Summer in India has kicked off and if you’re looking for the best places in North India to take a break from the heat and hustle-bustle of Mumbai, then the cool, serene hills of Himachal Pradesh are calling your name! Explore the beautiful landscapes, culture, food, and tourist attractions while also staying at some of the most unique stays to discover the best of Himachal Pradesh with your family or friends.
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Fly down to Chandigarh to start your northern adventure in Kasauli, Chail, and Shimla which are waiting to be explored.
Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, Kasauli, a 2-hour drive from the Chandigarh airport, is a quaint little town known for its stunning views, serene atmosphere, and refreshing climate.
One of the must-visit attractions is the Kasauli Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to a variety of animals and birds, including leopards, barking deer, and Himalayan black bears. You can also go trekking in the nearby hills, explore the local markets, or simply relax and soak in the beauty of the place at authentic Himachal homestays like SaffronStays’ homes like SaffronStays Chalet Vie.
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Located just a short distance from Kasauli is Chail, nestled amidst the serene pine and deodar forests,a charming town known for its scenic beauty, colonial architecture, and adventure activities. The best time to visit Chail is April to June. Among the things to do in Chail, you can discover the rich history of Chail with a visit to the Chail Palace, a must-visit attraction in the town. Built-in the 19th century, this palace was once the summer retreat of the Maharaja of Patiala. The Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh also established the Chail Cricket Ground in 1893, which is the world’s highest cricket ground located 2,444 meters above sea level. Additionally, with adventure activities like trekking, hiking, rope walking, and rock climbing, Chail is the perfect destination for thrill-seekers. Looking to spoil your loved ones, then head over to SaffronStays Ekam.
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No trip to Himachal Pradesh is complete without a visit to Shimla, which is a 2-hour drive from Chail. Known as the “Queen of Hill Stations,” Shimla is known for its colonial architecture, picturesque views and pleasant climate. One of the most popular places to visit in Shimla is Mall Road which is a bustling street with shops, restaurants, and cafes and hence the perfect place to soak in the local culture. You can also visit the Christ Church, the Chadwick Falls, the Jakhu Temple, and the Shimla State Museum. After spending the day taking in the vibrant culture in Shimla, you can wind down and relax at SaffronStays’villas with home-cooked meals and plentiful board games at Jujurana House.
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So, pack your bags, hit the road, and get ready to explore the beauty of Himachal Pradesh with SaffronStays!
As the summer sun caresses the hills, a leisurely walk through Dehradun’s streets unveils a sensory feast—whiffs of pine-laden air, the soothing rustle of leaves, and stories etched into the fabric of the Himalayan foothills. This how summers in the hills feels like, an immersive experience that beautifully captures the essence of slow living. With breathtaking valley views, waterfalls, hot springs, easy treks and warm pahadi hospitality, which makes it the perfect place to be.
In this travel guide for 2024 summers, we will take you through some of the top places to visit in Dehradun and recommend some unique homestays to make your stay more comfortable.
Sahastradhara is a popular tourist attraction in Dehradun, which offers visitors a relaxing experience amidst waterfalls, caverns, and steppe agricultural fields. The name refers to the waterfalls and water that flows from the limestone stalactites inside the caverns. The monsoon season is the best time to visit Sahastradhara when the waters roar vigorously over the rocks. You can also ride a ropeway to the top of the mountain for a breathtaking view of the waterfalls and surroundings. SaffronStays Cottage Glade & SaffronStays Paradise Pines are some of the best homestays near Sahastradhara, perfect for small families and friends group.
Robbers Cave is a natural cave in Dehradun, which is a popular picnic spot. It has ice-cold springs inside and is surrounded by high hills. Couples can explore this intriguing spot in Dehradun on a single-day trip. You can enter the cave and walk through it by dipping your feet in the icy water. Playing with water might result in getting wet, so carrying an extra set of clothes is always a good idea. SaffronStays Wildernest & SaffronStays Polaris offer private suites, perfect for couples, small families and groups.
Lachhiwala
Picture Source: GoogleSaffronStays Elysian
Lachhiwala is an idyllic picnic location in Dehradun surrounded by Sal trees. It is well-known for its bird viewing, walking routes, and stunning sunset views. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Dehradun, offering a relaxing man-made pool and lush nature all around it. SaffronStays Elysian is one of the finest luxury villas near Lachhiwala. This 3-bedroom luxury home with modern interiors and amenities offers one of the most scenic views accompanied by warm hospitality.
4. Forest Research Institute
Picture Souce: GoogleSaffronStays Vedic Homes
Dehradun’s Forest Research Institute is a well-known educational institution with charming Roman-style architecture and 6 museums displaying research on different areas of forestry such as plants, animals and much more. Surrounded by natural beauty, the institute attracts many nature lovers and picnickers. SaffronStays Vedic Homes offer a unique homestay experience near the Forest Research Institute. With 6 rustic cottages and a pool, this private homestay is perfect for couples, families and groups for a nature retreat.
