December is the last month of the year and considered a happy month because everyone is in the holiday spirit. With Christmas and New Year right around the corner, many offices close for a week or 10 days, and people plan holidays with their partners, family, and friends. It is also the month when many hill stations in India receive snowfall and look breathtaking hidden under the snow blanket.
If you want to spend a magical Christmas holiday surrounded by snow, we bring recommendations for four Indian destinations. From adventures to the mesmerising beauty of nature, you won’t be able to get enough of these hill stations.
Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir
From Pahalgam and Sonmarg to Gulmarg, hill stations in Kashmir are currently covered with snow. The temperature drops below 0°C, therefore, you should carry warmers and jackets, but these are worth covering this month.
In December, Kashmir is a popular destination for skiing enthusiasts. Many places are open in Kashmir only when it snows. For example, Gondola Phase 2 can only be visited in this weather via cable cars. It is considered the highest in the world. All these destinations are easily accessible via road from Srinagar. Adventure enthusiasts can stay in Gulmarg enjoy its pristine beauty and indulge in local festivities organised during the season of snow.
Auli, Uttarakhand
Auli in Uttarakhand looks stunningly covered in snow in December. You can book a holiday to this hill station and add Joshimath, Gorson Bugyal, Chattrakund Lake, and Rudraprayag to your itinerary.
The lowest temperature here can go below -8°C. It is a perfect destination for adventure junkies to enjoy camping, skiing, trekking (Spiritual Trekking Destinations In India), and ropeway riding. Many foodies also visit the destination to enjoy the best of the Garhwali cuisine.
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Ladakh, Leh-Ladakh
Ladakh is the winter wonderland that you cannot miss visiting during December. You might not be able to plan a road trip because Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh passes are usually closed due to snow, but you can book an air ticket. At certain places, the temperature can drop as low as -40° C. Therefore, it is recommended that extremely fit people should plan to visit the destination in this harsh weather.
In December, you can visit Tso Moriri, Nubra Valley, Lamayuru, Sham Valley, Changthang, Chang La Pass, and Khardung La Pass. But you must keep all the warm clothes with you, the weather is quite harsh.
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Manali, Himachal Pradesh
Though flooded with tourists, Manali (Places To Visit In Manali) in Himachal Pradesh is a beautiful destination that you must explore in December. If you are looking for an adrenaline rush, you should plan a day visit to the Solang Valley situated less than 15 km from Manali. You can indulge in a helicopter ride, cable car ride, paragliding, skiing, and zorbing.
Gulaba is another destination that is worth the visit near Manali because it looks straight out of animated Christmas movies when covered with snow in December. Paragliding and skiing are popular sports enjoyed by the tourists.
What are you waiting for? Pack your shoes, warm clothes, caps, mufflers, and gloves to head to hill stations and enjoy the mesmerising view of small towns covered in the blanket of snow.
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