Offbeat Destinations in India to travel this summer

 Places to go for Summer Vacations in India

1. Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh

• Popular places to visit in Ziro Valley: Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Meghna Cave Temple, Kile Pakho
• Best time to visit Ziro Valley: Ziro can be visited all throughout the year with summer temperatures ranging between 6 ℃ to 20℃. Winters are from October to May where the temperatures can go below -13 ℃ at night while days can be pleasant and cool at 14℃. 
• How to Reach Ziro Valley: Ziro Valley is well connected with all major means of transportation with the other parts of India. However, the most convenient way to reach here would be to take a train to either North Lakhimpur in Assam or Naharalagun and from there hire a taxi to Ziro.

You can also fly to Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport and then drive to Ziro Valley.

2. Dzukou Valley, Nagaland

• Best Time to Visit Dzukou Valley: The best time to visit is generally from June to September, when the valley is covered in vibrant flowers, particularly the rare Dzukou Lily, and the weather is pleasant.
• How To Reach Dzukou Valley: You can either fly or take a train to Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland. Then you can reach Dzukou Valley either by bus or drive about 20 kms from Kohima to the two towns of Jakhama and Viswema. It is from these towns that one can approach the Dzukou Valley.

Suggested Read: Places to visit in Nagaland

3. Haflong, Assam

The only hill station in Assam, Haflong is a small town with luscious orchards of oranges and pineapples. Haflong means ‘White Ants Hillock’ in the native language of Dimasa and it is inhabited by the Dimasa tribes, Nagas, Hmars and Mizos and religions like Christian, Buddhist and Hindu reside here in complete harmony.

• Popular Places to visit near Haflong: Jatinga, Umrangso, Maibong, Kaziranga National Park, etc
• Best Time to Visit Haflong: Oct-March and July-September
• How to Reach Haflong: One can either fly to Guwahati Airport or take the train to Guwahati from where many private cars and taxis are available on hire that carry tourists to this destination.

4. Pelling, Sikkim

Pelling was initially covered with wild thick forest which served as home to many indigenous wild animals. This ridge, situated in between two old Buddhist monasteries (Pemayangtse and Sangacholing) has now developed into a full-fledged village named Pelling. Today, Pelling is one of the best-chosen tourist hotspots in Sikkim.

• Popular Places to visit near Pelling: Pemayangtse Monastery, Sky Walk-Pelling, Rabdentse Ruins, etc
• Best Time To Visit Pelling: September-May
• How To Reach Pelling: The nearest airport to Pelling is Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal which is around 160 kms from Pelling. This airport offers regular flights to and from several major cities of India such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata. From the airport, you can travel to Pelling in a private taxi. Shared taxis are also available.

Suggested Read: Adventure Activities in Sikkim

5. Champhai, Mizoram

Once believed to be the entry point & settlement of the first Mizo migrants to India, Champhai has a rich heritage background, monuments and monoliths that depict victorious war, hunting, personal grieves and achievements are scattered around in the villages. Champhai is an ideal tourist destination both for the adventurous and those opting for relaxation and recreation.

• Popular Places near Champhai: Thasiama Se No Neihna, Lianchhiari Lunglen Tlung, Mura Pak, etc
• Best Time to Visit Champhai: Feb- December
• How to reach Champhai: You can fly to Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram from where you can reach Champhai by road in 5-6 Hours.

6. Tamenglong, Manipur

• Popular Places near Tamenglong: Buning Meadow, Tharon Cave, Barak River, Zeilad Lake, etc
• Best Time to visit Tamenglong: October- March and June if you love meadows
• How to Reach Tamenglong: You can fly to Imphal which is the capital of Manipur and from there you can hire a taxi which will take you 3-4 hours.

7. Pollachi, Coimbatore

If you are a nature lover and want to explore its pristine beauty, this is where you must definitely head to. With a landscape that has lush tea gardens, misty mountains and green tall trees that seem to touch the clouds, the beauty of this place is certainly unparalleled. This is where you can see green hills lined with perfectly manicured tea bushes, coconut trees that make a stark contrast against the blue sky and a rustic charm that is hard to miss. A melange of culture, religion and nature, this is a destination for all the right reasons. Little wonder then that this is a popular spot for shooting movies. The picture postcard landscapes apart, Pollachi has many secrets waiting to be unravelled.

• Popular Places near Pollachi: Pollachi Dams, Loams Viewpoint, Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Arulmigu Masani Amman Temple, etc
• Best Time to Visit Pollachi: October-February
• How to Reach Pollachi: Pollachi is just 45 km from the city of Coimbatore. The Coimbatore International Airport is only 60 km from the town and tourists can directly reach the numerous tourist sites in the city directly from the airport.

Suggested Read: Places to visit in Coimbatore

8. Kaas Plateau

However, If you are into bird watching, you will be able to spot a variety of avian species, including the Malabar Crested Lark and Indian Scimitar Babbler. Other winged creatures in the area are the various species of butterflies. It is also during this blooming period that visitors visit this place for their pre-wedding shoots. There is even a dedicated space for this!

• Best Time to visit Kaas Plateau: The best time to visit Kaas Plateau is during the monsoon season, from August to October, when the wildflowers are in full bloom.
• How to reach Kaas Plateau: Kaas Plateau is easily accessible by road, located approximately 25 kms from Satara, Maharashtra.

So pack your bags and get going!