Best places to visit in India in December

If you are lining up a winter break, the best places to visit in India in December fall into three easy camps: dry desert plains, warm southern beaches, and cold Himalayan hills where the first real snow arrives. December is the heart of the Indian tourist season for a reason. The monsoon is long gone, the air is clear and cool across most of the country, and the festival calendar is busy from the salt flats of Kutch to the tribal grounds of Nagaland.

December suits these destinations because it is dry and cool almost everywhere: the plains and coasts sit in comfortable daytime warmth with little rain, the deserts turn crisp and clear, and the northern mountains open their snow and ski season. It is also peak festival time, from Rann Utsav to the Hornbill Festival.

Why December is a great time to travel in India

December sits firmly in the dry season across most of India. The southwest monsoon has withdrawn, and even the coasts and islands see very little rain. Days are comfortable rather than hot, and nights turn cool, which makes long days of sightseeing, trekking and beach time far easier than in the summer months.

The month also splits the country neatly. The plains, deserts and southern coasts are at their most pleasant, while the far north and the higher hills move into proper winter, with sub-zero nights and the season’s first snow. That range lets you choose your December: warm and coastal, dry and desert, or cold and snowbound.

Finally, December is festival season. Rann Utsav is in full flow in Gujarat, the Hornbill Festival takes over Nagaland in the first ten days, and Christmas and New Year turn Goa’s beaches into the busiest party stretch of the year. This is peak travel season, so it pays to book early.

December at a glance

The table below sums up the destinations covered in this guide, with typical December weather and what each is known for. Figures are seasonal normals as of September 2026; reconfirm the current forecast before you travel.

The destinations

Rann of Kutch, Gujarat

The Great Rann of Kutch is a vast white salt flat on the Gujarat–Pakistan border that comes into its own in winter. December is arguably the finest month to see it: the air is dry and clear, daytime temperatures sit around a comfortable 26°C and dawns can drop to about 10°C, and full-moon nights turn the salt desert silver. The season is anchored by Rann Utsav, the tented cultural festival at Dhordo. The 2025–26 edition ran from 23 November 2025 to 20 February 2026, with the tent city open until 4 March 2026; the 2026–27 dates are usually confirmed closer to the season. Spend an evening on the salt flat at moonrise, watch folk music and Kutchi craft at the festival, and shop for embroidery and bandhani. Fly into Bhuj, then continue by road to Dhordo. Our Gujarat travel guide has more on the region.

Goa

Goa is the default December beach break, and the weather backs it up: warm, dry days from roughly 18°C at night to 28°C by afternoon, with only about 13 mm of rain across the whole month. This is peak season, when the shacks are open, the sea is calm and the north-coast nightlife is at full tilt. The Sunburn electronic dance festival is usually staged over three days in late December, and Christmas and New Year celebrations fill the beaches and churches of Old Goa. Split your time between the busy northern beaches and the quieter south, and set aside a morning for the Basilica of Bom Jesus. See our roundup of the 10 best beaches in Goa to plan your stretch of coast. Goa has two airports and good rail links to Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

The golden city on the edge of the Thar desert is a December favourite because the summer heat has finally broken. Highs settle around 26°C with cool nights near 10°C, and December is the driest month, with barely any rain and long, sunny days. That makes it the right time for a desert night: a camel or jeep safari into the dunes at Sam, a bonfire and folk music, and a night under clear skies. By day, explore the living Jaisalmer Fort, the carved havelis and Gadisar Lake. Jaisalmer has its own airport and an overnight train link from Delhi and Jodhpur. For more on the state’s citadels, see our guide to the majestic forts of Rajasthan.

Andaman Islands

If you want warm-water beaches in December, the Andaman Islands are hard to beat. The rains have eased, daytime temperatures hold at about 28–30°C, and the sea is a warm 28°C with calm, clear conditions ideal for snorkelling and diving. Base yourself in Port Blair, then take the ferry to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) for Radhanagar Beach and to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) for quieter shores. Try a scuba dive or a glass-bottom-boat trip over the reefs, and read the colonial history at the Cellular Jail. Fly to Port Blair from the mainland, then travel between islands by ferry. Our Andaman Islands travel guide covers the ferries and island-hopping in detail.

