After recommending four cool destinations in southern India for you about two weeks ago, here we are, with four cool places we think might suit your need for a summer trip to northern India.
These places may sound obscure to you, but that’s the whole point: we wish that you get to explore even those pristine places that may have not made it to the popular ‘best places to visit in summer’ lists. Until now.
1. Lepchajagat, West Bengal
The laidback hamlet of the Lepcha tribe, Lepchajagat sits snugly on one of the mystifying folds of the dense forests in the northern part of Bengal. See how much of ancientness gushes out of you as you find yourself being swallowed by the depths off the woods, created by pines, oaks and rhododendrons. A great place especially for birders, Lepchajagat also grants you grand views of Kanchenjunga peaks. You can, of course, couple this place in the wilderness at an altitude of almost 7000 feet with Darjeeling and let the town work its charm on you.
2. Lansdowne, Uttarakhand
Summer’s good. Because it makes you want to go to a place like Lansdowne, which remains pristine with its thick, inky depths of blue pine and oak. The amusing contradiction is that it’s a cantonment town, but a hill station you would not want to miss to beat the heat this summer. You can begin to fathom the meaning of ‘immense’ differently when you behold the Shivalik Hills in Lansdowne. Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple, the War Memorial, St. Mary’s Church and Bhullatal Lake are some of the other major places flocked by travellers who like to explore remote places.
3. Keylong, Himachal Pradesh
Monasteries hemmed to the slopes of mountains and the annual Lahaul festival are two of the many reasons you should visit Keylong. If you like how the snow silences other hues of Himachal in winter, then you must certainly see the colours that these mountains and valleys wear in summer, because, yes; summer is for travelling too. Visit Keylong before the winds wander heavy, expectant of rains.
4. Chopta, Uttarakhand
Gear up for the Chandrashila trek, watch the Valley of Flowers until the night falls on it gently, try to contain in your vision the meadows that sprawl far and wide before you, and let the evergreen forests inhale you: these are a few things that can happen to you when you are in Chopta. This part of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand cradles rich flora and fauna, including forests of pine, deodar and rhododendron and rare species of birds and musk deer. For adventure or for leisure, Chopta welcomes you with its arms wide open this summer.
Inspired to be refreshed? Just drop us a word, and our stellar Custom Tours team will arrange for you to visit any of these places without breaking a sweat – literally or allegorically! You can also take a look at more destinations we specialise in, here.
And happy summer to you. Chill it!