With temperature touching 45 degrees and beyond during summer in India, it is very likely that you’d like to step out. If you don’t want to sit under the air conditioner or go mall hopping, just to avoid the heat, here are few places that you could plan a tour to beat the rising in temperature. Looking beyond the obvious choices like Shimla or Manali, which will surely be jam packed with tourists at this point in time, you can also take, say, Darjeeling tour packages or Leh tour packages to steer away from the crowd and heat.
Sandakphu – Opting for Darjeeling tour packages might be the best way to reach and explore Sandakphu. A small village, located within the boundaries of Darjeeling district, this is an ideal location for the photographers, trekkers, offbeat, and adventure tourists. Famous for its points, which provide mind blowing views of the Himalayan peaks like Makalu, Lhotse, Mt. Kanchenjunga and the mighty Mt. Everest. Here the weather remains cool throughout the year, and sometimes even dips to -20 degrees, so you need to be well prepared in advance. There are few trekking trails around the village that are a must visit.
Dras – The Dras region is also known as the ‘Gateway to Ladakh’, and is considered as the second coldest place on planet Earth. For you who cannot stand the hot and humid temperature, this place is a must visit. During summer, it stays averagely cold, but during winter months, the temperature can dip from -15 degrees to -25 degrees. Though today, the entire region of Dras is under strong military surveillance due to the activities happening at the border, nonetheless, few parts of it is still safe for those who want to visit a place which is breathtakingly beautiful. Sometimes you wonder, why would anyone want to create chaos in a place like this. Fro adventure seekers, activities like trekking, camping and mountaineering are quite famous. Places like Ningoor Masjid, Laser La, Minamarg, Draupadi Kund, Dras War Memorial, etc. also attract tourists in the area.
Lachen – A beautiful village in Sikkim, Lachen is famous as a layover for tourists visiting the Chopta Valley and Gurudongmar Lake. With temperature fluctuating from 4 degrees to -12 degrees, it is one amazing place to beat the heat. Summer is definitely one of the best times to visit the village, but you can also find travellers braving themselves in the winter cold to enjoy an offbeat holiday. The Chopta Valley, Yumthang Valley Trek and the Gurudongmar Lake, attracts tourists on a large scale.
Keylong – Another picturesque town located in Himachal Pradesh, Keylong is famous for the Kardang Monastery. It comes within the boundaries of Spiti region in Himachal Pradesh, and also serves as a layover to a higher altitude in the Himalayas. If by chance your are planning a tour of Manali, you should also include Keylong in your itinerary which is just 115 km from the Mall and 65 km from Rohtang Pass. The weather shifts from cool in summers to -4 degrees during winters. So, pack well before leaving.