Mussoorie
SaffronStays The Cinnamon HouseSaffronStays Pax & Opis ~ Glen
Mussoorie, the “Queen of the Hills,” is a hill station located just an hour away from Dehradun. It is one of India’s popular tourist destinations, offering gorgeous valley views, mesmerizing waterfalls and glorious sunsets. SaffronStays The Cinnamon House & SaffronStays Pax & Opis ~ Glen are some of the top homestays close to the famous Mussoorie Mall Road offering a comfortable getaway for couples, families and large groups.
Plan your trip to Dehradun and around to experience a true mountain getaway. Book your stay at one of the recommended homestays to make your stay more comfortable.
Indian summers may be hot and humid, but they also bring along a certain sweet nostalgia for the days of summer vacation. It was a period of relaxation between school years that were seemingly endless when it began but then swiftly passed us by in the blink of an eye. Long, lovely days of lazy mornings, scrumptious afternoon meals and evenings playing gully cricket. Let us take you down memory lane with these quintessential summer memories — and maybe even help you recreate them!
Many of us spent the first few days of the summer holidays packing our bags, ready to head to our family’s native home. Whether it was your naani’s handmade achaar or the funny stories of that one eccentric aunt, your native home had joys you couldn’t find anywhere else. For a lot of us, summers were spent in the airy rooms of this house, packed with cousins, sleeping on mattresses next to each other. Remember how it felt to leave the city and its noise behind? To take a step back into the past, closer to your roots? You can revive those feelings at SaffronStays Coorg Toddy Farms. This private villa for rent has soft yellow walls, shingled roofs and traditional furniture that will spark the same feelings of truly being home again.
Nothing beats the heat better than a dip in a pool, especially when it’s a group of kids jumping in at once, arguing about who made the biggest splash. In the past, many memories were made in and around the pool, when you all took a cool and refreshing break from the heat — from playing games to challenging each other over a race, and much more. If you’re looking to find those days of carefree fun once again, look no further than SaffronStays Palm Paradise. The gorgeous pool in this villa near Mumbai is wide enough to accommodate 24 guests. Complete with pool slides, poolside loungers and an expansive lawn, this villa is the ideal choice for family holidays
And of course, the best part about summers is – it’s mango time! Our summer memories would be incomplete without this essential visitor, as so many gossip sessions and heartfelt conversations happened over a bowl of diced mango. Even better if it was a post-dinner delicacy, accompanied by vanilla ice cream. The best kind of midnight snack. Others might appreciate aamras, with all of the fruit’s flavour concentrated in a puree and enjoyed with roti or puri. You will find delicacies just like these at the farm-to-table meals at SaffronStays Casa Manga. This cottage style private villa for families is located on a 4-acre organic mango farm. Trust the name of the villa, you’ll be reliving childhood memories with every bite of our special Mad About Mangoes Menu!
With all that free time in the summer, playing games was how you spent your days. And because the outside was too hot and any mention of playing chor police in the sun was met by a frown — indoor games became the next best thing. Whether with your cousins or with your neighbourhood friends, you must have felt the joy of spending hours playing Ludo and Snakes & Ladders and cheering and booing as the dice rolled up new numbers. Those happy-go-lucky days of playing marbles and fighting over Monopoly are not as far as you think. Find them again at SaffronStays Casa Del Palms, whose splendid interiors and wide outdoor area are both packed with luxurious amenities. Rediscover the joy of playing foosball, chess, snooker and other board games in the private villa’s indoor game room.
Summer nights mean clear skies and hundreds of twinkling stars on a pitch-black canvas, thousands if you were seeing this from your native home away from polluted cities. Meaningful heart-to-heart conversations happened huddled up on the terrace with your cousins, and some of the most memorable nights are those you spent with your friends, swapping stories under the stars. If you have ever had the pleasure of stretching out on your back and simply gazing at a summer night’s sky, you know that mesmerising view makes you feel small and infinitely large at the same time. And if you’ve never had the pleasure, you can find it at SaffronStays Urja, a private villa for families in Lonavala. The villa’s open sky room on the top floor offers the perfect vantage point for some summer stargazing.
Did these memories catapult you back to the days of childhood? We hope you enjoyed the ride back to the past. But remember those lovely, easy-going days are never quite out of reach. Check out our luxurious private villas for families, book the perfect fit and get ready to make your new summer memories!
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Spring in India is a beautiful time to pack your bags and travel. Coffee and apple flowers are in bloom, the first flush of tea is picked, wildlife spotting is at its best and the mountains fill with colors – enough incentive to take a vacation with your family, friends or loved ones. SaffronStays recommends 8 places to visit this spring and some cottages, homestays and Villas that you can consider staying in while there.
