If your idea of the perfect Christmas celebration and holidays is a confluence of sublime weather, gorgeous settings, luxurious accommodations and pure fun, then we have the list of the best 10 places to celebrate Christmas in India. Pick any one of them, and select the best holiday packages in India inclusive of the best beach tours in India, to celebrate Christmas in great style.
Here are the top 10 best places to celebrate Christmas in India.
Goa with its spectacular beaches, famous party culture, and predominantly Christian population has all the ingredients to make your Christmas a grand gala celebration. Every town and village in Goa has its own whitewashed parish church and unique Christmas festivities. The Christmas celebrations begin around mid-December with carol singing, concerts, Christmas markets, and street decorations.
Aside from restaurants and hotels that offer a traditional English, European, or Russian Christmas dinner on Christmas day, there are several palm-thatched beach shack restaurants along most Goan beaches, that serve fresh seafood, popular Goan delicacies, cakes, desserts, and sunset cocktails throughout the Christmas season. Add to this, there are midnight masses in well-decorated churches, late-night parties, rollicking music concerts, etc.
Don’t miss out on the Sunburn Festival, a huge three-day dance festival from December 27th in Vagator. The festival features local and international DJs playing electronica and trance. Select the Golden Triangle Tour With Mumbai & Goa with the best beach tours in India, and make sure you are there in Goa during the Christmas season
Churches: Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa, Church of Old Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Panaji, St Alex’s Church, Calangute & St Anthony’s Church, Siolim.
There are fewer better places in India to enjoy a white snowy Christmas than Leh Ladakh called as the ‘Crown Jewel Of the Himalayas’. The winter snowfall makes Christmas festivities a mesmerizing experience. There are many fine hotels around where you can not only celebrate Christmas with fervor topped off by a magnificent Christmas cake but also stay overnight in them. Make your Christmas memorable by opting for a Leh Ladakh package.
A Leh Ladakh package will not only take care of your boarding and lodging arrangements but also allow you to get a glimpse into what the place has to offer. You will be exposed to the strong Buddhist and Tibetan influences well-reflected in the several monasteries, and the general way of life, well-accentuated by the stunning backdrop of breathtaking rugged mountain peaks. Don’t miss out on Leh Market, 2 kms from Ladakh. Lined with shops on both sides, you will be tempted by an array of Kashmiri and Ladakhi items. Once done, head to Leh Palace, a nine-storied structure; and Shanti Stupa, a Japanese peace pagoda, situated on a hill top,
Make sure that your Leh Ladakh tour package extends beyond the New Year. This will allow you to soak in the festivities of the Losar Festival, a 15-days event that ushers in New Year with folk dances and extravagant processions.
Churches: Moravian Church, Leh; & St. Thomas Church, Leh.
Udaipur during the Christmas season hums with a lot of Christmas Eve events. Hotels and restaurants lead the pack with events like Santa Claus gift distribution, gospel choirs, Christmas Brunches and Dinners, Buffets and Gala Nights, and more. The air in the city is filled with a festive fervor with locals decorating their homes with small Christmas trees and families singing Christmas carols alongside people from diverse cultures.
The season is also suitable for undertaking a Royal Rajasthan tour with the best of golden triangle Tour packages. You will get a peek into the several forts, palaces, and lakes that speak the tales of the deadly skirmishes and Rajputana valor. Aside from the opulence of the palaces and forts, there are several scenic hill stations and stunning deserts to be enjoyed supplemented with the warm Rajasthani hospitality. Book the best of the Golden Triangle With Udaipur Tour Package and discover the unmatched charm and beauty of Rajasthan after soaking in the Christmas festivities.
Churches: Rajasthan Pentecostal Church, Shepherd Memorial Church, & Our Lady Of Fatima Cathedral.
The cool and pleasant weather during the winter season makes Alwar a great place to not just celebrate Christmas but also see its many hued tourist delights. There are a good number of hotels and restaurants that celebrate Christmas in grand style with several gala events.
Once done with the Christmas festivities, it’s time to undertake a royal Rajasthan tour of the place. Book the best Rajasthan tour packages which will take you to several of Alwar’s famed tourist attractions, like Saruska Sanctuary & Tiger Reserve famous for its exotic wildlife; Bhangarh Fort; Karni Mata Temple, etc. There are also several beautiful lakes in Alwar. Then there is the famous Alwar Festival, a unique festival that presents the art and culture of the region.
Churches: Holy Family Church, St Andrew’s Church, And Vivekananda Nagar Church.
With its considerable population of Christians, North-East India is a great place to be in during the Christmas season. From carol singing to rollicking live gigs, Shillong, the music capital of India, is a marvelous potpourri of colorful carols, traditional food, and delicious fruitcakes. There are several bands and artists who play gospel music during the Christmas season, and people in homes and streets come together to sing traditional hymns and carols. Preparations for Christmas begin well in advance. People flock to hotels, restaurants, and bakeries eager to have a bite of the seasonal delicacies. On Christmas day, families gorge on homemade traditional delicacies.
