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India's natural beauty is more pronounced in the winter months and that's when travellers throng to the hills to experience snowfall. Surrounded by mighty mountains in the north, many places in the region transform into a winter wonderland. Now that many places like Kashmir have already started enjoying the magical snowfall, it's a cue for you to begin planning a holiday to enjoy the white landscape. If you are searching for a truly extraordinary travel experience this winter, head to these destinations across India and enjoy the snowfall.
The lush green valleys of Sonmarg get covered in snow --- not even an inch is left bare. Although the temperatures can drop drastically during winter, the sights you see are absolutely worth the bone-chilling weather. You can also check out attractions like Gadsar Lake, Baltal Valley, and Zoji La Pass.
Air: Sheikh Ul Alam Airport is around 11 kms from the main city of Srinagar. You can book a private taxi or take a shared cab to Sonmarg. It is 80 kms from Srinagar, and the journey takes around three to four hours.
Train: The nearest railway station is Jammu Tawi (360 kms) and Udhampur (308 kms). Private buses and cabs are available outside the railway station for Sonmarg. Although Srinagar railway station is the nearest railhead at 88 kms from Sonmarg, it has limited service of short-distance passenger trains.
When it comes to choosing a winter destination, Lava is often undiscovered. Therefore, this checks off that box if you want to head to an off-beat location. This quaint hill station, around 34 kilometres from Kalimpong in West Bengal, starts receiving snowfall in January. Here, apart from participating in winter activities like snowboarding and skiing, you can also get a mesmerising view of Kanchenjunga.
Air: The nearest airport is Bagdogra airport, 118 kms from Lava. Hire a taxi and reach Lava in four hours.
Train: The nearest railway station is New Jalapiguri, around 104 kms away. Hire a car or taxi from outside the railway station, and it will take around three hours to get to Lava via road.
Situated approximately 50 kms from Mussoorie, Dhanaulti is another underrated destination where you can experience snowfall as early as December. If you want to enjoy a quiet getaway away from the touristy locales, then Dhanaulti must be on your list.
Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport located 83 kms from the town.
Train: The nearest railway station, Dehradun, is around 60 kms away and has trains running from all the major cities of the country. From Dehradun railway station or the airport, you can take a taxi or a bus to Dhanaulti.
Road: One can reach Dhanaulti by their own vehicle or by hiring a taxi as it is well connected by roads with all major cities in and around Uttarakhand.
Dhanaulti is around 300 kms from Delhi, 80 kms from Rishikesh, and 25 kms from Mussoorie.
If you want to get your dose of adrenaline and enjoy snowfall, Auli is perfect. Every winter, professional and amateur skiers flock to Auli, which boasts of excellent infrastructure. You can enjoy amazing views of the snow-clad valleys by riding cable cars, deemed one of the longest in India.
Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun, around 288 kms away. From here, you can book a cab or take a bus. It takes around 8 to 9 hours to reach Auli from the airport.
Road: Buses will take you till Joshimath only, and from there you can reach Auli by the ropeway or by road. The ropeway from Joshimath to Auli is among the highest ropeways in India and the ride takes around 22 minutes to cover 4.15 kms.
Train: The nearest railway station to Auli is Haridwar railway station which is around 273 kms away. From Haridwar, you can take a bus to Auli, or hire a cab to Joshimath, from where you can take the cable car or a bus to Auli.
When you're headed to any of the more popular hill stations in Himachal, Narkanda often falls on the way and yet the peaceful town goes undiscovered by many tourists. Although it's not very popular, Narkanda in winter assumes an all-white garb during the peak winter months and sometimes as early as November.
Air: The nearest airport to Narkanda is Jubbarhatti airport, which is about 70 kms from Shimla. From the airport, you can hire a taxi to reach Narkanda.
Train: The nearest major railway station is Kalka, which is 180 kms away, and is well-connected to major cities like Delhi and Chandigarh.
Bus: Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation operates regular buses from cities like Shimla, Chandigarh, and Delhi to Narkanda.