#1. See the colorful rhododendrons blossom in Sikkim
Famously known as ‘the Coffee Cup of India,’ the months of March and April find the Coorg air filled with the heavy fragrance of snow white coffee blossoms. Enjoy the cool breeze that accompanies you through your exploration of the Coorg district, particularly so in the numerous wildlife sanctuaries in the area. Of great interest to nature lovers is the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, where evergreen forests and high altitudes cause a further dip in temperature. The district is also known for the famous Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement, home to around 70,000 Buddhists today, which houses a number of beautiful Tibetan monasteries.Watch the coffee flowers bloom by staying with the locals in a Colonial Bungalow dating back to the British Raj, in a rustic homestay in the coffee plantations or in a Farm House. Make sure to try the Pandi curry while there!
Located about 6,500 kilometres above sea-level, Kotgarh is situated about 75 kilometers away from Shimla. The scenic hill station hosts terraced fields dotted with apple trees and bungalows, and is famous for its many apple orchards and pine forests, all in full-bloom during the season of Spring. Places to visit include the Hatu Peak, from where one can stare, awe-struck, at a spectacular view of the Himalayan range, including the snowline. Other sites include St. Mary’s Church, a marvellous epitome of gothic architecture, built in 1872, and interestingly, the setting for Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Plain Tales from the Hills.’ There are two beautiful Homestays to choose from – one that lies in the midst of apple orchards, and the other that lies in a quiet spot surrounded by woods. Both homestay hosts gladly organise barbeques, orchard tours and village walks for guests.
Springtime at this hill-station is particularly fulfilling because of the apple and plum orchards that are in full bloom. These reside side by side with tall deodar trees, and birdsong is the only sound that fills the air. Whether you choose to visit the Jana Falls, Solang Valley or drive all the way to Rohtang Pass- you’ll see the snow melting away to reveal lush green landscapes and a weather that is it’s pleasant best. Avoid staying near the markets and choose homestays and cottages located in scenic locations instead – stay in an apartment en route Rohtang, in a cottage in the village of Shuru, or in a homestay in Bipasha Valley – all of which are run by locals and offer great hospitality.
Darjeeling has long since shaken off its colonial roots to become a destination that attracts travellers round the year. If you’re a tea lover, then we recommend you plan your trip in Spring to grab a cup of tea brewed from the first flush. Tea plantations abound in Darjeeling, and the first flush of tea is picked during this time. It is a beautiful sight to witness planters harvesting the fruits of their labour after many months of hard work. Darjeeling also has its own passenger ropeway that offers a splendid view of the many tea factories down below. Make the most of your trip by staying with the locals – stay with a warm family in Darjeeling town, in a beautiful farm house where you can also see orange flowers in bloom, or in simple homestays in the tea garden of Makaibari where you can learn about tea processing first hand.
Uttarakhand’s northern borders are largely comprised of the Himalayan mountain range, and thus, many of India’s major rivers find their headstreams located in this beautiful state. During spring, make your way to Uttarakhand to experience the rivers in fool flood. The snow that accumulated through the months of October through February begins to thaw in the valley at this time and the hamlets begin to fill with colors. Nature lovers and backpackers will be delighted to know that every year, Uttarakhand organises the Uttarakhand Spring Bird Festival, where bird watching camps are conducted at 25 birding destinations within the state. Also of interest is The Valley of Flowers in the Chamoli district, home to 300 different species of wildflowers and also a UNESCO heritage site. There are some beautiful stay options here – a homestay near Alaknanda river and Valley of Flowers, a lake view cottage in Naukuchiatal, and a beautiful cottage in Nathuakhan.
Mango plants are in full bloom in Kerala by the end of February. Thekkady, best known for its lush fields and the Periyar National Park, is the ideal place to be at this time. This is the time when many species of animals, from tigers to sloth bears, emerge from within the forests. It is also an ideal time to escape the holiday crowds who do not begin to flock here till later in the year. Homestays in Thekkady include rustic huts, tree-houses, and properties near jungles. You can choose to indulge in a farm experience in a beautiful farm house, soak up nature in a luxury tree house or stay in a homestay in the buffer zone of Periyar National Park.
The town of Mandla is situated in a loop, surrounded by the Narmada river on three sides. A short distance away is the Kanha National Park which is best visited in spring. The National Park is home to around 1,000 different species of flowering plants, and also boast open grasslands and aquatic plants in the little lakes that dot it. At this time of the year, the vegetation is lush and abundant, and chances of spotting tiger are more favorable as many resident naturalists will tell you. During your visit, choose to stay in a beautiful homestay which allows you to feel one with the forest – rooms with a view of the dense cover, a swimming pool, outdoor decks, private balconies and the option of dining in the open.
Where will you be welcoming spring this year? Share with us in your comments.
About the author: Alaric Moras spends most of his time reading, writing and interning with industries that read and write. He aims to become a clinical psychologist, providing therapy and catching Freudian slips during the day, writing and reading through the night. He likes all manner of animals, the smell of books, and the oxford comma.
