"The rain is raining all around,
It falls on field and tree,
It rains on the umbrellas here,
And on the ships at sea.” — Edward Thomas
Travelling in monsoon gives ultimate pleasure which can’t really be expressed in words. The seduction of raindrops touching the earth and a beautiful music makes you forget the mess for a minute. But it gets little difficult for us to plan a travel at this time because at most of the places rains get non- manageable.
So lets explore the best destinations which make this season more fascinating.
In India, there are many such off-beat places which glorify this season, which makes you sense cool gentle breeze, thunder and lights and pleasuring smell of Earth. Let’s discuss some of the perfect monsoon destinations in India
1. Ladakh – Jammu and Kashmir
If you are an adventure enthusiast and looking for a bit of adventure in this rainy season then Ladakh is the most suitable place for you. It is best advised to visit this place at the end of September if you want to experience the Ladakh Festival which takes place from 17th to 27th September.
Ladakh has been known as a rain shadowing region as it falls under the trans–Himalayan region where hefty mountains resist the winds from bringing the rains. However, with the passage of time, this place happens to experience the certain climatic change in past few years.
You can enjoy plenty of sightseeing in this season such as Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Stock Palace Museum, Dha Valley etc. You can also enjoy bike riding along numerous mountain passes and sparkling lakes which is truly a magical experience.
Be sure to take some cautions while travelling to Ladakh such as getting prepared for driving in slush on roads and tackling furious water crossings, to carry water-resistant clothes and boots and to protect the camera from moisture.
2. Udaipur – Rajasthan
Udaipur is known as the city of lakes, and if you want to experience its best then it is advised to visit during monsoons when these lakes look more dazzling when rain touches their surface.
If you want to enjoy this monsoon season with your partner, then Udaipur is the best place to celebrate a romantic weekend. Udaipur is such a place which truly reflects prestige past of great Maharajas having large no. of palaces surrounded with big bazars and beautiful lakes which leaves a royal feeling with you. The greenery around the pristine lakes truly mesmerizes you and gives a breathtaking view. You can also enjoy boating at Pichola Lake which is an artificial freshwater lake having an average depth of 14.2 ft. and a catchment area of 55 km^2.
There are a lot of places to visit such as City Palace, Lake Pichola, Jagdish Temple, Jag Mandir etc. in this city. City palace is known for its majestic royalness which Mewar families enjoyed a centuries ago. This place is an example of the combination of Rajasthani, European, Chinese and Mughal architecture which makes it one of the alluring factor.
3. Lonavala – Maharashtra
“A rainy day is the perfect time for a walk in the woods.” Rachel Carson
If you are living in Maharashtra and wondering about the perfect place to visit this monsoon, then Lonavala is the perfect place for you. It is situated about 64 km west of modern day Pune and 96 km from the city of Mumbai. Lonavala has its own railway station so it is very much easy to travel and almost every train travelling through this route has a stoppage here.
This place is ideal for nature lovers and very much suitable for trekking, sightseeing, camping, horse riding etc. Monsson brings a hefty rainfall and humidity in the air which brings the temperature down up to 20-25 degree Celsius. Lonavala is blessed with greenery of the Sahayadri Mountains of Western Ghats. Accompanied by the soft melody of rains and a sudden appearance of a rainbow in the sky, clouds descend down the Earth.
The most suitable places to visit in Lonavala are Rajmachi Point, Shivaji Udyan, Valvan Dam, Lonavala Lake, Tiger’s leap, Karla caves, Narayani Dham, Della Adventure, Shooting point, Bhushi Dam, Lohagad Fort, Visapur Fort etc.
4. Pondicherry
Pondicherry is affectionately known as Pondy and it is officially known by Puducherry in Tamil. After hot and humid summer, the monsoon brings happiness to the faces of people who experience mild to heavy rainfall during the end of the season.
Pondicherry is best suitable for couples and beach lovers. However, this families and solo travellers also visit this place during the season. Pondicherry has its own luring beauty and quaint charm. The cool ambience and wet months create an environment of romance and make this place the most perfect destination.
You can rent a Pedal cycle or a motorcycle or gearless scooter to experience the city. Tamil is the main spoken language while Telugu and Malayalam are other official languages of Pondicherry.
You can enjoy some serious meditation at Auroville, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, or you can also experience fishing in Catamaran or at the Rocky Beach during evening time.
You can reach this place by the road trip from Chennai which takes almost two hours or by taking a local transport medium from Villupuram (nearest railway station to Pondicherry), which is about 35 Kilometres away.
5. GOA
The old tradition of fewer tourists arriving in monsoon season is breaking down from last few years. People are now preferring to visit Goa in the monsoon to experience rain and greenery.
Goa is situated in the Konkan coast of India at an altitude of 1,022 m above sea level. The monsoon arrives in between the month of June and August with an average record of :
* 34 inches of rainfall in June,
* 39 inches of rainfall in July,
* 20 inches of rainfall in August
During the peak season of monsoon, all the rivers of Goa including Chapora, Zuari and Sal are all submerged to their maximum depths. The lushness valley, waterfall, etc. are at their roaring best during this season.
There is a great advantage of saving a penny while visiting during this season as Goa is super cheap which offers you to get a round trip-ticket for half the price as compared to peak seasons. Best hotels and Villas are available at a flat discount of 50% and even budget hotels are available at just INR 500.
However, you are requested to check the weather forecast before visiting this place as it rains quite heavily in Goa also in this season, most of indoor water sports games and beach shacks are closed.
So, what are you waiting for, the monsoon has arrived my friend. Get ready and pack your bag for a wonderful vacation to enlighten your mood and make your tour memorable.
But yes, Always and Always be sure to take proper precautions while travelling and be safe.