Are you tired of being shackled to your work desk and needing a break to refresh your mind and body? If yes, you should plan your trip now. To help you, we bring you a list of the eight best places to visit in January.
With this list, you don’t need to feel uncertain about which destinations to choose and which to miss. Chalk out your itinerary to set a date with them, and you’ll surely return rejuvenated.
Let’s see the places that should feature on your travel itinerary as the best places to visit in January.
Related: 8 Best Places to Visit in december in India
Best Places to Visit in January in India
Our list has everything from historical destinations and serene locations with picturesque settings to mountains and beaches. So pick one or a few from these and add them to your bucket list to welcome 2023 in style.
Jaisalmer
If traveling back in time interests you, Jaisalmer in Rajasthan is where you should head. This popular tourist destination in northwest India usually teems with vacationers in January. However, unlike the scorching summer months, winter is the perfect time to come here.
Whether you want to go sightseeing, enjoy outdoor activities, or do a blend of both, you can have them all without any sweat and discomfort.
If the history enthusiast in you loves to visit places with rich culture and heritage, you can visit Jaisalmer Fort (including Maharaja’s Palace) and Khaba Fort.
You could even tour the Jaisalmer Government Museum and Desert Culture Centre and Museum. If you prefer adrenaline-pumping outdoor activities, quad biking at Sam Sand Dunes could be up your alley. For something tamer, camel rides will be ideal.
Other places to visit when you are in Jaisalmer include:
- Gadi Sagar Lake
- Patwon ki Haveli
- Jaisalmer Fort Palace Museum and Heritage Centre
- Desert National Park
Include Jaisalmer as the one of the best places to visit in January
Zanskar Valley
If you are ready for some daunting treks and love picturesque scenes with snowfall, come to Zanskar Valley. Nestled in the Himalayas, 105 kilometers away from Leh, this entire place lies covered in white sheets of snow, making it one of India’s best places to visit in January.
Despite heavy snowfall, this valley plays home to trekking activities in January. If you love trekking and can bear temperatures that could drop to around -30 degrees Celsius, you should plan to take up the Chadar Trek, which attracts adventure seekers from faraway lands.
Admiring the majestic beauty of the mighty Himalayan Mountains is another thing that’s sure to keep you busy. Zanskar Valley isn’t just a trekker’s paradise. Considered one of the best places to visit in January, it’s also home to several ancient Buddhist monasteries and temples worth visiting.
If you are unsure of which ones to visit, you could take your pick from Karsha Monastery, Phuktal Monastery, Lingshed Monastery, and Stongde monastery.
When in Zanskar Valley, you shouldn’t miss visiting Pensi La and Drang-Drung Glacier. At an elevation of 4400 m, Pensi La is the pass that connects Zanskar and Suru valleys. From the pass, you can get a stunning view of the gleaming white Drang-Drung Glacier.
Other places worth visiting in Zanskar include:
- Baralacha Pass
- Padum
- Rangdum Gompa
- Shagma Karphu
The Great Rann of Kutch
Located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, the Great Rann of Kutch is a popular tourist destination as best places to visit in January. It’s known for being the world’s largest salt desert. This white salt desert sand attracts travelers galore from every corner of the world.
January is the ideal time to come here as this place remains extremely dry during the scorching summers and turns into a shallow wetland that submerges into the water during the monsoons. So, if you can’t decide which January holiday destinations to choose from a long list, you should come here.
The Rann Utsav, held between November and February every year, is another attraction that brings tourists here during the winter months. The Tourism Department of Gujarat organizes this festival.
This festival includes myriad offerings of cultural fiesta, local handicrafts, shopping, adventurous and sightseeing tours, folk dances, and much more. When touring the Great Runn of Kutch, you can also go on a bird-watching trip or relax at the nearby Mandvi Beach (which is a 3-4 hours’ drive away).
Visiting the Kutch Museum (Gujarat’s oldest museum) to see ancient coins and the extinct Kutchi Script or enjoy the salt marsh views from Kutch’s highest point – Kalo Dungar, are other activities you can indulge in.
Hampi
If the ruins and stories of a bygone era fascinate you, planning a tour to Hampi in Karnataka will be great. Hampi was once the last capital of the Vijayanagara Empire and played home to magnificent Dravidian temples and palaces built by royalty.
These structures were famous among travelers between the 14th and 16th centuries. Today, these ruins make Hampi one of the best places to visit in January, especially if you love to explore the past.