Munnar, Kerala

For a green, cool hill station in the south, Munnar in the Western Ghats is a strong December pick. Daytime highs stay around 20–21°C with distinctly cool nights, and the dry, clear spells between showers make the tea-covered slopes easy to explore. This is the time for slow drives through the plantations, a visit to a tea museum and estate, and viewpoints like Top Station on clear mornings. Eravikulam National Park nearby is home to the Nilgiri tahr. Munnar pairs naturally with a wider Kerala trip; you can drop down to the coast afterwards using our Kerala backwaters travel guide. The nearest airport and railhead are at Kochi, about four hours away by road.

Hampi, Karnataka

Hampi, the boulder-strewn capital of the former Vijayanagara empire, is best explored when the weather is kind, and December delivers. Nights cool to around 15°C and days top out near 30°C, with very little rain, so you can walk the ruins comfortably from morning to dusk. Spend your days among the Virupaksha Temple, the Vittala Temple with its stone chariot, and the royal enclosure, and climb Matanga Hill or Hemakuta for sunset over the landscape. A coracle ride on the Tungabhadra is an easy add-on. The nearest railhead is Hosapete (Hospet), about half an hour away, with the closest airports at Hubballi and Bengaluru. Our guide to the Vijayanagara ruins of Hampi maps out the main clusters.

Nagaland (Hornbill Festival)

Nagaland’s headline draw in December is the Hornbill Festival, held every year from 1 to 10 December at the Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima. Often called the festival of festivals, it brings together the state’s tribes for morung displays, traditional dances, indigenous games, craft stalls and evening concerts, all in cool early-winter weather with cold nights. Beyond the festival grounds, use the trip to see Kohima, the World War II cemetery, and villages such as Khonoma. Foreign and Indian visitors should note that Nagaland requires an Inner Line Permit (see the planning section). Fly to Dimapur, the state’s main airport and railhead, then drive up to Kohima.

Auli, Uttarakhand

Auli is India’s best-known ski slope and one of the surest places to find snow as the year ends. December temperatures run from about −4°C at night to 10°C by day, and regular snowfall usually sets in from around the middle of the month, with the ski season opening in late December once enough snow has built up. Ride the cable car (one of the longest in Asia), take a beginner ski lesson, and look out to Nanda Devi on clear days. Early December can still be brown, so plan for the second half of the month if snow is the priority. Auli is reached via Joshimath, roughly a 10-hour drive from Rishikesh or Dehradun; see our guide to the hill stations of Uttarakhand.

Gulmarg, Kashmir

Gulmarg, in the Pir Panjal range of Kashmir, is the country’s flagship winter-sports town, and December is when it comes alive. Daytime temperatures hover around 9°C while nights fall below zero, often to −4°C or colder, and December marks the start of peak snowfall and the ski season. Ride the Gulmarg Gondola for high-altitude views and snow, take skiing or snowboarding lessons, and enjoy the snowbound meadows. As with Auli, mid-to-late December gives a better chance of settled snow than the first week. Fly to Srinagar, then drive about two hours to Gulmarg. Warm, waterproof layers are essential.

In both places, snow is most reliable from mid-December onwards, so weight your dates towards the second half of the month.

Meghalaya and Shillong

Meghalaya in the northeast is a dry-season delight in December. Around Shillong, days are cool at roughly 18–20°C and nights drop to about 6–8°C, and December is one of the driest months, so the waterfalls, caves and root bridges are far more accessible than in the wet season. Base yourself in Shillong, then head to Cherrapunji (Sohra) and Mawlynnong, and hike down to the living root bridges near Nongriat. Umiam Lake and the Mawsmai caves round out an easy loop. The nearest airport is Guwahati in neighbouring Assam, about three hours by road, with Shillong’s own airport at Umroi. Our Meghalaya travel guide has route ideas.

Gokarna, Karnataka

For a calmer alternative to Goa, Gokarna on the Karnataka coast keeps its temple-town character alongside a string of walkable beaches. December is warm and dry, with temperatures around 24°C at night to 32°C by day and clear skies most days, making it good for the beach trek that links Om, Kudle, Half Moon and the coves beyond. It is quieter and more low-key than Goa, and doubles as a pilgrimage town around the Mahabaleshwar Temple. Combine sunrise on the sand with the beach walk, and keep swimwear discreet in the temple areas. The nearest railway station is Gokarna Road, with a larger railhead and airports at Hubballi and Goa.

