April and May are the two hottest month of summer. If you are like most families, these two months are also the best time to travel (for reasons such as school holidays, break from the summer heat among others
Here is a quick preview of the Top 10 most travelled destinations during the month)
1. Ooty (South India)
Ooty, located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, is known as the "queen of hill stations" and ranked #1 in our most popular summer getway list - particularly in the month of May. Ooty is set among the Nilgiris or Blue Mountains and is known for its scenic beauty, relaxing atmosphere, mountain train ride, boating in the Ooty lake, botanical gardens, and the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Ooty is visited by people from all over the country. And visitors from neighbouring states visit Ooty multiple times and some atleast once every year.
2. Kodaikanal (South India)
Another top hill station of Southern India, Kodaikanal is often grouped together with Ooty by many to make for a 3-5 day summer vacation. The star-shaped Kodai Lake is the centre of attraction and is a great place to relax with your family. Visit the lake, pine forest, coalkers walk and other water falls around the area. Visitors to kodaikanal like " trekking and jungle walks--exploring the little water falls and springs". Home-made chocolates are famous here.
3. Puri (East India)
One trip to Puri serves two different purposes - a visit to the famous Jagannath Temple and a relaxing vacation with your family on the Puri beach along with several side trips to several top tourist destinations including Sun Temple at Konark - a world heritage site; watching dolphins and flamingoes at Chilika Lake; or a day trip to Bhubaneswar - the city of temples.
4. Shimla (North India)
Shimla ranks highly as a great summer destination since the British era and was claimed as the summer capital of the country. Shimla provides ample opportunity to get away from the summer heat of northern India with wide range of tourist activities including sightseeing, hiking, and most important of all - relaxing.
5. Shirdi (West India)
Shirdi, located in Maharastra, is well known for the Shirdi Sai Baba temple, and is a popular destination year around including the summer months. Shirdi is considered a religious destination. However, visitors also enjoy spending peaceful vacation with their families. One visitor to Shirdi wrote: "Shirdi is comfortable, local food is yummy......life can survive wonderfully just with vada pavs and bajra rotis itself". Shirdi is easily reachable from Mumbai by train although many tourists from neighboring states prefer driving.
6.NAINITAL-
Located in Uttarakhand, Nainital is based on the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas. Nainital is set in a valley containing a pear-shaped lake, approximately two miles in circumference, and surrounded by mountains all around. As a traveler stated "magnificent views can be obtained of the vast plain to the south, or of the mass of tangled ridges lying north, bounded by the great snowy range which forms the central axis of the Himalayas". Most travelers find Nainital extremely "relaxing" and a "perfect destination for honeymooners". Activites in Nainital include sightseeing, trecking & hiking, boating.
7. Mussoorie (North India)
Situated in the foothills of the Himalayas, Mussoorie is a popular hill station in the state of Uttarakhand in northern India. It is easily accessible by road from Delhi. Mussoorie is the gateway to the Yamunotri and Gangotri. Its pleasant weather remains comfortable even in the middle of summer which makes it an ideal holiday getaway in May. Apart from enjoying the weather, one can indulge in various activities such as trekking, nature walks and horse riding. The Jharipani Falls, Bhatta Falls, and Kempty Falls are the three well known waterfalls in Mussoorie. One traveler to Mussoorie wrote "If you wish to see the beautiful mussoorie, go to Landour Cantt...go to areas beyond Lal tibba. And walk, walk, walk. Such beautiful crowning trees, rhodendron blooms! Food is not a problem in Mussoorie. All kinds of cuisine are available on the Mall Road. Do visit Chic Chocolate..its happening! We went there thrice in a single day! Their pizza, paneer kathi roll, rose slush are sure hits".
8. Munnar (South India)
Munnar & Thekkady are the two most popular hill stations of Kerala and are frequented by visitors from all over the country. Munnar is famous for its lush green environs, lakes, woodland, winding lanes and tea estates that lies nestled in the serene Kannan Devan Hills. Low-flying clouds and mist filled valleys make it a refuge for several discerned travelers.Hotels in Munnar are very affordable and so are other tourism facilities around here.
9. Bhubaneswar (East India)
Ranked #9, Bhubaneswar could seem to be a surprise in our Top-10 destinations for May. But it is not really a surprise, considering its close proximity to Puri and its beaches. Bhubaneswar is temple city of India and is ideal for a 2-3 day family vacation. It is known for its ancient Hindu temple, Jain monuments, and Buddhist stupas.
10. Mysore (South India)
Mysore is another surprise in our top-10 list particularly because it made it ahead of several other famous tourist destinations such as Trivandrum and Kanyakumari. Mysore has always charmed its admirers with its pretty appeal, rich heritage, wonderful palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, grand buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. And the summer months of May are not as hot as most cities in India. Mysore's prime tourist attractions include Mysore Palace, the Brindavan Gardens, the Ranganthitoo Bird Sanctuary among others.
