach in the Andamans.

With school holidays, long weekends and year-end leave, December is also the busiest and most expensive month for travel in India, so planning early matters. This guide lists 20 of the best places to visit in December in India, grouped by the kind of trip you want: snow, beaches, festivals, deserts, hills and wildlife, with tips on booking, budgets and beating the crowds.

Snowy places to visit in December in India

1. Gulmarg, Kashmir

India's premier ski resort usually receives its first heavy snowfalls in December, turning its meadows into a winter wonderland. Ride the Gulmarg Gondola towards Apharwat, try skiing or sledging, and stay in a houseboat on Dal Lake in Srinagar. Read our Gulmarg in winter guide.

2. Auli, Uttarakhand

Auli, above Joshimath, has gentle ski slopes with views of Nanda Devi, one of India's highest peaks, and a long cable car. It is a great choice for beginners and families, with snow usually from late December.

3. Manali and Solang Valley, Himachal Pradesh

Manali is one of the most popular December destinations, with a good chance of snow in Solang Valley and around the Atal Tunnel towards Sissu. Expect crowds and traffic at Christmas and New Year.

4. Shimla and Kufri

The old summer capital often sees snow in late December, and its colonial Mall Road, Christ Church and Ridge look magical with Christmas lights. Kufri nearby offers snow play.

5. Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

For adventurous travellers, Tawang offers snow at Sela Pass, frozen lakes and the great monastery. Read our Tawang trip guide.

Beach places to visit in December in India

6. Goa

Goa is at its liveliest in December, with perfect weather, Christmas midnight masses in beautiful churches, New Year parties and music festivals. For quieter days, head to the southern beaches. Read our offbeat Goa guide.

7. Andaman Islands

Clear water, calm seas and sunny skies make December ideal for Havelock, Neil and Port Blair, with snorkelling, scuba diving and Radhanagar Beach sunsets. Book flights and ferries early. Read our Andaman trip guide.

8. Kerala: Varkala, Kovalam and Kochi

December brings pleasant weather across Kerala, perfect for beaches, backwaters and hill stations, and Kochi is festive at Christmas. Read our Kerala trip itinerary.

9. Gokarna, Karnataka

A quieter alternative to Goa, with beautiful beaches, the coastal trek and a relaxed vibe. Read our Gokarna trip guide.

10. Pondicherry

Pondicherry's French quarter glows with Christmas lights, and its cafes, beaches and Auroville make a lovely year-end break. Read our Pondicherry trip guide.

Festivals in December

11. Hornbill Festival, Nagaland (1 to 10 December)

Nagaland's Festival of Festivals brings together the state's tribes with dances, music, food and crafts at Kisama near Kohima. Read our Hornbill Festival guide.

12. Rann Utsav, Gujarat

The White Rann of Kutch is dry and dazzling in December, with a tent city, folk music and full moon nights over the salt. Read our Rann Utsav guide.

13. Christmas in Shillong and the Northeast

Shillong, Kohima and Aizawl celebrate Christmas with lights, carols and community feasts, a warm and joyful time to visit. Read our Meghalaya trip itinerary.

Deserts, heritage and hills

14. Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Warm days and cold desert nights make December perfect for Jaisalmer's golden fort, havelis and a night under the stars at a desert camp. Read our Jaisalmer trip guide.

15. Udaipur and Jaipur

Rajasthan's palaces, lakes and forts are best explored in the cool winter sunshine. Our Udaipur Palace of Lakes and Jaipur Royal Haveli packages are ideal year-end escapes.

16. Hampi, Karnataka

December's pleasant weather is ideal for cycling through Hampi's ruins and boulder landscapes. Read our Hampi travel guide.

17. Munnar and Coorg

Misty mornings, cool weather and coffee or tea estates make these hill stations perfect for a relaxed December break. Explore our Coorg coffee estate retreat.

18. Varanasi

Cool mornings, the evening Ganga aarti and sunrise boat rides make December a lovely time for Varanasi, though fog can delay trains and flights. Read our Varanasi travel guide.

Wildlife and adventure

19. Kabini and Ranthambore

Winter is excellent for wildlife safaris, with pleasant mornings and good sightings. Our Kabini jungle safari is a favourite with families.

20. Kedarkantha trek, Uttarakhand

December is the start of the Kedarkantha winter trek season, one of India's best beginner snow treks. Join our Kedarkantha winter trek or read our Kedarkantha trek guide.

Christmas and New Year specials

For Christmas, head to Goa for midnight masses in centuries-old churches and beach celebrations, Pondicherry for its French-quarter lights, Kochi for its colonial churches and festive streets, Shillong and Kohima for carols and community feasts in the hills, and Shimla for a white Christmas if the snow arrives early. For New Year's Eve, Goa's beaches, Manali's mountain parties, the Andamans' sunset beaches and Udaipur's palace hotels are all popular. Book at least two to three months in advance, as prices peak and events sell out.

December weather guide by region

• North India (Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh): cold days and foggy mornings, with temperatures dropping to around 5°C at night.
• Himalaya (Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand): freezing nights and snow at higher altitudes; some roads may close.
• Rajasthan and Gujarat: pleasant sunny days around 22 to 28°C and cold nights, especially in the desert.
• Goa, Konkan and Karnataka coast: warm and sunny, around 28 to 32°C, with calm seas.
• Kerala and Tamil Nadu: warm and pleasant, though the northeast monsoon can bring rain to Tamil Nadu in early December.
• Northeast: cool, dry and clear, ideal for festivals and sightseeing.

Travelling with children in December

School holidays make December a popular month for family trips. Choose destinations with short travel times, such as Goa, Kerala, Jaipur or Coorg, book family rooms early, and pack warm clothes for cold evenings even in beach destinations if you are travelling by train overnight. For snow trips, buy or rent proper waterproof gear for children, as wet, cold clothes can quickly spoil the fun.

