Makar Sankranti is one of India’s most vibrant festivals, and it’s the perfect time to explore new destinations through curated India Tour Packages . From colourful kite festivals to peaceful riverbank rituals, the country offers countless places to visit in Makar Sankranti for every kind of traveller.
This Makar Sankranti travel guide India brings together the best cities, cultural experiences, and festive hotspots to help you plan an unforgettable holiday.
Whether you enjoy spiritual ghats, bustling markets, folk performances, or heritage walks, Makar Sankranti offers a unique way to see India come alive with traditions, flavours, and joyful celebrations.
- Makar Sankranti Date: 14th January 2026
What to Expect During Makar Sankranti Across India
- Colourful kites fill the sky as families gather on rooftops and open grounds.
- Holy dips at rivers and ghats, where locals offer prayers for new beginnings.
- Bustling streets with festive stalls selling tilgul sweets, popcorn, jaggery treats, and seasonal snacks.
- Cultural performances like folk dances, drumming, and traditional games bring communities together.
- Warm village fairs and local melas where travellers can shop for handicrafts and enjoy local food.
- A joyful, welcoming atmosphere everywhere you go; perfect for travellers who want to experience India’s festival spirit up close.
Best Places to Celebrate Makar Sankranti in India
Discover the vibrant Makar Sankranti in different states of India:
Searching for the Makar Sankranti festival near me? Head to Ahmedabad, where international kite flyers colour the sky, and the city comes alive with festive energy, traditions, and flavours like undhiyu and jalebi that make the celebration truly memorable. The city is one of the top places to visit in Makar Sankranti.
Makar Sankranti Highlights
- Major Event: International Kite Festival at Sabarmati Riverfront: International kite‑flying, vibrant skies, festive energy
- Local Markets: Colourful kites, manjha threads, street snacks like undhiyu & jalebi
- Date: Starts from 12 Jan, 2026
Suggested Read: Diving deep into Ahmedabad's famous Sabarmati Riverfront
2. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Visit Varanasi during Makar Sankranti and experience the city like a local.
Join the crowds at the Ganges for a holy dip, offer prayers on the ghats, float diyas on the river, and stroll along the bustling ghats to enjoy devotional chants, street rituals, and festive snacks. It is one of the most meaningful places to celebrate Makar Sankranti in India.
Makar Sankranti Highlights
- Dashashwamedh & Assi Ghats: Holy dips, floating diyas, devotional chants
- Ghats & Streets: Stroll, enjoy street rituals, festive snacks, and local interactions
- Date: 14 Jan, 2026
Suggested Read: Discover the Soul of India: Places to Visit in Varanasi
Delhi offers the best Sankranti in India, with the famous Delhi Kite Festival turning Connaught Place into a lively celebration spot. Enjoy exciting kite battles, colourful displays, and cultural performances at Baansera, making the festival truly unforgettable
Makar Sankranti Highlights
- Major Event: Delhi Kite Festival at Connaught Place: Kite battles, display flying, festive crowds
- Baansera Bamboo Park: Relaxed kite-flying, cultural shows like Bhangra, Bihu, Ghoomar
- Date: 14 Jan, 2026
Suggested Read: 55 Amazing Places To Visit In Delhi | Entry Fee, Timings
Haridwar is one of the best places for Makar Sankranti in India, offering a peaceful and deeply spiritual experience. Visitors join devotees at the Ganges for the sacred morning dip, watch priests perform rituals, enjoy the fragrance of incense, and taste festive sweets sold along the ghats.
The calm river, chanting, and divine atmosphere make the trip to Uttarakhand feel truly special.
Makar Sankranti Highlights
- Har Ki Pauri: Holy dip, Ganga aarti, spiritual rituals, peaceful river views
- Mansa Devi & Chandi Devi Temples: Cable-car rides, scenic views, divine darshan
- Local Streets & Ghats: Festive snacks, til sweets, prasad stalls, cultural buzz
- Date: 14 Jan, 2026
Suggested Read: 13 Places To Visit In Uttarakhand In 2025
Punjab’s Lohri brings a festive energy that many associate with the best Sankranti in India. Gather around bonfires, sing folk songs, dance bhangra and gidda, and share sarson da saag, makki di roti, and rewri in a joyful community setting.
Makar Sankranti Highlights
- Golden Temple & Surroundings: Bonfires, folk songs, bhangra & gidda dances
- Local Bazaars: Traditional meals, gur‑til sweets, makki di roti & saag
- Date: 14 Jan, 2026
Suggested Read: 10 Best Places To Visit In Amritsar- A Comprehensive Guide
Udaipur is one of the most scenic places to enjoy the Makar Sankranti festival in India. With Rajasthan Tour Packages, tourists can join locals on lakeside rooftops where colourful kites fill the sky all day.
Stroll through lively markets, taste Udaipur’s street food like kachori, gajak, and til sweets, and enjoy the festive music echoing around the lakes.
With its palaces like Lake Pichola, cool breeze, and warm celebrations, Udaipur offers a beautiful cultural experience for travellers.
Makar Sankranti Highlights
- Rooftops & Lakeside Spots (Fateh Sagar Lake, Lake Pichola): Kite flying, friendly kite battles, music, sunset lake views
- Local Markets (Hathipole, Bapu Bazaar): Colourful kites, manjha, festive snacks, vibrant street shopping
- Date: 14 Jan, 2026
Suggested Read: 35 Places To Visit In Udaipur: A Complete Guide
Jaipur easily earns its spot among the best places for Makar Sankranti in India. Families fill the rooftops, sharing laughter and kite battles. Explore markets that glow with bright kites and threads. The city’s famous forts and palaces also add a beautiful setting to the celebration.
