Some like it hot, while others like it very hot! Or something like that. But summer in India is not at that bad as some tourists would like to think. The country being as large as it is hosting several possibilities even during the summer time. So, it is possible and not totally unheard of that people enjoy a hot summer Indian vacation.  

India enjoys four seasons: winter months are in January and February; summer months are from March to May; monsoon or the rainy season are from June to September; and from October to December is post-monsoon period. While a huge number of visitors in India do visit the country during the winter months, there are a growing lot that prefer the hot summer months and even the wet monsoon seasons. Probably the reasons include the fantastic summer festivals celebrated in practically all the corners of the country as well as destinations like the Himalayas which is quite a treat when visited during the summer months. In fact it is usually during summer that the Himalayas can be visited. One can see the snow-clad mountain peaks in Leh and Ladakh.  

Well known during summer time are also the hill stations of Kashmir, Kodaikanal, Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar and Uttaranchal. Mountain rivers also offer a good opportunity for water rafting and kayaking. Moreover, beaches like Anjuna and Baga are very popular for summer goers both international and local tourists. Anjuna beach is a couple of kilometers from Mapusa in Goa and is quite famous for its night time beach parties. Similarly, the Baga which is also quite accessible from Mapusa in Goa offers a picturesque ocean view and a highly active night life.  

While others enjoy the natural beauty of India during summer, some take advantage of these months for the often cheaper and discounted rates of tour, travel fares and even hotel accommodations and resorts. For some summer gives them the perfect opportunity to enjoy a whole new country.  

Monsoon rains come after the summer months and believe you and me, a number of visitors intentionally come at the end of summer and enjoy the rather wet monsoon season. In India the onset of rain is a symbol of fertility and is serves a vital part of the country’s culture and traditions.  

Still others travel to India to enjoy the festivals there, the biggest of which are usually held during summer or towards the end of the season. One such festival is the Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai. The celebration is held for ten days and includes various cultural and social programs and activities all geared towards worshipping the elephant-headed god Ganesh. Visitors will get to enjoy dancing and singing in the streets together with thousands of believers and residents.  

Related to religious festivals are the pilgrimages. One of the more familiar one is the Char Dham or the pilgrimage to find the source of the Ganges River or the Ganga Mata as the river is called in India. Being India’s most sacred river and the most important in terms of people’s livelihood as well, the Char Dham can only be held during the summer and monsoon months after the snow melts in the Himalayas and the roads become accessible again.  

India is such as huge land of opportunity for travellers. From the winter months, down to the summer days and then towards the monsoon seasons, visitors have always places to go and things to do. A hot summer Indian vacation is not something one should cross out in one’s travel calendar.