After the Deccan Muslim confederacy conquered it in 1565, Hampi was looted and destroyed over six months, followed by the city being abandoned. Today, this city in Bellary district’s Tungabhadra basin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Whether you are a history enthusiast or not, Hampi is sure to delight you with its open museum-style setting with hundreds of ancient monuments and temples.
It pays to get a knowledgeable guide to accompany you to ensure you don’t miss any place of particular tourist interest.
You can start your Hampi tour with a visit to the sacred complex. The core of this complex houses the Virupaksha Temple. It’s an important pilgrimage destination and attracts large crowds from far and wide during the festivals.
The Virupaksha Temple is surrounded by others shrines. To the north of it, you will find a group of smaller temples. Many of these dates back to pre-Vijayanagara times. You will find some other early shrines located on Hemakuta hill’s sloping ledge to the south.
When touring the sacred complex, you shouldn’t miss visiting the following:
- Krishna Temple
- Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple
- The giant statue of Ganesha (Kadalekalu Ganesha)
- Monolith Shivlinga
- Ugra Narasimha statue.
The royal complex is also worth visiting, where you will find:
- The Lotus Mahal
- Queens Bath
- Hazaraarama Temple
- The elephant stables
When in Hampi, you can even tour the:
- Mahanavami Dibba
- Ruins of Konandarama Temple
- Achyutrama Temple
- Vitthala Temple.
Don’t forget to visit Hampi – best places to visit in January.
Aizawl
Mizoram’s capital hosts some marvelous natural attractions, which will make your time away from work worth it. But first things first: you will need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit this place.
If you want to see the lifestyle of the Mizo people, you must set a date with Falkawn, a small village located 18 kilometers south of Aizawl. Other places of tourist attractions that should feature on your travel itinerary are:
- Vantawng Waterfall (Vantawng Khawhthla)
- Tamdil (Tam Lake)
If time permits, you can also visit Hmuifang Tlang (a mountain having an elevation of 1619 meters), the Mizoram State Museum, Phawngpui Peak (Mizoram’s highest peak), and Solomon’s Temple, a magnanimous church. This church is in Chawlhmun’s Kidron Valley, towards Aizawl’s western side.
Auli
This place in Uttarakhand is a popular skiing destination in India. Skiing enthusiasts can race down one of the finest tilts and slants of the Himalayan range when in Auli. A January sojourn in Auli will also let you enjoy the snow-laden land and even adore the changing views of it throughout the day.
Apart from skiing, you can enjoy a glimpse of the Nanda Devi Range from here. You may even trek to the Himalayan meadows of Gorson Bugyal, visit Auli’s artificial lake, or go to the Hanuman Temple, where Lord Hanuman is believed to have rested while searching for the medicinal ‘sanjeevani’ herb.
With its fairytale-like setting amidst pristine rivers, deodar and oaks trees, and apple orchards, the town of Auli is sure to revive and rejuvenate your tired body and soul during your well-deserved vacation.
Havelock Island
If you love beaches, this is a must-visit destination. Dotted with clear bluish waters and silvery beaches, this place in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is ideal to laze under palm trees or enjoy adventurous water sports like:
- diving
- jet skiing
- snorkeling
Snorkeling, in particular, is ideal if you want to catch a glimpse of the region’s colorful coral reefs and diverse marine life. If possible, you could even plan a tour to Neil Island (18 kilometers away) to explore its enormous marine and terrestrial biodiversity.
When in Havelock Island, don’t forget to set a date with the following:
- Vijayanagar Beach
- Elephant Beach
- Laxmanpur Beach
Sirpur
This picturesque but offbeat place in Chattisgarh is known for its rich historical background, traditional cultural heritage, and architecture. If you love exploring the past, don’t forget to visit the ASI museum when in this historical place.
At the museum, you can see the famous “Chaturmukhi Shiva Lingam.” Buddha Vihara is another place worth a visit. The ancient idols and the stones excavated from this place strongly suggest that it was an active center of Buddhist activities in the past.
The ancient Baleshwar Mahadev Temple Complex dedicated to Lord Shiva, Laxman Temple and its beautiful brick formations, and the Barnawapara wildlife sanctuary are other places of interest in Sirpur.
You can also visit Takmak Tok, and the ruins of the ancient marketplace spread across a whopping 250 square kilometers along the Mahanadi, a major river in central India.
Now that you know about these eight places, which are the best places to holiday in January, plan ahead and make your bookings to avoid last-minute disappointment. We hope a visit to any of these destinations will help you beat your work blues and kick off 2023 with renewed vigor!