Makar Sankranti Highlights
- Rooftops, Forts like Nahargarh Fort, Jal Mahal, & Polo Grounds: Kite battles, events, family gatherings, colourful skies
- City Markets: Kites, threads, festive treats, vibrant street shopping
- Date: 14 Jan, 2026
Suggested Read: Top Places To Visit In Jaipur – The Pink City Of India
Experience Magh Bihu in Guwahati, one of the best places for Makar Sankranti in India, where you can enjoy bonfires, community feasts, bamboo huts (Mejis), local markets, and lively cultural performances that make the celebration warm and welcoming for visitors.
Makar Sankranti Highlights
- Meji Burning Ceremonies: Early morning bonfires, traditional rituals, photography moments
- Community Feasts: Taste pitha, larus, roasted rice, fish dishes, and local sweets
- Local Bihu Performances: Folk dance, drums, community gatherings
- Markets: Buy handmade bamboo items, local snacks, festive essentials
- Date: 14 Jan, 2026
Suggested Read: 32 Places to Visit in Guwahati: Heartbeat of Assam's Spirit
Celebrate the Makar Sankranti festival in India in Kolkata by joining families at Poush Sankranti fairs, tasting traditional sweets like pithe, patishapta, and payesh, and witnessing the vibrant rituals at the Gangasagar Mela.
Explore the colorful river confluence and interact with locals to soak in the festive spirit.
Makar Sankranti Highlights
- Gangasagar Mela: Pilgrimage, river rituals, floating lamps, Poush Sankranti Fairs, Traditional sweets like pithe, patishapta, payesh, festive stalls and local interactions
- Date: 14 Jan, 2026
Suggested Read: 33 Best Places to Visit in Kolkata 2025
Visit Nashik during Makar Sankranti to experience the festival like a local. Take a holy dip at the riverside ghats, join in traditional rituals, exchange tilgul sweets with locals, and explore festive stalls offering sesame-jaggery treats. For a peaceful experience, arrive early in the morning.
Makar Sankranti Highlights
- Riverside Ghats: Holy dips, traditional rituals, peaceful mornings
- Festive Stalls: Exchange tilgul, enjoy sesame‑jaggery sweets, explore local snacks
- Date: 14 Jan, 2026
Suggested Read: 17 Best Places to Visit in Nashik Maharashtra 2024
In Telangana, Hyderabad, the celebration of Makar Sankranti becomes a lively three-day event called Sankranti Sambaralu.
Homes come alive with colourful muggulu(rangolis), evening bonfires, and village bull races, while families cook pongal and share sesame-jaggery sweets to honour warmth, unity, and tradition.
Makar Sankranti Highlights
- Major Event: International Kite & Sweet Festival at Parade Grounds, and Community & Rooftop Zones: Kite‑flying, neighbourhood rituals, colourful rangolis
- Sankranti Sambaralu Events: Bonfires, bull races, cooking & sharing festive sweets
- Date(s): 13-15, Jan, 2026
Suggested Read: Top 32 Places to Visit in Hyderabad
Experience a quiet, cultural Makar Sankranti festival in Mysore. Enjoy festive temple visits, local sweets, gentle kite flights, and the comforting charm of old-city streets bathed in winter light.
Makar Sankranti Highlights
- Chamundi Hill & Temple Areas: Traditional prayers, temple rituals, scenic sunrise views
- Old-City Streets & Local Markets: Local snacks like sakkare acchu and jaggery sweets, festive shopping, warm community vibe
- Rooftop / Open-Ground Kite Flying (select neighbourhoods): Fly small kites, enjoy calm skies, mingle with locals
- Cultural Walks & Heritage Tours: Lakes, palaces, old temples; winter-friendly sightseeing combined with festival calm
- Date: 14 January 2026
Suggested Read: 10 Best Places to Eat in Mysore
In Tamil Nadu, the celebration of Makar Sankranti is known as Pongal, a warm four-day harvest tradition. Families cook sweet rice in new clay pots for Thai Pongal, while villages gather for Jallikattu and other age-old customs that highlight the state’s rich cultural spirit.
Makar Sankranti Highlights
- Temple Areas & Streets: Thai Pongal celebrations, sweet rice cooking, harvest rituals
- Village-style Fairs: Folk traditions, cultural activities, local festive treats
- Date(s): 14-17, Jan, 2026
Suggested Read: 8 Best Places To Visit In Tamil Nadu
Puri’s Makar Mela brings together devotion and local joy in a way that feels truly special. People visit the Jagannath Temple for prayers, enjoy the festive offerings, and wander through lively fair stalls.
The warm, welcoming atmosphere draws visitors from across Odisha every year, making it one of the best places to visit in Makar Sankranti.
Makar Sankranti Highlights
- Jagannath Temple & Mela Grounds: Devotional prayers, temple festivities
- Coastal Fairs & Stalls: Handicrafts, sweets, seafood, vibrant seafront atmosphere
- Date: 14 Jan, 2026
Suggested Read: 23 Best Places To Visit In Odisha For Travelers
Celebrate the Spirit of Makar Sankranti Across India 2026
Makar Sankranti is more than just a festival! It’s a celebration of culture, tradition, and togetherness. Exploring the places to visit in Makar Sankranti allows travellers to experience vibrant kite-flying skies, sacred river rituals, lively fairs, colourful markets, and local delicacies.
Each state in India adds its unique charm, from spiritual ghats and temple visits to folk performances and harvest traditions. Whether you seek adventure, spirituality, or cultural immersion, Makar Sankranti offers an unforgettable journey across India’s festive landscapes.
