Goa

‘Goa is ON!!’ has become one of the recent war cries of party-mongers coveting a place to celebrate new year’s eve. With its line of beaches, lavish shacks, nigh clubs and bars, Goa throbs with a young vibe, attracting people especially during the end of December. Goa’s New Year parties are famous, not only among mere mortals but also among the stars. From Anjuna to Calungute, Panaji to Candolim, you will find that the vibe during the last week of December is sizzled, almost charged in Goa. The temperatures are naturally at their most pleasant, in the 18-20°C range. One drawback for budget travellers is, that the rates are always inflated in Goa during December.

Things to Do in Goa

December in Goa is a great time, even if you don’t go during the peak last week. You can explore the many regions of Goa, take heritage walks, soak in the sun, lie down by the beach and partake in the many water sports. Panaji is renowned for its historic richness, while Anjuna is where all the beaches lie; Arambol is the hub of yogis, while you can choose to explore Old Goa, Vasco Da Gama, Palolem, Calangute and Dona Paula at your leisure. Flea markets and stone chapels are an added treat, especially during the Christmas week! While if you are in Goa for the New Year’s Eve, you can check out Hill Top in Vagator, a happening party thrown, as the name suggests, atop a hill. Curlies is another fun destination to enjoy beach parties in Anjuna. Other clubs that shimmy up for new year’s include Club Cubana, Love Passion Karma, Tito’s Night Club and Cafe Mambo.

Rann of Kutch

Rann of Kutch is the expanse of white desert ensconced within the district of Kutch in Gujarat. The famous Rann Festival that makes this place a coveted tourist destination starts in November and goes on until February, with December as one of the best months to visit. It is set up in a village called Dhordo. The place is known for its rugged terrain chilled through and through in December, tribal tents, music galore, artistic workshops, dancing and lots of great Gujarati and Kutchi food. The winter in December has solidified in Kutch and leaves the temperature anywhere between 12-25°C, with nights in the barren desert going as low as 2°C.

Things to Do in Kutch

In addition to the traditional workshops, mud house painting, tribal music and dances, the Rann Utsav also boasts of adventure activities like rock climbing, rappelling, para motoring, ATV rides, rifle shooting and Bungee run basketball. Archery is also highly coveted, as is star-gazing and camel riding. You can get yourself accommodation in one of the tents in the desert and enjoy all of these activities with a closer bond to the barren nature. Other places to visit around include Bhuj (for temples and sightseeing), Mandvi (for beaches), Gandhidham, Wild Ass sanctuary, Shri Swaminarayan temple, Prag Mahal and Aina Mahal. Special Christmas and New Year camps, as well as parties are organised. Spas and meditations are also offered, bridging you some of the best luxuries and amenities in a place in the ‘middle of nowhere.’

One good advise for all those visiting the Rann Utsav would be to sleep in an open air tent or just lie down in the open desert, see the moon rising above the white desert and experience life as you never have before.

Kerala

Known as ‘God’s own country,’ Kerala is a beautiful paradise of beaches and palm trees, backwaters and houseboats, meditative chants and long, silent Ayurvedic massages. Located on the south-western coast of India, it is a perfect winter destination as the weather here is not too hot nor too cold, with the average day high of 31°C in December. Rainfall is scarce and only makes you feel happier with its drizzle. Such a pleasant warm climate is bound to rejuvenate your senses and leave you in thrall of the nature that will embrace you here.

Things to Do in Kerala

Float the backwaters of Kerala, that is what the state is renowned for. Hire a houseboat and go fishing, or just lie down and float into the sunset, with idyllic streams and villages passing you by. Get yourself booked for Ayurvedic treatments like massages, spas and meditation. Some of the best backwater destinations here are Alapuzha, Kumarakom and Kozhikode. Wayanad is another hilly retreat, while Periyar National Park and Bandipur National Park become getaways for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. Enjoy the beaches of Kozhikode, Cochin and Kollam, all the while breathing in the heavenly fragrances of perfectly cooked sea food, dosas, idlis and appams. Do not forget Thiruvananthapuram, the city that is home to temples, palaces and museums. And also the forts and colonial architecture of Cochin, which was once a British dock and outpost.

Auli

Auli is a skiing resort in the upper reaches of Uttarakhand, known, of course, for its spectacular skiing tracks.The town has been settled and maintained for this express purpose itself, and serves it well. With an artificial lake to supply snow to the skiing tracks as well as many resorts dotted around the ways, Auli is a ski-enthusiast’s dream. The best time to go skiing in Auli is from December to February as the snow is perfectly thick and textured during these months.

