As monsoon fades away and we bid adieu to the rains in September, It calls for exploring a new place and go on short vacation amid the last showers of the rain and cherish their beauty. September is one of the best months to plan a vacation because of the amazing weather in most parts of the country. While many of these places attract tourist throughout the year, Here is our pick of best places to visit in India in September. Enjoy the scenic vistas of surrounding mountains, brimming lakes and impressive waterfalls that makes for a memorable journey.

1. Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

Dal Lake, BeautifulPlacesIndia.com

Sunset in Srinagar.

The summer capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to the extreme north of India, the “Paradise on Earth” is located on scenic valleys along the river Jhelum. Srinagar is all about houseboats, beautiful lakes, and Mughal gardens. Blessed with an abundance of natural beauty and splendid lakes, Srinagar is one of the most popular tourist places to visit in India. Popular attractions are world famous Dal Lake and Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden. For the wanderlust, the city is also a gateway to other popular places like Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Gulmarg etc.

2. Shillong, Meghalaya

Shillong, Beautiful Places India

Shillong. Courtesy Subharnab Majumdar

Shillong is the capital city of the state of Meghalaya located at an altitude of 4990 feet above sea level. It is also known as “Scotland of the East” due to its distinctive resemblance to Scottish uplands. Surrounded by vivacious waterfalls, beautiful lakes,  imposing mountain peaks, attractive golf courses making it an attractive tourist hub of the north-east. Shillong is one of the best places to visit in India in September when the rains are scarce and the weather becomes extremely pleasant.

3. Coonoor, Tamil Nadu

Sims Park at Coonoor, BeautifulPlacesIndia.com

SIMS Park at Coonoor. Courtesy Thangaraj Kumaravel

Coonoor is a beautiful hill station in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu and famous Nilgiri Teas are grown here.  It is famous for its lush greenery, ravines, waterfalls and is home to a variety of wildflowers and birds. One should not miss the Nilgiri mountain railway (Toy Train) which passes through Coonoor up to Ooty in the Nilgiris and is bound to leave the traveler spellbound. The major attraction in the hills is the Sim’s park, a well conserved botanical gardens houses several varieties of plants and rare species of flowers are found here. Other popular viewpoints in Coonoor are The Droog,  St. Catherine Falls,  Dolphins Nose, Silk Rearing Station, Lambs Rock, etc.

4. Kochi, Kerala

Kerala Backwaters, Kochi - BeautifulPlacesIndia.com

Backwaters in Kochi, Kerala

Come September, the warm and humid climate of Kochi climbs down considerably and gets a salubrious climate perfect for a picturesque promenade on the marine drive and for taking a backwater cruise along the backwaters of Kochi. It is also called as “Queen of Arabia” and houses some of the finest natural harbors in the world. September is also the month of Onam festival and its best celebrated here.

Other popular places around cochin are Dutch town, Kochi Fort, Cherai beach, Kodanad Elephant Training Center and Athirappilly Falls.

5. Nainital, Uttarakhand

Nainital_BeautifulPlacesIndia.com

Nainital in Uttarakhand

Nainital at a height of 6,837 ft above sea level and set in a picturesque valley along the pear shaped naini lake and surrounded by mountains on the three sides, it has grown into one of the popular hills station in India attracting tourists from far and wide. Trekking for 3 km leads to Snow view which offers Magnificent views of the Naina peak and it can also be reached by Aerial Express Ropeway. The Magic Mount which is close to the ropeway provides Go karting and Bumping Cars opportunity. Once on the top, we can get next door view of the Nanda Devi peak, the second highest peak of the Himalayas at an altitude of 7816m.

Nainital also has an observatory employing some of the most advanced telescopes in India where we can view the movement of heavenly bodies, stars, planets with great precision. Another must visit place around Nainital is Jim Corbett National park, the oldest national park in India and home to endangered Bengal Tiger.

6. Bundi, Rajasthan

Bundi Palace, Rajasthan - BeautifulPlacesIndia.com

Bundi Palace. Courtesy Arian Zwegers

Bundi, the erstwhile princely state of Rajasthan has essentially been a battleground for warfare between British, Rajputs, and Marathas for over six hundred years.  This small rustic town of Bundi is teeming with palaces, Havelis,  ornate forts, step well reservoir locally known as Boaris making it a must visit place for cultural travelers. Though the state receives a lot less rainfall, the weather around September is a lot cooler making it an ideal place to visualize the past glory of this historical town.

7. Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir

Khardun La Pass_Beautiful Places India

Khardung La Pass in Leh, Ladakh.

Located at a height of 3500 meters, Ladakh is bounded by Karakoram mountains in the north and the Himalayas in the South. The winter here is long and dry with frozen landscapes and the glaciers melt during the short and hot summer.The imposing mountains, splendid beauty, and rugged terrain have made Ladakh a hotspot for mountaineers from across the country. Awe-inspiring natural beauty, jagged peaks, captivating people, unchartered wilderness beckons all kinds of travelers. September is the best time to visit Ladakh when we get respite from the freezing cold to enjoy the scenic vistas of colorful monasteries, Zanskar valley, and Majestic mountains.
One must not miss trekking in Ladakh as its high mountain passes through the trekking routes which gives us a glimpse of its colorful mountains and unexplored Himalayan wonderland.The world’s highest motor-able pass called Khardung la Pass is in Ladakh.

8. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

Shimla_Beautiful Places India

Shimla in Himachal Pradesh.

Shimla, the summer retreat of the Britishers and current capital of Himachal Pradesh is one of the best places to visit in India in September.The stunning backdrop of the snow topped mountains, spectacular peaks, tall green trees and charm of its colonial architecture makes it a dream destination. With the uninterrupted expansion, Shimla still retains its old charm with the structures made during the colonial era and grand old buildings like Viceregal Lodge and Iron lamp posts.
The Mall Road packed with shops and eateries is the hub of all activity and center of attraction and Lakkar Bazaar offers the ultimate mountain bazaar experience.

9. Sunderbans, West Bengal

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Saltwater Crocodile in Sunderbans.

Sundarbans is the largest saline mangrove forests in the world and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is part of the Delta formed by the mighty rivers Brahmaputra, Ganga and Meghna occupying an area of 3,900 SQ miles spanning across India and Bangladesh. Sunderbans forest houses more than 300 Tigers and it is the largest National Park and Tiger Reserve in India. It’s home to an extravagant array of flora and fauna, the most famous being the Royal Bengal Tiger and they have well adapted to the aqua landscape of the Sunderbans and are extremely good swimmers. Sunderbans National Park is also known for its active conservation of the Ridley Sea Turtle. The mesmerizing woods and the incredible variety of fauna like crocodiles, chital deer, rhesus monkey, reptiles like the king cobra, the rock python make it a natural retreat for nature lovers and wildlife admirers. Though Sunderbans sees heavy rainfall, September is the perfect time to visit as tigers are frequently spotted.

10. Khandala, Maharashtra

Khandala_ghat_during_rains_BeautifulPlacesIndia.com

Khandala Ghats during Rains. Courtesy Gayatri Priyadarshini

Khandala is one of the most beautiful hill stations in the Western Ghats and popular among nearby city dwellers. Even though rain fades away in rest of the state, the late monsoon in September accentuates the natural beauty of the region and makes it a magnificent travel destination. I especially love the lush greenery, enchanting valleys and beautiful lakes in the foreground and the layers of epic mountains as they fade away in the clouds.The Duke’s Nose peak and the Karla hills give impressive views of surrounding mountains and are the two most favored destinations for rock climbing.