Here is a quick preview of the Top 10 most travelled destinations during the month)
- Ooty (South)
- Kodaikanal (South)
- Puri (East)
- Shimla (North India)
- Shirdi (West)
- Nainital (North India)
- Mussoorie (North India)
- Munnar (South India)
- Bhubaneswar (East India)
- Mysore (South India)
1. Ooty (South India)
Ooty, located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, is known as the "queen of hill stations" and ranked #1 in our most popular summer getway list - particularly in the month of May. Ooty is set among the Nilgiris or Blue Mountains and is known for its scenic beauty, relaxing atmosphere, mountain train ride, boating in the Ooty lake, botanical gardens, and the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Ooty is visited by people from all over the country. And visitors from neighbouring states visit Ooty multiple times and some atleast once every year.
2. Kodaikanal (South India)
Another top hill station of Southern India, Kodaikanal is often grouped together with Ooty by many to make for a 3-5 day summer vacation. The star-shaped Kodai Lake is the centre of attraction and is a great place to relax with your family. Visit the lake, pine forest, coalkers walk and other water falls around the area. Visitors to kodaikanal like " trekking and jungle walks--exploring the little water falls and springs". Home-made chocolates are famous here.
3. Puri (East India)
One trip to Puri serves two different purposes - a visit to the famous Jagannath Temple and a relaxing vacation with your family on the Puri beach along with several side trips to several top tourist destinations including Sun Temple at Konark - a world heritage site; watching dolphins and flamingoes at Chilika Lake; or a day trip to Bhubaneswar - the city of temples.
4. Shimla (North India)
Shimla ranks highly as a great summer destination since the British era and was claimed as the summer capital of the country. Shimla provides ample opportunity to get away from the summer heat of northern India with wide range of tourist activities including sightseeing, hiking, and most important of all - relaxing.5. Shirdi (West India)
Shirdi, located in Maharastra, is well known for the Shirdi Sai Baba temple, and is a popular destination year around including the summer months. Shirdi is considered a religious destination. However, visitors also enjoy spending peaceful vacation with their families. One visitor to Shirdi wrote: "Shirdi is comfortable, local food is yummy......life can survive wonderfully just with vada pavs and bajra rotis itself". Shirdi is easily reachable from Mumbai by train although many tourists from neighboring states prefer driving.
6.NAINITAL-
Located in Uttarakhand, Nainital is based on the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas. Nainital is set in a valley containing a pear-shaped lake, approximately two miles in circumference, and surrounded by mountains all around. As a traveler stated "magnificent views can be obtained of the vast plain to the south, or of the mass of tangled ridges lying north, bounded by the great snowy range which forms the central axis of the Himalayas". Most travelers find Nainital extremely "relaxing" and a "perfect destination for honeymooners". Activites in Nainital include sightseeing, trecking & hiking, boating.
7. Mussoorie (North India)
Situated in the foothills of the Himalayas, Mussoorie is a popular hill station in the state of Uttarakhand in northern India. It is easily accessible by road from Delhi. Mussoorie is the gateway to the Yamunotri and Gangotri. Its pleasant weather remains comfortable even in the middle of summer which makes it an ideal holiday getaway in May. Apart from enjoying the weather, one can indulge in various activities such as trekking, nature walks and horse riding. The Jharipani Falls, Bhatta Falls, and Kempty Falls are the three well known waterfalls in Mussoorie. One traveler to Mussoorie wrote "If you wish to see the beautiful mussoorie, go to Landour Cantt...go to areas beyond Lal tibba. And walk, walk, walk. Such beautiful crowning trees, rhodendron blooms! Food is not a problem in Mussoorie. All kinds of cuisine are available on the Mall Road. Do visit Chic Chocolate..its happening! We went there thrice in a single day! Their pizza, paneer kathi roll, rose slush are sure hits".
8. Munnar (South India)
Munnar & Thekkady are the two most popular hill stations of Kerala and are frequented by visitors from all over the country. Munnar is famous for its lush green environs, lakes, woodland, winding lanes and tea estates that lies nestled in the serene Kannan Devan Hills. Low-flying clouds and mist filled valleys make it a refuge for several discerned travelers.Hotels in Munnar are very affordable and so are other tourism facilities around here.
9. Bhubaneswar (East India)
Ranked #9, Bhubaneswar could seem to be a surprise in our Top-10 destinations for May. But it is not really a surprise, considering its close proximity to Puri and its beaches. Bhubaneswar is temple city of India and is ideal for a 2-3 day family vacation. It is known for its ancient Hindu temple, Jain monuments, and Buddhist stupas. 10. Mysore (South India)
Mysore is another surprise in our top-10 list particularly because it made it ahead of several other famous tourist destinations such as Trivandrum and Kanyakumari. Mysore has always charmed its admirers with its pretty appeal, rich heritage, wonderful palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, grand buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. And the summer months of May are not as hot as most cities in India. Mysore's prime tourist attractions include Mysore Palace, the Brindavan Gardens, the Ranganthitoo Bird Sanctuary among others.
