Top 7 Indian Tourist Spots to Skip This Monsoon Season
Mandvi Singh | Jun 18, 2025, 12:37 IST
( Image credit : ANI, Timeslife )
Monsoon might sound romantic, but not all tourist spots in India are safe or accessible during the rains. This article highlights seven popular destinations you should avoid this season due to risks like landslides, floods, or closures — and suggests safer, equally enjoyable alternatives for a hassle-free getaway.
India’s monsoon season transforms the landscape into a lush, green paradise — but it also brings heavy rains, landslides, floods, and travel disruptions. While some places come alive with romance and misty charm, others become travel nightmares. Before you book your ticket for that scenic getaway, it's crucial to know which destinations are best avoided during the rainy months.
Here are 7 Indian tourist spots you should skip this monsoon, and where to go instead if you're craving a safer, hassle-free vacation.
Why to Skip:
Though Munnar is known for its dreamy tea plantations and misty hills, monsoon rains here are often intense and relentless. Roads can become slippery, landslides are not uncommon, and outdoor activities like trekking are risky.
Try Instead:
Wayanad, another gem in Kerala, receives moderate rainfall and offers indoor-friendly activities like exploring ancient caves, tribal museums, and staying in cozy treehouses.
2. Cherrapunji, Meghalaya
Why to Skip:
This place holds records for being one of the wettest spots on Earth — and it lives up to the name! Heavy rainfall can wash away roads, trigger floods, and cause visibility issues. Outdoor attractions like living root bridges are harder (and sometimes dangerous) to access.
Try Instead:
Shillong receives rain too, but is more urban and manageable during monsoon. You can enjoy cafes, shopping, and scenic viewpoints without the risks of remote terrain.
Why to Skip:
Darjeeling's charm dims under heavy monsoon clouds. Frequent landslides in the region can shut down highways, derail toy train services, and isolate towns for days. Outdoor views, a major draw, are often lost in thick fog.
Try Instead:
Kalimpong, nearby but lower in elevation, is less prone to landslides and has pleasant views, colonial architecture, and vibrant flower markets even in the rains.
Why to Skip:
Contrary to popular belief, Goa in the monsoon isn't always a beachy paradise. Rough seas, water sports bans, and closed beach shacks take the fun out of a beach holiday. Heavy rains can also flood roads and delay flights.
Try Instead:
Pondicherry offers a coastal experience with French colonial vibes, and while it does get some rain, it's less intense and often manageable. Plus, it has charming cafés and indoor experiences.
Why to Skip:
Coorg, a favorite monsoon destination, also faces its share of issues — landslides, swollen rivers, and roadblocks. Trekking trails are slippery, sleech-infested, and often shut down during peak rain months.
Try Instead:
Chikmagalur receives rainfall too, but it’s better maintained and less prone to travel halts. It also offers plantation stays and stunning monsoon views without as much chaos.
Why to Skip:
While Leh itself is in a rain shadow region, access roads like Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh highways are high-risk zones during monsoon. Landslides, slushy roads, and sudden weather shifts make travel dangerous and unpredictable.
Try Instead:
Spiti Valley via Shimla (not Manali) is relatively safer during monsoon, with less rain and more stable conditions for adventure seekers.
Why to Skip:
Flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides are common in Uttarakhand during the monsoon. Hill stations like Mussoorie and Nainital become chaotic, overcrowded, and often unsafe during peak rains.
Try Instead:
Ranikhet and Binsar are quieter, less crowded, and offer safer monsoon escapes with charming forest lodges and fewer road troubles.
Monsoon travel in India can be magical — but only if you're wise about where to go. While the hills and coasts might tempt you, they’re often best saved for drier months. Instead, explore offbeat regions with less rainfall, plan indoor-friendly activities, and always check weather alerts before heading out.
Safe travel is smart travel. Know before you go — and let the rain add joy, not risk, to your vacation.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Travel, Life Hacks, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!
Frequently Asked Question:
Here are 7 Indian tourist spots you should skip this monsoon, and where to go instead if you're craving a safer, hassle-free vacation.
1. Munnar, Kerala
kerala
( Image credit : Freepik )
Though Munnar is known for its dreamy tea plantations and misty hills, monsoon rains here are often intense and relentless. Roads can become slippery, landslides are not uncommon, and outdoor activities like trekking are risky.
Try Instead:
Wayanad, another gem in Kerala, receives moderate rainfall and offers indoor-friendly activities like exploring ancient caves, tribal museums, and staying in cozy treehouses.
2. Cherrapunji, Meghalaya
This place holds records for being one of the wettest spots on Earth — and it lives up to the name! Heavy rainfall can wash away roads, trigger floods, and cause visibility issues. Outdoor attractions like living root bridges are harder (and sometimes dangerous) to access.
Try Instead:
Shillong receives rain too, but is more urban and manageable during monsoon. You can enjoy cafes, shopping, and scenic viewpoints without the risks of remote terrain.
3. Darjeeling, West Bengal
west bengal
( Image credit : Freepik )
Darjeeling's charm dims under heavy monsoon clouds. Frequent landslides in the region can shut down highways, derail toy train services, and isolate towns for days. Outdoor views, a major draw, are often lost in thick fog.
Try Instead:
Kalimpong, nearby but lower in elevation, is less prone to landslides and has pleasant views, colonial architecture, and vibrant flower markets even in the rains.
4. Goa
Contrary to popular belief, Goa in the monsoon isn't always a beachy paradise. Rough seas, water sports bans, and closed beach shacks take the fun out of a beach holiday. Heavy rains can also flood roads and delay flights.
Try Instead:
Pondicherry offers a coastal experience with French colonial vibes, and while it does get some rain, it's less intense and often manageable. Plus, it has charming cafés and indoor experiences.
5. Coorg, Karnataka
karnataka
( Image credit : Freepik )
Coorg, a favorite monsoon destination, also faces its share of issues — landslides, swollen rivers, and roadblocks. Trekking trails are slippery, sleech-infested, and often shut down during peak rain months.
Try Instead:
Chikmagalur receives rainfall too, but it’s better maintained and less prone to travel halts. It also offers plantation stays and stunning monsoon views without as much chaos.
6. Leh-Ladakh
While Leh itself is in a rain shadow region, access roads like Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh highways are high-risk zones during monsoon. Landslides, slushy roads, and sudden weather shifts make travel dangerous and unpredictable.
Try Instead:
Spiti Valley via Shimla (not Manali) is relatively safer during monsoon, with less rain and more stable conditions for adventure seekers.
7. Uttarakhand Hills (Like Mussoorie & Nainital)
Nainital
( Image credit : Freepik )
Flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides are common in Uttarakhand during the monsoon. Hill stations like Mussoorie and Nainital become chaotic, overcrowded, and often unsafe during peak rains.
Try Instead:
Ranikhet and Binsar are quieter, less crowded, and offer safer monsoon escapes with charming forest lodges and fewer road troubles.
Monsoon travel in India can be magical — but only if you're wise about where to go. While the hills and coasts might tempt you, they’re often best saved for drier months. Instead, explore offbeat regions with less rainfall, plan indoor-friendly activities, and always check weather alerts before heading out.
Safe travel is smart travel. Know before you go — and let the rain add joy, not risk, to your vacation.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Travel, Life Hacks, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!
Frequently Asked Question:
- Is it safe to visit Goa during the monsoon?Goa experiences rough seas, restricted water activities, and limited beach shack options in monsoon, so it’s best avoided for beach lovers.
- Which Indian destinations are good for monsoon travel? Places like Wayanad, Chikmagalur, and Pondicherry are better managed during monsoon and offer safe, scenic escapes.