What to pack for December travel

• Snow destinations: thermals, a down jacket, waterproof boots, gloves and a woollen cap.
• Deserts: light clothes for the day and a warm jacket for cold nights.
• Beaches: summer clothes, swimwear and sunscreen, plus a light shawl for breezy evenings.
• Hill stations: layers and a warm jacket, as mornings and nights are cold.

Offbeat December ideas

• Chopta and Tungnath, Uttarakhand: a snowy trek to one of the highest Shiva temples in the world, with Himalayan views.
• Bir, Himachal Pradesh: paragliding season, Tibetan monasteries and cafes.
• Majuli, Assam: the world's largest river island, with satras (Vaishnavite monasteries), mask-making and village life.
• Chilika Lake, Odisha: India's largest coastal lagoon, with migratory birds and Irrawaddy dolphins.
• Bharatpur, Rajasthan: the Keoladeo National Park is at its best for migratory birds in winter.

Planning around long weekends

Christmas, New Year and school holidays make late December the busiest travel period of the year. To save money, travel in the first two weeks of December, or combine a weekend with a few days of leave in mid-December. If you must travel over Christmas and New Year, book flights and hotels as early as possible and avoid the most crowded hill stations on the peak days.

Wildlife and birding in December

Winter is the season of migratory birds. Flamingos gather in the Rann of Kutch and at Nal Sarovar in Gujarat, cranes and pelicans arrive at Keoladeo in Bharatpur, and Chilika Lake in Odisha fills with ducks and waders from Central Asia and Siberia. Tiger reserves such as Ranthambore, Corbett, Bandhavgarh and Kanha are open, with crisp mornings and good sightings, though early safaris can be very cold in open jeeps, so bring warm layers, gloves and a cap. Book safari permits well in advance, as December is peak season.

Best December trips by travel style

• For snow: Gulmarg, Auli, Manali, Shimla, Tawang.
• For beaches: Goa, the Andamans, Kerala, Gokarna, Pondicherry.
• For festivals: Hornbill, Rann Utsav, Christmas in the Northeast, Goa.
• For honeymoons: Udaipur, the Andamans, Kerala, Gulmarg.
• For families: Goa, Kerala, Jaisalmer, Rann Utsav, Kabini.
• For adventure: Kedarkantha, skiing in Gulmarg or Auli, scuba in the Andamans.

How to beat December crowds and prices

Christmas week and the days before New Year are the most expensive time of the year to travel in India. Flights to Goa, Manali and Udaipur can cost two to three times their normal fares, and many hotels insist on minimum stays and compulsory gala dinners on 31 December. The first two weeks of December are far calmer and cheaper, with the same weather. If you must travel over the holidays, book flights and hotels by September or October, choose a quieter base a little away from the main town, such as South Goa instead of Baga, or Old Manali and Naggar instead of the Mall Road area, and plan to arrive a day or two before the rush. Trains fill up quickly too, so book the moment the reservation window opens.

December travel tips

• Book early: flights, trains and hotels for Christmas and New Year sell out months ahead, and prices can double.
• Travel in early December for better prices and fewer crowds, before the school holidays.
• Watch for fog: dense fog in North India can delay flights and trains, especially in the mornings.
• Pack for the destination: heavy woollens for snow, light clothes for beaches, and layers for deserts, where nights are cold.
• Check road conditions: heavy snowfall can close mountain roads for a day or two; keep buffer days.
• Book New Year events in advance: popular parties and dinners in Goa, Manali and other hotspots fill up early.

Budget ideas for December

• Under ₹20,000 per person: Hampi, Gokarna, Pondicherry, Varanasi, a Coorg weekend.
• ₹20,000 to ₹50,000: Goa, Jaisalmer, Kerala, Meghalaya, the Hornbill Festival.
• ₹50,000 and above: the Andamans, Gulmarg, Rann Utsav tent city, luxury Udaipur stays.

Prices rise sharply between 20 December and 2 January, so shifting your trip by a week can save a lot.

Plan your December holiday with The Vacation Code

There are so many places to visit in December in India that the hardest part is choosing. Our team can help you pick the right destination for your dates, budget and travel style, and book before prices rise. Browse our weekend getaways and tours, including our Kashmir Romantic Paradise package, or read our list of honeymoon destinations in India.

Frequently asked questions

Which are the best places to visit in December in India?

Some of the best places to visit in December in India are Gulmarg, Auli and Manali for snow; Goa, the Andamans and Kerala for beaches; the Hornbill Festival and Rann Utsav for festivals; and Jaisalmer, Udaipur and Hampi for heritage.

Where can I see snow in India in December?

Gulmarg, Auli, Manali and Solang Valley, Shimla and Kufri, and Tawang often have snow in December, though snowfall varies each year.

Which beach destination is best in December?

Goa, the Andaman Islands, Kerala, Gokarna and Pondicherry all have excellent weather in December. The Andamans offer the clearest water, and Goa the liveliest celebrations.

When is the Hornbill Festival?

The Hornbill Festival is held every year from 1 to 10 December at Kisama near Kohima in Nagaland.

How early should I book for Christmas and New Year travel in India?

Book flights, trains and hotels at least two to three months ahead for Christmas and New Year, as prices rise and popular places sell out.

Where can I celebrate Christmas in India?

Goa, Pondicherry, Kochi, Shillong, Kohima and Shimla are among the best places to celebrate Christmas in India.

What should I pack for December travel in India?

Pack heavy woollens for the mountains, light clothes for beaches, and layers for deserts and hill stations, where days are warm and nights are cold.