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

On the banks of the Ganga in the Himalayan foothills, Rishikesh offers a gentler winter trip: yoga, riverside evenings and adventure without deep cold. December days reach about 21°C with cool nights near 7°C and mostly clear skies. It is a good month for the evening Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat or Parmarth Niketan, walks across the Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula bridges, and a yoga or meditation class. White-water rafting operates in the cooler months too, though the water is cold, so plan rafting for the second or third week if you want milder conditions. Rishikesh is about a 45-minute drive from Dehradun’s airport and has its own railway station. See our Rishikesh yoga and adventure guide for more.

December events and festivals

Several of these destinations are tied to a specific December event. The table below lists the main ones, with the window as of September 2026. Confirm dates on the official sites before booking, as they can shift year to year.

How to plan a December trip

December is peak season across most of India, so the single most useful tip is to book early. Flights, trains and the better hotels in Goa, the Andamans, Rajasthan and the snow towns fill up weeks ahead, and prices climb sharply over the Christmas–New Year window. If your dates are flexible, the first half of December is quieter and cheaper than the last week.

Pack for the climate you are actually visiting. The plains, coasts and islands need light cottons plus a light layer for cool evenings. The northern hills and snow towns – Auli, Gulmarg, and to a lesser extent Rishikesh and Shillong – need proper warm layers, a windproof outer, gloves and waterproof footwear, especially for sub-zero nights. If snow is the goal, weight your dates towards mid-to-late December, when cover is more reliable.

Check permits and access in advance. Nagaland requires an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Indian visitors, and foreign nationals must register on arrival; parts of the Andaman and northeastern states have their own permit rules, so confirm the current requirements before you go. For the snow towns, keep a buffer day in your itinerary, as fresh snowfall can briefly close mountain roads and affect flights.

Finally, match the destination to the trip you want. Choose the desert and the coast for warmth and festivals, the southern hills and Hampi for mild sightseeing weather, and the northern mountains for snow. Trying to combine snow in the north with beaches in the south in one short December trip usually means too much time in transit.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best place to visit in India in December?

There is no single best place, because December suits very different trips. For dry desert and festivals, choose the Rann of Kutch; for warm beaches, Goa or the Andaman Islands; and for snow, Auli or Gulmarg. Pick by the weather and experience you want most.

Where can you see snow in India in December?

The most reliable snow in December is in the northern mountains. Gulmarg in Kashmir and Auli in Uttarakhand both begin their ski season this month, with sub-zero nights and building snowfall. Snow is most dependable from around mid-December, so plan for the second half of the month.

Is December a good time to visit Goa?

Yes. December is peak season in Goa, with warm, dry days of roughly 18–28°C and very little rain. The beaches, shacks and nightlife are at full swing, and Christmas, New Year and the Sunburn festival fall this month. Book well ahead, as it is the busiest and priciest window.

Is December a good time for a beach holiday in India?

It is one of the best months. Goa, Gokarna and the Andaman Islands are all warm and dry in December, with calm seas and low rainfall. The Andamans add sea temperatures near 28°C, ideal for snorkelling and diving, while Gokarna offers a quieter alternative to Goa.

What festivals happen in India in December?

December is busy. Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival runs 1–10 December, Rann Utsav is in full flow at Dhordo in Gujarat, and Goa hosts the Sunburn electronic music festival in late December along with Christmas and New Year celebrations across the country.

Do I need a permit to visit Nagaland for the Hornbill Festival?

Yes. Indian visitors need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter Nagaland, and foreign nationals must register on arrival. Arrange the ILP in advance, either online or through the state’s offices, and carry valid photo identification. Confirm the current rules before you travel, as they can change.

Last updated and sources

December is India’s peak travel season, offering everything from desert festivals to warm beaches and Himalayan snow in a single month. Use this guide as a starting point, then confirm the details for your chosen destinations before you commit.

Last updated: 25 September 2026. Weather, fees and event dates change – reconfirm before you travel.

Sources: Gujarat Tourism, Rann Utsav (gujarattourism.com); Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Nagaland, Hornbill Festival (ipr.nagaland.gov.in); India TV News, Hornbill Festival 2025 dates; Wikipedia, Sunburn Festival; and December climate normals from Weather Spark, climate-data.org and holiday-weather.com for Goa, Jaisalmer, Munnar, Hampi, Port Blair (Andaman), Gulmarg, Auli, Shillong, Gokarna, Rishikesh and Dhordo (Rann of Kutch). Accessed September 2026.

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