Traffic Jams, Floods And Landslides: Popular Vacation Destinations You MUST NOT Visit In July

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June and July are two months when most people decide to take some time out from their busy lives. They start planning their vacations with the exact same enthusiasm a child shows when he is about to get a new toy! Well, in this excitement a lot of people plan trips to places that are dangerous to travel to in the monsoons. Instead of regretting your decision, why not plan with care.

You will find lists of places you should go to for a vacation, but there are not too many articles telling you where you shouldn't be going. The places listed in this article are not out of bounds, but see heavy rainfall leading to landslides or floods in the monsoon season.

Credit: Rajeev Rajagopalan

Photo of Kalimpong, West Bengal, India by Pritha Puri

Kalimpong is a lovely hill station in West Bengal which receives a good amount of rainfall in July, though it never sees any flooding. Even though Kalimpong is not overly slushy and looks very scenic during the monsoon, the road trip from Bagdogra to Kalimpong has many spots where landslides frequently occur. This can cause great distress to you, as you can get stuck for hours on National Highway 31A due to damaged patches on the road and slow-moving traffic.

Instead, you can visit Kalimpong in December, when it is less crowded and the weather remains quite pleasant.

Credit: Akarsh Simha

Photo of Assam, Sikkim, India by Pritha Puri

Another beautiful destination that drowns during the monsoon is Assam. Regional areas such as Jorhat, Kaziranga National Park and Guwahati are flooded as the Brahmaputra River in the valley rises up to dangerously high levels. Many tea plantations and local villages get submerged and require assistance from disaster management forces. While Jorhat is still accessible, the Kaziranga National Park closes its gates to any kind of tourist activity and opens in October when monsoons have ended. Your tea vacation will have to wait a little longer!

Not in July, but you can visit Assam in October when the rains have stopped and the Kaziranga National Park is open.

Credit: Himanshu Nagar

Photo of Himachal Pradesh, India by Pritha Puri

Come July and everybody is headed to the mountains, without realising that landslides are a common phenomenon during the rainy season in the hills. Even though everybody wants to visit places such as Kasol, Manali or Mcleod Ganj, it can prove to be dangerous. A couple of days ago, a landslide near Mandi on the Manali highway had tourists stuck for several hours without any help. It's not just the rain that makes going to the mountains messy, excessive footfall of tourists doesn't make the journey any easier.

Travel to Himachal Pradesh before the monsoon arrives, in the month of May or in autumn (September to October).

Credit: Nitish Bindal Agarwal

Photo of Jim Corbett National Park, Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, India by Pritha Puri

If you want to spend all your time indoors, experiencing the majestic beauty of the jungle from behind glass windows, then pick Corbett as your destination in July. Jim Corbett National Park sees rainfall from July to September. While it rains outside, it would be quite difficult to go for a safari or enjoy activities in the river such as rafting because the river becomes wild with strong rapids. While there is nothing more to do than gander at the lush green foliage, it can still be a paradise for people who want some alone time with nature.

Explore the national park in winter, when you will be able to spot plenty of wild animals out and about.

Credit: Abhishek Kolay

Photo of Panna, Madhya Pradesh, India by Pritha Puri

Wondering how the pretty waterfalls and tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh would be like in July? Well, in one word, flooded! Panna is an extremely pleasing destination in Madhya Pradesh to those who like a touch of history in their vacation. The Panna Tiger Reserve had recently issued a flood warning when several people lost their lives after being washed away by the Ken River, which overflows during the monsoon. The buffer zones of the Panna Tiger Reserve are also closed in July to keep animals privacy during mating season.

Better to go to Panna just before the onset of winter in the month of November.

Credit: Rajarshri Mitra

Photo of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India by Pritha Puri

Countless movies have shown us Mumbai's monsoon being absolutely magical, but I beg to differ. Yes, the rains in July wash the dirt off this eventful megalopolis and make the city look prettier but, the perpetual jam in the suburban areas is a put off. The roads are clogged and the trains are crowded more than usual. Whenever it's not raining, the humidity, at its peak, makes walking even a 100 meters feel like 10 kilometres. So save your time and money, and experience Mumbai like never before, when this city isn't going crazy handling its water-logging crisis.

The best time to visit Mumbai is in December. The beaches are lined up with colourful stalls and the weather is fantastic!

Credit: Jerrin Jose

Photo of Ranthambore, Khilchipur, Rajasthan, India by Pritha Puri

Monsoons travel to the far west and reach Ranthambore in July. Even though the Ranthambore National Park closes July onwards, the Ranthambore Fort and Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary are open for tourists. The rain comes as a relief to those who call this jungle their home, but becomes extremely humid for the ones who are simply visiting.

Visit Ranthambore in December or January during winters, when the Ranthambore National Park is also open.

Credit: Wikipedia

Photo of Hampi, Karnataka, India by Pritha Puri

For adventure lovers who think climbing the boulders of Hampi during the monsoons will be pleasant, should be ready for a surprise. Karnataka receives a huge amount of rainfall from the south-west monsoon and most of its touristy destinations see a wave of humidity. Imagine going for a hike up to the ruins of Hampi and coming back in a state that makes it seem like you went for an outdoor steam and sauna bath instead!

Visit Hampi in January, when it is extremely pleasant and you won't sweat too much.

Credit: Wikipedia Commons

Photo of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India by Pritha Puri

Rishikesh is a hotspot for river-based adventure activities such as rafting, canoeing or paddling and, July is the time when tourists leave the shelter of their homes and try something that thrills. However, July is possibly the worst time to go to Rishikesh, since the river Ganga overflows due to rainfall, and washes out anything and anyone that comes in its way. Most tour companies temporarily close their operations during the monsoons to maintain safety standards and avoid mishaps. There are some operators, who ignore these dangers and continue rafting, and other adventure activities in the river.

This is also the time that the festival of Maha Shivratri is celebrated in Rishikesh. Devotees walk up till a place close to Rishikesh, leading to huge jams on the roads. Save yourself from a bad trip, and ditch your plan for Rishikesh in the monsoon.

The best time to visit Rishikesh is from October till May, when you can enjoy rafting, bridge crossing, bungee jumping and many other adventure activities.

Pick an alternative to these destinations instead of staying indoors, and don't let the clouds rain on your parade!

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