Also called as the ‘Scotland of the East’ for its famed natural beauty and picturesque settings, Shillong in December month transforms into a paradise with a plethora of activities throughout the month. Book the best of the North East India Tour Package and discover the unmatched charm and beauty of north India.
Churches: All Saints Church; Shillong Baptist Church; Jalaw Presbyterian Church; & Cathedral Of Mary Help Of Christians.
Pleasant December weather, serene beaches, and endless number of gothic cathedrals and churches, mostly built during the 18th and 19th centuries, makes Puducherry a great place to be in for Christmas. There is a nip in the air during the season with a general feeling of goodwill all-around. Hotels and restaurants, elaborately decorated with Christmas trees and fairy lights, offer sumptuous Christmas brunches and dinners with five-course meals and traditional local favorites ranging from chicken and turkey to plum cake and mulled wine.
Don’t miss out on the Christmas music festivals held in the beaches; and the annual Marche de Noel (Christmas Market). Designed in line with the Christmas theme, the markets has bakers, boutique owners, designers, etc, vying with one another to offer everything from food from mulled wines to conventional Yule log dessert, and more; jewelry, apparel, etc.
Churches: Cathedral Of Our Lady Of Immaculate Conception; Basilica Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus; & Eglise De Notre Dame De Anges.
Kerala has the largest Christian population in India. So Christmas time is a great time to be in Kerala. The festival is celebrated grandly with carol singing at the midnight mass to Christmas plays, Christmas delicacies, and bonfires on the beaches. All the hotels, restaurants, guest houses, and lodges are grandly decorated with Christmas trees, props, and lights.
The celebration is accentuated by mega Christmas dinners and lively activities. Families in the state visit the churches and later enjoy lavish dinners together. Aside from the festivities, Kerala also offers several beaches including the famed Kovalam beach; stunning backwaters, natural health centers, and grand shopping festivals. The best way to celebrate and enjoy the beauty of Kerala is to book the best of Kerala Tour packages in India inclusive of beach tours in India.
Churches: St. Francis Church, Edathua Church, & Basilica Of Our Lady Of Dolores Church,
The last bastion of the Portuguese, Daman and Diu is a melting pot of cultures and traditions, with a majority Christian population. Hotels, restaurants, and guest houses teem with tourists, local and foreign soaking in the festivities which begins with the Public Fair held in December to Christmas and the New Year till Makar Sankranti.
On Christmas Eve, the hospitality destinations, houses, and commercial places, all are lit up and beautifully decorated, with a mix of vibrant colors and lights. The hotels and restaurants elevate the fun celebrations with Christmas and New Year packages and deals. Don’t miss out on the Portuguese dance festival during the winter season.
Churches: The Church Of Our Lady Of Augustias, The Chapel Of Our Lady Of Rosary, Church Of Our Lady Of Remedies, St Paul’s Church, And the Church Of St.Thomas.
Though Sikkim has a small Christian population, it is a fabulous place to celebrate Christmas. Located at an altitude of 5,410 feet above sea level, Sikkim will take one’s breath away with its spectacular natural beauty, clean and stunning surroundings, and unbelievable sunset and dawn views.
Christmas time is a great time to soak in the winter charm of Gangtok. The place hums with Christmas celebrations all around, with hotels, restaurants, pubs, and clubs all grandly decorated. The festivities run till early mornings with festive dinners and drinks. The festivities are best enjoyed in M G Road with the shops, streets, and homes decked up with attractive Christmas trees and lights. Many churches organize mass prayers followed by Christmas carols and Food Carnivals.
Churches: St. Thomas The Apostle Church, House Of Grace Church, & The Bethlehem Fellowship Church.
Want to celebrate Christmas in quiet solitude with a few people, away from the maddening crowd? If so, then head to Lansdowne, an attractive hill station in Uttarakhand. Known for its exotic landscape and scenic beauty, the temperature in December in the place hovers between 5 to 25C. It is the best time to not just celebrate Christmas but also see its many hued tourist attractions.
Some famed ones include Bhulla Lake, Kalagarh Tiger Reserve, etc. Then there is Tip N Top which offers panoramic views of the Shivalik Hills that shine brightly under the winter sun rays; and the sunset views. December is not a peak season due to extreme cold weather. There will be lesser tourist crowds, and the hotel/resort room rates are lower. This makes it ideal to visit and celebrate Christmas and also see its many attractions.
Deciding which place to go in India to celebrate Christmas can be tricky. Make it simple by just perusing the above 10 places in India. Select any of them, and book the best of holiday packages in India inclusive of beach tours in India, for the most memorable Christmas celebration of your life.
Read more: Best Winter Holiday Destinations In India
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