Things to Do in Auli

Skiing is the main reason you would be in Auli, but there are several other things the town has to offer. Like Cable Car rides, hikes, nature walks and treks. Trek up some magnanimous mountains like Trishul Peaks, go traipsing through Nanda Devi National Park to spot Snow Leopards and Foxes or take a day of pilgrimage to Joshimath and Rudraprayag nearby. The Gorson Reserve Forest in Nanda Devi also makes for a great nature walk, with snow ripe and crisp under your foot and animals come down from the higher Himalayas. The two main skiing resorts in Auli are GMVN (owned by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam) and Cliff Top Resort. The place also has learning schools for novices and gives out skiing gear on hire. Some of the best ski routes in Auli are the mountains of Kamat, Ghori, Mana parvat and Nanda Devi.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Andaman and Nicobar Islands make for a group of islands in the Bay of Bengal, belonging to India. With their white sandy shores, blemish-free sunrises and sunsets, untouched coral reefs and endless rolls of palm trees they make for a perfect December holiday destination, especially for beach babies. The temperature ranges between 18-32°C and rains are mostly gone by this time, leaving the islands all dry and prepared for major water sports and undisturbed sightseeing activities. Special parties and outings are also organised keeping New Year’s in mind at this time.

Things to Do in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The pair of islands boast of many other smaller accompaniments, namely Neil Island, Ross Island, Havelock etc. Each with their own charms, beaches and a new experience for the tourists. They all offer splendid vistas and a host of water-sports, from snorkelling to rafting, deep water diving to paddling. The coral reefs and azure waters make it all the more refreshing. Baratang Island is suffused with mangrove creeks and beaches, interlaced with backwater rides while the Viper Island holds many a ruins and a haunted history of being an erstwhile jail. Even the capital of Andaman, Port Blair boasts of the Cellular Jail, a prison for Indian freedom fighters during British Raj. Today it stuns tourists with its museums and light-and-sound shows telling the history of India’s freedom struggle. If you wish to go scuba diving, you have Neil Island and Long Island as your go-to destination. Neil Island is also the place to go if you want to retreat from all the noise and exist peacefully, in an idyllic place for a few days.

Rajasthan

Rajasthan, as the name implies, is the state of royals. With its deserts and forts, palaces and rugged hills, this state boasts of some great attractions, especially in the winter month of December. The temperature drops to a range between 10-27°C and the pleasant nip in the air ensures you have a great time scouting sights and monuments without breaking a sweat. The food is also better enjoyed during the winter as you can eat the heavy, ghee and masala laden foods and have it digested well in the dry weather. Also famous for New Year’s is the desert camping in Jaisalmer, where you can spend the new year under the stars, with great folk music and bonfires.

Things to Do in Rajasthan

Take a tour of some of the most beautiful cities like Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Mount Abu, Pushkar, Ajmer etc. There are some splendid palaces in these cities like the City Palace of Udaipur, Lake Palace, Hawa Mahal, Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar etc. You can also go on a wildlife safari to spot the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger in Ranthambore Forest Reserve near Sawai Madhopur. The sand dunes of Bikaner and Jaisalmer also make for great safaris, camel rides and fun. Explore the temples of Rajasthan, like the Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara near Udaipur, Eklingji in Udaipur, Brahma Temple in Pushkar, Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Ajmer and many more. Shop for souvenirs like Rajasthani mojris, blue pottery items, semi-precious and precious gemstones, handlooms and handicrafts, as well as colourful leheriya dupattas, saris and dhotis. Also famous in Nathdwara and Udaipur are the Pichwai paintings (rich wall hanging paintings) that are all the rage in classic art nowadays, and Minakari decor items.

Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep Islands are a collection of tropical islands in the Laccadive Sea, just off the coast of Kerala. Only a handful of this archipelago of islands are open to public, the rest either uninhabited or off-limits for tourists. You have to obtain prior permission to visit any of these islands. What makes Lakshadweep a wonderful December holiday destination is its rolls of sandy beaches, coral reefs and uninterrupted natural vistas that warm your heart. Here the winters are quite cool, and they start from December, with temperatures fluctuating between 20 and 32°C. For beach babies who want to revel in sand, sea and the sun without being burned within an inch of their lives, Lakshadweep is the best bet for December.

Things to Do in Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep is a tropical archipelago of 36 atolls and coral reefs in the Laccadive Sea, off the coast of Kerala, India. Not all of the islands are inhabited, and only a few are open to visitors, that too, with required permits in place beforehand. Kavaratti is one of the more developed islands on Lakshwadeep and home to a number of mosques, including the Ujra Mosque, crafted with such finesse that it exudes an oriental charm. You must also visit the Kavaratti Aquarium, housing regional fish, shark and corals. Spend a morning exploring Minicoy, with its famous Lighthouse, while keeping the evening off for canoeing on this island. Agatti Island is known for its Fish Hatchery and coral gazing while you can go see Hermit crabs on Parelli Island. Kadamat is another coveted destination island, a wilderness of blue lagoons and coral beaches. Kite surfing is a highly coveted adventure sport here.