Rainy Day Holidays

For some of us, when the heavens roar, the spirits soar. Even if you're not a pluviophile, you'll love exploring these special spots, where the rain is a particularly potent pleasure. Here's our pick of the 10 most magnificent destinations to discover this monsoon!

- Priya Pathiyan

Malshej Ghat, Maharashtra

The golden grass of summer on this mountain pass in the Western Ghats gets a lush emerald hue with the magical touch of the monsoon. Picture glorious expanses of green, a majestic manmade lake with pink flamingos feeding gracefully on its banks. Seasoned hikers will enjoy many amazing trails and treks, especially the thrilling one from Khireshwar village to the sixth-century fort of Harishchandragad, while bikers and the moderately fit can get their dose of history-laced highs at Shivneri Fort, birthplace of Shivaji, about 30 km away. The Lenyadri Vinayak temple inside ancient Buddhist caves has the Girijatmaj Ganpati, one of the celebrated Ashtavinayakas.

Mawsynram, Meghalaya

In a state that is literally called the ‘abode of the clouds’, first Cherrapunji (Sohra) and now Mawsynram (just 15 km away) have been declared as the wettest places on earth. June 17 last year saw Mawsynram receiving a record-setting 1,003.6 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours. Waterfalls such as Nohkalikai and Seven Sisters are especially awe-inspiring when fed by the torrential rains. Visit the hilltop village of Mawlyngbna to see fossils or indulge in some ziplining. The Mawjymbuin cave, which has a stalagmite ‘shivling’, is best accessed after the monsoon.