Monsoon Getaways: Best Hill Stations to Visit This Season

Monsoon travel has a reputation for being risky, but a handful of hill stations are practically built for it — waterfalls run full, the air clears up, and the crowds thin out considerably.

Munnar, Kerala

Tea gardens turn a deeper green, mist rolls through the valleys every morning, and the waterfalls along the Munnar–Kochi route are at their most dramatic.

Coorg, Karnataka

Coorg's coffee plantations thrive in the rain, and the Abbey and Iruppu waterfalls are worth planning a whole day trip around.

Lonavala & Khandala, Maharashtra

A short drive from Mumbai and Pune, these twin hill towns are at their absolute best in July and August, when the surrounding ghats turn into a wall of waterfalls.

Travel tips for the monsoon

• Carry a good rain jacket rather than an umbrella — hill roads get windy
• Check road conditions before driving through ghat sections
• Book accommodation with a cancellation window in case of landslide advisories

Monsoon travel rewards a little flexibility — build slack into your itinerary and let the weather set the pace.