Best Places to visit in India in January
For culture vultures:
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is a great pick for travel in January and many parts of the state celebrate different festivals during January.
Head to Madurai to be a part of the Float Festival which is a popular 12-day event where you will see the Meenaxi temple decorated beautifully and colorful procession carrying the Goddess and her consort, Lord Sundareswarar.
The beach town of Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram, a UNESCO Heritage Site celebrates the open-air India Dance Festival which is celebrated by the locals as well as the people coming from across the globe.
The French quarters of Pondicherry and Chennai are both fantastic tourist destination of India and only a short distance from Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram. In fact, Chennai also celebrates is Music festival in January making this month a great time to visit the state. The weather is also pleasant and a mix of history, temples beaches, and culture make this a great pick for weekend getaways or a longer discovery of the state.
Gujarat
Gujarat offers you an excellent plethora of attractions like ancient monuments and temples, enchanting forests ruled by lions, captivating panoramas like the Safed Rann ( white desert)and many Architectural marvels like Adalaj ni vav (a stepwell), Barodra Palace etc. The state is best enjoyed in winter months as summer here can be extremely hot and dry.
Gujarat is also well known for its handicrafts and craftsmanship, especially embroidery and mirror-work and January also allows one to try local delicacies like Undhiyo, ubadiyo and ponk!
Another reason to visit Gujarat in January is The festival of Uttarayan. This kite festival not only fills the blue skies with colourful kites, in Gujarat it also fills one with lot of joy and laughter. The festival is celebrated by everyone and rooftops of all buildings are dotted with friends and family coming together to celebrate the festival which ends at dusk with lantern lit skies, a truly marvellous sight! January is also the best time to visit the The Rann of Kutch’s vast salt desert, especially on a full moon night. It is also the month of its annual Rann Utsav and the best time to see migrating Flamingos at Chari Dhand.
For nature & wildlife enthusiasts:
Chilka Lake in Puri (Odisha) for migratory birds - Chilka Lake is Asia's biggest internal saltwater pond studded with few tiny islands, the most charming being Honeymoon Island and Breakfast Island. Chilka Lake Sanctuary is known for its beautiful sunrise and sunset views. People especially visit this sanctuary for splendid views and to watch birds in their natural habitat. Over 11 lakh migratory birds visit Odisha's Chilika lake.
For Adventure enthusiasts:
Ski Trip to Auli
Did you know that the two best spots for Skiing in India are Auli & Kashmir? Auli is proved to be amongst the best ski destinations in the world. Auli resides at a height between 2500 and 3000 meters. It is surrounded by beautiful forests. Skiing right through the snow-covered forests will make you feel highly thrilled.
Winter Treks in Ladakh
Ladakh has some of the best trekking trails in India. The Frozen River Trek popularly known as Chadar Trek is the most interesting trek in Ladakh. The landscape in Ladakh changes dramatically, from sandy desert to blue waters, burning sun to freezing winds, and from glaciers to barren river beds, keeping things interesting for trekkers. The treks here also come with an altitude challenge, it is safe to say Trekking in Ladakh ensures an adrenaline kick.