Best honeymoon places in India

Houseboats on palm-lined backwaters, misty tea hills and Ayurveda for two.

Best Dec–Mar₹54,255–₹1,42,419 a weekFrom DEL ~5h5–8 nights

Overnight houseboat on the backwaters · Ayurvedic couples’ massage · Tea-estate walk in Munnar

India’s island paradise: Radhanagar Beach, coral reefs and no passport needed for Indians.

Best Nov–Apr₹68,787–₹1,67,124 a weekFrom DEL ~5.5h5–7 nights

Scuba dive off Havelock · Sunset at Radhanagar Beach · Candlelit dinner on the beach

Snow at Solang, apple orchards, riverside cafés in Old Manali and the mountains just through the Atal Tunnel.

Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct, Dec–Feb₹44,082–₹1,05,119 a weekFrom DEL ~2.5h4–6 nights

A snow day at Solang Valley · Tandem paragliding over Solang · Hadimba Temple and the cedar forest

Houseboats on Dal Lake, shikaras at dawn and snow on the meadows of Gulmarg.

Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct, Dec–Mar₹54,255–₹1,35,637 a weekFrom DEL ~1.5h5–7 nights

Shikara ride to the floating market at dawn · A night on a Dal Lake houseboat · Gulmarg gondola to the snowline

Rolling tea hills, mist in the valleys and cosy plantation bungalows in the Western Ghats.

Best Dec–Mar₹44,082–₹1,11,901 a weekFrom DEL ~7h2–4 nights

A tea-estate walk at dawn · Sunrise over the clouds at Top Station · Nilgiri tahr in Eravikulam National Park

Beach shacks at sunset, Portuguese lanes, spice farms, and quiet southern coves when you want them.

Best Nov–May₹50,864–₹1,25,464 a weekFrom DEL ~2.5h4–6 nights

Candlelit dinner at a beach shack · Sunset cruise on the Mandovi river · The Latin Quarter of Fontainhas and Old Goa’s churches

India’s coral atolls: turquoise lagoons, almost no crowds and reefs that rival the Maldives.

Best Oct–Apr₹92,524–₹1,77,297 a weekFrom DEL ~4.5h4–6 nights

Snorkel the lagoon reefs · Scuba dive at Kadmat · Kayak a glass-clear lagoon

The Princess of Hill Stations: a star-shaped lake, misty pine forests, Coaker’s Walk and cliff-edge views over the plains.

Best Jan–Mar₹40,691–₹94,946 a weekFrom DEL ~6.5h2–4 nights

Coaker’s Walk above the clouds · Cycling round Kodai Lake · A rowing boat on the lake

The City of Lakes: palace hotels, sunset boats on Lake Pichola and royal dinners.

Best Sep–Mar₹54,255–₹1,55,983 a weekFrom DEL ~1.5h3–4 nights

Sunset boat on Lake Pichola · Royal dinner in a palace courtyard · City Palace and the old-town lanes

The Queen of the Hills: Mall Road strolls, Himalayan views from Lal Tibba, and the colonial lanes and bakeries of Landour.

Best Feb–May, Oct–Dec₹40,691–₹1,01,728 a weekFrom DEL ~2.5h2–4 nights

Sunrise over the Himalaya from Lal Tibba · A walk round Landour’s Chaar Dukaan · Ropeway to Gun Hill at sunset

Sunrise on Kanchenjunga, a toy train through the clouds and tea on a colonial veranda.

Best Nov–Mar₹40,691–₹98,337 a weekFrom DEL ~5h3–4 nights

Sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill · Toy train on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway · Tea tasting on a heritage estate

Coffee estates in the clouds, rainforest resorts and slow plantation breakfasts.

Best Nov–Apr₹47,473–₹1,28,855 a weekFrom DEL ~6.5h2–4 nights

Coffee plantation walk and tasting · Sunset at Raja’s Seat · Abbey Falls

Monasteries and views of Kanchenjunga, the frozen lake at Tsomgo, and the rhododendron valleys of North Sikkim.

Best Feb, Oct–Dec₹47,473–₹1,11,901 a weekFrom DEL ~6.5h4–6 nights

Sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tashi View Point · Tsomgo Lake and the road towards Nathu La · Rumtek Monastery

Rainforest treehouses and plantation pool villas, ancient carvings in Edakkal Caves, waterfalls and wild elephants by the road.

Best Nov–Feb₹44,082–₹1,11,901 a weekFrom DEL ~6h3–4 nights

A night in a rainforest treehouse · Jeep safari in Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary · Edakkal Caves’ ancient carvings

The old summer capital: a toy train, colonial lanes along the Ridge and snow in Kufri in winter.

Best Feb–May, Oct–Dec₹40,691–₹1,05,119 a weekFrom DEL ~4h2–4 nights

Toy train on the Kalka–Shimla railway · Sunset stroll along the Ridge and Mall Road · A snow day in Kufri

Rajasthan’s only hill station: boating on Nakki Lake, sunset at Honeymoon Point and the marble Dilwara temples.

Best Sep–Apr₹37,300–₹88,164 a weekFrom DEL ~5h2–3 nights

Boating on Nakki Lake · Sunset at Honeymoon Point · The marble Dilwara temples

Rowing on a lake ringed by hills, the ropeway to Snow View, and quieter lakes at Bhimtal and Sattal just down the road.

Best Oct–May₹40,691–₹1,01,728 a weekFrom DEL ~3.5h2–4 nights

A rowing boat on Naini Lake · Ropeway to Snow View Point · Sunrise from Tiffin Top

Living root bridges, waterfalls pouring off cliffs, the glass-clear river at Dawki, and cafés and live music in pine-clad Shillong.

Best Nov–Apr₹44,082–₹94,946 a weekFrom DEL ~5.5h4–6 nights

The double-decker living root bridge at Nongriat · A boat on the clear Umngot river at Dawki · Nohkalikai Falls

The Queen of the Nilgiris: a mountain railway, tea gardens and misty lakeside mornings.

Best Dec–Apr₹40,691–₹94,946 a weekFrom DEL ~6h2–4 nights

Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train to Coonoor · Rowing on Ooty Lake · Botanical Garden walk

Palace hotels, the hilltop Amber Fort, rooftop dinners over the Pink City’s bazaars and Hawa Mahal at sunrise.

Best Oct–Mar₹44,082–₹1,22,073 a weekFrom DEL ~1h2–4 nights

Hawa Mahal at sunrise · Amber Fort · Hot-air balloon over the forts

Strawberry farms, misty viewpoints over the Sahyadri hills, boating on Venna Lake and old forts of the Western Ghats.

Best Nov–May₹37,300–₹94,946 a weekFrom DEL ~5.5h2–3 nights

Strawberries and cream on a farm · Sunrise at Wilson Point · Boating on Venna Lake

A high-altitude desert: Pangong’s blue lake, monasteries on cliffs, Nubra’s sand dunes and some of the world’s highest roads.

Best Jun–Sep₹57,646–₹1,28,855 a weekFrom DEL ~1.5h6–8 nights

Pangong Lake at sunrise · Over Khardung La to Nubra · A camel ride on the Hunder dunes