15 mesmerising monsoon destinations that Indians are heading to in 2025

Monsoon in India is not merely a change in weather; it’s a sensory experience. The first showers awaken parched earth, the hills don their deepest greens, and rivers begin to hum with renewed energy. For the discerning traveller, the rains open up a quieter, more intimate side of the subcontinent—one that is best experienced when the crowds have thinned and the landscape breathes easy. This is the season of reflection and revival, where journeys are shaped not by itineraries but by the rhythm of falling rain and the hush it brings to once-busy trails. (Image: Canva)

Reflecting this quiet shift in sensibility, the recent India Holiday Report by Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel reveals a growing trend: monsoon travel is no longer an afterthought. From Gen Z explorers to working professionals and multigenerational families, Indian travellers are embracing the off-season as an opportunity for immersive, value-rich escapes. The rise of the ‘frolleague’—colleagues who travel as friends—underscores this shift towards more meaningful getaways. Drawing from the report’s findings, here is a curated selection of 15 destinations where the monsoon isn’t a backdrop—it’s the main event. (Image: Canva)

1. Ladakh
Often associated with dry desertscapes and barren beauty, Ladakh transforms subtly during the rains. The air clears, the rivers swell, and the valleys hum with an unexpected vitality. It’s a season for seasoned adventurers and solitude seekers alike. (Image: Canva)

2. Kashmir
In Kashmir, monsoon arrives with soft rains that deepen the greens and lend the lakes a mirror-like clarity. The gardens bloom afresh, and the hills turn tender under clouded skies. It is a setting fit for poetry, and perhaps for those who seek moments of stillness. (Image: Canva)

3. Spiti Valley
Remote and stoic, Spiti sheds its harsh demeanour in the monsoon months. Though rainfall is sparse, the light shifts, bathing monasteries and mountainsides in a surreal golden glow. For travellers seeking the road less travelled, Spiti remains faithful. (Image: Canva)

4. Goa
Contrary to popular belief, Goa is not asleep in the monsoon—it simply exhales. Verdant fields, swollen rivers, and a rhythm unhurried by the usual rush invite introspective wanderers. It’s a time for slow café mornings, empty beaches, and rain-laced drives. (Image: Canva)

5. Kerala
This is when Kerala’s famed backwaters breathe deepest. The rains drape the landscape in emerald hues, Ayurveda retreats see renewed interest, and the coast pulses with cultural activity. For those seeking inner balance, monsoon in Kerala is as therapeutic as it is scenic. (Image: Canva)

6. Andaman Islands
With fewer footfalls and a moody, brooding beauty, the Andamans in the rainy season offer something almost cinematic. Think long walks on misted beaches and underwater adventures between passing showers. (Image: Canva)

7. Coorg
This Kodagu hill station in Karnataka dons a fresh coat of green, with coffee plantations steaming under soft rains and waterfalls cascading with renewed force. The air smells of wet earth and roasted beans—a perfect pairing for monsoon musings. (Image: Canva)

8. Ooty
Ooty's colonial charm takes on a different hue during the rains. The mist settles like an old story being retold, and the hills echo with birdcalls. It’s a town where time doesn’t hurry, and neither should you. (Image: Canva)

9. Mysore
A city of palaces, jasmine-scented mornings, and rain-washed heritage walks, Mysore presents an urbane alternative to wilder escapes. With fewer tourists and richer experiences, it’s an elegant pick for the monsoon traveller. (Image: Canva)

10. Nilgiris
Often overshadowed by its more famous neighbours, the Nilgiri Hills stir to life in the monsoon. Shola forests, tea trails, and secret glades invite those inclined to wander without reason. (Image: Canva)

11. Cherrapunji
Among the wettest places on Earth, Cherrapunji owns the monsoon like few others. Thundering waterfalls and cloud-heavy cliffs form a dramatic canvas that appeals to nature enthusiasts and photographers alike. (Image: Canva)

12. Mawsynram
Mawsynram isn’t just wet—it is alive. The incessant rains aren’t a deterrent but a celebration of nature’s extremes. For those undaunted by the elements, this is monsoon in its purest, most unfiltered form. (Representative Image: Canva)

13. Shillong
Often referred to as the 'Scotland of the East', Shillong in the rains is wrapped in melancholy and music. The mist rolls in like a lullaby, the pine trees whisper, and cafés brim with conversation and comfort. (Image: Canva)

14. Udaipur
Udaipur’s lakes brim fuller, the Aravallis wear a brief green veil, and the city’s whitewashed facades glisten under soft showers. The monsoon lends this romantic city an air of reflective grace, drawing couples and aesthetes alike. (Image: Canva)

15. Jaisalmer
An unlikely choice? Perhaps. But Jaisalmer, in its fleeting brush with rain, offers a stark, stirring landscape where storms rumble across dunes and the golden fort glows beneath a charcoal sky. (Image: Canva)