With Christmas right around the corner, the festive season is calling for year-end getaways. This is the time when days begin with blissfully cold temperatures and end earlier than usual. And we’re all looking forward to celebrating it in our own ways. While some prefer to return home after long months in foreign cities, some like to pack their bags. If you’re planning to go out, why not try chalking it out during the cheery festive season? Here are our suggestions for the best places to visit for Christmas in India!
The 5 Best Christmas Getaways In India
- Goa
- Gangtok
- Coorg
- Shillong
- Pondicherry
Goa
While usually known for its happening clubs and beaches, Goa is one of the best places to visit for Christmas in India. Most cities of Goa celebrate their carnivals, which include colorful parades, dance performances, and live music. After all, did you even visit Goa during Christmas if you didn’t attend its iconic carnivals?
When not attending them, you can explore its vibrant markets selling local baked delicacies and Christmassy decorations, and visit picturesque churches. Speaking of food, you can try Goan specialties like Neureos, Bebinca, and Dodol to get an authentic taste of the local culture. While exploring its spellbinding churches, make sure to attend the event most Goans look forward to – the Midnight Mass. This commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and holds immense religious significance.
Gangtok
Gangtok has a majorly Buddhist and Hindu influence on the local culture, but the winter season makes it one of the most wholesome Christmas getaways in India. It is a dream come true for many of us who wish to experience the festival surrounded by blankets of snow. You have wide avenues of MG Road running through the city, beautifully decorated shopfronts, and the Christmas-y ambiance that fills Gangtok air, especially in the evenings.
Attend the mass at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, the most popular church in Gangtok, followed by melodious carols. You can also attend local Sikkimese plays, live performances, and celebrations throughout different parts of the hill station. And, if you get hungry, you must definitely try out Christmas special plum cakes, gingerbread cookies, and local Sikkimese food like Gundruk, Thukpa, and the beloved Momo.
Coorg
Coorg is a popular weekend getaway for people from Bangalore and is slowly gaining tourists from different parts of the country. The beautiful hill station is known for its pleasant atmosphere all year round and the breathtaking views. While it may not be popular for Christmas celebrations as much as other places, it is great if you need a little break from the hustle and bustle of the city, especially during the festive season.
You can visit the local markets to shop and eat at or explore the famous Madikeri Fort and Virajpet’s St. Anne’s Church, as well as several other tourist attractions. Built in the iconic Gothic architectural style, the church is important in local history and is famous for its Christmas celebrations. End your day by either walking down scenic Coorg lanes or just enjoying a hot cup of chocolate and a book by your side!
Shillong
Time to move northeast to experience Christmas that’s not much known about in mainland India. Begin your frosty mornings by taking a walk down Shillong’s streets and trying out freshly baked delicacies and morning tea. Just when the sun is setting and the town is prepping up for its festivities, get going to the Police Bazaar to feel the Christmassy vibes. Try out local dishes like jadoh, tungtap, as well as more common Indian servings like jalebi, momo, and the list never ends. Also, don’t forget to taste the cakes at Reen’s or Mahari & Sons, they’ll definitely set the Christmas spirit ablaze, at least for your taste buds!
During the festival, the city is illuminated with bright lights and decorations associated with the birth of Jesus Christ. Many churches sing carols and conduct masses to celebrate the festival and city streets are filled with exuberant fervor and holiday joy.
Pondicherry
The last spot on our list of Christmas travel destinations inarguably goes to the most colorful town, quite literally. Pondicherry is a quaint beach town dotted with majestic churches and cathedrals, places important from an Indo-French and Colonial history perspective. So naturally, Christmas celebrations in the town are taken very seriously by the locals.
During the festival, dozens of local bakeries start selling seasonal bakes. Several picture-worthy cafes and coffee houses also come up with their Christmas special menus. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, St Andrew’s Church, and the Immaculate Conception Cathedral are some of the most famous places to attend the festive celebrations, including carols and the midnight mass. You can also explore the French Quarters and the beach promenade which are decked up in Christmas lights.
Summing Up
Christmas in your city may be fun, but these Christmas travel destinations definitely deserve to be on your list of best places to visit for Christmas. From Goa’s carnivals to Shillong’s LIT streets, these destinations, apart from being famous during the usual tourist season, are also a treat to experience during the year-end. So, pack your bags, learn your carols, and hop on to one of these best places to visit for Christmas in your own country.
FAQs
What State Celebrates Christmas The Most In India?
Goa is the state known as the one that celebrates Christmas the most in India. This is because the state has significant Portuguese, French, and British influence and a majority of the people here follow Christianity.
Is Christmas A Big Holiday In India?
Christmas is a national holiday in India, but it is a rare celebration in a majority of India’s villages. However, many metropolitan cities celebrate Christmas on a grander scale due to diverse groups and a more modern culture.
Where Is Christmas Famous In India?
Christmas is mainly celebrated in Indian cities and towns with a significant Christian population. Some of the places where it is famously celebrated are:
- Goa
- Mumbai
- Bangalore
- Shillong
- Kolkata
- Manali
- Pondicherry
