Himachal Pradesh festivals in May.

2 festivals this month — dates, locations, and travel tips.

Chail Cricket Festival

Chail

Cricket matches and cultural events at the Chail Cricket Ground — the world's highest cricket pitch at 2,444m, built in 1893 by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala.

May (varies)

Summer Festival

Shimla

Celebrity performances, flower shows on the Ridge. Hot air balloons. Evening cultural shows.

Late May / June (5 days)

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Everything the guidebook won't tell you — written for India in 2026.

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Field notes from the road.

Long-form reads on regions, festivals, and the offbeat circuit.

Road trips

Curated multi-day routes.

Driving itineraries with day-by-day stops, distance, and difficulty.

Collections

Themed reading lists.

Wettest places. Sacred lakes. Solo-female-safe. Curated cuts.

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India's highest-scoring places, ranked across all 12 months.

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Our weekly newsletter, archived.

One honest spread, every Sunday. The full back catalogue.

Skip list

What we'd skip — and what we'd do instead.

Overhyped places with honest alternatives.

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Planning your first time in India.

Safety, scams, what to wear, food survival, solo female travel.